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. Think back to kindergarten and your first picture frame, proudly put together out of glued Popsicle sticks, some yarn and maybe a splash of glitter. Voila! Functional art. DIY picture frames whether by adults or children are still the bedrock of meaningful crafts projects. Printing out a photo of a loved one or landscape and displaying it in a frame elevates that image above the ocean of others that we post online or keep tucked away on cell phones and laptops. Here are some tips on how to make a picture frame out of wood and other materials, from book covers and fabric to those always popular Popsicle sticks. Ideas and inspiration New Orleans-based Alyse Rodriguez, 32, began making frames and home decor as a hobby while working as an accountant, but transitioned her Etsy.com store into a full-time studio and business last year. "I start with inspiration, from travel, my home and my clothes to playing the piano, and amalgamate all that into ideas, the color palettes and pattern design," she said. Her Color Collection, made of two or three thick pieces of birch plywood glued side-by-side and hand-painted with acrylic paint in lime green, coral and other unusual colors, with the photo secured on top, reflects her bohemian style. Her new Mali Collection features right-angled frames made of smooth poplar, with a stained finish. Geometric patterns squiggles, arrows, dots inspired by African, handmade cotton fabric dyed with fermented mud, called mud cloth, are then screen-printed on the surface. "The way that I approach wood is like the way an artist approaches a blank canvas," Rodriguez said. The right materials If you're interested in making a right-angled wooden frame four pieces of wood glued together at the joints and secured with nails or staples Rodriguez recommends sticking to poplar. It's smooth, lightweight, easy to sand down, and has a fine texture. Timothy Holton, 58, of Berkeley, California, who founded the shop Holton Studio Frame-Makers in 1993, suggests investing in high-quality hardwoods such as cherry, oak and maple. A table saw is one way to cut the wood; you can buy one at a local woodshop, he said. Or Rodriguez suggests having pieces cut for you at chain stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot that have cutting machines. Rodriguez, who also quilts, used to make frames out of plywood wrapped in fabric and glued in the back with fabric adhesive, like a fabric-covered book, with the photo on top. Or you could take a hardcover book, carve out a rectangle in the middle of the cover, pop out the piece, and tape a photo in its place. For a simple, rustic frame, great to make with kids, combine four twigs to form a rectangle, and then bind them with string at the corners. Holding it together "The simplest frame, if it's really made well, feels compelling and has integrity to it," said Holton. That makes the process of fitting, gluing and nailing the pieces together important. First use a strong wood glue, such as Titebond, and wait for it to dry. "If you wait 24 hours, you have to use an axe to get those pieces of wood apart," Rodriguez joked. To hold two pieces together at a perfect right angle to dry, use a miter clamp or other type of frame clamp. A picture frame stapler gun or nail gun are helpful when securing the frame in the back, after gluing. For kids, break out those Popsicle sticks, and buy colorfully patterned Japanese washi tape. Crafts blog Eighteen25.com recommends rolling out a strip of washi tape, sticky side up, and laying the Popsicle sticks on top, wrapping the washi tape around their edges. Then glue two plain sticks across your decorated sticks, to hold everything together. Glue a magnet on the back and a photo on the front. Have fun decorating "To me, the finish work is the best part. That's where the design really comes into play, and you can have fun," said Rodriguez. Head to a paint or art supply store and get color swatches, play with color combinations and buy inexpensive acrylic paint samples, said Rodriguez. She likes to use 1-inch-thick craft paint brushes. Use a pencil eraser dipped in paint or a stencil to create patterns. Rodriguez made her first picture frame in 2011 with a stencil of a mask that she actually glued to the frame and then spray-painted gold. She now also incorporates braided leather and burlap into her frame designs. Your decorated frame should be personal, reflecting the picture in it. "The frame says, 'This matters. This is something I care about, that you should care about too,'" says Holton. 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. In an era of ever larger California wildfires, including recent major conflagrations in Lake County, Jake Songer is marketing peace of mind to people in harms way. Songer, a former firefighter, owns a Napa business called InfernoGuard. He helps locals protect their homes, landscapes and properties from fire by creating what is known as defensible space. Wildfire is the one natural disaster you can actually prevent if you take action, said Songer. His work includes assessing hazards, reducing vegetation and fuel loads around homes, creating fire breaks and barriers, creating a home defense system with a dedicated water source and other mitigation techniques. Songer currently works as a licensed general contractor and tree service person, but he has experience with fire. The business owner spent 11 years working for Cal Fire, five of them in a Helitack division, flying to the front lines of fires. I was really exposed to what it takes to protect a home. Ive seen first-hand the devastation from wildfires, he said. While most locals live in urban areas, their edges the wildland urban interface can be threatened by fire, said Songer. For example, the recent vegetation fire on the east side of Westwood Hills Park burned relatively close to a section of homes along Foothill Boulevard and Laurel Street in west Napa. People forget that we live where wildfires are a natural part of our environment, he said. Residents often prioritize other home improvements or projects, ignoring the danger of fire. They dont know it because they havent experienced it, Songer said. Prevention is key. Songer, 40, said one of the biggest misconceptions is that creating a defensible space means creating a no-mans-land barrier around a home, void of any landscaping or decor. You are clearing the land. However, it can be done with aesthetic sense, he said. That can include things like gravel pathways and stone walls and making the right plant choices. Even though many homeowners have given up green lawns because of the drought, such a lawn can be used to create defensible space. Many people have decks, but from a fire standpoint, its definitely one of the biggest threats to a home or other structure. Even decks made of composite materials will burn. When leaves and lattice and other materials are present next to a deck, its like a campfire recipe, Songer said. One spark can catch a whole house on fire in minutes. Fire safety is something to consider year-round, he said. Cleaning rain gutters is usually a winter chore, but according to Songer, it should be done more often. Most structures arent lost due to actual fire front but as a result of embers blowing, he said. They can land in places like on roof where leaves are built up. In addition to preventing fire, clearing around a house also helps to eliminate rodent habitats. Songer said while firefighters can save homes, they cant always save every home. I tell people you have a responsibility to consider the environment around your home, and how you can help prevent a fire. While each of his plans is customized to the client, a property assessment starts at $500, which is then applied to the cost of any work done. Its like hiring a lawyer to defend yourself, Songer said. Youre hiring me to defend your property. In January 2005, a new state law became effective that extended the defensible space clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100 feet. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire, according to the Cal Fire website. This defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire. In the spring 2016, Firewise newsletter, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli shared his thoughts about fire prevention. Defensible space, Bertelli wrote, proved important not only for saving structures but for evacuation. I cant count how many times people had to drive through defensible space as a route to escape because roads were blocked or not passable. Even if homes were lost, defensible space saved lives. Creating defensible space by clearing of brush, weeds and lower tree limbs is important in so many ways. Cal Fire is working to reduce fuel loads and clear public road easements, Bertelli said, but we need the support of residents to do their part too. Everyone is responsible for their own property. People need to understand that a fire-safe zone around their home is important not just for their own safety but that of their neighbors too. If properties abut roads, owners need to do their part to help create safe passage. If you thought a mile from a fire was a safe distance, think again, said Bertelli. Fires tend to travel far more quickly and unpredictably. Fire behavior is different today, and one simply cannot rely on old ways of thinking. In response to the clear danger presented by a build-up of volatile fire fuels across Napa County, a group of senior fire professionals and concerned community leaders came together in 2004 to form Napa Firewise. The community-based fire awareness program is designed to educate the public and encourage individuals to be proactive in preparing their property for greater fire protection. Firewise promotes the Three Rs of Defensible Space removal, reduction and replacement. Removal involves the elimination of entire plants, particularly trees and shrubs, from the site. Reduction includes the removal of plant parts, such as branches or leaves. Examples of reduction are pruning dead wood from a shrub, removing low tree branches and mowing dried grass. Replacement means substituting less flammable plants for more hazardous vegetation. Removal of a dense stand of flammable shrubs and planting an irrigated, well-maintained flowerbed is one example. Republicans running for election this year have watched the wheels coming off the Trump Train with increasing alarm. How can Republican candidates in down-ballot races survive such a calamitous nominee at the top of their ticket? To win, Republican candidates need the votes of Trump Republicans and Never Trump Republicans, as well as independents who find Donald Trump either refreshing or abhorrent. Fortunately, they have a model in Southern Democratic candidates who for years ran successful campaigns in presidential years while distancing themselves from the top of the ticket. The opening was provided for Republicans by the Trump Convention, which bore little resemblance to a Republican convention. When both living former Republican presidents, the two most recent Republican presidential nominees, the popular host-state Republican governor and most of the other 2016 Republican presidential candidates all refused to show up or be seen with Trump, it could hardly be classified as a Republican event. Even President Barack Obama, who has an incentive to link Republican candidates to Trump, said the convention "wasn't particularly Republican - and it sure wasn't conservative." Since then, the Trump brand has become increasingly distinct from the Republican brand. Moreover, voters are making that distinction. Post-convention polling often shows Republican Senate and congressional candidates running double digits ahead of Trump. One recent survey shows Republican Sen. Marco Rubio running 6 points ahead of Democrat Patrick Murphy in Florida, while Trump trails Hillary Clinton by 5 points there, a net 11-point advantage for Rubio. Comparable net advantages for other Republican candidates in post-convention polls include Sen. Rob Portman's 10 points in Ohio and Sen. Charles Grassley's 14 points in Iowa. Preserving that level of split-ticket voting, with a substantial number of voters supporting Clinton for president and Republicans down-ballot, is the key to maintaining Republican control of the Senate. How can Republicans preserve those margins? Localize, localize, localize. Successful Southern Democrats gave no more than lip service to their party's liberal presidential nominees, while using the advantages of incumbency to highlight specific ways their service in Washington benefited their constituents. In 1972, Democratic nominee George McGovern's support in the 11 states of the former Confederacy ranged from a low of 20 percent in Mississippi to a high of 33 percent in Texas. Yet in the same year five Democratic candidates won election to the Senate with remarkable majorities: 54 percent for Sam Nunn in Georgia, 55 percent for J. Bennett Johnston in Louisiana, 58 percent for James Eastland in Mississippi, 61 percent for John McClellan in Arkansas and 62 percent for John Sparkman in Alabama. In 1984, Democratic nominee Walter Mondale's Southern support ranged from a low of 35 percent in Florida to a high of 42 percent in Tennessee. Yet Mondale's weakness in the South did not prevent David Pryor from winning in Arkansas with 57 percent or Howell Heflin winning 63 percent in Alabama or Nunn winning 80 percent in Georgia or Johnston winning Louisiana with 86 percent. Democratic candidates employed a mix of strategies to avoid being dragged down by the top of the ticket. In 1972, Eastland and Johnston refused to endorse McGovern, and in return President Nixon showered attention on the Democrats and did little to help their Republican opponents. Nunn took a different tack in 1972 when his Republican opponent covered Georgia with posters linking him to McGovern. Nunn flew to Montgomery, Alabama, to receive the endorsement of then-presidential candidate George Wallace, saying "George Wallace represents the real views of Georgians." Nunn later said, "I frankly admired Wallace, not because of his racial views, but because of his willingness to stand up and shake a fist at Washington occasionally. There's something therapeutic about that in the South." Other Democrats stood by their party's nominee, albeit without mentioning his name. In 1984, Heflin said he was "a yellow dog Democrat" who was going to support "the entire Democratic ticket." But he prefaced that comment by saying that he had spent his first term "doing everything I can to bring jobs back to Alabama," specifically mentioning his support for a new Oliver Lock and Dam and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. This fall will likely bring Democratic ads using morphing and Photoshop techniques that have become ubiquitous with modern software, such as those that linked Republican candidates to George W. Bush in 2006 as his popularity ebbed. Numerous debates will feature Democrats pressing their Republican opponents on whether they support Trump, and whether they agree or disagree with some inflammatory Trump utterance. Republicans can respond with a version of one of the approaches Southern Democrats have used in the past, depending on the character of their particular state or district: refusing to endorse the nominee, especially in states or districts where Trump has minimal support; allying themselves with a third-party candidate; or standing by "the entire ticket" and then talking about their own accomplishments. Historical analogies are never perfect, and incumbents of the past had tools then that are largely unavailable today, primarily seniority and the ability to "bring home the bacon," which Southern Democrats raised to high art. But their success in the wake of a drubbing for their party at the top of the ticket demonstrates the possibility of down-ballot candidates not only surviving but also thriving in turbulent political waters. Ayres is president of North Star Opinion Research, a GOP polling firm in Alexandria, Virginia, and the author of "2016 and Beyond: How Republicans Can Elect a President in the New America." He was the pollster for Marco Rubio's presidential campaign. Speak up to save our waterways While drought is ravaging California, including one fire storm after another and Louisiana is suffering historic flooding, tens of thousands of people have become homeless. This is the face of climate change, not enough water and too much water. Climate change is felt through the disruptions of our water resources. The West has no idea how long a drought can last. It is imperative that we carefully manage our water resources stressed by climate change and a growing population. People and the environment depend on the precious and diminishing fresh water resources. Potable water throughout the world is becoming less available and more polluted each day. Unfortunately, construction and agriculture trumps fish and public needs for clean flowing water. For example, the mighty Colorado River no longer flows to its once vast River delta the size of Rhode Island because cities like Los Vegas and farmers demand the river water over the Colorado River people, the environment, fishing, swimming and recreation. The Colorado once flowed into the Sea of Cortez providing rich nutrients for vast assemblages of fisheries. This iconic river has been entirely diverted away from its riparian corridor for first agriculture and then construction in the Arizona desert. Approval by our political representatives for this type of development has left riverine natural heritage in ruin. The Havasupai first people grieve the loss of the Colorado flows but their cries fall on deaf ears. The Colorado River is a national treasure disappearing in our lifetime due to greed, ostentatious lifestyles and water loving agriculture like alfalfa. Most rivers in California face this same dilemma, including the Napa River, which has abnormally low flows or has been pumped dry by vineyards from June to first rains, leaving stagnant isolated pools. The Napa River once had a robust assemblage of Chinook, Coho, and steelhead populations but now only a few remnant steelhead are left to migrate, rear and spawn. There are few places in the Napa River watershed where steelhead can find adequate habitat to survive their life cycle in fresh water. Public trust values such as fishing, swimming and kayaking are all but gone in the fresh water portions of the Napa River. Government agencies act powerless and let one river after another go dry from over extraction for unsustainable land use, like vines. In December 2014, the California State Legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) due to devastating groundwater depletion throughout the state. Aquifers have collapsed due to over pumping, and land has subsided 30-plus feet in several regions of the Central Valley. Tulare County, Porterville, where 1,800 homes lost their groundwater source, have been surviving on delivered water supplied by the state because the aquifer is over pumped and polluted such that the residents can no longer drink groundwater. Other communities are faced with similar disasters, including Napas south eastern aquifer called the Milliken Sarco Tulocay (MST) which has been in steady decline for decades. The Napa County Board of Supervisors deny this decline and continue to give permits to extract MST groundwater for excessive vineyard developments such as Walt Ranch. The Walt Ranch vineyard development located at the headwaters of Milliken Reservoir, will deforest 24,000 trees for yet more wine. The MST desperately needs the overlying forested watersheds to percolate and recharge our diminished aquifer. Again, Napa County Supervisors refuse to protect our watersheds from irresponsible land owners who clear-cut forests, pollute and continuously pollute our fresh water for wine. Thousands of acres per year are being denuded for luxury wine at the cost of future generations who will suffer water pollution and depleted aquifers. Additionally, the Napa County Board of Supervisors are pressured by the wine industry to continue to sidestep SGMA and regulations requiring a Sustainable Groundwater Plan by 2020. The wine industry pumps 60 percent of the groundwater in Napa County. In early 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) after Ohios Cuyahoga River caught on fire from petroleum pollutants. Since the CWA, almost all rivers in California are listed with CWA for pollution. The Napa River is listed for pollutants such as sediment, nutrients and pathogens. It has taken the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board 28 years to regulator polluters (agricultural lobbyist prevent regulations). Since 2006, the 12 State Water Board Regions, are considering new pollution listing for 88 water bodies with 270 pollutants such as; mercury selenium, PCB, pesticides, ammonia, trash, pathogens, nutrient, sediment etc. The public can finally make comments on new water quality regulations for the Napa River being considered by the WB and due Aug. 29, 2016. This is your chance to voice your concerns for our water resources! Chris Malan Napa President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol 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 Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh 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 Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis dead at 87 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 Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen officially divorced after 13 years of marriage 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 Russian team will play Tajikistan 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? Luka Modric does not accept offers from MLS and wants to return to Tottenham Magnifiers of IT sector: What is quality assurance (QA) profession? 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 ATP 500: Medvedev and Dimitrov in semifinals 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 Europa League Best player of week named (video) 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 Juventus is considering option of inviting Antonio Conte 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 Media Private school founded by Kanye West is closed Armenias Simonyan attends meeting of heads of EEU countries parliaments Real Madrid players Rodrygo and Militao receive Spanish citizenship Anahit Avanesyan learns about Lithuanian experience with comprehensive health insurance in Lithuania 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 Fischer Chess World Championship: Semifinal pairs 'The Crown' series will show moment of Princess Diana's death FLASH therapy relieves pain in cancer patients with metastases 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 Nare Ghazaryan will represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision 2022 Armenia defense minister briefs Austria envoy on situation due to recent Azerbaijan military aggression (PHOTOS) Maribor: 5 Armenian boxers will fight for gold medal 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 Apple plans to release 16-inch iPad US investigation into Alec Baldwin shooting is over A Turkish court ruled for the arrest of three former diplomats, who are charged with partaking in the coup attempt in Turkey. The Ankara court decided to take into custody three former officials, including the former presidential advisor on judicial proceedings, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency. Gurcan Balk, Ali Fndk, and Tuncay Babal are accused of having links with the activities of Fethullah Gulen. Thousands of military servicemen attempted a coup in Turkey, from late night on July 15 to early morning on July 16, but it failed. The main confrontations took place in capital city Ankara and in Istanbul. A total of 246 people died as a result of the clashes. Ankara accuses Turkish Islamic theologian and preacher Fethullah Gulenwho resides in the US since 1999, and his Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO)of orchestrating the failed putsch. And it has petitioned to the US for his extradition to Turkey. President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol 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 Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh 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 The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Mehbooba told reporter after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here that youth in the Kashmir were attacking security forces and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn't provoke them to attack police stations -- and save youth from being killed," the Chief Minister said. The meeting with Modi came just two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Srinagar during which he met with Mehbooba, among others, as the Valley continued to remain on the boil and curfew continued for the 50th day. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said she was happy the central government was reaching out to all stakeholders to restore peace in the troubled state. "I have high hopes from the prime minister." --IANS sar/ap ( 167 Words) 2016-08-27-11:55:57 (IANS) Delhi based start-up and India's leading e-commerce company to provide best coupons and deals for online shoppers Couponhaat is gearing up to raise around USD two million in series A funding. The startup announced the fund raising plans in sync with its expansion plans to increase the team size. Within just one year of its operation, Couponhaat has emerged as the fresh face of the online coupons and deals industry. It offers more than 300,000 coupons to redeem and 7000 live coupons, thousands of product pages and countless deals listed on the site. Over last quarter Couponhaat has raised its graph tremendously and attracted over two million hits on the website. The traffic is steadily increasing each month, since the time of its very inception in the month of April 2015. It has drawn great consumer attention and successfully managed to cater to the growing demand for discounted coupons and deals among online buyers across India. Since the commencement of services, Couponhaat's main focus has been to offer benefits to online buyers by way of providing discounted deals, coupons, freebies, and giveaways. At the same time, Couponhaat regularly updates promo codes, coupons and deals of various brands, which help both buyers and the brands. "We want to raise capital which would help us in turning our plan into reality. So far, we have had a fantastic journey and, now the time has come when we must expand our business into different locations," said Founder and CEO, Couponhaat, Vipin Kumar Yadav. "We are planning to expand within the country as well as abroad. We are eyeing to raise around USD two million and already in talks with potential investors from Europe and Middle East," added Yadav. "Couponhaat.in has been exceptionally setting new trends while serving our widely expanded client-base effectively since our inception. With this capital raise, we are looking to invest more in technology, human resources, marketing and brand building with an aim to grow company's footprints across different markets," added Vipin. (ANI) Atlanta HealthcareTM, one of the pioneers in air purifier segment in India in partnership with Britain's Cambridge Mask Co. has announced the launch of military grade anti-pollution Atlanta Healthcare Cambridge Mask for the Indian market. The move will help strengthen Atlanta Healthcare's presence in air purification space and is in line with the Atlanta Healthcare's vision of fighting air pollution in India. "We are excited to be working in close partnership with Cambridge Mask Co. and bring world class pollution masks to the Indian market to combat extreme air pollution. While we have best of class products to cater to indoor air pollution, we felt that quality products like Cambridge mask would help our customers to breathe pure even when outdoor," said CEO Atlanta Healthcare, Vibhor Jain. "The patented Military Grade filtration technology from the Cambridge Mask company made them the obvious choice for association. This move will allow us to venture into a wider community and expand our consumer base in the country. We are very careful in choosing partners who can seamlessly reflect our brand and Cambridge Mask Co.," added Vibhor Jain. Atlanta Healthcare Cambridge Mask use military grade technology giving protection against dust pollution up to the level of 0.3 micron, gas pollution, nearly 100 percent of viruses and bacteria. The masks come with 3 layers of protection, which consists of primary filter layer designed to filter out larger particles such as dust and pm10 and three-ply micro particulate layer designed to block particulate pollution such as pm2.5. The Military Grade Carbon Layer - made from a 100 percent pure activated carbon cloth, which was originally invented by the UK Ministry of Defence and comprises of a series of activated carbon filaments, each about 2,000 nanometres in diameter. The pores in each filament are 25 times smaller than those in standard carbon materials, and therefore more powerful. This means that bacteria and viruses are drawn to the surface from further away. "Cambridge Mask Co. are excited to be entering Indian market and now offering customers a new choice of masks. We believe no child or adult should worry about going outside- to help with this we have developed a product with military grade technology that looks fashionable," said Founder Cambridge Mask Co., Christopher J Dobbing. "Atlanta Healthcare are a national leader in clean air market and we are delighted to have them as our exclusive partner in India. Together we have many exciting campaigns planned and look forward to helping as many people as we can," added Dobbing. Through an exclusive partnership with Atlanta Healthcare these remarkable masks have entered the Indian market and will be available for sale in the country via ecommerce giants including Amazon, Snapdeal, and Paytm.(ANI) IDP Education India, the leading student placement service provider, yesterday organized the Australian education fair in Gurgaon at the Crowne Plaza for students aspiring to pursue higher education in Australia. The fair, spread across 14 cities, brought together prominent universities and educational institutes from Australia under one roof. The fair kick started on August 21in Kolkata and will conclude in Vijayawada on September 8. Among the other cities, the fair will be organized in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi and Coimbatore. Over 200 students attended the Australian Education fair. Piyush Kumar, Country Director, India - IDP Education said, "IDP seeks to provide a platform to aspiring students to come and have a face-to-face interaction with the university representatives and get answers to all their queries related to studying in Australia. 39 Australian institutions are participating in the fair. It is a FREE platform for all students to gauge their prospects, apply directly to the institution of their choice and get first hand information on courses, scholarships etc." "Australian education has always attracted Indian students for its quality and the availability of post study work opportunities make it even more attractive. Also 20 out of 39 Australian universities feature in world's Top 400 Times Higher Education Rankings," added Kumar. In addition to meeting the institutions, the qualified students can also get application fee waivers and scholarships. The scholarships can range from a fee bursary to a 50 percent scholarship of tuition fee for select students. Students are advised to bring along their educational certificates in original along with photocopies. One can also visit the IDP office to pre-register for priority processing and detailed counselling with trained & experienced Australia counsellors. (ANI) Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Sharad Yadav on Friday said only talks with Hurriyat leaders can ensure a return of peace to the Kashmir Valley. "They have said that there is everything in PDP-BJP alliance for governance. That means only mainstream parties will not be involved in a discussion over the Kashmir unrest, even the Hurriyat should be there. But from day one they are making an issue about it that they will not have talks with the Hurriyat. The Hurriyat don't have single view, they have different views. BJP itself has mentioned this in their agenda that they will have talks with everyone. If they want peace then they should talk with all kinds of peoples," Sharad Yadav told ANI. Yadav said that even the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the valley have not brought about much change in the situation. On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to discussed the current situation in the valley. This was the first meeting between the two after the unrest broke out in the valley last month following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. The meeting comes days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the state, where he assessed the situation on ground and held meetings with representatives of civil society, political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals to understand what needed to be done to restore normalcy in the valley. (ANI) Many are feared trapped as reports came of the fire spreading to the hospital's neo natal and MRI units. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot which are currently trying to douse the flames. First visuals showed patients, among other people, break the windows to escape the premises as the fire continued raging. (ANI) Pondicherry Students Parents Welfare Association (SPWA) has called for education bandh here on September 3 to condemn the 'lethargic' attitude of the government in admitting the students in private medical colleges,who have cleared the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). The bandh is also in protest against the anti-students attitude of the private medical colleges management. Association President Y Balasubramanian told a news conference here today that the 717 MBBS seats in seven private medical colleges and 225 BDS seats in three private Dental colleges should be filled up with the Puducherry students who had passed the NEET. However, the government is not showing any interest on this and was adopting a nonchalent attitude. Hence, to protect the interest of the local students, the bandh call was given, he said and sought the support of all sections to make the bandh a success.UNI PAB CS 1420 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-906137.Xml Calling on the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir to restore normalcy in the Kashmir Valley, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said the cycle of violence has to end and it is the responsibility of the state government to take all necessary steps. "Ex-RAW chief A.S. Dulat, said South Kashmir which was the bastion of the PDP is now a liberated zone. The government is not doing anything. Dulat said that this government talks about Vajpayee, but it does not implement what Vajpayee had done. As a prime minister, he had initiated talks with everyone, including separatists," Owaisi told media here. Owaisi asserted that dialogue is the only way forward. "All the opposition parties have come together and supported the government that we are with you.please take steps to bring back normalcy. I would reiterate the same thing which was said in the all-party meeting that the government must take all the steps, speak to all the stakeholders," he added. The AIMIM chief stated the BJP-PDP in their agenda had said that it would talk to the separatists. "The situation has to be brought back to normalcy. Killings have to stop. Pellet guns should not be used. Today, a security personnel has been killed. So, this cycle of violence has to end and it is the responsibility of the government to take all the necessary steps," he added. Asserting that there is unprecedented crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, Owaisi questioned the role of the Jammu and Kashmir government. "50 days you have curfew over there. Killings are still continuing. Today, also we lost a brave policeman. What is the Jammu and Kashmir Government doing? The Home Minister has gone twice to the Valley. But, the stakeholders have not met him. So, it is for the government to ensure that normalcy is brought back," he added. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti earlier today asserted that if Pakistan is really concerned about the situation in the Valley, then it will try to help in fixing the crisis rather than fanning the flames. Addressing the media here after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 RCR residence, Mufti asserted that he was extremely concerned about the situation and that he had expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's approach towards Pakistan, Mufti stated that he had not only invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath taking ceremony but went to Lahore himself, but the Pathankot incident happened and ties between the two nations went downhill. Calling out Pakistan, she added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces by saying that it will solve the unrest in the Valley. Invoking former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mufti stated that during his regime, talks with Pakistan and the Hurriyat were a common affair because of which, the situation in Kashmir was somewhat neutralised. Appearing to be visibly moved when talking about the rising death toll in the Valley, which mostly comprises of youths and minors, Mufti said that the very kids who had supported her during her campaign days, were now being used against her. Defending the curfew which has now entered its 50th day, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of imposing restrictions was to save the lives of the locals and the children. She further asserted that the separatists must come forward and help the state government in figuring out a solution to the Kashmir unrest. Talking about the all party delegation which is to head to Kashmir to discuss the unrest, she said that developments on the meeting will begin in almost a week's time. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District today. Normal life in Kashmir Valley remained paralysed as curfew and shutdown continued for the 50th consecutive day today in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last month. All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses are closed since July 9. Earlier, authorities arrested several top separatist leaders and extended curfew to large parts of the Valley to foil a separatists' march in Srinagar. The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district. (ANI) Calling for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put in place an institutionalised mechanism of interlocutors to talk to the people to resolve the Kashmir issue. Talking to reporters after meeting the Prime Minister here, Ms Mufti said she told him that talks should be held with all stakeholders in the state, for which he should appoint a group of individuals who commanded the trust of the Kashmiri people, such interlocutors who people would trust will convey their message to the Centre. She said the intra and inter-state confidence building measures initiated during the time Mr Vajpayee had helped transform the situation in the state and the region. ''We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve," she said and added that the present Prime Minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee Ji. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said she outlined to the Prime Minister a three-pronged action plan, including involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue, to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. Ms Mufti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very much concerned over the situation in the Valley and has assured her that the agenda of alliance between PDP and ruling BJP in the state would be implemented to bring an end to violence in the state. She said she had conveyed to the Prime Minister that the agenda on which her party went for an alliance with the BJP was not followed. ''The Prime Minister assured me that the agenda will be implemented, and I hope that it would lead to peace in Kashmir,'' she said.''The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment that the political, economic and developmental initiatives enumerated in the 'Agenda of Alliance' will be implemented with sincerity of purpose.'' This was her first meeting with the Prime Minister after the unrest broke out in the Valley. Earlier, Mr Modi had met an Opposition delegation from Kashmir led by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah. Ms Mufti also blamed Pakistan for fuelling unrest in the Valley, which has been on the boil ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. She praised the Prime Minister and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for taking initiatives to engage Pakistan. The Chief Minister said unfortunately Islamabad lost out on an opportunity for reconciliation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Lahore in December and when Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recently for the SAARC ministerial meeting. "Pakistan also has to take a step forward in the interest of peace and stability in the region," she said.More UNI NAZ AE -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-906295.Xml Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdrawthe recommendations made by Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) allowing Kerala to conduct EIA study for a new dam at Attappady, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa referred to the cases pending before the Supreme Court and the Cauvery water Disputes Tribunal and requested him not to accord any clearance to the projects in the Cauvery Basin of Kerala and Karnataka till the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) were put in place. In a Demi-official letter to Mr Modi, copies of which were released to the media here, she sought his urgent intervention to withdraw the recommendations made by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) forRiver Valley and hydroelectric projects for grant of Standard Terms of Reference for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study on the Kerala government's proposal to build a dam across Siruvani river at Attappady without getting the views of the Tamil Nadu government. She pointed out that the Governments of Kerala and Karnataka have appealed in the Supreme Court against the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Tamil Nadu Government has also moved the Apex Court on certain aspects of the Final Order. ''All the Party States, including Kerala have also filed clarification petitions before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal under section 5(3) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956'', she noted. Observing that these petitions were pending. she said under these circumstances, it was only proper for the Party States to await the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and further judicial decisions before initiating any new scheme in the Cauvery Basin or its sub basins. Ms Jayalalithaa requested him to advise the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and its Agencies and the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation not to accord any clearance to the projects in the Cauvery Basin of Kerala and Karnataka till the CMB and the CWRC come into force and judicial references were finally settled.MORE UNI GV CS 1628 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-906383.Xml Asserting that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is as much part of Jammu and Kashmir as are Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Saturday said it is India's responsibility to get PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore its lost glory. "PoJK is as much party of Jammu and Kashmir as are Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and also Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the fact is, which doesn't come to mind of many people that the entire area of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir was 2.25 lakh sq km, of which only 1 lakh sq km is the part of India. Therefore, it is our responsibility to get PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore the lost glory of Jammu and Kashmir," Singh told ANI. Slamming Pakistan for perpetrating violence in Jammu and Kashmir by exporting home-grown terrorists, Singh said, "Pakistan has been unmasked before the world. The entire world knows that all conspiracies are being hatched in Islamabad. Pakistan is encouraging terrorism on its soil and exporting terrorists to India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, and some misguided elements are becoming its part." Sensitising the youth of of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said, "On the one hand, our responsibility is to defeat Pakistan's design, while on the other hand, we have to sensitise our youth. That if the so-called jihad is so pious, then people who are inciting the youth in the name of jihad and 'jannat' (heaven) why don't they give this pious opportunity to their children. They have already sent their children to Bengaluru, Pune and abroad." Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 RCR residence, Mufti asserted that he was extremely concerned about the situation and that he had expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. "The Prime Minister is quite concerned just the way we are regarding the situation in Kashmir. He re-iterated that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance is to continue the trend of reconciliation with Pakistan that Vajpayee ji had started and use it to solve the problem in Kashmir," she said. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's approach towards Pakistan, Mufti stated that he had not only invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath taking ceremony but went to Lahore himself, but the Pathankot incident happened and ties between the two nations went downhill. "With the situation in Kashmir taking a turn for the worse in the last few days, Pakistan instead of helping us is trying to worsen the situation. They had a golden opportunity to talk about Kashmir when Rajnath ji went to Islamabad recently, but instead he was meted with mistreatment," she said. Calling out Pakistan, she added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces by saying that it will solve the unrest in the Valley. Defending the curfew which has now entered its 50th day, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of imposing restrictions was to save the lives of the locals and the children. She further asserted that the Separatists must come forwards and help the state government in figuring out a solution to the Kashmir unrest. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District today. The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district.(ANI) She also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. two lakh for next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident. Mamata also asked the police, fire department and health department to submit detailed reports in the matter. The fire, which broke out in the second floor of the hospital, claimed three lives and injured 50 children . The deceased included two nursing staff of the hospital and one infant. The fire occurred due to a short circuit in one of the rooms of the hospital. (ANI) Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel today said 60 districts of the country are affected by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).''Central government is providing full support to the state for prevention of this deadly disease now its state government's duty that they should provide proper system to prevent the disease,'' Ms Patel said. While talking to media, she said the Centre was fulfilling all demands of the state in this regard. She advised the state government to provide pure water for the prevention of the disease. Criticising the state government, Ms Patel said Samajwadi Party government had failed at every front. ''Whenever SP comes to power corruption, mafia-rule and crimes increases in the state. Law and order has vanished from the state. Women are insecure and police is providing protection to the criminals,'' she said. Ms Patel said her party Apna Dal will contest the upcoming Assembly election in coalition with Bharatiya Janata Party and will form the government with the majority. On Congress campaign '27 Saal UP Behaal', Ms Patel said loot, corruption and scams were frequent during the Congress rule. Public has not forgotten the scams of the Congress government, she added. UNI XC-JDM MB PR AE 1747 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0105-906548.Xml Reviving the ancient tradition of baby wearing, the founder of Kol Kol Baby Carrier, Bayiravi Mani recently collaborated with famous designer Karishma Shahani Khan of Ka Sha to launch her all-new collection of baby carriers in vibrant colors at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. This year, ergonomic baby carriers were featured as part of the Ka Sha show at the Lakme Fashion Week, which saw two moms walked alongside the designer, a mom herself, all wearing Kol Kol Baby Carriers in fabrics designed by Ka Sha, in style instantly becoming a huge hit and setting the ramp on fire! Baby wearing is an art of carrying babies using a long fabric to hold the baby in the most natural way. It has been in our culture since ancient times when mothers used to carry their baby using a long sturdy shawl, cloth and even bed sheets to snuggle up their babies and get their household chores done with ease. This ancient tradition has been embraced by young parents and is soon becoming a welcome trend as well as a style statement! Kol Kol is the vision of Bayiravi Mani, who wanted to design beautiful and ergonomic carriers following CPSIA standards, to make sure that the parents with new-born babies are comfortable, happy and free to explore the world with their baby in tow! Taking forward her vision, Bayiravi has been manufacturing ergonomic baby carriers in various easy-to-use forms, like Ring slings, half buckle, full buckle and Mei Tai. (ANI) Delhi Special Cell has cracked the murder case of a braveheart constable with the arrest of three accused in the national capital. Constable Anand had sacrificed his life while attempting to apprehend three desperate robbers on August 19 this year near Samosa Chowk, Sector 5, DSIDC, Bawana, Delhi. The policeman gave an audacious chase to the three robbers when they robbed a lady vendor of her belongings and were fleeing. One of them fired at the policeman from his pistol and he succumbed. The arrested accused have been identified as Sumit Thakran (21), Rahul (21) and Sunil (20), all residents of Delhi, police said. Firstly, Sumit Thakran was apprehended and his sustained interrogation led to the arrest of his other two accomplices, they said. The incriminating weapon of offence, along with the motorcycle used in the crime and the robbed cell phone of the complainant of the case, have been recovered. Further interrogation of the accused is underway. Local police has been informed of the arrests. Further investigation of the case is in progress. UNI SY AE SB 1917 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0093-906708.Xml A day after expressing regrets over his party's alliance with the former BJP chief minister Kalyan Singh, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today fired another salvo by defending his act and the police firing on the 'kar sewaks' in Ayodhya in October 1990 during the Vishwa Hindu Parishad sponsored kar sewa at the disputed site of Ram Janam Bhoomi- Babri masjid at Ayodhya. The firing had resulted in death of 16 Karsewaks. The statement of the SP supremo came a day before the crucial rally of BSP president Mayawati in Azamgarh tomorrow, the parliamentary constituency of Mr Yadav. Through this statement the SP Chief had tried to give message to the minorities, which is being targeted by the BSP this time. "I had ordered for the police firing to protect the Babri Masjid otherwise Muslims would have lost faith in Indian constitutional political order. 16 persons were killed in the firing and even if 30 person would have died I would have not changed my order'', said Mulayam Singh Yadav here while releasing a book on his political profile ``Badhte Gaye Shaasik Kadam' written by a journalist. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also very angry with me and had told me that I should not have ordered for the police firing. I had to face all round flak for the police firing but it was necessary to protect the Babri mosque. I had to order for the firing on karsewaks for the sake of protecting the unity and integrity of the nation, said Mr Yadav, who then headed the Janta Dal government in UP. "I regret the orders for shootout on Karsewaks in Ayodhya in 1990. It was a painful decision to maintain the faith of the minorities and the Muslims in the constitutional order of the country I took that decision with heavy heart but it was necessary to preserve the secular political order of the country, thus, remained firm on my stand in UP assembly after the incident where 16 persons were killed and many more were injured'', said the SP chief. Recalling the reaction of the Lok Sabha members after the firing incident SP chief said , "when I went to the Central hall of Parliament I was condemned as the 'killer of the humanity', socialism has taught to take the people along irrespective of their caste, creed and religion''. SP chief said "For the social and political unity of the country its incumbent that there should be no discrimination with anybody on any ground and we have to fight the communal divide and economic disparity''. BJP condemned Mr Yadav's statement saying he is making provocative statements only to hide the failures of the government headed by his son. "Bid to defend police firing on the Karsewaks at Ayodhya is cross populism and vote bank politics to address the Muslim constituency ahead of the state assembly elections. Mulayam Singh Yadav knows of the huge anti incumbency against the SP government headed by his son so has no option but to dig the past to protect his son from the wrath of the people'', said BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak. Political observers feel that Mulayam Singh Yadav is digging into the past only to send signals to the minority community ahead of the crucial state assembly elections due early next year. SP is also fighting the perception that the Muslims are drifting towards the Bahujan Samaj Party. The ruling party also needed to fight the attempts by the small political outfits of the Muslims like the Majlis Ittehedual Musalmeen of Asaduddin Owaisi and 9 other small parties of Muslims have formed a joint front for contesting the next assembly elections. Such parties are fringe players but they do damage the mainstream political parties in UP , where the fate of candidates in over 300 assembly seats is decided by swing of four percent votes.UNI MB PR SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0105-906693.Xml Crime Police of Cyberabad have arrested two Nigerian Nationals who had cheated the public to the tune of Rs 2,25,600 in the name of providing jobs in Qatar Airways and seized 52 Sim Cards, 3 Laptops, 5 mobile phone and 2 Data Cards from their possession. On credible information, Cyber Crime Police arrested Micheal Jemes (30) and Umeadi Valentine Chigozie (32), both residents of Gurudwara Road, Mandawali, Delhi for the offence on August 24, police today said. A complaint was lodged by the victim, a resident of Shamshabad on August 8 and stated that on January 15, this year, she received a mail from informing her about job opportunities in Qatar Airways Company as Assistant Manager with a salary of 7900 UK Pounds. On the same day she received a call from a mobile number and the caller asked to deposit an amount of Rs. 25,500 for visa charges for that they gave an SBI account number of Lalchungnugi, at New Delhi. On January 16, she received another call from the same number regarding deposit an amount of Rs. 20,000 for processing fee. She deposited the said amount on same account. Likewise she deposited the amount in the Bank to the tune of Rs 2,25,600 from January 19 to 28 and there after she developed suspicion over them and asked the police to take necessary action against them. After registering the case, police arrested the accused and brought them here on transit warrant, police added.UNI VV CS 1925 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-906729.Xml Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the country can prosper only if the agrarian economy improves and farmers lives get better with the grower ensured better prices for his produce. Speaking at the valedictory function of the birth centenary celebrations of late Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji at Suttur math near here, he said, "If we have to ensure that India prosper, the farmer should gain.'' Mr Singh said besides improving the agrarian economy, the country should also move forward towards ensuring skill development to every member of the farmers' family. ''It is important that it should be skill development connected to agriculture,'' he stressed. Mr Singh said the union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was implementing a 'roadmap' for boosting the agriculture sector with a target of doubling the income of farmers by 2022. He said agriculture should be made employment-oriented to make it attractive to the new generation cultivators as he noted that agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors were the backbone of the country's economy. Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers Ananth Kumar attended the function, while former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who released a 'chitra samputa' of the seer on the occasion. Earlier in the morning union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said that education must be the base even in rural life and only good quality of education would help the nation's development. Union minister of state for Railways Manoj Sinha released a commemorative postal stamp. Minister for higher education Basavaraj Rayaraddy released the book 'shikshna shilpa', while former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda released the book Gaana Mana.UNI BSP PY 2145 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-906979.Xml The officials of Food Safety Wing of Greater Visakhpatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) with the support of Task Force Police today raided a house and arrested a person for manufacturing adulterated ghee at Muralanagar area in the city, and seized about 1500 kgs adulterated ghee. The police arrested T Sanyasi Rao, the owner of the small scale industry and investigation is on to nab few others. Acting on a tip-off, the team led by Food Safety Inspector GV Appa Rao, along with the Task Force Police, raided the unit and recovered broilers and vanaspati and Palm oil sachets and seized the premises. The GVMC officials said Rao has been preparing the spurious ghee with Vanaspati and Palm Oil by adding around 30 to 40 per cent pure ghee of Visakha Dairy for past six months. The accused confessed that he has supplied the adulterated ghee to the small grocery stores in various parts in the city at less prices and the owner of the stores sell the ghee to people. ''We will send the samples to the laboratory and a case has been registered against Sanyasi Rao under Food Safety and Standard Act,'' said the Food Safety Officer. UNI BSR PY 2217 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-906994.Xml The BJP has formed a committee to prepare a draft agenda for the welfare of weaker section of society. This was stated by the party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe in New Delhi this evening after the day-long meeting of Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states. The four member committee, comprising Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand and Mr Sahasrabuddhe, will prepare the draft agenda within three weeks. The draft agenda will comprise all pro-poor schemes being implemented by the BJP ruled states. The meeting was attended by nine Chief Ministers, three Deputy Chief Ministers and Union Ministers - Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, Manohar Parrikar, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj among others. Addressing the valedictory session of the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states to implement pro-poor schemes of central government effectively in a mission mode. Addressing a joint press conference with Mr Sahasrabuddhe, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Prime Minister touched upon a number of issues including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Fasal Bima Yojana. Mr Singh said, meeting discussed ways to share with each the successful schemes being run by BJP ruled states. Mr Singh said, the meeting primarily focused on pro-poor schemes of the government and its effective implementation in BJP ruled states. Other issues which also came up for discussion include farmers welfare, women empowerment, raising the income poorer sections and good governance. (EDS pick up suitably from earlier series)UNI NY SHK 2238 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0430-907049.Xml Ban also called on all political stakeholders and the candidates to avoid acts of incitement and maintain a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election, Xinhua quoted an officila statement as saying. The UN chief also called on all candidates to "contribute to the integrity of the electoral process by addressing any complaints that may arise through established legal and constitutional channels," it added. Gabon is going to hold its presidential election on Saturday. The country's incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba will compete against 11 other candidates. --IANS sku/ ( 136 Words) 2016-08-27-03:49:57 (IANS) New Zika research released has found that the virus may spread sexually from a man to a woman even if the man had no symptoms of Zika infection.Yesterday the finding came from a report in Maryland where a man who was infected with Zika in the Dominican Republic but had no symptoms infected his female partner who had not traveled to a place where Zika is being transmitted.The study, published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly report on death and disease, suggests that sexual transmission of Zika is no less likely in asymptomatic individuals than in others with symptoms.Current recommendations for preventing sexual transmission of Zika in returning travelers now differ depending on whether the returning traveler is symptomatic and on whether the couple is planning to become pregnant, but that may need to be changed.Separately, health officials in Puerto Rico have reported as many as 10 people who developed the paralyzing neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome as a result of Zika infections.The latest studies add to the evolving picture of the impacts of Zika, a virus previously considered to be mild but which has recently been shown to cause the serious birth defect known as microcephaly, as well as neurological illness in adults.In Puerto Rico, where Zika arrived in December 2015, health officials have been systematically tracking cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome following reports in other countries showing an increase in cases related to Zika.Guillain-Barre causes gradual weakness in the legs, arms and upper body, and in some cases, temporary paralysis.Overall, the Guillain-Barre surveillance system identified 56 cases of the syndrome in people infected from Jan. 1 to July 31, 2016, officials from the Puerto Rican health department and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported yesterday in the CDC's weekly report on death and disease.Guillain-Barre is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself in the aftermath of an infection, typically occurring in the days following an illness.Of the cases in Puerto Rico, 34 patients had evidence of a flavivirus infection, such as Zika, dengue or Chikungunya, and 10 had confirmed Zika virus infections. Diagnostic tests cannot easily discern Zika from related infections, but health officials suspect nearly all of the flavivirus infections seen were related to Zika because that is the predominant flavivirus currently circulating in Puerto Rico.All 34 patients required intensive care, and 12 required a breathing tube and mechanical ventilation. One patient died of septic shock after treatment for Guillain-Barre.In addition to the Guillain-Barre cases, there were seven patients with evidence of infection from Zika or a related virus that developed neurological disorders other than Guillain-Barre. The findings follow reports in other areas that Zika can directly infect adult nerve cells.In the sexual transmission case, current guidelines for preventing sexual transmission of Zika suggest that couples in which one person returns from an area with active transmission but did not develop symptoms of Zika should wait eight weeks before attempting to conceive a child.But men diagnosed with Zika should wait at least six months before attempting to have a child, and women with a Zika diagnosis should wait at least eight weeks.Health officials said more study is needed to determine the risk of sexual transmission of Zika from asymptomatic individuals.As more is learned about how long Zika lasts in semen in infected men, "recommendations to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus will be updated if needed," officials wrote.REUTERS AKC RK0908 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-905780.Xml The Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) has launched an appeal in the Swiss Federal Court against the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) decision to uphold a blanket ban on their athletes competing at next month's Rio Games."The appeal has been launched in the Swiss court," the Interfax news agency quoted RFC president Vladimir Lukin as saying today.The appeal will be held on Monday.Earlier this week the CAS, sport's highest tribunal, rejected an RPC appeal against the ban issued by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).The IPC decision followed revelations of widespread cheating in Russian sport that ignited a doping scandal that has threatened to split the Olympic Movement.The Rio Paralympics run from September 7-18. REUTERS SDR 0035 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-905794.Xml President Robert Mugabe warned protesters today that there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe after anti-government demonstrations descended it to some of the worst violence seen in the southern African nation for two decades.Zimbabwean police fired tear gas and water cannon at opposition leaders and hundreds of demonstrators at a protest against Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF in the capital Harare today. REUTERS SDR 0156 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-905804.Xml Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today it was imperative for Australia to cut its high debt levels, urging newly elected opposition lawmakers to support his economic reform agenda when parliament resumes next week.Turnbull is dependent on their support to rein in a budget deficit projected to reach A37.1 billion dollar, or 2.2 per cent of gross domestic product in 2016/17 after a federal election two months ago returned his Liberal-National Coalition to power with just a razor-thin majority."We are at a critical juncture," Turnbull told the annual gathering of the Queensland state branch of his Liberal Party in Brisbane. "By acting together in the national interest we can improve the budget position, stimulate growth and create the industries that will produce the jobs of the future."Australia is one of only about a dozen countries with a coveted triple-A credit rating from all three ratings agencies - Standard & Poor's, Fitch and Moody's - but they have warned it may be under threat if the country's budget deficit is not addressed.A downgrade would be a political nightmare after successive governments brandished the rating as a badge of honor. It would also "be a blow to confidence" and could lead to a rash of downgrades for Australian banks and companies, the opposition Labor Party has warned.The government in May pushed out a return to a budget surplus by a year - the red ink is projected to fade to 6.0 billion by 2019/20, with the aim of returning the books to balance by 2020/21.To do that, the ruling Liberal-National coalition, which has a slim, one-seat majority in the lower house, will need either the Labor Party or 11 crossbench senators to push through its economic reforms in the upper house when parliament resumes on August 30.Turnbull urged opposition lawmakers to support the government's planned bill detailing some A 6 billion dollar of savings."We have had constructive discussions with all the crossbenchers and we are confident that we can find common ground with them in order to achieve our objectives," he said. "Of course there will be negotiation and compromise." REUTERS AKC RK1125 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-905936.Xml U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have made much headway and only minor details remain to be ironed out for brokering a new cessation of hostilities in war-torn Syria. "I'm grateful that Sergey Lavrov and I were able to work together with other colleagues in the international community through the International Syria Support Group. We were able to cobble together the concept of the cessation of hostilities," Kerry told a press conference on Friday. He said, "Last month in Moscow, Sergey and I reached agreement after discussions with President Putin on a broad set of concrete steps that, if implemented, they would enable us to be able to achieve a meaningful, lasting ceasefire." He mentioned that at the time, both of them had announced that some significant technical details needed to be worked through, adding that the teams have spent the last few weeks working through those details in a productive manner. Kerry said that both countries have arrived at some clarity on the path forward. " We have completed the vast majority of those technical discussions, which were primarily focused on making this cessation real and improving the level of humanitarian assistance, and thereby getting the parties to the table so we can have a serious negotiation about how to end this war. If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities: one, the regime violations, including the aerial bombardment of densely populated areas; and two, the increasing influence of the al-Nusrah Front," he said. He, however, said that a few narrow issues are yet to be resolved, and in the coming days, experts will be meeting in Geneva to conclude the remaining technical issues. Kerry added that once all the issues are resolved, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura will bring the parties back to the table to negotiate a political transition. "That is our ultimate goal and that is the only way that this horrendous war can finally come to an end. It is really the only viable path towards the peace and security and normalcy that the people of Syria desire and deserve," he said. He said that Aleppo continues to be besieged and bombarded by the regime and its allies and the regime has today forced the surrender of Daraya after a brutal four years of the siege and continues to take territory in the Damascus suburbs. (ANI) The actor's cousin , Noor Jehan, who lives in Peshawar, approached shoemaker Jehangir Khan and asked him to make two pairs of Peshawari chappals (in Kaptaan Chappal style) for the actor on Khan's special request, reports the Dawn. However, being a huge fan of the Bollywood star, the shoemaker decided to gift his idol special Peshawari chappals made from deer skin. The shoemaker told media that he'll be sending shoes made of deer skin to the actor, and as the news broke, local wildlife officials arrested Jehangir yesterday. They also took with them the deer skin and the shoes for examination to see whether they are made of deer skin or of any other animal. However, a latest report claims that Jehangir has since been released from jail and will be subsequently fined based on findings. Jehangir Khan is also famous for having designed a Peshawari chappal for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made from lion skin. Noor Jehan also added that she spoke to Shah Rukh Khan yesterday night and he specifically told her to come to India with the Peshawari chappals. (ANI) 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 today.Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighbouring Khost province and Pakistan."Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight."If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said.The attack comes amid heavy fighting in other parts of Afghanistan, notably in the southern province of Helmand, where US military advisers have been deployed to bolster the defences, and around the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly to the insurgents last year.More than 20 soldiers and police were killed and another 20 wounded in the fighting overnight, while some 200 Taliban insurgents were killed, Solamal said. There was no immediate means of verifying the claims of Taliban casualties.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement dozens of Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in Jani Khel and large amounts of equipment had been captured, including armoured vehicles, light and heavy weapons and ammunition.According to US estimates reported in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a Congressional oversight body, Afghan forces control or influence just under 66 percent of the national territory, down from just over 70 per cent at the start of the year.The reduction was partly due to security forces pulling back from exposed areas and concentrating their strength, but after a lull following the death of former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in May the Taliban have stepped up their summer offensive.Some 36 of the 407 districts in the country were under insurgent control or influence, while another 104 were deemed "at risk", SIGAR said. REUTERS AKC GC1315 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-906063.Xml At least 16 people were killed and four others injured in a warehouse fire in northeastern area of the city, RIA Novosti news agency said today, quoting a source in the local emergency services. The injured have been hospitalised, while 12 people were rescued. A criminal investigation is underway by the Russian Investigative Committee. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said fire in northeastern Moscow caused a great number of casualties. People killed in Moscow warehouse fire were likely illegal migrant workers, Interfax news agency reported quoting a source, adding they were citizens of Kyrgyzstan. It said Russian Investigative Committee suspected arson could be the cause of fire.UNI XC PR AE 1540 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0105-906296.Xml Even as it was inviting India to hold dialogue on Kashmir issue, Pakistan today appointed 22 parliamentarians as its envoys to internationalise Kashmir issue, a step that would further diminish chances of any meaningful talks. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians to fight for the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. These special envoys have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the parliament and support from the government" Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said. Sharif said that it was India who approached the United Nation several decades ago on Kashmir issue but was not fulfilling its promise. "Generation after generation of Kashmiris have seen only broken pledges and ruthless oppression," the Pakistan Prime Minister said. He also accused UN of failing to resolving the Kashmir issue. The move comes against the escalating war of words between the two nations over unrest in Kashmir valley in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul terrorist by the security forces. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that he would ask the Indian missions abroad to create awareness around the globe about the atrocities committed by Pakistan on the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Baluchistan. Later in his Independence Day address, he said he was receiving many thanks from these people for taking up their cause. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and directly blamed Pakistan for inciting the violence. UNI XC ASH SHK 1930 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-906728.Xml The coffin of Singapore's former President S R Nathan leaves for the University Cultural Centre from Singapore's Parliament House, Aug. 26, 2016. Singapore held state funeral for former president S R Nathan on Friday, as thousands of Singaporeans gathered to pay their last respects to the country's sixth and longest-serving president. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey) SINGAPORE, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore held state funeral for former president S R Nathan on Friday, as thousands of Singaporeans gathered to pay their last respects to the country's sixth and longest-serving president. A state funeral procession started at 2:00 p.m. when a gun carriage carrying Nathan's flag-draped coffin left the Parliament House, where the former president had lain in state. The procession passed landmarks of significance to the late president, such as City Hall, Fullerton Hotel and NTUC Center, en route to the University Cultural Center (UCC), National University of Singapore, where the funeral service was held. Family members of the late president, Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, other leaders as well as the judiciary and diplomatic corps attended the service at UCC. Lee Hsien Loong spoke highly of Nathan's contribution to Singapore in the eulogy, saying the late president witnessed many of the key events that shaped Singapore. He called Nathan "one of Singapore's greatest sons." Nathan suffered a stroke on July 31, and was "in critical condition" in the Intensive Care Unit at Singapore General Hospital before he passed away peacefully on Monday at the age of 92. The former president was in office for two terms from 1999 to 2011. JINAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three people have been detained in connection with a telecom fraud case in east China's Shandong Province, believed to have led to the death of a teenager, police said Friday. The case came to public attention Friday following widespread media reports of the death of Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old high school graduate in Linyi City. Xu was reported to have lost 9,900 yuan (1,490 U.S. dollars) of her university tuition fees to telecom fraudsters and, according to reports, died of a cardiac arrest on Aug. 19. The Ministry of Public Security has identified six suspects. Three of them have been apprehended and three others remain at large. The ministry put the three fugitives on a most-wanted list Friday and offered an award of 50,000 yuan for information or assistance leading to the arrest of the suspects. Just a few miles away in Linyi, another student, Song Zhenning, was also reported to have died in the same way, having lost money in another fraud case. A third similar incident has also been reported in the city. Photo taken on Aug. 26, 2016 shows the third bridge over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey on Friday opened the third bridge over the Bosphorus Strait, making it easier to travel between Istanbul's Asian and European parts. The bridge, at a cost of nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars, is 59 meters wide with eight road lanes and 1.4 kilometers in length. (Xinhua/He Canling) ISTANBUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday opened the third bridge over the Bosphorus Strait, making it easier to travel between Istanbul's Asian and European parts. "We are connecting the continents," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the inauguration of the bridge named after 16th-century Ottoman Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim known for his conquests in the Middle East. The bridge, at a cost of nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars, is 59 meters wide with eight road lanes and two rail tracks, making it the widest suspension bridge in the world. It is also the longest as it extends 1.4 kilometers. "It will not only serve Istanbul but also serve every journey in the historic Silk Road, starting from the Far East, ending in Europe and bringing civilizations together by connecting people," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on the occasion. All trucks and heavy-duty vehicles are to be directed to the new bridge to ease traffic on the old ones and cut congestion and pollution in Istanbul, the Anadolu Agency said. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov were among the dignitaries attending the opening ceremony, the agency said. ANTANANARIVO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute in Madagascar on Friday graduated 55 students in Chinese language and culture in the country's capital Antananarivo. "Today, you bring credit to Antananarivo University and tomorrow you will be its pride," the president of Antananarivo University Professor Panja Ramanoelina told the graduates during the graduation ceremony. Ramanoelina appreciated the efficiency of Confucius Institute in the promotion of education in Madagascar and was grateful to Chinese investors for job opportunities they constantly offer to the graduates from Antananarivo University. "On behalf of the Malagasy government, I express our deep gratitude to the Chinese government and the Confucius Institute which gave opportunities for Malagasy youth to have a better future," the secretary general of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Christian Ralijaona said during his speech. Learning of Chinese language is essential in mutual understanding between Malagasy and Chinese peoples and the Confucius Institute has continued to promote this mutual relationship since its establishment in Madagascar in 2008, Ralijaon expressed. Some of the 55 graduates will continue their studies in China while some will work in companies as interpreters and tourist guides, the Malagasy director of the Confucius Institute Zo Rasendra told Xinhua. Meanwhile, another 54 students this year also received Chinese government scholarships to study in 11 universities in China for a period from 6 months to four years. The students will fly to China early in September. The Chinese director of the Confucius Institute Chen Lijuan said the number of scholarships represented an increase this year from around 30 annually in the past years. After 8 years of existence in Madagascar, the Confucius Institute works with more than 40 schools in the country to teach Chinese language for local students. MINSK, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Trilateral Contact Group for settling the situation in Donbas on Friday agreed on the necessity to absolute ceasefire in the conflict zone starting Sept. 1, 2016. The participants of the Group in Minsk, including representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, agreed on the necessity to fully stop firing in the conflict zone starting Sept. 1, 2016, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Envoy Martin Sajdik told reporters. Sajdik recalled that he had acted in the past year with the same statements. "Unfortunately, a year has passed, and we have to do it again," he said. The diplomat expressed hope that the children in Donbas will quietly begin the school year. Sajdik also informed the humanitarian subgroup agreed to develop the measures to search for the missing persons and it will be carried out by means of the information exchange through the International Committee of the Red Cross. He said that the group members agreed on necessity to develop the unified approach to the observance of rights and protection of children affected by the Donbas conflict. The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine is scheduled for Sept. 7 in Minsk. Anwar Moghith, director of Egypt's National Center for Translation (NCT), displays his translation work about China's industry after an interview with Xinhua in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Aug. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) by Emad al Azraq, Zheng Kailun CAIRO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-Egyptian cultural year is a great chance to know more about Chinese culture, Anwar Moghith, director of Egypt's National Center for Translation (NCT), told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The Chinese literature is rich, but we do not know much of it. That is why the cultural year is really important, as it is a gate to the Chinese culture," the Egyptian official said. Chinese-Egyptian Culture Year was launched by the two countries earlier this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. Egyptians paid much attention to the western culture in the 20th century in an attempt to modernize the Arab communities, the official said, adding that the Arabs have become "prisoners of Eurocentrism." "However, the results were not what the Arabs hoped for," the official said. Moghith believed that cultural openness to China's experience is extremely vital, especially since China has undergone historic conditions similar to the experiences of the Arabs such as foreign colonialism and underdevelopment. "But China has managed to become an important world economic, industrial and scientific power, a model that many countries admire and follow," he said. China and Egypt have been promoting their friendship and bilateral cooperation in the past six decades, and in December 2014, leaders of the two countries upgraded the relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." China has become Egypt's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching 12.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, while Chinese investment in Egypt hit over 6 billion U.S. dollars and the number of Chinese enterprises in Egypt exceeded 80. Moghith revealed that the NCT is playing a major role in enhancing mutual exchange by translating books. "We have recently translated 20 books from Chinese into Arabic, and another 20 Chinese books from European languages into Arabic, which are about Chinese political, economic and cultural experience," the official said. Moghith stressed the necessity to translate more Chinese works because Egyptians "really need to know more about China and its culture with a history of thousands of years." "I have met with many Chinese officials who are very keen to cooperate, but we have not so far signed any protocols to decide which books would be translated and the commitments of each side," Moghith added. He said the procedures to translate a Chinese book is complicated as the NCT should first ask China Writers Association which contacts the author to get his/her permission. "This takes a long time... we suggest that these procedures be done directly with the Chinese embassy in Cairo," he said. Talking about Egypt's participation at the G20 summit to be held in China's city of Hangzhou this September, Moghith said the economic meeting will similarly serve the cultural interests of both nations. "Economic partnership enhances cultural exchange because trade requires communication, which is an important tool to connect cultures," Moghith explained. RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian police on Friday indicted former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), his wife and three other people for active and passive corruption as well as money laundering. The five are all accused of irregularities in the purchase and remodeling of an apartment on the coast of Sao Paulo and in the declaration of assets belonging to Lula, the federal police announced in a statement. The other three people involved are Paulo Okamotto, the president of the Lula Institute, Jose Aldemario Pinheiro Filho, the former president of the OAS construction company and Paulo Gordilho, an architect. "The couple of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva benefited of illegal benefits from OAS, of a value of 2,430,193.61 reais (745,000 U.S. dollars), in reference of apartment 164-A of the Solaris Building, as well as in the cost of storage of the couple's goods," wrote police inspector Marcio Adriano Anselmo. This is the first formal indictment made against Lula among three ongoing investigations into his actions, including whether he benefited from the Petrobras corruption ring and his suspicious ownership of a country home in the city of Atibaia. The apartment involved, located on the luxurious beach of Guaruja, was extensively remodeled, which was paid for by OAS. The Lula couple has admitted they paid an initial deposit for the apartment but have said they changed their minds and asked for the deposit back. As such, investigators have had trouble proving the apartment belongs to them. The evidence presented by the police will now be analyzed by the prosecutor-general's office, which will have three months to decide whether the accused should be brought to trial. TUNIS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) approved on Friday night the line-up of new national united government headed by Youssef Chahed, with 167 pros, 22 cons and 5 abstentions. The government of 40-years-old Chahed, is composed of 26 ministers and 14 secretaries of state, including eight female members and 14 young members. Five members are less than 35 years old. Chahed will be the youngest Prime Minister since the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956. TUNIS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) approved on Friday night the line-up of new national united government headed by Youssef Chahed, with 167 pros, 22 cons and 5 abstentions. The government of 40-year-old Chahed, is composed of 26 ministers and 14 secretaries of state, including eight female members and 14 young members. Five members are less than 35 years old. Chahed will be the youngest Prime Minister since the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956. Questioned by the deputies, Chahed acknowledged some faults during the past five years and six governments since the revolution in 2011. "We have failed in the past five years... to accomplish our principal objectives," said Chahed, warning this year will be quite difficult and 2017 might be even tougher. "Our country has now 650,000 unemployed population... We predicted the growth could reach 2.5 percent in 2016 but in fact we might not exceed 1.5 percent." According to the new prime minister, his cabinet will have to deal with the deficit, the payment balance and the debt. "The next stage will be more serious," said Chahed who will probably take tight fiscal policy and austere measures. "In order to face our problems, we should transfer the national united government from a simple concept into an executable practice, and then into an attitude." KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- As more and more Chinese companies tap into the burgeoning Southeast Asian market, expert and company officials expect localization to be a key aspect to boost industrial capacity cooperation between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The long-time friendly ties and close neighborhood provide China and ASEAN countries with unique advantages in industrial capacity cooperation, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative, namely the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Lu Jianren of China-Asean Research Institute in Guangxi University sees great potential in cooperation between China and ASEAN that was built on solid foundation. "In the past, we cooperated in traditional sectors like agriculture, now we are working on areas like infrastructure, industrial parks under the Belt and Road Initiative," he told Xinhua in a recent interview during a seminar in Malaysia. Some ASEAN countries are lagging behind in infrastructure where China has advantages in expertise, he said, adding that China have also provided funding support through mechanisms like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund. China has long advocated win-win cooperation with ASEAN and Chinese companies are attaching greater importance to bringing in benefits to the local communities and industries. Tang Zhimin, dean of international college at the Panyapiwat Institute of Management in Thailand, said more considerations should be put into ways in better matching China's industrial advantages with the demand of ASEAN countries. "Localization is very important of industrial capacity cooperation," said Lu. For China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, its ASEAN manufacturing hub based in Malaysia is a all-around exploration for the company to expand operation overseas and seek industrial capacity cooperation. The company has put localization as one of the top priorities. "We use localization to seek breakthrough in industrial capacity cooperation," said Li Hong, general manager of the CRRC Rolling Stock Center. One year into full operation at the facility, the effort has already bear fruits. In the 50-acre CRRC Rolling Stock Center in the Malaysian state of Perak, local technicians can be seen working side by side with Chinese counterparts. "More than 80 percent of our total staff and more than 90 percent of the technicians at the production line are local recruited, as well as two of its four department chiefs," said Li. "We also have our eyes on the future by sending some of the staff to further studies in China, fully funded by the company. We hoped that they could strengthen our management team in the future," he told Xinhua. On procurement, the company has an office devoted to find, cultivate and support local suppliers, which amounted to some 300 ranging from equipment to transportation. Li said the purpose of the CRRC's ASEAN manufacturing center was by no means simply sending in Chinese technicians to do the work, but also to boost local economic development and to train local expertise, a common believe shared by more and more Chinese companies. BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Argentineans took part in a massive hugging activity on Friday to celebrate the National Day of Solidarity, which marks the birthday of Mother Teresa. Organized by the NGO "Hands in Action," the activity saw 380 participants gather in the Plaza San Martin, in Buenos Aires' northern neighborhood of Retiro. However, the campaign failed to beat the Guinness World Record, set in Italy in July by 1,250 people. Maria Carolina Crivellini, a volunteer for "Hands in Action," told Xinhua that the campaign where people hug each other "seeks to encourage Argentineans as Aug. 26 is the National Day of Solidarity. Argentineans stand together...especially during disasters." Argentina has held the National Day of Solidarity on Aug. 26 since 1988. Zhang Xiangchen (2nd L F), deputy international trade representative with China's Ministry of Commerce, and Rodrigo Malmierca (2nd R), Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, sign the conclusive documents for joint projects in the sectors of telecommunications, industry and water resources in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 26, 2016. Cuba and China on Friday signed new agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in a number of fields. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez) HAVANA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cuba and China on Friday signed new agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in a number of fields. Zhang Xiangchen, deputy international trade representative with China's Ministry of Commerce, and Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, signed the conclusive documents for joint projects in the sectors of telecommunications, industry and water resources. "We have reviewed the advances made in our relations and planned out our economic collaboration for the next year," Zhang told reporters after the signing. Malmierca said the agreements prelude an expansion of bilateral economic cooperation. "Chinese investments in Cuba are starting to blossom and we have a joint strategic vision of the future," he said. China is Cuba' s second largest trading partner. Chinese enterprises have participated in many joint projects contributing to Cuba's economic and social development. Photo taken on Aug. 25, 2016 shows the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. Hangzhou is the host city for the upcoming G20 Summit.(Xinhua/Li Xin) by Xinhua Writer Dan Song MELBOURNE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- As one of the world's leading economies and the host of the upcoming G20 summit, China is widely expected to inject dynamism into the group and be a part of the rule-making that will affect the future of the whole world, an Australian researcher told Xinhua in a recent interview. Susan Harris Rimmer, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, said there are high expectations that China's G20 presidency breathes new vitality into the group. The G20 mechanism makes part of the "war cabinet" for the global economy, and it also functions like a steering committee to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, said Rimmer, who served as a policy adviser to the Australian government. As a premier forum for international economic cooperation, the G20 fills an important governance gap, she said, adding that everyone wants to know how China will lead as an economic power. "I hope China brings new ideas to the table, about dealing with climate change and trade and finally bringing some progress on issues like IMF reform," said Rimmer, who attended the G20 summit in St. Petersburg in 2013 and in Brisbane in 2014. The world has pinned high hopes on China's perspective and experience in steering G20 toward a more balanced power-sharing model and a more constructive path for the global economy, she said. She agreed that the ultimate solution to most of the urgent problems needs to bring major industrialized economies as well as emerging markets together and foster closer cooperation among them. Rimmer said "China has declared an interest in representing the developing world and being their G20 champion," and "if China can promote action towards the achievement of the UN 2030 Development Agenda, that will be a significant achievement." Echoing Glenn Stevens, who recently retired as the Australian Reserve Bank governor, Rimmer said the G20 summit in Hangzhou comes amid a new wave of monetary easing policies by central banks around the world and the extent of reliance on monetary policy is worrying. Such measures would not be as effective in boosting growth as many have expected, and the G20 leaders will have to chart a new path out of a sluggish global growth, she said. One of the highlights of the G20 summit in Hangzhou would be a blueprint for innovative growth, which includes a concrete action plan for a new industrial revolution. Rimmer said she was optimistic about the outcome of the two-day event. "G20 needs to focus on building confidence and dynamism with new ideas and agendas. China is to be congratulated for focusing on new and transformative kind of economic activities, such as the digital economy. I am looking forward to the new G20 blueprint for innovative growth," she said. CARACAS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The rejection of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to Venezuela's rotating presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) may affect trade agreements within the bloc, said a Venezuelan deputy to the Latin American Parliament. The situation is expected to put trade agreements within the five-member South American trade bloc at the risk of being suspended, Carolus Wimmer told Xinhua in a recent interview. "These treaties could be paralyzed, to the disadvantage of their own peoples," warned the deputy from the Communist Party of Venezuela. "This implies a paralysis of the internal market, investments, loans and...integration," Wimmer said earlier this week, after a meeting by Mercosur representatives from the three countries and Uruguay failed to work out a solution. "We believe it is fair for Venezuela to assume the rotating presidency of Mercosur which, as is well-known, is determined by alphabetical order and not by a majority vote," Wimmer said. "These three governments are humiliating themselves by playing U.S. police, which seeks to isolate Venezuela and foment a coup against the government of President Nicolas Maduro," said Wimmer. Wimmer said he believes that their move will benefit Mercosur's rival sub-regional trade bloc the Pacific Alliance, which is comprised of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. Mercosur has been divided since late July. Venezuela was scheduled to take over the bloc's rotating presidency from Uruguay on Aug. 1, but Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay think its economic crisis and political problems at home make it unfit to assume the leadership. Venezuela and Uruguay, however, have insisted that the existing order of rotation should be respected. DHAKA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi police have engaged in a firefight during a raid on a hideout of militants in Narayanganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka. Police cordoned off the area since Saturday morning on information about presence of a gang of militants hiding in a house. WARSAW, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Polish discus thrower has sold his silver medal from the Rio 2016 Olympics to help a three-year-old boy with eye cancer. "I did everything in my power to get it (a glod medal). Unfortunately, this time it didn't work. But fate gave me a chance to increase the value of my 'Silver'," wrote Piotr Malachowski on Facebook. He appealed for raising money for Olek Szymanski, who is suffering a rare cancer that only attacks kids under five years old. The athlete launched an auction on www.charytatywni.allegro.pl, a website helping non-government organizations to collect money for their charity goals. The aim of the auction is to raise funds to send little Szymanski for teatment in the United States because Poland lacks the relevant technology. It's reported that an eye operation for the boy costs over 125,000 U.S. dollars. On Aug. 24, Malachowski, who also won a silver medal in Beijing in 2008, wrote on Facebook that the charitable drive had been a success, saying Dominika and Sebastian Kulczyk, the heirs of late Polish billionaire Jan Kulczyk, bought his medal with the highest bid. "We are able to show that together we can make miracles. My sliver medal today is worth much more than a week ago ... This is a big success," he said in the note. Many people were affected by the athlete's charity, praising him in different languages and calling him "a true hero." Lawyer of the suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Jose Eduardo Cardozo (L) and President of the Supreme Court Ricardo Lewandowski (2nd L) take part in the Senate's session, during which the final stage of the impeachment process against 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. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Senate impeachment trial of suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff fell into chaos on Friday, with lawmakers for and against her hurling abuses at each other, forcing a two-hour halt to proceedings. The second day of the trial began on Friday in a tense atmosphere after both sides had tried the day before to get witness testimonies thrown out for not being "impartial." On Thursday, pro-impeachment senators sought to bar the testimony of Esther Dweck, former budget secretary at the Ministry of Planning, while Rousseff supporters tried to dismiss a prosecution witness, Julio Marcelo de Oliveira, for "showing bias" in posts on social media to encourage the public to protest against Rousseff. Ricardo Lewandowski, head of the Supreme Court, accepted the case against de Oliveira while the defense team removed Dweck from its list of witnesses. However, rows and chaos continued on Friday morning. This "impeachment trial has gone mad," Senate President Renan Calheiros said. Lewandowski suspended the trial for two hours over lunch. Geraldo Prado, the first defense witness and legal expert from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said impeaching Rousseff for suspected fiscal irregularities is improper. According to Prado, Federal Court of Accounts accusing Rousseff of fiscal irregularities by delaying payments to state banks and ordering additional loans is unacceptable, since it had deemed such practices legal by previous governments. Prado said any reasonable punishment against Rousseff should not exceed a fine, adding that the parliament was not empowered to remove a president from office for not sharing her policies nor being unpopular. Economist Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo on the defense side noted on Friday that Rousseff had been cautioning against unnecessary expenses. "At a moment when the economy was undergoing a contraction, losing income, the president carried out a contingency plan of an extra 8.5 billion reals" in an attempt to fulfil fiscal targets, said the professor at University of Campinas. The unsuccessful measure "was not a fiscal crime, it was a mistaken economic policy," he commented. More defense witnesses are expected to be heard. However, in order to speed up proceedings, Senator Aecio Neves from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party called senators in favor of impeachment to question defense witnesses only when it is very necessary. On Friday, the O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper published a new poll on the impeachment, showing 54 senators for and 18 against, with 14 undecided or not showing their stance. A total of 54 votes out of 81 are needed to remove Rousseff from office. On Monday, Rousseff will appear and provide her testimony while the prosecutors and defense lawyers present their cases. Her supporters have announced a "march of roses" to be held on Monday "to face the hatred of those in the coup." On Aug. 30, senators will express their opinions about the case. Brazilian media expect the final vote on whether to impeach Rousseff to run into Wednesday, Aug. 31. Rousseff was suspended on May 12, for up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer took over the presidency on an interim basis. 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. : 9 2013 . 9 . . MEXICO CITY, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mexico and China have both made progress in their economic development thanks to the implementation of structural reforms, which could set a good example for the world, said Qiu Xiaoqi, the Chinese ambassador to Mexico. Qiu made the remarks at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Thursday, during a meeting entitled "China's proposal as host of the G20 summit" ahead of the G20 summit in China's eastern city of Hangzhou on Sept. 4-5. "China has undergone deep transformations and Mexico is also undergoing very important reforms which could become a good example for the world," said Qiu. While acknowledging that the international economic situation "is very difficult," the ambassador said China will make a series of proposals during the summit to help with global economic growth. "The building of infrastructure could strengthen links between countries, which can be of great help to the world. I feel that, above all we must have a sense of direction, alongside economic development and innovation. Any positive result must benefit all the countries of the world and all levels of society. On these topics, China and Mexico can cooperate," explained Qiu. In this sense, he said China and Mexico's political relations "were at their best moment in history." "We have maintained a high level of political dialogue. Trust is high and is strengthening between both governments and heads of state," noted Qiu. Returning to the topic of the G20 summit, Qiu said Hangzhou "would see a great international meeting." According to the ambassador, the G20 nations will seek "a cure for the world economy...to inject it with a new vitality, perfect the global economy's governance model and power a new driving force for world growth." He recognized that while China holds the rotating presidency of the G20 "at a critical time...it will do so responsibly." "The entire world has its gaze turned on China and Hangzhou. The summit is arriving at a time of adjustment in the world economy, the transition of the Chinese economy and the transformation of the G20," Qiu said. The summit, he said, would act as a meeting point for emerging nations to integrate China's economic characteristics with the global consensus of developed nations. Qiu said the G20 economies could also create an action plan for the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and start an initiative to help Africa's industrialization and countries that are least developed. "It is hoped that around 40 concrete agreements will be finalized, making the Hangzhou summit one of the most fruitful," he concluded. A police stands guard near the site of a gun battle with militants on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Aug. 27, 2016. The suspected mastermind of last month's deadly cafe attack that killed 22 was among those killed in a police raid in Narayanganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka on Saturday morning, the country's police chief told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Shariful Islam) DHAKA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The mastermind of Bangladesh's Gulshan cafe attack and two militants were killed during a raid on a hideout of militants in Narayanganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka on Saturday, the country's police chief told Xinhua. Three militants including Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury were killed during the special operation of the joint forces, said A K M Shahidul Hoque, inspector general of Bangladesh Police. He said the operation of the joint forces also seized explosives and grenades. Chiwdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian suspected of heading the banned local Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), along with former army officer Syed Md Ziaul Haque, who has been dismissed for a coup attempt, plotted to attack the cafe. The attack was carried out on July 1 in Spanish Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan, in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. Since early Saturday, law enforcers cordoned off a building on receipt of information that JMB militants were hiding there. Hoque said the militants fired and lobbed hand-made grenades as policemen and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members stormed the hideout. In retaliation, police also fired at them, said Hoque, leaving three suspected militants dead. "We've given them an opportunity to surrender," he added. According to the police chief, both Chowdhury and Haque were also behind the attack near the country's largest Sholakia Eid prayer venue on July 7 and the militants were gunned down in Dhaka's downtown Kalyanpur area during a raid on July 26. JMB, campaigning for establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, carried out a series of bombing attacks in 63 out of the country's 64 districts, including capital Dhaka on Aug. 17, 2005, leaving two people dead and 150 others injured. MANILA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured Saturday that there will be no spoilers in the military as it will uphold "the letter and spirit" of the unilateral ceasefire declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte with the leftist rebels. Colonel Edgard Arevalo, chief of AFP's public affairs office, said the 130,000-strong AFP welcomed the breakthrough in the peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Demoratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). "It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of reimposition of the ceasefire 'for as long as necessary' to attain lasting peace in the land," he said. He said the military under the leadership of General Ricardo Visaya "will continue to uphold the letter and spirit of the ceasefire declaration of the Commander-in-Chief." "The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marines, and airmen to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that the negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and the prospect of reconciliation," he stressed. During the five-day formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway, the leftist rebel leadership Friday agreed to reciprocate the indefinite truce declared by the president. Both sides also agreed to work for the declaration of a joint ceasefire and to form a third party monitoring committee that will oversee the bilateral truce. The government and the leftist group hoped to forge a peace pact after a year to end the over four decades communist insurgency in the Philippines. YANGON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw left Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday on a four-day state visit to India, official sources said. It is his first official visit to India after he became president of Myanmar in April this year. He is accompanied by his wife Daw Su Su Lwin and several ministers and top officials. U Htin Kyaw is expected to have talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on bilateral relations and cooperation. During his visit, the Myanmar president will also visit places of historical and cultural importance of India and the visit will help further strengthen and expand traditionally close ties between the two countries, Indian External Affairs Ministry said. Days before U Htin Kyaw's India visit, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj came to Myanmar, during which Swaraj met with the Myanmar president and focused their talks on the promotion of bilateral trade ties, cooperation in transport, health and energy sectors. The Indian side offered to provide technical assistance to the development of Myanmar's agricultural sector. Myanmar and India have vowed to cooperate on border security, pledging not to tolerate any rebel group active on its soil. According to official figures, India's investment in Myanmar amounted to 732.64 million U.S. dollars as of the end of July 2016, standing the 9th in Myanmar's foreign investors line-up since late 1988 when the country opened to such investment. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached 1.711 billion U.S. dollars in the fiscal year 2015-16, of which Myanmar's export to India amounted to 904.16 million dollars, while its import from India reached 807.35 million dollars. The two countries target to increase their bilateral trade volume to 10 billion U.S. dollars by 2020. GARDEZ, Afghanistan, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants after more than one month of besiege overrun Jani Khil district in the eastern Paktia province along the border with Pakistan, member of provincial council Taj Mohammad Mangal said Saturday. "Jani Khil, at last fell to the Taliban insurgents last night," Mangal told Xinhua. Meantime, spokesman for provincial government Naqib Ahmad Atal disputed the report on the fall of Jani Khil district and in talks with Xinhua asserted that the government forces have made tactical retreat from the district. During the fighting for the control of Jani Khil district over the past couple of days, according to Atal, 50 militants and five police have lost their lives and several others injured. A Taliban notorious commander Hafiz Rashid is also among those killed last night in Jani Khil district, the spokesman contended. According to the spokesman, fierce fighting has been continuing for the control of the embattled district in Pakia province. By Naim-Ul-Karim DHAKA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The suspected mastermind of last month's deadly cafe attack that killed 22 was among those killed in a police raid in Narayanganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka on Saturday morning, the country's police chief told Xinhua. A K M Shahidul Hoque, inspector general of Bangladesh Police, told Xinhua that "three militants including Tamim Chowdhury were killed during the special operation of the joint forces." He could not tell immediately identities of the two other militants. Hoque said the operation "Hit Storg 27" of the joint forces also seized huge explosives and grenades. Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian suspected of heading the local banned Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and a sacked army official were named earlier this month as the masterminds of the brutal attack on the cafe that left 20 hostages including 18 foreigners dead. On Aug. 2, Hoque declared cash rewards of 2 million taka each for information leading to the arrest of Chowdhury and sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haq. Operatives of the banned militant outfit reportedly plotted attack on the Spanish cafe in Dhaka's Gulshan to boast about their existence. Hoque said the militants fired and lobbed hand-made grenades as policemen tried to storm the hideout Saturday morning. In retaliation, police also fired at them, saying they left the militants including Chowdhury dead. "We've asked them to surrender but they fired and lobbed hand-made grenades targeting policemen." Since early Saturday, law enforcers cordoned off the building on receipt of information that JMB militants were hiding there. Haque earlier said Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen, and former army major Zia Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque were behind the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the elite Gulshan. In the wake of the two major terror attacks that occurred here, including the July 1 siege staged by militants in advance of the attack, Bangladeshi law enforcers strengthened anti-militant drives. Nine suspected militants were killed as Bangladesh law enforcers last month conducted a similar raid on a hideout of banned Islamist outfit JMB in capital Dhaka. JMB, campaigning for establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, carried out a series of bombing attacks in 63 out of the country's 64 districts, including capital Dhaka on Aug. 17, 2005, leaving two people dead and 150 others injured. Hundreds of JMB leaders and activists were rounded up while six top leaders of the group, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were hanged in 2007. Before the wounds of the July 1 deadly terror attack at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka, that left 22 people, including 18 foreigners and two police officers dead, had even begun to heal, Bangladesh suffered a fresh blow on July 7 when terrorists attacked Muslims' Eid prayers. At least four people were killed, including two police officers and one of the attackers, after several explosions and gunfire took place at the entrance of the country's largest Sholakia Eid prayer venue in Kishoreganj district, some 117 km northeast of Dhaka, on the morning of July 7. LANZHOU, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- A South African pilot was killed after his aerobatic aircraft XA42 plummeted to the ground during a flight show in northwest China's Gansu Province Saturday morning, the event organizer said. Paul Smith died in the crash at about 10:47 a.m. at the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention held at the Danxia airport in the city of Zhangye, the organizer confirmed. A video clip provided by a spectator showed that the plane lost control while making a dive and crashed into the Gobi desert about 100 meters from the airport runway. The crash caused no other casualties on the ground. The U.S. aerobatic flight team that Smith worked for has canceled all flights. Other aerobatic flights went as scheduled on Saturday afternoon. An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way. The Danxia airport, the first general aviation airport in Gansu, opened Friday along with the three-day general aviation convention which will last till Sunday. Zhangye, a popular tourist destination for its unique red gritstone landforms, attracted 15 million tourists and took in 8.7 billion yuan (1.3 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue last year. PHNOM PENH, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni has voiced his condolences to the governments and peoples of Italy and Myanmar following the strong earthquakes in the two countries which resulted in loss of lives and damage. In a royal message sent to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and released to local media on Saturday, Sihamoni expressed his deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and wished the injured persons a swift recovery. "At this painful circumstance, on behalf of the Cambodian people and on my own behalf, I extend to Your Excellency, and through you, to the Italians, especially to the families of the victims, our deepest condolences,"he said. The death toll from the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy on Wednesday has risen to 284 people as of Saturday. In another condolence message sent to Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, the Cambodian king said he was profoundly saddened to hear of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Wednesday, killing three people and damaging at least 185 ancient famous pagodas in the ancient capital of Bagan. "We share the sufferings of the people of Myanmar and express our admiration for the remarkable rescue and recovery efforts in the affected areas and extend our best wishes of complete success,"he said. "We also wish the injured persons a swift recovery." NEW DELHI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua)-- Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a meeting on ongoing unrest in the restive region, officials said. Mufti who came to Indian capital city on Friday evening met Modi at his residence in the morning and discussed prevailing situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir that is on boil for the past 50 days. While authorities have imposed a strict curfew and restrictions, the separatists responded by calling for a shutdown. The lockdown has affected the normal life in the region with people often defying restrictions and hitting roads demanding end to New Delhi's rule. "There is enough space in Indian democracy for people of Kashmir to fulfil their dreams," Mufti told media after her meeting with Modi. Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and India's ruling rightwing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) are running a coalition government in Indian-controlled Kashmir. She appealed the youth in Indian-controlled Kashmir to allow her to govern the region. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance," Mufti said. On Friday, a youth was killed after Indian police and paramilitary troopers fired on protesters in village Nikas-Rajpora in Pulwama district, about 37 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. During the day-long clashes, local newspaper reported that 200 people were injured in the clashes across the region. Mufti strongly defends the government forces and claims only 5 percent people in Indian-controlled Kashmir were resorting to agitation and remaining 95 per cent people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means. Friday's killing has pushed the toll of civilians in the ongoing unrest to 67, besides injuries to thousands of others including government forces personnel. Despite prolonged curfew and restrictions to clampdown on protesters, there seems to be no end to the clashes and protests since July 8, following the killing of a top militant commander. Residents are facing a tough time as shortages of food, medicine and other necessities have hit the region badly. Mufti's meeting came immediately after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded the two-day visit to the restive region on Thursday. Singh told media that Indian government would soon come up with an alternative to pellet guns, which are currently used to control street protests. Earlier this week, Modi held a meeting with a delegation of region's opposition leaders belonging to pro-India parties, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. The weeks of turbulence in Indian-controlled Kashmir has added a new confrontation in the already strained relations between the two countries. NEW DELHI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least two persons have been killed and several others injured in a major fire that broke out at a government hospital in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal Saturday, a senior police official said. "The incident took place at Behrampur Medical College in the state's Murshidabad district in the afternoon. The blaze first broke out in a room on the hospital's third floor and then quickly spread to other adjacent rooms, including the children's ward," he said, on condition of anonymity. While two women, including a caretaker of the children's ward, were killed due to suffocation in the fire, many people, including doctors, nurses and patients, sustained injuries in the fire, while some got wounded while trying to get out, the official said. Local TV channels reported that some four to five fire-tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames and showed footage of smoke billowing out of the hospital. Some reports said that a few patients even jumped off the third floor of the hospital to escape death. According to the hospital administration, the fire originated from an air-conditioned machine. "We have fire prevention and fighting equipment in the hospital. We have to find out how it happened exactly," Suhrita Pal, the hospital's medical supervisor, told the media. The hospital remains crowded during day, and at any point of time it has at least 200 patients and their relatives present, apart from doctors and other medical and non-medical staff. Firemen work at the site of a fire in Moscow,Russia, Aug. 27, 2016. At least 16 people were killed and four others injured in a warehouse fire in northeastern Moscow, local media reported on Saturday. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) MOSCOW, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people, all Kyrgyz nationals, were killed and four others injured in a warehouse fire in northeastern Moscow, local media reported Saturday. The injured have been hospitalized, while 12 people were rescued, the RIA Novosti news agency said, citing an unnamed source. Preliminary information indicated that the fire was caused by the defect of a light fixture in one of the warehouse sections, and the victims might have lost their way in the heavy smoke when the fire took place, the Interfax news agency quoted local officials as saying. The fire has been put out, and Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation. SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 27 (Xinhua)-- An Indian policeman was killed on Saturday after unidentified gunmen fired upon him in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The policeman was attacked in morning at his native village Quil of Pulwama district, about 39 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Gunmen today morning fired upon, from point-blank range, at a police constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai who was on way to reach his duty," a police official posted in the district said. "Ganai posted at district police lines in Pulwama died on spot." Though following the attack, some bystanders immediately removed Ganai to nearest hospital but doctors pronounced him dead. The unidentified gunmen, who police suspect were militants fled from the spot soon after the attack, reports said. Earlier this month, gunmen killed a policeman in a similar attack in Kulgam district of the region. So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. However, of late Indian policemen too have been trained to fight militants. Militants in the region usually target families and individuals for their possible links with Indian police and defense agencies. Even people having associations with pro-India political parties are targeted at times. Meanwhile, locals fished out body of a youth from River Jehlum in Sangam village of district Anantnag. According to locals, the youth drowned in the river following a chase from paramilitary troopers on Friday. "Yesterday three young boys jumped into the river here to escape police chase during protests," Fayaz Ahmad, a local told Xinhua over telephone. "While two of them managed to swim safely to the river bank, the third one went missing in the current of water and his body was fished out today." A paramilitary spokesman of India's Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) told a local newspaper that their men were supposed to chase the stone-pelting protesters. "What can you expect from CRPF men when there is a stone-pelting mob? We are supposed to chase them,"the newspaper quoted the spokesman as having said. Large-scale protests against New Delhi's rule are going on in the Muslim majority areas of the restive region since July 8, following the killing of a top militant commander. So far, 67 civilians were killed and thousands of others including government forces personnel were injured in the ongoing unrest. Despite prolonged curfew and restrictions to clampdown on protesters, there seems to be no end to the cycle of clashes and protests. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. MOSCOW, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The advanced S-300 and S-400 air defense systems of the Russian Southern Military District are being put on combat duty in new positions as part of an ongoing large-scale snap drill, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. Meanwhile, warships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla are conducting various defensive tasks at both the Black and the Caspian seas, involving a host of missile ships, anti-submarine ships, gunboats, missile boats and minesweeping ships, the ministry said in a statement. Fighter jets, bombers and attack helicopters of the country's Aerospace Forces of the Western and Central Military Districts have also started to relocate aviation equipment to airfields in the Southern Military District for the surprise drill. The Russian Armed Forces have started a weeklong snap military drill involving three of the country's four military districts from Thursday to check their ability to "beef up forces" and "defend Russia's interests amid growing security threats." LIBREVILLE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- An independent candidate in Gabon's presidential elections Roland Desire Aba'a Minko has announced his withdrawal from the presidential contest and threw his support behind main opposition candidate Jean Ping. Minko's withdrawal on Thursday night brings the total number of candidates who have stepped down in favour of Ping to four. Others include ex-prime minister Casimir Oye Mba, former president of parliament Guy Nzouba Ndama and Leon Paul Ngoulakia. Officially, there are ten candidates running for Saturday's presidential elections. Over 628,000 registered voters are expected to elect Gabon's president for the next seven years. Incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba and main opposition leader Ping are the two front-runners. CHENGDU, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sichuan Airlines has announced that it is scheduled to launch its first air route to the United States on Oct. 17 to meet increasing passenger flow. Planes will depart Chengdu for Hangzhou and then continue to Los Angeles on Mondays and Thursdays, the airline said. Return flights are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays. The trip from Chengdu to Los Angeles takes 17 and a half hours, including a two-hour stop in Hangzhou. The return trip takes about 19 and a half hours. Los Angeles, a major U.S. tourist destination, attracted a record high of 779,000 Chinese visitors in 2015, up 13 percent year on year. CHANGSHA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top 500 enterprises reported their first annual decline in combined revenues in 15 years with a 0.07-percent drop last year. Among the top 500 firms, 155 reported declines in revenues in 2015, 61 more than a year ago, with many of them representing the overcapacity-plagued coal, steel, oil and chemicals industries. Meanwhile, 72 firms reported losses, 15 more than a year ago. China Enterprise Confederation and China Enterprise Directors Association unveiled the 2016 edition of the Top 500 Chinese Enterprises list Saturday. The list is based on revenues from 2015. The State Grid grabbed the top spot with 2.07 trillion yuan (310 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, with oil giants China National Petroleum Corp. and Sinopec ranking second and third. Haitong Securities, GF Securities and China Galaxy Securities entered the list for the first time as a bull stock market boosted their revenues. Revenues of the top 500 totaled 59.46 trillion yuan (8.9 trillion U.S. dollars) last year. The service sector contributed 40.5 percent of the revenues, outperforming the manufacturing sector, at 39.2 percent, for the first time. Of the 500 firms, 157 are from the service sector, six more than a year ago, and 261 are manufacturers, five less than a year ago. The 500 companies invested 1.48 percent of their revenues in research and development (R&D) on average, with leading search engine Baidu and telecom equipment supplier Huawei spending 15.9 percent and 15.1 percent on R&D respectively. Cui Dianguo, chairman of train maker CRRC Corp., said large companies should speed up overseas expansion to create a global value chain. Turkish soldiers seat in a tank driving to Syria from the Turkish Syrian border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 27, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) ANKARA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish warplanes have struck the People's Protection Units (YPG) militants near the Syrian town of Jarablus on Saturday, Turkish Daily Sabah reported. The airstrikes were launched at 10:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. GMT) eight kilometres south of Jarablus, according to the report. Meanwhile, six more Turkish tanks enter Syria form southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep on early Saturday, witnesses told local media. The Turkish military, which entered the Syrian town of Jarablus as part of an operation to back Syrian rebels sweep Islamic State (IS) militants off the border, hit on Friday the Syrian Kurdish militants by artillery fires. 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 in not allowing the militant group to establish any kind of de facto Kurdish state in northern Syria. The Turkish government claims the PYD enjoys close connections with the PKK, including military and ammunition support through underground tunnels. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 2,000 protesters, mostly college students, staged a rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, demanding the arrest of "Malaysian official 1 (MO1)," an unnamed official whom the United States accused of embezzlement and corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a report that the MO1 received hundreds of millions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the state development fund of the Malaysian government. The protesters, holding placards and banners, which read"Tangkap MO1," or "Arrest MO1," assembled Saturday afternoon at a shopping mall and the National Mosque, and then marched to the Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), chanting slogans such as "people freedom," "Wake up, you are being cheated! They became rich at the expenses of our money," said Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof, one of the protest organizers, referring to MO1. The students could not enter the square due to heavy police presence, which deployed barriers in the area. They gathered outside the square and began a sit-in. "It is a very brave act for the students to speak out for the country," said a 70-year-old retired software engineer who also participated in the rally. The government had said the rally is illegal and warned students not to participate. "Demonstrations are fine enough, just not effective. If you want to change the government, make your choice during the general election," said Nur Jazlan Mohamed, deputy minister of the powerful home affairs ministry, according to the Star. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa speaks during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 Kenyan students who have received Chinese government scholarships will soon leave Kenya to pursue their acedemic dreams in China. Speaking at a farewell ceremony for the Kenyan students, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa said that this year alone, Beijing has offered 450 government scholarships and more than 500 training opportunities for Kenyan youth, state officials and professionals. Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa, Kenyan guests and students who received scholarships to China take a group photo after a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) "China has become one of the most favored destinations for Kenyans pursuing higher education and professional skills abroad," said the ambassador. The Principal Secretary in the state department of higher education, Professor Colletta Suda said scholarships will boost Kenya's aspirations of expanding access to higher education for the youth. Professor Colletta Suda, principal secretary of Kenya's state department of higher education, addresses a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Aug. 25, 2016. The ceremony was held on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) "An opportunity for our youth to access higher education in China is highly valued. The skills these youth will acquire in China will be required back home," Suda said. The beneficiaries of Chinese government funded scholarships were drawn from leading public universities in Kenya where they were pursuing undergraduate and post postgraduate degrees. Fatma Abdullatif Abdallah, a representative of the Kenyan students who received scholarships to China, speaks during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) They will be admitted in several universities in China from early September to study cream courses like diplomacy, engineering and public administration. Suda noted that the Chinese government scholarships have fostered cultural diplomacy while boosting Kenya's efforts to bridge skills gap. "The number of our students going to China for further studies has gradually increased. As a result, our mutual friendship has been strengthened," said the principal secretary. China is committed to fostering mutual friendship with Kenya through educational and cultural exchange programs. The Chinese government has since 1982 offered scholarships to Kenyan students annually. Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2015 shows the prices of fuel at a fuel station in Abuja, capital of Nigeria. Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke on Sunday announced the drop in premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol from 97 Nigerian Naira to 87 Nigerian Naira due to the drop in oil prices globally. (Xinhua/Dare Sholarin) LAGOS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria cannot have competitive economy when there are political and security challenges, a former apex bank chief said Friday. Speaking at a forum in the oil rich southern city of Delta, Charles Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the current slide in oil price was an opportunity for Nigeria to explore other vital sectors of the economy. Though Nigeria was under excruciating pains, there was hope for the citizenry, the professor of economics said. Nigerian Armed officers are seen at the Makoba Beach in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, Sept. 1, 2015. The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said it had uncovered a massive illegal oil bunkering site at the Makoba Beach in Port Harcourt. Over 5000 drums were discovered containing illegal refined diesel. (Xinhua/Dare Sholarin) According to him, the rate of poverty is high, militancy and kidnapping is on the increase while the current recession faced by the country is self-inflicting. He advised the government to fight insurgency completely and maintain peace, saying that this would go a long way in reviving the economy of the nation. He added that the government should allow states to have control of their resources and pay some percentage to it. According to him, this will also help to stabilize the economy of the nation as well as reduce the challenges of insurgency in the country. Traders carry fuel for sale by the road side in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Dec. 16, 2014.(Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa) Earlier on Thursday at a lecture of the Progressive Governors Forum in northern Kaduna, the economist said there should be a coalition of economic policies that can deal with desperate socio-economic issues in a sustainable manner for Nigeria to come out of its challenge. According to him, no state can develop sustainably if the overall governance and economy are in crisis. "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," he added. Vehicles queue to fill their tanks at a gas station in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Dec. 16, 2014. (Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa) "Inclusive and sustainable growth cannot be achieved without conscious efforts to deconstruct the dynasties of poverty and maximize states' and Nigeria's comparative and competitive advantage," he said. Soludo recommended restructuring of the economy from consumption-driven to production-based and consistency in micro economic policies. "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 answers the economic questions and realities of today," he added. ISTANBUL, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey decided to allow policewomen on duty to wear the Islamic headscarf, according to the amendments to the dress code published in the official gazette on Saturday. The gazette said women serving in the Turkish national police force will be able to wear a headscarf under their caps or berets from Saturday, as long as the scarf is patternless and the same color as the uniform. For years, the ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party has been working toward removing the headscarf ban in multiple areas of social life. Turkey allowed female college students to wear the headscarf at campuses in 2010 and lifted the ban for high school students in 2014. Headscarf was allowed in state institutions in 2013. SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Conflict between government forces and Taliban militants in the northern Jauzjan province have left five insurgents dead and 10 others injured on Saturday, police chief of the province Rahmatullah Turkistani said. According to the official, a group of Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Mardian district early Saturday but the attack was repulsed and the militants after leaving two dead bodies and seven injured behind fled away. Three more militants have been killed and three others injured due to firefight in neighboring Qushtipa district on the same day, the official said. Taliban militants who have intensified activities over the past couple of months haven't commented. A woman wearing a "Burkini" joins a protest outside the French Embassy in London on August 25, 2016, during a "Wear what you want beach party" to demonstrate against the ban on Burkinis on French beaches and to show solidarity with Muslim women. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) ISTANBUL, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey decided to allow policewomen on duty to wear the Islamic headscarf, according to the amendments to the dress code published in the official gazette on Saturday. The gazette said women serving in the Turkish national police force will be able to wear a headscarf under their caps or berets from Saturday, as long as the scarf is patternless and the same color as the uniform. For years, the ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party has been working toward removing the headscarf ban in multiple areas of social life. Turkey allowed female college students to wear the headscarf at campuses in 2010 and lifted the ban for high school students in 2014. Headscarf was allowed in state institutions in 2013. BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- With only one week to go before the 2016 Group of 20 (G20) summit kicks off, world media have been drawing a lot of attention to the event and multilateral activities on the sidelines of the summit. During the G20 Hangzhou summit, how to invigorate the development of the world economy and boost global trade and investment will top the world leaders' discussion agenda. The New York-based Fortune released an online video interview earlier this week, showing how Jack Ma, founder and chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba, views globalization. "Globalization is a great thing for the world, the only thing is, how we can improve globalization, to enable more small businesses, more young people, to get involved," said Ma. In the interview, Ma suggested an electronic world trade platform (e-WTP) be set up, which would help private sector enterprises grow their global trade. Reuters on Friday reported on China's advice regarding Japan's role at the upcoming G20 summit, citing Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi's words to a visiting Japanese envoy that Japan should "play a constructive role." The report pointed out that China-Japan ties have been overshadowed by various problems, and cited Yang as saying that problems related to the East China Sea and the South China Sea are "in the interests of neither side." Russia's news broadcast service Sputnik said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to hold a meeting during the Hangzhou summit, amid the two countries' efforts to mend bilateral relations. India's New Delhi Television focused on the leaders who will attend the event in a Thursday report, saying that the maximum number of developing countries in G20 history has been invited to the Hangzhou summit. Kazakhstan's The Astana Times published an opinion piece on Friday titled "What will be discussed by G20 in 2016." The author, who is a research fellow at Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, believed that the G20 is the most important mechanism for solving global economic problems, and said that the summit is taking place in China "during big economic challenges." "It is expected that the second largest economy of the world can help develop a road map which can help find ways to overcome world economic problems," said the article. The 11th G20 summit will be held from Sept. 4 to 5 in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, with China choosing "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy" as the theme of the Hangzhou summit. LHASA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The EU-China Friendship Group in the European Parliament visited Tibet from Wednesday to Friday at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The group visited Norbulingka, Tibet Museum, the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan Thangka Art Academy and Tibet University. Nirj Deva, chairman of the group, said that during the visit, they saw the efforts the regional government has made to protect the local culture, art and history. He added that he would tell the European countries what he saw in Tibet. Tunisia's Interior Minister Hedi Majdoud, Defence Minister Farhat Horchani, Justice Minister, Ghazi Jribi and premier-designate Youssef Chahed, (back row from L-R) Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui, Minister of Religious Affairs Abdeljalil Ben Salem, Minister of Finance Lamia Zribi and Minister to the Head of State for Parliament Relations Iyad Dahmani attend a parliamentary session to present his Chahed's governement at the parliament in Tunis on August 26, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) TUNIS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia's new national unity government was sworn in on Saturday before President Beji Caid Essebsi, after approval from parliament. The government, headed by Youssef Chahed, 40, is composed of 26 ministers and 14 secretaries of state. The new prime minister is a member of the president's Nidaa Tounes party. It is the first time for Tunisia to unite liberals, Islamists, nationalists, figures from the left wing and independents. Late Friday, parliament approved the cabinet line-up, with 168 out 195 lawmakers who attended the session voting in favour, 22 against and five abstaining. The new cabinet will take up office on Monday after a hand-over ceremony from outgoing premier Habib Essid. 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) by Christine Lagat NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Growing up in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, Ann Ng'ang'a witnessed systematic discrimination against women and girls despite their abundant talent and skills that could be harnessed to fuel progress. She was determined at a tender age to defy the stereotype that has always confined women to the margins in many Kenyan communities. The third year student of mechanical engineering at a public college credits her mother and other female relatives who encouraged her to knock fearlessly every barrier that stood in her path with her achivements. Ng'ang'a and a handful of young female college students have been selected to participate in this year's edition of Africa Tech Challenge, a vocational skills competition sponsored by Chinese firm, AVIC International. During an interview with Xinhua earlier this week on the sidelines of the training for the contestants, Ng'ang'a spoke of her passion for engineering that was nurtured while she was in high school. Contestants take part in the final competition of Africa Technology Challenge in Kakamega county of Western Kenya on Aug. 30, 2015. This year's Africa Technology Challenge kicked off in early August and attracted dozens of contestants from all parts of Kenya. The final competition commenced on August 30th and ended on August 31st. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) "I loved physics while in high school aware that it would pave way for me to take up an engineering course in college. During my younger days, girls dreaded technical courses but I decided to defy that myth," Ng'ang'a said. She learnt about the Africa Tech Challenge in 2014 when it was launched in Kenyan tertiary institutions to boost the prowess of young adults in diverse engineering disciplines. "Some of my friends who participated in previous editions of Africa Tech Challenge encouraged me to take it up this year. I qualified for participation in this year's contest having proved my prowess in use of machines to solve problems," she said. She is among some 120 Kenyan students who are going through an intensive training at a university campus in the capital Nairobi in readiness for a contest to gauge their technical skills to be held in late August, alongside a dozen of students from Uganda, Zambia and Ghana. The month-long training is covering two courses that include operation of conventional lathe machines and computer numerical control (CNC) machining. Chinese tutors are conducting the training to boost the capacity of African engineering students to operate industrial machines. Jane Charity takes part in the final competition of Africa Technology Challenge in Kakamega county of Western Kenya on Aug. 30, 2015. This year's Africa Technology Challenge kicked off in early August and attracted dozens of contestants from all parts of Kenya. The final competition commenced on August 30th and ended on August 31st. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) "So far, I have learnt how to operate lathe machines at ease thanks to intensive training and mentorship. It has been possible to put theories learnt in class into practice," said Ng'ang'a. Her ambition is to become an outstanding mechanical engineer upon graduation from college next year. "It will be a great honor to become part of the growing army of female engineers in this country. I intend to use my spare time and mentor young girls to take up technical courses," Ng'ang'a told Xinhua. The China-sponsored contest has provided a platform for budding young engineers in Kenya to hone their skills and network with potential employers. This year's contest, themed of "Made in Kenya", has attracted ambitious youth from universities and vocational training institutes from different parts of the country. Eric Chimwani, a second-year welding and fabrication student at a vocational training institute in western Kenya, said his participation at this year's contest was an eye-opener. "My college mates alerted me about a call for participation at this year's challenge. I participated in the regional competition and was shortlisted to take part in the finals," said Chimwani. His training on operation and maintenance of conventional lathe machines that commenced a fortnight ago has boosted his skills in mechanical engineering. "The training is very rich in terms of content and it is not as challenging as I previously thought. Our Chinese tutors are good and share knowledge without holding back," Chimwani said, adding that future dream is to establish a workshop near his home town to earn a living through welding and fabrication. The top three winners in the conventional lathe machines category in the contest will be awarded scholarships to study for masters' degree in mechanical engineering in China. Executives from AVIC International say the number of Kenyan tutors and students who have gained from Africa Tech Challenge has increased tremendously. "We have trained over 290 teachers and students with technical skills since we first launched ATC in 2014," said Qian Rong, Deputy President of AVIC International. He said that his company had also offered cash rewards, internships and full time working opportunities for groups and individuals who demonstrate outstanding engineering prowess. Congress people take part in the Brazilian Senate's session, in which the final stage of the impeachment process against supended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is started, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Ricardo Botelho/Brazil Photo Press/AGENCIA ESTADO) BRASILIA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Senate impeachment trial of suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff fell into chaos on Friday, with lawmakers for and against her hurling abuses at each other, forcing a two-hour halt to proceedings. The second day of the trial began on Friday in a tense atmosphere after both sides had tried the day before to get witness testimonies thrown out for not being "impartial." On Thursday, pro-impeachment senators sought to bar the testimony of Esther Dweck, former budget secretary at the Ministry of Planning, while Rousseff supporters tried to dismiss a prosecution witness, Julio Marcelo de Oliveira, for "showing bias" in posts on social media to encourage the public to protest against Rousseff. Ricardo Lewandowski, head of the Supreme Court, accepted the case against de Oliveira while the defense team removed Dweck from its list of witnesses. However, rows and chaos continued on Friday morning. This "impeachment trial has gone mad," Senate President Renan Calheiros said. Lewandowski suspended the trial for two hours over lunch. Geraldo Prado, the first defense witness and legal expert from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said impeaching Rousseff for suspected fiscal irregularities is improper. According to Prado, Federal Court of Accounts accusing Rousseff of fiscal irregularities by delaying payments to state banks and ordering additional loans is unacceptable, since it had deemed such practices legal by previous governments. Prado said any reasonable punishment against Rousseff should not exceed a fine, adding that the parliament was not empowered to remove a president from office for not sharing her policies nor being unpopular. Economist Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo on the defense side noted on Friday that Rousseff had been cautioning against unnecessary expenses. "At a moment when the economy was undergoing a contraction, losing income, the president carried out a contingency plan of an extra 8.5 billion reals" in an attempt to fulfil fiscal targets, said the professor at University of Campinas. The unsuccessful measure "was not a fiscal crime, it was a mistaken economic policy," he commented. Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff (L F) takes part in the "act against the coup in defense of democracy and social rights" rally in Sao Paulo Aug. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Rahel Patrasso) More defense witnesses are expected to be heard. However, in order to speed up proceedings, Senator Aecio Neves from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party called senators in favor of impeachment to question defense witnesses only when it is very necessary. On Friday, the O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper published a new poll on the impeachment, showing 54 senators for and 18 against, with 14 undecided or not showing their stance. A total of 54 votes out of 81 are needed to remove Rousseff from office. On Monday, Rousseff will appear and provide her testimony while the prosecutors and defense lawyers present their cases. Her supporters have announced a "march of roses" to be held on Monday "to face the hatred of those in the coup." On Aug. 30, senators will express their opinions about the case. Brazilian media expect the final vote on whether to impeach Rousseff to run into Wednesday, Aug. 31. Rousseff was suspended on May 12, for up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer took over the presidency on an interim basis. 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. TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Live music concerts could be brought under further control of the law and the security forces, Tehran Prosecutor General, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said Saturday. It is recommended that the police legally record the concert performances, and the Ministry of Culture take responsibility for the content of the program, Dolatabadi was quoted as saying, semi-official Mehr news agency reported. The rule came under pressure by the religious hardliners to cancel the permitted concerts in the country, saying they are spreading immoralities and western culture among people. If the relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Police and Tehran's Governor agree with the recommendation, then it can be practical, Dolatabadi added. Earlier this month, the live music performances were banned in Iran's northeastern Muslim Shiite pilgrimage city of Mashhad. The election of Hassan Rouhani as the President in 2013 was a promise for greater social and cultural reform, but the conservative drives have appeared as a challenge for his administration to push ahead with its agenda. Tehran's top prosecutor on August 27 recommended strict new rules for concerts in the capital, the latest in a tug of war between moderates and conservatives that has already seen live music banned in Iran's second city Mashhad. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Live music concerts could be brought under further control of the law and the security forces, Tehran Prosecutor General, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said Saturday. It is recommended that the police legally record the concert performances, and the Ministry of Culture take responsibility for the content of the program, Dolatabadi was quoted as saying, semi-official Mehr news agency reported. The rule came under pressure by the religious hardliners to cancel the permitted concerts in the country, saying they are spreading immoralities and western culture among people. If the relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Police and Tehran's Governor agree with the recommendation, then it can be practical, Dolatabadi added. Earlier this month, the live music performances were banned in Iran's northeastern Muslim Shiite pilgrimage city of Mashhad. The election of Hassan Rouhani as the President in 2013 was a promise for greater social and cultural reform, but the conservative drives have appeared as a challenge for his administration to push ahead with its agenda. Passengers got off the driverless mini bus at a designated stop in Hernesaari, Helsinki on Friday morning. (Xinhua/Li Jizhi) by Juhani Niinisto, Li Jizhi HELSINKI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- It was quiet on Friday morning. A self-driving test was carried out for less than four hours along a several-hundred-meter section at a seaside public road in Hernesaari district in Helsinki. Impatient at the slow speed of the unmanned mini-bus, a following car overtook it side by side. The passengers inside the driverless bus could feel it braked automatically. The attendant explained that the bus will slow down if it detects through its laser eyes any unexplainable object. It is not able to tell whether it is a harmless car or a human. Even though there was no chauffer, the passengers were accompanied with an attendant who could switch on manual steering, should it be required. Without driver's cabin, the French made EZ-10 bus can carry 12 passengers at a time. Although it can reach the speed of 40 km per hour, it has been running at 11 km per hour. Indeed this test project seemed to have much clout in pro-technology Finland. In the past week, the free-of-charge drive has attracted hundreds of viewers and passengers, including journalists, entrepreneurs, engineers, researchers and normal citizens. A SUV followed the driverless bus on a public road in Hernesaari, Helsinki on Friday morning. (Xinhua/Li Jizhi) On Monday morning, five or six passengers were expecting the bus to start moving from its designated stop at Hernesaari, but the attendant told them a tow truck had been ordered and must be awaited. The automated bus needs no tow, but someone had parked cars on the side of the street in a way that could disturb the automated travel. A tow-away truck arrived soon and removed the wrongly parked vehicles. Finally the bus could move. The organizers of the project Nordic Way have highlighted the open street environment of the tests. But the streets have to be predictable for the bus to venture to the road. If the bus' sensors find anything unusual, they behave like an inexperienced driver and first slow down and then stop. The make-shift bus stop also had a sign prohibiting "standing at the stop when the bus leaves". The bus cannot move if it detects something near the bus. While automated buses have been used in closed paths in several cities in the world, operation as part of regular street traffic has been rare. The project manager Harri Santamala told Xinhua the unique aspect in the Finnish test is that automated buses are moving on a regular street. He said the Finnish transport safety authority Trafi allows real environment tests, as Finnish laws do not specifically require automobiles to have a driver. The project offers an open invitation platform that companies can utilize to develop new products and services related to driverless vehicles. One of the companies involved is Nokia. Matti Mustajarvi from Nokia's Innovation Steering unit told local media last week that the company aims at securing a functioning communication network to serve such an automated car. He said that it was too early to predict what the development leads to, but probably "totally new products" will be developed. Santamala took distance from the idea that automated buses could replace public transit soon. "But they could serve in the feeder systems to transit", he said. The test buses will leave Helsinki in September and appear in Espoo and Tampere, another two major cities of Finland. Over the winter, the electric vehicles will face inclement winter street conditions. CAPE TOWN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Implicated in a corruption scandal, the wealthy Indian Gupta family announced its intention on Saturday to sell all of its shareholding in South Africa by the end of the year. "We are already in discussions with several international prospective buyers and will soon be in a position to make further announcements," the family said in a statement. "We believe that this decision is in the best interests of our business, the country and our colleagues," said the statement. With huge business interests in South Africa and close ties with President Jacob Zuma, the Gupta family has been accused of "state capture" by influencing Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers. The family, however, denied the accusation. Following the scandal that rocked South Africa, the family decided to step down from all executive and non-executive positions in all their South African business in April 2016. Ever since, the local management team has grown the Gupta's businesses from strength to strength, with turnover and profits showing good growth and more jobs created, said the statement. "As a family, we now believe that the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses which we believe will benefit our existing employees, and lead to further growth in the businesses," it said. Enditem CHICAGO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chicago police officers killed 92 people and wounded 170 others in a six-year span from 2010 to 2015, according to the newly released data. A Chicago police officer on average fired shots at someone every five days, data compiled by Chicago Tribune after tracking and analyzing every Chicago police shooting in the 2010-2015 show. The data show that during the six-year time span, police officers fired at least 2,623 bullets in the 435 shootings, with 262 people shot; about four out of every five people shot by police were African-American males; about half of the officers involved in the shootings were African-American or Hispanic; and the number of shooting by police has declined from more than 107 in 2011 to 44 in 2015. But despite the decline, Chicago still outpaces other major cities, say Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Philadelphia in terms of police-involved shooting. The data also show a wide racial disparity in terms of who is shot: 80 percent of the 262 people shot by Chicago police were African-American; 35 or 14 percent were Hispanics; and only 14 or less than 6 percent that were shot were white. Chicago Tribune' s analysis finds that the shootings occurred all over the city of Chicago but were more common on the South and West sides, where certain blocks have been plagued with drugs, gangs and unrelenting poverty for decades. Few police officers that have fired shots were punished, the analysis finds, as the police union contract prevent the police department from identifying officers after a shooting unless a lawsuit has been filed. Moreover, the Independent Police Review Authority's (IPRA) investigations of police-involved shootings usually had testimony and reports from other police officers who backed up one another's accounts, a phenomenon of "code of silence" that has been criticized for years. Actually Chicago police are the only witnesses listed in most of the shootings, with civilian witnesses listed in just 83 of the incidents, the analysis finds. In all but a few shootings the agency investigated in the six years, IPRA ruled police officers were justified in use of deadly force. Chicago Tribune said it has battled for seven months and even threatened to sue under Freedom of Information Act before getting its hands on these data. 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 ballisticmissile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the start of annual South Korea-U.S. war games, Seoul's military said. (Xinhua/File Photo) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council "strongly condemned" the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Aug. 23, saying that the launch is "in grave violation of" the Pyongyang's international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions. In a statement issued here late Friday, the 15-nation UN body also strongly condemned the ballistic missile launches conducted by the DPRK on Aug. 2 and July 18, and the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the DPRK on July 9. "These launches are in grave violation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's international obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016)," the statement said. 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. "The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council further regretted that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while Democratic People's Republic of Korea citizens have great unmet needs," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond," the statement said. On Wednesday, the United Nations urged the DPRK to "take steps necessary to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue on denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. In a related development, China strongly opposes the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THADD) anti-missile system in South Korea, saying it would worsen tension on the Korean peninsula and threaten regional security. Greek protesters take part in a rally on first anniversary of Greek referendum on the third bailout in central Athens, Greece on June 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- A new round of talks between the Greek government and international creditors will resume on Aug. 29 in Brussels during the first Euro Working Group meeting after the summer lull. Greece's ministers of finance and economy Euclid Tsakalotos and Yorgos Stathakis will meet with European Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici in Brussels to prepare for the Euro Group meeting on Sept. 9, according to an e-mailed press release from the Greek Finance Ministry. The aim is to make some progress by Sept. 9 on the issues which will be on the key issues on the agenda, such as the prior actions for the disbursement of the next 2.8 billion euros (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) tranche and the completion of the second review of Greece's third bailout since 2010. The lenders' envoys are expected to return to Athens in September to discuss the remaining steps that need to be taken to unlock further rescue loans to the debt laden economy. "The difficult measures are now behind us," Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassilis assured in an interview printed on "Agora" (Market) newspaper on Saturday. However, financial analysts in articles written in "Vima" (Tribune) and "Naftemporiki" (Shipping Trade news) commented that the government was "racing against time" and "it is no easy task to meet imminent targets." Greece needs to implement some 20 prior actions in September and a further 15 by the end of October, Naftemporiki noted. Among them in September the government will have to pass its fiscal policy program for 2017-2020 through the parliament and in October to make further progress on the privatization program by transferring more utilities to the new privatization fund. A Chicago police officer is seen shooting his weapon at a moving car (C) in this still image from video taken from a body camera released by the Chicago police in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 28, 2016. (Chicago Police Department/Handout via Reuters) CHICAGO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chicago police officers killed 92 people and wounded 170 others in a six-year span from 2010 to 2015, according to the newly released data. A Chicago police officer on average fired shots at someone every five days, data compiled by Chicago Tribune after tracking and analyzing every Chicago police shooting in the 2010-2015 show. The data show that during the six-year time span, police officers fired at least 2,623 bullets in the 435 shootings, with 262 people shot; about four out of every five people shot by police were African-American males; about half of the officers involved in the shootings were African-American or Hispanic; and the number of shooting by police has declined from more than 107 in 2011 to 44 in 2015. But despite the decline, Chicago still outpaces other major cities, say Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Philadelphia in terms of police-involved shooting. The data also show a wide racial disparity in terms of who is shot: 80 percent of the 262 people shot by Chicago police were African-American; 35 or 14 percent were Hispanics; and only 14 or less than 6 percent that were shot were white. Chicago Tribune' s analysis finds that the shootings occurred all over the city of Chicago but were more common on the South and West sides, where certain blocks have been plagued with drugs, gangs and unrelenting poverty for decades. Few police officers that have fired shots were punished, the analysis finds, as the police union contract prevent the police department from identifying officers after a shooting unless a lawsuit has been filed. Moreover, the Independent Police Review Authority's (IPRA) investigations of police-involved shootings usually had testimony and reports from other police officers who backed up one another's accounts, a phenomenon of "code of silence" that has been criticized for years. Actually Chicago police are the only witnesses listed in most of the shootings, with civilian witnesses listed in just 83 of the incidents, the analysis finds. In all but a few shootings the agency investigated in the six years, IPRA ruled police officers were justified in use of deadly force. Chicago Tribune said it has battled for seven months and even threatened to sue under Freedom of Information Act before getting its hands on these data. NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN food agency on Saturday called on African nations to prioritize food security, which it said has an important role to play in preventing conflicts and crises on the African continent. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said the impact of agriculture has proven to be an engine for post crisis recovery in a number of countries in the world. "We need to focus our attention towards supporting agriculture and rural development as this helps create jobs, provide income and boost youth employment," he said early this week during a meeting on food security and building peace building in Africa. Da Silva noted that the approach has proven successful in Angola and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) as it has prevented distress migration and radicalization, as well as mitigate disputes over depleted resources. The link between conflict prevention and development is of particular importance in the region, which is host to nearly 60 percent of active UN Peacekeeping Missions. And whilst armed conflicts across Africa as a whole have decreased in recent years, this trend has been uneven across the continent. In the DRC, FAO has worked with partners on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of former combatants by providing them with the agricultural skills, knowledge and supplies -- an approach proven to lower the risk of ex-combatants rejoining militias once they are empowered with access to food and income-generating activities. Da Silva called for the adoption of this strategy in other post-conflict situations by providing secure and resilient conditions that meet the needs of rural people in terms of nutrition and livelihoods. Somalia Deputy Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Abdullahi Ali revealed that 40 percent of the country's population currently live on one meal a day due to insecurity. He said the worst affected are the 10 percent of the population that live in the internally displaced camps. "We are launching a development plan before the end of the year that will set a road map towards ensuring food security in the country," he said. "Despite the current situation, we have developed workable strategies that have put agriculture, fisheries and tourism in the frontline," he added. The Director of IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development Solomon Munyua observed that so long as one member of IGAD is unstable, the region will never be peaceful. Munyua called for the solution to root cause of conflicts by improving social livelihoods and building cohesion amongst the communities. "The eight member IGAD countries need a solution to unemployment amongst the youth to discourage them from joining militia groups," he said. FAO and partners are working in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia to support the peaceful use of natural resources and prevent the spread of trans-boundary livestock diseases. They are also working in the Sahel region supporting pastoralism and empowering. Leaders in Central African Republic (CAR) are also resorting to putting agriculture at the center of the country's recovery by providing food security and jobs for rural youth. ANKARA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- One Turkish soldier was killed and three others wounded after a rocket fired from the People's Protection Units (YPG) forces hit a Turkish tank in northern Syria, the state-run Anadolu news agency said Saturday. It was the first fatality the Turkish army suffered in its recent military campaign inside Syria. Meanwhile, Turkish warplanes hit and destroyed a YPG ammunition depot in Syria's Jarablus, military sources told CNN Turk. The Turkish military, which has entered the Syrian town of Jarablus as part of the "Euphrates Shield" operation to help Syrian rebels sweep the Islamic State (IS) militants off the border, hit late on Thursday the Syrian Kurdish militants by artillery fires. 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 in not allowing the Democratic Union Party (PYD) militant group to found any kind of de facto Kurdish state in northern Syria. The Turkish government claims the PYD and its military wing YPG enjoy close connections with the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), including militant and ammunition support through underground tunnels. ROME, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit central Italy Wednesday evening has risen to 291, said the Civil Protection agency on Saturday evening. The death toll in the worst-hit town Amatrice was 230, while the number of victims in Accumoli and Arquato del Tronto were 11 and 50 respectively. A man, who was injured in the town of Arquata del Tronto, receiving treatment at a hospital in Perugia, died from serious injuries. Authorities have released the names of 181 victims. The youngest was five months old, the oldest 93. Six Romanians, three Britons, a Spanish woman, a Canadian and an Albanian died in the calamity. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday attended the mass funeral for the 35 victims in Ascoli Piceno, the capital of the Marche region. Dozens of caskets were lined up in a cavernous gymnasium in Ascoli Piceno. People bid farewell to loved ones, kneeling, crying and placing their hands on flower-covered caskets. Renzi told one youth at the funeral,"we will decide all together how to get going again. But don't give up, that is crucial.". Mattarella, during his visit to Amatrice, met and thanked rescue workers who have been working since early Wednesday to save people trapped in rubble and recover the dead, reported State TV Rai. Investigation has been launched into some of the incidents, including the collapse of a belltower in the town of Accumoli, which smashed through the roof of an adjacent building killing a family of four. "What happened cannot just be considered fate," said prosecutor Giuseppe Saieva, who is leading the probe. Italy has declared Aug. 27 a national day of mourning and flags in public places are flown at half-mast to commemorate the lives lost. Funerals for the victims of Amatrice and Accumoli will be held on Aug. 30, according to Rai. Aftershocks continued to hit the area, the strongest measuring 4.8 magnitude on the Richter scale. More than 1,300 aftershocks occurred since Wednesday's biggest quake, according to the Italian geological institute. BELGRADE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Boat Carnival in Belgrade opened Saturday by the riverside of the Sava River as an annual event to attract tourists and to promote the development of the city. The carnival was opened by children releasing models of boats made of recycled materials into the Sava River in front of thousands of visitors, who gathered to observe this year's procession of decorated boats and enjoy in concerts and children shows by the river. Around 100 vessels, boats, jet-ski, sailboats took part in this year's carnival in Serbia at a new location -- at the reconstructed promenade along the Sava River, in front of the Belgrade Waterfront, a new luxurious settlement which recently began construction. Director of the Tourist Organization of Belgrade Miodrag Popovic said the new Sava promenade is a good location for the traditional carnival, and this is a great occasion to promote Belgrade's riverside. "All city departments and secretariats have invested efforts in this Belgrade Boat Carnival, and this is the crown of the summer season for Belgrade," Popovic said. Jelena Stankovic, PR of the organizer, the Tourist Organization of Belgrade told Xinhua that this year's edition of the carnival continues to promote the tourist potentials of Belgrade's riverside as well as the "spirit of togetherness Serbian people share with visitors during manifestations like this". "Belgrade is a city of festivals and this is one of our most important manifestations that marks the end of the summer season," she told Xinhua, explaining that participants of the carnival procession are members of jet-ski, sailing, nautical, rowing and other clubs as well as private and tourist boats. Deputy Mayor Andreja Mladenovic estimated that the carnival grew into "one of the most exciting manifestations that attracts not only domestic but also international tourists." "A large number of people of Belgrade come down to the river to see the ships as well as a large number of international tourists because this is a real attraction," Mladenovic said. "Belgrade is a tourist center of this part of Europe. Every year we have double-digit growth of tourists, double-digit growth of overnights, and increase in number of cruise ships. This is one of the main potentials of our capital city," Mladenovic added. The party by Belgrade's Sava River started with the boat procession lasted until the evening hours and included majorettes, entertainers and talented young musicians and ended with a concert and spectacular fireworks. Congress people take part in the Brazilian Senate's session, in which the final stage of the impeachment process against supended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is started, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Ricardo Botelho/Brazil Photo Press/AGENCIA ESTADO) BRASILIA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- On Saturday morning, Brazil's Senate began hearing the testimony of the final two defence witnesses in the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff. These are Rousseff's former Minister of Finance, Nelson Barbosa, and Ricardo Lodi, a law professor from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Three previous defense witnesses were heard on Friday but the trial was extended into Saturday due to delays. Barbosa was fierce in defending his former boss, saying that "there is nothing remotely illegal (in the alleged fiscal maneuvers carried out by Rousseff). You cannot act retroactively with a new interpretation of the law." This line of defense has been adopted by all Rousseff's witnesses. Rousseff has been accused of seeking to hide a budget shortfall by delaying loan payments to public banks and taking out of new loans without seeking congressional approval. However, these moves have been common practice for years, argued the witnesses, and were never held to be illegal under previous governments. "In 2009, 32 processes for extra loans were opened. They were approved by the TCU (the federal accountability office) without conditions," added Barbosa. Friday's session was marked by chaos as opposing factions hurled insults at each other, forcing the Chief Justice of Brazil's Supreme Court, Ricardo Lewandowski to suspend the trial for two hours. On Monday, August 29, Rousseff will take the stand, where she is expected to blast the Senate for a trial she views as an unjust coup. Speaking to the press on Saturday, Rousseff's chief lawyer and former justice minister, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, said that Rousseff "would maintain a presidential tone...while showing her indignation at an attack on democracy." "She must show the injustice of this situation. It is natural for a person to show indignation when suffering an injustice. The president will show, without losing the tone of a head of state...herself to be a woman who always fought for democracy, who suffered prior injustices," said Cardozo. Concerning the presence of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was indicted Friday on corruption charges, Cardozo said he would be welcome. "His presence anywhere to provide his support...is highly welcome. Should he come, he would be very important to show that this is a great injustice. This is a process which represents a break with democracy, a true farce," he explained. BERLIN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 38th "Long Night of Museums" has been celebrated in Berlin from Saturday night to Sunday early morning. A number of 77 participating museums have remained open until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday and organized hundreds of activities for the event. Mayor of Berlin Michael Mueller kicked off the "Long Night" at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday in front of the prestigious Old Museum on the Museum Island. Chinese doctor candidate Lv Yanhong from Berlin's Charite teaching hospital started his visit from the Pergamon museum nearby, which is famous for its Islamic culture exhibition. "It's my first time to take part in this event. I'm interested in history and military, so I plan to make full use of tonight to visit some museums with related themes," Lv told Xinhua. The traditional cultural event of the city has been celebrated twice a year since 1997. Visitors can access to all exhibitions in these museums with one common entrance ticket, also take free shuttle buses between different museums. Not only the convenience, but also some special programs prepared by different museums for the event help attract more visitors than in ordinary days. In German history museum, a music band called Cherry Bandora was performing Greek-Turkish style songs. The museum has made it as recommendation for the "Long Night". The night became deeper, but the Moellers were still in high spirits. "We have just visited the New Museum, because my son Damian is interested archaeology. The items on display are great. We will go to another three later," said Mr. Moeller outside the Berlin Cathedral. Berlin has been lightened tonight by these museums' lights, also history, culture and art they represent. DAMASCUS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kurdish fighters said they had confronted an attack by the Turkey-backed rebels in northern Syria on Saturday, marking the first clash between the groups, following Ankara's military intervention in northern Syria last Wednesday. The Military Council of Jarablus, a part of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the encounter occurred in the village of Amarneh south of the city of Jarablus, which has recently been captured by the Turkey-backed Free Syria Army (FSA). The SDF said they destroyed three Turkish tanks, a claim that proven right by many Turkish media outlets. Stopping the SDF advance was the main target of the Turkish military campaign in northern Syria. On Wednesday, a group of the FSA accompanied by Turkish tanks and special forces crossed the borders from Turkey into Syria, capturing Jarablus from the Islamic State (IS) group. The operation cut the road before the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the allied SDF could take that city, as it was the Kurdish groups' next target, following a series of successful operations against the IS in northern Syria near the Turkish borders. Meanwhile, the Nour Addien Zinki group, part of the FSA, said it had succeeded with the help of other factions of the FSA of capturing Amarneh after clashing with the SDF. The Turkey-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. On Saturday, Turkey sent more tanks to back up the FSA in the battles against the Kurdish-led groups. Smoke rises from damaged police headquarters after a suicide truck bombing killed eleven Turkish police officers and injured 78 people on August 26, 2016 in Cizre, southeastern Turkey, in an attack blamed on Kurdish militants, state media said. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kurdish fighters said they had confronted an attack by the Turkey-backed rebels in northern Syria on Saturday, marking the first clash between the groups, following Ankara's military intervention in northern Syria last Wednesday. The Military Council of Jarablus, a part of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the encounter occurred in the village of Amarneh south of the city of Jarablus, which has recently been captured by the Turkey-backed Free Syria Army (FSA). The SDF said they destroyed three Turkish tanks, a claim that proven right by many Turkish media outlets. Stopping the SDF advance was the main target of the Turkish military campaign in northern Syria. On Wednesday, a group of the FSA accompanied by Turkish tanks and special forces crossed the borders from Turkey into Syria, capturing Jarablus from the Islamic State (IS) group. The operation cut the road before the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the allied SDF could take that city, as it was the Kurdish groups' next target, following a series of successful operations against the IS in northern Syria near the Turkish borders. Meanwhile, the Nour Addien Zinki group, part of the FSA, said it had succeeded with the help of other factions of the FSA of capturing Amarneh after clashing with the SDF. The Turkey-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. On Saturday, Turkey sent more tanks to back up the FSA in the battles against the Kurdish-led groups. BRASILIA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazil aims to court Chinese investment at the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Hangzhou, China, scheduling a seminar for investors and meeting with officials over a joint investment fund. The seminar will take place in Shanghai the day before the Sept. 4-5 summit, Carlos Marcio Cozendey, undersecretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Thursday. Cozendey, Brazil's so-called sherpa to the G20, declined to give further details, saying that would have to wait until the impeachment trial against suspended president Dilma Rousseff concludes. Brazil's Senate is expected to vote whether to impeach Rousseff for alleged fiscal wrongdoing starting on Tuesday. By Wednesday, the outcome should determine whether Rousseff resumes her duties, which appears highly unlikely, or interim President Michel Temer is instated to see through her term. Should Temer be confirmed president, said Cozendey, he will be going to the summit to present his country's political changes and new economic plans. Brazil and China are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a China-Brazil fund to finance infrastructure projects in the South American country. Also in the works is a memorandum of cooperation in trade and services, designed to establish permanent mechanisms for the highest-level talks in those fields. In Hangzhou, Brazil's leader is also set to meet with Roberto Azevedo, the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from Brazil, and with the leaders of Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are to hold their own meeting in Hangzhou. Loquan is new NGC president His appointment takes effect from September 1. The NGC made this announcement in a statement yesterday. The company said its chairman Gerry Brooks is pleased to announce the appointment of Loquan who has over 30 years experience in the petrochemical industry. Brooks said. Loquans extensive international experience and knowledge of the global energy sector, will bring a wealth of technical and leadership capability to the company and position NGC to achieve its strategic objectives. Loquan has held numerous leadership roles in countries including the USA, Europe, Africa and TT. His most recent role was that of CEO, Yara Pilbara in Australia, where he was responsible for restructuring of an existing ammonia facility and integrating the site with a recently-constructed world-scale technical ammonium nitrate plant. The latter was a joint venture between Yara International and Orica. A graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (1st Class Honours) and earned his MBA at Duke University, Fuqua School of Business, Durham, North Carolina, USA. He is also a Distinguished Alumni of the UWI. Loquan began his career in the energy sector in 1982 as a process engineer at Trinidad Nitrogen Co. Ltd. He moved on to various leadership positions before being appointed as the first local President of Hydro Agri Trinidad (now Yara Trinidad Ltd) in 2002. In 2009, he was appointed as President, Upstream, Business Development for Angola/ Sub-Sahara Africa for Yara International before moving to Australia in 2012. 6 held as cops search for Cyons killer Police raided several houses in La Romaine during the early morning hours on Thursday. The teenager was among six men held when officers stepped up their search for the killer of nine-year-old Cyon Paul. The La Romaine Roman Catholic primary school student was gunned down last week Friday while on his way to purchase hot dogs a short distance from his Byron Street, La Romaine home. A 35-year-old visually impaired PH driver has since been questioned by police and released as the probe into the killing of the young boy continued. In an interview with Newsday on Thursday, the visually impaired mans mother pleaded his innocence saying he can only see from one eye and was the target of gunmen on the fateful night outside a bar in La Romaine. She believes a stray bullet intended for her son, may have struck and killed little Cyon. She claimed that her entire family is now living in fear and members of a gang want her son dead because they believe he may be able to identify the gunmen who fired at him and in so doing, shot Cyon in the process. On Thursday, officers led by Head of Southern Division Snr Supt Pesnel with the assistance of ASP Ramdeo, Insp Don Gajadhar and Sgts Teeluck, Joseph and Ifill, mounted a door to door search in various areas in La Romaine. Police said 15 houses were searched as well as six abandoned lots of land but nothing illegal was found. The suspects range in ages of 17 to 33 and were all held during a nine-hour anti-crime exercise which ended at 10 am yesterday. Also assisting in the ongoing crime operations were Cpls Mohammed, Lewis and PCs Plenty, Mohess, Antoine and others. Jail for assaulting cops in courthouse Kevon King, 33, of Riverside in Marabella, appeared in court on Thursday afternoon when he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police officers, using obscene language and resisting arrest. King, a maintenance worker and father of one, appeared in the Fourth Court before Magistrate Natalie Diop to answer the four charges which stemmed from one incident. Court prosecutor and attorney Cleydon Seedan said that on Wednesday after a court ruling in the First Court, King became agitated and began speaking in a loud tone while in the precincts of the court. King was professing his innocence and accused police officers of setting him up . The court heard that police officers told King to lower his voice but instead he continued, during which he used obscene language. Special Reserve Police Dustin John of the Court Support Unit, attempted to arrest King who tried to fight him off. During the incident King pushed John who fell on the ground. Johns colleague, Police Constable Bruce Lee, went to his assistance and was also assaulted. With the assistance of other police officers, King was subdued and subsequently charged by Cpl Ramsamooj. Both John and Lee were treated and subsequently discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital. Attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented King, informed the magistrate that since 2010 his client had been back and forth to the courthouse which led to dissatisfaction and frustration. Attorney Lucky added that emotions rang high and his client lost it. The attorney made an application for a non custodial sentence adding that King really meant no disrespect but was propelled by emotions. On the obscene language charge, Magistrate Diop sentenced him to 15 days in prison and five months on each of the outstanding three charges. The sentences are to run concurrently which means King will serve five month in jail. St Augustine shooting victim dies Griffiths family spoke to reporters at the Forensic Sciences Center yesterday and said despite small arguments, he was not a violent person. They are struggling to understand why anyone would want him dead. A relative who asked not to be identified, recalled the last moments she saw Griffith. I spoke to Kadeem on Wednesday. He might give you talk and thing. But if you ask him to do anything he would do it. He was the most loving, caring person I knew. He always used to ask for food or money for his phone. I know my daughter will miss him she cries when I tell her that is her cousin not her brother. She is only four but she loves him very much. I would miss the phone calls of him calling and harassing me for food or asking If Im okay. Another relative said that she too was deeply saddened when she learned of Griffiths killing but said that she left the fate of Griffiths killers in the hands of the Lord. God doesnt miss. What goes around comes around. Whoever did this, their own end might be even worse. He was an innocent person. We were talking the Wednesday night because Thursday was my birthday. I told him (Kadeem) I want to do something this year. I turned 55. We wanted to make some bags to give them little children. And he said he would help me. And yesterday was my last daughters birthday. So all of us are taking it badly. The relative added that while Griffith generally kept to himself, he was held for possession of cocaine last month. She urged young people not to be led astray by the wrong company. Taxi driver charged with robbing passengers Oliver Benjamin Sampson, 42, of King Street, Princes Town appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, in the First Court, charged with a total of four offences. Three of the offences alleged that on Tuesday at Factory Road, Reform Village in Gasparillo, he together with other persons, armed with a firearm, robbed three passengers of a quantity of cash and personal valuables. These charges were indictable and the accused man was not called upon to enter pleas. The fourth charge against Sampson - possession of a device for use of a dangerous drug - was laid summarily and he pleaded guilty. PC Gervais laid the charges. Yesterday, court prosecutor Cleydon Seedan told the court that on Wednesday at Guaracara/Tabaquite Road in Harmony Hall, Gasparillo, police officers intercepted a car driven by Sampson. They searched the vehicle and found the device. Defence attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented Sampson, told the court that his client is married and works as a taxi operator. On the charge of possession of the device, the magistrate fined him $200 or 14 days in jail. On the armed robbery charges the magistrate granted him $100,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace with a $35,000 cash alternative. The magistrate adjourned the case to September 23. Prisoner escapes from Hospital After being examined by doctors, Lendore was reportedly taken to a ward and handcuffed to a bed. A lone prison officer assigned who keep guard over him, left Lendore asleep on the bed and went outside the ward. Upon checking the ward later on Wednesday evening, the prison officer discovered the bed empty and louvre panes missing from a nearby window. The prison officer reportedly saw Lendore running along the corridor downstairs with his hands still handcuffed and raised an alarm. After an unsuccessful attempt to recapture Lendore, the officer notified the St Joseph Police station who together with a party of officers from the Northern Division Task Force conducted a search of the area. Police described Lendore as a dangerous criminal who has a history of firearm and robbery offences. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lendore are asked to contact E999 or 800-TIPS. LAPTOP-LESS Students will not be given personal laptops, Garcia said. Laptops will be the property of the school. Fifty laptops will be for a schools Form I pool of student while 50 will be for the Form II pool, the minister explained. Some 12,600 laptops will be supplied in the new term but will be the property of the schools, at a cost of $63 million, compared to an annual cost of $253 million by the PP to outfit every First Form student with his/her personal laptop. Chief Education Officer Harrilall Harricharan said the laptops will each cost about $2,400, compared to $2,500 to $4,100 cost per laptop, over the previous five years. Otherwise, Garcia promised no reduction in the Governments provision of free school meals. Based on his introductory remarks that the meals are for those in need of assistance, Newsday asked if there will be any cuts in the National School Feeding Programme, to which Garcia declared, No, no, no! Stacy Barran, of the National School Feeding Programme, said the provision of 90,000 lunches and 58,000 breakfast meals will continue, but to try to incorporate more local foodstuffs, working with the Ministry of Agriculture. She cited breadfruit, cassava and watermelon. Asked if local foodstuffs are more costly than imports, she said costs can be kept down by bulk-buying. She said the Programme constantly monitors if pupils are actually eating the meals supplied, and gave an example of a tasty local dish as cassava muffins. Apart from laptops and meals, Garcia declined to take questions on pressing matters such as the status of school repairs and school readiness for the new school term which is a little over a week away. In brief remarks after the press conference, Garcia said sewer repairs are ongoing at the nations schools, there is yet no change in the Governments closure of GATE to persons over 50 years of age and no change in the States provision of textbooks to schools, but a ten percent top-up in supplies at most forms in primary and secondary schools but 100 percent replacement at Infant level. Garcia justified the cutback in laptops by lamenting on the colossal waste and a need to get value for money, as he alluded to pupil misuse of laptops to play games instead of studying. He bemoaned a lack of backup for the laptops including teacher training and Internet access at schools. He said Harricharan had run a study to assess the effectiveness of laptop use, especially to meet this Governments policy of infusing ICT into the school curriculum and exposing all pupils to ICT. Garcia said the study found problems arising from the former PP regimes alleged lack of an ICT Policy, citing one pupil saying that a lack of Internet access had led pupils to use the laptops mainly to play games and record school fights. He said the provision of one laptop per pupil was found to be counter productive as it led to no increase in student performance in core subject-areas. Garcia detailed the deficiencies in laptop use found by the Ministrys study. The study found no ICT Policy including a lack of monitoring and evaluation, poor governance structure and management of the programme, poor backup infrastructure in schools, limited Internet access, lack of training of teachers to integrate ICT into the school curriculum, insufficient laptops for teachers and poor quality of laptops. Garcia revealed his Five Point Plan to remedy these shortfalls. This includes an ICT in Education Policy including cyber- bullying and social media policy, establishment of governance structures to monitor laptop use, an ICT Training Plan for teachers and educators, curriculum reform to support ICT infusion and provision of ICT infrastructure and equipment including Internet access and ICT labs. Harricharan the Central Tenders Board will do an open tender to acquire the items. He said the Ministry has upgraded the specs/specifications of the laptops, so as to buy items of better quality than before. Monitoring and support are also being upgraded, he added. Asked if the schools could secure the new laptops, he said the Ministry will work with them, such as by provision of charging-cards to remedy past problems of schools having no charging facilities. Harricharan said most teachers are computer literate but they need training in how to infuse ICT into the curriculum, such as could be provided by working with the Commonwealth of Learning. Former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday responded to the laptop decrease saying the policy change will deprive 36,000 pupils (Forms One and Two) of personal laptops and is a betrayal of the populations trust. All secondary schools and some 300 primary already have computer labs, said Gopeesingh. So giving them these laptops is only to deceive the country when in fact this Government is reneging on its election promise. The Government should hold its head in shame. He criticised Garcia for reducing the supply of school textbooks, stopping the Homework Centre programme, removing coursework from the SEA Exam and stopping 60 school construction projects which commenced under the former PP regime. They are spiting the students. Nothing has been done in the country in the past year in any Ministry. The people are suffering, Gopeesingh said. Send us to jail, please The two said they would be better served if they were behind bars. Terry Mohammed, 53, and Satnarine Baldeo, 44, both pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John to the charge of robbery with violence. M o h a m m e d , through his attorney Frank Gittens, cited an ongoing battle with substance abuse which was responsible for his deviant action. Mohammed added that he has been living on the streets for the past five years. He is homeless and has no family. I am instructed that my client has a history of substance abuse. He said he made the unfortunate decision (to commit the act) at a desperate time. He says he wants to serve a short time (in prison) to stay away from substance abuse. He cannot pay a fine, Gittens told the court, as Mohammed wiped away tears. Likewise Baldeo, via the same attorney, suggested to Magistrate Forde-John that State accommodation will be best at this time. Baldeo apologised for the crime and noted that he has relatives in Broadway, San Fernando, but had been living on the streets for the past five months. Mohammed and Baldeo together with another person, armed with a knife, are said to have robbed a pedestrian, Premnath Amarsingh along Harris Promenade, San Fernando on July 15. Amarsingh, the court heard, was robbed his of a gold bera (jewelry worn on the wrist), a cheque, a cellular phone, cash and other personal items together valued $2,381. Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan, in relating the facts of the matter, said that Amarsingh was walking along the promenade when he was accosted and robbed by three men. A report was made at the San Fernando CID and Constable Mohess subsequently investigated, apprehended Mohammed and Baldeo and the laid the charge. Defence attorney Gittens told the magistrate yesterday that both his clients were remorseful. Magistrate Forde-John sentenced both men to nine months in prison. Mohammed and Baldeo made their first court appearance on July 18 for the crime but Magistrate Forde- John then denied them bail and remanded both to the St Anns Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation. Let the PM judge me Pressed for a comment on this issue yesterday as he toured the Central crime hotspot of Enterprise in Chaguanas, Dillon said he will keep his personal thoughts on his performance as Minister to himself. Yesterday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on Prime Minister Rowley to take personal responsibility for the National Security portfolio in the face of at least 420 murders committed since the September 5 General Election when the Peoples National Movement (PNM) was voted into office. Asked by reporters how he rated his own performance as he nears the one year anniversary as Minister of National Security, Dillon said: I leave my performance to be rated by the Prime Minister and the people of Trinidad and Tobago. To me, it is an internal assessment I do and I continue to do every day. I leave it to myself. I rate myself and criticize myself more than anybody else. Regarding the 420 murders reportedly committed since the PNM assumed office, Dillon argued that it was important that murder is not looked at in terms of statistics. We cant just deal with murder in terms of statistics because when you boil it down to a measure of statistics, it means that you lose the sense of caring and concern that would affect somebodys brother, somebodys sister, somebodys son, somebodys nephew who may have lost a loved one through crime. Dillon stated that he found it more important to focus on being concerned and finding solutions to the issue of crime. Minister Dillon, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Rodney Smart, Deputy Commissioner of Police Wayne Dick, Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodath Dulalchan and other senior police personnel toured the Enterprise community. Dillon said the purpose of the tour was to liaise with the divisional commander on the ground to see for myself, to treat with any issues, any challenges, to get a chance to talk with the people from the area on a first hand basis what are the issues from their standpoint with respect to crime and criminality in the area. Asked why Enterprise was chosen out of all other communities, Dillon said that his walk-through Soogrim Trace earlier this year had positive effects and hoped the same could happen for Enterprise. During the tour, Dillon said he supports the Police Service in dealing with crime and reiterated the role the police and a community plays in curbing crime in respective areas. This came two days after the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) made a call to the Prime Minister to make Divisional Commanders more accountable for crime in their area. Dillon, reminded the media of a strategy that was adopted in April where Deputy Commissioners took a new responsibility over high risk regions across the nation to interact daily with the divisional commanders and advise them on how to deal with crime in those divisions. Asked for practical examples for how exactly this strategy worked, Dillon referred to a change in the style of language used by Divisional Commanders recently that showed their sense of ownership for their areas. I think you would have seen conversations coming out where the divisional commanders are in fact saying in my division, I am taking charge of this and I am taking charge of that. You would have heard it quite recently...you are seeing the ownership being taken. Walk to honour social workers Originally from St Vincent but living for the past 27 years in Canada with his wife and three children, Daniel said he is a social worker and was invited to Trinidad to spearhead efforts in sensitising people to the worth of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Social Workers. I am just here to set the platform to get the attention of the entire country. I am going to walk for three days around the Queens Park Savannah non stop without sleeping. The association would send the message out as to why it is being done, he told Newsday yesterday, as he prepared for the start of his walk from the Brian Lara Promenade, along Frederick Street, to the QPS. Daniel was expected to have police escort during his walk. This was not the first walk of this kind for Daniel as he has walked for eight days non stop in 2008. I have walked from Montreal to Brooklyn, New York. I have walked around many Caribbean countries. I have attempted to break the world record for the longest walk and next year I am going to walk across Canada from west to east. Then I would sleep about three hours a day, and that would take about three to four months, he said. Daniel said his walks have not been in vain as he has walked for causes such as suicide, cancer, diabetes, hypertension. So yes, it is very impacting because the more we can do let people know what is happening with lifestyle diseases, I think every step we take is very worthwhile, he said. Daniel said he always prepared one year in advance for any walk with hydration, physical training and mental preparation. You dont just get up tomorrow and say Im going to walk for ten days. Medical doctors have said it cannot be done for a human being to walk for six or seven days without sleeping and still be with us, but I have proven with good mental control and mind power and synchronise your physical attributes, as well as your spirit, you can achieve anything, he said. Daniel said he ensured that he received medical check-ups regularly, and ensured that he was rehydrated after each walk. He added that the support of his family, which was 100 per cent, was essential. It is important to have the family support, it is very crucial to have your mind be settled. If you dont have that, its like you are imbalanced, he said. Vice president of the TTASW, Sharon Francis-Gaines, said the purpose of the awareness walk was to raise a community, as well as a national consciousness, of the values and contributions made social workers in TT. Francis-Gaines said they needed to improve the system of delivery they provided. We recognise that we receive clients from every spectrum of society from the very rich to the very poor. A client may be someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes who would have had a healthy lifestyle and they realise that they have been diagnosed, and that may have a rippling effect on the family and eventually become a client, she said. Francis-Gaines said social workers saw clients who were differently abled, had gone through various types of abuse--physical, emotional, sexual. Because of that we recognise that in TT one of the things that need to occur is that we need to have a coordinated approach to services. We are trying to get legislation in place so that policy would speak to the aspect to us having a licence. PSA prayer day on Monday At a press conference yesterday in front the Ministry of Finance, Port-of-Spain, Duke said a lot of their members are burdened by the weight of concerns the government has placed on them. Persons are asked to stay at home to pray and fast or they can go to work to pray and fast or join us on the Brian Lara Promenade to pray and fast, Duke said. Discussions among us lead us to believe that workers are contemplating their future, whether it makes sense to continue working for money that is being devalued on a day to day basis. He continued, They are not only talking about the US currency, but we are talking about the devaluation that comes about from increases in NIS, increase in VAT on non-vatable goods, increases in the general course of living, their income, their purchasing power is being reduced. We are now asked to make magic with little. Duke lamented that the PSA and members are sending a robust message to those who occupy the Finance Tower and the Treasury, that they must take care of the public service. He said the public service is the arms and legs used to extend service to the public and it is time that priorities are given to the workers. We need a salary that mirrors the challenges in the times in which we live. Many persons have not been paid and some of those persons will be coming out on Monday, many of them are wondering what will become of their jobs because we are still hearing about the TTRA (TT Revenue Authority), we are still hearing about a number of privatisation and it worries us, he said. Duke further added, Monday we will be here from 6 am to 6 pm and persons can be engaged in a day of prayer and fast. It is only the first of many fasting to come. We are saying come and let us sit at the table and have discussions, if there is no money let us talk still, there may be other things that we can request and you can provide that can satisfy our concerns. Ailing mother gets breathing machine I am a Canadian living in Canada and I am glad that I can help, the Mountain Grove, Ontario national told Newsday. When I read it, I had one available and I said I must find a way to send it to her. He continued: I work in health and I read Newsday everyday to keep abreast of whats happening with your countrys health system. The donor however wanted to express his gratitude to JetWorldwide, Canada for all the assistance the company provided in getting the machine to Trinidad. He said: They waived all costs and for that I am grateful. Several locals also responded by dropping off cash and groceries for Dick and her family. Dick, 39, a mother of five has been diagnosed with obstructive apnea a condition in which the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep and causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses. The condition is common in persons who are overweight. The former security guard is also anaemic and suffers with hypertension. She is scheduled to undergo three surgeries including gastric bypass. She is unable to work because of many health challenges. She expressed her joy and relief in finally receiving the much needed machine. I am very thankful to everyone who has helped me and my family. I have been through so much in my life already, Dick told Newsday as she recalled having to watch her three year old son burn to death in a house fire eight years ago. She said she was unable to save him despite her best efforts. I will never get over that pain and I often sink into depression. Doctors believe it is contributing to her ill-health. Only on Wednesday she was discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital after falling ill last week. Mayor Valentine out This means after the next local government election there will likely be a new mayor for the nations capital - the third mayor within the space of a few months. Former Mayor Raymond Tim Kee resigned after controversial, victim-shaming remarks made in the wake of the murder of female Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya this Carnival. On Thursday, the PNM screening committee chaired by PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley, met at Balisier House from around 5 pm to 11 pm. Going into the screening, Valentine had been asked if he would seek to return as Mayor. I am supposed to, he told Newsday on Thursday afternoon. However, hours later, he was out. He was screened in the presence of the executive of Northern PoS and after the screening they decided not to go with him, said PNM general secretary Ashton Ford. We dont give out reasons of the screening committee. We just make decisions. Asked if there was still a chance for Valentine if the executive does not find a suitable replacement, Ford said, No. At this point in time, no. He later said, It is on hold. Another screening meeting was due to take place yesterday in relation to the Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation and the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation. That screening was due to be held at the PNMs South Regional Office, Navet Road, San Fernando. The Northern PoS executive will have two weeks to bring forth other candidates. Several other screening exercises remain outstanding in relation to Point Fortin, Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo, Princes Town and Mayaro, Ford said. Contacted yesterday, former Mayor Tim Kee ruled out a return to the PoS hotseat. No way. Are you crazy? he told Newsday in a brief interview. Absolutely no way. Valentine - who has recently been seeking to reform vending in the capital as well as tackle the problem of street dwellers - did not answer calls. CEPEP goes to Local Government Following Thursdays weekly Cabinet meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley instructed that CEPEP be reassigned from the Public Utilities Ministry to the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry. A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister which announced the decision to reassign CEPEP, said it was Governments intention to eventually disaggregate the budget allocation for CEPEP between the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry and the Works and Transport Ministry. When CEPEP was first launched under Manning in the 2002 to 2007 period, it was assigned to the Works and Transport Ministry. Rural Development and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan initially headed that ministry at the time. Over the last five years under the former Peoples Partnership (PP), different components of CEPEP were divided amongst the Office of the Prime Minister, Local Government Ministry, Works Ministry, Housing Ministry and the Food Production Ministry. In response to claims made by its former line minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, CEPEP in a newspaper advertisement said its management has discovered a misappropriation of $39.6 million of CEPEP funds spent on construction projects in the Oropouche East constituency, which is represented in Parliament by Moonilal. 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. 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. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have called on the Libyan parliament to endorse the new cabinet line-up within ten days. Libyan authorities sent a new list of the team of the unity government to the House of Representatives for approval. In a joint statement, NATO allies praised the move, saying members of the House of Representatives are responsible for taking the next vital step in implementing the Libya Political Agreement, which provides the only means to restore peace and stability in Libya. The statement assured the Libyan people that Washington and European superpowers stand firmly behind Libyans, the parliament and Sarrajs government. For his part, UN Special Representative for Libya Martin Kobler reiterated his support to Sarrajs government. Last week, the Tobruk-based parliament refused to give confidence to the UN-backed unity government, in a setback to efforts aimed at resolving the Libyan conflict. NATO allies called on all Libyan warring factions to refrain from hostilities and avoid any action that could damage or disrupt Libyas energy infrastructure. Restoring oil exports is vital to generating revenues that can provide for the essential needs of the Libyan people, including electricity, healthcare, and infrastructure, stressed NATO allies joint statement. At the request of the UN-backed Libyan unity government in Tripoli, the US launched lately airstrikes against ISIS positions in the strategic port city of Sirte to enable local government forces make a decisive and strategic advance to capture the city wherein jihadist fighters are entrenched. Libya, following the death of former ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, has descended into chaos, with no central government. The Islamic State has taken advantage of the situation to conquer vast swaths of land in the country, mostly in coastal regions where many criminal gangs indulge in illegal migrant trafficking. Rival groups signed a political accord that hashed out a Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Serraj. Despite strong and vast backing from the international community, the GNA is still struggling to assert its authority challenged by Islamists and armed groups. Tendency to see incumbent president Francois Hollande and his 2012 rival Nicolas Sarkozy contesting the seat of president of the French republic next year seems to creep around French politics as staunch supporters of the two rivals push for the bout. Nicolas Sarkozy this week announced his intention to vie for presidency next year. The decision was no surprise as the former President was keen on making public appearances and expressing his opinion on various issues that have plagued incumbent Francois Hollandes mandate marred by terrorist attacks and threats. If the majority of the French public opinion does not see Hollande entering the presidential race next year, his supporters in the socialist party are rallying behind him and want to get in Sarkozys way whatever the cost. Socialist party first secretary, Jean Christophe Cambadelis, is one of those who support Hollande despite contestation within the party. For Cambadelis, France has fared well under Hollande contrary to general opinion, which sanctions the president. It would be contradictory not to acknowledge that we have improved the country at the time when growth is picking up and unemployment is in a down trend despite the slate left by the Right in 2012, Cambadelis said. Despite contesting voices within the party, Cambadelis argues that Hollande is the best candidate and the winning card for the party. French Mecaplast, a plastic parts producer and supplier of French PSA Peugeot, announced Wednesday its entry into the Moroccan automobile industry with the launch of a factory near the city of Kenitra, some 40 Km to the north of capital city Rabat. The Monaco-based plastic giant will settle in Morocco near the future plant of PSA Peugeot, one of its clients, and could also supply parts to the Renault plant in Tangier. We chose to establish in Morocco because we are one of PSAs equipment manufacturers. In Morocco, we will manufacture for PSAs factory in Kenitra and probably also manufacture parts for Renault Tangier, said Pierre Boulet, the companys CEO, adding that they are already in touch with Renault. The planned factory will require a 30 million investment and will cover a surface area of up to 20,000 square meters. Construction works will kick off by years end and start of production is scheduled for late 2017. The company, which expects to create up to 300 jobs, will also provide training to Moroccan labor, Boulet told online media Usine Nouvelle. The system should eventually generate a turnover of 30 million per year, he said. The plant, to reinforce the Moroccan booming automotive industry, will represent about 5% of the French groups overall activity. Mecaplast, created in 1955, is present in 18 countries including Tunisia. It posted in 2015 a turnover of 750 million. The Moroccan plant will represent about 5% of overall activity. Its already a big project for us, to the extent that the average size of our plants is 3% of our total business, said Pierre Boulet. Mecaplats partner PSA group will inject an investment of 557 million in its car production factory near Kenitra. Production in the plant will start by 2019 with a production capacity of 90,000 vehicles per year at the beginning, before jumping to 200,000 cars per year on the long run. In 2015, revenues from car exports in Morocco exceeded about 4.5 billion euros, scoring an increase of 23%. The automobile industry sector provides approximately 90,000 jobs. A photo of the candidate and Dr. Harold Bornstein hangs in the doctors office. Photo: NBC News/Screencap Donald Trumps personal physician took only five minutes to write a letter declaring that the 70-year-old Republican would be the healthiest president in U.S. history, according to NBC News. The letter from Manhattans Dr. Harold Bornstein, in he which he insisted that, If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency, was released by the Trump campaign back in December. NBC, however, took a new look at the document and its author in light of recent insinuations by Trump and his allies that Hillary Clintons health is failing, even though her doctor has reported that the 68-year-old Democrat has no serious health problems. Related Stories Why Does Donald Trump Hire Terrible Doctors and Lawyers? Bornsteins letter, at four paragraphs, is the only health information Trump has released about himself since he began his campaign for president. Asked to explain his unequivocally line, the colorful Bornstein told NBC that he still liked the sentence, since to be quite honest with you and all the rest of [the presidents] are either sick or dead. Bornstein wrote the letter in five minutes while a limo driver working for Trump waited outside; though, he told NBC he had thought all day about what to write, and indicated that he felt inspired to use hyperbolic language because Trump had insisted beforehand that his full medical report must show perfection. Along those lines, Bornstein also wrote that Trumps physical strength and stamina are extraordinary, and that the candidates blood pressure and lab results were astonishingly excellent. However, Bornstein, who has been Trumps personal physician since 1980, said he also gets anxious when rushed, and that, as a result, he thought some of those words didnt come out exactly the way they were meant. Photo: Trump Campaign I like Donald Trump because I think he likes me, Bornstein added to NBC, though he declined to discuss politics. He also reiterated that Trumps health is excellent, particularly his mental health, he said laughing, since Trump thinks hes the best which works out just fine. The doctor also said that Trump would be fit [to be president] because I think that his brain [is] turned on 24 hours a day. In a statement accompanying Bornsteins letter in December, Trump added, I am fortunate to have been blessed with great genes both of my parents had very long and productive lives, and that people have been impressed by my stamina, but to me it has been easy because I am truly doing something that I love. Our country will soon be better and stronger than ever before. As the New York Times highlighted earlier this week, Bornsteins letter is not exactly a detailed account of Trumps health, noting how it contains no details about his heart rate, respiratory rate, cholesterol level, past medications or family medical history. Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks said on Monday that Trump would release additional medical records if Clinton did the same. The letter released in July of last year from Clintons physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, was two pages long and contained many more details than the one from Bornstein. Heres the interview with Bornstein: Why make others prove youre a racist when you can just do it yourself? Photo: Ben McCanna/Press Herald via Getty Images Maines Republican governor, Paul LePage, in the throes of a voicemail scandal in which he challenged a Democratic Maine lawmaker to prove that Im a racist, said in a Friday press conference that when it comes to racial profiling by police, the overwhelming majority of drug traffickers coming into Maine are people of color or people of Hispanic origin, and thus identified those people as the enemy of police who should be shot at. According to the Huffington Post, LePage, after initially denying that Maine police were racially profiling suspects, added: Look, a bad guy is a bad guy, I dont care what color it is. When you go to war, if you know the enemy, the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, you shoot at red, dont you? You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy. And the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority of people coming in, are people of color or people of Hispanic origin. I cant help that. I just cant help it. Those are the facts. The Governor of Maine. pic.twitter.com/UjjVZYEscA Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) August 27, 2016 On Wednesday, LePage, who is a surrogate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, had said that he kept a binder containing mugshots of drug dealers arrested in Maine, and that 90 percent of those in the binder were black or Hispanic. As the Portland Press Herald reported on Friday, that remark led to an exchange with a television reporter during which LePage came to believe that a Democratic state representative, Drew Gattine, had called him a racist an allegation Gattine later denied. LePage then left Gattine an obscenity-laced voicemail message on Thursday defending himself, which the Press Herald got a hold of and published: Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (expletive). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that Im a racist. Ive spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-bitch, socialist (expletive). You I need you to, just friggin. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you. The regularly controversial and often combative LePage then held a press conference where he elaborated that he wished it were 1825 so he could challenge Gattine to a duel and point his pistol right between [Gattines] eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since hes been in this legislature to help move the state forward. Gattine, the Press Herald notes, has been a longtime critic of LePages welfare-reform proposals, and told the newspaper that he agrees that drug traffickers should be prevented from operating in Maine, but that he doesnt really care what the color is of the people that are importing drugs into this state, and that the treatment and prevention of drug abuse needs be funded along with law enforcement. Regarding the comment that led to LePages voicemail, Gattine said he had called LePages racially charged comments not at all helpful in solving what the real problem is, which he says is the crisis of heroin and prescription-drug overdoses in the state. Earlier this year at a town-hall meeting, when responding to a question about how he was dealing with substance-abuse problems in Maine, LePage offered another fundamentally racist characterization of out-of-state drug traffickers, also reported by the Press Herald: These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty these types of guys they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road. That comment, which LePages communications director initially tried to reframe as not being about race, but about the cost to state taxpayers for welfare and the emotional costs for these kids who are born as a result of involvement with drug traffickers, drew widespread criticism both within Maine and throughout the U.S. LePage eventually called the remark a mistake, then later referred back to it as part of his clever strategy to get the Maine legislature to escalate its efforts against drug trafficking. (He had additionally suggested publicly beheading drug dealers using a guillotine, French Revolutionstyle, so LePage clearly likes history at least as much as he likes racial profiling.) At a GOP fundraiser in 2013, LePage also reportedly said that President Obama could have been the best president ever if he had highlighted his biracial heritage, but Obama hadnt done so because he hates white people. The Huffington Post notes that 95 percent of Maine residents are white, per the last U.S. census, and according to the American Civil Liberties Union, research shows that black and white people deal drugs at similar rates in Maine, though police in the state are nine times more likely to arrest people of color for the crime. Photo: SuperStock/Getty Images On paper, a second and a half doesnt seem like a long time but in practice, its more than enough time to dramatically influence a social interaction. When my brother told my parents he was getting married, they thought he was too young, and there was this long pause on the phone before they said congratulations. You cant undo that, William von Hippel, a psychology professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, told Harvard Business Review in an interview earlier this year. Everybody knows what it means when nothing comes out of your mouth for a second and a half. And just as split-second pauses can reveal what were thinking, they can also shape how were perceived: In a recent episode of the Harvard Business Reviews podcast, William von Hippel, a psychology professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, explained that speed how quickly you can process and react in social situations is one of the key components of charisma. In a recent study on the subject, von Hippel and his colleagues asked volunteers easy general-knowledge questions and timed the responses. (The speedier participants could come up with an answer in about 400 milliseconds, while the slower ones took more than twice as long.) The volunteers were all recruited as groups of friends, allowing the researchers to question each one about how charismatic they believed their friends to be; when they matched up each persons quiz scores to their friends assessments, they found that the quicker ones were also considered the most charismatic. The study authors left it up to their subjects to define charisma for themselves, but on the podcast, von Hippel argued that it manifests as the ability to move nimbly through any given situation. Charisma is mental quickness, he said: [Speed is] a sign that you have the capacity to draw things out of your memory that are going to be most useful in a particular circumstance. If you ask me a difficult question, or were engaged in social banter I need to be witty, maybe, or I need to quickly defuse the situation, or I need to put you in your place. None of which can be accomplished if I take too long The speed of our response is critical for an enormous number of the kinds of social interactions we engage in. But not, it bears noting, speed at the cost of accuracy. Charismatic people dont just blurt out whatever comes to mind, he explained; rather, theyre able to arrive at the correct response more quickly: If youre fast, the advantage is that you can pause, so to speak. You can rifle through a bunch of possible responses in your mind and give the appropriate one before anyone can detect that you actually paused, he said. A few milliseconds make all the difference. I love her and want her to succeed, but not with Dr. Puke in control :/ Reply Thread Link He needs to die... Sadly, I don't think she can get out of her contract :\ Reply Parent Thread Link I wish she was bigger than she actually is. I can't help but wonder if it's because Selena Gomez is already the It Latina and/or because Becky G is Latina to be accepted by the mainstream. Reply Thread Link what's her heritage? i hate that latinos get all lumped together when we are all actually very different lol Reply Parent Thread Link Mexican. But Becky G is the child of Mexican immigrants where as Selena is the half white grandchild of Mexican immigrants, so her brand of Latina is less in your face~ Reply Parent Thread Expand Link or when people think latinos all have the same culture like tacos are as foreign to me as it is to any non-mexican and i'm latina as fuck and selena isn't even that big in here Reply Parent Thread Link lbr, selena wouldn't be where she is at today if it wasn't for her "feud" with miley and her relationship with beiber. Becky hasn't thoroughly broken out yet, but after the Power Rangers movie, I'm hoping she does and hoping she is saving some big ass pussy popping anthem to get her out in the mainstream, she deserves it. Edited at 2016-08-27 02:59 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Becky G is the real Gomez we deserve! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm surprised they're still trying with her Reply Thread Link i was expecting this to be a song with terrible pronunciation (like demi) but she's pretty good that being said i don't get how people can stand these chipmunk sounding voices lol Reply Thread Link ??? not all latinos in the us speak spanish i was complimenting her pronunciation, i dont know if she's from mexico or born here and has mexican heritage Edited at 2016-08-27 03:03 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Being Mexican doesn't guarantee someone speaks good Spanish Reply Parent Thread Link Lol so are Selena and Demi and neither one is exactly bilingual Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "me voy a dar una rumba" sounds so weird to me, they prob say it like that in other countries (?) she's qt Edited at 2016-08-27 02:37 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link lol no lo creo eta: i mean the rumba part, sis looks cute Edited at 2016-08-27 06:29 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link si, se dice asi en varios paises Reply Parent Thread Expand Link they do Reply Parent Thread Link Flop song. I was expecting something along the lines of - Sola! Sola! Sola como pendeja! - Mas vale sola que mal acompanada! Reply Thread Link omfgggg i am slain!!!!! like this latina gone girl feminist woman saving superhero!!!! i love this video/song so much!!! Reply Thread Link this song is cute tbh Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Yes!! Promote her LJ! Reply Parent Thread Link I almost didn't click play cuz her music has been boring lately but I love this song! Words to live by: Mejor Sola que mal acompanada. What do you think, ONTD? I'm someone who always says this and people always look at me like I'm crazy, but I think they're crazy... Reply Thread Link LOL at that nod to the skrillex 'where are u now' riff. way to go dr. puke keepin it fly and original Reply Thread Link When did Becky G get her teeth fixed? I want to get mines done but don't know how much is costs. Have anyone gotten their teeth fixed surgically?? Reply Thread Link I love it! Reply Thread Link Me either. What does one thing even have to do with the other? As usual, his ramblings are nonsensical. Reply Parent Thread Link things r still bad for black ppl under a black president so what do you have to lose by voting trump Reply Parent Thread Link Trump's new tactic (and one Republicans have been trying for a while but act like they don't) is that black people should vote Republican because Democratically run cities aren't safe for black people, so "what do you have to lose" by trying something different. It's insulting and utter nonsense. Reply Parent Thread Link Well, America has also never been run by a hive of drug-addled bees in a latex suit before, I say give that a go. Nothing to lose, amirite. Reply Parent Thread Link He was trying to say, Democrat-voting black people have nothing to lose as they've still poor, uneducated, and killing each other in the streets, so they might as well vote Trump. Bringing up Wade's dead cousin was basically a meta-racist call back to a racist speech he gave last week. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think he does either, it just comes out. Reply Parent Thread Link NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS, BUT IT'S PROVOCATIVE Reply Parent Thread Link Leave it to this fucking cheese puff to try and profit from tragedy. Reply Thread Link cheese puffs are pure fat and if you light them on fire, they'll melt. I'm just saying, pryos of ONTD.. Reply Parent Thread Link now I want to try this. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Well if people would quit HIDING their flamethrowers from me I might be willing to help. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's more cheeto than cheese puff. Reply Parent Thread Link Not surprised that he'd do that. This coked out tiger that needs to go back to his home planet. Rid the world of him. Go fuck yourself. Reply Thread Link this is why he has 1% of black voters support. Reply Thread Link Should be negative so I'm side eyeing that one percent Black card revoked! Reply Parent Thread Link hillary is just as bad, lesser of two evils etc etc /s Edited at 2016-08-27 05:29 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Another day, another African American killed by police for no reason. When will it be enough? Sad for her and her family, but more for all the voiceless people that just add up to the count. Reply Thread Link i dont think she was shot by police Reply Parent Thread Link Oops. I hear it so often that I just assumed. Reply Parent Thread Link She wasnt shot by the police. I think she got caught in civilian gunfire unfortunately Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she wasn't shot by cops. maybe look shit up before you comment. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Edited at 2016-08-27 06:56 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link This is so awful. Those poor children. If I actually believed in God, that orange motherfucker would be enough to make me an atheist. He needs to die. I'm not even playing. Reply Thread Link i can't believe people are going to vote 3rd party and give this asshole more of a chance to be president Reply Thread Link I don't understand either. Okay, Hillary is shitty. But I also want to live and not die due to Trump's dumbassery. I'm Muslim and can't take four more years of his shit. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so sorry. :( My dad is a Trump supporter and... yeah. I'm sorry. Reply Parent Thread Link Especially since the 3rd party candidates aren't exactly sane either. Jill Stein and her pro-Assad VP calling Obama an "Uncle Tom" can fuck off to the sun with Trump tbqh. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link IA. I keep telling these people that it's a two-party system and to go and talk to somebody who voted for Nader. And they usually respond with "well thats why it doesn't happen, nobody votes for them" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm in NV and I know so many people who want to vote for Gary Johnson. Especially young people who don't even seem to know much about him other than the vague understanding of libertarianism. I'm going to set myself on fire. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They don't care about anyone about themselves, they're just as racist and ignorant Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I got a text from Gary Johnsons campaign and was like who tf is this? Why anyone would vote for him is beyond me. Reply Parent Thread Link i do believe us politics needs a shakeup beyond the two party system but people who are willing to risk trump and who can't see that this year is NOT the year to try that tatic because of trump are just as bad as trump supporters in my mind. Reply Parent Thread Link don't worry there was a jill stein protest in hollywood today and it was no more than 30 people lol Reply Parent Thread Link I was already a little bit in love with Don Cheadle, but that "die in a grease fire" tweet is a thing of beauty. Reply Thread Link Right? Most people, especially celebrities, won't go there anymore for fear of not being PC, but yeah, well done, Don Cheadle! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm going to be so damn glad when this election is over. Reply Thread Link Trump's black "pitch" isn't only for making certain white voters comfortable with him. It's permission to condemn black voters who aren't. Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 27, 2016 Trump says only he can deliver us from our urban hellscapes. When they choose Clinton, it tells his side that black folks must like it. Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 27, 2016 I really fucking hate Trump. Just a piece of shit whose entire existence is worthless. I also just read Roger Ailes will be doing some debate prep with him lmao. He's going to get smoked in the debates bc he doesn't have teleprompters or actual plans. He's incapable of giving details. November 8 cannot come soon enough for this loser. And you can tell Trump has zero black friends or has any meaningful conversations with PoC in general. He thinks all black people are poor, in poverty and unemployed. He's so vile that you run out of words to describe him tbh. The best part is that he and his dumbass supporters will be like "I can't believe we lost!!" and "the campaign is rigged!" on election night. The irony is that there likely won't be enough white people (especially WM) to get him into the white house. Especially as far as the electorate is concerned. I really fucking hate Trump. Just a piece of shit whose entire existence is worthless. I also just read Roger Ailes will be doing some debate prep with him lmao. He's going to get smoked in the debates bc he doesn't have teleprompters or actual plans. He's incapable of giving details. November 8 cannot come soon enough for this loser. And you can tell Trump has zero black friends or has any meaningful conversations with PoC in general. He thinks all black people are poor, in poverty and unemployed. He's so vile that you run out of words to describe him tbh. The best part is that he and his dumbass supporters will be like "I can't believe we lost!!" and "the campaign is rigged!" on election night. The irony is that there likely won't be enough white people (especially WM) to get him into the white house. Especially as far as the electorate is concerned. Reply Thread Link He probably won't go to the debates. Reply Parent Thread Link I think he does. If he participates in all of them is a different question. Reply Parent Thread Link he'll at least do one Reply Parent Thread Expand Link mte at the tweets. they actually mentioned this in the 538 podcast. they were speculating that trump's speech to appeal to the black community was actually an appeal to white suburban voters who feel unsure about voting for trump because they're afraid of being called racists. his numbers have been dropping with the suburban whites, so he just wants to convince them that it'll be ok if they vote for him because he ~actually cares about black people. he might be delusional enough to believe that he has a chance to win over non-white voters, but his campaign probably knows better. maybe. they're all really incompetent so who knows. Reply Parent Thread Link Basically why I check fivethirtyeight every time I see a pro-trump tweet or anything. I'm so paranoid that he's going to win. I swear this has eaten up so much of my data, just obsessively checking. I'm scared. He's got 18% now... but looking at /all/ of the numbers, I'm upset that he's actually managing to push back compared to right after the dnc. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The debates will be a MESS Reply Parent Thread Link melted cheddar head aside, those poor kids. I hope they have a lot of support. Reply Thread Link ahem *Pasteurized process cheese product Reply Parent Thread Link But yes, I agree with your sentiment. It's a terrible tragedy and shouldn't be exploited. I feel so bad for the family right now. Reply Parent Thread Link He is just disgusting beyond all belief. I can't believe he's even a real person. How awful for this woman and her family. Four babies :'( Reply Thread Link trump was aameeting im sure of it Reply Parent Thread Link This motherfucker Trump..... On a better note, salute Colin Kaepernick for his move. Reply Thread Link On August 8, 2016, Americas Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gave what was billed as a major economic policy speech in Detroit. In it, he laid out his plans for jump-starting the U.S. economy, spurring job growth, and distributing economic benefits to working-class Americans. The speech highlighted an isolationist plan for the nations energy industry alongside many other proposed tax cuts and deregulation, revisiting the vision of An America First Energy Plan Trump first coined in North Dakota in May. The Trump campaigns energy plan blatantly defies established market principles, but it also challenges years of multilateral efforts in combating global warming and global trends toward clean energy and diversified energy structures. Instead, the plan would promote a deliberate overreliance on coal and petroleum. In essence, Trumps energy scheme is characterized by three prongsmarket-led extractivism, job-promising nationalist sentiment, and selective economic autarky. The first tenet reflects the candidates alignment with conservative Republican norms backed by powerful oil interests. It includes calls for reviving the Keystone XL pipeline, lifting coal industry restrictions, augmenting shale resources, and scrapping regulations on the oil and gas industry. In this energy plan, Trump promises to explore Americas untapped oil and gas reserves (worth $50 trillion, by his own estimation) as well as coal reserves three times richer than Russias. The second element feeds into the Trump campaigns political promises, combining the idea of an energy renaissance with job security and blue-collar wage increases. The last tenet, which stands in stark contrast to his own partys traditional defense of free trade, nonetheless plays into the profound fear and resentment of many voters left behind in a globalized world. Stoking that antagonism, Trump loudly proclaims that American energy independence and terminating trade agreements with hostile oil-producing countries would resolve the pressures they face. Those promises, while appealing to Rust Belt voters, could not be more wrong. A fossil fuel-focused extractivist energy regime, like the one Trump is proposing, runs counter to the prevailing market dynamics now respected by major oil producers, especially those striving to diversify shrinking revenue streams away from petroleum rents. Global crude oil prices have fallen from about $115 per barrel in June 2014 to under $35 by the end of February 2016. Responding to the volatility of the global oil market, many oil-producing countries have started to explore alternative energy sources, a process that began even before the recent price downturn. Since the inauguration of the Camisea project in 2005, for example, Peru has become a major natural gas exporter in South America. Although still a fossil fuel, natural gas is considered to be cleaner than other fuels; it only produces about half the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by coal. Critically, the Peruvian government is committed to balancing its energy production matrix equally among petroleum, renewables, and natural gas. Related: Expert Commentary: Is Crude Set To Drop? Brazil, Latin Americas largest oil producer, has also sought to diversify its energy profile by adding ethanol to its mass fuel production over the past four decades. Today, the country is the worlds second largest ethanol producer and consumer, having created the worlds first sustainable biofuel economy. Nearly half of the countrys energy comes from renewable sources (mainly sugarcane ethanol) and the entire sugarcane agro-industrial system generates gross revenues totaling more than US $86 billion annually (accounting for approximately 4% of the Brazilian economy). The market competitiveness of ethanol fuel has been conscientiously enhanced through the use of new agricultural technologies, complemented by government subsidies. In February 2015, several Brazilian states increased the state tax for gasoline goods and services while reducing taxes for ethanol. Meanwhile, the Brazilian government authorized an increase in the ethanol blend in gasoline from 25 to 27 percent. Non-discriminatory energy policies and blanket deregulation, as the Trump plan proposes, would leave still-emerging renewables unable to compete with traditional fuels on cost. By subsidizing renewable energies, governments can help the renewable sector take off and ultimately outcompete fossil fuels on the market. Perhaps the most striking case for diversification comes from the worlds largest oil exporter in both quantity and monetary value: Saudi Arabia. Realizing that declining oil revenues cannot sustain their generous social safety net, the Saudi leadership plans to reduce the countrys oil addiction by privatizing the national oil company, Saudi Aramco, relaxing restrictions on FDI and deepening trade relations with longtime partners, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Looking beyond the international consulting and retail brands with locations in cities like Riyadh (Saks Fifth Avenue and Harvey Nichols, for example), Saudi officials are now aggressively courting outside capital in industries like petrochemicals and infrastructure. Responding to low oil prices and massive domestic consumption, the Saudi government also pledges to production of 9,500 megawatts of renewable energy to diversify its energy market. Related: The Best Way To Unlock Canadas Crude Exports That other prominent energy producers are using government levies to incentivize emerging clean energy industries only demonstrates how common sense is lacking from the Trump campaigns energy plans. This idiosyncrasy is reflected by the candidates choice of economic advisors, a team made up of billionaires and investors whose energy considerations revolve around short-term profitability calculations instead of sustainable yardsticks. Trumps all male, 13-member economic advisory team consists of mostly business moguls in real estate and financial sectors. Among them is Mr. Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil magnate and energy advisor to 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, whose energy plan proposed expanding energy production, streamlining regulatory processes, accelerating the Keystone pipeline, and prioritizing conventional energy sources (oil and coal) over renewables based on economic competitiveness. Tellingly, Trumps plan to reinvigorate both the natural gas industry and coal production at the same time is self-defeating. Given the abundance of price-sensitive alternatives on the energy market, promoting one outdated source (like coal) would inevitability crowd out other sources (like natural gas), creating unhealthy competition, over-supply and negative externalities that cannot be corrected for by the market. In addition, U.S. government support for cheap shale gas in the national fuel mix is a primary culprit behind the shuttering of American coal plants in the first place. That rapid shift toward natural gas, aside from pushing the coal industry into decline, is helping the U.S. meet emission targets and reduce pollution. A possible comparison can be found in Chile, where the overproduction of solar energy is hurting power companies amidst global price downturns, a problem compounded by limited local transmission infrastructure. Aside from the environmental costs supported by an overwhelming science literature on global warming, a pro-hydrocarbons energy regime will have devastating consequences for the countrys economic health and social capital. The underlying line question is simple: who will benefit from Trumps hydro-carbon heavy energy plan? Certainly not his working class supporters. Hydrocarbons are capital-intensive, with only limited job opportunities and little spillover effect. To add icing to the cake, Trumps ideology of closing down economic borders would further hurt the average citizen. An autarkic economy with unrealistic promises of energy self-sufficiency cannot sustain itself; instead, it would fail to deliver enough sustainable jobs as extractive developments crowd out other economic activities and inflate living costs. To put it simply, Trumps less well-heeled supporters are effectively voting against their own interests. By Wenyuan Wu for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nearly two weeks after demonstrations and violence swept through the Sherman Park neighborhood, a 6 p.m. curfew remains for the park, imposed by the Milwaukee County Sheriff on Aug. 16. The early closing time has made it harder for neighborhood youth who have come to expect food and activities in the park, provided by a grassroots organization called Program the Parks. "A lot of them dont have nowhere to go," said Vaun Mayes, one of the organizers of the initiative. "A lot of them do not eat if we dont feed them." Fran McLaughlin, who does media relations for the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office, said she didnt know when the early closing order would be lifted and that the decision is up to Sheriff David Clarke. Mayes, who has been working in the area since the beginning of June, said as many as 200 young people have attended the movie nights and barbecues he and others have held. Program the Parks feeds the youth at least three times a week, offering pizza every Friday and weekend cookouts. Food and drink are provided by in-kind and cash donations from the community; Mayes and others involved volunteer their time. On a recent afternoon, only a few young people have come to engage with Mayes and the others; he digs in his pocket to hand many of them a few dollars to get them by for the night. Mayes said a lot of the youth are homeless, and some have previously slept in the park. Niekale Steward, 15, added that youth open up to people in the group about their circumstances. Steward used to live in the area and still comes to the park whenever the group hosts an event. "You cant see it on a lot of their faces, but if you go into their homes, into where they live, you will see poverty just everywhere," said Marcus Duke, founder of Club Kids, an organization that works with youth through events and other programming. Duke said some children sleep on the floor, have no electricity and have no food at home. According to Charles Edwards, 51, children come to the events "because they know somebody cares." "They know theyll have somebody thats going to feed them when theyre hungry, somebodys going to listen to them when theyve got issues and problems somebody thats going to give them the direction that they need," he said. With the park being closed early, many of the youth have nowhere to go, Mayes said. "You push them out of here and put them in the community, theyre going to probably go in a gas station and do a snatch-and-run, theyre probably going to steal somebodys car so they can get somewhere," he said. "People do a lot of sh*t that they wouldnt do when theyre in need." Steward said hes heard about more thefts from his friends since the curfew has been in effect he said they are most likely because youth are hungry, or bored. "What is there for kids to do after they close the park down at 6, go back home to the streets?" Policing Sherman Park Mayes decided to patrol Sherman Park regularly after seeing a video on Facebook in late May of law enforcement closing the park early. After he shared the video, responses from residents were all similar: that law enforcement was right to do that because the kids would often fight and cause other trouble. So, Mayes began to monitor the playground area just off Sherman Boulevard, intervening in and preventing fights. After some time, others joined Mayes and their work began to have an effect the kids stopped fighting because they knew the adults wouldnt let them. Some of the youth joined in and began dissuading their friends from engaging in conflicts. According to Mayes, at first, sheriffs deputies were grateful for the help, but after an incident at the end of June when youth threw rocks, damaging a city bus and a window of the gas station that was eventually burned, the mood among law enforcement officers changed. He said some officers "can accept that were needed just like theyre needed." Mayes said other officers regularly antagonize youth, and that Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) officers and sheriffs deputies police Sherman Park more heavily than other parts of the city. In an email response, MPD Sgt. Timothy Gauerke said officers "frequently elect to issue warnings in lieu of a citation" and that the elevated police presence is "due to the volume of calls for service and the levels of crime that are afflicting the residents in that area." Gaurke continued, "Residents at community meetings, especially in more disadvantaged areas, are frequently asking for additional patrols in their neighborhoods. They want police to address issues like gunshots being fired, armed robberies, drug dealing and other issues that affect their quality of life and ability to use their public spaces." Mayes noted that "it certainly doesnt happen in Riverwest; it doesnt happen on the deep east side Lakefront; it dont happen in Downtown where Marquette is; it dont happen in Wauwatosa, West Allis." Added Mayes, who is black, "It dont happen to people that dont look like this." "Crime pays," Mayes said. "Wisconsin makes a lot of money off incarcerating people." Jimmy Pitts, 16, who spends every day from morning until night at Sherman Park, said, "I just want the police to go, so we can have our park back." Mayes, himself, had a long record as a juvenile. He stole cars, was involved in robberies and faced a charge involving a firearm. "I was worse than any of them," said Mayes, who was homeless at age 14. "When I didnt have to do that no more, I stopped doing it." "I had people that looked out for me, like were trying to do for them," Mayes said. "Theres two things that the kids need they need some money in their pocket and they need something to do with their idle time," said Duke, who brought Brewers tickets for the youth. Steward said Program the Parks has helped many disadvantaged youth, even setting some kids up with jobs. But he said young people need more opportunities, "something to do other than negativity." However, Duke said its difficult for grassroots groups to have the kind of impact they could, because funding is tough to come by. "The red tape is ridiculous," he said. Municipalities and grant-giving organizations need to change their process, according to Duke. While large organizations have more capacity to pursue funding and create "fancy" proposals, he said, the grassroots organizations are doing the work and understand the needs of those theyre serving. "The citys got to approach things differently, the businesses got to approach things differently, the community leaders got to approach things differently," said Duke. "It all boils down to the kids." Copyrighted Image? DMCA The Coalition For Change, Inc. ( C4C ) is a volunteer group of present and former employees who seek an end to workplace abuse in the federal government. On May 3, 2016, the C4C organizational leaders met with Mr. Carlton Hadden, the Director of the Office of Federal Operations, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The office provides oversight for the government-wide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint adjudication, appellate, and affirmative-employment functions. The C4C met with the EEOC to address the pervasive problem of federal-workplace discrimination. During the meeting, the C4C formally introduced its eight accountability and transparency measures for transforming the federal-EEO process and thereby improving the retaliatory federal-workplace culture. Many of the C4C solutions presented to the EEOC at the May 3rd meeting were also presented earlier to Representative Elijah Cummings, ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Representative Cummings introduced the C4C recommendations in bill HR 1557- Federal Employee Anti-discrimination. The HR 1557 bill was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives and awaits further senate action. The C4C plans a follow-up meeting with EEOC officials to further discuss the full list of measures and EEOC's timeline for implementing the measures to address the persistent problem of federal-workplace discrimination that woefully injures civil servants, harms American citizens, and threatens our nation's domestic security. by Walter Brasch(part 1 of 2) Donald Trump, who is commanding all of 1 percent of Black voters, according to an impartial Quinnipiac poll, says he could get as much as 95 percent of the Black vote in a second term. In June 2011, he had said, "I've always had a great relationship with the blacks." It's nothing less than political hyperbole in a campaign for a first term, and meant to get a few thousand more votes in key states. However, Trump's past actions don't mitigate whatever future plans he has. In 1973, the Department of Justice sued Trump Management for civil rights violations for refusing to rent apartments to Blacks and Latinos who wished to live in complexes that housed mostly whites. Trump, who was the corporation's president at the time, agreed he would drop a $100 million counter-suit, would provide lists of vacancies in the 14,000 apartments Trump Management owned, and would cease discriminating against minority applicants in exchange for the Department of Justice dropping felony charges. Three years later, the Department of Justice again filed against Trump for not fulfilling his promise. Trump previously had declined invitations to speak to conventions of the NAACP, Urban League, and the National Association of Black Journalists. However, with Hillary Clinton's polling numbers rising and his decreasing, he has begun talking with Black and Hispanic groups. He is outspoken in his hatred for President Obama, and is a leader of the "birther" movement that claims the president was born in Kenya and, thus, unqualified to be president. But, the birthers, who clinging to the flimsiest of all evidence to discredit the nation's first Black president, refuse to understand that Barack Obama's birth certificate was issued by a Hawaiian hospital and that his mother was an American citizen, making him an American citizen. Trump has called Black Lives Matter a "threat," and vowed if he is president he would tell his attorney general to investigate the group. He didn't say if he would investigate White Lives Matter or numerous militant white nationalist groups that support his campaign. He never repudiated the support of Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke or of campaign contributions by white supremacists and racists. Trump claims, with no evidence, that Afghanistan is "safer than living in some of our inner cities," and vowed if he were president he would eliminate crime in the inner cities. He didn't say how he would do that, but he may be hiding a team of magicians in his advisory cabinet. In a campaign appearance in Wisconsin last week, he told Blacks they should vote for him because, "You live in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?" He might just as well have smeared burnt cork on his face and called himself Rastus. On June 16, 2015, the day he announced he was running for president, Trump declared, "When Mexico sends its people [to the U.S.], they're not sending their best. . . . They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with them. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." The first reality is that Mexico doesn't send anyone to the U.S.; they come without government assistance or sanction. The second reality is that most immigrants from Mexico and central America countries are not criminals, rapists, or those who have problems; most are hard-working people who wish to improve their lives and live on the fringes of American society, often working in low-wage jobs, trying to blend into American culture, without drawing attention to themselves. They don't receive welfare, food stamps, or free medical and hospital care. That's because most don't apply for those benefits because they don't want to attract attention that could lead to their deportation. There's a third reality. Trump and many of his followers don't recognize that Mexico has significant restrictions on gun purchases, and most guns used by the cartels come from the United States. The criminals who do come into the U.S. come with American-made guns. Nevertheless, Trump's solution to the immigration problem is to round-up and deport 11 million undocumented persons from many countries. To make sure the U.S. is safe from immigrants, he has trumpeted a call to build a 25--55 foot tall wall stretching almost 2,000 miles on the U.S./Mexico border, and have Mexico pay for the $15--25 billion construction cost. The estimate doesn't include the yearly cost of adding border patrol agents and equipment or the cost of sending the undocumented workers back to their native countries. He also hasn't addressed concerns about Mexican and central American workers digging vast and elaborate tunnels beneath the walls, nor illegal immigration by those who slip past the Coast Guard and enter the country by private plane or boats. There's also no provision to fence off the northern border with Canada; apparently, Trump believes white-skinned Canadians are more acceptable than brown-skinned Mexicans. Of course, there's another reality--Canadians, for the most part, have little desire to emigrate to the U.S. Trump said federal judge Gonzalo Curiel could not be objective in a case involving fraud charges against Trump University because "he's a Mexican." Curiel, a former federal prosecutor, was born in Indiana. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) called Trump's statements "racist." Other Republican politicians have begun distancing themselves from Trump. Nevertheless, trying to capture votes from the Hispanic community, on Cinco de Mayo this year Trump tweeted a photo of himself eating a taco bowl in a restaurant in Trump Tower, and said, "I love Hispanics." The Mexican newspaper Milenio said Trump was "the man who managed to make us miss the Bush clan." [Tomorrow: Part 2--Donald Trump's views about Jews and Muslims. Dr. Brasch is an award-winning journalist who has covered government and politics at all levels for four decades. His latest book is Fracking America: Sacrificing Health and the Environment for Short-Term Economic Gain.] AS THE NUMEROUS and obvious ethical conflicts surrounding the Clinton Foundation receive more media scrutiny, the tactic of Clinton-loyal journalists is to highlight the charitable work done by the foundation, and then insinuate -- or even outright state -- that anyone raising these questions is opposed to its charity. James Carville announced that those who criticize the foundation are "going to hell." Other Clinton loyalists insinuated that Clinton Foundation critics are indifferent to the lives of HIV-positive babies or are anti-gay bigots. That the Clinton Foundation has done some good work is beyond dispute. But that fact has exactly nothing to do with the profound ethical problems and corruption threats raised by the way its funds have been raised. Hillary Clinton was America's chief diplomat, and tyrannical regimes such as the Saudis and Qataris jointly donated tens of millions of dollars to an organization run by her family and operated in its name, one whose works has been a prominent feature of her public persona. That extremely valuable opportunity to curry favor with the Clintons, and to secure access to them, continues as she runs for president. The claim that this is all just about trying to help people in need should not even pass a laugh test, let alone rational scrutiny. To see how true that is, just look at who some of the biggest donors are. Although it did not give while she was secretary of state, the Saudi regime by itself has donated between $10 million and $25 million to the Clinton Foundation, with donations coming as late as 2014, as she prepared her presidential run. A group called "Friends of Saudi Arabia," co-founded "by a Saudi Prince," gave an additional amount between $1 million and $5 million. The Clinton Foundation says that between $1 million and $5 million was also donated by "the State of Qatar," the United Arab Emirates, and the government of Brunei. "The State of Kuwait" has donated between $5 million and $10 million. Click Here to Read Whole Article 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... Meteorologist Paul Douglas writes about Minnesota weather daily, trying to go beyond the "highs" and "lows" of the weather story to discuss current trends and some of the how's and why's of meteorology. Rarely is our weather dull - every day is a new forecast challenge. Why is the weather doing what it's doing? Is climate change a real concern, and if so, how will my family be affected? Climate is flavoring all weather now, and I'll include links to timely stories that resonate with me. 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. Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America. QUEENSBURY -- A Queensbury man was arrested Thursday night for allegedly damaging property during a domestic dispute, police records show. Michael J. Tatum, 33, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief in connection with more than $250 in damage to unspecified property, according to the State Police public information website. Tatum was arraigned and sent to Warren County Jail for lack of bail, but had posted bail and been released as of early Saturday. Being a dairy princess isnt all glamour. Washington County Dairy Princess Julia Houser interrupted an interview Friday to scoop up fresh poop from her Jersey cow, which had just won Jersey grand champion honors in that mornings show ring. Her family owns a 360-cow dairy farm in Easton. Houser, 16, was named 2016 Dairy Princess in April at a county competition. She had previous experience as a dairy ambassador and dairy princess alternate. I know the industry needs help promoting its products, she said. Its a great industry, but farmers dont have time to do their own public relations, she said. Houser represents dairy farming at events around the county and gives interviews, she said. At the fair, shes responsible for scheduling coverage at the dairy princess booth in the Agriculture Center, coordinates dairy ambassadors to distribute ribbons during four days of dairy cattle judging and coordinates competitors, cows and supplies for Friday nights milking contest. As an FFA member, she takes her turn at the FFA Farmland petting zoo. On top of that, she brought three of her own cows to show. Does she sleep? Sometimes! she said, laughing. A little politics County fairs have always been a prime place for political parties and candidates to connect with their supporters and meet new people. Washington County Democrats, Republicans and the Tea Party Patriots are all represented at this years fair. Louise Davidson and George Gang, both of Dresden, were staffing the Democrats table in the Commercial Building at midday Friday. Posters on the wall reminded passersby of the importance of the Medicare and Social Security programs and the Voting Rights Act. Other posters named this falls Democratic candidates for state and national offices. Mike Derrick, the Democratic candidate for Congress, had been at the booth Thursday, Davidson said. Davidson had forms for voter registration and changing party affiliation. The deadline to change and be able to vote in next years primary is Oct. 15, she said. People stop to talk and ask questions occasionally, Davidson said, but mostly the only people who stop are the people who agree with us, she said. Back to back to the Democrats were the Washington County Republicans, whose space prominently displayed a life-sized photo of Donald Trump. A lot of people are asking about Trump, said John Tanner, from Granville. They want lawn signs. As he spoke, two little boys grabbed a Trump-Pence lawn sign from a stack behind him. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, the incumbent for the 21 st Congressional District that includes Washington County, and several other Republican candidates and local officials participated in the milking contest Friday evening. Next to the Republicans were the Tea Party Patriots, with their trademark yellow rattlesnake flag. George Demas of Granville was encouraging passersby to participate in a straw poll for U.S. president. We had more than 800 votes last year, Demas said. As of Thursday evening, the most recent tally, fairgoers had marked 223 ballots for Trump, 20 for Hillary Clinton, 23 for the Libertarian ticket and 11 for the Green Party. The tea party is more concerned with issues than with supporting individual candidates, Demas said. We talk to people about the elections, the state of the country, Common Core and Agenda 21, a United Nations initiative for a more livable world, he said. Were big on the Second Amendment. Evan Lawrence Today, Aug. 27, would be the 100th birthday of a great American, one Margaret Teresa Yvonne Reed. Her stage name was Martha Raye, but she was known to "her troops" as Colonel Maggie. Maggie served her country, entertaining the troops through three wars, World War II in Europe and North Africa, Korea and Vietnam. She was bestowed the title of lieutenant colonel in the Special Forces, Green Berets and wore her jump patch proudly. She spent more time in Vietnam than most GIs, over two years, often at her own expense. Maggie went where other entertainers refused to go, forward hootches, bunkers and LZs, anywhere a helicopter could put down. Once she jumped from a helo because there wasn't sufficient space for it to land. The incident, which occurred in the town of Panduro, La Paz, happened on Thursday, August 25, 2016, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The deceased, RodolfoIllanes, 56, was reportedly kidnapped by the miners while attempting to begin interaction with them over a road block. He was beaten to death subsequently. ALSO READ: Only five countries give gay people equal constitutional rights Romero condemned the killing of his colleague, terming the action as a cowardly and brutal murder. The incidence brings the death toll in the crisis to a total of three, as two miners were reportedly killed a day before the death of the minister. Two miners were killed on Wednesday." A saloon car is said to have crashed into one of the black SUVs in the vice-presidents convoy, causing it to somersault several times. The vice president, Amissah-Arthur escaped death but some journalists, including Nutor Bibini Nutor of GTV and Bernard Allotey of Radio Gold are said to have sustained some injuries. The affected vehicle is believed to be the emergency car for the vice-president and is understood to contain the guns and ammunition of his security detail. Ernest Koranteng, 30, was arrested for allegedly attempting to rob an officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Sergeant Isaac Adams of his Loujia motorbike last Sunday. Two suspected accomplices are on the run. READ ALSO: Police officer arrested for allegedly training robbers Koranteng was dismissed from the Ghana Police Service in February this year for what the police described simply as misconduct. He is being processed for court. Background Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic newspaper, the Upper West Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent of Police Mr Huseini Musah Awinaba, said the victim, Sergeant Adams reported a case of an attempted robbery attack on him at midnight last Sunday as he returned to his home at Kpaguri, a suburb of Wa. According to Mr Awinaba, Sergeant Adams rode his motorbike into a rope held across the road by persons standing on either side of the road and fell off his bike. He was subsequently attacked by three persons who emerged from the darkness of the bushes, but they failed to overpower him to take away his motorbike. Mr Awinaba said the victim raised an alarm which made the suspected robbers flee the scene. After they had escaped, Sergeant Adams found a photocopy of a police ID card bearing the picture and name of Koranteng, along with a National Health Insurance Scheme card also bearing the name and picture of the ex-policeman. He later reported the incident to the Upper West Police Command. READ ALSO: Criticism has also been heaped onto the de facto leader of the country, Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to speak up against the violence. In a tweet, Kofi Annan expressed delight and his preparedness to help bring peace. Kofi Annan became the first black Secretary General of the UN in 1996 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He is the chairperson of a select group of elderly statesmen and women assembled by Nelson Mandela known as The Elders. Some sections of Ghanaians expressed anger over reports that President Mahama was given a brand new Ford Expedition in 2012 by a Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe who won the bid to construct the $650,000 Ghana Embassy Wall in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou. Many anti-corruption campaigners slammed the president for what they describe as his disregard for the guidelines on conflict of interest in accepting the vehicle gift. However, Government in a statement issued by Communications Minister, Edward Omane Boamah said even though the car was received, it had nothing to do with the contract awarded. President John Mahama subsequently rubbished corruption allegations against him, saying such claims are baseless. Some minority MPs have reportedly signed a petition to commence an impeachment process against the President for accepting the gift. Parliament was adjourned sine die on Friday, July 29. He said: "It was wrong to interfere with the rule of law and the pressures put on the president to do so was most unfortunate. The president, late on Monday, August 22, 2016, freed the three men. 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. K.B. Asante believes people should be made to face the full rigors of the law in order not to create the impression that it pays to go against the law especially, when affiliated to a political party. "I don't think think we should rejoice or make so much fuss about this incident... I hope if anything like this happens we would allow the law to take its course and the President or whoever is in charge too is not pressurised to take an action which undermines discipline and against the rule of law," he told Accra-based Joy FM. READ ALSO: Montie 3 The trio were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court following contempt proceedings against them. The contempt proceedings came after the three allegedly made threats against 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. 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. According to the NDC campaign spokeswoman, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, Akufo-Addo drew the first blood when he described president Mahama as incompetent. She said the president has only decided to meet his main rival "boot for boot." No matter the circumstances, no matter the level of context I think that a flagbearer of any political party must at least show some respect and decorum in their speech and the way you describe your opponent so yes am saying President Mahama is in campaign mood and has decided to meet the opposition boot for boot," she said. She added:One thing I can say is that president Mahama is the first to admonish us to conduct a clear and issue base campaign but of course we are all humans and we demand that the same respect with which president Mahama approaches issue to do with government, his personal relation, human relations and humility. I believe that we need the same modicum of decorum from the opposition leaders as well. -No reply to attacks- In a solemn address to party supporters in the Greater Accra Region, Akufo-Addo said he will not respond to the president's attacks on him, instead, he intends to focus on the bread and butter issues. Nonetheless, a political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, has urged 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 said. 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. Dr Adu-Gyamfi opines that the president's attacks on Akufo-Addo are designed to appeal to a faction of the party who feel aggrieved with the suspension of the national executives. He said: 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. The Volta region is one region I hold dearly to my heart. The people of the Volta region are a hardworking people who will do wonders when given the opportunity, that is why this year everywhere I go the people tell me they are voting for jobs and not on allegiance. Everywhere I go, people say they are seeking for jobs, most people have identified Edwumawura as the solution, why dont you join them in delivering the jobs the Ghanaians need? he asked. Dr Nduom was speaking at a mini rally at Peki Avatile to outdoor Felix Lartey as the PPPs parliamentary candidate for the South Dayi district. On his part, Felix Lartey urged the people of South Dayi to vote for him to enable him bring massive development to the area. I am seeking your mandate to go parliament not to enrich myself, but to use my position to lobby for development for South Dayi. This constituency has been neglected for far too long despite our unflinching support to the NDC. So I am asking you to change the pattern just to feel real development he stated. The NDC's flagbearer, President Mahama, has come under criticisms for attacking the character of Akufo-Addo during his tour of the Western and Northern Regions to solicit for votes. Reacting to the criticisms, the spokesperson for the NDC campaign team, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari, said the NPP flagbearer drew the first blood by labelling the president as incompetent, demanding an apology from the NPP if it wants a truce. However, a deputy communications director of the party, Anthony Karbo, refuted claims that labelling the government has "incompetent" amounted to a personal attack on the president. He told Pulse.com.gh in an interview that the NDC administration since 2008 has mobilised the biggest revenue in the country's history only to run down the economy and seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. He said: "First of all, it is important to emphasise for the records that no government since independence has the amount of resources in terms of tax revenue; cocoa export, gold export, oil revenue and loans that the NDC administration has had between 2009 to 2015. "In the last eight years of the of the Kufour administration, total tax revenue collected amounted to some GHC15.3 billion. Between 2009 and 2015 the Mills-Mahama administration collected taxes amounting to 90 billion, six times more in these 7 years. "Between 2001 and 2008, gold export amounted to some GhHC 28 billion under the Mills-Mahama administration. If you look carefully you will realise that cocoa export between 2001 and 2008 yielded GHC7 billion. Mills-Mahama within the same period yielded GC17 billion." According to Karbo, the addition of new resources such as oil generated some 4 billion for the country in crude export. He stressed that despite the slump in global commodity prices, the government has raked in more revenue to enable it to steer the economy out of austerity. "So the NPP point is simply, it is only an incompetent government that despite all these huge resources can run the economy down and run to the IMF for a bailout. It is only and incompetent government that despite all these resources will supervise the biggest collapse of currency in decades. It is only an incompetent government that despite the resources will take over 5 years to resolve a basic issue like dumsor [power crisis] which has collapsed many businesses and created unemployment." President John Mahama at a campaign launch in Cape Coast blamed the country's economic woes on the fall in commodity prices. However, Karbo contends that that cannot be true. According to him, "facts clearly shows that even countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal and Kenya which are doing better than Ghana faced the same external conditions." He continued: "So how can those countries be doing better and growing an economy which the NPP left with the NDC was growing at 9.1% in 2008 and today it is growing at less than 4%. The actress who had settled for a $7 million payout from her divorce, which she pledged to be donated to charity, is reportedly disgruntled that Depp did just that. As earlier reported, Depp has made the first payments to the two charity organisations, American Civil Liberties Union (AMLU) and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Heard is upset that Depp did the payments himself, albeit in her name, because he would be getting almost half of the amount back in charitable tax deductions. Heard's team is demanding that Depp pays $14 million instead since he would be receiving half of the sum back, completing the full payment. Meanwhile, Heard is reportedly frustrated at the fact that Depp is making the payments in instalments instead of a lump-sum. It is unclear if an agreement was reached as to the way the payments would be made. Speaking with Mirror Online, a member of Heard's team says: "Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnny's counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their client's true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported." ALSO READ: Actress to provide proof of domestic violence against Johnny Depp According to MissPetiteNaijablog, the controversial personality, was sacked as a result of his public feud with comedian, Basketmouth. Stella Dimokokorkus has shared a photo of Freeze's sack letter as issued by AIM consultants, revealing that the OAP is no longer employed with any of the companies within the AIM group. Born Ifedayo Olarinde, Freeze has been in the news for different controversies, which he had continued to institute despite the organisation's displeasure of such controversies. The 39-year-old took to Instagram to share a post on the kind of girls he prays to avoid. Iyke disclosed to his fans that the issue was actually a prayer point of his, a fact we believe many of them would concur with. Sharing a photo of three girls wasting bottles of champagne in a tub provide at a club, Iyke wrote: "Was looking for new prayer point this morn and the good lord in all his wisdom sent me this. It's my duty to share.... and my people say....." Maraj now faces at least 15 years in jail for raping a 12-year-old girl, Miriam Sholder of the Nassau County District Attorneys office told the Daily News. A plea bargain has been offered to Maraj, with the option of 15 years in jail if he accepts or far worse if he rejects the offer. The case was adjourned on Thursday, August 25, to Monday, August 29, 2016. A source close to the case has earlier revealed that the young girl is someone Maraj had access to. Meanwhile, Nicki who has always been supportive of her big brother is yet to make a public statements in relation to the case. Since then he has released singles like; One in a million, Hustle, Dem Hail and Down which have attributed greatly to his current success. He has also collaborated with an array of international and local talents such as: L.A.X and Maleek Berry, Moelogo, Sona, Mista Silva and more. He has a great interest in fashion and has previously collaborated with fashion brands; he mixes tailored sportswear with his Igbo, Nigerian heritage. He said "I'm excited to see some of the fresh talent showcasing their work on the catwalk, I have an interest in Nigerian fashion designers, there's a lot of talent coming out of Nigeria. I like that they infuse tradition with Western influence, I think it's dope how they mix bold colours with contrasting patterns. African Fashion Week London is a great way to highlight African Fashion. Everyone should come and see what's happening out of Africa." Mazi, who has also been previously featured on MTV IGGY, Link Up TV, Not Just Ok, MOBO Awards and Complex UK, had his most recent single 'Down' premiered by Red Bull Music, as well as his previous releases 'One In A Million' and 'Ifunanya' being play-listed on 1xtra an Capital Xtra. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The suspect, Ikechukwu Daniel, aged 28, was reportedly apprehended by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT. He is being faced with the charge of allegedly organising the abduction of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo on April 27, 2016, in Ogun State. The suspect disclosed to Saturday Sun that he and members of his gang had perfected plans to kidnap the billionaire businessman prior to his arrest. Daniel went on to reveal how the presence of security operatives had caused them to miss Otedola at a function he attended in Ibadan Oyo State. He added that someone working with the billionaire was responsible for the idea and also gave them information on the oil magnets whereabouts. I told my gang members that we must wait and plan very well before carrying out the operation. I told them that the first thing I would do so as to ensure that the operation was successful, was to do spiritual sacrifice to the gods and ensure that I defeat spiritually before going for him. You know a man like Otedola is powerful spiritually. Then the next step was to ensure that we get army, DSS and police uniforms. I realised without impersonation there was no way I would be able to go close to a man of such status. While the last on our list was to ensure that we monitor his movements regularly through our contact that is close to him and we would strike on a day that he has very little security men around me. I would have achieved all this by November and if we succeed it will be my last job as I would demand, N2 billion and I am hopeful he will pay nothing less than N500million. The suspect also reveals that he does his best to be one step ahead of the DSS and police, by getting himself acquainted with their strategies when it comes to tackling kidnapping as well as other crimes. ALSO READ: Friends kidnapped young graduate to collect ransom from parents The suspect lamented: I have a friend who is into hacking and he helped me hacked into DSS and police websites and through that process, I normally monitor their new tracking methods. Before I was arrested I knew the police was looking for me but I believed in my knowledge of Nigeria security apparatus but it failed me. Judges, attorneys, law enforcement and social workers across Scott County agree: The way of dealing with mentally ill people who go in and out of the criminal justice system is not working. We have individuals who are currently sitting in the county jail that are struggling with mental issues, and the jail is not the place to be, said Courtney Stenzel, residential director for Transitions Mental Health Services. The jail does everything they can to meet their needs, but they are not a treatment facility; so we need to get these individuals out of the jail and connect them to community resources. We need to get them stabilized. It took years of campaigning along with a sizable grant from Genesis Philanthropic to establish a one-year mental health court pilot program in Scott County. Mental health courts are specialty programs that combine judicial supervision with community mental health treatment and other support services to help reduce crime and improve the quality of life of participants. If we can get them in a situation where we can provide the structured monitoring and impose the requirements that we do, then we can hopefully get them out of that rut they are in, which is a cycle that theyre off their medication, commit a crime, go to jail, go off (medications) and repeat the cycle, said District Court Judge Mark Smith, who presides over mental health court. Getting started In late June, members of the Quad-Cities Interfaith Restorative Justice Task Force, judges, prosecutors, public defenders and mental and health care providers gathered in front of the Scott County Courthouse to announce the mental health court demonstration project. They also announced that they received a $50,000 grant from Genesis Philanthropic to help them get on their feet. Leslie Kilgannon, executive director of Quad-Cities Interfaith, said the faith-based social justice organization began to work with Quad-City churches and congregations this past spring to identify an issue they wanted to work on. The group came together and identified 30 to 40 issues, she said. One that came up over and over was mental health and the lack of a mental health court in Scott County. We started asking questions and doing research on why that was, she said. Kilgannon said the program may not be able to meet everyones mental health needs violent offenders cannot participate but theres a lot of people who could be getting help instead of taking up valuable space in the jail, which should be reserved for people for whom that really is an appropriate setting." They (jail staff) do a great job, she said. They do the best they can. But its agreed that thats not the setting for people who need help. The jail doesnt want to be the one thats administering the medications and doing all these things to maintain their stability. What they need is long-term help with a mental health professional. Thats not the setting that they are going to get that. Smith said a small judiciary group tried to establish a mental health court in 2009. The Iowa Supreme Court barred all new specialty courts because of state budget issues, he said. The high court has allowed Scott County to set up the pilot project in large part because of the grass-roots support in the community, he said. Genesis Philanthropic and Quad-Cities Interfaith were integral in obtaining the initial funding, he said. The team is made up of Smith and representatives of the offices of the county attorney, public defender, probation, jail and the 7th District Iowa Department of Corrections. Stenzel, representing Transitions, also is on the team as the care coordinator. She is experienced, having been involved in the Rock Island County Mental Health Court that was established in 2007. As of June 29, Rock Island Countys program has accepted 238 participants and has graduated 117. Stenzel said the programs graduation rate is 49 percent. First class On Aug. 19, the programs first two participants, both men, appeared in front of Smith and the mental health court team. Stenzel said one of the men had been released from the Scott County Jail and was ordered to move into and participate in the Salvation Army residential program. Stenzel said the man is doing well in the program and is doing everything that he needs to do. Keep doing what youre doing, Assistant Scott County Attorney Steven Berger told him. Im real glad you let me in the program, the man said. This is the best Ive done in a long time. In a loud voice, he said he has a positive outlook by participating in the Salvation Army program. A second man did not fare as well. Berger told Smith that the medication the man was discharged with when he was released from the jail was found next to a dumpster at the jail. The man also had left the Salvation Army program, which was a condition of his acceptance into mental health court, and had checked into a local hotel. He told Smith that he did not throw away the medication. Smith didnt believe him. We have other people who want the seat youre sitting in, Smith said. Smith found the man in contempt of court and ordered him to serve seven days in jail. Screening the first class The Iowa Supreme Court required that the program be up and running by July 1, and the team had to begin screening potential participants by Aug. 1. To be eligible, they must be diagnosed with a major mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and must be charged with a nonviolent offense. All participants must have stable housing, take the medications that they are prescribed, appear in front of the judge weekly, fulfill all treatment recommendations and requirements from their probation officer. Stenzel said the team plans to utilize the housing resources that they do have, such as the Salvation Army residential program, the 180 organization and UnityPoint Robert Young transitional living program. Participants can earn incentives, such as restaurant and movie theater gift certificates, as they progress. They also can receive sanctions, such as jail time, if they violate the conditions of the program. If participants successfully graduate from the program, the conviction is wiped from their record. Stenzel said the program can have a maximum of 15 participants at any one time. As of Aug. 12, the mental health court team has screened 15 potential candidates, of which more than 50 percent did not want to participate in the program. Stenzel said referrals keep coming in and said the team planned to screen five more potential candidates. Participation in the program is completely voluntary, Stenzel said. In Rock Island County, candidates are screened and accepted early on in their cases. Scott County differs in that potential candidates are those who already have pleaded guilty and were sentenced. Over in Rock Island County, we dont take them after theyve been sentenced, Stenzel said. In Rock Island County, we have a much smaller window to get them, so this (Iowas mental health court) really opens the door for the amount of referrals we get, because we dont have that time like we do in Rock Island County. Eventually, the team would like to expand the program to all the counties in the 7th Judicial District, which includes Cedar, Clinton, Jackson and Muscatine counties. Stenzel said she hopes to see Scott Countys program expand as the community sees the progress participants are making. I do have to remind people that it is a pilot program, so we can prove that were getting people out of jail faster, so we can prove were getting people on medication and housing and working on their recovery," she said. "If we can prove that over the next year, were hoping the county and grants and other funding sources will step in and fully support this program. Just before she leaves for the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jaryn Franklin will be part of a send-off on Sunday morning at the Quad-City International Airport. Franklin, crowned Miss Illinois in June, is from East Moline, and Mayor John Thodos will be among her well-wishers at the airport. The sendoff is at 9:45 a.m. under the Velie monocoupe display in the main terminal of the airport, 2200 69th Ave., Moline. Chosen as Miss Blackhawk Valley, Franklin is a nurse at Trinity Rock Island. She graduated from the Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Rock Island. Her talent is vocal, and her platform is advocating for individuals with disabilities. Franklin first decided to be a nurse in the sixth grade. "When I was a little girl, I got really scared when my dad got sick. The nurses would assure my family that my dad would survive, and I wanted to make that impact on patients some day," she said. "Now I have the ability to do that!" Franklin has spent the past week in southern Illinois, working to perfect her wardrobe, vocal performance and choreography, and underwent a "mock interview," which was a favorite part of the preparations. Finals of the Miss America pageant will be broadcast Sept. 11, locally on WQAD, Moline. On Saturday, Franklin had just finished volunteering for a Special Olympics bowling event in Peoria. She was looking forward to spending a little time with her family before she leaves the Quad-Cities. Franklin said she is excited about the pageant. "I haven't not had a chance to become nervous," she said. "I'm most excited to see this dream come true!" More than a year after Memphis-based Strategic Behavioral Health proposed building a 72-bed psychiatric hospital in the Quad-Cities, a state panel may make a final judgment on its application in October. Iowa's State Health Facilities Council is scheduled to review SBH's application on Oct. 11. By then, officials say, the five-member panel is expected to be at full strength. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has not filled a vacancy on the board yet, but spokesman Ben Hammes said last week that candidates are being considered. The unexpected resignation of one of the council's members this summer and the illness of another put off a July hearing on the application. The postponement was the latest in a string of delays at the state level that have confronted the project. Iowa law has a "certificate of need" process that requires new medical facilities to receive state permission. Strategic has argued since last year that the Quad-Cities has a significant shortfall in psychiatric beds. The company says that its new hospital would help resolve that problem. But the Quad-Cities' two largest hospitals, Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Trinity, have opposed the plans, saying Strategic would undermine their own efforts at expanding behavioral health care. Strategic says there is room enough for all. Both sides have lobbied local governments and others in the medical community for their positions. Strategic was to have had its case considered last fall, but an absence on the state council led to the case being put off until February. At that time, a four-person panel, once again left short-handed by the absence of a member, deadlocked 2-2 after a full day of testimony at a hearing in Ankeny. Because a majority did not vote in favor of the application, the council did not give its permission to build, which left the resolution of the case to another day. That day was to have been in July, but now it appears it will be in October. In the year since Strategic unveiled its plans, Genesis has expanded its services for children and adults. The hospital has said, with those additions and a planned offering of new beds for older patients next year, the area's needs are being served. However, there still is support for Strategic's plans. Lori Elam, the director of community services for Scott County who is supporting the Tennessee firm's application, said in July that although Genesis' additions have helped, there still is a need for more services. The state council is scheduled to settle the matter in October. MUSCATINE, Iowa A new outdoor warning signal has been installed across from McKinley Elementary School in Muscatine, to replace one that had not been functional for about a year. Matt Shook, the emergency management director for Muscatine County, said when he first began as the director, each town had their own way of maintaining the signals. Around two and a half years ago, they were all brought under the umbrella of the Emergency Management department, and an assessment was done to see what needed to be repaired in the city and county. "All of the city sirens were of the same age, which was somewhere in the 40-50 year range, and even though they had done an upgrade to make them radio controlled instead of by phone lines, which was becoming cost-prohibitive, the sirens themselves were nearly half a century old," Shook said. The giant, yellow signal across from McKinley was replaced with a smaller, cylindrical, black outdoor warning signal, the first of two new signals that will be installed in Muscatine this year. After replacing the siren across from McKinley, Lighting Maintenance, Inc., the company working on the sirens, plans to replace another old siren on Grant Street. Five in the City of Muscatine are known to not be working. Two will be replaced, and Shook said they hope to fix two more before winter. New signals cost around $20-25,000, Shook said, and a $100,000 budget was approved for the project by the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors in January. "We'll try to get as many replaced as possible," he said. One difficulty caused by the old signals, Shook said, is they have no feedback loop, or no way to know if they are not functioning, unless someone hears. The only way to know is if people call and tell you, he said. When the new signals are installed, Shook said he will have the ability to know if one fails. There are more than 35 outdoor warning signals in the county, and 25 within the city of Muscatine, so Shook said the signals are also being evaluated for location. Were also assessing whether or not they're placed in proper areas, he said. Signals, Shook said, are placed based on a variety of factors, including foliage, buildings, and terrain. If you're in a city the sound can be blunted by all those factors, he said. Shook said the project will continue next year, but he hopes to have the majority of the signals not currently functioning fixed or replaced before summer ends. To appreciate what's at stake for the world in this year's U.S. presidential election, it's useful to visit a place like Australia that has been one of our most faithful allies -- and that appears to be mortified at what's happening in American politics. Australians are polite, in their own rowdy way. And they know they have to live with whoever is elected president. So people here rarely criticize Donald Trump head on. But polls tell the story: A June survey by the Lowy Institute, a think tank here, found that just 11 percent supported Trump, compared with 77 percent for Hillary Clinton. The percentage supporting Trump's foreign policy was even smaller. And most amazingly, in a country that has backed every American military action for a century, 59 percent of Australians say their country shouldn't join in U.S. military action if Trump is elected. Australians, like most U.S. allies, depend on a strong, confident America to lead a global system that's stable, and also supple enough to accommodate new players such as China. They fear an America that leaves allies to fend for themselves against Russian or Chinese bullying. So what do Australians think when they hear Trump say, as he did in an Aug. 8 speech: "Americanism, not globalism, will be our new credo"? they worry that he means just what he says. Trump's America would be a more selfish nation; it would look out more for itself and less for others. This inward focus may make sense to Americans who are unhappy with globalization, but it's a scary prospect for an Australia that has to bet its future, quite literally, on America's staying power in Asia. "We need confident, competent, outward-looking U.S. leadership. Our region depends on that," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told me in an interview. While she was careful not to express a political preference, her meaning seemed obvious. Trump's fulmination about trade deals is a particularly worrying example of his intention to abandon longstanding American policies. He blasts the Trans-Pacific Partnership, for example, ignoring the fact that the greatest beneficiary of TPP's demise would be China. Beijing is waiting with its own alternative structure for global trade and economics to replace the U.S.-led system that has prevailed since 1945. Trump's supporters may imagine that America will start "winning" again, post-TPP, but I have yet to meet a global business leader who doesn't think that the demise of the trade deal would be a huge victory for China that would undermine American power in Asia for years. And yes, folks, TPP's demise would also hurt American workers by reducing U.S. access to the world's fastest-growing markets. Clinton's capitulation to misguided critics of the TPP has been sad to watch. Maybe she really believes that it's possible to reopen negotiations and get a better deal, but if so, she's nearly alone. More likely, she's willing for U.S. economic power and prestige to take a hit, if it will help her get elected. The only adult American in the room on this issue has been President Obama, who is campaigning hard to get TPP passed before he leaves office. "The TPP is not just an economic necessity, it's a strategic necessity," argues Bishop. "If the TPP fails, it will be seen as a failure of U.S. political will. A failure will also leave a vacuum, which will be filled by other countries including China. It's absolutely vital to have a win on this." What will allies do if the U.S. votes to embrace Trump's version of "Americanism, not globalism"? They will make adjustments; they will hedge their bets; they will hope that the fever breaks in four years; they will try to protect their own interests in a world where American power has become less reliable. Australia is a good example of a country that stands by its friends, even when they make mistakes. The leadership here stuck with the U.S. through Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some business leaders want cozier relations with China, but the public view is steadfast. "Why would we seek to hasten the drawing-down of an old ally?" asked Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute, in a recent book. Great powers sometimes crack under strain. Australia watched as the seemingly unshakable power of the British Empire became brittle and weary, and turned inward. Global leadership isn't a perpetual motion machine. It requires effort and occasional sacrifice. This year is a character test for America, and you need only travel abroad to understand how intently the world is watching. In the great new film "Hell or High Water," one of the first things you see is a wall in a dusty Texas town. It's a wall of a bank, a dirty white wall baked in the sun. And spray-painted on it in a red the color of dried blood is this: "3 tours in Iraq but no bailout for people like us." That's the axle of this film and the spine of it, and I haven't seen a better movie in a long time. "Hell or High Water" is a lean pulp Western story of two brothers who turn to bank robbery to save the family ranch from the bankers. Jeff Bridges is as good as you thought he'd be as the wisecracking old Texas Ranger tracking them down in the weeks before he's put out to pasture in retirement. Chris Pine is excellent and a long way from the Starship Enterprise. He plays a broken man with a dangerous scheme so that his boys won't suffer the disease of being poor. And Ben Foster as Pine's brother cements himself as one of America's great character actors. I won't put any spoilers in here, except that when it's done you might have a hankering for a medium rare T-bone steak. And just maybe you'll want some old, sassy roadhouse waitress to mock you when you're ordering. There's also a small role for one of my favorite actresses, Dale Dickey, the award winner from the superb "Winter's Bone." She played the brains behind a savage meth gang in the Ozarks in that Jennifer Lawrence breakout film. Here, Dickey plays a bank clerk, robbed and told to sit on the floor. She's only on the screen for a bit, but those dry sunken eyes have seen much pleading from hardworking people who never got a bailout from the establishment that runs this country. Hers is an amazing face, pinched and worn with life behind her, and I can see Dickey in some film I'll make up right here just for her: as a woman of the West during World War I, some picture about sisters trying to survive on a dry scrabble ranch out on the high plains, with their men gone to France and their kids hungry and a relentless wind driving them mad. And maybe a mountain lion. Or a man. She'd be great in it. The thing is, I like Westerns, but too few good ones are made, perhaps because the politics are all wrong. The Western is a classic American art form about the iconic man alone, the individual against nature and the sins of men. These days our culture's heroes are bureaucrats who take meetings and talk into headsets while ordering up satellite surveillance. Why do I like Westerns? It's not the horses or the six guns. So I can't say exactly, except perhaps that by definition the Western mocks the moderns who watch them, since the Western is a celebration of the nation we think we used to be. You have your favorites, and so do I, though I figure "Shane" would be up there on your list, and John Ford's movies with John Wayne, from "The Searchers" to "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." And the Marlon Brando pictures "One-Eyed Jacks" and "The Appaloosa," where the quest tale takes a skinny Brando through all the archetypal phases -- from burial to rebirth -- that were set down by Joseph Campbell in "The Hero With A Thousand Faces." "Lonesome Dove" was a TV series, not a movie, but it was a fine book, and it belongs with the classic Westerns too, like "No Country for Old Men" and "The Outlaw Josey Wales," and "Hombre" and "Unforgiven." And "Hell or High Water" belongs right up there with them. Not everyone agrees with me. There was a mincing slapdown of "Hell or High Water" in The New Yorker the other day, so I just knew this picture would be worth the price of a ticket, and it was. When it was over, we walked out of the theater and all I wanted to do was sit and smoke in quiet for a time. This wasn't a pie-and-talk movie. After some movies, you have pie and coffee and everybody talks excitedly about this scene or that one, this superhero or that one, all that eye candy and those amazing CGI chariot horses, or the metal encased breasts of some alpha-female warrior, or how Jason Bourne threw that killer left hook and slaughtered the servants of the evil one. But "Hell or High Water" isn't that kind of picture. It's not a big picture. It's a small picture, really, although the desperation of Americans ignored by the establishment is quite large. All this is explained by two Texas Rangers sitting outside a cafe, waiting for the bank robbers to show: How the West was taken from the Native Americans who lived there, and now the grandchildren of the takers are having it taken away from them by bankers fat with federal bailout cash. It is that graffiti on the wall that begins it all, desperate Americans reduced to spray paint to amplify their voices that are too often ignored. As an Illinois taxpayer, I would like to thank state Rep. Mike Smiddy, R-Hillsdale for sponsoring legislation in which the taxpayers of the state would no longer pay mileage per diems to legislators driving to Springfield to do their jobs. Unfortunately, much like the legislative redistricting legislation that Smiddy has been pushing, it will probably never be allowed to come out of committee by Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan. Nonetheless, it is further proof that Rep. Smiddy is far more concerned in the welfare of the state than the speaker, or our governor who is doing nothing but traveling around the state with divisive rhetoric. That is, when he is not writing $5 million dollar checks to House Republican Organization, in order to fund its dishonest ad campaigns. It is clear that in order to move Illinois in a positive direction, we need to harken back to a time when the people were put first, and elect legislators that are a connection to a time when bipartisanship and compromise were badges of honor. Former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans was a symbol of those times and his teachings were obviously not lost on those he mentored, people like Smiddy, as well as 72nd House District candidate Mike Halpin. We need both of these individuals in Springfield to carry these lessons forward Gregg Johnson East Moline SPRINGFIELD A referendum on amending the Illinois Constitution to take the once-a-decade process of redrawing legislative districts out of the hands of the General Assembly wont be on the Nov. 8 ballot, but that wont prevent redistricting reform from being a major campaign issue. In a 4-3 decision that split along party lines, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a ballot measure creating an independent commission to redraw district boundaries went beyond the scope allowed for a petition-driven initiative. Referendums placed on the ballot through petitions are limited to making structural and procedural changes to the General Assembly. The courts partisan divide sets up redistricting to be yet another contentious issue in an election season following a yearlong budget standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. The four justices who were elected to the state Supreme Court as Democrats found that the redistricting proposal from the group Independent Maps, which gathered more than half a million signatures in support of its effort, is unconstitutional because it would have assigned new duties to the state auditor general. Therefore, Justice Thomas Kilbride wrote for the majority, the proposition supported by Independent Maps must fail. The three justices elected as Republicans strongly disagreed. In direct contradiction of the clear and unambiguous intention of the people who drafted the constitution and the citizens who voted to adopt it, 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, Justice Robert Thomas wrote in one of three dissenting opinions. Critics of the current redistricting process say it protects incumbents and puts too much power in the hands of the party that controls the Legislature. Rauner has made redistricting reform a major plank of his turnaround agenda, and he frequently accuses Democrats, especially long-serving House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, who also heads the state Democratic Party, of blocking an idea thats popular with voters in both parties. The Peoples Map, a group of minority business and community leaders that challenged the proposed redistricting amendment because they think it would weaken minority voting rights, is represented by election lawyer Michael Kasper, who has represented Madigan and a long list of other Illinois Democrats. Madigan denies any connection to the case. On Governors Day at the Illinois State Fair last week, Rauner spoke of a political machine that has taken over much of state government, including the judicial branch. That machine is in court right now, trying to block fair maps, trying to take power away from you, trying to deny you the vote, Rauner said, adding, That machine elects a lot of those judges. This is Illinois. But during a visit to Marion on Friday, Rauner sidestepped questions about whether the states high court is part of the rigged system he says is responsible for the states fiscal and economic woes. Our entire system is broken, he told reporters. Rauner has spent much of the past month traveling the state in an attempt to pressure lawmakers to approve a ballot question on term limits for elected officials, another issue the courts have said cant be addressed through a petition initiative. Hes now expanding that message to include redistricting reform. Republicans want it; Democrats want it, the governor said Friday. The General Assembly should put it on the ballot. Not always clear in Rauners message is that any action lawmakers take at this point wouldnt put those questions on the ballot until 2018. It is clear, however, that the GOP wants to make term limits and redistricting campaign issues this year. Several Republicans put out statements criticizing the court ruling. David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said the way the court divided plays right into Republicans hands. Its unfortunate there was a partisan split because this state is divided enough as it is, Yepsen said. He said the ruling is going to increase public skepticism about government and politics and cause erosion of confidence in the judiciary. It gives Republicans a real issue to talk about, Yepsen said. The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the November ballot Friday without the redistricting referendum, but it could be added back through a court order. Independent Maps spokesman Jim Bray said the groups lawyers are still evaluating whether to ask the Supreme Court for a rehearing. DES MOINES When Donald Trump steps to the microphone today at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, his host, hopes the Republican presidential candidate focuses his comments on the issues that impact Iowans, and that his criticism of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton also remains issue-based, not personal. Ernsts second annual summer fundraiser, the Roast and Ride, begins with a 42-mile motorcycle ride that benefits a veterans charity, then moves to the fairgrounds where Republican leaders, including Trump, will speak. Last years inaugural event, held at the Farm Expo grounds in Boone, was held during the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses and featured seven Republican candidates. This years big ticket is Trump, who did not appear at last years event. Trumps brash style of public speaking enamored him to millions of primary voters, even as it has drawn harsh criticism from many, including Republicans. Trumps bombast has continued into the general election campaign; this week he called Clinton a bigot. Ernst said Friday she hopes Trump focuses on issues that can inspire Iowa voters to support him. The freshman senator also said she wants both Trump and Clinton to tone down what she called personal attacks during the campaign. I would say with both of them, because there have been a lot of barbs thrown at each other, is that they need to take this into a civil discourse. And were not seeing that right now, Ernst told reporters Friday at the fairgrounds as organizers prepared for the event. I dont like it when candidates go in that direction. And I would say of both of them, back down and lets really talk about policies and the issues. Thats my advice to them. Ernst said she thinks if Trump focuses on Clinton on issues like the economy and national security instead of personal attacks, that will make a bigger impact with Iowa voters. He needs to say a lot of things, but I think focusing on Iowa right now is going to be very, very important, Ernst said. He needs to talk about what we can do in the state, jobs and the economy. If he really focuses on those things, hes going to catch a lot of attention. Most polls in Iowa have showed a close race here between Trump and Clinton, making it one of the few true swing states thus far in the election. I think (Trump) is doing quite well in Iowa. I am hopeful that Iowa goes his direction, Ernst said. He speaks in a way that resonates with millions of Americans, and Iowans arent immune to that. Its exciting to see that, shaking things up a little bit. Organizers said they do not have an anticipated crowd figure, but the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion in which the event will be held can hold a little more than 2,000 people. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Gov. Terry Branstad, and all of Iowas Congressional members and candidates also will speak at the event, as will U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska. CEDAR RAPIDS Sen. Chuck Grassley will complete his annual 99-county tour of Iowa with a stop in Anamosa on Thursday. He will have a town hall meeting at 10:30 Thursday in the courtroom of the Jones County Courthouse, 500 W. Main St. It will mark the conclusion of another year in the six-term Republicans practice of holding meetings in every one of Iowas 99 counties at least once a year since being elected to the Senate in 1980. According to Grassley, the hallmark of his meetings are the open-topic question-and-answer sessions where he invites and responds to questions and comments on any subject. Representative government is a two-way street, he often says at his town meetings. You cant have representative government without dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent. However, groups opposing his re-election have criticized Grassley for a lack of access despite his visits to all 99 counties every year. Since 2011, Grassley held just three public town hall meetings in Iowas 10 most populated counties and none in eight of the 10 most populated counties, including Linn and Johnson counties, according to Progress Iowa, a left-leaning advocacy group supporting Grassleys opponent, Democrat Patty Judge. Many of his non-public meetings are with employees in a private business setting. For example, on Friday, Grassley visited a Hy-Vee distribution center in Chariton where he had a question-and-answer session with employees. He often meets with civic clubs, like an Aug. 19 question-and-answer session with about 75 Daybreak Rotarians in Cedar Rapids. Grassley, who is running for re-election, maintains that the cross-section of Iowans he meets helps me keep in touch and take the common sense of Iowans from all perspectives to work in the nations capital. WATERLOO, Iowa Many people in Iowas jails as many as a third do not belong there, state law enforcement officials say. Too many people are jailed when what they really need is mental health care. The scenario has become all too common: A person with a mental illness does not get needed treatment or declines to take prescribed medication, then behaves in a way that gets law enforcement involved. So, what weve got now, is the jails have become the mental health institutions for the state, said John Miller, a Black Hawk County supervisor. The states mental health care system is plagued, law enforcement officials and mental health advocates agree, by a lack of access because of a shortage of beds and a lack of available mental health professionals. Iowa also lacks a unified mental health care model that involves hospitals, law enforcement and the community. In Scott County, 38 percent of the individuals in jail have a diagnosed mental health issue, according to Sheriff Dennis Conard. Like many of his colleagues in law enforcement across the state, Conard thinks that number would drop dramatically perhaps by as much as half if a better system of mental health care were in place in Iowa. The entire system seems to be broken, Conard said, especially in our area. And the jail is the location that the police departments have at their disposal to take care of the issues that theyre dealing with on a daily basis on the outside. Theyre running into people who are under treatment, but for some reason, they make the decision that theyre not going to take their medicines anymore or they have a crisis of some sort. And theres no place else for them but jail. Not enough beds Iowa has the fewest state psychiatric hospital beds per capita in the nation two beds for every 100,000 residents, according to a 2016 report from the Virginia-based Treatment Advocacy Center. There are roughly 730 staffed psychiatric inpatient hospital beds in Iowa, according to state data. The number fluctuates daily by a bed or two. Thats not enough, law enforcement officials and mental health care advocates say, especially because not all beds are open to all mental health patients. Some, for example, are designated for specific age groups. There is a shortage of beds for certain populations. I dont know if theres overall a shortage, but there definitely is a shortage for certain kinds of people, said Peggy Huppert, executive director of Iowas state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstads administration in 2015 shuttered state-run mental health institutions in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda. Branstad said the move was made to better serve patients in community-based treatment and to save money for the state. In early 2015, just before the closures, there were just more than 730 psychiatric beds, according to the state. A state Department of Human Services spokeswoman said there still are roughly 730 beds in Iowa. She said the number of beds did not change drastically because, in the final years, Clarinda and Mount Pleasant housed only a handful of psychiatric beds each. Two state-run mental health institutions remain operational, in Independence and Cherokee. Independence has 62 beds, and Cherokee has 36. Advocates and law enforcement officials say they agree that many individuals with mental health care needs are better served in community-based treatment, but not all. They say some people have mental health care needs that are too intense for such treatment. I had one person from one of the MCOs (the managed care organizations that are operating Iowas Medicaid program) tell me it doesnt matter how much I offer to pay a provider, theyre not going to take these people (with intense mental health care needs), Huppert said. So there is a role for state beds, and it should be for the patients that nobody else wants. The state should take those people. While the state data shows dozens of open beds a new bed-tracking system showed more than 80 in early June law enforcement officials and advocates insist the shortage is real, and they insist the mental health institution closures exacerbated the problem. Difficult to place They say some individuals are difficult to place and sometimes beds are open but geographically far from the patient, which then requires someone, often law enforcement, to make an hours-long round trip to transport the person. I dont know the governors reason (for closing the mental health institutes) but its killing a county like Woodbury, said Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew. And I know other counties have the same problem. Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes rejected the suggestion the closures shifted the burden of providing mental health care from the state to local government and agencies. State officials pointed to the open beds and said hospitals are not admitting some mental health patients. They also noted a shortage of psychiatrists, an issue Branstad has attempted to address by introducing a program that would encourage psychiatric medical students to stay and work in Iowa after graduation. There are still two state institutions that are able to admit patients, Hammes said in an emailed response to questions. We recognize the difficult job that mental health care advocates sometimes experience. However, we are focused on providing a modernized level of care for mental health patients in their local communities whenever possible. Hammes said, since returning to office in 2011, Branstad has approved more than $310 million in mental health care funding and signed into law the statewide redesign of the states mental health care delivery system from county- to region-based. Hammes also said 150,000 Iowans have access to mental health coverage through the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, a state and federal partnership health care plan. The closures freed more than $8 million in the state budget. State records show the state appropriated $1.4 million for Mount Pleasant and $6.8 million for Clarinda in fiscal year 2015; that funding has since been eliminated from the state budget. Jails as mental health institutions When beds and other treatment options are not available, jails often bear the burden. They cant get access to proper treatment, so theyre self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. Its often the addiction that gets them into trouble or the behaviors coming out of that that lands them in the criminal justice system, Huppert said. In Iowa, police and sheriffs are the mental health treatment providers of last resort. Law enforcement officials say not only is that an inefficient use of their resources, it often is difficult to provide adequate assistance to someone with mental health care needs. Once all the beds are full, whats the next best thing? Well, take them to jail. And thats not providing the services they truly need, Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said. Sometimes, I feel like were really reactive. If we get them the help beforehand and have it be long-term care instead of just short-term care, then we might avoid these situations. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson sees the same issue. Way too often, they end up in the criminal justice system because thats the path of least resistance. Thats the easiest option, Thompson said. Jailing them while theyre mentally ill, while convenient it in no way, shape or form benefits them. It is a limitation of the system. Law enforcement officials say people with mental health issues wind up in jail because often it is the easiest solution, but those officials say that is not what is best for the patient who becomes an inmate. A lot of people in our custody are in for non-compliance, (not) taking their medication. They didnt do what the court ordered them to, the court has no place to put them, so they put them in our jail, Drew said. Dont you find that disturbing that someone ends up in our jail just because somebody didnt take their meds? Its just not the place for them. So were all sitting here not knowing where to place them, and (jail) is just not where they belong. No funding coming Although many advocates agree most mental health patients are better served in community-based settings, those same advocates say the problem is local governments and agencies received no additional help to make the transition. Thats all fine, but there wasnt a subsequent shift of dollars into community health centers to help them manage those acute clients, said Chris Hoffman, executive director of Pathways Behavioral Services in Waterloo. Advocates lament what they describe as insufficient state funding for mental health care resources, and groups that are trying to address the intersection of mental health care and law enforcement are doing so without expecting any new money coming their way. We have to fund it ourselves, Miller said. "We have to figure it out on our own, because were paying, one way or the other." Working together In Black Hawk County, individuals from county government, law enforcement, hospitals, mental health care advocacy and others have formed a group that meets once a month to discuss these issues. It brings everybody to the table, not only to identify our various roles in the problem, but also brings to the table some potential solutions, said Tom Eachus, of the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center in Waterloo. They can come together and say, 'This is something that we need to do differently, we need to address this problem.' We know what the needs are, now the question is how do we change the process that might impact the problem that is there. Were all going down the same road together. Thompson marveled at how much he has had to learn about handling people with mental health care needs since he became sheriff in 2009. I didnt realize when I took office eight years ago how dramatic an issue this was. I ramped up my education very quickly, and thats unfortunate that we are under-recognizing this particular facet of the issue, Thompson said. But in this last eight years, what Ive found is my vision for what the mental health funnel ought to look like, where it starts with day programming, routine interaction with a counselor, all the way down to those people who need permanent placement, a housing system, 24-hour monitoring, down to people who really arent suitable for placement in community care (but) need something more structured, more detailed to their particular affliction. We all recognize that the convergence of mental health and criminal justice needs to be addressed. NATION Death penalty sought in ambush killings Prosecutors in Pennsylvania say they plan to seek the death penalty against two men charged in an ambush at cookout that killed five adults and an unborn child. The Allegheny County district attorneys' office on Friday filed notice of intent to seek capital punishment if 29-year-old Cheron Shelton and 27-year-old Robert Thomas are convicted of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said the death penalty would be warranted because of the defendants' previous convictions, the multiple felonies alleged and the grave risk posed to others. The men are accused of shooting up the March 9 cookout in Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh, while gunning for a man they believe killed Shelton's best friend in 2013. That man was wounded but survived. Clinton gets first briefing as nominee Hillary Clinton received her first national security briefing Saturday as the Democratic presidential nominee, meeting with intelligence officials for an overview of the major threats facing the nation around the globe. Clinton attended the briefing for more than two hours at the FBI office in White Plains, New York, near her suburban New York City home. Republican Donald Trump received his briefing earlier this month, a customary move for major party nominees but one that has been the subject of a political tussle during the campaign. WORLD 8 soldiers die in rebel attack Suspected members of a little-known rebel group killed eight soldiers in an attack in northern Paraguay on Saturday, just days after guerrillas and officials in Colombia reached a peace deal to end the longest-running insurgency in Latin America. Paraguayan Interior Minister Francisco De Vargas reported the first five deaths from the attack in Arroyito, a town about 305 miles from Asuncion. Dr. Bernardo Jacquet, a physician at Hospital Concepcion, located some 55 miles from where the attack occurred, later said the death toll had risen to eight. Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by a little-known Paraguayan guerrilla group called the Paraguayan People's Army. 17 workers die in warehouse fire A fire swept through a Moscow printing plant warehouse on Saturday, killing 17 migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan, Russia's emergency services said. A representative of the Kyrgyz community said the victims were all young women trapped in a dressing room while changing into their work clothes. The fire was caused by a faulty lamp on the first floor of the warehouse, where many flammable liquids and paper products were stored, and it spread quickly through an elevator shaft to the room where those who died, said Ilya Denisov, who heads the Moscow branch of the emergency services. He said firefighters found the bodies of 16 workers and sent four injured workers to the hospital, where one later died. Denisov, whose statements were carried by Russian news agencies, said the dead were all from Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, and were believed to be working legally in Russia. Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that 14 of the dead were Kyrgyz citizens. N. Korea threatens to fire at lights North Korea on Saturday threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by "provocative" American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army accused U.S. and South Korean soldiers of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the "brink of war" due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. "Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots," the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. "The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation," it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. The above organizations are recognized by Queens Crap as being beneficial to the city as a whole, by fighting to preserve the history and character of our neighborhoods. They are not connected to this website and the opinions presented here do not necessarily represent the positions of these organizations.The comments left by posters to this site do not necessarily represent the views of the blogger or webmaster.Street or satellite shots used here are from Google Maps or Windows Live Local Eighty years ago, on Aug. 30, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a devout Episcopalian, worshipped at Emmanuel Episcopal Church for the 11 a.m. service. To commemorate his historic visit, the church will hold an ecumenical prayer service at 11 a.m. Aug. 30, officiated by the Right Rev. John Tarrant, the Episcopal Bishop of South Dakota. This community-wide prayer service is open to every one. Recognizing a sitting presidents visit to Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a just one part of the prayer service, said the Rev. Chris Roussell. Even more so, it is a chance for the community to come together in prayer and share a message of hope, he said. President Roosevelt came in the Black Hills in August 1936 for the unveiling of Thomas Jeffersons head at Mount Rushmore. But his primary purpose for visiting the region was to survey the drought conditions of the Great Plains and how it was effecting the communities, while also offering hope and encouragement to the residents. The world of 1936 was similar to the year of 2016, said Roussell, adding that 1936 was fraught with the great drought, economic depression, troubles in Europe and the rise of Hitler, racial tensions, and a general instability in the world. I have this deep desire to pray with our community, Roussell said. To pray for the safety and protection of fire, police and first responders. For our leaders, civil servants, and our men and women in the military. To pray together that the walls that divide us will crumble. Emmanuel Episcopal Church has invited state and local officials, local leaders, law enforcement officers, members of the military, and fellow pastors from the community to attend the service. With this year being a presidential election year, Roussell said there is no better time to gather together as a community, across different faiths to offer prayers and show trust in God. Small signs throughout the church tell the story of President Roosevelts visit. A pew marks the location where the President sat, along with his two sons, a daughter-in-law, members of the secret service and reporters. An American flag a gift from the President is displayed in a frame, and a large black-and-white print of a newspaper photo featuring the Rev. Jerome Pipes with the church choir and President Roosevelt hangs in the hallway. A limited number of tickets were given to the congregation to attend the service with the president. Groups of people gathered on the lawn to greet and send him off. The 2016 prayer service will include hymns, scripture passages and Bishop Tarrants message, followed by a luncheon hosted by the Episcopal Church Women. U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) | A number of Cadet Wing leaders traded in their enlisted careers for cadet life to become Air Force officers, and have used their prior military experience to help them succeed at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Cadets 1st Class Leah Young, the Cadet Wing public affairs officer and summer Cadet Wing vice commander, and Tierra Franklin, the summer Basic Cadet Training cadet group commander, both joined the Air Force as enlisted members in 2009 and transitioned to the Academy through the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program in 2012. As active-duty enlisted Airmen, Young was a public affairs specialist stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; and Franklin was a materiel management specialist stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and also deployed to Southeast Asia. My enlisted experience has helped put everything in perspective and context to the active-duty world, Young said. I understand how things work at the wing, group and squadron levels, and I can try to mirror that system when applicable in leadership positions. Before attending Basic Cadet Training in 2013, both Young and Franklin attended the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in 2012. My prep school experience was very eye opening, Franklin said. You go from being in an operational environment to being placed back in to a training environment. You learn to adjust to the ways that the Academy differs from operational units. Transitioning from active duty back to a training environment wasnt the only challenge the Airmen faced. The hardest part (of Academy life) for me was learning how to fail and move on, Young said. Most of us are used to having the time and resources to complete tasks to the best of our ability and succeed. Sometimes I've come short of my goal, and sometimes I've missed the mark completely. At first, I got hung up on that and beat myself up for failing. It sounds cliche, but at the end of the day, all you can do is your best. Sometimes you have to accept that you don't have time to be as successful as you'd like in every aspect of your life. Young and Franklin are just two of many enlisted Airmen who have benefitted from the LEAD program. The program was initiated in 1995 to provide commanders the opportunity to identify outstanding Airmen, who are qualified to attend the Academy and who exhibit officer potential, for this commissioning program. The LEAD program is an on-going effort to give commanders the opportunity to identify and nominate outstanding and deserving (enlisted) Airmen who are qualified and show potential to attend our officer commissioning program, said Col. Carolyn Benyshek, the Academy admissions director. They base their recommendations on performance and initiative, which has a direct correlation to success in our program and leads to the potential for an outstanding officer. Every year, enlisted Airmen come to the Academy, either through direct appointment or through the Academy prep school. On average, 6 percent of the entering class are enlisted Airmen, Benyshek said. Fourteen percent of the enlisted applicants end up being cadets, either through the prep school or directly into the Academy. All Airmen have to meet the same entry requirements as all other candidates, the only difference is the nominating source, which for enlisted Airmen are their commanders. According to the Academy command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Max Grindstaff, prior-enlisted cadets bring a diverse perspective to the Cadet Wing because they come from different Air Force career fields. We typically have just over 300 prior-enlisted cadets, and the value of the combined experiences they bring to USAFA is immeasurable, Grindstaff said. They have hands-on experience tackling challenges and succeeding in our Air Force. Many of them have deployed overseas and bring an amazing situational awareness that enhances every interaction they have with non-prior cadets. Some of them have earned Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars, and their stories give a nuanced awareness of what the enlisted force does in our Air Force for those here who've not worn the stripes. Young offered advice for prior-enlisted Airmen interested in coming to the Academy through the LEAD program stating the experience is not for the faint of heart. Know what you're getting into before you apply, Young said. Sometimes priors get here and become a bit cynical because they tune out the lessons they've already been taught, like how to make a bed or do a facing movement in basic training. You're going to be treated just like everyone else, and you can't let that bother you. It will be frustrating, you will question your decision, and you will get annoyed. But if you focus on the good, and keep your eye on your goal, it will be completely worth it. In 10 months, Young and Franklin will be commissioned officers in the Air Force. Young hopes to be a pilot, while Franklin is hoping to be an aircraft maintenance officer. Each of them will lean on their experiences as enlisted Airmen and cadet leaders to help them in their operational career fields. I have grown to understand that it is people who make the mission go, Franklin said. If you take care of them they will in turn take of you and execute the mission to the best of their ability. Prior-enlisted officers bring a different perspective to leading Airmen, because they have firsthand knowledge of what it is like to be an enlisted Airman. Having the awareness of the path Airmen take from basic military training to the operational Air Force is going to really enable these future lieutenants to lead more effectively, Grindstaff said. There is a street cred bump these lieutenants will get when they graduate, being prior enlisted, but more important is that ability to put themselves in one of their Airmen's shoes that really helps them lead with focus and a well-balanced perspective. Grindstaff added that supervisors and commanders play an important role in finding the next generation of Air Force leaders. Every supervisor out there should keep an eye out for Airmen who are standing out and displaying leadership qualities, Grindstaff said. When you spot him or her, simply have a discussion about whether (the Academy) would be a good fit for them. We need those Airmen here to help lead our Air Force in the decades to come. PIERRE | State and local highway programs saw a $99 million boost in their revenues during the first full year of tax and fee increases that the Legislature approved in 2015. The new money from higher gas taxes and vehicle fees will be used to enhance spending in several areas, including on roads and bridges but also for the state game and fish department, among others. That report from the South Dakota Department of Revenue to the legislative Government Operations and Audit Committee shows that lawmakers got the new money they hoped for when they raised the gas tax and vehicle fees. The numbers reflect state governments 2016 fiscal year that ended June 30. State government collects motor-fuel taxes and excise taxes on motor vehicle sales. County governments, who collect the vehicle registration fees, operate on a calendar year. Together those showed totals of $307 million for fiscal 2014 and $406 million for fiscal 2016. Lisa Weyer, director for the departments Division of Motor Vehicles, presented the numbers. She said fiscal 2015 didnt provide for a straight comparison because the increases took effect at varying times. Nor are the numbers complete. She noted the registration-fee increase on large non-commercial vehicles such as farm trucks and equipment was spread across two years. The second half took effect July 1. Sitting next to her during the Tuesday meeting was state Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist. After she finished, Sen. Larry Tidemann, R-Brookings, asked Bergquist, Now, how did you spend that money? Bergquist said counties are getting the 20 percent increase in license plate fees and the non-commercial registration fee increases. The state highway fund gets the motor-fuel tax increase and the vehicle excise tax increase. The Department of Transportation also is spreading some of its gain back to counties and cities through the new Bridge Improvement Grant program established by the Legislature. The department has restored funding to some of its grant programs that were cut or zeroed out during Gov. Mike Rounds administration. Rounds opposed highway revenue increases. Another beneficiary is the state Game, Fish & Parks Department, which will see $1 million annually from the DOT after a vote Thursday by the state Transportation Commission. Township governments also are trying to get a slice. Their lobbyist Dick Howard has been working on a statewide inventory of township bridges and culverts. A past secretary of transportation, Howard intends to meet with the Transportation Commission again in September. Bergquist said the new revenue means DOT would defer fewer projects on state highways than in the past. We always over-program, he said. From my perspective, its good. One effect of the bridge grant program is that more counties are involved in levying wheel taxes for local uses. Only counties that have wheel taxes can qualify for the grants. Weyer said 57 of South Dakotas 66 counties now charge a wheel tax and the number will rise to 58 when Jackson Countys wheel tax starts Jan. 1. She said 13 counties added a wheel tax after the 2015 legislation passed and 14 counties increased their wheel tax. The legislation allowed counties to charge the tax on up to 12 wheels per vehicle for a maximum of $60. The Transportation Commission also is considering a plan to possibly close some rest stops along South Dakotas two interstate highways and renovate or expand others. There are 21 rest stops along the interstates. The long-term plan is to transition from 13 information centers to five that would be at each end of the interstates and at Chamberlain. The Wilmot rest stop with its overlook of the Whetstone Valley would become a new welcome center at the north end of Interstate 29. The Valley Springs rest stop at the east end of Interstate 90 would receive a complete renovation as a welcome center. Facing closure would be the Tilford rest areas at the west end of Interstate 90 and the Hidewood rest areas between Brookings and Watertown. A welcome center would be created at Homestead at the south end of Interstate 29 near Vermillion. The information centers would close at Wasta, Presho and Salem along I-90 and at Glacial Lakes the north end of I-29. Other information centers might be shifted into other settings as local projects progress such as at Spearfish. Security camera upgrades also would be made at many of the interstate rest areas under the plan. The timetable calls for much of the rest stop work to occur in 2017 and 2018. In some instances the projects would cost an estimated $4.5 million apiece. PIERRE | State government officials on Thursday showed some of the tools they now are using to better assess risks when awarding public money for grants and contracts. One checklist helps detect conflicts of interest. Another helps determine whether a person is a contractor or a grant sub-recipient. That distinction is important in deciding the responsibilities that accompany the money. They are part of a new emphasis by Gov. Dennis Daugaards administration and the Legislature on internal controls within the state government. The governor and legislators are responding to the EB-5 and GEAR UP scandals that developed nearly a decade ago but only came to light since 2013. Felony criminal charges have been filed in both instances during recent months. Lawmakers this year approved creation of a state Board of Internal Control sought by Daugaard and Lt. Gov. Matt Michels. The legislators also adopted conflict of interest laws for state government employees and members of more than 20 state boards, commissions and authorities. The Board of Internal Control met Thursday and members began discussing whether to seek outside help from government officials in other states and possibly from consultants. For many people, this clearly is new ground. The board has approved a code of conduct and a conflict of interest process for state employees. Now the challenge is establishing the internal financial controls for each agency. Ron Wire is director of internal control within the state Bureau of Finance and Management, the hub for budgets within the government. We have controls but we dont have documentation to show we have controls, Wire said. BFM Commissioner Jason Dilges asked if every agency would have something to gain. Definitely, Wire replied. Theyre on board. They want guidance. Dilges said he doesnt think his agency has the resources to help all of the other departments and agencies. He is contemplating whether to invite budget officials from another state such as Nebraska, which appears to have a solid system, or pay for consultants or some combination. He also doesnt know yet whether to start with one South Dakota agency and get its system put in place or make a broader attempt across more of state government. I think were at the point where we take a time-out and look at what best practices might be, Dilges said. Wire said cabinet members seem to be working with their departmental internal control officers and the initiative is taking hold. I think were ripe right now for a consultant to come in. Weve already done the legwork, Wire continued. I think nows the time to deal with it. Its not going to be just a short project either. Its going to be a fairly lengthy project. He added, If were not ready to start big we should at least start small. Take one department and learn from that. The big unknown is cost. Dilges said some alternatives could be brought back to the board before there is a decision on direction. He wondered if a training the trainer approach would succeed. This is a very specialized work and we just dont have tools or the time right now to pursue it, Dilges said. Keith Senger, another BFM official working on the new system, said it might take five years to complete. Were doing a lot of things. We just need help organizing what were doing, Senger said. This is really big and its going to take a long time, Senger continued. The discussion wound to a close with another thought from Dilges. He asked whether an assessment should be done as an early step so there is a baseline. One successful step is the tool for determining whos a vendor and whos a sub-recipient of a grant, according to Chris Peterson, director for administration in the state Game, Fish & Parks Department. Peterson said state agencies havent been documenting decisions on sub-recipients and contractors but they have been making the decisions. The new tool can be used for case by case determinations. He said the list for GF&P has 6,700 unique vendors. You know it when you see it, Peterson said about how the determinations happened in the past. The tool didnt exist, and it does today. The tool didnt exist to document the decisions that were happening in the agency. The Ellsworth Task Force a committee set up to help protect the air force base from closure would no longer receive funding from Rapid City as part of Mayor Steve Allender's proposed 2017 budget. In remarks this week, Allender said he wants to withhold the $75,000 in annual funding the city had given the task force because he said another entity is better positioned to advocate on behalf of protecting Ellsworth Air Force Base. The Ellsworth Task Force, a non-profit group created to help the base survive the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, has been publicly funded in recent years with Rapid City providing a majority of its money. Since 2010, Rapid City has provided $75,000 a year to the group, and $50,000 was included in the citys budget for 2008 and 2009. Pennington County included $25,000 per year in their budget for 2013 to 2015. Pennington County ceased providing money to the organization in 2016, and if the city pulls its funding, the task force would essentially be without a meaningful revenue stream, according to task force budget documents. In the past two years, the group has received less than $5,000 per year in private contributions. The head of the task force says his group remains relevant and continues to promote the viability of Ellsworth, the region's largest individual employer. But since helping to fight off the potential closure of the base that was floated in 2005, the group has spent much of its money on a part-time paid director and to build a statue for a military base in Louisiana. Allender said this week that the goals of the task force are roughly the same as the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, a state agency created in 2009 under the Governor's Office of Economic Development. This state agency, formed in 2009, is charged solely with keeping conditions right to help Ellsworth survive any future closure process, Allender wrote in response to a question by Alderman Jason Salamun about the removal of task force funding in the 2017 proposed budget. Their efforts are substantially different than the Ellsworth Task Force and are related to land acquisition and other hard costs related to Ellsworths mission and overall sustainability. In summary, the Ellsworth Authority is helping ensure an objectively greater chance of success in any potential future base closure hearing. Allender referred to the work the Ellsworth Authority has done and continues to do to help the base and the surrounding community of Box Elder, including efforts that resulted in a Virginia-based health care management firm leasing office space on the base, land acquisition around the base to reduce encroachments, building a wastewater treatment plant to serve the base and the city of Box Elder, building a multi-use development to house residents and businesses and developing Ellsworth Business Park, a commercial area for retail and light industrial use in Box Elder. Allender further noted at a budget hearing on Wednesday that he does not believe another round of base realignments or closures are coming any time soon. Conditions are different today than they were during the times leading up to past BRAC hearings, Allender said. On the national scene, military leaders are begging for BRAC hearings and are being denied by Congress. In fact, Congress has become the sole authority in governing which equipment is used by the military. The point is, it appears there is no greater chance of a BRAC hearing today than there has been in the past 10 years. Allenders assertions are reinforced by a look at the work in Washington D.C. on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017, the bill that sets funding levels and outlines spending priorities for the military. While the Department of Defense has asked Congress to move forward with a BRAC round which it argues would save billions in overhead costs support for a BRAC has not materialized. However, a report from the Pentagon released earlier this year said that the military maintains about 22 percent more infrastructure than needed, and defense officials even threatened to go forward with closing bases on their own. The move would be difficult and face many hurdles, according to experts who say a BRAC round would be much easier and the threat from the Department of Defense to go it alone is a way to get Congress to approve a BRAC round. Still, even if a BRAC round were to move forward, Ellsworth Air Force Base has made some moves in recent years that may make it less likely to face closure. Among them: The addition of the unmanned aircraft pilot, or drone, squadron operating at the base; and the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex which now spans almost 35,000 square miles and is bringing aircraft from a variety of branches of the U.S. military to train there. The Ellsworth Task Force started as an offshoot of the Military Affairs Committee of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce and became its own entity when the 2005 BRAC process began and included Ellsworth on the list of possible bases to close. The Ellsworth Task Force was needed during the time of the BRAC hearings, Allender said Wednesday. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Task Force was becoming a focal point of local support for Ellsworth. He went on to say that some of the functions of the Task Force can be assumed by the Military Affairs Committee until a BRAC hearing is imminent and then he would suggest relaunching the task force. But members of the Ellsworth Task Force are not ready to bow out. Jeff Carsrud, chairman of the task force, appeared before the Pennington County Commission on Aug. 16 and asked for $25,000 for the "Save Ellsworth Project." At that time, he reported that they receive their funding mostly from the city. Carsrud told commissioners that the task force fully expects to see a BRAC round in 2019. According to documents provided by the task force to Pennington County authorities, the group promotes and emphasizes the economic impact of the base on the local economy; develops and maintains relationships with Ellsworth commanders; participates in a variety of base activities like air shows, award ceremonies and base picnics; develops relationships with defense industry contractors and other bomber base constituency groups; and raises funds for operations and a potential BRAC. Task force documents shows the group pays $40,000 per year to part-time Executive Director Matt McGrath. In 2016, $48,000 was spent on payroll, $19,075 on travel, $8,000 on promotions, and $1,877 on dues and subscriptions. Carsrud reported one of the most significant achievements of the task force was working to fund a portion of a sculpture of a B-1B Lancer. The task force funded the stand for the one-eighth scale sculpture of the bomber created by Boeing. The sculpture was placed in front of the 8th Air Force Headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana in October 2015, in conjunction with the aircraft being assigned to Global Strike Command, according to McGrath. Carsrud presented a proposed 2016 budget of $100,000 to the commissioners that included $40,000 for compensations, $12,000 for travel, $8,000 for event support and recognition programs, $3,000 for dues and subscriptions, $4,000 for meeting registrations, $16,500 for something they call, Bomber Community, Global Strike Command, Bomber Competition, and Long Range Strike Caucus Meetings/Events, with $16,500 to go into reserve. As of Feb. 2016, they had $231,669 in the bank for reserves. In the presentation to the county commissioners, Carsrud said they needed at least $500,000 to be prepared for a BRAC. Even though those reserves are mostly taxpayer funded and supposed to go to prep for a BRAC round, McGrath said they will use them to continue operations in the absence of funding and while they pursue more. The (task force) proved itself crucial to the retention of (Ellsworth) in two past BRAC rounds, McGrath wrote in response to several questions regarding the future of the task force. Although no BRAC is presently scheduled, it is essential the local community maintain its support, role, and voice in the future of the base. The economic impact of (Ellsworth) since the 1995 BRAC round easily exceeds several billion dollars. The (task force) is pursuing other funding and will use its reserves where necessary to continue operations. 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 Today, I am announcing my endorsement of Amendment V nonpartisan elections on the Nov. 8 ballot. My reasons are simple and grounded in the basic fundamental freedoms we hold dear: that every voter, including 115,000 independents in South Dakota, should be able to cast a meaningful vote for their elected officials; and that those elected officials be public servants, not party servants. How I arrived at my support for Amendment V, however, may surprise you. When the draft Amendment V was first presented, my preference was an initiated state statute rather than a constitutional amendment. There was no doubt that something had to be done. We could not continue having 115,000 independents have no say in the choice of final candidates to govern our state. Eighty percent of our elections are effectively decided in the primary. Because of closed primaries in the dominant party, only a small percentage of voters were deciding who would run for the Legislature. That meant that many excellent candidates would not run at all, knowing there was no chance for election unless they were part of the small club active in the majority party. An even smaller percentage of voters make decisions on who would be the candidate for constitutional offices at party conventions. But, what to do. Opening up our elections to all voters is an issue I have long championed. When I was in the Legislature, I introduced a bill in 2011 that would require opening up our primary elections to independent voters. Unfortunately, the inept Secretary of State Jason Gant convinced the Senate's Local Government Committee to oppose my bill. Today, when I ask truly qualified young people (or successful older people) to run for the Legislature, the usual reply is its a closed circuit, why should I waste my time? For example, Republican Sen. Ryan Maher, an outstanding and thoughtful legislator, had no choice but to run as a Democrat if there was any hope of being elected in his district. If he had not run as a Democrat, the in the club candidate Ted Klaudt would have been elected who shortly thereafter became a convicted felon. He is now serving 54 years in the state penitentiary for sexual abuse of his foster children. We know from our own experience that nonpartisan elections work to choose school board members, judges, mayors and city councilors. Sometimes there are candidates suggested by one party or the other, but their party is not shown with their name on the ballot. Most importantly, all voters are able to vote for whom they want regardless of party. Nonpartisan elections have worked in Nebraska at the legislative level for over 80 years. They produce elected officials that are public servants, not party servants specifically because every voter has a voice. South Dakota deserves that kind of government. After reviewing all the evidence, it is now clear that the only way to guarantee that every voter has a voice is to support Amendment V for nonpartisan elections. Opponents are using the scare tactic that because party affiliation won't be on the ballot, that voters should be afraid of nonpartisan elections. Its complete nonsense, of course. We already use nonpartisan elections for local elections. And candidate affiliation is public information that will be publicized by the media, the candidates, the parties and, of course, by the opposition candidates. Ensuring all voters have a voice is the real transparency that our state and country desperately needs. Please join me in voting "yes" on Amendment V and give independent voters a voice. Every South Dakotan deserves the right to vote in the primary election. Perhaps next year will, finally, be the year Iowa lawmakers take substantive steps to crack down on the pervasive, dangerous problem of distracted driving. At his July 25 weekly news conference, Gov. Terry Branstad said he asked Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan to lead a task force in a study of driving distractions. Ultimately, the panel will make recommendations to Branstad ahead of the next legislative session. Branstad said safety on Iowa's roads will be "one of the major issues" he will discuss in his January Condition of the State address. "We've seen not only an increase in the deaths of cyclists, bicyclists (and) motorcyclists, but also motorists," Branstad said. "And I do want to see us address those issues." We commend state government for undertaking this study, which we hope will help push the issue of distracted driving to near the forefront of next year's session, where it deserves to be. We support making use of a hand-held cellphone while driving illegal. At a minimum, the state should make texting while driving a primary offense. The state was right in 2010 to make texting while driving illegal, but because the ban is enforceable only as a secondary offense, or only when a law enforcement officer stops a driver for a primary offense, it lacks impact. We also support discussion, pushed by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, of changes to the state's reckless driving law. In response to the deaths of nine bicyclists on Iowa roads so far this year (the most since 2010), the coalition advocates for an expanded definition of reckless driving (to include, for example, texting while driving), with a goal of stronger charges and punishment for motorists who strike bicyclists. Under current law, drivers must be drunk, high, drag racing or fleeing from police to be considered reckless. Alarming statistics about the scourge of cellphone use by drivers abound. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, some 660,000 drivers use cellphones or manipulate electronic devices while driving at any given daylight moment. The National Safety Council reports use of cellphones causes 26 percent, or roughly one in four, of the nation's car accidents, resulting in some 1.6 million crashes each year. Iowa should seek to become a leader in protecting the public from this national epidemic. To this end, we look forward to reading what the new task force recommends. And we urge state lawmakers to join Branstad and make distracted driving a priority legislative issue next year. An 81-year-old Stevensville man faces six sexual assault charges for allegedly molesting a 7-year-old girl. Gary Gene Dowdle appeared last week before Ravalli County Justice Jim Bailey on felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent, sexual assault and sexual abuse of children. Dowdle was arrested after the girl told authorities in Colorado that she had been assaulted between the ages of 4 and 6. According to court documents, when the girls mother confronted Dowdle, he told her the girl liked it and came on to him. Dowdle allegedly made other admissions to the Ravalli County sheriffs detective who investigated the case. When the detective asked how many times he assaulted the girl, Dowdle allegedly replied that he hadnt counted them, but he did it every chance he had. Bailey set bail at $100,000. The Ravalli County Fair begins a week early for some 4-H members that participate in Interview Judging Days for each of their non-animals projects entered into the fair. Earlier this week, 18 adult community members interviewed the youth on their non-perishable 4-H exhibits under the grandstands at the fairgrounds. The youth and adult discussed the project, the learning involved and ideas for projects next year. The judges provide advice, encouragement and praise. Katelyn Andersen, MSU Extension Agent, said the interviewing process is a 4-H tradition in Montana and across the nation that teaches life skills. We see it as an opportunity for our youth, ages 5-18, to gain a valuable experience of interviewing with an adult, Andersen said. By the time a member is applying for a job, they have already learned how to manage their nerves of being interviewed with an adult. Plus, they learn what to wear, how to articulate their thoughts and think on their feet. Anderson said that 4-H program uses the Danish judging system of evaluating each exhibit individually for meeting the standards not judging them against each other. We do have special premiums donated by community members and local businesses, which are awarded to exhibitors by the judging for high achievements, such as Best Male Chef, Most Educational Photography Interview or Top Welding, Andersen said. The two days of judging have over 650 entries by 165 members, 25 judges and 26 volunteers to make it happen. Deb Kehoe, a fifth year indoor exhibit judge and interviewer, said interview day is her favorite day of the year. We have such amazing youth in our community. The talent is shocking, Kehoe said. Heres a 10 or 15-year-old sitting across from me and theyve put their heart into their project and tell me about it. They are so proud their face is glowing and you see this magic on them. In our jaded world how often do you get to see the pride in effort? Kehoe said she judges visual arts, arts and crafts and sewing arts. Our job as judge interviewers is to help the kids see what they learned this year, not just how good their project is, Kehoe said. The kids show me any error and I say, How will you fix this next year? They know. Kehoe enjoys seeing the project and progress the 4-H members have learned through time. The change from year one to year five is astonishing, she said. Some start out very shy and over time transform into someone proud of their work and they present with their shoulders back and say let me show you what Ive made this year. The interview process has a lot to do with that. Kehoe said 4-H ribbons are determined in the judging and interviewing process. A blue means its the best you can bring, she said. A red maybe means there were improvements that could have been made and you know it. Kehoe said the judges get together after the interviews to decide best of show. Best of show could mean this project was the best first year entry, best improved, best garment or best non-garment. It means youre the head of that category, she said. Often those come with a community offered premium of $10 to $50. Kehoe said she admires the 4-H leaders in the community. Each week they have five or six kids in their home and they are giving what is in them to make sure it is passed on to the next generation, she said. It just really is amazing. I always leave the fairgrounds knowing that our community had developed our youth to be the best and brightest of us. The fair is wonderful and 4-H is wonderful. 4-H members will be interviewed for their perishable entries, like flowers and baked goods, on Aug. 29. TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Jonathan Wege says the house he and his wife, Marissa, built along M-22 north of Traverse City offers "the best view of Grand Traverse Bay you'll ever see." Built on a bluff overlooking the West Bay five miles north of Traverse City, the 3-year-old house offers that postcard view from a 45-foot bank of windows imported from Europe. Perched above the tree line with 80 feet of shared access to the shore below, "it's like you're in Costa Rica," says Wege, son of the late Steelcase Inc. chairman, Peter M. Wege. The Weges have put their house at 10008 Leeward Shores Drive on the market for $2.68 million with Realtor Perry Pentiuk of Venture Properties. They are moving to southeast Michigan, where their children attend private schools. They are leaving behind a modern and energy-efficient house that is packed with energy saving features by Wege, who owns a company that seeks out and finances sustainable energy innovations. For example, a cistern beneath driveway that collects rainwater operates a small hydro-electric generator that powers the pumps for the geothermal heating and cooling system. The geothermal heating and cooling system also are tied into the indoor pool and hot tub. Wege said they designed the house with local architect Michael Fitzhugh to create an Asian atmosphere. Grand Rapids furniture designer Joseph Jeup created the millwork and cabinetry. Clad in concrete, panelized steel and composite siding, the 4-bedroom house has 6,334-square feet above ground and includes four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. The house is wired so its heating, cooling, sound and security systems can be remotely managed from an iPhone or iPad anywhere, Wege said. The living area of the home, which includes a solid black walnut floating staircase was laid out informally with the gourmet kitchen and living room spilling out onto an outdoor deck through glass walls that fold back. Wege said the kitchen was spread out intentionally to make room for the guests who invariably gather in the kitchen. There's a second "butler's kitchen' where the real cooking gets done, he said. The master suite includes two walk-in closets, an ensuite bathroom and a private outdoor patio with a fire pit. An upstairs media room with a bathroom has a hanging gas fireplace and a Murphy bed that can fold out to create a guest suite. This is one in a series of articles we have published about High-End Homes in West Michigan. Here are similar articles we have published recently: $1.63M house on Fisk Lake is California cool with lavish master suite, indoor pool After 160-plus years, farmhouse remains rock-solid and ghost-free For $5.7M, home on top of Lake Michigan dune boasts great sunsets and sunrises For sale at $940K: 'hobby farm' has 70 acres, pastures, stream, pond, walking trails Foundation puts 151-year-old Heritage Hill mansion on the block $2M Heritage Hill mansion filled with history and opportunity Bar built from an old Chris-Craft yacht featured in Lakeshore Parade home Nearly 28,000 hourly workers at Meijer stores and distribution centers got a raise this week. They also now have a better chance of getting a full-time job in the Grand Rapids-based retailer's supercenters. They can save more for retirement. More are eligible to earn paid time off. And, in an industry where long-time workers may not be able to count on two days off in a row, they have a better chance at obtaining that. Those are among provisions from a new four-year contract approved in mid-August by three groups of employees, a move that prompted company officials and union leaders to agree this week that the outcome touches not just workers but also store operations. A contract that increases opportunity and pay for retail worker is worth watching in Michigan because of scale of the company and the number of people in the industry at a time when the state's unemployment rate is staying below 5 percent, and stores and restaurants in many areas experience staffing pressures. "I think it positions Meijer well in recruiting and attracting good workers," said John Cakmakci, president of Local 951 of the United Food and Commercial Workers. He continued: "It's a very competitive market for workers right now." While Meijer didn't address that specifically, a spokesman did touch on the relationship between staffing and customer satisfaction. "The key to our sustained growth is investing in our team and taking care of our customers," Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi said in a statement for an earlier article on MLive.com. "This new agreement, along with our continued focus on winning with our team, will help us do both." Meijer, based in Walker, is the 19th largest private company in the U.S., according to Forbes, with annual revenue of $16.1 billion. It is expanding in five other Midwest states, but about half of its stores - which totaled 223 when the chain announced a $400 million growth strategy this spring - are located in Michigan. Cost estimates for the new labor agreement weren't available Friday. Meijer declined to discuss the new contract, and Cakmakci said starting wages vary across the state, based on location. He called the investment "significant." The contract, he said, "is fairly complicated." It affects workers in the retail stores and distribution centers, as well as skilled trades in the stores. However, one change that may be visible at the customer level is that Meijer no longer will have "pass-through" departments - like the deli or bakery - that hire entry-level staff. Those new hires typically eye positions elsewhere in the store, like the produce department, that may have higher pay or more hours. "They'd have a hard time keeping people," Cakmakci said of those departments. Other factors pressuring the industry besides low unemployment - notably in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor - include the intense competition for grocery sales, which have a low margin but can account for more than 55 percent of sales at discount retailers. National retailers are responding, making moves like Walmart, which has closed stores to improve profits, and Target, which cut its profit forecast this month. Yet retail remains a force in the job market. There are about 4.6 million retail salespeople in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from a May 2005 report. Another 3.5 million people work as cashiers, according to the BLS Combined, those retail positions account for 6 percent of all jobs in the U.S. A diagram of the longevity of Meijer employees in Michigan would look like an hourglass, Cakmakci said. That is one reason why the timing of the contract could work in Meijer's favor if the job market continues to tighten. "There are a lot of senior people," he said, estimating up to 7,000 with 15 years or more. Very few have been there 5-10 years, he said. "Then there's a bucketload" with less than two years, he said. Creating a job situation that fits employees is important to them, Cakmakci said. And Meijer has been willing to experiment with two-week scheduling and letting employees with seniority have a role in when they work. Corporate executives, including new President Rick Keyes, were "more than willing to work with us on this," Cakmakci said. Beyond that, Meijer will be posting available full-time jobs so that part-timers can consider the stores part of a career path. About one-third of hourly employees in Michigan are full-time. Wages may be one of the biggest deterrents to retail jobs. Nationally, the median hourly retail wage is $10. 47, or $21,780 on a full-time annual basis. The median income for cashiers is $9.28 per hour. The new Meijer contract means that employees will reach top of scale in a shorter timeframe, which Cakmakci offered with a three-year example. Part-timers will pay less for health care, which full-timers will pay a slight increase. And paid time off also will be earned in a shorter timespan. The glimpse into employment of Michigan's top non-automotive retailer indicates that Meijer "is putting value back in employees," Cakmakci said. Political Incorrectness Paradoxes, and Anything else out of left field. America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance! Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker Despite the obvious fallacy in Donald Trump's recent statement that President Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton were the "founders of ISIS", Hudson Institute scholar Michael Doran's February 2, 2015 essay "Obama's Secret Iran Strategy" demonstrates that a very flawed U.S. policy towards Iran actually helped create Sunni support for the radical Sunni Islamic State. Due to what former Senior Director at the National Security Council Elliott Abrams terms Obama's "ideology", the administration not only failed to comprehend Iranian culture and the absolutist theological nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran -- a blunder already begun in the Carter White House and perpetuated through all subsequent administrations -- but also compounded the error by believing that the mullah regime could be enticed to moderate its behavior. A year after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action we find Majlis Speaker of Parliament hard-liner Ali Larijani threatening that Iran may violate the JCPOA with a new startup of nuclear enrichment if any new sanctions are employed against Iran for its alleged nuclear activities, or those which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized in his report concerning ballistic missile tests. So too, the BfV, Germany's domestic security apparatus, indicates that Iran has attempted to buy illegal nuclear technology since last year's deal. Additionally, a recent report indicates that Iran has stepped up its cyberwar capabilities against the West. Thus, it's clear that the White House's hope that Iran would begin to change its behavior has proven erroneous. In reality, Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not changed his opposition to the United States one iota. Indeed, the monies Iran has reaped from the deal have found their way to increased Iranian support for the Syrian regime of Bashar el-Assad and its various terrorist proxies -- particularly Hizb'allah -- in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, and Gaza. Having pulled all U.S. troops out of Iraq without stabilizing the situation between the warring Sunni and Shia populations, the administration not only allowed Iran to continue to support and fund the most radical Shia factions and their militias, but also gave the radical Dawa party's Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki the chance to suppress the Sunni minority. The result of allowing al-Maliki to continue his sectarian oppression of the Sunnis was to cause a large portion of Sunnis to become radicalized and support the formation of the Islamic State, particularly among former Baathist army officers and officials. As Iran's radical Shia agenda became more prevalent in Iraq, leading both the Tehran-led Badr Organization militia and other Shia militias such as Asaib Ahl al Haq, or "League of the Righteous" to attack and assassinate Sunnis, particularly those that had any ties to the Saddam regime, the Sunnis reacted, and thus ISIS/the Islamic State found a steady supply of local recruits. For the United States to win the war against the Islamic State, it is necessary not only to destroy it physically, but also to reverse the conditions that made it popular with a good portion of the Sunni masses. Unfortunately, the U.S. is relying on Iraq's Shia Popular Mobilization Units(PMUs) which too often commit atrocitiesagainst the fragmented Sunni minority. As long as the current policy of relying on the Shia PMUs in its fight with Islamic State, the U.S. will fail to tame Iraq and arrest the sectarian wars. The PMUs are -- in essence -- Iranian proxies as their battlefield leadership is clearly demonstrated by the presence of Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC/Pasdaran), in Iraq at Takrit and Fallujah during the battles there. Soleimani not only advises but actually directs the battles and is aided by his own Qods Force troops as well as Shiite Fatemiyoun recruits from Afghanistan and Pakistan that have been employed to bolster Hizb'allah in Syria. Accountability and strict discipline need to be enforced in American relations with Iraq. "Leading from behind" will not do in any manner whatsoever -- that's an open invitation to the Islamic State to morph into another terrorist entity. Boots on the ground and officials in Baghdad to enforce strict compliance with a non-sectarian agenda will be required. With careful instruction and guidance we succeeded in the "Tribal Awakening" of 2006-2007 and the "Surge" of 2007-2008; future success requires similar diligence on our part along with that of the government of Iraq. But this time we need to stay the course and not retreat from the arena until Iraq is at peace with itself. Given the right support, the GOI will opt for a successful harmonious state. But with the long history of mutual Sunni-Shia animosity and the ferocity of both sides in attacking the other, it will not be simple or quickly achieved. However, if we withhold our support and supervision, Iraq will not achieve peace and will continue to be a weak client of Iran whose malevolent agenda is all too well known from the past thirteen years of experience. Across the border in Syria, the situation is somewhat more complicated. The "moderate" opposition -- thought by the U.S. to be concentrated in the Syrian Free Army (SFA) -- has recently allied itself with jihadist militias fighting the Assad regime, especially in the current battle over Aleppo. Although the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has split recently from al-Qaeda in order to form Jabhat Fatah el al-Sham as an umbrella organization of all non-Islamic State Sunni opposition to the Assad regime, the jihadi agenda it espouses has not changed at all. Like Islamic State, Jabhat Fatah el al-Sham seeks to remove the Assad regime and replace it with a Sunni Islamic state. The only Syrian group working actively against Islamic State in Syria is the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces which recently took the city of Manbij from IS after a two-month siege. This Kurdish-dominated coalition is made up of the Syrian YPG and a variety of Arab minorities. Success against the Islamic State both in Iraq and in Syria is hampered by our reliance on Iran's Shiite axis in Iraq while attempting to remove Iran's client in Syria. Our "friends" in these fights do not share our values nor do they have similar goals and objectives for final outcomes. Until we realize that every coalition action that we take has multiple repercussions because of our "allies" all-too-frequent misdeeds, we will continue to fail to bring any sense of calm to the area. As mentioned above, "leading from behind" is a guarantee of failure. Success will require tremendous effort, diligence and hands-on supervision in order to prevent sectarian violence against civilians, minorities, and the less devout. And this problem will not be solved quickly no matter how much we wish it. But ignoring it will only allow it to fester and grow much more dangerous and lethal. Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker, author of over one hundred articles on the Middle-East, is founder and Chairman of the Board of Americans for Democracy in the Middle-East, an organization dedicated to teaching the public about the dangers posed by radical Islamic fundamentalism. He may be contacted at contact@ADME.ws and/or ADME.chairman@aol.com. Soccer star AD Franch makes Salina proud Salina soccer star AD Franch didn't set out to be a goalkeeper. Now she's one of the best ever at her position. 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. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close UK genre fans are currently enjoying five days of nailbiting action with the 2016 edition of the Horror Channel FrightFest now underway in Shepherd's Bush, London, and we will be chronicling the event with the official FrightFest TV daily highlights packages. Day One's subjects? Actor Gary Stretch and Producer Alma Bogdan-Turner discuss My Father Die, and there's a special announcement from Ghost Stories' Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson. UK genre fans are currently enjoying five days of nailbiting action with the 2016 edition of the Horror Channel FrightFest now underway in Shepherd's Bush, London, and we are chronicling the event with the official FrightFest TV daily highlights packages. Day Two's subjects? Director Ben Parker, Actors Charlotte Salt & Johannes Kuhnke and Composer James Bradfield discuss The Chamber; Director Gabriele Mainetti discusses They Call Me Jeeg Robot; Director Alastair Orr discusses From A House On Willow Street; Director Adam Levins discusses Population Zero; Director Andy Edwards discusses Ibiza Undead; and Actor Dominic Monaghan discusses Pet. This year's Nordic Genre Boost wrapped up in Haugesund, Norway during the Norwegian International Film Festival. When we reported on the selections back in February we reported that the Nordic Genre Boost exists to help a fledgling genre film scene in the Nordic countries continue to grow. The co-production market introduces filmmakers to producers, sales agents and distributors, not only form Nordic countries, but from other potential partners as well. Now that the market has wrapped up it is too soon to tell if any partnerships were made but thanks to a follow up from ScreenDaily we have much better descriptions of all seven projects selected for this year's edition. These are some of the Nordic genre films to keep an eye out for in the next couple of years folks. Bente and the Mutant Scouts, dir Tor Fruergaard, prods Claudia Saginario and Stinna Lassen, GoodCo (Den) In what is likely to be the first film described as an animated body horror for children, the story is about a scout troop turned into mutants. Fruergaard said, I want to make a funny and silly universe, but I would like to also touch your hearts with this likeable and relatable little girl. The team, who are targeting 8 to 12 year olds, will use similar animation techniques from their short Growing Pains, and the film will shoot in 2017/2018. It was written by Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen. Birds of a Feather, dir Hanna Bergholm, prods Mika Ritalahti and Niko Ritalahti, Silva Mysterium (Fin) A horror drama about a 12-year old girl who hatches a needy, bird-like creature out of an egg to carry out all her hidden and worst impulses. Bergholm said, We all wear armour out in the worldwe show the best version of ourselves. But what if you could never remove the armour? If you believe that you always have to be perfect, or nobody wants you? The horror of the film is waiting for that moment that perfect harmony is being torn apart. This is the fable for adults, added Ritalahti, who said they would aim for the same audience drawn to Let The Right One In. To shoot 2018. The Damned, dir Thordur Palsson, prods Emilie Jouffroy, Kamilla Hodol, Filmbros Europe (Nor/UK/Ice) Starving people in an Icelandic fishing village in 1874 let shipwreck survivors drown because they dont have enough rations to feed the extra population. They later fear they have been damned by their actions. Its an atmospheric psychological horror film, said Hodol. Jouffroy added, Its a story about survival vs humanity which never ceases to fascinate. Thor will bring a singular focus on character, it will be a distinctive horror film with depth. To shoot in Iceland, in the Icelandic language, from February 2018. Deep Down, dir Izer Aliu, prod Mikael Diseth, Fantefilm (Nor) Sci-fi/drama about a chaotic mission to explore a mysterious oil field deep under water outside Norway. This is Norways first classic sci-fi, said Diseth. With our experience in producing high-end genre films like The Wave, and Izers background in dramaits a strong combination for this project. The story is inspired by a graphic novel by Aspli. Aliu added, What I really fell for in Magnus story is the consequences of human action. I have always wanted to do sci-fi, this is a way to grow back to the core of what sci-fi is.I want it to matter when people die in science fiction, that you care for the characters. At its core its about loss of principle. To shoot August 2017. East by Eleven, dir Olaf De Fleur, prod Kristin Andrea Thorardottir, Poppoli Pictures (Ice) In the near future, a memory detective discovers a massive conspiracy that he might be part of. He wants to go into the memory of his sisters death to save her. De Fleur said, In the near future there is a new justice system based on extracting memories, and you can manifest them in a memory hanger, and a memory detective can walk into the memory to investigate and solve a crime. I want to make a commercial, accessible about a high concept. I want to make a good European sci-fi, he said. The film is at first draft stage. Memory of Water, dir Saara Saarela, prods Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff, Bufo (Fin) Based on Emmi-Itarantas popular novel translated into 22 languages, the story is set centuries in the future, when a 17-year-old girl must try to save a zone called The Lost Lands and keep her fathers secret. Saarela said the film is a dystopian dramain a world where freshwater is running outFinland has blended into a country called Scandinavian Union, controlled by a government that used to be China. She added of the films ecological themes, protecting and saving this planet is important to me. I find it terrifying that some of the visions in this dystopia are already happening as we speak. To shoot summer 2018. The Substitute, dir Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken, prod Finn Gjerdrum, Paradox (Nor) In an alternate future, a company has the technology to clone human beings from birth so every person has a spare; a worker there discovers a hidden malfunction that threatens mankinds existence. Gjerdrum said, We are all going to die eventually, how much would you give to not die? How much would you give for a second chance? Dahlsbakken, who has also just finished Cave, added, I fell in love with the project, it was due to the originality and complexity of the story, and the moral themes in the story and also the chance to make a futuristic universe. It will be thrilling, exciting and original. 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. City Attorney Dennis Herrera is laying into federal housing officials who rejected a San Francisco policy this month, the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan, that would have set aside 40 percent of all new subsidized units for existing neighborhood residents. The neighborhood preference policy was intended, in particular, to protect black San Francisco residents in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. The Board of Supervisors approved the plan in December, but earlier this month, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rejected it, arguing that such a plan could "perpetuate segregation" and would violate the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Not so, says Herrera: "The City's Plan is consistent with the goals of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a civil rights law written decades ago to protect minorities from discrimination," the City Attorney argues in a letter to Julian Castro, Secretary for the Department of HUD. "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. " San Francisco's African-American population has dwindled from 13.7 percent in 1970 to a mere 5.7 percent today, as the Chronicle recalls. That, Herrera writes, is related to gentrification, and he questions the charge that the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan would incur segregation. "The Plan is intended to maintain diversity in neighborhoods such as the Western Addition," he writes. "Without the Plan, the opportunity for residents to remain in their own neighborhood will be out of reach for those who are most at risk of displacement." Further, Herrera argues that the plan is not without precedent. "HUD has long recognized another form of neighborhood preference for new affordable housing projects in San Francisco, including the certificates of preference for households in the Western Addition and Hunters Point neighborhoods that were displaced by the federally funded urban renewal projects in the 1960s. But those certificates of preference alone are far from sufficient to address the displacement of communities the City now faces." Mayor Lee, with backing from Senator Dianne Feinstein, hopes that a compromise can be reached. KQED writes that Lee plans to send representatives to meet with national officials, and quotes him as critical of the federal decision. "I believe that the decision is adverse to our mutual goals regarding equity, displacement prevention and the creation of opportunities for vulnerable populations, the mayor wrote. Time is of the essence as the new Willie B. Kennedy Apartments in the Western Addition, which the Chronicle writes is a 98-unit senior housing development, is beginning to accept applications. That was financed, in part, with $15.2 million from HUD, and it's at the center of the debate. KQED spoke with one woman, Adrian Williams, who would have benefitted from the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan. I watch every day as I see seniors on the streets that have given back to this community," she told the radio station, "and now theyre homeless." Previously: Yet Another Aging Affordable Housing Complex Senses Threat From Outside Development For many homeowners, it is not unusual for spare bedrooms to be used as home offices. In fact, with so many working from home, the influx of virtual meetings and telecommuting, home offices are no longer considered to be an extravagance, but a necessity. SMALL HOME OFFICE SOLUTIONS What if you don't have a spare room or large extra space in your home? These days home offices can range from a simple chair and desk to space to truly spread out. Small home office solutions can include: - A long wall in a bedroom, spare room or even along a hallway - A kitchen niche - Under a stairwell - A closet - Small alcove SMALL HOME OFFICE NECESSITIES When it comes to outfitting your small home office, function and efficiency are key. Instead of crowding your small home office with unnecessary extras, be sure to focus on the necessities. When creating an efficient, small home office, here are some necessities to include: - Workspace. This can be a small table or desk. - Comfortable chair. If you are especially tight on space, consider a foldable chair option that can easily be stowed away. - Storage. Keeping items hidden can go a long way to create a clean, streamlined look. File cabinets, drawers, top cabinets, even stackable boxes and bins, are good solutions. - No paper. Instead of having your work space crowded with papers, going paperless will help to keep your workspace clutter-free. - Lots of light. Lighting can help make your small workspace feel larger and brighter. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. LOS ANGELES -- MacGyver hasnt given up his paper clips. But in the new version of the classic action series, hes no longer a lone wolf. I wanted it to stand out from the original show, says Executive Producer Peter Lenkov. I wanted that character to have a family around him, people that he relies on. In addition to a tech expert, a weapons pro, and a demanding boss, the crime solver will be aided by a roommate who can bring out a less analytical side. Lenkov says his MacGyver will still rely on duct tape, chewing gum and ingenuity but hell also have the benefits that come from a world of new technology. Lucas Till, who played Havoc in the X-Men franchise, inherits the role created by Richard Dean Anderson. He, too, will have an aversion to weapons and a facility with found objects. Hes not going to go to Google, Lenkov says. Hes going to be using technology, repurposing it in a way thats going to get him out of a situation. Hes a cerebral hero. His superpower is his brain. The brawn? That comes from George Eads who plays Jack Dalton, a maverick former CIA agent. Hes the guy that sees the value in a gun as a defensive weapon, Lenkov says. The irony? Till grew up in a military family. I think I only wanted to be in the military every third day for the first two years I lived in L.A., he says. I wanted to give up. It was like, Im just going to go join the military. This sucks. And my dad was like, Youre not getting in the military, which is funny. A big fan of the original series, Tills father was excited when he got the role. All he cares about is that Im MacGyvering things. That comes, but Tills MacGyver will also be known for helping underdogs. Hes a nice guy. Just because he has a different girl on each episode doesnt mean hes a bad dude because its his lifestyle. Like dad, Tills friends and acquaintances are eager to have him stick to the template. They suggest things Anderson did and Till quietly thinks, Put it on my tab. While this MacGyver went through another incarnation before it settled on the current iteration, Till has always been in the leading role. As Peter would say, it was like a dress rehearsal, says director James Wan. We saw what worked and what didnt work as welland did it again. Adding more characters gave them the opportunity to build on MacGyvers character and show other sides of him. Giving him a roommate shows what hes like when hes not on the clock. Adding a female boss lets him deal in a more realistic world. Those tricks MacGyver was known for, though, will remain intact. Lenkov has hired an expert who will vet all of the quick fixes. To make sure they dont fall into parody, the cast is high on MacGruber, too. We try to keep it light and acknowledge that right away, says Eads. When I first read the pilot, the first 10 pages, I was kind of laughing because I was imagining it being MacGruber. Now, the actors say, they hope Saturday Night Live will spoof their edition. Should MacGyver hit with viewers, Lenkov says he hopes they can do crossovers with another reboot, Hawaii Five-O. A meeting of televisions crime-solving minds? Its something only MacGyver could pull off. The new MacGyver premieres at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 on CBS. RURAL MOVILLE, Iowa | The place where people from Moville, Kingsley and other areas swam from the 1950s to the early 1990s with a dock, raft and sandy beach is under a massive amount of water in the summer 2016. Those swimming days are long gone, as Midway Park now is primarily a fishing spot maintained by the Woodbury County Conservation Board. The park's ponds are getting a lot of attention this summer, as substantial flooding followed a June 17 blast of rain from wide-ranging Siouxland thunderstorms. Area people keep talking about the flooding, which spilled into farm fields to the south and across the highway to the west, adjacent ditches and kept the two ponds at a high spot. "People are actually fishing in the ditch and catching fish," local fisherman Paul Malm said. Midway Park is roughly midway between Kingsley and Moville along Iowa Highway 140, hence the name. Located four miles north of Moville, the park contains two abandoned gravel pits that were converted to recreational lakes. Malm, who grew up in Kingsley and now lives in Moville, said the flooding is the worst he's seen in 45 years of being around the ponds. Malm is an avid fisherman who is out in the park a lot, and noted that in the mid-late-1990s a flooding event was the highest he's ever seen. But the latest flood has been more long-lasting, Malm said, "This is the longest I've ever seen it sustain the depth." Malm speculated that the flooding has been so long-lasting because the groundwater level was high, so land got saturated, and "there is really nowhere for it to go." Woodbury County Conservation Board Director Rick Schneider said the land near Midway Park is flat, with drainage running west to the Little Sioux River West Fork, and creeks likely couldn't handle the June deluge, given saturated grounds. Schneider heard reports of seven to 12 inches fell in the event, even though the National Weather Service officially recorded a trace of rain in Sioux City. Schneider said he is not concerned by the pooled water and isn't sure if it will recede by winter, particularly after another blast of rain Tuesday, when 2.5 inches fell in Sioux City and Schneider heard reports of five inches out in the county. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Temeyer said Sioux City has had a wetter than normal year, with 24.2 inches of precipitation through Wednesday, compared to the average of 19.7 inches. Schneider said no one has complained about the water collection and he doesn't plan to take any action, rather letting nature take its course. Schneider said it is important to note that the county park land between the two ponds is not overrun by water. "Our facilities are not flooded, but just that the lakes are up out of their confines," Schneider said. A man who farms the crop land south of the Midway ponds asked Schneider for permission to run an industrial pump to remove water last week. Schneider said that was a reasonable request, so he told the man to get a permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to carry the pumping out. However, after the pump was running for a few days, law enforcement officials found the permit had not been obtained, and instructed the man to remove the pump. Schneider said Little Sioux Park near Correctionville is the only other county land impacted this summer by wet conditions. The swimming beach was closed for a few weeks, but the park lake there had receded, so it opened by the Fourth of July holiday. However, the tent camping area west of the Little Sioux Park swimming hole remains closed years. Midway Park has been a county-owned entity for nearly 40 years. Prior to that, Moville, Kingsley, Lawton and Pierson cooperated in the Midway Park Corporation, which charged a swimming entry fee and used the money to pay lifeguards and make improvements. Schneider said when the group had difficulty paying for liability insurance, they approached the county board of supervisors to take over the area, which happened in 1978. The county closed the swimming beach in 1992, and now it is a big spot for fishing. Malm, who is out in the park at least twice a week as he operates Malm Fishing Services, sees a big silver lining out of the flooding. He said a high number of frogs is indicative of a healthy ecosystem, and "that place is booming with frogs." Malm said this is the most recreational activity he's seen in years at Midway, with a ton of fishing, boating and people paddling kayaks. He said it is the best fishing in 20 years at Midway. Malm cited many mid-30-inch Northern Pike and one of 40 inches caught in Midway. He's personally shot with bow-and-arrow roughly 1,200 invasive buffalo carp. "There is a little bit of everything out there...Thousands upon thousands of yellow bass," Malm said. DES MOINES | Hundreds of motorcyclists are flying their colors in support of U.S. veterans Saturday as part of Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst's 2nd annual Roast and Ride fundraiser that features a keynote speech by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump after the 42-mile cyle trek. Ernst opened the "nonpartisan" leg of Saturday's fundraising event by welcoming bikers to the kickoff location at a Des Moines-area motorcycle business and leaders the "staggered" pattern of motorcycles on a pleasure ride through the Iowa countryside en route to the Iowa State Fairgrounds where Trump and Iowa GOP political candidates were slated to speak to a Republican political rally. "This is a big part of my life," Ernst told reporters at the start of today's ride, having grown up riding motorcycles on her southwest Iowa farm and later as an officer in the Iowa National Guard. She said money raised from the ride will go to a nonpartisan organization, Soldiers Strong, the helps veterans with spinal injuries or other health issues regain the ability to walk. "This is going to be a great event," Ernst said. "In Iowa, we do things differently. We do things the Iowa way and this is the Iowa way." Kathy Cassidy of Villisca, whose husband, Bruce, was one of today's riders, said her family made the trek to Des Moines to be a part of an effort that will benefit America's veterans and to support Trump. "I'm all about the food," she also added, looking forward to the pork barbecue at the Iowa State Fairgrounds where Trump will speak. "We're always up for a ride and a great cause," noted Wes Renken, a Johnston motorcyclist who had Ernst autograph the back of his shirt before participating with her in his second ride. The shirt eventually will go "in my special closet" where he keeps his Harley-Davidson gear, he noted. Jay Naeve of Gilmore City said he came to Des Moines to be part of the event and to support Trump, who he backed in last February's Iowa caucuses "as soon as he said build the wall and bring back jobs. That's what we need." Naeve called Trump "the complete opposite of Hillary Clinton." Chris Taylor of Omaha, Neb., decked out in a "Bikers for Trump 2016" shirt, said he spoke with Trump in May and believes the GOP candidate is the only who will address veterans' issues. "You help the people who help you," he noted. Joe McKenna of Des Moines was part of the Big Barn Harley Davidson "hog" group that helped organize the ride and acted as a road captain during the ride that also occurred under the watchful eye of the Iowa State Patrol. He said the ride is "a party atmosphere" with the best part "seeing everybody enjoying themselves." Like most riders, Ernst wore blue jeans and a leather vest that had the words" All Gave Some, Some Gave All" with a POW-MIA symbol and an American eagle on the back. The ride ended at the fairgrounds, where several thousand Republicans were expected to fill a livestock pavilion to hear Trump, Ernst, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, U.S. Reps. Rod Blum, Steve King and David Young, congressional candidate Chris Peters, as well as Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann. DES MOINES | Donald Trump was the main event, but Iowas top Republicans and GOP candidates spoke at Joni Ernsts second annual Roast and Ride on Saturday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Here are some highlights from the events other speakers: Jeff Kaufmann, Republican Party of Iowa chairman: Kaufmann began his opening remarks by welcoming any converts in the crowd, saying the party welcomes any former Democratic or independent voters in the audience. Kaufmann also insisted Republicans in the state are united in their support for Trump. Im looking right at the media as I say this: the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa is telling you we (Republicans) are united and we will defeat Hillary Clinton in this state, Kaufmann said. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst: The events host and former member of the Iowa U.S. Army National Guard drew on her military experience to criticize Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Ernst said President Barack Obama and Clinton, as his Secretary of State, failed to slow terrorism in the Middle East and put the nation in danger with her use of a private email server. Our leadership (in Washington, D.C.) has failed time and time again to address the threats that we see all around us. Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted to restore that leadership to this nation, Ernst said. She has already failed us too many times before. Way too many. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds: Reynolds was one of many speakers to remind the crowd that the next president will nominate one and possibly multiple justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is a popular issue with conservatives, who believe the court has become too liberal and has overstepped its bounds into de facto lawmaking. Now is not the time to give up, Reynolds said. Elections matter. We can do better. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer: Fischer, from neighboring Nebraska, also criticized the current administration on national security. She noted the recent release of American prisoners from Iran at the same time the U.S. paid Iran $400 million to settle a previously resolved dispute over payment for military equipment. Sadly, when it comes to national security, I believe this administration is making some very bad decisions, Fischer said. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley Iowas longtime U.S. Senator after touching briefly on the economy spent the bulk of his time talking about Supreme Court nominations. Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee through which Supreme Court nominees must pass and has become a focal point of the debate over whether the Republican-controlled Senate should hold hearings on the presidents nominee. This is not an election about just the next four years of the president of the United States. This is an election about the Supreme Court for the next 40 years, Grassley said. I told you I was going to hold my finger in the dike. U.S. Rep. Steve King: King talked about immigration, a subject on which he has been as vocal as Trump. During an interview Friday on CNN, King expressed concern that Trump sounded like he might be softening his stance on immigration enforcement. Weve got to secure the border. Weve got to build the wall, King said Saturday. Gov. Terry Branstad: Branstad talked about national security then shifted to agricultural issues, criticizing the Obama administration for reducing the amount of corn-based ethanol that is required to be mixed into the nations fuel supply. Our agricultural economy has been hurt by the Obama administration, Branstad said. As an ag state we just unify and elect leaders that will not shy away from tough decisions. SOUTH SIOUX CITY | A composite ACT score of 17.3 for the South Sioux City School District is more than meets the eye, district officials say. South Sioux City is part of the ACT Pilot Project, which requires all juniors to take the ACT. Before the pilot project, just 50 percent of South Sioux Citys eligible students took the test. Last year, South Sioux City posted a composite score of 17.2. Before the district participated in the pilot program, the average was around 20. 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. 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. In a release issued by the South Sioux City School District, district officials said the pilot project was to see if the ACT could be used as a statewide measure of college readiness. Scores did increase in Math, from 17.2 in 2015 to 17.6 this year. As the project takes hold, the district continues to see progress from its students. These scores continue a positive trendline of ACT scores that the district has seen since beginning to administer the ACT to all juniors, said Allyson Olson, director of secondary education, in a release. She said South Sioux City will continue to work with its students and use the results to measure areas of need. The district believes that these scores reflect progress toward our goal of ensuring that all students graduate college and career ready, she said. The district will continue to address areas of need, but will use these results to provide evidence that school improvement efforts are producing gains in student achievement. Another year, another looming government shutdown fight. Thats the predicament Iowas six-member congressional delegation has put us in. Theyre currently enjoying a month-long vacation after leaving D.C. without fulfilling their basic constitutional duty: funding the government for 2017. When they return after Labor Day, theyll have to scramble to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. This government-by-crisis is now a tradition. In fact, its been over 20 years since Congress passed a budget on time. The result is almost always the same and it doesnt benefit Iowans. With only days, or maybe just hours, before a shutdown, some lawmakers will advocate for a short-term funding bill that lasts through December. This will kick the debate over next years budget into a lame-duck session the two-month period between the election and the next administration, when neither Congress nor President Obama are accountable to voters. Worse yet, theyll use this opportunity to enact a massive omnibus bill thats crafted behind closed doors and filled with handouts to special interests and higher spending. Then lame-duck lawmakers will pass it without even reading it, abandoning their duty to protect their constituents to protect you. Iowans to say nothing of everyone else are understandably sick of this charade. Lawmakers say they are, too. Both Republicans and Democrats say they want budget certainty and fiscal responsibility. If they mean it, theyll stop a lame-duck spending bill at any cost. But theyll need to think outside the box. Thats why they should pass a long-term funding bill. Were calling this plan Stop, Cut & Fix. Heres why its the best path forward for Iowas lawmakers in D.C. Start with Stop. A long-term funding bill say, two-years would end the cycle of manufactured crises. For the first time in years, there would be no last-minute scramble to avoid a shutdown. Nor would a lame-duck Congress and President Obama be able to craft a deal in secret. Next up is Cut. The biggest problem with the current system is that some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle leverage the threat of a shutdown to hike government spending in a lame-duck session. Its little different than a hostage situation, and its happened three times in the past four years. But a two-year funding bill would protect the bipartisan spending cuts that were established in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Then, Republicans and Democrats in Congress joined with President Obama to establish modest annual spending caps on the one-quarter of the budget that isnt entitlements and interest payments. These caps are still on the books. A two-year bill would lock them in through 2018, saving taxpayers $150 billion. Finally, theres Fix. Its obvious that the budgeting process is broken. A two-year funding bill would give Congress time to fix it. Lawmakers could go through a normal appropriations process, publicly debating spending priorities for each part of the federal government. They would even have time to discuss reforms to entitlements the main drivers of Americas $19.4 trillion-and-growing national debt. Crucially, theres nothing in this plan preventing lawmakers from adjusting spending within the caps. They would simply have to weigh each proposals pros and cons and make tradeoffs what theyre supposed to be doing right now. Now its up to Congress to act. When Iowas lawmakers head back to D.C. next month, they have two choices. They can either stick with the failed status quo broken promises, higher spending and shutdown threats or they can get behind a plan that prevents a shutdown fight, restores the normal budgeting process and puts Iowa taxpayers first. It shouldnt be a hard decision. Andy Koenig is senior policy advisor at Freedom Partners, a nonprofit chamber of commerce located in Arlington, Va. Visit stopcutfix.com for more details. YORKSHIRE, England Staring at the horizon, I might have been looking at a vast canvas where the technique of chiaroscuro, the interplay of light and dark, was used to create a specific mood. One minute sunshine dappled the landscape; the next misty rain enveloped it. Dont worry about that, said my hiking guide Johnnie Briggs, as one of the intermittent rain showers descended upon us. Those are just Yorkshire kisses. Actually, it was the rain rather than the sun that seemed a more fitting atmosphere for our hike. We were walking on the bleak moors above the village of Haworth, home of the Bronte sisters who through their writing, created some of the most memorable characters in English fiction. Of the three, it was Emily who most loved the wild moors, and made them the trysting place for Heathcliff and Cathy in her novel Wuthering Heights. Our hike didnt take us all the way to Top Withens, the abandoned farmhouse exposed to the fierce elements used as inspiration for the books remote farm. Considering the number of Yorkshire kisses we experienced along the way, it was probably a good thing that we opted not to do the entire 6 1/2-mile round trip walk. I would have liked to have seen Top Withens and I was about a month too early for the purple heather that blankets the moors in late summer, but I did marvel at a landscape stark in its beauty, and thrilled to the sight and sound of larks, lapwings and merlins circling above me. For those who love the Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) and their most famous works (Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), this is a great time to travel to Yorkshire, the north English county where they spent their short lives (none lived past the age of 40). For the next five years, Yorkshire will be celebrating the bicentenaries of the births of Charlotte (this year), their brother Branwell (2017), Emily (2018) and Anne (2020). During that same period, the Bronte Society whose president is acclaimed actress and Bronte fan Judi Dench will also celebrate the Rev. Patrick Bronte, the siblings father, 200 years after he became the parson of St. Michaels Church. All of which means over the next half decade, there will be a hot time in the hamlet of Haworth (population, 7,000). Any visit to the charmingly cobbled village must start with the Bronte Parsonage. Once home to Patrick and his brood, it is now a museum containing the worlds largest collection of Bronte material. My favorite room had to be the parlor where the sisters would sit together nightly and write, often contributing to each others works. I also loved the upstairs gallery whose exhibits provided an illuminating look at the lives of the three sisters and their doomed brother. I learned that Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights have been translated into 25 languages, and have inspired numerous films, radio and television adaptations as well as operas, ballets and paintings. I learned that Englands poet laureate Robert Southey once told the ambitious Charlotte that literature is not the business of a womans life. Hopefully, he later apologized and admitted his error. I especially loved discovering that the London publishers of Currer (Charlotte), Ellis (Emily) and Acton (Anne) Bell had no idea they were women, and for a while, even assumed they were all one man. Writing about the Bells, one critic noted, The Bells are of a hardy race. The air they breathe is not that of a hot house or of perfumed apartments, but it whistles through the rugged thorns that shoot out their prickly arms on barren moors or it ruffles the moss on mountaintops. Its probably safe to assume the hardy race he was referring to was Currer, Ellis and Acton, and not Charlotte, Emily and Anne. Yorkshire is Englands largest county and one of its most historic, and in this part of it, punctuated by the stunning countryside of the Dales, there is much for the visitor to enjoy. From a scenic ride on the Keighley and Worth Valley steam train to a stop in Rylstone, the tiny village where a group of remarkable women inspired the film Calendar Girls to a modest country pub where a Michelin-starred chef holds sway, the visitor will not lack for Bronte-less activities. Yorkshire is the site of several of the magnificent monasteries left in ruins by Henry VIII after he broke with Rome over the popes refusal to sanction his marriage to Anne Boleyn. One of the most magnificent is Bolton Abbey, often referred to as the jewel in Yorkshires crown. Built in the 12th century on the banks of the River Wharfe more a bubbling brook than an actual river the romantic ruins of the Augustinian monastery have been a tourist attraction since Victorian times, and intrigued the poet William Wordsworth and painter J.M.W. Turner, who depicted it in a series of watercolors. Now maintained by the Duke of Devonshire, the spectacular grounds offer everything from walking trails to outdoor theater, and if youre not afraid of the possibility of getting wet, you can attempt to cross the stepping stones which connect both banks of the Wharfe. What can galactic hero Luke Skywalker teach you about content marketing? OK, nothing really. Come on. Hes a fictional character. But actor Mark Hamill, who has played the iconic characters for four of the popular movies in the Star Wars franchise thus far, will be a keynote speaker at Content Marketing World 2016 in Cleveland in September. So if you happen to be passing through the star system and have the time, you may want to hop into your X-Wing, landspeeder or Corellian cruiser and check out the event. Hamill will be joined by some more terrestrial guests like Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer for MarketingProfs; Joe Pulizzi, founder of the Content Marketing Institute, which puts on the event; and Rand Fishkin, SEO wizard at SEO MOZ. See more details and other events below. To see a full list or to submit your own event, contest or award listing, visit the Small Business Events Calendar. Featured Events, Contests and Awards Content Marketing World 2016 September 6, 2016, Cleveland, Ohio Content Marketing World is the one event where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the content marketing industry. You will leave with all the materials you need to take a content marketing strategy back to your team and to implement a content marketing plan that will grow your business and inspire your audience. TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2016 September 12, 2016, San Francisco, Calif. TechCrunch Disrupt is the worlds leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups, introducing game-changing technologies and discussing whats top of mind for the tech industrys key innovators. Disrupt gathers the best and brightest entrepreneurs, investors, hackers, and tech fans for on-stage interviews, the Startup Battlefield competition, a 24-hour Hackathon, Startup Alley, Hardware Alley, and After Parties. MozCon September 12, 2016, Seattle, Wash. Three days of forward-thinking, actionable sessions in SEO, social media, community building, content marketing, brand development, CRO, the mobile landscape, analytics, and more. MozCon speakers share next-level advice on everything from building a loyal community to making data-driven decisions in your marketing. Leadpages Converted 2016 October 18, 2016, Minneapolis, Minn. Converted 2016 will be an immersive experience taking place over two action-packed days in Minneapolis. Well share data-driven, practical tactics that will make a difference in the way you grow your business. Discount Code biztrends ($100) Lean Startup Conference October 31, 2016, San Francisco, Calif. A gathering of thousands of thought leaders at Pier 27 for a week of keynote talks, interactive workshops, speed mentoring, industry dinners, bootcamps, and startup tours at the scenic edge of San Francisco. The conference unites intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs from government agencies, international conglomerates, boot-strapped startups, and civic organizations in their mission to create radical change in their industries. Influencer Marketing Days November 14, 2016, New York, N.Y. Influencer Marketing Days is a unique conference dedicated to all things influencer marketing. The event is for marketing professionals responsible for their companys influencer marketing strategy, campaign development, and relationship management. Whether you already run influencer marketing campaigns or youre investigating ways to leverage this powerful type of marketing, Influencer Marketing Days will equip, educate, and inspire you to make the most of your efforts. NextCon16 November 14, 2016, Scottsdale, Ariz. No matter your industry, company size or role, you can take advantage of the fresh perspectives, creative strategies and expert advice shared at NextCon. You will walk away with actionable insight to take your business to the next level and gain the insight and inspiration to make an impact. More Events More Contests The Ultimate Small Business Leadership Conference September 21, 2016, San Diego, Calif. September 21, 2016, San Diego, Calif. 15th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards October 25, 2016, Chicago, Ill. This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology. See Also: How to Do Content Marketing Like TED 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. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The parliament of Tunisia has passed a confidence vote in the Government of National Unity, The Global Times reports. The government of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed was supported by 167 of the 217 members of parliament on Friday; 22 were against and five abstained, the newspaper reported on Saturday. "In order to face our problems, we should transfer the national united government from a simple concept into an executable practice, and then into an attitude," Chahed told the parliament members on Friday, as quoted by The Global Times. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A mine planted by Boko Haram terrorist group exploded under a Chadian military vehicle and killed four servicemen on board, media reported on Saturday, citing a source in the country's security service. "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," the source told the Vanguard media outlet. According to the media, the bombing was the last in a series of attacks on Chadian soldiers perpetrated by Boko Haram group. The West needs to face up to the fact that this is a civil war, albeit with external support. Therefore, throwing more arms into the mix will only increase the civilian and military casualties among Ukrainians, he explained. Petro also observed that the current Ukrainian regime of President Petro Poroshenko had so far clearly failed to keep control of the weapons already in its arsenal, many of which had leaked, been sold or stolen to different militia groups. By setting up coproduction facilities to make more weapons in Ukraine, the US government will also be arming the rebels, since a sizable portion of military supplies winds up on the black market, Petro stated. Far from offering an end to the conflict, simply increasing the number of weapons in the land would only make things worse until a credible government could reestablish law and order, Petro observed. More weapons make it more difficult to restore civilian order in the country, which is already suffering from a 40 percent rise in violent crimes as a result of the weapons that soldiers from the front bring home as trophies, he noted Anti war.com senior analyst Jason Ditz noted that there were no legal or constitutional impediments to the US government setting up coproduction facilities to make weapons in Ukraine, but he saw no benefit whatsoever for the United States in doing so. Add to this her labelling of Putin as Hitler, and you have a call for a new World War, Walsh noted. After all, what does one do with a Hitler except go to war with him and destroy him and his country? Walsh also observed that current US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland who was taped in 2014 discussing an alternative government for Ukraine had been Clintons protege during her four years as secretary of state. Hillary Clinton's agent, the neocon Victoria Nuland, has been doing her best to gin up a war between Russia and Ukraine, ultimately to be a war between Russian and Europe, he recalled. Clintons campaign rhetoric was therefore part of a clear, deliberate plan to stir up a full-scale war in Europe after she becomes president, Walsh warned. Hillary Clinton's rants are not merely campaign words but part of a design to foment another major war on the Eurasian land mass from which island America emerges untouched with all rivals reduced to rubble, he predicted. Walsh added that he expected Clinton to claim that, if she defeats Trump in November, her victory would give her the public support she required to launch a full-scale war. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) The UN Security Council (UNSC) has condemned North Koreas recent missile tests stressing that they contribute to the escalation of tensions in the region. "The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 23 August, the ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 2 August and 18 July, and the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 July. These launches are in grave violation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's international obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions," the UNSC said in a Friday statement. The Council stressed that it condemns all of North Koreas missile activities, not just the most recent launches, reiterating the importance of maintaining stability in the region through peaceful, diplomatic means. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The TOLO News broadcaster reported Saturday citing local authorities that the district located in country's province of Paktia was attacked by some 1,200 Taliban fighters on Friday night. The media outlet added that during the attack 30 security force members were killed. Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, fighting the continuing Taliban insurgency, with other extremist groups such as Daesh (outlawed in Russia) expanding their activities in the country as well. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the ABC broadcaster, thousands rallied in a number of Australia's cities, such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney protesting against the country's detention centers on Nauru and Manus Island. The broadcaster added that people in different cities carried banners reading "Close The Camps" and "Bring Them Here" calling on the authorities to let the migrants from the camps arrive in Australia. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Ankara declared 11 police officers dead after the terror attack on Friday while 78 people were said to be injured. "Fighter Mustafa Aslan carried out attack using large amount of explosive 60 armed vehicles were damaged 118 Turkish police officers died, 152 more sustained injuries," PKK said, adding that the truck targeted the town district where police and army headquarters were located. Deadly clashes between the PKK and the Turkish armed forces occur regularly in the southeastern Sirnak province, the site of a number of terrorist attacks since the July 2015 breakdown of the ceasefire. An official statement by the North Korean Peoples Army accused the United States and South Korea of initiating "deliberate provocations" by blaring the flood lights in the direction of Pyongyangs military posts in order to agitate the restless Hermit Kingdom. North Korea further threatened to smash the United States with nuclear hammers of justice in the wake of the successful missile test which was immediately condemned by all members of the UN Security Council including Pyongyangs long-time benefactor China. Tensions in the South China Sea were sparked when the Philippines unilaterally submitted their claim to the disputed waters and territory before The Hague arbitration court at the behest of the United States. In their decision, the arbitration court invalidated Chinas longstanding claim to the waters, through which some 40% of the worlds shipborne trade transits through each day, and surrounding territories which serve a critical military imperative for Beijing. China immediately denounced the ruling. "We will not raise hell now because of the judgment but there will come a time that we have to do some reckoning about this. But we will chart our own course in the national interest of this country," said Duterte according to the Phil Star newspaper. "I hope China is dealing with us in good faith. They seem to be conciliatory. Were not insisting on arbitral judgment, I know theyre listening to us now, they can monitor us through satellite." MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the Kyodo news agency, Abe spoke at the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in Kenya. The media outlet added that the Japanese leader said that both private and public sector funds would be attracted for the investment project. TICAD is a Japan-led conference started in 1993 to "refocus international attention" on the importance of Africa's development, according to the conference's website. The conference is held every five years, but this year conference is the first held in Africa. MOSCOW (Sputnik) British Prime Minister Theresa May intends to formally trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that starts the legal process for the United Kingdom to exit the European Union without a parliament vote, The Telegraph reports. "The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the British public have voted and now she will get on with delivering Brexit [Britain leaving the European Union]," a Downing Street source told the newspaper on Friday. According to The Telegraph, May wants to avoid giving Brexit opponents a chance to hamper Britains withdrawal from the bloc. Government lawyers have told the prime minister that she has executive power to invoke Article 50 without a parliament vote. In an interview with Sputnik a man who insisted that his name not be mentioned, said that after he had been arrested five or six times and subjected to interrogations each time he crossed the border and asked to explain the reason of his leaving or entering the country, he started analyzing the questions police officers were putting to people like him. Some of them flatly refused to talk to me, but many admitted that putting people like me on the S-list simply made no sense, he said. Mentioning Najat Vallaud-Belkacems decision to suspend all teachers featured on the S-list, he said that apart from Islamists, it also featured a dozen other categories of suspects from extreme right-wingers to radical left-wingers and other dissidents. Someone who is considered a threat to the state does not necessarily pose a threat to the children under his care. We are not a threat to anyone and being on the S-list does not mean that you deserve to be there, he emphasized. France has been on high security alert since last Novembers attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people. The state of emergency was extended for six months in July after a truck attack in Nice claimed 84 lives. The Interior Ministry has vowed to utilize all legal means at its disposal to fight terrorism. It said it had expelled 82 people since 2012. TALLINN (Sputnik) Over 200 people were evacuated on Saturday from the Tallinn airport after one of the passengers announced that there was a bomb in his luggage, a spokesman for the North Prefecture of the Police and Border Guard Board said. "On Saturday morning one of the passengers reported that there was an explosive device in his luggage. After that more than 200 people were evacuated from the airport. Nothing suspicious has been found," Seiko Kuik said, as quoted by the Postimees newspaper. He added that the man, who reported about the bomb had already been detained. According to the expert, the Americans have few opportunities to exert pressure on Sweden. "It is not in need of financial assistance, such as, for example, Bulgaria, which was forced to abandon the implementation of the South Stream'," Yushkov explained. A similar point of view has been expressed by senior analyst at the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexei Volkov. According to Roger, the burkini ban has a complex logic. On the one hand, "it should be prohibited" because it clearly indicates the religious affiliation of a woman during her stay on the beach," while on the other hand, "a decision of that kind shouldn't be made until there is a specific problem registered in a certain location." "In the absence of such problem, concerns and anxiety caused by terrorist attacks, in particular the terrorist attacks on July 14 in Nice, are insufficient legal justification for the ban," Roger explained. At the same time, the decision of the Council of State shows that in general such decisions might be suspended in case of an appeal. Who knows, maybe the recent court's decision created a precedent that might be used in the future to withdraw similar bans in other French cities. In our project we decided to help [the victims of the earthquake] in a symbolic way. The day of the earthquake they saw on television houses destroyed, towns destroyed and a lot of them thought about their own countries, their houses destroyed by bombs and their family members killed. So they decided to do something, to collect money and send it to the people in need, Giovanni Maiolo said. He added that even though most of these migrants are poor, they still decided, in a show of solidarity, to give up a daily allowance of 2 euros to help survivors. They managed to raise 1,000 euros to be sent to people in central Italy. It is symbolic that people who have nothing, who arrived in Europe to escape war in their own countries, decided to give what they have to people who have problems at this moment. People who have suffered feel sympathy for people who have likewise suffered, Giovanni told Sputnik. According to the newspaper, one of the suspected terror attack plotters might be a Belgian national, who traveled to Syria in 2014. The man reportedly had ties to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian terrorist of Moroccan origin, whom Belgian authorities suspected of having planned and led the Daesh-plotted November 13, 2015 attacks that killed at least 130 people in central Paris, and who was later killed by French police. The suspected terrorist's social networks have been silent for weeks, which the authorities preliminarily interpret either as his death or him being busy by preparing an attack. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The activists unrolled a banner of the group and distributed leaflets calling to stop Islamization of Germany. Participants of the protest action were identified by police and face charges of inciting ethnic hatred and violating the German constitution, the media outlet added. Over 1.1 million migrants and refugees entered Germany in 2015 after Europe was hit by a flow of mostly Middle Eastern and North African refugees fleeing war and poverty in their home countries. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim signaled that Ankara expects its residents to receive visa-free travel into the EUs Schengen Zone beginning in October based on actions Ankara has taken in fulfillment of the refugee agreement, but the EU Commission report is expected to say that Turkey has fallen short of their commitments. Erdogan has said that if Brussels denies Turkish citizens visa-free travel by October then he will retaliate by withdrawing border guards allowing millions of migrants to flood into Europe. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated the position that Ankara will refuse to cooperate in addressing Europes migration crisis unless visa-free travel materializes. "We all should implement all three of these agreements. Its not right to say: 'Lets implement the deal that favors the EU, but not the one favorable to Turkey.' Its not fair," said Cavusoglu. "Unless a date is given for visa-free travel, we will not implement new mechanisms, such as the readmission deal." MOSCOW (Sputnik) The prosecutors accused Mourad Hamyd, a brother-in-law of Charlie Hebdo attacker Cherif Kouachi, of an attempt to join Daesh group, Le Soir newspaper reported. The 20-year-old French student was extradited from Bulgaria to France on Friday in accordance with a European arrest warrant issued for being involved in "conspiracy to prepare acts of terrorism." In July, Hamyd was apprehended by the Turkish authorities as he tried to illegally escape to Syria and handed over to Bulgaria where he was placed in detention center. MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) Venezuela has signed an agreement with foreign partners worth over $5.5 billion on investment in mining projects in the south of the country, President Nicolas Maduro announced. The deal, singed with Canadas Barrick Gold Corporation, the largest gold mining company in the world, and Chinas Shandong Gold, among other companies, is necessary to build "a new economy" in Venezuela, Maduro said on Friday, as quoted by El Economista. Earlier this month, Venezuela concluded a number of mining industry investment agreements worth $4.5 billion, according to Maduro. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkey and Russia are currently engaged in a "rather tight exchange of different kinds of information," constantly maintaining contact, a Russian Defense Ministry source told the newspaper on Saturday, not excluding that Russian officials could soon come to Turkey. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephone talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussing the situation in Syria. The talks were initiated at the Turkish side's request and focused on the broad military and humanitarian situation in Syria, especially in the war-torn city of Aleppo. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the Alsumaria broadcaster, the drone was struck down not far from the border with Jordan in the town of Rutba. The town mayor told the TV channel that the drone was equipped with a camera. On August 18, Iraqi militiamen were reported to have shot down a Daesh drone on its way from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. According to Al Masdar News, currently Washington does not want the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to advance to the west. The US pressured the group and the YPG had to retreat to the eastern bank of the Euphrates. In turn, Kurdish media confirmed that units of the Kurdish Democratic Union party, the main force of the SDF, started to retreat. Many international experts noted that the Turkish operation in Jarablus is aimed first of all against Kurds. They also suggested that the operation was agreed with the major players in the region, including Russia, Iran and the Syrian government. At the same time, Washingtons stance in the current situation remains unclear, especially in light of the demands for Kurds to retreat, an article on the Russian analytical website Svobodnaya Pressa read. After the US supported the Turkish operation in Jarablus, some experts said that the move was aimed at preventing increasing tactical cooperation between Ankara and Damascus as well as to supervise the operation in order to prevent large-scale clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces. At least four more people were injured, specifically, a Saudi child and three Saudi residents with foreign citizenship. All of them were reportedly taken to hospital. Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels, the countrys main opposition force. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. We are building our own systems capable of securing our airspace on three levels. What we lacked in long-range interceptor missiles we successfully made up for with the purchase of the S-300 systems. We now need to consolidate our air force, Irans news agency Tasnim quoted Dehgan as saying. The Iranians desire to buy Russian warplanes was apparently prompted by the performance of the Russian Airspace Forces in Syria. Tehran has a long list of advanced Russian fighter jets and bombers to choose from, including Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35 jets. Like the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield , that offensive was meant to free Jarablus. The Syrian town located close to the border with Turkey was captured by Daesh in 2013. On Wednesday, the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army liberated Jarablus in a major ground offensive in northern Syria that saw Turkish warplanes, tanks and special forces cross the border and engage in fighting. ALEPPO (Sputnik) According to the source, all civilians have been evacuated from the city, while some 1,600 militants with their families have been transferred to the province of Idlib. A total of 550 people have been accommodated in refugee camps near Damascus. "Engineer troops began mine clearance of buildings and streets in Darayya. The city is completely under control of the army. Tomorrow we may allow journalists in the city," the source said. Fighters of multiple militant groups have been surrounded by Syrian government forces in Darayya for several months. On Thursday, reports emerged claiming that the Syrian army and the so-called moderate armed opposition reached an agreement on evacuation of civilians and armed militants from the city. The specialist further spoke about the chemical weapons in Syria and whether or not they were disposed of. Effectively at that point, war was avoided against the Syrian regime and of course they said they would give up their weapons. I think one of the issues was the fact of knowing whether all of those weapons had actually been given up or whether some of them were actually being kept back and hidden, the specialist said. Hunter noted that if Assad had given up all of those weapons it can still be possible for anyone to get hold of commercially available, industrial chemicals that could be used in the chemical attacks. According to the specialist there have been so many conspiracy theories about this tragedy. Although some suggestions like the French intelligence services carried out these attacks in order to prevent UN inspectors going to Aleppo to investigate are probably just conspiracy theories, although there is never smoke without fire either, Hunter said. TBILISI (Sputnik) The Israeli border service detained 26 Georgian citizens in Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, Georgian media reported on Saturday. According to Georgia's First Channel broadcaster, all detainees purchased vacation packages in the same tourist company. The Georgian embassy in Israel is looking into the reasons for detention, the media outlet said adding that border officers did not believe Georgian nationals who claimed to be pilgrims. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A total of 120 militants, accompanied by their family members, have voluntarily left the Syrian city of Darayya, a suburb of Damascus, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "120 militants and their family members (230 persons in total) have left on their own free will the Dareya [Darayya] city. They headed to Idlib inhabited area on buses," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website. The ministry said that evacuation of civilians and militants who have agreed to lay down their arms started in Darayya. The evacuation was performed by 10 buses and 7 ambulance vehicles. A rocket attack has been carried out on a civil airport in Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Dogan news agency reported. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties or injured in the rocket attack, passengers and staff were taken inside a terminal building for safety. Four rockets were fired at a police checkpoint, according to media reports. The rockets landed on wasteland nearby. Two Turkish tanks in the town of Jarablus, located in Syria's strategic province of Aleppo, came under rocket attack by Kurdish militants on Saturday, the Anadolu Agency reported. The tanks took part in this week's offensive by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels to recapture Jarabulus from Daesh militants, a monitoring group and Kurdish sources said. Rebels opposed to the Turkish intervention had earlier denied that there were Kurdish forces in the area. The Turkish military began its so-called Euphrates Shield operation in Syria Wednesday, sending in dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Special purpose brigades of the Russian Central and Western military districts will be transferred to the Southern Military District to perform tasks of the ongoing snap combat readiness drills, the Russian Defense Ministry informs. "The special forces units will carry out tasks conducting search and reconnaissance missions as well as anti-sabotage tasks on unknown ranges of the Southern Military District," the press service of the defense ministry said on Saturday. Snap combat readiness inspections are running across Russia's Southern, Western and Central military districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Troops on August 25-31. KRASNOYARSK (Russia), (Sputnik) The head of Krasnoyarsk machinery plant said Saturday that the plant will implement 2016 government contracts on supplies of Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles fully and on time. "The government contract on [supplies of] Sineva missiles will be fulfilled on time. All the components have [already] been produced, the manufacturing of the units is in progress," Alexander Nazarko told Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He added that the recent modernization of the plant would allow the company to use technologies of the next generation in its activities. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, Russia started the major snap inspection to test readiness of the country's armed forces on its western borders. "It [the inspection] can not threaten [anyone] by any means. I will stress that NATO is familiar with this practice. For our country, with its size, it is one of the most optimal ways to ensure the battle readiness of the army," Grushko told RIA Novosti. The irony of the situation is that some of these Kurdish militants "happen to be US proxies" in the war against Daesh. "Turkey is in effect deploying forces in Syria with US support, with the aim of pushing back Kurdish groups that the US also supports," the media outlet notes. Although the Syrian Kurdish People's Defense Units (YGP) have earned the reputation of capable fighters against Daesh, Washington has clearly signaled that it puts Turkey's interests before those of the Kurds. Remarkably, the Obama administration dispatched Vice President Biden to mend ties with Ankara amid a certain chill in relations between the two countries, which followed the attempted coup in Turkey. Thus, unsurprisingly, "Biden warned the Syrian Kurds in no uncertain terms that the US would not tolerate any effort to turn Kurdish advances against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS [Daesh], into an autonomous Kurdish entity along the Syrian-Turkish border," Howard LaFranchi of The Christian Science Monitor stresses. Dr. Francisco Dominguez, head of the Latin American Studies department at Middlesex University, UK, told Radio Sputnik's Brian Becker that it is not yet clear whether the Senate will confirm the impeachment. According to recent reports, 48 out of 81 senators have declared publicly that they are in favor of impeaching the democratically-elected Rousseff, and 18 are said to be against. A vote to impeach by 54 senators is required to end Rousseff's political career. The uncertainty is primarily the result of pressure from the street and a mass movement in Brazil, Dominguez said. Rousseff is mobilizing, traveling around the country, staging rallies and garnering more support than she had when was a sitting president. "She is becoming extremely popular. Although she went down the polls at some point in past, now she has reinvigorated herself." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the Syrian issue with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva. Lavrov said after the talks that there is "better mutual understanding of this issue" between the two countries. "Some of the differences in those discussions toward a durable solutions have been narrowed, but as Secretary Kerry said, issues still remain that need to be addressed. There is no agreement at this time," Cook said on Friday. Ankara launched Operation Euphrates Shield early on Wednesday, sending warplanes, tanks and special forces assisted by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) across the border to retake the town of Jarablus from Daesh. The offensive is also meant to stop the Kurds from moving further west. Atlioglu outlined three major goals that Turkey is pursing in the region. These involve providing security in the border region, liberating the town of al-Bab and preventing Kurdish forces from advancing to the west of the Euphrates. Turkey will only be able to reach its objectives in northern Syria "if it has substantial military presence" across the border, he said. "Naturally, this has to happen in coordination with the Syrian government, Russia, the United States and Iran, taking into account the principle of Syria's territorial integrity and understanding that the military operation is temporary." US comments came in response to the findings of a yearlong investigation conducted by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria. Ishchenko, the head of the Center for Systems Analysis and Forecasting, pointed out that the UN and other organizations turned a blind eye to documents and evidence provided by Syrian authorities on gas attacks that were carried out by radical groups since a foreign-sponsored uprising rocked the Arab country in 2011. Bashar Jaafari, Syria's envoy to the UN, told Sputnik as much in an exclusive interview. The diplomat also said that the worst gas attack that took place in Syria was orchestrated to prevent a UN inspector from going to Aleppo and investigating another chemical assault blamed on rebels. He was referring to a chlorine attack in Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, in August 2013. Abd Salam Muhammad Ali, a representative of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Russia, told Vzglyad that Turkish troops took control of Jarablus encountering almost no resistance. "Judging from how fast this 'liberation' took place, I have grounds to believe that this is a show. The militants shaved off their beards and rushed to join 'moderates,'" he said. The officials described Turkey's operation as "a violation of Syria's sovereignty." Abd Salam Muhammad Ali did not provide details on how the PYD plans to respond to Ankara's activities in northern Syria. "Military leaders of the Syrian Kurdistan are most likely working on a plan to counter Turkey's invasion. The only thing that I can say is that we are firmly against Ankara's meddling in Syrian affairs," he said. The authors noted that the main problem in assessing the actual scope of this cooperation is the lack of reliable statistics. However, according to the article, economic cooperation between Russia and China is blooming. Recently, Chinese economists assessed Chinese investments into the Russian economy at $32-33 billion, based on data about major Chinese projects in Russia. "The sum says that China is already one of the biggest investors in Russia. [] In addition, China is Russias second-biggest trade partner, after the European Union, with a trade volume of $68 billion in 2015," Lenta.ru cited the article. The crisis in Ukraine sparked debates on the possibility of a Russian-Chinese alliance. However, both countries have repeatedly denied the idea of a formal political and military alliance due to obvious reasons, the article read. Such an alliance would justify the NATO expansion to the east as well as an increased US military presence in Asia. "At the same time, a formal alliance would produce some benefits for both countries. First, it would provide security guarantees for Russia and China. Second, it would facilitate military and political coordination," the authors wrote. Russia and China have long been engaged in intense military cooperation, including major joint drills since 2005. The Chinese military is also actively involved in Russian military contests, like the tank biathlon and Aviadarts. VIENNA (Sputnik) On August 21, Juncker said that negotiations with Turkey should continue despite the existing difficulties between the two sides, though there was no consensus on this issue in Turkey. He added that Brussels could abolish visas for the Turks only if Ankara implemented all the conditions demanded by the European Union. "The negotiating process, which is considered as panacea for Turkish accession to Europe, has not brought anything. Turkey is [moving] further and further away. If anyone, as Juncker does, promises to the Turks that we will conduct talks with you and at the same moment says that Turkey will not join in any case, then it is not a reasonable stance in regard to either Turks or Europeans," Kern said in an interview with the Oesterreich daily newspaper published on Saturday. At the same time, Kern added that he considered Ankara a partner, but in a quite different form of cooperation. Meanwhile, last week, Tehran allowed Moscow to use its Hamadan airfield to refuel bombers that were tasked with bombing militant targets in Syria, primarily Aleppo, an unprecedented development in Iran's modern history. The China Youth Daily offered three reasons that could explain improving counterterrorism cooperation between the three nations. Firstly, if Russia, Iran and Turkey join their counterterrorism efforts, they will increase their anti-Daesh capabilities. In addition, they will also make it clear to the United States, Europe and the Middle East that they are the key players in Syria. "Any political, economic and military attempts to resolve the crisis bypassing Moscow, Tehran and Ankara are doomed to failure," the newspaper noted. Secondly, the alliance offers an opportunity to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia, Washington's ally in the Middle East. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier this month, Italian lawmaker Stefano Valdegamberi told Sputnik that a delegation of lawmakers from northern Italian councils would visit Crimea in the fall in a bid to promote closer ties between the cities in Italy and the peninsula. "Following the French, Italian lawmakers are planning to visit Crimea. The West will be unable to keep Crimea isolated: the people who live there are part of Europe," Pushkov said via Twitter. "It is entirely possible that Donald Trump could become the next president of the United States. To tell an audience in a NATO-member country that they can simply dismiss what that individual has said about NATO is both illogical and irresponsible," he emphasizes. But that's half the trouble. While speaking about the US commitment to rush to defend its NATO allies should they be attacked, Biden has purportedly forgotten that it is Congress, not the President, who decides whether or not to use armed forces. "Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is more right than he knows about our NATO pledge to defend member nations from aggression," Constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein stresses in his opinion piece for the Huffington Post, adding that Trump's opponents "on that score are ill-informed." Although Article 5 says that the Alliance's members agree to assist their counterparts in the event of attack, "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," Fein narrates. He underscores that "for the US that means Congress, not the President acting unilaterally, decides whether to authorize use of the armed forces to defend NATO members from aggression." So far, a decision to provide its ally with the military support cannot be made "automatically" in the US, without weighing the pros and cons. In his article, Steinmeier stated that security in Europe is under serious threat and proposed to resume arms control as a "proven means for transparency, risk prevention and confidence building". However, according to Murakhovski, Steinmeier's proposals are only good intentions as in reality a treaty of that kind is unlikely to be signed any time soon. "Germany is trying to take over the functions of a leading political force in the EU," the editor in chief of the magazine "Arms Export" Andrey Frolov told Svobodnaya Pressa. "It no coincidence that in recent years Germany has been very active in the foreign policy arena. In this sense, Steinmeier's initiative fits into the long-term strategy of Berlin," he added. At the same time, head of the Center for Military Forecasts Anatoly Tsyganok believes that Steinmeier's initiative has arisen from his presidential ambitions. In an interview with Vzglyad newspaper, Tsyganok said: "Earlier media reported about Steinmeier's possible nomination in presidential elections in Germany. I think that his last proposal is just a part of his pre-election rhetoric, an attempt to play on the feelings of German voters, who do not want to aggravate the situation in Europe." MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Wednesday, the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) released the results of a joint probe into chemical weapon attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 that said the Syrian government was allegedly involved in two attacks and Daesh terrorist in one attack. "The Syrian regime and the Islamic State compete in atrocities, use of such weapon is illegal and has no moral support, including from those who back Damascus. No one wants chemical attacks to become a usual thing. The Russian side should clarify its position and at the same time take a chance to return to political settlement," Ayrault said in an interview with Le Monde newspaper. In light of the UN report, Russia and the United States are working together to develop a common approach for further actions, according to Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin. Furthermore, Ankara's statement that the Syrian conflict cannot be resolved without Russia has obviously hit the Obama's administration raw nerve. To add more fuel to the fire, it was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit Ankara on August 31. "Under these circumstances, Washington has decided to go all-in with a bid to mend its relations with Ankara by sacrificing its new-found Kurdish friends," Perier underscores. This is apparently why Washington sent influential Vice President Joseph Biden, not Secretary of State John Kerry, to mend ties with the Erdogan government. As a result, Turkey launched a ground offensive against Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) on August 24 with Washington's "blessing" and assistance in northern Syria. However, Western media sources called attention to the fact that amid its anti-Daesh campaign the Turkish armed forces targeted the Kurdish People's Protection Units' (YPG) fighters and demanded that they return from the Syrian town of Manbij to the eastern bank of the Euphrates. Turkish President Erdogan's motivation is understandable: he wants to prevent the Kurds from creating an independent entity in northern Syria, along the Turkish border. The YPG "has been Washington's most effective proxy in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Its fighters-ethnic Kurds, Arabs and Yazidis-are doing the bulk of the fighting. Without them, Islamic State [Daesh] would have seized northern Syria long ago, posing an even larger risk to Turkey," the Wall Street Journal highlighted Wednesday. NALCHIK (Russia), (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a special counter-terrorism operation was announced in Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, and in its Chegemsky District. "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. The identities of the killed militants are being established at the moment. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Karen Nersesyan said that at the moment Mironov was in detention and the decision on his extradition to the United States could be expected on Monday. "As of now, we don't know exactly what he is accused of, but when he was detained they said he was wanted by the US authorities for laundering $50,000 and certain technology transfer," the lawyer told RIA Novosti. Lockheed Martin missile defense experts believe that the Pentagon is exploring ways to shoot down the maneuvering hypersonic missiles with options including a modified extended-range version of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, called THAAD-ER, as well as high-powered lasers capable of shooting down missiles before they reach hypersonic speeds. Last week, the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) began the bidding discovery process for a system capable of intercepting hundreds of small drone-like systems as well as conventional missile systems that led defense industry analysts to wonder whether the US military was looking for a sophisticated multi-level laser system not only to tackle the proliferation of small drones but also potentially to counter Russias hypersonic weapons renaissance. While there are fears that robot tracking algorithms will allow for creation of autonomous killer machines that will make a decision to pull the trigger on their own, there is no mention of autonomous lethal decision-making so far neither for new Tigr machine, nor for the Uran-9, which has similar control module. The creation of robotized version of Tigr will provide Russian army with one more unmanned ground combat vehicle, but this time it will be propelled by wheels, not tracks, which, combined with its relatively low weight of under 9 tons, will enable this machine to use common roads without any damage to them. Whereas that seems benign, the document minutes show that the meetings participants hoped that Medvedevs years as president would provide "an opening" for the Open Society Foundations to influence and rattle the Russian government. A hope that disappeared when Putin returned to office. "The Medvedev period allowed for a number of improvements and significant openings for NGOs However, pressure has come back very quickly in the short time that Putin has been back in power." The NGO operation became quickly distrusted in Russia following the botched "Maidan like" protests which were immediately dismantled before it could threaten the Russian government. "The Russian protests deeply affected the life of NGOs," read the minutes. The meeting explains that the government had attempted to encourage civil opposition by providing funds, "but by encouraging self-organization, they had opened up Pandoras Box the door was opened for self-mobilization." Thus, Beijing and Moscow are seeking to compete with two main rivals: Airbus and Boeing companies. Until now, Russia and China had only aircraft of medium and low flight distances; hence the new aircraft is designed to compensate for that. However, for the production of the aircraft there will be a need for Western technology, till the time that Russia gets sufficiently powerful engines. Till then it will be supplied by Rolls Royce and General Electric, according to AeroTelegraph. The Russo-Chinese project may well prove to be successful and attract customers, including Western buyers, as it was evidenced by the example of the Sukhoi Superjet. However, most of the orders come from close to the Russian state airline, the demand for them is not very large, even in developing countries. That is why Moscow and Beijing may go to lowering the prices. As evidenced by a poll on the website AeroTelegraph, 43% of readers believe that the future of the Russo-Chinese plane will not be successful in the market, 26% believe that the project will certainly be successful, whereas 31% remain undecided. Ailes left Fox News suddenly amid numerous allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination made by women at the network. The accusations began with former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, who charged Ailes with targeting her for defending women that were mistreated at the conservative news outlet. Ailes reportedly called Carlson a "man hater," and told her, "I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you'd be good and better and I'd be good and better." The most recent allegations came from another former host, Andrea Tantaros, who charged Ailes with making inappropriate inquiries about co-workers relationships and sexual orientation. She also described how Ailes told her to turn around, to "get a good look at you," and called host and analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle a "Puerto Rican whore." District spokeswoman Courtney Westling released a statement saying, "We regret the way this was communicated," and that, "Our intent was to limit student exposure to religious teachings, profanity and violent lyrics." Colleen Ryan-Onken, a local parent, shared the notice on social media, "I think its overtly racist and leaves out two of our major communities in our music choices," pointing out that Latin music and other ethnic music genres were not on the list. The former Watergate prosecutor also noted that it would be atypical to arrest Gulen while the extradition case was under review. "It would be pretty unusual to detain somebody while it [Justice Department] examines and investigates, unless there is an indictment that has been issued and that there is probable cause that the person committed an extraditable crime," Akerman explained. On Tuesday, the US Department of State confirmed that Turkey had formally submitted a request to extradite Gulen that was based on grounds unrelated to the July 15 military coup attempt. Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country on July 15, which was suppressed the next day. Ankara believes that Gulen and his supporters were seeking to overthrow the current government. Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the allegations and condemned the attempted coup. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is deliberately stirring up anti-Russian and anti-Muslim bigotry as well as false racist allegations that could get even worse than the Joe McCarthy witch-hunts of the 1950s, antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan told Sputnik. "I think the hysteria against Russia and against socialists and communists could get as bad under Clinton as the 1950s, but certainly anti-Muslim hysteria here and around the world is worse than then,"Sheehan, a Gold Star mother whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, said on Friday. On Thursday, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News that Clintons campaign was full of anti-Russia hysteria as the Democrats were trying to undermine the campaign of their opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump. J. Berkshire Miller, an international affairs fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations based in Tokyo, said that the joint operations were good start to the two nations mending fences, but that more cooperation is required to soothe tensions. Miller suggested that the operations were important, "considering the key role that Chinas coast guard is playing, and indeed contributing to, with regard to regional maritime tensions. That said, it is important not to place too much emphasis on the operation. This represents baseline cooperation and is a low-hanging fruit." The analyst offers that genuine reconciliation would require more effort on Chinas part. "In the East China Sea, for example, Beijing should work earnestly with Tokyo to follow through on commitments to implement crisis avoidance mechanisms surrounding the Senkaku IslandsUnfortunately, it seems that China continues to emphasize coercive actions rather than a more cooperative tact," he said. Jatras also pointed out the falsity of Clintons related claim that former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who endorsed Trump this week was a racist. Take her attack on Nigel Farage. Evidently now it is now racist to believe citizens are shareholders of their own country and have a right to decide who gets in and who doesnt, and that dangerous people should be excluded, Jatras argued. However, Jatras expressed skepticism as to how effective Clintons racist and Russophobic attacks would prove to be. She and her surrogates have been banging the Kremlin agent drum for some time. But when Trump asks rock-ribbed GOP [Republican] crowds if it wouldnt be a great thing to get along with Russia and team up with Moscow to fight ISIS [Islamic State], he gets thunderous approval, Jatras observed. Jatras suggested that Clintons latest attacks on Trump as an alleged racist were meant to distract attention from the latest WikiLeaks documents exposing the leaked information related to pay to play between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department. He also argued that Clintons attacks were meant to distract pubic attention from her own record of controversy and alleged corruption. Any American worthy of the name hates her and the whole rotten Deep State she fronts for: the profiteers on endless wars, the globalist corporations that dump their American workers to import their foreign-made goods duty free and the driving down of wages due to a glut of imported foreign labor, he said. In the last six days an abnormal number of people have overdosed on heroin, and three have died, officials say. On average, four people overdose in the city per day, as compared to an estimated 78 overdoses over Tuesday and Wednesday. "It's unlike anything we've seen before," said Hamilton County Commissioner Dennis Deters. Dennard noted that Biden was a "candidate of choice," that "Democrats trusted him" and that "he was more authentic than Hillary Clinton and has more experience". "He really got in front of a lot of situations that took place in the administration, you know. He got in front of the President-related issues on immigration, he got in front of the President-related issues on gay rights and marriage But at the end of the day, he was a person that was loyal to President Obama []," Dennard said. At the same time, the expert noted that the death of his son was a turning point in Biden's life as well as political career. After the tragedy, Joe Biden focused on issues of cancer treatment and, according to Dennard, is unlikely to take public office again after his term is over. "I think when historians write the book about Joe Biden, there will be two Joe Bidens: it will be the Joe Biden of the Senate, the Joe Biden Vice President and the Joe Biden post-the-death-of-his-son. I think that situation really transformed his trajectory," Dennard said. "His legacy I think might be more related to what he has tried to do in terms of fighting cancer," he added. The Stop TTIP public campaign, which unites over 500 European organizations, argues that if the deal is approved Europe will face a series of problems, including lower food security standard and an unemployment hike. Activists also criticize the secrecy of the negotiations and plans to facilitate access for US companies to European government procurement programs. European farmers and agricultural lobbyists are the most active opponents of the TTIP deal. Their main concern is geographical marks on agricultural products. This issue is especially important for French and Italian farmers. They fear that if the deal is approved the European market will be flooded with cheaper US products. European farmers are also concerned that the TTIP will challenge the European norm which prohibits selling products until they are proved to be safe for people and the environment. As a result, cheap meat products containing hormones would flood the European market, according to the article. Finally, the US and Brussels cannot agree on the issue of export subsidies for agricultural producers. Washington insists that countries should not introduce export subsidies for agricultural goods exported to other countries. Big Companies Against TTIP Another stumbling block over the TTIP deal is access to government procurement programs, according to the leaked text of the deal. The US does not want to give European companies access to its railway transportation market, to aviation safety contracts and also to the procurement program of the US Federal Aviation Administration. Moreover, European companies want to get broader access to procurement in some US states and cities, the article read. Another problem is liberalization of the mutual access to the service market. The EU bans access for foreign companies to 250 types of services, including communications, education, transportation and finances. The US wants Brussels to reduce the list. In exchange, Washington promises to lift barriers in the domestic market and keep restrictions in only nine service sectors, including finances and healthcare. Speaking with Megyn Kelly on The Kelly File, Julian Assange named Seth Rich as the "potential" and "alleged" source of the nearly 20,000 emails released by WikiLeaks that exposed a nebulous scheme of cooperation between the DNC, the Hillary campaign, and members of the mainstream media to subvert the electoral chances of Bernie Sanders and to create false narratives about the progressives candidacy. Assange seems all too willing to play into what may ultimately be just a macabre publicity stunt by offering $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Seth Richs killer 20,000 being nearly the number of emails that were released in the last leak. The timing of the WikiLeaks release, occurring only two weeks after Seth Rich was slain also has raised suspicions although the coincidence by itself far from proves political oriented foul play. The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting on Thursday, August 25 at Del Mars Surfside Race Place. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: Seven individuals concerned about racehorse fatalities at Del Mars current meet addressed the Board during the comment period to express those concerns. CHRB Executive Director Rick Baedeker described some of the rules, policies and practices the CHRB has in place with respect to the safety of horses and riders. He and Chairman Winner assured the public that this Boards primary objective is the health and safety of horses and riders. The Board approved a rolling three-year racing calendar for thoroughbred meets in Southern California as submitted by racetracks and horsemen and reflecting a multi-year agreement on racing and stabling. As part of the motion to approve, the Board reserves the right to annually alter the calendars as may be deemed necessary. The allocated dates for the 2017 racing season are: Santa Anita Park, December 21 (opening day December 26) through July 4; Los Alamitos, July 5 through July 18; Del Mar, July 19 through September 5; Los Alamitos, September 6 through September 26; Santa Anita, September 27 through October 31; Del Mar, November 1 through November 28; and Los Alamitos, November 29 through December 19. The 2018 and 2019 approved allocations mirror this sequence of dates with minor changes due to differences in the calendar and hosting of the Breeders Cup. The Race Dates Committee reported that stakeholders in Northern California have not reached agreement on a proposed calendar for 2017 or for 2018 and 2019. The Committee indicated that if racing associations, fairs, and horsemen do not submit a consensus calendar or calendars by the September 22 Board meeting, the Board will decide those dates. The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to conduct a race meet at Santa Anita Park from September 28 through November 8. Joe Morris with the Stronach Group reported that a new video surveillance system will be in place for this meet covering every shedrow as well as other important horse traffic areas. The California Thoroughbred Trainers and Thoroughbred Owners of California have committed funds to this project. The Santa Anita system could become the model for other racetracks in the state. The Board approved the license application for the Pacific Racing Association to operate a race meet at Golden Gate Fields from October 19 through December 20. Golden Gate will continue using Pleasanton as an auxiliary training facility through the end of this year. The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles County Fair race meet at Los Alamitos from September 7 through September 7. One highlight of this meet will be an appearance (not a race participant) by California Chrome on September 10, which has been proclaimed California Chrome Day. The Board approved the license application for the Watch and Wager LLC race meet at Cal Expo from October 1 through December 24. Harness racing will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights. The Board approved the license application to conduct a race meet of the Big Fresno Fair in Fresno from October 5 through October 18. The Board approved five nominees to sit on the Board of Directors of the California Thoroughbred Horsemens Foundation: Angie Carmona, Dr. Victor Levine, Joe Morris, Calvin Rainey, and Damascus Castellanos. Jeff True representing AmTote provided an update on operations since the company began providing totalizator services for all California racetracks last fall. Several commissioners indicated they had received complaints from bettors about ticket jams and other malfunctions. True said AmTote deals with all complaints and makes significant changes in accordance with its contract with California stakeholders. The Board approved a regulatory amendment designed to curtail any excessive use of the whip during a harness race. The rule clarifies which actions shall be considered indiscriminate use of the whip and prohibits use of the whip more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond. The Board approved regulatory amendments for medication violation penalties, including a provision prohibiting licensees suspended for more than 30 days from transferring horses to employees. (CHRB) Weekend action is all set to go at Red Shores, as the Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway each feature live programs. Top Trainers Battle In Red Shores Charlottetown Feature Starcastic will face off against a hard-hitting Hughes-trained duo in the Saturday evening feature at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park. First-race post time is 6 p.m. for the 10-dash card with Starcastic drawing the outside post in a five-horse-field for a $2,250 purse with Gordie Hennessey picking up the catch driving assignment due to regular pilot Gilles Barrieau being in Nova Scotia for stakes action. Starcastic rides a three-race win streak into the Race 9 feature for Charlottetown's leading trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Bobbi Jo Gaudet of Charlottetown and Billy MacKenzie of Stratford. His main competition comes from the barn of the capital oval's No. 2 trainer, Jason Hughes, with the Governor's Plate finalist duo of Ppost 3 starter Jeb with Gary Chappell in the bike and Post 4 starter Ok Galahad with Hughes doing the driving. Rash B Havior has rail control with a two-race win streak on the line and Ken Murphy subbing in for regular pilot Marc Campbell, who is also in Nova Scotia. Post 2 has Nogreatmischief with Walter Cheverie in the bike. Shadow's Mystery and Ramblinglily will hook up again this week in the race 7 $2,250 Open Mares Pace with a field of six. Shadow's Mystery has Post 5 with Hennessey in the bike while Ramblinglily leaves from the Post 6 for Cheverie. Rail control belongs to Charlottetown newcomer Drivingthedragon N for trainer-driver Hughes and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge. The seven-year-old Sutter Hanover mare won her last two pari-mutuel outings in 1:53.2 and 1:54.2 at Yonkers Raceway in April for trainer Rene Allard. Other entries include Someone Like You (Chappell), Woodmere Articblue (Ryan Desroche) and Brodys Leona (Ken Murphy). Saturday Entries Stakes Dollars On The Line Sunday In Summerside The top two-year-old pacers in Atlantic Canada will descend on the Summerside Raceway on Sunday afternoon for the Joe O'Brien and Lady Slipper stakes. The Prince County oval offers a 14-dash card Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Joe O'Brien stakes for two-year-old pacing colts will see one very competitive $16,000 Gold division with seven entries in race 13, along with $6,350 Grassroots divisions in races 9 and 11. The rich single Gold division has Carters Caper favoured from Post 5 with only one blemish in his career of three wins and one second from four lifetime starts. Clare MacDonald trains and drives the colt for Nova Scotia owners Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood and Morah Kerr of Greenfield. His runner-up effort was in Atlantic Sires Stakes action at Truro Raceway to Tobinator, who draws the rail in this week's match-up for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Trevor Hicken and owners Kent Livingston of Cornwall, Robin Burke of Ten Mile House, Luke Burke of Pleasant Grove and Perry Burke of Quebec. The two-year-old pacing fillies compete in the Lady Slipper stakes with two $11,000 Gold splits in Races 4 and 6 with five entrants in each race, along with $4,750 Grassroots action in races 1, 3, 8 and 10. The first Gold division in race 4 has Woodmere Finesse the morning line choice from post 4 for driver Ken Murphy, trainer Jack Arsenault and owner Edward Maher of Lower Sackville, N.S. The Doug and Jamie Hill owned Woodmere Dreams is the classifier's choice in race 6 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Kenneth Wilkie. The top overnight pace on the program has a $1,700 purse with Inspired Art (Marc Campbell) picked over Miss Oromocto (Mark Haig) and Narragansett (Jason Hughes). Sunday Entries (Red Shores) Judicial Watch Statement on Ohio Court's Ruling in Early Voting Case Judicial Watch and Allied Educational Foundation Victory on Amicus Brief Supporting Ohio Absentee Voting Period Law: Current Law "applies even-handedly to all voters" Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch, 202-646-5172 WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton today made the following statement in response to the ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversing a district court decision and upholding an Ohio law that shortens the state's absentee voting period from 35 to 29 days (Ohio Democratic Party v. Husted (No. 16-3561)): "It is rewarding that the appeals court took the position advocated by Judicial Watch and the Allied Educational Foundation (AEF). Early voting is a bad public policy that unduly burdens the taxpayers, increases the likelihood of fraud, and confuses voters," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It was absurd and dishonest to suggest that racism was behind the sensible reform of cutting back early voting from an excessive 35 days before Election Day. The Left's attack on election integrity, in partnership with the Obama Justice Department, doesn't bode well for a clean November election." In its opinion the court wrote: [P]laintiffs complain that allowance of 29 days of early voting does not suffice under federal law. They insist that Ohio's prior accommodation35 days of early voting, which also created a six-day "Golden Week" opportunity for same-day registration and votingestablished a federal floor that Ohio may add to but never subtract from. This is an astonishing proposition. Nearly a third of the states offer no early voting.The issue is not whether some voter somewhere would benefit from six additional days of early voting or from the opportunity to register and vote at the same time. Rather, the issue is whether the challenged law results in a cognizable injury under the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act. We conclude that it does not. In July 2016, Judicial Watch joined with the AEF in filing an amici curiae brief with the Court of Appeals arguing that if it failed to reverse the lower court ruling, it "risks issuing a judgment that is not only wrong, but perverse, in that it might lead to lower voter turnout in direct contravention of one of the basic purposes of the Voting Rights Act." The case before the Sixth Circuit came on appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, where the lower court struck down an Ohio law shortening the state's absentee voting period from 35 to 29 days. The district court ruled that the six-day reduction would disproportionately burden African Americans: [A]lthough the Court cannot predict how many African Americans will turn out in future elections, it is reasonable to conclude from this evidence that their right to vote will be modestly burdened by S.B. 238's reduction in the EIP [early in-person] voting period and elimination of SDR [same day registration]. Countering the district court's position, the Judicial Watch/AEF brief cited a June 2016 report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) about the "depressant effect" of early voting: MORE: www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-statement-ohio-courts-ruling-early-voting-case Bahama Breeze Island Grille has launched its first-ever, summer-long Reggae Fest, delighting locals throughout the summer with some of the best Reggae musicians and Jamaican flavors around. The new summer menu is now live as part of the celebration, delighting locals with the tastes and sounds of summer (and some of the best Reggae musicians around). During our visit to Bahama Breeze, we experienced the very best and we had one of their best family members helping us enjoy our time. Our waitress, Olivia, was very cordial, fun, and honest with her opinions on what dishes we should experience. Tostones with Chicken direct from San Juan, twice-fried plantains topped with chicken, sweet peppers, mushrooms, melted cheese, and tomato salsa. The chicken adds a tender and flavorful touch to the plantains that were used as a delivery mode between the plate and your mouth. Smothered Pork Goodness a hearty pile of pulled pork, chorizo, and cheese stuffed yuca topped with caramelized onions, guava BBQ sauce and more cheese. The pulled pork is very tender and juicy. Sesame Crusted Ahi seared sesame crusted Ahi tuna served chilled with greens, tomatoes, cucumber, and a sweet mango glaze. The sweet mango glaze is unique for the Ahi tuna, but the flavor grows on you until every piece of tuna is in your tummy. Naan served with a strong garlic crouton butter. If this is at your table, you better hope your significant other takes a few bites as well or else it will ruin the mood for you. Curry Goat guests looking for a true authentic experience should look no further. This traditional, full flavored Caribbean dish is the Reggae Fest Chef Special. The goat is tender and the flavors are overpowering. If you are not a fan of heat, you may prefer to avoid the spicy curry goat. On the other hand, the flavors will be wonderful enough to try with a nice drink on standby. Taste of Jamaica feast on this festive plate of Jamaican Favorites: pulled pork, jerk chicken, beef empanada, callaloo, sweet plantains, yellow rice and black beans. Each section of this plate has a different flavor than the other sections. Each item of meat is very tender and juicy, which can have a sweet note added if a bit of the mango sauce is added for each bite. Jerk Chicken Pasta Sliced jerk chicken breast, fresh asparagus and mushrooms tossed in a Parmesan cream sauce with bow-tie pasta. The pasta is nicely made and all the flavors mesh together well. Rebeccas Key Lime Pie Bahama Breezes original, handmade with brown sugar crust and golden meringue. This slice is nice to have on a hot summer day as long as you make sure you eat it before the day warms up the pie. Chocolate Island Rich chocolate mousse on a fudge brownie island in chocolate sauce and vanilla bean anglaise. The fudge brownie is delightful and rich alone. With the chocolate sauce and vanilla bean anglaise, you might have a cavity by the end of the night. Warm Chocolate Pineapple Upside-Down Cake A warm, rich chocolate cake with a chocolate molten center topped with caramelized pineapple, served with raspberry sauce and fresh Island fruit. The fruity flavors add an uncommon touch to the chocolate cake. This is a dessert to enjoy indoors and in air condition. Coconut Cream Pie Creamy coconut custard spiked with coconut rum in a graham cracker crust. With homemade whipped cream piled high and toasted coconut flakes. This coconut cream pie is our favorite item on the menu at Bahama Breeze. It is best right after coming out of the fridge. The toasted coconut flakes add a different texture to the smooth custard that creates flavors that will dance on your tongue. You will wish the flavors dance a bit longer on your tongue than it does. Ultimate Pineapple (front) Spiced Run, Coco Lopez and Bacardi Black Rum swirled with strawberry ice and served in a freshly cup pineapple. If you want a secret twist, ask to have mango ice added for a wonderful touch. Even the aftertaste is wonderful! Can be made virgin style. Frozen Bahamarita (back) a signature frozen Margarita, made with Sauza Tequila, strawberry and mango ices. Served with a shot of Cactus Juice Schnapps. Delicious and refreshing, but it isnt as great as the Ultimate Pineapple with mango. Can be made virgin style. One Love this tasty and refreshing cocktail is made with everything nice and all fruits ripe. Malibu Banana Rum, Pineapple, Orange and Guava juice shaken together, topped with an Appleton Rum floater and a dehydrated pineapple. Can be made virgin style. Red Stripe Beer Buckets the perfect deck-side brew for a group of friends. This pale lager, made in Jamaica, will have you and your crew drifting to off to the islands. Reggae Fest will bring the dont worry, be happy attitude to life with the sounds, tastes, sights and vibes of Jamaica. Bahama Breeze will turn up the party every Saturday during Reggae Fest (now August 13th), featuring live bands in all 36 locations across the country. It doesnt stop there to continue the celebration, Bahama Breeze is giving away a cruise for one righteous winner and a friend to the JamRock 5-night cruise to Jamaica. You can learn more here: Reggae Fest Bernie Altman, 92, a beloved member of Cowlitz County most well-known for his mental health and senior advocacy work, remained in critical condition as of Friday evening, a day after he was reportedly beaten and stabbed by his son at his Kelso home. Kelso police officers responded to a welfare check at Altmans home at 1000 N. 20th Ave. at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday where they discovered Altman had sustained life-threatening injuries. Altman was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview. Later that day he was transferred to Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. Kelso police arrested David Altman, 52, who was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and third-degree assault. Kelso Police Capt. Darr Kirk declined to say how many times Altman was stabbed or provide any details about the nature of his injuries. Bernard Altman is a retired school teacher who taught in the Kelso School District for more than 20 years. He also ran for a state House of Representatives seat in the late 1970s. Altman has been known as an advocate for individuals and families who have been affected by mental illness. In the early 1980s he and his wife co-founded the Cowlitz Alliance on Mental Illness, which later became known as the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Cowlitz. I thought the world of him, said George Raiter about the first time he met Altman. Raiter, a former state legislator, worked with Altman on a bill he sponsored that created a statewide regional support system for people affected by mental illness. Bernard Altman is perhaps more recently known for his columns and articles focusing on senior issues while at The Daily News, where he penned a senior magazine from 1998 to 2008. I think a lot of people respect him for his long-term advocacy, Raiter said. In 2010 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cowlitz County Guidance Association for his work improving mental health in the county and throughout the state. David Altman is being held without bail. An arraignment has not yet been scheduled. Two Cowlitz County medical workers are no longer able to work, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Health. Marita Ramos,a certified nursing assistant, was placed on a three-year probation in June after accepting a $5,000 loan from the parents of a resident of an adult family home where she worked, according to the release. The probation is part of an agreement with the Nursing Assistant Program. Nicole Michelle Collins was denied a certified home care aide credential after she failed to comply with a requirement to undergo a substance use evaluation, the press release said. The evaluation was required because she was convicted of attempted possession of methamphetamine in 2013, according to the press release. hidden A federal judge has granted a request by Uber Technologies and its chief executive officer to put a passenger's price-fixing lawsuit against them on hold, while they appeal his refusal to let them arbitrate the dispute. Calling his decision a "close call," U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said the defendants had not made a "strong showing" that their appeal would likely succeed, though they would face irreparable harm if arbitration were wrongfully denied. But he said the appeals court could clarify whether Spencer Meyer, the Connecticut plaintiff, and others like him consent to arbitration when they buy services subject to conditions in "clickwrap" and "browsewrap" agreements found online. In his proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit, Meyer said Uber and CEO Travis Kalanick violated antitrust laws by conspiring with drivers to charge high "surge-pricing" fares during periods of heavy demand. Uber takes a share of drivers' earnings. On July 29, Rakoff denied Uber's request for arbitration, saying Meyer never agreed to it and the San Francisco-based company did not properly notify him about its policies. Meyer opposed delaying his case while Uber appealed that ruling. "We look forward to defending Judge Rakoff's decision and having this matter returned to the district court," Brian Feldman, a lawyer for Meyer, said in an email. Uber and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company faces several lawsuits over its pricing and its treatment of drivers, and often tries to keep such disputes away from courthouses. On Aug. 18, a federal judge in San Francisco voided Uber's $100 million settlement with drivers who claimed they were employees rather than independent contractors, and entitled to recoup costs such as gas and vehicle maintenance. The judge said that accord was not fair, reasonable or adequate. The case is Meyer et al v. Kalanick et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 15-09796. Reuters Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy Tamim Chy among 3 killed in N`ganj militant hideout operation Three militants, including Gulshan cafe attack mastermind Tamim Chowdhury, were killed during a special police operation, 'Hit Strom', in a den of 'New JMB' in a building of Narayanganj sadar upazila on Saturday morning. Tipped off, DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit unearthed the New JMB's den on the third floor of a three-storey building at Paikpara beside Boro Koborsthan around 6:00am and started the operation in the militant hideout, said Additional deputy commissioner of the Bomb Disposal Unit of CTTC Sanwar. Police cordoned off the area and evacuated the occupants of the building. Sanwar said they started the preparation around 2:30am and reached Narayanganj at 6:30am. CTTC team asked the militants till 8:30am to surrender Sanwar said adding, Our target was to arrest them alive. However, the militants started destroying all the documents, mobile phones and laptops around 8:30am, he added. Following this, the CTTC team launched the one-hour long operation, said Sanwar. During the operation, the militants hurled grenades at and opened fire on the law enforcers, he added. After finishing the operation around 9:30am, the CTTC team entered the building when they found the bodies of two militants lying beside the main door of the apartment, Sanwar said. However, the law enforcers found the body of Tamim in another room, he said. The CTTC team recovered an AK-22 firearm, a small arm, several knives, several broken mobile phones and laptops. The also recovered two undiffused grenades from the apartment. Sanwar said five people rented the apartment two months back identifying two of themselves as the employees of Pharmaceuticals and one of them as a banker. It was assumed that they rented the house after the deadly Gulshan attack, Sanwar said. Earlier, DMP had announced a bounty of Tk20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen. -- Dhaka, Aug 27 (UNB) US seeks to soothe Turkey ties, press fight against IS Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey. Reuters, Istanbul :The last time U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flew to Turkey, in January, he had a stern message for President Tayyip Erdogan: his model of Islamic democracy was setting a bad example by intimidating media and threatening academics.But his tone was markedly different when he arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, weeks after a failed coup in Turkey that has strained relations between the two countries, and he appeared to be in diplomatic damage-limitation mode.Turkish officials have been incensed by the concerns expressed by Washington and European capitals about Ankara's subsequent crackdown on suspected plotters, but what they perceive as indifference to the coup attempt itself. 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.American worries may have been compounded by Erdogan restoring ties with Russia and even discussing military cooperation with President Vladimir Putin.Meeting with Erdogan and Turkey's prime minister in Ankara on Wednesday, Biden delivered a message of alliance and conciliation."Let me say it for one last time: The American people stand with you ... Barack Obama was one of the first people you called. But I do apologize. I wish I could have been here earlier," Biden said.He said U.S. officials would cooperate in investigating evidence against Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric Erdogan has blamed for masterminding the coup bid with his followers. Erdogan has demanded that Washington hand over Gulen, who has denied any involvement in the coup, but U.S. authorities have said Turkey must first provide evidence of his wrongdoing.Hours before Biden arrived, in a timely illustration of the role Turkey plays in the fight against Islamic State, Turkish forces backed by U.S.-led coalition jets launched a major push across the border into northern Syria to drive the jihadist group out of the frontier town of Jarablus. No Arab Spring in Zimbabwe: Mugabe warns protesters Robert Mugabe on Friday warned that the Arab Spring style of protests would fall flat in Zimbabwe. AFP, Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned that the Arab Spring style of protests would fall flat in Zimbabwe after police fired teargas and beat up protesters staging the latest of a string of highly charged demonstrations. Dozens of police blocked off the site of the opposition rally for electoral reforms by 2018, when 92-year-old Mugabe who has ruled the southern African country for decades will seek re-election. The protesters responded to the clampdown by throwing stones at the police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe. "They are burning types in the streets in order to get into power. They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that is not going to happen here," said Mugabe in remarks broadcast by state television. "What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country," said Mugabe accusing foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest. AFP correspondents saw armed police firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters gathered on the fringes of the central business district who were waiting for the march to start. Some people caught up in the melee, including children going to a nearby agricultural show, ran for shelter in the magistrate's court while riot police pursued the protesters and threatened journalists covering the rally. The usually-bustling pavements were clear of street hawkers and some shops were shut, as rocks, sticks and burning tyres were strewn across the streets. Opposition protesters also clashed with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had refused to clear their street stalls. ZANU-PF youths hurled stones at the opposition activists but were overpowered and their stalls set on fire. The march was organised by 18 opposition parties including the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe People First formed this year by former vice president Joice Mujuru. Opposition leaders condemned the brutal repression of the protest and vowed to increase pressure on Mugabe's regime. A.B.M. Razaul Karim Faquire :The English Language Education (ELE)system in Bangladesh has been created based on the National Education Policy (NEP 2010)implemented by the authorities including the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE) and the University Grant Commission(UGC).It as a systemwhich covers a compulsory education of General English with an emphasis on the communicative English up to the pre-tertiary phase of education as well as the optional education of academic subjects in English medium at all phases of education. It, as a system, is not based on any kind of language policy rather than on some arguments, the instances of which can be found in the writings of advocates of ELE in Bangladesh. Imam (2005) and Hamid (2010) are such advocates who actually echo the suggestion of English language educationists who have been working to vernacularize English in the plurilingual countries, e.g. India, Kenya and Nigeria.They provide the following arguments: i) Englishis a colonial inheritance,ii) English is an international language, iii) English is a means for the access to global knowledge, and iv)English is a means for the access to global job market in favour of the compulsory provision for the ELE.On the basis of above arguments, the ELE policy makers of Bangladesh made English language a compulsory subject in the education system of Bangladesh with the two basic principles: i) English for alland ii) Earlier is better.The ELE system follows a principle of giving an extraordinary burden of ELE at the earlier phases of education and exemption from the requisite level of ELEto undertake study inthe higher phases of education. It also gives an exemption from the linguistic competency to be necessitated by the teachers at the entry toteaching jobs in each phase of education. In fact the prevalent ELE practices have brought forth a number of adverse consequences which are causing to damage the country'slanguage and culture as in the following descriptions.1) Loss of Various Domains of Bangla Language: The prevalent ELE system has created a situation of language contact conducive to theborrowing and calquing of linguistic elements from English into Bangla. Many of the borrowingsfrom English are causing to replace the words and expressions, e.g. congratulations of Bangla. Because of the unusual borrowing and calquing, languages of academic domains in Bangla have been falling into disuse, the process which has been causing to disuse of the domain specific languages in Bangla. This process of disuse of domain specific languages has continued toyield deficiency in Bangla, which, in effect, has been causing to lose the capacity of Bangla in containing the growing disciplines of knowledge.2) Change in the Linguistic Landscape of the Country: The consequences of the ELE system have manifested itself in the linguistic landscapes of Bangladesh. Accordingly change in the visual landscape can be noticedon the signboards/billboards in the cities and labels of commodities all over the country. There are some centers in every city, where hardly a Bangla billboard can be seen. The English medium institutions and organizations also present a visual landscape of languagesthat they can hardly be recognized asit to bea part of Bangladesh. The change in the acoustic linguistic landscape can also be noticed in the localities. The code-mixing of Bangla and English as well as the code switching from Bangla to English have been common phenomenon in the premises of different social and educational institutions, and corporate offices. They can be noticed in the speech and music broadcasted through the TV and radio. Hence the ELE has continued to shape the national culture and create English subculture in the major cities, and causing to loss the empathy to the indigenous culture.3) Shifting of Bangla Medium Institutions into English Medium Corporate Organizations: The consequences of prevalent ELE has manifested in such a way that the government and private institutions, and the corporate organizations have continued to turn into English medium organizations for which the main cities of Bangladesh have appeared to be the cities of the English speaking countries.4) Reproduction of English subculture: The ELE has been shaping the thinking process of the English educated who have been contributing to the creation of English subculture within the Bangalee culture,which is different fromits parent Bangalee culture, by importing culture of the Anglophone countries. The reproduction of this homegrown English subculture has been steadilyoccurring with the participation of English educated people coming out from the English medium schools and universities. Hence it has now been evident that the ELE practices have appeared as means to reproduce the extraneous English subculture with the own resources.5) Submission to the Englishlinguistic empire: The ELE carried over from the British colonial education system has been contributing in withstanding a condition for the submission of Bangladesh to the English linguistic empire. Though English was once merely a language of the UK, ithas now been the language of dominant countries, e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the USA, which are actually the colonies of invading Europeans occupied in the last centuries (cf.Phillipson, 2009). This is how the Anglophone countries have achieved pre-eminence over other major powers of the world since the era of colonial expansion.6) Creation of Social disparity: The ELE has been the symbol of power, prestige and economic affluence (Imam, 2005). It has been means of social mobility in that it serves as means for jumping to the higher socio-economic strata from the lower socio-economic strata. It has brought disadvantage for the poor social class, because of their socio-economic disposition.Therefore the ELE policy has been contributing in shaping the society which can be characterized with economic disparity (cf. Hamid, 2010).Thus Bangladesh, consequently, has got a faulty ELE systemwhich has continued to yield undesirable consequences in the society and culture of Bangladeshthat call for a reformation of the prevalentELE system in Bangladesh. Therefore a new ELEsystem is required to be formulated based on a rigorous language planning grounded on thelanguage policy underpinned with a consolidated linguistic ideology.(A.B.M. Razaul Karim Faquire, Ph.D., Professor, Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka, E-mail : [email protected] Show zero tolerance to corporal punishment Sir Frank Peters : Corporal punishment in school has raised its grotesquely ugly head yet again and is being held responsible for the taking of a young boy's life. It was a normal regular school day for N. Babu (14) of Periyar Nagar, Vadavalli, who was studying in class 9 at the Kamalnathan Government Higher Secondary School at Venkitapuram, until a 'teacher' beat him brutally and that changed everything. He lost all hope in the school system, the justice system, a child support organization, and society in general, and this week decided to end his misery of sheer hell by committing suicide. And just because this happened in India, don't fool yourself into thinking it could not happen in Bangladesh and not to your child. Wherever the evil of corporal punishment is allowed, there's always the strong possibility of death or life-long damage to a child hovering overhead. Babu committed suicide by consuming cow dung powder alleging harassment by three of his school 'teachers'. In a suicide note recovered by police, he named and shamed the 'teachers' responsible and claimed that a month ago, science teacher Kandhaiya had beaten his friend in the classroom. Babu had asked his friend as to what the problem was. The 'teacher', however, accused Babu of questioning him, refused to accept Babu's explanation and apology, and beat him brutally. He then took Babu to the staff room, where two other ignorant, sadistic brutish 'teachers', Karthick and Gunaseelan, also thrashed him. Ever since Kandhaiya allegedly punished the boy in the class for no apparent reason. The distressed and depressed young boy, unable to resolve the issue himself and bear the humiliation and torture any longer, reported the matter to his parents. They duly raised the issue with the Headmaster. "When there was no action, I reported the incident to Child Helpline 1098, but none helped me out," he said in his suicide note. Feeling alone, helpless and abandoned by all in a no-way-out situation (as it appeared to him) at 3.00am, while his family was sleeping, he decided to end it all and consumed cow dung powder. His parents rushed him to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. Kandhaiya, Karthick and Gunaseelan, the 'teachers' Babu accused for his misery and torture, areon the run and Babu's parents are seeking action against them for abetting in the suicide of their beloved son. A spokesman at Vadavalli police station said: "A probe is underway to ascertain if the handwriting in the suicide note was that of the boy. On confirmation, action will be taken against the three schoolteachers, who are now on the run. We are probing to know if the allegations levelled by the boy are true." Babu's suicide should be a lesson to everyone with school-going children. Corporal punishment must not be allowed to damage children or, worse, lead to their premature death. In 2011 when Justices Md Imman Ali and Md Sheikh Hasan Arif outlawed the inhuman, ineffective, ignorant practice of corporal punishment in schools and madrassas throughout Bangladesh, they declared it to be "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a clear violation of a child's fundamental right to life, liberty and freedom". Time hasn't changed that. It's still cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a clear violation of a child's fundamental right to life, liberty and freedom and must not be tolerated. It's also against the law. One can argue that's Babu's story is an extreme case and rare. That's true. Babu found escape from his sadness and depression through death, but what about the thousands of young children like Babu throughout Bangladesh who absolutely hate school because of the corporal punishment within its shameful walls? Aren't they being deprived of proper education, the very reason for sending them to school? Enough is enough. Babu's suicide is the loudest wake-up call heard in the region in quite a long time and screams loudly for every school to engage a policy of zero tolerance to corporal punishment and to enforce it: whether that means having to sack the relative of a person of local influence, a crony, or whoever shouldn't be in the school. The children must be given first priority, not measured against the weight of brown envelopes or other influences, their mental and physical health not put at risk, and their lives ruined through the sadistic impulses of ignorant alleged 'teachers'. Suicide is the loudest cry for help any human being can make. Through the death of young Babu, sad and unfortunate as it was, it would be of some consolation to his grieving family and friends to know that his death helped save many young lives. Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, a royal goodwill ambassador, humanitarian, and a respected foreign friend of Bangladesh. 'Zia was decorated with Independence Award to belittle Bangabandhu' Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, among others, at a discussion on the National Mourning Day organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthi at the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday. Awami League Presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Saturday said the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government decorated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with Ziaur Rahman with the Independence Award posthumously to belittle Bangabandhu. "How Bangabandhu and Zia were placed on the same row? Bangabandhu was compared with a sector commander by awarding him with the Independence Award. The then 4-party alliance government awarded Bangabandhu along with Zia with the award with a motive to belittle the creator of the country's independence," he said. Nasim said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and self-composed poetry recitation session organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy at the Conference Lounge of the National Press Club marking the National Mourning Day commemorating the 41st anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In 2003, Begum Khaleda Zia-led previous four-party alliance government awarded the architect of independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with late president Ziaur Rahman with the Independence Award. The awards and citations were preserved at the National Museum. Nasim said, "During the tenure of his post-liberation government after the independence of the country, Bangabandhu himself decorated Ziaur Rahman with 'Bir Uttam' gallantry title for his contributions in the war of liberation. Then you just say as to how Bangabandhu denied his (Zia) contributions. But what you (BNP) have done? You have placed Bangabandhu and Zia on the same row." "Later on, Zia betrayed with Bangabandhu, who earlier rewarded him. Zia patronised and sheltered the killers of Bangabandhu during his rule giving them an employment scope in Bangladesh missions abroad," he added. The senior Awami League leader said, "Pakistani authorities did not even dare to kill Bangabandhu though he was nearer to their grip. On the contrary, a few traitors of the country assassinated him. And killer Mostaque promulgated the infamous Indemnity Ordinance so that trial in the murder case could not be held. And for long, Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia retained the black law (during their rule)." President of Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy film hero Masum Parvez Rubel presided over the function, also addressed, among others, by Awami League (AL) international affairs secretary Lt Col (Retd) Faruque Khan, Poet and playwright Kazi Rosy, MP, assistant secretary to AL sub-committee Advocate Balaram Poddar, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy general secretary Parimal Ghosh Ranjit. Human rights: A scapegoat for the ills Michael O'Flaherty : After more than two decades in the human rights field, I am deeply saddened by the fact that so many people around the EU presently appear to be making human rights a scapegoat for the ills of Europe. And while it is not for me to question the decision of the UK electorate to vote as they did in the EU referendum, I am nonetheless concerned that some of the debate in the run-up to the vote was based on racist and xenophobic resentments that were as false as they were destructive. A myth has emerged over the decades since the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - and not only in the UK - that rights are only for some people. Specifically for 'minorities', which for some has become a synonym for 'undeserving' or 'outsider'. But human rights are not for a minority or even minorities. They are for everyone. What does this mean in practice? There is the right to justice and a fair trial enshrined in the Magna Carta, which inspired both the Universal Declaration and the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. And there is of course the right to equality, which protects those who find themselves discriminated against or even attacked because they are gay, disabled, black, Muslim or Jewish. These fundamental rights are at the core of European identity, an identity that has been built up only after many centuries marred by bigotry and bloodshed. Nevertheless, they are still only part of a much bigger picture. Human rights are not an optional extra. They create security, generate jobs and guarantee basic social justice, the major concerns of our time. Because as well as the rights to life and to dignity enshrined in the Charter are - to name but a few - freedom of thought, of expression, and the freedom to conduct a business. Freedom to conduct a business? Yes. Because for business and trade to flourish, we need to recognise that refugees are not only in need of protection and that immigrants are not only competing for jobs, but that they are in addition employers, consumers and tax payers. We are missing a largely untapped contribution to economic growth and establishment of global business links. There are many discussions about how much (or how little, depending on one's viewpoint) governments are spending on measures to integrate migrants arriving in Europe. But what about talking to business about their needs? Companies in sectors from nursing to software development complain they are lacking specific skill sets. Wouldn't this be the perfect area for public-private partnerships to match skills to needs? At the same time, companies spend money teaching their staff foreign languages and sending them on training courses to learn intercultural competence. Why ignore a group of people who speak other languages and are versed in the mores of other cultures? We may not be taking full advantage of the available workforce now. But we could be making a far bigger mistake. Racism is not only a human rights abuse; it is also a fatal error for anyone seeking to boost the economy. The money customers bring with them has neither a colour, a religion, nor a Polish accent. The customers who move to another country for fear of their safety do. A victim support officer we interviewed recently in the UK told us: "Low-level racism is happening all the time. You can be on the metro, you can be on a train, it's just there" But looking around Europe today at the attacks on asylum seeker accommodation, at the hatred spewed out on social media platforms, and now at the increase in hate crime around the UK by people claiming to be acting in the spirit of Brexit, I wonder whether we have now moved from low-level to high-level racism. A prerequisite for societies to grow is the principle of mutual respect, openness and trust. This was summed up by the philosopher Karl Popper when he said "I may be wrong and you may be right, and by an effort, we may get nearer to the truth." There is nothing wrong with difference. And there is nothing wrong with difference of opinion. But many seem to have unlearnt the ability for dialogue - and there lies the danger. In late June, and just three days before the UK referendum, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights convened a conference with 700 participants from across Europe to discuss migration, inclusion and digital privacy. Rarely have I seen such a rich array of views, all of which were debated with courtesy. And never before have I seen such energy and determination to find sustainable solutions to the challenges we're facing. To be successful though, we need now more than ever to reflect on and remain true to human rights. Those rights that have been such a uniting force in Europe. Those rights that enable migrant entrepreneurs to enrich the society they live in, both culturally and economically. Those rights that volunteers from Kos to Uppsala uphold with every blanket they donate to a refugee. Those rights without which the path to isolation and hatred is inevitable. (Michael O'Flaherty is Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, based in Vienna). Alarming use of sub-standard gas cylinders AS the pipeline gas supply connection for household use remains blocked by the government for few years and growing number of vehicles are being converted to CNG-fuelled, the quality and safety of the cylinders used for containing gas are very poor and hence a matter of serious concern too. A vernacular daily on Friday reported that there is 20 lakh liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the country while some three lakh vehicles so far use compressed natural gas cylinders. But the quality of the LPG and CNG cylinders is not maintained strictly. Thus most of the gas cylinders are potentially ready-to-blast bombs. It seems neither the Energy Ministry nor the private companies are cautious about it. After blasting of 300 cylinders in a Bogra warehouse on last Saturday, the Ministry asked Explosive Directorate to go through safety test of all LPG cylinders, a laudable step though belated one but it needs to be a regular exercise.Apart from the LPG cylinders, the gas burners, and other materials used to provide gas connections have been found sub-standard. So that gas spillage from the connecting pipes sometimes triggers fire. It is reported that at least three people were killed and 13 others sustained injuries in LPG cylinders blast this year. In the absence of effective monitoring, LPG traders are conducting business with utter disregard to safety norms resulting in accidents not infrequently.Following the Bogra incident last week, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has started examining LPG cylinders and found that some 75-80 percent of the tested cases are unsafe to use. It simply passes signals to be must worried. LPG cylinders are very commonly used in the household as a cooking gas and also as fuel in motor vehicles. If Bogra case is taken as an eye-opener, then there are real dangers in using substandard gas cylinders. What is surprising is that the Explosive Directorate basing on documents provided by LPG companies issue certify to sell the cylinders without going through any practical test.With the increase in population and rapid urbanization LPG consumption is increasing. It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to supervise and monitor the activities of LPG traders. The errant ones should be identified and punished. The companies and BPC should immediately withdraw all the substandard gas cylinders from the market and households to ensure safety of public life. It is also equally important to educate the public, particularly housewives, about the safety precautions required in handling the gas cylinders and enforce strict guidelines for standard use and cautionary measures to be followed by the suppliers and users equally. Keep the waterbus routes operative WATERBUS services from Sadarghat to Gabtoli and Narayanganj to Tongi, linking Kanchpur route, have failed to deliver due to lack of proper management. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) launched the waterbus services with two buses on August 28, 2010, in a bid to ease Dhaka's traffic congestion and ensure a smooth journey for the daily passengers. But it failed to deliver regular services to the city dwellers of the respective areas as well as to earn revenues to maintain the cost of operation. In this backdrop, the government recently leased out the waterbus services to a private company, reported the media on Saturday. The report said that the service remains unchanged and it has rather worsened after handing it over to the private operator. Irregular timetable, improper maintenance and mismanagement of the authorities concerned are the main reasons for the poor quality of service. Experts said that these problems can be solved through effective coordination among the Ministries and the departments concerned. When government owned it, the authorities operated four to five round trips a day. But now the private company operates only two trips a day -- one in the morning and other in the evening. It appears that the private operator follows no timetable. With the reduction of number of trips the common users have lost their interest in this water route as they can hardly rely on it now. Quoting knowledgeable sources, the report said that if the authorities - be that the government agency or the private firm so engaged should first ensure that the service would be operated on a regular basis with increased frequencies of trips, at least 4 times a day and there should be adequate publicity about this low cost easy transport facility. The report said that the BIWTC raised a fleet of 12 waterbuses, built at a total cost of Tk 10.61 crore. But as the waterbuses now mostly remain inoperative it is now incurring a daily loss of around Tk 25,000. That is the government is incurring huge losses on daily basis. Leasing out of the waterbuses to private hand may increase the loss further if they do not operate it at all. The journey by buses takes more or less over two hours during rush time. But a waterbus can cover this 16km route in just one hour which is both a time saver and less costly for the passengers. In our consideration, the department concerned - BIWTC - should continue the operation of waterbus routes on its own in a more coordinated management style and make it corruption free. BIWTC should immediately cancel the lease given to the private party because that would only hasten the discontinuation of this useful public service prematuredly. Nazrul's death anniv observed Family members of Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam placing wreaths at his mazar on Dhaka University campus marking the 40th death anniversary of the rebel poet on Saturday. Staff Reporter :The 40th death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was observed across the country with due respect and solemnity. Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations observed the day with elaborate programmes including placing of wreaths at the mazar of the poet, discussions, rendering songs and poetry recitation sessions and staging of dramas from the creative literary works of the poet.The programmes started with the recital of the Quran after Fazr prayers at Dhaka University (DU)central mosque with participation of teachers, students, officers and employees. They brought a silent procession on the campus led by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique from the base of Aparajeyo Bangla and ended at the Nazrul's tomb. They also placed floral wreaths there. Special prayers were offered at the poet's grave and a discussion was held there.Besides, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Nazrul Institute, Bangla Academy, Shishu Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Academy, Bulbul Lalitakala Academy, Nazrul Shilpy Sangstha, Nazrul Abbritti Parishad, Dhaka City Awami League (AL), Awami Juba League, Chhatra League, Dhaka University Teachers Association, teachers and students of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University and hundreds of people from all walks of life paid their homage to the national poet on his 40th death anniversary.Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy arranged a discussion and cultural programme where Cultural Affairs Secretary Aktari Mamtaz was present as the chief guest.Bangla Academy organised a solo-lecture session followed by a cultural show in the Poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium at 4 pm.Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on May 24 in 1899 at Churulia village in Asansol subdivision of Burdwan district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Nazrul, popularly known as Bidrohi Kabi (rebel poet), through his powerful poems had inspired the people to fight against all kinds of odds and injustice and repression during the colonial rule.Nazrul's songs and poems were also a great source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the country's Liberation War in 1971.On August 27, 1976, the poet passed away in Dhaka at the age of 77 after suffering from a long ailment. Tamim, 2 others killed in N`ganj 10 detained: Tamim chapter closed, says Kamal The body of the mastermind of Gulshan CafA attack Tamim Chowdhury who was killed in N\'ganj hideout during an operation on Saturday morning. Staff Reporter :The suspected Gulshan cafe attack mastermind Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and two others were killed during a joint forces raid 'Operation Hit Strong' 27" at a house in Narayanganj Sadar upazila on the outskirts of the city on Saturday morning.The two other suspected militants killed during the operation have been identified as Mohammad Iqbal and Malik.The special joint forces comprising Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, Special Weapon and Tactic Team (SWAT), Detective Branch of Police, member of elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11 and Narayanganj police took part in the 'Operation Hit Strong 27'. The joint forces had to take every inch of surrounding areas of the building cautiously since early Saturday to avoid public sufferings. Visiting the spot, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Tamim chapter has now been closed. "As Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury along with his two close accomplices were killed, his chapter has been closed now. We will now be able to net the other militants," he said.Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, who also visited the spot, told journalists that nearly one-hour-long encounter ended at about 10.30am as the joint forces gunned down the three highly trained militants who were residing in the second floor of the three-storied building at Paikpara in Narayanganj.At least four grenades, AK-22 rifle, one pistol and huge explosives were recovered from the militants' den, he said.The IGP said based on information extracted from the arrested suspected militants, the joint forces conducted the raid at the house at 9:36am and it ended at about 10:35am on Saturday. "A gang of 10-12 militants gathered on the second floor of the building owned by one Nuruddin Dewan to carry out another terrorist attacks," he said. "Police confirmed Tamim's death as his photo matched with one of the militants killed during the raid," the IGP said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Bomb Disposal Unit of CTTC Mohammad Sanwar Hossain told journalists that acting on a tip off the special joint forces raided the second floor of the building at Paikpara adjacent to the Boro Koborsthan.Before the raid, police also cordoned off the area and evacuated the occupants of the building. Members of joint forces took position around building owned by Nooruddin Dewan and Boro Koborsthan since 2:00am on Saturday, the police official said.He said police began shooting targeting the second floor of house at about 9:30pm. The suspected militants hiding inside the house also hurled grenades and launched gun attacks on the cops. "We asked the militants to surrender first but as they did not respond to the law enforcers' our forces began shooting targeting the militants," Sanwar said, adding their first target was to arrest them alive. He said during the raid the militants destroyed all the documents, mobile phones and laptops.When the operation was over at about 10:30am, the joint forces stormed the building and found the bodies of two militants lying beside the main door of the apartment."We found the body of Tamim in another room," the police official said.Sanwar said five people rented the apartment two months back identifying two of themselves as the employees of Pharmaceuticals and one of them as a banker. It was assumed that they rented the house after the deadly Gulshan attack, he said.Earlier, DMP had announced a bounty of Tk20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen. Tamim, the Bangladeshi-Canadian, is one of the masterminds of the Gulshan cafe attack.Tamim's name came up on the list of 10 missing people released by law-enforcers after it emerged that Gulshan cafe killers and Sholakia attackers had been reported missing by their families.Intelligence officials say Tamim led the 'Neo-JMB'.International media reports, citing several Islamic State publications, have described him as the coordinator of Middle East-based group's Bangladesh chapter.The 30-year-old Tamim had reportedly been missing from Canada since 2013. His father Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, who was a mariner, immigrated to Canada in the early 1970s.One of the two aides had an AK-22 semi-automatic weapon slung across his tummy. Both of them had t-shirts on.Police said the apartment in which Tamim and others stayed had very little furniture, just as it appeared in case of the Kalyanpur den that was busted July 26.It seems the terrorists had set up a temporary camp and were constantly changing hideouts.Local people said they heard sounds of bomb explosions at the building early Saturday morning. But the police said the criminals opened fire targeting the law enforcers who went to raid the house suspecting it a militant den.Police detained 10 persons, including the owner of the house Nuruddin Dewan, his wife and three sons, Faruk Hossain, Additional Superintendent of police of Narayanganj said. Meanwhile, bodies of the dead militants were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital (Victoria) morgue.Earlier on July 26, nine militants were killed during a special drive of the joint forces in Dhaka's Kalyanpur, ending an overnight standoff that ensued with a raid to hunt down 'militant den'. Padma swelling fast India opens all Farakka gates Staff Reporter : The water level of the Padma River is swelling following India's opening of almost all gates of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports, the low-lying areas of the Padma basin including the char areas have been flooded. There is however no threat of flood to Rajshahi Town itself as there has a huge town protection embankment along the River. Flood Forecasting and Warning Center registered that the Ganges at Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points are flowing 11 cm, 11 cm and 12 cm below their respective danger level. Mohanonda at Chapainawabganj point is flowing 15 cm below the danger level. The Brahmaputra-the Jamuna and the Surma rivers are in falling trend, while the Ganges river is in rising trend. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials fear that water level in the Padma River might rise above the danger level by next 48 hours, flooding low-lying areas in different parts of several districts. Meanwhile, BWDB officials said, "Water from Ganges caused rise in Padma River as India has opened gates of Farakka Dam. Water in Padma River is about to flow above the danger level. Water in Padma River is swelling around 2 cm in every three hours. Water might flow above the danger level in next 48 hours if it continues." In Kushtia, the Padma was flowing below 19 cm of the danger level. But Gorai River, the main flow of Padma, is also rising along with the Padma River. Farakka Barrage has 104 gates and they are being opened to manage nearly 1.1 million cusecs of water that have inundated Bihar and affected nearly 1.0 million residents in the past week. Tamim's relatives unwilling to receive his body UNB, Beanibazar : Relatives of Gulshan Cafe attack mastermind Tamim Chowdhury, who was killed in a police operation in Narayanganj on Saturday, here refused to receive his body out of hatred towards him for his evil acts. "I feel hatred introducing him as my nephew we don't want to receive his body," Tamim's uncle Nurul Islam Chowdhury told UNB. Nurul Islam, a local coal businessman, said he has no contact with Tamim's family members who live in Canada. Relatives and villagers said Tamim is a son of Shfiqul Islam Chowdhury alias Soa Miah of Barogram village at Dubag union of the upazila. They said, Soa Miah left his village home after the country's liberation for Chittagong to avoid arrest in a criminal case. He then used to work at Chittagong Shipyard. Tamim had spent his childhood in Chittagong and studied there up to class III. Later, he along with his family migrated to Canada and was raised there. His cousin Fahim Chowdhury said Tamim came home for a few days in 1995 after they migrated to Canada. "He's 14-15 years old at that time. He's very reserved and cool having a different attitude. We didn't have any contact with him or his family after he returned to Canada." He said Tamim's family members also came home in 2001 for three months, but did not visit their village home as they stayed in Sylhet city at a rented house. Tamim's another uncle Nazrul Islam died on Thursday last. Talking to UNB, Nazrul's wife Angura Khatun said, "Tamim's family had gone to Chittagong before my marriage, and then they migrated to Canada from there. I didn't see him though he had come home 21 years back. Now I feel fear hearing his name." The relatives also said no one of Tamim's family from Canada contacted them as of 6pm Saturday to enquire about Tamim. They said they have heard that Tamim is a father of three children. Barogram villagers said they have come to know about Tamim after his name was surfaced for his involvement in militancy. "Our village was defamed to some extant because of his militant link. Some people now taunt us calling us the people of militant village. We're ashamed of it," said Bijoy Das, an inhabitant of the village. Two college students, Jakaria and Pervez, also echoed Bijoy's view. Beanibazar Officer-in-Charge Chandan Kumar Chakraworty said they visited Tamim's village home after the incident, though the police department has not yet sought any information about Tamim. Visiting his village home, the UNB correspondent found its most male members staying outside their home since they have heard about his killing in a police raid. The female members were also unwilling to talk about him. Tamim Chowdhury along with two other militants were killed during a special police operation, 'Hit Strong', in a den of 'New JMB' in a building of Narayanganj sadar upazila on Saturday morning. Tipped off, DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit unearthed the New JMB's den on the third floor of a three-storey building at Paikpara beside Boro Koborsthan around 6:00am and started the operation in the militant hideout, said Additional deputy commissioner of the Bomb Disposal Unit of CTTC Sanwar. Earlier, DMP had announced a bounty of Tk20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen. Talking to reporters after visiting the spot at Narayanganj's Paikpara, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said Gulshan cafe attack mastermind Tamim Chowdhury had taken cover in the Narayanganj militant den following the Kalyanpur raid where nine militants were killed. "Following my order, the CTTC team asked the militants to surrender, but they didn't. They hurled 4-5 grenades and opened fire at police, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate," the IGP said. Lands around Sundarbans being sold 10,000 acres already bought by 300 businesses including AL, BNP men Anisul Isalm Noor : Around 300 business conglomerates and individuals have bought about ten thousand acres of land in the villages adjacent to the Sundarbans, say Rights activists. Besides, they said, 150 industrial projects, 150 business groups and influential persons have also purchased lands within 10 km radius of the World's largest mangrove -- the Sundarbans. Lands around the Sundarbans are being sold as plots for heavy industries, risking the ecological balance of this natural world heritage site, said the Environmentalists Green activists from home and abroad have been protesting against the Rampal Coal-based Power Project. In April, Bangladesh's Environment and Forest Ministry and India's Forest Ministry jointly published a report titled 'Status of Tigers in Sundarbans Landscape: India and Bangladesh'. Centering Rampal Power Plant The report says Rampal Power Plant and industrial area adjacent to Sundarbans will be a grave threat to the tigers and other animals in the Sundarbans. But none of the influential here listened the waning of environmental issue. A ten-kilometre area surrounding the Sundarbans has been declared as an ecologically critical area (ECA). The Environment Ministry had already issued permission to set up 150 industrial projects there. The no-objection certificates are yet to be cancelled despite provision to revoke such permission once the area is declared ECA. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry Abu Fazal Mohammad Rafiquddin signed the ECA declaration gazette on behalf of President. The order said that any activity that can damage or change the natural features of the water and land of the stipulated area cannot be adopted. Tigers, deer, dolphins and other wild animals roam the area and so the site was marked as protected for the animals. Most of the agricultural and marsh lands located between Chila Union and Joymonirgol village in Mongla Upazila, from Dwigraj village to Rampal Upazila, and in Bidyarbahon village of Rampal, Bagerhat, have been sold out. Powerful quarters recently have also begun to purchase land in Dacope, Koira and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna. Asked about the environmental hazard, Environment Minister Anwar Hossain said, "As crucial as the Sundarbans is for the country, so is industrialization. We are preparing to approach the Prime Minister for her decision." Awami League Joint Secretary Mahbub-ul-Hanif, his brother-in-law Kazi Hasan Sharif, MP of Munshiganj-2 Constituency Shagufta Yasmin's brother Toha Islam and BNP Bagerhat district president MA Salam's companies received clearance from the Environment Department to set up their business establishments. Salam said that he was planning to set up a tourist spot on his land. Mahbub-ul-Hanif said, "We are planning to set up industries in those areas but we could not manage any investors so far. This is why I am not doing anything on that land for the time being." Among the larger companies, S Alam Group and Index Group got clearance. A total of 150 firms, including Mir Group and Likhi Group, did not receive clearance but bought land within 10 km of the area. Professor of BUET and Energy expert M Tamim said that it would be another blow to the Sundarbans if factories are set up in the Sundarban area. A total of 21 power and energy projects got clearance, including Index Power and Energy Ltd, Omera Petroleum, Petrodec LPG, Petromax, Basundhara LPG Gas Ltd, SKS LPG Ltd, Rupsa Tank Terminal and Refinery. The projects with clearance include 50 rice mills, 19 saw mills, nine cement factories, 13 food processing plants, six auto mills, four salt water purification plants, two ship building projects and 38 other projects. Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act, the Brick Kiln Act and the Saw Mill Regulation all prohibit building saw mills and brick kilns near forests. Sunmarin Shipyard Ltd, a sister concern of Quest Group, bought 70 acres of land in Joymonirgol village, adjacent to the Sundarbans. Mahbubul Alam Hanif is the Chairman of Quest Group. His brother-in-law Hasan Sharif is the Managing Director of Sunmarin Shipyard Ltd. Also 180 acres of land has been bought in his name in Joymonirgol village. MP Shagufta Yasmin's brother Toha Islam initiated construction of a ship breaking yard in his 60 acre land, while Likhi Group bought 600 acres of land near Sundarbans. Anarchy over Rampal to be dealt with iron hand: PM Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued a strong warning against those who will try to create anarchy in the country making Rampal power plant an issue. "If anyone wants to create anarchy over a non-issue, then we won't step behind.we'll take stern action to contain it," she said. The Prime Minister issued the warning while addressing a press conference on the proposed coal-fired Rampal power plant at her official residence Ganobhaban. "We're taking the country forward. I know many people cannot tolerate it. Why Bangladesh will move forward, why Bangladesh will be self-dependent, why people will live a better life, they cannot accept this. That's why they're looking for an issue," she said. Citing logic and facts in favour of the proposed project, Sheikh Hasina said the project won't cause any harm to the Sundarbans. She also urged people not to be misguided through the propaganda of those who are already politically bankrupt. Expressing her determination for doing good for the people of the country, she said, "It is my request to people to keep confidence in me I'm the daughter of Bangbanadhu, I didn't do such thing in the past, I won't do in the future that will bring a little harm to the country and its people." "An anti-development vested quarter has long been trying to create a negative attitude among people about the Rampal power plant project by making baseless, fabricated and imaginary statements and giving false information," she said. The Prime Minister came up with the remarks when BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Wednesday urged the government to refrain from implementing Rampal power plant for the sake of the country's ecological balance and natural beauty. Hasina further said, "The cat finally came out of the bag on August 24. I used to think what was the source of power or instigation of those on a movement against Rampal power plant. It is now clear as Khaleda Zia openly joined the false campaign through a press conference, though she has long been instigating them from behind the scene." Mentioning that BNP has been maintaining silence on the issue for a long time, Hasina said, "I think there's a deep-rooted hidden conspiracy behind her joining the propaganda openly." Rejecting misconception that the Rampal plant will harm the country and the Sundarbans, she said the anti-state and anti-development quarter is now engaged in creating a negative perception in public mind about it. The BNP leader has now chalked out an evil design having failed to get benefit by killing people through petrol bomb attacks and patronising terrorists as well as instigating various incidents like Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks, she said. "The BNP leader is now thinking that she has got a chance, she'll put the government in an awkward position through instigating the anti-Rampal movement," she added. Hasina said her government decided to establish power plants in different parts of the country, including a number of coal-fired power plants, to meet the growing demand of electricity, and Rampal plant is one of them. Responding to a question about the recent appeal by some local and international organisations to Indian Exim Bank to withdraw its loan from the project, the Prime Minister said if they do not provide the loan her government will surely make another arrangement. "If that fails then we'll implement it with our own fund as we're doing in the case of Padma Bridge," she said. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs. Whilst in Macedonia we just had to head over to historic and beautiful Ohrid on the border with Albania. Whilst the town itself and the surrounding areas are absolutely stunning and packed with wonders both historical and natural they are also quite busy and crowded. So we jumped on to a ferry for a wonderful 3 hours journey across the mirror like lake back in time to the landmark St. Naum Monastery on the far side of the water! The ferry ride over the mirror like Ohrid After staring at the stunning lake Ohrid for 3 days we were desperate to get on to the water, it was too cold to swim really and the taxi boats were a rip off! Out looking for a full day adventure we discovered the ferries heading towards the wonderful St. Naum Monastery. Snapping up a bargain price we headed out for a day on the beautifully still water. The ferry we had ahead of ourselves was to take just under 2 hours, the sun was still rising above the enormous lake as we set sail across its huge expanse. One of the biggest lakes in Europe Ohrid itself is a UNESCO world heritage site and getting up close and personal with it you can really see why. We began the journey on the top deck, surrounded by Polish teenagers on a school outing! We decided to head down towards the quieter front of the boat to take in the amazing scenery that surrounded us. Here the intensely green and lush mountains reflected perfectly into the glass like water of the lake. Ohrid was living up to its high billing in an awe inspiring way. The surroundings that we passed changed and developed over the 2 hours, from resorts on the edge of the water to tiny settlements and local villages. Birds flying above and fish swimming alongside the wake of the boat. It really was such an idyllic setting. At one point we even passed by the Bay of Bones, the museum on the water displaying examples of a historic a pile-dwelling settlement. Exploring the ancient St. Naum Monastery Of course, as soon as we left the ferry we headed over to the beautiful Monastery many make this crossing to see. This Eastern Orthodox place of worship is perched on a cliff side over looking the turquoise waters of the famous lake. The 16th century church here contains the remains of the very saint it is named after and sits inside a stunning courtyard, some say you can still hear his heart beating if you place your ear to his crypt! Stepping over the threshold into the grounds of this historic place it almost feels like stepping back in time to a different world. In here time has stood still, with picturesque rose bushes, white peacocks and sandy beaches nearby. A slide of paradise in one of the most stunning corners of Europe. Step into the St. Naum church itself and you will be greeted by amazing 16th and 19th centuries old frescos on the multi-domed ceiling. This refuge of tranquility feels a million miles away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Ohrid itself, set right on the border with Albania is a tiny corner of this huge lake! Crossing back over the Albania border for a bit of fun (and a stamp!) Whilst visiting the stunning St. Naum monastery on the sandy banks of Ohrid we headed over to the Albanian borderor should we say, back to the border! When we originally make the crossing we were disappointed not to get a stamp and as our love for the country grew we were even more gutted that it was not permanently etched into our passports! We love collecting stamps and travelling on large buses is often not the best way to go about it! So we hiked the 15 minutes through the forest to the isolated border crossing and briefly entered back into Albania and then back to Macedonia! Read all about what else to do in Ohrid: Guide to coastal Ohrid in Landlocked Macedonia Have you ever taken this ferry ride or visited Ohrid See more from this county: See more from our long term travels: The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. Courtesy Mueller Family(PRESCOTT, Ariz.) -- The rain stopped in Prescott, Arizona, Saturday morning, just in time for Kayla Mueller's family to cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art playground erected to honor her as a selfless humanitarian both in her life as an aid worker and in her captivity and death as an ISIS hostage. In minutes, patient children bolted past the snipped shards of ribbon for the swingsets, jungle gym, slides and a 66-foot zip-line at the playground named Kayla's Hands for a young American taken too soon. Her parents beamed listening to the joyful noise. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who survived Communist torture in the "Hanoi Hilton" as a Vietnam War POW, told well-wishers gathered in the rainbow-colored playground that he doesn't call many people "hero," but Mueller was one. "I didn't know Kayla but I sense in every account of her ordeal, the true meaning of humility," McCain said in a short speech. Mueller was a 24-year-old aid worker kidnapped by armed gunmen on Aug. 3, 2013 while traveling in a Doctors Without Borders vehicle in Aleppo, Syria. She died 18 months later still a prisoner of ISIS terrorists, in what her hostage-takers called a Jordanian airstrike. U.S. officials denied an airstrike killed her but her parents still do not know how she died or how the White House was able to confirm her death on February 10, 2015. She adored the Syrian refugee children she worked with in southern Turkey, her friends have said. This year her father Carl worked with the Prescott Kiwanis Club, of which he is a former president, to raise money from donors such as the Arizona Diamondbacks for the new playground, which will also finally offer handicapped kids in the high desert town a place to safely frolic. It has been an emotional anchor for him to cling to, happily adjusting the plans in recent months for the bouncy floor matting and the zip-line, which Kayla's mom loves to sail down. "We can feel Kayla here," Carl Mueller said. "When the wind blows just right, we can hear her makin' her music." The still grieving dad said he and Marsha will "be spending a lot of time here." "She lived her life for others, she used her hands to relieve suffering. She was not just sympathetic to the plight of the less fortunate, she was moved to action," McCain told the crowd. "Her fellow captives spoke of her as an inspiration. Brave and defiant when she was abused and threatened, consoling and selfless to those who shared her suffering." Former ISIS hostages have spoken of her selflessness in captivity, where she tried to cheer them up, gave them strength and once even sacrificed an opportunity to escape to ensure fellow captives got away, ABC's "20/20" reported last night in the segment, "The Girl Left Behind," after more than two years of investigation. In one incident in March 2014, Mueller even stood up to British ISIS executioner Jihadi John to correct him when he told other hostages that she had converted to Islam. "Her love now echoes in the joy and laughter of children. What a fitting -- what a fitting tribute," McCain said, his voice finally breaking with emotion, as Marsha Mueller reached over to hug the war hero senator. The Rev. Kathleen Day of Northern Arizona University, who Kayla befriended in college and who later became a close confidante of Carl and Marsha Mueller during her hostage ordeal, recalled how the young do-gooder from Arizona had said that "it's never goodbye among friends" whenever she left Prescott for Turkey and Syria or other far-flung destinations. "Today Prescott says to Kayla Jean, we will always love you, and indeed it's never 'goodbye' because her spirit will live on in the laughter and the joy and the compassion and the friendship of this playground," Day said. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Carbondale police officers have identified three potential suspects in the shooting that took place on the Carbondale Strip early Saturday morning, Carbondale Police Chief Jeff Grubbs told The Southern. The shooting occurred in the 500 block of S. Illinois Ave. just past 1 a.m. and left one person injured. The victim was transported to Memorial Hospital in Carbondale for treatment. My understanding is that he has since been released with a minor injury, Grubbs said. The investigation has not progressed to the point where police are able to release the identities of the suspects. Officers and detectives continue to investigate at this very moment, Grubbs said. More information will be added to this story as additional details emerge. DU QUOIN For a second, it was hard for David Marks to get the attention of his daughter, 4-year-old Hayden, as she ran around the staging area at the American Legion parking lot before Friday's start of the Du Quoin State Fair parade. Sometimes, she bounced to the warm-up music being played by the Du Quoin Middle School marching band a few yards away or looked as if she was performing part of her dance routine with her friend and fellow dancer, 4-year-old Brenlyn Eaton. She was excited, her parents David and Jaime Hendricks underscored, anticipating the experience of joining hundreds of other youth, about to step off into that time-honored tradition: marching in her first parade. She was part of the Studio 84 dance troupe from Murphysboro, group No. 45 in the parade's lineup. She, her parents and other dancers and their parents gathered on the parking lot, a sparky, quietly excited group that waited for final instructions, got re-touches of lipstick, sips of water and trips to the bathroom and went through the routine one more time before lining up to march to the parade route. Then Hayden, Brenlyn and the other Studio 84 dancers a few dozen were off, marching in three neat lines of royal blue and black with blue and silver pom poms. When the troupe was solidly on the southbound Illinois 51 parade route and Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" started, they were off. The group dance-marched to about seven plays of the song, the younger ones performing their routines, pom poms in the air overhead, now by the side of their head, now on the other side of their head, relying on dance school director Jennifer Ellermeyer if they needed help. In the front of the troupe, the school's older, more seasoned dancers led the routine, entertaining onlookers with their explosive fouette and a la second turns on one leg or their grand jete and firebird leaps into the air or their highkicks, toe touches and cartwheels. Parents and other caregivers followed at a respectable distance behind the younger ones at the back, at least one person pulling a little red wagon in case a little one got tired. "We try to let them walk," Ellermeyer said of the younger dancers, including her 2-year-old. "They want to walk, but they get tired." Afater about two renditions of the song, Maci Escue seemed to want to head to the wagon, before Ellermeyer encouraged her to keep walking. Ellermeyer's own daughter started the parade walking, but seemed to wind up in the wagon by the parade's end. Though some curls had dropped and some faces seemed sweatier and some smiles less dazzling, all the dancers perservered to the end of the parade route, finishing the last few stanzas of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" even as the song had ended. Ellermeyer said she loves to dance and started Studio 84 in 2003, as she was leaving high school; she opened it in a building behind her house, with 25 students. Her studio now has eight teachers and 115 students, who come from as far a Benton for her lessons. "I'm so proud of them," Ellermeyer said after the parade, of the younger ones for walking the entire parade route and all of the young girls for their performance. YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime nearly 30 times overnight August 27 on the contact line of Karabakh-Azerbaijan opposing forces. During the violations the Azerbaijani troops fired over 300 shots in the direction of Armenian border guards from different caliber weapons, including 30 shots from large caliber Utyos machine gun. As Armenpress was informed from the press service NKR Defense Ministry, the Defense Army front line units preserved the ceasefire regime. 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. YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent on August 27 a congratulatory letter to the Distinguished Artist of the Russian Federation, conductor and pianist Konstantin Orbelian on the occasion of his 60th birth anniversary, wished him good health, unbound energy, and new achievements. As a worthy representative of the Orbelian dynasty, you have acquired success in the world music and have long ago won the admiration of the exacting Armenian audience. I am confident that assuming recently the position of the Creative Director of the A. Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, you will use your knowledge and experience to elevate the Armenian opera art to new heights, reads the congratulatory letter of the President of Armenia, Armenpress was informed from the press service of Armenian Presidents Office. YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. The servicemen of another unit of Armenian Defense Ministrys peacekeeping brigade, who carried out a peacekeeping mission during the last months in Afghanistan as part of International Security Assistance Force, have arrived in Armenia. The unit of Armenian peacekeepers demonstrated high professional readiness and discipline during the mission, implemented their tasks with honor, and deserved the high appreciation of the command staff, reads the statement of the Defense Ministry of Armenia. Armenia has participated in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan as part of International Security Assistance Force since 2010 under the command of German armed forces. Ira United Methodist Church recently welcomed its new minister, the Rev. Susan Ranous. Ranous grew up in the Southern Tier area before attending college in Syracuse and becoming a CPA and partner in an accounting firm. She and her husband, Steve, have been married 28 years, and active in the Baldwinsville United Methodist Church. Ranous became ordained after many years of volunteering, and attending seminary in Ohio. She was commissioned as a deacon in June. She works with several area churches and clergy in bookkeeping and taxes in addition to serving Ira United Methodist. The church's Sunday School starts in September, and worship is at 11 a.m. Sundays year-round. The church is located at 12479 Ferris Road, Ira. FAIR HAVEN For the past few summers, the village of Fair Haven has been plundered by pirates and this year was no exception. Hundreds of people walked, talked and dressed like pirates Saturday in the third annual Pirate Fest along the bay. There was a full day of events planned for all ages, from breakfast at Turtle Cove Resort with Capt'n Tor & The Naer Do Well Cads a professional musical-theatrical group to a bawdy evening Pirate Ball at Little Sodus Inn. According to organizers Mary Rudy and Kera Wasserbach, the Fair Haven Area Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea four years ago as a way to celebrate the community and local business. "The businesses all get involved in their own way and they all put on their own events," Wasserbach said. "The entire village gets taken over by pirates." In addition to a craft show featuring around 25 vendors at Central Park, Main Street Wine & Spirits held a rum tasting while O'Connor's Main Street Pub offered dinner and drinks with Capt'n Tor and his crew. Families also participated in a costume parade down Main Street and a live battle on the bay in which people decorated their boats and used water shooters for a pirate war on the lake. "Each year we've gotten bigger and better and had more events," Rudy said. "And it's all to promote the businesses and the Chamber of Commerce." Robert and Kara Veeder happened to be visiting the lake with their daughter from Rochester and decided to check out the festival, which turned out to be a "nice bonus" to their trip. "A parade of pirates what could be better than that for a 3-year-old?" Robert said, laughing. "It's really great for kids and we're just having a great time." And couple Brent and Kim Holdridge agreed. "We're here from Dallas, Texas, for a family reunion, and we love it," Brent said, smiling at their 13-month-old son, Reid. "Fair Haven and Pirate Fest is definitely the place to be." Premier Li Keqiang meets with Peter Thomson, president-elect of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in Beijing on Friday. LIU ZHEN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE China will firmly support the United Nations in dealing with global threats and challenges and safeguarding the postwar international order, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday when meeting the president-elect of the UN General Assembly. Li made the vow when meeting Peter Thomson, president-elect of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. Thomson, permanent representative to the UN of the island nation of Fiji, was elected in June and will take office next month for a one-year term. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has long been firm in upholding the authority and role of the United Nations in global affairs, Li said. The world economy is seeing a sluggish recovery amid the challenges of terrorism, refugees and geopolitical risks, while the process of and confidence in globalization faces challenges from rising uncertain and unstable factors. "China resolutely supports the UN to play a strong role in tackling global threats and challenges as the most widely participated in and authoritative intergovernment organization," he said. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's resumption of its legitimate seat in the UN. For the past 45 years, China has committed to safeguarding international order centered on the UN and upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Li said. The 71st session of the UN General Assembly prioritizes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and faces challenges posed by terrorism, refugees and infectious diseases, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said when meeting Thomson on Friday. "We will continue to uphold the authority of the UN as always, support the UN's work, strengthen and perfect global governance with other countries, promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and better realize win-win situations," Li said. China, as a globally influential country, has played a crucial role in promoting international peace and sustainable development, Thomson said. Li also expressed China's stance when meeting the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 8 in Beijing. "Frequent high-level exchanges between the UN and China show the importance China has attached to the UN and its recognition of the UN's achievements in global governance," said Zhu Feng, president of the Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University. As president-elect of the UN General Assembly, Thomson needs China's support to achieve many of his tasks during his one-year term, said Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies. China has long contributed to the UN work, for example, by dispatching the largest number of soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations among the five Security Council permanent members, said Ruan. "The UN's role has been strengthened in global governance in the 21st century and needs support from China," he said. Sex offender notification The Coconino County Sheriffs Office would like to make the following Level 2 (intermediate risk to the community) sex offender notification: Randy Lee Kelling, 48, is living at 3041 Hillcrest Drive in Ash Fork. Kelling was convicted of sexual abuse in Maricopa County in 1997. The victim was a 5-year-old girl. Kelling is not wanted by police at this time. Notification that Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are living in the community is required by Arizona law. Resident abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass sex offenders will not be tolerated by the Coconino County Sheriffs Office. If residents have information about current criminal activity by any offender, contact the sheriffs office at (928) 774-4523 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/sheriff. For more information on sex offenders in the Flagstaff area, visit the Arizona Department of Public Safety sex offender website at www.azsexoffender.com. City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest. In Show of Stealth, F-22s Tailed Su-24s in Syria: Report Jim Michaels, a reporter for USA Today, is out with this scoop in which he interviewed the pilots of the two U.S. F-22 Raptors that raced to intercept a pair of Syrian Su-24 Fencer aircraft last week near Hasakah, Syria. The stealth prowess of the fifth-generation fighter jet made by Lockheed Martin Corp. was apparently in effect during the encounter, as the U.S. pilots said they came within 2,000 feet of the enemy aircraft without the Syrian pilots realizing they were being tailed, according to the article. I followed him around for all three of his loops, one of the pilots told Michaels. He didnt appear to have any idea I was there. The incident came a day after the U.S. scrambled fighters against Syrian Su-24s that bombed Kurdish forces operating near American special operations forces on the ground in the northeast part of the country in an incident that was the closest the U.S. has come to combat in the war-torn country. The F-22s were prepared to engage the Su-24s but determined the latter didnt appear to be carrying a weapons payload and thus didnt pose a threat to U.S. and coalition forces on the ground, USA Today reported. Recent debates about the legal challenge of North Carolina's 2013 election law highlight a particularly disturbing feature of present-day political discourse: Pundits and politicians frequently fail to acknowledge the important differences between a policy debate and a legal dispute.This failure to grasp a key tenet of Civics 101 can skew commentators' viewpoints.During a recent radio panel discussion , the Charlotte-based host identified this analyst as representing the John Locke Foundation, "which favors the state's elections laws."That's not quite right. JLF takes no organization-wide stances for or against legislation, though Locke Foundation staffers generally support a photo identification requirement for voters - the most highly publicized piece of the 2013 election law.There's been much less internal discussion - and no official JLF pronouncement - about other elements of that law. That includes the end of same-day voter registration, out-of-precinct voting, and preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds, along with a reduction in the number of days (but not hours) of early voting. Solid arguments can be made that those changes help ensure integrity of the state's voting system. Appealing counterarguments emphasize the popularity of these nontraditional voting options.The point is not to chide the radio host. He set up a fair discussion of an important topic. But correcting the record about JLF's approach toward the 2013 election law involves more than just nitpicking. The correction strikes at the heart of a key misperception about the ongoing legal fight.Whether the Locke Foundation or any individual staff member supports a portion or all of the election law is irrelevant to the current dispute. It's not a matter of whether the law is good or bad (or even whether the law has any noticeable impact on voter turnout ).What matters in the legal dispute is the N.C. General Assembly's authority to make law. As long as legislators conduct business consistent with their own rules and with federal and state constitutional mandates, they are free to make policy choices - good or bad.The proper forum for debating the merits and demerits of a policy choice resides within the legislative branch. That's where critics should set out the reasons for their opposition to policy proposals, argue in favor of their own alternative ideas, and accept the outcome of legislative debates.Those who lose policy debates should come up with better arguments. Or they should work to elect more lawmakers who agree with them. (They also can work to persuade the governor to use his veto stamp. That constitutional safeguard can help thwart unpopular legislative policy choices that might threaten a chief executive's chances for re-election.)Once the debate shifts from the legislature and governor to the courts, though, a policy debate turns into a legal dispute. That's where some observers lose their way.As a legal matter, arguments for and against a voter ID policy prove irrelevant. The same goes for out-of-precinct voting, same-day registration, and the rest. Judges are not empowered to weigh good versus bad policy choices. Instead courts determine whether a policy choice aligns with limits on government power set out in the federal and state constitutions.That's why it was disturbing in September 2014 to hear N.C. resident and 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge James Wynn repeatedly question lawyers representing the state about the merits of the General Assembly's policy choices."Explaining that he lives very close to a precinct that is not his assigned polling place, he asked the state to justify why his vote should be thrown out if he did not travel to a precinct that is further away from his home. At one point, his questions grew quite pointed - 'Why does the state of North Carolina not want people to vote?' Wynn asked. At another point, he described a hypothetical grandmother who has always voted at the same place. Why not 'let her just vote in that precinct?' he wondered."When even a judge assigned to review a legal dispute ignores the necessary distinction between policy choices and legal arguments, it's no surprise that people further removed from the legal process often make the same mistake.That's not to say that North Carolina's election law raised no legal issues. Critics raised those issues. A federal District Court considered the critics' complaints and dismissed them in a 485-decision upholding North Carolina's law. Wynn and his Appeals Court colleagues disagreed, leaving North Carolina in its current state of election-law limbo.When deciding who's on the right side in this legal dispute, it's important to remember that the issue is notThe issue is: Did the N.C. General Assembly's policy choices align properly with state and federal constitutions?The policy debate can wait for the legislature's return to Raleigh in 2017. By Trend The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects OPEC members net oil export revenue to fall to $341 billion in 2016 before rising to $427 billion in 2017. OPEC members' net oil export revenue has fallen as crude oil prices have declined. The monthly average Brent spot price dropped from $112 per barrel in June 2014 to $38 per barrel in December 2015, EIA said in a report August 26. OPEC members earned $404 billion in net oil export revenues in 2015, according to the EIAs estimates. These earnings represent a 46 percent decline from $753 billion earned in 2014. Petroleum exports by OPEC members accounted for between five percent (Indonesia) to 99 percent (Iraq) of total export revenues in 2015, the EIA said. Generally, countries with sizeable financial assets, such as the Persian Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates), are affected to a lesser degree than other oil-producing countries, such as Iraq, Nigeria, and Venezuela, that do not have large financial reserves, according to the report. EIA also noted that although declining crude oil prices have been the main driver behind lower OPEC revenue since mid-2014, unplanned production outages among some OPEC members have also contributed to lower export earnings. OPEC increased oil production by 46,400 barrels per day to 33.11 million bpd in July as compared to June, according to cartels latest report. Crude oil output increased mostly from Iraq (by 74,800 bpd to 4.32 million bpd), while production in Nigeria showed the largest drop (by 41,300 bpd to 1.51 million bpd). Saudi Arabias oil output increased by 30,100 bpd to almost 10.48 million barrels per day in July. By Trend The Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has paid compensations worth over 218 million Azerbaijani manats to depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Gandjabank and Texnikabank, ADIF said in a message on August 26. Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began Aug. 1 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day. Compensations to the insured depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from August 23. Payments are being carried out at the branches of those closed banks. AtraBanks clients can obtain compensations at those branches, where they concluded agreements to accept deposits. Those people, who concluded agreements at the Khazar branch, should apply to the banks main office. Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office. Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since Jan. 29, 2016: these payments are being carried out at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank. Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since Feb. 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank. ADIF started payment of compensations to insured depositors of Texnikabank since Feb. 12: clients receive compensations at the branches of Muganbank, Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank. Depositors of Parabank and Zaminbank received 20.7 and 36.5 million manats out of the total compensations of 43.79 million manats and 36.5 million manats, respectively. The compensations paid to DekaBanks depositors amounted to 2.47 million manats out of the payments total volume of 5.59 million manats. KredoBanks depositors received compensations worth 9.95 million manats out of the compensations total volume of 30.21 million manats. The compensations paid to depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank amounted to 0.88 million manats and 3.14 million manats out of the total compensations of 1.5 million manats and 13.9 million manats, respectively. Depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan received compensations worth 24.05 million manats out of the compensations total volume of 24.2 million manats. The compensations paid to depositors of Gandjabank and Texnikabank amounted to 0.9 million manats and 119.5 million manats out of the total compensations of 1.5 million manats and 122.6 million manats, respectively. The licenses of all the nine banks were cancelled during 2016 as their assets were not classified in line with the law, they didnt create adequate reserves and the aggregate capital of these banks doesnt meet the minimum requirements [50 million manats]. In general, they havent fulfilled the regulators instructions. 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." By Trend The Winemakers Association will be established in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) said on August 26. According to the message, the decision was made at a meeting between AZPROMO management and the representatives of local companies engaged in the wine production and sale. The activity, aimed at promoting local wine export, as well as the offers of the companies, operating in this field, were discussed at the meeting, the message said. Some 444,000 decalitres of wine were produced in Azerbaijan in January-July 2016, which is 21.8 percent less than in the same period of 2015. As of August 1, there are 844,300 decalitres of wine in the warehouses of local wineries. By Trend Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev congratulated his Moldovan counterpart Nicolae Timofti on the occasion of 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 Moldova Independence Day, President Aliyev said. I believe that friendly relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Moldova will continue developing and expanding in the best interests of our countries and people, the president said. On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, successes in your activities, and the friendly people of Moldova peace and prosperity, the president added. By Trend Ground military operation in Syria allowed Turkey to get back into the political process of Syrian conflict's resolution, French General and expert on security and defense policy Jean-Claude Allard told Trend. Allard, who is also a senior research fellow at The French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS) believes that the current military operation is directed not so much against the "Islamic State" terrorist organization (IS, ISIS or Daesh), but mostly against YPG (People's Protection Units) and Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). ISIS is not, and for sure, will never be the issue that Turkey is in Syria for. Turkey tries to prevent a reinforcement of the idea of a Kurds independent State by way of a possible alliance between Turkish and Syrian Kurds, Allard 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. The expert noted that YPG and PYD were supported by the US, but vice-president of the US Joe Biden during his visit to Turkey this week summoned them to cross back Euphrates river. Moreover, Russia has allowed Turkey to conduct those air and ground operations in Syria, he said. As an answer, Turkey has recognized that Syrian President Bashar Assad removal is not urgent and imperative. "What is important is the fact that Russia and US have given their blessing to the Turkish military action and refrain Kurds' ambitions," Allard noted. It means that Turkey, despite lacking cooperation in the fight against the IS, is back in the political process of Syrian conflict resolution, said the french general. But this resolution is yet to be expected, he believes. Allard noted that YPG and PYD slashed back by their allies, means a possible decrease of their members, who are willing to fight. However he noted that YPG and PYD were the only proxies on the ground that made the American way of fighting look effective, and Turkish army will never be used against IS with same vigor. The French general believes that the only effective action Turkey should conduct to effectively fight the IS is to strengthen control over the smuggling roads on the border with Syria. Speaking about influence of the situation in Syria on the migration crisis in Europe, Allard noted that this crisis is due not just because of factors rooted in the long civil war in Iraq and Syria, but also because of inability of the European countries to define and apply a migration policy. According to the expert, that wrong migration policy was present long before 2011 and the Middle East chaos, and it favored multiple roads of migration from Libya, Morocco and etc. coming from multiple parts of the world, for multiple reasons (political, economic, European welfare, social help, ). The Syrian migration is the result of two reasons, according to Allard. According to him, people took advantage of the situation and this, in turn, led to lack of control, giving the IS the opportunity to cross European borders. Allard added that the Turkish government favored migration as means to develop its anti-European policy. Allard also noted that a notable lot of those having committed attacks in Europe, including France, Belgium, Germany, are citizens of these countries, educated in opposition to European civilization. These people, according to Allard, are addicted to violence, and are ready to listen to any calls for murdering European citizens. So, ISIS just has to call for hate and hundreds are ready to answer, the expert said. 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 Trend Kazakhstan started construction of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) bank, Novosti-Kazakhstan quoted deputy head of Kazakhs Energy Ministrys Atomic Committee Timur Zhantikin as saying. Kazakhstan and the IAEA signed an agreement to set up the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium bank in Oskemen, Eastern Kazakhstan in August 2015. Zhantikin noted that the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium bank will be located in a separate building at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. The bank will be launched in the second half of 2017, he said. According to the IAEA, Low Enriched Uranium bank in Kazakhstan will be a physical reserve of up to 90 tons of low enriched uranium, sufficient to run a 1,000 MWe light-water reactor. Such a reactor can power a big city for three years. The plant has been handling and storing nuclear material, including LEU, safely and securely for more than 60 years. The establishment and operation of the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank is fully funded through $150 million of voluntary contributions from the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the United States, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Norway and Kazakhstan. By Trend Head of Ihlas, a large Turkish holding company, Cahit Paksoy, has been arrested, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on August 26. Paksoy has been arrested in connection with rendering financial support to the movement of Fethullah Gulen, according to the newspaper. Gulen is accused of being involved in the organization of the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey. It is reported that eighteen employees of another large Turkish holding company, AKFA Holding, have been also arrested alongside with Paksoy. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed a military operation in Syria during a telephone conversation, Turkish Haber7 newspaper reported on August 26. According to the newspaper, the details of the telephone conversation are not disclosed. Fikri Isik, Turkish national defense minister, said earlier that Russia and the US have been informed about Turkeys military operations in Syria. 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. By Trend A march to the Prisoners Hospital has kicked off from Yerevans Liberty Square, News.am web site reported. Outside the Prisoners Hospital, the protesters will demand to provide proper medical assistance to the wounded armed group members, who are currently in custody. The next rally will be held next Friday. By Trend "Uzbekistan Temir Yollari" ("Uzbekistan Railways") JSC launched the high-speed rail operation on the Tashkent-Bukhara route through Samarkand, the company said. According to the company, Afrosiyob high-speed train made its first trip on the route on August 25. The implementation of the project on Samarkand-Bukhara high-speed rail operation began in 2015. The length of the railway section is 259 km, the cost of the project - about $400 million. The project was financed by Uzbekistan Railways. Uzbekistan launched a high-speed rail operation on the Tashkent-Samarkand route in 2011. Some $225 million was invested in the modernization of the infrastructure. Uzbekistan Railways JSC and Spanish Parentes Talgo S. A. signed a contract to purchase two high-speed electric trains, the AVE 250, at a cost of $38 million. The trains, which must be delivered by late 2016, will be used on the new route. Iraq's government would consider selling crude through Iran should talks with the autonomous Kurdish region on an oil revenue-sharing agreement fail, a senior oil ministry official in Baghdad told Reuters. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) plans to hold talks with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), possibly next week, about Iraqi oil exported through Turkey, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said in an interview on Friday evening. "If the negotiations come to a close" without an agreement "we will start to find a way in order to sell our oil because we need money, either to Iran or other countries", he said by telephone. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public income. Its economy is reeling under the double impact of low oil prices and the war against Islamic State militants. The Kurdistan region produces around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) on its territory and exports those volumes via Turkey. Baghdad would not be able to reroute those volumes to Iran but could order shipments of some 150,000 bpd via Iran that are being produced in the nearby province of Kirkuk. An agreement between Iran and Iraq could function in a similar fashion as oil-swap deals Tehran has had with Caspian Sea nations, according to an oil official who asked not to be identified. Iran would import Iraqi oil to its refineries and export an equivalent amount of its own crude on behalf of Baghdad from Iranian ports on the Gulf. Iraq has ports on the Gulf but they are not linked to the northern Kirkuk fields by pipeline. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company resumed pumping crude through the Kurdish-controlled pipeline to Turkey last week as "a sign of goodwill to invite them (the Kurds) to start negotiations," Nema said. He said pumping had resumed on the instruction of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi following "some understanding" between Baghdad and Erbil. Abadi said on Tuesday the decision had been made to avoid damage to reservoirs. The flow of crude extracted from Kirkuk by North Oil and pumped in the pipeline has been running at about 75,000 bpd since last week, or half the rate before it was halted in March, Nema said. Should there be an agreement with the Kurds, flow through the pipeline would be increased to more than 100,000 bpd, not to the previous level of 150,000 bpd, he added. Nema said about 20,000 bpd would be supplied to the refinery of Suleimaniya, in the Kurdish region, and 30,000 bpd would be refined locally in Kirkuk. The pipeline carries crude to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, where the Kurds have been selling it independently on the international market, along with oil produced in their northern region. The Kurdish government has been calling on Baghdad since March to resume the pumping of Kirkuk crude in full to help Erbil fund its war against Islamic State. Sources in Erbil have said splitting the Kirkuk flows would divide the Kurds and complicate the task of fighting the ultra-hardline militants. A KRG spokesman in June told Reuters the Kurds are ready to strike an agreement with Baghdad if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling their own oil. The dispute revolves around Kurdish oil exports that Baghdad wants to bring under its control. "If Baghdad comes and says 'OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget', which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in June. "Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he added. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad." The Kurdish government stopped delivering crude oil to the central government about a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said. It is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where North Oil produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory. The Kurds took control of the region two years ago, after the Iraqi army disintegrated when Islamic State overran a third of the country. Japan's biggest airliner ANA has started grounding some of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets for checks on the Rolls-Royce engines on them for corrosion. The airline, with a fleet of 50 Dreamliners, cancelled nine flights using the aircraft on Friday and may have to cancel more than 300 through the end of September, Takeo Kikuchi, a deputy senior vice president of engineering and maintenance, was quoted as saying by a Bloomberg report. ANA is replacing medium pressure turbine blades on the planes, Kikuchi said. ANA is the worlds biggest operator of Dreamliners. The 787-related flight cancellations are the largest for ANA since 2013, when Boeing and regulators grounded the global Dreamliner fleet while fixing a fire issue with the planes lithium-ion battery. About 38 percent of the 787s in service are powered by Rolls-Royces Trent 1000 turbines, while the rest are outfitted with General Electric engines. The latest issue came to the fore as ANA investigated why a 787 engine overheated during a February flight. That jet returned to Kuala Lumpur airport after receiving a warning that the temperature of the exhaust gas from its right engine was very high. ANA has encountered the issue of corrosion in turbine blades three times since February, Kikuchi said. Rolls-Royce said it had notified other airlines that use the same type of engine, adding that it would make an improved part available by the end of the year. News Release: Contact: COPMagazine COPMagazine copmagazine@aol.com While the American news media - the majority of whom are allegedly "in the tank" for Hillary Clinton - are either ignoring or dismissing the latest report of Hillary Clinton's disregard for national security, European news outlets are reporting a shocking revelation: Clinton's "Girl Friday" Huma Abedin worked for a radical Muslim magazine during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.The Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, which listed Abedin the wife of disgraced Democratic politician Anthony Weiner as an editorial staff member, published articles that pushed the narrative that the U.S. deserved the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The magazine also opposed the human rights of women.said former police counter-terrorism unit member Kevin McGrory.Abedin's mother's journal advocates the treatment of women in Muslim countries as second-class citizens and basically the property of Islamic men. Ironically, the rights of women is the primary issue being argued by Clinton and her minions, although it's been ascertained she takes millions of dollars in donations from countries that oppress women and even murders them for minor indiscretions.Mrs Clinton's long-time aide Huma Abedin's name appeared listed as the magazine's assistant editor while her mom ran the magazine. The magazine carried several stories revealing radical Islamic narratives such as an editorial arguing that women's rights harm Muslim women.Huma Abedin, worked with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as her closest associate - with access to classified documents and information - and she is now the vice-chairwoman of the Hillary for President campaign.Clinton has gone as far as saying Abedin is as close as a "daughter" to her.While the spokesperson for the State Department claimed he was certain that people who had been hired with Abedin's clearance level underwent a pre-employment background investigation, numerous intelligence and police investigators say that considering Clinton's lack of national security conscientiousness, they don't believe Abedin underwent a bona fide vetting process.said Michael Snopes, a former military intelligence officer and police detective.During this time, the hardline Muslim magazine argued that single mothers, working mothers and gay couples with children should not be recognized as families, something Clinton claims she believes.The Abedin magazine also blamed violence towards women and rape of women on their wearing of revealing attire. Ms Abedin's mother also complained that Mrs Clinton was advancing a "very aggressive and radically feminist" agenda that was un-Islamic.Questions also linger about Ms. Abedin's alleged connection to the Muslim Brotherhood's women's auxiliary while having access to classified information and documents. Equally disturbing is the fact that she worked for both the State Department and for the Clinton Foundation and was apparently the conduit between the two entities especially in the Clinton pay-to-play scam. Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G), a provider of weightless flight in the US, is awarding four lucky winners the chance to experience weightless flight to celebrate its 400th commercial flight. Zero-G will run a video contest for its social media fans to choose the winners. Contest participants can enter on their own behalf or nominate a deserving friend for the unforgettable flight experience. To get a chance to float in zero gravity, fans must complete these steps: 1. Follow Zero-G on its social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; 2. Record and post a creative and thoughtful 60-second video on your social media accounts explaining four reasons why you (or someone else) should be part of the weightless experience; 3. Use the hashtag #ZG400 and mention @gozerog in your video posts. Four individual award winners will be selected based on the content of their video submission. Creativity is highly encouraged for submissions hoping to stand out. The contest will close on September 17, with official winners to be announced and contacted via social media, the company said. The experience offered by Zero-G is the only FAA-approved opportunity in the US for individuals to experience true weightlessness without going to space. Flyers will board G-Force One, Zero-Gs specially modified Boeing 727 that uses parabolic arcs to make achieving weightlessness easier than ever. At the top of each arc anything is possible, from catching candy like Pac-Man or channeling Superman, all while experiencing the exhilarating freedom from Earths pull. Valued at $4,950 per person, the Zero-G experience includes 15 periods of weightlessness, a Zero-G flight suit, Zero-G merchandise, a Regravitation Celebration, certificate of weightless completion and photos and video to remember this thrilling experience. - TradeArabia News Service Etihad Airways has marked Emirati Womens Day by announcing that more than half of the UAE nationals employed by the airline are women, including nearly 50 pilots. Aisha Al Mansoori recalls being mesmorised by the aerial activity at Al Ain Air Show in 2007. Nowadays, she is one of those pilots, flying the largest passenger jet in the world. I fell in love with aviation during the 2007 Al Ain Air Show and joined Etihad the following year as a cadet. After qualifying, I started as a second officer on the Airbus A320 and now Im a first officer on the A380. I hope to become captain so I can train other aviators, said Al Mansoori. A total of 11 Emirati women are fully operational as pilots with the airline, while 38 others are navigating their way through cadet pilot training. Etihad has been holding a series of events to mark the second year of Emirati Womens Day, a government-led initiative now held annually on August 28 to recognise the role of Emirati women in the development of the UAE. This years theme is Emirati Women and Innovation. The most symbolic of the events was a visit to Etihad Airways Training Academy by 10 longstanding members of the UAE General Womens Union (GWU). The delegation met some of the airlines Emirati female pilots, engineers and business leaders bringing two generations together in a powerful illustration of the journey of Emirati women and the progress that has been made. The GWU was established 41 years ago on August 28 and the same day is now celebrated as Emirati Womens Day. The delegation was led by its first member, 65-year old Zulaikha Al Sayed Al Hashemi. Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, director-general of the UAE General Women's Union, said: Such achievements would not have been possible without the vision, direction and unwavering support of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the General Women's Union, supreme chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. We were happy to meet ambitious Emirati women working across Etihad Airways, both locally and globally, in areas such as flight operations, engineering and management. Mona Walid, vice president, Human Resources for Etihad Airways and Etihad Airways Engineering, said: Since Etihads launch in 2003, the company has focused on attracting and developing both male and female Emirati talent. As we nurture the leaders of the future, we are committed to elevating Emirati women to the forefront of aviation to play their part in the growth of the economy. The group also visited Etihad Airways Global Business Service Solutions (GBSS) in Al Ain, a revenue accounting centre of excellence, where 97 per cent of employees are Emirati women. On August 24, a media event was held involving a number of Emirati female employees of the airline. Amongst them was Khawla Albadi, who in her role as head of business services, looks after innovation and technology across the organisation. Of the more than 3,200 Emiratis employed by the airline, 1,661 are women or 51 per cent. This includes the 137 at the award winning, all-female Al Ain Contact Centre, reflecting the appeal of Etihad as an employer of Emirati women. Also present at the media gathering was Maitha AlHemeiri, manager e-operations support, who is working towards paperless cockpits, and Reem Fekri, whose role in the corporate communications division saw her seconded to the Indian Ocean island of the Seychelles to assist equity partner, Air Seychelles. On August 28 and 29 Etihad is holding networking events where Emirati female employees can discuss their careers with the airlines most successful female staff. Fatma Al Mehairi joined the events from Toronto, where she is the first Emirati woman within Etihad to be appointed as general manager of a country. Arwa AlShehhi flew in from New York where she is marketing manager Americas. - TradeArabia News Service Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village State regulators are monitoring a proposed regulation that would give the wind energy industry permits for incidental eagle deaths for up to 30 years. While the new rule would allow permits that last three decades, they would also require a review every five years, bringing them more in line with existing eagle take permit regulations for all industries. Eagle deaths have become an obstacle for wind developers in recent years, with one North Carolina company receiving a $1 million fine for killing birds at a wind farm near Glenrock. The length of take permits have also been a point of contention between industry and environmentalists. The issue centers around a 2013 Fish and Wildlife decision giving wind farms and related transmission facilities the ability to acquire 30-year eagle take permits, even as other industries continue to be limited to five years. A federal judge in California struck down the 30-year wind farm rule in 2014 after conservation groups challenged it on environmental grounds. In February, the federal government said it was dropping its appeal of the courts decision. Tyler Abbott, a deputy field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Ecological Services, told state lawmakers recently that a new rule, which contains the five-year review, was emerging as a result of those actions. That is what is being evaluated right now nationally, that is what that EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) is all about, and that our national office is working on, Abbott said. Meanwhile, industry groups, such as the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, also want to be included in the 30-year time frame provision. Abbott told lawmakers Fish and Wildlife currently has a general policy of not seeking prosecution of any company that works cooperatively with regulators to create a bird protection plan on a project. Furthermore, Abbott said the federal courts are divided on whether a company can even be charged for unintentional eagle kills under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The 10th Circuit Court, which serves Wyoming, has taken the position the government cant prosecute, while federal courts in other parts of the country have ruled it can. Abbott also explained the Fish and Wildlife Service does not have the authority to mandate companies get an incidental take permit. While some developers choose to create mitigation plans, there were others who do not want to go through the process, and simply risk a violation, he said. Concerning enforcement, Abbott noted the Fish and Wildlife Service has only three enforcement officers in the state, and any recording of eagle deaths essentially falls on the company. Whether its wind energy development, or oil and gas, or for any other project, whether its solar or whatever, it really is up to the companies to implement that, Abbott said. The public comment period on the new Fish and Wildlife Service rules closed in July, and the agency is expected to release its new regulations later this year. Sales of new homes exploded last month to the highest level since 2007. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that a seasonally adjusted 654,000 new homes sold in July, a jump of over 30 percent in the last year. More active homebuyers have begun cutting into the inventories for existing homes, pushing prices higher across the board and incentivizing construction crews to hammer out more new homes to meet demand. This wave of construction has helped to boost lumber prices, which are up by more than a third over the last year, trading Friday for $319 per thousand board feet. Timber could see a further boost if a trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada isnt resolved soon. Canada is the worlds largest exporter, and U.S. homebuilders have been increasingly sourcing Canadian lumber, but trade could be restricted by import quotas or tariffs, which would hoist prices higher. Wheat slices lower Chicago wheat prices collapsed below $3.85 per bushel this week, the lowest level in almost a decade. Prices are falling after a bountiful U.S. wheat harvest adds to a record-high global grain stockpile. For many farmers, the value of their wheat is far lower than the price traded in the Chicago futures markets. Due to oversupply in local markets, some farmers are being paid under $3 per bushel for wheat, a ruinous price for those farmers who didnt lock in higher prices earlier this year. Natural gas rises Prices for natural gas have risen for five consecutive trading days, gaining over 10 percent in just a week. Gas is gaining as weather watchers expect more demand and see supply threats looming. Unusually hot temperatures are increasing demand for electricity to run air conditioning, and, in turn, natural gas-fueled power plants. Meanwhile, a storm is brewing in the Caribbean that could knock out energy production in the Gulf of Mexico. The storms track is uncertain, but some meteorologists are warning that the storm has potential to develop into a hurricane that would make landfall on U.S. shores. As of midday Friday, September natural gas was trading for $2.88 per million British thermal units. PARADISE VALLEY A previously unidentified strain of parasite has grown so prolific in the Yellowstone River that it is overwhelming whitefish, killing thousands and prompting the state of Montana to close more than 180 miles of the river to all recreation. The sheer parasite loading itself is almost shocking the fish, that thats whats killing them, said Eileen Ryce, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hatchery section chief, during a Tuesday press conference along the banks of the Yellowstone River south of Livingston. Scientists like Ryce believe that the parasite bloom may be so large and unprecedented in part because the Yellowstone River is experiencing near-record low flows and high water temperatures. We could see varying responses (of the parasite) depending on which river it gets into, said Travis Horton, Region 3 fisheries manager in Bozeman. The nearby Madison River, where flows are dam controlled, may be more resilient to the parasite since the waters temperature is cooler, coming from the bottom of Hebgen Lake, and the flows can be maintained at a steadier rate. Likewise, outbreaks of similar parasites in Idaho that killed whitefish in 2011 and 2012 may have been more limited because some of the streams are dam controlled, Horton said. The FWP officials spoke to a crowd of about 50 people anglers, local lawmakers, the media and business owners at a fishing access site where the stench of dead whitefish rotting on the riverbank wafted through the air. Acknowledging the effect of the rivers closure to anglers, floaters and on all of the many businesses that service such recreationists, Gov. Steve Bullock said the impact goes far beyond the waters edge. We need to make sure we are not only protecting this watershed and this water but indeed our entire state, he said, noting that the outdoor recreation industry creates about 64,000 jobs and $6 billion in consumer spending annually in Montana. When Rep. Alan Redfield, R-Livingston, asked why certain portions of the river couldnt be open to fishing to ease some of the impact on local businesses, Horton said FWP hopes to contain the parasite outbreak to the Yellowstone and make its duration short-lived. We want to try to minimize this, Horton said. We dont want to make this situation worse by rushing ahead. Horton added that when the Yellowstone Rivers peak water temperatures drop below 55 degrees and stay there, FWP would consider lifting the river closure. Were not looking at it being a permanent closure, said Jeff Hagener, FWP director. He noted the rule to enforce the closure is a temporary emergency closure good for 120 days. After that time the department is forced to re-examine the issue to decide whether the closure should be extended. The fish kill has been documented by FWP crews from the Yellowstone National Park boundary about 100 miles downstream to just west of the town of Big Timber, Horton said. Other public reports of dead whitefish and suckers downstream from Big Timber to Laurel have not been confirmed by FWP. The microscopic parasite that infects the fish needs two hosts to complete its life cycle, Ryce explained. It starts in a Bryozoan, an invertebrate similar to a freshwater sponge. The Bryozoan releases the parasite that fish absorb through their gills. Similar parasites have caused internal bleeding and kidney failure in whitefish in other outbreaks, such as the ones in Idaho. But the Yellowstone outbreak is different, Ryce said. There are so many spores being found inside the fish that the scientists are calling it a naive reaction. What we mean by that is that the immune response that the fish are expressing would suggest that they have not been exposed to this parasite previously, she said. That has concerned us since it would suggest its a new infection. At least we havent seen anything on this scale previously. The other thing thats concerning is from the histology results there were high numbers of parasites seen in multiple tissues. That suggests to us that the infective load thats currently out in the river is very high. Why thats a concern is that the sheer volume of parasites thats out there makes it very easy for the parasite to be spread to other waters. Thats the reason FWP took the unusual step to close down much of the upper river to recreation, Horton said, calling it a very dramatic step that we took. Its also why the agency is stressing that the best way to fight the spread of the parasite, along with other aquatic invasive species, is to clean, drain and dry all boats and fishing equipment. FWP crews will continue to search for dead and dying fish in the Yellowstone River and its tributaries like the Stillwater and Boulder rivers to try to determine the extent of the outbreak. I hope we can continue to work together, recognizing that the long-term objective is to protect this valley and the river, Gov. Bullock said. Yet Ryce noted that FWP staff doesnt expect the parasite to disappear, even with colder water temperatures and higher river flows. However, if the fish are given time to adapt they may build up some immunity to the parasite and recover. People strolled by booths selling generators to solar refrigerators and firearms to underground shelters. Speakers down the hall taught about topics from beekeeping to natural disaster survival. By noon Saturday, more than 100 people had visited the first Wyoming Prepper Con at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre. The conventions purpose is for people to learn from experts how to prepare for emergencies such as storms, tornadoes and floods, said organizer Nicholas Seaman. Theres lots of different levels of preparedness, Seaman said. Mostly what were going for is to create community to get people involved and educated so they have a better knowledge base. David Orren attended the conference with his fiancee and parents. He bought solar flashlights and honey and he planned to buy ammunition at a booth with good prices. He also was interested in solar power equipment and someday would like to live off the grid, he said. But his goal for now is to store a six-month supply of food and water. He recently became interested in preparing, for a variety of situations, such as government issues or wars. The way I view it is I hope nothing does happen, but you never know what can happen, Orren said. Our society today sits on a narrow ridge that could be knocked off easily, and most people only have about three days worth of supplies. So it doesnt even have to be anything major. Something little, even two weeks, could just be absolute chaos. I just want to make sure my family is OK. Not everyone at the conference was interested in prepping. Vivian Smith attended with her husband, Alan Smith, who has a minor interest in stockpiling food for emergencies, he said. Prepping measures like underground bunkers are extreme for her outlook, she said. When youre supposed to go, youre going to go, Vivian said. I think if you have your little underground house and the apocalypse comes and you come out, its just going to be devastation. Why would you want to see it? Spencer Pollock, executive director of American Red Cross of Wyoming, is providing some of the training at the conference. Preparedness is a really important part of just general life, especially here, said Pollock. We saw the Coal Creek fire last year and other fires, floods, tornadoes around Wyoming. So our goal is really to make folks better prepared in a variety of simple ways and thats what were trying to convey today. The conference caters to all kinds of preppers, from those interested in waiting out a storm to the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it preppers, Seaman said. He plans to make the Wyoming Prepper Con an annual event. The convention continues through Sunday, starting with Basic Survival Concepts: the 72-hour-solution from 8 a.m. to noon. Vendor booths are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $5, and free for 10 and younger. For more information, go to www.wyomingpreppercon.com. LARAMIE A handful of college students are getting firsthand history lessons at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, which launched a student internship program in the spring. Years ago, they had an internship program with previous curators, said Renee Slider, cultural resource specialist. That was here, and it did well, and then it kind of dwindled. When I started last year that was one of the things that I wanted to do I wanted to offer internships to the history department, to the American studies department, for students. While the internships are unpaid, students can receive college credit for their work. The most valuable aspect of the program, Slider said, is being able to impart her knowledge to students interested in museum work and teaching them theres more to museums than what meets the eye. Theres a lot of stuff that you do in the background as far as dealing with the public, exhibits, events and the planning and the preparation that goes into that, Slider said. A lot of times, what theyre learning in school is just out of books, and this is actual, real-world experience. And everything that theyre learning here is something that they can take back to put on their resume and also use in jobs that they apply for. This summer, the program has two interns: Curtis Leon, a history student at California State University-San Bernardino, and Lizzy Cardenas, a University of Wyoming history student. We help out everywhere around here, Leon said. So, that was one of the things to get used to, life at the museum, cause theres never really a day off for them. His work includes contributing research to the museums Living History project in which actors bring convicts stories to life through live performances. Im doing research on the convicts for an interpretive script, so that people can come in here as volunteers and act as one of the past convicts, Leon said. So, Living History is so people can come here and see and experience the history, not just read about it on a plaque. Working at the territorial prison has been the best internship hes had so far, he said. Ive never been a part of any museum with living history going on, especially in this way, he said. Ive only read about stuff like this. So, coming here and actually experiencing it and being a part of it and learning how to do it its all of those mixed up in one. Cardenas said her role involves creating a social media presence for the site, such as taking SnapChats of different parts of the prison, and she is currently working on a research project involving social media use in museums. One museum does Twitter every four hours, she said. I did not know they put that much work into it. One of the best parts of working at the territorial prison is the unique layout and flow of the facilities, she said. I like I can take as much time as I want, she said. You can walk through it in 45 minutes, or you can do hours. Theres so much to see every time I come here. The museum plans to hire two University of Wyoming students for the fall semester, Slider said. Those interns will help organize the site archives and continue work on the Living History scripts, including research on events outside Wyoming. When the convicts are talking about being here they can reference something going on in history, Slider said. So, it helps people that are coming here kind of place it in United States history, in a broader picture. The Billings Interim Deputy Chief Public Defender has taken issue with the long-standing practice of public defenders alerting judges if a client loses contact with their attorney 30 days before a trial. Douglas Day has told Billings District Court judges he believes it is a violation of attorney-client privilege to notify the court and that it may be unconstitutional. But Chief District Court Judge Russell Fagg said alerting the court prevents a jury trial from being assembled, saving both time and money. As a condition of their release from jail, a defendant must sign an order stating that within 30 days of trial they will maintain contact with their public defender so the attorney can tell the court if they are going to need to assemble a jury. The release requires the defendant to waive, in a limited way, attorney-client confidentiality to allow this disclosure. Many times attorneys can do a better job at the start of a case to have meaningful discussions with their clients, Day said. One area to discuss is the importance of maintaining contact with their attorney. Day said the client should be able to indicate what they would like their attorney to do should they lose contact. While defenders can object to the release condition at their clients arraignment, that objection would be granted to individual cases and would likely face an objection by the County Attorney's office. Fagg said Day told District Court judges about three months ago that he believed the release order presented an ethical dilemma for his attorneys. Fagg said he doesn't think there is an ethical problem. Rather, Fagg said, the release order is a win, win, win for the court, the defender's office and the county attorneys office. The county attorneys dont have to prepare for a trial that isnt going to happen, the judges are able to prevent having to send home an assembled jury, and bail-jumping charges are avoided for the public defenders client, Fagg said. However, the judges are open to working with Day on the issue, Fagg said. No one wants to delay proceedings or call juries when the client is absent, Day said. As such, a court could be notified that a jury cannot be confirmed and request a status conference that requires the clients appearance. Yellowstone County Deputy Chief of Criminal Litigation Ed Zink said he and County Attorney Scott Twito are discussing the issue with Day. In recent weeks we have received a variety of opinions from different public defenders, which has led to additional court hearings and a strain on court resources, Zink said. With more than 100 cases scheduled on criminal trial dates, Zink said assembling a jury panel of 60 to 90 people for a trial that is not going to happen makes no sense and wastes court resources. It also means the state will charge the client with bail-jumping, an additional case for already crowded dockets. This also opens up the client to persistent felony offender charges, which allows a defendant to be given a sentence of anywhere from five to 100 years in prison. In court Tuesday, Yellowstone County District Court Judge Michael Moses made a point of telling a public defender there must be a solution soon. This is a public policy issue that needs to be resolved, Moses said. The state of Montana has the right to bring bail-jumping charges against your client. The practice of alerting the court about loss of contact was established when the Public Defenders office was still a county-run department. Before 2003, the release order from the district court required attorneys in Yellowstone County to report their client if they had not checked in with their attorney on a weekly basis. At the time, the Chief Public Defender for Yellowstone County was Penelope Strong. Now a private practice criminal defense attorney, Strong said the practice of reporting their clients became an ethical liability for the attorneys. The office kept a call log of their clients, a log that was subject to subpoenae. When the violation of the defendants release was reported, a bench warrant was issued immediately, Strong said. The violations were being reported by receptionists and legal secretaries. The attorneys werent always doing it, Strong said. Clients served by the public defenders office were often transient. Most didnt and dont own cellphones, Strong said. Strong told the Yellowstone County Attorney at the time her office was going to discontinue the practice. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers issued an ethical opinion condemning the practice. NACDL submits that the questioned practice is also unconstitutional because it requires the lawyer to testify against the client and it violates the unfettered right to counsel, the ethics committee wrote. To avoid administrative chaos, Strong said a compromise was struck that created the release condition that is now being questioned by Day. CHEYENNE A Wyoming legislative panel has dismissed a complaint that accused a state senator of ethics violations for voting to approve funding for an abandoned mine land reclamation program that has issued contracts to his company. Senate President Phil Nicholas on Friday announced that the panel has dismissed the complaint against Republican Sen. Eli Bebout of Riverton. The panel also dismissed requests for an independent lawyer to consider Bebout's conduct. Four state residents had complained about Bebout's support of the Abandoned Mine Lands in this year's legislative session, claiming it improperly benefited a company called Nucor that he partially owns. Bebout has emphasized his company would only receive funding under the bill if it made a successful bid for mine reclamation funding. It has received contracts for similar work in the past. Thank you firefighters Crews extinguished a 25-acre wildfire Monday afternoon east of Casper just off Cole Creek Road. This is the same general area where 10,000 acres burned last October. The Star-Tribune joins Cole Creek-area residents who gathered to thank firefighters once again for their quick and capable response. Light and sleep Reprogramming sleep habits combined with use of a light box has produced very positive results for a Wyoming boy who suffers from depression. The positive results have triggered a larger study at the Billings Clinic in Montana, offering a new avenue of hope to many who struggle with depression. Yellowstone fire watch Many eyes are on Yellowstone as multiple fires grow around the park. As per park policy, the naturally occurring fires are not suppressed because fire provides value and renewal to the ecosystem, particularly in remote areas. But as the fires have expanded they have threatened some infrastructure and caused some road closures, dampening the ongoing 100th anniversary celebrations by causing some inconvenience for many park visitors. But its Yellowstone, the oldest national park, and managers know what they are doing. So stay safe and enjoy natures biggest show. Well see you for 101. Voting up in Natrona County For whatever reason some voters thought it was a presidential election and others voted because of the economic downturn voting was up some 9 percent in Natrona County over 2014 in the Aug. 16 primary election. Despite the uptick and the fact that 55 percent of registered voters in the county cast a ballot in the primary, only 24 percent of voting-age adults bothered to vote. Twenty-seven percent of registered voters statewide showed up at the polls, causing Wyomings Secretary of State Ed Murray to comment that number was nothing he is particularly proud to beep. Polling places Congratulations to Natrona County officials as centralized polling places, where voters from multiple precincts cast their vote, worked better than many had predicted. There were no long lines or wait times, though tabulating results took much longer than in years past. Kudos to Natrona County Clerk Renee Vito who said she is looking for a polling place in North Casper, a neighborhood that is four miles from the fairgrounds polling place. Elections who-ligans State Elections Director Kai Schon asked Attorney General Peter Michael last week to look into illegal robocalls across Wyoming. It is unknown who made or paid for the prerecorded calls, which said positive things about U.S. House candidate Liz Cheney. The Cheney campaign denied the use of robocalls and strongly condemned any form of illegal campaigning. No word yet from the Attorney General on who may have organized the illegal robocalls. Mountain lion killed by car A mountain lion that had been spotted several times on the west side of Casper was found dead by the side of Highway 220 this week. Authorities were unsuccessful in trapping the animal before the cat was apparently struck by an unknown vehicle Aug. 18, an uncommon end for a magnificent animal. Wyoming Game and Fish Spokesman Janet Milek asked residents to continue reporting wildlife sightings and that drivers slow down in areas wildlife might be crossing. BOLIVIA Striking miners kidnap, kill deputy minister LA PAZ Striking Bolivian miners kidnapped and beat to death the countrys deputy interior minister in a shocking spasm of violence following weeks of tension over dwindling paychecks in a region hit hard by falling metal prices. The miners were demanding they be allowed to work for private companies, who promise to put more cash in their pockets. The issue has bedeviled President Evo Morales, who began as a champion of the working class and privatized the nations mining industry, only to see his support crater amid the downturn. Miners say Morales has become a shill of the rich and has done little to help them make ends meet as the economy slows. Deputy Minister Rodolfo Illanes, whose formal title is vice minister of the interior regime, had traveled Thursday to the scene of the violent protests in an effort to negotiate with the strikers, who armed themselves with dynamite and seized several highways. Instead, Illanes was savagely beaten to death by miners, Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira told Red Uno television, his voice breaking. An autopsy found Illanes died from trauma to the brain and thorax. Seven miners leaders were detained by police and their offices raided. CANADA Crying elderly couple draw global attention VANCOUVER A photograph of a crying elderly Canadian couple in wheelchairs, separated into two different care homes after 62 years of marriage because no beds were available together, has received international attention. Wolfram Gottschalk, 83, of Surrey, British Columbia, was put in an assisted home in January after he suffered dementia health complications, making it impossible for wife Anita, 81, to care for him at home. Four months later, Anita entered a different facility despite family efforts to keep them together. The facilities are half an hour apart, with family driving Anita to see Wolfram several times a week. Granddaughter Ashley Bartyik took the saddest photo I have ever taken when her grandparents were brought together recently. She notes that he reaches and cries out for her. Country will return to UN peacekeeping role TORONTO The Canadian government said Friday it will restore the countrys traditional U.N. peacekeeping role by providing up to 600 soldiers for missions around the world. Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said Canada is committed to re-engaging in many multilateral peace operations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to return Canada to peacekeeping after more than a decade of dwindling participation. Canada had participated in more direct combat operations, such as the war in Afghanistan. The additional soldiers represent an increase over the 19 Canadian troops deployed on peacekeeping missions at the end of July, bringing the total more in line with the number of Canadian peacekeepers deployed in the 1990s and early 2000s. ZIMBABWE Anti-government protest is crushed HARARE Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons to crush an anti-government protest in the capital Friday, despite a court order that the demonstration should be permitted. At least 50 people were injured by the police, said former vice president Joice Mujuru, now the head of the People First party and a participant in the demonstration. Another anti-government demonstration will be held next Friday, said the coalition of at least 18 opposition parties and civic organizations that organized Fridays protest. BRITAIN Billionaire Branson has serious bike crash LONDON Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson said Friday he thought he was going to die after flying head first off his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands. The Virgin Group boss hit a hump in the road on Virgin Gorda, one of the islands in the Caribbean, catapulting him into the road. The 66-year-old posted pictures of his bloodied face on social media on Friday, showing injuries that included a cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts. Branson traveled to Miami to receive medical treatment. He said he was lucky to have not suffered more serious injuries. Wire reports Alice Cooper does not do concerts; he does big, bold rock 'n' roll theater pieces, complete with costume changes, lighting effects, smoke and mirrors, giant puppets, scorching guitar riffs, dripping blood and, gasp, a beheading. From the moment he came on stage at the AVA at Casino del Sol on Friday night, dressed in a black Dracula-esqe cape and walking through a shower of fiery sparklers raining down from above, all 3,000 of us in the audience knew we were about to witness something much bigger than a guy singing about the exploits of summer vacation and the lingering ghoulish sensation of that first kiss with "Cold Ethel." In his career that goes back to the late 1960s, Cooper has never really followed the rock formula make small talk with the audience, chat about the origin of your songs and sing. He curates his music into a cohesive story line that on the surface of just running through his setlist doesn't make near as much sense as when he puts them all together on stage. "Spend the Night" criss-crossed Cooper's career, opening with the dark "Black Widow" before he ripped off the cape and stormed into the defiant "No More Mr. Nice Guy." In a voice that was just as vibrant and nuanced as it was in his younger days, the 68-year-old roared into "Under My Wheels," taking his amazingly talented band including LA whiz shredder Nita Strauss on a guitar ripping journey. Every couple of songs, Cooper slipped near the drum kit to a large crate, where an actor made up as a vaudevillian clown dressed him in a new coat or vest. The box also held his props, including a wind-up rag doll that he pulled out and flung around and flopped on his knee throughout "Woman of Mass Distraction." Cooper's wife Sheryl brought the doll to life a few songs later during what was arguably the most dramatic and bloody scenes of the night. As police sirens screamed, Cooper was restrained in a straight jacket and left to answer the charges of "Only Women Bleed." The scene ended with chants of "Guilty" and Cooper being dragged to a towering guillotine wheeled onto stage. Blinding strobe lights swirled about as Cooper was placed in the device. Moments later: Whack! Off came the head. Hey, we saw it. A band member pulled out a fake head from the basket with "blood" splattering everywhere. And then, as if he was resurrected as a giant, Cooper or someone purporting to be him re-emerged as a 9-, 10-foot monstrous puppet. Theater meets rock. And through it all we were reminded of Cooper's place in rock music history, all those songs that are among the endless best-of lists that come and go: "Is It My Body," "Halo of Flies," "Feed My Frankenstein," "Killer," "Ballad of Dwight Fry," "I'm Eighteen," "Schools Out." Cooper, who still calls Arizona home, also paid homage to some of his long-gone heroes in a moving tribute. Three headstones draped in black curtains were unveiled one at a time Keith Moon, Lemmy Kilmister and David Bowie and Cooper sang covers of each. Dont pronounce the last name of Angelo Versace like the fashion designer Gianni Versace. Angelos last name is pronounced Ver-sach. Thats how my grandmother pronounced it and its how our family has always pronounced it, says the 30-year-old amiably. By now, everybody in the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona knows the correct pronunciation of Angelo Versaces last name. He is beginning his third school year as the universitys director of jazz studies. Versace, with his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Miami, fills the position vacated by the iconic Jeff Haskell, who retired after 40 years in a variety of music posts at the UA and worked closely with Linda Ronstadt on several of her tours and recordings. So many people know who Jeff is, who he liked to work with. Things like that, said Versace, relaxing with his wife, Abba, in their new home on the northwest side. Jeff is an amazing large ensemble arranger and composer. Im completely different. I write for smaller ensembles. I feel like thats the future of jazz. I want to develop the small ensembles program here. Seeing jazz as an evolving discipline uniquely poised to express changing values in a shifting society is fundamental to Versaces own attitudes and musicianship. I love what Angelo has done in his first two years, said Edward Reid, director of the universitys School of Music. He has quite a few jazz majors now, co-hosted a jazz camp this summer, and is heading to Taiwan and China this fall. Jeff Haskell and Moises Paiewonsky led the Studio Jazz Ensemble on two tours of China, and I believe Angelo will continue with similar activity, said Reid. With his energy and skills, I see Angelo bringing in many more talented jazz students to the UA. Always looking for the future of jazz and leading his students in that direction is more than a theoretical concept. Versace said he takes pride in having my claws in all aspects of the program. He is constantly visiting local high schools, working closely with the middle school and high school student members of the national award-winning Tucson Jazz Institute, and he has twice-monthly jazz jams for students to test their chops against their contemporaries. Here in the 21st century, students arent playing When the Saints Go Marching In anymore. These jazzers are digging deep into music theory and the sounds of right now. So is Versace, who never stops listening for where the music is going next, not where it has been. Angelo has a modern approach to re-harmonizing a melody while soloing that creates a different kind of tension from most piano players, said Pete Swan, a drummer and band leader whose Sunday jazz jams in local restaurants for the past 18 years are a Tucson tradition. Almost since Versaces arrival in Tucson, he has been been playing in Swans group on most Fridays and Sundays at Pastiche Food Drink, 3025 N. Campbell Ave. The quality of what they play goes far beyond background music. Angelo has an ability to play these flawless eighth and sixteenth note runs up and down the piano over constant changes that creates this powerful tension in the music, Swan explained. He can sustain and prolong that tension for a long time before reaching the resolve. But it isnt just the high level of his own playing that Versace works on. He also wants to have a local presence away from the classroom, out in the community so people can see that I love to play what I teach. And I also get to hear younger players who might become UA students one day. To me, the bandstand is a sacred place. When the musicians are on that bandstand they are serious, no matter how informal the setting might be. For musicians plying their trade in the academic world, every day is a balancing acting between sharing knowledge and perfecting performance. To keep his own chops sharpened to a professional edge, Versace seeks out Brice Winston, a Tucsonan who played tenor sax in Terence Blanchards band for more than a decade. Winston is also a co-founder of the Tucson Jazz Institute, has served as a guest clinician at the Thelonious Monk and Henry Mancini institutes for jazz, and is a recording artist and band leader in his own right. We definitely push each other, said Winston. He makes me stay on my game. Since Versace and Winston see themselves as equally dedicated jazz educators, their friendly bandstand challenges against each other are especially rewarding for the audience. Being inspired is such a huge part of the equation, said Winston. For the students, when youre playing so many things are going through your brain at light speed. To hear how Angelo does it is such a gift for them. It is inspiring for both of us, too, he smiled. Thats the whole idea. Tucson photographer Jade Beall faced down a lifetime of body image issues four years ago, though she didnt know it at the time. She took a nude portrait of herself five weeks postpartum and about 50 pounds heavier than shed ever been holding her new baby. Then she posted it online. No filters. No Photoshop. It was a way for Beall, a 37-year-old Tucson native, to expand her portfolio with images that showed body diversity, but it ended up being the catalyst for something much more. The blonde, blue-eyed photographer and dancer had always struggled with her body image. Having a baby multiplied them. As a new mother, she was sleep deprived and had cellulite on her body. When I first looked at those photos I wanted to pass out. They were so hard for me to look at, but now I look at them and I just see such a beautiful woman thats a new mother, Beall said. I was unable to truly face my decades of self-loathing until I took that self-portrait and didnt Photoshop it. Previously I always Photoshopped any photo of myself. All the wrinkles and dark circles were gone. But, now I dont and its so freeing because Im OK with the way I look. I can be honest with this is who I am. Putting herself out there on social media sites and her own website opened the floodgates for women who wanted to be seen and feel good in their own skin. When I did that, I received hundreds of emails from women giving them permission to look at themselves and I realized there was this huge need and desire for truthful body positivity, especially for mothers, in such an often exhausting, vulnerable, confusing time in a culture that only celebrates the bounce-back mother, and everyone else is a failure, Beall said. I didnt know it was such a huge, huge need to be celebrated in that moment of post-giving-birth and not feeling like a failure. Now, shes on a mission Beall says she is unapologetically breaking the rules by showing that all people are beautiful exactly how they are. And that all people have the right to feel beautiful, no matter their body type. Facebook has banned her several times because users have reported photos usually of breast-feeding mothers as offensive. But, she says that isnt going to stop her. Im celebrating people weve been told not to celebrate, Beall said. Im saying a woman is beautiful just the way she is. She doesnt need to aspire to be somebody else. It upsets people, but Im never gonna stop. Im gonna keep pushing it. Bealls photographs feature women, new mothers (often in the nude, with their babies), grandmothers and breast-feeding mothers. She does not Photoshop the stretch marks, belly rolls or wrinkles. Were taught at a very young age that we should look like anybody but ourselves. And we celebrate one body type, one age and if we dont fit into that its a constant struggle and competition, which puts women at odds with each other and divides sisterhood, Beall said. It makes a lot of us suffer until were like in our 80s and were finally like Im just gonna accept this before I die. Im gonna love myself for a little bit. Beall has recently added the elderly in her repertoire both couples and singles. One photo features a couple in their 70s, embracing in the nude. They met in their 50s and have been together for 20 years. Its beautiful and inspiring to people my age, in their late 30s, to see that as an example of beauty, Beall said. Like, what if we thought that wrinkles were a sign of a true queenly matriarch beauty and a little girl is like one day Ill have wrinkles that show Ive lived a privileged long life? But, instead were told we should be ashamed and fix them and change them and be someone were not. Its exhausting. Some struggle with the concept that smart can be considered beautiful and they ask Beall, what if youre just a strong, powerful, intelligent woman? Isnt that enough? Bealls answer: If youre a strong, powerful, intelligent woman, theres absolutely no way youre gonna be anything but beautiful. I dont understand why it has to be one way or the other. To me, its a whole package deal. In the studio When people arrive at Bealls studio in the living room of her home, they are immediately surrounded by her photos covering the walls. Beall spends time chatting with each client to make them feel comfortable before they get undressed if they do and take their place on the large rolled out paper that serves as a background in her photos. When people get on my backdrop they want to feel special. Our culture is so good at trying to make us feel like were not special and worthy of feeling good in your skin, whether youre differently abled or whatever shape or whatever age you are, Beall says. When theres only one body type celebrated it puts us in competition. Its just evil. Id way rather live a life of sisterhood and feeling good about myself and seeing the beauty in the women around me. When Stacy Gray arrived at her photo shoot with Beall, she was a newly divorced woman, learning how to be a strong single mother to her two children. She was also Bealls first photo shoot after posting her own self-portrait. I was so grateful to have brought forth these beautiful children, but now that they were no longer laying in my lap and I was standing alone facing myself as an individual, I began to hear the train of societys judgments on my body and it was coming fast and with a mission to destroy my self-love, Gray said. The experience was a coming to and a waking up out of surviving into thriving for Gray and her children. Our faith in our little family was sealed that day, under those bright lights, Gray said. Many women show up nervous and take a little warming up before they feel comfortable, Beall said. That wasnt the case for Gray. I wasnt nervous, just ready to be witnessed, Gray said. I was hungry and aching to be seen. So I undressed, picked up my children and began to unfold the layers of shame from my body and laid it down in front of that sacred lens. Once she saw the photos she said she nearly threw up bracing herself for negative comments online. She thought for sure shed see at least one saying she was disgusting. Guess what. No one ever said that, Gray said. In fact, they said thank you. When people said negative things about me, I grew stronger and more transparent. I was truly nude and there was nothing left to apologize for. This is just me. One of Grays photos is now on a billboard as part of a body positivity campaign in London, Germany and Africa. Gray said the photos left a lasting impression on her children that their journey through her into the world matters and encourages others. Lupita Chavez first heard of Bealls photography when a mutual friend sent her a message about it, saying she thought shed be perfect for Bealls Beautiful Body Project. Jades story really clicked with me, but maybe differently, Chavez recalled. I was truly this confident woman who never actually felt beautiful. My confidence was based on my brains, skills, friends and accomplishments. In a weird way, my changing body from childbirth didnt effect me the way it did others. Motherhood changed me. Chavez called her daughter, Cheyenne Baum, that night to get her opinion. Her daughter was excited and told her mom she thought she should do it. So, Chavez wrote Beall that night and told her story. The shoot was amazing and inspiring for Chavez. She was excited to be doing something that would terrify others and was having fun at the same time. Ive never liked getting my photo taken, Chavez said. Jade welcomed me in with so much love and warmth. In addition to weight issues, I have psoriasis. She saw my skin as art. For the first time, I felt genuinely beautiful and truly comfortable in my own skin. Thats such a gift. Ill be forever grateful. When she first saw the images Beall posted, Chavez was blown away. Heres the deal as I see it: Our daily visual impression of ourselves is usually in a mirror. So, first, were not smiling or laughing or even just interested or animated the way we are in the presence of others. Second, were usually putting on makeup or doing our hair, which means, were looking at ourselves with the express purpose of finding flaws to fix, Chavez said. So, the experience of seeing myself in photographs taken by someone whos entire being is set on bringing out your beauty not just for others to see, but for you to see? I wish everyone could experience that. The effect of seeing themselves Beall edits each shoot down to about 200 photos, so clients can see a progression of the shoot. Typically women leave feeling wonderful after the shoot, Beall said. Theyre like, Yes I did it. Im beautiful and strong. Then they get the photos and theyre like, Oh OK. Because theyre not used to seeing themselves naked, only in a mirror. Women usually look at their photos again a week later and like about five of them. A month later its 10 to 15 and a few months later, they like a whole bunch of them, Beall said. My body? Well, I still see it for what it is. Im a big girl. Hell, Im fat, Chavez said. But I knew that. What I didnt know was that my whole face changes when I laugh. My eyes light up. When Im at peace my face is soft, welcoming. I saw beauty. Its learning to see yourself with different eyes. Im not Photoshopping you. I am lighting you to show your best essence, but Im not hiding the things weve been taught to hide, Beall said. Im gonna showcase them. Word has gotten out Through Facebook and Instagram, Bealls work has gained popularity around the world. Instagram recently featured one of Bealls photographs of a breast-feeding mother for World Breastfeeding Week and it got major attention more than a million likes. She started photographing breast-feeding when she was working on her book, The Bodies of Mothers, which showcases unretouched photos of mothers. It wasnt what she set out to do but so many of the moms had their breast-feeding babies in the studio, she started photographing them together. Its helping normalize it and helping women understand it better and to not feel alone, Beall said. Women see my photos and write me the most beautiful emails so it helps them realize what theyre doing is OK and others are doing it. Earlier this year Beall went to London to photograph new mothers for a documentary called The Tenth Month which is about the first month of motherhood after being discovered by an advertising company there who saw her work on Facebook. She will travel to Switzerland to help scientists who want to understand motherhood and body positivity. And each month Beall goes to different cities to speak at MommyCon, a holistic baby conference. She also started an international movement The Beautiful Body Project, in which female photographers, videographers and journalists in seven countries have come together to photograph women and tell their stories. Its mission is to create awareness of the issues women face about birth, aging, cancer, eating disorders, breast-feeding, C-sections, miscarriage, loss, domestic violence, sexual abuse and more. worthy of being called beautiful On a self-funded trip, Beall went to Greece to photograph Syrian refugees. While on that trip, she also photographed women in Israel and Turkey. During her travels, she has noticed one commonality among women across cultures is the desire to love themselves. The deep desire for self-love, like, unwavering self-love and to want to feel worthy of being called beautiful, Beall said. 99.9 percent of the women I photograph would not say they are beautiful and thats true in every country Ive photographed. She receives hundreds of calls and emails from women who want to be photographed and from women around the world who want to thank her for the work she does. They also follow her on Facebook, where her photo page has nearly 150,000 likes, and on Instagram, where she has close to 68,000 followers. Beginning Tuesday and running through Saturday, Billings noise, fun and kilowatt levels will appreciate considerably. Ten thousand members of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, people who ride a Honda motorcycle celebrated for its touring comfort, are on their way to MetraPark, downtown Billings and other locations for the clubs 38th annual Wing Ding. The event is called Blazin the Beartooths. It's a party theyve thrown for themselves in Billings three times previously in 1997, 2000 and 2007. We are always excited to have our venue in Billings, said Anita Alkire, the Phoenix-based associations president. The big draw for the associations 60,000 members is the places to ride, there is no doubt, but its also the hospitality, she said. Billings is always fun. Youre always good at providing hotel rooms, and we will utilize most of them. Riders are expected to begin arriving Monday. By the time theyre done, the owners of Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycles as well as their three-wheeled cousins are expected to buoy the local economy by more than $9 million, according to Alex Tyson, Visit Billings executive director. And thats a conservative estimate, said Kelly McCandless, Visit Billings director of leisure marketing and communication. There will be motorcycles everywhere, she said. We encourage people to say hi, be patient and look around while theyre driving. McCandless said the Wing Dings Billings foray is the culmination of two years of planning involving a number of community partners and Wing Dings event planner, KKT Event Management of Surprise, Ariz. One example of local spinoffs: the Western Heritage Center, which developed the In the Wind: Montana Motorcycle Memories exhibit in part with the visitors in mind. The public is welcome to attend some Wing Ding events. The Light Parade begins at about 8 p.m. Wednesday around Shiloh Crossing and will last about 30 minutes. The staging area is behind Scheels. Many of the expected 200 riders lighting their rides along the parade route will set the lights to music. Their lights dance, and their antennas are light sticks, Alkire said. They put some effort into it. The Grand Parade will begin at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday. An international contingent will run up North 32nd Street to Poly Drive, then down North 27th Street to Fourth Avenue North and back to Metra. About 500 riders some from as far away as Israel, Germany and Italy will fly their flags during the family-friendly parade. Police will close intersections and reopen them as soon as the parade has passed through, McCandless said. This is definitely an event where we honk and wave and love to show off, Alkire said. Visit Billings will welcome Wing Ding attendees Tuesday with a downtown party for participants only. A high volume of motorcycles will be downtown from 6 to 9 p.m. Alkire pointed to one other event always popular with the public: the Amazing Team Challenge, which will be in the upper parking lot at MetraPark from 10 a.m. through noon Friday. Its a timed, competitive event with riders working to show whos best, she said. Theyre doing tight maneuvers on a small field, she said. People will tell you to listen for the sound of the antennas clicking. Every once in a while the mirrors will hit, and that can get a little expensive. In addition to the many events, Wing Dingers are here to take in the area's abundant scenery, Alkire said. The Gold Wing is truly designed start to finish as a touring motorcycle, she said. Todays models can have heated seats and other comfort packages. Its totally designed for two people to sit and ride. We talk 500-600-700 mile days, and we still feel like we could go more. Its uncommon to see a Gold Wing being towed somewhere to ride, she said. Riding brings people together. It doesnt matter if youre having a bad day. Go for a ride and everything is fine. We call it wind therapy. A Border Patrol agent was charged with extreme DUI in connection with an incident where she crashed her pickup into two vehicles in the parking lot of the agencys Ajo station. Tracy Hicks, 37, was armed and in uniform when a state trooper cited her around 1:30 p.m. June 8, Arizona Department of Public Safety records show. The results of a blood draw indicated a blood-alcohol content of 0.319, roughly four times the legal limit. The troopers report, obtained by the Star through a public-records request, said Hicks drove department vehicles during her shift, which began at 6 a.m. and was scheduled to end at 3 p.m. An agent who was in the parking lot told the trooper he saw Hicks driving her pickup through the parking lot and heard a loud crash and screeching tires followed by hearing the tires screech as if the person was trying to get unstuck. The agent then saw the pickup had noticeable front-end damage and the right front tire was completely flat. Hicks was detained on the shoulder of Arizona 85 near milepost 52, about one mile from the Border Patrol station, DPS records show. Hicks told the trooper she had been drinking wine at home the night before and had not had a drink in the hour before the wreck. She was taken to the Pima County Sheriffs Department office in Ajo for sobriety tests and released into the custody of a Border Patrol supervisor, the troopers report stated. Hicks was not injured in the wrecks, which caused about $3,800 in damages, DPS records show. Ajo Justice Court records show Hicks was charged Aug. 18 on extreme DUI, failure to stop after striking an unattended vehicle and criminal damage charges, all of which are misdemeanors. On June 15, the Pima County Attorneys Office asked the judge, citing officer request, to dismiss a charge for failing to stop after striking a vehicle. The request was granted two days later. Hicks next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15. Court documents do not indicate whether she has hired an attorney. Hicks, who has been an agent since 2003, will remain on non-enforcement, restricted-duty status until her court case is adjudicated and an internal review is completed, according to a statement issued by the Border Patrol in response to an inquiry from the Star. The agency takes seriously any allegation of misconduct and holds agents to high standards, the statement said. The Tucson Sector Border Patrol will cooperate fully with any investigations related to the June 8 incident. The statement did not address questions from the Star about the circumstances of the alleged DUI. In 2013, then-Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher launched a project to reduce the number of alcohol-related arrests of agents, which came to two arrests each week. At the time, Tucson Sector Chief Manuel Padilla told the Star the sector saw 10 such arrests in fiscal year 2013 and 22 in fiscal year 2012. The son of sheriffs captain is facing multiple felony charges after a federal investigation revealed he was having drugs shipped to his fathers home, court records show. Kevin Brent Anderson, son of Capt. Gary Anderson, who heads the Pima County Sheriffs Departments criminal investigations division, was arrested at a Marana residence May 13, according to a probable cause statement filed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Pima County property records show Capt. Anderson and his wife are the owners of the home where their son was arrested and drugs seized, the documents show. PCSD was informed by the Department of Homeland Security that they were investigating an employees son for drug trafficking and that our employee was not involved, Deputy Ira Sewell, a sheriffs spokesman, wrote in an email. We conducted an administrative investigation which resulted in a finding of unfounded, as there were no violations of department policies/procedures or state laws. Capt. Anderson did not respond to a request from the Star for a comment. At the time of his arrest, Kevin Anderson, 23, was on probation for a felony drug conviction in Maricopa County. Pima County case On May 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at JFK International Airport in New York intercepted a package containing more than 1,000 Ecstasy pills, addressed to Kevin Anderson at his Marana home, the probable cause statement says. The package was shipped from Germany under the business name Victorious Fitness Supplements Inc., the document says. According to Andersons Facebook page, he works as a trainer at a personal fitness center in Marana. On May 13, Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service agents arrested Anderson after he signed for the package, the court document says. While searching the house and Andersons car, agents found several different types and quantities of drugs, including Ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis oil, as well as digital scales, according to the document. He was booked into the Pima County jail and released the next day on a $25,000 bond. On May 23, Anderson was indicted in Pima County Superior Court on felony charges of transporting drugs into the state for sale, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of paraphernalia and conspiracy, court records show. Andersons case is being prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney Generals Office, but is being tried in Pima County Superior Court. His attorney, Christopher Scileppi, did not respond to the Stars request for comment. On probation in Maricopa County In 2014, Anderson pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to one felony count of facilitation to sell or transport Ecstasy and was sentenced to two years of probation, which was set to end Aug. 5, Maricopa County court records show. On May 16, days after his arrest in Pima County, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge issued a probation violation warrant, court records show. Two weeks later, Andersons attorney entered a not guilty plea for the probation violation, court records show. A second warrant was issued Aug. 9, and Anderson was booked into the Maricopa County jail on Aug. 11, where hes being held without bond, according to Sgt. Calbert Gillett, a Maricopa County Sheriffs Office spokesman. Anderson has a hearing in a Maricopa court next week to determine if his probation will be revoked or if he will be granted bail. On Sept. 13, he has a case-management conference in Pima County Superior Court. The Billings Young Marines Program is hosting a dinner and silent auction in September to raise money for a program that has struggled since it was forced to leave the Donald Ruhl Reserve Center. After the Paris terrorist attacks last year, the Young Marines program were prevented from having its weekly meetings at the base due to heightened security. The base had housed the program for more than 10 years. The program found a home at The Scottish Rite, where it meets each Tuesday for free. Mary Beth Aasterud, the program's Unit Commander, said the program has about 18 kids. Kids eight through 18 are allowed to participate in the program, but it is not meant to be a "scared straight" program. Young Marines are expected to have good grades, be well-disciplined and be respectful in and out of the program. Bridger High School Senior Grace Clayton said the program made her a better person. She used to be a student who often got detentions and didn't study very often. Clayton said she's sad it is her last year with the Young Marines because she doesn't know who she would have become without her unit. "We were taught by really great people who wanted us to learn respect and discipline, things I really needed," Clayton said. The 17-year-old said she doesn't plan to join the Marines after graduating high school, but said the program is the reason she didn't spend her life watching television after school every day. Clayton and eight others in the program met Tuesday as the first week of school started for many students in Billings. The kids start with about an hour of physical training, followed by an hour of classroom time. In addition to their weekly meetings, the Young Marines do several color guards and march in all the big parades in Billings and volunteer at almost all the charity runs and events in town. Executive Officer Marris Harris said most weeks they have a student come in from as far as Lame Deer to participate. One of the group's youngest members, 9-year-old Ranal Crable, joined a year ago and said he wants to be a Marine one day. "I want to be a medic and help those who are sick or wounded," Crable said. The program keeps him motivated to reach those goals one day, he said. Besides doing the program, he said his favorite thing to do is play with his older sister. "They are all just such great kids," Harris said. Harris started working with the program after her son Tyger Harris joined. Tyger, 13, joined when he was 10. He addresses adults with "ma'am" and "sir" without hesitation and said he has known since he was a baby he wanted to be a Marine. "I like being with these kids and learning these things for myself," Tyger said. The program accepts new applicants ever year and is recruiting now for the 2016-17 school year. A mandatory parent meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Scottish Rite, 514 14th St. West. New recruits will begin with a basic training course beginning Oct. 4. The students learn about some of the things taught during basic training courses in the military, like navigating unknown terrain and how to read military ranks on officers' uniforms. The core principles taught are teamwork, leadership and self-discipline. The program also teaches the kids about resisting peer pressure and the dangers of using drugs. The adults who help with the program, who are all volunteers, are trying to show the kids the right path for their future. "We need more people to come volunteer with the kids, though," Harris said. The Support Billings' Young Marines dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 at the Billings Depot. Tickets are $25 per person, with $20 tickets available for veterans. Harris said the program needs to fill seats and needs any help people can give them beyond attending the banquet. To purchase advance tickets to the event, people can contact Marris Harris at 406-671-2561 or her husband, Tyler Harris, at 406-672-8070 or tyler.cowboylogic@gmail.com. For information about recruitment, call Marris Harris or Unit Commander Aasterud at 406-671-2561. And Emma has always dreamt of being a Disney princess, but will her surprise talent leave everyone speechless? -synopsis for Australias Cheapest Weddings. A Queensland couple who feature in tomorrow nights episode of Australias Cheapest Weddings are unhappy with the way they have been depicted in Seven promos. At the wedding for the Maryborough couple Emma Dilliway, Emma can be seen singing The Power of Love to her groom Steven. So far the clip has attracted over 1.2m social media plays and plenty of mocking. Im just shocked I didnt expect it to get a thousands views, but a million views is just crazy, Emma told Fraser Coast News. I have pretty much been in tears the last few days and I havent wanted to go outside. They have taken a tiny bit of the day that just makes Steven and Is wedding look really, really bad. They turned our special day into a joke. She said the clip edited out the background music, while New Idea and the Daily Mail have also referred to Brides cringeworthy songs horrifies groom and the bridesmaids also seemed confused by the performance. Initially I thought it would be a great experience to have them there, Steven said. To receive the amount of negative flak over it has been horrible, considering the episode hasnt even aired yet. Help India! By Shiva Thorat, TwoCircles.net Baudhwada, a village in Shirpur of district Dhule, Maharashtra, has been a quiet area, consisting of Buddhists and Mahar population. Until last weekend, when a robbery and a suicide shocked the locality. However, given that municipality elections in this region, about 350 kms from Mumbai, are round the corner, local politicians wasted no time in trying to gain as much mileage as possible from the two incidents. Support TwoCircles First, was the robbery from the house of Indubai Saindane, a 70-year-old lady, who earns her living by selling clothes in various nearby villages. She sources her clothes from Surat, where she gets them for a cheaper rate before going on to sell in the locality. Given that she has no one to look after her, the incident has shocked her to no end. When this correspondent met her, she said tearfully, The robbery happened when I was not home. They (the robbers) took away my entire life times savings. I had 15 grams of gold, half a kilo silver and some cash, all of which came to around Rs 1.5 lakh. Post this incident, I have been rendered helpless. The local police official, who wished to remain anonymous, was at Indubais home when this correspondent met him. Given the amount of money she had, there is little in the name of security in the house. I am not sure what kind of groundwork the thieves had done here. But we will investigate this case thoroughly as it concerns everyone and we also have pressure from authorities, the official said. The robbery has left Indubais neighbours shaken. Bhakabai Shirsath, 54 year old neighbour of Indubai said, We were witness to her efforts. The Lord will not forgive those thief. As her neighbours, we will ensure that she is not left alone. We will give her all the possible support. The robbery has left Indubais neighbours shaken. Bhakabai Shirsath, 54 year old neighbour of Indubai said, We were witness to her efforts. The Lord will not forgive those thief. As her neighbours, we will ensure that she is not left alone. We will give her all the possible support. The other incident was the suicide of 32-year-old Jitu Thorat, although the reason remains unclear. He has left three daughters behind him. His father lost his feet during an accident two years back and since that time, he has been looking after both the families, neighbour Vijay murmured. Thorat committed suicide by putting his hand into an electricity box attached to a pole. Dr. Shinde from district government hospital, who declared him dead, said, It was actually miracle that he survived after the shock for some time. We could not however, save him. Danny Chande, a 34-year-old resident of Baudhwada and a friend of Thorat, said, It is really shocking that both the incidents happened within 24 hours. Interestingly, these two incidents took place a week after the Shirpur Market Committee election results came on August 14. Why I am saying this there is a reason that local leaders, who are never seen here, have come here to show their sympathies. he says, pointing to a personal called Rahul, who had come to visit the place. He is a friend of an independent candidate Ganesh Savale, who is likely to contest in the upcoming election. However, the local leaders were not equally enthusiastic about talking to the media, especially since this correspondent knew them on a personal level. Rahul finally spoke, but chose to take a diplomatic stance that revealed little about why he had been there. Suicide can be stopped if one knows the reasons. I think the reason is money here. If he was with us we could have definitely stopped him. I am telling the area people if they have problems come to us: we will try to solve the problem. Do not commit suicide; life is valuable. However, the locals saw through this charade of the political leaders. Vishal Shirsath, a 17-year-old school going student said, we can easily understand what is going on in the surrounding area. I must say, I have seen deaths earlier also, but never seen so many people like this all around us. All are from our area or near-by area but why everyone is just trying to show that they are helping Jitu bhais family? In the case of Indubai, beyond political promises, the people of the region have taken it among themselves to raise money for her. Similarly, they are planning to crowdfund money for Thorats family also. Eshwar Sapkale, a 38-year-old resident of resident of Baudhwada and a porter by profession, says, I understand what is going on here, but even I cannot explain why suddenly there is so much interest among the local leaders in these incidents? Maybe they are thinking of impressing the residents, he says, before adding, My point is will BJP support late Jitus family? Or will Congress come when his disabled father needs help? Will Rashtravadi Party will bring gas when they need it? It seems like Jitus dead body is in the market and local leaders have become the merchants. Insisting on Indubais question, he adds, Collecting money for Indubai is a sensible thing to do, but they only target people who they need. That way, half of the population of area needs some help to develop themselves. But I am sure that once the local elections are over, they will forget all of this. Until next elections, maybe. Help India! By Misbahuddin Mirza for TwoCircles.net The Metropolitan Museum of Arts (the Met, New York) fabulous exhibition Power and Piety: Islamic Talismans on the Battlefield (Aug 29, 2016 thru Feb 13, 2017), discusses a fascinating aspect of Islamic Art. According to Dr. Maryam Ekhtiar, Associate Curator, Department of Islamic Art, and Dr. Rachel Parikh, Mellon Curatorial Fellow, Department of Arts and Armor, organizers of this exhibition, Inscriptions and images on Islamic arms and armor were believed to provide their wearers with safety and success in combat. Support TwoCircles This exhibition, featuring some 30 works from The Met collection, examine the role of text and image in the construction and function of arms and armor in the Islamic world. Quranic verses; prayers that invoke Allah, the Asma al-Husna (99 Beautiful Names of Allah), as well as the Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions; and mystical symbols were all used to imbue military apparel, weapons, and paraphernalia with protective powers. Stamp Seal Iran, early 18th century Silver, cast and engraved The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Edith Aggiman, 1982 (1983.135.11) Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The punctured stem of this stamp seal suggests that it may have been worn as a pendant. The star includes the names of the Rashidun (Rightly Guided) caliphs and the Prophet Muhammad. Dr. Ekhtiar and Dr. Parikh answered my questions, explaining that the use of Talismans was quite widespread (in the geographic regions covered by this exhibition). I pointed out that the Sahabas of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did not use Talismans and asked if the use of Talismans was limited to non-Arab armies. Dr. Ekhtiar stated I believe that non-Arab armies used Talismans but non-Arab warriors in service of Arab armies probably used Islamic talismans as well Dr. Ekhtiar did her PhD in Later Persian Paintings from New York University and is a specialist in the field of later Persian art and culture, and has particular expertise in calligraphy. Dr. Parikh did her PhD in Indo-Persian painting; she specializes in Mughal and Deccan Sultanate paintings, and is currently preparing her PhD dissertation into a publication. Dr. Ekhtiar said that her next exhibition will probably be about Later Islamic Calligraphy. However, the introduction of these practices on the battlefield was not always quite in line with Islamic teachings. While some of the practices described in this Exhibition could fall in the category of normal and acceptable daily practices such as taking the Quran (final section of the Mets Exhibition) along for recitation during non-combat times, hanging verses of the Quran as a reminder of important Divine instructions, etc. (comparative/ applicable Fatwa: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen , al-Bida wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa aslun lahu, p. 259; but, some other practices, discussed later in this article, could be classified as Shirk a major sin under Islamic law. Section from a Quran (4:114147, of the Women) Egypt, probably Cairo, ca. 1320 Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on parchment Binding: Leather; tooled The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Gift of Newton Foster, and funds from various donors, 2006 (2006.212) Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The exhibition has been organized into five thematic sections. The first establishes the context for understanding the empowering inscriptions and symbols that can be found on Islamic arms and armor. It examines a variety of textual and iconographic sources, such as the Quran, prayer books, and votive tablets (Hilya). The next three sections of the exhibition, have a geographical focus, and show objects from Iran, Turkey, India, and Southeast Asia. The works include armor (helmets, mail shirts, and cuirasses); weapons (daggers and sabers); and paraphernalia (banners and standards). Talismans from Indias Shii Deccan Sultanates such as helmets, swords, and Persian talismans are also on display. It was believed that the strategic placement of inscriptions and symbols protected a soldiers most vulnerable and vital parts. For example, the inscription of the name Ali on the nasal guard of a helmet from India was intended to bring added protection to the wearers face. However, the practice of beseeching the help of deceased humans be they anyone, including Rashidun Khailfas, or deceased saints has been ruled as un-Islamic, by mainstream Muslim scholars, explaining that it constitutes as Shirk i.e. associating a partner with Almighty Allah (Majmoo Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz 2/453; Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, 2/133; Dar ul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband, Question 1603) At the heart of almost all Talismans are indecipherable, incomprehensible, letters, numbers and figures; these are usually from magic books which are unequivocally prohibited in Islam. In order to lure gullible Muslims, some Islamic terminology is added in a prominent location, in very legible font; this serves two objectives firstly, it gives an aura of religious authenticity to an un-Islamic article, and secondly it attempts to convince the lay Muslims to treasure the talisman in a safe place rather than getting rid of it, for fear of committing a sacrilegious act. Analyzing a talisman: Now, let us analyze the above Iranian Stamp Seal talisman. The smaller inner area is used for clearly writing the name of the Holy Prophet and the four Rashidun Khalifas. To the lay Muslim, this portion is easy to read and then assume that the rest of the unreadable portion in the majority area of the seal may be a verse from the Quran. Try holding this seals photo in front of a mirror and see if you can read the words in the larger outer ring. Dont blame yourself if you were unable to read it. Thats the whole point of a Talisman- i.e., to create smoke and mirrors. Lets look at this a little bit more closely. First, Surah Kahf of the Quran does not confirm that there were seven sleepers it simply states existing different beliefs prevalent among people at that time that some say there were three sleepers, others say there were five sleepers, and yet others who say that there were seven thus eliminating meaningless details/ discussions, and bringing the Qurans reader back to the real essence of the story at hand. Second, the Quran absolutely does not provide the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and their dog, at all. So, where did this talisman preparer then get the names of these Seven Sleepers from? The Bible can be ruled out, as this story is not mentioned in the Bible. But, some Christian traditions tell this story in Greek by a Symeon Metaphrastes in his Lives of the Saints, giving the names of the seven sleepers, as Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus, and Antonio. If the names mentioned on the seal are the same names as those mentioned by Metaphrastes, then this is a Christian talisman with a Muslim facade. Further, Surah Kahf, Ayah 22 specifically instructs Muslims not to consult the people of the Book regarding the story of the people of the cave; therefore, using the names from Metaphrastes book would be in defiance of Quranic injunctions. Lastly, the presence of geometric shape(s)/ patterns adds another layer of distrust and suspicion that this talisman may have something to do with necromancy/ occult. Therefore, as we see from this discussion, there cannot be anything Islamic about this talisman, save the previously discussed thin veneer of some Islamic terminology. Helmet India, Deccan, 17th century Steel, gold, copper alloy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935 (36.25.63a) Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York When evaluating a matter, Muslims look for guidance first from the Quran, then from the Ahadith (teachings of Holy Prophet). Muslims also look at the Sahabas (companions of the Prophet) practice to find out how the Sahabas had dealt with a particular issue, as there is a Hadith stating that the Sahabas are like stars and the Muslims would succeed if they followed any of the Sahabas. And who is more astray than one who calls on (invokes) besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them? Quran, Surah al-Ahqaf, 46:5 The Prophet said to Ibn Abbaas (RA): If you ask, then ask of Allah, and if you seek help then seek help from Allah [al-Tirmidhi, 2516, classed as saheeh] So, let us look at two of the most important battles fought by the Sahaba the battle of Qadisiyah, and the battle of Yarmouk where the very survival of the nascent Muslim community was at stake. A handful of scarcely equipped, poorly supplied Sahabas had set out to take on the might of the massive, well equipped, well trained, well supplied Sassanid Persian superpower. As if this seemingly insurmountable challenge was not enough, they had to soon divert resources to also take on the other military superpower the colossal legions of battle hardened warriors of the mighty Byzantine Roman war machine. When staring down these mighty giants, what did the Muslim Sahabas do? They did not take any talismans along in these battles; instead, they put their faith in Almighty Allah. In turn, Allah rewarded them by making them the sole military superpower of the world. This promise of Allah is depicted in the following Met exhibit, which shows the second half of Ayah 147, Surah 4, which translates as ..and a true believer, Allah is always responsive to gratitude, all-knowing. The author is the Regional Quality Control Engineer for the New York State Department of Transportations Structures Division, New York City Region. He has taught at New York and New Jerseys Sunday Islamic schools, and delivered Friday sermons. He has written for major US and Indian publications. As educators, we are around a lot of bells and alarms school bells in the hall and school board meetings where parents sound the alarm on critical issues. Lately, we see a lot of warning signs in the overall state of our schools. Chronic underfunding means we are not keeping up with maintenance in the way thats needed. You can look around and see that too many children attend schools with leaking roofs, failing heating systems, and outdated technology. This is a huge and growing problem given the importance of a strong education system to Montanas economic future and the well-being of our children. Most Montana taxpayers do their part to support our schools. But not everyone is pulling their weight. A new report released by the Montana Budget and Policy Center shows that over the last decade, the wealthy and big corporations have an unfair advantage in Montanas tax structure. According to the report, in 2003 the Legislature passed a major tax cut that ended up benefiting the super wealthy and costing the state nearly a billion dollars in lost revenue. This money could have been used to fix Montanas bridges, schools, and roads or for new investments in Montanas future, such as early childhood education. We know how much Montanans care about our schools. You can see it every day by how much parents care about the health of our schools and how many volunteers help out every year. We know that when we all work together our schools and community to thrive. At least two-thirds of Montana schools were built before 1970. If you own an older home, you know that it needs serious updates. Our schools do, too. Many need new roofs, electrical systems, and heating and cooling systems. Want to know exactly what that lost $1 billion would have funded? It could have covered the entire costs of deferred maintenance at every school in our state. Imagine that: every school would be updated. Lawmakers spearheading the 2003 law said that these tax cuts would benefit everyone. However, it is clear now that the majority of Montana families saw little or no benefit. In 2006, workers earning between $20,000 and $65,000 received an average tax cut of just $23. Nearly one in five actually saw their taxes increase. That same year, households making more than $500,000 received an average tax cut of $30,500, which is about the median wage in Montana. We are happy to support our schools and other state needs because we know that we all benefit when our communities thrive. We need to fix our tax system so we all pay our fair share including the top 1 percent. We need to do more as a state to invest in our communities to fix our crumbling infrastructure, to provide an affordable college education, and support public education system to provide the 21st century learning experience our children need and deserve. Actor Wang Baoqiang stole the thunder from the Rio Olympic Games two weeks ago by exposing the "extramarital affair" between his wife Ma Rong and his agent Song Zhe. Soon after Wang moved a Beijing court to seek divorce from his wife, custody of their two children and a division of the couple's assets, Ma filed a defamation suit against Wang, rejecting his allegation and claiming he had damaged her reputation. Complicating matters further, a source close to Ma told the media that it was Wang who had had an extramarital affair. While the mudslinging continues, the issue has sparked a frenzy on the internet, with major social network websites playing a big role in the developments. According to the Legal Daily, within 24 hours of Wang issuing his statement, nearly 2,000 self-proclaimed micro blog accounts of Song and Ma cropped up on Sina Weibo, a leading micro-blogging websites. All the accounts were created by imposters who changed their account names just to attract more followers. Rumors and allegations have flooded WeChat, a popular chatting app, with many public accounts uploading stories with provocative titles. Many of these accounts attracted huge numbers of undiscerning followers, because most users tend to search key words to read "news". Those with acute business acumen soon began peddling so-called "sex videos of Ma and Song" on the web, which turned out to be just cartoons. A search for "Ma Rong" on taobao.com, China's leading e-commerce website, throws up thousands of underwear which reportedly belong to Ma. A tourism website raised eyebrows for using a promotional slogan that read: "Baoqiang, don't be sad. Come to enjoy the gentle breeze in Hainan". And a restaurant is offering discounts to customers whose names include "Bao" or "Qiang". Such apparently creative, but actually dirty, ways of promoting products and services to make money continue. It is clear some people are using the Wang-Ma case to make quick money. Wang said that he hoped to minimize the harm the event could cause his children and parents, but the online activities are adding insult to the injury of not only Wang but also Ma. As a public figure, Wang knew his "revelation" and statements would be panned by the people and media alike, but he still went ahead and made his wife's so-called extramarital affair public. And even though the matter has become a hot topic of discussion, those using the internet to gossip about the affair should realize that irresponsible comments and spreading of rumors are adding to the pain of the couple. By reposting or forwarding the rumors, people inadvertently commit the offense of rumor-mongering. But they should be cautious, because irresponsible comments can cause unnecessary harm to people. And internet service providers should take steps to prevent the promotion of malicious content. The public accounts that saw a sudden increase in their number of followers may lose them again once people realize they have been fooled into spreading rumors for the benefit of unscrupulous individuals, but the episode has highlighted the importance of establishing a mechanism to stop rumormongers going berserk online. It may be impossible to close the accounts of all the people who spread rumors online, but the identification of those who started the rumor with ulterior motives is necessary - and the culprits deserve due punishment. Similar to people who are reluctant to help an old person in need for fear of inviting trouble, the "onlooker" mentality on the internet is condemnable. Behind those promoting such online frenzy are unscrupulous individuals who use even the most tragic and personal events to make money. And they should be stopped now. The writer is an editor with China Daily. lifangchao@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 08/27/2016 page5) CASPER, Wyo. The Wyoming Supreme Court has suspended a state lawmaker and Cody lawyer accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his local bar association. Sam Krones suspension from practicing law went into effect Wednesday. It will remain in place pending the resolution of charges against him. Krone, who was defeated in the Republican primary earlier this month, is facing three felony and four misdemeanor charges in connection with the alleged theft of $9,600. Authorities have accused him of diverting money from the Park County Bar Association for his own use. The Wyoming Attorney Generals office charged him on July 29, after an investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday. He has pleaded not guilty. Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric fired Krone from his job as a deputy prosecutor earlier this year after Krone admitted to losing his temper and sending inappropriate text messages to a woman being prosecuted by his office. Krone has served in the Wyoming Legislature since 2011, representing Park County. He lost to challenger Scott B. Court in the House District 24 Republican primary on Aug. 16. Court collected 72 percent of the vote. He will face Democrat Paul Fees in the Nov. 8 general election. North Dakota political party heads gave their two cents on their respective presidential candidates Thursday among other topics during a day-long policy summit held by the Greater North Dakota Chamber. North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Kelly Armstrong said he supports Donald Trump, though he said the party in hindsight may have been able to find a stronger candidate. Trump visited North Dakota in May, reaching the necessary delegate threshold to clinch the GOP nomination hours before his first major energy address at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck. Armstrong said Trump, or any Republican, was a better choice than the Democratic nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At the end of the day, Im proud of him, Armstrong said. Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen called Clinton an extremely good candidate for whom she was excited. She praised Clintons rise from law student and first lady to U.S. Senator and later Secretary of State. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, stumped for her this spring in Fargo. Libertarian Party chair Tony Mangnall said the partys candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson who is a a Minot native, is a voice of reason and a credible choice from Clinton and Trump. Hillary may be our worst president ever, but Trump would be our last president, Mangnall said. Governor candidates talk federal regs During the first gubernatorial debate of the general election season, GOP candidate Doug Burgum and Dem-NPL candidate Marvin Nelson staked sharply opposite positions on how the state should deal with proposed federal regulations. Burgum said the governor and other executives in the administration need to be united when it comes to reacting to federal oversight. This is a huge issue, Burgum said. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare, we could end up spending a majority of our budget on health care costs, according to Burgum. He said hed use every tool available to fight any potential overreaches by the federal government. Burgum said states such as North Dakota could be a leader in energy, such as clean coal technologies, rather than let the federal government shut an industry down. Burgum was referring to federal emissions rules. The original Environmental Protection Agency rule from June 2014 called for North Dakota to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11 percent from 2012 levels by 2030; the final rule moved that target to 45 percent. The changes caught officials and industry off-guard and drew sharp criticism from industry, North Dakotas congressional delegation and state officials. Nelson said he believes legal challenges to the emissions rule will be successful because rules are required to be feasible. He said, in this case, the rules are not. Nelson took a completely different stance. The lawsuits are an indication that weve failed as a state, Nelson said. State agencies and regulators simply wait until a federal rule is proposed, then come out in opposition and file comments before proceeding with lawsuits, according to Nelson, who said the state should try building better relationships with federal regulators and look for improvements to state regulations rather than respond to every proposed rule with a lawsuit. We really need to be more proactive, Nelson said. Syria - According to Fox News, ISIS released a new video showing little children executing Kurdish fighters in a revolting video released Friday. Just like in most ISIS videos, the Kurds are bound and lined up with their murderers behind them. While we are teaching our kids math and English, ISIS is teaching their kids to murder. The chilling nine-minute video was recorded in Raqqa, Syria and is not suitable for young viewers, much less, kids being involved in the murders. The number of children involved is terrorism is growing at an alarming rate. The children One of the children, being Identified as Abu Al-Baraa Al-Tunisi was quoted in the video as saying " What lies between me and you are days that make young men turn old," as he and the other kids point their guns to the sky. The young child finished by saying "prepare your coffins and get ready to share the fate of these men." Then just like any other ISIS video, they point their guns to the backs of the Kurd's heads and pull the triggers. Child suicide bombers As ifthat is not bad enough, Multiple suicidebombers have been attacking all over the world. Turkey, France, and Germany are feeling the impact.The bad part - the bombers are no older than 10 years of age. According to CNN, Iraq police stopped a young boy from detonatinghis belt by holding his arms on both sides, as the boy trembled with fear. .@mchooyah: While we're teaching our kids about microaggressions, ISIS is teaching their kids to kill our kidshttps://t.co/IpMiyA88Wq FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) August 22, 2016 Authorities say that if the boy would have slipped loose, he would have triggered his bomb and the three men holding him would have been killed. This is a growing problem all over the world. There are more children in ISIS them we think According to the Independent, There are far more children in the ranks of ISIS than the world thinks. The exact number of "Cubs" is unclear at this time, but they are estimated to be in the thousands. The children named by ISIS as the cubs of the caliphate are various children from Iraq andSyria, as well as the children of the countless millions of Christians and Kurds that Isis has slaughtered. According to experts, the number will keep growing in the coming months both in number and in attacks. NORTHWOOD -- Iris Westman doesnt really want people to make a big fuss over her. Shes a little bit tired of people asking how come shes lived so long. On Sunday, shes turning 111. She is the oldest person living in North Dakota, according to a family member. Westman says her longevity is out of her hands. The Lord takes care of it, she said, sitting in her cozy room at Northwood Deaconess Health Center. And he knows what hes doing, so I suppose we should accept. Last year, at her birthday party, visitors included former Gov. Ed Schafer and his wife, Nancy. They visited and visited, said LuAnn Stevens, activities director at the health center. Normally, she doesnt like the attention, but shes getting used to it, Stevens said. She is the oldest person living in North Dakota, said Jane Lukens, of Aneta, citing results of research by a family member. Lukens is Westmans grandniece. Lukens said one of her relatives determined that Westman is either the 21st- or 23rd-oldest person in the country. The 2010 nationwide census showed 330 individuals who were 110 years old and older -- 131 men and 199 women. A combination of factors are contributing to longevity, said Dr. Don Jurivich, professor and chairman of geriatrics at the University of North Dakota. Among them are better health practices, including vaccinations, he said, and improved nutrition and food preservation, and better treatment of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. But maybe just as important is a persons attitude about life. Researchers who study aging found that the 100-year-olds they interviewed had the same temperament, Jurivich said. They were live-for-today, nonstress people. They were good-tempered, kind, very positive and forward-looking. Early memories Westman was born Aug. 28, 1905, to Nicholas Ole Westman and Mathilda Erickson Westman on a farm near Aneta. She was the third child, and only daughter, of four children. Her mother, at 2 years old, came to the U.S. from Norway with her family, she said. Her father was born in the U.S. but his people were from Telemark (Norway). My parents insisted we go to school, she remembered. I attended grades 1 through 12 at Aneta. Theres no school there now. During World War I, her mother taught her to knit so she could help with the Bundles for Britain campaign, which provided garments to English women and children, she said. In war time, ordinary citizens (over there) had to make do with a lot less. She also knitted socks and scarves for U.S. Navy and Army soldiers. Westman can recall Warren G. Harding who served as president in the early 20s. He was not a good president, she said, but he was awfully good-looking. After graduating high school, she attended UND, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in education in 1928. At UND, when she talked to other girls about their backgrounds, I thought I had it pretty good. I didnt do barn work, with horses or cows. I helped in the house, she said. For her first job out of college, she was hired as an English teacher and high school principal in Killdeer. Subsequent teaching positions took her to Hillsboro, and Staples, Minn. She spent more than 20 years as an elementary school librarian in Worthington, Minn. Ive seen a lot of things, and Ive forgotten a lot of things, she said. Shes been amazed by changes in transportation, education and, well, practically everything. As an elder with plenty of life experience, Westman offered some words to live by. Behave yourself. Trust in God, she said. Work -- whether mental or physical. She has noticed more people are living to 100 and beyond. I think there are going to be more of us, she said. Life is better. Food is better. Medicines are better. Were better than the good old days. Not-so-exclusive club Since reporting on the oldest North Dakotan living in an assisted living facility -- Martha Geery, Grand Forks, who turned 105 last month -- weve heard about a few other 100-plus people who live in nursing homes in the region. They are Anne Hoffarth, of Langdon, N.D., who turned 108 on Aug. 17 and Alice Stahl, McVille, N.D., who celebrated her 105th birthday June 23. The 2010 census revealed that North Dakota was second in the nation in the percentage of its population in the 85-and-older bracket, according to Mandi-Leigh Peterson, research analyst with UNDs Center for Rural Health. At 2.48 percent, the state was behind only Rhode Island at 2.54 percent. However, the 2015 census estimates showed North Dakota slipping to ninth place, presumably due to the influx of younger people seeking jobs in and related to the oil industry. The percentage of the population who are 85 and older is relatively high because the nature of rural areas lends itself to the older population, Peterson said. Older people arent migrating (out of state). Young people are moving away, and farmers are staying on their farms, she said. Farming does not bring in that much of a population. The Centers for Disease Control predicts that longevity will continue to increase, said Dr. Don Jurivich, professor and chairman of geriatrics at UND. These (researchers) say that a persons chance of living to 100 is 1 in 4,000. Children born now have a 1 in 10 chance of living to 100. The fact that North Dakota has one of the oldest old populations in the U.S. as a percentage does not mean that it is the healthiest elderly population in the U.S., Jurivich said. For example, North Dakota has one of the highest rates of falls with injury in the U.S. The state of North Dakota does not keep records showing the ages of individuals, by name, living in North Dakota, said Kevin Iverson, the state demographer. But age-group records are kept. In 2010, no one was counted as 110 and over (in North Dakota), Iverson said. In that year, there were 207 North Dakotans who were between 100 and 104 years old, he said. In the 105- to 109-year-old age range, there were 14. Among them, Grand Forks and Walsh counties each had two individuals -- more than any of the other counties. As to the reasons some North Dakotans live to such an advanced age, Iverson said, As a demographer, I dont know why. That would be where I start philosophizing. Id just say theyre living in the right place. NEAR CANNON BALL -- Construction wont immediately restart on a $3.8 billion pipeline if a judge rules against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe after a court hearing Wednesday, Aug. 24. Dakota Access LLC, which temporarily stopped construction last week amid growing tribal protests near the pipelines planned crossing of the Missouri River, will wait for law enforcement to determine its safe to resume construction, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Wednesday morning. That call will depend on how protesters react to the ruling, if its favorable to Dakota Access, Kirchmeier said. Weve done everything we possibly could to make sure this stays safe, he said. Law enforcement officers met with tribal leaders and protest organizers Wednesday morning and had a positive dialogue, the sheriff said. There are 40 officers on site near the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers, which has drawn 2,000-some protesters camped nearby, many from tribes across the region and the country. Fargo police officers and deputies from Cass and Grand Forks counties are among the agencies assisting Morton County deputies. Standing Rock members oppose the river crossing, fearing a pipeline leak would contaminate their water supply and other sacred sites. The tribe is represented by the environmental law group Earthjustice in the lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over permits issued for the pipeline, which would cross the Missouri River a half-mile north of the reservation and be the largest oil pipeline from the Bakken oil fields, moving 450,000 barrels per day to Patoka, Ill. Dakota Access temporarily stopped construction near the river crossing site as protests ramped up, leading to 29 arrests for trespassing or disorderly conduct. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., will consider Wednesday the tribes request for an injunction that would effectively halt construction of the 1,172-mile pipeline. A lawyer for the tribe said the judge has indicated he will rule from the bench or shortly after the hearing. Vic Camp, a 41-year-old from South Dakotas Pine Ridge Reservation, said Tuesday that protesters will refrain from violence if the judges ruling doesnt go their way. The only way violence will happen is if the cops provoke it and they attack us, he told Forum News Service, adding, We have our women and we have our children. We have grandparents here. When asked what will happen if the judge denies the injunction and Dakota Access tries to resume construction, Camp said, Then well start blockading. Well do what we can with our bodies to keep the machines from coming in, he said. A checkpoint on State Highway 1806 about 6 miles south of Mandan has been restricting traffic to the protest area for days, but an additional blockade was added Wednesday. Due to concerns about the safety of protesters who may march from the campsites to the construction site, authorities set up a second checkpoint farther south near Fort Rice and were preventing any vehicles from passing through. Check back later for an update on this developing story. 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. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group acquires nearly 5 per cent stake in the bank and make it the sixth largest shareholder in TPBank on August 26. Photo baodautu.vn HA NOI TienPhong Bank (TPBank) announced yesterday in Ha Noi that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was its new shareholder after making a quasi-equity investment of VND403.1 billion (US$18.35 million) in dividend preferred shares. This will allow IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to acquire a nearly 5 per cent stake in the bank and make it the sixth largest shareholder in TPBank. According to IFC, the investment in TPBank would help the institution expand loan services to better serve growing Vietnamese businesses, adding that the bank can offer loans to more than 40,000 small and medium enterprises in Viet Nam. TPBank joined IFCs Global Trade Finance Programme in December 2015 with an initial trade line of $10 million. IFC has recently increased its trade exposure to $30 million, based on active utilisation of the lender. TPBank Chairman o Minh Phu said, IFCs abundant financing and extensive relationship network will enhance our capital resources and governance capacity as well as uncovering opportunities of co-operation with local and international financial institutions. IFCs investment supports TPBanks long-range plan of becoming the countrys leading digital bank, expanding its retail and SME reach, which comprise about 85 per cent of TPBanks portfolio. Kyle Kelhofer, IFC country manager for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos said, The investment in TPBank demonstrates IFCs continued support to Viet Nams banking sector and its development of diversified financial products and services to small and medium enterprises, which will in turn increase financial inclusion and employment and reduce poverty. Founded in 2008, TPBank has grown into a medium-sized bank with total assets of $3.7 billion as of mid-2016. The other five largest shareholders of the bank included Doji Jewelry, FPT Group, MobiFone Corporations, Vietnam National Reinsurance Corporation and SBI Ven Financial Group Holding Singapore Pte. Together with the investment in TPBank, IFC would support greater access to finance for the private sector by boosting lending capacity and strengthening operations of local banks in developing economies. IFC is also providing advisory services to further improve the lenders risk management, digital and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) banking products, as well as corporate governance standards. VNS Ha Noi Ha Noi is among 20 most attractive cities globally in software production, and is striving to stand in top 10, an official has revealed. Between 2016 and 2020 period, the citys information and technology sector is set to boost the development of software and IT services, while strengthening the application of IT in State agencies, Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications Phan Lan Tu said during a ceremony on August 26 to mark the 71st anniversary of the information and communications sector. Since early this year, the city has launched an online enrolment programme serving 600,000 school students and 1,997 local schools, and provided online public services at 168 wards in 12 districts, which is expected to expand to 18 communes. According to a report on Vietnam ICT Index 2015 announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Association for Information Processing, Ha Noi secured third position among 63 localities nationwide. FPT Corporation earns high revenue HA NOI In the first seven months this year, FPT Corporation recorded a consolidated revenue and before tax profit of VN20.93 billion and VN1.42 billion, equal to 93 per cent and 100 per cent of the year-to-date guidance, respectively. After-tax profit was VN1.20 billion, equal to 101 per cent of the year-to-date (ytd) guidance. After-tax profit attributable to the parent companys shareholders was VN906 billion. Earning-per-share (EPS) was VN1,976 after seven months. In seven months, overseas markets showed encouraging results with VN3.13 billion in revenue or a year-on-year increase of 30 per cent, and VN9.42 billion in before-tax profit, or a year-on-year increase of 32 per cent. Of this figure, the largest contribution came from the software outsourcing segment with its revenue up 34 per cent year over year. Besides, the retail segment maintained its outstanding performance, increasing 33 per cent in revenue and 39 per cent in before tax profit, reaching 104 per cent and 111 per cent of the ytd target, respectively. BKAV launches new anti-virus software HCM City The BKAV Technology Group officially launched last week its new anti-virus software BKAV 2016, which is equipped with new technology against information leak. The new version will comprehensively protect computer users against spyware attacks. In recent network attacks, a major problem was created when a victims computer was hacked and controlled by spyware. According to BKAV research, hackers often send email containing a spyware virus and most users are infected. The anti-leak technology has been studied and developed by BKAV engineers for the last five years. It includes a package of smart technology against spy software like Safe Run, Anti Keylogger and HIPS. HCM City announces the 8th annual ICT Awards HCM City HCM City has announced the 8th annual ICT Awards, saying nominations will be received until the end of September. The topic this year for the awards organised by the Department of Information and Communications and meant for organisations and individuals operating in the ICT field or deploying ICT applications is Digital technology accompanying a civilised and modern city. The awards are given for outstanding products and services and for achievements that contribute to the development of the citys ICT. In the seven years the awards have been presented, the quality and number of nominations have been consistently on the rise, with many of the award-winning products going on to become popular products. The organisers will select organisations and individuals for the award in six categories: outstanding software solutions and products; most popular hardware; best value-added service providers; and outstanding IT applications; apart from outstanding companies and individuals who contribute to the citys IT development, and best IT students. The awards will be presented in November. VN IT products to enter APICTA Awards 2016 HA NOI - The Vietnam Software and IT Service Association (VINASA) said it will select and bring the best Vietnamese information and technology (IT) products and services to the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2016. The awards will be held in Taiwan this December. More than 600 delegates are expected to attend the event. According to a representative from VINASA, awards will be granted to products and services in 17 IT fields. VINASA said it would select IT products and services for the awards based on the winners of Sao Khue Awards 2016, as well as the best IT products and services proposed by enterprises and organisations. APICTA is an alliance of national IT organisations representing their respective economy to build and enhance a network to promote IT. APICTAs 17 member-economies include Australia, Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, People Republic of China, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam. - VNS HCM CITY A television show that encourages overweight people to develop a love of dancing will air on Viet Nam Television (VTV) this Sunday (August 28). Produced by VTV and ong Tay Promotion, Buoc Nhay Ngan Can, a Vietnamese version of the US TV reality dance show Dance Your Fat Off, helps contestants lose weight. The show will have 12 contestants, six women and six men, who will be trained in dancing and nutrition, as well as taught to lose weight in a systematic way. I have a passion for dancing and want to become a professional dancer. Because of my weight, I have never had a chance to reveal my talent in public, said Nguyen Thi Mai Trang, a kindergarten teacher, who weighs 80 kilos. I now have a chance to show off my dance ability and become slim, said Trang. Each contestant will pair with professional dancers such as Huynh Men, Hai Anh, inh Loc and Pham Lich to show their best moves in disco, hip-hop, salsa, rumba and dance sports. Candidates will be eliminated each week until there are three finalists, who will compete in the grand finale in November. The jury consists of pop star am Vinh Hung and choreographer John Huy Tran, while comic actor Tran Thanh will be the host of the show. Buoc Nhay Ngan Can attracted more than 3,000 people in the preliminary rounds, which was held in Ha Noi and HCM City early July. The show, consisting of 11 episodes, will air every Sunday night on VTV 3. VNS Crocodile farmers in southern ong Nai Province have suffered from big losses since the beginning of this year due to weak demand. Photo VNA/VNS Photo Sy Tuyen ONG NAI Crocodile farmers in southern ong Nai Province have suffered from big losses since the beginning of this year due to weak demand. Luu Thi Huong, who is raising about 4,000 crocodiles, said the market price for crocodiles is VN70, 000 (US$3.1) per kilo, a decrease of 70 per cent from last year. As the selling price is below the production cost, I have no choice but continue raising crocodiles. However, I feed them very little to reduce their weight, she said. My family is lucky because we have saved money from previous years while other breeders have lost all their money, Huong said, adding that Chinese traders preferred crocodiles weighing 18 to 20kg. Huong is not alone in inh Quan District. Many local crocodile breeders have been hit hard by falling prices. Nguyen Van Nhat is another example. His family invested hundreds of millions of ong in building breeding facilities and buying baby crocodiles in 2014. Seeing profits from the first harvest, Nhat decided to expand his farm to 300 crocodiles. Although crocodiles in his farms were for sale, he kept them as he didnt want to suffer losses. Nguyen Van Chieu, deputy head of inh Quan Districts Forestry Management Department, said the high price of the meat in previous years encouraged many farmers to build crocodile farms. The department warned breeders of a poor consumption market and low prices because crocodiles reared in inh Quan District are mainly sold to China in small-volumes. Local authorities also asked crocodile breeders to find a consumption market so that trade partners cant reduce their price at will. According to Chieu, crocodiles are protected animals and are included in the list of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Floral) which bans the trade of the animals. It is still legal to farm but breeders have to register with the local Forest Management Department. The Department manages 375 farms with 140,000 crocodiles, accounting for 90 per cent of the total number of crocodiles reared in ong Nai Province, Chieu said There was a large number of crocodiles in stock due to low consumption, he said. VNS The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has requested strict control over the import and use of salbutamol to prevent the abuse of the drug in animal breeding. Photo talkvietnam.com HA NOI The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has requested strict control over the import and use of salbutamol to prevent the abuse of the drug in animal breeding. The move was made following the Health Ministrys decision to allow a resumption of salbutamol imports, which is often used to treat asthma and breathing problems, for use in the health sector from August 1. Last year, responding to reports that salbutamol was likely to be used illegally to stimulate growth in animals, the health ministrys Drug Management Administration banned the import of the substance. Last December, the use of banned substances in animal breeding, such as salbutamol, was detected in three southern cities and provinces of HCM City, ong Nai and Binh Duong and five northern cities and provinces of Ha Noi, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and Hung Yen. Sixteen per cent of tested meat samples contained salbutamol, and 80 per cent of inspected animal feed producers used the banned substance. The lifting of the ban applies to only drug producers that are registered to use the substance for medicine and hold valid certificates to import salbutamol. Businesses whose contracts to import the drug were approved before November 20 last year are not allowed to import it. The MARD proposed the health ministry share information about salbutamol importers to jointly manage the substance. It also proposed the health ministry apply special supervision over the import and use of salbutamol. The Drug Management Administration said it licensed two businesses to import salbutamol who are allowed to import a maximum of 50kg of salbutamol each to produce medicine for hospitals. Relevant agencies will supervise and examine the import and use of salbutamol by these two companies. VNS group, which runs Delhi and Hyderabad airports, has won the bid to develop and operate the Rs 3,000-crore Mopa airport in Goa on a public private partnership basis with the state government. Unequal Budget funding for the Yes vote wont give Australians equal say If you seek to ensure not all Australians get an equal say in the debate about an enshrined voice, then dont be surprised when millions of them cry foul about the integrity of the result. Geelong to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony 00:27 Geelong has been announced as the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. Australia abstains from vote at the UN on a treaty banning nuclear weapons 00:29 Australia has abstained from a vote at the United Nations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. WATERLOO The Black Hawk Button Club will celebrate its 40 anniversary with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at St. Pauls Methodist Church. The event is open to the public. The club was organized by Elda Dolash in 1976. Its purpose is for education, mutual helpfulness and the preservation of the history, art and beauty of buttons. Its members also may be members of the National Button Society and the Iowa State Button Society. The club recently has grown to more than 40 members. For the 40th celebration, members have created several projects for display out of red buttons. There will be buttons of all kinds for sale and also items made with buttons, along with refreshments. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for stabbing and cutting his girlfriend as many as 14 times, bringing her within an inch of death. Reuben Stigler, 51, said he was sorry for what had happened but renewed his claim he hadnt slept for days before the stabbing because he was using methamphetamine and didnt intend to harm his girlfriend, Angelia OConnell. I didnt mean for it to go this far, Stigler said. He then read from a multiple-page missive that declared his trial unfair and the law enforcement and court system unjust. Stigler was convicted of attempted murder, willful injury, domestic assault, going armed and false imprisonment in the March 23, 2015, attack on OConnell, which played out for several minutes in their home. On Friday, Judge Kellyann Lekar sentenced Stigler to a series of concurrent and consecutive sentences totaling 40 years in prison. He will have to serve 17 and a half years of his 25-year attempted murder sentence before he is eligible for parole. He was also sentenced to a concurrent 120 days in jail for violating a no-contact order by communicating with OConnell through a series of letters and phone calls in November while the case was pending. Defense attorney Cory Goldensoph, who had asked for leniency considering Stiglers troubled upbringing, said the sentence amounts to a life term for Stigler. OConnell, 41, sat quietly in the back for the courtroom, crying after the sentenced was announced. Her mother, Beverly Harris, said the relationship had been abusive for years. He had isolated her from me and her entire family. There was ongoing abuse through the whole relationship, and I fear for my daughters life. It was isolation and abuse from day one, Harris said. Assistant County Attorney Brook Jacobsen said Stigler had accused OConnell of dishonesty and held her in the bedroom of their home in March 2015, stabbing and cutting her. When she tried to escape, he pulled her back in and renewed the attack, he said. A roommate called police, who found the two in the bloodied bedroom. If a stab wound to her abdomen had been 1 inch over, OConnell could have died, Jacobsen said. Stigler waived his right to a jury and opted to allow a judge to hear the case during an April bench trial. His attorney argued Stigler was hallucinating and having a psychotic episode because of sleep deprivation. Jacobsen said after the guilty verdict was announced in July, Stigler still hadnt appeared to have learned from his mistakes. The prosecutor played a recorded jail phone call between Stigler and OConnell. He accuses her of having a relationship and can be heard telling her if she plays him for a dummy, shes going to have big problems. WATERLOO Charles Earl Jones said he feared he was going to be shot in the head, but the bullet hit him in the armpit. I just grabbed for my head. Boom, boom, boom. I get to running. I grabbed my side, I get across the street to the point I just fell. I just blanked out. I was hurt, Jones said grasping his side on the stand as jurors listened. Jones, 21, told jurors he was shot on Leavitt Street by a mugger at the tail end of a tug-of-war over his red leather Pelle Pelle jacket. Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz said Jones was shot by a grocery store manager at the end of a holdup and then concocted the mugging story to explain his injuries. Jones is charged with first-degree robbery, going armed and making a false report in the Nov. 18 holdup at Rays Supermarket on Franklin Street. It happened minutes before Jones was found on Leavitt Street with a gunshot wound. His trial began Wednesday, and testimony wrapped up on Friday with Jones taking the stand in his own defense. Jones said he left his parents home while the 8 p.m. show Empire was still on TV and walked to the home of family friend Shavanda Brown to watch the shows conclusion, and then left for a walk a short time later. Brown testified Jones was usually part of the Empire crew who would watch Empire at her home, but she didnt have any specific recollection of the day in question. I cant say it was 18th, but hes always there, Brown said. After the show, Jones said he walked past Irving Elementary to borrow the schools Wi-Fi signal and was listening to music on his Beats by Dre headphones when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He said he was willing to hand over his headphones and his cell phone but drew the line at the coat because it was cold outside. He told me to give my belongings up, and I asked him are you really going to rob me? Jones said. Im not going to say it how he was really saying it because theres cuss words and everything. Three neighbors in the area of Leavitt Street testified they heard three or four gunshots and looked outside to see a man, Jones, on the ground under a tree near a stop sign. Two of the witnesses reported seeing someone walking or running from the scene and climbing into a sport utility vehicle that fled before police and paramedics arrived. On cross-examination by the state, the neighbors said they didnt notice the person who fled carrying anything. The defense also called Jones mother, Carol Jones, who said her son didnt look like the masked robber on the security videos from Rays Supermarket. My son is tall and slim. That guy is short and heavy, Carol Jones said. She said her son doesnt have the shoes or a black Hawkeyes hooded sweatshirt shown in the video, and she said her son never wears a belt, which was also shown on the robber in the video. But Walz said Charles Jones was wearing a belt when he was found with a gunshot wound. Police said the belt matched the one worn by the robbery, and holes in the pants Jones was wearing were also similar. Police said they found Joness palm print on a glass door at the store, but Jones said he regularly shops there. Closing arguments in the case are scheduled for Monday. CEDAR RAPIDS Minutes after the Iowa GOPs top official called Hillary Clintons attack on Donald Trump for not distancing himself from a former Ku Klux Klan leader hypocritical, Democrats blasted Republican officeholders for standing with their nominee, who they called racist, sexist and bigoted. Hypocrisy comes to my mind, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Friday afternoon to describe Clintons release of a video featuring KKK members and white supremacists supporting Trumps and saying that Trump is taking hate groups mainstream. On a conference call with reporters, Kaufmann said Democrat have got to recognize the hypocrisy of her commercials in light of Clintons tribute to the late Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who joined the KKK because he didnt want to fight alongside African Americans in the Army. He later renounced his membership, but not before leading a 14-hour filibuster in an unsuccessful effort to stop the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Kaufmann called Clintons attack as desperate as it is predictable. Trumps outreach to minorities that Clinton and Democrats have taken for granted while offering them embarrassingly little threatens to resonate with Hillarys base, and thats why shes lashing out. He challenged Democratic U.S. Senate challenger Patty Judge to weigh in on Clintons comments. Does Patty Judge have anything to say about the hypocrisy of the Clinton ads shes running against Donald Trump? Kaufman said. Judge did have something to say about Trumps racism and bigotry. On a conference call organized by Hillary for Iowa, Judge said Trump is the GOP nominee because of the groundwork Sen. Chuck Grassley laid during the caucus season for Trump. Grassley introduced Trump at a campaign event something he did for nearly all of the 17 Republicans presidential hopefuls. Since then he has never backed down, Judge said. No matter how offensive, how bigoted or hateful Donald Trumps comments are, Chuck Grassley has stood beside him. Fourth District Democratic challenger Kim Weaver also weighed in, connecting Trump and her opponent, Rep. Steve King, out-trumps Trump in his constant racism and sexism and in his divisive remarks. DES MOINES Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump peppered Iowa Sen. Joni Ernsts Roast & Ride fundraiser Saturday with some political red meat, pledging to aid family farmers, veterans, minorities and give voice to Americans who arent being heard by President Obama or Hillary Clinton. Clad in a white cap, black jacket and white shirt, Trump brought about 1,800 supporters to their feet repeatedly by slamming Clintons very bad judgment, her email and pay-for-play scandals, and her immigration and other policy positions while offering his candidacy as a chance to open a brand new beautiful chapter in American history. Together, we are going to win this state in November and we are going to win the White House for the American people, Trump said during his 47-minute speech. The White House will become the peoples house. We will tackle and fix the problems that have gone unsolved for years: failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, broken borders, bloated bureaucracy, wasteful spending, and a government that just doesnt work. This is a campaign about big ideas designed to help everyday people. These are the people who work hard, but who dont have a voice, Trump added. This year, the GOP is offering the voters a chance to break up the corrupt establishment and to create a New American Future. This chance will never come again. By contrast, Trump said Clinton believes she is entitled to be president, thinks shes above the law, has the backing of big bank and Wall Street special interests and is unfit to serve in the Oval Office. Speaking at a packed Iowa State Fair livestock pavilion, Trump joined Ernst for a Republican cattle call that included U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann, the states three GOP congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King and David Young -- and 2nd District congressional challenger Chris Peters. The New York billionaire held himself out as a champion for Iowa family farmers, promising to end the EPA intrusion into their homes and businesses, protect the Renewable Fuel Standard, eliminate job-killing regulations and provide them tax relief. By contrast, Trump claimed Clinton wants to shut down family farms through radical regulation and taxation that will mean higher rates with a double whammy through inheritance taxes. My economic agenda can be summed up in three words: jobs, jobs, jobs, he said. Trump also indicated he will take a get-tough stance on immigration, beginning by removing criminal illegal immigrants on the first day of his presidency. These international gangs and cartels will be a thing of the past. Their reign of terror will be over, he said, while contending Clinton would expand executive amnesty and trigger a constitutional crisis. So the choice couldnt be more clear. A vote for Trump is a vote to have a nation of laws, Trump told the crowd, a vote for Clinton is a vote for dangerous open borders where anybody can just walk in and do whatever they want. Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire said Trump does not offer solutions that matter to working families in Iowa because he is more interested in grabbing headlines than formulating plans that better their lives. Ernst, who invited Trump to keynote her second annual pork roast and motorcycle ride with about 400 other leather-clad bikers, said the afternoon of speeches topped off a fantastic event that raised money for the Soldiers Strong nonprofit effort to help injured veterans regain the ability to walk. What a beautiful day -- not too hot; not too sunny, just right, Ernst told reporters after the 42-mile motorcycle trek. It was really a gorgeous ride. Ernst said she wanted to day to focus on issues that are important to Iowans rather than the name-calling that has flared during the 2016 presidential race. Hillary Clinton has given us so much to talk about, really with the email scandal and really bad policies overseas, Ernst noted. She has a record of failure. Lets talk about that record of failure. We can focus on issues, not name-calling. During her remarks to the pavilion crowd, Ernst pressed national security concerns as a former Iowa National Guard officer and combat veteran that President Obama consistently is leading from behind in combatting the spread of terrorist threats and feared similar failures would continue if Clinton is elected. We need candidates up and down the ballot who will keep us safe, she said. Kathy Cassidy of Villisca, whose husband, Bruce, was one of Saturdays riders, said her family made the trek to Des Moines to be a part of an effort that will benefit Americas veterans and to support Trump. Im all about the food, she added. Were always up for a ride and a great cause, noted Wes Renken, a Johnston motorcyclist who had Ernst autograph the back of his shirt before participating with her in his second ride. The shirt eventually will go in my special closet where he keeps his Harley-Davidson gear, he noted. Jay Naeve of Gilmore City said he came to Des Moines to be part of the event and to support Trump, who he backed in last Februarys Iowa caucuses as soon as he said build the wall and bring back jobs. Thats what we need. Naeve called Trump the complete opposite of Hillary Clinton. Joe McKenna of Des Moines was part of the Big Barn Harley Davidson hog group that helped organize the ride and acted as a road captain during the ride that also occurred under the watchful eye of the Iowa State Patrol. He said the ride is a party atmosphere with the best part seeing everybody enjoying themselves. WATERLOO Waterloo is looking to Charlotte, N.C., for help building bridges between law enforcement and the community. Mayor Quentin Hart, Safety Services Director Dan Trelka and police Lt. Aaron McClelland traveled to Charlotte last week to learn about that citys award-winning community policing program. One of the things we learned was that community policing involves more than just stopping in occasionally at a store, Hart said. You need programs that empower a community to build lasting relationships. We want to make sure were doing everything we can in Waterloo to keep our community engaged and working to move forward as a collective group, he added. Part of that involves building bridges of trust in the community. Hart said the trip grew out of information and contacts he made while attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors and African American Mayors Association earlier this year. Charlotte is one of many cities working to implement recommendations from President Barack Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The Waterloo delegation met with Garry McFadden, a decorated 34-year veteran of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, who retired in 2011 but was immediately rehired to help lead the departments community outreach efforts. They have outreach folks in the police department who go out every day and build bonds, Hart said. Their police department provides a multiplicity of different services, such as a youth diversity and back-on-track programs and a teen court. While our police do a great job, for anyone including the mayor the biggest room is the room for improvement, Hart said. Hart and many of those he defeated in last years mayoral election vowed to look for ways to help reduce the citys crime rates. This is going to be a cultural change that requires courageous conversations, Hart said. We have to work together more so in different ways than we have in the past. Hart said he hopes to bring McFadden to Waterloo to help the city ramp up its community policing efforts. A date for the visit has not been set. FACEBOOK Minnesota. It's cold, it's white. There aren't a lot of Asian Americans like me (first and second generation Korean Americans.) However, my home state hosts the largest population of Hmong Americans in the United States.May Lee-Yang, a good friend and collaborator, is one of these Hmong Americans from Minnesota. She is an incredibly talented playwright, actor, performance artist, writer, producer, etc. She's a real Jane-of-all-trades.We often joke about how she's a "jungle" Asian and I'm a "fancy" Asian. Yes, I know, it doesn't sound right. Some readers may be offended. But, as May is one of the pioneers in the Hmong American Theater movement, she believes this title better explains who the Hmong are to a public that don't know much about them at all.Recently we talked about May's experience as a "jungle" Asian.May, as a "Jungle Asian," what do you want the greater Asian American nation to know about you?[Laughs] Well, maybe the first thing, is to know that we exist. The first sixteen days I was in Los Angeles, I basically had to explain what Hmong was at least once a day. I wasn't trying to educate people, but they had no idea who we were. Everyone thought I was Japanese from classmates to Uber drivers. So first of all, we exist. There are lots of Asians besides Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Indians.For Angry Asian Man's readers, can you explain who the Hmong are?Hmong, so if you want google Hmong, it's spelled H-M-O-N-G. Hmong people are tribal folks who lived throughout Asia and Southeast Asia. The majority of Hmong people who live in United States are from Laos. We came here as refugees from the Vietnam War. Those are the facts. I suppose my commentary is that people have a hard time figuring us out. We're like the Jewish people of the Asian community. We are always wandering around and steeped in a lot of culture. Some people like to say we're nomads, which is the totally romantic way to describe us because we've been kicked out of every country we lived in. It's always interesting when I tell Asian people who the Hmong are. [Some responses are] "You guys are really barbaric, you guys lived in the Jungle, you guys didn't have a written language until the 1950s."That's some major side-eye from the "fancy" Asians.Yes! The fancy Asians always ask me, "weren't your parents mad at you for not becoming a doctor?" No, they're happy that we're alive! That's real.Truth. When I tell other Asian Americans, especially those in Los Angeles that I'm from Minnesota, they freak out. At least my immigrant parents saw snow growing up in Korea. But for you guys, your family lived in the tropics. How was the transition for you and your family?I actually don't think the snow was a big issue. It was the lack of rice. We came to Minnesota because the Lutherans brought us here. My family ended up in a super, super small town in Minnesota, and they lived there for six months. My mom said they moved to St. Paul because they wanted to eat rice. Their sponsor brought them a box of Uncle Ben's rice and my mom said we needed a one hundred pound bag of rice. So I haven't heard a lot of stories of the Hmong people struggling with the cold. We're used to adjusting.You mentioned earlier that other Asians asked why your parents are cool with your career as an artist. How does it feel to talk with other Asian American artists about your career and the path you took to get there?For one thing, it's probably one of the reasons why I can live as an artist because there's not many of us. This is not coming from a place of arrogance, but reality. Everything that Hmong Americans create now is considered as Hmong American history. There has never been a precedent. Whether we choose to do it or not, we're pioneering this field. Hmong American Literature, Hmong American Theater didn't exist until 1994.OH HEYYYYYYY![Laughs] It's true though. I get paid to be Hmong. When I talk to other Asians, even though we share, for the most part, a similar skin color, other Asians don't understand where we [Hmong] come from. I think there's also an unspoken rule of who's on the totem pole. I think Southeast Asians are lumped at the bottom for many things like economics, skin tone, education, etc. What's fascinating is that all of these "disadvantages" make me sexy as an artist. I'm a first generation refugee, born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and my parents didn't have opportunities. I'm part of the first generation of Hmong American writers and theater people. It sounds so pretentious, but it's true.I don't think it's pretentious, it's pretty sweet.That's good.N: In Minnesota, many K-12 students are required to read The Latehomecomer . We learn a lot about the history of the Hmong, such as the Vietnam War, crossing the Mekong, and the refugee camps in Thailand. There are many books and plays about it. How do you juggle your role as an artist to make sure the Hmong history and culture is being portrayed, while also telling more contemporary stories?I think one of the most challenging things about telling a story about an unrepresented community is that people assume there is only one narrative. I remember when I was starting out as an artist, people told me my experience was not "Hmong," and there were only a couple of narratives that were. When I joke about how I'm the Lazy Hmong Woman, people ask me, "how does that happen?" That is what inspired me to write my own story. That's why it's so important to write your own story. It is so easy for people to stereotype the Hmong experience. All of our experiences are so unique.I think one of the other challenges is that people don't know how to market my work. They know they want me in the room, but then say they need an all Hmong audience. It's a comedy show! Get people who like comedy, women, or nerds.When I was doing my porn star show, this guy said he was shocked. He told me he thought I was going to do a show about crossing the Mekong, or something. I told him, it's called, "Ten Reasons Why I'd Be a Bad Porn Star." How'd you think that? Did you think my parents became porn stars to survive the camps?The true immigrant sacrifice.Yea. Does that mean it becomes a play about sex trafficking?You were recently in L.A. What's the difference between artists from Minnesota and California?It was good. Interesting. I met a lot of filmmakers. They had a hard time figuring out what theater could be. They had the least exposure to it. I asked if I could bring my shows to the Central Valley, because it's important that the Hmong community there sees my stuff. One guy said, "you should become a YouTube star, then we'll bring you back."I know you're a writer, performance artist, playwright, actor -- you do it all. Why the stage? What makes the stage a critical part for your work instead of things like youtube?The opportunity to interact with the audience. Most of my shows have no fourth wall. You come to my show, you could be drinking some wine with me. And this has happened in real life. Or I could be selling you sex toys, which has also happened in real life. You get to play. I get to play with audience members and they get to play with me.It also offers a deeper experience. We can have a conversation. Sometimes onstage, sometimes in the lobby. Theater is interesting. There's not a safety net. People think they can come to the theater and sit quietly, and observe us. Like voyeurs. But I like how we can interact and talk about hard issues. Plus I have to step up my game. You know when people are not interested. As a writer, performer, and producer I think about how I can be engaging. When people read my poem and don't like it, well, that's it. With theater, they're stuck with you one or two hours. Search of Mayfield home snares alleged meth trafficker and two others By The Associated Press Aug. 25, 2016 | 01:07 PM | FORT CAMPBELL, KY The name of the Fort Campbell soldier who fired shots in an airfield hangar has been released.The 101st Airborne Division says the man is 23-year-old Specialist Bryan Castillo, a Blackhawk helicopter repairer who came to Fort Campbell in 2013.Officials say the motive for the incident is not known.Army officials say a 101st Airborne Division soldier fired two shots at Fort Campbell and then fled in his vehicle before being apprehended by military police. Fort Campbell spokesman Robert Jenkins said in a news release that the soldier entered a hangar at Campbell Army Airfield about 11:30 a.m. Thursday and fired the shots. No injuries were reported. Jenkins said the soldier fled in his vehicle and was followed by post law enforcement. He did not identify him. The spokesman said during the pursuit, the soldier hit another vehicle but continued to his home on the post. He tried to get out of the vehicle but was apprehended. He said no motive was known. 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NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir? Canl Bahis Nedir? Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir. Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir. Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr. Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr? Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr? Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr. Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr. Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler. Canl Bahis Taktikleri Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir. Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir. Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz. Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr. Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz. Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz. Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz. Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz. Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz. Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir. Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr. Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak. Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir; Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi Banka hesap bilgileri Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura. Kacak Iddaa Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir. Kacak Bahis Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor. Illegal Bahis Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr. Yasads Bahis Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler. Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir? Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir? Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Iddaa Bilyoner Tuttur Birebin Oley Nesine Misli Iddaa 2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir. Bilyoner Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir. Tuttur Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr. Birebin Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor. Oley 2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr. Nesine Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur. Misli 2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur. Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir. Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir. Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr. Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir. Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz. "Our aim is to take you to the heart, soul and stomach of Cambodia - to offer you a deep, meaningful and memorable experience of Cambodian culture, people, history, and food," Lara Dunston said. SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA, August 26, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Eat, drink, cook and get creative in riverside Siem Reap and colonial Battambang on a new 9-night Cambodia Culinary Tour and 10-night Travel and Food Writing and Photography Retreats, curated and hosted by Cambodia-based travel and food writer and photographer couple, Lara Dunston and Terence Carter. Siem Reap is the departure point for UNESCO World Heritage listed Angkor Archaeological Park, home to the stupendous temple-city Angkor Wat. Both the Retreat and Tour include temple scrambles, using the 'back door' to avoid crowds and offering insider experiences of these incredible attractions, such as a laidback moat-side sunset picnic with the locals overlooking Angkor Wat. The trips also include three days in charming Battambang, regarded as Cambodia's 'rice bowl' and excursions into the bucolic countryside around both cities. "Our aim is to take you to the heart, soul and stomach of Cambodia - to offer you a deep, meaningful and memorable experience of Cambodian culture, people, history, and food," Lara Dunston said. Siem Reap residents of three years, Lara and Terence have crafted enriching itineraries with a delicious balance of culinary experiences, cultural excursions, countryside tuk tuk trundles, and, on the Retreats only, writing and photography workshops. Participants will spend their time eating, cooking, exploring temples and villages, and visiting artisanal producers, while those on the Retreat will also be writing and taking photos. There will be downtime for reflection, relaxation, pampering, and even shopping. Cambodia has a rich tradition of exquisite arts and crafts and a new generation are producing stylish fashion, jewellery and accessories and beautiful homeware and kitchenware. Highlights include meals at Cambodia's most authentic restaurants; behind-the-scenes kitchen tours and the chance to interview chefs; market tours, street food adventures and village walks; introductions and tastings of everything from Cambodian breakfast soups to traditional sweets; and rural excursions to visit cottage industries and observe artisanal producers make everything from rice paper and rice noodles to palm sugar and prahok (fermented fish). Exclusive experiences include a visit to an organic farm with a young Cambodian chef and time to observe the last maker of a beloved traditional dessert in a village once famous for producing the delicate, painstakingly prepared sweets. There'll also be a private cooking class and leisurely lunch at the lovely country home overlooking the rice fields of Cambodian-New Zealand chef Kethana Dunnett of Sugar Palm restaurant. Chef Kethana is the go-to consultant for visiting chefs, having advised the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Luke Nguyen when they were in Cambodia working on television programmes and cookbooks. "Our focus will be on immersing you in Cambodian food, one of Asia's most misunderstood and under-appreciated cuisines. On both our Culinary Tour and Retreat, we'll be introducing you to the people who cook the cuisine, sell it and produce the ingredients that go into making it, and giving you a taste of the rich culture and long history of Cambodia. Those on our Retreat will also spend time honing their writing and photography skills through bite-size creative workshops, practical achievable assignments and one-on-one consultation time," Lara explained. According to testimonials, the couple's 2015 culinary travel writing and photography tour was "incredible", "an extraordinary experience", "a wonderful tour", and "a memorable experience". Participants said encounters arranged with locals was a real highlight of the tour, so once again visitors will get to engage with local chefs, cooks, foodies, farmers, and producers. The retreat will also feature memorable experiences such as a monk's blessing to wish participants luck; an introductory Khmer language lesson with foodie vocabulary; a night at the quirky Phare Cambodian circus (no animals involved); a chance to sample Cambodia's best coffee; a visit to the country's only winery; a Khmer cocktail-making lesson; and sundowners and canapes overlooking the rice fields. Accommodation is in stylish, intimate boutique hotels, including sleek Templation in Siem Reap, by acclaimed local architects ASMA, which boasts the city's biggest swimming pool, and charming Maisons Wat Kor in traditional-style houses in Battambang -- where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt spent Valentines Day last year. About Grantourismo Travels: Lara Dunston & Terence Carter Lara Dunston and Terence Carter are a prolific travel and food writer and photographer couple. Their work has been published everywhere from Australian Gourmet Traveller and Delicious to National Geographic Traveller and CNN, and they authored dozens of guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Footprint, Dorling Kindersley, and others. They have written widely on Cambodia and are working on a Cambodia cookbook. The couple also publish the travel site, Grantourismo, focused on slow, local and experiential travel, which launched in 2010 when they undertook a yearlong, global grand tour, aimed at inspiring travellers to travel slowly and sustainably, to go local, and to learn things. Lara and Terence spent two weeks in each place, settling into apartment rentals and holiday houses, connecting with locals, and cooking the local food among other things. As an academic for some years, Lara taught writing and filmmaking, guiding thousands of students through the creative process, from concept to completion. She also crafts bespoke itineraries for travellers, including Savour Siem Reap, focused on food. http://grantourismotravels.com # # # Rachel Feltman in the Washington Post: Much of the universe is made of dark matter, the unknowable, as-yet-undetected stuff that barely interacts with the normal matter around it. In the Milky Way, dark matter outnumbers regular matter by about 5 to 1, and very tiny dwarf galaxies are known to contain even more of the stuff. But now scientists have found something entirely new: a galaxy with the same mass as the Milky Way but with only 1 percent of our galaxy's star power. About 99.99 percent of this other galaxy is made up of dark matter, and scientists believe it may be one of many. The galaxy Dragonfly 44, described in a study published 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. The researchers who found Dragonfly 44 weren't looking for a dark galaxy. Another surprise: They found it using a telescope built of camera parts. The Dragonfly Telephoto Array was built by a group of astronomers at Yale University and the University of Toronto who realized that telephoto lenses so 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. More here. Steven Pinker and Juan Manuel Santos in the New York Times: The peace treaty announced this week between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, marks more than the end of one war. It is a milestone for peace in the Americas and the world. The 52-year war between the Colombian state and the FARC is the oldest and only armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere, and the last one held over from the Cold War. From Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, war in the classic sense of a violent conflict over governance or territory fought by at least one national army has disappeared. Although drug-related gang violence in Latin America continues, the extinguishing of political armed conflicts from an entire hemisphere deserves note. One has only to look back a few decades to see how momentous a change this is. In Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru, as in Colombia, leftist armed forces battled American-backed governments, with deaths mounting into the hundreds of thousands. In Nicaragua, the conflict was the other way around: American-backed rebels fought to overthrow a leftist government. The United States and the Soviet Union poured in support that kept such wars raging. The dirty war in Argentina also flowed from a clash of left and right, in which tens of thousands were killed. More here. Get to know the candidates seeking three spots on Brown Co. Commission Four people are running for the three four-year seats on the Brown County Commission. Here's a little more about each candidate. Airtels unique network initiative has received positive response from customers, who have shared feedback and suggestions and provided leads for putting up network sites 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. (You can view the TVC on the following link - https://youtu.be/nTMBPjmOnu0) 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 industry is rife with speculations regarding Siddharth Roy Kapur planning to put in his papers as Managing Director at Disney India. As reported in sections of the media, Kapur is likely to quit the company in January 2017. The journey at UTV and Disney India Kapurs journey with UTV began in the year 2005, when he joined as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the Group. This comprised Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Production, Animation and Corporate. He was later handed the responsibility for the Revenue function at UTV Motion Pictures, where he handled Distribution & Syndication worldwide, in addition to his Marketing responsibilities. Kapur was promoted to CEO of UTV Motion Pictures in 2008. Following the amalgamation of UTV with The Walt Disney Co (India) in 2012, he held the role of overseeing executive studios as Managing Director, Studios. In January 2014, Kapur took charge as Managing Director of Disney India, with the responsibility for driving the strategy and growth for The Walt Disney Company in India. Kapur started his career with P&G in brand management. He then joined Star TV in the strategic planning division, where he worked across Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Dubai. At the time of quitting Star TV, Kapur was leading its Central Marketing & Creative Services team. What Next? As per media reports, Kapur might join Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Ronnie Screwvala and Anil Thadani to form a production and distribution company. As is known, at Disney, Kapur has been producer or associate producer for several hit Bollywood movies such as Chennai Express, Jodhaa Akbar, Rowdy Rathore, and Love Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, among others, as well as critically acclaimed films such as Barfi, A Wednesday, DevD, Aamir, The Lunchbox, etc. AES reservists respond, provide care during motorcycle accident The rain was pouring down violently, there was a motorcycle mangled and someone face down in the mud in a residential Minneapolis neighborhood August 10, 2016. Three Aeromedical Evacuation Citizen Airmen on their way to dinner, noticed there was no emergency responders on site and immediately identified themselves as medical personnel and worked the scene. 1st Lt. Mark Galera, 934th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, flight nurse, Tech Sgt. Marie Carrol 932nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, aeromedical evacuation technician and Staff Sgt. Ryan Schiemo, 34th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, aeromedical evacuation technician, who had not worked or trained together in any capacity before this moment took control of the scene until emergency responders arrived on scene. Without any prior plan, we each took a role at the scene, said Schiemo. Sgt. Carrol held c-spine immobilization while maintaining an open air way, Lt. Galera managed the scene control and safety and I communicated and relayed information to 911. Although they had never worked together, their Air Force and medial training kicked in and they responded efficiently. It was seamless, said Carrol. We each knew what we were doing and we knew not only how to do it but how to communicate together to care for the patient. Each one of these reservists not only have medical training from the Air Force Reserve, Schiemo is a paramedic, Carroll is an emergency room nurse and Galera works as a nurse in an intensive care unit. This wasnt the first time anyone of us had experienced a patient in this condition, said Galera. When we arrived, the patient was not wearing a helmet and had moderate bleeding on the back of his head. Being a paramedic, Schiemo, assisted the first responders when they arrived on to the seen. I knew where everything was kept in the vehicle and coordinated with them and retrieved essential gear as needed and requested by the firefighters and paramedics, Schiemo said. This team was great! And it shows directly how we all get such great training, not only how to perform medical tasks but also how to work together. As a team, they coordinated the call with 911, stabilized the patient and worked with first responders to help the patient. They provided the necessary care to help the patient and sustain life. The Airmen recently arrived to Minneapolis Air Reserve Station, Minnesota, to participate in Patriot Warrior. Patriot Warrior is the Air Force Reserve's premier contingency deployment training exercise, designed to demonstrate training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. Air Force officials welcome new vice chief of staff, honor Vietnam War vets Air Force Undersecretary Lisa S. Disbrow and Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein welcomed Gen. Stephen W. Wilson as the services new vice chief of staff at a reception Aug. 26 at the Fort Myer Officers Club. The senior leaders and their guests then attended a public event at the Air Force Memorial, where the service honored Vietnam War veterans with performances by the U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard, and a T-38 Talon formation flyover. At the reception, Disbrow expressed her excitement to have Wilson on the Air Staff. With over 35 years of dedicated service to the Air Force and joint time as well I have to say Im really honored to be working with you, and looking forward to a lot of great efforts together, she said. I see you reaching back to the Air Forces past and looking forward to the future, and being that bridge for us. So thank you already. Wilson said that hes truly honored and humbled to serve as the services 39th vice chief. As vice chief, Wilson said his focus will be on supporting the Air Force secretary and chief of staff in executing the Air Forces Strategic Master Plan. He also looks forward to advancing the secretarys three priorities of taking care of people, balancing readiness and modernization, and making every dollar count. I plan on focusing on the things that make a difference to our Airmen and their families, Wilson said. I have a fundamental philosophy that if we start with the right people, we give them the right training and resources, and we ensure they are personally and professionally satisfied the result is mission success. Wilson said hes also excited to help the chief of staff execute his top three priorities: revitalizing squadrons, preparing Airmen to lead in the joint fight, and rethinking how the service can execute multi-domain global command and control. Our nation counts on airpower every day to defend our interests and way of life, he said. Our Air Force remains the best in the world, and today we are globally engaged as we continue to navigate through a very challenging security environment. He went on to say that with all challenges come opportunities, and he is looking forward to be in a position to help influence the strategic vector of the Air Force. I have had the good fortune to command at multiple levels in our Air Force, and to serve in joint jobs, with partner nations and in deployed locations, Wilson said. I have seen firsthand how crucial airpower is to the fight, and how Airmen lead the way in using innovative technology in air, space, cyber and electronic warfare. By the end of the evening, the Air Force had welcomed a new vice chief of staff and honored Vietnam veterans in a ceremony that established a new National Capital Region tradition, which includes the Air Forces vision of creating more opportunities for Airmen to interact with the public they serve. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has reportedly warned that if the deal with Turkey to stop the follow of migrants does not work out, Europe will be in the risk of facing a huge regional refugee problem. The prime minister has warned in the wake of the demands put up for European union to ease the visa restrictions on the Turkish citizens along with delivering promised funds of around $3 billion to help the country improve the conditions for around three million Syrian refugees. The prime minister was speaking in the city of Istanbul during a joint press conference with his visiting Bulgarian equivalent. Turkey has also threatened lately that it will not implement any agreement with the EU to take back any refugees. Yildirim has said if the visa-falter deal and the agreement for the refugee's return are not implemented, "The refugee issue will not remain within Turkey's borders, it risks turning into a huge regional problem that will concern the whole of Europe." Plans to release visa restrictions have loped into problem over Turkey's negative response to adjust its anti-terror laws at a time when it is fighting sharp terrorization from the Kurdish rebels as well the Islamic State group. The conditions on this matter have been modified immensely since the agreement was first put forward on March 18 at the behest of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has been under the siege after allowing about two million war refugees into the country initializing domestic opposition. It is since the wake of the agreement that Turkey has been facing a number of security threats and terror incidents including the terror attack at Istanbuls Ataturk International Airport and the failed coup attempt of July 15. The European union has reportedly backed out from its deal with Turkey after the coup aftermath which resulted in forced resignations from around 60,000 soldiers, policemen, teachers and other reputed officials as well as the arrest of around 18,000 people who have been supporters of the purported coup leader US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. The situation has worsened between the western world and Turkey with the President of the country allegedly claiming that the USA and NATO forces had been backing the coup leader. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Date: 21 August, 2016. Place: Georgetown, Province of Ontario, Canada. Located 60 kilometres west of the city of Toronto, the small town of Georgetown is one of the many urban centres that define the so called Greater Toronto Area. With only 50,000 inhabitants, stillness is one of the main characteristics of the village. However, every once in a while the town is shaken by a strange event, as it occurred in the morning of the 21 August, 2016. According to an anonymous report published on UFO specialised website MUFON.com, a blue spherical-shaped object was seen moving in the sky. On Sunday morning (between 9AM-10:30AM, August 21, 2016) we were outside on the patio enjoying morning coffee, the witness stated. The sky looked spectacular with real neat cloud formations - cirrus clouds too. Astonished by the beautiful view, he decided to take some photos. I thought some sky pics would look great for my Facebook page and so over the course of 51 minutes I took a series of photos with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (camera was set to 12mp mode), he wrote. I did not use any zoom, merely aimed and shot pics. However, soon after, when looking at the photos he had taken, he would realise that there was something more than clouds in the sky. At the time neither I, my wife, my brother nor his wife saw anything unusual in the sky other than clouds, airplanes and bright blue sky. It was not until an hour later when viewing the pics that I noticed a bright blue spherical shaped object in one of the pics. I thought perhaps it was debris on the lens or something, but quickly ruled that out as some pics had the blue sphere while others did not. In total, the sphere appears on 5 of my approximately 12 shots, he wrote in his report. In his words, the object looked solid, with weird protrusions on the surface. It changed its flight trajectory, too. When I examined the 5 photos more closely, I noticed the objects trajectory was perhaps from a 60 degree incline down to perhaps 30 degree incline, he affirmed. But on the final shot, the object reversed course and ascended to perhaps a 40 degree incline in the span of 1 minute. Draw your own conclusions For further information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=78665&rnd= Long Description of Sighting Report My family and I were visiting my brother and his family for the weekend (August 20-21, 2016). My brother lives in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. Georgetown is about 20 minutes northwest of Brampton, Ontario. Being in the Greater Toronto Area (and therefore close to Pearson International Airport), residents of Georgetown see many large airplanes flying over day and night. On Sunday morning (between 9AM-10:30AM, August 21, 2016) we were outside on the patio enjoying morning coffee. The sky looked spectacular with real neat cloud formations - cirrus clouds too. I thought some sky pics would look great for my facebook page and so over the course of 51 minutes I took a series of photos with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (camera was set to 12mp mode). I did not use any zoom, merely aimed and shot pics. At the time neither I, my wife, my brother nor his wife saw anything unusual in the sky other than clouds, airplanes and bright blue sky. It was not until an hour later when viewing the pics that I notices a bright blue spherical shaped object in one of the pics. I thought perhaps it was debris on the lens or something but quickly ruled that out as some pics had the blue sphere while others did not. In total, the sphere appears on 5 of my approximately 12 shots. When I zoomed in on the object I was surprised to see a solid object with weird protrusions on the surface. When I examined the 5 photos more closely, I noticed the objects trajectory was perhaps from an 60 deg incline down to perhaps 30 degree incline. But on the final shot, the object reversed course and ascended to perhaps a 40 degree incline in the span of 1 minute - I say this because the pics are time stamped. So the first pic (highest elevation) perhaps 60 deg incline, second last pic 30 degree incline and last pic about 40 degree - all relative to my position of course. The sequence of shots total 51 minutes, beginning at 9:18 Am and ending at 10:09 AM. Again, I am not an eye witness to this event - we did not see anything other than clouds and large airplanes. Note: These pics were not edited in any way. I have included one pic of a large aircraft for a sense of scale as well. Zoom in to see closer look of object and airplane. Did Obama Betray Syrian Assyrians to Please the Turks? Members of the SyriacMilitary Council fighting at the Manbij frontline to cut ISIS off from Turkey. American policy in Syria has been marked by a long list of flip-flops and failures. Remember Obamas "red line" meant to stop the Assad regime from using chemical weapons? That was quickly erased when Congress made it clear there was little public support for using U.S. forces to topple another secular dictator in favor of rebel groups whose radical Islamist views made them no less dangerous to our interests. The "moderate" rebels to whom the U.S. was airdropping weapons proved to be virtually mythical creatures, and those weapons ended up in the hands of al Qaedas allies. Then we learned that a rebel group the Pentagon had backed was fighting another that the CIA had armed. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has executed on Russias behalf a clear and consistent policy, which has helped keep Assad in power -- to the benefit of Russias Mediterranean influence, and to the benefit of the beleaguered Christian minority in Syria, who find him less of a threat than the Islamist alternatives. There was one policy, just one, that the U.S. had engaged in which seemed to be working out well: Our governments backing of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish-led militias that are allied with local Christians (the Syriac Military Council and the Nineveh Plain Force), that with growing success are taking territory away from ISIS. In those liberated regions, the SDF has established enclaves where Christians have religious freedom and their own armed militias, and women take part in government (unlike in most of the Middle East). As religious freedom activist Johannes de Jong reported here at The Stream: The successes of the Syriac Military Council and the Nineveh Plain Forces changes the picture we may have of the Syriac-Assyrian Christians in Iraq and Syria. It also challenges us to rethink our strategy to support them. No more than you or I do these Christians aspire to live in refugee camps on care packages. They ask for our assistance in standing up and defending themselves in their own country, where their families have kept the Faith for almost 2,000 years. Five days ago, US jets were scrambled to protect Kurdish forces in their self-declared Northern Syria Federation from Assads air force in the eastern city of Hasakah. Today, in the aftermath of a limited Turkish intervention on Syrian soil, the US is demanding the Kurds leave the northern city of Manbij, which the Kurds fought and died to capture during the past two months -- backed by US warplanes. That these two events happened less than a week from another is astonishing, even in such an unpredictable and volatile environment as the Syrian civil war. That the US is letting down its only remaining ally in Syria, at a time when other powers, namely Russia and Iran, have acted aggressively to protect theirs, is damaging to the overall US position in the region. By demanding the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF) leave Manbij, the US took the strategy it itself initiated, nurtured and supported, and dumped it into the trash. The attempted coup went to the heart of who your people are -- principled, courageous and committed. And for a people who have struggled so long to establish a true democracy, this was, from my perspective and the presidents perspective, the ultimate affront. So my heart goes out to not just the government, but to the Turkish people. Erdogans purge since the coup attempt has included basically any secular opponent to his Islamist government: more than 40,000 people have been rounded up, from soldiers to jurists to bankers and even teachers and a comedian. Human rights groups have charged that the rule of law has gone out the window as detainees have been kept in makeshift facilities without proper access to legal representation and suffering beatings, rapes and starvation. Erdogan has also intensified his battle against the free press. It is clear that the Turkish push against the [Kurdish-led] SDF is very worrying for the Syriac Assyrian Christians of the area, and even more for the growing number of Kurdish Christians of Rojava. It shows how much influence Turkey can have and its obvious that Turkey is the oppressor of Christians and Kurds. Turkey still denies the [1915-21] genocide against Armenians and Assyrians. One major way for the U.S. to restore trust among the Christians is to properly arm the Syriac Military Council. And, obviously, the U.S. needs to make substantial steps to show that it indeed continues to support the SDF. The U.S. needs to stop the ongoing attacks on the SDF and to investigate the claim that Turkey used chemical weapons against the SDF and the civilian population the SDF protects. [emphasis added] But now the U.S. government has decided to abandon the Kurds and their Christian allies, as Michael Horowitz reported in theWhy? What motivation does the Obama administration have for turning against its erstwhile allies, the best hope in a desolate region for establishing something like a free and pluralist government? According to Horowitz, we are currying favor with Turkey -- the former secular democracy which is morphing before our eyes into an Islamist dictatorship, in the wake of a failed coup that has proved a pretext for a massive purge of secular-minded dissidents. This is the same Turkey that has gone from provoking Russia (by shooting down a plane that was fighting ISIS) to cozying up to Putin. Turkey is also blackmailing the European Union for huge cash payments and visa-free travel throughout the continent, with the threat that if these demands are not granted, Turkey will dump hundreds of thousands more Syrian migrants across the EU border into Greece and Bulgaria. So concerned are U.S. generals over Turkeys untrustworthiness that they have pulled U.S. nuclear weapons out of their longtime Turkish base of Incirlik. Turkey has for decades savagely repressed its large and growing Kurdish minority, and its autocratic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would rather see ISIS prevail in Syria than the creation of a free, democratic Kurdish region that might serve as a magnet for armed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. To patch up relations with that regime, the Obama administration has apparently decided to throw its Kurdish and Christian allies to the wolves -- and embark on a campaign of flattery aimed at Erdogan. On August 24, Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Ankara and told Erdogan:Biden gushed that "the American people stand in awe" of Erdogan and his supporters for beating back the bungled coup. Biden did not mention the ugly crackdown that was taking place all around him as he spoke. As Bridget Johnson reported on PJ Media:Meanwhile, religious freedom activists concerned for Christians in the region are profoundly worried about the implications of this U.S. flip-flop. Johannes de Jong, who works closely with Syrian Christian leaders, told Assyrian Militias Fighting ISIS in Iraq Hope for U.S. Support Clutching his rifle intently, the Iraqi recruit maneuvered between piles of bricks and cement obstacles. The sound of shooting pierced the air and he jumped behind a wall, lifted his rifle and imitated the staccato sound of gunfire. It was only a training exercise -- the man is among the few dozen Assyrian Christian militiamen conducting military drills in a training camp at the foot of the mountains overlooking the Nineveh plains of northern Iraq. The militia, known as the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, or NPU, is one of three Christian armed groups hoping for American support after the U.S. House of Representatives called for direct assistance to be delivered to local security forces in the north of Iraq. American assistance "will give equality to all the ethnic groups here," said Col. Jawat Habib Abboush, the deputy commander of the group. "This is our country, we had a civilization here for a thousand years and we are still citizens of this country," he added. "We cannot be marginalized." Assyrian Christians, many of whom speak a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus and his disciples, once constituted a significant minority in Iraq but their numbers have dwindled in recent years as many have emigrated to escape longstanding discrimination. When the Islamic State group spread across northern and western Iraq in the summer of 2014, Assyrian Christians were brutally targeted and thousands of members of the community were displaced from their homes, fleeing to Kurdish-controlled areas. Col. Abboush said his group poses no threat to anybody but IS. The militia had formed to protect the community in the wake of the Islamic State's onslaught and the collapse of the Iraqi army. "We joined to fight terrorism and Daesh, and to liberate our land, to protect our dignity and honor," said recruit Michael Rai Staef, using the Arabic acronym for IS. His hometown, Qaraqosh, is still held by the militants. The NPU has received training from American private military trainers and Col. Abboush said his men were currently being trained by U.S. military personnel. A spokesman for the anti-IS coalition couldn't confirm if the NPU was, indeed, receiving training from the U.S. military but said they were considering training another Christian group, known as Dwekh Nawsha. The House of Representative's draft 2017 U.S. defense bill specifies that direct assistance may be provided to "local security forces, including ethnic and religious minority groups, with a national security mission." The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president, and its vague wording gives Washington considerable discretion over who to support and how. But groups such as the NPU hope it means that financial aid and direct military support could be forthcoming. The 300 or so fighters of the NPU have purchased some of their weapons themselves, and received around 100 rifles from the Iraqi army. Their salaries have been paid by the Iraqi government since spring. Yet the Christians are divided among themselves. There are at least two more Christian armed groups operating in the area, where they vie for influence. One rival group, the Nineveh Plains Forces is based in the town of Telskof, where half-collapsed buildings and bomb craters remain from vicious fighting against Islamic State militants in May. The NPF have also received training from American private military trainers. But unlike the Iraqi-supported NPU, the NPF's support comes from the peshmerga, the armed forces of the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq. They have received arms and other equipment from them, although because the cash-strapped peshmerga are struggling to equip themselves properly, the NPF receive "only leftovers," NPF commander Safaa Khamro said. The NPF and the NPU are prone to squabbling: each speaks highly of its own battlefield successes and accuses the other of running away from fighting, harboring secret agendas or just being propaganda outfits. They even occupy separate positions on the front line. The Kurdish regional government and the central government in Baghdad are vying for influence over Ninevah province, and are hardening the divisions between the Christian groups. The NPF describes itself as part of the Kurdish region's defense system. The NPU sees itself as an official Iraqi security force; most of the leaders are former Iraqi army officers and many of the men have Iraqi flags on their uniform. Hajar Ismail, a spokesman at the Ministry of Peshmerga, said the policy of the Iraqi Kurdish regional government was to encourage Assyrian Christians who want to fight to join the peshmerga, not to form their own armed groups. Nevertheless, northern Iraq is awash with various militia forces, representing the many ethnic and sectarian groups of the area, including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians and Yazidis. Currently the U.S. and other Western countries are providing direct military assistance to the Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish peshmerga, but not to other groups. The Christian militias hope that the U.S. bill could change this. They readily admit that their relatively small numbers and shortage of equipment mean they do not play a major role in the anti-IS campaign. U.S. financial support might allow them to the Christians to play a bigger role, but it's unlikely to heal the rifts between them. August 26, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip On International Youth Day, which is celebrated annually on Aug. 12, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chose Palestinian youth Hussein Murtaja from Gaza City to be part of the Advisory Group of Experts for Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security. In 2009, the Youth Advisory Board affiliated with UN-Habitat and concerned with urbanization and urban development was launched. This year on Aug. 12, the Advisory Group of Experts was formed and comprised of a youth advisory team affiliated with the United Nations. This group includes 21 youth experts who work in the framework of a project put forth by Jordan in December 2015, with the aim of finding a new role the youth can play in peace and security building. Murtaja holds a bachelors degree in engineering and a degree in applied business; he is also the recipient of the Erasmus Mundus student exchange scholarship. He is a youth and social activist who has worked as the coordinator of several projects, such as the Palestine Model UN 2012 (PalMUN 2012). He has represented Palestine at several conferences and international and local events. He is also a spokesman for victims of war and armed conflict. In 2008, Murtaja founded, with a group of friends, the youth group Rasail (Messages) that became a UN partner in the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The Youth Letters program aims to raise awareness among the youth about the UNs role, and to provide financial support for economic empowerment projects dedicated to Gazas youth. The group also conducted volunteer work, and local and international projects. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Murtaja speaks about representing the Arab world in the Advisory Group of Experts. The text of the interview follows: Al-Monitor: Where did the idea of the UN Advisory Group of Experts come from? Murtaja: In 2015, I submitted my candidacy to become a member of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board concerned with urbanization and urban development. I received the highest number of votes to represent the Arab region [in the board], along with my colleague Maria Dayfallah from Algeria. [This year], I was selected as part of an expert committee that would be [a prelude] for a youth advisory group, also affiliated with the UN. The idea [of the Advisory Group of Experts] was submitted by Jordan to the UN Security Council on Sept. 9, 2015, to give the youth a new role in peacemaking and instilling security and to explore the different ways of increasing comprehensive youth representation in decision-making processes. The aim is to prevent the outbreak of conflicts and to resolve existing ones under the headline Youth, Peace and Security. This project is the first of its kind in the world. Al-Monitor: What was the mechanism of candidacy for the Youth Advisory Board? Murtaja: The candidacy and appointment were done online. The final list included 90 young people, 21 of whom were chosen to be part of the Youth Advisory Board headed by Graeme Simpson who is also the director of Interpeace USA. There were five Arab members [including myself] among them hailing from unstable regions of conflict such as Farea al-Muslimi from Yemen, Ikram bin Said from Tunisia, Hajer Sherif from Libya and Salim Salama from Syria. I received the highest percentage of votes, as 92,000 people from around the world nominated me. I currently represent the Arab region. Al-Monitor: What are the competition and selection criteria to join the Youth Advisory Board? Murtaja: The candidates should be active in their country in youth-related issues and must support development projects. A few years back, I established a youth group under the name Rasail for economic empowerment of youth in Gaza and for the development of their cultural skills and dialogue abilities to bridge the political division gap in Palestine. I was a victim of this division, as I was injured in the head by a ricochet in the tragic incidents between Fatah and Hamas in 2006. I had to remain in intensive care for a period of time until I got back on my feet. Although I was wounded and I quit studying for a while, I kept thinking about cultural and economic projects to help the Palestinian youth. I submitted a project to the UN the PalMUN conference in 2012. The idea stemmed from the need of the Palestinian youth to know the UN role in Palestine and the decision-making mechanism. We wanted the voice of the Palestinian youth to reach the world; 300 young men and women participated in the conference, which was a success. We are thinking of holding a new conference soon. Al-Monitor: Is there a certain program you plan to submit this year to the UN in the framework of the Advisory Group of Experts? Murtaja: I am working on an integrated program, and I will submit a study about youth, peace and security to the UN. The study will include economic and cultural projects, as there are 73 million unemployed youths in the world. The UN will then support youth recruitment and employment projects to curb poverty, empower youth in the fields of education and knowledge and establish emerging companies for youth submitting development projects. With this, the suggested project will raise the youths awareness, empower them, and develop their skills and talents. We will try to provide the UN with accurate statistical data about the situation of youth in the Arab world especially Palestine. Al-Monitor: What are you trying to achieve with your team? Murtaja: As a young man, I am interested in the stability of the Arab world. At 25, young people find themselves unemployed or without any role in life. They are unable to stand out. On the contrary, they are ready to be lured by any political party or ideology, be it good or bad. The void and polarization have fueled violence and led to the emergence of youth espousing radical ideas in the Arab world in general. The solution is to feel the youth's situation at home, share their concerns, open horizons in the technology field for them, help them find job opportunities in the world and involve them in global development and crisis management. We will base our choice of projects with the UN on the above. In the upcoming years, this generation will be able to instill peace in its society. Al-Monitor: What are your priorities for Palestine through the group? Murtaja: The most important thing is for the Palestinian youth to know their rights and duties through the UN institutions. There are many UN resolutions that serve the Palestinian youth. We are working on raising their awareness about their rights and duties and we are communicating with the less fortunate also. On behalf of the Rasail group, I visit 200 families in need, and I am aware of the tough situation that people in Palestine are facing, especially the youth. But there are good things in this world. It is not all about unemployment, poverty and power cuts. I will work on forming a wider youth team in Palestine to promote awareness initiatives and train the young people in diplomacy and civilized dialogue. The volunteer team included 13 people at first, and 10 members traveled to widen our reach abroad. Al-Monitor: Will you work from the Gaza Strip or from abroad? Murtaja: The work will be done in and outside Gaza. I should submit the project in coordination with Arab countries, other than Palestine. We will form a private Palestinian committee to present real statistics and surveys as well as economic empowerment projects for young Palestinians. We will have direct contact with the youth, and we will not rely on the Palestinian centers surveys, but on our own field youth experience. Al-Monitor: Did any Palestinian political party try to hinder your work, or make you offers? And why? Murtaja: The governments security authorities have banned some [of my] cultural and awareness activities in Gaza, as [these activities] were not licensed. Some projects were also stopped because those security services did not understand the true nature [and meaning] of such activities. About offers, no one cares about us on the official Palestinian level. I am saddened about the clear neglect of the official Palestinian authorities of the importance this UN team [Youth Advisory Board] enjoys. The team has already launched 150 small projects within the framework of the [Deprived Families] Economic Empowerment Programme and funded by the UNDP institutions. As for political parties, I do not represent any [party]; my only goal [focuses] on Palestinian youth. Al-Monitor: What are the main obstacles that you are facing? Murtaja: In the past, I traveled to represent Palestine in international conferences in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. I was banned several times from traveling to represent Palestine at international conferences and UN youth sessions due to the [Gaza] siege. A meeting for the Youth Advisory Board will be held in October 2016 and another meeting in February 2017. I hope I will be able to travel to join the youth board and start implementing approved decisions and activities. Randall Woodfin (Roy S. Johnson) Earlier this week, seven long-time mayors across the state were given their walking papers by voters. Birmingham's mayoral election is still a year away, but the surprising (or maybe not so surprising) defeats didn't go unnoticed by the first person to say they will challenge Mayor William A. Bell in 2017 for the city's highest political office. "People are hurting," says Randall Woodfin, an assistant city attorney and school board member, "and we need to acknowledge it. Some people don't feel safe. Residents have a real, genuine frustration about what's going on where they live, where they wake up. You can feel, touch and see their frustration, that their concerns are not being addressed. It's real." It's way, way, way too early to start salivating over what will surely be a smorgasbord of intrigue for Birmingham voters next year. But the news Monday that 35-year-old Woodfin will step into the race, followed by the surprising number of stalwarts who went down the following day, offers a tasty appetizer of what's to come. Bell has confirmed that his name will be on the ballot next summer as he seeks a third term, and others will likely enter the fray, as well. The reasons behind each mayor's defeat are as varied as their zip codes, but a distinct, pungent air of dissatisfaction exists across the nation--no, anger--that is also making it difficult to breathe for many long-time local officials. That isn't likely to change soon, no matter which candidate's truck backs up to the White House in January. On Saturday at 11 a.m., Woodfin is slated to publicly announce his candidacy at the North Birmingham Recreation Center (3501 28th St. North), not far from where he grew up in North Birmingham. His message will attempt to tap into that dissatisfaction with a three-pronged platform centered on familiar themes: improving education in the city's schools (emphasizing Pre-K learning and job certification for high-school graduates), investing in basic needs and services for neighborhoods and making it easier to open, attract and grow businesses in the city. So while those areas are not new to any of us, Woodfin--a "music man" whose cadence and tone reflect more jazz than hard rock--is adamant that they've not been well tended by the current administration. "We are currently in a leadership crisis," he told me earlier this week. "We've seen the personal turn into pettiness turn into vindictiveness. And we've seen the near shut-down of the city because of it." Woodfin has twice before run for public office, on both occasions for the school board. He lost in 2009, but was elected in 2013. From school board member to mayor is a significant leap, especially in the largest city in the state, with more than 200,000 residents and nearly $500,000,000 between the Operating and Capital budgets. Why not make a play for a council seat first? "Nothing against the council," he said. "Leadership is important to me. Public service is important to me. But I see a leadership crisis, and all crises start at the top." After Tuesday's elections, it was also speculated that some results hinted of a potentially seismic generational shift, particularly among African Americans. In our state, two long, long, long-time black mayors--Tuskegee's Johnny Ford and Selma's George Evans, with 40 years between them as mayors--were ousted by young challengers. While if that's a bonafide trend it might aid Woodfin's effort, he's says he's not buying in. "People want to say this is old versus new, I don't believe that," he said. "I respect William Bell. This is not personal. He loves the city; I love the city. We may have different styles and belief systems on how city hall is supposed to function. But when people get to a space where all personal, it's not healthy." Here are synopses of his vision in the three core areas of his platform: On education: "If we're not making Birmingham city schools our no. 1 priority, that's unacceptable," he said. "Everything in life is about the strength of the foundation, and for the school system that means birth to six years old. What are we prepared to do to make sure our children's foundation is right?" His plan includes partnering with foundations, faith-based entities and private companies, to create more programs targeting pre-school children ("It's unacceptable for any child to start learning their numbers in kindergarten; that's too late.") and extended-day programs for children not reading at grade level. For high-school graduates, he would add job-certification to the curriculum. "The weight of a high-school diploma decreases every year," he said. "If we're putting a diploma in the right hand of our graduates we should be putting some sort of job certification in their left hand, for those who are not going to college or the military." On neighborhoods: His emphasis is basic infrastructure improvements to areas that may be long neglected--from repairing sidewalks and streets and neighborhood playgrounds to an increased spending on clearing and maintaining unattended lots. "A city is only as strong as its lowest performing school and its lowest quality-of life neighborhood," Woodfin said. "I don't think Mayor Bell is bad guy at all and he should be acknowledged for being at city hall since 1979. But our citizens are demanding a sense of urgency around taking care of their basic needs and basic services. "For each citizen it comes down to: did things improve in your block, on your street, or have they remained the same or gotten worse? If the latter, there's an option to choose something different." On small business: "They're the backbone of our tax base," he said. "If we want to be open for business, the process has to be efficient and friendly. City hall should not be a place that frustrates small-business owners. Are we doing everything we can when they want to grow or expand? We can do better there." Woodfin claims he'll be able to fund any initiatives within the current budget (alas, the fiscal '17 budget is still not approved) and several times during our discussion he pulled up a copy of the budget on his smart phone to point out areas where funds might be used differently. "The current administration does a lot of travel, especially to Washington D.C." he said. "We would like see some things brought back to us. The residents deserve it." He also added: "I won't need a $10 million budget for the mayor's office." The elephant at our table during the conversation was crime--the perception/reality that major crime here are on the rise, that too many people do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods and that the relationship between law enforcement and some citizens--particularly black citizens--while not as strained as in some large cities is still tenuous. "It's a real concern," he acknowledged. "We all have to listen more to both sides: residents and officers, too. I love [the police] and will go to bat for them. It may not be popular but our residents have to take ownership of their neighborhoods. There's been a lot of buzz about community policing. When there's crime, police and detectives believe someone saw what happened but won't come forward. If we can improve that relationship on both sides, hopefully that will change." He also went back to the importance of education and how that affects crime: "If we're putting young people on the path to either go to college, or to enter the military or workforce, they're less likely to commit crime. We can't be afraid to be bold." Again, many of these ideas and initiatives are not new, and some of them are even being undertaken in some form now. And incumbents don't just step aside, especially not this one. "It will be an uphill battle," Woodfin admits. "I can't be afraid to lose. Too many people are already losing. Too many residents are losing." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's lead over Republican challenger Donald Trump has dropped to 5 percent, according to the Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released Friday. The Aug. 22-25 poll showed that 41 percent of voters support Clinton, while 36 percent said they backed Trump. Another 23 percent opted for "other" or "wouldn't vote." The numbers show a drop from a Reuters' poll earlier this month that showed the former Secretary of State with a lead of 12 percentage points. With Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein factored in the Reuters' poll, Clinton's support drops to 39 percent as compared to 36 percent for Trump; 7 percent for Johnson and 3 percent for Stein. The Reuters poll was conducted online among 1,154 likely voters. Numbers from the Reuters poll are similar to another national poll - this on by Quinnipiac University - that showed Clinton with support of 45 percent of likely voters compared to Trump's 38 percent. Ten percent of those responding said they would back Johnson; 4 percent were supporting Jill Stein. Johnson's numbers have him 5 percentage points short of the threshold needed for him to participate in the Commission on Presidential Debate events this fall. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted Aug. 18-24. Polling average The Real Clear Politics poll average has Clinton up by 6.3 percent. The poll average has Clinton at 48.4 percent and Trump at 42.1 percent. With Johnson and Stein factored in, Clinton's lead drops to 4 percentage point, with 42 percent backing the Democratic nominee and compared to 38 percent for Trump, 8 percent for Johnson and 3 percent for Stein. A former Lee County Sheriff's deputy charged with receipt and possession of child pornography will remain in jail pending trial. Kevin Wayne Taylor, 39, of Phenix City, was detained without bond pending trial in a Friday hearing in federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Alabama. Taylor was arrested on the charges on Aug. 23 following an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation. The investigation began in November when a 10-year-old girl reported that Taylor had inappropriately touched her and taken pictures of her genital area. Due to Taylor's connection with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the investigation turned over to state law enforcement. Taylor was arrested in November and charged with sexual abuse of a child following an investigation into those allegations. The case is pending a hearing by a Lee County grand jury. During an execution of a search warrant at Taylor's residence, agents found over 1,600 images of child pornography on three computers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. One of those computers was Taylor's sheriff's office laptop. Taylor is accused of collecting the images for 11 years. Taylor was fired from his post with the sheriff's office. He served as a Lee County deputy for seven years. We meet the prisoners of a forgotten war, abandoned by their own government in Khartoum. They appeared, somewhat diffidently, from behind a traditional thatched mud and wattle hut, about 30 of them in all. The forgotten prisoners of a forgotten war, abandoned by their own government. Some smiled, others looked a little wary. They all shook my hand and then sat down in three straight lines. This is a prison camp like no other. These men are held captive by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North, (SPLM-N), the rebel movement which has, for five years, been fighting the forces of Sudans President Omar al-Bashir in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan. Some of the men have been held here for four years. But what makes this situation so unusual is that their captors are trying to hand them back to their government in Khartoum. But Khartoum, it seems, doesnt want them. Indeed, it appears to be denying all knowledge of them. Although everyone here calls them prisoners of war, this is actually a civil conflict so they are, technically, detainees. The most senior officer among the captives is a quiet dignified man, Brigadier General Refaut Abdalla Ahmad. He has the manner of a gentle college professor, although his captors tell me he was a tough soldier, respected by his erstwhile enemy. He admits that he has heard that Khartoum has denied all knowledge of him: The government of Khartoum says that it has no brigadier called Refaut Abdullah here, who was captured, he says. I am not here. But with a soldiers loyalty, he will not be drawn on how that makes him feel. I am a military man The government knows what they do. I accept anything done with me. Last June, there was hope of a breakthrough when it was arranged for 12 prisoners from this group (there are 86 held here in total), to join 10 prisoners held by the SPLM-N in the Blue Nile to the east, in a transfer facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The 12 prisoners in the first group were taken to Kauda, the rebels administrative capital where a disused dirt runway was cleared so a Red Cross plane could pick the prisoners up and transport them to Ethiopia for an onward flight to Khartoum. But it was not to be. For four days they waited in Kauda but eventually, they were told the transfer was not going to happen. For the commander of the rebel army, Major General Jagod Marada, it is clear where the blame lies. At the very last moment, the Sudanese government blocked all the agreements, he said, claiming that they did so partly because they have already declared the prisoners dead and informed their families and partly because they dont have any prisoners themselves to exchange. The government dont have our prisoners in their hands to exchange because they killed most of them They dont respect international laws and humanitarian conventions, he said. A Sudanese government spokesman said the SPLM-N had no grounds for their claims, dismissing them as fabricated allegations. The ICRC, in line with its policy of strict neutrality, would not comment on where the blame lies, but said the prisoner transfer had been postponed, adding: The ICRC calls on all parties involved to continue working together to allow the concerned detainees to return home to their families as soon as possible. For the 12 men who had been told they were to return home, the failure of the operation was devastating. After that, the dream was destroyed, said one of the men, Alpidoney Babeker. This is so, so bad for us. Many people in this group are young boys. Their hearts are broken, but what can we do? It is unlikely that Obama will succeed in overcoming profound public scepticism over further economic liberalisation. After a decade in which we fought two wars that cost us dearly, in blood and treasure, [we are] turning our attention to the vast potential of the Asia-Pacific region, United States President Barack Obama exclaimed in a 2011 speech before the Australian parliament. It marked the formal commencement of the US much-touted pivot to Asia or rebalancing strategy under the Obama administration. For the US president, it wasnt only about decoupling from what he characterised as his predecessors dumb war legacy in the Middle East, but also tapping into the vast market potentials of the Asia-Pacific region, which has rapidly emerged as the new centre of global economic gravity. As the worlds fastest-growing region and home to more than half the global economy the Asia-Pacific is critical to achieving my highest priority, and thats creating jobs and opportunity for the American people, he continued. It didnt take long before Obama transformed this expression of primary strategic interest into concrete policy. Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Washington aimed to create a gargantuan free-trade area among the worlds leading and most promising economies. But there was also an element of strategic urgency. Cognisant of Chinas rising economic influence and maritime assertiveness in Asia, the Obama administration was intent on countering what they perceived as a direct challenge to the US hegemony in the Indo-Pacific theatre. Five years on, the Obama administration is heading into its sunset amid spirited domestic opposition, across the ideological spectrum, to greater US integration into global markets. More fundamentally, what is at stake is no less than US primacy in Asia. The American Century For the past century, a cocktail of naval prowess and free-trade ideology has undergirded the US foreign policy interest. Since the end of World War II, which saw the massive destruction of industrial powers in Europe and Asia (Japan), the US navy has guarded international waters; American companies have dominated the global investment and innovation landscape; and US-led international organisations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have revamped the economic regimes of almost every nation on earth. There is palpable perception that economic globalisation only benefits major American companies and labour-intensive Asian economies, exposing ordinary workers as well as small and medium enterprises in the West to vicious Darwinian competition from without. by The 2007-08 Great Recession and its aftershocks, however, have massively undermined the US hyperpower, reducing it to an often whimpering, slackened goliath. Or, at least, that is how the US has been increasingly perceived by many of its allies and nemeses in recent years. Confronting deepening doubts over the US wherewithal as the supposed anchor of stability and prosperity in critical regions, the Obama administration, in former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons words, promised a substantially increased investment diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise in the Asia-Pacific region. It had to offer more than hollow rhetoric. The TPP, vigorously pushed by Obama and former Secretary of State Clinton, is a high-standard trade liberalisation scheme aimed at reducing barriers to foreign investment in the emerging markets of Asia, removal of non-tariff restrictions on imports, streamlining of the public sector via aggressive privatisation, and empowerment of multinational companies to protect their assets against sovereign governments appropriation. OPINION: Finalising the TPP A critical step for East Asia It represented the centrepiece of the Obama administrations efforts to re-assert US primacy in Asia and expand trade and investment opportunities for American capital abroad. For Washington, this was a win-win deal facilitating American economic rebound and diffusion of technology between developed and emerging markets. Thanks to leaked documents, it soon became clear to many that the TPP could excessively empower big capital at the expense of public interest as well as undermine sovereign prerogative of developing countries. But Asian partners, from Malaysia to Vietnam and Singapore, stood their ground, putting up a determined resistance against domestic public pressure. Anti-globalisation populism Interestingly, the agreement proved also controversial in the developed world, particularly in the US, where leading presidential candidates vehemently opposed the mega-trade agreement. To Bernie Sanders and his supporters, the deal represented a disastrous trade agreement designed to protect the interests of the largest multinational corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of American democracy. READ MORE: The Trans-Pacific Partnership in perspective To Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee who has made huge headway among blue-collar white voters, free-trade agreements destroyed our country as we know it, so there is no reason to sign up for new ones. In recent months, American public opposition to the deal has intensified, forcing Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, to also reverse her position. Amid rising economic inequality, stubborn unemployment rates, and stagnation in middle-class incomes, views towards economic globalisation have considerably soured among ordinary American voters. OPINION: Time is running out on TPP As a result, Obama struggled to gain the so-called fast-track authority to expedite the TPP negotiations, which have been hobbled by delays, discord and distrust among trading partners. According to a Pew survey, almost half of the American public views greater economic engagement with the world unfavourably. There is palpable perception that economic globalisation only benefits major American companies and labour-intensive Asian economies, exposing ordinary workers as well as small and medium enterprises in the West to vicious Darwinian competition from without. Desperate to leave behind a concrete legacy in Asia, Obama is embarking on his final, lonely pitch in favour of the controversial trade agreement. But it is unlikely that he will succeed in overcoming profound public scepticism over further economic liberalisation, as populism and anti-elite sentiments dominate the US elections. It seems Obamas efforts to enhance the US influence in Asia only evinced the depth of domestic ideological and socioeconomic faultlines, while driving home the collapsing appeal of globalisation among the demos. Richard Javad Heydarian is a specialist in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs and author of Asias New Battlefield: US, China, and the Struggle for Western Pacific. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. If Sarkozy has not changed, his country indeed has, and thats why his success is unlikely. Remi Piet is a research associate on political economy and foreign policy at the Florida International University. News reports in France this week have covered at length Nicolas Sarkozys announcement that he would run for his partys primary elections that will determine the eventual right-wing candidate for the upcoming presidential election. In truth, this was hardly news material since nobody had any doubt that the former president who served between 2007 and 2012 would covet a return to the Elysee Palace next year. Yet, Sarkozy was able to take over the front page of all the main newspapers in France on the morning of August 24. Even the left-wing Liberation covered this official return at length. Such is the capacity of Sarkozy to polarise the French people and occupy a centre stage, much as Silvio Berlusconi did in Italy or Donald Trump currently does on the other side of the Atlantic. The issue for Nicolas Sarkozy has never been to create and ride the news buzz or in his own words, to create a blast effect; it was, however, to provide the political platform and answers needed by the French people. Chances to take over Despite the coverage of his announcement, Sarkozy is facing an uphill battle. Opinion polls have regularly shown him trailing far behind former prime ministers Alain Juppe and Francois Fillon in the race for the party nomination. Even the right-wing electorate seems to have grown tired of the bling bling show business approach of their former hero. After five years of his presidency, the smoke screen of his contagious energy is not enough any more. Juppe or Fillon now represent reasonable alternatives: Grimmer and sterner politicians for sure, but who gesticulate less and achieve more. Sarkozy is hoping to reverse all odds by using the formulas that led him to success 10 years ago: Control the agenda and take over the media. In a country traumatised by terrorist attacks, what is needed is a consensual stainless leader, not someone who stirs division between neighbours and whose name resonates in half a dozen ongoing judiciary investigations of potential frauds. by In reality, he does not have much of an option. Despite his constant criticisms of President Francois Hollandes meagre economic results, a closer look at his own achievements would fare poorly in comparison. During Sarkozys presidency, the number of unemployed increased by more than a million, the countrys debt exploded by $675bn, 24 new taxes were introduced and more than 400,000 citizens fell below the poverty line. Campaign strategy Sarkozys strategy is, therefore, to pick up the tempo and shape the campaign according to his own themes, and do his best to avoid fact-checking and thorough analysis. During his presidency, Sarkozy grossly overstated his role in ending the global financial crisis. His activity at global summits helped him turn attention away from developing adequate economic policies in France. Similarly today, he surfs on the waves of shortsighted controversies such as the burkini drama, initiated by local mayors of his own political party, in order to fuel up Islamophobia, cultural and identity concerns of the French people. In a sense, his recently released book to support his candidacy is unequivocal: It calls for popular sovereignty to the service of the nation against multiculturalism and the tyranny of minorities. Two of the five chapters tackle the issues of identity and national security. It appears that by addressing those issues, he is aiming to rally the extreme right votes as he did during his march to power in 2007. The narrative is similar to the catastrophic national debate on the French identity that contributed to the feeling of exclusion of minority members, whom he called riff-raffs who should be karcherised. The campaign strategy that placed the themes of identity and sovereignty in the centre of Sarkozys political platform is simple to understand and similar to the one he used 10 years ago. OPINION: France How to win the war against ISIL First, the campaign distances him from other candidates who might be better economic experts, but they shy away from addressing heads on the questions of immigration and security, which are Sarkozys favourites. Second, Sarkozy hopes to syphon Marine Le Pens supporters into his partys primary selection. However, this approach shows that Sarkozy has learned nothing from his previous failures. He never drew lessons from the sanction vote in 2012, which explains why the electorate has trouble seeing what he would do differently. Moreover, if your platform is inspired or copied from the National Fronts xenophobic discourse, why then chose a copy over the original? A different France If Sarkozy has not changed, his country indeed has, and thats why his success is unlikely. France today is much different from the country Sarkozy governed with controversial decisions over two decades either as president or as a member of successive governments. Many now realise that the development of terrorist cells in France has coincided with the massive cuts in education and social programmes Sarkozy advocated, as well as the narrative of contempt he diffused. OPINION: Reforming Islam or the relationship with Islam? In a country traumatised by terrorist attacks, what is needed is a consensual stainless leader, not someone who stirs division between neighbours and whose name resonates in half-a-dozen ongoing judiciary investigations of potential frauds. If Islamophobia has increased after the wave of terrorist attacks, so did the initiatives for interfaith dialogue, the very one targeted by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) when terrorists killed Jacques Hamel, the French priest who had always advocated for cooperation with other religions, including Islam. The historic demonstrations after recent attacks prove that the majority of French people understand that what unites them the Republican model of secularism is more important than the differences within the multicultural mosaic that France has become. The answer to terrorism is unity and understanding, not division and rejection. When news networks continuously focus on the debate about burkini or Sarkozys call for cancelling pork-free substitution meals for Jewish and Muslim communities, they fail to acknowledge the countless examples of interfaith dialogue and solidarity. Those examples will forge the cradle of the modern, open French identity, unless failing leaders of the past win upcoming elections with shortsighted and populist promises. Remi Piet is assistant professor of public policy, diplomacy and international political economy at Qatar University. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Protesters call for the closure of overseas refugee prison camps and demand asylum seekers be housed in Australia. Thousands of protesters across Australia have held rallies to demand the closure of the countrys overseas refugee detention centres. Demonstrators took to the streets of several Australian cities on Saturday, carrying banners with the words Close the camps, Bring them here to demand that asylum seekers and refugees from camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea islands be resettled on the mainland. Al Jazeeras Andrew Thomas, reporting from Sydney, said the Australian government had agreed to close the Australian-funded prison camp for asylum seekers on Manus Island, though the fate of 800 refugees held in the camp remained unclear. Some have been there [in the camps] living in limbo for more than three years, the same goes for the families held on Nauru, our correspondent said. READ MORE: Australia to close Manus Island refugee prison camp Finding out what goes on in those prisons is very difficult, journalists are banned and the Australian government has brought in a law that prevents those [who] worked in them talking about what they have seen, the penalty is about two years in prison. However, despite that, some former workers have sat down with me and told me about what they saw inside and why they want those prisons closed, Thomas said. Judith Reen, an ex-teacher on Manus Island and Nauru, said the conditions at the camps were shocking. Its just so pointless that the suffering you see. It felt a lot worse than a prison, a lot worse, she told Al Jazeera. When it would rain the sewerage would just rise up and you could see raw sewerage running through, it was really disgusting. Another former teacher in Nauru, Evan Davis, said there was no privacy and that the asylum seekers were constantly watched. This is not by accident, this is a deliberate attempt to break peoples spirit and the depression they are experiencing, the loss of hope, the denial for their education, the denial of their freedom, and the fact that we are stealing their childhood from them, it is torture, Davis said. READ MORE: Australia deliberately ignores refugee abuse: report Under Australian law, anyone intercepted while trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to detention centres on Manus Island off Papua New Guinea, or the Pacific island of Nauru. Some asylum seekers have spent years in the camps, which have been criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups, with numerous reports of abuse and self-harm among detainees, including children. Some in Papua New Guinea are unhappy at the prospect of hundreds of asylum seekers being resettled in their country, and there have been reports of refugees being attacked by locals. Im just really ashamed how Australia is behaving during the worst refugee crisis, Reen told Al Jazeera. Rallies are also planned in Tokyo, after allegations of widespread abuse in the camps. Bangladesh police have stormed a house outside the capital, Dhaka, shooting dead three people, including the main suspect in the last months cafe attack that killed 22 hostages. We can see three dead bodies here, senior police officer Sanwar Hossain told AFP news agency on Saturday. Tamim Chowdhury is dead. He is the Gulshan attack mastermind and the leader of JMB [Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh, a domestic armed outfit], he said. Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen, had earlier been named by the police as the main suspect in the attack on the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood. The bodies were retrieved after police staged an hour-long gun battle with the suspects in Narayanganj, a city 25km south of Dhaka, Hossain said. The operation went on for an hour. We can see three dead bodies. They did not surrender. They threw four to five grenades at police and fired from AK-22 rifles, Bangladesh national police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque told AFP. Demonising the opponents Al Jazeeras Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, said it would likely require relatives to positively identify the body or DNA testing to confirm that the person killed was Tamim Chowdhury, as the police have reported. The police do claim a lot [of] things but then later we find out that there are a lot of gaps in the information. So we will have to wait until its confirmed, he said. A team from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit and police cordoned off the house in Narayanganj area earlier this morning on information that suspects were staying there, Mainul Haq, superintendent of Narayanganj police, told The Daily Star newspaper. At least 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners and two policemen, died in last months attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka, which was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. In June more than 11,000 people were arrested in an effort to quash a spate of brutal murders of secular writers, gay rights activists and religious minorities. Both ISIL and a local branch of al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Critics say Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas administration is in denial about the nature of the threat posed by armed groups and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. Voters in the country to decide whether President Ali Bongo will remain in office or be unseated by a career diplomat. The people of Gabon have voted to decide whether President Ali Bongo will remain in office or be unseated by a career diplomat and close associate of his late father, who ran the country for 41 years. Polls closed on Saturday evening with results not expected until Monday or Tuesday. The election took place in a climate of persistent social unrest, driven in large part by the economic impact of the slump in the price of oil, which has long dominated Gabons economy. Bongo, 57, and ex-African Union Commission chief Jean Ping, 73, who both worked under Omar Bongo until he died in 2009, are seen as the only credible candidates among a field of 10. Until recently, Bongo was by far and away the favourite, largely because several prominent politicians had declared themselves as candidates, thereby dividing the opposition. But protracted negotiations led all the key challengers to pull out and put their weight behind Ping, with the last of them withdrawing only last week. Some 628,000 of Gabons 1.8 million inhabitants are eligible to take part in the election, whose winner will be decided by a simple majority after a single round of voting. The campaign period has been acrimonious, marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two main camps, including accusations and strenuous denials that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run. On Friday, each side accused the other of trying to gain an illicit advantage by buying up voter cards in various parts of the country for sums ranging from $20 to $100. Faced with repeated charges of nepotism, Bongo has long insisted he owes his presidency to merit and his years of government service. His extravagant campaign was based around the slogan Lets change together, playing up the roads and hospitals built during his first term. In an overt jibe towards Pings long association with his father, Bongo has also stressed the need to break with the bad old days of disappearing public funds and dodgy management of oil revenues. Theres a risk that certain people who did so much harm to our country will come back to power, the president told a crowd of thousands during his last rally in the capital, Libreville. Ping has pledged to ensure, if elected, that Gabon would be sheltered from need and fear, dismissing the presidents much-touted moves to diversify the economy into rubber and palm oil as mere window dressing. Despite boasting one of Africas highest per capita incomes at $8,300, a third of Gabons population live in poverty. Unemployment among the young, according to the World Bank, runs at 35 percent. Recent months have seen growing popular unrest and numerous public sector strikes as well as thousands of layoffs in the oil sector. Fears that this discontent might degenerate into violence are fuelled by memories of what followed Bongos contested victory in the 2009 presidential poll. Several people were killed, buildings looted, a ceasefire imposed and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all political stakeholders, in particular the candidates, to exercise restraint, abstain from any acts of incitement or the use of inflammatory statements, and maintain a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election. He also urged the candidates to use legal and constitutional channels in the event of any dispute over the result. Ping and Bongo 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 AU Commission. Ping also has close family ties to the Bongo dynasty: he was formerly married to Omar Bongos eldest daughter, with whom he had two children. Ping turned on Bongo in 2014, and in March he told French daily Le Monde: Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan. Hundreds of demonstrators have marched in the streets of the Malaysian capital to protest against alleged government corruption, calling for the arrest of an unnamed high-ranking official after million of dollars went missing from a state-owned investment fund. The protesters, mostly wearing black and white shirts, gathered on Saturday in several areas of Kuala Lumpur amid tight security. Ignoring police warnings to disperse, as the rally had no permit and was considered illegal, the protesters rallied agaisnt the alleged misappropriation of funds from Malaysias 1MDB investment vehicle. We are here to denounce corruption in government, elections activist Maria Chin Abdullah told protesters. We want to bring to justice officials responsible for stealing the funds at 1MDB. READ MORE: Mahathir Mohamad on corruption and saving Malaysia Last month, US prosecutors filed several lawsuits to recover assets that were allegedly bought with money laundered through the fund. The lawsuits repeatedly referred to a high-ranking official, only identified as Malaysian Official 1, who received about $700m of the misappropriated funds and many Malaysians believe this refers to Prime Minister Najib Razak. The prime minister, however, denies any wrongdoing and says any attempt to link him to the scandal is part of a smear campaign. Najib has also been cleared by investigations conducted by the attorney generals chambers and Malaysias anti-corruption body. Al Jazeeras Florence Looi, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said: This protest is organised by students and supported by a coalition of NGOs and as well as opposition parties to put pressure on the government to conduct a more thorough investigation into this entire scandal. US probe The 1MDB fund was created in 2009 by the Malaysian government with the goal of promoting economic development projects in the Asian nation. Instead, officials at the fund diverted more than $3.5bn over the next four years through a web of shell companies and bank accounts in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States, according to the lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department to seize $1bn in assets linked to the fund. Federal officials said more than $1bn was laundered into the US for the personal benefit of 1MDB officials and their associates. The funds were used to pay for luxury properties in the US and Europe; gambling expenses in Las Vegas casinos; a London interior designer; more than $200m worth of artworks by artists, including Van Gogh and Monet; and for the production of films, including the 2013 Oscar-nominated movie The Wolf of Wall Street. The complaint said that among those who profited from the scheme was the prime ministers step-son Aziz, who co-founded Red Granite Pictures, a movie production studio whose films include The Wolf of Wall Street. According to the complaint, 11 wire transfers totaling $64m were used to fund the studios operations, including the production of the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. More than 900 aftershocks have rattled the central Italy region since the quake on Wednesday, which killed 290 people. Italy observed a national day of mourning on Saturday with flags across the country at half-staff amid a state funeral for dozens of victims of the earthquake which killed 290 people and injured many more. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella attended the state funeral service in the town of Ascoli Piceno for 35 victims of the powerful 6.2 magnitude quake that struck on Wednesday morning. The first funerals were held on Friday in Pomezia, south of Rome, home of six of the victims, including an eight-year-old boy. According to the most recent official toll, at least 388 people have been treated in hospital for injuries. No one has been pulled alive from the piles of collapsed masonry since Wednesday evening. Al Jazeeras Sue Turton, reporting from the town of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region, said there was an incredibly sorrowful atmosphere at the funeral. While most relatives who lost loved ones are still in shock, some are angry that it took rescue crews so long to reach badly hit villages, Turton said. Some are also questioning why supposedly quake-proof buildings collapsed. People now want answers Why did so many buildings collapse? Turton said, adding that an investigation has begun. During the funeral service, Bishop Giovanni DErcole said he had turned in anguish to God and asked: And now, what do we do? He went on to say: The answer that we can give is silence, hugging and, for me, prayer, according to DPA news agency. Foul play Italian Prosecutor Giuseppe Saieva is investigating whether the flouting of building safety regulations aggravated the tragedy, amid outrage over the collapse of a recently renovated elementary school in Amatrice, DPA reported. No suspects have been identified but, according to the La Repubblica newspaper, Saieva presumes foul play was involved. What happened cannot be considered just a fatality, as it looks like some destroyed homes were built with more sand than cement, the prosecutor was quoted as saying. More than 900 aftershocks have rattled the region since the earthquake, which triggered the collapse of hundreds of old buildings across dozens of tiny communities in central Italy. Some 2,500 people have been left homeless, and authorities said the priority was to allow them to continue living in their towns, ensuring basic services and accommodation in temporary structures. Earthquake experts estimate that the cost of the short-term rescue effort and mid to longer-term reconstruction could exceed one billion euros ($1.13bn). The amount includes $10bn in infrastructure growth, while an extra $20bn will be invested by Japans private sector. Japan will invest $30bn in Africa over the next three years, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged at a summit in Kenya. Starting this year, Japan will make a $10bn investment in the continents infrastructure development, focusing on electrical power, urban transport systems, roads and ports, Abe said at the Saturday opening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). An additional $20bn will flow into Africa through investments from Japans private sector during the same period, he added. We have a feeling in our gut that in Africa, where possibilities abound, Japan can grow vigorously, said Abe. READ MORE: Japans Africa ambitions Abe also announced the launch of the Japan-Africa economic forum, adding that Japanese government officials and business leaders will be visiting the continent every three years. This is an investment that has faith in Africas future. Some 30 African heads of state are taking part in the conference, which runs until Sunday, and about 70 agreements are expected to be signed. Abe is using the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across the continent, including Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africas Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the TICAD summit is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. The goal of the conference, organised jointly by the United Nations, the African Union, the World Bank and Japan, is to boost trade and aid to Africa, with Japan hoping to increase its influence in the continent. In 2015, China, Africas largest trading partner, recorded total trade in Africa worth approximately $179bn, while Japanese trade with the continent stood at $24bn. Seijiro Takeshita, an economist and professor at the University of Shizuoka, said that the political reasoning behind Japans decision was to secure itself on international and regional fronts. Japan wants to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council and they would want to get more people agreeing to this agenda, Takeshita told Al Jazeera. Another reason is that not only Japan, but Chinas neighbouring nations are all feeling this extreme aggression by China and that is one of the reasons why Abe has pointed out he wants a free and open Pacific-Indian sea strategy. This is basically to ward off the continuous aggression that the neighbouring nations are feeling from China. Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, who currently chairs the African Union, noted that Africas economy had been badly affected by falling commodity prices, several conflicts and climate change. Our struggle for development cannot succeed without peace, stability and above all security, he said. COLLIN COUNTY, Texas -- A judge has denied bond for the man charged with killing Pascagoula native Jessie Bardwell and dumping her body in a rural, wooded area in Farmersville, Texas. If the judge granted the release on a mental health bond, Jason Lowe would have been able to receive treatment for what his defense claims are mental health issues. He is currently being held on $1 million bail. Lowe, 27, allegedly killed Bardwell, 27, after she moved to Richardson in December to live with him. Bardwell's parents decided to file a missing person's report with the Richardson Police Department after she did not contact her family around Mother's Day. Police searched Lowe's home, where cocaine was found on the countertop, and his garage smelled of decaying human flesh. Lowe was subsequently arrested after providing police with contradictory statements and was indicted Aug. 11. According to the Dallas Morning News, the judge denied bond based on the nature of the offense. The full story can be read here. Kerry and Lavrov say there are issues that need to be addressed before finalising a deal to end hostilities. The United States and Russia are close to reaching an agreement to end the war in Syria, with both nations saying they will try and finalise a deal in the coming days. US Secretary of State John Kerry said late on Friday that talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Swiss city of Geneva had achieved clarity on the path forward, but together they offered few details on how they planned to renew a February cessation of hostilities and improve humanitarian assistance. We dont want to have a deal for the sake of the deal, Kerry said. We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution. President Bashar al-Assads future was not part of the talks. Instead, discussions were focused on finding an effective and lasting solution to end the violence, which would open negotiations on a political transition in Syria. If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities the regime violations and the increasing influence of the al-Nusra Front, Kerry said. Last month, the Nusra Front, one of Syrias most powerful anti-government groups, split from al-Qaeda and rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, or The Front for Liberation of al Sham. Syrian Civil War map: Who controls what? Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from Geneva, said there were still several issues that needed to be resolved. The talks were aimed at getting a final deal on cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, brokering a ceasefire for 48 hours to alleviate the suffering of the people in Aleppo, and to try and get the political process in Syria the Geneva peace talks back on track. They spoke for 12 hours but they failed to reach such an agreement. In the days ahead, technical teams comprising US and Russian military and intelligence experts will decide which opposition groups they can work with, Reuters news agency reported. Fridays talks came as opposition groups effectively surrendered the Damascus suburb of Daraya to the government after a gruelling four-year siege. Kerry said the Syrian regime had forced the surrender of Daraya in contravention of the February cessation of hostilities agreement, but Lavrov said the local accord was an example that should be replicated. The Russian foreign minister said another besieged area was interested in such an operation with mediation of the Russian Federation. He did not name the area. WATCH: Is federalism the answer to the war in Syria? Residents and rebels in Daraya began to leave the besieged area where civilians had been trapped since 2012 and the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern for their safety. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep near the Turkey-Syria border, said the general sentiment among the Syrian opposition is that Darayas evacuation was a sad day for the opposition, and many military factions say they are going to continue the fight until Bashar al-Assad is deposed. Today the opposition is critical of the deal, saying the international community is silent paving the way for the government to go ahead with systematic starvation of the people just to force the rebels out of the areas they control. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Jordan, Charmain Mohamed, advocacy adviser of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the end of hostilities in Daraya was a positive step, but her team was concerned about the protection of civilians and that any evacuations should be voluntary in nature. The Syrian opposition also criticised the evacuation, saying that the international community had failed the people of Daraya. Daraya did not fail today, George Sabra of the opposition peace talks team told DPA news agency. It was the international community who failed, and failed the people of Daraya. Some opposition groups called the deal a major setback as Sunnis would be forced from their homes, further fracturing the country along sectarian lines. In 2015, there was a similar deal in Zabadani on the outskirts of the capital, Al Jazeeras Ahelbarra said. The Syrian civil war started as a largely peaceful uprising against President Assad in March 2011, but quickly developed into a full-scale war. Earlier this year, the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, estimated that at least 400,000 people had died over the last five years. One soldier killed in rocket attack on Turkish tanks amid clashes between Turkey-backed Syria rebels and Kurdish YPG. Turkish jets and artillery have targeted Kurdish forces south of the strategic town of Jarablus, according to a monitor and local sources, as Turkey continues a major military offensive inside northern Syria. Turkey first sent tanks across the border on Wednesday as part of a two-pronged operation against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters, as well as Kurdish-led forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturdays air strikes and shelling hit the village of Amarneh, which was captured recently by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The strikes came as Turkish-backed Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish fighters on the ground. The Jarablus Military Council, which is allied with the SDF, said the air strikes in Amarneh marked an unprecedented and dangerous escalation after Turkish artillery shelling targeted Kurdish YPG forces, the backbone of the SDF alliance, on Friday. The council said that there were injuries, without giving any further details, but warned that the escalation threatened to endanger the future of the region and vowed to stand its ground. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst based in the nearby Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli, told Al Jazeera that the clashes had increased throughout Saturday. There have been reports that SDF fighters have blown up a Turkish tank. The fighting is ongoing, he said. Later on Saturday, one Turkish soldier and three others were wounded in a rocket attack on a Turkish tank south of Jarablus late on Saturday, according to Turkeys state-run Anadolu news agency, in the militarys first fatality since the launch of its offensive to partly help Syria rebels capture Jarablus from ISIL, also known as ISIS. Turkish military sources said the rocket was fired from territory held by the Kurdish YPG. Earlier on Saturday, the Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, had said in a statement that it was heading to Jarablus fronts to help the council against threats made by factions belonging to Turkey. Things getting messy around #Jarablus. 2 pro-YPG SDF units announce intent to counter Turkish occupation. #Syria pic.twitter.com/HitZtl4ioN Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) August 27, 2016 Ankara has long accused the YPG, or the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, of being linked to Kurdish fighters in its own southeast. It has ordered the group, a well-trained force that has been the US-led coalitions most effective ground partner in the war against ISIL, to withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates, which crosses the Syria-Turkey border at Jarablus. ISIL has controlled territory along the Syria-Turkey border since 2013. And in 2014, US-backed Kurdish forces began a push to retake the border area. After the Kurdish-led SDF seized the nearby city of Manbij from ISIL earlier this month, it left ISIL with Jarablus as its only border stronghold. The Turkish offensive pre-empted an attempt by the Kurdish-led forces to take control of Jarablus first. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, said on Wednesday during a visit to Turkey that the YPG should withdraw east of the Euphrates, and that a refusal to do so would mean an end to Washingtons support for the group. Emin Bozoglan, head of the Syrian Turkmen Assembly, told Turkish media on Saturday that the operation in Jarablus is aimed at taking ISIL-controlled al-Bab, near the divided city of Aleppo. READ MORE: Syrian civilians and rebels continue to evacuate Daraya The Kurds have also set their sights on al-Bab. Their forces aim to connect the main part of Kurdish-controlled territory to the east of the Euphrates with the Kurdish-controlled town of Efrin to the West. Manbij and al-Bab lie directly in between the two Kurdish de-facto autonomous zones. Syrian Kurdish civilians here are worried that it wont be possible to connect the two sides and make one region, said van Wilgenburg. Now, as both sides push towards al-Bab, things could deteriorate. Kerry said late on Friday in Geneva that the US had supported Kurdish fighters on a limited basis and remained in close coordination with Turkey. We are for a united Syria. We do not support an independent Kurd initiative. And while battles between Turkish-backed rebels and Kurdish forces increase to the west of the Euphrates, Kurdish sources said Turkey had also crossed into Syria near Kobane, a symbolic town to the east of the Euphrates, to begin constructing a wall. Basically the aim is to shut down all cross-border activity. To stop the cross-border smuggling and to strangle the Kurdish administration, said van Wilgenburg. With reporting by Dylan Collins. Follow him on Twitter: @collinsdyl At least 24 killed in barrel bomb attack, bringing the death toll of Aleppo civilians in recent days to more than 60. At least 24 funeral mourners have been killed and 30 others wounded in a barrel bomb attack in a rebel-held area of Aleppo, according to activists, taking the death toll of civilians in the northern Syrian city in recent days to more than 60. The Syrian civil defence, a volunteer rescue group also known as the White Helmets, told Al Jazeera that Syrian government and Russian warplanes hit on Saturday a group of people gathered in the al-Maadi neighbourhood to mourn the death of 15 women and children killed in a raid earlier this week. The first round of barrel bombs came down during the funeral, said Ibrahim al-Hajj, the media centre director for the Syria civil defence. Those who survived headed in the direction of the shelter nearby. They were about to enter the shelter when they were hit with another round of barrel bombs, and they all dropped to the floor, said al-Hajj. The latest deaths bring the number of Aleppo civilians killed in raids in recent days to at least 62, activists said. On Thursday, at least 15 women and children, all from the same family, were killed when warplanes targeted their home in Bab al-Nairab. They were having breakfast together when their home was hit with barrel bombs. There were 11 children and four women, all dead, said al-Hajj, who accompanies the volunteers during their rescue efforts to document the details of each attack. A civilian death toll of 23 was also recorded on Friday in Syrian and Russian air raids across Aleppo, monitoring groups said. READ MORE: White Helmets We called Khaled the child rescuer Aleppo has been divided between opposition control in the eastern half and government control in the west since mid-2012. Government forces launched an offensive to retake the rebel-held half of the city in July 2016, imposing a month-long siege that was eventually broken by the rebels. Since then, residents in the city say the Russia-backed Syrian government forces have intensified their bombardment and have been indiscriminately targeting civilian neighbourhoods, with hundreds of civilians being killed on a weekly basis. There is very intense round-the-clock shelling, 24 hours a day, Moataz Hamouda, an Aleppo-based activist with the Local Coordination Committees, a grassroots network that monitors daily developments in Syria, told Al Jazeera. Despite the breaking of the siege, activists say the government has blocked off Ramosa, one of the main exit routes for residents in the eastern half of the city. They say the shelling has prevented many from leaving, and turned Aleppo into a besieged city again. The Ramosa road has been shut in the face of civilians trying to leave, said Hamouda, adding that those who tried to escape were killed. Movement within Aleppo is practically non-existent. READ MORE: Aid still scarce after Aleppo rebels break siege The United Nations estimates that up to 275,000 people in eastern Aleppo have been cut off from essential food and aid supplies for more than a month, while 1.5 million other civilians in the western parts of the city are also facing difficult access. The Syrian conflict began as a mostly unarmed uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war. More than 280,000 Syrians have been killed throughout the five years of bloodshed, 4.8 million who fled the country, and 6.6 million who have become internally displaced by the violence, according to the UN. Government forces move into the besieged suburb after buses transfer civilians and rebel fighters out of the area. Syrian government forces have taken control of the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya after completing the evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters from the town, according to state media. Alaa Ibrahim, the governor of Damascus, toured the emptied suburb and promised to rebuild it, Syrias state news agency SANA reported late on Saturday evening. Earlier on Saturday, at least five buses carrying fighters and their families arrived in the rebel-held city of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, following a deal reached between rebels and the government to cede control of rebel-held Daraya over to government forces. #Photos | FSA fighters from #Daraya and their families arrive to Qalaat Al Madeeq in #Idlib_countryside. pic.twitter.com/OAUTpr1izy (@RFS_mediaoffice) August 27, 2016 Some 300 fighters and their families were evacuated during the first part of the operation on Friday, and activists told Al Jazeera they were expecting up to 1,000 people to leave on Saturday. Local activists in Idlib were busy on Saturday refurbishing abandoned buildings meant to house the arriving rebel fighters and their families. Darayas civilian residents, believed to number around 8,000, are expected to be sent to government-run reception centres in the capital pending resettlement elsewhere. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said there were concerns for those evacuated to government-held areas as there were no guarantees they wouldnt be detained or interrogated. The Daraya deal is also being viewed as if the international community is turning its back on the Syrian people, he added. Syrian Civil War map: Who controls what? Rebel fighters and government forces agreed to a deal on Thursday to evacuate the suburb, which pro-government forces had surrounded since 2012. Since then, only one aid shipment had reached the area, according to the United Nations. Residents of the suburb, which, before the war, was home to a quarter of a million people, were suffering from severe shortages and malnutrition before the aid deliveries, according to local activists. Daraya, located just a few kilometres from President Bashar al-Assads Damascus palace, was one of the first places to rise up against his rule and became a symbol of the uprising. The rebels said they were forced to agree to evacuate the town because of deteriorating humanitarian conditions. The Syrian opposition criticised the evacuation, saying that the international community had failed the people of Daraya. Daraya did not fail today, George Sabra of the opposition peace talks team, told DPA news agency. It was the international community who failed, and failed the people of Daraya. WATCH: Do powerful pictures make a difference? Long sieges have prompted the rebels to abandon several areas, prompting activists to accuse Damascus of using starve or surrender tactics. These images may seem like they represent failure and defeat to some, but the truth is, this is one form of perseverance. This shows the weakness of the regime and its allies. World powers were not able to occupy one town, said Husam Salameh, a field commander in the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group. Rebel fighters pulled out of Syrias third city Homs last year under a similar evacuation deal. By leaving Daraya, the rebels are worried that they might lose other areas on the outskirts of Damascus places such as al-Ghouta, Madaya, Douma and Zabadani, which are all under government siege and are all considered major opposition strongholds around the capital. According to the United Nations, nearly 600,000 people live under siege across Syria, most surrounded by government forces. The Syrian civil war started as a largely peaceful uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly escalated into a full-scale war. Earlier this year, the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, estimated that at least 400,000 people had died over the past five years. Tunisias new government has won a confidence vote, almost a month after the last government was dismissed. Prime Minister-designate Youssef Chaheds unity government was backed by parliament late on Friday with 167 votes in favour, 22 against and five abstentions, according to the AFP news agency. The vote of confidence will now see Chahed and his cabinet take office in the coming days and comes amid warnings by Chahed that an austerity programme will be inevitable if the country does not overcome its economic difficulties. If the situation continues like this, then in 2017 we will need a policy of austerity, and dismiss thousands of public sector employees and impose new taxes, Chahed told parliament before the vote for his broad coalition, which includes secular, Islamist and leftist parties, independents and trade union allies. Chahed, who at 40 is the youngest prime minister Tunisia has had since independence from France in 1956, vowed to press ahead with economic reforms sought by international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He also said his new government would give priority to fighting corruption and terrorism, and would be tough on illegal strikes. We will not allow interruption of production at any factory, and we will be firm and severe in dealing with illegal strikes and sit-ins, he said in his speech, according to Reuters news agency. Critics of Chahed, who is an ally of President Beji Caid Essebsi, have questioned whether he has the political clout to overcome labour union opposition, strikes and party infighting that have dogged past governments. Labour unions and other groups have resisted attempts to reform pensions and introduce more taxes while at 13.5 percent of gross domestic product, Tunisias public sector wage bill is proportionately one of the highest in the world. Chahed was appointed prime minister-designate by President Essebsi early this month after parliamentarians passed a vote of no confidence in then-Prime Minister Habib Essids government following just 18 months in office. Chahed is Tunisias seventh prime minister in less than six years following the toppling of the countrys longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring, though authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty, unemployment, regional disparities and corruption that preceded Ben Alis fall. Ruling published in the governments Official Gazette says female police may cover their heads with plain headscarves. Turkey has for the first time allowed policewomen to wear headscarves while on duty as part of their uniform. Women serving in the police force will be able to cover their heads under their caps or berets so long as the headscarf is the same colour as the uniform and without pattern, said the ruling published in the governments Official Gazette on Saturday. It came into force immediately. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has long pressed for the removal of restrictions on women wearing the headscarf in the officially secular state. Turkey lifted a ban on the wearing of headscarves on university campuses in 2010. It allowed female students to wear the garment in state institutions from 2013 and in high school in 2014. READ MORE: Canada allows female mounted police to wear hijab The move follows similar changes in regulations in other countries and comes after a ban on the burkini in local districts in France made headlines in Turkey. Hoping to boost recruiting of Muslim women, the Canadian government this week said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would allow its officers to wear headscarves as part of their uniforms. Earlier this month, police in Scotland allowed women to wear the headscarf while on duty, following a lead set by their counterparts in the UK capital, London, more than a decade ago. Tensions remain high in South Sudan a year after a peace deal was signed. It has been a year since the warring sides in South Sudan signed a peace agreement. At the time, many had hoped the agreement would bring peace to the worlds youngest nation. But fighting resumed in July just as the country was marking its fifth anniversary. South Sudan has now been in conflict for much of its existence. Thousands of people have been killed and millions more displaced from their homes. What does the future hold for South Sudan five years after its creation? Presenter: Martine Dennis Guests: Andre Heller Perache Head of programmes for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK Casie Copeland South Sudan analyst at the International Crisis Group Joseph Ochieno Contributor for New African Magazine 2005 .. REACTION Hindus failed, Indian Muslims should demolish two nations theory in J&K Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 27 Aout 2016 Bengaluru, India Dear Editor Sub:- (i)-India finds itself at pre 1947 situation about two nations theory in J&K (ii)- Presently it is zero sum game where either India or Pakistan will have to lose the territory with it (iii)- It is advantage Pakistan in present face-off (iv)- Martially deficient Hindus cant retrieve PoJK (v)- If Indian Muslims do not come forward India will lose Muslim Kashmir (including PoJK) (vi)- Stopping ISIS entry in AF-PAK-Kashmir region should also be the objective. --- The two nations theory propounded by the Father of Pakistan Jinnah claimed that Hindus and Muslims are two different nations hence cant live together therefore India was partitioned on the basis of this theory in 1947. Muslim majority J&K and Indian Muslims who preferred to stay with India of-course did not believe in this theory and showed faith in secular ideology which was professed by Indian leaders, who after partition formed government of India (GOI) namely Nehru, Patel Azad etc. But Hindu majority India has failed to live up-to its promise and secularism has been thoroughly compromised in India. This is evident from the fact that in order to bring it on right track following writ petitions need to be filed in Supreme Court of India (SCI) by some genuinely secular party:- (i)- About legally expected restoration of Status-quo-ante of Babri Masjid which was demolished in 1992 in the presence of Observer of SCI (ii)- Query about retrieve of PoJK in the interest of removal of AFSPA etc from J&K (unlike Hindu majority Goa the PoJK has not been retrieved by so-called secular India and even Bangladesh was not assimilated in 1971 despite collapse of two nations theory because both are Muslim majority) moreover military of Hindu India has not taken PoJK militarily and instead is showing its bravery by training guns at the civilians / citizens of India in J&K mainly at Kashmiri Muslims (iii)- About prosecution against guilty found by Sri Krishna Commission about 1992-93 communal riots in Mumbai / Maharashtra (while rightly asking for deportation / action against Dawood Ibrahim etc, the guilty of serial blasts which were direct fallout of said riots) (iv)- About identification, tracking and deportation of illegal immigrants / refugees (including Hindus), mainly from Bangladesh and Pakistan (v)- About quashing of discriminatory (especially against Muslims) Reservation Policy (F)- Delhi 1984 & Gujarat 2002 riots about section 130 & 131 Cr.P.C. --- [Second writ petitions for retrieve of PoJK can first be filed in J&K High Court. Even if PoJK is to be retrieved militarily one need not worry about nukes with India and Pakistan because after all it is white mans burden and the last word on Indias partition is yet to be written where Realized SAARC / Common Wealth can also be the preferred political arrangement]. This betrayal of secularism by all the Hindu dominated political parties of India (including BJP, Congress various socialist, communist, caste based, regional parties etc) has brought a situation of advantage Pakistan (about J&K) and if some national level genuinely secular political party is not immediately launched by Muslims then only some miracle can avoid separation of Muslim Kashmir including PoJK (if not Hindu Jammu and Ladakh of J&K) from India as explained below:- (1)- Presently it is zero sum game where either India or Pakistan will have to lose the territory with it. But it is advantage Pakistan because Pakistan has to only continue to provide civilian help / assistance / instigation to Kashmiri separatists without physically going in Kashmir. Whereas on the contrary nuclear India will have to go physically in PoJK and will have to carry-out military expedition against nuclear Pakistan in order to retrieve PoJK. This of-course will invite different type of response / opposition from world community against Pakistan and India and which will put India at extremely disadvantageous position because it will be perceived by global community as Hindu aggression against Muslim Pakistan / Kashmir. (2)- This disadvantageous situation (for India) can be avoided only if some genuinely secular party takes the lead in constraining GOI to retrieve PoJK in order to stop the entry of ISIS in Kashmir (ultimately in AF-PAK region) which is inevitable (as per even Member of Parliament M.H. Baig from J&K) if present unrest in Kashmir [killing ~ 57, injuring ~ seven thousand (including security forces) injuring eyes of ~ 150 by pellet guns and curfew for 50 days] does not lead to permanent solution to Kashmir problem (which is nothing but unification of J&K). Moreover after saying in the all party meeting on August, 12 and in Independence Day speech on August, 15 by PM Modi that PoJK will be taken from Pakistan the impatient people of India (through its media) has started asking BJP whether merely by writing letter to Pakistan will PoJK come to India (this jingoistic public mood will constrain PM Modi to be seen and then actually retrieving PoJK otherwise he is bound to lose not only 2019 Parliamentary election but before that many coming elections in various States of India) (3)- During cold-war the fight between USA & USSR generated Jihadi terrorists in Afghanistan & Pakistan. Similarly fight between India & Pakistan is generating Jihadi terrorists in Kashmir. But Kashmiri leadership (not only from economic, social and political fields but also of higher level from religion) is unethically & foolishly making Kashmiri civilians (especially youth) to shed their blood instead of making military of India and Pakistan to do so (which is their duty) for the territory of their respective countries. (4)- To rectify this unfortunate situation, first of all the alienation of Kashmiris has to be brought to an end. This alienation is evident from the fact (i)- HM Rajnath visited Kashmir twice but even businessman (who prefer peace for doing business) refused to meet him (ii)- Senior leader of ruling party (in J&K) PDP MP Baig said on Thursday during TV interview that BJP-PDP alliance in J&K has not harmed BJP in its base Jammu but has discredited PDP in its base Kashmir and if BJP does not start following common minimum program of talking to Pakistan and Kashmiris (including separatists) for Kashmir solution then PDP will break the alliance. But this alienation can be stopped only by genuinely Federal-Secular-Socialist (Joint-capitalism) Party for which arrest of stone-pelters (God only knows why has not been done so far) and lifting of curfew from entire Kashmir is the first step. (5)- Because for argument sake if Pak does not use its Nukes even then if PoJK is taken militarily by present government of India (perceived to be pro-Hindutva) without such demand from Muslim Kashmir, it will be impossible for GOI to administer Muslim Kashmir and PoJK combined without use of immensely excessive force and which world-community will never allow. Rather world community will ask India (in such case) to forget Muslim Kashmir & PoJK. Here it is in context to mention that the world-community especially powerful Christian West (USA, Europe, Europe origin countries) will assist India in demolishing two nations theory only if it helps in eliminating the menace of global Jihadi terrorism (by ISIS etc). (6)- Indian Muslims will have to take the lead for preparing India for retrieve of PoJK because Hindus are simply incapable of any successful military operation if past experience is any indication, for example - [(i)- By way of adverse possession India has already given better title to Pakistan over J&K as much smaller Pakistan tried to take Kashmir militarily in 1947, 1948, 1965, 1971, during Kargil etc but India never tried (not even once) to take PoJK militarily (ii)- India suffered most humiliating defeat in 1962 war though India could have easily won it by pressing Indian Air Force which at that time (as per Air Force top- brass) was superior to Chinas (iii)- Indian Peace Keeping Force was sent in Sri Lanka and then withdrawn irresponsibly and India allowed Sri Lanka to eliminate LTTE which resulted in genocide of Tamils (about which UN HR body is still looking into the matter) (iv)- Of-course India fared excellently in 1971 war for which India is proud of but India should not forget that it was not a conventional war between India and Pakistan rather it was military intervention by India on the side of Bangladesh in a civil war between East (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan]. Therefore Indian Muslims (if they really want to demolish two nations theory) should take the lead for launching a genuinely secular national political party (taking substantial number of members from Muslim majority J&K) in order to constrain GOI to retrieve PoJK (even militarily if necessary) especially in the interest of stopping the entry of blood-thirsty ISIS in AF-PAK-Kashmir region.. Regards Hem Raj Jain (Author of Betrayal of Americanism) Bengaluru, India Dans la meme rubrique : < > Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo : "je ne suis pas un cancre !" Tchad : Succes Masra reagit a la demission de Moustapha Masri des Transformateurs Tchad : l'ancien ministre Antoine Bangui reagit aux evenements du 20 octobre 2022 Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Recently a federal judge ruled that the way the Ferguson-Florissant School District elects board members was biased against black people, and he ordered a suspension of elections until the district satisfied his demands for reform. Here is the entire 119-page opinion. Judge Rodney Sippel (who, by the way, was an aid to Dick Gephardt and was appointed by Bill Clinton) wrote a rambling opinion in which he ultimately concludes that, well, blacks are underrepresented on the board because of institutional racism and are victims of such unfair practices as not allowing felons to vote or making people register at an address. He states: "The fact that the electoral process in FFSD Board elections is not equally open to African Americans is most apparent in the stark levels of racially polarized voting seen in Board elections and the failure of white voters to support candidates from the African American community, which has essentially blocked African American voters from exercising effective political power in the District. Against this backdrop of inequality, a number of other factors hinder African American electoral success, such as an absence of meaningful access to endorsements, and subtle racial campaign appeals. Importantly, each of these factors interact with the voting practices and procedures that are in place for school board elections in FFSD, including the at-large and off-cycle election features, as well as, to some extent, the staggered terms of Board members, to dilute the African American vote. Ultimately, the complex interaction between these processes and conditions has "cause[d] an inequality in the opportunities enjoyed by black and white voters to elect their preferred representatives." "Failure of white voters to support African American candidates"? "Lack of meaningful endorsements"? So now the outcome of elections must go in favor of minorities or it is biased. Ferguson-Florissant holds elections every two years for board members to promote turnover on the board, and candidates are drawn district-wide rather than precinct by precinct. These very practices were put in place after a 1975 forced desegregation of the district (in which the all-black Kinloch district along with black sections of Berkeley were united with the Florissant and Ferguson districts into the FFSD) so as to empower the minorities who, at the time, were only a fraction of the population of the district. Clearly staggered elections work against incumbency, and drawing from the general district prevents a core from controlling certain seats. Prior to the 1975 court decision that created this district, the districts of Ferguson and Florissant were overwhelmingly white. The desegregation order forced them to create a new district that included the historically black community of Kinloch. Nobody had a problem with the board election scheme then, and did not until over 40 years later. As of this writing the board is comprised of four whites and three blacks. The community that pays for these schools is a plurality white, although most of the children (77.1%) who attend are black. The general voting-age population tally is where this gets interesting. According to Sipppel, the black population of the district is 48.19% using Census data or 51.0% using a 2013 survey. But that statistic is itself misleading, as Sippel uses the standard of Any Part Black, the old eugenics category that says if you have any percentage of non-white blood you are essentially black. So the mixed-race people are categorized as black to swell the rolls. It doesn't swell them much but it does pad the total number. And the judge spends quite a bit of time discussing the demographics of the district, despite the fact that this district has changed drastically in recent years and looking at past numbers on the board is of no value, yet he does it anyway. Why? It is rather reminiscent of the old student trick of writing everything down to wear out the teacher and thus get a better grade. It's a kind of filibuster to divert your attention from the main points. What are the main points? Sippel lists the impediments to voting among black residents of the community as felony voter disenfranchisement, lack of homeownership, and other socio-economic indicators that are barriers to registration. Essentially, he does not want choices to matter. Each and every one of his complaints with the system stem from choices. If you commit crimes, you lose the right to vote. That is a choice. If you chose not to have a permanent address -- and that is often done to keep creditors at bay or to dodge those pesky landlords who want to be paid -- that is your choice. If you don't bother to register to vote in a timely manner that is your choice. (That is important; in Missouri you have to register 27 days before an election, and that is done to prevent voter fraud. Indeed, why should someone be able to move into a district and vote immediately when they have never had a vested interest in the district until now?) Frankly, the judge admits there was no evidence presented that illustrated an undue burden on black voters, which in itself should have led him to rule for the District. He simply wished this away, claiming lower rates of registration even without evidence. By the way, home ownership should give you a louder voice in this instance, as property taxes are the mechanism for funding school districts and the greater the value of your home the more you have to pay. Why should someone who "stays" rather than lives at an address have equal power over the wallets of their neighbors? Renters pay nothing for the services they are more likely to use. That is two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for dinner. The judge complains that board members are drawn almost entirely from the municipalities of Florissant and Ferguson and none from Kinloch (population 299) or the section of Berkeley in the District. In short, he is only interested in more black board members, and the rest be damned! He states: During the six contested elections from 2011 to 2016, fifteen African American candidates ran for Board seats, Sippel wrote. African American candidates were successful in obtaining three out of those fifteen seats (20% success). During the six contested elections from 2011 to 2016, eighteen white candidates ran for Board seats. White candidates were successful in obtaining eleven out of those sixteen seats (68.7% success). In other words, if the majority is more likely to vote in an election (and few people know who is running for the school board, or care) and if they are better at getting their people elected it automatically amounts to unfair voting. In short, the political process doesn't matter but rather the outcome. This ruling is about power and not law. Judge Sippel simply ignores the political realities of the situation; African Americans are not prevented from running, nor are they gerrymandered in any fashion. They simply aren't doing what is needed in a democratic political system to attain power. They aren't getting out the vote. They aren't raising funds as well as their opponents. The ballots do not say *negro next to the names of black candidates, nor does it identify a precinct or have other markers. This ruling has one objective -- to give more political clout to the African-American community despite their political failures. It is a monstrous attempt to overturn the normal political process. The St. Louis American (a paper that is aimed at the black community) states: "Cindy Ormsby, a lawyer for the school district, said in an email that the district cannot change the electoral system voluntarily because the elections are held in a manner that is required by Missouri law. The district is considering an appeal of the judges decision, she said." State law doesn't seem to matter here; the judge ruled that the school district could not hold the next election until the district gave him a plan to grant special privilege, er, equalize the voting. This brings up an interesting point; if a Federal Judge can suspend elections for a school board, can other elections be suspended by the Feds based on the Civil Rights Act? The chaos in Ferguson started a conflagration that has raged in so many American cities, and has caused an earthquake on college campuses around the country. The impact of this small suburban community may not have run its course. Cross-posted from the State EdWatch blog By Daarel Burnette II The U.S. Department of Education has settled a years-long dispute with South Carolina education officials over spending cuts to the states special education services, according to the Department of Education . The dispute began in 2011, at the height of the recession, when the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold in future years more than $112 million from South Carolina after its legislature between 2010-13 cut the amount of money it set aside for students with disabilities. A federal requirement, known as state maintenance of financial support, prohibits states from decreasing the amount of money they spend on students with special needs unless they get special permission from the department. South Carolina subsequently sued, arguing that the funding was cut unfairly. Congress later clarified in the spending law so that the departments cuts cant be permanent. The department returned some of that money in 2011 after the state managed to scrape together funds saved from low gas prices and better-than-expected tax collections in order to pay for special education services, according to the Associated Press. But at least $51 million in federal funds was being withheld from the state. On Thursday, the department agreed to release that $51 million to South Carolina districts to spend on students with disabilities. In exchange, the state will pay an extra $60 million to districts, money it withheld from districts during the recession. The state will receive more than $180 million from the federal government for special education this fiscal year, according to the AP. Read the full settlement here . Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Many Republicans and conservatives are supporting Trump now that he enlisted input from The Federalist Society and The Heritage Foundation to craft a list of potential Supreme Court justices. Reluctant Trump supporters take comfort knowing they can vote for him because his SCOTUS choices are not only preferable to Clintons, but in line with the experts. As more conservatives hop aboard the Trump Train because of his assurances to appoint conservative justices, some NeverTrumpers, like George Will, are saying not so fast. In "Supporters Cling to Fantasy about Trump and 'the court' "Mr. Will claims that those who justify their support for Trump because he will uphold the Constitution and appoint conservative judges, are actually ignoring his inconsistent and unpredictable behavior (which negate any assurances he makes) and his cluelessness about the Court and the Constitution -- his belief that justices sign bills, Article XII exists, Kelo is good law and Citizens United bad, First Amendment rights should be limited and executive orders freely used. He questions whether Trump fanboys can truly care about the Constitution if they are willing to look the other way. Im not here to quarrel with Wills thesis, per se, but I do take issue with the scornful picture he paints of Trumpporters in his introductory paragraph and throughout the article: Like shipwrecked mariners clinging to a floating mast, many Republicans rationalize supporting Donald Trump because of "the court." This two-word incantation means: Because we care so much for the Constitution, it is supremely important to entrust to Trump the making of Supreme Court nominations. Well. The tenor of his critique isnt unique to Will, as others have pointed out. Derision from the Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens to the Weekly Standards Bill Kristol and practically everybody at National Review is commonplace these days. Some may indeed feel marooned at sea this election cycle, reaching for the only life preserver tossed their way that says Trump is a better risk than Hillary. But clinging is a poor choice of words and a non-starter if your ultimate goal is to convince others that yours is the better argument. It hearkens back to Obamas depiction of conservatives clinging to their guns and bibles. It suggests helplessness, desperation, and backwardness. By repeatedly referring to Trumpporters as mast clingers, he might just as well have said: pay no attention to those simpletons and their antediluvian ideas; they are lost at sea and desperate. Adding insult to injury, he then uses the word incantation. This is a direct assault on the intellect of Trump supportersliving in a fantasy world, desperately clinging to magic spells, incapable of rational thought. Mr. Will is way too savvy for his word choices to be mere happenstance. If his was an argument simply to persuade, then he would not have used inflammatory language to antagonize the very people he seeks to proselytize. This is clearly less about persuasion and more about drawing red linesbetween the enlightened in their ivory towers and the wretched masses below. Between those who know better and those who need to listen to them. These self-proclaimed keepers of the flame have forgotten one thing about conservatism: it isnt the experts who matter, but the People -- even if they screw up. For all of his braggadocio about politics and history, Mr. Will seems clueless about the diversity in intellect, education, life experience, and ability among the Republican base today. Perhaps Mr. Will needs to step out of his high tower and visit among the plebes. He might better understand their plight and the quandary they find themselves in this election. Noted conservative law professors John Yoo and Jeremy Rabkin also make the mistake of dissing the people they seek to persuade. The gist of their argument in a recent L.A. Times article is that Trump has already hedged on the list and, no matter what he says or does, his appointmentseven if conservativewill face confirmation hurdles, could end up siding with the Courts leftwing, as happened with Kennedy in Obergefell (gay marriage) and Fisher (affirmative action), or turn out to be lemons as we saw with OConnor (Reagan), Souter (Bush 41), and Roberts (Bush 43). As true as this all is, it isnt specific to Trump -- these are run-of-the-mill obstacles Republicans always face. It is no more a reason not to vote for him than it would be to abandon support for any other Republican candidate. Messieurs Yoo and Rabkin conclude that, apart from electing a conservative and appointing conservative justices, a conservative constitutional agenda can only be advanced by winning elections at all levels of government and question whether Trump is the man to lead such efforts. Fair enough. But, like Will, their reasoning is undercut by comments like this: Conservatives who are indulging delusions about a Trump presidency are fantasizing even more about the Supreme Court. Or, by their conclusion in "What a Trumpian Supreme Court Might Look Like", that anyone who finds it plausible that Trump will help to build a solid constitutional structure via a Supreme Court operating on the precise fault lines of almost all our domestic political disputes is beyond the reach of argument and passed into the realm of fantasy. Ouch. Words matter. These do not persuade. The great lesson and surprise of this election -- which few heed -- is that the more the Democrat-Media Complex and NeverTrumpers push back against those who favor him (or even reluctantly support him), the more resolute his supporters become, the more conservatives defend him, and the more attractive he appears to conservatives still on the fence. Every snarky comment leveled at conservatives -- by conservatives -- reaffirms what the base has long suspected: the party leadership does not give a hoot about their well-being, only their donations and votes and then, only for select candidates. If the pundits truly want to disrupt the vote for Trump -- ushering in a more palatable Clinton victory and saving conservatism from a death by 1000 Trumpian cuts -- they would be more solicitous of their conservative readers and careful with their verbiage. But they deliberately go out of their way to put down pro-Trump conservatives -- direct hits disparaging those who think differently. This is not friendly fire, but fragging. It seems, in the effort to thwart Trumps journey to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it doesnt matter who is thrashed and trashed along the way. In order to disrupt the pro-Trump vote and take Trump out, the end justifies the means. Whoa. Did I just say that? Could it be that noted conservatives have stooped to employing tactics we usually associate with liberals? Is it possible that our enlightened commentariat is utilizing Alinskys RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it? Some might say it is outlandish and scandalous to lump our distinguished punditry in with the basest of leftwing tactics; that it amounts to unnecessary and unsavory bridge burning. But who is belittling Trumpporters in the first place? Who is aligned with the leftwing, digging in heels and voting for Hillary, a write in, or a third party candidate? Maybe Will, Yoo and Rabkin do know better. Maybe the electorate is clueless. And maybe Trump will be a disaster as a candidate and president. They are all smarter and more accomplished than I. But the one thing I have over most of the punditocracy, is that as a Tea Party founder and organizer, Ive spent 8 years listening to average Americans -- many of them immigrants. They did what was asked of them -- they got involved, they got out the vote and helped secure Republican victories in the House and Senate. Many of them have run for office. They used the political infrastructure and electoral process to be heard and have their needs addressed. And they were largely ignored and forgotten. Trump wasnt the first choice for most of them but no bone in their collective bodies wants Hillary Clinton to step foot in the Oval Office. Bill Bennett told Foxs Martha MacCallum that Trump doesnt need to address the NeverTrumpers because they suffer from the terrible case of moral superiority and put their own vanity and tastes above the interests of this country. Hes right. Trump doesnt need to address them, but I do. Just a few months ago, Trumpistas and NeverTrumpers were unified against Clinton when backing our respective primary candidates -- all of whom pledged to support the Republican nominee, too many of whom are singing a different song now that its Trump. Many, who were on the fence, gradually gravitated towards the nominee, although that journey remains speckled with moments of serious doubt. We can either continue apace, or pivot to a new strategy to defeat Hillary. Throughout this election cycle, the focus has been on Trumps weaknesses and what he doesnt know. Although cast as an enfant terrible who doesnt listen, once the cacophony of electoral politics and the incessant yammering of journalists and critics subside, its obvious that his business accomplishments could not have happened without having mastered at least one thing: the art of listening -- something our tone deaf politicians and our 7-second-sound-bite-140-character-tweet society have long abandoned. He accepted help crafting the list of justices. He refined his proposal to pause the immigration of unvetted Muslims from high risk regions to a more nuanced extreme vetting of individuals from high risk regions. He has finally pivoted towards being more presidential. Hes re-shuffled his team. He is thankfully focused on the economy, national security, immigration, and Hillary Clinton. Clearly, at least for now, hes listening. Its time to make Trump a better conservative by marshalling our most compelling legal minds to meet with the candidate and explain how the legal system works, what federalism is, why Kelo is bad law and Citizens United good. And not just law. If there are other areas that need refinement and education, rather than excoriate him publicly, those in the know should offer up their services. Since he met with Megyn Kelly and allowed Ted Cruz to speak at the Convention, Im sure hed entertain such a meeting, even with those experts who have written or spoken ill of him. My goal is not to quibble with NeverTrumpers and lose friendships I care about. I dont want to push away or be pushed away by the very people with whom I mostly agree and have worked over the years. But I want to win. I want to defeat Hillary. I want Trump to govern as a conservative and Im determined to get as much conservative out of him as possible because it will be more than well ever get from Hillary. Most of all, I want us to accomplish this without further unraveling the fragile coalition that makes up the GOP and has survived all these years despite our differences. I think all of us -- Trumpporter and NeverTrumper -- should be thinking this way. After all, in the end, arent we better off making Trump great? Despite the obvious fallacy in Donald Trumps recent statement that President Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton were the founders of ISIS, Hudson Institute scholar Michael Dorans February 2, 2015 essay Obamas Secret Iran Strategy demonstrates that a very flawed U.S. policy towards Iran actually helped create Sunni support for the radical Sunni Islamic State. Due to what former Senior Director at the National Security Council Elliott Abrams terms Obamas ideology, the administration not only failed to comprehend Iranian culture and the absolutist theological nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran -- a blunder already begun in the Carter White House and perpetuated through all subsequent administrations -- but also compounded the error by believing that the mullah regime could be enticed to moderate its behavior. A year after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action we find Majlis Speaker of Parliament hard-liner Ali Larijani threatening that Iran may violate the JCPOA with a new startup of nuclear enrichment if any new sanctions are employed against Iran for its alleged nuclear activities, or those which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized in his report concerning ballistic missile tests. So too, the BfV, Germanys domestic security apparatus, indicates that Iran has attempted to buy illegal nuclear technology since last years deal. Additionally, a recent report indicates that Iran has stepped up its cyberwar capabilities against the West. Thus, its clear that the White Houses hope that Iran would begin to change its behavior has proven erroneous. In reality, Irans leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not changed his opposition to the United States one iota. Indeed, the monies Iran has reaped from the deal have found their way to increased Iranian support for the Syrian regime of Bashar el-Assad and its various terrorist proxies -- particularly Hizballah -- in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, and Gaza. Having pulled all U.S. troops out of Iraq without stabilizing the situation between the warring Sunni and Shia populations, the administration not only allowed Iran to continue to support and fund the most radical Shia factions and their militias, but also gave the radical Dawa partys Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki the chance to suppress the Sunni minority. The result of allowing al-Maliki to continue his sectarian oppression of the Sunnis was to cause a large portion of Sunnis to become radicalized and support the formation of the Islamic State, particularly among former Baathist army officers and officials. As Irans radical Shia agenda became more prevalent in Iraq, leading both the Tehran-led Badr Organization militia and other Shia militias such as Asaib Ahl al Haq, or League of the Righteous to attack and assassinate Sunnis, particularly those that had any ties to the Saddam regime, the Sunnis reacted, and thus ISIS/the Islamic State found a steady supply of local recruits. For the United States to win the war against the Islamic State, it is necessary not only to destroy it physically, but also to reverse the conditions that made it popular with a good portion of the Sunni masses. Unfortunately, the U.S. is relying on Iraqs Shia Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) which too often commit atrocities against the fragmented Sunni minority. As long as the current policy of relying on the Shia PMUs in its fight with Islamic State, the U.S. will fail to tame Iraq and arrest the sectarian wars. The PMUs are -- in essence -- Iranian proxies as their battlefield leadership is clearly demonstrated by the presence of Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC/Pasdaran), in Iraq at Takrit and Fallujah during the battles there. Soleimani not only advises but actually directs the battles and is aided by his own Qods Force troops as well as Shiite Fatemiyoun recruits from Afghanistan and Pakistan that have been employed to bolster Hizballah in Syria. Accountability and strict discipline need to be enforced in American relations with Iraq. Leading from behind will not do in any manner whatsoever -- thats an open invitation to the Islamic State to morph into another terrorist entity. Boots on the ground and officials in Baghdad to enforce strict compliance with a non-sectarian agenda will be required. With careful instruction and guidance we succeeded in the Tribal Awakening of 2006-2007 and the Surge of 2007-2008; future success requires similar diligence on our part along with that of the government of Iraq. But this time we need to stay the course and not retreat from the arena until Iraq is at peace with itself. Given the right support, the GOI will opt for a successful harmonious state. But with the long history of mutual Sunni-Shia animosity and the ferocity of both sides in attacking the other, it will not be simple or quickly achieved. However, if we withhold our support and supervision, Iraq will not achieve peace and will continue to be a weak client of Iran whose malevolent agenda is all too well known from the past thirteen years of experience. Across the border in Syria, the situation is somewhat more complicated. The moderate opposition -- thought by the U.S. to be concentrated in the Syrian Free Army (SFA) -- has recently allied itself with jihadist militias fighting the Assad regime, especially in the current battle over Aleppo. Although the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has split recently from al-Qaeda in order to form Jabhat Fatah el al-Sham as an umbrella organization of all non-Islamic State Sunni opposition to the Assad regime, the jihadi agenda it espouses has not changed at all. Like Islamic State, Jabhat Fatah el al-Sham seeks to remove the Assad regime and replace it with a Sunni Islamic state. The only Syrian group working actively against Islamic State in Syria is the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces which recently took the city of Manbij from IS after a two-month siege. This Kurdish-dominated coalition is made up of the Syrian YPG and a variety of Arab minorities. Success against the Islamic State both in Iraq and in Syria is hampered by our reliance on Irans Shiite axis in Iraq while attempting to remove Irans client in Syria. Our friends in these fights do not share our values nor do they have similar goals and objectives for final outcomes. Until we realize that every coalition action that we take has multiple repercussions because of our allies all-too-frequent misdeeds, we will continue to fail to bring any sense of calm to the area. As mentioned above, leading from behind is a guarantee of failure. Success will require tremendous effort, diligence and hands-on supervision in order to prevent sectarian violence against civilians, minorities, and the less devout. And this problem will not be solved quickly no matter how much we wish it. But ignoring it will only allow it to fester and grow much more dangerous and lethal. Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker, author of over one hundred articles on the Middle-East, is founder and Chairman of the Board of Americans for Democracy in the Middle-East, an organization dedicated to teaching the public about the dangers posed by radical Islamic fundamentalism. He may be contacted at contact@ADME.ws and/or ADME.chairman@aol.com. Almost precisely a century after women were granted the right to vote, it is perhaps time to assess the wisdom of this epoch-making decision. Has female suffrage strengthened or weakened Western nations? A disinterested survey of the matter not only suggests a preponderance of negative effects stemming from the female franchise, but reveals that a number of women themselves have spoken out bluntly and critically on the issue. It is impossible to deny that the so-called patriarchal class has built the armature of the greatest civilization known to history. Science, technology, the crafts and trades, the professions, medicine, law, and the arts (literature, music, painting, sculpture, architecture) are almost exclusively though not wholly, be it said the product of male initiative, inventiveness, energy, and brilliance. Naturally, feminists will disagree strenuously, along with their beta male accomplices and cultural defectors such as the ineffable Leonard Shlain, who, writing in the New York Times, proposes that the discovery of fire and the invention of the alphabet worked against women's values and power. In the present anti-male climate, such asininity might be expected, but it is hard to imagine a civilization worthy of the name without fire and the alphabet that is, minus technology and literacy, the latter the very basis of advanced and elaborate cultures. To view the elements of civilization as the bane of women, as Shlain does, is already a tacit admission that civilization is the fruit of men's labor. Certainly, men could not have managed their incontestably immense achievement without women's child-rearing, home-making, and nurturing presence and there has plainly been a minority of impressive women who contributed their talents directly to the civilizational enterprise. Ruth King, for example, in an interesting article for American Thinker, "Shattering the Crass Ceiling," lists a number of celebrated women who have excelled in the contemporary political world, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, and Corazon Aquino, but King also features the more problematic Angela Merkel, Christine Fernandez de Kircher, and Dilma Rousseff. (Her neglect of the courageous Aung San Suu Kyl is obviously an oversight.) And of course, there is no need to stop there. No one can deny the plenum of extraordinary women in all the disciplines and walks of life, from the biblical Deborah, Hypatia of Alexandria, the Milesian Aspasia and Saint Hildegard von Bingen to Jeane Kirkpatrick, Bat Ye'or, Gertrude Himmelfarb, Fabiola Gianotti, and many more, famous and not famous the kind of women whose perceptiveness, fortitude, and abilities have made the world a better place and who merit unconstrained respect. But such cynosures remain a minority not because women have been brutalized and oppressed, but because our evolutionary history has destined women for a different and complementary role in human development. The extension of the franchise to women has inaugurated the period of women's increased political participation and electoral influence. What have been its consequences? Women's voting preferences have tended toward collectivity: bigger government, along with government-sponsored initiatives in health, education, child care, social welfare, state regulation, and expansive bureaucracies a checkered catalogue, some good things, some not so good. Even some of the "good things" have proven to be mixed blessings, if not purveyors of outright mischief. Title IX, anyone? Obamacare? The Child Protection Services nightmare a case forcefully laid out by Brenda Scott in Out of Control: Who's Watching Our Child Protection Agencies? While pushing the costly welfare agenda for better or worse, women have, on the whole, been less concerned about the need to protect and reinforce the turbines of technical development and economic productivity building, inventing, commerce, heavy industry, manufacturing, theoretical and experimental science. They appear to be more interested in redistributing wealth than in creating it. Writing in The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Stanford medical doctor Grant Miller makes the case for the beneficial impact of female suffrage, arguing that "suffrage laws were followed by immediate shifts in legislative behavior and large, sudden increases in local public health spending." This is consistent with women's voting patterns generally. Miller goes so far as to claim that suffrage rights for women were instrumental in helping children "to benefit from the scientific breakthroughs of the bacteriological revolution." What he fails to mention is that the bacteriological revolution was powered mainly by men. Moreover, it is plausible to assume that the benefits to society would have occurred irrespective of the female franchise. Women were granted the right to vote in the U.S. in 1920 and in 1928 in the U.K.; Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 at St. Mary's hospital in London, without benefit of ostensible female magnanimity and without government funding. There was no suffrage-inspired "immediacy" with respect to this groundbreaking antibiotic, which did not become effective until the 1940s, thanks to the work of Howard Florey, Ernst Chain, and Norman Heatley, all good men and true. In addition, the cause-and-effect conjunction assumed by Miller is clearly untenable. If we are to praise women for advancements in health care, must we then blame them for the present disaster of the nationalized health care network, particularly in the U.K.? (My own country, Canada, is not far behind.) It may be reasonable to suggest that the preponderance of women, absent the insightful exceptions to the rule, tend to vote for collectivist benevolence over individual initiative and to manifest a pronounced in-group preference. Consider, as a current instance of this species of schwarmerei, the massive female preference for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whom women favor merely because she is herself a woman. The demonstrable fact that she is corrupt; vindictive; and, as her various administrative positions infallibly reveal, grossly incompetent and even dangerous is of no account. It is no accident that feminist icon Gloria Steinem dismisses Hillary's undeniable failures and misdemeanors, claiming that it is her powerful womanhood alone that may provoke disenchantment with her candidacy. That, extrapolating from her deceitful character and dismal track record, Hillary would make a terrible president, consolidating and amplifying the catastrophes of her androgynous predecessor, cannot be argued and clearly not with the vast swath of her female apologists and disciples. Ruth King concludes the aforementioned article conceived in praise of prominent women: "It may be high time for America to have a female president but not in this election, and not Hillary Clinton." Although why it may be high time to have a female president escapes inquiry. Why not, for that matter, a gender-fluid president? Indeed, why not simply a good president? Anti-feminist activist Janet Bloomfield goes farther, contending that women's voting patterns are chiefly destructive not only to men, but to society's prosperity and security. She notes, in her provocative blog post "#three reasons why women should not vote," that women take for granted the engines of economic growth and massively favor ultimately unsustainable political policies and projects. Thus, men, who "predominate in manufacturing and construction," are hard hit in the present economic crisis, while women, "a majority in recession-resistant fields such as education and health care," seem neither to understand nor to care about men's (and by extension the larger society's) economic plight. Female indifference to men's economic suffering has been strikingly apparent during the recent recession. Chistina Romer, for example, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, argued in the context of Obama's job stimulus program that "[w]e don't want the stimulus package to just create jobs for burly men" though Romer is rather burly herself. And as Christina Hoff Sommers writes in National Review, "Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), attacked the 'testosterone-laden 'shovel-ready' terminology[.] ... ' To read Gandy's column is to understand why shovels are still standing idle and the stimulus was such a disappointment." Analogously, over 1,000 feminist historians signed an open letter lobbying for the establishment of "human bridges" while, of course, paying only lip service to bridges of concrete and steel. There is little recognition among the sorority that human bridges can't stay up indefinitely if their supporting piers are unstably moored on a shifting economic bed. Developing an audacious argument against female suffrage, Bloomfield proposes that there are three reasons why women should not have the franchise. The reasons are, briefly: The draft. The vote is intrinsically tied to the draft. Unlike men, for whom suffrage is historically tied to military combat roles in Canada and the U.K., unpropertied and low-income men received the vote only in 1918, owing to the huge loss of male life in WWI women are not drafted into combat positions. They are permitted to register for military service but will never be drafted pregnant mothers, single mothers, mothers with many children, and so on. Women will never vote for the mandatory draft, resisting "the obligation to die" or, as Janice Fiamengo graphically puts it in her video on suffrage, "to have their guts ripped out in the trenches." Thus, in Bloomfield's terse formulation, "no draft = no vote." Spending. "Government spending exploded at exactly the moment women's suffrage occurred." After 1920, "it takes women ... only 11 years to double per capita spending." (Karen Straughan, as feisty a men's rights warrior as we can find on the scene today, comments: "And here I thought I was the only one brave enough to suggest women's suffrage might not have been a wonderful idea. Switzerland was the test case, as they didn't have women's suffrage until quite late[.] ... Within a couple decades, their government spending to GDP ratio had increased by 28%.") Indeed, large numbers of women are not materially productive members of society, working for the most part in human relations, primary education and caring occupations. "When the money starts to run out," Bloomfield asks, rhetorically, "which department do you think women will vote to begin stripping resources from?" It will be the Department of Defense. "Women will consume government resources until the state collapses. As long as women can vote, they will consume, whilst not producing those resources." Women do not deserve the franchise, she asserts, "because they will eventually cannibalize the military, leaving us all at the mercy of our enemies." Immigration. "Women have an intense need to be seen as 'nice' and they have a strong collectivist bent, which is wonderful for family life, but catastrophic for national governance. We can see the effects of women wanting to be 'nice' in Europe. The demographics of modern Europe are downright terrifying. Ethnic European women refuse to have children, yet turn around and welcome in migrants with birth rates that will inevitably spell the end of ethnic Europeans." With regard to this third point, we should note that radical feminists along with the epicene platoons of White Knights and mascupathy therapists have succeeded in feminizing men who would once have protected them, a fact that some women suffering Muslim sexual assaults in Germany have awakened to. Millennials tend to behave like eunuchs when it comes to affirming their manhood and defending their women. Pajama Boy does not augur well for a robust and durable society. The rabid excesses of feminist dogma, relentlessly perverting the justice system in rape and assault cases to exalt a woman's word over legal principle and countervailing evidence, the desexing of language to the point of utter farce (as in Princeton's expurgating from official communications the word "man," even in phrasal compounds), and the progressive estrangement between the sexes are corollaries of women's incursion into the political realm. As a consequence, the extinction of civil culture based on mutual gender trust is virtually assured. Bloomfield does not mince words. "Women have had the vote in the West for almost 100 years, and all they have done is vote to destroy and destabilize the world men built for us, while protecting themselves from the blood consequences. They have voted selfishly, rapaciously, irrationally and quite possibly, irrevocably." She concludes categorically: "As long as women can vote, the great liberal civilizations built by men are going to fall." Her opinions, she makes clear, have nothing to do with the current shibboleth, misogyny, but everything to do with common sense and historical fact, however abhorrent her contestation will be to the politically correct, the "social justice" bullies, the denizens of Identity Studies programs, the phalanx of decadent academics, and liberal fellow travelers who cannot think outside the cage of popular sentiment and live in fear of media backlash or rejection by their peers. Women like Bloomfield and Straughan and Fiamengo are indifferent to the hail of feminist denunciation and male chauvinist clucking that comes their way. They argue that women as a bloc have done much harm in their propensity to promote socialist policies and utopian memes, in historical defiance of male creativity, self-confidence, and practical accomplishment as well as of economic reality. If they are right, the situation is irreversible. But at least we might be man enough to admit, despite the cultural current and the lateness of the hour, that women's suffrage may not be the unmitigated good it has been made out to be. Can one man -- a man who died in 1831 -- be blamed for Nazism, Communism and even the uprisings in places like Milwaukee and Ferguson? Karl Popper, Leo Strauss and Ayn Rand all suggested G.W.F Hegel, the greatest philosopher of the nineteenth century, contributed to the most malignant totalitarian systems in history. But his ideas shaped how many interpret recent events in Milwaukee and Ferguson, too. By describing the world as a conflict between two competing concepts, Hegel created a paradigm used by Marx, Hitler and even African-American protesters. Hegel interpreted reality as a struggle between two competing ideas, the thesis and anti-antithesis. Like atoms, they are the most fundamental units of all visible events. After intense conflict, the struggle between these antagonistic ideas resolves with the emergence of a synthesis which adopts elements from the thesis and anti-thesis, thus creating a new level of reality. Another thesis and anti-thesis emerge from the synthesis and the process begins anew. This is the dialectic, more specifically the Idealist dialect since its based on conflict between ideas. The dialectic guides history. All historical events can be reduced to a struggle between ideas. Without the dialectic, life and history have no meaning. Hegel maintained, Without the active opposition of an antithesis working through the dialecticperiods of happiness are empty pages in history, for they are the periods of harmony, times when the antithesis is missing." And the dialectical movement of history is a never a smooth and simple process. The conflict takes places on battlefields, revolutions, torture chambers and even the streetssuch as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The dialectic also transcends individuals. Participants are unconscious of their role in the greater dialectical historical picture, like someone holding a small image that makes up a larger mosaic. Hegel was a holist, so he believed that individuals dont exist in isolation, but are formed by the larger group (accordingly, both Nazis and Communists were anti-individual). In other words, the police officers in places like Milwaukee and Ferguson do not act as an individuals, but rather as part of a larger group, in this case, the white race. All of their actions are not determined by free will, but the conditions that reared them, in this case white society. For a second, lets assume the worst and that the young black men were killed due to their race. But why cant this be interpreted as one individual with free-will killing another? Cant the police officers just be bad apples? Do they have to represent a bigger, deeper issue in America? For a holist, they do. As Louis Farrakhan declared, I warn you that something terrible is about to go down, and it is a sign: A microcosm of the macrocosm. Hegel would have agreed. The events in Milwaukee and Ferguson arent just one man killing another, they represents deeper struggles that African-Americans face, a struggle that is fundamental to American society. Like the person in the montage, little details dont matter. Whether the police officers are individually racist is a moot point. The protestors know, or think they know, because they understand the reality of American society. Is it possible that race had nothing to do with the shooting the young man? Of course it is, but for the protestors, this interpretation doesnt conform to their reality, a reality that asserts the existence an African-American class struggling against the oppressive white race. But none of the African Americans protesters have ever heard of, much less studied, the great Idealist philosopher? No matter. How many Americans have read the ideas of Locke? Can we deduce from this fact that Locke hasnt shaped the minds of most Americans? We learn not just by directly reading sources, but from friends, teachers, the media and articles written by people who have read the primary sources. Locke was popularized by Thomas Jefferson while Hegels ideas became accessible to the masses by Karl Marx, the most influential left-wing thinker in history. Marx took Hegels ideas out of the hands of the academic philosophers and brought it to the streets through works like the Communist Manifesto. In this work, Marx materialized Hegels ideas and applied them to society. Society is characterized as a titanic struggle between material classes, sometimes even violently. Marx contends the overthrow of the existing order requires violence on the streets. Marx also added exploitation and oppression to the Hegelian dialectic, so the fabric of social reality is more than just two antagonistic concepts. Now, one oppresses and exploits the other. In the twentieth century, prominent African-American writers like C.L.R James and George Padmore used Marxs ideas to explain racial issues in America, emphasizing struggle and exploitation. The philosophy then spread to other prominent African-Americans, many of whom may not be formal Marxists, but still adopt parts of his paradigm, like Farrakhan and a host of academics. Everything has a history, including metaphysical interpretations of reality. The killing of the young men can be explained in many ways, but the one driving the protesters in Milwaukee is Hegelian because it is based on inherent conflict between two concepts. The U.S. is in a tight spot, mostly of its own making, as regards relations with post-coup attempt Turkey. And Vice President Joe Biden just made it tighter, slandering Americans in the process. U.S. forces at Turkeys Incirlik air base which contains American nuclear weapons are operating under close to siege conditions. At least one government-aligned Turkish newspaper suggested that the nukes be confiscated by Ankara, and Turkeys prime minister announced that Incirlik is open to other countries fighting ISIS specifically including Russia. The need to shore up U.S.-Turkish relations is clear. But at what cost? Bidens groveling to the Turkish government was cringe-worthy and destructive of American ends. First, he threatened Kurdish forces with a loss of American support. They cannot, will not, and under no circumstances will get American support if they do not keep what he said was a commitment to stay east of the Euphrates River. Aside from the impropriety of publicly denouncing an ally in the capital of its adversary, the threat comes only a week after the Obama administration announced it was sending 3,000 additional U.S. Special Forces soldiers to Syria specifically to aid the Kurds. The Kurds, the best fighting force against ISIS in the Syria-Iraq battleground, have to wonder where this leaves them, and the American troops have to wonder whether their presumed allies will trust them. Then there was abject apology for American insensitivity following the coup attempt, and how some of your countrymen feel the world didnt respond ... rapidly enough or with the appropriate amount of solidarity and empathy. The Washington Post wrote that Biden was nearly shouting as he added: Let me be clear, as clear as I possibly can. I want to ease any speculation The United States of America did not have any foreknowledge of what befell you on the 15th. The United States of America, the people of the United States of America, abhor what happened and under no circumstances would support anything remotely approaching the cowardly act of the treasonous members of your military We did not have prior knowledge, we did not support, we immediately condemned, and we continue as we did before the coup to stand shoulder to shoulder not only with the government of Turkey but with the people of Turkey. The people of Turkey have no greater friend than the United States of America. He doth protest too much. Washington did not aid the coup, but its post-coup response was reasonable. The situation on the ground was murky, and Turkeys demand that the United States simply hand over a government opponent without evidence presented in U.S. court is without merit. But the worst was Biden citing "confusion" in the United States after the 9-11 attacks to suggest some equivalence between our response and Ankaras to a national trauma, and to suggest that Turkeys sledgehammer reaction didnt meant it wouldnt uphold democracy and human rights. Lets give this some time, Biden said, doing an extraordinary disservice to Americans and their government. Whatever confusion reigned in the U.S. on September 12 and beyond, it did not include: Detaining 35,000 people without charges Arresting 17,740 people on specific charges Issuing arrest warrants for 89 journalists Firing or suspending 81,494 people from almost every government ministry, as well as prosecutors, university deans, teachers, soccer officials, and members of the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Television and Radio Supreme Council, Turkish Statistical Institute, Banking Regulation, and Supervision Agency, and more. None of those fired under the state of emergency is eligible to appeal. A week later, Amnesty International said it had credible evidence of detainees subjected to beatings and torture, including rape. A month later, 2,360 police officers, 112 military personnel, and 24 members of the coast guard were fired, and, with 23,000 people still detained, Turkey announced the parole of 38,000 criminals to make room for the political prisoners. This picture is not from post-9-11 America: It is slanderous to suggest equivalence. The Obama administration is trying to keep a lot of balls in the air supporting the Kurds in their fight against ISIS without aggravating Turkey by supporting Kurds in their quest for autonomy; working with Russia while Russia defends Syrian leader and war criminal Bashar Assad without admitting we are defending Assad indirectly by our actions; and fighting ISIS in alliance with Iranian militias while the Iranian military fights for Assad and harasses American war ships in the Persian Gulf. The administration isnt doing very well, and Vice President Biden isnt helping. Shoshana Bryen is senior director of The Jewish Policy Center and editor of inFOCUS Magazine. What exactly made the Clinton campaign go "race card" on Trump? It seems a bit early for such a card. After all, isn't Hillary supposed to be leading by 10 points and headed for a landslide? Do you recall Reagan '84, Nixon '72, or even Clinton '96 sounding so desperate or attacking his opponents like this? They usually said little or had their helpers engage in attacks. So what's going on? Let me give you a couple of theories: 1) The Clinton campaign must have internal polling that it is a lot closer than the national polls suggest, or at least some information that her lead is melting because of all the bad news. They may also (and that's speculation on my part) have polling that shows that there is zero excitement in the black communities for her campaign. In other words, she will get 90%, but the turnout may be very low! I remember analyzing the 2016 Texas primary on Telemundo Dallas last spring, and we spent much of the night talking about the lousy Hispanic turnout. Excitement and Hillary Clinton do not go together! 2) The Clinton campaign may fear some bad news coming. Julian Assange told the media that bad stuff is coming. He may be bluffing or engaging in self-promotion. However, the recent AP story suggests that Assange may put the bow on this scandal. My guess is that some emails may confirm that the State Department and the Clinton Foundation were just a bit too close for comfort. At some point, even the friendly media will call on her to answer some questions! It's hard to believe that the Clintons would have a private server, delete emails, and hide everything because they are stupid, as Charles Krauthammer wrote. There is something this couple is hiding. Why so much secrecy about emails between a mother and a daughter about to get married? So put me down as someone who believes that there is big news coming. We may be about to have the mother of all October surprises. Again, why play the race card now? I think that the new strategy will be to work on energizing the Obama coalition by saying this: I may be crooked, but he is a racist! What else do you do when you are crooked? I guess you scare your base that a racist is worse than a woman who can't tell the truth or puts our national security at risk. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Where is Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as residents in flood-ravaged Baton Rouge and surrounding areas continue to suffer through the loss of their homes and loved ones? Following the worst natural disaster to hit Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina, Clinton shrugged off the misery with a note on her website urging supporters to "give what they can." Clinton also wrote that she is committed to visiting affected communities when her presence will not disrupt relief efforts. Funny how her opponent, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, managed to make his way to the flood zone with minimal disruption. Trump also donated $100,000 in supplies with little fanfare from the media. As for Clinton? The non-alternative, corrupt media complex doesn't care that its chosen candidate is a no-show and a cheapskate. Has Hillary pledged to match Trump's $100,000? Nope. Thirteen dead and 100,000 damaged homes is just like Benghazi for Hillary. What difference does it make? She knows there's no big payoff visiting suffering, grieving families on the gulf coast. With a far-left Democrat president in the White House controlling the media, she can phone it in. Clinton has cable pundits, network news, NeverTrumpers, newspaper CEOs all running interference for her, so why risk getting bit by mosquitoes and contracting the Zika virus down in Louisiana (a possibility she actually warns readers about in her online statement)? Hillary's token nod to the flood victims in August 2016 is a disgrace compared to her actions and remarks days and weeks following the Katrina disaster in August 2005. On September 7, 2005, a week after Katrina wreaked havoc in New Orleans and towns along the gulf coast states, Senator Clinton introduced b.1622 to establish a congressional commission to examine the government's response to the devastation caused by Katrina. On September 22, 2005, Clinton, along with Senator Barack Obama and a panel of black radical activists, politicians, and Marxist-inspired academics, participated in a Congressional Black Caucus town hall titled "Eradicating Poverty." One by one, the participants blasted the Bush administration's slow response to Katrina. At the 48:20 minute in this C-SPAN video, Senator Clinton begins her remarks. Some highlights include Clinton admonishing us that the nation's "strength does not come from turning our backs on what has been happening." Katrina, she says, has helped us to laser-focus on "vestiges of a system that has kept people down for a hundred years or more." She fails to mention that it is her political party and its progressive policies that are responsible for the plight of minorities in the inner cities for the last 100 years. Katrina, she says, "embarrassed us in front of the entire world ... that we didn't do the kind of job that people expect America to do to take care of Americans first[.]" When it comes to Hillary Clinton, the bottom line for the Louisiana flood victims is, if theres nothing in it for her, dont expect her to give a damn. Hillary Clinton talks about how Trump is influenced by the far right, and the media is glad to go along. Somehow the media dont seem to care how Hillary relies on the extreme far left for funding and advice, including billionaire George Soros. Soros is a convicted felon, and he has been bankrolling efforts to roll back commonsense voter ID laws that the public supports. Hillary has leaned on billionaire George Soros, who is a big supporter of euthanasia, for advice on Albania. Soros started the Open Society Institute in 1993 as a way to spread his wealth to progressive causes. Using Open Society as a conduit, Soros has given more than $7 billion to a whos who of left-wing groups. This partial list of recipients of Soross money says it all: ACORN, Apollo Alliance, National Council of La Raza, Tides Foundation, Huffington Post, Southern Poverty Law Center, Soujourners, People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women, and many other groups. He wants to curtail U.S. power throughout the world. In 1998, he wrote: Insofar as there are collective interests that transcend state boundaries, the sovereignty of states must be subordinated to international law and international institutions. He also tried to break the British pound in 1997. Soros is a tremendously dangerous leftist who wants to limit Americans freedoms, and he has been a trusted adviser to Hillary and Obama. According to this article, Soros has been to the White House at least 13 times while Obama was in office, including this visit with Obamas top ISIS adviser. Soros has said many things that show that he is no friend of Israel and actually blames Israel and the U.S. for anti-Semitic attitudes in Europe. And just this year, Hungary has accused Soros of stirring up trouble on that nations immigration policy. Can anyone imagine the coverage by the media if someone with a similar history to Soross were backing Trump? Recently, CNN commentator Sally Kohn who is Jewish by birth and also a lesbian sent out a tweet that equated progressive Muslims (whoever they are) with sharia, putting a positive spin on her 140-characters-or-less pro-sharia message. It seems she received a bit of flack for it, and Im proud to have been among the flackers (here). Now shes digging in as only a Jewish lesbian leftist advocating for sharia can. On Thursday, CNN published an editorial she wrote where she lectured all of us ignorant, fear-mongering right-wing Islamophobes on the truth about sharia. According to her fabricated construct, its impossible to identify one single interpretation of what sharia is. (Except you pretty much can. Scholars do, and it isnt pretty.) Meanwhile, no drivel of this sort would be complete without a reference to nuance, and Sally doesnt disappoint, stating that people who are critical of sharia often miss nuances, assuming for example that those who practice Sharia believe adulterers should be stoned and gay people thrown off roofs. Getting a little nervous there, Sally? Wondering if Mr. and Mrs. Muslim might want to throw you off a roof or cheer on those who would? (Dont worry, dear there are a lot of subtleties involved, or nuances, as you say. Not all homosexuals are thrown from rooftops. Some are hung. And as you are aware, some are gunned down in nightclubs, with likely more to come because of idiots like you who are doing the bidding for the enemy.) Kohn twists herself into ignorant knots as she makes the case for how adherence to sharia law and being a progressive Muslim are not mutually exclusive. She asserts that sharia takes many forms, from the personal to the spiritual to the political, and that within each form a Muslim can adhere more, or less, strictly. So in the end, sharia means different things to different people. (Oh, she just makes it sound so darned great. And I think her message would be welcomed in a Muslim-majority country where sharia is the law of the land, no?) Hey, Sally! Theres something called the truth. In this case, Islamic law melds the personal, spiritual, political, and military into a single unit that amounts to one thing: supremacism. As Robert Spencer writes at Jihad Watch: Because Sharia originates with the Quran and the Sunnah, it is not optional. Sharia is the legal code ordained by Allah for all mankind. To violate Sharia or not to accept its authority is to commit rebellion against Allah, which Allahs faithful are required to combat. There is no separation between the religious and the political in Islam; rather Islam and Sharia constitute a comprehensive means of ordering society at every level.[snip] there are few aspects of life that Sharia does not specifically govern. Everything from washing ones hands to child-rearing to taxation to military policy fall under its dictates. Because Sharia is derivate of the Quran and the Sunnah, it affords some room for interpretation. But upon examination of the Islamic sourcesit is apparent that any meaningful application of Sharia is going to look very different from anything resembling a free or open society in the Western sense. The stoning of adulterers, execution of apostates and blasphemers, repression of other religions, and a mandatory hostility toward non-Islamic nations punctuated by regular warfare will be the norm. It seems fair then to classify Islam and its Sharia code as a form of totalitarianism. But of course Kohn would never consult with Robert Spencer. Instead, she sought the wisdom (ahem) of Wajahat Ali to support her case. His bio at Salon notes that he is a contributor at Al Jazeera America, the lead author of Fear, Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America and a co-author of a television script about a Muslim American cop from Yemen. Robert Spencer rounds out his background, noting that Fear, Inc. was funded by Soross Center for American Progress and was an attempt to take down Spencer and other giants who speak the truth about Islam, whom Ali labels Islamophobes. Spencer writes that Ali was also a board member of the Muslim Students Association, which is one of the Muslim Brotherhoods largest front groups in America (here, here, here, here, here, and here). And as readers might imagine, Alis a Jew-hater (here). Thats always part of the package. But back to Kohn and her shameful shilling. This pathetic excuse for a deep thinker really ought to visit a country where sharia law is the law of the land. In fact, a week ago, change.org started a petition urging CNN to send Sally to one such country to live for a week without bodyguards. The petition, which as of this writing has over 11,000 signatures, states: A lot of right-wing nazi bigots are saying Sally Kohn is an idiot for showing support for Sharia Law, especially considering that she is a gay woman. As progressives, we know both Sharia Law and Muslims are tolerant and very LGBTQ friendly. In order to show how LGBTQ friendly the Sharia, and it's practitioners, are, Sally Kohn should spend a weeks holiday proudly displaying her homosexuality in Raqqa/Riyadh or any other place where Sharia is the law of the land, without guards of course, to show how safe, and how pro LGBTQ these practitioners of Sharia Law are. The top comment on the petition reads: Great idea!! Show your tolerance, Sally! Prove these silly right-wingers wrong. You go girl!:) Were waiting, Sally. Summers over. Im sure you could get a great fare to your overseas destination. Hat tips: The Blaze, Mediate, Free Beacon As Hillary Clinton's corruption and willing betrayal of national security secrets dominate conservative headlines, her campaign and the liberal media turn to their favorite theme: their moral superiority. Democrats are the good people; Republicans are the bad people. Hillary's failures are trivial compared to the horrors of those KKK-Fascist-Stupid-Greedy-Hitler Republicans. Yes, both candidates make personal attacks on their rivals, but there is no parity in how the two parties stigmatize opponents. Democrat vitriol is liberally applied not just to Trump, but to all his supporters. Chatting with a California man who had biked across America, I remarked that it must have been interesting to talk with people across the country. His answer? "Are you crazy? I didn't talk to anyone. They're all rednecks." Character assassination is the liberal weapon of choice against ordinary people. Democrats bully everyone to obey their rules on what we may think and say and do. They have the right because they are protecting blacks, gays, and women from our hidden hatred. My college-age niece is typical of millennials when she tells me freedom of religion is of no importance, that people must be forced to think correctly about gays. Young people see the Bill of Rights as the handmaiden of bigotry and homophobia. In September 2001, I had the privilege to sit in on a course on genocide at the Boston Divinity School taught by the late Elie Wiesel. The class met the day after 9/11, and many of the divinity students wanted to excuse the Islamic terrorists as "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." These kind-hearted millennials also wanted to whitewash the Holocaust, claiming that all of us would be Nazis in the same circumstances. Wiesel shook his head with a sad, sad look on his face. Only some people became Nazis, he explained. Some fought them heroically. The rest like my liberal classmates made excuses for them. The most unforgettable lesson was on the Rape of Nanking, in which the Japanese army in 1930s China raped, tortured, and massacred Chinese civilians in an orgy of sadism. How did ordinary Japanese soldiers lose civilization and behave like monsters? Wiesel explained that the indoctrination began in grade school, and the key to enabling atrocities and mass murder is to dehumanize your opponents. Portray your enemies as diabolically evil, and you have the moral right to destroy them. Now the unthinkable is happening. We are living in a period when Democrats are normalizing the demonizing of conservatives and Christians as evil people beyond the pale. We are all KKK. As predicted, violence follows vilification. Trump supporters have been punched, hit with a crowbar. robbed, spat upon, thrown to the ground, injured by a soda can thrown at the back of the head, and pelted with dog feces. In San Jose and Minneapolis, police have stood by and allowed the violence. A black Trump supporter who voiced his opinion in a bar was shot. Democrats think we deserve it. So I was glad to read this clear exposition of the danger of Democrat tactics in D.C. McAllister's important article in The Federalist this week: Scapegoating is not just about control, it's about disassociation, even eventual annihilation. One group (the most powerful, the in-group: Democrats and liberals) targets an opposing group (Republicans and conservatives) and blames them for all the problems of society economic ills, racial conflicts, cultural clashes, even personal struggles and unhappiness. This is a dangerous progression because hostility will inevitably break out against the out-group that has been maligned. We see some of this with the conflicts between Black Lives Matter and white cops (cops being the out-group). But, in time, it will spread beyond law enforcement. The scapegoating will eventually extend to anyone who opposed the liberal agenda. She argues that liberals delegitimize what used to be universal American values. In the new progressive-dominated popular culture reinforced by K-12 public school, Hollywood, academia, and the liberal media America is labeled racist. The entire history of America's founding has been labeled. Individualism has been labeled. Personal responsibility has been labeled. Free markets have been labeled. Christianity has been labeled. Conservatism has been labeled. The United States of America as a nation has been labeled and stigmatized. That's why so many people millennials especially want to be identified as globalists. They're ashamed of their disgraceful nation, which has been effectively stereotyped as hateful and bigoted a belief Barack Obama reinforced when he said "Racism is in our DNA" and reinforced by Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, who recently called for whites to become a "minority" to atone for racism. Everything conservatives hold dear culturally, politically, and socially has been labeled and stigmatized, not because of actual racism or covert racism, but because leftism has been a raging success. Groupthink has won. Liberal identity is based on the pretense that liberals are the only fair, intelligent, loving people in America. Democrats eat up these flattering falsehoods. They don't notice they are selling their heritage for a mess of pottage. Worse in using the tactics of demonization, Democrats are becoming the fascist tyrants they fear. Briefly speaking, there are decisions set down at the last KNU meeting and papers submitted by the KUPC. We will incorporate them with our policy to submit during the peace conference, said Say Wah, general secretary of the KPP. After winning seats in the 2015 General Election, six representatives from the KPP have been invited to attend the peace conference. KPP General Secretary Saw Say Wah, KPP Karen State Hluttaw MP Saw J A Win Myint, and patron and central executive committee members Saw Jue Pali San Hla, Nant Khin Aye Oo, Mann Tun Tin, Saw Dickson Tun Linn will form the party delegation that will attend the conference. Saw Thar Boe, from the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, was proud that the KPP has been invited, but urged the party to tell the government not to allow resource extraction or energy projects in Karen State, unless clear guidelines that adhere to sustainable development are followed. Saw Ka Pee, a Karen political affairs observer, said its vital that the representatives are organized and well-versed on the topics that will be discussed during the conference. People who are attending the conference need to be thoroughly prepared in advance for the topics they are going to discuss, he said. Organizers have announced that politics, security, economics, land, environment and social issues will be the centre of discussions when the conference convenes next week, but that no decisions will be made. Reporting by Saw Tun Lin for KIC News Translated by Thida Linn Edited by BNI staff U.S. secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov are reportedly near a deal that would end the fighting in Syria after five bloody years of civil war. That is, if all parties can be convinced to abide by the agreement. A ceasefire was agreed to in February, but it collapsed almost immediately. NBC News: "As we have all seen now, violations eventually became the norm rather than the exception," Kerry said. Kerry said the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has conducted a continued aerial bombardment with barrel bombs and choline gas. Kerry said "we have a few narrow issues to be resolved" on an agreement. Much of the discussions have involved how to make a ceasefire stick. "We are close," Kerry said. "But as I have said to you in other contexts before, we're not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people and the ability of the international community to address them in ways that can show real results." Sources close to the negotiations told NBC News the framework of the agreement being discussed includes a nationwide ceasefire and unrestricted access given to humanitarian groups. The agreement being discussed also includes Russian guarantees that Moscow can and will influence the Syrian regime to abide by a deal, and a commitment to a process that would result in a new Syrian government, the negotiator said. Some of those involved in the negotiations expressed concern that even if a deal was reached, it would not hold for long. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 and over one million have been injured, according to United Nations estimates. "We don't want to have a deal for the sake of the deal," Kerry said. Yeah, Johnny. That's exactly what you said about the Iran nuclear deal. How's that workin' out for ya? Given Kerry's lack of skill as a negotiator, you have to wonder what he's giving away to the Russians. It's a safe bet that any statement or promise made about Syria by President Obama or Secretary Kerry in the past is no longer valid. "Assad must go" can be considered inoperative. Any red lines are equally null and void. "The Great Syrian Giveaway" is well underway, and the Kurds, the Free Syrian Army, and all other military forces we armed and trained will pay the price. The rebels still have fight left in them. But it seems likely that we are about to cut the legs from underneath them. Any agreement will almost certainly involve ending support for the rebels, leaving them in a precarious position. In the end, Putin will get exactly what he wanted when he intervened in the civil war: a reliable client in power for the foreseeable future. We are deeply disappointed by todays decision, which appears to betray the courts prejudice towards Khaing Myo Htun, said Ka Hsaw Wa, Executive Director at ERI. He was denied bail at a Sittwe court on the grounds that he had failed to turn up to two previous court hearings. Khain Myo Htun was travelling in the weeks prior to his arrest and never received the summons. The judge also highlighted concerns about the sensitivity of the case. Khaing Myo Htun, a member of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), prominent environmental activist, and former student at the Earth Rights School for human rights and environmental activists, was arrested on 25 July on charges of sedition and incitement under Myanmars Penal Code Section 505(b) and (c). The charges were filed after the ALP released an official statement implicating the Myanmar army in crimes against humanity and forced portering of civilians in Rakhine State. Khaing Myo Htuns name was not on the statement, indicating that the charges against him are politically motivated due to his work in human rights and environmental activism. ERI has reviewed the evidence supporting the allegations against the Myanmar army and has deemed them credible. Under Section 505(b) and (c), a crime has not been committed if there are reasonable grounds for believing the truth of the statement, and a lack of intent to induce the commission of offenses against the state. These provisions have frequently been used to silence human rights defenders. The use of Section 505 (b) and (c), and the targeting of only Khaing Myo Htun, demonstrate a clear attempt to silence human rights advocacy and deter activists from exposing ongoing violations, said Ka Hsaw Wa. The investigation that needs to happen is the one that looks into the allegations that the army has committed abuses against civilians in Rakhine State. We hope that the court will see that, dismiss the charges against Khaing Myo Htun, and investigate the abuses highlighted in the statement. Khaing Myo Htun will be required to appear in court for the next hearing on Friday 2 September. This type of thing should not happen under a democratic government. We cannot revert back to the tactics used when our country was under military rule with the National League for Democracy (NLD) in government, said Ka Hsaw Wa. The United States Federal Communications Commission exists not only to make and enforce rules, but also to help modern communications flourish in the states. This is the aim of an E-rate program that has existed for a while, but at least one telecom doing business stateside has run afoul of the FCC because of it. That telecom is AT&T. They stand accused of failing to adhere to the terms of the program in their dealings with schools in the Orange County and Dixie County districts of Florida. Specifically, the FCC claims that AT&T overcharged these school districts up to 400% compared to the rates they should have been getting. In the terms of the E-rate deal, subsidies are paid into by regular customers of a telecoms business interests. These funds, approved for collection at a fixed rate by the FCC, are usually not subject to quite as many particularities of law when it comes to pricing. Those subsidies end up paying the difference so that a few privileged parties like public schools can get services at the lowest possible price. According to the laws surrounding the E-rates program, a service provider has to charge privileged parties the lowest rate that they would charge a non-privileged customer, like a large business, for comparable service. With all of the promotions and bulk pricing intact, this can result in significant discounts compared to what a privileged party would otherwise pay. In the case of the two school districts, AT&T claims that they did not play ball with the program in a way that would have favored them, price-wise. According to AT&T, the school districts opted for month to month plan terms, and were made well aware that a lower-priced option was available. They also chose not to come together with their local E-rate consortiums and buy far cheaper service by pooling together for a bulk discount. Normally, AT&T could offer huge discounts on year-long plans compared to month to month deals. As it stood, AT&T contends that they were not outside of the terms of the deal, and that the school districts were paying the lowest rate that anybody under any circumstance who wasnt covered by the E-rate plan would have paid for month to month services. AT&Ts blog post on the matter goes as far as to say that this case is an example of the FCC practicing rulemaking through enforcement. The FCC served AT&T with a Notice of Apparent Liability regarding the case on July 27, asking AT&T to pay back $63,760 in subsidies they shouldnt have received in the counties, along with a $106,425 fine. Today, just shy of one month later, AT&T has put in their official response, leaving the ball in the FCCs court. The first-generation HTC Vive only hit the market earlier this year after many a delay and postponement, but the company is now apparently having internal discussions about what Vive 2.0 should be like. According to Mr. Raymond Pao, the vice president for future technologies at HTC and Vive Corporation, the company is still in the planing stage and is yet to settle on a definite plan regarding its second-generation VR device. During the course of an interview with Upload VR, Mr. Pao claimed that the company is neither limited by time nor are the engineers desperately trying to incorporate any single feature in the second-gen Vive, although many feel that going wireless with Vive 2.0 will indeed be the way to move forward. Those in charge of developing the second-generation HTC Vive are apparently already toying with a few ideas, but if Mr. Paos assertions are anything to go by, there are no concrete ideas taking shape at the moment and nothing is set in stone just as yet. While senior HTC executives like Mr. Pao may publicly assert that time will not be a constraint for the company in developing the follow-up to the Vive, the fact is that virtual and augmented reality, as a consumer technology category, has literally just started taking its first tentative steps in the mainstream retail environment. That being the case, no one can really predict with any degree of certainty, just how much time vendors like HTC or Oculus have, before their first-generation VR offerings, like the Vive and the Rift respectively, become obsolete. Meanwhile, even as HTC seems to be in no hurry to rush its Vive 2.0 to the market, the company is planning to make VR the next major computing platform. According to Mr. Pao, that can only be achieved if HTC stops focusing solely on gamers and broadens its horizon to reach out to mainstream consumers with something that could revolutionize healthcare, commerce, socialization and travel. It is a fairly lofty target that HTC is setting for itself, and the Taiwanese firm would do well to live up to its ambitious goal. With the companys smartphone business going through an extended period of downturn, its management, employees and fans will all be hoping that virtual reality will prove to be the magic elixir that will help the company ride out the tough times and recover from its financial difficulties. Google recently unveiled a new operating system project called Fuchsia, described on GitHub as Pink + Purple = Fuchsia (a new Operating System). Firstly, it might be confusing and surprising to think about the fact that Google are developing a new operating system, and secondly, it might be even more confusing to learn that Fuchsia is not based on Linux. Linux has become one of the worlds most important platforms and all of Googles other operating system platforms are based on Linux. Fuchsia is something of a departure. The new operating system may be trialed on a device based around either an ARM, Intel, or virtual computer and the team are working on porting it to the Raspberry Pi in order to see how well it performed in very limited hardware. The new operating system runs on a newly developed Magenta kernel, which itself is based on the Little Kernel project. In other words, the platform is looking like it will be developed entirely in-house at Google. Its too soon to say if it will be a better platform than Linux, or more efficient. Fuchsia uses Googles own Dart language and is being designed for modern phones and modern personal computers. That sounds like the Android platform, which Google has already successfully reworked for other types of platform (such as Android Auto, Android TV and Android Wear) and is based on Linux. However, Fuchsia can also be run on embedded devices, such as the billions we are expecting to join the internet as part of the Internet of Things revolution thats right around the corner. This sounds like Googles Brillo platform, which is essentially Android Lite and could at a stretch be included in the list of sub-Android operating systems above. Are Google planning on reinventing the Android platform into Fuchsia? Or are they planning on combining Android and Chrome into Fuchsia? Lets not get ahead of ourselves, and lets first take a deeper look into Fuchsia. Fuchsia is more than a simple low powered operating system designed for simple devices. It has mature operating system functionality including advanced graphics, 64-bit processing support and, importantly, a capability-based security system. The fact that Fuchsia has these features and isnt based on Linux, a constantly developed, open source platform that has been adopted the world over, is interesting. It also points out that Google has perhaps realized that Android cannot be the platform for absolutely everything, even though the plethora of Android-based platforms might suggest otherwise. There are good reasons why Android is central to Googles computing strategy over a billion reasons residing in the Google Play Store as it happens. It is no surprise that whilst Google is committed to keeping the Android and Chrome OS platforms separate, it is keen to integrate certain Android features on the Chrome platform and the Play Store was one of them. This is likely something that Google will look to replicate with Fuchsia in the future. Advertisement Microsoft is a business that has changed its mobile platform ambitions in the last couple of years. In 2014, Microsoft pumped time, effort and money into a number of mobile operating systems from Windows CE to PocketPC to Windows Phone before finally deciding that it wasnt able to compete from a platform perspective, and switched its focus to providing great quality applications and services that could run on whatever computer hardware and platform the customer was using. Thats why we can use Microsoft Office 365 on anything from an iPhone to an Android tablet to a Chromebook to a Windows 10 desktop. Google have a similar approach from some perspectives: yes they have saturated the smartphone market with Android, but their revenue generation is predominantly from advertising revenue, which relies on the Google services. Android is a means of delivering these services especially search to customers such that the company can sell this information. It doesnt matter if a customer is using a Windows 10 laptop, Macbook, or Chromebook to search Google, the information derived is still worth something to Google. Fuchsia drops right into this line of thinking as another means of delivering the Google services to customers. One of the golden rules of computing is that one doesnt pick the best platform based on hardware specifications, memory, chassis color or charging port, but instead one should pick the best platform to run whatever applications that are needed. To look back at the console wars between Microsoft and Sony, it doesnt matter if the Xbox is a technically superior product if one wants to play a Sony-exclusive title, such as Gran Turismo you need to use the Sony hardware. Googles Fuchsia project may well be about bringing a better platform to a certain type of device to allow customers to access Googles services. In order to do this, Google will need to ensure that Fuchsia is compatible with everything people love and use about Android and Chrome OS. That may simply mean ensuring that third party applications can run on the new operating system. In the short term it could mean a form of emulation and in the longer term it might mean developers building a universal application, similar in some respects to Microsofts plans with Windows 10. It is too soon to say how the Fuchsia platform will evolve and when we might see devices running the software, or how it will compete or complement the existing Android and Chrome OS platforms. Details about Fuchsia are still limited. The new operating system might be a core part of Googles ultimate long-term plan to resolve the fragmentation and update issues inherent with Android by incorporating a similar update scheme as we see with Microsofts Windows operating system: Fuchsia could be backwards compatible with the applications and services customers the world over have come to love with their Android devices, but running over a different technology. In 2016, it seems difficult to believe that Fuchsia could simply take over from Android, but in 2006 it was difficult to believe that the Android platform would take over from Nokias Symbian smartphone platform. More than 1.6 million people in Myanmar have been displaced over the past 18 months, since last years military coup, according to the Institute for... Common sense used to dictate that men and women should only come together for breakfast and dinner. According to Victorian historian Kaythrn Hughes, people in the early 19th Century thought the outside world was dangerous and unclean and morally dubious and thus no place for a virtuous, fragile woman. The home was a paradise, a place for civility, where perfect angelic ladies could, in her words, "counterbalance the moral taint of the public sphere." By the mid 1800s, women were leaving home to work in factories, and they were fighting for their right to vote and to get formal educations and much more and if you believed in preserving the separate spheres, the concept that men and women should only cross paths at breakfast and dinner, then as we approached the 20th century, this created a lot of anxiety for you. Despite their relative invisibility, a norm, even a dying one, can sometimes be harnessed and wielded like a weapon by conjuring up old fears from a bygone era. It's a great way to slow down social change if you fear that change. When a social change threatens your ideology, fear is the simplest, easiest way to keep more minds from changing. In this episode of the You Are Not So Smart Podcast, we explore how the separate spheres ideology is still affecting us today, and how some people are using it to scare people into voting down anti-discrimination legislation. Download iTunes Stitcher RSS Soundcloud This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron who sets the highest quality standards for their community of artisanal suppliers, family-run farms, fisheries and ranchers. For less than $10 per meal, Blue Apron delivers the best ingredients along with easy-to-read, full-color recipes with photos and additional information about where your food came from. Check out this week's menu and get your first three meals free with free shipping by going to www.blueapron.com/YANSS This episode is also sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. Get unlimited access to a huge library of The Great Courses lecture series on many fascinating subjects. Start FOR FREE with The Fundamentals of Photography filmed in partnership with The National Geographic and taught by professional photographer Joel Sartore. Click here for a FREE TRIAL. Support the show directly by becoming a patron! Get episodes one-day-early and ad-free. Head over to the YANSS Patreon Page for more details. Terry Kogan clerked for the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced law in Boston before joining the University of Utah where he teaches law concerning contracts, copyright, trusts, art, and sexuality. According to his official bio, "He has spent the past decade considering the rights of transgender people, in particular issues surrounding the legal and cultural norms that mandate the segregation of public restrooms by sex." In every episode, after I read a bit of self delusion news, I taste a cookie baked from a recipe sent in by a listener/reader. That listener/reader wins a signed copy of my new book, "You Are Now Less Dumb," and I post the recipe on the YANSS Pinterest page. This episode's winner is Mark P who sent in a recipe for oatmeal engineers. Send your own recipes to david {at} youarenotsosmart.com. Links and Sources Download iTunes Stitcher RSS Soundcloud Previous Episodes Boing Boing Podcasts Cookie Recipes Terry Kogan Sex-Separation in Public Restrooms: Law, Architecture, and Gender The Weird History of Gender Segregated Bathrooms Gender roles in the 19th Century Campaign for Houston This Anti-HERO Ad Is the Definition of Transphobia South Park Takes on Trans Issues and It's Great Feds issue guidance on transgender access to school bathrooms Houston Voters Reject Broad Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Who's behind the new LGBT bathroom laws? Image Source Currier and Ives Lithograph in the Public Domain Music: Health Ministers and officials from APEC member economies have endorsed new collaborative actions to defend against escalating health threats like the Zika virus while mitigating the effects of greying populations and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases on healthcare services across the Asia-Pacific. Strengthening the capacity of the regions health systems to cope with shocks that put lives and productivity increasingly at risk is the focus of measures to be taken forward by APEC economies over the coming year. They are detailed in a joint statement and annex issued by Ministers and officials after meeting with senior representatives from the private sector this week in Lima. View the Joint Statement and Annex of the APEC High-Level Meeting on Health & the Economy The move supports the adoption of health management responses advocated by APECs Healthy Asia-Pacific 2020 Initiative and detailed in an implementation roadmap. It also lays a foundation for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in the region, whose 3 billion people account for 40 per cent of the worlds population and 60 per cent of global GDP. Peru is working with its APEC partners and industry stakeholders to ensure there are sufficient resources available and effectively deployed to care for our people, explained Dr Patricia Garcia, Perus newly appointed Minister of Health. We have agreed to exchange best practices and innovative approaches to building high-performing health systems that can respond when tested. Attention is on improving budget and workforce planning, resource allocation and waste reduction to ensure quality care, in coordination with academia, business and industry organizations. Developing and sharing data to drive policy innovation, effective physical and mental health interventions by practitioners, and reliable impact measurements is a further point of emphasis. Delivering on APECs commitment to raise health system efficiency and sustainability will not only safeguard hundreds of millions of lives but could also lift the GDP of the regions economies by 4 to 8 per cent, noted Dr Victor Cuba, Chair of the APEC Health Working Group and head of international cooperation at Perus Ministry of Health. APEC with its focus on economic issues is the right place to discuss the fiscal policies needed and the impact of health on the economy, added Dr Maureen Goodenow, Chair of the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum Planning Group and Associate Director for AIDS Research at the United States National Institutes of Health. APEC economies seek to ease GDP losses estimated to hit 6 to 8.5 per cent over the next 15 years due to fallout from early retirement, aging and the proliferation of chronic diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to cancer and diabetes. To this end, Health Ministers and officials have called for greater engagement with finance ministries to gauge the fiscal and economic implications of ill-health and ways to sustain healthy and competitive workforces. Complementary work in APEC will help to establish conditions that provide incentives to pursue new medicines and technologies, drawing on advances in areas like 3D printing, cell and tissue therapies and personalized medicines. This includes encouraging cross-border research and development linkages amongst universities, public research institutions and the private sector. There are real opportunities to take healthcare innovation and health product accessibility to the next level in the APEC region, said Dr John Lim, Executive Director of the Centre of Regulatory Excellence at the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (Duke-NUS). Implementing regulatory frameworks and rules that are balanced, relevant and science-based will facilitate effective flows of patient and product information that are key to maximizing the potential of authorities and industry to protect lives and livelihoods, he concluded. The next APEC High Level Meeting on Health and the Economy will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam in August 2017. # # # 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 onand YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. The delegation headed by Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov has left for Belarus to participate in the active stage of joint peacekeeping exercises Unbreakable Brotherhood -2016 taking place in the Republic of Belarus from August 23-27 in accordance with the plan of joint activities of operational and combat training of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the official visit of the Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces to the Republic of Belarus will take place on August 28-30 after the completion of the exercises. 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 The ordination ceremony took place yesterday in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in the presence of hundreds of people. This year 18 priests have already been ordained in Pakistan. The rise of terrorism, beginning with the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, "increased the local vocations." Lahore (AsiaNews) The Archdiocese of Lahore has made a record of ordinations. Yesterday in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the ordination ceremony for five deacons took place in the presence of hundreds of faithful and the relatives of the new priests. Mgr Sebastian Shah, archbishop of Lahore, told AsiaNews that the group of priests is the largest since 1994. "So far we had only had one or two priests (a year). Five priests are really a record." This year, a total of 21 priestly ordinations took place in Pakistan, three next October in the Archdiocese of Karachi. Fr Joseph Louis, a former executive secretary of Caritas Lahore, believes that the rise of terrorism since the attacks on 11 September 2001 in the United States has "increased local vocations." "People are getting closer to faith. They feel that they must do something because the rulers do not give hope. People attend church more because there is a great thirst for comfort and spiritual knowledge." "Today we reap the fruit of the work done in previous years, he said referring to the new ordinations. During the ceremony, Mgr Shah warned the newly ordained of the challenges that await them. "First, you have to think about whether the priesthood was the right choice. Be careful about the obsession of money because there is no remedy to it. Do not affiliate yourself to one person, family, parish, project or institution. The only authority of priesthood is service to others, and being humble is the first standard." The five ordained priests celebrate thanksgiving Masses in their respective hometowns. One of them is Fr Imtiaz Nishan, a native of the village of Easson, in Sheikhupura District (near Lahore). After a licentiate in philosophy, he taught at the Major Seminary of Saint Francis Xavier in Lahore for six months. Our Christian community is behind in education and thus does not get enough opportunities, he said about the tasks ahead of him. I plan to help school dropouts and serve in poor Christian slums. Also many Catholics are distracted by pastors of mushroom churches. People need spiritual strength against increasing materialism, he added. by Sumon Corraya After arriving in Bangaldesh from Canada in 2013, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury disappeared without leaving a trace. Two other unknown terrorists died in this mornings raid. The planner of the cafe massacre in the capital created a new branch of the Islamist group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh. Narayanganj (AsiaNews) - This morning, Bangladesh police killed three militants, including Ahmed Tamim Chowdhury, the mastermind of the 1 July Dhaka massacre. The three were holed up in a three-story building in the Paikpara, Narayanganj (about 30 km south of the capital). Police sources said that the location has been identified thanks to two supporters who had been arrested on mass murder charges. Codenamed Hit Strong 27, the operation was carried out by a joint team of counterterrorism and transnational crimes unit. The raid began at 9:36 am (local time) and ended an hour later. The police said they tried to persuade the militants to surrender, who responded by firing at them. Tamim, 30, was the most wanted in connection with the massacre of foreigners at the Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe in Gulshan, the diplomatic district of the capital. Of Bangladeshi origin, he had lived in Canada with his family who emigrated in the 1970s. In 2013 he returned to Bangladesh via Dubai, and then disappeared without leaving a trace. According to Bangladesh anti-terrorist authorities, he had created the Neo JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh), a new branch of the Islamic group banned by the authorities. The statements of investigators also indicate that the group did not appear to have links with the terrorists of the Islamic State, even though international media continue to make this claim. The massacre orchestrated by Tamim claimed the lives of 20 people. Until then Bangladesh was considered a safe country, with a welcoming and open Islam. Only later was it revealed that hundreds of young people have disappeared to join the militants, bewitched by the ideas of some radical preachers who glorify violence and hatred, as well as widespread extremist sermons in mosques or the teachings of professors who encourage attacks against non-Muslims. Syria is particularly affected. War shaved off six years from mens life expectancy (from 75 in 2010 to 69 in 2013), five from womens (from 80 to 75). Millions of people have to face the consequences of water shortages and poor hygienic conditions. Non-communicable illnesses like diabetes or cardiovascular disease are up as well. Beirut (AsiaNews/LOJ) The unrest linked to the Arab Spring and the civil wars that swept across the Middle East in the past six years have had an important impact on the health of the people living in the region. War and violence have affected life expectancy with a major reduction, especially in Syria where it has dropped by five to six years compared to the 2000s. Researchers examined data for the 1990-2013 period and recently published their findings in the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet. "Millions of people are facing dire water shortages and poor sanitation that will lead to disease outbreaks, said Ali Mokdad, the researcher from the University of Washington who led the study. The findings indicate that between 2010 and 2013 the population of Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt lost at least three months in life expectancy. In contrast, the war in Syria has taken six years off the life of men (69 years on average in 2013, against 75 in 2010) and five years off women (75 in 2013 against 80 in 2010). For Ali Mokdad, the decline in life expectancy is a sign that the health and social systems are failing. Conflicts have damaged the infrastructures of many countries and millions of people are facing water shortages and poor hygienic conditions, which lead to diseases. Infant mortality is another indicator. In Syria it had fallen to 6 per cent before 2010. Over the following four years, it rose to 9 per cent, which places Syria behind some sub-Saharan nations. According to the researcher, previous crises had not affected improvement in health and life expectancy. However, the complex wars that followed the unrest caused by the Arab Spring, combined with an aging of the population, are leading to worsening health conditions, which are likely to persist for many years to come. At the same time, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease have increased, accounting for 15 per cent of deaths in 2013 compared to 9.8 per cent in 1990 in 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region (from Afghanistan through Yemen, to Morocco). High blood pressure is also up by 83% and obesity by 28% over 1990. Private shipbuilders face greater obstacle than their state-owned counterparts, which get government subsidies. One company plans to lay off up to 28 per cent of its workforce. Over-capacity and low demand are the main causes. Bankruptcy looms for many. Beijing (AsiaNews/Caixin) China's largest private shipbuilder, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, laid off 6,000 workers last year and plans to cut another 2,000 jobs this year. This comes as profits drop and new orders dry up. In early 2015, the Singapore-listed company had 28,000 workers. Now it plans to cut up to 28 per cent of its workforce. The company reported a 50 per cent decline in profits in the first half of the year, compared to last year. Revenue declined by 35 per cent. Because of the global economic crisis, the shipbuilding industry is in crisis everywhere and there are no signs of recovery. Chinese shipbuilders have been struggling with overcapacity and empty order books as the global shipping industry continues to lose steam. Private shipbuilders are also struggling with access to finance from banks and the increasing risk of payment delays or defaults from ship owners. State-owned counterparts have survived propped up by government subsidies. Last year, a number of private shipyards such as Jiangsu East Heavy Co., Zhejiang Zhenghe Shipbuilding Co. and Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry Co. filed for bankruptcy. I am hoping someone out there can help me... I am currently in Australia on a subclass 300 PMV, I got married yesterday and I am looking to start the 820 application... I hae gotten to the page that asks for me to list my immediate family members, names, dob, martial status and date of marriage. Here's the thing, I'm from Cambodia, we don't really keep track of those things (nowhere near the level of formality as the rest of the world does anyway). When I filled in the 47sp form online for the 300 visa, my family and I approximated the birth dates and marriage dates... So now that it is asking again for this dates, I would like for them all to match.. But the 47sp form was the first thing it asked me to do to create my application and so it is not listed in the summary as it wasnt an upload --- Is there any way or place I can view what I wroteon the initial questionnaire (the one equivalent to the 47sp form) on the 300 application? Pleases and thank yous for any help you can give to me. Having already staged the Bayethe Women's Day at the Hillbrow Theatre on the 6th of August, this music company is certainly on the ball as they have pledged to bring us 5 more top-drawer events by the end of this year.African Poetry Club, an initiative aimed at identifying, exposing and promoting upcoming poets, will kickoff at the end of this month. Good poets will be given recording contracts as well as shows organised for them through this Bayethe sponsored club.Gospel melodies Izwi Lesiphelo will launch their latest CD and DVD at the Arch Angels Church in Hillbrow on the 8th of October whilst revered poet Bongani Mncube will drop his much awaited DVD at the Hillbrow Theatre on the 5th of November.Maskandi lovers must brace themselves for a Maskandi show that will feature several Mthwakazi top artists as well as at least 2 very popular KZN artists. This show will be in November; more details to follow. The icing on the cake will be the Bayethe Music Awards which is set to be held at the end of this year. It will have up to 10 categories including the best selling artists in Bayethe Music history.Head of promotions Mcasiseli Gwaza emphasised on their wish to see upcoming artists getting a break-through in this tough industry"Because we are refining rough diamonds, we would to see all artists growing in their different genres. We are and we will always be open to welcome any artist willing to join the Bayethe Music stable and we do our utmost best to help them reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. We are happy the way our artists are accepted by broadcasters at home, we will soon be taking shows back home because there is no place like home."Bongani Mncube and Maskandi heavyweight Mehlokazulu will invade Botswana soon to do what they do best, fans must anticipate a show to remember. In our long term plans, we are busy with an online news coverage that will be our voice. I also wish to see artists performing live in shows that will be a very big step forward," said Gwaza.A division of Bayethe Media, Bayethe Music Promotion and Production has successfully hosted the Bayethe Women's Day since 2011. This show has featured top artists like: Shongwe, Derrick Ndzimande, Pure Gold, Bonakele, Sithembiso Phungula, Amos Mphahlele, Ela Makoti, Umlayezo kaJehovah whilst Izwi Lesiphelo and Sister of Paradise have featured in every event upto now. Econet, Nandos, Greenworld and Unjani Clinic have all sponsored this annual event.Bayethe can be contacted on: +27 62 843 9875 Hi everyone, Just getting ready to submit an application for the PMV300 and have reached some problems regarding the proof of communication. My partner and I have been long-distance for the past three years. We have plenty of documentation around all the trips and visits and holidays we have made during this time (plane tickets, hotels, photos, letters/declarations from family/friends). However, we are a little more unsure regarding proof of communication. We message a ridiculous amount each day (just found out it's been +50 000 messages since July last year) and speak daily with a lot more on the weekends. However, how do we demonstrate this given we use iMessage and FaceTime for all of our communication? I can't seem to find a thorough history log for these applications (e.g. dates and frequency of contact) and so the best we can see is to take screen shots of some conversations over the time... but I guess I'm a little concerned that this seems unreliable? Would be great to hear from anyone going though, or gone through, this process!! Any advice re format, method, way you captured the data, would be greatly appreciated =) Thanks in advance! Yas The trials are being held in a limited 6.5 sq.km. area in Singapore; operations start with six test taxis. Autonomous vehicle software start-up nuTonomy has beaten Uber in launching the worlds first autonomous taxi trial, by just a few weeks. The trial allows invited members of the public living in Singapore to hail a free taxi ride, operated by nuTonomy, via their smartphones. The test vehicles operate in a limited 6.5 sq. km. area, with collection and drop-off points in set locations. The fleet initially has six test taxis, which could be increased to 12 by the end of the year. The fleet includes Renault Zoes and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs that have been modified to include Lidar laser technology, as well as two cameras on the dashboard, scanning for obstacles and traffic light changes. Each car will have a driver ready to take back control should the need arise. A researcher will also be present in the back of the car, monitoring the cars computers. Users must have a special invitation from nuTonomy to use the service, and dozens of people are believed to have already signed up to take part in the trial. The company executive has reportedly said the aim is to have a fully autonomous fleet of taxis in Singapore by 2018. Should the model prove successful, the company hopes to expand this facility beyond Singapore. NuTonomys chief operation officer, Doug Parker, reportedly said autonomous taxis could reduce the number of vehicles on Singapores roads from 9,00,000 to 3,00,000. Ride-sharing service Uber is also set to start a trial of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, USA, in the coming weeks. The service will start with Ford Fusions equipped with self-driving technology and it will be free for users while the trial takes place. In a press conference, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said: This project is a very important step forward in self-driving technology." But he added that a lot of work still has to be done. "Were catching up fast, but we need to get to number one quickly," he said. "We must be laser-focused on getting this to market because its not just a project for us. This is everything. Uber also recently announced a deal with Volvo, so its expected that the Swedish manufacturers vehicles will feature in the Pittsburgh fleet in the future. Another supplier working on autonomous vehicle software (Delphi) has also been granted permission to begin its technology trials in Singapore at the beginning of next year. HP The big news for the model year 2017 comes in the form of the powertrain. Stan Ludlow, the chief engineer for the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado , makes it clear that the new engine and transmission were calibrated to emphasize on improving fuel economy, performance, and refinement. Lets start with the heart of this mid-size brawler the new-generation 3.6-liter N/A V6 engine.According to General Motors, the second-generation double-overhead-cam V6 benefits from a suite of advanced technologies. The highlights are improved valve timing for intake and exhaust, direct injection, cylinder deactivation (Active Fuel Management), and better specs. From 3.6 liters, the Colorado prides itself on 308and 275 lb-ft (373 Nm) at 4,000 rpm.And now, lets talk about the 8-speed auto. The cog swapper is the GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L45, a unit thats also used in the 2.0-liter turbo and 3.6-liter Chevrolet Camaro . Even though its roughly the same size and weight as the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speeder it replaces, the Hydra-Matic 8L45 offers a numerically higher first gear ratio and a wider overall gear ratio (7.0 vs. 6.0).The properties of this transmission help the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado handle heavy loads more confidently, while the numerically lower rear axle ratios help reduce engine rpm at highway speeds for improved fuel economy and efficiency. And just like in the Camaro, the Colorados 8L45 transmission is made from a combination of durable yet light aluminum and magnesium.Customers made the Colorado an overnight success, and it remains one of the industrys hottest-selling products, declared Anita Burke, chief engineer for the Colorado. What Anita is talking about is that General Motors has sold more than 160,000 units of the Colorado from September 2014 through August 2016. Nowadays, it accounts for 23 percent of the mid-size segment.That fast success has justified our continued investment in mid-size pickups, introducing new features for our customers such as the class-exclusive diesel engine, advanced technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now a class-leading V6 and 8-speed automatic powertrain combination, added Anita. SUV UPDATE - US 277 at Quemado remains closed due to tractor trailer explosion Detour to FM 1664 Travel delays Road closed 4 more hrs TxDOTLaredo (@TxDOTLaredo) August 22, 2016 Earlier this week, a truck that was carrying parts to Takatas automotive parts factory crashed and exploded, which caused the death of a person and the injury of four.Normally, a truck accident is not international news, but it becomes one if it involves a load of airbag detonators that explode. According to investigators, the explosion was not directly caused by the accident. Most likely, the airbag detonators exploded because the truck that was carrying them caught fire, which led to an explosion.It all happened on U.S. Highway 277, near the intersection of FM 1666, beside the house of a 69-year-old woman named Lucila Robles. She lived alone, and the truck went off the road, caught fire, and exploded outside her home.The vehicle was being driven by a 20-year-old driver named Mario Alberto Rodriguez, which managed to escape the cabin with his passenger before the blast.The same explosion injured an elderly couple, which was driving on the same stretch of road in a Toyota. The four injured people were brought to a hospital in Eagle Pass, then airlifted to San Antonio, Texas According to Jalopnik , the reason why the truck left the road is undeer investigation. It was towing a flatbed trailer that was filled with airbag cartridges, which were meant to go from Del Rio to Takatas facility in Eagle Pass, Texas.The accident took place on August 22, but the death of the 69-year-old lady was confirmed after a two-day search, while she was considered missing. Dental pieces found at the scene of the explosion were discovered during the search, which concluded that the sole resident of the house died in the blast.As you already know, Takata is the supplier responsible for the worlds largest safety recall, which will involve over 100 million vehicles across the globe. The supplier knowingly manufactured airbag inflators that could be dangerous in certain conditions. The recall is ongoing, and will take multiple years to resolve. A stolen airline truck driven by a man wearing only boxer shorts crashed into a parked Southwest Airlines jet Thursday night at Omahas Eppley Airfield. The incident required multiple police officers to subdue the man plus a replacement B737 for the 113 passengers catching their flight to Las Vegas, the Omaha World-Herald reported. An airline spokesman told the newspaper the truck flattened the jets nosegear tires. Also, two crew members had minor bumps to a leg and elbow, possibly from disembarking after the incident, according to the report. The 35-year-old man parked his pickup truck at the airport at 9:30 p.m. and then stood fully dressed in front of the terminal, screaming that people were trying to kill him, airport police officials said. An officer tried to get the man to calm down but he would have none of it, and ran off. More officers were called to pursue him. The World-Herald, which reported the man was found to have mental health and drug addiction issues, described a wild foot chase in the dark around the terminal area. The man climbed over a barbed wire fence and at some point removed his pants and shirt. He found an idling Southwest Airlines vehicle and drove off in it with police vehicles attempting to stop him before he drove into the jet parked at a boarding gate. Police took the man to a local medical facility and brought in federal agencies including the NTSB to investigate. 27 August 2016 16:55 (UTC+04:00) Dry runs of the opening ceremony of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad are now under way. The press service of the Baku Chess Olympiad reports that a number of Azerbaijans renowned art figures are involved in the organization of the ceremony to be held at the National Gymnastics Arena. Costumes and music to be used during the ceremony have already been approved. The official partner of the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee, Amapola Exclusive Events, has started the installation of technical equipment and decorations for the ceremony. The ceremony is expected to last for one hour and feature some aspects of the chess tradition in Azerbaijan, including elements of national culture. Speaking about preparations for the ceremony, the choreographer of the ceremony, Peoples Artist Tarana Muradova, said: I am very delighted to be the choreographer of the opening ceremony of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad. We are working together with a well-known director from Ukraine, Viktor Nikolayevich, and Azerbaijans Merited Artist Rashad Hashimov. We have also written the script of the ceremony together. The opening ceremony will be magnificent. Azerbaijan has a reputation for hosting prestigious international events at a good level. We have no doubt that the Baku Chess Olympiad will also be organized at the top level. The opening ceremony will feature the history of chess in Azerbaijan. The designer of the opening ceremony, Viktor Nikolayevich, said the opening ceremony would be unforgettable. The spectators will see a brilliant show. We can call it a fairly-tale of chess. We have created some interesting characters. I would not like to reveal all the secrets at this stage, but I am sure people will enjoy it. We have been practicing for about 10 days now. The final dry runs are now under way. Azerbaijan has a lot of experience in hosting prestigious international events. The Baku Chess Olympiad and the opening ceremony will be held at the highest level. I am confident that the ceremony will be absolutely unforgettable. The music designer of the opening ceremony and director of Rast music band, Merited Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashad Hashimov, said he had composed music exclusively for the opening ceremony. Chess is an elite intellectual sport. The worlds strongest chess players will come to Azerbaijan. We have tried to compose music in a genre close to classical for the opening ceremony. Music of our great composers Fikret Amirov and Gara Garayev will also be used. With very little time left for the show, we are sure that the efforts of the entire team will yield fruit. There is a spectacular show in store for the viewers, Hashimov said. The representative of "Amapola Exclusive Events", Safar Aslanov, said the ceremony had been organized in a unique fashion. The Olympiad will be joined by more than 180 countries. Most of them will start their familiarization with Azerbaijan in this Arena. The ceremony will feature the history of chess and elements of Azerbaijani culture. We have tried to blend modern technology with live performance of our traditional music. The team includes about 400 people. Folk and classical dances will also be on display. The parade of flags will be accompanied by 177 performers of the Naghara. The one-hour event will feature Azerbaijani culture and classical ornaments, he said. The opening ceremony of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad will be held at the National Gymnastics Arena on 1 September. It will start at 19:00. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 August 2016 09:52 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev congratulated his Moldovan counterpart Nicolae Timofti on the occasion of 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 Moldova Independence Day, President Aliyev said. I believe that friendly relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Moldova will continue developing and expanding in the best interests of our countries and people, the president said. On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, successes in your activities, and the friendly people of Moldova peace and prosperity, the president added. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 August 2016 10:08 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order providing additional funding for the construction of Chukhanli-Ganjali-Piratman-Parcha Khalaj-Seyidan highway in Salyan district. Under the presidential order, 3.8 million manats were allocated from the 2016 State Budget for the completion of the construction of the road, which links five residential areas with the total population of 5,000 people. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Entertainment / Music by Bongani Ndlovu WOULD you allow your spouse to be intimate with another cast member in a movie? Musician, Selmor Mtukudzi having been married for 10 years to Tendai Manatsa, was faced with a difficult choice of whether to lose her role in the new movie Escape or go for the hard one, kissing another man on camera. The full length feature film was written by award winning UK film maker Agnieszka Piotrowska who co-directed the movie with Zimbabwean director Joe Njagu.The no under-18 movie will premiere on October 4 at Ster Kinekor Sam Levy Village in Harare, hosted by the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust. Thereafter, a DVD release and a global festival tour will take place.A teaser released this week on the Facebook page of Thinking Films Company, the production company of the film, shows steamy sex scenes that will likely unsettle the local audience which is generally conservative.In the movie according to pictures released by producers this week, Selmor who plays Anna will share a passionate kiss with the lead actor Charles (played by Jose Marques). Selmor said she had to ask for permission from her husband Tendai to go ahead with the scene."I was nervous. I have been married for almost 10 years and this was a first for me. I asked for permission from my husband first before shooting the scene. He was supportive and had a meeting with the film's directors and even the main actor," said Selmor. She said Tendai watched the scene and joked about it."Tendai has watched the scene and at that time it wasn't easy for me. Jokingly he'd say 'hmmmm what's happening here.' But because we have such a firm foundation as a couple he was happy at the end of the day. This was part of his job because he is producing the music for each scene," said Selmor.Asked how he felt upon seeing his wife kiss another man, Tendai said he had never felt so proud of his wife. "When I watched the scene I felt so proud of my wife. I'm a modern man and there wasn't a hint of jealousy as I understood it was art. Why I say I understand is that I've done it before on my music video called Ndichifema," said Tendai.On the steamy sex scenes in the film Selmor said they were part of movie making. "It's something that people in Zimbabwe should start to get used to as this is the direction that film in the country is heading. Just like how in the past our parents didn't want us to wear trousers now they even buy them for us. This is the same with the movie," said Selmor.She said she was happy to be acting after a long time. "It was exciting to be in front of a camera after such a long time. The last time I acted was when I was 10 years old in the film I am the Future," said Selmor.Escape is a film about a mixed race man Charles who discovers from his white mother (played by Maria Wilson) that his father is Zimbabwean and is dying. Charles decides to travel to Harare to find his father. He is a stranger in town and is enveloped by mysterious situations.While in Harare he becomes torn between two women. Tsitsi (played by Nothando Nobengula) is the 'damaged' and wicked wife to a hotel owner. She desires her husband dead by Charles' hand. The other woman is Anna who is modern and offers an alternative life to Charles.Producer of the film Njagu according to Zimbo Jam said: "This will be the first Zimbabwean film that carries explicit sex scenes which will be a huge surprise and taboo. We hope to demystify that notion in local productions considering how we consume western productions with sex scenes. Imagine here it seems unthinkable when people kiss in a local production." It is yet to be seen if the Censorship Board will allow the film to show in its original form. 27 August 2016 11:22 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Croatia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) with Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR, Croatian media reported. The signing took place within the Dubrovnik Forum on August 26. IAP pipeline with a length of around 516 kilometers will be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is designed to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe, in the city of Fier in Albania. The IAP will pass through Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and end in the city of Split in Croatia, where it will be connected to the existing gas distribution system of the country. From Croatia, the gas can go to Hungary and other countries of Central and Western Europe. The capacity of the IAP will be five billion cubic meters per year. The pipeline will be capable of carrying out reverse supply. TAP has already signed memoranda of understanding and cooperation with the developers of this project, in particular, with Plinacro natural gas transmission system operator of Croatia, BH-Gas company of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Geoplin Plinovodi company of Slovenia. Moreover, there has been created a and IAP working group which regularly holds meetings in order to synchronize the time of implementation of both projects and agree on the technical issues of connection. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 August 2016 14:59 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Turkmenistan intends to sign the Paris climate agreement, the Turkmen government said August 27. According to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs decree, Rashid Meredov, Turkmen foreign minister, deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, will sign the document. The Paris agreement was adopted by all 196 sides of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 21st Conference, held in Paris December 12, 2015. The agreement is a "road map" of measures that will reduce emissions released to the atmosphere and strengthen resilience to climate change. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 August 2016 16:45 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov intends to pay a working visit to Germany August 29-30, the Turkmen government said August 27. According to the message, several documents are planned to be signed as part of the visit. The diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Germany were established in 1992. The legal framework, including 33 international documents, has been formed over the years, the message said. According to the message, President Berdimuhamedov paid his first visit to Germany in November 2008. At present, Turkmenistan and Germany successfully cooperate both bilaterally and as part of the authoritative international organizations, primarily the UN and the OSCE, the message said. The trade turnover has recently increased by 11 percent between the two countries. Turkmenistan is interested in drawing Germanys huge capital and advanced technology. The sides regularly hold joint business forums, which bring together representatives of the companies specializing in trade, energy, chemical industry, banking, transport, communication, construction, industry and agriculture. Among the companies are RWE, Bosch, KNAUF International, STRABAG AG, CLAAS Global Sales GmbH, Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Goetzpartners Management Consultans GmbH and others. The Turkmen government has established cooperation with RWE, by signing a production sharing agreement (PSA) in the development of offshore fields in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea in 2009. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 August 2016 16:49 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Turkmenistan is opening its permanent representative office under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs decree said August 27. According to the message, the Turkmen embassy in Austria has been charged with the functions of the representative office. Diplomat Silapberdi Nurberdiev, heading the diplomatic mission, has been appointed permanent representative of Turkmenistan to the IAEA, the message said. According to the message, the main department of civil defense and rescue operations of the Turkmen Defense Ministry will act as the national coordinating body for cooperation between Turkmenistan and the IAEA. The department will be charged with the implementation of Turkmenistan's international commitments indicated the IAEA statute, the message said. Turkmenistan gained full membership in the IAEA in early 2016. Earlier, Turkmenistan cooperated with the IAEA on the basis of the Agreement for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons signed in 2005. IAEA headquartered in Vienna was established in 1957 as an independent intergovernmental organization in the UN system. IAEA activity is aimed at developing the cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Former one-term Republican Louisiana State Representative, white nationalist, antisemitic conspiracy theorist, Holocaust denier, and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has praised Donald Trump and his Alt-Right opinions. Via Right Wing Watch: Yesterday, Louisiana-based white nationalist and U.S. Senate candidate David Duke reacted to the news of Hillary Clintons upcoming speech about Donald Trumps ties to the alt-right, a racist movement championed by Duke, by noting that Trump speaks just like alt-right leaders. Duke said that Clinton is really concerned and really scared because she realizes that theres a sleeping tiger in this country, European-Americans, that are waking up to the realization that every right they havethe real racism in America is against white people. No candidate in this country would dare even stand up and say, Yes, I definitely am going to defend the rights and the heritage of European-Americans, he continued. One can go on to say, Yes I want to respect the rights of all but I believe our people have rights too and the ethnic cleansing of America has got to stop. I believe this is a sleeping tiger that is easily awakened. Trump, Duke went on to say, has energized European-Americans in sort of the implicit statements he makes, such as take America back, and were going to take America back. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. News / International by Staff Reporter Exiled human rights defender and democracy activist Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo (29) has released his latest political book titled 'Handbook for Young Revolutionaries (What Robert Mugabe does not want you to know).The 112 paged book which is broken into five chapters gives advice to young revolutionaries and activists who are in the streets of Zimbabwe protesting against political corruption and President Mugabe's misrule.Moyo who rose to fame after sending President Mugabe a prison uniform on his birthday in February this year told Bulawayo24 that his heart is with the young people who are protesting in the streets of Zimbabwe every day."I authored this book with passion and solidarity for my brothers and sisters who are protesting against President Mugabe's misrule. Yes this is the time to send this oppressive regime packing. However I urge you all to remain non-violent and peaceful. Am still in exile but will return to the country to join you in this fight for a new Zimbabwe," he said.This is his fifth book and his other books are 'Zimbabwe A Revolution Waiting To Happen' 'Robert Mugabe from Freedom Fighter To The People's Enemy' 'The Rise of Grace Mugabe-The Fall of ZANU PF' and 'Everything Is Possible Without ZANU PF'.His latest book can be downloaded below free of charge and for feedback, Moyo is reachable on his whatsapp +263775037579Download: 'Handbook for Young Revolutionaries (What Robert Mugabe does not want you to know) News / National by Staff reporter Police have arrested two men, one of them a headmaster at a school in Tsholotsho, for illegal possession of elephant tusks weighing about 25kg.Thokozani Mafikela (43), a headmaster at Makhaza Primary School but residing Bulawayo's Lobengula suburb and Nicholas Ndlovu (22) of Silongwe Village under Chief Siphoso in Tsholotsho appeared before Hwange resident magistrate, Ms Rose Dube charged with illegal possession of ivory.Ms Dube did not ask them to plead and remanded them in custody to September 5 for trial.The duo was arrested last week following a sting operation to flush out people in possession of elephant tusks.The raid was a reaction to an increase in poaching activities at Hwange National Park which stretches to Tsholotsho.The prosecutor, Ms Loveness Maseko said on 17 August this year police officers teamed up with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority investigators after receiving information that Mafikela was selling elephant tusks."Reacting to the information that two elephant tusks were in Ndlovu's custody they proceeded to Silongwe Village in Tsholotsho together with Mafikela, pretending to be buyers," said the prosecutor."They used Mafikela to flush out Ndlovu who came out of the homestead carrying an elephant tusk, ready to finalise the deal. It is then that the team identified themselves before arresting the two."Police, the court heard, recovered two elephant tusks with a total weight of 24.5kgs with a street value of $1 102 at the estimated price of $45 per kilogram. News / National by Thobekile Zhou Pastor Evan Mawarire has claimed that a group of police officers stormed his Harare house on Friday hunting for protesters.Mawarire is currently in USA.'Plain clothes police' at my house in Harare right now looking for 'those who caused violence yesterday & today'...seriously guys! #ThisFlag " he posted on his official twitter account.He gave no further details as whether the said protesters where found.Situation is tense in Harare with daily violent protests taking place. The Red Hot Chilli Pupils A spicy BMS World Mission project is helping teenagers still living with the effects of Joseph Konys violence A generation of Acholi people were raised in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Their parents fled their homes in northern Uganda due to the civil war raging there between the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and the government forces. Those who werent forced to fight were robbed of their homes and their independence. Twenty years later, BMS is working alongside people still suffering because of the LRA insurgency. People who have returned to their homes in northern Uganda in peace time to find they are unable to adequately provide for their families. Most people in Gulu, northern Uganda, survive by farming. But theres a generation of people who dont have the knowledge to farm enough to feed their families, let alone send their children to school. Thats what being stuck in a displaced peoples camp for more than a decade will do. Oloya Morris is the oldest of five children. A while back, he was suspended from school for not paying his fees. Before his mum, Apio Christine, joined the chilli project, there was no way she would have been able to cover the cost of his education. He would probably have had to drop out of school. Thanks to her supply of freshly grown chilli, Apio was able to quickly sell a sack of produce and get him back into school. Praise God! In 2013, BMS farming and soil experts ran a chilli growing trial with a few struggling farmers in the region. They taught them how to effectively grow and harvest chilli, and how to sell it for a good price. Most people in the area grow cotton, sesame and maize all commodities that sell cheaply at the market. Chilli, on the other hand, can be sold for export at a much higher price. Local Ugandan farmers really took hold of the project, and it was a big success. So much so that we expanded it into other villages in 2014. The trial ended in 2015, but the farmers involved are still growing chilli. Their ability to grow a new crop is having a big impact on their families. They can now afford to keep their teenage children in school. Pupils given an education in the name of Jesus, thanks to your giving to BMS and the versatility of the chilli plant! Theyre also learning to work together so that everyone can benefit. The farmers are now networking and co-ordinating together, says Genesis, a BMS worker in Uganda. They are learning how important it is to live and be in harmony with their neighbours. "Now, when the chilli is being collected they mobilise each other. Sometimes, during the period when farmers urgently need money for example, they can group themselves and bulk their chilli to make a full a sack rather than each farmer having a small amount dried which makes selling more difficult. We dont want another generation of Acholi children to have their futures stolen by the violence of the past. Its really exciting to hear that farmers have pressed on with the BMS project and that young people are getting to go to school and gain knowledge and skills thanks to something as simple and spicy as chilli! Support Genesis through prayer and giving by becoming a 24:7 Partner. This article first appeared on the website of BMS World Mission and is used with permission. BMS World Mission, 27/08/2016 News / National by Staff reporter HARARE resembled a war zone yesterday as violence flared up after riot police violently disrupted an opposition political parties-organised electoral reform demonstration in defiance of a High Court order which reversed the 11th-hour ban of the march.Riot police officers beat up an apologetic elderly woman at the main entrance to the Harare Magistrates' Court building yesterday.Riot police officers beat up an apologetic elderly woman at the main entrance to the Harare Magistrates' Court building yesterday.The National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) accused police of inciting the violence, vowing another demonstration of an even higher magnitude would be held next Friday.The 18 political parties including MDC-T, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF), MDC, People's Democratic Party (PDP), Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, Transform Zimbabwe, Freedom Front, Zanu Ndonga, ADP, PDZ, Dare, ZimFirst, Zunde and FreeZim Congress, were set to march through the streets of the capital to push for electoral reforms, but were violently stopped by the police.There was a heavy police presence by 9am with multiple roadblocks on major roads leading into the central business district (CBD). Determined to push their position, the protesters started gathering in the capital city early in the morning as they waited for the High Court outcome.When news started filtering through that the court had granted the order in their favour, the demonstrators trooped to Civic Centre grounds (Freedom Square), but were met by police heavy-handedness.Things went to a head when the police used brute force to disperse the crowd by indiscriminately firing tear smoke and water cannons. Police continually fired teargas and water cannons, affecting proceedings at the Rotten Row Magistrates' Court. But this did not cow the demonstrators into submission as they continued to build up resistance against police brutality.Running battles continued with the anti-government demonstrators barricading Rotten Row using boulders, vehicle shells and burnt tyres to block traffic from passing through.Initially, the protesters fled, but regrouped and fought back, virtually closing down the upper parts of the capital. The protesters later retreated into the CBD, blocking roads, looting shops, smashing vehicles as they continued to engage in running battles with the police.To show their dislike of President Robert Mugabe, the protesters pulled down Robert Mugabe Road signposts, placing one of them alongside a dead puppy while mocking the 92-year-old Zanu-PF leader. They barricaded the road and continued their running battles with the police.The worst violence was witnessed along Chinhoyi Street when Zanu-PF youths manning vending stalls at Copacabana bus terminus threatened the demonstrators who had ordered them to close their businesses.Skirmishes erupted with youths exchanging fire using sling shots and throwing stones at each other, while others engaged in physical contact. Zanu-PF youths eventually retreated, but the worst was still to come. The protesters set ablaze the vending stalls, destroying some bales of clothing.Riot police were all this time making sporadic appearances, using water cannons to disperse people who formed pockets around road intersections and along city roads, with business coming to a standstill in Jason Moyo Avenue.As the drama continued to unfold in the CBD, opposition political leaders who included ZimPF's Joice Mujuru, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume, PDP leader Tendai Biti and former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, left the Civic Grounds in a huff after their convoy was tear-gassed when they attempted to address their followers after being granted the court order to proceed with the protest.Mutasa, who is Nera convenor, told journalists that he was shocked by the level of violence by the police against the people."Today has been the worst day that I have lived in the country that I have observed with my own eyes, the State breaking its own laws and the State starting violence by attacking people who had gathered together throwing teargas and hitting them with water cannons," Mutasa said."If that was intended to cow us from demonstrating, I want to say the opposite has been the case, we are going next Friday to do exactly the same as we have done today. We are going to request another opportunity to demonstrate here in Harare, and if that is thwarted, then our demonstration capacity will also be extended."Mutasa was flanked by Tsvangirai and his deputies Elias Mudzuri and Nelson Chamisa, Mujuru, Ngarivhume, ZimPF's Rugare Gumbo and many more from the opposition camp.He said people were tired of Mugabe's rule and hoped that fresh elections would be held sooner than 2018."And this mess, it's a real mess, will end. The protests will continue until we vote Mugabe out of power," Mutasa said, adding they would push their concerns through Sadc and the African Union.Tsvangirai said they would simply notify the police of next week's protest because it had already been approved.Asked if the police would not use today's violence to deny Nera the chance to protest, Tsvangirai said political parties should not be held responsible for anything that happened outside their planned protest route."We had a route, anything that happened outside the route, we are not accountable," he said, concurring with Mutasa that the police triggered the violence. He said Mugabe could only ignore people's anger at his own peril.Mujuru said she had received news that over 50 protesters who had been battered by the police had been sent to the Counselling Services Unit."This thing has been there for a long time and when people are bottling this (anger) for too long, you know what will happen, and these are the results. People have been whispering their anger and no one has been giving them an ear to that, and, therefore, we are going to live with it if we are not going to get a response sooner."By last night popcorn protests were still being experience in different parts of the capital. While some mark Labor Day weekend with a backyard cookout at home, others will be hitting the road to take advantage of the day off work. A good starting point is a visit to a small-town barbecue joint that will keep you full as you trek around the state's 268,820 square miles of land. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Central Texas man is accused of murder after his wife's head was found inside a freezer. According to news station KCEN, Davie Dauzat, 23, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Natasha. HOUSTON TRAGEDY: Details on grisly Houston decapitation emerge Bellmead police were called to the home on Thursday around 11 a.m. after getting reports that a man was assaulting his wife, KCEN says RELATED: Man found decapitated in San Antonio was from Houston Two children, ages 1 and 2, were also in the home, but were not injured, according to the report. Police told KCEN that Dauzat was covered in blood when he voluntarily came out of the house. Police secured the children. Dauzat is jailed in McLennan County on $500,000 bond. Bellmead is near Waco. News / National by Staff reporter Peoples Democratic Party secretary-general Gorden Moyo said the situation in the country has now reached boiling point."As you meet for your 8th congress you must know that out its getting dark. Those who are in power have been affected by fists. Their president is totally useless and if you look at him it is like you are doing body viewing," Moyo said in a solidarity speech at the Zapu congress."Chinamasa (Patrick, Finance Minister) went across seas to look for money and came empty handed with only his beard."He called on all opposition parties to join hands in order to defeat Zanu-PF in the 2018 elections."Zanu-PF is fighting and its leader is just concerned about his wife. Let us bury our differences and work together we will defeat the enemy. We just currently ruled by corpses," Moyo said.Mavambo/Kusile leader Simba Makoni said Zanu-PF has failed to provide food to the starving masses."There was enough food in this country but now people are starving. They took the farms and they are now growing grass," Makoni said.He said leadership does not mean using force on one's people."If you look at the leaders we have today and ask them when they last sat under a tree and talked to our parents they do not even know. That is why they do not know how people are suffering," Makoni said. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below The images of police forcing a woman to remove clothes has raised anger in certain circles The images of police forcing a woman to remove clothes has raised anger in certain circles Courting controversy: the burkini has been banned in parts of France The controversial burkini ban is the product of political opportunism rather than secular idealism or strategic craftiness. The more an election approaches, the more short-sighted politics gets - the burkini bans that were introduced across multiple southern French municipalities are a sad piece of evidence for that. As the 2017 presidential and legislative elections are looming over France, the country's politicians have seven months left to win the public's support. So, they are stressing out. No French politician truly believes in the practical value of the burkini ban for preventing terrorist attacks. Politically, it might be the most convenient solution, but strategically, it is suicide - everyone knows that. The French mayors who passed the laws are neither blind nor stupid; they are simply playing their game, unfortunately at any cost. While it is likely that some of the mayors have personal stakes in the 2017 elections, or plan to run for MP seats, others may have just jumped on the bandwagon out of political convenience. But as France's mainstream politicians struggle to respond to the rising public support for the far right Front National and to enhance their appeal to a vanishing middle ground, their best chance to gain votes is to appear firm and uncompromising and focus on what a vast proportion of the public wants: identity politics. If the goal of the Nice attack perpetrator Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was to add fuel to the fire and escalate community tensions, he chose the strategically right spot. The French Riviera, a traditional stronghold of the French republicans, has recently seen the highest poll results for the far right. Last year, Front National leader Marine Le Pen's niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, waged an extensive campaign and gained massive support in the regional elections. The region is now rapidly turning into a radicalisation hotbed for both far right and Islamist extremists. The burkini might be a sad symbol of Islam going backwards in terms of gender issues, but the burkini ban is a sad sign of liberalism going backwards in France. Although it is hard to believe, the burkini ban has received considerable support on the other side of the Channel. Even a brief comparison of the public's reactions on Southern French and British Twitter accounts reveals a significant perceptional gap in regards to the policy. While in the United Kingdom some users have equated the latest police incident of armed French police men forcing a fully covered woman to remove her clothes on a beach in Nice with sexual abuse, a shockingly high amount of French accounts expresses strong support for the policy and even defends the security forces involved in the incident. The million-dollar question is: will it ever be possible to close the gap between the politically convenient decision and the strategically right decision? The only effective remedy against the politicians' short-sighted policies is an informed public that understands both the nature and the extent of the threat. It is policies like the burkini ban that feed into conspiracy theories spread by Islamist extremists of the West being at war with Islam. In order to fight terrorism, we need to view counter-terrorism and counter-extremism measures through a liberalism lens. It makes no sense to respond to fire with fire. A former bank branch then a Thai restaurant, 31 University Road is now occupied by a Chinese restaurant. And a Japanese one. Soon there will be a European one too. This is why the owners call the place Three Levels. They are the owners of nearby popular China China and everyone was pleased to see the site of the former Bo Tree Thai, shut down for three years, re-open as a restaurant. But if this experience is anything to go by they should have called it the Three Levels of Purgatory. Problems began at the beginning before I had even finished making the phone booking. Having requested a table for three I was asked if I wanted to eat Japanese or Chinese. Its like being asked if youd like beef or salmon three months before youre due to eat. I hadnt realised that it was not like Zen in Adelaide Street where Korean, Japanese, Chinese all appear on the same menu; you dont have to go to an allocated part of the restaurant for geographical or cultural distinction. So I booked Japanese. In through the familiar front door the three of us noticed the layout was the same as before. We walked through soon-to-be Europe on the ground floor up the stairs to the next level, China, and on to the top floor where there were two teppanyaki stations each surrounded by eight chairs. Teppanyaki is the vaudeville act of the food world. It is Sunday Night at the London Palladium with your host Hughie Green. It is crash bang Norman Wisdom. It can be brilliantly entertaining or, more usually, poor, tasteless and a bit embarrassing, the concept of some moth-eaten culinary impresario who still thinks its a good idea to microwave the red wine to room temperature, have tight-rope walking monkeys and singing chefs with flour on their noses. But the greatest crime committed by teppanyaki is its locked down inescapability. Once youre in the chair there is no avoiding the strangers who sit with you, or the chef who is inches away conducting his pyrotechnics. There is no degree of drunkenness, drug-induced hunger, or any low or high point in your life in which teppanyaki is a good idea. It is the bonfire of pretend exotic fanciness where perfectly good food is sacrificed to make way for a moment of heat, light and then nothing. And so it was with 3 Levels. A series of flaming juggling acts by chef Gene Ursal eventually resulted in a mound of fried rice in which the chopped onions had been slightly burnt, enough to send an acrid flavour throughout, followed by chicken, Canadian scallops (yep) and shelled tiger prawns which were put through the torture of the griddle. They all tasted the same, ie, of nothing. Nothing had been marinated, no visible seasoning had been used and the only attempt at creating some flavour involved a custardy looking liquid squeezed from a plastic bottle over the griddling chicken breast, scallops and prawns. Chef Ursal said this was garlic cream but I detected no such flavour. Which is a dreadful shame because the same chefs preceding maki rolls and sashimi were excellent. Simple use of good quality salmon and tuna, seabass and crab roe on beds of firm, sticky rice which had taste and texture aplenty provided us with something memorable. The maki roll is a splendid thing if you order enough for three as it comes in one long, elegantly crescented loaf. Service is pretty good too with fast action from servers nervously keen to please. The problem here is not that I loathe teppanyaki I know what a good one tastes like its the fact that the entire experience is down to the visuals. There is a restaurateur in this city who once hosted a banquet which featured ice sculptures of swans, tomatoes van dyke and great platters of poached salmon with cucumber ring scales. He said to me: See. Thats what matters. Its all in the visuals. I nodded in disbelief but I can see that that same belief is what keeps this version of the teppanyaki alive and well. By all means go to the 3 Levels and order the maki roll and the dumplings. But under no circumstances must you approach those teppanyaki stations. The bill Mali roll 11.95 Tiger prawn teppanyaki 16.95 Scallop teppanyaki 18.95 Chicken teppanyaki 15.95 Total 62.80 GCSE results at a school in west Belfast plagued by leadership problems and bullying were not as bad as expected, a parent said. An independent report into De La Salle College in the city revealed allegations of a "culture of fear" among staff. Kieran McCormick, whose son attends the school, said parents had feared for the worst ahead of results day. "What has happened has impacted on the children's education and futures - but not to the extent that we were anticipating. We were anticipating a disaster, we think we have avoided that," he said. Claims of bullying and intimidating behaviour were compounded by a teacher survey reporting low morale and lack of trust across the school following leadership difficulties. A three-person panel led by educationalist Sir Robert Salisbury said it was unacceptable that broken staff working relationships were allowed to affect pupils. Mr McCormick added: "For parents, the difficulty that we have found hard to grasp is that these are people charged with the responsibility to ensure the welfare and best possible education for our children." He added: "We are glad that we have been vindicated. "We knew as parents that there was something not right about that school, there were too many issues arising individually and collectively around our children's education, and the report has laid that out there." The panel said it was disturbed that so many submissions to it had raised the issues of bullying and intimidating behaviour within the school. A staff wellbeing survey confirmed the poor state of working relationships with very low morale and a lack of trust across the school, the review said. Critical internal reports, temporary appointments in key leadership roles and limited support for principals and vice-principals contributed to problems like staff absences. It made 40 recommendations centred on providing stable leadership and protecting children's interests. Education Minister Peter Weir said he accepted all the recommendations made in the report. Earlier this year head boy Peter Heenan revealed he had suffered panic attacks and was receiving counselling because of the situation at the college. In a letter to the school's board of governors, he wrote: "I feel let down by the school's management and am urging you to do your very best to return De La Salle College back to the outstanding school it once was." Worried parents formed a committee to press for action to resolve the issues, mounting protests outside the building as exam deadlines loomed. A Belfast man who broke into the home of a deaf and blind 91-year-old and robbed the pensioner as he slept has been jailed for 18 months A Belfast man who broke into the home of a deaf and blind 91-year-old and robbed the pensioner as he slept has been jailed for 18 months. Jailing Gerard Patrick Skelly, Judge Alistair Devlin told the 38-year-old he was a "determined and dogged serial offender" whose actions left the vulnerable and disabled victim "absolutely terrified". Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard Skelly, from Norglen Drive, had 210 previous offences, prompting Judge Devlin to brand his criminal record "appalling". Prior to sentencing, the judge was told by Crown barrister Rosemary Walsh that Skelly admitted five charges arising from two burglaries in Ballynahinch which occurred in the early hours of July 23 last year. At around 1.30am a man living in the Ashburn area of the Co Down town was watching TV when he heard his dog barking. He went outside to investigate, and when he returned to his property he noticed a bicycle had been taken from his garage. Around an hour-and-a-half later the Oakland Grove home of the disabled pensioner was broken into. Ms Walsh said the elderly resident woke up after feeling his bed vibrate and he sensed there was someone in his room. He tried to find a talking watch that he kept on a bedside cabinet, which was missing. The pensioner got out of bed and kicked a box on his bedroom floor that hadn't been there when he went to bed. He then contacted police and informed them he thought he'd been burgled. Several items were stolen by Skelly, including three talking watches, a wallet, jewellery and three bottles of whiskey, as well as credit cards and cash. At around 7.40am that day officers approached a Ford Mondeo that was stationary but with its engine running close to Skelly's west Belfast home. Skelly was in the driver's seat and appeared to be drunk, and when police approached the car Skelly was "not responsive" to their questions. The car was searched and several items stolen from the two houses hours before where found in the vehicle, including the bicycle. Ms Walsh said that during the search police also recovered a red-handled knife, and were subjected to verbal abuse by Skelly. He also spat at officers and refused to give a blood sample for analysis. During police interviews Skelly denied the break-ins and continued to verbally abuse officers. At one stage he told police: "I would love to help you out, but I just don't know what you're talking about." Skelly was forensically linked to one of the burglaries via his footwear, and he subsequently admitted five charges including burglary and possessing a knife in a public place. As swell as the 18-month jail sentence, Skelly was banned from the road for five years, as he had 34 previous convictions for driving with no insurance. News / National by Staff reporter TWO protesters were yesterday charged for contempt of court and fined $20 each by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) after they besieged a courtroom and started taking selfie pictures while seating on the magistrate chair.Police refused to provide the names of the suspects, but one Abraham Sadza showed NewsDay his $20 fine receipt.Sadza and his friend were part of demonstrators who sought refuge inside the magistrates' court after riot police threw teargas canisters at them while they were waiting for their leaders to arrive in the car park area.Upon entering the courtroom, Sadza went straight to the magistrate's chair and sat while his friend was waiting for his turn. An alert police officer arrested the duo.All courts were briefly adjourned after teargas canisters were thrown at the magistrates' court entrance resulting in people inside struggling to breathe.Some of the demonstrators were banging doors and walls, while others were singing songs denouncing police brutality while inside the court rooms.A woman fell unconscious after inhaling teargas in the court and was rushed to a waiting car outside.MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora briefly addressed demonstrators about the High Court order authorizing the opposition march to go ahead.They then sang, denouncing police who were standing about 10 metres away.However, their joy was shortlived after the riot police reacted by spraying water cannons and throwing teargas at them. The demonstrators fled in different directions. Four of the eight Frankie & Bennys diners in Northern Ireland are to close, The Restaurant Group has announced Up to 100 jobs are at risk after the firm behind Italian diner-style restaurant Frankie & Benny's announced it is to close four of its Northern Ireland restaurants. Frankie & Benny's restaurants in Ballymena, Coleraine and Londonderry and the Victoria Square branch of Chiquito's are among those set to close along with 30 other sites across the UK. The Restaurant Group runs eight stores in Northern Ireland - including two in Belfast, one in Bangor, Lisburn, Coleraine, Ballymena and Londonderry. The move will see half the group's restaurants here close. However, despite the closures, the firm still plans to go ahead with plans to open up to 28 new stores but would not say if any of those would be in Northern Ireland. It comes as Italian fast-food restaurant rival Apache Pizza begins to work on the first of 40 restaurants it plans to open across Northern Ireland in a move which will create around 800 jobs. And Pizza Express also makes the final preparations to open two stores next month. The Restaurant Group - the firm behind Frankie & Benny's - operates 500 restaurants across the UK. Each restaurant employs between 20 and 25 people in a mixture of full-time and part-time roles. However, the Restaurant Group would not disclose how many casual staff it employed here and said that all staff would be offered work in other locations. A spokesperson for the company said: "The company expects few, if any redundancies. In total in Northern Ireland 80-100 people will be affected." A statement described the sites as "under-performing" and said that the closures were part of a "strategic review" into the company. The news comes as The Restaurant Group booked pre-tax losses of 22.5m for the first half of the year as it took a hit from a 59.1m exceptional charge linked to the store closures and write-downs. The store closures will affect up to 1,000 jobs, although it is understood that the company will redeploy the vast majority in other outlets. Like-for-like sales fell 3.9% as the group, which has issued a string of profit warnings, flagged a "challenging trading period". Meanwhile, a further 80 jobs are under threat after Enniskillen food manufacturing firm Adelie Ireland went into liquidation yesterday. The sandwiches and snacks outfit is located on the town's Lackaghboy Road, and supplies food products to convenience stores. The manufacturing and distribution operation formed part of Adelie Foods UK, which operates across the UK. Enniskillen was the firm's only Northern Ireland facility. It was not clear last night whether the whole Adelie Foods group had gone into liquidation, or only the Northern Ireland operation. Staff were sent home yesterday after being told the news. Martin McGuinness has revealed he may be prepared to reveal more about his IRA past. The Deputy First Minister said he would have "no difficulty" if new truth recovery mechanisms connected him to victims from the Troubles. The senior Sinn Fein figure told Sky News that if people levelled allegations "then I will deal with that". He was referring to the impasse that has prevented progress on dealing with the legacy of the past. Plans for a new historical investigations team and a truth recovery process have been stymied amid claims that British national security could be compromised in some cases. The former Provo second-in-command insisted the UK Government had to "open its files" if progress was to be made. His comments came amid speculation at Stormont that agreement on a mechanism for handling individual cases was moving closer. The political focus remains around the creation of an Historical Investigations Unit, an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group. Mr McGuinness said: "What we need to see is, first of all, the agreements go live, because that will be the test for both the British Government and for Irish republicans as to whether or not they are willing to co-operate to satisfy the needs of victims," he said. Sky Ireland correspondent David Blevins asked if the Deputy First Minister was "at a point where you're ready to tell the truth about what you did and about what you know?". Mr McGuinness replied: "Well, you see the mechanisms and structures that we have agreed be established make provision for families who have a grievance and who are requiring a resolution to their grievance to go forward to these tribunals. "If, in any circumstance, any of that has a connection with myself, in relation to people levelling allegations or whatever, then I will deal with that. "That's not a difficulty for me whatsoever." Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said his comments were "an insult" He said: Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has described comments from Martin McGuinness that he will deal with allegations in relation to himself, if the British Government opens up its files, as an insult. He said: "For Martin McGuinness to demand the British Government open up its files in their totality, in return for a promise that he will only talk about what he may or may not have done as an individual terrorist is arrogance beyond description for a man reputed to be the Republican movements chief negotiator. There is nothing to negotiate here. Remember what he told the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday he said there were certain things he would not discuss under any circumstances. He is not offering to disclose who else he committed his acts of terrorism with, or help bring truth and acknowledgement to the vast majority of the IRAs victims, he is simply making an outrageous demand of the British Government that he knows cannot be met. Every government has a legitimate right to withhold information on the grounds of national security, and to honour its duty to protect the lives of its citizens. Martin McGuinness knows that very well and it would assist the effort to deal with the past if he were to acknowledge that fact, rather than engage in outrageous and offensive demands." Meanwhile, the top officer who has been put in charges of legacy issues, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, said the new police service had not been established to handle investigations relating to the period of the conflict. "The PSNI has 6,700 officers. You could argue you could put every one of them toward resolving the issues of the Troubles, but we weren't created to do that," he told Sky News. "The PSNI was created as a result of the peace process to police a new arrangement. "Therefore, there aren't the resources in play today to investigate all these crimes concurrently, and therefore we have to apply some kind of mechanism to decide what we can do in the timescales that we have." On the national security issue, he said: "It's really important that the police service in particular doesn't hide away from embarrassing facts, from uncomfortable truths..." He said Chief Constable George Hamilton "is very clear about that, and nor are we going to". And the Assistant Chief Constable added: "Equally, it's really important, though, that we don't hand out information that would put lives at risk." Last autumn the Fresh Start deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein, along with the British and Irish Governments, failed to include any detail about the legacy issues. Neill and Susan Greenlee on their final shopping trip to the BHS store in Belfast city centre Denise and Jane Evans were after a bargain during the closing down sale BHS Belfast store opens for the last day as the UK wide chain goes out of business Shoppers go through the rails in search of a good deal Customers Carol Annett and Reid Stynes on their final shopping trip to the BHS store in Belfast city centre It was one of the powerhouse names in British retail. But yesterday there were tears as staff at the Belfast branch of British Home Stores signalled the end of an era. Tomorrow the shop will be one of the last of the few remaining BHS stores to close its doors for the last time. Just a few rails of well-reduced stock remained as shoppers reminisced about the Belfast high street staple. One woman began her career at the store 50 years ago when it opened, and was now among those overseeing its closure. Several of the 57 staff were also long-serving - with many working there for over 40 years. Some are taking the closure as an opportunity to get back into education, while others have been left with nothing. The retail stalwart will disappear completely from the high street this weekend, bringing an end to 88 years of history. The firm's liquidation has affected 164 stores and 11,000 employees, including 152 across four outlets in Northern Ireland. The company's failure has sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry and left its former owners potentially facing a criminal investigation. "It feels wrong," Larne woman Carol Annett said. "You've these girls who are losing their jobs and people are in rummaging through the clothes. "It's disgraceful how the staff have been treated. They've been left with no jobs while their boss flies around the world." For some, the shop had almost become part of their family. Holywood woman Jane Spurling said: "I've been coming in for years, I always come and have a look because the clothes were good quality and the staff were always very pleasant. I feel sorry for them; a lot of them have been left with nothing. "One girl was telling me she was going back to study. "It's a bit like Debenhams, but it always had a nicer atmosphere." Newtownbreda woman Denise Evans said her late mother worked at the shop in the 1970s. Being back in the store brought back a lot of memories. She said: "I've been shopping here for years. Some people say it's not particularly fashionable, but it's part of the city centre and will leave a big hole in Belfast. My mother was a supervisor here through Bloody Friday. I remember her talking about it a lot. She had happy memories working here. It feels like the end of an era. It's the last of the big shops to close in Belfast - first there was C&C and Woolies, now BHS." Being back in the empty store brought back memories of their marriage 30 years ago for Neill and Susan Greenlee. The couple, from Lisburn, said they remembered coming to the store to spend money gifted to them for their wedding, and bought lights and curtains for their first home there. Susan said: "It's a love it/hate it thing with BHS. People are always saying it's not particularly fashionable, but the thing about it is they do good clothes that last." One of the Jewish graves which was desecrated in Belfast City Cemetery Thirteen Jewish graves have been damaged in an attack at Belfast City Cemetery in what a DUP MLA has described as a "dark day for the city". It's thought a large crowd had gathered in the area at around 3pm on Friday with eight youths carrying out the attacks with hammers and blocks. Headstones were knocked over and smashed in the attack. DUP MLA William Humphrey said he has been in contact with the Rabbi and members of the Jewish community to express his revulsion. "A graveyard is a sacred place and should be respected as such," he said. "And those responsible are guilty of a most heinous hate crime." Stevie Corr, a local Sinn Fein councillor, said he was sickened and disgusted by the attack. The Falls Road cemetery is maintained by the council and is one of the oldest public graveyards in Belfast. Chief Inspector Norman Haslett added: "This is a particularly sickening incident, which we are treating as a hate crime. "To disturb the sanctity of a cemetery in this way is completely unacceptable and I can assure the public that we will conduct a robust investigation in a bid to bring those responsible before the courts. "I have already liaised with local representatives and I will continue to do so regarding this and other issues relating to anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the cemetery. "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed this incident, or to anyone who has any information whatsoever that could assist in our investigation to contact police on the non-emergency number." It is not yet clear if the incident was an anti-semitic attack or the result of anti-social behaviour. Several youths had apparently been seen drinking and taking drugs in the vicinity of the attack. Land was first acquired for a Jewish burial ground within the cemetery in 1871. It was accessed via a separate entrance on Whiterock Road. Above the gate, which is now bricked up, you can still read the Hebrew inscription that marked this area of the cemetery. Translated, it means "the house of life". The Jewish area of the cemetery used to contain a small building used for the ritual act of purification, but it was destroyed by vandals in the 1970s. Ireland's former Tanaiste Peter Barry, who played a key role in the Anglo-Irish Agreement, has died aged 88. Mr Barry, a businessman from Cork behind the Barry's Tea brand, also served as Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy leader of the Fine Gael party. He died peacefully in his native city yesterday morning surrounded by his family. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny led tributes to his former party colleague. "Throughout his long and distinguished political career Peter gave outstanding service," he said. "In particular, his central and pivotal role in negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 helped to create the foundations on which the peace process in Northern Ireland was built. "In the coming days we will reflect on and salute Peter Barry's extraordinary legacy, but today our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved family. "We also remember at this time Peter's late wife Margaret, who was such a support to him throughout his career." Bloody history: the monument erected in memory of the soldiers who died at the Battle of Aughrim Today, the last Saturday in August, marks the end of the main marching season, and people will breathe a little easier. To be fair, the Loyal Orders have applied stricter controls on their marchers and, while the vast majority of parades pass off peacefully, the less possibility of confrontations and counter-demonstrations the better. Recently a letter-writer to this newspaper complained about the sectarian bands and their music which accompany some of the lodges, but few of the rest of us know exactly the derivation of the songs which store up such hatreds. Lest people believe that all non-Orange supporters are incensed by such material, a favourite party piece of a former Catholic Cardinal, Archbishop Tomas O Fiaich, was to sing 'The Auld Orange Flute' in Gaelic. The cardinal was a warm-hearted man who was much misunderstood by unionists and loyalists. He was a non-violent traditional republican, with a broad sense of ill-humour, which was shown in his choice of a well-known (and quite humorous ) 'Orange' song as his party piece. One of the most popular 'Orange' songs is 'The Sash', which I have heard in some of the most unexpected places, including a fashionable party in Washington DC where some Irish-Americans, well-connected to the Irish Embassy staff there, sang every word with gusto. Most of us know about "Derry, Enniskillen and the Boyne", but perhaps not so much about the Battle of Aughrim, which was one of the bloodiest in Anglo-Irish history. On the way back from a recent visit to the west of Ireland, I stopped off at Aughrim which is easily accessible east of Galway, just off the main motorway to Dublin. Aughrim is now a small village nestling in beautiful rural countryside, and it has an informative interpretive centre and a well-marked battlefield trail. Given such peaceful surroundings, it is hard to image the sound and fury, and the grotesque blood-letting, when the Jacobite and Williamite armies clashed there, almost exactly a year after the Battle of the Boyne. The outcome of the Aughrim Battle would copper-fasten the Protestant ascendency in England and Ireland, but at enormous human cost. The Jacobite forces had been routed at the Boyne but not destroyed, and their forces were able to make a crucial stand at Aughrim. The Jacobites numbered 17,000 and the Williamites slightly more. It looked at one stage as if the Jacobites might prevail, but their commander was killed by a stray cannon shot, their cavalry fled and their hapless foot soldiers were slaughtered by the Williamites. On that fateful day, three thousand Jacobites and two thousand Williamites perished - a total of 5,000 men in one single day of fighting. The details of this bloody carnage are long forgotten, but as I gazed over those peaceful fields where so much death had occurred, I wondered what the men on both sides would make of it all today if they were transported back from ancient history. They fought on Irish soil, but the island is now partitioned, and has not gained full independence. The Irish and the British are today close trading partners, but soon they will no longer be partners in Europe. The 'Protestant supremacy' is now meaningless in a secular society where and fewer Protestants or Catholics bother go to church regularly. So the men of Aughrim might well ask themselves today "was it all worthwhile?" Some of the modern 'party' songs on both sides have a lilt about them, but they romanticise battlefield murder. None of our marching songs bring home to us the suffering, bloodshed, disillusion and futility of violence, and the long aftermath of history which continues to poison our community relations today. If you are ever near the battlefield of Aughrim go and see it for yourself. It will open your eyes to what really occurred there. All good things, as they say, come to an end. And so it is with this one. After six years, I've decided to stand down as Readers' Editor of the Belfast Telegraph. Nothing lasts forever, and it's time to move along. It's been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, a wonderful way to get to know a paper and its readership. The Belfast Telegraph is the archetypal broad church, being read by an eclectic band of people across Northern Ireland. Most papers, you see, are tightly targeted at certain demographic groups (often known as ABCDEs). The tabloids are largely CDEs, the "posh" papers mostly ABs and so on. It's a rather blunt, some might say crass, way of attempting to categorise people and I have long wished the marketers would find something more sophisticated. Something that takes into account people's, well, human-ness, for want of a better word. The Telegraph has a good dollop of ABs, but also a healthy mix of CDEs as well. Yes, it's less popular west of the Bann, which also somewhat impacts on the religious make-up of the readers, but it is still uniquely cross-community compared to Northern Ireland's other main newspapers and the religious make-up of the readership reflects this. The age-profile and gender profiles are admirably balanced, too, for a newspaper. Throw in all our community hang-ups, cultural/religious divisions and the Troubles and perhaps you'll see why the Belfast Telegraph is a difficult paper to edit. You're writing for everyone, from a judge on the Malone Road to a mechanic in Newtownabbey and a teacher in Omagh - and all points in between. The 'Tele' is, in fact, one of the few papers in the British Isles to have had a readers' editor. The Guardian and Observer each have one, but there appear to be few - if any - elsewhere, although they are common in larger papers and TV channels around the world, where they are often known as ombudsmen, or public editors. There's even a society for them: the Organisation of News Ombudsmen. You can check them out at http://news ombudsmen.org. I've spent countless hours reading reader reactions - letters, emails, tweets, Facebook postings and comments on stories - and the breadth and depth of knowledge and passion never ceases to amaze. The reason for the ongoing absence of readers' editors in the UK is probably due to the work of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) in holding editors to account. If you have a complaint about this newspaper, take it up with the Editor and, if you remain unsatisfied, pursue it with Ipso. What's the future generally of media ombudsmen? Well, I hope you may see big organisations, for example, Facebook or Twitter, adopt the system. They simply cannot be allowed to absolve themselves of responsibility for the content on their platforms. They might not legally be publishers, but they should not be able to just shrug their shoulders and exist in a moral and professional vacuum. In the meantime, thanks to everyone who complained, engaged, praised, criticised and pointed out my own errors. Feedback is essential to all businesses, and particularly for a news brand. But, most of all, thanks to you, dear reader, for indulging me and the column. Farewell. News / National by Online CONVICTED fraudster and flamboyant dealer Wicknell Chivayo who claims to own Intratrek Zimbabwe has a habit of being photographed with high profile individuals in the country.Intratrek Zimbabwe, a controversial company has won countless multi-million dollar tenders in electricity generation projects over the past two years under murky circumstances.Intratrek Zimbabwe, according to the company's website, was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in South Africa.Its website has revealed pictures of Chivayo with top ranking people under a title Our Story told in pictures.The first picture is of him and President Robert Mugabe, First Lady Grace Mugabe, several ministers, army generals and Botswana vice president Ponatshego Kedikilwe. News / Regional by Thobekile Zhou There is a heavy police presence at Harare's Rotten Row magistrates court as 69 arrested protesters are set to appear before the court facing charges that include "inciting public violence".The 69 were arrested on Friday during opposition political parties protest. #Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwanazi is among those expected to appear in court. A landmark court order that lifted a ban on women entering the inner sanctum of Mumbais iconic Haji Ali Dargah (shrine) will set a precedent for future rulings against gender inequality in India, rights activists said Friday. This is a victory for every woman, not just Muslim, in India. The judgment upholds the values and principles of democracy the cornerstone of any ideology, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, founder of Muslim womens rights group Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), told BenarNews after Fridays ruling by the Bombay High Court. Niaz, along with her BMMA colleague Zakia Soman, had challenged the ban imposed by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust (HADT) on women entering the grave area housing the 600-year-old tomb of Muslim saint Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. The HADT said it had placed the ban in 2012 on grounds that women wearing blouses with wide necks bend on the mazaar, thus showing their breasts, which was against Islam. Even as the trust contended that the ban was for the safety and security of women, it quoted certain verses from the Quran to support its claim that allowing women in close proximity to the grave of a male Muslim saint was a sin in Islam. The court refused to accept the argument, saying: There is nothing in any of the aforesaid verses which shows that Islam does not permit entry of women at all into a dargah/mosque and that their entry was sinful in Islam. Muslims represent the largest religious minority in Hindu majority India. The ban contravened articles of the Indian constitution that guaranteed equality before the law and freedom of religion, and that prohibited gender discrimination, the court said. Women should be permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum at par with men, it ruled. The court, however, stayed its order for six weeks following a plea by the HADT that it wished to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. Niaz said the verdict was a significant step toward eliminating gender inequality in India. This is a small but very important victory for Indian women. This is not just a struggle for Muslim women. We are against the discrimination all women are subjected to by the Indian society, Niaz said, referring to a centuries-old ban on women entering Maharashtra states Hindu Shani Shingnapur temple. That ban was overturned in April. Womens safety HADT lawyer Shoaib Memon said the ban on women was imposed in 2012 after a Supreme Court order directed all places of worship to arrange proper security arrangements for women to protect them from sexual harassment. It was only for the safety of women that the ban was imposed. In any case, we are now bound by the High Courts orders, and we should not be blamed if anyone comes up with a complaint of sexual harassment tomorrow, Memon told BenarNews. Rubina Patel of the Muslim Womens Forum, a pan-India alliance, blamed the patriarchal mindset of Indian society for depriving women of their rights. Finally, the court has granted justice to women. The constitution gives us the right to equality, and it cannot be snatched away from us, Patel told BenarNews. An Indonesian program that offers tax dodgers an amnesty and hopes to lure wealthy citizens into repatriating billions in assets held overseas is lagging far behind its target of collecting more than U.S. $12 billion by March 2017, officials acknowledge. Since the government launched the eight-month amnesty program in mid-July, only about 7,000 taxpayers have paid 1.18 trillion rupiah (U.S. $89 million) or 0.7 percent of the 165 trillion rupiah (U.S. $12.5 billion) in tax targeted for collection through next March according to figures released Thursday on the website of the Finance Ministrys Directorate General of Taxes. A Tax Amnesty Law passed by the House of Representatives on June 28 cleared the way for the government to offer a time-limited amnesty to tax dodgers, by encouraging them to bring back their assets from abroad through the incentive of paying a very low tax rate. Under the program, those who enroll before September pay a tax rate of 2 percent. The tax increases to 3 percent for those who enroll from October through December, to 5 percent for those who enroll from January through March 2017, according to reports. The catch is that the repatriated money must be kept in Indonesia for three years, and held in banks or invested in bonds. Indonesian officials have touted the program as a way to bring in revenue needed to shore up the tax base, help stimulate a sluggish economy, and bring down a fiscal deficit. The government is hoping the program will repatriate more than U.S. $70 billion in assets held by Indonesians overseas, Reuters reported. According to The Economist, the overall wealth invested by Indonesians abroad is believed to be much higher a staggering U.S. $900 billion. But so far, relatively few tax dodgers have signed up for the amnesty, officials have conceded. This is quite worrisome, tax analyst Yustinus Prastowo told BenarNews. It was expected that many citizens would participate in the first period when the penalty is still low. Taxation Director General Ken Dwijugiasteadi did not respond to several requests for comment from BenarNews, but acknowledged that the program was not going smoothly, according to Metrotvnews.com. He said he was baffled by the low response in contrast to the 20,000 people who attended government-sponsored events in several cities that promoted the program and was championed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo. About 12,000 of those people have not yet enrolled for amnesty. The government is not focusing on potential taxpayers, Yustinus said, referring to wealthy citizens who have parked their assets abroad. Joshua Pardede, an economist at Bank Permata, agreed, saying the amount collected so far was insignificant. This stark lack of a people signing up for the program may lead to the government having to cut spending because not enough money is coming in, he warned. This is because the impact of tax amnesty has yet to materialize, he said. Several ministries were forced to cut their budgets this year because of the lack of funding, government officials said. The governments effort to persuade wealthy citizens to repatriate their money is complicated by the fact that neighboring Singapore where many rich Indonesians keep their assets is trying to block it through persuading them to not withdraw those from the city-state. Singapore has offered to waive a 4 percent declaration fee for Indonesians who keep their assets there, according to reports. Heaven or hell? Meanwhile, Indonesias newly installed finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has warned that she would go after dodgers after the amnesty program expires at the end of March, and it was in their interest to take advantage of the opportunity now. Basically, its a choice between heaven and hell, Sri Mulyani told journalists. Now there is a chance to go to heaven, with only 2 percent penalty and pardoned sins. A former World Bank director who previously served as finance minister from 2005 to 2010, she was re-appointed in that role last month by Jokowi. If youre not using the opportunity this time, I'm not going to play around, she added, according to Reuters. 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. Opinion / Columnist IN his writings, French philosopher Montesquieu outlines a constitutional government with three arms of State, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary with clear separation of powers to provide for oversight. Edmund Burke, contributing to debate in the House of Commons in 1787, identified the media as the fourth estate, the fourth arm of state, which plays a watchdog role over the other three on behalf of the citizen.Our Constitution provides for and guarantees the independence of these arms of state and it is in this spirit that we exercise our watchdog role over the judgment that was issued by the High Court yesterday.A judgment that raised more questions than answers as it endangered the lives of innocent people, their property and children to whom we all owe protection.It's a judgment that appeared to have been delivered in a cloister, divorced from the milieu of a society that only three days earlier witnessed shocking scenes of violence manifest in the burning of vehicles, looting of shops and harassment of innocent people going about their business by hoodlums masquerading as peaceful protesters.In our view, the bench should have considered the following points and thrown out the application.Firstly the issue of precedent. The application for a petition march was a clear attempt to escalate the violence that had been witnessed 72 hours earlier, particularly in light of the statement of intent from the MDC-T youth assembly that the so-called #MyZimbabwe Campaign, under which Wednesday's demonstration was held, was aimed at trying to depose the Government.It should have been instructive that the same forces that were behind Wednesday's mayhem, when they numbered about 200, were asking for an even bigger demonstration of an estimated 150 000 people. The question then should have been, if they caused such mayhem when they were a mere 200 what more when they were 150 000?Secondly, Government was hosting a VVIP in the form of Sierra Leone vice president Victor Bockarie Foh, who had come to officially open the 106th edition of the Harare Agricultural Show. His freedom of movement and safety should have been of concern to the bench.The national interest should have been paramount here as there is no other value that can surpass it.Thirdly, linked to the VVIP was the ongoing Harare Agricultural Show which apart from being a business expo is also largely a family event in terms of patronage. That the proposed gathering point for the potentially riotous demonstrators was just a stone's throw away from a place teeming with children should also have been an issue for the bench.Fourthly and quite suspiciously so, even before the judgment was delivered, demonstrators were already waiting at the assembly point. Not only that, the opposition tabloids led with screaming headlines that the demonstration was proceeding as planned raising the question of the extent to which the thinking of the bench was in the public domain on the eve of the judgement.Last, but not least, the gamut of Zimbabwe's electronic media, the broadcasting stations, ZBC, Star FM and ZiFM were broadcasting from the showgrounds and their stands are not guarded by soldiers.We can only imagine the mayhem that would have ensued in the country if some excitable hoodlums had stormed the stations to falsely proclaim that they had unseated the Government? It is a ghastly scenario to contemplate.Be that as it may, while the bench may have acted on a strict interpretation of the law, we reiterate that the law is not administered in cloisters. The foregoing points should have been considered as section 59 of the Constitution that guarantees the right to demonstrate, has a caveat to peaceful protest.This then brings us to the new Constitution itself that came about as a compromise document, written and adopted during the inclusive Government. Is it an effective tool to govern with?Zanu-PF and the Government it informs, who are the targets of this clearly orchestrated regime change campaign, may need to harness the more than two thirds majority they enjoy in the legislature to plug loopholes that are liable to exploitation by regime change lobbyists. If the law cannot protect the people, it cannot be considered just and should be changed. A 26-year-old Rapid City woman is preparing for trial after pleading not guilty in March to two counts of first-degree rape. Ashlee Goldsmith appeared with her attorney Friday morning to discuss an upcoming suppression hearing. The defense is asking to suppress statements Goldsmith gave to police at the beginning of the case, and an audio recording of a conversation between Goldsmith, the mother of the alleged victim and the mother's boyfriend. The mother and the boyfriend are to appear via video conference at the hearing. They have since relocated to Oregon, but they plan to appear in person at the trial. Goldsmith allegedly raped a 4-year-old in October of last year. She's expected to return to court for the hearing on October 17th. Opinion / Columnist Leadership is a crucial aspect of our daily life. It is observed in Public Sector, Civil Society and the Private Sector. People have defined leadership differently, with its styles and conceptions. It is basically understood as the process of getting people to do their best to achieve desired results.Looking at the Zimbabwean context. Really at the apex is the desire for Democracy against Dictatorship. When you talk about a Lion, African wisdom advises, you should go up a tree.There is one lion in town, Dictatorship. Part of the definition for Democracy says "it is a government for the people". Therefore it is not wrong for the people to question the government in power, which is there to serve them. Most critical is the fact that the people expect the government to respond to their queries. Unfortunately, the opposite appears to be the truth.Telling people to shut is a Dictatorship tendency. People can express their queries to the government through petition and peaceful demonstration, no wonder why the High Court sanctioned the demonstrations which unfortunately were heavily blocked by two pillars of Dictatorship, the Police and the leadership of the day.It is really sad to note that Zimbabwe, 36 years after independence, is proud to have only one state controlled Television channel, which is said to be the number one broadcaster, obviously number one without competition. This is why, as a State broadcaster, ZTV advances the views of the masses, and so they choose to broadcast incompetently.Nobody needs to be told of the political and socioeconomic crisis prevailing in the country. The politics of "blind" loyalty which leads to the creation of semi gods in the country's should go. Zimbabwe does not need leaders who are detached from the economic realities facing citizens. What we have observed in Zimbabwe is a sign that democracy is in danger and might be extinct. Both ZANU PF and the opposition parties must curb their desire for dictatorship and violence instincts of brutality manifesting in members of these parties.Zimbabwe needs a complete overhaul of the political system to resolve the political and socioeconomic crisis which is largely ignored by both ruling and opposition elements. A man started shooting at a children's summer camp, the Czech police did not act: they were only Roma children 27. 8. 2016 cas cteni 1 minuta On several occasions, a man verbally assaulted a summer camp of Romany children from "Chavorenge", a children's choir run by Ida Kelarova, which was held at Jiretin pod Jedlovou, in the Decin region of the Czech Republic. The man also threatened the participants of the camp with a gun and shot in the air on three occasions. Several times, he entered the camp and interfered with the camp's programme. He yelled abuse such as: "Fucking hell, you fucking Gypsies, fuck off from here!" In the camp, he also verbally assaulted the composer Desiderius Duzda and challenged him to a fist fight. When the organisers of the camp repeatedly contacted the Czech police, they refused to act. The police said that "it had its own procedures". No police arrived and the camp organisers were told "not to exaggerate matters". The Romea.cz website has now contacted the spokesperson of Czech Police in the northern city of Decin with a request to explain the situation. Police spokesperson Pavla Kofrova denied that the police had shown disinterest in this case. Czech Police has acted in accordance with the law and the man's behaviour will now be investigated as a minor offence. Source in Czech HERE There are stories like this in the Czech Republic every day that never make it to the outside world because of a lack of translation. You can support us and help reveal what's happening in Central Europe today. Please make a contribution today on www.paypal.com and send your donation to redakce@blisty.cz. We fully rely on crowdfunding in our work. Thank you. 0 Frances highest administrative court on Friday suspended a towns ban on so-called burkinis, the full-body swimwear used by some Muslim women that has become the focus of intense debates over womens rights, assimilation and secularism. The Council of State, the top court in the French administrative justice system, ruled that the ban on bathing at the beach in the outfit, enacted by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet on Aug. 5, violated civil liberties, including freedom of movement and religious freedom. At least 20 other municipalities, most of which are on the French Riviera, have imposed similar bans. Although the decision on Friday does not apply directly to them, it amounts to a warning that their prohibitions are likely to be similarly struck down if challenged in court. The largest such community is the city of Nice. From the New York Times Lots of people wear inappropriate clothing at the beach and if Muslim women want to blame their outfits on their particular imaginary sky demon, so be it. So far the reaction to it has been the harmful part. WASHINGTON Congress must work to improve Puerto Rico's treatment under Medicaid as well as to expand access to tax credits and other federal benefits for the commonwealth, the secretaries of the Treasury Department and Department of Health and Human Services said in a letter on Friday. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell made their requests to the eight-member Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, which was created under the PROMESA law to, among other things, explore possible federal improvements that could bolster job creation, reduce child poverty, and attract investment in the commonwealth. The task force is soliciting comments from interested parties through Sept. 2. "We are encouraged by Congress's attention to the need for additional action to enable growth in Puerto Rico, building on the strong foundation PROMESA established," Lew and Burwell wrote. "Any serious proposal for Puerto Rico's future growth starts with addressing the inadequacies of Puerto Rico's treatment in the Medicaid program; without addressing that challenge, a return to growth and opportunity will be a significant challenge." The two highlighted several current problems with Medicaid in Puerto Rico when compared to the rest of the U.S. These include a cap, fewer benefits for beneficiaries, and fewer federal government contributions on a per-capita basis than in the rest of the country. One-time additional funds that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided will also soon be exhausted, possibly as early as December 2017, and that could leave up to 900,000 Americans living in the territory without health care coverage, the two secretaries said. Lew and Burwell told the task force that Congress needs to work to raise the standard of care, strengthen program integrity, prevent unstable Medicaid financing from further hurting the commonwealth's economy, and avoid a drop in coverage when the ACA funds expire. Congress should also focus on improving long-term services for Medicaid enrollees, they said. Another way Lew and Burwell suggested Congress could grow Puerto Rico's economy is through the extension of the Earned Income Tax Credit to the commonwealth, which has the lowest labor market participation in the U.S. The EITC, which gives low and moderate-earning individuals tax credits based on their income, "would pull 54,000 Puerto Ricans out of poverty and increase Puerto Rico's gross national product by $1.05 billion, or 1.5%," they said. Additionally, Congress should consider expanding the Child Tax Credit and take time to make sure that Puerto Rico's statistical methodologies for calculating economic growth are made current and in line with the rest of the country. Burwell and Lew proposed Congress consider building on existing federal initiatives that are already benefitting Puerto Rico, like one with the help of the Department of Commerce that led to locating on the island several facilities devoted to aerospace and defense research and development technologies. Inclusion of Puerto Rico infrastructure needs in other projects from the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture have also led to positive economic developments that could even further expanded with Congress's help, Lew and Burwell wrote. The congressional task force is chaired by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Its members include Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., as well as Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's sole and nonvoting representative in Congress, and Reps. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., Sean Duffy, R-Wis., and Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y. The task force must write a report by Dec. 31 of this year that identifies any current impediments federal law and programs put on economic growth or health care coverage for the territory as well as recommendations to fix them. The task force also is required to provide a status update on the information that it has collected by mid-September. French Court Overturns Burkini Ban Trending News: France's Highest Court Overturns Contentious Burkini Ban Why Is This Important? Because the government meddling in something like swimwear was never not-ridiculous. Long Story Short Frances highest court overturned a ban against burkinis that had been imposed throughout the countrys coastal towns. Long Story This week has been a long and strange saga of women's swimwear coverage, but it appears to be coming to an end or is it? After a contentious ban on burkinis (wetsuit-like swimwear that allows observant Muslim women enjoy the beach or pool in accordance with their religious beliefs) was imposed across 30 coastal towns in France, the countrys highest court overturned the ban, declaring that it was "seriously, and clearly illegally, breached the fundamental freedoms to come and go, the freedom of beliefs and individual freedom." The contentious ban prevented women from enjoying the beach, and caused international uproar earlier this week after images surfaced of a woman being forced to undress in public by police officers, or risk getting cited for not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism. Backlash ensued around the world, and in London, many turned up in front of the local French embassy for a makeshift beach party to protest the governments ban on the modest swim garb. There's actual sand outside the Frenchembassy. Unfortunately for me, didn't bring my burkini today. #wearwhatyouwant pic.twitter.com/k7vuA4aA4D Aina Khan (@ainakhan5) August 25, 2016 Activist groups have welcomed the decision, with Amnesty International spokesperson John Dalhuisen saying: By overturning a discriminatory ban that is fuelled by and is fuelling prejudice and intolerance, today's decision has drawn an important line in the sand. 7 images that show how ludicrous the burkini ban is https://t.co/3us8KnQ56k pic.twitter.com/ovp9v9hja1 The Independent (@Independent) August 26, 2016 Not everyone is happy with the decision, however, such as the mayor of Sisco, Corsica, who is outright refusing to comply with the high courts new ruling. He cites recent terrorist attacks as his reasoning. Here the tension is very, very, very strong and I won't withdraw it, Mayor Ange-Pierre Vivoni said. All mayors in the 30 towns that imposed the ban will be required to refund the women who have been ticketed thus far, as well as clear their criminal records. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Will the French towns refund the women who have been ticketed immediately, or will they drag out their proceedings in the courts? Disrupt Your Feed Common sense seems to have finally prevailed. Drop This Fact In a poll by The Economist, 81% of people believe that France is wrong for imposing a ban on burkinis. An unrelated file photo. ITANAGAR (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh has requested the Centre to allow Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the state for civilian use. Chief Minister Pema Khandu who is presently in New Delhi and during a meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday, he requested him that the ALGs in the state which are national assets must be optimally utilised for larger good, an official communique said. The Defence Minister, the communique said, has agreed in-principle that the ministry has no objection to the dual use of the ALGs. "This will be a major boost in getting air connectivity in the state which will pave the way for all round development in the state," the communique quoting the minister said. The operationalisation of ALGs at Tawang, Ziro, Aalo, Mechuka, Pasighat, Walong and Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh is under various stages of progress. In fact, the construction work of ALGs at Ziro, Mechuka and Pasighat is complete and were recently operationalised by the IAF. This dual view of Jupiter was taken on August 23, when NASA's Juno spacecraft was 2.8 million miles (4.4 million kilometers) from the gas giant planet on the inbound leg of its initial 53.5-day capture orbit. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. WASHINGTON (BNS): NASA's Juno spacecraft will get closer to the cloud tops of Jupiter than at any other time during its prime mission on Saturday at 5:51 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). At the moment of closest approach, Juno will be about 4,200 kms above Jupiter's swirling clouds and traveling at 208,000 kms/hr with respect to the planet. The Aug. 27 flyby will be the first time Juno will have its entire suite of science instruments activated and looking at the giant planet as the spacecraft zooms past. There are 35 more close flybys of Jupiter scheduled during its prime mission (scheduled to end in February of 2018), according to a news release by NASA. "This is the first time we will be close to Jupiter since we entered orbit on July 4. This is our first opportunity to really take a close-up look at the king of our solar system and begin to figure out how he works," Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio was quoted as saying in the release. "No other spacecraft has ever orbited Jupiter this closely, or over the poles in this fashion," Steve Levin, Juno project scientist from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California added. Not only will Juno's suite of eight science instruments be on, the spacecraft's visible light imager -- JunoCam will also be snapping some closeups. A handful of JunoCam images, including the highest resolution imagery of the Jovian atmosphere and the first glimpse of Jupiter's north and south poles, are expected to be released during the later part of next week. The Juno spacecraft launched on Aug. 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. JPL manages the Juno mission. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Programme, which is managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Whether the return to school is met with cheers or groans, it is a big adjustment for both parents and children. It can be helpful to start talking about and preparing for the first day of school early, so that the whole family can be well equipped for the changes in the order and pace of daily life. If your child is starting kindergarten or attending a new school this year, spend some time getting familiar with the area. Playing at the playground helps your child feel comfortable in new surroundings, and she may even meet some of her future school friends. During the summer months, it is easy for sleep patterns to go off track. Your child may have become accustomed to staying up longer at night and getting a later start in the morning. If this is the case, start now to gradually return to a schedule that will let your child get the sleep he needs. Move your childs bedtime ahead a few minutes each day until he is getting to bed early enough to wake refreshed and make it through the morning without rushing. A morning routine chart is an easy way to help your child begin her day with independence while saving you the frustration of constantly prompting her. Work together with your child to list all the tasks that need to be accomplished before leaving the house in the morning. Use pictures or one or two word descriptions for smaller children, and add more details for older children. Include self-care steps such as brushing her teeth and getting dressed, as well as household chores like making the bed or clearing the table after breakfast. You can make the morning even smoother by preparing as much as you can the night before. Set out clothes for the next day, store packed lunches in the fridge, and locate books, permission slips, or anything else that your child needs to take to school. Get back into the habit of daily reading if this was not a regular part of your childs day during the summer. Take some time every day to read to your child, and when he is able, have him read aloud to you or read on his own. If screen time increased in your home over the summer, talk with your child about setting limits for the school year. You might choose a certain time of day or specific length of time for screen use every day. There may be conditions that need to be met before screen use, such as completing chores and homework. At any age, your child may have concerns about starting the new school year. A new teacher, uncertainty about expectations in a higher grade, and reconnecting with classmates can cause feelings of anxiety. Be prepared for a wide range of emotions in the days before school starts as well as the first week or two as your child gets settled. Listen and offer support and encouragement when your child expresses her worries, and give her time to get comfortable with the routine of a new school year. Shawna Munro works at the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre, a facility of Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba that offers parenting information and support. 255 Ninth St., Brandon 726-6280 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Two RCMP officers jumped from their police truck as fugitives in a stolen truck sped toward them, seemingly going to ram them. The truck turned just before impact. Only a few metres prior to hitting the police truck, the vehicle entered the water-filled ditch and became stuck, Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said in court as he detailed a police chase that ended with a crash and two suspects being arrested at gunpoint. Further details of Tuesdays chase were shared in Brandon provincial court as one of the accused applied for bail. Lonstrup said it was about 3:30 p.m. when a constable on traffic duty switched on emergency lights and pulled over a black Ford F-150 pickup truck. The truck had been going 153 km/h in a zone along the Trans-Canada Highway near Virden where the speed limit changed from 100 km/h to 110 km/h. Before the constable could reach the truck, it sped off. A check of its British Columbia licence plate showed that the truck had been stolen in Alberta the previous day. As the officer followed, the truck crossed into the westbound lane and headed east, into heavy oncoming traffic. Cars had to switch lanes or pull over onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. The driver of the truck appeared to be swerving toward other vehicles on purpose. The office believed the driver was trying to scare him into backing off. The officer did, in fact, back off and pull onto the shoulder. He left his emergency lights on to alert other oncoming vehicles. Lonstrup said the truck continued in the wrong lane for about 12 kilometres. West of Oak Lake, the pursuing constable saw the truck turn down a dead end and then go through a ditch before continuing east in the westbound lanes. The officer lost the truck, but then found it again on a gravel road. Meanwhile, two other officers were trying to head off the truck when they found themselves driving toward it. The officers couldnt turn their truck around due to the water-filled ditches and the suspect truck wasnt slowing down as it headed for them. The officers jumped out of their truck and tried to take cover as the pickup kept coming at about 100 km/h. At the last second, the suspects truck veered and ended up in the water-filled ditch where it got stuck. Officers arrested the two men who were in the truck at gunpoint. A loaded .357 Magnum revolver was found in a satchel on the front passenger side of the vehicle, Lonstrup said. RCMP previously noted that both Alberta men were wanted on warrants. Joseph George Kardelis (accused of being the passenger) and Jake Terry Denis Pinder (believed to have been the driver) face numerous charges that include flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of stolen property and weapon offences. Kardelis was denied bail during Thursdays bail hearing and Pinder remains in custody. Both men have court dates next month. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Twitter: @IanHitchen Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Excitement is building for the Summer Lights Music Festival, which will take place in two weeks under the trees on the Keystone Centre grounds. Event headliners at the family-friendly festival hail from across Canada and include Juno Award-winning West Coast indie group Said The Whale, veteran East Coast rocker Joel Plaskett and Ontario-based roots artist Terra Lightfoot. Other notable acts include Crooked Brothers, Attica Riots, Sol James, Begonia and Slow Leaves, as well as numerous local musicians. The calibre of performers weve been able to secure for this festival will definitely turn some heads, festival director Dylan MacDonald said in a news release. With such a diverse and dynamic lineup, we are anticipating music lovers from near and far will join us in celebrating the end of summer in true Manitoba fashion by turning up the volume and enjoying the lights of summer while they are still shining bright! The festival, which takes place on Sept. 10 from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., was born from the efforts of the citys community development department staff who have been offering the Summer Lights Concert Series in Princess Park since 2013. Free on-site camping is available on the Keystone Centre grounds, which will be licensed for alcohol sales. On-site food and refreshment vendors will also be available, along with a free pancake breakfast for all campers, volunteers and artists on the morning of Sept. 11. A free grant-writing workshop for local musicians will also be held prior to the festivals start on the morning of Sept. 10. Those interested in signing up for the workshop are asked to register in advance by sending an email to d.macdonald@brandon.ca. Tickets can be purchased in advance either online at summerlightsmusicfestival.com or at the following businesses: Fraser Sneath Coffee or Ted Good Music (Brandon), Poor Michaels Emporium (Onanole), Turtle Mountain Physio (Boissevain), Into the Music or Little Sister Coffee Maker (Winnipeg). Tickets are also available at the gate on the day of the festival. Tickets are $20 for adults, and $15 for students and minors. The Brandon Sun Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. RM OF CORNWALLIS Long-standing plans to construct a healing lodge on the old site of the Brandon Indian Residential School are progressing into uncharted territory, but are also facing new challenges emerging from the painful history of the land pegged for revival. The plan, backed by Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, is to build a healing lodge with approximately 30 beds on the property located on the north hill of the Assiniboine River Valley just west of Brandon. Della Mansoff, an administrator at the Dakota Oyate Lodge, has been working on the project since 2004. Mansoff said the concept first started gaining traction in 1984, but has faced several setbacks that forced the idea back on the shelf. This time, we will get the project completed, she said on Friday. Mansoff, the executive director of Sioux Valleys health centre, Margaret Roscelli, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vince Tacan and several elders have formed a working group to help advance the project. On Friday, several dozen gathered under tents at the residential school site for a meeting similar to one held this time last year. Tacan called the day a chance to consult with survivors of residential schools and also to present their ideas to the larger Westman community. Were looking at putting our people in a position where they can carry on and get on with their life, he said. We have looked at best practices, but (the healing lodge) will follow traditional native culture. It will not follow the 21-day basic step program that is offered in other facilities. It will be an open program, offered to meet the needs of the people that are coming to use it, Mansoff added. The site will have a treatment facility with a cultural space, a museum for residential school survivors and stables for horse therapy, which is common in similar facilities in Saskatchewan but not offered in Manitoba, Mansoff said. Currently, those from southwestern Manitoba seeking treatment for addiction must go to Winnipeg or out of province. Before any construction can begin, decisions must be made about a series of graves of aboriginal children many unmarked and undocumented discovered by Katherine Nichols, a Brandonite who will start a PhD in anthropology at Simon Fraser University in B.C. this fall. Nichols said students came from at least 13 Manitoba communities to the Brandon residential school. The process of identifying those remains and repatriating them to their homes will be costly, said Roscelli, herself a survivor of a residential school. We feel that the government is responsible for the costs of doing those things. Wed look at getting them on board to assist us in doing anything that would require funding because originally, they are the ones that established the schools with the churches around them, she said. How exactly that process should happen will be decided on by the survivors of the school, Roscelli said. Once thats done, weve been working at developing a rough draft blueprint (for the healing centre). Tacans plan is to apply for First Nation Urban Development Areas status for the land, which is owned by Sioux Valley, and for the Sioux Valley High School property in Brandon. Sioux Valley is the only Prairie First Nation that has a self-governance agreement, which means the road to an urban reserve status may be easier to travel down than other bands One of the things thats going to be beneficial to us is that were going to be competitive were going to offer a better salary for teachers and well be able to retain them. Right now, we often lose teachers to the nearby schools, or whoever has the money, he said. The FNUDA process has become popular across the Prairies as a way of stimulating economic activity, but if Tacan is successful, he believes this will be the first time itll be used for a healing centre. Arthur-Virden Progressive Conservative MLA Doyle Piwniuk, who represents the area that includes Sioux Valley, sat in on the Friday meeting on behalf of Eileen Clarke, Manitobas minister of indigenous and municipal relations. He said he has been impressed with other projects that Sioux Valley has been working on. Piwniuk said the province will be looking for a business plan proving the feasibility of the healing lodge, and encouraged the private sector to join efforts. It should be a partnership when it comes to what the community really needs and how we can integrate the indigenous peoples business plan into the mainstream, he said. (We have to make sure) that anything they go to work towards, its going to be viable, its going to be self-sustaining because no one wants to get into business because its losing money, right? You want to make sure that its going to create money, create jobs, create economic development. Tacan said business partnerships would likely come only after the healing centre is up and running. It will be a treatment centre and it will be funded by different partners. We cant run something without charging a fee for service. If theres other opportunities there, then maybe thats something well look at but for now were focused on getting the treatment centre, he said. Mansoff said she hopes the surrounding community gets on board and embraces the initiative Sioux Valley has shown with the project. It is something that is very much needed. We cant look backwards and say we dont want anything different in our city we want to be here to enhance the lives of First Nations people. What the City of Brandon needs to understand is that this is to be an addition to the city, this is going to heal people, help people turn their lives around and enrich their lives. Twitter: @tombatemann Already have an account? Log in here 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! Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/08/2016 (2255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It took less than a year but Brian Pallister may already be facing his Kobayashi Maru. Admittedly, this is likely to be the first time anyone of my craft has endeavoured to tie the Manitoba premier with the fictional world of Star Trek, but for a moment or two please humour me. There is a plot line in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, starring Canadian William Shatner, in which trainees for command had to save a fictitious ship known as the Kobayashi Maru. The ship put the trainee against what was considered to be the unwinnable scenario. There were two choices given save the other ship while almost certainly leading to the destruction of their own or leave the other ship and ensure their own safety, but move on in the knowledge the Kobayashi Maru would ultimately meet its demise. All that science fiction aside, Premier Brian Pallister may have already met his unwinnable scenario in northern Manitoba. News broke this week that Tolko Industries, a logging company operating out of The Pas would be closing its doors by the end of the year. The closure was the second major blow to areas north of the 53rd parallel and effectively put close to 10 per cent of the communitys workforce on notice they would be out of a job. Tolko was the big fish in The Pas, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone in the community who didnt work for or know someone who worked for the mill. It was one of the top-paying employers in the region, and much like the company store of yesteryear had a tie to almost every aspect of business and life in the community. Taking it from bad to worse, the Tolko announcement comes on the heels of Omnitrax choosing to pull up stakes in Churchill, and must have felt like the second glancing blow to the premier in a very short time frame. Manitobas north has long been a challenge for governments of both stripes. And in facing that challenge, Pallister is not alone. This time, though, he has differed from his predecessors. The premier thus far has refused to finance private business in a bid to stabilize the region. The NDP had long been propping up fortunes in Manitobas north. This included a bailout for the mill operations in The Pas a number of years ago under former premier Gary Doer. Although deemed necessary at the time to create some form of stability, the footing that business in the north stood on was still quite precarious, and on Monday that footing gave way. It is a painful reality of life in the north. Companies like Tolko and Omnitrax are hard-pressed to make a go of it when they are forced to manage all the increased costs of doing business in the region. Add this to the fact that so much of the local economy is tied to a single business and you run into a myriad of problems should that business call it quits. As much as the premier is asking companies to make their own decisions about viability of life in the north, he must have a plan for the people. Refusing to bail out Omnitrax or falsely stabilizing Tolko is the right decision in the long run, but does little in making those affected by the closure feel any more comfortable in their governments ability to assist in their time of need. The premier need not swoop in like his predecessors did with boatloads of cash. He may at the very least, though, need to hasten his plan for achieving viability in Manitobas north. Plans like the Progressive Conservatives Yes! North initiative need to become a reality sooner rather than later. And the premier needs to have boots on the ground. The longer Pallister and company delay going up north to listen to the needs of the residents, the further isolated they will feel in believing their government actually cares for their well being. Clearly, the premier and his new government hoped the north would hold out a while longer, thus allowing them to either plan, delay or shelve their promise to stabilize the area. As of Monday, though, that ship sailed. Furthermore without cabinet representation in the north, this government appears disconnected with what is happening there. The optics of doing nothing is detrimental to the PC government. Although the votes may not exist there to make or break them, the cannon fodder that other parties can glean from a delay, or lack of action will speak volumes to their fortunes in the future. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/08/2016 (2255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Like the BP oil leak that kept the Gulf of Mexico slimy for months, so too does the Clinton Foundation retain its rare ability to besmirch everything it touches. I wrote some time ago of my personal disdain for the Clintons and their equally significant disdain for ethics. This week, news of the Clinton Foundations ethical shortfalls began to arise, and we should not be surprised. Note first, however, that I would vote for Hillary Clinton a thousand times before pulling the lever once for Donald Trump. It is troubling to me, as well, that the best candidates the Republican and Democratic parties can put forward are these two. The foundation was established by former president Bill Clinton some 15 years ago. It was essentially designed as a think-tank to discuss big issues and then attempt to effect significant change around the world through its partners. According to CNN reporting, some 430 million people around the globe have been helped by the foundation. This is, by any measure, an incredible legacy. So how could the foundation be anything but a positive for our world? Well, foundations are designed to spend money to make their projects a reality. So where does the money come from? Further, are there any conflicts or quid pro quos involved? According to Reuters, in 2008 Hillary Clinton promised to provide the names of all donors. She did so when she became secretary of state. Why? Simply to avoid any potential of conflict. After all, is it too big a stretch to think a contribution to her husbands foundation would curry favour with the secretary of state? After several years of releasing donor info, the data flow stopped but the contributions didnt. For example, during the period Clinton was secretary of state, the Government of Canada gave millions to the foundation. Did this further Canadian interests? Did Clinton push hard to advance policies that aided Canada? It is impossible to say. Most importantly, and this is always the issue with the Clintons why do they continue to put themselves in situations that beggar belief? When Bill met privately with the U.S. Attorney General a week before the FBI made its report on Hillarys emails, did he attempt to sway the AG? This is the type of action the Clintons have done for years, and it seems nothing changes with these two. What judgment do the Clintons lack that they would remotely consider meeting the AG a week before the report issuance to be a good idea? No one among us would consider this to be smart. Did Hillary, as secretary of state, give preferential treatment to foundation donors? Did they receive enhanced access? We may never know, but it is fair to say that this is yet another imbroglio that will enhance the deeply flawed Trump an opportunity to rail against Clinton. This type of activity, unseemly but legal, swirls around the Clintons. The private email server, the Goldman Sachs speeches for which she received $675,000 but wont release the text to the public, the recently released emails between Secretary Clinton and the foundation well, it all adds to the sliminess of the Clintons. Luckily for Clinton, her opponents flaws make her almost Pollyanna-ish by comparison. Hillary will survive this mess and thrive. She will, most likely, be the next president. It is my sincere hope she learns there is a difference between legal and right. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 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. 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 MaryAnn 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. Winnipeg Free Press Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. William Shakespeares Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene 2 After a year on the sidelines, having quietly stepped into the shadows of Interim Leader Rona Ambrose, former Conservative leader and long serving prime minister Stephen Harper bid adieu to politics on Friday. He stepped down in October as the leader of the Conservatives, after his electoral defeat at the hands of the Liberals under Justin Trudeau. And yesterday, he left his elected office as a member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Heritage. It was a bittersweet goodbye for Harper, who spent the better part of a decade making decisions as leader of our nation. In that decade in power, he was both respected and celebrated by his peers as a strong national leader, and vilified by his political enemies as an iron-fisted dictator who governed with an extremist right-wing bent. Much of that, of course, depends upon which side of the political spectrum you tend to sympathize with. As with any political legacy, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper was either the man who united the two warring factions of the Canadian political right, or the man who undermined moderate conservative politics and policies in this country. He was the prime minister who safely navigated Canada through the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009 but also the head of a government that ballooned Canadas national debt by $150 billion in the process. The Harper government passed reams of legislation that was meant to harden the judicial system against those convicted of criminal offences and to lift up and sympathize with victims of heinous crimes, only to see law after law after law torn asunder by the Supreme Court. After a century of aboriginal abuse at the hands of church and state, it was Harper who stood up in the House of Commons to offer an apology to First Nations people on behalf of the Government of Canada for the residential school system. But his government failed to fully co-operate with the reconciliation process, when it refused to hand over files relating to abuse at the St. Anne Indian Residential School an institution that used an electric chair to torture students according to a 2015 report by APTN National News. He angered aboriginal groups with what they saw as a top-down management style on everything from First Nation education to demands that chiefs and councils post their salaries. Not coincidentally, he became the focal point of the anger contained within the rise of the Idle No More movement and as a result there was a noticeable uptick in the number of aboriginal voters who participated in Octobers federal election. But, as we recently opined on this page, his government did create a mechanism that allowed First Nations such as Birdtail Sioux to more easily get band support to lease reserve land for business development, which resulted in a recent positive vote for Birdtail Chief Ken Chalmers in his bid to install a rail spur on that reserve. Former media baron Conrad Black called the prime ministers foreign policy principled and rigorous, alluding to the Harper governments staunch support of Israel and Israeli security at the expense of the Palestinians, and his governments sabre rattling over Vladimir Putins annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. But Lord Black also pilloried Mr. Harper over his very un-Canadian decision to self-award his government the right to expel dual citizens convicted of terrorist acts, not to mention the bizarre decision by Harpers campaign team to double down on calls for Muslim women to be banned from wearing a niqab at citizenship ceremonies, and create a snitch line for barbaric cultural practices. Perhaps these last problematic actions by the Harper government born out of desperation no doubt at seeing the rise of the Liberal party in opinion polls during the campaign have left a very bitter aftertaste for many diehard Conservatives, who were hoping for yet another Conservative majority, or even minority, government. But it must be said that Harper was a masterful politician, who played his enemies against each other and ran his cabinet and caucus like an expertly conducted orchestra until it finally went completely off key last year. Its questionable whether anyone else might have been able to keep a socially conservative government in power for so long in a country such as Canada. It is a feat that any future Conservative government should one come along in the years ahead can only dream of matching. Harpers style as abrupt and as peevish as it was was often overshadowed by his substance as a leader. Yet, after 10 years it was his style that people truly disliked, and it was a seeming lack of empathy that ultimately sunk the master tacticians re-election hopes. The same cannot be said, at least thus far, for the current prime minister, who has displayed a definite flair for his sunny style, and emotional intelligence. While the sunny tone is certainly a refreshing change from the Harper years, we suggest Mr. Trudeau could learn a few things from his predecessor. Sunny ways will only go so far. At some point, he has to actually show some ability to govern. Perhaps that will be Harpers actual legacy a roadmap to power for the Opposition Tories now left to pick up the pieces and fight another day. A quantity of firearms has been seized in Dublin during an operation by the Gardai Special Crime Task-Force on Drugs and Organised Crime. Gardai say a search was carried out yesterday evening in the Botanic Avenue area of the city as part of an ongoing investigation targeting serious criminal activity in the Dublin region. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said his department is providing ongoing consular assistance to Pat Hickey through the Irish Embassy and Consulate in Brazil. However Charlie Flanagan stressed that his department cannot provide legal advice or interfere in the Brazilian judicial process. The Hickey family released a statement through their solicitor expressing their concern about Pat Hickeys arrest and detention at a high security jail in Brazil without any charges being brought or any opportunity for bail. They called on the Irish government to urgently intervene in the handling of his case. They have sought urgent meetings with the Ministers for Sport and Foreign Affairs to discuss these issues, along with the circumstances of his arrest and the disclosure of evidence. The Foreign Affairs Minister responded - saying he has agreed to meet with the Hickey family and arrangements will be made over the coming days. However, Minister Flanagan stressed the Department cannot provide legal advice or interfere in any way in the judicial processes in another country. It comes as the Olympic Council releases the terms of reference for its own inquiry. It has appointed Grant Thornton to examine its handling of tickets for the Olympic games in Rio. Athletes will be asked for submissions and the findings will be given to Justice Carroll Moran who is running the government inquiry. The review is due to conclude by Monday October 10. Talks between the US and Russia have failed to find an agreement to end the violence in Syria. US Secretary of State John Kerry (pictured) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spent nine hours discussing the situation but they could not reach a deal. Update 2.45pm: A motorcyclist in their 50s has been taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs. Earlier: Emergency services have declared a major incident after a lorry hit a motorway bridge, causing it to collapse on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Images on social media show the footbridge on the carriageway of the M20 between junctions three and four following the incident, and badly damaged vehicles. Kent Police said one person had been hurt but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The M20 is the main route to the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover for travel to France and the rest of the Continent. A Kent Police spokesman said: "It is believed a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which has collapsed on to the carriageway below. "Officers are in attendance along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service. Still half the bridge hanging. I hope driver of crushed Lorry on other side is ok #pray #M20 #motorway pic.twitter.com/dRaRuYzMMN Kalpana Fitzpatrick (@KalpanaFitz) August 27, 2016 "No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life-threatening at this time. "Police are treating this as a major incident and the M20 has been closed in both directions to allow this incident to be dealt with. Traffic will be heavier than usual." An estimated 13 million drivers are expected to take to the road for a holiday or an outing between Friday and Monday, according to the AA. The busiest single day for motorists embarking on leisure journeys is expected to be Saturday, when 10 million drivers have been predicted to be getting behind the wheel. Don't Miss the Latest News Subscribing is the best way to get our best stories immediately. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are said to have agreed to activate the agreement on financing and providing... Ukraines external financing needs will be around $3 billion a month through 2023 in a best-case scenario, but could... DUBAI: A fire at Irans Evin prison late on Saturday killed four detainees and injured 61, state media reported, as... There's a period in every toddler's life when, no matter how cute they are, they become Satan. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends' kids, but on this day my friend's eldest was rough-housing his little sibling, eventually pushing him over and making him cry. "Say sorry!" we said, pulling them off each other. For ages, the elder boy refused. Then he relented, fake-smiled and said in a spooky, sing-song voice dripping with contempt, "Sorryyyy." Then he skipped away happily, like Damien leaving a murder scene in The Omen. "Well, that was chilling," I said as we watched him leave. Still, most of us aren't gracious about apologising as adults, either. We faux-apologise for minor shit "Sorry for being five minutes late"; "Sorry, my house is a mess" but can't apologise for stuff that matters: not seeing our parents enough, not being better partners, hurting friends carelessly. And when we do, our apologies are mangled, delivered through gritted teeth: "I'm sorry you feel that way." In the end, adults are just kids but better resourced. Benjamin Law. Credit:James Brickwood Sometimes, though, you gotta suck it up. Recently, I tweeted about how appalling it was that a prominent female journalist had been copping misogynistic abuse online. By pointing out the bloody obvious, I got a lot of righteous likes and re-tweets, and felt nice about being a Good Feminist Bloke. But soon a conservative newspaper columnist shot back, posting a screenshot of something I'd tweeted in 2011 about her female colleague, describing her as a "c from hell" for one of her columns. My first thoughts were deeply uncharitable. "Well, I frankly still stand by that assessment!" (I really couldn't.) "But Australia is a country where the c-word is an expression of affection!" (Yeah, not in this case, Ben.) And finally, "Well, she can handle it." (Why should she have to?) I was a dreadful hypocrite. Sure, it was a tweet from five years ago, but I'm with Joan Didion when she wrote: "We are well-advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not." The NSW government has launched an appeal against a decision that ruled Sydney city strip clubs and live music venues would be exempt from the state's lockout laws. The court decision on Thursday followed a legal challenge brought by the Smoking Panda Bar at the Coronation Hotel in the CBD. It found that the Secretary of the Department of Justice did not have the right to declare a city venue subject to the lockout laws, after the Smoking Panda Bar's exemption from the lockout laws was revoked. A spokesman for Liquor & Gaming NSW said the government had referred the decision to the Callinan Review of the lockout laws for consideration. Protesters have approached parents and prospective students at the University of Sydney Open Day, holding mattresses that read "welcome to the hunting grounds," in a demonstration highlighting sexual assault at the university. Students from the university's Women's Collective, survivors of campus sexual assault and their supporters staged the protest on Saturday morning to bring attention "to the danger of sexual assault on campus." Students from the university's Women's Collective, survivors of campus sexual assault and their supporters. Credit:University of Sydney Women's Collective "We are protesting outside the information session for prospective students and parents, to bring attention to the danger of sexual assault on campus. We will continue to shine light on this issue until the university meets the demands outlined in our open letter," the University of Sydney Women's Collective wrote on Facebook. "University management have had decades to take action on this issue, but have continually delayed doing so. The university's silence on this issue condones a rape culture that allows for student fear, trauma and unrest to persist." A Queensland psychologist who released 2000-pages of documents to The Guardian, known as the Nauru files, has called for a royal commission into Australia's "abuse of power" in sending asylum seekers to offshore detention centres. Paul Stevenson OAM has treated field trauma for the past 25 years and worked at Manus Island and Nauru offshore detention centres on 16 occasions between 2014 and 2015. Paul Stevenson OAM speaking at the 'Bring Them Here' refugee rights rally. Credit:Tammy Law During that time he managed to get a copy of every incident report pertaining to the actions of Wilson security, Transfield services and Save the Children, which he released to The Guardian earlier this year. At a #BringThemHere refugee rights rally in Brisbane on Saturday Mr Stevenson, also the president of the Australian Democrats Queensland branch, called for a royal commission into Australia's involvement in the offshore detention centres, which he said was "overdue". The 12-year-old boy reported missing from Arundel on Friday morning was found safe and well by police on Sunday afternoon. EARLIER Police have found a missing 12-year-old Arundel boy safe and well on Sunday afternoon. Credit:Glenn Hunt Police are asking for help to locate a 12-year-old boy who was last seen in Arundel on Friday morning. The boy was last seen about 11.30am leaving an address on Ingles Circuit and police are concerned for his welfare due to his age and because he suffers from a medical condition. Always be willing to try something unique. That was the advice the Beatles producer Sir George Martin gave to QUT professor Andy Arthurs during his sound engineer training at AIR studios in London. Museum of Colliding Dimensions, an interactive game, will be available to play on Sunday. Credit:QUT It is also the running theme for QUT's CreateX festival of creativity and technology this Sunday. CreateX creative director Professor Arthurs has had an amazing career in music as an engineer and producer and has worked alongside some of the greats, including Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens, Bryan Ferry, and Harry Nilsson to name a few, but he said his time spent training with Sir George Martin was one of the most memorable. The granddaughter of slain Adelaide man Robert Whitwell was arrested on Friday night in Brisbane, along with her friend, over the elderly man's murder. The 19-year-old relative and her 21-year-old friend, both from Redbank Plains, are expected to be charged with the murder of 81-year-old Robert Whitwell. The women will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday where South Australia police will seek their extradition to Adelaide. The 81-year-old was found dead at his Craigmore home on August 8 after neighbours called police. A man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in Port Melbourne on Sunday. Emergency services were called to an apartment complex in Nott Street about 2.30am after reports of a stabbing. A man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed. Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said a 39-year-old man has been taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries. "We are yet to determine how he received his injuries," she said. A Perth mum has taken to social media to expose reports of a gay sex hotspot at a Joondalup Shopping Centre. Rebecca Britten wrote a lengthy post on her Facebook site describing her shock and disgust at posts which indicate there are regular gay sex sessions being organised in Lakeside Joondalup's public toilets. Rebecca Britten expressed her shock over what appears to be a gay sex hotspot at Lakeside Joondalup. Credit:Facebook The mother-of-three said she was Googling the shopping centre when she came across an online forum with hundreds of comments regarding gay sex in the toilets. Many of the posts are extremely graphic and seem to indicate that men and boys have been meeting up for gay sex on an every-day basis. New Delhi: It's the monsoon season in India and the moist air is thick with tropical diseases dengue, malaria, typhoid, and chikungunya (which is as vicious as it sounds). Mohan Gupta, who drives an auto-rickshaw, got worried when he saw boils erupting on his four-year-old daughter Priya's face. He has brought her to the nearest clinic to home, in Munirka, south Delhi, where Dr Shoebul Haque allays his fears. "It's the humidity, it's caused folliculitis, a skin infection," Dr Haque tells him. Dr Shoebul Haque checks the medical records of Mohan Gupta's daughter Priya on a tablet device. Credit:Amrit Dhillon This is Mr Gupta's third visit to the clinic, part of a revolution being attempted by the New Delhi government to take good, free, medical care to the doorsteps of the poor. Before the "mohalla clinic" (mohalla means neighbourhood or community) opened, Mr Gupta had two choices. Go to a private doctor, pay a hefty fee and pay for the medicines. "The other option was to go to Safdarjung (a government hospital) which is always so overcrowded you can't even walk because people are sleeping in the corridors. It used to be a 5 to 7-hour ordeal," he says. He used to lose a day's wages whenever this happened, even when the ailment was minor, such as the flu or diarrhoea. 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. Burnham-On-Sea residents are being invited to honour unsung young heroes of the local community by nominating them for the first ever British Citizen Youth Awards (BCYA). BCYA co-founder Mike Faulkner is calling for Burnham-On-Sea.com readers to help them find under-16s from across the area who have positively impacted the community, helped a local charity or undertaken exceptional activities in support of others. He added: There is no age limit for selfless acts of kindness which is why were launching an award specially designed to honour under-16s. Selfless people are the key to making our society and communities the special places that they are, and this includes many unsung heroes who are often responsible for amazing things but dont receive the praise they are due. Wed like to encourage people to help us give our amazing youngsters the credit they deserve. If you know a young person under the age of 16 who deserves to be recognised for their commitment to a good cause, then put them forward. Tell us who they are. We need the publics help to find our young hidden heroes. The awards, in association with Specsavers, have attracted attention from big name supporters and patrons and hope to shine a light on some of the nations brightest stars of the future. Rama Venkat, store director at Specsavers Burnham, said: Were delighted to be getting behind this award and would encourage our customers to nominate a friend or relative who has selflessly done something for the benefit of others. Our young people do so much and they deserve to be celebrated. Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, says: The society we live in tomorrow will be shaped by the children of today, which is why championing amazing young role models is so very important. The young people that become the recipients of the first British Citizen Youth Awards will, I am sure, inspire other youngsters to emulate their good work and embody the spirit of transparency, integrity, determination and achievement that define these awards. Whatever it is that they have done to make a significant impact on society, their community, a charity or other good cause, it will have been with a selflessness and commitment that deserves to be publically acknowledged. These unsung heroes are the rising stars of the future let us shine a light on them and celebrate! Whether its someone special who selflessly supports a relative or friend, an inspiring individual who has overcome the odds to make a difference to other peoples lives or a community crusader who goes above and beyond for a good cause, nominations will be accepted until 19th September 2016. Public nominations for BCYA will close on 16 September 2016 before being reviewed by the BCYA committee. A list of this years recipients will be published in October 2016 ahead of a private ceremony where the selected nominees will be presented with BCYA titles and medals at The Palace of Westminster on 18 October 2016. The British Citizen Youth Awards are being held in association with Specsavers and creative communications group Beattie who will each have representatives at the awards ceremony. For more information, please visit Specsavers at 3 High Street in Burnham-On-Sea, TA8 1NX, call 01278 765 460 or click here. Pictured: Previous award winner Emily Palmer with Dame Mary Perkins, Patron of BCA, Co-Founder of Specsavers Within days of two top industrialists joining the board, the Tata Group announced the appointment of Amit Chandra, managing director of Bain Capital, on the board as a non-executive director with effect from Friday. Japanese imaging and optical products company is eyeing sales of Rs 3,000 crore in India by 2019. The company clocked Rs 2,158 crore sales in 2015 and aims to increase this by 10 per cent every year. Imagine if you have a choice to replace the damaged brake-pad of your car for one-third the price if you went for a brand other than your original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Many car owners whose vehicles are out of warranty might opt for a different brand provided the spares were authentic. It is this understanding that triggered First Choice Services, part of the Group's after-market division, to come up with MFC branded spares for fast moving auto parts. Launched about five to six months back, MFC branded spares already accounts for nearly 10 per cent of First Choice Services (MFCS) turnover and YVS Vijaykumar, chief executive officer of MFCS claimed it can grow up to 30-40 per cent of MFCS turnover over the next few years. MFCS posted a turnover of around Rs 60 crore in 2015-16, and is eying a topline of Rs 100 crore by the end of the current fiscal. On a longer horizon, the wholly owned subsidiary of the $16.9 billion Mahindra Group, is targeting a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore by 2020-21. Vijaykumar explained, We have already tied up with eight vendors for the spares and currently have around 23 distributors which we plan to take up to 100 by the end of the fiscal. We maintain a 30-day inventory for the MFC branded spares and whenever needed we supply from our warehouses. The company has been cautious to start the spares business with fast moving parts like wiper blades, brake pads, suspension parts, clutches etc. which need replacements at regular intervals. MFCS has also recently launched a lubricant oil under the brand Proleum. The company is planning to tie up with leading automotive component makers for tie ups for IPR protected parts. We are in talks with majors like Anand Group and Bosch Group for tie ups. These could either be co-branded parts or private labels. At the same time, we are also working on how to create special schemes for sale of spares through our channels, Vijaykumar said. The company as such is in the process of expanding its network. It currently has 160 outlets and has another 300 outlets in the pipeline that are expected to get operational by fiscal end. As far as customer reaction to MFC branded parts go, dealers say the divide is around 50:50, that is around 50 per cent of customers who come for servicing at the MFCS outlets opt for the MFC branded spares. A Vadodara based dealer said that since the cost of MFC branded spares is around 60 per cent lesser compared to the parts of the original brand, many customers opt for MFC branded parts. "In case of premium or luxury brands, the demand for MFC parts is very less. These customers prefer to stick to their original brand," the dealer said. 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. The green activists who stalled the Niyamgiri mining project, choking bauxite supply to Vedantas Lanjigarh alumina refinery are peeved with Odisha governments recent move to make available bauxite to the company from an alternate mine in Kodingamali, Koraput district. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Saturday sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Mufti, who called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and discussed the situation in the Kashmir Valley, told reporters that he was very concerned about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that the state comes out of the present turmoil. "The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil," she told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Modi. The US embassy has denied the allegation levelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Virendra Singh Mast that he was asked by embassy officials to remove his 'pagdi' or headgear for the visa documentation. "The United States does not discriminate on the basis of religion nor do we forbid religious dress," the embassy said in a statement. "During the visa application process the United States Embassy in New Delhi does not ask individuals to remove turbans or other religious dress. Nor do we ask individuals to remove their turbans for photos submitted in the visa application process," it added. Upset at being asked to remove his pagdi, Mast, turned down the visa by the US Embassy and returned to his constituency Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh. 'Mast', a well known agriculturist by profession who is always seen in a traditional saffron pagdi, was invited by the US Embassy to visit the country and give a lecture on Indian agriculture techniques. However, the MP accused the embassy of telling a lie over the issue. "I was certainly asked to remove my 'pagdi'. They are lying," Mast told IANS. The embassy said that each year the US mission in India issues over a million visas for India citizens of all religions and ethnic groups to visit, work in, or study in the US and that the number has been increasing every year. Congress leader Manish Tewari on Saturday hailed as "progressive" decision of the Bombay High Court allowing women into even as he pitched for declaring the practice of triple talaq as "illegal". "Bombay High court decision allowing women into#HajiAli progressive. If trustees have any sense would not impugn it. Triple Talaq must also go!", the former Union Minister said on Twitter. His plea came a day after the High Court in a significant judgement lifted the ban imposed on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of in Mumbai, saying it contravenes the fundamental rights of a person. The court has, however, stayed its order for six weeks following a plea by Trust, which wants to challenge it in the Supreme Court. "The ban imposed on women from entering the Haji Ali Dargah is contrary to Articles 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of India. Women should be permitted to enter the Dargah on par with men," a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and Revati Mohite Dere has said. Under the said Articles, a person is guaranteed equality before law and has the fundamental right to practice any religion he or she wants. They prohibit discrimination on grounds of religion, gender and so on, and provide freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. Tewari's tweet also came a day after the Supreme Court took on board a petition by a West Bengal-based Muslim woman to declare the practices of "talaq-e-bidat" (triple talaq), "nikah halala" and polygamy under the Muslim personal laws illegal and unconstitutional. Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Saturday declined to make adverse comment against the Modi government over the and said his party does not believe in playing politics on sensitive matters. "Congress party does not do politics on such matters. It is a very sensitive matter," Singh said, responding to a question by a journalist on the leak. "The Ministry of Defence and the government of India must hold a high-level inquiry and find out the culprit behind the leak. Information about such an important submarine has come out," the AICC general secretary said. "I cannot make a statement where the issue of security is concerned at a press conference when I am not really aware of the facts," he said when journalists continued to ask questions on the issue. Singh's stand was in contrast to Congress' official position on the issue. When media reports about the leak surfaced, the main Opposition party termed the disclosure as "scandalous" and accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of launching an "operation cover-up". Media reports suggested that documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy have been leaked. The draft surrogacy Bill, cleared by the Cabinet earlier this week, has drawn criticism from several quarters, including doctors and industry. Business Standard spoke with Dr Manisha Singh, head of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and reproductive medicine at Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, who said the only good point about the is that it bars foreigners from hiring surrogates in India. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister (CM) on Saturday sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Mufti, who called on PM Narendra Modi and discussed the situation in the Kashmir Valley, told reporters that he was very concerned about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that the state comes out of the present turmoil. Jammu and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today presented a "three-pronged action plan" that included a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the Valley rocked by turmoil that has left 68 people dead. After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was "very concerned" about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that peace can return to the Valley. Appealing to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, she said, "please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations." The Chief Minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations or army camps. "The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil," she said. Mehbooba, according to a state government release, outlined a "three-pronged action plan" before the Prime Minister for the resolution of the problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. However, the release did not spell any details but sources in the know said the plan includes facilitating visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley later next week, a possible change in Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the state. Stressing the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state, Mehbooba called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by the then NDA Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005. "Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi," she said. The Chief Minister said the intra and inter-state Confidence Building Measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and the region. "We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve," she said and added that the present Prime Minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee. Expressing anguish over the continued violence and killings, Mehbooba sought involvement of all the stakeholders for resolution of the problems facing J and K and improving the situation in the state. She said the focus of the State government, Government of India and all other parties in the country is to reach out to the majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir who want peaceful solution of the problem. "Every political party wants the bloodshed in Kashmir to end and a political process to begin, sooner the better," she said and added that all the parties, cutting across the divide, including the Hurriyat leaders shall have to come forward and help in saving innocent lives as also engage in a meaningful dialogue process for the peaceful resolution of the problems. On the All Party delegation, she said, "I hope they will meet different shades of political opinion to elicit their views on how to find a way out of the present imbroglio." Urging Pakistan to reciprocate with open mind and in good faith to the peace initiatives for the permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue, she said unfortunately Islamabad lost out on a "golden opportunity for reconciliation when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi landed in Lahore December last and when Home Minister, Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recently for the SAARC ministerial meeting. "Pakistan also has to take a step forward in the interest of peace and stability in the region," she said. "Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan was fuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our Home Minister Rajnath Singhji went to Lahore, but again, unfortunately, Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend the courtesy that needs to be given to a guest," she said. She also advised Islamabad to take a leaf out if its former President Pervez Musharraf's Kashmir policy who had opined that the UN resolution on Kashmir had no space in the present world. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-third majority. "If things don't happen during his tenure, it won't happen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step of going there, today again says we need to talk to our own people, because people are dying," she said. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPA did," she said. Maintaining that the aspirations and the interests of people of the state are supreme for her government, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir have been living a life of pain, suffering and uncertainty and they yearn for peaceful resolution of the problems confronting the state. Underlining the fact that she has just been in power for the last two months, she appealed to the people to help her resolve the crisis. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, but please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations," she said. Calling for greater focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidence-building measures, Mehbooba said, "We should not mislead ourselves about brushing the issue under the carpet as was done on earlier occasions like in 2008 and 2010. "The country's political leadership must commit itself to address all the dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region." She said that she had appealed to the prime minister to involve all shades of political opinion in meaningful deliberations for realistic and just resolution of the problem. Noting that not enough has been done to implement the 'Agenda of Alliance' between her party PDP and BJP, Mehbooba said Modi reiterated his commitment that the political, economic and developmental initiatives enumerated in the agenda will be implemented with sincerity of purpose. Asked about talks with Hurriyat, she said a dialogue should be held with all those who want talks. But "those who are instigating the people for carrying out attacks on camps and police stations are not interested in talks," she said. She also appealed to the separatist leaders to come and help her government in breaking "this cycle of violence" in the state. This was the first meeting Mehbooba had with the prime minister after the violence broke out in the Valley on July 8. So far 68 people have died in the protests that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday squarely blamed Pakistan and separatists for fuelling the ongoing trouble in the Valley that has been seething with public anger and violent anti-government protests for the past 50 days. Mehbooba was on a whirlwind visit to Delhi for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the situation in where at least 71 people have been killed since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The Jammu and Chief Minister said she exchanged views with the Prime Minister on finding a way out of the "Kashmir imbroglio". "The Prime Minister is very concerned and is as hurt as we are with the deaths in Kashmir," she said and blamed Pakistan for inciting the violence and provoking youth to attack security forces and police stations. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it should stop provoking (Kashmiris) to attack police stations," she said. This is for the first time that Mehbooba has directly blamed Islamabad for causing trouble in Kashmir. Previously when in opposition, she was known to have a soft spot for Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists. She said Pakistan lost a "golden chance" to resolve the Kashmir problem when Modi went to Lahore in December last and later when Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad for a Saarc conference early this month. "It is time for Pakistan to respond (to India) if it wants peace in Kashmir," said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader who heads a coalition in the state with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its ruling ally. The meeting was her first with Modi since the unrest began. Saturday marked the 50th day of curfew and shutdown that have crippled normal life across Kashmir. More violence erupted in the state after the body of a man, allegedly chased by security forces during a stone-pelting protest a day ago, was fished out of the Jhelum River. Education institutions, shops, private offices and other businesses have not opened in seven weeks. Some government offices have been functioning but with thin attendance. Mehbooba said she pitched for talks "with all stakeholders" to end the current impasse. She, however, asked separatist leaders to shun violence "if they want to talk". "Talks should be held with those who want peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. For others, it is a business. Those who provoke people and cause bloodshed don't want talks," she said. The Chief Minister said "Indian democracy has enough space to accommodate the dreams of Kashmiris", adding the resolution of the Kashmir issue was only possible during Modi's government. "If during his time, the situation doesn't change then it will never change. I have hopes that when the Prime Minister says there will be a dialogue with everyone, then it would happen." Mehbooba made a passionate appeal to Kashmiri protesters for peace and sought "one chance" to solve the Kashmir issue. "These are the same youth and kids who would accompany me in my public rallies. Give me a chance I will get it (Kashmir issue) solved. It has been only two months since I have taken over the government and 'itna bada bawaal aagaya' (such a big problem erupted)," the first woman Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said, referring to the turmoil. Myanmar President on Saturday arrived at Bodh Gaya in Bihar to offer prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple amid tight security, officials said. Gaya District Magistrate Kumar Ravi said Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, will offer special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Buddhists' holiest shrine, and circumambulate the Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple is considered a life time destination for millions of Buddhists across the world. Kyaw along with his wife and a 31-member Myanmarese delegation, comprising five ministers, government officials and family members, landed at Gaya International airport, 2 km from Bodh Gaya, in a special aircraft. They were welcomed by district officials. Bodh Gaya is 110 km from Patna. A police official said Kyaw also visited the Burmese monastery in Bodh Gaya and will visit other Buddhist temples there. Kyaw, who didn't speak to the media, will leave Bodh Gaya for Agra on Sunday to visit the Taj Mahal. Kyaw, who is on a four-day visit to India, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital on Monday. Some agreements between both sides are expected to be inked. This is the first presidential visit from Myanmar after Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power in March this year. President on Saturday attended the maiden convocation ceremony of Nalanda University and launched the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the sprawling university campus here, an official said. President Mukherjee awarded degrees to 12 students of the first batch of the university. "President awarded gold medals to two students and degrees to 10 students at the first convocation ceremony of Nalanda University," an official said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Chancellor of the university George Yeo and former Chancellor Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen were also present at the ceremony. Besides, representatives of eight countries participated in the ceremony. The university is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda University stood till the 12th century, when it was razed by an invading Turkish army. According to officials, the students awarded degrees by the President had joined the two inaugural schools -The School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies - in the two-year Masters Programme. The university will be admitting a new batch of students in August and will also start the new school, the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university currently has two functional divisions: the School of Historical Studies and the School of Environment and Ecological Studies. It started its first academic session in September 2014 in a makeshift campus. The fully-residential university is set to be completed by 2020. It will eventually have seven schools for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality and social sciences. Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. It is the second most visited tourist place in the Buddhist circuit in Bihar after Bodh Gaya, considered as the birthplace of Buddhism. Rajgir (then Rajagriha) was the first capital of the Magadha kingdom and one of the favourite places of the Buddha. The university is an initiative of the Indian government and 18 East Asian countries. RJD Chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday claimed that the situation in Valley was slipping out of the Centre and the Jammu and government's control. He appealed to the people of the state to remain in the "mainstream". "Jammu and is an integral part of the country but what I see is that the (situation in) state is slipping out of control. The situation is not good there," Prasad said. In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RJD chief said, "Curfew is in force in the state for the last one month. But the situation is beyond the control of the man with 56-inch chest and the state government." Prasad was addressing the executive meeting of the Federation of PTI Employees Unions here. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir should remain with the country and stay united," he said. Attacking the Modi government for "interfering" with the judiciary vis-a-vis collegium, he said the Chief Justice of India had said the central government is not discharging its duty. Alleging that the central government wanted to change the Constitution, Lalu said he and his party would foil any such "sinister" design. The central government is also trying to capture Medical Council of India by "foisting" a RSS man there, he said, adding the BJP government was dividing the country on the basis of colour and race. "BJP is anti-backward and anti-Dalit," he alleged. The surrogacy industry in India is a thriving business. Now, the Union cabinet has approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, that proposes to ban commercial surrogacy. The Bill also bans foreigners, overseas Indians, single parents, live-in partners and homosexual couples from having children through surrogacy. Flavia Agnes, women's rights lawyer and co-founder of Majlis, a forum for women's rights discourse and legal initiatives, talks to Shakya Mitra about the impact of the Bill on the lives of women who opt for surrogacy as a means of livelihood and the future of surrogacy in India if the proposals are cleared. Reiterating his stand that Islamabad only wants peace to prevail in which has been hit by violence for more than two months, Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Saturday said that even though India had 'rejected' their offer for talks on the matter, he hoped that a dialogue between the two nations was slated soon. "We hope that peace comes soon in . We had sent a request for talks but as you know that had been rejected, but we will continue to hope that talks are held in Kashmir," Basit told the media here. Asked to react on JK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's statement directly implicating Pakistan and accusing them of instigating youth in Kashmir, Basit said that he had nothing to comment on the subject as the statement was her opinion. When said that the United Nations had virtually confirmed six addresses of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan, the diplomat swatted away the development saying that the entire matter had become stale now. Earlier on Saturday, Mufti lashed out at Pakistan and asserted that if Islamabad is really concerned about the situation in the Valley, then it will try to help in fixing the crisis rather than fanning the flames. She added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces by saying that it will solve the unrest in the Valley. Basit had earlier courted controversy saying that Pakistan will always help the people of in their freedom struggle. "Pakistan will always help and take the side of the Kashmiris till they get their right. This kind of freedom struggle sometimes takes several years or even ages to be completed... Pakistan will always help the Kashmir people, who are fighting for their freedom," he had said on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day at the High Commission here. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District on Saturday. The police constable, Khurshid Ahmed, was killed outside his house in Koil village at around 3:00 am. According to reports, he was leaving his home for duties when the militants shot him from a close range. Normal life in Kashmir Valley remained paralysed as curfew and shutdown continued for the 50th consecutive day on Saturday in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last month. All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses are closed since July 9. Earlier, authorities arrested several top separatist leaders and extended curfew to large parts of the Valley to foil a separatists' march in Srinagar. The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district. Labour ministry officials, led by Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, will meet trade unions in the second week of September to iron out differences over increasing proportion of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to be invested in the stock market. The NITI Aayog has called a high-level meeting to discuss various proposals to tap the economic and tourism potential of islands that surround India's coastline. Prime Minister (PM) is expected to chair the meeting, slated soon. The Goldman Sachs-supported plans to add 3,500 Mw every year to maintain its share of 10 per cent green capacity by 2020. The company, which has 1,130 Mw of commissioned capacity, will require $10-12 billion funding, of which equity will be around $3 billion. India plans to add 175 Gw capacity by 2020, for which 35,000 Mw will need to be added every year. Of this 35,000 Mw, we plan to take a 10 per cent share, Sumant Sinha, founder and chief executive officer, ReNew Power, told Business Standard. would require $8-10 billion in debt funding over the next five years, he said. The company is looking at funding options, including private placement of equity and an initial public offer. had last year planned an IPO but put it on hold. Around 2008, when Rajnish Dhall, an Indian Institute of Management graduate as well as a seasoned banker, started a company aimed at providing loans to those not qualified for the credit from banks, it was perceived as a high-risk venture by most. The Canadian government said it will restore the country's traditional UN peacekeeping role by providing up to 600 soldiers for missions around the world. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said that is committed to re-engaging in many multilateral peace operations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to return to peacekeeping after more than a decade of dwindling participation. had participated in more direct combat operations, such as the war in Afghanistan. The additional soldiers represent an increase over the 19 Canadian troops deployed on peacekeeping missions at the end of July, bringing the total more in line with the number of Canadian peacekeepers deployed in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Canadian government did not say where the troops will be deployed. Sajjan recently returned from Africa. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric welcomed the contribution and renewed re-engagement. The commitment comes ahead of a UN peacekeeping conference in London September 7-8. "The Canadian military has a long and illustrious history with peacekeeping. And we're happy in a sense they're re-engaging and coming back," Dujarric said. "Peacekeeping by its very nature, especially in the past few years, has become increasingly complex, increasingly complicated and we have no doubt that the contributions of Canada can help us meet those needs." Canada has a history of successful peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, the Balkans and on the Indian subcontinent. Although peacekeeping has existed for a long time, the formalised United Nations concept of neutral, multinational intervention was first proposed in the 1950s by Canada's foreign minister, Lester B. Pearson, who went on to become prime minister and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Brazil's federal police have recommended charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife in connection with the sprawling corruption probe at state-run oil giant Petrobras. Today's announcement comes on the second day of the impeachment trial against Silva's protege and successor Dilma Rousseff, who has been suspended from office since May. Federal police accuse Silva of having an apartment built for him by a constructor in the beach city of Guaruja, in Sao Paulo state. He denies being the owner. Federal prosecutors will now look into the case and decide whether Silva should stand trial. He is also accused of obstructing Petrobras scandal investigations. US Secretary of State John Kerry says he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "have achieved clarity" on a path to restore a truce in but details remain to be worked out. After meeting off-and-on with Lavrov for nearly 10 hours in Geneva yesterday, Kerry said the "vast majority" of technical discussions on steps to reinstate the ceasefire and improve humanitarian access have been completed. Kerry says experts will remain in Geneva with an eye toward finalising the unresolved steps in the coming days. Yesterday's meeting came a month after the two men met in Moscow and agreed on a number of unspecified actions to get the all-but-ignored truce back in force. However, as in Moscow, neither Kerry nor Lavrov would describe them in detail. The US Food and Drug Administration recommended on Friday that all blood donated in the United States and its territories be tested for Zika virus, as it moves to prevent transmission of the virus through the blood supply. India and Pakistan should continue a dialogue process to address their differences and issues, including Kashmir, the US has said as it asked the two nations to refrain from indulging in rhetoric. "What I would say that the extent to which both countries are seeking to continue a dialogue process that will do more to address concerns and tensions than perhaps other approaches. So I would just say that it is our hope and our counsel to (the two) continue to push forward on a process of talks between the two governments to try to address concerns," a senior State Department official said. The United States, the official noted, has also said that with respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that it believes that this is something that the two countries need to determine through the dialogue. "Nothing has changed in terms of the US position and perspective on that and we do encourage the two countries to continue the dialogue process that allows them to process areas of concerns in both countries," the official said in response to a question. In an apparent reference to the war of words between the two countries, the official cautioned against indulging in rhetoric. "I think, when you start going into a situation where there is rhetoric that flies that is rarely going to be conducive to push forward a dialogue process," the official said. "At the same time, we have understood and the concerns and frustrations that has been expressed with respect to terrorism. "We have been very firm in our statements, public and private that there has to be actions against terrorist groups wherever they may operate there cannot be a safe haven for terrorist groups and that there cannot be any distinction made. We have urged for robust cooperation to try to address those concerns," said the senior State Department official. Ahead of the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) next week in New Delhi, a senior American official said this would be an opportunity for the two countries to reflect upon the progress made under the outgoing Obama administration and chart the path forward. "The S&CD presents an opportunity to really reflect upon where we have come and also chart a path forward on where we want to go and how we want to use this relationship," a senior State Department official told a group of journalists. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will be in New Delhi for the dialogue. Leading a team of top officials from 12 different government agencies, Kerry and Pritzker would co-chair the last Strategic and Commercial Dialogue under the Obama Administration along with their Indian counterparts the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Kerry would arrive in New Delhi on August 29 from Dhaka. The Strategic and Commercial Dialogue is scheduled to take place on August 30. This would be the seventh India US Strategic Dialogue which was announced in 2009 by the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is now the Democratic presidential nominee. In 2015, the US and India added the commercial track and as such this would be the second strategic and commercial dialogue. On his fourth visit to India as Secretary of State, Kerry is also scheduled to have bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He would meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31, the official said. The Secretary would also be addressing an audience of students, academics, business leaders and journalists at the Indian Institute of Technology where he will talk about "the broad arch and trajectory" of the US-India ties and the importance of that relationship in both addressing the challenges and opportunities of the not only bilaterally, but also regionally and globally. "...A joint vision statement on the Asia Pacific that was launched during President Obama's historic Republic Day visit that the S&CD presents an opportunity to really reflect upon where we have come and also chart a path forward on where we want to go and how we want to use this relationship to as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has said to not only advance the interest of the American people and the Indian people but really to advance and benefit global issues," the official said. "That is how the Secretary is really looking at those opportunities to have those kind of conversations in his dialogues and bilateral meetings,"the senior State Department official said. "As we look at the different challenges and opportunities that we are faced with across the world, increasingly we are looking to engage with and partner with India in addressing those challenges. And India will increasingly play a consequential role in advancing peace and security across the Indian Ocean and across the globe. So US India partnership is critically important for both countries," said the State Department official. "I think, you saw in Prime Minister Modi's speech before the US Congress, one of the most compelling visions as he laid out of a growing convergence in how both our countries view both the challenges and the opportunities as imperative of cooperation to be able to address the challenges and maximise the opportunities," the official added. Noting that the two countries always had a very broad and very deep partnership to address the whole range of bilateral issues, the State Department official said what one now sees is a "very real time cooperation" on trying to address issues globally through regional, multilateral as well as bilateral efforts. "And that's why the President and the Prime Minister have met seven times in the span of three years. That's why they also had multiple phone conversations, that's why Secretary Kerry has met his counterpart here in Washington, in New Delhi, in New York and other places around the world. "...That's why the across the board if you look at the senior leadership of the United States, the level of engagement that they are having with their Indian counterparts is at unprecedented levels. And I only see that growing and not diminishing," the official argued. The official refused to entertain questions on the India US relationship in the next administration. "I certainly do not opine on political campaigns. What I can say that Republican and Democratic Administrations and Republican and Democratic leadership on the Capitol Hill and the think-tank community, business community all essentially recognise the importance of this relationship and this partnership. "...I solely expect that no matter who is in control of the Congress, who is in control of the executive branch that the arc and the trajectory of this relationship would continue on the path that has been on and that the partnership will only intensify as it moves forward," the official said. Mastermind of the Dhaka cafe attack along with two other militants were killed on Saturday during a raid in the Bangladeshi capital, officials said. Monirul Islam, chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism unit, confirmed the news The Daily Star and said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). A joint team from Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, police headquarters and district police cordoned off a house in Narayanganj Sadar area on information that a gang of militants including the mastermind Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury were staying there, Mainul Haq, superintendent of Narayanganj police, told The Daily Star. The gunfight erupted this morning after police started raiding a building at Naraynganj's Pikeparha," Counter-terrorism Unit's Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.Com. As the law enforcers tried to enter the house, the criminals opened fire from inside, Haq said. Canadian-Bangladeshi Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury had been identified by police as the mastermind of the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery, when 22 people, including 17 foreign nationals and two police officers, were killed. Police had announced 2 million Bangladeshi Taka reward earlier this month for information leading to his arrest. Tamim's name came up on the list of 10 missing people released by law-enforcers after it emerged that the cafe killers and Sholakia attackers, who attempted a raid on the largest Eid congregation in Bangladesh, had been reported missing by their families. The US military spent 20 years and millions of dollars searching for a more environmentally friendly - yet deadlier -bullet. Musician-turned-ammo-maker PJ Marx said the government was stuck until he showed how it could be done. An appeals court has, however, rejected the Florida man's claim, saying the government's final redesign of bullets used in the standard-issue M16 rifle and M4 carbine for US troops doesn't match the design in his patents. As a result, he won't collect the millions of dollars a lower court said he was entitled to. Marx and the company he founded, ... Further needling India on the issue, Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif (pictured) on Saturday nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to be despatched to world capitals to highlight the problem. We will remind the United Nations (UN) its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people, Sharif said. Stepping up Pakistan's diplomatic offensive, the PM said he has decided to send the parliamentarians for highlighting the issue in different parts of the World. The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. The PM urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the community during his address at the UN this September, Radio Pakistan reported. We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise, he added. Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance. Starting early next year, travellers on some Lufthansa flights in Europe will be able to surf the web using airborne Wi-Fi that promises speeds and coverage that trounce existing offerings. The network, which will use Inmarsat's satellites and Deutsche Telekom towers on the ground, aims to let business travellers check the news and vacationers chat with friends as they jet across one of the world's most crowded airspaces. While existing inflight Wi-Fi services rely on satellites or terrestrial infrastructure but not both, Inmarsat and Telekom say their hybrid approach offers seamless ... A Turkish court on Saturday placed under arrest three former top diplomats, including an advisor to ex-president Abdullah Gul, over links to the failed July 15 coup, state media said. An Ankara court remanded Gurcan Balik, Ali Findik and Tuncay Babali in custody ahead of trial over suspected links to the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who is accused of masterminding the coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Balik is a prominent figure who was the chief foreign policy advisor to Gul, who served as president from 2007 to 2014 before handing over to Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He had also worked as an advisor to former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu during his long stint as foreign minister. In that role, Balik in 2013 set up a hugely controversal meeting between Davutoglu and Gulen while the then foreign minister was attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Anadolu said. Davutoglu in May 2015 confirmed he had secretly visited Gulen for talks at his Pennsylvania compound aimed at persuading him to return to Turkey to ease tensions in the bureaucracy. He has insisted both Gul and Erdogan, then prime minister, were aware of the visit. Babali meanwhile had served as ambassador to Canada while Findik had been ambassador to Costa Rica. Turkey has embarked on an all-out purge of state institutions in the wake of the coup to rid the country of what Erdogan calls the "virus" of Gulen's influence. The arrest of Balik is significant as it represents one of the first times a figure linked to the political leadership in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been implicated in the coup. The UN Security Council strongly condemned four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. A press statement approved by all 15 members deplored the fact that the North's ballistic missile activities are contributing to its development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and increasing tensions. The council expressed "serious concern" that carried out the launches after six ballistic missile firings between April and June "in flagrant disregard" of its repeated statements to halt such launches as well as nuclear tests which violate council resolutions. It urged all UN member states "to redouble their efforts" to implement sanctions against Pyongyang, including the toughest measures in two decades imposed by the council in March. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch. has repeatedly flouted Security Council resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and has continued to launch missiles, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region. The latest submarine launch of a ballistic missile on Wednesday came days after the US and South Korea began military exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as a rehearsal for invasion by the US and other adversaries. South Korean officials said the submarine-launched missile flew about 500 kilometres, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. That means all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, are within its striking distance. The Security Council statement condemned the August 23 launch as well as the North's ballistic missile launches on August 2 and July 18 and the firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on July 9. China, a neighbour and ally of North Korea, had either blocked attempts by the United States and other council members to condemn the three previous attacks when they happened, or insisted on unacceptable language. The council's agreement on Friday's statement, just two days after the latest North Korean test, reflects growing anger and concern at the North's continuing defiance of the council, including by China. In Pyongyang, North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the US-led discussions at the UN were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States. Calling on the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and to restore normalcy in the Valley, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said the cycle of violence has to end and it is the responsibility of the state government to take all necessary steps. "Ex-RAW chief A.S. Dulat, said South which was the bastion of the PDP is now a liberated zone. The government is not doing anything. Dulat said that this government talks about Vajpayee, but it does not implement what Vajpayee had done. As a prime minister, he had initiated talks with everyone, including separatists," Owaisi told media here. Owaisi asserted that dialogue is the only way forward. "All the opposition parties have come together and supported the government that we are with you. Please take steps to bring back normalcy. I would reiterate the same thing which was said in the all-party meeting that the government must take all the steps, speak to all the stakeholders," he added. The AIMIM chief stated the BJP-PDP in their agenda had said that it would talk to the separatists. "The situation has to be brought back to normalcy. Killings have to stop. Pellet guns should not be used. Today, a security personnel has been killed. So, this cycle of violence has to end and it is the responsibility of the government to take all the necessary steps," he added. Asserting that there is unprecedented crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, Owaisi questioned the role of the Jammu and Kashmir government. "50 days you have curfew over there. Killings are still continuing. Today, also we lost a brave policeman. What is the Jammu and Kashmir Government doing? The Home Minister has gone twice to the Valley. But, the stakeholders have not met him. So, it is for the government to ensure that normalcy is brought back," he added. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti earlier today asserted that if Pakistan is really concerned about the situation in the Valley, then it will try to help in fixing the crisis rather than fanning the flames. Addressing the media here after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 RCR residence, Mufti asserted that he was extremely concerned about the situation and that he had expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's approach towards Pakistan, Mufti stated that he had not only invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath taking ceremony but went to Lahore himself, but the Pathankot incident happened and ties between the two nations went downhill. Calling out Pakistan, she added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces by saying that it will solve the unrest in the Valley. Invoking former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mufti stated that during his regime, talks with Pakistan and the Hurriyat were a common affair because of which, the situation in Kashmir was somewhat neutralised. Appearing to be visibly moved when talking about the rising death toll in the Valley, which mostly comprises of youths and minors, Mufti said that the very kids who had supported her during her campaign days, were now being used against her. Defending the curfew which has now entered its 50th day, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of imposing restrictions was to save the lives of the locals and the children. She further asserted that the separatists must come forward and help the state government in figuring out a solution to the Kashmir unrest. Talking about the all party delegation which is to head to Kashmir to discuss the unrest, she said that developments on the meeting will begin in almost a week's time. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District today. Normal life in Kashmir Valley remained paralysed as curfew and shutdown continued for the 50th consecutive day today in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last month. All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses are closed since July 9. Earlier, authorities arrested several top separatist leaders and extended curfew to large parts of the Valley to foil a separatists' march in Srinagar. The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district. India's largest online marketplace and A P J Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) has announced signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote skill development and equal employment opportunities to the affiliated colleges of the University. A one of its kind association, the university is collaborating with a corporate to provide employment opportunities to its cluster of colleges by organizing pool-campus placement drives. More than four lakh students will be benefited from this MoU as will provide industry trainings and job opportunities to the students of various under-graduate and post-graduate courses like B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, MCA which are affiliated to the University. "In the past four years, has hired over 700 professionals from AKTU. These professionals have shown immense talent in various roles like product management, technology and sales. We are excited about this association," said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IndiaMART, Dinesh Agarwal. "We will also provide relevant training to the students, especially in the Digital space. I believe that industry should reach out to the educational institutions to fill the skill gap by providing them with a holistic and job-centric learning environment. Our efforts will be directed towards boosting employability and industry-readiness of these students by preparing them for the hiring needs of corporates," added Dinesh Agarwal. "This is a path-breaking association for AKTU as we will be able to provide equal employment opportunities to our affiliated colleges. The students will gain a lot from the expertise of IndiaMART in the digital space and the industry training that they will offer," said Vice Chancellor of AKTU, Vinay Kumar Pathak. IndiaMART seeks to hire management and technology graduates from the University. The company had said earlier that it is planning to expand its team in the financial year 2016-17 to expedite growth and customer acquisition. This MoU will create a room for career growth of the students. Asserting that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is as much part of Jammu and Kashmir as are Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Saturday said it is India's responsibility to get PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore its lost glory. "PoJK is as much party of Jammu and Kashmir as are Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and also Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the fact is, which doesn't come to mind of many people that the entire area of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir was 2.25 lakh sq km, of which only 1 lakh sq km is the part of India. Therefore, it is our responsibility to get PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore the lost glory of Jammu and Kashmir," Singh told ANI. Slamming Pakistan for perpetrating violence in Jammu and Kashmir by exporting home-grown terrorists, Singh said, "Pakistan has been unmasked before the world. The entire world knows that all conspiracies are being hatched in Islamabad. Pakistan is encouraging terrorism on its soil and exporting terrorists to India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, and some misguided elements are becoming its part." Sensitising the youth of of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said, "On the one hand, our responsibility is to defeat Pakistan's design, while on the other hand, we have to sensitise our youth. That if the so-called jihad is so pious, then people who are inciting the youth in the name of jihad and 'jannat' (heaven) why don't they give this pious opportunity to their children. They have already sent their children to Bengaluru, Pune and abroad." Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 RCR residence, Mufti asserted that he was extremely concerned about the situation and that he had expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. "The Prime Minister is quite concerned just the way we are regarding the situation in Kashmir. He re-iterated that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance is to continue the trend of reconciliation with Pakistan that Vajpayee ji had started and use it to solve the problem in Kashmir," she said. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's approach towards Pakistan, Mufti stated that he had not only invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath taking ceremony but went to Lahore himself, but the Pathankot incident happened and ties between the two nations went downhill. "With the situation in Kashmir taking a turn for the worse in the last few days, Pakistan instead of helping us is trying to worsen the situation. They had a golden opportunity to talk about Kashmir when Rajnath ji went to Islamabad recently, but instead he was meted with mistreatment," she said. Calling out Pakistan, she added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces by saying that it will solve the unrest in the Valley. Defending the curfew which has now entered its 50th day, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of imposing restrictions was to save the lives of the locals and the children. She further asserted that the Separatists must come forwards and help the state government in figuring out a solution to the Kashmir unrest. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District today. The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Denouncing Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's assertion that only five percent of Kashmiris are behind the unrest, the Conference (NC) on Saturday lashed out at the former saying she is misleading herself and "living in a make-believe world" even as the entire valley is steaming with security forces. NC leader Mustafa Kamal told ANI that Mehbooba's statement and her behaviour is out of line with the reality and facts, adding she is yet to open "her score" as far as development agenda of Prime Minister Modi is concerned. "It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has said many things and has been saying many things, but the situation on the ground is entirely different. She is not only misleading herself, but also living in a world of make believe. She believes that by occupying Chief Minister's chair she can say anything," he added. Refuting the Chief Minister's claim, Kamal said, "The entire valley, this time, is steaming with police force. Our state police, Central Reserve Police Force and, now after 12 years of gap, we have Border Security Force patrolling the streets of Srinagar. Now, I fail to understand if she is not able to see this, then who is issuing orders; she is the Chief Minister or somebody else?" Echoing similar views, another NC leader Ali Mohd Sagar said the situation is likely to persist unless it is addressed politically. "I think everybody wants peace in the valley. I fail to understand the statement on 5 percent and 95 percent put forth by the Chief Minister. Everybody is distressed by the situation in the valley. This problem has a history and a political background that need to be addressed," Sagar said. Earlier today, Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Narendra Modi at his official residence in Delhi, to discuss about the unrest in the valley. Addressing the media after the meet, Mufti asserted that the Prime Minister was extremely concerned about the situation and that he had expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. She also criticised Pakistan for fuelling protests in the Kashmir valley. "With the situation in Kashmir taking a turn for the worse in the last few days, Pakistan instead of helping us is trying to worsen the situation. They had a golden opportunity to talk about Kashmir when Rajnath ji went to Islamabad recently, but instead he was meted with mistreatment," she said. During a press conference co-chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held in Srinagar on Thursday, she said that only five percent of Kashmiri were creating unrest and resorting to agitation in the valley while the 95 percent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani fan of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has landed himself in jail for designing Peshawari chappals made out of deer skin. The actor's cousin , Noor Jehan, who lives in Peshawar, approached shoemaker Jehangir Khan and asked him to make two pairs of Peshawari chappals (in Kaptaan Chappal style) for the actor on Khan's special request, reports the Dawn. However, being a huge fan of the Bollywood star, the shoemaker decided to gift his idol special Peshawari chappals made from deer skin. The shoemaker told media that he'll be sending shoes made of deer skin to the actor, and as the news broke, local wildlife officials arrested Jehangir yesterday. They also took with them the deer skin and the shoes for examination to see whether they are made of deer skin or of any other animal. However, a latest report claims that Jehangir has since been released from jail and will be subsequently fined based on findings. Jehangir Khan is also famous for having designed a Peshawari chappal for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made from lion skin. Noor Jehan also added that she spoke to Shah Rukh Khan yesterday night and he specifically told her to come to India with the Peshawari chappals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar on Saturday said Pakistan should not internationalise the Kashmir issue, adding that it is a bilateral issue. Taking a dig at Pakistan, Akbar told ANI, "If a false statement is being repeated 22 times or 22,000 times by 22 people (special envoys), it doesn't becomes true. If Pakistan wants to give free tourism to some MPs, then it is its independent right. Pakistan shouldn't internationalise the Kashmir issue. It is a bilateral issue and it would remain the same." Akbar said Pakistan does not want to talk on the Kashmir issue because it knows that its stand is wrong. "The day it will talk on Kashmir, it will be caught. They have commitments on Kashmir in Tashkhent and Shimla. That's why Pakistan always hesitates from the truth," he added. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys who will be highlighting the unrest in Kashmir globally. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. These special envoys have the strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government", the Dunya News quoted Prime Minister Sharif, as saying. Earlier, Pakistan had raised the Kashmir issue in the United Nations after violence broke out in the valley over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani by the security forces. Then, Pakistan's Permanent Resident to the UN Maleeha Lodi had called Wani's elimination as "extra-judicial" and described him as a "Kashmiri leader". Since then, Pakistan has been using its diplomatic platforms to apprise other nations about the unrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and director Imtiaz Ali are presently shooting for 'The Ring' in Prague and the trio seems to have a lot of fun exploring the picturesque city. While a visit to the famous Kafka museum, King Khan took to Instagram to share his pictures with Imtiaz and captioned it, "I am a cage, in search of a bird. Kafka in Prague. In our case we r only trying to discover characters in our film," reports Pinkvilla. In another Instagram post, the 28-year-old 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' actress shared a picture of herself looking into the "horizon" and captioned it as, "Into the distance .... Widening horizons." The picture taken by Imtiaz Ali is quite similar to the one Shah Rukh posted a few days back. One a related note, the 50-year-old actor will be seen playing Harinder Singh Mehra, a tourist guide from Punjab and Anushka will portray the role of a Gujarati girl, Bela in the movie. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A South African pilot was killed after his aerobatic aircraft XA42 plummeted to the ground during a flight show in northwest China's Gansu Province on Saturday. The event organizer confirmed that Paul Smith died in the crash at about 10:47 a.m. at the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention held at the Danxia airport, reports Xinhua. A video clip provided by a spectator showed that the plane lost control while making a dive and crashed into the Gobi desert about 100 meters from the airport runway. No other casualties were however reported and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. The U.S. aerobatic flight team that Smith worked for has canceled all flights while other aerobatic flights went as scheduled on Saturday afternoon. The Danxia airport, the first general aviation airport in Gansu, opened on Friday along with the three-day general aviation convention which will last till Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Swatting away criticism of the recently drafted Surrogacy Bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday asserted that the Centre had to introduce it as commercial surrogacy had become a 'money making racket' and was not benefitting genuine cases where people needed to be helped. "When it comes to the surrogacy bill, we must realise that our government differentiated between commercial surrogacy which had become a money making racket and genuine cases where people needed to be helped," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI here. Asserting that there is a provision within the law which suggests that if one cannot conceive a child, they may use surrogacy in terms of a relative to help them out, Shaina added that there are several other similar clauses put in place by the government to help people out. "I don't think anyone in their right senses will want to reject this bill," Shaina said. However, the Congress came down heavily on the Centre, saying that the Bill resembled a 'draft from the Stone Age' and was brought out by "surrogate organisations" like the RSS and the VHP. "Why are they restricting surrogacy only to married couples? Surrogacy could be desired by widows, live-in partners and NRIs among others. They have delegated the drafting of this surrogacy bill perhaps to the surrogate RSS and VHP. This is a surrogate delegation to surrogate agencies," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016. 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 emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples, and added that the government is aware of unethical 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh on Friday said that Jammu and Kashmir is integral part of India and added that the time has come for India to retrieve that part of Kashmir which has been illegally occupied by Pakistan. "There is no compromise in the integration of Jammu and Kashmir. It use to be integral part of India and the only agenda left for us is to retrieve the part of Jammu and Kashmir which continues to remain under the illegal occupation of Pakistan," said Singh. Singh said that the government will not compromise as far as terrorism is concerned and that no harm should come to innocent people particularly the children and youth. He also urged to join together so that the innocent youth of Kashmir don't get misguided by the handful of people who are using the children's of the poor sections for triggering violence . "I think there is an absolute coordination between the centre and the state. Therefore we are moving in the right direction, all of us. I am sure very soon things will return to normal in the valley and we will move ahead in the course of development, as it has been always said by the Prime Minster," Singh added. Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the current situation in the valley. Mufti asserted that if Islamabad is really concerned about the situation in the valley, then it will try to help in fixing the crisis rather than fanning flames of agitation. "The Prime Minister is quite concerned just the way we are regarding the situation in Kashmir. He reiterated that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance is to continue the trend of reconciliation with Pakistan that Vajpayeeji had started and use it to solve the problems in Kashmir," she said. She said if Pakistan has any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces. She called on the separatists to help the state government in figuring out a solution to the Kashmir unrest. The situation in the valley continues to be grim. On Saturday, a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama District. Normal life in the Kashmir Valley has remained paralysed for 50 consecutive days following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last month. All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses have been closed since July 9. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hands over operations of toll plaza facilities to NHAI MEP Infrastructure Developers announced that one of Company's Subsidiary viz. Raima Toll Road ("SPV and/or Concessionaire") had entered into the concession agreement with National Highways Authority of India ("NHAI") on 10 April 2013 for Operation and Maintenance of Madurai-Tirunelveli-Panagudi-Kannyakumari section from km.0.00 to km.243.170 (total length 243.170) in the state of Tamil Nadu [Package No.6 (NS)]. The Commercial Operation Date (COD) for the Project was achieved on 22 September 2013. During the operations period, the Concessionaire was unable to implement the toll notification towards collection of toll dues from certain State operated transport agencies, resulting in significant ongoing loss of revenue for the Concessionaire. Further, also due to non-fulfilment of certain obligations by both the Parties, there have been claims made, which are in the process of being amicably settled. As part of the amicable settlement process, it has been mutually agreed by the Parties for the concessionaire to hand over the operations of the toll plaza facilities to NHAI from 25 August 2016 at 08:00 hours. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zika virus infection has been associated with several neurological complications and researchers have now reported that it may also lead to sensory polyneuropathy - damage to nerves that receive sensation, such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch, from the skin. In a paper published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences, group of researchers from Honduras, Venezuela and the US described the first case of sensory polyneuropathy associated with acute Zika virus infection. "Clinicians should be aware that Zika virus infection can also cause an acute infectious sensory polyneuropathy," said first author Marco Medina from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. "Our patient is the first confirmed Zika infection case report associated with an acute sensory polyneuropathy which began during the acute infectious phase," Medina said. This suggests a probable direct viral inflammatory process affecting sensory nerves, but an autoimmune etiology cannot be definitely excluded, Medina added. The new publication is part of the collaborate efforts of the World Federation of Neurology Work Group on Zika. Concerned about the increasing number of neurological complications related to the Zika virus, the WFN recently established this forum to contribute expertise to the coordinated global response to the Zika crisis. A large percentage of people suffering from Zika virus infections are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms. But potential neurological complications can be dramatic. "Zika virus infection has become a new emergent neuropathological agent with several neurological complications," John England from School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, US, said. "Outbreaks of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) associated with Zika virus infections have been reported as well as a high occurrence of a syndrome associated with congenital Zika virus infection, mainly microcephaly with brain malformations," he pointed out. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani whose death on July 8 sparked off the current violent unrest in Kashmir Valley has met spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at his ashram in Bengaluru. A spokesman said that they discussed several issues. "Certainly, Ravi Shankar and Wani discussed several issues, including the current situation, about the suffering and how peace and normalcy can be restored in the (Kashmir) Valley during his stay in the ashram over the last two days," the spokesman said in a statement here. "It (discussion) was purely on a personal and humanitarian angle," the statement added. Earlier in the evening, Ravi Shankar tweeted that Wani stayed in his ashram on the city's southern outskirts for the last two days and discussed several issues. The spiritual guru, the founder of the Art of Living, also tweeted a photo of himself with Muzaffar Wani. "Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues," Ravi Shankar tweeted. The news of the meeting was also retweeted by the Art of Living foundation. Burhan Wani, 22, educated and media savvy, had emerged as the poster boy of terrorism. He was killed in a gunfight with security forces on July 8 in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir. News of his death sparked massive protests across Kashmir, with thousands coming to attend his funeral. Over 70 people have died in clashes with security forces in Kashmir Valley since Wani's death. --IANS rn-fb/sku/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here on Saturday issued notice to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case on a plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy. Swamy has sought the balance sheet of 2010-2011 of the Congress party and other documents relating to the company, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) in the case. Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen asked the Gandhis, party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) who are accused in the case, to file a reply to Swamy's plea and listed the matter for October 4. The Delhi High Court on July 12 had quashed an order of a trial court summoning the same documents besides others relating to Herald House from the Finance, Urban Development, and Corporate Affairs ministries, the Delhi Development Authority and the Registrar of Companies. The High Court had observed that the order was passed without giving any notice or opportunity of hearing to the opposite side. It had also directed Swamy to move the trial court again with a similar plea. Swamy had filed a complaint about "cheating" in the acquisition of AJL, which published the National Herald newspaper, by YI, "a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 per cent stake". Swamy had accused them of allegedly conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh by which YI obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which AJL owed to the Congress. The Delhi High Court in December 2015 dismissed the plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued by the trial court on Swamy's complaint. --IANS akk/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh police stormed a militant hideout near Dhaka on Saturday, shooting dead three alleged Islamist extremists, including the suspected mastermind of the cafe attack that killed 22 mostly foreign hostages last month. "We can see three dead bodies here, Tamim Chowdhury is dead. He is the Gulshan attack mastermind and the leader of JMB (Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh)," senior police officer Sanwar Hossain said. Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen, had earlier been named by police as the suspected mastermind of the attack on the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood. Chowdhury, with alleged Islamic State links, was killed in a three-storeyed house in Paikpara Baro Masjid area of Narayanganj. Inspector General of police, A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, and counter-terrorism unit chief Monirul Islam confirmed the death of Tamim Chowdhury after the raid, code-named "Operation Hit Strong 27". A joint team of security forces, including counter-terrorism forces and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), had cordoned off the building around 9.36 a.m. and the operation lasted an hour. According to police officials, a team of counter terrorism and transnational unit conducted the operation in plainclothes. There was heavy exchange of gunfire and the militants also lobbed some grenades at the security forces. After the operation, police entered the house and found three bodies, the police said. The raid was carried out on information extracted from one of those arrested following the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan area, police sources said. The IGP said law enforcers had given the militants scope to surrender but they did not do it, and instead opened fire and hurled grenades. Police confirmed the identity of one of the three dead as Tamim after matching photos, the IGP said. The other two militants killed in Saturday's raid were identified as Manik, 35, and Iqbal 25. Tamim, who was believed to be the local coordinator for the Islamic State in Bangladesh was a high-ranking member of the local militant group called the "New Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh". According to investigators, he had accompanied the five Holey Artisan Bakery attackers from their Bashundhara flat to Gulshan, Dhaka, and left the area after bidding them farewell just before the cafe siege began on July 1, the Daily Star reported. The five militants, carrying weapons including semi-automatic rifles, grenades and machetes, held diners hostage in the eatery in the diplomatic zone. The militants killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, and two policemen in the worst-ever terror incident in Bangladesh. Besides his involvement in the Sholakia terror attack on July 7, in which four people were killed in a machete attack, Tamim was also believed to have been the mentor of the group of nine militants, killed in a police operation at Kalyanpur on July 26. He used to frequent their flat in Kalyanpur and have meetings with them, give motivational speeches and guide them on planning militant attacks, according to a statement in a case filed following the police operation named "Storm 26", the Daily Star said. Police had announced two million Bangladeshi Taka reward earlier this month for information leading to Tamim's arrest. Tamim's name came up on the list of 10 missing people released by police after it emerged that the cafe killers and Sholakia attackers had been reported missing by their families. Tamim lived in Windsor, Canada from where he returned to Bangladesh on October 5, 2013. --IANS ahm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh police on Saturday said they have killed the mastermind of last month's terror attack on a Dhaka cafe and two other militants during a raid on a house outside the Bangladeshi capital. Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen with alleged Islamic State links, was killed in the morning raid on a three-storied house in Paikpara Baro Masjid area of Narayanganj, outside Dhaka. Inspector General of police, A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, and counter-terrorism unit chief Monirul Islam confirmed the death of Tamim Chowdhury after the raid, codenamed 'Operation Hit Strong 27'. A joint team of security forces, including counter-terrorim forces and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), had cordoned off the building around 9.36 a.m. and the operation lasted an hour. According to police officials, a team of counter terrorism and transnational unit conducted the drive in plainclothes. There was heavy exchange of gunfire and the militants also lobbed some grenades at the security forces. After the operation, police entered the house and found three bodies inside the house, the police said. The raid was carried out on information extracted from one of those arrested following the the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan area, police sources said. The IGP said law enforcers had given the militants scope to surrender but they did not take it, and instead opened fire and hurled grenades. Police confirmed the identity of one of the three dead as Tamim after matching photos, the IGP said. The other two militants killed in Saturday's raid were identified as Manik, 35, and Iqbal 25. Tamim, who was believed to be the local coordinator for Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh was a high-ranking member of the local militant group called the "New Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)". According to investigators, he had accompanied the five Holey Artisan Bakery attackers from their Bashundhara flat to Gulshan, Dhaka, and left the area after bidding them farewell just before the cafe siege began on July 1, the Daily Star reported. The five militants, carrying weapons including semi-automatic rifles, grenades and machetes, held diners hostage at the upscale eatery in the diplomatic zone. The militants killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, and two policemen in the worst-ever terror incident in Bangladesh. The gunmen were killed in a commando drive the next morning, codenamed "Operation Thunderbolt". Besides his involvement in the Sholakia terror attack on July 7, in which four people were killed in a machete attack, Tamim is also believed have been mentor of the group of nine militants, killed in a police operation at Kalyanpur on July 26. He used to frequent their flat in Kalyanpur and have meetings with them, give motivational speeches and guide them on planning militant attacks, according to the statement of a case filed following the police operation named "Storm 26", the Daily Star said. Police had announced 2 million Bangladeshi Taka reward earlier this month for information leading to Tamim's arrest. Tamim's name came up on the list of 10 missing people released by police after it emerged that the cafe killers and Sholakia attackers had been reported missing by their families. Tamim lived in Windsor, Canada from where he returned to Bangladesh on October 5, 2013. He was accused of being a recruiter for the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) an outfit believed to be behind the spate of killings that started two years ago. --IANS ss/rn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday assured investors of a perfect business environment here and welcomed business houses willing to invest, highlighting the excellent connectivity enjoyed by this southern state. Vijayan's statement comes at a time when is seeking considerable foreign investment in the state to trigger growth. Vijayan was speaking at the investors' conference on 'Kerala-Qatar Investment Opportunities' at the inauguration of Doha Bank's Kochi branch. "The government is committed to developing world class infrastructure to encourage investments. I invite the government and the businessmen in Qatar to consider investing in our state. We assure the perfect climate for investors," said Vijayan. He also pointed out that in spite of being one of the smaller states, has four airports and a number of seaports contributing to the development of industry, trade and commerce. "The areas that are open to investors include tourism, traditional industries, agro processing, IT, logistics and healthcare," said Vijayan. Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank, R Seetharaman pointed out that Kerala aims to have an average growth rate of 9.5 per cent in the current financial year. Seetharaman said, "Its strategic location on the trans-national trade corridor, rich natural resources, and simple and transparent procedures make the state favourably suited for investments." AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said the central government should immediately initiate a dialogue to restore normalcy in Jammu and . Voicing concern over the situation in where curfew continued for the 50th day on Saturday, the Hyderabad MP said if no initiative was taken now there may be nobody with whom the government can have a dialogue as political parties were losing space. "Experts say the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Conference are losing political space while separatists are also losing ground," Owaisi told reporters. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President said: "we are entering a domain of uncertainty." He quoted a former R&AW chief as saying that South is becoming a liberated zone. The MP said the government has many means and sources at its disposal to initiate a dialogue. "It's time the government thinkS seriously about this," he added. He pointed out that the agenda of the PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir says that they want to have a dialogue with all, including the separatists. Owaisi also welcomed the agreement signed by Telangana with Maharashtra earlier this week for constructing three barrages for utilisation of Godavari river water. He termed this as a historic agreement as Telangana can use 250 TMC water to irrigate 39 lakh hectares in seven districts. The MP said the Pranahita Chevella project will help meet future drinking water requirements of Hyderabad and will also ensure additional supplies to existing projects. Owaisi hit out at the opposition Congress party for politicising the issue by opposing the agreement. He said the Congress, which was in power in both the states and at the Centre from 2004 to 2014, failed to solve the inter-state problems. He claimed that Telangana will be benefited by the agreement as the projects will become a reality by 2019. Owaisi said instead of opposing the agreement for political reasons, opposition parties should mount pressure on the TRS government to fulfil its promise to complete the projects by 2019. --IANS ms/bim/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President of Portugal's autonomous government of holiday island Madeira Miguel Albuquerque said on Saturday that an urban building will be transformed into six apartments to re-house families affected by wildfires in August. Miguel Albuquerque made this announcement during a visit to the building located in Boa Nova, Funchal, Xinhua quoted local media as saying. According to Lusa News Agency, the region needs 157 million euros ($175 million) to cope with the consequences of the fires which affected the island and killed three people. Madeira has already managed to raise 62.5 million euros out of this amount, Lusa reported. The new block of apartments, which will be launched in January and will be completed in summer next year, represents an investment of 180,000 euros. At least 200 families were left without a home following the fires earlier this month. --IANS sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Saturday witnessed heated arguments and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party legislators staged a walkout protesting the two-fold compensation by the state government for acquiring land for expansion of highways, when the centre was giving four-fold. During Question Hour, BJP member Satpal Satti questioned the state government for awarding two-fold compensation for acquiring land from the owners for the four-laning of the 195-km Kiratpur-Manali NH-21 when the centre was offering four-fold. The total outlay for strengthening the highway is Rs 6,403 crore. Satti said: "When the Modi government is ready to allocate four-time compensation, then why the state is allocating two-fold compensation to the landowners." Replying to his assertions, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the state is giving compensation for its road and other projects at twice the market price. "When we are paying the compensation at twice the market rates for our projects, why should we pay four-fold compensation for the central projects," Virbhadra Singh said. Taking a jibe at the central government, the Chief Minister said even the BJP government in Gujarat is paying two-fold compensation for the national highways. Intervening during the debate, Revenue Minister Kaul Singh said the government can't afford to give higher compensation. "We can't discriminate between the state and the central projects," he said, adding that the financial condition of the state is not healthy enough to award higher compensation. Leader of Opposition and two-time former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal asked the government whether it would write to the central government to award four-fold compensation for the Kiratpur-Manali highway. At this, Kaul Singh replied that if the central government wanted to award higher compensation it could go ahead. "We have no problem. We are farmer friendly." He said the BJP governments in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir are also giving two-fold compensation for national projects. As BJP member Satpal Satti was speaking, he was disturbed by members of the treasury benches. This agitated the BJP legislators, who stood up and staged a walkout raising slogans. After a few minutes they returned to the House and participated in the proceedings. The Chief Minister informed the House that the central government has allocated Rs.2,627 crore for the four-laning of the 89-km Parwanoo-Shimla national highway. --IANS vg/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After raising his objections against Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), a private company, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said he will now write to party president Amit Shah and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to oppose it. "I am writing to Amit Shahji and all BJP CMs that while ratifying the Constitutional Amendments for GST Bill, they should oppose GSTN," he twitted. The GSTN was incorporated in March 2013 by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with 49 per cent government share and 51 per cent private shares to manage the accounting and collection of GST. So far, eight states have ratified the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill. These include 5 BJP-ruled states -- Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. On August 11, Swamy wrote to the Prime Minister to "have a close second look" in the matter. "Being a Section 25 company, GSTN is a not-for-profit organisation. Then why should private profit making entities have any stake, and that too majority stake in it? What is in it for them," he had asked. --IANS sk/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon, has been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks by his ex-wife, who has also alleged emotional and physical abuse, media reports said. Bannon's former partner, Mary Louise Piccard, wrote in a statement included in court documents from 2007, that Bannon did not want his daughters to enrol at the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles because of 'the number of Jews that attend', the New York Daily News reported. "I told him that there are children who are Jewish and he asked me what the percentage was. I told him that I didn't know because it wasn't an issue for me as I am not raising the girls to be either anti-Semitic or prejudiced against anyone," she wrote. At one school, she said, he asked the director why there were so many Hanukkah books in the library. At another school, he asked Piccard if "it bothered her that the school used to be a temple". According to divorce papers filed by Piccard, Bannon physically attacked her inside their Santa Monica, California, residence in 1996 and later told her to get out of town so their divorce case would fail. Bannon, former head of Breitbart News, took the helm of Trump's campaign last week in a leadership shake-up. His campaign has been plagued by negative stories about staffers, including charges lodged against his former campaign manager following an altercation with a reporter, and questions about his former campaign chairman's links with Russian interests. Alexandra Preate, a spokeswoman for Bannon, denied on Friday night that he made anti-Semitic remarks about the private school, reported the Guardian. "Mr Bannon never said anything like that and proudly sent the girls to Archer for their middle school and high school education," she said. --IANS vgu/rn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The leaked data on Scorpene submarine has changed a few hands, after being taken from DCNS by a subcontractor, before reaching the whistleblower who gave it to The Australian newspaper, and will be handed over to the Australian government on Monday, said a report by the journalist who broke the story. The report by Cameron Stewart also said that the authorities in Australia are aware who the whistleblower is. "He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the article said. The journalist, in a series of tweets, also said that he will release documents related to weapon systems on Monday. The Indian government has so far maintained the leaked information does not cause any major concern, while analysis of the data is on to ascertain the level of information contained. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the leaked information did not contain data on the weapon systems. Stewart however tweeted calling the statement "wrong" and said: "Will release (self-censored) weapons doc Monday." The report in the weekend edition of The Australian meanwhile told the story of how the 22,400 documents from French DCNS reached the newspaper continents away. According to the report, the information, which has had both India and France in a fix, was delivered to the whistleblower's mail box. It also said that the whistleblower's hope is that this would "spur the (Australia's Malcolm) Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia's $50 billion submarine project does not suffer the same fate". "He says he is a whistleblower and maintains that revealing to the world, via The Australian, that this classified data exists in a dangerously uncontrolled form is worthwhile because it will serve Australia's interests even if it causes an international furore," said the report. According to the report, the CD with the documents has been in Australia for more than two years. The report ruled out the "corporate war angle" that was given by DCNS and said for competitors to strike, Norway would have been a better place than Australia as DCNS is pitching its submarine for the country's navy. Stewart wrote in the report: "But it seems that the story behind this leak may be more incompetence than espionage -- more Austin Powers than James Bond." He wrote quoting sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS. Stewart wrote that the subcontractor had copied some "sensitive data" from DCNS in France, and took it to "a Southeast Asian country". The two men worked there, "carrying out unclassified naval defence work". According to the report, the "speculation" is that the data on the Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officer's new job. However, the two men are said to have "fallen out with their employer", a private company run by a Western businessman, following which they were sacked and not allowed inside the building. The company refused to give them the data, and sent the data later to its head office in Singapore where it was uploaded on an internet server. However, while the article in its opening lines implies the CD with the data was delivered to the "whistleblower" some time in April 2013, giving the timeline from Singapore it says the data was uploaded on an internet server on April 18, 2013, where it could have stayed for a few days or a year. It highlights here the information was vulnerable to hacking and it is now known if any adversaries chanced upon the information at that time. It was uploaded for "for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers". Later, the data was sent in a CD to the person in Sydney through post, who realised it contained sensitive information about India's submarine programme. As per the report, the receiver transferred the data to an encrypted disk and erased and destroyed the original CD. The information has been lying with the person since then -- for almost two years. --IANS ao/vd/sac/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 12-day Krishna Pushkaralu, held once in 12 years across several places in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh along the river Krishna, ended in the lower riparian state recently. Japanese oncologists were recently stumped by the case of a 60-year-old woman, whose cancer refused to respond to treatment. In desperation, they consulted an American specialist. The American took only 10 minutes to diagnose a very rare type of leukaemia, which responded to very specific treatment. That American cancer specialist also consults with the Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Bangalore, and with 21 Chinese hospitals. Najma Heptulla, who was made to resign as minister for minority affairs ostensibly because she had turned 75, has taken oath as governor of Manipur. Observers say this is just an interim office till she is named the National Democratic Alliance candidate for vice-president of India. But what of the other 75-plus minister to resign, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel? She is still waiting for something, anything. It is a moot question whether Heptulla resigned so that a case could be made for wresting Patel's command of Gujarat - or because she had turned 75. After all, Kalraj Mishra, also over 75, is beavering away quietly in the micro small and medium enterprises ministry. Strange are the ways of the current ruling dispensation. Prime Minister today asked all Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers to better implement his government's policies for the welfare of the poor in their respective states. Three persons were arrested in connection with the killing of constable Anand Singh, who was chasing them as they were fleeing after snatching money and mobile phone from a woman vendor in outer Delhi last week, police said today. In the operation that ended early this morning, Special Cell sleuths arrested, Sumit Thakran, Rahul and Sunil, all in their early twenties, from separate areas of the city, Arvind Deep, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said. On the night of August 19, Singh (49), who was posted at Sector five police chowki in Shahabad, had chased the three miscreants in Sector five of Industrial Area Bawana and caught two of them with the help of a local vendor, he said. The third then fired thrice at him of which one hit bullet him on the chest. The constable was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, the officer said. He was shot in the chest by Sumit. After this, the trio left Delhi and had taken shelter at various places in Haryana particularly in Sonipat district, sources said. Criminal cases including robbery were registered against them at Shahabad, Kanjhawala and Begumpur police stations in the area, police said. Upon questioning a number of persons, the Special Cell team came to know that Sumit was to return to Delhi. He was caught around 8 PM yesterday near Sarvodaya Girls School on main Bawana Road and a sophisticated pistol was seized from him, the police officer said. During interrogation he gave the names of his accomplices. A raid late in that night led to the arrest of another accused Rahul from Daryapur Kalan Village. A stolen motorcycle they used on the night of killing the constable was seized from him. In the wee hours, the third accused Sunil was arrested and the cell phone robbed from the woman vendor was recovered, the Special Commissioner of Police said, adding Sunil was also involved in an attempt to murder of a juvenile in March last year. Delhi Police deployed various teams of district police as well as Special Cell and Crime Branch for the earliest arrest of the accused. In the week-long probe, police did ground verification of more than 136 criminals in the age group of 18-21 years, studied eighty dossiers of active criminals and details of 150 recently released criminals, besides scanning 100 CCTV camera footages, Arvind Deep said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To ensure women's safety in Gurgaon, Haryana Police arrested 46 people during a drive, police said today. "Romeo-free" campaign was last night carried out at Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) road in Gurgaon, where thousands of people throng specially on weekends, a police spokesperson said. "Mostly the miscreants were found stalking, passing lewd comments and teasing women visitors, after the pubs closed at 1 am, and were detained by the police teams," said ACP Dharna Yadav. "The accused were booked under sections 107 and 151 of CrPC Act and arrested in sector 29 and DLF phase -II. They were later given bail at police station level after a warning," he added. If they indulge in such cases again in next six months, they would be booked under cognisable offence of IPC, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Sucha Singh Chhotepur was removed as the AAP's Punjab convener, expelled leader Yogendra Yadav today took a caustic jibe at the party's top leadership, saying it has transitioned from being "use and throw" to "use and destroy". AAP rebel MLA Pankaj Pushkar, who accompanied Yadav, accused the Delhi government of "gagging" free speech inside the Assembly. "The party has made major strides from use and throw to use and destroy," Yadav said at a press conference when asked to react on the removal of Chhotepur on charges of alleged acceptance of bribe from a ticket aspirant. Referring to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's demand for a comparative CAG study of publicity expenses by Delhi and other states, he asked, "Is he suggesting that the CAG is a tool of the ruling BJP? Is he advising the CAG on how it should go about its work?" Pushkar alleged, "Freedom of speech is being gagged in the House. I would not leave the party as it is a tool born out of the India against Corruption Movement. I am answerable to that movement and the people of Timarpur." The Timarpur legislator, who has been opposing the party's position on several issues, also alleged that he was not being given the chance to even use the press room in the House premises. Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, who were among the founding members of AAP, were expelled from the party over allegations of anti-party activities last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apollo Gleneagles, a part of Apollo Hospitals group, will invest Rs 300 crore to increase the number of beds in the next three years. "The number of beds at Apollo Gleaneagles will be increased from 700 to 1,000 in the next three years. Typical cost for setting up one bed is Rs 1 crore," MD and CEO of Apollo Rupali Basu told reporters here today. The hospital is the largest private healthcare facility in eastern India. Apollo had also acquired 51 per cent stake in National Hospitals at Guwahati which would be re-branded, she said. Basu said Apollo Gleneagles is working towards making the first heart transplant in the city for which the hospital was taking baby steps. For this it organised a meet of physicians from across the nation for discussing clinical advancements and innovation in various medical disciplines. Head of the department of gastroenterology Mahesh Goenka said the hospital was willing to treat and diagnose patients by conducting tests in a single day like some other hospitals in the southern part of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cam Doody, co-founder of Bellhops, told the Chattanooga Civitans at the Friday meeting how the company evolved from a seasonal business he and Stephen Vlahos created to move students into dorms at Auburn University. It is now a moving company based in Chattanooga that is operating in 85 cities in 39 states across the U.S. Mr. Doody said he always had wanted to start a business, and after two jobs that were not fulfilling, he and a friend from school began meeting. They remembered how chaotic moving was at Auburn, and the huge number of available students. They each put up $600 to create a website offering help for students moving into dorms, using students to do the work. The service included having two college students waiting at the curb to move items or to do anything else needed such as rearranging furniture. They got a booth during orientation and sold the service for $100. In the first three days, they facilitated moving 700 students without having the benefit of technology providing the manual labor was all arranged with clipboards and walkie-talkies, he said, and was a nightmare. Following the initial experience, unsolicited emails came from parents saying what a good experience the move had been. He said there are inherent qualities about a college workforce which is trying to be perceived as valuable to adults. It also gave students a way to make a lot of money in a short amount of time. After that first successful event, Stephen quit his full-time job to devote more time to the emerging business. That was in 2011. The business experienced another good year in 2012 and expanded services to people moving into houses and apartments, not exclusively college students. By then, technology available with the use of smart phones was being utilized to arrange the logistics of a move, making it easier for everyone. That is when their business took off, he said. The two founders came to the Lamp Post Group in Chattanooga at the end of 2012 for advice on technological information. At that meeting, an offer was made to provide the company with money in return for moving to Chattanooga. Timing was just good, and we got lucky, said Mr. Doody. He added that Lamp Posts mission is to make Chattanooga the best city to live in, and that everybody now at Bellhops shares the mission to make the city incredible. People are now moving to Chattanooga from across the country. Bellhops is a service company to the core, he said. The company provides a new option for moving. Before, the choices were renting a truck and asking friends to help which is how 40 percent of people handle a move. Traditionally, the other method was to hire local movers. Technology allows the company to operate without multiple brick and mortar buildings or a hierarchy of managers, said Mr. Doody. The entire business is run from offices at Warehouse Row with a team of 91 employees and 30-40 people working part time. This helps the company offer a different price bracket for a move. He said traditional, professional movers prefer a small number of large moves. Bellhops is looking for a large number of small moves. The expansion of service is continuing by having trucks available in some cities in addition to just labor. 2016 will be the year of the truck, said Mr. Doody, but it will not be available everywhere yet. Another new focus will be on the larger mainstream market as opposed to a concentration with college moves. The demographic of their focus customer is ages 18-34 because they move more than others, moving in and out of dorms, to new cities for jobs, and in and out of apartments. The company also services people with lift and shift moves in-house. Advertising is done mostly by organic traffic, in which people find you, without the company paying for it. The majority is from word-of-mouth, he said, and from search engine optimization, or being high on the Google search page. The company is no longer owned solely by Mr. Doody and Mr. Vlahos, since money was raised in venture funding. The Lamp Post Group originally invested $600,000 in 2012 and since millions were raised from the Silicon Valley and New York investors. The company now has a mix of worker classifications, said Mr. Doody. Drivers are considered part-time employees and lift workers are classified as independent contractors. The company carries workers comp insurance on all contractors, in case of accidents. On Friday, the Chattanooga Civitans presented a check for $2,500 to Julie Taylor, chief development officer of the Erlanger Health Foundation, for the new Childrens Hospital. In thanks, she noted that since 1997, the Chattanooga Civitans have given over $150,000 to Erlanger. Banks have raised concerns on Reserve Bank of India's new norms for bank exposure to large corporate entities, particularly in large infrastructure projects. "The new norms will have definite impact on large infrastructure projects. We as an industry have raised concerns with the RBI Governor and asked to look into it," SBI managing director (compliance & risks) P K Gupta said at the banking summit organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce here. There could be some concerns for financing large infrastructure projects, particularly greenfield projects, he later told newsmen. As per the new RBI norms, which will come into affect from April 1, 2017, incremental exposure of banking system to a specified borrower beyond normally permitted lending limit (NPLL) will be deemed to carry higher risk which will be recognised by way of additional provisioning and higher risk weight. Borrower with an aggregate of the fund-based credit limits (ASCL) of more than Rs 25,000 crore at any time during 2017-18 banking system can only lend up to 50 per cent of the incremental fund requirements and remaining have to be raised from the market or equity, Gupta said. He indicated that for large infrastructure projects ability to raise funds from market before completion could get restricted due to reasons like not having credit rating. The exposure limit will get reduced to Rs 15,000 crore at any time during 2018-19 and Rs 10,000 crore at any time from April 1, 2019. RBI proposes to create NPLL, which is defined as 50 per cent of the incremental funds raised by the borrower over and above ASCL from the date it becomes a specified borrower. For loans over the NPLL, banks will need to set aside an additional three per cent provision. They will also have to assign additional risk weights as high as 75 per cent. This additional risk weight will also be distributed in proportion to the individual bank's funded exposure. Bandhan Bank CMD C S Ghosh said RBI's proposal will help reduce the banks' exposure to large corporate entities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 15 civilians were killed in a barrel bomb attack on a rebel-held district of Syria's Aleppo city today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. The Britain-based group said regime aircraft had dropped two explosive-packed barrel bombs several minutes apart on the Maadi district of eastern Aleppo. The strikes hit "near a tent where people were receiving condolences for those killed this week in the neighbouring district of Bab al-Nayrab," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. "There was a first barrel bomb and when people gathered and the ambulances arrived, a second barrel struck and there were more deaths," an AFP reporter in the rebel-held part of the city said. "One ambulance was completely destroyed," he added, citing the local civil defence unit. The Observatory said dozens more were injured in the two strikes and the death toll was expected to rise. Today's deadly strikes come after 15 people, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on Bab al-Nayrab on Thursday. The local Shabha Press news agency said 23 people were killed in today's attack, and published photos showing several of the dead, including a man who appeared to have been riding a motorbike at the time of the strike. Most of his bloodsoaked body lay on one side of the overturned bike, but his severed leg lay on the other side. 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. Syria's regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs - crude, explosive devices - on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians. Other parties to the conflict are not known to have used the weapons. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik does not want to create a bitter India-Pakistan type conflict between the state and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi river water dispute, his Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra today said. Patnaik was ready to discuss the issue with his counterpart during a meeting convened by Union Water resources Minister Uma Bharati in New Delhi, but not before Odisha has all information on the projects taken up by Chhattisgarh to make the talks fruitful, Mishra said. "Naveen Babu (Patnaik) is firm in fighting for the state, but he does not want to create India-Pakistan type dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi river water dispute," he told PTI here. "We must be ensured all information on the projects taken up by Chhattisgarh before both Chief Ministers -- Patnaik and Raman Singh -- meet for discussion in Uma Bharati's presence atDelhi. "If we don't get these details, how can we know under what contents (should we be deliberating upon) and what they intend to do," Mishra added. The minister was responding to a query whether Patnaik was keen on attending the meeting convened by Uma Bharati in Delhi between September 10 to 20. Mishra, in the city to attend investors meet, inaugurated by Patnaik yesterday, is a part of state panel overseeing matters concerningMahanadi river water dispute. Odisha has been raising its voice against Chhattisgarh government's plans to build 13 barrages across the Mahanadi, in a plan to extract more water. The neighbouring state also has been constructing seven pick up weirs (small dams) acrossthe river, a move facing vehement opposition from Patnaik. Patnaik has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention as he feared such constructions would adversely affect the farmers of Odisha. Asked about the Congress blaming BJD government for "sleeping" over the issue for over a decade, Mishra blamed the Congress' "inaction" as they were at the helm of affairs longer than any other party in the state. "BJP was our partner from 2000 to 2009. The Congress has ruled the state more than us. My question is why they did notimplement the constitutional provisions under the 1983 agreement between then Chief Minister of erstwhile undivided state Madhya Pradesh Arjun Singh and then Odisha Chief Minister G B Patnaik in April, 1983," he said. Mishra appealed to both Congress and BJP to rise above petty politics on this matter. Replying to a query, Mishra also rejected the charge that it was a ploy by the BJD government to rake up the issue with an eye to capture votes in panchayat elections scheduled in February next. "There is no ploy to take this matter up only for gaining votes. By the grace of Lord Jagannath and goodwill of the people, we have won successfully four general elections besides winning corporation, panchayat and municipality elections. So, why should we be apprehensive? We have the mandate and faith of the people in us," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A British Army bomb disposal team was called in to a site in Birmingham where five men were arrested on terror charges. The five men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, West Midlands Police said. "The arrests were intelligence-led and part of an ongoing investigation," a spolice spokesperson said. "Police are searching a number of properties in the Stoke and Birmingham areas as part of the investigation; these searches are on-going," he added. Police say that, as a result of one of the arrests, an Army bomb disposal team has been called in as "a precautionary measure". West Midlands fire service tweeted: "Fire crews have been supporting police colleagues with an ongoing operation in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham." Police raided three homes in Birmingham and made two linked arrests in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested at their homes in Birmingham and a 28-year-old man was detained in a different area of the city. Another two men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested in Stoke. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's former economy minster testified today that Rousseff did not break any laws justifying impeachment, as her trial closed in on next week's climax. Rousseff, 68, is accused of taking illegal state loans to help bridge budget shortfalls and mask the true state of the economy during her 2014 reelection campaign. The one-time Marxist guerrilla, who was imprisoned and tortured under Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, says the charges are trumped up and amount to a rightwing coup. Former economy minister Nelson Barbosa and Rio State University law professor Ricardo Lodi were the final defense witnesses brought to testify that Rousseff did not break the law or harm the economy, which is now in deep recession. "There is nothing remotely illegal," Barbosa said. "You cannot act retroactively with a new interpretation of the law." The same argument was delivered yesterday by a first batch of Rousseff witnesses who said that such budgetary maneuvers have long been common practice and that Brazil's economic decline was entirely unrelated. Her accusers laid out their case on the trial's opening day Thursday, arguing that Rousseff was criminally irresponsible and helped run once booming Brazil into the ground. Tension is building ahead of Monday when Rousseff, from the leftist Workers' Party, will take the stand for the first time and face her accusers. She will be accompanied by her mentor and predecessor in the presidency, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula rose from poverty to found the Workers' Party and become one of Brazil's most popular presidents ever before helping Rousseff take his place. The once all-powerful pair are now demonized by the right, blamed for Brazil's economic shambles and tainted by the revelation of a gigantic corruption scheme at state oil giant Petrobras which peaked during the Lula presidency. Lula's presence and Rousseff's allegations of a plot to destroy 13 years of Workers' Party rule will make for a highly charged atmosphere in the deeply divided Senate where a shouting match broke out yesterday, forcing the session to be suspended. Final arguments will follow Rousseff's testimony, then the voting session, which will include speeches by each senator, with the final result expected Tuesday or Wednesday. Two thirds or 54 out of the 81 senators must vote for impeachment to force Rousseff's immediate removal. The latest estimates by opposition senators and major Brazilian newspapers is that the pro-impeachment side is on track to win. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister Theresa May today announced a major audit into how people from different backgrounds are treated by the country's public services, a review which is aimed at highlighting racial and socio-economic disparities. "The government I lead will stand up for you and your family against injustice and inequality," May said. "Today I am launching an audit to look into racial disparities in our public services that stretches right across government. It will highlight the differences in outcomes for people of different backgrounds, in every area from health to education, childcare to welfare, employment, skills and criminal justice. "This audit will reveal difficult truths but we should not be apologetic about shining a light on injustices as never before. It is only by doing so we can make this country work for everyone not just a privileged few." The review will be conducted by a new unit within the UK's Cabinet Office and has been described by Downing Street as "unprecedented" in its scope and transparency, enabling the public to hold public services to account and force improvements. The review will be published within a year and updated annually after that to cover health, education, employment, welfare, skills and criminal justice across the UK. Ben Gummer, a Cabinet Office minister, will oversee the 'Racial Disparities Audit' alongside communities minister Sajid Javid. In her speech on the steps of Downing Street when she took charge as Prime Minister last month, May had pledged that the government she leads will "work for everyone". She announced the review as her first major announcement after returning from a Swiss summer holiday this week. A recent report by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission had found racial inequality remained "entrenched" in Britain and that black graduates earn on average 23 per cent less than white ones and are far more likely to be unemployed. Black women were found to be seven times more likely to be detained under mental health laws than white women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Centre grappling to bring peace in restive Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, the slain militant's father Muzaffar Wani met Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at his ashram in Bengaluru. The spiritual guru said this on social networking site Twitter tonight, saying Muzaffar Wani was in his ashram for two days and that they discussed "several issues". "Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues," Ravi Shankar tweeted, without elaborating. The tweet was accompanied by a picture of the two together. Ravi Shankar referred to the meeting with Muzaffar Wani on a day Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presented a "three-pronged action plan" that includes a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the troubled Valley. After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8 in the wake of protests over the death of Burhan Wani, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was "very concerned" about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that peace returns. Mehbooba outlined a "three-pronged action plan" before the Prime Minister for resolution of the Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. Sources said the plan also includes facilitating the visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley, a possible change in Governor and appointing interlocutors to hold talks with all stakeholders in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka on Saturday maintained that it was not possible for it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu given the "severe distress" faced by it as an all-party meeting decided that the Supreme Court be apprised of the "ground reality". "Tamil Nadu has sought release of 50 TMC (thousand million cubic) ft of water. Can it be given? No. From where can we give it. No," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after consulting leaders of Opposition parties who endorsed the government's stand. Siddaramaiah said the Tamil Nadu government had approached the apex court pleading it to direct Karnataka to release 50 TMC ft according to the normal (water) year, but today there is no normal year in Karnataka. "We are facing a severe distress year. Both the states should share the distress pro data. That is the principle we have followed so far and the court has also given a direction like this based on the ground reality," he said. Siddaramaiah said the ground reality now is that the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin Kabini, Hemavathy, Harangi and KRS have a combined storage of 51 TMC ft. At least 40 TMC ft of that is required to meet drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other cities, as also villages and the remaining quantum for standing crops. "There is no water for this only (drinking and standing crops). This is the ground reality. All parties have shared the same view," the Chief Minister said. The meeting, he said, decided that the Supreme Court should be apprised of the "ground reality" and the state's advocates would be told to do so. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, Bharatiya Janata Party leader K S Eshwarappa, former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy, besides Law Minister T B Jayachandra and Water Resources Minister M B Patil. Kharge said all parties backed the government and added, "There is no water. The question of release of water to Tamil Nadu does not arise." Kumaraswamy said there was no question of dissonance on the issue and the government had been told to take care of the interests of the state farmers who had already received a "big blow" due to drought. In the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu has sought directions to Karnataka to release 50.052 TMC ft of Cauvery water to irrigate farmland. It has also sought the court's intervention to ensure that Karnataka adhered to the stipulated water releases in accordance with the 2007 order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal for the remaining months, starting from August 20, 2016. In the petition, Tamil Nadu has charged Karnataka with diverting water meant for farmers during distress years for undeclared projects, in violation of the tribunal's orders. After Tamil Nadu's plea for an urgent hearing, an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur has posted the matter for September 2. Puducherry Welfare Minister M Kandasamy today called upon non governmental organisations in the Union Territory to pay sustained care and attention for the welfare of young children. Handing over Rs 3.51 crore as grant to 27 NGOs of Puducherry and Karaikal regions under a scheme of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry here Kandasamy said the grant was presented to the organisations taking care of abandoned children, street children and also adopted by the organisations. Around 1670 dhildren attached to the organisations would be benefitted by the grant. He said Puducherry Child Protection Society operating the Central scheme and attached to the Department of Social Welfare should ensure that there was timely availability of the grants. He asked the officials of the organisations to be meticulous in the welfare of the children. He later told newsmen that there was an attempt on the part of the government to introduce cradle baby scheme in Puducherry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today condemned Pakistan for "fomenting trouble" in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded "immediate measures" to end the current unrest in the valley. "Jammu Congress today held a meeting in which the party leadership strongly condemned Pakistan for fomenting trouble taking advantage of the situation and demanded immediate effective measures to end the current unrest in order to defeat the designs of inimical forces," a party spokesman said. "The party leaders expressed grave concern over the grim situationin the valley, which is under curfew for the last 49 days with unrest and incidents of violence continuing unabated," he added. During the meeting, Congress complimented the people of Jammu "for rejecting all sorts of provocations" and "maintaining peace and religious harmony". The party also appealed to the people "to remain vigilant" and to not allow the "communal, divisive and anti-national forces" to take advantage of the current situation. So far 68 people have died in the protests in Kashmir that began after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today sought revocation of the resolution passed by the BMC making 'Suryanamaskar' compulsory for students of all schools run by the Municipal Corporation. A 22-member delegation of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee-Minority Department met Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan here and made the demand, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said. The delegation asked the Governor to prevail upon the civic boy to revoke the resolution following which he assured them that he will forward the memorandum presented by the Committee to the state government. The Sena-BJP ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had passed a resolution this week making yoga and 'Suryanamaskar' (sun salutation) mandatory in all civic schools here despite strong protests from Opposition parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party and MNS. The ruling allies had rejected the amendment demanded by the Opposition parties to make yoga optional in schools. Samajwadi Party had also demanded deletion of 'Suryanamaskar' from the proposal, cleared by the House of the civic body. Opposition parties had alleged that BJP was trying to saffronise education, both in the Centre and the state by introducing such proposals. According to Samajwadi corporator Rais Sheikh making 'Suryanamaskar' compulsory in schools is a way to promote Hindutva as its origin lies in Hindu God Surya (Sun). He claimed that if BMC makes this compulsory, Muslim parents would stop sending their children to schools. The AIMIM too expressed strong reservations against the BMC move. AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan said the mandate was against Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guaranteeing right to freedom of religion. The state government had made it optional so how can BMC make it compulsory, he said. However, BJP corporator Dilip Patel, defending the proposal had said, "Now yoga has been internationally accepted as the best form of exercise. Bringing yoga into the religious ambit is a political tactic by Opposition parties." BMC had on August 23 cleared the proposal tabled by BJP corporator Samita Kamble with an aim to improve overall health of students by incorporating the ancient exercise regime into their daily routine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Africa's beleaguered Gupta family, one of the country's wealthiest and most influential with ties to President Jacob Zuma, on Sunday, announced to relinquish all their business interests in the country by the end of this year. The brothers Ajay, Atul and Anil, who arrived from India at the advent of democracy under Nelson Mandela in the 1990's, had established a huge information technology company, Sahara Computers, before branching into a wide range of businesses as diverse as mining and media, including The New Age daily newspaper and the television channel ANN7, both in partnership with Indian media houses. "Since our decision to step down from all executive and non-executive positions in all our South African business in April 2016, the local management team has grown our businesses from strength to strength, with turnover and profits showing good growth and more jobs created," a statement issued today by Gupta family spokesman Gary Naidoo said. In recent years, the Gupta family has been the subject of many controversies, most of them linked to their allegedly close relationship with President Zuma and other top African National Congress leaders, but no charges had been brought against them. Several top government officials made public statements about allegedly being offered ministerial positions by the Guptas, while claimed that the family had knowledge of such appointments even before they were made public. Concerns were also expressed about companies owned by the Gupta's employing close relatives of Zuma, with one of his young sons being a major partner in several companies owned by the family. Earlier this year, all major South African banks and multinational auditing company KPMG refused to do any business with Gupta-owned companies, despite interventions by top government officials because of the possible effect on thousands of employees who would not receive salaries. The family moved to Dubai a few months ago, with the brothers stepping down from all positions at their various companies. "As a family, we now believe that the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses which we believe will benefit our existing employees and lead to further growth in the businesses. "As such, we announce on Sunday, our intention to sell all of our shareholding in by the end of the year. We are already in discussions with several prospective buyers and will soon be in a position to make further announcements," the statement added. In fresh trouble for Kerala Congress (M) (KC-M) supremo K M Mani, a vigilance court on Saturday ordered further probe against him in the bar bribery scam but the former finance minister said he would face it courageously. Special Vigilance Judge in Thiruvananthapuram, A Badaruddin, issued the direction for further investigation in the case, which had rocked the previous Oommen Chandy regime with Mani forced to quit as Finance Minister last year. The order was issued on a petition by Vigilance Superintendent of Police S P Sukeshan under CrPC section 173 seeking further probe against Mani. The fresh development comes days after Mani severed his three-decade old ties with the United Democratic Front (UDF) unhappy over being denied 'justice' by the Oommen Chandy government. Mani, against whom first information report has been registered on the allegation that he was paid one crore rupees bribe for reopening closed bars, had to resign unceremoniously after an adverse remark by the Kerala high court in November 2015. The case itself was a conspiracy by bar owners, he said, adding, audio tapes revealing the conspiracy had come out. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Left Democratic Front (LDF) even before coming to power had pointed out about "the shortcomings" in the investigation,while Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran P Achutanandan wanted a comprehensive probe to be ordered on an attempt to sabotage the case during the UDF rule. Questioning the superintendent of police credentials, Mani alleged, "Sukeshan was an officer who frequently contradicted his own reports. He is an officer without conscience." He also wondered whether the present development was a sequel to his political decision to come out of the UDF. KC-M has made it clear that it would keep equi-distance from the LDF, the UDF and the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, there were media reports that KC-M was warming up to the National Democratic Alliance and the LDF. In his petition, Sukeshan, the official who had investigated the case earlier and filed two closure reports giving a clean chit to Mani, also stated that a former Vigilance Director had allegedly tried to sabotage the case by tampering with the case diary. The case related to the allegation by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners Association Working President Biju Ramesh that the association had paid Rs one crore bribe to Mani for getting favourable decision for reopening closed bars in 2013-14. The previous closure report filed by Sukeshan has been challenged by then opposition leader Achuthanandan and is pending in court. A fire has broken out on the Prague set of History Channel's "Knightfall,' produced by A&E Studios. Czech television network CT24 tweeted photos of the blaze, which reportedly erupted on one of the exterior sets for the series, centered around the mysterious Knights Templar. The show is filming at Prague's Barrandov Studios, with photos from CT24 showing a constructed Medieval castle ablaze, in addition to other exteriors. A source said that the fire only impacted exterior sets, and while the full extent of the damage is unknown, it's believed to be "significant," with firefighters, ambulances and a helicopter onsite to help control the inferno, according to local reports. No injuries have been reported so far, although Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny reports that three firefighters were treated for fatigue and possible carbon monoxide poisoning after tackling the blaze. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated, with production expected to resume on Monday. Barrandov is the biggest film studio in the Czech Republic, and one of the largest production facilities in Europe, having played host to the likes of "Casino Royale," "Mission Impossible" and its later sequel "Ghost Protocol," "The Bourne Identity," "Snowpiercer" and many more since construction was completed in 1933. "Knightfall" was created and is executive produced by Don Handfield and Richard Rayner, with "Avengers" star Jeremy Renner also serving as executive producer for production company The Combine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flags flew at half mast across Italy today as the country observed a day of mourning for the victims of an earthquake that killed nearly 300 people. President Sergio Mattarella paid tribute to the "extraordinary effort" of more than 4,000 rescue experts and volunteers as he began what was set to be an emotionally charged day with a brief visit to Amatrice, around 100 kilometres northeast of Rome. The small mountain town suffered the heaviest losses in the disaster with around two thirds of the quake's 284 confirmed victims buried under tonnes of collapsed masonry in its devastated centre. The elderly head of state looked visibly moved as he contemplated the site of a razed house on the edge of a zone that has been sealed off by rescue workers for fear of further collapses. There are fears more bodies will be recovered in Amatrice, a holiday spot that was packed with visitors when the powerful quake struck in the early hours of Wednesday. And of the nearly 400 people hospitalised, several are reportedly in a critical state. Emergency services are more confident that they have accounted for everyone in the smaller outlying hamlets to the north of Amatrice -- some of which have been so badly damaged there are doubts as to whether they will ever be inhabited again. The one-street village of Saletta had less than 20 permanent residents but with its population swollen by summer visitors 22 people died there. "Saletta will disappear like so many tiny places," predicted Marco Beltrame. The 28-year-old lost his aunt and uncle in the quake. Mattarella was also due to visit the village of Accumoli before joining Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at a funeral for some of the victims in Ascoli Piceno, capital of Marche, one of three regions affected by the quake. The first grieving families to bury their dead did so yesterday evening in Pomezia. There were tear-drenched scenes as hundreds of residents of the small town south of Rome turned out to pay their respects to lost relatives, friends and neighbours who included an eight-year-old boy. A large number of the victims were from the Rome area, where many former inhabitants of the mountains have moved for work, returning to family homes only at the height of summer. At least eight foreigners died, including three Britons, two Romanians and nationals of Canada, El Salvador and Spain. Today's funeral was for some of the 46 people who died in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto, located in the mountains where Marche meets neighbouring Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. A local gymnasium has been transformed into a chapel, where bereaved relatives came to pray in front of 30 coffins. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 53,000 people have been rescued by NDRF teams from the flood-ravaged areas in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The National Disaster Response Force has deployed 75 rescue and relief teams, with about 40 rescuers in each, to help the people hit by heavy rains in these states and has also tasked two Deputy Inspector General-rank officers in Bihar and UP for monitoring the situation round-the-clock. "So far, NDRF teams have evacuated/rescued more than 53,000 persons and provided medical assistance to 12,200 needy persons in this monsoon season. Operations are still continuing," the force said. The National Disaster Response Force teams are deployed in Bihar's Munger, Samastipur, Begusarai, Fathuha, Patna, Bhagalpur, Didarganj, Danapur, Bakhtiyarpur, Buxar, Vaishali and Chhapra and evacuated over 1,748 marooned people to safer places. Similarly, it said, in Uttar Pradesh, these teams conducted rescue and relief operations at Allahabad, Banda, Gazipur, Varanasi and Ballia districts and evacuated 2,163 people, who were stranded in low lying areas. A team has also been positioned at Mangan in North Sikkim and has helped evacuate more than 280 people to safer places, it said. The forces' control room at its headquarters here is also monitoring the situation to coordinate with all the stakeholders. The control room's contacts are: 011-24363260/24363261 and the email id is: hq.Ndrf@nic.In. Early this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised total support to these flood-hit states in conduct of rescue and relief operations. He had said Home Minister Rajnath Singh is closely monitoring the situation and has spoken to chief ministers of of these states. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign currencies, worth around Rs 92 lakh, were today seized from a Singapore-bound passenger at the Tiruchirappalli airport here, officials said. Acting on specific input, the accused was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials, and foreign currency notes were seized from him, an official release said. The accused was allegedly trying to smuggle them to Singapore, it said. The recovered foreign currencies include Euro, Swiss Franc, Saudi Riyal and Dirham. The foreign currencies were found kept concealed at the bottom of the 'stroller bags' and seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962, the release said. The passenger was let out on bail as it was "bailable offence", it said, adding further investigation was on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A vigilance court here today dismissed the discharge petition filed by former chief vigilance commissioner P J Thomas in the decades old palmolein import deal case. Dismissing the petition, Vigilance Court judge A Badaruddin observed that Thomas could be discharged from the case only if the investigating officers conclude that there was no evidence of his involvement in the case. In his petition, Thomas, who was former state Food Secretary at the time of the import in 1992, pleaded for discharge saying the allegations levelled against him were baseless and politically motivated. Claiming that he was innocent, he said he had only executed his job that was entrusted by the then government. The court posted the case for further proceedings to October 5. An IAS officer of 1973 batch of Kerala cadre, Thomas has been arraigned as the eighth accused in the palmolein case that pertains to alleged corruption in import of 1,500 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia without floating global tenders when Congress stalwart late K Karunakaran was the chief minister. The deal allegedly caused a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the state exchequer. Karunakaran was also an accused in the case. Thomas had to step down as CVC in 2011 in the back drop of the the case. A Vigilance probe into the deal was ordered by the LDF ministry led by then Chief Minister E K Nayanar in 1999. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Faced with growing distress of farmers, especially in Maharashtra, due to a plunge in prices, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday exhorted traders to export more by availing duty benefits and ensure stability. He also promised that the Centre will take all possible steps to protect interest of farmers and if possible, extend the export duty benefits beyond December 31. The government is committed to alleviating the woes of farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a discussion with agriculture and commerce ministers and all possible help will be extended to the farmers, Gadkari said. He said the sharp fall in prices has hit onion-producing states, particularly Maharashtra, and farmers are in distress. Under the circumstances, we met Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the government has agreed to provide 5 per cent MEIS (Merchandise Exports from India Scheme) for encouraging export of fresh/chilled onions. The scheme is available till December 31, 2016 and if need be, extension can be given, Gadkari told reporters. Minister of State Subhash Bhamre, who accompanied Gadkari, was also present. Asking traders to maximise exports to stabilise the onion prices, Gadkari said India is the third-largest exporter of onions after the Netherlands and China. The value of 1.2 million fresh and chilled onions exported from India during 2015-16 was about $450 million. Average price per kg at which the onions were exported during 2015-16 was between Rs 20-25 per kg, but this year due to surplus production, it has come down to Rs 10-12 per kg, the minister said. Approval has been granted to provide 5 per cent MEIS to fresh/chilled onions being exported from India and the expected quantity to be exported is about 350,000 tonnes, the minister said. At the same time, he urged the farmers to diversify their crops, as there is a huge scope in pulses and oil seeds. He said the Maharashtra government will be sending a detailed proposal for subsidy. Wholesale prices at the Asias biggest onion market at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra have plunged to Rs 6 per kg today, compared to Rs 48.50 in the year-ago period, official data showed. Onion prices have fallen due to estimated higher production at 20.2 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June), as against 18.9 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year. Farmers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which are among leading onion-producing states, have taken to distress sale of the bulb due to higher supply and unsold stocks. The situation has worsened to the extent that farmers in Nashik district have claimed that they got 5 paise per kg rate for their produce. Partnership for Families, Children and Adults announced the Grand Opening of a retail store, Partnership FCA Thrift and Consignment. The store opens Aug. 30 and is located at 301-D Martin Luther King Boulevard. The grand opening will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and reception at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Regular business hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday- Saturday. The store will accept gently used adult clothing, shoes and accessories. Donations can be dropped off at Partnership FCA Thrift and Consignment Store after Aug. 29. Prior to Aug. 29, donations can be taken to Partnerships administrative building located at 1800 McCallie Avenue. It is our belief Partnership FCA Thrift and Consignment will be an excellent source of additional funding. By opening the doors to a new stream of revenue, we will be able to better support the many programs we offer that do not generate revenue, such as our domestic violence shelter and rape crisis center said Pam Ladd, Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Ladd says the thrift stores premiere location, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and its proximity to University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas campus will generate foot traffic into the store, while increasing visibility of the agency and its programs as a whole. The store will be staffed by volunteers from Orange Grove Center, with a goal of opening employment opportunities to past or current recipients of Partnership services in the near future. Partnership for Families, Children and Adults is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are subject to tax deductions. Hurricane Lester and Tropical Storm Madeline both picked up strength in the Pacific today, the US National Hurricane Center said, with both possibly heading towards Hawaii. The centre of Lester -- which became a hurricane late yesterday -- was located some 960 kilometers southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, the NHC said in its bulletin. Lester is packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometres per hour, but there are no coastal watches or warnings because it is moving west into the Pacific at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour. "This motion is expected to continue with an increase in forward speed during the next couple of days," the Miami-based NHC said. Lester's hurricane-force winds extend up to 35 kilometers from its centre, and tropical-force winds extend outward up to 150 kilometers. Late yesterday the Hurricane Center announced the formation of Tropical Storm Madeline, also in the Pacific -- a storm that could become a hurricane and strike Hawaii. At 0900 today, Madeline's centre was located about 1,865 kilometres east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and moving towards the west-northwest at a speed of 17 kilometres per hour. The storm currently packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour, but could gain strength and become a hurricane by late today or tomorrow. According to the NHC's five-day forecast cone, Madeline's centre could reach just north the Island of Hawaii -- the largest island in the archipelago -- by late Wednesday. And on its current path Hurricane Lester is also heading towards the Hawaii Islands. The temperature of the ocean in that part of the Pacific is warm enough to sustain these kinds of storms, said Norman Hui at the National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu, Hawaii. Madeline is forecast to come "very close to the island of Hawaii," Hui told AFP. And if Lester "continues on its current path it might reach Hawaii," he said. Storm forecasts are usually accurate for the first 48 hours, but there is greater uncertainty after the third day. Lester, for example, would not reach Hawaii until the end of next week, and it "will probably change course" before that, Hui said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian carrying vehicles and foodstuff among other things reportedly sank today off the coast of Oman due to overloading but all the 11 crew members were rescued. The ship, heading to Yemen's Al Mukalla port after it was loaded in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, sunk off the coast of Jalan Bani Bu Ali province, according to the Oman News Agency. All 11 crew members were rescued by Omani fishermen and Royal Oman Police. The vessel was carrying 69 vehicles, foodstuff, tyres and engine oils. The vessel sank due to damages caused by overloading, Gulf News reported. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to end the impasse in . The situation in has turned so grim that political parties such as the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition Conference (NC) as well as organisations such as Hurriyat have lost ground and eventually, the government will not be able to find anyone to talk to restore peace, Owaisi told reporters in Hyderabad. "There is curfew going on for the past 50 days. People are getting killed in . Even security personnel died. I went through the interviews of some of the experts. PDP and NC have lost their political ground. RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) chief said South Kashmir has become a limited zone. This is a very serious situation," said the AIMIM chief. "Hurriyat has lost ground there. Then who should we initiate a dialogue with? We are entering the domain of uncertainty. So the government must initiate a dialogue," the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad said. Replying to query, he said though the separatists have been kept under house arrest, the government knows the ways and means to initiate a dialogue. To a question, he said the Democratic Alliance government is facing many challenges including job creation and maintaining communal harmony in the country. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti too sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. So far, 68 people have died in protests that started from July 8 after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Hopes were fading Saturday of finding more survivors under the rubble of the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which has already claimed at least 281 lives. The first funerals for victims of the devastating quake that hit the mountainous region this week were held Friday as the country prepared for an emotionally charged day of mourning. Flags will fly at half-mast across the country on Saturday in respect for the victims of a disaster that killed at least 281 lives and left another 388 injured, according to an updated official toll. The Civil Protection agency's emergency unit said no new survivors had been found Friday in the remote mountain villages blitzed by Wednesday's powerful pre-dawn quake. At least 388 people have been hospitalised with injuries. No one has been pulled alive from the piles of collapsed masonry since Wednesday evening. "We will go on searching and digging until we are certain there is no one left," said Luigi D'Angelo, a Civil Protection officer working in the town of Amatrice, where the death toll stands at 221. Forestry police officer Valerio Checchi said he expected rescuers to shortly start using mechanical diggers to move debris in a sign virtually all hope of finding survivors has gone. "We will still use thermal devices that can detect the presence of human bodies." said Checchi. At least eight foreigners were among the dead, according to updates from foreign ministries. Britain's foreign office on Friday confirmed that a British couple in their 50s had been killed in the quake as well as a 14-year-old boy, and Romania said two of its nationals, who were living in Italy, had also died. Spain, Canada and El Salvador each said that one of their citizens had perished. As powerful aftershocks closed winding mountain roads and made life dangerous for more than 4,000 professionals and volunteers engaged in the rescue effort, survivors voiced dazed bewilderment over the scale of the disaster that struck their sleepy communities. "I have been through earthquakes before, but this was not a quake, it was an apocalypse," said Anacleto Perotti, 66. The Centre today sought a detailed report into the incident in which three elephants were run over by a train in South-Eastern Railway's Bankura-Howrah section of West Bengal. Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave has asked authorities to ascertain the exact reasons behind the accident and also directed state forest department to put in place appropriate measures for the conservation of elephants after discussing the issue with railways. "The Minister has sought a detailed report on the train accident in Bishnupur area of West Bengal yesterday, in which three elephants were killed. Dave has asked all local authorities concerned to ascertain the exact reasons behind the train accident. "The Environment Minister has also directed State Forest Department officials to discuss the issue with Railway authorities and put in place appropriate measures for the conservation of elephants," an official statement said. Two elephant calves and their mother were knocked down by the Kharagpur-Adra Passenger at around 7:30 PM yesterday. The train moved on but the jumbos' mutilated carcasses spread across the tracks between Bisnupur in Bankura and Piyardoba in West Midnapore for over two hours disrupted train movement in the section. The Ministry said that it has initiated steps to prepare a 'Regional Landscape Plan' for conservation of elephants in the East Central Elephant Landscape, comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and other elephant areas. The West Bengal forest department has also prepared a three-year action plan for controlling human-elephant conflict in South Bengal. The state forest department will send SMS alerts to railway authorities on movement of elephants near railway tracks to prevent accidents, the statement said. State forest department officials are scheduled to hold a a meeting with railway authorities today, following yesterday's train accident in Bishnpur area of West Bengal. According to reports, the pachyderm family was crossing the track, skirted by dense forest on both sides, when the mishap occurred yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party founder Pawan Kalyan today warned the Narendra Modi government not to test the "patience and tolerance" of people of Andhra Pradesh further and demanded that the promised special category state status be granted forthwith. "We are tired and vexed. Please don't test our patience and cause intolerance. Special status is our right and it has to be granted at any cost," Kalyan asserted and vowed to fight for it till the end. He accused the Centre of "diverting" the special status issue in the name of cow protection. "You are thinking about cow protection. I have 15 cows (in my backyard). By taking up cow protection, you are only diverting other important issues," Kalyan said. "Hum ladenge. Jeete tak ladenge. (We will fight till we win)", the actor said in an emotion-filled tone at his first public meeting after a gap of over two years. He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu for allegedly seeking to "betray" the people of Seemandhra on one pretext or the other and denying special status to the state. "Modiji, you said (during electioneering in 2014) that the Congress killed the mother (AP) and gave birth to a new baby (Telangana). Now, you are trying to cremate the mother," Kalyan said. "I have respect for you but not so much that I will mortgage the self-pride of Seemandhra people," he said. Attacking Jaitley and Naidu over their conflicting claims on special status, he said "Jaitley says several financial grants were released to AP in the last two years while Venkaiah Naidu says special status is not a panacea. We are tired of all this". "You are committing a mistake, Venkaiah Naidu garu. My age may not be equal to your political experience, but remember you are first a Telugu. You should speak in public interest first rather than your party interest," he said. He demanded that Telugu Desam Party come out of the NDA government at the Centre if it could not fight and achieve special status as promised by the BJP. The actor-politican wondered what was preventing it from fighting for the rightful demand of special status to the state. "They are apparently afraid that the Centre will set the CBI on them (TDP). Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Stall Parliament and achieve special status," Kalyan said. "I appeal to the Centre to not look at a few filthy rich TDP MPs like Kesineni Srinivas, Muralimohan, Avanti Srinivas and state minister P Narayana. Grant special status looking at the common people of the state," he added. Referring to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's claim that three Chief Ministers were blocking the grant of special status to AP, Kalyan asked "why are you then hanging on to your post? Resign and come out." He wound up his nearly one hour speech in a highly emotional tone remarking in English: "Respected sirs of BJP and Congress. We are deeply hurt that you are not able to see our angst, anguish, tears and anger. You may be sitting up north and we in down south and think we are not in your vicinity. But we will be in your vicinity and fight for our right." "Hum ladenge. Jeetne tak ladenge. (We will fight till we win", Kalyan summed up and announced he would organise a series of meetings on the special status issue beginning with a public meeting at Kakinada on September 9. In a no-holds-barred attack on the Centre and the state government, Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan today said here that he would fight till the Centre granted special category state status to Andhra Pradesh. He demanded that Telugu Desam Party leave the NDA government if it could not fight and achieve the special status as promised by the BJP. He lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi too. "Modi-ji, you said (during the 2014 election campaign) that Congress killed the mother (Andhra Pradesh) and gave birth to a new baby (Telangana). Now, you are trying to cremate the mother," Kalyan said. He wondered what was stopping TDP from fighting for the rightful demand of special status. "They are apparently afraid that the Centre will set the CBI on them. Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Stall Parliament and achieve special status," Kalyan said. "I appeal to the Centre to not look at a few filthy rich TDP MPs like....Grant special status looking at the common people of the state," the actor added. Referring to the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's claim that three chief ministers were blocking the grant of special status to AP, Kalyan asked, "Why are you then hanging on to your post? Resign and come out." He wound up his nearly one hour speech in a highly emotional tone, saying in English, "Respected sirs of BJP and Congress. We are deeply hurt that you are not able to see our angst, anguish, tears and anger. "You may be sitting up north and we in down south and think we are not in your vicinity. But we will be in your vicinity and fight for our right. "Hum ladenge...Jeet tak ladenge," he said. He would organise a series of meetings on the issue beginning with a public meeting at Kakinada on September 9, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kashmiri Pandits today held a candle light march to express their solidarity with nearly 1600 employees from their community who have been protesting for over a month after being attacked by a mob in Kashmir. Various organisations of Kashmiri Pandits came together under the banner of All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) to hold the rally. "Around 1600 employees from the Kashmiri Pandit community have been protesting in Jammu for the past 46 days after their transit camps were attacked by the stone pelting mob in Kashmir. They have refused to return and the government has turned a blind eye towards them," said chairman of APMCC, Vinod Pandit. The protesters accused the state and central government of "forsaking" the community, saying no government representative has visited the victims of the mob attack. "The situation in Kashmir is not conducive for the return of the protesting employees," Pandit said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons, including a woman and her son, were killed and as many were injured when the lightning struck at Ishwariya Park, a picnic spot, here this evening, police said. A large number of people had gathered at the park, which is on the city outskirts, for picnic this evening when the weather suddenly worsened. "A lightning struck near gate number 2, where there was a group of six persons. It killed three of them and injured the other three," Pradhyumnagar police station's inspector R Y Raval said. The deceased were identified as Aarti, her son Bhargav and Ajay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malaysian student activists led a rally today to demand the arrest of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been implicated in a US government probe into massive fraud in a Malaysian investment fund. More than 1,000 people defied a police ban as they congregated at two locations in Kuala Lumpur and marched to historic Independence Square. They held posters and caricatures of Najib, with some chanting "Catch, catch Najib." The US Department of Justice said last month that at least USD 3.5 billion had been stolen from 1MDB, a Malaysian fund founded by Najib. It has initiated action to seize USD 1.3 billion it said was used to buy assets in the US. It said in court filings that more than USD 700 million had landed in the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1." It didn't name the official, but appeared to be referring to Najib. Allegations against 1MDB have gained steam, but Najib has steadfastly denied any involvement or wrongdoing. "Can we send MO1 to jail and bring that person to face justice?" student leader Anis Syafiqah Mohamad Yusof said at the rally. Police put barricades around the square, forcing protesters to gather around the perimeter. It was a rare protest led by student activists in the country, and backed by opposition parties and civil groups. The rally ended peacefully after nearly three hours, with student leaders placing the effigies of Najib, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, his stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz and businessman Low Taek Jho into a mock prison. Riza, who co-founded the movie production studio Red Granite Pictures, and Low, who is close to Najib's family, were named in the Department of Justice filings. The state fund was created in 2009 by Najib shortly after he took office to promote economic development projects. Instead, US prosecutors said, fund officials diverted more than USD 3.5 billion through a web of shell companies and bank accounts in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States. The Justice Department says the forfeiture demand, for some USD 1.3 billion of that money that officials were able to trace through the US financial system, is the largest single action it's taken. The money was used to pay for luxury properties in New York and California, a USD 35 million jet, and art by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, according to the DOJ complaints. It also allegedly helped finance the Hollywood film "The Wolf of Wall Street," made by Red Granite Pictures. Najib remains firmly in political control of the country, thanks largely to the apparently unwavering support of ruling party members despite a few voices of dissent. The opposition is too weak in Malaysia to dislodge him. However, the US complaints are by far the biggest threat to Najib's credibility that could reinvigorate the opposition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi today accused the Narendra Modi government of having "sluggish" and "directionless" policy on the Jammu and Kashmir, and said the Centre needs to take concrete measures to establish peace in the Valley. "There is no difference of opinion that Pakistan has adopted a negative approach on Jammu and Kashmir. However, time has come that instead of putting the blame on Pakistan, we should go ahead and look for some concrete measures to establish peace and harmony in the region," Singhvi told reporters. Looking at the present situation in the Valley, the government's policy has been sluggish and directionless and for the delicate region like J&K, it is quite dangerous, he added. While criticising the PDP-BJP dispensation in J&K, the Congress spokesperson said "It seems that there is no coalition government in the Valley. It seems as if there is one government in Jammu and another in Kashmir." "The situation in the Valley has been on the boil since the past 50 days and it has claimed 68 lives. However, if you compare these two years of BJP-led government with UPA, for last seven to eight years before BJP came to power, we had managed to maintain peace, harmony through coordination and cooperation in J&K," he claimed. Referring to Modi's "Insaniyat, Jhamooriyat and Kashmiriyat" remarks, Singhvi said the government should look for concrete measures instead of just saying these three words. "The Valley continues to be on boil on the 50th day today. However, except the Home Minister, no minister has gone there. PM has not taken any concrete steps and this is because there is a disconnect and discontinuance in the functioning of the coalition government," he said. Stating that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are not on the same page on the J&K issue, he added "There is lack of coordination. All party meeting on the issue is yet to be convened." He further slammed the Centre saying intolerance has been on the rise in the country over the last two years. "With so much intolerance rising in the country, the identity of the nation has changed in the last two years," he said. Referring to the controversy surrounding actor-turned- politician Ramya's remarks, he said when someone says 'Pakistan is not a hell', sedition cases are being filed and they are being labelled as anti-national. (Reopens BOM7) Singhvi also criticised the BJP-led government in Maharashtra for making "false promises" before coming to power in the state. "There are blatant violations on the part of state government in Maharashtra as before coming to the power, they had made several promises. But now, there is a big gap between their 'kathani and karni' (words and deeds). "Look at the issue of farmers' suicide. During the election, they had promised that they will stop farmers' suicide, but see what happens now as maximum suicides have taken place in this BJP-ruled state since they have come to power," he said. He also attacked the government over the issue of corruption. Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today stressed the need to insulate the young generation from negative forces. Sangma also stressed in today's situation there was no need to take up armed struggle to address one's grievances. The Chief Minister was addressing the gathering at the 100th Death Anniversary celebration of noted Garo politician, patriot and freedom fighter Late Sonaram Rongrokgre Sangma organized jointly by the 100 Years Death Anniversary Celebration Committee and Garo Students' Union at Bakrapur in Goalpara district of Assam. The day-long celebration was also attended by the Tura Parliamentarian Conrad K. Sangma, Parliamentary Secretaries, Cherak W. Momin, Brigady N Marak, Samuel M. Sangma and Michael T. Sangma, lone Garo Legislator in Assam Dr. Numal G. Momin, Chief Executive Member, GHADC Denang T. Sangma, other MDCs , academicians and leaders of various organizations among others. The Chief Minister called Sonaram Sangma a selfless and compassionate leader, whose love for the people led him to give up his job to fight against the British for the rights of his community and protect their interests through non-violent means. While stressing on the need to connect with the positive past, he said that in today's age there is no longer need for taking up armed struggle to address our grievances. "When we love our community, we must also love people from other communities because no community can exist in isolation and prosperity can sustain only when all communities prosper together", he said. On the problems faced by the people living in the contiguous Garo-habited areas of Assam, he said that people on both sides of the border share the same problems and added that the people have been given their rights and opportunities but they must also remember their responsibilities. Tura MP, Conrad K. Sangma and MLA of Bokajan, Assam, Numal G. Momin were among others who also addressed the gathering on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw today arrived at Bodh Gaya in Bihar and offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple here. Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee member Arvind Kumar Singh said. He also visited a Burmese monastery besides visiting a 80-feet tall Lord Buddha's statue and offered prayer there. Earlier, Kyaw along with his wife and a 31-member Myanmarese delegation landed at Gaya International airport in the afternoon in a special aircraft. Gaya District Magistrate Kumar Ravi and other senior district officials welcomed him at the airport. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea is making progress on a submarine-launched ballistic missile system but any deployment of the technology is years away, a US think tank said, as the UN Security Council promised action over Pyongyang's latest test. The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said yesterday on its closely-watched website, 38 North, that the success of North Korea's SLBM test this week suggests the program may be progressing faster than originally expected. "However, this does not mean it will be ready next week, next month, or even next year", it said. "Rather, the pace and method of the North's SLBM testing would suggest possible deployment in an initial operational capability by the second half of 2018 at the earliest." The missile, launched from a submerged prototype "Gorae-class" submarine near the northeastern port of Sinpo, flew 500 kilometres towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions. The flight distance, which was tracked by South Korea's military Joint Chiefs of Staff, far exceeded any previous SLBM tests, suggesting significant progress in technical prowess. A proven SLBM system would take North Korea's nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a "second-strike" capability in the event of an attack on its military bases. Following the test, the UN Security Council agreed on Friday to "take further significant measures" against North Korea, without elaborating. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Despite the North's successful test this week, the country faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile. Last month, 38 North reported the North was building up infrastructure to construct new submarines at the Sinpo South Shipyard. "A new submarine could probably be built within a two to three year time frame, but the likelihood of building new models without further testing and refinement of the experimental Gorae-class seems low", it said. But this is no information about whether actual submarine construction has begun, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An attack submarine that is sponsored by first lady Michelle Obama and will be named for her home state has been delivered to the US Navy. Submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat, based in Groton, Connecticut, delivered the submarine that will become the USS Illinois to the Navy today after nearly five and a half years of construction. The first lady, who's from Chicago, will be involved in the life of the submarine and the lives of its sailors and their families. The submarine will become the USS Illinois, SSN 786, and begin its active service at a commissioning ceremony in Groton on October 29. It took thousands of shipyard employees in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia and submarine supply businesses nationwide to build the USD 2.7 billion submarine, the 13th member of the Virginia class. There were no major issues during construction, and the submarine performed "superbly" during recent tests at sea, said an Electric Boat vice president, Kenneth Blomstedt. Michael Stevens, the Navy's Virginia-class program manager, said these attack submarines are needed to replace those that were built during the Cold War and are retiring. "Every submarine counts," he said. "Every submarine is needed out there." Electric Boat, which has been designing and building submarines since 1900, had until August 31 to transfer ownership of the future USS Illinois to the Navy, per the contract. It's the ninth submarine in a row to be delivered to the Navy early and on budget, Stevens said. The submarine has a redesigned bow with two large tubes to launch Tomahawk missiles, instead of 12 smaller tubes. The larger tubes were designed so the Navy would have the flexibility to also launch future weapons and unmanned vehicles, Blomstedt said. Cmdr. Jess Porter, the submarine's commanding officer, described the Illinois as a "stealthy weapon" that can influence adversaries in a way that makes the US more secure. The crew of about 130 men will take the submarine to sea for additional testing to prove its capabilities, Porter said. Construction began in March 2011. Modules were built in Rhode Island, at Electric Boat's manufacturing facility, and in Virginia, at Newport Shipbuilding. The two shipyards build Virginia-class attack submarines under a teaming agreement and alternate the deliveries. The final assembly and testing took place at Electric Boat's headquarters in Groton. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have 3D printed structures that "remember" their original shapes - even after being stretched, twisted, and bent at extreme angles - an advance that may lead to shape-changing solar cells and drug capsules that only release medicine when they detect fever. The researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) were able to print micron-scale features as small as the diameter of a human hair. The structures - from small coils and multimaterial flowers, to an inch-tall replica of the Eiffel tower - sprang back to their original forms within seconds of being heated to a certain temperature "sweet spot." Nicholas X Fang, associate professor at MIT, said shape-memory polymers that can predictably morph in response to temperature can be useful for a number of applications, from soft actuators that turn solar panels toward the Sun, to tiny drug capsules that open upon early signs of infection. "If we can design these polymers properly, we may be able to form a drug delivery device that will only release medicine at the sign of a fever," said Fang. The process of 3D printing shape-memory materials can also be thought of as 4D printing, as the structures are designed to change over the fourth dimension - time, said Qi Ge, now an assistant professor at SUTD. "Our method not only enables 4D printing at the micron-scale, but also suggests recipes to print shape-memory polymers that can be stretched 10 times larger than those printed by commercial 3D printers," Ge said. "This will advance 4D printing into a wide variety of practical applications, including biomedical devices, deployable aerospace structures, and shape-changing photovoltaic solar cells," he said. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No dengue deaths were reported from any district of West Bengal in the past 24 hours even as the toll stands at 23. As the health department was still "validating" reports of new dengue cases, it has not issued any number of people infected by the vector-borne disease, West Bengal Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy told PTI. "There are no reports of any dengue death in the last 24 hours and the death toll remained at 23. We are unable to issue the number of new dengue cases because the validating process is still on," Satpathy said. Till Thursday, 5,639 people were infected by dengue in West Bengal since January. Most of the dengue cases have been reported from districts like Howrah, Hooghly's Serampore municipal area, North 24 Parganas' South Dum Dum area and South 24 Parganas while a few isolated cases were reported from Darjeeling, Coochbehar and north Dinajpur districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said it will not welcome leaders like Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who has been removed as AAP's Punjab convener, into party fold. "The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has lots of committed workers and a dedicated cadre so there is no need for people like Sucha Singh Chhotepur to be brought into the SAD fold," SAD President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said while interacting with the media here. Attacking AAP, he said that this party is "on the verge of getting finished" and only the "last rites" needed to be performed, looking at its present state of affairs. Describing AAP as a "bunch of no do-gooders" who are only interested in "money minting", he said that its "hastily assembled conglomerate" of so-called leaders managed to "lure" people of Punjab with their "guiles" during the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 but now the people have seen their "real faces" and won't fall into their "trap" anymore. Taking a jibe at Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir said he didn't "care to show his face" to the people of Amritsar, despite being the elected representative from here. He alleged that both AAP and Congress did not care either for the interests of Punjab or the rich cultural and religious traditions of the state. Coming to the development of Amritsar, he said the city underwent a transition for the better during the previous nine years era of SAD-BJP government with Rs 3,000 crore being spent on various progress oriented infrastructural projects. Elaborating his plans to turn Amritsar into a hub of Tourism, Sulhbir said that the beautification of area around Golden Temple, besides the current beautification of Shri Durgiana Mandir and the focus on Rs 250 crore project of giving facelift to the Gobindgarh Fort, would further strengthen Amritsar's status amongst the tourist destinations. He said that the state government would hold talks with the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to hold a summit in Amritsar for hosting more than 30 ministers of various countries in December. The Deputy Chief Minister also met officials of various departments and took stock of the various development centric projects concerning the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI) has filed a police complaint against the leaders of BJP Yuva Morcha in connection with the violence after yesterday's election for Goa University's student council. A BJP-backed panel defeated NSUI panel, following which there was a clash between the two groups which forced police to intervene. "If I had not been given protection by police, I would have been killed by the BJYM members," Goa NSUI president Ahraz Mulla alleged today. NSUI has filed a police complaint against BJYM members Akhilesh Parrikar, Atmaram Barve, Gajanan Tilve, Pranav Sanvardekar and others. Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh who is in the state said the party will hold a protest march on August 29 over the attack and the "rigging" of university polls. "BJP activists were not even students. NSUI president's car was blocked. He was abused, threatened. Our university representatives were earlier threatened by BJP leaders who went to their houses and warned the parents," Singh alleged. "We will not tolerate this at all...Even our candidature was rejected on flimsy grounds," he alleged, adding Congress will carry on with its agitation until the guilty are arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A male nurse was sacked and a security agency at Kalahandi district headquarters hospital disengaged from service today for "negligence" in providing a hearse to a tribal man who had to walk 10 km carrying his wife's body on his shoulder on Wednesday. "The chief district medical officer (CDMO) today disengaged a male staff nurse and the security agency which were on duty on Wednesday. They were found guilty in the preliminary enquiry into the incident," Kalahandi District Collector Brundha D said. CDMO B K Barhma said the hospital had the facility for transporting bodies from hospital to the residence of the deceased persons. "Our hearse usually is engaged for about 25 days a month," Barhma said adding Dana Majhi's case was not reported to the authorities by the male nurse Rajendra Rana. Rana was on duty on Tuesday night when Dana Majhi's wife Amang Dei (42) died of tuberculosis. Though Majhi had informed him about the death of his wife and asked for a vehicle for transporting the body, Rana allegedly told him to take away the body on his own, officials said. About the 'fault' of the security agency, they said, it is the duty of the agency staff to verify death certificate before allowing a body to be taken out of the hospital campus. However, Majhi had gone out of the hospital carrying the body without a death certificate. Meanwhile, Melghara village in Kalahandi district witnessed a huge crowd as journalists and a Congress fact finding team came to meet Majhi and his 12-year-old daughter. "As my wife died in the night, I called the hospital staff present in the ward. He told me to take away the body. I did not know whether the hospital issues death certificate or arrange vehicle to carry the body. It took 30 minutes to wrap the body in a cloth and console my daughter before I started walking to my village," Majhi told the Congress team. The video recording of the conversation between Majhi and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das was shown to journalists at at Bhawanipatna, headquarters of the district. "This is inhuman. It shows the anti-tribal attitude of the Naveen Patnaik government. It must announce a high-level probe into the incident and compensation of Rs 10 lakh for Majhi's family," Das said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 34,606 criminals have been sentenced in last one year in Uttar Pradesh, DGP (Prosecution) Surya Pratap Singh said here on Sunday. "The number of people who have been sentenced in last one year is more than one lakh. Leaving out the shorter sentences, this number stands at 34,606," he said. 6,244 people have been sentenced for more than 10 years in jail of which 33 for committing serious crimes, he added. In Ghaziabad during this period, he said, 736 criminals were sentenced for less than 10 years and 162 for over 10 years. Singh also hailed the role of witnesses in expediting the trial process. "The witnesses also play an important role in expediting the trial process. In a case in Hapur, the trial process took mere 13 days, which is exemplary," said Singh. Pakistani national Nand Lal Maharaj, who was arrested on charges of being an ISI agent, operated two accounts on Facebook for obtaining strategic information from people living in the border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, police said today. The spy, also known as Nand Lal Garg, revealed during interrogation that he used the two accounts to communicate with his sources in the border areas. Maharaj had uploaded pictures that he had taken of several places in Jaisalmer in one of those accounts. The account also contained pictures of some places in Pakistan. Police Superintendent Gaurav Yadav today cautioned people against speaking with unknown persons on social media. He also appealed to them to inform police if they come to know of any suspicious persons. Maharaj had been arrested near the Indo-Pak border in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan earlier this month, with police claiming to have recovered classified information from him. He is a resident of Sangad district in Pakistan and had come to India earlier this month on visa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of suspension of classes in S A Jaipuria College here due to factional fights between two groups of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee today asked the college authorities to start conducting classes as early as possible. "I have given strict instructions that the college can't suspend classes except on days of examination. The normal classes has to continue on the days when there are no examinations scheduled. Classes has to start as early as possible. Students can't suffer," Chatterjee told PTI. The college administration has decided to suspend classes due to the ongoing factional fights in the college campus. However, it was decided that the Part I examination of Calcutta University will continue. The college is affiliated by the university. The authorities of the SA Jaipuria College yesterday had claimed that normal classes will remain suspended as there was threat to the safety of staff and students due to the ongoing clashes in college campus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today supported continuation of reservation. Addressing the three-day Executive Committee Meeting of PTI Federation of Employees Union here, Paswan said reservation existed because "economically weaker sections and poverty are there in the society". Referring to Mandal Commission, he said no dalit headed it when it was there in 1990. "V P Singh was the Prime Minister then and after implementation of Mandal Commission, his people had boycotted him," he said. "Economic disparities are there. Even Bhagwan Dayanand Saraswati, who was a Brahmin, advised to help the poor. Swami Vivekananda too preached to help the poor," he added. Paswan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "excellent leadership" and "ushering in work culture". "When I go abroad, Indians there now say we can hold our heads high when international leaders like U S President Barack Obama praise us and describe us as hard-working people which gives our business a fillip," said Paswan. The union minister, who visited the flood-hit areas in Bihar, expressed grief over the condition of the poor and farmers. "Those who feed the people are reeling under poverty," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Making a string of fresh allegations, Chief Minister Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has sought the file related to power subsidy on the instructions of the Prime Minister, even as he cautioned against a hike in power tariff in the city. Addressing a gathering at outer Delhi's Kirari, he also expressed apprehension that his government's proposal to increase minimum wages by up to 50 per cent could be shot down by Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He exhorted people to "gherao the Prime Minister" if any such step is taken. Separately, in a series of tweets, Kejriwal said plans were afoot to remove DCW chief Swati Maliwal who, he claimed, will be "arrested" soon for her "good work". "In elections, we had promised to cut power tariff by half and provide free water. We fulfilled our promises. Sadly, Modiji has summoned the files related to power and water by phoning the Lt Governor. He is threatening to increase power tariff in Delhi. "I challenge Modiji that if he does the same, the people of Delhi will give him a befitting reply. PM is creating hurdles by telephoning the LG," Kejriwal said, adding that Jung has already called for the files even as he wondered if the subsidies will be withdrawn. He also accused the Centre of not clearing the Delhi government's proposal to regularise hundreds of unauthorised colonies in the capital. Kejriwal said if the proposal is approved, such colonies will be regularised within 24 hours. "We cannot wait for Modiji's nod. I have directed my ministers to carry out development works in all unauthorised colonies which include construction of roads, laying of water pipelines etc," he said. The Chief Minister said officials involved in flagship projects of the AAP government such as mohalla clinics and construction of school buildings were being transferred by the LG. "The way the Centre is creating hurdles, it has never happened in the Indian history. I and Manish Sisodia had requested the LG not to transfer officers involved in projects to set up mohalla clinics and construction of school buildings till March 31," he said. "I appeal to people of Delhi to call up their relatives, family members residing in other states to work towards defeating Modiji across the country," he said. Kejriwal's outburst on microblogging site Twitter came a day after Jung said he was in the process of overturning and rectifying "illegal decisions" taken by the AAP government following the August 4 Delhi High Court verdict. "Sources- LG n PMO hell bent on removing Swati Maliwal 4 doing gud job. She'll be arrested coming week n then removed," he claimed in a tweet. Kejriwal claimed the Lt Governor and the Centre wanted to "reverse" numerous decisions of public importance, including the decision to hold discoms accountable for unscheduled outages. He said Najeeb Jung was "subverting" democracy to protect his "chair". On the CAG row, he said the auditor "vehemently refuses" to audit advertisement expenses of the Centre and other states. "Why? CAG under pressure from BJP?," he questioned. "Hold power cos accountable- make them pay compensation for unscheduled power cuts. Is it illegal? LG sitting on it. AAP govt asked for land for 10 hospitals from DDA. Modi's LG refused. Was our demand illegal?" the CM said in a series of tweets. Referring to Jung's statement that he has tried to keep his intervention in the government restricted to the bare minimum, Kejriwal said, "If this is 'least interference', then what is 'high interference'? Shameful subversion of democracy to protect chair." "Guys. Can u name 1 positive thing that Modiji or his LG did for Delhi so far? Only created hurdles. Negative people. "Essence of Indian democracy so far. Thats why both parties (BJP and Congress) are jointly opposing AAP everywhere tooth and nail," the AAP chief said. A rebel group of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Manjit Singh Randhawa on Saturday extended support to Sucha Singh Chhotepur and accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in dictatorial behaviour. The group also said it rejects the list of the candidates announced by the for the upcoming Punjab assembly elections. Talking to media persons in Amritsar, Randhawa, who was earlier a member of the AAP's Political Review Committee, said they have already formed their own party named ' Punjab' and extended support to Chhotepur, former Convener. Describing Chhotepur as an honest person, he said Kejriwal was not aware about the culture and geographical importance of Punjab. Randhawa alleged that the AAP led by Kejriwal has now become the political outfit of conspirators and has only ulterior motive to grab power in Punjab at any cost. He said 'AAP Punjab' will prepare a separate election manifesto for the forthcoming elections and will be announced in the coming days. The rebel leader said it will be followed by announcing the name of candidates and Chhotepur will be the party's president" in Punjab. The brother-in-law of one of the jihadists who attacked French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo last year faced terrorism charges today for allegedly trying to join Islamic State fighters in Syria, a judicial source said. Twenty-year-old French student Mourad Hamyd was charged by an anti-terrorism judge in Paris with "associating with terrorists" and held in custody. Hamyd, whose sister Izzana was married to Charlie Hebdo gunman Cherif Kouachi, had been sent back to France yesterday from Bulgaria where he had tried to cross the border into Turkey in late July. But Turkish officials handed him over to Bulgarian border authorities. France requested Hamyd's extradition on July 29, accusing him of "conspiring to prepare acts of terrorism". French prosecutors said that the route taken by Hamyd -- by train through Austria, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria -- corresponded to the one traditionally taken by jihadist fighters wanting to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria or Iraq. Hamyd told Bulgarian authorities that he was only a tourist and had "no ties" to IS, but nevertheless he agreed to be returned to France. Al-Qaeda-linked Cherif Kouachi together with his brother Said, killed 12 people at Charlie Hebdo's Paris headquarters on January 7, 2015, in the first of a series of jihadist attacks that have hit France over the past year and a half. Hamyd first came into the spotlight in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack, when he was wrongly identified on social media as being among the killers. He was taken in for questioning and later freed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A South African pilot was today killed after his aerobatic aircraft plummeted to the ground during a flight show in northwest China's Gansu Province, the event organiser said. Paul Smith died in the crash at the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention held at the Danxia airport in the city of Zhangye, state-run Xinhua agency reported, quoting the organiser. A video clip provided by a spectator showed that the plane lost control while making a dive and crashed into the Gobi desert about 100 metres from the airport runway. The crash caused no other casualties on the ground. The US aerobatic flight team that Smith worked for has cancelled all flights. Other aerobatic flights went as scheduled this afternoon. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. The Danxia airport, the first general aviation airport in Gansu, opened yesterday along with the three-day general aviation convention which will last till tomorrow. Zhangye, a popular tourist destination for its unique red gritstone landforms, attracted 15 million tourists and took in 8.7 billion yuan (USD 1.3 billion) in tourism revenue last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The two-day Saarc Finance Ministers meeting focused on promoting double tax avoidance and improving trade relations among member nations, said Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, who represented India. "The focus of discussion was on economic issues and fostering a customs union, promoting double taxation avoidance between the Saarc nations, improved connectivity between the Saarc countries, increasing volume of trade, developing supply chain linkages between the Saarc countries," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. The Saarc Finance Ministers meeting concluded yesterday in Islamabad. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not attend the conference because of political reasons. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) is a regional inter-governmental organisation. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Das added there was special focus on the Saarc Development Fund and its funding. "India has been a major contributor to the fund. We have given USD 100 million and so far the emphasis has been social sector projects. "About 11 projects are under implementation currently and now the attention is on infrastructure and economic projects to be financed from the fund," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's Saketh Myneni literally blew away Serbian Pedja Kristin 6-3 6-0 in only 56 minutes to earn his maiden entrance into the men's singles event of the upcoming US Open. To make it to the main draw, Saketh needed to win three rounds in the qualifiers and he made it with minimum fuss without dropping a single set. In the earlier rounds, Myneni, seeded 26th, won 7-6 (6) 6-4 over local lad Mitchell Krueger. Myneni beat Albano Olivetti of France 7-5 6-3 in the first round. The last two Indians to have qualified for a singles Grand Slam tournament proper were Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman. Saketh, ranked 143rd in the ATP chart, lost in the third Qualifying round at the Australian Open and bowed out in the second round of the French Open earlier this year. Pedja went into the contest 1-0 up in Head-to-Head record with a win over the Indian in Turkey in May last year but proved to be no match for Myneni on the day. In the first set, Myneni broke Pedja thrice while the Serbian broke him once with the duration being 30 minutes. The second set finished in only 26 minutes as Myneni broke him thrice and wrapped up the match in style. It didn't help that Pedja had four double faults and could only hit two aces compared to Myneni's seven. (REOPENS SPF 4) Myneni said he was very happy to cross the qualifying hurdle. "Playing in a home away from home Grand Slam was something big and very motivating. I have been pushing and came short on a few occasions before but very happy that I got over the first step this time around. "The process of learning to get better and perform at the big stages is always something that I look at. I wanted to use my experiences from some of the close encounters I had in the recent times and try to play smart tennis," he said. The Indian said he is looking to put his best foot forward in the main draw. "I got couple days to recover and try to prepare myself for the main draw, which starts on Monday. Hopefully, I will bring the best tennis out and try to perform at the big stage," said Myneni. Uttar Pradesh PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today undertook an aerial survey of flood-hit Varanasi and Chandauli districts and reviewed relief work in Allahabad, where he warned of tough action against officials showing laxity in providing relief to those affected by inundation. "Floods have hit 23 districts of the state and the situation is grim in eight of these. Separate budgetary allocation has been made for the flood-affected districts and Allahabad itself has been allocated Rs 7.5 crore," he said. He also asked the Allahabad District Magistrate to take strong action against officials found guilty of dereliction of duty. Over a dozen residential localities in the city and more than 1000 villages located near Ganga and Yamuna have been submerged for the last 10 days. The senior SP leader distributed relief material among the victims and held a meeting with senior administrative and police officials offlood affected districts of Varanasi division. He also soughtreport from them on the issue. Yadav, an uncle of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, gave instructions to the district officials to extend relief to the flood hit people and ensure that food and drinking water were urgently distributed among them. He asked health officials to visit the relief camps and flood affectedareas to provide all medical help to people. Accusing the Centre of not fully cooperating with the state, Yadav said the Modi government was not "serious" about extending assistance. He said he has written a letter to the Centre for financial assistance but it (Centre) did not pay any attention to the matter. The senior Cabinet ministersaid had the Centre been genuinely concerned, it would have immediately sent a team, collected the report and sanctioned the required relief fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today reviewed relief work in flood-affected areas and warned of tough action against officials showing laxity in reaching relief to those hit by inundation. "Floods have hit 23 districts of the state and the situation is grim in eight of these. Separate budgetary allocation has been made for the flood-affected districts and Allahabad itself has been allocated Rs 7.5 crore," he said. He also asked the District Magistrate to take strong action against officials found guilty of dereliction of duty. Meanwhile, over a dozen residential localities in the city and more than 1000 villages located near Ganga and Yamuna have been submerged for the last 10 days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People run to a safer place after a tear gas was fired by police to disperse the protesters Amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, a sikh body on Saturday appealed to the state and the central governments to take adequate security measures for minorities living in the Valley. "Minority communities living in have become easy target. If they don't support the protesting mob, then they are attacked by them. And if they come out with the mob, they became the target of security forces," Rinku Singh, chairperson, Guru Manyo Granth society, an amalgam of various Sikh religious and social organisations said. He said the business of minorities have been worst affected by the ongoing turmoil and demanded economic and employment packages be provided to them. "The government should come out with a comprehensive employment and economical packages for the minorities of Kashmir," he said. The CISF today declared a special grant of Rs 5,000 per annum for about 300 specially-abled children of its troopers as part of a welfare initiative. The declaration for the maiden financial assistance was made by the wives welfare association of the paramilitary called 'Sanrakshika'. "Various initiatives have been taken for the welfare of the wards and families of the force personnel. We are committed to empowerment of the children and families of the force and to make them responsible citizens of the country. "The latest financial grant is a step in that direction," Gunita Singh, President of the association and wife of CISF chief Surender Singh, said. The first certificates were handed over to children of the troopers at an event here by Nilam Pratap Singh, wife of Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy. "About 300 children are getting the assistance in the first go from the welfare fund of the association and the force. More eligible children will be included in the scheme soon," a senior Central Industrial Security Force officer said. The 1.47-lakh personnel strong CISF is tasked with the security of major civilian airports in the country apart from securing vital installations in the aerospace and nuclear domain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons, including a woman, were today killed and as many injured when a car rammed into a truck on Jaipur-Delhi National Highway, police said here. Kamlesh Kumar Sharma (45), his wife Sunita (42) and his brother Ramakant died in the mishap which took place this morning when they were heading to Delhi, Shiv Narayan, police station in-charge of Pragpura, said. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, he said. A case has been registered in this connection, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Tom Hardy has been snapped on the California set of Christopher Nolan's WWII film "Dunkirk" for the first time. After months of speculation about his role in the movie, he finally made his first appearance on the filming set of the movie, reported Ace Showbiz. Several images offer first glimpse of the British actor hopping into the pilot's seat of a replica British spitfire. The "Mad Max: Fury Road" actor is seen dressing in an ensemble reminiscent of a RAF fighter pilot and combining it with a dark jacket, goggles and a helmet. Earlier this month, Warner Bros teased fans with the first teaser trailer of the upcoming thriller despite the film being in the early stage of production. The 56-second video didn't feature any of the film's stars, but fans got to see the eerie landscape which was required to portray the desperate nature of the situation of the French coastline in 1940s. "Dunkirk" revolves around allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain and France who are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. The upcoming film has tapped Fionn Whitehead as the main character and Harry Styles in a mystery role. Nolan directs the film from a script he wrote. He also serves as producer along with his wife Emma Thomas. Also starring Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh, the epic action thriller hits US theaters on July 21, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top UN peacekeeping official and senior Indian diplomat Atul Khare will travel to Nepal and Pakistan to discuss their "continuous engagement" in peacekeeping. Khare, the Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, will travel to Nepal today and then to Pakistan, significant troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations. "In both countries he is expected to meet with senior Government, military and police officials to welcome and discuss their continuous engagement in peacekeeping," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here yesterday. Khare was appointed last year by Ban as Under- Secretary-General for Field Support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey has for the first time allowed policewomen to wear the Islamic headscarf as part of their uniform, according to a ruling published in the official gazette today. Women serving in the police force "will be able to cover their heads" under their caps or berets so long as the headscarf is "the same colour as the uniform and without pattern", said the ruling published in the official gazette. Rulings published in the official gazette come into force immediately. The ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has long pressed for the removal of restrictions on women wearing the headscarf in the officially secular state. Turkey lifted a ban on the wearing of the Muslim headscarf, known as the hijab, on university campuses in 2010. It allowed female students to wear the headscarf in state institutions from 2013 and in high school in 2014. Erdogan's critics have long accused the president of eating away at the secular pillars of modern Turkey as set up by its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when he established the Turkish republic in 1923. But pro-government media pointed out that several Western states have already granted female officers permission to wear the headscarf. Police in Scotland this month allowed women to wear the headscarf while on duty, following a lead set by their counterparts in London over a decade ago. Hoping to boost recruiting of Muslim women, the Canadian government this week said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would allow its officers to wear hijabs as part of their uniforms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Mandela Fellows who studied this summer at University of Wisconsin-Stout returned home to Africa with major grants to help them start or expand their businesses and social enterprises. The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) awarded 50 grants, totaling $1,250,000, to Fellows from more than 20 countries. The recipients were among 1,000 participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative held at select universities around the U.S. The Fellows at UW-Stout who were honored are: Stanley Alphonce, Tanzania, director of a local enterprise development project Latjor Chuol, South Sudan, project to supply fresh, organic vegetables and cereals to the underprivileged; reduce youth unemployment Wesley Owiti, Kenya, co-founder of company that trains women to start tailoring businesses Jesse Oljange, Tanzania, founder of business Avonmeru; develop international marketing ties Lincoln Peedah, Ghana, project to eliminate tire burning to dress butchered animals; reduce youth unemployment The grantees were among 25 Fellows who studied entrepreneurship for six weeks at UW-Stout. The awards were presented in August in Washington, D.C., at a YALI summit, which included an address by President Obama. The $1,250,000 in grant funding is part of the foundations $7.5 million commitment over three years to fund young African entrepreneurs, according to USADF. USADF works directly with Africans to combat some of sub-Saharan Africas most difficult development and foreign policy challenges. The programs increase the U.S. diplomatic and development presence in areas of extreme poverty, USADF said. A 25-member team of Union Health Ministry, comprising senior officers of the ministry and advisors of the World Health Organisation, will visit Himachal Pradesh to oversee the facilities available for tuberculosis patients in the state. The team will be here from August 29 to 31 and will interact with officials, staff members, attendants, deputy commissioners and chief medical officers concerned regarding the facilities being provided to the tuberculosis patients, an official spokesman said here today. They would acquire information about the tuberculosis laboratories and DOT centrEs in Solan and Kullu districts andcomprehensively review the state level activities under the tuberculosis programme on September 2, he said, adding the team will submit its report to the Director, Health Services; Mission Director, National Health Mission and Principal Secretary, Health of the state, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Union ministers today held extensive talks after trade unions said no to the government's request to call off their proposed nationwide general strike on September 2. Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya had urged the central trade unions (CTUs) yesterday to reconsider their decision to go on strike. However, trade unions today rejected the request saying that government has failed to address their 12-point charter of demands. Replying to Dattaterya's letter, AITUC and CITU said the status report on the demands is "almost the same as that you circulated exactly one year ago, in the joint meeting with the CTUs held on August 26-27, on the eve of the general strike in 2015". The unions attacked the government saying it is "equally unfortunate" that no concrete measures have been spelt on the issue of price control of essential commodities, statutorily fixing the minimum wage as per norms and social security. Meanwhile, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal and Dattatreya today held extensive consultations and meetings with senior Labour Ministry officials over the proposed countrywide strike, sources said. Both Goyal and Dattatreya are part of the five-member ministers' panel on labour issues, which is chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to talk to the CTUs over the 12-point charter of demands. The panel has recently held two-rounds of discussions with RSS-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on August 16 and August 24, which has also been "severely criticised" by other unions for holding such "exclusive discussions". The panel last met all the unions on August 26-27, 2015. The unions had requested Dattaterya on July 18 this year to hold a meeting with the ministers' panel to pay heed to their point of view, but no such meeting was convened. In anticipation of some positive response on the charter of demands, BMS is holding back its decision to join the stir on September 2. Last year, BMS had opted out of 'Bharat Bandh' (September 2, 2015) in view of government's assurances to work on nine out of the 12 demands. Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) General Secretary Tapan Sen told PTI that there is no question of calling back the strike. Similarly, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Vice President Ashok Singh also said that the decision to go ahead with strike stands. All India Trade Unions Congress (AITUC) said, "AITUC along with other CTUs finds it difficult to accept your (government's) request for reconsideration of call of protest strike on September 2, 2016. The decision to go on strike stands. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security Council reforms, combating terrorism and implementation of the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals will be high on the agenda during UN General Assembly President-elect Ambassador Peter Thomson's discussionswith the Indian leadership next week. Thomson, who will arrive in India tomorrow, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Secretary for External Relations Sujata Mehta and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya as well as other senior Indian officials in New Delhi on August 29. Thomson, the Permanent Representative of Fiji elected in June as President of the UNGA's upcoming 71st session, is travelling to China before heading to India. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told PTI here that UNSC reforms, terrorism and SDGs will be high on the agenda for discussions between Thomson and the Indian leadership. "Our approach to Security Council reform is that we see this as an opportunity where a re-emergent India will find its place on the global high table," Akbaruddin said adding that India's focus on UNSC reform is to put in place a process towards achieving the long-pending reforms. New Delhi has been leading efforts for early completion of the long-pending reforms of the powerful UN body. In July, the 193-member General Assembly rolled over discussions on reforming the world body's top organ to its 71st session, which will be presided over by Thomson as its President. Akbaruddin said that while some progress has been made on two of the five key issues pertaining to the reform process, "our hope" is that going forward, the UN member states will focus on the remaining areas. UNSC reform is not only about expansion, which is just one area, but also encompasses other issues of veto and improvement in working methods, he said. "The progress is always incremental, from one year to another," he said. Discussions will also centre around terrorism and global efforts to combat the growing scourge, Akbaruddin said. "The issue of terrorism has crept up the international agenda this year as compared to a few years ago. It is an issue that requires priority attention because the number of terrorist incidents have gone up dramatically and also because it is impinging in a tangible manner on the lives of ordinary people," Akbaruddin said citing the growing terror attacks from Afghanistan to Turkey. The third focus area of discussions between Thomson and Indian leaders will be implementation of the SDGs, exploring possibilities of building coalitions and looking for more innovative financing to help nations achieve the goals and targets. "Thomson's main idea is to look at innovative means of promoting the SDGs," the Indian envoy said. Thomson's visit to India comes just weeks before Swaraj will be in the city for the annual General Debate in September. Swaraj had extended an invitation to Thomson after he got elected as President of the 71st session, Akbaruddin said adding that India and Fiji have had very good relations historically also. India has also been supportive in helping the President of the General Assembly's office with resources, recently providing assistance of 250,000 dollars. In China, Thomson is expected to meet with Premier Li Keqiang, State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, a press release from the office of thePresident of the UN General Assemblyhad said. "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 had said adding that he looks forward to the "high-level" talks he will be having 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. Thomson will replace current General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft. Eminent Urdu scholars, writers, poets and journalists were today felicitated for their contribution towards Urdu literature and language at an event organised by Urdu Academy at Delhi Secretariat here. Renowned Urdu poet from Lucknow Malikzada Manzoor Ahmad was posthumously conferred with All India Bahadur Shah Zafar Award by Language Secretary N K Sharma. The award carried with it a cash amount of Rs 1,50,000 and a shawl and memento. Islamic scholar Abdul Haq was honoured with Pt Dattatreya Kaifi Award, which also carried with it a cash reward of Rs 1,50,000, by Sharma. The event also saw other members of Muslim intelligentsia including Khalid Alvi, G R Syed, Tabish Mehdi, Qasim Syed, Athar Farooqui and Aslam Sabri being rewarded with a cash amount of Rs 50,000. The function was presided over by Urdu Academy Vice- Chairman Majid Deobandi. Founded in May 1981, Urdu Academy has been honouring Urdu scholars, writers, poets and journalists among others, for the promotion, propagation and development of Urdu language for the past 35 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Barack Obama believes that the time has come for the to take up the matter of India's membership and the US will continue to look for opportunities to advance the case, an American official has said. "We certainly continue to work with our Indian colleagues on the way forward and continue to work with other members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group," a senior State Department Official told a group of reporters from South Asia ahead of the India visit of Secretary of State John Kerry. The official said President Obama has been very clear and very definitive that India has met the requirements for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). "He believes that the time has come for the to take up the case of India's membership," the senior State Department official said. "While I do not have anything to add to that, I think we continue to look for opportunities to advance the case and in those conversations and dialogues are ongoing," the official said. sent an opposition leader who was under house arrest back to jail on Sunday and expelled a delegation of Ecuadoran lawmakers, amid rising political tension over a campaign to recall leftist President Nicolas Maduro. Former San Cristobal mayor Daniel Ceballos was abruptly taken from his home before dawn by members of the Venezuelan intelligence services, his wife said on Twitter, posting a video of their vehicles as they drove away. Patricia de Ceballos said her husband was loaded into an ambulance where he was shown an order transferring him to a prison in a distant state. "The transfer of @Daniel_Ceballos to a prison constitutes one more link in a chain of human rights violations against prisoners of conscience," his lawyer, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, charged on Twitter. Ceballos was the mayor of San Cristobal, a city near the border with Colombia, when he was arrested in March 2014, accused of inciting a nationwide wave of anti-government protests in which 43 people were killed. He was moved to house arrest a year ago for medical reasons. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan foreign ministry confirmed the expulsion of a group of Ecuadoran lawmakers who had met in Caracas with opposition leaders, accusing them of "destabilizing" activities. Cynthia Viteri, a member of the Ecuadoran Congress, said the group was intercepted Friday by government intelligence personnel outside a military prison where Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez is jailed. "What we have lived through in # was terrifying," she said Saturday, adding that the group had now arrived back home. The incident comes amid rising political tensions as Maduro fends off pressure to hold a recall vote this year that could force him from office. The opposition has called for a massive march on Caracas September 1 to press its constitutionally sanctioned demand for the referendum. "Everything the government does is done to make people afraid, but the more outrages the government commits, the more people will march on September 1," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles, joining other opposition figures in condemning the decision to jail Ceballos. Congress leader Digvijay Singh today criticised Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his "Pakistan is hell" remark and sought to know whey he did not object when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader L K Advani visited the neighbouring country. The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said Parrikar's remarks on Pakistan and his reported comments on Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan reflected "intolerance" by BJP-RSS leaders. "Parrikar made a famous statement terming Pakistan as hell,but he had no objection when the Prime Minister went to Pakistan to attend a family wedding of (Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif," he said here. The AICC General Secretary was talking to reporters after chairing a Coordination Committee meeting of the state party unit held in connection with Goa Assembly polls due in March 2017. "He (Parrikar) had no objection when L K Advani placed a wreath at the 'mazar' of M A Jinnah and praised him as a secular leader. He had no objection when (then Prime Minister) A B Vajpayee went to Lahore in a bus," Singh said. "Why he did not agitate within his party when these senior leaders went to Pakistan?" Singh asked and added that Congress strongly condemns Parrikar's statementequating Pakistan with hell. "A BJP leader in Karnataka filed a sedition case in the Court against our former Member of Parliament Ramya for saying 'Pakistan is not hell'. How can Ramya's statement be termed seditious?", the Congress veteran maintained. The Rajya Sabha MP recalled that Parrikar also had an issue with Aamir over his remarks on "rising intolerance" in the country. "The intolerance of BJP-RSS is reflected in the behaviour of Parrikar," the Congress leader stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Winning over the poor was at the heart of today's meeting of BJP chief ministers with the party forming a committee to finalise a "garib kalyan agenda" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking them to work in "mission mode" to make their states a model for execution of his government's schemes, mostly aimed at benefiting the poor. Modi exhorted them to work on multiple fronts to develop their states at a fast rate, saying they should not just move to one project after finishing another and instead take up several programmes together without showing any lapse. Chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand-- Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Devendra Fadnavis, Raghubar Das respectively-- besides party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will prepare the poor's welfare agenda that will fix a few common goals for the party-ruled states besides identifying schemes which they could give special focus. The day-long meeting here deliberated over six subjects, including welfare of the poor and farmers, woman empowerment, youth and employment besides good governance, with Modi speaking about a host of schemes covering these sectors. "The Prime Minister asked us to work in mission mode; to take up several works at once and show no lapses. Then we can develop fast," Chouhan told a press conference after the conclusion of the meeting. With the party and its governments facing attack from the opposition over issues concerning Dalits and minorities, it believes that a stronger emphasis on welfare schemes, especially targeting the poor, can firewall it against adverse political outcome and instead help it reach out to the weaker sections. Chief ministers also gave a presentation of their government's works in line with the party's welfare agenda and how some of the schemes can be adopted by others. Party leaders said good governance, development and pro- poor measures were the focus of the exercise and politics and coming elections in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, found no mention in their deliberations. Modi also touched on the fact that the two medals won by India in the Rio Olympics were claimed by women as he underlined the need for woman empowerment. "Our daughters have proved how capable they are," he said. The committee formed to prepare the poor's welfare agenda will give its report in two-three few weeks, Sahasrabuddhe, who is also the head of the party's good governance department, said. Modi told the party's chief ministers and deputy chief ministers to make their states a model for the effective execution of the central schemes. He spoke about Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to provide LPG cylinders to poor households, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, skill development and farm insurance scheme among others. He asked the CMs to work for cent per cent Adhaar card enrolment and adoption of farm insurance scheme by all farmers. Schemes in certain states like water conservation by digging small ponds in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, several pro-poor and girl empowerment exercises in Madhya Pradesh, were also discussed. While Modi delivered the concluding address, party chief Amit Shah inaugurated the meeting, which was also attended by the party's Parliamentary Board members and its presidents in the states where it is in power. Asserting that BJP has ushered in an era of "politics of performance", its president Amit Shah asked the party's chief ministers to make their states an effective instrument for execution of the Centre's "pro-poor" and "good governance" agenda. Noting that the party rules over 51 per cent of the country's landmass and 37 per cent population, he said states would play a key role in the success of the Modi government's welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it. The body of a young woman was recovered from the Yamuna in east Delhi today after she allegedly jumped into the river with a youth, police said. A PCR call was received that the youth and the woman, aged around 18-20 years, had jumped in to the Yamuna in Sonia Vihar area at around 2.30 PM, they said. Immediately, teams of police, fire service and boat club divers reached the spot and launched a search for them. Around 5.30 PM, the body of the woman was fished out from the river while search continued for the youth. Their identity has not yet been established and efforts are being made to trace their family members, a police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A rocket fired from Yemen killed a three-year-old boy today in the Saudi border region of Najran, a civil defence official said, in the latest cross-border attack by Iran-backed Yemeni rebels. Major Ali al-Shahrani, civil defence spokesman in southwest Saudi Arabia, told reporters a nine-year-old brother of the boy was also wounded when a Katyusha rocket hit their family's home. The attack came a day after rockets fired from Yemen struck a power station in Najran, marking a rare hit on Saudi Arabia's infrastructure after months of periodic bombardment of the area. Attacks have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks between the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies, and Yemen's internationally -recognised government which has the military support of a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Ten people have been killed in Najran since August 16, when a single strike claimed seven lives. The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since the peace talks collapsed. The coalition intervened in March last year to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis and their allies seized much of Yemen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Judge James Isaacson on Friday denied bail to Jesse R. Lloyd, one of two men charged with the March 14 murder of Kenneth Patterson in the town of Eagle Point. Available conditions of release will not adequately protect the public, Chippewa County District Attorney Steven Gibbs said in arguing for no bail for the 21-year-old Lloyd, who is charged in the killing along with Matthew L. Labrec, 21. If bond had been granted, Gibbs asked that it would be set as a $500,000 cash bond. Lloyds attorney, Aaron A. Nelson of New Richmond, said a bail amount wouldnt matter. He doesnt have the money to post it, Nelson said. He noted Lloyd was going to remain in jail anyway because he was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday on revocations on unrelated 2013 and 2014 drug charges. Lloyd waived the time limits to hold a preliminary hearing on the murder charge. That hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 14, according to online court records. Labrec is scheduled to appear before Judge Steven Cray at 11 a.m. Sept. 7. A criminal complaint said the pair intended to rob Patterson because they needed money. However, the robbery was botched. A passerby noticed Pattersons body on the front lawn at the intersection of 162nd Street and 83rd Avenue. According to the criminal complaint: Labrec told the Chippewa County Sheriffs Office that Lloyd took a handgun from the residence of one of Lloyds relatives and met Patterson. Patterson thought Lloyd and Labrec were going to deliver drugs to him. Labrec said Patterson had once ripped him off, but he forgave him for that. He said Patterson later said he would knock out Labrec, and that made Lloyd angry. Labrec said he heard Lloyd shoot Patterson. Labrec remembers Patterson stumbling and falling into something after being shot. Labrec said Lloyd shot a second time while running after Patterson. The men couldnt find Patterson and left. Actor Zac Efron has paid tribute to his beloved dog, who has died. The 28-year-old star shared a picture of himself with his dog on Instagram in which he called him "Puppy Efron." "Through thick and thin you've always been my best friend. I'll see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron," Efron captioned the photo in which his dog is seen licking his face. The "Neighbors" star continued writing, "Felt hog tied ever since my dog died. He lived to 84, damn, that's a long ride. I know he up there he just sit and he wait. I'll be racing up the stairs I'm gonna get to the gate singing- Chance the Rapper." Efron has been a longtime animal lover. In November 2014, he adopted a puppy with his now ex-girlfriend, Sami Miro. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an effort to curb hate speech and ensure safe online communities, has announced a new dedicated web form for reporting hate speech on its hosted consumer services and a separate online form for petitions to reconsider and reinstate content. With these resources, users will now be able to communicate directly with the firm to report hate speech and request petition to reinstate content via online forms. "We will continue our 'notice-and-takedown' approach for removing prohibited content on hosted consumer services, and the new form aims to improve the quality and speed of our reviews," Jacqueline Beauchere, Chief Online Safety Officer at Microsoft, said in a blog post on Saturday. "When hate speech is reported to us, we will evaluate each complaint, consider context and other factors, and determine appropriate action with respect to the content and the user's account," he added. offers services like Outlook, Skype, Xbox, OneDrive and Office 365 which draw millions of users. "We're making it simpler for users to report hate speech. We are also adding a new multi-service reconsideration form to request reinstatement of content that customers feel was disabled in error. We will review submissions via this new form, and if appropriate, reinstate the content," Beauchere posted. Microsoft is also working with the broader internet community to combat offencive content online. It is working with governments, online safety advocates and other companies to ensure there is no place on its hosted consumer services for conduct that incites violence and hate. For example, Microsoft recently joined major social media and video-sharing firms in support of the European Commission Code of Conduct countering illegal hate speech online a joint effort to stop unlawful public incitement to violence and hatred across Europe. "Reports received from governments will be included as government requests in our semi-annual Content Removal Requests Report, published at the Microsoft Transparency Hub," the post said. The company hopes that this effort will more directly address hate speech on its hosted services and improve transparency in how it is tackling the offencive content online. Sunny, coastal Corpus Christi, it turns out, has something in common with snowy, landlocked Omaha, Nebraska miles and miles of bad road. And miles. Only, in Omaha, some residential streets became so pockmarked that the city ground them into dirt and gravel taking good ol' country livin' farther than expected. Residents might have to consult the owners' manuals for their luxury SUVs to find out what that "4x4" logo means. Of course, no such thing ever would be allowed to happen here. Never, ever. Bank on it. (Contact me in person for the special account number for banking on it.) A lot of well-off Omaha residents banked on the old-fashioned American dream when they bought houses on 113th Street. According to an Associated Press report in last Sunday's Caller-Times, about a dozen 113th Street houses starting at $400,000 now front a dirt road. (Note to self: Go online, obtain Nebraska real estate license ASAP.) A big contributor to Omaha's predicament was that it developed in a sprawling suburban way outward, Houston-style, not upward, New York City-style. The adjective "detached" is a severe understatement for the expanses of single-family homes separated by their own huge green spaces. Give urban developers the yard spaces of about six of these homes and they could build an entire city, with schools, delis, theaters, nightclubs and museums. Add heat, salt air and humidity and Omaha starts to sound a lot like a bigger, wealthier version of Corpus Christi. Omaha proper is 435,000 people but the Omaha metro area is around 915,000. Omaha's residential street problem is estimated at egads! $300 million. The street superintendent says the city just can't afford that much. What a bunch of whiners. Probably because Texans do things Texas-sized, our little town of 320,000 (metro-area population 442,000) outperforms Omaha's street problem by nearly $600 million if our aging estimate of $880 million is still to be believed. And we haven't even resorted to grinding streets to gravel. Yet. Omaha residents have been demanding to know why their city can't maintain their streets with the significant taxes they already pay. Those angry residents have been paying for other things with their money lately signs denouncing the mayor, and retainers for the lawyers they've hired to sue the city. A starry-eyed optimist could look at it as economic development because of the prosperity it brings to the sign companies and lawyers, who spread the wealth by buying luxury cars and eating out. But imagine what that money would accomplish if it were spent fixing the streets. The legal saber-rattling caused the city to stop grinding bad streets into good dirt and gravel. But Omaha still hasn't agreed on a street funding plan. Except for our tendency to be flour- instead of corn tortilla-fed, could we be any more like Omaha? It's as if the Coen brothers took Corpus Christi's street problem and made another season of "Fargo" out of it. Folks in Omaha are saying the same things people in Corpus Christi are saying, only in those funny accents. It's a safe bet that, as we speak, some Omaha politician is trying to dream up a magic funding mechanism that doesn't require higher taxes or fees. And while everyone is arguing about what to do, the street deterioration accelerates while construction begins on new sprawling subdivisions. Any politician who tries to slow the sprawl is branded un-American. All that's missing from this plot line are the dead bodies and the wood chipper, but time will take care of that. At the risk of basking in other people's misery, it's reassuring to know that ours is not the only city whose failure to maintain its infrastructure is coming home to roost. Now we know that there are exactly two of these cities in the entire United States of America. That's right Corpus Christi and Omaha are the only two. Bank on it. Q: As the director of manufacturing in my company, I was asked to help make a preliminary recommendation on deciding whether to invest in an unproven manufacturing process. My boss is totally behind the idea while I have some serious reservations. How can I state my opinions without initiating a big disagreement? A: How you handle disagreements can make a big difference in your relationships. You should try to take the middle ground by having a friendly disagreement. An informal presentation jotted down on a notepad would help state your opinions in a friendly way. Outline your presentation as follows: 1. Acknowledge that your boss has several good points. Point out that some aspects of the proposed process were very good. 2. Transition to his view. Don't negate your boss's comments by using words such as "but" or "however" because that would instantly establish the battle lines. Instead, after acknowledging that your boss's opinion was valid, take a slight pause and say, "I've thought of a few more factors that might influence our decision." 3. Present the data. Boil your argument down to just two main points and present them. 4. End with a neutral statement. Given the data, it should make sense for you to suggest that the company form a larger team to look at this option as well as others in greater detail. You could even appease your boss by saying it would be exciting if this new process, after further examination, proved to be the right opportunity for the company. 5. Don't get angry. Disagreements seldom proceed as planned. Remember that you could only provide the information; you can't control the ultimate decision. If your boss argues, you could "agree to disagree," but you shouldn't get into a verbal battle. COMING UP: A class presented by Dale Carnegie Training of South Texas on effective communications, human relations and skills for success begins Tuesday, Aug. 30. Information/enrollment: 361-533-3631. Wes Atwood is president of Dale Carnegie Training of South Texas, which includes Corpus Christi, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. For more tips, visit corpuschristi.dalecarnegie.com. SHARE Bjork graduates from Adams State Amber Bjork graduated from Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, during the spring 2016 Graduate Commencement Ceremony on May 14, officials said. Bjork received a master's degree in counseling. A&M-CC reaches enrollment goal Angelique Flores-Cano was the 12,000th student to enroll for the fall semester at Texas A&M University and for that reason she was offered a $1,000 scholarship, officials said. Reaching an enrollment of 12,000 students is a new milestone for the university. Flores-Cano, who intends to earn a Master of Science in Educational Administration, received her undergraduate education in 2004 from the university, and is entering her 13th year as a teacher. She is a current kindergarten teacher at Galvan Elementary in the Corpus Christi Independent School District. The increase of enrollment aligns with the University's Momentum 20/20 plan to become an Emerging Research University by the year 2020, officials said. The plan was created in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members to boost the Island University to an Emerging Research University. Once achieved, this new status will give the University access to incentive funding from the Texas Legislature. Official enrollment numbers for fall 2015 were 11,661. Davidson completes college orientation Angelica Autumn Davidson of Taft attended the final new student orientation program on the campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, officials said. A total of 955 incoming freshmen attended one of the NSO programs in preparation for the 2016 fall semester. Classes started Aug. 22. Area students to attend McMurry McMurry University welcomed Jordyn Burnell and Taylor Kolodziej of Sinton, and Jalin Lawver, Troy Lopez and Danny Lozano of Corpus Christi to the freshman class of 2020. Compiled by Natalia Contreras Contributed photo Parker Hranicky SHARE Contributed photo Nathan Walter Jr. (from left), Hunter Walter, Maritssa Rocio, Nathan Walter Sr. and Bentley Walter Contributed photo Dr. Vanessa Dimas and Dr. Dr. Kevin S. Hopkins Contributed photo Dariel Alanis (left) and Anais Alanis Contributed photo Aaric Koepp Superheroes converged on the third annual Craniofacial Reunion on Aug. 12 at the Museum of Science and History. The gathering, which reunites doctors and other medical professionals with former and current patients, encouraged everyone to attend wearing their favorite superhero costume. The event offered a chance for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Supergirls, Spider-Men, and Wonder Women (all in their secret identities as Driscoll patients, parents and staff) a chance to have their face painted, eat, and see and be seen. GEORGE TULEY/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Robert Gonzalez (from left), Augustine Collin, Rosie Gonzalez Collin, Jay Collin, Hailey Gonzalez, Isabel Palacios, and Bobby Galvan SHARE GEORGE TULEY/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Gina Sanchez (from left), Bobby Rodriguez, Susana Martinez, Nayibe Pena and Regina Garcia GEORGE TULEY/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Kristina Leal (from left), Madeline Skrobarczyk and Paige Kimball GEORGE TULEY/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Juan Canchola (from left), Debbie Lindsey-Opel and Jordan Anderson GEORGE TULEY/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Ruby Acuna (from left), Jeff Starks, Jessie Hutchason, Jane Gilmer and April Smith Celebration ruled the day when the new United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new name and logo Aug. 17 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. The chamber, which is the result of combining the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, officially takes over its on Sept. 1. After the name and logo were revealed and celebratory speeches were completed, members of the new chambers mingled and enjoyed light refreshments and appetizers. FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES Collette Walls (from left), Tita Owen, Lisa Adams, Christine Pruitt, Portland Police Chief Mark Cory and Lisa Mills SHARE FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES Richie Reitmann (from left), Amanda Owen, Richie Owen and Virgina Reitmann FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES Erich Bauch (left) and Lt. Tony Cano Portland residents turned out in force Aug. 16 to buy shirts denoting their support for law enforcement officers and to pray for them at the city's community center. Organizers encouraged those who bought the shirts to wear them every Wednesday in September. After the shirts were sold, the residents gathered in a circle to pray. SHARE Contributed photo Alex Garcia (from left), Paula Edwards and Billy Edwards Contributed photo Mike Carrell (third from right), John Paul (second from right) and Traci Arrellano Contributed photo Cinia Clarich (left) and Zulema Zapata Contributed photo An acrobat performs. The American Bank Center was transformed into a glamorous Vegas casino Aug. 20 for Charlie's Place Recovery Center's annual "Night in Vegas" gala. I was greeted at the elevators by a group of showgirls with headdresses and sequined outfits that screamed "Vegas glam," and once inside the venue it was a whirl of blackjack tables, roulette wheels and even Elvis strolling around taking photos with guests. Everyone was wearing their sequined best, with fellas in fedoras and gals in boas glamming up the joint. Spotted enjoying the glitzy fun were Jeff Kane, Jaime Nodarse, JJ Hart, Jill Jacobs and Victor Aguirre, Curtis Clark, Amy Griffin, Felicia and Mike Alanis and Mike Carrell. I spoke with Amy Granberry, executive director of Charlie's Place, who said that she enjoyed the opportunity for so many folks from our community to come together to support the mission of the organization to inspire recovery from addiction by providing quality services and support. My favorite part of the evening was the gorgeous dances reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil by Aerial Horizon. The group performed acrobatic stunts on hoops and ribbons dozens of feet in the air truly a remarkable performance and not one you usually get at a local gala! Parker to speak at Casa de Amor Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi's annual Casa de Amor event is at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. The guest speaker is Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. This year's event will honor the members of the conjoined Torres-Hernandez sisters' medical team at Driscoll Children's Hospital: Dr. Haroon Patel, Dr. Ryan Loftin, Dr. Miguel DeLeon, Dr. Stephen Almond, Dr. Mohammad Emran, Dr. Leon Smith-Harrison, Dr. Omar Cruz-Diaz, Dr. Kevin Hopkins, Dr. Vanessa Dimas, Dr. Roger Timperlake, Dr. Christopher Comstock, Dr. William Grimes, Dr. Angelina Bhandari, Dr. Karl Maher, Dr. Jane Lyon, and Dr. Allister Arnold. Cost: $250. Information: 361-854-4073 or corpuschristirmhc.org. 2nd annual Energy Roundtable Luncheon Shale Oil & Gas Business Magazine and Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp. have come together to host the 2nd annual State of Energy luncheon at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. The luncheon topics will focus on the impact the energy sector has on South Texas as well as kick-start discussions between local communities, local and surrounding city officials and a panel of experts in the oil and gas industry about the direction the energy sector is taking at the turn of the year, legislative decisions impacting the energy sector and how local businesses benefit from the energy sector. This year's lineup of speakers includes a keynote address from Karen Alderman Harbert, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy. Harbert leads the Institute's efforts to build support for meaningful energy action nationally and internationally through policy development, education, and advocacy. The panel of experts featured at this event will include Omar Garcia, president and chief executive officer of the South Texas Energy & Economic Roundtable (STEER), and David E. Dismukes, professor, executive director, and director of policy analysis at the Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana State Cost: $50/member, $60/nonmember. Information: 361-882-7448 or ccredc.com. H&M will be opened in La Palmera mall. SHARE CALLER-TIMES FILE PHOTO La Palmera mall will add H&M to its offerings of clothing stores. The store is nearly complete. By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times The wait for fashionistas in Corpus Christi eager for a new trendy clothing store in the Coastal Bend is almost over. H&M, the global clothing chain from Sweden, prides its catalog on cutting-edge fashion and checkbook-saving prices, and it's about to call Corpus Christi home. The company is planning a store in La Palmera mall, and the permitting process is moving along, records from the city's development services division show. For residents looking for freaky fast food, submarine sandwich company Jimmy John's is coming to the rescue. The eatery has received a permit to build a location at 5625 Saratoga Blvd. That project, which is actually finishing out an existing building, is expected to cost about $231,000. The final month of summer vacation for Corpus Christi area students, teachers and their families was a busy one for the development community. Projects that were either proposed, updated or permitted range from apartment complexes to roller coasters and industrial developments. There were also at least three "shell buildings" proposed or approved. Shell buildings are built before tenants are secured with the anticipation that economic growth will drive demand for facilities typically industrial or retail demands in those areas. Twitter: @reportermatt In the works Here are the actions at the Corpus Christi Development Services Department for the past month (most recent first), with a brief description, location and estimated project cost: New projects AT&T Tower, remodel, $15,000, 6434 Leopard St. AT&T Tower, remodel, $15,000, 5521 S. Staples St. Walmart storage building, new construction, $225,000, 6101 Saratoga Blvd. Optometrist, remodel, $2,000, 6116 S. Staples St. Flint Hills Resource Field Service Building, new construction, $28 million, 8125 Up River Road Walmart customer pickup canopy, new construction, $85,000, 6101 Saratoga Blvd. Banditos Mexican Cantina, tenant finishing out, $19,000, 6418 S. Staples St. Flour Bluff natatorium, new construction, $10.6 million, 2702 Waldron Road AT&T Tower, remodel, $25,000, 13402 Whitecap Blvd. White Box, white box, $3,350, 5725 Saratoga Blvd. Un Do Stress Spa, tenant finishing out, $22,000, 5625 Saratoga Blvd. Hicks Family Nissan, addendum, $4 million, 3202 I-69 N. Frontage Road Morgan Street Laundry, tenant finishing out, $147,000, 3110 Morgan St. El Vaquero Restaurant, addition, $225,000, 4402 Ayers St. Best Western, new construction, $4.2 million, 3533 McKinzie Road H&M, tenant finishing out, $1.8 million, 5488 S. Padre Island Drive Platinum Kutz, tenant finishing out, $35,000, 5366 McArdle Road River View at Calallen Apartments, new construction, $253,756, 11930 Leopard St. Grub Burger Bar patio cover, new construction, $47,504, 4902 S. Staples St. The "BAY" Jewel, remodel, $763,200, 624 Mesquite St. Funtrackers, new construction, $3,240, 9505 S. Padre Island Drive Permits Evans Warehouse, shell building, $191,840, 6726 Evans Road Christian Triumph Church, new construction, $709,840, 905 S. Bluntzer St. Dragon Coaster, new construction, $174,144, 9605 S. Padre Island Drive Lofi Motors, new construction, $200,000, 10350 I-37 Access Road United Way, tenant finishing out, $850,762, 4659 Everhart Road Casa, tenant finishing out, $94,400, 2602 Prescott St. Beijing Spa, tenant finishing out, $26,000, 4811 Saratoga Blvd. Jimmy John's, tenant finishing out, $230,900, 5625 Saratoga Blvd. HD Supply, tenant finishing out, $675,490, 101 Forty-Fifth St. The District at Timbergate, new construction, $222,426, 5721 Timbergate Drive The Storage Place, new construction, $555,739, 6197 Dunbarton Oak Drive The Storage Company, new construction, $1.3 million, 5502 Holly Road Christus Spohn, new construction, $3.2 million, 600 Elizabeth St. IEC, tenant finishing out, $47,350, 10637 Leopard St. Calallen Medical Office, new construction, $725,000, 4030 River Hill Drive Pumphouse, new construction, $317,000, 3801 Harris Drive Pool, new construction, $1.5 million, 3801 Harris Drive Sen. Juan Hinojosa office, tenant finishing out, $93,687, 602 N. Staples St. CAE Enterprise, tenant finishing out, $25,000, 13637 Northwest Blvd. First Cash Pawn, tenant finishing out, $800,000, 4126 S. Padre Island Drive Shell building, new construction, $48,000, 4116 S. Staples St. Clubhouse, new construction, $253,756, 11930 Leopard St. Shell building, new construction, $800,000, 6113 Saratoga Blvd. Offshore Power Boats, new construction, $121,525, 4720 Westway Drive When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Border Patrol agents found 11 undocumented immigrants hiding behind wooden boxes of live roosters at the Falfurrias Checkpoint. SHARE By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times Border Patrol agents found undocumented immigrants in a trailer Thursday hiding behind a wooden box filled with roosters, according to a news release. An American citizen driving an SUV with a trailer attached to it was referred to a secondary inspection at the Falfurrias Checkpoint after a canine alerted agents, according to the news release. In all, agents discovered 11 immigrants within the cargo. Agents arrested the driver and passenger after the vehicle inspection. The immigrants will be processed for deportation and the roosters will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the release. Twitter: @Caller_Fares | BY Lynchy | Wayne Pick, Executive Creative Director at Colenso BBDO/Proximity Auckland explained his approach to creativity with a purpose at AD STARS 2016, currently underway in Busan, South Korea. Pick (pictured) nearly didnt make it to AD STARS this year. He was marooned by a typhoon at Narita airport for 20 hours, and his eyeball was slashed by a low-flying drone inside Colensos offices a week ago. Finally though, he did make it to AD STARS to present a session called, Creativity with Purpose. He shared the principles that inspire the work created at Colenso BBDO/Proximity, one of New Zealands most celebrated agencies. 1. Ask why? Pick began his session by asking why more brands and agencies dont ask Why? more often. Its not enough for brands to explain what theyre selling they need to figure out a purpose. When Colenso was developing a campaign for New World supermarkets, New Zealand ranked 8th in the UN Happiness Index not good enough. So the agency gave New World the purpose of making New Zealanders happier, with the goal of attaining the #1 rank on the Happiness Index, beginning with an internal communications campaign to get staff on board. Next he showed a campaign for Pedigree designed to make the world a better place for dogs by creating K9FM a radio station for pooches. By creating original content just for dogs, and giving Pedigree a purpose, within two months sales hit a 2-year high. 2. Leverage social connections for good One example of leveraging connections for good is Colensos Found campaign, which used social media to find lost dogs using a real-time lost-dog app, created with Google. 3. Change behaviour Getting consumers to do things they havent done before is another good strategy. For Breast Cancer NZ, Colenso came up with Breast Cream a way to make checking your breasts a part of womens regular beauty routine. Launched in October 2014 and distributed through New Zealands four biggest supermarket chains, sales of the product were strong. It shows a simple change in behaviour can change lives. 4. Evoke pride Another tactic that works is giving people a sense of strength, vitality and pride. He showcased the Feel tip top campaign, which encouraged people to send messages to others to make them feel tip top, for Tip Top ice cream, which turned a 10-year category decline into instant growth. 5. Impact society To show how brands can affect society more broadly, he shared the secrets behind Brewtroleum. First, Colenso came up with the platform, Made by doing. To make it tangible, we then had to do something. We discovered beer waste can be used to make biofuel. The more beer you drink, the more biofuel you can make. The more you drink, the more we can save the world. DB Export became New Zealands fastest selling beer brand. Were phenomenally proud of that campaign and love that its changed the way DB positions itself. Theyve now put sustainability as one of their core values and may look to producing biofuel as a permanent solution. Pick also showed Colensos campaign for Anchor milk. Apparently 59 kids in NZ break an arm every day, so Colenso gave little kids with broken arms a plaster cast with a bar code, which could be swiped to get free milk until their bones healed. He finished the session by sharing a philosophy at Colenso: love and trust. If we earn the love and trust of our clients we can do the work we need to do. If we spend 90% of time doing work thats responsible and does its job, we can spend 10% of our time doing risk-taking work like Brewtroleum. But you need to be able to do the 90% well first. | BY Lynchy | David Guerrero delivered a talk yesterday about how creatives can give something back at the Ad Stars Festival, currently underway in Busan South Korea. As Creative Chairman of BBDO Guerrero in Manila, hes a creative and an environmentalist. He sits on the board of Clean Air Asia, which by coincidence is meeting in Busan two days after AD STARS. Its like attending one conference dedicated to ending the world, and one dedicated to saving it, he says. Our industry is responsible for making people consume things. Advertising is often seen as evil. When I began my career the brief was clear: sell more, from coast to coast. Resources seemed abundant, people were hungry for things to buy. Today, hoarders and environmental pollution show the dark side of consumerism. The earth is undergoing cataclysmic climate change. Is it possible to reconcile these two things? Guerreros optimistic, reminding the audience at AD STARS of how Alfred Nobel once read his own premature obituary in the newspaper. So shocked at seeing himself portrayed as a mass murderer as the inventor of dynamite, he devoted himself to science and is now remembered as founder of the Nobel Prize. If Alfred Nobel can turn a bad reputation around, so can our industry. People are turning away from consumerism, so its in our interest to give people reasons to spend time with our clients rather than avoid them. And instead of taking from people, its time to give back. This economy of giving is how the web works: Google gives free search, Facebook offers free connections; universities give free lectures; most web services are free. People give in return we give free reviews, share travel tips, not for payment but as social currency. In advertising the traditional exchange has been to make people laugh or cry, and in exchange they will remember the brand. In some ways, nothing has changed except if people like what we make today, they share it, and this multiplies the investment. He showed several campaigns by BBDO Guerrero that have given something back to consumers: a campaign for Pepsi, which turns old plastic bottles into light bulbs for poor communities; and another for Snickers, which addressed a shortage of licence plates in Manila by giving people free plates. Both campaigns show that advertising can do a lot more than promote consumerism. Friday, August 26, 2016 at 9:08PM A few self-driving Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Renault Zoe are shuttling around a few dozen Singaporeans for free with this new trial run by a company called nuTonomy. The company, which spun off from MIT in 2013 has offices in Massachusetts and Singapore, is testing out its autonomous vehicle technology in a 2.5-square-mile residential area called One-North with an end goal of lessening traffic congestion in the city state. The taxis are equipped with six Lidar sets and two cameras to help it keep track of obstacles, lanes, and traffic light changes. There is also an engineer onboard to help make sure everything stays safe. The company hopes to open the trials to thousands of users in the coming months and launch as early as 2018. What they are testing and gathering now is data related to software system performance, vehicle routing efficiency, the vehicle booking process, and the overall passenger experience. A bug has been noted by an Associated Press reporter who noticed that the safety driver had to hit the brakes when a parked vehicle moved suddenly into an oncoming lane. Source: Engadget The idea of free college has been gaining a lot of attention this presidential election cycle, with both the Clinton and Sanders campaigns integrating the concept into their platforms. Just over a year ago, in 2015, President Barack Obama proposed making two years of community college free through the Americas College Promise program. Some states have already implemented free community college, including Minnesota, Tennessee and Oregon. These programs are a remarkable step toward making college more affordable and accessible. But affordability and accessibility do not equal completion. If our goal is providing the opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race or class, to receive a world-class education and training for life and career, we need better pathways to help students complete. Otherwise, free college is somewhat moot. According to data from the federal governments National Center for Education, 28 percent of students seeking an associates degree from a community college graduate within three years. Even at four-year schools, completion rates are lackluster. Students seeking a bachelors degree have a graduation rate of 58 percent at public institutions, 65 percent at private nonprofit institutions and 27 percent at private for-profit institutions. This data is alarming. What good is free college if up to nearly three-quarters of students never finish? In research from Public Agenda, students have spoken of several factors that inhibit their success, including full-time employment, dependent children, weak academic preparation and college affordability. Other research indicates that many college practices inhibit a students chance for success. Students academic pathways may be confusing, they may receive inadequate guidance or they have difficulty transferring from a community college to a four-year school. Diminishing these barriers can dramatically increase completion. For example, schools can work to create environments that are more engaging for students. Research from the Association of American Colleges and Universities indicates that students who are academically and socially engaged during college are more likely to graduate. A student is academically engaged when he or she interacts with faculty and finds learning meaningful. Social engagement refers to participation in campus activities and multiple connections with other students. Many students have challenging schedules and responsibilities outside school that make enhanced engagement more difficult, so its important for schools to choose deliberate approaches to meet students where they are. The way schools design and structure courses can also create barriers for students, especially when courses lack clear outcomes or student support. In particular, redesigning gateway courses those foundational courses nearly all students take in their first year can reduce drop-outs, failures and withdrawal rates. Research from the Pell Institute indicates that students who return for their second year of college have a higher chance of graduating. If a student is successful the first time taking a course instead of needing to repeat a course, they will be able to move toward their certificate or degree faster and at a lower cost. Transferring from a community college to a four-year school also trips up many students. While its true that a four-year degree isnt and should not be the only pathway to a better life and career, in recent research from the Community College Research Center, the Aspen Institute and the National Student Clearinghouse, 80 percent of students enrolling in a community college say they plan to get a bachelors degree or higher. Yet many students find it frustrating or impossible to transfer between two- and four-year institutions, often losing credits, time and money in the process. States and institutions need to create better transfer procedures and identify a general education core that is accepted by all institutions. Finally, its important to note that all of the free community college programs currently enacted are limited to recent high school graduates, even as more and more individuals are returning to school later in life to earn a college certificate or degree. This trend will likely increase, given that estimates suggest that nearly 70 percent of all jobs will require some kind of post-secondary training, certificate or degree by 2020. Free college is a giant step toward improving access, and its an easy rallying cry. But free college will not inherently lead to more college graduates with well-paying and stable jobs. Higher education leaders and experts need to think beyond free college and help colleges and universities create a stronger completion culture. While the solutions above are not as amenable to sound bites, these are the real solutions that will help more students complete a meaningful degree. She struggled to hold on to her handbag, fearing for her life as Hill stood over her and dealt several blows to her cheek and kicked her in the bottom. ''I never imagined her to be in an office. And we never thought an office with a view as beautiful as this," Renata said, gesturing to the blue waters of the lake behind her. "It turned out, as it happened, the right way - because later on with her nieces, there wasn't that much patience!" "Because [the fellow inmate] did not successfully procure anyone to kidnap, and nobody was kidnapped, not only did [the inmate] not commit an offence, but Mr Holliday also could not be convicted of inciting [the inmate]." "The teenager was approached by a male on a black bike (possibly mountain bike) who indecently assaulted her before she pushed him away. The male offender rode off at speed in the direction of Hungry Jacks," police said in a statement on Saturday. Barr, who thinks that such a commission would be entirely unnecessary here in the ACT, because it would have no work to do, would be familiar with all the arguments. It would be expensive. It would be otiose, because the ACT is a model of transparency, of efficiency, of accountability, effectiveness, of good stewardship and of rigid adherence to the public interest. It would also be an irritant, an extra unnecessary cog in the system. It could cause baseless allegations to be made that damage the reputations of the actually great and good. And, anyway, the ACT is already replete with watchdogs, minders of the public interest, people to whom one can complain and appeal, or busybodies and narks ready to make a fuss if they disagree with anything. "The big four are always getting jobs with the government and it makes you wonder why because, if they have been giving robust advice, surely they would be on the nose?" he said. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Forget 911 Rs and GT3s a Carrera Panamericana-inspired Porsche is what you truly want. Getting your hands on a car that actually raced the border-to-border event is a rare opportunity that can easily break your bank account, and heres where this beautifully-built 356 Outlaw Coupe comes in. Manufactured to capture the spirit of the event, this little model started life as an original 356 B T6. According to Paul Stephens, the dealer responsible for its sale, the vehicle was manufactured in 1962 and delivered to Competition Motors, in Hollywood, USA. It spent most of its life Stateside until it was imported to Holland, stripped to the bare metal, painted in black cellulose finish, and parked in a barn where it stayed until March 2011. After acquiring the shell and sixteen large boxes worth of spare parts, the 356 Bs current owner delivered it to P R Services Ltd, in Billericay, Essex, where the process of turning it into a Panamericana-racer replica began. Porsches Carrera moniker first appeared on the 356, commemorating the companys success in the Carrera Panamericana race, thats why its holder felt it was right to honor the vehicles pedigree. It even received a plethora of modern upgrades in the process, including disc brakes all around, a bespoke stainless steel exhaust system and power steering. You can see the whole list in the original advert and maybe negotiate a price while youre at it. PHOTO GALLERY GMs new Acadia is an improvement over the outgoing model (which is still on sale), offering an up-to-date engine line-up, improved tech, and less weight. The second-gen Acadia, revealed at the North American International Auto Show last January weighs 700 pounds (317 kg) less than the model it replaces. Thats partly due to its reduced size compared to the old variant (being shorter by 7.2 inches in length, 3.5 inches in width and 3.9 inches in height) and partly due to GMs manufacturing process. The new Acadia uses lightweight steel in its construction, but unlike most cars, many of the parts of the Acadias underbody are held together thanks to an advanced adhesives similar to those used in modern airplanes, according to the New York Times. This superglue bonds the parts not just in certain spots but all along the seam where they connect, improving rigidity. Thats how was GM able to switch to thinner steel, in some cases, helping the Acadia shed almost the equivalent of a 1956 BMW Isetta. Ultimately, its all the little things that add up to the big number, as Charlie Klein, executive director of GMs global carbon-emissions reduction strategy, said. As a result, fuel economy has improved, with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder returning 22 miles per gallon in the city (13 lt/100km) and 28 mpg on the highway (10 lt/100km). The car was thought and constructed to be part of GMs 54.5MPG by 2025 average a standard that EPA and NTHSA have put in place in order to reduce greenhouse gasses and improve fuel economy. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer File photo. There are a lot of parents out buying pencils, lunch kits and new running shoes for the start of the school year next month. In fact, 528,689 full-time students are expected to be heading back to B.C.'s 1,578 public schools and 350 independent schools this September. While student numbers are increasing by a few thousand this fall, there are 60,000 fewer students in school in B.C. than there were during the 2000-01 school year. Other provincial statistics show: Total funding to school districts will reach $5.10 billion for the 2016/17 school year The average per-pupil funding is now an estimated $8,963, an increase of 42 per cent since 2000-01 A $2 million Rural Education Enhancement Fund will help keep some schools open, including in the South Okanagan. Computer technology is a given in B.C. schools. Over 69,700 students took at least one online course in 2015-16 more than double what it was ten years ago. For those schools in quake zones, there are 61 projects in development under the Seismic Mitigation Program. Over the next three years, $560 million has been set aside to upgrade high-risk seismic schools across the province. And parents concerned their child may be bullied can be assured all districts have a safe school coordinator and over 15,500 educators have received training as part of the Expect Respect and A Safe Education (ERASE) strategy. Photo: The Nature Trust of BC For those who love the outdoors, a group of young people had a pretty attractive job this year. The Nature Trust of BC hired several people to be part of the Okangan Conservation Youth Crew this summer to take on a wide variety of conservation activities in the south Okanagan. I have an interest in learning about wildlife and ecosystems, said Quinn Ramsay, one of the crew members. Being on the crew was also a chance to get outside every day. Those hired on at the beginning of the summer were trained in First Aid, bear awareness, and taught how to handle power tools safely. In addition to on-the-ground conservation work, crews also attend workshops held by a variety of specialists on topics ranging from bird counts to wetland ecology. While the job has a lot of positives, it wasn't all fun and games. The removal of burdock was one of the most difficult things we had to do, said Quinn. Burdock is an invasive plant which is biennial. In its first year it grows large leaves, and in its second year it grows a large stalk and burrs. These burrs were incredibly itchy and stuck to everything. The Nature Trust of BC buys land and conserves it for the future. The Nature Trust maintains fencing to control grazing, removes invasive species and replants native species. The Nature Trust has been in operation for 45 years, and has spent over $80 million to buy 71,000 hectares of land in B.C. Photo: Contributed Bears have been seen ambling through neighbourhoods in West Kelowna and Vernon this week. Eight were shot in Revelstoke last week after getting into garbage or fruit trees, with some threatening members of the public. The Ministry of the Environment is asking the public to take some responsibility to ensure the animals don't have to be destroyed as they search for available food sources in an effort to fatten up before the winter months. In urban areas, residents are asked to: Use bear-proof waste containers or keep garbage secured in the house, garage or shed until pickup day, and return the containers to the secure site once they are emptied. Pick ripe and fallen fruit daily and remove any unused fruit trees. Use bird feeders only in winter. Keep the ground free of seeds and nuts. Clean the barbecue grill after each use, and store it in a secure area. Bring pet food dishes inside and store the pet food inside. Do not add meat products or uncooked food to compost. Turn it regularly and keep it covered. Use electric fencing to protect attractants such as small livestock, backyard chickens, beehives, compost bins and fruit trees. If residents spot a bear, they are advised to remain calm, keep away from the bear and bring children and pets indoors, if possible. Hikers are asked to ensure someone knows their plans, carry bear spray and keep it accessible and keep dogs on a leash. Residents, hikers and campers are reminded it is illegal to feed or attract bears or other wildlife. Penalties can be as high as $100,000 in fines and one year in prison. The government is also urging communities to become Bear Smart. Places like Kamloops and Whistler, that are now Bear Smart communities, have seen significant declines in bear conflict calls and the number of bears destroyed, according to a press release. More information about reporting poachers and polluters can be found online. Photo: The Canadian Press Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson said Friday he thought he was going to die after flying head first off his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands. The Virgin Group boss hit a hump in the road on Virgin Gorda, one of the islands in the Caribbean, catapulting him into the road. The 66-year-old posted pictures of his bloodied face on social media on Friday, showing the gruesome injuries that included a cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts. "My life was literally flashing before my eyes," he wrote. "I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life." Branson travelled to Miami to receive medical treatment. He said he was really lucky to have not suffered more serious injuries. "My biggest hardship is having to drink tea out of a straw," he said. Branson was training for September's Virgin Strive Challenge, an event in which participants hike, cycle, swim and run from the base of the Matterhorn in the Alps to the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily. Branson still hopes to take part in the charity event. "My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward," he said. Fridge feeding many in need Penticton - 4:00 am Photo: The Canadian Press Vancouver-based Teck Resources says it's "disappointed" with a U.S. District Court ruling ordering it to pay US$8.25 million in legal costs, as part a long-running legal battle over environmental contamination in Washington State. The company declined to say if it would appeal the latest ruling, but said it's "reviewing the implications with counsel." The ruling filed earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko orders the company to cover the legal and investigation costs that the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have spent trying to prove that Teck contaminated their waterways. The same judge ruled in 2012 that Teck was liable for costs of cleaning up contamination in the Upper Columbia River. Suko said the company knew for decades that the grainy, heavy-metal-laden byproduct of its Trail, B.C., smelter was flowing 10 kilometres downriver into the U.S., and was likely to cause harm. This latest ruling awards the Colville Tribes, representing 12 tribes in Washington State, US$4.86 million in legal costs and US$3.4 million in investigation and expert analysis, plus interest with some costs going back as far as 1999 when members started appealing to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the contamination. Final costs of any cleanup, estimated to be as high as $1 billion, have not been agreed to. The Colville Tribes said in a statement that there shouldn't be any delay in the cleanup of the roughly nine-million tonnes of slag released between 1930 to 1995, which blackened the shores of the Upper Columbia River. "The river is the natural resource and cultural lifeblood of the Colville Tribes and must be protected and restored," they said. "It is critical that the sediments in the Upper Columbia be cleaned up to assure returning fish have the chance to thrive in a healthy river environment. Only cleanup will create that opportunity." Teck spokesman Chris Stannell said in an email that the company and its affiliates have spent over $75 million studying the potential risks to human health and the environment on the river from historic operations at the smelter, as part of a settlement reached with the U.S. EPA. He said that results to date show water quality is better than standards in both the U.S. and Canada, and fish are as safe to eat as those from any other water body in the state of Washington. Last year the company completed cleaning up 14 residential properties that had soil contaminated with lead and arsenic. That agreement also called for Teck to clean up, at a later date, at least three Colville tribal allotments that showed high levels of contaminants. Additionally, the company has invested $1.5 billion to modernize and optimize the Trail smelter. But it has still been the source of several major leaks in recent years, including 25,000 litres of lead refinery solution released into the ground in 2011 and a similar amount of chemical solution released into the Columbia River in 2014. Photo: Contributed Bombardier handed out pink slips Friday to aerospace employees in Montreal as part of its efforts announced in February to trim 7,000 workers over two years. The Montreal-based company declined to say how many workers were being affected by the latest layoff notices, how many cuts have already been made, or what aircraft programs are being affected. Mark Masluch, spokesman for Bombardier business jets, said the layoffs are a continuation of the "workforce optimization" plan being implemented across the company. Bombardier has said that up to 2,000 of the cuts, mainly in Canada and Europe, will be contractors. Masluch said the company has taken time to ensure it can meet commitments to customers, and to evaluate how many of the job cuts can be mitigated by retirements or other efforts. The union representing machinists said the uncertainty about efforts to save jobs is creating frustration for workers. It warned last October that 10,000 Quebec aerospace jobs are at risk. Union representative David Chartrand said that despite handing over US$1 billion, the province didn't seek any guarantees to protect existing workers, while Ottawa helped Air Canada by removing measures to protect Quebec maintenance jobs. The layoffs come as Bombardier continues to press Ottawa for US$1 billion in funding. Photo: Contributed A mother was enjoying a family boat trip across Lake Powell when she heard a scream and splash. Her two-year-old son had slipped off their houseboat and into the water. Chelsey Russell, a 35-year-old mother of two from Lakewood, Colo., jumped in to rescue her son. She managed to keep the toddler above water for five agonizing minutes until a relative pulled him safely back onto the boat. But by that point, Russell was unconscious. She was pulled from the water and rushed to shore at the nearby marina, where bystanders and officials performed CPR Tuesday afternoon. After about 30 minutes, they determined they couldn't save the woman who just rescued her son. Officials with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which encompasses the 186-mile-long lake along the Utah-Arizona border, said the boy was in stable condition and flown to a hospital about 200 miles away in Flagstaff, Arizona, as a precaution. The houseboat had been travelling about 8 mph toward shore when the boy, playing with another child, somehow fell off, San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge said Friday. After Russell jumped in, her brother stopped the boat and hopped in after his sister, leaving Russell's mother and at least one other child aboard. The boat had kept moving after Russell went in and the man realized he was too far away from her and the child, Eldredge said. So he returned to the vessel to retrieve a motorboat they had been towing. The knots tethering it were so tight that he had to cut them with a knife. Russell was in the water for at least five minutes before her brother could reach them and take the conscious toddler from her chest. Throughout that time, she kept her son above water, her family told authorities. "She was holding the baby out of the water the best that she could," Eldredge said. The sheriff said neither Russell nor her son wore life jackets. They are required for boaters under 12, according to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Thousands of People Flooded Downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday Night for the Reinhard Bonnke Gospel Crusade OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Aug. 26, 2016 / During the two nights of ministry, Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda brought the Word of God to the crowd in a powerful "tag-team" of evangelism and prayer. Each night the floor of the arena was filled with hundreds of people making the decision to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. Numerous people received healing in their bodies. Dozens testified on stage to the miracle work that God had done in their bodies. Multitudes received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Our team is now sorting through the large piles of decision cards turned in. These cards will be sent to the local churches for follow-up so that each person can begin the process of discipleship. At the close of the last day, Daniel Kolenda invited high-school-age students to a special reception to plant the seeds of revival in secondary schools across the state of Oklahoma. What an amazing harvest of souls! Over the two nights, thousands were touched by the power of God and embraced the message of hope. The stories of changed lives are just beginning to pour in. Our gratitude goes out to the 250+ churches and 1,000 volunteers that helped make this historic event possible. For more information on the Reinhard Bonnke Gospel Crusades, please go to To become a valued partner of this ministry please go to Share Tweet Contact: Lori Bell, Liberty Resource Group , 918-760-2039, lori@libertyresoucegroup.com OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Aug. 26, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- The crowd attending the two-night event at the Cox Convention Center was welcomed by Oklahoma City Mayor, Mick Cornett and joined by State Legislators and other local dignitaries.During the two nights of ministry, Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda brought the Word of God to the crowd in a powerful "tag-team" of evangelism and prayer.Each night the floor of the arena was filled with hundreds of people making the decision to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. Numerous people received healing in their bodies. Dozens testified on stage to the miracle work that God had done in their bodies. Multitudes received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.Our team is now sorting through the large piles of decision cards turned in. These cards will be sent to the local churches for follow-up so that each person can begin the process of discipleship.At the close of the last day, Daniel Kolenda invited high-school-age students to a special reception to plant the seeds of revival in secondary schools across the state of Oklahoma.What an amazing harvest of souls! Over the two nights, thousands were touched by the power of God and embraced the message of hope. The stories of changed lives are just beginning to pour in.Our gratitude goes out to the 250+ churches and 1,000 volunteers that helped make this historic event possible. For more information on the Reinhard Bonnke Gospel Crusades, please go to www.gospelcrusade.org To become a valued partner of this ministry please go to new.cfan.org/donate I laugh at all the people that find the right to life bill board offensive. Is it because it's true? The killing of babies is offensive. Just because they are called fetuses doesn't make them non humans. I think that sign is doing exactly was it was designed to, make you think. People that think abortion is OK need to rethink their morals. Just because its legal, does not make it right. I for one think the sign is great. It's called freedom of expression, even if you don't like it. Bravo Right to Life. Mark Wiebe Photo: The Canadian Press The killing this week of a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl who was drugged, raped and dismembered is just the latest horrific child slaying case for New Mexico, which has the nation's highest youth poverty rate and a state government that has had heavily publicized difficulties protecting children from abuse. Victoria Martens was not known to have been a victim of previous violent abuse. But officials acknowledged Friday that the man accused of injecting her with methamphetamine before raping her was not being monitored by probation officers or tested for drugs as mandated by a judge last year. In that case, 31-year-old Fabian Gonzales was arrested for beating another woman in a car with a baby inside it while the woman was driving and ended up pleading no contest to two misdemeanour crimes that kept him out of jail. Corrections department officials said Friday they never got the judge's order for him to be supervised by probation officers. Victoria's death follows May's 40-year prison sentence for an Albuquerque woman for the 2013 kicking death of her 9-year-old son. That case prompted an overhaul of the New Mexico state agency that investigates child abuse. That same month, an 11-year Navajo girl was taken to a desolate area by a stranger who sexually assaulted her, bludgeoned her and left her to die. "We have a litany of little angels who are crying at us from the grave," said Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops. New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Secretary Monique Jacobson said Friday that state records showed no prior cases involving violence or sexual abuse against Victoria. The agency has joined police in the investigation into the death. Jacobson said she was prohibited by law from disclosing whether the agency had received any other complaints related to Victoria, described by neighbours from her blue-collar apartment complex as a seemingly happy and sociable girl who loved to swim and dance. The others charged in Victoria's death are her mother, Michelle Martens, and Gonzales' cousin Jessica Kelley. While Martens has no online record of an arrest in New Mexico, she told police Kelley had been released from jail just days before Victoria's death. The three face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Gonzales and Kelley are also charged of criminal sexual penetration of a minor. There were conflicting reports from state officials Friday over communication of probation requirements imposed on Gonzales between court administrators and the New Mexico Department of Corrections. Deputy Corrections Secretary Alex Sanchez said her agency never received a judgment and sentence order mandating supervised probation for Gonzales. It was meant to ensure he committed no crimes and threatened jail time as punishment for violations like illegal drug use. Second Judicial District Court spokesman Tim Korte said records show the documents were forwarded to the corrections department in February 2015. Martens worked at a local grocery store, said neighbours who knew little else about her, and told detectives she met Gonzales online about a month before her daughter's death. Victoria's grieving grandparents and other relatives said they were thankful to first-responders, investigating authorities and community members who offered prayers, said minister and family spokeswoman Laura Bobbs. "Children have few rights and no one to speak for them," Bobbs said. "Today, I speak for the children and the voice of Victoria. Parents, communities and governments need to put our children first because they are our future." Other high-profile New Mexico child killing cases include a woman sentenced last year to 21 years in prison for smothering her infant daughter to avoid hearing her cry and a man sentenced to 63 years for raping and killing his baby daughter. Those stories made national headlines, but Victoria's slaying is drawing deeper condemnation. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said it was more troubling than all crimes she handled during a 25-year career as a state prosecutor before her election to the state's top post in 2010. "I personally took on some of the most brutal, violent, gut-wrenching cases our state has ever seen. This has to be the worst," she said in a statement Friday. Sanchez suggested deaths like Victoria's could be prevented if state child welfare case workers made more home visits and New Mexico implemented a statewide pre-kindergarten program. Research shows both help reduce to reduce child abuse and poverty, he said. "We should get on this now," Sanchez said. "It's going to take a whole generation before we see real change." Photo: The Canadian Press A leader of the group that organized the protest where a sniper killed five law enforcement officers in Dallas was sentenced Friday to prison for unrelated probation violations. State District Judge Gracie Lewis revoked probation for Dominique Alexander and sentenced him to two years in prison with credit for time served. Alexander, the 27-year-old founder of the Next Generation Action Network that organized the July 7 rally to protest recent fatal police shootings of black men, had been on probation for a 2009 felony injury to a child conviction. The hearing Friday was held two weeks after Dallas County District Attorney officials filed a motion to revoke Alexander's probation for multiple violations. Alexander's supporters have said those issues had largely already been addressed by the same judge at previous hearings. They say he is being targeted because of the protest, but the shooter Micah Johnson was not affiliated with their group. "We will continue to push for police reform. This is the very reason we need to push for police reform. This system is corrupt," said Kim Cole, an attorney for Alexander and for the network. "There were five applications (for revocation) filed in 11 days and there were no new offences committed. Explain that." Prosecutors alleged Alexander violated his probation by missing meetings with his probation officer, leaving the state without notifying his probation officer, failing to complete community service and classes and falling behind on fines and fees. Court records showed Lewis sentenced Alexander to 10 days in jail in December for several missed meetings and added 30 hours of community service after he admitted to leaving the state at a hearing earlier this month. Prosecutor Douglas Millican said Alexander was being treated the same as any other defendant. "I feel silly having to say this, but we would be standing here in this position regardless of circumstances with who the defendant was or what he was involved in. I would be having the same conversation with you if he was a pediatric neurosurgeon and had to be in surgery in 10 minutes," he told the judge. Cole said Alexander received extra scrutiny because of his protest involvement, noting that police and sheriff's officers had sent social media posts and other photos and video of Alexander to the judge to show he had left the state. Lewis said she had given Alexander multiple opportunities over the last six years to follow the rules. "I've done everything but almost beg him to do what he is supposed to do," she said. Cameron Gray, another attorney representing Alexander, said he doesn't plan to appeal the ruling. He said with time served Alexander will be eligible for parole in six months or less. ___ This story has been corrected to say that Gracie Lewis' title is state district, not Dallas County, judge. Photo: The Canadian Press A federal judge ruled Friday that two students and an employee must be allowed to use restrooms matching their gender identity at University of North Carolina campuses, and he said they have a strong chance of proving the state's bathroom-access measure violates federal law, a judicial rebuke that transgender rights advocates hailed as a victory. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder temporarily blocked the University of North Carolina from making the three plaintiffs follow the restroom provision of the so-called HB2 law as the larger case makes its way to trial in November. His final decision on the law won't come until after trial. Passed in March, HB2 requires transgender people to use restrooms in schools and many public buildings that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates, rather than their gender identity. It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections. The state's Republican leaders argue the law is needed to protect privacy and safety by keeping men out of women's restrooms. Transgender residents challenging the law say that restroom safety is protected by existing laws, while the North Carolina measure is harmful and discriminatory. In Friday's ruling, Schroeder wrote that the challengers "are likely to succeed" in their arguments that HB2 violates Title IX, a federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in educational institutions. However, he said plaintiffs haven't shown they are likely to succeed on a claim that the law violates their constitutional equal protection rights, and he reserved judgment on another constitutional claim related to due process. Rebuffing arguments by the law's defenders, Schroeder also noted that existing laws already protect people's privacy in restrooms. "North Carolina's peeping and indecent exposure statutes continue to protect the privacy of citizens regardless of" the bathroom provision, Schroeder wrote, "and there is no indication that a sexual predator could successfully claim transgender status as a defence against prosecution under these statutes." He said that while his injunction shouldn't pose any hardship to the state leaders seeking to defend the law, failing to block the restroom provision "would cause substantial hardship to the individual transgender Plaintiffs, disrupting their lives." The plaintiffs challenging the law include a student at UNC's Greensboro campus, an employee at its Chapel Hill campus and a high school student at the state School of the Arts, which is also run by the university system. The UNC employee, Joaquin Carcano, issued a statement that the judge's decision represents an important step toward defeating the law that has forced him to go far from his office to use a restroom. "Today, the tightness that I have felt in my chest every day since H.B. 2 passed has eased. But the fight is not over: we won't rest until this discriminatory law is defeated," he said. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the transgender plaintiffs, and the U.S. Justice Department both argued for the injunction to block the restroom access measure. Defending the law are Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, Republican legislative leaders and a citizens group. Chris Brook, legal director of the ACLU of North Carolina, said in an interview that the ruling shows "HB2 can't be squared with Title IX and can't be enforced at institutions that receive federal education funds." Several cases seeking to challenge or defend the law were assigned to Schroeder, while another case is pending in a separate federal court. North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore issued a statement maintaining that the law represents "commonsense protections to keep grown men out of bathrooms and showers with women and young girls" and saying they were pleased that the ruling only extended to the three plaintiffs. Friday's decision hinged largely on a ruling by a federal appeals court in favour of a transgender teen seeking to use the boys' restrooms at his Virginia high school. Schroeder noted that appeals' court decision remains the law throughout the 4th Circuit, even though the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily put its enforcement on hold while it considers whether to hear the Virginia case. UNC law professor Maxine Eichner said she was struck by the fact that the judge who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush carefully weighed the plaintiffs' hardships in the more than 80-page ruling. "The judge took real care in looking at the facts," she said. She said that while the ruling only applies to the three plaintiffs, it could embolden North Carolina's public school systems to tailor their restroom access policies to the needs of transgender students. "A school system could say: 'The writing is on the wall, and we can't lawfully enforce HB2,'" she said. "They also could say, 'We are going to stick this out and wait until a court actually grants an order that applies to us.'" Photo: The Canadian Press A U.S. court has the authority to hear a trademark lawsuit by grocery chain Trader Joe's against a man who buys the company's products and resells them in Vancouver at Pirate Joe's, a store designed to mimic a real Trader Joe's, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a district court's decision to dismiss California-based Trader Joe's federal trademark claims. The district court in Washington state said it lacked authority to hear those claims because the defendant's alleged trademark violations occurred in Canada and Trader Joe's had failed to clearly explain how they affected U.S. commerce. The 9th Circuit said defendant Michael Hallatt's conduct could harm Trader Joe's reputation, decreasing the value of its American-held trademarks. Circuit Judge Morgan Christen also pointed out that Hallatt bought the Trader Joe's goods he resold in Washington state. Hallatt's attorney, Nathan Alexander, said in an email he and Hallatt disagree with the ruling and are evaluating their options. Trader Joe's does not have stores in Canada. The company sued Hallatt in 2013, alleging he drove across the border to a Trader Joe's store in Washington state, bought the company's products and resold them at higher prices at his Vancouver store. A Trader Joe's store refused to sell to Hallatt, but he put on disguises to avoid detection, shopped at other stores as far away as California and hired others to shop for him, the company said in its lawsuit. It estimated Hallatt had spent more than $350,000 on its products. Hallatt said his business was lawful. He provided a service to Canadians who wanted Trader Joe's products but didn't want to go through the trouble of travelling to the U.S. to get them. In court documents responding to the lawsuit, Hallatt said he never represented himself as an authorized reseller of Trader Joe's products or as an affiliate of Trader Joe's. The 9th Circuit sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings. Customers at Pirate Joes can expect to pay a 30-per-cent markup after the currency exchange, Hallatt said, adding he doubled the store space after recently moving to a new location. Hallatt said he's confident he'll prevail legally because he has a right to resell what he buys under an old law called the first-sale doctrine. The name Pirate Joe's is "shorthand for unauthorized and unaffiliated. It doesn't get much clearer than that," he said, explaining that his store isn't trying to mimic Trader Joe's "We're doing nothing but good things for Trader Joe's." Photo: Contributed Highway experts say a cat chase on a busy Houston-area tollway should serve as a warning about what not to do when animals get loose in traffic. Tuesday's surveillance video from the Harris County Tollway Authority shows an unidentified woman trying to trap a cat on a road full of cars and trucks. She appears unaware of the danger around her and the darting cat. A toll road crew eventually arrived and helped the woman capture the kitty after traffic was stopped or slowed for about 10 minutes. Tollway official Calvin Harvey told KTRK-TV that stray animals are a common problem on major roadways. Harvey says it isn't safe for someone to get out of a vehicle in traffic it's better to let the experts do their jobs. Photo: CTV An assault at an Abbotsford park has police searching for two suspects. Two approached a woman in Albert Dyck Park, Thursday afternoon. One of the men grabbed the 25 year old around the mouth and face and swore at her before she was able to break free. Several bystanders scared the men off, who then left in a white, four-door Jeep SUV. The suspects are described as South Asian, 45 to 55 years old, about six feet tall. Witnesses are asked to contact police at 604-859-5225, or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: The Buzzer A Metro Vancouver couple tied the knot on SkyTrain this week. Newlyweds Nathaly and Jeff exchanged wedding vows Thursday on board a train at the Stadium-Chinatown Station. The couple met three years ago on SkyTrain, according to TransLink's Buzzer blog. "Both of us had made a decision that day to make sure that we had a look around, put the smartphones away and become the change we wanted to see in people in the city," they said in the blog post. The couple felt an instant connection. "Three stations later and three years after that, an 'on-line' marriage is planned. "We thought, 'Hey... Wouldn't that be fun?' We also thought it would be a lovely way to honour the way we met three years earlier." with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Google Maps A man was shot in a suspected targeted shooting in East Vancouver Friday night. At about 11:30 p.m., the 27-year-old man was shot near East 3rd Avenue and Templeton Drive. Police found him shortly afterwards at Commercial Drive and East 1st Avenue in the driver's side of his vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to the hospital in serious condition, but he's expected to survive. While the motive for the shooting has yet to be determined, police believe it was a targeted attack. Investigators are still examining the crime scene, but no arrests have been made yet. Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call 604-717-2541 or 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous. home World Christian leaders in Damascus call for an end to Syria sanctions Patriarchs of three different denominations in Damascus recently made a plea to the international community to lift the sanctions on Syria. The appeal stated that the impact of the sanctions have been increasingly felt by the Syrian citizens, especially the poor. The appeal was signed by John X of Antioch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, Gregory III Laham of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church, and Mar Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syrian Orthodox Church, AsiaNews reported. The patriarchs criticized that the ban on international flights to Syria, the blacklisting of Syrian companies, the shutdown of the Western embassies as well as the ban on international banking. They argued that these restrictions only led to the country's isolation from the international community. "The ban on international banking transactions with Syria puts the people in a financial difficulty. It impoverishes the citizens and threatens them in their daily bread and deprives them of their human dignity," said the patriarchs in their statement. "Despite the resolution of the Syrian people in the face of the crisis, the social situation is getting worse and the poverty and suffering of the Syrian people are constantly increasing," they added. The patriarchs stated that lifting the sanctions will "facilitate the work of our ecclesial and humanitarian organizations in conferring humanitarian aid and delivering medicine and medical equipment." More sanctions could be imposed by the U.N. against Syria after it concluded that the Syrian government was responsible for two toxic gas attacks. In 2013, The U.N. Security Council created a resolution that would implement measures under chapter seven of the U.N. Charter in the event that Syria uses chemical weapons. This segment dealt with sanctions and authorization of military force by the Security Council. Last May, the European Council extended the E.U. sanctions against Syria until June 1, 2017. According to its website, the sanctions involve an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, the freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the E.U. and restrictions on the export of certain equipment and technologies. 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. Missed Delivery? If missed delivery or wet paper please call our office 909-628-5501 ext 110 Leave a detailed message with name, address, and phone number. Readers must call before 1 p.m. on Saturday. Re-deliveries are available for Chino residents until 1 p.m. Saturdays. Click Here 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. 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 This content is produced by Tribune Content Solutions on behalf of Rush University College of Nursing. The newsroom or editorial department of Tribune Publishing was not involved in its production. (Photograph Courtesy of Rush University College of Nursing) When a stroke hits, time is precious. There is a narrow window of time for lifesaving measures, usually only a few hours. Until recent years, stroke victims had little in the way of immediate treatment when they came through the hospital doors. Today, the country has more than 1000 certified stroke centers where patients are offered the latest in help and hope. Advertisement And nurses are at the forefront of this revolutionary stroke care. Advanced practice nurse Dr. Sarah Livesay, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, ACNS-BC, associate professor at Rush University College of Nursing and a clinician, is one of those nurses. She spends part of her busy days making sure patients get the latest and best care in the neurosciences intensive care unit (neuro ICU) at Rush University Medical Center while instructing other nurses there. She also teaches at the Rush College of Nursing and serves as a reviewer for The Joint Commission, the body that certifies hospitals as specialized stroke centers. Advertisement Livesay has been fascinated with stroke care since she saw her first neuro patient 17 years ago as a new nurse. The treatment and care of people who have had brain injuries, seizures and strokes has evolved a lot since then, she says. "I love the neuroscience field because there is so much happening right now. We are literally discovering new treatments every day," Livesay says. "What was standard even two years ago has changed. Doctors and nurses are able to be more effective than in the past." For example, Livesay recently took care of a young woman who had a stroke while pregnant. "She received tPA (a blood clot busting drug), and she and her baby were safe," Livesay reports. "Then I was on service and admitted an older woman in her 70s, whose daughter had called 911 because she thought her mother was having a stroke. The daughter was the woman we had treated before!" Fortunately, the mother also was given tPA in time. "Now she will be able to enjoy her grandchild," she happily adds. As a reviewer of hospital stroke programs for The Joint Commission, Livesay and others hope to increase access to the lifesaving treatments certified stroke centers provide. Certification is earned: A center must have up-to-date equipment, offer approved treatments and have staff properly trained for an emergency. The world of post-stroke care in the neuro ICU is a minute-to-minute exercise in subtle observation. To properly understand these complex patients, training is crucial. Oftentimes there are multiple medical issues to weigh. "The acute issue may be the stroke, but they may also have kidney or heart or lung disease or maybe all three. It makes their care much more complex," Livesay says. Because strokes occur in blood vessels hidden in the brain or leading to it, the problem is hidden and nurses must interpret subtle changes quickly. Advertisement "Even after patients are treated, their condition can change quickly at any moment, and some of the changes are not very obvious," says Valerie Musolf, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN, a clinical nurse educator and a student of Livesay's in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Rush. "A good neuro ICU nurse will be able to pick up on tiny little things and relate them to what vessels might be affected and what is going on. To work on our unit you have to be very well versed in stroke management," Musolf says. There are different types of strokes with different root causes that require different treatments. For example, bigger blood clots are often manually removed by interventional radiology in a procedure called a thrombectomy, which is a mechanical way of breaking up the clot using a catheter. Smaller clots may be treated with the intravenous drug tPA. Stroke patients need a lot of education afterward, because once someone has a stroke there is greater risk of another. But the good news is that most strokes are preventable. The No. 1 risk factor is high blood pressure. Other risk factors include diabetes, smoking, drinking, atherosclerosis (artery disease) and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), according to the National Stroke Association. So diagnosing and controlling those conditions is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of stroke. "Part of being a stroke center is we have to educate every patient before they are discharged," Musolf says. This is likely what saved the life of Livesay's patient's mother, because her daughter was able to recognize the symptoms. Advertisement "(The stroke) was unfortunate for the family but it was huge that they recognized the signs," Livesay says. Lisa Jevens for Rush University College of Nursing This content is produced by Tribune Content Solutions on behalf of Rush University College of Nursing. The newsroom or editorial department of Tribune Publishing is not involved in its production. (Jarun Ontakrai/Shutterstock.com) Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes spread diseases to millions of people every year. And now one very dangerous mosquito-borne virus has been confirmed within the continental U.S. Zika. Advertisement Zika first showed up on the global radar in 2015 with a large outbreak in Brazil. Since then, the virus has been declared a global public-health emergency by the WHO, and in August 2016 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel warning to areas in the U.S. where the disease has been identified. The warning specifically targets pregnant women and their partners. All eyes are on Zika and its possible spread around the U.S. Here's what you need to know. Advertisement A little context It may sound bleak, but nurses like Alexander Tomich, DNP, RN, CIC, and Megan Keenan, DNP, CNP, say they are prepared for the worst, and hopeful for the best. Tomich is system director of infection, prevention and control at Rush University Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital; Keenan is a board certified women's health nurse practitioner at Rush University Medical Center. "Any time there's a new emerging infection there's going to be public concern," says Tomich, "The main thing we really want to do is raise awareness and keep people informed." Keenan has a similar outlook: "Part of alleviating fears is putting it into proper context," she says, "Right now there are no cases of local transmission in Illinois. However, it's also our job to inform patients how they can protect themselves." They concur that the first step in calming fears is knowing what you're up against. Where did Zika come from? The Zika virus is closely related to the West Nile virus. According to the CDC, it primarily spreads through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes but can also be transmitted through infected blood and sexual contact with those infected by the virus. It's named for the Zika Forest in Uganda where it was first discovered in the 1940s. The current outbreak in the Americas is relatively new, as is the identification of Zika-bearing mosquitoes within the continental U.S. Advertisement Who is at risk? While anyone who lives in or is visiting an area where the Zika virus is actively being transmitted can be infected, Tomich stresses that fetuses are most at risk. Zika can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and can cause microcephaly, a condition in which the baby's head is abnormally small, and the fetal brain is not fully developed. Keenan works with expectant mothers every day who are understandably concerned about this virus, and several patients have canceled travel plans due to worries of infection. While she counsels all patients to avoid traveling to affected areas, her responses to their fears are tailored to each. "Being a nurse practitioner, I have learned that always listening first to what the woman feels or perceives helps me to effectively teach and counsel the woman," she says. "Seeing where she is within the situation allows for me to meet her where she is at, rather than where I think she may be." What are the symptoms? Advertisement According to the CDC, common symptoms of Zika infection are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, but can also include muscle pains and headache. However, some people will have no symptoms at all. "The symptoms are actually generally mild in the sense that the majority of those infected won't even have any symptoms," Tomich says. These "invisible" symptoms can be a concern for pregnant women, their partners and those planning a pregnancy. "It's always important that we screen anyone who may have been to an area of known Zika transmission," Keenan says. How do you protect yourself? The good news is protecting yourself is fairly simple and grounded in common sense. The first step is to avoid areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. This is the best approach for pregnant women, their partners, those planning a pregnancy and those in their child-bearing years who don't use birth control. Keenan advises all her patients to strongly consider the travel warning, and advises that "there is no cure for the Zika virus and no vaccine." Advertisement In cases where travel is unavoidable, other precautions should be taken. "Basic mosquito-bite prevention goes a long way," says Tomich. "Use mosquito repellent, wear long clothing and consider sleeping with a mosquito net." A blood or urine test can confirm a Zika infection. What's next? While it's impossible to know for certain what will happen next, Tomich is cautiously optimistic. He points to the fact that the WHO does not expect widespread transmission throughout the U.S. due to several factors, including our access to air conditioning, screens on windows and doors, and community-led mosquito-control efforts. However, he acknowledges "it can be really hard to determine how and where the virus may spread over time and evolve in the future. We're always on the lookout for any potential changes." Keenan shares a similar outlook, and will continue to face Zika fears one patient at a time. Advertisement "I like to counsel on the big picture and allow the decision to be up to the patient and her partner," she says. The conversation will evolve as we find out what the future holds, she adds. Lindsey Malkus for Rush University College of Nursing This content is produced by Tribune Content Solutions on behalf of Rush University College of Nursing. The newsroom or editorial department of Tribune Publishing was not involved in its production. (Photograph Courtesy of Oak Street Health) Weak. Helpless. Unproductive. These stereotypes paint a dismal picture of what it's like to be an older adult especially in underserved communities. But today, in neighborhoods around Chicago, caring people are stepping forward to help the aging live and thrive. On the forefront of this caring revolution: nurse practitioners. Here are three Chicago-area nurse practitioners who are making a huge difference in the lives of their oldest patients. Advertisement Barbara Hardt, nurse practitioner at Oak Street Health "My dreams of being a nurse were about making a difference in people's lives," says Barbara Hardt, MSN, AGNP-C, CMSRN. "I felt I would take on the world by becoming a nurse practitioner." Advertisement After graduating from Rush University College of Nursing with a specialty in adult geriatric primary care, Hardt found she was able to make a difference doing home visits on the West Side of Chicago for homebound, bedbound patients. It was rewarding, though very challenging work. Then, when the opportunity arose to join Oak Street Health, a network of community centers aimed at older adults on Medicare, she jumped at the chance. "Oak Street was set up to provide exceptional care to older adults in underserved neighborhoods," Hardt explains. What does exceptional care look like? "My patients are relatively complex, with multiple co-morbidities (multiple chronic illnesses) and things like drug use," she explains. "It's a lot of psychosocial work, especially with older adults a lot of them want to come in and talk." And because talk is valued at Oak Street, appointments can run long 20 minutes with a health care provider, in addition to 20 minutes with a medical assistant, with some appointments lasting over an hour. "The founders recognize that working with older adults, we have to listen," says Hardt. "Things take a little longer. They're more complex." Part of that complexity means looking at the whole patient to understand not just an acute or chronic ailment, but also the senior's life in context. "I'm trained first as a nurse trained to see not just labs or diseases, but the patient, their family, their home life, the grocery stores they have access to, the community they live in and the greatest problems they're faced with," says Hardt. And the care at Oak Street Health is also about creating a space where underserved patients many of whom haven't had the most positive experiences with the health care system actually want to be. Advertisement "We feel that we should be someone's home away from home. You come here for Bingo and blood work," she jokes, then adds more seriously that Oak Street strives to meet all sorts of needs, including being a warming and cooling center in Chicago's more extreme weather days. "Plus," she says, "there's always coffee." Christina Graham, nurse practitioner at Symphony of Chicago West In hospitals across the country, many older patients are discharged to post-acute care facilities because of complex health concerns (such as diabetes) in addition to whatever acute issue is at hand. Nurse practitioners like Christina Graham, APN, AGPCNP-BC, are the go-betweens, bringing high quality primary care to nursing homes in this case in partnership with Rush University Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital. The innovative Rush Coordinated Care program began about four years ago and is currently serving five nursing home facilities across Chicagoland. "I would say that of the five, Symphony Chicago West is probably in the most underserved community," Graham explains. "On average, 90 to 95 percent of our patients are receiving public aid." The program has three goals: to improve the quality of care for patients who leave the hospital and go to post-acute care facilities; to reduce 30-day readmission rates; and to foster relationships with nursing care facilities. Graham and two other nurse practitioners are employees of Rush Oak Park Hospital, not the nursing homes where they work. "The hospital has established the relationship to improve care," says Graham. "There are benefits for both parties." Advertisement There are also benefits for the nurse practitioners. "We're practicing at the top of our scope of practice," she says. Particularly at Symphony West, that practice often goes beyond managing chronic conditions. "I had to learn how to reshape my history-taking skills, reshape the whole visit, to add in all these other considerations on top of the medical issues." Those other considerations are issues like housing, family problems, homelessness, undiagnosed psychiatric issues, alcoholism and other addictions. What keeps her consistently engaged is the impact she sees in the people she serves. "I had a patient, a man, come in one time with numerous chronic medical problems. He wasn't able to walk, was completely bedridden, depressed, anxious and trying to leave the facility all the time," she says. "Over time, with therapy and reassurance and medication, he left there walking." Marcia Murphy, nurse practitioner at the Southeast (Atlas) Senior Center Advertisement Marcia Murphy, DNP, ANP, FAHA, FPCNA, is busy. Along with being an associate professor of adult health and gerontological nursing and program director of the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program at the Rush College of Nursing, every Tuesday morning she drives the 30 miles to a senior center at East 79th Street and South Creiger Avenue, where she is resident nurse practitioner in the center's wellness program. The Atlas Senior Center draws older adults, 60 to 100 years of age, from the predominantly African-American neighborhood surrounding it. Many of its seniors use walkers or canes. Many have had strokes or hip or knee replacements. And plenty are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s, exercising and thriving. They're taking tai chi, Zumba and even belly dancing. Murphy sees about 25 patients on her visits, and they face a range of health issues. The wellness program also includes seminars on boosting memory or controlling blood sugar, for example. As a nurse practitioner, she collaborates with each senior's primary care physician. "The goal is to educate and partner with our seniors so they can maintain their health and independence." And it's working. "Almost everyone I see is able to reach their health goals because we have weekly goal setting," she says. The frequency of her visits allows both Murphy and her patients to address questions like, "How realistic is this?" "What are the barriers?" "How can this be modified?" The answers help every patient get on a path to success. "Here's what you gain when you have this situation: A senior might be reluctant to say 'I haven't taken medication' if you see them once a year. I see them weekly. We have a trusting relationship," she says. Each Tuesday, it's not just a time for Murphy to serve the larger Chicago community it's a day that consistently challenges her vision of what it's like to be an older adult. Advertisement "It would redefine anyone's picture," says Murphy. "It's the best day of my week." Laura Lambert for Rush University College of Nursing View from the flyover ramp Friday July 24, 2015 as the Illinois Tollway is opening the first three ramps as part of the new Interstate 290 Interchange, creating free-flow traffic access from I-290 to Illinois Route 390. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) Calling the railroad's refusal to negotiate over a highway project just west of O'Hare International Airport "irresponsible," the Illinois Tollway chair threatened to sue Canadian Pacific Railway. Tollway Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said in an interview on Friday that he does not want to file a lawsuit and would prefer that the two parties talk through their differences. Advertisement But he said the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is prepared to file a suit before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board if necessary, though a resolution could take years. The board has regulatory oversight of railroads. "We have employed every avenue we can think of to try to talk to them . . ." Schillerstrom said. "We've been rebuffed at every turn." Advertisement A Canadian Pacific spokesman countered that the two sides have talked for years and that the Tollway failed to come up with an offer that addresses the loss of its property and the impact on the national rail network that the project would create. "The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement and CP is under no obligation to do so," said spokesman Martin Cej in an email. A proposed western access highway to O'Hare has been discussed for nearly 20 years, and the Illinois Department of Transportation began talking with Canadian Pacific to review ways to cross its Bensenville rail yard in 2008, the Tollway said. The road also will need to cross CP tracks, Schillerstrom said. The Tollway has already built part of I-390 with the intention of extending it east to O'Hare. A new tollway would meet I-390 and connect it north to I-90 and south to the Tri-State Tollway along the airport's western border. The project is expected to cost about $3.5 billion. Schillerstrom said western access is crucial to an expanded O'Hare airport, and shutting down the project would cost thousands of jobs. In March 2014, Canadian Pacific asked for $114 million for land acquisition and improvements to its Bensenville yard. The Tollway wants to use about 36 acres of the yard for the highway project. But the Tollway said CP restricted Tollway access to the yard, interfering with its ability to study the area to respond to the offer. Schillerstrom said that the Tollway presented plans that addressed the railroad's operational and land acquisition worries in November 2015, but CP ended discussions and since then has not been willing to discuss anything. "I just don't understand it," Schillerstrom said. "The fact that they won't explain it and won't talk about it basically they're taking their ball and going home is further mystifying and unbelievably irresponsible." He said that while the railroad did have a change in management, it still has a responsibility to negotiate over a project with such a big impact on regional transportation. Advertisement CP sued the Tollway over the issue in federal court in 2015, but its case was dismissed this year. On June 20, CP President Keith Creel wrote a letter to Gov. Bruce Rauner and Surface Transportation Board Chair Daniel Elliott saying that the expressway project threatens the rail network. Creel said that an expressway through the rail yard would "significantly impact existing rail operations, severely limit our ability to reconfigure the remaining track and facilities, and would permanently prevent future use and capacity." He said that the problem caused by rail gridlock was showcased by the bitter 2013-14 winter, when problems in Chicago cascaded through the national rail network. "A reduction of capacity at our only yard in Chicago is not something we can agree to," Creel wrote. Schillerstrom followed up with a July 25 letter to Elliott and Rauner, copying members of the Illinois Senate and congressional delegations, expressing surprise at Creel's letter. Schillerstrom said if CP kills the project, it would be a waste of $140 million Congress appropriated for it and $1.5 billion the Tollway has already spent. "It remains unclear to me why Canadian Pacific Railway officials waited until long after we began pouring concrete before changing their minds to say they opposed the alignment," Schillerstrom wrote. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., encouraged CP to come back to the negotiating table, spokesman Ben Marter said. Advertisement "With $140 million in federal dollars already invested in the project, Sen. Durbin is concerned about Canadian Pacific's newfound unwillingness to work with the Tollway and other stakeholders," Marter said. "After years of working toward a mutually beneficial solution, the railroad's about-face is troubling." Congressman Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said in an interview that it looked like an issue for the courts. "I'd like to see the western access go forward, but it looks like a matter that's going to be resolved in the courts and we will watch with interest," Quigley said. mwisniewski@tribpub.com Twitter @marywizchicago T.J. Miller clearly loves being onstage. He loves it so much that on Friday night, about two hours and 15 minutes into the Chicago leg of his Meticulously Ridiculous Tour, someone backstage at The Vic Theatre had to tell him to wrap things up. So he did. It just took him another 20 minutes. Advertisement To be fair, with four other performers before him, Miller (from HBO's "Silicon Valley") owned only 95 of the show's bloated 155 minutes. And he drew them out, constantly on the lookout for something external to react to, seeming to almost forcefully resist his written material in favor of improvising. The tour will culminate next month in Denver with a filmed performance. But that doesn't mean Miller who credits his five years in Chicago for much of his comedy prowess saw this show as a rehearsal. "I have this HBO special, and I'm supposed to be preparing for it, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna do that tonight!" he said after delivering almost 30 minutes of playfully rambling, stream-of-conscious dialogue relating to Chicago, including the BYOB policy of the nearby Chicago Bagel Authority, boycotting the L and L Tavern and strolling through Boystown. Advertisement MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR "A lot of people are gonna leave here tonight and be like, 'I don't know why that happened,'" he said, meaning his portion of the show. But the sold-out crowd seemed plenty happy with his high-energy absurdism. They could certainly question a few of his opening acts, though. The first two former attorney Paul Farahvar, who served as emcee, and longtime Chicago comedian C.J. Sullivan, who is set to record his first stand-up album Sept. 7 delivered sharp 10-minute sets. The other two made me wonder why they happened. Cash Levy, host of the podcast "Cashing in with T.J. Miller," had his moments, but 25 minutes of frequently repetitive audience work was too much, especially given his shticky style and the congratulatory victory lap he offered himself in closing, slowly reiterating each joke he had made. Kate Miller (artist, poet, performer and wife of T.J), performed three songs in a tasseled black robe over a glittering pantsuit. Two were seemingly done in earnest (she has a good voice), with the third an only slightly amusing high-concept take on a classic '80s song. How this musical section fit into the show aside from giving the spouse of the headliner a chance to indulge in some hammy vocalization was fairly unclear. Then T.J. Miller took the stage, bounding out energetically, playing a game of hide-and-seek with the spotlight, delivering a lengthy monologue from the point of view of his mixed drink and repeatedly dousing his face, the floor and the microphone with bottled water. "That's not dangerous when a microphone has water in it," he declared only a little nervously. In a gray suit topped with a blue bow tie, Miller consistently presented a meta-take on his own set, frequently referencing bits he planned to bring up. "We'll get to that ," he'd say with a shake of his head, before continuing down a path of seemingly off-the-cuff banter with himself, and every audience member who shouted anything out. Advertisement Miller seemed keen to focus on the hecklers, even when they weren't quite heckling as much as providing vocal non-sequiturs ("Calzone!" "Transformers!" "Nihilism!"). "What was that?" he'd ask encouragingly after stopping midsentence. Eventually, around 45 minutes in, he started what seemed like prepared material, almost visibly reining himself in to work jokes on alcohol vs. marijuana, science vs. myth, and suicide vs. all other forms of death. His final 20 minutes the stuff that happened after someone stage left asked him to wrap up took a darker, more contemplative turn, with a strong focus on meaning and mortality. And perhaps this is the gist of Miller's show, the underlying thread that explains why he spent so much of the night eager for distraction and singular, unrepeatable moments: his overlong but surprisingly engaging set is meant as a big metaphor for life. As he points out, we spend so much of our all-too-brief time discussing the weather (or other trivial topics) and so little on fully internalizing the fact that we will all die someday. We avoid the topic, though its eventuality is inevitable, much as Miller avoids his rehearsed bits, though of course he'll close with them and his show will (eventually) end. Maybe it's all much deeper than it seems. Or maybe this rising star ("Deadpool," the upcoming "Ready Player One") can get away with whatever he wants to onstage because of his impressive (Chicago-honed) improvisational chops. Either way, like life, it's rewarding and funny. Still, unlike life, it's far too long. Zach Freeman is a freelance writer. Advertisement ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com Twitter@ZachRunsChicago 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) Over the Columbus Days weekend, members of the library board and Columbus Library Foundation board were available in Frankfort Square to answer questions about the library/cultural arts center project. It was inspiring to hear people offer their heartfelt support for the project. All of the feedback was positive, and people of all ages expressed excitement for the new facility. There were a lot of great questions about future programs and services, the design of the building, and the future of libraries. I will address the two most asked questions of the weekend here for those of you who may be wondering. Where will the library/cultural arts center be located? The library/cultural arts center will be on 14th street between 23rd and 24th avenues, two blocks east of Columbus Public Librarys current location. The library/cultural arts center will be located on the north side of 14th Street, and parking for the facility will be just across the street to the south. When will we build the library/cultural arts center? Construction on the library/cultural arts center could begin as early as spring 2017, but there is still a lot of work to be done. A construction company was hired on Aug. 15 to provide our community with a guaranteed maximum price for the library/cultural arts center project. The current project timeline calls for the project price to be identified soon after the first of the year. With a guaranteed maximum price established, voters will be asked to give final authorization on the public funds for the project. Construction could begin soon after a successful vote. Everyone involved is taking a cautious and thoughtful approach to ensure the library/cultural arts center meets the communitys needs and expectations. For the project to move forward it is also very important for individuals, families, and businesses to continue to contribute financially. There are still matching grant dollars available for the library/cultural arts center. While available, matching grant funds add 50 percent more impact and recognition to every gift. This is an unprecedented opportunity to reinvest in the community, receive prominent recognition, and make a lasting difference. Columbus and Platte County have been enormous library supporters. In the last four years over 1,000 individuals, families, and businesses have given generously to the Columbus Public Library. Beyond financial gifts, many thousands of hours of thoughtful volunteer work have been contributed to the library. Most recently volunteers have helped make the library book sale, the Columbus Days Parade, and the Columbus Days information booth a success. While the future of the library/cultural arts center project is exciting, there are also a lot of great things happening at Columbus Public Library now. With school starting and a touch of fall in the air Columbus Public Library is refocusing on story time, weekend and evening childrens programming, after school events for middle and high school students, and adult programming. Columbus Public Library also offers programs for the whole family. On Saturday Sept. 10, Charlotte Endorf with Nebraska Humanities will be performing as Annie Oakley. The program will be held in the librarys auditorium at 2 p.m. and is completely free. This coming year will bring new and exciting opportunities as the Columbus Public Library develops a Maker Space. The Maker Space will be a place to experiment with robotics, 3D printing, software, virtual reality technology, drones and more. Columbus Public Library continues to move forward with information services, programming, and opportunities to connect with new ideas. Thank you to the community for continuing to support all of the great things happening at your library. SALEM, Ore. Living marijuana plants went on display Friday at the Oregon State Fair, with organizers saying it's the first state fair in the nation to allow cannabis for public viewing. The state voted to legalize recreational marijuana in late 2014. Here are a few things to know about legal pot in Oregon and the display at the fair: Advertisement WHAT'S THE BUZZ? The Oregon State Fair allowed a display about marijuana but without any living plants last year at the fair and it generated no complaints, so this year the organization took the next step and agreed to let marijuana growers display live plants on fair grounds. Advertisement The Oregon Cannabis Business Council, which is sponsoring the display, says it's the first time living pot plants have been open for public viewing at any state fair nationwide. The council is renting space in a state fair exhibit hall for its tent and selected nine plants for the display at an industry event two weeks ago. Fairgoer Jay Engers of Paso Robles, Calif., looks at marijuana plants at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Ore., during the first day of an exhibit of living pot plants. Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana in late 2014 and the state is the first in the nation to allow live marijuana plants at the state fair. Engers drove with his wife from California to see the marijuana exhibit. (Gillian Flaccus / AP) WILL FAIRGOERS GET HIGH? No. While the tent holding the display smells strongly of weed, fair authorities are only allowing immature plants that is, pot plants without flowers. Marijuana leaves are much less potent then the flowers, or buds, and it's not yet legal to transport flowering plants within the state anyway. Donald Morse, director of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council, said his group hopes to get permission to display flowering pot plants next year, but the details aren't finalized. Billy Jean Clay, left and Roxanne Hunt, of Silverton, Ore., look at marijuana plants at the Oregon State Fair during the first day of an exhibit of living pot plants. Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana in late 2014 and the state is the first in the nation to allow live marijuana plants at the state fair. (Gillian Flaccus / AP) CAN ANYONE SEE THE PLANTS? No. The exhibit is in a translucent tent and both the entrance and exit are monitored. Advertisement Anyone entering must present identification proving they are age 21 and over. AREN'T STATE FAIRS FOR GIANT PUMPKINS, PIGS AND APPLE PIE? The way people think about marijuana in Oregon is changing and recreational grow sites are recognized under state law as farm crops. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is in the process of licensing recreational marijuana in much the same way it already controls the sale and use of alcohol. Oregon State Fair spokesman Dan Cox says the fair must adapt to changing cultural and societal values and allowing the display is one part of that shift. A CASH CROP Advertisement Oregonians voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014 and the state allowed the sale of marijuana "edibles," such as pot-infused candies and confections, earlier this year. This week, the state said it had processed $25.5 million in taxes on recreational marijuana since January 2016. Anticipated state revenue from recreational marijuana through June 2017 was recently quadrupled by Oregon's Legislative Revenue Office, from $8.4 million to $35 million. BUT IT'S ILLEGAL, RIGHT? Recreational marijuana is still illegal in 46 states and is banned by the federal government. Associated Press Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during at a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College, in Reno, Nev. on Aug. 25, 2016. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) NEW YORK Hillary Clinton vigorously defended her family's foundation against Donald Trump's criticism on Friday and declared she's confident there will be no new blockbuster accusations on the foundation, her emails or anything else that could undermine her chances of defeating him in November. She said the private Clinton Foundation's charitable programs would continue if she's elected, even as Trump and other critics argue they would present a conflict of interest. Advertisement In an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," the Democratic presidential nominee kept up her verbal assault on Trump's campaign, asserting it is built on "prejudice and paranoia" and caters to a radical fringe of the Republican Party. Clinton is looking to counter Trump's attempts to win over moderate voters who have been unsettled by his controversial remarks and policy proposals. In the meantime, he has been softening his tone on immigration and reaching out to African-Americans, a traditional Democratic constituency. Advertisement Clinton is also targeting moderate voters and especially Republicans by depicting Trump and his supporters as extremists, and casting the race as "not a normal choice between a Republican and a Democrat." She has contrasted Trump with former Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Bob Dole, and former President George W. Bush, praising their decisive steps to counter racism and anti-Muslim sentiment. In turn, Trump is trying to paint Clinton as the racist. He has released an online video that includes footage of the former first lady referring to some young criminals as "super predators" in the 1990s. The video also shows Clinton's former Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders, denouncing the phrase as "a racist term." Clinton has since apologized for using the term. Trump tweeted Friday: "How quickly people forget that Crooked Hillary called African-American youth "SUPER PREDATORS" - Has she apologized?" Trump also says Clinton is trying to distract from questions swirling around donations to The Clinton Foundation and her exclusive use of her private email servers for official business while secretary of state. In her phone interview, Clinton was asked if she was certain there are no emails or foundation ties to foreign entities that would impact her presidential prospects. She replied, "I am sure," and mentioned her strong understanding about the foundation's work. But neither issue appears to be going away soon. This week, the State Department said it is reviewing nearly 15,000 previously undisclosed emails recovered as part of an FBI inquiry that did not result in charges concerning Clinton's use of a private server. The messages could become public in mid-October, just weeks before Election Day. Advertisement Also this week, The Associated Press reported that more than half the people from outside government who met or spoke by telephone with Clinton in the first half of her term as secretary of state had given money either personally or through companies or groups to the foundation. Former President Bill Clinton said last week that if Hillary Clinton is elected president, the foundation will no longer accept foreign or corporate donations. He also said he would step down from its board and would no longer raise money for the organization. On Friday, she promised to put in place additional safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest with her foundation should she win the White House. "I appreciate the concerns that people have expressed, and that's why I have made it clear that if I'm successful in November we are going to be taking additional steps," she said. She said the foundation's charitable programs has been "in line with American interests and values" and must continue, perhaps through partnerships with other organizations. Top Republicans have found common ground with Trump in his criticism of the Clinton Foundation and her use of the email server. But they have been noticeably quiet in defending Trump against Clinton's charges of racism in his campaign. Associated Press MONROE Karola Baumgart remembers it well, looking up from the bow of the ship to see a green figure holding a golden-flamed torch. Everyone was jumping up and down so happy, but I just stood there. I couldnt jump up and down. I wished I could have, but I didnt know what the future held for me, Baumgart said. Fifty years later, though she sits in her Monroe home surrounded by knickknacks and memorabilia from her native country of Germany, she said America is her home. At age 22, she married Army Sgt. Larry Baumgart, a Monroe native who asked her to dance one fateful night. After three years of marriage, the daughter of a German prisoner of war made the move to the U.S. with her American soldier husband in 1966 aboard a military ship. It was a seven-day trip she describes in her still-German accent as agonizing. It was not one of those fancy boats. You couldnt go outside because the waves were so high, people were puking everywhere, she said. It was horrible, an absolutely horrible experience. It wasnt until passengers saw the Statue of Liberty on the horizon when cheers erupted from the boat. Baumgart, now 75, recalls trying to be as excited as those around her but feeling more timid. She was young and moving to a foreign country without knowing the language. The entire experience was intimidating. Before she was allowed to travel to the U.S., Baumgart went through a three-month process of doctors visits to prove she was disease-free and interrogations to prove she wasnt a threat. Nowadays it seems like they just let anyone over, she said. I feel like I really had to fight to be over here and its crazy to me because I had been married to an American soldier for three years at this point. Before she was released from the ship, Baumgart was grilled by authorities about her intentions in the U.S. and why she was traveling here. I couldnt believe it, she said, looking back. Her husband was fluent in German so she didn't need to learn English until she arrived in America. Baumgart applied at job after job but got used to hearing the word no because she didn't have experience or a driver's license and couldn't speak English. Nowadays it seems like thats not even an issue, she said. In those days nothing came easy for me. To get a job she needed experience. But to get experience she needed to learn English. Baumgart remembers applying to BD Medical, where members of her husband's family worked, 17 times. Each time she was denied employment because of her lack of experience and poor English skills, she said. How was I going to get experience if no one would hire me? she said. Her last chance was Vishay Dale Electronics. The HR guy asked, Are you German? OK, Ill hire you then. He said he knew Germans were hard workers, Baumgart said. Since her English was still less than perfect, she was shown a training video and given one of the hardest jobs on the line, wrapping wire. No one ever stayed in that position because it was so hard, but I stayed with it, said Baumgart, who learned English as she went. Baumgart, who was born during World War II, didn't leave her position with Vishay until she retired in 1997 after more than 30 years there. Life hasn't always been easy in the U.S. Baumgart's husband was killed in an auto accident in 1990, then she lost her brother, daughter, two grandchildren and mother. In 10 years I had lost 11 people in my family. It was unreal. Sometimes I wonder how I survived, said Baumgart, who is now engaged to Ed Otto. Baumgart briefly considered returning to Germany. But my family was here, my other daughter and my grandchildren were all here, said Baumgart, who has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren living in the area. Baumgart said she's thankful for the opportunities she received in the U.S. I dont get it. It seems like people dont care anymore, like its their right to be an American, she said. If youre going to come over, you respect the country, you play by their rules. Baumgart celebrated 50 years in America in March and 40 years of U.S. citizenship in February, an accomplishment she said she'll always be proud of. This is home now, she said. Raging Waves in Yorkville is the largest water park in Illinois. Yorkville officials have debated whether to remain affiliated with the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Raging Waves / Handout) Once under fire from some of its members, the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau appears to have tempered some of the flames. Recently released 2015 figures showed a continuing uptick in tourism activity, dollars and jobs, and membership seems to be happy with the new director, Cort Carlson, and new leadership in key positions. Advertisement "He's been pretty responsive," Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski said this week, referring to Carlson. Yorkville was about to leave the Aurora bureau just four years ago. But the embers of dissent are still glowing, and towns like Yorkville one of 10 in the Aurora bureau are still evaluating their options for how to spend money promoting tourism in their area. Advertisement "We're still going through discussions of, is the AACVB the best for us," said Yorkville Alderman Chris Funkhouser, 3rd Ward, the city's government member of the bureau board. "No decision has been made, but again, there is discussion." Yorkville heavily considered leaving the Aurora bureau in 2012, so much so that it had a proposal to have a local firm develop a tourism website for the city. Aldermen decided against leaving the Aurora bureau after local hotels and other attractions, such as the Raging Waves Waterpark, pointed out that they can use the more regional reach the Aurora bureau offers them. Yorkville officials decided to stay, but more closely evaluate what they were getting for the money they contribute. They also decided not to sign the usual five-year contract with the bureau, but went with a three-year contract that included two more optional years. The city is coming up on the deadline for one of those opt-out years in October, which is one reason Yorkville officials are again discussing their participation with the Aurora bureau. Not only does Yorkville have the option to go it alone, but it could choose to join the Heritage Convention and Visitors Bureau, directly south of Kendall County. It includes Will County, Morris, Ottawa and other towns along the Illinois River. "We had a discussion with them," Funkhouser said. The other members of the Aurora Area bureau are Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich and Sugar Grove. Since Yorkville last considered leaving, not only have there been leadership changes, but Aurora made moves to change the structure of the bureau. Now, Aurora appoints about half of the 26-member board, with the other half made up of representatives from the other cities. Restaurants and hotels also are represented. Aurora also moved to cap the amount of money it puts in to fund the bureau at $175,000. The city at one point contributed as much as $450,000. Individual cities contribute on a pro-rated basis from their hotel and motel taxes. "The move (by Aurora) really had no effect, as far as the board is concerned," Funkhouser said. "But financially, it had a major change." Advertisement Aurora also appears happy with the changes that were made, at least so far. In January, the city agreed to another year contract with the bureau. Financially, tourism still is a big business in the bureau's area. The 2015 figures showed that travelers spent more than $165.3 million while visiting the area, about a 2 percent increase from 2014. The tourism industry impacted more than 1,300 jobs, a 3 percent increase from 2014. Local tax receipts from tourism in the bureau reached $3.11 million in 2015, a 5 percent increase from the year before. "The Aurora area has positioned itself for continued growth in the tourism industry," Carlson said. "A greater focus on reaching the regional traveler and group sales initiatives continue to drive visitation." The bureau also announced a new leadership change with the hiring of a director of marketing. James Cardis, a Batavia resident, joins the bureau's destination marketing team, Carlson said this week. Cardis has been with the Allstate Insurance Company, where during the past six years he managed strategic web properties supporting the digital marketing for Allstate agency owners countrywide.He has a bachelor's degree from Columbia College in Chicago. Advertisement slord@tribpub.com Auroras legal division is gathering facts pertaining to the recent murder at the Latin American Club on Dearborn Street and if there will be any bearing on the clubs liquor license, spokesman Dan Ferrelli said in an email. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News) The liquor license for the East Side Aurora social club where a man was fatally shot Aug. 1 expires this month, and whether the city will renew the license has not been decided, Aurora officials said. Aurora's legal division is gathering facts pertaining to the recent slaying at the Latin American Club "and if there will be any bearing on the club's liquor license," spokesman Dan Ferrelli said in an email. Advertisement The club's license was last renewed Sept. 1, 2015, and expires this Aug. 31, Ferrelli said. Martiniano Alvarez, 31, North Aurora, was fatally shot in the club's bar on Aug. 1. The following Wednesday, Alfredo Soto, of the 700 block of Iowa Avenue in Aurora, was charged with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting. Soto, who had previously been convicted of reckless discharge of a firearm, criminal damage to property, battery and drunken driving, remains in Kane County Jail in lieu of $5 million bail. Advertisement Police do not think the Aug. 1 shooting is related to a December robbery and fatal beating at the same club, Ferrelli said. In that attack, assailants beat two men in the club, and one, 79-year-old Felipe Garcia of Plano, died from complications tied to the injuries. City and police records obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests highlight the club's history over the last decade. Over the past 10 years, police have taken at least 40 reports in the club and its parking lot, according to records obtained by The Beacon-News. These include reports of several burglaries, fights, drug charges and stolen cars. However, complete records were not available. A disposal certificate shows the city this spring deleted its liquor license applications and records from 1990 through 2012 and for 2014, so city officials could not provide documents to determine how many times the club has been cited for violations. The Beacon-News has been unable to reach board members, former board members, other club representatives or patrons for comment by phone or by visiting the club. Visitors to the private club must ring a doorbell to gain entry. Inside, there is a dance area and bar. In May 2008, the club was cited for liquor law violations after a police officer caught a bartender serving alcohol while the club's license was already suspended, according to a police report. Liquor license records related to that suspension could not be located and could have been destroyed, Ferrelli said. "They were unable to locate any further records but did discover a records disposal certificate as outlined in the State Records Act that would have likely included those additional records," Ferrelli said. Advertisement In December 2009, city inspectors observed violations at the club. A dumpster was not enclosed that needed to be, according to city correspondence and inspection records. After an April 2010 notice of intent to file suit or hold code hearings if the violation wasn't corrected, the dumpster was enclosed and the case OK'd to clear in May, according to inspection records. In October 2011, several people were arrested after a large fight broke out at the club, according to police reports obtained by The Beacon-News. During the fight, which records state lasted at least 20 minutes and reportedly started with a dispute among a few patrons and grew to involve dozens of clubgoers, people punched, slapped, kicked and bit each other, reports said. One woman was accused of hitting another with the heels of her boots, according to the police reports. Apparently unrelated to the incident itself, a suspect in the fight told police he was upset because the club served alcohol to his 19-year-old son. The son, who smelled of alcohol and was singing while in custody, told police the bartenders were always giving him free shots and beers, according to police reports. Later that October, police cited the club for liquor law violations for serving the teen alcohol. In 2012, the deputy liquor control commissioner, Cheryl M. Vonhoff, held a continued hearing at city hall to determine whether the club's liquor license should be revoked or suspended in connection to the October 2011 incidents. Several people accused of taking part in the fight were subpoenaed to the hearing. The deputy liquor commissioner held the club liable for allowing mob activity to take place on the licensed premises and for serving alcohol to a person younger than 21. The commissioner imposed a fine of $750, plus administrative costs of $50, against the club, which paid the $800, records show. Advertisement In July 2014, a letter sent to the club from the city clerk warned the establishment it may be delinquent in its accounts owed to the city, and that the city's liquor ordinance provides that no liquor license application for renewal shall be accepted from a person indebted to the city or another government entity for payment past due more than 45 days. The city warned the club it would not be able to renew the license until the finance department advised the overdue amounts had been paid. Because the most current tax forms available for the club online are for 2010, current information about the club's leadership is unclear. The organization is currently recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(7), regional IRS spokesman Joe Munoz said in an email. That status was automatically revoked in November 2013 for the club's failure to file required tax forms, but was later retroactively reinstated to the same date, according to IRS public records. Organizations listed as 501(c)(7) include social and recreational clubs. Through the city of Aurora, the Latin American Club has a Class B liquor license the type for fraternal organizations and clubs which is not affected by nonprofit status, Ferrelli said. In forms filed with the IRS, the club states its purpose is "encouragement of the social commingling, general well-being and happiness of residents of Latin-American descent." The club also has a 1A retail license with the state, which allows it to sell liquor year-round. In the past 10 years, the club has had one state violation a signage issue in 2013 that was resolved with the payment of a $200 fine, according to an email from Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation spokesman Terry Horstman. Advertisement A section of city code states that "no licensee shall allow its licensed establishment to become a nuisance," and prohibits liquor license holders from allowing instances of criminal activity to take place on licensed premises. hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone Don Stevens, of Bolingbrook, dressed as a Soldier Field "box seat" for for "Let's Make a Deal!" auditions at the Hollywood Casino in Aurora. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News) Don Whitney traveled to Aurora looking for fame and fortune Saturday, but his time in the spotlight didn't last long. "I forgot which show it was and asked the wrong question," said Whitney, who showed up at Hollywood Casino on Saturday to audition for "Let's Make a Deal." Advertisement "I told them I don't like it when you bid on an item and someone else bids just $1 more than you," Whitney said with a laugh. "That's what happens on 'The Price is Right' and I forgot this was a different show." Whitney, of Bloomingdale, called it the chance of a lifetime, even though things didn't work out as expected. Advertisement Auditions were held during an open casting call for the Emmy-award winning CBS game show hosted by Wayne Brady. At stake was a VIP trip to Los Angeles, including airfare, hotel room, and a taping of the show for the upcoming eighth season. Only two winners would be selected from Saturday's auditions. Shawna Malcom, who works for CBS Television Network Publicity, said auditions usually draw hundreds of potential contestants, and Saturday's crowd was expected to be large. "We've done a lot of publicity in the area, and we know that there is a lot of interest as this is one of our more popular game shows," Malcom said. "People usually get only less than a minute to impress the producers, and we're looking for high-energy people that are really happy to be there and want to be on the show." Malcom said a steady stream of hopeful contestants come out each day in Los Angeles to try and be on the show. The same standards for selection apply applied in Aurora as on the West Coast. "We want people to show up in outrageous costumes and perhaps wow the producers," Malcom said. "Wearing outlandish costumes is part of the spirit of the show." Local producer Mike Kotnaur, who works locally with Channel 2, expected between 200 and 250 people would audition Saturday. "I got here about 8 o'clock this morning and there was already a line of people here," he said. "People like to come out in costumes, and we make sure we give everyone equal time." Kotnaur said on-the-spot evaluations are not done at regional tryouts, but instead, 30-second auditions are filmed and then sent back to producers in California who make the final call. Advertisement "The two winners from here are also guaranteed to have one of them picked as a contestant on the show," he said. "Having all these people come out is part of our outreach and marketing to promote the show." Don Stevens and his wife, Joan, from Bolingbrook, each elected to try out and said their costume would consist of being "box seats" at Soldier Field. "This was my idea. I'm the one who started this mess," Joan Stevens admitted. "My husband is easygoing, and if either of us wins, we've got the other one covered." "I've watched the show for many years, all the way back to when Monty Hall was the host," Don Stevens said. "I'm not sure what I'm going to say in the audition, but it's going to be spontaneous." Darlene Davin of Willowbrook said she came at the request of her 7-year-old grandson. "I've watched 'Let's Make a Deal' forever, and my grandson watches it with me," Davin said. "He picks the right door every time and just loves it. I didn't bring a costume but just decided to come as myself. Either way, I think this is fun." The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the country and the largest cemetery in Illinois. (Erin Gallagher / Daily Southtown) Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery soon will have a bronze statue of its namesake adorning its grounds. The life-size statue of Lincoln will be dedicated on Sept. 10 during a 1 p.m. ceremony at the cemetery, 20953 W. Hoff Road in Elwood. Advertisement It will be the first time a statue of any president is featured in a national cemetery. "It's the first of its kind, and it really stands out," said Paul Rossi, vice-chairman of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Support Committee. "I think it will be a great addition to the cemetery." Advertisement With approval from Congress, Lincoln started the national cemetery system after the Civil War. Congress directed him to purchase land to bury soldiers who died in the service to their country. Today, there are 149 national cemeteries. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the country and the largest cemetery in Illinois. "As a disabled veteran I find in that (national cemetery) system a great deal of solace because I know that my wife and I can go there," Rossi said. The dedication marks the end of a 10-year-project to bring the statue to the cemetery. Approval from the Veteran's Administration for the project took five years alone. "Every detail of it had to be approved on a federal level," Rossi said. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Fundraising for the $110,000 statue took another five years, Rossi said. The bronze statue, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, was designed and created by City of Joliet's Friends of Community Public Art. The Lincoln statue will stand in front of a limestone bench that includes five bronze plaques honoring each of the military branches. Two bronze tablets on either end of the bench will include the history of Lincoln as the founding president of the National cemeteries and the last paragraph of Lincoln's second inaugural address. Advertisement Rossi said the bench is expected to be completed later this year. The dedication will feature remarks by area politicians and an official from the Veteran's Administration. Information about the Lincoln statue project can be found at www.ALNCemeterysupport.org. Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Public trust is a delicate bond. Citizen confidence that elected officials are acting in the public's best interests and serving as noble stewards of tax dollars is earned over time. When public trust in government is broken, it can take years to regain. The more serious the breach, the more work is required to regain public trust. Advertisement Many residents in New Lenox-based Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 believe the district has seriously breached the public trust. I'm not sure how well the district's leadership has heard that message, or grasped what the district should do to regain public confidence. The start of the school year provided the most recent opportunity to consider Lincoln-Way's trust issues. On Wednesday, I wrote about how the Frankfort fire marshal investigated a parent's complaint about possible overcrowding at Lincoln-Way East High School. Advertisement I wrote how the fire marshal visited the school, conducted a fire drill, and deemed the situation safe. I cited information provided by the school district about enrollment at each of the district's three high schools and the capacity for each building. A couple people wrote me, asking me to challenge the capacity figures provided by the district. They essentially said they couldn't trust anything the district said because Lincoln-Way misrepresented the true state of the district's finances for several years. I visited Lincoln-Way East and Central high schools to observe hallway conditions first-hand during passing periods. I also visited Lockport East High School, which dealt with overcrowding in the past, to see conditions in another district. I observed busy but orderly movement of students through hallways. Nothing I witnessed raised any concerns about safety. Hallways emptied out with about two minutes remaining in the six-minute passing periods. I reached the personal conclusion that overcrowding concerns were unfounded. But the notes about challenging capacity figures nagged at me. Lincoln-Way parents and taxpayers have every right to be upset. Their trust was violated after they agreed to pay higher property taxes by approving a $225 million referendum to build two new high schools in 2006. The first public inkling of Lincoln-Way's troubles came in May 2015, when the state placed the district on its financial watch list. In August 2015, the school board decided to close Lincoln-Way North High School in Frankfort to trim a $5 million annual budget deficit. The decision shocked and angered the community. A group sued to prevent the closing, which triggered a wave a revelations about questionable decisions by former Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie, who retired in 2013. Advertisement A federal grand jury and the Securities and Exchange Commission are conducting ongoing investigations into the district's finances. Among the revelations so far was a report in April that the district had improperly used bond funds to cover operating costs. "The superintendent at the time, without the board's knowledge or approval, directed the bookkeeping department to record fund journal entries reclassifying the original expenditures as capital expenditures," a consultant hired by district reported. The district then issued a statement accepting responsibility for the wrongdoing. "It is apparent that a proper system of checks and balances was not in place, and that the previous superintendent took unauthorized action; for this, we take responsibility," the statement said. "This board was presented with annual audits giving the district a financial 'clean bill of health' for years. While there were findings of recommended corrective actions, the true financial condition of our district was masked by improper accounting." Four Lincoln-Way school board members Kathleen Casey,Kevin Malloy, Christopher McFadden and Arvid Johnson have resigned this year amid the controversy. While board members appeared to accept responsibility, their statement also seemed to blame a past actor for the district's financial problems. The public isn't so quick to absolve current players for their roles in having to close a nearly $100 million school just eight years after it opened. Advertisement Through the Freedom of Information Act, Daily Southtown reporter Gregory Pratt uncovered documents that indicate Scott Tingley who succeeded Wyllie as superintendent in 2013 conveyed different messages to board members and the public. In September 2014, the school board approved Tingley's recommendation for a 2015 budget that showed an operating surplus. But 11 days later, Tingley privately told board members in an email he expected the district would actually have a $6 million deficit that year. Amid such revelations, it's no wonder Lincoln-Way parents and taxpayers question the district's honesty and transparency. Maybe the district is guilty of costly incompetence, like the administrative oversight that caused the district to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars in driver education fees that parents were overcharged. Or, some people wonder, are district leaders deliberately trying to mislead the public for some reason? Three Lincoln-Way board members who have served since Wyllie was superintendentDee Molinare, Christopher Kosel and Christine Glatz need to realize it's impossible to restore public trust in Lincoln-Way while they remain on the board. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > I wonder if they realize how fragile the public trust is, that once shattered it's not easily repaired or swept under the rug. They'll continue to face criticism about whether they should have questioned the administration more about the district's finances through the years. At the very least, they've been unsuccessful at fulfilling their duties as elected officials. It happened on their watch, and I think voters will let them know that if they seek re-election. It would be better for the community if they stepped aside now. I wonder if they appreciate how much closing a high school impacted the community. It forced a couple thousand students to change schools and disrupted families many of the same people who supported the referendum a decade ago. Lockport High School District tried unsuccessfully to persuade voters seven times to approve a referendum. The district resorted to drastic measures, including mobile classrooms, staggered schedules and other measures to handle overcrowding. The district ultimately resolved its overcrowding by building an addition at Lockport East in 2011 for $2.4 million. Lockport's leadership appreciates the delicacy of the public trust. I don't think the leadership in Lincoln-Way gets it. tslowik@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @tedslowik A child maneuvers the head of a rhinoceros robot at the Robot Zoo on display in Grand Rapids, Mich. The exhibit is set to open at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin on Oct. 7. (Gail Borden Public Library / HANDOUT) Soon, a house fly with a 10-foot wingspan, a squid with 18-foot tentacles, and a 9-foot giraffe head is set to come to the Gail Borden Public Library. Those giant animals are part of "The Robot Zoo," and will invade the library from Oct. 7 through Dec. 11. Advertisement The 5,000-square-foot exhibit includes eight large mechanical animals, 12 interactive displays, and is coming thanks to Elgin's location and relationship with the exhibitor, Evergreen Exhibitions. "The Robot Zoo" is currently on display in Grand Rapids, Mich., and is set for London next winter. But instead of packing up the display and shipping it back to its Texas home or storing it until it can be shipped to the United Kingdom the display will instead come to Elgin. Advertisement "They have worked with us before, when we hosted their Space: Dare to Dream in 2007," said Denise Raleigh, marketing and communication director at the library. "They know the staff, the building and our community. They reached out to Mary Amici-Kozi, our supervisor of exhibits, and asked if we would be interested," Raleigh said. "We get to offer this world-class exhibit to our community at a reduced price and they don't have to take it to Texas to store and can instead store it in the Chicago area," she said. The majority of funding needed for the exhibit is coming from the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation, which raises money for the library including through its annual book sale, set this year for Sept. 17-20. The sale, now it its fifth year, raised enough funds in last year's sale to fund the exhibit, Raleigh said. According to "The Robot Zoo's" webpage: "Cutaways expose the animals' insides as a host of easily recognizable machine parts and gadgets, such as shock absorbers and pumps, that demonstrate what makes animals work. By comparing anatomy, environments and size of the actual creatures to the mechanic counterparts, The Robot Zoo provides fantastic new insights and hands-on fun for discovering just how animals work." Elgin's robotics clubs are working with the library to help set up programs to tie in to the exhibit, Raleigh said. "We have reached out to the robotics clubs and we will have a lot of programming with them. We already have a healthy robotics community here and this will be a wonderful add-on," for Elgin and area students, she said. "We are always trying to maximize the impact," of the exhibits that come to the library, Raleigh said. Advertisement "We know what they do educationally," for students here, she said. "Giants: African Dinosaurs" was the library's first large exhibit in 2005. Originally the library was working toward hosting large exhibits every two years, Raleigh said. Then word got out through the Illinois and American library associations that the Elgin library was a responsive venue for such displays. "In the last two years we have had exhibitors who find us, or have heard of us," Raleigh said. "We have been on this wonderful experiential radar for so long, they are finding us and they have been willing to work within our financial parameters. We love what this does for the kids in our community." Final details are still being worked out as some of "The Robot Zoo" pieces are quite large including a chameleon. Visitors can use hydraulics to move the chameleon's head and tongue, and it changes colors, too. Setup for the exhibit will take two weeks beginning Sept. 23, said Amici-Kozi. While some setup will be done at night and after closing, plans are to leave the library open during much of the process. Advertisement Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. COLUMBUS Like many people living in farm country, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator Allan Vyhnalek has stories of neighbors, friends and family whove had unfortunate and even deadly accidents during harvest season. One of those fatal accidents occurred when two of his friends were electrocuted when their auger got too close to a power line in Butler County. It was still 2 to 3 feet from the power line, Vyhnalek said. But the power arced across and killed them both instantly. Farming is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States and accidents spike during harvest. A Lindsay-area farmer was killed earlier this month when his tractor overturned into a creek near Newman Grove and a Gresham man died in late July after being sucked into a corn bin in southern Polk County. Rescue crews saved a man trapped in a grain bin in Polk County earlier this year. Because of these dangers, the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health is partnering with Central Community College-Columbus to host grain-handling safety training next week at the local campus. We thought it would be a great thing for our community around here since were such an ag-based community, said Doug Pauley, director of training and development at CCC-C. If we can prevent just one accident, that would be great. Brian Grimm is the safety director at Bartlett Grain Company and one of the presenters at next weeks training. He said many accidents involve people being hit by vehicles, doors and gates. We encourage high-visibility clothing. We very much encourage eye contact and hand signals with drivers before they move, he said. Grimm also recommends that equipment, which may have been sitting idle for a year, be checked to make sure it's in working order. Make sure mainly any hydraulic system is working smoothly and any brake systems on the trucks being used, Grimm said. (Check that) gates have been lubricated and work smoothly." The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported in 2012 that the leading cause of death in agricultural work is overturned tractors. Although equipment is available to protect drivers during a rollover, only 59 percent of tractors have this feature. Accidents involving all-terrain vehicles were the second-highest cause of ag-related deaths. From 1995 to 2002, an average of 113 people under the age of 20 died from farm-related incidents each year, the majority of whom were 16 to 19 years old, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Both Grimm and Vyhnalek said biggest factors in farm accidents are the rush, stress and subsequent carelessness that happen as farmers hurry to get their crops out of the field. The farmers and grain processors work longer hours and people can become tired or less reactive/responsive, said Grimm, adding that there's also an increase in activity at elevators, where spaces can be tight. Vyhnalek said the best way for everyone to stay safe is to take their time and make sure theyre using the proper precautions. Accidents are accidents and they are preventable when we slow down, he said. Usually an accident happens when we hurry. So far, Pauley said 60 people have registered for the grain-handling safety training courses at CCC-C, which run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The training costs $10. Kane County Department of Transportations Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor projects Phase 1 construction is under way at Huntley and Boyer roads. (Gloria Casas / The Courier-News) Kane County Department of Transportation officials had the chance to talk about the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor and its benefits at a Wednesday news briefing. And anyone who opposes or supports the project will get the chance to talk about it at a public hearing. Advertisement The public hearing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Chicago, 495 Airport Road, Elgin, for comments about the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor's environmental assessment reevaluation. The environmental assessment is available for public review at www.co.kane.il.us/dot and villages located within the study areas as well as at the Kane County Department of Transportation office. The hearing will be held as an open house with a public forum beginning at 6 p.m. Attendees can give a two-minute testimony to a court reporter or submit comment forms, officials said. Comments can also be submitted by email to longmeadowcomments@co.kane.il.us. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 6. Advertisement The Federal Highway Administration requires a public hearing on the environmental assessment prior to issuing permits to the county for the Longmeadow Parkway project. Steve Coffinbarger, assistant director of the Kane County Department of Transportation, said the county will review comments from the public hearing and address any concerns. Coffinbarger said the department does not anticipate any new significant issues will come up. Once the Federal Highway Administration issues a permit, the county can continue with land acquisition and additional permitting and secure more funding, he said. Longmeadow Parkway is a 5.6-mile roadway that includes a toll bridge over the Fox River. It has been discussed or in planning stages for more than 20 years. The project should be completed in 2019, officials said. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Algae blooms on the Chain O'Lakes during the summer of 2016 caused water problems, including unpleasant odors, that effected hundreds of thousands of people. This is a photo of Lake Catherine during an algae bloom. (Courtesy of John Vrchota) (John Vrchota / HANDOUT) Algae had grown so thick on Lake Catherine this summer that Marilyn Belleau felt like she could walk on water. She was afraid to swim in it, and her husband could not even fish in it without his line getting stuck. In Aurora and Elgin, calls poured in from residents complaining of the foul taste and smell of their drinking water. The cause? A chemical released by decaying algae. Advertisement The problem started in Antioch's Lake Catherine and traveled down the Fox River about 40 miles to Elgin and then another 30 miles to Aurora. The problem affected hundreds of thousands of people, but finding a solution was the responsibility of the Fox Waterway Agency. Antioch, Elgin and Aurora residents were frustrated because of the algae this summer. The Fox Waterway Agency wishes it could help combat the issue, but it does not have the money, Fox Waterway Agency Executive Director Joe Keller said. Advertisement Until the agency's capabilities grow, it cannot help lower the amount of algae in the waterway, leaving homeowners and water treatment plants to deal with it themselves, Keller said. "Essentially when you give less to something, essentially the quality is going to be less," Keller said. "And now the symptoms of what we're seeing today is essentially as a result, in my eyes, of putting less resources and sending zero monies back to the system." Algae blooms occur because of a number of conditions, according to Mike Adam, a senior biologist with the Lake County Health Department. One condition in the Chain O'Lakes is the abundance of phosphorus and nitrogen stored in sediment under the water. The nutrients enter the water through urban runoff and erosion of farm fields in Wisconsin then flow downstream. Phosphorus and nitrogen are naturally abundant in productive soil, according to Tom Slawski, president of Southeast Fox River Partnership and chief biologist of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission's Natural Resources Planning and Management Division. The two nutrients help plants including algae grow. "The challenge is, when you're cultivating it, like when you're putting in a new lawn, you till it all up and have a rainfall event, then the sewers in the urban area are running black with sediment," Slawski said. "So a failed lawn can load just as much phosphorous load, if not more, than a farm field. Or just equally as much. Maybe it's not 40 acres, it's just a third of an acre. That's a challenge." When the nutrient-rich sediment is not dredged from the waterway, it stays in the system. An EPA study found 40 percent of phosphorus in the Upper Fox/Chain O'Lakes system comes from internal loading, or the depositing of a chemical in sediments over time that causes the sediments to become a source. The Fox Waterway Agency dredges as much sediment as it can each year, but money limits how much sediment the agency can remove, Keller said. What remains in the water can act as fertilizer for algae. Enjoying the water Advertisement John Vrchota has lived on Lake Catherine since 1998 and said he has been visiting the lake since 1968. He remembers when it was crystal clear and had a sandy bottom. He said it got "a little worse" over the past 30 years, but in his opinion this year was the worst. The algae stretched about 200 feet onto the shoreline to the point where some of his neighbors could not put their boats or jet skis in the water. When the algae started to decay, it turned brown and emitted a "terrible smell," he said. "It was not a pleasant thing," Vrchota said. He was upset, and so were other residents. They were also nervous the material could be toxic. Belleau called the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to test the algae. The agency ruled the algae safe, and Adam echoed that ruling. Still, Vrchota and Belleau were upset. The algae was safe, but they did not want to swim or let their families swim in water that was more green than blue. "If it's getting worse, something has to be done to make it better," Belleau said. "It affects our life, and I'm so sad. We have a lake house for our family, and when our family doesn't want to come because they can't use the water, then, you know, that's not what it's about." Advertisement Drinking the water The staff at the Aurora water treatment plant had no idea the problem was coming. They constantly monitor the river water, and typical indicators of an algae bloom did not show any reason for concern, according to Dave Schumacher, superintendent of water production. As calls flooded in, Schumacher realized how serious the situation was. The water was perfectly safe to drink, but the taste and odor did not match customers' standards. The city typically uses a mix of 60 percent river water and 40 percent well water. For the first time since the plant opened in 1992, the city stopped inflow of river water altogether and relied solely on well water between June 20 and July 13, Schumacher said. "We did what we could." Schumacher said. "It had never been done, but we felt it was necessary." Elgin had not seen a taste and odor outbreak like this since 1996. The city usually relies almost entirely on river water, and its wells do not supply enough water to rely solely on them during an event like this, according to Elgin Water Director Kyla Jacobsen. Advertisement The water treatment plant was able to blend about 50 percent of well water into the river water in addition to adding more carbon to improve the taste and odor throughout the 26-day outbreak, Jacobsen said. And though the water was not particularly enjoyable, Jacobsen stressed that it was perfectly safe to drink. "These taste and odor compounds, while they're not particularly favorable, they are an aesthetic issue not a water quality issue," Jacobsen said. Schumacher said phosphorus and nitrogen, the nutrients that contribute to algae growth, are filtered out in the cities' treatment plants. They have extensive operations to transform river water into clean, safe drinking water. In Aurora, the river water and well water enter through two different tanks and are combined at the beginning of the treatment process. The water passes through claricone reactors, where the lime softening process occurs, and chlorine is added, he said. Solids fall to the bottom of the container and are removed as clean water rises. The water flows through recarbonation tanks where it is stabilized. It then flows through 12 filters of gravel, sand, and granular activated carbon and chlorine. It finally leaves the inside of the water treatment plant, receives chlorine as a disinfectant, and is stored in an underground reservoir before going to a wet well and pump station, Schumacher said. Employees monitor the water all day throughout every step of the process. It also monitors the river water coming into the plant. Dredging up in the Chain can increase the number of nutrients in the river water, so the process must be tweaked to accommodate this. Advertisement "Everything's related," Schumacher said, "just like in nature." Finding a solution Fighting algae can be difficult. No two seasons are the same, and there are a number of factors that contribute to its growth. And while Aurora and Elgin can problem-solve ways to combat taste and odor problems associated with algae, some residents along Lake Catherine feel helpless. The Fox Waterway Agency does not own a weed harvester to remove algae from the lake, and it does not have the money to purchase one, Keller said. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Workers with the Fox Waterway Agency dredge a channel connecting to the Nippersink Creek 28. (Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun ) (Brian O'Mahoney / Lake County News-Sun) When the algae outbreak began, Belleau walked around her neighborhood and found that her neighbors were just as upset as she was. They wanted to do something. Then she met Amy Littleton. Littleton researched problems and solutions for improving conditions in the lake. She decided the neighbors needed to take action and organized a meeting in July. Belleau and her sister, who also lives on the lake, went door-to-door with fliers. Advertisement About 35 people met at 6:30 p.m. July 1 to hear from Diane Tancl from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Jim Meyer from the Fox Waterway Agency. The group left having decided on five next steps, with the first being to formally establish "Friends of Catherine and Channel Lakes" as a nonprofit organization. "We believe that we need to be organized, that we need to come together as a community to manage the lake in a way that's going to make sure it is clean and a beautiful and wonderful and valuable amenity for everyone," Littleton said. "Not just for people who live on the lake, but people who visit, the marinas and boat launches, and just for the future." The group will hold its next meeting Sept. 2. One option it's considering is installing an aerator that would help circulate oxygen through the lake. Another is to look into weed removal. Both options are used in other waterways, but their effects vary. The Fox Waterway Agency used to operate an aerator in Lake Catherine, but deemed it ineffective and discontinued it. Weed removal can be helpful, but too much removal can also be harmful, Adam said. And while poor water conditions in Channel Lake and Lake Catherine can spread down south, good water conditions would likely not since the two lakes are north of where the Fox River enters the Chain. "If Channel and Catherine do some things but nothing's done in the Fox River itself, then they wouldn't probably see much of anything down in Elgin and Aurora," Adam said. Advertisement Still, residents like Vrchota are excited to work together to find ways to keep their lake clean. He said it's great when his children and grandchildren visit and enjoy the water, but that's difficult with such widespread algae blooms. "To see the way it looked, you were afraid to even let them go near the water. You can't go in the water, you're afraid of even the way it looked, you know," he said. "You want to pass this onto your kids and your grandkids, and it's an important part of the entire area. I mean, the Chain is huge, and it's something we should respect and take care of." Angelica LaVito is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun. A 20-year-old North Chicago man was killed in a single-car crash Thursday night in Waukegan, police said. David C. Collins, 20, of the 1200 block of Jackson Street in North Chicago, is believed to have been traveling southbound on Westmoreland Avenue in a 2006 Chevy Impala about 11 p.m. Thursday when he lost control of his car and struck a utility pole at Crescent Avenue, according to a Waukegan Police Department news release. Advertisement Collins was alone in the car and not wearing a seat belt, according to the release. The Waukegan Police Department's Traffic Division is investigating the crash and believes that speed was a factor. More information about how fast the car was going at impact is expected to be learned next week when the car's black box is downloaded. Advertisement Toxicology results are also expected next week. emcoleman@tribpub.com Twitter @mekcoleman A Lake Superior Court jury deliberated nearly 10 hours Friday before acquitting an Illinois man charged with murder in a 2012 Hammond shooting. The eight-woman, four-man jury found Stephen Michael Day, 41, of Burnham, Ill., not guilty in the killing of Thomas Thompson, 54, in the driveway of his Hammond residence. Day, who's been incarcerated since March 20, 2015, will be released immediately. Advertisement Jurors heard evidence in the weeklong trial, and began deliberating the case about 11 a.m. Friday. The jury's "not guilty" verdict was announced after 9 p.m. After a few hours of deliberating Friday, jurors asked to review a videotaped statement of Day speaking with Hammond police investigators. After watching the video in the courtroom, jurors then returned to the jury room to resume deliberations. Advertisement Thompson's homicide had gone cold until a jailhouse informant came forward 2 1/2 years after his killing. Carmine Sansone, a Lake County Jail inmate with a lengthy criminal record, told police that Day had offered to split $5,000 in "hit" money to kill Thompson. Day told Sansone that Thompson had snitched on a gang member, authorities said. Sansone, who knew Day from attending the same high school on Chicago's East Side, said Day drove him past Thompson's house. He later pointed the house out to police investigators as the blue house with a porch that had two sets of stairs. The evening Day and Sansone went by the house, Thompson had people over who had congregated on the picnic table in the driveway. The credibility of Sansone and Eric Matheny, another inmate who testified against Day, were key points defense attorney John Maksimovich raised with jurors during his closing argument Friday. Maksimovich noted Sansone's admitted gang membership from ages 13 to 20, and the favorable plea agreements both he and Matheny received after they contacted police about Day's case. After speaking with police, both Sansone and Matheny had their bail reduced. After they posted bond, both men were charged with new offenses, Maksimovich said. "They're two of the worst witnesses I've ever seen. They have horrible records," Maksimovich said. Maksimovich also argued there were discrepancies in height and weight descriptions by eyewitnesses compared to Day, who stands 6-foot-3 and is heavyset. Escamilla and Lorenz estimated the gunman's height at between 5-foot-10 to 6-foot and skinny to medium build. A driver's license issued in 2010 listed Day's weight at 210 pounds. Deputy prosecutor Eric Randall argued that the testimony of two men who witnessed the shooting from a nearby back yard meshed with information provided by Sansone and Matheny, who testified that Day confided in him about the shooting while they were in the Lake County Jail. Advertisement Randall recounted the testimony of Michael Escamilla and Christopher Lorenz, who were in Escamilla's fenced-in back yard near Thompson's residence at 7105 Oakdale Ave. Escamilla had been at Thompson's earlier that evening. Both men said they heard Thompson yelling profanities for a minute or two around 11 p.m. on June 27, 2012. The yelling stopped, then resumed a couple minutes later. One of the men stood on a table while the other looked through the fence gate to see a man in silhouette reach into a jacket or hooded sweatshirt, pull out a gun and fire one shot at Thompson, who stood a few feet away. Thompson fell onto the driveway, and a second shot rang out. Matheny testified that while they were in the jail, Day told him he'd walked up to Thompson, who became agitated and began yelling. Day got a cigarette from Thompson, walked back to his car, and then returned to the driveway to shoot Thompson, Matheny testified. Hammond police Sgt. Boyzie Coulter, who collected and documented evidence in the case, said Thompson had a fresh pack of cigarettes with one missing among the victim's personal effects. Randall also argued that the gun used to kill Thompson was the same weapon Day had in his possession when he was arrested after a traffic stop five months after the killing. Indiana State Police forensic firearms examiner Melissa Oberg identified the bullet recovered during Thompson's testimony as being fired from the .357-Magnum revolver. In a March 2015 interview with Hammond police at the Cook County Sheriff's Department in Markham, Ill., Day said he'd stolen the gun on Nov. 2, 2012, from a man who was trying to shoot him with it. Day said the man had pulled the long-barreled weapon out of his boot. Day was wearing a shoulder holster during the traffic stop. Nine minutes later in the videotaped interview, Day mentioned that the man had set the holster on the table, which he also stole. When shown a photo of the victim, Day denied knowing him or killing him. Advertisement Randall asked jurors to consider whether it was merely coincidence that Burnham police who conducted the traffic stop also found a box of .357-caliber ammunition and two live rounds on the seat and floorboard of the pickup truck. Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. A tart cherry cobbler recipe by reader Ann Davis includes a finishing garnish of fresh whipped cream as a sweet contrast to the delicate hint of cinnamon and whiskey in the pastry crust. (Philip Potempa / Post-Tribune) Reader Ann Davis, who lives in Michigan City, is very close to the bounty of cherry crops that dot the rolling orchard landscapes of Michigan. This week, she shared a wonderful recipe with me to pass along to readers for a delicious cherry cobbler, which I was happy to sample. Years ago, Grandma and Grandpa Potempa counted the cherry trees at our own family farm as some of the favorite picking fruit enjoyed for table use and baking in the 1930s and 1940s. Advertisement It's impossible to think of cherries without thinking about their symbolization of wealth and good fortune. This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the launching of our Indiana gambling boats along the shores of Lake Michigan, where cherries and other fruit finds are found abundantly displayed on the winning window screens of traditional slot machines. The reason cherries and other fruits are featured as slot machine jackpot bait is an interesting tale. Advertisement Earlier this month, I was a guest on the noon NPR radio show of host Chris Nolte, broadcast on Lake Shore Public Radio 89.1 FM. Our discussion topic was about the history and traditions of the gambling boats of Northwest Indiana, including Donald Trump's regional influences. We ran out of time before I was able to share this fun and fascinating fact about how fruit made its way as the gambling depiction of a winning payout. In addition to the centuries old association of fruit being a profitable selling commodity, the first instances of fruit making its way as the painted symbols of on the spinning drums of a slot machine jackpot payout were at the turn of the century. In the 1800s during the days of the gold rush, San Francisco was the city that first gave rise to the most popular saloons and gambling, leading to the introduction of slot machines as an alternative to card games that only allowed a limited number of players. It was Bavarian mechanic Charles Fey who dreamed up the idea of "a gambling machine" in the basement of his Berkeley apartment, resulting in the first "one-armed bandit." His earliest designs featured "lucky horseshoes," which at the time, were a universal symbol of luck and fortune. In 1898, Fey fine-tuned his invention to a design he called "the Card Bell" created with a three-reel, staggered movement controlled by pulling an arm lever with a winning sequence triggering a hinged trapdoor "payout." He added playing card symbols and later changed the painted designs to feature "stars" and "bells." By 1907, a chewing gum company based in Chicago that rivaled Wrigley's success was called Bell Fruit Gum Company. Upon hearing of Frey's "bell" themed popular gaming machines, they commissioned a spin-off brilliant marketing idea for their own customized gaming machines. While Wrigley's gum products were associated with mint flavors, Bell Fruit Gum found its success with sweeter fruit-flavored gum variations. When investing in the creation of their own gaming machines, they opted to keep the "bells" as winning symbols since it served as nod to the company's name, and added various fruit pictures, such as cherries, oranges and lemons as a means to promote products. The company's original slot machines even used packages of gum as the winning payout from the machines rather than coins. Another "winning" symbol also added to these slot machines created by Bell Fruit Gum Company were "bars," since the Bell Fruit Gum Company logo featured bars. Today's recipe from Ann is definitely a winner in every way. And she says the addition of the cinnamon whiskey is optional for anyone not willing to "take a gamble" with this ingredient's added extra "kick." Columnist Philip Potempa has published three cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. Mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374. Advertisement pmpotempa@comhs.org Ann's Simply Tart Cherry Cobbler Cobbler: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar Advertisement 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup milk Filling: 1 cup dark, pitted tart cherries, such as Ulster variety 1 cup pitted yellow Rainier cherries 3/4 cup granulated white sugar Advertisement 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/8 cup cinnamon whiskey DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To prep cobbler, prepare a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan by placing the 1/2 cup of butter inside and melting it in oven as it preheats. Once butter is melted, remove pan from oven and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar and baking powder. Gradually mix in milk, adding enough to form a sticky batter. Pour the batter into the bottom of the baking pan with the melted butter, but do not stir together. In a medium bowl, combine cherries and toss with 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. Add vanilla and whiskey and continue to toss. Pour cherries over the cobbler batter. Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden and inserted toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped cream. Make 10 servings. Great Lakes Basin Transportation will not meet a Monday deadline for filing an alternate route for its proposed freight train line from Milton, Wis., into LaPorte County. "We are going to file a request for an extension on Monday," said Frank Patton, founder and managing partner of GLBT, on Friday, declining to provide further details. "It should be public shortly thereafter." Advertisement In related news, a local lawmaker said he will spearhead updating the state's eminent domain laws related to railroads to make it more difficult for business interests to take privately owned land for their own profit. The federal Surface Transportation Board, which held public meetings on the 278-mile proposal in the spring, set an Aug. 29 deadline for GLBT to offer an alternate route to the one that cuts through southern Lake and Porter counties. Advertisement "There is no explanation in the information GLBT has provided to date to explain whether GLBT considered other potential alignments and variations and why they might have been rejected," Victoria Rutson, director of the Office of Environmental Analysis, wrote in a July 5 letter to one of GLBT's attorneys. The Office of Environmental Analysis will compile the more than 3,900 comments submitted online, as well as those made during the spring meetings, for an environmental impact statement on the proposal. That is expected to take a few years. Earlier in the week, Patton indicated via email that GLBT planned to meet the Monday deadline. It was not immediately clear Friday what might have changed. GLBT's $8 billion privately funded proposal, would be the largest new rail line in recent times and is meant to provide a bypass for Chicago's congested rail yard and take trucks off the road. The route will have the capacity for up to 110 trains a day. Two of the six Class I railroads expected to be served by the freight line have publicly stated they will not participate; the remaining four appear uncommitted to the project. Several people, including a representative with the opposition group Residents Against the Invasion of Land by Eminent Domain, or RAILED, have submitted alternate routes for consideration to the STB. "There have already been some good alternative routes submitted," said Kathleen Honl, one of RAILED's organizers, adding she wasn't surprised Patton would not meet the deadline. "Though I would doubt he would kill the project altogether, maybe he is realizing that his original route isn't the best choice. Of course, this is speculation." A document on the STB website outlines what was discussed in an Aug. 5 teleconference between GLBT representatives, their attorneys, and representatives from the Office of Environmental Analysis. Advertisement "GLBT indicated that the general location of their proposed route was designed as a balance between the closer and more distant routes (from Chicago) (and) included design objectives to avoid population centers, connect with other railroads, and avoid wetlands." The document notes that the group discussed submissions on the STB website that identify alternate route, and "GLBT indicated that it is reviewing scoping comments and considering them." GLBT indicated during the teleconference "that it will prepare a robust narrative" on how it screened route alternatives and variations. According to the document, the OEA will independently review the information GLBT submits. Meanwhile, State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, chairman of the House of Representative's Roads and Transportation Committee, said he will work to update the statutes on railroad eminent domain, some of which date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. "It's the days when railroads were just beginning to have an impact on the nation. It appears to be quite liberal by modern standards," he said. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling several years ago on an eminent domain case on the East Coast led many states to update their related statutes, he said, but not those regarding railroads. Advertisement "We should not take people's land or property unless there's a compelling public interest, and a compelling public interest is not that someone makes a profit," he said. The move was prompted by media reports about GLBT's plans to take land through eminent domain if its proposal were to move forward, he said, as well as requests by the Porter County Board of Commissioners to take a look at the statutes. "This is an issue whether (the GLBT plan) exists or not. It needs to be done. I've been talking to the big railroads and they see the need," he said. Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. The top leadership of the Communist Party of China yesterday adopted a plan to build a healthy China in the next 15 years. The blueprint, called "Healthy China 2030," was passed at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was presided over by President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Participants at the meeting said health was the basic condition for economic and social development and a key indicator of the nation's prosperity. The "Healthy China 2030" plan is an important effort to implement the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and to improve people's health, attendees said. In the meantime, it is also important for China to engage in global health governance and implement the country's commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Attendees also noted that although Chinese people's health has historically kept improving, China still faces various challenges brought by industrialization, urbanization, an aging population, and changes in lifestyles. The participants said the plan should focus on the country's new development concepts: innovation, environmental concern, coordination, and open and shared growth. The primary goal of the plan was to enhance people's health, and it could be achieved with the help of institutional reform and innovation, the meeting said. They added that future efforts should focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, optimizing health services, improving health security, building a healthy environment and developing health industries. The government should play a leading role and the public should be mobilized to participate, attendees said, stressing that paying attention to the health of key groups such as women, children, seniors, migrants and low-income groups was of particular concern. You are here: Home The Hong Kong authorities have reported the city's first Zika virus infection. Image taken on Feb. 17, 2016 shows Dr. Juan Garcia, director of the Center for Parasitological Studies and Vectors (CEPAVE) of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of La Plata National University, holding a bottle with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes sheltered for study at one of the Centre laboratories, in La Plata city, Argentina. [Photo: Xinhua/Martin Zabala] The 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. Leung Ting-hung, head of the Centre for Health Protection. "Initial investigations show that the patient had traveled 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." The woman underwent a blood and urine test at an outpatient clinic at a private hospital on Tuesday. Test results released on Thursday showed she had Zika virus. She is being treated under quarantine in a stable condition. None of her fellow travellers have shown any Zika symptoms. Doctors say Zika can cause birth defects if mothers become infected during pregnancy. It is commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected mosquito, and recent reports have confirmed it's also capable of leaping from person to person through sexual transmission. 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 A retired associate professor and his wife were found dead at least one day after they passed away from heat stroke at their home in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing. The 75-year-old man taught optics at a university before retirement and his wife, 68, used to work at a photography studio. The couple died in early August when the city in Jiangsu Province was hit by high temperatures. Neighbors said the couple lived frugally and had no air conditioners installed in their home. Their only son, who works in Shanghai and often phoned home, said his parents refused to have air conditioners and chose to stay in Nanjing because they were not used to life with him in the bigger city. "I never thought they would leave me in such a way," the son said. Nanjing has more than 1.3 million people 60 years old or above, accounting for 20 percent of the total population. Over 230,000 elderly people live either alone or only with their spouses. You are here: Home A South African pilot was killed after his aerobatic aircraft XA42 plummeted to the ground during a flight show in northwest China's Gansu Province Saturday morning, the event organizer said. The pilot of an acrobatic plane was killed after it plummeted to the ground during a flight show in Gansu Province Saturday morning. Paul Smith died in the crash at about 10:47am at the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention held at the Danxia airport in the city of Zhangye, the organizer confirmed. A video clip provided by a spectator showed that the plane lost control while making a dive and crashed into the Gobi desert about 100 meters from the airport runway. The crash caused no other casualties on the ground. The US aerobatic flight team that Smith worked for has canceled all flights. Other aerobatic flights went as scheduled on Saturday afternoon. An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way. The Danxia airport, the first general aviation airport in Gansu, opened Friday along with the three-day general aviation convention which will last till Sunday. Zhangye, a popular tourist destination for its unique red gritstone landforms, attracted 15 million tourists and took in 8.7 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) in tourism revenue last year. Flash Photo taken on Aug. 26, 2016 shows a gymnasium which is turned into a temporary shelter for earthquake victims in the town of Amatrice, Italy. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) At least 281 people were killed in the devastating earthquake that hit the central regions of Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, according to ANSA on late Friday. Some 221 people died in Amatrice and 11 in Accumoli, two towns in Rieti province that were the closest to the epicenter. The other 49 victims were registered between Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in Ascoli Piceno province. Some 387 injured people were hospitalized across Lazio, Marche, and Abruzzo regions. Italy's Civil Protection said 238 people have been pulled alive from the rubble, and more than 2,100 people have been displaced by the quake. There are no missing person in the Marche region, however, at least 15 people are still missing in the almost flattened town Amatrice, Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said Friday in an interview. The town was hit by a 4.8-magnitude temblor on early Friday morning that caused further building collapse. One of the main bridge that was serving as an essential passage for aid and rescue workers was ordered to be closed. Pirozzi was "deeply worried" that another bridge is at risk of collapse, which might cut off the access to the town. Italian experts said Wednesday's quake left a "spoon-shaped" deformation along the fault line a few kilometres below the ground between Amatrice in Lazio and Norcia in Umbria. In nearby Accumoli, the ground level has even been lowered by 20 centimeters. Meanwhile, in the Marche town of Ascoli Piceno, caskets of the victims from Arquata del Tronto have been arranged in a gymnasium, and a funeral ceremony will be held at the gymnasium on Saturday morning. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has declared a national day of mourning to coincide with the Aug. 27 funeral, with flags to fly at half-mast on all public buildings. Renzi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella will attend the funeral ceremony and then visit some of the places hit by the quake in Lazio. CAIRO - The G20 summit in China with Egypt's participation as a guest of honor represents an opportunity to further boost Egyptian-Chinese economic partnership, Alaa Haider, editor-in-chief of Egypt's official MENA news agency, told Xinhua in an interview. Chinese President Xi Jinping invited his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to attend the summit that will be held in eastern China's Hangzhou city on Sept. 4-5, gathering the leaders of the world's largest economies. "The G20 summit is significant for China and the whole world, as it is held this year under the theme of stimulating and urging world trade, which has declined over the past two years since the last G20 summit in 2014," said Haider, adding that China sees Egypt as a key player in the turmoil-stricken Middle East region. Egypt is currently working on the necessary infrastructure for the development of its Suez Canal corridor after the recent expansion of the vital waterway, while China is working on the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. The main idea of the initiative is to revive ancient trade routes to link China with over 60 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe through the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. "The Suez Canal corridor development project is planned to turn the area into a logistic, industrial, agricultural, service, touristic and also technological region. There should be a complimentary project to optimize the Suez Canal corridor development project, and this can be China's Silk Road," MENA chief told Xinhua. "Egypt was the main portal of the Middle East part of the Silk Road in the region's trade with China," he added, stressing that China also seeks future cooperation between the Silk Road and the Suez Canal. President Sisi visited China twice since he came to office and President Xi also paid a very important visit to Egypt in January, and both leaders agreed to elevate the level of their ties to "comprehensive strategic partnership." The Egyptian editor-in-chief said that Sisi's upcoming visit to China is also meant to continue what he agreed upon with Xi, which is the integration between the Silk Road and the Suez Canal corridor as a common interest between Egypt and China. During his first state visit to Egypt, President Xi made an important speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo where he emphasized "development" as the key to resolve most Middle East problems, especially growing terrorism and other conflicts. "China cares about maintaining development all over the world, which is in favor of all. China does not restrict its trade exchange to the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia, but it pays great interest in Africa and the Arab world, and Egypt is both an African and Arab country. So, China's care about Africa and the Arab states is also in favor of Egypt," Haider explained. He added that the world stability is in favor of China's interest as the world's most populous country seeks to implement its Silk Road revival initiative and to utilize its large infrastructures that are suitable for all kinds of local and foreign industries and investments. "As a large economic power - or the world's factory - China sees that world economy needs stimulation, which is in favor of Egypt in the first place, as recession in world trade causes recession in the traffic at Egypt's vital waterway," Haider said. He stressed that Egypt and China have distinguished historical ties without any history of colonial ambitions and so Egypt and Arab states in general look at China as "one of the most important powers that rose over the past 20 years to make a balance with the United States after the fall of the Soviet Union." According to Haider, Egypt as a non-permanent two-year Security Council member can make use of its G20 participation to defend the Arab and African causes and shed light on the Palestinian cause, "which has been idle since terrorism overwhelmed the world." He argued that Israel get abnormal support from the United States and that the Middle East's instability and chaos is supported by Western powers only to serve the interests of Israel. In modern history, most Arab and African states supported the independence of China and Egypt was the first among them to recognize China and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1956. "This year, we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations with China, whose comprehensive strategic partnership with Egypt gives the Arab country a great advantage and priority in economic cooperation with China," Haider told Xinhua, noting there are large Chinese investments in Egypt but they are required to increase in the coming stage. China's Global Newspaper Sorry, the page you requested was not found. Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Chinadaily.com.cn, try visiting the Chinadaily home page Yi Gang, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 12, 2016.[Photo/VCG] A central bank official on Friday called for wider use of digital technology in order to promote inclusive finance among low-income groups, while building a proper legal framework to reduce online financial risks. Yi Gang, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China, said at a forum in Beijing that digital technology could help low-income and disadvantaged people quickly access financial services at low costs, which is in line with what inclusive finance was about. "But it is also of considerable importance to balance the benefits and risks in financial innovation. More efforts are needed to build a proper legal frame to help regulate the expanding internet finance industry," Yi said. His comments came ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit, which is to be held in Hang zhou, capital of Zhejiang province, from Sept 4 to Sept 5. At the summit, China will propose a set of principles to help expand inclusive finance, and participants will also discuss how to promote green financing in detail, Yi said. Internet finance is growing rapidly in China, with internet heavyweights such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd - as well as traditional financial institutions - all eyeing the sector for growth. In 2015, the third-party mobile payment market in China exceeded 16 trillion yuan ($2.4 trillion), marking a year-on-year rise of 100 percent, data from Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys showed. According to Yi, Alipay, the mobile payment tool run by Alibaba's financial affiliate Ant Financial, is an example of how technology can help more people access affordable financial services. "Alipay has more than 400 million users, and it considerably lowers the cost of handling each payment transaction," he said. More importantly, about 150 million of Alipay's users are from rural areas. With the rapid adoption of the internet, more Chinese consumers can now enjoy a wide range of financial services online, from loan applications, to buying insurance or buying shares. Meng Jing contributed to this story. Premier Li Keqiang said in March that the central government will seek to launch the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect this year.[Photo/IC] China's securities regulator released a draft on Friday detailing the expansion of an initiative that further opens the A-share stock market to investors. The draft revises the regulations for the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, expanding their range to include the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect. The China Securities Regulatory Commission has invited the public to comment on the draft until September 25. "The launch of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect can be good for mainland and Hong Kong markets. It in turn will help the opening-up of China's capital market," said Hong Hao, chief strategist at BOCOM International Holdings Co. On Aug 16, the State Council approved a long-awaited plan to connect a second mainland stock exchange with Hong Kong's, further opening-up the A share market. Premier Li Keqiang said that stock connect is expected to open this year. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, which allows mainland investors to buy Hong Kong stocks and vice versa, had been expected for more than a year following a similar program between Shanghai and Hong Kong in 2014. Zhang Xiaojun, a spokesman for the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said on Friday that main changes in the draft regulations include the range of application and confirming investors' more flexible currency exchange procedures. "The CSRC's amendment concerning the currency exchange mechanism is good for investors, because the risks of the exchange rate can be relieved," said Banny Lam Chiu-kei, managing director at CEB International Investment Corp. Lam said some investors already hold Hong Kong and US dollars, so they don't want to convert yuan while the RMB is falling. In the future, there's a possibility that investors could use Hong Kong dollars, US dollars and yuan to trade with brokers for Hong Kong stocks. The launch of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect will not affect trading in the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Lam said, as the two markets focus on different kinds of companies. The Shanghai market comprises mostly large cap stock companies, such as large banks, while the Shenzhen market are mostly high-tech companies. The Shanghai Composite Index added less than 0.1 percent to close at 3,070.3 on Friday. The Shenzhen Component Index rose by 0.14 percent, while the ChiNext startup index climbed by 0.42 percent. The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.4 percent, paring a weekly decline. HAVANA - Cuba and China on Friday signed new agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in a number of fields. Zhang Xiangchen, deputy international trade representative with China's Ministry of Commerce, and Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, signed the conclusive documents for joint projects in the sectors of telecommunications, industry and water resources. "We have reviewed the advances made in our relations and planned out our economic collaboration for the next year," Zhang told reporters after the signing. Malmierca said the agreements prelude an expansion of bilateral economic cooperation. "Chinese investments in Cuba are starting to blossom and we have a joint strategic vision of the future," he said. China is Cuba' s second largest trading partner. Chinese enterprises have participated in many joint projects contributing to Cuba's economic and social development. BEIJING - A new plan to promote standards and quality in consumer goods, initiated by China's quality watchdog and other departments, will be made public soon, an official said Friday. The guideline was approved during the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday, said Tian Shihong, head of the Standardization Administration of China, at a press conference. The new guideline is in line with the country's ongoing economic transition from an investment-driven economy to a more consumption-driven one. According to the new guideline, by 2020, more than 95 percent of consumer goods in major sectors should meet international standards, up from the current level of 80 percent, Tian said. The country will also make sure more than 90 percent of its consumer goods on the market meet domestic standards by 2020. The overall quality level for consumer goods should grow steadily, with the national quality competitiveness index (QCI) reaching 84 points by 2020, according to the plan. China's manufacturing industry QCI hit 81.18 in 2008, according to an earlier report made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, according to the quality watchdog. Consumption contributed 73.4 percent to China's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first half of 2016, up 13.2 percentage points from the same period last year. China will make more efforts to raise the quality of consumer goods and promote "made in China" goods to meet growing demand, Premier Li said. The government will introduce compulsory standards for quality, intensify supervision and encourage businesses to improve products. Li highlighted the food, home appliance, electronics, clothing, cosmetics, daily chemical products and sporting goods sectors at the meeting. China is seeking an upgrade of its manufacturing sector to meet increasing demand from domestic consumers. A number of measures, such as supply-side structural reform, have been carried out. The country shall transform its growth focus from "made in China" to "innovated in China," as well as shift from speed to quality and from products to brands, according to the leadership. JINAN - Foreign diplomats to China expressed optimism about energy cooperation with China as they gathered in eastern China for an international forum on Thursday and Friday. The two-day International Energy Investment and Financing Cooperation Forum in the coastal city of Yantai, Shandong province, has attracted ambassadors and councilors from some 20 countries. They used the occasion not only to catch up on the latest developments from leading Chinese energy companies, but also to pitch their countries to Chinese investors. Ugandan Ambassador to China Charles Madibo Wagidoso told Xinhua on the sidelines of the forum that Chinese companies have great potential for investing in Uganda's oil and gas sector. Wagidoso said the oil sector in Uganda is still in what he calls the "infancy" period. "We are doing exploration but yet to start actual production," he said. "You (Chinese investors) can participate either in the exploration or in the supply of machinery and equipment, or you can participate in the implementation of some of the projects," Wagidoso said, adding that his country will build a refinery project as well as a $4 billion pipeline connecting oil-rich regions of landlocked Uganda and the Tanzanian port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean. Wagidoso considers hydropower generation a hot area for Chinese investment as well, citing two major hydroelectric stations now under construction with China's assistance in the East African country. They are the Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station in the north of the country with a designed capacity of 600 megawatts, and the 200-megawatt Isimba Hydroelectric Power Station in central Uganda. "Both of them cost $2 billion," added Wagidoso. In addition, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, Wagidoso said current Sino-Ugandan cooperation is also expanding toward the transportation sector. "The Chinese government is going to support us to develop a railroad project estimated at $3 billion, so there is a high level of economic engagement between Uganda and China," the Ugandan diplomat said. Asked about whether the Chinese companies are doing a good job in Uganda, the ambassador said they had been "very good" so far, especially for companies that are implementing projects there. Mamdouh Sallman, Egypt's Minister Plenipotentiary of Commerce to China, said Egypt welcomes all types of cooperation with China in the energy sector, which he said is a priority. "But in general we welcome Chinese investment in all fields," Sallman added, highlighting in particular the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors, which he said the Egyptian government had given more attention in its plan to encourage foreign investment. "As for examples of cooperation in the field of energy, we chose Chinese companies such as Sinohydro, State Grid and Shanghai Electric to execute many of the energy projects in Egypt," Sallman said. "Our government has a plan to develop the economy, and I think what you have, such as huge technological capabilities, meets our requirements," Sallman said. Envoys from Kazakhstan, Algeria, Peru and Ethiopia were invited to deliver keynote speeches about the investment environment in their respective countries at the forum. The event was organized in part by the Yantai-based Jereh Group, a leading Chinese oil and gas service provider and equipment manufacturer. BEIJING - China's major telecom operators have announced they will scrap domestic roaming fees this year, a move that will please consumers and bode well for full and fair competition in the industry. China Telecom, the country's third largest mobile telecommunications provider, announced in July it would eliminate the fees this year as part of a price cut campaign. Soon after, China Mobile, the largest telecom operator, and China Unicom followed suit. Chinese mobile users are currently charged 0.6 yuan (9 cents) to 0.8 yuan per minute for roaming service under different payment schemes when subscribers leave their local service area. That is about doubling what subscribers pay within their local service area, which has long riled consumers. Thanks to improvements in technology, the costs of domestic roaming for operators have been squeezed to nearly zero. The industry regulator has been pushing telecom heavyweights to abolish fees, urging them to "build a telecom system that benefits all consumers." US telecom service providers did away with roaming fees a decade ago amid fierce competition. European consumers have been spared the fees starting this year after years of legislation. India and Russia are also taking steps to eliminate the fees. However, China's three heavyweights have found the fees hard to resist, as roaming charges account for nearly 10 percent of their net profits. Easy profits make the companies less responsive to technology upgrades, stifle innovation and foster complacency and monopoly. As a result, consumers pay high prices for poor service. The "change of heart" by telecom carriers responds to the calls of government and consumers and, more importantly, is a result of the changing business climate. Data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that, in the first six months of 2016, mobile data consumption more than doubled to reach 3.75 billion GB, while voice call service declined 1 percent to 1.4 trillion minutes. China Mobile announced in its semi-annual report that data consumption had become its largest source of revenue after more consumers dropped calling services and used data flow for voice calls and text messages. China Unicom said only 4 percent of subscribers currently use domestic roaming services, and the number continues to decline. Ending domestic roaming charges will breathe new life into China's telecom industry. Telecom carriers have less room to remain complacent and stay in their comfort zones. Instead, they will have more incentives to seek new sources of growth and strengthen innovation. That, eventually, will benefit consumers. China's telecom giants have been criticized for monopolistic practices for years. The government has not been idle in addressing their anti-competitive practices, having launched probes into them. Chinese authorities have been resolute in letting the market play a decisive role in economic activities. Full, fair and open competition in the marketplace will boost productivity and benefit consumers. Competition in the telecom sector is a trend that cannot be reversed. BRASILIA - Brazil aims to court Chinese investment at the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Hangzhou, China, scheduling a seminar for investors and meeting with officials over a joint investment fund. The seminar will take place in Shanghai the day before the Sept 4-5 summit, Carlos Marcio Cozendey, undersecretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Thursday. Cozendey, Brazil's so-called sherpa to the G20, declined to give further details, saying that would have to wait until the impeachment trial against suspended president Dilma Rousseff concludes. Brazil's Senate is expected to vote whether to impeach Rousseff for alleged fiscal wrongdoing starting on Tuesday. By Wednesday, the outcome should determine whether Rousseff resumes her duties, which appears highly unlikely, or interim President Michel Temer is instated to see through her term. Should Temer be confirmed president, said Cozendey, he will be going to the summit to present his country's political changes and new economic plans. Brazil and China are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a China-Brazil fund to finance infrastructure projects in the South American country. Also in the works is a memorandum of cooperation in trade and services, designed to establish permanent mechanisms for the highest-level talks in those fields. In Hangzhou, Brazil's leader is also set to meet with Roberto Azevedo, the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from Brazil, and with the leaders of Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are to hold their own meeting in Hangzhou. BEIJING - The upcoming G20 Summit will focus more on development issues to inject new impetus into the world economy and promote international consensus on development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Friday. The 11th G20 summit will be held from Sept. 4 to 5 in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, with China choosing "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy" as the theme of the Hangzhou summit, identifying four key priorities, namely, "breaking a new path for growth," "more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance," "robust international trade and investment" and "inclusive and interconnected development." As one of the key priorities to be discussed, "inclusive and interconnected development" is expected to be a highlight of the summit, Lu said, adding that this entails sustainable development, promoting coordinated growth of various economies, interconnected industries with win-win results and shared prosperity of all sectors. It is the first time for such development issues to take a prominent position within the global macropolicy framework and the first time an action plan has been created to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Lu said. Lu said that it was hoped that collective and individual actions on the part of the G20 will give a strong impetus to the UN sustainable development agenda. He said that we will make a proposal on cooperation to support the industrialization of Africa and lesser developed countries (LDCs), supporting these countries to speed up industrialization and reduce poverty and pursue sustainable development. "We will have discussions covering a wide range of subjects, including agriculture, employment, business, as well as women and youth to encourage entrepreneurship," he said "Robust international trade and investment" will also be a focus of discussion, which aims to enhance understanding and expand consensus via effective use of the WTO multilateral mechanism and bilateral economic communication, according to Lu. How to oppose trade and investment protectionism and boost the growth of trade and investment is a common concern, Lu said. Lu briefed the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai in July this year. G20 economies will remain committed to an open global economy, and will further work towards trade liberalization and facilitation, according to the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting Statement, the first of its kind in G20 history. To arrest the slowdown of global trade growth, China is working with all parties to maintain an open and safe global trade system to realize inclusive growth. The Hangzhou summit will take tangible action to promote strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth of the global economy, Lu said. China's central bank vice governor Yi Gang, head of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), answers a question at a news conference during the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliament, in Beijing, March 12, 2015.[Photo/Agencies] BEIJING - The upcoming G20 Summit will discuss three important documents on inclusive finance to guide the sector's development globally, a Chinese central bank official said on Friday. The documents, which are about high-level principles, a new indicator system and funding services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be submitted to the summit for deliberation, Yi Gang, vice governor of the People's Bank of China, said during a financial forum. Inclusive finance is one of the major topics of the G20 summit scheduled from Sept. 4 to 5 in China's eastern city of Hangzhou with a theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." Yi said the document promotes the use of digital technology, seeks a balance between innovation and risks and calls for establishing a proper regulatory framework. An upgrade of the current indicator system is also a significant part as the inclusive finance sector is changing rapidly. New indices such as digital payment will be included. The documents also give a priority to the improvement of SME credit and bankruptcy systems and encourage financial institutions to make loans backed by movable property. A citizen walks past a flower bed in the shape of the logo of G20 summit in Binjiang district of Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang province, August 25, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Featuring the image of a bridge, supplemented with the imprint of a traditional Chinese seal, the logo of the upcoming G20 summit was designed by Yuan Youmin of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou and his partners Fang Hongzhang and Sui Huanchen. The bridge is composed of 20 lines, and the arch of the bridge forms a circle with its reflection. The 20 lines represent the 20 members of the group, and the round arch implies that it is a round table meeting in which all are equal. A sign at a store in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, tells consumers they may use Alipay or Tenpay to pay. An Xin / For China Daily Mobile payment licenses from Hong Kong's financial authorities to two mainland payment operators are seen as a key step in their overseas strategic expansion and are expected to boost their business in the city, analysts said on Friday. Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's financial affiliate Ant Financial were granted licenses from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Thursday to operate their mobile payments there, the first license the two tech giants have obtained overseas. It means the two companies can not only continue to serve retail stores in Hong Kong, but also provide digital wallets and merchant discounts for their Hong Kong customers. Peng Yijie, vice-president of Ant Financial's international business, said its license was a boost for Alipay as it has long been seeking to offer convenient non-cash payment services to Hong Kong residents. Alipay entered Hong Kong in 2007. It is estimated that by July about 6,000 bricks-and-mortar stores in Hong Kong have offered Alipay's payment service. Tencent said it has made efforts to expand its mobile payment solution Tenpay in Hong Kong after winning the license, adding that Hong Kong is a key area for its overseas expansion. The HKMA on Thursday issued the first five stored value facilities (SVF) licenses to Alipay, Tenpay, HKT Payment, TNG and Octopus. HKMA Chief Executive Norman Chan said the licences were a landmark event. "The grant of the first batch of licences for SVF issuers is turning a new page in the retail payment development in Hong Kong." Hong Kong residents often use Octopus, an electronic payment system using a contactless smart card as well as credit cards as their main payment methods. One analyst said the mobile payment industry in Hong Kong was relatively backward. Although mainland payment tools Alipay and Tenpay have appeared in Hong Kong in the past years, they mainly served mainland tourists when they go shopping in Hong Kong, he said. Li Chao, an analyst at research firm iResearch Consulting Group, told China Daily that the two tech giants see Hong Kong as an important base for their global expansion. "However, we still need time to see whether Hong Kong residents are willing to accept these mobile payment methods due to differences in culture and habits," he said. A staff member presents a robot designed for children at the 2016 Chinese Congress on Artificial Intelligence (CCAI 2016) in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 26, 2016. The two-day CCAI 2016 kicked off here Friday. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - Tan Tieniu, a top expert in China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector, on Friday suggested creating a plan to guide the country's AI research and development in the next decade or longer. China should independently develop an AI innovation system, with a focus on core technology, high-end equipment and applications, basic theories and facilities in the AI sector, said Tan, vice president of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence. By doing so, China could have a world-leading AI industry by 2025, said Tan, also vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the two-day 2016 China Conference on Artificial Intelligence (CCAI 2016), which will conclude on Saturday. In 2015, the global AI market stood at $127 billion, Tan said, adding the figure is predicted to reach $165 billion this year and to exceed $200 billion in 2018. The CCAI 2016, sponsored by the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence, aims to better direct and promote the research and application of artificial intelligence in China. Top experts, scholars and industry professionals in China's AI sector have gathered to discuss man-machine interaction, machine learning, pattern recognition, industry practice, and other topics. As hundreds of millions of Chinese become increasingly dependent on their smartphones for daily affairs, the People's Liberation Army has been exploring ways to govern its members' use of the omnipresent gadget. According to reports in PLA Daily, the military's flagship newspaper, many PLA units have organized discussions and debates on whether and how officers and soldiers should use smartphones. The issue became a hot topic on Friday after the newspaper published a report that several officers and soldiers of the PLA's 14th Group Army used smartphones for live-streams of their physical exercises and to play smartphone-based games. This has led to concern among the unit's commanders about whether such activity could compromise military secrets, according to the report. The unit later decided that its members will only be allowed to make or watch live broadcasts via smartphones when they are on vacation, and they cannot engage in such activities while in uniform. Furthermore, the content of such live-streaming must not relate to military secrets, the report said. The PLA released guidelines in July last year to improve the management methods and codes of conduct for officers and soldiers. One of the new rules allows service members to use mobile phones in their spare time, on weekends and during holidays, on the condition of confidentiality. A personnel management expert of the PLA told China Daily on condition of anonymity that in the early years of the prevalence of mobile phones in China, service members were banned from using them, but the prohibition was gradually relaxed. "Currently, there are no bans on the use of popular smartphone-based social networking applications such as WeChat. But I don't think it is appropriate for a service member to make a live broadcast via WeChat or other mobile phone-based live broadcast apps, because it is very easy for them to leak secrets," the PLA expert said. Two other suspects put on most-wanted list; students warned to beware as semester begins Four suspects have been arrested by police for alleged involvement in a high-profile telecom scam linked to the death of a new college recruit, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday. Authorities are also warning against fraud and taking measures to prevent more students, who often lack social experience, from falling victim to telecom fraud as a new semester approaches. The four men are suspected of having fleeced an 18-year-old woman in a rural village in Shandong province out of 9,900 yuan ($1,490). On Sunday, two days after she was cheated, the woman died of a heart attack. Two other suspects were being sought, and police have put them on the nation's most-wanted list. Xu Yuyu, a high school graduate, had enrolled at a university in Jiangsu province, and the money she lost in the scam was what her financially strapped family had raised for her as tuition fees. Xu's mother is disabled and is not employed, while her father earns about 3,000 yuan a month. To raise the tuition fees, they used up all of the family's savings and borrowed more than 1,000 yuan from relatives. Her death is not the only one linked to telecom scams. Local media reported on Friday that Song Zhenning, a sophomore at Shandong University of Technology, died from cardiac arrest on Tuesday, five days after being swindled out of 2,000 yuan, his living expenses for three months. Pei Zhiyong, a security analyst and anti-fraud researcher from Qihoo 360, China's largest security software provider, said that students, especially high school graduates and new college recruits, should be on high alert for telecom fraud as the new semester starts on Sept 1. "It is sad to hear these young people fall into fraud traps. Telecom and online fraud often happens to students when new school terms are about to start," Pei said. "The fraud is mainly related to college recruitment, scholarship, student subsidies and part-time jobs." Most impostors use text messages, phone calls or social media to relay messages purportedly from educational authorities, he said. A report issued by Qihoo 360 in June said that its security center received 5,543 reports of online fraud from January to April, of which 365 were reported by people less than 16 years oldup 4.4 percent year-on-year. Wang Sixin, a law professor at Communication University of China, said that many young people lack social experience and awareness of security, so they are often unable to detect fraud. Wang suggested that parents and schools should provide students with more security knowledge. Tsinghua University in Beijing has started to give a security test this year for newcomers, who must answer about 500 questions about telecom fraud, transportation issues and fire prevention, before they register. According to Chinese Criminal Law, swindlers could be sentenced to life imprisonment if the fraud amount is "extremely huge" or related to "an extremely serious situation". Appointments expected to help local govt manage transition of economy Two high-caliber experts on industrial policy have joined the ranks of the Zhejiang provincial government as deputy governors of the region, which is noted for its advanced information technology. Feng Fei, deputy governor of Zhejiang Feng Fei, 53, was appointed on Friday from his previous position as deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Gao Xingfu, deputy governor of Zhejiang Gao Xingfu, 52, another deputy governor appointed on the same day, was selected from a company run by the provincial government, the first appointment of its kind in 21 years. Gao spent his entire career on construction and investment projects. He had been head of the Zhejiang Communications Investment Group since the beginning of 2015. Gao has been awarded a host of national honors including Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Entrepreneur of Startups. Zhejiang province, with the fourth-largest GDP on the Chinese mainland in the first half of this year, is home to the countries' leading IT companies as well as startups. Internationally-known companies such as e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group Holding and automaker Geely Automobile Holdings are headquartered in the capital Hangzhou, where leaders of the world's 20 major economies, the G20, will gather for their annual summit early next month. It is a common practice in China that senior officials at central government organs are assigned to top officials in local governments. In 2015, more than a dozen senior officials from central government organs had been appointed to major positions in provincial governments. Wang Yukai, a professor of government administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said that officials at central government level are especially good at understanding major policies in the nation. Their appointments will help the local government through the transition of the country's economic and social development, he said. Feng began his career at the Development and Research Center of the State Council when he was nearly 31. He was appointed deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in October last year. Members of the EU-China Friendship Group delegation visit Jokhang Temple on Thursday. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY An official of the EU-China Friendship Group of the European Parliament has highly praised Tibet's overall development during their field trip to the autonomous region this week. The seven members of the delegation, from countries such as Britain, Romania, Cyprus, Ireland and Estonia, was invited by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Nirj Deva, chairman of the EU-China Friendship Group of the European Parliament Led by Nirj Deva, chairman of the EU-China Friendship Group, the delegation visited Tibet's Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka Park, Sera Monastery and Tibet University during their three-day stay. It is the first time Nirj Deva has traveled to the plateau city. "We have all been overwhelmed, amazed by the development. Lhasa is as good as any city in the world," Nirj Deva said on Friday. The 68-year-old said that the access to education that the Tibetan people are now enjoying would make Tibetan people competitive and successful anywhere in the world, setting up companies or doing whatever they want, because the system has given them the opportunity to study at good universities, get the best degrees and compete at the highest level. In terms of cultural preservation and religious belief in Tibet, Deva said the local government has spent heavily to preserve Tibetan culture, literature, art and history. He said he has seen the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhists in the monasteries, people worshipping and going on pilgrimages, and practicing their religion freely everywhere. Compared with what he heard about Tibet via the media, movies and elsewhere, he said that the Tibet he expected to see was not the Tibet he saw. "It's been an integral part of China. It is also part of the economic development of China." Neurosurgeons are scarce in developing countries, so as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing is stepping in to help train young doctors in the specialty in countries along the old Silk Road, said Ling Feng, one of China's top neurosurgeons. "Being able to train young neurosurgeons can help save a lot of lives," she said on the sidelines of the 2016 NGO Global Summit for UN Sustainable Development Goals, being held from Wednesday through Friday at United Nations headquarters in New York. "For some diseasesstroke, hypertension-related hemorrhagingif you cannot offer emergency treatment, patients can die immediately," said Ling, who is one of the lead participants in a program to train young medical students in the latest neurological techniques. 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. Now in its third year, the program has trained 176 doctors from 42 countries, Ling said. "We have the capability now. It's completely different from 50 years ago," she said. "Now we have developed these techniques (much more) 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 Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing and a board member of the Geneva-based World Federation of Neurological Societies. In 1983, she established the country's first neurology intervention center. Ling said she is a believer in sharing medical expertise as a way to establish strong relations with other countries. "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 worked in various hospitals, said the most important aspect of her role is to give aid in whatever way she can to those who can benefit. Think tanks in the United States seem to be excessively creative. The latest example is a study by three researchers of Rand Corporation, which is considered close to the US military. The 116-page paper, "War with China: Thinking through the Unthinkable", says a war between China and the US in the next 10 years is "not unimaginable". The paper projects four possible types of war: short-term low intensity, long-term high intensity, short-term high intensity, and long-term high intensity. And it concludes that in any case China's losses would be more that of the US. The US media love to talk about a possible China-US war, but Rand is the first to discuss it in such detail. Perhaps some people in the US have reached a conclusion that Beijing has already become Washington's arch rival. According to the theory of "aggressive realism", war is unavoidable between a rising power and the existing power. But China is different, it doesn't want a war with any country, let alone the US. And even though the US loves to flex its military muscles to browbeat other countries into submission, it is wise enough to know the difference between a big and small potential enemy. During the Cold War, the US and the Soviet Union came close to a real war during the two Berlin crises and the Cuban Missile crisis, but each time Washington pulled back before it was too late. The instances have become reference points for international relations scholars. The Rand report says, if a war breaks out between the US and China, it will "be a regional regular war". But if a war really breaks out between the two sides, it will be different because both sides would fight to their respective advantages. The report's claim that China will suffer more losses than the US also sounds unconvincing, because even a poorly armed Chinese military has almost always ended up defeating a more powerful enemy. Differences do exist between China and the US, but they are controllable. The two sides were engaged in heated verbal exchanges over the disputes in the South China Sea, with the US sending its aircraft and navy vessels in the waters and China conducting naval drills. After an international tribunal in The Hague announced its arbitral award, their war of words intensified but the situation didn't spiral out of control. Washington understands Beijing will not succumb to external pressures and the South China Sea disputes have to be settled by the disputing parties themselves. Such maritime disputes unrelated to the US have cast a shadow over China-US ties, temporarily eclipsing the bright side of their common interests and cooperation. But their cooperation still continues in many areas. The Iranian nuclear issue and the Paris Climate Treaty are cases in point. The recent visit of US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to China to prepare for US President Barack Obama's participation in the G20 summit in Hangzhou and for his meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit is another such example. It is a fact that differences exist between China and the US but it is also a fact that they share common interests and need cooperation. This "rivalry plus cooperation" relationship will continue. The Rand Corporation researchers prepared the report on the request of the office of the US Department of the Army's deputy secretary, but its preface says the report does not necessarily represent Rand's opinion or that of the client; it is only the opinion of the three researchers. Since the report reflects the ideas of some Washington officials, US think tanks should make efforts to help promote cooperation and reduce the differences between China and the US, instead of fomenting trouble between the two largest economies, because the two sides need more positive energy to guide their relations in the right direction. The author is a researcher at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Courtesy: chinausfocus.com (China Daily 08/27/2016 page5) With Hong Kong hosting the 26th international congress of The Transplantation Society from Aug 18 to 22, the first by a Chinese city, the significant increase in organ donations in China has come under the spotlight. Last year, 2,766 donors donated 7,785 major organs, higher than the combined total for 2013 and 2014. In the first half of this year alone, the number of donated organs reached 5,029, up 45 percent year-on-year. In terms of donors per 1 million population, China ranks 44th on the global list. This is a great improvement given the dismal number of organs donated in the past and China's decision to not use executed convicts' organs in transplantations from Jan 1, 2015. Jose Ramon Nunez Pena, medical officer for the World Health Organization, lauded the development and said donated organs are being better distributed among those who need them. Yet some people have questioned the sources of donated organs in China, with a few even claiming China still harvests the organs of convicts after they are executed for transplantations. To trash such rumors China needs to make its organ donation system more transparent, apart from educating people about the importance of donating organs and persuading them to become donors. An easy way of promoting organ donation is to encourage family members to donate, if possible, an organ a loved one needs. This will help the idea of organ donation to take roots among the people. Besides, the survival rate is higher and life expectancy longer for those living with organs donated by their close relatives. A 68-year-old British woman Sue Westhead recently drew global attention for having lived with a kidney donated by her mother 43 years ago. Westhead, who is still going strong, was diagnosed with a kidney ailment in 1973 when she was just 25 years old. The ailment quickly worsened and her mother, who was then 57, donated a kidney to save her life. Westhead's mother died in 1985, but her kidney lives in her daughter's body. In fact, the kidney is exactly 100 years old. Westhead's mother is a great example to inspire people to donate their organs. Organ donation even between non-relatives can be mutually beneficial. When the father of Jeni Stepien was murdered in Pennsylvania, the United States, in 2006, his family donated his heart. Arthur Thomas, a patient in New Jersey suffering from a fatal heart disease, received the heart and survived. When Stepien got married this month, she specially invited Thomas, whom she had never seen before, to attend her wedding. Thomas said he could not imagine a greater honor than escorting the daughter of the man who has given him his heart, while Stepien said: "I was just so thankful that my dad could be here with us today in spirit and a piece of his physical being as well". Stepien's father was killed 10 years ago, but she knows a part of him still lives. The idea of "one's organs continuing to live" even after death catching the imagination of people in some developed countries has encouraged many to donate their organs and is the reason why the rate of organ donation in those countries is very high. China has to make efforts to popularize such ideas in order to encourage more people to donate their organs. China now strictly follows the principle that willing donors should be the only source of organs used in transplantations. That principle, together with transparency and more people willingly donating their organs will cause the rumors about donated organs to die a natural death. The author is deputy editor in chief of Encyclopedia magazine and a former researcher in medical science. (China Daily 08/27/2016 page5) The total global investment today is lower than its peak before the 2008 global financial crisis, perhaps because of the lack of coordination among countries implementing investment policies and the protectionist measures taken by some economies. Worse, according to a United Nations study in June, global investment growth could fall by 10 percent to 15 percent this year compared with 2015. To address these critical issues, China has for the first time made facilitation of investment a key topic of discussion at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang province, next month. China has been the largest destination for foreign direct investment for more than 20 years, and studies suggest it could become the world's largest investor by 2020. It is already one of the world's largest exporters and importers. China's commitment to free trade and efforts to build a well-regulated investment environment, coupled with its influence as G20 chair this year, will ensure the decisions taken at the Hangzhou summit will reflect the interests and concerns of both developed and developing countries. In fact, observers say the Hangzhou summit could forge a unified institutional guideline for global investment and trade. Trade and investment can solve the fund shortage some countries face and curb trade protectionism, thereby boosting the world economy. China hopes to convince the G20 to establish a global investment governance mechanism to help reduce the costs for global investors, provide them with basic protection standards, and make investment rules more consistent. These changes will foster freer flow of capital across borders and make global distribution of resources more equitable. Being the main exporters of capital, developed countries demand that developing economies lift the restrictions on and provide protection for foreign investment. But as the main recipients of foreign capital, developing countries say supervision and restrictions are necessary to protect overseas investment and to facilitate their economic and social development. The differences between the two camps, and the conflicts among the developed countries, explain why most previous attempts to formalize multilateral investment treaties have failed - from the Havana Charter and the UN negotiations on transnational corporate action codes to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's multilateral investment. The two camps' differences seem irreconcilable even though many on either side hope operational flexibility is maintained, and foreign investment remains restricted in certain industries but not rejected on the pretext of "state security". Despite supporting investment liberalization, an increasing number of countries are taking protectionist measures against foreign investment. And the fact that the G20 members contribute 80 percent and attract 70 percent of the total foreign investment makes the Hangzhou summit an ideal platform to break the deadlock between the two camps. The China-proposed G20 Global Investment Directive Guidelines, passed at the G20 Trade Minister Meeting in Shanghai in July, is the first programmatic document on the making of global investment policies and therefore lays the foundation for the establishment of global investment rules. Since the founding of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in 2013 to test reform plans on investment, trade, finance and governance, China has halved the number of fields where foreign investment was not allowed, passed its first Foreign Investment Law, and has been exploring the possibility of granting pre-entry "national treatment" to some types of foreign investment. It is negotiating investment treaties with the European Union and the US. If these developments are added to China's experience in economic reforms, it becomes obvious why the world has high expectations from the Hangzhou summit. The author is a writer with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 08/27/2016 page5) [Photo provided to China Daily] Dubbed as "the smallest Angus Steakhouse in Beijing", the newly opened steakhouse in Sanlitun called Moomoo tries to provide high-quality Angus steak at a reasonable price in a trendier, and much more casual environment. The steakhouse takes up only about 20 square meters, even though it has an open kitchen, a raw meat fridge counter, and a dining bar area. Diners can choose to either take out or dine in. For dining in, you just select the cuts and tell the chef how you want your steak done. It is served with a portion of salad and bread. The alternative is to take the raw meat home with the DIY recipe offered. What makes Moomoo particularly alluring is that it specializes in JBS Riverina Angus beef from Australia, produced in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, where black Angus cattle are grain-fed for over 120 days. Moo moo says it is Beijing's largest importer of Australia Angus beef. Its sirloin sells for 32 yuan/100g; rib eye 38 yuan/100g; fillet 60 yuan/100g. Among the drinks, Bundaberg ginger beer from Australia is available to take away. Moomoo Australia Steak, B1, Topwin Center, 1 Nan Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district; 010-5604-9952. [Photo provided to China Daily] Cafe Down Under has big plans The Australian brand Gloria Jean's Coffees has opened its second cafe in Beijing, and by last month it had more than 20 stores around China. The brand says it plans to speed up establishing more than 200 cafes in the country over the next five years. Gloria Jean's Coffees opened its first outlet in China in Tianjin in 2014. The company is 100 percent Australian owned, but the brand started when Gloria Jean and Ed Kvetko opened a coffee outlet in a small town north of Chicago in 1979. Two businessmen, Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine, took the Gloria Jean's Coffees brand from the US to Australia in 1995, aiming to sell high-quality, specialty coffee. Gloria Jean's Coffees now has more than 1,200 cafes in 42 markets worldwide, including more than 400 cafes in Australia. Gloria Jean's Coffees, 1/F, Topwin Center, 1 Nan Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district. China will boost cooperation with major trade partners and Belt and Road Initiative countries to raise the quality of domestically made consumer products to meet international standards. "We will study and borrow experiences from other countries in the management of standards so as to improve our standards," Tian Shihong, chief of China's Standardization Administration, said at a news conference on Friday. The government will also raise the standards for consumer products sold domestically to match the quality levels of Chinese-made products for export, Tian said. Authorities will encourage Chinese enterprises and experts to help in drafting and revising standards to attain consistency between those used in China and those used abroad, he said. Meanwhile, China will promote the standards it maintains on its consumer products that are superior to those made abroad, which already have competitive advantages on the international market, Tian said. The country will promote recognition of standards with major trade partners. A key task will be to create multilingual versions of Chinese consumer product standards to improve international communication, Tian said. On Thursday, the State Council, China's Cabinet, announced it had approved a plan to make more than 95 percent of the national standards required for major consumer products to be consistent with international standards by 2020. The ratio is currently about 80 percent for major consumer products, such as household appliances, textiles and clothing, shoes, furniture, watches and clocks, and toys. Although China has become a major producer of such products, the quality standards it maintains fall short of what Chinese consumers want. In consequence, many consumers lack trust in Chinese products, Tian said. Wu Jingming, an expert on consumers' rights protection at China University of Political Science and Law, said: "Domestic economic growth has been slowing in the past few years, and the government has to take measures to stimulate domestic consumption. That means the quality of products sold in the domestic market must improve." Many Chinese have been going abroad in recent years to buy consumer goodsincluding those made in Chinaas the quality of products there are higher, he said. "Products made in China for export have much higher manufacturing standards," Wu said. "That is unfair to Chinese consumers. The double standard for products for export and those for the domestic market must be abolished so that Chinese customers will spend more willingly at home," Wu said. Laziz the tiger drinks water in a cage upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday. THEMBA HADEBE/ASSOCIATED PRESS A Bengal tiger rescued from what activists have called "the worst zoo in the world" arrived in South Africa for a new home on Thursday, after living in a small cage in Gaza alongside another tiger's stuffed corpse. The 9-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 stuffed corpses of animals that had died from stress, disease and starvation. After the zoo asked for help, Four Paws removed 15 animals on Wednesday, 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 in the town of Bethlehem in South Africa's Free State province. 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," Marina Strydom, a veterinarian at Lionsrock, said on 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 on which to climb. Meals will mostly include donkey meat and cow legs. Years of conflict, longstanding negligence and outbreaks of disease have killed many animals in captivity in Gaza. (Photo : Twitter/@chasethisnow) Baidu will use the all-electric Chery EQ for self-driving tests in China. Advertisement Chinese search engine giant Baidu has introduced a new all-electric, self-driving car for testing in China. The tech behemoth has now started using a Chery EQ as test vehicles instead of the modified BMW 3-series for the Chinese market, according to Baidu spokesperson Leo Zou, Business Insider reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The BMW was successfully able to complete an 18.6-mile drive in December, performing various tasks like changing lanes, making U-turns and merging on and off highways. Baidu also conducted tests in the U.S. with the BMW earlier this year and recently made a joint investment in LiDAR-maker Velodyne with Ford. Both companies put in a total of $150 million in the Silicon Valley-based firm, which makes sensors for autonomous cars. The investment will go towards producing cheaper sensors and thereby bringing down the cost of self-driving cars. The Chery EQ, from Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile, is similar to Google's EV in terms of appearance but it has more cabin room than Google's autonomous cars. The Chery EQ can be driven for about 120 miles after a full charge, according to Tech Crunch. Baidu, known as the Google of China, has plans to introduce a fleet of self-driving cars that can be used for public transportation in China and aims to have the service operational by 2018, in limited area on a standard loop in China. The company intends to release the self-driving cars across the country and is using them to map routes and collect information like height of traffic lights and location of curbs. Advertisement Tagschina, Baidu, Self-driving cars, Electric Car, Baidu self-driving car, Chery EQ, BMW 3 Series (Photo : Getty Images) Philippine president Duterte said that while he is looking forward to formal talks with China, he is also preparing the country's armed forces for any eventualities. Advertisement Despite President Xi Jinping's earlier statements that China would not accept any actions or propositions by any state based on the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea dispute, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte insists that formal talks with Beijing would rest on the court's verdict, saying China cannot avoid the ruling at any cost. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement On Friday, Duterte met with China's Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua and explained the Philippines' position on the upcoming bilateral talks between both nations over the maritime territorial dispute. The hour-long meeting between the Philippine president and Zhao took place in Davao City. "I told the ambassador that we would avoid trouble with Beijing because we cannot afford to lose the chance of bilateral talks to discuss the issue.I will not talk about it in any forum but when we are already face-to-face with Chinese negotiators, then I would state my case," he said. President Duterte emphasized that he would bring up the ruling of the international arbitration court during the bilateral talks with China, adding that it would form the basis of their discussion. President Duterte had earlier said he expects the talks to commence this year. Arbitration court ruling "Look, I have this arbitral court judgment. We will not go out of the four corners of this paper. Let us talk," Duterte stated. He said it was not the right time to talk about the arbitration court ruling with China, citing numerous conferences he has to attend as the newly-installed Philippine president. Duterte, however, emphasized that should Beijing back out from the talks, Manila's armed forces would be ready for any eventualities. The president said Beijing and Manila should talk about enhancing their cooperation and discuss areas of common interests that would unite the two nations. Military confrontation If the talks fail, Duterte said he would have no other option but to ready the armed forces for a possible military confrontation with Beijing. The Philippine Chief Executive, who is also the country's armed forces commander-in-chief, called on his troops to be ready for war with China. "So be prepared even with limited talent and capacity. We cannot really produce the missiles and things. We don't care as long as we fight. It will come, maybe sooner than later but we have to prepare," the president said. Duterte has increased the defense budget for next year to cover recruitment of thousands of soldiers as requested by the defense ministry. The Philippine defense department said it needs around 20,000 more soldiers to effectively uphold the nation's sovereignty and protect its territories. The president said he could give them 10,000 soldiers for the meantime. Budget increase Duterte justified the budget increase citing the need to have more men safeguard the country's territorial integrity and who were ready to fight and die for the country. "It is always good to have men there, ready to fight and die rather than not having them at all and just surrender just like a meek lamb there. That cannot be," he said. On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled that China has no legal basis to its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. The ruling, favoring the Philippines, was handed down after a three-year hearing of a territorial case filed by Manila against Beijing in 2013. Beijing boycotted the proceedings and dismissed the ruling as "illegal" and "null and void." The court found Beijing to have violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippines' rights to explore the resources within its exclusive economic zone. This month, Manila's special envoy for the China-Philippines talks on the South China Sea, Fidel Ramos, met with Chinese officials in Hong Kong to lay the groundwork for formal talks to begin in Beijing. Advertisement TagsSouth China Sea, China-Philippines formal talks, arbitral court ruling, President Rodrigo Duterte, President Xi Jinping, china (Photo : Getty Images ) China is holding a joint military exercise with United States and Australia. Advertisement China, the United States, and Australia are holding a joint military exercise in Darwin, Chinese defense ministry said on Thursday. The joint war drills, which began on August 24, will continue till September 11. The trilateral international military exercise 'Kowari-2016' will focus on field survival. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "As agreed upon by the Chinese, the Australian and the U.S. defense departments, the three sides will conduct "Kowari-2016" Army Skills Joint Training in Darwin, Australia, from August 24 to September 11," China's defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said. The ministry also revealed that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) would also take part in a separate joint exercise with Aussie forces from September 14 to 23. "The two joint training exercises are aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, deepening practical military cooperation, and improving training level of the participating troops as well as their capability to conduct operations," Wu said in a statement. China and Russia would also hold a joint naval exercise in the disputed South China Sea from September 12 to 19. The Chinese war exercise comes at a time when tensions between China and other claimant countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, have been heightened over the contested territory. China is claiming almost 80 percent of the South China Sea as its territory. Last month, a United Nations-backed international arbitration tribunal rejected China's claims over the disputed region saying that the country has no legal authority to claim the contested territory. Beijing, however, opposed the ruling as "null and void.'" The United States, Japan, Australia and other Western countries have repeatedly asked China to recognize the verdict. Advertisement Tagschina, US, Australia, military drills, South China Sea (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese authorities have allegedly ordered low-budget hotels in Guangzhou not to accept guests from Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Advertisement Local police have issued orders to several low-end hotels in Guangzhou not to lend rooms to guests from five Muslim countries. The instruction is reported to be only restricted to cheap budget hotels in the city. Three low-end hotels in Guangzhou city told Reuters that they have received strict information from police not to entertain guests from Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "I'm not clear of the reason. We just can't take them," one hotel worker told Reuters via the telephone. The move is widely seen as a security measure ahead of a regional development forum in Guangzhou on Thursday and also for next week's G20 summit in Hangzhou city, the South China Morning Post reported. However, China's foreign ministry has said that it is not aware of any such rule being issued to hotels in Guangzhou. "I've never heard that there is this policy being followed in China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. "Moreover, as far as China is concerned, our policy in principle is that we encourage people from China and other countries to have friendly exchanges and are willing to provide various convenient policies in this regard." China shares friendly ties with many Muslim countries across the world. Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping performed a historic tour to the Muslim-dominated Middle Eastern region. The visit was seen as a clear signal of China's intent to boost its relation with the oil-rich Muslim world. China has been facing a major Muslim insurgency problem in Xinjiang Province. Reports emerged earlier this year that many Muslim locals from Xinjiang had gone to Syria to join the Islamic State. Advertisement TagsGuangzhou, china, Hotels in Guangzhou, China and Muslim Countries (Photo : Getty Images) Kenya's Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai attends the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Advertisement Japan has set out to outdo China in the African market in terms of quality of the material it produces. To do this, Japan has organized a trade show scheduled in Nairobi, Kenya. The two-day development conference aims to unveil aid and investment projects. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The conference, known as the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD), is being hosted in Africa for the first time. Previous meetings have all been aired in Japan since its inception in 1993. Presiding over the event will be Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The event will also feature a host of African leaders including Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta. Abe promised that Japan's "high-quality and human resource development" would support industrialization in Africa. He added that Japan would be investing $30 billion in Africa with $10 billion expected to go to infrastructure development. "This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future," he said. On Friday, President Kenyatta addressed the nation and encouraged Kenyans. He challenged them that this should be more than just a visit. "We know that most nations which escape the grip of poverty do so by industrializing. Africa still has not lived up to its potential," he said. "Development is not something that will happen to Africa, it is Africans themselves who will win the freedom and prosperity they deserve." Advertisement TagsJapan, china, Kenya, TICAD (Photo : George Lewis/Theodore Postol) THAAD AN/TPY-2 coverage range for a radar in South Korea tracking a missile launch in China. Advertisement China and Russia will likely establish a joint missile warning system to neutralize what they see as national security threats stemming from the radar coverage of the United States' Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system to be deployed to South Korea in 2017. The joint U.S. South Korea decision to go ahead with THAAD's deployment to two military bases in South Korea is being seen by some Moscow analysts as the catalyst bringing about a rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing, particularly in missile defense. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Russia has take strong exception to Washington's decision to deploy THAAD and brushed aside the U.S. claim the aim of deploying this anti-missile missile system is to counter North Korea's continued development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Russia argues the detection abilities of THAAD's radar will allow the U.S. to spy on Russian and Chinese ballistic and aerodynamic targets up to 1,500 kilometers away. From South Korea, the Americans can peer into the Russian territory and China's, as well, said the Russians. An appropriate response to THAAD "could be the creation of a unified system of Russia and China, a sort of missile defense system," said military expert and Deputy Director of Institute of CIS countries, Vladimir Yevseyev. China, North Korea's main ally and benefactor, claimed THAAD would destabilize the regional security balance without achieving anything to end North Korea's nuclear program. "The Chinese side will consider taking necessary steps to maintain national strategic security and regional strategic balance," warned China's Ministry of National Defense in last June. And earlier this August, the People's Daily (the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China) harshly criticized the U.S .move, warning that China and Russia would be forced to take "unexpected" but justified "countermeasures that the US and South Korea cannot afford." That warning has apparently led to today's decision by Russia and China to seriously consider building a joint missile defense system to counter THAAD's electronic espionage. The radar used by a THAAD battery is the X-band AN/TPY-2. This has two configurations: a Terminal Mode with a range of 600 km and a Forward-Based Mode whose exact range remains secret but might be anywhere from 1,500 km to 3,000 km, according to experts Yevseyev, however, revealed the Russians and Chinese have jointly held anti-missile drills using computer modeling even before the decision to deploy THAAD to South Korea was announced. He said the next step for Russia and China after the formal decision to set up a joint defense system will be to acquire hands-on experience of intercepting ballistic targets in joint exercises. This experience might be derived at the Russia's Ashuluk surface-to-air missile station in the Astrakhan Region. Ashuluk is a training facility for anti-aircraft missile and radiotechnical troops. Advertisement Tagschina, Russia, joint missile warning system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, THAAD, South Korea, AN/TPY-2 Novel-like New Testament Created for Teens Who Don't Read the Bible Contact: Amber Cassady, Group Publishing, 970-292-4689, Acassady@group.com LOVELAND, Colo., Aug. 26, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Group Publishing will release Pierced: The New Testament, a fresh approach to Scripture-reading for teenagers and young adults, on September 1, 2016. According to a recent study by Pew Research Center, 80% of 18- to 29-year-olds are reading more than older generations. In fact, seventy-one percent of these young adults read a book in the past year. While reading is popular among younger Americans, Bible readership is down. In fact, only 7% of teens are "Bible engaged" and 45% of teens are either "Bible neutral" or "Bible skeptics," according to a 6-year Barna study produced in partnership with American Bible Society. "That's because we've often treated Bible-reading like an intimidating chore," explains Rick Lawrence, General Editor of Pierced, "not an invitation into an epic adventure." Pierced serves as an open door for teenagers to no longer avoid Scripture. This New Testament narrative immerses readers into the greater story of Jesus through an intentionally simple yet personal design. Contextualized for youth from Biblica's The Books of the Bible, which strips away centuries of added formatting included in most modern Bibles, Pierced reads more like a novel than a textbook. Complicated chapter and verse numbers or footnotes are replaced with artwork, and real-life "margin notes" and highlights, from teenagers from all over the world. "By combining the actual notes of ten teens into one Bible, we give the reader an opportunity to journey through the story of Jesus with his or her peers," shares Veronica Preston, Interior Design and Production Artist of Pierced. "It allows them to know that they are not alone; wrestling through God's Word with othersfeeling free to be vulnerable in the process." Pierced is written in New International Version translation, and is likely to be widely purchased by youth leaders, parents, grandparents, and other mentors as a gift for the teenagers and young adults in their influence. Pierced is available now for pre-order on Amazon.com and will be released on Group.com and sold by other Christian retailers beginning September 1, 2016. Share Tweet home US ACLU expresses concern at Walgreen's partnership with Catholic healthcare provider Groups under the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wrote a letter to Walgreens to express their concern that the store's services could be restricted because of its new partnership with a Catholic health care provider, SSM Health. The giant drugstore chain made an announcement in April that SSM Health would be opening 27 clinics in Walgreens stores in Missouri and Illinois this month. In the letter, the ACLU groups asked whether reproductive health care services will be available at the clinics and wanted assurance that LGBTQ customers will not be discriminated against. "If any religious restrictions are imposed on the clinics or the employees working at the clinics, will those restrictions be disclosed to patients?" the groups asked in the letter. The letter was signed by ACLU representatives from the two concerned areas. Other signatories include representatives of MergerWatch and the National Health Law Program. Emily Hartwig-Mekstan, the spokeswoman for Walgreens, said that its stores already offer contraceptive services. SSM Health spokesman Jason Merrill said in an email to AP that SSM Health will offer the same services available at Walgreens Healthcare Clinics but did not directly say whether reproductive health services are to be included. "If a patient requires services that are beyond the scope of what is appropriate for a retail clinic setting, they will be referred to a primary care physician or other provider of their choice who can ensure they receive the care they need," Merril said in the email. Walgreens is also reportedly collaborating with Providence Health, a Catholic health system, and Advocate Health Care, a provider affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ACLU had written a similar letter to Walgreens in December 2015 over its partnership with Providence Health. The ACLU made an inquiry about the availability of euthanasia drugs in Providence clinics in Oregon and Washington State, where euthanasia is legal. home World Euthanasia 'tourists' increasing in Belgium, say doctors There is an increasing number of euthanasia tourists traveling to Brussels, Belgium for elective medical killings. Patients, including children, from different parts of the world flock to the city's accident and emergency rooms to receive lethal injection which is free for those with a European Union health insurance card. According to the International Business Times, a total of 2,023 people were euthanized in Belgium in 2015. Seven out of 15 cases involved French nationals, according to Olivier Vermylen, an emergency doctor at Brugmann University Hospital. The situation is similar at the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels where 40 out of 130 cases are French people. The cost is one of the primary reasons why people choose to be euthanized in Belgium. Euthanasia in Belgium is free for holders of a European Union's health insurance card. After the procedure, the bill is sent to French healthcare providers. In contrast, euthanasia in Switzerland costs a4,000. Although Belgium is predominantly Catholic, it has the most liberal euthanasia law in the world and there is an overwhelming support for the right to die. Euthanasia is not limited to terminally ill patients. Chronically depressed patients are also allowed to be euthanized. The practice is overseen by the Euthanasia Control and Evaluation Commission. Euthanasia was legalized in Belgium in 2002. The law was extended to include children in 2013. Doctors are required to file a report to the commission every time they perform euthanasia. The commission reviews the report and doctors could be charged with homicide if the conditions set by the law are not met. In Britain, Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor from the University of Hull is arguing for legalization of euthanasia as a solution to "death-tourism." He told the Daily Mail that this phenomenon occurs because sick people do not have access to a law that will help them pass away peacefully at their own homes. "There is an increasing realization that the time has come for change. It is time to consider legislating physician-assisted suicide in Britain and in other parts of the liberal world," he said. home Faith Greg Laurie to proclaim Gospel to more than 100,000 at SoCal Harvest 2016 An estimated 100,000 people will be attending the SoCal Harvest at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. Greg Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, urged Christians to bring non-believers to the event on Aug. 26-28. "The objective of a Harvest is to bring people who do not yet know Jesus Christ," Laurie posted on Facebook. He then advised Christians to "PRAY. . . INVITE. . . BRING," to get non-Christians to come to the gathering. The free event will feature artists such as Chris Tomlin, tobyMac, Skillet, for King & Country, Hollyn, Phil Wickham, KB and other special guests. The event will also be broadcasted live on the Harvest website, JUCE TV and GOD TV. Greg Laurie will answer tough questions concerning the meaning of life and what happens after death. The Harvest website reported that the event had a total of 5.6 million attendees since 1990 with 460,100 professions of faith. The Harvest Crusades had been viewed by 1.8 million people on live webcast with 16,083 online decisions. Last year's event was attended by 105,000 with 76,596 viewing online. Thomas, who attended the Harvest in 2008, shared how the event changed his life in a video testimony. "I came to the Harvest in 2008. That's where I received Christ. I was 43 years old. Up until that point, I had been a methamphetamine addict for over 20 years," he said. "After the message, I was just compelled to come forward and onto the field and to receive Christ into my life," Thomas added. "Of course, I was still a drug addict at the time," he shared. Thomas said that it was Laurie's passion and the truth of the gospel that led him to come to the Lord. He confided that he overcame his methamphetamine addiction after he spent three days reading the New Testament. Thomas began attending the Calvary Chapel San Jacinto and became involved in the church. He currently serves as a ministry leader. home US Hillary Clinton attacks Donald Trump's rhetoric to black voters in new ad Democrat Hillary Clinton called on Friday for voters to reject the "bigotry" of Donald Trump's White House campaign, releasing a television ad criticizing his efforts to appeal to black voters and saying she was reaching out to people from all parties who are troubled by his candidacy. The ad shows video of Trump's controversial pitch to black voters, in which the Republican candidate urges them to support him by asking, "What do you have to lose?" It also shows headlines about a racial discrimination lawsuit the New York real estate mogul faced in the 1970s. Clinton's presidential campaign said the ad, released a day after she gave a speech accusing Trump of fueling America's "radical fringe," would air in the hotly contested states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Polls give Clinton a wide margin over Trump among Hispanic voters, but he is on a pitch to reduce her advantage by stressing he would create jobs for all. Trump pressed on with trying to broaden his appeal to minority voters on Friday, as he met with Hispanic business leaders at his signature hotel in Las Vegas. "We've been doing very, very well with the Latinos. We've been doing amazing, far, far greater ... than anyone understands. They want to see jobs come in, we're going to bring jobs. They want to see things happen," Trump said. He said the country's GDP growth rate of 1.1 percent in the second quarter was not a good sign for the U.S. economy. "The country has some very, very serious problems," he said. Clinton, meanwhile, followed up on Thursday's tough speech by saying that Trump's temperament and divisiveness made him unfit for the White House. "I am reaching out to everyone, Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone who is as troubled as I am by the bigotry and divisiveness of Donald Trump's campaign," she told MSNBC, adding she was asking "fair-minded Americans to repudiate this kind of divisive demagoguery" at the Nov. 8 election. Clinton attacks came during a difficult week for her campaign, as the release of new emails from her time as secretary of state revived criticism of her decision to use a private address and server rather than a government one. The emails also stoked scrutiny of her family's charitable foundation, including accusations that major corporate and foreign donors gave money in hopes of securing more access to then-Secretary Clinton. Her campaign says no donors received any special favors. Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told MSNBC Clinton was only talking about Trump and race this week to deflect attention from that controversy. Trump countered her rhetoric on Friday by releasing a video showing Clinton in the 1990s discussing a crime bill and referring to "super-predators," or at-risk youth she said needed to be brought under control. The video also shows U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's main opponent in the Democratic primary this year, calling that phrase a "racist term." CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS In targeting what she terms Trump's bigotry, Clinton hopes to remind voters of controversial statements he has made over the course of the campaign. Those include describing some Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, suggesting a judge could not be fair because of his Mexican-American heritage, and proposing a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to combat terrorism. Trump has tried to sidestep these dust-ups by saying Democrats have failed minorities with their economic policies, leaving them living in poverty and attending failing schools. Jennifer Hochschild, a professor at Harvard University who focuses on race and immigration, said she did not think Trump could fix his relationship with black and Hispanic voters. "General cluelessness about racial dynamics will diminish any possible black support that comes from Trump's emphasis on job creation," Hochschild said in an email. "And Clinton has a lot of deep roots among black politicians." Trump also has been criticized for vowing to deport millions of people living in the United States illegally. In recent days, he had appeared to hold out the possibility of toning down his hardline stance, although his precise plans on immigration have been harder to pin down. On Thursday, he denied he would loosen his proposed immigration restrictions. home World Priest pulled from rubble after Italy earthquake, testifies miracle survival A Catholic priest who survived the massive earthquake that rocked Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning and killed more than 240 people has testified he believes his survival was a miracle. Rescuers pulled out Polish priest Fr. Krzysztof Kozlowski, who laid trapped underneath the rubbles of his home in Accumoli, where he's served for two years. "This is a great miracle for me. I was miraculously saved, rescued by a rescue team. I was born anew," the Polish priest told Polish broadcaster TVN, as reported by the Associated Press. According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the main earthquake registered at 6.2 and struck central Italy at 3:36 a.m. A series of aftershocks followed the main quake and continued for 12 hours, the strongest was a 5.5 magnitude tremor. "Even as I was waiting for help, for someone to bring me out of the apartment, I could feel the tremors. I was afraid they could destroy whatever was left of my house," said Fr. Kozlowski. Three nuns and an elderly woman, who stayed at a convent in Amatrice that collapsed from the tremor, also survived as they escaped the building holding each other's hands. "They saved each other, they took their hands even while it was falling apart, and they ran, and they survived," said 32-year-old Sister Mariana. Pope Francis expressed his sorrow for the tragic news and canceled his planned address for his weekly general audience. He decided to lead the 11,000 tourists and pilgrims at St. Patrick's Square to a prayer service instead. "Having heard the mayor of Amatrice say, 'The town no longer exists,' and knowing that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened," Catholic News Service quoted the pope as saying. Official reports tallied the death toll at 281 as of Friday. home US US presidential poll update 2016: Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by 5 points in new Reuters/Ipsos poll U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton leads her Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points among likely voters, down from a peak this month of 12 points, according to the Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Friday. The Aug. 22-25 opinion poll found that 41 percent of likely voters supported Clinton ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election, while 36 percent supported Trump. Some 23 percent would not pick either candidate and answered "refused," "other" or "wouldn't vote." Clinton, a former secretary of state, has led real estate developer Trump in the poll since Democrats and Republicans ended their national conventions and formally nominated their presidential candidates in July. Her level of support has varied between 41 and 45 percent during that period, and her lead over Trump in the tracking poll peaked this month at 12 percentage points on Tuesday. During the past week, Clinton has been dogged by accusations by Trump, which she has denied, that donations to her family's charitable foundation influenced her actions while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Questions have also surfaced again about her use of a private email server and address rather than a government one during her period at the State Department. Meanwhile, Trump and Clinton also sparred over who would be a better advocate for African Americans and other minorities, and Trump hinted he could soften his hard-line stance on immigration. In a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll that includes candidates from small, alternative parties, Clinton leads the field by a smaller margin. Some 39 percent of likely voters supported Clinton in the four-way poll, compared with 36 percent for Trump, 7 percent for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party nominee Jill Stein. Both polls were conducted online in English in all 50 states. They included 1,154 likely voters and have a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. The results may differ from the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project, which includes a separate weekly tracking poll that measures support for the major party candidates in every state and Washington D.C. The States of the Nation, released on Wednesday, estimated that if the election were held now Clinton would have a 95 percent chance of winning by a margin of about 108 votes in the Electoral College, the body that decides the election through a count of the candidates' wins in each state. home World Yazidi girl traumatized by ISIS abuse sets herself on fire A teenage Yazidi girl said she was so terrified at the thought of being captured and raped again by the Islamic State fighters that she set herself on fire. Yasmin escaped the clutches of IS last year after spending a week of captivity, but she said the experience so terrified her that she still cried and heard their voices even when she already at stayed a refugee camp. Yasmin imagined the fighters coming for her again, so she set herself ablaze in order to look undesirable. She ended up physically disfigured that she now wears loose clothes to protect her skin and needs a machine to help her breathe. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan, a German psychologist with a Turkish Kurd background specializing in trauma and professor at Baden-WArttemberg Cooperative State University, then saw her condition and brought her to Germany for physical and psychological treJan Ilhan Kizilhanatment. "I said, of course I want to go there and be safe, and be the old Yasmin again," the 18-year-old Yazidi girl told the Associated Press. She's now reunited and living together with her family as she faces between five and 15 surgeries. Kizilhan personally selected all the 1,100 women aged four to 56 for the program launched by Baden-Wuerttemberg Gov. Winfried Kretschmann. "He was shocked by many pictures of beheaded Christians and Yazidis and other groups, and his reaction was 'we have to do something,'" Politico quoted Kizilhan as saying. The German doctor explained that the Islamic State do not consider their victims as fellow human beings and likened the atrocities to that of the Nazi regime. "It was an evil that I had never seen in my life," he told AP. "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?" 8-year-old inspired by church lesson on giving raises thousands of dollars for Louisiana flood victims by sewing tissue holders Inspired by lessons from her church and school about giving, an 8-year-old girl is sewing tissue holders and selling them to raise funds for the flood victims in Louisiana. Taylor Henry, whose family lives in Bossier City, Louisiana, is sewing tissue holders and selling them for $5 a piece, aiming to raise $1,000 to help families devastated by the floods. "I feel so sad for them," she told KSLA News 12. Her mom, Julia Henry, posted the announcement on Facebook and it quickly became viral. "Taylor is selling these 'Taylor-Made' Kleenex Holders for $5 each to raise money for South Louisiana flood victims. All of the money she makes she will donate," she wrote, adding that it comes with Kleenex tissue. The young girl explained that "the donations will be going to my church, who will then donate them to flood victims." By Thursday, Taylor has sold 469 tissue holders totaling $2,345, more than twice the amount she thought of raising. "Thank you to everyone who has shared and purchased Taylor's tissue holders!! She has MORE than surpassed her goal and has sold 469 (at my last count!) tissue holders!!! We have had the opportunity to speak with people affected by the flooding in our home state as well as individuals in New Hampshire, California, New York, Nevada, etc. It's so amazing how quickly good news can spread! " her mom posted on Facebook. She added, "We are so touched and overwhelmed by the support! We appreciate your patience while we fulfill the orders." People have also donated materials including stamps and envelopes to Taylor for her project. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced on Wednesday that 20 parishes had been declared major disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "This is an historic flooding incident in Louisiana," said Edwards. "We are working around the clock to get every available resource into the hands of the people of our state." Archbishop from Uganda says beating of children, wives at home should stop When we think of home, what usually comes to mind is a place of peace and solace together with the people you love the most. A Roman Catholic archbishop from southeastern Uganda, however, reminded Christians that not all houses are safe spaces: Some wives and children are suffering right inside their homes. In a recent interview with The Catholic News Agency, Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo of Tororoa district located in the eastern part of the African nationurged Christians around the world to speak out against domestic violence. "It's a concern for the family; it's a concern for the society; above all, it's a concern for the Church, and we cannot keep quiet," Archbishop Obbo said. He particularly lamented the beating of some wives and children, making some young girls "not free to live in this society." To lead by example, Archbishop Obbo has tapped the Church in his area to make sure that those suffering from domestic violence will have somewhere to go to. He established a chaplaincy for domestic violence in each deanery of his archdiocese. "We are trying to do what we can, from the grassroots to my office, to see that domestic violence is reduced to zero," he explained. The archbishop likewise encouraged parishes under his supervision to have domestic violence committees, where individuals who have suffered or even committed this kind of violence can help others understand what causes it, with the end goal of finding non-violent solutions to this challenge. "We get families who have passed through (domestic violence), who have been trained and cured or healed themselves, reconciled themselves, and they spread their witness to the others, teaching them from place to place," he said. Aside from these efforts within the Church organisation, Obbo also utilises a radio programme to discuss domestic violence, and to call on law enforcement officers to get involved in the fight against violence involving wives and children in their very homes. Denmark: Friday prayers held at Scandinavia's first female-led mosque The first female-led mosque in Scandinavia yesterday held its first Friday prayers. The historic occasion was attended by more than 60 women, the Guardian reported. There are very few women-led mosques in the world, and none in Scandinavia apart from the Mariam mosque in Copenhagen. The mosque opened in February, but until now had not been able to hold Friday prayers, an important part of the Muslim calendar. The service was led by two female imams, Sherin Khankan and Saliha Marie Fetteh, and the call to prayer was sung by a woman. Fetteh gave a sermon on the issue of "women and Islam in a modern world". Khankan told the Guardian the mosque hopes to "challenge patriarchal structures within religious institutions". "Islam has been male-dominated, women are still not equal in Catholicism and Judaism, and were only ordained in the Protestant faith [in Denmark] in 1948," she said. "It is possible to change patriarchal structures but it's a long journey and we have met opposition." However, the women have also had a "very positive reaction" from people around the world, especially in Arab countries, Khankan added. There is "no valid religious criticism of us," she said. "We are on safe theological ground." "We represent a modernist, spiritual approach to Islam. We are seeking to create an alternative voice, without delegitimising others. We want the Mariam mosque to be a place where everyone can come, and we can flourish together. What happens in a mosque goes way beyond the mosque itself it affects society." Last year, the first all-female mosque in the US was opened. The Women's Mosque of America in downtown LA seeks to "empower Muslim women and girls and better the Muslim and American communities at large." Founders Hasna Maznavi and Sana Muttalib said they wanted to encourage women to participate in all areas of life at the place of worship, including the call to prayer and the sermon. "I want every woman to experience what it feels like to learn from a female religious authority in the mosque," Maznavi said. Foundation backs Christian baker in U.S. Supreme Court case over religious freedom An Alabama-based foundation dedicated to the defence of the U.S. Constitution and religious freedom has filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to support a Christian baker in Colorado who was ordered to make cakes for same-sex marriage celebrations in violation of his religious beliefs. The Foundation for Moral Law is supporting Masterpiece Cakeshop, owned by Jack Phillips, in its fight in the U.S. Supreme Court. The case started in July 2012 when same-sex couple Charlie Craig and David Mullins asked Phillips to make a wedding cake for their wedding ceremony. Phillips declined, citing his religious conviction. The couple, represented by the Americal Civil Liberties Union, filed a complaint before the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which ruled against Phillips. Colorado's Court of Appeals affirmed the commission's decision that ordered Phillips and his staff to make cakes for same-sex wedding celebrations and to comply with the state's Anti-Discrimination Act by re-educating his staff and filing quarterly compliance reports for two years, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing the baker. Last April, the Colorado Supreme Court declined to take the case, prompting the ADF to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The owners of Masterpiece Cakeshop have shown great courage in standing for their convictions, and the Foundation is proud to stand with them. We pray that the High Court will agree that America is still a land that values the free exercise of religion," said foundation president Kayla Moore. Foundation senior counsel John Eidsmoe explained that "like photography, wedding cake decoration is an art-form and therefore protected by the Free Speech Clause as well as the Free Exercise of Religion Clause of the First Amendment." "These are explicit First Amendment protections, and they should not be eclipsed by a so-called right that is only a later creation of the Courts. I agree that hate is not a family value, but we need to remember that moral conviction is not hatred," he said. Justin Welby: 'I am constantly consumed with horror' at the way the Church has treated gay people Justin Welby has opened up about how his own failings make him angry and said that he spends "a lot of time feeling a fraud" in a personal and at times emotional interview at the Greenbelt Christian festival in Northamptonshire. Speaking to the 'vicar of Gogglebox', television star Kate Bottley in front of hundreds of festival-goers, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that wherever he went he found people who could do his job "infinitely better" than he could. And in surprisingly frank comments about same-sex relationships, Welby said that he "can't see the road ahead" for the Church. Before the banter-filled question and answer session, Welby was introduced by Christian Today's Andy Walton who said: "One of [our guests] is the most high profile Christian in the country... and the other is the Archbishop of Canterbury". The Archbishop joked that "the fact that I'm Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the things that makes me seriously doubt the infallibility of God." Welby said "there is only one way to overcome" the self-doubts, "and that's prayer and the Bible it's being part of the family of Christ... with all kinds of problems and issues and you've got a role in that family". The Archbishop told of a visit last week to the Demelza hospice in Canterbury, of which he is patron and where he was showed around by an eight-year-old blind boy. An emotional Welby described sitting with with the parents of a young boy who had died, and told of how, having asked the parents if they wanted him to pray, he did not know what to say until words came to him. "Jesus, this is all wrong," he prayed. "We shouldn't be here." Welby said that when his own seven-month-old daughter died in a car-crash, "God just showed up. We can never remember a time when He was closer... It felt like the Lord just reached out and took her. It was that real." Asked by Bottley what his "biggest frustration" was and what made him angry, Welby said: "Me. That's the thing I get most angry about me... My own failings." The Archbishop, who praised his "wonderful" staff, gave the example of "when I get narked with people and show it," adding: "I have to not send emails a lot... The best friend of Christian unity is the draft box". He told of how he sleeps on some emails and shows them to others before sending them, and said that he no longer monitors Twitter because "if [what people write about me] is nice you get a bit up yourself and if it's nasty you get cross and either way you have to repent". Welby joked that one of the nastiest things he had been called on Twitter was the "deputy anti-Christ that really got to me: why am I the deputy? Talk about adding insult to injury." He said that he found it "overwhelming" to address the crowd at Greenbelt, but frequently drew applause from the largely progressive audience. Asked by an audience member who was due to enter a civil partnership when the Church would be in a position to bless the union, the Archbishop simply said that he did not know. "I don't have a good answer to it," he said. "If we were the only Church here and [there were] no other Churches, and if division didn't matter it would be much easier to answer". Welby said that the inclusion of gay people and safeguarding against abuse were the two issues which he lies awake thinking about at night. "Do I know when there will be a point when the blessing [of the civil partnership] will happen? No. I don't and I can't see the road ahead". He added that the Church started from a traditionalist position, moved on to out of touch and then "vicious" and "now we just look odd". He said "we have to find a way to love and embrace everyone who loves Jesus Christ" but he added that this included people who feel or come from societies which believe that same-sex relationships are "deeply, deeply wrong". Welby talked of an "incredible clash that is so important to so many people and goes to the heart of the identity of so many people". He added: "There isn't a simple solution... I haven't got a good answer." To applause, he said "I am constantly consumed with horror" at the way in which the Church has treated the gay community. Asked about the dangers of ego in the job, Welby said: "You start assuming that things will happen without you asking all the time and that can get dangerous, really dangerous". On the press, he said: "Oh, I've stopped worrying about that... I hate to say this but I quite like a lot of them," adding that he increasingly likes politicians who often "do an incredibly difficult job". He went on: "The future of the Church is resurrection... The future of the Church in this land is amazing because God is God he's not going to turn away. He will make sure that the name of Jesus is proclaimed in this land come what may." Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of two nuns in Mississippi A 46-year-old man has been charged with two counts of capital murder over the deaths of two nuns in Mississippi on Thursday, officials have announced. Rodney Earl Sanders was "developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation," said Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jordan, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), in a statement. Sanders was charged following an "exhaustive interview," Jordan said, and the suspect acted alone. "With the cooperation of the Durant and Kosciusko Police Departments, Holmes County Sheriff's Department and the Attorney General Office this heinous crime has been resolved." Sister Paula Merrill, of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, and Sister Margaret Held of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, both 68, were found dead in their home on Thursday. They were nurse practitioners and worked at the Lexington Medical clinic. A colleague found their bodies after going to check on them when they did not arrive at work on Thursday morning. Officials at the time said they were investigating the case as a robbery that escalated into murder. Rev Greg Plata, who leads the church attended by the two nuns, said they were "two of the sweetest, most gentle women you can imagine. Their vocation was helping the poor." "People were attracted to them because of their goodness," he told the New York Times. Though police did not release information on the nature of the deaths, Plata told reporters he had been told the nuns were stabbed. Bishop of Jackson, Joseph Kopacz, said of Merrill and Held: "These sisters have spent years of dedicated service here in Mississippi. They absolutely loved the people in their community." Sanders is being held ahead of his first court appearance. Dear Abby: Clearly, America is in a state of turmoil. I am horrified and ashamed of the senseless death occurring daily. I deal with anxiety, particularly regarding fear of death. As a result, the only thing I've found that I can do to cope with current events is to scan headlines and ask my understanding husband for a synopsis of events that doesn't include major triggers. However, I feel serious guilt that I may not be fully educating myself on recent events. Am I wrong to prioritize my mental well-being over the gravity of our country's current situation? Serious Guilt Dear Serious Guilt: Wrong? Absolutely not! According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 percent of Americans now use antidepressants to combat depression and anxiety. Our news media feed so many salacious details into our homes in the interest of high ratings that it's a miracle the majority of Americans aren't in need of them. If you are getting the news you need to know, do not feel guilty for using your husband as a filter. You are only protecting yourself, and that's not wrong. It's healthy. Dear Abby: My sister-in-law "Dani" and my brother have been married almost three years. I recently discovered that Dani has created a fake social-media page. She posted some nude photos on it and acts like she's single. I suspect she is getting paid to do live nude video chatting, too. Abby, I'm shocked over this. I'm sure my brother would explode with rage and disappointment if he knew. They have two small daughters, which leaves me to wonder if she has considered their embarrassment if they ever find out. She's a good person, so I don't know why she would do this. I really need your advice. Shocked Sister-in-Law in the South Dear S-I-L: It's time to talk to Dani. Tell her what you have learned and ask her why she's doing it. When you do, ask how she thinks your brother will react when he finds out - if he doesn't already know - and how this could affect their daughters. This may be a fling, a way to prove to herself that she's still attractive or a way to earn needed money. But you will never know until you initiate a conversation with her. DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Universal Press Syndicate This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Turn on your TV most any night and you'll find Houston favorite son Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory." The 43-year-old graduate of Klein Oak High School and the University of Houston honed his acting chops at Houston's Infernal Bridegroom Productions and Stages Repertory Theatre. Come September, he'll start his 10th season playing Cooper, the super-nerdy theoretical physicist. Parsons isn't the only star who hails from the Houston area. Television and film credits are filled with actors and actresses from the area. The one thing they all have in common, they say, is they grew up in a community that encouraged them to imagine that anything - even stardom - was possible. Two prime figures in that creative community were Cecil Pickett and Ruth Denney. More Information Other actors who hail from the Houston area: Alexis Bledel: "Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007), "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" (2005) Hilary Duff: "Lizzie McGuire" (2001-2004), "Cheaperby the Dozen"(2003, 2005) Haylie Duff: "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004), "Material Girls" (2006) Lois Chiles: "The Way We Were" (1973), "Moonraker" (1979), "Broadcast News" (1987) Renee Zellweger: "Jerry Maguire" (1996), "Chicago" (2002), "Cold Mountain: (2003) and the "Bridget Jones' Diary" movies(2001, 2004, 2016) Loretta Devine: "Being Mary Jane" (2015), "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-2013) Isaiah Washington: "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-2007), "Romeo Must Die" (2000) Trey Wilson: "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Bull Durham" (1988) Skye McCole Bartusiak: "The Patriot" (2000), "Don't Say a Word" (2001) JoBeth Williams: "Stir Crazy" (1980), "Poltergeist" (1982, 1986) and "The Big Chill" (1983) Shelley Duvall: "Brewster McCloud" (1970), "Annie Hall" (1977) and "The Shining" (1980) Factoid CAt am alictatium a verro eum eos dolut ut perem fuga. Remped ut la voluptae paria volupti orionsequiInt, cus aut voluptate et vellamustio. Qui dendit que quam, commo beressin ea ium eaquis eum que ium qui rectatur sunt libus exerro in consedio moluptae volupta delest, quo corporecume autempore, aut inctet voluptate nos doloresci ad quis cus et fugit autecaerum ut iumquos atios essin plabo. Et evelign iaeribus enestibus, occulli quatios antiusandis eos aut faccuptaque volest quasin non eaqui nonet experciis et volorruntiae comnime niminihilis ad uta simus res es expelit ommolentur, occupis magnit fugiandis sunt rem quate parcias ab illum quis untiisqui con porporemped mil errum lam ut eumet aut enecto molumen ihicimu sdaeseq uiaepel estibero exceat hil molum res dolut vent restrum faccatus invellor See More Collapse Pickett taught drama at Bellaire High School from 1956 to 1968, when he left to teach at the University of Houston and Houston Baptist University. Denney left Lamar High School to found the High School for the Performing Arts in 1971, and went on to teach at the University of Texas-Austin. During their high school and college teaching careers, they nurtured young actors, then sent them off to New York and Hollywood. HSPVA groomed actors including Chandra Wilson, Beyonce Knowles, Lisa Hartman Black, Mireille Enos, Michelle Forbes and K. Todd Freeman. Pickett nurtured the careers of actors such as Dennis and Randy Quaid, Brent Spiner and Brett Cullen, as well as his daughter, Cindy Pickett. Spiner, best known for his role as Data in the "Star Trek: Next Generation" TV series and movies, said Pickett's encouragement made him believe he could do anything. "I think about him all of the time," said Spiner, whose mother lives in Houston. "Certainly, I take him with me into every production, and I think about what he taught me." He said Pickett trained students in every aspect of acting. "He encouraged imagination a lot," Spiner said. "Like most good teachers, he encouraged trying to find truth in the moment, but he inspired versatility. He prepared us to do most everything. That has served me well. The only limitation I've felt was age - and only recently." Cullen jokes that he had hair down to his waist and took drama classes at Madison High School because his mom thought he wasn't a good student. While there, a couple of cute girls dared him to audition for a play, Archibald MacLeish's "J.B." He hammed it up - "it was the worst acting you could imagine," he said - and got the role. The play was part of a citywide competition, and through it, Cullen met Pickett. When he went to UH after high school, he signed up for Pickett's class and walked in to find Dennis Quaid, who had gone to Bellaire, as one of his classmates. Quaid remains one of Cullen's best friends. When Pickett died in 1997, Spiner, Cullen and Quaid took on the solemn role as pallbearers. "He is the reason why we have careers in this industry," Cullen said. "I was there for five years because they were doing some shows I wanted to do. He didn't talk theory. He taught us how to work and how to act. He taught us everything." Early in his career, Cullen was on TV miniseries "The Thorn Birds" and "The Chisholms," followed by roles on "Falcon Crest" and "The Young Riders." He played the antagonist in "The Replacements," a bad dad in TV's "Friday Night Lights" and a creepy congressman in "The Dark Knight Rises." Another teacher who factored into the acting-mentor crowd was Patsy Swayze, mother of actor Patrick Swayze and the dance instructor who taught John Travolta to two-step for "Urban Cowboy." In the 1960s and '70s, her Bellaire dance studio was a busy place. She prepared her son for the "Dirty Dancing" role that propelled him to stardom and nurtured other now-famous names such as Debbie Allen ("Fame," "Grey's Anatomy"), Broadway great Tommy Tune and actors Randy Quaid and Jaclyn Smith. Smith and Farrah Fawcett, a Corpus Christi native whose parents moved to Houston, were two of the three original "Charlie's Angels," the show to watch from 1976 to 1981. Smith was a student of Denney's at Lamar, studied dance with Patsy Swayze and was inspired by the new things she could try at Johnny George's Theater Inc. "Celebrity doesn't make a lasting career," Smith said. "The value is in the training and the work and who inspires you. It's really in being yourself; that's what I was surrounded with growing up." Allen and her sister, Phylicia Rashad, found fame on the stage and in front of cameras. Allen has earned Emmy and Golden Globe awards and worked as an actor, dancer, director, producer and choreographer. She earned praise for her early-career role as the school principal in the movie "Fame," and since 2011 has played Dr. Catherine Avery on "Grey's Anatomy," now filming its 13th season. Like her sister, Rashad has a long acting resume, but she's best known as Claire Huxtable, the matriarch on the long-running "The Cosby Show." Both Allen sisters have long lists of acting honors, and Rashad became the first black actress to win a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in 2004 for her role in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun." Both claim their free-spirited mother, artist and poet Vivian Ayers, inspired their creativity. There's also Peter Masterson, who began his career as an actor but found success as a director and producer, writing the stage adaptation of the Broadway musical, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," a collaboration with Tommy Tune. The cousin of playwright Horton Foote and a relative of the late Carroll and Harris Masterson III - whose grand home Rienzi was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Masterson and his wife, actress Carlin Glynn, raised three children who are also actors: Peter, Alexandra and Mary Stuart Masterson. Perhaps best known of the three is Mary Stuart Masterson, who appeared in several films including "The Stepford Wives," "Fried Green Tomatoes," Benny & Joon" and "Something the Lord Made." It was Spiner who summed it up best when he talked about the creative community that propelled so many. "Growing up in Houston, I was lucky to have good teachers," Spiner said. "But having a primary teacher in Mr. Pickett was a dream. It's what every person should have, a Mr. Chips, in your life. He did that for me." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Donald Trump visited Austin on Tuesday, he polled his audience about what they thought he should do about the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. As November approaches and questions about legal and undocumented immigration arise, it may pay to see what areas of Texas would be impacted by immigration reform the most. A Pew Research Center study finds that a total of 1.7 million, or roughly 13 percent of all undocumented immigrants in the country, live within Texas' borders. In terms of legal immigration, Texas is second in the nation for immigrant population size behind California. Between 2000 and 2013 the number of foreign-born immigrants increased in the state by 44.4 percent. In Houston alone, this number was 59 percent according to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly twice the national rate. Similarly, Harris County contains the largest population of undocumented immigrants in the state. READ MORE: Texas once welcomed, even recruited immigrants Every aspect of Texas' economy, from the workforce to education, is greatly influenced by immigrants - undocumented or not. Half of all science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates were foreign-born students, according to findings from the Partnership for a New American Economy and the American Enterprise Institute. Similarly, a quarter of all business owners in Texas are immigrants. "The 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States collectively paid $11.64 billion in state and local taxes," explains the website for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. "Regardless of the politically contentious nature of immigration reform, the data show undocumented immigrants greatly contribute to our nation's economy, not just in labor but also with tax dollars," said Meg Wiehe, one of ITEP's directors. READ MORE: Suddenly it's Trump sounding softer on illegal immigration The question of immigration may be most important for Houston, the nation's most racially diverse metropolitan population. Harris County receives almost the same amount of immigrants as the next three counties combined. Click through the slideshow above to see which Texas counties are home to the most immigrants, according to Texas' Office of the State Demographer. Houston homicide investigators have detained a man in an early Saturday morning shooting that was reported as a suicide but could be a murder. Authorities received a 911 call around 3:30 a.m. about a disturbance at a house in the 8500 block of John Street on the far southeast side of the city. "When they got here, they met with a male who said his girlfriend shot herself," Houston police homicide detective Mike Perez said. A woman in her early 40s was found dead. "When they asked the male what exactly happened, he said that they got into an argument. He didn't want to fight with her so decided to walk out of the house. Once he walked out of the house, he heard a gunshot," Perez recounted. "He went inside to check on her and found that she was deceased." What officials found could tell a different story. The case is being investigated as "possibly a murder," the detective said. "There are signs of a struggle inside the house, so the one-gunshot theory is kind of out of the window because we found a few fired cartridge casings in the house," Perez said. "We have broken beer bottles. ... We have several fired cartridge casings, but not just one as he claims." The man in custody also is in his early 40s. Neither his name nor the dead woman's identity was released by officials. The detained "person of interest" said he and the woman had been together for nine years, but were not married, Perez said. Authorities tested the man's hands for gunshot residue, the investigator said. HARRISBURG Police have arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting in the city last weekend. Edgardo Rivera, of Lower Paxton Township, was taken into custody without incident Friday and charged with criminal homicide in the killing of 45-year-old Henry Liriano-Aquino, authorities said. Liriano-Aquino was lying on the ground and unresponsive when officers responded to a shots-fired call late Saturday at Hummel and Swatara streets. He died before arriving at a hospital. Rivera will also face parole violations from both federal probation and state parole. Police said they found more than $6,000 worth of uncut heroin, packaging material, a 40-caliber handgun, body armor, and $3,260 in cash when they searched his home in the 4100 block of King George Drive. He is additionally charged with recklessly endangering, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of an instrument of crime, conspiracy and a firearms offense. Police said Rivera is a convicted felon who is not allowed to have a gun. Riveras wife, Denise Rivera, was also arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 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. ENOLA All schools remain closed in a central Pennsylvania district while officials work to clean mold from the buildings. The school superintendent says East Pennsboro Area Middle School, East Pennsboro Elementary and West Creek Hills Elementary will be closed until Tuesday. Air quality tests found elevated levels of spores in the Middle School and West Creek Hills school. They'll be cleaned over the weekend. The first week back to school was thwarted after mold was found on ceiling tiles at the high school. The building will remain closed through Monday. A testing company blamed the growth on extreme humidity and rain over the summer. Plans to expand Cumberland Valley Hose Company in Shippensburg are moving forward following the approval earlier this month of a conditional use permit by the Shippensburg Borough Council. The local fire company, located at 62 W. King Street, purchased the adjoining property at 68 W. King Street this spring with plans to renovate the building and use it as an emergency services station for training, firefighter housing and offices. Were hoping to have everything completed by the end of year, Cumberland Valley Hose Deputy Fire Chief Andy German said. According to German, the fire companys administrative offices will be relocated to the first floor of the property, and there will be a conference room that could also be used for classroom-type training. Were going to renovate the second floor to accommodate the firefighters who live in the station, German said. He said there are two bathrooms on the second floor and separate sleeping and living quarters for male and female firefighters. He said the building will also be used as an emergency operation center for large community events, such as the Corn Festival. The company is using fundraising proceeds to pay for the work. This is something weve talked about for a long time but it was a coincidence that the property became available (now), he said. In other recent borough business, the council rejected all bids for relocating Rowe Road, approved the purchase of a new line painting machine, and accepted the retirement request of water foreman Louis Larson. Rowe Road Rowe Road joins Route 11 at Weis Plaza and runs past Volvo Construction. A traffic study, completed when Volvo expanded in 2012, recommended a traffic signal at that intersection due to safety concerns. Several property owners, however, had concerns about things like a backup of traffic on Route 11. As a result, a second feasibility study was completed. That study, funded by Volvo and Cressler Family Partnership, owner of Weis Plaza, recommended the construction of a connector road that would go around the supermarket and connect to Rowe Road, and the location of a traffic light at the intersection of the connector road and Route 11. Bids to construct the connector road were all higher than expected, so the council voted to re-bid the project later this year. The lowest bid of $1,337,449 was submitted by Kinsley Construction, of York. Line painting machine The council voted to spend up to $6,000 on a new line painting machine. Borough Manager John Epley said the current line painting machine is 25 years old and is getting harder to fix and get parts for. Louis Larson Larson has served as water foreman for the past 17 years. His retirement is effective Aug. 24. CBDG funding The council will also request $95,000 in Community Block Development Grant funding in 2017. The money, administered through the Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, will be used for enhanced police patrols ($15,000), code enforcement ($10,000), five flashing crosswalk signs ($40,000) and roof repairs at the senior center ($30,000). Like many young men in the 1960s, Dave Calhoun joined the Army because he expected to get drafted. I started college when I was 15. I studied with the Jesuits," Calhoun said. "My mother wanted me to be a priest and an attorney. After a year and a half of school I decided that I like wine, women, and song, and really didnt want to be a priest or an attorney. I joined the Army basically to get it over with. Calhoun enlisted in 1964 and took Basic Training at Fort Knox. As an Artilleryman, he served as an enlisted man through his first enlistment, then passed the officers exam during his second. In 1968, he received orders to go to Vietnam as an advisor. Flying into Tan Son Nhut, as we came up the coast we were met by American aircraft and escorted in," he said. "There were three of us seated together: there was an Air Force colonel in the center seat, a priest in the window seat, and I was on the aisle. The priest was looking out and said Oh, what a lovely country with all the little lakes.' This colonel and I looked at each other, he leaned over and said, Father, I hate to tell you, but those are bomb craters filled with water. "We landed at Tan Son Nhut in the middle of a shelling, the airbase was being mortared. They came aboard the aircraft quick, and told us to run off and get in the bunker." Calhoun was assigned as an advisor for a South Vietnamese Artillery unit near the DMZ in the northern portion of South Korea, a posting that gave him some unusual opportunities. I got a chance to shoot the [battleship] New Jersey," he said. "The Naval Gunfire Team was just down the road. One day I happened to be there when they spotted a target across the DMZ. The New Jersey was available. I actually got to shoot the target in conjunction with the Naval Gunfire Team, adjusting fire with the 8-inch guns then firing for effect with the 16-inch guns." I got a chance to fly out to the New Jersey and was invited to a dinner. I enjoyed the Army, but boy, the Navy eats great. I had two steaks, a baked potato, two quarts of real milk, and ice cream. I had to pay for my meal by telling the officers aboard, the commander was a one-star admiral, about how I lived and what I did. I learned later on it was a subtle threat that they would be assigned to shore duty to live in a bunker if they messed up. We had a four gun battery. We would take on operations and they would be lifted out by Chinook. On some rare occasions they would be hooked right out of their revetments. Normally, as in the case of Fire Support Base Torch, they literally cut the trees off the top of a hill and we set the battery in there. From there we could traverse to almost any point to support Infantry units going out on search and destroy missions. For Calhoun, the night of April 12, 1969 is burned into his memory. We were in Laos on an operation to support the Marines making a sweep," he said. "It was an extended operation. I had a Marine lieutenant with me. One of my sergeants was with me, but had to go back in the course of the operation. So it was only myself and the lieutenant, but he was wounded the night before we were overrun and was medevacked out. It was the only night, and I still blame myself, it was the only night I failed to check the wire. And what they had done was, the sleepers had cut the wire around the perimeter and had taped it back so it looked, from a distance, it looked like it was intact. About 2300 hours we started taking a probe, and before I could react, my bunker, which was about three or four sandbags high, most of it was underground but there were about three or four sandbags above ground, I took two B-40 [rocket propelled grenades]. The first one blew up, it hit the wall and shrapnel came in, and I lost my hearing in my right ear, and took shrapnel. "I was lying down, I was tired, it was a long day. I just had on my fatigue pants and socks, didnt even have a shirt on. My boots were on the side of the ammo crates I was sleeping on. I remember getting up, I picked up the radio mike, gave my call sign and I said Im hit, Im hit. Then another B-40 hit and tore the radio from me and destroyed it, and I got hit again." "... As I started to go out to get to the gun battery, to the FDC [Fire Direction Control] position anyway, because I knew the commander would probably be there, a rocket hit the wall there, and I had a piece of shrapnel blow into my chest, it struck the steel plates. I was out for a little bit, how long I dont know. It hurt like hell, everything was ringing, and all kinds of noise. I remember going out and I immediately ran into an NVA. I looked him square in the eye. Having worked with and fired the AK-47, I know its a very reliable weapon, but apparently he forgot to change the magazine, and it was empty. I made it from there to a slit trench [latrine], I smelled terrible for a long while, to get my bearings. It seemed to be the only safe place. The NVA, there were literally individuals everywhere, there was close in fighting. I saw this PRC-77, a captured American radio. I didnt have a radio, and he did. I needed it, he didnt. So I got that radio, and I made it to one of the firing pits, basically you have the gun sitting and you have a sandbag perimeter to give it some protection. We had lost two of the guns and the other two, the barrels were depressed, we were literally doing direct fire. Calhoun said he knew he needed help if he was going to survive the night, so he made a desperate call for artillery fire. "I put out a call, I said Im deaf, Im under attack, if you can hear me, from my position and I gave an azimuth give me some ranging rounds. The first two rounds came out, and I saw them amongst everything else that was exploding. Apparently they had fired HE [high explosive] and smoke, and I could see it bloom up. That was great, someone was really thinking back at the American unit that was supporting us. I walked the rounds in, danger close, because they had already breached the wire. About 0600-0700 in the morning the Old Man sent his bird, his personal bird, the Black Cat came in. There had been an attempt to come in before but the fire was too heavy and they broke off. This time my Gunny, my Staff Sergeant, was on the bird, there were two birds, and pulled me aboard. I still have the pin from the last frag I threw in anger, I pitched it out as we were lifting out. I dont think the other ship made it. I remember helping some wounded and some dead aboard the helicopters when my sergeant grabbed me and just literally dragged me on, and we got the heck out of there. Thats the part that I remember." Calhoun was sent to the USS Sanctuary offshore for treatment. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions that night. Later, in Germany, he ran into his old commanding officer, who gave him a photo that had been recovered from a dead NVA soldier after the base had been retaken. Thats when he learned that he had been specifically marked for death. The picture of me that was found on a VC sniper after the recaptured the base, was actually taken by Sgt. Trung, who was a part of the unit, but unbeknownst to me was a sleeper," he said. "I remember posing for the picture. Sgt. Trung had one of the Kodak Instamatics, and he would take pictures. I remember he called to me and I gave him a pose, and that was the picture that was later developed and fed to the NVA that overran our base. Carlisle Borough is part-way toward making its governance reflect its population. We can move forward on this important task with a little volunteerism. In the 2010 census, a bit over 84 percent of Carlisles population was white. Those identifying as white alone dropped over four percentage points since the 2000 census, while all other racial categories increased. Over 53 percent of the population was female. Our borough council is 86 percent white. Our mayor is African-American. Women make up 43 percent of the council. A fourth woman would be better, but we are not far from ideal now. However, we fall far short in other areas. Last year, I attended the final meeting of the committee that drafted the Home Rule Charter that now organizes our borough government. Besides me, there were two women spectators, wives of members of the committee. The lone other woman was the secretary for the committee. One committee member could not attend. Those who could all fell into a rather familiar category: white men, ages perhaps 55 to 75. At the first Employee Relation & Community Planning Committee meeting discussing the proposed Human Rights Ordinance, the public audience included perhaps 15 people: me, other white men, and one white woman. Excepting my comments, the position of public speakers was anti-ordinance. One month later, the second committee meeting on this ordinance was attended by about 200 people of every type one could imagine. Here, the pro-ordinance position held sway with more speakers and dramatically more applause for pro-ordinance speakers. This event, with broad public attendance, gave a very different message to the council members than had the first meeting a better and more representative message, I argue. I used to pose this riddle to my Air Force colleagues: If you have five white men sitting at a table and a sixth white man arrives and occupies the last seat, what do you have? The answer is: A missed opportunity. The wider the variety of people we have participating in a discussion the more likely it is we can draw from and learn from a wider variety of experiences and ideas. There is no joy in visiting an ice cream store that features only one flavor. Why does a borough council as diverse as ours create committees of all white men or look out over a meeting room and see mostly white men? The reasons are the same. They show up. Your council cannot put on committees women and members of protected groups, like those listed in the Human Rights Ordinance, unless they come forward and offer their participation. The council cannot hear from people other than white men unless those people show up at council meetings (second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., 53 W. South St.). I have nothing against older white men. I aspire to be one someday. However, I certainly do not want to see only white men leading a community as diverse as ours. To do better, we need you. Alan Howe lives in Carlisle. He is an Air Force veteran with two decades of overseas experience, and a lifelong student of history, governance and the Letort. When not offering his opinions here, he sits on the boards of the Carlisle Area Dog Park Association, Letort Regional Authority, Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. The opinions stated here are his own. Eons ago, I sold The New Yorker a few cartoons. They used only the ideas, never the drawings. I was resentful, even when Charles Addams chose my view of hell to illustrate. His rendering showed two entrances: one crowded with miserably overheated newcomers, above them the Dantean sign ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE; another with entrants comfortably gliding through, beneath a legend reading SIX SINS OR LESS. When I saw Addamss drawing, I muttered inaudibly: I can do that. Not as well, perhaps, but still. When The New Yorker soon stopped buying captions from outsiders, I abandoned all hope of entering the field of artuntil the summer morning I went for a stroll in Sag Harbor. The local paper had run a feature about Bob Hand, a resident wood-carver who specialized in high-end ($500 on up) duck decoys and songbirds. Hand turned out to be an ex-marine, gruff, weighty, paint-stained, a magnet for sawdust and machine oil. In contrast, his Hand-made flock was delicately hued, not a feather out of place. Species ranging from the ruby-throated hummingbird to the purple martin peered from their perches with neorealistic glass eyes. They appeared to see through the visitoror at least, into his wallet. I introduced myself. Gesturing around the workshop, Hand noted, Self-taught. He went on to describe the backbreaking work at his familys Bridgehampton truck farm. One epochal day, a real-estate developer made an offer he couldnt refuse. With leisure and income to do what he wanted, the free man had an epiphany. I always liked to draw birds. I decided to give them three dimensions. Studying photographs, taxidermy specimens, and living fliers, Hand began shaping objects out of pine, tupelo, bass, and other woods, deftly suggesting avian musculature, posture, and plumage. But one moment always gave him pause. I dreaded painting the little sculptures. All that work leading up to the time when one wrong tone would ruin the whole project. His answer: acrylics. These are microscopic bits of color suspended in a quick-drying polymer. Unlike oils, Hand pointed out, they can be thinned down with tap water until the tint is merely a hint, and then you overlay that, and keep going until you get exactly the hue you want. Up close, birds are much more complicated than they seem at a distance. So I gathered, from the variety of tones and shades displayed by the wood drake decoy with his magenta, yellow, and bone-colored bill, iridescent green-and-violet head, umber sides, and burgundy breast dotted with snowy triangles. Moving down the shelf, scrutinizing a carmine cardinal and a cerulean blue and burnt-sienna eastern bluebird, I had my own epiphany: I can do that. Not as well, perhaps, but still. That summer, I acquired books on bird carving and bird painting. The Internet offers a cornucopia of aids for the novice, among them tools for burning feathers into the wood, artificial eyes, and pewter feet. Like all carvers, I began to see birds in a different light. When they landed at the feeder, for example, I noted that mourning doves werent simply gray-and-beige. They had undertones of teal around the eye and lavender beneath the ashen neck. Then came the painting. Only after considerable trial and error did I realize that while oils over acrylics can result in special effects, acrylics over oils can result in abstract expressionismappealing on canvas, appalling on birds. It took months to reach the crowning insight, which now animates all the avians I produce and promptly give away. (To sell them would turn an avocation into a vocation.) When a wild animal flies across your path this summer, follow Bob Hands counsel and take a second look. Early impressions rarely reveal the truth. Black, for example, is a combination of colorsoften ultramarine and dark chocolate, or phthalocyanine blue and Hookers green. Its never the color of charcoal. As for carbon blacks opposite, titanium white is no more lifelike than a piece of chalk. It needs a touch of rose or cerulean to make it seem real. To render a crow or a dove with flat elemental shades is to create nothing more than a . . . magazine cartoon. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images Robert Lantz court2 082616.jpeg Robert Lantz Jr., of New Franklin stands in Summit County Common Pleas Court on Friday. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Daniel Carraway, of Norton, prosecutors said. (Summit County Prosecutor's Office) AKRON, Ohio -- A New Franklin man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Friday in connection with the death of a man outside a Norton strip club. Robert Lantz Jr., 37, will be sentenced Oct. 4 in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Norton police found 63-year-old Daniel Carraway unresponsive next to his car outside Desiree's strip club last November. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Carraway and Lantz argued inside the strip club in the 4900 block of Wooster Road West earlier in the night. Club management kicked Lantz out of the bar, according to police. Lantz returned later in the night and the two talked inside the bar. They left through a back door and fought, police said. Witnesses told police they saw Lantz knock Carraway unconscious after repeatedly hitting him, according to court records. Police found Lantz in Barberton. He had blood on his clothes and admitted to being in a fight at the strip club, court records say. Medical examiner records show Carraway suffered bleeding on his brain and an injury to his lung. If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Like Chanda Neely on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter: CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- As a lifelong artist and Cleveland Heights resident, Shannon Morris realized the need for affordable studios in her community. In early 2015, she set the groundwork for Artful, a non-profit studio and workshop space, and achieved 501(c)3 status in September. "There are so many artists living in the neighborhood," says Morris. "Many are working second jobs while trying to build their art into a career. There are facilities in other places, but if they can just walk or ride their bike to the studio, they have more time to work." The ambitious project is becoming a reality. Today, Artful has found a home in the former Coventry School building at 2843 Washington Blvd. Signed on as architect and advisor of the project is John Williams, principal of Process Creative Studios, the firm responsible for work with the Transformer Station, the new Heinen's in the downtown Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building and the forthcoming new Spaces gallery location in Hingetown. Artful will breathe life into the 5,376-square-foot space that has remained unoccupied since the school closed in 2007. It will wrap around the second floor, which is accessible by stairs and elevator, and share the level with Ensemble Theatre. Other current tenants include youth writing program Lake Erie Ink, preschool and elementary school Urban Oaks and community organizations Reaching Heights and Future Heights. "It was exactly where we wanted to be, but it was also affordable, so we could keep it affordable for the artists," says Morris. The school has leased the space for $1,400 a month and monthly studio rental rates will be approximately $1.50 per square foot. Though plans are in preliminary stages, the early layout calls for 18 studios. The organization is currently in the midst of fundraising in hopes of raising $75,000, which includes at $25,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor. In addition to studios, there will also be rooms for workshops programmed by arts educators and Artful board members David King and Sarah Curry on everything from marketing to new technology. They hope to offer gallery and retail space, as well as art walk programming that connects the Coventry area to the bustling Cedar-Lee district. Williams describes the studios as open and somewhat flexible and adaptable, stressing that opting against closed studios meets the goal of keeping costs low. He says current plans call for eight-foot-high partitions of either a drywall, solid wall or fence material. "It allows the space to be open and visible so when people walk by they can see what the artist is doing," says Williams. "Or the artist can put something up on the fence to give themselves privacy." His extensive work with arts non-profits offers extra scope to the project, which he refers to as a "bold and large goal to create an East Side artist community." Williams also says that he believes it's visionary for the school board to adaptively reuse the building to make it work for smaller tenants. Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon echoes the importance of making the arts accessible in the city. "The arts are a crucial part of our Heights community and to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools, so we are very excited to welcome an organization like Artful to our district," says Dr. Dixon. "We're confident they will be a strong complement to the current organizations in the Coventry building and provide a great resource to the surrounding community." Over the last year, Artful has already been active in the community as an organization, participating in neighborhood events such as Heights Music Hop and Cain Park Arts Fest. For Morris, this business plan has been in the works for years. To see it finally come to fruition is a new horizon for collaboration between artists throughout the city. "The concept that everyone is creative has always been big for me," she says. "I like to share ideas, so if I have something I want to learn, I'll be able to just talk to someone about it. And I think a lot of artists work that way." CLEVELAND, Ohio -Toledo recently became the first city in Ohio to require rental property inspections for lead hazards in order to prevent childhood lead poisoning. Cleveland city officials say they're similarly committed to that goal, but may go about it in a different way. Toledo's City Council, encouraged by a broad community coalition, unanimously passed a "lead safe" rental inspection law that requires both visual inspections for peeling paint and tests for lead. Cleveland officials say they have not ruled that out here, though they may be learning towards visual inspections in order to keep lower the financial burden on city workers, landlords and tenants. "Nothing is off the table, in fact, everything is on the table," said Natoya Walker Minor, the city's chief of public affairs. Cleveland is considering a variety of policy and legal changes related to rental housing, where children are most often poisoned, she told The Plain Dealer. To date, Cleveland's lead poisoning program has focused on responding to children already poisoned by the toxin, which can cause irreversible damage to developing brains. That level of effort is required by state law; Toledo's law goes beyond it. In Toledo, the pitch for the new law was based on ethical, health, and economic arguments. They came from a 60-member coalition including the mayor, legal and environmental advocates, community organizers, residents, church leaders, plus the city-county health department and the city's three hospitals. Leaders from Cleveland's three main hospital systems, including University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Children's, and the MetroHealth System said Friday they would support similar legislation. "This is a public health crisis we can no longer afford to ignore in the city of Cleveland," said Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte, chairman of Cleveland Clinic Children's. "We know that lead poisoning causes damaging and irreversible health problems. The biggest tragedy is that this can prevented." Moving to prevention Earlier this year local non-profit Environmental Health Watch asked Cleveland's City Council to consider a law that would require landlords to prove their properties are free of lead hazards before renting by getting lead risk assessments from private inspectors. Council hasn't yet taken it up. Read the proposal here. For the past year, Walker Minor said, the city has been working to keep up with state-required home investigations for children with lead poisoning, and eliminating a backlog of about 3,000 cases. The city began looking into the backlog after The Plain Dealer, in its Toxic Neglect series published last year, revealed that fewer than half of the reported residences associated with poisoning cases in Cleveland were inspected, and even when hazards were found they weren't always fixed. The next step for Cleveland will be to detect lead hazards in homes before a child is harmed.To do that, Walker Minor said the city will likely need to amend some laws and improve collaboration among its departments of public health, building and housing, and community development. For example, building inspectors can cite property owners for peeling paint but lack the training and authority to cite property owners for lead hazards. That's the responsibility of the health department. The city's current "lead safe" certification for landlords is voluntary and has never been used. The city says it's studying Toledo's law, as well as others designed to protect children in places like Rochester, New York, Detroit and Maryland. Toledo's success came from a coalition Toledo's law requires that most rental units in homes built before 1978 must be registered as "lead safe" before they can be rented to anyone. The City Council's unanimous approval marked the end of a long effort started more than two years ago. In 2014, an initial push to educate elected officials and community leaders about the health effects and cost of lead poisoning garnered concern but not enough support to pass a law, said Robert Cole, an attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, or ABLE Inc. That early version was less stringent than the one that passed on August 16th. It called for owners of properties built before 1978 to complete only a visual check for signs of lead hazards, including deteriorated paint, exposed soil around the home and potentially lead-contaminated dust around windows and doors. "I thought it was such an easy, clear question and that the right thing to do was obvious," Cole said. "We didn't even get a vote." "[W]e had to spend a lot of time convincing people." The Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition held meetings in churches and worked with area doctors and the Toledo-Lucas County health department, which demonstrated the use and importance of the dust wipe method of lead testing in homes. It also benefited greatly from the support of Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, elected last year. The group drove home the social and moral message that lead poisoning in Toledo, as in Cleveland, disproportionately harms black children who live in rental homes in some of the the city's poorest neighborhoods. Members sought to change a generations-old mindset that it was acceptable to use children as lead detectors, treating them only after they have been poisoned. One point of contention, the subject of a flurry of last-minute amendments, was whether the city should require the collection of dust samples from the roughly 55,000 rentals to be inspected. It was something the coalition felt strongly about. Positive test results would prove the existence of a hazard, which would require action by the health department if the problem wasn't remediated. Toledo-Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski insisted on it. "We cannot allow not to have dust swipes in the houses that we go in to inspect, no matter how the ordinances look," he told The Toldeo Blade. In visual tests, he said, "there is nothing we can actually measure, to say yes, there is something wrong with that house." Toledo Real Estate Investors Association President Anna Mills, one of the most vocal opponents of the legislation, strongly opposed the collection of dust samples saying it would increase costs and liability for property owners. A positive test would have to be disclosed if a home were sold. The new law requires a $45 rental registration fee, and a private lead inspection could cost as much as $500. Those costs, plus the price of repairs if unacceptable levels of lead are found, would be passed on to tenants, Mills said. "The city is ignoring the reality that the cost is going to put people out of their homes," said Mills, who is also a licensed lead abatement contractor. At this point, she said, the region doesn't have enough inspectors for hire. The city and coalition members say a plan is in place to train and license enough additional inspectors before the law takes effect next year. Cleveland officials appear to be weighing those considerations as well. A city document outlining current best practices in prevention of lead poisoning appears to favors visual inspection, to minimize the burdens on homeowners, tenants and city staff. Health providers support a shift Cleveland's healthcare community is anxious to support changes that would save kids from lead poisoning. "We know on the health side how incredibly important this is," said Dr. Aparna Bole, a pediatrician and director of community integration at UH Rainbow. "It's very frustrating, quite frankly, to be treating kids who have already been lead poisoned, and that becomes the trigger to identify the source of the toxin in their environment, when we all know that prevention is absolutely the key and the negative effects of lead are really not reversible." Bole said she hopes Cleveland's legislation will require not just a visual inspection for peeling paint but a test for the presence of lead. The MetroHealth System also supports requiring rental inspection for lead hazards. It is working with community partners in the neighborhoods around its main campus to address environmental hazards inside homes -- including lead, mold and pests -- with the hope of requiring rental inspections that certify homes are free of these hazards. Local property owners and managers will watch Cleveland's progress cautiously. Jared Zak, the director of property management for the real estate firm Howard Hanna, said he understands the need for some regulation of rental properties, especially if it makes children safer. Additional financial burdens are a concern for some landlords, he said. He said he hopes that is balanced with incentives for landlords who already keep their properties safe. "You've got really different levels of landlord out there," Zak said. "You have people who are going to do the right things and people who are not going to do the right things." CLEVELAND, Ohio - The third Crooked River Commute and the Burning River Fest have roughly the same goal, but achieved by different means. The Commute on Saturday finished carrying around 10 kayakers from Kent to Cleveland for the two-day Burning River Fest, which ends Sunday night. The water-borne travelers -- most associated with Kent State University at one time or another -- relied on muscle power to cover the 50-mile route. During all of that, they became intimately acquainted with just how crooked the Cuyahoga gets. "After the first commute, I couldn't lift my arms above my shoulders," said David Jurca, leader of the expedition. Paddling was not the only exertion. They had to port their kayaks more than once, in the last case on Saturday, to avoid the Brecksville Dam by the Route 82 bridge. A rented truck moved the watercraft and the rest of their gear from the Boston Store where they camped Friday night, but the commuters had to hand-carry the kayaks the final distance over sometime rough terrain and down a steep embankment. The shared purpose of the trip and the festival is to promote the value, the utility and the wonder of the region's freshwater resources -- most notably the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. The Station Road Trailhead in Brecksville showcased a range of activities and what amounted to an impromptu transportation hub. Bicyclists took advantage of the trail system, as did assorted walkers and runners, while assorted anglers fished from the riverbank. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad provided a rolling backdrop as it tooted and roared southward. And one young couple rehearsed their upcoming wedding. The only things missing were kites, horses and powered hang gliders. But all of those were certainly somewhere in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cleveland Metroparks and Summit Metro Parks. The final goal was for the kayakers to arrive at the Cleveland Metroparks' Merwin's Wharf restaurant in Cleveland, then to paddle on to the old Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island for Burning River Fest, which continues Sunday night. Burning River Fest, a festival hosted by Great Lakes Brewing Co., features music, food and drinks, and raises money for the Cleveland Coast Guard Station. It runs 6-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15. More at burningriverfest.org. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland Partnership, one of the largest metropolitan area chambers of commerce in the country, has announced that it supports increasing Cleveland's income tax from 2 to 2.5 percent - a proposal that would raise an extra $80 million a year for city services. The endorsement is significant because GCP's 73-member board of directors is a who's-who of Northeast Ohio's wealthiest business executives, many of whom work in Cleveland and stand to lose thousands of dollars of their own income if voters approve the tax increase in November. (Flip through the gallery above to see some of the exec's salaries and how much the new tax would cost them.) In an interview Friday, GCP President and CEO Joe Roman said the board spent months analyzing the proposal before voting to endorse it. And board members, he said, feel strongly that investing the tax proceeds into Cleveland neighborhoods and improved services would create a healthier city overall, fertile ground for further investments and business opportunities. "It is going to cost some of our board members additional tax dollars, many of whom don't live in the city," Roman acknowledged. "But we benefit. It's the right time, and the main outcome of this will be infrastructure that will support the growth of neighborhoods and a safer community that's riper for additional investments." Among the services that city officials say would improve with the tax increase are: trash collection, building inspections, security and programming at recreation centers, senior housing programs and mowing of vacant lows. The city also would hire as many as 120 police officers, 60 paramedics and support staffers in numerous departments. Roman said that the GCP also supports the four-year renewal of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's 15-mill operating levy, which will appear on November's ballot. Simultaneously, however, the group stands firmly against two other ballot initiatives that board members believe will kill jobs and destroy the momentum of Cleveland's economic recovery. One is a controversial voter-driven initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Cleveland by 2020, beginning with a $12 wage in January. Cleveland currently does not have a citywide minimum wage, but the state's minimum wage would remain at $8.10 if the issue passes. It's unclear if the issue will appear on the November ballot. Raise Up Cleveland, the group backing the initiative, might have missed the city charter-prescribed deadline. But the group has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to force the city to accept additional petitions in support of putting the issue to voters in November. Another initiative, a proposed city charter amendment, seeks to establish a set of regulations governing the employment of part-time workers in Cleveland, including rules on scheduling, wages and promotions. Roman said the GCP is working with a coalition of civic leaders to oppose both measures. "The GCP wants employees in the city and throughout our region to earn fair wages," Roman said in a news release. "But singling out Cleveland only for higher minimum wages and costly new part-time employee regulations would be an economic disaster for the city. ... Employers and businesses would leave and avoid Cleveland." Cleveland police tape Cleveland police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man. (cleveland.com file photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 21-year-old man was shot dead early Saturday in Cleveland's third fatal shooting in 31 hours, police said. Maurice Hough of Cleveland died in the most recent shooting in Cleveland's Forest Hills neighborhood, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner said. Hough was shot and killed about 12:10 a.m. in the 500 block of East 123rd Street, according to police. No other details have been released about Hough's death. Cleveland police are investigating two other fatal shootings that happened since Thursday evening. Ricardo Nieves, 21, was shot and killed about 5 p.m. Thursday as he drove on West 38th Street near Robert Avenue in the city's Clark-Fulton neighborhood. He died at MetroHealth Medical Center. Michael Hatcher, 22, died about 8:15 p.m. of gunshot wounds to his head and back. The shooting happened at a home in the 3000 block of East 73rd Street. Police said Hatcher and another man were standing outside a home with friends when gunfire erupted. The group scattered and Hatcher was hit with bullets. A 22-year-old man was shot in the torso and leg, but survived the shooting, police said. Hatcher was taken to MetroHealth, where he died. The three shootings bring the city's unofficial homicide total for the year to 73. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Deborah Pearl SOLON, Ohio -- A Twinsburg mother was driving to work early Saturday when she was fatally shot by a rifle-wielding man after their two vehicles crashed at a busy intersection. Deborah Pearl, 53, was killed by a 29-year-old North Ridgeville man who shot her with a 5.56-millimeter rifle, police said. Officers arrested the man at the scene. His identity will not be released until Monday, after he's formally charged, Solon police Lt. Bruce Felton said. "Word's can't explain what we're going through," said Pearl's son, Derryo Pearl. "This is the roughest patch a human being can go through. I've gone through tough times before, but it wasn't like this." Pearl left her home early Saturday to go to work at South East Harley Davidson in Bedford Heights, her son said. Pearl, who also has an address in Warrensville Heights, was driving north on Richmond Road about 7:20 a.m. The North Ridgville man was driving his Jeep east on Solon Road. He ran a red light at the intersection of Richmond Road and crashed into Pearl's Ford Taurus, Felton said. The impact of the crash pushed Pearl's Taurus several feet east onto Solon Road. The man's Jeep flipped several times and landed on its roof about 50 feet away from Pearl's car. A witness who gave a written statement to police told cleveland.com that the man got out of his Jeep with a rifle and Pearl got out of her car. The witness, who did not want to be named because of the traumatic nature of the incident, said Pearl put her hands in the air. The man then shot her with a rifle several times. "I can't get her screams out of my head," the woman said. A woman was fatally shot after a car crash in Solon. Another witness, Jamirra Brabson, described hearing four shots, then a woman scream. Brabson said she heard three more series of at least three shots. "Then it was just silence," she said. Another woman who called 911 said she saw the man firing several shots and walking up and down the street carrying the rifle after the shooting. Joe Goodwater Jr., who lives in the neighborhood, said he walked up to the intersection and saw the suspected shooter lying on the pavement shaking. He said the man appeared to be injured from the crash, including what he said appeared to be road rash. "He wasn't saying anything," Goodwater said. "When I made contact with him he was shaking. I don't know what was going through his mind." Police found Pearl lying in the roadway. An ambulance took her to University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center, where she died, according to police and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. Solon police then arrested the suspected gunman without incident, Felton said. Felton said said investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. He said investigators so far believe the two never met before the crash. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting Solon police with analyzing the crime scene. More than 22 evidence markers could be seen in the intersection Saturday morning. The intersection and at least one home near the intersection were blocked with police tape for hours while police and state agents conducted the investigation. Derryo Pearl said his mother raised three children, all now adults, while working various jobs over the years. He said she worked at Harley Davidson and a nearby restaurant. Derryo Pearl said he was notified of the incident while he was on his way to work. He said family members are flying in from as far as North Carolina. Along with her children and grandchildren, Pearl leaves behind a longtime boyfriend, her son said. The 34-year-old cellphone sales manager said he and his brothers have become good fathers because of the way their mother raised them. "She disciplined us when she needed to discipline us," Derryo Pearl said. "She made us go to school every day. She worked hard and taught us that was the only way to succeed in life." To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. BOSTON Government efforts to prevent violent extremism from taking root in the U.S. are getting new, less polarizing names. Massachusetts this month recast its controversial Countering Violent Extremism, or CVE, program in Boston as Promoting Engagement, Acceptance and Community Empowerment, or PEACE. The move comes after Minneapolis another city where such efforts are underway rebranded its program last year as Building Community Resilience. The Department of Homeland Security also created the Office of Community Partnerships to advance CVE efforts. Pilot programs in Boston, Minneapolis and Los Angeles were launched to fanfare by President Barack Obama in 2014 as a modest part of his administrations broader strategy to combat extremist thinking before it results in violence. George Selim, who heads the Office for Community Partnerships and an interagency CVE task force, said that the federal government isnt shying away from the CVE moniker and that hes fine with local efforts adopting names they feel best reflect their intentions. I dont think that waters down the CVE mission because, at the end of the day, CVE is largely a Beltway Washington term, he said. What Boston is doing is a good progression of what they set out to do a couple of years ago. Experts say the name changes are in part recognition that CVE and other similarly named programs in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have generated strong opposition among some civil rights activists who feel they unfairly target Muslims. The term CVE has become a distraction, a catch-all phrase that is defined by both sides of the debate as either the cause of or solution to all societys problems, said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism. The changes also show how counter-radicalization efforts in the U.S. are gradually evolving from a criminal justice question to one focused on public health, said Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council. The name change reflects a significant shift in the policy from a rooting out radicals in communities frame to an empowering communities frame, he said. Government has heard our concerns. Non-law enforcement agencies are taking the lead. Its about civic engagement, honest conversations in communities and providing mental health support where needed. But other Muslim activists worry the programs whatever their names are still too focused on Islamic extremists. Shannon Erwin, director of the Boston-based Muslim Justice League, said the programs will still lead to profiling, monitoring and intelligence gathering of Muslims. The PEACE moniker, she said, only obscures how controversial the program is. Michelle Hillman, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Executive Office for Health and Human Services, which is overseeing Bostons PEACE project, declined to respond to Erwins comments or say how the agency came up with the new moniker. But the programs intent to address violent extremism as a public health issue hasnt changed, she said. PEACEs central aim is to prevent people from joining organizations that promote, plan or engage in violent extremism, according to a request this month for project proposals Boston, like the other two pilot cities, was given about $220,000 in federal money to help kick-start local CVE-related efforts. Proposals for using the money are due mid-September. In Los Angeles, where the mayors office is leading efforts, grant money also has not yet been distributed, Al-Marayati said. Minneapolis, which remains focused on addressing terrorist recruitment among its sizeable Somali community, awarded portions of its money to six community groups this year. The federal Office for Community Partnerships, meanwhile, announced last month it was making available another $10 million to support up to 60 different initiatives across the country. It is calling that effort the Countering Violent Extremism Grant Program It's back-to-school season for much of the country, but for some students, school is never out. For some, classes are in session all year long: About 3,700 K-12 public schools across the country operate on a year-round calendar approximately 4 percent of all U.S. schools in 2011-12, according to the latest data available from the National Center for Education Statistics. A year-round calendar, also referred to as a balanced calendar, reorganizes the 180 school days by shortening the traditional summer break, dispersing those days into several smaller breaks throughout the year. These breaks (usually two to three weeks long) are called intersessions, and schools can use that time for remediation and enrichment programs for students. The method is popular in other countries, but U.S. research has been deemed too inconclusive to draw any long-term conclusions. David Hornak, executive director of the National Association for Year-Round Education, an organization that advocates for shorter summers to help improve student achievement, explained to CNBC's "On the Money" that a year-round calendar helps stem summer learning loss often seen in children when they break for the extended holiday. "On average, a teacher on the traditional calendar is required to re-teach between four and eight weeks annually after the summer intermission," said Hornak, who's also the superintendent of Holt Public Schools in Holt, Michigan where two schools in his district operate on a year-round calendar. He referred to the findings in the 2006 published Charles Ballinger and Carolyn Kneese book "School Calendar Reform." Tucked away on the top of two floors of a downtown building in San Francisco, 160 students are sitting in front of computer screens, developing sophisticated web applications. Their school, Hack Reactor, is one of dozens of coding boot camps across the nation, turning students into software engineers. For many prospective students looking for a quick route to a six-figure salary at a big tech firm, coding camps have become attractive alternatives to colleges and grad schools. Muhsin Abdul-Musawwir chose Hack Reactor over finishing his computer science degree at California State University, East Bay. "The Hack Reactor program was going to get me the skills that would translate directly into getting a job," said Musawwir. "The computer-science route, while it may be something I may still explore later on, wasn't necessarily what I felt was going to ... get me the job, get me working, get me the skills I need to work and also build up my own practice." Hack Reactor costs nearly $20,000 for a 12-week session, about one-tenth of the cost of attending an elite college. The program boasts a 98 percent job placement rate among its graduates, who land jobs at prestigious tech companies such as Google , Facebook , Amazon and Microsoft . The average starting salary for graduates is $105,000 a year. Hack Reactor co-founder Shawn Drost says coding boot camps help address the shortage of software engineers, especially in tech-saturated areas like Silicon Valley. The company also has schools in Los Angeles, New York and Austin. Drost says unlike colleges, coding camps can quickly change curriculum to address the changing needs of the marketplace. "Professional programs do change every six months or so, and we adopt that pretty much immediately," said Drost. "So we are teaching up-to-date versions of recent open-source framework, and we are familiar with industry trends in a way that you don't generally see in college programs." Students spend 12 to 16 hours a day in classes, listening to lectures, coding and collaborating in teams that simulate ones in tech firms. They also receive "empathy training," which instructors say is a vital part of the program because the soft skills help them work well with others, which is important in the workplace. Zimbabwe opposition supporters set up a burning barricade as they clash with police during a protest march for electoral reforms on August 26 in Harare. President Robert Mugabe warned protesters on Friday there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe after anti-government demonstrations descended to some of the worst violence seen in the southern African nation for two decades. Zimbabwean police fired tear gas and water cannon at opposition leaders and hundreds of demonstrators at a protest against Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF, before unrest swept across large parts of the capital Harare. "They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country but we tell them that it is not going to happen here," Mugabe told state television, referring to a series of uprisings that toppled leaders across the Arab world. Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring the protests. "They are fighting because of Americans," said Mugabe. Earlier, opposition head Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president Joice Mujuru fled a rally in their cars while protesters ran for cover as police broke up the core of the demonstration. However, anti-Mugabe leaders warned that this would be the first of a series of protests. Mugabe's opponents have become emboldened by rising public anger and protests over an economic meltdown, cash shortages and high unemployment. Mugabe, 92, has led Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. Clashes spread through the streets of the capital Harare as riot police fought running battles with protesters who hurled rocks at officers, set tyres ablaze and burned a popular market to the ground, in some of the worst unrest since food riots in 1998. Thousands of people take part in a funeral procession in Phnom Penh on July 24, 2016 for Kem Ley, a Cambodian political analyst and pro-democracy campaigner who was shot dead in broad daylight on July 10. Kem Ley's murder sent shudders through Cambodian civil society in a country already bristling with political tensions and where activists are frequently threatened by powerful interests. Cambodia, one of Asia's fastest-growing economies, is at a tipping point amid an environment of volatile politics that threatens to disrupt the country's move to democracy and put its key industry in the firing line. At the center of events is the murder of a popular political commentator. Government critic and analyst Kem Ley was gunned down on July 10 in broad daylight at a Phnom Penh coffee shop. A suspect was quickly arrested and confessed to the crime, but speculation has remained high that it was a political assassination. Kem Ley was known for criticizing both sides of Cambodia's polarized political landscape, which is dominated by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), but the lion's share of his reproval was aimed at the former. Widespread protests erupted following his murder, and human rights groups such as Transparency International have called for an independent investigation. "Cambodia's politics have veered dangerously out of control," Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, warned in a note last week. "The government's brutal tactics of the 1990s and early 2000s, when political activists were routinely murdered and opposition parties nearly put out of business, have returned." Cambodia has a deep history of politically-motivated violence, stretching from the Khmer Rouge's totalitarian regime in the 1970s up until as recently. Last October, when two opposition parliamentarians were brutally attacked outside the National Assembly building, with Human Rights Watch warning that the act bore the hallmarks of an operation carried out by state security forces. "Politics is at a critical juncture, the current situation is an absolute shamble," Jonathan Bogais, associate professor at the University of Sydney, told CNBC, of the currently volatile situation. Mexicos first commemorative coin, the Caballito silver peso, marked the centennial of the Mexican Revolution and was issued from 1910 through 1914. Editors note: this is a bonus section from a feature about iconic, important and interesting coins. The rest of the story was published in the September monthly issue of Coin World. Beautiful or iconic designs (like the Dragon dollar) can often be born out of war. Consider, for instance, Mexicos Caballito peso. Mexicos Caballito peso series was issued from 1910 to 1914. The coin was intended to mark the War of Independence and was, according to the Bank of Mexico, as such, the first commemorative coin of its kind in Mexico. Connect with Coin World: The Caballito (the name translates from Spanish to little horse) is also considered one of Mexicos most beautiful coins. Designed by Charles Pillet, the obverse shows an eagle, while the reverse highlights a female personification of Liberty astride a horse, with an oak branch and torch in her hands and a rising sun in the background. According to Allan Schein, author of the book Mexican Beauty, Un Peso Caballito, Pillet created the design with great contemplation, artistry and social relevance. Both the horse and rider face to the left. Liberty notably does not use reins to control the horse, which is still subservient to Liberty, and seemingly ready to race forward at her command, he wrote. Libertys torch is raised high in her left hand as she looks to the rear while urging the horse forward. This could represent moving forward as a people while looking to the past. When this coin was issued motor vehicles were scarce in Mexico, and horses both supported and were integral to the entire economy of the nation. The horse itself seems alive with energy and restless with intent of explosive movement, according to Schein. And so was the population of an entire nation. It has a long, beautiful flowing mane and tail, which is held somewhat high off its rump. Everything about this animal speaks of vigor, energy and restrained control. Behind the horse and rider is a radiant rising sun with its crown breaking above the earth sending 14 rays of light into the sky on the field behind the raised design elements. When the Caballito was issued, the United States of Americas coinage was undergoing a design renaissance of its own. The Caballito fits perfectly into this era of coin artistry, with a lasting graphic and artistic beauty that stands on its own in timeless majesty, Schein wrote. The Caballito peso is one of many iconic, important or interesting world coins that could be the basis of your next collection. Keep reading Coin World's series on what makes a world coin cool: There may be no more iconic ancient Greek coinage than the Owls from Athens Silver denarius was centerpiece of Romes currency for centuries Britains Cartwheel coins reflect Industrial Revolution impact New steam machinery brings Dragon dollar design to China The first Chinese Dragon dollars debuted in 1889 in Kwangtung, and soon the iconic image appeared on silver dollars across China. Editor's note: this is the fourth part of a feature story by Jeff Starck about coins that are important, iconic or interesting. The story originally appears in the September monthly issue of Coin World. Nearly a century after the steam technology altered the course of British coinage, modernization came to Chinese coins. In 1887, the Kwangtung Mint was authorized. Machinery, dies and other equipment were ordered from the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England, arriving in China in 1888. When it opened in 1889, the Kwangtung facility became the first Chinese mint to use modern technology. The first coinage series included a silver dollar that was also denominated as 7 mace and 3 candareens. The coin introduced a new design for circulation, featuring a dragon in its design, giving name to the Dragon design type. The design was inspired by Dragon dollars then in use in Japan, and the design was also used in Korea. Connect with Coin World: The weight of 27.22 grams in .900 fine silver was meant to mirror the popular silver 8-real coin that served as a de facto worldwide currency for several centuries. Those early silver Dragon dollar coins contained one candareen (0.01202 troy ounce) of metal more than the coins they were intended to replace, the Mexican 8-real coin, so when circulation production began, many of the new coins were removed from circulation and melted. The design became iconic. Dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore, with appearances found in an archaeological context as far back as the fifth millennium B.C., so its only natural that the machine-struck coinage of China show the beast. The Dragon dollar design became standard across all provinces of China, not just Kwangtung. The dragon remained on the coins of China until the early decade of the new millennium. Keep reading Coin World's series on what makes a world coin cool: There may be no more iconic ancient Greek coinage than the Owls from Athens Silver denarius was centerpiece of Romes currency for centuries Britains Cartwheel coins reflect Industrial Revolution impact 1910 Caballito silver peso is first commemorative coin of Mexico Gerald Tebben goes behind the scenes and explores many offbeat trails in bringing to the forefront the long-lost information that makes coins so special in "Coin Lore." Charles Keck's 1936 Lynchburg Sesquicentennial half dollar remarkably showed the still living Sen. Carter Glass on the obverse and Liberty in front of the Lynchburg Courthouse on the reverse. In the early years of the 20th century Charles Keck designed three commemorative coins and dozens of monuments across the country. Shown among his accomplishments are the 1936 Lynchburg Sesquicentennial half dollar reverse and the 12-foot tall bronze statue of Huey Long that stands atop his towering tombstone on the grounds of the Louisiana statehouse. Charles Kecks name is largely forgotten, but in the early years of the 20th century he designed three commemorative coins and dozens of monuments across the country. He designed the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition gold dollar featuring a Panama Canal worker on the obverse and dolphins on the reverse, the 1927 Vermont Sesquicentennial half dollar showing Green Mountain Boy Ira Allen on the obverse and a catamount on the reverse, and the 1936 Lynchburg Sesquicentennial half dollar, a coin which remarkably showed the still living Sen. Carter Glass on the obverse and Liberty in front of the Lynchburg Courthouse on the reverse. Keck, who designed the Booker T. Washington memorial at Tuskegee University, nearly also designed the Booker T. Washington half dollar (1946-1951). Kecks design for the coin had been approved by the Mint and S.J. Phillips, who had lobbied for the commemorative. But the Commission of Fine Arts rejected it in favor of a design offered by Isaac Scott Hathaway. Beside the Booker T. Washington memorial, Keck also created the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson that stands outside the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City, Mo.; the Huey Long Memorial in Baton Rouge, La.; and Liberty Monument at Ticonderoga. Liberty Monument features a massive bronze sculpture of Liberty atop a granite base. Four sculptures representing an Indian, a Frenchman, a Scottish soldier and an American stand at the base of the plinth. Demagogue Huey Long was assassinated in 1935 as he was preparing to run for president of the United States. Kecks 12-foot tall bronze statue of the Kingfish stands atop his towering tombstone on the grounds of the Louisiana statehouse. NEXT: The Alamo and the U.S. Capitol : - , ' , ' 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 A new Desloge city employee is already receiving high marks from City Administrator Greg Camp after only about a month on the job. Born and raised in Dexter, Missouri, Jason Harris the city's new director of public works is described by Camp as "a real go-getter." "He is very budget conscious and very liability conscious," Camp said. "We're probably ruffling some residents' feathers because there's some things the city has been doing it probably shouldn't have been doing, but you get fresh eyes that come in and they're like, 'Why are we doing this?'" According to Camp, it can sometimes be uncomfortable when a new department head like Harris comes in and begins to question the status quo. "They ask, 'Why are you doing that? I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just asking why you're doing it that way,'" Camp said. "If the answer is 'that's the way we've always done it,' that's the wrong answer. The correct answer is, 'Well, we took a look at this option and that option, but this option was the most efficient and economical way to do it.' That's the good answer." Prior to taking the position of director of public works, Harris, who's married and the father of three, was a superintendent at a grain elevator in Grayridge. His new duties at Desloge include sanitation, parks and recreation, storm water, street maintenance and any other items that fall under the umbrella of public works. "We've got a lot to do," Harris said. "Basically what I did the first few weeks, and I'm still kind of doing now, is observation type stuff. I just come in and let the guys do their normal thing and try to identify any inefficiencies and what's working or not working. We've been doing some things that we probably shouldn't have been doing because they're inefficient and/or not the responsibility of the city. "So, we're identifying those and going to be making some changes. We're looking at sanitation what we're doing that's working, what we're doing that's not working. Park, pool trying to identify some things there that need to be changed. "Working in manufacturing for the grain elevator, I got a lot of OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] grounded into me, so even though we're OSHA exempt, I think there's some OSHA standards on some stuff that we need to adapt to or live up to just for liability reasons and safety." Camp said, "One thing that impressed me about Jason on the first day was that he asked me for a copy of the budget. So, I said, 'Here's your budget.' The next day he asked, 'Why is this number like this?' So, really for the first time in a long time there's someone taking a keen eye to department specifics. "You know, the board and I can take a broad view of the city and I can spend time identifying certain inefficiencies, but there's a lot of reliance on a supervisor the department head to find that stuff. "So the fact that after the first 48 hours he was already scratching his head going, 'Why are we doing it like this?' was something. I think that at the end of the day you find a way to get those numbers to work better. It puts you in a better position to better serve your community. We want to serve our community, but we just can't give everything away." Harris stressed that when he speaks of "inefficiencies" he's not just talking about the misuse of time alone. "I'm talking about time, labor and monetary and budgetary stuff," he said. "Because the way we do things sometimes ends up costing us more money and of course, some stuff we just overpay for ... like for salt." Camp broke in, saying, "He found us a new supplier for salt. They were almost 10 bucks a ton less than what we had been paying and when you're buying 100 tons you've just saved a thousand bucks." Harris continued, "And that's not a high monetary value in the scheme of things but it all adds up. There's some stuff we didn't have a lot of checks and balances on just reconciling monthly bills such as sanitation against tickets. We weren't really reconciling those and making sure that what we were being billed what we actually have ticketed. Fuel efficiency usage on the vehicles tracking the fuel use per vehicle, maintenance, preventive maintenance... there's a lot of stuff." While he expects to make a number of changes in the future, Harris said those changes won't be made in a day or even a month. "It's going to take a little time because not only do we have to adjust the citizens of Desloge to it, but we also have a lot of 20-year, 30-year guys that has also got to adjust to it. That's why I came in observing rather than barking orders. "The guys working for me, they hear me mentioning things they've wanted to see a little change with for years. They're like, 'Are you really going to change that?' Because it wasn't really being looked at or thought about prior to." Ragtag furthers big-screen mission through A Community Thrives Ragtag Film Society took home $12,000 in grant money, which will further its day-to-day and big-screen mission. Jefferson College is a recipient of the 2016 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award and recognized as one of the healthiest college campuses in the nation. The prestigious award celebrates U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate excellence in prioritizing and promoting the health and well-being of their students. It is the only national recognition of its kind that celebrates leadership, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in campus health. Jefferson College was the only higher education institution in Missouri and the only community college in the United States to be acknowledged. This marks the second year that the College has been recognized by Active Minds for its health-conscious emphasis. Jefferson College is extremely honored to be recognized as the healthiest community college campus in America, said Jefferson College President Dr. Raymond Cummiskey. I am proud of the positive impact that we have on our students' lives, especially efforts to improve their physical and mental health and well-being. This award reflects the collective efforts of our staff and faculty and resource partnerships with Jefferson Memorial Community Foundation, Mercy, and COMTREA to create a supportive campus environment where comprehensive well-being is a priority. As an institution of higher learning, we have an obligation to promote a culture of wellness and address the needs of the whole student. Students enrolled at schools that focus on campus health often find that the programs and services offered there are life changing. I was bullied in high school and struggled with terrible depression, says Jefferson College student Haley Arbuthnot, an art major from Arnold. It wasnt until I enrolled at Jefferson College that I was able to start seeing a therapist, thanks to Jeffersons free counseling service. I'm living proof that, if provided with access to these important resources, any student can thrive in college. Jefferson College joins five other colleges and universities in receiving the prestigious award: California State University, Long Beach; Lawrence University; Sacramento State; School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ohio State University is also recognized as an honorable mention recipient. The Healthy Campus Award involves an extensive application process as well as multiple endorsements and interviews. Each applicant is assessed across eight criteria, with winners chosen by a panel of prominent researchers and health and higher education experts. Jefferson College stands out because it invests in students physical and mental health on a comprehensive scale and for the long term, said Alison Malmon, executive director and founder of Active Minds, the national nonprofit that presents the Healthy Campus Award. Jefferson College is a model of what's possible when a college prioritizes a campus culture of health, safety, and well-being. The review panel for the Healthy Campus Award cited the following key strategies in particular regarding Jefferson College: Service Beyond the Campus Because Jefferson College is located in a rural area with few medical and dental services, the school not only provides health services for students, it also serves as the wellness center for residents throughout the area. Smart Partnerships Major lack of resources has not stopped Jefferson College. Through smart partnerships, the college offers a health clinic for medical care via Mercy; free mental health services via COMTREA and suicide prevention trainings; and fitness equipment as well as wellness, nutrition, and exercise classes thanks to grant funds from the Jefferson Memorial Community Foundation. Strong Student Voices Jefferson College pursues its healthy campus goals creatively and in collaboration with students. The student government is deeply dedicated to health and well-being; the campuss Active Minds chapter actively promotes mental health awareness; and faculty, staff, and students together cultivate a climate of caring. Some of the Colleges efforts to support student health include: The creation of a holistic wellness program and the employment of a wellness coordinator to address seven dimensions of wellness (emotional, physical, social, occupational, intellectual, environmental, and spiritual) in conjunction with over $460,000 in grant funds from the Jefferson Memorial Community Foundation; Full-time student counseling services through a partnership with COMTREA (Community Treatment, Inc.); The establishment of an on-campus health clinic as a partnership with Mercy Hospital Jefferson; The implementation of a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus environment; Programming and support resources such as r u ok?, question persuade refer, suicide prevention, and bystander intervention; and Student groups/organizations such as Active Minds and Psychology Club. The award is unique in defining health broadly. Rather than focusing exclusively on mental or physical health, the award focuses on how fostering a culture of health serves to address the myriad challenges facing universities. While other awards celebrate the success of a particular initiative or program on campus, this award champions entire institutions for taking a campus-wide, public health approach to promoting mental health alongside physical health. The award is also unique in valuing student input and leadership. Applicants provided endorsement from their student body and judges assessed for evidence that campus efforts positively translate to students' actual experience on campus. Students played a key part in reviewing and selecting winners. The Healthy Campus Award is made possible through the generous support of The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation. About the Healthy Campus Award The Active Minds Healthy Campus Award recognizes higher education institutions that provide access to good quality healthcare and take a comprehensive approach to promoting and protecting both the physical and mental health of students. The award criteriawhich includes a focus on long-term solutions and data-driven measuresalign with the Healthy Campus 2020 framework and characteristics established by the American College Health Association, the Strategic Primer on College Student Mental Health produced by NASPA: Administrators in Higher Education, the American Psychological Association, the American Council on Education, and the TJF/SPRC Comprehensive Model for Mental Health Protection and Suicide Prevention. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016, Senate bill 524 was passed by Congress, July 13. The bill allows for funding and other measures to address the country's serious problem of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. Treatment medications such as Suboxone (generic-Buprenorphine), can now be prescribed by certain nurse practitioners and physician assistants; not just by physicians. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) introduced the measure Feb. 12, 2015. The measure was amended and approved by the Senate with 94 yeas, and only one nay, March 10 this year, according to the Senate website. Dr. Eric Davis, a general practice medical doctor at Madison Medical Center in Fredericktown, explained that since the introduction of the legislation, there has been a decrease in the number of opioid prescriptions in the state. Over the past three years in the U.S. there has been a decline in opioid prescriptions written, Dr. Davis said. This is the first time in the past two decades (for a decline). Missouri ranks number 14 in opioid prescriptions and Tennessee is number one. The U.S. makes up only about one-third of the worlds population, but the U.S. prescribes approximately 99 percent of the worlds hydrocodone, Dr. Davis said. Dr. Davis said he and other local physicians are looking at alternatives to pain management including other non-addictive pain medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage and etc. Some states have implemented tracking programs for opioids and other prescription medications. Several states have restrictions on opioid prescriptions. Missouri has not started any type of restriction or tracking program. We have been trying to develop a system to track these prescriptions, Dr. Davis said. The (PBMP) is one tracking program that would enable us to connect pharmacies and providers. According to Phil Caruso a spokesman from Walgreens headquarters, the company is making Naloxone available in the states where it is already allowed by law. The implementation of a prescription standing order is something that has been discussed in the bill language. This means that a physician signs the prescription order and that order applies to anyone who is seeking the medication, according to Caruso. Pharmacies throughout the country can now offer some immunizations, such as the flu shot, to their customers through this type of standing doctors order. We (Walgreens) are offering these under a similar program, Caruso said. Caruso explains that Walgreens pharmacists can dispense Naloxone, but only in those states that allow it. Walgreens wanted to make Naloxone available, Caruso said. We announced in February that we were working on a program to make Naloxone more readily available in states where the regulations allow. Since that announcement we have made that medication available in 1,700 stores without requiring a prescription, Caruso said. It can be dispensed in all of our pharmacies with a prescription, currently. Dr. Fred Gaskin, a psychiatrist with Community Counseling Center in Fredericktown, agreed with the legislation by saying, Im all for it. Dr. Gaskin also said opioid addiction is a national problem and that it is not going to be resolved overnight. There is still a lot of work left in front of lawmakers. Drugs of abuse are plentiful, Dr. Gaskin said. Part of the difficulty is youve got this thing called tolerance. The term is used by addiction treatment specialists to refer to the usually gradually increasing physical need by a persons body for a certain chemical in order to achieve the same level of effect, as in the beginning. Dr. Gaskin also expressed concern about deaths in Missouri due to drug abusers using the lethal combination of opioids and benzodiazepines. An important component of the new law is support for treatment programs as well. There are several facilities to provide assistance to those experiencing mental anguish and addiction in the southeast region of Missouri. If you find yourself or someone else in need of this type of assistance, anyone can access the Missouri Department of Mental Health Crisis Line known as the Missouri Access Crisis and Response System (MOCARS) and Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) by dialing 1-800-356-5395. August 8, 2016 The Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, S.V.D., the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, blesses a room filled with church members during a dedication on Monday morning as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception celebrate the campus' new Early Childhood Center. The $4 million, two-story structure is the first new building on the IC campus in 41 years and will officially open on August 10, the first day of school. "We are all one local church, one diocese," said Steib. "My thanks to you for making this possible." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) David Waters Columnist SHARE Bishop Terry Steib, the retiring and 4th Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. (submitted photograph) J. Terry Steib, a former missionary, was introduced as the new Catholic bishop of Memphis on the 23rd day of March in 1993. He was the fourth bishop and first African-American bishop in the 23-year history of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Last week, Steib officially retired on the 23rd day of August, having led the diocese for 23 years. The number 23 is significant for two reasons. First, Catholic bishops rarely serve that many years in the same diocese. Steib's three predecessors Carroll Dozier, J. Francis Stafford and Daniel Buechlein had been here 23 years combined (there's that number again). The number 23 stands out for another reason. "The Lord is my shepherd," begins the 23rd Psalm. Steib, 76, has always described himself as one of God's shepherds, called to tend to the spiritual needs of the flock, even as a bishop. "I'm a missionary at heart," said Steib, a Louisiana native who spent the first 30 years of his vocation working with the Divine Word Missionaries. "I've tried to be as pastoral as possible for our people, to bring the gospel to people wherever they are." Steib's quiet, steady episcopacy some call it Steib-ility has comforted some, disappointed others. "I would have liked him to speak out more clearly and forcefully on social justice issues," said Dr. Pete Gathje, a professor at Memphis Theological Seminary and a lifelong Catholic. "But he has not been a bishop of judgment and condemnation, but rather one who has been pastoral and engaging." Fans of Steib's shepherding point to how the flock has grown, numerically and spiritually, both in urban and suburban areas. After the dwindling Paulists and Franciscans left town, Steib kept their parishes open with diocesan priests. He's ordained 40 men, a high number in a time when the priesthood is declining. Steib reopened eight inner-city parish schools, with the help of local philanthropists. Suburban parish schools continue to grow. "I think his lasting legacy is in the area of education, and particularly the Jubilee Schools," said Dr. Mary McDonald, who was Catholic schools superintendent during most of Steib's tenure. The bishop shifted social service resources from the refugee resettlement program to the growing Latino immigrant community. "His only admonishment to me if I was proposing that we close a long-standing program was, 'OK, but what are we going to do to replace it?'" said Mike Allen, CEO of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. "Simply shuttering something was not acceptable." Steib's critics say he didn't do enough to keep predators away from the flock especially clergy sex abusers. "Bishop Steib disclosed information on predator priests only when forced to do so by external forces," said David Clohessy, a former Memphian and national director of SNAP Survivor's Network of Those Abused by Priests. "He didn't discipline a single church employee for ignoring or concealing clergy sex crimes." In court depositions, Steib admitted he made mistakes that put children at risk. But he said the church "responded according to what it knew and believed at the time." Some say Steib was too quiet about a lot of things. His arrival was greeted with great fanfare and hope, especially by African-American parishioners. He had been mentored by Archbishop James Lyke, the first black Catholic priest in Memphis in the 1960s. "He often talked about the need for a black bishop in Memphis," Steib said in 1993. "He said he prayed for it. Jim, I guess your prayers have been answered." But Steib made it clear from the beginning that he saw his role as more spiritual than political. "I've been asked to serve the entire church of Memphis," he said in 1993. Steib said he chose not to be vocal on matters of race in deference to other black church leaders who were here working long before he arrived. He mentioned Dr. Benjamin Hooks and Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles. "I didn't want to step on any toes and sound like I had all the answers, especially when they had done all the work," Steib said. "I wanted to try to plug in where I could with existing efforts." Steib didn't shy away from speaking out about two of the church's most vexing issues: abortion and homosexuality. In 2008, when many bishops were saying Catholics were morally obligated not to vote for a candidate supporting abortion rights, Steib offered a gentle dissent. Part of the challenge "in the upcoming election may well be in realizing that different people may in good conscience arrive at different decisions about how they will vote," he wrote in a pastoral letter in 2008. "We cannot be a one-issue people." More than a decade ago, Steib founded the diocesan Catholic Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons a decade ago. He equated the struggle for racial justice with the struggle for justice with sexual orientation. "The Church teaches that this pilgrim Church, to which we are called each Sunday, is to be a welcoming Church not a church deciding and judging who is welcomed to the banquet feast," Steib wrote in a letter to the diocese last year. "Pope Francis tells us in his encyclical 'The Joy of the Gospel' that the door of the Church should always be opened. How is that people who come to the Church still do not feel welcomed by a welcoming community?" Steib didn't have Dozier's prophetic voice for social justice. He didn't have Stafford's gift for church administration. He didn't have Buechlein's flair for ecumenical interaction. They didn't have his love for liturgy, fellowship and spiritual formation. "That's my first love," Steib said. He plans to stay in Memphis and lead spiritual retreats and reflections. "My priority has always been to tend to the spiritual needs of the people. I've done the best I can do with what I have." Contact columnist David Waters at waters@commercialappeal.com. August 23, 2016 - Roger Reed waits for his trial to start in Judge James Lammey's court. Reed is charged with killing a pastor to steal his car and taking selfies in the victim's car. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal A 25-year-old man was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the fatal 2014 shooting of Prospect Park Baptist Church pastor Don Smith. The verdict followed testimony this week by both the defendant, Roger Reed, and a codefendant who were both pictured after the shooting in "selfie" photographs smiling and kissing inside the victim's Buick LaCrosse. The jury convicted Reed of killing Smith with premeditation and with the intent to commit robbery. He was also convicted of especially aggravated robbery. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Lammey sentenced Reed to life. Reed said that on Halloween night 2014, he and his girlfriend, Lashonda Williams, walked to a Hickory Hill-area ATM. He said they had gotten in an argument because Williams signed into his Facebook account and discovered that he had communicated with his former girlfriend. Reed testified that Williams walked away and got into a strange vehicle. He said the car later pulled up with Smith dead inside the vehicle, as Reed was walking back to his father's apartment. His attorney, Juni Ganguli, argued that Williams was the one who shot the pastor. Williams, 25, testified that Reed planned to carjack someone to drive back to Greenville, Mississippi, where they are from. She said the victim, a 57-year-old married preacher, drove by them multiple 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. According to Williams, they both touched Smith sexually, and then Reed shot him. Reed and Willliams were located days later in Greenville with the pastor's car. Reed also took the victim's watch, according to the prosecution. "Not only did he have it, he wore it like a trophy, like a prize," said Assistant District Attorney Sam Winnig, who prosecuted the case with Glen Baity. A man walking a dog found the preacher's body off Lichterman Road in the area of Winchester and Hickory Hill. The case of Williams is pending. SHARE Gavel and scales By Jennifer Pignolet of The Commercial Appeal Two former Memphis City Schools security officers claim the district fired them after a physical altercation with an African-American student because they are white, according to a reverse discrimination lawsuit that goes to trial Monday in U.S. District Court. The key factor in the lawsuit involves the arrest of a student in February, 2013 before the city school district's merger with Shelby County Schools. The county district is now the defendant in the case because the suit was filed in January, 2015, after the merger. According to court documents, the officers, Henry Todd and Richard Pinner, contend they used appropriate force when arresting a student near the front entrance of Northwest Prep Academy an alternative school but were fired anyway because of their race. The lawsuit states a female student entered the school building "in a belligerent manner using vile language" and Todd restrained her. She was suspended and left the building, the document states, but returned asking for a bus pass. While waiting, she allegedly "again became violent" before Pinner attempted to handcuff her. School security video appears to show the student eating a snack before Pinner tries to handcuff her. "The student jerked her arm with only one handcuff on the wrist," the lawsuit state. "The student swung her arm with the partially loose handcuff attached." The officer "became concerned for his own safety and others from the loose swinging handcuff," the complaint states, and he "used accepted law enforcement procedures to take the violent and dangerous student to the ground to complete handcuffing." Todd can be seen on video assisting Pinner while the student is against a wall and then on the ground. According to the suit, the school's principal, who is black, saw the student had been "taken down" and yelled, "'I'm tired of you white officers beating up on my black babies. I'm going to have you fired.'" The officers were initially suspended with pay and then fired the following business day. "Plaintiffs are members of a protected class consisting of members of the white race," the lawsuit states. Ralph Gibson, the officers' attorney, said legal precedent states white people can be considered a protected class if they are surrounded mostly by non-white people. According to the complaint, there were only 10 white officers on the city school system's security staff of 80. "The adverse employment actions taken by Memphis City Schools terminating plaintiffs were done so because plaintiffs are white; members of the black race would not have been terminated under the same circumstances ..." the lawsuit states. In its responding court documents, SCS asserts "that all personnel decisions and actions affecting Plaintiffs were taken for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons and in good faith ..." The district released a statement on the lawsuit Friday: Above all, we are committed to ensuring safe learning environments for all of our students. We believe these individuals abused their positions of trust and compromised the safety of students, making them unfit for service with Shelby County Schools. Thus, their employment was terminated. We expect this decision to be upheld in the upcoming federal court trial. One of the leaders of the security department at the time, Glenn Williams, said in court documents he was not consulted before the officers were fired but if he had been, he would not have recommended termination. "In reviewing the video of the arrest, it first appeared that Officer Pinner had slapped the student after she resisted arrest," Williams said in a court document. "Upon reviewing the video in slow motion, however, Officer Pinner was merely reaching for the student's shoulders using a typical soft hand technique and the student pulled her head away from Officer Pinner's reach. Officer Pinner did not contact the student's face." He adds, "Finally, Officer Todd did nothing that could be questioned." Gibson said he expects the trial before U.S. Dist. Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, to last up to three days. August 27, 2016 Colby Mitchell, a member of the Social Justice Committee at the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, reads a section from "The Confessions of Nat Turner" to a tour group at the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. The museum and other locations around Memphis hosted the public readings to honor Nat Turner, the former slave known for leading one of the most notable rebellions against slavery. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE August 27, 2016 A portrait of Nat Turner is seen on a wall honoring abolitionists inside the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. The museum and other locations around Memphis hosted the public readings to honor Nat Turner, the former slave known for leading one of the most notable rebellions against slavery. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal The crowd at the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum Saturday got a special treat when it was herded into a room mid-tour. The museum and multiple other participating locations hosted public readings at noon to honor Nat Turner, the former slave known for leading one of the most notable rebellions against slavery. "That particular rebellion was one of the most well-known revolts that ever happened in African-American history, and many people are not aware of it," said Elaine Turner, director of the museum and not a descendant of Nat Turner. "We wanted people to recognize that and to be aware of the things that he did." Turner was born a slave in Southampton County, Virginia. In August 1831, Turner believed he received a sign from God to rise up and fight, and he gathered fellow slaves to organize a revolt. Together, the slaves killed about 55 white men, women and children. As a result, Virginia executed many of the slaves responsible, and whites killed about 200 black people, many of whom were not involved in the rebellion. Turner was caught, hanged and skinned a few months later. "We are not advocating for the same type of action, of course, but just some awareness of inhumanity to men that was taking place at that time just really propelled people to take drastic action," Elaine Turner said. Before the readings, tour guide Iman Love spoke to guests about the inhumane conditions on slave ships, which could reach temperatures of 98 degrees inside, and pointed out photos along the walls of famous runaway slaves and abolitionists. About 30 people filled two pews and a hodgepodge collection of chairs to listen to Colby Mitchell and Taylor Jackson read aloud passages from "The Confessions of Nat Turner" by William Styron. Readings also took place at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Cossitt Library, Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, and other locations. The event was part of the museum's 160th anniversary this year, and the 185th anniversary of the Turner rebellion. "It's important for everyone to know that the struggle for freedom is not over," Elaine Turner said. "We need to be aware that there are still injustices, and they need to addressed in a calm and nonviolent manner so we can have the type of society that all people deserve." SHARE Rodney Earl Sanders By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal A Kosciusko, Mississippi, man with no apparent connection to two nuns whose slayings shocked a Delta town is in custody and charged with capital murder. Authorities announced late Friday that Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, had been charged after what was termed "an exhaustive interview" Friday evening. The arrest was announced shortly before midnight Friday in a release on the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation website. No ties have been identified between Sanders and Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68, who were found dead in their home in Durant, Mississippi, about 150 miles south of Memphis, Thursday morning after they did not show up at the clinic where they worked. "Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation," Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Director Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jordan said in the statement on the MBI website. "With the cooperation of the Durant and Kosciusko Police Departments, Holmes County Sheriff's Department and the Attorney General Office, this heinous crime has been resolved." The statement, which did not discuss motive, said agents had enough information to charge Sanders after the Friday evening interview. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March told the Associated Press Saturday that Sanders, who has felony DUI and armed robbery convictions, confessed to the killings during interrogation. But MBI would neither confirm nor deny a confession. Sanders is being held in undisclosed detention center while awaiting a court appearance. It was unclear Saturday whether Sanders is represented by an attorney. MBI spokesman Warren Strain indicated no other arrests are expected. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the order to which the two nuns belonged, expressed gratitude on their website for the worldwide support received in the wake of the deaths. "We are so grateful for the many prayers and words of comfort and support we are receiving from around the world ... We are in shock and continue to grieve as we attempt to absorb the news." Dr. Elias Abboud, the physician who oversees the clinic where the nuns worked, said Saturday he called the office manager after he saw there was an arrest made to check if Sanders had been a patient at the clinic, but he was not. Sanders was also not known to the small congregation where Held and Merrill had led Bible study for years. Rev. Greg Plata, sacramental minister at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, said Saturday he does not think people at the church knew Sanders. Merrill's nephew, David Merrill, speaking by telephone from Stoneham, Massachusetts, said Saturday the family was "thankful" Sanders is off the streets. "Nobody else is threatened by this individual. So there's some relief there," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. By Kathy Bischoff, Special to Viewpoint It wasn't until after my cousin, Michelle Sloyan, died in a tragic auto accident, that I fully realized that she had lived a heroic life. Seeing her picture and name printed in the news stories as a victim of the crash involving a Bartlett police officer, it seemed that her life was just another statistic. No, Michelle was a hero. Michelle was born with a cleft palate and cleft lip. As a young child, she endured several surgeries that left her with a facial scar and a voice that was so sweet, but different from others. She would feel insecure at times, though she overcame this challenge. Later, as an older child, when getting off a school bus, Michelle was hit by a car and suffered a broken leg. She overcame this challenge. After the bus accident, Michelle was enrolled into the wonderful Madonna Day School. Michelle was determined to enter a mainstream school, and she was able to graduate from Memphis Catholic High. Michelle was a truly good person. She had a large extended family and many friends. She adored her niece and nephews and they adored her. She was fiercely loyal to her family and to her career. At the time of her death, though suffering from diabetes and its associated complications, Michelle was determined to reach the tenure of 25 years working as a cashier at Kroger, and refused to apply for disability. A week after her death, Michelle would have celebrated her 50th birthday. A relative had already decorated the house for a big party. No doubt, we would have all gathered to celebrate her life and birthday milestone. There would have been her favorite meal, her Aunt Carol's spaghetti and meat sauce, and laughter and stories and of course music, when Michelle would have performed her signature dance moves. A few weeks before Michelle died, I last saw her at a funeral. She looked so pretty in her black pants and crisp white blouse. After the funeral, we spoke about attending the burial service. It was raining hard and I decided to leave to pick up my child from school. Michelle said that of course, she would attend the burial in the pouring down rain because it was "the right thing to do." I gave her a hug and it was the last time I saw her. The hardest thing for me, personally, to understand is how such a truly good and caring person suffered such an undignified death. We all hope that when we die, we are older and surrounded by friends and family. When the Bartlett police officer recklessly crashed into their car, Michelle and her friend, Danny, were ejected, and they died in the street, next to a curb, surrounded by complete strangers. It just doesn't make sense. Michelle Sloyan was so much more than a statistic, a victim of a highly publicized news story. No, Michelle was a woman of strength who had overcome challenge after challenge. Michelle lived a heroic life. Kathy Bischoff of Memphis is the cousin of Michelle Sloyan, who, along her friend Danny Floyd, 63, was fatally injured Oct. 12, 2014, when a speeding Bartlett police cruiser collided with their car. This month, a jury found Bartlett police officer Lucas Hines guilty of two counts of reckless driving, a misdemeanor offense. He had been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, but the jury also considered lesser charges. SHARE By Alyssa Rosenberg The last time I refilled my EpiPen, in November, I paid $365.63 out of pocket for two auto-injectors. I looked that number up Thursday morning after the news broke that Mylan, the company that makes EpiPens, is bowing to public pressure and will start offering discounts after years of hiking prices. EpiPens are just the latest in a series of drugs that have become cash cows for their distributors. The skyrocketing cost of the epinephrine injectors, which counteract a severe allergic attack, has been particularly grotesque for allergy sufferers like me. Mylan has sent a clear message: If those of us with allergies want to live expansive, adventurous lives, doing things that are normal for other people but risky for us, the company is prepared to test just how much we're willing to pay for that privilege. EpiPens have been constants in my life since I was diagnosed with a severe tree-nut allergy as a toddler. They've been rolling around the bottom of my primary school backpacks and tucked neatly into the purses I carry in adulthood. For a brief period after college, I hoped that I might be able to shed the weight of those twin plastic canisters, what it cost to pay for them, and fears of what might happen if I ever had to use them. Although some people with food allergies grow out of them, my optimism faded in my allergist's office as she looked at the ballooning patches on my forearms where she'd conducted skin-prick tests. I was still, she said, as allergic as anyone she'd ever seen. Allergies are constraining, annoying and even frightening, but living with one hasn't been all bad. Out of necessity, my parents taught me to be an advocate for myself. It's not a lot of fun to be the 9-year-old at a birthday party telling your best friend's mother that yes, the Heath bars she's sprinkled all over that birthday cake are full of almonds, and no, you won't be having a piece. And as an adult, I may fumble through French and Spanish and awkwardly brandish index cards with questions about food ingredients written in Mandarin when I travel, but I've never gotten sick overseas. My parents also encouraged creative responses to the inevitable disappointments that allergies bring. I'll never forget sitting with my family in a restaurant in Quebec, my mother promising that she'd find a way to bake the sugar pie that I couldn't order from the menu because the waitress couldn't reassure us about its ingredients. One of my earliest memories of cooking is working with her in the kitchen to fulfill that promise; I can still recall the taste of that pie, more delicious and precious because it was mine. But for all I do to protect myself, EpiPens are a critical safeguard in case something goes wrong. When I traveled by motorboat 40 minutes down a river to a rice farming community in Myanmar, my EpiPens were there just in case our translator missed a word and I ended up eating something that made me sick. As the restaurant scene in Washington has experienced a renaissance, my EpiPens mean that my husband and I can range more widely and eat more creatively with the reassurance that date night won't end in disaster. (A lot of credit also goes to the Washington restaurant community, which has become much more knowledgeable about and sensitive to allergy sufferers in the decade I've lived here.) EpiPens are my armor against disaster, the tools of my adventuring, the things that allow me to live without the fear that death might strike me in the middle of an ordinary experience or an extraordinary one. But even as I'm wildly grateful for them, I think about what they cost, and not just when I pay for them. I had a very mild allergy attack last year, the only one I've had in a decade. The moment I felt my tongue go numb and my throat start to swell, I made a decision. I'd only had one bite of the kale chips that turned out to be seasoned with cashew dust. I probably wasn't going to have to go to the hospital. And so rather than use an EpiPen that I would have to refill at a cost of hundreds of dollars, I made myself throw up instead. I have pretty good health insurance through my job with The Washington Post. I can afford my annual EpiPen refill, and my allergy attacks are rare. And so if I stopped to think about the cost of these drugs in the middle of a mild attack, I cannot imagine what it must be like to face the cost of multiple EpiPens a year, and to do so without insurance or without the financial backup of a two-income household. The world has become a safer, more accommodating place for those of us with allergies in the three decades since my diagnosis. But it will be even safer and even more accessible when epinephrine and the security that goes with it isn't priced like a luxury. Alyssa Rosenberg blogs about pop culture for The Washington Post's Opinions section. SHARE By Dick Meyer Here's a question for moral philosophers: Is it more immoral to be a bigot or to pretend to be bigot? The question is obviously relevant to Donald Trump's campaign right now. The facile way Trump seems able to turn his hate rhetoric on and off raises the question of how committed Trump is to his bigotry. Has he been exaggerating the bigotry that comes to him naturally to get votes? Trump's newest team of so-called advisers has promised that a kinder, gentler Trump will court minority voters in the weeks before the election. Trump actually seems to be listening this time. To woo Hispanic voters, he has been weaseling about his bullish promise of mass deportations, and he's been telling blacks they are so bad off they have nothing to lose by voting for him. In Trumpland, that constitutes romance. Trump's public displays of prejudice transcend race, which is why I use the word "bigot" instead of "racist." For example, Trump still wants to ban all Muslims from entering the country, as far we know. His sexist remarks and views have been well catalogued. And he seems to have a deep-seated animosity toward short men. But right now Trump, supposedly, is trying to soften his cultivated position as a racist and a racial scapegoater. There are so many layers of grotesqueness here that it's hard to separate them. The language and phrasing Trump has been using in his "pivot" reveals his utter cluelessness and blind prejudice. Here's the nub of Trump's new pitch, made in Ohio on Monday. Read it carefully: "Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it's safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. And I ask you this, I ask you this crime, all of the problems to the African-Americans, who I employ so many, so many people, to the Hispanics, tremendous people: What the hell do you have to lose? Give me a chance. I'll straighten it out. I'll straighten it out. What do you have to lose?" First off, Trump was talking to an audience that was almost all white people, like all of his crowds. Trump lumped all African-Americans and Hispanics together as living the same "disaster," which is ignorance beyond stereotyping. He lumps a whole ethnic group together even in praise ("the Hispanics, tremendous people"). He implies that blacks and Hispanics love him because he employs so many of them. And finally he insults the intelligence and dignity of blacks, Hispanics and every possible voter by crassly declaring, "What the hell do you have to lose?" "A lot," is the clear answer. Trump's cynicism is so deep that he thinks that by going into white communities and saying blacks have nothing to lose by voting for him, they'll actually vote for him. He thinks black voters will ignore a track record of racism that extends far back from this campaign to his longstanding position as the most prominent monger of the Obama birther conspiracy theory. His cynicism is so deep that he thinks Hispanic voters will ignore a year's worth of hate-mongering attacks on Mexican immigrants as murderers and rapists if he flip-flops a little on his signature issue walls and deportations. This is laughable as a strategy and it is laughable that the political press takes it seriously as strategy. "For Trump, the objective is twofold, according to his aides and allies," The Washington Post reports in classic horserace fashion. "He wants to make inroads with minority voters, who polls show overwhelmingly support Clinton. He also believes that a more measured approach on race can convince white voters now shunning him especially women that he is not the racist that his inflammatory rhetoric might indicate." I suppose it's plausible that the real idea behind the "I'm not that big a racist" pivot is to calm confused white voters on the fence. Does that somehow justify it? I feel badly for hard news reporters who aren't supposed to express their opinions, as I can, and cover Trump's antics with straight faces and clear consciences. Trump's latest caper is unlikely to fool anyone. But it reveals yet another level of depravity in this rotten man. My original question was rhetorical. It doesn't matter how much of Trump's bigotry is theatrical and how much is genuine if anything is "genuine" about Trump. Yes, there is something particularly sleazy and menacing about a person who can modulate his bigotry depending on the audience and poll numbers. But is such a person worse than the completely genuine bigot? In Trump's case, the argument is moot; he is both. Trump seems to believe his own repeated proclamations that he is a man without prejudice. He complains about people like me who call him a racist or a sexist but who don't really know him and know what is in his heart. But what may or may not live in Donald Trump's heart does not matter to this country. It's what comes out of his mouth that counts. Dick Meyer is chief Washington correspondent for the Scripps Washington Bureau. Contact him at dick.meyer@scripps.com. A Farmington man is being charged with several felonies after police were called to a gas station and found the man with drugs and stolen property. Zachary Whaley, 25, is being charged with three class C felonies of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana up to 35 grams and two class C felonies of burglary in the second degree. According to a probable cause statement, on Aug. 10 the Park Hills Police were called to C-Barn off Parkway Drive in reference to a man causing a disturbance inside the store. The responding officer was informed that the man had been walking behind the counter. The officer reported that when he arrived several people were pointing at the man, later identified as Whaley. The officer asked Whaley why he was causing a disturbance and Whaley stated he wasnt and the attendants were his friends to which they shook their heads no. Whaley was also asked why he kept going behind the counter and stated to the officer that he didnt think it was an issue. The officer reported that Whaley was acting extremely nervous and sweating while in the store. The officer told him he needed to leave and walked toward the door. Whaley turned around and went back to the counter. The officer went back in and told Whaley he needed to leave. The report said that once they were outside the officer received consent to search Whaley. He started to pull items out of his pockets and another officer saw a syringe and a baggie of marijuana. He immediately grabbed Whaley and put him in handcuffs to prevent from getting stuck with the syringe. The officer stated when they pulled the syringe out, it appeared to be used. The officers also searched the bag Whaley had and found jewelry, a GPS, a Walmart credit card with a womans name on it, two pill bottles with a second womans name on it mixed with different pills, a RCA tablet, and a sandwich bag containing four individually wrapped bags of a white powdery substance. Officers also found several gas tickets C-Barn uses for their in-house gas accounts and winning lottery tickets that had already been claimed. The report said Whaley stated it wasnt his bag and that he had found it on Karsch Boulevard in Farmington. At that time Whaley was placed under arrest and taken to the St. Francois County Jail. The report said he was uncooperative with the jail staff. The report said the bag with the white powdery substance was submitted to evidence pending lab results and the other were pills were identified as nine Adderall, 71 D-Amphetamine and 50 Alprazolam pills. On Aug. 11 another officer was called to a house on Fifth Street in Park Hills for a report of a burglary. The victim, a woman, reported that she came home from work and found an empty ring box and empty jewelry box on her bed. The report said she reported several missing items, including watches, antique money, a tablet, phone chargers and prescription medication. There was also a UPS package opened up on her front porch and the basement door was open. The woman spoke with a detective at the department and she was shown the items that were found on Whaley at the time of his arrest. She identified several of the items as hers, including the watches, jewelry, GPS, a house key and earbuds. The report said the woman added a few more missing items to her original statement and asked if they had found a ring, Japanese money and silver certificates. The detective informed her that there was property at the county jail, which he retrieved later that day. The report said that also that same day, a second woman was contacted and asked to come to the police department where she identified some items as hers as well. She stated the items had been missing for a week, but didnt realize they were stolen. She claimed the tablet, a watch and two bottles of medication. The report said the woman was asked if she knew anyone who might have broken into her house and she said it could have been Whaley. They asked her why she thought it could be him and she stated his dad worked on their house. She said he tried to give Whaley a chance but he just couldnt do the work. The report said the woman stated that Whaley came back and begged for money. The woman reported they went on vacation and that was when stuff came up missing. The detective then went to the jail to question Whaley about the items he had in his possession. The report said Whaley asked what the detective meant and the detective explained the burglaries. Whaley stated he couldnt remember anything because he was on Xanax and insisted he lost a day of his life. Whaley was being held in the St. Francois County Jail on an $80,000 bond for these charges and also had a prior warrant for violating a protection order. SHARE By Ramesh Ponnuru Hillary Clinton has given a speech denouncing the "alt-right," which may have a lot of you asking, "What's the alt-right?" The answer is less important than either Clinton or the members of this group would have you believe. They call themselves "alt" to distinguish themselves from conservatives, whom they consider weak, out of touch and boring. They find the mainstream conservative fixations on free markets, limited government, the Constitution and the sanctity of unborn human life beside the point. Their own fixations are instead racial. A lot of them are pretty forthright about that. In one of the earliest essays to identify and defend an "alternative right," in 2010, Richard Hoste explained that the chief defect of mainstream conservatism is that it fails to take a natural racial hierarchy, "with whites and Asians at the top and blacks at the bottom," as its organizing principle. Both government policy and, even more, our public discussions of race have to begin from that premise, he wrote. Hoste mentioned other ideas that have continued to dominate the alt-right. Affirmative action unjustly subverts the racial hierarchy; "low-IQ Mexican immigration is the greatest threat to America"; whites are unjustly denied the positive racial identity that U.S. culture encourages for other groups. Not surprisingly, such Republican efforts as there have been to appeal to nonwhites come in for scorn from the alt-right, which places its political hopes in a strategy of raising white racial consciousness. Also unsurprisingly, race-mixing is not very popular in these circles. An epithet alt-righties use for conservatives is cuckservative," or "cuck," referring to a cuckolded conservative. It has its origin in disgust for interracial sex. (I'll let you Google it yourself.) Why is Clinton taking on a group that seems so marginal? Because lately it has seemed to become a little less so. Alt-righties rejoiced over Donald Trump's victory over mainstream conservatives in the Republican primaries and rejoiced even more when Trump appointed Stephen Bannon as his campaign's CEO. Bannon has been running Breitbart.com, a publication he describes as "the platform for the alt-right." Critics despaired that his hiring represented an alt-right takeover of the Republican Party. But there's less to the alt-right's new prominence than meets the eye. Even though both Bannon and his foes describe Breitbart.com as an alt-right site and even though alt-righties clearly like the site more than they do, say, the Weekly Standard it is at the very least a watered-down version of the alt-right. Vdare, American Renaissance and Takimag, three other publications, repeatedly and explicitly make the kind of arguments that Hoste did. Breitbart.com doesn't. A lot of recent discussions of the alt-right have mentioned a "guide to the alt-right" that Breitbart published in March. But if Breitbart were an alt-right organ, as opposed to a venue sympathetic to the alt-right, it would hardly need to run an essay introducing the topic to its readers. Bannon himself denies that the alt-right has much to do with race. He says the alt-right is simply about nationalism. When Ken Stern of Vanity Fair recently read Bannon some racist comments that had been left on Breitbart.com, Bannon's "response was slightly pained, and he tried to wave the issue away." Stern speculated that Bannon may have been concerned about the comments for business rather than moral reasons, but either way, it means he shies away from the alt-right's version of candor about race. (What a cuck, a real alt-righty might say.) If Bannon's definition of the alt-right is correct, it is merely a less religious version of the platform on which Patrick Buchanan used to campaign: a platform hostile to free trade, mass immigration and an interventionist foreign policy. These paleoconservative ideas cannot yet be said to have taken over the Republican Party. So far only one Republican senator, Jeff Sessions, has endorsed these ideas. And even this year no Republican politician of note, other than Trump, has been championing this package of policies. Take away the celebrity power of Trump, and there isn't really a movement underneath him. Define alt-right in terms of its hard core, and its influence is even weaker. Not even Sessions will write for the American Renaissance. Trump himself never embraced even the mainstream conservative opposition to affirmative action, let alone the alt-right version of it. He does not talk about inherent differences between the races. Since Bannon came on board, Trump has been talking about how he can win African-American votes and running away from his previous calls to deport all illegal immigrants. Perhaps he realizes that, contrary to alt-right fantasies, there aren't enough whites interested in white pride to make a majority. Or perhaps Trump just disagrees with alt-right views. Trump isn't really part of the alt-right, even if he has gotten closer to it than most politicians. His recent moves and Clinton's speech suggest that both candidates understand that the alt-right is a leaden anchor rather than a rising force. Ramesh Ponnuru, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a senior editor for National Review. Technology companies tend to couch their products not as businesses for profit, but as gifts to humanity. The HBO comedy Silicon Valley so thoroughly mocked this impulse that I heard companies in the valley ordered their spokespeople to stop using the phrase "making the world a better place." For the biggest tech giants, faux philanthropy masks an obvious customer acquisition strategy. Making the world a more literate place Amazon says a billion people in the world have no access to books. That's why the company pledged this week to donate more Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets and Kindle eBooks to developing countries in an effort to make the world a better place by expanding readership and promoting literacy. Amazon is collaborating with a nonprofit company called Worldreader, which has already engaged with visitors to Kenya's 61 public libraries. The Kenya project demonstrates how the economics work in Amazon's favor. Most costs were borne by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Amazon donated enough Kindle Paperwhite eBook readers to supply 61 libraries, plus eBooks, which are free or cheap. That modest donation enabled some 500,000 future eBook customers to be exposed to the Amazon and Kindle brands, and the proprietary Kindle format instead of alternative formats. What's interesting about Amazon's partnership with Worldreader is that the nonprofit has been spreading literacy through eBook readers for six years. Worldreader is "platform agnostic" and started out by promoting primarily open eBook formats. Ideally, Worldreader helps educate the world's children, who can grow up to be literate adults and buy their own books. Amazon's donations make sure that millions of these new readers get used to Kindles and the Kindle format. The customer-acquisition-as-good-works approach is right out of the Facebook and Google playbook. Making the world a more connected place Most people in the world do not have Internet access. Facebook wants to make India a better place by bringing free Wi-Fi to Indian train stations and a few villages. The chairman of India's RailTel told the Economic Times newspaper that Facebook wants to install Wi-Fi at a large number of stations, plus drive data services to Indians living within a six-mile radius from those stations. RailTel is a telecom with the primary mission of building and running IT for India's railroad system. Google last year announced the installation of Wi-Fi hotspots at Indian stations. Already, 1.5 million people are now using free Google Wi-Fi at 19 stations. It turns out that, while Google is working on covering 400 of the biggest stations in India with Wi-Fi, Facebook wants to cover smaller stations and nearby communities. The question is why? These two Silicon Valley giants make billions on advertising in the world's wealthiest markets. Why work so hard going after users so poor or remote? The World Economic Forum claims that around 4 billion people today don't have access to the internet. And 1 billion of them are in India. That's far more people than the 3.2 billion who do have access. Those already accessing the Internet, for the most part, are probably already using Google and Facebook services, or have decided not to. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants, according to a recent PopSci feature, to "friend the rest of humanity." Toward that end, Facebook is "working to beam the Internet, via DIY transmitters, or drones and lasers, to the billions on the planet who do not yet have online access." Clearly Google wants those same people using Google services as well. Facebook spins this effort as a kind of philanthropy. But as I detailed in this space in February, Facebook's Internet.org is not an "org" or nonprofit. It's just a business development group executing a customer acquisition strategy inside Facebook. Both Facebook and Google tried to "friend the rest of humanity" with zero-rating schemes. (Zero-rating is when bandwidth is free as long as you're using a specific app or visiting a specific site.) They did this by partnering with local telecoms around the world to offer free internet access when people use the services that either Facebook or Google offer. Facebook's approach involved a mobile website and app called Facebook Free Basics. While this began as a subsidy (provided by the carrier, not Facebook), it expanded into an America Online-like "internet lite" kind of offering, where any company wanting to get involved could offer a slimmed down version of its services, which were housed on Facebook servers instead of the regular internet. At some point, Facebook claimed Free Basics was available in 38 countries, all of which were in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Today, it's not clear in how many countries it's still available. (Facebook didn't respond to my request for information.) Facebook has struggled to get its "Free Basics" program accepted. India banned Facebook Free Basics as a violation of net neutrality. Egypt banned Free Basics because Facebook refused to allow the Egyptian government to use the app to spy on users. In Angola, software pirates hijacked the Wikipedia app inside Free Basics to share files illegally. Despite setbacks, Facebook Free Basics is still in place and even expanding in some markets. Meanwhile, Google's zero-rating scheme, called Free Zone, appears to have failed to make the world a better place, although this fact has not been reported before, to the best of my knowledge. (Google did not respond to my request for information.) I contacted most of Google's Free Zone telecom partners. Some refused comment, but others said the program was now defunct. A representative with Kenya's Safaricom even told me that Free Zone in that country was just a 3-month promotion in 2014 and is no longer in operation. I also crowdsourced the question among my Google+ followers in markets where Free Zone is supposed to be operating. I was told that in South Africa, the Philippines, Nigeria and Thailand that Free Zone is not available. As far as I can tell, Google Free Zone is dead. Ultimately, Facebook Free Basics and Google Free Zone are mostly expedient placeholders for the heavy stuff -- namely bringing cheaper or faster internet to unconnected or poorly connected communities around the world. Google this week hired Tom Moore, who is the co-founder of satellite-based broadband service provider WildBlue Communications Inc., to head up the company's ambitious Loon program. Loon is an initiative in Google parent Alphabet's X research labs for using balloons to relay internet connectivity to remote populations. We also learned this week that Facebook has commissioned Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket company to launch Facebook's first satellite into orbit, scheduled for Sept. 3. The satellite is intended to enable Facebook to beam internet connectivity to "large parts of West, East and Southern Africa," according to Zuckerberg. Google and Facebook are also working on drones, lasers and other technologies to bring connectivity to the disconnected worldwide. Making the world a better place for Amazon, Facebook and Google As Microsoft learned a few years ago when it tried to compete with Google Search using Bing -- and as every new social network learns when it comes out with an alternative to Facebook -- when it comes to big internet brands, people pick something and stick with it forever. (McDonald's learned the same lesson, which is why that burger chain's customer acquisition strategy involves "Happy Meals," clowns and "Playplaces.") So when the majority of the people on the planet do start reading eBooks and get online, and do pick their favorite brands, Amazon, Facebook and Google want to be there to scoop up those future lifelong users. More than a philanthropic service, its also a forward-looking business plan. Sure: These companies and their customer-acquisition strategies may, in fact, make the world a better place. But let's not give them too much credit. With the billions they stand to profit, they won't need it. Only Jeremy Corbyn could choose to make a speech on arts spending in Edinburgh, where arts spending is devolved and therefore wouldnt be under his control if he became Prime Minister. But thats incidental by now we can recognise that such peculiar decisions are standard fixtures and fittings of his campaign. More notable was an off the cuff remark about the definition of wealth in our society: I dont consider myself high-brow or wealthy, but I still enjoy some aspects of classical music. Lets leave aside the idea that high-brow and wealthy are in any way linked. There are plenty of wealthy people who are distinctly not high-brow, and Corbyn should know that this country has a fine tradition of working class intellectuals many of them self-taught, such as the Pitmen Painters. Instead, consider that declaration: I dont consider myselfwealthy. Really? Corbyn has been an MP for 33 years, routinely earning well above the average salary and accruing a generous pension along the way. His career has progressed in the last 12 months, lifting his earnings above 137,000 a year. Good for him. But is this really not a state of wealth? Most people would view it otherwise not least his own socialist brethren. If not, then presumably we should assume that when he calls for taxes on the rich, he must mean those earning substantially more than 137,000 a year. The middle classes who Labour normally sting with tax rises will be relieved to hear it. The 3rd annual Rosary Festival will be held over two days, Oct. 6 in Ste. Genevieve and Oct. 7 in Bonne Terre. The festival will feature guest speaker Father Matthew Mauriello of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mauriello was appointed by his bishop to the North American Congress on Mercy and was subsequently named its president. He spearheaded the first Congress on Mercy in Washington, DC in November 2009 and has written a spiritual book, "Mercies Remembered," of his priestly experiences. Mauriello is also an accomplished cook and the author of "From a Rectory Kitchen." In writing the cookbook, he collaborated with Franca Bosio Bertoli, the cook he met in the rectory at St. Josephs Church in Danbury where he was assigned in 1992. He was enthralled with her food, as her cooking reminded him of his mother and grandmothers style. He has appeared on the Cooking Channels Holy and Hungry with Sherri Shepherd. On Oct. 6 Mauriello will preside over a Day of Recollection to commemorate the Year of Mercy at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 13370 Highway 32, Ste. Genevieve. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with his first talk, followed by Mass, the Rosary, and a second talk, concluding at 2:30 p.m. Drinks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch. There is no charge to attend; however, donations will be collected to help cover his travel expenses. This event is open to the general public. The Day of Recollection takes place during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. The Holy Father exclaimed that this is to be a year of hope and comfort. According to Pope Francis, It is good to feel Jesus compassionate gaze upon us, just as it was felt by the sinful woman in the house of the Pharisee. On Oct. 7, the festival will continue at the Shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary, 7762 Richardson Road, Bonne Terre. Mauriello will give two talks: the first at 10 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m. An original painting of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii - acquired by Mauriello and blessed by the Bishop of Pompeii in 2011 - will be on display. He will speak on the significance of the painting and on the importance of devotion to the Rosary. Bishop Robert Hermann will offer Mass at 3 p.m. Dessert will be served after the Mass. Please bring a chair for the outdoor Mass. A pasta meal, using one of Mauriello's recipes, will be served at the Shrine on Oct. 7 and will be provided at no charge. To help prepare food and accommodations, please RSVP to 314-562-5927 or email, mlbroome1@gmail.com by Oct. 1. Donations to help support the shrine will be gratefully accepted. Both of Mauriello's books will be available during the festival. About the Shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary The Shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary was inaugurated on October 13, 2014 by Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, auxiliary Bishop-emeritus of St. Louis. It is located in a temporary structure until a permanent chapel can be built. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for individuals of all faiths to come and pray for their intentions. The Bonne Terre Fire Department was called to 31 South Allen St. Friday at 9:05 a.m. for a fire at The Flower Cottage in Bonne Terre. Bonne Terre Fire Chief Matt Barton said he arrived at the business a few minutes before the fire truck and there were flames coming from the window on the right side of the building. There was quite a bit of fire coming out of the window and the people that were there said there was an air conditioning unit that was in the window, said Barton. It had a lot of fire around it and it was pretty much contained to that side of the building. We were able to get a pretty good knock on it, which helped. Fire departments assisting Bonne Terre were Big River, Desloge and Farmington. Barton said it was a bad time of day and most of the volunteer firefighters were working. He added they just need more help. Barton also contacted the state fire marshals office and Ameren came out to cut the power line from the building. I spoke to the fire marshal and due to the fact there were no obvious signs of arson or anything like that, it was obviously an accident, he made the decision that as long as I didnt feel it was suspicious he wasnt going to come out and investigate, said Barton. I would say that it was probably an electrical fire from what it appeared to be. Its unknown if the building was total loss, but Barton said the owner lost everything in her store. He added what didnt burn, got messed up from smoke and heat. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Esteban Gutierrez will take a five-place grid penalty coming into qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix after he was involved in another controversial 'blocking' incident during third practice at Spa-Francorchamps. The Mexican received criticism from Lewis Hamilton and then Daniel Ricciardo for his conduct when being lapped during the Hungarian Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix respectively, though the Haas driver insisted his actions weren't intentional. However, Gutierrez ran into yet more controversy in FP3 at Spa after being caught by a full speed Pascal Wehrlein while touring on the racing line at the top of Eau Rouge, forcing the Manor driver to the grass at Radillon as they entered the Kemmel Straight. The near miss prompted the German to lash out at Gutierrez on the team radio, and the FIA quickly confirmed that the incident was under investigation. It took a while before the five-place penalty was handed down, along with the addition of three points on Gutierrez's licence, but the Mexican joins Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Marcus Ericsson (all mechanically-related) in taking penalties before qualifying. WEH (on GUT) : "The ****ing idiot, what is he doing?" Tempers running high already in #FP3 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/KuyxQLcKxR-- Formula 1 (@F1) August 27, 2016 Meanwhile, a similar incident between Kevin Magnussen and Sebastian Vettel was also put under investigation after the Renault slowed ahead of his fast lap, impeding the former champion - who promptly made his feelings known... "It's free practice, who gives a s**t..." Potty-mouth Vettel makes his feelings about FP3 and a Renault known in his typically blunt style-- Ollie Barstow (@OllieBarstow) August 27, 2016 On this occasion, however, the stewards decided that there was no case to answer, allowing K-Mag to take up his earned grid slot. The Samsung Empire Strikes Back Samsung Electronics wants the mobile workforce to know one thing: iIs Galaxy line is about a lot more than smartphones. Samsung has been pushing hard -- including at XChange 2016 this week -- the message that its Galaxy TabPro S 2-in-1 is a good fit for on-the-go workers. Of course, it's Microsoft's Surface Pro line that proved the 2-in-1 convertible tablet concept could catch on with workers. But Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S is "the first 2-in-1 that could truly compete against the Microsoft Surface" line, said Tim Wagner, global president for commercial mobility services at DMI, a Bethesda, Md.-based solution provider. "By doing so, Samsung should be able to grab groundswell that Microsoft has created." The TabPro S is "the right size and has all of the right equipment under the hood," along with boasting a number of key differences from the Surface Pro 4, said Wagner, a former Samsung executive whose current firm is a partner of both Samsung and Microsoft. Following is the CRN Test Center's comparison of how Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S and Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 compare on specs and price. STRATFORD Police have confirmed that the David L. Harden, the Stratford town councilman representing Dist. 4., was arrested Thursday night after a domestic dispute. Hardens wife, Indiana, who serves on the Town Beautification Committee, was arrested too. David Harden, 39, and Indiana Harden, 29, were both charged with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault and unlawful restraint. A neighbor or passer-by called police after hearing the commotion going on inside their house on Bowe Avenue at about 9 p.m.. Police said that the pair were separated and that they were arraigned on Friday. BRIDGEPORTMissing the the silver screen of the now-defunct Bijou Theater? The venue will open its doors Tuesday for a one-night run of The Armor of Light, a documentary film that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015. The documentary follows a pro-life evangelical activist and the mother of a gun violence victim as they explore the Christian base of pro-gun politics. The film is being presented Connecticut Against Gun Violence, who plan to follow the screening with a panel full of household names. Lucy McBath, featured in the film, spoke recently at the Democratic National Convention about the death of the shooting death of her son in Jacksonville, FL. She'll be joined by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and retired Bridgeport Police Chief Arthur Carter in the question-and-answer session. Where: Bijou Theater, 275 Fairfield Avenue. When: Reception at 5:45 p.m.; screening at 6:30 p.m.; panel at 8:00 p.m. If you go: Seating is free but limited (same for parking at Broad St). Guarantee a seat by signing up online (fair warning, this will probably put you on a mailing list): http://bit.ly/2bjTWN3. Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 64F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. 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 entertainment A happy ending for Education Minister Robert Halfon, on honeymoon in Brazil after marrying Brazilian partner Vanda Colombo. Halfon, 47, had to apologise to Vanda last year after allies of Tatler Tory Mark Clarke reportedly intended to blackmail him by filming him leaving London's East India Club with a lover an ex mistress of Clarke after the Election. An official inquiry revealed Halfon tried to get Clarke a job at Tory HQ around the same time. A happy ending for Education Minister Robert Halfon, on honeymoon in Brazil after marrying Brazilian partner Vanda Colombo The roots of Liam Fox's feud with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over Brexit negotiations can be traced back to a referendum campaign ruckus. A 'Leave' campaign ally of Foreign Secretary Johnson said Fox now International Trade Secretary complained: 'Why is Boris on TV more than me?' The source added: 'We didn't have the heart to say, 'Because people think Boris is great and you're ghastly.' Dog's item last week about Michael Gove's 'trouser profile' wife Sarah says she did not marry him for his 'big heart' has jogged the memory of a pal of ex-journo Gove on The Times newspaper. Posing for a group photograph on a freezing winter's day, Gove told the snapper: 'Hurry up, it's so cold my **** has shrunk all the way up to my knee.' Courteney makes friends with MPs A brief sighting of Friends star Courteney Cox at Parliament had MPs falling over themselves in a rush to take 'selfies'. The actress was in London to promote her film with outdoor adventurer Bear Grylls in which the pair abseiled down cliffs and shared maggots found in a rotting sheep. Sounds like a vicar's tea party compared to the Westminster political jungle. Courteney Cox was in London to promote her film with outdoor adventurer Bear Grylls Ex-Labour MP turned Strictly contestant Ed Balls seems set to make the same kind of balletic impact on the show as other, ahem, Westminster heavyweights such as Ann Widdecombe and political reporter John Sergeant. Asked to describe his style, Ed says: 'I've got rhythm. I can do the Hi Ho Silver Lining dance, rock 'n' roll, Eighties, UK indie, up in the air.' Anton du Beke must be quaking in his spats. Storm in a pint glass Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to use the G4S security firm for the Labour conference in Liverpool, because of the firm's links to Israel, has prompted derision from aides who work at the party's HQ at the 'Southside' skyscraper in London's Victoria. Labour shares the building with G4S and staff from both organisations drink together in a nearby pub. 'We get on fine, it's just political posturing,' said a Labour insider. Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to use the G4S security firm for the Labour conference in Liverpool has prompted derision from aides Priti Patel's move to International Development Secretary was bold and significant, says the Mail on Sunday British people are a naturally generous breed. It is in our very fabric to dig deep whenever misfortune strikes the weak and vulnerable. This compassion has always been a source of pride to this newspaper, which approves of sending foreign aid to those most in need. But from the moment David Cameron pledged to spend a fixed cut of our national income on aid a fatuous and vainglorious exercise in political posturing he put Britons faith in charity abroad at grave risk. The guaranteed 0.7 per cent slice means that the Department for International Development will receive a staggering 16 billion a year by 2020 a vast sum at any time, and a truly colossal fortune in an age of austerity. To gain a sense of perspective, it is by far the highest rate of any major economy in the world. And where has all this bounty actually gone? Millions of pounds are flagrantly wasted, and have found their way into the hands of crooks, terrorists and charlatans, as officials struggled to spend the money which kept pouring into their coffers. It leads to absurdities on a weekly basis: today, we report on the latest farcical episode in the botched 300 million airstrip project on St Helena. Our investigation into these abuses led to 235,000 signing a petition calling for a rethink and uniquely for a newspaper campaign a Commons debate on the target. Yet still Mr Cameron stood firm on his ringfenced billions. The arrival of Theresa May in Downing Street has changed the mood music. Her appointment of Priti Patel as International Development Secretary was bold and significant: Patel has long raised concerns about the use of aid money, and even called for the department to be abolished. As she begins her shake-up, the signs are encouraging. She will prioritise national security, shouldering the cost of non-combat troops countering Islam. Plus she will use her departments expertise to drum up trade deals in the post-Brexit world. We warmly welcome these moves. But the scandal of the fixed target remains. As it pushes her budget inexorably skywards, the temptation will be for officials to hunt for unnecessary projects on which to splurge the cash. She is vowing to slash waste and inefficiency, and demand that all projects will have to demonstrate a tangible benefit before she signs them off. Our battle will not be over until she takes an axe to the 0.7 itself. And to that end, we will be more than happy to give her all the aid she needs. Unite... and destroy It is disturbing enough that the Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary was allowed to spew his poisonous bile for years, inspiring a generation of jihadist followers. Anjem Choudary speaking to a group of demonstrators protesting a film. He inspired a generation of jihadist followers Now we learn that we were bankrolling his gangs activities to the tune of 1 million, which was channelled through a series of front companies, including a sweet shop. Prime Minister Theresa May should look to kick out bogus students and order unskilled EU workers to have permits, says Andrew Green of Migration Watch UK It is all too predictable. The new immigration figures published on Thursday have confirmed that the Government has made no progress in getting net immigration below the current level of one third of a million a year let alone to the tens of thousands promised by David Cameron. So it is clearer than ever that the Brexit negotiations will be crucial if we want to bring the number of EU migrants down. While the public has made its view plain, a battle is being waged in Whitehall over the terms of the future deal. And the political classes are showing signs of wriggling. They must not be allowed to damage the settlement and our future ability to control mass migration. In choosing to leave the EU, a significant majority of voters showed they were profoundly concerned about massive levels of net migration. It is now essential the result is accepted for what it was: an emphatic democratic mandate not just for the control of immigration but also for its significant reduction. A recent opinion poll found that all Leavers and half the Remainers believe the referendum result should be respected. It would seem that Owen Smith MP, a candidate in the Labour leadership election, has failed to get the message. Smith said last week that, if elected, he would seek to block the opening of the Brexit negotiations unless a second referendum or a General Election were held. He is not alone. Former Cabinet Secretary Lord ODonnell has also suggested that MPs might want a second go and possibly another national poll. And Gavin Barrett, a prominent law professor, recently, suggested that the UK must perform a U-turn, by finding an adequately democratically respectable way to reverse the publics decision (presumably by asking the public repeatedly until they give the right answer). One dangerous suggestion is Prof Barretts claim supported by others that a Norway-style solution would be an acceptable result of the Brexit negotiations. This would mean Britain becoming a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) in its own right, preserving membership of the single market but with no say in its rules and no effective limits on immigration. This would leave us in a worse situation than the one we have now. There are other siren voices, too, including from those of some prominent Brexiteers. They claim that, yes, the UK must now take sovereign control of immigration policy but that we dont necessarily have to reduce net migration! But this would be a dangerous misreading of the most significant event in recent British political history. Immigration has been one of the top issues of public concern since 2013. By June this year, it was seen as the most important issue. The Government has made no progress in getting net immigration below the current level of one third of a million a year let alone to the tens of thousands promised by David Cameron. File photo The public would see immediately that sovereign decision-making power over immigration, achieved through the Brexit vote, is worthless without cutting migrant numbers. The real question now is: how might it be achieved? Around half of net migration comes from the EU and will be covered in the Brexit negotiations. Since 70 per cent of EU migrants come here to work, that is the obvious place to start. The fact that about four-fifths of them are in low-skilled employment points the way forward. We should, after Brexit, require work permits for EU citizens on the same basis as we now require them for non-EU migrants. Moreover, Migration Watch UK calculates that such a step would reduce net migration by something of the order of 100,000 a year. There would be little damage to the economy as low-skilled workers are, at best, neutral in their impact on the budget and productivity. At the same time they add to pressures on our population which is now growing at half a million a year the fastest rate for nearly a century and equivalent to having to build a city the size of Liverpool every year for the forseeable future. Employers will complain, of course. They will say that they cannot find replacements from the one-and-a-half million British workers who are unemployed. Well, they could try improving the wages and conditions for their staff. A year or so ago a firm in Northampton imported several hundred workers from Eastern Europe to make sandwiches claiming that no British workers were available. We looked into the case and found that their advertisement demanded that applicants be available 24/7. How many British workers with families could apply under such conditions? We also learned later that the firm had not even approached the local Job Centre to find staff for them. This simply illustrates that firms could adjust if they had to. The other half of net migration is from outside the EU. Here again there is one route that is much larger than the others. Students account for 60 per cent of all such inward migration. And the trouble is that they do not appear to be leaving. Taking the average of the past three years, it seems the inflow was 123,000 a year while the outflow was 45,000. So, to put the point neutrally, about 78,000 a year are unaccounted for. This may partly explain the Prime Ministers recent remark to the effect that universities would do well to be less reliant on foreign students. Effective measures on non-EU students combined with work permits only for skilled EU workers could, over the medium term, reduce net migration to about 150,000 a year. Further reductions could be achieved by painstaking tightening of other parts of the system. The seeming impossibility of removing unlawful entrants to the country is part of the problem even when they have criminal convictions. The pressure for real and effective action is mounting, say Andrew Green, above, chairman of Migration Watch UK About half of all asylum claims, now running at 44,000 a year, are refused. Yet only half of those are actually removed. Immigration control is hard work. The devil is in the detail. Thankfully, there is still time to get this right. We have a new Government in power under a popular leader who has got off to an impressive start and who is faced with broken opposition. Mrs May and her Ministers have more political space than at any time this century to address public disquiet over mass immigration. They know it would be folly to ignore the true significance of the referendum result. A bride has spoken emotionally of the day she 'sat on the beach and cried', during her idyllic honeymoon last year, because she felt so low about her 154-kilo frame. Alice Callaghan, 25, a self-confessed former soft drink addict - who used to drink 10 cans of Pepsi Max a day - said she knew her husband, Rhys, 24, thought she was beautiful but she didn't feel it inside. Mrs Callaghan, from Blacktown, NSW, told Daily Mail Australia that she was a 'master' at hiding her feelings, but that she had a 'secret hatred' of herself. At her lowest she said she 'didn't want to go on'. All smiles: But inside, Alice Callaghan said she had a 'secret hatred' of herself She credits a gastric sleeve procedure she underwent in January this year for saving her life - and revealed her marriage 'would have been ruined' had she not had it done. 'My husband is my knight,' Mrs Callaghan said. 'He never really cared that I was bigger.' But she added, 'I'm a very good person at hiding my feelings. I bottled my feelings up and would eat them while everybody was in bed.' The registered nurse said she had always struggled with her weight and that by the time she was in year 10 at school she weighed 110 kilos. Aged 16, she attempted to curb her increasing size by attending WeightWatchers but admitted, 'I did not do the program properly. I was starving myself. It was not sustainable.' Incredible journey: Mrs Callaghan revealed she had always struggled with her size Then and now: Mrs Callaghan said her wedding dress was 'massive' and 'close to a size 32'. She now looks totally different Although she did lose 30 kilos, she said it did not take long for her to put the weight back on. After leaving school, Mrs Callaghan said she 'ballooned' because she was not active and would 'binge' on unhealthy foods. 'I would hardly eat anything during the day and at night I would have two packets of chips, a block of chocolate and ice-cream. Sweet stuff was my weakness,' she said. When Mrs Callaghan met her now-husband six years ago, her weight was back to 110 kilos. Sweet weakness: Mrs Callaghan was a self-confessed 'emotional eater' and would binge on sweet treats 'I was always self conscious but he made me feel at ease,' Mrs Callaghan said, before adding, 'and then I ballooned even more because he made me feel like I was beautiful. I got comfortable.' Mr Callaghan proposed during a surprise romantic dinner he'd arranged at Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel - arranging a platter of strawberries with 'marry me?' written in white chocolate, accompanied by a ring. After saying an ecstatic 'yes!' Mrs Callaghan said she felt 'so motivated' to lose weight. 'I said, 'I'm going to lose it before the wedding',' she revealed. But the self-confessed 'emotional eater', said the stress of wedding planning made her eat more. Wedding stress: Mrs Callaghan revealed that the stress of planning a wedding made her eat more She would binge on junk food after midnight and would 'hardly get any sleep'. Mrs Callaghan said the way she felt at her bridal shower and hens' night made her think seriously about weightloss surgery. She also revealed she had not had a period for three years due to her weight - with doctors warning her there was a 95 per cent chance she would not be able to conceive naturally. 'I was like 'what have I done to myself?' Mrs Callaghan said of the heartbreaking moment, 'I wanted to be a mother. The thought of maybe never having children just crushed me.' Health concerns: Mrs Callaghan said she had not had a period for three years due to her weight, and doctors told her she was unlikely to conceive naturally Wedding dress shopping also proved a difficult time for her. 'I did not want to go to normal shops and I was really reluctant trying on the dresses,' she said. 'I only went to one store.' Mrs Callaghan isn't certain of the size of her lacy white gown but says it was probably 'close to a size 32, it was massive'. Even so, she describes her big day, on August 29 last year, as the 'best day of my life'. Afterwards, the newlyweds enjoyed an idyllic honeymoon cruise to the Pacific islands. But it was there that Mrs Callaghan admits she broke down. Big support: Mrs Calllaghan described her husband, Rhys, as her 'knight' Honeymoon tears: Mrs Callaghan said she broke down on her honeymoon and remembers sitting on the beach crying 'On my honeymoon my legs were swollen and I could hardly walk,' she said. ' My husband is very sporty and he wanted to do active stuff. I remember sitting on the beach crying my eyes out because I could not join him. 'One day we did a waterfall climb and I got half way up and I was puffing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. I said to Rhys, 'keep going' and then I sat on a bench and I cried the whole time.' She said it was at that moment that she thought 'that's it'. On her return to Australia, a desperate Mrs Callaghan booked an appointment to discuss gastric sleeve surgery - a procedure that would result in 85 per cent of her stomach being removed. Bouncing back: Mrs Callaghan said she was 'so ashamed' of herself but now feels 'amazing' Big decision: It was following her return from honeymoon that Mrs Callaghan thought 'that's it' 'The day before I went to see the surgeon, I was the lowest I had ever been,' she said. 'I needed it to save my life.' 'I was so ashamed of myself,' she went on. 'I could not get out of bed some days. I would just cry. I could not imagine 12 months ahead of me.' Mrs Callaghan recalls crying in front of her new husband, but being unable to tell him what was wrong. 'I would just cry and he would be like 'what's wrong, we just got married,'' she said. Life saving: Mrs Callaghan candidly said that surgery saved her life and she now happily wears a leotard to take part in physie competitions 'The surgery saved my life,' she said, 'I honestly would not be here.' She added that the emotional toll created by her size 'would have ruined my marriage'. As Mrs Callaghan, who cut out soft drinks completely and lost 12 kilos naturally before the procedure, had private health insurance, the op cost her $6000. She said she felt 'scared before the procedure' and that afterwards it took her an hour to drink 30mls of water - something she said was extremely painful. New beginnings: Mrs Callaghan said everything changed following surgery 'At one point I said, 'what have I done?'' she remembers, 'but the feeling did not last' As the weight began to drop off her, she said everything changed - including 'the way I think'. Now, she weighs just over 97 kilos and has started taking part in physie - also known as physical culture - competitions, which was something she used to enjoy as a child. 'It was a huge goal for me to get back in a leotard and compete properly,' she said. 'I'm still conscious - those things will take a long time to go - but I feel amazing. I can walk without getting knee pain. I just feel so on top of the world. It feels so good to be normal.' Feeling good: Mrs Callaghan said that it now feels 'so good to be normal' Mrs Callaghan, who has been documenting her progress on Facebook and on Instagram @sleevemetolife.vsg, even posted a bikini shot publicly recently. 'I do not have a flat stomach, I have rolls, I have skin and I do not care any more. I am going to embrace my body and be who I want to be,' she said, adding, 'Screw society, I do not have a perfect body but I have a bikini. 'The biggest thing I want to learn is to be confident and love myself. I never loved myself. 'I'm never going to be a petite size 6 but I need to love myself for who I am. That's the biggest message I want to get out. I'm now doing things I never thought I would be able to do.' New woman: Following her incredible transformation, Mrs Callaghan said she is going to embrace her body Keep going: She now fluctuates between a size 12 and 14 and says she won't stop until she loses another 25 kilos Mrs Callaghan, who is 171cm tall, now weighs 98 kilos and fluctuates between a size 12 and 14, said she has another 25 kilos to lose and won't stop until she gets there. In addition to her physie competitions, she can now run. 'My husband has lost 10 kilos too,' she added. She said she had a lot of 'bad reactions' when she told people she was having a sleeve. 'It should not be like that,' she said. 'You get criticised because you're fat and then you're criticised because you want to do something about it. I'm proving them all wrong.' Mrs Callaghan's delighted husband told Daily Mail Australia,'the best bit is that Alice is happy. I already thought she was beautiful but she smiles more now. It's really good to go home and see her so happy.' Nothing could have prepared Megan Evans for her first trip to Cambodia six years ago. Driving along the dirty roads of Siem Reap, she was struck by the poverty. Children were begging in the streets, animals ran rampant and the heat was nothing short of stifling. But armed with bags full of haberdashery, fabric and sewing machines, Mrs Evans set out to make a difference to the women and children who needed it most. Life changing: Women in Cambodia are stitching together $6 which are sold in Spotlight stores across Australia Leading the way: Megan Evans (pictured) is the woman behind the bag and first travelled to Cambodia six years ago to teach the women how to sew as part of the Stitch in Time project New life: The women taking part in the project come from difficult backgrounds of domestic abuse or poverty STITCH IN TIME PROJECT The Stitch in Time program was launched in 2006 and is run by Spotlight. It empowers women living in difficult situations by teaching them a vocational skill (sewing) that enables them to generate an income and better their circumstances. T he program has expanded to include key partnerships in Vietnam, Cambodia and Maningrida in the Northern Territory. To buy a bag and support the project, click here. Advertisement Mrs Evans is part of Spotlight's Stitch in Time project that aims to empower women living in difficult situations. In Cambodia the program is run in conjunction with the charity Together for Cambodia, who provide vocational training for young people and run a children's home for 40 at risk or orphaned children. The Melbourne mother-of-one was given the task of coming up with a simple bag design that the Cambodian women could learn to sew. The bag would then be sold in Spotlight stores across Australia, with the proceeds to go back to the women and children. The future is bright: Funds raised will also go towards supporting at risk or orphaned children in the children's home Fast learners: The bag is put together using four pieces of fabric and despire the language barrier Mrs Evans said the women were able to pick up the skills in one day 'I used to run a class making simple tote bags, and I put that design to practise,' Mrs Evans told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was very simple, you only need four pieces of fabric. 'From there, I was invited to Cambodia to help teach the women.' Having never travelled before, Mrs Evans said her first trip to Cambodia in 2010 was 'eye opening'. 'I was probably unprepared for what I did see, it was difficult and an eye opener and it made me put my life in to perspective,' she said. Flow-on affect: The women who are part of the program are now able to support themselves and their families Confronted by what years of civil war had done to the country and its people, Mrs Evans set to work teaching the women how to sew. In a tin shed on the grounds of the children's home, that only had electricity installed two days before her arrival, she taught the women to put together the bag. 'All the women had struggled in their lives either through abuse, a lot of them had come from battered homes and husbands who abused them,' she said. Others women were mothers who were forced to give up their children to the home as they were unable to support them financially. Changing lives: Six years after the program started the women have moved to a store front and expanded the business Business is booming: As well as providing bags to Spotlight, they sell laundry bags to local hotels Despite none of the women speaking English, it took just one day for them to pick up the basic skills. They practiced together for four days before the Spotlight team felt confident the women could manage the running of the sewing business themselves. Each month they need to meet a quota of bags, which are then sold in Spotlight stores and online for $5.99. Spreading equality: Mrs Evans said the Cambodian women are given the same working rights as people in Australia On top of this income, they have expanded their skill set and their business to supply local hotels with laundry bags. Other women have even gone on to get further training in the industry. Mrs Evans went back to visit the team earlier this year, and was amazed at how much the program had changed their lives. 'The Stitch in Time team has moved from the tiny shed to get a proper store,' she said. 'The women start at nine and finish at five, and we're giving them all the benefits of anyone in Australia: sick leave, carers leave, maternity leave and holiday pay.' For the kids: Children in care are given a future through the project as it helps fund their education Show your support: 'One small thing can make a difference, and buying a bag really does change a life,' Mrs Evans said Having a stable income has allowed the women to support themselves and their family. The rest of the funds have gone towards helping orphaned kids in the children's home. 'It's giving them an education and building a new home for Cambodia,' she said. And so to the continuing national hunt for Prince William's stiff upper lip. It was first reported missing when he told a boy who had lost his mum to cancer that he missed his own mother every single day, and had done for 20 years. It was still deemed AWOL a couple of days later when he visited a call centre that runs a helpline for worried parents and begged for 'an easy one, please'. He went on to explain why he wanted to be let off the hook. 'I'm carrying a lot of things at the moment. I will be in floods of tears at the end otherwise. Scroll down for videos RACHEL JOHNSON: And so to the continuing national hunt for Prince William's stiff upper lip 'I've had too many sad families with the air ambulance. I can't have any more stuff I'm steeling myself the best I can' I admit, I had to read this twice (in my house when I was growing up, male tears were permitted only during annual viewings of Chariots Of Fire). Prince William and his perfect wife and family are the gleaming new shopfront of the Royal Family. If he were being true to strict Windsor form, he would allow no cracks in that fascia to show, as a point of principle and pride. When a Dimbleby asked William's father, Prince Charles, whether he was in love with Lady Diana, he grimaced and said: 'Whatever love is.' When the Queen recently met Martin McGuinness, a former IRA terrorist, he asked her how she was. She drawled, with amused hauteur, 'Alive' (presumably to remind McGuinness that one of her close relatives, thanks to his own brothers- in-arms, was not. Top bantz!). Prince William and his wife and family are the gleaming new shopfront of the Royal Family Coming back to Wills: isn't he supposed to be, like his grandmother, the living incarnation of Blitz spirit rather than this blubbering blancmange? If he goes on like this, he'll be talking about safe spaces and trigger warnings and telling us all about the times when it all gets too much and you need to reach out. Oh, in fact he did say that last bit last week, soon after he comforted the boy in a hospice. And I say, good for him. Prince William is a young man and a father of two young children who lost his mother aged 15. Having children let alone losing a parent makes us all a bit weepy at times. But he had to walk in front of the world, alongside his little brother, following his mother's coffin mounted on a gun carriage. Resting on top of the coffin was a wreath, in which nestled a brave white envelope inscribed with one heartbreaking word: 'Mummy.' William is of course following his mother's example. Prince William is turning out to be our true 'heir of sorrows' William was wheeled out in a grey suit and tie to inspect with dry eyes the carpet of flowers and teddies and to comfort the hysterical mourners camping at the gates of his own home. He has never been allowed to grieve, in public, the terrible loss of his mother in a car crash. His job takes him to similar wrenching scenes of death and disaster. If it helps him, and anyone else, to emote occasionally in public and admit that at times things are hard, and that even future kings have difficulty 'processing stuff', then he should have all our blessing. If, by being so honest, and open, he manages to change the culture that boys don't cry, and that men don't show emotions or talk about feelings, then good. He is of course following his mother's example. Prince William is turning out to be our true 'heir of sorrows' and also the first male Royal to share his sorrows as a public service. Mummy would be so proud. The Blurred Lines model Emily Ratajkowski, right, posted a naked selfie from a hot tub in Santorini last week My position on the burkini ban, as on most things really, is that people must be left alone in peace unless actively causing harm. J. K. Rowling takes a far more feminist line on the bothersome topic. 'So Sarkozy calls the burkini a 'provocation',' she tweeted. 'Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always, always 'asking for it'.' It strikes me that J. K. Rowling is overtaking St Mary Berry of Bake Off who even knows whether it is right or wrong to dunk a Jaffa Cake in her campaign to become the moral compass of the nation, but is she right on this? The Blurred Lines model Emily Ratajkowski, right, posted a naked selfie from a hot tub in Santorini last week, having just revealed that when it comes to clothes, she's 'most at home' IN a bikini (not OUT of one), so what's that about, eh? I think the lesson is this: whether women cover or uncover their bodies, they'll always get it in the neck from someone. My position on the burkini ban, as on most things really, is that people must be left alone in peace unless actively causing harm After a couple of days in bed in the country, I called the doctor. The Exmoor Medical Centre fitted me in on the day. I was seen two minutes early by Dr Trill, and left in under 15 minutes with antibiotics. And my point is? Well, I would have paid good money for all that, not just for the scrip. I suspect many would, going into a long weekend. The NHS is facing unprecedented cuts, closures, and pressures. Yes, it is our National Treasure. If we want it to remain so, we will have to hold our noses, expect to pay for more services at the point of delivery, and like it too just as I did in Dulverton. PS: If Mrs May really cared about the NHS, she'd allow the axe to swing not at children's A&E wards but at HS2. Ping! Email from Topshop suggesting I browse their range for my 'Bank Holiday Wardrobe'. Whaaa? In the old days, there were summer clothes and winter clothes. Now there is Spring, Cruise, Pre-Fall and the mere suggestion there's a special 'look' for bank hols makes me pine for uniformity, as well as austerity, when it comes to dressing. Women spend 6.6 billion on clothes a year. Justin Bieber V Festival, Weston Park, Staffordshire Rating: You guys been to the chip shop yet? Is it good? asks Justin Bieber, part way through his headline set at V Festival in Weston-under-Lizard his second after Chelmsford the day before. Later, hell ponder the insanity of microwaving Pop Tarts when theyre perfectly nice cold. Say what you like about Bieber that last years credibility-seeking, R&B-flavoured Purpose album was quite nice, as these things go, that he sometimes looks, in the midst of his dancers and his flashing stage, like a bored, handsome youth lost inside a computer game but you cant accuse him of being too slick on the patter front. The Canadian teen icon is attempting a complicated manoeuvre: trying to atone for bratty, charmless episodes of his recent past, appealing for a bit more understanding from those who might judge him harshly and, above all, nudging his appeal carefully into mature new terrain. Its hard to shake the sense, most of the time, that the 22-year-old would sooner be nowhere near a stupid stage. With the air of someone half-heartedly looking for something to do His Purpose live show, dropping in at the likeable, smoothly organised V Festival ahead of a 16-date British arena run in October, aims to address all these issues. The set list goes in heavy on that album, singles such as Where Are U Now and Sorry warmly received by the rain-sodden, glitter-smeared crowd. A Bieber voiceover intones self-improvement slogans at dramatic moments, to let us know hes on the case with the bratty stuff. But for all that, its hard to shake the sense, most of the time, that the 22-year-old would sooner be nowhere near a stupid stage. With the air of someone half-heartedly looking for something to do, he ambles about jogs up the angled bank of screens that cleverly separates two levels, wanders around, artfully grabs his crotch, trots down again. Quite often hell be involved in a little choreographed outbreak of dancing, but not enough to justify the fact that his voice keeps chirping out of the speakers even when hes holding the microphone by his side. A two-song solo interlude, in which Bieber plays the guitar and genuinely sings on decent renditions of current hit Cold Water and the Ed Sheeran co-written Love Yourself, finds him necessarily more engaged. Otherwise, Bieber is an unpersuasive presence at the centre of his own show. Biebers main stage warm-up act, Sia, has her own issues with stardom but she turned them into drama, performing off to one side, her face obscured by hair, while dancers acted out strange and creative scenes. Tinie Tempah and Faithless, making plenty of friends on the next stage over, were likewise more purposeful than the main attraction. Album of the Week By Graeme Thomson Frank Ocean Blond Def Jam/Boys Don't Cry, Out Now Rating: Prefaced by months of increasingly fevered speculation, the second album by US R&B star Frank Ocean finally arrived last weekend, teed up by a 45-minute visual album, four pop-up shops and a glossy limited-edition magazine. The cause of all this hype turns out to be a low-key affair. Blonde is album as Instagram. A collection of 17 aural snapshots some sharp, many more unfocused its a downbeat, self-absorbed, curiously confused work. Ocean isnt even sure of the title, opting for Blonde on the download and Blond on the CD. As he did on his 2012 debut, the acclaimed Channel Orange, Ocean skilfully merges modern and old-school R&B with electronic innovation, but this time he majors on murky moods rather than melody. The exceptions are terrific, but there are not enough of them. Blonde is album as Instagram. A collection of 17 aural snapshots some sharp, many more unfocused its a downbeat, self-absorbed, curiously confused work On Solo, church organ anchors a gorgeous tale of rootless hedonism. Self Control is a winningly simple soul ballad, Oceans voice and vulnerability to the fore over sparse guitar, while the sample of The Beatles Here, There And Everywhere on the aching White Ferrari is a masterstroke. The Stevie Wonder-ish Skyline To is another highlight, featuring Kendrick Lamar. Other guest spots include Radioheads Jonny Greenwood, Beyonce and James Blake but, in keeping with the subdued mood, their contributions are muted to the point of anonymity. More prominent is Oceans mother, who dispenses concerned advice Dont. Smoke. Marijuana on Be Yourself, a warning which, several songs make explicit, has gone unheeded. Ocean (above) skilfully merges modern and old-school R&B with electronic innovation, but this time he majors on murky moods rather than melody While too many of these tracks feel like sketches or fragments, lyrically Ocean is frustratingly opaque. America might be in a state of red alert, but he favours late-night, bombed-out introspection over reportage. She was going to die. C J Daugherty was sure of that, as she suddenly found herself surrounded by the members of a drug gang on a lonely street in Georgia, in the early hours of a cold and foggy night. That was the scariest moment of my life, says the author, who went on to shift nearly a million copies of her Night School books, a bestselling series of Gothic thrillers for young adults. Her fantasy novel The Secret Fire has been flying off the shelves even faster over the past few months. Now there is to be a sequel called The Secret City, but her real-life story is as dramatic as anything she puts on the page. Daugherty grew up in Americas Rocky Mountains with a father who was convinced the apocalypse was coming. He was crazy. He had a lot of guns. We were a very worried family. I told my mother at the age of 13 that I was going back to live with my grandparents in Texas, and whether she came with me or not was up to her. Daugherty became a junior crime reporter in Savannah, Georgia, dashing to the scene of each murder, shooting or stabbing just as an epidemic of crack cocaine use was sweeping the city. C.J Daugherty's (above) stories sound like real-life episodes of The Wire: My husband used to give me therapy sessions after each episode. It brought back the trauma That was when she saw her first dead body, lying on a river bank. His arms were up like this because of rigor mortis, she says, raising hers like a zombie. Then one night she found herself alone on an otherwise deserted street in a very bad part of town with four murderers, who were returning to where they had shot a man. These guys suddenly came out of the fog, walking down the middle of the street as if they owned the place. The gang leader demanded to know if she was a cop, but when he heard she was the crime correspondent of the Savannah Morning News, he spat out: I applied for that job. He claimed to have been rejected because he was black, despite having trained in journalism, after which he turned to crime. There was such despair in his voice. He asked me, Did you come all the way from Texas just to do this job? Thats how young and naive I was, she says, telling this story a long way from the Georgia ghetto. Were upstairs at a members club in London. Now in her 40s, Daugherty has a wide smile and long blonde hair and wears an electric-blue dress. Impressive as she is now, she was just a petrified kid that night in Georgia. I was thinking, This is it, theyre going to kill me right now. They didnt. The gang leader took pity on me and just said, Go back to your nice little white job and dont worry about me. I got in my car and drove away, and my hands were shaking until two in the morning. Thats why I dont do that job any more. She won multiple awards as an investigative reporter but now wants to be known only as C J. Her stories sound like real-life episodes of The Wire. My husband used to give me therapy sessions after each episode. It brought back the trauma. She met the film producer Jack Jewers a decade ago after moving to Britain to work as a journalist, then a Home Office consultant on communications. Teaching the Government how to talk about spies think about how much fun that was for all of us, she says. Her Night School books are about young people caught up in a secret society at an elite boarding school in the south of England. Not so much Harry Potter as a dark St Trinians with murder, mystery and a hefty dose of gothic teenage angst. But Daugherty has no children of her own, so how does she know the way teenagers think, speak or act? I stalk them around London, on trains, in Starbucks, she says, grinning. I did feel a bit creepy at first but now Im totally into it. They write to her for advice and marvel how she has managed to get inside their heads. I just have this great fondness for teenagers. That age is so hard. If you make it to 16 I want to say, Youre surviving. Youre nearly through to the other side of it. And youre gonna be great. She took a great risk by writing her next book, The Secret Fire, with the French fantasy author Carina Rozenfeld. You hear stories of authors who write together but fall out. Luckily, that hasnt happened to us. The Secret Fire features a regular girl from a backwater of England called Taylor and a mysterious boy from Paris called Sacha, who is indestructible until the age of 18. The sequel, The Secret City, begins just days from Sachas 18th birthday, when the curse that made him invincible is due to kill him. The only way to stop it is to defeat hideous demons. Ive turned things upside down by having a doomed boy who can only be saved by a bookish girl. She has to learn to be brave but he has to learn to trust someone. For her next project, Daugherty will return to her crime-writing roots with a murderous novel for adults but says: Im glad the only dead bodies I see these days are in my head and not for real. The Minder and EastEnders actress says she cries at least twice a week, but being back on TV this autumn in a new series of BBC comedy Inside No 9 should make things better... What is your earliest memory? I was about four, my mother was bending over my bed before she went out. She was wearing a stunning black taffeta evening dress, but the most memorable thing was her perfume, Detchema Revillon, especially made for women who wore furs. The Minder and EastEnders actress says she cries at least twice a week What sort of child were you? Precocious and mischievous. I was always ready to sing a song, do a turn, quite a show-off. We had to speak Polish at home, my mother insisted. I hated it then but am very glad we did. What is your most treasured possession? A small piece of paper my aunt scribbled a poem on when she was in Ravensbruck. She gave it to me for a Christmas present about eight years ago. My mother, grandmother and two aunts all survived being in the concentration camps. Whos your dream dinner date? The Dalai Lama. Ive met him a couple of times and I was gobsmacked by his warmth. He has a talent for making you feel you are the only person in the room. Ive been a Buddhist on and off for 25 years. What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? A family member of Dennis Waterman accused me of marrying him to further my own career. Untrue but it hurt. It was a nasty, vitriolic, public break-up. Whats the worst job youve ever done? A stint as a secretary to one of the top guys at Heinz. But a perk was that I could raid the storeroom and take as many tins without labels as I liked. You never knew what you were getting beans, soup What was the best night of your life? A couple of years ago, Jenny Jules, who acted with me in The Vagina Monologues, suggested we go to watch the Brighton Beatles. They were recreating the whole of Sgt Pepper with a full orchestra. It was joyous, life-affirming and utterly magical. When did you last cry? I cry maybe twice a week but the last time I was inconsolable was when my beloved grandson had an accident on his bike outside my house. Luckily my daughter, who is a paediatric nurse, was very calm as we whisked him to hospital to have his cut stitched. He was very proud of his little scar. Rula Lenska stars in Eurobeat Moldova at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until August 29 Whats the best thing about being famous (and worst?) Finding a restaurant can fit you in when you mention your name, or being upgraded on a flight because of who you are. The worst has to be the invasion of privacy. There used to be a line, but there isnt now. Who would play you in the film of your life? Ingrid Bergman, who was a stunningly good Hollywood actress. What should every man know about women? That women love warmth and tenderness and cuddles that dont necessarily have to go on to anything else. They also like to be thought of as intelligent and can contribute to decisions. Whats the worst pain youve experienced? Like every woman, Id say childbirth. But also, a few years ago I fell while backstage during a show and broke a rib and tore the rotator cuff in my shoulder. Have you ever had a nickname? I was called Sandy and Peanuts at school. A lot of my friends call me Ruru, and my grandson calls me Babi: Polish for granny. Rula Lenska stars in Eurobeat Moldova at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until August 29 As Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) reels under a relentless curfew and the body count increases by the day, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti seems to have emerged as the new face of Indian nationalism in the Valley. She attacked Pakistan, accusing it of prodding the ongoing turmoil in the Valley. Sources within Muftis Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told Mail Today that the anti-Pakistan stance that Mufti has assumed had not come easy to the chief minister. J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said that only five per cent in the Valley are pro-Azadi. She met PM Modi in New Delhi recently Mufti battled a whole band of detractors within her own party to take the hard line against Pakistan and to echo the sentiments of her ally. A highly-placed PDP source told Mail Today: The new Mehbooba Mufti has in a single stroke and in a few days time changed the narrative of the political scene in the Valley. She put her foot down in the face of strong opposition from certain quarters within the party. "She made it clear to us: I am not going to put up two faces - one here in the state and the other to the Centre. "Those opposing the move had to toe her line as she is the supreme leader of the party. Game-changer PDP sources also told Mail Today that Mufti fully understands the compulsions of her political situation. She can rein in, pacify, or engage the separatists only with the help of the Union government, where the ruling party happens to be her ally in the state. Meanwhile, those in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp maintain that Muftis nationalistic stance reflects her comprehension of the real political situation of the Valley. She is now actually talking to the majority of those who elected her and not just the separatists. The chief minister is echoing not just her thoughts about the situation, but that of the majority living in the Valley. We have always said that only five districts of the Valley are disturbed and not the whole state as is made out to be. Now, she has also accepted that only five per cent are pro-Azadi, said Abha Khanna, director of Jammu Kashmir Study Circle (JKSC), an RSS-supported research group working in the state. While BJP leaders denied commenting on Muftis stand in general, national secretary Shrikant Sharma said it was a welcome step. Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader hailing from J&K said Mufti has finally woken up to the ground realities. When you become the ruler, it is then that you are accosted by hard realities. It is matter of political survival for her now. PDP is in a precarious crisis. Adversities If violence continues Mufti will in the same proportion lose her credibility and face with the peace-loving majority. If the government falls, she will be the biggest loser. But, the larger thing is that if she can take on the secessionists, we are with her, he added. Another explanation for Muftis Pakistan bashing and her support to the curfew and law agencies in the state was that she was feeling betrayed by the separatists. Mufti tried hard to resolve the crisis, but the separatists did not support her. In fact, the level of violence this time reflects that they have crossed a vital and thin line which Mufti can no longer afford to let them, said a J&K BJP leader. On Sunday, Mufti called on PM Modi and attacked Pakistan. Our Prime Minister took bold initiatives of inviting Nawaz Sharif for oath-taking ceremony and later flew to Lahore. This was unfortunately followed by the Pathankot terror attack, she said after the hour-long meeting. Asaduddin Owaisi slams CM Mehbooba Mufti All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday demanded immediate talks with the separatists to resolve Kashmir issue. His demand for talks with the separatists came soon after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Prime Minister held talks in New Delhi, to find out ways to bring situation under control in the Valley. The AIIMIM chief and Hyderbad MP said: This is what they had said in their alliance agenda. They had promised to hold talks with the separatists. The situation in the Valley has to be brought back to normalcy. Use of pallet gun should be stopped. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi demanded immediate talks with the separatists to resolve the Kashmir issue After her meeting with the PM, Mehbooba blamed Pakistan for creating troubles in the state, while hinting that the government would not hold formal talks with the separatists. Owaisi held both the Centre and the state government responsible for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. The Srinivas Group of colleges in Mangalore has sent a circular to its female students stating that they cannot attend their classes in burqas. Protests broke out at the college as the Muslim students said they were being denied the right to practice their religion, which is a basic fundamental right as laid down in the Constitution. The students refused to attend their classes and held a demonstration at the college entrance. A group of Muslim students from the Srinivas college of Pharmacy boycotted their classes and staged a demonstration. (Image for representation only) A group of Muslim students from the college of Srinivas college of Pharmacy boycotted their classes and staged a demonstration on Saturday. Coastaldigest reported that the Campus Front of India, a Muslim outfit, had organised the protest, which was joined by the parents of the Muslim students. The protesters also expressed their dissatisfaction over the college management's decision not to increase the lunch break on Fridays, which the Muslim students demanded in order to perform their Juma prayers. The burqa ban in Mangalore has come at a time when French Muslims are protesting against the ban on burkini swimwear Protesting students also alleged that the male students were not allowed to grow beards. This comes at a time when troubled Europe is debating over burqas, niqabs and burkinis. French mayors are drawing international anger for banning the burkini, an all-encompassing swimsuit worn by a small minority of Muslim women. Burkinis are a recent retail invention, not a religious requirement in any country. The multi-million-dollar surrogacy business in India has been hit by a downturn even as the country debates the merits of a proposed legislation that aims to ban hiring of wombs in a bid to stop exploitation of women. The dawdling trend has become noticeable in the past two to three years following restrictions from the authorities and legal battles over cross-country IVF babies through surrogates. When the government barred foreigners from hiring Indian surrogates, the industry that was at its peak during 2000-2012 went into a decline. After the Cabinet approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 this week, IVF clinics have decided not to take up any Indian cases. (File picture of surrogate mothers in a house in Anand of Gujarat) Several doctors in the national capital say they are not getting many patients for surrogacy. Many surrogate homes in the city have shut down owing to losses. Earlier, there was a high demand for surrogates from foreigners. We opened the business fulfilling all legal formalities and abiding by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. It was doing well until the government directed the IVF clinics not to allow foreigners for surrogacy, said Bajrang Sharan, from the Gurgaon-based Vansh Surrogacy consultants. We were associated with the noted private hospitals in Delhi for cases. But now there are only few clients, so we have decided to close down our surrogate home. Low-cost technology, skilled doctors, scant bureaucracy and a ready supply of surrogates made India a preferred destination for fertility tourism. However, women's rights groups have said such fertility clinics are nothing more than "baby factories" for the rich. With the governments efforts we have been able to decrease surrogacy to some extent. But a large number of domestic commercial surrogacy is also taking place. We need to tackle that too, said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general of ICMR. According to IVF experts, as commercial surrogacy was allowed in the country, the business was flourishing because foreigners were pooling in money. After the governments intervention, revised visa requirements prohibited many of them from renting a womb. This was considered important because several babies born out of cross-border surrogacy, had had legal issues between the respective country and India as many nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Norway, do not recognise surrogacy. "India has been a brisk market for surrogacy due to cheaper services and easy availability of poor women. India is a country of English-speaking people, fair complexion, outstanding medical expertise and technology, said Dr Anoop Gupta, director and an infertility specialist at Delhi IVF & Fertility Centre. This was the reason why foreigners were attracted towards us. But since the Home Ministry had already put restrictions on foreigners, it led to a slump in surrogacy. He said theres been a nearly 80 per cent decline in surrogates in the past two to three years. Now we have barely four to five surrogates. We have had no complaints from surrogates or have seen any exploitation. In fact, they were making good money for their needs. Now the surrogates are ready to negotiate at lesser prices, he added. After the Cabinet approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 this week, IVF clinics have decided not to take even Indian cases. According to these centres, they are getting a flurry of calls from NRIs to get surrogacy done because the Bill will take another year to become law. We are currently not taking up new surrogacy cases despite enquiries. We are only addressing the old cases. Once the old cases come to an end, surrogacy will no more be available at our clinic, said Dr Sandeep Talwar, clinical director of Milann IVF. Indian doctors feel that surrogacy actually helps people in having their own biological child Surrogacy had become an important part of medical tourism in India. Doctors and activists have also criticised the proposed Bill, saying it severely restricts options for childless couples. Medical tourism plays a significant role in bringing foreign currency to the country. Moreover, surrogates were able to support their families with this money. After certain bans there is a decline in surrogacy cases, said Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director at Mother's Lap IVF Centre. After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti made a plaintive appeal to Kashmiri protesters: Please give me one more chance! This is a changed Mehbooba, a far cry from her angry young woman image. It is clear that she has run out of ideas to deal with the situation and is looking for a way out from New Delhi - which, to go by the statements of PM Modis point man, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh - is in the same boat. This is a changed Mehbooba, a far cry from her angry young woman image System Now the system will trot out that old favourite, as an all party delegation visit J&K. This will follow the scenario of 1990. Within two months of the Valley exploding, the clueless and floundering VP Singh government also sent in an all party delegation to study the situation. Led by Rajiv Gandhi, the newly minted Leader of Opposition, the delegation achieved little except to score points against the government and the governor. Looking back, it probably succeeded in making the situation worse. The government is left with the nuclear option arrest everyone suspected of being an over ground worker (OGW) of the Hizbul Mujahideen and other militant organisations, and relentlessly enforce the curfew, regardless of the cost. The government hopes that these harsh measures will dampen the fires. Perhaps they will, but they could equally lead to a meltdown and give rise to a new phase of armed militancy. Kashmiri Muslims hold placards and shout pro-freedom slogans during a protest march in Srinagar As it is, the prospect of shooting youngsters aged 10 or 12 is not a particularly savoury one. But the government feels it is not left with much of a choice. So a massive augmentation of security forces in the Valley is underway, particularly in southern Kashmir where the J&K Police system has collapsed. The shooting of a policeman in Pulwama on Friday could presage a new round of attacks to neutralise the J&K Police, which is the key provider of intelligence to the central forces. Anger Mehbooba, always quick to anger, signaled her attitude at the joint press conference with Rajnath Singh in Srinagar, when she claimed that only 5 per cent people were involved in the disturbances. On Saturday, after meeting the PM, she blamed Pakistan for instigating them. Addressing the press thereafter she seemed to balance her anger at the protesters with their anger towards her. Long-time observers note that Mehbooba and the PDP have indeed angered the populace because they have allied with the BJP. What was, for the want of a better phrase, called soft separatism, is what made up the DNA of the Peoples Democratic Party. The rival National Conference and its leaders Farooq and Omar Abdullah have never given any quarter to separatists, soft or hard. So, Mehbooba carved out a niche in Kashmiri politics, with the guidance of her wily father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who had actually been a long-time Congress leader. An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard near graffiti written on the shutter of a closed shop during a shutdown in Srinagar The Muftis put forward the idea of self rule which they said could well be equated with the azadi that the militants sought. This gelled well with the Manmohan Singh- Musharraf negotiations which had set selfrule as a goal within the existing boundaries of the state. Alliance The BJP-PDP alliance is a consequence of the outcome of the state assembly polls in 2014. But the supporters of the PDP have seen this as a betrayal of sorts. Where her wily father could manage to keep an even keel, Mehbooba has floundered. Of course, she cannot be blamed for Burhan Wanis killing. But the killing itself is incidental. If it wasnt Wani, some other event would have triggered the uprising. The fact is that southern Kashmir, the erstwhile stronghold of the PDP, was ripe for a explosion, and it happened when it did. So where do we go from here? The government will, in all likelihood, succeed in crushing this uprising with the use of force. But it is more difficult to determine the consequences of this course. Will it push the Valley towards a new direction of Islamism? A great deal depends on how effectively the government synchronises its tough policy towards violent protest with moves to work out a long-term settlement in the Valley. If there is no synchronisation, then things could go from bad to worse. If, on the other hand, the government does what it says it wants to do follow the track initiated by Vajpayee then it must simultaneously reopen dialogue with Pakistan and begin serious negotiations with the parties of the Valley such as the NC and the PDP on the issue of self-rule or autonomy. This could be well within the bounds of what the BJP considers acceptable, except that it would mean some change in its current hawkish Pakistan policy. Till just a month ago, she would be called the soft separatist. In the last couple of days, however, CM Mehbooba Mufti has seized that enduring epithet by the neck, severed it in a flash, and has thrown it, at least for now it seems, into the blood-caked bin of Kashmirs history. She has said what no CM from the state has perhaps said so unequivocally, openly, and brutally. Mehbooba Mufti is genuinely furious with those she feels have betrayed her. That only five per cent incite violence in J&K. That these five per cent troublemakers are anti-national. And that children are not sent to Army camps despite a curfew to buy toffees or get milk. And unlike her predecessors, who would come to Delhi and say something pleasing for the rest of India only to return to Srinagar and flirt with the puppets of Pakistan, Mehbooba took on the separatists and their masters right there in the Valley. She even defiantly took on the local media, which has often been accused of running the separatists narrative and muting the voice of the states silent peace-loving majority. BEYOND BETRAYAL We are seeing the wrath of a betrayed, wounded woman. She has always been supportive of the separatists point of view. An Indian Army soldier stops vehicles near Badam Bagh during restrictions in the civil lines area of Srinagar She had expected them to stand by her, especially when a confirmed, dreaded Hizbul terrorist has been killed, not an innocent man in a fake encounter. But separatists, buoyed by a cornered Pakistan which sees a final hope in a convulsing Kashmir, stabbed her in the back. They gave ammunition to her political rivals, the Abdullahs. It is true that Mehbooba has a paucity of options. BJP wont compromise its nationalism plank beyond a point. And if that makes her government fall, Omar Abdullah, currently goodwill hunting in Kashmirs blood streets, may return to power. The BJP does not stand to lose anything in Kashmir. It only stands to gain in Jammu and the rest of the country by exhibiting toughness. But Mehbooba like a J Jayalalithaa or Mamata Banerjee is not a woman who would meekly submit to political expediencies. She is genuinely furious with those she feels have betrayed her. Also, for that five per cent she would not want to lose the others who voted for development of the state. TIME TO BACK CM This is the time to back her, and not subject her to the 9-pm inquisition either with drumbeats of macho nationalism or by playing Pakistans tune. Kashmiri Muslims shout pro-freedom slogans as they hold placards and pictures of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani during a protest in Srinagar Our parties must also speak as one nation now. Media often inadvertently projects it as Kashmiris vs Indians. It could not be more ironical, especially when we believe Kashmir is civilisationally, umbilically India and Kashmiris are Indians. Perhaps this is the Kashmir moment. A terrorists killing and the ensuing violence have exposed Pakistans hand and that the violent struggle is more about jihad than Kashmiriyat. India has perhaps Kashmir had a CM in Srinagar who spoke so fiercely in the nations voice. And Pakistan lay exposed in its own home by raging freedom struggles and terrible state repression, especially in Balochistan and POK. It is winning no friends in neighbouring Afghanistan either, credited with fomenting bloodshed and instability there. Also, for the first time, the Narendra Modi-led Centre has kept separatists out of any talk of plan on Kashmir, squeezing their political space. The death toll from the simmering protests in Kashmir has increased to 69, and over 10,000 others have been injured. The Indian government has been heavily criticised over its use of pellet guns to disperse rioters in the curfew-bound Valley. WHAT ARE PELLET GUNS? These guns use rubber pellets which look like ball bearings, and are usually referred to as pellet guns. A paramilitary trooper stands guard with a pellet gun during a curfew in Srinagar Rubber pellets which are not very harmful otherwise can be fatal when fired with pump-action guns. In just one shot, numerous pellets are shot - and these can damage multiple organs if they hit someone. The use of pellet guns can cause permanent blindness, and is not in line with international standards on the use of force. One alternative suggested to the pellets is PAVA shells, a chilli-based ammunition. These are a non-lethal shell which can be used without risking serious injuries. The name PAVA stands for Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, also called Nonivamide, an organic compound characteristically found in chilli pepper. Bhut Jolokia would be used in making these shells because it is the worlds hottest chilli pepper. BHUT JOLOKIA AND ITS USE IN CHILLI-SHELLS The Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) announced the plan to use bhut jolokia in hand grenades in 2009, as a non-lethal way to flush out terrorists from their hideouts, and as a crowd-control measure in case of riots. One possible alternative to the much-hated pellets is PAVA shells, a kind of ammunition made of Bhut Jolokia (above), the worlds hottest chilli Chilli-based ammunition could be used to control and disperse mobs, said RB Srivastava, former director of the Life Sciences Department at DRDO. It can also be used as shells, filled with Bhut Jolokia and phosphorous, that can be shot from guns. These can incapacitate targets without fatally injuring them. HOW DOES IT WORK? A website, www.cainstructor.com, explains how the chilli-based weapon is used. It says the mix of spices and phosphorous chokes the enemys respiratory tract, leaving targets barely able to breathe for a while as their eyes, throat and skin burn and sting. Chilli-grenades can block enemy attacks by creating a smoke screen and prevent snipers from using night-vision devices. This weapon was used by the Army to flush out Pakistani terrorist Sajjad Ahmed, who was hiding in a cave. The PAVA shells were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow. WHY BHUT JOLOKIA? Bhut Jolokia - or ghost chilli, as it is popularly called - is the worlds hottest chili pepper. SCOVILLE SCALE The Scoville Scale is a measurement of the pungency, i.e. spicy heat, of chilli peppers, and is named after its creator, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville. This country possesses a vibrant fund management industry, providing investors with all the tools to build long-term wealth, whether through pensions or tax-friendly Isas. Yet it doesnt mean everything is hunky dory. Far from it. There are issues the industry needs to tackle so as to maintain its stellar reputation. Widespread fat cattery is one, a plague that fuels suspicion among many investors me and you that we are paying too high a price (in terms of fund charges) to line the pockets of executives (fund managers and their bosses). Changes: Woodford Investment Management, set up by star fund manager Neil Woodford two years ago, has just confirmed it will no longer pay its 35 employees bonuses Thankfully, there are some forward-thinking groups prepared to grasp this nettle. Woodford Investment Management, set up by star fund manager Neil Woodford two years ago, has just confirmed it will no longer pay its 35 employees bonuses, arguing there is little correlation between bonus and performance. Instead, employees will receive higher fixed salaries. Its a step in the right direction and one that other investment houses should follow. There is also the issue of what constitutes a fair charge for providing an investment fund where there is a manager at the helm employed to outperform an appropriate stock market benchmark. Too many of these so-called active managers fail to live up to their name, at best tracking their index, at worst underperforming by a country mile. They do this while levying outrageous ongoing charges anything between 1.5 per cent and 2 per cent a year. Charles Plowden, a senior partner at Edinburgh-based investment house Baillie Gifford, is a passionate believer in active fund management. Issues: Too many of these so-called active managers fail to live up to their name, at best tracking their index, at worst underperforming by a country mile He argues it can thrive but only if it is underpinned by a combination of fair charges (1 per cent and below), low portfolio turnover and a willingness by managers to go outside the constituents of their benchmarks to find investors value. Baillie Gifford now publishes for all its funds an active share figure. This indicates the percentage of a funds portfolio that differs from its benchmark index. The higher the percentage, the more actively the fund is being managed. Another step in the right direction towards a fund management industry where investors interests and not managers come first. Protecting yourself against the financial consequences of long-term illness is not sexy. In fact, like all insurance, it burns a hole in your pocket which puts a lot of people off. Yet more people are waking up to the fact that it is better to be safe than sorry. The latest statistics from the Association of British Insurers confirm that the number of people with income protection insurance is on the up. This cover pays a monthly income in the event of serious illness and is the deluxe form of financial protection. At the end of last year, 3,248,000 people were covered by income protection insurance, purchased either individually or through their employer. This compares with 3,170,000 in 2014, an overall increase of 2.5 per cent. Problems: Widespread fat cattery is one, a plague that fuels suspicion among many investors me and you that we are paying too high a price Although the uptick is small and from a low base there are more than 31 million workers in the UK its better than nothing. There are a number of reasons for the increase. For starters, there is a growing realisation that the state will no longer come riding to the rescue if we are unable to work because of illness or an accident. There has also been an awakening among some insurers that take-up will only improve if they get off their backsides and bang the protection drum. The Seven Families Campaign did exactly that. By providing seven families impacted by long-term illness with benefit from an income protection policy for a year, it was able to demonstrate the covers positive impact not only in bolstering a familys finances but in encouraging people through rehabilitation to take up some form of employment. Raluca Boroianu-Omura, the associations head of protection and health, says one million workers every year are unable to continue in employment because of ill health. In such circumstances, she adds, income protection can act as an essential safety net. Of course, you would expect Boroianu-Omura to big up the virtues of the products her members sell. But shes right income protection is an insurance you should consider. J.G. writes: In 2014 I upgraded my Sky service to include an HD box. When fitted I was advised to insure it. A few days later I had a call from what I assumed was Sky, offering three years of breakdown protection for 199, which I paid. Recently, the remote control stopped working so I rang the number on the warranty papers. At first I got an answering machine, but nobody called back and now the number is not recognised. Paperwork shows the scheme is run by Digi Support UK Limited. This is the firm I have been calling. Have I fallen for a scam? Getting the facts: Digi Support UK Limited is based in Horsham, West Sussex, and its directors are Patricia and Daniella Spiteri Firms offering breakdown cover over the phone do seem to have a knack of finding out who has recently had satellite equipment installed. You are not the first person who believed they were dealing with Sky, rather than a far smaller unconnected business. Digi Support UK Limited is based in Horsham, West Sussex, and its directors are Patricia and Daniella Spiteri. I asked them to comment, but Digi Supports reply came from a third woman, Michelle Walker. She told me the company had moved, changing address and telephone number. You would have been sent all the new contact details, she added, but either the letter never reached you or you mislaid it. You now have a fresh warranty certificate, covering you against a range of breakdowns until your policy runs out next year. Lack of action: The only conclusion is that all the Financial Conduct Authority has done is spot that Digi Support UK was breaking the law, to which its only reaction is to put a notice on its website But here is the puzzling part of all this. More than two years ago, the Financial Conduct Authority issued a public warning against Digi Support UK. It said: We believe this firm has been providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation. People should be especially wary of dealing with this unauthorised firm and learn how to protect themselves from scammers. Plain enough so why is Digi Support UK still in business? Its protection policies today look the same as they did in 2014 when the regulator sounded the alarm. The public warning is still in force on the regulators website. Did the regulator take any action, such as a prosecution for operating illegally? Did it perhaps win an injunction, banning the company and its bosses from further offences? Was any action taken to make them repay customers who had taken out policies that should never have been marketed in the first place? The regulator refused to answer any of these questions. It told me: Unfortunately, we cannot provide any further information about any action we may have taken beyond what is in the public domain. It added that its website warnings are an effective tool. The only conclusion is that all the Financial Conduct Authority has done is spot that Digi Support UK was breaking the law, to which its only reaction is to put a notice on its website. Perhaps there was also a private nod to the companys bosses, telling them not to be so naughty. I do wonder what is the point of a regulator that fails to regulate and a protection body that fails to protect. I am sure that when Parliament passed our investor protection laws, MPs intended to create a regulator that would safeguard consumers and punish offenders not one that would shrug its shoulders and point to its website as if this was action enough. CLUBS MUST KEEP BANKS INFORMED Link: Clubs must keep banks informed Mrs L.G. writes: I am chairlady of a womens organisation. Since I took the position last year we have been trying to update our Santander bank account, but over the years the committee membership has changed and we have lost track of the original officers. TONY HETHERINGTON REPLIES: This is not an unusual problem with bank accounts held by clubs and societies. People move on, resign from office, or pass away and as long as things keep on ticking over, nothing is done to keep banking arrangements up to date. In the case of your own organisation, the crisis came when your previous treasurer was undergoing chemotherapy. You tried to get her name removed from the bank account and the new treasurers name added. You found that Santander needed the signatures of previous officers, but the bank did not even have a record of you becoming chairlady so it would not tell you the names of the original officers who would have to sign over the account. You then decided to close the Santander account and open a new one elsewhere. Opening the new account was no problem, but the Santander account remained as well, so I asked staff at the banks head office to intervene. They have succeeded in contacting enough of the previous account signatories to authorise the closure, so you have finally got what was needed, though it has taken many months. The lesson is always to keep your bank informed of changes, or face complications later. A student who paid 1,200 to Frontier, a travel company that specialises in placing volunteers abroad, has won back almost all her money after starting a legal action over what she describes as a shambolic experience that ruined her placement at the Nosy Be Hospital in Madagascar. Keira Heslin-Davies, a fourth year medical student in London, says that her arrival surprised staff. She said: No one at the hospital was expecting me or really seemed to know who Frontier was. No work had been planned for her. She protested by email to Frontier and says the final straw came when she found a fresh volunteer was due to arrive. Paradise lost: No one had heard of Frontier at the Madagascar clinic They expected me to guide her round the hospital. I received no guidance. A person from Frontier just took me to the hospital and said: Off you go. When she declined to guide the new volunteer, Frontier scrapped her placement and, she says, she was given 20 minutes to pack and leave. She moved into a hotel and began her legal action after returning to London. The case went to arbitration and she was awarded 1,135. Keira has donated the money to the Madagascar hospital and has also started an internet JustGiving page which has already attracted hundreds of pounds in donations. Frontier was invited to comment but had not done so by this pages deadline. I reported in March last year how a 20-year-old student had paid 695 for a six-week volunteer placement at a childrens summer camp in Beijing. But on arrival, she was sent to a town more than 1,000 miles from the Chinese capital, which involved a 33-hour train journey. Every year, millions of women find that, for no apparent reason, they are unable to become pregnant. The discovery can be extremely upsetting. Trips to the doctor ensue, where women and their partners are often told there is no obvious problem and they should simply keep trying even after six months or more. A cycle of frustration, stress and anxiety can follow, with wide-ranging consequences for all concerned. Tests: Every year, millions of women find that, for no apparent reason, they are unable to become pregnant. The discovery can be extremely upsetting Concepta has developed a simple product to help women with infertility issues to become pregnant. The shares listed on the stock market last month at 11p. They are now 12.63p and should rise substantially as the company progresses. Though numerous women become pregnant without difficulty, many others plan their pregnancies, often using urine-based tests that are designed to tell them when they are at their most fertile. These work for the average woman but, for a sizeable minority, they do not. Research has shown that 30 per cent of women with unexplained infertility issues have low levels of the luteinising hormone associated with ovulation. This does not mean they cannot have children. But it does mean off-the-shelf fertility testing kits do not work for them. Concepta has developed the first kit MyLotus to tell women exactly what their luteinising hormone levels are, even if they are lower (or higher) than the norm. Women simply perform a urine test at home and place the swab in a hand-held meter, which provides instant and highly accurate readings. Not only does the meter provide detailed, personalised information, but Concepta has also developed easier-to-use urine sampling equipment to make the whole process as simple as possible. Innovation: Concepta has developed a simple product to help women with infertility issues to become pregnant The procedure can be repeated over days or months, telling women when they are most likely to become pregnant. There is also an app, that allows users to create a diary of their hormonal cycle, useful both for women and their doctors, if they ultimately resort to medical intervention. The meter even tells women if they have already become pregnant, again with ease and reliability. Conceptas testing kit and app have been approved in China and the firm is expected to begin selling its products there this year. The approval process is well under way in Europe too, so sales should begin in the UK and on the Continent in 2017. Chief executive Erik Henau was in Shanghai last week, ironing out the final details before the product launch and expectations are high. Most middle-class women in China go to hospital if they have difficulty conceiving. They can expect to wait for hours before being seen, and even then doctors will rarely spend more than a few minutes with them, often providing little by way of advice, apart from to keep on trying. Within the next couple of months, women will be offered a leaflet showing them the benefits of the Concepta meter. Those logging on to hospital wi-fi systems should also see adverts for the meter and information about where to buy it. Launch: Conceptas testing kit and app have been approved in China and the firm is expected to begin selling its products there this year Manufacturing has already been arranged in China and a local distributor has been appointed, focusing on Beijing and Shanghai, the two biggest cities in the country. Concepta has started in China because it has regulatory approval there and China is one of the largest markets in the world, with a rapidly growing middle-class. The company is starting slowly, targeting ten to 20 hospitals but over time, its products will be available at hospitals across the country and direct to consumers online. Meanwhile, plans for Europe are well advanced. The company, which is based in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, is developing a manufacturing site in Yorkshire to produce the meters and testing kits in volume. Henau also intends to sell the products online, using pregnancy and infertility websites, support groups and exhibitions to market its wares. The meters are expected to go on sale for between 250 and 300 and Concepta believes that demand should run into several million, growing steadily as the brand becomes more established. The group is also working on related concepts, such as stress kits, which both men and women could use to measure their stress levels. People trying for a baby often experience high levels of stress, which can affect ovulation in women and sperm quality in men. Easy-to-use kits could show couples when and if stress is affecting fertility, allowing them to seek treatment at an early stage. Such kits could also find a market outside of fertility treatment, given the increasing prevalence of stress-related disease. Henau and his senior colleagues have decades of experience in the fertility industry, having worked on the market-leading ovulation and pregnancy testing kit, Clearblue, now owned by Procter & Gamble. Midas verdict: Concepta is small, but Henau believes it can generate annual sales of at least 600 million in the next few years, rising strongly thereafter. At 12.63p, the shares should go far. Buy. The old paper 5 is being replaced with a plastic note from next month a move that should renew collector interest in rare early fivers. The new note is made of a polymer, not paper, and should be harder to forge or accidentally destroy. This latest fiver will feature a picture of wartime leader Winston Churchill who replaces prison reformer Elizabeth Fry. Paper chase: Andrew Pattison with a 'White Fiver' from 1944 It will be issued on September 13 as the latest makeover of a note first issued in 1793. The new note will be phased in so that by May 2017 it will have replaced the old fiver altogether shops will then stop accepting paper 5 notes as legal tender. The Royal Mint is replacing the 1 coin from next March in a bid to beat fraudsters as one in 30 1 coins is believed to be a counterfeit. The main difference with the new coin is it will have a 12-sided design and resemble the old three-penny bit rather than be rounded. The new 1 will also be two-tone a nickel-brass shading around the outside and silvery nickel-plated alloy in the middle. The money is to be phased in over six months with 1.4 billion coins produced to replace the old ones being withdrawn. High five: The new plastic fiver, which will first be given to the Queen, features Winston Churchill After September 2017 shops will stop accepting old 1 coins but banks will still happily swap them for the shiny new pieces. Your bank and building society is still also likely to accept your old 5 notes while the Bank of England has promised to swap them for new money. Late 18th and early 19th Century fivers are rare most people of this time never saw paper money in an era when average earnings were less than 20 a year. Today, if you stumble across one of these early so-called White Fiver notes it may be worth 10,000 or more. They were printed on white paper and individually signed. The notes were about twice the size of the new plastic one that will be just five inches wide 15 per cent smaller than the current fiver. Andrew Pattison, banknote specialist for international auction house Spink, says: There has been a real surge of interest in collecting old banknotes in the past few years. This new 5 may help to boost their appeal. He points out that the British fiver was produced in black ink on white paper until 1956. A year later, the first blue note was released along with pictures Britannia on one side and a lion on the back. These notes are known as the Lion & Key or Helmeted Britannia and were legal tender until 1967. From 7th century merchants to a Turner classic A portrait of the Queen was not included until 1963 when her arrival relegated Britannia to the back of the note, holding an olive branch. Pattison says: Although the early notes may not always be interesting to look at, this does not affect their price it is the history behind them that creates the value. Among his favourites is a 1914 fiver that belonged to Lord Montagu of Beaulieu who was a passenger on the SS Persia that was torpedoed by a German submarine in December 1915 during the First World War. Fortunately, the owner survived though sadly his mistress Eleanor Thornton did not. Thorntons figure is immortalised as the model behind the Spirit of Ecstasy that adorns all Rolls-Royce car bonnets. Pattison says: Lord Montagu was in the water for 32 hours before being rescued. He later wrote a letter to the banknote manufacturer Portals congratulating it on the quality of its paper. Unlike other papers he had been carrying at the time, the banknote survived. We sold it two years ago for 800. Pattison points out that the first couple of new notes issued are historically given to the Queen so she will be the first to have plastic fivers in her purse. But low serial numbers can still be found and are highly collectable if a new set is issued due to a change in the chief cashier. Changes: The Royal Mint is also replacing the 1 coin from next March in a bid to beat fraudsters as one in 30 1 coins is believed to be a counterfeit Under such circumstances, the first notes do not go to Royalty. Last year Spink sold a fiver with a serial number one from 1955 for 30,000. At the same sale, 1955 serial number one notes for both ten shillings and 1 sold for 9,000 each. Denominations above a fiver can do even better in sales. A rare 1925 note for 500 sold for 26,000 last year. If a 1,000 note of the same period were discovered it might sell for even more. Five years ago, one of nine one million pound notes issued in 1948 when the British economy was struggling to foot the bill for the Second World War sold for 69,000. These one million pound notes were receipts rather than legal tender but if you own a British banknote from any time no matter how out of date the Bank of England should pay you the value that is printed on the paper. Pam West, dealer at Pam West British Notes in Sutton, Surrey, believes collectors should invest in the best quality notes that they can afford. She says: The last white fiver was issued in December 1956 and remained legal tender until 1961. Top quality examples from the 1950s can sell for 300 but if well used they will fetch less than 100. In the mid-1800s, the five pound note was rare as most people never earned that kind of money and any cash they did manage to get their hands on was immediately spent. For this reason a 5 note from this era can sell for 10,000. Yet a 5 note from even earlier 1800 or before could sell for as much as 15,000 in top condition. Britain's oldest bank, C Hoare and Co, has pulled back on lending to the London housing market. The bank, which is 22 years older than the Bank of England and caters to the well-heeled, has revealed that earlier this year in response to a possible downturn in prime London property prices we tightened our lending criteria. Central London sales have been hit hard by a rise in stamp duty on the most costly properties. Tightened criteria: Britain's oldest bank, C Hoare and Co, has pulled back on lending to the London housing market More recently there have been fears that the vote to leave the European Union could provoke fresh falls. Legacy: Sir Richard Hoare founded the bank in 1672 The bank said: Growth in London appears to have slowed in recent months and is turning negative in some parts of the capital. The Brexit vote may dampen demand further as overseas investors in particular wait to see how separation terms play out. Profits at the bank rose to 28million for the year to the end of March, from 27.5million the year before. Deposits surged to 3.8billion from 3billion a year earlier. KFC is insisting a recipe discovered in a scrapbook belonging to Colonel Sanders' nephew is not authentic. However, that hasn't stopped rampant online speculation that one of the most legendary and closely guarded secrets in the history of fast food has been exposed. It all started when a Chicago Tribune reporter visited with Joe Ledington, a nephew of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland David Sanders. Joe Ledington, of Corbin, Kentucky, holds a 1980s photo of him with his uncle, Colonel Harland Sanders, who created his world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken in his Corbin cafe A handwritten list of 11 herbs and spices, jotted down on the back of the will of Claudia Sanders, the late wife of Colonel Harland Sanders who created his world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken, is displayed The reporter was working on a story for the Tribune's travel section about Corbin, Kentucky, where the colonel served his first fried chicken. At one point, Ledington pulled out a family scrapbook containing the last will and testament of Sanders' second wife, Claudia Ledington. On the back of the document is a handwritten list for a blend of 11 herbs and spices to be mixed with two cups of white flour. While Joe Ledington initially told the reporter that it was the original recipe, he later said that he didn't know for sure. Colonel Harland Sanders is pictured in this file photograph The original Sanders Cafe sign, dwarfed by a newer KFC sign and bucket, tower over the Corbin, Kentucky, restaurant Joanne Gould tried out the recipe that was discovered in the scrapbook. She said: 'I think it is safe to say that this is probably the correct original recipe' KFC which is a subsidiary of Yum Brands Inc. calls its recipe 'one of the biggest trade secrets in the world'. It says that the recipe the reporter saw is not the real thing. 'Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate this one isn't either,' KFC said in a statement. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company says that the original recipe from 1940 handwritten by Sanders is locked up in a digital safe that's encased in two feet of concrete and monitored 24 hours a day by a video and motion detection surveillance system. Joe Ledington could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. Above, a commemorative representation of the 11 secret herbs and spices Colonel Harland Sanders made famous in his recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump has fallen seven points in just three days, with her edge dropping to just five per cent. 41 per cent of likely voters supported Clinton ahead of the November 8 presidential election, while 36 per cent supported Trump, according to the Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Friday. Some 23 per cent would not pick either candidate and answered 'refused,' 'other' or 'wouldn't vote.' Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump has dropped in a new poll, but she still holds a five percentage point edge Clinton has led Trump in the poll since Democrats and Republicans ended their national conventions and formally nominated their presidential candidates in July. Her level of support has varied between 41 and 45 per cent during that period, and her lead over Trump in the tracking poll peaked this month at 12 percentage points on Tuesday. During the past week, Clinton has been dogged by accusations by Trump, which she has denied, that donations to her family's charitable foundation influenced her actions while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Questions have also surfaced again about her use of a private email server and address rather than a government one during her period at the State Department. Meanwhile, Trump and Clinton also sparred over who would be a better advocate for African Americans and other minorities, and Trump hinted he could soften his hard-line stance on immigration. In a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll that includes candidates from small, alternative parties, Clinton leads the field by a smaller margin. Donald Trump pulled closer to Clinton is the latest poll, however he is still projected to lose based on the numbers The poll estimates if the election were held now Clinton would have a 95 per cent chance of winning by a margin of about 108 votes in the Electoral College Some 39 per cent of likely voters supported Clinton in the four-way poll, compared with 36 per cent for Trump, 7 per cent for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and 3 per cent for Green Party nominee Jill Stein. Both polls were conducted online in English in all 50 states. They included 1,154 likely voters and have a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. The results may differ from the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project, which includes a separate weekly tracking poll that measures support for the major party candidates in every state and Washington D.C. At least two people have reported finding worms in food from McDonald's restaurants in two Kentucky communities. Mayfield, Kentucky, resident Madison Stephens told WPSD-TV that she visited the local McDonald's on Sunday and purchased food for her and her one-year-old son. She said that as she was about to bite into her hamburger, a live worm fell out. 'If I hadn't seen that worm, my son would have eaten that, because it was already on top of his sandwich. Scroll down for video Madison Stephens of Mayfield, Kentucky, and Lacey Jo Lovett of Draffenville, Kentucky, found worms in their McDonald's burgers Stephens called the McDonald's but said they sent her a $10 gift card. She called the response a 'slap in the face' 'That's how close he came to eating it,' Stephens told WPSD-TV . At the McDonald's in Draffenville, about 25 miles away from Mayfield, Lacey Jo Lovett says she also found a worm in her burger on Tuesday. 'There's seriously a problem. They need to hire new employees, or the employees need to be trained properly where they know how to handle their foods,' Stephens said. Stephens called the McDonald's but said they sent her a $10 gift card. She called the response a 'slap in the face'. She said what she does want is for the health department to come out and inspect the McDonald's. 'That scared me and as a mom. I don't want another child to have to experience something like that,' Stephens said. She said what she does want is for the health department to come out and inspect the McDonald's She added she won't be eating at McDonald's again. McDonald's spokesman Michael Love released a statement saying: 'We are currently investigating this matter. Food quality and safety are a top priority for us. We will continue to take all appropriate measures to gather all facts and resolve the matter.' Two 41-year-old best friends have broken down in tears after being told they were switched at birth and spent their lives with each other's biological family. David Tait and Leon Swanson were swapped in the government-run Norway House Hospital in 1975 in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, DNA testing has confirmed. 'I want answers so bad,' Tait said, choking back tears at a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday. Scroll down for video Leon Swanson (left) and David Tait (right) broke down in tears after being told they were switched at birth and spent their lives with each other's biological family He added that he felt 'distraught, confused and angry.' Swanson tried to hold back tears and said he did not know what to say. Tait's biological mother ended up raising Swanson instead, and Swanson's birth mother raised Tait, CBC News reported. Norway House is made up of two northern Manitoba communities and has a population of about 5,000 predominantly indigenous Cree Nation people. David Tait (right) and Leon Swanson (left, wearing a blue cap) spoke at a press conference with Eric Robinson (middle), a former Manitoba cabinet minister, on Friday 'The federal government owes these people,' Robinson said. 'What happened to them is criminal'. David Tait (left) and Leon Swanson (right) It is accessible by airplane and a long indirect road linking it with Winnipeg, about 500 miles (800 km) to the south. In November, the Manitoba government said two other men who were close friends were also switched at birth in 1975, at the same Norway House Hospital. As they grew up, people noticed how they resembled each other's family more than their own. Eric Robinson, a former Manitoba cabinet minister who is helping the men in the latest case, said there were always suspicions in the community about their parentage. 'I want answers so bad,' Tait said, choking back tears at a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday Swanson (pictured) tried to hold back tears and said he did not know what to say during a press conference 'The federal government owes these people,' Robinson said. 'What happened to them is criminal. Eric Robinson (pictured), a former Manitoba cabinet minister who is helping the men in the latest case, said there were always suspicions in the community about their parentage 'We can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature is not acceptable. 'We can't slough it off as being a mistake. It was a criminal act.' The former aboriginal affairs minister added he suspects there are more undiscovered cases. 'It's something (the government) can't sweep under the carpet. There are lingering questions out there,' Robinson said. 'These two gentlemen are not the only victims. We have families who are deeply hurt by this. We have siblings ... that are hurt by this.' Canada's health department operates the Norway House hospital. Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott said the second case 'deeply troubled' her, before adding an independent party will be hired to investigate hospital records and look into whether there are other such cases. The two best friends were born at Norway House Hospital (pictured) in 1975 in the western Canadian province of Manitoba 'Cases like this are an unfortunate reminder to Canadians of how urgent the need is to provide all Indigenous people with high-quality health care,' Philpott said in a statement. Canada's 1.4 million indigenous people often live in dire social and economic conditions with subpar health and education services. From this weekend onwards eight venues can ignore the laws in Sydney The controversial laws were introduced in 2014 to curb Sydney strip clubs and live music venues are no longer bound by the controversial lockout laws after a court ruling. Revellers can now enjoy their time at strip clubs like Pure Platinum and Minx as well as live music venues without worrying about the laws, which ban patrons entering pubs and clubs after 1.30am in areas of Sydney and stop bars serving drinks after 3am. The government is appealing the Supreme Court decision, the Daily Telegraph reports, and it has been referred to the Callinan Review of the lockout laws, where the public is being invited to have its say in an independent, evidence-based review. Scroll down for video From this weekend onwards eight venues can ignore the controversial lockout laws, including the Smoking Panda Bar at the Coronation Hotel Revellers can now enjoy their time at strip clubs like Pure Platinum and Minx as well as live music venues without worrying about the laws From this weekend onwards eight venues can ignore the laws, including the Smoking Panda Bar at the Coronation Hotel, who brought about the legal challenge. The Smoking Panda Bar was initially exempt from the laws as it was part of a hotel, making it 'tourism accommodation establishment' area. However, the exemption was cancelled after an investigation by Liquor and Gaming NSW found some bar patrons were not hotel guests. During the Supreme Court hearing Justice Natalie Adams said the Liquor and Gaming NSW had failed to define the 'tourism accommodation establishment' exemption properly. 'Nothing in the correspondence indicates that there was any condition stipulated by either police or the OLGR that the bar could only permissibly service residents of the hotel's accommodation facilities,' the Daily Telegraph reports. The Smoking Panda Bar was initially exempt from the laws as it was part of a hotel, making it 'tourism accommodation establishment' area The government is appealing the Supreme Court decision and it has been referred to the Callinan Review of the lockout laws The lockout laws ban patrons entering pubs and clubs after 1.30am in areas of Sydney and stop bars serving drinks after 3am A Liquor and Gaming NSW spokesman told the publication: 'The decision was based on a technical legal argument in relation to the power of the secretary of the Department of Justice to declare a venue to be subject to the lockout and 3am cease service laws. A man's car has been broken into and his belongings stolen while he was helping injured victims in a motorcycle crash. Adam Fry, 20, was one of the first on the scene of a motorcycle crash involving two men who collided into each other on The Promenade in Ellenbrook, Perth. The second year nursing student stayed at the scene for half an hour, but when he returned to his parked van at the nearby McDonalds he found it the windows had been smashed and items stolen. Scroll down for video A second year nursing student Adam Fry was shocked to discover his car window had been smashed and his belongings stolen Among the items stolen was his laptop with important pictures and university assignments, valuable playing card collection and his uneaten McDonalds dinner The nursing student was one of the first people at the motorcycle accident scene helping two injured victims 'The was glass on the seat, glass all over the floor,' he told Nine News. The robbers stole his Acer laptop with important photos and university assignments, a Magic: The Gathering card collection worth $2,000 and the McDonalds dinner was had yet to eat. 'I think they're absolute scum, my stomach went through the floor, I was gutted just that someone would do that,' Mr Fry said. After staying at the scene for half an hour he returned to his car and was shocked to find the front passenger window was smashed Mr Fry is hoping for the return of his belonging, in particular for his laptop which has his important university assignments and photos Despite the loss of valuable items the nursing student said he able to put to practice the nursing skills he had learned. 'It was fantastic to go "I'm learning this, I can actually do something," he said. Two missing boaters stranded on an uninhabited Pacific island were rescued on Friday after a US Navy aircraft spotted a sign they carved in the sand that read 'SOS'. The survivors - who were spotted on a beach near the makeshift sign on East Fayu Island in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia - are safe, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday. The rescue followed a seven-day search by an international maritime team, who searched a total of 16,571 square miles for the pair. Two missing boaters stranded on an uninhabited Pacific island were rescued on Friday after a US Navy aircraft spotted a sign they carved in the sand that read 'SOS' (pictured) Linus and Sabina Jack had departed from Weno Island on the afternoon of August 17, en route to Tamatam Island, Federated States of Micronesia, but never made it The U.S. Embassy in Kolonia identified the boaters as Linus and Sabina Jack, who are both in their 50s. The couple had departed from Weno Island on August 17, en route to Tamatam Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. They left with limited supplies and no emergency equipment, and were expected to arrive on Tamatam Island the following day, but never made it. The embassy noted the Jacks had a flashlight in their boat, which ran into difficulties due to water depth while trying to access the lagoon. On August 19, the U.S. Coast Guard's command center in Guam received a notification of a missing 18-foot boat with two people aboard. The man is pictured waiting by the boat which sits nearby to what appears to be a hut Friday's rescue followed a seven-day search by an international maritime team, who searched a total of 16,571 square miles for the unidentified pair While conducting a search pattern, the international maritime team spotted light signals from a nearby island on Wednesday. A U.S Navy aircraft crew was deployed to investigate the source of light when they spotted the stranded couple on the island and their makeshift sign. The pair was then picked up by a patrol boat on Friday and transferred to Nomwin Atoll, which is located 22 miles west of East Fayu Island. Following the rescue, the couple was reportedly in good spirits and was excited to get back home to their family. The search involved 14 vessels, two aircraft crews and one police patrol boat, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Chuuk State, one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, has a total land area of 49.2 square miles and includes seven major island groups. The Federated States of Micronesia is made up of a grouping of 607 small islands in the Western Pacific, about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. Upbeat British families went on a spending spree ahead of the EU referendum as they brushed off scare stories over Brexit, official figures showed yesterday. Households spent a record 291.4billion between April and June up three per cent on the same period last year. This is the biggest increase since 2007 before the financial crisis struck and was the key driver of economic growth of 0.6 per cent in the second quarter of the year. Upbeat British families went on a spending spree ahead of the EU referendum as they brushed off scare stories over Brexit. Pictured: George Osborne and David Cameron made dire warnings about Brexit before the referendum Businesses also boosted investment over the three-month period and British industry enjoyed its best quarter since 1999 making a mockery of warnings from Remain campaigners that worries about the referendum were denting the economy. Martin Beck, senior economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Item Club, said: Predictions that the economy will fall into recession look unduly pessimistic. The Office for National Statistics, which published the figures, said there is very little anecdotal evidence at present to suggest that the referendum has had an impact on the economy in the second quarter of the year. Joe Grice, chief economist at the ONS, even suggested that there was no fall off in activity in the final week of the quarter following the Brexit vote on June 23. Our survey returns, which include the period leading up to and immediately following the referendum, show no sign so far of uncertainty having significantly affected investment or GDP, he said. The report is just the latest sign that the economy entered the referendum in good shape and has continued to perform well ever since. Theresa May has been warned to start the process of leaving the EU by next spring to avoid the wrath of Brexiteers Official figures last week showed retail sales rose 1.4 per cent in July the first full month after the referendum while a report yesterday said consumer confidence has risen at the fastest rate in three-and-a-half years this month. The flurry of upbeat reports undermine doom-laden warnings including from David Cameron and George Osborne that Brexit would be a disaster for the UK economy. The ONS report yesterday showed the economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter of the year outstripping expansion in the United States, Germany, France and Japan. UN ACCUSES BREXITEERS OF 'CREATING PREJUDICE A United Nations committee has accused pro-Brexit politicians of creating prejudice around the time of the EU referendum. The UNs Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also blamed leading Brexit campaigners for a rise in reports of so-called hate crimes. In an incendiary report, it claimed the campaign was marked by divisive, anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric and accused politicians of emboldening individuals to carry out hate crimes. Pro-Leave MPs said the UN was trying to prevent honest debate on migration. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: The UN are basically having a go at the Leave campaign. I dont think their conclusions are fair. Advertisement Household spending was up 0.9 per cent on the previous quarter and 3 per cent on the same quarter last year. Business investment rose 0.5 per cent over the three month period but was down 0.8 per cent year-on-year. Industrial production was up 2.1 per cent on the previous quarter its best showing since 1999 and 1.8 per cent on the same quarter last year. Donald Trump's long-time doctor has revealed he wrote a letter endorsing the candidate's health in just five minutes while a limo was waiting outside - but refused to back away from the glowing description he gave The Donald. Dr Harold Bornstein, a gastroenterologist based in the Manhattan's Upper East Side, described Trump as the picture of health on Friday. 'His health is excellent, especially his mental health,' the doctor told NBC News, doubling down on a letter he wrote last December about Trump's well-being. 'If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,' Bornstein wrote in his medical endorsement of the Republican nominee last year. Donald Trump's long-time doctor Harold Bornstein (pictured) has revealed he wrote a letter endorsing the candidate's health in just five minutes while his patient's limo waited outside When the doctor, who has had Trump as a patient since 1980, was asked by NBC about the bombastic statement, he said: 'I like that sentence to be quite honest with you.' 'I think I picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own,' he told the network. In his December letter, Borstein also said Trump had lost 15 pounds over the past year, has 'suffered no form of cancer', and has 'extraordinary' strength and stamina. The health of both nominees has become a big issue in recent weeks after intense scrutiny of Hillary Clinton's well-being spread from right-wing websites to allies of Trump and people within his campaign. Dr Harold Bornstein (pictured), a gastroenterologist based in the Manhattan's Upper East Side, described Trump as the picture of health on Friday 'His health is excellent, especially his mental health,' the doctor said, doubling down on a letter he wrote last December about Trump's well-being 'If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in December Some critics of the Democratic nominee have highlighted old footage to suggest she had a seizure on camera, while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani suggested the media is covering up Clinton's alleged health concerns. 'All you have to do is go online,' Giuliani said during an appearance on Fox News. 'Go online and put down "Hillary Clinton's illness." Take a look at the videos for yourself.' Giuliani was referring to a number of right-wing conspiratorial videos that suggest the 68-year-old Clinton is plagued by a number of health problems. 'I think I picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own,' Dr Harold Bornstein said about his letter about Trump's health In his December letter, Borstein also said Trump had lost 15 pounds over the past year, has 'suffered no form of cancer', and has 'extraordinary' strength and stamina Bornstein wrote this letter for Trump in December last year, before the businessman had secured the Republican nomination Clinton's campaign began vehemently pushing back against online rumors that she is ill, using comments made by Trump to get on the topic. Trump had said during a national security speech that Clinton lacked the 'mental and physical stamina to take on ISIS.' Then, during a town hall with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity, Trump said Clinton 'doesn't really do that much. She'll give a speech on a teleprompter, and then she'll disappear.' 'While it is dismaying to see the Republican nominee for president push deranged conspiracy theories in a foreign policy speech, it's no longer surprising,' Clinton's communications director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement. The health of both candidates has been questioned, after scrutiny of Hillary Clinton's well-being spread from right-wing websites to allies of Trump and people within his campaign Clinton's campaign began vehemently pushing back against online rumors that she is ill 'Donald Trump is simply parroting lies based on fabricated documents promoted by Roger Stone and his right wing allies.' Clinton's team also released a new statement from her physician, Dr Lisa Bardack, who signed off on the Democrat's health in the beginning months of her campaign last year. 'As Secretary Clinton's long time physician, I released a medical statement during the campaign indicating that she is in excellent health,' Bardack said. Uber is investigating whether her husband worked for them on the day Uber is investigating whether the husband of missing Melbourne mother Karen Ristevski worked for the company on the day she disappeared. Borce Ristevski told police he went for a drive just half an hour after his wife, 47, left their Avondale Heights home in Victoria, on June 29. It is believed Mr Ristevski recieved a request from the ride-sharing company to work but it is unknown if he accepted the job, reported The Australian. Scroll down for video Karen Ristevski (pictured) was last seen leaving her Melbourne home on June 29 Mr Ristevski's has since hired a solicitor, Katarina Ljubicic, who said her client hasn't been asked to make any statements since the initial two when the investigation began. 'He's not been asked to make another statement and he's fully co-operated with police,' Ms Ljubicic said before refusing to comment on whether he worked for uber. Uber also refused to comment on whether Mr Ristevski was a registered driver. 'While we cant make comment on any specific investigations, it is Ubers practice to work co-operatively with law-enforcement agencies and assist with inquiries as they arise,'communications manager Mike Scott said. This comes after new details about the mysterious disappearance revealed Ms Ristevski mobile phone was detected northwest of the city only hours after she vanished. According to the Herald Sun, Ms Ristevski's phone was 'pinged' by a mobile phone tower near Gisborne, 40 kilometres northwest of her home on June 29, the day she disappeared. It is also believed a mobile belonging to her husband was detected on the same day at nearby Diggers Rest, which is 20 kilometres northwest of their home. Borce Ristevski (right), who is married to Mrs Ristevski (centre), with their daughter Sarah When Mr Ristevski was questioned by detectives about his whereabouts on the day of his wife's disappearance, he reportedly failed to mention taking her 2004 Mercedes Benz for a drive down the Calder Highway to assess a faulty fuel gauge. He told police that after hitting a bump in the road the fuel problem had fixed itself and he subsequently returned home. His phone was also reportedly switched off for two hours that day. The revelations come after Ms Ristevski's ice-addicted stepson posted a series of disturbing and unsubstantiated messages to social media following her disappearance. Facebook posts from Anthony Rickard reveal he had a troubled relationship with his stepmother and her husband. Among a stream of violent and often incoherent messages Mr Rickard calls his father a 'coward', claims he watched him do drugs and that he and Mrs Ristevski, who has been missing nearly two months, had an affair. The ice-addicted stepson of missing mother Karen Ristevski has posted a series of disturbing and unsubstantiated messages to social media since her disappearance 'Ur a low price of sh** that watched me do drugs as u allowed Karen to continue her fantasy of leaving u to run away with me [sic],' he clamied. He called Mrs Ristevski a 'wrecker' and a 'fake' and also made several disparaging remarks about his stepmother. On Thursday, A Current Affair broadcast a segment on Mrs Ristevski and what they described as Mr Rickard's 'ugly grab for cash'. The show said it offered Mr Rickard a 'fictitious' $50,000 to talk on camera about his relationship with Mrs Ristevski, but claim he demanded $200,000. Mr Rickard has told the Herald Sun he never asked for the cash. Anthony Rickard has posted a series of disturbing and ubsubstantiated messages to social media since his stepmother's disappearance He called Mrs Ristevski a 'wrecker' and a 'fake' and also made several disparaging remarks about his stepmother His Facebook page is full of a stream of violent and often incoherent messages A Sydney ugg boot-maker is counter-suing an American footwear company who has accused of of breaching trademark over the use of the word 'ugg'. Eddie Oygur, the founder and owner of Australian Leather in Sydney, launched legal action against earlier this year against Deckers who claim they own use of the word 'ugg'. Mr Oygur told Daily Mail Australia that the lawsuit from the US footwear giant came after they sent him legal documents alleging that he had illegally sold the boots in the US. Scroll down for video Eddie Oygur, owner and found of Australian Leather, is counter-suing American footwear giant Deckers over use of the word ugg Mr Oygur explained that ugg is an Australian generic term for sheepskin boots 'I've sold nearly $1,400 dollars of ugg boots online. I can't stop people from buying from the world wide web,' he said. Mr Oygur explained that ugg was a generic term that was well known and used in Australia and in the US during the 60s and 70s. 'It's not a made up word, it's an Australian generic term for sheepskin boots,' he said. Brian Smith, the cousin of Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith, brought the idea over to the US and in 1985 registered the term 'ugg' with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Brian Smith's company grew quickly, and in 1996 he sold it to Deckers Outdoor Corporation for $30 million according to Mr Oygur's Australian Michael Terceiro. Deckers then registered the term in 130 countries and as a result Australian ugg makers have been unable to export their product around the world. Deckers sent the Sydney ugg-boot maker a legal document suing him for the use of the word 'ugg' Australian entrepreneur Brian Smith, cousin of Dick Smith, brought the idea to the US and registered 'ugg' with the US Patent and Trademark Office in 1985 'The American public dont know I feel sad that the US consumers,' Deckers deceived them, she added. Mr Terceiro said that he and his American counterparts believe they have a strong case in the Chicago district court against the footwear giant which can be found in his 2014 autobiography 'The Birth of a Brand'. 'Brian Smith told the trademark office that the word ugg was not a generic term. We believe that we can prove what he said was false,' he said. 'Theyre view is that weve got a strong case against Deckers and the judge we're confident the judge will agree with us,' he added. Mr Terceiro said that they have a strong case against Deckers in the Chicago district court Mr Oygur hopes their case against Deckers will open up more opportunities for the remaining ugg-boot makers and create a regional trademark for Australian manufacturers 'Hopefully we can put him in the witness box to admit he knew it,' he added. If successful, Mr Oygur said the case will open up more opportunities for the few remaining authentic Australian manufacturers. 'I am doing this for every ugg boot manufacturer in Australia,' he said. This is the incredible moment a private helicopter pilot performs a jaw-dropping rescue of a stranded tourist after the professional team could not complete the mission. In an 'extreme and intense' manoeuvre heroic pilot Constantin Apavaloaei saves a severely injured 44-year-old woman stuck 2000 metres up on the Carpathian Mountains. Another walker on the Piatra Craiului range was able to capture the impressive sight on camera. 'Extreme and intense' manoeuvre: A helicopter pilot attempts a daring rescue attempt It shows Mr Apavaloaei, from the private company Corbex Helicopters in Brasov, expertly steering the aircraft into position. With astonishing skill he reverses the helicopter backwards towards the hiker, from Bucharest, with its tail facing the mountainside. Staying completely stable despite the strong updraft he slowly moves into position, allowing rescuers to drop down to the stranded tourist, who had fallen 30m down a crevasse. Smoothly they pick her up in under a minute, before the pilot flies her off to safety. The viral video, which has hundreds of thousands of views, was posted on the National Dispatch Rescue Facebook page. Heroic rescue: Pilot Constantin Apavaloaei saves a severely injured 44-year-old woman It transpires, according to Romanian news site Digi 24, that a SMURD rescue team had arrived much earlier but could not finish the mission. An investigation has now been launched by the Department for Emergency Situations, after Mr Apavaloaei was at first denied from carrying out the rescue himself. The SMURD pilot reportedly flew around for more than an hour before deciding he could not lead the mission to an end. Stabilization: The pilot reverses in backwards and steadies the aircraft against an updraft Private pilot: Mr Apavaloaei had first been told not to attempt the feat after the professional SMURD team could not complete their attempts Head of Department Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, confirmed they were looking into the incident, suggesting those who intervened might have 'risked a little extra than the SMURD helicopter pilots'. Yet he added great care is always taken as risking just that extra one per cent could lead to a disaster, with the blades possibly cutting the 'throats of those who are under the helicopter'. Mr Apavaloaei also defended the SMURD team, he said: 'Pilots are very good, but probably have some restrictions.' The woman was seriously injured with a fractured femur, forearm and a head trauma. She was rushed to hospital in Targu Mures after the private helicopter took off for the second time, before carrying out the rescue in just eight minutes. This is not the first time in recent memory a private crew has not been allowed to intervene in a rescue situation in Romania, reports bzb.ro. Storrar instead pulled out a new jar with an engagement note inside Reddington told her they were going to find it again on Eagle Lake island Couple buried jar with memorabilia when they were teenagers and dating Troy Reddington, 25, didn't tell her the real reason behind the invitation Jennifer Storrar, 24, of Ontario, went on a camping trip with her boyfriend A Canadian woman thought she was going on a sweet trip down memory lane with her boyfriend - and ended up taking a step towards a romantic future instead. Jennifer Storrar, 24, of Ontario, has been dating 25-year-old Troy Reddington since her teenage years. Five years ago, the two lovebirds buried a jar filled with memorabilia of their budding relationship - photos and notes about their goals for the future. This year, Reddington decided to ask Storrar to marry him and thought it was time to dig up the jar. Scroll down for video Jennifer Storrar (pictured), 24, of Ontario, went on a trip with her boyfriend, 25-year-old Troy Reddington, thinking they were going to dig up a time capsule from their teenage years The two of them had buried their time capsule on an island in Mikisew Provincial Park, in Eagle Lake. Storrar used to go there when she was a child, Inside Edition reported. Reddington decided he was ready to pop the question in November and bought the ring. He wanted to place it inside a new jar, which he would put in place of their original time capsule. Reddington would then tell Storrar they were en route to dig up their memories, and watch her find his proposal instead. But Reddington had decided to propose to Storrar and had buried a new jar containing a note reading: 'Will you marry me?' He got on his knee (pictured) after Storrar found it Storrar nodded yes, too moved to talk at first. She let out a few sobs as Reddington slipped the ring on her finger. The two then embraced (pictured) But he realized he would have to wait if he wanted his master plan to work, as it would be impossible to travel to the island during the winter. So he held out until May and as soon as the temperature rose again, took a secret trip to the island in the middle of the night. Reddington drove and kayaked his way to the island. There, he found a spot that seemed close to where they had buried their time capsule five years ago. Neither he nor Storrar could ever find the actual jar they had buried as teenagers, Inside Edition reported. But Reddington didn't let this get in the way of his romantic idea and instead buried his new jar, an empty peanut butter container which now housed a note reading: 'Will you marry me?' He then invited his girlfriend on a camping trip. Both of them traveled to Eagle Lake and kayaked to the island together. There, Storrar dug up the new jar and found Reddington's note inside. She looked startled as he produced a box containing an engagement ring and got down on one knee. 'Will you marry me?' he asked. Storrar nodded yes, too moved to talk at first. She let out a few sobs as Reddington slipped the ring on her finger. 'I could not believe him,' she told Inside Edition. 'He went on such a trek to do this.' The two kayaked their way back and now plan to get married within two or three years. There is mounting pressure to have Judge Thomas Estes removed from the bench for his lenient sentence He did have a scholarship to University of Dayton, but it was rescinded It is not known what community college he will attend at this time Parole documents suggest he will live with relatives in A high school athlete who was only given probation after he sexually assaulted two unconscious classmates at a house party will attend community college in Ohio. David Becker is planning to move to the state and live with relatives in Cincinnati after he avoided jail and was told he wouldn't have to register as a sex offender for attacking the two 18-year-old girls. His attorney Thomas Rooke, said a jail term and criminal record would 'ruin his college experience'. Becker's future plans were revealed as Judge Paul C. Dawley, chief justice of Massachusett's district courts, ruled out reviewing the lenient sentence, despite mounting pressure and a petition signed by thousands to have the judge removed. The case is drawing parallels to that of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who got just six months in jail for a sexual assault conviction, as they are both 'privileged white athletes' who could afford strong legal representation. David Becker is planning to move to Ohio and live with relatives in Cincinnati after he avoided jail and was told he wouldn't have to register as a sex offender for attacking the two 18-year-old girls Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records show he is still in the application process, so it is not known which school he will attend, the Dayton Daily News reported. He had been due to attend the University of Dayton on multiple scholarships - but school officials decided to take his place away after the case hit the headlines. Becker was accused of sexually assaulting two classmates at East Longmeadow High in April while they were asleep in the same bed. They claim they woke up to him attacking them. He was given the sentence, seen by some as a slap on the wrist, as his defense attorney, Thomas Rooke, said it was a 'mistake... clouded with alcohol'. The lawyer then added that men Becker's age 'make mistakes', and said: 'He can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender.' Becker's (pictured during his sentencing) was accused of sexually assaulting two classmates at East Longmeadow High in April while they were asleep in the same bed. They claim they woke up to him attacking them He will not have the attack on his criminal record and will only have to undergo sexual offender treatment if he doesn't get into trouble before August 2018. Becker will also be allowed to serve his probation in Ohio while he starts college. A police report seen by WWLP claimed that Becker denied any sexual contact with one of the alleged victims. He said that he thought his actions toward the other young woman were okay because she did not stop him. However other records have shown that he apologized to one of the victims in a text message just hours after the attack. His attorney Thomas Rooke, said a jail term and criminal record would 'ruin his college experience' The victim responded with a text telling Becker 'don't even worry about it,' but later told police that she said this because 'she did not know what else to say'. Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Eileen M. Sears recommended Becker be found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and battery and serve two years in prison, court records show. But a judge decided against handing down the custodial sentence. Massachusetts Governor's Councilor Michael Albano wrote to Chief Justice Dawley, saying he was concerned at the outcome of Becker's case. In Dawley's letter, he told Albano Estes' sentence was lawful, and therefore not subject to review. 'Judges acknowledge and respect that their sentences are subject to review, public scrutiny and criticism. In this case, Honorable Thomas H. Estes exercised his sentencing discretion in accordance with the governing law,' the letter, dated today, reads in part. 'Judge Estes stated during the plea hearing that this was a very difficult case that was well-argued by the Commonwealth and the defense. 'The public record demonstrates that the procedures followed in this case were lawful... Accordingly, I decline to conduct an administrative review of this case.' In response, Albano told MassLive he may pursue other legal options. His lawyer said that men Becker's age 'make mistakes', and said: 'He can now look forward to a productive life without being burdened with the stigma of having to register as a sex offender' 'I am reviewing legal options at this time and may seek review by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. I will consult with the Hampden District Attorney,' he said. A petition has been set up to have Estes removed from the bench after he said jail time would 'slam a lot of doors' for Becker, given his 'position in life', Mass Live reported. On Wednesday evening, it had already been signed by more than 12,000 people. The French backpacker accused of killing a young British woman before embarking on a frenzied knife attack through a hostel had allegedly been threatening to 'massacre' his fellow backpackers for weeks - but they thought he was joking. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Smail Ayad was allegedly acting strangely for two weeks before the attack, and his ramblings led the other backpackers to give him more space. It has been claimed his behaviour changed when Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, arrived and he became infatuated with her, but Daily Mail Australia understands he had 'not been himself' for days before that. Scroll down for video Smail Ayad had allegedly been threatening to 'massacre' the his fellow backpackers for weeks before he stabbed Mia Ayliffe-Chung to death - but they thought he was joking Lorraine Gorizia is the part owner of one of the farms backpackers from the hostel were contracted to. She told DMA on Friday a group of six backpackers came to see her because she had formed a strong bond with them over time. 'They told me he had been talking funny, saying strange things for weeks. At first it was slurred like he was drunk,' she said. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was allegedly killed in front of 30 horrified witnesses by the Frenchman, who also allegedly stabbed British man Tom Jackson, 30, and a third man from Australia Ayad's behaviour allegedly changed when Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, arrived and he became infatuated with her 'He had been telling them he was going to massacre them all but they thought it was him being light-hearted. 'They didn't take it seriously because he was such a nice kid, he was always smiling.' The distraught farmer broke down in tears as she choked through her description of the man she had worked with for a few weeks. 'With a kid like that this shouldn't have happened - I mean what the heck went wrong,' she said. Forensic officers on Thursday at the scene of the dormitory where Ms Ayliffe-Chung was believed to have been stabbed Ayad was allegedly acting strangely for two weeks before the attack, and his ramblings even led the other backpackers to give him more space Mia's arrival to the hostel came four or five days after the Frenchman's behaviour allegedly changed. 'When she came on the scene he was infatuated but she just wasn't at all interested in him,' she said. 'I only met Mia once, they worked together on the farm that day, and the next day I had a text on my phone saying she had been killed and that people wouldn't be able to leave the hostel to come to work. 'My first thought was oh my god what has happened to that gorgeous girl.' Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland, a popular place to stay for backpackers doing rural work to fulfill visa requirements Bloody footprints on the footpath just outside Shelley's Backpackers More blood splattered on the floor of the hostel in one of the communal areas Mia shared her hostel room with Ayad and two other men. Mrs Gorizia said when Ayad dived from the verandah others at the hostel ran to help him, fearing he might die. 'They didn't know about Mia yet. The girl that found her had helped Ayad roll over after he hit the ground,' she said. 'When she walked into the bathroom she saw Mia in a pool of blood and screamed.' Mrs Gorizia said many of the backpackers don't want to be in the hostel any more, and most of them don't even want to be in Australia The distraught farmer broke down in tears as she choked through her description of Ayad (pictured), who she had worked with for a few weeks Mrs Gorizia said while people rushed to see where the scream had come from, Ayad ran and locked himself in his room, on the top floor of the hostel, where it is thought the attack began. 'The boys, Dan and Tom, tried to help Mia,' she said. She was unsure how much time passed between Ayad locking himself in his room and allegedly attacking Tom. Mia's arrival to the hostel came four or five days after the Frenchman's behaviour allegedly changed Mia shared her hostel room with Ayad and two other men Friends of Ms Ayliffe-Chung described her as 'fun, energetic and bubbly' 'When he came out Tom copped it, he looked straight at Dan and did nothing,' she said. 'He was screaming at them saying he was going to massacre all of them and calling out Allahu Akbar. 'So they locked themselves in their rooms. 'They said he was banging on the doors trying to break in.' British man Tom Jackson, 30, was stabbed 15 times in the face as he tried to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung from a knife-wielding maniac. He is fighting for his life in hospital One of the backpackers with a bandage around him arm following Tuesday night's attack Mrs Goricki had to sign paper work for the backpackers so they could leave. 'They said they don't want to be here any more, most of them don't even want to be in Australia,' she said. 'Some are going to the city to get money so they can leave and others are flying straight to Bali. British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung was 'living her dream' on a gap year in Australia when she was stabbed to death by a French man believed to be staying at the same hostel 'The atmosphere at the hostel is very frightening for them. 'The police have been there for days and they have to keep walking past where things happened it is terrifying.' Ayad had been at the hostel since May - and had stayed there for four months last year without incident. Mia had been there for just over a week and hadn't wanted to do farm work but wanted more time in Australia. Advertisement A couple is set to make millions on their waterfront property, which they bought 60 years ago at a fraction of the price. Richard and Jane Corbould's Surfers Paradise property cost just $25,200 or 12,000 guineas when his father purchased it in 1956. Now the couple are planning to move overseas to be closer to their children and 'have had offers from international developers and interstate', with rumoured amounts as high as $20 million, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports. Scroll down for video Richard and Jane Corbould are set to make millions on their waterfront property, which they bought 60 years ago at a fraction of the price The Surfers Paradise property cost just $25,200 or 12,000 guineas when his father purchased it in 1956 Now the couple are planning to move overseas to be closer to their children and 'have had offers from international developers and interstate', with rumoured amounts as high as $20 million The area around the 15 Cannes Ave property is earmarked for high density residential development and the couple has already received offers from China, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. 'The area is changing into a developers' site and a family home like this doesn't really fit the area anymore,' Mrs Corbould told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'A block down the road sold for $8 million and it was only 607sq m, so we are excited to see the outcome for our waterfront home.' Developers could be looking to build the Gold Coasts next high rise, after the sites previous 30-storey height limit changed under the new Draft City Plan. The house will go to auction on September 17 with real estate agency M-Motion. 'This site is well suited for a high-end, luxury apartment development with all the trimmings,' Michael Mahon, M-Motion managing director, told the Gold Coast Bulletin. The area around the 15 Cannes Ave property is earmarked for high density residential development and the couple has already received offers from China, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia Mrs Corbould said 'the area is changing into a developers' site and a family home like this doesn't really fit the area anymore' Connie Green collapsed after a suspected brain haemorrhage An eight-year-old girl has died of a suspected brain haemorrhage while on holiday with her grandparents in Italy. Connie Green was with history teacher Dr Paul Price and his wife Susan, both 57, when she collapsed at their hotel in Padua, northern Italy and was rushed to hospital. Her parents Steven Green, 37, and Gemma Price, 33, flew to Connie's bedside but made the agonising decision to turn off her life-support machine after being told she would never recover. The Sun reports Mr Green, an IT manager from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, posted a simple but moving message on Facebook saying: 'RIP My gorgeous Princess I will miss you forever.' It appears the tragic youngster has an underlying brain condition which had never been diagnosed and her parents along with sister Mia, 13, who was also on the holiday are still in Italy while they make plans to return her to the UK for a funeral Connie had an underlying brain condition which could have struck at any moment A relative said: 'Everyone is in a state of shock Connie was a happy and healthy little girl who was always smiling. 'But Gemma and Steve had a call that all parents dread. 'It's just dreadful, they are besides themselves with grief. You can't imagine what they are going through.' The family have been told that Connie's medical condition coul dhave struck at any mintute. A fundraising page has already raised more than 7,000 for Connie's family. Insurance companies are cashing in whilst motorists are paying out more. Despite measures that have helped the industry to save half a billion pounds in the past three years, motorists are still being overcharged and thanks to a government crackdown are making less claims. New figures released by The Times show that personal injury cases have fallen by 23,000 under the reforms, in a move that has saved insurers almost 520 million. In addition, premiums have jumped by as much as a fifth in the past 12 months alone, adding around 115 to bills, even though a government crackdown on the no-win, no-fee industry has led to a drop in whiplash claims. Whilst insurance companies cash in on a reduction in injury claims other research shows an increase in the costs motorists are still having to pay Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the Commons transport select committee told The Times: The bottom line is that the insurance industry promised that they would reduce premiums as whiplash claims fell, and if they havent done it, theyve reneged on their promise. Fraud must be wiped out but the insurance industry must also honour its promises. A confused.com study which used information from prices quotes to motorists found that the average policy stood at 715 on average for a comprehensive car insurance premium, compared to 600 this time last year. This was a rise of nearly 20 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. In July Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: Weve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years a 19 per cent annual increase is substantial to say the least. And these price rises are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK regions. Insurers are believed to have saved more than 500 million after a government crackdown on the no-win, no-fee whiplash claims If prices continue to rise at the rate weve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of average comprehensive premiums breaching the all-time high seen in 2011, when they peaked at 858. An airline has announced it will use smart chips attached to passengers' luggage to make sure belongings do not go missing. Delta Airlines, based Atlanta, said it will use Radio Frequency Identification chips placed on travellers' bags to track their location. Baggage handlers will be able to identify each bag from a distance from a chip placed inside a paper tag on baggage. Delta Airlines, based in the US, said it will use Radio Frequency Identification chips (pictured) placed on travellers' bags to track their location Under the new system, conveyer belts will have sensors that flash a green light if the suitcase is on track to the correct plane and a red light if not, meaning a handler can redirect it. In April Delta unveiled a $50 million investment to overhaul its existing barcode bag tracking system. The airline is hoping the new system will help to tackle the problem of lost luggage. Airlines spend thousands of pounds each year replacing passengers' belongings when they go missing en route. Baggage handlers will be able to identify each bag from a distance from a chip placed inside a paper tag on passengers' baggage (File photo) The airline's existing system involved the scanning of individual barcodes on each piece of baggage. Brett Snyder, an aviation expert, said: 'The airlines have been doing better in general when it comes to mishandled bags, but this is going to help significantly,' according to NBC News. He added: 'Things really go off the rails when you have storms and you have bags scattered everywhere. 'Over the past few years, you've seen airlines going behind the scenes to focus on better operating and handling.' In April Delta unveiled a $50 million investment to overhaul its existing barcode bag tracking system The RFI technology has been around for decades and was developed during the Second World War to help distinguish between friendly and enemy aircraft. The technology is already used in the hotel industry to keep track of towels and linens, in libraries and even in nursing homes for vulnerable patients who may be at risk of getting lost. Earlier this year a separate airline revealed an enormous 40,000 pieces of checked baggage missed their planes. Sir Anthony Seldon believes that the former Prime Minister was able to flatter the German chancellor and in return she took a shine to him Angela Merkel 'quite fancied' David Cameron, his biographer has claimed. Sir Anthony Seldon believes that the former Prime Minister was able to flatter the German chancellor and in return she took a shine to him. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival he proclaimed: 'I think she quite fancied him, actually. 'He charmed her, he knew how to flatter her. And let's face it, they're not a whole bundle of fun, the other EU leaders.' Sir Anthony wrote Cameron at 10 with journalist Peter Snowden and the book was serialised by the Mail On Sunday. Other extracts reveal that the relationship between Cameron and Merkel was not always sweet as they engaged in tough negotiations ahead of the EU referendum. In a face-to-face Downing Street showdown with the German chancellor, the Prime Minister said: If theres no deal, its not the end of the world; Ill walk away from the EU. Mrs Merkel hit back, describing Britain as Europes problem child. She accused Mr Cameron of acting like a wrecker at leaders meetings, saying it made him hated. The chancellor also mocked Mr Camerons Eurosceptic vision, saying: He who has visions should go to a doctor. Friday prayers have been led by women for the first time in Scandinavia this week, as a female-led mosque was opened in Copenhagen. More than 60 women crammed into the Mariam mosque in a city centre street in the Danish city on Friday to their first service together. Sherin Khankan, pictured above, is one of two female imams at the mosque in Copenhagen According to the Guardian, Sherin Khankan and Saliha Marie Fetteh, the mosque's two female imams, shared the ceremony, as Khankan sang the adnan and made an opening speech. Fetteh delivered the khutbah, or sermon, on the theme of 'women and Islam in a modern world'. This was history, the first female-led mosque in Scandinavia, with only a handful outside China. Women are usually encouraged to worship in the home, and often separately from men. File photo In many mosques, men and women worship separately, with women encouraged to say prayers in their own homes. Mosques are seen as the men's realm. The first female-led mosque in Scandinavia opened in Copenhagen, file image above According to The Guardian, the mosque has drawn up its own six-page marriage charter with four key principles. In the mosque, polygamy is not an option; women have the right to divorce; a marriage will be annulled if psychological or physical violence is committed; and, in the event of divorce, women will have equal rights over any children. Khankan said the mosque aims and hopes to challenge patriarchal roles within Islam, which is male-dominated, but also in other faiths too, such as Judaism and Catholicism. Khankan wore a headscarf only to pray, saying it was her interpretation of being a faithful and loyal Muslim. She told the paper: 'We represent a modernist, spiritual approach to Islam. We are seeking to create an alternative voice, without delegitimising others. We want the Mariam mosque to be a place where everyone can come, and we can flourish together. 'What happens in a mosque goes way beyond the mosque itself it affects society.' A generous Michigan couple who won a year's worth of free pizza has donated the entire prize to a homeless youth shelter. Hannah Spooner and Pete Kadry recently won a drawing, earning them a prize worth $500 from Little Caesars pizza that included a total of 52 pies. Instead of leaping at the chance to indulge in cheesy pies, the couple decided to donate the vouchers for the free pizzas to Covenant House Michigan. Scroll down for video A generous Michigan couple, Hannah Spooner and Pete Kadry (pictured) who won a year's worth of free pizza has donated the entire prize to a homeless youth shelter Instead of leaping at the chance to indulge in cheesy pies, the couple decided to donate the vouchers for the free pizzas to Covenant House Michigan 'I knew before we had won that I was going to donate it,' the 19-year-old Spooner told FOX 2 Detroit. 'Pete said, "You wouldn't even keep a couple" and I said no. If I won it they would all be donated. I knew right away.' She continued: 'I just know there are other people out there who have nothing, and I don't think I should be eating a year's worth of free pizza when there are people who go hungry at night.' Video courtesy of FOX 2 Detroit Spooner also joked she had just lost a lot of weight was not trying to eat a lot of pizza, according to Inside Edition. After winning the prize, Spooner was on a mission to use it to impact her community, so she reached out to several non-profit organizations in the area. She eventually settled on Covenant House Michigan, which aids homeless children and young adults, after a tour of the facility. Spooner made the donation after recently winning a drawing that earned them a prize worth $500 from Little Caesars pizza that included a total of 52 pies They donated the vouchers for the free pizzas to Covenant House Michigan (pictured), which helps homeless children and young adults One of Covenant House's administrators (pictured) said they are grateful for the couple's generosity One of Covenant House's administrators said they are grateful for the couple's generosity. 'I look at young people and they believe it's very important to give back to the community,' the administrator told FOX2 Detroit. 'But I don't know if they would give pizza back. 'This was wonderful to find out that someone cared enough about these young people here at Covenant House to provide this pizza for them.' The facility serves three meals a day to its residents but said pizza is always a special treat. The couple pictured with Covenant House Michigan staff along with some new and long-time supporters following a tour of the facility While Covenant House Michigan is still working out the logistics, the residents could enjoy pizza as soon as next week, according to Inside Edition. Following her good deed, Spooner said she feels good about their decision. 'I could tell it would actually make a difference,' she told Inside Edition. A prosecutor has said she will review her position on the life sentence of drug dealer turned FBI informant who helped bring down members of Detroit's corrupt elite, hours after DailyMail.com published new claims in the case. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has said her office may change their stance on the case involving Richard Wershe Jr. The father was just 17 when he was given life without parole for cocaine possession in 1988. He believes he is still behind bars because information he gave the authorities led to the arrest of corrupt police officers and a former mayor's brother-in-law. Worthy had been one of the most outspoken people working to keep the 46-year-old father in prison insisting he deserves the lengthy prison term for drug charges. But she is now reconsidering and will review the case. She announced the move hours after DailyMail.com published new claims from a documentary that a hitman was hired to kill Wershe before he was sentenced almost 30 years ago. At a press conference on Friday, Worthy said: 'Having been deeply immersed in the Juvenile Life Without Parole murder cases for the last six months, I have noted parallels to the Richard Wershe case that have caused me to review the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office position in his case. A documentary has unearthed explosive claims police officers ordered a hit on 17-year-old drug dealer turned FBI informant Richard Wershe after he helped take down corrupt cops and a mayor's brother-in-law. Wershe is pictured left at 17 and right in a recent mugshot 'However, it is important to note that only the Michigan Parole Board determines who does or doesn't receive parole.' Wershe Jr has been behind bars since 1988 for possessing cocaine - after his information led to the arrest of a number of powerful people in Detroit. He can only be released as a result of three different outcomes: The parole board lets him out, The Governor of Michigan pardons him, or the federal courts rule Michigan is dishing out cruel and unusual punishment. If he had been arrested for the same crime now, he would have received a maximum of 11 years in prison. This past September he was in court to be re-sentenced by judge Dana Hathaway, but Worthy objected, saying Hathaway didn't have the authority to release Wershe Jr from prison. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has said her office may change their stance on the case involving Wershe Jr - despite spending years working to keep him behind bars The Court of Appeals agreed with Worthy and the Supreme Court refused to act, so Wershe Jr is still languishing behind bars at Michigan's Oaks Correctional Facility. The documentary, '650 LIFER: The Legend of White Boy Rick', documents the life of Wershe Jr, who was given a life sentence in 1988 for a non-violent drug crime when he was just 17 . A draconian law at the time meant that if you were carrying over 650 grams of cocaine, you were given an automatic life sentence. He is eligible for parole, but Wayne County Prosecutors refuse to release him, despite the help he has given to the authorities. A teaser trailer sent to DailyMail.com by Transition Studios shows interviews with a number of former FBI agents and attorneys who all say they knew corrupt cops were involved in the case, and believe Wershe should have been freed years ago. It also shows convicted killer, Nathaniel Craft, insisting that he was asked to kill Rick, but make sure it 'led back to no one'. Weshre's case has been in the headlines for decades, but now he hopes the new documentary and a Hollywood film being made at the same time will help lead to his freedom. Three attempts on his life are believed to have been uncovered. Producers told DailyMail.com there were three failed plans to kill the drug dealer in a car chase, on his way to prison and in the courthouse. Worthy (pictured in 2014) announced she is reconsidering her position hours after DailyMail.com published new claims from a documentary that a hitman was hired to kill Wershe before he was sentenced almost 30 years ago Wershe Jr was given a life sentence in 1988 (pictured) for a non-violent drug crime when he was just 17 under a draconian law. He is eligible for parole, but Wayne County Prosecutors refuse to release him Craft later admitted to federal prosecutors that he was involved in more than 30 homicides. Convicted drug kingpin Johnnie Curry also claims that his crimes were far worse than Wershe's - but he was released earlier. In the film he says: 'On a scale of one to 10, I would say he was about a two. He was nowhere near me. 'I did way more than he could possibly have ever done to get that kind of a sentence.' In an email to DailyMail.com from Oaks Correctional Facility in Michigan earlier this month, Wershe said he continually faces roadblocks because politicians and attorneys still 'lie and cover stuff up'. Convicted killer, Nathaniel Craft, claims he was asked to kill Rick, but make sure it 'led back to no one'. Three attempts on his life are believed to have been uncovered He spoke from his cell just days after President Obama pardoned hundreds of inmates for drug offenses. Wershe told DailyMail.com he is truly happy for those on the list and praised the President for correcting a 'mass injustice'. But he said he is helpless, as the only one who can release him is Michigan's Governor, Rick Snyder. The filmmakers are hoping to get the politician to sit down for a private viewing in a bid to have him release Wershe. The documentary's director, Shawn Rech, told DailyMail.com, that Wershe became a scapegoat for politicians in a city in decline in the 1980s. He said: 'The film examines how a juvenile could possibly receive a life sentence for possession of drugs. 'We explore the legend of "White Boy Rick," which it turns out didn't have much truth behind it. Producers told DailyMail.com there were three failed plans to kill the drug dealer in a car chase, on his way to prison and in the courthouse. He is pictured being led into court in 1988 Convicted drug kingpin Johnnie Curry also claims that his crimes were far worse than Wershe's - but he was released earlier. In the film he says: 'On a scale of one to 10, I would say he was about a two. He was nowhere near me' 'It did work out great for TV stations and their news ratings, as well as politicians who needed a scapegoat for a big city in decline. 'We gained access to almost all of the key players. From the real drug lords who ran Detroit's street enterprises, to the FBI agents who worked their cases, to some of the journalists who reported on all of this at that time. 'The film is as much about the city's culture of corruption as Rick's case. We even uncovered new, jaw dropping evidence of just how high the corruption went. 'Believe it or not, this film will contain a lot of new information about what went on back then. 'I suppose we're benefiting from people getting more comfortable as time passes. Wershe, seen in a holding cell during his trial, says he knows his work as an FBI informant means he is still behind bars today 'The goal of the film is to shine a light on those who stand in the way of Rick's release. 'We show the viewer what's really going on, and why certain powerful individuals are committed to never allowing Rick's release. Their arguments don't hold up.' Wershe was a paid informant who helped the authorities prosecute crooked cops and the brother-in-law of former Detroit mayor Coleman Young (pictured) - actions which seem to have dented his chances of release Wershe was a paid FBI informant who helped the authorities prosecute crooked police officers and Willie Valson, the brother-in-law of former Detroit mayor Coleman Young. His actions seem to have dented his chances of release. In an interview with WDIV in February, 2015, he said it was his cooperation with cases against high-profile figures, including a former homicide cop and city councilman Gill Hill, which has stopped him being set free. He told the reporter at the time: 'I embarrassed a lot of people. But all I did was what I was asked and all I did was tell the truth. 'I was asked to go out there and get information about some people that were involved in the drug trade, and their connections, and how the drugs were coming in. 'They got me involved in this. I was a kid. I made a poor decision. Should I be paying for it 27 years later? I dont think so.' His legal team believe he has been wronged by the legal system and his family are constantly pushing for him to be freed. Wershe stands with a painting he did in prison. It was sold at auction for a cancer charity They have a Facebook group which keep supporters updated about developments in his case. Long-time attorney Ralph Musilli told the Detroit News in September: 'How can you give up a man's life? We're talking about someone who went into prison at the age of 18 on a nonviolent crime. You can't let this guy stay in prison.' FBI agent Gregg Schwartz, who investigated some of Detroit's drug rings and other corruption, said drug dealers and murderers have been freed while Wershe still languishes behind bars. In an interview with DailyMail.com earlier this year he said Wersche should not be behind bars. During the film, he states: 'I am sorry to say, the legend of White Boy Rick, is just not true.' He added: 'Third world countries don't incarcerate like this.' A baby-faced Wershe was recruited as an informant by the FBI in 1984, mainly because his father had done the same, and he was trusted by a black family who were being investigated. Wershe and his mother Darlene are pictured during a prison visit several years ago at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Michigan. She said she wants to spend some time with her son before she dies He came from a lower-middle class family. His parents had split in a bitter divorce and his sister was plagued by drug addition problems. Richard Wershe Sr was a small-time arms dealer who made money on the side by selling information about neighborhood crooks and dealers to federal agents. The elder Wershe ended up introducing his son to the informant business. He was undercover while crack cocaine was taking over cities across America, replacing heroin as the illegal drug of choice. The FBI's office in Detroit was keen to look into the dealings of the Curry Brothers. They were traffickers based in the city's east side, where Wershe lived with his father. Johnny Curry, the leader of the racket, was married to Cathy Volsan, the attractive niece of the then Mayor Coleman Young, who had constantly been on the feds' radar. Informants known as 'stool pigeons' like Wershe would help convict some of his most loyal allies during his reign. Cathy Volsan's father Willie Volsan, the mayor's brother-in-law, had been a major player in illegal gambling, but moved on to heroin and crack cocaine when it flooded the streets. Wershe remembers that, as an informant, he was living a luxurious life alongside drug kingpins that children his age couldn't dream of. Over two years working for the FBI, Wershe said he was given approximately $30,000. He used the money to buy clothes, jewelry and even cars - even though he wasn't even old enough to drive Retired FBI agent Herman Groman says he knew there were corrupt cops involved in Wershe's case from the beginning He remembers going to Las Vegas when he was just 15 with the Curry brothers. He was sent to watch the Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns fight, armed with money from the federal agents and fake identification. He told WDIV: 'They wanted as much information as I could on a drug organization in Detroit. The government is the one that provided me with the fake ID.' Documents obtained by the TV station list payments for Wershe's flight, room and spending money. It was with his informant work on trips like this that meant the FBI was able to get permission for wiretaps and listening devices trained on Johnny Curry. About a year after members of the gang inadvertently murdered a 13-year-old boy during a drive-by shooting, the federal agents and local cops on the task force stopped taking Wershe's phone calls, because they didn't need him. He had dropped out of school to become an informant and had little formal education. So he went back to what he knew - dealing drugs. His connections from his time with the Curry family helped him get in touch with and form a business relationship with Art Derrick, a trafficker in Miami who owned a small fleet of aircraft that could get the drugs to Detroit quickly. Wershe was not a street dealer, Musilli told the Detroit News, but sold cocaine at a wholesale level. Wershe is pictured sitting (right) at a family event in the mid 1970s. He is with his late grandfather Ray Wershe and friend Dave Majkowski By this time Johnny Curry was in jail and his wife, Cathy Volson, who was several years older than Wershe, boldly approached him and suggested they have a fling. She didn't know Wershe had been the one who put her husband in jail. Mrs Volson was protected by the mayor's family and was warned every time she was close to becoming part of a police investigation. In 1987, when Wershe was arrested, he had 9,000 grams of cocaine and $30,000 in cash on him. By that time, the 17-year-old defendant in his own high-profile trial on drug charges was a father to two young daughters. His youngest child, a son, would be born shortly after he was incarcerated. While he was in prison, the FBI still asked for his help. They told Wershe to inform Cathy Volsan Curry one of his trusted 'connects' from Miami needed police protection. FBI agent Gregg Schwartz, who investigated some of Detroit's drug rings and other corruption, said drug dealers and murderers have been freed while Wershe still languishes behind bars. In the film, he says the legacy of White Boy Rick is 'not true' The 'connect' was an undercover FBI agent posing as a big-time Miami drug dealer. She in turn introduced undercover FBI Agent Mike Castro, posing as Mike Diaz, to her father, Willie Volsan. In turn, Mr Volsan introduced the agent to various police officers willing to take bribes to provide protection for what they believed were drug and cash shipments through Detroit. One of these cops, Sgt. James Harris, was a member of Mayor Young's security detail. Volsan, Harris, and nearly a dozen police officers were indicted and convicted. Harris and Mr Volson were jailed for 19 years in 1993 for an operation designed to ensnare Mayor Young. Inspector Gil Hill, an officer who worked with the Curry family, was a major politician in Detroit at the time and had helped Mr Volsan for a brief time. For Mayor Coleman Young, a white FBI 'stool pigeon' sleeping with his niece that had sent his brother-in-law to prison, was seen as the ultimate betrayal. Wershe had made the wrong enemies in Detroit politics. Rick is seen walking in to one of his recent court appearances. The only person who can let him out his Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder In Hill and Young, Wershe had made enemies of two of the most powerful black politicians in Detroit. For Wershe's parole review in 2003, the Wayne County prosecutor, Mike Duggan, sent a scathing letter to the Michigan Parole Board opposing his release He reportedly accused Wershe of being a 'gang leader' and 'violent kingpin' who intimidated witnesses who 'just disappeared.' It read: 'This is one inmate that needs to remain in prison for his entire life.' But Vince Wade, an investigative reporter who has covered the case, asked for the letter through a Freedom of Information request, and the prosecutor's office said it didn't exist. A change in the state's drug-sentencing law in 2002 made Wershe eligible for parole. He had one hearing, in 2003, and was denied. Musilli said Wershe has even helped Florida authorities crack drug cases while locked up in that state in the early 2000s. He made subsequent requests for hearings in 2007 and 2012, but was turned down. His next opportunity to request a hearing, which comes up every five years, is not until December 2017, according to the Detroit News. Scott Burnstein, an author and true crime historian, has researched Wershe's case for years. He told WDIV: 'I don't use the word tragedy or injustice lightly, but I use it emphatically when I'm talking about Rick Wershe,' Burnstein said. 'I honestly believe that this is the prostituting of our youth, and then just throwing them in a cage and throwing the key away.' 'I think it's a true tragedy an injustice. A wrong needs to be righted,' Burnstein said. The documentary is still in production and is set to be completed in the Fall. It is being made by the same team behind Showtime's 'A Murder in the Park,' a film that helped free wrongfully-convicted prisoner, Alstory Simon. You can watch the teaser here. Failed hardware chain Masters is preparing to hold the biggest liquidation sale in Australian history, with $600-$700 million worth of discounted stock up for grabs. The store-wide sale will begin on Monday 29 August and will see everything go - including paint, timber, barbecues, vacuum cleaners. The Woolworths-owned franchise announced this week that all of its stores would close on or before December 11, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Failed hardware chain Masters (pictured) is preparing to hold the biggest liquidation sale in Australian history, with $600-$700 million worth of discounted stock up for grabs Kevin Olson, general manager of GA Australia and a liquidation specialist running the sell-off, said the entire store would be on sale. 'The lion's share will be anywhere up to probably 30 per cent [off],' Mr Olson said. Earlier this month Woolworths said they would be selling all 82 stores to the Home Consortium. Masters has confirmed it will still honour all warranties, gift cards, returns and laybys. The closure of 82 Masters sites in Australia will be completed before December 11, after owner Woolworths said on Wednesday it would sell the stores to the Home Consortium, according to The Herald Sun. From this week, stock including paint, timber, barbecues, vacuum cleaners - and everything else - worth between $600-700 million will be offloaded in a fire sale, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Bunnings told the Sydney Morning Herald its lowest-price guarantee did not apply to liquidation stock and it would not be matching Masters' prices. Woolworths stands to make net profits of $500 million from the sale. But the figure is far less than the billions Woolworths has pumped into the chain. Woolworths, which owns the hardware franchise, announced the sale of the home improvement stores on Wednesday According to the ABC, it's the latest step in the supermarket giant's embarrassing withdrawal from the home improvement market - which is worth $45 billion. The new owners - if Woolworths' US partner Lowe's agrees to the deal - will be the Home Consortium, which is comprised of the Arrum Group, Spotlight Group and Chemist Warehouse. Many Masters sites will reprotedly be turned into large retail stores like JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings Warehouse, Spotlight and Woolworths supermarkets. Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci thanked the 7,700 Masters staff for their work during a period of uncertainty, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'We will work hard to find Masters employees jobs within the group or pay full redundancy where suitable roles are not available.' Selfies taken by a Massachusetts police officer, nicknamed 'The Dog Whisperer', showing him with dogs have been shared online to locate the pets' owners. The Taunton Police Department posted a photo of Officer Evan Lavigne with a dog on its Facebook page August 10. Police wrote: 'On Saturday morning, Patrolman Lavigne was called to Mechanic's Bank on County Street for a loose dog. 'Patrolman Lavigne valiantly responded and quickly coaxed the dog into his cruiser. Selfies showing Officer Evan Lavigne with dogs have been shared online to locate the pets' owners. This dog's owner was located, Taunton police say 'First things first, a selfie was taken (We think it was the dog's idea), the [Animal Control Officer] was notified. 'The ACO picked up the dog and was able to successfully find his owner. Thank you for your diligent work Patrolman Lavigne!' Lavigne told The Huffington Post: 'My intent was to make something for my friends and I on SnapChat that I thought was hilarious. 'Then I asked our department's Facebook page moderator if he would consider posting the photo to find the owners since after I got the know [the dog], I felt bad dropping him off and maybe never getting him back home.' The Taunton Police Department later posted a selfie showing Lavigne with a boxer on Facebook August 14. Lavigne appeared in another selfie posted to Facebook showing him with a different dog. A commenter wrote: 'Thank u for finding my dog he is home' Authorities wrote: 'Patrolman "The Dog Whisperer" Lavigne answered the call again. This beautiful dog was found on Oak St, by Girlie's. 'Patrolman Lavigne coaxed the dog into the back of the cruiser, and the dog insisted on a selfie while waiting for the ACO. 'No word yet on a happy ending. If you know the owner of this dog, please contact them and ask them to reach out to Animal Control.' 'Thank u for finding my dog he is home,' a Facebook user wrote August 14 in the photo's comments section. were pulled over by police one by one The $1 million wedding of Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer, which started with a fleet of luxury sports cars and the happy couple releasing two doves, has moved on to a spectacular reception ceremony in one of Sydneys most elite venues. Exclusive photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show a multi layered cake and the bride and groom enjoying their dinner at the Hyde Park Ballroom at the Daltone House in Sydney's CBD. The several metre tall cake is layered with soft pink and white roses on each tier, matching the bridesmaid's pale dresses. The wedding reception kicked off around 8pm - two hours later than anticipated - following the ceremony at the isolated Longuevue Mansion in Kenthurst, which was not revealed until 40 minutes beforehand, amid much fanfare. Scroll down for video Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer has tied the knot again in an extravagant second weekend of wedding celebrations at a mansion in Sydney's hills Exclusive photos of a multi-layered and intricately designed cake have emerged, showing layers of pink and white roses on each tier, matching the bridesmaid's dresses 'Absolute amazing atmosphere and the bride and groom are glowing,' Mr Mehajer's older sister Zena Mehajer said 'Absolute amazing atmosphere and the bride and groom are glowing,' Mr Mehajer's older sister Zena Mehajer said. 'Beyond expectation wedding 2016,' she said. The second wedding on Saturday for Ms Mehajer and IT engineer Ibrahim Sakalaki in front of hundreds of guests followed an intimate ceremony of just 30 last weekend. The no-expense-spared nuptials saw the younger sister of controversial former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer don a $10,000 gown dripping with jewels. 'Beyond expectation wedding 2016,' Zena, a lawyer, added about the newlywed couple Kat was seen stroking her new husband's head as they danced at the reception on Saturday night The reception was expected to last until 1am - a long day for the family members who were up at 4am organizing the day's events, sources said Mr Mehajer appeared to be having a tense conversation with his rumoured love interest Constance Mr Mehajer's face appeared to be stern during the conversation The wedding guests arrived in a fleet of luxury cars and a huge Mack truck after an extravagant procession documented on social media. A massive convoy of 30 motorbikes, 25 sports cars, 20 drummers, two doves entertained 100 guests being catered to by 200 staff members. At least one police helicopter was recorded flying above and keeping watch over the festivities. Mr Sakalaki emerged from a white Ferrari to meet his bride at the top of a magnificent white staircase under a huge chandelier. They emerged from the front door of the stunning two-storey white columned mansion to a lively celebration on its marble steps The second wedding on Saturday for Ms Mehajer and IT engineer Ibrahim Sakalaki in front of hundreds of guests followed an intimate ceremony of just 30 last weekend The no-expense-spared nuptials that are said to have cost more than $1 million The couple also appeared to release white doves into the air After the ceremony surrounded by the more than 100 guests, the party broke out into joyous dancing (the happy couple pictured centre dancing together) They danced to the sound of drums played by men in traditional white robes The couple then emerged from the front door of the stunning two-storey white columned mansion to a lively celebration on its marble steps including drummers in traditional white robes. After the ceremony the party broke out into joyous dancing. The couple also released the two white doves into the air. The crisp, white wedding invitation to the wedding asks that guests do not feel like they have to bring gifts and that no one under the age of 16 is allowed to attend. The wedding invitation reads: ' The love of family and friends gives happiness that never ends. Each one of you a special treasure that fills our lives with joy and pleasure. While wedding presents are so nice, your presence surely will suffice. But if you wish to give as well, please donate to our wishing well.' The bridal party will cruise to the big party in several huge stretch Hummers and four white Rolls Royce sedans. The crisp, white wedding invitation to the wedding asks that guests do not feel like they have to bring gifts and that no one under the age of 16 is allowed to attend (pictured) Mr Mehajer (left) is pictured with the groom (centre) and the grooms men The procession to the ceremony included a fleet of at least six white Lamborghinis Aiisha Mehajer posted a video of herself twirling in her pale pink bridesmaid's dress (pictured) At least half a dozen of the cars and one bike were individually pulled over by police, as seen on social media The procession to the ceremony included a fleet of at least six white Lamborghinis, a black Range Rover and a silver Shelby GT500, all decked out with wedding ribbons. An escort of at least five bikes were also involved, according to a photo posted by hire company Last Kings Bike Escorts. At least half a dozen of the cars and one bike were individually pulled over by police, as seen on social media. The ceremony took place at the front of the mansion surrounded by the more than 100 guests Mr Sakalaki emerged from a white Ferrari to meet his bride at the top of a magnificent white staircase under a huge chandelier The bride wore a $10,000 gown dripping with jewels Just a few of the many luxury cars parked at the ceremony's venue Luxury cars wait to take the bridal party to the reception The couple pose for bridal photos on the mansion's marble steps after the ceremony Photos showed police blocking off Oleander Street in Regents Park near Salim and Kat's parents' house with numerous cars, with their lights flashing, and traffic cones. The house was believed to be the end point of the procession, which started in West Pennant Hills. However there appeared to be no activity at the house the groom and his party appeared to be at a location overlooking water - indicating the police may have been enlisted to provide misdirection. Police would only say the street was closed for a short time for a 'police operation'. A lineup of expensive cars and a huge Mack truck (top right) was assembled for a procession to celebrate the wedding of Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer Ibrahim Sakalaki (centre) posed with his bridal party including his bride's brother former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer (far left) ahead of the procession The procession included a silver Shelby GT500 A Mercedes four wheel drive was also involved An escort of at least four bikes would also be involved, according to a photo posted by hire company Last Kings Bike Escorts The Lamborghinis were decked out with flags made for the event This was despite a police spokesman denying they would be providing an escort, and were merely there to make sure everything went smoothly. Flemington local area command is working with other agencies following notice of an event this Saturday, he told Daily Mail Australia. The NSW Police Force will have sufficient resources to be able to deal with any eventuality and to minimise disruption to the community. At least half a dozen of the cars were individually pulled over by police so far, as seen on social media At least one of the bikes was also pulled over Police cars were also seen alongside the wedding cars in photos posted by wedding guests before the procession began, with Snapchat videos showing guests revving their engines loudly. The motorcade appeared, at least at the time, to pale in comparison to Salims massive wedding procession last year. It saw him land by helicopter and sent the suburb into deadlock as a massive cavalcade of luxury cars drove down a street closed without permission. Salim seated in a Rolls Royce at the end of the procession It appeared Salim would be on social media a lot on Saturday, saying it was the 'only day where 10+ Instagram uploads are allowed' Cumberland Council earlier this week knocked back a request to shut down a street in the area for a procession involving dozens of vehicles. Guests were earlier seen on social media preparing for the lavish event, pictured dressed to the nines or getting preened to perfection on Saturday morning. Salim posted a video to Instagram of himself getting his beard and eyebrows trimmed and shaped to look his best for his sisters big day. Despite saying they would not provide an escort, photos from the scene showed police blocking off the street with numerous cars, with their lights flashing, and traffic cones A police spokesman said they were merely there to make sure everything went smoothly Police cars were earlier visible alongside the cars as they got ready to go The motorcade appeared, at least at the time, to pale in comparison to Salims massive wedding procession last year (picured) that sent the suburb into deadlock Later Saana Mehajer and Kim Kardashian lookalike Constance Siaflas were pictured glammed up in heavy makeup but still dressed in casual clothes. The lavish celebrations have been shrouded in mystery, as organisers have gone to great pains to keep the details secret to foil 'uninvited guests'. A spokeswoman said more than 200 people were working behind the scenes preparing the 'glamourous cultural event' with 'military precision'. Ms Mehajer, the younger sister of former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, married Ibrahim Sakalaki, 33, in an intimate ceremony last weekend The lavish celebrations have been shrouded in mystery, as organisers have gone to great pains to keep the details secret to foil 'uninvited guests' A spokeswoman said more than 200 people were working behind the scenes preparing the 'glamourous cultural event' with 'military precision' 'Organisers said working on this event under a cloak of darkness and keeping the locations a secret has been challenging and yet quite exciting,' she said. The reception is being held at Doltone House on Hyde Park, but organisers said they had sent out 'cheeky decoy addresses and information to see what gets filtered through the ranks' to prevent leaks. They said everyone would be kept on a 'need-to-know basis until the 11th hour'. Self-driving Uber cars have been recently spotted out and about in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eater editor Helen Rosner on Friday tweeted a photograph of one of the vehicles, writing: 'Pittsburgh has self-driving Ubers!!!! I have never wanted so badly to enter a strange car.' On Thursday, photographer Dave DiCello tweeted images of a self-driving Uber car in the city. He wrote: 'Super fancy @Uber-mobile in downtown Pittsburgh today.' Uber announced on August 18 that within weeks, customers will be able to opt into a test program and summon an autonomous Ford Fusion. But since the technology has not been perfected, the cars will come with human backup drivers to handle any unexpected situations. Scroll down for video Uber employees test a self-driving Ford Fusion hybrid car in Pittsburgh on August 18 Uber announced on August 18 that within weeks, customers will be able to opt into a test program and summon an autonomous Ford Fusion As an enticement, the autonomous rides will be free, Uber said. Uber, which has a self-driving research lab in Pittsburgh, has no immediate plans to deploy autonomous cars in other cities. CEO Travis Kalanick said in an interview with the AP that development of the vehicles is paramount for the San Francisco company, which has grown exponentially after starting seven years ago. 'We've got to be laser-focused on getting this to market, because it's not a side project for us', he said. 'This is everything. This is all the marbles for Uber.' People stand by self-driving Ford Fusion hybrid cars while test driving the vehicles on August 18 The company has said that an unspecified number of autonomous Ford Fusions with human backup drivers will pick up passengers Without drivers, the cost of hailing a ride will be cheaper than owning a car, changing the way we all get around, according to Kalanick. By using human backup drivers, Uber is basically testing the technology and taking people along for the ride, said Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina professor who studies self-driving technology. 'Part of this is marketing in the sense that they're going to be doing continued research and development of these systems', he said. Riders will be able to opt in if they want a self-driving car, and rides will be free to those willing to do it, spokesman Matt Kallman said Local laws in Pittsburgh may require a driver behind the wheel, but Pennsylvania has no laws governing autonomous cars and their role in ride-hailing, he said. He predicted that drivers will often have to intervene in Pittsburgh, with its winding, hilly roads and vast number of bridges. Each winter the city gets about 30 inches of snow, which can cover lane lines and trick autonomous car sensors that use them to help guide the ride. Uber, which has a self-driving research lab in Pittsburgh, has no immediate plans to deploy autonomous cars in other cities. Uber employees are pictured near the self-driving cars Use of the backup drivers is also an acknowledgement that current autonomous driving systems cannot handle the wide range of unpredictable circumstances on public roads. Uber-branded test cars have been on Pittsburgh roads for several months. An 18-year-old aviator says he nearly had to be scraped off the side of an Indonesian mountain before becoming the youngest person to fly solo around the world. Lachlan Smart landed his single-engine aircraft, a Cirrus SR22, at Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola on Saturday, after 54 days and 45,000-kilometres of travel. But his record-breaking journey could have ended in disaster after he says he received misguided instructions from Indonesian traffic controllers. 'There were no major failures of equipment ... but I did have trouble with air traffic control coming out of Indonesia,' he said. 'They would have run me into a mountain if I had gone with their instructions.' Scroll down for video Lachlan Smart, 18, has become the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a journey that lasted 54 days and covered 45,000-kilometres The 18-year-old aviator's record-breaking journey could have ended in disaster after he says he received misguided instructions from Indonesian traffic controllers He said poor radio reception and a 'blase' attitude was also an issue passing through the South East Asian country 'I stuck to my training pretty well and when I saw what they were going to try and send me through I thought, 'They'll be scraping me off the side of a mountain if I go that way'.' Smart, who is 18 years, seven months and 21 days old, stopped in 24 locations and 15 countries on his way to taking the Guinness World Record from American Matt Guthmiller, who completed his circumnavigation when he was 19 years, 7 months and 15 days. Smart stopped in 24 locations in 15 countries during his seven-week journey and says visiting relatives in England, flying over the white cliffs of Dover and partying on a Cannes beach in France were particular highlights. Crowds of family, friends and well-wishers were there to greet him as he touched down. 'The support I have received from family, friends, the local Sunshine Coast council and community and people around the world that I have never even met has been incredible from the first moment we spoke about this journey,' he told the Brisbane Times. 'It's excellent to be back on familiar territory with familiar faces.' Crowds of family, friends and well-wishers were there to greet him as he touched down at Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola on Saturday Smart stopped in 24 locations in 15 countries during his seven-week journey For now the teenager says he has no plans for another flying trip and is taking some time to relax instead The Nambour resident hopes his achievement inspires other teenagers to think big and shoot for impossible dreams and he has even started a business, Young Achievers International, to help people to reach their goals. 'The whole reason I did this trip was to hopefully motivate other people to achieve great things as well,' he said. Smart, who is studying for a business and aviation qualification, says he has no plans to be commercial pilot. 'The repetitiveness of flying the same routes and plan would wear off on me and lose the magic of aviation,' he said. 'I'd like to get into executive flying and flying VIPS around in small jets.' One in three of 3,197 childcare centres across New South Wales has failed to meet the quality standards, in a recent assessment. Only 38 per cent met the basic standards, while one in four exceed the basic standards and just 10 centres were rated as 'excellent' reported the Daily Telegraph. The centres who met the basic standard rating didn't fail the assessment, but there was an expectation they would have a higher score, taking the increasing care costs into account. One in three of 3,197 childcare centres across New South Wales has failed to meet the quality standards, in a recent assessment. Stock image Only 38 per cent of the childcare centres met the basic standards, while one in four exceeds the basic standards and just 10 centres are rated as 'excellent'. Stock image One in three were given a 'working towards' rating in the Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) standards, while eight centres have the lowest rating of 'significant improvement required'. Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said on Friday that the NSW Government needed to do more to makes centres comply with quality controls. 'Australians families reasonably expect that the centre their child attends meets nationally agreed standards,' Senator Birmingham said. He has reportedly written to Early Childhood Education Minister Leslie Williams urging her to 'do more' to ensure centres comply with standards. An Education Department spokeswoman refused to comment on the assessments, but told the Daily Telegraph all eight substandard centres were 'currently under intense regulatory action'. ACECQA general manager Michael Petrie said a 'working towards' rating 'doesnt in any way place risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of children'. One in three were given a 'working towards' rating in the Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) standards, while eight centres have the lowest rating of 'significant improvement required' NSWs pass rate is lower than Victorias where 20 per cent of centres are ranked as 'working towards', or Queensland, where 25 per cent are below standard. Child Care NSW president Nesha Hutchinson said NSW had taken a 'hard-line' approach compared with other states. 'NSW has a tougher approach, and people who were achieving 'high quality' under the old (NSW) standard could potentially only be 'working towards' meeting the new national standard,' she said. A pastor who said the victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre got 'what they deserved' has been arrested for allegedly molesting a child. Bishop Kenneth Adkins was arrested in Brunswick, Georgia, on Friday, following claims he abused a boy under the age of 16. The 56-year-old clergyman, who doubles as a political consultant, is believed to have mentored the alleged victim, who is also part of the teen ministry. He has denied the charges and his lawyers have said he is looking forward to his day in court. Bishop Kenneth Adkins (mugshot left and right), the pastor who said the Orlando nightclub victims got 'what they deserved' has been arrested in Georgia on child molestation charges After the mass shooting at gay nightclub Pulse in June, that left 49 people dead, Adkins tweeted that he had 'been through so much with these Jacksonville homosexuals that I don't see none of them as victims. I see them as getting what they deserve.' He has also drawn controversy for a number of other bizarre and offensive social media posts. In 2012 he was ordered to stop using his Facebook and social media accounts to call a School Board member 'a fool' or a 'runaway slave.' He was also barred from using the term 'child molester' without proof when criticizing a worker for two local campaigns, the Florida Times Union reported. He has denied the charges and his lawyers have said he is looking forward to his day in court The incidents are believed to have occurred in 2010. Charlotte Adkins said she and her husband, despite the allegations, share a concern for the mental health of the accuser. She told the Times Union: 'Ken and I have treated him like family, as has our church. 'He is a deeply troubled young man, to be sure, but our thoughts and prayers remain with him even now.' Adkins has asked to be placed on unpaid leave from The Greater Church Brunswick as he deals with the case. His wife will serve as the acting pastor. 'A series of tragic errors' is being blamed for an oxygen mix-up at a hospital that killed a baby and seriously damaged another. A baby boy died and a newborn girl suffered suspected brain damage after they were mistakenly given nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas' instead of oxygen at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney's west in June and July. A final report released on Saturday by NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant found 'a series of tragic errors' led to the incidents. 'I can imagine that whilst giving some of the answers the families must require, it still doesn't undo what's been done, the catastrophic impact this error has had,' Dr Chant said on Saturday. 'We've certainly let them down and we should have done better.' A baby boy died and a newborn girl suffered suspected brain damage after they were mistakenly given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital A final report released on Saturday by NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (pictured) found 'a series of tragic errors' led to the incidents The 24-page report found that South West Sydney Local Health District, and BOC Ltd which installed the medical gas piping, failed to comply with Australian standards. The report stated that the ceiling pipe work supplying oxygen and nitrous oxide to the medical gas panel had been 'mislabelled', the Daily Telegraph reports. It also unearthed broader clinical and governance issues around risk management, communication and lines of accountability. The Health Ministry has been directed to further examine the governance issues and take over a disciplinary investigation already under way. The general manager of the hospital has been suspended following investigations, after an engineer at the hospital was suspended earlier this month. Further interviews are taking place in relation to the investigation. Dr Chant would not say whether either employee would face the sack, saying they deserved procedural fairness while the probe was under way. The South Western Sydney Local Health District will also be placed on 'performance watch'. NSW Health will now require different contractors carry out the installation and testing of gas pipelines. Medical gas outlets in all other NSW health facilities have since been tested and no other failures found. In a brief statement, Ms Skinner said the public could be assured the health system was safe Sonya and Youssef Ghanem (pictured) gave birth to their fourth child, John, on July 13. But John passed away when he was mistakenly given nitrous oxide Mrs Ghanem was told she needed an emergency caesarean and woke up from the general anaesthetic to hear her baby born was dead The family of the baby who passed away spoke out about their grief over their loss. Sonya and Youssef Ghanem, from Bankstown in Sydney's west, gave birth to their fourth child, John, on Wednesday, July 13. But John passed away when he was mistakenly given nitrous oxide. Mrs Ghanem was told she needed an emergency caesarean and woke up from the general anaesthetic to hear her baby born was dead. 'I held my baby, they brought him to me at the hospital,' Mrs Ghanem told Nine News. 'I said: 'I want to see him'. Just looking at him, shaking. 'My son, wake up', I would tell him. 'Wake up, wake up. What did they do to you?' The report found that South West Sydney Local Health District, and BOC Ltd failed to comply with Australian standards, leading to the death of Sonya and Youssef Ghanem's baby The 24-page report stated that the ceiling pipe work supplying oxygen and nitrous oxide to the medical gas panel had been 'mislabelled' Health Minister Jillian Skinner did not appear before the media when the report was released. Dr Chant would not say why Ms Skinner decided not to attend the press conference alongside her, nor would she comment on the minister's handling of the fatal failure. In a brief statement, Ms Skinner said the public could be assured the health system was safe. 'As the Chief Health Officer's report shows, NSW Health has checked gas pipelines and there have been no other incorrect installations,' she said. Donald Trump's new campaign boss has been accused of being an anti-Semite by his ex-wife, who also alleges he was emotionally and physically abusive to her. Stephen Bannon allegedly made a series of offensive remarks while going through the process of finding a school for his two daughters in Los Angeles, his former partner Mary Louise Piccard said. Piccard wrote in a statement including in court documents from 2007 that Bannon did not want his daughters to enrol at the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles because of, 'the number of Jews that attend', the New York Daily News reports. 'He said that he doesn't like the way they raise their kids to be "whiny brats" and that he didn't want the girls going to school with Jews,' court documents reveal. 'Anti-Semitic': Donald Trump's new campaign boss Stephen Bannon (pictured) has been accused of being an anti-Semite by his ex-wife, who also alleges he was abusive to her While looking at another potential school, the controversial media figure reportedly asked the director why there were, 'so many Chanukah books in the library'. Donald Trump's new campaign CEO, Stephen K Bannon, allegedly has a history of abusive behavior towards his family, according to divorce papers filed in the mid-1990s. It comes after it was revealed on Thursday the papers claim that on New Year's Day 1996, Bannon verbally and physically abused then-wife before scaring her out of town to stop her testifying in court. It's also claimed in the documents that he had refused to marry her unless medical tests proved the twins she was carrying were 'normal,' the NY Post reported. Ex-wife: Mary Louise Piccard said in court documents Bannon said he 'doesn't like the way they raise their kids to be "whiny brats" and that he didn't want the girls going to school with Jews' Bannon, formerly chairman of the Breitbart News Network, was accused in the documents of grabbing Piccard - his second wife - 'by the throat and arm.' The documents also say he threatened to take away their girls, who were seven months old at the time. 'I took the phone to call the police and he grabbed the phone away from me throwing it across the room, and breaking it as he (was) screaming that I was a "crazy f****** c***!"' the document said. Police attended the couple's Santa Monica Home, Politico confirmed. They had been to counseling at the start of their relationship, after 'three or four' arguments turned physical, according to a police report obtained by the site. The argument that night had started off as a disagreement over whether Piccard could use a credit card, the police report said. It then escalated until she demanded a divorce and told him to move out; he then went to his car, at which point she reportedly spat at him and he responded by grabbing her neck and throat. CEO: Bannon, formerly chairman of Brietbart, is now the CEO of Donald Trump's campaign. The document also said Bannon's lawyer scared Piccard away from a court case against him She struggled free and went to phone the police, at which point he 'jumped over their twins,' grabbed the telephone and hurled it across the room, the document said. Her injuries were photographed by cops and he was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, but the case collapsed when she failed to turn up in court. And that, the divorce document alleges, is because Bannon's lawyer called her up and told her to get out of town so the case would fail. 'He also told me that if I went to court he and his attorney would make sure that I would be the one who was guilty,' she said of Bannon in the document. 'I was told that I could go anywhere in the world.' 'Normal': Bannon married Piccard just days before she gave birth to these twins. In the divorce document she said he had threatened not to marry her if tests proved they weren't 'normal' Bannon had married her seven months before, in April 1995, when she was already nine months pregnant with twins. 'Bannon made it clear that he would not marry me just because I was pregnant,' Piccard said in the divorce document. 'I was scheduled for an amniocentesis and was told by the respondent that if the babies were normal we would get married.' The document also says that Bannon had spanked one of his daughters, then a toddler, for hitting her head against the crib. When Piccard intervened, it claims, he told her she was 'f****** crazy.' Piccard told the NY Post that she had no comment, 'and neither does my daughter.' And a spokesperson for Bannon said 'Steve has a great relationship with his ex-wife and his twins.' The teenager is expected to be charged with traffic-related offences The car was taken to the impound yard and can be collected for $1,400 She said her boyfriend, 20, 'couldn't drive because he was woozy on drugs' A girl, 14, caught behind the wheel told police she had no choice but to drive because her 20-year-old boyfriend was too woozy from smoking drugs'. Highway patrol officers had pulled over the pair in Morwell, eastern Victoria, on Friday at 4pm when they found the unlicensed teenager driving. Police questioned her as to why her P-plater passenger boyfriend wasnt driving when she informed the officers he was allegedly on drugs. A 14-year-old girl was caught driving because her 20-year-old boyfriend was too woozy from smoking drugs' The teenager is expected to be charged with traffic-related offences. Her 20-year-old boyfriends Toyota Camry was taken to the impound yard. In 30-days $1,400 will need to be paid for its release. Since the passenger was not driving he does not have to submit to a drug test, a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Waiting weeks before telling a cadet that she would not be discharged from service was a 'regretful' decision, a former Australian air force officer told a royal commission this week. 15-year-old Eleanor Tibble took her life In 2000 after she was told that she would be dismissed from the Tasmanian Air Force Cadets after having an inappropriate relationship a 30-year-old training instructor. Former wing commander Carroll James told the The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he 'regretted' the delays into the handling of the situation. Former Australian air wing commander Carroll James said he regretted a delay into the handling of a Eleanor Tibble's (pictured) inappropriate relationship with a 30-year-old instructor However, the decision to overturn the ruling of her termination was not communicated to Ms Tibble by former wing commander Carroll James. 'I certainly regret it, however, I had other reasons for delaying the process,' he said in a report by ABC. 'I had a hostile parent that was going to take legal action, I needed to understand where we sat, and when I'm talking about 'we' I'm talking about the squadron, where we sat in dealing with that situation,' Mr Carroll added. The 15-year-old (pictured) took her life In 2000 after she was told that she would be dismissed from the Tasmanian Air Force Cadets after having an inappropriate relationship a 30-year-old training instructor The instructor, Matthew Harper, resigned from the position telling his superiors that he had an inappropriate relationship with an underage female cadet. The relationship was assumed to be sexual, however when Ms Tibble was questioned she said it was a few days together and not sexual. Senior counsel Angus Stewart suggested it was negligent of Mr James to not pass on the vital information. 'I thought I was on dangerous ground by passing that information on... I didn't believe the cadet was at risk during the investigation,' Mr James said. Usain Bolt's epic post-Olympics party shows no sign of stopping after he was spotted in London yet again with a group of beautiful women. The fastest man in the world was out in the capital until 5am this morning dancing the night away. It was the 'treble-treble' Olympic gold winner's fourth night out in just five days. He also partied in Rio on the final day of the Olympics last Sunday. And before he was seen partying, the 100m and 200m champion was seen leaving a bowling alley with a mystery woman at All Star Lanes in Holborn, London. Scroll down for video The 100m and 200m sprinter was spotted performing the 'dab' dance with the mystery woman and another man in central London yesterday The pair were spotted leaving the bowling alley on Friday evening and Bolt was later seen partying in the early hours of Saturday Fun: The fastest man in the world was out in the capital until 5am this morning dancing the night away with a group of beautiful women Beauties: These women were part of Bolt's group as they headed out to a nightclub Another night: The fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt has won nine Olympic gold medals and has vowed to retire from the track next year Here we go: Bolt, dressed head-to-toe in black, donned gold chains round his neck After hours: Some of the girls enter Bolt's hotel after their evening out in London Together: Bolt and some of the group squeeze into a taxi as they leave Libertine night club Back inside: Bolt and the women head back to his hotel room to carry on the partying Man of the moment: Dressed in a custom made jacket, Bolt, was a hit with the women on the night out Street look: One of the women, in colourful high heels, strikes a pose during the night Popular: Wherever Bolt went fans were keen to catch a glimpse of the legendary Olympian Imposing: The 6ft 5in athlete partied in London at nightclubs and restaurants last night He was spotted performing the 'dab' dance move with the mystery woman and another man after the pair left the All Star Lanes bowling alley. He also went to the Novikov restaurant in Mayfair, before heading to nightclubs in the West End. Usain, 30, and the girls then arrived back at his hotel, with some of the pretty women seen carrying roses as they made their way through the lobby and into a lift to his room. On his third night in a row on Wednesday the Jamaican, worth 50 million, was reported to have splashed out 12,000 in Oxford Street's Libertine night club. His guests were treated to drink including 12 bottles of champagne worth 9,000. Pose: Last night the evening began at Novikov restaurant in Mayfair, before heading to nightclubs in the West End Meet: Fans came up to Bolt during the night out for selfies and to meet him (left); whilst a bouncer gets up close to the star Fashion: Bolt's has worn an expensive array of clothes during his nights out in London Party: Bolt's partying started in Rio on Sunday night but is continuing now in London Two faces: The sprinter had his party face on last night and engaged with people also out for a good time, left. But right, Bolt looks like the number of nights out may be catching up Early hours: Bolt and his group of girls return to his hotel after a night out in the capital He again partied until 5am after taking five beauties to Japanese restaurant Nobu before heading to the club and then his hotel. It was less than 24 hours after he ran up a 6,000 bar tab in another London nightclub, where he was spotted dancing sensually with a stunning British model. The model, Erica Carvalho, 20, went back to his hotel along with seven other women and some of his male friends, who partied until the early hours of the morning. He had left his hotel earlier with friend Tara Carroll, a restaurateur from Jamaica, and arrived at the Tape nightclub where he met his huge entourage on Tuesday British high jumper Germaine Mason, who was born in Jamaica and won silver for Great Britain in Beijing, was also among those partying with Bolt. Dressed to impress: The night started at Novikov restaurant in Mayfair, before heading to a couple of nightclubs in the West End, until 5am To the clubs: Bolt's mammoth parting reign in London shows no sign of stopping Here we go: The girls went up to Bolt's hotel room after partying until 5am last night Before and after: As the girls head out of the taxi during the night out, left, one of them is pictured, right, at Bolt's hotel Night out: Bolt has been seen out in London with different groups of girls each night Onlookers said that earlier that night, Bolt couldn't take his eyes off Miss Carvalho, despite numerous women vying for his attention. The crowd pushed her towards him at the exclusive nightclub, where he racked up a 6,000 bar bill but drank just two Bailey's liquors. A source told The Sun: 'At one point their dancing was that graphic it looked as though they were simulating sex.' Some days can be a real pain in the 'you know where'. But that's something you don't need to tell one Queensland man, who's definitely not gun-shy when it comes to his body. Police are hoping to get to the bottom of why a man was found hiding a 20 centimetre rifle bolt up his anus on Friday morning. Warwick police found the implement 'poking out' of the 21-year-old's bottom during a strip search, Sunshine Coast Daily reports. Warwick Police are trying to get to the 'bottom' of why a 21-year-old man was hiding a 20 centimetre-long rifle bolt in his anus when he was arrested on Friday morning That's got to hurt! The rifle bolt was longer than a ten dollar note and was discovered 'peeking out' of his backside The man had reportedly been in the Warwick watchhouse (standing upright, we assume) for 20 minutes before the bolt was discovered. He had been arrested on unrelated charges. At 20 centimetres it is essentially slightly longer than the length of a 10 dollar note. The man was charged by police with weapons offences, because his unique hiding place is apparently not 'an approved storage facility'. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has slammed Greens leader Richard Di Natale over the decision to dump her from the immigration portfolio. After nine years as the Greens immigration spokeswoman Hanson-Young was on Thursday demoted to the trade portfolio, ABC News reported. In a Greens reshuffle Tasmanian senator Nick Mckimm was handed the immigration portfolio. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured) has slammed Greens leader Richard Di Natale over the decision to dump her from the immigration portfolio Senator Hanson-Young said she was 'incredibly sad' regarding the decision. 'I don't agree with it, I don't accept it,' she told the ABC. She said she fought 'very hard' to keep her position but was not able to change Senator Di Natale's mind. 'I don't really understand Richard's decision, but I have to accept it's the decision of the leader,' she said. Di Natale defended his decision to dump Hanson-Young from her immigration portfolio, and reiterated that his party's strong pro-refugee stance would still remain. 'I think the country owes her a great debt,' he told the ABC. 'She's led the charge on a more humane, compassionate and decent approach to the treatment of refugees.' A German school in Argentina has been forced to apologise after pupils wearing swastika armbands and Hitler moustaches launched an attack on Jewish students at a South American resort, it has been reported. The attack is said to have occurred at a resort in San Carlos de Bariloche, in the Andes, where some Nazi war criminals lived after the end of World War II. The students from Lanus German School, in Buenos Aires, had attended a party at a resort nightclub in the inflammatory uniforms, it was reported. The students from the German school in Nazi dress and body paint who attacked Jewish students at the Argentinan restaurant However, bouncers at the club had refused to eject the German pupils, sparking a brawl before they were later kicked out of the club, The Daily Telegraph reports. 'Some of them were in leathers with swastikas painted on their chests and backs,' one of the students who was attacked told Argentina's TN television channel, the newspaper said. 'We wanted them to be thrown out of the club but they shouted 'f------ Jews' at us and proudly showed off their symbols.' The Argentinian Delegation of Israelite Associations, has slammed the attack, saying if the students were older than 16 years of age they could be prosecuted for using Nazi symbols under the country's legal system. War criminals such as Dr Josef Mengele, known as Auschwitz's 'Angel of Death', lived in the resort's area for decades, it was reported. While the trip to the resort was not organised the school, the students would now be punished and forced to be educated about the Nazi history, including a visit Buenos Aires's Holocaust museum with the Jewish students. Adolf Hitler's facial hair provided inspiration for the constumes worn by the students The German school's principal Silvia Fazio said there was 'much to reflect on' as she issued an apology for what she described as 'absolutely indefensible'. 'They will have to make some act of atonement for the damage caused,' she reportedly said. Details have emerged of the squalid conditions Byron Bay mother-of-two Sara Connor is being forced to live in at a Bali prison, where she is being held over the death of a police officer. Pictures of the 45-year-old looking downtrodden while undergoing four hours of psychological testing were released on Friday, as it was revealed she sleeps on a mat on the floor of a small jail cell. She received her first two visitors, two women, on the same day - her first visit from family or friends since she was arrested on August 19 and charged with murdering police officer Wayan Sudarsa by bashing him on the head on Kuta Beach, according to The Daily Telegraph. Scroll down for video Byron Bay mum Sara Connor (pictured), who allegedly killed a Bali police officer with her British boyfriend last week, is being kept in a squalid cell where she is forced to sleep on a mat on the floor Her lover David Taylor (pictured), otherwise known as DJ Nutzo, has reportedly turned on his girlfriend and claims the pair allegedly killed the police officer together Ms Connor (left) has claimed she was trying to protect a Bali police officer from being beaten to death by an enraged Mr Taylor (right), according to her lawyer The couple have not spoken to each other for 10 days and are being kept in separate sections of the prison - Mr Taylor is being held in a cell in the main area of the jail with 11 other prisoners and Ms Connor is being held in a holding cell upstairs near the investigator's offices. Her cell includes an mat to sleep on the floor, an Indonesian bathroom and a washbasin, the Telegraph reported. Ms Connor's visitors brought her a pillow to sleep with. Mr Taylor was pictured sitting in a common area of the jail on Saturday wearing only board shorts. Holes have emerged in the stories of Ms Connor and Mr Taylor, who has reportedly turned on his older lover and claims she hit the police officer, reports Herald Sun. He allegedly told police the pair killed the police officer together. Sources said Ms Connor burst into tears during the psychology test, which is reportedly staged to ensure the suspects can undergo the investigation. The testing was reportedly not linked to her guilt or innocence but was a measure of her attitude. 'They only want to see about the attitude of Sara,' her lawyer Mr Siregar said. Sara Connor has cried during routine psychiatric tests in Bali police headquarters The Byron Bay mum is pictured being forcibly escorted to the routine psychiatric tests Ms Connor claimed she was trying to protect the officer from being beaten to death by her British boyfriend David Taylor after his bloodied body was found with 42 wounds. But his lawyer Haposan Sihombing has offered conflicting accounts of the events that night, claiming Ms Connor played a part in the alleged murder. He said after Ms Connor was bitten on the leg and arm by the officer she hit him. 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. There are also inconsistencies in their accounts of how many witnesses there were to the incident. Ms Connor claims her boyfriend was speaking with three bystanders before the fight, while Mr Taylor claims she spoke with four witnesses after the incident. Friends on Friday launched a crowdfunding for Ms Connor which raised more than $7,000. The couple, who each face a number of charges, have undergone lengthy interrogation sessions, the ABC reported. Taylor has requested not to be sent for the tests because he is exhausted after a long night of questioning by Bali Police. The two accused have expressed remorse over Wayan Sudarsa's death and say they want to apologise to his family, according to their lawyers. 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 Ms Connor's family has sought the assistance of top Sydney barrister Peter Strain to assist with her case, reports Fairfax. '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. 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. 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 A grandmother is selling 'Golly Dolls' in a bid to 'reclaim black heritage' and raise money for charitable causes. Retired midwife Charlotte Nightingale, 65, sells the controversial children's toy at fairs, school fetes, and village shows. The mother-of-three, who dresses up as a Golly when she sells them, said she had received a widely positive reaction from members of the public and does understand why they have been banned. Retired midwife Charlotte Nightingale sells 'Golly Dolls' in a bid to 'reclaim black heritage' and raise money for charitable causes. She said: 'Three or four years ago I became aware that Gollies were banned because they were offending black people, but that was news to me. 'I'm black. I'm from Ghana and I didn't know this was the case - I thought this is nonsense. 'I could not make sense why a doll which was a children's toy, or a rag doll, is now offensive to black people - and for that reason I chose to use it as a mascot. 'Golly is still loved by millions of people of all shades.' The dolls cost 12 for a medium and 17 for a large, and come wearing black and white pinstripe trousers and a red jacket. All of the profit raised from the sale of the dolls in Charlotte's 'Bring Golly Back' campaign helps to fund education and agricultural projects in West Africa. Charlotte disagrees with the negative connotations the dolls have, arguing they are 'part of black history' and 'just a children's toy.' Charlotte (pictured, centre, in a Golly Doll outfit) sells the toys and fairs and school fetes She said: 'We've probably raised over 2000 selling Gollies alone - we've had so many lovely reactions and donations because of them.' Charlotte runs 'Gollynomics' - a campaign to 'Bring Golly Back' which raises money for Tetnight Education and LAMKOTET Agricultural Enterprise. The two not-for-profit charitable organisations, which are also founded by Charlotte, raise money to help children and young adults gain education in Ghana, and help provide agricultural support for farmers. Charlotte, who is also a trained counsellor, said: 'At one of our shows, two boys aged nine and eleven came to buy a new Golly for their great gran who still slept with hers. The profit raised from the dolls goes towards educational and agricultural projects in Ghana (Pictured, Charlotte with children in Ghana who are sponsored by British families) Pictured: Charlotte with sponsored school children who are all dressed as Golly Dolls 'They wanted a new one as their gran's was in a very poor state. I advised them that gran would not want to replace the 'old love' she slept with. 'We agreed that they took a few pictures for her instead. 'Another time, I was selling Golly dolls at a fair and I was dressed up as one.' Charlotte says that many people she has spoken to feel 'cross' or 'angry' that their childhood toy is now considered racist. She said: 'I think there needs to be a national debate. Charlotte said she thought that it was 'nonsense' that the dolls were banned because they were offensive 'What we are finding time and time again is that people are cross and angry their childhood toy has now become a no-go. 'So many people we speak to are annoyed about the way their lovable childhood toy is considered a racist icon. People are afraid and don't want to be considered racist, so they hide their doll away.' She added: 'Most people in West Africa have not seen the dolls in the current form. 'When I do show them to people, they want to know 'where can I get one.' I took a whole lot to Ghana, and all the parents wanted a Golly.' The Gollynomics website argues how the dolls were 'not intended to be racist.' Charlotte (pictured, by her stall) said the dolls had received a positive response It reads: 'The golly, it seems, was not in origin a racist icon, whereas the offensive term 'wog' had a separate derivation. 'WOG was a term first used in England in the early twentieth century, to denote people who were not white, though deemed to be derogatory and racist. 'In 2009, the Doll came to prominence during racial tension in the UK, and got caught up in racial discourse. 'Recent academic comment on the work of Enid Blyton claims that golliwogs may have been innocent victims of well-intentioned political correctness when they were banished from revised editions. 'Golly is part of black history - and black heritage - and we are reclaiming it. The golly doll is not a racist icon.' It adds: 'The black dolls were first made by mothers and grandmothers in Africa for their children and handmade from old fabric and cloth. 'The Dolls were very colourful, with big eyes and smiley face. It was a tradition.' The Gollynomics dolls honour the Ghanaian tradition of giving children a name from the Ashanti region of Ghana based on which day of the week they are born, by coming with their own naming badges based on when the doll's recipient is born. They, available in large - 22.8 inches tall -or medium -15.7 inches tall - can be purchased from gollynomics.com. Advertisement The Metropolitan Police is testing a facial recognition system at this weekend's Notting Hill Carnival which will scan party goers against a 2.9 million image database of criminals. The Face Examiner system automatically scans faces in the crowd of up to one million people. Those faces will be compared against a database of custody and arrest photographs as well as a list of people banned from attending the event. In advance of the weekend, the Met launched a number of raids against suspected criminals who were believed to have been targeting the massive event. Scroll down for video More than one million people are expected to attend the Notting Hill Carnival, pictured here last year, making it the largest festival of its type in Europe requiring a massive police operation which has been planned for the past 12 months In advance of this weekend's events, residents in Notting Hill paid contractors to board up their multi-million pound homes Businesses as well have been forced to board up their windows to protect them from possible damage So far, 100 people have been arrested as part of Operation Vitality, with officers recovering drugs, guns, knives and machetes. According to the Metropolitan Police, the new facial recognition system will scan the faces of those attending carnival in real time. A spokesman said: ' The technology involves the use of overt cameras which scan the faces of those passing by and flag up potential matches against a database of custody images. 'The database has been populated with images of individuals who are forbidden from attending Carnival, as well as individuals wanted by police who it is believed may attend Carnival to commit offences. 'If a match is made by the system, officers will be alerted and will seek to speak with the individual to verify their identity, making an arrest if necessary.' The Metropolitan Police is testing a new facial recognition system this weekend which will scan and identify potential suspects against a database of 2.9 million people who have been arrested or had custody mugshots taken The Met said the new facial recognition system is capable of recognising suspects banned from attending Carnival The Met is also bringing in a team of 'super-recognisers' who will also monitor live CCTV feeds searching for wanted suspects The Met is also bringing in 'super-recognisers' who will also monitor live CCTV feeds to look for offenders on bail who have been banned from attending the event. Superintendent Robyn Williams, Met spokesman for the Carnival operation said: ' This weekend is the highlight of the year, not only for the Caribbean community, but also for many visitors from London and the rest of the country. 'The Met has worked hard to ensure that Carnival is a safe and enjoyable weekend for everyone who attends and I would ask all Carnival goers to enjoy this family event and make sure that you follow officers and stewards instructions.' The Met warned that the terror threat facing London this year is 'severe', although there is no specific intelligence to suggest ISIS or any other terrorist organisation is specifically planning to attack the event. Superintendent Williams added: 'If you know of anyone who is planning to use this exciting and vibrant event as a cover for crime or violence then let us know and help us keep it safe for you. 'Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and tell us what you know.' The Met has warned revellers not to wear expensive jewellery at the event as this will 'tempt opportunistic thieves'. Also they recommend families do not rely on mobile phones if they become separated, and instead plan a meeting place beforehand. In the days leading up to the festival, residents in the area have been busy boarding up their homes and businesses. During a raid in Lambeth, south London, 2,000 in cash was seized, while five people were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs, and two for possession of Class B drugs. Two machetes were seized from an address in Camden, while four people in Barnet were arrested after police seized a firearm. Meanwhile, another raid in Barnet saw two suspects arrested on suspicion of possession of ammunition and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. Superintendent Robyn Williams said that so far, there had been 111 arrests, 100 drug seizures and 30,000 in proceeds of crime confiscated. Guns, machetes and knives had also been recovered. Teams from Scotland Yard are executing more than 200 search warrants across the capital in a crackdown on drugs and violence ahead of the event, which is the biggest of its kind in Europe. Advertisement Weeping relatives hugged each other as they attended a state funeral for some of the 291 people killed in an earthquake in Italy this week. Devastated families huddled together around 35 simple wooden coffins laid out in a sports hall in the town of Ascoli Piceno. They included small caskets holding the bodies of an 18-month-old baby and a nine-year-old girl, two of the 21 children who are known to have died when the quake hit central Italy early on Wednesday. One man, his legs covered in cuts, sat in a wheelchair, his head bowed while pictures also emerged of a blonde cocker spaniel refusing to leave the side of its owner's coffin. One of the last people to be plucked alive from the debris was a girl called Giorgia, who turned four on Saturday. Her sister Giulia's small coffin lay in the centre of the sports hall for the funeral Mass having been carried in by fire fighters. Scroll down for video Family and friends surround the coffin of Giulia Rinaldo, nine, holding flowers and a picture. Fire crews carried the coffin in to the funeral service A sad dog was photographed lying beside a coffin containing the body of his owner who died in this week's earthquake Weeping relatives hugged each other and reached out to touch the simple wooden coffins at a state funeral on Saturday for some of the 291 people killed in an earthquake this week The coffin of nine-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, is carried outside the gymnasium at the end of the state funeral service in Ascoli Piceno, Italy on Saturday A woman kisses the coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo as it is carried outside the gymnasium A mourner follows the casket of Giulia at the funeral service with a picture of the little girl Giorgia, four, was pulled out of the rubble alive with 'no injuries' after her sister saved her life by laying on top of her body 'Hello little one,' said a handwritten note left on her coffin by one of the rescue team that retrieved her body. 'I am sorry that we arrived late. You had already stopped breathing, but I want you to know up there that we did all we could to get you out of there.' It emerged earlier in the day that Giulia's embrace allowed her young sister to survive. Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole recalled that around 6pm or 6.30pm on Wednesday - 15 hours after the quake struck - he returned to a church in his diocese in the town of Pescara Del Tronto to recover its crucifix. At the time, only yards from the church, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters, he said. People attend a mass funeral service for 35 victims of the earthquake, at a gymnasium arranged in a chapel of rest in Ascoli Piceno on Saturday As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for 35 of the 290 people killed Mourners sat among the flowers and coffins during the packed funeral service. Tearful relatives hugged and comforted each other Pictured from left, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Senate President Pietro Grasso, Lower Chamber President Laura Boldrini and Italian Premier Matteo Renzi attend the funeral service Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, centre, puts his hands to his mouth in a moment of thought at the mass funeral in Ascoli Piceno, Marche region, on Saturday morning Italian President Sergio Mattarella consoles a relative as they attend the funeral mass Two women crying during the funeral were among many shedding tears during the service Italian Premier Matteo Renzi embraces the Mayor of Arquata del Tronto Aleandro Petrucci during the mass funeral in Ascoli Piceno, Marche region, on Saturday A child looks at a casket of one of the 35 victims remembered at the funeral service Giovanni D'Ercole, bishop of Ascoli Piceno, hugs a woman after a funeral service for victims of the earthquake Amongst the 35 coffins laid out in a sports hall were small caskets holding the bodies of an 18-month-old baby and a nine-year-old girl, two of the 21 children who are known to have died when the quake hit central Italy early on Wednesday Even as the funeral Mass was being held, rescuers kept searching through the rubble of the worst-hit town, Amatrice, but acknowledged they had little hope of finding more survivors from Italy's worst earthquake in seven years Relatives of the dead sat on chairs next to the coffins or knelt on the floor, their arms resting on the caskets, which were covered in flowers As the names of the dead were read out, hundreds of people outside the sweltering sports hall broke into prolonged applause in a sign of solidarity with the families Relatives attend a funeral mass for victims of the Italian earthquake in Ascoli Piceno, Italy 'The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace,' D'Ercole said. He spoke beneath the crucifix that he recovered that evening, hung in a community gym transformed into a makeshift chapel, as Italy held a national day of mourning. As weeping Italians bid Giulia and 34 other quake victims farewell with a state funeral, Giorgia spent her fourth birthday in a nearby hospital Saturday, recovering from her ordeal. Massimo Caico, the firefighter who pulled the girls out, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper that the position of the older girl's body apparently created a pocket of air that allowed Giorgia to survive. At least 290 people are now known to have died and around 400 injured with teams continuing to search the rubble of collapsed buildings Italy has declared a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake A woman sits on her own next to coffins containing the bodies of earthquake victims The funeral Mass was being led by Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole in a community gym where 35 caskets were laid out Two women comfort each other at the funeral service in Ascoli Piceno this afternoon Authorities say the death toll in the earthquake that struck central Italy has risen to 291 after a man being treated in a hospital succumbed to his injuries Italy is observing a day of national mourning Saturday for those killed by the earthquake that toppled three towns before dawn on Wednesday An elderly woman breaks down in tears while being comforted by others at the funeral service Hundreds gathered for the funeral service today inside a gym in Ascoli Piceno A woman kisses and hugs a man during the funeral service for victims of the earthquake He recounted how a black Labrador, Leo, first gave a sign that he smelled something. Rescuers began digging, finding at first a doll and then a cold human leg, that of Giulia. Then he saw the ground nearby moving 'in the rhythm of what could be breathing.' 'Maybe they hugged each other in their sleep or in fear, and the body of Giulia saved Giorgia,' Caico told the newspaper. According to Italian news reports, Giorgia is in a state of shock and is practically not speaking anymore. She is only sleeping, crying and asking for her doll and her mother, who is also recovering from earthquake injuries. 'Don't be afraid to bewail your suffering, we have seen so much suffering. But I ask you not to lose your courage,' Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole said in a homily in the hall, which was packed with grieving families and top politicians. 'Only together can we rebuild our houses and churches. Above all, together we can give life back to our communities,' he said, speaking in front of a dusty crucifix salvaged from one of the dozens of churches devastated by the quake. Relatives mourn at the funeral of victims of the earthquake A man in a wheelchair mounrs for the dead at the funeral service attended by political leaders Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, right, stood during the funeral service for victims A man is helped by paramedics after fainting prior to the start of the funeral service Even as the funeral Mass was being held, rescuers kept searching through the rubble of the worst-hit town, Amatrice, but acknowledged they had little hope of finding more survivors from Italy's worst earthquake in seven years. Nine more bodies were recovered from the town on Saturday, including three pulled overnight from the crumpled Hotel Roma, bringing the death toll in Amatrice alone to 230 residents and tourists. Authorities said 387 people were still in hospital, with one patient dying of his injuries during the day. Relatives of the dead sat on chairs next to the coffins or knelt on the floor, their arms resting on the caskets, which were covered in flowers. Some of the mourners clutched framed photos of their loved ones. As the names of the dead were read out, hundreds of people outside the sweltering sports hall broke into prolonged applause in a sign of solidarity with the families. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lingered after the service had ended to talk to the ranks of mourners. TRAGIC FATE FOR BRITISH VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS Maria and Will Henniker-Gotey: Their two children have been left orphaned after the couple died when their holiday home in Sommati came crashing to the ground. The couple died because they were sleeping on the ground floor, a neighbour said yesterday Marcos Burnett, 14, who died in the Amatrice earthquake in Italy, was also sleeping on the ground floor when the disaster struck The fate of two British families torn apart by the Italian earthquake came down to which floor members were sleeping on in the holiday home when it collapsed, a neighbour has said. Maria and Will Henniker-Gotley were on the ground floor of their eight bedroom farmhouse in Sommati when they died, leaving their children Francesca and Jack, aged 12 and 14, who had been upstairs, orphaned. Staying with the couple, but on the top floor, were their friends Anne-Louise and Simon Burnett, from south London, whose 14-year-old son Marcos was downstairs and died in the tragedy. Yesterday Angelo Bonanni, who owns a restaurant which backs on to the Henniker-Gotleys' holiday home, said the Burnett couple and the children survived because they were sleeping on the top floor, whereas the hosts and Marcos were on the ground floor and crushed by the impact of the earthquake. A family torn apart: Simon and Anne-Louise Burnett (right) were injured in the earthquake but have been left without their son Marcos (left) Mr Bonanni said he had helped rescue the couple's two children. His father Nando added that the youngsters were 'terrified' but did not immediately know their parents had died, saying: 'I waited for their aunt Giulia to come here at about 10pm.' The Henniker-Gotley home was purchased and lovingly renovated by Mrs Henniker-Gotley's late father some ten years ago. The eight-bedroom farmhouse which was reduced to rubble also claimed the life of Marcos Burnett whose family was staying with Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley and their children But in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the farmhouse in Sommati that they were sharing with another family came crashing to the ground. The village is a mile from the worst-hit town of Amarice. Mrs Henniker-Gotley, 51, was a finance manager for the London-based Children and Arts charity. Her 55-year-old husband believed to be an Oxford graduate was a consultant. His parents and sister escaped with injuries and were last night being treated in hospital. Mrs Henniker-Gotley's cousin Carlo Taliani, 38, who owns a restaurant in a nearby village, said he received a call informing him that the couple who had come to see him just days earlier were dead. He said the couple had loved returning to the village where Mrs Henniker-Gotley's father Sante, who emigrated to London, was from. Sante named the holiday home Villa Olivia after his late wife. Mr Taliani, who is housing many of the homeless in a makeshift tent on his land, said the house was renovated in a very British manner, despite its rural Italian location in the Rieti province. He said: 'She (Mrs Henniker-Gotley) moved a lot between London and here. She liked it because of her roots.' He said the family were known to locals for doing traditional British things such as having afternoon tea. The mailbox with the names of Henniker-Gotley is all that is left standing in front of the collapsed farmhouse Mr Taliani learned of the tragedy after Mrs Henniker-Gotley's sister called a mutual friend and asked him to collect her from Rome airport so she could care for her orphaned niece and nephew. He said he was surprised the home was flattened as it was renovated fairly recently, adding: 'You would not have expected it to crumble like that you would have thought that they would have been able to get out.' Marcos, along with Jack, was a pupil at 6,500-a-term Wetherby school in Notting Hill, west London, where Princes William and Harry studied and the Beckhams' children also attend. Yesterday the school's headmaster Nick Baker paid tribute to Marcos as an 'utterly charming' boy. He added: '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.' His parents both suffered broken bones, while his sister is understood to have minor injuries. It is thought they were only told their son had not survived on Thursday, when a relative visited them from Britain. Mr Burnett and his wife who is believed to be a director at JP Morgan in the City are from Bayswater, west London. Neighbours described Marcos as a 'nice, normal teenage boy' who was always on his skateboard. Neighbour Bruno Formicola, 50, told The Daily Telegraph how he heard cries for help in English coming from the rubble. A joint statement from the families issued by the Foreign Office said: 'It is with sadness that we can confirm the deaths of Maria, 51, and Will Henniker-Gotley, 55, and Marcos Burnett, 14, in the earthquake in Amatrice. 'Their families have paid tribute to the tireless work of the Italian rescue workers and hospital staff.' The Queen has made an undisclosed donation to the British Red Cross to support rescue efforts in the area. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh said their 'thoughts and prayers' were with victims. Advertisement 'We will decide all together how to get going again. But don't give up, that is crucial,' Renzi told one youth. Authorities have released the names of 181 victims. The youngest was five months old, the oldest 93. Six Romanians, three Britons, a Spanish woman, a Canadian and an Albanian died in the calamity. Most of the buildings in the quake zone had no anti-seismic protection, but even some of those that did, including a school in Amatrice that was renovated in 2012, fell apart. Magistrates have opened an investigation into some of the incidents, including the collapse of a belltower in the town of Accumoli, which smashed through the roof of an adjacent building killing a family of four. 'What happened cannot just be considered fate,' said prosecutor Giuseppe Saieva, who is leading the probe. 'If these buildings had been constructed like they are in Japan then they would not have collapsed,' he told la Repubblica newspaper. Renzi has promised to rebuild the shattered communities and the mayor of Amatrice urged the government to learn the lessons of painfully slow post-quake reconstructions of the past. 'What we need is a reconstruction in record time. It is a great opportunity for politicians to show extraordinary commitment,' mayor Sergio Pirozzi told president Mattarella. Survivors in some of the worst-hit areas feared that their little hamlets, sparsely populated outside the holiday months, would become ghost towns unless the flattened Amatrice was swiftly rebuilt. 'That's where the grocery stores, shops and restaurants were, and these little villages depended on it,' said Eduardo Nibi, 31, whose family has roots in the badly-damaged hamlet of San Lorenzo e Flaviano. Aftershocks continued to rattle the area overnight, the strongest measuring 4.2. The Italian geological institute said more than 1,350 aftershocks had hit Italy's central mountains since Wednesday's pre-dawn 6.2-magnitude quake. Doctors at Victoria Hospital in Fife arranged for it to be moved to her ward Her daughter, Shannon, devastated that she could not see her ultrasound This is the touching moment a terminally-ill woman was able to see her unborn grandchild after doctors arranged a special ultrasound scan of her daughter. Angela Smith, 47, held her daughter Shannon's hand from her bed at the Victoria Hospital in Fife as they watched the unborn child through the camera. Shannon, 20, was set to have her 25-week scan earlier in the week but asked hospital staff if the ultrasound machine could be moved up to her mother's ward. This is the touching moment a terminally-ill woman was able to see her unborn grandchild after doctors arranged a special ultrasound scan of her daughter Angela Smith, 47, (pictured previously) held her daughter Shannon's hand from her bed at the Victoria Hospital in Fife as they watched the unborn child through the camera Mrs Smith is not able to leave her bed and has to be kept permanently on oxygen because of Hodgkin's lymphoma, The Daily Record reported. Shannon, who lives in Cardenden, told the newspaper: 'Im so close to my mum and I was heart-broken when she was unable to make any of the scans.' She admitted to being 'overwhelmed' by the help given by her consultant, Dr Graham Tydeman, who agreed to move the scan. Victoria Hospital is one of the two main hospitals in Fife and has a Maternity ward with 24 beds. Shannon, 20, was set to have her 25-week scan earlier in the week but asked hospital staff if the ultrasound machine could be moved up to her mother's ward Shannon, who lives in Cardenden, told the Daily Record: 'Im so close to my mum and I was heart-broken when she was unable to make any of the scans' Earlier this month, moving footage showed a terminally ill mother embracing her dog for the last time, granted her dying wish to be reunited with her beloved pet. After a long battle with the disease Rebane Chili, 49, from Brazil, decided to discontinue her treatment. But the mother had not seen her dog Ritchie since being admitted to the Hospital Ernesto Dornelles in Porto Alegre. Her son James took Ritchie in a taxi to see his owner for a final cuddle. The patient convinced doctors to organise a final reunion, and tear-jerking footage shows the canine overjoyed to see her again after so long. And in July former Spitfire engineer Ken Farlow, 95, was reunited with the iconic plane after top brass saw him looking forlornly through a fence at one from his wheelchair. After being diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, the father-of-three asked daughter Helen if he 'could see a Spitfire - one last time'. Victoria Hospital is one of the two main hospitals in Fife and has a Maternity ward with 24 beds Shannon Smith (left) said she was delighted to have been able to share the special moment with her mother, Angela (right) Helen, 52, took him to Gloucestershire Airport where the vintage planes were being maintained by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crew. She posted a poignant photo of the RAF veteran on Facebook as Mr Farlow sat in his wheelchair gazing through the fence at the striking aircraft on the runway. The heartwarming image was spotted by the airport director of operations - who was so moved he invited him for a VIP visit. The grandfather, from Painswick, spent hours talking to the pilots and ground crew, who were captivated by his stories. ISIS recruiters are praying for a Donald Trump victory come November because they believe it will help draw more jihadis to their cause, it has been reported. Analysis of known ISIS channels on anonymous messaging app Telegram reveals that Trump is the preferred presidential candidate for extremists, Foreign Affairs magazine reports. That is despite the fact that Trump has made his hardline stance against ISIS a keystone of his campaign while blaming Clinton and Obama's 'failed' policies for creating the group. Scroll down for video ISIS recruiters are praying for a Donald Trump victory in November because they believe his inflammatory rhetoric and aggressive stance will help with recruitment, it is reported Interviews with 12 known ISIS recruiters on messaging app Telegram revealed they support Trump because he is playing into their apocalyptic vision of a war between Islam and the West Writing in a recruitment thread on the app, one ISIS member said: 'I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump.' Another added: 'The "facilitation" of Trumps arrival in the White House must be a priority for jihadists at any cost!' In total, the magazine spoke to 12 known members of the terrorist group, and found that Trump is by far the preferred candidate. Interviewed about their reasons for supporting the Republican candidate, the jihadis gave three explanations. Firstly, they believe that Trump's inflammatory rhetoric - including 'taking out' the families of fighters and 'bombing the s***' out of Syria - plays into their vision of a world in which Islam is at war with the West. Central to ISIS philosophy is the belief - based on scripture - that the armies of Islam and the West will clash in a 'final battle' near the city of Dabiq, in northern Syria. Despite Clinton's policy of intervention against the Middle East and support for the Iraq war, recruiters say she is harder to use because of her tempered rhetoric when it comes to Islam This is not the first time that extremists have used Trump for recruitment - back in January terrorist group Al Shabaab put out a video using his call for a ban on Muslims coming to America in order to radicalize moderates After this apocalyptic event they believe the West will be crushed, opening the door for a worldwide Islamic caliphate and a new age of dominance for extremists. The vision of such a showdown is a powerful recruitment tool, one which they foresee coming true under Trump's leadership. Second, the recruiters believe that proposals such as forcing Muslims to register on a database and increased surveillance of mosques will make it easier to radicalize people and help with recruitment. Thirdly, fighters believe that Trump will be an unstable and irrational leader who will be easily provoked and whose decision-making will weaken the US. Despite Clinton's interventionist stance toward the Middle East and her support for the Iraq war, recruiters say she is much harder to use in propaganda because of her tempered rhetoric when it comes to Islam. Among Trump's more sensationalist promises is the continuation of waterboarding and 'much worse' interrogation tactics, detaining extremists in Guantanamo, and his now-revoked ban on Muslims coming to America. This is not the first time that terrorists have used Trump as a recruitment tool. Back in January, Somali group Al Shabaab used footage of Trump calling for a 'complete and total shutdown of Muslims coming to the United States' in one of its propaganda films. The outcome of the Northern Territory election has been labelled as extraordinary as Labor goes from being a minority to having a landslide victory. Northern Territory Labor leader Michael Gunner blames the 'chaotic' four years under the scandal-plagued Country Liberal party for the win and promises to live up to the voters' expectations. 'Every single Territorian, thank you for the trust that you have placed in Labor,' he told party supporters following the election on Saturday. Northern Territory Labor leader Michael Gunner blames the 'chaotic' four years under the scandal-plagued Country Liberal party for his party's win 'It is a privilege to stand here today as a servant of the public and as the new chief minister of the NT.' The Labor party could have as many as 18 MPs in the 25-seat parliament, according to the predictions of the ABC election website. The party has already won 15 seats. The CLP, which went into Saturday's election with 11, may end up with only two, while independents could take the remaining three or four seats. Mr Gunner said Territorians were 'good people who deserve good governance and that's what we will give them.' 'They have rejected the chaos of the last four years and they have chosen to place their trust in Labor,' he said. He promises the territory will not see the same chaos under Labor leadership He vowed Labor would provide restore confidence in the Northern Territory. 'We have got a plan to deliver certainty in the NT and to restore confidence in the NT,' 'There is a cost to chaos and there is a reward for stability.' However, he said he would work with the CLP and independents because 'they are not our enemies. They are Territorians and I will work with them.' The win is of historical importance for the party as Labor has only held power in the state for two terms since 1974 - they were consecutive terms from 2001- 2012. The CLP regained power in the 2012 election - and prior to the 2001 election they held it for close to three decades. City Island in the Bronx has long been a place for residents of Manhattan and Brooklyn to escape the hustle of the city for sea food, sand and a slower pace. But now locals are flocking to the neighborhood to call it home. City Island is smaller than half a square mile in the northeast region of the Bronx and is home to approximately 4,500 people. City Island is smaller than half a square mile in the northeast region of the Bronx and is home to approximately 4,500 people but many New Yorkers are flocking to buy real estate on the island 'Mussel suckers', the term for new residents, who are looking for a slower paced lifestyle have called the island their personal paradise A man is pictured holding a plate of seafood inside a restaurant on City Island New residents - called 'mussel suckers' by locals, who call themselves 'clam diggers' - have left Williamsburg, East Quogue and various parts of Manhattan for more space at a better price on City Island. Alexander Linzer and Beverly Jones are one couple that left Williamsburg to move to City Island. According to the New York Post, the couple moved to the island in 2014 - the same year Anthony Bourdain stopped by to dine at Sea Shore Restaurant. Lizner and Jones said they went from cramming their family of three and three dogs into a one-bedroom apartment to owning a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, complete with a back yard, a front yard and an above-ground pool for $450,000, the Post reported. Many people moving to the island will have to purchase re-sale homes in the form of bungalows, Victorians and cottages There are also loads of famous restaurants, known for their fantastic sea food, on the island like Sea Shore Restaurant (pictured), which was visited by Anthony Bourdain in 2014 The neighborhood boasts 43 units on the waterfront location and 13 of the units are still up for grabs and ranging in price from $770,000 to more than $1 million Their taxed dropped from as much as $15,000 a year to $4,500. 'We moved to one of the only neighborhoods with a selection of restaurants that can rival Williamsburg,' Lizner told the Post. New developments are rare on City Island, with the On The Sound community being the first to pop up in more than a decade. The neighborhood boasts 43 units on the waterfront location and 13 of the units are still up for grabs and ranging in price from $770,000 to more than $1 million. Others moving to the island will have to purchase re-sale homes in the form of bungalows, Victorians and cottages. Others moving to the island will have to purchase re-sale homes in the form of bungalows, Victorians and cottages New developments are rare on City Island, with the On The Sound community being the first to pop up in more than a decade for those looking to call the island home Children living on the island are pool-bound in the summertime, locals own the stores and restaurants and in 2014 real estate website Curbed NY named the island 'neighborhood of the year' The median home price was about $410,000 as of last year - a jump from 2012's $350,000. This year has seen a spike in median home prices again. As of June the median price was just under $600,000. Comparatively, Williamsburg's median home price is well over $1 million. Pictures show turquoise houses, clutter gift shops and vintage-looking restaurants. 'It is a small town in a big city. People who move here understand that,' 40-year resident Barbara Burn Dolensek said Fiercely loyal residents feel its their own personal paradise a heartbeat away from the Manhattan Children living on the island are pool-bound in the summertime, locals own the stores and restaurants and in 2014 real estate website Curbed NY named the island 'neighborhood of the year'. Fiercely loyal residents feel its their own personal paradise a heartbeat away from the Manhattan. 'It is a small town in a big city. People who move here understand that,' 40-year resident Barbara Burn Dolensek said. The median home price was about $410,000 as of last year - a jump from 2012's $350,000 This year has seen a spike in median home prices again. As of June the median price was just under $600,000 Advertisement The Wildwood motel has a distinct architecture that arose in the 1950s and 1960s with a retro style of looping neon signs and plastic palm trees. Through a rare combination of economics, geography and chance, the island of Wildwood in New Jersey contains a national treasure: the highest concentration of mid-century modern hospitality architecture in the US. Industrial design professor, Mark Havens, spent 10 years capturing the tourist destination before most of them disappeared. The images were collected for his book Out of Season: The Vanishing Architecture of the Wildwoods, which was published this month by Booth-Clibborn Editions. Like many of Wildwood's motels, the pool area of the Bel Air is adorned with faux palm trees. The building is shaped like the number 7. It is pictured in 2007. Tourists still flock to this retro motel located in the Wildwood Crest Built in 1962, the Blue Marlin Motel is pictured in 2005 and it's now being advertised as the Blue Marlin Resort located in Wildwood Crest Havens shot this photo of the Caribbean in 2007. It shows the motel's distinctive curved ramp leading to the second level and its bright neon sign. The landmark Caribbean was built in 1958 and is one of only two Wildwood Motels on the National Register Mark Havens captured this vibrant photo of the Hialeah in 2006. The motel was demolished several months later Havens captured the Jolly Roger in 2007. The motel has a signature pirate statue atop of it and the building was built in 1960. It hosts numerous weekend events throughout the year The motels were also nicknamed, 'Doo-Wop' motels, after the funky-fresh genre of music, Doo-Wop, which was developed in African-American communities in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others. Most of the motels generally include U-shaped or L-shaped designs of two or three stories, asymmetric elements, swimming pools, adjacent parking or second story sun decks over parking spaces, angular walls or windows, flat overhanging roofs, bright color and a contemporary or fantasy theme. The Chateau Bleu Resort Motel was built in 1962 with a heart-shaped pool. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Caribbean Motel. The book, Out of Season, is accompanied by critical essays from Joseph Giovannini and Jamer Hunt. Havens photographs capture the kitsch and nostalgic aesthetic of Wildwoods unique, modernist architecture. The motels were built in anticipation of the arrival of the Garden State Parkway, a four-lane toll road that would ultimately run the length of New Jersey. The architecture of this popular Jersey Shore resort was heavily influenced by the modernist styles that populated Florida at the time. Modeled on American middle-class ideals and architectural make-believe, the constructs were imbued with the culture of the moment: space travel, cars, nascent rockn roll, exotic Polynesian locale and neon signs spelling out names like Satellite, Astronaut, Bel Air, Kona Kai, and Waikiki. However, a substantial number of the motels have been demolished and many that remain face an uncertain future. Two chairs and an ashtray are examples of the standard features outside each room at many of Wildwoods motels. Here, they are photographed in 2004 at the Crystal Sands. The motel is located in the Beach Block of Wildwood and tourists can still enjoy a stay The unique bowed railings and flag-crete pillars of the Trylon Motel in North Wildwood are pictured in 2008. The motel boasts about 'family accommodations, free beaches and endless entertainment on the boardwalk and water parks' in North Wildwood The green wall of the Lurae Motel was photographed in 2006. The Lurae has since been demolished Modelled on American middle-class ideals and architectural make-believe, the constructs were imbued with the culture of the moment: space travel, cars, nascent rockn roll and exotic Polynesian locale. Pictured is the Palm Crest Motel which has been demolished The Flame Inn was well known for it's candle with a flame that was constructed outside the building. It was demolished and replaced with condos as were several other motels in the Wildwood area Campaigners who successfully overturned a French burkini beach ban have vowed to continue court action against mayors who refuse to lift the ruling. Some 30 mayors have introduced the controversial bans concerning the swimming costume. However, the Council of State, France's top administrative court overturned the ban on appeal. On Tuesday these photographs of four French police officers closing in on a woman who was wearing a headscarf on the Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice caused controversy The woman appeared to be sleeping when the officers approached her on the beach The court heard an appeal against the Burkini ban in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubert. The ruling only strictly applies to the municipality of Villeneuve-Loubert although the other towns will be expected to adhere as the court will likely find against the various mayors. However, the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubert Lionnel Luca warned overturning his ban would cause damage to community relations. Lawyer Patrice Spinosi, representing the Human Rights League, said that women who have already received fines can protest them based on Friday's decision. He said he will also each Mayor whether they are revoking their bans. If not, he will systematically take each case to court. Spinosi said: 'It is a decision that is meant to set legal precedent All the ordinances taken should conform to the decision of the Council of State. Logically the mayors should withdraw these ordinances. If not, legal actions could be taken.' He said: 'Far from calming, this decision can only heighten passions and tensions, with the risk of trouble we wanted to avoid.' Luca claimed opposition to the ban is clear evidence of the 'rampant Islamification' of France. He added: 'They've gained a small additional step.' Ange-Pierre Vivoni, mayor of the Corsican town of Sisco, claimed burkinis had sparked clashes between Muslim bathers and locals. He said: Here the tension is very, very, very strong and I won't withdraw it. The woman, who was wearing a traditional headscarf and matching top, was spoken to by the officers, who have been tasked with implementing the ban The bans grew increasingly controversial as images circulated online of some Muslim women being ordered to remove body-concealing garments on French Riviera beaches. Lawyers for a human rights group and a Muslim collective challenged the legality of the ban to the top court, saying the orders infringe on basic freedoms and that mayors have overstepped their powers by telling women what to wear on beaches. Prime Minister Manual Valls, who supported the bans, called the debate 'fundamental' for secular France, where religious displays are unwelcome in the public space. Valls wrote on his Facebook page that denouncing the burkini 'in no way puts into question individual freedom' and is really about denouncing 'fatal, retrograde Islamism'. He claimed the burkini 'is the affirmation of political Islam in the public space'. Mayors had cited multiple reasons for the bans, including security after a string of Islamic extremist attacks, risk to public order, and France's strict rules on secularism in public life. The Council of State ruled that, 'The emotion and concerns arising from the terrorist attacks, notably the one perpetrated in Nice on July 14, cannot suffice to justify in law the contested prohibition measure.' It ruled that the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet overstepped his powers by enacting measures that are not justified by 'proven risks of disruptions to public order nor, moreover, on reasons of hygiene or decency'. 'The contested decree has thus brought a serious and manifestly illegal infringement on basic freedoms such as freedom to come and go, freedom of conscience and personal freedom.' The head of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France, the other group that appealed to the top court, hailed the decision but lamented that the crackdown 'will remain engraved in the history of our country'. Marwan Muhammad said: 'One cannot take back the harm which was caused, humiliations that were provoked.' The bans have become a symbol of tensions around the place of Islam in secular France and the heated debate has brought about divisions even among cabinet ministers. A woman wearing a 'burkini' participates in a 'Wear what you want beach party' protest outside of the French Embassy in London on Thursday A woman holds up a sign saying 'Islamophobia is not freedom' at a burkini protest While Valls argued that burkinis oppress women, two ministers in his cabinet, Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and Health Minister Marisol Touraine, have said banning burkinis is not a good option. Vallaud-Belkacem, a feminist with North African roots, argued that while she doesn't like the burkini swimsuit, banning the garment amounted to a politically driven act that encouraged racism. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who is also in charge of faiths, said that 'it is now up to everyone to seek calm'. While addressing only one local ban, the Council of State sets general principles in its ruling that any mayors will now have to abide by when using their powers in the future. Technically, other local bans are still in effect until mayors revoke them or groups contest them in courts. But de facto the town decrees are hollow because burkini fines can be contested. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who announced this week he's seeking the conservative nomination for the 2017 race, said at a rally Thursday night in southern France that he wants a law banning the burkini "on the entire territory of the Republic." Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen said the battle is not over. She said in a statement that lawmakers must vote 'as quickly as possible' to extend a 2004 law that bans Muslim headscarves and other ostentatious religious symbols in classrooms to include all public spaces. She said: 'The burkini would obviously be part of it.' President Francois Hollande 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'. But critics said the bans had been feeding a racist political agenda. Amnesty International praised the court decision Friday, calling the local decrees 'invasive and discriminatory' and saying their enforcement has led to 'abuses and the degrading treatment of Muslim women and girls'. The ruling will likely to set a precedent for around 30 French towns which have banned the burkini, mostly along the southeast coast. A court in the Riviera resort of Nice upheld the Villeneuve-Loubet ban this week. The court said in a statement the decree to ban burkinis in Villeneuve-Loubet was 'seriously, and clearly illegally, breached the fundamental freedoms to come and go, the freedom of beliefs and individual freedom'. Under the French legal system, temporary decisions can be handed down before the court takes more time to prepare a judgement on the underlying legality of the case. Several women who have already been fined by police for wearing burkinis should be able to challenge the decision as a result of yesterday's ruling. John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe director, said the French justice system should overturn the 'discriminatory ban that is fuelling prejudice and intolerance' In a separate incident, video 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 on the beach in Cannes because of their burkinis As the authorities in resorts such as Nice and Cannes have proved, they argued, the ban was being used to discriminate against Muslim women, no matter what they were wearing. In 2010, France became the first European country to ban the Islamic veil in public places, six years after outlawing the headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools. Security analysts have warned that the dispute will fuel jihadist propaganda groups like Isis, as they attempt to portray France and other Western countries as being at war with Muslims. Manuel Valls, the French Prime Minister, said he was not in favour of nationwide legislation but appeared to support the law in principle by claiming the burkini was based on the enslavement of women. President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that life in France 'supposes that everyone sticks to the rules and that there is neither provocation nor stigmatisation'. The court's ruling will be watched closely abroad as well. John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe director, said the French justice system should overturn 'a discriminatory ban that is fuelled by and is fuelling prejudice and intolerance'. 'French authorities should drop the pretence that these measures do anything to protect the rights of women,' he said. Anger over the issue was further inflamed this week when photographs showed police surrounding a woman in a headscarf on a beach in Nice as she removed a long-sleeved top. An Indonesian man who has emerged from obscurity to claim he is the world's oldest at an incredible 145 years has revealed he is ready to die now. According to documentation recognised by Indonesian officials, Mbah Gotho is 145 and was born on 31st December 1870. He has not surprisingly outlived all 10 of his siblings as well as his four wives, the last of whom died in 1988. All of his children have also died, and now he is survived by his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Indonesian man Mbah Gotho claims he is the world's oldest man at 145 years old If correct, that makes him significantly older than the verified oldest person in the world ever, a title that belongs to French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122. The super senior citizen from Sragen, Central Java, was interviewed by Liputan 6 television news, He said he has been through it all and would not mind passing on. 'What I want is to die. My grandchildren are all independent,' he told Liputan 6 on Tuesday. Suryanto, Mbah Gotho's grandson, said his grandfather has been preparing for his death ever since he was 122, but it never seemed to come. He said: 'The gravestone there was made in 1992. That was 24 years ago.' In addition, Suryanto said Mbah Gotho's family has already prepared a gravesite for him - near his children's graves. Staff at the Indonesian records office have confirmed Mbah Gotho's birthdate, which is specified on his Indonesian ID card as 31st December 1870. His identification showing his date of birth as December 31, 1870 has been verified by the Indonesian government but not independently Whether or not he will ever be listed as the world's oldest man however is open to question, as the paperwork has so far not been independently verified. If so he will join to others without verifiable records who are purportedly older than Mbah Gotho - 171-year-old James Olofintuyi from Nigeria and 163-year-old Dhaqabo Ebba from Ethiopia. These days, his grandchildren say Mbah Gotho mostly sits listening to the radio because his eyesight is too poor to watch television. For the past three months, he has had to be spoon-fed and bathed as he has become increasingly frail. The Clinton campaign will not finish releasing her State Department timetables until after the election, its has been confirmed. Representatives have so far released around half of her timetables from when she was Secretary of State after a judge ordered them to be published in batches. But her campaign team say the task will not be completed until December 30, just weeks before the winner of the election will be sworn into office. Scroll down for video Clinton's campaign team have said they will not finish releasing her timetables until December, just weeks before the winner of the election is sworn into office The Clinton campaign has released around half of the timetables so far, which reveal that more than half of her meetings while Secretary of State were held with donor to the foundation That is despite revelations, based on diary entries disclosed so far, that more than half of Clinton's meetings were held with donors to her foundation. Republicans have seized on the analysis, carried out by the Associated Press, as evidence of the long-held belief that the huge amount of money that flows through the foundation leaves her open to corruption. The AP report said that of 154 people Clinton met, 85 were donors to the tune of a collective $156 million. The evidence appears to make a mockery of her claim that her work with the foundation had no bearing on her political activities. The AP first asked for Clinton's calendars in 2010 and again in 2013, but was forced to sue the State Department for them after being met with refusals. Clinton's team have disputed AP's analysis of the data because reporters excluded meetings with federal employees and foreign diplomats. Reporters say that data was omitted because such meetings would have been routine for any Secretary of State. Trump has savaged Clinton's links to donors, saying 'it is difficult to tell where the Clinton Foundation stops and the State Department begins' Earlier this week Bill said he will step down from the foundation should Hillary win in November, and donations will be reviewed to address 'conflicts of interest' Instead they focused on meetings that would have been arranged at Clinton's discretion, the AP said. In an attempt to pour cold water on the issue, Bill Clinton said earlier this week that he will step down from the foundation and may stop accepting donations from foreign and corporate entities if his wife wins the White House. But daughter Chelsea Clinton plans to stay on as the head of the 'charity', the Washington Post reports, while the Clinton Health Access Initiative said it may still accept overseas cash. While the Health Access Initiative is technically a separate legal entity from the Clinton Foundation, it accounts for the majority of spending. Accounts for 2014 show it spent almost 60 per cent of the $250million donated to the Clintons that year. The homeowner who was shot in the groin by police he called to respond to a robbery at his Indiana home said he is lucky to be alive. Carl Williams, 48, called 911 to his home at 3636 Foxtail Drive in Indianapolis to deal with an armed robber who had threatened his wife with a gun and tried to steal her car at around 4:30am. on Tuesday. Officer Christopher Mills responded with his partner - but when he saw Williams, Mills shot him, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) said. Mills, a nine-year veteran with the East District police, hit Williams once and it's unknown if he fired other shots. His partner, an eight-year veteran, did not fire. Williams, a former military police officer, was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in serious condition after the shooting. He was released from the hospital on Thursday and faces a painful recovery in the months ahead as bullet fragments are still in his body. Scroll down for video Carl Williams (pictured), 48, was shot in the groin by police he called to respond to a robbery at his Indiana home on Tuesday. He's been released from the hospital and said he is lucky to be alive Williams told 911 an armed man had tried to steal his wife's car. When he emerged from his garage (pictured), officer Christopher Mills shot him. The case is still being investigated The fragments are lodged near the ball joint in his hip, as doctors are still trying to decide whether to remove them. On Friday during a press conference, Williams, who was armed with a handgun, said that he started to enter the garage when shots were fired. 'The only thing I can remember is intense pain, falling on the ground and telling the police officers, 'I am the homeowner. Why did you shoot me?'' Williams said according to IndyStar. Williams, who is a postal worker, claims that the officers never said anything before opening fire. He also said that he remembers hearing at least two gun shots, though the exact number of shots fired is still unclear. Williams (pictured) has a painful recovery ahead as bullet fragments are lodged near the ball joint in his hip. Doctors are still trying to decide whether to remove them IMPD Major Richard Riddle (pictured) said Friday that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing and that Mills has yet to be interviewed about the shooting by police In an edited 911 call played to the press, Williams was heard telling the dispatcher that a black male in a red shirt with a 'long gun' had stolen the keys to his wife's black Nissan Sentra, IndyStar reported. At the end of the phone call, Williams - whose wife was also heard sobbing in the background - was heard saying 'Is that him?' apparently in reference to the robber. The call is then disconnected and the operator is unable to re-establish a connection. According to the IMPD, Mills and his partner approached the house and saw the black vehicle still stationary in the driveway. Concerned that the armed robber was still on the premises, police said, the officers attempted 'to approach in a covert manner to investigate the vehicle.' Williams claims that the officers never said anything before opening fire. He also said that he remembers hearing at least two gun shots, though the exact number of shots fired is still unclear Williams then exited his garage holding a handgun, the IndyStar said, and was shot. IMPD spokesman Richard Riddle said Friday that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Mills has yet to be interviewed about the shooting by police and is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Williams' attorney, Richard Hailey, said that his firm would focus on whether there was 'an error in judgment accentuated by either not complying with training rules or not being well-trained to begin with.' Police did not find the carjacker. He is described as a black male with a light complexion, wearing a red-and-white jacket and a dark colored ball cap. into police after running away together In May the pair handed A man impregnated a 13-year-old girl he was in a 'father-daughter' relationship with before abducting her. The Townsville man pleaded guilty to abduction and sex with a girl under the age of 16. Crown prosecutor David Nardone said the young girl was in the legal care of Child Safety when the incident occurred sometime between February 18 and April 16, NewsMail reported. A man impregnated a 13-year-old girl he was in a 'father-daughter' relationship with before abducting her (stock image) The accused and the victim were known to each other because the man had been in a relationship with the girl's mother for three months, Mr Nardone said. He said the accused and the victim both described their relationship as 'father-daughter.' The accused was staying at a campsite and was drunk, Bundaberg District Court heard. The child was also at the campsite and the two were in the same tent. The man removed the girl's underwear and then removed his own, Mr Nardone said. The victim was 'dizzy' and needed to lie down at which time the accused had sex with her, the court heard. The victim was 'dizzy' and needed to lie down at which time the accused had sex with her, Bundaberg District Court (pictured) heard An ultrasound at Mackay Hospital on June 3 confirmed the girl was pregnant, the publication reported. The abduction occurred after the victim ran away and got in contact with the man. They then travelled to Bundaberg and when police found them in May they fled. They later handed themselves into police. 'There was no violence, no threats, she was never held against her will,' defence barrister Simone Bain said. Judge Brian Devereaux said even though it wasn't rape it was a serious case. Advertisement Thousands of visitors have sailed into Blyth for the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta to see 30 of the most spectacular boats in the world. The bustling port town in South East Northumberland played host to the second day of the four-day long prestigious regatta on Saturday. The largest and most spectacular ships in the world, some vessels are up to 100 metres long and decades old. Thousands of visitors attend the second day of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta on Saturday, getting up close to Polish ship the Fryderyk Chopin on the second day of the maritime event in Blyth The Polish ship Fryderyk Chopin is moored alongside the quay during the event, hosting to up to 30 ships of different sizes Elizabeth Bewick, 72, left, and her friend Mary Cochrane, 70, from North Shields enjoy the day as they visit one of the ships Countries represented at the event included crews from as far away as Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands and from home in the UK. Class A ships attending include Shtandart from Russia, Dar Mlodziezy from Poland, Morgenster from Holland, another Polish ship called Fryderyk Chopin and the Lord Nelson from Southampton in the UK. The maritime celebration takes place during the 60th anniversary of the Tall Ships Races. The tall ships will depart on a 500 nautical mile race from Blyth to Gothenburg in Sweden. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy the event over the four days. It also includes fireworks, live music and parades. Crowds flocked to Blyth for the event - with standing room only close up to the ships as they were moored at the port Crowds were greeted with gorgeous summer sunshine by the port at Blyth in South East Northumberland today A giant inflatable lobster is carried along the quayside during the festivities as thousands enjoy the sunshine at Blyth Visitors to the Blyth port were keen to take pictures during a visit to one of the ships moored at the quayside The Kapitan Borchardt tall ship heads to Blyth past Whitley Bay for the tall ships regatta being held over the long weekend Day two of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta began with an amazing sunrise as the masts of the ships pierced the pink sky Masts and rigging against the first light of dawn as ships are moored in the port during the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta The beautiful sunrise provided a perfect backdrop for the towering masts and rigging of the ships at the regatta The bustling port town in South East Northumberland played host to the four-day long prestigious regatta Up to 30 of the most spectacular ships in the world, some up to 100 metres long and decades old, have attended the event The maritime celebration - spanning four days in Blyth - takes place during the 60th anniversary of the Tall Ships Races Members of a ship's crew polishes brass on deck during preparations for the second day of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta A crew member washes the hull of the Polish ship, Dar Mlodziezy, during the Regatta in Blyth today before the trip to Sweden Detail of the hull and anchor on the Polish ship Dar Mlodziezy during the regatta shows the gorgeous design of the ships A plaque on board the Lord Nelson ship is seen during the event. The maritime celebration takes place during the 60th anniversary of the Tall Ships Races A carved figurehead can be seen on the bow of a ship. Some vessels are decades old and feature intricate decorations A crew member works high in the rigging as he checks the sails on one of the 30 ships in the port at Blyth Early morning sunlight shines through rigging on one of the vessels during the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta on Saturday A tugboat sails by the Polish ship Dar Mlodziezy during the Regatta on Saturday morning as the second day began A small fishing boat sails by the ships moored alongside the quay, giving a perspective of the size of the tall ships A member of a ship's crew polishes brass on deck, making sure everything was right before thousands of people arrived A crew member sits high in the rigging as she smiles during repairs of a sail at the regatta this morning Organisers expect hundreds of thousands of people to attend the regatta over the four days. They started arriving early today Maritime fans included a group of kayakers who were in the port area to get a closer look at the ships from the water A kayaker stops to watch a crew member as he paints the side of the ship preparing for day two of the celebrations The thousands of visitors to Blyth found different ways to get up close, with kayakers paddle alongside the towering masts Visitors make their way on board to tour the ships moored at the quayside for a closer look at the detail of craftsmanship Ships will depart on a 500 nautical mile race from Blyth to Gothenburg in Sweden following the four day event Advertisement Forces loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad dropped a barrel bomb on relatives attending a wake for 11 children killed in an earlier barrel bomb in Aleppo. A helicopter targeted the rebel-held Bab al-Nairab area in the besieged city. As first responders raced to the scene another helicopter dropped a barrel bomb on an ambulance, injuring its driver and delaying the rescue attempts. At least 15 civilians were killed in today's attack, although it is feared the death toll will rise as rescuers continue to search several collapsed buildings. 15 civilians were killed an dozens were wounded when Syrian Air Force helicopters dropped a barrel bomb on mourners attending a wake in Aleppo for 11 children who were killed in an earlier barrel attack by Bashar al Assad's forces Rescuers were able to rescue this injured baby from one of the collapsed buildings following this afternoon's attack Rescuers fear the death toll this afternoon will increase after the string of barrel bomb attacks on Bab al-Nairab Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of those injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped as people paid their respects to 11 children killed on Thursday in an air strike in the same area. Minutes later, another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver and hampering rescue efforts. The Syrian government and its Russian ally are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. On Thursday, 11 children were murdered by the Syrian regime in another barrel bomb attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said: 'Fifteen civilians, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood.' The group also reported eight civilians, including two children, were killed on Thursday in rebel fire on the government-held west of the city. Bashar Al-Assad's helicopters targeted this ambulance which was racing to the scene of the bombing to assist survivors Assad's forces regularly target civilian areas with barrel bombs, which are large improvised explosive devices Assad's forces regularly target rescue workers as they attempt to pull survivors from rubble at the scene of an attack This girl, pictured, was rescued by a member of the White Helmets who risk death every time they attend a disaster scene A member of the civil defence White Helmets jumped across the rubble in a bombed out building in Bab al-Nairab, Aleppo 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. This woman carries a baby as she walks away from the scene of today's latest attack by Syrian government forces More than 290,000 people have been killed in Syria during the past five years of civil war according to the UN The United Nations has urged all sides to commit to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Aleppo The United Nations Syria envoy urged warring parties to state by Sunday whether they will commit to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the embattled city of Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura has led global calls for the pause that the UN and aid groups like the Red Cross say is desperately needed by civilians trapped in the midst of brutal fighting between regime and opposition forces. Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, has endorsed the plan. De Mistura said in a statement Saturday that he 'regrets' some opposition camps have expressed reluctance to agree to the plan, without detailing the nature of their concerns. 'The special envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand,' de Mistura's office said in a statement. He added that the initial delivery of life-saving aid must be carried out through the strategically crucial Castello Road, which the regime took control of in July, cutting off the last supply route to rebel-held Aleppo. The UN has 'pre-positioned' aid that is ready to go to the city, it said. The first delivery would benefit 80,000 people in the rebel-held east as well as people in the government controlled west, the statement said. 'The UN is ready to move,' it added. 'People are suffering and need assistance. Time is of the essence. All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now.' An injured girl sits in a vehicle after surviving double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo The UN has 'pre-positioned' aid that is ready to go to the city for the 80,000 people who remain in the east of Aleppo Civil defence member and men carry a dead body in a damaged site after the double airstrikes. The brutal fight for Aleppo intensified two months ago According to de Mistura, Russia 'has engaged' its ally Assad on the plan. The brutal fight for Aleppo, Syria's second city, intensified two months ago. After a nearly three-week siege by regime troops, rebels early this month linked up with opposition-held neighbourhoods via a new road from the city's south, in a major blow to forces loyal to Assad. But fighting has continued near the new supply line, which recently has been bombarded almost daily, affecting supplies coming into the city's opposition-controlled neighbourhoods. 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 more than five years ago. Syrian people help emergency services as they try to fight survivors in the wreckage after the blasts in Aleppo Shoppers queued up today and cleared the shelves in a Bhs store hoping to get a bargain before the high street chain closes its doors for the last time tomorrow. One of their outlets in London was almost completely left bare as a women inspected an item which she had picked up from a solitary shelf. Other items were scattered across the floor as customers rushed in to try and get their hands on a bargain - with some products being advertised as 80 per cent off their original price. One female customer inspects one of the last remaining items at a Bhs store in London before it closes tomorrow Shoppers flocked to the store in London and searched the shop floor hoping to find a bargain Customers then queued up to pay for the goods which were reduced at the London store Bargain hunters formed an orderly queue as they waited to pay for the items they had found still left in the store in the capital. Shoppers filled trolleys with the reduced clothes and products just before the 88-year-old chain prepares to leave the high street permanently. Across the country, giant red and yellow signs reading 'everything must go' and 'store closing' could be seen on the shop floors. Some outlets are selling fixtures and fittings and even mannequins - typically used to showcase the clothes which are on offer. The photographs were taken as 22 of the final stores are set to close their doors for the last time on Sunday. The UK department store employed around 11,000 people and had over 170 stores across the country. The final stores to close include Exeter, Surrey Quays in London, St Enochs in Glasgow, Metro in Gateshead and Merryhill in Dudley. Others also include Romford in Essex, Doncaster in South Yorkshire and Walthamstow, Uxbridge, Bexleyheath, Kingston, Wood Green and Harrow in London. Female shoppers could be seen getting their hands on a number of clothes before the store shuts its doors on Sunday The shoppers were quick to take advantage of the sales and reduced items which were hanging up on rails at the store Meanwhile, stores in Leicester, Norwich, Belfast, Hanley, Northampton, Swansea, Cribbs Causeway and St Albans will also shut their doors for the last time tomorrow. Meanwhile, defiant Bhs workers wore T-shirts to mock the collapsed chain's former owners Sir Philip Green and Dominic Chappell earlier this week. Staff at the Swansea branch donned red T-shirts with homemade signs saying: 'No more Green' and 'Next Job Chauffer' written on them - a dig at both the billionaire tycoon and his successor Chappell. Steve Britten, manager of the Princess Way store in Swansea said people could read into the slogans on their tops in whatever way they wanted. He said: 'You can make what you like of it. Every day we have been doing a theme and we were going to wear green T-shirts on one of the days.' The store in London was covered in huge signs to advertise the fact that it was closing down Shoppers looked around the store and were hoping to get their hands on a bargain on Saturday afternoon In March last year, Bhs was sold by Sir Philip for 1 to former bankrupt Mr Chappell. Sir Philip, 64, was accused of extracting money from the firm and then failing to resolve a 571m deficit in its pension fund. Last week in a riveting extract from a new biography of acclaimed author Beryl Bainbridge, The Mail on Sunday revealed details of her chaotic private life and how she betrayed her closest friend in a scandalous love triangle. Here, in the second and concluding part of Brendan Kings new book, he uncovers the truth about Bainbridges many startling claims about herself. Bainbridge, one of the most garlanded novelists of the late 20th Century, would routinely reinvent her past even though her real story was often more colourful than her vividly imagined fiction... At the top of Beryl Bainbridges house in Camden, North London, was her work room the laboratory as she called it containing her writing desk and its ancient computer, filing cabinets and tin trunks full of diaries, journals, photographs and a vast archive of contemporary material relating to her life, including hundreds of letters. Creating a drama: Beryl in the study of her Camden home in North London in 1995, which she called 'the laboratory' She made periodic attempts to annotate them, clarifying the names of those involved or giving details about what they had done, as if she wanted the real facts of her life to be understood in the future, even though she didnt want to talk about them in the present. They tell a story that is by turns poignant and heartbreaking, every bit as dramatic and laden with irony as the brilliant fictions she crafted. But researching her life, I soon began to notice a considerable difference between the story revealed by her private diaries, journals and correspondence, and the version of her life she had published, whether in fictional or non-fictional form. This was despite the fact that Beryl claimed to have whats called total recall and once told an interviewer: I can actually think myself back into a day 30 years ago, and recall it in exact detail. Her memory was, in fact, as prone to inaccuracy as anyone elses, but there was another, more complex, reason why the published version of Beryls life differs so radically from the unpublished one: she wanted it that way. Beryl was an auto-fictionaliser, someone with an instinct, even a psychological need, to turn herself into a character in the drama of her own life. She wasnt interested in giving the facts of a situation, only with the narrative in which her life could be presented. For example, in her 1999 book Forever England, she recalled that as a 13-year-old she went to see the great Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski at the Floral Hall in Southport. After the performance she was taken backstage, dressed in her mothers best fox fur, to meet the musical legend. As Beryl described it: He was a small man with a lot of mad white hair and he said he thought I had some kind of specialness I remember the exact word but it was only because I was looking at him in a very intense way, out of politeness. My mother never got over it, me shaking hands with a famous pianist, though she too didnt know him from Adam. Despite the precise detail, there is a problem: Paderewski died in 1941, when Beryl was nine years old, and there is no record of him performing in Southport. His last recital in Lancashire was at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in October 1938, when Beryl was five. Beryl also mentioned as a key early experience a week-long stint at a theatre in Bulwell, performing the umbrella dance from Singin In The Rain after winning a talent contest. Cavalier with the truth: Beryl as a young woman in 1959. In a new book about her life, it is claimed she was an auto-fictionaliser, someone who became a character in the drama of her own life The problem here is that the film wasnt released until 1952, three years afterwards. Local newspaper reports from the time make it apparent that every detail Beryl recounts is wrong, including the name of the theatre and that of the other acts that performed alongside her. In fact, she did not win the talent contest and they did not perform for a week, merely for two shows on the same evening. She wasn't hampered by the feeling that she had to be accurate. Brendan Walker on Beryl Bainbridge Perhaps the most striking, and in some ways the most troubling, example of this tendency of the memory to play tricks is Beryls recollection of being taken, along with the whole of her school, to the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool to see the unexpurgated version of the film taken by British troops entering Bergen-Belsen. Beryl described the experience many times in later life, adducing a huge significance to it in terms of the effect it had on her psychologically and on the kind of novelist she would become. Despite Beryls vivid memory that the entire school, from the ages of seven to the 6th form, were marched in file to see the film, no such school visit was ever made. Indeed, the only film available at the time was standard newsreel footage, then shown in cinemas before the main feature. For Beryl, mere fact was not the point. Her interviews and her written memoirs are always brilliant, full of memorable quotes and anecdotes, but that was partly because she was never hampered by the feeling that she had to be literally accurate. If it sounded better to say she had become a successful writer after leaving school at 14 she actually left at 16, no earlier than many other girls that was the story she told. This subtle manipulation was not accidental, it was a way of representing in dramatic form what she felt to be true: she believed shed had an incomplete education, so she gave herself one. On occasion, Beryl did consult her diaries, but even when she published extracts, she changed the details to suit the story she wanted to tell, embroidering what she had originally written or altering dates and inventing new facts to give her narrative a more satisfying shape. In an article on her childhood, written in 1999, she transformed an innocuous, and badly spelt, diary comment about international events February 17, 1944: A great fight in Stalin-grand. Marshall Stalin worried not a bit in order to present an image of herself as a young child with a problematic relationship with her father. It became Nov. 26. 1942. Siege of Stalingrad begun [which is in fact incorrect. It started in August]. Its cruchal. 27th Nov. 1942. Stalin worried not a bit. I hate my Dad. The words I hate my Dad appear nowhere in any of Beryls diaries or letters, and indeed an entry for January 23, 1946 I do love Mummy and Daddy suggests the opposite. In another article written five years later, she used the same entry from her 1944 diary but changed the words to read: September 2 1942. The Germans kill 50,000 Jews in Warsaw ghetto. Daddy upset. September 18. Battle of Stalingrad. Uncle Joe worried not a bit. Such embellishments were designed to contribute to the myth of herself as a writer steeped in, and shaped by, the effects of violent death and family dysfunction. Ive maligned my parents in every book Ive written, she confessed to one journalist. Ive really only shown the bad side, she told another. Some of it I think I may possibly have made up. In fact, her diaries contain many more genuinely revealing insights into Beryls emotional life than the ones she chose to fabricate. She was not only engaged, unengaged and re-engaged to the man who would become her husband during this period, she was also proposed to by three different men, all of whom she was emotionally involved with to a varying degree. Lying also served as a self-protection mechanism. When she began meeting a German prisoner of war by the Formby dunes in the summer of 1947, she didnt tell her parents, justifying her mendacity on the grounds that the truth would hurt them: Much better to say I was chased by a Nazi than to say I was friendly with a German prisoner. Young love: Beryl in 1949, aged 15, after her liaison with a Nazi Prisoner of War. The above image was taken in Ireland It was while out walking through Formby pine woods that a 14-year-old Beryl met Harry Franz, a 24-year-old PoW awaiting transfer to his native Bavaria. He wasnt the first prisoner Beryl had spoken to among the dunes of the Formby shoreline. The previous year she had become friends with another German in his mid-20s called Heinz, who came from the Ruhr Valley. As a teenager, Beryl wrote a list of all her boyfriends and his name appears before Harrys (numbers five and six respectively), along with a note that the length of time of their relationship was three months. Harry was by far the most important of Beryls early boyfriends. In physical terms the relationship didnt venture much beyond kisses and cuddles. On an emotional and imaginative level, however, the relationship was hugely significant: thoughts of Harry would preoccupy Beryl for the next two or three years, and his memory left a lasting, idealised image of what the experience of being in love was like. Harry would also inspire the next stage in her writing. After his return to Germany, Beryl began to write about her experiences and feelings in prose, and their relationship formed the basis of an autobiographical novella entitled My Song Is Done, finished in January 1949. For no reason I'd create some story... you got attention that way. Beryl Bainbridge Harrys wartime experiences had left him nervous and withdrawn, something reflected in Beryls portrayal of him: He was utterly twisted with shot nerves inside. When he laughed he shook and could not control himself. Walking hand-in-hand with her, he felt calmer: He did not jerk so much now, his nerves were well under control, he was quieter and he loved her very much. A warm intimacy quickly developed and the element of secrecy that necessarily surrounded the relationship gave it an added frisson. In another autobiographical sketch written in London a few years afterwards, she captured both the tenderness of their relationship and the constant nervous tension that she might be found out. Beryl seems to have known that what she was doing had potentially dangerous repercussions and took care to keep the relationship quiet. The extent to which this resistance to literal truth-telling became an ingrained habit can be seen in an article she wrote for The Times in 1981, about the revised edition of her first published novel, A Weekend With Claude. To justify the decision to publish a new version, she reproduced a passage from the original 1967 edition to show how bad it was. But she didnt quote the text of the novel as it was actually printed; instead she amended it in order to make it seem more opaque than it really was, presumably thinking that no one would bother to check the original. This cavalier attitude to the notion of truth was formed at an early age: I remember going to my first school. I can remember sitting there and pretending that Id hurt myself, so as to draw attention. I was a terrible liar for no reason at all Id create some story about something happening on the train home and it wouldnt be true at all, but Id go into great detail about it. Because people listened. You got some attention that way. As she herself put it: All memory is fiction, which is why autobiographical accounts and historical ones, for that matter, are notoriously inaccurate. We censor memories by recalling only those fragments we wish to remember. Advertisement In the last 20 years almost 30,000 people have defected from North Korea - and only one has ever asked to go back. But 46-year-old Kim Ryen-hi has been refused permission by South Korea and is now stuck in a legal limbo. The dressmaker fled in 2011, leaving her husband and daughter behind, but almost immediately regretted it and asked to go back home to Pyongyang. Kim Ryen-hi stands on a street in Seoul, where she has been stranded since 2011, unable to return to her home in North Korea. She paid smugglers to bring her to South Korea from China, where she had been undergoing medical treatment She had travelled to China for treatment for liver cirrhosis but was shocked by her mounting medical bills. Kim claims she was tricked by people smugglers who promised she could pay off her bills by going to work in South Korea for 'two or three months'. But once she arrived in South Korea she was forced to sign papers in which she renounced communism and formally defected. The smugglers had also taken her North Korean passport. Kim became depressed and started drinking heavily and later lost her job in a factory. She has tried everything to get back to the North, including stowing away in a boat, forging a passport and even spying for the North in the hope of being deported. Kim began collecting phone numbers and other personal data of North Korean defectors in the South and said she passed it on to North Korean spies at a football stadium in Seoul during a match between the two countries' women's teams. She was convicted of espionage in July 2014 and sentenced to two years in prison but her sentence was suspended after nine months and she was released on parole. Now she has found a support group in Seoul and is publishing her autobiography later this year. But she is still hankering for a return home, even though she knows conditions are tough and food is scarce. Kim told the New York Times: 'Freedom and material and other lures of any kind, they are not as important to me as my family and home. I want to return to my precious family, even if I die of hunger.' Under South Korean law it is forbidden to go to North Korea, which is still considered an enemy as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with no peace treaty, only an armistice. Kim Ryen-hi (left) holds a photograph of her daughter Ri Ryen-gum, 22, who she left behind in North Korea. She says: 'I want to return to my precious family, even if I die of hunger' In March this year she applied for political asylum at the Vietnamese embassy in Seoul, a move that she had hoped would be the first step in returning to North Korea. Two hours later the Vietnamese embassy staff asked the South Korean police to escort her out of the building. She then banged on the embassy gate, screaming: 'I just want to go home to my elderly parents, to my daughter, to my husband.' Kim Ryen-hi, a talented cross-stitcher, says she does not want to be considered a traitor to North Korea and her needlework shows a devotion to the propaganda of Kim Jong-un's regime Kim has enlisted the support of sympathetic Christian pastors who have tried to exert pressure on the government in Seoul. Pastor Choi Jae-bong told Al Jazeera recently: 'This whole situation does not make sense. She is from North Korea and she got convicted for espionage. But, the South Korean government has been providing her with housing and living allowance for North Korean defectors.' But the South Korean Government says she became a South Korean citizen because she signed papers when she defected. Under South Korean law it is illegal to help a citizen travel to Kim Jong-un's so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Ryen-hi waits for the guests to arrive for the monthly lecture event as Park Hee-seong, a former long-term prisoner who was originally from North Korea, hangs a banner that reads, 'The Monthly Lecture by Supporting Committee of Prisoners of Conscience' Kim Ryen-hi (left) sings Arirang, a Korean traditional folk song, with Kim Yeong-sik, (right) a former long-term prisoner who was also originally from North Korea Kim Ryen-hi fixes the scarf of Kim Yeong-sik at a shelter for former North Koreans in Seoul. The government says: 'She became a South Korean citizen on her own will, and accordingly she is subject to laws applying to all other South Korean citizens' Kim Ryen-hi, surrounded by South Korean supporters, has repeatedly called a North Korean consulate in China asking for help. She was denied a South Korean passport and tried forging one. But she still remains stuck Kim Ryen-hi, a talented dressmaker, had been told by smugglers that she could come to South Korea and make a lot of money before returning to China. But she has found the truth very different. Andrew Keitley, 55, was told by staff members at St David's Hospital in Cardiff that the reclining dentist chair would not be able to hold his weight An NHS dentist turned away a 25-stone chef suffering from an unbearable toothache because he was too fat. Andrew Keitley, 55, was told by staff members at St David's Hospital in Cardiff that the reclining dentist chair would not be able to hold his weight. Mr Keitley disclosed his weight in a registration form at the practice when a receptionist reportedly said he was too heavy. The patient said the staff member told him: 'You'll have to come back when you've lost some weight,' according to The Sun. He was informed that the chair at the dental practice could hold a maximum of 21 stone. Mr Keitley said: 'I was shocked. I know I'm a big guy but that's ridiculous. 'The NHS is meant to be there for patients, any shape or size. I feel completely let down.' He had first visited the A&E unit at the University Hospital of Wales suffering from terrible tooth pain when a bone became caught in his teeth. He was prescribed antibiotics for an abscess by an emergency dentist and was instructed to seek further treatment for gum disease. He then visited St David's Hospital, which offers free check-ups. Since being turned away Mr Keitley has been treating himself with painkillers. A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: 'Dental care is available for all patients, however some of our patients with specific requirements will need to receive their care at the University Dental Hospital in Cardiff rather than in smaller community hospitals such as St David's Hospital.' He said patients are advised how to access this service during their visit to the dentist. The spokesman added: 'We are unable to comment on individual cases but we will ask our Concerns Team to contact Mr Keitley to discuss any issues that he may have regarding his care.' Mr Keitley disclosed his weight in a registration form at the practice (pictured) when a receptionist reportedly said he was too heavy In 2013 a dental company developed a chair that could cope with 71-stone patients in response to Britain's growing obesity epidemic. The 25,000 Barico bariatric recliners are four times the price of standard seats. David Vandyke, of UK supplier Bariatric Ltd, said at the time that the tide of obesity meant the seats were likely to become commonplace. He added: 'The Barico has a safe working load of 71 stone. Dental chairs at the moment have a safe working load of around 22 stone to 25 stone but they don't really work at those weights once a patient is sat back. 'It's something the NHS is very aware of and obesity is now classed under the Equality Act, which means everyone has the right to access services.' The patient claims he was not given any advice about where to seek other treatment. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, the group responsible for St David's Hospital, has been contacted for comment. Revelers celebrating next weekend's Brooklyn J'Ouvert festival have been warned by the NYPD to 'not shoot' while enjoying the festivities. The 71st Precinct in Crown Heights posted fliers Thursday that read: 'This community will no longer tolerate this violence. 'Do not shoot anyone. Do not stab anyone.' The fliers were posted in order to warn revelers to refrain from violence during the predawn Labor Day celebration, according to the New York Post. Police in New York City have warned those participating in the Brooklyn J'Ouvert festival next weekend to 'not shoot' while enjoying the fun. The 71st Precinct in Crown Heights posted the fliers (pictured) Thursday that read: 'This community will no longer tolerate this violence' The fliers also told people to 'not stab anyone'. The NYPD posted the fliers in order to warn revelers to refrain from violence during the predawn Labor Day celebration. Three women celebrate J'Ouvert Two people were killed last year during J'Ouvert, which occurs before the West Indian American Day Parade, the Post reported. '4 people have been indicted for those murders,' it reads. 'Each of them may spend up to 20 years in prison.' 'Every act of violence will be fully investigated and prosecuted. This year celebrate J'Ouvert and keep it safe,' the flier reads. Carey Gabay, an aide to Gov Cuomo, was shot and killed by a stray bullet fired during a fight that broke out during the celebration last year, the Post reported. The bullet struck Gabay in the head while he was attempting to escape. He died nine days later. A police source told the Post that they believe it's part of the 'de Blasio crime prevention program'. Police reminded people on the flier that two people were killed last year during J'Ouvert, which occurs before the West Indian American Day Parade, including an aide to Gov Cuomo A source from the police said they believe the flier will have 'zero impact' and are a 'waste of paper'. A man celebrates during the annual J'Ouvert The fliers sparked outrage among those who live in the neighborhood with some calling it 'disgusting, racist, condescending and rude'. Pictured is a woman walking alongside several other revelers celebrating The source added that the fliers are 'hysterical' and it seems that 'we've come to the point now where we're asking people not to shoot one another'. 'If they really want to reduce the crime here, they should be enforcing the law and restricting the permits,' the source told the Post, adding that it was a 'waste of paper' and will have 'zero impact'. American flags will be reinstalled on some firetrucks in a New York community after an outcry that followed fire commissioners' orders to take them down. Fire commissioners of the Arlington Fire District in the town of Poughkeepsie had ordered the large flags removed from the back of three fire engines earlier this month. The move was made over concerns about possible U.S. flag code violations and potential safety risks to firefighters and motorists. Tory Gallante, fire chief of Arlington, New York, has been given permission to reinstall American flags on some of his fire trucks after being told to take them down due to a liability An agreement announced Thursday will allow smaller two-by-three-foot American flags on three of the district's front-line engines, which are the firetrucks used most frequently. Amid the debate over the mid-August decision, officials decided to allow a large flag on one firetruck. That compromise failed to quell the controversy. Gallante, fire chief of Arlington, New York, can now fly smaller American flags on the backs of his trucks Tory Gallante, fire chief of Arlington, New York, had been told to have the flags taken down following a decision by the Board of Fire Commissioners last month. Members of the board said the flags, which were requested by the firefighters union, are a 'liability' . Gallante gave the go-ahead for the flags to be placed on the trucks, at the cost of the union, and said they were checked by their mechanics to make sure they were 'safely secured'. But Arlington Fire Commissioner Chairman Jim Beretta told Poughkeepsie Journal said the majority of the board believes the flags were a 'liability during normal operations for our people and other motorists'. Gallante, pictured right, said he was approached by the union about placing American flags on the back of their vehicles about a month ago. He said they were checked by their mechanics to make sure they were 'safely secured' He said that the board was not consulted prior to the flags being put up. Union president Joseph Tarquinio said at the time he was 'disappointed' by the decision. He said: 'At the time when the country needs unity, to do something like this, it's next to flag-burning in my mind. 'It's the flag of this country. It's the symbol of the people of this country together as a whole.' Tarquinio was pleased to see the outpouring of support, which eventually go tthe flags reinstated. Advertisement A photographer has documented the final days of her grandmother's life by taking poignant pictures of her before she died of cancer. Gaia Squarci learned that her grandmother, whom she called 'Nonna', had developed terminal liver cancer at the age of 85. She was told the devastating news while speaking to her mother as they ate lunch together. But Ms Squarci decided to capture the last five months that she would spend with her relative in a heart-rending collection of photographs, called 'My grandmother's last months'. Chiara Micheletti - Gaia Squarci's mother - embraces her mother Marisa Vesco in her room at a hospice where she stayed for a month and a half before her death in Biella, Italy Marisa Vesco, the photographer's grandmother, embraces her nephew Luca Squarci during a visit to her home in Cossato, Italy Marisa Vesco - who suffered from liver cancer - was photographed eating ice cream in her bed in Cossato, Italy, in June 2015 In the series of pictures, her grandmother, Marisa Vesco, was seen being bathed and showered as loved ones in her life looked after her during her final months. Meanwhile, other touching photographs include Ms Squarci's grandmother eating, being hugged by her daughter Chiara Micheletti and eating ice cream in her bed in Cossato, Italy. She had previously suffered from two bouts of breast cancer before she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Ms Squarci, from Brooklyn, New York, said: ' My grandmother's life and mine overlapped for 27 years. I always called her "Nonna". 'Our age difference and profoundly contrasting values and way of thinking did not prevent us from developing a strong bond and a relationship punctuated by mischievous games and moments of tenderness and humor. 'We were amused by our differences.' Chiara Micheletti helps her mother Marisa Vesco take a shower at her home Cossato, Italy, after she was diagnosed with liver cancer Nonna's daughter Chiara - who is the mother of photographer - helps the bathe Marisa in Milan, Italy, in May 2015 Ms Vesco reached for a magazine in a bedroom of her home in Cossato, Italy. This photograph was just one of a collection of pictures taken by her granddaughter Marisa Vesco smiles as she sinks her face into the chest of her granddaughter, photographer Gaia Squarci in Cossato, Italy She added: 'When I learned that she was sick again, I had just landed in Italy, where I would be for only three days before flying back to New York. 'Even more heartbreaking than the fear of saying goodbye to her was the fact that my grandmother did not know how sick she was, Gaia writes for Reuters. 'My mother and aunt believed she could not bear the thought of a third bout with cancer, this time, affecting her liver. 'Nonna was told by family members that her liver was ill. 'Nonna's world shrank to a few walls and fewer streets. In this narrow existence, every detail and daily act took on deeper meaning.'ok Old family photographs are seen on Marisa's bed as she works on creating a family album with her granddaughter Grandmother Marisa Vesco eats breakfast in her bed at her home in Cossato, Italy, after being diagnosed with cancer The pills taken by Marisa Vesco to alleviate the symptoms of liver cancer are photographed on her bed in Cossato, Italy Marisa Vesco's ashes are spread by her nephew Luca Squarci at her favourite location where she grew up near Cossato, Italy Ms Squarci's mother was seen giving her own mother a bath in the photographs. She added: ' She did not hesitate to touch her old body, and she did not want others to do it on her behalf. 'I joined my mother and grandmother in the bathroom to quietly observe them with my camera. 'As my grandmother faced my lens, completely naked, her body bearing the signs of past and present illness, she did not show the slightest bit of shame only trust and pride.' Ms Squarci's grandmother, from Cossato, Italy, died on October 11, 2015 in Biella. Ministers have been accused of putting pupils lives at risk after dropping the requirement for fire sprinklers to be fitted in new schools. Fire officers and teachers last night blasted the short-sighted move, which was quietly announced on the Department for Education (DfE) website. The row comes just days after two devastating fires at schools that did not have sprinklers. More than 50 firefighters have been battling the huge fire after explosions were reported at a school in a seaside town The school in Selsey, West Sussex, was ruined following the blaze which started at around 8am in the morning last Sunday. Now ministers don't think there should be a requirement for sprinklers in new builds Selsey Academy in Sussex was gutted by 40ft flames, while pupils at Cecil Jones Academy in Southend-on-Sea face months of disruption after 15 classrooms were destroyed in a blaze. Julian Parsons, of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said: This is a retrograde step that doesnt make any sense. Sprinklers dont just save lives, they prevent fires from spreading and causing significant damage and disruption to our childrens education. Plans to drop requirements for sprinkler systems in schools have been announced days after a major fire reduced a secondary school to rubble after ripping through the classrooms on one of the hottest days of the year. The blaze broke out at the Cecil Jones Academy in Southend-on-Sea, Essex Firefighters drew water from a nearby swimming pool to attack the blaze, which began on a flat roof, destroyed 15 classrooms, and took three hours to quell There were more than 600 fires in British schools last year. Arson was suspected in 40 per cent of cases. Each large fire causes 1.5 million of damage on average, according to insurers, who say sprinklers pay for themselves in lower premiums. Fitting sprinklers in new schools was a policy introduced by Labour Schools Minister Jim Knight in 2007. Since then, sprinklers are credited with saving 17 schools from huge fire damage. But a revised building bulletin by education chiefs says there is now no longer an expectation for them to be fitted in schools in England. Lord Knight hit out at the policy change, calling it a false economy. He said: The cost of a sprinkler system is roughly the same as carpeting a school. The National Union of Teachers said it was dismayed at the move. A British woman has sold her own jewellery and taken out bank loans in order to pay for the freedom of women and girls who became ISIS sex slaves. Rachel Miller, 40, from Nottingham, has paid up to 7,500 to brokers to free girls as young as six. The girls and young women are Yazidis, members of a distinct and ancient religious community in northern Iraq, who are considered heretics by ISIS. Around 200,000 Yazidis fled from ISIS in 2014 when they captured the city of Sinjar and many Yazidi females were captured and enslaved. Rachel Miller, pictured, has helped dozens of Yazidi girls and other Syrian refugees Mrs Miller said the first girl she freed had seen her mother raped and murdered and her father decapitated and was herself raped repeatedly for months on end. Mrs Miller, who has three children of her own, told the Daily Mirror: 'One girl squeezed my hand, not just a hello...but a squeeze that said a thousand things. 'Touch from those who have been raped and taken into slavery is so significant. 'They shy away from any touch, unless it's from a mother or sibling... to touch a stranger, me, shows that she trusted me.' Rachel Miller has paid thousands of pounds to rescue girls who would otherwise be sex slaves This summer Mrs Miller sold some of her own gold jewellery and took out a bank loan just so she could pay in cash for a 13-year-old girl. She said she did not tell her husband, who is Kurdish, what she had done until afterwards but she said he is supportive: 'He's proud but he worries for my safety and knows that I sometimes just do things without thinking.' Rachel has two autistic sons, aged seven and eight, and a 19-year-old daughter. She also has a network of donors who help with her work. Rachel Miller, who has three children of her own, has gone out of her way to help refugees from Syria and Iraq, like these men (left) and these Yazidi girls (right) The United Nations says around 6,000 Yazidi women were abducted by ISIS and they are traded like cattle at markets in Iraq and Syria and even via mobile phone apps. One sick phone ad read: 'Virgin. Beautiful. 12 years old. Her price is at 9,500 and she'll be sold soon.' Iran Human Rights (AUG 27 2016): Iran Human Rights (IHR) warned yesterday about the imminent execution of more than 10 prisoners in Karaj Central Prison. According to close sources, 12 prisoners were executed at this prison early morning on Saturday August 27. Close sources have identified nine of the prisoners who were executed this morning: Alireza Madadpour, Bahman Rezaei, Arman Bahrami, Alireza Asadi (pictured below), Mohsen Eslami, Hossein Bahrami, Mehdi Rostami, Amir Sarkhah and Alireza Sarkhah". All the prisoners were reportedly sentenced to death for drug related offences. The death sentences were carried out despite an urgent call by Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, to halt the executions. During the past two years several high ranking Iranian officials have admitted that executions have not deterred drug crimes in Iran. But still, Iranian authorities continue the execution of hundreds every year for such charges. Alireza Asadi was one of the prisoners who was executed in Karaj Central Prison early Saturday morning August 27. | 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: Iran Human Rights, August 27, 2016 She is the gold medallist whose winning combination of courage, dedication and determination not to mention selfeffacing charm made her the darling of the London Paralympic Games in 2012. Yet as Ellie Simmonds prepares to defend her titles in Rio, she has revealed a weakness not usually associated with a champion swimmer a fear of the open water. Until now, that is. Because as part of a moving television documentary to be screened on ITV tonight, Ellie agreed to fly to Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique, where she could meet bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. Ellie agreed to fly to Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique, where she could meet bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat In doing so, she realised a lifelong ambition. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday from her training camp in Rio, Ellie, now 21, admits that jumping from the boat into the sea was one of the most frightening experiences of her life. 'My heart was going and I wasn't sure if I could do it,' she says. 'Leading up to it, when I was in the boat, I have to admit that given the choice, I wouldn't have gone into the ocean at all. But I'm so glad that I did.' With the help of free-diving expert Hanli Prinsloo, Ellie had just a couple of days to work on boosting her confidence away from the controlled environment she is used to in a pool. 'Swimming with the dolphins, touching the seabed with my hand they were amazing experiences,' Ellie says. 'My life is so structured and doing this gave me a wonderful sense of freedom.' Ellie was Team GB's youngest athlete when she walked away with two gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008 A few months ago Ellie, who has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, had never even seen a dolphin up close. 'I had always dreamed that one day I might swim with them but I am terrified of the sea,' she says. 'In a pool there are borders around you but the sea is different you can't see what's underneath you. 'Just the thought of it makes me panicky. It always felt like such a big, scary place. I've never had that with a pool it always felt natural.' To anyone who has watched Ellie swim, cutting a graceful figure through the water, her terror of the ocean will no doubt come as something of a surprise. Ellie was Team GB's youngest athlete when she walked away with two gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008, then followed that success up four years later with victory at London in both the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley races. A few months ago Ellie, who has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, had never even seen a dolphin up close Little wonder then that she is preparing to swim for glory yet again in Rio next month. But as she waits, poised at the side of the pool and hopeful of earning herself another world or paralympic record, it won't be the words of her trainer or even the good wishes of her family that Ellie focuses on. Instead, she will be dreaming of dolphins as she takes to the water. 'Dolphins have always inspired me because they are so at one with the water. The sea always felt like a big scary place 'When I'm doing the butterfly, I think of the way they glide effortlessly through the water and I try to be exactly like that. 'I started swimming when I into a pool I would take a blow-up dolphin with me and ride it in the water. 'I remember someone saying to me I had to swim like a dolphin and they've been my inspiration ever since.' Ellie was awarded an MBE at the age of just 14 and in 2013 she received an OBE. These days, she can't walk down the street without being recognised. Ellie was awarded an MBE at the age of just 14 and in 2013 she received an OBE 'It's lovely knowing that people are supporting you and the feelings everyone had for the London Games was something very special.' Following hot on the heels of Team GB's record-breaking Olympic success in Rio, Ellie confesses that she is feeling the pressure to be a winner again. 'There's always pressure, believe me,' she says. 'Before London I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and my tears when I won were definitely relief in many ways. 'These Games will be no different but I'm just going to go out and have fun. 'I can't wait for the competition to start. I always have high expectations of myself and I hate losing.' A vet who tipped off the RSPCA about neglected cats at a shelter later billed the charity 43,000 for their treatment, a court heard. Jacqui Paterson, who also charged for her time when she testified in the subsequent prosecution, informally adopted one of the 62 seized animals despite claiming it was close to death. But the cat, called Babette, was later killed by a German Shepherd dog at her surgery. Astonishingly, the RSPCA inspector who carried out the heavy-handed raid on Sarah Mellanbys shelter in 2013, used to work for Ms Paterson as her practice manager. The details emerged as Mrs Mellanby who was last year convicted of seven offences relating to the neglect of the cats launched an appeal at Teesside Crown Court. 'Conflict of interest': Sarah Mellanby is appealing her conviction as Jacqui Paterson, left, billed the RSPCA 43,000 for treating cats from a shelter she told them about. Right, RSPCA's Christine Nisbett She faces losing her house to pay the RSPCAs 250,000 legal bill. The case is likely to raise yet more questions over the controversial practices employed by Britains largest animal charity in its prosecutions. Accusing Ms Paterson of having a conflict of interest, Mrs Mellanbys barrister Sara-Lise Howe said: Large-scale seizures of animals by the RSPCA are a licence to print money. Of the 42,930 paid to Jacqui Paterson Veterinary Surgery by the RSPCA, a total of 11,724 related to her time attending court and giving evidence. Despite re-homing around 200 abandoned and stray cats each year, Mrs Mellanbys sanctuary was visited unannounced by RSPCA inspector Christine Nisbett, Ms Paterson and two police officers in July 2013 following a tip-off from the vet. At Teesside Magistrates Court, the 43-year-old widow who once worked for the RSPCA herself was given a suspended four-month jail sentence and ordered to pay 50,000 costs. She was also banned from keeping cats for ten years. Most of the animals have either since been re-homed, put to sleep or have died of natural causes. Mrs Mellanby vigorously denied the RSPCA allegations, claiming that all the cats were well looked after and received regular veterinary care. She also alleged that she was the victim of an RSPCA witch-hunt against independent centres with a no-kill policy. Mrs Mellanby, of Thornaby-on-Tees, said she left her job as an RSPCA care assistant because she was horrified by the way animals were routinely put to sleep Mrs Mellanby, of Thornaby-on-Tees, said she left her job as an RSPCA care assistant because she was horrified by the way animals were routinely put to sleep. She later set up her own rescue centre with a strict no-kill policy. She also became a regular visitor to Ms Patersons surgery, running up substantial bills. The RSPCA claimed that Mrs Mellanby was a hoarder who failed to care for the cats adequately, citing a failure to check all their teeth daily as one of the signs of neglect. The charity also alleged that some of the cats were not being fed adequately. But giving evidence, a tearful Mrs Mellanby told how Miss Nisbett called as she was about to start her lunchtime feeding round. She said the inspector persuaded her to hand the cats over, telling her they would be returned the following day. At an earlier hearing, John Ellwood, a solicitor acting for the RSPCA, said: Mrs Mellanby is not an evil person. She just has an inclination to have a lot of cats and take them in. Sarah's cat Babette, above, was killed by a German Shepherd at the vet surgery owned by Jacqui Paterson Ms Paterson admitted under cross-examination that she tipped off the RSPCA. Ms Howe put it to her that she had a conflict of interest and received similar sums for other large-scale animal seizures. Ms Howe asked the vet: Is it the case that when you request that animals are seized wholesale, as with this one, you are rewarded in that your practice receives a substantial sum of money from the inspection and care of these animals? The vet confirmed that she charged the RSPCA commercial rates for her services. Judge Stephen Ashurst asked Ms Paterson: To what extent is the receipt of fees by your surgery reflected in the reports you write for the RSPCA? She said she was not motivated by financial gain. Months after the animals were taken, it emerged that a tortoiseshell cat called Babette died after being mauled by a dog at Ms Patersons surgery. Previously the cat was given a body condition score of one by the vet, saying that it was suffering from a serious incurable respiratory infection. Despite that, the vet had informally adopted the animal for her surgery. The RSPCA says 37 cats signed over have been re-homed, and of 25 not signed over, 19 are still alive at an approved cattery. Dannielle Morgan, 19, was attacked by a huge Turkish Kangal A teenage girl was left fearing for her life after she was savaged by a huge dog while its owners did nothing and stood by and watched. Dannielle Morgan, 19, thought she was going to die as the unleashed dog mauled her in the street. The brutal attack was on the same day a three-year-old boy died in Essex after being set upon by an American Bulldog. Miss Morgan was 50 miles away in New Addington, south east London, on the phone to her mother when the Turkish Kangal launched the ferocious attack. Her distraught mother heard her bloodcurdling screams down the phone as the dog bit her neck, leg and back during the five-minute attack before two workmen managed to save her. Miss Morgan's 36-year-old father, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was a giant dog. She thought she was going to die. 'She's having nightmares every single night about the dog attack, crying. 'I keep emphasising this, it's not like a shark attack, bear attack, a crocodile attack. The savage attack left her with injuries to her neck and she feared for her life during the incident Her leg was bitten by the dog (left) and the pet also left giant scratch marks on her back (right) 'People who get attacked by them are distraught and probably scarred for life mentally as well. But they don't have to see those animals every day. 'It's so hard for Dannielle, she will see them every day. It will flash back memories. 'She was a big dog lover, we wanted to get another dog, but not now. It's had a huge impact on her day-to-day life.' Miss Morgan suffered a panic attack, endured sleepless nights and cannot properly walk after the dog sunk its teeth through her calf. The dog was spotted running around chasing one of the workmen, causing him minor injuries, before setting upon the teenager. Miss Morgan was overshadowed by the dog's size as it stood on its hind legs and went for the teenager's neck, knocking her over into a van. The father, who believes the dog tried to walk to its owners, who just stood by and watched, said: 'Dannielle started going towards the van and as she did the dog pounced again and it knocked her face down to the ground, pinned down, biting her back and calf. 'The workmen drove closer to her with the van, trying to run the dog over, beeping the horn. 'By that time the men said the dog had Dannielle's leg in its mouth and it was shaking her, and her whole body was moving. It was a vigorous attack. They said they had to do something as they were scared for her life.' Miss Morgan in New Addington, south east London, on the phone to her mother when the Turkish Kangal (stock photo) launched the ferocious attack Her leg was badly bruised following the incident near her home in New Addington, London She now struggles to walk and her father (pictured with her) has to help her following the incident The dog then stopped its attack and walked towards the owner again before attacking her for a third time. When she was taken to hospital, medics found small parts of one of the dog's teeth in her calf - so badly damaged she still can't walk on it properly. Her father added: 'The doctor said if the dog would have clamped down, with half the pressure it did on her calf or back, on her neck then her jugular was right there. 'It scares me I have to go through it every single day over and over again. 'She went outside for the first time on Tuesday and she had a panic attack when a small dog came running towards her. 'Her mother is distraught, she heard the bloodcurdling screams. It's not just affected her. It's affected all of us. 'I'm trying to look for some counselling as I don't see any way forward for her. She doesn't see how she will go back to work.' After the attack the dad claims that the owner was seen putting the dog on a lead and walking away. Police, who have confirmed they were called to reports of an 'out-of-control' dog, have said no arrests have been made to date but enquiries are ongoing. Donald Trump has made blunders and can sound too aggressive but he is no 'monster' and could prove to be a 'Ronald Reagan Mark 2' if he becomes US President. That is the verdict of Nigel Farage following his controversial appearance on a US platform with the Republican presidential contender last week. And Mr Farage hit back at Trump rival Hillary Clinton's accusation that the ex-Ukip leader had 'stoked anti-immigration sentiment' in the EU referendum campaign, claiming she was trying to 'demonise' him 'just like George Osborne tried to' in Brexit clashes. Donald Trump has made blunders and can sound too aggressive but he is no 'monster' and could prove to be a 'Ronald Reagan Mark 2' if he becomes US President, says Nigel Farage In an article for today's Mail on Sunday Mr Farage says his warm welcome from Mr Trump and 15,000 Republican supporters showed Brexit had 'gone global'. Assessing Mr Trump as a potential President, he writes: 'Some of his comments have not looked good and left him open to accusations of extremism. At times he has appeared quite aggressive on the platform. 'Trump has made a lot of mistakes. But I don't believe that he is the monster painted by many.' He adds: 'Virtually everyone thought Ronald Reagan was unfit to be the US President before he made a huge success of his two terms. 'Having met him [Trump] and having spoken to him, I am far less worried. If he becomes US President he will be able sensibly to make the big decisions.' Mr Trump has embraced many of the principles adopted by Brexit campaigners, says Mr Farage. 'Most of the crowd had never voted in their lives. In an article for today's Mail on Sunday Mr Farage says his warm welcome from Mr Trump and 15,000 Republican supporters showed Brexit had 'gone global' They are the same people that made Brexit happen. They see Washington as distant and aloof, just as many Leave voters saw rule from Brussels.' Mr Farage goes on to put new pressure on Theresa May not to delay plans to sign the EU's Article 50, which will trigger talks on Britain's exit. He writes: 'She has said that Brexit means Brexit. Given that there is now a global debate on this issue she had better mean it.' By the end of 2020, Britain must be out of the EU single market and have regained control of its borders and fishing rights. The narcotics trade provides the financial basis for almost every other form of organised criminality in this country and abroad. The scale is staggering: the global drugs market is worth 375billion every year, and an estimated 7billion a year in Britain alone. Britain spends a further 7billion policing the drugs problem and thats without the associated costs of imprisonment and public health and everything else. 'I STARTED AT THE BOTTOM, A DEALER TO THE HOPELESS': Undercover cop Neil Woods (pictured, facing the camera) posing as a crack cocaine addict on the streets of Derby. He got to know everyone from the small-time addicts to the gangsters who controlled the trade It might not seem visible to the majority of ordinary, law abiding citizens, yet drugs and the gangsters who deal in them blight our towns and cities and dominate our criminal system. More than half the inmates in British prisons are there for drug-related offences. I have done more than most to send the gang members to prison. After joining the Derbyshire Constabulary aged 19 in 1989 I helped pioneer undercover detective work in the field. For more than a decade, my chosen method was to befriend the hopeless addicts at the bottom of the chain, often posing as a dealer, before steadily gaining access to those who control the trade. I bought drugs and pretended to deal them. Ive seen the brutality of the gangs up close, including face-to-face meetings with psychopathic criminals, and I despise them. Over 14 years on the front line, I have come to know the trade inside out, and at great cost. There have been attempts on my life. Until we face the truth about the drugs trade, the violence it exploits and the misery it creates, then there can be no answer. The intelligence was impressive. The photos and files painted a picture of just about every species of criminal: dealers, pimps, thieves and thugs. And the link was The Lord Stanley, an old-fashioned pub halfway between Leicester and Derby. Just about every regular there was connected to the underworld. I was in my mid-20s, just three years into my career working undercover. Running the place was Alan, a notorious gangster involved in drug dealing and extortion. I cant use his real name, for reasons that will become clear later. With my partner Phil, a fellow detective, I walked into the pub and I spotted one of Alans lieutenants at the pool table. After half an hour, I made my approach, pretending to look for ecstasy 500 pills to shift to some students. The henchman, known as Deano, broke into a sly grin and disappeared, returning with a bag of pills. I took ten from him as a tester as is customary with any new source slid him 30, and left. From then on we became regulars, buying hundreds of pills at a time, claiming we were moving them on in Derby. A huge consignment of cocaine, which was stopped at Customs on the way into Britain from Belgium. But hundreds of tons gets through and the trade is worth 7billion a year Alan would hold court in a corner of the pub and our opportunity to approach him came when Deano complained about being owed money by someone who stole cash from phone boxes a dead business once people started using mobiles. Pay and display parking machines is where its at these days, I said. You can make a few hundred quid off each one. This came straight out of the Derbyshire CID case files. Three days later Deano waved me over to Alans table and told me to tell him about it. I described it again. Alan stared at me though his thick glasses, completely unreadable. He let the silence sit for significantly longer than was comfortable. Then he quietly asked: Who did you say you were again? Then the questions started. Who was I selling to? In which prisons had I done time? What other scams was I involved in? Throughout the interrogation, Alan would frequently disappear to his office, returning a minute later, rubbing his nose and getting a little more excited each time. He was obviously very into cocaine. We passed the test. Two hours later Alan had not only tried to recruit us to run pay-and-display scams, hed also offered to sell us stolen antiques, wide-screen TVs, a Mac-10 pistol and whatever drugs we wanted. We were in. Discarded hyperdermic syringes and foil wrappings left by crack addicts on the Deysnford estate in Peckham, south London. The war on drugs criminalises people who need help Over a couple of months, we bought pills, cocaine and heroin from Alan. He was charismatic, intelligent and vicious. I was sitting in the Stanley when he burst in, obviously high. Ive got something for you, mate, he said. Have a look at this Another figure cut in. Alan, mate, Ive got the cash. It was a small-time villain named Will Skipton, who owed Alan money. See, its all here just a tenner short. Ill get that tomorrow, promise! Alan smiled. Mate, dont worry, tomorrow is absolutely fine. Visibly relieved, Skipton sat down. Alan nodded to Dom, another of his lieutenants. Doms first blow caught Skipton on the side of the face, the crunch echoing around the pub. Dom drove his fist again and again into Skiptons bloodied face before dragging him out of the door. Alan turned back to me, all smiles as if nothing had happened. You were saying you like decent speed [amphetamine] well I guarantee youve never had anything like this before. He threw a bag of toxic-looking pink sludge on the table. The gooey consistency mean that it was close to pure. Go on, do a bit, Alan laughed. I got it just for you. What was I meant to do? Amphetamines were essential to my cover story. I was supposed to be an expert. I took a bit of the pink goo on my finger and knocked it back with a slug of beer. No no no take a f****** proper hit. Its on me. Alan was enjoying this. There was no option. I took a massive lump and slammed it down. An awful chemical heat rose from my kidneys, followed by an unbearable dryness of the eyeballs. My heart started to pound like a pneumatic drill. Phil got me out of there as fast he could without looking suspicious. I didnt sleep for three days. Thankfully, Alan never put me in that position again. The bust was about to go down and Alan was the primary target. Phil and I sat at our usual table and watched Alan as he walked in. The door flew open and 30 hard- as-nails cops in full body armour burst in. It was pandemonium. The main drug stash in the back room was thrown open, and many arrests made. But there was no Alan, who slipped right out the back. After months of dangerous work, I was fuming. How could this happen? I asked my boss. Either hes got someone in this department in which case youd have been dead months ago, he said. Or hes working for another agency. Could be Regional Crime Squad, could be National, could be MI5. Well never know... Not being able to talk to anyone about what I did was difficult, and as time went by I paid the price. The mental cracks were starting to appear. Id walk to the front door of the home I shared with my wife Sam and our two children and have to pretend I had just had a completely normal day at work. Sam and I had started to argue a lot, and when we were fighting I would suddenly remember a violent incident with a gangster or a villain threatening me. I struggled to sleep and started drinking more than I should. Many of the gangs I faced committed horrific crimes and I take pride in having held them to account. My drugs investigations put people in prison for a total of well over 1,000 years. For me, however, every single one is a year of wasted human potential. I havent gone soft, but after 14 years undercover, living with dealers, addicts and gangsters, I know their motivations. The vast majority of people in the drugs trade are not as many police officers believe inherently bad. Most believe their best option in life is to sell crack and heroin to a captive market. Some were capable of sickening violence, but they became that way through exposure to the drugs trade. I realised I wasnt part of a war on drugs but of an arms race. We used undercover tactics to send a whole generation of criminals to prison, which for them is a graduate school where they trade knowledge, streetcraft and intelligence. They figured out our tactics and responded by becoming more brutal. Its not just theory Ive watched with my own eyes the process by which the teenagers were transformed from schoolkids into hardened gangsters. The drugs war corrupts everything it touches. Addicts are criminalised and forced to become hostages to their dealers, gangsters are forced into depths of brutality they wouldnt otherwise stoop to. Most painful to me, it corrupts the police. Since leaving the force in 2011, Ive joined an organisation called LEAP Law Enforcement Against Prohibition which was founded in the USA in 2002. This is not a naive utopian movement. Were a bunch of cops and, when we say the war on drugs must end, it is based on experience and on deep, hard-headed analysis. Weve lived this and weve studied it. We know our business. One of the phrases I often hear is that the war on drugs should end because it is unwinnable. I disagree. The war on drugs is eminently winnable. All we have to do is consider the possibility of not confronting the issue of drugs as a war and instead choose a course that will spare future generations the awful harm that prohibition does. Believe me this is not a conclusion I have come to lightly and I know that it will seem controversial, particularly to the parents of young children. But this is from the heart: control and regulate the supply of narcotics and you deprive the vicious gangsters of the money that enables all their operations. At a stroke you allow some of the most vulnerable people in society to seek help for their addiction. And you allow the police to get back to doing the vitally important work they are actually trained for. Good Cop, Bad War, by Neil Woods, is published by Ebury Press, priced 14.99. Order your copy for 11.24 (25 per cent discount) at www.mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640 until September 11, 2016. A Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando, Florida, was diverted after a problem with an engine. Spokesman from the airlines, Chris Mainz, said the flight landed in Pensacola, Florida, around 9.40am Saturday. Mainz says there were no injuries to the 99 passengers and five crew members. A Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando was diverted after a problem with an engine. Spokesman from the airlines, Chris Mainz, said the flight landed in Pensacola, Florida, around 9.40am Saturday. The plane also sustained other damage to the fuselage (right) A Twitter user (left) captured the moment she and another passenger had to put on oxygen masks while in flight He says the plane is out of service and can't continue to Orlando and Southwest is trying to find other ways to get passengers there. A passenger on board the flight, who is also a Twitter user, captured the moment she and another passenger had to put on oxygen masks while in flight. She took several photos of the incident that show the Boeing's engine inlet completely torn away. The spokesman said the failure caused a depressurization of the cabin, according to the Wall Street Journal. A passenger on the plane told the Journal: 'There was the loud explosion but after that it was very controlled. Scary, but in control.' The passenger added that everyone 'cheered for the pilot when we landed safely'. The 'loud explosion' as described by a passenger left the engine's inlet (left) completely torn away. The jet's fuselage, front edge of the wing, horizontal tail stabilizer and winglet were also damaged The jet's fuselage, front edge of the wing, horizontal tail stabilizer and winglet were also damaged. Southwest Airlines has notified the National Transportation Safety Board and Mainz says the airline will inspect the damage when authorized. They will also work with the agency to determine the cause of the problem. A Boeing spokesman said in a statement to the Journal that it would serve as technical adviser for any inquiry. Jeremy Corbyns campaign mastermind has a property portfolio worth nearly 900,000 and works as a Labour councillor in Londons East End despite owning a marital home 70 miles away in Brighton. Rail union official Sam Tarry emerged as the new TV face of the embattled Labour leader last week when he denied claims that Mr Corbyn had lied about not being able to find a seat on one of Richard Bransons Virgin trains. Defiant Mr Tarry denounced Mr Branson as a tax exile and claimed the entrepreneur had done us a favour by highlighting Mr Corbyns vow to nationalise the railways. A Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed how Mr Tarry has combined a career as a hard-Left Labour activist, spin doctor, London councillor and pro-strike rail union official with a property portfolio and lives in Brighton A Mail on Sunday investigation reveals how Mr Tarry has combined a career as a hard-Left Labour activist, spin doctor, councillor and pro-strike rail union official with the more capitalist world of property, where he has enjoyed considerable success. Mr Tarry, who celebrates his 34th birthday today, was the subject of a police investigation in 2014 into allegations of electoral fraud when he stood successfully as a council candidate in Barking and Dagenham. Mr Tarry faced claims that he falsely stated he was living in Dagenham while in fact he was living in Brighton and renting out the London property. Under electoral law, a candidate must live in an area for 12 months before standing for election. Any breach can carry a jail sentence of up to six months. Mr Tarry was cleared and claimed he was the victim of a political smear campaign. Mr Tarrys current personal and professional living arrangements appear as unconventional as his political views. He married Julia Fozard, who works as a paediatrician in Brighton, earlier this summer a year after they bought a three-bedroom end-of-terrace home in the seaside town for 548,000. It is now worth an estimated 580,000. It is a 15-minute cycle ride from the station where trains to London take around an hour. The journey to Barking and Dagenham takes about 90 minutes by car. This is the second home of Sam Tarry where he lives with his wife Julia Fozard in Brighton Mr Tarry and his wifes other property is a three-bedroom Dagenham flat they bought for 199,495 in April 2011. It is now worth an estimated 319,000, with a potential rental value of 1,300 a month. Both of the couple are on the electoral register in Dagenham. Neither is on the roll for their marital home in Brighton. Under electoral law, a person should be registered at the address where they are permanently resident. To complicate matters further, a third adult, a woman, is on the electoral roll as living at the Dagenham flat. The electoral register shows constant changes in the occupants listed there. Mr Tarry and his future wife were on the register in 2013; Mr Tarry, but not his wife, was on it in 2014. This year, Mr Tarry and his wife are both on it, along with a new female occupant. Mr Tarry was the subject of a police investigation in 2014 into allegations of electoral fraud when it was claimed he falsely stated he was living in Dagenham while in fact he was living in Brighton and renting out the London property When the MoS visited the flat yesterday, Mr Tarry came to the door. Asked if he lived there, he said: Ive probably been here 20 nights out of the past 30. Pointing to his bedroom behind him, he said: Look, you can see my bedroom. When Ms Fozard was asked if her husband lived with her in Brighton, she said: I wish he did live here, but he doesnt. She declined to comment further. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by either of the couple. Mr Tarry is director of Corbyns bid to be re-elected as leader and a senior figure in Momentum, Corbyns hard-Left power base. He is also a paid national political officer for the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, one of three rail unions which have declared war on the Government by mounting strikes. RMT BOSS GIVES 'LITTLE S***' LONDON MAYOR BOTH BARRELS A boss at the rail union causing misery for tens of thousands of commuters across the South East launched a foul-mouthed attack on Sadiq Khan in a new round of bitter Labour infighting. Radical: Steven Hedley, in a Soviet-style hat, with assault rifle RMT Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley branded the London Mayor a careerist little s*** for urging Labour supporters to ditch Corbyn as leader in Labours elections. Hedley, who reportedly earns 76,613 a year in pay and benefits, wrote on Facebook after Khans decision to back Corbyns rival Owen Smith: The only surprise is that it took this long for the careerist little s*** to stab Corbyn in the back. Two years ago a photograph emerged of Hedley posing with an assault rifle and wearing a Soviet-style hat. Last night an RMT spokesman said: What individual members of the union post on their personal social media pages does not necessarily represent the agreed policy of the union. Advertisement Ellie Sparrow (pictured) was due to be flower girl at her grandmother's wedding in Mexico A five-year-old schoolgirl was left fighting for her life after her appendix burst on a dream holiday. Little Ellie Sparrow was due to be flower girl at her grandmother's Sue wedding in Mexico but was instead struck with a deadly illness. The family, from Norton, County Durham, were just four days into their trip when the youngster began to have stomach cramps. At first, her mother Sophie Whitfield, 23, put it down to a change of water but as the pain worsened, she knew something was wrong. A deposit of 2,000 was required before doctors could even assess Ellie, whose condition was starting to deteriorate. Blood tests and scans revealed emergency surgery was needed as by this time the youngster's appendix had burst. The family were faced with 30,000 of hospital bills and Ellie's dreams of being flower girl were crushed. Blood tests and scans revealed emergency surgery was needed as by this time the youngster's appendix had burst Ms Whitfield, a nursery assistant, said: 'She was cramping really bad so we took her to the doctor in the hotel who said she had symptoms of appendicitis. 'He said he couldn't be sure without a scan and so we were taken to hospital in an ambulance.' It was only after a nail-biting six-hour wait until the insurance company confirmed Ellie was covered, that the operation to remove her appendix went ahead. Grandmother Karen Whitfield was photographed with Ellie (left) and her sister Madeline (right) Ms Whitfield, who was sat at Ellie's bedside with her partner Chris and their youngest daughter Madeline, added: 'It was the worst time of our lives. 'All we wanted was for her to treated as soon as possible, but we had no other option but to wait. The family were pictured together after Ellie left hospital in Mexico 'We paid as much as we could up front while we were waiting for confirmation, but the whole situation was torture. It is a parent's worst fear.' After two hours in theatre, Ellie was moved to intensive care and was discharged two days later. But the nightmare continued as an infection saw Ellie rushed back to hospital where she was placed on a drip and given antibiotics. Ms Whitfield added: 'We couldn't believe this was happening to our little girl. 'She had already been through so much we honestly don't know how she managed to fight it.' Ms Whitfield said her partner and Madeline still went to the wedding in Mexico while she stayed with Ellie in the hospital. Britain's most notorious Islamist extremists were bankrolled by more than 1 million of taxpayers' money while waging their campaign of hate, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. A dozen supporters of Islamic State recruiter Anjem Choudary many of them now convicted terrorists or jihadis who are fighting in Syria or have died there were paid wages by a businessman who was handed huge sums of public money to run computer training courses in libraries and job centres. And now a judge has found that the man a close associate of Choudary's funnelled tens of thousands of pounds through front companies to key members of Choudary's banned terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM). A dozen supporters of Islamic State recruiter Anjem Choudary (pictured) were paid wages by a businessman who was handed huge sums of public money to run computer training courses in libraries and job centres His firms included an old-fashioned sweet shop in the East End of London, in whose basement the extremists would hold 'Sharia surgeries' and discuss their plans for murderous jihad. But, astonishingly, the businessman continued to receive grants from a Government agency nearly four years after his links to Choudary first became known. Many members of the gang he financed and provided a headquarters for are now behind bars or fighting for Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, including: Siddhartha Dhar, the IS executioner known as 'Jihadi Sid', who was employed as a printer maintenance technician for the training firm; His firms included an old-fashioned sweet shop in the East End of London (pictured), in whose basement the extremists would hold 'Sharia surgeries' and discuss their plans for murderous jihad Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Choudary's right-hand man, who is facing jail for supporting IS but once designed websites and did marketing; Brusthom Ziamani, serving a 22-year sentence for trying to kill a British police officer or serviceman, attended ALM talks underneath the sweet shop and was on its payroll; Trevor Brooks, behind bars for trying to reach Syria, was a 'hardworking' employee of the firm who 'even did overtime'. The businessman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was branded a terrorist funder by Ministers and had his bank accounts frozen after police and MI5 said he had enabled ALM 'to exist and grow by providing employment and meeting places under an apparent legitimate veil of a confectionery shop'. But he was never charged with any offence and has now won his appeal against the Treasury's freezing of his assets. Details of the astonishing state funding of Britain's most notorious terror group have only emerged in the High Court case he brought against the Government. The executioner: Siddhartha Dhar (left), 32, was an ALM leader and worked at Master Printers but is now an IS executioner in Syria. The lollipop jihadi: Trevor Brooks (right) was caught supposedly on his way to Syria just days after the Paris terror attacks Last night there was outrage that taxpayers' money had been used for as long as a decade to prop up Choudary's evil empire. Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz MP told the MoS last night he would demand answers from the Home Secretary over the case and said: 'This is a most disturbing state of affairs. 'It is incredible that so much Government money has been spent on an organisation that supports individuals engaged in such activities. 'The Government must ask for its money back from this company and there must be a full inquiry into this. I shall be writing to the Home Secretary asking for a full explanation.' Choudary, 49, is now facing ten years' jail for swearing allegiance to IS, having avoided prosecution for years even as his extremist groups were banned by the Government and his vile outbursts sparked outrage. The trained lawyer became notorious when ALM celebrated the 9/11 hijackers as the 'magnificent 19' and Choudary inspired a generation of British terrorists including Lee Rigby murderer Michael Adebolajo. But it has never been revealed until now that ALM was relying on Government money to stir up hate against Britain. The knifeman: Brusthom Ziamani (left) is serving 22 years for plotting to behead a soldier. The protester: Abdul Muhid (right) was jailed for his role in the Danish embassy demonstration According to the High Court judgment published last Friday, the businessman identified only as 'C' set up Best Training Solutions in 2001 and soon started getting Government grants to help people get jobs by giving them basic computer skills. It became 'very successful' and at one stage had a turnover of 1.4 million, employed some 40 people, operated four branches and ran partnerships with ten libraries and community centres as well as having 'a presence' in 20 Jobcentres. The judge, Mr Justice Cranston, said 95 per cent of its turnover came from public money. Choudary's associate 'C' also set up a printing firm called Master Printers and an old-fashioned sweet shop called Yummy Sweets, later known as Yummy Yummy, and kept them afloat by diverting at least 693,663 to their bank accounts from the state-funded Best Training. And according to the judgment, 12 of the sweet shop's 13 employees were members of ALM and many also had roles in the training firms. In addition, the cellar of a terraced building used by Master Printers and Yummy Yummy in East London became a key meeting place for the extremists. But even after Best Training's links to Choudary were exposed in 2011, its state funding continued.The The deputy: Mohammed Mizanur Rahman (left) is awaiting a lengthy jail term for inviting support for IS. The boxer: Anthony Small (right) was cleared last year of plotting to join IS Figures seen by this newspaper show the training firm received 1,187,883 of public money from the Skills Funding Agency between 2012 and 2014 alone. Eventually, in September 2014, police searched the associate's home and offices and arrested him along with ten other people on suspicion of terror offences. In the headquarters, officers found 'a list of Muslim prisoners, including some sentenced for terrorist offences' and an IS flag. When questioned by police, C 'denied knowledge of any of those items' and was not charged with any offence. However the High Court heard that a Detective Sergeant Collins believed that 'without C's support, ALM could not have functioned' at the New Road address. Police believed, according to the court judgment, that the associate 'was using substantial profits from Best Training to subsidise the failing enterprise Yummy Sweets, the employees of which were all members of ALM'. He had 'enabled the group to exist and grow by providing employment and meeting places under an apparent legitimate veil of a confectionery shop'. The convert: Simon Keeler, 44, (pictured) a builder at Yummy Sweets, was previously convicted of terror fundraising As a result, C was designated under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Act 2010 in February 2015. But a judge has now allowed his appeal because C claims he no longer has any money with which to fund terrorism. The MoS knows the identity of C, who declined to comment on the judgment yesterday. A Skills Funding Agency spokesman said it was made aware in 2014 that the police were investigating Best Training. A disabled kindergarten pupil was sexually assaulted in a school toilet after four boys asked her to 'play a game'. During the November 2013 incident at an Illawarra region school, two boys stood guard while two others assaulted her, stuffing toilet paper into her mouth to muffle her screams for her mother. The attack was uncovered after the mentally and physically disabled girl came back to class after the break-time attack with her uniform inside out, according to The Daily Telegraph. A disabled six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in a school toilet after four boys asked her to 'play a game' (stock image) According to police, two of the boys were aged five and nine, while the girl's mother said her daughter had identified four boys aged nine to 11. She was supposed to be in a special needs playground - as her mother had directed school staff, she said - but was instead in the mainstream one when she was targeted. The incident was recently revealed after the six-year-old's mother chose to sue the Department of Education over the incident. It had devastated her daughter and family, leaving the girl 'suffering from nightmares and flashbacks all the time. The stress is insurmountable'. A group of four boys, allegedly aged between five - 11, were said to be involved in the incident (stock image) Shine Lawyers abuse law partner Lisa Flynn was quoted by The Daily Telegraph: 'This happened because of the schools failure to not only properly supervise students in their care, but also respond appropriately when reports of assaults were made'. The incident with the girl had been referred to the Department of Family and Community Services and police, a Department of Education spokesman said. Police said due to the age of the boys allegedly involved, no police action would be taken. According to the Telegraph, it's not the only alleged sexual assault at the school. Three others were allegedly to have occurred, it was reported. Texas Death Row, Livingston, Texas Terri Been was being interviewed by a reporter inside a Whataburger restaurant in East Texas on the afternoon of August 19 when the text came in: Her brother, Jeff Wood, on death row for his alleged involvement as an accomplice in the 1996 murder of his friend, and facing imminent execution, had been granted a stay. She read the text sent by Wood's attorney twice before dialing him up. "Are you serious?" she asked. It had been a long and emotionally taxing day: Been and her husband, her parents, Wood's daughter, and another friend had traveled to Huntsville, Texas, the location of the state's execution chamber, for the first of several 8-hour visits with Wood in anticipation that he would be executed sometime after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24. The news from the lawyer, Jared Tyler, was a serious relief. "I consider it a miracle," she told The Intercept. "He's stopped Texas from killing my brother." That afternoon the state's highest criminal court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, agreed with Tyler that a state district court should determine whether the punishment hearing portion of Wood's 1998 trial was infected by junk science and misleading testimony offered by the notorious Dr. James Grigson. If the district court agrees that it was tainted, Wood could get a new hearing, and a chance to get off of death row. Grigson, who died in 2004, was known even among peers in the psychiatric community as "Dr. Death" for routinely offering scientifically unsupportable testimony that helped to send defendants to death row in a number of capital cases. He was expelled from the American Psychiatric Association and its Texas counterpart prior to testifying in Wood's case, where he opined that unless sentenced to die Wood would continue to be violent, a determination he made without ever examining Wood. But the court majority sidestepped - at least for now - the biggest question in Wood's case: Is he legally eligible for the death penalty? That prompted a strongly worded opinion from one of the court's 9 jurists, Elsa Alcala, who for at least the 2nd time this year has called into question whether Texas' death system itself is constitutional - an unusual stance for a jurist on such a conservative and notoriously pro-death penalty court in the state with the nation's most active execution chamber. Indeed, Alcala has been airing concerns that have not been expressed in any meaningful way by any member of that court in nearly 2 decades. Wood, she wrote, "may be actually innocent of the death penalty because he may be categorically ineligible for that punishment." An Unconstitutional Sentence Wood is on death row even though he has never killed anyone. He was convicted and sentenced to die for the January 2, 1996, robbery of a convenience store that ended with the shooting death of his friend Kriss Keeran, who worked at the store. But it was another man, Danny Reneau, who entered the store armed, intending to rob the place, and who shot Keeran. Wood, Reneau, Keeran and another store employee had planned an inside-job robbery for the previous day, but the plan had been aborted. Wood said he had no idea that Reneau intended to rob the store that day, and certainly had no idea that Reneau would kill Keeran. After the murder, Wood admits that he did help Reneau steal money from the store, along with a surveillance videotape, but says he did so only after Reneau threatened to harm his daughter. But a quirk of Texas law allows the state to seek the death penalty against a defendant who never killed or intended to kill anyone. Known as the law of parties, the law posits that if conspirators plan to commit 1 crime - in this case a robbery - but in the course of events someone ends up committing another crime (such as a murder) all parties are liable for the crime committed regardless of their individual intent, under the notion that everyone should have anticipated that the crime committed would occur. Advocates and lawyers argue that Wood's impending execution would violate the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. It is an argument that would appear to be in line with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which holds that a sentence must be proportional to the crime committed. In 2 cases involving parties to a planned crime that ended in murder, the court determined that the death penalty would be unconstitutional when a person lacked either the intent to kill or failed to exhibit a clear "reckless indifference" to human life. No court has ever considered whether Wood's sentence was proportionate to his crime. Although Tyler finally raised the question directly in Wood's most recent appeal, in staying the execution last week the Court of Criminal Appeals declined to ask the lower court to address the issue - except for Alcala, who opined in favor of addressing the question head on. "Perhaps one might suggest that I should not concern myself with the fact that applicant's death sentence appears to be unconstitutional under [Supreme Court precedent] because [Wood] should have raised this claim at some earlier stage of his post-conviction challenges and he is now procedurally barred from raising this challenge," she wrote. "I, however, would disagree with that suggestion." It was the latest in a string of opinions by the conservative jurist questioning the legality of the death penalty and the approach of her colleagues to affirming death sentences. Alcala, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, has questioned her colleagues' reluctance to allow inmates to present evidence challenging the Texas system as racist and out-of-step with a nation that is moving away from the death penalty. She has written strongly-worded dissents in two notable cases, involving the question of whether racially discriminatory testimony and poor lawyering condemned Duane Buck to die, and in another urging her colleagues to act to "uphold the federal Constitution" by setting up a modern and fair system for determining which defendants are barred from execution because of their intellectual disability. In the absence of a legislative standard, the court set up its own scheme for determining cognitive disability, a standard based on the mental abilities of the character Lennie from John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. The level of skepticism Alcala has expressed regarding the state's death penalty scheme - and her colleagues' role in maintaining the status quo - hasn't really been seen in Texas since Republicans took over the court in its entirety nearly 2 decades ago. As conservative jurists came to power in the 1990s, a waning contingent of Democratic judges held on, including Judge Charlie Baird, now a defense attorney in private practice in Austin. Baird said he and his colleagues would regularly dissent from the majority's rubber-stamping of death convictions. In 1996 Baird authored a dissent suggesting that Texas was not fulfilling its promise to the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of the 1976 opinion that reauthorized the death penalty. Texas had promised "we would interpret the statute fairly and apply the death penalty fairly," he recalled. "And I don't think we ever kept those promises." To be fair, other Republican judges have joined or written dissenting opinions in the intervening years, but none so clearly skeptical of the system as Alcala's - save for a literal swan song opinion by Judge Tom Price, who opined in 2014, just before retiring his seat, that the death penalty "should be abolished." Although Alcala hasn't uttered the same words, she nonetheless stands out even more than Price in 1 key way - her current term is up in 2018, meaning that speaking out could derail her chances to remain on the court in the future. In a profile published by Fusion, Alcala said it was "unlikely" that she'd run again, but also acknowledged that she has not made any definitive decision. Attorneys with considerable experience litigating capital cases before the Texas court say that they are encouraged by Alcala's opinions, but are nonetheless skeptical that her more moderate and thoughtful approach to considering death penalty cases would necessarily have any outwardly obvious effect on her colleagues. "I've been waiting and I haven't seen it. I just haven't seen it," said Keith Hampton, a veteran defense attorney who was behind the only successful bid to have a death sentence commuted by Perry during his 3-term tenure as the state's governor, during which time he presided over more executions than any other modern governor. Hampton said he could see Alcala's approach evolving in recent years, and believes now that she's "genuinely dedicated" to reform. "Clearly she's not playing to the crowd - because we're in Texas and there is no crowd for this here." In fact, Hampton worries that Alcala's writings and public posture may have given ammunition to any number of aggressive prosecutors who could try to force her recusal from considering appeals of their death cases. Bryce Benjet, a former lawyer with the nonprofit Texas Defender Service who now works for the Innocence Project, said it might be more significant that the concerns Alcala has expressed haven't "happened with more frequency" on the court. But what is especially noteworthy, he said, is that these concerns are coming from a former prosecutor for Harris County (which includes the city of Houston), a jurisdiction responsible for sending hundreds of defendants to death row, and the U.S. county responsible for the most executions since 1976. To Tyler, Wood's attorney, Alcala's views are more in line with those of the U.S. Supreme Court than with her colleagues. He notes that the Supreme Court has accepted for review 2 recent cases where she authored stern dissents - in the Buck case and in the case challenging the state's process for determining cognitive disabilities. And he said he believes the Supreme Court should take up Wood's case as well, to finally decide whether Wood's sentence is proportionate to his crime. In the meantime, Wood's family and supporters have attracted another contingent of unlikely supporters in the form of conservative state House members who have been airing their own concerns about whether Wood's sentence is proper. Ultra-conservative members have each spoken out about their concerns and have been trying to persuade the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbot to consider commuting Wood's sentence. "I believe the death penalty, and in some cases the law of parties, has a place. Human life, being made in the image of God, is very precious," East Texas state Representative David Simpson, wrote in a column published in the Dallas Morning News. "In the case of Wood, I have seen enough questions to warrant advocating that his life be spared. Ultimately, God will judge our actions, and as humans we make mistakes and our justice system is not perfect." | 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: theintercept.com, August 26, 2016 The distraught man, who has not seen his son for three years, said the boy (pictured) was 'brainwashed' by his mother, Sally Jones The father of a young boy taken to Syria by his British mother has spoken of his shock at seeing a video which apparently shows his son executing a captured prisoner. The distraught man, who has not seen his son for three years, said the boy was 'brainwashed' by his mother, Sally Jones, after being taken by her to join Islamic State. The 47-year-old mother of two, from Chatham, Kent, was declared one of the world's most wanted terrorists by the UN after she fled to Syria with her youngest son JoJo, then aged 10, in 2013. Now the father believes it may be his son in a chilling propaganda video released on Friday showing five boys murdering a group of captured Kurdish fighters. Last night the man, who has asked not to be named to protect his safety, said: 'He was brilliant, just a normal boy always chasing bugs, going down the park. I have had to block it out. It's been hard, we just have to carry on. It's disgusting he's been brainwashed.' Jones gave birth to JoJo in Kent in 2004 but split from his father shortly afterwards. She then converted to Islam. A friend of the father said: 'Sally would send him texts that were disgusting. She would threaten to take JoJo to Islamic rallies and leave him there. It was awful.' Jones gave birth to JoJo (second right holding weapon) in Kent in 2004 but split from his father shortly afterwards. She then converted to Islam After their split, Jones married an Islamic radical 25 years her junior, changed JoJo's name to Hamza, and the three of them fled to Syria. In the latest sickening nine-minute Islamic State video, the boy is called Abu Abdullah al-Britani. Al-Britani is a nom-de-guerre often used by terrorists from Britain. The other children are captioned as being from Egypt, Kurdistan, Tunisia and Uzbekistan. Wearing military fatigues and black bandanas, the boys point their handguns in the air before aiming them at the back of the heads of the captured hostages and firing. The friend of the father added: 'He was a happy boy, loving, caring, sensitive and a pleasure to be around. I'm angry at Sally for taking an innocent child who doesn't know right or wrong. Children can be easily manipulated. 'He's an innocent party and I want to know what makes a mother put her child in such a dangerous position.' According to the Quilliam Foundation anti-extremist organisation there are about 50 British-born children living in areas under IS control, although very few of them are believed to be white. Jihadi bride Sally Jones, pictured here in December 2004, fled the UK in 2014 along with her son JoJo, pictured here just days after his birth, where the pair converted to Islam After their split, Jones (pictured) married an Islamic radical 25 years her junior, changed JoJo's name to Hamza, and the three of them fled to Syria Jones played guitar in an all-girl rock band called Krunch in her 20s and had a boy, Jonathan, in her 30s. But according to neighbours, after the boy's father committed suicide, Jones moved into a two-bedroom terraced council house in Chatham, Kent. Neighbours said she had a series of transient relationships and became addicted to drugs. In 2013, she married Junaid Hussain, an Islamic radical and hacker 25 years her junior, and they took JoJo with them to Syria. He was killed in a US drone strike last year. In the months that followed, she posted chilling threats on social networking sites and posed for photos with an AK-47, dressed in black with her face veiled. Using the pseudonym Umm Hussain al-Britani, she said she wanted to behead Christians with a 'blunt knife' and praised Osama Bin Laden. The Foreign Office said it was aware of the video but was unable to comment further. Police in Telford, Shropshire have been accused of failing to follow up a 'Rotherham-style' abuse scandal in the town. In Rotherham around 1,400 girls, many of them under-age, were sexually abused over a 16 year period at the hands of men from the towns Pakistani community. Professor Alexis Jay, who led the inquiry into the Rotherham scandal, said girls as young as 11 were raped, tortured and even sold to other men. Telford, pictured, has a population of 155,000 and it is feared there could be 225 victims Now the Daily Mirror claims to have unearthed a similar child sex ring in the Midlands. It says reports of grooming in Telford were inputted into police computers wrongly and played down despite an earlier probe that led to seven men being jailed in 2012. This year, four men from one family and two women were jailed for a total of 104 years for sex crimes. One victim, who was targeted by paedophiles and forced to sleep with dozens of men, said: 'The police have betrayed the children of this town for a second time. Arshid Hussain (in a wheelchair, being pushed by a relative) arriving at his trial at Crown Court. Hussain, one of the ringleaders of the Rotherham abuse scandal, was jailed for 35 years earlier this year 'I dread to think how many victims there have been over the years it wouldn't surprise me if the offending was on the same scale as Rotherham. 'It has been going on for at least two decades. When will it stop?' West Mercia Police have admitted errors were made in the way detailed reports had from street pastors on night patrol had been handled by police. Some of the street pastors had witnessed teenagers being sold drugs at under-age parties and gangs of men grooming intoxicated children. 'It has been going on for at least two decades. When will it stop?' We attended discos in licensed premises on several occasions and witnessed older men circling the venue in cars. We also saw three men in their 20s attempt to gain entry to one venue. They sped off after spotting the street pastors, who alerted police immediately. The victim added: 'Child safety should be the most important thing and we feel let down by the way evidence has been treated. It is clear there is still a culture of exploitation.' There are fears that child sex abuse in Telford (left) is on the same scale as that discovered in Rotherham (right) The Reverend Keith Osmund-Smith, who coordinates the street pastor scheme in the town, said: 'I was never quite sure the things we were reporting were resulting in any serious action. Our reports mainly related to drugs. 'It's part of child sexual exploitation to get children hooked on drugs. We have also walked girls away from cars containing adult males.' Police said 100 girls could have become victims in Telford between 2007 and 2009. Home Office figures show there were 15.1 child sex crimes reported per 10,000 residents in the year to September 2015. Telford's population is 155,000 meaning a potential 225 victims. Supt Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said communication had improved dramatically in recent years. Catherine Zeta Jones and her husband Michael Douglas have knocked 7m off the asking price for their Majorcan mansion As the home of two of Hollywoods biggest stars, boasting an expansive vineyard, cinema and stunning sea views, you might think that buyers would be queuing up for the chance to own it. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been forced to knock 7 million off the price of their Majorcan villa to attract a buyer. The 247-acre estate originally went on sale two years ago for 41 million but offers for 34 million are now being considered. A source at Sothebys Internationals Majorcan office, which is handling the sale, said: Our clients are very open to offers. They are willing to be flexible on price. I would suggest that although the property is on the market at a value of 48 million [41 million], our clients would possibly entertain offers around the 40 million [34 million] mark. Douglas bought the property known as SEstaca in 1989 for 2.7 million with his first wife Diandra Luker after becoming enchanted by its history. He spent 5.5 million renovating it, and the estate, in Valldemossa, now has a home cinema, wine cellar, outdoor pool, games room and library. The house and outlying buildings have 10,764 sq ft of floor space. Douglas and his first wife used to spent up to six months a year at SEstaca, where the Fatal Attraction star who called it his spiritual home would tend the vineyards and wander through olive and almond groves. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson were among the celebrities who joined the couple there for parties. But the property apparently holds less appeal to Douglass second wife, the Oscar-winning Welsh actress Ms Zeta-Jones. The mansion covers more than 200 acres, boasts a cinema, sea views and a vineyard. It is up for sale for 34million When they married in 2000, they visited the island for weeks on end and were often spotted dining at the upmarket La Residencia hotel, then owned by Sir Richard Branson, in the nearby village of Deia. But they have not been seen on the island since June 2014 when Douglas posted photos on Facebook of himself tending his vegetable patch and looking out to sea. At the same time Sothebys International began marketing the property for sale as ready to move in. The sale may have been prompted by Douglass age he is 72 next month and a bout of ill health. In 2010 he revealed he had throat cancer, although he has since beaten the disease. But this newspaper also understands the issues arising with the sale are likely to stem from an agreement Douglas made with his ex-wife, which allows her to use the home from July until December each year. He persuaded Ms Luker to put the house on the market in 2014 but reduced offers have only recently been considered. Potential buyers were told they might see it only by special arrangement next week. The Douglases are not the only celebrities struggling to sell properties. In Britain, Rowan Atkinson has reduced the price of his Grade II listed home in Oxfordshire from 2.9 million to 2.4 million. Theresa May will hold a 'back to school' Cabinet meeting this week during which she is expected to order feuding Brexit Ministers to end their turf wars. The meeting the first to be held by the Prime Minister at her Chequers country retreat will mark a sharp escalation in Mrs May's efforts to assure restless Eurosceptics in her party that she is on track to deliver an early exit from the EU and will not fob them off with 'Brexit-lite'. Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured today attending church with her husband Philip, is to host the first Cabinet meeting after the Summer recess at her country retreat, Chequers It comes just days before Mrs May flies to China for the G20 summit, where she intends to hail Britain's newly independent role on the world stage and use the negotiations with fellow leaders to lay the groundwork for post-EU trade deals. At Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, each Minister will be expected to outline in their own action plans how they will 'make the most of Brexit' in their departments by identifying the opportunities presented by the vote to leave. But, according to sources, she will also 'bang a few heads together' in an attempt to stop the feuding between Liam Fox, David Davis and Boris Johnson the Ministers who are on the frontline of the Brexit negotiations Dr Fox, the International Trade Secretary; Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary; and Mr Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, were already wary of each other before Mrs May handed them overlapping briefs in her first Cabinet. The three Ministers known as the Three Brexiteers have spent the summer jostling for position. The Three Brexiteers: Boris Johnson, left, Liam Fox, centre, and David Davis, right, are said to be feuding and jostling for position with their overlapping portfolios The simmering tensions which burst into the open when Dr Fox tried to prise responsibility for trade policy from Mr Johnson were not eased by Mrs May's decision to force Mr Johnson to share Chevening, the grace-and-favour house usually offered to the Foreign Secretary, with Dr Fox and Mr Davis. Mrs May is expected to tell the three Ministers who held a private clear-the-air meeting last week to try to resolve the tensions that it is time to 'get on with the job'. She will also encourage the three-quarters of Cabinet members who campaigned to stay in the EU to identify Brexit opportunities in their own departments. It will be an unusually high-profile week for the Prime Minister, whose first 50 days in Downing Street have been deliberately low-key It will be an unusually high-profile week for the Prime Minister, whose first 50 days in Downing Street have been deliberately low-key: at the end of the week she will enjoy her first meeting as PM with President Obama when she travels to the summit of world leaders in China. She is expected to use the opportunity to gauge their 'appetite for mutually beneficial trade relationships in the future' and to explore a 'new global role for the UK' after the vote to leave. A Downing Street source said that while Brexit will be 'top of the in-tray' for the Cabinet meeting, Mrs May also expected her Ministers to contribute to progress on social reform and a new strategy to boost British industry. On Friday the Prime Minister launched a review into how ethnic minorities and white working class people are treated by public services, attempting to 'shine a light on injustices' in the system. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith is leading the calls from the Tory backbenches for Mrs May to invoke Article 50 The first meeting of her new social reform committee will meet this Thursday, with racial disparity a high priority. In the Conservative Party morale has been boosted by new figures suggesting 50,000 people may have signed up to join since Mrs May took office. Before they headed off for their summer holidays, all Cabinet Ministers were told to identify 'the opportunities presented by Brexit in their respective areas of responsibility'. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith is leading the calls from the Tory backbenches for Mrs May to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty early in 2017 to trigger the two-year process towards Brexit. Mrs May reportedly believes 'Brexit means Brexit' and will not offer opponents to stand in the way of Britain's withdrawal. The news comes as senior figures in the government have complained about pro-EU civil servants complicating the work of new Brexit Ministers. Issues have been raised by government sources about officials in the Treasury and the Foreign Office for hindering the progress of the new Department for Exiting the European Union. There have been accusations of jealousy about the new department, which could offer huge opportunities for civil servants, with one source claiming 'If you do well there you have made your career,' reports The Sunday Telegraph. The source added some civil servants were also 'miffed' at at having to take the UK out of the EU, claiming: 'A lot of these people are institutionally wedded to the status quo.' Such claims cast doubt over the recent negative stories about the working of the new department, including one about staff having to hold meetings in a Starbucks. Another stated the department base was spread across two offices, while one source inaccurately claimed that only 40 officials made up the department, instead of the more than 150 currently in place. Brexit boost: Morale in Downing Street has been boosted by new figures suggesting that 50,000 people have joined the Conservative Party Sir Bob Kerslake, who served as head of the Civil Service under David Cameron, told The Sunday Telegraph the problems were likely down to 'frustrations' and 'teething issues', and that the readjustment has been a 'traumatic experience.' Although an aide to Brexit Minister David Davis said he was unaware of any problems, Conservative Steve Baker MP called for officials who frustrate any work to be promptly sacked. Fuel to the fire has been added by Lord Gus O'Donnell, the former Cabinet secretary, who said it is 'not inevitable' that the Britain will exit the EU due to the length of time the leaving negotiations will take. The peer said if the EU reforms before Mrs May has begun the two year exit process the UK could reconsider its options. Lord O'Donnel told Radio 4: 'The key for Government is to have a strategic plan to say what kind of UK we want. 'What is our place in the world? What are we trying to achieve in these negotiations? Iconic rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down almost 20 years ago, but fans believe a new photograph proves he is actually alive and well. Conspiracy theorists have long believed that life goes on for the rapper who was shot at the age of 25 on September 7, 1996, in Las Vegas. The latest 'proof' that the rapper is not dead is a selfie included in a YouTube video allegedly showing Tupac - or a man who looks similar to him. Fans claim this picture taken in 2015 is a selfie of rapper Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996 'Did you saw (sic) this - it is Tupac guys 100 per cent same eyebrows and lips,' the video showing the 'new' picture claims. In the picture, a man is wearing a red bandana and a blue zip-up jacket. He also has a goatee and looks like Tupac. Subtitles in the video allege the picture was taken in in 2015 on a phone 'made in 2011'. The clip has been watched more than 1.4 million times and viewers were quick to share their opinions. The video claims the 'selfie' of Tupac was taken on an iPhone, and compares the person in it to the rapper (pictured) 'I know everyone wants him to come back but he is dead,' one person wrote. 'Anybody who claims this guy is still alive is a... idiot. You can't hide in todays (sic) electronic day and age... stop drinking the conspiracy kool-aid you half-wits,' another said. 'He alive,' another fan said simply. There have been many conspiracies about whether Tupac (pictured performing in March 1994) faked his death and is still alive In 2012, former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight (right) added to the conspiracy by suggesting Tupac (left) is still alive One of the most popular conspiracy theories is that the rapper was sick of having all eyes on him, and faked his death before moving to Cuba. In 2012, former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight added to the conspiracy by suggesting Tupac is still alive. Knight said he never saw the artist's body following his death, despite being there on the night of the deadly shooting. Tupac (right, pictured with fellow rapper Snoop Dogg) was just 25 years old when he was shot dead in Las Vegas 'Maybe the question is, Pac's not really dead. Pac's somewhere else,' he said during a radio interview. Other 'new' pictures of the rapper have emerged in the past, however they have been proven to be of other people or edited. International Development Secretary Priti Patel is to cut spending on traditional aid projects and use the money to help promote 'national security and the national interest' The Mail on Sunday's campaign to tackle the UK's bloated foreign aid budget scored a massive victory last night when the Government decided that tens of millions of pounds can be diverted to fund the war on terror. In a radical break with the David Cameron era, new International Development Secretary Priti Patel is to cut spending on traditional aid projects and use the money to help promote 'national security and the national interest'. It could lead to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon handing to Ms Patel his responsibility for funding British troops combating Islamic insurgencies in global hotspots freeing up more of his resources for frontline troops. The move is a major U-turn and comes after The Mail on Sunday and its readers protested against wasteful and corrupt aid projects. During our campaign, supported by more than 235,000 readers who signed a petition to force a Commons debate, we exposed handouts to Palestinian terrorists, how North Korean officials were flown to Britain for English lessons and how music teachers were sent around the world to teach children to sing. And we demanded an end to the UK's commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid each year, which would see the aid budget spiral to 16 billion by 2020. Last night, confirming the dramatic shift, a source close to Ms Patel told The Mail on Sunday: 'We have been very clear that Britain will keep its promises to help the world's poorest while delivering in the interests of British taxpayers. 'Following the vote to leave the European Union, British aid and the expertise it provides will work to complement our trade relations and our security.' Senior Conservative MP Graham Brady, the chairman of the party's backbench 1922 Committee, welcomed the change of emphasis. Shocking: The Mail On Sunday's revelation that Palestinian terrorists get cash handouts from taxpayer Profligate: We report how UK overspent its already huge aid budget by nearly 200million He said: 'It is right that foreign aid spending should concentrate on both the most pressing need abroad and on those areas which can bring most benefit to Britain's national interest'. Ms Patel, who is expected to outline her plans in a keynote speech in the autumn, was a provocative appointment by Prime Minister Theresa May: during the last Parliament, Ms Patel proposed scrapping the international development department completely and replacing it with a trade-focused body to help businesses invest in the developing world. Although Ms Patel is reluctant to start a war with the foreign aid lobby by ditching the 0.7 per cent figure, she is determined to spend the money in a way which more directly benefits the UK. An MP familiar with Ms Patel's thinking said: 'She knows people never swallowed Cameron's line that these billions going abroad were in any way helping UK PLC. Outrage: MoS leads the biggest e-petition in newspaper history to force a debate in parliament Black hole: Our story on African nations who receive billions to ease poverty, but spend it on space rockets 'From now on, the watchwords are national security and the national interest. If those bells don't ring, the projects will be scrapped'. Ms Patel is also keen to cut down on waste and inefficiencies and wants to make greater use of 'payment by results', under which aid grants would be withheld unless the money 'demonstrably changes lives' and in a way which clearly advantages the UK. Foreign Office sources say the example of the Dutch government is being studied. It has channelled its foreign aid money into non- combat, defence-related projects such as peacekeeping and funding ships to monitor migration flows. The FCO sources point to the 70 British troops sent to Somalia in May as part of a UN mission to counter Islamist militancy, which they suggest in future could be funded and controlled by Ms Patel out of the DFID budget. A further 300 troops were deployed to South Sudan the following month for similar work. The region is home to the Al Shabaab group, an Islamist militant group allied to Al Qaeda. Exposed: UN boss uses MoS to blow whistle on organisation's waste and obsession with celebrity Shameless: We tell how executives at private firms delivering aid earn six-figure salaries The move could lead to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon handing to Ms Patel his responsibility for funding British troops combating Islamic insurgencies in global hotspots freeing up more of his resources for frontline troops (file picture) At the time of the deployment, Mr Fallon said it showed the UK's 'determination to tackle terrorism wherever it rears its head'. Under strict overseas development rules, aid money cannot be channelled to troops engaged in combat. Ms Patel would have to negotiate the new arrangements with the Foreign Office to ensure they were compatible with international obligations. It is understood that when she announces her plans, she will be at pains to stress that DFID 'will not be an extension to the defence budget but act in conjunction with it'. Earlier this month it was claimed that British aid had funded a training base built by the Hamas terrorist group near the Gaza strip. Israel said money from British taxpayers had been funnelled to Hamas to build the base by a senior Palestinian official with World Vision, a major Christian charity that has been handed millions of pounds by DFID. Ms Patel says the Government will not consider any future funding for World Vision until it can prove the claims to be false. A health warning was issued last night over popular pavement fountains after high levels of bacteria were found in the water. Two sites were closed at Somerset House in London and Gloucester Park in Gloucestershire following an investigation by The Mail on Sunday. The fountains feature powerful jets of water which spring up from the ground. They have soared in popularity over recent years and are clearly adored by children during spells of hot weather. Somerset House in London and Gloucester Park in Gloucestershire have been closed because of its bacteria levels following an investigation by The Mail on Sunday But the bacteria in the water can cause diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and even pneumonia and as temperatures rise in spring and summer, so do bacteria levels. The Mail on Sunday collected water samples at five fountains last week as parts of the country basked in temperatures of 30C and families enjoyed the sunshine. Three London fountains were tested the Appearing Rooms Fountain, at the Southbank Centre; Fountain Court at Somerset House; and the Merchant Square fountain in Paddington. We also went to sites at the beach at Southend-on-Sea, and at Gloucester Park, Gloucestershire. There are no legal limits regarding safe water quality for these type of features, and none of the fountains we tested had broken any laws. All the operators insisted they regularly maintained their systems. But some believe they need to conform to standards set for public swimming pools. The water can cause diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and even pneumonia and as temperatures rise in spring and summer, so do bacteria levels The samples taken by The Mail on Sunday were sent to an accredited laboratory in Manchester where they were independently tested. The results were then analysed by Allen Wilson, a water quality expert and former president of the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers. Mr Wilson said: They represent a serious health hazard not only to users, but to anyone in the vicinity, due to windborne aerosol droplets. Magnus the Jeep driver, tour guide and volcanologist, has just explained that Hekla, Icelands largest volcano, could blow at any time. An eruption is, in fact, overdue. Given that he has just spent three hours driving us to within a pumice-throw of the summit, you might think hed have told us that before. The largest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajokull (pictured above), covers nine per cent of the country Er, how much warning do you get? I ask, hoping that I dont sound too pitiful. Magnus smiles knowingly. This is, of course, part of his routine and I am his willing stooge. The last eruption was in 2000, he says. From the first rumble to the first eruption? About 70 minutes. I look back at the vertiginous, ash-strewn track that brought us here and I cant be the only one to have images of a mad Fast And Furious-style descent, pursued by a landslide of molten lava. That Magnus would eventually triumph against nature in all its fury, no one has any doubt. Because Magnus is a hero. Gullfoss is a thrilling, thunderous waterfall in the canyon of the Hvita river and you can get right up to the edge Wonder of the world: Simon and his wife Hilary at Gullfoss Glacier during their trip to Iceland Arriving in Reykjavik for the start of our trip, I recall the DNA test I took a few years back (for a BBC feature rather than any police work) and my delight at being declared of Viking ancestry. Maybe Im going home. Maybe Ill feel at home in the land of my forefathers. As we enter our hotel, the receptionist smiles and opens her arms wide. Welcome! she cries. Has she instantly recognised one of her own? Perhaps not. As my wife Hilary points out, Icelanders are welcoming, helpful and generous hosts. Reykjavik is undeniably cool: coffee shops, record shops and thick woolly jumper shops are everywhere. At breakfast, the croissant and yogurt have an old record player and a pile of vinyl placed next to them and a sign which says: Please play me! We have a day to prepare ourselves for our travels around the country, so we stock up on coffee, music and woolly jumpers. Hekla (pictured), Icelands largest volcano, could blow at any time and an eruption is overdue In one store they are playing a more unusual tune which turns out to be Icelands national song. It seems that, with no pomp and very little ceremony, a new president has been installed, Icelands first for 20 years. Gudni Johannesson was a student at Warwick University. This is even better news not just my people but my university too. I have another coffee to celebrate. But coffee is expensive. In fact, everything is expensive. Assume 5 for a coffee, 14 for a paperback. This, combined with a tricky krona-to-pound calculation (divide the krona by 160), means it is quite easy to just give up and pay up. Stumping up 1,750 krona (about 11) will get you into the Saga Museum. All of Icelands ancient history is here. Where the Vatnajokull meets the sea is the magical glacial lake Jokulsarlon (pictured above) Lurid waxworks and a fascinating commentary tell stories of discovery, hardship and pouring molten lead down your enemys throat. If you have the stomach for it, you can then join the queue for hotdogs the only way to eat for under 20 a head. We give the Whales Of Iceland tour a miss (too expensive), and avoid the Penis Museum (didnt fancy the gift shop) and instead head out of town. Treats in Iceland often come with geothermal springs attached. We visit the Secret Lagoon at Fludir and find very hot pools, black gravel underfoot, and steam and sulphur in the air. These Icelanders really are the cleanest folk ever. Skin glowing, we get back in the car, but driving in Iceland can be tricky every turn in the road, every headland, every valley has a wish-I-wasnt-driving moment. Reykjavik (above) is undeniably cool: coffee shops, record shops and thick woolly jumper shops are everywhere Stunning waterfalls, ancient lava flows and snow-capped volcanoes produce so many gasps of wonder that even my Pokemon-hunting teen Joe puts down his phone. Gullfoss is an early contender for best day evs. A thrilling, thunderous waterfall in the canyon of the Hvita river, the path takes you right to its edge and you then grin manically as youre enveloped in a freezing spray. And then we meet Magnus. Once youve done a waterfall you obviously have to do a volcano, and Magnus is your man. He takes us past Eyjafjallajokull, whose eruption caused all those flight delays in 2010. We try to get its pronunciation right but in the end resort to the American networks lazy use of E15, which sounds more like a dermatological cream than a volcano. Stumping up 1,750 krona (about 11) will get you into the Saga Museum (pictured). All of Icelands ancient history is here Magnus is a showman but he has a lot to be showy about. The gradual climb up Hekla, watching the vegetation give way to lava and ash, becomes our new top-rated trip. But holiday passions are short-lived and within two days, even Hekla has been deposed. We take the long drive east to the largest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajokull. It covers nine per cent of the country and where it meets the sea, it becomes a magical place the glacial lake Jokulsarlon. It is one of Icelands many natural wonders, but on a sparklingly sunny day it is hard to imagine anywhere more breathtaking. And as a bonus, it keeps changing. Our boat is steered by Thorstone, an occasional pilot, carpenter, farmer and model, who negotiates a path through slow-moving icebergs. Some are a translucent blue, others pure white, some spliced with black ash stripes. Red sky at night: Heklas last eruption in 2000 (right). Left: The Icelandic capital Reykjavik One looks as ancient as the lake itself but Thorstone the wonder-man tells us it floated up from the deep just yesterday. He smiles his broad super-hero smile again and everyone knows they have become smitten with his ancient country. The food in Iceland is no great shakes, the price of everything is ridiculous and even with a willing heart and a good phrase book, the language is impossible. But get here before everyone else does because Iceland feels like a country that, as with an awakening volcano, is just beginning to erupt. And chaps, if you can grow a beard and rock a top-knot, you too can be a modern-day Viking. Everything will be OK, I tell myself, if I can just look towards the horizon. Stare out at peaceful, calming Lake Erie, and I can happily block out whats about to come a 215ft plunge towards earth on board Valravn, the new king of dive coasters. But its as Valravn enters its most horrifying point that the flaw in my plan becomes apparent. When the car is hurtling to earth, it is impossible to look out at the horizon. The Corkscrew (above) is one of the older rollercoasters at the theme park in Sandusky, Ohio Valravn is the latest in a series of utterly terrifying rides at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It bills itself as the rollercoaster capital of the world and with good reason. There are 17 rides crammed on to a spit jutting out into the lake, and most of them are absolute monsters. Valravn is the latest and most gruesome, and it smashes all manner of dive coaster records longest drop, fastest speed, most inversions, highest inversion. The climb before that first drop seems to go on for ever, while the twists and turns afterwards set the stomach churning and the heart racing. Valravn (left) is the latest in a series of utterly terrifying rides at Cedar Point, which is already home to a number of rides, including the The Millennium Force rollercoaster (right) But its difficult to whimper when theres a nine-year-old girl next to you screaming: This is awesome! Some of the older coasters at the park seem relatively tame and cosy by comparison. The Corkscrew, for example, would be a big deal elsewhere, but here its low loops are small-fry. So its no surprise that most battle-hardened visitors head for rides such as Top Thrill Dragster. It employs zero subtlety, firing riders up one side of a 400ft tower, then sending them hurtling back down at a 90-degree angle on the other side. And its at this point that the intrepid adventurer gives way to the inner coward whod prefer to take a soaking on the water rapids ride After a week in Cyprus, I came back smelling of roses. My clothes, my shoes, even my books were gently infused with the scent as a result of a bottle of rosewater breaking in my luggage. Still, it could have been worse: had I been in Cyprus a week earlier, I might have come back smelling like a donkey. Kourion theatre (pictured above), the greatest Greco-Roman site on the island, is built on a cliff beside the Mediterranean Flower power: Gathering petals for the production of rosewater in the village of Agros As a single traveller, I often plan my holidays around festivals. The weekend before I arrived in Cyprus, there had been a donkey festival in a village outside Limassol. Donkeys still roam wild on a peninsula in the north east of the island, but in the south they have largely been replaced for farm work by machines. One farmer, though, has accumulated 172 long-eared, pale-nosed beauties. Mares are used for milking, and he makes products under the inevitable brand name of Cleopatra. The blurb says that the milk is an anti-ageing agent, so had I gone to the festival I would have no doubt filled my suitcase with donkey soap and moisturisers. I stopped at the donkey farm on my way up to a mountain village. The arrival of spring, known as anthestiria, is celebrated across the island. Some large resorts have big parades but I headed for Agros, where a century ago a local teacher set up the Pupils Association for the Dissemination of the Rose Bush, with the aim of starting up rosewater production. The result today is that 25 acres near the village are covered with a blush of deep pink Damask roses. But the scent is very short-lived, and to make rosewater the plants have to be picked at dawn. So visitors are invited to get up a 5am and join the pickers. In truth, I didnt make it up the mountain until after dawn, but when I got there, the village street was full of people demonstrating the various uses for rose petals. There's plenty of culture to be found in Cyprus, including its Byzantine churches, and the monastery at Stavrovouni (above) One woman stirred a great vat of rose and honey soup, thickened with flour, which was surprisingly delicious, while a man showed how rosewater is distilled. I bought a large bottle and it was this that broke in my luggage. I went to Cyprus because a cousin had said how wonderful the wild flowers were. Even under the burning sun of early summer, wild cistus grew among the abandoned vineyards. I stayed halfway between Larnaca and Limassol at a delightful hotel called The Library. On my first day I drove to Kourion, the greatest Greco-Roman site on the island, built on a cliff beside the Mediterranean. Rich history: Stavrovouni Monastery (pictured above) in Larnaca is the highest on the island There is evidence of Neolithic man having lived here, but it is the Roman remains that are so stunning ochre pillars and walls that once enclosed numerous rooms and a bath complex. On another occasion I explored Byzantine churches, and the monastery at Stavrovouni, the highest in Cyprus. After all this driving I could have had a massage at my hotel as The Library is billed as a wellness retreat, but I settled for relaxing in the spa pool instead. If I had been staying longer, I would have probably moved on to the remote Lara Bay, reputedly one of the most beautiful in Cyprus, where turtles come to lay their eggs. As it was I returned satisfied that I had seen a very different side of Cyprus and I had the scent to prove it. S R Nathan S R Nathan, the longest serving president from 1999 to 2011 did not grant clemency to any death row inmates during his 2 terms as President. This is according to the Singapore Working Group on the Death Penalty (SWGDP) in its statement issued on the 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty last October. SWGDP stated, "Since Singapore's independence, only 7 clemencies have been granted (as at Oct 2015), with the last being exercised by the late President Ong Teng Cheong." It went on to reveal that of the 7 clemencies, 2 were granted in the term of President Benjamin Sheares, 1 under President Devan Nair, 3 under President Wee Kim Wee, and 1 under President Ong Teng Cheong. Presidential clemencies granted by past Presidents: -- Benjamin Sheares (1971-1981): 2 in 10 years -- Devan Nair (1981-1985): 1 in 4 years -- Wee Kim Wee (1985 -1993): 3 in 8 years -- Ong Teng Cheong (1993-1999): 1 in 6 years -- S R Nathan (1999 - 2011): 0 in 12 years The SWGDP is an advocacy group in Singapore which believes in giving convicted people a 2nd chance to live. It advocates for the abolishment of the death penalty in Singapore as well as commits to raising awareness on issues surrounding the death penalty. On its website, it said: Although we believe that everyone needs to take the responsibility for his or her mistakes and that no crime should go unpunished, we also believe that unjust and problematic laws and procedures need to be debated and revised. The death penalty is an irreversible punishment at the end of a process that is prone to human error, which means that it is all too possible that innocent lives will be taken away. And that is something that should not be allowed to happen. As at Oct 2015, the last clemency was granted by the late president Ong Teng Cheong in May 1998. He commuted Mr Mathavakannan Kalimuthu's death sentence to life imprisonment. He was 19 when he and 2 other men killed a gangster in 1996. After Nathan stepped down as President in 2011, he gave an interview to the media. During the interview, he was asked about granting presidential pardons during his 12-year term in office. He was asked if he found it difficult. "The constitution clearly lays it down that I have to act on the advice of the cabinet, and the cabinet acts on the advice of the Attorney-General," he said. "You have a right to question it... through the process, you determine whether all the facts have been taken into account, whether there's anything that needs special consideration." Upon further probing by a reporter from Yahoo, Nathan finally said, "Of course it's a difficult thing when it comes to the death penalty. It's a matter of conscience. That's the law... and you do your best to see that there is justice done." "You are in no position to contradict the submission when you have not heard the case," he continued. "You can't purely go on human emotions." "I have to ask the man up there to forgive me for what is done for the good of society." | 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: The Independent, August 27, 2016 Jennifer Garner has been seen visiting the gym rather often of late. And on Thursday, the fruits of her labour were on flattering display as she headed to dinner in a Los Angeles restaurant. The 44-year-old bared her knockout legs in denim cutoffs as she trod the pavement, before being spotted with her daughter Violet and a male friend at the valet stand. Mother-daughter plus one: On Thursday, Jennifer Garner was spotted taking her 10-year-old daughter Violet to dinner with a male friend Whoever the pal was, the Juno actress didn't appear to be dressed for a date with him. Black sunglasses pulled onto her minimally made-up face, she paired the somewhat baggy cutoffs shorts with a tartan shirt she casually half-tucked in. The shirt was unbuttoned over a white undershirt, which she matched with faded, well-worn white trainers. The Golden Globe-winner did glam up a bit with what appeared to be a gold watch as she carried a white package. Reunion: The 44-year-old brought all three of her and Ben Affleck's children around to Montana to celebrate his own 44th birthday, despite their marital separation Her 10-year-old eldest child was spotted with her at the stand with the male companion, who wore a simple midnight blue polo shirt to dinner. Violet and her younger siblings, 7-year-old Seraphina and 4-year-old Samuel, are all the result of Garner's 10-year marriage to Ben Affleck. Though they announced their split last June amid reports of his dalliance with the family's nanny, the divorce has yet to be finalised, and they've remained amicable co-parents. Working through: Though they announced their split last June, they've remained amicable co-parents In fact, so friendly is their relationship that the family spent weeks holidaying in Europe this summer, planning around the new Batman's London filming schedule for his forthcoming Justice League film. Last week, the family reunited to celebrate the Argo director's 44th birthday in Montana, where they keep a piedaterre. Afterward, Violet found herself on a patch of incredible luck when her father whisked her back to London to see Harry Potter And The Cursed Child and pose for photos with the cast, Margot Robbie and Darren Criss. With her gorgeous looks and acting talents, it's gotta be rare rising star Stephanie Sigman's ignored - but it happened. On the Netflix crime drama centered around drug lord Pablo Escobar, the Mexican-born beauty - who plays reporter/ Valeria Velez - was inexplicably NOT invited to the show's second season premiere party held Wednesday evening at Hollywood's ArcLight Cinemas. Show insiders told TMZ that the snub on the actress was not intentional, but rather driven by an 'out of sight, out of mind' dynamic, as she's not as much of a featured character in the show's second season as she was in its first (in which she appeared in nine episodes, with her character engaged in an affair with Escobar). Scroll below for video Extra, extra: Stephanie Sigman, seen here with Narcos co-star Wagner Moura, was miffed not being invited to the show's second season premiere party, but show insiders said it was an innocent oversight Unhappy camper: The actress vented on Instagram about the disheartening situation The brunette beauty on Thursday took to her Instagram account to vent about diss, posting an introspective picture of herself with the caption, 'When you've [worked] on a show for 2 years and they don't invite you to the premiere. #imsureitwillbeamazing @narcos @narcosnetflix #theshowbusiness.' Sigman, who's also been seen on The Bridge and American Crime, accompanied the message with an emoji of a hand making a peace sign. Sources close to Sigman told the outlet that she did not reach out to the show's producers in hopes of scoring a ticket onto the red carpet, as she figured her exclusion from the event was on purpose. Still smiling: Sigman stayed positive, taking in a concert overseas instead of walking the red carpet with the rest of the cast Natural beauty: Dressed down and makeup free, Sigman's amazing features shine through in this Instagram shot Strong cast: Damian Alcazar, Paulina Gaitan, Wagner Moura and Pedro Pascal posed together at a premiere party Wednesday for Narcos' second season; Alcazar, an award-winning veteran actor from Mexico, is slated to debut on the show in season two Dapper dudes: Pascal looked dapper after changing into a textured blue suit for this photo with co-star Boyd Holbrook To Sigman's credit, she didn't mope about the diss: According to posts on her Instagram account, the actress was visiting Ireland, as she posted shots from a college in Dublin, as well as a shot from the crowd of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Belfast concert held Wednesday night. While Sigman did not make the list, many of the show's main players, including Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal and Paulina Gaitan, were among those photographed at the premiere. The second season of Narcos premieres, in full, on Netflix at 12:01 a.m. PST September 2. Sleeper hit: The show has garnered strong reviews from critics in its biographical story of Colombian crime kingpin Pablo Escobar She was in Turks and Caicos for Kylie Jenner's 19th birthday earlier this month. And it seems Hailey Baldwin is still day dreaming of her days in paradise. The 19-year-old shared a throwback Instagram snap on Friday of herself clad in a mint green bikini as she rinsed herself off on a boat during Kylie's birthday trip. Wet and wild! Hailey Baldwin shared a throwback snap of herself rinsing herself off during Kylie Jenenr's birthday trip to Turks and Caicos on Friday The model had her eyes closed as she spritzed herself with a water hose while playing with her long, wet locks. The snap perfectly captured the tropical location in which it was taken, showing off the scenic shoreline and turquoise blue water. Kylie's star-studded 19th birthday took place on the beaches of Turks and Caicos earlier this month. The social media favourite was joined by her boyfriend Tyga, Hailey, Bella Hadid, sister Kendall Jenner, and her other gal pals. Cheeky! Baldwin put her posterior on display as her friend Bella Hadid playfully reached for it during their trip earlier this month Hailey is now back in United States, where she was spotted in the Hamptons on Friday chatting on her phone while clad in jean shorts, a T-shirt from Off-White and Vans. Aside from enjoying a bit of fun in the sun, Hailey has been enjoying a string of career successes this past summer. She was announced as the new face of Australian accessories company The Daily Edited last month, and announced last week she would be collaborating with ModelCo to launch a makeup line. Birthday love: The 19-year-old previously shared a snap of herself cradling birthday girl Kylie Jenner's face in her hands Ocean babes: Baldwin and Hadid struck a sultry pose upon their boat Guess also announced in July that Hailey would be starring in the brand's fall campaign, posing for several sizzling apparel ads alongside fellow models Emma Stern and Matt Trethe. The model recently revealed her style varies from low key to 'very chic.' 'My style kind of differs - sometimes I want to be a little dressed down, a little tomboy, sometimes I want to be dressed up and very chic and look proper,' Hailey explained to PeopleStyle. 'But I dont ever believe in overdoing it for day-to-day style. I would say my style is pretty simple, but still chic, hopefully. I just want to be relatable, but thats not a forced thing, its just staying who I am.' She's the busty blonde, known for her party-girl antics and failed marriage to businessman and medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten. And after filing bankruptcy in June with debts of $70,000, it appears Brynne Gordon (formerly Edelsten) is using the selling of skimpy dresses and G-strings bought by her 'obsessive' ex-husband to not only pay back her creditors, but also start afresh. 'They are reminders of a bad period in my life,' the 33-year-old shared with Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney, this week. Scroll down for video Moving on: Brynne Gordon (formerly Edelsten), 33, is using the selling of skimpy dresses and g-strings bought by her 'obsessive' ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten, to not only pay off her debt, but also start afresh 'To be honest I'm glad to be rid of them,' Brynne told the publication. 'They are reminders of a bad period in my life...Geoffrey was so obsessive, he was the one who wanted to buy the dresses for me. 'I would get one in every colour just to keep him happy,' she confessed. Revealing: Previous styles of dress worn by the US born-beauty have included daring thigh slits and cut-out detailing The advert on the shopping website can no longer be found, but had prices as low as $9, according to the publication. This is in stark contrast to the amount of money her former husband claimed he had lavished her with, during their four-year marriage. Speaking with Daily Mail Australia, Geoffrey shared: 'In the four years we were married, she's had a total of, if not more than, $4 million from me in clothes, jewellery and travel. No longer: Speaking with Daily Mail Australia, ex-husband Geoffrey, 73, shared, 'In the four years we were married, she's had a total of, if not more than, $4million from me in clothes, jewellery and travel' 'I bought her designer dresses...she was dripping in jewellery I bought her...she had it all, the 73-year-old continued. Since her marriage ended in early 2013, Brynne has focused on re-launching her career, and has even taken to wearing more demure clothing. She's set to star in Clubland, a reality show about Melbourne's wild nightlife scene. The US-born beauty has previously spoken about her experiences filming Clubland, having even admitted that she hardly remembers certain parts. Body confident: The reality TV star has flashed plenty of flesh in semi-sheer frocks while on the red carpet Speaking to Confidential, Brynne said: 'It was fun filming, what I remember of it. I'm sure there definitely will be parts of it where I will cringe, but everyone has those moments'. It is unclear as to whether Brynne was referring to the consumption of memory-altering substances when making the eyebrow-raising statements, or whether she simply meant to say that filming had taken place a long time ago. It comes after Brynne revealed to The Today Show's Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic that she doesn't 'remember some of the scenes' in the new series because thing were getting 'too wild.' Ample assets: The Sydney socialite has often been seen in a number of revealing outfits that highlighted her cleavage It's not the first time Brynne has tried her hand at reality TV - she briefly appeared on Dancing With The Stars Australia in 2011, placing fifth in the competition. She also starred in her own reality series Brynne: My Bedazzled Life in 2012, but the show was axed by Channel Seven after only six episodes. The show received a re-boot under the title of Brynne: My Bedazzled Diary three years later but the show was once again canned, this time after just five episodes. Clubland will appear on Network Tens ONE channel. He's undoubtedly on many people's dream dinner guest line-ups. And Elton John, 69, looked to be the life and soul of the party as he dined out with husband David Furnish, 53, and friends in Portofino, Italy, on Friday. The legendary musician stepped out in a black varsity jacket with metal-studded embellishments on the shoulders, which he wore over a black shirt. Scroll down for video Dinner date: Elton John, 69, and husband David Furnish, 53, stepped out for dinner in Portofino, Italy, on Friday night He teamed the items with a pair of white trousers and kept things coordinated with black and white kicks. In typically flamboyant style, he rocked an eye-catching bejewelled crucifix around his neck. The star continued the bling with a chunky silver bracelet and a statement ring. Famous friends: Neil Patrick Harris was one of the guests joining the couple for dinner Famed for his fashion: The legendary musician stepped out in a black varsity jacket with metal-studded embellishments on the shoulders, which he wore over a black shirt Dressed for the occasion: David wore a plain white tee under a pale grey blazer and finished his stylish ensemble with a loose floral scarf He walked to the eatery beside David, whose footwear and trousers perfectly matched Elton's. The filmmaker also wore a plain white tee under a pale grey blazer and finished his stylish ensemble with a loose, floral scarf. Joining the couple for dinner were American actors Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burkta, and Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera and wife Afef Jnifen. Life of luxury: As David and Elton strolled side by side around the harbour, which has long been popular with the rich and famous, the moon glistened on the surface of the water Sartorially in sync: Elton and David wore matching white trousers for the occasion Take a seat: The married couple had their pick of the seats upon arrival Having a blast: Plenty of laughs were shared over the course of the meal, with the atmosphere never straying from jubilant Pleasant conversation: The couples sat apart, presumably to encourage conversation across the group In good spirits: Elton looked content as he chatted to his friends Plenty of laughs were shared over the course of the meal, with the atmosphere never straying from jubilant. As David and Elton strolled side by side around the harbour, which has long been popular with the rich and famous, the moon glistened on the surface of the water. Earlier this month, the high-profile couple enjoyed a holiday on the French Riviera with their sons Zachary and Elijah. Sharing a secret? A female friend whispered into Elton's ear Getting on famously: Neil Patrick Harris entertained Elton while David Furnish spoke with David Burtka Star draw: Elton is one of ten artists to have signed up to Apple's iTunes Festival in London next month Despite being a mega-rich pop star, Elton has prided himself on raising his sons to know the value of money. In an interview with The Guardian in February, Elton said: 'They get 3 pocket money, but 1 is for charity, 1 is for saving and 1 is for spending, they get three coins and put them in separate jars.' She seems to have a taste for flashy apparel that accentuates her hourglass figure. But on Friday, Farrah Abraham went for a different approach, trading in the eye-catching ensembles for a tried-and-true LBD. The 25-year-old arrived to the Buffalo Wild Wings Celebrity MTV Video Music Awards Gifting Lounge in New York City, dressed to impress in a long-sleeved and modest number that cinched in at her waist and showed off her toned legs. A classic look! Farrah Abraham donned a classic LBD at the Buffalo Wild Wings Celebrity MTV Video Music Awards Gifting Lounge in New York on Friday Flashing a big bright smile, Farrah looked delighted as she posed up a storm with a pair of sunglasses featuring the MTV logo propped into her neckline. The Teen Mom star paired the summery black dress with a pair of wedge, platform sandals while adding a pop of colour with her bright red pedicure. Her light brunette locks were styled into bouncy curls with a side-swept bang. And, to bring out her radiant facial features, she topped off her complexion with bronze blush, mascara, and shimmering lips. Added extras! The Teen Mom star paired the summery black dress with a pair of wedge, platform sandals while adding a pop of colour with her bright red pedicure A star on MTV's Teen Mom series, Farrah is mother to seven-year-old daughter Sophia. However, the reality star has gotten flack for allowing her daughter to pose for photo shoots and wear make-up to school. This inevitably came up during her Allegedly podcast chat and Farrah was unapologetic. Specs appeal! The starlet flashed a peace sign as she wore the MTV branded sunglasses 'God bless her,' the reality star gushed about her daughter. 'Because you know what, when you're 18, and if you feel that you're vulnerable enough or your mother wasn't there or you don't have enough money in your bank account and you decide to do that, then that's your own choice.' 'I will say this: Don't ever criticize a parent for the discovery and the imagination of someone who is little. Forget makeup, I have bigger s**t to deal with in my family, when my daughter is wondering about how we die and what's death and where is her dad and where did he go.' Farrah has been raising Sophia as a single parent after the death of her Derek Underwood in a 2008 car crash when she was eight months pregnant. Her latest movie Kidnap appears to be one long anxiety trip. But Halle Berry looked quite carefree when she stepped out for some shopping in Los Angeles on Friday. The 50-year-old Monster's Ball star donned a simple, airy black spaghetti strap dress that fell to just above her knees for the outing. In a good mood: Halle Berry looked quite carefree when she stepped out for some shopping in Los Angeles on Friday The garment showed off the actress's shapely calves, and featured a trim of fuzzy tassels along the hem. She rounded out the casual ensemble with some minimalist black Ipanema with Starck sandals and a pair of purple-tinged aviator glasses. Her brunette tresses were allowed to messily cascade down past her shoulders, while the star looked quite make-up free other than some dark nude lipstick. Keeping it casual: The 50-year-old Monster's Ball star donned a simple, airy black spaghetti strap dress and black Ipanema with Starck sandals The Oscar winner appeared to be traveling light, and apparently opted to forgo even a purse in favor of a flashy burgundy phone case. She did apparently work up quite an appetite, as the star was spotted carrying some sizable bags of takeaway food while smiling. Of course it may have also been a meal for her two children, daughter Nahla, aged eight years, and son Maceo, aged two years. Looks like a hearty meal: She did apparently work up quite an appetite, as the star was spotted carrying some sizable bags of takeaway food while smiling Halle recently told USA Today how her experience with motherhood actually helped when she was preparing for her latest role as a distraught parent in Kidnap. The one time Bond girl said she was 'feeling fiery and determined' in accepting the role of the beleaguered parent, adding that the concept of the film 'struck a chord' with her. 'Being a parent, I understood this in a very visceral way. I play an ordinary mom forced to act in extraordinary ways,' she told the outlet about the role, adding, 'I got to put in a little of what Halle Berry would do in this situation. That was fun.' Justin Bieber made sure to pull out all the stops for his new lady love's 18th birthday. Sofia Richie - who celebrated the milestone occasion on Wednesday - was treated to a day of pampering and a romantic getaway by the 22-year-old singer. And the daughter of Lionel Richie even posted a Snapchat video of candles in the shape of a heart once she arrived at her exotic destination with Bieber. Scroll down for video Birthday babe: Sofia Richie - who turned 18 on Wednesday - was treated to a day of pampering and a romantic getaway by Justin Bieber on Friday The little sister of Nicole Richie shared an image of a dimly lit room which glowed with several flames. But before the young couple arrived at their secret destination, the Sorry hitmaker spent the afternoon with the model for a day of fun. After he grabbed the pair a quick bite on the run of Subway sandwiches, Bieber stepped his game up and swept Richie off to Barney's New York for a bit of retail therapy. Dropping dough! The 22-year-old singer treated the daughter of Lionel Richie to a shopping trip at Barney's New York in Los Angeles Inked: Before heading on board to catch their flight, Bieber accompanied Richie to get her very first tattoo Lunchtime lovefest! The Sorry hitmaker grabbed Subway sandwiches for him and Richie before they hopped on board the private jet Before heading on board to catch their flight, Bieber accompanied Richie to get her very first tattoo. After an entire day of running around Los Angeles, the young celebrities hopped on a private jet to an unknown location. Richie Snapchatted her famous pop star boyfriend running back and forth inside his private jet on Friday. 'Gettaway!' the 18-year-old aspiring designer captioned the silly clip. 'Mental!' The LA native and the Canadian 22-year-old - who confirmed their romance two weeks ago - were 'twinning' at Van Nuys Airport in matching grey and white comfy ensembles. Romantic: Richie posted a Snapchat image of candles in the shape of a heart once she arrived at her exotic unknown destination with Bieber Candlelit: The little sister of Nicole Richie shared an image of a dimly lit room which glowed with several flames 'Gettaway!' Sofia Richie Snapchatted her famous pop star boyfriend Justin Bieber running back and forth inside his private jet on Friday Richie scraped her outdated ombre bob back into a messy partial bun and rocked designer shades over her make-up free face. The Grammy winner gave his newly-legal squeeze an affectionate squeeze on her waist as they entered the aircraft together. On Wednesday, Justin was right by Sofia's side as she celebrated her 18th birthday at West Hollywood hotspot Doheny Room. The Cold Water crooner angrily deactivated his Instagram account August 16 after his 237M Beliebers bullied the 5ft6in model into disabling comments on her own account. The 18-year-old aspiring designer captioned the silly clip: 'Mental!' Jet setters: The LA native and the Canadian 22-year-old - who confirmed their romance two weeks ago - were 'twinning' at Van Nuys Airport in matching grey and white comfy ensembles Rolled out of bed? Richie scraped her outdated ombre bob back into a messy partial bun and rocked designer shades over her make-up free face PDA pair: The Grammy winner gave his newly-legal squeeze an affectionate squeeze on her waist as they entered the aircraft together 'They've run in the same circle for years,' a source told People last week. 'Sofia and Justin are basically on a love-fest right now, but it's virtually impossible where he's at in his life and career for anything to last with these girls. These girls all go crazy for him, but he's not settling down.' Perhaps Bieber and the biracial socialite were on their way to Manhattan to make their official red carpet debut as a couple at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. The Calvin Klein underwear model is nominated for three Moon Men trophies - video of the year and best pop video (for Sorry) as well as breakthrough long form video (for Purpose: The Movement). No longer a child: On Wednesday, Justin was right by Sofia's side as she celebrated her 18th birthday at West Hollywood hotspot Doheny Room Big Apple bound? Perhaps the Cold Water crooner and Sofia were on their way to Manhattan to make their official red carpet debut as a couple at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards However, Justin might skip the ceremony having declared awards shows 'fake' and 'hollow' in a since-deleted May 23 Instagram post. 'I don't feel good when I'm there nor after,' the tattoo-sleeved millennial wrote. 'These award shows seem so hollow. I get the premise is to award people for their accomplishments, but is it really? Because when I look in the audience I see a bunch of fake smiles so that when the camera hits them they look happy.' Bieber will next bring his 114-date Purpose World Tour for a two-night stand (September 8-9) at the Kopavogsbr Iceland Korinn Arena. Who will win? Bieber is nominated for three Moon Men trophies - video of the year and best pop video (for Sorry) as well as breakthrough long form video (for Purpose: The Movement) 'I don't feel good when I'm there nor after': However, Justin might skip the ceremony having declared awards shows 'fake' and 'hollow' in a since-deleted May 23 Instagram post (pictured May 22) Hiatus: The tattoo-sleeved millennial will next bring his 114-date Purpose World Tour for a two-night stand (September 8-9) at the Kopavogsbr Iceland Korinn Arena (pictured Sunday) Meanwhile, Richie - who's represented by Select Model Management - is currently the Bartoli choker brand ambassador. One of the two designers - stylist Chloe Bartoli - was Scott Disick's 'other woman,' and their Monaco canoodling session cost him his decade-long relationship with the mother of his three children, Kourtney Kardashian. The former Material Girl stunner also happens to be the nepotistically-privileged daughter of R&B legend Lionel Richie and his ex-wife #2 Diane Alexander. One campaign thus far: Meanwhile, Richie - who's represented by Select Model Management - is currently the Bartoli choker brand ambassador 'Love you so mucho!' One of the two designers - stylist Chloe Bartoli (L) - was Scott Disick's 'other woman,' and their Monaco canoodling session cost him his decade-long relationship with the mother of his three children, Kourtney Kardashian This star is ready to make her weekend a yummy one. Reese Witherspoon wrapped up her work week with plans to cook up a storm at home. The 40-year-old star was spotted leaving her office in Beverly Hills, California, on Friday afternoon with a couple of cookbooks tucked under her arm. Scroll down for video Fri-yum! Reese Witherspoon was spotted leaving her office in Beverly Hills, California, on Friday afternoon with a couple of cookbooks tucked under her arm With her husband Jim Toth in tow, the star looked very happy to be clocking off for the afternoon and was perhaps going to cook some Southern treats from Heather Earnhardt's Big Food Big Love cookbook, which she was carrying. Aside from a big smile, the actress also wore a carefully coordinated ensemble for her day at the office. The star stepped out in a navy skirt with a ruffled hemline which was conservative yet still allowed for Reese to show off her toned and tanned legs. Making sure to do a little self-promotion, the actress wore a floral print shirt from her own Draper James collection. Dinner time: The 40-year-old wrapped up her work week with plans to cook up a storm By her side: With her husband Jim Toth in tow, the star looked very happy to be clocking off for the afternoon Breaking from her blue colour scheme, the Walk The Line star wore a pair of suede pink pumps. She further accessorized the look with a Gucci GG Supreme handbag, which featured red handles and pink sides. The star may have been inspired to add some pink to her look after all the excitement about the possibility of her starring in a third Legally Blonde. Gorgeous gams: The star stepped out in a navy skirt with a ruffled hemline which was conservative yet still allowed for Reese to show off her toned and tanned legs Best advertisement: Making sure to do a little self-promotion, the actress wore a floral print shirt from her own Draper James collection On Thursday, during a Facebook Live session, the 40-year-old revealed there is a very real possibility that Elle Woods could be returning to the courtroom. The actress first starred as pink-loving lawyer Elle in 2001 and then again in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde in 2003. The star said a third movie has been discussed. Tickled pink: Breaking from her blue colour scheme, the Walk The Line star wore a pair of suede pink pumps and carried a Gucci handbag Loving her look: The Walk The Line star showed off her outfit to fans on Snapchat Flashback Friday: The actress found and old Polaroid of herself in 1998 film Pleasantville '[I] loved making Legally Blonde, because I love pink! It was really fun! 'A lot of people have asked me if we're going to make another Legally Blonde, and we're thinking about it.' Last year, the actress revealed writers had pitched some ideas but looks like she, along with the studio, are seriously looking at ways to bring Elle back. A real possibility: On Thursday, during a Facebook Live session, the 40-year-old revealed a third Legally Blonde may be in the works Fan favourite: The actress first starred as pink-loving lawyer Elle Woods in 2001 and then again in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde in 2003 Reese also would love to make sequel to another movie - but it remains a pipe dream at this stage. 'I love Sweet Home Alabama! We are not making a sequel that I know of, but if Disney wants to call me, I would happily make a Sweet Home Alabama 2!' The actress starred in the 2002 romantic comedy alongside Patrick Dempsey. She has never been shy to strip down for a saucy Snapchat video. And former Big Brother star Tully Smyth, 28, recently romantically linked to The Bachelor's Richie Strahan, was up to her old tricks on Saturday when she shared intimate images of herself taking a bath. Tully, who was staying at Sydney's Pier One hotel at the time, appeared completely naked in the sultry bath-time images, while making sure to obscure her modesty with clever posing and camera angles. Scroll down for video Sultry snaps! Big Brother star Tully Smyth, 28, shared intimate images of herself taking a bath on Saturday In one selfie, she was seen pouting at the camera with one hand covering her bust. The snap was simply captioned with: 'Bath time!!!' and an emoji of a bath tub. She also shared a video of her legs as she sat submerged in bathwater, accompanied with the cheeky caption: ' Would be rude not to have a bath in this bad boy'. Too much information? She shared a video of her legs as she sat submerged in bathwater, accompanied with the cheeky caption: ' Would be rude not to have a bath in this bad boy' Luxurious stay: She was enjoying her time at Sydney's Pier One hotel room Tully's posts come just days after her rumoured ex-boyfriend Richie Strahan enjoyed a chocolate-filled bath with Alex Nation on The Bachelor. The saucy scene became almost X-rated when Richie placed his crotch directly in Alex's face as he submerged himself completely in melted chocolate. According to body language expert, Perth's Millionare Matchmaker Louanne Ward, the scene spoke volumes about Richie's romantic dynamic with single-mother Alex. Coincidence? Tully's posts come just days after her rumoured ex-boyfriend Richie Strahan enjoyed a chocolate-filled bath with Alex Nation on The Bachelor 'Richie can afford to take risks like standing up in the bath with his crotch precariously close to her face- which was a very suggestive gesture to say the least,' noted Louanne after watching the steamy scene. 'Richie is very aware of how Alex feels and he is totally at ease around her because it would take something extreme for him to mess it up,' she added. Woah Nelly! The saucy scene became almost X-rated when Richie placed his crotch directly in Alex's face as he submerged himself completely in melted chocolate Fans also took to social media during the scene with damning messages about the overt sexual nature of the encounter. 'I feel like I'm watching an intro to a weird porno,' wrote Twitter user @brbkissed. And @thereafter tweeted: 'I feel like this bath situation is soft core porn' (sic). 'The Walls' Unit, Huntsville, Texas Ronaldo Ruiz was set to be executed on Aug. 31, but - as with the prior 6 scheduled executions in Texas that have been stayed or delayed - a Texas court ordered a stay of execution for him on Friday. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday halted the upcoming execution of Ronaldo Ruiz, who was set to be put to death on Aug. 31. Texas was set to execute Ruiz, a hit man in the 1992 murder of a 29-year-old woman. Ruiz, 43, was set to die by lethal injection on Aug. 31 after he was convicted in the murder-for-hire of Theresa Rodriguez. Ruiz would have become the 6th inmate to be executed in Texas in 2016. In his latest habeas corpus application, Ruiz raised questions about deficiency of his trial counsel and his initial habeas counsel, as well as questions about the constitutionality of executing him "over 2 decades after his conviction" - a matter the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly declined to consider. In the Court of Criminal Appeals' brief, unsigned order, the court restates Ruiz's claims and then concludes, "After reviewing applicant's writ application, we have determined that his execution should be stayed pending further order by this Court." The country's busiest death chamber has not carried out an execution in nearly 4 months. The past 6 scheduled executions in Texas - including Ruiz's previously scheduled July execution date - were stayed, delayed, or withdrawn for various reasons. This marks the longest period Texas has gone without killing inmates since 2014, when no executions took place for nearly 5 months amid furor over Oklahoma's botched execution of Clayton Lockett and legal challenges related to Texas' drug secrecy. Jason Clark, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), told BuzzFeed News prior to Friday's ruling in Ruiz's case that the agency was "not involved in setting or withdrawing execution dates." He added that the TDCJ "stands ready to carry out" executions. In a year already marked by fewer executions, Texas is the only state with executions scheduled for the remainder of 2016. Other active death penalty states are grappling with a variety of obstacles ranging from the effect of Supreme Court rulings earlier this year to drug shortages and the fallout from botched executions. Even in Texas, in August alone now, 3 scheduled executions have been stayed - while the date for another was changed. Ruiz was hired by 2 brothers, Mark Rodriguez and Michael Rodriguez, to kill Michael's wife Theresa for a life insurance scheme. Ruiz shot and killed Theresa in the couple's garage after following them home from a movie theater. The brothers paid Ruiz $2,000 for the murder. Ruiz was first scheduled to die in 2007, but a federal appeals court gave him a reprieve. His execution was then set for July 27 of this year after the US Supreme Court refused to review his case in May 2015. However, his execution was pushed to Aug. 31 because of the state's failure to sufficiently notify his counsel of his pending execution, Jennifer Moreno, an attorney at the Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic told BuzzFeed News. On Aug. 19, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from 5 death row inmates, including Ruiz, who demanded that the state retest its drugs before executing them. That case is now on appeal before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. | 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: BuzzFeed News, August 27, 2016 She's often flaunting her toned arms and chiselled abs in activewear and bikinis on social media. But Jodhi Meares kept her enviable figure under wraps as she headed out for a walk with her newly-rescued pooch Kova on Saturday. The 45-year-old beauty showed off her slender pins in a pair of paisley print tights and a navy blue sweater as she strolled through Sydney's Double Bay. Scroll down for video Saturday chic! Jodhi Meares sported a pair of bandana-print tights as she took her dog Kova for a walk in Double Bay Ditching heavy makeup for a natural look, the former model looked relaxed as she walked with Kova and a male friend. Jodhi stayed protected from the elements by sporting a white top underneath her sweater. The fashion designer accessorised with a chic pair of sunglasses and a silver watch for the outing. Trendy: The 45-year-old beauty kept her enviable figure under wraps in a blue jumper and a layered white top Her dog meanwhile, was sporting some fashionable gear of her own. The Siberian husky had a paisley print handkerchief wrapped around her neck and a cream-coloured leather leash. Jodhi's husband Nick Tsindos was absent from the weekend outing. The couple walked down the aisle in December but remained tight-lipped about their nuptials. Company: The activewear designer was joined by a male friend for the outing Speculation that the pair had tied the knot swirled after Jodhi changed her surname to Tsindos on social media. But confirmation only came months later when the activewear designer discussed her love life in Sunday Style. 'It was the last thing either of us was expecting at that time, but it was just one of those very magical things, and now we're married,' she told the magazine in April. With some of them costing thousands of dollars, Yves Saint Laurent purses are quite the splurge. And James Corden looked ready to splash some major cash when he was seen shopping for a new handbag from the designer in Beverly Hills on Friday. Likely the handbag isn't for him, but for his wife, Julia Carey. Spot of shopping: James Corden was spotted in Beverly Hills on Friday shopping for a new purse at Yves Saint Laurent - but the accessory likely isn't for him The couple will be celebrating their four year anniversary in just a matter of weeks. James had his eye on one chic black purse as he perused a giant display of various handbags. The Into The Woods actor held the accessory in his hands as he spoke with a man, who appeared to be a store employee, by his side. But it wasn't the only purse that caught Jame's eye, as the star also pointed towards a handbag of a similar style higher up on the shelf. Is this the one? James had his eye on one chic black designer purse as he perused a giant display of various handbags James himself was dressed casually yet sharply for the shopping trip. Clad in blue jeans, the star's look was smartened up with a dark blue polo shirt and multi-coloured sneakers. His black backpack topped off the relaxed look. Giving it a look: The Into The Woods actor held the accessory in his hands as he spoke with a man by his side What about that one? But it wasn't the only purse that caught his eye, as the star also pointed towards a handbag of a similar style higher up on the shelf James wed his wife Julia in a lavish ceremony held in Somerset on September 15, 2012. The couple have five-year-old son Max and daughter Carey, who turns two in October. James has openly credited all his success to Julia. Talking to Ross Kemp on ITV's Lorraine last week, he 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.' They will celebrate one year of marriage on November 21. And Sofia Vergara, 44, and Joe Manganiello, 39, looked happier than ever in photos the couple shared to Instagram on Friday. 'Afternoon tea with my wife' the hunky True Blood star captioned a cute selfie of the duo during their fun date. So in love! Joe Manganiello shared a cute selfie of himself and wife Sofia Vergara as they enjoyed an afternoon date on Friday Sofia also shared some photos where she nibbled on delicious looking appetizers. 'I dont know what u are but Im gonna have to eat u' she wrote alongside a photo of her eyeing up one of the treats. Alongside another snap of a tasty dish she captioned: 'You are too small for me,' 'I dont know what u are but Im gonna have to eat u' Sofia, 44, eyed up some of the small treats on offer Alongside another snap of a tasty dish she captioned: 'You are too small for me,' The Colombian beauty wears her hair straight and glossy in the selfie while Joe shows off a neatly trimmed salt and pepper beard. The couple coordinate in black for their afternoon tea date. The couple started dating just two years ago. So romantic: On Wednesday the Modern Family star uploaded a cute selfie of the pair taking a walk in the woods The Magic Mike actor proposed during a romantic Hawaiian vacation in December 2014 after a whirlwind six months. In November 2015 they tied the knot at The Breakers Palm Beach resort in Florida. Sofia has a 23-year-old son, Manolo, from her previous marriage to Joe Gonzalez. She recently lashed out at speculation about her changing looks in an essay titled We Can Do Better. And Renee Zellweger has once again addressed the issue of body image and notions of beauty while promoting her new film Bridget Jones's Baby. '[We are] made to believe that there's some value in meeting a social paradigm,' explained the 47-year-old actress in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald this week. '[We are] made to believe that there's some value in meeting a social paradigm': Renee Zellweger, 47, has once again addressed the issue of body image and notions of beauty while promoting her new film Bridget Jones's Baby 'It's been that way for centuries,' she continued. Renee, who has returned to the silver screen after a six-year hiatus, went on to add that Bridget represents a refreshing antithesis to such pressures. 'She reminds us that outside of [beauty] everybody has something to contribute. And everybody has appeal in what they are as individuals,' gushed the blonde show-woman. 'She reminds us that outside of [beauty] everybody has something to contribute', Renee, who has returned to the silver screen after a six-year hiatus, went on to add that Bridget represents a refreshing antithesis to such pressures Her comments come two years after the Chicago actress faced speculation that she had cosmetically altered her face. She was accused of having an eye-lift in October 2014 after making an appearance appeared on the red carpet at a Women in Hollywood event looking decidedly wrinkle-free. At the time she dismissed the speculation as 'silly'. Controversy: Her comments come two years after the Chicago actress faced speculation that she had cosmetically altered her face During an appearance on NBC's Today in March, she explained that she doesn't pay attention to what's being said or written about her. 'It's not really part of my life. It's part of the job, that I don't really experience except when I step into this arena' the Jerry Maguire beauty said. 'In my home I'm not aware of it. I don't do any kind of social media, so I don't see it. I like to have.... I guess you would call them, real experiences.' 'In my home I'm not aware of it': During an appearance on NBC's Today in March, she explained that she doesn't pay attention to what's being said or written about her Either she's a big Corey Hart fan or this star was hoping she could fool fans with a simple accessory. Heidi Klum tried - and failed - to go incognito by wearing a pair of sunglasses late at night. The 43-year-old and her large brood grabbed a bit to eat in Beverly Hills, California, on Friday evening. Cover up: Heidi Klum tried - and failed - to go incognito by wearing a pair of sunglasses late at night on Beverly Hills on Friday The busy America's Got Talent judge made Friday night family night at celebrity hotspot Mr. Chow Restaurant. For her night of family fun and Chinese food, the model stepped out in a attention grabbing look - despite trying to hide behind a pair of shades. Heidi wore a billowing purple top which was off-the-shoulder but featured long flowing sleeves. The model paired the top with light wash denim jeans with a distressed knee patch and undone hems. Family time: The busy America's Got Talent judge made Friday night family night at celebrity hotspot Mr. Chow Restaurant (pictured is Johan with Henry behind him and a family friend) Tan accessories were the order of the day with the star wearing a tan belt, matching platform heels and coordinating large handbag. The star did, whoever, rock two different types of accessories capable of turning heads - her sunglasses and also two complementary rings on THAT finger. It has long been speculated that Heidi and her toy boy love Vito Schnabel are more than just boyfriend and girlfriend, but neither have confirmed any wedding news. Can't miss her: For her night of family fun and Chinese food, the model stepped out in a attention grabbing look - despite trying to hide behind a pair of shades Going with the flow: Heidi wore a billowing purple top which was off-the-shoulder but featured long flowing sleeves and distressed jeans Added extras: Tan accessories were the order of the day with the star wearing a tan belt, matching platform heels and coordinating large handbag Heidi has been dating art dealer, 30, since March 2014. The pair have been virtually inseparable since their romance was revealed. While the star did rock sunglasses at night, she still managed to show off her natural beauty by skipping wearing makeup. Special bling? The star did, whoever, rock two different types of accessories capable of turning heads - her sunglasses and also two complementary rings on THAT finger Getting to enjoy a night with her family is no doubt always precious to the star. However, her busy schedule at the moment no doubt made the time together even more special. In addition to America's Got Talent, the star is also being kept very busy with Season 15 of Project Runway. They shared a romantic kiss as soon as she was evicted from the house. And it seems things were hotting up for lovebirds Lewis Bloor and Marnie Simpson as the Celebrity Big Brother contestants partied the night away on Friday. The Essex lad, 26, was caught having a cheeky feel of his girlfriend Marnie's derriere as they put on a saucy display at the Channel 5 show's after-party in London - before helping bundle the bleary-eyed star into a taxi home. Scroll down for video Touchy-feely: Lewis Bloor, 26, was caught having a cheeky feel of his girlfriend Marnie's derriere as they put on an intimate display at the Celebrity Big Brother after-party on Friday Calling it a night: However, their passionate PDA didn't last long since worse for wear Marnie was later spotted being helped into the backsear of a taxi Standing outside the studios, Lewis took the opportunity to have a quick feel of his Geordie girl, 24, through her skin-tight jumpsuit, as she threw her arms around his neck affectionately outside the studios. The pair, who embarked on their romance when they entered the house at the start of the month, looked more than happy to be reunited after a long seven days apart. Marnie appeared to lift up her beau's t-shirt to get a look at the man she has claimed may be 'the one', snuggling up to him. Lewis reciprocated the affection, looking down at her lovingly and stroking her hair while simultaneously drawing from a cigarette. Hot and heavy: Marnie Simpson, 24, appeared to lift up her beau's t-shirt to get a look at the man she has claimed may be 'the one', as she snuggled up to him Multi-tasking: Lewis reciprocated the affection, looking down at her lovingly and stroking her hair while simultaneously drawing from a cigarette Caught red-handed! The TOWIE hunk was then rather unfortunately spotted with his hands down his trousers as he laughed mischievously alongside the brunette Having agreed to not sleep together in the house on a previous episode, f rustrations perhaps were even running a little too high as they left the Channel 5 surveillance set. The TOWIE hunk was rather unfortunately spotted with his hands down his trousers as he laughed mischievously alongside the brunette. Lewis and Marnie's loved-up display comes after knowing each other for just 19 days - although they do share an agent. Just the two of us: The pair, who embarked on their romance when they entered the house at the start of the month, looked more than happy to be reunited after a long seven days apart Two hours later... The new lovers, but Marnie in particular, were spotted looking rather worse for wear as they left the Village Hotel in London, stumbling to their taxi rides home However, the cosy behaviour soon went a little pear-shaped as celebratory drinks began to flow. The new lovers, Marnie in particular, were spotted looking rather worse for wear as they left the Village Hotel in London, stumbling to their taxi rides home. Lewis could barely keep his eyes open as he dragged his girl through the crowds, carrying her stilettos which she had long discarded in his hands. Marnie meanwhile looked very out of sorts, an incredibly pained expression on her face as she stumbled barefoot alongside her man. Such a gentleman? Lewis could barely keep his eyes open as he dragged his girl through the crowds, carrying her stilettos in his hands Skin-tight: The reality star opted for a bodycon jumpsuit to hit the town One too many: Marnie looked a little out of sorts, a pained expression on her face as she stumbled barefoot alongside her man Things only went from bad to worse for the Geordie Shore star however, who is known for her drunken late-night displays. Clinging on to her manager, Marnie seemed unable to stand as she was assisted to her taxi. Her mentor was then seen bundling the Newcastle-born lass into the backseat of the car, where she subsequently appear to fall asleep. Going... Clinging on to her manager, Marnie seemed unable to stand as she was assisted to her taxi Going... Her mentor was then seen bundling the Newcastle-born lass into the backseat Gone! The Geordie subsequently appeared to fall asleep, her bare feet hanging out of the cab Bed-time: Ungracefully sprawled across the backseat in with her legs and arms splayed, the star was out for the count as she was escorted home Sprawled across the backseat in an unceremonious fashion with her legs and arms splayed, the star was then escorted home for an early night - seemingly separately to Lewis. It is clear that Marnie and Lewis certainly enjoyed their post-show celebrations with a number of drinks, after a long four-week stint in the famed Borehamwood mansion. Having embarked on a romance soon after meeting, the couple were known for their racy and explicit displays of sexual and naked natures, before Lewis was evicted last week. The pair seemed to be happy to have reunited earlier in the night, locking lips after Marnie was evicted in fourth place - eventually losing to Stephen Bear. Reunited: Marnie and Lewis locked lips as she was evicted from CBB on Friday Now that's a public display of affection! The pair ensured they kissed in full view of the crowd Leaving little to the imagination, the brunette beauty was determined to milk the occasion by going bra-less in a semi-sheer jumpsuit. Deftly displaying her assets, it gave onlookers quite an eyeful as she navigated the exit staircase and greeted Lewis. Wearing her hair in a rather interesting urban 'do, she added a pair of strappy heels to the mix. Get a room! Leaning over a railing to lock lips with Lewis, sharing a tender kiss Giddy! Marnie looked thrilled to be reunited with Lewis, who she has described as 'The One' Later, while discussing their romance, Marnie told Emma Willis: 'He was my best friend in there. The days were going so quick when I was with him. When he left I was depressed. I felt like I was going through a break up. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I felt. It turned into something a lot more deeper than that. I was so overwhelmed with how I was feeling for him, and I've never really felt like that.' Marnie admitted '100 per cent' that Lewis was the one and said she wanted to go on holiday with him now they were out of the show. Centre of attention: Leaving little to the imagination, the Geordie Shore star went braless in a semi-sheer jumpsuit Yep, we get it - you're in love! Deftly displaying her assets, it gave onlookers quite an eyeful as she navigated the exit staircase and greeted Lewis Going on to discuss her position in the final, she added: 'I can't believe it. I didn't take more than a week's worth of clothing. 'I think it's because all the negativity and hate I've had from Geordie Shore. I've never been a Geordie Shore favourite.' Not that she was the only one to discuss her experiences, of course. In her exit interview, Aubrey told Emma she found it 'intense' and 'unforgettable' inside the house. All smiles: The pair were certainly giddy when they caught up...after just a few days apart Mwah! The reality TV show pair couldn't get enough of one another as the cameras rolled She said: 'Everything in that house is draining. It's much smaller than it looks. If someone has anxiety, everyone has anxiety.' Regarding her feelings towards Bear, she explained: 'I've always felt consistently about Bear. I don't think he's a horrible person. He's a lot more difficult than anyone can realise. 'I think he's young at heart and will always be that way.' It's almost like they knew! Marnie and Lewis keep a keen eye on each other - and the media Later, while discussing their romance, Marnie told Emma Willis: 'He was my best friend in there. The days were going so quick when I was with him. When he left I was depressed'. She added: 'Frankie for me personally was one of the strongest people in the house so to come after him everyone should be thankful. 'I've never done anything like this. A few days in I thought, "how the hell am I going to manage this with a smile on my face?"' The flamboyant brother of pop star Ariana made quite the exit as he strutted his stuff down the spiral staircase to meet host Emma Willis. He told Emma: 'I made it to the finals which is incredible. That means there's room for improvement for me to do it again.' She's usually joined at the hip with her boyfriend Pete Wicks. But Megan McKenna enjoyed some fresh company in the form of her fans who stopped to have a chat with her at London's Euston Station on Friday. The 23-year-old reality star looked typically stylish in a matching sequinned jogger set, with her hair coiffed in a glamorous blow-dry. Scroll down for video Never a day off! Megan McKenna, 23, looked typically stylish in a matching sequinned jogger set and glamorous blow-dry at London's Euston Station on Friday The TOWIE star stayed true to herself with a heavy layer of perfectly applied make-up, while her tan was topped to perfection. And making sure she didn't falter when it came to her possessions, the brunette sensation balanced a Louis Vuitton bag on her shoulder. A glam pair of trainers provided the utmost comfort as she had a giggle with her adoring fans who couldn't quite believe their luck. And despite her happy-go-lucky nature, it was a different story for Megan and her other half Pete after they came to blows with TOWIE co-star Courtney Green in the crowd at V Festival last weekend. Meeting her idol! The reality star enjoyed some fresh company in the form of her fans who stopped to have a chat with her at London's Euston Station on Friday With the argument occurring amidst the gathering audience for David Guetta's set, a fellow festival-goer told The Sun: 'It looked really intense. 'Pete was really going in at her and defending his girlfriend Megan while she partied with the rest of the gang and left them to it. 'They had a really long stand-off and seemed to finally settle their differences after a good hour or so.' Pete was reportedly defending Megan over her clash with Chloe Meadows, who had betrayed his girlfriend by spending time with her enemies Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis, and accusing her of sleeping with the latter's ex-boyfriend Jake Hall. Battle: Megan and her other half Pete Wicks came to blows with TOWIE co-star Courtney Green in the crowd at V Festival last weekend The public disagreement between Pete and Courtney comes after Chloe and Megan awkwardly came face-to-face at Bobby Norris's circus-themed 30th birthday during TOWIE's season finale last week. However Megan later revealed that all had been resolved between the friends while at Hylands Park, just hours after Pete and Courtney's public spat. She told The Sun about her and Chloe's situation after V Festival, insisting: 'We're all sweet, everything is good between us.' She rose to fame as a radio personality before reinventing herself as an outspoken sex and dating columnist for Yahoo Be. And Mel Greig lived up to her raunchy new reputation over the weekend by posing for yet ANOTHER busty Instagram selfie. The 34-year-old, who encourages her readers to seduce men on Instagram instead of Tinder, proudly displayed her ample assets on Saturday. Scroll down for video On the prowl? Newly-single Mel Greig, who has penned a step-by-step guide on how to attract men on Instagram, flaunted her impressive chest on social media on Saturday 'Suns out guns out!' Mel wrote in the caption. The blonde TV star sent her fans into a frenzy with the racy snap, with one fan commenting: 'God damn I miss those boobs!' Mel could be hoping to attract some male suitors with her recent string of busty displays on social media. Because she has previously written a step-by-step guide on how to attract single men on Instagram. Tried and tested? The 34-year-old advises her readers to seek out single men on Instagram, 'like' their photos, and then send them a flirty private message The voluptuous vixen has certainly been enjoying her new role as a sex and dating columnist. She's already bragged about an 'empowering' one-night-stand and admitted to begging a male friend for his sperm in her Yahoo Be column. But while her latest gig has earned her some new fans, not everybody has enjoyed hearing the racy DJ boast about her sexual exploits - including her own sister. When asked what her friends and family think about her confessions, she told The Daily Edition: 'My sister's like, "Please, do you have to?''' Family affair: Mel Greig recently revealed that her sister isn't a fan of her raunchy new sex column for Yahoo Be She added: 'It's not the "Walk of shame". It's the "Walk of girl got game!"' To emphasize her point, the sassy Mel confidently snapped her fingers as she delivered the cheesy pun. The radio host also explained why she's lifting the lid on her sex life. 'I think we need to have these conversations,' mused the newly-minted sexpert. Sassy: 'It's not the walk of shame. It's the walk of girl got game!' she quipped Outspoken: Mel spoke to The Daily Edition on Friday about her racy dating column She continued: 'A lot of women are going through it, and if we don't start talking about it then they're going to feel more and more ashamed.' Newly-single Mel previously wrote about her recent one-night stand with a mystery man. Mel claimed she needed a good 'release' after separating from her husband Steve Pollock six months ago. 'I think we need to have these conversations': Mel has previously written about casual sex 'I felt so empowered!' Mel claimed her one-night-fling was 'empowering', having previously criticised dating app Tinder as 'superficial' While she refused to reveal the explicit details of the tryst, Mel said she felt 'so empowered' after her 'under-the-doona escapade.' In another column, she also confessed to drunkenly texting a male pal for his semen in a desperate bid to get pregnant. Mel has even told her readers 'the best way to get over a man is to get under a new one!' His life changed dramatically after finding the woman of his dreams on The Bachelor. And Sam Wood certainly seems to be enjoying his 'step-father' role to fiance Snezana Markoski's 11-year-old daughter Eve. Sam, 36, shared an Instagram photo from the family's trip to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat on Saturday, writing in the caption: 'Panning for gold with this little nugget.' Scroll down for video His golden girl! The Bachelor's Sam Wood seems to be enjoying his 'step-father' role to fiance Snezana Markoski's daughter Eve as they enjoyed a trip to Sovereign Hill, Ballarat on Saturday The former reality TV star wore a black sweater and flashed a smile to the camera before taking the selfie. Behind him, Eve playfully held up a shovel as they posed for a cheerful snap at the tourist hotspot. The pair were enjoying some bonding time as they panned for gold together, but Snezana was nowhere to be seen. Playful: Earlier this month, Sam shared an Instagram video of himself 'throwing' Eve into bed The hunky personal trainer has taken a hands-on approach to his new family role and has a fantastic relationship with Eve. Earlier this month, Sam shared a playful Instagram video of himself 'throwing' Eve into bed. 'Monday night shenanigans putting this one to bed,' he captioned the clip. Happily ever after: Sam and Snezana bought their Melbourne home in January for $1.4million after announcing the news of their engagement late last year Moving in: Sam revealed the family were moving to their new house at the start of July Sam and Snezana bought their Melbourne home in January for $1.4million after announcing the news of their engagement late last year. He revealed the family were moving to their new house in July. He wrote on Facebook: 'When you've spent all night cleaning the house as your fiance and her beautiful little girl are finally coming to live and you know it still isn't clean enough'. Sam and Snezana fell in love on The Bachelor in 2015. Until recently, Snezana was based in Perth. She's known for wearing stunning gowns and stylish jumpsuits on The Bachelor. But away from the reality TV series, Olena Khamula prefers casual comfort over designer attire. The 23-year-old wore ripped jeans and a shirt as she arrived at Sydney's Strand Arcade for her appointment at a bridal shop. Scroll down for video Keeping casual: Olena Khamula was spotted shopping in Sydney's Strand Arcade on Thursday Despite her breathtaking beauty, the Ukrainian fashion model looked like your average shopper on Thursday. She looked effortlessly chic in a pair of ankle boots, and slung a matching black handbag over her shoulder. Olena was also spotted carrying a large jacket before her visit to wedding dress boutique, Amy Taylor Collection. Simple: The 23-year-old looked casual yet stylish in a pair of ripped jeans and a plain shirt Celebrity: Despite her breathtaking beauty, the Ukrainian fashion model looked like your average shopper on Thursday She is one of the remaining seven women vying for the affections of Richie Strahan on The Bachelor. The last episode was filmed in Bali almost three months ago and the identity of the winner is yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, Olena and Richie shared a tense moment on Thursday's episode after she struggled to express her feelings. Could she be the winner? Olena is vying for the affections of Richie Strahan on The Bachelor Richie hinted he was losing interest because Olena wasn't opening up to him, but admitted she 'can't rush her feelings'. Meanwhile, Olena fought back tears as she confessed: 'Maybe I just need to trust you more'. The Bachelor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on Network Ten Mystery girl: The last episode was filmed in Bali almost three months ago and the identity of the winner is yet to be revealed She's portrayed many love stories on stage and screen. But according to new reports, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o may have found a happy ending of her own. The 12 Years A Slave actress, 33, has been dating GQ Style's Fashion Editor Mobolaji Dawodu for six months, according to Us Weekly. Scroll down for video New love? Lupita Nyong'o, 33, has been dating GQ Style's Fashion Editor Mobolaji Dawodu for six months, according to Us Weekly Claims of a romance emerged when a supposed pal of Mobolaji's revealed the relationship to the publication, saying they had been introduced 'through mutual friends of the fashion world'. The friend added that Mobolaji had 'discreetly told people they are dating'. The stylish journalist added fuel to the speculation thanks to his Instagram page, on which he has posted numerous photos of the pair together, with one dating up to 35 weeks ago. One selfie depicts the pair in a gloriously sunny holiday location, where they celebrated Christmas Eve together, according to the caption. Smitten? The pair have allegedly been introduced 'through mutual friends of the fashion world' Jetsetters: The award-winning actress and the fashion writer appear to have enjoyed a holiday together In another, the duo jokily posed stiffly side by side in a hotel room as they prepared to head to the 2016 Met Gala, with the stylish male writing to followers: 'About last night'. The most recent snap of all shows the pair in each other's arms, dressed in cute co-ordinating outfits as they seemingly enjoy a lazy Sunday together. With Lupita in a denim jacket and bright orange top, matching her rumoured beau's denim shirt and tangerine trousers, the pair seem the perfect match in both personality and interests, evidently sharing a passion for fashion. 'About last night': The stylish journalist added fuel to the speculation thanks to his Instagram page, on which he has posted numerous photos of the pair together Mobolaji has previous worked at Fader and Style.com, taking to his Instagram to document his projects with movie stars such as Jared Leto for the men's mag. Meanwhile Lupita has always expressed an interest in style in the past. As well as putting on endless show-stopping displays at red carpet events, she revealed to Vogue magazine that as a child in Nairobi: 'I read American, British, and a few African magazines. Then I would design my own clothes.' Coy: The friend then added that Mobolaji had 'discreetly' informed people that he and Lupita (above) were dating Judging by Mobolaji's Instagram, the new couple have managed to make time for each other despite Lupita's hectic schedule recently. She has just finished filming new Disney film Queen of Katwe, which follows Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy who finds great success at the Women's Chess Olympiads. The film was entirely shot in South Africa and Uganda, and is set to premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10. The Kenyan-born actress has also just wrapped promotion for Jon Favreau's blockbuster remake of The Jungle Book, in which she portrayed Raksha, a female Indian wolf who is Mowgli's adoptive mother. And now, after the release of the new Star Wars film in last year, Lupita is set to begin filming on its sequel. Playing a pirate and longtime friend of Han Solo and Chewbacca in the popular franchise, Lupita anticipates the Rian Johnson film's release on December 15. She doesn't shy away from posting loved-up snaps with her boyfriend. But Home And Away actress Pia Miller has taken things to another level donning matching denim outfits with beau Tyson Mullane and her eldest son Isaiah, 13. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the 32-year-old posted a shot of the trio in their identical outfits captioned: 'Denim for days'. Scroll down for video Good jeans! Home And Away actress Pia Miller shared an Instagram photo with her boyfriend Tyson Mullane and her son Isaiah in matching denim outfits The Chilean actress wore a denim jacket layered over a white T-shirt and paired with ripped jeans. She wore her brunette hair loosely and finished her casual chic look with sunglasses and a felted hat. Meanwhile, Tyson wore a similar jacket with a fluffy lining layered over a white top. He affectionately wrapped his arm around Isaiah's shoulders, who also opted for a similar outfit. Good with kids: Pia previously shared an Instagram photo declaring her boyfriend 'King of the kids' as he drove children around on a quad bike Blessed: Pia and Tyson recently enjoyed a weekend at Silvergum Stables near Wollongong Pia and Tyson recently enjoyed a weekend at Silvergum Stables near Wollongong with her family. The model and actress previously shared an Instagram snap declaring her boyfriend 'King of the kids' as he drove children around on a quad bike She is the proud mother to two sons from previous relationships, Isaiah and Lennox. She married ex-AFL player Brad Miller in 2007 but they announced their separation in October last year. True love: Pia confirmed her relationship with Tyson in February after months of speculation Pia has revealed the marriage breakdown was caused by her struggle to balance family life with work commitments. She was first pictured with film producer Tyson back in November - just weeks after her split from Brad. She confirmed their relationship via Instagram on Valentine's Day after months of speculation. She's recently been in the United States shooting a racy new charity calendar. And Melanie Sykes proved why she was picked to be the project's model on Saturday, as she showed off her sensational figure while holidaying in Mallorca. The gym bunny, 46, looked incredibly toned and tanned as she took to Instagram in a skimpy pink bikini which showed off her washboard abs and enviably ample cleavage. Scroll down for video Bikini babe: Melanie Sykes showed off her sensational figure while holidaying in Mallorca, on Saturday Beaming in the sun-kissed selfie, Mel looked in amazing shape for her 46 years in the pretty pink two-piece. Capturing her top half, Mel showcased her smooth, glowing complexion as well as a hint of her perky bust. In another busty bikini selfie, the beauty posed in a tiger print number with a beaming smile on her face. Happy! In another busty bikini selfie, the beauty posed in a tiger print number with a beaming smile on her face Age-defying: Mel looked in amazing shape for her 46 years in the pretty pink two-piece That's the life: Mel floated across the pool on a an inflatable blue cushion, carefully positioning herself so that she remained dry With more stomach on show, Mel showcased her sculpted stomach for her 63,000 followers to see, showing off her trim figure as a mother-of-two. Taking a well-deserved break, she floated across the pool on a an inflatable blue cushion, carefully positioning herself so that she remained dry. The fitness fanatic has been enjoying a break with her son and a close friend from shooting in Las Vegas for her new charity calendar. Giving fans a taste of what to expect from throughout her trip, the presenter has been taking to Instagram to show off her flawless physique. Posting in a hot pink bikini on Tuesday, Mel revealed tight abs and a tanned complexion after spending her first two days sunbathing ahead of the forthcoming charity shoot. Looking good: Her recent stay in the United States is devoted to shooting a racy new charity calendar, and Melanie Sykes gave fans a taste of what to expect in a social media post on Tuesday evening Crazy heat, she wrote in an accompanying caption. High factor but got to get a bit of colour for shoot tomorrow. Mel later admitted shed spent her time off at the lavish Nevada home of eighties heartthrob Matt Goss currently enjoying the final two months of a headline show at Caesars Palace. Sharing a snap of herself relaxing by his outdoor pool she wrote: 'Had a lovely morning catching up with my wonderful friend @Mattgoss what a beautiful home #friends #vegas #catchup.' Resting up: Mel later admitted shed spent her time off at the lavish Nevada home of eighties heartthrob Matt Goss currently enjoying the final two months of a headline show at Caesars Palace Friends reunited: Mel has known Matt since she was 19-years-old Don't mind me: Despite her surroundings the brunette turned in early, admitting she wanted an early night ahead of her shoot with photographer Alan Strutt and hair and make-up artist pals Gary Cockerill and Phil Turner Despite her surroundings the brunette turned in early, admitting she wanted an early night ahead of her shoot with photographer Alan Strutt and hair and make-up artist pals Gary Cockerill and Phil Turner. 'Early night. In my ridiculously comfy bed at @phvegas Big shoot tommorrow, she wrote alongside a snap of herself tucked up in bed at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Mel previously shared a filtered selfie on Instagram in which she looks typically toned in a very skimpy blue bikini while reclining on a beach towel, her eyes shielded behind a pair of tinted Aviators. Good morning USA: What happens in Las Vegas commonly stays in Las Vegas, but Melanie Sykes was evidently keen to share her exploits in the Nevada city with social media followers on Monday morning But despite making the most of the glorious weather, the presenter hinted that she was unimpressed by the hugely popular resort city. Captioning the shot, she wrote: Hope all good with you all. Well Im here in Vegas and the jury is out. The brunette had previously shared a snap of herself en route to the airport alongside Strutt ahead of their flight to Las Vegas and a stay at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. On their way: The brunette had previously shared a snap of herself en route to the airport alongside celebrity photographer Alan Strutt ahead of their flight to Las Vegas and a stay at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Uploading the snap on Sunday Mel also revealed her excitement at uniting with celebrity hair and make-up artist Cockerill and his husband Turner during the Vegas shoot. Turner later confirmed the news himself by sharing a snap of the citys famous welcome sign alongside the words: Next stop Vegas. Despite her seemingly flawless appearance, Mel recently opened up about her insecurities in a blog post on her website. Here we come: Mel also revealed her excitement at uniting with celebrity hair and make-up artist Gary Cockrill and his husband Phil Turner would during the Vegas shoot. Turner later confirmed the news himself by sharing a snap of the citys famous welcome sign Melanie told her fans she has struggled to accept parts of her body like many other women, including her 'heavy and bulky' thighs and 'flat' derriere. The fitness fan wrote: 'I think a lot of womens insecurities can mainly be body issues. I am often asked which bits of my body I dont like and the answer is, I know I am a healthy person, so I do think I am lucky. I do look alright and most importantly, everything works. 'My thighs have a tendency to be heavy and bulky, so I have to be careful whilst building my bottom, that I dont build my thighs in the process. 'Cellulite, again is another demon for women and of course I have some.' Insecurities: Melanie told her fans she has struggled to accept parts of her body like many other women, including her 'heavy and bulky' thighs and 'flat' derriere Her wild party girl past was revealed shortly after being announced as Australia's latest Bachelorette. But it seems Georgia Love isn't the only person on-set who likes to have a good time, according to The Sunday Telegraph. The Bachelorette finale was reportedly filmed in Singapore last week before crew members enjoyed an 'all-night bender'. Scroll down for video Party time! The Bachelorette finale was reportedly filmed in Singapore last week before crew members spent the night partying. Pictured: The Bachelorette Georgia Love On Saturday, the staff were spotted flying back to Australia looking rather worse for wear, the publication claimed. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. supposedly hired a security consultant Blake Veverka to keep the winner's identity a secret. Mr Veverka is an old friend of Hollywood actor Russell Crowe from their days at Sydney Boys High School, a biography claims. Meanwhile, Network Ten have recently began airing promo clips for the new series, which will debut after The Bachelor finishes. Georgia has claimed she still can't believe she was picked to be the Bachelorette, following in the footsteps of Sam Frost. '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. Who did she choose? According to The Sunday Telegraph, security consultant Blake Veverka was hired to make sure the winner's identity remained a secret 'The fact that teams of people have gone out to try and find me the perfect man - it's just unbelievable,' added the 29-year-old. She continued: '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.' The Bachelor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on Network Ten Amanda Holden may have been treating her 10-year-old daughter Alexa to The Big Feastival on Alex James' Farm in The Cotswolds on Saturday. But it was hard to work out who was the bigger kid as the Britain's Got Talent presenter was spun around on the rides, that afternoon. The 45-year-old didn't seem to regret her 'no hands' policy one bit when she threw her arms into the air with reckless abandon and let out a giddy laugh. Scroll down for video Weee! Despite the weather being disastrously grim, Amanda Holden surged ahead with a day of activities at The Big Feastival on Alex James' Farm in The Cotswolds on Saturday That afternoon, the blonde bombshell arrived in style, showcasing wavy blonde tresses, a scarlet pout and perfectly manicured nails. Posing ahead of a sudden storm, the TV personality, 45, put on a leggy display in her wellies alongside her lookalike daughter, before covering up in a hooded gilet as the heavens opened. Alexa, known as Lexi, wore a Breton top with denim shorts and looked excited at attending the event with her mother. But it wasn't long before it began to rain, prompting Amanda to cover up, embracing the weather in a fun-filled display. Getting dizzy: She couldn't contain her giggles as she was spun around Hold on! Amanda threw her hands into the air to enjoy the ride in full Getting soaked: Before long, the heavens opened, prompting TV star Amanda to cover up in a hooded Gilet Like mother, like daughter: Amanda looked stylish as she took her ten-year-old daughter Alexa Suddenly chilly: After uploading topless sunbathing snaps on Instagram earlier this week, Amanda once again found herself battling Britain's unpredictable weather Food lovers: Amanda was joined by her celebrity chef pal Jamie Oliver Cooking up a storm: Joining Jamie was fellow chef Tom Herbert to put on a foodie demonstration Main man: The Big Feastival took place on Blur bassist Alex James's farm in Oxfordshire The Big Feastival took place at the Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire and combines top-class food with live music and is owned by Blur bassist Alex James. The musician was of course present at the event in a crisp white shirt. And joining him was Jamie Oliver who joined fellow chef Tom Herbert to put on a foodie demonstration. Great day: The event combines top-class food with live music Navy star! Fearne looked sensational in a slinky navy number as she headed straight in from her radio show Head-turning: Gorgeous chef Gizzi Erskine looked sensational in an ornamental all black attire which flashed her tanned legs Braving the weather: Actress Angela Griffin protected herself from the rain with a mustard-colour raincoat Fabulous: The Great British Bake Off's Nadiya Hussain also attended the event in a chic navy and black attire Typical England: The weather turned truly miserable all of a sudden Jamie was just one of the stars who joined Amanda. Others were actress Tamzin Outhwaite, Angela Griffin and chef Gizzi Erskine. The Great British Bake Off's Nadiya Hussain also attended the event in a chic navy and black attire. But despite the weather being disastrously grim, Amanda surged ahead with the days activities and even braved a ride. Reunited: She later reunited with her Britain's Got Talent counterpart Alesha Dixon Cute duo: The pair proved that they're firm friends both on and off screen Outdoorsy types: The stunners wore their sunglasses even into the night Sun's out: Erin Anderson, Laura Mohan, Keri Sully, Emily Norris and Karina Reis de Ponte having fun at the festival Chef: Gizzi Erskine performs a cooking demonstration at the Neff Big Kitchen on Day two of The Big Feastival Stunner: Nic Chapman of Pixiwoo was in the Soho Farmhouse backstage VIP area Party time: Alex James celebrates five years of The Big Feastival with a nutritious birthday cake made of four layers pear, pistachio, carrot and beetroot What fun! A festival goer joins in an exercise class with the added challenge of his daughter on his back In her camo: Alesha looked like she was blending in beautifully Festival ready: Caroline Flack was also one of the festival goers Golden girl: Former X Factor star Ella Henderson was positively glowing Papa don't preach: New dad Jamie Oliver couldn't resist wearing his pride on his sleeve Skills: He became a father for the fifth time earlier this year The Bachelorette runner-up Michael Turnbull was spotted getting another tattoo in Melbourne over the weekend. The 35-year-old arrived at Full Moon Tattoo in Prahran on Saturday before sitting down with a local artist. Afterwards, the black inking of a wolf on his left hand was visible as he took a phone call outside the shop. Scroll down for video Lone wolf? The Bachelorette runner-up Michael Turnbull (R) was spotted getting another tattoo in Melbourne over the weekend Michael looked happy and carefree during the trip, despite facing accusations he is involved in a pyramid scheme. The reality TV star claims he was 'ambushed' by A Current Affair earlier this month over a skincare business he represents. Channel Nine's allegations appear to relate to a 'business opportunity' Michael promoted on Instagram in May. New addition: Michael, who already has an impressive collection of body art, brought a design to the artists at Full Moon Tattoo in Prahran Looking over: The 35-year-old spoke with a staff member about getting the perfect design Here goes! Michael kept a brave face as the artist began drawing the tattoo It would seem Michael was helping to recruit an Australian sales force for anti-ageing skincare company Nerium. He has strongly denied any wrongdoing and claims the business is not a pyramid scheme. 'I don't support pyramid schemes in any single way, shape or form,' he said in a Facebook video posted two weeks ago. Finished product: Afterwards, the black inking of a wolf on Michael's left hand was visible as he took a phone call outside the shop Intricate: Close-up snaps of the tattoo show a detailed design with artistic colours and shading Taking it in his stride: Michael looked happy and carefree during the trip, despite facing accusations he is involved in a pyramid scheme 'Ambushed': The reality TV star claims he was 'ambushed' by A Current Affair earlier this month over a skincare business he represents He also clarified that Nerium is 'a legitimate business with a proven track record that has been approved to operate in Australia.' This is not the first time Michael has featured on A Current Affair, as he was the subject of a segment titled 'Bachelor Fake' in November. The documentary addressed dubious claims he had made about his personal life, which included several misleading Instagram photos. Controversy: Channel Nine's allegations appear to relate to a 'business opportunity' Michael promoted on Instagram in May Denial: Michael strongly denied being involved in a pyramid scheme and claims skincare brand Nerium is 'a legitimate business... that has been approved to operate in Australia' Kim Kardashian complained on social media Friday night that she had to drive her half-sister Kendall Jenner because she was 'banned' from Uber. But on Saturday, the company moved quickly to clarify the situation, stating the 20-year-old reality star's account had only been suspended because of 'a minor account issue.' 'She has not been banned,' an Uber source told ET. 'It was a minor account issue that is being resolved. While it is being resolved her account was put on hold. Uber support has reached out.' Scroll down for video Had to drive her: Kim Kardashian revealed she had to give her younger half-sister Kendall Jenner a ride home Friday night because the 20-year-old had been 'banned' from Uber It's not known what the issue is. However, the Smartphone app service did tell the NY Daily News that 'it had nothing to do with behavior.' Kendall's trouble getting a ride came to light as she enjoyed a night out with Kim, taking in dinner at Craig's in West Hollywood before heading on to view the secret Kanye West Famous exhibit somewhere in LA. Night out: The famous reality siblings hit the town, enjoying dinner in West Hollywood before heading to view Kanye West's secret Famous art exhibit 'She's a 'model' passenger!' But Kim complained about having to drive Kendall around and called out the car service company on Twitter Kim, 35, tweeted: 'Ugh I have to drive @KendallJenner around tonight bc she's banned from Uber!' 'Why @Uber?!?! She's a "model" passenger!!!!!' she added, referencing Kendall's catwalk side gig. The pair then took to Snapchat to continue their rant against Uber. 'This is not fair. So we just want to know, why was Kendall suspended, because she's literally like a model passenger,' Kim said. 'I'm the best client,' Kendall insisted. 'I don't understand.' Why, Uber? Kim and Kendall also took to Snapchat to rant about Uber with Kendall insisting she's 'the best client' Calling them on it: Kim, 35, asked Uber to explain why they wouldn't let Kendall use their service No doubt Kim ended up having to go out of her way to take her little sister home since she now lives in a multi-million dollar home in Hollywood while Kanye's wife resides in a mansion in upscale Calabasas some 20 odd miles away. With Saturday's comment from Uber, though, it looks as if Kim will soon be off the taxi duties. Meanwhile, Kendall proved the perfect dark-haired foil to a newly blonde Kim, as they hit the town together. Stepping out: Kendall put her long lean legs on display for the jaunt donning a pair of tiny denim Daisy Dukes paired with stylish electric blue ankle boots Model look: The brunette added a plain white t-shirt and a baggy khaki jacket and left her hair loose Taking a look: Kendall struck a pose as Kim took pictires of the waxworks used by her rapper husband in his Famous video Kendall showed off her long lean legs in a pair of tiny denim Daisy Dukes paired with electric blue pair ankle boots. She added a plain white t-shirt and a baggy khaki jacket and left her brunette locks loose. Kendall looked typically low key compared to Kim - who had gone all out for her husband's big night in a nude bodycon and mesh full-length dress. Shhhhh! Kim alerted her fans to Kanye's hush-hush exhibit via Twitter and later shared Snapchats from inside the location Big smiles: Kanye stepped out looking super happy after his art show He might not have been the most famous face on the red carpet, but Thomas Jane certainly found a way to stand out. The actor made himself the center of attention at an Equal Means Equal screening by walking the carpet completely barefoot. Dressed chic from head to ankle, the 47-year-old actor felt no need to sport shoes with his dressy outfit at the event in Beverly Hills on Friday. Fashion foot forward: Thomas Jane, in his usual demeanor, opted for no shoes at Friday's red carpet screening for Equal Means Equal in Beverly Hills Thomas donned a collared, blue patterned shirt, with rolled-up sleeves, and paired it with black dressy trousers. While it wouldn't have hurt to have a pedicure, the Deep Blue Sea actor seemed proud to show off his bare feet. He posed with Kamala Lopez, actress, activist and director of Equal Means Equal, who wowed in a form-fitting, black lace dress. Full bare: The 47-year-old actor went barefoot while he donned a blue patterned shirt and black dress pants Goofing off: The Deep Blue Sea actor posed with director Kamala Lopez Bizarre: The Equal Means Equal actor wowed in a form-fitted lace dress and thigh-high leather boots as the duo posed on the carpet It is not the first time Thomas, the ex-husband of Patricia Arquette, has exhibited such bizarre behavior. He has previously been spotted walking the streets of New York City fully dressed with the exception of shoes and socks. His comfort with his own skin derives from his years living homeless in Los Angeles telling The Los Angeles Times in 2011: 'When I was a kid out here in L.A., I was homeless, I didn't have any money and I was living in my car,' he confided. He added: 'I was 18. I wasn't averse to going down to Santa Monica Boulevard and letting a guy buy me a sandwich. Know what I mean?' Nice: Ex-wife of Thomas, Patricia Arquette, 48, looked wonderful in a full-length black gown, embroidered with gold details Not the first time: The Golden Globe nominee has been spotted out and about in New York quite frequently wearing no shoes or socks The Expanse actor - who ultimately decided he was straight - also admitted to sexually experiencing with different genders. 'It's not a choice until you're open enough to experience both male and female sexuality,' the Golden Globe nominee finished. 'Until you've tasted the food, you don't know whether you'll like it or not, as my mom always said.' 'Hey, you grow up as an artist in a big city, as James Dean said, you're going to have one arm tied behind your back if you don't accept people's sexual flavours,' he said. Thomas has three upcoming productions slated for 2016 including, Nicolas Cage's USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, Before I Wake with Kate Bosworth and Jacob Tremblay and Hot Summer Nights. No need for these! The father-of-one held his sneakers in his hand as he was seen walking with all toes on display in New York City last summer Bethenny Frankel is getting away from it all on the Greek island of Mykonos. The Real Housewives Of New York star shared a bikini snap on Saturday posing on the beach with the sea behind her. The 45-year-old sported a black and white two-piece that showed off her impressive figure as the Mediterranean breeze ruffled her newly bobbed brunette hair. Scroll down for video Island girl: Bethenny Frankel, 45, shared this bikini pic with her fans via Snapchat on Saturday as she enjoys a vacation on Mykonos The Bravo reality star accessorized with a bunch of bangles, a shell necklace and long gold chain with pendant. And for good measure she added an over-sized pair of sunglasses. The Skinnygirl cocktail maven also shared video of herself getting a massage while laying topless on a towel on the sand. Relaxing getaway: The Real Housewives Of New York star also shared a video clip showing herself lying topless on a white towel and getting a massage Pummeled: She found a way to de-stress during her Greek island vacay Bethenny went on to share images of the place where she is staying as well as a pic of her with a mystery male companion. She also shared on Instagram a close up of a cool drink filled with ice and slices of cucumber. 'Now this is my kind of Greek life,' she wrote alongside the photo taken at a bar on the beach. Beach side hangout: The reality star sported over-sized sunglasses for this selfie that showed her Mykonos hideaway Who's the guy? The divorcee was also seen posing for pictures with a mystery male companion Cheers! The Skinnygirl cocktail mogul raised a toast with an ice-filled, cucumber-laden drink Her island getaway comes days after she was seen getting a talking to from RHONY co-star Luann de Lesseps on the reality show's season eight finale. The Countess raged at Bethenny after she provided evidence that Luann's fiance Tom D'Agostino, Jr. had been seen passionately kissing another woman at a bar. 'Stay out of my business stay out of my life with Tom, period,' Luann told her. Bethenny is set to be back in NYC to take part in Bravo's season eight reunion shows airing on August 31 and September 7. He's not afraid of taking a cheeky potshot from time to time. And Simon Cowell had Nicole Scherzinger's former Pussycat Dolls bandmates in his sights during the first episode of the new series of the X Factor, on Saturday night. With Sharon Osbourne missing from the panel, Louis Walsh playfully suggested he, Nicole and Simon were 'like the Pussycat Dolls'. Scroll down for video Mischievous: Nicole Scherzinger, 38, didn't stick up for her former bandmates when Simon Cowell took a cheeky potshot at them To which Simon responded: 'So we're the Pussycat Doll. So we're the ones nobody remembers?' Nicole didn't defend her former pals, instead gazing towards the ceiling, she said: 'And I'm in the centre, and this is my stage.' The Pussycat Dolls sold more than 50 million records before they split in 2010. Not quite: With Sharon Osbourne missing from the panel, Louis Walsh playfully suggested he, Nicole and Simon were 'like the Pussycat Dolls' Glory days: The Pussycat Dolls sold more than 50 million records before they split in 2010 Nicole's bandmate Carmit Bacher previously said the X Factor judge damaged relationships within the all-girl group by failing to confide in them about her battle with bulimia, a fact she made public in an interview in 2012. The Hawaiian beauty showed off another of her talents in Saturday's episode, performing hilarious impressions of Britney Spears, Rihanna, Shakira and Simon himself. Topping the lot though, was her attempt at Kermit the frog taking on Adele's Hello, which even Simon joined in with. Funny! The Hawaiian beauty showed off another of her talents in Saturday's episode, performing hilarious impressions of Britney Spears, Rihanna, Shakira and Simon himself Multi-talented: Topping the lot though, was her attempt at Kermit the frog taking on Adele's Hello, which even Simon joined in with Meanwhile, Nicole ensured she was the centre of attention when she arrived at The X Factor press launch inLondon on Thursday afternoon. The 38-year-old star looked stunning in an electric blue minidress with an asymmetrical skirt and a funky, cut-out neckline. Nicole highlighted her slender legs in the thigh-skimming number, while the halterneck cut drew attention to her gym-honed upper body. Beautiful in blue: Nicole Scherzinger ensured she was the centre of attention when she arrived at The X Factor press launch in London on Thursday afternoon The former Pussycat Dolls star added some edgy accessories to dress up her look, including silver strappy heels, stacks of quirky bangles and statement earrings. She pulled her dark locks up in an elaborate top knot and set off her eyes with plenty of kohl. Nicole was joined by her fellow judge Louis Walsh - but Sharon Osbourne and show boss Simon Cowell were nowhere to be seen. The stunning star also popped into Global studios for an interview with Capital during her busy day in the city. Stunning: Nicole highlighted her slender legs in the thigh-skimming number, while the halterneck cut drew attention to her gym-honed upper body Stylish: The former Pussycat Dolls star added some edgy accessories to dress up her look, including white strappy heels, stacks of quirky bangles and statement earrings Leggy lady: Nicole completed her ensemble with a pair of silver strappy heels The charges stem from an Aug. 24 incident, when Kitto, who has a prior sex abuse conviction, is alleged to have forced an adult victim to have intercourse. According to the probable cause affidavit, Kitto is alleged to have taken the victim back to his Lebanon home, where he subjected her to unwanted intercourse for almost six hours. When officers questioned Kitto, according to the affidavit, he originally denied anything happened, then later admitted the two had sex, but he asserted it was consensual, stating to the officer, "I didn't rape her." Tunisia parliament approves new unity government The new unity government of Youssef Chahed won resounding support from parliament, approving a new cabinet line-up which must tackle the country's pressing socio-economic and security challenges. After a long day of debate, the country's legislature overwhelmingly approved Chahed's line up, with 167 votes in favour, 22 against and five abstentions. According to parliament's spokesman Hassen Fathalli, the new cabinet is set to take office Saturday. Youssef Chahed (R), pictured with Minister of Justice Ghazi Jribi, will become Tunisia's youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956 The handover between Chahed and his predecessor, former prime minister Habib Essid, will happen on Monday, Fathalli said. At 40, Chahed will become the country's youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956. But as Tunisia continues to find its bearings after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Chahed would also be the North African nation's seventh premier in less than six years. In a rousing speech ahead of the vote, Chahed stressed the "necessity" of his proposed unity government to address mounting economic challenges not resolved since the 2011 revolution. "We have until now been unable to realise the objectives of the revolution. Our youth have lost hope, the trust of citizens in the state has decreased," he said. "We are all responsible" and "will all have to make sacrifices", he added. Chahed, whose speech was met with resounding applause, said his government would give priority to fighting corruption and "terrorism". While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring, the authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty, unemployment, regional disparities and corruption that preceded Ben Ali's fall. Chahed will also have to address security after a wave of jihadist attacks, including two that killed dozens of foreign tourists last year. -- Diverse cabinet -- The parliamentary vote of confidence for the unity government brings to an end some three months of intense negotiations. President Beji Caid Essebsi said in June that he would support a government of national unity, faced with rising criticism of the government of Habib Essid. Chahed was appointed prime minister-designate by Essebsi early this month after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in then-premier Habib Essid's government following just 18 months in office. Chahed, a member of Essebsi's Nidaa Tounes party and a liberal who was local affairs minister before his nomination, has already overcome numerous reservations about his team -- even among several allied parties. His 27-strong cabinet is a diverse mix, drawing members from all sides of the political spectrum, including the Islamist Ennahda party, and includes eight women "in important" positions and "14 young" ministers. The diversity should stand him in good stead, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to overcome the country's pressing economic and security challenges. Many Tunisians have welcomed the nomination of a comparatively young premier -- especially compared with other leaders since 2011. President Essebsi is 89 years old, and ex-premier Essid is 67. But even so, his government will have no grace period. Growth is sluggish, public finances are a concern, and the country in January witnessed its worst social unrest since the 2011 uprising. Tunisia's new cabinet draws members from all sides of the political spectrum, and includes eight women "in important" positions and "14 young" ministers Clock ticking, Trump finds himself in an ever-deeper hole This was supposed to be the new -- new! -- Donald Trump, the more temperate Republican candidate who had emerged in the past two weeks seeking to broaden his appeal to a more diverse electorate. But with the presidential election just two-and-a-half months away, Americans seem decidedly unimpressed by this latest in a long series of tweaks, turns and transformations. The White House hopeful has been more disciplined in form, reading from prepared speeches and focusing his fire on his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, pounding away at the theme that donors to the Clinton Foundation charity were given special access to the then-secretary of state and her aides. By presented a less abrasive and more tolerant image Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is hoping to broaden his appeal to a more diverse electorate Sizanne Cordeiro (AFP) And in terms of substance, he has polished his message, spending more time on the economy and reaching out to minority voters, particularly blacks and Hispanics. By presenting that seemingly less abrasive and more tolerant image, Trump hopes to accomplish two objectives: to gain support in minority communities where Clinton holds an overwhelming advantage, and to persuade middle-class whites offended by his more contentious rhetoric that they can safely return to the Republican fold. "He's trying to do both; he will probably succeed at neither," said Larry Sabato, a veteran political scientist with the University of Virginia. The wealthy New York populist has chosen a risky line of attack against Clinton, accusing her of being not just corrupt but a cynical and uncaring racist. "Democratic politicians have run nearly every inner-city in America for 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 years. Their policies have produced only more poverty, total joblessness, and failing schools," Trump said Thursday in New Hampshire. "She doesn't care. She's too busy raking in cash from people and rigging the system and taking the African American vote and the Hispanic vote and saying, 'We're going to do a great job.' And right after the election, it's 'bye-bye, I'll see you in four years.'" Whether this offensive bears fruit may not become clear for a few weeks. Polls so far show Clinton doing a bit better among minorities even than Barack Obama did in 2012, with support from more than three in four voters, according to a new Quinnipiac Poll. But it seems unlikely that minority voters will forget the xenophobic vitriol of the past year in just a few weeks. "I have not encountered a presidential candidate since George Wallace whose very name causes minorities to cringe as much," Sabato said, referring to the late Alabama governor who once said he stood for racial segregation "forever." "It's just widespread -- African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Muslim Americans -- and that's 30 percent of the electorate in November. He will be lucky -- and I mean lucky -- to get 15 percent" of the minority vote. - Working-class voters - As for white voters, Donald Trump is doing less well than his Republican predecessor of 2012, the patrician (and far more conventional) Mitt Romney. To be sure, 58 percent of whites without a college degree support Trump, won over by his brash, populist message. That voter bloc, disillusioned, marginalized by globalization and contemptuous of the nation's elites, represented about 45 percent of the overall electorate in 2012, according to The New York Times. But this advantage among "blue collar" whites is not enough to make up for Trump's popularity deficit among better-educated whites. Clinton's star has risen spectacularly this summer among whites with college degrees. According to the latest ABC/Washington Post poll, 50 percent of them now support the Democratic candidate, up from 42 percent in early July. In short, support from the less-educated whites of the "Rust Belt" states hit so hard by factory closings and job outsourcing will not be enough to help Trump overcome Clinton's big edge among minorities and educated whites. "This whole week has been about trying to pick up a few additional minority supporters," Sabato said. "I believe he will fail. And it's been about trying to reassure more moderate white Republicans that he is not a racist." But while "many of these same moderate white Republicans believe in civility, he's the least civil candidate in modern times." Clinton meantime has done her utmost to remove any doubts about who she says the "real" Donald Trump is: a populist who has awakened America's far right and aroused the worst nationalist elements of the conservative movement. - Stuck in the middle - Thus the Republican candidate finds himself torn between being the old thundering Trump who managed to galvanize large numbers of conservatives, and the "new" Trump, whose sincerity seems suspect to moderate Americans. The events of the past week illustrate his strategic dilemma. In the space of 48 hours, Trump promised a "softening" of his plan to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants, and then, faced by the angry outcry his attempt at moderation had unleashed on the right, said what he meant was a "hardening." "How can you call a campaign coherent that can't even explain what its central issue is?" Sabato said. "He can't even describe what his position is on immigration." Trump will probably have to clarify exactly where he stands on immigration in coming days -- just the latest course correction from a candidate who sometimes seems to have no clear course. A pin is seen attached to an attendee's tote bag before the start of a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Reno, Nevada on August 25, 2016 Josh Edelson (AFP) Various memorabilia is sold during the campaign rally held by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Austin, Texas Suzanne Cordeiro (AFP/File) No Arab Spring in Zimbabwe: Mugabe warns protesters Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned that the Arab Spring style of protests would fall flat in Zimbabwe after police fired teargas and beat up protesters staging the latest of a string of highly charged demonstrations. Dozens of police blocked off the site of the opposition rally for electoral reforms by 2018, when 92-year-old Mugabe who has ruled the southern African country for decades will seek re-election. The protesters responded to the clampdown by throwing stones at the police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe accused foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest which saw opposition supporters clash with police in Harare Wilfred Kajese (AFP) "They are burning types in the streets in order to get into power. They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that is not going to happen here," said Mugabe in remarks broadcast by state television. "What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country," said Mugabe accusing foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest. AFP correspondents saw armed police firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters gathered on the fringes of the central business district who were waiting for the march to start. Some people caught up in the melee, including children going to a nearby agricultural show, ran for shelter in the magistrate's court while riot police pursued the protesters and threatened journalists covering the rally. The usually-bustling pavements were clear of street hawkers and some shops were shut, as rocks, sticks and burning tyres were strewn across the streets. Opposition protesters also clashed with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had refused to clear their street stalls. ZANU-PF youths hurled stones at the opposition activists but were overpowered and their stalls set on fire. - 'Very deep anger' - The march was organised by 18 opposition parties including the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe People First formed this year by former vice president Joice Mujuru. Opposition leaders condemned the brutal repression of the protest and vowed to increase pressure on Mugabe's regime. "If that was meant to cow us from demonstrating, I want to say we are going to do the same next week Friday," former Mugabe ally and ex-cabinet minister Didymus Mutasa told reporters. Protests "will continue until the day we vote", said Mutasa, a former top member of ZANU-PF who is now a senior member of Mujuru's party. "We have had enough of ZANU-PF misrule." Tsvangirai said the public would not be easily calmed. "The people's anger is very deep. The people's desperation is very deep," he said. "Today's brutal suppression of the people will not stop them from exercising their rights." - Government losing control - Tsvangirai said the regime was in its "sunset hour", warning that efforts to suppress the protests would backfire. "Citizens are like a spring: the more they are suppressed, the greater the rebound," he said. Charles Laurie, an analyst with Verisk Maplecroft in London, agreed that the government was on the verge of losing control. "The government is nearing a tipping point in its ability to control a population long used to violence and hardship, and who now have little to lose in putting themselves at risk in forcing political concessions," he told AFP. Police broke up the protest despite a court ordering them not to interfere or disrupt the march. Authorities said the had arrested 67 people, and lawyers said one of them was a journalist. Several foreign diplomatic missions based in Harare called on the authorities to ensure that basic human rights and freedoms are respected during policing. - 'Violence unacceptable' - The US embassy expressed "deep concern over reports of violence during some of the protests" and called on government to "exhibit restraint" and respect human rights. And the Canadian embassy also said it was "increasingly concerned with reports of violence and human rights violations in response to public protest" while the Australian mission said the use of violence was "not acceptable under any circumstance". Friday's march was to demand free and fair elections. The last elections in 2013 were won by Mugabe in a vote the opposition said was rigged. Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980. Under his rule, there has been an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. Street vendors flee with their goods as Zimbabwe opposition supporters clash with police in Harare Wilfred Kajese (AFP) The US embassy in Zimbabwe expressed "deep concern" over reports of violence and called on the government to "exhibit restraint" and respect human rights Zinyange Auntony (AFP) Dozens of police blocked off the site of an opposition rally to demand electoral reforms in Harare Zinyange Auntony (AFP) Japan takes aid show to Africa, in China's shadow Japan takes its aid and trade show to Africa on Saturday, opening a huge two-day development conference in Kenya, hoping that quality will trump quantity in the battle for influence against cash-rich China. It will be the first time that the conference, known as TICAD -- the Tokyo International Conference on African Development -- has taken place in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- fresh from an appearance as Super Mario at the Rio Olympics closing ceremony -- will use the opportunity to meet with dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the Tokyo International Conference on African Development conference on August 26, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya Simon Maina (AFP) Officials say the Japanese premier will use the two-day gathering to unveil aid and investment projects, including those related to healthcare. Speaking on the eve of the meeting, Kenyatta said the focus would be on industrialisation, health and stability. "We know that most nations which escape the grip of poverty do so by industrialising. Africa still has not lived up to its potential," he said. "Development is not something that will happen to Africa, it is Africans themselves who will win the freedom and prosperity they deserve." Abe pledged that Japan's "high-quality technology and human resource development" would support industrialisation, including in agriculture. "The key to economic growth is industrialisation," he said. - Eclipsed by China - Tokyo has a well-established presence in Africa, but its financial importance to the continent has long since been eclipsed by regional rival China. The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. "Japan has a sense of rivalry with China, which has provided large-sized assistance," said Koichi Sakamoto, professor of regional development studies at Toyo University. "Since Japan can't fight China in terms of amounts of cash, it needs to stress quality," Sakamoto added. This weekend's meeting is the sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD. The forum was first convened in 1993 and, until now, has always been held in Japan. The move to Africa this year came at the behest of the host continent, but also reflects a drive to bolster Japanese clout as the modern-day Scramble for Africa gathers momentum. The European Union, China, India, South Korea, and Turkey have similar aid ventures to court African leaders as they look for a slice of the continent's resources and its burgeoning markets. But as a relatively early entrant, Tokyo's role has proved invaluable to Africa. As well as diplomats and politicians, TICAD will also gather business executives and other participants from Japan and Africa in what Abe hopes will be a boost to two-way trade. But enthusiasm may be dampened by security concerns over some of Africa's more lawless areas. Such danger was driven home in 2013 when a gas plant in Algeria built by a Japanese company was overrun by Islamist gunmen, who killed 40 people, including 10 Japanese. There is also the growing threat from radical Islamist groupings, such as the Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists as well as the Shabaab group -- which is active in Kenya. burs-hmw/pvh/fa Doctor who praised Trump's health says he wrote note in a rush Donald Trump's personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trump's car waited. "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant." Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 -- 16 months older than Clinton -- would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. Donald Trump at the age of 70 would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected Jonathan Bachman (Getty/AFP) "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." In Egypt, ecstatic pilgrims start journey to Mecca Pilgrims have been saying their farewells at Cairo airport before leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj in the tradition, they believe, of the Prophet Mohammed and Abraham before him. Every year tens of thousands of Egyptians apply for visas to travel to Mecca to join more than a million Muslims from across the world at the pilgrimage. "When I was chosen, I couldn't believe it," says Afaf Hasan Rifai, who was selected by Egypt's authorities to perform the hajj to start early next month. Millions of Muslims from around the world will congregate in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, to perform the hajj Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP) "I started crying and I prostrated to God," she says, her beaming husband standing next to her outside the terminal late on Thursday. Nearby a policeman pushes a wheelchair carrying an elderly women with a cane into the terminal. Every Muslim who can undertake the journey is expected to perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, but it can also be performed on behalf of another follower of the faith who is unable to do so. Muslims have travelled to Mecca for the hajj since the 7th Century, when God is believed to have ordained it in the Koran. Last year an estimated 2,300 pilgrims -- among them 464 Iranians and 182 Egyptians -- died in a stampede at the hajj, according to tallies from foreign officials. It was the deadliest stampede in hajj history, and fuelled historic tensions between conservative Sunni Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Shiite Iran. Saudi authorities have announced new security measures for the hajj this year, including electronic bracelets and a reduced period for the stoning ritual during which the deaths took place. Over the centuries, the ritual -- seen as an elusive moment of Muslim unity gathering all nationalities and classes -- has not been spared the vicissitudes of the region. - 'Nothing better than this' - There was the time when the Qaramatians, a sanguinary sect which controlled present-day Bahrain in the 10th century, descended on Mecca to put an end to what they viewed as superstition. They slaughtered thousands of pilgrims and made off with the sacred Black Stone of the Kaaba, ransoming it to the Abbasid Caliphate after having broken it in several pieces. In 1979, apocalyptic jihadists took over the Grand Mosque in Mecca and held pilgrims hostage, before special forces eventually flushed them out. Many pilgrims, especially the elderly, have died amid the massive crowds while performing the rites. But many Muslims still dream of going -- even those who have already made repeated pilgrimages, such as 93-year-old Salem Ibrahim Rahmo. "I'm happy as can be," said the white-turbaned Rahmo as he waits outside Cairo airport terminal. "To visit the Prophet (tomb and mosque in Medina), this is the greatest happiness. And to visit the Kaaba. This is my third time," he says. His son, Rahmo Mohamed Ibrahim, believes "everyone" would seize the chance to perform the hajj if allowed. "Every person wishes to visit the houses of God and to perform the pilgrimage and fulfil his obligation," says Ibrahim, 53. The rituals, believed to date to the time of Abraham -- who Muslims believe built the original Kaaba as the first house of worship -- will begin on September 9 and last for six days. Men will wear seamless white clothes, and women modest Islamic garb, and circumambulate the Kaaba seven times. They will walk between two neighbouring hills seven times, emulating, they believe, Abraham's wife Hajar as she searched for water, then symbolically cast stones at the devil. The cathartic ritual, which pilgrims believe cleanses them of sin, is "spiritual bliss", says Ibrahim. "There is nothing better than this." Islam in the world Paul DEFOSSEUX, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) N. Korea submarine missiles not ready until 2018: experts North Korea is making progress on a submarine-launched ballistic missile system but any deployment of the technology is years away, a US think tank said, as the UN Security Council promised action over Pyongyang's latest test. The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said late Friday on its closely-watched website, 38 North, that the success of North Korea's SLBM test this week suggests the program may be progressing faster than originally expected. "However, this does not mean it will be ready next week, next month, or even next year", it said. A North Korean official media photo from August 25, 2016 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) watching the test-firing of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile at an undisclosed location "Rather, the pace and method of the Norths SLBM testing would suggest possible deployment in an initial operational capability by the second half of 2018 at the earliest." The missile, launched from a submerged prototype "Gorae-class" submarine near the northeastern port of Sinpo, flew 500 kilometres (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. Following the test, the UN Security Council agreed on Friday to "take further significant measures" against North Korea, without elaborating. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Despite the North's successful test this week, the country faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile. Last month, 38 North reported the North was building up infrastructure to construct new submarines at the Sinpo South Shipyard. "A new submarine could probably be built within a two to three year time frame, but the likelihood of building new models without further testing and refinement of the experimental Gorae-class seems low", it said. But this is no information about whether actual submarine construction has begun, it added. Bangladesh 'free of curse' after police kill militant: PM Bangladesh's prime minister said the nation was "free of another curse" Saturday after police stormed a militant hideout, shooting dead the suspected mastermind of an horrific attack on a cafe that killed 22 hostages. The bodies of three Islamist extremists were retrieved after police staged an hour-long gun battle with militants in Narayanganj, a city 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Dhaka, officers said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised police and intelligence agencies for the operation which killed Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian believed to have planned the attack. Bangladesh police stand guard around a militant hideout in Narayanganj after it was raided by police on August 27, 2016 "The main mastermind of the Holey Artisan (attack) has been eliminated," Hasina told reporters at her office, referring to the Gulshan cafe incident. "The nation has become free of another curse," Hasina said, adding that the "elimination of the extremists" would bolster "people's confidence". The police raid came two days before US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in Bangladesh, the highest-ranked Western official to visit the South Asian nation since the attack. Officials said security issues, including Dhaka-Washington DC anti-terror cooperation, will feature during Kerry's talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart on Monday. Thirty-year-old Chowdhury, who returned from Canada in 2013, had earlier been named by police as the suspected mastermind of the attack on the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood. "The operation went on for an hour. We can see three dead bodies. They did not surrender. They threw four to five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told reporters Saturday. "Three extremists were killed. Among them, one of the dead persons looked exactly like the photo of Tamim Chowdhury that we have," he said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. But police and the Bangladesh government rejected the IS claim, saying a new faction of homegrown militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) led by Chowdhury was behind the attack in which 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed along with two policemen. Police blame the JMB for the deaths of more than 80 foreigners and members of religious minorities over the last three years. "Tamim Chowdhury's chapter is closed here," Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters after visiting the site of the raid Saturday. He said other extremists were "very few" in number and face imminent arrest. A series of raids on suspected militant hideouts carried out with the Rapid Action Battalion elite security force have killed at least 24 extremists since the cafe attack. - Radicalisation efforts - Police on August 2 announced a two million taka ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of Chowdhury, who disappeared after the attack. Police say Chowdhury has led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims since returning from Canada three years ago. His role in fostering extremism was revealed during the interrogation of Rakibul Hasan, 25, who was arrested in a raid on a militant hideout in July in which nine extremists were killed in Dhaka. A police report into that raid said Chowdhury and others gave Hasan and other militants "money, explosives and weapons" and "trained and advised" them. Bangladesh has been reeling from a deadly wave of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of the country's religious minorities. In June more than 11,000 people were arrested in a bid to quash a spate of brutal murders of secular writers, gay rights activists and religious minorities. Both IS and a branch of Al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Bangladeshi authorities have rejected the claim, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third-largest Muslim-majority nation. Critics say Prime Minister Hasina's administration is in denial about the nature of the threat posed by Islamist extremists and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. The Bangladesh government has launched a wide sweeping man-hunt for Islamists in the world's third-largest Muslim majority nation Myanmar actor jailed for cursing army with graffiti A Myanmar actor was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for scribbling curse-laden insults about the powerful army on his car, a police officer said Saturday. Tun Lin Thein, a 35-year-old who appears in Myanmar music videos, slammed the military as an "army of dogs" and spray-painted a number of other expletives across his silver Nissan in March. He was arrested shortly after and convicted of defamation by a Yangon court on Friday. Limits on expression remain despite new freedoms introduced in Myanmar since the military junta stepped down in 2011 Soe Than Win (AFP/File) "The court sentenced him for two years and nine months," police officer Thein Han, whose team handled the actor's arrest, told AFP. Freedoms have flourished in Myanmar since the military junta stepped down in 2011, paving the way for November elections that swept democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi into power. But limits on expression remain, with criticism of the army especially taboo. Police said the actor was also charged with defaming the national flag and a Buddhist flag, which he taped to his car alongside the graffiti. "His behaviour was not only abusive to the Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) but also to our religion and national flag. That is why he had to receive this sentence," Thein Han said. He added that the act appeared to be motivated by a personal grievance, saying officers believed the insults were levelled at the military family of the actor's ex-wife. Hopes are high that Suu Kyi's new civilian government will accelerate the stunning democratic transition that has gripped Myanmar since the end of junta rule. But she still has to contend with an influential army that has retained control over key government ministries and a quarter of parliament seats. There have been several controversial defamation prosecutions carried out during Suu Kyi's first few months in power, including a six-month sentence handed to man who wrote a poem about having a tattoo of the former ex-army president on his penis. A film about conflict between the military and ethnic Shan groups in the mid-20th century was also pulled from a human rights film festival in June. Japan PM pledges to invest $30 bn in Africa by 2018 Japan will pour $30 billion (27 billion euros) in investment into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. "When combined with the investment from the private sector I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion," Abe said at the opening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). "This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future," he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a session with Kenya's Ministry of Health and World Bank group at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Nairobi on August 26, 2016 Simon Maina (AFP) Abe will use the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the TICAD conference is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. The goal of the conference is to boost trade and aid to Africa, as Japan hopes that quality will trump quantity in the battle for influence against cash-rich China. While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long since been eclipsed by regional rival China. Let's give credit to administrators at the University of Chicago, for a timely reminder of what universities and other institutions of higher learning are supposed to do and how easy it can be to lose sight of this essential mission. The Chicago Tribune reported this week that the university's dean of students, John Ellison, had written a letter to incoming freshmen in which he warned them (and maybe you should sit down for this) that they might be exposed to controversial ideas during their time at the school. It's shocking, right? Are you still sitting down? Because here comes another shocker: Ellison didn't apologize for that. In fact, Ellison threw down the gauntlet: "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," he wrote in the letter. If you're not familiar with the idea of "trigger warnings," it might mean that you haven't spent much time on campus lately. These are warnings that are used to alert students about sensitive material that might be uncomfortable, offensive and traumatic to them. The on-campus safe spaces are intended to offer comfort to students who might be upset about being exposed to controversial or upsetting ideas. Ellison's letter referred to a University of Chicago report, crafted by a committee that sought to define the university's policy on freedom of expression. The letter included this telling quote from the report: "It is the not the proper role of the University to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive. 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." That says it well. (mm) The right amount of wind Welcome back to our hot-air friends! We refer not to political candidates, from whom we will hear much more over the course of the next few months, but to the hot air balloons that blow into town each year for the Northwest Art & Air Festival. The festival always is a late-summer highlight in the mid-valley, and this year, organizers added what appears to be, on paper, a nifty new feature: a kite festival, featuring demonstrations (10 a.m. both today and Sunday in front of the festival stage) and an opportunity for kids to work with professionals (and, yes, there are kite professionals) on their own kites. There is a catch: Kites, as you might remember, require wind to stay aloft. But the hot air balloons that provide a potent lure for the festival don't like wind at all. That's a big part of the reason why the balloons prefer to lift off in the early morning hours a time of day when the wind typically isn't much of a factor. So here's hoping that these two parts of the festival go off without a hitch: that the balloonists continue to get the kind of placid mornings that ensure smooth launches, but that just enough wind picks up in the late mornings for the kite demonstrations. In the meantime, it's worth remembering that the festival also features music, artwork and food and drink concessions, in the event that your interests this weekend are somewhat more earthbound. (mm) Top separatist arrested in Indian Kashmir as toll hits 68 Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested a top separatist leader, his aide said Saturday, as the region's chief minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defended a 50-day lockdown on the region. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief cleric and head of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, a political coalition opposed to the Indian rule of Kashmir, was arrested near Srinagar on Friday, his aide, Tariq Buch told AFP. "He was first detained by police while trying to leave home to lead a peaceful demonstration. We came to know later he was taken away to Cheshma Shahi (a high security zone in Srinagar)," Buch said. Indian Kashmir has been under a curfew since protests broke out over the death of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in a gunfight with security forces Tauseef Mustafa (AFP/File) It came as the number of civilians killed since protests erupted in Kashmir last month after the shooting of a popular militant leader hit 68 Saturday, while a police constable was also shot dead. Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti justified the continuation of the sweeping curfew that has seen schools, shops and most banks shut, after meeting the prime minister in New Delhi on Saturday. "The basic purpose of the curfew was to save the lives of youngsters... If we don't impose a curfew what do we do?" Mufti told reporters. She also said the government was willing to hold talks with anyone who wanted a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir problem through dialogue, but pointed the finger at Pakistan. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn't provoke youngsters to attack police stations -- and save youths from being killed," Mufti said. Police shot one protester dead Friday, while the body of another was found in a river a day after he was chased by police during an anti-India demonstration. A police constable was shot dead by unknown gunmen as he stepped out of his home in the southern area of Pulwama on Saturday, Police Superintendent Rayees Mohammad Bhat said. "We have reports that there were militants in the area," Bhat said. The killing of young rebel leader Burhan Wani in a firefight with government forces on July 8 sparked wide-scale protests across large parts of the disputed territory. Thousands of angry demonstrators have defied a sweeping curfew to clash with government forces almost daily. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Wani's Hizbul Mujahideen and several other rebel groups have fought for decades some 500,000 Indian troops deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the region or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. Turkey sends more tanks into Syria as ceasefire efforts advance Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into Syria to bolster a military offensive against jihadists and Kurdish fighters, as a diplomatic push for a new ceasefire in Syria gathered pace. An AFP photographer in the village of Karkamis on the Turkish side of the border saw six more tanks roll over the frontier as mop-up operations continued in a town wrested from the Islamic State group (IS). Sporadic explosions were heard from over the border as Turkish-backed rebels carried out de-mining work in the town of Jarabulus seized from IS on Wednesday. As Turkey stepped up its biggest operation in Syria since the start of the war, the US and Russia announced progress in talks on agreeing a new ceasefire Bulent Kilic (AFP) The state-run Anadolu news agency confirmed that the rebels were working to destroy explosives left behind by IS militants, with 20 different sets destroyed on Friday alone. The deployment was the latest phase in Turkey's military operation inside Syria -- codenamed "Euphrates Shield" -- to oust IS from the border region and also counter advances by a Kurdish militia opposed by Ankara. As Turkey stepped up its biggest operation in Syria since the start of the war, the US and Russia announced progress in talks on agreeing a new ceasefire. Meanwhile, the evacuation of Daraya, a town crushed by a four-year Syrian army siege, continued, with hundreds of fighters and their families arriving in rebel-held territory in the northwest. - 'Important steps' - In Geneva on Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said they had cleared key obstacles in ceasefire talks but had yet to reach a final deal. "Today I can say that we achieved clarity on the path forward" for a revamped cessation of hostilities, Kerry said. Lavrov concurred, saying that "very important steps" had been made on a deal to stop the violence. Russia, a staunch ally of Assad's regime, has been backing government forces with air strikes on rebel-held areas. The US supports Syria's main opposition alliance and some rebel factions. There had been hope that Friday's talks might lead to a breakthrough on the battered northern city of Aleppo, where fighting between government and rebel forces has escalated in recent weeks, leaving hundreds dead. But neither side gave pledges on getting much-needed aid into the city. And Turkey's offensive in Syria added yet another layer of complexity to the tangled web of powers jockeying for influence in the war-torn country. Turkey's leadership has made clear that its offensive is also aimed at holding back the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which has led the fight against IS in the area. Ankara says that the YPG has failed to stick to a promise made by its US allies that the militia would move back east across the Euphrates following the seizure of the town of Manbij from IS earlier this month. Turkey sees the YPG militia and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing, which have links to Kurdish rebels in southeast Turkey, as "terror groups" bent on carving out an autonomous Kurdish region. - Over 50 tanks - Turkey has continued sending in tanks since Wednesday's lighting operation to help rebels rout IS from Jarabulus. Helped by Turkish forces, the rebels retook the town, which had been in IS hands since 2013, without a fight. Hurriyet daily reported that Turkey had 50 tanks and 380 personnel on the ground in Syria after three days of operations. The Turkish troops are supporting an even larger force of hundreds of Syrian rebels. On Thursday, Turkey shelled Syrian Kurds south of Jarabulus but there have been no reports of further activity against the group since then. Hurriyet said the Turkish forces had been given an order to "strike immediately" should the YPG be seen to make any move towards the liberated town. Elsewhere, rebel fighters leaving the town of Daraya near Damascus, which had held out against an army siege for four years, began arriving in the rebel-held city of Idlib. At least five buses carrying fighters and their families arrived on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Daraya was one of the first towns to rise up against President Bashar al-Assad in 2012. From a symbol of revolt it became a symbol of the fierce suffering caused by the war, with the army siege causing acute hunger. The rebels said they were forced to give up the town because of deteriorating humanitarian conditions, accusing Damascus of "starve or surrender" tactics. The around 8,000 civilians left in the town are also being evacuated. Turkey send more tanks to Syria Jean Michel CORNU, Vincent LEFAI (AFP) 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) Clinton receives intelligence briefing Hillary Clinton received her first intelligence briefing as the Democratic presidential candidate Saturday, attending the 90-minute meeting without aides. Traditionally, the top two contenders for the White House are given the briefings to prepare them for the responsibilities that await the next occupant of the Oval Office. Republican candidate Donald Trump attended a similar briefing August 17 in New York, accompanied by two key advisers, retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada on August 25, 2016 Josh Edelson (AFP/File) Clinton was alone for her briefing, which took place at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's White Plains, New York office, near her home in Chappaqua, an aide told reporters. The aide said she met with a handful of officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for about an hour and a half. The FBI's office was used because it has secure rooms in which classified information can be discussed. The tradition of intelligence briefings for presidential candidates began in 1952 under president Harry Truman. The briefings lay out the US intelligence community's view of the threats facing the United States, without divulging secrets about operations or sources. Democrats have expressed unease about Trump's access to such sensitive information, with President Barack Obama himself issuing a thinly veiled warning earlier this month. "If they want to be president, they have got to start acting like (a) president," he said in a clear reference to the unpredictable New York billionaire. Japan PM pledges to invest $30 bn in Africa by 2018 Japan will pour $30 billion of investments into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. Abe is using the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. "When combined with the investment from the private sector I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion (26.8 billion euros)," Abe said as the TICAD summit got underway. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech during the opening of the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) in Nairobi on August 27, 2016 Simon Maina (SIMON MAINA/AFP) That figure includes $9 billion yet to be spent from pledges made at the previous TICAD conference in 2013. "This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future," he said. The goal of the conference, organised jointly by the UN, the African Union, the World Bank and Japan, is to boost trade and aid to Africa, as Japan hopes that quality will trump quantity in the battle against cash-rich China for influence on the continent. While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long been eclipsed by regional archrival China. - 'Japan can grow vigorously' - The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. Some 30 African heads of state are taking part in the conference, which runs until Sunday. Around 70 agreements are expected to be signed. "We have a feeling in our gut that in Africa, where possibilities abound, Japan can grow vigorously," said Abe. "The wealthiest countries today, with very few exceptions, got rich by trading with others," President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the conference. Chad's Idriss Deby, who currently chairs the African Union, noted that Africa's economy had been badly affected by falling commodity prices, several conflicts and climate change. "Our struggle for development cannot succeed without peace, stability and above all security," he said. Deby called on Africa's partners to contribute to a counter-terrorism fund recently set up by the African Union and to help speed up economic growth, poverty reduction and promote better health care. Turkish soldier killed in Syria attack, Kurdish militia blamed Turkey said the military suffered its first fatality in an unprecedented four day campaign inside Syria, blaming Kurdish militia in an increasingly combustible contest for control in the border region. The Turkish army on Wednesday launched the two-pronged cross border offensive against Islamic State (IS) jihadists but also Syrian Kurdish militia detested by Ankara, sending in dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops. Tensions between Ankara and the Kurdish militia flared Saturday, with clashes taking place eight kilometres (five miles) south of the town of Jarabulus, the border town recaptured from IS this week by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, a monitoring group and Kurdish sources said. The current fighting indicates Turkey is entering into a new and more dangerous phase in Syria four days into operation "Euphrates Shield" against Islamic State (IS) jihadists and Syrian Kurdish militia Bulent Kilic (AFP) Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency later said one Turkish soldier was killed and three more wounded in a rocket attack by Kurdish militia on two tanks taking part in the offensive. The dead soldier -- who has not been identified -- was the first confirmed Turkish fatality of Turkey's unprecedented operation in northern Syria which has so far proceeded with lightning pace. The toll was confirmed by a Turkish official, without giving further details. The rocket fire came from members of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Anadolu said. Turkey considers the PYD and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to be terror organisations. Anadolu said that the Turkish army responded to the rocket attack by shelling PYD targets in Syria, without giving further details. The self-proclaimed Kurdish authorities in northern Syria said in a statement that the local fighters backed by Kurdish forces "destroyed two tanks and killed its crews" near the village of Al-Amarneh. In a separate incident Saturday, Kurdish militants fired four rockets at the airport in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, without causing casualties, the Dogan news agency said. - 'New regional conflict' - The pro-Kurdish fighters said earlier Turkey had for the first time carried out airstrikes on its positions. "With this aggression, a new conflict period will begin in the region," said the Jarabulus Military Council which is linked to the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Anadolu agency reported that the army had carried out strikes against a weapons arsenal and command post belonging to "terror groups". The fighting indicates Turkey is entering into a new and more dangerous phase in Syria four days into operation "Euphrates Shield". On Saturday, an AFP correspondent at the Turkish border village of Karkamis saw six more tanks crossing into Syria, adding to the dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops already in the country. Anadolu said pro-Ankara fighters -- backed by Turkish troops and firepower -- had now taken five more villages from IS after the capture of Jarabulus. Turkey fiercely opposes moves by the YPG -- which it regards as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) -- to expand into territory lost by IS. Ankara fears the emergence of a contiguous autonomous Kurdish region in Syria would bolster the PKK rebels across the border in southeast Turkey. Its campaign against the Kurdish fighters puts it at odds with NATO ally the US, which supports the YPG as an effective fighting force against IS. Ankara says that the YPG has failed to stick to a promise to return across the Euphrates river after advancing west this month despite guarantees given by US Vice President Joe Biden on a visit to Ankara on Wednesday. - 'Brink of starvation' - On Saturday, the last rebel fighters were evacuated from Daraya just outside the Syrian capital Damascus, under a plan to end a brutal four-year siege of the town that brought the population to the brink of starvation. Hundreds of fighters and their families were bused north into rebel-held territory in Idlib province. "The Syrian army completely controls Daraya and has entered all of the town. There isn't a single armed man there," a Syrian military source told AFP. The rebels said they were forced to give up the town, which was one of the first to rise up against the government, accusing Damascus of using "starve or surrender" tactics. The roughly 8,000 civilians left in the town are also to be evacuated. In Syria's northwest, fighting continued to rage between Syrian government forces and rebels in the battered city of Aleppo, in spite of tentative plans for a 48-hour ceasefire. At least 15 civilians were killed in barrel bomb attacks by regime aircraft on the rebel-held Maadi district in the city's east, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory said. The Turkish army launched a two-pronged cross border offensive against Islamic State (IS) jihadists but also Syrian Kurdish militia Bulent Kilic (AFP) Smoke rises from damaged police headquarters after a suicide truck bombing killed eleven Turkish police officers and injured 78 people on August 26, 2016 in Cizre, southeastern Turkey, in an attack that was blamed on Kurdish militants by state media Syrian government troops stand guard as rebel fighters and their families are evacuated by bus from Daraya outside Damascus, under a plan to end a brutal four-year siege Youssef Karwashan (AFP) 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. Major Ali al-Shahrani, civil defence spokesman in southwest Saudi Arabia, told reporters a nine-year-old brother of the boy was also wounded when a Katyusha rocket hit their family's home. The attack came a day after rockets fired from Yemen struck a power station in Najran, marking a rare hit on Saudi Arabia's infrastructure after months of periodic bombardment of the area. Cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia have increased since a Saudi-led Arab coalition stepped up air strikes on insurgent targets inside Yemen Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File) Attacks have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks between the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies, and Yemen's internationally-recognised government which has the military support of a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Ten people have been killed in Najran since August 16, when a single strike claimed seven lives. The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since the peace talks collapsed. UN demands answers on 48-hour Aleppo ceasefire by Sunday The United Nations Syria envoy urged warring parties to state by Sunday whether they will commit to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the embattled city of Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura has led global calls for the pause that the UN and aid groups like the Red Cross say is desperately needed by civilians trapped in the midst of brutal fighting between regime and opposition forces. Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, has endorsed the plan. Syrian rescue workers search for victims through the rubble of a building destroyed during a reported barrel bomb attack in a rebel-held neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo on August 27, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File) De Mistura said in a statement Saturday that he "regrets" some opposition camps have expressed reluctance to agree to the plan, without detailing the nature of their concerns. "The special envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand," de Mistura's office said in a statement. He added that the initial delivery of life-saving aid must be carried out through the strategically crucial Castello Road, which the regime took control of in July, cutting off the last supply route to rebel-held Aleppo. The UN has "pre-positioned" aid that is ready to go to the city, it said. The first delivery would benefit 80,000 people in the rebel-held east as well as people in the government controlled west, the statement said. "The UN is ready to move," it added. "People are suffering and need assistance. Time is of the essence. All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now." According to de Mistura, Russia "has engaged" its ally Assad on the plan. The brutal fight for Aleppo, Syria's second city, intensified two months ago. After a nearly three-week siege by regime troops, rebels early this month linked up with opposition-held neighbourhoods via a new road from the city's south, in a major blow to forces loyal to Assad. But fighting has continued near the new supply line, which recently has been bombarded almost daily, affecting supplies coming into the city's opposition-controlled neighbourhoods. Around 250,000 people live in the city's eastern districts, while another 1.2 million live in its western neighbourhoods. Singapore reports first locally transmitted Zika case Singapore on Saturday reported the first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus, with three other suspect infections pending confirmation. Authorities identified the confirmed patient as a 47-year-old Malaysian woman residing in the city-state. "As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore," the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency said in a joint statement late Saturday. Singapore reported the first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus on Saturday, with three other suspect infections pending confirmation Roslan Rahman (AFP/File) The woman developed fever, rash and conjunctivitis on Thursday and tested positive for the virus two days later at a local hospital, where she has since been under observation, the statement said. "The patient is currently well and recovering," it added. The health ministry is screening the woman's close contacts and is carrying out tests on other people living and working in the area exhibiting symptoms of fever and rash. The statement said three other suspect cases - two from a family who live in the area and another individual who works nearby - had preliminarily tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus based on their urine samples. The results, however, are being confirmed through further tests, the statement added. "I encourage those who are unwell and with these symptoms to visit their doctors for medical attention," said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. The Zika virus outbreak began in Brazil in early 2015 and has spread to neighbouring countries. Singapore in May reported the first imported case of Zika virus infection -- a 48-year-old male Singapore resident who had travelled to Sao Paulo in Brazil earlier in the year. In the United States more than 2,500 people have been diagnosed with Zika, most of them infected while travelling abroad. Until now, global health authorities have been primarily concerned with the danger Zika poses to pregnant women and their foetuses. Ex-Guantanamo prisoner goes on hunger strike in Venezuela: lawyer A former Guantanamo prisoner now held by Venezuela's intelligence agency has gone on hunger strike, his lawyer said Saturday. Jihad Diyab, who was relocated from Guantanamo to Uruguay nearly two years ago, was detained after traveling to Caracas in July in an apparent attempt to see family, his California-based lawyer Jon Eisenberg told AFP. In an email, Eisenberg said he was concerned about Diyab, a 45-year-old Syrian national, after failing to establish contact with him. Held in Guantanamo for 12 years without charge, Jihad Diyab, pictured on September 8, 2015, was released from the US military prison in southern Cuba to Uruguay in 2014 along with five fellow former detainees Miguel Rojo (AFP/File) "We still have not had any communication with the Venezuelan authorities," Eisenberg said. "I feared from the beginning that (the hunger strike) could take place, so I'm not surprised." Held in Guantanamo for 12 years without charge, Diyab was released from the US military prison in southern Cuba to Uruguay in 2014 along with five fellow former detainees. On August 6, Diyab's lawyer had asked the Venezuelan government for permission to speak with his client by telephone to organize his defense. A US-based human rights activist confirmed Diyab's hunger strike. Three independent sources, who asked to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the case, said the Syrian man began his protest after "learning that the foreign ministries of Venezuela and Uruguay negotiated his deportation to Uruguay," Andres Conteris said by telephone. Diyab is also refusing to take liquids, according to Conteris, of the group Witness Against Torture. He hopes to be sent to Turkey or another third country to reunite with his family. The Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the case. Conteris traveled to Venezuela earlier this month to set up a meeting, but returned to the United States without success. Eisenberg represents Diyab in a lawsuit filed against the US authorities for force-feeding prisoners on hunger strike in Guantanamo. OAS probe absolves Belize in shooting of Guatemalan teen GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Experts from the Organization for American States released a report Friday that indicates a Guatemalan teen killed in April near the two countries' border was shot by members of a conservation group. The bullets that killed 14-year-old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano came from a shotgun and a .22 rifle carried by members of a Belizean conservation group, the Friends for Conservation and Development. The group was accompanied by a lieutenant of the Belize Defense Forces, but he did not fire the shots that hit the boy. The patrol members said they fired in self-defense in a Belizean national park on the border. The shooting had threatened to turn into a diplomatic tussle between the two countries and the latest flashpoint in a longstanding territorial dispute. Guatemala claims parts of territory governed by Belize as its own. Belize said its security forces were investigating illegal land clearing in the Cebada area of the Chiquibul National Park in western Belize when they detained a Guatemalan man suspected of illicit activities. It said the patrol came under fire around nightfall and shot back in self-defense. Guatemala has said the teenager, his father and his 11-year-old brother were attacked as they were planting crops or hunting. Gov. Kate Brown announced last week that she's agreed to five debates with her Republican opponent, Bud Pierce, and was open to the possibility of perhaps holding more, depending on schedules and requests. That's good. Earlier this year, Brown seemed, shall we say, unenthusiastic about the prospect of holding debates with Pierce, the GOP newcomer who knocked off the better-known Allen Alley in the Republican primary. That lack of enthusiasm isn't particularly surprising: Speaking just in terms of political strategy, incumbents rarely have anything to gain by appearing on the same stage as their opponents. And a gaffe of any sorts committed on that stage can, in an instant, change the dynamics of a campaign. At the same time, though, Brown knew that she would have to agree to at least some debates: After all, although she's been a long-term fixture on the state's political scene, she's running for the governor's office for the first time. She was elected secretary of state, but it's probably fair to say that Oregon voters don't spend a lot of time vetting the candidates for that position. Then, as the furor that led to John Kitzhaber's resignation unfolded, we learned that the secretary of state was the next in line for the governor's chair. The lesson learned there: That secretary of state's race deserves more attention. In any event, these debates will give voters a chance to look at Brown in a different light, and also to see how Pierce holds up under the spotlight of a general election race. And you can expect the usual raft of important questions to be asked in these debates: Explain your position on Measure 97, the proposal for a tax on corporate gross receipts. If the measure passes, how should the money be spent? If the measure fails, how will we deal with looming budget shortfalls? What can the state do better in terms of helping the economy in rural parts of Oregon, which have not fully participated in the recovery that has benefited urban parts of the state? How do we ensure our institutions of higher learning (and, yes, this includes community colleges) have the resources they need to help meet the state's educational and workforce goals? These are important questions, and they need to be asked. The problem is, those are questions that both Brown and Pierce already have answered a number of times. They've got the answers down cold. What we need are some questions that are unexpected, but still fair: Questions that force the candidates off their pat answers and might offer some deeper insights into their characters and beliefs. Here are some suggestions for starting points. Remember that, for the sake of fairness, we want questions that can be asked of all the candidates. Who are the major donors to your campaign? Can you identify one important issue where you disagree with a position taken by one of your major donors? Everyone running for office in Oregon touts their ability to bridge gaps between different constituencies. Give us a specific example from the last couple of years in which you did that. Tell us about the last big mistake you made. What did you learn? Can you identify a politician on the other side of the aisle who's been an inspiration to you? (Sorry, Gov. Brown; Tom McCall is too obvious an answer.) We all agree that political discussion in the state and across the nation could use a fresh dose of civility. In that spirit, turn to your opponent and talk about one trait he or she has that you admire. (Bonus points here for eye contact and apparent sincerity.) Finally, as a tiebreaker: Who is the best cinematic James Bond? Who would be your pick to play Bond in the next movie? This is the point in the debate at which I would expect fistfights to break out. (mm) The Latest: Top Pacific Marine to keep up work with allies KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) The Latest on the Marine Corps' new commander in the Pacific (all times local): 2:15 p.m. The U.S. Marine Corps' new commander for the Pacific says he aims to carry on his predecessor's momentum on helping allies and partners develop their amphibious skills. Lt. Gen. David Berger, left, receives the U.S. Marines Forces Pacific flag from outgoing commander Lt. Gen. John Toolan during a change of command ceremony in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The U.S. Marine Corps new commander for the Pacific says he aims to carry on his predecessors momentum on helping allies and partners develop their amphibious skills. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) Lt. Gen. David Berger assumed command from Lt. Gen. John Toolan during a ceremony on Friday. Toolan told reporters after the ceremony that helping allies Japan, Australia and South Korea develop their amphibious operations was one of his top accomplishments as Marine Forces Pacific commander. Toolan says these allies have purchased new ships and their commanders have spent time with U.S. Marine leaders to learn amphibious operations doctrine. He says it's showing. Toolan says there's growing interest in amphibious capabilities in the Pacific because of China's land-reclamation efforts in the South China Sea, where several nations have contested territorial claims. ____ 3 a.m. The U.S. Marines are getting a new commander in the Pacific. Lt. Gen. David Berger is scheduled to take over at Marine Corps Forces Pacific on Friday. He succeeds Lt. Gen. John Toolan, who is retiring. Pacific Forum CSIS Executive Director Brad Glosserman says Berger will have to ensure his new command's warfighting capabilities remain sharp amid tensions on the Korean peninsula, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Glosserman says the Marines are also playing an important role in helping U.S. allies and partners in the region develop their own amphibious capabilities. Berger most recently served as the commander of a marine expeditionary force at Camp Pendleton. Marine Forces Pacific includes units in California, Hawaii, Japan and South Korea. Some are in Australia on a six-month rotation. Does China still harvest organs of executed? Doctors divided BEIJING (AP) A Canadian patient's receipt of a kidney transplant after waiting just three days during a recent visit to China raised an immediate red flag among surgeons at the Montreal-based Transplantation Society: A turnaround that quick indicates the organ likely came from the body of an executed prisoner. The case adds to doubts among many doctors internationally about whether China has met its pledge to stop harvesting the organs of executed inmates. The practice is widely condemned by the World Health Organization and others because of concerns over coercive practices and fears it could encourage executions. China officially claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. FILE - In this photo Wednesday, May 15, 2013, file photo, 47 year old Wang Hongfa holds the hand of his 8 year old son Wang Lichang at a hospital where he donated part of his liver to his ailing son as a living donor organ transplant in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province. China claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs for transplants in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) China sought to use the Transplantation Society's decision to hold its annual meeting in Hong Kong this month as validation of its transplant program. But Dr. Philip O'Connell, the society's president, rejected that interpretation, even if it appeared some reforms had been successful. "We realize that this isn't going to change in a day," O'Connell said. "It's not going to go from a system that was using organs from executed prisoners, that was driven by corruption and where organs were being paid for ... to a system that's completely open, transparent and ethical." In a country that routinely suppresses discussions of human-rights issues and cracks down on lawyers and independent groups, government officials and state media have been relatively open about China's problems with organ donation. Dr. Huang Jiefu, head of the system that supervises transplants in Chinese hospitals, has been the public face of the country's attempts to change its transplant practices. Huang publicly admitted in 2005 that doctors used executed prisoners' organs. In 2011, Huang and other officials estimated that 65 percent of transplanted organs from the deceased came from executed prisoners. In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Huang said he was confident hospitals under his purview were moving to donated organs, but that black-market surgeries still persist. "We still have a long way to go," Huang said. A former deputy health minister, Huang said he speaks to top government officials about reforms they need to make to win the world's confidence. Among the needed reforms, Huang said, is a crackdown on organ trafficking and more regulations on how organs are procured. China also needs to train far more doctors and hospitals to perform surgeries, he said. "Our organ transplantation must be 100 percent reliant on civilian, voluntary organ donation," Huang said. "Otherwise, we cannot stand on the world stage." China is believed to execute more people than any other country in the world, though the total number is kept secret. Amnesty International estimates the annual number is in thousands. A donor registry was piloted in 2010 and has been expanded into a national system. Newspapers in China often publish positive stories of families that have given the organs of a loved one, an apparent attempt to shift longstanding cultural attitudes about donation. One such story published by the Shanghai Daily newspaper earlier this month detailed the "selfless" donation of a 34-year-old doctor's organs to help six people. In what appeared to be a reference to traditional beliefs about keeping a body whole, the article quoted the doctor's wife as warning their daughter against "tying her hopes to an uncertain heavenly place." According to the government, Chinese doctors performed 10,057 organ transplants in 2015. Health officials have also said they expect to increase the number of hospitals that can perform transplants. By its own estimates, China has about 300,000 patients a year in need of organs, a challenge that will only get bigger as the world's largest population ages. Its national rate of donors leads Japan and most other Asian countries, but is far behind the United States and most nations in Western Europe. Chinese government statistics often engender deep skepticism, and critics of China's organ donation practices say they're not convinced. Some critics, citing China's history and the prevalence of black-market surgeries, contend the true number of transplants is much higher than the official numbers, and that executed prisoners remain the source for many of those organs. Dr. Torsten Trey, executive director of the advocacy group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, said international visitors were not seeing enough of the system to truly judge the accuracy of China's statistics or claims of progress. "The change was not successful, because there is no change," Trey said in an email. For more than a decade, doctors from outside China have worked with Huang and other officials. Huang said he has invited transplant surgeons to tour hospitals and meet doctors. Dr. Michael Millis, a transplant surgeon at the University of Chicago, said he's visited "several dozen" transplant centers in China as part of his volunteer work in the country. One sign of a shift, Millis said, was that doctors at those centers used to have routinely scheduled surgeries. Now, they talk of having multiple surgeries in one day or days without any surgeries at all. That indicates they are operating on the up-and-down schedule of a system fueled by voluntary donations rather than executions, Millis said. "These are the stories that I can say that my personal experience is changing and it's changing to the system that the rest of the world sees," Millis said. Millis says reports like the recent case in Canada suggest black-market surgeries still occur in China, though not at the scale alleged by others. "There is no evidence it is an extensive black-market parallel system that would generate a large number of organs from executed prisoners," Millis said, adding that unsanctioned transplants occur in other parts of the world as well. Millis and other doctors hope to improve China's system by engaging with health officials they see as receptive and willing to consider reforms. In the Canadian case, the Transplantation Society was alerted soon after the patient returned to Canada and told his doctors he had purchased a kidney and required follow-up care. The society sent a letter to Huang calling for an investigation just ahead of its annual global meeting in Hong Kong. What happened next could be considered a positive sign by those working with China. Huang said Chinese officials revoked the licenses of the surgeon and the hospital, and a criminal investigation was launched into the surgery. O'Connell said the group told Chinese officials, "This is a detriment to what you're trying to achieve, and you need to act." "The only people who can make change or reform in China are the Chinese themselves," O'Connell said. "What we're trying to do is identify people who we believe are for reform in China and trying to encourage them." ___ Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report. ___ Follow Nomaan Merchant on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nomaanmerchant FILE - In this Wednesday, May 15, 2013 file photo, 28 year old Fang Hui shows off the scar from a living donor organ transplant operation where she received a portion of her sister's liver, at a hospital in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province. China claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs for transplants in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, Dr. Huang Jiefu, a former vice health minister who has been the public face of China's changes in organ transplants, speaks during an interview in Beijing. China claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs for transplants in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, Dr. Huang Jiefu, a former vice health minister who has been the public face of China's changes in organ transplants, speaks during an interview in Beijing. China claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs for transplants in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) In this photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, a child jumps from a fountain near the sign for Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, one of the hospitals approved for organ transplants, in Beijing, China. China claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs for transplants in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) New Pacific Marine leader vows to keep up work with allies KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) The U.S. Marine Corps' new commander for the Pacific said Friday he aims to advance his predecessor's work helping allies and partners develop their skills storming beaches and moving forces ashore. Lt. Gen. David Berger made the comments after assuming command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific from Lt. Gen. John Toolan. Berger said he will make sure his new command understands what capabilities its allies want and need and how the U.S. Marines can help them. Lt. Gen. David Berger, left, receives the U.S. Marines Forces Pacific flag from outgoing commander Lt. Gen. John Toolan during a change of command ceremony in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The U.S. Marine Corps new commander for the Pacific says he aims to carry on his predecessors momentum on helping allies and partners develop their amphibious skills. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) Toolan told reporters there's growing interest in amphibious capabilities in the Pacific because of China's land-reclamation efforts in the South China Sea, where several nations have contested territorial claims. "The Vietnamese, the Filipinos, all those guys have a vested interest in the Spratlys, the Paracels. So they want to protect their sovereign territory," Toolan said. "And amphibious is the way to handle islands." Marine Forces Pacific includes units in California, Hawaii, Japan and South Korea. Some are in Australia on a six-month rotation. Berger most recently served as the commander of a marine expeditionary force at Camp Pendleton in California. Toolan was retiring after 40 years in the Marine Corps. "The momentum that he's generated I need to make sure that that doesn't stall," Berger said. Toolan told reporters that helping Japan, Australia and South Korea develop their amphibious operations had been one of his top accomplishments. Toolan also pointed to the work the Marines have done to help the Philippines military build its army so it can defend its territory and address internal security challenges. He cited the growth of what he called a "community of interest" in amphibious operations. The U.S. has been working with two dozen nations interested in developing amphibious skills, bringing them together for conferences and exercises. "It is paying huge benefits for us. And in the long run it will help us give them areas to focus on while we focus on the high end," he said. Brad Glosserman, executive director of the think tank Pacific Forum CSIS, said Berger will have to ensure his new command's warfighting capabilities remain sharp amid tensions on the Korean peninsula, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "The tip of the spear, which the Marines tend to be, needs of course to be sharp," Glosserman said. "That's the immediate concern that he's got. You're always concerned about your warfighting capability." SUV hits Amish buggy; man and child injured, horse killed HEUVELTON, N.Y. (AP) A crash involving a sport utility vehicle and an Amish buggy in northern New York has seriously injured two people. The Watertown Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/2c2Uifr ) a Jeep Cherokee rear-ended the buggy Friday night in Heuvelton, a village in St. Lawrence County near the Canadian border. A man and a child in the buggy have been hospitalized. N. Korea says UN condemnation of missile tests 'provocation' PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) North Korea on Saturday expressed anger at United Nations Security Council discussions over a statement denouncing the country's latest submarine-launched missile test. North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the U.S.-led discussions at the U.N. were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States. Jon spoke just before the Security Council concluded the discussions with a statement strongly condemning all four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, fie photo, TV screens show file footage of a North Korea's ballistic missile that North Korea claimed to have launched from underwater at the Yongsan Electronic store in Seoul, South Korea. North Korea has expressed anger at United Nations Security Council discussions over a statement denouncing the country's latest submarine-launched missile test. North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok said in an interview Saturday that the U.S.-led discussions at the U.N. were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) The statement came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast on Wednesday. South Korean defense officials said the missile was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. Jon said that the latest submarine-launched missile didn't cause any harm to the security of neighboring countries. He said it showed North Korea's "great power and inexhaustible strength in the face of the trials of history and the challenges of our enemies." "The best way for the U.S. to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control," Jon said. 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. Its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch. Benson Henderson gets 1st Bellator win when Freire quits ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Benson Henderson got his first Bellator victory Friday night when Patricio Freire quit their bout in the second round with a right leg injury. After Freire (25-4) appeared to win a dull first round at Bellator 160, he abruptly turned away from Henderson following an exchange in the second. Henderson walked around the cage shrugging his shoulders at the booing Orange County crowd while Freire sat on a stool and received medical attention on his leg, which apparently was hurt while kicking Henderson. "I guess I'll take a W any way I can get it," Henderson said. Although Henderson (24-6) got handed this win, the former UFC lightweight champion rebounded from a loss in his disappointing Bellator debut earlier this year. Immediately afterward, the promotion announced Henderson will face Michael Chandler for the 155-pound title Nov. 19. After losing to welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov in his first Bellator appearance in April, Henderson is hoping to recharge his career by ending his three-fight stint at 170 pounds and moving back down to a familiar weight. Henderson won the UFC lightweight title in February 2012 by beating Frankie Edgar, and he defended it with narrow decisions over Edgar, Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez. After losing the belt to Anthony Pettis in August 2013, he scuffled through a 4-3 stretch of UFC competition before leaving for Bellator early this year. Henderson is Bellator's biggest free-agent signing to date as the promotion pursues parity with the industry-leading UFC, but he was officially joined Friday night by Rory MacDonald, a possible future opponent. MacDonald, the former UFC welterweight title contender, announced his decision to sign with Bellator as a free agent during the show, walking into Honda Center in front of a huge Canadian flag. "Bellator gave me an offer that nobody in the world can match," MacDonald said. "They believe in me, and I'm ready to put on a show for you guys. ... I'm taking over. I'm the king of this division." Henderson joined Bellator six months ago with similar expectations of dominance, but he struggled in his first bout against the larger Koreshkov. He subsequently decided to cut down, and he will be rewarded with a bout in San Jose, California, against Chandler, one of Bellator's top talents. Freire, who shares the nickname "Pitbull" with his older brother, Patricky, has been a Bellator staple since leaving his native Brazil to sign with the promotion in 2010. The former Bellator featherweight champion has lost two of three following a seven-fight winning streak. The nephew of one of the two nuns killed in Mississippi says he is thankful someone has been arrested in the case. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68, Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said in a statement released late Friday night. The bodies of both women were discovered Thursday after they failed to show up for work at a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi, about 10 miles from where they lived. 'Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation,' Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jordan said in the statement. 'With the cooperation of the Durant and Kosciusko Police Departments, Holmes County Sheriff's Department and the Attorney General Office this heinous crime has been resolved.' Merrill's nephew, David Merrill, said he learned about the arrest of Sanders early Saturday morning. He says the family is 'thankful that he's off the streets,' but the family still has to deal with the loss. Scroll down for video Arrested: Rodney Earl Sanders (above), 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill. He faces two capital murder charges Sisters Paula Merrill (left) and Margaret Held (right) were found dead inside their Mississippi home on Thursday by authorities Merrill (pictured above) worked as a nurse and helped the poor in rural Mississippi. It's unclear how Sanders knew both of the nuns Held (pictured above) also worked as a nurse and helped the poor in rural Mississippi. Police say there were signs of a break-in at the home and their car was missing David Merrill says he agrees with the idea of forgiveness and trying to forgive the person who killed his aunt and her fellow nun. But he says he's 'not as strong' as his aunt, and he's not sure if he's 'capable of completely forgiving.' Authorities said Sanders was being held in an undisclosed detention center pending a court appearance. State Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain tells The Associated Press that as of Saturday, 'investigators believe Sanders acted alone.' Meanwhile, in the poverty-stricken Mississippi county where the two nuns were slain, forgiveness for their killer is hard to find, even if forgiveness is what the victims would have wanted. Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill were nurse practitioners who dedicated their lives to providing health care to people in the poorest county in the state. And as authorities sought the killer, many residents wondered how they will fill the hole the women's deaths have left. Sisters Margaret Held (right) and Paula Merrill (left) were nurse practitioners who dedicated their lives to providing health care to people in the poorest county in the state A memorial is placed outside the crime scene tape at the home in Durant where they were found dead Thursday Crime scene tape lines the perimeter of the home in Durant where the two nuns died 'Right now, I don't see no forgiveness on my heart,' said Joe Morgan Jr., a 58-year-old former factory worker who has diabetes and was a patient of Merrill's at the clinic where the two nuns worked. He said Merrill would want him to forgive whoever killed the women, but he hopes the perpetrator is arrested, convicted and executed. 'She doesn't deserve to die like this, doing God's work,' Morgan said, shaking his head. 'There's something wrong with the world.' Both women worked at the clinic, where they gave flu shots, dispensed insulin and provided other medical care for children and adults who couldn't afford it. Their stolen car was found abandoned a mile from their home, and there were signs of a break-in, but police haven't disclosed a motive. A Mississippi Bureau of Investigation agent takes a bag with evidence from the Durant home of two slain Catholic nuns who worked as nurses at the Lexington Medical Clinic on Thursday Two Mississippi Bureau of Investigation agents inspect a car in the garage of the Durant home of two slain Catholic nuns who worked as nurses at the Lexington Medical Clinic on Thursday Authorities have not said how the women were killed, but the Rev. Greg Plata of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, where the nuns had led Bible study for years, said police told him they were stabbed. Plata said Saturday that he does not think people at the church knew. The state posted a reward of $20,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The clinic where two slain nuns worked says the man accused of killing them was not a patient there. Dr. Elias Abboud, the physician who oversees the clinic, says he called the office manager after he saw there was an arrest made to check if Sanders had been a patient at the clinic but he was not. Durant Police Chief John Haynes (left) and assistant Police Chief James Lee reassure Lexington Medical Clinic employees Lisa Dew (right) and Viola Turner (seated) that the investigation into the nunsdeath was going to be thorough Abboud says the community and the patients will miss them. Plata said both nuns' religious communities have asked that people pray for the killer or killers. Asked about people's struggles to forgive, the priest said: 'Forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian. Look at Jesus on the cross: 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.'' On Friday, a handwritten sign on the front door of Lexington Medical Clinic said it was closed until Monday. The clinic and the nuns' home in Durant are in Holmes County, population 18,000. With 44 percent of its residents living in poverty, Holmes is the seventh-poorest county in America, according to the Census Bureau. Joe Morgan Jr. (above) said 'Sister Paula was an angel.' The two women were known for their kindness and community involvement in the mostly rural Mississippi Delta towns The slayings did more than shock people and plunge the county into mourning. They leave a gaping hole in what was already a strapped health care system. Abboud, who worked with the sisters for years and helped build the clinic, said it provided about 25 percent of all medical care in the county. The two nuns cultivated relationships with drug company representatives, who often left extra free samples, according to clinic manager Lisa Dew. 'This is a poor area, and they dignified those who are poor with outreach and respect for them,' Plata said. 'They treated each person as a child of God.' Merrill's sister Rosemarie, speaking by telephone from her Stoneham, Massachusetts, home, said her sister had been in Mississippi helping the poor since 1981 and had previously worked in Holly Springs, where she used to ride around on a moped and was instrumental in locating the source of a tuberculosis outbreak. Margaret Held was part of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee (above, file photo) Merrill was raised in the suburbs of Boston and came from a working-class family, her father a laborer and her mother a bookkeeper, her nephew David said. He said his aunt had worked with Held for many years. 'We always considered Margaret just part of the family,' he said. 'The word 'sister' has many meanings, and they fulfilled all of them.' Rosemarie Merrill said she doesn't know what will happen to the clinic now and worries about the effect on health care in Holmes County. She said her sister and Held would often go into the clinic on Sundays after Mass or on their days off. 'It's just going to be a disaster,' she said. Grief erupts in Italy as nation honors, buries quake dead ASCOLI PICENO, Italy (AP) Mourners in Italy prayed, hugged, wept and even applauded as coffins carrying victims of the country's devastating earthquake passed by at a state funeral Saturday, grieving as one nation after three desperate days of trying to save as many people as possible. In the central town of Ascoli Piceno, they gathered to bid farewell to 35 of the 291 people confirmed dead so far after the quake that struck a swath of countryside early Wednesday at the foothills of the central Apennine mountains. The caskets of 35 people had been brought to a community gym one of the few structures in the area still intact and large enough to hold hundreds of mourners. The local bishop, Giovanni D'Ercole, celebrated Mass beneath a crucifix he had retrieved from one of the damaged churches in the picturesque area of medieval stone towns and hamlets. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, left, comforts a woman at the end of the state funeral service for some of the victims of the earthquake that hit central Italy last Wednesday, in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Emotions that had been dammed up for days broke in a crescendo of grief. One young man wept over a little girl's white coffin. Another woman gently stroked another small casket. Many mourners were recovering from injuries themselves, some wrapped in bandages. Everywhere people knelt at coffins, tears running down their cheeks, their arms around loved ones. "It is a great tragedy. There are no words to describe it," said Gina Razzetti, a resident at the funeral. "Each one of us has our pain inside. We are thinking about the families who lost relatives, who lost their homes, who lost everything." As all of Italy observed a day of national mourning, with flags at half-staff, Bishop D'Ercole urged residents to rebuild their communities. "Don't be afraid to cry out your suffering I have seen a lot of this but please do not lose courage," D'Ercole said in his homily. "Only together can we rebuild our houses and our churches. Together, above all, we will be able to restore life to our communities." President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members, stopping to speak to some of them. When the caskets were brought out of the gym, the mourners applauded, a traditional Italian way of honoring people who die in tragedy. The bishop recalled the heartbreaking story of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, whose embrace apparently allowed her younger sister Giorgia to survive. He said 15 hours after the quake struck Wednesday, he returned to the church in Pescara Del Tronto to recover its crucifix. Close by, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters. "The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace," D'Ercole said. Giulia was among those buried Saturday, while her younger sister had her fourth birthday at a hospital, trying to recover from the traumatizing ordeal. "The melancholy grabs on to your heart. You feel a sense of weakness, of depression," said Fiore Ciotto, a resident of Ascoli Piceno who attended the funeral. "An event like this weakens you physically and mentally." Across the area, a cool retreat for those seeking to escape Italy's hot summers, many of the dead were children and elderly people, some of them visiting grandparents before school resumed. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, killing at least 291 people and injuring nearly 400. Nobody has been found alive in the ruins since Wednesday, and hopes have nearly vanished of finding any more survivors. Before Saturday's mass funeral, the president visited Amatrice, which bore the brunt of destruction with 230 fatalities and a town turned to rubble and dust. Eleven others died in nearby Accumoli and 50 more in Arquata del Tronto, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Amatrice. Mattarella arrived by helicopter and was shown the extent of the damage in Amatrice by its mayor, Sergio Pirozzi. The president thanked rescue workers who have been working around the clock, some barely taking breaks for sleeping. Saturday's funeral involved most of the dead from Arquata del Tronto. As deep as their anguish was, Saturday's mourners at least had coffins with bodies to honor and bury. Many of the dead from Amatrice are now in a refrigerated morgue in an airport hangar in Rieti, the provincial capital that is 65 kilometers (40 miles) away, awaiting identification. On Tuesday, a memorial service without the bodies will be held for the dead of Amatrice on that battered town's outskirts. Hundreds of people have been left homeless by the quake, with many spending their nights in tent cities and a gym in Amatrice, where volunteers are working to provide basic amenities. With families unable to remain in the houses in Amatrice that were damaged but still standing, two persons were detained Saturday for suspected looting, the mayor said. Overnight, residents were rattled yet again by a series of aftershocks. The strongest, at 4:50 a.m., had a magnitude of 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4. The Italian institute says the earthquake caused the ground below Accumoli to sink 20 centimeters (8 inches), according to satellite images. ___ Gera reported from Rome. Frances D'Emilio contributed reporting from Rieti. ___ This story has corrected that the president's first name is Sergio. Relatives and friends mourn during the state funeral service of some of the earthquake victims in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) From left, Italian Lower House Speaker Laura Boldrini, Premier Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini attend the mass funeral in Ascoli Piceno, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, for some of the victims of the earthquake that devastated the region on Wednesday. Residents of an Italian region devastated by an earthquake were rattled by a series of aftershocks overnight, the strongest measuring 4.2, as Italy began a day of national mourning on Saturday. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) Relatives mourn during the state funeral service of some of the earthquake victims in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A tombstone is heaped up with rubbles of the St. Angelo's cemetery, in central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, where graves were cracked after a major earthquake hit the region on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Caskets emerge from the rubbles of the St. Angelo's cemetery, in central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, after a major earthquake hit the region on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) A view of the collapsed church of St. Angelo's cemetery, in central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, where graves were cracked after a major earthquake hit the region on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian Premier Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini attend, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, the mass funeral for some of the victims of the earthquake that devastated central Italy on Wednesday. Residents of an Italian region devastated by an earthquake were rattled by a series of aftershocks overnight, the strongest measuring 4.2, as Italy began a day of national mourning on Saturday. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP) Relatives hold their hands during the state funeral service of some of the earthquake victims in the gymnasium of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) This photo released by Italian Presidency press office Saturday Aug.27, 2016, shows Italian President Sergio Mattarella hugging Stefano Petrucci, mayor of Accumuli, central Italy, one of the town devastated in the earthquake that hit central Italy this week and the place with the highest death toll. ( Francesco Ammendola/Italian Presidency Press Office via AP) Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, left, comforts the mayor of Arquata, Aleandro Petrucci during the funeral service of some of the earthquake victims in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A woman kisses the coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo as it is carried outside the gymnasium at the end of the state funeral service for some of the victims of the earthquake that hit central Italy last Wednesday, in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole, left, delivers his speech as he celebrates the funeral service of some of the earthquake victims in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Firefighters carry the coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo outside the gymnasium where the state funeral service for some of the victims of the earthquake that hit central Italy last Wednesday took place, in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Firefighters recover paintings from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters recover paintings from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters work along the main street in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters recover paintings from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters recover a painting from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) People walk past rubble in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesdays quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters recover paintings from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) An Italian army soldier walks past rubble in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters clear rubbles in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (Roberto Salomone/ANSA via AP) An Italian army soldier walks past rubble in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) A man stands in front of his collapsed house after recovering his personal belongings, in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesdays quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) The casket of one of the victims of Wednesday's earthquake that hit central Italy is taken to be buried in the cemetery of Arquata del Tronto, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The casket of one of the victims of Wednesday's earthquake that hit central Italy is taken to be buried in the cemetery of Arquata del Tronto, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Firefighters work outside the Hotel Roma in Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday's quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters helps a man to get his personal belongings from his damaged house in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesdays quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) A collapsed house in Villa San Lorenzo, near Amatrice, central Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesdays quake. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Mosul fight is already redrawing the map of northern Iraq QARQASHAH, Iraq (AP) In the buildup to a long-awaited offensive on the city of Mosul, Kurdish forces are seizing new territory in northern Iraq that they say will become part of their autonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between the Kurds and the Baghdad government and Shiite militias, all ostensibly allies in the fight against the Islamic State group. Just east of Mosul, Kurdish engineering teams on a recent day were laying down a 3-meter wide, 20-kilometer long trench and 2-meter high berms, marking the new front line after recapturing the village of Qarqashah and neighboring hamlets from IS earlier this month. The new de facto borders established by the Kurdish fighters, known as peshmerga, raise the potential for conflict between Iraq's Kurds and Arabs after any eventual defeat of IS just as in neighboring Syria, where Kurds have also dramatically expanded their zone of control. FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 file photo, a Kurdish peshmerga fighter pauses during an operation to retake the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. In the shadow of the buildup to the long-awaited Mosul offensive, Kurdish forces are seizing additional territory that they say will become part of their semiautonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between two groups ostensibly allied in the fight against the Islamic State group: Iraqs Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga and the countrys powerful Shiite militias. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) "All the areas that have been liberated by the peshmerga forces, our (Kurdish) forces will stay there," said Falah Mustafa, the head of the Iraqi Kurdish region's foreign relations department, echoing statements by numerous officials. Largely with the help of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, Kurdish forces have taken territory equivalent to around 50 percent of the size of their recognized autonomous zone. Their first gain came just days after IS militants took Mosul in the summer of 2014 and stormed down into central Iraq as the military collapsed. Kurdish forces seized the city of Kirkuk, which they have long claimed as their own. Ostensibly, the move was to protect the city from IS, but Kurdish President Massoud Barzani quickly said the Kurds would keep it. From there, they continued pushing IS out, capturing much of the surrounding province. Since then, they have taken further territory in the nearby Ninevah province, where Mosul is located, with "shaping operations" ahead of an expected assault on the city. Much of it is territory with a large Kurdish community that the regional government has claimed for years but not all, meaning the grabs are bringing in populations where some are wary of Kurdish domination. Similarly, in neighboring Syria, long-oppressed Kurds have used the chaos of the civil war and fight against IS to carve out a zone of control across the country's north. The new clout of the main Syrian Kurdish fighting force, known as the YPG, has led to tensions with almost every player on the ground there, including Sunni Arab rebels and government forces. Turkey this week launched a major cross-border offensive, aimed mainly at limiting Kurdish expansion. In Iraq, after the capture of the Qarqashah area, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pointedly demanded a halt to the peshmerga advances. But the Kurds refused. The Kurdish regional government's spokesman, Safeen Dizayee, said the peshmerga "will not stop their advances until all Kurdistan's territories in the Ninevah region are liberated." He added that they will not withdraw "from areas they are going to liberate in the future." Al-Abadi seemed to soften his stance, saying all forces have the right to participate in the Mosul offensive. Still, he underlined that "Ninevah will stay unified." But Barzani in recent weeks has said a "new formula" is needed to administer the province, without elaborating. Mustafa said the Kurds were acting because minority groups in Ninevah no longer trust the central government to ensure their safety after the rise of Shiite militias that have been accused of abuses in past anti-IS operations. Both the peshmerga and the Shiite Arab militias have steadily grown more powerful as the United States and Iran have funneled weapons, training and money into Iraq to back the fight against IS. Some 230 kilometers (140 miles) southeast of Mosul, deadly clashes broke out in April between Kurdish fighters and Shiite militias in the town of Tuz Khormato, home to Kurds, Sunni Arabs and Shiite Turkmens. Shiite fighters accuse the Kurdish forces of destroying homes belonging to the town's Turkmen residents. Kurdish forces in turn accuse the Shiite fighters of arbitrarily detaining Sunni Arab residents. Checkpoints and sandbag barriers carve up the town, separating the two sides. Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a Shiite Turkmen member of parliament from the Mosul area, said he worries a similar scenario will play out in parts of Ninevah after Mosul is retaken. "The Kurds have forces to defend their areas. If we need forces to protect our areas, we will use the Popular Mobilization Forces," he said, referring to the state-backed organization under which the militias are grouped. A spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Forces, Hashim al-Musawi, said "we have real concerns about the Kurdish forces." He cited reports that Kurds have deported Arab civilians from recaptured territory. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published reports documenting such allegations. Almost a year ago, Kurdish forces retook the northwestern region of Sinjar, dominated by the Yazidi religious minority, who were subjected to massacres and enslavement under IS rule. Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled into the Kurdish region for protection. Many Yazidis do not consider themselves Kurdish, but rather a distinct ethnic minority, yet Kurdish politicians laid claim to Sinjar during the same press conference in which they declared it "liberated." Shiite militiamen have also altered Iraq's demography after pushing IS out of hundreds of villages in central Diyala and Salahuddin provinces and largely administering security in the areas they retook. While not backed by coalition airstrikes, Iranian advisers, weapons and funding have helped the militias outstrip Iraq's conventional armed forces. Many of the mostly Sunni Iraqis who were displaced from those provinces by the violence say they don't feel safe returning with militias in control. Others have been prevented from returning due to strict so-called security checks. Lukman Sharawani, commander of a small unit of Kurdish fighters stationed north of Mosul, explained that Ninevah his home province was once one of the most diverse parts of Iraq. "Mosul has always been a multi-ethnic city," he said. The plain that lies to the north and east of Mosul is home to some of the region's oldest Christian communities as well as villages that were once home to Shabaks, Yazidis and Kurds. He pointed to allegations of looting, destruction and arbitrary detentions by Shiite militias after IS was driven out of the western city of Fallujah this year. "We don't want the same to happen here," he said. __ Abdul-Zahra reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writers Balint Szlanko and Salar Salim contributed to this report. FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Kurdish peshmerga fighters fire into the air while celebrating the retaking of Sinjar, northern Iraq. In the shadow of the buildup to the long-awaited Mosul offensive, Kurdish forces are seizing additional territory that they say will become part of their semiautonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between two groups ostensibly allied in the fight against the Islamic State group: Iraqs Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga and the countrys powerful Shiite militias. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, file photo, a Kurdish fighter, known as a peshmerga, yawns as he stands guard on the frontline in Sinjar, Iraq. In the shadow of the buildup to the long-awaited Mosul offensive, Kurdish forces are seizing additional territory that they say will become part of their semiautonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between two groups ostensibly allied in the fight against the Islamic State group: Iraqs Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga and the countrys powerful Shiite militias.(AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2015, file photo, a Kurdish peshmerga fighter stands next to a destroyed building inside the town of Sinjar, northern Iraq. In the shadow of the buildup to the long-awaited Mosul offensive, Kurdish forces are seizing additional territory that they say will become part of their semiautonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between two groups ostensibly allied in the fight against the Islamic State group: Iraqs Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga and the countrys powerful Shiite militias.(AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) 'Religious vote' hears messages from both candidates ATLANTA (AP) Republican Donald Trump has told conservative evangelical pastors in Florida that his presidency would preserve "religious liberty" and reverse what he insists is a government-enforced muzzling of Christians. The same afternoon, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine praised a more liberal group of black church leaders in Louisiana for their "progressive values that are the values of Scripture," and he urged them to see Hillary Clinton as a kindred spirit. The competing appearances earlier this month highlight an oft-overlooked political reality: The "religious vote" is vast and complex, and it extends beyond generalizations about "social conservatives" who side with Republicans and black Protestant churches whose pastors and parishioners opt nearly unanimously for Democrats. FILE - In this April 18, 2016 file photo, Pastor Darrell Scott listens at left as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in Trump Tower building in New York. Competing appearances earlier this month by Trump and Hillary Clinton highlight an oft-overlooked political reality: The religious vote is vast and complex, and it extends beyond generalizations about social conservatives who side with Republicans and black Protestant churches whose pastors and parishioners opt nearly unanimously for Democrats. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) An overview of how the dynamics among religious voters could help determine the 45th president. ___ HOW RELIGIOUS ARE AMERICAN VOTERS? There's a reason politicians chase steeples. Exit polls from recent elections suggest religiously affiliated Americans and those who attend services regularly are more likely to vote than those who claim no organized faith identity. In 2012 exit polls, almost nine out of 10 voters claimed some religious affiliation and eight out of 10 voters identified as Christian. That's a higher proportion than what surveys typically find in the general population: A 2014 Pew Research Center survey found that three out of four people claim a religious affiliation, while seven out of 10 Americans are Christian. Still, there's no absolute count of who believes what, since the government's census doesn't ask. ___ MOST CHRISTIANS ARE REPUBLICANS, RIGHT? White Christians do skew toward Republicans. President Barack Obama won about 40 percent of white Catholics, according to 2012 exit polls. He won less than a third of white non-Catholic Christians. A slice of that group, white evangelical or "born-again" Christians, are even more conservative, with a strong opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage, along with strong support for Israel. Obama won just a fifth of them. Yet those groups are just a subset of religious voters, and the Democratic nominee still gets some of that vote. White non-Catholic Christians cast about 40 percent of the 2012 ballots, with white Catholics responsible for less than a fifth. The "born-again" white evangelical vote accounted for just a quarter of the overall electorate same as the total Catholic vote that includes millions of Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans. Black and Hispanic voters, meanwhile, also form key pieces of the religious vote, and they lean heavily in Democrats' favor. ___ TRUMP AND WHITE EVANGELICALS In Florida, Trump told pastors he's not their "perfect" candidate. He's drawn fire for his boasts about sexual exploits and his caustic rhetoric about immigrants. But he's tapped Mike Pence as his running mate, touting the Indiana governor's staunch anti-abortion, anti-gay rights record that appeals to many white religious conservatives. Trump compares himself to Ronald Reagan, another divorced candidate initially questioned and then embraced by conservative religious leaders. Reagan "knew how to win," Trump reminded the pastors in Florida. Arguing that too many evangelicals stayed home for Obama's victories, Trump says he's the movement's best chance for conservative federal court appointments and relaxing the ban on tax-exempt churches participating in blatant political activity. Yet Trump also risks his own oversimplifications. He urged the Florida assembly to "get your people out to vote," pointing specifically at Utah, a GOP-stronghold where he is underperforming. Utah is, in fact, heavily Mormon. ___ CLINTON, THE METHODIST Just as Trump is aiming for traditionally Republican religious sectors, Clinton's is focusing most heavily on a Democratic trove: the black church. The group Kaine addressed in New Orleans was the Progressive National Baptist Convention, an outgrowth of the civil rights movement. Clinton's staff includes a "national African-American faith outreach director." Still, Clinton bets that Trump's atypical GOP profile gives her some opening. She touts her Methodist faith, and some of her arguments about Trump's temperament and his treatment of others are aimed broadly at moderate and even Republican voters who prioritize their faith. ___ IS THERE A BELLWETHER? The winner among Catholics has also won the national popular vote in every presidential election since 1972. But it's really more a function of math: Catholics cast about a quarter of presidential ballots, and the group is ideologically, ethnically, racially and geographically diverse. So it's basically a massive sample size of the complete electorate. For example, Mitt Romney won six out of 10 white Catholics in 2012, about the same proportion he claimed among all whites; Obama dominated among non-white Catholics, just as he did among other non-whites. Together, Obama won a narrow majority of the Catholic vote, not much different than his national popular vote share. ___ WHERE IT MATTERS MOST? Each party's religious anchors black Protestants for Democrats, white evangelicals for Republicans figure prominently in Southern battlegrounds of Florida, North Carolina and Virginia (and Georgia, assuming that traditionally GOP state stays competitive). They also are important in Ohio, though the Midwestern band of states that Trump will depend on for any chance of victory generally is whiter and more Catholic than the Southern battlegrounds. ___ Follow Barrow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP. ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. Note: I'm not savvy enough to know about blog cookies; if there's a concern on your part, it's probably best not to visit my pages. Despite the FBI branding Hillary Clinton 'careless' over her email server scandal, she had her first national security briefing as the Democratic presidential nominee on Saturday. Clinton met with intelligence officials for an overview of the major threats facing the nation around the globe. She attended the briefing for more than two hours at the FBI office in White Plains, New York, near her suburban New York City home. As President Barack Obama's secretary of state, Clinton held a high security clearance and received a copy of the President's Daily Brief the highest-level U.S. intelligence document that includes sensitive intelligence and analysis from around the world. Saturday's briefing was Clinton's first since becoming her party's nominee and she did not receive it with any aides present, her campaign said. Some of Clinton's critics say her use of a private email server while secretary of state raises concern over her ability to protect classified information. Scroll down for video Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, seen in silhouette center, arrives at an FBI office in White Plains, New York, on Saturday for a national security briefing Clinton attended the briefing for more than two hours at the FBI office. Above is her motorcade arriving at the FBI office in White Plains, New York on Saturday Clinton met with intelligence officials for an overview of the major threats facing the nation around the globe. Above is her motorcade arriving at the FBI office Last month, House Speaker Paul Ryan called for Clinton's access to classified government information be stripped. Ryan, who receives top level information as speaker and who got classified briefings as Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate in 2012, said Clinton should have her access to classified information stripped because of her actions. 'Comey said short of prosecution some kind of administration action should occur bringing consequences. I think the DNI, the director of national intelligence, should block her access to classified information given how recklessly she handled this during the presidential campaign,' Ryan said. 'She becomes president that's one thing. But I don't think she should get classified information and I think the DNI should block it given how recklessly she handled this,' Ryan told Fox News' Megyn Kelly. Republican Donald Trump received his briefing earlier this month, a customary move for major party nominees but one that has been the subject of a political tussle during the campaign. Some Trump critics have questioned whether he could responsibly handle sensitive information. Trump was accompanied by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie when he received his briefing. The briefings, which are delivered by career staffers from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, have been traditional for presidential nominees for more than 60 years to ensure a smooth transition for the next commander in chief. Trump was campaigning on Saturday in Iowa, headlining Republican Sen. Joni Ernst's annual 'Roast and Ride' fundraiser at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The celebrity businessman was not planning to join the 42-mile motorcycle ride that is part of the event but bringing his campaign to a state where polls show a tight contest, a rare bright spot for Trump amid a sea of challenging battleground states. Trump and Clinton (above) are polling 'about even' in Iowa, Gov. Terry Branstadhe said. Clinton has already launched campaign ads in the state Clinton has said that Trump and his supporters have taken on extremist views, casting the race in a Friday MSNBC interview as 'not a normal choice between a Republican and a Democrat' In an interview with The Associated Press, Iowa's Republican Gov. Terry Branstad said he'd like Trump to focus his message more on a renewable fuel standard that is important to his state's corn farmers. Trump and Clinton are polling 'about even' in Iowa, he added, and he'd like Trump to launch campaign ads in the state since Clinton has already done so. 'I don't like that but hopefully that's going to change,' he said. The activities capped a week that saw some of the harshest exchanges between the two presidential rivals, with Clinton asserting in a fiery Reno, Nevada, speech on Thursday that Trump was stoking a 'radical fringe' within the Republican Party, including anti-Semites and white supremacists. Trump, who is trying to win over moderate voters and minorities who have been unsettled by some of his provocative remarks and policy proposals, has tried to paint Clinton as a racist. The Republican released an online video that includes footage of the former first lady referring to some young criminals as 'super predators' in the 1990s. The video also shows Clinton's former Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, denouncing the phrase as 'a racist term.' Clinton has since apologized. Trump received his security briefing earlier this month, a customary move for major party nominees but one that has been the subject of a political tussle during the campaign Trump was campaigning on Saturday in Iowa, headlining Republican Sen. Joni Ernst's annual 'Roast and Ride' fundraiser at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Above people wait to hear Trump speak in Iowa on Saturday Clinton has said that Trump and his supporters have taken on extremist views, casting the race in a Friday MSNBC interview as 'not a normal choice between a Republican and a Democrat.' Trump is trying to shore up his standing with Latino voters. In Las Vegas, Trump met Friday with two dozen Latino supporters to discuss strategies for boosting Hispanic turnout in the swing state. He has sought to make the case that his economic policies would be better for small minority-owned businesses than those of Clinton. 'People don't know how well we're doing with the Hispanics, the Latinos,' Trump said at his hotel just off the Vegas Strip. 'We're doing really well.' Trump has suggested that minorities have been left behind by Democratic economic policies and hammered the nation's sluggish GDP growth as 'a catastrophe.' But he has continued to send mixed signals about a key issue for many Latinos: immigration. While he has not wavered on his desire to build an impenetrable wall along the border with Mexico, he exhibited indecisiveness in recent days about his plan to deport 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Despite progress, US-Russia fall short on truce for Syria GENEVA (AP) The United States and Russia say they have resolved a number of issues standing in the way of restoring a nationwide truce to Syria and opening up aid deliveries, but were unable once again to forge a comprehensive agreement on stepping up cooperation to end the brutal war that has killed hundreds of thousands. After meeting off-and-on for nearly 10 hours in Geneva on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov could point to only incremental progress in filling in details of a broad understanding to boost joint efforts that was reached last month in Moscow. Their failure to reach an overall deal highlighted the increasingly complex situation on the ground in Syria including new Russian-backed Syrian government attacks on opposition forces, the intermingling of some of those opposition forces with an al-Qaida affiliate not covered by the truce and the surrender of a rebel-held suburb of Damascus as well as deep divisions and mistrust dividing Washington and Moscow. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, walk to their seats prior to a bilateral meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The U.S. and Russia renewed efforts to secure a military and humanitarian cooperation agreement for war-torn Syria as conditions on the ground continued to deteriorate after months of hesitation, missed deadlines and failed attempts to forge a nationwide truce. (Martial Trezzini/Pool Photo via AP) The complexities have also grown with the increasing internationalization of what has largely become a proxy war between regional and world powers, highlighted by a move by Turkish troops across the Syrian border against Islamic State fighters this week. Kerry said he and Lavrov had agreed on the "vast majority" of technical discussions on steps to reinstate a cease-fire and improve humanitarian access. But critical sticking points remain unresolved and experts will remain in Geneva with an eye toward finalizing those in the coming days, he said. "We are close," Kerry said. "But we are not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people." Lavrov echoed that, saying "we still need to finalize a few issues" and pointed to the need to separate fighters from the al-Nusra Front, which has ties to al-Qaida, from U.S.-backed fighters who hold parts of northwest Syria. "We have continued our efforts to reduce the areas where we lack understanding and trust, which is an achievement," Lavrov said. "The mutual trust is growing with every meeting." Yet, it was clear that neither side believes an overall agreement is imminent or even achievable after numerous previous disappointments shattered a brief period of relative calm earlier this year. The inability to wrest an agreement between Russia and the U.S. as the major sponsors of the opposing sides in the stalled Syria peace talks all but spells another missed deadline for the U.N. Syria envoy to get the Syrian government and "moderate" opposition back to the table. The U.N. envoy, Staffan de Mistura, briefly sat in Friday with Kerry and Lavrov. After missing an initial target date of Aug. 1, de Mistura had hoped to restart the intra-Syrian discussions toward political transition in late August. He suspended the talks in late April after a resurgence in the fighting. Friday's meeting came a month after the Kerry and Lavrov met in Moscow and agreed on a number of unspecified actions to get the all-but-ignored truce back in force. However, as in Moscow, neither Kerry nor Lavrov would describe them in detail. In a nod to previous failed attempts to resurrect the cessation of hostilities, Kerry stressed the importance of keeping the details secret. "We do not want to make an announcement ... that is not enforceable, that doesn't have details worked out, that winds up in the place that the last two announcements have wound up," Kerry said. "Until we have, neither of us are prepared to make an announcement that is predicated for failure. We don't want a deal for the sake of the deal, we want a deal that is effective." And, underscoring deep differences over developments on the ground, Kerry noted that Russia disputes the U.S. "narrative" of recent attacks on heavily populated areas being conducted by Syrian forces, Russia itself and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Russia maintains the attacks it has been involved in have targeted legitimate terrorist targets, while the U.S. says they have hit moderate opposition forces. Expectations had been low for the talks, 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 Obama 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. Last week, the U.S. had to call for Russian help when Syrian warplanes struck an area not far from where U.S. troops were operating. U.S. officials say it is imperative that Russia use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad to halt all 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. For their part, U.S. officials say they are willing to press rebels groups they support harder on separating themselves from the Islamic State and al-Nusra, which despite a recent name change is still viewed as al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria. 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. Meanwhile, in a blow to the opposition, rebel forces and civilians in the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya were to be evacuated on Friday after agreeing to surrender the town late Thursday after four years of grueling bombardment and a crippling siege that left the sprawling area in ruins. The surrender of Daraya, which became an early symbol of the nascent uprising against Assad, marks a success for his government, removing a persistent threat only a few miles from his seat of power. Referring to Daraya, Lavrov said: "This is an example I think will get some following." He said the Russian military's reconciliation center in Syria has received a request from another area to organize a similar operation with Russian mediation. ___ Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov contributed from Moscow. Filipinos seen backing Duterte despite rising drug killings MANILA, Philippines (AP) On the day he was sworn into office, President Rodrigo Duterte went to a Manila slum and exhorted residents who knew any drug addicts to "go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful." Two months later, nearly 2,000 suspected drug pushers and users lay dead as morgues continue to fill up. Faced with criticism of his actions by rights activists, international bodies and outspoken Filipinos, including the top judge, Duterte has stuck to his guns and threatened to declare martial law if the Supreme Court meddles in his work. According to a survey early last month, he has the support of nearly 91 percent of Filipinos. The independent poll was done during his first week in office, and no new surveys have come out since then. FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures with a fist bump during his visit to the Philippine Army's Camp Mateo Capinpin at Tanay township, Rizal province east of Manila, Philippines. Since Duterte unleashed a massive anti-drug crackdown after taking office barely two months ago, nearly 2,000 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed. He has called the pope a son of a bitch, the U.S. ambassador gay, the United Nations inutile, and threatened to declare martial law if the Supreme Court meddles in his work. But, according to a survey early last month, he has the support of nearly 91 percent of Filipinos. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) National police chief Ronald dela Rosa told a Senate hearing this week that police have recorded more than 1,900 dead, including 756 suspected drug dealers and users who were gunned down after they resisted arrest. More than 1,000 other deaths are under investigation, and some of them may not be drug-related, he said. Jayeel Cornelio, a doctor of sociology and director of Ateneo de Manila University's Development Studies Program, said he suspects only a few of Duterte's supporters are disillusioned by the killings and his rhetoric because voters trust his campaign promise to crush drug criminals. They also find resonance in his cursing and no-holds-barred comments. Duterte's death threats against criminals, his promise to battle corruption, his anti-establishment rhetoric and gutter humor have enamored Filipinos living on the margins of society. He overwhelmingly won the election, mirroring public exasperation over the social ills he condemns. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has said the killings "may be a necessary evil in the pursuit of a greater good," a sentiment echoed by a deluge of comments by Duterte supporters in social media deriding his critics and defending the brutal war on drugs. "The killings are OK so there will be less criminals, drug pushers and drug addicts in our society," said Rex Alisoso, a 25-year-old cleaner in Manila. He said people have gotten used to the way Duterte talks and voted for him knowing his ways. Kim Labasan, a Manila shopkeeper, said she does not like Duterte's constant swearing, his "stepping on too many toes," and his decision to allow late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery. But she supports the anti-drug war despite the rising death toll because, she said, she has personally seen the effects of drugs. Addicts in her hometown north of Manila have ended up with "poisoned brains" and even robbed her family's home. "A battle of moralities is being waged right now by this administration before, if you were a human rights advocate you are a hero of the country, now you are seen as someone who can destroy the country," Cornelio said. He said that Duterte fosters "penal populism" identifying a particular enemy, a criminal, and then hunting him down to death. Because the results are visible, tangible and people feel it, "it becomes more important than many other things to the ordinary person." Duterte has said drugs were destroying the country. In his State of the Nation Address last month, he said "human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country." He also lashed out at U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him gay in derogatory terms, after he criticized Duterte's rape comments during the presidential campaign. He threatened to pull the Philippines out of the United Nations because of U.N. comments condemning extrajudicial killings, saying he did not "give a shit" about the consequences. The following day, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the Philippines was not leaving the U.N. and Duterte made the comment only because he was tired, angry and frustrated. Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, said Duterte "is streamrolling the rule of law and its advocates both at home and abroad." The killings suggest his aggressive rhetoric advocating extrajudicial solutions to criminality has found a receptive audience, Kine said. "His supporters are cheering him on, but wait till one of them is killed," said Ferdie Monasterio, a driver of a ride-sharing company who doesn't support Duterte. "He is no different from Marcos and it looks like he wants to establish a dictatorship." Cornelio said the death toll is not the clincher in turning public sentiment against Duterte, because a lot of people look at them as justified killings. He said that Dutere's first year in office will be crucial since he promised quick action. Tunisia's new government seeks stronger economy, security TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) Tunisia's Parliament has approved Youssef Chahed as prime minister along with a new government focused on boosting the economy and fighting terrorism. Chahed's Cabinet was confirmed Friday night in a 167-22 vote with five abstentions. The government has more women and younger politicians in its mix, but it retains previous ministers in the key posts of defense, interior and foreign affairs. The 41-year-old Chahed, a member of the president's Nida Tounes party, was appointed after last month's collapse of the previous government. Since its 2011 revolution, Tunisia has struggled with soaring unemployment and a slump in tourism following last year's Islamic extremist attacks on a beach resort and museum that killed some 60 people. Newly named Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, standing at right, delivers his speech at the Parliament in Tunis, Friday Aug. 26, 2016 ahead of a confidence vote. Chahed, 41, was minister for local affairs in the government of Habib Essid that fell last month. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Reducing deficits and reviving tourism pose major challenges for the new government, while the production of a key export, phosphate, has shrunk 60 percent since the Arab Spring. The new finance minister, 55-year-old state bank director Lamia Zribi, is one of eight women in the Cabinet. Chahed pledged to fight corruption and ordered all ministers to declare their assets within two weeks. The prime minister said security efforts would be fully funded and the government would focus on cutting off extremists' own sources of finance. Critics warned that the new government, with 40 ministers and junior ministers, would be too big and wasteful at a time of budget austerity, increasing risks that the country could become dependent on support from the International Monetary Fund. Chahed called for national unity after a rocky transition to democracy and said citizens people must make sacrifices to improve the economy. "We must mobilize ourselves to save Tunisia so that democracy succeeds, and to give new hope to the youth and all Tunisians," he said to a standing ovation from lawmakers. Newly named Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, center, delivers his speech at f the Parliament in Tunis, Friday Aug. 26, 2016 ahead of a confidence vote. Chahed, 41, was minister for local affairs in the government of Habib Essid that fell last month. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Malaysian students rally to demand prime minister's arrest KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Malaysian student activists led a rally Saturday to demand the arrest of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been implicated in a U.S. government probe into massive fraud in a Malaysian investment fund. More than 1,000 people defied a police ban as they congregated at two locations in Kuala Lumpur and marched to historic Independence Square. They held posters and caricatures of Najib, with some chanting "Catch, catch Najib." The U.S. Department of Justice said last month that at least $3.5 billion had been stolen from 1MDB, a Malaysian fund founded by Najib. It has initiated action to seize $1.3 billion it said was used to buy assets in the U.S. It said in court filings that more than $700 million had landed in the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1." It didn't name the official, but appeared to be referring to Najib. Allegations against 1MDB have gained steam, but Najib has steadfastly denied any involvement or wrongdoing. "Can we send MO1 to jail and bring that person to face justice?" student leader Anis Syafiqah Mohamad Yusof said at the rally. Police put barricades around the square, forcing protesters to gather around the perimeter. It was a rare protest led by student activists in the country, and backed by opposition parties and civil groups. The rally ended peacefully after nearly three hours, with student leaders placing the effigies of Najib, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, his stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz and businessman Low Taek Jho into a mock prison. Riza, who co-founded the movie production studio Red Granite Pictures, and Low, who is close to Najib's family, were named in the Department of Justice filings. The state fund was created in 2009 by Najib shortly after he took office to promote economic development projects. Instead, U.S. prosecutors said, fund officials diverted more than $3.5 billion through a web of shell companies and bank accounts in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States. The Justice Department says the forfeiture demand, for some $1.3 billion of that money that officials were able to trace through the U.S. financial system, is the largest single action it's taken. The money was used to pay for luxury properties in New York and California, a $35 million jet, and art by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, according to the DOJ complaints. It also allegedly helped finance the Hollywood film "The Wolf of Wall Street," made by Red Granite Pictures. Najib remains firmly in political control of the country, thanks largely to the apparently unwavering support of ruling party members despite a few voices of dissent. The opposition is too weak in Malaysia to dislodge him. However, the U.S. complaints are by far the biggest threat to Najib's credibility that could reinvigorate the opposition. PICTURED: A selection of pictures from the past week Highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see. This week's gallery features images of earthquake damage in Italy, a protest in Zimbabwe and a beer festival in North Korea. ___ People dressed in Baroque costumes walk in front of the Friedenstein Castle during the opening of the Baroque Festival in Gotha, Germany, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The castle is the larges German early Baroque palace complex from the 17th century. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) This gallery contains photos published Aug. 20-26, 2016. See the latest AP photo galleries: http://apne.ws/TXeCBN The Archive: Top photo highlights from previous weeks: http://apne.ws/13QUFKJ ___ Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers Follow AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com http://www.apimages.com/ ___ This gallery was produced by Patrick Sisson in New York. ____ This aerial photo shows the earthquake-decimated historical area of Amatrice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The deadly quake struck earlier in the morning and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Marquez Tolbert cries Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 as he listens in Atlanta to testimony in the trial of Martin Blackwell who is accused of pouring boiling water on him and his friend, Anthony Gooden, right, as they slept. The FBI has decided not to pursue hate crime charges against Blackwell, found guilty of throwing scalding water on the sleeping gay couple. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Sira, 9, a migrant from Nigeria, smiles as she rides aboard a boat of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO, after being rescued during an operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 17 miles north of Sabratah, Libya, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) People cool off in a fountain on a hot summer day, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) A man wearing a Zimbabwean flag salutes riot police during a protest in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The demonstration organized by opposition political parties calling for reforms, is the first time that the fractured opposition has joined forces in a single unified action to confront President Robert Mugabe's government. (AP Photo) A waitress walks past an advertisement as she carries mugs of beer during Taedonggang Beer Festival in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. The festival, the first of its kind in the country, was held as a promotional event for the locally brewed beer. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) With the Morro dos Prazeres slum in the foreground, fireworks explode over the Maracana stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday Aug. 21, 2016.(AP Photo/Leo Correa) A wildfire is visible from Leek's Marina on the shore of Jackson Lake, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Independent miners, above, clash with the police as they run from clouds of tear gas during protests in Panduro, Bolivia, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Thousands of miners continued their roadblock protests which precipitated the clashes as the police attempted to remove the obstructions. The miners want to be able to associate with private companies but are currently prohibited from doing so. The government argues that if they associate with multinational companies they will no longer be cooperatives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) North Korea on Saturday threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by 'provocative' American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army accused U.S. and South Korean soldiers of 'deliberate provocations' by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the 'brink of war' due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. Scroll down for video North Korea on Saturday threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by 'provocative' American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. (file above of North Korea soliders) The North's Korean People's Army accused U.S. and South Korean soldiers of 'deliberate provocations' by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. (File above) 'Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots,' the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. 'The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation,' it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. On Tuesday, the American-led U.N. Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. (File above of South Koreans watching TV) Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the U.N. Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile-wide DMZ. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the DMZ. Kurdish-led Syria forces face off with Turkish-backed rebels BEIRUT (AP) Backed by Turkish tanks and reports of airstrikes, Turkey-allied Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria in a new escalation that further complicates the already protracted Syrian conflict. Turkey's military didn't specify what the airstrikes hit, saying only that "terror groups" were targeted south of the village of Jarablus, where the clashes later ensued. A Kurdish-affiliated group said their forces were the target and called the attack an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation." If confirmed, it would be the first Turkish airstrikes against Kurdish allied forces on Syrian soil. Late Saturday night, Turkey's official news agency reported that one Turkish solider had been killed and three wounded by what it said was a Kurdish rocket attack in Jarablus, near where the fighting has raged. It is the first reported Turkish fatality in Syria. Turkish troops head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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 .(AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) The new escalation highlights concerns that Turkey's incursion into Syria this week could lead to an all-out confrontation between Ankara and Syrian Kurds, both American allies, and hinder the war against the Islamic State group by diverting resources. Sherwan Darwish, a spokesman for Kurdish-led forces in the village of Manbij, said on Twitter Saturday night: "While our forces fighting #IS Some #Turkey backed militias r attacking our positions & hampering our & Intl Coalition's fight against terror." The clashes underscore Ankara's determination to push back Kurdish forces from along its borders, and curb their ambitions to form a contiguous entity in northern Syria. Kurdish groups have already declared a semi-autonomous administration in Syria and control most of the border area. Jarablus, and Manbij to the south liberated from IS fighters by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, are essential to connecting the western and eastern semi-autonomous Kurdish areas in Syria. Turkish officials said they will continue their offensive in Syria until there is no longer any "terror" threat to Turkey from its war-torn neighbor. Ankara backed Syrian rebels to gain control of Jarablus last week. They are now pushing their way south. On Saturday, the Syrian rebels said they have seized a number of villages south of Jarablus from IS militants and Kurdish forces. Clashes were fiercest with the Kurdish-allied forces over the village of Amarneh, eight kilometers (five miles) south of Jarablus. The media office of the Turkish-backed Nour el-din el-Zinki rebel group said the Syrian rebels were backed by Turkish tanks. A news report on ANHA, the news agency for the semi-autonomous Kurdish areas, said local fighters destroyed a Turkish tank and killed a number of fighters in an attack by the Turkish military and allied groups on Amnarneh. There was no immediate comment from Turkish officials. The clashes were preceded by Turkish airstrikes against bases of Kurdish-affiliated forces and residential areas at Amarneh. The Jarablus Military Council, affiliated with the U.S-backed Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces, said the Turkish airstrikes marked an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation" that "endangers the future of the region." It vowed to stand its ground. Other groups which are part of the SDF vowed to support them, calling on the U.S-led coalition to explain the Turkish attacks on allied forces. Turkey's state news agency, citing military sources, said the Turkish Military Joint Special Task Forces and coalition airplanes targeted an ammunition depot and a barrack and outpost used as command centers by "terror groups" south of Jarablus Saturday morning. The Anadolu Agency did not say which group or village was targeted. Turkey has long suspected the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, of being linked to Kurdish insurgents in its own southeast, which it labels as a terror group. It has demanded the YPG, which makes up the bulk of the SDF and has been one of the most effective U.S. ally in the fight against IS, withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates River. The U.S. supported Turkey's call for the Kurdish forces to move back, and Kurdish officials said they withdrew the YPG forces from Manbij. But following the Turkish offensive, local forces with Kurdish fighters and backed by YPG advisers pushed their way north of Manbij, in a rush for control of Jarablus. Meanwhile, the U.N. special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, appealed to the opposition to approve plans to deliver aid to rebel-held eastern Aleppo and government-held Aleppo through a government-controlled route north of Aleppo during a 48-hour humanitarian pause. Aleppo has been caught in a bloody circle of violence, with rebels and government forces each promising to unite the divided city. The U.N. said it has pre-positioned aid ready for delivery into Aleppo, to reach 80,000 people on the rebel side and some on the government side. But the opposition, whose fighters have opened another route in the south, were wary of the use of the government-controlled route. "People are suffering and need assistance. Time is of the essence. All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now," de Mistura said in a statement, urging an approval by Sunday. But violence raged. Suspected government helicopters dropped two barrel bombs on a wake held for children killed a few days earlier, killing at least 15, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Aleppo Media Center, an activist group in the city, and volunteers on the scene put the death toll higher at 24. Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of the injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped in the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood as people paid their condolences for children killed Thursday in an airstrike that left 11 children dead in the same neighborhood. Minutes later, Khandakani said another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver, and hampering rescue efforts. The Syrian government and its Russian ally are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. Elsewhere, the Syrian government said it now has full control of the Damascus suburb of Daraya, following the completion of a forced evacuation deal struck with the government that emptied the area of its remaining rebels and residents and ended a four-year siege and grueling bombing campaign. The declaration comes a day after the evacuation of nearly 5,000 residents and fighters from the suburb began. The deal followed an extensive government campaign of aerial bombing and shelling of Daraya, the last bastion against President Bashar Assad in the western Ghouta region, southwest of Damascus. Some 700 gunmen and 4,000 civilians were evacuated. The gunmen and their families headed to the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province. Other civilians were escorted to shelters in government-controlled suburbs of Damascus. ___ Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Dusan Stojanovic in Istanbul contributed to this report. This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows a Syrian man carrying a girl away from the rubble of a destroyed building after barrel bombs were dropped on the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Syria activists said, at least 15 civilians have been killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a wake for children killed in earlier airstrikes in rebel-held Aleppo. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) Turkish troops head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkish troops head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkish tanks head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkish ambulances return from the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) A Turkish army tank stationed overlooks the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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.(AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrians carrying a victim after barrel bombs were dropped on the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Syria activists said, at least 15 civilians have been killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a wake for children killed in earlier airstrikes in rebel-held Aleppo. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) This photo provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), shows Syrian civil defense workers inspecting damaged buildings, after barrel bombs were dropped on the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Syria activists said, at least 15 civilians have been killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a wake for children killed in earlier airstrikes in rebel-held Aleppo. (Aleppo Media Center via AP) Rebels and their families arrive from the Damascus suburb of Daraya following a forced evacuation deal struck with the Syrian government that ends a grueling bombing campaign and four-year siege, in Babiska, Idlib province, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. The evacuees left Daraya on Friday, in what amounts to a boost for President Bashar Assad's forces as they try to secure their hold on the capital. Daraya was the last remaining rebel holdout in the region known as western Ghouta and the closest to the capital. Some 280 rebels, their families and wounded arrived Saturday morning in Babiska, a village in the northern rebel-held Idlib province, and a few miles from the Turkish border. (AP Photo/Mohammed al-Ayed) Turkish troops return from the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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.(Ismail Coskun, IHA via AP) Turkish tanks stationed near the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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.(Ismail Coskun, IHA via AP) Turkish troops return from the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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.(Ismail Coskun, IHA via AP) Far-right anti-Islam activists staged an hour-long protest on top of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate today calling for 'secure borders' in Germany. The protesters unfurled a banner reading 'Secure Borders - Secure Future' on the iconic monument as crowds of tourists milled around beneath them. Police said 15 people were briefly detained over the protest and are likely to face charges of trespassing, harassment and breaching laws on public assembly. Far-right anti-Islam activists have staged an hour-long protest on top of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate calling for 'secure borders' in Germany Police said 15 people were briefly detained over the protest and are likely to face charges of trespassing, harassment and breaching laws on public assembly Berlin police spokeswoman Patricia Braemer said the protesters belonged to the Identitarian Movement and they were seen waving their group's flag. Germany's domestic intelligence agency said this month it was putting the far-right group under observation because it aims to subvert democracy. A spokesman for the agency said this month there were indications the group's activities went 'against the free democratic order'. Leaflets scattered by the group claimed the government is trying to replace Germany's population with Muslim immigrants. Berlin police spokeswoman Patricia Braemer said the protesters belonged to the Identitarian Movement Germany's domestic intelligence agency said this month it was putting the far-right group under observation because it aims to subvert democracy Berlin Mayor Michael Muller described the Brandenburg Gate protest as a 'disgusting' act carried out by enemies of democracy, according to Germany's RBB 24. 'Berliners will not allow the Brandenburg Gate [to be] misused as a symbol of exclusion,' he added. Germany has seen an unprecedented influx of asylum-seekers, many from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. More than a million people, many of them Muslims, flocked to Germany last year from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. A spokesman for the agency said this month there were indications the group's activities went 'against the free democratic order' Leaflets scattered by the group claimed the government is trying to replace Germany's population with Muslim immigrants Berlin Mayor Michael Muller described the Brandenburg Gate protest as a 'disgusting' act carried out by enemies of democracy The IAB German labor office research institute says around 16,000 are still arriving per month. A poll this month showed just over half of Germans thought Chancellor Angela Merkel's migrant policy was bad. Support for anti-immigrant groups has risen and the right-wing Alternative for Germany is expected to do well in regional elections in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in September. Germany has seen an unprecedented influx of asylum-seekers, many from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan Protests, tear gas at Moldova independence day parade CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) Moldovan police on Saturday fired tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters during a parade to mark the former Soviet republic's independence day. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the main square of Chisinau, Moldova's capital. Many shouted "thieves!" and "shame on you!" as President Nicolae Timofti and other officials laid floral wreaths at a monument honoring Stephen the Great, a 15th-century Moldovan hero. Few citizens were permitted to enter the square amid heavy police security. No injuries from Saturday's clashes were reported. Underlining tensions, Timofti said in a speech earlier Saturday that Moldova's independence and security were undermined by the presence of "foreign military forces that are on the country's territory against the wishes of the population." He was referring to the presence of 1,000 Russian peacekeepers in the pro-Russian separatist enclave of Trans-Dniester in eastern Moldova. Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova in 1990 amid fears that it wanted to reunite with Romania, which Moldova was part of until 1940. Some 1,500 died in a war in 1992 between Moldovans and separatists. European Union member Romania has a close relationship with Moldova. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Saturday the day was an occasion to "support projects which seek to improve the lives of all Moldovan citizens and fulfil their European destiny." Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, declared independence on Aug. 27, 1991, as the Soviet Union unraveled. The economically struggling nation depends on Russia for most of its gas. Figures published this week found that more than a quarter of Moldova's citizens have emigrated for work, and more than half of them work in Russia. ____________ Kashmir Police said that they have arrested one of the key separatist leaders spearheading protests against Indian rule in the disputed region. Police arrested Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was already under house arrest, on late Friday and locked him up in a government facility in Srinagar, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. Farooq is among the leaders who have been jointly issuing schedules of protests to challenge India's sovereignty over Kashmir. Senior separatist leader of the hardliner faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani waves to his supporters outside his house as he arrives to participate in a march towards an army base in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. A strict curfew, a series of communication blackouts and a tightening crackdown have failed to stop some of Kashmir's largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) A strict curfew and a tightening crackdown by authorities have failed to stop some of Kashmir's largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8. Since then, tens of thousands of people have defied the curfew, staged protests and clashed with government forces. At least 67 civilians have been killed and thousands injured, mostly by government forces firing bullets and shotguns at rock-throwing protesters. Two policemen have also been killed and hundreds of government forces have been injured in the clashes. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, seeking a comprehensive dialogue with Kashmiri separatist leaders and neighboring Pakistan to try to resolve the dispute over Kashmir. The weeks of unrest in the region have intensified already strained relations between arch rivals India and Pakistan, who both control parts of the Himalayan territory and claim it in its entirety. Kashmiri separatist leaders, most of them either under house arrest or in police detention, have vowed to continue their struggle and refused to participate in any dialogue before New Delhi accepts Kashmir as a disputed region, releases political prisoners, revokes harsh emergency laws and announces a plan for demilitarization. Mufti defended the 50-day-old curfew in the region, where residents have struggled to cope with shortages of food, medicine and other necessities. "The main objective of the curfew is to save the lives of young people. What else can we do?" she told reporters after the meeting. Most Kashmiris want an end to the Indian rule and favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. More than 68,000 people have been killed since rebel groups began fighting Indian forces in 1989 and in the subsequent Indian military crackdown. Kashmir Muslims shout pro-freedom slogans in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. A strict curfew, a series of communication blackouts and a tightening crackdown have failed to stop some of Kashmir's largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Kashmir Muslims shout pro-freedom slogans as they hold placards and pictures of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. A strict curfew, a series of communication blackouts and a tightening crackdown have failed to stop some of Kashmir's largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Fire in Iranian mental hospital kills 1, wounds 35 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iranian state media says a fire in a mental hospital has killed one person and wounded 35. The official IRNA news agency says the fire broke out early Saturday in the northwestern city of Tabriz. IRNA quotes Jali Sattari of the Tabriz fire department as saying one person died due to "thick smoke and confined space." Flash flooding prompts rescues, closures in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Heavy rain has swamped several areas of Kansas City, prompting high-water rescues and a temporary stoppage of the city's downtown streetcar service. KMBC-TV reported that Friday night's storms caused Brush Creek, which runs through the south side of the city, to rise 10 feet in an hour. The Kansas City Star reports that the Johnson County Emergency Management office said there were more than 10 water rescues before 11 p.m. due to the flash flooding. Authorities stand near a blocked off road as floodwaters rise in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP) The streetcar service was suspended for an hour downtown due to flooding, and highways around downtown took on water, too. The National Weather Service in Kansas City tweeted Saturday that 4.56 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period. Employees clean up water that flooded Freebirds in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP) A monumental task: Getting Mainers to support a new park MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) Among the empty storefronts on once-bustling Penobscot Avenue, longtime resident Jean McLean stood in her art gallery, the sole employee left at a business that once had three. "Right now, it's pretty dead," McLean said, looking at the sunlit mountains of northern Maine. "All the young people left to find work." This rural region is long on natural beauty and short on jobs after the back-to-back closings of paper mills that decimated the economy, sending young people fleeing, creating sky-high unemployment and shrinking property values. FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2015 photo, Lucas St. Clair, the son of Burt's Bees founder Roxanne Quimby, poses on land proposed for a national park in Penobscot County, Maine. Mount Katahdin, the state's highest peak, can be seen in the background as a rainstorm passes through Baxter State Park. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 declared a new national monument in Maine, composed of 87,000 acres donated by Quimby, fulfilling the conservationist's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) Yet many residents have opposed a significant proposal aimed at helping: the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, created this week by President Barack Obama. Supporters have said the project could bring 450 jobs in a sparsely populated region where unemployment has been as high as 20 percent in recent years. McLean and other supporters hope that steadfast critics, who warn federal government intrusion will threaten the economy and a heritage built on free recreational access to land, come around. Local politicians worry the monument could mean more regulations to dissuade manufacturers from coming to town. But the paper mills and $30-an-hour jobs, McLean said, are never coming back. The Millinocket paper mill was demolished last year, and the East Millinocket mill closed in 2014 following $40 million in taxpayer-backed financing. "We have to make what's left of our surroundings and put them to use, make them desirable," McLean said. "Once they see what happens with it, they'll accept it." New national park sites and opposition go hand in hand. While national parks require congressional approval, presidents can issue proclamations for national monuments, like the new one in Maine. Frustrations were stoked in 1996 when President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah and gave the governor and congressional delegation only 24 hours' notice. More recently, opponents to Nevada's new Basin and Range National Monument said Obama didn't communicate enough with local groups before setting aside 700,000 acres. Over time, and with the money visitors bring in, opposition tends to die down. The National Park Service reported that in 2014, visitors spent $15.7 billion in local communities within 60 miles of parks. This weekend, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will see the new monument for the first time and attend a celebration. The National Park Service is operating an office on Penobscot Avenue, where several banners announce an upcoming New England Outdoor Center and "timberchic" business. Paul Renaud, who runs the nearby Appalachian Trail Lodge, shook his head at critics like Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who have said the monument's 87,500 acres are swampy and full of black flies. "It's beautiful, and it's been a well-kept secret for so long," Renaud said, noting its sweeping views of Mount Katahdin, the state's highest peak and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, which lies within neighboring Baxter State Park. Some residents wonder, though, whether anyone will want to go to the national monument when they could go to the more-established Baxter or the more accessible Acadia National Park. Burt's Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby spent years buying swaths of land from timber companies and other landowners. The land lies on a branch of the Penobscot River where President Theodore Roosevelt once lost a boot and the poet Henry David Thoreau traveled in a flat-bottomed bateau. The forest is home to 500 million-year-old fossils, glacier eskers, pillow lava formations and noted biodiversity. Since 2010, Quimby has sat on the National Park Foundation's board of directors. She provided details of her proposal for a national park in 2011 but the focus later shifted to a national monument because of a lack of congressional support. A monument doesn't need congressional approval, only executive action by the president. Outside a corner store in Millinocket, Sue Walsh said she has long questioned whether Quimby's plans are for her "own personal gain" and cited the estimated $12 billion backlog for National Park maintenance. Quimby has pledged to donate $20 million herself and raise $20 million more for the monument's endowment. Walsh said people were forced out of camps once Quimby and others bought land from timber companies, which traditionally opened their teeming acres to mill workers for recreational access. Walsh is glad that hunting and snowmobiling will still be allowed on portions of the property. "There's some bad and some good, as long as we can continue our heritage and preserve our way of life," Walsh said. This week, some business owners hesitated to share their names for this article, noting vocal opposition that have boycotted businesses and taken down supporters' signs. Opponents have criticized the Chamber of Commerce for supporting the monument. Waiting in line at a corner store, Millinocket Councilman Charles Pray said he thinks supporters are overselling the proposal and still does not think the land is noteworthy enough for the federal designation. And the Quimby family's money feeds into a perception, he said, that access to federal officials is for the "rich and powerful." In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, a large opposition sign sits on the grounds of an inn in Medway, Maine. Many residents of Maines Katahdin region hope a new national monument will bring jobs and tourism. The rural but lovely region is short on jobs after back-to-back closings of paper mills that decimated the economy. Yet many residents have opposed a significant proposal aimed at helping, the national monument created this week by President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Marina Villeneuve) As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of devotees. Varanasi, located in northern India, is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. Devout Hindus believe that if they are cremated on Varanasi's ghats, or steps leading to the river, they earn immediate salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and death. The ones most affected by the floods are those who have come to the town to cremate their loved ones. The floodwaters have submerged the popular Manikarnika ghat and several others, forcing local officials to appeal to people not to bring their dead for a traditional cremation in Varanasi. A thin line of smoke rises from burning funeral pyres on a rooftop of a temple at the flooded Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) On Friday, some funeral pyres were lit on the roofs of the houses located near the ghats because lower areas were under water. Groups of people carrying the bodies of their relatives thronged the single stretch of the river where funerals were still being held as the Ganges' raging waters swirled nearby. Meanwhile, local boatmen who ferry pilgrims and grieving family members to the cremation sites have hiked their rates, realizing that people could not carry the dead to the ghats. Lumber traders have upped the price of wood used for the funeral pyres. More than 200,000 people in Uttar Pradesh state, where Varanasi is located, have been evacuated and are living in relief camps, with floodwaters entering homes in about 800 villages across large swaths of the state. Floods are an annual occurrence in many parts of northern and eastern India during the June-September monsoon season. In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, the Manikarnika Ghat, center, is submerged by the flood waters in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, a body to be cremated lies on the floor of the Manikarnika Ghat, submerged by the flood waters, in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Devout Hindus believe that if they are cremated on Varanasi's ghats, or steps leading to the river, they earn immediate salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and death. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) A dead body is transported on a boat through the flooded streets of Varanasi, near the Manikarnika Ghat, India, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, a dead body lies in a flooded street before performing a Hindu funeral at the Harishchandra Ghat in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, funeral service employees work on a flooded area near the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) Indian workers at a crematorium transfer woods to a dry place at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, a Hindu mourner has his head shaved after attending a funeral service in Varanasi, India.As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, Hindu mourners attend the cremation at the flooded Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, Hindu funerals are performed atop of a Hindu temple at the flooded Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) An Indian man sleeps outside a temple as local workers stack woods to be used for funeral pyres at the flooded Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, India, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Varanasi is a pilgrim town that Hindus visit to take a dip in the holy Ganges. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, Hindu mourners sit on a boat at the Manikarnika Ghat, on the banks of the Ganges river in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Devout Hindus believe that if they are cremated on Varanasi's ghats, or steps leading to the river, they earn immediate salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and death. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, boats are docked at the Manikarnika Ghat, submerged by the flood waters in Varanasi, India. As the mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks this past week following heavy monsoon rains, large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi were submerged by floodwaters, keeping away thousands of Hindu devotees. Devout Hindus believe that if they are cremated on Varanasi's ghats, or steps leading to the river, they earn immediate salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and death. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal) The Latest: Activists say Syrian planes bomb city of Homs BEIRUT (AP) The Latest developments in the Syrian civil war (all times local): 12:30 a.m. Syrian activists say government airplanes have attacked a besieged neighborhood in the central city of Homs, including with incendiary bombs that killed two children and left one badly burned. Turkish troops head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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 .(AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Hayyan, a Homs resident whose parents remain in the al-Waer neighborhood, said government warplanes launched 18 airstrikes Saturday in the area, the last two of which dropped incendiary bombs. Hayyan, a doctor who runs a volunteer group in the province, refused to be identified further due to concerns for his and his family's safety. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a brother and sister were killed in the airstrikes that left their bodies badly charred. Al-Waer is the last rebel-held area in Homs, Syria's third largest city. It has been besieged for months with only intermittent international aid deliveries getting through. The escalation against the neighborhood comes after the evacuation of Daraya, a Damascus suburb, following a deal struck with the government after a grueling bombing campaign and a tight siege. ___ 10 p.m. Turkey's official news agency says one Turkish soldier has been killed and three wounded in Syria. The Anadolu Agency says two Turkish tanks in the Syrian town of Jarablus came under rocket attack Saturday by Kurdish militants. The Turkish military began its so-called Euphrates Shield operation in Syria with Free Syrian Army units and coalition airplanes Wednesday to push Islamic State militants out of Jarablus and to limit the advance of Kurdish forces to the west of the Euphrates River. The soldier's death is the first reported fatality on the Turkish side. ___ 6:30 p.m. Syria state TV is reporting that the evacuation of the Damascus suburb of Daraya following a deal to end a four-year siege and a grueling bombing campaign has been completed. The declaration Saturday comes only a day after the evacuation of nearly 5,000 residents and fighters from the suburb began. The deal followed an extensive government campaign of aerial bombing and shelling of Daraya, the last bastion against President Bashar Assad in the western Ghouta region, southwest of Damascus. Some 700 gunmen and 4,000 civilians were evacuated. The gunmen and their families headed to the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province. Other civilians were escorted to shelters in government-controlled suburbs of Damascus. State TV said Saturday that Daraya was clear of gunmen, and is under the control of the Syrian army. Control of Daraya is a boost to Assad's forces and increases security to the capital, his seat of power. Meanwhile a bloody battle for the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, is ongoing. ___ 5:45 p.m. Syrian rebel-groups backed by Turkey say they are clashing with fighters affiliated with Kurdish forces in northern Syria, in a bid to wrestle control of territory from them south of a town they recently seized from Islamic State militants. The clashes Saturday highlight concerns that Turkey's incursion into Syria was likely to raise the potential for an all-out confrontation between the two American allies. The Turkish-backed Nour el-din el-Zinki rebel group said fighters, backed by Turkish tanks, advanced Saturday on the village of Youssef Beik that lies southwest of Jarablus, seizing it from Kurdish-affiliated forces. The group claimed to have captured two Kurdish fighters. There was no immediate comment from the Syria Democratic Forces, the U.S.-backed Kurdish-affiliated forces. Earlier an SDF-affiliated group said Turkish airstrikes targeted its bases and civilian homes south of Jarablus. ___ 5:15 p.m. Turkey's state news agency says the Turkish Military Joint Special Task Forces and coalition airplanes have targeted the bases of suspected "terror groups" south of the Syrian town of Jarablus. The Saturday statement, citing military sources, comes hours after Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria said Turkish airstrikes had hit their bases near Jarablus, a town seized by Turkey-backed rebels earlier this week. It said the target was an ammunition depot and a command center for "terror groups" but didn't name the area or the group. The Jarablus Military Council, supported by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces, said the airstrikes on their bases in the village of Amarneh marked an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation." Turkey sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels capture Jarablus from the Islamic State group, and to contain Kurdish-led forces. Turkey says the Kurds must withdraw to the east of the nearby Euphrates River. ___ 3:45 p.m. Syria activists say at least 15 civilians have been killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a wake for children killed in earlier airstrikes in rebel-held Aleppo. Hospital officials in rebel-held Aleppo say the death toll from the two barrel bombs dropped Saturday in the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood is likely to rise. Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of the injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped as people paid their condolences for children killed Thursday in an airstrike that left 11 children dead in the same neighborhood. Minutes later, Khandakani said another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver, and hampering rescue efforts. The Syrian government and its Russian ally are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. ___ 1:15 p.m. Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria say Turkish airstrikes have hit their bases near Jarablus, a town seized by Turkey-backed rebels earlier this week. The Jarablus Military Council says the airstrikes Saturday on their bases in Amarneh village marked an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation" and came after Turkish artillery shelled the positions the day before. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the airstrikes. Turkish officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The Jarablus Military Council is supported by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces. Turkey sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels capture Jarablus from the Islamic State group. The incursion was partly aimed at containing Kurdish-led forces. Turkey says the Kurds must withdraw to the east of the nearby Euphrates River. Turkish troops head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkish tanks head to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkish ambulances return from the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. 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. (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Little precedent for $400 million cash payment to Iran WASHINGTON (AP) A $400 million cash delivery to Iran to repay a decades-old arbitration claim may be unprecedented in recent U.S. history, according to legal experts and diplomatic historians, raising further questions about a payment timed to help free four American prisoners in Iran. The money was sent to Iran on Jan. 17, the same day Iran agreed to release the prisoners. The Obama administration claimed for months the events were separate, but recently acknowledged the cash was used as leverage until the Americans were allowed to leave Iran. Only then, did the U.S. allow a plane with euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currency loaded on pallets to take off in the other direction for Tehran. "There's actually not anything particularly unusual about the mechanism for this transaction," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said this week of the initial cash payment. FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2016 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks about the release of Americans by Iran, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. A $400 million cash delivery to Iran to repay a decades-old arbitration claim may be unprecedented in recent U.S. history, according to legal experts and diplomatic historians, raising further questions about a payment timed to help free four American prisoners in Iran. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) But diplomatic historians and lawyers with expertise in international arbitration struggled to find any similar examples. Asked to recall a similar payment of the U.S. using cash or hard money to settle an international dispute, the office of the State Department historian couldn't provide an example. The acknowledgement that the prisoners and the payment were linked, and the unusual cash delivery, have fueled Republican claims that a "ransom" was paid. At a news conference this month, President Barack Obama said cash was used because the U.S. and Iran don't have a banking relationship after years of U.S. sanctions on Iran, making a check or wire transfer impossible. The $400 million was the principal owed by the U.S. on a 1970s Iranian account for buying U.S. military equipment. After Iran's 1979 overthrow of the U.S.-backed shah and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, the weapons were never delivered. Iran has wanted the money back plus interest ever since. Seven months ago, two sides put the matter to rest with a $1.7 billion settlement. Alan Henrikson, diplomatic history professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, found a precedent by reaching back to the 1848 Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American War. The accord called for the United States to pay Mexico $15 million, an amount worth about $482 million in today's money, he said. The payment was determined "in consideration of the extension acquired by the boundaries of the United States," vague diplomatic wording designed to compensate Mexico for a massive loss of territory that included all of California and parts of seven other states. At the same time, the Americans avoided any acceptance of national guilt. The treaty stipulated that the U.S. immediately pay $3 million or nearly $100 million in 2016 dollars in Mexico City in the form of Mexico's gold or silver coin. The remainder had to be paid the same way in $3 million installments each year, with the debt subject to a fixed rate of 6 percent annual interest. President Ulysses S. Grant would later declare it "conscience money." "Ambiguity is often needed in diplomacy in order to achieve agreement," Henrikson said. "What is important, in my view, is that both sides to a negotiation clearly understand, even if only tacitly, what is being agreed upon when ambiguity is used. This is not all that subtle, actually. It is life." The administration has been ambiguous from the start about its settlement seven months ago. Reports by the Wall Street Journal have led to recent acknowledgements about the $400 million delivered in stacks of cash and the connection to the American prisoners. But officials still won't say how Iran received the $1.3 billion in interest. It was done "in a fairly above-board way," a senior administration official intimately involved in the Iran negotiations said in a conference call last week, saying only that the interest payments involved an unidentified, foreign central bank. The official wasn't authorized to be quoted by name and demanded anonymity. The State Department said Wednesday the payments were made Jan. 19, two days after the cash delivery. Other settlements with Iran and other foreign claimants in recent decades bore some similarities to this latest transaction. But none seemed to involve planeloads of cash. In 1996, President Bill Clinton reached a settlement with Iran over the U.S. Navy's 1988 downing of an Iran Air passenger plane that killed 290 people. The arrangement totaled $131.8 million but there was no cash delivery. Instead, $61 million was deposited in a Swiss bank account that was jointly held by the New York Federal Reserve and the Iranian Central Bank. The money was reserved for the families of those killed, not the Iranian government. The remainder of the settlement was mainly used to cover Iranian debts to U.S. claimants in separate arbitration cases. And in 1998, the U.S. settled a dispute with Pakistan after halting the delivery of an F-16 aircraft purchase. The compensation was described as $325 million in cash and $140 million in surplus agricultural commodities, mainly wheat and soy, but the precise mechanics of the payment were never spelled out. "There were no sanctions regarding dollars or banks in Pakistan, so it may have been that the 'cash payment' was a bank transfer," said Marcia Wiss, an international lawyer with a private practice in Washington. After Irene forces reckoning, mental health care rebuilt MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) For most Vermonters, Tropical Storm Irene was a disaster that tore roads, communities and lives apart. But for many of the state's neediest mental health patients, it was a blessing in disguise. The small state had struggled for years with its mental health system. The Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury lost its federal Medicaid funding after two patients committed suicide there in 2003. In 2010, the Justice Department and the state settled a lawsuit that claimed the hospital was deficient in care, treatment and programming. Some improvements were made, but a permanent, long-term solution remained elusive. Then Hurricane Irene roared out of the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States in late August 2011. It killed dozens of people along its path but saved its biggest wallop for Vermont, where it hit Aug. 28 as a tropical storm, killing at least six people, its raging floodwaters cutting off communities, damaging and destroying more than 1,000 homes, and tearing up 500 miles of road and 200 bridges. In this Oct. 11, 2011 photo, the damaged Vermont State Hospital is seen in Waterbury, Five years after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced the closing of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, much of the system has been rebuilt, but challenges remain. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, file) An alarm early the next day as the floodwaters moved downstream woke the 50 or so patients sleeping at the state hospital, Vermont's only secure psychiatric facility, warning that the Winooski River was creeping their way. While buses and alternative housing around the state were hastily arranged, patients were fed McDonald's for breakfast and pizza for lunch. "Waiting for the bus to get out of there, it was like a miracle," said Marla Simpson, now 43, who was being treated for bipolar disorder at the time at the hospital, a place she described as more of a prison with "evil energy." Vermont officials knew of many physical limitations of the building, originally constructed around the turn of the last century, including a lack of air conditioning, adequate treatment facilities, access to outdoor space for the patients and fire safety issues. "The hurricane, as far as the hospital was concerned, was for me like an act of divine intervention," said Simpson, of Randolph. Most of the state office complex in Waterbury, of which the hospital was a part, had to be abandoned and temporary work spaces found for the employees. The $130 million repair to the complex was the largest state construction project in history. Patients who had been at the state hospital were moved to temporary locations while state officials and the Legislature looked for permanent fixes to the state's mental health system. The original state hospital was demolished. "It was a good thing in the sense that it got us on our horse," said Anne Donahue, a Republican state representative from Northfield who has had a long interest in mental health issues. "It forced our hand when we were really caught up in this maze of differing ideas of what to do and inadequate urgency." Most of the 54 beds available to the most severely mentally ill at the state hospital have been replaced by a new 25-bed Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin, 14 beds at the private Brattleboro Retreat and six at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. But challenges remain. What was created in the place of centralized care at one facility was a regional system where the most seriously mentally ill would be hospitalized at the three locations. Patients who need the beds now sometimes wait for days in emergency departments before they can get treatment. Emergency room delays did occur before Irene, but they were rare and "they were counted in hours not days," Donahue said. The reasons for the delays are a complicated combination of an increase in pressure on the system due to an aging population, increases in substance abuse and, most significantly, changes in the way patients move into and out of the new locations, she said. Such delays would never be tolerated for patients suffering from physical conditions, said Dr. Robert Pierattini, the chief of psychiatry at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. As of Thursday morning, 12 psychiatric patients were waiting at the UVM emergency department for beds, Pierattini said. The new facility in Berlin "is just not big enough to care for the acute need," he said. Frank Reed, the state mental health commissioner, said he believes there are enough acute care beds in the system. What is lacking, he said, are beds for less-intensive full-time, secure care that can take patients ready to leave top level care. The department is trying to determine the cost of a 14- to 16-bed secure residential treatment center for people who do not need hospital-level care and will report to the Legislature. After the storm, Simpson was moved from Waterbury to the Brattleboro Retreat, where she continued her treatment for another month or so before she was released. Her condition has stabilized, she's in a loving relationship, and she is working at a job she loves. "I think Irene was the catalyst," Simpson said. "I think without Irene, we would be kind of stuck in a holding pattern." In this Oct. 11, 2011 photo, the damaged Vermont State Hospital is seen in Waterbury, Five years after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced the closing of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, much of the system has been rebuilt, but challenges remain. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, file) FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2011 file photo, people walk along a washed out section of Route 12 in Berlin, Vt, about fifteen miles from the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, following the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. Five years after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced the closing of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, much of the system has been rebuilt, but challenges remain. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) FILE-- In this Jan. 8, 2013 file photograph, Gov. Peter Shumlin, fourth from right, joins other officials in a ground breaking ceremony for a new hospital in Berlin, Vt., after announcing the State of Vermont will get $30 million in federal funds and insurance payments toward a $42 million price tag of a state hospital. The former Vermont State Hospital, in Waterbury, Vt., was made unusable by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. Five years after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced the closing of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, much of the system has been rebuilt, but challenges remain. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) Veterans help fill gaps in refugee school projects in Iraq CONCORD, N.H. (AP) A nonprofit group with New Hampshire roots is putting a new spin on back-to-school shopping by helping equip 10 classrooms for refugee children in Iraq. TentED was created in 2014 by three U.S. Army veterans, two of whom met as student at the University of New Hampshire. Rather than starting from scratch, the group works with existing educational aid programs to raise money and deliver what it calls "last mile" essentials, such as school supplies, bus transportation and recreational activities. The group has funded about 15 projects in the past two years in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and is partnering with an organization that is building a new school for more than 250 children. Construction started in May and is expected to be done in the next four weeks in time for the fall term, said Billy Ray, Middle East director for the partner organization, World Orphans. "These kids have got to get back into the routine of school and learning," he said. "The scarring has to stop, and this is our chance to roll back the years that ISIS has stolen from them." During emergencies whether natural disasters or manmade conflicts education gets overlooked, TentEd co-founder Zach Bazzi said. But he argues that approach could result in entire generations of children growing up without basic literacy and critical thinking skills. "You don't want people starving or going without water or shelter, but I'd also argue that education needs to be up there," he said. Bazzi served in the Army and Army National Guard from 1997 to 2008 and later worked as consultant and volunteered in refugee camps in Iraq. When he returned to the U.S. in 2014 for graduate school, he teamed up with Scott Quilty, a fellow UNH graduate and Army veteran who lost his right arm and leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq. TentEd's third co-founder is Patrick Hu, an Army veteran Bazzi met when both served in Afghanistan. All three have day jobs. Hu is a market researcher at AT&T Mobility in Atlanta; Quilty heads MedScribes, a medical staffing company in Durham and Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; and Bazzi is the Middle East manager for a nonprofit called Spirit of America and is based in Washington, D.C. He frequently travels overseas to implement TentEd activities, identifying and responding to specific needs. "We don't build schools, we don't design schools. We're simply a rapid, efficient, responsive funding platform," he said. For the current project, the group is trying to raise $12,500 to outfit 10 classrooms with desks, whiteboards and other materials. Ray said that amounts to about 5 percent of the overall school construction budget, but he greatly appreciates Bazzi's help. The Latest: Trump says society can't tolerate violence WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign (all times EDT): 4:35 p.m. Donald Trump is pushing hard his outreach to African-American voters in a speech to a predominantly white crowd in Iowa. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at Joni's Roast and Ride at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Speaking Saturday in Des Moines following Sen. Joni Ernst's annual Roast and Ride event, Trump began by noting "there are millions of American-Americans in this country who have succeeded" but stressed that government has failed black communities, with almost 40 percent of African-American children living in poverty. Trump also spoke of the shooting in Chicago of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin Friday. He says the death of the woman while going to register her children for school "breaks our hearts. This shouldn't happen in America." Trump says that as a builder and a father, he hates seeing "the deplorable conditions in many of our inner cities." He adds, "We cannot, as a society, tolerate this level of violence and suffering in our own cities." ___ 4:30 p.m. Donald Trump is criticizing rival Hillary Clinton for referring to black youth as "super predators" decades ago and calls the remark an insult. Trump told a crowd Saturday at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, that African-Americans "have given so much to this country." The Republican nominee released an online video that includes footage of the former first lady referring to some young criminals as "super predators" in the 1990s. The video also shows Clinton's former Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, denouncing the phrase as "a racist term." Clinton has since apologized. Trump's comments come as he works to boost his image with minority voters amid a slip in the polls. He vowed to work with communities, with police and federal law enforcement officials to boost safety and security in all communities. Addressing a predominantly white audience at Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst's annual Roast and Ride event, Trump vows to "end the discrimination that traps parents and kids in failing government schools." ___ 4:20 p.m. Donald Trump is telling Iowans that one of his campaign goals is to "make America grow again." Speaking at a rally Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump touted his plans to boost economic growth and help American farmers, including his proposal to lower the tax rate on family farms to 15 percent. Trump tells the crowd, which includes many farmers, that "we are going to end this war on the American farmer." Trump adds that he aims to protect the renewable fuel standard, eliminate "job-killing regulations" and "provide desperately needed tax relief." He claims that his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton "wants to shut down family farms just like she wants to shut down the mines and the steelworkers." ___ 4:15 p.m. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine says Donald Trump's recent outreach to the African-American community is insincere. Speaker to reporters Saturday after touring a small event production company in Miami Lakes, Florida, Kaine said he doesn't see the GOP presidential candidate's effort as "that serious." Kaine says Trump's promotion of the discredited theory that President Barack Obama wasn't born in the U.S. highlights his insensitivity toward African-Americans. And Kaine says that Trump hasn't done enough to distance himself from supporters with ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Kaine says he finds it troubling that Trump sometimes seems to want to take advantage of that support. ___ 3:45 p.m. Donald Trump is receiving criticism for his latest tweets, after NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin was fatally gunned down near a Chicago school where she intended to register her children. "Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago," Trump wrote Saturday. "Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!" One person responded: "@realDonaldTrump Glad you're not making this about you. Whew!" Some criticized his record with African American voters, accusing him of trying to appeal to them too late. Originally he had spelled Dwyane wrong, but deleted the incorrect version, replacing it with a new tweet using the same wording. Trump has ramped up efforts to appeal to black and Hispanic voters in recent weeks as the polls show him slipping behind rival Hillary Clinton. Trump later followed up with a second tweet sending the family his condolences. "My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers," he wrote. ___ 1:45 p.m. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says Donald Trump can beat Hillary Clinton in Iowa by focusing on agriculture, pointing to his support for a renewable fuel standard important to the state's corn growers. Branstad told The Associated Press on Saturday that he's going to personally deliver that message to Trump when they share a ride to a campaign stop at the state fairgrounds. The Republican governor spoke to the AP Saturday before he was to appear with Trump and other officials at a fundraiser hosted by Sen. Joni Ernst. Branstad's son Eric Branstad is running Trump's Iowa campaign. Branstad said he wants Trump to call for restoring a "robust" renewable fuel standard requiring corn-based ethanol in fuel. The current standard is set to expire in 2022. Branstad says Trump should also emphasize his opposition to a clean water rule enacted by the Obama administration. Polls show a tight race in Iowa. Branstad says he thinks Trump and Clinton are running "about even." ___ 12:05 p.m. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine is asking elected officials in Florida to help drive Democratic turnout, stressing the importance of the state on Election Day in November. Kaine was at a campaign event in South Florida on Saturday. He said other traditional swing states such as Virginia and Colorado are becoming safer bets for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, meaning her campaign is going to spend even more time focusing on Florida. Polls in the Sunshine State continue to show a close race between Clinton and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. Kaine told a crowd of supporters, "Now we can really spend a lot of time here." Kaine urged the local officials to focus on getting their supporters registered and to get as many possible to vote early. ___ 10:15 a.m. Words, but no wheels for Donald Trump in Iowa. He's skipping a 42-mile motorcycle ride that's part of a fundraiser hosted by one of the state's Republican senators, Joni Ernst. Trump is the headline speaker at her "Roast and Ride" fundraiser at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. But for the ride, Ernst will be joined by veterans and soldiers not the Republican presidential nominee. Iowa remains a bright spot for Trump on the 2016 election map amid a sea of challenging battleground states. Trump lost the lead-off Iowa caucuses to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But much of the state's Republican establishment has since rallied around Trump. Recent polls suggest a tight race against Hillary Clinton. ___ 8:50 a.m. Hillary Clinton has arrived at an FBI facility in White Plains, New York, for her first national security briefing as the Democratic presidential nominee. The former secretary of state routinely received such briefings when she was in President Barack Obama's Cabinet. But the briefing Saturday in suburban New York is her first since she became her party's nominee. Republican Donald Trump had his first briefing earlier this month. The briefings have been customary for presidential nominees so the next commander in chief has an understanding of the country's national security apparatus. Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. shakes hands with supporters after speaking at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, August 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles while speaking at a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) The motorcade carrying Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives at an FBI office in White Plains, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, for a national security briefing. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The motorcade carrying Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives at an FBI office in White Plains, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, for a national security briefing. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. talks with Dominick Ard'is, left, and Lucas Lindsey, at Domi Station in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, August 26, 2016. Domi Station is a local business incubator in Tallahassee. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser) Romanian PM: EU talks with Turkey must continue BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Romania's prime minister is urging the European Union to keep up its dialogue with Turkey in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt there last month. Premier Dacian Ciolos on Saturday called for the EU and Turkey to "maintain the dialogue." He said Turkey had a key role in security and stability in the Black Sea region and especially the flow of migrants toward the 28-nation EU. Turkey is reeling from frequent attacks including a suicide bombing at a wedding last week that killed 54 people and a suicide car bomb attack Friday that killed 11 police officers. People who hope to drive New York City's famous yellow cabs must pass tests on such details as driving rules and where they can pick up passengers. But one test they no longer have to take- whether they have a grasp of English. A new law that streamlines licensing requirements for different kind of drivers has done away with the longstanding English proficiency test for taxi drivers, which supporters say will eliminate a barrier to the profession for immigrants, who make up 96 percent of the 144,000 cabbies in the city. It's also a recognition of how technology has transformed the business. Many drivers now rely on computer navigation programs, rather than verbal directions, to reach a destination. For-hire drivers for app-based services such as Uber, for example, never had to take an English test. In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 photo, taxi driver Mikhail Yasayev speaks to an Associated Press reporter while stopped in traffic on the West Side highway in New York. A new law aimed at creating a uniform licensing process for drivers has done away with the written English test that used to be required for anyone wanting to drive a yellow cab, but not for people working for services like Uber and Lyft. Sponsors of the law say the change will eliminate a barrier to the profession for immigrants, who make up 96 percent of taxi drivers in the city. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) But critics, including some drivers, are giving a side-eye to the idea that a good command of English is no longer considered a basic requirement for a job that involves communicating with passengers and reading street signs. "If you're going to work in this country serving the population which is majority made up of American citizens that speak English, you probably should learn how to speak English," said Tanya Crespo, who was visiting Manhattan from Newport, North Carolina. Kathy Amato, a tourist from Baltimore, said she wouldn't ride in a taxi with a driver who couldn't speak her language. "They should speak English because we're in New York City," she said. New York City's taxi and for-hire drivers are already an international bunch, hailing from 167 countries, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, which currently offers its licensing tests in English, Spanish, Bengali and Urdu. Hacks formerly went through one of two licensing processes, depending on what class of car they drove. One was for the yellow cabs that passengers can hail on the street. Drivers of those vehicles, which mostly operate in Manhattan and at the airports, had to take an education course and an English proficiency test. The other licensing process covered drivers of for-hire cars, the dominant form of taxi in the "outer boroughs" of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Those rides are dispatched by telephone, or, in recent years, by mobile phone app. For those drivers, an English test wasn't required. Drivers for the different types of cars not only took different types of tests, but they also tended to come from different countries. Among yellow cab drivers, 24 percent were born in Bangladesh, 10 percent in Pakistan and 8 percent in India, according to city statistics. English is widely spoken as a second language in all three places, all formerly part of the British Empire. But among the traditional for-hire livery car drivers, 50 percent were born in the Dominican Republic, where people speak Spanish. Some foreign-born taxi drivers said taking, and passing, the English test was once a successful rite of passage. "You had to really learn to get it," said Michael Osei-Antwi, a driver originally from Ghana, who took the English exam 17 years ago. "If somebody tells you they are going to Gansevoort Hotel and you don't know English, how are you going to be able to get there?" Back then, the city also required a geography test, which has also been dropped in recent years. Cab driver Kwaku Atuahene was glad to see the English test go. "A guy might not be able to speak English but he is still a good driver. He could take you where you want to go," he said. "There are a lot of ways to communicate." There's now an education course that both yellow cab and livery drivers will take. Taxi regulators said they are working with other city departments to create an English-language component for that course. New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, who sponsored the legislation, said the driving jobs are "a step into the middle class for many, and we should be removing barriers to entry, rather than keeping them in place." In certain ethnic neighborhoods in New York City, he pointed out, not speaking English isn't a problem since the drivers and those using their services all speak the same language. Melquisedc Abreu, a 45-year-old livery car and Uber driver born in the Dominican Republic, agreed, saying it wouldn't matter to most of his passengers if he didn't speak English. "They never talk to me," he said. "They just get in the car, I got the destination, drop them off, thank you, have a good day, and that's it." ___ Follow Deepti Hajela at www.twitter.com/dhajela. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/deepti-hajela. In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 photo, yellow cabs make their way east on Delancey St on the Lower East side of Manhattan. A new law aimed at creating a uniform licensing process for drivers has done away with the written English test that used to be required for anyone wanting to drive a yellow cab, but not for people working for services like Uber and Lyft. Sponsors of the law say the change will eliminate a barrier to the profession for immigrants, who make up 96 percent of taxi drivers in the city. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 photo, New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez speaks a reporters after a news conference at the Seaman Car Service in New York. Rodriguez, a former livery cab driver, has sponsored a bill that eliminates the requirement of taking a test in English in order to become a taxi driver. A new law aimed at creating a uniform licensing process for drivers has done away with the written English test that used to be required for anyone wanting to drive a yellow cab, but not for people working for services like Uber and Lyft. Sponsors of the law say the change will eliminate a barrier to the profession for immigrants, who make up 96 percent of taxi drivers in the city. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Nevada becomes one of Trump's big hopes for swing state win LAS VEGAS (AP) Russ Wheeler bears the financial scars of Nevada's lost decade, and he hopes Donald Trump can heal them. He worked for a Las Vegas roofing company when the real estate bust crushed the state's economy. He took two pay cuts before getting laid off. He had to commute into the California desert to find work after that. Wheeler considers himself one of the lucky ones. He was able to build up enough savings to retire, but even now his wife had her teaching hours reduced at a community college, dramatically reducing their household's income. FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump meets with supporters at a campaign rally in Las Vegas. Trump is doing relatively well in Nevada, due to the state of the states economy, its large population of noncollege graduates and history of ticket splitting history. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) "It'll be better with Trump because he'll bring the jobs back," Wheeler, 66, said as he stopped by a Republican Party office to scoop up some "Make America Great Again" yard signs and bumper stickers. "Everybody I know is a Trump supporter. He resonates well in Nevada." Nevada is the most diverse battleground state. On paper, it should be secure for Democrats. But there are enough people like Wheeler, still rattled by the recession and frustrated about other things, to make it one of Trump's best swing states. Democrats and Republicans agree that the state's competitiveness is not just a quirk of public polling, which has a spotty track record in Nevada, but is reflected in private surveys, the tightness of Nevada's races for the U.S. Senate and House, and the observations of seasoned political operatives. "Nevada's a picture of where the country's at," said Yvanna Cancela, political director of the Culinary Union, which represents nearly 60,000, mostly immigrant workers in casinos and hotels on the Strip. "It's increasingly diverse but the ideas of nationalism, open borders are very much at play here." The economy has recovered since the recession. The unemployment rate is down to 6.5 percent from 13.7 percent in 2010. While home prices have doubled since 2012, they are well below their 2007 peak, and many Las Vegas residents live in subdivisions dotted with still-unoccupied houses. Nevada also has one of the lowest rates of college education in the country, with only 23 percent of its population having graduated college, giving Trump a reservoir of noncollege graduates that traditionally form his base. And the state's anti-establishment streak and rebellious culture may prove a good fit for the brash New York developer and reality show star. "In Nevada, we have this mindset of it's us versus the world," said Charles Munoz, Trump's state director. "It's the perfect storm of policy and messaging." The stakes in Nevada go beyond the state's six electoral votes in the presidential election. The race for retiring Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's seat pits his hand-picked successor, former state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, against U.S. Rep. Joe Heck. Two of the state's four U.S. House seats are also in play. The state has become a presidential bellwether, voting for the winning candidate in every election since 1980. But its partisan divides have hardened as an influx of immigrants has helped fuel Las Vegas' boom and pull political power from the more rural and conservative northern part of the state. "When I first moved here in 1974, you could barely tell the Republicans and the Democrats apart," said Donna West, 59, who was working a phone bank for Clinton one recent night. "Now there are huge differences." Those differences provide Clinton with plenty of advantages in the state. Democrats have a formidable Nevada ground game, with 70,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans to date. It's a gap similar to that in 2012, when President Barack Obama won the state by 6 percentage points. Clinton has targeted the state for more than a year, announcing her immigration policy there in 2015 to appeal to Nevada's growing numbers of Latinos and Asian-Americans. The state is 51 percent white, though whites comprised two-thirds of the 2012 electorate, according to census data. "We know that we have the votes, we just have to turn them out," said Clinton state director Jorge Neri, who has a view of Trump's Las Vegas hotel from his office in the Clinton campaign's headquarters. That hotel, rising just off the Strip and surrounded by a sea of stucco, Asian markets and adult video stores, has been engaged in a battle with the Culinary Union, which organized more than 500 of its workers. The hotel refused to recognize the union until the National Labor Relations Board forced it to do so in April. Now the union complains the hotel won't negotiate a contract and has sent housekeepers and bartenders there to picket Trump rallies nationwide. Democrats think the union battle can convince Nevadans that Trump's populism is phony and he actually hurts workers. "For some people in the country it may seem like a distant thing, but this is in our backyard," Neri said. The Trump campaign sees the hotel as a net positive. "Trump has invested in this state while Hillary Clinton hasn't," Munoz said. On Friday, Trump met at the hotel with about two dozen Latino supporters, Republican leaders and campaign staffers, and asserted: "People don't know how well we're doing with the Hispanics, the Latinos. We're doing really well." ___ Follow Riccardi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NickRiccardi ___ Online: An interactive look at the electoral map: http://interactives.ap.org/2016/road-to-270 FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets people in the audience after speaking at a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College, in Reno, Nev. Donald Trump is doing relatively well in Nevada, due to the state of the states economy, its large population of noncollege graduates and history of ticket splitting history. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leads a Hispanic leaders and small business owners roundtable in Las Vegas, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. Right is Irma Aguirre, a local business owner. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A union member holds up a sign during a rally in front of the the Trump International Hotel, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in Las Vegas. The Culinary Union is demanding that the Republican presidential candidate start contract negotiations. (AP Photo/John Locher) The embrace of life: A story of 2 sisters in Italy's quake ASCOLI PICENO, Italy (AP) In the chaos of Italy's devastating earthquake, an older sister's embrace allowed a young girl to survive. The heartbreaking story of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo and her younger sister Giorgia was recounted Saturday by the bishop who celebrated a funeral Mass for 35 of the 290 people killed by the quake that ravaged central Italy before dawn Wednesday. Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole recalled that around 6 or 6:30 p.m. Wednesday 15 hours after the quake struck he returned to a church in his diocese in the town of Pescara Del Tronto to recover its crucifix. In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 Italian firefighters pulls out Giorgia Rinaldo from under the rubble of the town of Pescara del Tronto, central Italy, following an earthquake. The heartbreaking story of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo and her younger sister Giorgia was recounted Saturday by the bishop who celebrated a funeral Mass for 35 of the 290 people killed by the quake that ravaged central Italy before dawn Wednesday. (Italian Firefighters/Vigili del Fuoco via AP) At the time, only meters (yards) from the church, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters, he said. "The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace," D'Ercole said. He spoke beneath the crucifix that he recovered that evening, hung in a community gym transformed into a makeshift chapel, as Italy held a national day of mourning. As weeping Italians bid Giulia and 34 other quake victims farewell with a state funeral, Giorgia spent her fourth birthday in a nearby hospital Saturday, recovering from her ordeal. Massimo Caico, the firefighter who pulled the girls out, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper that the position of the older girl's body apparently created a pocket of air that allowed Giorgia to survive. He recounted how a black Labrador, Leo, first gave a sign that he smelled something. Rescuers began digging, finding at first a doll and then a cold human leg, that of Giulia. Then he saw the ground nearby moving "in the rhythm of what could be breathing." "Maybe they hugged each other in their sleep or in fear, and the body of Giulia saved Giorgia," Caico told the newspaper. According to Italian news reports, Giorgia is in a state of shock and is practically not speaking anymore. She is only sleeping, crying and asking for her doll and her mother, who is also recovering from earthquake injuries. ___ Gera reported from Rome. ___ This story corrects the spelling of dateline to Ascoli Piceno. A woman kisses the coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo as it is carried outside the gymnasium at the end of the state funeral service for some of the victims of the earthquake that hit central Italy last Wednesday, in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) A wooden crucifix coming from the destroyed church of Pescara del Tronto is seen in the Ascoli Piceno gymnasium during the funeral service of some of the earthquake victims, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, is carried outside the gymnasium at the end of the state funeral service in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The coffin of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, is carried outside the gymnasium at the end of the state funeral service in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Funerals for some victims took place on Friday, while those for many others are expected in the coming days. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Toomey crosses gun-rights divide in Pennsylvania Senate race CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) Freshman U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is the rare conservative Republican who is running for re-election with the support of leading gun-control groups, but it may not be enough to save him in Democratic-leaning Pennsylvania in this unusual election year. Toomey, who also has separated himself from most of his GOP Senate colleagues by refusing to endorse Donald Trump, is facing questions from skeptical Republicans over his votes to expand background checks and prevent gun purchases by suspected terrorists as he campaigns in a state where Hillary Clinton leads Trump in polls by 10 points in the presidential race. His stance so angered one gun-rights group that it is backing his Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty, just to send a message to Toomey and any other Republican who might deviate from orthodoxy on guns. FILE - In this May 9, 2016, file photo, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia. Toomey is the rare conservative Republican whos running for re-election with the support of gun-control activists, including billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Toomey has separated himself from most GOP Senate colleagues by refusing to endorse Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Toomey's gamble separating himself from his party and Trump is drawing help from unlikely quarters for a Republican once endorsed by the National Rifle Association. In a blow to McGinty's campaign, two prominent gun-control activists, billionaire Michael Bloomberg and former Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, endorsed Toomey. Bloomberg's political action committee even poured $4 million into Pennsylvania in recent weeks primarily for TV ads to support Toomey. For Toomey, it may help him with a Republican's perennially thorny task of appealing to moderates in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-to-3. But it could hurt him with the Republican base in a passionate gun-rights state. Polls show the race is virtually tied, and the winner of the Nov. 8 election could tip control of the U.S. Senate. Some gun-rights activists say they will reluctantly vote for Toomey because McGinty supports a long slate of gun restrictions. Others are unsure whether to vote at all. "I have friends that are saying they are not going to vote for you because of your stance on gun control," a meet-and-greet audience member, Mark Myers, told Toomey at a Carlisle restaurant last month. Stephen Mohr, a municipal Republican committeeman, said he found himself trying to talk hesitant gun owners into backing Toomey while manning a GOP booth at the Elizabethtown Fair in southcentral Pennsylvania a few days ago. On the campaign trail, Toomey says he doesn't see a conflict between the right to own a gun and "a three-minute background check," but also points to his 2010 NRA endorsement and his support for gun-rights causes. "Katie McGinty and the Democrats are attacking me all the time for all the votes I have cast consistently to make sure we don't allow the Democrats to deny law-abiding citizens their Second Amendment rights," Toomey told Myers. In an interview Friday, Toomey said gun-rights supporters who learn about his record are overwhelmingly supportive and that he believes he will draw votes from both sides of the issue. "The fact is, the vast majority of people, whatever they think of the Second Amendment, believe that background checks make sense," Toomey said. McGinty portrays Toomey's devotion to gun control as politically calculated and paper-thin, and rolled out her own endorsement from CeaseFire Pennsylvania. In recent elections, Democrats have largely steered clear of the gun issue, viewing it as a political loser because of the power of the NRA. This year, Clinton and others have made it a focus in the wake of mass shootings of civilians and police. Gun rights are no small matter in much of Pennsylvania: Even Toomey's predecessor, Arlen Specter, a moderate Republican from Philadelphia, cast staunch gun-rights votes during his five terms in office. Christopher Nicholas, a Republican political consultant who worked on four Specter campaigns, said Toomey's move to the middle on gun rights should win over more voters than he loses. If Toomey ultimately loses, it won't be because of guns, Nicholas said. "It will be because of the Trump catastrophe," Nicholas said. Gun rights activists viewed one bill that Toomey supported as an unnecessary expansion of background checks and another as potentially depriving people of their Second Amendment rights without due process. The NRA hasn't rendered a verdict on Toomey in 2016. Pennsylvanians For Self Protection, a gun-rights group based in suburban Philadelphia, may not endorse Toomey, but will try to make it clear that he's the "lesser of two evils," president David Sager said. The Pittsburgh-area Firearms Owners Against Crime decided against endorsing either candidate after it endorsed Toomey in 2010, chairman Kim Stolfer said. "When you vote for the lesser of two evils, you're still voting for evil," Stolfer said. And the American Gun Owners Alliance, based in northeastern Pennsylvania, is encouraging its members to support McGinty, but not because they like her. If McGinty wins, she will be less powerful as a first-term senator than a second-term Toomey, and it will put the Republican Party on notice that candidates cannot cross gun-rights activists and win, founder David Dalton said. "It's a scary choice to make," Dalton said, "but you finally have to tell Toomey, 'enough is enough.'" ___ Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/marc-levy. Zimbabwe police arrest 67 over anti-government protest HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) President Robert Mugabe warned against an Arab Spring type of revolution, as Zimbabwe police said they arrested 67 people following a violent protest that rocked the capital, Harare. "What happened in the Arab world should not be tried here. We don't want to be provoked. We are a peaceful people," the state-run Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe as saying at a send-off for students awarded scholarships to study in China. Police recovered some property looted during the protests, police spokesman Paul Nyathi said Saturday. Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons in running battles with anti-government demonstrators on Friday, despite a court order that the protest could take place. A man wearing a Zimbabwean flag salutes riot police during a protest in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The demonstration organized by opposition political parties calling for reforms, is the first time that the fractured opposition has joined forces in a single unified action to confront President Robert Mugabe's government. (AP Photo) "Security has been intensified. Anyone who engages in any acts of violence such as destruction of property, attacking security agencies and innocent civilians will be dealt with," said Nyathi to reporters on Saturday. Frustrations over Zimbabwe's rapidly deteriorating economy are boiling over in this once prosperous but now economically struggling southern African country. Police have often used tear gas, water cannons and open violence to crush anti-government protests, which have become a near-daily occurrence. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO providing lawyers to demonstrators, said among those arrested are journalist and a pregnant woman. A woman and child pass a fire set alight during a protest in Harare, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The demonstration organised by opposition political parties calling for reforms, is the first time that the fractured opposition has joined forces in a single unified action to confront President Robert Mugabe's government. (AP Photo) A fire burns in the street, set by protestors during a demonstration in Harare, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The demonstration organised by a coalition of opposition political parties calling for political and social reforms was the first time that the fractured opposition has joined forces in a single unified action to confront President Robert Mugabes government. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Wingsuit flyer's death reportedly streamed live on Facebook BERLIN (AP) Swiss media are reporting that a wingsuit flyer who fatally crashed in the Alps on Friday was broadcasting live on Facebook when the accident happened. A video posted online shows a man readying his wingsuit before pocketing his phone and taking off. After a few moments, a shout can be heard and the sound of impact. The video couldn't immediately be verified. The Zurich daily Blick reports that followers watching the video reacted with horror. Some sent messages asking that he "write or say something." 8 troops killed in suspected rebel attack in north Paraguay ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) Suspected members of a little-known rebel group killed eight soldiers in an attack in northern Paraguay on Saturday, just days after guerrillas and officials in Colombia reached a peace deal to end the longest-running insurgency in Latin America. Paraguayan Interior Minister Francisco De Vargas reported the first five deaths from the attack in Arroyito, a town about 305 miles (490 kilometers) from Asuncion. Dr. Bernardo Jacquet, a physician at Hospital Concepcion, located some 55 miles (90 kilometers) from where the attack occurred, later said the death toll had risen to eight. Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by a little-known Paraguayan guerrilla group called the Paraguayan People's Army. Members of the Paraguayan Army patrol near where suspected members of a little-known rebel group killed eight soldiers in Arroyito town, in northern Paraguay, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by the Paraguayan People's Army. (AP Photo/Aldo Rojas) Federico Delfino, the country's prosecutor for anti-kidnapping efforts, said the attackers got away with eight M4 carbines, bulletproof vests and the victims' personal belongings. President Horacio Cartes vowed to "personally lead the fight against these terrorists." The spike in rebel violence in Paraguay came as Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on Wednesday announced the finalization of a peace agreement after more than four years of grueling negotiations. A cease-fire in the Colombian conflict that lasted more than a half-century will take effect at midnight next Monday. The Paraguayan government considers members of the Paraguayan People's Army to be terrorists under an anti-terrorism law. North Charleston police shoot, kill man who fired at them NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) South Carolina law enforcement is investigating a shootout in which North Charleston police officers killed a man who they say fired at them. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (http://bit.ly/2bovLmn) police spokesman Spencer Pryor said officers responded to a call around 11:30 p.m. Friday about a Hispanic man shooting a gun at an apartment building. Pryor said when officers arrived, the man left in a car, eluded an attempt at a traffic stop and drove back to the complex. Pryor said the man then led officers on a foot chase before he stopped and fired a handgun at them. The officers fired back, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers' races weren't known, and it's unclear how many officers were involved. ___ Regulator: Dakota Access pipeline worker killed in accident BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A man working on the four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline was killed in an apparent accident in western North Dakota, a state regulator said Saturday. North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk said the man, whose name has not been released, died of his injuries Friday afternoon. The man was working as subcontractor for Dallas-based operator Energy Transfer Partners, which is building the nearly 1,200-mile pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois. "We are saddened to learn that an employee of a subcontractor on the project in western North Dakota has died in an apparent work-related accident," the company said in a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with his family. We do not have any additional details at this time." The pipeline begins in western North Dakota and already is completed there, Kalk said. The site of the death is more than 200 miles away from where hundreds of mostly American Indians are protesting the pipeline in southern North Dakota. Tribal members fear the pipeline will harm water supplies and destroy sacred sites. Kalk said the man was on a tractor Thursday, covering the underground pipeline with soil and grass seed. Kalk said the company reported Friday that the man suffered a serious head injury, apparently while working on equipment. He was taken to a Minot hospital, where he died. The man was working alone and was found by his foreman, Kalk said. "The company no reason to believe this was anything other than terrible accident," Kalk said. Headstone of Civil War soldier to be fixed after 154 years COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Some mistakes are never too late to fix. A Civil War soldier misidentified when he was buried at an Ohio cemetery more than 150 years ago is to get a new headstone. Confederate soldier Augustus Beckmann was fatally wounded in the Battle of Shiloh on April 7, 1862. But he was buried at the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus under the wrong name, A. Bergman, and wrong company, The Columbus Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/2bzX8Ji ). In this May 30, 2016 photo, Gregory Beckman and his son, Marcus, visit the grave site of their relative Augustus Beckmann at Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend. The name and information on the stone is incorrect. Due to Beckman's efforts in tracking down his family history and noting that the stone is wrong, a national cemetery association will fix it. (Ted Decker/The Columbus Dispatch via AP) Beckmann's brother's great-great-grandson, Greg Beckman, discovered the error when he visited Camp Chase last Memorial Day. Beckman, who teaches government at a high school in Placentia, California, pulled together the necessary documentation and asked the National Cemetery Administration to fix the headstone. He recently learned his request was approved. An administration spokeswoman says approved stones are typically in place within 60 days. Beckman's great-great grandfather, William Beckmann, was Augustus' brother. The two came to America from present-day Germany between 1858 and 1860 and enlisted in the 2nd Texas Infantry in Galveston. "William never learned the fate of his brother, as August was buried under the wrong surname of Bergman all those years," Beckman said. "The last time they saw one another was on the battlefield of Shiloh." August Beckmann was buried under the name Bergman at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, and the incorrect name followed him when his remains and those of 30 other soldiers were removed in 1869 and reinterred at Camp Chase. Beckman said he was happy to visit his relative's gravesite, but wasn't content with the incorrect inscription. "I knew something had to be done about it," he said. ___ Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com Black men, boys shot most by Chicago police CHICAGO (AP) After threatening to sue, the Chicago Tribune has obtained data from the city's police department that tracks every time an officer has opened fire in the city over the past six years. The vast majority of those hit were black men or boys. There were 435 police shootings from 2010 through 2015, in which officers killed 92 people and wounded 170 others. In all, officers fired 2,623 bullets. The newspaper's findings (http://trib.in/2bkSzNO ) show about four out of every five people shot were African-American males. It found that about half of the officers involved were African-American or Hispanic and most of them had years of experience and were not rookies. The review also said the number of police shootings has declined over the period, from more than 100 in 2011 to 44 last year. The city is making major changes to the department and various oversight bodies after the uproar over a 2014 shooting in which a white officer fired 16 bullets into a black teenager. Video of that fatal shooting, which was released upon a judge's order in November, contradicted officers' accounts that the teen lunged at them threateningly with a knife. The officer who fired those shots has been charged with first-degree murder. Despite heightened scrutiny of the department and promises from the city of more transparency, the Tribune said it took seven months of arguing and the threat of a lawsuit to prod the city to release the data. Most of the police shootings took place in South and West Side neighborhoods beset by gang violence and poverty. At least one of every five shootings involved plainclothes tactical officers charged with taking on gangs, the newspaper found. Police union President Dean Angelo Sr. defended the department's record against accusations of racial bias. "When you look at the map, 80 percent of narcotics arrests, gun arrests and gang arrests happen in these poor areas," he told the newspaper. "Where you've got dope, you've got guns. It's not about ethnicity it's about criminal involvement." He also said officers face split-second decisions about when to use lethal force to protect themselves. But community activist Charles Jenkins told the Tribune he believes the race of those shot influences the investigations into the shootings. "It's easier to believe, because they're black, that an officer was in fear of their life and get(s) off," he said. ___ Nicaragua has first Zika-related case of microcephaly MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) Officials in Nicaragua say the first baby with the birth defect of microcephaly has been born to a mother infected with the Zika virus. Government spokeswoman and first lady Rosario Murillo said Friday evening that the baby was born in the capital of Managua. Health officials had been tracking the woman since confirming that during the fourth month of her pregnancy she showed rash and fever symptoms. Doctors did not test her for Zika at that time. Ultrasounds later suggested the baby had microcephaly, characterized by a small head and a brain that is not fully developed The child was born very underweight, weighing less than 4 pounds. Murillo says the mother and baby are in stable condition. Venezuelan police jail top activist in pre-dawn transfer BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) A prominent Venezuelan opposition leader has been jailed again after intelligence agents picked him up at his home before dawn, a brazen move that the government said was necessary to prevent acts of violence but which has alarmed the opposition and human rights groups. Patricia Gutierrez said that the agents from the Sebin intelligence agency arrived around 3 a.m. Saturday without notice at the family home where her husband, Daniel Ceballos, had been held under house arrest. She said they put Ceballos in an ambulance, saying they were taking for a medical exam, but instead transported the former mayor of San Cristobal to the same jail in central Guarico state where was held for more than a year until August 2015, when he was granted house arrest for kidney problems. His transfer to jail comes as the opposition vows a mass protest on Thursday to demand that authorities allow a recall referendum to go ahead. A successful "yes" vote this year would cut short President Nicolas Maduro's term and trigger new elections. The government said it had intelligence that Ceballos was planning to flee before the Sept. 1 protests and carry out violent acts. "The evidence compiled will allow us to continue advancing in necessary investigations to prevent, uncover and neutralize any act that aims to destabilize our democratic system," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Gutierrez published a cell phone video in which Ceballos and his daughter can be heard exchanging shouts of "I love you" as an ambulance is seen parked in front of an apartment building. "This is how my daughter Victoria said goodbye to her father," Gutierrez said on Twitter. "The dictatorship isn't going to destroy my family. Freedom will come soon." The transfer alarmed government opponents and human rights groups. "Authorities in Venezuela seem to be willing to stop at nothing in their quest to prevent anyone from criticizing them, particularly as the political and humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at the rights group Amnesty International. The 32-year-old Ceballos was the leader of a wave of anti-government protests in the restive western city of San Cristobal that rocked Venezuela in early 2014, leading to more than 40 deaths. Fear of another crackdown has made it harder for the opposition to coax its supporters back into the streets. But as Venezuela's economy spins further out of control, with daily, blocks-long food lines and inflation topping 700 percent, calls for Maduro's removal have grown louder, even among poor Venezuelans who still revere his predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chavez. Electoral authorities, who are widely seen as bowing to Maduro's demands, say it's unlikely a vote can be scheduled this year. If the ruling party can delay a vote until 2017, Maduro would be replaced by his vice president in loses, as polls indicate he would. Ceballos was initially arrested along with several other activists of his Popular Will party, including Leopoldo Lopez. He's already served a 12-month sentence for disobeying a government order to remove barricades during the street protests but still faces civil rebellion charges. He won a congressional primary from behind bars last year but authorities later barred him from holding public office. His wife then won by a landslide in an election to succeed him. Mexican gunmen have killed the nephew of a Sinaloa cartel leader in yet another bloody chapter in the drug wars that have riddled the country, authorities said. The victim, Edgard Juvanny Parra Zambada, was one of two men riding in a car in Culiacan when they were shot by at least two assailants on Friday. The gunmen apparently crashed into the victims' late-model Acura to stop them and fired into the car with high-caliber rifles, EFE reported. A bystander in another vehicle was hit by gunfire but survived. Scroll down for video Gunmen in Mexico killed Edgard Juvanny Parra Zambada (pictured), nephew of the leader of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia An unidentified second person (both pictured) was also shot when gunmen opened fire against Parra's Acura in the middle of a street in Culiacan It is unclear if Parra (pictured) was connected to his uncle's nefarious business. The Sinaloa cartel has been fighting a bloody war against the cartek Jalisco Nueva Generacion Authorities say the assailants crashed into Parra's car (pictured) and opened fire with high-caliber rifles The state Attorney General's Office said Parra, 42, was a nephew of Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia. Another of Zambada's nephews, Vicente Zambada Reyes, was shot on Dec. 10, 2015, according to EFE. The attack follows the kidnapping of at least one of the sons of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Zambada is believed to run the Sinaloa cartel while the imprisoned Guzman awaits extradition to the US. Parra, the nephew of Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia, (left) was killed days after the son of deposed leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (right) was kidnapped 'El Mayo' has been leading the Sinaloa cartel since 'El Chapo' (pictured) was jailed. He is waiting extradition to the United States Violence has continued as the Sinaloa cartel fights a bloody war with the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a violent offshoot of the Sinaloa cartel that emerged in 2010. El Chapo's son and five others were abducted from a restaurant and appeared to have been released after five days. Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 29, and five others were kidnapped by the Jalisco New Generation cartel at La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. There are no details of where Salazar and others were released, but Salazar is believed to be back with his family, according to Mexican crime blog elblogdelnarco.com and news site riodoce.mx. The son of imprisoned drug lord 'El Chapo,' Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar (right with his brother Ivan Guzman), 29, has been released along five others after a kidnapping 'El Chapo' (pictured) is awaiting extradition to the United States and was said to be worried sick as he heard, in jail, that his son had been kidnapped No official statements were released by Mexican officials about the incident, and Salazar and the other five people are still listed as missing, the San Antonio Express News reported. Photos from the apparent kidnapping show the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel's son from his first marriage with his hands behind his head and on his knees while a man points a gun at him. 'El Chapo' (pictured) and his Sinaloa cartel have been engaged in a bloody war with its violent offshoot, cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion Other images show people sitting at a table inside La Leche moments before the men enter to kidnap them around 1am on Monday. The photos appear to be taken from security camera footage from inside the restaurant. At a news conference, Jalisco Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer confirmed that Alfredo was the son who was abducted at the eatery. 'At this moment, we have identified four of the kidnapped,' Almaguer said, 'one of them being Jesus Alfredo Guzman. He said the identification was made through items found in the vehicles and forensic work at the scene. Spanish police arrest 57 in illegal Chinese immigration ring MADRID (AP) Spanish police say they have arrested 57 people and dismantled an illegal immigration ring giving Chinese citizens Spanish residency permits through fake job contracts as domestic staff. The Spanish National police said Saturday the arrests took place in Barcelona, Valencia, San Sebastian and Las Palmas, one of the Canary Islands. Police said the Chinese citizens paid the smuggling ring about 8,000 euros ($8,960) for each fake contract. The ring paid between 1,500 and 2,000 euros ($1,680 to $2,240) to each contract sponsor, usually hotel workers in the Canary island of Lanzarote. The police say the Chinese lived illegally in Spain, working in the textile industry in Barcelona. Turkey extradites 5 Macedonians planning to join IS SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) Macedonian police say Turkey has extradited five Macedonians arrested in Istanbul in an operation to crack down on recruitment for the Islamic State group. Police said Saturday that the Macedonians, aged 18 to 24, were arrested two weeks ago in Istanbul's Aksaray district along with four other foreigners aiming to fight for IS in Syria. Two of the arrested Macedonians were seriously injured when they tried to escape during the operation. A total of 11 people have been sentenced in Macedonia this year for joining IS and recruiting for it. Nine others, including the five extradited from Turkey, are in custody, awaiting trial. The Latest: City to host gathering in slain girl's honor ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The Latest on the gruesome killing of a 10-year-old girl from Albuquerque, New Mexico, (all times local): 2:40 p.m. The city of Albuquerque is holding a celebration in honor of a girl who police say died a grisly death on her 10th birthday. This undated photo provided by the Metropolitan Detention Center shows Jessica Kelley. 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. Details of what New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and law enforcement officials described as an unspeakable crime emerged Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in a criminal complaint made public and filed against the girl's mother, her boyfriend and his cousin, Jessica Kelley. (Metropolitan Detention Center via AP) City officials say there will be free shuttles Sunday afternoon to a park where there will be a public memorial that is also being billed as a birthday party for Victoria Martens. Mayor Richard Berry said in a statement that her shocking death has brought the community together. More than 2,000 people are expected, according to the event's Facebook page. Authorities found the girl's body in a bathtub in an apartment Wednesday. They say she was drugged, raped and strangled before her body was dismembered. Three people including the girl's mother and the mother's boyfriend have been arrested in the killing. ___ 12:07 p.m. The third suspect in the horrific death of a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl has made her first court appearance. Jessica Kelley remained silent Saturday morning as a judge read the charges she faces in the killing of Victoria Martens. The charges include child abuse resulting in death and kidnapping. Judge Chris J. Schultz says the case is one of the worst he has ever seen. He ordered her held on $1 million bond. The 31-year-old was the last to be booked. She had been hospitalized for a broken leg, which she suffered while trying to flee police. Authorities say Victoria was drugged, raped and strangled before her dismembered body was found in a bathtub Wednesday. The girl's mother and her boyfriend have also been arrested. 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) Colombian rebels announce final conference of peace talks BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Top commanders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are preparing to gather one final time in mid-September to ratify a peace accord reached this week with government negotiators and map out the group's political strategy without weapons. "The historic importance of this event merits that the people of Colombia and the world see firsthand the development and conclusions of what will be the last conference of our armed organization," the FARC said in a statement Saturday inviting media to cover the 10th conference. The summit will take place Sept. 13-19 in jungled surroundings of San Vicente del Caguan, an area where the rebels have long been dominant and which was the center of a Switzerland-sized demilitarized zone ceded to the FARC during a previous attempt at peace more than a decade ago. Some 200 delegates are expected to attend, including 29 members of the FARC's central command, a top decision-making body. Several foreign dignitaries it didn't name are also invited. The 297-page peace accord reached this week in Cuba seeks to bring an end to Latin America's oldest guerrilla war, which has caused more than 220,000 deaths and driven 5 million people from their homes over five decades. As part of the deal, FARC members must turn over their weapons within six months after the deal is formally signed and instead seek to persuade skeptical Colombians that it's ready to play by the rules of democracy. In exchange, the FARC's still unnamed future political movement will be granted a minimum 10 congressional seats five in the lower house, five in the Senate for two legislative periods. In addition, 16 lower house seats will be created for grassroots activists in rural areas traditionally neglected by the state and in which existing political parties will be banned from running candidates, a move critics of the peace process say will further boost the rebels' post-conflict political power. After 2026, both arrangements will end and the former rebels will have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box. The FARC last held a major summit in 2007, in the midst of a U.S.-backed military campaign that decimated its ranks and led to the killing of several top commanders. Colombians will also be given a chance to ratify the accord in a national referendum Oct. 2. Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group but will likely endorse the deal anyway. ___ An attack submarine that is sponsored by first lady Michelle Obama and will be named for her home state has been delivered to the US Navy. Submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat, based in Groton, Connecticut, delivered the submarine that will become the USS Illinois to the Navy on Saturday after nearly five and a half years of construction. The first lady, who's from Chicago, will be involved in the life of the submarine and the lives of its sailors and their families. The submarine USS Illinois travels along the Thames River after departing General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, for initial sea trials, where the ship's performance is tested prior to delivery to the U.S. Navy (July 2016 photo) The submarine will officially join the Navy fleet in a fall 2016 ceremony The submarine will become the USS Illinois, SSN 786, and begin its active service at a commissioning ceremony in Groton on October 29. US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a 2012 statement: 'Naval tradition holds that a sponsors spirit and presence guide the ship and her crew throughout the life of the ship. 'Illinois and her crew are blessed to have such a wonderful sponsor and I am grateful Mrs. Obama accepted my invitation to serve as sponsor for this submarine.' The First Lady said in a 2012 statement: 'Its an honor and a privilege to serve as sponsor of the USS ILLINOIS. 'I'm always inspired by the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Navy, as well as the families who support them. 'This submarine is a tribute to the strength, courage, and determination that our Navy families exhibit every day.' It took thousands of shipyard employees in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia and submarine supply businesses nationwide to build the $2.7billion submarine, the 13th member of the Virginia class. There were no major issues during construction, and the submarine performed 'superbly' during recent tests at sea, said an Electric Boat vice president, Kenneth Blomstedt. First lady Michelle Obama christens the USS Illinois with a bottle of sparkling wine (October 2015 file photo) The first lady, who's from Chicago, will be involved in the life of the submarine and the lives of its sailors and their families Electric Boat president Jeffrey Geiger said in a August 1 statement: 'The crew and shipbuilders worked together seamlessly to take this submarine to sea and put it through its paces. 'It was a superb effort by everyone involved, and reflects the commitment of the navy and industry team to sustain the success of the Virginia-class submarine programme. 'I deeply appreciate the contributions made by the navy personnel, shipbuilders and suppliers who made it happen.' Capt. Michael Stevens, the Navy's Virginia-class program manager, said these attack submarines are needed to replace those that were built during the Cold War and are retiring. 'Every submarine counts', he said. 'Every submarine is needed out there.' It took thousands of shipyard employees in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia and submarine supply businesses nationwide to build the $2.7billion submarine, the 13th member of the Virginia class First lady Michelle Obama, right, and General Dynamics Electric Boat president Jeffrey S. Geiger, exit the USS Illinois after Obama christened the sub in October 2015 Electric Boat, which has been designing and building submarines since 1900, had until August 31 to transfer ownership of the future USS Illinois to the Navy, per the contract. It's the ninth submarine in a row to be delivered to the Navy early and on budget, Stevens said. The submarine has a redesigned bow with two large tubes to launch Tomahawk missiles, instead of 12 smaller tubes. The larger tubes were designed so the Navy would have the flexibility to also launch future weapons and unmanned vehicles, Blomstedt said. Cmdr. Jess Porter, the submarine's commanding officer, described the Illinois as a 'stealthy weapon' that can influence adversaries in a way that makes the US more secure. The crew of about 130 men will take the submarine to sea for additional testing to prove its capabilities, Porter said. Construction began in March 2011. Modules were built in Rhode Island, at Electric Boat's manufacturing facility, and in Virginia, at Newport News Shipbuilding. The two shipyards build Virginia-class attack submarines under a teaming agreement and alternate the deliveries. The final assembly and testing took place at Electric Boat's headquarters in Groton. Construction began in March 2011. Modules were built in Rhode Island, at Electric Boat's manufacturing facility, and in Virginia, at Newport News Shipbuilding Obama, who has made it a priority to support military families, broke a bottle of champagne across the submarine's hull to christen it last year. She has been invited to give the order to 'bring the ship to life' at the commissioning ceremony in October. Inside the submarine, there's a metal plate inscribed with the first lady's initials, which each sailor will see several times a day. It's mounted where the crew eats. The Navy has ordered 15 more Virginia-class submarines, and 10 of those are under construction. The last of the 15 is scheduled to be delivered in 2023 as the 28th member of the class. General Dynamics said in a August 1 release: 'Virginia-class submarines displace 7,835 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. Building worker killed in Blade Runner sound stage collapse A building worker has died on the set of the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. Origo Studios confirmed the Hungarian national was killed during the dismantling of a set on a sound stage in Budapest on Thursday. "The worker was underneath a platform, upon which the set was constructed, when it suddenly collapsed," the company said in a statement. Harrison Ford is reprising his role as Rick Deckard in the sequel to Blade Runner "The cause of the accident is not yet known." The new Blade Runner film was not shooting at Origo Studios at the time of the incident, the firm added. A spokeswoman for the film studio said she was unable to confirm any other details about the deceased. Harrison Ford is reprising his role as Rick Deckard in the Blade Runner sequel. a follow-up to Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi classic. T he as-yet untitled film will also star Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright and Jared Leto. The movie is being directed by Denis Villeneuve, who previously worked on Sicario and Prisoners, and is set several decades after the original. Corbyn ally calls for Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green to lose titles Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson should be stripped of his knighthood, Jeremy Corbyn's most senior ally urged as the row between the Labour leader and the entrepreneur escalated. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell hit out at the tycoon, claiming he wanted to "undermine our democracy" after Virgin Trains released footage disputing Mr Corbyn's claims about overcrowding on one of its services. Mr McDonnell, who is running Mr Corbyn's campaign to be re-elected as Labour leader, demanded an overhaul of the honours system and also restated his call for former BHS boss Sir Philip Green to lose his title. John McDonnell argued Sir Richard Branson was a 'tax exile who thinks he can try and intervene and undermine our democracy' Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Mr McDonnell said Sir Richard was a "t ax exile who thinks he can try and intervene and undermine our democracy". The controversy erupted after Virgin Trains released CCTV images that appeared to show the Labour leader walking by vacant, unreserved seats before he was filmed sat on the floor complaining about crowded carriages. Mr McDonnell said: "T he whole purpose of the honours system is undermined when the rich and the powerful can collect their gongs without giving anything back. It's even worse when tax exiles are given honours." He added: " It should be a simple choice for the mega-rich. Run off to tax exile if you want. But you leave your titles and your honours behind when you go." A spokesman for the shadow chancellor said: "John believes that it should be for Parliament to ultimately decide who is or who is not stripped of their title, if enough members of the public campaign for it. "But he would not support tax exiles or businessmen who mistreat their employees retaining their titles." Labour MP John Woodcock, a prominent critic of the leader, mocked Mr McDonnell's call: "Dare to question Saint Jeremy's version of the truth? John McDonnell will strip you of your knighthood." The intervention by Mr McDonnell came as Mr Corbyn's rival for the Labour leadership set out his plans to scrap university tuition fees as part of a package aimed at winning over young voters. Owen Smith called for the current university funding system to be abolished and replaced with a 1% or 2% graduate tax. He also promised to guarantee a high-level apprenticeship paid at the living wage to every 18-year-old who gets the grades. As part of his package, Mr Smith also pledged to build 50,000 "first homes" a year earmarked for the under-30s, which would be rented to first-time buyers at 80% of the local market rent with the remaining 20% going into a savings pot. At the end of the tenancy, which would last between five and eight years, the first-time buyer would be able to buy the property outright by using the savings as a deposit on the mortgage. Under Mr Smith's plan to abolish tuition fees, graduates would pay an additional 1-2% tax on income above 15,000 for a specified period - possibly around 25 years after leaving university. The policy could also include a higher rate for graduates in the top tax bracket. The guaranteed apprenticeship would be available to people with level three qualifications - the equivalent to two A-level passes - and would last for a minimum of two years paid at the living wage. The schemes would include at least one day a week of off-the-job learning as well as the on-the-job training. The policy would be funded by doubling the apprenticeship levy paid by large firms from 0.5% to 1%. Tesco store forced to close as rain pours through roof onto shop floor A Tesco store has had to close after water suddenly began pouring through the roof and onto the shop floor. Rumours on social media at first suggested that the roof of the shop in New Hammond Beck Road in Boston, Lincolnshire, had collapsed on Saturday afternoon because it had been struck by lightning. But the supermarket giant said it appeared that a pipe between the ceiling and the roof had overflown due to heavy rainfall. A Tesco store was forced to close because of bad weather Anglian Water tweeted: "We're currently receiving a high volume of calls due to heavy rainfall across our area." Theresa May summons ministers to Chequers to discuss Brexit Theresa May will gather her Cabinet ministers on Wednesday to discuss her plans for Brexit. The Prime Minister has charged her top team with setting out the opportunities that leaving the European Union will create in each of their portfolios. The Cabinet will meet at the Prime Minister's country retreat Chequers to discuss the next steps in the process amid speculation that Mrs May will implement Article 50 - triggering the two-year period leading to Brexit - without seeking the backing of Parliament. Theresa May will discuss Brexit with ministers at Chequers A Downing Street source said Brexit was "top of the in tray" for Mrs May as she begins her first full week back at work in Westminster after her summer holiday in Switzerland. The UK's future outside the EU will also be an issue as Mrs May travels to the G20 summit in China at the weekend. It will be the Prime Minister's first international trip outside Europe and Mrs May will "use this opportunity to highlight the wealth of opportunities that will arise from Brexit", Downing Street insiders said. Number 10 hopes the meeting with leaders of the world's richest nations will build on conversations Mrs May has already had with many of them about future trade deals. Despite reports of a feud between the ministers in charge of the main Brexit departments - Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox - Mrs May will use the Cabinet meeting to compare the unity in Tory ranks with the chaos in the Labour Party. Almost 50,000 people have joined the party since she became PM and the Tory conference in October has seen a record number of registrations. Mrs May has resisted calls to take advantage of the disarray in Labour ranks by calling an early election, and a source insisted the Tory party was "ready to get on with the work of governing for the whole country". Despite the pressing issue of Brexit, Mrs May is keen to ensure her administration is not defined by the European question. She has already announced an audit of public services to root out racial disparities, ordering Whitehall departments to identify and publish information showing how outcomes vary for people of different backgrounds in a range of areas including health, education and employment. On Thursday Mrs May will chair the first meeting of a new social reform committee, with housing and racial disparity on the agenda. Prada predicts return to growth in 2017 after H1 profits slump By Astrid Wendlandt PARIS, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Italian luxury goods maker Prada predicted a return to sales and profit growth next year, partly helped by improved sales trends in China, after posting a 25 percent drop in first-half underlying earnings and net profit. The group, which has been hard hit by the global luxury spending slump, said in a statement it saw 2016 as "a turning point from where the group will return to growth." "We expect growth to come back after this year," Prada Chairman Carlo Mazzi told Reuters in an interview. Later in a call with analysts, Mazzi said the group expected both sales and profit growth to return in 2017. Last time Prada's sales rose on a like-for-like basis, excluding currency effects and a boost from new stores, was in 2014. The Prada group, which makes the bulk of its sales from the Prada brand, but also owns the Miu Miu, Church's and Car Shoe labels, said spending in mainland China had improved in August thanks to government measures that helped repatriate spending home. Since April, China has been raising fees on packages ordered from abroad and cracking down on smugglers who carry in suitcases full of luxury goods, in an effort to encourage shopping at home and squeeze a grey market that enables shoppers to avoid paying taxes. In its fiscal first half, Prada suffered particularly in greater China where retail revenue fell 24 percent and in its home market Italy where it dived 21 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reached 330 million euros ($372.6 million) in the first half to July 31, down from 440 million euros a year ago while net profit fell to 141.9 million euros from 188.6 million euros. After opening more shops than most of its mega-brand rivals in the past few years and raising the price of many of its handbags, Prada is trying to turn itself around by putting out more accessible products and slimming down its retail network. It has also started rolling out a new store concept in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Zurich and Moscow to entice customers into its shops, creating a different atmosphere for each product category. However, analysts expect it will take time for Prada's lack of perceived exclusivity to recover as competition becomes fiercer from new Western and Asian brands, while a revived Gucci under new leadership is expected to steal market share. Most brokers have either a sell or a hold recommendation on Prada which has seen its share price fall nearly 35 percent in the past year. "The key point for the stock is whether the company can return to a path of structural growth, via product innovation and brand buzz (similarly to what is happening at Gucci), which does not seem to be the case at the moment," New-York based broker Evercore ISI said in a note. UN Security Council condemns North Korea missile launches SEOUL, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The UN Security Council late on Friday condemned a series of missile launches by North Korea after failing to do so earlier this month when China had wanted a statement also to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday which flew about 500 km (300 miles) in the direction of Japan, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated nation in defiance of UN resolutions. "The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities," the statement said, referring to North Korea by its formal name. The statement referred to Wednesday's launch as well as other North Korean ballistic missile launches since July 9. "Such activities contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," it said. As in past statements, the Council went on to say that it "would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council's previously expressed determination." Earlier this month, the 15-member council had been unable to agree on a U.S.-drafted statement to condemn North Korea's Aug. 3 launch of a ballistic missile that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters. China had wanted the statement to oppose deploying "any new anti-ballistic missile stronghold in Northeast Asia with an excuse of dealing with threats of the DPRK nuclear and missile programs." Friday's statement did not include such language. China strongly opposes the planned basing of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea, which it says would worsen tension on the Korean peninsula. Beijing worries that THAAD's radar system has a range that could extend into China. The United States says the system is defensive and intended to counter North Korea's missile threat. El Salvador frees three ex-military officials linked to 1989 murders SAN SALVADOR, Aug 26 (Reuters) - El Salvador's Supreme Court on Friday released three former military personnel who had been detained over the 1989 murder of a group of Jesuit priests. The three had been in prison since February after Spanish judge Eloy Velasco sent a request for the capture and extradition of 17 former military personnel who were allegedly involved in killing the priests, five of whom were Spanish. Tropical Storm Madeline forms east of Hawaiian Islands - NHC Aug 26 (Reuters) - Tropical storm Madeline has formed in the northern Pacific ocean, well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Friday. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour), is about 1,235 miles (1,990 km) east-southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Miami-based weather forecaster said. Bangladesh security forces kill mastermind of Dhaka cafe attack DHAKA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Bangladeshi security forces killed four Islamist militants, including the mastermind of an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed, the head of police counter-terrorism in the capital said on Saturday. The militants were killed in a raid on their hideout in Naraynganj, outskirts of Dhaka, Moniru Islam told Reuters. Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the alleged mastermind of the attack on the cafe, was among those killed, he said. Taliban fighters overrun district in eastern Afghanistan GARDEZ, Afghanistan, Aug 27 (Reuters) - 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. Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighbouring Khost province and Pakistan. "Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight. "If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said. The attack comes amid heavy fighting in other parts of Afghanistan, notably in the southern province of Helmand, where U.S. military advisers have been deployed to bolster the defences, and around the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly to the insurgents last year. More than 20 soldiers and police were killed and another 20 wounded in the fighting overnight, while some 200 Taliban insurgents were killed, Solamal said. There was no immediate means of verifying the claims of Taliban casualties. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement dozens of Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in Jani Khel and large amounts of equipment had been captured, including armoured vehicles, light and heavy weapons and ammunition. According to U.S. estimates reported in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a Congressional oversight body, Afghan forces control or influence just under 66 percent of the national territory, down from just over 70 percent at the start of the year. The reduction was partly due to security forces pulling back from exposed areas and concentrating their strength, but after a lull following the death of former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in May the Taliban have stepped up their summer offensive. Thailand frees prominent activist over royal insult BANGKOK, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Thailand has freed a political activist after eight years in jail for insulting the country's widely revered monarchy under its draconian royal defamation laws. Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, also known as "Da Torpedo", was freed on Saturday under an annual series of royal pardons, Charnchao Chaiyanukij, permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry, told Reuters. She was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison, he said. Daranee, a key supporter of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was convicted of making defamatory comments against the monarchy during a fiery speech at a political rally in 2008. The Criminal Court found her guilty on three counts of lese-majeste. Under Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code, anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent" faces up to 15 years in prison. Since seizing power in 2014, the military junta has taken a hardline stance against perceived royal insults and handed down record sentences. For more than a decade, Thailand has been bitterly divided between rival camps, one led by Thaksin, the other dominated by the royalist and military establishment who accuse Thaksin of corruption and nepotism, charges he denies. Death penalty failing to deter drug trafficking in Iran -official DUBAI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The death penalty has failed to reduce drug trafficking in Iran, a senior Iranian judiciary official said on Saturday shortly before the scheduled execution of 12 people for narcotics-related offences. His criticism was unusual in a judiciary that has long been a bastion of the hardline security establishment in the Islamic Republic, which carries out more executions per capita than any other country. Nearly 1,000 prisoner were put to death in 2015, most of them for drug trafficking. Most narcotics are smuggled into Iran along its long, often lawless border with Afghanistan, which supplies about 90 percent of the world's opium from which heroin is made. "The truth is, the execution of drug smugglers has had no deterrent effect," Mohammad Baqer Olfat, deputy head of judiciary for social affairs, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. "We have fought full-force against smugglers according to the law, but unfortunately we are experiencing an increase in the volume of drugs trafficked to Iran, the transit of drugs through the country, the variety of drugs, and the number of people who are involved in it," Olfat said. He said he had suggested to the judiciary chief that rather than the death penalty, traffickers should serve long prison terms with hard labour. Mohammad-Javad Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Human Rights Council and a brother of the powerful judiciary chief, said in 2015 that more than 90 percent of executions in the country were for drug-related crimes. He said the death penalty has not led to a significant fall in drug-related crimes and that the policy must be re-evaluated. The Islamic Republic seized 388 tonnes of opium in 2012, around 72 percent of all such seizures globally, but says it has lost many security personnel in skirmishes with drug traffickers in volatile regions bordering Afghanistan and also Pakistan. The United Nations has repeatedly praised Iran's battle against narcotics trafficking but opposed its death penalty. The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Iran urged Tehran on Friday to halt the execution of 12 people on drug-related offences scheduled for Saturday. "It is regrettable that the (Iranian) government continues to proceed with executions for crimes that do not meet the threshold of the 'most serious crimes' as required by international law," Ahmed Shaheed said in a statement. Given Iran's large number of executions, some countries including Britain and Denmark have stopped providing funding for the United Nations drug control programme in Iran. Japan pledges $30 billion for Africa over next three years By George Obulutsa NAIROBI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told African leaders on Saturday that his country will commit $30 billion in public and private support for infrastructure development, education and healthcare expansion in the continent. Resource-poor Japan has long been interested in tapping Africa's vast natural resources, even more so since dependence on oil and natural gas imports jumped after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster shut almost all of Japan's nuclear reactors. Abe, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), said the package would be spread over three years from this year and include $10 billion for infrastructure projects, to be executed through cooperation with the African Development Bank. "When combined with investment from the private sector, I expect that the total will amount to $30 billion. This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future, an investment for Japan and Africa to grow together," he told a gathering of more than 30 heads of state and government from across Africa. The $30 billion announced on Saturday is in addition to $32 billion that Japan pledged to Africa over a five-year period at the last TICAD meeting in 2013. Abe said 67 percent of that had already been put to use in various projects. "Today's new pledges will enhance and further expand upon those launched three years ago. The motive is quality and enhancement," he said. Japan's overall direct investment in Africa totalled $1.24 billion in 2015, down from about $1.5 billion a year earlier, according to the Japan External Trade Organization, which does not provide a breakdown of sectors. Its presence in infrastructure projects ranges from roads, ports and airports to power plants. In comparison, rival China made a single investment of $2 billion in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea in the month of April 2015 alone. A tranche of Japan's new package will go towards various power projects to increase production capacity by 2,200 megawatts across the continent, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Money will also be spent on training 20,000 mathematics and science teachers throughout Africa, as well as 20,000 experts on how to handle infectious diseases. Chadian President and current African Union Chairman Idriss Deby, attending the summit, urged Tokyo also to support efforts to tackle a lack of security, including that arising from terrorism. "At the recent African Union Summit, we did say how it was important to mobilise the international community to counter all these scourges," he said. Burkina Faso bans big buttocks beauty contest OUAGADOUGOU, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The government of Burkina Faso has banned an annual beauty contest for women with the biggest buttocks, saying such events are sexist. Adverts for this weekend's third edition of 'Miss Bim-Bim', carrying an image of two fully clothed women with exaggeratedly large behinds, provoked an outcry on social media. "Our role is to do everything to avoid damaging the image of women," said Minister Laure Zongo in a statement, adding that social media criticism had persuaded her to act. The male organiser of the event, Hamado Doambahe, said it aimed to promote a more positive body image for African women and encourage fashion designers to use African costumes. Contests like Miss Bim-Bim have been held in other West African countries. Women's rights groups have mixed views about the tendency in many African cultures to celebrate women with larger bodies than are typically admired elsewhere. While they welcome the shift away from the unnaturally thin female shapes promoted by the global fashion industry, they deplore the emphasis on men judging women's body shapes. Turkey ratchets up Syria offensive, says warplanes hit Kurdish militia By Umit Bektas KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Rebels supported by Turkey fought Kurdish-backed forces in northern Syria on Saturday, as Ankara ratcheted up its cross-border offensive by saying it had launched air strikes against both Kurdish forces and Islamic State. Turkey's government, which is fighting a Kurdish insurgency at home, has said the Syrian campaign it opened this week is as much about about preventing Kurdish militia fighters from gaining territory in Syria as about pushing back Islamic State. Turkey wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of a continuous stretch of Syrian territory on its frontier, which it fears could embolden the Kurdish militant group PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Turkish security sources said two F-16 jets bombed a site controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia, which is part of the broader U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition. The sources also said the jets hit six Islamic State targets. Turkish military sources said one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded when a tank was hit by a rocket that they said was fired from territory held by the Kurdish YPG. The sources said the army shelled the area in response. Syrian rebels opposed to Ankara's incursion said Turkish forces had targeted forces allied to the YPG and no Kurdish forces were in the area. On the ground, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels fought forces aligned with the SDF near the frontier town of Jarablus. Forces opposed to Ankara said Turkish tanks were deployed, a charge denied by Turkey's rebel allies. In Turkey, suspected Kurdish militants fired rockets at the airport in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir, sending passengers and staff scrambling for shelter, Dogan news agency said. There were no reports of casualties. Turkey's offensive into Syria began on Wednesday, supporting its rebel allies with Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes. It seized control of Jarablus from Islamic State seeking to stop any Kurdish forces moving in first. Saturday's use of warplanes against what Turkey said was a Kurdish YPG militia target highlights its determination to prevent any Kurdish territorial expansion in north Syria. Any action against Kurdish forces in Syria puts Turkey at odds with its NATO ally the United States, which backs the SDF and YPG, seeing them as the most reliable and effective ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. It adds complexity to the Syrian conflict that erupted five years ago with an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has since drawn in regional states and world powers. "DANGEROUS ESCALATION" The Jarablus Military Council, part of the SDF, had said earlier on Saturday that Turkish planes hit the village of al-Amarna south of Jarablus, causing civilian casualties. It called the action "a dangerous escalation". The Kurdish-led administration that controls parts of northern Syria said Turkish tanks advanced on al-Amarna and clashed with forces of the Jarablus Military Council. But the Kurdish administration said no Kurdish forces were involved. However, the leader of one Turkey-backed rebel group gave a rival account. He told Reuters the rebels battled the Kurdish YPG around al-Amarna and denied any Turkish tanks took part. Turkish security forces simply said Turkish-backed forces had extended their control to five villages beyond Jarablus. A video released by Turkey's military showed the Turkish Red Crescent distributing food and aid to people in Jarablus, with the help of Turkish troops. It also showed what appeared to be Turkish-backed rebels flicking v-for-victory signs in the town. The newly formed Jarablus Military Council has said it was made up of people from the area with the aim of capturing the town and the surrounding region from Islamic State militants. However, the Turkish-backed rebels seized Jarablus first. Several militias under the SDF banner pledged support to Jarablus Military Council after it reported the Turkish bombing. The Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, said in a statement it was heading to "Jarablus fronts" to help the council against "threats made by factions belonging to Turkey". Iraq plans to sell oil through Iran if talks with Kurds fail By Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Iraq's government would consider selling crude through Iran should talks with the autonomous Kurdish region on an oil revenue-sharing agreement fail, a senior oil ministry official in Baghdad told Reuters. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) plans to hold talks with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), possibly next week, about Iraqi oil exported through Turkey, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said in an interview on Friday evening. "If the negotiations come to a close" without an agreement "we will start to find a way in order to sell our oil because we need money, either to Iran or other countries", he said by telephone. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public income. Its economy is reeling under the double impact of low oil prices and the war against Islamic State militants. The Kurdistan region produces around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) on its territory and exports those volumes via Turkey. Baghdad would not be able to reroute those volumes to Iran but could order shipments of some 150,000 bpd via Iran that are being produced in the nearby province of Kirkuk. An agreement between Iran and Iraq could function in a similar fashion as oil-swap deals Tehran has had with Caspian Sea nations, according to an oil official who asked not to be identified. Iran would import Iraqi oil to its refineries and export an equivalent amount of its own crude on behalf of Baghdad from Iranian ports on the Gulf. Iraq has ports on the Gulf but they are not linked to the northern Kirkuk fields by pipeline. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company resumed pumping crude through the Kurdish-controlled pipeline to Turkey last week as "a sign of goodwill to invite them (the Kurds) to start negotiations," Nema said. He said pumping had resumed on the instruction of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi following "some understanding" between Baghdad and Erbil. Abadi said on Tuesday the decision had been made to avoid damage to reservoirs. The flow of crude extracted from Kirkuk by North Oil and pumped in the pipeline has been running at about 75,000 bpd since last week, or half the rate before it was halted in March, Nema said. Should there be an agreement with the Kurds, flow through the pipeline would be increased to more than 100,000 bpd, not to the previous level of 150,000 bpd, he added. Nema said about 20,000 bpd would be supplied to the refinery of Suleimaniya, in the Kurdish region, and 30,000 bpd would be refined locally in Kirkuk. The pipeline carries crude to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, where the Kurds have been selling it independently on the international market, along with oil produced in their northern region. The Kurdish government has been calling on Baghdad since March to resume the pumping of Kirkuk crude in full to help Erbil fund its war against Islamic State. Sources in Erbil have said splitting the Kirkuk flows would divide the Kurds and complicate the task of fighting the ultra-hardline militants. A KRG spokesman in June told Reuters the Kurds are ready to strike an agreement with Baghdad if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling their own oil. The dispute revolves around Kurdish oil exports that Baghdad wants to bring under its control. "If Baghdad comes and says 'OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget', which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in June. "Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he added. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad." The Kurdish government stopped delivering crude oil to the central government about a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said. Bangladesh police kill 'mastermind' of Dhaka cafe attack By Serajul Quadir DHAKA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Bangladesh security forces killed three Islamist militants on Saturday, including a Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen accused of masterminding an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, police said. The militants were cornered in a hideout on the outskirts of the capital and, having refused to surrender, were killed in the ensuing gun battle, Monirul Islam, the head of the Dhaka police counterterrorism unit, told Reuters. He initially said four militants had been killed but later revised the number to three. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit on Monday to discuss security after a series of killings targeting liberals and religious minorities in the mostly Muslim country. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault on the cafe in a posh neighbourhood where militants singled out non-Muslims and foreigners, killing Italians, Japanese, an American and an Indian. The government has consistently denied the presence in the country of any transnational militant organisation such as al Qaeda or Islamic State. But police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, was involved in organising the cafe attack. The scale of that attack and the targeting of foreigners has cast a shadow over foreign investment in the poor South Asian economy, whose $28 billion garments export industry is the world's second largest. "This operation definitely will uphold confidence and the image of Bangladesh," said Bangladesh's prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. She told a news conference: "With this killing one curse has been removed from our shoulders." MASTERMIND'S DEATH The suspected mastermind killed in Saturday's raid was identified as Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a 30-year-old Canadian citizen born in Bangladesh. Analysts say Islamic State in April identified Chowdhury as its national commander. "According to our evidence we are now sure that Tamim was among the three killed," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters. "So the chapter of Tamim has ended here." Khan said Chowdhury was one of the main suppliers of funds and arms for several recent attacks. He had returned to Bangladesh in October 2013 via Abu Dhabi, A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, the inspector general of police, said. Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign department, said in a statement it is aware of reports of Chowdhury's death. "Canadian officials are in contact with Bangladeshi authorities to gather additional information," a spokeswoman said. "No further details can be provided at this time." The raid followed a tipoff from the landlord of the house where the militants were staying, Hoque told reporters. The landlord said the militants had described themselves as businessmen in the medical trade. Police spokesman Masudur Rahman said the fingerprints of two associates of Tamim who were also killed on Saturday have been sent to the election commission to confirm their identity. "Police collected evidence from the house though they (the associates) destroyed a laptop and some other documents," he said. They rented the house earlier this month and police recovered several grenades, arms and bullets. Last month police offered a 2 million taka ($26,000) reward for information enabling them to detain Tamim. Police have also detained two men who had been among the survivors of the July 1 restaurant attack. Hasnat Karim, who holds dual British and Bangladeshi citizenship, and Tahmid Hasib Khan, a student of Toronto University and a Canadian permanent resident, had been dining separately in the restaurant. A lawyer for Karim, a 47-year-old engineer, has said his client is innocent. Relatives of Khan, 22, say he is innocent too. Global Affairs Canada said officials are in contact with their Bangladeshi counterparts about the matter, but the assistance they can offer is limited as Khan is not a citizen. Turkish planes destroy ammunition store in Syria - military sources ANKARA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes destroyed an ammunition store south of the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus on Saturday, military sources told Reuters after a group in the region allied to a Kurdish-backed force said its positions had been targeted. The sources did not give further details about the target. Turkey-based television channels carried the same report. Earlier on Saturday, a Reuters witness on the Turkish side of the border had seen warplanes cross from Turkey into Syrian airspace and heard several explosions near Jarablus shortly afterwards. The identity of the planes was not clear. U.N. Syria envoy presses for speedy Aleppo aid delivery GENEVA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called for all warring sides to agree by Sunday on a green light for a first safe delivery of relief supplies to the divided city of Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said in a statement on Saturday that for logistical and operational reasons the first convoy must go via the Castello Road during a 48-hour humanitarian pause, although he was aware of rebel opposition to using that government-controlled route. Scandal-hit Gupta family says plans to sell South African holdings By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG, Aug 27 (Reuters) - South Africa's wealthy Gupta family, which has been accused of holding undue political sway over President Jacob Zuma, said on Saturday it planned to dispose of all stakes it holds in South African businesses before the end of the year. The Guptas have denied accusations that they have used their friendship with Zuma to influence his decisions or advance their business interests. But South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog said in July it would get more funds to investigate whether Zuma allowed the family to make government appointments. In a statement, the Gupta family said "we now believe the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses" and it believed the move would benefit current employees. "As such, we announce today our intention to sell all of our shareholding in South Africa by the end of the year. We are already in discussions with several international prospective buyers," the statement said. The prominent business family is accused of being behind Zuma's abrupt sacking of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December, a move that rattled investor confidence and triggered calls for the president's resignation. The scandal surrounding the Guptas took a dramatic turn earlier this year after deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas said the family had offered him his boss's job. Zuma has said that the Guptas are his friends but denied doing anything improper. The Guptas have also denied making job offers to anyone in government. The three Gupta brothers moved to South Africa from India at the end of apartheid rule in the mid-1990s and went on to build a business empire that stretches from technology to the media to mining. A family spokesman told the Gupta-owned ANN7 news channel that the decision to divest from South Africa had "been on the cards" since April, when the brothers had resigned from the directorships of their companies. He also said the family planned to stay in South Africa. In a statement, the family said it "had been a victim of a political campaign ... A narrative has been constructed against us, which has been perpetuated by many media titles, and that flawed perception has become the truth in the eyes of some." "We have no interest in politics, only business." ASSETS The Gupta family's assets in South Africa would include its holding company Oakbay Investments, which controls Johannesburg-listed Oakbay Resources. They also own the New Age newspaper and the ANN7 news network. Oakbay Investments chief executive Nazeem Howa said the company would remain rooted in South Africa. "Oakbay Investments will continue in South Africa, they (the Guptas) are just selling their shareholding," he told the eNCA news channel. The company does not have an easy operating environment in South Africa. All four of the country's major banks have severed links with it. Analysts have said the banks were likely prompted by concerns about reputational risk and if the Guptas are no longer part of Oakbay, that risk may diminish. South African markets were rattled again this week by news that current Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, had been summoned by an elite police unit known as "the Hawks" over an investigation into a suspected rogue spy unit in the tax service. U.N. Syria envoy presses for speedy Aleppo aid delivery GENEVA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called for all warring sides to agree by Sunday to allow the first safe delivery of relief supplies to the divided city of Aleppo. The U.N. is seeking a weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause to deliver food, medicines and other aid to people in rebel-held eastern Aleppo as well as those in the government-controlled western part of Syria's second city. It also wants to repair the electricity system to deliver power and clean water supplies to 1.8 million people, amid fears of disease outbreaks. Staffan de Mistura said in a statement on Saturday that for logistical and operational reasons convoys must go via the Castello Road during the first pause, although he was aware of rebel opposition to using that government-controlled route. "The Special Envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand," de Mistura said. There should be "no (military) escalation in areas adjacent or around the area of the pause". Russia, the main ally of the government of Bashar al-Assad, has already accepted the U.N. plan saying it is ready to ensure compliance, while the United States and other states are working to get other parties to commit, de Mistura said. U.N. agencies have said that supplies including surgical material for treating war wounds and even baby milk have been removed from U.N. convoys at government checkpoints throughout the five-year conflict. The main alliance of rebel groups in Aleppo, in a statement, gave conditional approval to use of Castello road but said the "shortest and fastest" Ramouseh road south of Aleppo should be used in parallel to deliver supplies to eastern Aleppo. The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they still have issues to resolve before an agreement could be announced. German military wants security checks on recruits, newspaper says BERLIN, Aug 27 (Reuters) - There are signs that Islamists are trying to join the German armed forces to get military training, and there is a risk they might use that training to carry out attacks in Germany or abroad, a German newspaper cited a draft document as saying. Consequently, the armed forces want applicants to undergo a security check by the military counter-intelligence agency, starting in July 2017, so they can swiftly spot extremists, terrorists and criminals, Welt am Sonntag newspaper said in an article due to be published on Sunday. Such security screening would require changes in the laws governing the military. A draft document justifying such changes, seen by Welt am Sonntag, said there are indications that Islamists are trying to get "so-called short-term servicemen into the armed forces" for training. Germany is on edge after a series of violent attacks in July, two of which were claimed by Islamic State, and the interior minister has already announced plans to step up security. The cabinet is set to approve a change to the military act next week, the newspaper said, citing security sources. A spokesman for the Defence Ministry said the government was in the process of deciding on the law. Singapore confirms first case of locally transmitted Zika virus By Marius Zaharia SINGAPORE, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Singapore has confirmed its first case of a locally-transmitted Zika virus, which has been linked to microcephaly, a rare birth defect, in Brazil, the health ministry said. A 47-year-old Malaysian woman working in the city-state was confirmed with the virus, but was "well and recovering." As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore, the ministry said in a statement. Three other cases have tested positive in preliminary tests on their urine samples and are due further checks. Zika was 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 1,600 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. Singapore, one of the world's largest financial centres and busiest travel hubs, said it expected more cases of the mosquito-borne virus which has wreaked havoc in Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. "With the presence of Zika in our region and the volume of travel by Singaporeans as well as tourists, it is inevitable there will be imported cases of Zika into Singapore," the ministry said. "There is also risk of subsequent local transmission ... we expect there may be further cases, as most infected persons may display mild or no symptoms." The ministry said it was screening the patient's close contacts and carrying out tests on others living or working nearby. Clinics have been told to be on the lookout for more cases. MISTING, FOGGING The National Environment Agency (NEA) has carried out "vector control" operations to control the mosquito population and deployed 100 officers in the area, the statement said. Such operations include "ultra-low volume misting of premises and thermal fogging of outdoor areas to kill adult mosquitoes," increasing frequency of drain flushing and oiling to prevent breeding, and public education outreach and distribution of insect repellent. "NEA may need to gain entry into inaccessible premises by force after serving of requisite notices, to ensure any breeding habitats are destroyed quickly," the statement said. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans. A small number of cases of sexual transmission have been reported in the United States and elsewhere. A case of suspected transmission through a blood transfusion in Brazil has raised questions about other ways that Zika may spread. Nigeria launches offensive against militants in Delta oil hub By Tife Owolabi YENAGOA, Nigeria, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Nigeria's military said on Saturday it had launched a new offensive against militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta, killing five and arresting 23. Armed groups have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the southern region, reducing the country's oil output by 700,000 barrels day. A special forces battalion moved against militant camps on Friday in an operation "aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities", army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement. "In the course of the operation, five militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested." There was no immediate reaction from militant groups, which operate from hard-to-access creeks in the swampland. The groups say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth to go to the impoverished region. Crude sales account for about 70 percent of Nigeria's government revenue and most of the oil comes from the Delta. A similar military campaign in May drew sharp criticism from rights groups and residents who said soldiers had laid siege to villages, arrested civilians and raped women in an bid to force them hand over militants. The army denies this. The government has been trying to broker a ceasefire but the militant scene is divided into small groups whose fighters, drawn from unemployed youths, are difficult to control even for their leaders. On Thursday, Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu met traditional leaders from the Delta to ask them to mediate in talks with militants but they said they wanted the army first to release prisoners taken during a previous sweep, an official has told Reuters. The army in May arrested a group of school teenagers who community leaders say are not linked to militants. Yemen's exiled government welcomes U.S. plan for restart of peace talks ABU DHABI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Yemen's Saudi-backed exiled government said on Saturday it welcomed a plan agreed by the United States, Gulf Arab states and the United Nations to restart peace talks 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. In talks in Jeddah this week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the conflict in which Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes in favour of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end. On Saturday, a statement from the exiled government carried by the Saba news agency said: "The government is prepared to deal positively with any peaceful solutions...including an initial welcoming of the ideas resulting from the meeting in Jeddah that included the foreign secretaries of the U.S.,the United Kingdom and Gulf states." The Houthis are yet to respond to the proposal. Kerry said on Thursday the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, pull back from the capital Sanaa, 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. The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million. 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. Paraguay says eight troops killed in ambush By Mariel Cristaldo ASUNCION, Aug 27 (Reuters) - An ambush in the north of Paraguay killed eight soldiers, authorities said on Saturday, adding that the attack bore the hallmarks of the guerrilla group known as the Paraguayan People's Army. The Paraguayan People's Army, known locally by its Spanish initials EPP, is a small leftist group formed just over a decade ago. It is loosely modeled on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which has said in recent days that it will lay down its arms after half a century of war. The security forces who officials said were attacked on Saturday belong to a unit created by the government in 2013 to combat the EPP. "At about 9am this morning a routine patrol was the object of an attack on a country road in the Arroyito district ... the attackers detonated explosives as the truck passed and then carried out a cowardly armed attack on the wounded soldiers," said the Interior Ministry in a statement. The government said it is investigating the attack, which took place in a rural part of Concepcion, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of capital Asuncion, in an area where the EPP is known to operate. The shadowy EPP sometimes leave pamphlets at the site of attacks. Authorities have not said if anything like that has been found. Interior Minister Francisco de Vargas told a local radio station that the manner of the attack - explosive artifacts by a road - was typical of the EPP. "It is very probable that that is what happened," he said. The EPP has been blamed by authorities for a string of kidnappings, murders and attacks in the remote north of Paraguay, an area of cattle ranches, poor rural laborers, and illegal marijuana plantations. In 2013 it carried out an attack in which five people died, its bloodiest to date. The group is believed to hold three people captive at present: a police agent who has been held for over two years, and two Mennonites, members of a religious sect of European background who have significant dairy farming communities in Paraguay. The Union Cabinet, accepting the government of ministers recommendation, gave its approval for the introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. Upon being tabled and passed by both Houses, it will be notified after ten months to allow continuing pregnancies commissioned by existing surrogacy agreements. Right to reproductive autonomy and parenthood, as a part of a right to life of a single or foreign person, cannot be circumvented. As of now, it has not been put in the public domain. The new bill proposes a blanket ban on commercial surrogacy, restricting ethical and altruistic surrogacy to legally wedded infertile Indian couples only, who have been married for at least five years. The husband must be between 26 to 55 years of age and the wife must be between 23 to 50 years of age. Overseas Indians, foreigners, unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and gay couples are barred from commissioning surrogacy. Only a close married blood relative, who must have herself borne a child, and is not an NRI or a foreigner, can be a surrogate mother once in a lifetime. Indian couples with biological or adopted children are prohibited from undertaking surrogacy. Only medical expenses will be allowed to be paid, and commercial surrogacy, among other offences, will entail a jail term of at least 10 years and a fine of upto Rs 10 lakh. In the Preamble of the Constitution, the people of India have resolved to constitute India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and secure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees equality before law and equal protection of law to all persons. Likewise, Article 21 guarantees protection of life and personal liberty of all persons. The decision of the Union Cabinet does not appear to be in tandem with the mandate of the people and the Constitutional provisions. Restricting limited, conditional surrogacy to married Indian couples and disqualifying other persons on the basis of nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or age does not appear to qualify the test of equality, or of being a reasonable classification, satisfying the objective sought to be achieved. Further, the right to life enshrines the right of reproductive autonomy, inclusive of the right to procreation and parenthood, which is not within the domain of the state, warranting interference of a fundamental right. It is for the person and not the state to decide modes of parenthood. It is the prerogative of person(s) to have children born naturally or by surrogacy in which the state, constitutionally, cannot interfere. Moreover, infertility cannot be compulsory to undertake surrogacy. The proposed law ought to be put in public domain for view points of stakeholders before the parliamentarians can debate on it. Democratically, all perspectives must be considered before opinions are voiced, conclusions drawn and decisions taken or announced. The view of the government cannot be superimposed over the will of the people. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), working under the ministry of health and family welfare, finalised the National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) Clinics in India, 2005, after extensive public debate all over the country with all stakeholders. In chapter three, relating to Code of Practice, Ethical Considerations and Legal Issues, it had been stipulated that there shall be no bar to the use of ART by single women who would have all the legal rights and to whom no ART clinic may refuse to offer its services for ART. Likewise, there was no legal bar on an unmarried woman going in for Artificial Insemination with donor semen (AID) and a child born to a single woman through AID would be deemed legitimate. By anomaly, single men too could claim this right. These guidelines have not been rescinded till date. Successive draft ART (Regulation) Bills in 2008, 2010 and 2013, had reportedly proposed that ART in India would be available to all, including single persons and foreign couples. However, successive draft ART Bills of 2014 and 2016, are stated to restrict surrogacy to Indian married infertile couples only and even persons of Indian Origin, Non Resident Indians as also overseas citizens of India have been debarred from commissioning surrogacy in India. The final version of the Surrogacy Bill, 2016, has not yet been debated in Parliament and administrative guidelines rule the roost. Legislation is yet to follow. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, seems to be yet another addition, whilst the fate of the previous ART Bill, 2016, is unknown. Anomalous and inconsistent as it may seem, in the matter of inter-country adoptions, the ministry of women and child development has a diametrically opposite policy. It statutorily propagates fast-track inter-country adoptions from India for foreigners. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) allows a court to give a child in adoption to foreign parents irrespective of the marital status of such a person. It was notified and implemented from January 15, 2016, after being passed by Parliament and approved by the president. The JJ Act also authorises state governments to recognise one or more of its institutions or voluntary organisations as specialised adoption agencies for the placement of orphan, abandoned or surrendered children for adoption, in accordance with the guidelines notified by the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). The latest guidelines governing Adoption of Children notified on July 17, 2015, have streamlined Inter-Country Adoption procedures, thereby permitting single parent adoptions with the exception of barring single male persons from adopting a girl child. Parenthood for single persons or foreigner couples by adoptions and surrogacy has thus different inconsistent barometres and a conflict of parental rights. This is even though Parliament approves of adoption of children by foreigners, but sadly, approval for surrogacy does not find favour in proposals of the executive or the legislative hands. Surrogacy, which has been in vogue for more than 10 years, has been shut down overnight. Tripartite constitutional fundamental rights of stakeholders stand violated in the process, as does commissioning of foreign and single parents as persons - who enjoy the protection of the equality of law and the right to life under articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which cannot be taken away, except according to the procedures established by law. A right to reproductive autonomy and parenthood, as a part of a right to life of a single or foreign person, cannot be circumvented, especially when Parliament by law already permits parenthood by inter-country adoptions from India by single persons or foreigners as couples. Even medical professionals can no longer practise surrogacy for foreign parents, thereby imposing an unreasonable justification. Surrogate mothers too may claim deprivation of a right of livelihood. All these diverse rights have been curtailed in an undemocratic fashion as codified law is yet to follow. The possible government logic banning foreign surrogacy to prevent its misuse, seems counterproductive. Barometers of domestic altruistic surrogacy will be an opportunity for corruption and exploitation, sweeping surrogacy into unethical hands in an underground abusive trade. Relatives will be generated. Surrogates will be impregnated in India and shifted to permissible jurisdictions with lax laws. The ends will defeat the means. Commercial surrogacy may still flourish with abandon. Sweeping it under the carpet will not help. Ignoring its prevalence cannot extinguish it at a stroke. India, having kindled the fire of surrogacy, now cannot sit back and turn a blind eye. Considering that the commissioning mothers may be Indian nationals whose lives and safety may be at grave risk, there is a dire need for the enactment of a wholesome law enveloping all current societal practices associated with surrogacy. If by an existing law made by Parliament, children from India are permitted to be adopted by foreigners irrespective of being a couple or being single, subject to checks, clearances, permissions and screening by a court, a similar logic must prevail for surrogacy. Ills of inter-country adoptions of Indian children to foreign jurisdictions were resolved by a strict regime of inter-country adoption guidelines, which, over years, have acquired a statutory status. Likewise, a proper approach would be to regulate the practice by a clear codified law in tandem with what has become a societal practice. Persons, citizens or foreigners will not matter. The appropriate and desirable method would be to create a mechanism to judge the suitability of proposed surrogate parents rather than to debar all single or foreign persons. An existing strict and rigorous mechanism in existence for inter-country adoptions administered by Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), which is now a statutory body, is the ideal example to cite in support. A different institution can be created to legally regulate surrogacy as well. We cannot shut our thinking simply because of the problems. Solutions must be found and a democratic law governing surrogacy for which we have been waiting for the past ten years must give birth to a statute. An unjust proposed law cannot arbitrarily stamp out and abort a determination process of the rights of parties. Chinese foreign ministers visit to India this month has done little to bring a semblance of normalcy to Sino-Indian ties. Just weeks after the Indian government cleared the deployment of a special version of the BrahMos cruise missile in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese state media has warned that such a move would have a negative influence on stability along the border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in China to attend the G-20 summit in Hangzhou next month. Following the ruling by an international tribunal last month which rejected Beijings claims over much of the disputed South China Sea area, China is campaigning against the issue to be raised in G20 Summit saying it is a matter to be resolved between parties concerned and outsider has no role. Chinese president Xi Jinping will also visit Goa for the coming BRICS summit scheduled for October. Media Ahead of the Chinese foreign ministers visit, Chinese state media had warned India to avoid "unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate" if New Delhi "wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation." Terming that India and China are partners, not rivals, the state-run Xinhua news agency has also suggested that the door for India's admission into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is "not tightly" closed and New Delhi should "fully comprehend" Beijings concerns over the disputed South China Sea. Chinese state media has warned India to avoid "unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate." Wang Yis visit was the first high-level visit between the two countries after China blocked Indias NSG membership bid at the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping in June on the grounds that it was not a signatory to the NPT. During his visit, Wang said it is up to India to decide what position it wishes to take vis-a-vis the ongoing issue. Wang's visit also came just days after Chinese troops transgressed the border on land and by air in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand last month. India-China bilateral trade which totalled around $70 billion in 2015 tilted heavily in favour of Beijing with over $46 billion trade deficit. And then in his Independence Day address to the nation, PM Narendra Modi threw down a gauntlet not only to Pakistan but also to China with his reference to the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit, and the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. PoK is a key transit point in the ambitious $45 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will give Beijing access to the Arabian Sea through the port of Gwadar. Chinas plans to build infrastructure in POK and Gilgit, territory claimed by India, have irritated India and New Delhi has informed Beijing of its strong views. Sino-Indian ties have entered a rough patch and this issue has not helped matters. So Modis message to China too was categorical that without Indias support, CPEC would remain a pipe-dream as India too has levers it can pull to scuttle the project. Pakistan will be concerned as resource-rich Balochistan is the home of the Gwadar port being built with massive investment from China. China is already concerned about the security of its investments traversing through this area and has pushed for the Pakistan Army to be given a leading role, over civilian authorities. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Asia as China takes steps to assert its control over the waters of South China Sea after its claims were rejected by an international tribunal at the Hague last month. Chinas defence minister Chang Wanquan has called for a "peoples war at sea" to push back against threats to Chinese claims. In a speech last week, he warned of maritime security threats and called for increased preparations for what he termed a "peoples war at sea" in order to "safeguard sovereignty". Dispute More significantly, China is also changing its laws to arrest and jail anyone caught fishing in waters Beijing considers its own, even though many of those waters are precisely the bits that are disputed among Chinas neighbours in the South China Sea. Last week, Chinas Supreme Court said people caught illegally fishing in Chinese waters could be jailed for up to a year, issuing a judicial interpretation defining those waters as including the countrys exclusive economic zones. Over the past few weeks, all three Chinese naval fleets have taken to the sea to practice for a sudden, cruel, and short conflict. Beijing has also begun to fly bomber and fighter aircraft near disputed islands in the South China Sea.It has also announced that it would hold joint naval drills in the waters with Russia in September, terming the drills routine and not directed at any third party. A group of new photographs have revealed the construction of several reinforced aircraft hangars at Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief Reefs, all land formations built up by China in recent months, on which the Chinese have also built runways. Neighbours Chinas neighbours too arent keeping quiet. Reports have emerged of Vietnam secretly fortifying several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking Chinas runways and military installations across the vital trade route. Japan filed a protest with Beijing over recently discovered radar equipment China secretly installed in a gas exploration platform close to disputed waters in the East China Sea. Japan is concerned that the radar could be a signal that China will begin using gas exploration platforms as military outposts. The protest came on the same day an armada of 13 Chinese Coast Guard ships sailed into waters just outside what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea. At this time of regional flux, Indias ties with China have entered a phase where antagonistic posturing is the new norm. Chinas openly hostile acts are forcing a recalibration in India. The alleged pro-US coup attempt in Turkey that left nearly 300 dead, has raised fresh questions about Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan's politics and the state of NATO. Kemal Ataturk's politics and secularism was defeated decades ago by the AKP that Erdogan leads, with the latter serving two terms as prime minister followed by a term as president. But after the "coup" allegedly by a Turk residing in the US, Erdogan made a bold attempt to link with Russia, going to Moscow for a crucial meeting with president Vladimir Putin. Putin has roped in the Iranian forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah - the latter who years ago was the first armed force to defeat the formidable Israeli Army (IDF) - to strengthen the anti-ISIS alliance, as well as foil the US and allies "regime change" effort in Syria. Erdogan has a brazen record as a trader with ISIS, buying stolen Iraqi and Syrian oil from the powerful terrorist force, and shipping it using the BMZ shipping company owned by his family, and run by his son Bilal, to nearby countries all the way to Israel. How did this Turkish-Russian entente take place? The alleged pro-US coup attempt in Turkey that left nearly 300 dead, has raised fresh questions about Recep Tayyip Erdogan's politics. Recep Erdogan is clearly uneasy about his relations with the US and NATO, whether or not his exiled rival Fethullah Gulen's purported coup attempt actually had covert US support or not. It is also reported that Putin warned Erdogan the day before the coup, that it was coming. Thus the wily Turk's complete political switch. Moreover, the US, this year, has been arming and backing the Syrian and Iraqi Kurds, who are linked to the Turkish Kurds and their political party, PKK. Erdogan is determined to destroy the PKK after an aborted peace process. He fears that in rewarding the Kurds, arguably the most resolute fighters in this conflict, the US may decide to reward the Kurds with an autonomous or independent "Kurdistan," which may lead to a part of Turkey being included in the new state. According to commentators, this is the main reason for Erdogan jumping from the NATO to the Russian alliance. It is also clear that the ISIS's momentum is slowing. It's defeat in Fallujah in Iraq recently, and it's encirclement in Raqqa in its self proclaimed capital in Syria, in which the Kurds have played a major role, demonstrates that the uneasy alliance between the US-NATO on one side and the Russian alliance on the other, has changed the course of the Iraq/Syria war. It might not be the endgame yet, but it seems to be getting there. The Saudi kingdom has been the biggest losers. They funded the ISIS, and their ally Qatar funded Al Nusra, with the latter tying up with the rebel Syrian forces, armed and funded by the US. So now, no more bombing of Syria, and liberation of Iraq and Syria also looks inevitable. The reconstruction of the earlier occupied Iraq and Syria is another matter. "Regime change" has never led to genuine freedom, complete reconstruction, or the return of millions of disempowered refugees. 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 The GOP could never inflict the kind of damage on the Democrats that Schumer does NY Times suddenly woke up to something we've been harping on all year-- only the Times referred to what we call DSCC incompetence and corruption as the not win back the Senate. Thursday night, thesuddenly woke up to something we've been harping on all year-- only thereferred to what we call DSCC incompetence and corruption as the Democrats weak bench . The reporter, Jennifer Steinhauer, asserted that the DSCC could accomplish the impossible:win back the Senate. Because the Democrats have only one-- or at the most two-- weak seats to defend, Nevada and Colorado, and the Republicans have 15 at-risk seats up in November, it would be really difficult for the DSCC to mess up. But accomplishing that kind of really difficult is what Chuck Schumer-- and Montana sock puppet Jon Tester-- are perfect for. There are 8 Democratic seats considered absolutely safe-- open seats in California and Maryland, as well as blue seats in Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. The Republicans have 8 senators seeking reelection who could walk back into office blindfolded: Richard Shellby (AL), Mike Crapo (ID), Jerry Moran (KS), John Hoeven (ND), Jim Lankford (OK), Tim Scott (SC), John Thune (SD), and Utah (Mike Lee). The Republicans have 18 seats with some level of vulnerability, from pretty safe Alaska, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kentucky to time-for-the-challenger-to-shop-for-blue-curtains territory: Wisconsin and Illinois. In between are the states that will decide which party runs the Senate for 2017 and '18 (when the tables are reversed and the Republicans will have massive wins and send the Democrats back into the minority (if they do manage to win in November). These are the states that should be most hotly contested (aside from Wisconsin and Illinois): Arizona Florida Indiana Iowa Missouri New Hampshire North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania An anti-Trumpanzee wave is building in most of these states and it would be a safe bet to assume Hillary wins Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and probably North Carolina and Iowa, with an outside chance of winning in Arizona and Missouri as well. As much as I detest Evan Bayh's politics-- he's the ultimate Blue Dog type and corrupt to his core-- he's what they like in Indiana and he'll probably win the Senate seat (and by a lot) despite Hillary's struggle there. As much as I hate to say so, it was "smart" as part of a short-sighted, short-term policy for the DSCC to recruit him. But it's the other contests that are worth discussing. In Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Schumer and sock-puppet have worked to make sure the nominees would be corporate whores resistant to any kind of populism or progressive agenda. Steinhauer says the Democrats "find themselves hobbled by less-than-stellar candidates." Find themselves? How did that happen? Sounds very passive but it was anything but passive. At Schumer's direction the DSCC spent millions of dollars driving good candidates out of the races and replacing them with truly miserable ones or, as Steinhauer puts it "by less-than-stellar candidates." It's costing the DSCC and their allies millions of dollars that could have been used against Republicans, to burden the Democrats with, for example, worthless former fracking lobbyist Katie McGinty in Pennsylvania, possibly the worst candidate running for any Senate seat anywhere this cycle. And for that Schumer and his allies spent big to destroy the Democrat, Admiral Joe Sestak, who likely would have beaten Toomey. They installed hopeless and pathetic old Ted Strickland in Ohio and are spending millions to make sure talentless "ex"-Republican Patrick Murphy-- who, if he gets the nomination August 30-- will relieve McGinty of the "worst candidate running for any Senate seat anywhere" title. Of course, there's also Patty Judge, who Schumer bulldozed into the Iowa nomination and who has virtually no chance to win anything and the odious New Dem in Arizona, Ann Kirkpatrick, who is likely to be thrashed by John McCain, even if McCain dies before election day. Steinhauer is only partially correct when she claims that "the Democrats problem stems from a depletion of their ranks in state legislatures and governors mansions over recent years" but hits it out of the park when she politely notes "a lack of institutional support for grass-roots-level politicians who represent a changing base." Democrats cannibalize each other when they lose those seats and dont have new talent to fill them, said Daniel A. Smith, a professor of political science at the University of Florida. Here and in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and North Carolina are states that should have Democratic state-controlled legislatures, and the fact that they dont not only marginalizes Democrats, but also makes it increasingly hard to build a farm team. Republicans, of course, find themselves in a fundamental conflict between Mr. Trumps populist insurgents and traditional conservatives. But Democrats are mired in their own struggle, as they try to identify future stars who can appeal to a base increasingly insistent on a progressive agenda. Floridas Senate Democratic primary this Tuesday pits a bombastic, populist liberal, Representative Alan Grayson, against the establishments pick, Representative Patrick Murphy, in the kind of showdown that analysts expect to see in the partys future. Democrats are going to have their own Tea Party moment in 2018, said Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor and Senate analyst for The Cook Political Report. I dont think they are going to put up with the party dictating who their candidates are. The bench is not apparent right now, said David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Mr. Obamas presidential campaigns. There are some impressive young leaders, but who among them is the next presidential nominee I cant answer. A lot of them are not there yet. 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. ...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 have also complained that the party has not worked hard enough to promote an agenda that is appealing to the partys growing base of progressive whites, nonwhites and millennials, fearing that such policies could turn off older, more traditional Democratic voters. Stacey Abrams, the minority leader of the Georgia General Assembly, called that the fear that is inherent in transitions. She is considered one of the partys brightest young stars, in no small part because she has unseated five Republicans in the Georgia legislature. This is a party that is comprised of what is being referred to as the new American majority, she said. Those are progressive whites, people of color and millennials. We have to focus our politics on turning out those voters. Instead, the Senate Democrats were manipulated into picking the absolute worst possible leader, Schumer, who is working to replicate a Democratic senate caucus beholden to Wall Street and resistant to anything the upcoming Democratic Party base is interested in. Schemer's career has been greased by $25,957,041 in legalistic bribes from the Finance Sector, more than any other politicians in the history of American politics who was not a presidential candidate. Schemer's corruption is far worse than even any Republican. By way of comparison, even the most contemptible Wall Street whores across the aisle haven't gotten the kinds of bribes that makes Schumer's clock tick. Not one of Wall Street's favorite Republicans got even half of what Schumer took in! Here are the 10 most bankster-corrupted Republicans and their hauls: John Boehner (R-OH)- $12,215,498 Mitch McConnell (R-KY)- $11,806,876 Scott Brown (R-MA)- $9,178,994 Rob Portman (R-OH)- $8,722,092 Eric Cantor (R-VA)- $8,659,744 Richard Shelby (R-AL)- $8,380,358 John Cornyn (R-TX)- $8,235,516 Paul Ryan (R-WI)- $8,233,811 Mark Kirk (R-IL)- $8,159,335 Pat Toomey (R-PA)- $7,818,439 Schumer's mentorship of right-wing fake Democrat Patrick Murphy makes all the more sense when you understand that only Speaker Ryan and House Majority Leader McCarthy have taken bigger bankster bribes than Murphy this year and that there is no non-incumbent running for the Senate this year who has gotten as much Finance Sector loot as Murphy. Murphy just spent 2 terms in the House doing absolutely nothing but showing how utterly corrupt he is, but a promise from his wealthy parents and wealthy Saudi backers to help fund Obama's Presidential Library was enough for Obama to show his contempt for Florida's African-American voters by lying to them about what a "progressive" Murphy is in a series of ads that have all but killed Grayson's chance's to win the primary. Blue America hasn't endorsed many candidates for Senate races this cycle. We only found 3 worth supporting (who are still in the running). You can help them-- and I hope you will-- at the thermometer below: I first ran across Houston hedge fund billionaire John Arnold and his wife Laura when I noticed them spending millions of dollars supporting California fake Democrat Ro Khanna , school privatization and charter school advocacy, of the kind John Oliver discusses in the video above. The vile Arnolds have made their fortune through fracking and charter schools and they happily push their greedy agenda by financing right-wing candidates, some Republicans but primarily Democrats from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, like, besides Khanna (their biggest candidate investment), corrupt characters Darren Soto (FL), Josh Gottheimer (NJ), Ami Bera (CA), and repulsive and power-hungry Rahm Emanuel protegee, Illinois Blue Dog Cheri Bustos This cycle they teamed up with a Marco Rubio operative, a dip-shit named Thomas Datwyler , to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in FL-09 in order to bolster Darren Soto-- a right-wing NRA-poster boy masquerading as a Democrat and running for Alan Grayson's old congressional seat in the Orlando area. The Common Sense Leadership PAC is running a barrage of independent expenditures against Dena Grayson and in favor of Soto-- over $200,000 so far, but with expenditures accelerating by the day. Ironically, their vicious attacks on Grayson have been augmented by the sleaziest and least trustworthy of all Democratic groups, EMILY's List, which has, over the last decade, become expert at spreading lies and distortions. Hedge fund criminal Donald Sussman has given EMILY's List $2 million to spend against Grayson and Michael Bloomberg gave EMILY's List another million, some of which is being used against Soto and some against Grayson. It's ironic that EMILY's List is spending their donors' money to smear a pro-choice woman doctor in such a way that could well result in the election of a virulently anti-choice, right-wing tool like Soto who has been publicly endorsed by the Wall Street-owned and operated New Dems. Although some of the Arnold's money ($44,917) has gone into pro-Soto efforts, the big money is all being spent tp smear Grayson, smearing being a John and Laura Arnold trademark whenever it comes to progressives. This is how predatory billionaires like the Arnolds seeks to advance their political agenda, by helping elect puppet candidates like Darren Soto who will support their bid to destroy public education, one of the long-term goals of these people. As Jeff Bryant wrote foryesterday, "[John] Oliver focused much of his attention on Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, three states with especially depressing charter track records-- including negligence in the approval process and school executives embezzling funds ." None of Olivers critics seriously refuted the crux of his argument that there might be something fundamentally wrong by design, rather than by implementation or intent, with the idea that a free market of privately operated and essentially unregulated schools is a surefire way to improve education opportunities for all students. Indeed, charter schools are here to stay has become a refrain among advocates for these schools, even though theres no doubt the controversy caused by this new parallel school system is just beginning, and no one can predict what the ongoing conflict will lead to. The charter industry is currently responsible for educating a small percentage of students-- just 67 percent nationally and barely measurable in many communities, especially more well-to-do metropolitan and rural areas. A minority of Americans and relatively few politicians completely understand what charter schools are. And most experts have mixed views on the purpose of the schools. However, what charter advocates generally wont admit is that many of the problems these schools cause are reflective of what inevitably seems to happen when an essential public service is privatized. The charter industry claims its schools are public institutions because they get tax dollars, but thats like saying a defense contractor is a public business because it takes in revenues from the federal government. Numerous experts point out charter schools blur the line from what it means to be a public institution providing a public good and that, by their very design, they expand opportunities to profiteer from public tax dollars and privatize public assets. People in communities affected by these schools are just beginning to see the conflicts these institutions cause, and its just a matter of time before government officials at all levels are forced to respond to the increasing concerns with these schools. Just consider recent actions taken by the Department of Justice to curtail the expansion of the private prison industry-- a privatization trend that generally predates the rise of the charter industry. As Mother Jones reports, after a damning report on the safety, security, and oversight of private prisons, DOJ announced it would stop contracting with these institutions. Donald Cohen, who leads In the Public Interest, an organization that researches problems posed by privatizing public services, writes for Huffington Post, privately operated prisons are fundamentally flawed because the business model they must follow encourages the companies to actively seek new prisoners to fill facilities they own. As ITPI has previously reported, in an effort to provide the service with fewer resources while also maximizing profits, [private prison] companies often cut corners, reducing the quality, effectiveness, and accessibility of the service. The more contractors can cut costs on running their facilities, the wider their profit margins, writes Aman Banerji for the Roosevelt Institute. No wonder private prisons contracted by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) contain one or more security deficiencies, health service deficiencies, and a greater number of food grievances. This clear and obvious conflict of interest-- between serving the public and rewarding private enterprise-- led to a misalignment with DOJs mission to hold an essential function of government to the high standards the public demands. If the charter school industry believes it can avoid this conflict, its kidding itself. More than one attentive blogger has noticed the striking similarities between charter schools and the private prison industry. In one of these posts, Mitchell Robinson notes that charters, like private prisons, differ from the public counterparts by not being locally managed or controlled, not providing the same level of services and programs, and not answering to the same level or degree of regulation and oversight. Over the years, the US Department of Education has rewarded charter schools with over $3.3 billion in federal funds, and with passage of the most recent federal education law, the every Student Succeeds Act, USDoE will send $333 million more to these schools before the current fiscal year is over. Remarking on the actions DOJ took to end tax dollars going to the private prison industry, Banerji concludes, It offers an opportunity to contest the privatization of state services beyond the prison system. Lets hope reexamining the role of charter schools is the next step. First in a four-part series. One afternoon, while reading the Le Siecle daily newspaper in a Parisian cafe, novelist Jules Verne read a story that inspired his classic yarn Around the World in Eighty Days. It was likely the summer of 1871. The popular writer would say later that the newspaper item referred to the fact that it had become possible to circumnavigate the planet in that amount of time. Wealthy American businessman George Francis Train had accomplished that feat in 1870. News outlets of the day were replete with accounts of grand technological advancements that were transforming the world. Steam engines were enabling ships to cross vast oceans in a fraction of the time that wind-propelled vessels often needed. On May 10, 1869, Leland Stanford had hammered in the golden spike at Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory to complete the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. And the opening of the 101-mile-long Suez Canal that same year established a waterway that linked Asia with Europe. When a new railroad line was finished in India in 1870 that connected the entire subcontinent, the global circle of travel was complete. Vernes masterwork first appeared as a series in the French newspaper Le Temps. The book, Around the World in Eighty Days, made its debut in 1873. Its protagonist, Phileas Fogg, undertakes the wager-driven trip after learning about the new railroad line in India. Once Train had set the 80-day record for the swing around the planet, it was just a matter of time before someone would want to break it. As many students of history know, that intrepid soul was Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, known to the world as Nellie Bly. What is far less known is that former Albemarle County resident Elizabeth Bisland raced Bly around the world. But for a missed connection, the onetime owner of Greenway Rise Farm just outside Charlottesville might have won the contest. By the start of the race Nov. 14, 1889 both young women had established careers as writers in New York City. Bly wrote for the New York World newspaper, and Bisland for a monthly magazine called The Cosmopolitan. Bly was 25 years old; Bisland was three years her senior. Both of them were gutsy prototypes of American women of the future who would refuse to remain tethered to the social norms of the past. Nonetheless, it was the Victorian Age, and the idea of a single woman bounding around the world on her own was enough to make many people gasp. But as the publishers of the newspaper and magazine correctly surmised, this affront to delicate sensibilities would serve to heighten interest and increase revenue. Bly had been born on May 5, 1864, in Cochrans Mills, Pennsylvania. When she was 6 years old, her wealthy father died without leaving a will. This oversight left her mother with little to support her five children. Years of struggle during Blys formative years convinced her that she would have to earn her own way as an adult. Grit and tenacity landed her a job at the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper, which led to a position at the New York World. Bly became the talk of the town by writing a damning expose about the Blackwells Island Insane Asylum. In order to do this, she had feigned insanity and spent more than a week as an inmate in the squalid conditions before the newspaper arranged for her release. Bisland also was familiar with the sharp bite of childhood poverty. She was born on Feb. 11, 1861, in Louisianas St. Mary Parish. Her well-to-do family lost much of what it had during the Civil War and, to a great extent, she educated herself by reading the books in the family library. Bislands gift for writing poetry resulted in a job with the New Orleans Times-Democrat newspaper. She revealed a measure of her own mettle after noting that the males in the area got support from the local YMCA, while young single women had to fend for themselves. To right this wrong, Bisland started the New Orleans Womans Club and served as its first president. After three years in the Crescent City, she left for New York. Letters of introduction from editors at the Times-Democrat got Bisland a tryout at the New York Sun newspaper. Her talent soon had her writing feature stories for the Sun, as well as for magazines, including Puck, Harpers Bazaar , Illustrated American and The Cosmopolitan. By the fall of 1889, Bly and Bisland were well-known writers. A year before, Bly had proposed the idea for trying to break Trains around-the-world record, but her editors insisted that no one but a man can do this. The bosses flip-flopped on that belief in the fall of 1889, when they learned that more than one person was talking about attempting to break the record. When Bly was summoned to the publishers office and asked if she could start the trip in two days, she has been quoted as saying, I can start this minute. Bisland was far less enthusiastic when her boss asked her to undertake the trip. Not the least of her concerns was that she was to leave immediately. Next: Getting underway. David A. Maurer can be reached at dmaurer@dailyprogress.com or (434) 978-7244. Chuck Schumer has managed-- along with Montana sock puppet Jon Tester-- to set up a series of lesser-of-two-evils contests that will determine which party controls Congress. Ted Strickland and Katie McGinty are obviously unqualified to be U.S. senators and nothing would ever get me to vote for either. But then look at the garbage each one is running against: respectively Rob Portman and Pat Toomey. Portman is worse than Strickland and Toomey is worse than McGinty, but that doesn't make either Strickland or McGinty any more fit for office. Schumer planted a series of discredited lies about Alan Grayson to guarantee his (and Wall Street's and Saudi Arabia's) choice for the Florida Democratic nomination, "ex"-Republican Patrick Murphy. A Murphy/Rubio race would surely force Florida voters to pick the lesser evil but this is a far tougher race than the ones in Ohio and Pennsylvania which it isn't clear which onethe lesser evil. Again, I'd never vote for either, but who do you even root for in a contest like this? Mothra? Godzilla? Worse yet, in California, where the jungle primary has puked up two crappy Democrats to run against each other in a blue state saddled with a corrupt party establishment, conservative Blue Dog-- and dumbbell-- Loretta Sanchez faces off against corporate nothing and woman of mystery, Kamala Harris, neither of which is worth a vote. And what's a Republican to do. Well, the editors of the Reddingare Republicans and they're backing the moron Blue Dog . "For Republicans who can stomach the idea of voting for the more centrist of two Democrats," they wrote this week, "Sanchez is a clear choice." Perhaps foremost on her list of qualifications for that role are endorsements those that have gone to her opponent, California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, for example, which cited its discomfort with statements Sanchez has made indicating that the discussion of water solutions for California must start with everything on the table-- including (gasp) the Endangered Species Act. Sanchez paints that as a pragmatic way to begin negotiating, and insists it's not fair to say she wants to alter the ESA, but her willingness even to talk about it causes environmentalists to shudder. Folks who feel the current administration has America on the wrong track may also take note of Harris's endorsement by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Their interference in a two-Democrat race riled Sanchez, but it may prompt some Republicans to give her a second glance. On the campaign trail, Sanchez emphasizes her experience with national security. She has served on the House Armed Services Committee throughout her time in Congress, where she says she "works on avoiding the conflicts of the future. If I'm doing my job right, you're never going to hear the names of the countries" where problems might break out. Sanchez, a member of the House Blue Dog Coalition, spoke most carefully answering Second Amendment questions. "The Second Amendment is the Second Amendment," she said. "If you're one of the people who wants to melt down all guns... there's a process to change the Constitution. I'm going to agree with the fact that people have a right to have a gun." Still, she indicated that she favors background check restrictions and her campaign website lambastes Senate Republicans for blocking "responsible action on gun violence." ...In a two-way race, voters who look closely may my find Sanchez too liberal, but ultimately less problematic than Harris. New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. ROANOKE University of Virginia graduate Martese Johnson and his attorneys flew in from New York for a hearing in federal court in Roanoke on Friday to take up motions in Johnsons $3 million lawsuit against Virginias Alcoholic Beverage Control. In the 10 months since Johnson filed the suit against the ABC claiming that his controversial arrest outside a Charlottesville bar in March 2015 constituted excessive force, false arrest, gross negligence and more the ABC has repeatedly opposed Johnsons claims, and asked in early June for the case to be thrown out entirely. On Friday, that motion was taken up by Judge Glen Conrad, who made it clear that while he would take some time before ruling on the motion, the case likely will move forward on the grounds that the officers might have used excessive force. However, Conrad noted that one of the three officers involved probably will be excused from the action. Johnson filed the suit in October 2015, about six months after three agents from the ABC arrested him during a St. Patricks Day enforcement operation on The Corner, a hotspot for partying UVa students. Agents spotted Johnson, 20 years old at the time, attempting to gain entry to the busy Trinity Irish Pub, but being turned away after handing his ID to the bouncer. Johnsons suit alleges that the ID was valid, but that he failed to correctly recite the IDs ZIP code. As Johnson walked away from the bar, he was approached by agent Jared Miller, who then grabbed Johnsons arm from behind. Johnson pulled away, according to multiple accounts, allegedly not knowing that Miller was a law enforcement officer. Miller was quickly joined by agents Thomas Custer and John Cielakie, and in the ensuing encounter, Miller and Custer slammed Martese into the brick walkway, face first, according to Johnsons lawsuit. The aftermath of the encounter was captured by photos plastered across social media, many showing Johnson on the ground, flanked by three officers, with blood streaming down his face. Videos showed Johnson, who is black, yelling I go to UVa and other comments to the three white agents as medical personnel arrived on the scene. As the images circulated, accusations of racial profiling and police brutality quickly erupted, and many students at UVa and members of the Charlottesville community rallied behind Johnson, who required 10 stitches to his face and head in what his attorneys called a brutal and unjustified attack. Johnson was charged with public intoxication and obstruction of justice, but Charlottesvilles head prosecutor dropped those charges in the wake of the controversy. Lawmakers and citizens alike questioned the ABCs enforcement powers while marches were led through the citys streets. While the three involved officers eventually were cleared of wrongdoing by their agency, Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered a review of the ABCs practices, including some officer retraining, and Attorney General Mark Herring announced an initiative to improve police-citizen relations. The following October, just after entering his fourth year at UVa, Johnson filed his $3 million suit against the agency, the three agents and agency law enforcement director Shawn Walker. Specifically, the suit alleged a failure to train and supervise agents and negligent supervision and training of agents by Walker, false arrest, excessive force, gross negligence and battery by the three agents, and assault by Miller. The case is now set to go to trial in July, but the ABC hopes to have the case dismissed for a variety of reasons. Its central argument is that the officers entered into the encounter with Johnson under reasonable suspicious that Johnson had attempted to enter the bar illegally, and that there was probable cause to arrest him. During Fridays hearing, Conrad asked an attorney from the ABC whether Johnsons attempt to gain entry to the bar was technically illegal in and of itself. The attorney replied that it was not, but that it created reasonable suspicion for the officers to pursue Johnson. The ABCs defense was quick to note that based on the evidence presented in the complaint and relative documents, it was clear that one agent, Cielakie, had not had a very direct role in Johnsons arrest, and that he had merely been on hand to assist his fellow officers during the arrest. Despite arguments from Johnsons attorneys that Cielakie was excessive when he cuffed Johnsons legs after he was already immobilized on the ground, Conrad seemed to agree with the ABCs argument, and later indicated that he likely would drop Cielakie from the lawsuit. We neednt talk about Agent Cielakie, Conrad said at one point. Outside of that point, counsel for both sides argued back and forth over the merits of whether the officers had probable cause to arrest Johnson, whether they were excessive in bringing Johnson to the ground, whether the interaction constituted gross negligence and if Walker should actually be included in the action. As to Walkers involvement, the ABC argued against Johnsons assertion that there was a pattern of questionable practices in the training of the ABCs law enforcement agents. That argument hinged on the 2013 case of Elizabeth Daly, a UVa student who had her car swarmed by ABC agents when they mistook the case of water she was buying for beer. Daly, who was arrested and jailed for a few hours before having her charges dropped, went on to sue the ABC for $40 million. Her case was settled for $212,500 in 2014. Attorneys for the ABC said that, according to case law, one instance does not constitute a pattern of negligent behavior or a failure to properly train officers, thus excluding Walker. Speaking to the probable cause argument, attorneys for Johnson argued that a reasonable officer would have been able to investigate Johnson being turned away from the bouncer without advancing on him from behind and allowing the incident to escalate. They add that Johnson was grabbed by both arms in the altercation, meaning he was not able to brace himself when being brought to the ground, thus leading to his stitches and the charge of excessive force. The ABCs attorneys argued that the level of force used in the encounter was the result of agents hoping to achieve a greater level of compliance from Johnson, who they said failed to comply during the incident. The merits of those conflicting perspectives on the incident are still up for debate, Conrad eventually said, but he noted that much of the case depended on the assessment of whether the agents used excessive force. The outcome of that question would inform the questions of the officers intent in arresting Johnson, as well as the claims of negligence, assault and battery. Why do we want to call this so much more than an excessive force case? Conrad asked Johnsons attorneys at one point. Conrad closed by saying that he would take a few weeks to consider the arguments, but indicated that the case likely will move forward based on the question of the officers alleged use of excessive force. In the meantime, an attorney for Johnson said counsel will move forward with the discovery phase of the lawsuit. Last week, state auditors found that the University of Virginia was not keeping a $2 billion slush fund, as alleged by former Rector Helen E. Dragas. But the auditors did not weigh in on whether UVa violated open meetings law by discussing the fund in executive session. During a hearing at the General Assembly on Friday, UVa Rector William H. Goodwin Jr. recounted the Board of Visitors June closed-door meeting, giving a different version of events from the one presented by Dragas which formed the basis of a negative opinion from the state Freedom of Information Advisory Council. The June closed-door meeting was convened to talk about how former employees had help amassing the reserves that became the Strategic Investment Fund. The university cited discussion of personnel performance as the reason for the closed meeting. After about 15 minutes, Roscoe Roberts, the universitys general counsel, passed Goodwin a note saying the discussion was veering off course, Goodwin said. It was then he called a stop to the meeting. We did not talk about anything in the meeting, that Im aware of, that was inappropriate, he said. Under state law, public institutions can discuss certain things in private, closed session. But during that closed session, they must stay on course. Earlier this month, the FOI Advisory Council issued an opinion suggesting that the board violated the law. Budgets are generally discussed in public, according to the council. The only exceptions involve negotiations, land purchases or other situations where publicity could force a public institution to spend more of the taxpayers money. I would also note that there is no exemption in [the Freedom of Information Act] for the purpose of discussing general budget matters in closed meetings, although there are exemptions that allow closed meetings to be convened to discuss certain topics that may be related to or may affect budgetary matters (for example, certain contract negotiations and procurement, economic development, real estate acquisition and disposition, etc.), reads the Aug. 12 opinion signed by executive director Maria J.K. Everett. This opinion was written in response to a request from Kevin E. Martingayle, an attorney working for Dragas. It was based primarily on the facts presented to the council by Martingayle, who was recounting Dragas version of events. According to the former rector, the board referenced the employees during closed session, but the discussion did not center on them. Instead, the closed discussion focused on principles for spending the money that now comprises the fund, according to a statement by Martingayle. Goodwin denied Dragas version of events and said it was inappropriate for the council to put out an opinion based on just one persons point of view. The council should have sought the universitys side of the story, Goodwin said. If yall are going to fund that, you ought to put some parameters on it, Goodwin told a group of General Assembly members. Later in the meeting Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, suggested lawmakers should look into the issue. Perhaps we do need to have a discussion on some of the parameters you suggested, Norment said. But the FOI council has no obligation to seek all sides of a claim, Everett said Friday after the meeting. The councils opinions are advisory meant to give guidance and clarity on the letter of the law, Everett said. The council is not an investigative agency, she said it doesnt engage in fact-finding; it gives legal advice. Everett said the opinions are written in hypothetical language that makes it clear that the councils findings are strictly advisory. For example: If a public body held a closed meeting to discuss topics other than those described in the motion, and in fact did discuss topics other than those identified in the motion, that closed meeting would be in violation of FOIA, reads a passage from the opinion concerning UVa. Everett added: Were not a tribunal. Theres no way to ascertain what the facts are we werent there. The council issues legal advisory opinions to anyone who requests them. Opposing parties in a dispute can receive different opinions from the council, each based on the facts they provided. Members of the council issue opinions on the assumption that the person requesting its guidance is acting in good faith, Everett said. We have to assume the facts are what you say they are, she said. We dont have investigators. Goodwin has often struggled with the publicity surrounding his job, preferring that board members solve problems without generating public controversy. When he was named vice rector, in 2013, he told The Washington Post that the law is a deterrent to interacting with other board members. Earlier in the year, the Post reported, Goodwin likened reporters to eavesdroppers who listen in on a married couple. When he assumed the position as rector last year, Goodwin warned members not to use email because it creates a public record that could end up in the newspapers. Goodwin has taken a different tone recently. At the boards retreat earlier this month, he gave more specifics, saying he understands the purpose of FOIA but does not like the way the advisory council does its work. I think FOIA is a very needed principle, Goodwin said. But I dont think [the council] should be a loose cannon when youre funding it. The Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline took an unconventional approach to fundraising on Saturday when they invited participants to rappel down the Omni Charlottesville Hotel on the Downtown Mall. The Girl Scout group held the areas first Over the Edge event, which asked participants to commit to raising at least $1,000 for Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline in exchange for the chance to rappel down the hotel. The event was presented by Kroger. Jeanne Snyder, development director for the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline, said 43 participants, or edgers, signed up and took part in the event. The fundraising goal is $50,000, and Snyder said theyll know in the next few days how much was raised in total. Money raised from Saturdays event will be used to fund a number of different things in the Girls Scouts of Virginia Skyline, such as the organizations scholarship fund and summer camps. The scholarship fund from the organization, which consists of troops from 36 counties in Virginia, helps girls join a troop if they cannot afford the membership fees. Leading up to Saturdays event, Jennifer Mayo, sales and marketing director at the Omni, said a fire marshal and Over the Edge, a nonprofit organization that provides the urban rappel challenges, inspected the site to make sure it would be safe for people to rappel from the roof to the ground. Mayo added that the space where edgers rappelled down, which was on the outside wall facing Water Street, was in a location that would not disturb guests staying at the Omni. All of the repelling is actually coming down on solid brick, so nobody would be walking over windows or guest rooms, she said. The chance to rappel down with Over the Edge was available to fundraisers who were at least 14 years old and between 110 to 300 pounds. Snyder said she heard about several ways participants raised their money, including going door to door, asking for donations, and mailing letters to family and friends. Karen Sleezer, a Charlottesville resident and local Girl Scouts troop leader, said she did fundraising through email and social media. Sleezer and Amara Green, a local Girl Scout, rappelled down the wall together and said they weren't too scared until they get to the edge of the roof. Green said the edge was the scariest part of the whole experience, but it wasn't terrifying. Both said theyd do it again if given the opportunity, and Sleezer said events like these are very much in line with what the Girl Scouts do outdoor activities and finding ways to support one another. People were cheering each other on and encouraging people so [its] very much in keeping with the mission and the fun of Girl Scouts, she said. We're about empowering women, and this is a perfect event to ... showcase that, Snyder added. One of the very first participants to rappel down the hotel was 86-year-old Pat Lucas, a Roanoke resident who said shes been involved with the Girl Scouts organization for more than 50 years. When Lucas heard about the event, she said she wanted to do it to help raise money for the Girl Scouts. And afterward, Lucas said she thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Theres a chance of that happening both Mayo and Snyder said they hope to make this an annual event. ever among Hispanics, his hate-filled campaign has inspired tens of thousands of Hispanics to get citizenship so they could vote against him and hundreds of thousands more Hispanics that normal to register to vote for the first time, voting against Trump the main motivation. Asian-Americans have been similarly It's no secret that Senor Trumpanzee isn't charming the socks off any minority groups . He's in single digits among African-Americans and not only doing far worse than any other Republicanamong Hispanics, his hate-filled campaign has inspired tens of thousands of Hispanics to get citizenship so they could vote against him and hundreds of thousands more Hispanics that normal to register to vote for the first time, voting against Trump the main motivation. Asian-Americans have been similarly repulsed by Trump's racism and extremism and by turning the fastest growing American minority off to the GOP, he is putting down-ballot races in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Virginia in jeopardy. Even traditionally Republican-leaning conservative Filipinos have been alienated by Trumpanzee bigotry. So, what about American Jews? Since 1916, when most Jews voted for Woodrow Wilson, the majority of Jews have been a dependable mainstay of the Democratic coalition. The waves of Ashkenazi Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe were extremely progressive and tended towards assimilation. Jews who prefer separation from non-Jews and who tend towards religious immersion and fanaticism also tend towards conservative politics. Something like 90% of Jews-- a group that has the highest percentage voter turnout of any ethnic group-- backed FDR, the same percentage of Jews that subsequently backed LBJ against Goldwater (who was himself of Jewish ancestry). Popular Republicans-- like Reagan-- have been able to garner around a third of the Jewish vote. George W. Bush was supported by 19% of Jews in 2000 and 24% of Jews in 2004. In 2008, Obama took 83% of Jews but just under 70% in 2012. The other day Roland and I had a business/social dinner with a 28 year old realtor, our first in-person meeting with the guy. He seemed very much like a hipster and is an enthusiastic world traveler and a dedicated foodie. At dinner it also turned out that he is a dedicated and enthusiastic Trumpist, which came as a bit of a shock to me. He's a Sephardic Jew, his family having come here from Morocco. That reminded me of an old friend of mine I had been talking to earlier in the week, also a Sephardic Jew (from Morocco via Israel) who is not just a Trumpist but who insisted that "the Jews are overwhelmingly going to vote for Trump." Both he and the young realtor are into the outwards appearances of religion--keeping kosher or, at least, kosherish, observing Shabbos, going to Temple occasionally and socializing primarily with other relatively new Sephardic immigrants. Daily News on the top fella Trump hired to run his campaign, Steve Bannon. Bannon's ex-wife, Mary Louise Piccard, avowed in a court declaration, under penalty of perjury, "that Bannon didn't want their twin daughters attending the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles because many Jewish students were enrolled at the elite institution." One of my Sephardic friends told me Hillary is "weak" and wouldn't be good for Israel. The other one told me he "heard" Hillary hates Jews. I don't want to ask where they get their misinformation but I hope they hear about the report from a court case yesterday in the New Yorkon the top fella Trump hired to run his campaign, Steve Bannon. Bannon's ex-wife, Mary Louise Piccard, avowed in a court declaration, under penalty of perjury, "that Bannon didn't want their twin daughters attending the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles because many Jewish students were enrolled at the elite institution." "The biggest problem he had with Archer is the number of Jews that attend," Piccard said in her statement signed on June 27, 2007. "He said that he doesn't like the way they raise their kids to be 'whiny brats' and that he didn't want the girls going to school with Jews," Piccard wrote. "I told him that there are children who are Jewish at (a competing school), and he asked me what the percentage was. I told him that I didn't know because it wasn't an issue for me as I am not raising the girls to be either anti-Semitic or prejudiced against anyone," she wrote. Unlike most Jews of European ancestry (Ashkenazi Jews) the Sephardic Jews are not especially progressive or educated or socialistically-oriented and their beliefs are generally lumped in with Orthodox Judaism. Several centuries ago, the Sephardic Jews of Spain and Portugal were considered the aristocrats of Judaism. That's a long time ago and is a very different ballgame from poorly educated Iraqi, Syrian, Yemenite and North African Jews. The Sephardic Jews from the very beginning of the split were more traditionalist and, one might say, socially backward, the split itself having come over polygamy, which the Sephardic Jews refused to give up, while the Ashkenazi Jews quickly jettisoned. The first Jews in America were Sephardic but the Sephardic community was quickly swamped by Ashkenazi Jews coming here from Germany, Poland, Russia. Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe. Post-Holocaust Israel was largely an Ashkenazi project as well but today the more conservative and socially backward Sephardic Jews are in the majority there. It's no coincidence that the socialist-oriented, forward-looking, idealistic and successful Israel of the country's first 3 decades is now a bitter, right-wing and increasingly backward apartheid country. And it's no coincidence that blue collar Sephardic Jews in America have tended to gravitate towards "the stupid party" and, lately, towards Hehr Trumpanzee. Jewish Insider reported a poll showing that Florida's large and active Jewish voter base has made up it's mind on who it wants to see as president-- and This morning thereported a poll showing that Florida's large and active Jewish voter base has made up it's mind on who it wants to see as president-- and it isn't Senor Trumpanzee . Jewish voters in the Sunshine State are backing Hillary against Trump 66-23%. She's up by 43 points-- and 71% of the state's Jewish voters have an unfavorable view of Trump. The only group Trump is doing well is among Orthodox Jewish voters (6 percent of the Florida Jewish electorate). According to the poll, Trump leads Clinton 66-22 percent among Orthodox Jews. Among all non-Orthodox voters, Clinton leads Trump 77-22. Times of Israel is reporting today that even right-wing sociopath Sheldon Adelson-- who fancies himself the ambassador to the GOP from Israel's Likud Party-- is so Theis reporting today that even right-wing sociopath Sheldon Adelson-- who fancies himself the ambassador to the GOP from Israel's Likud Party-- is so irked at Trumpanzee that he hasn't spent a shekel on him yet. The toad-like Adelson is angry Trump hasn't visited Israel like he told him to and angry that Trump picked the neo-Nazi Pence as a running mate, instead of Adelson crony Newt Gingrich. Addison is spending his money on Senate and House races instead. "Gonif" means thief, if your Yiddish is rusty Bob McDonnell faced a future without limits. He won the 2009 gubernatorial election in a landslide; his fast start as governor fed national speculation. And it all came down. He was indicted on corruption charges and eventually convicted on several. His reputation lay in tatters. This year a unanimous Supreme Court threw out his convictions. A bipartisan list of public figures has asked the Department of Justice not to seek a new trial. McDonnell has suffered enough, Republicans and Democrats say. Republican and Democrats alike also say they do not want him to run for office again. According to a Washington Post poll, two-thirds of Virginians say he should stay out of elective politics. The numbers do not surprise; we agree with them. His political career is over, and should be. The court of public opinion has sentenced McDonnell to early retirement. Adapted from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Enormous data is waiting to be turned into gold in Vietnam. While giant technology firms like Google, Facebook and Amazon are cashing in on their users' data, Vietnamese companies remain largely oblivious. Most Vietnamese companies that have large data sets don't know how to deal with them. Its essential to set up technological infrastructure and upgrade the system for them to be able to deal with data from mining, collecting to using and taking advantage of it [big data], Pham Thi Phuong, CEO of Greenhat and VietnamJoy spoke at the recent Big Data Innovation Summit 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City. Telecommunications, banking, finance and e-commerce are known to posses enormous data and so have huge potential for growth, according to data experts at the event. Vietnam has seen some positive signals from leading telecommunications companies like Viettel, Mobifone and VNPT as they have established specialized divisions to exploit data, said Luu Danh Anh Vu, Country Director of Cloud Computing, IBM Vietnam. However, they still have a lot to catch up with the world. Data cannot speak for itself, therefore, we have to transform it into a 'talking' form, which can be used and optimized to make a profit, Vu added. In the next four years, global digital storage will reach 44 zettabytes (44,000 billion gigabytes), 10 times today's level and a part of that will be operated on the cloud platform, said Shane Rigby, senior consultant of Big Data Week, U.K. The market for hadoop, an open source framework to store and manage big data which can work with huge datasets, is forecast to be valued at $1 billion by 2020, equivalent to annual growth of 58 percent. More than half of the country's 90 million people are connected to the internet. Hence, "Vietnam is one of the most promising big data markets in Asia," Rigby added. However, Vietnamese firms are still somehow lost and have only made baby steps towards understanding big data. The most important thing Vietnamese companies should do now is to incorporate data analytics into everyday operations, Amjad Zaim, one of the worlds top data scientists suggested. Most big companies all over the world are soaked in data. Therefore, fostering data analytics and finding the most suitable tool to analyze data should be their top priority. However, before Vietnamese companies can start benefiting from big data, Vu suggested they should digitalize it first. Related news: > Aerospace industry takes small steps toward Big Data, with Vietnam in This article has been edited from its original version. Pvt. George Franklin Jenkins, of Culpeper, sacrificed all for his country during World War II, but that service was somehow forgotten when a monument to the Greatest Generation was dedicated five years ago in the towns Wine Street Memorial Park. Elizabeth Pycha waited and waited for her brothers name to be etched in the granite base of the Homage statue along with the 51 other men from Culpeper who died in World War II and Korea, but Jenkins' name didn't appear. The pain of losing her 18-year-old brother has not eased with time. Weve never been the same since, said 83-year-old Pycha during a recent interview in her home. We gave up a lot and we suffer from it til today. Jenkins enlisted in the U.S. Marines in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 1943 and completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina before traveling to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida for more training, according to service records. Tragically, his service ended in Florida when he drowned on July 16, 1943 during an amphibious training exercise, according to his obituary in The Culpeper Exponent. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp in the early spring and made a splendid record for himself during his short military life, earning several medals as an expert marksman, sharp shooter and in the use of small bore rifles and hand grenades, his obituary stated. Back home in Culpeper, devastation visited his family. The pall would remain. The oldest of six children, George was born in Winchester and adopted at 2-weeks-old by Seth and Vennie Jenkins, originally of Rappahannock County. The couple believed they could not have biological children, but following a successful surgery after adopting George, Vennie went on to birth five children three boys and two girls, including Elizabeth. Pycha looked up to George. He was eight years older and tolerated her following him around. He called me shadow, she recalled. George was a calming influence to the family, a laid back person and he was very bright. When we got in school, he would help us with our homework. As the family grew, so did Georges duties as the oldest. He was more of a teacher and a helper than my mother and father because father got up at 4 in the morning and went to work and didnt come home until dark, Pycha said. Mother was so busy and he had a big responsibility after she started having babies because he washed all the diapers. Seth Jenkins worked spring and summers picking apples and peaches in the many orchards that used to populate Rappahannock. During the off season he was a carpenters helper. In 1939, he moved his family to Culpeper, establishing a home place off of Sperryville Pike close to town. As World War II reached Americas shores with the Dec. 7, 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor, life in the Jenkins household like in countless others nationwide became more difficult. It was really a type of hell that Ive never known since, Pycha said. I remember my mother canning peaches and pears off a tree out back. She canned them with honey, which was easy to get. That was about all there was to eat back then. Sugar was scarce and so was meat. It was hard on people, Pycha said. All of our neighbors were having the same problem. But even in the hard times, the Jenkins family joined the effort on the home front to support the boys in service. Before George got drafted, Mrs. Jenkins would often fix a pot of white beans and homemade rolls as lunch for the church ladies at nearby Woodland Methodist who regularly gathered to crochet vests, gloves and socks for the war effort. They had a pump outside and momma went and got fresh water and everything ready for lunch, served everybody then she cleaned everything up and we all went back home, Pycha said. George played piano alternate Sundays at the church. And he sang beautiful because he stood by me when he sang, Pycha said. They all cried when George got called up to service, she recalled. When they got news of his death, life was never the same again. After George died, it caused such a ruckus that nobody was ever happy or right again, Pycha said. My mother and father were mad at each other, they blamed each other and he left right after George died. Like her older brother, Pikers father never returned. In the mail came a letter acknowledging their great loss signed by President Franklin Roosevelt: In grateful memory of George Franklin Jenkins, United States Marine Corps ... He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men. The Marine Corps Band played each day for three days in the courtyard of the Culpeper County Courthouse while George Jenkins body was escorted home. The young Marine was buried in the church cemetery at Woodland Methodist. We didnt have a camera to take pictures or anything, not even of the children, Pycha said. Someone gave her the single photograph she has of George, leaning against a car with a big smile on his face. It was taken shortly before he went away. Her husband gone, Mrs. Jenkins was forced to work, which she did at the former Southern Garment Factory on East Street. Pycha said her mother suffered from depression after losing George, oppressed with guilt over his death. Monthly death benefits of $113 for the young Marine helped sustain the family he left behind, but the grief remained. Pycha and her younger sister, Ruby Hawkins, are the only surviving members of that family; Ruby was just a baby when George died. Advancing in age and dealing with health issues, Pycha feels an urgency to see her big brother given his due respect. She is a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary in Culpeper and a retired hairdresser twice widowed. When the town led by Culpeper Councilman Keith Price rallied an effort to establish the World War II monument just blocks from her home, Pycha thought finally someone remembered, but the call never came. They must have forgotten about him, just what we thought all along, she said, getting angry. Hes not recorded anywhere here in Culpeper as dying in World War II, but hes as dead as hes ever going to get for 73 years and still nobody knew. At its meeting last week, the Town Council Planning & Community Development Committee unanimously voted to add the name of George Franklin Jenkins to Homage at a cost of $150. The measure goes to council for final approval at its meeting September 13. Price said extensive research was done to identify all the local men who died in World War II and Korea at the time the Wine Street Memorial Park was developed, but George Jenkins name never surfaced. It could be because the young man enlisted in Washington, D.C. and he rests beneath a war department headstone that says District of Columbia, Price said. When Pycha approached him about the omission, it was quickly verified that Jenkins was living in Culpeper at the time of his death. Training fatalities during that time were common, according to Price, an Army veteran. When you have a big Army with not as much safety considerations as there are now, and its war time, youre trying to get things done, get people through training in a hurry, there were a lot of accidents, he said. According to the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, 291,557 Americans died on the battlefields of World War II and another 113,842 perished in non-combat activities. As World War II intensified, the Naval Air Station in Pensacola became a hub for training activities, according to the U.S. Navy, with 1,100 cadets trained a month 11 times the amount trained annually in the 1920s. Another World War II veteran from Culpeper, Air Force 2nd Lt. Lewis Lillard, a VMI graduate, died in a training accident, also in 1943, in Idaho in a B-24 crash. Had it not been for the war, neither one of those folks would have been killed, Price said. In 1943, the war was in full swing, and by no means was victory a sure thing for the Allied Forces, he added. George Jenkins would have ended up on the Pacific Front had he not been killed, Price said. He looked like a very bright, energetic young man. Pycha agreed. We often discuss what his life would have been like if hed gotten married and had children and what he could have contributed to the community and his family, she said. Pycha reiterated the importance of having her brother's sacrifice formally recognized. I am getting ready to go to the end of my life and my sister is in bad health, she said. If we dont do something, this is never going to get done, and well all pass through here and no one will ever know. The worlds third largest rice exporter is struggling to seal deals. In August, Vietnams rice exports have reached an impasse as demand from regular markets has slowed down, Vietnam Plus reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as saying. Export volume dropped sharply in regular markets like the Philippines (down 66.4 percent on-year), Malaysia (down 54.5 percent), Singapore (down 36.3 percent) and the U.S. (down 37.6 percent). China, the largest recipient of Vietnamese rice (accounting for a third of total export volume), continues to tightly control unofficial rice border trade. Vietnamese rice exports to China, as a result, suffered a seven-month fall with export volume and value dropping 21.6 percent and 11.9 percent respectively against 2015s July figures. Additionally, no Vietnamse rice quality assurance company is recognized by the Chinese government's monitoring program, which means the Southeast Asian country's exports find it hard to penetrate its northern neighbor's market. Indonesia, Vietnams second largest rice importer, also cut back its import volume by 10.6 percent on year in July as it confirmed that the stockpiled rice volume remained at an adequate level. Vietnam's agriculture ministry estimated that over the first eight months of 2016, Vietnams rice exports reached some 3.37 million tons, down 16.6 percent on year. Export value followed the same trend with an on-year fall of 13.1 percent to hit $1.51 billion. However, the country might receive new orders from the Philippines as Vietnam, together with Thailand and Cambodia, had been invited to bid for the contract to provide 250,000 tons of rice, a source from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) revealed. The VFA predicts that the country will export a total of 5.7 million tons of rice in 2016, falling by 14 percent on-year following the worst drought and salinity to hit the Mekong Delta in a century, which accounts for 50 percent of Vietnams rice exports every year. Related news: > Rice exports to EU: making the most of zero tariff > Flood crisis threatens to kill Vietnams rice bowl PRETORIA - South Africa - Oscar Pistorius, the 'blade runner' athlete is in trouble once again with the South African authorities after he shot six holes into his new home's wall when he saw the ghost of his ex-girlfriend the other night. Mamuso Mnopo, 34, Pistorius housekeeper ran from the property in terror when she heard the gunshots. I was cleaning the floor when I looked up and saw Pistorius talking to this beautiful white figure, all he kept on saying was Why dont you just die! over and over again. He then grabbed his pistol and shot like a wild man at the ghost. Im not sure if I heard the ghost laughing as the bullets passed through it. I just ran out of there, oh my god! Mnopo recalled to reporters on Sunday. Mrs Mnopo is currently receiving counselling and is not planning on going back to her previous employer. Vietnam mulls fishing ban along its central coastline following mass fish deaths last April. Agriculture Ministry (MARD) this morning has proposed four options for fishing along Vietnam's central coast up for discussion as Vietnam deliberates resuming fishing activities in areas affected by Formosa's toxic waste. The proposal was put forward at a conference held in Thua Thien Hue, one of the four coastal provinces that suffered from tons of fish killed in one of the biggest environmental disasters in Vietnamese history caused by Taiwanese Formosa Ha Tinh Steel (FHS). The options look to impose restrictions on fishing, aquaculture and salt production in frour affected provinces, including Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue based on the assessment report on sea pollution released by the Environment Ministry on August 22. Under the first option, fishing will be banned within a 10 nautical miles from the shoreline stretching from Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) down to Son Cha (Thua Thien Hue), said Nguyen Ngoc Oai, Deputy General Director of Fisheries Department. The second option will allow fishing in all but three specific areas which have been warned as unsafe by the Environment Ministry, including hundreds of square meters of the sea in Son Duong (Ha Tinh), Nhat Le (Quang Binh) and Son Cha (Thua Thien Hue). Under the third option, fishermen are banned from catching deep-sea fish within 20 nautical miles from the shore of the four affected provinces while other production activities may resume. The last option involves no fishing ban. The MARD also noted that no matter the option, inspection of seafood sold at fishing ports will be heightened to ensure food safety. On August 22, the Vietnamese government announced the results of its assessment of environmental damage caused by FHS along a 200 kilometer stretch of the country's central coastline. It is unclear whether the water is safe to fish in within 20 nautical miles of the coast while the authorities said the coast is safe for swimming and aquaculture. Vietnam is expecting to receive later this month the second half of the compensation settlement from FHS worth a total of $500 million. The firm promised to compensate local people for economic losses, help them find new jobs and subsidize clean-up activities. In a report to the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature, the government said that around 41,000 fishermen and over 176,000 people dependent on them have been affected by the incident. Authorities estimate that seafood catches have fallen 1,600 tons per month, according to the report. 140 tons of fish, 67 tons of oysters and 16 tons of shrimp died as a result of the disaster, it said. Related news: > Formosa's toxic disaster: are fish safe to eat now in central Vietnam? > Formosa pays Vietnam first $250 mln fish death compensation > Vietnam province launches criminal probe into Formosa-related waste burial WASHINGTON DC - USA - The current US president, Barack Hussein Obama has discovered a secret room in the White House holding some belongings of previous US president Bill Clinton. The secret room was said to belong to former US president, Bill Clinton, as a place where he could hide objects and enjoy some time away from his wife, Hillary. The room was discovered when one of Obamas daughters accidentally touched an old book in the presidential library and a secret panel slid open revealing the secret hideout. The room had not been discovered for a while because George W Bush could not read and rarely ever entered the White House library. During his presidency, Bill ordered the secret service to fix him a room so he could enjoy some time with the many young ladies smuggled into the White House. In the room, we found paintings of some of the girls, like a portrait of Monica Lewinski, and even a set of blue dresses with some kind of crusty white stains on them. Everything had a fine coat of dust because the room had not been used since 2001. Looks like the 42nd president of the United States sure had a good time, we found racks of Cuban cigars and a score chart on the wall detailing the dates for clandestine meetings with his secret girlfriends, an Obama aide told Fox News. Obama plans to use the secret room as a place where he can relax and maybe put his prayer mat down and face Mecca daily. Once we clear out Bills stuff, the president has asked us to prepare the room as a prayer room. It will be a nice place to pray. The Oval room is too official to pray in. Just last week, Biden walked into the Oval office and Barack had not finished praying yet. It was really awkward I tell you. He has to do it five times a day as well, the aide revealed. Mr Clinton was not available for comment yesterday regarding the secret White House lair as he was on a private fishing trip in Miami on a luxury yacht with about thirty hot women wearing nothing more than string bikinis. Mrs Clinton was in the Far East doing some Secretary of State business. Foreigners can now call (+84) 0511 1022 for information on best places to go to in Da Nang. The hotline of Vietnams central hub, Da Nang City, has been officially extended to assist and receive feedback in English from foreign tourists and organizations since August 25. The move comes after the city hotline at (+84) 0511 1022 has been receiving on average 400 calls in English each day, the government portal reported Friday. Foreigners will now be able to call the hotline for addresses of local restaurants, accommodation, tourist sights and upcoming events. The city also plans to include information on policies and administrative procedures. After the trial period, Da Nang wants to extend the hotline to become a regular source of information in English available everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., said Pham Truong Quoc Vuong, the deputy director of Da Nang Community Information Services Center. The fully functioning hotline is expected to be ready for the fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG 5), scheduled from September 24 to October 3 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit 2017, which will take place in October. Last April, Da Nang merged 200 hotlines into one number (0511-1022) to receive and process queries from the public. Calling from a landline in Da Nang only requires dialing 1022. The call costs VND200 (1 cent) per minute. Landline calls from other provinces and from mobile phones will need to add the area code 0511 and calls cost VND888 per minute. Da Nang has recently computerized various services, including one-stop shops, residential management, public transport and water supervision. The city also plans to become a smart city by 2020. Related news: > Da Nang merges 200 hotlines to improve public access to information > Da Nang officials undecided about jumping out of skyscraper > Da Nang could ban alcohol sales after 10 p.m. 70 flights were affected. Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City was submerged by rainwater from downpours on August 26, affecting as much as 70 flights arriving at the airport. M1 taxiway at the airport came to a halt after being flooded 30 centimeters underwater by heavy rainfalls, said Pham Vu Cuong, Vice Director of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. At 8 p.m. the same day, operation was back to normal after water had been drained. Out of the affected flights, two were cancelled and 14 were forced to land at nearby airports. Four international flights had to land at airports in Cambodia and Thailand. The airport was submerged in 30cm of water. Photo by VnExpress/Khanh Bang This is not the first time heavy rainfall halted operations at Vietnams biggest airport. On October 9, 2015, 20-centimeter inundation menaced the power station, forcing the airport to a temporary shut down. The repeated inundation was allegedly due to the nearby A41 drainage ditch, which had been many times requested to be dredged but to no avail, said Cuong. Last month, the city pledged to spend $16 million to save Tan Son Nhat Airport from such drowning incidents. Heavy rains turn Saigon airport to seaport Saigon to spend mln to save airport from drowning In central Saigon, downpours during rush hours also resulted in heavy congestion. At some places, the water spilled into houses and pushed garbage floating around. Many couldn't start their motorbike engines after spark plugs got wet. Underground parking lots became unintended pools. Inundation in parking lots in Thu Duc District. Photo by M.T Hanoi, on August 24, also went through heavy inundation as a result of Typhoon Dianmu, the third tropical storm to hit Vietnam this year. Related news: > HCMC prepares to tackle floods, heavy rains threaten airport > HCM City pumps $450 million into flood prevention project A nurse tests a blood sample during a free HIV test at a blood tests party, part of a campaign to prevent HIV infection among male same-sex couples, in Bangkok September 20, 2014. Photo by Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha The service is as convenient as other quick tests for pregnancy or diabetes. A U.S. funded HIV self-testing service which will help people know their HIV status discreetly was opened in Vietnam for the first time on Friday, Vietnam News Agency reported. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius took part in the launching ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City the same day. It takes a user about 20 minutes to obtain the test result from the simple test kit using saliva or blood sample. He/she will be recommended to take a confirmation test in a medical center if the result is positive, the report said, adding that the simple and reliable service is expected to help raise the rate of HIV-testing among high-risk groups. The service is part of the Healthy Markets project funded by the U.S. Government via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by PATH, a non-governmental organization operating in the field of health care. The service has been included in national HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs of 16 countries worldwide. Nguyen Hoang Long, head of the Health Ministrys HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department, said the test kit is as convenient as other quick tests for pregnancy or diabetes. Around 1,000 HIV cases were detected in Vietnam last year, falling sharply from 18,000 in 2010. HIV-linked deaths also dropped to 2,000 last year from 3,200 in 2010. As of end-June this year, there were 227,225 HIV-positive people and 85,753 AIDS patients in the Southeast Asian nation, according to the Ministry of Health on August 9. Related news: > U.S. provides $26 million to help Vietnam fight HIV/AIDS > Who will pay for HIV/AIDS treatment in Vietnam? > Vietnam launches painting contest to prevent AIDS discrimination The patient had not traveled to Zika-affected areas recently. Singapore on Saturday reported the first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus, with three other suspect infections pending confirmation. Authorities identified the confirmed patient as a 47-year-old Malaysian woman residing in the city-state. "As she had not traveled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore," the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency said in a joint statement late Saturday. The woman developed fever, rash and conjunctivitis on Thursday and tested positive for the virus two days later at a local hospital, where she has since been under observation, the statement said. "The patient is currently well and recovering," it added. The health ministry is screening the woman's close contacts and is carrying out tests on other people living and working in the area exhibiting symptoms of fever and rash. Related news: > Hong Kong confirms first Zika case in woman who went to Caribbean > Why the Zika virus is causing alarm > Vietnam confirms third case of Zika infection The government would soon make public a summary report on the indigenously developed mustard, inviting comments on it within 30 days before making further decisions. New Delhi: Major international seed companies in India formed an alliance on Friday, seeking the support of their peers after a flurry of regulatory steps in recent months by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Executives from companies including the local businesses of Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Dupont Pioneer and Syngenta announced the alliance in a crowded Press Club of India conference room. The newly-formed Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) says its goal is to address difficulties in the industry. Reuters reported earlier this week that Monsanto had withdrawn an application to sell its next-generation genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India on concerns over the security of its intellectual property. India is Monsanto's biggest market outside the Americas. Monsanto objected to a government proposal that would force it to share its technology with local seed companies. It has also taken the government to court over a cut in the royalty it gets from seed companies for licensing use of its patented technology. The New Delhi press conference was a show of solidarity with Monsanto, which has operated in India for decades but is now being investigated by the anti-trust regulator on whether it misused its near-monopoly on GM cotton seeds to jack up prices. "Our new association is driven by the fundamental value of respecting research and intellectual properties of each other," M. Ramasami, a founding FSII member, read out from a statement. "The association believes that no single company has all the solutions and hence collaborations, joint ventures, licensing arrangements and similar approaches are necessary among the members of the industry." Monsanto, a takeover target of Germany's Bayer, has said it contemplated quitting India because of heightened regulation. But on Friday its India head, Shilpa Divekar Nirula, said there was a need to align Modi's goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022 with what firms like Monsanto can offer. She declined to comment specifically about her company and left with her media managers immediately after the conference. "I would always want a very transparent system around licensing," said Sharad Khurana, country manager for DuPont Pioneer. "Forceful licensing stifles innovation. Nobody would want to invest." Local Mustard Nirula told Reuters in February last year that Monsanto was close to submitting final trial results for its GM corn to the government, but a top government official said it had yet to do so. A Monsanto India spokesman declined to comment on corn, but the official said the government was moving swiftly on another application for what could be the country's first GM food crop: mustard. India does not yet allow GM food crops, whose introduction could help reduce heavy import bills for items such as edible oils that it needs to feed its growing population, already over a billion. But political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong due to fears that GM crops could compromise food safety and biodiversity. The source said the government would soon make public a summary report on the indigenously developed mustard, inviting comments on it within 30 days before making further decisions. A panel of experts gave technical clearance for the mustard on August 11 after multiple reviews of crop trial data generated over almost a decade, Reuters reported on Thursday. The Russian government's list of so-called undesirable organizations has grown yet again. This time authorities have banned the U.S.-based International Republican Institute, or IRI, and the Media Development Investment Fund, or MDIF, from operating in Russia. The United States, said State Department Spokesperson John Kirby, is "deeply troubled by the Russian government's decision." Throughout the world the IRI and MDIF promote openness, accountability in government, and media freedom, principles Russia should seek to promote, not to suppress. In a press release the IRI said, "This move really says more about [Russian President] Vladimir Putin than it does about IRI. It's further proof that he fears democracy and allowing his people to have an opportunity to shape their own future." Amnesty International Russia Director Sergei Nikitin said, "this move is designed to send yet another unmistakable message: Russian [non-governmental organizations] and independent media should steer clear of foreign funders and foreign funders should steer clear of Russia." Under the 2015 Law on Undesirable Foreign Organizations, groups can be banned from operating on Russian soil if they are seen to pose a threat to the state's constitutional order, national defense, or security. Other U.S. non-governmental organizations on Russia's list include the IRI's sister organization the National Democratic Institute and their funder, the National Endowment for Democracy. The people of Russia deserve transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution. The United States again calls on the government of the Russia to uphold its international obligations and commitments to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to eliminate such restrictions on the important work of civil society organizations in Russia. New Delhi: India is expected to clock a GDP growth of nearly 8 per cent this fiscal on the back of good monsoon rains, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said today. "Last year, we achieved 7.6 per cent growth on the back of failure of two monsoons. This year monsoon rains have been good. Agriculture production is expected to be much better than previous two years and definitely agriculture will contribute significantly to the GDP," Das said on the sideline of a conference on 'International Arbitration in BRICS: Challenges, Opportunities and Road ahead'. Besides, he said, the Budget has been well received by all sectors of the economy. "Large number of structural reforms have been undertaken by the government in the last two year. The impact of that is beginning to be felt. All these things put together, we are hoping to better our growth of last year and perhaps get closer to 8 per cent," he said. On international arbitration, Das said structural bias in favour of developed nations must end and developing nations should build capacity instead of playing victim. Forum shopping should end, he said, adding that India is already moving towards ending treaty shopping in investments. Citing the example of price control with regard to life saving drugs, he said that pursuit of global business order should be balanced with public policy for overwhelming public good. He stressed on the need for striking an optimal balance between public good and private commercial requirements in the context of investment agreements. For dispute settlement, he said the first recourse should be to reach out to local courts and if they fail to deliver within five years, arbitration should be resorted to. There is a need for early disposal of frivolous claims, he added. New Delhi: The two-day Saarc Finance Ministers meeting focused on promoting double tax avoidance and improving trade relations among member nations, said Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, who represented India. "The focus of discussion was on economic issues and fostering a customs union, promoting double taxation avoidance between the Saarc nations, improved connectivity between the Saarc countries, increasing volume of trade, developing supply chain linkages between the Saarc countries," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. The Saarc Finance Ministers meeting concluded yesterday in Islamabad. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not attend the conference because of political reasons. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) is a regional inter-governmental organisation. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Das added there was special focus on the Saarc Development Fund and its funding. "India has been a major contributor to the fund. We have given $100 million and so far the emphasis has been social sector projects. About 11 projects are under implementation currently and now the attention is on infrastructure and economic projects to be financed from the fund," he said. The scheme would be for air services connecting "unserved and under-served routes" ranging from 200 to 800 kilometres. New Delhi: Government today notified excise duty of 2 per cent for jet fuel purchased from airports that come under the regional connectivity scheme, which seeks to make flying more affordable. The concessional excise duty rate would be applicable for airlines as well as cargo operators. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), announced as part of the new civil aviation policy, various financial incentives would be extended to airlines that would fly to unserved and underserved areas. A basic excise duty at concessional rate of 2 per cent would be levied on "Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) drawn by operators or cargo operators from RCS airports for a period of three years," the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said in a notification. The scheme would be for air services connecting "unserved and under-served routes" ranging from 200 to 800 kilometre, while there would be no lower limit for hilly, remote, island and security sensitive regions, as per the draft RCS which was unveiled in July. At that time, the Civil Aviation Ministry had also said that the central government would only levy an excise duty of 2 per cent on ATF at the RCS airports for three years. Among others, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) would be extended to airlines participating in the regional connectivity scheme. Mumbai: Sunny Leone recently topped a list of the most searched actress on Google. It is unlikely that the people who searched for her would be kids as her films are generally for an adult audience. However, kids also seem to love the Ragini MMS 2 star as much as the adults. A recent video that has surfaced on the internet sees a small girl comfortably placed in the arms of Sunny and just refusing to leave her. Her family members are trying all possible tricks for her to come out of Sunnys embrace, but to no avail. The usual tricks of offering her chocolate or waving her tata doesnt work for a substantial time, before the elephant has come trick finally works. The video is from the sets of her upcoming film 'Tera Intezaar' opposite Arbaaz Khan. Watch the video here: Sunny later posted another video on her social media accounts with the same kid, and making her click selfies. After having delivered two consecutive blockbusters - Mirchi and Srimanthudu, director Koratala Siva is eyeing a hat-trick with his upcoming film, Janata Garage, which is now scheduled to release on September 1. We advanced the release by one day because there is speculation that September 2 might be a Bharath bandh. I wasnt anxious about the date of release, but was anxious through out the making of the film. That is good for me. If I dont feel the tension, I cant work, says Koratala Siva. Talking about the film, he says that they had finalised on Jr. NTR for the lead role even before the shooting for Srimanthudu began. Because of our prior commitments, this project took time to take off, he explains. He added that he has been good friends with the actor since a long time, contrary to the belief that they were introduced to each other on the sets. I have known him since before he acted in Oosaravelli. Our friendship has been going strong since then even though we didnt get together for a film again, he says. On roping in the Malayalam superstar, Siva says that Mohan Lal was on his mind right from the scripting stage. We didnt know whether he would accept the role or not, but we wanted to give it a shot. When I narrated the story to him, he liked it and immediately accepted it, says the director. He added that a couple of scenes are edited specially for the Malayalam version because of Mohan Lals presence. Interestingly, Koratala has worked with big stars in his first three films and he says that he is never under pressure while working with them. Actually, it is easy to handle big stars. The records, collections and all other things are generally hyped by the others, but the actors never take them seriously. They give preference to the script and go according to that, says Koratala, adding, The world has changed a lot and everybody is changing with the times. Our actors too are adapting and changing their attitudes accordingly, he says. He says that he feels nostalgic about the name Janata as it is a household name in India. As a child, I would hear about Janata Cafe, Janata Khadi Bhandar and Janata shop... The title of the movie is inspired by these memories that I have, he says. Speaking of Jr. NTR, he says, He is an intense actor and always gives a dashing performance. In this film, his acting is very subtle. He adds that they didn't meddle with the actor's looks too much as they wanted him to look like an ordinary person. He gives us a little peak into the plot of the film. One of them likes plants and the other one likes earth. Both are important and normally, we only talk about these issues when a cyclone or a Tsunami occurs. How these two persons meet and travel makes up the film, he says. Koratala Siva is a director who presents social causes in commercial cinema. This was seen in his two previous films and the third one too, seems to be on the same lines. I generally take inspiration from everyday life for my subjects. But to make it more interesting, I added a few commercial elements, says the director. Koratala says that he tries to do his bit by not using plastic at home and by spending at least an hour with his plants every day. I also make sure that once in a week, we clean the roads in our housing society. If this film brings about a positive change in the minds of people, I would have succeeded, he says. The director confirmed that his next film is with Mahesh Babu. It is not sequel to any film. I dont like sequels or remakes. It is a fresh subject, he says. The shooting of the film will start once Mahesh Babu finishes his current project with Murugudoss. Hyderabad: City dogs are increasingly facing the citizens wrath. A seven-year-old home-bred male dog of the Labrador breed died after it was allegedly thrashed with an iron rod by some mischievous residents in Borabanda locality. Struck by grief, its master D. Dayanand Rao lodged a complaint with the police. Mr Rao is correspondent at Talent High School and resides in Rajnagar. He originally had five Labrador dogs, but gave off four puppies to his relatives and kept one for himself. It became a part of the family, his masters voice, and the family had named it Jimmy. Soon, Jimmy got acquainted with other colony members, so much so it gained access to all homes. According to Mr Rao, in the past, the residents used to face trouble with a gang of around five alcohol addicts who troubled passersby at night by beating them, snatching away their mobiles, wallets, etc. With Jimmys presence, these men could no more play around at night. They were biding their time to finish off Jimmy. Jimmy, the master said, would generally be tied up in the house during daytime. At nights, he would roam around, keeping a close watch over the colony. Jimmy was hit in the eye and head A seven-year-old male Labrador died after it was allegedly thrashed with an iron rod by some mischievous residents in Borabanda locality. Jimmys master, D. Dayanand Rao, had left for Delhi to attend a conference. Taking advantage of this situation, the gang attacked Jimmy with rods and stones. The attack severely injured its eyes and caused huge gashes in its forehead. When I returned home, Jimmy was missing. When I searched around, I found him sleeping in one of the houses in the colony, with bleeding injuries, Mr Rao said. The dog was immediately rushed to a veterinary hospital in Narayanguda. The doctor there said there was a slight chance of Jimmys recovery. In fact, he showed signs of recovery on Thursday, but collapsed and died at night the next day, Mr Raos son Ranveer said, tearing up. In his complaint, Mr Rao has named two residents, Y. Prabhakar and Nagaraju and another unidentified person from the area as the culprits. A case under Section 429 of the IPC (killing or maiming or cattle or any other animal) has been registered in the case. We have sent the body for an autopsy. Based on the report and the evidence collected from the scene, we will proceed, SR Nagar Inspector Md Waheeduddin said. Surrogacy is said to be one of the last options available. So why make it out of reach for millions? The one good thing about the new and stringent surrogacy law is that couples will now start making genuine efforts to stay close to relatives. After all, even if you fit the bill as potential candidates for this method of conception, you do need a living relative to act as the carrier. Its a big ask because youre not exactly borrowing the butter-chicken recipes. Suddenly, having a child through surrogacy in India has become an impossible option for almost everyone. Actor Tusshar Kapoor must have sent a silent prayer to have been blessed with the good sense to not delay his decision further. There are several other actors, thanking their stars. But the new stringent measures have left many wondering about how fair the rules are to those who genuinely dream of becoming parents. In a world that recently ratified the Paris Agreement an attempt to safeguard the planets future one asks why we dont have checks to vet applicants? But lets, for now, focus on the good parts of the new set of rules. Thousands of women stand to escape cruel exploitation and thats definitely one big thumbs-up. Commercial surrogacy with all the noise it was making was fast becoming the next big curse for women countrywide and the government has made prudent steps towards stopping it. At the risk of sounding blunt, what about senior citizens and IVF? Early this year, Daljinder Kaur, a 70-something woman gave birth to a baby using donor eggs. Its humanitys brilliant achievement that we can now provide a couple with a child, but a baby at 70? When your own lifes term not expected to last beyond the childs fifth birthday? Property was also in the picture. The doctor who treated the couple said, A person who is infertile is not given a piece of land or any property by his father. Daljinders husband had to fight his father in court. The couple also tried adopting but the son took off for the United States and never returned. There is a real need to identify the deserving and the dedicated here using hard facts and judgement. The single, step-daughter of a well-known Delhi-based business tycoon decided to have children on her own and she is now the proud mother of twins who live in a stable home. Sushmita Sen adopted her daughters and she is doing a splendid job. And all NRIs are not terrible either. Yes, commercial surrogacy has been booming due to cash from abroad but were dealing with human beings and a need! The want and craving for a child have pushed at least one partner towards insanity. Millions of women spend nights weeping into the pillow. Nothing is more devastating than failed IVF cycles and the prospect of a childless future is soul-crushing for some. If the positive outcome of an application brings only joy and if it helps a deserving candidate achieve something wonderful, the procedure that entertains the application must be human. It must recognise the deserving and the dedicated. Surrogacy is said to be one of the last options available. So, why make it out of reach for millions? In recent times, it looks like the countrys steps to address gender equality are actually distancing our society from it and promoting stereotypes. With her recent remarks on maternity and paternity leave, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, has perhaps increased gender discrimination and typecasting. While her move to extend maternity leave from the existing 12 to 26 weeks is highly commendable, her statement about paternity leave being just a holiday for a man, has received flak from people of various stratas, saying that her view widens the existing gap even further by excluding men from the conversation of raising children. We speak to a few mothers and fathers as they tell us why paternity leave is the way forward to achieve gender equality. Reinstating biases Vidya Lakshmi, a 33-year-old mother with two young children, tells us her story Our society is biased in favour of men, and through statements like these, were only reinforcing such views. I was a software professional and had to quit my job three years ago during my pregnancy. Now, Im struggling to find ways to work from home or get back onto my career path. My husband, as a senior manager, could take paternity leave for a while, and it was quite helpful. Paternity leave is definitely needed, because raising kids is also a fathers responsibility. However, fathers should also be given the right knowledge on taking care of children and taught to be responsible. The whole topic points to the larger issue of how men in Indian society are raised pampered, and not instructed to be a part of household activities. It is unfortunate that Indias idea of family depends entirely on women taking all the burden. A shared responsibility Dr Mahesh Joshi, CEO of Apollo Hospitals Home Healthcare, feels that as a parent it is also the fathers responsibility to take care of the child. It is unfair to paint all the men with the same brush. Yes, traditionally, a mother has played the dominant role in the upbringing of children; but times are changing. In fact, the only time my boys want to be around their mom is when they fall sick. Also, being in the home healthcare business and attending on quite a few newborn babies, Ive seen that first-time fathers are equally, if not more, indulgent in attending to the needs of the baby, says Dr Joshi. Men meant for The field alone? Piyush Jha, film director, screenwriter, and novelist says, As usual, men are always the bad guys. Perhaps one should understand that the whole system is geared towards men staying in the office. Take the case of the senior government officer who was denied a half-days leave when his son reached out to him on the brink of a suicide. The attitude of officialdom is that the man should be in the office and the wife/grandparents will take care of home and family matters. Why doesnt Maneka Gandhi put the cart before the horse and see if it makes a difference, instead of waiting to see enough numbers until they take a decision. Our leaders have stopped being visionaries and can only respond in knee-jerk reactions. (With inputs from Bhavana Akella) Delhi police detained two persons in connection with the murder of a constable. (Representational image) New Delhi: Two persons have been detained in connection with shooting dead constable Anand Singh in outer Delhi last week, police said on Saturday. A Special Cell team of New Delhi Range has detained two persons, suspected to be among the three criminals who shot dead constable Anand Singh in Sector 5 Industrial area on August 20, a source said. Singh, 49, who was posted at Sector 5 police chowki in Shahabad, was shot dead by miscreants while he was chasing them after they had snatched money from a woman vendor at Samosa Chowk in the area. Senior officials from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane and U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) met August 1-3 in Honolulu with senior officials from the Lao Ministry of National Defense (MND) for the 11th Lao-United States Bilateral Defense Dialogue. Brigadier General Kenchanh Nangthalasy, Director of Foreign Relations Department (FRD), Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Brigadier General Mark Gillette, Deputy Director of USPACOM Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, led the meeting. Over thirty Lao and U.S. delegates participated in the event, including representatives from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in Washington D.C. Ambassador Daniel Clune noted in his opening remarks the significant expansion of bilateral military cooperation in recent years, and the positive impact it is having on the overall U.S.-Lao relationship. The Bilateral Defense Dialogue (BDD) is a forum for bilateral consultations between the Lao Ministry of National Defense and U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as develop defense cooperation programs that enhance relations between our security forces, encourage greater regional military cooperation, and promote the common interests of both countries. Primary topics of the dialogue included military medical cooperation; civil-military operations, to include cooperation on humanitarian unexploded ordinance removal and disaster relief; training and education opportunities, to include English language training and professional military education; and Lao Peoples Army participation in regional conferences, workshops, and senior level meetings. The United States is proud to work with its partner Laos for the benefit of both nations and the Asia/Pacific region. Jaisalmer: Pakistani national Nand Lal Maharaj, who was arrested on charges of being an ISI agent, operated two accounts on Facebook for obtaining strategic information from people living in the border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, police said on Saturday. The spy, also known as Nand Lal Garg, revealed during interrogation that he used the two accounts to communicate with his sources in the border areas. Maharaj had uploaded pictures that he had taken of several places in Jaisalmer in one of those accounts. The account also contained pictures of some places in Pakistan. Police Superintendent Gaurav Yadav today cautioned people against speaking with unknown persons on social media. He also appealed to them to inform police if they come to know of any suspicious persons. Maharaj had been arrested near the Indo-Pak border in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan earlier this month, with police claiming to have recovered classified information from him. He is a resident of Sangad district in Pakistan and had come to India earlier this month on visa. Mehbooba Mufti in her meeting with Modi sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Centre is forming a new team to start a dialogue in Kashmir through informal channels, after Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti met PM Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi on Saturday. According to a report in NDTV, the central government has started reaching out to eminent citizens to be part of the 'Track 2' team which could speak to all stakeholders in the Valley, including separatists. Mehbooba Mufti in her meeting with Modi sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Read: Mehbooba quotes father, says only Modi can change situation in Kashmir Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-thirds majority. An all-party team is set to visit Kashmir in the first week of September, and the new 'Track 2' team is likely to be announced at that time, said the NDTV report. Attacking Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed on Saturday it was behind the present unrest in the Valley, which has continued for over 50 days. While deploring the actions of stone-pelting youth in Kashmir, Mufti had said she wanted 'one chance' from the people of Kashmir. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance," she said to those agitating in the Valley. Earlier, reports had emerged that Home Minister Rajnath Singh had held two rounds of talks with eminent Muslims from outside the Kashmir Valley, to consider possible solutions to the conflict. KAKINADA: BJP is getting ready to hit back at its ally ruling Telugu Desam as the leaders feel that the TD leaders including Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu are trying to suppress the party's prospects in the state. The BJP is unhappy over the attitude of Telugu Desam leaders and also Mr Naidu for their frequent statements on Central funds to the state, the special category status, Polavaram project and others. On all counts, they feel that Mr Chandrababu Naidu is letting down the BJP and making critical comments frequently on this issue. Mr Chandrababu Naidu is skeptical on whether the Centre would grant the required funds for completion of the first part of the project by 2018. Our cadre is feeling that Mr Naidu and TD leaders' frequent attacks is eroding the image of the party among the people. We can't tolerate such an attitude, said BJP district president Y. Malakondaiah. He said that the TD should clarify the position and make it clear to people that the Union Government was extending help to the state government in all possible ways, but TD wants to put the blame on the government for the Polavaram project. The BJP leaders are critical of changing the stand of Mr Naidu on the special category status. Sometimes Mr Naidu says that the SCS is not the panacea for all the problems being faced by the state. On other occasions he makes contradictory statements. Mr Naidu praised BJP leaders in the Centre but he criticised in the state and play a double game, Mr Malakondaiah said. According to BJP leaders, the two BJP ministers in the state Cabinet were also not being treated properly and the BJP leaders are not including any of even the central government schemes at different levels. They felt that they are being humiliated by the TD. The BJP asked the TD to appoint one of its party leader as the chairman to every ten temples in the state and two or three director posts in endowment committees. But, Mr Naidu was directly dealing with the nominated posts in government organisations without intimating the BJP ministers," Malakondaiah said. He said that the BJP leaders and cadre will also act seriously on all these issues and speak out against the Telugu Desam, if it does not change its attitude. Bengaluru: A Coorg court will conduct hearings on October 19 in the sedition case filed against Kannadiga actor-turned-politician Ramya by a lawyer in Karnataka for praising people in Pakistan. Caught in a controversy over her remarks that Pakistan is not hell, people there are just like us, Ramya on Thursday stuck to her views and ruled out an apology. Her remarks came as a veiled 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 former Mandya MP had visited Islamabad as part of a SAARC delegation of young lawmakers and made the remarks at a meeting in her constituency. While the BJP staged protests terming her remarks anti-national, the actress stood her ground. I dont think I am wrong. Its freedom of speech, also our duty to speak on inclusiveness and peace. The Ramya controversy has cropped up afresh amid a raging row over sedition charge filed against Amnesty International India, after anti-national and anti-Army slogans were allegedly raised at an event on Kashmir organised by the organisation in Bengaluru recently. Meanwhile, the Congress sought to turn the tables on BJP over its attack on Ramya, contending that if wanting better ties with Pakistan was sedition, then the first case should be lodged against Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made an impromptu stopover for festivities with the Pakistan premier. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia requested the Chair to take action against the BJP leader for "leaking" the CAG report to the media. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta may find himself in a trouble after Speaker Ram Niwas Goel referred the matter of alleged leak of CAG purported report on government's spending on advertisements to the House Privilege Committee. The Speaker's move comes after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia requested the Chair to take action against the BJP leader for "leaking" the CAG report to the media before it was obtained by the government. Later, Gupta alleged that the Kejriwal government was planning to cancel his membership of the Assembly as he was cornering it on several issues. Quoting a press release on the CAG report issued by Gupta on August 24, Sisodia said in the Assembly that the AAP Government has only spent Rs 74 crore on advertisements in the last fiscal, rejecting the Opposition's allegation of huge expenditure on the same. The Deputy CM claimed that government has saved Rs 6 crore. "By leaking the report to the media through a press release, Gupta has committed contempt of House and action must be taken against him and the matter should be referred to the Privilege Committee," he said. The matter was referred to the Privileges Committee of the House by the Speaker. Sisodia on August 24 had informed the House that the Delhi government has not received any CAG report. "Gupta should tell where he found the report," Sisodia said, adding he received the report at 5.30 pm on Wednesday. Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel rejected both the breach of privileges motions moved by Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta as well as rebel AAP legislator Pankaj Pushkar. The breach of privilege motion against Sisodia by Gupta alleged that he did not give the right answer in the Assembly on CAG report on Wednesday. Pushkar, who represents the Timarpur constituency as an AAP MLA, had moved the breach of privilege notice against the Deputy Chief Minister, accusing him of resorting to "falsehoods" while defending the Delhi government on the liquor issue. Panaji: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday declined to make adverse comment against the Modi government over the Scorpene data leak and said his party does not believe in playing politics on sensitive matters. Congress party does not do politics on such matters. It is a very sensitive matter, Singh said, responding to a question by a journalist on the leak. The Ministry of Defence and the government of India must hold a high-level inquiry and find out the culprit behind the leak. Information about such an important submarine has come out, the AICC general secretary said. I cannot make a statement where the issue of national security is concerned at a press conference when I am not really aware of the facts, he said when journalists continued to ask questions on the issue. Singhs stand was in contrast to Congress official position on the issue. When media reports about the leak surfaced, the main Opposition party termed the disclosure as scandalous and accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of launching an operation cover-up. Media reports suggested that documents detailing the secret combat capabilities of Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy have been leaked. However, the 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. Hyderabad: The committee appointed by the HRD Ministry to probe the death of University of Hyderabad (UoH) scholar Rohith Vemula, has said that no one was responsible for his suicide. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the report submitted to the ministry says that Rohith's suicide was an 'unfortunate incident'. The ministry will now study the committee's recommendations to ensure that 'such an incident does not repeat'. The one-man panel headed by former judge Ashok Kumar Roopanwal also recommended ways to improve the existing grievances redressal system at the university, including an 'appeal mechanism' for students' grievances and a counselling centre capable of providing immediate help. The report said that Vemula's inability to file an appeal following removal from the campus was one of the reasons an appeal mechanism should be formed especially for undeprivileged students. Vemula had committed suicide in January after the university management punished him for allegedly assaulting an ABVP leader. His suicide had led to major protests against the HCU Vice Chancellor and then HRD Minister Smriti Irani. Judge Roopanwal had earlier claimed in his report that Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit but an OBC, leading to a protest by his family. Roopanwals report was expected on August 1 but was adelayed over fears it may derail the monsoon session, said the report. Meanwhile, around 100 teachers from University of Hyderabad (UoH) said on Friday that they would join students in a maha dharna in the city, alleging that the committee's report resorts to 'skewing of facts' in the Rohith Vemula case. Students from UoH will be attending the demonstrations under the banner of the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice. Members of around 33 organisations from outside the university will offer support. Students from other state and central universities are getting ready for the dharna. Jammu: Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Saturday said it is India's responsibility to get Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore its lost glory. "PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are part of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the fact is that the entire area of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir was 2.25 lakh sq km, of which only 1 lakh sq km is part of India. Therefore, it is our responsibility to get PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan freed from illegal occupation of Pakistan and restore the lost glory of Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said. "There is no compromise in the integration of Jammu and Kashmir. The only agenda left for us is to retrieve the part of Jammu and Kashmir, which continues to remain under the illegal occupation of Pakistan," Singh added. Slamming Pakistan for perpetrating violence in Jammu and Kashmir by exporting home-grown terrorists, Singh said, "Pakistan has been unmasked before the world. The entire world knows that all conspiracies are being hatched in Islamabad. Pakistan is encouraging terrorism on its soil and exporting terrorists to India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, and some misguided elements are becoming its part." Singh said, "On one hand, our responsibility is to defeat Pakistan's design, while on the other hand, we have to sensitise our youth. If the so-called jihad is so pious, then people who are inciting the youth in the name of jihad and 'jannat' (heaven) why don't they give this pious opportunity to their children. They have already sent their children to Bengaluru, Pune and abroad." Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at residence. After the meeting, Mufti asserted that PM was extremely concerned about the situation and he expressed his desire to stop the bloodshed in the Valley and also ensured that the state will emerge from the crisis. "The Prime Minister is quite concerned just the way we are regarding the situation in Kashmir. He reiterated that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance is to continue the trend of reconciliation with Pakistan that Vajpayee ji had started and use it to solve the problem in Kashmir," she said. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's approach towards Pakistan, Mufti stated that he had not only invited Nawaz Sharif for his oath taking ceremony but went to Lahore himself, but the Pathankot incident happened and ties between the two nations went downhill. "With the situation in Kashmir taking a turn for the worse in the last few days, Pakistan instead of helping us is trying to worsen the situation. They had a golden opportunity to talk about Kashmir when Rajnath ji went to Islamabad recently, but instead he was meted with mistreatment," she said. Calling out Pakistan, she added that if they have any sympathy for the people of Kashmir, then they will stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces. Defending the curfew which has now entered its 50th day, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of imposing restrictions was to save lives of the locals. She further asserted that the Separatists must come forwards and help the state government in figuring out a solution. Meanwhile, situation in the Valley continued to be grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama district today. The death toll in the Valley reached 69 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and locals in Pulwama. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the withdrawal of central committee's recommendation for an environmental impact assessment study on a proposal to build a dam across river Siruvani at Attappady. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urgent intervention for withdrawing a central committee's recommendation for an environmental impact assessment study on a proposal of Kerala government to build a dam across river Siruvani at Attappady. In a letter to Modi, she said the expert appraisal committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric projects of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, at its recent meeting had recommended a study on the proposal of Kerala "without obtaining the necessary comments" from the Tamil Nadu government. "I write seeking your urgent intervention to withdraw the recommendations made by the Committee for grant of Standard Terms of Reference for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment study on the proposal of Kerala government to build a dam across river Siruvani," she said. Stating that the river Siruvani is a "sub-tributary" of the Cauvery, also an inter-state river, she recalled that in June 2012 she had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise Kerala not to proceed with building the dam of 4.5 TMC ft across Siruvani for the Attappady Valley Irrigation Project as it would be in violation of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's Final Order. Objecting to the nod for the EIA study, she said it is "regrettable" that grant has been given in an "unwarranted" haste without the subject being a part of regular agenda of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting held on August 11 and 12 and no intimation to the Tamil Nadu government. "It has been recorded (in the EAC meeting) that the Ministry of Environment and Forests has written to government of Tamil Nadu several times, which is factually incorrect," she said. Pointing out that Kerala and Karnataka governments have appealed in the Supreme Court against final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Tamil Nadu had also moved the apex court on certain aspects of the award, she said, "these petitions are pending". "In these circumstances, it is only proper for the (respective) party states to await the formation of Cauvery Management Board and further judicial decisions before initiating any new scheme in the Cauvery basin or its sub-basins," she said. The Tamil Nadu government has written several times to the Environment Ministry, the Centre and to Kerala "strongly objecting" to the proposed project, she said. Jayalalithaa requested Modi to advise the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and its agencies "not to accord any clearance" to projects in Cauvery basin of Kerala and Karnataka till the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee "come into force and judicial references are finally settled. Meanwhile, DMK president M Karunanidhi sought an explanation from the Jayalalithaa government on the proposed construction of gravity dam across Siruvani river in Tamil Nadu by government of Kerala. "What is the government's response to the allegations that it failed to respond to several letters sent by the Centre and Kerala government on this issue," he asked in a statement here. Referring to the members of farming community that districts located close to the proposed dam site would be largely affected due to construction of dam, Karunanidhi sought to know the government's response on it. Khurshid Ahmd Ganai, a selection-grade constable of the J&K police, was shot dead by gunmen outside his home at Quil area of Pulwama on Saturday morning. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police authorities have issued a security message to its men across the restive Valley, asking them to take extra caution to avoid getting under attacks by militant. The message was sent through various police stations and police posts in the aftermath of the murder of a cop by unidentified gunmen in southern Pulwama district early on Saturday. Police sources said that its personnel, particularly those posted in thanas, have been asked not to venture out alone and unarmed. Police officials who are handling assignments, like investigation of some cases, have been instructed to go out only when they are escorted by armed colleagues, the sources said. They have also been urged to ensure their safety while commuting between their places of residence and work. Khurshid Ahmd Ganai, a selection-grade constable of the J&K police, was shot dead by gunmen outside his home at Quil area of Pulwama at 6.15 am on Saturday. Ganai, who was staying at Pulwamas District Police Lines for about two months, was on a brief visit to his home. "Ganai went there on Friday evening and after spending the night with his family, he was headed back to the police lines when some unidentified men targeted him from point blank range," said a police officer on the phone from Pulwama. The assailants shot Ganai five times in the head and chest, police and hospital sources said, adding that Ganai was dead by the time he was rushed to a hospital. The police have blamed separatist militants for his murder. He was martyred while he was leaving his home for duties. The gunmen fired at him from close range, a statement issued by the police said. The deceased is survived by his wife, father and a 14-year-old son. On Wednesday, at least 17 people, including J&K police, CRPF officers, jawans and civilian bystanders, were injured in two grenade attacks carried out in quick succession and subsequent firing by militants in Pulwama town. The militants attack took place hours after a teenager was killed and at least 40 civilians were injured when security forces fired teargas and used pellet guns to disperse crowd participating in a pro-separatist rally in Pulwamas Prichoo-Pinglina neighbourhood. Pulwama and neighbouring districts of Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag have been worst hit by the ongoing agitation in the Kashmir Valley. After recent meetings in Nairobi with the foreign ministers of a number of regional partners, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that a regional protection force, authorized by the United Nations Security Council, is necessary to protect civilians in South Sudans capital of Juba and to help facilitate the implementation of a peace accord reached by South Sudans warring factions last year. The Security Council approved the regional protection force within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), on August 12, after violence broke out in and around the capital between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Former First Vice President Riek Machar. During the height of the July 7-11 violence, soldiers from both sides committed heinous crimes, including rape, murder, and wanton destruction of property. During the height of the July 7-11 violence, soldiers from both sides committed heinous crimes, including rape, murder, and wanton destruction of property. Government forces also attacked UN Protection of Civilians sites and a UN compound. Since 2013, when the conflict first started in South Sudan, the country has been ravaged, with thousands of people killed and over two million driven from their homes. Secretary Kerry noted that all the ministers who met in Nairobi agreed on the need for the deployment of the up to 4000-member protection force authorized by the UN Security Council. Secretary Kerry emphasized that the force does not challenge the sovereignty of the country. It has, he said, a very clear mandate toprotect people for their access, their freedom of movement, and their ability to remain free from attack or ambush from any source whatsoever. The hope is, he said, that the protection force will restore stability, will help the country to move faster to reconcile, will help by its presence aloneprovide assurance and confidence to people about the future. Mr. Kerry announced that the United States, which is the largest donor of humanitarian relief to the people of South Sudan, will give an additional $138 million toward that effort, bringing its total contribution to more than $1.7 billion. But the overwhelming need in the country, Mr. Kerry said, is to re-invigorate an inclusive political process and to implement the reforms that are set out in thepeace agreement. Secretary of State Kerry urged the people of South Sudan to respect their countrymen as equal under the law and to demand that their leadership stop this fighting on an ethnic basis and get to the business of running the country in a responsible and inclusive way. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said his tie-up with former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Kalyan Singh ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections was "a big mistake." Addressing a function to felicitate former Rajya Sabha MP and SP leader Bhagwati Singh, Yadav said, "I admit that it was a big mistake on my part to have allied with a leader accused of demolition of Babri mosque. Later, we parted company but I had the moral courage to admit my mistake and apologise to my party." Kalyan Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when a mob razed the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya in December 1992. Yadav said despite differences he "still enjoys good relations with Singh" but that their coming together had created a rift within his own party. "It was because of the damage to the party that later I snapped ties with him," he said. The SP supremo shook hands with Singh's Rashtriya Kranti Party ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections but the partnership fell apart after his party's poor performance. Singh had formed the party after quitting the BJP in 2002. Earlier, Singh had supported Mulayam's government in 2004 when his son Rajveer Singh and close aide Kusum Rai were made ministers. But thereafter, Singh went back to the BJP. After the 2007 state polls, Singh fell out with the BJP again and revived his party which entered into an alliance with the SP. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said its government will not be able to agree to Tamil Nadus demand for release of 50 TMC ft of water. (Photo: KPN Nair) Bengaluru: Karnataka on Saturday maintained that it was not possible for it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu given the "severe distress" faced by the state, as an all-party meeting decided that the Supreme Court be apprised of the "ground reality". "Tamil Nadu has sought release of 50 TMC ft of water. Can it be given? No. From where can we give it. No," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after consulting leaders of Opposition parties who endorsed the government's stand. Siddaramaiah said the Tamil Nadu government had approached the apex court pleading it to direct Karnataka to release 50 TMC ft as per the normal (water) year but "today, there is no normal year in Karnataka". "We are facing a severe distress year. Both the states should share the distress pro rata. That is the principle we have followed so far and the court has also given a direction like this based on the ground reality," he said. Siddaramaiah said the "ground reality" now was that the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin -- Kabini, Hemavathy, Harangi and KRS -- had a combined storage of 51 TMC ft and at least 40 TMC ft of that was required to meet drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other cities, as also villages and the remaining quantum for standing crops. "There is no water for this only (drinking and standing crops). This is the ground reality. All (parties) have shared the same view," the Chief Minister said. The meeting, he said, decided that the Supreme Court should be apprised of the "ground reality" and the state's advocates would be told to do so. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, former Chief Minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy, besides Law Minister T B Jayachandra and Water Resources Minister M B Patil. Kharge said all parties backed the government and added, "there is no water. The question of release of water (to Tamil Nadu) does not arise." Kumaraswamy said there was no question of dissonance on the issue and the government had been told to take care of the interests of the state farmers who had already received a "big blow" due to drought. In the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu has sought directions to Karnataka to release 50.052 TMC ft of Cauvery water to irrigate farmland. It has also sought the court's intervention to ensure that Karnataka adhered to the stipulated water releases in accordance with the 2007 order of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal for the remaining months, starting from August 20 in the irrigation year of 2016-17. In the petition, Tamil Nadu has charged Karnataka with diverting water meant for farmers during distress years for undeclared projects, in violation of the tribunal's orders. After Tamil Nadu's plea for an urgent hearing, an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur has posted the matter for September 2. Bengaluru: Although reluctant, Karnataka may have to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to prevent the neighbouring state from pushing for constitution of the Cauvery River Monitoring Committee, which could work to its disadvantage, according to officials of the water resources department. Speaking to DC, a senior officer said CM Siddarmaiahs statements on the Cauvery would only prove detrimental to the state's interests. The final verdict of the Cauvery River Water Dispute Tribunal clearly calls for formation of a Cauvery Water Monitoring Committee and Tamil Nadu has been relentlessly pushing for it. The BJPs manifesto in Tamil Nadu and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi too have promised its people that the CWMC would be formed, he noted, recalling that Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalitha had been bringing pressure on Mr Modi to fulfill his promise by shooting off several letters to him on the subject. Mr Siddarmaiah has tried to counter this by writing to Mr Modi not to act on TN's demand as Karnataka has filed a case in the Supreme Court on this. But his bravado statements about not releasing any water due to the poor monsoon will only strengthen TNs case for a Cauvery Water Monitoring Committee and harm the state's interests, the officer warned, adding that the department had been releasing water to TN even under distressful conditions to avoid such a situation. The state has been quietly releasing the required water to TN to prevent it from seeking the Supreme Courts intervention in forming the CWMC, he said. This is the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the Valley on July 8. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she agreed with her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's statement that the Modi government with a two-thirds majority in Parliament was the only government which could change the situation in the Kashmir Valley, according to ANI. Mehbooba was addressing the media after meeting PM Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi. The Jammu and Kashmir CM also sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-thirds majority. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPA did," she said. Attacking Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed it was behind the present unrest in the Valley, which has continued for over 50 days. Hailing the Prime Minister's efforts at dialogue with Pakistan, Mehbooba Mufti said the Prime Minister had shown the magnanimity to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Delhi for his oath taking ceremony, but the neighbour had responded with the Pathankot attacks. Mufti stressed that Pakistan was playing a destructive role in the Kashmir unrest and wasted several chances to resolve issues via talks. She blamed the neighbouring country for its lack of initiative when Home Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the Valley a few days ago. Speaking about stone pelting on troops in the Valley, Mufti said as a mother it saddens her that some people teach their children to go out into the streets to hurl stones at others, as if it would solve the conflict. She put the onus on separatists in the Valley to save the lives of the children. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance," she said to those agitating in the Valley. The meeting came close on the heels of a clear message from the Centre to the chief minister to control the growing unrest in the state. Mehbooba has been conveyed in no uncertain terms by the government in Delhi that there was a need for putting an end to the cycle of violence which has claimed 67 lives so far in the protest, said a PTI report. This was the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the Valley on July 8. Mehbooba has been under fire for failing to control the violence as the Centre has made it clear that law and order was a state subject. WATCH: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi (source: PMO)https://t.co/SkdZQHS23Y ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Earlier this week, Modi had a meeting with a delegation of Opposition parties from the state led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. After that meeting, for the first time, Modi expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation in the Valley and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in the state. He also made an appeal for restoration of normalcy in the Valley and emphasised that there has to be a dialogue. In his statement, the Prime Minister appreciated the "constructive suggestions" made by the Opposition delegation during the talks and reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare of people. Mehbooba strongly defended security forces action on Friday during a press conference and had said "People came on streets, we imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk..." She had said "Today 95 per cent who have been killed are youngsters belonging to poor families. They were killed in retaliation for attacking security camps... The situations of 2010 and present cannot be compared." She claimed that 95 per cent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but five per cent people were resorting to agitation. Chennai: On a day when police detained T.R. Pachamuthu, chancellor of SRM University, the Madras high court came to the rescue of his two sons in a criminal proceedings initiated by Sun TV Network. When a petition filed by his sons, Ravi Pachamuthu and Sathyanarayana Pachamuthu, Directors of Trac Media Private Limited, came up, Justice P.N.Prakash granted an interim stay of the proceedings against them pending before a trial court. The proceedings had been initiated by the television network. The petitioners submitted Sun TV Network filed nine complaints against them for alleged infringement under Copyright Act for telecasting a song from Tamil film Aambala in a television channel owned by them on March 5 and 6, 2015. Sun TV claims it owns the copyright of the film, including the songs by virtue of an assignment agreement dated January 5, 2015 executed by Vishal Film Factory and it moved criminal proceedings against Trac Media and its directors. The duo alleged that the complaints were false and baseless. They were only the directors of the company which day-to-day affairs, including programme management, was entrusted to a separate department and they have no role in the telecast or the alleged infringement of copyright. The petitioners sought a stay of all further proceedings before XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet and quash the criminal proceedings. They also prayed the court to dispense with their appearance before the trial court pending disposal of the petition. While ordering interim stay, Justice P.N. Prakash, dispensed with their personal appearance. He directed them to surrender before the trial court in two weeks. They should be released on bail after their surrender on executing a bond for Rs 10,000 and two sureties. VIJAYAWADA: Wide criticism is going on in the social media over the huge expenditure by the government on Krishna Pushkaralu. Netizens have been expressing their anguish over the government decision to spend Rs 2,000 crore for the river fest. Meanwhile, political parties also have been demanding the state government to release a white paper on the expenditure for Krishna Pushkaralu. Several netizens have posed logical questions to the state government as to how it could spend huge funds for a religious river fest in the guise of sentiments. To build the image of the capital, the government might have given wide publicity and spent huge funds, according to Mahesh Chandra, a netizen. He also asked as to what was the scientific criteria in organising the fest in such a large scale and as to how the government has ignored the e.coli bacteria angle and also the pollutants released at the NTPC, Ibraheempatnam, into the River Krishna. One Punna Krishna Murthy, a softare professional, has asked the state government to conduct a social audit on the entire expenditure spent on various works, as lot many allegations have been coming. Several other netizens also have endorsed his observations in the form of likes and posted their comments posing questions to the government to come out clean. Nothing should be hidden in a democracy, V. Vamseekrishna, another netizen tweeted. Meanwhile, PCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy has asked the government to release a white paper on the funds spent on Krishna Pushkaralu. The Chief Minister has extended invitations to several VIPs to attend Pushkaralu, he said, and added that a very few have responded to his invitation. He also asked as to what prompted the Chief Minister to go in for a special flight for this purpose. CPM state secretary Penumalli Madhu lambasted the government that the entire administration was almost in a suspended animation for 45 days to conduct the 12-day river fest. The government has to answer on all the allegations over the quality of works, he demanded. CPI state secretary K. Ramakrishna has stated that the Telangana government has spent reasonable funds for the fest in their state, while it is very huge here in AP. The government has to clarify on the issue, he said. Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to end the impasse in Kashmir. The situation in Kashmir has turned so grim that political parties such as the ruling PDP and Opposition National Conference as well as organisations such as Hurriyat have lost ground and eventually, the government will not be able to find anyone to talk to restore peace, Owaisi told reporters here. "There is curfew going on for the past 50 days. People are getting killed in Kashmir. Even security personnel died. I went through the interviews of some of the experts. PDP and NC have lost their political ground. RAW chief said South Kashmir has become a limited zone. This is a very serious situation. "Hurriyat has lost ground there. Then who should we initiate a dialogue with? We are entering the domain of uncertainty. So the government must initiate a dialogue," the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad said. Replying to query, he said though the separatists have been kept under house arrest, the government knows the ways and means to initiate a dialogue. He also warned that as political parties lose their space there, the separatists are also losing (himmat) courage and hence, the situation is becoming serious. To a question, he said the NDA government is facing many challenges including job creation and maintaining communal harmony in the country. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti too sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. So far, 69 people have died in protests that started from July 8 after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Amritsar: Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was on Friday sacked from the post of party's Punjab convener following allegations of seeking bribe for allotting party tickets, on Saturday demanded for a CBI probe, insisting that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party could defame him if he is found guilty. Talking to ANI, Chhotepur said he was very much surprised by this decision of the party. "A transparent system should have been framed. A committee is formed after my removal. A standard process is that a committee is formed first and then the decision is taken. But it was not the case with me," Chhotepur said. "I want to tell them that the people whom they have included in the committee were recommending for my removal. I yesterday said this and I reiterate that if I had done any wrong deed then there should be a CBI inquiry. If I am found guilty, they can defame me," he added. AAP Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann earlier in the day said that the alleged bribery case against Chhotepur will be probed by a committee constituted by the party. Mann said the committee will investigate all aspects and recommend its verdict, based on which, the party will decide its future course of action. "AAP has zero percent tolerance on corruption; a probe committee will be formed to investigate this matter. So, now this committee will investigate all aspects and then deliver its verdict," said Mann. "The committee constitutes of Sardar Jarnail Singh and Jasbeer Singh Beer who is also the chairperson of our grievances committee," Mann added. The AAP yesterday sacked its Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur from his post. Amid sharp criticism following accusations of him taking bribes for assigning constituencies to party candidates for the assembly elections in Punjab to be held early next year, an extremely disappointed Chhotepur told media that Arvind Kejriwal did not trust Punjabis. Holding AAP leader Durgesh Pathak responsible for the "conspiracy", Chhotepur claimed that his opponents were defending him while his own party was conspiring against him. "I don't want to damage the party. Let volunteers decide if I am a thief or an honest person," he told the media on Friday. He said that he was ready for even a 'death sentence' if the charges levelled against him are proved to be true. New Delhi: The 'whistleblower' behind the Scorpene document leak will hand over the disk containing thousands of pages of data detailing the Indian submarine's stealth and warfare capabilities, to the Australian government on Monday, The Australian newspaper said on Friday. It said that the identity of the unnamed whistleblower is already known to the Australian authorities. The weekend edition of the newspaper said that neither France nor India knew about the leak till Monday afternoon when it sought a comment from French firm DCNS. The paper said the whistleblower wants Australia to know that its future submarine partner, France has already lost control over secret data on India's new submarines. His hope is that this will spur the Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia's 50 billion dollar submarine project does not suffer the same fate, it said. "He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the newspaper said. The newspaper said the story behind this leak may be more of incompetence than espionage, more Austin Powers than James Bond. The Weekend Australian has been told by sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS. Sources say they believe this subcontractor somehow copied the sensitive data from DCNS in France and, along with a French colleague, took it to a Southeast Asian country. If so, he broke the law and may face prosecution, the paper said. The two men worked in that Southeast Asian country carrying out unclassified naval defence work. The speculation is that the data on Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officer's new job, but it is unclear why anyone would risk breaking the law by taking classified data for such a purpose. The two men are then said to have the fallen out with their employer, a private company run by a Western businessman. They were sacked and refused re-entry to their building. At least one of the men asked to retrieve the data on Scorpene but they were refused and the company - possibly not knowing the significance of the data - held on to it, the newspaper said. The secret data was then sent to the company's head office in Singapore, where the company's IT chief - again probably not knowing its significance - tried to load it on an internet server for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers. The data was placed on a server on April 18, 2013, and it was then that it was dangerously vulnerable to hacking or interception by a foreign intelligence service. It is not known whether the data stayed on this server for a few days or for a year. It is not known if any foreign intelligence service obtained it during this time, the paper said. Unable to send such a large file over the net and not knowing the significance of the data, the Singapore company sent it on a data disk by regular post to Sydney. When the recipient, who was experienced in defence issues, opened the file on his home computer he was stunned. New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday hoped that the situation in the troubled Kashmir Valley will soon return to normal as the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government are moving forward in the right direction with absolute coordination. The Valley has been witnessing unrest for the last 49 days following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. There is absolute coordination between the Centre and the state and therefore, we are moving in the right direction. I am sure very soon things will return to normal in the Valley, the Minister of State, Prime Minister Office, told reporters. Singh, Minister of State in Prime Ministers Office, had earlier said that a common man in the streets of Srinagar does not approve of violence but there are a handful of people sponsored by foreign agencies who are triggering violence in the state. As many as 68 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousands injured since July 9. Pakistan's role in J&K violence stands exposed Speaking about any possibility of a dialogue with Pakistan, he said the "government can't talk to perpetrators of terrorism." Accusing Pakistan of promoting terrorism in Kashmir, he said: "I think we are very clear that it is mischief perpetuated promoted and sponsored by Pakistan and India is out to defeat this design." The minister in-charge of PMO said: "If Pakistan continues to remain in denial mode, the harm would come to Pakistan itself because the perpetrators of terrorism cannot escape the effects of terrorism for long." He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said time and again that there can't be any compromise on terrorism but no harm should come to any innocent person, particularly children and youth. Hoping the unrest in the valley will end soon, he backed the security forces and said the government "has full faith in them and their actions. New Delhi: Sharpening his attack against GSTN, the company set up to create IT backbone for GST rollout, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said he will write to party president Amit Shah and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to oppose its structure. "I am writing to Amit Shahji and all BJP chief ministers that while ratifying the constitutional amendments for GST Bill, they should oppose GSTN," Swamy tweeted. So far, eight states have ratified the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill. These include 5 BJP-ruled states -- Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is the special purpose vehicle that was formed under the previous UPA regime to set up the information technology framework for rolling out the indirect tax regime that will replace a string of local levies. According to Swamy, the equity structure of GSTN is "anti-national". The government of India holds 24.5 per cent stake in GSTN while state governments, including NCT of Delhi and Puducherry, and the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, together hold another 24.5 per cent. The balance 51 per cent equity is with non-government financial institutions. Earlier this month, Swamy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising strong objection to the majority stake for private entities in GSTN to manage and control accounting and collection of GST. He had urged the Prime Minister to ensure it is replaced by a government-owned structure. Referring to ownership details of the GSTN company, he had said central and state governments will jointly have only 49 per cent stake in it and the rest with private entities like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance that have foreign shareholding. Nalanda: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said universities and institutions of higher learning must be bastions of free speech and expression and debates should be encouraged. At the first convocation of Nalanda University, he said the varsity reflects an idea, a culture which flourished for 1,200 years before it was destroyed in the 13th century. He said that over the years, India has conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate and discussions through the institutions of higher learning. "Dr Amartya Sen in his book 'The Argumentative India' has correctly pointed out that debate and discussion is the ethos, a part of Indian life which cannot be done away with. "Universities and institutes of higher learning are the best forum for debates, discussions, free exchange of views...such atmosphere should be encouraged," Mukherjee said. He said the modern Nalanda should ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts. "Universities must be bastions of free speech and expression. It (Nalanda) must be the arena where diverse and conflicting thoughts contend. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the spaces of this institution. Further, it must act as the flag bearer for co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies," he said. Mukherjee asked the students, who passed out of the varsity today, to progress in life, leaving behind "all narrowness of minds and constricting thoughts". The ruins of the ancient university are located close to the new campus. The MoU on the establishment of Nalanda University has so far been signed by 13 East Asia Summit participating countries and four non-EAS countries. Taking about the historical importance of Nalanda University, Mukherjee said it was a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese cultures. "Ancient Nalanda is known for high level of debates and discussions. Though the main subjects of study were Buddhist texts, importance was also given to critiques of Buddhism by various schools, study of Vedas and beyond," he said. Mukherjee gave away gold medals to two students and 12 post graduate degrees at the convocation. He also laid the foundation stone of the 455-acre permanent campus of the university in the foothills of Rajgir. It will be built with the help of "green technology". "I understand that Nalanda University is striving to be a net zero energy, zero emissions, zero water and zero waste campus, a first of its kind in India. By adopting a net zero energy goal as early as 2013, the university has attempted to link its historical legacy to urgent contemporary issues of environmental sustainability," he said. Till now, the classes were being held in a makeshift campus near the Rajgir bus stand. The School of Historical Studies, the School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions are operating in the varsity. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the state will continue to provide all assistance to the university. Kumar said when former President A P J Abdul Kalam visited Bihar to address a joint session of the state Assembly in 2006, he had desired that Nalanda University should be restarted following which land was identified and a bill was prepared. The Chief Minister said it was Mukherjee who took keen interest in the project and announced it during the East-India Summit, triggering a positive response from southeast Asian countries. Once the Centre started working on the project, the state repealed a law and handed over to it the land which was acquired for the project. Kumar, however, rued the delay in building the campus of the University. "Sushma Swaraj was scheduled to come today but she could not. Else, I would have asked her when is she going to get the campus building completed. The Secretary (East) has assured me that it will be constructed within three years," Kumar said. He alleged that UNESCO officials "showed reluctance" in declaring the ruins of Nalanda as a world heritage site and said it were the efforts of the international community led by India that it found a place in the list. "I do not know what would find a place in the list of world heritage sites if thousands years old ruins won't. The officials involved in the desk work had issues, but they were sorted out with the efforts of the representatives of the Centre and the state government," he said. Bihar has also given 70 acres of land as endowment land to the university and all the earnings from it will belong to the institution so that it has not to depend on any government for funds. The first Chancellor of the university, Amartya Sen, who was also in attendance at the convection, highlighted rich traditions of Nalanda and congratulated the staff and students for giving the project a good start. Hyderabad: Minorities Commission chairman (for TS and AP) Abid Rasool Khan favoured women desisting themselves from visiting dargahs as they contain graves but was against any ban on their entry. Reacting to Bombay high court verdict lifting ban on entry of women inside sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, he said women should maintain decorum and dignity when they visit shrines. He pointed out that it was not desirable for women to visit graveyard but stressed there was no ban as such. The chairman felt women being allowed to go inside sanctum sanctorum as part of evolutionary process. Women are now going to mosques and praying along with men in separate sections, especially in Hyderabad and Saudi Arabia etc. Earlier women used to stay at home and never used to go out, but today they are coming out and want to go to dargah, let them go and pray, he said. Hyderabad: The High Court on Saturday refused to direct the GHMC to remove the seal and permit full-fledged activities at the Film Nagar Cultural Centre at Jubilee Hills here. Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao was dealing with a petition by the FNCC seeking to declare the action of the GHMC in seizing the entire club on July 24, 2016, as illegal. The GHMC counsel told the court that the corporation had seized the premises following the death of two construction workers due to the collapse of an under-construction portico inside the centre on July 24 in order to ensure that no further construction would be taken up. He told the court that status quo had been granted on construction in the club premises and an expert team from the city-based Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University had pointed out certain defects in the building. While permitting the club management to rectify the defects without opening the building for public, the judge sought a compliance report. AP: Banks selling Agri Gold assets The AP CID on Saturday told the High Court that banks were auctioning properties of Agri Gold even as the court itself was monitoring the sale of properties. When the division bench of Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice S.B. Bhatt asked which banks were conducting the auction, CID special counsel Krishna Prakash said Andhra Bank had issued an auction notice. The bench was dealing with two petitions by Telangana Agri Gold customers and Agents Welfare Association and depositor of Akshaya Gold Company against the frauds committed by both companies. The bench told counsel for Andhra Bank to submit a list of properties pledged with the bank by the Agri Gold management. YSRC seeks seat at TS meetings The YSRC on Saturday moved the High Court questioning the Telangana state government for not inviting it to the all-party meeting held recently on creation of new districts in the state. YSRC Telangana state wing general secretary K. Shiva Kumar who moved the plea said the party had been deliberately ignored for the August 20 meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. He said despite their representation, the party was not invited to the meeting. He urged the court to direct the authorities to invite YSRC along with recognised political parties to participate in subsequent all-party meets. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday presented a three-pronged action plan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoring lasting peace in the Valley rocked by turmoil that has left at least 69 people dead. Sources said the plan stresses on initiating a dialogue with all the stakeholders in Kashmir, which includes appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders, facilitating the visit of an all-party delegation to the Valley next week, and a possible change of Governor. Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach people at the helm of affairs in Delhi, she said after meeting PM at 7, Race Course Road, her first since the unrest broke out. In Delhi, Mufti hits out at Pak Saturday was the 50th day of unrest that began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that Mr Modi was concerned about the bloodshed in Kashmir, and wanted an end to the cycle of violence in Kashmir. The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil, she said. Stressing the need for initiating credible and meaningful political action on the ground, Ms Mufti called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process initiated by the then NDA government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee during his tenure between 2002 and 2005. We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve, Ms Mufti said and added that Mr Modi has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Mr Vajpayee. The Chief Minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting people who are instigating youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations and Army camps. Infuriated over this, both left the child in the court and walked out in a huff. (Representational image) Bhopal: A bizarre drama played out in a family court in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday when a couple fighting for divorce abandoned their five-day-old child in the midst of hearing and fled. The court at Jatara in Tikamgarh district was taken aback by the development and ordered police to rush the baby to the nearby hospital to provide him proper medical care. The warring couple- Sangeeta and Manoj Ahibar attended the court for the hearing of their divorce case. While Sangeet demanded maintenance, Manoj rejected her plea arguing he did not father the child. Infuriated over this, both left the child in the court and walked out in a huff. Bhopal: In an inhuman act, a family that included a five-day-old newborn and an octogenarian lady, was on Saturday thrown out of a bus in the midst of a jungle in a Madhya Pradesh district on demand from the fellow passengers after one of their female members died on board. The heartrending incident, that took place in Damoh district, comes barely a day after a pregnant lady was made to walk six km in labor pain to the hospital for delivery in a village in Chhattarpur district in the state, due to non-availability of ambulance. According to the police, Ram Singh (37), was taking his sick wife Malli Bai who developed complications after giving birth to a baby girl five days ago, to Damoh district hospital for treatment in a private bus. He was accompanied by his 82-year-old mother and the newborn. His wife, however, breathed her last on board. The bus driver then offloaded the family along with the body of the deceased woman at Chenpur, a forested area, when the passengers expressed their reservations to travel with a dead person on board. Ram Singh and his old mother were wailing standing on roadside, even as passersby did not come to their help. Later, two advocates, Mrutyunjay Hazari and Rajesh Patel, stopped by and called police for help. A police patrol reached the spot, but left without helping the distraught family stating that the area did not come under their jurisdiction, the two lawyers told reporters. The good Samaritan-duo later arranged a private ambulance to carry the family to their home. It is a shameful act by the driver and conductor of the bus to dump the family like this. I have asked the local superintendent of police to file criminal cases against them and cancel the permit of the bus, state transport minister Bhupinder singh said. Pawan Kalyan did a satire on Union finance minister Arun Jaitleys pronouncements in the Rajya Sabha on how many crores were spent on what in AP for the past two years. Tirupati: Protesting against the Centre for not according a special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan announced a three-phase agitation. Addressing a public meeting at Indira Grounds in Tirupati on Saturday, he attacked the then UPA government and the present BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for doing injustice to AP which does not even have a capital. He said that the first public meeting of Jana Sena will be held on September 9 at Kakinada in East Godavari district, where the BJP in 1997 had passed the One Vote-Two States, resolution. I will tour all the mandal headquarters and explain to the people about the injustice meted out to our state and what I want to do to achieve special status. In the second stage, we will bring pressure on the state government, ruling and Opposition MPs to fight against the Centre. If MPs fail in their fight, I along with the people will come out on the streets and fight for special status. I will continue the fight till I achieve the aim, he said. Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his slogans like Skill India, Make in India and Start-Up India, he asked how AP would develop without special status as the state was facing a Budget deficit and almost all major industries had gone to Telangana state Before the elections, Mr Modi along with TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu promised to accord special status and other benefits to the state. He said by killing the mother (undivided AP) the child (Telangana) was removed from the womb. Now Mr Modi is cremating the mother, he said. He asked Mr Naidu why he wasnt putting pressure on the Centre to secure SCS. CM is making excuses saying that if we fight with the Centre we may have to forego all benefits which we will get as per the Re-organisation Act. You (Mr Naidu) have completed more than two years of your five-year term. If you dont fight now, we may think that you are afraid of the Centre, Pawan Kalyan said. Recalling BJP senior leader and Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu's stand in the Rajya Sabha during the bifurcation debate, Pawan Kalyan said that he may not have political experience when compared with Venkaiah Naidu, but the way he is changing his words on special status is not correct. He reminded Mr Venkaiah Naidu that he was a Telugu first and appealed to him to fight for special status. Pawan Kalyan did a satire on Union finance minister Arun Jaitleys pronouncements in the Rajya Sabha on how many crores were spent on what in AP for the past two years. Please do not confuse the people with maths. I got desperate after hearing all these mathematical figures. What we are getting is our right, not charity, he said. He faulted the TD and BJP MPs of the state for not questioning the Centre in Parliament. He asked Union minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju why he had not resigned for the sake of Telugu pride and people. He questioned the integrity of the minister, who said that the Chief Ministers of three states are hampering the award of special status to AP. While lashing out at former Congress MPs for their ghulamgiri (slavery),' to their high command, he asked if the people of Seemandhra were in the pockets of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. The MPs should demand special status as a right instead of bending their knees and begging, he said. The Congress MPs used to plead ``Madam, and now BJP and TD MPs are pleading ``Sir, Pawan Kalyan said. Countering criticism made by various party leaders, and alluding to the remark of YSRC legislator R.K. Roja saying he had become Rubber Singh from Gabbar Singh, the actor said he was ready to face any allegations. TheJana Sena is two years and 9 months old. I am not interested in politics and in posts. The affection and love showered by people is enough and there is no necessity to indulge in politics, he said. He hailed former union minister Jairam Ramesh, who was elected from AP, for standing up for the state's right and said that he once told his colleagues that Seemandhra MPs were not fighting for their rights whereas Telangana MPs impressed the Congress president with their demand for a separate state. Pawan Kalyan said that a BJP leader from the high command had invited him to join the party saying that regional parties had no value or importance at the national level. I told him that the Jana Sena was formed with the aim to protect the interests of Telugu people, he said. I will continue in films and I will fight for the people of the state by coming into active politics, the said. He appealed to his fans to not take films seriously. The actors themselves have no animosity towards each other, he said, in reference to an alleged attack on his fan earlier this week. There is no need for fans to fight over film heroes, he said. Hyderabad: State governments should clearly state in their annual Budget the contributions made by the Centre for various schemes, instructions from the Centre have said. This is to ensure the visibility of Central schemes and funding in states and districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to convene a conference of collectors from all states soon to review the progress of Central schemes. Several schemes like scholarships and fee reimbursement for students from SC/ST/minority categories, mid-day meals scheme for school students, MNREGA, food security, subsidy rice, free LPG connections to poor, social security pensions, roads and other infrastructure development schemes are being implemented with the funding from the Centre. But TS government takes complete credit by claiming to have allotted these funds. The Telangana government claims to spend over Rs 30,000 crore on welfare schemes every year. Centres contribution for that ranges from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. It goes unnoticed. Hyderabad: Telangana irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Saturday said that due to the efforts of the state government and steps taken to speed up the works, it was now possible to provide partial irrigation under the ongoing Pranahita scheme through mid-Manair project by December 2017. He said government was serious in bringing at least partial ayacut under the new project to utilise the Godavari waters that are at present unutilised. In a 2-hour PowerPoint presentation on the controversial Pranahita project, Mr Rao said that at no point of time was there any agreement with Maharashtra government fixing the height of Tammidihatti at 152 meters. He listed out the various objections by Maharashtra during the six years since late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy laid the foundation stone for the project in 2008. Mr Rao, however assured the people of TS that the government will try to raise the height of Tammidihatti to 152 meters and Medigadda to 101 meters instead of 148 and 100 meters agreed upon by Maharashtra, with the hope that it would able to convince the upstream state after a few years. Replying to a specific question, Mr Rao said that it would be impossible to raise the height of the barrage at Tammidihatti to 152 meters without taking up works on the opposite bank of the Pranahita which is in Maharashtra. He agreed that there were several irrigation schemes launched by earlier governments within the state for which clearances from other states and the Centre were not obtained. In this case, its not possible to take up works as we will have to work inside Maharashtra territory and we cannot forcibly enter that state to take up works without its consent, Mr Rao said. He was highly critical of the comments by Congress and TD leaders that an agreement on 152-meter high Tammidihatti was struck by former AP and Maharashtra Chief Ministers Jalagam Vengala Rao and S.B. Chavan in 1975. If that was so, why did they not take up construction for the last 40 years? Who are they trying to fool by spreading such false information? Mr Rao asked. He distributed a bunch of agreements and details of meetings held by officials of both the states over the past few decades and said There is no evidence to show that there was an agreement on 152 meters. They have been spreading lies all these days. Ridiculing the Congress leaders claims that the TRS government has changed the alignment of Tammidihatti to facilitate more lift irrigation than through gravity as proposed by them, Mr Rao said, Present and previous estimates both say that gravity flow is only for 20,000 acres. The remaining areas in Adilabad can be irrigated only through lifting of waters. They proposed 50,000 acres and we proposed 2 lakh acres. Referring to the key issue of water availability of 160 tmc ft at Tammidihatti proposed by the previous Congress government which was objected by Central Water Commission which said that total availability may not exceed 102 tmc ft, Mr Rao said to overcome this, the TS government has proposed three more barrages in addition to Tammidihatti. At Medigadda, the availability is estimated at 275 tmc ft which will be sufficient to meet the irrigation needs of over 18 lakh acres. He said the present irrigation sources in TS like Sriramsagar Stage 1 and 2, flood flow canal, lower Manair Dam, Nizamsagar and Singur were getting dried up due to several reasons including insufficient inflows. By taking up Pranahita lift irrigation scheme, it would be possible to supplement ayacut under all these north-Telangana projects, he said. Bengaluru: A century old structure, retaining its old world charm right in the middle of IT city, the State Central Library is all set to log on to the digital age. In its run up to commemorate its 100th anniversary on September 16, the library, located at Cubbon Park, will be introducing internet browsing facility and provide e-books, from next month. Visitors can browse the internet for a nominal fee of Rs 10 per hour. This will be useful to students who refer to the books for competitive exams. They can access, download and take printouts of additional information they find on the net. They will have the added benefit of reading from e books, said Satish Kumar, Director of the State Central Library. This will definitely help visitors to this library. If we use the books, we cant take them home to read because borrowing isnt allowed. If we read on the internet, we can save the information through printouts or send it to our phones and read from that, wherever we go," said Samara Reddy, a high school History teacher, who likes to visit the library to read mythological books like The Mahabharata. Apart from providing internet facility, they also plan to add audio-CDs, to accompany the existing Braille books, making the library even more disabled friendly. We have sent a request for these audio-CDs, to the Union Government and will soon receive them, Satish Kumar said. With the introduction of internet facility and free audio CDs, the library would attract more young visitors. Hyderabad: Taking exception to the threat by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to jail leaders who level allegations of corruption in irrigation projects, Leader of the Opposition K. Jana Reddy on Friday said that those in responsible positions like the CM should maintain dignity and not threaten political opponents. He added that Congress has doubts over the agreement entered by the CM with Maharashtra. Is the agreement with Maharashtra historic or historical blunder is our question. Instead of clarifying this, he threatens to send us to jail. Whoever breaks the law will have to go to jail. Even those in power who break the law have to go to jail, Mr Reddy said. He said it was wrong on the part of the CM to make disparaging remarks and insult anyone. What we say is incorrect and what they say is correct. That is the attitude. What did they say?... DPR is ready and anybody can look at it. Did he not say that? Mr Reddy questioned. He said that he had written to irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, the irrigation secretary and the irrigation engineer on June 21, seeking a copy of DPR of irrigation projects, but there was no reply till date. I did not get the reply, but he says it is available. People should realise the behaviour of CM. You (journalists) too should analyse the situation, Mr Reddy added. Tirupati: In a no-holds-barred attack on the Centre and the state government, Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Saturday said here that he would fight till the Centre granted special category state status to Andhra Pradesh. He demanded that Telugu Desam Party leave the NDA government if it could not fight and achieve the special status as promised by the BJP. He lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi too. "Modi-ji, you said (during the 2014 election campaign) that Congress killed the mother (Andhra Pradesh) and gave birth to a new baby (Telangana). Now, you are trying to cremate the mother," Kalyan said. He wondered what was stopping TDP from fighting for the rightful demand of special status. "They are apparently afraid that the Centre will send the CBI on them. Do you have anything to hide that you are so scared? Stall Parliament and achieve special status," Kalyan said. "I appeal to the Centre to not look at a few filthy rich TDP MPs like....Grant special status looking at the common people of the state," the actor added. Referring to the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju's claim that three chief ministers were blocking the grant of special status to AP, Kalyan asked, "Why are you then hanging on to your post? Resign and come out." In his one hour speech, Kalyan said, "Respected sirs of BJP and Congress. We are deeply hurt that you are not able to see our angst, anguish, tears and anger. "You may be sitting up north and we in down south and think we are not in your vicinity. But we will be in your vicinity and fight for our right. "Hum ladenge...Jeet tak ladenge," he said. Kalyan said he will organise a series of meetings on the issue beginning with a public meeting at Kakinada on September 9. A new name has been added to the illustrious list of those who have fought to strengthen democratic India post-1947: Perumal Murugan. Until a few years ago, few outside Tamil Nadu would have heard of him, much less read him. This 50-year-old remarkably talented scholar and writer, the author of several novels, short stories and anthologies, was happy to be away from the glamour lights of Chennai, and taught Tamil at the government art college in Namakkal. But destiny was waiting to catapult him from a Tamil writer of eminence to a national icon standing for the pre-eminence of freedom of expression and speech in India. In 2010, Murugan wrote a Tamil novel titled Madhorubagan, later translated into English as One Part Woman. It is a story about a childless couple desperate to have a child in order to escape social stigma. In the narrative, Murugan wrote about a traditional custom in which a woman could have consensual sex with a stranger on the 14th day of the temple car festival. This tradition, at one time, had the sanction of the community, and was one way to resolve the predicament of childlessness. The decision was that of the woman, often with the support of her husband. It was not considered immoral, and was part of customary law. Murugan uses this custom as a powerful metaphor to highlight the anguish and humiliation of a childless couple. The curious thing is that for four years the novel did not provoke any protests from any section of society. But, suddenly, in December 2014, some elements expressed great outrage. Perhaps it is happenstance that in May of that very year, the BJP had come to power at the Centre. Did this embolden fringe groups of the Hindu right to a new form of aggression? Readers are free to draw their own conclusions, but the fact is that for four years prior to 2014, there were no voices of protest or intimidation. It is curious also that when these protests escalated, the government of Tamil Nadu stepped in to bring about peace by unofficially proscribing the circulation of the novel. What was the locus standi of the state to intervene in the matter? And was it becoming of it to so meekly succumb to the aggression brought to bear upon Murugan by such threatening fringe groups? Is it the dharma of the state merely to somehow enforce peace without objectively assessing the merits of the case, or evaluating what the impact of this decision would have on the expressly guaranteed right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 of the Constitution? Abandoned by the state, and devastated by the illiterate ferocity of the venom being directed at him, Murugan took a landmark decision. He wrote on his Facebook page: Perumal Murugan the writer is dead. As he is no God he is not going to resurrect himself. He has also no faith in rebirth. An ordinary teacher, he will live as P. Murugan. Leave him alone. Rarely in the annals of creativity will we find such a public announcement of literary suicide. Why did Murugan resort to this extreme step? Essentially, he was left with no other option. Those opposing him were not open to reason. Their modus operandi was to threaten, intimidate, use violence and drum up hysteria against anyone who had the temerity to slight their notion of what is socially right or permissible in terms of creative expression. Almost none of them would have read the works of Kalidasa, Bhartrihari or Vatsyayana to understand the degree of freedom sanctioned in Hindu literary tradition. Nor would they have been familiar with the fact that the great Shankaracharya defeated his intellectual opponents not by threatening to kill them, but by shasthrath or discussion. With the government refusing to protect him, and with the examples of what happened to Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi before him, Murugan decided to just die as a writer. But judicial intervention has made Murugan rise from his literary grave. In a landmark judgment delivered on July 5, 2016, a division bench of the Madras high court comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, decisively pronounced: Let the author be resurrected to do what he is best at: Write. Recognising that the novel refers to a social practice, if at all it ever existed, to somehow solve the problem of a childless couple, the learned judges said, The novel shakes you, but not in the manner its opponents seek to profess. It jolts you, because it succinctly depicts the pain and sufferance depicted through the words of this childless couple. That is the takeaway from the novel. No one reading the novel the judges said, would be persuaded to draw a definite conclusion as sought to be canvassed by the opponents of the novel that the endeavour of the author was to portray all women coming to the car festival as prostitutes. This is a complete misreading of the novel and its theme. Pronouncing that the so-called settlement arrived at with the intervention of the state authorities had no binding force or obligation, the court, annulling all cases against Murugan, directed the state to provide him adequate security so that he could continue to write fearlessly. Finally, in an admonishment of historical proportions against those seeking to stifle creative freedom, the judges thundered: If you do not like a book simply close it. The answer is not its ban. Hindutva fringe groups may think that they are omnipotent today, but they should never underestimate the power of Indian democracy, especially the judiciary. Perumal Murugan, the writer is alive again, and may all creative people continue to have the freedom to jolt and shake society, notwithstanding what the Hindutva brigade feels. On a recent visit to Allahabad for a national convention of gram pradhans, Union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation Uma Bharti said she will seek Prime Minister Narendra Modis permission to undertake a padyatra in Uttar Pradesh to push the governments Namami Gange programme, but was not sure if she would do so in her capacity as a minister or a mere MP. Predictably, Ms Bhartis remarks have resulted in intense speculation in the BJP. There is one view that Ms Bharti wants to be projected as her partys chief ministerial candidate in the run-up to UPs Assembly elections next year now that she represents the Jhansi Lok Sabha constituency. Ms Bharti apparently believes she has the credentials for the job. Not only has she been minister at the Centre, Ms Bharti has also done a stint as chief minister in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Belonging to the Lodh community from the OBCs, Ms Bharti is from the right caste as the BJP is making strenuous efforts to woo the non-Yadav OBCs in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls. It is now to be seen if Mr Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will oblige Ms Bharti. The Congress should be worried. Ever since he rode to power in last years keenly contested Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has made a conscious effort to acquire a national profile with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Mr Kumar is meticulously wooing civil society groups and intellectuals. It is no coincidence that the Bihar Chief Minister has addressed two meetings with a selected gathering of activists, writers and academicians in Delhi over the past month-and-a-half. Working according to a plan, Mr Kumars outreach to these sections stems from the largely-held view that though numerically small, intellectuals wield considerable influence over people and are important opinion-makers. As a result, Mr Kumar has especially touched base with writers who returned their awards last year to lodge a protest against the atmosphere of intolerance being encouraged by the Modi government. The Congress will obviously be uneasy over Mr Kumars move as the issue of intolerance was initially flagged by it. Congress leader V. Narayanasamy was thrilled when he took over as Puducherry Chief Minister three months ago after besting his rivals in the party. But he has run into trouble even before he could settle in. Since Mr Narayanasamy is not a legislator, he has to get elected to the Assembly within six months to continue in office. In such circumstances, the party usually asks a sitting MLA to vacate his or her seat to enable the Chief Minister to contest an election. But Mr Narayanasamy is not so lucky as no Congress MLA is willing to vacate his seat for him. Worse still, there is every chance that Mr Narayanasamys detractors will work overtime to get him defeated if the party leadership directs an MLA to put in his papers for the chief minister. Since his own party colleagues are unwilling to bail him out, a panic-stricken Narayanasamy is learnt to have sought the help of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in the hope that the partys alliance partner will prove to be more helpful. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week when a photograph showing him being carried by his security staff during a visit to flood-affected areas went viral on social media. What made matters worse was that the controversial photograph was officially released by the states public relations department. It now transpires that a private agency hired by Mr Chouhan to handle his publicity, was responsible for the photo shoot on his trip. It was the agency which sent these photographs to the public relations department for the official release. Miffed at being sidelined, the state public relations department lost no time in putting out these photographs. The pictures were subsequently withdrawn, but the roasting he got on social media ruined Mr Chouhans publicity plans. Worried that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants him out of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Chouhan has, of late, been making strenuous efforts to project himself in the national media in a desperate bid to be noticed by the party leadership. The move has clearly boomeranged on him. It is a positive sign that New Delhi is treating its current approach and stance towards Pakistan on a different footing from its revised position in relation to Kashmir. Whether this amounts to a new- and no-nonsense-chapter in Indias policy towards Pakistan will become clear as we learn in coming days of the nature and tenor of the effort this country mounts on the Balochistan question and push the envelope on insisting that Pakistan vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It will be interesting to see how the governments idea of inviting guests from PoK for the Pravasi Bharatiya programme in January 2017 plays out. The letter sent by foreign secretary S. Jaishankar to his Pakistani counterpart on Thursday does not stop at calling Pakistan the prime perpetrator of terrorism in the region, thereby affecting regional peace and stability. It also makes the strong suggestion that India-Pakistan relations can progress only when Islamabad ceases to be in denial about its role in giving sanctuary to terrorists, promoting cross-border terrorism and meddling in Indias internal affairs. New Delhi has said that it seeks a result-oriented (a phrase Islamabad usually throws at India in the Kashmir context) discourse on Islamabad vacating PoK. India has consistently reminded Pakistan and the world, including through a Parliament resolution of 1994 that PoK is part of the territory of J&K which acceded to India in 1947. These are pointers that India-Pakistan relations are likely to be in a long freeze. It has now been officially announced that finance minister Arun Jaitley will not be visiting Pakistan for pre-summit discussions between Saarc finance ministers. Islamabad is hosting the summit in November. New Delhi made it quite clear that Islamabad showed no inclination to discuss the Kashmir. Kashmir leaders generally desire calming of rhetoric and resumption of peace-oriented talks with Pakistan because they are direct victims of terrorism exported from Pakistan, but by now Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appears to be backing the governments strategy as regards both Pakistan and Kashmir, and treating the two as separate. After her first meeting with the Prime Minister on Saturday since the start of the violence in the Valley in early July, the CM urged talks even with the separatists, and squarely blamed Pakistan for the continuing troubles. As Kashmir gets ready to receive an all-party delegation in a few days, Ms Mufti reiterated in Delhi what she has been saying in Kashmir that only five per cent of people in the Valley were involved in instigating unrest which had taken so many lives and the overwhelming majority wanted to lead their lives in a tranquil atmosphere. These past 50 days Kashmir Valley has been on the boil. Violent protests, police firings and unending curfew, following the death of Hizbul commander Burhan, have claimed 70 lives. More than 70 have been blinded by pellet guns and close to 6,000 injured, both civilian and police. The Centre has been adding to forces in the Valley but unable to break the impasse. The Centres response to the Kashmir unrest has been faltering, at best. It was silent for over two weeks, and the state government was absent. Home Minister Rajnath Singh's first visit to the Valley after protests erupted was in late July and did little to mitigate the situation: though he suggested that pellet guns would no longer be used, the CRPF commander flatly contradicted him the next day. Read: Kashmir continues to bleed for all historic failures It took two sets of intensive debates in Parliament to push for action; the Government appeared reluctant even to accept the Oppositions offer of an all-party delegation to the state, which was made on July 18; the delegation is yet to go. Finally, on his second visit to the state from August 23-25, Mr Singh appealed for talks with dissidents, promised that pellet guns would soon be replaced with non-lethal alternatives and announced that an all-party delegation would soon visit the Valley. Is this too little too late or is it the first sign of a potential breakthrough? Anger is higher in the valley than even in 2010 (protests over fake encounters) and administrative and police morale is even lower. Neither Mr Singh's visits nor his announcements have had any discernible impact on the ground, where protests and curfew continue. Nevertheless, everyday that follows makes the present state of confrontation less sustainable, for both the Government and the protesters. Read: BJP wont walk the beaten track The first and most urgent priority is to get talks going. The idea that talks can be held only when calm returns is ill-founded. Calm will return only when talks begin. Indeed, the lesson of what followed 2010 is chiefly this - no other measure, be it development, aid or skills training and jobs for youth, all of which the UPA tried between 2011-14, will succeed in the absence of political initiative. Though the Hurriyat-plus combine -first time the two factions of the Hurriyat and the JKLF have come together - will not engage at present, it is possible to start talks with sections of the intelligentsia, including religious leaders, who have some influence in the Valley and seek gradually to enlarge the circle. Burhan Wani's father, for example, has appealed for stone-pelting to cease and for a peaceful political dialogue to start. He is a new hero for 'the movement' but given what he has undergone I would not seek talks with him, rather with others like him. At this stage the talks need to reassure that this time the government will indeed work towards a resolution of the political issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did hint his Government's interest in a lasting solution when he met Jammu and Kashmir Opposition parties on August 22; he, Mr Singh and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should lose no time in formulating a policy towards that end. A first step would be to call an all-party meeting to input for this policy; it would in any case be a useful step before the all-party delegation goes. The elephant in the room is Pakistan. Ultimately there can be no lasting solution without Pakistan, since it is in possession of a large part of the former princely state, comprising Gilgit-Baltistan and two districts of divided Jammu. Any talks on Jammu and Kashmir would clearly have to cover the entire state - this is not a big task, since the India-Pakistan talks during 2004-07 did cover all parts of divided Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of insisting that Jammu and Kashmir is an 'internal issue' for India, the Government could push for talks with Pakistan to begin where they left off in 2007-08. Pakistan will wriggle but will be pressed by influential friends in the US, UK and China to come around. The Hurriyat can act as a bridge, especially to restrain cross-border militancy, as they did during the Vajpayee period. Though much is made of the dissonance between the Government and the Opposition, as well as between the central and state governments, the biggest hurdle for the NDA may be to persuade its own constituents. BJP spokesmen continue to speak a different language from the government - for example, Sambit Patra says it is not possible to talk to secessionists, while Mr Singh is careful not to exclude anyone. Mr Vajpayee was able to silence even such vocal opponents of rapprochement as Bal Thackeray. Can Mr Modi do the same? Mr. Modi has a rare opportunity to harness the support of the Opposition, should he seek a political resolution. Parliament debates were, for the first time, both introspective and wide-ranging, covering some of the most contentious political issues without heckling. Both former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Home Minister P Chidambaram have regretted that they allowed the potential for a political initiative to dissipate after 2011; they should surely be ready to do what they can, to make amends. Indeed, every single Opposition party has shown concern for the situation in the Valley and expressed willingness to help the Government formulate and implement a policy for change. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have faced three decades of brutal conflict. Though Pakistan bears a large part of the blame, we as a people and a state have our own sins to seek forgiveness for. More than 80,000 civilians and security forces have been killed in the state since 1989; we have never sought with commitment to use the interregnums of peace to build reconciliation. Kashmir is a blot on our democracy; we should for own sakes seek a lasting end to this conflict. Masked Kashmiri protesters run for cover as teargas shells fired by policemen explode near them during a rally in Srinagar. (Photo: AP) It is unprecedented. Kashmir is a reflection of huge accumulated anger over decades. Stone-pelting is an expression of disillusionment and hopelessness. The youth want to be heard but nobody is listening. Guns and pellets in reply to stones and anger are unfortunate; it has inflamed the worsening situation. There is a deep feeling in Kashmir that the response would have been different in similar situations elsewhere. An entirely new generation has emerged in the last 27 years of turmoil. Still, the slogan of aazadi, which means an independent Kashmir, has a huge pull. Islamisation is also taking place. The present unrest is the result of deep alienation caused by the long history of broken commitments and denial of justice to the people. India initially recognized the uniqueness of Jammu & Kashmir and thereby provided constitutional safeguards under Article 370 of Constitution to provide special status to the state. After 1953, centralizing and denial of autonomy began. Article 370 was subverted. The constitution application to J&K order of 1954 took off subjects in the Union list out of the purview of the state legislature. There were 42 constitution (application to J&K) orders extending to the scope of central intervention and laws which were not envisaged at the time of adoption of Article 370. The late Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had promised the sky is the limit as far as autonomy is concerned. He would settle for anything less than independence. His successor Deve Gowada had also promised during the UF government, maximum autonomy. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered talks with all within the ambit of Insnaiyat but nothing seemed to move. The problem which needs an amicable settlement has definitely no simple or readymade solution but sustained and serious dialogue at different levels. The Vajpayee government started the Indo-Pakistan dialogue and UPA proceeded with the composite dialogue. Talks were held with separatist leaders but no progress could be made as the Centre had no political agenda to offer. The last effort was the roundtable talks by the UPA government, which did not see the participation of the separatists. Recommendations made by the working groups formed by the UPA government also did not see the light of the day. The result has been a surge in mistrust and doubts on the sincerity of the Indian establishment towards Kashmir. The Centres approach to Kashmir through the prism of security will be counterproductive both for the people of J & K and India. Democratic and secular forces must demand an immediate end to the regime of repression in Kashmir and the dismantling of the oppressive security apparatus. This must be accompanied by immediate steps to initiate talks with all shades of political spectrum, including separatists in the state. Kashmiris cannot he held hostage to an India-Pak confrontation. Instead of a chauvinist posture, the Modi Government must take up the thread of talks with Pakistan as it was decided by the two countries last year. Despite Islamanization in certain sections, it would be wrong to suppose that there are no reasonable and moderate voices. If extremists are gaining ground, it is because Delhi continues to be seen reluctant in restoring what it has taken away without popular sanction. The partition did not solve the problem of communalism but made it permanent in the form of religious bigotry and terrorism in Pakistan and increasingly as a furious majoritarianism on this side of the border. Kashmir Valley is one of the three distinct regions of the state. The Line of Control divides the Jammu region while leaving intact the Kashmiri-speaking region in Indian sides. Within the northern region Ladakh is on the Indian side whereas Gilgit, Baltistan and Skardo are on the Paksitani side. On the eve of partition, Jammu was paralysed by communal riots and the people were largely polarized on communal lines. But not a single communal incident took place in Valley. Gandhiji paid a unique tribute by acknowledging that Kashmir was the only ray of light in the benighted subcontinent. But alas that tolerant Kashmir has continuously been targeted by both the nation states. What happens in Kashmir is of course a matter of life and death for Kashmiris. It has also been, from the very beginning a test case for claims of two nation states and it is in Kashmir that competing claims of territory and beliefs proved the most intractable. The Dragon delivered a new docking port last month that will be used in another year or two by SpaceX and Boeing. (Photo: AP/NASA) A SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth on Friday with scientific gifts from the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins waved goodbye as the Dragon slowly flew away Friday morning. Six hours later, the spacecraft parachuted into the Pacific, just off Mexico's Baja California coast. It's loaded with 3,000 pounds of research and equipment, including 12 mice that flew up on the Dragon as part of a genetic study. "Good splashdown of Dragon confirmed," SpaceX reported via Twitter. Rubins and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi used the big robot arm to release the capsule. Mission Control thanked the astronauts for their effort, then added, "To the Dragon recovery team, fair winds and following seas." The Dragon delivered a new docking port last month that will be used in another year or two by SpaceX and Boeing, which are developing crew capsules for NASA. Its shuttles five years retired, the space agency has turned over orbital deliveries of both cargo and astronauts to private companies, in order to focus on Mars exploration. In the meantime, NASA astronauts ride in Russian capsules to the space station. SpaceX is the only space station shipper capable of returning items for analysis back to Earth; that's why the Dragon is so important to NASA. Everyone else's cargo ships are filled with trash at mission's end and burn up on re-entry. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. As its era of global dominance ends, the United States needs to take the lead in realigning the global power architecture. Zbigniew Brzezinski is a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and was the National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977-81. He is the author, most recently, of Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power. The spyware was detected when used against Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates, who has been repeatedly targeted using spyware. San Francisco: Apple iPhone owners were urged to install a quickly released security update after a sophisticated attack on an Emirati dissident exposed vulnerabilities targeted by cyber arms dealers. Researchers at Lookout mobile security firm and Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto said they uncovered a fierce, three-pronged cyber attack targeting a dissident's iPhone "that subverts even Apple's strong security environment." Lookout and Citizen Lab worked with Apple on an iOS patch to defend against what was called "Trident" because of its triad of attack methods, the researchers said in a joint blog post. "We were made aware of this vulnerability and immediately fixed it with iOS 9.3.5," Apple said in a released statement. Trident is used in spyware referred to as Pegasus, which a Citizen Lab investigation showed was made by an Israel-based organization called NSO Group. It was acquired by the US firm Francisco Partners Management six years ago, according to Lookout and Citizen. Lookout referred to Pegasus as the most sophisticated attack it has seen, sneakily accessing calls, cameras, email, passwords, apps and more on iPhones. The spyware was detected when used against Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates, who has been repeatedly targeted using spyware. Phishing scheme After receiving a suspicious text with a link, he reported the matter to Citizen Lab, which worked in conjunction with San Francisco-based Lookout to research the affair. "The attack sequence, boiled down, is a classic phishing scheme: send text message, open web browser, load page, exploit vulnerabilities, install persistent software to gather information," the joint blog post said. "This, however, happens invisibly and silently, such that victims do not know they've been compromised." Mansoor received text messages on August 10 and 11 promising that secrets about detainees being tortured in UAE jails could be accessed by clicking on an enclosed link, researchers said. Had he fallen for the ruse, the Trident chain of "zero-day exploits" would have broken into his iPhone and installed snooping software. Once infected, Mansoor's iPhone would have been turned into a "spy in his pocket" capable of tracking his whereabouts and conversations, Citizen Lab said. Mansoor was targeted five years ago with FinFisher spyware and again the following year with Hacking Team spyware, according to Citizen Lab research. "The use of such expensive tools against Mansoor shows the lengths that governments are willing to go to target activists," the researchers said. Although the cyber attack on Mansoor was not linked to a specific government, Citizen Lab said indicators pointed to the UAE. UAE authorities did not comment on the matter. Lookout and Citizen believe the spyware has been "in the wild for a significant amount of time." "It is also being used to attack high-value targets for multiple purposes, including high-level corporate espionage on iOS, Android and Blackberry." Citizen Lab has also found evidence that "state-sponsored actors" used NSO weapons against a Mexican journalist who reported on high-level corruption in that country and on an unknown target in Kenya. The NSO tactics included impersonating sites such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the British government's visa application processing website, and a wide range of news organizations and major technology companies, the researchers said. Cyber arms dealers Mansoor's decision to enlist Citizen Lab instead of falling into the trap gave researchers a rare chance to expose the work of "shady cyber arms dealers" who command high prices for morally questionable services, Lookout vice president of security research Mike Murray told AFP. Invoices posted online have shown that hackers can charge tens of thousands of dollars per target hit with their software. "The smartphone is a valuable target, and breaking into it is a valuable skill set," Murray said. "People who can do this, and with wiggle room in their moral code, have realized the business opportunity." NSO Group has been around since 2010 and the capture of one of its weapons was billed as a first. Studying Trident has helped cyber defenders find ways to spot spyware that had been operating unseen, and they are "actively catching it in the wild now," Murray said. He declined to reveal anything about other targets, saying that they were people likely to be under surveillance in other ways by local authorities. Citizen Lab saw the attack on Mansoor as further evidence that "lawful intercept" spyware has significant abuse potential, and that some governments can't resist the temptation to use such tools against political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Device Assist helps you get the best performance from your Nexus, Google Play edition, and Android One device with tips and proactive troubleshooting for detected issues. (Photo: via Android Central) Device Assist, an Android app that helps you get the best performance from your Nexus, Google Play edition, and Android One device with tips and proactive troubleshooting for detected issues, will no longer be supported. Google has just announced that the Device Assist will no longer be available on Google Play Store. The support for the Device Assist has been dropped with immediate effect and users who are using it are presently being informed that the app no longer works with a detected issue card on the screen. On tapping it, users are redirected to a new page, Googles online tips. Device Assist was launched by Google in 2014 to offer trouble shooting tips on Nexus and Android One devices. The service was not of much help and many users and the developer community was amazed that the help provided was completely irrelevant to users back then. For example, Device Assist would ask the user to restart the mobile, even though the stock Android operating systems on Nexus lacked the reboot option. If you are still having the app, it will continue to work, but will not be updated with new tips. Androids Nougat will include tips and assistance within the operating system ahead. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The list of smartphones that will receive the OS includes the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, General Mobile 4G (Android One), and other devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program. Earlier this week, Google announced to roll out the seventh version of its Android operating system, named Nougat, to Nexus smartphones. However, a new report suggests that some phones from OnePlus, Xiaomi, Samsung, Sony and a few more will not receive the Android 7.0 Nougat update because of compatibility issues. LlabTooFer, a known Android developer tweeted that numerous handsets powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 800/801 processor will not receive Android 7.0 Nougat update. Qualcomm will not release graphics drivers for 800/801 CPUs.So HTC One M8 and other devices based on this CPU won't get official Android 7.0, wrote on its twitter handle. Android 7.0 in AOSP has removed support for the MSM8974 chipset. The Snapdragon 800 SoC uses this chip along with the Adreno 330 GPU. This means phones (and tablets hello, Nexus 7) using the Snapdragon 800 are not supported. But this doesn't explain why the Z3 was able to run the beta, and run it well. For that, Google Play compatibility comes into the picture, reported Android Central. Since both Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 are powered by the Snapdragon 800 SoC, they are not likely to support Nougat. Also, smartphones including HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, OnePlus One and OnePlus X, Xiaomi Mi4, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and LG G3 will not be able to support the new Android version. Apart from these, there are many other smartphones which are based on Snapdragon 800/801 which will suffer similarly. However, it is unsure if Google will make any changes later to enable support for these chipsets. According to a listing on Wikipedia, a prominent source stated that Qualcomm is not releasing updates to the graphic drivers on the Snapdragon 200, 208, 210, 212, 400, 410, 412, 600, 800 and 801 chipsets.Handsets affected by Qualcomm's decision include the Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, LG G3, LG Nexus 5, Sony Xperia Z3, Motorola Moto X 2nd. Gen., HTC One M8, OnePlus One, Xiaomi Mi4 and many other models.Sony initially released beta builds for Xperia Z3, but then later said there would not be a final release, because Snapdragon 801 don't support Vulkan API. Other unsupported processors are Exynos 5250, 5260, 5410, 5420, 5422, 5430, 5800, (Galaxy A7, A8, Alpha, S5, S5 Plus, Note 4, Note Pro, Tab Pro, Tab S, Meizu MX4 Pro), Exynos 7580 (Galaxy A7, A5 2016, S5 Neo), Mediatek MT6735, MT6753 (Desire 828, 830), Kirin 920, 925, 930, 935 (Honor 6, 7, Huawei P8, Mate S). Supported processors are: Snapdragon 415, 430, 435, 615, 616, 617, 625, 650, 652, 805, 808, 810, 820, 821, Exynos ARMv8 5433, 7420, 7870, 8890, Kirin 950, 955, MediaTek with Mali MT6732, MT6722, Helio P10 (MT6755), Helio X20 (MT6797), MediaTek with PowerVR MT6595M, MT6595T, MT6595M, MT6795, MT8135, MT8173, MT8176, Helio X30 (MT679x), Atom Z3460, Z3480, Z3530, Z3560, Z3570, Z3580, Rockchip RK3368, Tegra K1, X1, GeForce 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, etc. Also read: Android 7.0 Nougat: Whats new? Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A fire burns in the street, set by protestors during a demonstration in Harare. (Photo: AP) Harare, Zimbabwe: President Robert Mugabe warned against an Arab Spring type of revolution, as Zimbabwe police said they arrested 67 people following a violent protest that rocked the capital, Harare. "What happened in the Arab world should not be tried here. We don't want to be provoked. We are a peaceful people," the state-run Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe as saying at a send-off for students awarded scholarships to study in China. Police recovered some property looted during the protests, police spokesman Paul Nyathi said Saturday. Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons in running battles with anti-government demonstrators on Friday, despite a court order that the protest could take place. "Security has been intensified. Anyone who engages in any acts of violence such as destruction of property, attacking security agencies and innocent civilians will be dealt with," said Nyathi to reporters on Saturday. Frustrations over Zimbabwe's rapidly deteriorating economy are boiling over in this once prosperous but now economically struggling southern African country. Police have often used tear gas, water cannons and open violence to crush anti-government protests, which have become a near-daily occurrence. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO providing lawyers to demonstrators, said among those arrested are journalist and a pregnant woman. Washington: Defence Secretary Ashton Carter would host his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar at the Pentagon on Monday, weeks after India was designated as a major defence partner by the US. The Pentagon yesterday said Carter will host an enhanced honour cordon to welcome Parrikar to the US Defence Department headquarters. Following the arrival ceremony there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. After the ceremony there will be a bilateral meeting followed by a joint press conference at the Pentagon, a statement said. "This will be Carter's sixth meeting with Parrikar, and comes just weeks after India was designated a major defence partner of the United States during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington," the Pentagon said. Carter had met Parrikar during a visit to India in April. The India-US Defence partnership has been the most ambitious one over the past several years, a senior State Department official told a group of South Asian reporters on Friday. "During the Prime Ministers last visit we were able to announce that the logistic agreements have been finalised, so we look forward to being able to sign that in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of ministers visit or not," the official said. "We are certainly welcoming and hopeful for continuing to move forward on that and continuing to move forward on the fact that we have designated India as a major defence partner into and continue to progress in that direction," the official added. A third man, Suliman Mohamed, 23, faces a seven-year term for conspiring with the twins in joining ISIS. (Photo: File/AFP) Ottawa: Canadian twin brothers who had hoped to join the Islamic State (IS) group pleaded guilty to "terrorism" offenses and were sentenced on Saturday to prison terms, prosecutors announced. The brothers, Ashton and Carlos Larmond, both 25, received sentences of 17 and seven years, respectively. A third man, Suliman Mohamed, 23, faces a seven-year term for conspiring with the twins. In court, prosecutor Douglas Curliss described Ashton as the "organizer and director" of an unspecified extremist plot. Police alleged that he had urged others to wage jihad after his mother alerted the authorities of his plan to travel to Syria to join the IS group in 2013 and the government revoked his passport. Later, on the day in October 2014 when a gunman shot dead a ceremonial guard and attempted to storm the parliament building in Ottawa, Ashton allegedly bragged to an undercover agent that he had "bigger plans." Within hours of his arrest in January 2015 after a lengthy investigation, his brother Carlos was apprehended as he boarded a flight at Montreal's international airport. Carlos acknowledged in court that he was planning to join the IS group in Syria. At the time of their arrest, the trio were presented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as an extremist "cluster." Geneva: US Secretary of State John Kerry says he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "have achieved clarity" on a path to restore a truce in Syria but details remain to be worked out. After meeting off-and-on with Lavrov for nearly 10 hours in Geneva on Friday, Kerry said the "vast majority" of technical discussions on steps to reinstate a ceasefire and improve humanitarian access have been completed. Kerry says experts will remain in Geneva with an eye toward finalising the unresolved steps in the coming days. Lavrov echoed that, saying "we still need to finalise a few issues" and pointed to the need to separate fighters from the al-Nusra Front, which has ties to al-Qaida, from US-backed fighters who hold parts of northwest Syria. Lavrov insisted that a resumption of UN-mediated talks between the Syrian government and the US-backed opposition that were suspended in April should help reduce hostilities that have flared in recent months. He also hailed an improved atmosphere between Moscow and Washington. "We have continued our efforts to reduce the areas where we lack understanding and trust, which is an achievement," Lavrov said. "The mutual trust is growing with every meeting." Friday's meeting came a month after the two men met in Moscow and agreed on a number of unspecified actions to get the all-but-ignored truce back in force. However, as in Moscow, neither Kerry nor Lavrov would describe them in detail. "We are close," Kerry said. "But we are not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people." In a nod to previous failed attempts to resurrect the cessation of hostilities, Kerry stressed the importance of keeping the details secret. "We do not want to make an announcement that is not enforceable, that doesn't have details worked out, that winds up in the place that the last two announcements have wound up," Kerry said. "Until we have, neither of us are prepared to make an announcement that is predicated for failure. We don't want a deal for the sake of the deal, we want a deal that is effective." And, underscoring deep differences over developments on the ground, Kerry noted that Russia disputes the US "narrative" of recent attacks on heavily populated areas being conducted by Syrian forces, Russia itself and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Russia maintains the attacks it has been involved in have targeted legitimate terrorist targets, while the US says they have hit moderate opposition forces. Expectations had been low for the talks, particularly given how efforts to forge a new US-Russia understanding have fallen short virtually every month for the past five years. The university said the protest appeared to be protected political speech and did not halt the rush for dildos when organizers gave them out for free. (Photo: Twitter) Austin, Texas: To protest a new state law that makes the carrying of concealed handguns legal in college classrooms, students at the University of Texas on Wednesday openly displayed sex toys, an act considered illegal under local indecency laws. "We are fighting absurdity with absurdity," said Jessica Jin, leader of the protest called "Cocks Not Glocks: Campus (Dildo) Carry," where hundreds of sex toys were given away at the rally on Wednesday that coincided with a return to classes at university's flagship campus. "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," Jin said. On Aug. 1, a so-called "campus carry" law backed by the state's Republican political leaders went into effect that allows concealed handgun license holders aged 21 and older to bring handguns into classrooms and other university facilities. The lawmakers said campus carry protects the rights of gun owners and could prevent a mass shooting on campus. Hundreds of university faculty and staff lobbied unsuccessfully to block campus carry, arguing the combination of youth, academic stress, alcohol and firearms could make for a deadly combination. A US district judge on Monday denied a motion from three University of Texas professors who wanted to ban guns in their classroom after the state gave some students that right under the law that went into effect this month. On Wednesday, protests organizers shouting slogans like: "If you are packing heat, we are packing meat," handed out hundreds of sex toys, many donated by area stores. They also handed out plastic zip ties so that protesters could strap the sex toys on to their backpacks in a sign of defiance against campus carry. "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. Third year student Forrest Sullivan, who backs the campus carry law, said the rally was high on drama, emotion and humor, but short on persuasive arguments. "Their rhetorical strategy is going to alienate of people who are on the fence about this," he said, adding he feels safer under the law. The university said the protest appeared to be protected political speech and did not halt the rush for dildos when organizers gave them out for free. "This is a very funny campaign," said protester Rebecca Galor, 20, who picked up two sex toys. The couple's 28-year-old son, Ryan, was in the home when police arrived. He was taken to a hospital for an evaluation, but further details were not disclosed. (Representational image) West Deptofrd, New Jersey: Authorities say a man fatally beat his parents with his hands and an object inside the family's New Jersey home. But a motive for the attack in West Deptford, a suburb of Philadelphia, remains under investigation. County prosecutors say a relative found 58-year-old Edward Coles Jr. and his 55-year-old wife, Rosemarie, around 11:30 a.m. Friday. The relative had gone to the home because he couldn't reach the couple by phone. The couple's 28-year-old son, Ryan, was in the home when police arrived. He was taken to a hospital for an evaluation, but further details were not disclosed. Ryan Coles faces murder and weapons charges. His bail was set at $1 million. It wasn't known Saturday if he's retained an attorney. Autopsies on the couple were scheduled for Saturday. The United States, the official noted, has also said that with respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that it believes that this is something that the two countries need to determine through the dialogue. (Photo: PTI) Washington: India and Pakistan should continue a dialogue process to address their differences and issues, including Kashmir, the US has said as it asked the two nations to refrain from indulging in rhetoric. "What I would say that the extent to which both countries are seeking to continue a dialogue process that will do more to address concerns and tensions than perhaps other approaches. So I would just say that it is our hope and our counsel to (the two) continue to push forward on a process of talks between the two governments to try to address concerns," a senior State Department official said. The United States, the official noted, has also said that with respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that it believes that this is something that the two countries need to determine through the dialogue. "Nothing has changed in terms of the US position and perspective on that and we do encourage the two countries to continue the dialogue process that allows them to process areas of concerns in both countries," the official said in response to a question. In an apparent reference to the war of words between the two countries, the official cautioned against indulging in rhetoric. "I think, when you start going into a situation where there is rhetoric that flies that is rarely going to be conducive to push forward a dialogue process," the official said. "At the same time, we have understood and the concerns and frustrations that has been expressed with respect to terrorism. "We have been very firm in our statements, public and private that there has to be actions against terrorist groups wherever they may operate there cannot be a safe haven for terrorist groups and that there cannot be any distinction made. We have urged for robust cooperation to try to address those concerns," said the senior State Department official. RENO Like a diamond in the rough, a small cut of beef that meat cutters throw in with ground meat is now being looked at as a high-end delicacy by researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno. The small, quarter-moon-shaped slice of beef that has a taste and tenderness that outclasses any other cut except filet mignon made its debut this week for media, meat industry representatives and University officials in a private tasting. Assistant professor of meat science Amilton de Mello, who has redeveloped the use for the piece of meat, talked about the science behind the cut, its ease of trimming and profitability for the meat processing industry, as well as the potential for restaurants to offer it as a premier menu item. The Bonanza Cut is juicy, extremely tender and very marbled. The petite slice of beef is ideal for grilling and practically melts in your mouth. Chefs and restaurants will love this cut, it can be portioned for many sizes of servings, de Mello, from the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, said. And for meat producers, it offers a higher price point and more profits by taking this cut in a new direction. The meat science program hosted the private tasting of the Bonanza Cut. Kaimi Coonrad, executive chef of Renos premier catering company, The Cheese Board American Bistro and Catering Company, prepared and served the delicacy. It can be served in a variety of ways, grilling on a flat top, grill or even a cast iron skillet, Coonrad said. A light marinade will complement the innate flavor of the meat. The first bite gives a blast of flavor and then the pure flavor of the beef comes through. Coonrad, with 20 years of experience as a chef, trained at both the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. He created two themes for the Bonanza Cut: Mediterranean and Southwest, with six recipes. One of the recipes, The Southwest Bonanza Cut, El Paso style, features a tangy southwest marinade for the cuts served with roasted corn and black bean salad with baked potato wedges and a jalapeno aioli garnish. It melts in your mouth, the marinade was nice and light, not overshadowing the flavor of the Bonanza Cut, Stan Omaye, chair of the Universitys Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Science, said at the tasting. No matter which style you prepare this, you dont want to marinate this cut for long, only 30 minutes, Coonrad said. The meat is tasty all on its own, and these recipes make it great for either lunches or dinners. Its easy to portion and will have a good price point for restaurants. Consumers wont find the Bonanza Cut in the meat department or restaurants yet. It will be up to the meat producers, such as JBS who funded de Mellos research, to make the cut available. The quest De Mello started developing this new cut in 2014 while working for the beef industry. With support from JBS, a world leader in processing of beef products, he conducted research on the cut at the University beginning in 2015 and found it compared extremely well against other cuts of beef. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate tenderness and cooking yields of the m. infraspinatus caudal tip (the very far end of the flat iron steak) and verify the opportunity of exploring this cut as an added-value product. Research found that the Bonanza Cut has superior marbling and higher fat content compared to other meat cuts, including the flat iron steak. Meat processors will like this specialty cut for a number of reasons, one because its very easy to trim, de Mello said. When you separate the chuck and the ribs, the Flat Iron steak goes one way with the Chuck and the relatively small end stays with the rib side; this is the Bonanza Cut. The industry will also like it because instead of selling it for $1 a pound as lower quality meat, they can showcase it for what it is, a premium cut worth more like $5 a pound. The small cut yields two pieces per beef carcass that combined weigh about a half of a pound. By angling the cut when breaking the ribs, meat cutters will gain more volume for the Bonanza Cut. This small volume makes this cut even more special based on its high quality and low availability, de Mello said. Due to its eating characteristics and unique texture, The Bonanza Cut is a new alternative to replace traditional beef cuts in many different recipes. Also at the Bonanza Cut unveiling and tasting was Chris Calkins, Professor of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, who developed the Flat Iron Steak. The Bonanza cut is rich and succulent a tender, savory piece of beef that should prove popular with consumers, he said. In an industry with a small profit margin, any opportunity to increase value is appreciated. Upgrading this meat from a ground beef/trim price to steak-quality price should return more dollars to the industry. I anticipate a positive reception for the Bonanza Cut, especially from countries that recognize U.S. beef for its quality and flavor. Meat science The meat science program at the University was invigorated with the hiring of de Mello in December 2015 and the opening of his new meat research lab. In addition to his research, he teaches about the meat industry, food safety and quality systems and advanced meat science in the Universitys Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Veterinary Sciences. We are creating a very broad meat science program, he said. We have meat-quality projects and experiments involving animal welfare and food safety. We offer students research and teaching experiences by using our main meat lab and three collaborating ones here on campus. Students can go to our Nevada Agriculture Experiment Station in the morning, follow animal harvest activities in our USDA-inspected meat processing plant, learn about animal welfare practices and spend the afternoon in the lab developing research. The Universitys experiment station houses the meat processing plant, feedlot facilities, cattle working areas and 650 acres of irrigated pasture, all just 15 minutes from the main campus in downtown Reno. Amilton brings an abundance of energy and expertise to the program, Bill Payne, dean of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, said. Hes one of 12 new faculty in the College who will allow us to better connect with and support agricultural producers in ways that have not been possible for many years. Tokyo: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told African leaders on Saturday that his country will commit $30 billion in public and private support for infrastructure development on the continent. Resource-poor Japan has long been interested in tapping Africa's vast natural resources, even more so since dependence on oil and natural gas imports jumped after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster shut almost all of Japan's nuclear reactors. Abe, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), said the package would be spread over three years from this year and include $10 billion for infrastructure projects on the continent, to be executed through cooperation with the African Development Bank. "When combined with investment from the private sector, I expect that the total will amount to $30 billion. This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future, an investment for Japan and Africa to grow together," he told a gathering of at least 34 heads of state and government from across Africa. The $30 billion announced on Saturday is in addition to $32 billion that Japan pledged to Africa over a five-year period at the last TICAD meeting in 2013. Abe said 67% of that had already been put to use in various projects. "Today's new pledges will enhance and further expand upon those launched three years ago. The motive is quality and enhancement," he said. Japan's overall direct investment in Africa totalled $1.24 billion in 2015, down from about $1.5 billion a year earlier, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation, which does not provide a breakdown of sectors. In comparison, rival China made a single investment of $2 billion in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea in the month of April, 2015, alone. Abe said the new pledge will also go towards improving labour productivity and healthcare. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian student activists led a rally Saturday to demand the arrest of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been implicated in a United States government probe into massive fraud in a Malaysian investment fund. More than 1,000 people defied a police ban as they congregated at two locations in Kuala Lumpur and marched to historic Independence Square. They held posters and caricatures of Najib, with some chanting "Catch, catch Najib." The US Department of Justice said last month that at least $3.5 billion had been stolen from 1MDB, a Malaysian fund founded by Najib. It has initiated action to seize $1.3 billion it said was used to buy assets in the US. It said in court filings that more than $700 million had landed in the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1." It didn't name the official, but appeared to be referring to Najib. Allegations against 1MDB have gained steam, but Najib has steadfastly denied any involvement or wrongdoing. "Can we send MO1 to jail and bring that person to face justice?" student leader Anis Syafiqah Mohamad Yusof said at the rally. Police put barricades around the square, forcing protesters to gather around the perimeter. It was a rare protest led by student activists in the country, and backed by opposition parties and civil groups. The rally ended peacefully after nearly three hours, with student leaders placing the effigies of Najib, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, his stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz and businessman Low Taek Jho into a mock prison. Riza, who co-founded the movie production studio Red Granite Pictures, and Low, who is close to Najib's family, were named in the Department of Justice filings. The state fund was created in 2009 by Najib shortly after he took office to promote economic development projects. Instead, US prosecutors said, fund officials diverted more than $3.5 billion through a web of shell companies and bank accounts in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States. The Justice Department says the forfeiture demand, for some $1.3 billion of that money that officials were able to trace through the US financial system, is the largest single action it's taken. The money was used to pay for luxury properties in New York and California, a $35 million jet, and art by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, according to the DOJ complaints. It also allegedly helped finance the Hollywood film "The Wolf of Wall Street," made by Red Granite Pictures. Najib remains firmly in political control of the country, thanks largely to the apparently unwavering support of ruling party members despite a few voices of dissent. The opposition is too weak in Malaysia to dislodge him. However, the US complaints are by far the biggest threat to Najib's credibility that could reinvigorate the opposition. The attorney general has defended Najib, saying he has not been named a defendant in the DOJ complaints. He had already cleared Najib of criminal wrongdoing in January, saying $681 million found in his bank accounts was a donation from the Saudi royal family and not from 1MDB, with most of it returned. After a year of physical torture and rape, the girl began showing signs of pregnancy when she was 14. (Representational Image) Melbourne: A man in the Australian city of Melbourne was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his teenage daughter for over a year and impregnating her during the course of assault. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the accused pleaded guilty of raping and threatening his daughter with a knife after he was arrested by Australian police on the basis of a complaint registered by the victim's mother. While the case was undergoing a trial in the Victorian County Court, prosecutors accused the man of fondling his daughter in his bedroom when she was alone at home. The court also heard that the accused had grabbed a knife and threatened to stab his daughter if she revealed about the rape to her mother or anyone. He had also yelled at her for not listening to him and used to often force himself on her. The accused also forced the victim to watch pornographic films and then perform the sexual acts on him. After a year of physical torture and rape, the girl began showing signs of pregnancy when she was 14. When the victims mother expressed concern about her health and growing stomach, the accused convinced her by saying that it was kidney stones and asked the victim to eat less and drink more water. Accusing him of misleading his wife and trying to hide his daughters pregnancy, the judge told the accused that, You tried to persuade your wife that it was kidney stones. You blamed your daughter for not eating and drinking enough. It was only after the victims mother took her to a doctor that she discovered about her daughters pregnancy, following which a police complaint was registered. In his statement to the police, the accused said that, I am not a human being. I am worst than an animal. The judge told the accused that his criminality represented the lowest depths of human depravity. Identified as Amy Sharp, the 18-year-old had escaped from the Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex in Sydney. (Photo: Facebook/ Amy Sharp) Sydney: An Australian teenager, who was on the run, contacted police authorities on Facebook and pasted a flattering photograph of her in the comments section, requesting them to use this picture instead of the mugshots. Identified as Amy Sharp, the 18-year-old had escaped from the Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex in Sydney. According to a report in the Daily Mail, police had released two mugshots of Sharp, informing people to watch out for her. Soon after, Sharp responded to the police authorities by giving them a picture of herself with a note that read, "Can you use this photo, please and thank you... Yours Truly, Amy Sharp." Sharp's post went viral and received a lot of likes and comments from Facebook users. While some flooded her post's comments section with emoticons, an FB user wrote, "Why? You look like a junkie either way?" Another one commented, "This is the best thing I have seen on Facebook." Some of the users suggested police that they should use her Facebook post to track her down -- and it proved right! Sharp was arrested by police on Saturday at Wentworth Park and has been taken into custody for further questioning. While the case was undergoing a trial at the Bodmin Magistrates Court in Cornwall, he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape. (Representational Image) Plymouth: Police in UK have arrested an 11-year-old boy for sexually assaulting his 9-year-old sister at their family home in Plymouth, a city in England. According to a report in the Independent, the accused was arrested after two indecent photographs of the sexual attack on his sister were found on his mobile phone. The accused who cannot be named for legal reasons, was believed to have ejaculated during one of the sexual encounters, said police. While the case was undergoing a trial at the Bodmin Magistrates Court in Cornwall, he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape. He has been slapped with a 12-month intensive referral order which would require him to work in coordination with counselors to change his behavior. The 11-year-old will be put on the sex offenders list for a term of two years, the court ruled. He will also be monitored while using the internet. Judge Diane Baker told the accused that if her were older, he would have be awarded with a prison sentence for a longer term. However, since the accused was only 11-year-old, he was given referral order. Rousseff, 68, is accused of taking illegal state loans to help bridge budget shortfalls and mask the true state of the economy during her 2014 re-election campaign. (Photo: AP) Brasilia: Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's former economy minster testified on Saturday that Rousseff did not break any laws justifying impeachment, as her trial closed in on next week's climax. Rousseff, 68, is accused of taking illegal state loans to help bridge budget shortfalls and mask the true state of the economy during her 2014 re-election campaign. The one-time Marxist guerrilla, who was imprisoned and tortured under Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, says the charges are trumped up and amount to a rightwing coup. Former economy minister Nelson Barbosa and Rio State University law professor Ricardo Lodi were the final defense witnesses brought to testify that Rousseff did not break the law or harm the economy, which is now in deep recession. "There is nothing remotely illegal," Barbosa said. "You cannot act retroactively with a new interpretation of the law." The same argument was delivered yesterday by a first batch of Rousseff witnesses who said that such budgetary maneuvers have long been common practice and that Brazil's economic decline was entirely unrelated. Her accusers laid out their case on the trial's opening day Thursday, arguing that Rousseff was criminally irresponsible and helped run once booming Brazil into the ground. Tension is building ahead of Monday when Rousseff, from the leftist Workers' Party, will take the stand for the first time and face her accusers. She will be accompanied by her mentor and predecessor in the presidency, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula rose from poverty to found the Workers' Party and become one of Brazil's most popular presidents ever before helping Rousseff take his place. The once all-powerful pair are now demonized by the right, blamed for Brazil's economic shambles and tainted by the revelation of a gigantic corruption scheme at state oil giant Petrobras which peaked during the Lula presidency. Lula's presence and Rousseff's allegations of a plot to destroy 13 years of Workers' Party rule will make for a highly charged atmosphere in the deeply divided Senate where a shouting match broke out yesterday, forcing the session to be suspended. Final arguments will follow Rousseff's testimony, then the voting session, which will include speeches by each senator, with the final result expected Tuesday or Wednesday. Two thirds or 54 out of the 81 senators must vote for impeachment to force Rousseff's immediate removal. The latest estimates by opposition senators and major Brazilian newspapers are that the pro-impeachment side is on track to win. Relatives mourn near coffins of some of the earthquake victims prior to the start of the funeral service in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. (Photo: AP) Ascoli Piceno: Flags flew at half mast across Italy on Saturday as the country observed a day of mourning for the victims of an earthquake that killed nearly 300 people. President Sergio Mattarella paid tribute to the "extraordinary effort" of more than 4,000 rescue experts and volunteers as he began what was set to be an emotionally charged day with a brief visit to Amatrice, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Rome. The small mountain town suffered the heaviest losses in the disaster with around two thirds of the quake's 284 confirmed victims buried under tonnes of collapsed masonry in its devastated centre. The elderly head of state looked visibly moved as he contemplated the site of a razed house on the edge of a zone that has been sealed off by rescue workers for fear of further collapses. There are fears more bodies will be recovered in Amatrice, a holiday spot that was packed with visitors when the powerful quake struck in the early hours of Wednesday. And of the nearly 400 people hospitalised, several are reportedly in a critical state. Emergency services are more confident that they have accounted for everyone in the smaller outlying hamlets to the north of Amatrice -- some of which have been so badly damaged there are doubts as to whether they will ever be inhabited again. The one-street village of Saletta had less than 20 permanent residents but with its population swollen by summer visitors 22 people died there. "Saletta will disappear like so many tiny places," predicted Marco Beltrame. The 28-year-old lost his aunt and uncle in the quake. Tiny Coffin Mattarella was also due to visit the village of Accumoli before joining Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at a funeral for some of the victims in Ascoli Piceno, capital of Marche, one of three regions affected by the quake. The first grieving families to bury their dead did so on Friday evening in Pomezia. There were tear-drenched scenes as hundreds of residents of the small town south of Rome turned out to pay their respects to lost relatives, friends and neighbours who included an eight-year-old boy. A large number of the victims were from the Rome area, where many former inhabitants of the mountains have moved for work, returning to family homes only at the height of summer. At least eight foreigners died, including three Britons, two Romanians and nationals of Canada, El Salvador and Spain. Saturday's funeral was for some of the 46 people who died in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto, located in the mountains where Marche meets neighbouring Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. A local gymnasium has been transformed into a chapel, where bereaved relatives came to pray in front of 30 coffins. Among them was a small, white casket for nine-year-old Giulia, whose body protected her younger sister, Giorgia, for long enough for the five-year-old to be pulled from the rubble virtually unscathed. She was one of the last survivors to be rescued and there have been no reports of anyone being found alive since late Wednesday. State Of Emergency With emotions still raw, some families chose not to take up the offer of state funerals. "Why attend? To listen to politicians? They always say the same thing -- that they stand with us and that it must never happen again... always the same thing!" said one inconsolable woman after identifying a relative in Amatrice. Where they can, rescue workers have begun using diggers and other heavy lifting equipment to clear debris in the first steps towards the reconstruction which the government has promised to support. But the operation has been severely hampered by powerful aftershocks -- more than 1,300 since Wednesday -- which have closed winding mountain roads, damaged key bridges and made life dangerous for exhausted emergency services. Renzi has declared a state of emergency for the regions affected, releasing an initial tranche of 50 million euros ($56 million) in emergency aid. The total clean-up and rebuilding operation is forecast to cost over a billion euros. Some 2,500 villagers spent a third night out of their flattened or damaged homes, the bulk of them in refugee camp-style tents on the edges of their villages. Another mass funeral has been scheduled for Wednesday. Once that is over, the government and local authorities will face intense scrutiny over why so many people died, just seven years after an earthquake in the nearby city of L'Aquila left more than 300 people dead. That disaster, just 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the south, underscored the region's vulnerability to seismic events -- but preparations for a fresh quake have been partial at best. French resorts were defiant after a ban on the burkini in a Riviera town was overturned. (Photo: File/AFP) Arseille: French resorts were defiant after a ban on the burkini in a Riviera town was overturned, vowing to keep the restrictions in place and continue imposing fines on women who wear the full-body swimsuit. In a judgement expected to lead to bans being overturned in around 30 coastal towns, the State Council, France's highest administrative court, ruled on Friday the measure was a "serious and clearly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms". The suspension of the ban on the Islamic swimsuit, which has triggered a fierce debate in France and sparked critical headlines around the world, was welcomed by the UN, and a French Muslim group said it was a "victory for common sense". But the ruling, which only applied to the ban imposed by Villeneuve-Loubet, was quickly dismissed by several other towns, including Nice, which vowed to keep the restrictions in place and continue imposing fines on women who wear the full-body swimsuit. In its decision, the court said local authorities could only introduce measures restricting individual freedoms if wearing the swimsuit on beaches represented a "proven risk" to public order. The judges said there was no such risk in the case before the court concerning Villeneuve-Loubet, a resort between Nice and Cannes. Police action to fine Muslim women for wearing burkinis on beaches in several towns, including in the tourist resorts of Nice and Cannes, has triggered a fierce debate about women's rights and the French state's strictly-guarded secularism. "From now on, it is up to everyone to take responsibility for cooling off, which is the only way to avoid public order disturbances and to try and live together," Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said. But the ruling provoked defiance from several Riviera resorts, which pledged to continue imposing fines. In recent weeks, around 30 French municipalities decided to ban access to public beaches "by anyone not wearing proper attire, which is respectful of good morality and the principle of secularism and not respectful of the rules of hygiene and bathing security". Nice town hall said it would "continue to fine" women wearing the burkini and the far-right mayor of Frejus, David Rachline, insisted his ban was "still valid", telling AFP there was "no legal procedure" against his ruling. Ange-Pierre Vivoni, Socialist mayor of the Corsican town of Sisco, said his burkini ban, introduced this month following a confrontation between Moroccan bathers and locals, would also remain "for the safety of property and people in the town because I risked having deaths on my hands". Amnesty International said Friday's court decision had "drawn an important line in the sand". "These bans do nothing to increase public safety but do a lot to promote public humiliation," said Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen, who added it was time that the French authorities "drop the pretence" that the ban was about protecting women's rights. The debate has split both the left and the right, with former president Nicolas Sarkozy calling for a nationwide ban on the burkini, while former premier Alain Juppe has expressed opposition to "an exceptional law". The ruling Socialists are also divided, with Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and Health Minister Marisol Touraine concerned over the "drift" in the local orders, while Prime Minister Manuel Valls backed the mayors. He stuck to his guns Friday evening, saying the State Council's ruling "does not end the debate which has been opened". "It is a fundamental debate, which follows on from others," he said, recalling that France was the first country in Europe to ban the full veil in public spaces in 2010. The headscarf was banned from schools in 2004. Anger over the issue was further inflamed this week when photographs in the British media showed police surrounding a woman in a headscarf on a beach in Nice. The mayor's office denied 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. In its ruling, the State Council said: "The emotion and the concerns arising from terrorist attacks, especially the attack in Nice on July 14, are not sufficient to legally justify a ban." Turkey has allowed policewomen to wear headscarf so long as the headscarf is the same colour as the uniform and without pattern. (Photo: AFP/Representational) Istanbul: Turkey has for the first time allowed policewomen to wear the Islamic headscarf as part of their uniform, according to a ruling published in the official gazette on Saturday. Women serving in the police force "will be able to cover their heads" under their caps or berets so long as the headscarf is "the same colour as the uniform and without pattern", said the ruling published in the official gazette. Rulings published in the official gazette come into force immediately. The ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has long pressed for the removal of restrictions on women wearing the headscarf in the officially secular state. Turkey lifted a ban on the wearing of the Muslim headscarf, known as the hijab, on university campuses in 2010. It allowed female students to wear the headscarf in state institutions from 2013 and in high school in 2014. Erdogan's critics have long accused the president of eating away at the secular pillars of modern Turkey as set up by its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when he established the Turkish republic in 1923. But pro-government media pointed out that several Western states have already granted female officers permission to wear the headscarf. Police in Scotland this month allowed women to wear the headscarf while on duty, following a lead set by their counterparts in London over a decade ago. Hoping to boost recruiting of Muslim women, the Canadian government this week said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would allow its officers to wear hijabs as part of their uniforms. Istanbul, Turkey: A Turkish court on Saturday placed under arrest three former top diplomats, including an advisor to ex-president Abdullah Gul, over links to the failed July 15 coup, state media said. An Ankara court remanded Gurcan Balik, Ali Findik and Tuncay Babali in custody ahead of trial over suspected links to the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who is accused of masterminding the coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Balik is a prominent figure who was the chief foreign policy advisor to Gul, who served as president from 2007 to 2014 before handing over to Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He had also worked as an advisor to former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu during his long stint as foreign minister. In that role, Balik in 2013 set up a hugely controversal meeting between Davutoglu and Gulen while the then foreign minister was attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Anadolu said. Davutoglu in May 2015 confirmed he had secretly visited Gulen for talks at his Pennsylvania compound aimed at persuading him to return to Turkey to ease tensions in the bureaucracy. He has insisted both Gul and Erdogan, then prime minister, were aware of the visit. Babali meanwhile had served as ambassador to Canada while Findik had been ambassador to Costa Rica. Turkey has embarked on an all-out purge of state institutions in the wake of the coup to rid the country of what Erdogan calls the "virus" of Gulen's influence. The arrest of Balik is significant as it represents one of the first times a figure linked to the political leadership in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been implicated in the coup. There has never been any suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of Gul and Davutoglu and both condemned the coup in the strongest possible terms. According to Anadolu, the foreign ministry fired 88 people in the wake of the coup. Almost 70,000 civil servants have been dismissed in total, over half of them in the education sector. One summer component we all looked forward to was the fog man. He would suddenly appear in a noisy yellow truck down the road spraying huge clouds of white smoke-like vapors billowing out behind, coming forward and moving quickly. You were in shock for a moment until you realized it was the fog man. Instantly your parents would shout to shut the windows of the house. Grabbing our bicycles we would ride after the truck, keeping out of the volatile fumes yet watching the rolling vapors envelop cars, bushes and backyard pets. It was exciting, dangerous, and fun all at the same time. We loved the fog man. The spraying of DDT in my neighborhood of Babylon, Long Island was greatly welcomed by many who could now sit out in the evening on the patio without getting bit up by pesky mosquitoes. That was back in the 60s and was a service provided by the town property tax. If it had any terrible effect on my health I have never noticed it. In August 1962, the dangerous long-range side effects of DDT and other common pesticides was the subject of a press-conference question asked of President John F. Kennedy. In his reply (without teleprompter), he acknowledged Rachel Carsons ground breaking environmental book on the subject and stated that the federal government was taking a closer look at this subject. A decade later DDT was banned in the United States. But now, a half century later, some people wonder if this was a wise move. As we watch on the nightly news of Zika virus spreading in Florida most know that the neighboring Gulf States will be next. It is only a matter of time before Zika marches into California by way of Nevada. It seems mosquitoes cannot be stopped. Even in 2016 mosquito-borne malaria remains the primary public health challenge of our planet. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.2 billion people, roughly half the population on the Earth, are at a risk for this malady. In 2015 there were 214 million cases of malaria with 438,000 deaths. Sadly, almost all of these deaths occur in Africa and mostly to children under the age of 5. DDT is one of the many tools that can fight the disease but it is normally not available. What is DDT and why is it banned in many countries? According to Wikipedia, DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a colorless, crystalline, tasteless and almost odorless organochlorine. First synthesized in 1874 by Othmar Zeidler working under the supervision of Adolf von Baeyer (a famous organic chemist of indigo fame). DDTs insecticidal properties were not discovered until 1939 by the Swiss scientist Paul Hermann Muller, who won the 1948 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his efforts in this area. Because of this finding, DDT was used in the second half of World War II to control malaria and typhus among civilians and troops, especially in the South Pacific. After the war, DDT was used as an agricultural insecticide and its production soared. Since the 1940s a total of 1.8 million tons have been produced globally, manufactured by some 15 companies worldwide. Today, India is the only country producing DDT, after China ceased production in 2007. In the 1950s many scientists began expressing concern over possible hazards associated with DDT, and eventually the government began tightening regulations governing its use. In 1957 the New York Times reported an unsuccessful struggle to restrict DDT use in Nassau County, Long Island, one county away from my town. This matter came to the attention of the popular naturalist and author, Rachel Carson, who wrote a bestselling book on the subject in 1962, claiming that pesticides such as DDT were poisoning wildlife, the environment, and at the same time endangering human health. Silent Spring charged that if this release of toxins continued unabated, birds along with their happy melodies would someday vanish from our neighborhoods. Was she right? Everyone has heard of the link between DDT and bird eggshell thinning. Fragile shells lower the reproductive success rate of certain bird species. It is said that this mechanism led to the decline of the bald eagle, brown pelican, peregrine falcon and osprey during the DDT years and this is probably true. There is evidence that isomers of DDT, present in its manufacture, interfere with the calcium development in the shell gland of such animals impairing eggshell quality. Still, many critics today argue that Carson exaggerated the adverse effects of DDT while ignoring its benefit. For example, in the book she offers anecdotes that imply problems caused by DDT, linking the sufferings of a man, for example, who after spraying for cockroaches suffered from hemorrhaging. The man was eventually diagnosed with leukemia, which eventually led to his death and not the DDT. She also notes that one researcher gave DDT a definite rating as a chemical carcinogen based on lab tests that produced tumors in rodents. There were no listings of dosage amounts or LD50s. Although the book was a hit, none of Carsons findings amounted to anything more than speculations and in the end were retrograde to the findings of the EPA which in the 1970s reported no public health problems arising from DDT. Again, in 1990 an article in the medical journal The Lancet reported: The early toxicological information on DDT was reassuring; it seemed that acute risks to health were small. So who do you trust? One prediction is that when the uproar of Zika becomes great enough within a year, you will see the allowance of residential uses of DDT. This will greatly help break the transmissions without hostile impacts on wildlife or our environment. The British police arrested five men on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. (Photo: AP/Representational) London: A British Army bomb disposal team was called in to a site in Birmingham where five men were arrested on terror charges. The five men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, West Midlands Police said. "The arrests were intelligence-led and part of an ongoing investigation," a police spokesperson said. "Police are searching a number of properties in the Stoke and Birmingham areas as part of the investigation; these searches are on-going," he added. Police say that, as a result of one of the arrests, an Army bomb disposal team has been called in as "a precautionary measure". West Midlands fire service tweeted: "Fire crews have been supporting police colleagues with an ongoing operation in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham." Police raided three homes in Birmingham and made two linked arrests in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested at their homes in Birmingham and a 28-year-old man was detained in a different area of the city. Another two men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested in Stoke. Insurgents and government forces agreed a deal on Thursday to evacuate the town, which the Syrian army has surrounded since 2012. The UN said only one shipment of aid has reached the area since then. (Photo: AP) Beirut: Besieged residents and rebels began leaving the Damascus suburb of Daraya on Saturday, Reuters witnesses said, as an evacuation to end one of the longest stand-offs in Syria's five-year war began. Insurgents and government forces agreed a deal on Thursday to evacuate the town, which the Syrian army has surrounded since 2012. The UN said only one shipment of aid has reached the area since then. A Reuters witness saw six buses leaving the town. Footage on state television showed buses carefully driving past a large group of soldiers through streets lined with rubble. Peeping from the window of one the vehicles was a small child no older than four or five, too young to remember life before the siege. A Syrian Army general told reporters in Daraya that around 300 families of fighters would leave the town today, and in total around 700 fighters and 4,000 civilians would be evacuated by Saturday. The plight of civilians in Daraya and other besieged areas has long been of concern to the United Nations, which has condemned the use of starvation as a weapon by both sides in the conflict. There have been previous deals to allow similar evacuations of besieged fighters and civilians, or to let people return to their homes after ceasefires were agreed. In February, around 4,000 people returned to their south Damascus neighbourhood after a ceasefire deal, and in December hundreds of fighters and their families were evacuated from two besieged areas in northern and western Syria. 'EARLY SITE OF PROTEST' In June, authorities agreed to allow UN-supplied food deliveries into Daraya under a cessation of hostilities deal, but just one shipment of food aid has reached the town since then. By this spring, conditions there were so bad that, amid reports of the army burning local wheat fields, some people were reduced to eating grass and sending their children out to beg, the UN's World Food Programme said. Daraya, just 7 km (4 miles) from President Bashar al Assad's seat of power, was one of the first places to see peaceful protests against his rule. The suburb fought off repeated attempts to retake it by government forces as the conflict escalated into civil war. It was also the scene of one of the worst atrocities of the war. In 2012, several hundred people were killed, including civilians, many execution style, after security forces stormed the suburb after locals took up arms. Both the army and rebels blamed each other. In recent weeks, the army has escalated its use of barrel and incendiary bombs there. Last week its only hospital was hit, rebels and aid workers said. Daraya's local council said in an online statement that civilians will be initially taken to the town of Herjalleh in the Western Ghouta suburbs of Damascus and "will move later to places they choose". Herjalleh is the site of a government housing project for displaced people. The Syrian Army general said rebels who did not want to make peace with the Syrian government would be transferred to Idlib. Those who did would be taken to Herjalleh. A Syrian military source told Reuters all civilians would leave the city and the army would enter it. People would be allowed to return to their homes once the area's infrastructure had been rebuilt. The vessel's cargo was loaded in the UAE emirate of Sharjah, but the ship sank in the Arabian Sea 15 nautical miles off AS-Suwayh because of a "technical fault", it said. (Representational Image/ PTI) Muscat: An Indian cargo ship loaded with vehicles and food supplies destined for Yemen sank on Saturday off the coast of Oman but without loss of life, media reports said. Omani fishermen and police rescued all 11 crew on board, Oman's ONA state news agency reported. The vessel's cargo was loaded in the UAE emirate of Sharjah, but the ship sank in the Arabian Sea 15 nautical miles off AS-Suwayh because of a "technical fault", it said. The Times of Oman said the ship was carrying 69 vehicles, food, tyres and engine oils and had been bound for the port of Mukalla in southeast Yemen. UAE daily Gulf News said the ship sank because of overloading. Twenty-two people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery. (Photo: PTI) Dhaka: Bangladesh police stormed a militant hideout just outside Dhaka Saturday, shooting dead three Islamist extremists, including the suspected mastermind of an attack on a cafe that killed 22 mostly foreign hostages last month. "We can see three dead bodies here," senior police officer Sanwar Hossain said. "Tamim Chowdhury is dead. He is the Gulshan attack mastermind and the leader of JMB (Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh)," he said, referring to a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen believed to be behind the attack on the cafe in Dhaka. Police earlier staged an hour-long gun battle with extremists at Paikpara in Narayanganj, a city 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Dhaka, Hossain said. Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told AFP police were "99 percent sure" that Tamim Chowdhury was in the hideout when police launched the assault. Chowdhury, who returned from Canada in 2013, has been leading the banned JMB, which police say carried out the cafe attack in which 18 foreigners were shot and hacked to death in the country's worst terror attack. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised police and intelligence agencies for the operation which killed Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian believed to have planned the attack. (Photo: AFP) Dhaka: Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the nation was "free of another curse" Saturday after police stormed a militant hideout, shooting dead the suspected mastermind of an horrific attack on a cafe that killed 22 hostages. The bodies of three Islamist extremists were retrieved after police staged an hour-long gun battle with militants in Narayanganj, a city 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Dhaka, officers said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised police and intelligence agencies for the operation which killed Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian believed to have planned the attack. "The main mastermind of the Holey Artisan (attack) has been eliminated," Hasina told reporters at her office, referring to the Gulshan cafe incident. "The nation has become free of another curse," Hasina said, adding that the "elimination of the extremists" would bolster "people's confidence". The police raid came two days before US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in Bangladesh, the highest-ranked Western official to visit the South Asian nation since the attack. Officials said security issues, including Dhaka-Washington DC anti-terror cooperation, will feature during Kerry's talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart on Monday. Thirty-year-old Chowdhury, who returned from Canada in 2013, had earlier been named by police as the suspected mastermind of the attack on the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood. "The operation went on for an hour. We can see three dead bodies. They did not surrender. They threw four to five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told reporters Saturday. "Three extremists were killed. Among them, one of the dead persons looked exactly like the photo of Tamim Chowdhury that we have," he said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. But police and the Bangladesh government rejected the IS claim, saying a new faction of homegrown militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) led by Chowdhury was behind the attack in which 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed along with two policemen. Police blame the JMB for the deaths of more than 80 foreigners and members of religious minorities over the last three years. "Tamim Chowdhury's chapter is closed here," Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters after visiting the site of the raid Saturday. He said other extremists were "very few" in number and face imminent arrest. A series of raids on suspected militant hideouts carried out with the Rapid Action Battalion elite security force have killed at least 24 extremists since the cafe attack. Radicalisation efforts Police on August 2 announced a two million taka ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of Chowdhury, who disappeared after the attack. Police say Chowdhury has led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims since returning from Canada three years ago. His role in fostering extremism was revealed during the interrogation of Rakibul Hasan, 25, who was arrested in a raid on a militant hideout in July in which nine extremists were killed in Dhaka. A police report into that raid said Chowdhury and others gave Hasan and other militants "money, explosives and weapons" and "trained and advised" them. Bangladesh has been reeling from a deadly wave of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of the country's religious minorities. In June more than 11,000 people were arrested in a bid to quash a spate of brutal murders of secular writers, gay rights activists and religious minorities. Both IS and a branch of Al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Bangladeshi authorities have rejected the claim, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third-largest Muslim-majority nation. Critics say Prime Minister Hasina's administration is in denial about the nature of the threat posed by Islamist extremists and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. The airport will remain closed from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm each day for runway maintenance work from January 6, 2017, to April 6, 2017, it said. (Photo: Colombo-airport.com) Colombo: Sri Lankan Airlines has announcedthe cancellation of flights from Colombo to Chennai, Trichy, Cochin and Bangalore in southern India for three months from January due to runway repair works at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The Lankan national carrier has also cancelled flights flying to Singapore and Male. The rescheduling of flights remain for three months from January 2017 due to runway repairs that will close the Colombo international airport during day time, the airline said in a statement. The airport will remain closed from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm each day for runway maintenance work from January 6, 2017, to April 6, 2017, it said. Flights from Colombo to Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Trivandrum, New Delhi, Karachi, London and Jeddah will be shifted to alternate times of the day, the statement said. "Sri Lankan Airlines regrets any inconvenience caused to its passengers due to these arrangements that have been made under unavoidable circumstances," it said. "The closure of BIA affects flights of all airlines that operate to BIA during the scheduled time of maintenance work. The airline is not the operator of the airport and has no control over scheduled maintenance work," it added. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with India's Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das (R) at the inaugural session of SAARC Finance Ministers Meet in Islamabad. (Photo: PTI) Islamabad: Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to be despatched to world capitals to highlight the problem. "We will remind the United Nations its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people," Sharif said. Stepping up Pakistan's diplomatic offensive, the prime minister said he has decided to send the parliamentarians for highlighting the Kashmir issue in different parts of the World. The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. "The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September," Radio Pakistan reported. "We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise," he added. Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. These special envoys have the strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, the mandate of the parliament and support from the government," Sharif said in a statement. "Generation after generation of Kashmiris have seen only broken pledges and ruthless oppression," Sharif claimed. He emphasised that this anniversary of the UN ought to be a catalyst, spurring the world body into action. "We cannot relent from the Kashmir cause by any stretch of the imagination," Sharif said. Bangladesh police today raided a militant hideout on the outskirts of the national capital, killing Dhaka cafe attack 'mastermind' Canadian-Bangladeshi Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and two other Islamist extremists. "The gunfight erupted this morning after police started raiding a building at Naraynganj's Pikeparha," Counter-terrorism Unit's Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com. The unit's chief Monirul Islam earlier said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Police spokesman Jalaluddin confirmed to PTI that Tamim Chowdhury was among those killed this morning during the raid, the second major clampdown after the nine suspected Islamist terrorists were killed in the capital last month. A joint team from Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, police headquarters and district police cordoned off the house since the morning on information that a group of militants were staying there, superintendent of Narayanganj police Mainul Haq was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. As the security forces tried to enter the house, the criminals opened fire from inside, he said. Chowdhury, 30, was identified by police as the mastermind of the country's worst terror attack on July 1 at a cafe in Dhaka that killed 22 people, including an Indian girl. According to the investigators, he had accompanied the five attackers from their Bashundhara flat to Gulshan, Dhaka and left the area after bidding them farewell just before the cafe siege began on July 1. The investigators also found his involvement in the Sholakia attack on the July 7 Eid day that killed four people, including two constables, an attacker, and a local woman. Chowdhury was also the mentor of the nine militants who were killed in a police operation at Kalyanpur on July 26. According to police, Chowdhury used to stay in Canada and might have developed a network of financiers abroad before coming to Bangladesh in 2013. Police had announced Tk 2 million reward earlier this month for information leading to Chowdhury's arrest. ISIS had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. Investigators earlier identified Chowdhury as the leader of Neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, which analysts said was inclined to ISIS. The police chief had earlier told PTI that Dhaka alerted Indian security agencies against Chowdhury's possible intrusion to the neighbouring country as a nationwide manhunt was underway to track him down at home. Chowdhury's family hails from the northeastern Bangladesh district of Sylhet and his father Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, who was a mariner, immigrated to Canada in the early 1970s. Donald Trump's personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trump's car waited. "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant." Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 -- 16 months older than Clinton -- would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an "excellent" bill of health. ELKO -- Ross Eardley has been selected as the 2016 Elko County Fair Parade Grand Marshal. Eardley has been the longest serving member of the Elko Lions Club with 64 years, and has been an integral part of the Elko County Fair Parade as a volunteer for many of those years. He was born Oct. 22, 1924, in Salt Lake City. At the age of 18, in June 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served three years during World War II. He was in the 84th Infantry Division as a combat infantry soldier in Germany, the Battle of the Bulge and final dash across Germany towards Berlin. During his service in the Army he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star. He entered the army as a draftee private but left as a commissioned officer, 2nd lieutenant. After World War II he remained in the Army as a reserve officer until 1952. After the army he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1946-1948 in the Northwestern United States and Alaska. He graduated from the University of Utah in August 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of business administration. He then attended Stanford University Law School from 1949 until January 1952. He graduated with a Doctor of Laws Degree in 1952 and among his graduating classmates were William Rehnquist, who later became Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; and Sandra Day OConnor, who later became its first female justice. Upon graduation from Stanford Law School he moved immediately to Elko to practice law with his brother-in- law, George F. Wright, who at that time was a prominent attorney. He practiced law in Elko from 1952 until 2005, most of that time at his own private law office. When the state of Nevada adopted the Public Defender system in the 1970s, in addition to his private practice he was appointed as the first Public Defender in the counties of Elko, White Pine, Eureka, and Lander. At that time there was only one Public Defender for the four counties. When he closed his law office in 2005 he then taught as an adjunct professor at the Great Basin College, teaching business and constitutional law. He served in that capacity for nine years, from 2005-2014. He joined the Elko Lions Club in 1952 and has been an active member up to and including the present time, a period of 64 years. He was President of the club in 1959-1960 and over the years has held every position and office at the club level except secretary. One of his most enjoyable activities as a Lion is to help each year with the Elko County Fair Parade, which he has done for many years. He is married to Eleanor Mae Smith Eardley and on Sept. 1 of this year they will celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary. They have six children, all raised in Elko and graduated from the Elko High School. Those still living in Elko are Ross S. Eardley, Marianne Eardley, Steven F. Eardley and Julianne Eardley. Living in Monticello, Utah, is James Terry Eardley and living in Lindon, Utah, is Kathryn Eardley Stillwell. At the present time Ross P. Eardley is 91 years old and retired, but continues to be an active participant in the Elko Lions Club and in other Elko County activities. The Parade will be held on Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. Line-up is at 10 am. "The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil," she said. Mehbooba, according to a state government release, outlined a "three-pronged action plan" before the Prime Minister for the resolution of the Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. However, the release did not spell any details but sources in the know said the plan includes facilitating visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley later next week, a possible change in Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the state. Stressing the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state, Mehbooba called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by the then NDA Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005. "Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi," she said. The Chief Minister said the intra and inter-state Confidence Building Measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and the region. "We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve," she said and added that the present Prime Minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee. Expressing anguish over the continued violence and killings, Mehbooba sought involvement of all the stakeholders for resolution of the problems facing J and K and improving the situation in the state. She said the focus of the State government, Government of India and all other parties in the country is to reach out to the majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir who want peaceful solution of the problem. "Every political party wants the bloodshed in Kashmir to end and a political process to begin, sooner the better," she said and added that all the parties, cutting across the divide, including the Hurriyat leaders shall have to come forward and help in saving innocent lives as also engage in a meaningful dialogue process for the peaceful resolution of the problems. On the All Party delegation, she said, "I hope they will meet different shades of political opinion to elicit their views on how to find a way out of the present imbroglio." Urging Pakistan to reciprocate with open mind and in good faith to the peace initiatives for the permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue, she said unfortunately Islamabad lost out on a "golden opportunity for reconciliation when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi landed in Lahore December last and when Home Minister, Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recently for the SAARC ministerial meeting. "Pakistan also has to take a step forward in the interest of peace and stability in the region," she said. "Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan was fuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our Home Minister Rajnath Singhji went to Lahore, but again, unfortunately, Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend the courtesy that needs to be given to a guest," she said. She also advised Islamabad to take a leaf out if its former President Pervez Musharraf's Kashmir policy who had opined that the UN resolution on Kashmir had no space in the present world. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-third majority. "If things don't happen during his tenure, it won't happen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step of going there, today again says we need to talk to our own people, because people are dying," she said. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPA did," she said. Maintaining that the aspirations and the interests of people of the state are supreme for her government, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir have been living a life of pain, suffering and uncertainty and they yearn for peaceful resolution of the problems confronting the state. Underlining the fact that she has just been in power for the last two months, she appealed to the people to help her resolve the crisis. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, but please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations," she said. Calling for greater focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidence-building measures, Mehbooba said, "We should not mislead ourselves about brushing the issue under the carpet as was done on earlier occasions like in 2008 and 2010. "The country's political leadership must commit itself to address all the dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region." She said that she had appealed to the prime minister to involve all shades of political opinion in meaningful deliberations for realistic and just resolution of the problem. Noting that not enough has been done to implement the 'Agenda of Alliance' between her party PDP and BJP, Mehbooba said Modi reiterated his commitment that the political, economic and developmental initiatives enumerated in the agenda will be implemented with sincerity of purpose. Asked about talks with Hurriyat, she said a dialogue should be held with all those who want talks. But "those who are instigating the people for carrying out attacks on camps and police stations are not interested in talks," she said. She also appealed to the separatist leaders to come and help her government in breaking "this cycle of violence" in the state. This was the first meeting Mehbooba had with the prime minister after the violence broke out in the Valley on July 8. So far 68 people have died in the protests that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today presented a "three-pronged action plan" that included a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the Valley rocked by turmoil that has left 68 people dead.After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was "very concerned" about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that peace can return to the Valley.Appealing to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, she said, "please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations." The Chief Minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations or army camps. Two persons were killed and some others injured in a stampede after a fire broke out in the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital today, triggering panic among patients and their relatives. "Two women, both nursing aides, died in the stampede following the incident of fire which broke out at 11.50 AM at the hospital. Some others are injured, but we are yet to receive details," Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy told PTI in Kolkata. Giving details, Satpathy said that a fire broke out in the AC machine of a vacant VIP cabin at the main medical ward of the hospital. "Everybody tried to run away to escape from the fire which resulted in a stampede in which two ayahs (nursing aides) died," he said. "Patients in the adjacent wards were immediately taken out including those from the paediatric ward and all of them were relocated to the newly built MCH (mother child) Hub," Satpathy said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring the situation from Kolkata, while a four-member high power team from Kolkata has been asked to rush to the site at the earliest, he said. A departmental inquiry has already been ordered to probe the incident, Satpathy said, adding the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of the hospital Subhasis Saha was monitoring the situation, while a special medical team from Malda has already rushed to the spot for assistance. "There is no panic right now and the situation is under control," Satpathy said. State Fire Minister Sovan Chatterjee said the blaze was now well under control. The firemen at the spot suspect that a short circuit in the AC machine of the VIP cabin triggered the fire. A 36-year-old air hostess, working with Air India, died in a road accident on Thursday as her office cab rammed into another vehicle in a pile up on Rajokri flyover in south Delhi. The deceased Shakambari Zutshi was travelling towards the airport from her home in Faridabad when her office cab met with an accident on NH-8 Rajokri flyover at around 4.30 am, police said. Zutshi flying to Kolkata to meet her husband, Rajeev Dhar, who is suffering from blood cancer, the said police. The truck driver who was driving ahead of the two cars - Innova and Indigo - suddenly applied the brakes causing the Innova to ram into the truck and the Indigo to ram into the Innova, said additional DCP-I (South) Nupur Prasad. The impact of the accident was felt the most by Shakambaris car since it was completely damaged. She succumbed during treatment but her driver continues to be in a critical condition and under observation at the hospital. The occupants of the Innova car - a driver and a lady are also being treated for injuries. The truck driver immediately fled the site and police are looking for him. After the accident Zutshi was rushed to Spinal Injuries Centre in Mahipalpur. She passed away during her treatment, and family members were informed about the accident. Zutshis post mortem was conducted after which her body was handed over to the family members. Police reached the accident site and apprehended the driver. The vehicles which met with the accident were also impounded. In a statement to the media, Air India said: Our cabin crew Shakambari Zutshi is no more with us. Her company transport cab met with an accident on Friday morning in Delhi on the way to airport. She was reporting for flight AI-401 CCU QTA. Saddest part is that her husband has blood cancer, she was always taking short flights from Delhi to spend maximum time with her husband. She also leaves behind a child A case under Section 304(A) of IPC (causing death by negligence) has been registered at the Vasant Kunj (South) police station. Delhi Traffic Police suspect that the vehicles were overspeeding at the time of the accident due to deserted roads in the early morning. Both the vehicles were badly damaged and it appears that the drivers were overspeeding as the roads were empty in the wee hours. , said a senior Delhi Traffic Police official. Police recovered 1,619 stolen mobile phones and tablets from two men involved in stealing a truck containing the electronic gadgets in South Delhis Mahipalpur. The recovered phones and tabs are worth around Rs 55 lakh, the said police. The accused are identified as Ravi Kumar, 26, and Rajat Sehrawat, 20, both residents of Mahipalpur. Police are also in the look out for four men who were also involved in the theft. The incident happened on August 3 when a cargo driver Subodh Choudhary, employed by Shiva Transport Services, left from Amritsar for Mahipalpur in Delhi to deliver a container which had mobile phones and tabs of Datawind company. The container, which was supposed to reach the next day in August 4, however, didnt reach the destination, the said police. Ravi Sehrawat, owner of Shiva Transport Services, then called up the driver to know about his location but found his phone switched off. Sehrawat then reported the matter to police and an investigation was ordered. On August 7, the truck was found parked abandoned at 100 Foota Road, Chhattarpuri in South Delhi. On checking the container, 151 boxes containing 2924 tabs and mobile phones were missing and the driver was untraceable. During the course of investigation police found out that after the theft stolen articles were shifted in Maruti Eeco vans by the culprits. On August 25, information was received regarding one Ravi who was the driver of a Maruti Eeco van which was used in the theft. A raiding team was formed and a trap was laid in Tara Chand Colony, Mahipalpur, and Ravi and one of his associates Rajat were apprehended. Recovery Two stolen tabs and the Maruti Eeco van used in the crime were recovered from the duo, the police said. During their interrogation, the accused disclosed that Amit, Virender and Sharavan are the masterminds of the theft. They further told the police that they booked three Eeco vans in the night of August 4 to execute the theft. As per their plan, they stole boxes of mobile phones and tabs from the truck with the help of the truck driver and then loaded them in their vans. Stolen mobile phones and Tabs were kept in a room in Mehrauli by Amit, Virender and Sharavan for further disposal. the police officer siad. At the instance of Ravi and Rajat total 1615 mobile phones and tabs packed in boxes were recovered from a house in Mehrauli, said a police added. According to police Amit is the leader of the gang. He is a diploma holder in Civil Engineering, and used to brainwash the drivers of different cargo companies and would give them offer to earn quick money if they will leave the vehicle loaded with electronic items at isolated place. Amit then along with his associates would reach the spot and shift the articles in his vehicle after paying handsome amount to the truck driver. A delegation of Delhi BJP leaders met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday and asked him to direct the Arvind Kejriwal government to table the CAG report in the Assembly. The delegation submitted two separate memorandums to the Lieutenant Governor and sought his intervention in both matters. BJP President Satish Upadhyay said that the first memorandum pertains to the Comptroller and Auditor Generals report which reflects misuse of public money on advertisements by the AAP government violating not only the government regulations but also the Supreme Courts guidelines. The CAG report is politically damaging for the Kejriwal government so it is trying to suppress it. Citing excessive expenditure on advertising outside Delhi and wrong claims of saving on advertisements, the Delhi BJP asked the Lieutenant Governor to direct the Kejriwal government to table the CAG report in the Delhi Assembly. The second memorandum relates to the issue of delimitation of municipal wards. It claimed that the State Election Commission brought out a draft for delimitation with vast anomalies. It added that the draft published by the state poll panel violates its own guidelines on creation of wards on the basis of density of population. The draft ignores geographical boundaries like railway lines, drains and roads to keep entire colonies or slum clusters in the same ward, BJP claimed. The draft published by the State Election Commission is so inappropriate that it should be rejected, the memorandum said. The Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that he would seek a report on both issues at the earliest. Upadhyay said the proposed draft brought out by the State Election Commission, apart from being technically wrong, is not in the interest of the people of Delhi. Meanwhile, MQM leaders Farooq Sattar and Izharul Hasan today broke all ties with their party leader Hussain and emotionally denounced the arrest and detention of women workers and bulldozing of party offices. "We have made it clear we have broken all ties with the MQM London (run by Hussain) and now only the MQM Pakistan represents the supporters and workers of the party," Sattar, a Member of National Assembly and MQM deputy convener, said at a press conference. However, despite the announcement, the authorities were still 'illegally and unconstitutionally' demolishing party offices in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the veteran politician said besides lamenting the victimisation of MQM in the media. "We can only term such actions as victimisation of the MQM now and it seems this is not just about the diatribes of Altaf Hussain. "When we say that we have disconnected with London it means that we are no more in contact with them, stop doing speculations," he said. MQM must be allowed to play its political role and political ownership which is its due legal and political right, he said. "How can you seal the offices and headquarters of a political party just because of a speech made by an individual who had now been disassociated from the party," he said. Sattar and an emotional Hasan also lashed out at the Sindh police officials for arresting and detaining women workers of the party after the August 22 crackdown when Hussain made his anti-Pakistan comments at a hunger strike camp. "How can you arrest women, most of whom are innocent, like this. We are very hurt and upset with this trend and it must be stop immediately," Sattar said. Further cracking down on Pakistan's MQM, authorities have demolished around 19 of the party's offices and sealed another 219 of its sector and unit offices besides the headquarters for being 'illegally' constructed on government land.The offices of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in different areas of Karachi were razed by the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies as they were illegally constructed on plots earmarked for schools, playgrounds and libraries, senior police officials said. "The MQM had constructed these buildings after forcibly grabbing government land," SSP Rao Anwar said.The crackdown on the MQM - the single largest party in Karachi - started earlier this week soon after party leader Altaf Hussain made anti-Pakistan comments during speeches at a hunger strike camp in Karachi and at a function in the US. Pakistan has charged the self-exiled leader in London with treason for his inflammatory speech that incited party workers to attack media outlets here.The paramilitary rangers and police have arrested at least 30 senior leaders of the party and started the drive to demolish MQM offices and seal sector and unit offices. Posters of Hussain have also been taken down in different areas of Karachi including the Mukka chowk, which has served as a symbol of power for the MQM since the 80s.The authorities have renamed the roundabout close to the MQM headquarters at Aisha Manzil as Liaquat Ali Khan chowk. For years now, Hussain's posters have dominated the landscapes of Karachi and other urban areas but since Wednesday, his posters have been taken down even from the Aisha Manzil area where the MQM had its headquarters '90' since its emergence as a major political player in Pakistan.The rangers have also sealed the headquarters of the party. Although the senior MQM leaders have tried to distance themselves from the leadership in London including Hussain after his hate speeches, the Paramilitary Rangers and police have continued its crackdown on the party, which claims to represent the Urdu-speaking population in Pakistan.Mustafa Kamal, who heads the Pak Sarzameen Party which was formed by dissidents from the MQM earlier this year, told a press conference today that demolishing MQM offices would serve no purpose. "These buildings have not made any speeches against Pakistan and I fear that if this demolishing drive continues it will only reignite sympathies for Hussain," he warned.MQM's Izhar ul Hasan, Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, told reporters the party will not resort to protests or violence and rather use legal and constitutional means to stop the demolition of party offices and reopening of the headquarters. 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. With the Centre grappling to bring peace in restive Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, the slain militant's father Muzaffar Wani met Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at his ashram in Bengaluru. The spiritual guru said this on social networking site Twitter tonight, saying Muzaffar Wani was in his ashram for two days and that they discussed "several issues". "Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues," Ravi Shankar tweeted, without elaborating. The tweet was accompanied by a picture of the two together. Ravi Shankar referred to the meeting with Muzaffar Wani on a day Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presented a "three-pronged action plan" that includes a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the troubled Valley. After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8 in the wake of protests over the death of Burhan Wani, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was "very concerned" about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that peace returns. Mehbooba outlined a "three-pronged action plan" before the Prime Minister for resolution of the Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. Sources said the plan also includes facilitating the visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley, a possible change in Governor and appointing interlocutors to hold talks with all stakeholders in the state. When tinged with humour, the gravest of subjects like war acquires an interesting and profound colour, writes Monideepa Sahu about The Sympathizer This engrossing tragi-comic novel set in the final days of the Vietnam War richly deserves the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2016. The story and its style and rendering are striking, to say the least. The novel startles with the vastness of its scope; the clash of civilisations, cultures and ideologies; war where no party is right, and its futile aftermath; art as insight or propaganda; the many faces of racism in America and in Vietnam; the flaws in the dazzling American Dream, and in the egalitarian Communist dream. The narrative negotiates complex ideas with a flawless touch, showing how everything has multiple contradictory facets. Momentous concepts do not weigh down the narrative, but are turned inside out to expose their inherent absurdities. Even torture need not necessarily be gloomy, but can ironically be laughable. Even American military muscle flexing can be incongruously self-contradictory. After all, nothing was more American than wielding a gun and committing oneself to die for freedom and independence, unless it was wielding that gun to take away someone elses freedom and independence. All this is deftly woven into an exciting, action-packed plot, with espionage, bombings, executions, military evacuations, movie shootings and musical extravaganzas, and romantic interludes. The novel opens with the nameless narrator writing his confession in a prison interrogation cell. He is addressed as Captain by his commanding officer, while others never think of referring to him by any name at all. After all, he is a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces. Perhaps not surprisingly, (he is) also a man of two minds. This spy hides where everyone can see him and where he can see everything. We cannot help but admire his intelligence and talent for seeing every issue from both sides, unveiling the comic and ironic aspects of the dangerous situations he negotiates. He is a rare man capable of laughing at himself. As he writes and rewrites lengthy confessions as a prisoner of the same communists for whom he had been spying, the narrator reveals many conflicting identities. He is a socially ostracised racial-hybrid illegitimate son of a French priest and a Vietnamese girl; too tall and fair to blend in with the native Vietnamese, and too oriental in appearance and upbringing to be accepted as a Westerner. As a Captain in the vanquished army of South Vietnam, he is a mole passing information to the Communist enemy northerners. He is a communist sympathiser who studied in a US university to understand Americans through their perception of the Vietnamese. This education and exposure to a decadent culture makes the narrator see too clearly how a war that meant everything to all the people in our small part of the world could mean nothing to most people in the rest of the world. It also makes him a reactionary sullied by American ideas to the hard-core communists into whose fold he wishes to return. His political choices and his secret police service eventually force the narrator to cultivate his violent side. But his saving grace is his sense of humour and irony. He is not just any mole or spy, as his friend Man tells him. He is the mole that is the beauty spot on the nose of power itself. He is more lover than fighter. With quirky insights, he can turn traditional morality upside down, sometimes with hilarious effects. Torture is obscene. Three million dead is obscene. Masturbation, even with an admittedly non-consensual squid? Not so much. We feel for the narrators inner struggles when he is commanded to plot the killing of the probably innocent Crapulent Major. He even shares with the Crapulent Majors widow his compensation money for a grievous accident or murder attempt (depending on your perspective) he suffered on the sets of a Hollywood movie. Memories of his execution victim Sonny the journalist, the Crapulent Major, and the tortured Communist woman agent, whom he failed to protect, haunt him throughout the narrative. This reluctant killer is capable of deep lifelong loyalties and love, towards his mother, and his childhood friends Man and Bon. We grow to love him for his intelligence and insightfulness, his sense of self-criticism and his ability to see the absurdity of it all. We feel his pain as he undergoes torture to become what he cannot; transformation from an American into not just an anti-American, but one hundred percent Vietnamese. We share his inner struggle as he powerlessly watched and did nothing, while a beautiful young female communist agent was tortured and gang raped. She defiantly says to her tormentors that her surname is Viet and given name, Nam. Her torture symbolises the ravaging of Vietnam itself, not just by foreigners but also by her own people. If only we forgot our resentment, if we forgot revenge, if we acknowledged that we are all puppets in someone elses play... The narrators ironic insightfulness turns upon revolution itself as revolutionaries metamorphose into reactionary imperialists. How our revolution had gone from being the vanguard of political change to the rearguard hoarding power... Hadnt the French and Americans done exactly the same? He urges us to question along with him, Why do those who call for independence and freedom take away the independence and freedom of others? Packed with exciting action and undercurrents of deep ideas, this is a brilliantly executed and deliciously memorable read. The Sympathizer Viet Thanh Nguyen Hachette 2016, pp 371, Rs. 499 The Campus Front of India (CFI) activists on Saturday staged a protest in front of the Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valacchil, on the outskirts of the city, demanding to allow students to enter classes wearing headscarf. The protesters accused the principal and teachers of harassing the students for wearing headscarf inside the classrooms. The students are forced to remove the headscarf while entering the classrooms. The students are threatened of suspension if they fail to abide by the rules of the college, they charged. They held placards which read the college authorities are suppressing the religious freedom of the students. They raised slogans against the college seeking justice. A first year B Pharm student said, Senior students were allowed to wear headscraf, but first year students were not. The authorities quote the declaration form signed by the students on dress code which bars students from wearing headscraf, jeans and T-shirt. Another first year student said that they have not been sent out of classrooms so far. But teachers have warned us when we wore headscarf inside classrooms. In a memorandum, the protesters appealed to the college authorities to change the timings of the classes to benefit the Muslim students to attend the prayers on Friday afternoon. Principal Dr A R Shabaraya said the students were given a declaration form with conditions, including bar on wearing headscraf inside classrooms, examination hall, library and office during admission. The students and parents have gone through the form before submitting it, he added. He said 800 students are pursuing their pharmacy courses in the college. As the declaration forms were not collected from second and fourth semester students, they were allowed to wear headscarfs, he said and added that the declaration forms were collected from the first year students. There is no restriction on wearing headscarf and moving around in the college campus. The dress code is being imposed for the last one month in the college. Some students wore headscarf while entering the classrooms two days ago. But they were not sent out of classes. No students have given any representation to the college authorities seeking permission to wear headscarf, he added. President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said universities and institutions of higher learning must be bastions of free speech, and debates should be encouraged. At the first convocation of the Nalanda University, he said the varsity reflects an idea, a culture which flourished for 1,200 years before it was destroyed in the 13th century. He said that over the years, India has conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate and discussions through the institutions of higher learning. Dr Amartya Sen in his book The Argumentative Indian has rightly pointed out that debates and discussions are the ethos, a part of the Indian life which cannot be done away with. Universities and institutes of higher learning are the best forum for debates, discussions, free exchange of views...such atmosphere should be encouraged, Mukherjee said. He said the modern Nalanda should ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts. Universities must be bastions of free speech and expression. It (Nalanda) must be the arena where diverse and conflicting thoughts contend. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the spaces of this institution. Further, it must act as the flag bearer for co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies, he said. Mukherjee awarded postgraduate degrees to 12 students of the first batch of the Nalanda University. The president, during his two-hour visit to the historical place, also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a permanent campus on the sprawling 455-acre campus. The estimated cost of the campus is around Rs 500 crore. The campus will comprise a lake at the epicentre, academic and administrative blocks, specialised laboratories, museum, playgrounds and a library. Manipurs human rights crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu on Saturday left the special ward of an Imphal hospital where she stayed for the duration of her fast in the last 16 years. Sharmila remained under arrest in the ward and had been force fed. She had to remain at the hospital after her release on bail, when she announced she was ending her fast. On Saturday morning, Sharmila packed off and left the special security ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) for a nature cure retreat at Langol area in Suburban Imphal. Sharmila was accompanied by some of the volunteers from different human rights groups who had been taking care of her ever since she was released on bail. After leaving the hospital, Sharmila visited the Kangla fort complex in Imphal and prayed at several temples in the complex. I am able to leave the hospital after 16 years. This marks the beginning of the new phase of my movement against AFSPA which will be largely political, Sharmila told reporters at Imphal. For a few days I will stay at the naturopathy centre. I will meditate there. Once my important documents are procured, I will travel to other places campaigning against AFSPA. I will travel to Ukhrul district soon. I also want to open an office for myself in Imphal she added. Meanwhile, the Manipur Police sources said adequate security would be provided to Sharmila in all the places she visits. Sharmila has to appear at an Imphal court on September 5. Sharmila also met members of meira paibis ( Manipuri women groups) of Keisamthong Laishom Leikai locality where she was met with protests when she visited the place on August 9. On Saturday, the meira paibis member welcomed her and expressed their regret over their behaviour towards her when she was released on bail on August 9. Sharmila would join a mass campaign against AFSPA organized by the North East Forum of International Solidarity (NEFIS) followed by a global peace meet in Punjab attended by youngsters from over 30 countries. The government needs to heed to the High Court ruling and come out with the clear rules on charging of merchant discount rate, writes Anuj Kaila In a decision that could affect millions of credit and debit card holders in the country, the Delhi High Court recently passed an order asking the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India to regulate the levy of surcharge on payments made using debt and credit cards. What is this surcharge? When a merchant signs up with a bank to receive credit card payments, he agrees to pay a fee to the banks for the same. This is referred to as merchant discount rate (MDR). Globally, this fee is generally 2.5%. The fee is shared by the banks and the credit card organisations like Visa or Mastercard. A 2.5% commission is something a large retailer can live with, based on the principle, whether correct or not, that by accepting credit cards, one will do more business than if one accepted only cash. For some retailers though, the 2.5% commission can be substantial. For example, if your margins are only 5%, then by paying 2.5% MDR, one is losing half of ones margin. So some retailers insist on charging an extra 2.5%, in order to recover the MDR. This is generally a breach of contract as credit card organisations bar merchants, other than petrol pump outlets, from passing on the MDR. The merchants pass on MDR to the customers on the pretext of additional fees or a surcharge. The consent of the customer is obtained prior to the merchant levying the additional fees. The customers are usually not given an option in relation to bearing the surcharge. Customer has to either bear the additional fees or pay by cash. In fact, many government agencies also pass on MDR to the public. The biggest example of this is the Indian railways website (IRCTC). This website levies a surcharge on all electronic payments that varies depending on the type of electronic payment. In the case of petrol pump outlets, the approach is slightly different. Margins are fairly low and the MDR has a significant effect on profitability. At the time of payment, the customer pays only the cost of the fuel and no additional fees are added to the transaction. However, on receiving the statement of the card, it can be seen that the amount charged for the transaction at the petrol pump is more than the amount swiped for. The additional amount is the surcharge or MDR which is added to the total transaction value and is charged to the customer. This is unfortunate as the customer does not know that he will be paying the extra charge. If you read the fine print of the agreement given by your bank, it will actually be mentioned there and you might see sign boards at the petrol pump outlets as well. At one time, an oil company had an agreement with one large private bank that its fuel stations would use terminals only of that bank. This meant that card holders of all banks ended up bearing MDR, card holders of that bank. The competition tribunal struck down this agreement as anti competitive. Charges over MDR A bigger problem is merchants charging even more than the MDR, thereby gaining extra money than the price or the bill presented to the client. It can be reasonably argued that this is defrauding the customer and is illegal and should be prohibited. It is not to say that the RBI has not been conscious of these issues. For debit card transactions, it has capped the MDR at 0.75% for transactions up to Rs 2,000 and at 1% for transactions above Rs 2,000. However, there is no similar cap on MDR for credit card transactions. Paper on card acceptence In order to move towards less-cash society by developing a card acceptance infrastructure, RBI in March 2016, came out with a concept paper on card acceptance infrastructure to deal with hurdles in relation to cashless payment. Some of the key discussion points were to either cap MDR or have differentiated MDR for different sectors of merchants, for example utility bill payments (electricity, water, gas, telephone), municipal taxes, primary hospitals and health centres, would have no or negligible MDR. This may have an adverse effect as credit and debit card institutions would have less incentive to sell POS terminals to those sectors. However, the sheer potential of massive volumes which card payments can generate should provide sufficient incentive to the credit and debit institutions. Other points up for discussion include capping MDR for credit cards, fixed fee of MDR instead of ad-valorem charges and MDR for the customer to government sector. The Government of India is also taking steps to bear MDR like other merchants. The Ministry of Finance has issued a direction to all government organizations in this regard. This is a positive direction from the Government to encourage the use of electronic payments or card payments and do away with the logistic hassle of dealing with cash. This is also a small step towards curbing corruption and black money. A neccessary evil MDR is a necessary evil which we must continue to live with. Regulating MDR and keeping all stakeholders happy is a huge challenge for the RBI. To achieve the goal of financial inclusion, the role of credit and debit card institutions is extremely important. The credit and debit card institutions are not non-profit organisations and will always consider their earnings prior to the larger picture of the government. However, credit and debit card institutions have shown willingness and eagerness in government initiatives which is evident from the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). To sustain the issuance of 188.6 million (and counting) Rupay cards during PMJDY, RBI and the credit and debit card institutions will need to work together to ensure MDR is charged reasonably. It is important, therefore, that the government heeds the call of the High Court and comes out with clear rules on charging of MDR. These rules need to consider several factors such as the need to promote cashless payments, the profit interests of credit card organisations, banks and merchants and ensuring transparency and convenience for customers. (The author is a banking lawyer with Kochhar & Co) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday got 13 chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to back the Centres pro-poor schemes. This comes even as the party decided to come up with an agenda paper on welfare measures for the underprivileged. In a close-door session that lasted through the day, Modi got the chief ministers to commit to common schemes with identical goals and execution timelines to reach out to the have-nots in a mission mode to define politics during the Assembly polls to important states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat early next year and in 2019. Modi also urged the states to ensure better execution of the Centres welfare schemes, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, after the conclave of BJP chief ministers concluded on Saturday evening. A committee was constituted during the interaction to mull over various suggestions relating to the upliftment of underprivileged sections of the society and prepare a Garib Kalyan Agenda, Chauhan said. The agenda would be adopted by the BJP, which would help counter the Oppositions perception that the Modi government was pro-corporate, party leaders said. Chauhan said the committee has been given two to three weeks to submit its report. At the first-ever conclave of the partys chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and presidents of its state units since the NDA government came to power two-and-half years ago, six issues relating to farmers, women empowerment, sharing of best practices and good governance were discussed. Islamabads envoy to New Delhi, Abdul Basit, on Saturday said that Pakistan would continue to hope for a dialogue with India on the issue of Kashmir. We took a step towards having a dialogue but that did not work out. We did send an invitation to India, but that did not move forward, Basit told journalists in New Delhi. We do feel a dialogue on Kashmir is needed, added Basit. Indias troubled ties with Pakistan hit a new low after the neighbouring country raised its pitch on Kashmir, in the wake of the recent unrest in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces in an encounter. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar conveyed to his counterpart in the Pakistan government A A Chaudhry on August 24 that the Government of India would like to have a result- oriented dialogue with the neighbouring country . Tyre major JK Tyre and Industries, a part of the Rs 28,000-crore JK Organisation, has aggressive marketing plans in place. In an interaction with DH, JK Tyre and Industries Chairman and Managing Director Raghupati Singhania said, the continuing global geo-political and unstable economic conditions, leading to weakening of currencies in potential markets, will continue creating new challenges for the export business. To meet these challenges in global market, JK Tyre has aggressive market plans in place. We plan to build business in new geographic regions, which include the US, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, Singhania said. JK Tyre is a leading premium bias tyre brand in global markets and this is being leveraged in building the radial tyre business. Some of the activities include new product lines in radials, creating new marketing hubs in the Americas, Africa and SE Asia. This should help raise total exports from all plants by about 25-30% over the previous year, he added. JK Tyre has a global presence in about 100 countries across six continents, backed by production support from 12 plants nine in India and three in Mexico. In FY2015-16, the overall export of tyres from JK Tyre declined due to the falling economy, and currency depreciation in Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, Nigeria, and few other African markets. In the Middle East too, the exports have fallen owing to rising political instability and conflicts, Singhania added. The past year witnessed huge supply of low-priced radial tyres from China flooding into global markets, impacting JK Tyres exports from India and Mexico. The industry de-growth was 2% with 12% in truck, and 12% in the PCR (passenger car radial tyre) segment, Singhania said. The total international business of the company, in all brands, was about Rs 1,000 crore in FY2015-16. Chinese imports have been growing over the years, and at present Chinese tyre companies are holding 41% of the truck-bus radial replacement market. They have grown 45% year-on-year, compared with last year, Singhania added. When asked on the initiatives that the government should take, Singhania opined, In 45 days the US imposed anti-dumping duties, but here in India, we are sitting on that for last 16 months, and things are still under process. So I think, as a country, we have to learn to act faster, and it is not right to think it is protection, it is saving your turf, it is about providing you a level-playing field. Curfew, shutdown and clashes continued for the 50th consecutive day in Kashmir where a policeman was shot dead by militants in Pulwama district while body of a youth who drowned in Anantnag on Friday was retrieved on Saturday. Reports said unidentified militants killed a policeman in Quil area of south Kashmir when he was leaving home for duty in the wee hours. The slain policeman was leaving for District Police Lines, Pulwama when militants fired at him from point blank range. In south Kashmirs Anantnag district, people retrieved the body of a youth, who they said, drowned in Jhelum river after being chased by security forces. Witnesses said that three youths had jumped into the Jhelum to escape from the forces during protests but two of them managed to swim to safety. Despite intermittent rain, the clashes between protesters and security forces continued throughout the Valley on Saturday in which dozens of people were injured. Reports said at least 12 people were injured after forces burst teargas shells and fired pellets to foil a rally in twin villages of Bugam and Bolsoo in Kulgam district of south Kashmir. Hospital sources said two of the seriously injured who had been hit by pellet in the eye and head were referred to Srinagar. There have been reports of massive crackdown against stone pelters and nocturnal raids and arrests all over South Kashmir. In Pattan area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district, scores of people were injured during day-long protests. SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain said a large number of youths had blocked the national highway and were checking the identity cards of commuters. He said the forces burst a few teargas shells after the youths pelted stones at them. A police spokesman said barring five incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Shopian and Bandipora, the overall situation remained peaceful and under control till evening. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the situation in the Valley, following which she made an appeal to protesters to end the violence. I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you. But please give me one chance, she said, blaming Pakistan for fuelling the unrest in Kashmir. During her 45-minute meeting with Modi, she sought an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Mehbooba, also PDP president, called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process, which was initiated by the then NDA government headed by Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005. She said the intra- and inter-state confidence-building measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and region. The Valley has been under curfew for the last 49 days, following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani. As many as 71 people were killed and more than 11,000, including 7,000 civilians and 4,000 security personnel, were injured in an unrest the Valley has seen in six years. This was the first meeting between Modi and Mehbooba after the unrest broke out on July 8. It took place amid indications that the Centre is trying to form a new team to start a dialogue in Kashmir through informal channels and help resolve the crisis. Mehbooba maintained that Modi has the support of all the parties, including Congress and other Opposition parties, on the Kashmir issue. Her meeting with Modi came two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singhs visit to Srinagar, which was the second in a month, and was seen as the Centres outreach to the aggrieved people and an attempt to ease the tension. She said the Agenda of Alliance between the PDP and BJP had not been followed, but she now had Modis assurance that it will be pushed. The problems we are facing today are because the steps that prime minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee took - which included a dialogue with Hurriyat - were stopped, she said. Mehbooba appealed to the separatists for peace, saying they will have to help us save the lives of the youth. She said the Kashmiri youth were attacking securitymen and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders. I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldnt provoke them to attack police stations, and save youth from being killed, the chief minister said. She said Pakistan lost a golden chance to resolve the Kashmir problem when Modi went to Lahore in December last year and when Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad for a Saarc conference early this month. It is time for Pakistan to respond (to India) if it wants peace in Kashmir, she added. To accommodate growth, Jivox, which enables brands to deliver highly personalised digital advertising, has plans to shift to a new office on Sarjapur Road in November. It also plans to increase headcount from the present 100 to 160 soon. Founded in 2007 by Diaz Nesamoney, California-headquartered Jivox started its India operations in 2008 in Bengaluru. Data plays a pivotal role in digital advertising. We have good talent here and about 100 people are working in the Bengaluru office, and close to 90% of our work are for the US clients. We are recruiting more people and our plan is to take the manpower to 160 staff, Jivox India MD Naren Nachiappan said. With a growing business, the company also plans to move to the new office soon. Jivox delivers customised advertisements for users. The Jivox IQ platform creates personalised digital ads in real time, by generating thousands of creative, and messaging variations at scale. Its customers include Bayer, Bose, Johnson & Johnson and Sony, among others. Recently, the company raised $6 million funding, which was led by You & Mr Jones and its founder David Jones. With growing internet users, new technologies find what the user is doing on the web and serve customers with advertisements according to their searches. In order to grab the North American market and become a dominant player, the company had done a lot of marketing and sales efforts there. Nachiappan feels now it is the right time for digital advertising in India and the country has got a huge potential. When asked about its acquisition plans, he said that Jivox is looking at few companies to acquire. Companies that are focused on technology are apt for us, he said, stressing on the importance of two technologies big data/cloud technology and machine learning in the digital advertising space. Karnataka will explain before the Supreme Court its inability to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as deficient rainfall has resulted in low reservoir levels in the river basin. We are facing great distress. The present water availability in the four reservoirs of the Cauvery basin is barely sufficient to meet our drinking water needs, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters after chairing a meeting of representatives of various political parties convened to discuss Tamil Nadus plea in the Supreme Court seeking release of Cauvery water. There was unanimity in the meeting, the chief minister said. BJPs K S Eshwarappa, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, Union ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda, MPs and district in-charge ministers of the regions coming under the Cauvery basin attended the meeting. Tamil Nadu had recently filed a petition before the apex court seeking a direction to Karnataka to release 50 tmcft of water. Supreme Court lawyer and member of the state legal team, Mohan Katarki, explained at the meeting the contents of the petition filed by Tamil Nadu. In the petition, Tamil Nadu has charged Karnataka with diverting water meant for farmers during distress years for undeclared projects. Officials of the water resources department made a presentation on the situation in the Cauvery basin. Siddaramaiah said the total capacity of the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin stood at 114 tmcft, but the availability was only 51 tmcft. The state required 40 tmcft to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru and Mysuru, he said. Deficient rainfall had resulted in poor inflow into the reservoirs. The average inflow at this time of the year was 195.25 tmcft, but this year the inflow stood at 108 tmcft. There has been 55% shortage in the inflow, the chief minister said. Siddaramaiah pointed out that Tamil Nadu had based its plea taking into consideration the over rainfall in South India and the petition does not mention the distress in the Cauvery basin. Tamil Nadu has sought the release of water like in a normal year. However, during a distress year, the norm is that both states should share the distress pro rata, Siddaramaiah said. He said the state government had so far released 29 tmcft to the neighbouring state. Besides, 34 tmcft was available for Tamil Nadu in Mettur dam. He claimed that there had been no advice from senior counsel Fali S Nariman, who heads the legal team on the Cauvery issue, to release water from the Cauvery basin to Tamil Nadu. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy is learnt to have taken a few officials to task for not coming prepared with facts and figures to the meeting. Health seekers, who search the internet for information on health-related topics, end up visiting many sites, mostly international health portals, as there are not many India-centric portals. Sensing the need and realising a lot of demand and necessity for a portal, three entrepreneurs Bikram Barman, Pankaj Pandey and Dr Geethanjali, founded Modasta a year ago. Modasta went live in April this year, and since then, has been witnessing huge traffic, both on its portal and app. In just four months, we have 1.5 million users, and we hope to cross two million this month and five million visitors a month by the end of this year, said COO of Modasta Pankaj Pandey. While its core business is to provide health-related information curated by doctors for Indian health seekers, it is also looking at telemedicine and booking appointments. We are in talks with many doctors. At present, 500 doctors are on board, and we will be launching this (appointment bookings and video chat) within a months time, said Barman, who is the CEO of Modasta, adding that the startups app has more features and one can read the articles offline after downloading them. Talking about health-related information, Pandey said that people generally visit WebMD or Mayo Clinic, and articles there are more for the West and not for Indians. Our mission is to use a digital platform to provide value to consumers. People in tier II or tier III cities can look at our app, read articles and get an appointment with doctors, and even video-chat with him/her, said Barman. South Indian languages Apart from English and Hindi, Modasta is available in all South Indian languages too. For example, if you take 100 people, and only 10 to 15 can read English, what about the rest? We want to cater to everyone, said Pandey, adding that they want to establish leadership in this space. Modasta raised $1.5 million from a consortium of Mauritius-based HNI investors. We are looking to raise funds as it helps us grow faster, and we can also engage with more users, said Pandey. The city traffic police have proposed an alternative route to the Kempegowda International Airport via Betta Kote on state highway 104, near Budigere Cross. The link road, which will lead to the rear compound of KIA, will not only reduce the travelling time and distance to the airport for people residing in east and southeast Bengaluru, but also ease traffic on the congested Ballari Road. The police have already written to the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) in this regard. There is a small stretch between the compound wall of KIA and Betta Kote village, SH-104, which is hardly a kilometre. For now, there is no road or pathway and there are a few sites. A few days ago, we wrote to the IDD explaining how this link road will help people reach KIA in a shorter time, said a senior police officer. The area was inspected and a survey was carried out by the police before proposing the idea to the IDD. We visited the spot and measured the area and found it feasible for developing a link road. Our idea is to cut down on travelling time and ease traffic on Ballari Road, he said. People residing in east and southeast Bengaluru can take the Old Madras Road and reach Budigere Cross, proceed to Kondenahalli, take a deviation towards the right and proceed towards Bhatramarenahalli, SH-104, and further. They will have to take a left turn at Betta Kote, proceed further and reach the rear compound wall of KIA. From K R Puram to Budigere Cross, it is about 9.4 km and from there to KIA, it is about 20 km, said a police officer who visited the area. People from south and southeast parts of the city will have to travel approximately 40 km to 50 km to reach the airport via Hebbal junction. This also adds to traffic congestion on Ballari Road. This particular link road will ease congestion on Ballari Road and make commuting to the airport easy. The proposal has been discussed with the IDD officials and they have agreed orally. There are other procedures to be followed and an official confirmation is required, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra told DH. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said providing sufficient water to all agriculture lands in the country was the aim of the Union government. The government was committed to conservation and management of water, Singh said after inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of JSS Mahavidyapeetha at Suttur in Nanjangud taluk. For this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. It aims to extend irrigation facilities and improve water use efficiency. Every inch of agriculture land in the country will be provided with sufficient water in the next three years, he said. The government is committed to the development of the farming community. It has decided to double the income of farmers by 2020. The country can attain developed status only if farmers are developed. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which offers financial assistance to farmers in case of crop loss, is a classic example of the governments concern for farmers, he said. The Home minister lauded former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and said that the latter had launched various pro-farmer programmes during his tenure. He offered loan to farmers at 1% interest. Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar has taken steps to ensure sufficient supply of fertilisers and bring down their prices, Singh said. The minister said, various dynasties and rulers vanished, but the Suttur Mutt has thrived and has been serving the people for the last 1,000 years. It shows the commitment of the Mutt, he said. When India got independence in 1947, there were fewer educational institutions. But JSS Mutt had already established many institutions and offered free and quality education to children, irrespective of caste and community. Besides education, the institution is providing health services to the rural population, he said. To resolve the Kashmir crisis, the Centre should take up confidence-building measures as well as start political dialogue, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said. He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a national conference on Implementation of Article 371(J) and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development: Present Challenges here on Saturday. The conference was organised by the Implementation of Article 371(J) and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Agitation Committee. Yechury said the government should convince the Kashmiris that it was receptive to their problems and ready to talk to them. The government should immediately stop the use of pellet guns. Even Israel doesnt use it against Palestinians. But we are using it against our own people. He also called for revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the civilian areas of Kashmir and limiting it to the border. For effective political dialogue, he said, some preparation was required. In this regard, recommendations of study groups and report of the interlocutors committee formed by the UPA government in 2010 could be useful. Similarly, he asked the Centre to prepare a list of points on which they can speak to Kashmiris. Even former prime minister A B Vajapayee spoke to the Hizbul Mujahideen. On actor Ramyas remark on Pakistan, Yechury said, We must make a distinction between Pakistani administration and its people. The Haj Bhavan, said to be the first-of-its kind in the state with all its grandeur and world-class amenities, was inaugurated at Tirumenahalli, Hegde Nagar Main Road on Saturday. Minister for Urban Development and Haj Roshan Baig, who inaugurated the Bhavan, said, The foundation stone for the Bhavan was laid during the tenure of Sadananda Gowda as chief minister. The total cost of the project is Rs 87 crore. The structure, spread over three acres, is almost complete with finishing touches pending. The Bhavan has a state-of-the art auditorium, library, cafeteria among other amenities. On the occasion, four Haj pilgrims were given passport to travel to Mecca through the Karnataka State Haj Committee. More than 5,000 Haj pilgrims will be travelling this time to Mecca via a total of 11 Haj flights from Bengaluru. From August 27 to September 1, two flights will ferry pilgrims every day and on September 2, one flight will operate, Baig said. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao and others were present. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who arrived late by almost two hours apologised to those present. He wished Haj pilgrims a safe journey. President Pranab Mukherjee has called for strengthening primary and secondary education to build a strong system of higher learning in the country. India will be the only country in the world to have maximum youngsters by 2030. There will be more demand for Indian youngsters all over the world for various works. Indian youngsters need to be skilled, talented and competent to handle the works. Higher education will be able to convert youngsters into a skilled force only if qualitative education is imparted at elementary, primary and secondary levels, Mukherjee said at a ceremony to commemorate Akshaya Patra Foundations achievement of serving of two billion meals in government schools in 10 states of the country. The event was organised by Iskcon Bengaluru at Iskcon temple on Saturday. There are a lot of inadequacies in India due to its social structure. Childrens hunger remains a major challenge at elementary, primary and secondary levels. Hence, every effort should be made to eradicate hunger at these levels and attract children to schools. Education should be imparted to every child to get benefit of demographic dividend, he said. The Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON, Bengaluru, has played a vital role in eradicating hunger of many school-going children. Such commendable jobs should be supported so that the Constitutional spirit of universal educations is realised, the President added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed Akshaya Patra a great social undertaking. The Karnataka government was inspired by Akshaya Patra to launch Akshara Dasoha, a mid-day meal scheme. The literacy rate in Karnataka was 66.64 % in 2001. It went up to 75.60 % in 2011. Many children were enrolled for primary education in economically backward districts. Akshaya Patra and Akshara Dasoha schemes not only ensured better literacy rate, but also reduced gender disparity in schools, he said. Governor Vajubhai Vala called upon well-off people to adopt government schools. Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda, former minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty and Akshaya Patra Foundation Chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa were also present. Families which lost their houses for encroaching the rajakaluve network in the city can heave a sigh of relief. The government is considering a proposal to rehabilitate affected property owners. We have been directed to make a list of people who lost their properties, partially or fully. The government will make a provision to compensate them appropriately, Mayor Manjunath Reddy told reporters after a special meeting of elected representatives and officers, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The flats being constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the government land recovered by the Bengaluru district administration would be used to rehabilitate genuine families who lost their houses. We will consider providing monetary compensation to those who lost their properties partially, the mayor said. The meeting came to a conclusion to demolish buildings in places affected by floods and not all encroaching properties. The Mayor said that the government would first take up demolition of properties which are blocking the rajakaluves of two live lakes. We will clear other encroachments in the second phase, he said, indicating a softening of the governments stand on the ongoing demolition drive. We have identified 35 places spread over Bommanahalli, Yelahanka and Mahadevapura and other zones. These were the places where people were affected due to flooding. Its only because of buildings which have come up on the rajakaluve. Tough action will be taken against the owners, irrespective of their political influence, Reddy said and added that re-survey would be conducted in places where residents expressed lack of clarity. Minister Ramalinga Reddy seemed to concur. The chief minister has directed to continue the drive, if encroached properties are blocking the flow of water between interconnecting lakes. Places where there was flooding for several years will be considered on priority, he said. Siddaramaiah is said to have directed officials not to demolish properties which have come up between lakes that are already dead with no water. Where does 'College GameDay' have Ohio State in the first CFP rankings? football As many area communities will be observing Trick-or-Treating this weekend and Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections advises you and your family to keep your children safer this Halloween by discussing ahead of time what to do if you are ever separated. A list of safety tips from state agencies is below to help ensure a safer Halloween weekend for everyone. You can also find the hours for trick-or-treating in Door and Kewaunee counties by clicking here. -A parent or trusted adult should always accompany children -Stay on well-lit streets and stick to neighborhoods you know -Only stop at homes where the porch light is on -Never enter a home or car for a treat -Trick-or-treaters should carry a cell phone to allow for quick communication -If the child carries a cell phone, activate location services prior to trick-or-treating -Call 911 if you see any suspicious or illegal activity Children should yell No! and run from any stranger who tries to take them somewhere -Have a responsible adult check treats at the end of the night Similarly, the Wisconsin Department of Health also suggests some tips for families with trick-or-treaters and families who are giving out candy. Costume Tips -Choose costumes that are light-colored and more visible to motorists. -Use reflective tape to decorate costumes and candy bags to increase the visibility of children to drivers. Reflective tape may be purchased at hardware, bicycle, or sporting goods stores. -Use make-up rather than a mask; if your childs costume does include a mask, make sure it fits snugly and that the eyeholes are large enough to allow full vision. -Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. -Costumes should be short enough that a child will not trip and fall. -Choose costume accessories such as swords or knives that are made of soft and flexible material. -Do not use novelty contacts such as cat eyes or snake eyes. Pedestrian Safety -Engage in Halloween activities during the daylight hours, if possible. -Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision. -Remind children to walk, not run, and to only cross streets at crosswalks. -Be sure your children are accompanied by a responsible adult who has a flashlight. ----- -Flashlights or chemical light sticks should be used so that children can see and be seen by motorists. Halloween Home Safety -Remove obstacles from your lawn, porch, or steps if you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Make sure your front porch is well-lit. -Avoid using candle-lit jack-o-lanterns if possible. If you do use candles, dont place them near curtains, furnishings, or decorations. Move them off porches where childrens costumes may ignite. -Keep your pets in another room when you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Small children should not carve pumpkins; instead, allow them to draw the designs on the pumpkin and adults may carve. -Turn on an outside light if welcoming trick-or-treaters. I went to see the new shark thriller 'The Shallows' last weekend. It's a features a woman in various stages of undress being stalked by a Great White shark off the coast of Mexico. It's a fun- if at times extremely improbable - romp. But it got me thinking. Or rather it made me remember something I have previously thought about and never investigated. Why aren't there Great White (GWs) off the coast of Ireland? You might say sea temperature, and you'd be half right. Actually Ireland's sea temperatures (in summer at least) are comparable with well known shark territories off the coast of Tasmania and New Zealand. Apparently GWs favour 12C to 24C. Ireland's sea temperature varies from about 8C in winter to about 17C in summer, so in the summer months at least sea temperatures would not be a barrier to these behemoth of the seas. There is also a significant food source for sharks in Ireland (and in the British Isles in general). Our neighbours in the UK have the highest concentration of seal numbers in Europe. There have also been a significant number of unverified sightings of Great Whites in the UK. From time to time a you'll see the tabloids getting very excited about a sighting or a GPS suggestion that a tracked GW might be on the way, but apparently not one has ever been caught in either the UK or Ireland. Several shark species that are closely related to GWs are found in Irish Waters - namely the Porbeagle, and the Mako (a potential man-eater). You can also catch tope - a small shark species - right here in Dundalk Bay. The slightly unsatisfying truth is that Great Whites may well occasionally frequent these waters, but the chances of seeing them as a swimmer or from a boat are extremely, extremely unlikely. Because of the climate we don't spend much time in the water, and they don't spend enough time here in the first place. All the same, next time you put your foot into the Irish Sea, there might be a tiny chance a man-eater may be circling. 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Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been modified in a laboratory in order to produce a specific result. For example, many types of food sources, especially corn and soybean crops, are genetically modified in order to withstand herbicides and insects. This method stems from the concept of selective breeding and dates back to at least 8000 BCE, although genetically altering DNA didnt happen until 1973. Austrian monk Gregor Mendel is credited with identifying the founding principles of genetics when he crossbred two pea breeds in 1866. In 1922, hybrid corn made its commercial debut, while plant breeders discovered how to alter DNA with radiation and chemicals in 1940. After 1973, the FDA approved insulin in 1982 as the first genetically engineered product for human use. However, genetically modified food didnt get FDA approval until 1994, when a GMO tomato became the first to go commercial. While on the surface it appears that GMOs are 100 percent positive, they have been surrounded by controversy for decades. How Are GMOs Made? Creating GMO plants first involves identifying and isolating a desired trait, from the aforementioned herbicide resistance to drought resistance to disease tolerance. That trait is then copied and inserted into the plant DNA thats being modified, with the final result initially grown in a lab. The seeds from successful modifications are then sold to farmers. Current Use of GMOs Besides corn and soybeans, other commonly grown GMO crops in the U.S. include cotton, canola, potatoes and sugar beets. The latter are used to make granulated (or white) sugar; in fact, more than half of this type of commercially sold sugar comes from GMO sugar beets. GMO-derived ingredients are also prevalent in processed foods, such as lecithin and emulsifiers from soybeans; canola and cottonseed oil used in packaged goods; and high-fructose corn syrup, which is found in everything from soft drinks and salad dressing to bread and sweetened yogurt. While its often thought that GMOs are only found in processed food and drink, genetically modified produce exists as well: apples, summer squash and papaya are among the ones grown in the U.S. GMO grains are also fed to the majority of livestock (cows, chickens) used in the meat and dairy industry, with corn, soybeans and alfalfa ranking as the most popular choices. The FDA claims that livestock fed a GMO diet pose no greater risk to human health than ones that arent, and so far there havent been any conclusive studies that prove otherwise. In the meantime, the benefits appear to outweigh any possible risks, although these might be more apparent to farmers and the agricultural industry than to consumers, since GMO crops can be altered to better withstand drought conditions and pests, require less pesticide, cost less money to grow and even increase nutritional value. Are GMOs Safe? Though unproven, GMOs have been tied to everything from reduced fertility to cancer. GMOs are considered safe by the FDA, but long-term effects are still being studied, and these studies have only been performed on animals. Cancer Although correlations exist, there are currently no definitive studies that GMOs cause cancer, and this is the stance of cancer organizations in the U.S., UK and Australia. A 2013 study raised concerns when it studied the effect of glyphosate, the active ingredient used in most herbicides on GMO crops, in human breast cancer cells. The results suggested that glyphosate could cause breast cancer, but the lab study also used breast cell tissue that was already cancerous. Another study, this time from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2015, reported that glyphosate doubled the risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. It connected the highest risk to farmers and farm workers, and California has since added glyphosate to its list of cancer-causing chemicals. It should be noted that glyphosate is the main ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, which has been linked to thousands of cases of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Despite this, the EPA has declared glyphosate isnt likely to pose a cancer risk in people. The question remains whether or not GMO crops require more pesticides (including herbicides and insecticides) than non-GMO crops. A 2016 study examined this issue. On the one hand, GMO crops altered to resist insects technically dont require additional insecticide. On the other hand, it turns out that farmers sprayed more weedkillers on glyphosate-tolerant corn after 2007. The same goes for glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. As to why, a co-author of that study suggested it was due to weeds becoming more resistant to glyphosate over time. Organs In 2011, the journal Environmental Sciences Europe reviewed 19 studies involving animals that were fed GMO diets of corn and soybeans. It concluded possible links between this diet and kidney and liver disorders, as well as altered body weight and genital cancer in second-generation females, but that further research was needed. A more recent 2019 study published in GMO Science also suggested a link between liver and kidney damage in rats fed a GMO corn diet. However, this particular diet involved Monsanto-engineered corn for the Egyptian market containing a pest-deterring insecticide. The earlier study also fed rats an insecticide variant. Fertility Problems A 2014 study possibly linked fertility issues to GMO-heavy diets, while a 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that pesticide-tainted food, often associated with herbicide-tolerant GMO crops, might have been the cause behind 100,000 unsuccessful pregnancies at fertility clinics. While the study recommended that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid pesticides and GMOs where possible, it didnt measure how much of participants pesticide consumption came from GMO foods that were pesticide resistant. Offspring According to a 2015 Harvard University article, various studies havent proven any causation between GMO consumption and negative impacts on offspring. The article cites a South Dakota State University study that tracked rats eating GMO corn for four generations, including pregnant rats, and did not find any changes in offspring size or organ damage. It should be noted that GMOs can be found in non-organic baby food, and just like other food studies, the long-term effects are unknown at this time. Allergies An early study in the 90s found a possible allergic reaction to GMO soybeans, but that was only upon adding a nut protein, and only affected people with specific nut allergies. The FDA states that people are only apt to be allergic to a GM food if theyre already allergic to the non-GM version, such as soy. DNA Mutations There have been some concerns that eating genetically altered food would alter human DNA. Bruce Ames, a Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California in Berkeley, developed a test to track mutations from food, and this test has been used on GMO corn and tomatoes without any findings to suggest a connection. The Royal Society, one of the worlds oldest scientific organizations, asserts that one doesnt affect the other, and that the DNA in GM food is no different from the DNA in non-GM foods. Pros and Cons of GMOs Pros of GMOs As touched upon earlier, GMO crops are meant to provide benefits. For example, certain GMO crops technically require less pesticide, while other GMO crops can achieve higher yields or withstand droughts. Added Nutritional Value Some GMOs can also boost a foods nutritional value, although this area has been mired in controversy. Take Golden Rice, which is just white rice thats been modified with Vitamin A to help prevent blindness and other Vitamin A deficiencies, especially in children, in developing countries. While a good idea in theory, Golden Rice has been caught in a 20-plus-year battle due to opponents who question the rices safety and effectiveness. Although the Philippines approved Golden Rice for the commercial market in 2020, it has yet to reach consumers. Increased Food Supply Besides the potential to add nutritional value, GMOs are another way to possibly reduce world hunger. Food demand is expected to grow 70 percent by 2050, and that requires even more deforestation going forward. However, GMO crops could prevent that in a number of ways, such as employing modifications that would double production yields without requiring additional land. Thats already the case with cotton crops in developing countries, where GMO cotton has increased yields in India and China. Although GMO food crops are currently banned in India and other nations that could benefit from an increased food supply. Combat Climate Change Then there are climate crisis considerations. There are studies indicating that GMO crops have reduced pesticide spraying by 8.7 percent, while less soil tillage and fuel dependence have decreased greenhouse gas emissions that are the equivalent to 15 million fewer cars on the road. Additionally, larger GMO crop yields resulting from drought resistance, among other reasons, have reduced the need for farmers to acquire more land. Scientists are also researching ways that GMOs can actively fight climate change, such as altering plants that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, require less sunlight or convert nitrogen for growth purposes. GMO crops could even reduce methane emissions from livestock by employing plants that create less methane from consumption. Cons of GMOs Besides the negative health implications and increased herbicide usage already covered, there are additional drawbacks for the environment and farmers. Superweeds There have been claims connecting GMO crops to superweeds, where, instead of reducing a reliance on pesticides, certain crops have become more herbicide resistant, thus requiring greater usage of weedkillers such as Monsantos Roundup. The elephant in the room is the fact that until recently Monsanto owned the majority of the countrys GMO seeds. Roundup has been linked to thousands of cases of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, leading to a $10 billion settlement from Bayer, who acquired Monsanto in 2018. A 2018 study stated that 38 global weed species have become resistant to glyphosate. Decreased Pest Resistance Insects, similar to weeds, are becoming increasingly tolerant of pest-resistant GMO crops, particularly cotton and corn. Known as Bt crops (Bacillus thuringiensis), due to the type of bacteria that makes them pest-resistant, they initially worked to resist common threats such as bollworms and rootworms, and reduced the need for insecticides. However, new strains of these pests are no longer deterred by GMO crops modified to resist them, re-upping the need for insecticides. Biodiversity Loss Increased Roundup and herbicide usage has also been tied to dwindling monarch butterfly populations, one of many biodiversity issues. Thats because the toxin also kills milkweed, the main diet for monarchs and commonly found in crop fields. Farmer Suicides In recent decades, India has attracted attention for its farmer suicide rate, which some have attributed to the GMO industry. There have been about 300,000 farmer suicides in the past twenty years, and biotech opponents blame these on the GMO cotton sector, which is the only industry allowed to use GM crops. The majority of the countrys cotton comes from modified Bt cotton seeds. The supposed problem is the rising cost of these seeds, which many farmers cant afford and often go into debt for in order to buy them; bad crops and fluctuating global cotton prices often create a debt spiral thats hard to recover from. Yet there are studies that dispute a connection between Bt cotton and farmer suicide rates, instead suggesting that the reverse is true due to higher crop yields. Besides the theory that Bt cotton is sending growers into debt, theres the other issue of bollworms becoming resistant to GMO cotton, requiring heavier doses of pesticides. Due to different regulations, its not uncommon for fieldworkers to apply toxic chemicals without the proper protection, or even shoes and masks. Adding another layer, a different paper found that small farms were at a higher risk for suicide rates than large ones since they depend more on rainwater for successful crops than large operations, which use irrigation pumps. If anything, the study authors found the bigger problem is the threat of groundwater shortages for large farms, since groundwater usage is unregulated. Seed Sovereignty Not least is the matter of seed sovereignty, giving farmers the freedom to use whatever seeds they wish, thereby decreasing reliance on major seed companies who favor patented GM seeds. Seed sovereignty is an ongoing issue thats been ceding control to large corporations concerning which seeds farmers can plant. Which Foods Might Contain GMOs? Though GMOs appear prevalent, there are only a small number of GMO crops grown in the U.S. The most common are corn, soybeans, sugar beets, canola and cotton. However, about 90 percent of these crops use GMO seeds. There are also GMO alfalfa crops, used mostly for livestock feed. GMO versions exist for some produce, including apples, summer squash and papaya. Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank and Atlantic potatoes all have GMO versions, and are sold under the White Russet label. While it appears easy to avoid some GMO foods, such as produce sold under a particular label, others, including GMO corn, soybeans and canola oil, can turn up in unexpected places. For example, corn can pop up in anything containing high fructose corn syrup, dextrose or glucose, and encompass bread, cereal, soda, frozen meals and even Vitamin C supplements. GMO soy can be found in infant formula, protein drinks, tofu, edamame, canned tuna and salad dressing. Its a safe assumption that unless an item is sold under an organic label or is considered a whole food, it likely contains GMOs. Then there are GMO foods which are marketed as healthy vegan alternatives to meat, such as the popular brand of Impossible Burgers. Sold by major chains, from White Castle to Bareburger, the plant-based burgers contain GMO soy protein and heme, the molecule responsible for replicating the realistic beef-like taste and appearance. This molecule is genetically engineered by combining soybean DNA with yeast. In 2015 the FDA approved AquAdvantage Salmon, a genetically engineered Atlantic salmon. This new salmon grows faster than non-GE Atlantic salmon due to a hormone from Chinook salmon. The FDA asserts that this GE salmon will be labeled as bioengineered. AquaBounty, the company behind the new salmon, plans to sell it to consumers sometime in 2021. So far many entities, from Aramark and Walmart to supermarkets and restaurants, have refused to carry the salmon. Its worth noting that GMOs arent limited to food. Most cotton, whether produced in the U.S. or abroad, actually comes from the aforementioned Bt cotton seeds. So unless organic cotton was used, most clothes, bedding and towels are GMO goods. Although GM cotton also enters the food supply via cottonseed oil derived from cotton seeds, and the oil can be found in potato chips, baked goods and pasta sauce. What Is Being Done About GMOs? GM Labeling Due to the unknown long-term health effects from GMOs, along with environmental protestors and preliminary studies linking them to health risks such as cancer, theyre banned, or partially banned, in 19 out of 27 EU countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Germany and much of the UK. Additionally, GMOs are currently banned in Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Venezuela and most African countries. The EU also requires GMO labeling, something the U.S. has resisted, but will start adding in January 2022. At that point foods containing certain types of GMO ingredients will be required to display a bioengineered label. CRISPR CRISPR is a type of gene editing technology that can precisely alter cells; a new technique allows for plant alteration without introducing foreign DNA, hence the end result is not a GMO. While this new technology could positively alter the current GMO landscape, its still in the rudimentary phase. Monitoring There are some organizations such as the Non-GMO Project that independently monitor products for GMOs and verify whether or not certain standards are met. The site also facilitates checking specific food items for their GMO status and provides guidance for identifying potential GMO foods. In the meantime, the FDA continues to monitor and regulate GMOs, which involves working with other government agencies to ensure that the same safety standards are met as non-GMO foods. This includes monitoring pesticide usage. Otherwise, beyond ongoing independent studies, the American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the World Health Organization, among others, have all deemed GMOs safe and as such no further action is being taken at this time in the U.S beyond GMO labeling. What Can You Do? Consumers can err on the side of caution by choosing organic food and goods whenever possible, buying from local farms, looking for non-GMO certification labels and reading ingredient lists. The Non-GMO project also breaks down which crops are deemed most likely to be genetically modified, along with listing high-risk, animal-derived ingredients. Some of the items might be surprising, including honey and eggs, due to the amount of GMOs used in crops and livestock feed. Takeaway At of time of publication there is no conclusive evidence that GMOs as a whole are more harmful than non-GMOs, whether to ones health, the environment or farmers, so it appears that avoiding GMOs entirely would have a negligible impact based on the current facts available. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. Immediately following Hillary Clintons strongly worded repudiation of Donald Trump and the alt-right movement behind his candidacy in Reno, Nevada, on Thursday afternoon, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith suggested it will be difficult for the Republican presidential candidate to escape the charge that he is fundamentally a racist. Smith went on to note, The problem with any attempt to rebut her is that in this case she used Donald Trumps own words, was historically accurate on his policies, on all reviewed points. When his guest, Wall Street Journal reporter James Grimaldi, predicted Trump will respond by trading in hyperbole, Smith asked, He trades in racism, doesnt he? Grimaldi declined to answer that particular charge, saying he would leave that up to the commentators. Brasilia, Aug 27 (EFE).- A female jurist who has been a key figure in the drive to remove suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff from office said she had a "clear conscience" now that the impeachment trial is in its final phase in the Senate. Janaina Paschoal, one of three jurists who filed the complaint that opened the impeachment proceedings against Rousseff, knows she could go down in history as the woman who opened the way for the ouster of Brazil's first female president, but she insists she is not a "coup-monger." That is the label the left has given to supporters of the impeachment drive, which accuses Rousseff of manipulating budget figures to minimize the size of the deficit. "I'm convinced I'm not a coup-monger. I (filed the complaint) in accordance with the law and for the good of their grandchildren," the 41-year-old Paschoal said in an interview with EFE, referring to the left in general and Rousseff's supporters in the Senate in particular. "One day they'll thank me," the jurist added. Paschoal slammed Rousseff's "constant lies" in connection with a massive corruption scandal centered on state oil company Petrobras that has ensnared members of her Workers Party, or PT, although the jurist said she would also be attentive to the actions of interim President Michel Temer, who will serve out the rest of Rousseff's term if the Senate votes next week to permanently oust her. She said she signed the impeachment petition against Rousseff to prevent Brazil from becoming "a new Venezuela," referring to the political upheaval and economic crisis afflicting that leftist-led country. "Dilma's exit is a positive step in doing away with the Bolivarian continent. (The PT) has flirted with dictatorships and authoritarian governments, and they do so because they want to do this here as well. We've got to fight back," she said. Witness testimony in Rousseff's impeachment trial resumed on Saturday, two days before the suspended president is scheduled to testify before the full Senate. Senators heard testimony from prosecution witnesses on Thursday, while six witnesses called by the defense began testifying on Friday. Saturday's witness testimony will conclude with the appearance of a former finance minister under Rousseff, Nelson Barbosa, and attorney Ricardo Lodi, the final two witnesses for the defense. The proceedings will adjourn for the weekend and resume on Monday, when Rousseff will be given 30 minutes to address the 81 senators, who will in turn be able to question the suspended head of state. Rousseff, who has been suspended since May 12, is accused of bypassing Congress to alter budgets by decree and taking too long to reimburse state-controlled banks for funds used to pay for government programs, a delay that her opponents say amounted to taking out illegal loans from those institutions. The suspended president says those budget maneuvers were common practice under previous administrations and has slammed the impeachment drive as an attempted coup. Separately, Brazil's Federal Police confirmed Friday that Rousseff's predecessor and political mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has been charged with accepting gifts from construction company OAS, one of the numerous firms that took part in a bribes-for-inflated-contracts scheme that cost Petrobras an estimated $2 billion. Last minute reminder to potential voters Voters are being reminded they only have until September 1st to register to vote in the upcoming General Election. Next Thursday is the final day people can submit their details to be added to the electoral register. Registration is by household - forms can be requested by visiting the government website. The House of Keys election takes place on September 22nd. Pension changes highlighted by Treasury Treasury has written to all pensioners on the Isle of Man to explain the changes to the Island's state pension system. Changes will come into force in April 2019 - they include the introduction of a new Manx pension and the gradual phasing out of the Manx Pension Supplement over the next 20 years. Treasury says it's designed to make the system 'simpler and more sustainable'. It claims there has to be something left in the pot for those retiring in 20 or 30 years' time so the next generations have a pension. Without change it's believed the Manx National Insurance fund would run out during the 2050s. People who've already reached the state retirement age before that date won't be affected - anyone who wants further information can find it on the government website. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are facing more divorce rumors. For the past few months, the couple has been plagued by allegations of a divorce and allegations of cheated, and now, Jennifer Aniston, the ex-wife of Pitt, is being tied into those rumors. "Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorce rumors continue to loom online," the Parent Herald reported on Friday. "The well-liked couple and parents of six lovely children are reportedly having some trouble in their home as the actor is rocked by cheating allegations once again." The outlet continued on, claiming that Jolie exploded with anger due to Pitt's potentially current relationship with Aniston. However, as the outlet also revealed, a Gossip Cop report later shot the claim down. Earlier this year, amid rumors of a potential divorce, a source claimed Pitt and Jolie were doing their best to mend their marriage and stay together for the sake of their children. The past few months have been tough on Brad and Angie because theyve both been very wrapped up in their own projects. That is hard on them. Whenever they have to spend too much time apart, it causes tension in the relationship, a source explained to Hollywood Life. Luckily, the superstar couple came together after their separate projects and re-dedicated themselves to spending time together as a family. They both know they need to come back together and have more time as a family unit. Theyre looking forward to moving to London together this Spring, the source explained. Rome, Italy - 27 Aug 2016: Direct catheter-based thrombectomy is equally effective to bridging thrombolysis in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke, according to results from the observational PRAGUE-16 registry study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.1 "If left untreated, acute ischaemic stroke caused by a major artery occlusion results in death for up to half of patients and an additional 40% to 50% are left permanently disabled," said principal investigator Professor Petr Widimsky, head of the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. "In other words, without treatment only a few patients with major ischaemic stroke survive without severe sequelae." Functionally independent survival (defined as a modified Rankin Scale2 score of 0-2) after these major strokes increases to approximately 20% to 30% with thrombolytic treatment in specialised stroke units. But the majority of patients still die or remain permanently disabled. In 2015 several randomised trials demonstrated that 45% to 50% of patients can survive and be functionally independent with catheter-based (endovascular) mechanical thrombectomy. If the intervention is performed very early (within three hours from stroke onset), the results are even better - up to 70% of patients may return to normal daily life. Thus, catheter-based mechanical thrombectomy is now recommended for all patients with acute ischaemic stroke caused by a major artery occlusion.3 However, many questions remain, of which two were investigated in this pilot study. First, whether direct (without thrombolysis) cathether-based thrombectomy (d-CBT) can achieve comparable results to thrombectomy performed after intravenous ("bridging") thrombolysis. And second, whether catheter-based thrombectomy performed in interventional cardiology departments (when no interventional neuroradiology department is available) can achieve results comparable to neuroradiology settings. Professor Widimsky said: "The study aim was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of d-CBT performed in close cooperation between cardiologists, neurologists and radiologists - a true interdisciplinary approach." PRAGUE-164 was a prospective, observational pilot registry study. It included 103 patients who presented within six hours from the onset of moderate to severe acute ischaemic stroke. Patients had an occluded major cerebral artery but no large ischaemia yet on a computed tomography (CT) scan. The attending neurologist decided whether patients received d-CBT or bridging thrombolysis plus CBT based on the clinical picture and CT scan. The intervention was performed within 60 minutes of the CT scan. Some 73 patients received d-CBT and 30 had bridging thrombolysis plus CBT. Good functional outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 after 90 days) was achieved in 41% patients overall with similar results between the two groups (table 1). Professor Widimsky said: "In our study, 41% of patients who received direct catheter-based thrombectomy had good functional recovery. This compares to 48% of patients given this intervention in seven randomised trials5 performed in expert neuroradiology units. However, our outcomes are significantly better than patients in the trials who received medical therapy (intravenous thrombolysis) alone, of whom only 30% recovered." He concluded: "Our findings suggest that direct catheter-based thrombectomy performed in a timely manner may be an alternative to thrombectomy after bridging thrombolysis. Furthermore, in regions with no (or limited) interventional neuroradiology services, modern stroke treatment might be offered via interventional cardiology services in close cooperation with neurologists and radiologists. However, both of these preliminary conclusions should be confirmed by larger multicentre studies or large international registries." Direct CBT (n=73) Bridging thrombolysis + CBT (n=30) Good functional outcome (mRS 0-2 after 90 days) 39% 43% Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (NIHSS increase >3) 12% 10% Procedure-related complications (SAH, vessel perforation or dissection, symptomatic stent thrombosis within 24 hours, carotico-cavernous fistula, embolism to other territory) 10% 17% Angiographic success (TICI 2b-3 at the end of procedure) 71% 85% Mean time from symptom onset to CT 105 minutes 73 minutes Mean time from CT to groin puncture 42 minutes 115 minutes ### Table 1. Outcomes after direct CBT and bridging thrombolysis plus CBT Abbreviations: CBT (cathether-based thrombectomy); mRS (modified Rankin Scale); NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale); SAH (subarachnoid haemorrhage); TICI (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction); CT (computed tomography) Notes to editors Sources of funding: The administrative costs were covered by the Charles University Cardiovascular Research Program P35. The interventional procedures are routinely covered by the health insurance in the Czech Republic. Disclosures: None References and notes 1Professor Petr Widimsky will present the abstract "Feasibility and safety of direct catheter-based thrombectomy in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Prospective registry PRAGUE-16" during: The press conference "Stroke and Arrhythmia: Life or Death" on 27 August at 15:00 to 16:00 The session "Registries coronary artery disease, stroke and intervention" on 29 August at 16:30 to 18:00 in room Sarajevo - Village 2 2The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assesses disability in patients who have suffered a stroke. A score of 0 is no disability, 5 is disability requiring constant care for all needs; 6 is death. 32015 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Focused Update of the 2013 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Regarding Endovascular Treatment: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2015;46(10):3020-3035. doi: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000074. 4PRAGUE refers to a series of academic randomised trials coordinated by the Cardiocentre, Charles University, Prague. The acronym not only reflects the name of this city, but also the abbreviation of the first study from this series (published in 2000) - PRimary Angioplasty in patients with myocardial infarction transferred from General community hospitals to angioplasty Units of tertiary cardiology centres with or without Emergency thrombolysis. 5MR CLEAN, ESCAPE, EXTEND IA, SWIFT PRIME, REVASCAT, THERAPY, THRACE About the European Society of Cardiology The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 120 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives. About ESC Congress 2016 ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2016 takes place 27 to 31 August at the Fiera di Roma in Rome, Italy. The scientific programme is here. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org Rome, Italy - 27 Aug 2016: The first European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) are published online today in European Heart Journal1 and the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and on the ESC Website.2 "These are the first guidelines to target every atrial fibrillation specialist," said Dr Stefano Benussi (Switzerland), Task Force Co-Chairperson (EACTS). "They were written by clinical cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons, a neurologist and a cardiovascular nurse." "Integrating input from the different specialties can improve outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. We wanted to put patients at the centre of the new guidelines," said Professor Paulus Kirchhof (UK/Germany), Task Force Chairperson (ESC). It is estimated that by 2030 there will be 14-17 million patients with atrial fibrillation in the European Union, with up to 215 000 newly diagnosed patients per year. Atrial fibrillation is associated with a 1.5-2 fold increased risk of death, and is responsible for 20-30% of all strokes. Oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) can prevent the majority of ischaemic strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation and prolong life. NOACs are recommended as the first line anticoagulant in eligible patients. NOACs prevent strokes as effectively (or slightly better) as warfarin (a VKA) and are associated with less intracranial bleeding and death. VKAs remain a valid treatment for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and should be the first choice in patients ineligible for NOACs, such as those with mechanical heart valves. Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), the guidelines recommend what to do when patients develop complications on anticoagulation. Advice is given on reinitiation of anticoagulation after a bleed, how to manage bleeds, and how to manage patients who have an ischaemic stroke on anticoagulation. "Previous guidelines focused on which patients should receive anticoagulation and that issue is largely settled," said Professor Kirchhof. "The new guidelines also address the long-term challenges in anticoagulated atrial fibrillation patients that all too often lead to discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy despite prognostic benefits in the long term." Greater emphasis is placed on the early diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, before the first stroke. There is now sufficient evidence to support opportunistic and targeted electrocardiogram (ECG) screening, for example in people over 65 years of age and in high risk groups such as patients with pacemakers. "Many people have atrial fibrillation and don't know it, and will only find out when they develop a first stroke," said Professor Kirchhof. "Early diagnosis enables us to prevent strokes with anticoagulation." Catheter ablation is recommended as a first line treatment in selected patients after research showed it was not less safe than antiarrhythmic drugs. Pulmonary vein isolation is recommended as the preferred first line target of ablation, with more extensive ablations reserved for repeat procedures in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Recurrence rates after catheter ablation are high in the long term, and hybrid therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation and AF surgery are reasonable treatment option in patients who fail conventional rhythm control therapy. The Task Force proposes creating AF Heart Teams with experience in antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation and surgery to take difficult decisions on rhythm control and hybrid therapy. Similarly, AF Heart Teams should support complex decisions in stroke prevention. A new chapter on integrated management advises cooperation between patients, health professionals including general practitioners and cardiologists, and the AF Heart Team for complex cases. Free smartphone tools are being provided by the ESC for patients with atrial fibrillation and their healthcare professionals to improve communication and encourage patient involvement in management via the ESC Pocket Guidelines App available free of charge from the Apple, Google Play and Amazon Stores.3 Dr Benussi said: "There is growing awareness that we need teams to treat complex patients with atrial fibrillation. Putting patients at the centre of the treatment algorithm should improve the chances of getting rid of the arrhythmia, with the lowest possible risk. AF Heart Teams should be deployed particularly when the results of treatment are unsatisfactory." Professor Kirchhof said: "We hope this integrated and stepwise approach, culminating in the AF Heart Teams for difficult decisions, will ensure that all patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe have access to specialist care and treatment when they need it." ### Notes to editors Sources of funding: None Disclosures: The disclosure forms of all experts involved in the development of these guidelines are available on the ESC website http://www.escardio.org/guidelines ESC Press Office For background information, please contact the ESC Press Office at media@escardio.org. For press enquiries, please contact, the Media & Press Coordinator, Jacques Olivier Costa: +393427028575 For independent comment on site, please contact the ESC Spokesperson coordinator, Celine Colas: +393402405148 To access all the scientific resources from the sessions during the congress, visit ESC Congress 365. References 12016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. European Heart Journal. 2016. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw210 2ESC Guidelines on the ESC Website: http://www.escardio.org/Guidelines-&-Education/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/ESC-Clinical-Practice-Guidelines-list/listing 3The CATCH ME (Characterising Atrial fibrillation by Translating its Causes into Health Modifiers in the Elderly) tool was developed with support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. For more information please visit http://www.catch-me.info and download it via the ESC Pocket Guidelines App http://www.escardio.org/Guidelines-&-Education/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Guidelines-derivative-products/ESC-Mobile-Pocket-Guidelines Guidelines at ESC Congress The Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines will be featured in: ESC Guidelines 2016 - Overview on 28 August at 08:30 What is new in the 2016 atrial fibrillation guidelines on 28 August at 14:00 Meet the Guidelines Task Force - atrial fibrillation on 28 August at 15:45 New ESC Guidelines: when, what, and how on 28 August at 16:30 ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines 2016 - Highlights on 31 August at 09:00 An article in Congress News on Sunday 28 August. Associated Derivative Products can be found via the ESC Website at: http://www.escardio.org/Guidelines-&-Education/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Guidelines-derivative-products/esc-guidelines-derivative-products Download the free ESC Pocket Guidelines App for all mobile devices: http://www.escardio.org/Guidelines-&-Education/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Guidelines-derivative-products/ESC-Mobile-Pocket-Guidelines About the European Society of Cardiology The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 120 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives. About ESC Congress 2016 ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2016 takes place 27 to 31 August at the Fiera di Roma in Rome, Italy. The scientific programme is here. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org Rome, Italy - 27 Aug 2016: Smartphones can be used to detect atrial fibrillation with existing hardware, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.1 A low-cost application (app) has been developed that uses the phone's own accelerometer and gyroscope to check for atrial fibrillation. "Atrial fibrillation is a dangerous medical condition present in 2% of the global population and accounting for up to seven million strokes per year," said lead author Tero Koivisto, a vice-director of the Technology Research Centre (TRC), University of Turku, Finland. "In the European Union alone this heart rhythm disorder costs approximately USD $19 billion every year." Around 70% of strokes due to atrial fibrillation could be avoided with pre-emptive medication. However, atrial fibrillation often occurs randomly on/off and is difficult to detect by visiting a doctor. There are relatively large and costly electrocardiogram (ECG) devices that patients can take home for long-term monitoring but they require a patch or wires that are clumsy to use and continuous contact with electrodes tends to irritate the skin. Due to the above constraints, current methods for detection of atrial fibrillation are infeasible for wide-scale screening of populations or higher risk age groups (60 years and above). The current study tested the ability of a smartphone to detect atrial fibrillation without any add-on hardware. The study included 16 patients with atrial fibrillation from the Turku Heart Centre. In addition, 20 recordings from healthy people were used as control group data to validate the developed algorithm. To detect atrial fibrillation, a smartphone was placed on the chest of the patient, and accelerometer and gyroscope recordings were taken. Patients were advised to lie in a prone or supine position during the measurements. Mr Koivisto said: "We use the accelerometer and gyroscope of the smartphone to acquire a heart signal from the patient. A measurement recording is taken, and the acquired data is pre-processed by signal processing methods. Multiple features such as autocorrelation and spectral entropy are then extracted from the pre-processed data. Finally, a machine learning algorithm (KSVM) is used to determine if the patient suffers from atrial fibrillation." Using this technology the investigators detected atrial fibrillation with a sensitivity and specificity of more than 95%. "We measure the actual motion of the heart via miniature accelerometers and gyroscopes that are already installed in today's smartphones," said Mr Koivisto. "No additional hardware is needed and people just need to install an app with the algorithm we developed." He continued: "If people feel odd and want to check their cardiac status, they can simply lie down, place the phone on their chest, take an accelerometer and gyroscope measurement, then use the app to analyse the result. They will get a simple yes/no answer as to whether they have atrial fibrillation or not." Mr Koivisto concluded: "This is a low cost, non-invasive way to detect atrial fibrillation that people can do themselves without any help from medical staff. Given the widespread use of smartphones, it has the potential to be used by large populations worldwide. In future, a secure cloud service could be created to store and analyse larger masses of data." ### Notes to editors Sources of funding: Finnish funding agency for innovation (Tekes), Academy of Finland. Disclosures: None. References and notes 1Mr Tero Koivisto will present the abstract "Detecting atrial fibrillation via existing smartphones without any add-ons" during: The press conference "Stroke and Arrhythmia: Life or Death" on 27 August at 15:00 to 16:00 The session "Mobile health for cardiac monitoring" on 29 August at 16:30 to 18:00 in room Budapest - Village 6 About the European Society of Cardiology The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 120 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives. About ESC Congress 2016 ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2016 takes place 27 to 31 August at the Fiera di Roma in Rome, Italy. The scientific programme is here. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org On Phys.org, David Dickinson highlights next years total eclipse. But at the end of his article, he notes that a total eclipse is just a happy celestial circumstance instead of a product of intelligent design. On August 21, 2017, the umbra (the Moons shadow on Earth where the Moon completely covers the Sun) of the solar eclipse will move across the United States, tracing a path from Oregon to South Carolina, lasting about two minutes. In their book, The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery, astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez and philosopher Jay Richards explain that total eclipses were monumental in science: Einsteins theory of relativity predicted that gravity bends light and would therefore make stars near the Sun appear at different locations than they actually were during an eclipse and astronomers observed it. The corona and chromosphere, the light that appears around the edges of the Moon when it is covering the Sun, reveals facts about the atmosphere of the Sun. They note that observation of a total eclipse requires two elements: the right planetary and celestial conditions for a total eclipse, and a planet hospitable to complex life such as ourselves. Gonzalez and Richards conclude that our place in the cosmos is designed for discovery. Dickinson takes a stab at that argument: The sun is about 400 times larger than the moon in diameter, but the moon is 400 times closer. Weve actually heard this fact tossed out as evidence for intelligent design, though its just a happy celestial circumstance of our present era. In fact, annular eclipses are now slightly more common than totals in our current epoch, and will continue to become more so as the moon slowly recedes from the Earth. Just under a billion years ago, the very first annular eclipse of the sun as seen from the Earth occurred, and 1.4 billion years hence, the Earth will witness one last brief total eclipse. Its true. There is a limited time period in which solar eclipses are visible. Gonzalez and Richards acknowledge this and actually take it a step further. Not only is the Moon receding, but the Sun is getting bigger. But this does not refute the case for design in fact, it amplifies it: These two processes, working together, should end total solar eclipses in about 250 million years, a mere 5 percent of the age of the earth. This relatively small window of opportunity also happens to coincide with the existence of intelligent life. Put another way, the most habitable place in the Solar System yields the best view of solar eclipses just when observers can best appreciate them. So what is it about the ratio between the sizes of the Sun and the Moon, and the distance between the Moon and Earth, that is so fit not only for eclipses but also for human life? First, the star. Gonzalez and Richards note that it must be similar to our own, saying: There are good reasons to believe that a star similar to the Sun is necessary for complex life. A more massive star has a shorter lifetime and brightens more rapidly. A less massive star radiates less energy, so a planet must orbit closer in to keep liquid water on its surface. (The band around a star wherein a terrestrial planet must orbit to maintain liquid water on its surface is called the Circumstellar Habitable Zone.) Orbiting too close to the host star, however, leads to rapid tidal locking, or rotational synchronization, in which one side of the planet perpetually faces its host star. (The Moon, incidentally, is so synchronized in its orbit around Earth.) This leads to brutal temperature differences between the day and night sides of a planet. Even if the thin boundary between day and night, called the terminator, were habitable, a host of other problems attend life around a less massive star The Suns size is important for the habitability of Earth. The distance between the Earth and the Moon, as well as the size of the Moon, must be finely tuned to allow for life. Gonzalez and Richards note: If a planets moon were farther away, it would need to be bigger than our Moon to generate similar tidal energy and properly stabilize the planet. Since the Moon is already anomalously large compared with Earth, a bigger moon is even less likely. A smaller moon would have to be closer, but then it would probably be less round, creating other problems. Mark your calendar for the 2017 eclipse; Im certainly planning to go. But humans wont be observing it due to chance or determinism. Rather, a designing intelligence evidently had in mind to make a habitable planet hospitable to scientific discovery and total solar eclipses seem like a very elegant part of this cosmic and terrestrial symphony. Photo: 2009 total eclipse from Panchagarh District, Bangladesh, by Muntasir Mamun Imran (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Starting January 2017, Google will start ranking mobile web pages that show interstitial ads to visitors lower, the company said in a blogpost this week. Posting on the Google Webmasters Blog, Doantam Phan, Product Manager at Google wrote, Pages that show intrusive interstitials provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible. This can be problematic on mobile devices where screens are often smaller. To improve the mobile search experience, after January 10, 2017, pages where content is not easily accessible to a user on the transition from the mobile search results may not rank as highly. Some types of interstitial or popup ads that Google considers intrusive include ones that cover the main content, either immediately after the user navigates to a page from the search results or while they are looking through the page, displaying a standalone interstitial that the user has to dismiss before accessing the main content or using a layout where the above-the-fold portion of the page appears similar to a standalone interstitial, but the original content has been inlined underneath the fold. Interstitials are one of the most popular ad formats in India but publishers need to realize that they need to use it with discretion. They are used the world over but we overdo it here, said Pancham Endlaw, Head (South Asia) at Opera Mediaworks. He also opined that interstitials reduce the user experience, which further pushes up the use of ad blockers. This is not the first time that Google has attempted to get publishers to clean up their act on the mobile. One highly publicized example was the mobilegeddon update in April 2015 when the company tweaked its mobile search algorithm to give more weightage to mobile-optimized websites. http://www.exchange4media.com/digital/google-mobilegeddon-to-websitesbe-mobile-friendly-or-be-left-behind-_59849.html However, this does not mean that publishers should expect sweeping changes in the way their websites are ranked come January opine experts considering the myriad number of factors that go into deciding the eventual ranking. For example Karan Gupta, MD of Andbeyond.media, opines that pop-ups and interstitials are losing relevance in the mobile web environment in any case though they were once considered premium property (They still are on the desktop and app). One reason why Google is doing this could be to clean up the mobile web to woo back publishers to a platform that it is really strong in (because of Google Search) as nowadays publishers have a lot of options to host their content on third-party applications like Facebook, Vimeo, micro-blogging sites, etc., he added. Whatever the reason, it might be a good idea for publishers to start considering options other than pop up ads going forward. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Saturday, August 27, 2016 I have long been waffling over whether to bother mentioning Ann Coulters cheerleading for Donald Trump, which began almost a year ago. Coulter is freakishly unethical and proud of it, a rare professional fick, whose shtick (I guess one shouldnt use fick and shtick in the same sentence: sorry) is to pander to The Angry Right in such obnoxious and inflammatory terms that the Angry Left goes bananas with hate, thus selling books and providing her with media appearances to promote them. I have assigned her to the dark corner reserved for performance artists who posture and lie for a living, for thats Ann. I have no idea what she really believes, just as I have no idea what James Carville, Milo Yiannopoulos or Rush Limbaugh really believeand anyone who really thinks that they know what Donald Trump really believes is beyond redemption, since it is quite evident that he doesnt know himself. Thus when I heard that Anns latest book, doubtlessly written in about five hours of dictation and containing some measure of her trademark snark, which she is very skilled at, was called In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!, I was sorely tempted to express my disgust, especially since Coulter, an educated woman and a lawyer, actually stooped to using that mark of an illiterate, awesome, like the book was authored by a modern day Gidget. But why play into Anns hands? This is why she writes this crap: to cause buzz on the net and cable so she can sell the books to right wing idiots who will be soothed by her calculated pose. The title is an absurd, almost Orwellian (War is Peace) lie. Trump, as much as anyone alive, cannot be trusted regarding anything, especially to hold great power. The reasons for this are evident and undeniable, and have been so long before running for President, wrecking the Republican Party, threatening the United States publics faith in democracy and handing the White House to the most corrupt candidate a Presidential race has ever featured was a twinkle in the Donalds eye. However, listening to Trump blather about immigration last week, and seeming to renege on his signature promise to depart each and every illegal immigrant, almost compelled one to direct massive schadenfreude Ann Coulters way. After all, it is Ann (again, who knows what she really thinks) who has argued that Republicans shouldnt allow illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, no matter how long they have been allowed to stay here, because it will shift demographics toward the Democrats. Not that it is wrong to reward them for illegal conduct, mind you: Ann doesnt care, officially, whether such a policy would be fair and ethical. She argues that Republican immigration policy should not be based on liberty, fairness, justice or any other ethical value, just politics and holding power.you know, like most Democratic policy. Coulter is so passionate on this pointat least she pretends to bethat Trumps unyielding position regarding deportation all by itself was sufficient to make her one of his most vocal celebrity supporters, long before the Star Wars cantina collection of ficks, jerks, morons, low-lifes, cynics, felons, racists, boors and public laughing stocks that have followed. Then Trump, completely predictably, backtracks on even that, just as Ann commences a national book tour, with the book title trumpeting how trustworthy Trump is! If I hadnt banned LOL on Ethics Alarms, this would be the perfect time for me to use it. The Washington Posts Dan Drezner had almost too much fun mocking Coulters plight in his column, Ann Coulter is currently experiencing every nonfiction authors nightmare/Sympathy for the devil in Prada., especially as he noted these words at the beginning of the book: [T]heres nothing Trump can do that wont be forgiven. Except change his immigration policies. This is an acid test for Ann Coulter. If she has any integrity, if she has the best interests of her nation in mind, if she is a serious pundit and commentator rather than a venal troll, if she can be trusted in any way, she will immediately suspend her tour, give back her publishers advance, renounce her own words, and go on every radio and TV public affairs show that will have her to announce to her drooling followers that she, and they, and the Republic, have all been conned, betrayed and lied to by Donald Trump. He cant be trusted. Like, and so, hes like soooo not awesome, and shes like bummed out about it totally. Oh, dont be silly. Ann Coulter has no more integrity than Donald Trump, indeed less. Shell find some way to keep promoting the book, and him, until something more profitable comes along. You can trust in that. __________________________ Pointer: Ann Althouse Friday, August 26, 2016 The award-winning cartoonist Richard Thompson, widely known for his syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac and Richards Poor Almanac cartoons, died of complications from Parkinsons Disease at the age of 58 on July 27, 2016. A memorial service will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, Saturday, August 27, at 1:00 p.m. This is personal. I knew and loved Richard Thompson long before he became famous. We worked together on the staff of The Spur, the student newspaper at Montgomery Colleges Rockville, Maryland campus. He drew cartoons for each issue, I was the features editor. How I wish I still had those issues from 1976 to 1978! Richard never graduated from Montgomery College (a.k.a. MC), but the college gave him the Milton F. Sonny Clogg Alumni of the Year award in 2004 anyway. Im sure Richard saw humor in the fact he got an alumni award although he dropped out. He also was recognized in 2011 with the prestigious Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, presented by the National Cartoonists Society, the National Cartoonists Societys Magazine and Book Illustration Award for 1995, plus their Newspaper Illustration Award for 1995, and a Gold and a Silver Funny Bone Award in 1989 from the Society of Illustrators for humorous illustration. Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia It was during our time at Montgomery College that we discovered the fun of historic recreation, specifically, dressing up in medieval garb and participating in feasts, mock battles, and providing local color at Renaissance festivals. Richard was a natural jester, and he dressed the part. He was always soft-spoken, and his wit was incredibly fast and dry. My first costume/personae was as a member of Robin Hoods band of merry men (and women) green tights, tunic and hood, moccasin boots, archers bow and stout staff. Richard, in addition to being a wonderful cartoonist, was also a great illustrator. One year for my birthday, Richard presented me with a beautiful painting of an archer, heroically poised on top of an outcropping of earth. The title he wrote on the back was Rubin Hood. I treasure this piece of his artwork to this day. The Blue Screen of Death On July 16, 2009, Richard announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, a problem he described as a pain in the fundament which slowed him down but did not affect his drawing hand. His humor stayed as sharp as ever. This cartoon from 2011, BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), shows the Grim Reaper staring at an unresponsive computer screen and saying, Not AGAIN! (Oh, PCs!) It is a sobering thought that a classmate has died. Someone of my era. It really brings ones own mortality into view. And I am sad that the world has lost a wonderful voice. But we have Richards vast collection of art and comics to keep us company and raise our spirits. They live on, while our mortal bodies eventually fail. Rest in peace, my friend. Read the news obituary in The Washington Post. In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who are so inclined to make donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, either directly or through Team Cul De Sac. Friday, August 26, 2016 Ive received several inquiries requesting an Ethics Alarms analysis of the current controversy roiling France, namely the so-called Burkini Ban. Muslim women had been wading into the French Riviera surf wearing burkinis, body-covering swimsuits designed to be compliant with the Islamic faith , and one resort town after another, fifteen in all including Cannes and Nice, declared them illegal. The women entering the water wearing such attire have been ticketed for not wearing an outfit respecting good morals and secularism. Well, I try not to spend much time here writing about the obvious. The ban is unethical. In the U.S., such laws would be over-turned before the arrested womens bathing suits were dry, since the meaures violate both the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. It should be obvious that the ban is unfair, as it is sexist, directed against one religion, and makes no sense whatsoever. Sometimes I wonder if the French quite get this ethics thing. This is an example. Both conservatives and many liberals in France support the ban. The conservatives, in addition to wanting to punish Muslims for recent Islamic terrorist attacks, claim to be upholding Frances core principle of secularity, enshrined in the nations constitution. Liberals argue that the Islamic strictures against women exposing any part of their bodies in public are misogynist, patriarchal, and regressive, so the bans defend the rights of womenby preventing women from wearing what they choose to, observing their own religion, and taking a swim. You see what I mean about not quite grasping the whole ethics thing? The equivalent argument in the U.S. would be if feminists argued that sexy bathing suits be banned because they objectified women, even when the women wearing them felt like being objectified. The Burkini Ban is, to be blunt, idiotic. Indeed, Frances freak-out about too little exposure on the beach seems like a Monty Python skit, especially coming from a nation that once scandalized the world by launching womens swimwear fashion that was initially deemed obscene. The ban punishes the alleged victims of the misogyny that the liberals claim they want to prevent. It only applies to Muslim women covering their bodies with a specific style of bathing suit, and apparently only if they are Muslims. This is illegal but not this nor this nor this ..Nor, unfortunately, even this and those towns would see nothing wrong with this... or even this: Waitwould it depend on whether a woman was a Muslim or not? After all, it seems that this wouldnt violate those laws: ..or would it? If a woman in scuba gear or a nuns habit is Muslim, shes undermining French secularity and promoting misogyny, but if its a man wearing a similar outfit to take a dunk, or the woman is a Catholic, a Druid or an atheist, she can cover up like, say, this? Yup. Unethical, unfair, incompetent, mean, sexist, and really, really stupid. [France partially redeemed itself, today. Its top administrative court overturned the burkini ban, the Associated Press has reported.] _____________________ Facts: Vox, Independent, The Guardian Friday, August 26, 2016 Community Friday: Two Powerful Words to Move You Forward A connection on Twitter asked me to address why the words, Thank You, are important for business. The first reason is, everyone works so hard but receives little appreciation for their effort. Second, too few people remember to offer these words. When you express them with sincerity, the other person fondly remembers you for a long while. People remember the appreciation shown. Simply by being kind, you distinguish yourself and your personal brand in the best possible light. Acts of kindness bring about the highest of rewards My Story When I began in sales, I received no training. It was up to me to make the assigned quota without knowing how to sell. Ideally, sales management thought they would be able to fire me at the end of the first quarter. But I had a very different plan. Instead of traditional selling, my only strategy was to be polite. I thanked people for meetings that were granted, and I complimented them on whatever was seen in their office. This included pictures of families and pets. Since I didnt have a clue of how to conduct the traditional sales conversation, we enjoyed one that was free flowing. At the end, I thanked the people for their time. At the end of the first quarter, I could not be fired. Why? Politeness saved the day. I was the top representative of the branch without knowing a thing about what I was selling. Your Story Realistically, people today are more savvy about business. Hopefully you have had training. Most initial business meetings have people on edge about meeting with you. Prospective clients begin to question why they bothered inviting you in. Many then attempt to say they only have five minutes to meet. Their goal becomes to get you out as quickly as possible. However, thank you saves the day as it leads to curiosity given most salespeople do not express this. Here are the factors leading to a sale that are encouraged by the words, Thank You: Conversation becomes more relaxed Suddenly extra time is found for a longer meeting. The relationship builds. Politeness and appreciation for your prospective client will distinguish you from competitors just as it did long ago. In our fast paced society, and more people staring at their phones, few remember to graciously speak with those they meet. The ones who do acknowledge appreciation, are the ones who find reward by means of the sale. The same applies to job seekers on the hunt for interviews. Hiring managers will be very appreciative of your words. In addition, you will come across as a team player which is a highly valued trait. The power of thank you will help you move toward being hired. Sales Tips: Thank people upfront for meeting with you Upon entering an office, behave as if you are a guest in their home Observe pictures or signs of hobbies to acknowledge If pictures of pets are all you see, ask the names of the pets If you are told five minutes at the end of five minutes, ask if they would like you to leave Upon being asked to remain, thank them again for their time Continue the conversation to learn as much as possible about the person behind the business as well as the business At the end of the meeting, thank the person for all they shared One more time, thank the person for inviting you to the meeting. A follow up thank you note with your phone number included will encourage the sale 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The murder trial of Kerry Slim Gittens, 24, accused of participating in a deadly 2014 home invasion, was briefly interrupted when Gittens disappeared before closing arguments were to begin, officials said. This isn't an inmate escape, because he was a free man out on bond when he started the trial, Bexar County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Rosanne Hughes said. After the court took a recess, he just never came back from lunch. A warrant was issued for Gittens arrest and the trial resumed. The jury returned a verdict of guilty Friday afternoon after 90 minutes of deliberation. If he had had any misgivings, he didnt communicate them to me, either by word or expression, said George Shaffer, defense attorney for Gittens, when asked about his clients state of mind. This is extremely unusual. In 36 years of law practice, Ive never been put in the position of giving closing arguments to the jury without the defendant sitting beside me. Gittens was last seen wearing a blue polo shirt, black pants, white tennis shoes and a black mesh backpack. The sheriffs office asks those with information on Gittens' location to call 210-335-8477. Gittens had been out on a $100,000 bond. The judge increased it to $500,000 after he fled. Three days of testimony had culminated Thursday, when the grandmother of Antwan Monroe Jones, the man who was gunned down, collapsed after a heated exchange with a defense attorney who questioned her numerous times over what she saw. I saw my grandson being shot! Lula McFadden, 68, replied through sobs to defense attorney George Shaffer during a cross-examination that turned combative. Gittens was the first of two defendants to be tried in the killing of Jones, 30, inside McFaddens home in the 300 block of Vine Street on Nov. 15, 2014. Tyree Ace Byrd, 25, also is charged with murder and is awaiting trial. RELATED: Task force nabs 36 violent fugitives in San Antonio There were drugs in the house and other relatives were at home when the two men knocked on the door, forced their way in, roughed up Jones brother and shot Jones several times, according to testimony. He died at the scene. McFadden told the jury she was washing dishes, heard two gunshots and left the kitchen in time to see Jones get shot. When shown photographs of both defendants and asked which of them shot her grandson, McFadden pointed to Byrd. I seen him shoot him only one time, the last shot, she said. She said she hid behind a trash can with her 5-year-old granddaughter. After he shot Antwan, I grabbed her, she said through tears. I dont know if she saw it or not. When McFadden was excused from the witness stand, she fell to the floor, and was surrounded by relatives and courtroom staff. She eventually was helped out of the room by relatives. Jones brother, David ONeal, 25, testified Wednesday that he was at the house and that Gittens pointed a gun at him and tried to restrain him with zip ties. Police photographs presented as evidence showed marijuana, cocaine, scales and plastic bags inside the home. ONeal told jurors that the men told him to give it up. He said he was hit in the face with a gun, hard enough to make a cut. ONeal said the intruders went down the hallway and he heard at least two gunshots. ONeal told defense attorney George Shaffer that he did not see the shots being fired, but when asked if it was true ONeal told the police that Gittens did not shoot his brother, ONeal said, Yes. I saw my brother with his hands up against the wall, and started seeing blood fall off the wall, ONeal said. He said his brothers eyes were open but he was nonresponsive. ONeal said he ran out the front door and saw the two men speed off in a white pickup driven by Gittens. A date has not been set for sentencing. Gittens faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Staff Writer Bruce Selcraig contributed to this report. ezavala@express-news.net Twitter: @elizabeth2863 Shropshire A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b... The Scottish farming sector is urging legislators to continue to consult with farmers and crofters as the Land Reform Act continues to take shape. Farming union NFU Scotland wants a "functioning, healthy and vibrant" tenanted sector to be delivered. It believes the Act has some aspects which could assist this, and provide confidence to both those who rent and who let land. In addition, further reassurances for farmers and crofters are being sought over the impact that aspects covering community engagement and community right to buy might have. Speaking at a conference on Land Reform, hosted by the University of Aberdeen, NFU Scotland Vice President Andrew McCornick said the passage of the Act has been an "unsettling time" for agricultural landlords and tenants. "In order to function well, both landlords and tenants must have confidence in their agreements and a changing of mindsets," Mr McCornick said. "Professional practice will go a long way to ensuring that the creation of a healthy, vibrant tenanted sector does not require further legislation in this area. "The next steps on that path has seen the Scottish Government recently open the public appointment process for the important posts of Tenant Farming Commissioner and members of the Scottish Land Commission. "By working collaboratively with key stakeholders, the industry has already seen positive benefits from Andrew Thins interim appointment as the independent advisor on tenant farming. 'Pivotal role' "Whoever takes on this new permanent position will play a pivotal role in the future of agricultural tenancies in Scotland, acting with impartiality between landlords and tenants but challenged by views that are often entrenched. "It is equally important that the new Land Commission recognises the importance of agriculture and food production in underpinning the economy of Scotland and we would wish to see appointees to have a good knowledge and experience of land management issues. "It's much more important to focus on how land is used rather than bluntly focusing on who owns it. "On the wider issue of community right to buy, included within the Act, farmers and crofters continue to seek reassurances over what this might mean for them. "We support the approach taken by Scottish Government, which will allow for provisions under the Community Empowerment Act to bed in before further consideration of proposals to extend Community Right to Buy provisions under the Land Reform Act. "It must be recognised that land can, in many cases, be transferred to a community via negotiation where there is a willing landowner, but that a landowner may also have very genuine reasons for not wanting land to be transferred. "Local community aspirations must be clear and deliverable before any land is transferred under right to buy," concluded Mr McCornick. Livestock chairmen from all four of the biggest farming unions in the UK have met to discuss the potential impact on beef and lamb sectors post-Brexit. Access to the European market, regulatory burden and an agricultural policy that delivers confidence were the key issues when the industry leaders met. Speaking after the meeting, NFU livestock chairman Charles Sercombe said it had been a worthwhile meeting and that all four unions were unanimous over what the priorities were for both the beef and lamb sectors post-referendum. "It was agreed that on trade we need to ensure we continue to have access to the important European market for our beef and lamb but at the same time, it is important that discussions to secure access to new markets around the world continue," said Mr Sercombe. "Agreements that allow access to the UK market must take into account the sensitive status of UK produced beef and lamb in future free trade or WTO discussions. Regulatory burdens "Like other farming sectors, access to non-UK labour is a key issue. We are acutely aware that the meat processing sector is reliant on a secure labour supply, and without it we could see costs rising in the supply chain and which would have a knock on effect on our ability to compete in a world market. "Regulatory burden remains a thorny issue for many livestock producers. "We recognise that any significant change could impact on our ability to trade within the single market. "Therefore, our challenge to government is to ensure regulation is proportionate, is not gold plated but encourages compliance. "We want an agricultural policy that helps deliver long term food security, stability and confidence for the livestock sector that reflects geographical and devolved Government differences. "The UK livestock sector has an opportunity to come up with a template for a productive and profitable sector, this is the start of a new era and we want be part of that discussion." Mr Sercombe was joined by his livestock colleagues from NFU Cymru -Wyn Evans; NFU Scotland Charlie Adam; as well as Ulster Farmers Unions Crosby Cleland. Access to labour market Earlier this month, the NFU warned that access to skilled and flexible labour sources or there could be a 'devastating impact' across the farming sectors. The call comes as many farmers up and down the country work around the clock to bring in the nations harvest. After the UKs decision to leave the EU, the NFU said its immediate concerns centred on farmings ability to access essential markets as well as farmers being able to source essential labour and trade on a level footing with their competitors. With some farming sectors, such as horticulture, relying heavily on non-UK seasonal and year-round workers, the NFU has today called for access to labour to be a key consideration in the on-going talks to shape a new domestic agriculture policy. Last month, a briefing paper published by the Food Research Collaboration called for Britain to invest in its agricultural workforce to cope with changes in migration policy after Brexit. Cruicial in 'day-to-day' tasks NFU President Meurig Raymond said horticulture is already experiencing labour shortages which "looks set to get worse." Mr Raymond said: "And we know its not just horticulture that will be affected. "Non-UK workers are often employed in a whole host of roles throughout farming and are crucial in day-to-day tasks as well as at peak times as we are now experiencing with harvest. "We have already written to the Brexit minister, David Davis, about our concerns, and we continue to meet with Government departments to work on behalf of our members. "We want to seek assurance that they will be able to have access to the labour they need so they can continue to produce food for the nation. "There are many ways in which the challenge of accessing labour could be solved and we are consulting with our members over the coming weeks to help find the best solutions. "I plan to share their views with the new team at Defra to ensure these grassroots ideas help to shape the new domestic farm policy which is needed - one that puts food and farming at its heart." In the last few years it has become increasingly apparent that the concept of placing the autumn N and P fertiliser alongside the seed is being widely adopted, according to Hutchinsons. It is generally accepted as best practice for the establishment of winter oilseed rape. However, is placing fertiliser in this scenario based on agronomically sound judgement and what are the other options available, asks Tim Kerr, Hutchinsons fertiliser manager. Phosphate is considered a very important nutrient for crop establishment; phosphate helps to fuel all the major processes in the plant that require energy. "In the first 60 days from emergence oilseed rape will require around 15% of its total P requirement. The amount may not sound so significant; however the mechanics of P uptake are why we lend so much importance to P as a starter fertiliser, he says. Mr Kerr points out that phosphate is an immobile nutrient in the soil. The plant relies on extracting that 15% of P requirement from a small fraction of the total soil. Tim Kerr, Hutchinsons fertiliser manager "During the first 60 days the roots will only reach around 5% of the topsoil, and P absorption relies on direct root contact with the soil for it to be taken up by the plant. Therefore enriching the soil in the immediate rooting zone with water soluble phosphate or plant available P will help to maintain critical P levels in the aforementioned rooting zone over this period. The benefits from placing nitrogen close to the seed may appear less obvious, yet still there are advantages to the system, he adds. Most starter fertilisers that contain nitrogen and phosphate are based on ammonium phosphate. "However, there is a proven synergistic effect on plant uptake of phosphate where nitrogen is present in the ammonium form. This may be partly down to a localised decrease in pH where NH3 and P are applied together. This effect is most pronounced in soils with a high pH - increased P absorption when it is applied in conjunction with nitrogen fertiliser, will be partly due to an enhanced physiological capacity of roots to absorb P, brought about by greater root development in the soil with a concentrated area of nutrients from an NP starter fertiliser. Yield potential is 'maintained' Mr Kerr says that better root establishment will improve a plants ability to forage for nutrients and water by giving it access to a greater proportion of the soil and in turn this will ensure yield potential is maintained from the outset. Conversely, he points out that in a phosphate shortfall scenario, the yield potential of the crop will be reduced irreparably. Remembering that phosphate is effectively immobile in the soil and recognising the dual benefits of placing N and P together there is a compelling case to opt for one of the starter fertiliser options available to growers. DAP (18-46-0) is probably the most commonly used product for this purpose. This is an ammonium phosphate and therefore will offer the benefits discussed earlier, however the ratio is only really appropriate for soils at index 1 or below. At index 2 or above, Mr Kerr suggests alternatives that will supply less P without compromising on the amount of N applied. If it is not possible to place the fertiliser, then incorporation into the seedbed will be the next best approach. Micro granular fertilisers are an option based on ammonium phosphate, but it is worth checking that you are getting what you want or need. Availability of nutrients The main advantage of micro-granular products is the increased availability of nutrients through a much greater surface area, he adds. Applying the same weight of a conventional granular fertiliser provides up to 400% less surface area of fertiliser. "Consequently micro granular products can buffer the soils capacity to supply P much quicker than a standard 2-4mm sized granular fertiliser." He observes that five years ago it was not that easy to find seed drills with an option to apply fertiliser along with the seed. However today the opposite is true and the choice of application equipment is both wide and relatively low-cost. When it comes to additional application equipment, the investment required to place liquid fertilisers can be the most significant. "However, this is not always the case and those used to handling liquid fertilisers may already have some of the necessary components. Liquid fertiliser in solution is by definition 100% soluble and therefore rapidly available. "Phosphate is again normally supplied in the ammonium phosphate form, offering the combined benefits already mentioned. Solutions are also available in different ratios, offering the flexibility to apply appropriate quantities of P along with the N. "Liquid fertiliser is normally applied in bands delivering concentrated doses of N and P in and around the rooting zone. Whilst this is by no means an exhaustive list, he points out that the benefits of fertiliser application techniques based on a sound, science based understanding of nutrient availability are sufficiently well understood for the farming industry to invest in and adopt. The sale process is being conducted by Ernst & Young through Don Manifold and has come close to being finalised with an agreement in April this year that would have seen China-based Dakang Australia Holdings, backed by Shanghai Pengxin, buy the cattle station operation that spans from the Kimberley in WA to Queensland's Channel country. What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you Mara Wilson's decision to come out as "bi/queer" after the shooting at Orlando gay nightclub Pulse was "an emotional decision". Mara Wilson [Twitter] The 29-year-old actress - who was a child star with movies including 'Matilda' and 'Mrs Doubtfire' - took to social media to reveal her sexuality in the wake of the Orlando mass shooting in June, in which 49 people were killed. She told PEOPLE: "It was an emotional decision. "If I had known it was going to trend on Facebook, I don't know that I would have done it just then. But the vast majority of the feedback has been positive." After the shooting in Orlando, Mara shared a picture of herself on her first visit to a gay club at the age of 18 and hinted at her sexuality, saying the LGBTQ community felt like home when she "learned something about myself". She wrote: "Me at a gay club when I was eighteen. I feel embarrassed looking at it now... "Being a "straight girl" where I clearly didn't belong, but I will say, I felt so welcomed there. I have never had a better experience at a club than I did then. Great music and people. And one of my friends met his partner that night! "I haven't been to one since college, except once when a friend brought me along. I didn't feel like I belonged there. "But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself (sic)." She added: "I *used* to identify as mostly straight. I've embraced the Bi/Queer label lately (sic)." However, she insisted that despite her decision to reveal her sexuality on Twitter, she still planned to remain "pretty private" about her relationships. She said: "Your support is much appreciated. I will say, though, I'm still gonna be pretty private about my relationships, as I always have been." Mara recently wrote a memoir, 'Where Am I Now? - True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame' which tells of her time as a child star and her life afterwards. Natalie Portman is relieved to have left France. Natalie Portman The 35-year-old actress admitted she is happy to have moved back to Los Angeles from Paris, where she had been living with her French husband Benjamin Millepied and their son Aleph, because people in America are much friendlier. Speaking to chat show host Jimmy Kimmel, she said: "Everyone smiles a lot here - it's very nice. They're very cool in France. "I got here and I was so surprised when you get in an elevator and someone starts a conversation ... or someone would smile at my child." Natalie also claimed that there are too many rules and codes in France for her to follow and shared some advice a friend gave her. She said: "There's a lot of rules of politeness and codes of behaviour there that you have to follow. When you go in some place, you have to say 'Bonjour' before you say anything else, and then you have to wait two seconds before you say anything else. If you don't follow this protocol. They'll think you're super rude and then they'll be rude to you." Natalie and Benjamin, 39, moved to Paris when he was appointed dance director of Opera de Paris. He left the role after 15 months and they have now returned to America. The 2016 Venice International Film Festival is almost upon us and we are set to enjoy another varied and exciting programme. La La Land The festival gets underway next week and we take a look at the handful of films that we are looking forward to the most. - Light Between Oceans Light Between Oceans is one of the movies that is already being tipped as a potential early Oscar contender - even though it is only August and the Oscars really are a very long way off. The Light Between Oceans is a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by M.L. Stedman and marks the return of Derek Cianfrance to the director's chair. He has also penned the film's screenplay. This is only the third feature film of Cianfrance's directing career and comes after success with Brother Tied, Blue Valentine, and The Place Beyond the Pines. He really is one of the most exciting filmmakers around and it is great to see him back in the director's chair. Light Between Oceans sees Cianfrance team up with both Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander for the first time as they play husband and wife, Tom and Isabel. Fassbender and Vikander are two of the most in-demand actors and I cannot wait to see them share the screen together. Rachel Weisz completes the impressive trio of stars as she takes on the role of Hannah Roennfeldt. The Light Between Oceans tells the powerful story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Australia who discover a baby adrift in a rowboat. When they decide to raise the child as their own, the consequences of their choice will change their lives forever. We are huge fans of both Vikander and Fassbender here at FemaleFirst and The Light Between Oceans could be a movie that sees them in the Oscar race once again. It really is promising to be one of the must-see movies of the autumn and will not be released in the UK until the beginning of November. - Nocturnal Animals Nocturnal Animals is another November movie that is also whipping up a storm and it will screen In Competition at the festival. The movie sees Jake Gyllenhaal return to the big screen as he teams up with Amy Adams - Nocturnal Animals is one of two films that Adams stars in at this year's festival. As well as great talent in from of the camera, Nocturnal Animals boasts a great filmmaker as Tom Ford is back in the director's chair. This is only the second feature film of Ford's career and comes seven years after he made his debut with A Single Man back in 2009. As well as being in the director's chair, Ford has also penned the film's screenplay, which is based on the book Tony and Susan by Austin Wright. Gyllenhaal and Adams take on the central roles of Tony Hastings and Susan Morrow and are joined on the cast list by Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon, and Laura Linney - it really is an impressive and talented cast list that has been assembled. An art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband's novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale. Could Nocturnal Animals follow in the footsteps of A Single Man and be an Oscar contender? I guess we are going to have to wait and see. - Jackie Natalie Portman already has one Best Actress Oscar win under her belt... but she could be in the race again with her latest film Jackie. Portman is set to take on the role of Jackie Kennedy in the new biopic film, which sees the actress team up with filmmaker Pablo Larrain. Jackie is the seventh feature film of Larrain's career and the first since Neruda. This is also the first collaboration between the filmmaker and the Oscar-winning actress. Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, and Max Casella all join Portman on the cast list. The movie follows Jackie Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Jackie is set to screen In Competition at the festival and will be a movie that's not to be missed. It will go on to also screen at the Toronto International Film Festival later in September. - Hacksaw Ridge One of the Out of Competition films to watch out for is Hacksaw Ridge because it sees Mel Gibson back in the director's chair. Gibson has brought us movies such as Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ during his directing career and Hacksaw Ridge is his directorial effort since Apocalypto back in 2006. The movie tells the story of US Army medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Andrew Garfield is set to take on the central role of Doss as he tackles the war genre for the first time. Gibson has brought together a terrific cast as Hugo Weaving, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, and Rachel Griffiths are all also set to star. Hacksaw Ridge is set to receive its world premiere at the festival and will, no doubt, be one of the most talked about movies on this year's programme. - Voyage of Time It is always exciting when a Terrence Malick movie is on the horizon and his latest film Voyage of Time will also receive its world premiere at the festival. Voyage of Life sees Malick tackle the documentary/drama genre as he returns to the director's chair for the first time since Knight of Cups. Malick has brought us films such as Tree of Life and The Thin Red Line and is a filmmaker that has worked sparingly during his nearly fifty-year career. Voyage of Time will compete for the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival as it screens In Competition. The movie, which will be narrated by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett - both will narrate different versions of the film - explores the birth and death of the known universe. Voyage of Time is one of the few documentaries that are on this programme this year and looks set to be one of the most thought-provoking films at the festival this year. As a long-standing Malick fan, I cannot wait to see what he delivers with Voyage of Time. - La La Land La La Land will be the film that kicks off this year's Venice International Film Festival as Damien Chazelle returns to the director's chair. Chazelle whipped up a storm last year with Whiplash and La La Land is his first feature since that huge success. La La Land sees him mix elements of comedy, drama, and musical and it is great to see him back. As well as being in the director's chair, Chazelle has also shown off his writing skills, having penned the screenplay. The movie sees Emma Stone reunite with Ryan Gosling for their third film together, while John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe, Tom Everett Scott, and Josh Pence are also on board. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. La La Land is a movie that is already whipping up some excitement and is already being tipped as a potential Oscar contender. It really is set to be one of the films not to miss over the coming months and will be a film that's set to feature heavily during the autumn festival season. The Venice Film Festival 2016 runs from 31st August - 10th September. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Name: Israeli food festival at Aloft, Bengaluru Address: Aloft Bengaluru, Cessna Business Park, Sarjapur-Marathahalli, Outer Ring Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560103. Phone Number: +91 80 4510 1010 Ambience: Nook, the high-ceilinged coffeeshop, at the Aloft Bengaluru, is an airy restaurant that provides a welcoming setting with its earthy colour scheme of nudes, fresh green and brown. What we ate: The Taste of Israel food festival curated by Chef Shachar Aschengrau presents dishes that can be loosely grouped under the label of modern Israeli cuisine, which is influenced by Mediterranean, Arabic and East European cultures. To start off, we tried Chef Aschengraus perfectly baked foccacia bread with tahini, tzatziki and hummus. The Chef, along with his little helpers, his two daughters, whipped up fresh hummus for us, a grainy, creamy chickpea dip, drizzled with the nutty flavours of extra virgin olive oil. His wife, the Consul General of Israel for South India, Yael Hashavit, was there to cheer him on. Chef Aschengrau says most of the dishes he has created for the festival are everyday dishes and like in India, in Israel too, food is as important as are families. You can tuck in heartily because the food here is a health-fanatics delight. The buffet counter groans with fresh saladsfrom the Israeli vegetable saladfinely diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, cabbage, radish, coloured peppers, mixed seeds, olive oil, lemon and seasoning to pickles, to different flavours of hummusbeetroot and pumpkin, and lots of lightly spiced vegetables. We tried an excellent beetroot carpaccio and eggplants, slit in half and cooked just enough, with a filling of walnuts, herbs, peppers, garlic and grated carrots. The famous shwarma, the street food thats eaten on the go, was presented with grilled paneer between a fluffy pita, filled with pickles, peppers, hummus, tahini and parsley. We also tried a full cauliflower, spiced and sprinkled with herbs and grilled to perfection, its crunchy texture intact. Chef Aschengrau has created about 200 dishes for this festival and released a book of about 100 typical Israeli dishes. Youll find plenty of vegetarian dishes, flavoured delicately with spices that the Chef has brought from his home country. He says, he uses local produce and lets the vegetables talk, with the spices only playing supporting roles to bring out their inherent flavours. Okra, pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage, turnips, mushrooms, corn, lettuce are all cooked lightly, with a hint of flavours of sumac, garlic and paprika. Satiate your carb cravings with a wide variety of breads and the biryani-like majaddara, a dish made with bulgur/rice, brown lentils and spiced with pepper, cumin, fried onions. Indulge your sweet tooth with colourful desserts, marzipan, flaky pastry deep fried and dipped in sugar syrup, sahlab (a pudding garnish with pomegranate syrup and pistachios, basbousa (a semolina cake), the poppy seed cake and the pink coconut. Price points: Rs 1,099 per head (inclusive of taxes but exclusive of alcohol). CAST: Kevin Spacey, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Garner, Robbie Amell, Cheryl Hines, Malina Weissman, Consuelos, Teddy Sears, Talitha Bateman DIRECTION: Barry Sonnenfeld GENRE: Comedy DURATION: 1 hour 28 minutes Story: Tom Brand (Spacey) is a high-rolling business big shot and while he has achieved business success, his personal relationships are in the doldrums. He has an estranged young daughter Rebecca (Weissman) and wife Lara (Garner). He gets a shot at mending things with his daughter on her birthday but on visiting a pet shop run by Felix Perkins (Walken) the cat that he buys seems to trade souls with him. Felix is a bit more than meets the eye and tells Brand that he has a limited time to get back to his family or remain in feline form forever. Review: It goes without having the need to elaborate that Kevin Spacey is a man of massive acting talent, having essayed a number of roles throughout his long career. This however, would have to be among his most unusual - left of centre, if you will. And then there is the delightful Christopher Walken, who plays a shop owner but who is really some kind of a sorcerer. Spacey is a man of massive acting talent, having essayed a number of roles throughout his long career. This however, would have to be among his most unusual - left of centre, if you will. And then there is the delightful Christopher Walken, who plays a shop owner but who is really some kind of a sorcerer.The film essentially rides on the humour, Spacey's dry wit and wry asides, as he at first struggles to come to terms that he is now a cat. The primary funny bits lie in how he does his damnedest to connect with his daughter and convey what his predicament now is. Whether he succeeds or not, is left for you to see. Garner does come across as a bit overshadowed here. But then, Nine Lives isn't about her character, as it isn't central to the script. So, the cinematography might not exactly blow you away, but what is refreshing is being able to see Spacey - an actor usually known for his intensity (think American Pie, and Usual Suspects) - play such a lighthearted role. And it is always a delight to see the eccentric talents of Walken being strutted out on screen. This is a simple movie, with a simple little moral and not one to be dissected and examined frame by frame. There is humour, there is fun and Nine Lives is honestly, quite enjoyable. It will put a smile on your face. In the second quarter of 2016, annualised gross merchandise value or GMV of Indian online stores dropped 5-10 per cent to $13 billion, due to fewer discounts offered by major online retailers. GMV refers to total sales clocked on an ecommerce website, while the quarterly or monthly GMV figure is forecast for the full year to get to the annualised GMV."While a strong growth pattern was noticeable in 2015, the annualised GMV run rate for Indian online stores declined sharply in both the quarters of 2016, RedSeer Consulting founder Anil Kumar told media in New Delhi. In the second quarter of 2016, annualised gross merchandise value or GMV of Indian online stores dropped 5-10 per cent to $13 billion, due to fewer discounts offered by major online retailers. GMV refers to total sales clocked on an ecommerce website, while the quarterly or monthly GMV figure is forecast for the full year to get to the annualised GMV.# According to Kumar, the GMV run rate has dipped from $17 billion in the last quarter of 2015 to $14 billion in the first three months of 2016, falling further to $13 billion in the April to June quarter.For the third quarter of 2016, Kumar expects GMV to be flat over the same period of 2015, while he forecasts the last quarter GMV to reach $17 billion, mainly due to the festive season.He however expressed optimism by saying that GMV is projected to grow at a CAGR of 50-60 per cent to $80-100 billion by 2020, driven by increasing internet penetration and growing disposal incomes. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Indian cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pune are amongst the top 10 cities with highest Retail Sales Growth Forecast, according to a latest report . With further liberalisation of the FDI policy and creation of business friendly environment, there is little doubt that India is becoming an attractive destination for global retailers. The growing potential of Indian retail market is manifested by the entry of some of the marquee global retailers in last one year. India has become a key market for global retailers and they are focusing on the growing opportunities in the country, says the report by JLL titled Destination Retail 2016. The JLL Global Cross Border Retailer Attractiveness Index 2016 (part of the report) ranks 140 global cities based on the presence of 240 global retail brands in those cities. These cities combined, account for 36 per cent of the world's GDP and over $15 trillion of consumer spend. London takes the top spot with the highest presence of global brands. It is followed by Hong Kong at second rank and Paris at the third place. New Delhi tops the rank of Indian cities. It stood 92nd followed by Mumbai which ranked 109. Indian cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pune are amongst the top 10 cities with highest Retail Sales Growth Forecast, according to a latest report. With further liberalisation of the FDI policy and creation of business friendly environment, there is little doubt that India is becoming an attractive destination for global retailers.# While it comes as no surprise to see cities from developed countries at the top of the list, what is surprising is that cities even from other developing countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam rank hugely higher than Indian cities Bangkok is ranked 13, Jakarta 24, Manila 29, and Ho Chi Minh City 37. However, the report predicts that the abysmally low presence of global brands in India is a situation likely to change due to faster economic growth, rising affluence and consumerism, supportive government policies, and enhanced flow of capital to the retail real estate sector. Already, there has been a surge in the number of global retailers entering the country this year. Aeropostale, The Gap, and The Children's Place entered in partnership with Arvind Lifestyle Brands. Topshop and Topman will retail their products on Jabong.com. Hennes and Mauritz became the first global retailer to enter India after the government approved 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail and plans to double the number of its stores in the country from six currently to 12 by year-end. The rising affluence of the Indian consumer, the improving business sentiment and its percolation into the real economy is further prompting global retailers to shed their 'wait and watch' stance to aggressively evaluate opportunities for expansion in one of the world's fastest growing retail markets. And we hope soon that Indian cities will move up the scale in ranking on the Global Cross Border Retailer Attractiveness Index, says the report. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India VF Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, has completed the sale of its Contemporary Brands businesses to Tel Aviv, Israel based Delta Galil Industries. Splended, Ella Moss, and 7 for All Mankind are the three brands that are included in the transaction. The completion of sale follows the June 30, 2016 announcement by VF that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Delta Galil regarding the sale of these businesses. The acquisition is projected to add over $300 million in apparel marketer Delta Galil's top line annual sales and is expected to be accretive to Delta Galil's earnings in 2017. VF Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, has completed the sale of its Contemporary Brands businesses to Tel Aviv, Israel based Delta Galil Industries. Splended, Ella Moss, and 7 for All Mankind are the three brands that are included in the transaction.# Founded in 2000, 7 For All Mankind offers a full range of denim lifestyle products plus sportswear, footwear, eyewear, handbags, belts and kids that complement its core business. Its products are distributed globally through high-end department stores, its own retail locations and a robust e-commerce channel. Splendid is known for its luxury knit products using soft fabrics, sexy fit and modern styling. Ella Moss is an ultra-feminine knit tops and dresses collection featuring print and pattern-driven products in bright colours. VF will continue to have some large brands in its diversified portfolio. These include The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Wrangler, Lee and Nautica. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has appreciated the government's decision of releasing the outstanding sales tax refund amounting to Rs 21.44 billion by August 31, 2016, against RPO's issued until April 30, 2016. But it also urged the government to address other challenges on priority, which was hurting the viability of textile sector.According to chairman of APTMA Tariq Saud, the textile sector will be able to compete with competitor countries and also become viable, if the government addresses these issues. The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has appreciated the government's decision of releasing the outstanding sales tax refund amounting to Rs 21.44 billion by August 31, 2016, against RPO's issued until April 30, 2016. But it also urged the government to address other challenges on priority, which was hurting the viability of textile sector.# The target of 6 percent growth by 2018 for the textile sector set by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be possible, only if offered a level playing field to compete with regional competitor countries, the chairman added.Saud also hailed the government's decision to pay all pending refunds by October 15, 2016 for all RPO's issued until June 30, 2016. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India An interview by Salman Khan's rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur came as a shocker recently where she said that she is only friends with Salman and there is no love between them. When her ''just friends'' comment went viral on the internet, Iulia took to Instagram and wrote, "When the press doesn't have new subjects they take very old interviews, just to have titles. Copy- paste era." So, the Romanian beauty has finally revealed that she is in no mood to friendzone Salman. Iulia is currently accompanying Salman on the shooting of Kabir Khan's Tubelight in Leh. Click on the slider below to see some really gorgeous pictures of Iulia. Iulia Vantur Iulia Vantur was born in 1980 and is 35 years of age. This means that she is 15 years younger to Bollywood's superstar Salman Khan, who turned 50 in December 2015. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur with a friend.) TV Presenter Salman Khan's lady love, Iulia Vantur completed her education in the Faculty of Law and started working as a model and a TV presenter at a very tender age. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur.) TV Shows Not many people know that Iulia Vantur had hosted morning news and also a popular Romanian TV show, Dancing with Stefan Banica.' (In Pic-Salman Khan's alleged girlfriend Iulia Vantur.) Iulia's Marriage According to reports, Salman Khan's love interest, Iulia Vantur was married to famous director, producer and musician Marius Moga. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur.) Separation Reportedly, Iulia Vatur was separated from her husband, Marius Moga in the year 2009. Later, she fell in love with actor Salman Khan. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur snapped while holidaying.) First Meeting If reports are to be believed, Iulia Vantur met her dream lover Salman Khan when he was shooting for Sohail Khan's film Jai Ho. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur posing for a selfie.) Item Number Iulia Vantur appeared in an item number in O Teri, a Bollywood comedy film starring Pulkit Samrat. The movie was a box office failure. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur posing for the pictures.) Salman-Iulia A recent report in a leading web portal revealed"Iulia is not from India. She's still taking her time to get used to all this attention on her. Initially she would get irritated and angry on all the news stories surrounding her and Salman. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur.) Iulia-Salman's Affair The report also stated, ''But she has finally made her peace with it. She has realised that this is the price she will have to pay for being close to Salman." (In Pic-Iulia Vantur.) Salman & Iulia's Relationship "Iulia is someone special and he's definitely investing a lot in this relationship. They both are taking baby steps and being careful as to not let this fizzle out by making the mistakes they might have made in their previous relationships,'' the report added. (In Pic-Iulia Vantur.) Not so long ago, a report in a leading daily suggested that the alleged couple might tie the knot by the end of the year. Also Read: Wow! Shahid Kapoor & Mira Rajput Welcome Baby Girl; Bollywood Congratulates The Parents The report, in form of a blind item stated, "So the not-young and single superstar may well be married by the year's end. The forever bachelor has decided that nuff's nuff. We hear his current girlfriend, a foreigner, may soon end up being the most powerful woman in the film biz. Not an enviable spot, we assure you, for it isn't her love that will make him pop ring. Rather it's his ailing mum, who wants to see her baby boy well taken care of." At an event media asked Salman Khan if it's true that he is getting married to Iulia Vantur. Salman, who looked annoyed and disappointed said, "Why should I tell you about my marriage? I don't even know your name! I'll tweet about it! Understand? "I would keep the marriage thing between me and my fans." Shoojit Sircar is in news these days because of his next film Pink. In a recent interview, he revealed that Amitabh Bachchan is an intelligent actor as he said 'yes' to the movie in just five minutes. Director-producer Shoojit Sircar told Indian Express, "We were thinking about whom to cast in this lawyer role. Meanwhile, Piku was about to complete. So we were discussing why not cast Amitabh Bachchan in this role. I messaged him about the film and told him that I want to cast him in this lawyer's role and said I think he should be part of it. Amitabh Bachchan is an intelligent actor. He just heard five minutes of the narration and said let's shoot.'' Talking about the script of the movie, he said, "Ritiesh (Shah) is the spine of the script. The casting of the girls was not hard but to define the characters was difficult. How to conceive the characters and how a working girl in Delhi faces different situations, how a lawyer argues in session court, all these things had to be created. I would give all credits to the writer." Also Read: Whoa! Iulia Vantur Denies Being ''Just Friends'' With Salman Khan; Read What She Said! "Pink is hard-hitting. Therefore, when one line was narrated to us, we thought this is a very apt film to be set in Delhi. My most films are based on this city and as I have stayed in Delhi, I know the place and the people well. Pink is an important film for our generation and we think it is the time to initiate a debate on this," he said. The promo for the next season of Bigg Boss is out and it promises to create 'history' this time. Apparently, the tenth season of the reality show will have no celebrities but only ordinary people featuring on it. The promo has piqued a lot of interest as it features Salman Khan in an astronaut suit landing on the moon. He discloses the new twist saying, "Ab aam public aa rahi hain pehli baar in Bigg Boss. Toh create hogi history, par kya hoga, that is the mystery. Bigg Boss Season 10 with common women and men." (The common public is coming to Bigg Boss for the first time. History will be created, but what will happen, that is the mystery.) Raj Nayak, CEO of Colors, shared the promo on his Twitter account. It is said that the suit was designed by designer Ashley Rebello for the promo. Reports suggest that Khan will be provided a mini house to stay during the weekend shoot with a gym and maybe even a place for his dogs. Speaking to The Times of India, Salman had earlier said, This year Bigg Boss is going to be the most stressful one for me. This season is going to have celebrities, stars and also the common man. It is going to be very challenging as people from different sectors are going to be a part of it. Earlier reports had suggested that the Santosh Bateshwar Ray, the man who had filed a case against actor Govinda for slapping him a few years ago will also be a part of the show. Apparently even Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch was approached for the show before she was killed in an unfortunate honour killing case. The show, that will air on Colors, might be launched by October. Watch the promo here: Imagine a little kid born in Kerala being named Dawood Ibrahim by his parents. Life for him would perhaps be even more challenging than it was for an African-American with the middle name Hussein and a surname that rhymes with Osama in post-9/11 America. Little Dawood Ibrahim of our story grows up to be a policeman and is sent off to Kollanahalli village on the Kerala-Karnataka border. It is the kind of posting assigned to no-gooders, not to a promising new entrant. The police station in Kollanahalli is dilapidated, the facilities there so unused that when a phone rings for the first time in years, the lizard that had made the instrument its home is startled. Nothing but petty crime goat and chicken thefts take place in this outback of Gods Own Country, and all scores are settled by and within the community. That is, until Inspector Dawood Ibrahim takes matters into his own hands. Whatever it is you think happens next, you are wrong. The opening scenes of debutant writer-director Sajid Yahiyas Inspector Dawood Ibrahim imply that we are in for a hardcore masala film with an invincible cop at the helm, Jayasurya doing a Suriya in Singham style, complete with slow-mo, swagger and a signature song. Wrong again. Inspector Dawood Ibrahim (abbreviated in the title to IDI, which is also the Malayalam word for a blow/punch) is a clever spoof on regular commercial cop dramas clever, because it is designed to please consumers of unabashedly massy fare as much as those who are cynical about such content. And so, it features plenty of biff, boom, bang, loud music and dialoguebaazi, but each time you think it is about to fall into a formulaic rut, each time you wonder if it has begun to take itself seriously, it turns around and laughs at itself in the face. It takes a while for the film to reveal its intentions, but once it does IDI is a fun ride right down to the sidesplitting ending. Note of caution: you had better stay glued to the screen in the climactic fight, because if you miss that split-second flash of a throne turning to something else and then back, you may miss the realisation that at this point too, nothing may be what it seems. Jayasurya, who is currently also in theatres with the comparatively insipid Pretham, is a joy to watch as a policeman whose circumstances are scoffing at him. It is always nice to see such a major star in self-deprecating mode. In this particular instance, the star is taking the mickey out of not just his own role or his own film, but all commercial police films across Indian industries. He embodies the films Dawood: striking, good-looking, perfectly suited to those low-angle shots that build him up as an imposing figure, filled with hopes of vanquishing villains to a resounding background score, only to realise that real life is not a mainstream Indian movie. The rest of the cast do precisely what they are required to do: Yog Japee as the international don Akbar Ali and Saiju Kurup as the crook operating in Mangalore overact appropriately. Joju George as the local petty criminal Vasu is by turns fearsome and fearful. Sunil Sukhada and Molly Kannamaly cracked me up in their roles as Dawoods sidekicks Kuttanpilla and Angel Mary. Thanks to them, never again will I be able to see an incoming call from an unknown caller on my phone without doubling up with laughter. Yes it is true that their looks are used here as metaphors for the decrepit Kollanahalli police station, but to be fair, IDI does not pick on anyone in particular, it picks on everyone. If you must be non-PC, this is how you do it. IDIs dialogue writing by Arouz Irfan (who co-wrote the screenplay with Yahiya) is smart and cocks a snook at so many cliches. Even the smattering of potty jokes are bearable because the film never lets up on its self-effacing tone. I am not sure the English lines dished out by Akbar Ali were intentionally awkward, but wittingly or unwittingly they have ended up matching his wannabe-grandiose character. There are plenty of plot points that can be viewed as weak links in IDI, including the ludicrous implausibility of a gangster sought after by Interpol deciding to personally respond to a summons of sorts by an unknown cop in a deserted outpost, yet it works. Because every apparent weak link could also be explained away as an attempt to underline the inherent stupidity in most commercial films about police and undercover spies that we are willing to buy into when the film effectively compels us to suspend disbelief. I mean, cmon, weve bought into the efficacy of Tom Cruise/Ethan Hunts many disguises in the Mission Impossible series, we have willingly swallowed Bruce Willis/John McClanes physical indestructibility in the Die Hard series, so why would we not accept the probability of a wanted criminal being an idiot or the possibility that a policeman may indeed only always blink in slow motion? And why would we not believe that there is no weapon more lethal in this world than a Malayali mans mundu? The films major failing is its extreme male-centricity, extreme even by the low gender-related standards of commercial Indian cinema. Ninety per cent of the scenes in IDI do not feature even a female extra? Sshivada plays a spunky IIM-Ahmedabad graduate called Nithya Niranjan who bases herself in Kollanahalli because she wants to make a difference. That one scene in which she bashes up two cowering crooks is enough proof of the actress and the characters potential to elevate IDI, yet Yahiya uses her as the only thing heroines are meant to be when seen through a blinkered male gaze: the heros love interest. Even that angle gets short shrift. Crime and cop flicks tend to be male-centric, but some of the best of the lot the ones that have risen above the formulae this film is parodying have given women substantial, even if not primary, roles. What would the Suriya-starrer Kaakha Kaakha have been without Jyothika and the character she played? Would Ghajini (the original Tamil version with Suriya or the Hindi remake with Aamir Khan) have been the same without the depth and space given to Asins character? Women are not mere asides to be loved or lamented you know, Mr Yahiya. Obviously this is a potential element lost to IDI. The films production design by Rajeev Kovilakam and cinematography by Sujith Sarang are effective. Sarang, for one, manages to successfully convey the desolation of Kollanahalli within picturesque surroundings. Dawoods booming theme music by Rahul Raj is in keeping with the mood of the film, but none of the songs is memorable. For the most part though, Inspector Dawood Ibrahim is an interesting police flick, a hysterical spoof of the genre and of itself. Even its over-the- top-ness is a mockery of over-the- topness. The pride and flourish with which the protagonist refers to the Kerala Police is a reminder of the parochialism, regionalism and nationalism often summoned up to earn wolf whistles in films of this genre. Remember the repeated referencing of Marathi pride in the Hindi version of Singham starring Ajay Devgn? Know this from IDI: you can bash up a Kerala policeman, bring him to his knees, abduct the father he loves and terrorise the old man, but God forbid that you should insult his uniform. Hell hath no fury like a Malayali cop whose khaki topi you are about to step on. Of course it is all very silly and OTT. It is thoroughly entertaining though because it does not pretend to be anything but that, because it manages to not be condescending at any point, and most of all because within the realm of silliness it does not insult our intelligence. Telugu filmstar and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan is all set to address a public meeting in Tirupati on Saturday after a long gap, arousing curiosity about the sudden purpose of the event. Of late, Kalyan has not spoken anything on issues concerning the state and he has not tweeted anything after 30 April though he became a subject of criticism on social media over his continued silence on the special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Kalyan had been a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has remained rather "friendly" with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. His only recent statement on the special status issue was when he met former CM of Karnataka Kumara Swamy in Hyderabad on 20 August. "It is a sensitive issue and I will respond at an appropriate time," Kalyan said that day. It is expected that he may come out clearer on the issue at the public meeting on Saturday. Kalyan had been camping in the temple town of Tirupati for the last two days. On Thursday, he visited the family of his fan and Jana Sena worker Y Vinod Kumar who was allegedly stabbed to death by the fans of another film star NTR Jr. Kalyan grieved the death and consoled Vinod's family and was distraught to know that the engineering student had plans of flying to the US for further studies. On Friday, the star visited Tirumala Hills and worshipped Lord Venkateswara. Reports suggest that the actor, who is rarely spotted at religious places, visited the temple to pray for his fan's departed soul. On Saturday evening he will address the public meeting at Indira grounds but there is no clarity yet on why the meeting is being organised without any formal announcement. He is expected to be the only speaker for the evening. "We will take a decision on giving permission for the event depending on the prevailing conditions. Our staff is just returning from Pushkaram duties," Tirupati Urban SP Vijayalakshmi said. With inputs from PTI Janatha Garage is all set to hit the screens worldwide on 1 September, after the bilingual movie received a U/A certificate from the censor board, according to International Business Times. Directed by Kortala Siva, Janatha Garage releases as Vismayam in Malayalam and features Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr (Junior NTR), Mohanlal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Nithya Menen in lead roles. The film created much hype with its trailer release on Eid last month. Watch: The 'Janatha Garage' teaser is out, and it's a perfect Eid gift for Junior NTR fans The makers of the movie also arranged for a special screening of the film on 26 August. According to reports, Janatha Garage has received a fairly positive response post the first screening of the film. Barring few glitches here and there, the film is said to be a commercial entertainer with praises flowing in for NTR and Mohanlal's combination and performances. This Junior NTR and Mohanlal starrer has been one of the most anticipated releases of the year as it brings together the Malayalam superstar and the Telugu hero, who is expected to score big with huge expectations on this project. Mohanlal returned to the Telugu industry after 22 years with Janatha Garage and Manamantha, a multi-lingual film which released earlier this month. The talented actor was previously seen in Gandeevam, released in 1994. Mohanlal in Manamantha shows growing friendship between Malayalam, Telugu films Also, Kajal Aggarwal is said to appear in a guest role and earlier today, her look from the song Pakka Local was revealed. Currently, reports suggest that the cast and crew of Janatha Garage are headed to Kerala to interact with the Malayalam media and audience. However, while the film is the talk of the town, Junior NTR was in the news recently for not-so-great reasons. The actor's fan reporetedly stabbed a Pawan Kalyan follower to death at an organ donation camp in Kolar, Karnataka. Pawan Kalyan follower pays for fandom with life; stabbed by Junior NTR fan post argument New Delhi - Worried about security risks arising out of in-flight selfies, aviation regulator DGCA may soon ask airlines to strictly enforce a ban on taking pictures inside cockpit and at other critical places, including by crew members. While existing rules also put some restrictions on in-flight photography, the regulator will come out with a detailed set of guidelines in a few days in the wake of certain cases coming to the light about possible security risks from clicking cockpit selfies. With increased use of smart devices, there have been many instances of travellers as well as crew members, including pilots, clicking photographs inside flights. Against this backdrop, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working on guidelines for airlines that would cover various aspects of photography inside an aircraft including selfies. A senior DGCA official has said the regulator would be soon coming with a circular in this regard, mostly likely next week. "It will be a safety circular for providing guidance to airlines," the official said, even as he made it clear that there are already rules in place for "photograph at aerodromes or from aircraft in flight". According to the official, the circular would cover issues such as whether photography is permitted in cockpit including selfies. The aspects like at what stage of a flight can ground photography be permitted might also included in the circular, he added. Recently, six pilots of IndiGo came under the scanner of DGCA for allegedly taking pictures in the cockpit with family members. Under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, photography from an aircraft in flight is prohibited unless there is prior permission from authorities concerned. Separatists guerillas on Saturday killed a local policeman in Pulwama district in South Kashmir. A senior police officer told IANS in summer capital Srinagar, "Selection grade constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai was leaving his home in Koil village for duties when a militant appeared and shot him from a close range. The constable died on the spot." Two days back, militant hiding in a mob had launched two grenades at the mob controlling security forces injuring 15 security men, including three officers in the same district. Meanwhile, Kashmir continued to witness casualties on Friday as well with one more youth getting killed and several others getting injured in a clash between protesters and security forces. Curfew was in force in many parts of the Valley to thwart a planned march by separatists. With this death, the toll in the ongoing 49-day unrest has reached 67. Following the prolonged bout of violence and unrest in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the situation in Kashmir. The Valley has been under curfew for past 48 days following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The meeting comes close on the heels of a clear message from the Centre to the chief minister to control the growing unrest in the state. According to official sources, Mehbooba has been conveyed in no uncertain terms that there was a need for putting an end to the cycle of violence which has claimed 67 lives so far in the protest. This is the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the Valley on 8 July. Mehbooba has been under fire for failing to control the violence as the Centre has made it clear that law and order was a state subject. Mehbooba had strongly defended security forces action on Thursday during a press conference and had said "People came on streets, we imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk..." She had said "Today 95 per cent who have been killed are youngsters belonging to poor families. They were killed in retaliation for attacking security camps... The situations of 2010 and present cannot be compared." She claimed that 95 percent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but five per cent people were resorting to agitation. Meanwhile, on Friday, curfew was extended to several areas of Kashmir to foil a planned march by separatists to Eidgah in old city area. Curfew was extended to entire Srinagar district, Pulwama district and south Kashmir towns of Shopian and Anantnag. North Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Pattan and Handwara were also placed under curfew while restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley, police said. Normal life remained paralysed for the 49th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq attempted to take out processions to Eidgah but both were detained just when they left their residences where they are under house arrest. Mirwaiz, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, tried to take out the march along with his supporters from his Nigeen residence but was taken into custody. He was later shifted to Chashma Shahi Guest House. Geelani, chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, was also taken into custody as he tried to defy the house arrest orders, a police official said. With inputs from PTI and IANS Bhubaneswar: Admitting lapses by hospital and security staff that led to a tribal man in Kalahandi to walk 10 km with his wife's corpse on his shoulder, the Odisha government on Friday said stringent action would be taken against the guilty. "It (the incident) is very distressing. We have ordered an inquiry and stringent action will be taken against those who are responsible," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in Bengaluru where he is attending Odisha Investors Meet, 2016. District Collector of Kalahandi Brundha D told reporters at Bhawanipatna that the probe report showed there were "lapses and negligence" on the part of the staff of district headquarter hospital, where the woman was undergoing treatment, and the security agency. Action would be taken against those found responsible for the incident after fixing responsibility, she said, adding steps would also be taken to improve facilities at the hospital. The collector, who had ordered an inquiry into the 24 August incident, also said Dana Majhi had left the hospital with his wife's body in the wee hours of Wednesday without informing anyone at the hospital. The hospital, she said, has a hearse but nobody informed the personnel concerned about the death of the woman or the need to carry the body to his village. The district administration had called the man and recorded his statement, the collector said. Majhi, however, told reporters that he approached the hospital staff but they paid no heed. "I did not want to keep the body of my wife at the hospital for long and left the place for cremation as per tribal rituals at our village," he said. Asked how Majhi was called to Bhawanipatna without being allowed to properly perform a special tribal ritual held on the third day of death, sub-collector Sukanta Tripathy said it was essential to record Majhi's statement for the inquiry. "Moreover, we also wanted to give the media an opportunity to speak to him and get his version," he said. The incident triggered nation-wide outcry after Majhi, accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, was seen walking with his wife's body on his shoulder on being allegedly denied a hearse by the hospital. An ambulance was arranged only after he had covered 10 km to take the body to his home at Melghara village, about 60 km from Bhawanipatna. Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, National Human Rights Commission issued notice to the state government seeking a report, while Odisha Human Rights Commission sent notice to the district collector and chief district medical officer of Kalahandi asking them to submit a report on the episode. The ruling BJD described the incident as shameful and unfortunate. "There can be no excuse as the incident was shameful. However, government is not trying to shield anyone. Stringent action will be taken against those found guilty," BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said. Congress, which burnt effigies of the chief minister and the health minister here during the day, demanded resignation of both for the "inhuman" incident on moral ground. Alleging that health services in the state had collapsed, Odisha PCC President Prasad Harichandan told reporters that following the "inhuman" incident both the chief minister and health minister have the lost moral right to remain in office and must step down forthwith. Harichandan said a fact-finding team of Congress would visit Kalahandi tomorrow. Congress supporters also gheraoed the office of chief district medical officer at Bhawanipatna demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for Majhi's family. A large number of party supporters took part in the protest organised by Kalahandi district Congress. The incident also drew protests from other political parties, including BJP and Samajwadi Party which staged demonstrations in the state capital and demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved family. Terming the incident as "shameful and inhuman", BJP leader Sajjan Sharma and Samajwadi Party state president Rabi Behera said the dignity of the dead must be maintained. The CPI state unit demanded dismissal of the collector and CDMO of Kalahandi, saying they should be held responsible for the "inhuman" incident. "As the district collector and CDMO had not sent the ambulance to carry the body of Dana Majhi's wife, they should be punished," CPI state secretary Dibakar Nayak said in a statement. Jammu: Congress on Saturday condemned Pakistan for "fomenting trouble" in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded "immediate measures" to end the current unrest in the Valley. "Jammu Congress today held a meeting in which the party leadership strongly condemned Pakistan for fomenting trouble taking advantage of the situation and demanded immediate effective measures to end the current unrest in order to defeat the designs of inimical forces," a party spokesman said. "The party leaders expressed grave concern over the grim situation in the valley, which is under curfew for the last 49 days with unrest and incidents of violence continuing unabated," he added. During the meeting, Congress complimented the people of Jammu "for rejecting all sorts of provocations" and "maintaining peace and religious harmony". The party also appealed to the people "to remain vigilant" and to not allow the "communal, divisive and anti-national forces" to take advantage of the current situation. So far 68 people have died in the protests in Kashmir that began after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on 8 July. As violence in Kashmir entered its 50th day, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, at his 7 Race Course Road residence to apprise him of the security situation in the Valley. According to reports, the Centre took a tough stand with Mehbooba and told her to take control of the law and order situation which is spiralling out of control. The Union government, according to reports, also told the People's Democratic party (PDP) chief that it is a state situation and the state government has to keep it in check. "Mobiles and loudspeakers are being misused to incite violence," Modi told Mufti, according to CNN-News 18. This is the first time that the two leaders have met since the crisis in Kashmir began more than a month ago, with the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on 8 July. Nearly 70 people have been killed in clashes with security forces. Mehbooba, however, asserted that the Centre is equally concerned about the ongoing crisis in Kashmir. Speaking to reporters outside 7 RCR, the chief minister said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like all of us, is very concerned with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil," she told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Modi. Slamming Pakistan for constantly attempting to derail peace measures between the two countries, she said, "Pakistan is not a stakeholder in Kashmir. They have no rights. Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the Valley. Mujhe khushi hai ki Modi ji ne na sirf pehle apni oath ceremony mein Nawaz Sharif sahab ko bulaya, balki khud Lahore chale gaye. Par badkismati ke sath uske baad Pathankot hua (I was very happy when PM Modi invited Nawaz Sharif during his swearing-in ceremony in 2014, and also went to Lahore. But unfortunately, right after that came the Pathankot massacre). Sadly, Pakistan has repeatedly wasted chances to talk and resolve issues. Pichle dinon Kashmir mein haalaat kharab hue, aur Pakistan khulke haalaat ko theek karne ke bajaaye, koshish kar rahe the provocation ho (In the last few days when situation in Kashmir worsened, Pakistan, instead of resolving or helping to resolve the issue, was trying to provoke the youth from across the border)." But Mehbooba did not mention any security measures that will be taken by the state or the central governments to quell the violence and unrest in Kashmir, instead harped on about how Pakistan has been trying to thwart peace talks with India. Modi ji took an initiative, our HM took an initiative, they went to Pakistan, but now its upto Pakistan to respond: J&K CM ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 When asked but whether they found a solution to the ongoing issue and when will the curfew end in the Valley, Mehbooba said, "Curfew is to save lives. What else can we do? Pakistan is provoking Kashmiri youth and it bothers me that children are being used for this purpose." As a mother it bothers me that pple tell children, go stone a police station, that will solve issue: Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/H8DJngCFbN ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Separatists should also come forward and help in saving lives of the innocent youth: J&K Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/sauL6fluYj ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Our children are being misled to become human shields: #MehboobaMufti on #Kashmir after meeting @narendramodi Firstpost (@firstpost) August 27, 2016 Mehbooba also called for talks between interlocutors and all stakeholders on the Kashmir issue to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. "Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi," she said. Mufti also urged the separatists to end violence in the valley. "Separatists should come forward and help Jamuu and Kashmir government in saving innocent lives," she said. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-thirds majority. "If things don't happen during his tenure, it won't happen ever. I believe that Modi ji, who took a bold step of going there, today again says we need to talk to our own people, because people are dying," she said. "Unlike the UPA regime, I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue," she said. She also advised Islamabad to take a leaf out if its former President Pervez Musharraf's Kashmir policy who had opined that the UN resolution on Kashmir had no space in the present world. "Similarly, I will ask Pakistan if they have some concern for the people of Kashmir they should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley," she said. Concluding the press conference, an emotional Mehbooba urged the press to help her to restore peace in the Valley. "Meri madad kijiye (help me). It has just been a couple of months since I assumed the CM's office and all this has started. Help me govern well," she said. Her meeting with the Prime Minister, after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Srinagar, is being seen as the Centre's outreach to the state and an attempt to deescalate the tension in Kashmir. The meeting comes close on the heels of a clear message from the Centre to the chief minister to control the growing unrest in the state. According to official sources, Mehbooba was conveyed in no uncertain terms that there was a need for putting an end to the cycle of violence, which has claimed 67 lives so far. The CM has been under fire for failing to control the violence as the Centre has made it clear that law and order is a state subject. Earlier this week, Modi had a meeting with a delegation of Opposition parties from the state led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah. After that meeting, for the first time, Modi had expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation in the Valley and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in the state. He had also made an appeal for restoration of normalcy in the Valley and emphasised that there has to be a dialogue. In his statement, the Prime Minister had appreciated the "constructive suggestions" made by the Opposition delegation during the talks and reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare of people. Mehbooba had strongly defended security forces action yesterday during a press conference and had said "People came on streets, we imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk..." She had said "Today 95 percent who have been killed are youngsters belonging to poor families. They were killed in retaliation for attacking security camps... The situations of 2010 and present cannot be compared." She claimed that 95 percent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but five per cent people were resorting to agitation. This was the first meeting the Chief Minister had with the Prime minister after the violence broke out in the valley on July 8. With inputs from PTI Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday nominated 22 Pakistani parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight alleged brutalities in Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian security forces. Sharif said that he had decided to send the special envoys to different parts of the world to further the Kashmir cause, CNN-News 18 reported. Sharif said that these special envoys "have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government." "I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September, Sharif was quoted as saying by Dunya News. Sharif stated that Pakistan will remind the United Nations of its long-held promise of self determination to the Kashmiri people and make it clear to India that it was India that approached the bloc several decades back on the issue but not fulfilling its promise. The Kashmir issue is the most persistent failure of the UN, Sharif said. The move can be seen as provocation from Pakistan's side, which has been in a constant tussle with the Indian political leadership over the Kashmir issue recently. Earlier in August, Sharif had also shot off letters to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, urging efforts to end the "persistent and egregious violation of the basic human rights" of the Kashmiri people and also to implement UN Security Council resolutions, a foreign office statement said. "It is an obligation for me as Prime Minister of Pakistan to become the voice of Kashmiris who have been oppressed in Kashmir. I will leave no stone unturned to make the world understand the plight and the legitimate struggle of the people of Kashmir," Sharif had said. India had lashed out at Pakistan for "inciting and supporting" terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and instead asked it to vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) after Islamabad had observed Black Day to condemn the alleged excesses by Indian security forces in Kashmir Valley on 20 July. Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had also said that in view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Pakistan should ensure full safety and security of Indian officials and their families there. In a tit-for-tat retaliation to Pakistan's misadventures in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15 August had reaffirmed India's support to the people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, Gilgit Balistan and Balochistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit on Saturday indicated that Pakistan was ready to discuss the Kashmir issue with India. You all know that we took a step towards having dialogue but that didnt work out: Pak High Cmsnr Abdul Basit pic.twitter.com/lYJfCafZhS ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Abdul Basit, Pak HC in India: We did send invite to India, did not move forward. We do feel talks on Kashmir needed pic.twitter.com/cnKTaDqIRU ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 New Delhi has always accused Islamabad of arming and training militants fighting to secede Jammu and Kashmir from India. however, Pakistan has maintained that it only provides moral and diplomatic backing to the separatist campaign. PM Sharif's comments come as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to apprise him of the security situation in the Valley. After meeting with the PM, Mehbooba slammed Pakistan for provoking youths of the Valley and inciting violence. Curfew in Kashmir entered 50th day even as more than 70 civilians and security personnel have lost their lives in the violence that engulfed the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujhideen commander Burhan Wani on 8 July. With inputs from PTI and IANS New Delhi: The 'whistleblower' behind the Scorpene document leak will hand over the disk containing thousands of pages of data detailing the Indian submarine's stealth and warfare capabilities, to the Australian government on Monday, The Australian newspaper said on Friday. It said that the identity of the unnamed whistleblower is already known to the Australian authorities. The weekend edition of the newspaper said that neither France nor India knew about the leak till Monday afternoon when it sought a comment from French firm DCNS. The paper said whistleblower wants Australia to know that its future submarine partner, France, has already lost control over secret data on India's new submarines. His hope is that this will spur the Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia's $50 billion submarine project does not suffer the same fate, it said. "He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the newspaper said. The newspaper said the story behind this leak may be more of incompetence than espionage, more Austin Powers than James Bond. The Weekend Australian has been told by sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS. Sources say they believe this subcontractor somehow copied the sensitive data from DCNS in France and, along with a French colleague, took it to a Southeast Asian country. If so, he broke the law and may face prosecution, the paper said. The two men worked in that Southeast Asian country carrying out unclassified naval defence work. The speculation is that the data on Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officer's new job, but it is unclear why anyone would risk breaking the law by taking classified data for such a purpose. The two men are then said to have the fallen out with their employer, a private company run by a Western businessman. They were sacked and refused re-entry to their building. At least one of the men asked to retrieve the data on Scorpene but they were refused and the company possibly not knowing the significance of the data held on to it, the newspaper said. The secret data was then sent to the company's head office in Singapore, where the company's IT chief again probably not knowing its significance tried to load it on an internet server for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers. The data was placed on a server on 18 April, 2013, and it was then that it was dangerously vulnerable to hacking or interception by a foreign intelligence service. It is not known whether the data stayed on this server for a few days or for a year. It is not known if any foreign intelligence service obtained it during this time, the paper said. Unable to send such a large file over the net and not knowing the significance of the data, the Singapore company sent it on a data disk by regular post to Sydney. When the recipient, who was experienced in defence issues, opened the file on his home computer he was stunned. He was expecting to read notes on a low-level naval programme, but before him lay the secret capabilities of the new Indian submarine fleet, the report said. The data was not encrypted so he transferred it to an encrypted disk. That evening the man wiped the old disk with special software, grabbed a hammer and smashed it to pieces in his backyard. He placed the new encrypted disk in a locked filing cabinet in his office and there it remained for more than two years, before he decided to show it to the The Australian, the report said. Nalanda: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said universities and institutions of higher learning must be bastions of free speech and expression and debates should be encouraged. At the first convocation of Nalanda University, he said the varsity reflects an idea, a culture which flourished for 1,200 years before it was destroyed in the 13th century. He said that over the years, India has conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate and discussions through the institutions of higher learning. "Dr Amartya Sen in his book 'The Argumentative India' has correctly pointed out that debate and discussion is the ethos, a part of Indian life which cannot be done away with. "Universities and institutes of higher learning are the best forum for debates, discussions, free exchange of views...such atmosphere should be encouraged," Mukherjee said. He said the modern Nalanda should ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts. "Universities must be bastions of free speech and expression. It (Nalanda) must be the arena where diverse and conflicting thoughts contend. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the spaces of this institution. Further, it must act as the flag bearer for co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies," he said. Mukherjee asked the students, who passed out of the varsity today, to progress in life, leaving behind "all narrowness of minds and constricting thoughts". The ruins of the ancient university are located close to the new campus. The MoU on the establishment of Nalanda University has so far been signed by 13 East Asia Summit participating countries and four non-EAS countries. Of late, conversations on gender diversity have found their much deserved place in Indian corporate boardrooms. With the government mandating a woman director on company boards, organisations have made a beeline for capable women leaders who can add strategic value to an institutions growth. Barring a handful of organisations that have embraced diversity in its true spirit, the conversations on diversity in India are largely based on gender and focused on getting more women in the workforce. Pause for a second. Are we not being myopic? Why limit diversity to gender? How many of us work in organisations where we have a colleague who is visually challenged or physically differently-abled on the autism spectrum or is dyslexic? Perhaps with the exception of a few IT companies and diversity champions such as Wipro and TCS which have 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent of their employee workforce with the differently-abled respectively, most organisations have a long way to go. What could be the reasons? The underlying reason is our inability to understand and appreciate those who are different from us. Diversely coded Yet, a few organisations, both large and small, have embedded diversity in their genetic coding. These organisations have hired those who are often rejected as they do not fit the definition of normal. Mirakle Couriers, a for-profit social enterprise founded by Dhruv Lakra, a Said School-Oxford alumnus has 50 hearing challenged employees. The firm, with an impressive roster of clients such as Amazon, IDFC, Writer Corporation and Aditya Birla Group, competes with the big guns of the courier industry on efficiency and cost not sympathy. In an industry where appearance, impression and efficiency is table stakes, Lemon Tree Hotels and Costa Coffee have proven beyond doubt that workplace diversity can thrive in non-technology companies and in customer-facing roles too. How then can we push the envelope and have a truly diverse workforce? It begins by changing our mindset. It is important for us to respect diversity. We need to respect someone not only because he is smart or talented, but also if that person is different. We need to respect difference and move beyond traditional thinking. Organisations can do this by creating an environment of a shared language and values so that diverse people can communicate and exchange ideas with each other. Organisations with diverse workforces rank high among job seekers as it is evident that these organizations do not practice employment discrimination. When an organisation has employees from a truly inclusive and diverse workforce, it enhances creativity, innovation and approach to problem-solving. No longer will the organisation be represented by a homogeneous group, but by people who will think different and have varied life experiences. Globally, across industries, the most creative organisations are those that have moved beyond philanthropic endeavour or desirous of being seen as doing good by hiring diverse folks. These organisations foster a culture of diversity of beliefs, experiences and dont work to normalise everyone. This helps in building the brand reputation of the employer as well as market competitiveness. SAP Labs is committed to having 1 percent of their workforce with employees who are autistic. Indigo Airlines hired a paraplegic employee for a customer facing role and Mphasis has supported the Office of Disability Services at IIM Bangalore as a single point of contact for student with special needs. Lacking in policy Unfortunately, in India, the apathy towards the differently-abled starts right from school. Despite the Right To Education Act, most schools- government or private, find some or the other excuse to keep the differently-abled away. Either it is the lack of infrastructure or teachers who do not have the right training to deal with the differently-abled. The result is a huge population of children growing up as adults just like you and me, eventually taking up senior management roles with absolutely no clue of how to be comfortable around the differently-abled. The data on diversity in organisations is proof of this sad reality. The other challenge is the definition of the word disability. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 is attempting to widen the scope of this definition and address many challenges that could be a harbinger of hope for those who are different. However, the Bill still continues to be in the review stage. Its not enough to have good intent. What is needed is action. Will it once again take another legislation for diversity and inclusion? I strongly believe that is the only way to shake up the system. The Accessible India campaign launched by the BJP Government with an audacious goal of making 50 percent of all government buildings in the national capital region and in state capitals fully accessible with ramps, rails, wheelchair access for the disabled by July 2018 is a good beginning. Private enterprises should also come forward and rejig existing infrastructure for the differently-abled. Disability advocates believe six months are more than adequate to develop a robust plan-to-execution template. In order to usher a cultural change, there is a need to start thinking and acting at the grassroots level sensitize children, teachers and parents; mandate every school to reserve seats for children who are different, because if it were not for Stephen Hawkings extraordinary achievement and talent, chances are we would have seen disability first and not the talent. Did you know that Italy is the only European country that passed a law way back in 1971 which granted children the right to be educated in common schools and over the years abolished special schools thereby enrolling almost all disabled and differently-abled pupils (over 99 percent) in mainstream schools? With more than 27 million differently-abled in India, its high time the government pushes the pedal of reforms for this community of minorities that is immensely talented but lives with a label each day of their life. The author works for RPG Enterprises. He is a student of trends and initiatives on diversity and inclusion in schools and organisations. My neighbours in one of Mumbais uncountable high-rises are a lovely couple with a beautiful infant daughter. The mother is in her early-40s and Ive never seen her pregnant. Knowing the odds stacked against her being Virgin Mary, one day, in a lets-wait-for-the-elevator-till-death-do-us-part kind of typical high-rise situation, I broached the subject of her childs divine appearance. Surrogacy, she replied as her daughter snuggled into her arms. I nodded, a wave of relief sweeping over me. By virtue of being a woman in her 30s with no knight in shining armour in sight leftover women I believe were called Id assumed that my only options for motherhood were to freeze my eggs, marry the charlie with body odour, or start thinking of cats as babies. Surrogacy, therefore, became a beacon, shining the light on my desire to have children. It afforded me the luxury of waiting for the right man with whom to start a loving family. It was also the only respectful thing that Tusshar Kapoor had ever done. You can imagine then what it meant for me and for thousands of women (and men and gays and foreigners and live-in couples) when Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj came all guns blazing with the near blanket ban on surrogacy in India. My reaction, after telling my heart to heed, was to understand her raison d'etre. The intention of the government, it seems, is to stop the exploitation of surrogate women. There are apparently clinics, unregistered, undesirable, sprouting like weeds, that offer little by way of money or care to surrogates while raking in foreign moolah. It took a moment for this to sink in. So, the government, instead of using stringent regulation to weed out unregistered clinics or malpractices, decides to weed out the entire industry? This is like saying that because some men are rapists we should throw all men in jail. It is also undeniably shameful. Our government is abdicating responsibility. By passing the onus to commissioning parents and legitimate clinics, it is shirking its most basic duty of implementing a regulatory mechanism. After all, its easier for them to issue a blanket ban rather than build a regulatory environment, isnt it? Yes, keeps checks and balances for doctors, middlemen, agents and aspirant parents. Yes, bar women from being surrogates more than once in their lifetime. Yes, make it illegal for doctors practicing procedures that might hurt a surrogate mother and a babys physical and mental health. Yes, ensure that clinics look after the surrogate mother and her family. Yes, fine and imprison couples that abandon the surrogate baby. Yes, ensure that aspirant parents are not monetarily cheated. Yes, ensure that the women are properly compensated. Hell, bringing new life is a miracle that deserves its asking price. No, dont take away our right to have children. It gets worse. Swaraj made cruel, regressive statements that surrogacy is a shauk for celebrities, and that gays and live-ins have no legal sanctity. How can she decide whether gay couples make for less loving parents than infertile couples? Where does the government come off taking such a high moral ground? Should we begin pointing fingers at their personal lives, like theyre doing with ours? What if Swarajs daughter wants to have a surrogate child tomorrow? How would she feel at being denied becoming a grandmother because of her own draconian laws? And to think a few days ago she assured a Twitter troll that all politicians are sensitive. You cannot societally shame people away from surrogacy. This is neither the time nor the tool for moral crusading and judgment. More so, are you against surrogacy or alternate lifestyles? Surrogacy does not become fashionable because SRK did it. It is still a necessity. In our country, women face unimaginable societal pressure to become mothers. On one hand we are judged for not having children, on the other hand, the government hastily removes support systems that allow us to have children. How do these actions serve women in any way? Furthermore, banning surrogacy will only lead to an underground black market for wombs that will perpetrate greater exploitation of the very women the government seeks to protect. It will completely leave the market unregulated. This bill provides women a greater disservice than service. If you really want to protect women, then bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice, stop granting criminals impunity, create a society where women have both public and private agency, legalise equal pay for women, and build facilities for working mothers. In the name of protection, do these things. Dont sneak into our bedrooms and murder our humane desire to have children. The truth is that the demand and, more importantly, the need for surrogacy are high. Surrogacy achieves social good. The people involved the surrogates, the parents, the children are not mere statistics. They are human beings with a heart and a desire to have things that most humans desire security and family. Make the exploitation punishable, not the industry. Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater. The author is an award-winning author, journalist and speaker whose new feminist book The Trouble With Women is now available on the Juggernaut app. You can follow her on Twitter @MeghnaPant. New Delhi: Accusing the Arvind Kejriwal government of trying to "suppress" a purported 'CAG report', scores of state BJP workers on Saturday held a demonstration near Delhi Assembly. Led by the party's Delhi chief Satish Upadhyay, protestors assembled near Chandgi Ram Akhara and marched towards the Assembly, but were stopped by the police near the Chief Minister's residence. Police also resorted to use of water cannon to disperse the BJP workers when they tried to cross over the barricade, the city BJP said in a statement. Several demonstrators including Upadhyay, Leader of Opposition in House Vijender Gupta were detained by police but were later released. Upadhyay claimed that the purported 'CAG report' talks of public money being "overspent on advertisements by the AAP government". "We have submitted a memorandum to the Lt Governor in this regard and this demonstration was a message to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to stop misusing public money. The party will now consider taking the matter to the court of law and soon launch a campaign to take the issue among the people," he said. Suspended BJP MLA OP Sharma tried to enter the Assembly premises but was denied permission by the security personnel deployed there. He was later allowed to enter the premises only after Speaker Ram Niwas Goel intervened in the matter, a BJP leader said. New Delhi: Asserting that BJP has ushered in an era of "politics of performance", its president Amit Shah on Saturday asked the party's chief ministers to make their states an effective instrument for execution of the Centre's "pro-poor" and "good governance" agenda. Noting that the party rules over 51 per cent of the country's landmass and 37 per cent population, he said states would play a key role in the success of the Modi government's welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it. Shah made these remarks in his inaugural address of the one-day meeting of the party's chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and its president in these states. This is first such meeting since it came to power in the Centre in May 2014 and comes days after Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out the party's "pro-poor and good governance" agenda at a meeting of core committees of state units. With the party and its governments facing attack from the opposition over issues concerning Dalits and minorities, it believes that a stronger emphasis on welfare schemes, especially targeting the poor, can firewall it against adverse political outcome and instead help it reach out to the weaker sections. "BJP has started in the country an era of politics of performance. The state governments of the BJP have been re-elected time and again on the basis of perfomance... It is the joint responsibility of the central and state governments that we together build a pro-poor welfare state and change the life of the common man," he said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told a press conference later that Shah sought effective execution of central policies. All the states also made a presentation of their work and what they plan to do, especially in the field of agriculture, woman empowerment and employment, he said. All chief ministers except Vasundhara Raje of Rajasthan attended the exercise. She was represented by a senior ministers, Fadnavis said. He added that governance and not politics was the agenda of the meeting, when he was asked if recent controversies or UP elections also figured in the deliberations. The chief ministers' meet has been divided into six segments, including inaugural session, the agenda of welfare of poor, presentation by CMs of successful schemes that can be replicated in other states, presence of BJP governments on social media, challenges and efforts to take them on and concluding ceremony. Shah said the Modi government has started a new era whether in terms of the country's defence or people's welfare or enhancing the nation's prestige. "The country and the world can feel a new India," he said while adding that states will have to play an important role in transforming the country. "If we can bring out a change in states ruled by us, then a big part of the country can experience good governance," he said. States are the "vehicle" successfully implementing flagship central schemes, Jan Dhan, urban and rural housing, Mudra and health and life insurance programmes. Fadnavis said chief ministers also deliberated over whether they can arrive at a common threshold, which he defined as a set of schemes which all the party-rules states can roll out fully. A decision is likely to be taken by the end of the meeting. How the poor like scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the OBCs can get jobs, education, medicine and employment was also deliberated, he said. The use of Information-Technology to simplify the government's work was also discussed. He said a review of the party-run state governments was done and they were all doing "very well". Washington: Defence Secretary Ashton Carter would host his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar at the Pentagon on Monday, weeks after India was designated as a major defence partner by the US. The Pentagon on Friday said Carter will host an enhanced honour cordon to welcome Parrikar to the US Defence Department headquarters. Following the arrival ceremony there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. After the ceremony there will be a bilateral meeting followed by a joint press conference at the Pentagon, a statement said. "This will be Carter's sixth meeting with Parrikar, and comes just weeks after India was designated a major defence partner of the United States during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington," the Pentagon said. Carter had met Parrikar during a visit to India in April. The India-US Defence partnership has been the most ambitious one over the past several years, a senior State Department official told a group of South Asian reporters on Friday. "During the Prime Ministers last visit we were able to announce that the logistic agreements have been finalised, so we look forward to being able to sign that in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of ministers visit or not," the official said. "We are certainly welcoming and hopeful for continuing to move forward on that and continuing to move forward on the fact that we have designated India as a major defence partner into and continue to progress in that direction," the official added. Bangladesh police stormed a militant hideout just outside Dhaka on Saturday, shooting dead three Islamist extremists, including the suspected mastermind, Bangladeshi-born canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury of an attack on a cafe that killed 22 mostly foreign hostages last month. "We can see three dead bodies here," senior police officer Sanwar Hossain told AFP. "Tamim Chowdhury is dead. He is the Gulshan attack mastermind and the leader of JMB (Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh)," he said, referring to a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen believed to be behind the attack on the cafe in Dhaka when the terrorists killed 22 people, among them 17 foreigners including an Indian and two police officers. A Bangladeshi newspaper earlier reported that Chowdhury appeared as the leader and main financer of a reorganised Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Bangladesh earlier attributed the two attacks to the clandestine outfit. The report suggested that Chowdhury was working as the link between the reorganised JMB and the Islamic State, which claimed the responsibility for the 1 July attack said to be the deadliest terror attack in Bangladesh so far. Chowdhury had returned to Bangladesh from Canada three years ago in 2013, before he staged the attack at an upscale bakery in the Gulshan area of Bangladesh, according to The Times of India. He had since then led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims, the report said. Police earlier staged an hour-long gun battle with extremists at Paikpara in Narayanganj, a city 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Dhaka, Hossain said. Bangladesh national police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque told AFP police were "99 percent sure" that Tamim Chowdhury was in the hideout when police launched the assault. Bangladesh earlier said they found no proof of IS link to the country's terrorist attacks. With inputs from AFP United Nation: The UN Security Council strongly condemned four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. A press statement approved by all 15 members deplored the fact that the North's ballistic missile activities are contributing to its development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and increasing tensions. The council expressed "serious concern" that North Korea carried out the launches after six ballistic missile firings between April and June "in flagrant disregard" of its repeated statements to halt such launches as well as nuclear tests which violate council resolutions. It urged all UN member states "to redouble their efforts" to implement sanctions against Pyongyang, including the toughest measures in two decades imposed by the council in March. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch. North Korea has repeatedly flouted Security Council resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and has continued to launch missiles, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region. The latest submarine launch of a ballistic missile on Wednesday came days after the US and South Korea began military exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as a rehearsal for invasion by the US and other adversaries. South Korean officials said the submarine-launched missile flew about 500 kilometers, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. That means all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, are within its striking distance. The Security Council statement condemned the 23 August launch as well as the North's ballistic missile launches on 2 August and 18 July and the firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on 9 July. China, a neighbor and ally of North Korea, had either blocked attempts by the United States and other council members to condemn the three previous attacks when they happened, or insisted on unacceptable language. The council's agreement on Friday's statement, just two days after the latest North Korean test, reflects growing anger and concern at the North's continuing defiance of the council, including by China. In Pyongyang, North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the US-led discussions at the UN were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States. Geneva: US Secretary of State John Kerry says he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "have achieved clarity" on a path to restore a truce in Syria but details remain to be worked out. After meeting off-and-on with Lavrov for nearly 10 hours in Geneva on friday, Kerry said the "vast majority" of technical discussions on steps to reinstate a ceasefire and improve humanitarian access have been completed. Kerry says experts will remain in Geneva with an eye toward finalising the unresolved steps in the coming days. Lavrov echoed that, saying "we still need to finalise a few issues" and pointed to the need to separate fighters from the al-Nusra Front, which has ties to al-Qaida, from US-backed fighters who hold parts of northwest Syria. Lavrov insisted that a resumption of UN-mediated talks between the Syrian government and the US-backed opposition that were suspended in April should help reduce hostilities that have flared in recent months. He also hailed an improved atmosphere between Moscow and Washington. "We have continued our efforts to reduce the areas where we lack understanding and trust, which is an achievement," Lavrov said. "The mutual trust is growing with every meeting." Friday's meeting came a month after the two men met in Moscow and agreed on a number of unspecified actions to get the all-but-ignored truce back in force. However, as in Moscow, neither Kerry nor Lavrov would describe them in detail. "We are close," Kerry said. "But we are not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people." In a nod to previous failed attempts to resurrect the cessation of hostilities, Kerry stressed the importance of keeping the details secret. "We do not want to make an announcement ... that is not enforceable, that doesn't have details worked out, that winds up in the place that the last two announcements have wound up," Kerry said. "Until we have, neither of us are prepared to make an announcement that is predicated for failure. We don't want a deal for the sake of the deal, we want a deal that is effective." And, underscoring deep differences over developments on the ground, Kerry noted that Russia disputes the US "narrative" of recent attacks on heavily populated areas being conducted by Syrian forces, Russia itself and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Russia maintains the attacks it has been involved in have targeted legitimate terrorist targets, while the US says they have hit moderate opposition forces. Expectations had been low for the talks, particularly given how efforts to forge a new US-Russia understanding have fallen short virtually every month for the past five years. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . The renewable energy vision former CEO David Crane had for NRG Energy (NRG 2.22%) may be taking shape just months after he was fired from his post. The utility is emerging as a leading bidder for assets held by bankrupt SunEdison, and if it can close on those assets, it could be a windfall for the company. We won't know until at least next month if NRG Energy does win the bid, but if it does, the impact could be huge for the company and its yieldco. What NRG Energy has its eyes on SunEdison hasn't found a buyer for the entire company or found a way to restructure its debt to stay in business. So, the company is being sold in pieces and there are 2.1 GW of assets held by SunEdison that it's reportedly begun shopping in bankruptcy. These include 1.25 GW of assets in development across the country, 200 MW of construction ready project in Texas, and 683 MW of projects near completion in Utah. The initial bid is $188 million for these assets and it comes from NRG Energy. It's not clear exactly how much money NRG Energy would have to invest to finish these projects. However, consider that completed renewable energy projects are worth $2-$3 per watt, well above the $0.09 NRG Energy could be paying for the assets. And with contracts in place, a lot of the work is already done. More bidders could emerge NRG Energy is being called the "Stalking Horse" in the bid for SunEdison's 2.1 GW portfolio, setting a floor on what assets could sell for. But it also gives the company a front-row seat for the auction. Current plans are for bids to be submitted by Sept. 6 with an auction Sept. 9 and a Sept. 15 hearing to get approval for the sale. We know that no buyer emerged for the entire SunEdison portfolio in bankruptcy. But the pieces, like this 2.1 GW group of assets, have value to investors. Bloomberg reported that Homer Parkhill of Rothschild Inc., an advisor to SunEdison's bankruptcy process, has said there were over 100 indications of interest in assets within the portfolio, so there could be a lot of bidders. Everyone from private equity funds to yieldco to utilities could be interested in buying renewable assets from SunEdison, but NRG Energy is currently a leader in the process. The quick timeline is because renewable energy systems need to be completed in a timely manner so utilities can get predictable power. And they could lose value by sitting uncompleted in the bankrupt SunEdison. That's one reason there's a big rush to get the auction completed. How the windfall could pay off If NRG Energy does acquire 2.1 GW of assets, it'll complete them and likely drop them down to its yieldco, NRG Yield (CWEN 2.07%). The yieldco would pay cash for the assets and presumably the dropdown would both add cash to NRG Energy's coffers immediately and add to NRG Yield's dividend going forward. This could be a big win for both companies and make NRG Energy a big winner from SunEdison's bankruptcy. We don't know exactly how the auction process will play out, but there's plenty of reasons for NRG Energy to want to win the auction if the price is right. There could be little risk and massive reward for the company, even allowing it to grow its renewable energy presence, something it worked toward for years coming into 2016. What: After surging last week, crude oil prices gave back some of those gains this week. By Friday afternoon, crude was down about 2.7% for the week due to an unexpected build in oil inventories and growing skepticism that OPEC's talks to freeze production will amount to anything. Needless to say, those sinking crude prices weighed on oil stocks. That said, it was not the only weight pushing down this week's biggest losers. Which, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, included California Resources (CRC), DHT Holdings (DHT 0.57%), Resolute Energy (NYSE: REN), Baytex Energy (BTEG.F -1.37%), and Ensco (VAL): So what: Driving California Resources' sell-off, aside from weaker oil prices, was a subtle change in its credit outlook by Moody's. The rating agency changed the California oil company's probability of default rating to Caa2-PD/LD, which implies that its credit is "judged to be speculative of poor standing, subject to very high default risk, and may be in default on some but not all of their long-term debt obligations." That change was in response to the company repurchasing senior notes through a tender offer and a new $1 billion term loan. While those repurchases have the potential to reduce California Resources' net debt by 11%, the company "continues to have elevated debt and its interest burden has increased," which puts it at a higher risk of default, especially with oil remaining volatile. A downgrade by Morgan Stanley was the primary driver of crude oil tanker DHT Holding's sell-off after the bank cut the company from overweight to equal weight. Further, it values DHT Holdings at a discount to its NAV of $5.50 to $6 per share because of the challenging near-term outlook for the tanker sector. In fact, it sees weaker tanker demand wiping out DHT Holding's earnings in 2017 and 2018, though it does believe the company will remain cash flow positive. Permian Basin driller, Resolute Energy slumped after its founder and CEO Nicholas Sutton said he would retire at the end of this year. At that time Sutton will become the Executive Chairman and current COO Richard Betz will take over as its top executive. Also weighing on shares was a report by The Street Sweeper, which laid out a bearish case for the stock. Meanwhile, slumping crude prices were the primary weight driving down both Baytex Energy and Ensco. In Baytex Energy's case, with crude back down to around $47 a barrel it is putting downward pressure on the company's cash flow. In particular, Baytex Energy's Canadian-heavy oil properties need oil to be $45 per barrel at Lloydminster and $46 per barrel at Peace River to deliver breakeven drilling economics. Ensco, likewise, needs oil to be much higher for its offshore customers to be economically incentivized to drill more wells. Unfortunately, because oil is still stubbornly below $50 a barrel, Citigroup reduced its forecast with the bank not projecting any deepwater contract awards in the second half of this year. Further, it does not see the offshore market improving until 2018. Now what: With crude oil backing away from $50 a barrel, it is returning the market's spotlight to areas of trouble. In particular, several drillers still have too much debt, while others just aren't generating much cash flow at current prices. Because of that, the industry still has work to do to pull itself out of the mess it created by taking on too much debt to drive production well beyond the market's need. For the last 30 years, President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter have partnered with Habitat for Humanity for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. This week,the Carters travelled to Memphis, Tenn, along with country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, to build 19 new homes for low-income residents for their 33rd work project. Carter is still involved in the construction process, working side by side with volunteers on beautification projects and fixing up homes in need. Jonathan Reckford, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, said no doubt the Carters have put Habitat on the map. The former Democratic president tells FOXBusiness.com that one year after his cancer diagnosis, while he doesnt have as much strength as he used to, he can still do all of the jobs he did last year, the year before and 30 years ago when the project first started. He considers himself very lucky. The projects goal is to raise awareness for affordable and decent housing. According Reckford, the non-profit is now the largest private homebuilder in the U.S. and says over 95% of the families we touch are outside of the U.S. In a 2016 report, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University found that households earning under $25,000 annually made up 45% of the net growth in U.S. households from 2005 to 2015, showing that the need for affordable housing is growing. Theres nowhere in the U.S. where an individual on a minimum wage can afford a one bedroom apartment Reckford said. Habitat focuses on building quality homes that are energy efficient allowing for a lower cost of ownership for the family. In addition to the Carter Work Project, Habitat has partnered with other large corporations like Home Depot (NYSE:HD) for home refurbishing projects. Globally, Habitat has teamed up with the likes of Nissan and Dow Chemical (NYSE:DOW.WD). Both Habitat and Carter agree there has been no progress in improving affordable housing in the U.S. Its gone backwards. The federal government realizes now that we have a greater need for affordable housing than ever partially because theres such a growing disparity in income Carter said. Carter also said this same disparity has shown up in the justice system. The Justice Department, affordable housing and job capabilities have all gone downhill in the last 35 years he said, pointing out the spike in the number of incarcerated individuals. When asked about the election, Carter said if anyone has discussed affordable housing on the campaign trail, he hasnt heard it. The issue is not as high on Americas conscious as it ought to be he said. When pressed on which candidate would be better for affordable housing, Carter said, in his view, the Democratic Party has, on average, paid more attention to lower income people, but did not mention a specific candidate. To that point, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has a briefing on her campaign site that states she will increase support for affordable rental housing in the areas that need it most and encourage communities to implement land use strategies that make it easier to build affordable rental housing near good jobs. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has not mentioned affordable housing while campaigning or written about it on his website. Reckford added that the topic of affordable housing for low-income Americans doesnt make waves during elections because many influential folks did not grow up in affordable housing. In light of the devastation from flooding in Louisiana, President Carter said he has no current plans to visit the region but will go if Habitat organizes an event. He notes that hes visited Louisiana five times to build houses and on his last trip built 328 homes across Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The ripple that the Carters have created goes on and on. Carter noted a man who started with the project 30 years ago and still comes back every year to build houses. Many satellites orbit earth today, but not all come in peace. Image source: Getty Images. Nukes in space. Killer satellites. The militarization of space. These are all scary concepts, dating back to the bad old days of the Cold War and worries over countrywide, electromagnetic pulse-spawned blackouts. And on this score, we've got both good news and bad news for you. The bad news: Nearly three decades after the Cold War's end, worries over the militarization of space have been renewed. Both China and Russia have demonstrated the ability to shoot downsatellites from orbit. Furthermore, the U.S. Air Force believes there may even be weaponized satellites in orbit around the Earth today. As Air Force Space Command Lt. Sarah Burnett recently explained: "Some countries have clearly signaled their intent and ability to conduct hostile operations in space as an extension of the terrestrial battlefield." But there's good news, too: The Air Force has a plan to deal with that. Satellites for peace Last week, United Launch Alliance -- the joint venture formed by Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) in 2005to perform military launches for the U.S. government -- confirmed the successful launch of two U.S. government satellites into orbit. And these are not ordinary satellites. Built by Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), these sats constitute the final two pieces of a four-satellite "Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program" the Air Force first began putting in place in 2014. Their mission: to scour Earth's orbit for weaponized satellites capable of doing harm to satellites already in orbit. Maneuverable in orbit, the satellites will be tasked with flying close to other satellites currently in geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles and higher above Earth surface. Approaching their satellites, the GSSAP birds will snap pictures and presumably use other technology (the program was up until 2014 a "classified" military secret) to determine whether a satellite is what it claims to be -- say, a communications or weather sat -- or something more sinister, such as a kamikaze "space mine" designed to approach and destroy civilian satellites. You've been warned With two years of experience operating GSSAP under its belt, Administration Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Douglas Loverro has already heaped praiseupon the system, saying "threats can no longer hide in deep space." This lends some comfort to those of us down on the ground, perhaps looking up with some trepidation, but even more reassuring, the declaration may dissuade hostile actors from trying to militarize space in the first place by raising the possibility that if they do so, they will be caught in the act and publicly shamed for making the attempt. What it means for investors How much it cost to have Orbital Sciences build the GSSAP system, or for Boeing and Lockheed to launch it, is hard to say. A review of the Defense Department's archives of contract awards reveals no mention of GSSAP at all -- which perhaps shouldn't be surprising given its historically classified nature. SpaceNews.com estimates the cost at $700 million, which sounds low. Boeing and Lockheed are known to charge halfthat just for one launch aboard their Delta IV heavy lift rocket -- and it took two launches to put the four GSSAP satellites in orbit. Presumably, building the satellites also cost something. In the year the first pair of GSSAP satellites launched, S&P Global Market Intelligence data show that Orbital reported more than $370 million in revenues from its Space Systems division overall. With two more satellites constructed and sent up, I think it's not unreasonable to ballpark GSSAP at $1 billion-plus in cost. And those are costs that may need to be repeated once the current flight of four GSSAP satellites wears out and needs to be replaced -- or supplemented to cover an increasing population of satellites in orbit. Long story short? There's a lot of money to be made in space -- not necessarily by weaponizing it, but also for the continuing effort to keep space safe, pacific, and open for business. 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. Fool contributorRich Smithdoes not own shares of, nor is he short, any company named above. You can find him onMotley Fool CAPS, publicly pontificating under the handleTMFDitty, where he's currently ranked No. 301 out of more than 75,000 rated members. The Motley Fool recommends Orbital ATK. 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. Warren Buffett is happy to invest in companies that regularly increase dividends and repurchase shares. Image source: The Motley Fool. Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.(NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B) bought 3.2 million more shares of Phillips 66(NYSE: PSX), according to the company's most recent SEC filing. That puts Berkshire's total holding at nearly 79 million shares, good for a 15% stake in the refining and petrochemicals giant. In only a few years' time Phillips 66 has become one of Berkshire Hathaway's biggest holdings, worth $6.1 billion at recent share prices. So what does Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett like so much about Phillips 66? In short, it's got a lot of the characteristics that Buffett looks for in a company, and they're the kinds of things that have typically meant fantastic long-term returns for Buffett and Berkshire's shareholders. Strong economic moat Warren Buffett has said the best long-term investments are often businesses that have strong competitive and economic advantages over their competitors, which they regularly work to strengthen. Phillips 66's refining business certainly has this characteristic. Refineries, as long as they are well-maintained and run at a high capacity, can generate huge cash flows, which on the surface can make them very attractive businesses. But at the same time, building a new refinery costs billions of dollars, and growth in demand for refined products is relatively low. In other words, it's just not worth the start-up costs to build a new refinery, based on the limited need. Combined, these two things make a relatively high barrier to entry in the refining business, helping protect Phillips 66 and its competitors from any new entrants into the market. Advanced refining capabilities are a competitive advantage for Phillips 66. Image source: Getty Images. There's more to it for Phillips 66, which operates some of the most advanced refineries in the world. This has given the company another advantage when it comes to finding low-cost crude oils to refine that others can't process. By leveraging its refineries to process cheaper inputs, the company has historically generated a wide spread between what it pays for crude oil, and what it can sell refined products for. At the same time, the company's management has proven to be good at putting those cash flows to use. Which brings us to the next aspect of Phillips 66 that's very "Buffett." Disciplined capital allocation Warren Buffett has called capital allocation one of a CEO's most important jobs. And that's especially the case for a company like Phillips 66, whose largest business -- refining -- is also one that could easily gobble up capital investments without necessarily generating big returns on that investment (see "economic moat"). Phillips 66 CEO Greg Garland recognizes this; since his company was spun out ofConocoPhillipsin 2012, Garland has focused its growth investments on the midstream and petrochemicals businesses -- only spending on the refining business to maintain it and improve operations, versus building more refining capacity at a lower rate of return. There's more to the story than just how the company spends money on growth projects; it's just as important to understand how the companydoesn'tspend it. In other words, what does management do when it generates more profits than the business really needs to reinvest? Phillips 66 does two things that Warren Buffett especially loves: buys back shares, and pays a dividend it can easily afford and can steadily increase. PSX Shares Outstanding data by YCharts. Since becoming a stand-alone company in 2012, Phillips 66 has repurchased about 100 million of its shares, almost 17% of shares outstanding. How does that translate in value to investors? Each share of Phillips 66 is worth about 20% more of the company than it was in 2012. At the same time, the company has increased its dividend 215%.But even after such a sharp increase over the past several years, the company has still paid out less than 40% of earnings in dividends over the past year, giving it a pretty broad margin of safety to continue paying out at current levels, and even increasing payments further. Berkshire Hathaway will receive nearly $200 million in dividends from Phillips 66 this year alone. Very "Buffett" traits often lead to very "Buffett" returns Phillips 66 is pretty close to the ideal Buffett investment: Excellent management Strong, relatively steady cash flows, whether oil prices are high or low Very high barriers to competitive entry Aggressive capital returns (buybacks and dividend growth), with a reasonable margin of safety to support future returns These things are no guarantee Phillips 66 will be Berkshire Hathaway's next big stock winner -- there's no such thing as a "can't miss" stock. But if there's one thing Buffett has demonstrated repeatedly over the decades, it's that investing in companies with these key traits has generated billions in returns for Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders. That's certainly in favor of Phillips 66 working out in the long run. 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 owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and Phillips 66. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). 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. Quantum physicists sometimes discuss the possibility of a multiverse. A multiverse is where the cosmos is like a layered quilt, populated with alternate realities, different dimensions and unique timelines. As a result, an infinite number of possibilities or scenarios pass along each temporal continuum. Capitol Hill is now seemingly moored in a legislative multiverse. The House and Senate return to Washington in early September, following an epic, seven-week summer recess. There are only a handful of policy issues lawmakers must tackle when Congress reconvenes, but an almost incalculable string of outcomes loom ahead when they return. In other words, almost anything can happen. House Republican leaders conducted a half-hour conference call with rank-and-file GOPers late Thursday. According to sources familiar with the call, the Republican brass offered few specifics as to their approaches on big issues like funding the government, Zika and even an effort by House conservatives to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. It was the least informative call Ive ever been on, groused one Republican lawmaker. I learned next to nothing, complained another. Pathetic, lamented a senior Republican. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., routinely publishes a memo at various calendar intervals about upcoming legislative plans. Though the missive is addressed to House Republicans, McCarthys audience is really the congressional press corps and other interested parties tracking legislation. There was a paucity of information about the schedule in this months missive. Granted, the letter talked about the long-term policy blueprint crafted by House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., titled A Better Way. But nothing addressed issues in the near-term. McCarthy instead presented metrics about bills Congress has already moved through committee or across the House floor. At no point did he talk about plans to fund the federal government beyond an approaching October 1 deadline. He also failed to shed light on how Congress may address the growing Zika crisis in Florida. Congressional leaders on both sides of Capitol Hill dont have a lot of answers right now. The political universes wont fully form until lawmakers return to their orbits inside the Beltway. So, lets explore some of the strands of the congressional multiverse to anticipate some scenarios and outcomes. The major issue is funding the government to avoid a shutdown on October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year. Conservatives are pushing for a stopgap plan -- called a Continuing Resolution or CR -- which would fund the government through next March. Democrats and the House Republican leadership prefer a plan which runs until early December. Conservatives see no value in approving a plan through December when they can just handle everything now in a massive, catch-all package. Others like the shorter bill because they can then make decisions based on outcomes in the election. Fox is told House Republicans plan to discuss the different approaches on the interim spending bill in a conference meeting the day after lawmakers return to Washington. Republicans are infighting about the length of the CR. The GOP leadership and many Republican senators would prefer Congress adopt a plan that runs through early-December. Conservatives want next March. Senate Republicans think thats too long. They worry the GOP wont control the Senate next year and they can assert more influence now. House conservatives could reject a shorter bill or a plan that doesnt match their spending priorities. Its quite possible Ryan could turn to Democrats to provide votes to approve the spending bill. Thats a maneuver which eventually got former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, into trouble. And it could be the same headache for Ryan. Combatting Zika might impact both the length and scope of the spending plan. Florida Republicans demanded throughout the recess that Congress return to session early to address the issue. The House approved a Zika plan in late June. But Senate Democrats filibustered the package over provisions dealing with Planned Parenthood. Some House Republicans believe Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, would ultimately relent and permit approval of the existing Zika measure if thats the only plan on the table. But many are skeptical of that school of thought. Florida voters are blaming Republicans for the lack of additional Zika funding and taking notice of the protracted congressional recess. Thats why Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Republican, will jet to Washington to lobby lawmakers on the issue on the first day Congress returns to session. One of only two votes on the Senate schedule is a procedural roll call to break the Democrats filibuster of the Zika bill. Its a revote of one which failed earlier this summer. Its possible Congress could approve a reworked, standalone Zika bill. Its also possible lawmakers could combine the packages. Its possible the House could approve a spending plan amenable to only House conservatives -- knowing full well that is just a show vote. That scenario could enable the Senate to prepare a bill that combines spending and Zika and permit Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to take the lead on the plan. Rubio faces a tough re-election this fall in a swing state. Allowing Rubio to flex his legislative muscles on an issue critically important to his home state could help him at the polls. When Congress returns, Ryan faces two potential problems involving the House Freedom Caucus. Keep in mind the Freedom Caucus is the group of roughly 40 conservatives who eventually helped usher Boehner into retirement last fall. Freedom Caucus members now believe Ryan and other GOP leadership sources directly or indirectly helped GOP challenger Roger Marshall defeat Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, in a primary earlier this month. Ryan confidantes and other Republican leaders deny this allegation. But Fox is told some Freedom Caucus members want a huddle with the speaker when Congress returns. One influential members of the Freedom Caucus tells Fox they will be watching to see how Ryan addresses their concerns. Ryan needs to work this out, said the lawmaker. Hell have problems in January. January refers to the vote for speaker on the House floor. Members of the caucus grudgingly went along with Ryan in his bid for speaker. Ryan has generally scored good marks from Freedom Caucus members his short tenure as leader of the GOP-controlled chamber. But things could become unsettled if the Freedom Caucus isnt pleased with the speaker. Just before the break in July, Huelskamp and Rep. John Fleming, R-La., filed a special resolution demanding that the House impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. That resolution dissolved over the break. Now, members of the House Freedom Caucus want to bring it back. Fox has learned the House wont wrestle with the issue immediately as Freedom Caucus members will wait to see how the GOP leadership intends to handle the matter. House Republican leaders arent fans of Koskinen. But they are lukewarm on impeaching the IRS chief. Congress hasnt impeached a cabinet official since it sanctioned Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. As IRS commissioner, Koskinen isnt even a cabinet official. Theres concern about setting a precedent if Congress begins impeaching various administration officials. House Republicans will hold a separate conference meeting on Koskinen in mid-September. A source familiar with the thinking of the Freedom Caucus tells Fox its members arent in a hurry to refile the Koskinen resolution right away. They dont want to pressure leadership right off the bat. A House GOP leadership source told Fox that the public isnt attuned to impeaching Koskinen. Still, the GOP leadership could further draw the ire of the Freedom Caucus if there isnt a try to impeach Koskinen. This is the Capitol Hill multiverse. No one is quite sure how lawmakers will resolve these issues in the end. But as lawmakers return to Washington, there are almost an infinite number of scenarios and possibilities -- because virtually no ones decided anything yet. With a tough primary election just days away, Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Saturday avoided talking about recently leaked emails that led her to resign from the Democratic National Committee and instead focused on the emails impact on party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. When you talk to me about emails, Im not sure which ones youre talking about, the six-term congresswoman told a reporter during an event in Miami Lakes, Florida, headlined by Democratic vice presidential nominee Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. WikiLeaks released a trove of emails in late July -- before the start of the Democratic National Convention -- that showed DNC staffers appearing to support the nomination of the front-running Clinton over challenger Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The controversy led to Wasserman Schultzs resignation as chairman of the committee and created more headwinds for her in the primary. Sanders has endorsed and fundraised for challenger and law professor Tim Canova in the race Tuesday. And Canova has further sought to bring national attention to his long-shot bid by filing a federal complaint that argues the leaked emails show Wasserman Schultz used DNC resources to track his campaign. A South Florida Sun Sentinel/Florida Atlantic University poll released earlier this week shows Wasserman Schultz ahead of Canova 50-to-40 percent. If you mean (Clintons) emails, Ive been campaigning all over this community, all over the state and all over the country, Wasserman Schultz also told the reporter Saturday. There is not one person, (when) I go and campaign on behalf of Hillary Clinton that asks me about emails. Wasserman Schultz also said voters instead want assurances that the economy will be stronger and want to know what she and Clinton, if elected, will do to expand and strengthen Social Security. Thats what they care about, she said before staffers arrived and the interview ended. The main issues in race, in the state's 23rd Congressional District, a largely Democratic-leaning community in South Florida with a significant Jewish population, have been a mix of local concerns like the future of Social Security and national interests -- including Wasserman Schultzs support for the Obama administrations Iran nuclear deal. Critics of the deal, in which Iran pledges to curtail its pursuit of a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, say its a threat to the national security of Israel. Nobody is more committed to the safety of Israel, Wasserman Schultz said during her debate earlier this month with Canova. Canova, who had said he supports the 2015 deal, said in the debate that he now doesnt know how he would have voted had he been in Congress. He has raised roughly $28 million for the race, in large part because of the national attention it has received. In a world connected by smartphones and social media, attracting and recruiting talent is constantly changing. Companies realize that merely posting an opening on leading job boards wont cut it anymore. They need to turn to their employees, who are credible voices for the employer brand to develop and maintain a strong social media presence. The growing popularity of outlets like Facebook and Twitter makes social media a popular choice for recruiting todays top talent. LinkedIns Global Recruiting Trends 2016 report found 47 percent of the 3,894 hiring managers surveyed say social media is the most effective employer branding tool. Each outlet offers unique features and functions that can be used in exciting ways to grab the attention of job seekers. Here are some social media tips for each outlet and how employees can lend a hand in the talent search: LinkedIn. The design and functionality of LinkedIn make it a top choice for hiring professionals. It is a great tool to incorporate into a robust employee referral program. When employees refer someone or when hiring managers find strong candidates, reach out directly through InMail. Direct engagement is more meaningful and a great way to express an interest in qualified candidates who would fit well in the company. Related: 3 Ways to Be Constantly Recruiting Star Talent Through Social Media Train employees and hiring professionals to search the platform for good fits by using keywords and phrases that match what the position needs. The more connections made, the bigger the talent pool. Encourage current staff members to join groups and raise brand awareness to attract top talent. They should connect and engage the best of the best. Make the most out of the company page by optimizing it with keywords that candidates use during their search. Just posting company content and hoping for qualified talent to come is a hopeless pursuit. Set it up for success by getting the staff involved. As far as content goes, provide job seekers with the information they want to know about a potential future employer -- the organizational culture, the mission, vision, values and benefit packages. When sharing new job opportunities, be concise but informative, and design an engaging page that is easy for candidates to navigate to encourage them to research the company. The Nature Conservancy hosts a strong LinkedIn company page because it puts its mission front-and-center. They also post interesting content and link back to their own blog and other relevant blogs that their audience would benefit from. Facebook. Being the largest social media network, Facebook offers a lot of potential. To stay competitive and stand out from other content, establish a strict schedule that posts regularly to the company page. Share company and industry news and updates, post home blogs, announce upcoming events and inform followers about new career opportunities. Encourage employees to share company content on their personal pages to spread brand awareness and direct their friends to the companys career page. They can also share their passion for the consumer products offered by the company. Related: How to Hire Without Spending a Fortune. (Hint: Use Social Media.) Tying the consumer to the employer brand is important because the credibility and value associated with the product line feeds the employer brand. Draw that conclusion for job seekers -- a great product is offered by a happy, fun staff who love what they do. Starbucks is known for having one of the best company Facebook pages. Their content tends to be visual, which engages followers with their product. They also run promotional contests, interact with their community, share news and updates on their community service events, explore the inspiration behind their store redesigns and highlight their job openings. Twitter. To make a tweet go a long way, companies need an audience. In the world of Twitter, that comes in the form of followers. Building a large following leads to more interest and more effective recruiting efforts, which is why it is the most important thing to do first. Use search capabilities to locate qualified candidates who match the role and company and start to follow them. This may pique their interest and get them to follow and engaged with the company. Its important to show the human side of the company on social media. With so many spammers, job seekers are quick to stop following companies and lose interest. Dont just post jobs or content from the company. This can be overly promotional. In addition, share industry news, engage with followers by commenting or favoriting their tweets and even share appropriate, funny cartoons, memes or gifs related to the industry. To create a robust Twitter presence, use multiple accounts -- the companys official Twitter handle, recruiters and current employees. Companies like IBM use separate recruiting accounts that solely focuses on building their employer brand and posting jobs. Related: Job Recruiters Aren't Taking Advantage of Social Media in Their Search for Rockstar Hires Train current employees to become brand ambassadors by providing them with social media tips. They can share their personal experiences with the company to their followers and highlight what makes their work meaningful, what they love about their employer and how they reached their current position. The talent acquisition team should also perform some keyword research to create hashtags that earn a lot of reach. Use them strategically to improve traffic to the careers page, job postings, the company website and to promote upcoming events like live tweet chats. These events are great for expanding networks and connecting with followers with similar interests who can share their knowledge. Employees should be the expert voices and moderate the live tweet chats on the subjects theyre most knowledgeable about. The theme should center around a relevant topic, like a product or service the company offers or exciting industry news. Make sure to create a database of potential candidates and set times to follow up with them about exciting job opportunities that would fit them well. Instagram. Instagram users want an insiders view of the company. The visual element of this social media service is unique and provides a great opportunity for companies to give their brand a face and tell their story. Post pictures regularly to represent the culture and values of the company. Share short videos of team building events and celebrations. Employees can participate by sharing a quick biography of themselves with a picture of them at work. Make sure to capture the fun environment to show the companys emphasis on being lighthearted and engaging. To incorporate the consumer brand, host product launches and fun giveaways. This can attract customers and even give potential candidates insights into what the organization specializes in. Cold case detectives in Colorado this week released DNA-generated composite images of the man they say killed a 7-year-old girl and her parents more than three decades ago. Melissa Bennett and her parents Bruce and Debra Bennett were found beaten and stabbed in their Aurora home on Jan. 16, 1984. The girl was sexually assaulted. The couples 3-year-old daughter was bludgeoned with a blunt object but survived the attack. Now for the first time using DNA technology, Aurora police have images of what the killer may have looked like in 1984 and what he may look like now, Fox 31 Denver reported Thursday. For some of us, its become more of an obsession, Detective Steve Conner told the station. Its one of the oldest cases we have. Police contacted a DNA technology company in Virginia to create the images of the suspect using a system called Snapshot, the station reported. Police believe the killer was about 25 at the time of the murder. The same person has been linked to another killing near Aurora. The Denver Post reported that Patricia Smith, 50, was killed in Lakewood on Jan. 10, 1984, six days before the Bennett family was killed. Once described as a liability risk, American flags will be reinstalled on some firetrucks in a New York community after an outcry followed the local fire commissioners' orders to take them down. Fire commissioners in the Arlington Fire District in the town of Poughkeepsie had ordered the large flags removed from the back of three fire engines earlier this month. The flags were taken off the trucks in a formal ceremony Aug. 16. "If we had to take them down, they had to be taken down the right way," firefighters' union President Joseph Tarquinio told The Poughkeepsie Journal at the time. "At the time when the country needs unity, to do something like this ... it's next to flag-burning in my mind. The order to remove the flags by the five-person Board of Fire Commissioners was based on concerns about possible U.S. flag code violations and potential safety risks to firefighters and motorists. Arlington Fire Chief Tory Gallante initially approved the installation of flags, provided they were properly maintained, correctly mounted and the union paid for them. Gallante said a mechanic checked the flags to make sure they were mounted correctly. Arlington Fire Commission Chairman Jim Beretta, who wanted the flags removed, claimed that the board was not consulted about the flags. An agreement announced Thursday will allow smaller 2-by-3-foot American flags on three of the district's front-line engines, which are the firetrucks used most frequently. Amid the debate over the mid-August decision, officials decided to allow a large flag on one firetruck. That compromise failed to quell the controversy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Five soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected rebels in Paraguay's north, the country's interior minister said Saturday. Interior Minister Francisco De Vargas said Saturday that the attack occurred in Arroyito, a town about 305 miles (490 kilometers) from Asuncion. He says two more soldiers were gravely wounded. Authorities suspect that the attack was carried out by a little-known Paraguayan guerrilla group called the Paraguayan People's Army. It comes just days after Colombia and the largest rebel group in that country reached a peace deal to end the longest running insurgency in Latin America. North Korea on Saturday threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by "provocative" American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army accused U.S. and South Korean soldiers of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the "brink of war" due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. "Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots," the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. "The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation," it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. On Tuesday, the American-led U.N. Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the U.N. Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile-wide DMZ. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the DMZ. In August 2015, land mine blasts that Seoul blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused tensions between the two Koreas to flare. Bangladeshi security forces stormed an Islamist terror hideout on Saturday, killing three militants, including the suspected mastermind of last month's deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe. Moniru Islam, the head of the police counter-terrorism unit in Dhaka, told Reuters that Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen, was among those killed in the raid on a two-story house in the Naraynganj district, on the outskirts of the capital. Chowdhury, who returned to Bangladesh from Canada in 2013, was believed to be one of two masterminds of the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter, as well as a July 7 attack on an Eid congregation outside Dhaka marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The cafe attack killed 20 hostages and two police officers. Thirteen other hostages were rescued after police stormed the cafe to end the 12-hour siege. Six of the gunmen who took part in the attack were killed by police, while a seventh was arrested. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Bangladeshi authorities said the attack was carried out by local Islamist groups and insisted that ISIS had no presence in the majority-Muslim country. A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, Bangladesh's police chief, told reporters Saturday that the militants belonged to the banned group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB. The police chief said security officials raided the house acting on a tip that Chowdhury, along with other suspects, was hiding in the building. The suspects opened fire at officials who retaliated, he said. A SWAT unit made the final push and fatally shot the suspects after they failed to surrender. Haque said the team asked them to give themselves up but they went on firing. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Aroga Worldwde, CEO, Grove Bennett, Takes His Vison For Aroga Worldwide To Durban, South Africa, Thousands Were In Attendance. Aroga Worldwide CEO, Grove Bennett, addressed over 20,000 TACC Members at King Zwheliti Stadium in Durban, South Africa, laying out his vision for product distribution throughout Africa. -- Aroga Worldwide, CEO, Grove Bennett, addressed more than twenty-thousand members of The Twelve Apostles Church of Christ (TACC) on August 14th, at King Zwheliti Stadium, in Durban South Africa. Grove Bennett, accompanied by Internet Radio Host, Adam Broker, were in South Africa by the invitation of TACC's Chief Apostle, and South African Businessman, Kessie Nair of Top Talk Marketing. The purpose of the visit was to highlight Mr. Bennett's vision for Aroga Worldwide in South Africa, and neighboring African countries, and to outline a strategy for cooperation between Aroga, The TACC, and Kessie Nair. "It was a true honor to receive such a warm, and heartfelt welcome from the Chief Apostle and all of the TACC Apostles in South Africa. This monumental gathering with The TACC Membership, and the partnership agreements being discussed, will be the cornerstone of the foundation to build Aroga into a household name throughout Africa. The TACC will play a major role in all of Aroga's expansions throughout Africa. We couldn't have aligned with a better organization than The TACC." - Grove Bennett, CEO, Aroga Worldwide Arogas' Acu-Point Hologram Technology has already been well received in South Africa, and Aroga is ready to ramp up distribution to make sure that customers and distributors have a steady supply of Aroga's products. Aroga Worldwide, is one in a group of six companies under the umbrella of the Aroga Holdings Corp, a publicly listed company. Aroga Worldwide manufactures, and distributes Acu-Point Holograms. These Holograms, when placed on the strategic Acupressure Points (also called meridians) on the body, are believed by many, to help in supporting the body's functions and help to maintain a harmonic and balanced body. Mr. Bennetts Global vision for the Aroga Group of companies, includes creating a more synergistic relationship between all of the Aroga companies. For example, Aroga Worldwide, recently made an agreement with its Sister Division, Aroga Media, to market the Google Docs for Business Platform and make it available to Aroga's Global Distribution Force. Aroga Media is an authorized reseller of the robust Google platform. Additionally, Bennett sees a solid benefit to adding products to Aroga Worldwide' product offering, through its other Sister Division, Aroga Technologies. Aroga Technologies is a 28 year old distribution company that focuses on providing devices to individuals with special needs primarily in the blind and low vision product lines. "I envision Aroga Worldwide, as a new-breed of Direct Sales company. Our partners and customers throughout Africa, and around the rest of the world, need relevant products, and powerful business and communication tools. With the support and synergy between our Aroga Family, we plan to grow Aroga Worldwide into a Global entity that provides unique opportunities for our Partners and Customers. ." ~ Grove Bennett More about the Acu-Point Holograms: Aroga's Acu-Point Holograms are are small, portable and disposable. Each Quantum Infused Hologram is smaller than a US Quarter, and thinner than a postage stamp. The energy is infused into a design, that can best be described as a circuit, or chip technology. The Holograms stick to the skin with a non-allergenic adhesive, and can be worn as long as needed. Each Hologram is color coded to remind the user of which application the Hologram is recommended for. As a do-it-yourself product, the user not only benefits from the convenience of the Holograms, but can save considerable amounts of money using Aroga's Acu-Point Holograms . More about Grove Bennett: Aroga CEO, Grove Bennett, has an extensive business resume. Having the experience of running private and public companies, from operations, manufacturing, business development, finance and customer relations. Bennett has worked within the major credit card and banking industries, and even headed up a team that developed training programs for Integrated Maintenance Training System (IMTS), a maintenance training system for the F/A:18 Fighter Jet and a $44MM Canadian contract to the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. More Aroga Press Releases: Aroga Worldwide, CEO, Grove Bennett, Traveling To South Africa To Meet With Customers And Distributors Aroga Worldwide, Maker of Acu-Point Holograms, Makes Agreement With Aroga Media, A Reseller Of The Google Apps For Work Platform Aroga Worldwide, Maker of Acu-Point Energy Holograms, Expands Distribution Into Over 100 Countries For more information, please visit https://www.arogaworldwide.com/egrant/home Contact Info: Name: Eric Grant Email: egrantonline@gmail.com Organization: QastMe Address: Seattle, WA Phone: +1 206.250.6625 Video URL: https://youtu.be/Ho6FZmd8Btc Source: http://marketersmedia.com/aroga-worldwde-ceo-grove-bennett-takes-his-vison-for-aroga-worldwide-to-durban-south-africa-thousands-were-in-attendance/129092 Release ID: 129092 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) Automotive Fluids & Chemicals Market: Trends And Growth Analysis Report By Radiant Insights, Inc The automotive fluids & chemicals market in China is on the verge of attain major gains during the forecast period (2013-2018). Demand for transmission fluids and engine oils for commercial and non-commercial vehicles are primarily driving the market. -- The automotive fluids & chemicals market in China is on the verge of attain major gains during the forecast period (2013-2018). Demand for transmission fluids and engine oils for commercial and non-commercial vehicles are primarily driving the market. The market growth will be facilitated by the burgeoning sales of passenger and commercial vehicles. The Chinese market is segmented according to products, end-users, and regions. Products encompass motor oil, transmission oils, brake fluids, automotive lubes, antifreeze and coolant, fuel & oil additives, and other chemicals. Automotive lubes, brake fluids, and motor oil have occupied major shares of the market. Availability of cheap cars and low labor costs can be a major contributor towards the segment's growth. BASF has launched a brake fluid exclusively for the Chinese market in an attempt to gain an edge over its competitors. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/automotive-fluids-amp-chemicals-markets-in-china Major end-users of the market are mini buses, mini-trucks, passenger cars, trucks, heavy-duty trucks, heavy/large buses, jeeps, and other vehicles. Light trucks and passenger cars form a major share of the market revenue, in lieu of increasing sales of these vehicles. Regions comprise of North China, South China, East China, and West China. Many major companies have settled in Guangdong, one of the premier locations which hosts industrial complexes. Lubrizol, PetroChina, and Sinopec are few companies which have set up base in this region. Prominent vendors operating in the automotive fluids & chemicals market in China are Sinopec Lubricant Company, FUCHS Lubricants (China) Co., Ltd., Chematell Group, AcWei Limited, and Lubrizol Specialty Chemicals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Players can adhere to the regulations in the region as well as come up with innovative strategies to capture the market in two and three tier cities. Sinopec and BASF have collaborated on a partnership to build state-of-the art lubricating plants to cater to the growing consumer base. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/chemicals About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/automotive-fluids-amp-chemicals-markets-in-china Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/automotive-fluids-chemicals-market-trends-and-growth-analysis-report-by-radiant-insights-inc/129120 Release ID: 129120 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) Global Hydraulic Fracturing Market to Reach $90.55 Billion by 2020 - Hexa Reports "Global hydraulic fracturing market" was valued at USD 41.62 billion in 2013 and is expected to reach USD 90.55 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2014 to 2020. -- The global hydraulic fracturing market is expected to reach USD 90.55 billion by 2020. Regulatory support in the form of tax benefits and financial incentives, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific is expected to drive the global hydraulic fracturing market over the next six years. Depleting conventional oil & gas reserves has prompted the industry to shift its focus towards developing unconventional resources of energy which is also expected to have positive impact on market growth. Environment issues on account of ground water contamination have led regulatory bodies across various European countries to ban the use hydraulic fracturing and this is expected to remain a key challenge for market participants. Plug & perf emerged as the leading technology used for hydraulic fracturing and accounted for 85.6% of total market revenue in 2013. Plug & perf is also expected to be the fastest growing technology at an estimated CAGR of 12.1% from 2014 to 2020. Use of plug & perf technique enables multistage fracturing for cased holes. Owing to its ease in accessibility for fracturing horizontal wells, this technology is preferred over sliding sleeve technique in the global hydraulic fracturing market. Related Category Market Report @ Global Marine Power System Consumption Industry - http://hexareports.com/report/global-marine-power-system-consumption-industry-2016 Further key findings from the study suggest: Global hydraulic fracturing market was valued at USD 41.62 billion in 2013 and is expected to reach USD 90.55 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2014 to 2020. Proppants are one of the most important materials used for carrying out hydraulic fracturing and accounted for 28.5% of total hydraulic fracturing market revenue in 2013. Sand proppants emerged as the leading proppant product segment and accounted for 45.6% of total market revenue in 2013. Ceramic is expected to be the fastest growing proppant product segment at an estimated CAGR of 10.6% from 2014 to 2020. Shale gas emerged as the leading application segment and accounted for 28.3% of total market revenue in 2013. Shale gas is also expected to be the fastest growing application segment at an estimated CAGR of 13.7% from 2014 to 2020. Shale gas boom in the U.S. and rapidly developing shale gas reserves in China is expected to drive the demand for hydraulic fracturing in this segment. North America continued its dominance in the global hydraulic fracturing market and accounted for 88.8% of total market revenue in 2013. Increasing acreages in shale basins in U.S. and Canada coupled with government support for hydraulic fracturing has contributed to the growth of hydraulic fracturing in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to be a high-growth regional market, at an estimated CAGR of 19.1% from 2014 to 2020. Increasing E&P activities in unconventional oil & gas reserves, especially in China is expected to drive the regional hydraulic fracturing market. The global hydraulic fracturing market is moderately fragmented with the top four companies including Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and FTS International accounted for just over 55% of the global market in 2013. Other significant companies operating in the market include Weatherford International, Calfrac Well Services, Cudd Energy, Superior Well Services, Talcrom Services, Trican Well Services and United Oilfield Services. Browse Our Latest Market Research Report @ Clean Technology in Defense Industry- http://www.hexareports.com/report/clean-technology-in-defense-industry-emerging-trends-and-outlook About Us: Hexa Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering industry reports, custom research and consulting services to a host of key industries across the globe. We offer comprehensive business intelligence in the form of industry reports which help our clients obtain clarity about their business environment and enable them to undertake strategic growth initiatives. For more information, please visit http://hexareports.com/report/hydraulic-fracturing-market/details Contact Info: Name: Ryan Shaw Organization: Hexa Reports Address: Felton Office Plaza, 6265 Highway 9, Felton, California, 95018, United States Phone: 1-800-489-3075 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/global-hydraulic-fracturing-market-to-reach-90-55-billion-by-2020-hexa-reports/129097 Release ID: 129097 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) Global Titanium Dioxide Market Size Is Expected To Present A CAGR Of Around 4.5% And Reach Nearly EUR13 Billion In 2020 Latest report on Titanium Dioxide Industry provides essential information for business growth. It shows the market trends, manufacturing processes, cost structures, import-export, supply, production, revenue growth rate, major manufacturers and more. -- Titanium dioxide is one of the best white pigments on the market in terms of performance. Over the past decade, the global titanium dioxide market has been growing steadily, with an AAGR of about 5.0%. In 2015, the global titanium dioxide market size hit EUR10.17 billion, up 3.7% year on year. In 2016-2020, the global market size is expected to present a CAGR of around 4.5% and reach nearly EUR13 billion in 2020. China is one of major producing countries of titanium dioxide worldwide. In 2015, China produced 2.323 million tons of titanium dioxide, down 4.6% year on year. Due to falling prices, shrinking demand and fierce market competition, China's output of titanium dioxide has declined for the first time in the past five years. However, the annual output is expected to climb up in 2016 thanks to rising product prices and the rebounding market. By production process, titanium dioxide preparation is divided into two main methods: sulfuric acid and chlorination, wherein the titanium dioxide made from chlorination process shows better performance. China's capacity from chlorination process only accounts for 6.5% of the total capacity, far below the global average of 49%. Therefore, Chinese companies represented by Henan Billions Chemicals, Pangang Group Vanadium Titanium & Resources and Luohe City Xingmao Titanium Industry are stepping up the building of the related capacity. Complete Report Spread across 155 pages with 177 Charts Now Available. Order a Copy of This Report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=668832 Chemours, the world's largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide, completely (100%) adopts chlorination process. In 2015, the titanium dioxide business triggered the revenue of USD1.8 billion, of which 32% came from the Asia-Pacific region. Starting from August 2015, the company shut down Edge Moor Plant and Johnsonville Plant's No. 3 titanium dioxide production line, while centralized titanium dioxide production in the factories with cutting-edge technologies. Huntsman holds both sulphurationand chlorination methods, but chlorination process only contributes 1/4. Because of the deteriorated titanium dioxide performance over recent years, the company closed a titanium dioxide plant in South Africa in July 2016, sold three Europe-based additive factories to Innospec in August 2016, so as to strip the titanium dioxide business entirely. Henan Billions Chemicals became China's largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide after acquiring Sichuan Lomon, with the annual capacity of 610,000 tons (including 60,000 tons of titanium dioxide produced by chlorination process). In July 2016, the company and Allightec Co., Ltd. signed a "framework agreement" to reach a long-term partnership in the field of functional titanium dioxide, lithium titanate functional modifications, zirconium structure functional materials, aerospace wave-absorbing coating materials and the like. Pangang Group Vanadium Titanium & Resources produced 85,000 tons and sold 80,000 tons of titanium dioxide in 2015, with a sales-output rate of 93.8%. It invested RMB110 million in building a 15kt/a chlorination process titanium dioxide oxidation test equipment project in December 2015, and the project is planned to be put into trial operation at the end of December 2016. From the perspective of applications, titanium dioxide has been used in some emerging fields apart from traditional applications such as coatings, plastics, paper making, etc., which brings new market opportunities to enterprises. Automobile - Polycarbonate (automotive lightweight material) uses titanium dioxide for surface modification to improve scratch resistance eventually; Artificial bones and joints - The titanium alloy covered with a layer of mesoporous-structure titanium dioxide on surface is ideal for artificial bones and joints; Food additives - Nano titanium dioxide can boost the body's absorption as a food additive; Batteries - Nano titanium dioxide can accelerate charging compared with the graphite electrodes of lithium batteries; Optical microscopes - Super-lenses made of nano titanium dioxide particles can significantly heighten the resolution of optical microscopes; Environmental protection - Nano titanium dioxide catalyst can decompose of polychlorinated biphenyls in industrial waste water; Medical - Nano titanium dioxide can deactivate cancer cells. The report focuses on the following aspects: Development environment, market size, market structure, competitive landscape and so on of global titanium dioxide industry. Development environment, supply, demand, market structure, competitive pattern, import& export, market prices, etc. of China's titanium dioxide industry. Development of the upstream titanium tetrachloride, high titanium slag, titanium ores, sulfuric acid, chlorine and others. Applications and market situation of the downstream paint, plastics, paper making, denitration, titanium alloy, electronic materials, cosmetics, medicine and other fields. Operation, titanium dioxide business, development in China, etc. of 15 key Chinese titanium dioxide producers and 5 major titanium dioxide players in the world. More Details about this Report available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/inquire-before-buying?rname=668832 Major Points from Table of Contents 1. Overview of Titanium Dioxide 2. Global Titanium Dioxide Industry 3. China Titanium Dioxide Industry 4. Industry Chain - Upstream 5. Industry Chain - Downstream 6. Key Titanium Dioxide Enterprises in China 7. Key Foreign Titanium Dioxide Enterprises 8. Market Overview and Development Forecast About Us: RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 100,000+ market research reports from over 95 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 Us: We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Contact us for your special interest needs and we will get in touch within 24hrs to help you find the market research report you need. sales@rnrmarketresearch.com + 1 888 391 5441 For more information, please visit http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/global-and-china-titanium-dioxide-industry-report-2016-2020-market-report.html Contact Info: Name: Ritesh Tiwari Email: sales@rnrmarketresearch.com Organization: RnR Market Research Address: UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Phone: + 1 888 391 5441 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/global-titanium-dioxide-market-size-is-expected-to-present-a-cagr-of-around-4-5-and-reach-nearly-eur13-billion-in-2020/129148 Release ID: 129148 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) Drug and Alcohol Rehab Charlotte comments on the Arrest of Two People in Greenville ( August 24, 2016 ) Charlotte, North Carolina -- Teldrick Darnell Spencer and Kelly Kishor Patel are facing numerous drug charges after the conclusion of an investigation that lasted for a couple of months. Spencer and Patel are being charged with selling and appropriating marijuana. Spencer is expected to receive a count for acquiring marijuana and planning on selling and transporting the drugs to customers. During a traffic stop Spencer was involved with, police found four ounces of weed on his person. After, he was arrested and appointed a $20,000 bond. Kelly Patel was allocated two counts of occupying the drug in addition to having intentions on selling and delivering and possessing a vehicle for the use of sale and delivery. After a home investigation, law enforcement found a large amount of marijuana and over $5,000 in cash that has since been taken from her residence. Patel was incarcerated but bonded out soon after her booking date. A representative from Drug and Alcohol Rehab Charlotte said: " With such a large scale investigation that took place, it is a great success that both offenders were caught and brought into custody. Ms. Patel must have been making a fortune of this business if she had the means to bond herself out of jail so quickly. On the bright side, Patels inventory and money have been confiscated by the police so hopefully she, as well as her accomplice, has learned from this experience". About Drug and Alcohol Rehab Charlotte 88201: Drug and Alcohol Rehab Charlotte is an organization offering detox and rehabilitation services to North Carolina residents and all other U.S. citizens. The drug rehab in Charlotte proudly serves all those in need of help overcoming their substance abuse disorders. Clients are in control of their own recovery with choices in the type of program they undertake and the method of treatment: inpatient, outpatient, or partial hospitalization.With a staff dedicated to empowering each client and providing them the skills and tools necessary to end their addiction,is a rehabilitation center like no other. For more information, please visit http://drugandalcoholrehabcharlotte.com/ or call (704) 586-9353. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Renowned Wood Splitter Company PowerSplit Int'l Celebrates 20th Anniversary PowerSplit International Inc. is celebrating its 20 year anniversary and reveals some of the big wins and challenges it faced getting this far. More information on the business can be found at http://powersplit.com -- PowerSplit International Inc. is celebrating their 20th Anniversary, commemorating 20 fabulous years in business. This is a huge milestone for the Laval (Quebec) Canada-based Wood Splitting Equipment company, which has been providing wood splitters to companies in the firewood industry since 1996. It was then that PowerSplit International Inc.'s founder, Mr. Louis Lapointe, got tired of the inefficiency of the standard wood splitters available on the market and started developing his ingenious Double Vertical Wood Splitter. A year later, the company got its official start when it was incorporated on August 14, 1997. One of the earliest challenges PowerSplit International Inc. faced was getting their message in front of the people who most needed it. Today, 20 years later, the company counts over 400 customers in North America. While every business faces challenges, some, like PowerSplit International Inc., are fortunate enough to enjoy real successes. One such success was when they landed a major client in the first years of business, Best Budget Tree Service in Chicago Illinois. To this day, they remain one of PowerSplit International Inc.'s most loyal customers. PowerSplit International Inc.'s founder was quoted when discussing another big win. "One of the high points of PowerSplit International Inc.'s history so far was seeing our clients drastically increase their production after using our Double Vertical Wood Splitter or any of our other models, while cutting their processing time by at least half." One of PowerSplit International Inc.'s core objectives is to remain the best wood splitter manufacturer on the market and continue to revolutionize the firewood industry. Thanks to its unique wood splitter design and its proven track record over the last 20 years, PowerSplit International Inc. has cemented themselves as the best wood splitter manufacturer on the market. Several testimonials can be viewed on their blog page, such as that of Jeremy Dippold, owner of Best Budget Tree Service. View the testimonials here. Mr. Lapointe added "We're delighted to be celebrating our 20 Year Anniversary. I believe the secret to getting this far in business today is putting customers satisfaction above all else... without them, we don't have a business, period!". To mark this special occasion, the company is happy to offer free delivery up to 1000 miles. PowerSplit International Inc.'s management also takes this opportunity to thank their faithful customers and partners for helping them become the best wood splitter manufacturer on the market today. More information on the business can be found at http://powersplit.com or by calling toll free 1-888-414-2261. For more information, please visit http://powersplit.com Contact Info: Name: Louis Lapointe Email: info@powersplit.com Organization: PowerSplit International Inc. Address: 2544 Rue de l'Ombrette, Laval, Quebec H7L 4P4, Canada Phone: 1-888-414-2261 (Toll Free) | 514-299-4090 Release ID: 129022 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) Smart STB And Dongle Market Growth And Forecast Report Up To 2018: Radiant Insights, Inc The global smart STB and dongle market is expected to grow at a decent CAGR of over 25 % during the estimated years (from 2013 to 2018). -- A Set-up-Box (STB) is a device connected to TV set at the consumer's premises. These devices allow the users to obtain unencrypted subscribed channels via an addressable system to view encrypted channels. Smart STBs are the ones that bring the internet to TV sets. Usually, an STB has the following features: facility to stream media to TV sets from various other connected devices, to record content from TV sets, rewind, pause, Wi-Fi functions, fast-forward live TV, and multi-screen interactions facility etc. A lot of these STB devices are available in a handy dongle format; for example, the latest device is the Google Chromecast. The global smart STB and dongle market is expected to grow at a decent CAGR of over 25 % during the estimated years (from 2013 to 2018). The major market growth driving factor includes the development of various innovative and technologically advanced devices. Moreover, the advent of integrated smart STBs is also likely to boost the market. However, high prices associated with these devices may hinder the overall growth of the market. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-smart-stb-and-dongle-market-2014-2018 This market research report is a detailed and a professional study of the current conditions of the smart STB and dongle market. This report provides the size of the global market (value and volume). Moreover, the segment markets by applications, types, regions, and companies are also provided. The global market analysis is offered for key regions including the United States, China, Japan, Europe, and several other regions. The report analyzes the end users and market sizes for each of these regions. The report then focuses on the major international market players providing their details such as company profiles, sales, product pictures, market share, product specifications, contact information and so on. Some of the key companies operating in the smart STB and dongle market are EchoStar Corp.; Belkin International Inc.; AVerMedia Technologies Inc.; Netgear Inc.; Broadcom Corp.; Comcast Corp.; Cloud Media Sdn. Bhd.; and D-Link Corp.; LG Corp. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/media About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-smart-stb-and-dongle-market-2014-2018 Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/smart-stb-and-dongle-market-growth-and-forecast-report-up-to-2018-radiant-insights-inc/129356 Release ID: 129356 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) Renal Dialysis Equipment Market 2016: Industry Size, Share And Forecast Report By Radiant Insights, Inc Hemodialysis products dominate over 70% of the market, whereas the peritoneal dialysis products market is growing robustly. The market for continuous renal replacement therapy machines has the highest growth rate. -- Renal dialysis equipment is categorized into the following segments: hemodialysis products, peritoneal dialysis products, and continuous renal replacement therapy machines. Hemodialysis products dominate over 70% of the market, whereas the peritoneal dialysis products market is growing robustly. The market for continuous renal replacement therapy machines has the highest growth rate. Growth in the renal dialysis equipment market will be driven primarily by aging populations, growing awareness of therapeutic modalities, technological innovation and favorable reimbursement. Home-based dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, improves the quality of patients' life and will become more popular. The global market is dominated by Fresenius and Baxter. Other key players include B. Braun, Nikkiso, Nipro, and NxStage. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/medipoint-report-renal-dialysis-equipment Scope: -Competitive assessment: Currently marketed renal dialysis equipment products and evolving competitive landscape -In-depth analysis of unmet needs and adoption trends of different renal dialysis equipment devices -Insightful review of the key industry drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges. Each trend is independently researched to provide qualitative analysis of its implications -Pipeline analysis: Emerging products and technologies. -Annualized total renal dialysis equipment market revenue by segment and market outlooks by country from 2013 - 2022. -Other key topics covered include strategic competitive assessment, market characterization, identification of unmet needs, market dynamics, and implications of the emerging technologies on the market. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/medical-devices About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/medipoint-report-renal-dialysis-equipment Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/renal-dialysis-equipment-market-2016-industry-size-share-and-forecast-report-by-radiant-insights-inc/129360 Release ID: 129360 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) China Laser Processing Equipment Market by Laser Cutting, Welding, Marking and Engraving Analysis and Forecasts to 2018 New Report on Laser Processing Equipment Market, titled China Laser Processing Equipment Industry Research Report, 2016 - 2018 is published at RnRMarketResearch.com. The report is of 160 pages analyzing Global and Chinese companies. -- The new report China Laser Processing Equipment Industry Research Report, 2016-2018 says under the background of industry transformation and upgrading, Chinese government has introduced number of supporting policies to promote the development of laser industry in recent years. In 2015, the government published "China Manufacturing 2025 Technology Roadmap of Key Areas", which brought many new laser technologies and products into national strategy plan, such as automobile laser radar system, laser remote detection, laser small hole molding, laser hybrid welding, laser display etc. Full Report China Laser Processing Equipment Industry Research Report, 2016-2018 Since 2012, benefiting from the continuous development of downstream markets, China's laser industry has stepped into a high-speed development period. The total sales of laser equipment in industrial field, information, business, medicine and scientific research field reached RMB 33.6 billion in 2015, which increased by 4.7 percentage point compared with 2014. Sales of industrial laser equipment slowed down on YoY basis in 2015. However, this segment still increased by RMB 810 million. This is mainly benefiting from Trumpf's sustaining development in China, as well as Han's Laser Sheet Metal Division and other major manufacturers' stable growth. The three major telecom operators, CMCC, China Unicom and China Telecom, are continuing to build up 4G networks. The ""Broadband China"" and ""Fiber to the Home (FTTH)"" strategies published in 2015 will stimulate the investment of fiber broadband, which has maintained the growth of many photo-communication enterprises in the past year. In addition, with the release of Hisense's laser TV and the introduction of laser giant-screen cinema in more and more regions, laser display will be driven into a high speed way. Cigarette and wine enterprises boosted the updating paces in low and medium-grade products, which produced increasing demand for laser anti-counterfeit packaging. The total sales of laser in business field in 2015 achieved significant growth. Buy a Copy of Report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=667427. The explosive medical cosmetology and dermatologic therapy markets has promoted the growth of domestic laser medical equipment manufacturers. The net income of Miracle Laser, the first medical laser public company in China, increased 21.8% in the first half of 2016. The total medical laser market increased 18% in 2015 on YoY basis. China, as the third largest laser market, ranks only after the EU and USA. Some homemade medium and low power level fiber laser has equipped with the ability to compete with foreign leading brands in quality and performance parameter. On the other hand, core laser components still rely on import, high-end market remains occupied by foreign manufacturers. In 2015, the total amount of China's imported laser components reached USD 1128 million. Customarily, China's laser processing was divided into four areas: Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, central China and Circum-Bohai Sea Region. Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta mainly focus on medium and low power level laser processing equipment and high power laser cutting & welding respectively, while Circum-Bohai Sea Region mainly engage in high power laser cladding equipment and all solid state laser components. Domestic manufacturers launched many new products in 2015. In laser processing, Huagong Laser released a sapphire fiber laser cutting machine. Han's laser published a laser welding equipment used for automobile tailor welded blanks. In laser, Skyeralaser lanched nanosecond grade fiber laser, which supporting 10 gears independent control of pulse/ frequency. In laser display, ILLUMINANCE Co., Ltd. released a high resolution micro projector using MEMS laser projective techniques. As for laser components, the raman fiber amplifier produced by Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics successfully solved the power boost of raman fiber laser. Major Foreign Companies - TRUMPF, ROFIN, Coherent, PRIMA, IPG and GSI Major Chinese Companies - Han's Laser Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan Golden Laser Co., Ltd., Huagong Tech Company Limited, Siasun Robot and Automation Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Yawei Machine Tool Co.,ltd, Suzhou Tianhong Laser Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Sunshine Laser and Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen United Winner Laser Co., Ltd, Suzhou Delphi Laser Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Holy Laser Technology CO., LTD, Wuhan DR Laser Technology Corp Ltd, NANJING VICCAM TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD., Beijing Daheng Laser Equipment Co., Ltd, Wuhan Dahua Laser Technology Co., LTD, Jiangsu Shuguang Photoelectricity Co., Ltd, Beijing Institute of Opto-electronic Technology, Chutian Laser Group, BOYE Laser, Beijing Kaitian Laser Co., Ltd, Wuhan HE Laser Engineering Co., Ltd, Wuhan Unity Laser Co., Ltd., Suzhou Lead LaserTechnology Co.,Ltd and WUHAN Tianqi Laser Equipment Manufacturing Co.,Ltd Get Discount on the Report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/discount?rname=667427. About Us: RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 100,000+ market research reports from over 95 leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. For more information, please visit http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/china-laser-proccesing-equipment-industry-research-report-2016-2018-market-report.html Contact Info: Name: Ritesh Tiwari Email: sales@rnrmarketresearch.com Organization: RnRMarketResearch Phone: + 1 888 391 5441 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/china-laser-processing-equipment-market-by-laser-cutting-welding-marking-and-engraving-analysis-and-forecasts-to-2018/129367 Release ID: 129367 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) PA Lawyers Comment On Supreme Court's Decision To Review "Good Samaritan" Case After an employer filed an appeal, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will review a case in which the employer claims an injured employee's actions were not in the scope of his employment and, therefore, should not be covered by workers' compensation. -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to review a case in which a judge determined that an employee acting as a good samaritan could not be denied workers' compensation. The review comes after the employer filed an appeal. Nearly six years ago, the employer disputed the workers' compensation claim that their employee had made, after he suffered injuries to his left leg, knee, ribs, back, lungs, and head. His employer alleged that the claim wasn't valid because the accident which caused the injuries took place when the worker wasn't performing his actual job. The accident took place when the employee noticed that a fellow worker had fallen into a large concrete pit and wasn't moving. By the time he reached the worker, he found that the man had already died from his injuries. As he was climbing out of the pit on a ladder to call for help, he himself fell and sustained serious injuries. The matter went to court and the judge determined that "attempts to render aid to another do not, in and of themselves, constitute an abandonment of employment." Since it was determined that the worker did not, in fact, abandon his work at the time of his accident, he was entitled to compensation through workers' comp. It is not uncommon for employers to dispute the claims made by their employees. For many, the decision is a financial one - if the insurance company pays out numerous claims, the price of the premium will go up. Whatever the reason, if an employer disputes a claim, it can make the process of getting much-needed compensation very difficult for someone who is already suffering from both physical and emotional pain. Hopefully, once the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reviews the decision, future good samaritans who become injured won't have to wait for years before they get the financial support they so desperately need from workers' comp. Contact Info: Name: Larry Levin Email: info@bulldoglawyers.com Phone: 800-681-7000 Organization: The Bulldog Lawyers Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/25677 Release ID: 129446 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) Propylene Industry Growth And Forecast Report Up To 2020: Radiant Insights, Inc Global Propylene capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 11.6 mtpa in 2015 to 130.0 mtpa by 2020. Around 65 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in China and US in the next five years. -- Global Propylene capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 11.6 mtpa in 2015 to 130.0 mtpa by 2020. Around 65 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in China and US in the next five years. Lotte Chemical Corporation, Ascend Performance Materials LLC and Oriental Energy Co., Ltd. are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next five years. Global Propylene industry is expected to spend around US$16.9 billion by 2020 for the upcoming projects. China, Russia and US are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2020. Scope: Report provides information and insight on - - Historic and forecast global Propylene capacity by region - Propylene planned plants details - Global Propylene capacity by feedstock - Capacity share of the major Propylene producers in the world - Global Propylene capital expenditure forecast by region Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/q2-global-propylene-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook Reasons to buy: The report will clarify - - Understand the key trends in the global Propylene industry - Understand the regional Propylene supply scenario - Identify opportunities in the global Propylene industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast - Understand the current and likely future competitive scenario See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/chemicals About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/q2-global-propylene-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/propylene-industry-growth-and-forecast-report-up-to-2020-radiant-insights-inc/129479 Release ID: 129479 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) Military Robot Market Share, Size And Trends Analysis Report By Radiant Insights, Inc The global military robot market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of over 10.2 % over the forecast period (from 2013 to 2018). The major market growth driving factor includes the growing conflicts between nations. -- Military robots are machines utilized by the military to get their work done more efficiently. For example, robots are used in regions where it is impossible to deploy military workforce. Military robots are utilized for surveillance, for patrols, and to collect data. These robots are usually controlled at a distance from the field of operation. The global military robot market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of over 10.2 % over the forecast period (from 2013 to 2018). The major market growth driving factor includes the growing conflicts between nations. However, rapid technological changes are likely to hinder the overall industry growth. This market research report is a detailed analysis of the global military robot market. It analyzes the current conditions of the global market. It also covers the industry landscape and its growth forecast for the next few years. The report analyzes the key regions along with the current development statuses of each region. The regions analyzed in this report include Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Browse Full Research Report With TOC: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-military-robot-market-2014-2018 Also, the analysis of the major industry players is provided along with the important details such as company profiles, product pictures, prices, product specifications, market share, contact details, and so on. The major players operating in the military robot market are BAE Systems PLC.; General Dynamics Corp.; Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.; SAAB AB; Atlas Elektronik GmbH; Bluefin Robotics Corp.; Boston Dynamics Inc.; Elbit Systems Ltd.; Remotec UK Ltd.; Robotic FX Inc.; and various other prominent vendors. All such major companies are adopting strategies, like fresh product developments, active participation into R&D so as to introduce highly developed robots with reduced weight and superior precision, long-term contracts, and business development to strengthen their market positions. See More Reports of This Category by Radiant Insights: http://www.radiantinsights.com/catalog/defense About Radiant Insights,Inc Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, our experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-military-robot-market-2014-2018 Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States Phone: 1-415-349-0054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/military-robot-market-share-size-and-trends-analysis-report-by-radiant-insights-inc/129473 Release ID: 129473 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) New Laser Tag Activity Adds to Team Building and Outdoor Activity Offerings at Black Rock Retreat in Lancaster, PA Black Rock Retreat provides outdoor education programs and educational school field trips for public and private schools and homeschool groups at their facilities in Lancaster County, PA. -- Lancaster County, PA -Black Rock Retreat's Outdoor Education program discovered that students learn best when their hands-on experiences are highlighted with enriching team-building activities. Their program offers outdoor laser tag, high ropes elements, and tons of outdoor games to do just that. When students work as a collective team, their learning experience is more fun and students are encouraged to learn from each other and collaborate. Students that come through Black Rock Retreat's outdoor education program can experience thrilling activities to encourage this type of teamwork. The newly added laser tag activity allows students to work in teams to navigate the woodlands, create strategies, and work towards a common goal. The high ropes elements provide a fun way to encourage trust within a group. The many other outdoor activities Black Rock Retreat offers allow a customizable experience to cater to specific group needs and desires all while getting exercise. Black Rock Retreat's Outdoor Education Program allows students a hands-on, interactive education during their 1- to 3-day scientific adventures in the 100-acre outdoor classroom! It serves Christian, public, and private schools with programs specifically designed to meet unique needs. This experience is a short drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Jersey, and Delaware. For more information, contact us at (717) 529-3232 or email us at info@blackrockretreat.com. Black Rock Retreat is a non-profit Christian Camp and Conference Center located in Lancaster County, PA providing retreat facilities, a Summer Camp program for youth, Outdoor Education program, a Challenge Ropes Course, a Road Scholar program, and more. Media Contact: John Shertzer, Executive Director Black Rock Retreat Center 1345 Kirkwood Pike Quarryville, PA 17566 (800) 858-9299 - (717) 529-3232 www.blackrockretreat.com info@blackrockretreat.com For more information, please visit https://www.blackrockretreat.com/ Contact Info: Name: John Shertzer Email: info@blackrockretreat.com Organization: Black Rock Retreat Address: 1345 Kirkwood Pike Quarryville, PA 17566 Phone: (800) 858-9299 - (717) 529-3232 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/new-laser-tag-activity-adds-to-team-building-and-outdoor-activity-offerings-at-black-rock-retreat-in-lancaster-pa/129658 Release ID: 129658 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) Drug More Powerful than Heroin Arrives in Pennsylvania, Drug Rehab Pennsylvania Comments ( August 26, 2016 ) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- A synthetic opioid called Carfentanil may potentially be arriving to Pennsylvania. Officials say that they found pounds of heroin that Carfentanil has been mixed into headed to Pennsylvania. According to Stefanie Salavantis, a Luzerne County District Attorney, Carfentanil has caused overwhelming amounts of overdoses and has reportedly been found in areas close to Western Pennsylvania. This opioid is known to be very potent and have a stronger and more powerful effect than heroin. Drug Rehab asserts that, with the findings of this dangerous drug in areas around Pennsylvania, the state may be at risk of the drug entering this region. Law enforcement officers should continue to monitor this drug to avoid it coming into the communities in Pennsylvania. By doing this, Pennsylvania can successfully avoid this dangerous drug entering the community and affecting the lives of people in this region. An associate from Drug Rehab Philadelphia comments: "The news about this dangerous drug arriving to areas around Pennsylvania is very frightening for people in the community. Seeing how Philadelphia already has large amounts of dangerous drug use resulting in drug overdoses, the possible arrival of this drug will be a threat to decreasing the amount of drug use in this area. People should be largely aware of the issue and how Carfentanil can affect people in the community. They should also know how powerful the drug really is. This new threat of Carfentanil arriving in Pennsylvania should raise attention to law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania to stop this drug from coming into this area. By knowing all the potential threats brought on by this drug, law enforcement officers and people in the community can carefully and effectively avoid the drug infiltrating their communities and families". About Drug Rehab Philadelphia 18304: Drug Rehab Philadelphia is an addiction treatment center in Philadelphia. This center provides clients with alcohol rehab in Philadelphia and heroin rehab in Philadelphia to help a client reach and maintain sobriety. This addiction treatment facility provides treatment such as drug rehab, medical detox, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, drug counseling, individual and group therapy, and other addiction recovery services. For more information visit http://www.drugrehabphiladelphia.net/ or call (267)351-8139. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Drug Rehab Newark Comments on the Seizure of $10K and Heroin leading to the Arrest of 4 ( August 26, 2016 ) Newark, New Jersey -- The Newark Police Department received a tip that lead to a drug trafficking bust in Newark. This drug bust led to Newark police finding heroin, marijuana, ammunition, and over $10,500. Four people were arrested on drug charges linked to the drug trafficking. This drug operation was reportedly done on a storefront. This led to detectives investigation a business located at 103 Maple Avenue in Newark. Drug Rehab Newark asserts that this arrest exposed the topic of undercover drug operations taking place in Newark. By arresting these four individuals, the police were able to avoid the spread of drugs in the area. People in the community are now more protected against the circulation of illegal drugs in their environment. By eliminating the danger in the community with the arrest of these individuals, people are more protected against the growth of drug use in this area. Though this will most likely not stop all the drug use in Newark, this is a step in the right direction to stop all illegal drug activity in the area altogether. An associate from Drug Rehab Newark comments: "The arrest of these individuals will greatly benefit the community. There is now a lower threat to the increase of drug use in Newark. Hopefully, these types of arrests will continue. This will allow people to feel less threatened by the growth of drugs and illegal drug activity in the community. People will feel safer against more people being exposed to dangerous drugs such as marijuana and heroin. They will also be able to avoid any dangerous activity linked to these drugs." About Drug Rehab Newark 07543: Drug Rehab Newark provides clients with the necessary addiction treatment services to successfully combat their addiction. This addiction treatment center in Newark provides clients with addiction recovery services such as individual and group therapy sessions, drug counseling, medical inpatient detoxification, heroin rehab and alcohol rehab in Newark. For more information visit http://www.drugrehabnewark.org/ or call (973)947-8129. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Drug Rehab Newark Comments on the Seizure of 2 AK-47s and Heroin during Drug Arrests in Newark ( August 26, 2016 ) Newark, New Jersey -- The arrest of two Newark men led to the seizure of 2 AK-47s and over 140 packets of heroin. The AK-47s were reported to be fully loaded. Newark Police were able to arrest the two individuals at the Grace West Manor housing complex after they received a tip. The men were armed when they were found by Special Enforcement Bureau detectives. They quickly tried to dispose of the weapons in a nearby shed as they spotted the detectives. Drug Rehab Newark asserts that the arrest of these men has allowed the community to be protected against the threat of drug spreading in their community. Not only was heroin taken out of the community, but so were these dangerous weapons. Hopefully, more arrests like these will be made to help the community remain safe against drug-related crimes. Although this was only one arrest, it signifies how Newark is slowly becoming safer against drug use and other illegal drug crimes. An associate from Drug Rehab Newark comments: "Because of the arrest of these individuals, there are now two less dangerous individuals roaming freely in Newark. People will now be and feel safer with these individuals no longer being in their community. As the Newark Police Department continues to arrest these individuals, the community in Newark will hopefully see a decline in the amount of drug-related crimes and drug use in the community. The community will continue to grow towards being drug free and safe for all inhabitants. This one arrest acts as one less threat to the amount of drug use in Newark growing." About Drug Rehab Newark 05107: Drug Rehab Newark is a drug addiction and treatment center in Newark. This center provides clients with addiction recovery services such as to become sober individuals. Some of the addiction recovery services are drug counseling, heroin rehab, individual and group therapy services, acupuncture therapy, yoga, meditation, and alcohol rehab in Newark.By attending this drug treatment facility in Newark, a client will be able to successfully overcome their addiction. For more information, visit http://www.drugrehabnewark.org/ or call (973)947-8129. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Hot Tub Sale Los Alamos, NM Spa Dealer Participates in Romance Awareness Month Los Alamos Hot Tubs Dealer Featuring Bullfrog Spas Publishes "3 Ways to Put Romance Back in a Relationship". Offers Free Hot Tub Test Soaks to Local Residents. -- Carefree Hot Tubs of New Mexico, a hot tub dealer serving Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Los Alamos, NM participates in Romance Awareness Month, sharing "3 Ways to Put Romance Back in a Relationship." Tom Gervais of Carefree Hot Tubs said, "It's the little things done regularly that really show people how much they are loved and cared for. It's far better and more meaningful than presents given on Valentine's Day when it is expected." Here are three ways to put romance back into a relationship. Get Connected In Los Alamos Hot Tub - A dip in the hot tub at the end of the day offers a comfortable place to unwind, boosting romance levels. Hot tubs for sale online or in dealer showrooms have options to meet the needs of families of any size, with features that are fun and entertaining. Even if there isn't space for a huge hot tub, portable spas are available that fit into smaller areas - many with the same luxuries as large, fully-loaded styles. In addition, hydrotherapy provided by hot tubs has proven therapeutic value. The National Cancer Institute, the Arthritis Foundation, and studies by renowned Universities such as the McKee Medical Center all show how soaking in temperature controlled water lowers blood pressure, increases oxygen to injured muscles, reduces anxiety and even improves sleep. Show Partners They are Loved - Public displays of affection can be uncomfortable for some, but there are many ways to show affection without being too obvious. Holding hands while walking through a crowded store, sharing smiles and glances with each other, and putting an arm around a spouse during a movie or in a restaurant lets the other person know you are thinking about them. Leave Little Surprises Everywhere - Taking the time to figure out small ways to surprise a loved one is a guaranteed way to put a smile on their face. Leave a love note in a briefcase or lunch box. Tape a special message to the steering wheel of the car so they find it when they are going to work. For an extra bonus, every once in a while, make the note part of a special scavenger hunt that ends in a romantic restaurant or lavish or bubble bath. Consumers wanting to learn more about hot tubs and how they can help improve their overall health and well-being are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of this free guide, The Ultimate Hot Tub, What to Look For! Just call or visit the company website at: www.CareFreeNM.com. About Us Carefree Hot Tubs is one of New Mexico's largest and most established hot tub dealers. They sell and service Bullfrog Spas, one of the world's premier brand of hot tubs. All of their hot tubs provide stress-relief, true hydrotherapy performance, energy efficiency, outstanding warranties, and long-term reliability - all at affordable prices! Whether it's a Bullfrog or one of the many other hot tubs and spa brands showcased, they have hot tubs and spas that offer a variety of sizes, prices, and therapy options. To encourage local residents to check out the benefits of owning their own hot tub, Carefree will be providing free hot tub test soaks for the entire month. They do recommend however that people wanting to schedule their free 30-minute wet test call them ahead of time to reserve their spot. To learn more about the benefits of owning a hot tub, pick up a copy of this free buyer's guide, The Ultimate Hot Tub, What to Look For! Just stop by their Albuquerque or Santa Fe showroom or visit the company website at: www.CareFreeNM.com. Contact Info: Name: Tom Gervais Email: tgervais@att.net Phone: 505-883-2999 Organization: Carefree Hot Tubs Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/25730 Release ID: 129840 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) Aspire Digital Business System Review Website Launched By Michael Force For Profitable Successful Online Business Digital Attitude aims to help digital entrepreneurs learn exactly what they need to make a business and take it to the next level with their range of products and events. -- The digital marketplace is such that one needs to constantly learn and evolve in order to stay ahead of the competition. For any entrepreneur, knowledge is but the most important element in making a business successful- and that is exactly what Aspire Digital Business system aims to provide. The range of products that Digital Altitude has is: 1) Aspire Digital Business System: A comprehensive training designed for digital marketers. 2) Base Digital Business Mastery Course: A course designed for helping entrepreneurs make the most of the first three months of their business. 3) Rise Digital Business Mastery Course: This course contains the key concepts and mindsets needed for sustaining an internet marketing business. 4) Ascend Digital Business Profit Workshop: It is a 3-day retreat for two people to learn from the business thought leaders. 5) Peak Digital Business Prosperity Retreat: A 5-day all inclusive retreat for 2 people with the top thought leaders in management, success & leadership. 6) Apex Digital Business Legacy Experience: This 7-day retreat for 2 covers all about real estate, wealth building as well as asset management. For those who are looking to start their online business or have recently begun it, 'Aspire' and 'Base' are the products to go for respectively. Click Here To Learn More About Michael Force's Aspire Digital Business System Aspire is in the form of a comprehensive training module, covering everything ranging from sales funnels, automations and all resources and tools among other things. The highlight of this Business System is that it has been developed in conjugation with actual 7-figure digital entrepreneurs. For those who have already started their business and are anywhere in the initial 3-month period, Base is the course to go in for. Base is focused towards helping an entrepreneur 'come out swinging' in the beginning of his/her business. It comes with all the resources, tools and shortcuts for getting on the fast track to success, as Digital Attitude calls it. Next in the lineup is Rise, which is to help digital marketers gain mastery in their field. Digital Attitude claims that the 'inner game' of a person is half of the struggle. Rise consists of the key concepts and mindsets, as developed by the best marketers in the business. It also has traffic, resources and other tools that can be beneficial in driving a business towards growth. Ascend, Peak and Apex are all-inclusive retreats for 2 people with different agendas. Each of these offers entrepreneurs the chance to interact with the pioneer business thinkers in a particular field. Ascend is a 3-Day retreat that gives attendees the chance to interact with the best business thought leaders. Peak, on the other hand, is a 5-day retreat that brings together the best of thought leaders in not just business success, but also leadership and management. The last of the lot is Apex, which brings with itself knowledge of real estate, wealth building as well as asset management. Thus, right from a digital business novice to those looking to take things to the next level, there is something for everyone in the Digital Attitude product range. The right start and push are required to take any business to the next level- and that is what Digital Attitude is trying to provide entrepreneurs with. It surely seems like picking the right 'attitude' is what it takes to succeed! For more information, please visit http://expositionpark.org/aspire-digital-business-review/ Contact Info: Name: Surya Kumar Organization: Impower Solutions Address: 9D, Amethyst Block, Olympia Opaline, Navallur, Siruseri, Chennai Phone: 9840232213 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/aspire-digital-business-system-review-website-launched-by-michael-force-for-profitable-successful-online-business/129844 Release ID: 129844 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) ''Avengers: Infinity War' Latest, News & Updates: Directors Raise Tease on Potential Alternate Steve Rogers Identity "Avengers: Infinity War" certainly has a promise to live by especially after the success of "Captain America: Civil War." After the events that transpired from the said film, the question remains on what else is to happen to the franchise; let alone Captain America. Some spoilers may be indicated below. For fans who are yet to watch "Captain America: Civil War" or other related Marvel movies, the article will contain some parts that may speak of some scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in relation to "Avengers: Infinity War." According to Time, fans may be in for something that will blow their minds for "Avengers: Infinity War" and the rest of the movies after. With the conclusion of "Captain America: Civil War" turning out as symbolic and as literal as it can get, the director behind the movie was generous to speak of a mind-blowing tease. Huffington Post noted that the Russo brothers spoke of the representation in which Steve Rogers might be losing the Captain America identity once and for all, as he dropped the shield after his clash with Tony Stark. This leads to further speculation that his alternate character, The Nomad, will take off in the next Marvel Cinematic Universe films, starting with "Avengers: Infinity War." For those less informed of the Marvel universe, The Nomad is also Steve Rogers, who went rogue after losing confidence in the government and their running. Originally, The Nomad is to lead another group of heroes that did not agree to being under the government's grasp, fighting crime under their own terms-which may be the case in "Avengers: Infinity War" or some films after. Though no apparent confirmation of Captain America's turning has surfaced yet, the safest that fans can do is to expect less of his character returning. The Nomad can and could be the next identity to look at for "Avengers: Infinity War," if Marvel is to push through with the decision. iPhone 7 Release Date, News & Update: Apple May Have Shortage During iPhone 7 Launch; Release Dates Confirmed! Fans of the Cupertino-company cannot wait for the iPhone 7 that is about to be unveiled in a couple of weeks. However, other news outlets say that the new Apple variant may have a shortage problem in time of its release in September. Supply Problems for iPhone 7 in its Release Business Insider reports that fans of the iPhone 7 cannot automatically buy the new smartphone in its launch due to a shortage problem with Apple latest flagship phone. Reasons for this is that Apple's suppliers are having trouble with making the components for the dual lens and the waterproof system that will be added to the iPhone 7. Also, if Apple followed its release date with the previous variants last year, the iPhone 7 might have a low supply in the beginning of the launch as some suppliers are trying to fix the low yield rates of their components. Meanwhile, Apple also has a dropped in sales for the past two quarters of this year. The company has experienced a major dropped in the demand with the upcoming iPhone 7 it's because of the lack of new features in the new models. The report further explained that Apple's placemen orders in the US are very conservative and the company's panel orders for the iPhone 7 are dropping around 20% in year-over-year. Which leaves one major suppliers such as Japan Display hungry for more orders. iPhone 7 Release Date The confirmed release of the iPhone 7 has just been announced all over the web with a Twitter post from Evan Blass, a well-known tipster for Apple variants. The tipster is confident that the Apple flagship will release on September 16. Pre-orders of the iPhone 7 online are expected to start on September 9. September 7 is still the big day that fans of the iPhone 7 will not miss out as the new variant will be presented to the public. For more iPhone 7 news and update stay tuned to Gamenguide! Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Spoilers: Its Grand Admiral Thrawn vs Darth Vader! The "Star Wars Rebels Season 3" will soon premiere and creator Dave Filoni has more revelation about the series' episodes. According to him, the new season of Rebels will put the Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader in the spotlight as the main villains of the series. True to his words that "Star Wars Rebels" will not concentrate on the battle between Darth Vader and Darth Maul, the Admiral Thrawn however is here as a villain. In "Star Wars Rebels Season 2" Darth Vader was seen trying to kill Ezra. Ezra has been brave and told Vader that he is not afraid of him, but when his saber was destroyed by Darth Vader, Ezra realizes just how helpless he is. Right before Darth Vader finishes him, Ahsoka Tano appears at the back, telling Darth Vader that it will not be his first time to commit a mistake if he kills Ezra. Now, "Star Wars Rebels Season 3" will feature the Grand Admiral Thrawn, a character that has been faithful to his original character as the villain. Written by Timothy Hahn, Filoni said "After having the material so long ago, there were things that stuck with me about the character. The biggest one for me was the art." "Star Wars Rebels Episode 1" entitled "Steps into Shadow" also features a new character under the name Bendu. Bendu will neither be a Sith or a Jedi, but his skills impressively says, he has the character of a Sith and also a Jedi. The giant creature Bendu will serve as the connecting medium between the blind Kanan and the Force, tagging him as a Gray character, not belonging to the light or the dark side. Despite not being a member of the Sith of the Jedi, Bendu according "Star Wars Rebels Season 3' spoilers reveal, he will fight against the Rebel Forces. Want to get updated with the latest "Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Spoilers?" Read on GameNGuide for fresh news about the series. Health officials said the local coronavirus outlook remained stable this week, though they continued to warn against a potential winter surge. When Bonnie Armantrout heard the news this week that at least 13 people had been killed in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan, she froze. That's because the 70-year-old Oregon State University graduate had worked as an English teacher at the university for the last six years before returning home to Corvallis in June for health reasons. The people targeted in the attack included friends, coworkers, students. According to The Associated Press, militants armed with grenades and automatic weapons attacked the campus in Kabul at around 7 p.m. Wednesday. In addition to the 13 people killed, more than 30 others were wounded during a nine-hour siege before police killed the assailants. The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to The Associated Press. On Friday, Armantrout said she feared for the safety of many friends and colleagues. Im in shock, she said but added that she was not surprised. It finally happened. For the six years I was there, I dont think a single semester went by where we didnt go on lockdown over something. The American University of Afghanistan, which was established in 2006, has more than 1,000 students and is the only private, nonprofit coed university in the country. Armantrout, who began working at the university in 2010, said she has been following news of the attack, concerned she might recognize the names of the dead or wounded. One of her professor friends at the university was shot during the attack, she said, but is likely to make a recovery. One of her former students, Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Massoud Hossaini, told The Associated Press that he was in a classroom at the university when the attack took place and that several students were injured when grenades were thrown inside the room. This is something we always knew could happen and we were reminded of it almost every day, Armantrout said. While I was there, we would get word that the Taliban announced it was going to attack an American school. But there were other international schools there staffed by Americans, so we were never sure if it would be us. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack as of Friday, according to the AP. The attack occurred two weeks after an American and Australian staffer were kidnapped. Their whereabouts remain unknown. Last month, a massive suicide bombing in Kabul killed more than 80 people and wounded hundreds. Despite numerous attacks around the university before, during and after her time there, Armantrout said that after spending six years living in the community and being part of the local economy, she believes that the people of Kabul are warm and generous. If you needed it, theyd give you the shirt off their backs without thinking twice, she said. I never once felt threatened by anyone I met. Armantrout said she not only never witnessed or heard of a single person she met at the university ever commit a crime, the local people fear and hate terrorism more than any American. They hate the Taliban and are in fear of something happening daily, she said. Everyone just wants to be safe. In that respect and so many others, they are just like Americans. Armantrout said she was reminded of similarities to Americans every day, from how often she would have to remind her students to turn off their cellphones to the friendly and welcoming faces she would see at the local supermarket. Armantrout recalled the November 2010 firebombing of Corvallis Salman Al-Farisi mosque and the communitys response in the days that followed. What did people in Corvallis do? They ran over to them and helped them rebuild. And they stood with the Muslim community, Armantrout said. Well, any time anything bad ever happened around us at the university, all of the people I knew came to me to offer help. People everywhere are all basically good. And if you look for the good, you will see it. Armantrout has lived in more than a dozen countries, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Turkey and Indonesia, and she said she feels no more or less safe at home than she did in Kabul or any of the other places she visited. I was never afraid of going over there, she said. Why should I be any more afraid there than I would driving down the wrong street here? Whatever couldve happened to me there could happen to me anywhere else." Armantrout said she is confident that the university will be rebuilt and that people in the community will come together in peace. Her only regret, she said, is that she wont be able to be at the school when it happens. If I could, I would go back immediately, she said. In a heartbeat. Veet, the number one depilatory brand in the world, recently held auditions for its new reality show, Miss Veet Pakistan in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Hundreds of girls from all over the country participated in auditions and were judged by well-known celebrity judges, Aisha Khan, Aaminah Sheikh and Tapu Javeri, accompanied by Fayezah Ansari, as the celebrity mentor for the participants. Twelve girls; four from each city were selected who will get a chance to go to the beautiful beaches of Bentota in Srilanka where the show will be shot. These girls will go through a transformative journey that redefines beauty through Veet Academy. Veet Academy is a platform that aims to give every Pakistani girl the opportunity to get trained by the countrys top celebrities and trainers; and transform themselves to the very best that they can be. It will be these very girls who will be competing for the title of Miss Veet Pakistan. Miss Veet Pakistan is on the mission to make all the girls beautiful, giving them an opportunity to succeed. said Maha Changez, Brand Manager, Veet. The winner of Miss Veet gets a chance to become a Veet brand ambassador by signing a contract worth one million rupees. 'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable. Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 26, 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 Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine strikes in Syria: -- Near Shadaddi, five strikes engaged five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions, a tactical vehicle and another vehicle. -- Near Manbij, four strikes engaged four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, four vehicles, an artillery system and a weapons cache. Strikes in Iraq Bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Mosul, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and suppressed a tactical unit. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike engaged an ISIL vehicle bomb factory. -- Near Ramadi, three strikes destroyed an ISIL mortar position and a vehicle and damaged a fighting position. -- Near Sinjar, a strike suppressed an ISIL rocket position. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle. 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 Southern Partnership Station 2016 Medical Engagement Team Completes Operation in Honduras Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-21 Release Date: 8/26/2016 1:40:00 PM By U.S. Army Private First Class Liem Huynh, USSOUTHCOM Public Affairs SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (NNS) -- The Southern Partnership Station 2016 (SPS 16) Medical Engagement Team (MET), who partnered with Operation Blessing to conduct public health operations, completed their engagements in Honduras, Aug. 26. SPS 16 is a U.S. Southern Command directed operation planned by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and carried out by deployed Adaptive Force Packages (AFPs) deployed to Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia from August to October 2016. This year, the MET AFPs deployed to Honduras conducted subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) with Honduran medical personnel, which centered on the Zika virus and preventative treatments to promote environmental health. The MET, comprised of seven medical personnel from around the fleet, conducted SMEEs with more than 600 students, 70 health care providers and five different communities in the San Pedro Sula region as part of SPS 16. "We are very grateful having the U.S. military personnel working together with Operation Blessing for the last two weeks," said Hilda Romero, Honduras' National Director of Operation Blessing. Romero said that with the military's help and global positioning systems, Operation Blessing was able to locate and record households who received pest control treatment in efforts to combat the Zika virus. They were also able to implement a new tile-based insecticide to non-drinking water sources in Monte Verde, Choloma. In an effort to promote a health education program, the MET included a U.S. Navy gynecologist and a clinical nurse specialist who gave training in CPR and basic life support techniques to the Honduran communities. "The students were motivated, engaged and involved," said Lt. Cmdr. Ebony Ferguson, a clinical nurse specialist assigned to Fort Belvoir. "It was rewarding to see them teaching each other and correcting their own mistakes right after we taught the lessons." The MET is scheduled to continue SPS 16 operations in El Salvador in the coming weeks. "The work that our team has accomplished here will be the foundation for future teams," said Lt. Cmdr. Patrick McKenna, MET Leader for SPS 16. "I hope that we can continue to do good work in the upcoming years with Operation Blessing and other organizations. We've already strengthened the trust and the relationship between the Navy and our NGO-partnership organizations." SPS 16 is an annual series of U.S. Navy deployments focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy SeaBees Team Up in El Salvador Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-14 Release Date: 8/26/2016 11:34:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs CONCHAGUA, El Salvador (NNS) -- A construction engagement team is currently midway through a construction project in Barrio El Calvario, Conchagua, El Salvador. The team is one of several Adaptive Force Packages (AFPs) deployed to Honduras, El Salvador, and Colombia as part of Southern Partnership Station 2016 (SPS 16). SPS 16 is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation planned by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F). AFPs are specialized military teams from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 2, Navy Bureau of Medicine subordinate commands, and civilian personnel that focus on locally identified needs such as security, medical readiness, and improving community infrastructure along with creating strong ties with the civilian community. The AFPs are deployed from August 2016 to October 2016 to Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia in support of SPS 16. The CET is made up of Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, Salvadoran engineers, and medical personnel who are working together to construct a new community center and upgrade the existing park. "We've been able to develop a partnership with the host nation workers to visibly improve the park," said Lt. j.g. David Perez, assigned to NMCB 133. "We have also seen an outpouring of interest from people who live in the neighborhood and from local officers. I think the project has already been successful in strengthening our partnership with the community." With less than a month for the site to be prepped, the foundation poured, and the building finished, the construction team has been working long days with the hopes that the community center will be completed ahead of schedule. "These guys are great," said Chief Steelworker Antonio Chavez-Plata, assigned to NMCB 133. "We will have worked together for a year in October, but they have really come together as a team. They show up ready to work, they get along and the camaraderie is amazing. On and off the job these are the guys you want with you." The Seabees are constructing a new two-room community center and local teams are refurbishing the community pool and restrooms, along with creating new concrete walkways. While the projects are separate the teams work together on a small site and work sometimes overlaps. The day concrete was delivered everyone pulled together to ensure the foundation for the new building, walkways and planters were all poured and smoothed before the concrete could set. "It's great to be here, the country is beautiful and people are helpful, kind and hard working," said Steelworker 2nd Class Moises Vargas, assigned to NMCB 133. "It's interesting to see how they do things differently and they will ask us about how we do some things, the exchange of knowledge and learning from each other is an incredible experience." SPS 16 is an annual series of U.S. Navy deployments focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EODGRU 2 Concludes Bold Alligator 2016 Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-11 Release Date: 8/26/2016 9:32:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Public Affairs VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 concluded participation in Exercise Bold Alligator 2016 (BA16) upon exercise completion Aug. 25. Exercise Bold Alligator 2016 was an 11-day synthetic, scenario-based simulation exercise that began Aug. 15. The exercise scenario was based on joint forcible entry operations (JFEO) in a medium-threat environment and involved more than 30 Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands. "Bold Alligator has been a great opportunity to hone our skills as a deployable task force headquarters and work with our counterparts at Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade," said Capt. John Moulton, commander of EODGRU 2. Moulton and more than 30 EODGRU 2 personnel worked alongside staff augments and liaison officers from 22nd Naval Construction Regiment, Coastal Riverine Squadron 4, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion, and Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command personnel at a tactical operations center at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT) as well as a forward element embarked aboard amphibious assault ship USS BATAAN (LHD 5) throughout the exercise. First conducted in 2011, Exercise Bold Alligator is a joint amphibious warfare training exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Marine Forces Command to revitalize and reinforce the Navy and Marine Corps' traditional role as "fighters from the sea." EODGRU 2, headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS), oversees all East Coast-based Navy EOD mobile units, including one forward-deployed mobile unit in Spain, as well as EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 2, EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 2, and the only East Coast-based mobile diving and salvage unit, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MKI ARG ready after successful COMPTUEX Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-09 Release Date: 8/26/2016 8:51:00 AM By By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Corwin Colbert USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea (NNS) -- The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5 and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) successfully completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California, Aug. 25. The 14-day event is the second of three integrated training evolutions aimed at preparing the ARG/MEU team for deployment. "COMPTUEX gives the ARG/MEU the opportunity to train together for a variety of missions," said Capt. Brad Arthur, Deputy Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five. "Rehearsing mission planning and execution together promotes cohesion and understanding among the Navy-Marine Corps team, and that's vital to our success on deployment." Commander, Carrier Strike Group 15 evaluated the integrated operational capabilities of the PHIBRON 5 staff, the 11th MEU, and the three ARG ships, amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) and amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25). The ARG/MEU responded to a variety of scenarios, similar to what they may see on deployment, to test their ability to work together and conduct the full range of amphibious missions safely. U.S. naval ships, submarines and aircraft served as opposing forces in anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, strike and cyber warfare and maritime interdiction scenarios. "These Sailors and Marines have been working together now for several months," said Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Melson. "COMPTUEX was our chance to put the product of that training on display and showcase our ability to work as a seamless blue-green team. Every day each of us learned something new, and every day we got a little bit better. I'm extremely proud of how far this team has come." COMPTUEX scenarios called on the three ARG ships to support the gamut of amphibious operations. Marine aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, MV-22 Ospreys, AH-1Z Cobras, UH-1Y Hueys, and CH-53E Super Stallions, as well as Navy MH-60 Seahawks, conducted simulated raids, amphibious landings, maritime interdiction and humanitarian assistance mission from ARG flight decks. The ships' well decks launched and recovered amphibious landing craft, including landing craft air cushion, amphibious assault vehicles, and landing craft utility to support movement of Marines and gear ashore. "We learned a lot about our abilities to fight as a collective force," said Comstock Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gervy Alota. "[Comstock is] lucky to be in the company of two extraordinary ships, Makin Island and Somerset, and I could honestly say that I would not want to sail into harm's way with anyone else." Amphibious Squadron 5, the Makin Island ARG and the 11th MEU plan to execute the third and final phase of integrated pre-deployment training in September during Certification Exercise (CERTEX). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Submarine Force Opens New Trainer in Guam Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-07 Release Date: 8/26/2016 8:48:00 AM By Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 Public Affairs Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 Public Affairs (NNS) -- Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) detachment (det) Guam held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand new Mobile Trainer (MT) 1000 submarine firefighting trainer on Polaris Point, Guam, Aug. 26. The MT-1000 is the hottest firefighting trainer in the U.S. Navy and can run until temperatures reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit at five feet above the deck. It is designed to train service members in both basic firefighting and responsive team training to improve the casualty response of forward deployed units in the Western Pacific. "The addition of the MT-1000 reinforces the Navy's commitment to ensure our submarine force is trained to the highest degree of readiness and that our crews are ready to handle emergency situations underway," said Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Trant, NSTCP det Guam Officer in Charge. "The MT-1000 is the newest, hottest firefighter trainer in the U.S. Navy, putting our front line submariners through rigorous firefighting scenarios, which provides invaluable training." One of the MT-1000's two fireplaces simulates a switchboard electrical fire, and the other is a bilge fire with a flashover capability that shoots propane across the ceiling, which rapidly raises the temperature inside. Training is routinely conducted around 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be reached within a couple of minutes at full burn. The MT-1000 can train two hose teams of four Sailors each simultaneously and is closely monitored by staff to ensure safety and compliance with proper firefighting techniques. "This top-of-the-line trainer will benefit the submarine force and the fleet by developing team skills with real-life firefighting scenarios in a controlled environment," said Trant. "We want to ensure the teams have the tools they need to be successful should similar situations arise underway." The MT-1000 is specially designed to improve firefighting capabilities aboard submarines with a side watertight door and topside hatch over a vertical ladder to simulate firefighting conditions and accesses on submarines. The trainer also has moveable metal panels to simulate different scenarios and increase the difficulty. Capt. Michael Martin, NSTCP Commanding Officer, was present for the ceremony and is excited about the new systems coming online. "The MT-1000 is another addition in a series of new training capabilities coming to Guam," said Martin. "Over the last three years, NSTCP det Guam has expanded from a small office of four instructors to a staff of 20 by the end of the year, running a state of the art Attack Center, Submarine Bridge and integrated navigation trainer, Ship Control Operator Trainer (SCOT) and the new MT-1000 along with an advanced engineering Virtual Interactive Display Equipment (VIDE) trainer coming online in November." The new facility was built by Kidde Fire Trainers, Inc. and shipped from Groton, Connecticut, to Guam in July. The MT-1000 has been undergoing acceptance testing throughout August and will be ready to train submariners in September. "The submarine force and Submarine Learning Center (SLC) have provided considerable resources to buy, build and man this schoolhouse," said Martin. "Guam continues to provide excellent state of the art training to the forward deployed submarines equal to any submarine homeport." NSTCP det Guam is located at Polaris Point in Apra Harbor, Guam and shares a building with Commander, Submarine Squadron 15. Together, they are responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support of four Los Angeles-class attack submarines stationed in Guam and submarines deployed throughout the Pacific Ocean. The submarines and submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fort Worth Completes Port Visit in Malaysia Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-05 Release Date: 8/26/2016 8:26:00 AM By Ens. Emily Judstra, USS Fort Worth Public Affairs SEPANGGAR, Malaysia (NNS) -- USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) completed a port visit to Sepanggar, Malaysia Aug. 26 while on their transit back to homeport in San Diego. On the first port call of Fort Worth's journey home, sailors participated in a joint outreach activity with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to help foster a culture of cooperation and service in the local Malaysian community. Sailors interacted with students on an individual level speaking to the theme of "chasing your dreams" while participating in a physical fitness activity alongside the children. Greeted by thousands of cheering students, sailors led a presentation on the U.S. Navy and the LCS program for students and teachers at SJK(C) Chung Hwa primary school. Accompanied by members of the Royal Malaysian Navy, the group facilitated the running of a high energy and exciting aerobics program for the children. "The kids were so energetic and full of life," said EN1 Ricky Ahnert, leader and coordinator of the event. "It was very refreshing and inspiring to see a group of people in such great spirits after something as simple as our visit." Prior to sitting down with Malaysian sailors and school administrators to share in a traditional Malaysian meal, students graciously thanked the sailors for their time by requesting photographs and autographs by the dozens. "For our Fort Worth sailors, the trip to the primary school was the highlight of our visit," said Cmdr. Michael Brasseur, commanding officer, USS Fort Worth, "The Malaysians were the most gracious hosts. To be welcomed into their community with open arms and treated with such hospitality is a humbling experience." In addition to the community service event, sailors facilitated tours of the USS Fort Worth for sailors from the RMN. While onboard, the sailors shared knowledge and compared experiences with their Malaysian counterparts as part of efforts to strengthen relationships throughout the region. Malaysian ships share many similarities with the LCS class ships; both boast minimally manned crews and increased automation. USS Fort Worth has been deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet for more than 18 months, completing many multilateral exercises and participating in evolutions such as the AirAsia flight QZ8501recovery efforts. In collaboration with the U.S. 7th fleet, she has helped to support U.S. interests throughout the region along with protecting maritime security and promoting regional stability. The U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build maritime partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability and prevent conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Undersecretary of Defense Visits U.S. Navy's Cyber Thought Leaders Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160826-01 Release Date: 8/26/2016 8:00:00 AM By Rita Boland, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), Frank Kendall, visited the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command's (SPAWAR) Old Town Campus and SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific's (SSC PAC's) facilities Aug. 24, 2016. During his trip, Sec. Kendall exchanged ideas with Navy cyber acquisition warriors during an All Hands meeting, an awards ceremony, roundtables and laboratory tours. He had the opportunity to interact with disparate members of the SPAWAR enterprise, which includes headquarters, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I), PEO Space Systems, SSC PAC and SSC Atlantic. The intent of the undersecretary's visit was to meet personally with the SPAWAR acquisition workforce and command leadership to hear firsthand their challenges, successes, questions and concerns as well as to provide an update on AT&L priorities and initiatives. "With Better Buying Power and things like Should Cost and getting better deals, you start to see a significant improvement," said Sec. Kendall during an all-hands assembly at SPAWAR headquarters. " [BBP] is going on to this day, and we need to continue this." During the all-hands, the undersecretary also handed out several Spotlight Recognition Awards to highlight specific SPAWAR-enterprise accomplishments that contribute to AT&L priorities and/or Better Buying Power (BBP) 3.0 initiatives. The recipients were: Bill Farmer who directed efforts to establish C4I cyber baselines that will ensure ships receive the most complete and secure C4I systems. As a leader in SPAWAR's cybersecurity efforts, he made significant gains in delivering certified C4I systems and services that enable sustainable cyber-ready platforms while also reducing vulnerabilities. Emily Nguyen for her leadership as the project manager of a team that releases six software applications each month for U.S. Marines. The team rapidly develops and deploys software solutions to meet technology gaps identified by Marine Expeditionary Forces. She also employs the agile software development process to incorporate user feedback quickly into the development of capabilities. This approach results in shorter delivery times, less re-work and evolved solutions that better match emergent warfighter requirements. Dai Nguyen for his successful development and implementation of a Virtual Training Environment (VTE) solution for Network Security Vulnerability Technicians. His innovative approach gives the Navy the ability to quickly refresh technology and to deliver updated instruction to Sailors underway or in fleet concentration areas. His VTE effort will result in approximately $6 million in lifecycle savings and will improve the effectiveness of other C4I end-to-end training in VTEs. "Training is important to Sailors," Dai Nguyen said. "By virtualizing training we make it more efficient. We help warfighters spend more time on missions instead of in class, and we can invest money and time that used to be spent on training back into other resources for the Navy. I want to emphasize that this is a team effort. A dedicated group of people makes this successful." During the All Hands, Kendall spoke about BBP 3.0, the latest iteration of the Defense Department's plan to be as efficient as possible when providing capability to the warfighter. The 3.0 version has special relevancy to the SPAWAR community, which is a leader in cyber for the Navy. Cybersecurity is a new emphasis area, and the overall focus of BBP 3.0 is the overriding concern that U.S. technological superiority is at risk. Recognizing that innovation increasingly emanates from the commercial sector and overseas, the guidance emphasizes the importance of the federal workforce in identifying and using these sources of innovation and technology. Sec. Kendall is promoting interaction between the Armed Forces and industry to create a stronger cyber culture in U.S. military missions. Advancing cyber capability includes changing an acquisition process that is too lengthy to keep up with the speed at which cyber evolves. The strategic goals and activities of the SPAWAR enterprise align well with BBP 3.0, paving the way to enable delivery of modern information technology services; to own cyber technical leadership; to reduce the cost of operations; and to optimize the cyber workforce. The work at all levels boils down to a more simple idea: provide warfighters with the latest cyber capabilities so they can win on every battlefield every time. SPAWAR Commander RADM David Lewis said, "SPAWAR delivers cyber warfighting capabilities from seabed to space. Better Buying Power 3.0 helps us continue our mission to support the fleet with secure and effective information systems to fight in the cyber domain." After his remarks, Sec. Kendall took questions from the workforce about efficiencies, processes and the impact of fixed-cost contracts on limiting competition among cutting-edge industry partners. Kendall provided in-depth responses on how his office and the Defense Department are addressing these types of concerns and issues. Kendall spent his afternoon touring SPAWAR System Center Pacific's extensive laboratories such as the Battlespace Exploitation of Mixed Reality Lab which is exploring the warfighting possibilities of virtual and augmented reality. With his extensive technical background, Kendall meshed quickly with the engineers and scientists as they jumped from demonstrations on cyber situational awareness and unmanned vehicles to nanosats and command and control systems. He completed his tour onboard the navy's newest autonomous surface test vessel the Sea Hunter; the naval warship equivalent to a self-driving car. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian forces kill another protester in Kashmir Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:42PM Indian government forces have killed another protester in the town of Pulwama in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Police said on Friday that a young man was killed and dozens of protesters were injured after violent clashes between security forces and protesters erupted in over a dozen places across the restive region, including the main city of Srinagar. Police used live munition, tear gas and pellet guns to disperse the protesters who took to the streets in defiance of a curfew following Friday prayers. At least 30 people were injured in the police crackdown on the fresh protests against Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region. New Delhi has imposed a strict curfew following a recent wave of protests triggered by the July 8 shooting of a popular anti-India activist. Since the protests started, an estimated 500,000 Indian troops have been deployed across the Muslim-majority territory. The curfew and government crackdown, however, have failed to stop the protests. Since India and Pakistan won independence from British rule in 1947, the arch-rivals have claimed Kashmir in full but have had only partial control over it. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire in Kashmir on November 26, 2003, and launched a peace process the following year. Since then, however, there have been sporadic clashes, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the ceasefire along their de facto border dividing the disputed region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan's Machar discharged from hospital in Khartoum Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:56PM South Sudan's rebel leader and former first vice president, Riek Machar, has been discharged from hospital in the Sudanese capital Khartoum after receiving treatment for a swollen leg. Machar had fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo after fresh wave of fighting erupted last month between his forces and government troops in Juba. On August 23, Khartoum declared that Machar had arrived in Sudan for "medical treatment." "He has been discharged," said Manasseh Zindo, a senior aide from Machar's party, known as the SPLM/A (IO). "His condition has improved. His leg has improved. Basically, what we know is that his leg had swollen due to long-distance walking," Zindo said Friday. Sabiet Majok, another party aide, said the rebel leader had left the hospital on Friday morning. "He's in good health now, but he will stay in Khartoum for some more days," he added. Majok also said Machar will meet President Omar al-Bashir during his stay in Sudan. He further said Machar planned to visit Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda and Kenya, the other member states apart from Sudan of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In late July, Machar said he would not return to his country before the deployment of regional troops to Juba. South Sudan's government rejected a proposal submitted by the US for the UN Security Council to send 4,000 additional peacekeeping troops to the African country. South Sudan has witnessed a new wave of conflict since July 8, when gunfire erupted near the state house in Juba, where President Salva Kiir and then Vice President Riek Machar were meeting for talks. More than 300 people have been killed in the clashes. The country gained independence from Sudan in 2011. It has gone through turmoil ever since. The conflict in South Sudan has exposed deep ethnic divisions. It erupted after a power struggle between President Kiir, a member of the Dinka ethnic group, and rebel leader Machar, a member of the Nuer ethnic group. Relations between Khartoum and Juba have been strained amid claims that Sudan supports the rebels in the civil war in South Sudan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine commandos kill 11 militants in Jolo Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:32PM Philippine commandos have killed 11 members of Abu Sayyaf militant group affiliated with the Takfiri Daesh terrorists on the southern island of Jolo. Philippine's army spokesman Major Filemon Tan said a 45-minute gun battle with nearly 100 Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo's jungle also left scores of militants injured. He further said the Takfiri militants were holding about 20 hostages, including eight Indonesians, five Malaysians, a Norwegian and a Dutch citizen. The military spokesman added that 17 commandos were also wounded in the fighting. "The mission is clear. Seek and destroy the Abu Sayyaf," Tan said. "By all means, that's what we are doing and we will not stop until it's done." Abu Sayyaf, quite well-known for its kidnappings, beheadings and deadly bombings, was founded in 1991 in Basilan, a southern island, with a pledge to wage a war against the government. Abu Sayyaf members are in constant clashes with the Philippine forces across the troubled region. The Takfiri group lost major commanders at the beginning of its fight and was gradually split into factions with a few hundred militants. The group continues to survive on ransom and extortion. The Philippine president, who started his six-year term on June 30, has warned Abu Sayyaf to stop the wave of ransom kidnappings. In October 2014, the militant group claimed it had received USD 5.3 million in exchange for two German hostages they had held captive for six months. Last year, two major commanders of Abu Sayyaf expressed support for Daesh. Abu Sayyaf was once regarded as an offshoot of al-Qaeda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen missiles hit facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 10:8AM Yemeni forces have fired ballistic missiles at the facilities belonging to the Saudi state oil giant Aramco in the kingdom's southwest. The retaliatory attack took place on Friday, hitting targets in Saudi Arabia's Jizan region and causing considerable damage to the Aramco facilities there, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported. The Saudi military has been pounding Yemen since March last year to undermine Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement and to restore power to the former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. Nearly 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Riyadh's military aggression which lacks any international mandate. Also on Friday, Saudi fighters struck residential areas in the Baqim district of the northwestern Yemen province of Sa'ada, killing 11 people. A day earlier, the fighters had hit a bazaar in the district, killing seven people and injuring 10 others, many of whom are in critical condition. On Thursday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein said the Saudi military was using cluster bombs against residential areas in Yemen in violation of international law, blaming the Riyadh regime for most of the civilian casualties in its impoverished southern neighbor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zarif rejects US claim of Iran arms shipment to Yemen Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:48AM Iran's foreign minister has categorically denied the US claims that Tehran ships arms to Yemen, saying Washington itself knows better which international parties spread terrorism throughout the world. Mohammad Javad Zarif was reacting to comments by US Secretary of State John Kerry who accused Tehran on Thursday of transferring "missiles and other sophisticated weapons" to "rebels" in Yemen. "By such statements, the US administration has implicated itself in the Saudi regime's war crimes and inhumane and infanticidal atrocities against the innocent and oppressed Yemeni people. It should undoubtedly accept responsibility and be answerable for all the inhuman crimes," Zarif said. Kerry made the accusations during a visit to Saudi Arabia, which has been waging a brutal military campaign against Yemen for more than year. The top US diplomat was in Jeddah where UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as well as representatives from Britain and Saudi Arabia's Persian Gulf allies in the war had gathered to discuss the conflict. "Mr. Kerry knows well better than anyone that the Saudi government has, over the past year and a half, been invariably and sternly frustrating all the efforts taken to bring about ceasefire in Yemen," Zarif said. In his remarks, Kerry said "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." "It is a threat to the United States and it cannot continue," he added. Zarif also dismissed Kerry's claims of Iranian threat to the region and the US, saying the Islamic Republic's "military might poses no threat to any country and simply serves defensive purposes." "What threatens the region and the world today is the ideological, financial and political bases of Takfiri terrorism in the world, whose source and causes Mr. Kerry should know well." The Saudi military has been pounding Yemen since March 2015 to undermine Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement and to restore power to the former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. Nearly 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Riyadh's military aggression which lacks any international mandate. The US maintains strong military ties with Riyadh, which had Washington approve a USD-1.29-billion rearming program for the kingdom last November. "Without a doubt, the US administration would further discredit its policies in the region through its support and ignorance and inattention to the facts on the ground," said Zarif. "It is high time the US administration learned from its glaring past mistakes in Syria and Iraq and open its eyes to realities," he added. On Thursday, the UN human rights office said the Saudi military is using cluster bombs against residential areas in Yemen in violation of international law, blaming the Riyadh regime for most of the civilian casualties in its impoverished southern neighbor. Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the United States in May for selling cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia, saying the kingdom had used various types of US-made cluster munitions in its war against Yemen despite evidence of mounting civilian casualties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry tells Saudis war in Yemen should end now Iran Press TV Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:14PM US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for an end to Yemen's 17-month conflict in his meetings with Saudi Arabian officials. "This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible," Kerry said on Thursday after having a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and his other (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council counterparts, Britain's Foreign Office junior minister Tobias Ellwood and UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to Yemen. He said the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council has come up with an initiative to halt the bloodshed in Yemen and resume peace talks. The top US diplomat said participants "agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations" between the Saudi-backed government and Houthi fighters following three months of negotiations in Kuwait that ended earlier in August without a conclusion. Kerry added that the initiative demands that the Houthi Ansarullah movement lay down arms and hand over their weapons to a third party. "This is a proposal that offers the Houthis an opportunity to have confidence in the government structure that will be put in place," he said. Kerry also condemned missile attacks by the Yemeni forces at targets inside Saudi Arabia. But he did not speak of Riyadh's heavy bombardment of Yemeni cities and towns which has killed about 10,000 people since March last Year. Meanwhile, the Saudi foreign minister claimed that the Kingdom has no interests in Yemen and its war is aimed at restoring peace to the country. The United States has backed the Saudi campaign in Yemen. In November last year, Washington approved a $1.29 billion rearming program for Riyadh, including thousands of similar bombs. The offensive in Yemen was launched in March 2015 to crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement and their allies and restore the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to power. The Houthi fighters took state matters into their own hands in the wake of Hadi's resignation and escape, which threw Yemen into a state of uncertainty and threatened a total security breakdown in the country, where an al-Qaeda affiliate is present. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steinmeier Calls For New Arms Deal With Russia To Avoid Accidental War August 26, 2016 Germany's foreign minister is calling for a new arms control deal with Moscow as intensified military exercises by Russia and NATO have raised concerns that a war could inadvertently be triggered. In an opinion piece in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on August 26, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that while Russia has since 2014 violated the bonds of trust built up over decades as well as basic principles of peace, "we must all be united in the desire to avoid a further twist in the escalating spiral." In 2014, Russia illegally seized Crimea from Ukraine and began backing separatists fighting Kyiv's forces in eastern Ukraine. A new arms control process would offer a "proven means for transparency, risk avoidance, and trust building," he said. "We want a structured dialogue with all partners who carry responsibility for the security of our continent," perhaps working through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE], he said. His comments follow an appeal by former NATO foreign and defense ministers on August 24 for an agreement with Russia on rules for handling unexpected military encounters. Steinmeier drew some criticism in June for calling NATO's recent military exercises and moves to bolster forces in eastern Europe "saber-rattling and shrill war cries" that could worsen tensions with Russia. With reporting by Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/steinmeier- calls-for-new-arms-deal-russia- avoid-accidental-war/27947090.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 Update: air strikes against Daesh 26 August 2016 British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh Latest update - Monday 22 August Typhoons attacked terrorists hiding in a cave in northern Iraq, as well as their transport vehicle. - Wednesday 24 August Tornados and a Reaper provided close air support to Iraqi forces near Qayyarah, conducting a total of seven attacks on Daesh extremists, including mortar and rocket teams. - Thursday 25 August Tornados struck a Daesh group in eastern Syria, while Typhoons bombed a terrorist-held building in western Iraq. Detail On Monday 22 August, two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s operated over northern Iraq. A group of Daesh extremists had been located, sheltering in a cave amongst hills on the southern bank of the Tigris, overlooking the river, some miles to the north-west of Mosul. The Typhoons used one Paveway IV guided bomb to attack the cave entrance, and a second to destroy the terrorists' vehicle, parked on a nearby track. Iraqi security forces continue to mount offensive operations against Daesh near Qayyarah, and they were well supported on Wednesday 24 August by coalition aircraft, including an RAF Reaper and a pair of Tornado GR4s. The GR4s were primarily deployed in the reconnaissance role, but conducted two attacks with Brimstone missiles against terrorists engaged in combat with the Iraqi troops. The Reaper provided surveillance support to other coalition aircraft which delivered an air strike on a Daesh strongpoint, and carried out five attacks with its own weaponry: four Hellfire missiles accounted for two mortar teams and two groups of terrorists manoeuvring along narrow alleyways, and a GBU-12 laser guided bomb destroyed several rocket-launchers which another coalition surveillance aircraft had spotted set up outside the town. Typhoons, supported as is normal by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, patrolled the Euphrates valley west of Ramadi on Thursday 25 August, where they used a Paveway IV to attack a Daesh-held building on the northern river-bank. Over Syria, a pair of Tornados used two Brimstone missiles to engage a number of terrorists spotted occupying positions under trees in farmland in the east of the country. Previous air strikes Tuesday 2 August: With Iraqi ground forces continuing their offensive to clear Daesh from the area around Qayyarah, a Royal Air Force Reaper provided close air support. The Reaper observed terrorists attempting to salvage a heavy machine-gun from a truck that had been hit by a previous coalition strike and successfully engaged them with a Hellfire missile. A second group of extremists were also attacked with another Hellfire. UK aircraft then provided targeting support that allowed a coalition fast jet to destroy a mortar team. Over Syria, a pair of Typhoons were similarly supporting the Syrian democratic forces as they fought to secure Manbij. A number of buildings on the south-western edge of the town had been fortified by Daesh as a major defensive position. These were successfully struck by the Typhoons, using eight Paveway IV guided bombs, despite the proximity of the moderate Syrian forces. Wednesday 3 August: Tornados destroyed a Daesh mortar position while patrolling the north and west of Mosul. Thursday 4 August: Tornados were again active over northern Iraq and conducted a Paveway IV attack on a machine-gun position in the hills to the north-west of Tall Afar. Meanwhile, Typhoons destroyed two Daesh-held buildings in western Iraq, while assisting Iraqi forces in the Euphrates Valley. Sunday 7 August: Daesh were observed to be attempting to extract oil from one of the eastern Syrian oilfields which had been successfully targeted by previous coalition air strikes earlier this year. Two Tornados attacked a convoy of tankers north of Abu Kamal. Four Paveway IVs and four Brimstone missiles accounted for a number of vehicles, denying the terrorists the oil revenue they desperately seek. In northern Iraq, a Reaper and Typhoons were again supporting the Iraqi operations around Qayyarah. The Reaper conducted Hellfire attacks on a mortar team that was firing on the Iraqis and on a set of rocket rails. It then helped other coalition aircraft to successfully target an improvised armoured vehicle. The Typhoons also used three Paveway IVs to destroy three Daesh-held buildings. Monday 8 August: A Reaper flew overwatch for Iraqi ground forces operating near Qayyarah in northern Iraq on and used a Hellfire missile to destroy a terrorist vehicle as it was tracked at speed along an open road. To the east of Mosul, a light artillery piece had been identified, positioned within a building. This was successfully attacked by Typhoons with a Paveway IV guided bomb. Tuesday 9 August: Typhoons were active over the same area, conducting attacks with Paveway IVs which destroyed three Daesh-held buildings and a vehicle some 20 miles south-east of Mosul. The same day, a Reaper was again assigned to support Iraqi operations near Qayyarah. Its crew observed a Daesh team setting up a mortar and attacked with a Hellfire. It then used a second missile to destroy a mechanical excavator which was being used to help plant improvised explosive devices and tear up the carriageway of the main highway, in an attempt to hamper the Iraqi advance. Wednesday 10 August: A Reaper patrolled over Manbij, where Syrian democratic forces have cleared Daesh from much of the town. The Reaper intervened in close combat that developed just to the north of Manbij and successfully used Hellfires to clear two groups of extremists engaged in a fire fight with the Syrian moderates. Over Iraq, Typhoons bombed an armed truck concealed under trees some miles to the south-east of Hit. A number of secondary explosions followed as associated ammunition caught fire. Saturday 13 August: A Royal Air Force Reaper remotely piloted aircraft provided overwatch to Iraqi ground forces clearing terrorist positions in the Qayyarah region of northern Iraq. A number of groups of Daesh fighters, armed with rocket-propelled grenades, were active in the area, but were tracked down by the Reaper's crew using the aircraft's very capable surveillance sensors. Three successful attacks were conducted using the Reaper's own Hellfire missiles, and the Reaper also made possible a further five attacks by coalition fast jets, which accounted for other groups of fighters, two vehicles and a mortar team. Sunday 14 August: A second Reaper ensured that the Iraqi units continued to receive close support and this aircraft delivered two Hellfire attacks, again on Daesh rocket-propelled grenade teams. Monday 15 August: Typhoon FGR4s, based at RAF Akrotiri and supported by a Voyager tanker, patrolled over western Iraq. Some miles north of Ramadi, they used a Paveway IV guided bomb against a terrorist mortar position. Tuesday 16 August: Tornado GR4s and a Reaper conducted armed reconnaissance patrols over Syria; a coalition surveillance aircraft spotted a Daesh heavy artillery piece to the south of Manbij, and the Tornados were tasked to deal with it. The gun and an ammunition stockpile were concealed within a treeline at the edge of a road, but a pair of Paveway IVs struck their targets. The Reaper operated over south-eastern Syria, where it used a Hellfire to destroy an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a truck, around 40 miles north of Al Tanf. Wednesday 17 August: A Reaper was again in action near Qayyarah, when it successfully engaged yet another group of Daesh terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades; a number of secondary explosions followed the impact of the Hellfire missile as the grenades caught fire. Typhoons also continued their patrols over western Iraq, along the Euphrates valley to the north-west of Ramadi, and here they used a Paveway IV to destroy an armed truck which the extremists had tried in vain to conceal under a large vehicle shelter. Thursday 18 August: Tornados operating over northern Iraq. A coalition aircraft spotted a group of extremists hidden in a position beneath trees on the southern bank of the Great Zab River, and these were successfully attacked by the GR4s using a Paveway IV. The Tornados then conducted a further such attack on a Daesh machine-gun position, several miles to the south of Sinjar. Friday 19 August: A Reaper and a pair of Tornados worked together near Qayyarah against a number of terrorist rocket and mortar teams. The Reaper observed a mortar firing from a compound at Iraqi forces, and responded with a successful Hellfire missile attack. The Reaper then provided support to the Tornados as they used a pair of Paveway IVs against a widely dispersed group of rocket-launchers. The Tornados also used a Brimstone missile to destroy a second mortar team, and another Paveway IV to strike an additional set of rocket rails. Saturday 20 August: Another Reaper patrolled over Qayyarah, again hunting for a reported mortar team. The target was tracked down and successfully prosecuted using a Hellfire. Sunday 21 August: a Typhoon flight bombed an armed truck a few miles to the north-west of Ramadi, on the northern bank of the Euphrates, while Tornados were active once more over northern Iraq; a Paveway IV attack struck a terrorist position to the south-west of Kirkuk, and a Brimstone missile was used to destroy a T-62 tank operated by Daesh to the north of Mosul. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Greece facing 'serious challenges,' needs EU help to manage refugee crisis - UN agency chief 26 August 2016 Greece still faces great challenges in managing its refugee crisis, particularly if European Union countries do not step up their relocation and family reunion programmes, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said during a recent visit to the country. "The challenges are very serious, and we need to continue to address them together," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a news release, citing living conditions, security in refugee sites, and overcrowding on islands. Greece's shores were the gateway to other EU countries for more than 856,000 refugees and migrants last year, according to the High Commissioner's Office (UNHCR). Flows have slowed significantly this year, but some 50,000 people remain in the country, with a small number still arriving daily. Although conditions in reception centres are slowly improving, many people still live in overcrowded and inadequate sites as they await solutions for their future. The visit, his second since becoming UNHCR chief at the start of the year, came a month ahead of the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants to be held in New York on 19 September 2016. In Greece, he stressed the need for EU member states to speed up legal options such as family reunification and relocation through the bloc's official relocation programme, the news release said. So far 3,054 refugees have been relocated from Greece to other EU member States, while another 3,606 are scheduled to depart in the coming months. Still, support lags as member states have pledged only 8,003 spaces out of 66,400 committed. "I will continue to advocate for these programmes to be bigger and accelerated," Mr. Grandi said. "It can and must work." Unaccompanied children 'a high-priority concern' On Wednesday, Mr. Grandi met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, and then visited a shelter for unaccompanied children run by Praksis, a Greek NGO supported by UNHCR. Unaccompanied children in Greece are a high-priority concern for UNHCR. Some 1,472 are on a waiting list for a safe shelter. UNHCR has so far provided 345 temporary shelter spaces for children alone. Another 245 spaces are planned. High Commissioner Grandi called the Praksis centre a model for care of unaccompanied children. It is home to 21 boys aged seven to 17 from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. They receive round-the-clock care, and some attend a neighbourhood school. All arrived in Europe without their parents or relatives, and several spent time locked in detention centres in Greece or living in the streets before coming to the shelter. "It felt terrible. It is very difficult not knowing if my family was alive," Waris, a 14-year-old boy from Baghlan, Afghanistan, said of his journey. He fled to Europe four months ago. Though the boy set out with his family his father, mother, and three younger brothers they were separated at the Iran-Turkey border when shots were fired. Waris continued onward through Turkey and to Greece alone, at the urging of a human-smuggler. Since he arrived, Waris has not been able to reach his parents or siblings, and worries that they may have died. "But in the past few days my lawyer found my uncle in the United Kingdom, and we will do family reunion. So now I can look forward," he said. Mr. Grandi also visited a three-generation Syrian family who fled Aleppo in February, after their home and bakery business were bombed. One family member was killed and another kidnapped. Half the family will be relocated to France, while the others await reunion with their father in Germany. "We lost everything in our home country, so we are looking forward to being somewhere safe," said 58-year-old Mohamed Wafa Barri, the family patriarch. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan Airstrike Kills at Least 24 By Ayaz Gul August 26, 2016 Warring sides in Afghanistan have made conflicting claims about an overnight airstrike in the troubled southern Helmand province in which at least 24 people died. Provincial Governor Hayatullah Hayat told VOA Friday that Afghan army warplanes struck a Taliban base in the Nad Ali district, destroying the facility and killing "24 enemies," including their regional commander, and wounding four others. A spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul, Dawlat Waziri, has also confirmed those details, adding that another overnight strike in the same area destroyed an enemy-run bomb-making factory. But the Taliban has alleged the attack in Nad Ali was carried out by an American aircraft and it targeted a prison facility. "The attack killed 22 [personnel] of Afghan army and police captured during recent fighting and were being held at the prison," a statement quoted a Taliban spokesman as claiming. He added that three other captive Afghan forces were wounded and confirmed the killing of three Taliban fighters who were guarding the facility. Area residents have also supported the Taliban accounts, saying both prisoners and Taliban insurgents were among those killed. But the provincial governor rejected those claims while speaking to VOA, saying the facility was an active Taliban base and held no prisoners. US weighs in A U.S. military representative in Kabul confirmed to VOA that, on Thursday, "U.S. forces conducted two airstrikes in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province. We are aware of Taliban claims of Afghan casualties, but after a review of all the intelligence related to these strikes, from before, during and after the strike, we are confident that there were no civilian casualties or captives." It is difficult to independently ascertain claims by either side because fighting in several districts of Helmand has suspended traffic on key roads leading in and out of the province. The airstrike took place in an area close to the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, where some 700 American military personnel are deployed to help train and assist Afghan security forces better organize defense and counter-offensive plans. On Tuesday, a roadside bomb near the city killed a U.S. solider and wounded another along with six Afghan partners. The American soldiers were on a mission to help Afghan partners "clear out some of the Taliban strongholds" to enable conventional forces to move in, U.S. military spokesman Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland explained. Lashkar Gah called 'secure' Speaking to Pentagon reporters through a video conference Thursday, Cleveland again dismissed reports that the provincial capital was besieged or was on the verge of falling to the insurgents. "We believe the city of Lashkar Gah is secure right now and we know that there is commerce ongoing, we see people coming and going," Cleveland said. He added that "outside of Lashkar Gah there may be some Taliban activity. The Taliban does have the ability to temporarily block this road or that road. The final piece that were seeing is that they have laid out an awful lot" of improvised explosive devices. He referred queries about casualties among Afghan forces to the Kabul government, which he suggested keeps statistics. "What we do know is that the pace of the casualties for the Afghans this year has been higher," he noted. Medical treatment disrupted? The international charity Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres, commonly known by its French acronym MSF, said Friday the intensified conflict in the districts surrounding Lashkar Gah has prevented people from reaching the city's Boost hospital, a 300-bed facility that MSF runs in partnership with the Afghan Public Health Ministry. A statement released Friday quoted MSF's Dr. Erlend Gronningen as saying his team is frustrated at the significant drop in admissions at the hospital normally overwhelmed with patients. "The beds in our pediatric ward and intensive therapeutic feeding center are almost always full of noisy children and young patients, often two to a bed, getting treatment for malnutrition or other life-threatening conditions. Those wards were eerily quiet, and many of the beds were empty. Empty beds are the face of war," Gronningen said while describing the situation. Helmand, which borders Pakistan, is the largest of all 34 Afghan provinces and a major poppy-producing region. Massive income from the illegal crop also funds the insurgency. According to the United Nations, the Afghan war has already caused more civilian casualties in the first half of this year compared to the record numbers in 2015. Intense fighting has also been taking place in northern and northeastern Afghan provinces of Baghlan, Takhar and Kunduz, where residents have lately faced critical shortages of power, water and essential commodities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Somali Forces End Deadly Restaurant Siege By Mohamed Olad Hassan August 26, 2016 Somali security forces say they have ended a deadly siege of a beach-front restaurant in the capital, with at least seven people killed in the attack along with two assailants. Mogadishu's police chief, Colonel Abshir Bishar, said the attack ended just before dawn Friday morning. "The security forces have ended their operation in which they rescued most of the civilians who were stranded inside the restaurant building and now we are in full control of the restaurant," said Bishar, speaking from the scene of the attack in Mogadishu. The attack started Thursday night when a car bomb went off near Banadir Beach restaurant, followed by a gun battle. Al-Shabab militants quickly claimed the responsibility for the attack. Bishar said the death toll included five civilians and two security personnel. He said two assailants were also killed. Security forces said they have arrested another militant involved in the attack. Witnesses saw volunteers carrying the dead from the attack scene early Friday. Mogadishu emergency ambulances also transported four wounded people to hospitals. "We found the driver of the car bomb with some wounds lying next to the burned-out car this morning, and now he is being treated at one of our health facilities," said Abdi Farey, the commander of Mogadishu regional security. In an interview with the VOA Somali service, the owner of the attacked restaurant, Abdirisaq Mohamed Jumale, said "two of the dead were the restaurant staff." The area along Mogadishu's Lido beach has many new restaurants and up-market establishments popular with people in business and from the diaspora. In June, Turkey opened its largest embassy in the world in the neighborhood. Al-Shabab attacked a neighboring hotel in January, killing more than 20 people. A separate blast Thursday at a market in the southern Somali town of Bardhere wounded 12 people, including security officials and the district commissioner. Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab is waging a campaign of terrorism to try to overthrow the Somali government. Police, security officials and tourist spots are the militants' most frequent targets. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 27, 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 Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted seven strikes in Syria: -- Near Manbij, five strikes engaged four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle bomb and another vehicle. -- Near Mar'a, two strikes engaged two separate ISIL tactical units, destroyed two fighting positions and an artillery system, and damaged another fighting position. Strikes in Iraq Ground attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 10 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: -- Near Fallujah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Hit, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position. -- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed a mortar position. -- Near Mosul, a strike engaged an ISIL communications facility. -- Near Qayyarah, three strikes engaged an ISIL vehicle bomb factory, a training camp, and a large tactical unit; destroyed two vehicles and an assembly area; and suppressed two tactical units. -- Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged two separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed three fighting positions, a vehicle, and a weapons cache. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIL safe house. 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, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Voters in Gabon Head to Polls After Tense Presidential Campaign By Emilie Iob August 27, 2016 In Gabon, more than half a million voters are expected to go to the polls today (Saturday) to pick their next president in a one-round election. Eleven candidates are running, including incumbent president Ali Bongo, the son of Omar Bongo, who ruled the Central African nation for over four decades, and opposition leader Jean Ping, a former ally of the elder Bongo. A tense election campaign, which ended on Friday, preceded the poll. It was marked by weeks of controversies with the opposition questioning incumbent president Ali Bongo's citizenship and legitimacy to run, with a protest being violently dispersed in the capital Libreville last month. Bongo is seeking a second seven-year term in office. He took power in 2009, after the death of his father. Bongo focused his campaign on the achievements of his first term, such as the construction of hundreds of kilometers of roads. But the economy of the country, which relies heavily on oil production and export, has been deeply affected by falling oil prices and social discontent has grown. Ping as main rival His main rival is Jean Ping, a former ally of Bongo's father and several times minister, who had a falling-out with the current president a couple years ago. Speaking to VOA earlier this week, Ping said that Ali Bongo is completely incompetent and that voters can't accept to continue being ruled by the son just because they supported his father. Ping said he was sure to win now that the opposition has created a coalition around him. Some fear the poll might be marred by post-election violence like in 2009. The opposition claims the ruling party may also try to rig the vote. But Rene Aboughe Ella, the president of the electoral commission, says these concerns are overblown. Speaking to VOA's Idrissa Fall earlier in the week, Ella said the commission has no reason to believe that there will be trouble, despite the tensions. Voting ends at 6 p.m. local time. About 628,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots. Ella said the first results won't be known for at least 48 hours. Idriss Fall contributed to this report from Libreville. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thailand Islamic Insurgency Peace talks are scheduled for 02 September 2016 between officials and representatives of a southern separatist umbrella group, MARA Patani. Recent violence has created new uncertainties about whether the peace talks will lead to progress. But a series of bombings and arsons hit several south-central Thai beach resorts, including in the town of Hua Hin, just 200 kilometers south of Bangkok. Four people died and more than 30 were injured in the August 12 attacks. Until the August 12 bombings, it appeared most insurgent groups wanted to negotiate. The outbreak of violence in Thailand's southern provinces of Yala and Pattani on 12 February 2016 included the roadside bombing of a military patrol providing security for local school teachers, drive-by shootings and arson attacks. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told local media the government would not make any peace deals as long as violence persisted. The insurgency in the largely Muslim-populated region, in its 12th year, had claimed over 6,500 lives, defying official efforts to end the bloodshed. The insurgency seeks greater regional autonomy from the Thai state, which the central government has consistently rejected. Progress toward peace has been undermined by the militarys harder-line policy in dealing with the southern insurgency. Thailand's military junta put new security measures in place on June 22, 2014 in a bid to calm the country's restive southern region, where fighting with Muslim separatists had claimed more than 5,000 lives in the past decade. The most frequent targets of insurgent attacks are ethnic Thai Buddhists and ethnic Malay Muslims in the provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. Brutal attacks on teachers and state officials by insurgents have led to accusations of extra judicial killings by authorities, perpetuating a cycle of violence. The military leaders also hoped to restart peace talks with insurgents. A new command structure for Thailand's southern border provinces had junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha replace civilian authorities as the army takes a lead role in efforts to halt rising violence in the south. Civilian organizations would come under the military command. Peace talks under the former civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, collapsed in 2013 and there was no fresh date set for them to recommence. Historically, the southern region of Thailand, consisting of the provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, had served as a dumping ground for corrupt and/or incompetent civilian and military officials. This had been further aggravated by the population's ethnic make-up, predominantly Thai Muslims, which had produced a major degree of alienation intensified by government misadministration. Additionally, daily life there, particularly in urban areas, was continually plagued by a higher level of common banditry and lawlessness, more so than in the Kingdom's other regions, making it very difficult for authorities to differentiate between criminal lawlessness and terrorist acts commissioned by domestic Thai terrorist or Muslim Separatist groups. The practice of Islam was concentrated in Thailand's southernmost provinces, where the vast majority of the country's Muslims, predominantly Malay in origin, were found. The remaining Muslims were Pakistani immigrants in the urban centers, ethnic Thai in the rural areas of the Center, and a few Chinese Muslims in the far north. Education and maintenance of their own cultural traditions were vital interests of these groups. Except in the small circle of theologically trained believers, the Islamic faith in Thailand, like Buddhism, had become integrated with many beliefs and practices not integral to Islam. It would be difficult to draw a line between animistic practices indigenous to Malay culture that were used to drive off evil spirits and local Islamic ceremonies because each contained aspects of the other. In the mid-1980s, the country had more than 2,000 mosques in 38 Thai provinces, with the largest number (434) in Narathiwat Province. All but a very small number of the mosques were associated with the Sunni branch of Islam. The remainder were of the Shia branch. Each mosque had an imam (prayer leader), a muezzin (who issued the call to prayer), and perhaps other functionaries. Although the majority of the country's Muslims were ethnically Malay, the Muslim community also included the Thai Muslims, who were either hereditary Muslims, Muslims by intermarriage, or converts. Also in Thailand were Cham Muslims originally from Cambodia; West Asians, including both Sunni and Shias; South Asians, including Tamils, Punjabis and Bengalis; Indonesians, especially Javanese and Minangkabau; Thai-Malay or people of Malay ethnicity who have accepted many aspects of Thai language and culture, except Buddhism, and had intermarried with Thai; and Chinese Muslims, who were mostly Haw living in the North. Following World War II, local Malaysian communists, nearly all Chinese, launched a long, bitter insurgency, prompting the imposition of a state of emergency in 1948, which was eventually lifted in 1960. Small bands of guerrillas remained in bases along the rugged border with southern Thailand, occasionally entering northern Malaysia. These guerrillas finally signed a peace accord with the Malaysian Government in December 1989. In the past, the Muslim separatist groups in southern Thailand, as well as the Communist Party of Thailand, dabbled in drug trafficking to raise funds to support their political and operational objectives. As of 2000 there was little if any data linking indigenous terrorists to drug trafficking in Southeast Asia. The Communist Party had not been a viable organization in Thailand for years, and the Muslim separatist movement had fractured into a number of organizations known more for their banditry than their political activities. Drug trafficking did not, therefore, contribute to any significant terrorism on the part of these organizations. In fact, there were no credible reports of any terrorist groups either being based in or conducting terrorist activity within the Kingdom of Thailand. The 4-province area in the southern-most part of Thailand, which was populated mainly by Muslim Thais, had not been completely pacified. There were still some small groups of Islamic radical, which sometimes resorted to violent tactics in order to make their presence felt, were still posing problems to public safety in the south. The crack down following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States on terrorist organizations with connections to international terrorist groups like Al-Queda, was seen as having the potential to spill over into this sensitive area. The possibility of local Islamic radical groups in the south giving sanctuary or staging location for future attack to fellow neighboring or international factions could be totally discounted. It had been a concern among Thai and friendly countries. Authorities had known for quite some time that many Muslim Thai activists went overseas to Islamic schools, where they came under influence of hard-line teachers. Some were reported to have joined the jihad against the Soviet Army in Afghanistan and returned to Thailand as extremists. There were also some Tamil Tigers in the Phuket area of southern Thailand reportedly involved in heroin smuggling. In addition, they were believed to have purchased weapons for transport to Sri Lanka to support their separatist activities there. The drug proceeds could have been used to purchase any weapons actually acquired. In 2000, Thai officials again publicly pledged to halt the use of Thailand as a logistics base by the Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The pledges, which echoed reassurances made by Bangkok in previous years, followed the discovery in June 2000 of a partially completed submersible at a shipyard in Phuket, Thailand, owned by an LTTE-sympathizer, as well as an unclassified paper by Canadian intelligence published in December that outlined the Tigers' use of front companies to procure weapons via Thailand. There were 5 main Islamic insurgent groups that had appeared throughout the 20th century that contributed to the attacks in Thailand. One of these groups was called the Patani Malay National Revolutionary Front-Coordinate, or BRN-Coordinate. The original BRN was established in 1960 as a leftist organization advocating Islamic socialism, but later split in the 1980s into 3 politically more moderate factions: "Congress," "Coordinate," and "Ulema" (Arabic for "clerics"). "Congress" and "Ulema" had become more or less defunct and "Coordinate" became the main group active on the ground. BRN-Coordinated maintained a number of underground cells, which were known as Runda Kumpulan Kecil, or "small patrol groups." These appeared to not be a separate organization, as the mainstream Thai media reported, but simply the operative arm of BRN-Coordinate. The BRN-Coordinate's village militia forces were also more commonly known as Pejuang Kemerdekaan Patani, or Patani Freedom Fighters. The second insurgent group was called National Liberation Front of Patani (BNPP). This group was considered the first organized armed resistance group. It was reorganized in 1960, but traced its origin to a local revolt which took place in 1947 in Narathiwat province. It was quite active in the 1970s and early 1980s, but had become defunct. The third insurgent group was called the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO). Formed in 1968, by Tengku Bira Kotantila aka Kabir Abdul Rahman, PULO was the most active group in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 2000s, it operated mainly from exile in Syria, where Tengku Bira lived, and Sweden, where its foreign affairs department was located. The group split for a while into "old" and "new" factions, but was believed to have been reunited. Exiles in Sweden maintained a number of websites that carried news from the region as well as political statements. PULO claimed to have had a working relationship with BRN-Coordinate. The fourth insurgent group was called the Islamic Mujahidin Movement of Patani (GMIP). Formed in 1995 by Afghanistan war veteran Nasoree Saesaeng, the group derived its name from an earlier, now inactive group, the Gerakan Mujahidin Patani (GMP). According to Thai intelligence sources, the GMIP was linked to the Malaysia-based militant organization Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, or the Mujahidin Group of Malaysia, which, in turn, was alleged to have close ties with the mainly Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiya. It was, however, uncertain how much remained of the KMM following a massive crackdown by Malaysian authorities in 2001. The last main insurgent group was called the United Front for the Independence of Patani. This group was more commonly known as "Bersatu", which meant "united" in the Malay language. It was formed in 1989 from 4 smaller groups: BRN-Congress, elements of PULO, the then GMP (which had become defunct), and Barisan Islam Pembebsan Patani, the largely defunct Islamic Front for the Liberation of Patani. Bersatu was believed to be defunct or to have been replaced by a less formal arrangement between currently active groups. Pemuda meant "youth" in Malay and had been adopted as the name of a youth movement closely associated with BRN-Coordinate. However, Pemuda members rarely, if ever, had access to firearms, but rather assisted the BRN-Coordinate with logistical support and intelligence gathering, and occasionally sprayed separatist slogans on walls or took part in arson attacks. Other, smaller groups also existed, but it was difficult to ascertain whether the abundance of insurgent organizations reflected actual factionalism and divergent agendas or just a division of labor in the struggle for a common goal. "Patani" in Malay referred to all 3 southern provinces: Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. During 2000, authorities responded with military force and legal action to separatist activity in the south. In February 2000, security forces dealt a severe blow to the New Pattani United Liberation Organization, a Muslim separatist group, when they killed its leader Saarli Taloh-Meyaw. Authorities claimed that he was responsible for 90 percent of the terrorist activities in Narathiwat, a southern Thai province. In April 2000, police arrested the deputy leader of the outlawed Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), another southern separatist group, in Pattani. The case was still pending before the court at the end of 2000. Authorities suspected Muslim separatists conducted several small-scale attacks on public schools, a government-run clinic, and a police station in the south. > In 2004, the Thai government officially recognized attacks in Thailand as terrorist acts performed by the various insurgent groups that were in the country. The RTG had not been shy about committing resources to the South. By 2006 nearly 45,000 soldiers and police were operating in a region approximately the size of Connecticut. Military forces totaling approximately 35,000 troops fall under the command of the 4th Army, headquartered in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The 5th Infantry Division (five regiments) and the 15th Development Division (three regiments) totaling approximately 20,000 troops were the main units of the 4th Army. About 15,000 other military forces were assigned to the South, including three Marine Battalions, Special Forces units detailed from the Special Warfare Command at Lopburi (Task Force 90), and additional forces redirected from the Third Army Area in the Northwest. Each province had at least one regiment of Rangers--irregular paramilitary forces recruited from the local population. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) provide the backbone of law and order in the South. Often referred to as the "provincial police," these are the local cops charged with administering speeding tickets, investigating petty crimes and the other quotidian acts of day-to-day law enforcement. The provincial police are also the cornerstone of anti-separatist efforts. They are often the first on the scene and the only law enforcement agency with a full time presence in all three provinces The three southernmost provinces are grouped into police Region IX. There are about 2,300 provincial police in Yala, 2,500 in Pattani, and 3,500 in Narathiwat. These police are augmented by the Royal Thai Border Patrol police, almost 1,500 provincial police from other provinces, and officers from the Bangkok-based RTP Special Branch (SB) and RTP Criminal Suppression Division (CSD). Additionally, the Ministry of Justice's relatively new Department of Special Investigations (DSI), also based in the capital, had been active in several specific cases in the South, but did not have a full-time presence in the area. The Region IX forward operating command in Yala was charged with overseeing all police activities in the three southern provinces and draws upon other police units for expertise. Massive killings occurred throughout the mid to late 2000s and as of 2010, nearly 4,000 people had been killed due to insurgent violence. Thailand experienced no attacks attributed to transnational terrorist groups in 2019 and violence was restricted to attacks attributed to ethno-nationalist insurgents in the countrys restive southern region. The number of terrorist incidents in the Deep South (the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla) in 2019 was the lowest since the conflict reignited in 2004. Thai security officials remain concerned about the potential for ISIS to infiltrate domestic insurgent groups, although they have maintained that there is no evidence to date of any operational linkages between these domestic groups and international terrorism networks. Thailands principal vulnerability to international terrorism continues to be as a transit and facilitation hub, given the high volume of travelers through Bangkoks main airport and available market of illegal goods. Thailand remained a productive CT partner, though the Thai government continues to focus on domestic political challenges as its primary security priority. Overall, the number of insurgent terrorist attacks and related fatalities decreased from the previous year; however, a November 5 attack at a security checkpoint in Yala killed 15, making it the single deadliest attack attributed to southern insurgents since 2004. Attacks in 2019 were primarily confined to Thailands southernmost provinces, although a set of coordinated small-scale explosions in Bangkok in August is widely believed to be linked to the Deep South insurgency. Terrorist methods primarily included shootings, arson, IEDs, and VBIEDs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bangladesh Police Kill Dhaka Cafe Attack Prime Suspect By VOA News August 27, 2016 Police in Bangladesh say they killed three Islamist extremists Saturday after raiding a militant hideout just outside the country's capital, Dhaka. The suspected mastermind of last month's deadly attack on a cafe filled with foreigners is reported to be among those killed. Senior police officer Sanwar Hossain confirmed the deaths of the militants. Officials said police exchanged fire during an hour-long gun battle with the extremists in Narayanganj, 25 kilometers south of Dhaka. "They did not surrender. They threw four-five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told AFP. Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was among those killed, according to officials. He is believed to be the mastermind of the country's worst terror attack that killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreign nationals, along with two policemen. According to reports, police and security forces have carried out a series of raids on allegedly militant hideouts. On Aug. 2, authorities offered $25,000 as a reward to anyone who gave information that would lead officials to Chowdhury. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the cafe attack on July 1 when gunmen entered the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka and killed the hostages and police officers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Floating Space Launch Pad to Be Sold in Early 2017 Sputnik News 13:07 26.08.2016(updated 13:39 26.08.2016) Russia is expected to sell its Morskoi Start (Sea Launch) floating space launch pad in early 2017. KOROLYOV (Moscow Region), (Sputnik) The sale of Russia's Morskoi Start (Sea Launch) floating space launch pad is expected early next year, with Russian investors among the leading candidates, the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) Energia chief said Friday. "I believe the transaction will be finalized in early 2017. We are leaning toward a Russian candidate, it has an interesting program and is convenient to work with," RSC Energia General Director Vladimir Solntsev told reporters without naming the potential investor. Solntsev expressed hope that Energia would stay involved with the project despite the planned sale. Sea Launch was formed in 1995 as a consortium of four companies from Norway, Russia, Ukraine and the United States, and was managed by US aerospace giant Boeing. The project aimed to use a floating launch site to place rockets on the equator the best possible location for launch which gives the rocket additional speed on lift-off thanks to centripetal force caused by Earth's rotation. Sea Launch resumed operations in 2011 after a 30-month hiatus that saw passage through US Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Now the company is 95-percent owned by Energia Overseas Limited, a subsidiary of Energia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus Regards NATO Troops Deployment Near its Borders as Security Challenge Sputnik News 21:04 26.08.2016(updated 21:16 26.08.2016) Belarus regards the deployment of additional NATO troops near the country's borders as a potential security challenge, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said Friday. MINSK (Sputnik) The minister added that Belarus is monitoring the situation and trying to take relevant measures including putting new weapons into service. "We see that additional NATO troops are being deployed in a number of our western neighboring states. Of course, we do not perceive it as a direct threat to our military security but we regard it as a potential military, security challenge for the Republic of Belarus," Makei told reporters as quoted on the Belarusian Foreign Ministry's website. At the July NATO Warsaw Summit, members of the alliance agreed to deploy four battalions in eastern Europe: US troops in Poland, British forces in Estonia, German troops in Lithuania and Canadian forces in Latvia. Since 2014, NATO has been building up its military presence in eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine as a pretext for the move. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China conducts joint military exercises with Russia, US, Australia: Defense Ministry People's Daily Online (CRI Online) 09:27, August 26, 2016 A series of joint military exercises among Chinese, Russian, U.S. and Australian troops is getting underway. Spokesperosn Wu Qian says Chinese ground forces are teaming up with US and Australian troops for training sessions in Australia's rugged northern regions. "Based on our agreement with the U.S. and Australian defense departments, China, the US and Australia are holding the joint 'Exercise Kowari 2016' that includes field survival training in Darwin, Australia from Aug. 24 to Sept. 11." On top of this, the Chinese Defense Ministry says Chinese and Australian ground forces will also conduct their own, separate exercies - dubbed "Panda-Kangaroo 2016" from September 14th to the 23rd. Those exercies, which will take place near Sydney, Australia, will include canoeing and downhill climbing drills. The Chinese side says both sessions in Australia will be a good opportunity for Chinese ground forces to interact with their counterparts from Australia and the United States, and will also improve their overall training. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry's Wu Qian says preparation work is also underway for a planned joint naval exercise with Russia. "China and Russia have held their third round of negotiation over the 'Joint Sea 2016' maritime exercise in Zhanjiang City from Aug. 16 to 21, exchanging views on the exercise plan and arrangements for communication and logistic supports. They have reached wide consensus and have also inspected the relevant sites and facilities to be involved in the exercises. " An exact date as to when the joint naval exercises with the Russian navy have not been laid out. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spokesman for Foreign Ministry Raps Hostile Forces' Moves to Ratchet up Pressure on DPRK over Its SLBM Test-fire Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS) Pyongyang, August 26 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK released the following statement on Friday: The news of a SLBM test-fire successfully conducted at a higher level by scientists and technicians in the field of national defence of the DPRK came to rock the world. Against this backdrop, undesirable forces are moving to create an atmosphere of putting pressure on the DPRK over the test-fire. The U.S. and some other countries following it are accusing the DPRK of its SLBM test-fire and an "urgent consultation" concerning it was held at UNSC on Thursday. The U.S. and its followers, terming the DPRK's test-fire of SLBM that fully demonstrated the nuclear attack capability of Juche Korea "violation of resolutions," brought it up to UNSC for discussion. This is just a hideous provocation reminiscent of the guilty party filing a suit first. The U.S. staged Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16 joint military drills only a few months ago, openly talking about "occupying Pyongyang," after bringing hugest-ever nuclear strategic assets and troops to south Korea. It is now desperately kicking off joint military drills again to mount a preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK despite the unanimous denunciation and opposition of all Koreans and the world public. A touch-and-go situation where a nuclear war may break out any moment is now prevailing on the Korean peninsula due to the war rehearsal. The U.S. outrageous nuclear intimidation only resulted in the steady increase of the DPRK's nuclear attack capability. The SLBM test-fire which was successfully conducted without any adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries was a vivid manifestation and a striking demonstration of the tremendous power and inexhaustible strength of Juche Korea firmly consolidated in the face of the tempest of history and all challenges by the enemy. 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 and the U.S. mainland and the operational theatre in the Pacific have come within the striking range of the DPRK, no matter how hard the U.S. tries to deny it. The service personnel and people of the DPRK would deal merciless blows at the U.S. 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. The U.S. rash acts of taking issue with the DPRK's SLBM test-fire will only precipitate its self-destruction. The best way of escaping the deadly strike of the infuriated DPRK is to refrain from hurting its dignity and security with prudence and self-control. If the U.S. attempts to threaten the dignity and vital rights of the DPRK even a bit despite its solemn warning, it will continue to take one after another epochal action steps it can show as a full-fledged military power. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan, US Slam North Korea's Ballistic Missile Launch as 'Unacceptable' Sputnik News 11:58 26.08.2016 Washington and Tokyo agreed that Pyongyang's recent launch of a ballistic missile was unacceptable. TOKYO (Sputnik) Kenji Kanasugi, Japanese foreign ministry chief of Asia-Pacific affairs, and US State Department's Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim in a phone conversation discussed the recent launch of a ballistic missile from a North Korean submarine, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "Both sides agreed that North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine on August 24 is unacceptable, and confirmed their intention to continue to stay in close cooperation on the Issue of North Korea, including at the platform of the UN Security Council," the statement reads. On Wednesday, media reports emerged suggesting that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan/East Sea. The missile reportedly flew about 500 kilometers (300 miles) towards Japan, allegedly falling in Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Since the start of this year, North Korea has been at the center of international attention in view of its active missile testing. Pyongyang's 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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council Mute - Again - on N. Korea Missile Launch By Margaret Besheer August 26, 2016 North Korea's latest missile launch Tuesday brought a swift convening of the U.N. Security Council, but no united condemnation from the 15 members. Fired from a submarine, the missile flew toward Japan. It was the most recent in a string of tests and launches over the past few months in defiance of U.N. resolutions. The United States and Japan requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday. Afterward, council President Ramlan bin Ibrahim of Malaysia said there was a "general sense of condemnation by most members," but that there would be discussions about how to phrase a statement to reporters. "This is the fourth time that an incident has occurred in recent times, and up until this point on [these] last four, something has not been agreed" to by the council, Britain's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Peter Wilson told reporters Thursday. "We want to see a press statement agreed." Main obstacle The main obstacle to council consensus has been China. Traditionally Pyongyang's closest and most powerful ally, Beijing did express its frustration in March, supporting a new round of the toughest international sanctions on North Korea to date. Since then, Pyongyang has launched more than a half-dozen missiles in defiance of the international community. Charles Armstrong, Korean studies professor at Columbia University in New York, said the uptick in launches is due to the adoption of "[Resolution] 2270, then the THAAD deployment and then, generally, the North Koreans showing they can get away with it." THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, is the advanced U.S. anti-missile system that is soon to be deployed in South Korea to defend against North Korean missile threats. It has both Pyongyang and Beijing on edge. Armstrong said on a recent visit to the Chinese capital that he heard a lot of anti-THAAD talk from government officials and in the official media. "The Chinese were completely obsessed with this," he noted. "They really see THAAD as not directed against North Korea, but really a threat to China." Bill Brown, a former U.S. official and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington, said the Chinese are overreacting to THAAD. "I think it is probably caught up in a bad U.S.-China atmosphere. They think we have provoked them in the South China Sea; we think they are being too aggressive in the South China Sea," Brown said. Regional issues There is also the issue of the annual joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises involving thousands of air, ground, naval and special operations forces, further irritating the Chinese and North Koreans. All of these factors have affected U.S.-Chinese cooperation on North Korea in the U.N. Security Council. Brown said that it is a "delicate game" because the more noise the U.S. makes about the missile launches, the more some Chinese officials might think it's in their interest to let Pyongyang antagonize the Americans. He said Washington also tends to blame Beijing for sanctions failures and hope they will toughen their implementation of them an unlikely prospect. "China has different goals with respect to North Korea, some of which coincide with ours, but many of which do not," Brown said. But in the end, a loud Security Council condemnation is unlikely to change the situation in either direction. "It is really about the enforcement of sanctions already on the books and whether that will move the situation in a positive direction," Armstrong said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Defense Minister Tries to Allay Concerns Over Scorpene Sub Data Leak Sputnik News 18:55 26.08.2016 The information leak involving documents about the construction of Scorpene-class submarines is unlikely to have grave consequences, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday. NEW DELHI (Sputnik) On Wednesday, The Australian newspaper reported that over 22,000 pages outlining detail informations about India's Scorpene submarines had been leaked following a security breach at the French manufacturing company DCNS, which is tasked with building the warships for New Delhi. DCNS dismissed speculation that the leaked files contained classified data. "We are going by assumption of the worst case scenario. Don't think its big worry, will be able to put things in right directions. Have told them (Indian Navy) based on inputs to find out area of concerns & take appropriate steps to address it," Parrikar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express newspaper. Parrikar added that the submarines have not been tested in sea trials so far and that the specifications did not contain information about their combat qualities. The Indian government and DCNS made a deal worth $3.5 billion in 2005 to build six Scorpene submarines. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Supreme Leader lashes out lack of US commitment to JCPOA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 26, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution has criticized lack of US commitment to the landmark nuclear deal stressing that none of the US administrations are trustworthy. "We have to learn from lack of US commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This experience teaches us not to trust promises made by any of the US administrations and that no concrete action must be taken in return for their promises," said Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a recent meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet members. The meeting was held on the occasion of the national Government Week which is marked by Iranians each year to honor government's achievements. "My criticism about the JCPOA concerns the breach of commitment and hostility of the other party not our own elements because our negotiators relentlessly did all within their reach and we are thankful for their efforts," the Leader said. Stressing the significance of diplomacy, Ayatollah Khamenei added that all parts of the world should be the target of Iran's Foreign Policy. "The power of diplomacy should be distributed worldwide in an appropriate and balanced manner. Asia, Africa and Latin America should be granted the share they deserve in Iran's diplomacy. Issues such as regional developments that are highly complicated and intertwined should be dealt actively and effectively with accuracy, vigilance and wisdom," Ayatollah Khamenei stressed. He added that in diplomacy the only thing which can be trusted is a perfect, signed and documented work. As for the issue of security in the country, the Leader said, thanks to the efforts made by military and security forces, Iran is provided with a strong security shield compared to regional countries where insecurity prevails. Ayatollah Khamenei said that enemy is scared of Iran's growing defense and missile defense power, so all efforts to raise Iran's defense power should be supported. 1394 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense minister: Iran aims to restore international peace, security IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Isfahan, Aug 26, IRNA -- Defense Minister Brigadier-General Hossein Dehqan said on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran spares no efforts to help restore international peace and security. He made the remarks to the people prior to Friday prayer sermon in Isfahan. He said that terrorists have targeted the world security and the entire international community are embarrased by their heinous crimes against humanity. The terrorist groups have been created by the US, Zionist regime and some Arab states are to put the global peace at risk, he said. The Islamic Republic of Iran plays a very significant role in global equations and the country's status has roots in national unity, solidarity and wise leadership of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, he said. This remarkable asset has lead to restoration of peace, security in the country thanks to the national resolve, said the minister. With reliance on such powerful pillar, the Islamic Republic of Iran can address the regional and global crises, Dehqan said. The entire world admits the impressive role of Iran in regional and global equations which is regarded as a significant asset for the Iranian nation and government, he said. 'We should do our utmost to make use of such authority to gain more development,' he said. To attain such prime goals, Iran should increase its power under unity and solidarity, the minister said. The defense minister arrived in Isfahan on Thursday morning to inaugurate some development projects in the province. 1430**1416 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran exports radars of every family: Defense Minister Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:15PM Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the Islamic Republic produces every type of radar and is currently exporting the domestically-manufactured equipment to some countries. "We are producing radars of all families, including short- and long-range radars, and are even exporting them to some countries," Dehqan said in a televised program on Friday. "We have no limitation to the production of radars," he added. In January, Iran's Navy successfully tested a new radar system during large-scale military drills south of the country. The L-band radar system, capable of detecting both aerial and surface threats at the same time, was successfully tested in waters near Konarak Port, southeast Iran. In October 2015, Iran unveiled a new domestically-built long-range digital radar system, dubbed Fat'h 14 (Conquer 14), which is capable of detecting enemies' strategic objectives. The radar system has a range of 600 kilometers and can detect small airborne targets at a high altitude. High agility and swift connection to command and control network are among other features of the semiconductor radar. Also in October 2015, Iran unveiled a domestically-built 3D search and control radar system, dubbed Qamar, with the capability of tracking over 100 targets within a 450-kilometer radius. The Iranian defense minister, who was elaborating on the country's defensive achievements, added that Iran is currently capable of designing and producing all types of weapons it requires. "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are prepared to such extent that no one would entertain the notion of attacking Iran," Dehqan said. However, he added, this does not mean that the country's enemies such as the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia do not yearn to threaten or attack Iran and they, therefore, raise the issue of "options on the table" every now and then but they are reluctant to take any action because "its outcome would be failure." He further emphasized that ground combat is one of the several fields in defense industries that Iran is active in and noted that the country is producing tanks, personnel carriers, tactical vehicles and ammunition inside the country. Pointing to Iran's missile capabilities, Dehqan said, "In missile industries, we are working in the three areas of defense, ballistic and land and sea cruise [missiles]." He added that the Iranian Armed Forces are capable of upgrading a missile in a period of 3-4 months if required. The minister noted that Iran has managed to digitize all its communication systems and added that the country seeks to manufacture helicopters and civil airplanes. In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems. Iran has also conducted other major military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and to test modern military tactics and state-of-the-art army equipment. The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S.: Actions By Iranian Vessels In Gulf Increase 'Risks Of Miscalculation' August 26, 2016 The White House has expressed concern after several close encounters between Iranian vessels and U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf this week. A White House spokesman said such incidents are cause for concern and increase risks of miscalculation. Josh Earnest said on August 26 the behavior is unacceptable and "in a compressed space like the Strait of Hormuz it increases the risk associated with possible miscalculations." U.S. Defense officials said on August 25 that a U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots after an Iranian fast-attack craft approached two U.S. ships in the northern Gulf. The incident, which happened on August 24, started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one around by the time the warning shots were fired, U.S. officials said. Another interaction took place between an Iranian and U.S. ship on August 24, although U.S. defense officials disclosed few details on that incident. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said the Iranian vessels were just doing their job. "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," Dehghan said in a statement. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-iran-vessels- gulf-miscalculation/27948668.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Division in Chukotka to Be Equipped With All-Terrain Vehicles Sputnik News 14:06 26.08.2016 Russian troops in Chukotka will be equipped with all-terrain vehicles. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A Russian Coast Guard division that is going to be deployed in 2018 in the Chukotka Autonomous Area will be equipped with all-terrain vehicles to patrol the coast. "So far soldiers of the 80th Arctic Brigade have successfully tested all-terrain vehicles of several types. The vehicles got only positive reviews," a spokesperson of the Arctic military command told the Izvestiya newspaper. The spokesperson said that armies of developed countries are also equipped with all-terrain vehicles. Some buggy-like vehicles can carry up to four people and 600 kilograms (more than 1,300 pounds) of cargo. The most reliable all-terrain vehicles on the Russian market are Yamaha and BRP but Russian manufacturers are strengthening their positions, Alexei Khlopotov, an independent military expert believes, according to the publication. The new division will fulfill a number of tasks aimed at patrolling the Chukotka's coast and defending from possible enemy's troops landed in the northeastern Russia's region. In 1980s the 99th motorized rifle division was deployed in Chukotka but it was disbanded after collapse of the Soviet Union. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Redeploy Jets to Tactical Airfields in Central, West, South Districts Sputnik News 12:03 26.08.2016 Russian warplanes will be redeployed to airfields in the Southern, Western and Central military districts. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Aerospace Forces' fighter, bomber and army aircraft are readying to redeploy to tactical airfields across the Southern, Western and Central military districts, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. "The engineering and technical personnel carried out comprehensive aeronautical equipment preparations for the long flight, including the suspension of additional fuel tanks as well as missile armaments. Flight crews will receive tasks immediately before departure," the ministry said. The districts are part of the August 25-31 snap combat readiness drills that cover the Northern Fleet and the Airborne Troops. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Set to Ship First AH-6i Choppers to Riyadh Sputnik News 22:59 26.08.2016 As the United States military withdraws from Saudi Arabia, Boeing is set to ship the first twelve AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance helicopters to Riyadh, after a one-month delay. An announcement regarding the transport of the first twelve AH-6i Little Bird helicopters was posted on the US Federal Business Opportunities website on August 24. The helicopters, capable of carrying both 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns, as well as AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, are to be shipped by air to Saudi Arabia's National Guard "as soon as possible." The second batch of twelve units will be delivered by sea. Initially, the aircraft were to be delivered at the end of July, but the shipment was delayed for unspecified reasons. According to media reports, Boeing had 6 machines ready in June, and the company will produce an additional two machines per month. The completed shipment is anticipated to reach Riyadh in February 2017. Riyadh has been accused of numerous human rights violations in connection with the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. Allegations include the killing of some 9,000 civilians and the deliberate destruction of civil objects, such as schools and hospitals. According to media reports, the recent withdrawal of US military specialists from Saudi Arabia may be connected to Washington's attempt to distance itself from Saudi war crimes. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey, Russia ready to expedite Aleppo aid efforts Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:14PM Turkey and Russia say they are ready to expedite efforts to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to people caught up in violence in Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo, which has been a flash point in the recent past. The Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's President Vladimir Putin "agreed to accelerate efforts to ensure help reaches people in Aleppo." The two presidents had a telephone conversation, Anadolu said, where they "held a thorough exchange of views on the situation in Syria." The two sides also highlighted such joint efforts and the need for cooperation to obtain regional security against all terrorist organizations including the Takfiri Daesh terror group. Erdogan and Putin also agreed to hold further talks in the first week of September during the G20 Summit in China. Russia confirmed the phone conversation. Moscow and Ankara have been working to mend ties that were strained after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border last year. The two countries signed a deal in June to normalize relations. The situation in Aleppo is dire as the United Nations has been pushing for a ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can be shipped into the city, which is home to nearly two million people. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday that he had received Russia's agreement for a 48-hour truce meant for humanitarian access to Aleppo. "The Russian Federation replied 'yes', we will wait for others to do the same," said de Mistura, adding, "...we are ready, trucks are ready and they can leave anytime we get that message." Aleppo has been divided between Syrian government forces in the west and Takfiri terrorists in the east. Syrian forces have been engaged in a major operation to liberate the militant-held parts of the city as well as the province with the same name. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey plan for Syria incursion in the works for over 2 years: Source Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:57AM Turkey's ground incursion into northern Syria, which Ankara claims is mainly aimed at fighting Daesh, had been in the making for over two years, a Turkish official has said. The so-called Operation Euphrates Shield began on Wednesday featuring Turkish warplanes and special ground forces to rid the border area of Daesh terrorists and Kurdish forces, according to Ankara. On Friday, Turkey sent four more tanks across the border into the Syrian city of Jarabulus where the sound of explosions rang out. The offensive was launched in coordination with the US, which has been purportedly fighting the Takfiri terror group since 2014. The Turkish government had "been working on a ground incursion for more than two years" which was "delayed" by several factors, the official told the French news agency AFP on Thursday. Ankara had discussed the intervention plan with the US last June, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the US-backed operation had also been delayed by elements in the Turkish army who staged a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government on July 15. Also hindering the operation, the source said, was the souring of Russo-Turkish relations after Ankara's military downed Moscow's jet over Syria last year. 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, the official said. "It became practically impossible to implement our plans due to a lack of air cover." Erdogan, however, recently met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and called for a "clean slate" in the bilateral ties. 15,000 Turkish troops in Syria? Turkish troops ostensibly hunting Daesh militants stand accused of helping Takfiri groups, giving them free passage into Syria and out of the Arab country. On Thursday, Turkey shelled Kurdish militia fighters in Syria on the second day of its incursion and sent a fresh contingent of tanks into the Syrian territory. Hundreds of Syrian militants, backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces, took the Syrian town of Jarabulus on Thursday. The Hurriyet daily's columnist Abdulkadir Selvi said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the incursion but this number could rise to 15,000. Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik warned Kurdish militants in Syria to move back east across the Euphrates or also face action. Turkey sees Syrian Kurdish 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). Expanding occupation The militants who seized Jarabulus aim to move westward in the next phase of their Turkish-backed operation, their commander told the Reuters news agency. Ahmad Osman, head of the Sultan Murad group, said the militants did not wish to fight Kurdish forces that have advanced in northern Syria, but would do so if necessary. The militant commander said the priority was now to advance some 70 km (40 miles) westward to Mare' and capture all the villages between the town and Jarabulus. The operation, he said, could take weeks or months to complete. The militant group is fighting under the banner of the so-called Free Syrian Army which has received varying degrees of help from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's foreign enemies, including military aid and training. Osman said the US was keen to provide air support for the Turkish-led operation. Turkish-backed militant groups have also advanced southward from Jarablus toward the city of Manbij, which was captured by Kurdish militants earlier this month. Kurdish militants crossed the Euphrates river in order to attack Manbij. Turkey has demanded they now go back across the river. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Envoy to UN: Turkish Troops Provide Terrorists in Syrian Aleppo With Arms Sputnik News 22:51 26.08.2016 Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said that the Turkish military built arms depots in the Syrian province of Aleppo and supplied terrorists groups with arms and munition. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) The Turkish military built arms depots in the Syrian province of Aleppo and supplied terrorists groups with arms and munition, Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said on Friday. "On 1 August 2016, Turkish troops were observed entering Syrian territory. Those troops assembled opposite the village of Bikah in the northern countryside of Aleppo governorate, and built weapons depots. They handed over those depots, filled with weapons and ammunition, to the Army of Conquest, the Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham terrorist groups," Jaafari said in identical letters addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and to UN Security Council President Ramlan bin Ibrahim. He added that the Turkish troops also delivered rockets and ammunition from Turkey to terrorist groups in Aleppo. Aside from that, a convoy carrying terrorists was observed entering Syria from Turkey, the diplomat said. "Syria also calls on the Security Council to compel the Turkish regime to close its borders to armed terrorist groups and to stop arming and funding such groups," Jaafari said. Jaafari has repeatedly reported to the UN Secretariat that Ankara as well as Riyadh and Doha were supporting terrorist groups active in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Reportedly Asks Turkey to 'Provide Info on Air Campaign' in Syria Sputnik News 17:55 26.08.2016(updated 19:28 26.08.2016) The Russian Defense Ministry has asked Ankara to provide additional information on "Turkey's air campaign in the Syrian skies" to avoid incidents similar to the Su-24 downing, an unnamed source told Izvestiya. Turkish aircraft, along with tanks and special forces have taken part in an anti-Daesh operation in and around the border town of Jarablus. The ministry's request was reportedly submitted to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense. It is meant to help avoid air collisions, "since Turkish warplanes have conducted intense airstrikes in Syria and could cross paths with Russian attack planes," the source added. Media reports suggest that some of the targets hit by Turkish planes were located far from the area where Operation Euphrates Shield was supposed to be conducted. Turkey launched its offensive aimed at cleansing the border region of Daesh and Kurdish fighters from Jarablus and surrounding areas early on Wednesday. Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army fighters took control of the town hours later. On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Ankara will carry out similar operations in the future. Cross-border campaigns, he added, will continue until "we ensure 100 percent security" of the Turkish border and until Daesh and "other terror entities are cleared from the region." Alexander Vasilyev, a researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Oriental Studies told Izvestiya that Turkey clearly wants to minimize the risk of air incidents. "The fact that Turkey informed Russia about the operation in Jarablus shows that Ankara has drawn a conclusion from what happened after the Su-24 was downed," he said. This does not necessarily mean that both countries will join forces to tackle radical groups wreaking havoc in the war-torn Arab country, since Russia and Turkey pursue different goals in Syria. "Ankara is primarily focused on tackling the Kurds, but Daesh has lately also become a serious threat for the country. Turkish authorities have long turned a blind eye to Daesh's activities in the border regions, since the radical group was also fighting against the Kurds," he said. Ankara's attitude to the brutal organization that still controls large areas in Iraq and Syria has apparently changed since Daesh started to carry out terrorist attacks in Turkey. Turkish leadership, according to Vasilyev, now understands how dangerous the group is. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN teams continue to bring aid to besieged Syrian people despite extreme challenges 26 August 2016 In the first full, completed, cross-line delivery via road in August, inter-agency convoys have reached some 75,000 people in al-Waer in Syria's Homs province with life-saving humanitarian assistance, the United Nations humanitarian arm has reported. "While [we welcomed] convoy, the level of access to besieged areas in August was wholly unacceptable," Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Information Service said, on behalf of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at the regular press briefing in Geneva. "Much more progress [is] required to reach all besieged and hard-to-reach areas considering the very high level of needs. [We continue] to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the millions of people in besieged and hard-to-reach locations across Syria," she stressed. The humanitarian delivery, undertaken through two convoys on 23 and 25 August, comprised of food, health, nutrition and non-food items for populations in the besieged town al-Waer. Concerning relief for Aleppo, Jessy Chahine, a spokesperson for the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria said that the UN was working day and night on the preparation of its humanitarian mission but awaited the concurrence by all parties in order to make sure that the mission could move towards both east and west Aleppo. Similarly, Joel Millman, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), informed journalists that the organization was delivering supplies to Aleppo under its 'whole of Syria' programme. He noted that on 22 August, despite security precautions one truck carrying IOM aid had been targeted, destroying the cargo of humanitarian supplies inside and injuring one aid worker. Pause in fighting desperately needed to save lives: UNICEF chief Meanwhile, in a statement issued today, Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said that the agency is at the ready to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance, including medicines, vaccines and nutritional supplements but underscored the desperate need for a pause in fighting to actually deliver them. Pointing out that since early July, more than 100,000 children remain trapped in eastern parts of Aleppo city, he expressed: "Every child there everyone affected needs an immediate pause to the fighting in Aleppo, and every second of every minute counts when it comes to protecting and saving the lives of children." Situation in Darayya critical Additionally, a statement issued by the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria has said that the situation in Darayya is extremely grave and that it is tragic that the repeated appeals to lift the siege in place since November 2012, and cease the fighting, have never been heeded. The statement noted that Staffan de Mistura had been made aware overnight of an agreement to evacuate residents, both civilians and fighters, starting today. It clarified that the UN was not consulted or involved in the negotiation of the agreement. According to the statement, Mr. de Mistura has appealed to the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and co-sponsors of the cessation of hostilities and other ISSG members to ensure that the implementation of this agreement and its aftermath is in full compliance with international humanitarian law and protection standards. The respective taskforces on a ceasefire and on humanitarian issues, created by the ISSG, have been meeting separately since early this year on a way forward on the crisis. Russia and the United States are the co-chairs of ISSG, which comprises the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries. The statement added that a UN humanitarian team is reaching out to all parties, including the local population. "It is imperative that people of Darayya are protected in any evacuation that takes place, and that this takes place voluntarily," the statement noted. "The world is watching," it concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry, Lavrov Say New Syria Agreement Close By VOA News August 26, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the situation in Syria had "dramatically deteriorated" since the "brief oasis of calm" following a cessation- of-hostilities agreement, and he promised that the U.S. and Russia were close to a new agreement on a more durable arrangement. Kerry spoke in Geneva after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. They discussed ways to agree on military cooperation and information sharing in a bid to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria something both sides want. Kerry said that Syrians benefited from the calm following the February accord, but that the gains were lost again when violations of the agreement began. He said "the cessation, even flawed, was valuable." But he said violations "eventually became the norm, rather than the exception." No military solution Kerry said he and Lavrov agreed that there was no military solution to the Syrian situation. He said the past few weeks of talks had been "fair, diligent, productive" and that the remaining "technical issues" would be worked out in the next few days, to "overcome the deep mistrust on all sides." "The conflict will not end without a political solution," Kerry said. "It is really the only viable path towards peace and security and normalcy that the Syrian people deserve." Kerry said the sides may differ about the causes for the rupture, but both agree more work is needed to revive the deal and make it enforceable. Until then, he says he does not want to make any announcement concerning a resumption of peace talks. "We are determined to dot the i's and cross the t's and do the job necessary to make certain that if and when we are able to find the way forward, and we hope we can," he said. "As Sergei said, the work that can be done in the next week has the ability to resolve some of these remaining issues. But, until we have, neither of us are prepared to make an announcement that is predicated for failure." Humanitarian crisis Lavrov said the two men had discussed the political agreement and also Syria's deep humanitarian crisis, in the flashpoint city of Aleppo as well as elsewhere, where civilians are isolated by the fighting and unable to get basic supplies for living. He said the impending agreement would prove beneficial for those Syrians in need of aid. Like Kerry, he promised that just a few details remained before an agreement could be announced, saying "a couple of dots should be placed in correct places." Lavrov also said he believed "everyday dialogue" was key for solving the Syrian problem. He also said he was convinced that the United States and Russia should have normal relations in order to move forward on the Syrian situation. Meanwhile, Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating the long-besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya as part of an agreement reached late Thursday with the government, after four years of airstrikes and siege left the suburb in ruins. Under the terms of the deal, about 700 gunmen will be allowed safe exit to the opposition-held northern province of Idlib and 4,000 civilians will be taken temporarily to a shelter south of Daraya. U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura called for the protection of people being evacuated from Daraya, in a statement issued in Geneva. Voluntary departure De Mistura said their departure must be voluntary, adding that the U.N. was not consulted or involved in the negotiation of the deal reached between rebel factions and government forces. In reference to the closely watched U.S.-Russia meeting, de Mistura said, "We are still working." He joined the talks in the early afternoon. Speaking during a lunchtime break, Lavrov said the talks on Syria with Kerry were "excellent." As he entered the morning session, Lavrov avoided commenting on a reporter's question about what the primary impediment to a cease-fire in Syria was. He said only that "I don't want to spoil the atmosphere for the negotiations." Kerry did not make any comments. Previous rounds of international negotiations, including discussions between the top diplomats from Washington and Moscow, have failed to produce an end to the conflict in Syria, which is complicated by U.S. and Russian support for opposite sides and has killed more than 290,000 people. The conflict also has forced millions from their homes in more than five years. Heightened regional tensions 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. The latest meeting comes amid heightened tensions in Syria after Turkey decided earlier this week to send tanks across the border into Syria to clear out a pocket of land controlled by the Islamic State group. U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters said they were withdrawing to their bases east of the Euphrates River after Turkey's military and allied fighters launched the 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." It was unclear, however, whether all the Kurdish forces had withdrawn, as Turkey 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 were still fighting on the western side of the Euphrates River and had even captured some ground. Turkey's foreign minister said Kerry had spoken with him in a phone call early Thursday and said the Syrian Kurdish forces would withdraw. Vice President Joe Biden this week told Turkey's leaders the Kurds would lose U.S. support if they did not move back across the Euphrates. 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 interethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs." Middle East analyst Theodore Karasik told VOA that Turkey's military offensive on Syrian territory risked 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 said Turkey risked escalating the conflict. Lisa Schlein in Geneva and Ed Yeranian in Cairo contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Airstrikes in Syria, One Day After Lengthy US-Russia Talks By Isabela Cocoli August 27, 2016 At least 15 civilians were reportedly killed in barrel bomb attacks by suspected government helicopters on a rebel-held district of Aleppo Saturday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government aircraft had dropped two explosive-packed barrel bombs minutes apart on the Maadi district of eastern Aleppo. According to the group, the strikes hit near a tent where people were mourning those killed in a barrel bomb attack Thursday in the neighboring district of Bab al-Nayrab, where 15 people, among them 11 children, lost their lives. The Syrian government and its ally, Russia, are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo, the Observatory said. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. Also Saturday, Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria said Turkish airstrikes hit their bases near Jarablus, a border town seized by Turkey-backed rebels earlier this week. The Syrian Observatory confirmed the airstrikes, but Turkey has not yet made any statement about any incursion Saturday. Turkey has said in the past, however, that the Kurds must withdraw to the east of the nearby Euphrates River. Meanwhile, Syrian rebels and their families continued evacuating the long-besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya as part of an agreement reached late Thursday with the government, after four years of airstrikes and a prolonged siege left the suburb in ruins. US-Russian diplomacy U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a lengthy meeting Friday in Geneva in efforts to restore a truce in Syria Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kerry said the two sides agreed that there is no military solution to the Syrian civil war, adding the past few weeks of talks have been "fair, diligent and productive." He said the remaining "technical issues" will be worked out in the next few days, to "overcome the deep mistrust on all sides." Kerry said the situation in the country had "dramatically deteriorated" since the "brief oasis of calm" that followed a cease-fire agreement in February, but promised that the U.S. and Russia are close to a new, more durable agreement. "The conflict will not end without a political solution," Kerry said. "It is really the only viable path towards peace and security and normalcy that the Syrian people deserve." Like Kerry, Lavrov promised that just a few details remain before an agreement can be announced, saying "a couple of dots should be placed in correct places." Lavrov said he believes "everyday dialogue" is key for solving the Syrian problem. He also said he is convinced that the United States and Russia should have normal relations in order to move forward on the Syrian situation. The conflict in Syria, which is complicated by U.S. and Russian support for opposite sides has killed more than 290,000 people and had forced millions from their homes in more than five years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 11 dead, 78 wounded as blast rocks Turkey's Sirnak Iran Press TV Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:42AM At least 11 people have been killed after a car bomb attack targeted a security checkpoint in the southeastern province of Sirnak, sources say. The Thursday bomb attack, which caused severe damage to the headquarters of the special anti-riot police force in the town of Cizre, also left some 78 people wounded, according to hospital sources. Initial reports said many people had been killed and wounded in the bombing. Medical sources say the exact death toll from the blast is still unknown. Footage was broadcast on national television, showing an immense plume of black smoke heading into the sky from the site of the blast. Claim of responsibility The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement on a website affiliated to the militant group. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack, saying such assaults would only strengthen his country's determination in the fight against militants "at home and aboad." Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also confirmed the death toll from the bombing, which he said was carried out with an explosives-laden truck. "No terrorist organization can take the Turkish Republic hostage," he told reporters in Istanbul, adding, "We will give these scoundrels every response they deserve." Sirnak borders both Syria and Iraq and has a largely Kurdish population. The province has also witnessed some of the heaviest clashes between the Turkish army and the PKK militants since the collapse of a peace process between the two sides last year. Since the resumption of hostilities between the two sides, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to Anadolu. Rights bodies also say hundreds of civilians have lost their lives in the violence-hit areas. The country has also seen a number of fatal terror attacks blamed on Daesh. Last week, at least 54 people died in a bomb attack at a Kurdish wedding in the southeastern province of Gaziantep. An attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport also left 44 people dead in June. The latest blast in Cizre comes in the wake of Turkey's largest military incursion into Syria, which Ankara says is aimed at fighting Daesh and Kurdish militants. On Wednesday, Turkey deployed tanks and special forces to northern Syria in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield. In a Twitter post hours after the bombing, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Daesh terrorists, Kurdish militants and Syrian-Kurdish forces are taking advantage of last month's abortive coup to launch attacks in the country. It further said Ankara was determined to protect its borders as well as national security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address High/Low: A community recently came together to support a young Danville family whose 3-year-old son died in an accidental shooting. This is too much grief, community organizer Shakeva Frazier said. About 150 people attended the neighborhood event last Thursday at the Constance Covington Youth Center at Cardinal Village to support the parents of William Lawrence Trae Betts III. High: In the late 1990s, a house fire caused by a natural gas line that failed pushed the city government to start a program to replace all of the aging metal gas lines rotting under Danvilles streets. After the third River District power outage linked to the Bridge Street Substation in 18 months, the city is taking a closer look at substation transformers. All existing substation transformers will be inspected and ranked based on failure possibility, Danville Utilities Director Jason Grey said. Future transformer replacements will be based on this study. High: Danville is considering the development of a bike share program. Councilman Lee Vogler suggested the idea after seeing a similar one during a visit to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2012. Its not that expensive, especially if its privately funded out of the gate, Vogler said. This is not going to be any kind of major expense in our budget at all. The start-up cost should be under $50,000, with annual maintenance costs of around $5,000. Low: Spray-paint wielding vandals continue to hit Danville churches and other public places; the latest included a swastika and the words White Pride on a wall as well as damage to a Danville church and another place in the city. High: As General Assembly Republicans and Gov. Terry McAuliffe continue to fight over whether felons who have paid their debt to society can automatically get their rights restored, we should consider the words of Danville resident and ex-offender Richard Harris. Im almost a citizen, Harris said. After McAuliffe restored the rights of more than 200,000 people this spring, some said that would tip the scales in Novembers election to Democrat Hillary Clinton. But 200,000 ex-offenders didnt take the chance McAuliffe gave them and register to vote it was more like 13,000, including Harris. To Richard Harris and all the other ex-offenders who are working toward becoming once again a citizen, we hope that their path to the voting booth wont be blocked again. High: And finally this week, the work of a 13-year-old animal shelter volunteer has led to the creation of The Little Critter Bliss Fund to benefit rabbits, hamsters, birds, guinea pigs and other small animals. They dont really get adopted a lot and they need friends, shelter junior volunteer Mia Trotter said. To the editor: Well, well, reminders of the past do arise over the most unexpected matters. The Danville Public Library staff is being verbally stoned over the removal of someones pet volumes. (Someone had apparently rather spend a few million every five years or so to add space to the library rather than get rid of worn out, no-longer-used books!) Remember the days when a librarian dared not shelve a book on communism and there were legal fights over law enforcement personnel getting access to the title of books which readers had checked out from the public library? (That was solved by libraries developing checkout systems which no longer permanently record the title of volumes checked out by readers.) But, now, to raise the flag of Northern Virginia over the library collection? Robert E. Lee, where are you when we need you? The Genealogy Department of the Danville Public Library is an asset for this area. I am dumb enough that I thought everyone knew it holds excellent volumes on the Confederacy and that some of them if not most are the original early editions. The photograph of several volumes in the collection which appeared in the newspaper being War Memoirs by Jubal Anderson Early, 1816-1894, a general of the Army of Northern Virginia, who later helped establish The Lost Cause view of the Civil War; Reminiscences of the Civil War by John Brown Gordon, who was considered one of the toughest Confederate generals; A Rebel War Clerks Diary by John Beauchamp Jones, published 1866, being the diary of a clerk in the War Department of the Confederacy and considered almost a must have reference book on the Confederacy; and Army of Northern Virginia, Memorial Volume by John William Jones, 1836-1909, Chaplin of the Army of Northern Virginia, is as fine a collection on the Confederacy as one could desire, not to mention the numerous and I do mean numerous other books on Civil War history shelved in that department. Incidentally, several Southern colleges and universities have put online copies of the above-listed volumes on the Internet. That is how important to U.S. history they are. Rest easy, you Stoners, no one who holds a degree in library science from an excellent university is going to get rid of these apparently original editions, regardless of the condition of the cover. Instead, precious library budget funding will likely be spent in restoring such volumes when they deteriorate. Live long and enjoy a good read! HILDRED C. SHELTON Danville CALGARY, Aug. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd. ("Connacher" or the "Company") announces its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 ("Q2 2016") (all amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted). Q2 2016 Highlights Financial Q2 2016 and YTD 2016 revenue, net of royalties, decreased 68% to $22.8 million (Q2 2015 - $71.3 million) and 72% to $34.6 million (YTD 2015 - $125.1 million), respectively, due to the decline in crude oil prices and lower sales volumes associated with the Company's strategic decision to reduce production in the low commodity price environment Q2 2016 and YTD 2016 adjusted EBITDA decreased to deficits of $14.8 million (Q2 2015 - $2.6 million) and $41.5 million (YTD 2015 - deficit of $16.2 million), respectively, substantially due to lower revenue, net of royalties, partially offset by lower input costs Q2 2016 and YTD 2016 funds used were $23.2 million (Q2 2015 - funds used of $12.5 million) and $57.7 million (YTD 2015 - funds used of $54.7 million), respectively. For both periods, the increase in funds used was primarily due to lower adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by lower interest on long-term debt as the 2018 and 2019 secured second lien notes (the "Notes") were exchanged for common shares as part of the recapitalization transaction dated May 8, 2015 (the "Recapitalization") In Q2 2016 and YTD 2016, the Company generated net losses of $369.8 million (Q2 2015 - net income of $442.8 million) and $412.8 million (YTD 2015 - net income of $302.9 million), respectively. For both periods, the net losses were primarily due to lower adjusted EBITDA and impairment on property, plant, and equipment ("PP&E"). Q2 2015 and YTD 2015 net income included significant accounting gains associated with the Company's Recapitalization In Q2 2016 and YTD 2016, capital expenditures totaled $0.5 million (Q2 2015 - $5.0 million) and $1.8 million (YTD 2015 - $11.1 million), respectively, and were focused on non-discretionary maintenance capital Connacher closed Q2 2016 with a cash balance of $18.5 million (including restricted cash of $7.1 million) (Q4 2015 - $47.2 million) Operational Q2 2016 and YTD 2016 production decreased 44% to 8,416 bbl/d (Q2 2015 - 14,951 bbl/d) and 52% to 7,160 bbl/d (YTD 2015 - 15,014 bbl/d), respectively, due to voluntarily reduced production In Q2 2016 and YTD 2016, transportation and handling costs decreased 64% to $7.1 million (Q2 2015 - $19.9 million) and 56% to $18.3 million (YTD 2015 - $41.2 million), respectively, primarily due to the reduction in sales volumes, partially offset by penalties for non-delivery incurred in 2016 Q2 2016 and YTD 2016 blending costs decreased 54% to $8.3 million (Q2 2015 - $18.3 million) and 64% to $14.3 million (YTD 2015 - $40.2 million), respectively, primarily due to the decrease in diluent volumes required resulting from lower production volumes and reduced diluent purchase prices for both periods Q2 2016 Financial Highlights FINANCIAL (1) Q2 2016 Q2 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2015 Revenue, net of royalties $22,757 $71,349 $34,581 $125,123 Adjusted EBITDA (2) (14,795) 2,579 (41,478) (16,185) Net earnings (loss) (369,777) 442,795 (412,792) 302,912 Basic per share (3) (13.05) 26.19 (14.57) 34.68 Diluted per share (3) (13.05) 5.32 (14.57) 4.04 Funds used (4) (23,233) (12,546) (57,657) (54,690) Capital expenditures 453 4,950 1,834 11,051 Cash on hand (5) 18,520 73,869 Working capital surplus (deficiency) (254,607) 114,469 Long-term debt - 247,599 Shareholders' equity 111,505 869,130 (1) Canadian dollar in thousands except per share amounts (2) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is defined in the "Advisory Section" of the MD&A and is reconciled to net earnings (loss) under "Reconciliations of Net Earnings (Loss) to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Bitumen Netback" (3) Basic and diluted earnings per share amounts reflect the 800:1 share consolidation associated with the Company's recapitalization transaction dated May 8, 2015 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (4) Funds used is a non-GAAP measure and is defined in the "Advisory Section" of the MD&A and is reconciled to cash flow from operating activities under "Reconciliations of Cash Flow Used in Operating Activities to Funds Used" (5) Balance includes restricted cash of $7.1 million Q2 2016 Operational Highlights OPERATIONAL Q2 2016 Q2 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2015 Average benchmark prices WTI (US$/bbl) 45.59 57.94 39.52 53.29 WTI ($/bbl) 58.75 71.37 52.19 66.48 Heavy oil differential (US$/bbl) (13.30) (14.28) (13.77) (16.42) WCS ($/bbl) 41.61 57.09 34.01 50.06 $/US$ exchange rate 1.29 1.23 1.32 1.25 Production and sales volumes (1) Daily bitumen production (bbl/d) 8,416 14,951 7,160 15,014 Daily bitumen sales (bbl/d) 8,346 14,112 7,499 14,486 Bitumen netback ($/bbl) (2)(3) Dilbit sales $25.43 $47.10 $21.44 $39.18 Diluent costs (6.30) (5.09) (6.48) (6.51) Realized bitumen sales price 19.13 42.01 14.96 32.67 Transportation and handling costs (9.37) (15.52) (13.41) (15.72) Net realized bitumen sales price 9.76 26.49 1.55 16.95 Royalties (0.15) (0.71) (0.08) (0.29) Net bitumen revenue price 9.61 25.78 1.47 16.66 Production and operating expenses (19.49) (15.62) (23.58) (16.16) Bitumen netback $(9.88) $10.16 $(22.11) $0.50 (1) The Company's bitumen sales and production volumes differ due to changes in inventory and product losses (2) A non-GAAP measure which is defined in the "Advisory Section" of the MD&A. Bitumen netback is reconciled to net loss under "Reconciliations of Net Loss to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Bitumen Netback". Bitumen netbacks per barrel amounts are calculated by dividing the total amounts presented in the "Bitumen Netback" table on page 8 by bitumen sold volumes as presented in the "Production and Sales Volumes" table on page 7, with the exception of dilbit sales (presented as dilbit sales divided by dilbit sales volume) and diluent costs (presented as the cost of diluent in excess of the dilbit selling price) (3) Before risk management contract gains or losses Operations Based on field estimates, July 2016 production was approximately 9,700 bbl/d. Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act ("CCAA") Announcement On March 31, 2016, the Company entered into a forbearance agreement (the "Forbearance Agreement") with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, and certain lenders constituting the "Required Lenders" in respect of US$154.6 million of loans made by the lenders (the "Lenders") under the credit agreement dated as of May 23, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), including as amended pursuant to the Amendment No. 1 dated May 8, 2015 (the "Amended Term Loan Facility"). Under the terms of the Forbearance Agreement, the Lenders agreed to, among other things, forbear from exercising enforcement rights and remedies arising from the Company's failure to pay the cash interest and principal payments due on March 31, 2016 until the earlier of April 30, 2016; the occurrence of an event of default under the Amended Term Loan Facility, unrelated to the failure to pay principal and interest due on March 31, 2016; or the occurrence of a default or breach of representation by the Company under the Forbearance Agreement. On April 30, 2016, the Company entered into a second forbearance agreement (the "Second Forbearance Agreement") which extended the forbearance period until May 16, 2016. On May 17, 2016, the Company sought and obtained creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") pursuant to an order (the "Initial Order") granted by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, Judicial Centre of Calgary (the "Court"). The Court granted CCAA protection for an initial period expiring on June 16, 2016, which was first extended to August 16, 2016 and subsequently extended to September 15, 2016. Under the Initial Order, Ernst & Young Inc. was appointed by the Court as the monitor (the "Monitor"). The CCAA is a federal insolvency statute that allows an insolvent company which owes creditors in excess of $5 million to restructure its business and financial affairs and stays creditors and others from enforcing rights against the insolvent company. The decision to file for creditor protection was a result of, among other things, the continued deterioration of prices for oil and the Company's limited ability to access capital markets. As authorized and approved by the Initial Order, the Company secured interim financing in the form of a senior secured debtor-in-possession credit facility (the "DIP") from certain existing lenders for up to US$20 million, with initial commitments of up to US$11.5 million (the "Initial Commitments"). The DIP is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to support the Company during the CCAA proceeding. The Initial Order also approved and authorized the Company and the Monitor to conduct a sale and investment solicitation process (the "SISP") as set out in Schedule "A" to the Initial Order in order to identify one or more purchasers and/or investors in the Company's business and/or property. The SISP is currently in progress. At May 17, 2016, in connection with the filing of CCAA, the Company identified the following obligations subject to potential compromise: (Canadian dollars in thousands) Current and long-term portions of Amended Term Loan Facility $201,138 Interest payable on Amended Term Loan Facility 9,033 Convertible Notes 44,000 Interest payable on Convertible Notes 6,714 Trade and accrued liabilities 21,025 Total liabilities subject to compromise $281,910 The aforementioned obligations subject to potential compromise represent the amounts expected to be resolved through the CCAA proceeding and remain subject to future, potentially material, adjustments. The liabilities that are not subject to the CCAA proceeding are excluded from the liabilities subject to potential compromise and include certain non-restructuring liabilities incurred subsequent to May 17, 2016. On August 24, 2016, the Court granted a claims procedure order establishing a process for the filing, review, and determination of claims against the Company and its directors and officers. Connacher closed Q2 2016 with outstanding borrowings under the DIP of $13.0 million. At August 26, 2016, the Company has drawn approximately $15.0 million (US$11.5 million), the full committed amount currently available. About Connacher Connacher is a Calgary-based in situ oil sands developer, producer, and marketer of bitumen. The Company holds a 100 per cent interest in approximately 435 million barrels of proved and probable bitumen reserves and operates two steam-assisted gravity drainage facilities located on the Company's Great Divide oil sands leases near Fort McMurray, Alberta. Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward looking information including but not limited to the implementation of CCAA proceeding and the SISP, the Company's ability to manage its liquidity position and deploy the capital required to maintain existing reserve and production bases, fund maintenance capital, fund working capital requirements and meet contractual and other commitments; expectations regarding future commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, diluent blend ratio, transportation costs, rail costs, rail usage, and production and operating costs in future periods; expectations regarding sales and production, bitumen netback, G&A expenses, and capital expenditures in future periods; the Company's reserves; and general operational and financial performance in future periods. Forward looking information is based on management's expectations regarding the Company's future financial position; the Company's future growth, results of operations and production, future commodity prices and foreign exchange rates; future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature, and sources of funding thereof), plans for and results of drilling activity; environmental matters; business prospects and opportunities; and future economic conditions. Forward looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risk that the SISP process may not result in a sale of the Company or its assets, the level of indebtedness of the Company, the implementation and impact of any reorganization or restructuring on the assets, business and financial affairs of the Company, future co-operation of the creditors of the Company, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to obtain adequate financing to fund capital expenditures and working capital needs and to maintain the Company's ongoing obligations during the CCAA process and thereafter, the ability to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees, shareholders and other third parties in light of the Company's current liquidity situation and the CCAA proceeding, as well as the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (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 and resource estimates; the uncertainty of geological interpretations; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses; and health, safety and environmental risks), risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, risks associated with the impact of general economic conditions, risks and uncertainties associated with maintaining the necessary regulatory approvals and securing the financing to continue operations and increase production to levels previously achieved. Reported average production levels may not be reflective of sustainable production rates and future production rates may differ materially from the production rates reflected in this press release due to, among other factors, difficulties or interruptions encountered during the production of bitumen. Additional risks and uncertainties affecting Connacher and its business and affairs are described in further detail in Connacher's AIF for the year ended December 31, 2015. Although Connacher believes that the expectations in such forward looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations shall prove to be correct. Any forward looking information included in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Any forward looking information included herein is made as of the date of this press release and Connacher assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd. VANCOUVER, Aug. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Heatherdale Resources Ltd. ("Heatherdale" or the "Company") (TSXV: HTR) announces that it has issued shares as part of the payment obligations of a convertible debenture with Sino Canada Natural Resources Fund I. A total of 302,639 shares have been issued in payment of interest payments for the period May 1, 2016 to July 31, 2016 as per the amended agreement, announced in the Company's December 24, 2014 news release. The Company also announces that it has entered into a US$50,000 Loan Agreement (the "Loan") with an unrelated lender (the "Lender"). The Loan is unsecured and will bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum. At any time prior to the Maturity Date of August 24, 2018 ("Maturity Date") by prior written notice to Heatherdale, the Lender may in its sole discretion elect to convert all, but not less than all, of the indebtedness to a number of Shares of the Company at a conversion price of C$0.05/share during the first twelve months after the date of the Loan and C$0.10/Share during the period of after twelve months after the Date of the Loan and the Maturity Date. The Loan will be used by the Company for working capital. The Loan is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). Finally, Heatherdale announces that the maturity date of loan agreements and bonus warrants, as announced in a news release dated August 14, 2015, has been extended to August 20, 2017. The change is subject to TSXV approval. About Heatherdale Heatherdale Resources Ltd. is focused on advancing its mine development opportunity at the Niblack Project in southeastern Alaska. On behalf of the Board of Directors Mark Peters Chief Financial Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward looking statements include statements with respect to the Loan, grants of security and issuance of securities contemplated by this release and the likelihood that such transaction will complete, and the Company's ability to repay the Loan or any of its debts or liabilities that are now or hereafter become due for payment. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company cannot guarantee that the Loans, grants of security and issuance of securities contemplated by this release will complete or that any required approval of the TSX Venture Exchange will be received. There is no certainty that the Company will be able to repay the Loans or any other outstanding debt or liability of the Company in a timely manner or at all. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Niblack project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Niblack project will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE Heatherdale Resources Ltd. SHARE Budweiser, Miller makers deal sells assets By Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY NETWORK The combined beer giant resulting from the mega-brew merger of Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller is expected to shed several thousand jobs globally as it seeks to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities emanating from the deal. Budweiser maker AB InBev will cut about 3% of the combined company's workforce after the deal is finalized, according to transaction documents filed Friday with regulators. The company expects to make those cuts "gradually" over the course of three years, according to the documents. It did not say exactly how many positions it would shed or where the cuts would occur, but AB InBev had more than 150,000 employees at the end of 2015 and SABMiller had about 70,000, according to their annual reports. Some of those positions are associated with assets that the companies agreed to sell to win regulatory approval for the deal. AB InBev's headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, will remain as the company's new base, and its "global functional management office" in New York will also retain that role. That means SABMiller's headquarters in Woking, England, will likely face job losses, according to Friday's filing. SHARE By The Kansas City Star (Tns) Q. Why did Gandhi say, 'If it weren't for Christians, I'd be a Christian?' Chuck Stanford, lama emeritus, Rime Buddhist Center: To fully understand this quote, it is important to know the backstory from where it came. While Gandhi was a practicing Hindu, Christianity intrigued him. In his reading of the Gospels, Gandhi was impressed by Jesus whom Christians worshiped and followed. He wanted to know more about this Jesus that Christians referred to as "the Christ, the Messiah." The Rev. Pattison tells the following story: One Sunday morning Gandhi decided that he would visit one of the Christian churches in Calcutta. Upon seeking entrance to the church sanctuary, he was stopped at the door by the ushers. He was told he was not welcome, nor would he be permitted to attend this particular church as it was for high-caste Indians and whites only. He was neither high caste, nor was he white. Because of the rejection, the Mahatma turned his back on Christianity. With this act, Gandhi rejected the Christian faith, never again to consider the claims of Christ. He was turned off by the sin of segregation that was practiced by the church. It was due to this experience that Gandhi later declared, "I'd be a Christian if it were not for the Christians.' " In Buddhism there is a saying, "Don't confuse the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself." This means the finger pointing at the moon teaches us that although someone points to the moon to show us the truth of its luminosity, the finger pointing is not the moon itself. Likewise, the practitioner of a religion doesn't always practice the religion the way it was originally taught. Arvind Khetia, Hindu and an engineer: Mahatma Gandhi was one of the great spiritual and political leaders, who made an enormous contribution to the moral resources of humankind. The movie, "Gandhi," by Richard Attenborough, is an excellent introduction to the life of Gandhi and his persistent effort to live by truth and nonviolence. To understand his spiritual transformation, "Gandhi, An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth," and "Gandhi the Man: The Story of His Transformation" by Eknath Easwaran, are excellent resources. In his autobiography, Gandhi writes that, "morality is the basis of things and that truth is the substance of all morality." He believed that, "A virtue achieves its potential only in its application and it ceases to have any use if it serves no purpose in daily life." So, for Gandhi, it was imperative that spiritual truths are lived in one's daily life. That is exactly what Gandhi did. He made the Bhagavad Gita his spiritual guide and implemented its teachings, emphasizing the passionate search for truth (Satyagraha), a profound reverence for all life (nonviolence), and the ideal of nonattachment (his material possessions were minimal). Modern pornography industry has roots in abuse of woman in Canaan I read an interview with a pornographic actress once. She talked about the frequent response of men when they see her in public while accompanied by their wives or girlfriends. The men would approach her and say with an obviously false inquisitive tone, "You look so familiar. Where do I know you from?" She described the temptation to ruin that man's relationship by answering him honestly. In the 21st century, porn stars occupy a strange place in our collective consciousness. On the one hand, they are highly paid and well-known. Most men use porn. A significant number of women use it, too. Web filtering software company Covenant Eyes reported that 64-68 percent of young adult men watch porn at least once a week. Eighty-five percent watch it at least once a month. In 2009, Simon Lajeunesse experienced some serious setbacks when he tried to study porn use because he couldn't find a control group of young men who didn't use porn. On the other hand, pornography still carries a stigma. As ubiquitous as porn use is, women are still deeply hurt when they find out the men in their lives consume it. Despite all the rationalization in the world, there is still a gut-level understanding that there is something deeply wrong with pornography. When Christians discuss a response to the problem of porn, we often act like it's a new and unique problem for the church to address. Instead, because "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9), I suggest this is an old problem presented in a more technologically sophisticated way. Consider Rahab. In Joshua 2, Joshua sends two spies on a mission to Jericho. The king of Jericho and his security forces became aware of their presence, and as the spies looked for a place to hide, Rahab welcomed them into her home and hid them on the roof of her house. The Bible says Rahab was a prostitute. The most likely case is that she was a temple prostitute. Ancient Canaanites worshipped a God called Baal and a goddess called Asherah Baal's mother and mistress. They believed that re-enacting the sexual union between Baal and Asherah made the land more fertile. Rahab was likely paid to play the part of Asherah in the temple for "devout" male worshippers. We don't know much about what those worshippers' wives thought about this religious practice. Rahab's inclusion in the narrative in Joshua 2 is actually an exception in ancient Semitic literature. I wonder, though, if despite the ubiquity of this religious practice, the wives were still hurt by it. I wonder if she got that feeling in the pit of her stomach that comes from knowing there was nothing she could do about her husband doing something deeply offensive because "it's just what men do" every time he went to go "worship." I wonder if the same conversation happened when a couple ran into Rahab in the market. "You look so familiar. Where do I know you from?" What I do know is that Rahab was not completely accepted in her culture. She lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. It was as far away from the life of the city as it could be while still being inside the walls. That's why spies were lurking in the streets near her house. Even though practically everyone used her services, nobody welcomed her into the center of the life of the city. But look at what happens in her life. She hears about a people of the one true God. The gods she knew Baal and Asherah forced her into prostitution and out of her own society. The God the Israelites worshipped welcomed her into their protection because of her faith. Joshua 6:25 is clear that she was welcomed into the Hebrew community and that she lived "among" the people of Israel. Not on the outskirts in a shack built into a wall. In the church, we often focus on helping the consumers of pornography and condemning its producers. Instead, Israel killed the prostitute's consumers and saved the prostitute. While men and women addicted to pornography certainly need grace I am not advocating their persecution by any means perhaps porn stars need to make it into your prayers. They are not a hopeless case. Just look at Rahab. Kyle Hooks is the associate pastor at Angelo Bible Church. Contact him at 325-716-4258 or kyle@lookingupfrombelow.com. You can like Looking Up at facebook.com/lookingupfrombelow. SHARE By Bill Tinsley Now that we are into the Presidential election, several news sources are "fact checking" the candidates. They use different indicators. The Washington Post awards "Pinocchios" to rate the truthfulness of candidates' statements: one, two, three and four Pinnochios with one being mostly true and four being "whoppers." PolitiFact, a website that won a Pulitzer Award for fact checking, rates candidates' statements as "true," "mostly true," "half true," "mostly false," and "pants on fire!" Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have both earned "pants on fire!" awards from PolitiFact. Most of us don't need The Washington Post or PolitiFact to tell us that our politicians are less than truthful. Perhaps our confidence in politicians' truthfulness began to erode 42 years ago when Richard Nixon looked into the camera and told us that he was no crook. Some politicians are more truthful than others, but they all make misleading, half-truth and, sometimes, completely false statements. This problem with truthfulness is not confined to our politicians. Our politicians may reflect a problem that permeates our generation. People lie to one another. Husbands lie to their wives and wives to their husbands. Employers lie to their employees and vice-versa. Novels, sitcoms and movies often portray the humor, drama, pain and tragedy created by the lies people tell. "Why tell the truth when a lie will do?" When truth no longer prevails and we no longer trust one another, the social fabric is shredded. Relationships are destroyed. Telling the lie destroys families, businesses, careers and nations. Honesty is the root of economic, emotional, psychological and spiritual health. It is addressed in the Ten Commandments: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16). Proverbs says, "A false witness will not go unpunished and he who tells lies will not escape. ... What is desirable in a man is his kindness. It is better to be a poor man than a liar." (Proverbs 19:5, 22). Every individual and every generation must resist the temptation to lie. King David cried out, "I said in my alarm, all men are liars!" (Psalm 116:11). Isaiah confessed, "I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips." (Isaiah 6:5). The Bible teaches that there is a better way. "O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend. (Psalm 15:1-3) Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) "If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:31-32). There can be little wonder that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, men known for their honesty, remain the heroes of American history. Bill Tinsley is former associate executive for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Email him at bill@tinsleycenter.com.

Student Katey Houston checks out a cardboard box that can be decorated for someone who will be cremated. At left is student Denton Thorbeck. (Ellen M. Banner/Seattle Times/TNS)

SHARE Charlie Turner, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, right, and Samantha Foster, of Mukilteo, Wash., re-create faces in a class at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Wash., that is part of a two-year funeral-services program. The program expects to graduate 22 students this school year. (Ellen M. Banner/Seattle Times/TNS) Charlie Turner, a student at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Wash., gets instruments ready in the embalming preparation room at the school. Turner, a former house painter, hopes to become an embalmer. (Ellen M. Banner/Seattle Times/TNS) The hands of student Denton Thorbeck create a death mask for student Katey Houston in one of the funeral-service classes at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Wash. Death masks are occasionally made for families of the deceased who want a mask of their loved one's face. (Ellen M. Banner/Seattle Times/TNS) By Erik Lacitis The Seattle Times (Tns) SEATTLE Heres a question for Samantha Foster, 21, of Mukilteo, Wash., future mortician. Why? I see dead people is a great movie line, but as a full-time occupation? She says, There have been a lot of deaths in my family, but that only added to my intrigue. Youd think itd be offsetting to see family members pass away, but I just got curious about how they got into that casket. As more and more of our aging population heads to that final frontier, itll be someone like Foster wholl deal with the details. Its a new generation of funeral professionals, as much of the current crop is reaching retirement age. Foster is an earnest, modern young woman, tattoos on her right arm, black hair piled high, nose piercing. On this morning at the funeral-service class at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Wash., Foster is molding soft morticians wax on a plastic-skull head. She is doing a wax rendition of actor Bill Moseley, star of a number of cult-classic horror films. I thought itd be appropriate, given the subject matter. she says. The two-year program the only one in this state and one of the few on the West Coast this school year will graduate 22 students, and Foster is one of them. Craig Emmick, the instructor of the class, says there still will be plenty of job opportunities because licensed funeral directors are needed in each of the 300 or so funeral homes in this state, and some 20,000 nationwide. Foster explains about embalming: Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to work in a medical field, but I didnt want to deal with the possibility of someone dying under my care. This was something I could do, rebuild different features in the case of trauma. Shes originally from the Chicago area and plans to move back to the Midwest, where they do many more traditional funerals. In Illinois, the cremation rate is in the 30 percent range, according to the Cremation Association of North America. Washington has the second-highest cremation rate in the country at nearly 73 percent. Nevada is highest transient town and lack of tradition, explained a Las Vegas Sun story. On this day, work includes not just the wax work, but finishing up papers on bacteria that cause tissue gas on decomposing bodies. When you die, things happen fast to that corpse. Rachel Risbell, 33, of Everett, Wash., has written her essay as if the bacteria are talking in the first person. Its quite a paper: Hey, guys! Its me, everyones favorite bacteria. Clostridium perfringens ... Just last week I was living peacefully in the intestinal tract of a lovely 57-year-old lady ... She had some sort of stomach problems ... poor Jane bit the dust. The paper goes on about poor Jane: ... As soon as she died I was free! Decomposition started to set in ... she was a mess! ... The smell alone could knock your socks off ... Talk to anyone in a profession in which they regularly deal with anguishing events. Theyll relate to using a bit of humor. Otherwise, itd be a pretty dour plod for students dealing with a 728-page, 3.9-pound textbook on embalming. I cant imagine holding all that in, says Risbell. You need some kind of outlet. She remembers one time in class when she was embalming a body that was badly decomposed. Says Risbell, I could smell the decomposition in my hair and clothes. I had to buy another shirt in between classes. She says it was past lunchtime. And despite being in all that smell, I thought its weird, but Im superhungry. Of the 22 students in the class, 14 are women. It used to be male-dominated. Those days are gone. Risbell had worked in restaurants for 18 years. I wanted to do something in the service industry, but that had a deeper meaning than bartending and serving, she says. Risbell was a fan of the TV series, Six Feet Under, about a California family that runs a funeral home. I thought, Wow, thats something Id like to do, she says. One of the men, and one of the oldest students, in the class is Charlie Turner, 55. He moved here from Coeur dAlene, Idaho, specifically to take the funeral classes, then plans to go back to Idaho. He says no such classes are offered in that state. He used to be a house painter, until two failed knee surgeries. Of all the new career possibilities out there, he decided on embalming. I saw my first dead body when I was 5, he says. My grandmother used to have a nursing home, and one day, we found an old resident hanging from the rafters. And did that traumatize him? Not at all. In fact, every funeral Ive been to, Ive been amazed at how well prepared the body is, says Turner. He also points out a plus he has in studying embalming. I grew up in an upholstery shop, and started sewing when I was young. I always thought Id do real good in sewing people up, and there is a lot of sewing involved in being an embalmer, he says. In this state, embalmers can expect to make $42,000 to $61,000 a year, and funeral directors $43,000 to $80,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On this day, some of the students will do actual embalming, but visitors cant watch, out of respect for the deceased. But the students show some of the material used, like little oval plastic things with spikes. You put them on the eyeball and then close the eyelids on the spikes, as eyelids tend to sag back in dead people. Emmick says that since the funeral-director program began four years ago, 100 bodies have been donated for embalming. Two-thirds are indigents from various medical examiners; the others are private donations. After that, another facility does the cremation. Sometimes the students hold a memorial service for those they embalmed and cremated, in a room with a lectern and a display of caskets with price tags just like those found in a funeral home. It is a business that theyre going into, after all. Recently, student Katey Houston, 24, said a few words in that room about an indigent veteran whom they had embalmed. Eight of the students then took his remains to Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash. I said, I dont claim to know anything of his life. I know it was likely hard, says Houston. I am thankful he gave to us twice, once in the military and once in death. A fellow student, Denton Thorbeck, 22, then booted up a rendition of Amazing Grace on his laptop. The two have thought about how theyd like to go. Thorbeck says that if it becomes legal in this state, as it has in some others, hed like an alkaline hydrolysis cremation, in which the body is dissolved by lye. Its supposed to be more green. Houston says she wants to be cremated the old-fashioned way, in a furnace that can reach 1,800 degrees. Its the only way Im going to get a smokin hot body, she says. You gotta keep this death stuff in the right perspective. SHARE Hey, Republican Party. African-American voter here. I hear you've been looking for me, but you're sending out such wildly mixed messages that I'm not sure if I should be flattered or furious. Hat No. 2 fits me pretty snugly right now. Here's why. Your national standard-bearer, Donald Trump, is making an explicit appeal for my vote. He came to Charlotte last week and said the Democratic Party plays black voters for suckers while black neighborhoods rot. "Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party have taken African-American votes totally for granted," he said. "What do you have to lose by trying something new?" That's a good, fair question. Too bad the guy asking it ranks as the most racially inflammatory presidential candidate since arch-segregationist George Wallace. Instead of making his black-voter sales pitch by talking to us, he's doing it by talking about us to white audiences. That tells me a hell of a lot more than the words on his Teleprompter do. It might also help if he acknowledged the fact that most black people aren't poor. Some 26 percent are, according to the University of Michigan's National Poverty Center. And while that's unacceptably high compared with white Americans' poverty rate of 10 percent, that leaves a whopping 74 percent of black Americans above the poverty line. You wouldn't guess it listening to Trump bellowing away about black despair. Yes, the inner cities clearly need new ideas and more help. But Trump isn't offering either. That's because he's not courting the black vote with this new sales pitch; he's giving cover to embarrassed white supporters who are sick of answering for his racial provocations. Speaking of which, you GOP elders might want to look in on Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party. The guy's in no danger of winning an NAACP Image Award right now. He shamelessly urged Republicans sitting on county elections boards to limit early voting hours and keep polling sites closed on Sundays clear efforts to pinch voting options favored by blacks. No, no, you say. That's about keeping Democrats from voting. We can't help it if most black voters just happen to be Democrats. Actually, you can. Blacks vote Democrat today because Democrats fought for their votes. The party that once welcomed cross-burning Klansmen did an about-face on civil rights and earned the black vote. Are you fighting to get those votes back? Nope. The path to do so is clear, if you're interested. Embrace affirmative action and let racist base voters walk. Pass criminal justice reform. Champion black entrepreneurship and the rebuilding of the inner cities. Reach out to churchgoing black families; their traditionalist social values mirror yours. Even viewed through the lens of small-government conservatism, this agenda is doable. You'll lose old voters. And you'll gain new ones. Just as the Democrats did 50 years ago. In a changing America, you'll be in position to compete for real minority votes, instead of just complaining about imaginary fraudulent ones. That fraud charge stinks. It's built on the racist presumption that black voters can't discern whose policies align most closely with their interests and worldview. It suggests that, even if they're not literally fraudulent, black votes remain somehow illegitimate because they're votes for free stuff, not for well-considered policies. OK. Then why did black voters derail Bernie Sanders, the king of free stuff, in the primaries? Why'd they save Hillary Clinton? Simple. She showed up when he didn't. She outworked him. And he didn't realize it until it was too late. Concerned about black votes this November, GOP? Quit whining. Stop provoking. Start competing. Eric Frazier is a columnist for the Charlotte Observer. Contact him at efrazier@charlotteobserver.com. SHARE Johnny Mata, a senior political science major at Angelo State University, who has been selected to participate in the ASU Political Science and Philosophy Department's Government and Public Service Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Central High School's Deborah Campbell, who has been selected as one of three finalists for the Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year Award. Joseph Truman and Jeanne Jones and Gene and Merlene Vickers, who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversaries. Roy and Nellie Galindo marked their 63rd and Richard and Toni Gonzales, their 50th. Amanda Ritchie, Dr. Derek Bolen and Dr. Bradley Petty, who have been named the winners of the 2015-16 Gary and Pat Rodgers Distinguished Awards honoring outstanding staff, faculty and administrators at Angelo State University. SHARE Robert Dillon, San Angelo Dr. Robert Ursano, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Service University in Bethesda, Maryland, conducted a study on attempted suicide. He said one of the goals was "to understand the 'who, why and where' of suicide risk" so military leaders and physicians could develop better strategies to deal with it. The study showed that the risk for those who never deployed was the greatest during their second month of service. They were four times more likely to attempt suicide than soldiers on their first deployment, who are at greatest risk during their six-month deployment. "The never deployed group is highly weighed by people in their first years of service," Ursano told Military Times. "We are talking about the stresses of early career, when they have finished basic training and are preparing for deployment." Researchers gathered data from more than 163,000 military records of Army soldiers who served on active duty between 2004-09, including 9,650 who had attempted suicide, were younger than 30 and in their first year of service. The researchers found that 61 percent of soldiers who attempted suicide had never been deployed. Additionally, 68 percent of those who attempted suicide were younger than 30 and nearly 55 percent were married. This study relates to the many problems military leaders face in training young personnel for combat deployment. It's sad we have so many bugging out before even being shot at. Previously deployed soldiers were at greatest risk for suicide during the fifth month after returning from combat deployment. We are failing to teach our children on being strong-willed and being secure in completing their fulfillments. This doesn't mean just the 1 percent of Americans who serve in our military. We have police officers, firefighters and medical teams as first responders at home, and each time they sweat they don't feel like they're bleeding to death. Lets talk privacy The Balance to be Struck Where to Now? There is no question that technology and the Internet have irreversibly complicated our relationship with privacy. In fact, they have taken many of the old ideals of privacy out back and hit them with a shovel.The apps we use gather all sorts of data about us, some even listening to what we say while we are home on the couch. We select our mates however temporary by phone, send complete strangers racy photos and share images of the food we are about to ingest. But, mention the use of cameras in the public space and we panic.I dont want someone watching me while I walk down the street. That's a violation of my privacy, we squeak while navigating through a GPS app that sells our information to the highest bidder.Sure, sure, those other things are choices we make on our own accord and that information all goes through totally secure, privately owned channels, right? (Right?)So maybe our problem with citywide surveillance systems is more about not having a choice, or perhaps it's just being creeped out by the idea of Big Brother peering over our shoulders at any given moment.Or maybe our aversion is as simple as the packaging we put around the tools used to keep track of people and events. Maybe if the police department had cooler logos and hired mustachioed hipster millennials, we wouldnt be so nervous. (Dont laugh, it works for Facebook.)Whatever the case may be, we are both gun-shy and careless when it comes to our privacy. The fact of the matter is that regardless of how much video surveillance irks us, it is an unavoidable part of our 21st-century life. And while it may bewilder our sensibilities, forcing us to ask some very necessary questions, video systems are a valuable police tool but that isnt to say there arent serious considerations to think about.Its generally understood that in public spaces, privacy is not a reasonable expectation. This is why people wear clothes in public and dont shower in park fountains. But increasingly advanced technology is allowing for things like behavioral analytics and long-term footage retention.For Jay Stanley, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the technology poses some considerable concerns, even if it is in the public arena. Constant blanket monitoring of the public to catch a handful of bad actors goes against what he sees as democratic.We have a fundamental problem with monitoring everybody just because somebody might do something wrong. Thats not how life is supposed to work in a democracy, he explained. The government is not supposed to be looking over your shoulders all the time, just because you might be engaged in wrongdoing, and were approaching the point as a technological matter, that is increasingly something that is possible to do.Stanley also doubts the ability of video analytics technology to fully understand the complex and varied behavior of human beings. This was the case in San Diego several years ago, when the Municipal Transit Agency tried a program that didnt pan out. Though the agency still uses cameras for monitoring purposes, the analytics deployed at the time wasn't quite ready for prime time.Is the man in the center of the screen picking the lock to that door, or is he making good on a compulsive urge to lock and unlock the door exactly three times? A computer may not be able to tell, but the alarm bells offered up by the software will result in continued monitoring and an officer response until his behavior is completely understood.The cost benefit ratio to law enforcement is questionable. Human life is very complex and computers are very poor at interpreting it," Stanley said. "There are all kinds of subtleties to human behavior that computers will never be able to understand, at least in the foreseeable future. And the result is that the things that look suspicious, the vast, vast majority are going to be false alarms."He likens these warranted concerns to that of keyword monitoring in conversations while there may be some people plotting a terror attack, the majority of the monitored conversations are going to center on jokes, sarcasm or non-threatening topics.Boiled down, Stanley said his organization isnt against the use of tools like license plate readers, as long as they are being used to look for wanted people or vehicles, and not just to catalog who was in a certain area at a certain time.In the video arena, the ACLU is concerned about the retention of footage.We dont object to license plate scanners being used to look for someone who is wanted or wanted cars, if they scan a license plate and dont get a hit, they shouldnt be retaining that data, he said. There is no reason for them to be compiling a database of the movement of people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing, even if there is the possibility of it being useful someday.If you talk to Austin, Texas, Police Department Cmdr. Darryl Jamail, he will tell you that protecting privacy is a substantial concern for his agency. A system of checks and balances stands between the Public Safety Camera System and the possibility of misuse.Quarterly internal and unscheduled external audits ensure adherence to Public Safety Commission policy and a lieutenant oversees the officers working in the citys real-time crime center.Basically we have a lieutenant in there to make sure the officers are not using [the cameras] in a way that would infringe on privacy," Jamail explained. "There has got to be some type of criminal nexus or public safety nexus to what they are looking at or what they are using the cameras for. Again, its just having those checks and balances.Austins video program doesnt rely on algorithms to target potential suspects; a team of dedicated officers monitors cameras when a report of a crime comes through the system. The officers use radio to relay real-time intelligence to their peers in the field when a crime is reported.Though analytics have been discussed as an option, the commander said many of the programs would require costly upgrades.It just comes down to resources and where we can focus our dollars to get the most results," he said. "Some of those things would require much higher resolution cameras to pick up that type of activity in a crowd of 50,000 people; youd need quite a few more cameras as well as higher-quality video.Data drives both the placement and monitoring of the system's four dozen cameras, called high-activity location observation (HALO) cameras, in active parts of the city, Jamail said.We monitor them real-time, we dont have eyes on every single camera all the time," he said. "Again we just let the crime data tell us how we need to be looking at those and the times of day, and we base our staffing along those same areas.In areas where the cameras field of view overlaps with private property, windows are permanently blocked out in the footage with black rectangles.As for the retention of recorded footage, Jamail said investigators only have 10 days to access it before it is deleted permanently.The cameras are all recorded, but we dont retain anything longer than 10 days, thats set by policy for a couple reasons," he said, "primarily its privacy concerns that if we havent been made aware of or looked for something in 10 days, were going to go ahead and let that go. Also because of the resources, we cant afford to store the [footage] for more than 10 days."While the commander acknowledges the overarching concerns about privacy and video, the system cameras have helped to identify a bank robbery suspects license plate and is being leveraged to find the dealers of a street drug that hospitalized 20 people in the early morning hours of Aug. 25.As for the potential of future enhancement to the system, Jamail said the city is considering how it could leverage public-private partnerships with residents and businesses and their cameras, but he says the technology may still be a ways out.As technology progresses, the potential for law enforcement to cross privacy boundaries willfully or accidentally is bound to increase. The conversation should not stop at video cameras or how long information is stored, but where citizens and police can find common ground.Government agencies should engage with policy experts and the greater public and head off assumptions about what is or is not happening where they live. The tools may be useful, but the conversations will not be positive if people are left to assume intent.The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was contacted for this story about its use of video and video analytics, but declined to comment because of the sensitive nature of its work. Carlos Sainz says he is worried Toro Rosso has suddenly become the F1 backmarker. The junior Red Bull team expected a hard weekend at Spa, but Spaniard Sainz said Toro Rosso is really "struggling" with its 2015-spec Ferrari engine. "It will not be like Hungary and Silverstone, getting in Q3, instead we try to avoid that Manor or Sauber are ahead, as they seem to be right now," he told the Spanish daily marca. "And Haas is now a good step ahead," Sainz added. "The gap is too big." Meanwhile, Sainz was one of several drivers who tested the Halo device on Friday, and he said afterwards: "It's obviously a strange feeling at first, but it does not impede visibility and by the end of the lap you forget you've got it. "I think getting in and out of the car is the difficult part, but that's for the FIA to continue analysing and improving," he added. "The only concern I had was visibility and this was not a problem, even in Eau Rouge." (GMM) Photo updated on 9/9/16. See correction below the story. Authorities arrested two Thomasville residents on human trafficking charges Friday after a multi-agency investigation, the SBI said. Celenia Pauline Gracelynn Bennett, 20, and Ashley Shane Upchurch, 25, both of 454 Sunset Ave. are both charged with one felony count each of human trafficking of an adult victim and sexual servitude of an adult victim, the State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release. The SBI said Bennett has a criminal history of fraud-related charges which include a conviction for obtaining property by false pretenses stemming from a multistate adoption scam she orchestrated. She was on probation when she was arrested. Bennett is in the Davidson County Jail on $10 million bail. Upchurch, who authorities said has no known criminal history, is being held on $5 million bail. Agents from Alcohol Law Enforcement, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and deputies from the Davidson County Sheriff's Office conducted a search of the pair's Sunset Avenue home Friday, according to the release. Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking can report it to ICE Homeland Security Investigations' tip line at (866) 347-2423 or by completing a tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form. Correction has been made to the photo. The original photo of Upchurch was of someone else. We regret this error. Weve heard a lot in your paper about the Guilford County Board of Elections, which thankfully listened to those who asked for expanded voting opportunities to make voting more accessible. Unfortunately, two Rockingham County elections board members who comprise the majority for personal reasons denied the request of most of the people who attended their meeting for at least one Sunday afternoon voting opportunity. One of the two who spoke against Sunday voting offered the Democratic Party $100 if Democratic voter turnout dipped by more than 5 percent without Sunday voting. We cannot give up 5 percent of voters for money. 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Friday, following the American authorities decision to halt any money transfers to Haiti from November 2016 if corrective measures are not taken on money laundering, the Ministry of Justice organized in conjunction with the Bank of the Republic of Haiti a panel meeting on the "economic and financial challenges against the money laundering and terrorist financing" in order to assess the risks faced by Haiti. Camille Junior Edouard, the Minister of Justice has tried to reassure the population and called the stakeholders to action by asserting "We will do everything in our power to ensure that the nation does not have to pay this heavy burden and we call on the responsibility of all actors in economic and judicial system in this battle against the scourge of money laundering." To provide a concrete response to the threats facing in the future of the Haitian banking sector, the Minister Edouard goes into overdrive to prevent the execution of such a decision where the Haitian banks will no longer be able to make money transfers with their US correspondent banks. In addition, of correspondence addressed to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, he announced the publication of the Law of 2013 on money laundering, in the shortest time and the establishment of a unit of Statistics at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to Port-au-Prince to work on this dossier. An approach that aims to avoid a panic among bankers and reassure the economic forum of the private sector. The Minister of Justice is confident that the publication of the law on money laundering translate the will of the Haitian government to fight against tax evasion, the controls anti-laundering of capital. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Health : More than 15,000 Haitians aged 15 to 24 living with HIV Friday, in order to contribute to the resolution of the problem of juvenilization of AIDS (over 15,500 Haitian youth aged 15 to 24 are living with HIV, 61% are girls. - Stat 2013) and the large number of teenage mothers in Haiti the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and UNAIDS in support of the Haitian government, has officially launched a project to mobilize youth against AIDS, sexual violence and early pregnancy (at 17, almost a teenager on 5 has already been pregnant). Through this co-funded project by the UN Mission to the tune of 26,000 US dollars, 90 girls and boys aged 15 to 30, from 3 departments most affected by HIV / AIDS (West, Centre and South) will be followed, accompanied and encouraged to initiate public awareness campaigns through the media. "I believe in the youth of Haiti, because you believe in the future of this beautiful country," declared Sandra Honore, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations "We want you as Ambassadors to address the problem of HIV juvenilization, growth of sexual violence and early pregnancy increased sharply in Haitian teenagers." This project follows a similar project launched in 2015 in 3 departments whose implementation was a great success. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : Strong reactions of the Minister of Justice Camille Edouard Jr., Minister of Justice and Public Security, deplores the acts of banditry occurred in recent days and especially the assassination Thursday of Michel Jumel, Agent IV of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18439-haiti-flash-3-people-shot-dead-in-the-last-48-hours.html The Minister presents its sympathies to the relatives of the police officer shot down and to the whole family of the PNH. The Minister Edouard, said he had instructed the new Secretary of State for Public Security, the former colonel Himmler Rebu and the PNH, to work together to develop a strategy for strengthening the security of agents of the National Police. He also asked the Procuratorate and the Police to conduct an investigation to shed light on this assassination in order to apprehend the perpetrators and coauthors, to bring them to justice so that they can answer for their acts. The Minister urged the police authorities to take all appropriate measures to crack with the utmost rigor against these thugs, that sow mourning in the Haitian families. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18439-haiti-flash-3-people-shot-dead-in-the-last-48-hours.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping politics... PetroCaribe, a new Commission After having considered the report of the Senate Commission "Ethics and Anti Corruption" on the management of the PetroCaribe funds, it was passed in the Upper House that will be formed a new Commission composed of 5 members, who will be responsible for completing certain information and missing records in support of undocumented allegations. Information confirmed by Youri Latortue, President of the Commission "Ethics and Anti corruption"... Maryse Narcisse already sees herself as President Maryse Narcisse candidate under the banner of the Fanmi Lavalas party declared "when I am president I will open the government to all parties. Problems of governance, hunger, environment and jobs can't be solved with only one political party." "This is not an electoral battle for simply who will be the next Head of State for Haiti," added Leslie Voltaire, Dr. Narcisse's Presidential Campaign Director "This is an election to decide the fate of Haiti's future as a Nation [...]" More than 109,000 representatives registered The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that "Political parties have already registered online, more than 109,000 representatives for the elections of October 9" Moreover, the CEP decided to complete thetraining of the great trainers, to properly train all the electoral staff. Jean Henry Ceant will launch his campaign to Jeremie John Henry Ceant, the candidate the presidency under the banner "Renmen Ayiti", will launch his campaign on September 3 in the city of Jeremie. Increase in Fuel price, Privert dialogue Friday at the National Palace, the de facto President Privert, had a working meeting with representatives of major trade unions in the transport sector, human rights and the Deputy Antoine Rodon Bien-Aime President of the Commission "Finance, Commerce, Economics and Budget "of the lower House. Back to school, meeting with the unions Friday, Jean Beauvois Dorsonne, the Minister of National Education met with teachers unions around the new school year. The Minister ave an update on the actions of the Ministry for the 2016-2017 school year and call for collaboration of all teachers for a good school year, despite the difficult socio-economic context. HL/ HaitiLibre By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/08/26 Taking pictures with random objects is a bit of a tourist tradition in South Korea. For all I know it's like that everywhere, but this is the only place I've seen it so much firsthand. While I'm pretty sure this thing is just some random abstract art piece at the front of Gyeongpo Beach (), as far as most people are concerned, it's a photo opportunity. This poetic monument is found at the Heo Gyun and Hae Nanseolheon memorial park. The written Chinese and the lack of spaces make it rather difficult to read. Heo Gyun and Hae Nanseolheon were brother and sister poets from sixteenth century Joseon. This monument is one of many in the park dedicated to their literary accomplishments which, as far as I know, are not available in English. The siblings are among the more famous historical personae of Gangneung, which is how they got their own park. This, by contrast, is a random statue to a carp on the bicycle sculpture trail around Gyeongpo Lake. I was rather surprised to find this place, considering the complete lack of tourist information denoting its existence. My guess is this is because it was constructed in the late nineties, before South Korean tourism as we know it today came into being. This presence of this statue right outside the entrance is much easier to parse- it's in remembrance of comfort women. Where most of the rest of the sculptures at Gyeongpo Lake have either Chinese translations or nothing, this one has all the relevant information in English, indicating its more recent placement and purpose. On a lighter note, Gangneung's Chodang Tofu Village () there's a delightful mural depicting the process for making Gangneung's special regional Chodang Tofu. It's mostly the same process as regular tofu, it's just that seawater is used rather than fresh water. The third step- grinding the beans. And this is what it looks like at the end of the process. Oh wait, no, that's not right... ...This is the final form of tofu generally seen, as the main dish (right hand side). The Chodang Tofu Village is heavily dedicated to restaurants that serve Chodang Tofu in stew form. And I will admit, compared to the regular type, Chodang Tofu is definitely lightier and tastier. Another fun fact- the guy who invented it, Heo Yeop () was also the father to the Heo siblings with the dedicated park. Gangneung is also quite proud of its ecolife. Some divers ran into this dead leatherback turtle awhile back, and ever since it's been sitting here at the Gangneung Green City Experience Center (). It was presumed to be around three hundred fifty years old. Tourism in Gangreung is so big street performers are a reasonably big fixture along the walking paths just outside the beach. They benefit a lot from sparkly visuals like this glowing bridge. Of course, mere street performers can't compare to the spectacle of the Gangjeong International Junior Art Festival, where kids from art schools all over the world come to perform on Gyeongpo Beach. These girls are from Jirin, China, and were identified in the program as "Teenager representatives of art". My guess is someone marked the field wrong. This is the parking lot to Kepco's Gangneung office. They're a sustainable energy company who briefly confused me into thinking they were some kind of traditional museum. See what I mean? I can't imagine whose idea it was to go for the medeival look. At bare minimum, I suppose it did attract my attention. And at long last, before finally leaving Gangneung, I had a chance to watch a hip-hop concert on the beach, on the very same stage where the international children's performing arts troupes once played. Hey, once the stage is set up, might as well keep rocking you know? Not to worry- the Gyeongpo Summer and Music Film Festival ( ) will return. - Article by William Schwartz Advertisement Published on 2016/08/27 | Source Added episode 11 captures for the Korean drama "W" (2016) Advertisement Directed by Jeong Dae-yoon Written by Song Jae-jeong Network : MBC With Lee Jong-suk, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Eugene, Lee Tae-hwan, Park Won-sang, Cha Kwang-soo,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Synopsis A mysterious melodrama about a parallel universe which depicts a man and a woman who live in the same Seoul but in different environments. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/07/20 More Tributes have been paid to the former Tanaiste and driving force behind Barry's Tea, Peter Barry, who died yesterday after a short illness. Mr Barry has been described as "the greatest leader that Fine Gael never had". President Michael D Higgins led the tributes, saying Mr Barry (88) was a man of "great courtesy" and "immensely popular across all parties". He said his view of Irish history was "a long one, and he brought all that wisdom to bear in his contributions to achieving the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985". Mr Higgins added that in his non-political life he "gained enormous respect internationally through his work in the family business". Corkman Mr Barry was a TD between 1969 and 1997, serving at different times as minister for the environment, education, transport and foreign affairs. Between January and March 1987 he served as Tanaiste to Garret FitzGerald. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Mr Barry will be deeply missed. "Throughout his long and distinguished political career, Peter gave outstanding service to his country and to his native city," he said. Peace "In particular, his central and pivotal role in negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 helped to create the foundations on which the peace process in Northern Ireland was built. Mr Kenny said Mr Barry had left an "extraordinary legacy". Current Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald added that he had "served his country with distinction, dignity and integrity". "I will always remember him fondly as a great colleague totally committed to the highest standards in public office," she said. Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who holds a seat for Fine Gael in Mr Barry's Cork South Central constituency, praised his contribution to business in the city. "His contribution to Cork and to Ireland at very challenging times, both economically and politically, will be favourably remembered," he said. "For my part, the Barry family were largely responsible for our family entering politics in the early 1980s." Former Labour Party leader Dick Spring said Mr Barry was an "extremely loyal colleague and was trusted and respected by parliamentary colleagues on all sides of the House". Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin described the late politician as a "distinguished minister". Mr Barry is survived by his daughter Deirdre Clune, who is a Fine Gael MEP, and other children Tony, Fiona (Mac- Carthy), Donagh, Conor and Peter. His funeral will take place in St Michael's Church, Blackrock, Cork, at 11.30am on Monday. A ceremony was held in the pagoda on August 25th to welcome the statue, which will be displayed there until September 9th. During the exhibition, various ceremonies for revolutionary martyrs, global peace and lectures on Buddhism, and art performances will be held by the Bac Ninh chapter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The Jade Buddha for Peace statue was carved from gemstone-quality jade called Polar Pride, discovered in Canada in 2000. Ian Green, an Australian Buddhist, invited artisans from Nepal, India and Thailand to carve the statue in Thailand. The carving was completed in 2008. The statue is modeled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Indias Bodh Gaya. It stands 2.54m tall and weighs over 4.5 tonnes. The statue has toured more than 20 countries and 100 cities worldwide. It was brought to Vietnam for the first time in 2009 and was displayed in various pagodas in the central city of Da Nang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, HCM city and Dong Thap in the South and the Northern province of Bac Ninh. It was then moved to Australia before it toured the United States in 2010, Europe in 2011 and Asia in 2012. The statue is scheduled to be permanently installed in Australia after leaving Vietnam./. Daryl Herron, a real-life friend as well as a Facebook one, posted a photo of a bird on my page recently, seeking help with identifying the bird. His sister, Monica Cody, took the photo at her Kingsport home. The stunning bird depicted in the photo, as I happily reported back to Dar-yl, was a blue grosbeak. The grosbeak is an impressive bird, with males showing off an overall blue plumage save for some brown and black feath-ers in the wings. Blue grosbeaks are mostly southern birds with Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia representing the northern tier of this birds range in the southeastern part of the country. Look for these chunky, blue birds in brushy fields or along hedgerows in fairly open country. They favor the same habitats as such birds as yellow-breasted chat, brown thrasher and loggerhead shrike. Its a shame this bird isnt more common in the region. Blue grosbeaks will visit feeders, but in more than 20 years of maintaining well-stocked feeders, Ive managed to attract only one of these birds. If more common, it would surely be a favorite bird among the people offer-ing free seed for their feathered friends. The blue grosbeak is related to the better-known rose-breasted gros-beak. Male rose-breasted grosbeaks are absolutely stunning, especially for people getting their first-ever glimpse of this bird. Its the adult male with his vibrant black and white feathers and the large rosy-red splash of color across the breast that gives this bird its common name. Females are brown, streaked birds that are larger than but easily con-fused with some of our sparrows. Among grosbeaks, both sexes have a massive bill, which they use to hull sunflower seeds at feeders or glean insects from leaves and branch-es. Its the heavy, blunt bill for which the term grosbeak is de-rived. Gros is a German term for large or big, so grosbeak simply means a large-beaked bird. People who band birds to further the study of them will tell you that rose-breasted grosbeaks have a wicked bite and are capable of delivering quite a nip. Bird banders in the region fre-quently encounter rose-breasted grosbeaks in their mist nets and some bear the scars to prove it. The spring arrival of rose-breasted grosbeaks is usually a fleeting visit. Finding suitable arrangements, which can consist of well-stocked feeders and perhaps a convenient water source, the migrating birds may linger for several days. These birds nest at higher elevations, however, and are usually impatient to continue the journey to where they will spend the summer months tending to their young. This spring, Tammie Kroll was one of the lucky people to receive vis-its from rose-breasted grosbeaks. Tammie emailed me to share a beautiful photo she took of the male grosbeak that visited her home in Washington County, Virginia, near Exit 13 off Interstate 81. Theres good news for those who didnt receive springtime visits from these pretty birds. The rose-breasted grosbeak is also a common fall mi-grant and can again be attracted to yards offering sources of food and water. While males usually dont look quite as dramatic by August and September, theyre still sure to cause a stir when visiting a feeder. Plenty of rose-breasted grosbeaks pass through northeast Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina, and a few even decide to make their summer homes in the mountains in these regions. However, these birds spread out widely across the eastern half of the North Amer-ican continent, ranging from northeastern British Columbia to Quebec and Nova Scotia in Canada. They also range south from New Jersey to Georgia. The rose-breasted grosbeak also reaches Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. For the most part, however, the rose-breasted grosbeak is replaced in the western United States by the closely related black-headed grosbeak. I saw several of these birds during a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, back in 2006. Other grosbeaks in the United States include the evening gros-beak and pine grosbeak. In the American tropics other grosbeaks are found, including the descriptively named yellow-green grosbeak, crimson-collared grosbeak, ultramarine grosbeak and yellow-shouldered grosbeak. BRISTOL, Va. Darkness weeps upon the death of their prince. Women of the night and drunks alike may cry. Evil shudders as hell cools and heaven smiles. Make way for The Devils Funeral. To stage on Aug. 28 at New Hope Baptist Church in Bristol, Virginia. Count on a bevy of the devils minions to summon a ruckus amid their final goodbyes to their father in hell, Satan. We know spiritually and visually we cant kill him, said Rev. William J. Reid, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church since 1991. Were going to let folks see what its like being in the devils family. Just to be clear, Reid added an important sentence. Were in the Lords family, he said on Tuesday afternoon within his office at New Hope. Likewise in the name of clarity, in staging the devils funeral they are staging drama laced liberally with humor at the devils expense. Its a play with a point that emphasizes that nothing good or of substance can come from being in concert with the devil. Rev. Eddie Mabry, retired pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Coeburn for more than 20 years, will deliver the eulogy. Its extremely important, which we might not notice right now, that the Lord is protecting us right now, said Mabry. Minute by minute, day by day, the Lord will protect us. Even against the devil and the devils disciples. However, those who embed with the evil of Satan experiences consequences. If Christ is not in their lives, Reid said, then Christ is dead to them. Thats illustrated in the churchs dramatization of the devils funeral. Members of New Hope will play characters that depict various examples of humanity ensnared in the grip of the devil. I will be playing a drunkard devil, Reid said. Well have a boozy devil. Well have the devils wife. Well have the devils mistress. There will be an uppity devil. There will be an educated devil, who will offer rationale. None will wear horns. None will carry a pitchfork. If were looking for Satan like that, were looking for the wrong things, Reid said. Hes cunning. Hes the most attractive, most well dressed. His magnetism draws us in. After all, hes the devil. The devil dont have any rules! Reid said. Some people think, I go to church every Sunday. He cant get me. Do you really think the devil plays by those rules? Translated, take care to take care of ones soul. Even in the pews, maintenance of ones guard brands as essential particularly as the devil can lurk within any space and strike when least suspected with lucrative offers that may seem abundantly attractive. Hes cunning, Reid said. The old devil is cunning. Count on a steady dose of humor come Sunday. Count on a wagonload of Christian logic, too. Until they acknowledge the Lord as their savior, until they choose to be saved, Reid said, theyre lost. A hearse with the devils coffin will arrive at the church before the funeral begins. The casket-enclosed Beelzebub will be carried into New Hope and placed where everyone can see. Revelry in ridiculousness will commence immediately thereafter. Count on music to match. No, it aint gonna be heavy metal rock n roll, Reid said. Its gonna be gruesomely sad. Its gonna be sad for those who are consumed in the devil, those who have lost their leader. To the characters in the play, the minions of the devil, itll rate as a sad affair. However, the devils funeral will check as moments to celebrate for others in the midst. To the saved, Reid said. Only the saved. But Ill be playing a drunkard devil. Hes my daddy. Ill be sad. Mabrys eulogy will to some extent outline the evil deeds done by the devil for context. What I can talk about is that the bad things he did he did em good! Mabry said. Reid bound immediately from his desk and across the room with an exclamation. Oh, Lord! he said. Of note, labels such as black church or white church do not attach to New Hope Baptist Church. Were not a black church, Reid said. Were not a white church. Were the Lords church. Mabry added an amen! Heaven and hell are equal opportunity, Reid said. Consequently, anyone may attend New Hope on this Sunday and on any Sunday thereafter. Everyones invited to come, worship, praise the Lord, sing together and love one another. Now, the point of the devils funeral whittles to a fine point: Is the devil dead to you? Three things about the devil sin will take us farther than we want to go, Reid said. Sin will cost us more than we want to pay. Finally, sin will keep us longer than we want to stay. Mabry capitalized Reids points with an amen! And now come Sunday Hes dead, Mabry said. Rejoice, Christians! Were going to have some fun at the devils expense, Reid said. If he died, hes dead to death, like the old folks used to say. Meantime, be wary Christian soldier, relays an underlying message of the play. Realistically, the devil isnt dead at all. Until he is, be wary with whom you walk. He knows his days are numbered, Reid said, but hes going to do what he can do until hes gone. Ultimately, the devils funeral underscores the fact that Satan can be dead to you. Thats essential. Gods alive, the devils dead and its all up to you. He can be dead, Reid said emphatically. Upon the close of Sundays services, folks will be invited to step forth. Venture near to Satans coffin for one final look-see. After all of this, at the end of the service well open the casket and let people pay their disrespects, Reid said. Reid, blessed with a gift of vivid facial expressions, leaned forward on his desk. Hands clasped just below his angular chin, a grin widened gradually to reveal content beyond his words spoken. In other words, the funerals climax will remain concealed until such time during the service when it is revealed. People are wondering, what in the world is going to go on, Reid said. Come and see. Again the Godly grin enveloped Reids face. Come and see, Reid said. If You Go What: The Devils Funeral When: Aug. 28, 4 p.m. Where: New Hope Baptist Church, 905 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bristol, Va. Admission: Free Info: 276-669-9041 In a recent interview with the Quan doi Nhan dan (Peoples Army) daily, Ambassador Hong said China values the upcoming visit to China by Politburo member General Ngo Xuan Lich, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence. Hong hailed the Vietnam-China border defence exchange in 2015 and 2016 for enriching collaboration between the two armies and strengthening the belief in living together in peace between the two peoples. The Vietnam-China land border is becoming one of Chinas safest, he said. According to him, the two armies have worked together on defence strategy dialogue, border exchanges, joint patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin, training and sharing of experience in Party and political work and United Nations peacekeeping missions. He expressed his belief that work between the two armies will be strengthened via all-level visits in the future. The Ambassador also called for maintaining meetings between high-ranking border officials, devising plans for the fourth Vietnam-China border friendship exchange while boosting coordination in peacekeeping missions and naval exchanges. The visit by General Lich is of significance, contributing to boosting ties between the two armies, States and countries, he said, adding that China will work closely with Vietnam to prepare for the visit./. The President was met at the airport by Brunei Minister of Education Pehin Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Brunei Ambassador to Vietnam Pengiran Sahari Pengiran Salleh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Nguyen Truong Giang, and officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei, Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The visit aims to continue implementing the diplomatic guidelines set by the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as well as deepen international relations and reinforce the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Brunei. Vietnam and Brunei established diplomatic ties in 1992. The two countries will celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017. The bilateral relations are growing thanks to regular high-level delegation exchanges. Two-way trade has thriven in recent years, which increased three folds from USD24.2 million in 2010 to USD73.7 million in 2015. As of June 2016, the bilateral trade hit USD17 million. Vietnam mainly exported seafood and rice to Brunei while importing chemicals from the country. Brunei firms have invested in 205 investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of over USD2.18 billion, ranking 18th out of the 116 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. It is the fourth biggest ASEAN investor in Vietnam, after Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. There is plenty of room for the bilateral cooperation in seafood, real estate, and education-training. Later the same day, President Tran Dai Quang visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei where he talked with the Embassy staff and representatives of overseas Vietnamese community about the situation in Vietnam, the ties between Vietnam and Brunei, and the aims of his current visit./. This years event assists 27 Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families with 100 members to visit Vietnam from August 20th-28th. Participants have chance to meet their relatives and enjoy cultural experiences in the country, thus helping to reinforce their relationship via traditional games, unique costumes, and rich gastronomy. Photos: Vu Oanh Ms Lee Sook Jin, Director of Korea Foundation for Women, spoke that the project aims to help children of multicultural families grow up in traditional cultures of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. As the main sponsor of the program in the last 10 years, a representative from Samsung Life Insurance emphasized that the company has exerted great efforts in implementing diversified programs to help multicultural families live a safe life in the country. Besides, multicultural families have an opportunity learn more about the significant project in educating the second generation of Vietnamese residents in the Republic of Korea. Started in 2007, the project has helped 284 multicultural families with 1,100 members traveling to Vietnam./. Hue, who also leads the steering committee for the national target program, chaired a meeting of the committees standing board on August 26th. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam reported that 2,134 communes nationwide, or 22.7 percent of the total, fulfilled all the 19 new-style rural area criteria as of August 25th. Of which, 2,025 communes have been recognised as new-style rural area. The number of communes fulfilling all criteria is expected to reach 25 percent by the end this year. He added that 300 communes have satisfied less than five criteria, down 26 from the years beginning. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has recognised 24 district-level units as new-style rural areas. Regarding the legal framework building for the national target program, Nam said 14 of the 19 tasks under the competence of the Government and the PM, and 17 of the 20 tasks assigned to ministries and central sectors have not been completed. For example, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is still working on draft regulations on managing and steering the implementation of national target programs - which were due to be finished by July 15th. Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry has yet to finalise a draft Prime Ministers decision about the new-style rural area criteria at the communal level. Deputy PM Hue asked relevant ministries to complete all draft documents on the new-style countryside building for 2016-2020 by late September so that they can be promulgated as soon as possible. The national target program on building new-style rural areas, initiated by the Vietnamese Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on infrastructure, production, living standards, income and culture, among others, aiming to boost rural regions in Vietnam. Under a decision issued by the Prime Minister in early April, a district must have all communes meeting all of the criteria to be designated as a new-style rural district. Earlier, those with at least 75 percent of the communes satisfying the 19 criteria were eligible. The country aims to have 50 percent of all communes nationwide meet all the requirements by the end of 2020./. 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/ When Dalits in prosperous states start agitating against occupations such as clearing garbage and tanning, Indias mask of social harmony starts to slip. Dalits facing physical violence are speaking up, as with a young Dalit boy attacked recently in Bhavra village, 40 km from Ahmedabad, because his family had decided to boycott the work of lifting dead carcasses. They are increasingly asking for basic rights the right to land, the right to public goods and spaces like water and temples, and the right to social acceptance. Other Dalits in Saharanpurs Usand village in Uttar Pradesh have taken to sleeping in the forest, given the concerns about physical safety. Municipal corporations around India are suddenly starting to run out of willing Dalit workers to sweep the floors and remove carcasses. Social justice, an age-old topic, is the new third rail. Read: The new Dalit movement: Assertive, inclusive and beyond party politics At an individual level, Dalits continue to remain significantly poorer than other social classes 36% of the rural Dalits are classified as poor while just 13% of the SC men are engaged in regular salaried work, despite public-sector affirmative programmes. The government can help nudge social behaviour and institutions to encourage Dalit empowerment. Consider education. According to the 11th Five-Year Plan, dropout rates continue to be high 74% of the Dalit boys and 71% of the Dalit girls usually drop out of primary and secondary school. Incentive schemes, such as free textbooks or free hostel accommodation in universities for students from underprivileged households, can go a long way in overcoming the barriers of poverty and discrimination. Offering such students access to the minimum facilities (a bed, a table, a chair, etc) can help make education more inclusive and incentive-focused. Read: Govt is your friend: PM Modi assures Dalit community There are only a few Dalit entrepreneurs in India, with most Dalits still employed in their traditional occupations. Such individuals would also lack access to social enablers only 12% of the Dalit households have access to 2-3 contacts in the formal sector, compared to 26% amongst the forward castes. Given the discrimination, a history of landlessness, social pressure and little, if any, relevant sub-caste networks, Dalit businesses are few and far between. Enabling the launch of more social impact funds focused on Dalit entrepreneurs (e.g.: Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) can help solve financing issues, with a special focus on fiscal incentives and infrastructure support. The growth of grassroots cooperatives/institutions for developing traditional crafts presents a solution. The Urmul Marusthali Bunkar Vikas (UMBV) has provided 120 Dalit weavers of the Meghwal community with sustainable livelihood through their traditional crafts, stopping migration and keeping local skills alive. We need to make it easier for Dalit businesses to flourish. The Dalit presence in businesses has stagnated 9.9% in 1990 and 9.8% in 2005. Since 1989, the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation has disbursed an average of $484 per borrower to over 900,000 Dalits. The empowerment of small and medium enterprises, through incentives for struggling entrepreneurs, remains the right way to bolster SC/ST entrepreneurship. An expansion of the Public Procurement Policys mandate of 20% from SME businesses, as part of the Stand Up India campaign, could bolster Dalit suppliers. Dalit capitalisms moment has arrived. Read: Caste discrimination: How Dalit entrepreneurs face it while doing biz Fair land distribution corrects unequal social constructs and power equations by providing equal access to productive economic units. Land reforms (tenancy, land ceiling, consolidation of holdings and intermediary abolition) have produced mixed results, especially where land distributed remains on paper land distributed is not land owned for many Dalits. Physical occupation of lands needs to be ensured, through social audits at the gram sabha level, under the guidance of a Special Expert Committee under the SC Commission, supported through awareness generation through camps. We need to recognise the need for land reform as well to induce equity for Dalits in agriculture. The government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a crash programme since 1969 to assign government waste land to the landless poor people, particularly the Dalits. Over 113,972 acres was distributed to 43,000 beneficiaries under the Bhoodanland programme. Our society is marching from feudalism to post-modernism, in less than a generation; and yet outdated attitudes remain. While the media continues to highlight the plight of the Dalits, one must stand vigilant against reducing such livelihood issues to a by-line. Weve spent the last half-century pitting our castes against each other, in politics and in the job market. Leaving such islands of inequity, in Indias journey towards development will only give rise to social turmoil. For Dalits, equity and social acceptance must go hand in hand. Varun Gandhi is BJP national general secretary and a Lok Sabha MP The views expressed are personal This thought-provoking comedy Namaste Jaishree Krishna which focuses on the need for dialogue between generations, stars Ila Arun, KK Raina, Abhishek Pandey, Ashish Chawla, Gaurav Amlani and Rajshri Ponnappa. Directed by KK Raina, the play has philosophy, humour and nostalgia. Adapted by actor Ila Arun, she says, It is an adaptation of Tom Dudzick play- Greetings. When I read it, I realized it has a lot of potential to be adapted in an Indian context. It was a comedy but a thought provoking one. The play is about values, creating a dialogue between the two generations and about beliefs and non-beliefs. Mohan, a young boy living in the United States of America, decides to visit his parents in Delhi, and hopes for his parents approval of his Indian-American, girl friend named Krishna. The opening scene sees Mohan briefing Krishna on Indian culture and language, before introducing her to his parents. Their arrival coincides with Janmashtami, Lord Krishnas birthday. Problem ensues when Mohans plans misfire when his girlfriend forgets everything he has taught her. Expanding on the narrative, Ila says, There is a tug of war between old values and new liberation and how the dialogue happens, that is the crux of the story. Aaj ke global time dono generations ko ek doosre ko samajhna bahut zaroori hai. It will leave you thinking. Its also about miracles as they can happen anytime, anywhere.The original story spoke about Christianity and revolved around Christmas Day. I thought Ill adapt it on Janmashtami because there is similarity between Christ and Krishna, in the sense that Christ was shepherd and so was Lord Krishna. Read: Theatre, folk music my foundation stones: Ila Arun How does she manage between writing to also enacting a role? The adaptation took about a year and a half. Now that weve performed a few times, the rehearsal is not that rigorous. We practice for around eight hours to twelve hours every day, says Ila. Raina, also co-staring together in the play with Ila, says, I play the father and Ila ji plays my wife. Greeting ka automatic translation humne socha Namaste. And the play opens on the day of Janmashtami. My association with Ila ji goes back 30 years. Whichever plays I have directed, she has either adapted, written or acted in. Its been great fun. I enjoy her adaptations. Shes also been my co-actor in most of the plays. Its always been wonderful to perform in Gurgaon, he says. CATCH IT LIVE What: Play Namaste Jaishree Krishna Where: Epicentre, sector-44, Gurgaon When: August 27 Timings: 7.30pm SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There was total chaos at the directorate of Bhopal gas relief and rehabilitation on Friday as thousands of gas victims poured in to submit applications for the Central governments housing-for-all scheme implemented by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). Middlemen were seen selling application forms for Rs 10 to Rs 100 and charging money from victims for filling the forms as many were unable to fill the forms on their own. Even tea vendors were seen selling the application forms. Due to a huge crowd at the office at Shivaji Nagar, the road leading to the office was overcrowded due to which traffic in the area had to be halted for several hours. Sixteen counters had been set up at the office for receipt of applications. Plastic drums were also kept near the counters, in which the victims had to put their applications in case there was huge crowd at the counters. However, most people preferred to submit the forms at the counters. According to a notice put by the BMC, houseless and married Bhopal gas victims had to submit their applications by August 26. It said given the huge number of applicants, people can continue to submit applications online. Pooja Chauhan from Pushpa Nagar said she bought the application form for Rs 100. I didnt know some were selling it for Rs 10. Victims like us jump at every opportunity if there is even a little chance of getting some relief or help from the state government, she said. Another gas victim, Sunita Panthi from Old Bhopals Chhola area, said they had to attach copies of documents like identity card, aadhar card and documents related to receipt of Rs 25,000 by them earlier. But we were not provided any receipt for the applications. We were told that we will get an SMS related to the receipt of our application. KG Tiwari, director of gas relief and rehabilitation department, told HT that a large number of applications had been received, which were being counted by the officials. We will verify the applicants whether they are gas victims or not. After that, the BMC will consider them for housing under its scheme. Bhopal gas activist Rachna Dhingra said there was no clarity when, where and to how many the housing would be provided. It was in 2008 that the MP government sent a `40 crore proposal to the Union ministry of chemicals to construct houses for 2,500 gas affected families in Bhopal. The proposal was approved in 2010. But then state government told the Central government that only 879 houses could be built in Rs 40 crore. We wrote to the Union chemicals ministry about this issue. Six years down the line, the BMC suddenly invited applications from the gas victims on August 11 and since August 13, they have been submitting their applications and many touts are selling them forms for various rates, she said Madhya Pradesh Nagrik Adikar Sangarsh Samiti leaders M Hanif Khan and Ashfaq Nadeem said given the large number of victims, there was a total chaos. The BMC should have set up the counters in the respective wards to avoid this chaos. The government should extend the last date for submitting the applications. So far, Sonakshi Sinha has mostly done films that have male actors in the lead roles. She has worked with the likes of Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, who have always played the meatier parts. Now, however, Sonakshi is going to be seen in a few women-centric projects that she is the protagonist of. I made the decision to play roles that really challenged me, she says, adding, My upcoming films have achieved that in certain ways. I took them up because they were really good roles. Plus, I thought I would be able to do justice to them. I want to push my limits from now on. Watch: Trailer of Akira Bold moves But why dont we see popular male actors in female-oriented films? I havent put much thought into that. To each his own. Maybe some male actors feel that if they do such movies, they wont get the full pie. But thats fine. Im sure, soon, they will start looking at characters as they are, instead of looking at how big or small a role is. They should look at the quality, not the quantity,says Sonakshi. Read: Sonakshi Sinha to highlight the plight of acid attack victims with Akira While some actors are open to nudity or shooting for steamy scenes on the big screen, there are others who have had their reservations. Sonakshi says she will only do films that she can watch with her parents. Im very clear about that. This is a decision that I have taken for myself, and nobody has put this restriction on me. Its about what Im comfortable doing, and who I am as a person. It has worked very well for me so far, and I will continue to be this way, she asserts. Read: I have never succumbed to any pressure: Sonakshi Sinha Many times, in theatres across the country, the male members of the audience make crass comments about the female actors. Sonakshi is aware of this occurrence. Ive been told I get a lot of whistles and claps when I come on screen. People even throw coins at the screen for me. That kind of feedback is good. But yes, there are some people who say things that are inappropriate. That is wrong. But that is their upbringing and who they are as people. They need to be taught how to respect women, she says. A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Aug 4, 2016 at 5:27am PDT Sonakshi says, fortunately, she has never been eve-teased. Nothing of that sort has happened with me. As actors, we are protected on the sets. When you are working on a film set, you meet the same people every day, and you get familiar with them. But I do know that a lot of girls have to deal with eve-teasing, and that they arent as protected as we are. I believe it is important for girls to know how to defend themselves, says the actor. A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Jul 5, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT Meanwhile, in her upcoming movie, Sonakshi will be seen in a few action sequences. Shraddha Kapoor had some similar scenes in Baaghi, while Kriti Sanon is training in mixed martial arts for her next. Speaking about this trend, Sonakshi says, Film-makers and the audience are realising that women, too, can do action. Viewers are also open to fresh content today. They have seen all the male actors do action films, and its nice to know that they are accepting women in such roles as well. Its a good time for women in the industry. Confident, bold and outspoken, actor Neha Dhupia has created an identity that can intimidate a lot of people. Shes independent, fearless and doesnt let anyone dictate her life and terms. As she turns 36 today, Dhupia says, shes gifted herself a brand new production company and not a handbag or jewellery or a brand new apartment or car. Its another milestone in my life. It will let me be creative enough in doing what I love to do. Having crossed the 35 mark, questions on getting married and settling down did haunt Dhupia too, but shes clear about what she wants. I was suffering from this question earlier on but now I dont even think I am answerable to anyone. Whether I am married, not married, divorced or single, I dont think anyone should be bothered. I dont think settling down has got anything to do with marriage. I am very settled in my head, and in my personal and professional life. If settling down means sharing your house, your bed and your bathroom with another person, thats rather unsettling for me, says the actor who was last seen as a judge on reality show Roadies. Read: I dont understand why wearing a bikini is a big deal: Neha Dhupia Actor Neha Dhupia says she does not find it inspiring enough to be a pair of legs in a film anymore. (AP) She feels that the only driving force in her life, is her independence. This is the price I have to pay. I have to work harder than most other women to be independent. If I dont, I will start getting dependent on other people and thats a very scary place to be and thought to have. When asked why shes been away from films she says, I am just not convinced with the kind of work that comes my way and I dont find it inspiring enough to be a pair of legs in a film anymore. If thats the kind of stuff offered to me, I would rather do other work that gets me thinking and keeps me going, answers Dhupia. Known for her wit and quirky retorts, why hasnt she thought of penning down a book ? If I ever get the chance to write a book, I wouldnt mind as long as people are willing to read it because a lot of people cannot handle the things I say sometimes and that gets me into trouble. Read: We shouldnt make big deal about women empowerment: Neha Dhupia The actor further reveals, Something that I am producing has got to do a lot with me and my battle with people, and thats what I am using my wit for - my first production. With lot of new things on her plate, we wonder if Dhupia will consider getting back to Roadies. That show is an adventure of a lifetime. I never understood the passion of Roadies before I got on the show. It is all about junoon. It gives you a different high in life and you get to fight it out with great spirit, says the actor. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Soha Ali Khan likes to keep her look as authentic as possible in her films. In her next, 31st October, which is based on Indira Gandhis assassination, the actor plays the role of a simple Punjabi girl. Recently, when she was in Chandigarh, Soha went shopping to add a local flavour to her look. Read: I fell in love with an actor. It has its pros and cons: Soha Ali Khan It was a new experience for me, going on the streets and buying little things for myself which not only added a Punjabi taste to my attire but also impacted my personality for my role as a Sikhni, says Soha. Actor Soha Ali Khan said the local people were very encouraging. (Hindustan Times) The actor visited popular markets and bought some dupattas and jootis to add to her look. I wanted to get completely absorbed in my character and I felt it was good to take these little initiatives. Moreover the people were very sweet and encouraging, says Soha, who last featured in the film Ghayal Once Again, which released in January this year. Read: Kunal Kemmu denies separation rumours from Soha Ali Khan Meanwhile, the actor has been in the news for shooting for her upcoming television show alongside her mother actor Sharmila Tagore. Follow @htshowbiz for more Read this news in brief form. Click here Three Pakistani filmmakers tell us how reels of celluloid can pull conflicted countries together, and how Bollywood is perceived across the border Like the last three kilometres of a 21k, or the final leg of a road trip, for most of us the journey to Pakistan seems so near, yet so far. But for Sabiha Sumar, Khalid Ahmed and Shahbaz Sumar, three filmmakers from Pakistan, the distance between the two countries is just a reel of celluloid away. They were in India recently for the Jagran Film Festival, where their films, under the Zeal for Unity banner, a festival of short films by Indian and Pakistani directors, were screened. All three have a deep connection with India: Sabiha lived in Delhi for 10 years when her researcher husband was based here (We were renting, so Ive seen everything from Vasant Kunj to New Friends Colony). She recalls how she shot the award-winning Khamosh Pani with Kirron Kher at the height of a conflict between the two countries, when flights to Pakistan had been halted, and theyd have to take a circuitous route to shoot in Pakistan. Khalid is originally from Patna (hes Imtiaz Alis uncle), and is best known this side of the border for Talkhiyaan, an adaptation of The God of Small Things. Shahbazs mother is from Amritsar and father from Mumbai. Ultimately, were all Indian we all have a 5,000-year-old civilisation in common, he says, with the flourish of someone who has been in the ad-film world. Its a mid-morning vibe, the kind you feel when youre on holiday and youre just done with breakfast. They bring their coffee to the poolside, the steam from the cups adding to the mugginess of the day. They chat about what they did the night before, and what their plans are for today. I punctuate their flow of conversation with questions, and they take up each others train of thought. In a conversation about everything, they talk about political scars being soothed through film exchange, talent and skill sharing, of power to the people. They want more Fawads and more Shah Rukhs, and we do too. Do you believe film or cultural ambassadors can bring the kind of change that politicians cannot? Khalid: Such exchanges bring the two people closer, and politics has the power to block that process. We should continue to work in the opposite direction. That is what we can do, and we must. Sabiha: Because its a mass medium, because its very powerful, because it does impact the way we think, its very important that our films are shown here, yours are shown there. Shahbaz: Films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan had a massive impact in Pakistanthe number of people who went to see it, who cried when they watched it In Pakistan, how does Bollywood play both the hero and the villain? Khalid: There have been occasional voices demanding a ban on Bollywood films, on the ground that our films are not shown across the border. On the other hand, there is an overwhelming vote and appreciation for it. One argument for Bollywood is that it has revived cinema-going habits in people. People had this doubt myself included when our films are released side-by-side with Bollywood films, we would not be able to draw an audience, but interestingly and happily, that has not been the case. Shahbaz: We dont usually ban films outright unless its propaganda just toeing that American line of war on terror. If we made a damning film about Dalits in India, you wouldnt like it. And they wouldnt play it. There are issues that are avoided, just for the image of the country. India is very good at that. Were not very good at that. We made films to damn our own country and our image abroad. A still from Chotay Shah, a film by Sabiha Sumar. Sabiha lived in Delhi for 10 years when her researcher husband was based here. She shot the award-winning film Khamosh Pani with Kirron Kher at the height of a conflict between the two countries. What part of Bollywood do you like the most? Shahbaz: The talent and the evolution of filmmaking thats happened. The encouragement, money, training, schools the whole system that creates artists. Its now rivalling Iran and Turkey in terms of good films. Sabiha: India decided to come out with its vision. Just like Hollywood tells its American dream, India decided to tell the secular dream through Bollywood: Amar, Akbar, Anthony and many other films that bring the three major faiths together. How would you describe the new wave in Bollywood? Khalid: Films in the mainstream, yet not typical Bollywood films. These are the films popular in Pakistan too films that capture more than just a story, like 3 Idiots, Taare Zameen Par, Masaan, Piku, Dil Dhadakne Do. What a brilliant film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. was. I loved Shuddh Desi Romance it was delightful, meaningful. Shahbaz: People are also seeing blockbuster films. The 200-crore market is also going crazy. Indians want to see themselves in those American roles that big style of film-making. Akshay Kumar is now like the FBI agent! How important are gossip and affairs to promote a film? Shahbaz: Affairs are good, but scandals are even better! Scandals are controversial. Theyre vicious, but that sells tickets. People love to see couples together. Fans who are in love with big stars idolise them and want to see them together. But our gossip is not at the same level as yours! Sabiha: Gossip is a sense of power. But negative publicity is also good its publicity. We follow Hollywood, and Bollywood, as well as our own gossip, so gossip sells. Khalid: People say and do outrageous things as a tool to draw attention. Kehte hain na: Badnaam agar honge to kya naam na hoga? Shahbaz: I dont think its always a PR exercise though. A still from Khaemae Mein Matt Jhankain, a film by Shahbaz Sumar. Shahbazs mother is from Amritsar and father from Mumbai. Ultimately, were all Indian we all have a 5,000-year-old civilisation in common, he says. If you were to make a Bollywood film, what would it be about? Sabiha: I have been wanting to do something on Helen for years and years. I think she is such an icon, a feminist. Khalid: A subversive romantic film. Since we are talking about a wish list: a film about the Muslim aristocracy of Bihar, the same lingo, the atmosphere. They have not been depicted like the Lucknow and Hyderabadi aristocracy has been. Bihar is interestingly placed between UP and Bengal, so it has influences from both, but has a distinct identity. And I come from there. Shahbaz: A sprawling biopic, like one on Osho. A mega, million-dollar movie that can make people cringe and get them interested at the same time. Or something on a film-maker: Satyajit Ray or Guru Dutt. Those havent been done. A still from Laloolal.com, a film by Khalid Ahmad. Khalid is originally from Patna (hes Imtiaz Alis uncle), and is best known this side of the border for Talkhiyaan, an adaptation of Arundhati Roys book The God of Small Things. For Bollywood actors, Hollywood is the ultimate destination. What is it for Pakistani actors? Shahbaz: (with a laugh) Bollywood! Sabiha: No, no. I spoke to Fawad, and he said Hollywood. Shahbaz: The ultimate is Hollywood, but the mid-point is Bollywood. Khalid: The road to Hollywood goes through Bollywood. Shahbaz: There are a lot of partnerships now with all the studios in the US. Sabiha: Everyone, wherever they are, is looking for a better and better market. So I wouldnt see it as our actors wanting to use Bollywood as a stepping stone. An artist seeks better ground to work in. The writer is director, health initiatives, Blue Pen Media. Previously, she has been editor of Child magazine and a senior editor at Readers Digest and Prevention From HT Brunch, August 28, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch I think that from the level of joint secretary upwards, all government jobs should be subject to open competition. At that level one can bring in professionals with expertise, and yet allow them to grow in the State system, before assuming larger responsibilities. The Harvard economist Lant Pritchett has called India a flailing state. The signs are all around us; in the decaying government schools and the declining public hospitals, in the apathy and incompetence of the police, in the shocking state of our roads and transport systems, in the fouling of our air and water. There is also abundant statistical proof of how central and state governments are failing citizens; in the Annual State of Education Reports issued by Pratham, for example, or in the United Nations Human Development Report, which places India at a low 130th, more than 50 places below Sri Lanka, which got Independence more or less at the same time as us. One major reason for this misgovernance is political corruption. I focus in this column on a second major reason, namely, the lack of professional expertise in government. For in no other democracy do generalists so comprehensively corner the top jobs at the higher levels of the administration. In no other modern society does a person, who got a high rank in an examination 35 years ago, automatically go on and be allotted a high-status, high-impact, and vastly important government job, based only or largely on that exam rank. This dominance of a generalist civil service may have made sense when India was a colony or when, in the first, fraught years of freedom, the country had to be united. But it makes absolutely no sense now, when the government has to effectively meet the challenges of a technologically complex and rapidly changing world. If we are seriously interested in improving the quality and effectiveness of governance in our country, then this hegemony of the IAS must go. Read: Corrupt IAS arent getting punished. Honest are When Narendra Modi became prime minister, his more intelligent admirers hoped that he would facilitate the lateral entry of experts into higher levels of government. For he had come with an impressive mandate, and was known to be a tough, if not ruthless, operator. Alas, he has done no such thing. The dominance of the under-qualified, risk-averse, and politically subservient IAS in the central government continues. In fact, in recent years this dominance has actually expanded; as retired IAS officers are given top posts in regulatory institutions such as Trai and the CIC, posts that should really be filled by acknowledged experts in these fields. I should make it clear at this stage that I hold no animus against IAS officers. Many of the finest public servants I know are or were in the IAS. Indeed, I have dedicated two of my books to IAS officers I admire. Yet I do strongly believe that this thoroughgoing dominance of the IAS at the upper reaches of administration is not healthy for our democracy. Read: The civil servant who spoke truth to power So I offer this modest proposal; for every post in the central government from joint secretary onwards, there should an open competition. Let us say there is a vacancy at that level in the ministry of petroleum. Must this necessarily filled by an IAS officer? Surely a suitable candidate can be found in the private sector, among those who have worked in the petrochemicals industry but now want to contribute to public service, and be active in policy formulation. This proposal would not, of course, exclude a capable IAS officer, who has the ability to learn, who is innovative, and clear-sighted. Nor it would exclude officers from the other central services. What my proposal would however do is widen the catchment area of possible applicants. For, there is no shortage of outstanding professionals who, having assured themselves financial security, would like in their late thirties or early forties to move into public service. These may be lawyers who want to join the law ministry, doctors who hope to contribute to health policy, and scholars who wish to influence education policy. I think that from the level of joint secretary upwards, all government jobs should be subject to open competition. At that level one can bring in professionals with expertise, and yet allow them to grow in the State system, before assuming larger responsibilities. Higher posts, such as those of additional secretary and secretary, should be filled in the same fashion, with career civil servants invited to apply, and professionals from outside government encouraged to apply too. Read: On top, but still not home? Lateral entrants have several attributes that the typical IAS officer does not. The most important of these, of course, is domain expertise. Lateral entrants are also less likely to be risk-averse, since they can always return to the jobs they left in the private sector. They shall be more willing to stand up for their views, partly out of conviction, partly because they have not been habituated to the deference to netas that comes so naturally to the typical IAS officer. Bringing technically qualified people into government could greatly energise the administration. It would make it more open, transparent, focused and effective. Ideally, it should be made operative at the level of the states as well as the Centre. I offer this proposal off my own bat, of course. I have no standing in public life, no affiliation with any politician or political party. But both as historian and citizen I believe that such reform is vital to make our government perform better. For it is truly tragic that, as things now stand, so many young, intelligent, and patriotic Indians think they can find fulfilment only in the private sector or in civil society. They should have the opportunity to bring their zest and idealism to the State, which remains, both for good and for ill, the most powerful and influential agent of social change in India. Ramachandra Guhas most recent book is Gandhi Before India Twitter: @Ram_Guha The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When we in India dont like someone or dont approve of something we tend to say so bluntly and upfront. The British, on the other hand, have devised the witty put down. Its magic lies in the fact that even when youre being snubbed you cant resist smiling. Scanning the net recently I stumbled across a delightful collection of put downs which starts with William Shakespeare. When Orlando, in As You Like It, wanted to keep someone at arms distance this is what Shakespeare made him say: I do desire we may be better strangers. Read: When a Brit says Im sure its my fault he is implying its yours When Winston Churchill, who was peeing in the House of Commons loo, moved a little to the other side, as Aneurin Bevan, the Labour leader, stepped in front of the adjoining pissoir, Bevan tried to reassure him: Dont be shy weve all got the same thing. An unabashed Churchill shot back: I know you socialists. As soon as you see something big and successful you want to nationalize it! Churchill, of course, was a master of the put down. He once received a letter from George Bernard Shaw which said: Im sending you two tickets to the first night of my new play for you and a friend, if you have one. This was his prompt reply: Im sorry I cant make the first night but Ill come for the second, if there is one. On another occasion, when somewhat tiddly, he stumbled down the steps of the House of Commons to find himself sprawled at Nancy Astors feet. Winston! she admonished him. Youre drunk. Rising to his feet he calmly responded: And youre ugly but tomorrow Ill be sober. Read: Next time you visit London, go to a play Even lesser known British politicians can excel themselves. The reason is the House of Commons rewards such repartee. Asked by the trade union leader JH Thomas how to get to the toilet which the Americans insist on calling a wash room FE Smith (who, as Lord Birkenhead, was secretary of state for India) replied: First left, then go along the corridor. Youll see a door marked gentlemen but dont let that deter you. Some of the best put downs have come from the world of theatre and literature. Of Ingrid Bergman, John Gielgud said: She speaks five languages and cant act in any of them. Of Arianna Stassinopoulos, who after her marriage set up Huffington Post, Alan Bennett said: So boring, you fall asleep half-way through her name. Of Ethel Mannin, Edith Sitwell, the famous poet and critic, said: At the moment Im debarred from the pleasure of putting her in her place by the fact she hasnt got one. Debates at the Cambridge Union sparkle with undergraduate examples. Two of my favourites are the following descriptions of your opponents. Hes a well-balanced man with a chip on both shoulders and Ours is a case of mind over matter I dont mind and he doesnt matter. Read: How Prince William hit Sachin for a six and joked about it How different would be the impact Mr Kejriwal might make if he could only find a bit of wit when he wants to hit out at the prime minister. The point he should remember is that when you want to wound you mustnt bludgeon. Its so much more effective to prick with the end of a rapier. The trick is to use your head whilst keeping your emotions in check. The desire to be nasty is best camouflaged with humour. Then it doesnt offend. Instead, it attracts praise and, better still, its long remembered. The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This is terrible, really terrible. After the Rajya Sabha passed the bill making maternity leave for 26 weeks mandatory, the countrys male population had been eagerly awaiting a similar rule for paternity leave. Visions of bonding with the baby in a hammock at a beach resort swam before our eyes. And then Maneka Gandhi butted in, slanderously alleging that husbands dont help care for the baby. What the deluded soul doesnt realise is that the mere sight of dad snoozing beside her is enough to reassure any baby. Seeing her dad lolling around on the sofa watching TV and guzzling beer has an amazingly soothing effect on a new-born recovering from the trauma of being kicked out of the womb. Read: Maneka Gandhi says more sophisticated bill on paternity leave in future Perhaps we could appeal to Manekajis animal-loving side? We could point out, for instance, that the male barking frog stays near the eggs until they are hatched, occasionally wetting them down with urine so that they dont dry out. The giant waterbug mom glues her eggs onto her mate and dad then carries those eggs on his back until they hatch. Both these dads obviously deserve paternity leave. We could also point out that Prince William took six weeks of paternity leave when his second child was born. We could make the point that an unintended consequence of making maternity leave mandatory is that businesses will be wary of hiring young married women. The only way of correcting this anomaly is if the policy is applied uniformly to dads too and paternity leave is granted for at least six months. These are all powerful arguments, but our government often gives more weight to emotional issues than cold logic. For example, Sushma Swaraj, who has spoken emotionally of the Indian ethos and of ma, bhabhi, mausi, mami helping out as surrogate mothers, will probably say the extended family will rally around and help the mother with the baby. Our strategy should be to make Sushmaji binge watch TV family sitcoms. These complex stories have one common themethey all show the members of the great extended Indian family spending most of their time conspiring, backstabbing and plotting against one another. Read: Baby girl born to Zuckerberg, couple to give 99% FB shares to charity What else does our government hold dear that we can use to our advantage? Perhaps we could show they had paternity leave in ancient India? Regrettably, the stories suggest that Bheem left his demon wife Hidimbi soon after Ghatotkach was born. There is no record of his availing paternity leave. Ditto for other ancient warriors and sages. No luck there. Is there no way out? Will we then have to wait till such time as mindsets are changed and they start teaching nappy changing and burping techniques at RSS shakhas? Read: It will be tough to leave home after the baby is born: Shahid Kapoor There could be, though, one clinching argument. China has recently allowed dads in Beijing up to 15 days of paternity leave. Surely our nationalist government will not allow itself to be beaten by our eastern rival on paternity leave? Reports suggest the Chinese policy is to encourage couples to have more children. Didnt Mohan Bhagwatji make a similar call recently to Hindu couples? And what better way to encourage them to go forth and multiply than to give both new dads and new mums six months parental leave? Indeed, seen from this perspective, not allowing paternity leave is blatantly anti-national. manas.c@livemint.com Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The two minor sisters, who were found abandoned at a house in Samaypur Badli with maggots eating their scalp, were at the mercy of their neighbours for the past three months since their mother had left them. Their grandmother took their brother with her but left them rotting and malnourished. Neighbours of the family said they used to feed the children because their father, Bablu, did not care for them. He was an alcoholic and used to return home drunk late in the night. During the day, we used to feed the girls, said a neighbour. They said the grandmother asked people if anybody would like to adopt the girls. When nobody came forward, she left them. They said Bablu and his wife fought frequently and none of them took care of the children. They used to beat up their children after they fought, said one of the neighbours. They said the mother of the girls left for an unknown destination around three months ago. Bablu rarely provided for the family. He suspected his wife of having an extra marital affair and kept fighting with her, said Virender, a neighbour. He said Bablu went away on August 15, leaving behind his children to die. He said he had no money to feed the children and buy medicines for them but was often found drunk, said Virender. The girls often went asking for food at their neighbour Hemas home. The girls would never ask for money. They asked me if I had some work for them. I knew they needed money to buy something to eat, said Hema. We saw them scratching their heads often. It was after blood started oozing out their hair that we came to know how serious their condition was, said Hema. Bablus landlord said the children were living in a dark and dingy room with no one to care for them. The girls had been complaining about pain in the head for the past three weeks. They would scratch their heads due to maggots eating away their scalp, the landlord said. On August 18, the landlord asked the police to rescue the girls after their father abandoned them too. The girls were rushed to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini where they have been under special treatment since. The sisters, frail due to hunger and thirst, were found on a rickety charpoy in a dingy room. The ground floor home where the family had been staying on rent for two years is near Shiv Mandir in Nepali Colony. The doctors said the girls did not eat for four days after they were brought to the hospital due to infection. NEW DELHI: An all-party delegation will visit Kashmir in the first week of September in stepped up efforts by the government to end a wave of violence that claimed the life of another youth in the valley on Friday. The decision to send the team came a day after Union home minister Rajnath Singh ended a two-day visit to Kashmir, announcing the governments willingness to speak to anybody and promising an alternative to pellet guns which have left hundreds of people with eye injuries. The exact date of the visit and composition of the delegation will be finalised after consultation with all political parties, said a senior government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to sound her out about the all-party delegations visit, chief minister The Allahabad HC, however, denied relief to Ikhlaqs brother, the prime accused in the cow slaughter case that led to the Dadri residents lynching. Mehbooba Mufti might push for release of separatist leaders to enable them to hold rallies, which will allow protestors to vent their anger democratically. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai was killed when security forces fired on a group of protesters in Pulwama district. The death toll since the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani rose to 69 even as the valley remained under curfew for the 49th day. ( With inputs from HTC, Srinagar) NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) could not find any irregularity in the Delhi governments expenditure on advertisements. Sisodia said it would have been better if the auditor considered the expenditure by other state government son adverts published outside the state. Sisodia was responding to a calling attention motion in the assembly on the leak of the CAG report on governments ad spend. The deputy CM said leader of the opposition Vijender Gupta breached the privilege of the House by leaking details of CAG report to the press on Wednesday. The Speaker has referred the matter to the privileges committee. I received the report at 5:30 pm on Wednesday but the details were revealed by the opposition leader. This is the first time that a special audit of any department was conducted by the CAG. We welcome it but the scope of audit should have been broadened by including other states to make it comparative, said Sisodia. He said the report was with three persons -- the CAG, the Lieutenant Governor and the finance secretary. I trust the finance secretary as he gave the report in a sealed envelope. Now, the question is who gave the report to Gupta? Who leaked it to the media? Primarily, this report was supposed to be tabled in the House. Then how did it reach Gupta and the media? Sisodia said. It is a breach of the privileges. There should be action against Vijender Gupta, he said. Sisodia said that the report will be tabled and discussed in the assembly. The total expenditure is only Rs 74 crore in 2015-16 against Rs 526 crore as claimed by opposition and media. We thank the CAG for clearing the air. I have requested CAG to audit Delhis health and education department. I have also requested them to audit the expenditure on schemes by the Modi government, Sisodia said. NEW DELHI: Police rescued an eight-year-old girl and her sister, aged three, after they were abandoned without food and water in a one-room outer Delhi home last week. They were found huddled on a charpoy hungry, thirsty, and with maggots on their heads. The older girls condition is said to be grave as the insects have eaten the back of her skull. The girls were almost dead, with rotting wounds, a police officer said on Friday. The mother left her abusive husband and three children the two daughters and a two-year-old son three months ago. The father, an alcoholic, locked the kids in the 10x10 room on August 15, and went away. A day later, his mother arrived and requested the neighbours to adopt the two girls, saying she cannot take care of three kids. As nobody came forward, the grandmother took her grandson and left. No one from the family returned for the girls, the landlord said. Later, the girls were spotted begging on the streets. Neighbours called police on August 18 when a stench from the room overwhelmed the building. The sisters were admitted to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini. They will be sent to a rehabilitation centre after treatment and recovery. Neighbours said the couple often quarrelled. The woman worked in a factory and her husband suspected her of having an extramarital affair. (The childrens names have been changed to protect their privacy) Esteban Gutierrez has been handed a five-place grid penalty for blocking Pascal Wehrlein during FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix. Wehrlein was on a flying lap and came up behind Gutierrez on the exit of Radillon, heading towards the Kemmel Straight. The Haas driver was on an out lap in the middle of the track and closed off the racing line, with Wehrlein having to take to the grass on the inside of the right-hand kink at the start of the straight. Wehrlein immediately took to the radio to complain to his team, saying:"F***ing idiot, what is he doing?" before later adding his belief Gutierrez should be penalised for the incident. The stewards agreed with Wehrlein following an investigation ahead of qualifying, handing Gutierrez a five-place grid penalty and three penalty points. The penalty will be applied after qualifying, with Gutierrez joining Lewis Hamilton (55 places), Fernando Alonso (35 places) and Marcus Ericsson (10 places) in having a penalty this weekend. Gutierrez has been criticised by a number of drivers for ignoring blue flags in recent races, with both Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo unhappy with his driving in Hungary and Germany respectively. LIVE: Belgian Grand Prix - FP3 Silbermann says ... Spa too hot Romain Grosjean column: More motivated than ever Chris Medland's 2016 Belgian Grand Prix preview Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter NEW DELHI: Students from 30 Delhi University colleges started a two-day hunger strike at the Arts Faculty on Friday, demanding that the authorities immediately start building more hostels. No new hostel has been built by the university for a long time now. The hostels in the colleges take few students. Now the university needs to wake up as students pay a lot of money at private accommodation, said Aman Nawaz of All India Students Association (AISA). The left-leaning students body initiated the campaign called the hostel satyagraha. The shortage of hostels has been a concern in DU, especially with many students coming from different parts of the country. Fourteen out of the 63 colleges have hostel facilities, but with limited capacity. There are 9,000 hostel seats for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. An estimated 1.8 lakh students are enrolled with DU. For undergraduate students, the university has only the Undergraduate Hostel for Women at the Dhaka Hostel Complex in North Campus. With minimal residential facility, students are forced to stay in paying guest accommodations. Students alleges PGs charge high rents. In Kamla Nagar a popular student locality in North Campus a twin sharing room costs Rs 10,000 per month. Earlier this month, students organised a Luggage March to protest ever-increasing room rents. On August 9, postcards signed by close to 20,000 students were submitted to DU vice-chancellor YogeshTyagi, asking him to start building new hostels. Students demanded that the government implement the Delhi Rent Control Act 1995, which regulates the rent charged by owners. NEW DELHI: Over 800 illegal mobile towers were sealed last year due to non-payment of fees and violation of building by-laws last year, leading to an increase in weak signals and call drops. Delhi residents may have some respite from frequent call drops with the municipal corporations and mobile service providers coming to an agreement on the fee for installation of mobile towers, sources said. The agreement paves the way for new towers and regularisation of existing ones. The corporations and the companies had been at war over charges since 2010. Over 800 illegal mobile towers were sealed last year due to non-payment of fees and violation of building bylaws last year, leading to an increase in weak signals and call drops. A closed-door meeting was held in June to discuss mobile tower installation charges where municipal officials and representatives of mobile phone companies came to an agreement. The phone companies agreed to pay Rs 2 lakh per mobile tower once in every five years, said a municipal official. Cellular Operators Authority of India sources confirmed the agreement. The final deal will be submitted before the high court in the first week of September. Rajan S Mathews, DG, COAI, said in a statement, Were still in the process of negotiating with the MCD. Once the inputs of the telecom industry are taken on board, we would be happy to welcome this development. It would impact over 450 mobile towers in the city positively, which have been sealed. Upon resolution this would have an incremental impact on connectivity in Delhi. Mobile phone operators had approached the Delhi high court in 2010 against the MCDs decision to change its policy on the establishment of such towers. The corporation had hiked the one-time fees paid by operators for each tower from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Apart from increasing revenue for the municipal corporations, the agreement comes at a time when mobile phone users are struggling with poor connectivity. Once the agreement is signed, new phone towers will come up in the city. Also, mobile towers sealed due to lack of permission may be regularised by the corporation after the agreement, said a municipal official. There are 7,926 official mobile towers under the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations. Apart from these, officials say there are more than half of the number running without permission. The total number of mobile towers before trifurcation was 5,252. The number increased exponentially in the past three years, especially near residential areas, said a municipal official. Technical experts said call drops are a result of an increase in number of dead zones due to either fewer mobile towers in the range or due to hindrance in the signal movement. Towers have a 5-km range; signals weaken outside this range. The tower would have gone out of range, or you are in a dead zone. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside a family courts order for a DNA test of a woman and her child on her husbands plea to find if he was the childs father. A bench of justice Gita Mittal and justice IS Mehta said the husband failed to make out a prima facie case justifying an order for compelling the baby to give a sample for a DNA examination. The family court had ordered DNA test of the wife and child in a petition of matrimonial dispute between the husband and wife both IAS officers. At the time of marriage in December 2007, the husband was a serving IAS officer and was posted at District Mokokchung, Nagaland, while the wife was residing with her parents, continuing her studies, and preparing for the civil services examination. Later in 2009, the wife also qualified the IAS examination and was allotted the UP Cadre. In 2011, the husband was given a posting in UP. The baby was born in October 2013. Subsequently, the husband and wife decided to seek divorce. In the divorce petition, the husband accused his wife of adultery and also denied paternity of the child. The bench noted that it was not the case of the husband in his divorce petition that he had no access to his wife at the time when the child of the parties could have been conceived. The possible period of Baby X conception would be around 31st December, 2012. It is also the appellants case that the parties hardly cohabited from 2011 to December, 2013. H has thus admitted access at the relevant time, the bench said. If he had no access to his wife and had no relations with her, there would also be no whirlpool in the husbands mind about the paternity of the child but the husband would be absolutely sure that the child was not his, the court noted. The court told the family court where the main divorce case is pending to decide the case uninfluenced by any observation contained in the verdict. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NOIDA: Satish Yadav, 40, has been recording the births and deaths of Sarfabad village for the last seven years. Yadav Sarfabads real-life Chitragupta (the mythical Hindu god who keeps records of actions of humans and decides if they go to heaven or hell after death) has recorded every new birth and death of the village since 2009. He maintains a diary mentioning the cause and time of death at Sarfabad village, a Yadav-dominated hamlet with a population of over 10,000 near Noida Sector 73. I started doing this because villagers often used to forget the date of birth and death of their family members. Since, my records help them obtain birth and death certificates, I am happy to contribute, said Yadav. His diary, however, shows the last recorded death on August 19, when a 65-year-old, Naurang, had died of a paralytic attack. Since then, his red coloured diary has remained untouched. Reason? Ya davis one of the many victims admitted to Shivalik Hospital in Hoshiyarpur after coming down with a mysterious viral fever that has gripped his village. According to health department, a total of eight villagers have died in the last 15 days in the village due to the mysterious fever. The villagers claim the death toll is much higher. This is the first time that I have seen such a sudden spike in the number of deaths in the village, Yadav said from his hospital bed. Yadav was admitted in Shivalik Hospital on August 24 after he complained of high fever and body pain. His brothers Sant Ram and Shyam Lal suffered from fever and were admitted in Shivalik and Prayag hospitals. In 2014, there were 22 deaths, in 2015, around 19 people died and in 2016 the death toll was 22 till August 19. Since then, we have not updated the number of deaths that have taken place in the last week, said Yadavs brother Sherpal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed a private school to admit a disabled boy in Class 1 under the economically weaker section (EWS) category, saying he was legally entitled to a seat in the institution. Justice Manmohans direction came on a plea filed by Siddharth International Public School against an order of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). The tribunal had directed the school to admit the physically disabled boy in class 1. The school had contended the MACT lacked jurisdiction to pass such an order issued on a plea by the childs mother. Agreeing with the school on this point, the court set aside the tribunals direction but adopted the order and directed the institute to admit the boy. The court rejected the schools contention that there were no vacant seats under the EWS category. It took note of the submission of the directorate of education (DoE) that 25% of 34 seats meant 8.5 seats and only seven students had been admitted under EWS. The school argued that the child was born in 2006 as per his birth certificate and overage for class 1. The boys mother had contended that he was born in 2010. On the issue of the childs age, the court said it was not required to pass any order on that. It said that in its view, the discrepancy in date of birth of the child was due to poverty, ignorance and backwardness of his relatives. It said if the schools argument that the boy was too old for class 1 was accepted, then those children who had either not been admitted to a school initially or had left studies midstream would never be able to join/rejoin any school and make use of their fundamental right to free and compulsory education. NEW DELHI: Going beyond their call of duty, three Delhi Police constables are looking after Alka, 8, and Jyoti, 3.5 years, who were abandoned by their parents at their Samaypur Badli home. The two sisters were rescued last week and are recovering at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini. The girls had maggot infestation in their scalp and hair and were malnourished. Constables Ashok Kumar, Ajay and Manju are looking after the sisters round-the-clock at the hospital. I am caring for them for the past nine days. It is so satisfying to help these abandoned children, said constable Kumar. These girls have no one, except us. We cant leave them alone, said Manju. Apart from giving them medicines, the three policemen bring food from their homes for the kids. They gave clothes and toys to the girls. One of us is always there with the girls, said Ajay, who stays with them in the ward in the morning shift. Doctors at the hospital said the kids were recovering well. When they were brought here, their hair was full of maggots that had started eating the subcutaneous tissues or the innermost layer of the scalp. This caused wounds on their head, said Dr Puneeta Mahajan, medical superintendent, Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital. A maggot is the larva of a house fly and can start reproducing on a human host by feeding on live tissues. Maggots are attracted to open wounds and urine or faeces. When the girls were brought to the hospital on August 19, they were severely malnourished. They had not eaten for nearly four days, but thankfully malnourishment did not lead to any health-related complication. They are eating normally now, said Dr Mahajan. Doctors are planning to discharge the girls in the next two or three days. After treatment, the children will be sent to rehabilitation homes, Dr Mahajan said. NEW DELHI: A 31-year-old man and his aide were arrested for allegedly selling and supplying spurious alcohol in Ghaziabad and surrounding areas. Umesh Kumar told police he wanted to make a quick buck to fund his dreams of becoming a politician. He wanted to buy a ticket from a regional political party to contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year. He wanted to contest from Ghaziabad, where he lives, sources said. The party leader had asked Kumar to arrange between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore to get the ticket. Kumar agreed, said a source. Soon after, Kumar joined with his 27-year-old friend, Virender Pal, also a Ghaziabad resident, to sell illegal alcohol. The two began procuring liquor from Gurgaon suppliers, smuggled it to Ghaziabad and sold to unauthorised liquor shopkeepers. The duo sold spurious liquor at their unauthorised shop in Ghaziabad, said police. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Surender Kumar said the anti-auto theft squad led by ACP Rajender Singh and Inspector Raj Kumar arrested the duo on Wednesday mor ning. They intercepted the two and caught them near Dwarka Sector 21 Metro Station, where the team was checking vehicles. They seized 35 cartons of spurious liquor named NAINA, Pure malt whisky for sale in Arunachal Pradesh only. Each carton contained 48 quarter bottles of liquor. We also seized the SX4 car in which the two were smuggling the seized liquor, said Kumar. He said a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Excise Act was registered against them. On questioning, the two said they sourced the liquor in bulk from a Gurgaon supplier. The gang was running this illegal business on a 100% profit margin. One carton filled with 48 quarter bottles cost them Rs 1,000 and they sold the carton for Rs 2,000. The profit margin increased if they sold it loose, the officer said. The police are trying to identify those behind illegally manufacturing spurious liquor and supplying them to people such as Kumar and Pal. Our teams are making efforts to unearth all such manufacturing units and neutralise the entire nexus, said the officer. MUMBAI: The Bombay high court delivered a landmark judgement on Friday, striking down a ban on women from entering the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali dargah. The court ordered the Haji Ali Dargah Trust to ensure that women worshippers are granted access to all parts of the shrine at par with men. Holding that the ban in place since 2012 violated fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution, the court said that the trusts primary argument that it had an unencumbered right to manage religious affairs was misconceived as it could not override the citizens right to practice religion. The bench, however, stayed the implementation of its order for six weeks to allow for an appeal. The trust said it will appeal against the verdict. Suhail Khandwani, a businessman and member of the trust, said Sharia (Islamic law) prohibited women from touching the tomb. The court says you have to treat everyone equally but the Constitution also says that the right of every religion has to be protected, said Khandwani. The verdict came in response to a public interest litigation filed by Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Niaz from the non-profit Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA). In June 2012, when a group of women from BMMA visited the shrine, they were prevented from entering the inner sanctum, which houses the tomb. Members of the trust told them that the rules had changed and women were no longer allowed to enter it and touch the tomb. They were told they could only offer prayers from afar. A division bench comprising Justice VM Kanade and Justice Revati Mohite-Dere delivered the judgement in a packed courtroom. It said that besides the trust, the Maharashtra government was equally under an obligation to ensure that the citizens fundamental rights are protected and that the right of access to the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali Dargah is not denied to women. The judgement comes six months after the bench reserved its verdict on a plea challenging the ban. The bench had reserved its order after the petitioner, the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, asked it to pass an interim order on whether the shrine must restore pre-2012 rules at the dargah, which allowed women to enter the inner sanctum, albeit through separate queues and with restricted timings. During the hearings, the court gave both parties a chance to arrive at an amicable settlement. However, in October 2015, the trust said that no amicable solution was possible as all trustees believed unanimously that the entry of women in the close vicinity of a male saint was a grievous sin, that Islam restricted the free mixing between men and women, and that menstruating women were unclean and could not be allowed near the tombs of saints. The state government had taken categorically stated its opposition to this. Shrihari Aney, then advocate general of Maharashtra, had said that women have an unfettered right to worship and that no trust or organisation must attempt to infringe on it. Aney termed the ban unconstitutional and cautioned the trustees against attempting to regulate religious laws and customs based on their own interpretations. To arrive at its verdict, the high court examined four primary questions whether women being in close proximity to the grave of a male Muslim saint was a sin under Islam; whether Article 26 of the Constitution gave the trust a fundamental right to manage affairs at the dargah; whether the ban indeed was in the interest of the safety and security of women; and whether the trust had ever allowed women to enter the dargahs inner sanctum. The court held that the trust had failed to prove that Islam barred women from entering places of worship and said the trust had no business meddling with citizens right to practice their religion freely. The aims of the trust are of an administrative and non-religious nature. It has no power to determine matters of religion, on the basis of which entry of women is being restricted. It has no power to alter or modify the mode and manner of religious practices of any individual or group, the bench said. Once a public character is attached to a place of worship, all the rigours of Articles 14, 15 and 25 (right to equality; prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, caste and gender; and the freedom to profess and practice ones religion) of the Constitution come into play. Thus, the trust cant justify the ban under the guise of its right to manage its affairs under Article 26, the bench said. The court also rejected the trusts argument that the ban was in the interest of women as it protected them from perverted men and prevented instances of sexual harassment. The said submission is completely misplaced and misconceived. The trust is always at liberty to take steps to prevent sexual harassment of women, not by banning their entry in the sanctum sanctorum, but by taking effective steps and making provisions for their safety, it said. The court directed the state and the trust to take effective steps to ensure the safety and security of women at the shrine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Passengers heading for the Old Delhi Railway station can soon expect a smoother and a quicker ride. The Delhi government is considering construction of a tunnel to segregate traffic going to the station and those making their way towards markets in old Delhi. Sources said the government came up with the idea of a tunnel after the proposal to construct a tram lines in Old Delhi area fell through. The tunnel will start where Netaji Subhash Marg and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg meet. The existing main road (Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg) will be used by vehicles bound for the station. The tunnel will be used by goods vehicles bound for old Delhi markets such as Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar and Sadar, said a senior government official. Sources said government is consulting Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which had conducted feasibility study for trams in the area to decongest Old Delhi. The tram project was shot down by the AAP government and since then it is considering different plans to decongest the area around the Old Delhi railway station. People often complained of missing their trains after getting stuck in jams on Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg. All kinds of vehicles converge there. Many vehicles are not bound for station but they have no alternative roads to go to the markets , said the official. The government has already conducted meetings with railway authorities and DMRC to finalise the plans. Sources said, the railway authorities had proposed some changes in the traffic circulation plan. Currently, the railway station is separated from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg by a boundary wall, which will be removed. All the structures adjacent to it toilet blocks, portet shelter, underground tanks will be relocated. If approved, DMRC construct the tunnel that will take around two years. DMRC had proposed a 4.3km tramline in the busy Chandni Chowk area out of which 1.6 km was to be elevated outside Old Delhi railway station. The tunnel project will be part of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Project. From 1908 to 1963, trams chugged amid tongas, cyclerickshaws and bicycles in Old Delhi. Thanks to the Delhi Metro, footfall at Chandni Chowk and other neighbouring markets has increased 60-70% in the past few years. It is likely to increase further once the Red Fort station of Phase III is thrown open. Launching a fresh wave of attack on Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Centre, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that there are numerous decisions taken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to be reversed through the L-G, like the removal of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal. On Twittr, the AAP national convener said that the Jung and Modi were in cohorts to take down the Delhi government. Calling on the people to name one positive thing that the Prime Minister or his L-G has done for the national capital, Kejriwal said that the negative duo had done nothing but create hurdles. Jung had said on Friday that he was in the process of overturning illegal decisions taken by the AAP government. If this least interference, then what is high interference. Shameful subversion of democracy to protect chair. AAP govt asked for land for 10 hospitals from DDA. Modis L-G refused. Was our demand illegal?. Hold power cos accountable- make them pay compensation for unscheduled power cuts. Is it illegal? L-G sitting on it, Kejriwal said in a series of tweets. Further quoting sources, the AAP chief added that the L-G was hell bent on removing the team that made clinics and saved money on flyovers, adding that DCW chief Swati Maliwal was in danger too. Increase min wages in Delhi. Is it illegal? Sources: Big cos met Modiji n opposed it. Now LG sitting on that file. LG hell bent on removing the team which made more clinics and saved money on flyovers. Sources-LG n PMO hell bent on removing Swati Maliwal 4 doing gud job. Shell be arrested coming week n then removed, he said. The Anti-Corruption Branch had last week raided Maliwals office after a complaint by Delhi Congress leader Barkha Shukla Singh alleged that it was indulging in illegal practices of appointing its party associates to plum posts. However, Maliwal said she will be not be scared or silenced, and that the DCW will continue working for women. Jung, had on Friday slammed Kejriwals claim that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were in cohorts to become an obstacle AAPs governance initiatives. Unfortunately illegal decisions were taken during without my knowledge. Then I wrote to the officials to set things right after the HC verdict. I have received around 250 files till date. Now that the court has drawn the line, they have sent the files. I am working with the hope that things will improve, Jung said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung had sought files related to power subsidy on prime minister Narendra Modis instructions and warned of a hike in power tariff in the Capital. Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony of a road in Kirari , Kejriwal said the AAP governments proposal to increase minimum wages by up to 50 per cent could be shot down by Jung and the PM. In a series of tweets, Kejriwal said plans were afoot to remove Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal. He said she could be arrested soon for her good work. In elections, we had promised to cut power tariff by half and provide free water. We fulfilled our promises. Sadly, Modiji has summoned the files related to power and water from LG. He is threatening to increase power tariff in Delhi, said Kejriwal. The chief minister accused the Centre of not clearing the Delhi governments proposal to regularise hundreds of unathorised colonies in the capital. We cannot wait for Modijis nod. I have directed my ministers to carry out development works in all unauthorised colonies, including construction of roads, laying of water pipelines, etc, he said. The CM said the lieutenant-governor was transferring officials involved in successful projects of the AAP government such as mohalla clinics and construction of school buildings. Maliwal targets Barkha DCW chief Maliwal alleged that her predecessor Barkha Shukla recruited wives of IAS and IPS officials for 49 contractual posts that were never advertised. Maliwals allegations were in response to the Anti-Corruption Bureaus raid at her office last week on Shuklas complaint. Barkha Shukla Singh made 49 contractual appointments and appointed wives of IAS and IPS officers without giving advertisements and over 2,500 cases were pending when I assumed charge, Maliwal claimed. DCW handled 12000 complaint dis year compared to 3500 during Barkhas tenure. She did 1 case in 9 years. We r questioned why work so much?(sic), Maliwal tweeted In 1 year, we hv changed DCW from a defunct body to one srsly workin on women issues. Thats troubling them. They want me to stop working, she said in a series of tweets. (with PTI inputs) The health department confirmed the seasons first case of chikungunya from civil hospital, Gurgaon, on Saturday. A 35-year-old man on a visit to the city from Bihar tested positive for the vector-borne disease. The patient has not been admitted to the hospital. His condition does not require admission. The patients platelet count is being closely monitored, Ramesh Dhankhar, chief medical officer, civil hospital, said. Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito -- the same mosquito that is the carrier of dengue virus. Its symptoms are similar to those of dengue, including high fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, joint swelling and body rash. Unlike dengue, it is a self-limiting disease and the mortality rate is low. The official confirmation comes a few days after HT highlighted that suspected cases were reported at private and government hospitals. No official data is available on the number of cases so far. Unlike dengue, chikungunya is not a notifiable disease. It is not mandatory for doctors and hospitals to immediately report every case of chikungunya to the health department and, hence, the lack of data. They can take time to compile the data and can send it over a week or send the combined figures at the end of the month, a source at civil hospital said. Till July 31, no cases of chikungunya were registered with the district health department. Similar to dengue, there is no specific treatment for chikungunya. Supportive therapies such as administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and rest may be beneficial. The diagnostic test for dengue costs Rs 600 -- a cap imposed by the health department two months ago. The same does not apply to chikungunya and the price of a test can vary from Rs 800 to Rs 4,500. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Time and again, Alfred Hitchcocks Vertigo has been voted the best film ever made, yet very little is known about the balance disorder that causes symptoms of head spinning, dizziness, unsteadiness and wooziness. It often strikes suddenly. Rishab Thakral, 36, was standing in a queue waiting to get off a cruise ship in Singapore on January 3 when he experienced his first dizzy spell. My head started spinning and I almost fell. I initially thought it was because of the bobbing and swaying of the ship, but when it didnt subside for a week, I went to a neurologist, says the businessman from west Delhi. Over the next few days, he underwent a battery of diagnostic tests, including neurological exams and an MRI for structural brain imaging. All the results were normal, so I was referred to an ENT, says Thakral, who was finally diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS), which causes imbalance after exposure to motion, usually after a sea cruise or flight. You basically dont get your land legs back, is how Thakral describes it. Read: Your guide to staying fit, even as you travel Delhi businessman Rishab Thakral suffered a sudden spell of dizziness at the end of a sea cruise in Singapore a few months ago. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) Balancing act Treatment for vertigo depends on whats causing it. Sometimes the symptoms go away without treatment after the brain compensates by relying on other mechanisms to regain some balance. But often, people need treatment to stand steady again. Dizziness and vertigo from an inner-ear or vestibular problem are common in adults over 65 and are a leading cause of falls. Prescriptive drugs and vestibular rehabilitation therapy [VRT] help some people, says Dr Shalabh Sharma, a senior ear, nose and throat consultant surgeon at Delhis Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Customised VRT, popularly referred to as Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises, are more effective than generic ones. They help resolve vertigo symptoms triggered by conditions as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (or BPPV), bilateral and unilateral dysfunctions, otolith dysfunction and vestibular labyrinthitis. It helped Thakral control his dizziness, but its still not completely gone. Im okay 90 per cent of the time, and am due for a follow-up to find out if I can be weaned off the medicine, he says. For some, stress is the trigger. On April 18, Susheel Asopa, a technocrat-turned-politician who is now secretary of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee in Jaipur, suddenly felt so dizzy that he lost his balance and fell. I lost my younger brother Ghanshyam to oral cancer on March 20 and had just returned to Jaipur after three weeks in our village for his last rites. I was home when my head started spinning so much that I had to lie down, says Asopa, 56. A general physician at a local clinic gave Asopa medicines for dizziness and nausea and sent him home. When the symptoms did not go away after three days, he visited a vertigo clinic run by ENT surgeon Dr Anita Bhandari. The clinic uses the NeuroEquilibrium platform to diagnose and treat vertigo, dizziness and imbalance and comes with a special rehabilitation and patient-monitoring module. Read: Modern science agrees- Yoga can help with back pain, anxiety and more I was diagnosed with BPPV and responded well to medicines and exercises, said Asopa, who was prescribed a canalith repositioning procedure designed to move calcium deposits out of the ear canal into an inner ear chamber so they can be absorbed by the body. Asopa is free of symptoms and not on any medication now. In April, Susheel Asopa, a technocrat-turned-politician from Rajasthan, was diagnosed with a form of vertigo triggered by stress. (Prabhakar Sharma/HT Photo) On shaky ground Vertigo can only be healed by curing the disease that gave rise to it, says Dr Prabodh Karnik, ENT consultant at Mumbais Nanavati hospital. For example, if the vertigo is caused by an infection or inflammation, antibodies or steroids reduce swelling and cure infection; and if Menieres disease is the cause, diuretics are prescribed to reduce pressure from fluid build-up. Parveen Khan, a 62-year-old homemaker in Mumbai, had such severe vertigo two months ago that she couldnt sleep at night. The room felt like it was spinning even when I was lying down and that scared me a lot, she says. I was afraid to stand up. When the symptoms persisted over a week, she consulted a general physician, who explained that vertigo typically points to a range of diseases, including diabetes, thyroid imbalances, tinnitus, inner/outer/middle ear damage, and infectious diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis. In rare cases, it can be a sign of brain tumours or multiple sclerosis. In Khans case, it turned out to be connected to high thyroid levels. Once she began treatment to regulate her thyroid levels, the vertigo went away. Most people dont realise that vertigo is a symptom and not a disease in itself, says Dr Jayant Gandhi, ENT surgeon at Mumbais Nanavati hospital. It is actually very closely tied to lifestyle diseases. Read: Fortify your health - Three nutrients most Indians are deficient in Actor Zac Efron has paid tribute to his beloved dog, who has died. The 28-year-old star shared a picture of himself with his dog on Instagram in which he called him Puppy Efron. Through thick and thin youve always been my best friend. Ill see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron, Efron captioned the photo in which his dog is seen licking his face. Here's the photo of Puppy I promised earlier. It's from last Christmas morning. Hilarious! Cheers & thanks again! http://t.co/e6o7TYUF Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) April 21, 2012 The Neighbors star continued writing, Felt hog tied ever since my dog died. He lived to 84, damn, thats a long ride. I know he up there he just sit and he wait. Ill be racing up the stairs Im gonna get to the gate singing- Chance the Rapper. Efron has been a longtime animal lover. In November 2014, he adopted a puppy with his now ex-girlfriend, Sami Miro. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Tom Hardy has been snapped on the California set of Christopher Nolans WWII film Dunkirk for the first time. After months of speculation about his role in the movie, he finally made his first appearance on the filming set of the movie, reported Ace Showbiz. Several images offer first glimpse of the British actor hopping into the pilots seat of a replica British spitfire. foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:52pm PDT foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:54pm PDT foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:54pm PDT foto dal set Dunkirk 26 August 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3760585/Tom-Hardy-makes-appearance-set-WWII-film-Dunkirk-takes-pilot-scene-fighter-jet.html #tomhardy #dunkirk A photo posted by Tom Hardy Italia (@tom_hardy_italia) on Aug 26, 2016 at 6:55pm PDT The Mad Max: Fury Road actor is seen dressing in an ensemble reminiscent of an RAF fighter pilot and combining it with a dark jacket, goggles and a helmet. Earlier this month, Warner Bros teased fans with the first teaser trailer of the upcoming thriller despite the film being in the early stage of production. The 56-second video didnt feature any of the films stars, but fans got to see the eerie landscape which was required to portray the desperate nature of the situation of the French coastline in 1940s. Dunkirk revolves around allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain and France who are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. The upcoming film has tapped Fionn Whitehead as the main character and Harry Styles in a mystery role. Harry Styles on the sets of Dunkirk. (Twitter) Nolan directs the film from a script he wrote. He also serves as producer along with his wife Emma Thomas. Also starring Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh, the epic action thriller hits US theaters on July 21, 2017. Follow @htshowbiz for more In a chilling reminder of the 2011 AMRI hospital fire, three persons an attendant, a patients relative and a child patient died as a fire engulfed a floor of the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) in West Bengal on Saturday. About 40 others sustained injuries in the incident. According to the administration, the fire spread from the AC of a VIP cabin on the first floor. Close to midday, we suddenly saw smoke billowing out from a room. As we barged in, we found flames leaping out of the AC machine and smoke filing up the entire room. By then, the beds and some furniture had already caught fire. But fire brigade personnel helped us to get control of flames without much delay, said hospital employee Shine Hussain. The state government ordered a CID probe to find out if there was any sabotage. The victims were identified as 45-year-old Ujjwala Hazra, who was the relative of a patient, 40-year-old hospital employee Kaberi Sarkar and three-year-old patient Pallavi Mondal. Officials, however, claimed that only Hazra and Sarkar had died in the fire while Mondal passed away before the fire broke out. Two persons lost their lives in the stampede when they were trying to come out, said district magistrate YR Rao. Mondals relatives alleged she was killed in the stampede. Homemaker Ruby Malhotra (48) loves handloom fabrics. She says she can distinguish between authentic hand woven ones from the powerloom products by feeling them and looking at their weaves. But not everybody can be so discerning. And there is risk of getting cheated by paying heavily for fakes that shopkeepers sometimes pass off as handlooms. What weavers painstakingly produce on hand-operated looms at their homes are sometimes duplicated on machines and sold off as originals for a heavy price. This puts both customers as well as weavers at a loss. So how does one make the distinction? If government certifications are the markers of genuine handlooms, even seasoned buyers in the national capital hardly seem to know about them, and weavers dont want to invest in them. Read: A Khadi Day will motivate everyone to wear the fabric, says Ritu Beri Delhi resident Sandhya Bajaj (51), a regular buyer, says the products are not promoted well enough. I have a lot of opportunities to buy handloom fabrics because of all the state emporia. But what about people in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities? They will get cheated easily. I consider myself a person who is aware, but I myself didnt know (about the certifications). But certifications such as the Handloom Mark, the Silk Mark and the Craft Mark do exist. Last year, the Narendra Modi government declared August 7 as the National Handloom Day to increase awareness about the dying cottage industry that employs 43 lakh weavers as of 2009-10. This figure was 65.5 lakh in 1995-96. The Prime Minister also launched the India Handloom Brand to certify the quality of handwoven products. While it added to the existing certifications, there is little clarity on what they signify and how they are different from each other. Dilli Haat is a popular location for those looking to purchase authentic and trendy handloom products in New Delhi. (Vidya S/HT Photo) Few buyers know the significance of certification. One such buyer is Dr Alka Goel, professor and head of clothing and textiles department at Uttarakhands GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology. She says the products should be propagated better to help weavers get their due. The tags should also inform about the effort that goes into making these products how long it takes to produce using a handloom compared to powerlooms. There is a big difference between the two. The government defines handloom production as one of the largest unorganised economic activities after agriculture, responsible for nearly 15% of Indias cloth production. Around 95% of the worlds hand woven fabric comes from India. Yet, few can tell the difference between a handloom and powerloom. Read: #iwearhandloom is trending Goel suggests that the promotion should also focus on handlooms eco-friendly and social roles It is not mandatory for all weavers or retailers to get their products certified. It is a voluntary process that involves a registration fee and periodical governmental checks, which weavers dont seem too keen to get done. Ikat artisans Raj Kishore Kundu (33) and Ashok Patra (26), who have a stall at Dilli Haat, claim they dont have the time to fix the handloom tags on their products. Besides, the tags dont mean much. The government will certify anybody. Even non-handloom products carry the tag Handlooms have a separate set of customers who know their value. They will not accept powerloom products even if you give it to them for free, says Patra. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the India Handloom Brand to certify the quality of handwoven products. (Vidya S/HT Photo) He says the government gives certified weavers a bunch of 1,000 tags and a tag gun. Imagine how much time it will take to pin the tags one by one. When will I do sales then? It also takes money and we dont have much of it. Besides we are from Orissa, and the office is far away in Delhi. The weavers dont know that the textile committee that certifies fabrics has offices across the country and they can go to the centre nearest to them. The government has a different take. Development commissioner of handlooms, Alok Kumar says that each certified product comes with a unique registration code that can be verified on the website. He also says there is a great demand for the India Handloom Brand among weavers. We have tested more than 1,000 samples (so far). We have registered 300 samples and another 250 applicants have applied. They all say that there is so much demand that they cant meet it 14 e-commerce and 12 retail brands have got the Handloom BrandIndia is a big country. It will take time to cover all the ground. Read: Dont wear nationalism on your khadi sleeves Renowned craft revivalist and chairperson of NGO Dastkar, Laila Tyabji says certification must be the culmination of a campaign to make consumers want to buy handlooms. Until you establish the value of handloom as a unique aesthetic, social and cultural part of our heritage, a tag will not by itself make people buy it. You have to create awareness of handloom, and then of the tag that certifies it. Otherwise, its just one more bit of dangling cardboard! Neither the customer nor the craftsperson is aware of its purpose. Often, even the sales staff in handloom emporia and boutiques dont know what the tag stands for. She also says merging different certifications under one scheme would clear the fog around them. Possibly, one tag with different colours or symbols for different materials or skills. And there needs to be proper certification before allowing vendors to use the tags, otherwise they are not just meaningless, but misleading. THE LOGO MIX: WHAT TO LOOK FOR There are a handful of certifications which can confuse even seasoned buyers. Most of them require weavers and craftspeople to pay a fee and apply for them. After on-site verifications, authorising bodies issue a certificate and a logo to be used for a limited period. The authorities are supposed to periodically check their usage and approve renewal. HANDLOOM MARK What it looks like: The logo is an interlocking of threads. Every certified handloom garment should carry a label with the logo and a code on the backside. In case of a doubt, you can use the code number to complain to the textiles committee What it certifies: The product or fabric was produced using a hand loom When created: June 2006 Certified by: Government of India INDIA HANDLOOM BRAND What it looks like: A saffron and green flower with the Handloom Mark at the centre. Certified products will carry a tag or a label with the logo and a unique code What it certifies: Product is 100% handwoven, natural has no acrylic or synthetic fibres, colours are fast, safe dyes used no chemicals that can harm skin, no child labour used When created: August 2015 Certified by: Government of India SILK MARK What it looks like: The logo is a butterfly-like maroon pattern. Certified pure silk products should carry paper tag or sown label with the logo, a hologram and a unique number which can be used to trace the product to the authorised producer. If product is not pure, the code can be used to complain against producer and his licence would be cancelled. What it certifies: Products are 100% natural silk When created: June 2004 Certified by: Government of India CRAFTMARK What it looks like: Logo is a criss-cross of maroon lines. Authorised members will use the seal as tags on certified products. Seal should have the logo, licence number, name of certified handmade process, region, name of organisation and validity date. What it certifies: Genuine Indian handicrafts produced in a socially responsible manner When created: 2006 Certified by: The All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA), a membership-based organisation. WOOL MARK It is a trademark owned by the Australian Wool Innovation Limited to affiliated vendors. It is an assurance that the product conforms to AWIs set of standards The Supreme Court has asked the Allahabad high court to decide within a month Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwaris petition challenging slapping of the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Also accused of circulating pamphlets against the Muslim community, Tiwari has been in a Lucknow jail since his arrest in December last under the NSA a tough 1980 law that makes securing bail difficult for an accused. He was arrested after students of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband and other members of the Muslim community staged a protest demanding action against Tiwari. On Friday, his counsel Hari Shankar Jain told a bench headed by justice Dipak Misra that the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad high court had yet to decide on his habeas corpus writ petition. The bench said a habeas corpus petition had to be given immediate attention. Steps should be taken to decide it forthwith, it added. Even so, the bench gave the high court four weeks to decide on Tiwaris petition. It noted that the matter was listed on August 31, and the petitioners detention period was to end on December 9 this year. The matter shall be heard and the judgment delivered within the period, it added. The bench directed the SC Registry to send a copy of its order to the registrar general of the Allahabad high court as also the registrar of the high courts Lucknow bench. Women and children in Indias flood-hit eastern region are at risk of being preyed upon by human traffickers and sold into slavery in middle class homes, restaurants and shops, and even brothels, aid workers warned on Friday. Heavy monsoon rains have caused rivers including the Ganges and its tributaries to burst their banks, forcing more than 200,000 people into relief camps in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The deluge has killed at least 300 people, submerged thousands of mud-and-brick villages and destroyed large swathes of farmland - affecting millions of people across the five states. Charities working in the worst-affected regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh said trafficking was widespread in the aftermath of previous disasters in the region, such as last years earthquake in neighbouring Nepal and floods in Bihar in 2008. Children are always the most vulnerable during emergencies - especially during floods, when families are forced to move to higher ground, leaving their homes for an extended period of time, said Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children India. While a childs parents may not always remain in their close proximity, and with the presence of strangers, the threat of sexual abuse and child trafficking is high. There are organised groups of offenders who are quick to seize opportunities to exploit the plight of children. A person sits on the roof of their under-constructed submerged house in Allahabad. (AP Photo) South Asia is the fastest-growing and second-largest region for human trafficking in the world, after East Asia, according to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime. India is home 40% of the worlds estimated 45.8 million slaves, according to a 2016 global slavery index published by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation. Thousands of children, mostly from poor rural areas, are taken to cities every year by gangs who sell them into bonded labour or hire them out to unscrupulous employers. Many end up as domestic workers or labourers in brick kilns, roadside restaurants or small textile and embroidery workshops. Many women and girls are sold into brothels. Experts say post-disaster human trafficking has become common in South Asia as an increase in extreme events caused by global warming leave the already poor even more vulnerable. The breakdown of social institutions in devastated areas creates difficulties in securing food and humanitarian supplies, leaving women and children at risk of kidnapping, sexual exploitation and trafficking. Child friendly spaces Government officials in Bihar said they were aware of the risk of exploitation and were working with charities such as Save The Children, ActionAid and the UN childrens agency UNICEF to curb instances of trafficking. Before the current floods, we had held meetings early this month on the issue of human trafficking, said Imamudin Ahmad, director of Bihars social welfare department. We are sensitising people and are involving everyone, including the police department, labour department and social welfare departments. Officials added that authorities were also checking trains, often used to transport victims, originating from impoverished districts where children labour is commonly sourced. With schools destroyed or shut down, aid agencies said they were creating child friendly spaces to give children a safe environment to play, learn and be with their families. A building collapses in flood waters at Chapra in Saran district of Bihar. (PTI Photo) The company of others, along with trained facilitators, ensures that children are able to discuss their challenges and reduce their anxiety, said Rafay Hussain, general manager for Save the Children in Bihar. From our experience, we have seen that children need the company of their parents, family and friends during such crises and every effort should be made to ensure that they do remain in such company, for their safety and overall well-being. India usually experiences monsoons from June to September, which are crucial for its agriculture sector, making up 18% of its gross domestic product and employing almost half the countrys 1.3 billion people. But in many states, the rains frequently cause landslides and flooding that wash away crops, demolish homes and devastate livelihoods - pushing already impoverished families to brink. The floods in Bihar this year have killed at least 130 people. Almost one million people across 24 of Bihars 38 districts have been evacuated from their homes and are either in relief camps or have sought shelter on embankments and roads. Television pictures showed people wading shoulder-high in floodwaters or sitting on the rooftops of partially submerged buildings, while others were seen climbing into boats as they were rescued by disaster response teams. Authorities said that they had managed to reach most affected communities, but aid agencies working in the state said rescue and relief efforts fell short of what was needed. People unload relief food material from an Indian Air Force helicopter to be distributed among the flood victims, on the outskirts of Allahabad. (Reuters Photo) We have also been working with the administration providing status updates, offering support and coordinating efforts. However all flood relief efforts are inadequate in terms of the scope and extent of the crisis, said Sandeep Chachra, executive director of ActionAid India. In particular, many areas reported a shortage of boats. We need greater effort in building disaster preparedness and ensuring rapid response to emergency rescue and relief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP chief ministers on Saturday to focus on garib kalyan (welfare of the poor) by delivering dawaai (health), padhai (education) aur rozgar (employment) and make them model states in implementing central schemes. The PMs missive is being seen as a counter to the Oppositions charge of the government being pro-poor and allegations of faltering central schemes. During a pep-talk to all BJP chief ministers in New Delhi, Modi also asked them to think beyond roti, kapda aur makan, one of the cornerstones of successive non-BJP governments at the Centre. He asked the CMs to go on a mission mode to deliver results. We had a long discussion on how the effectively implement the Centres scheme in states, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said later. With assembly polls due in seven states next year, the PM formed a group led by three-time CM Chouhan to co-ordinate between different states to help them emulate the best practices of other BJP-ruled states. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah emphasised on the partys bold steps on reforms. We have remained committed to reforms without caring for vote-bank politics and have laid the foundation for many welfare schemes to form welfare states, Shah said. Efforts must continue to spread the fruits of development to all people, he added. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a Ukrainian citizen has been detained in the Dominican Republic on kidnapping charges; it, however, declined to name the person, citing a ban on making this information public. "A citizen of Ukraine has been detained in the Dominican Republic on kidnapping charges. We received this information from our embassy to Cuba. The embassy and our consul in the Dominican Republic are currently keeping the matter under control. The detainee is now under arrest in a penitentiary of the city of Higuey, he is provided with a lawyer, for whom he pays himself. A preliminary hearing of the case should be held in the near future to determine a restrictive measure for the detainee," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oresta Starak told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday. Asked whether the person in question is former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Saldo, Starak replied, "We have this individual's personal data, but, in line with the personal data protection law, we have no right to divulge and publicize them." Some information provided by the consul and the lawyer indicates that the case could be settled between the parties out of court, she said. "If the lawyers for the victim and the detainee reach agreement, it is quite possible that this might be settled by way of material compensation for the crime committed," Starak said. The 112.Ukraine television channel reported on August 25 with reference to the Ukrainian embassy to Cuba that former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Saldo had been detained on suspicion of kidnapping in the Dominican Republic. Saldo ran for Kherson mayor as the Our Land party nominee in 2015 but lost. He is currently a member of the Kherson City Council. Decks appeared to clear on Saturday for a meeting between Kashmiri separatists and members of an all-party delegation scheduled to visit Srinagar early next month. The Centre and the state government reached an understanding that no member of the delegation will be discouraged from engaging with the separatist leaders, sources said after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday. Talks with separatists are seen by many as necessary to restore normality in Kashmir, where 70 people have been killed in street protests against the gunning down of militant commander Burhan Wani last month. The region has been under curfew for a record 50 days. The meeting with PM was a confidence boosting measure for Mehbooba The PM said the Centre is solidly standing by her, a senior government official with knowledge of the meeting said on the condition of anonymity. This was Muftis first meeting with Modi since trouble started in Kashmir on July 9. Mufti held out an olive branch to separatists, saying they should come forward to help her government end the cycle of violence. Her party, PDP, later urged separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to treat her as his daughter and give her the opportunity she deserves. According to PDP sources, Mufti suggested to Modi a three-pronged action plan, including involving separatists and Pakistan in substantive talks. She also asked for an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir. In 2010, when Kashmir was in the grips of similar violent street protests, a meeting between an all-party team and separatists helped restore calm. The then UPA government had also sent a team of interlocutors to Kashmir but their recommendations have since gathered dust. They (the separatists) have to decide if they want to talk. On one side, you tell youth to attack security forces and army camps... Talks should be held with those who want peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, Mufti told reporters after meeting the PM. She blamed Pakistan for inciting violence in the militancy-hit state. I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it should stop provoking them (the youth) to attack police stations -- and save the youth from being killed. Pakistani leaders have criticised India over the unrest. For its part, India has accused Islamabad of interfering in New Delhis internal affairs and stoking tension in Kashmir. India has reiterated that Pakistan must heed international opinion and extradite Dawood Ibrahim, whom they have provided sanctuary for long, to face justice for his many crimes. Citing the confirmation by United Nations about six of the nine addresses of Dawood provided by India, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swaroop said on Friday India has always maintained that Pakistan is harbouring the global terrorist. Read: 6 Pak addresses of Dawood given by India get UN confirmation India continues to maintain that it is incumbent upon Pakistan to extradite this global terrorist to whom they have provided sanctuary for a very long period of time to face justice for his many crimes. We hope Pakistan will heed international opinion on this issue, he said. Recently, a monitoring team of the United Nations 1267 Committee, which periodically updates the record of the global terrorists on its database, confirmed six of the nine addresses of Dawood provided by India. Read: Pakistan may deny but world knows Dawood is in Karachi What this signifies is that Dawood Ibrahim continues to remain on the designated list as a global terrorist and the 1267 monitoring committee continues to retain his Pakistani passport as a valid document. The UN has also confirmed that he resides in and has properties in Pakistan and the UN continues to keep a regular watch on him, Swaroop said. He said that as a result of this exercise by the 1267 monitoring committee, apart from the confirmation of his addresses, some other records pertaining to Dawood have also been added, such as his wifes name, fathers name and several of his aliases. He has been travelling under various aliases, he said. India and Pakistan should continue a dialogue process to address their differences and issues, including Kashmir, the US has said as it asked the two nations to refrain from indulging in rhetoric. What I would say that the extent to which both countries are seeking to continue a dialogue process that will do more to address concerns and tensions than perhaps other approaches. So I would just say that it is our hope and our counsel to (the two) continue to push forward on a process of talks between the two governments to try to address concerns, a senior State Department official said. The United States, the official noted, has also said that with respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that it believes that this is something that the two countries need to determine through dialogue. Nothing has changed in terms of the US position and perspective on that and we do encourage the two countries to continue the dialogue process that allows them to process areas of concerns in both countries, the official said in response to a question. In an apparent reference to the war of words between the two countries, the official cautioned against indulging in rhetoric. I think, when you start going into a situation where there is rhetoric that flies that is rarely going to be conducive to push forward a dialogue process, the official said. At the same time, we have understood and the concerns and frustrations that has been expressed with respect to terrorism. We have been very firm in our statements, public and private that there has to be actions against terrorist groups wherever they may operate there cannot be a safe haven for terrorist groups and that there cannot be any distinction made. We have urged for robust cooperation to try to address those concerns, said the senior State Department official. Senior BJP leader and MP Virendra Singh Mast turned down a US visa on Friday after he was asked by the embassy officials to remove his pagdi for the visa documentation. This amounts to insulting Indian farmers, Indian tradition and culture. I dont want to visit a country that doesnt approve of what I am and what I represent, Singh, who is at present representing Bhadohi (UP) in the Lok Sabha told HT. He said he would raise this insult in Parliament. Singh, who is a well-known agriculturist, said he has no great ambition to see the US and it was the US Embassy which wanted him to travel to the country to hold discussions on Indian farmer and traditional farming knowledge. The US Embassy had invited me to the US to attend a function on farmers, where I was asked to give a lecture on Indian agriculture techniques, he said. Singh said he went to the embassy for the purpose of visa and was asked to remove his turban. I refused to do it. It is an insult to me. It is an insult to Indian farmers. I am rooted in my tradition, he said. How can I remove my pagdi? Mast said, adding, It is my identity. It is my pride. Besides being an Indian and a farmer, I am also a Kshatriya. I cant compromise with my pride. He was scheduled to leave for the US on Friday. Singh said he would soon write to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the issue. When asked, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the issue was not officially raised with the ministry but if it is brought up, then the matter will be taken up with the US officials. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The body of a youth, who had jumped into the Jhelum on Friday after being allegedly chased by security forces during a protest, was retrieved from the river in the Sangam area of Anantnag district on Saturday. Police and locals said 24-year-old Shahnawaz Ahmad along with two other youths had jumped into the river after being chased by security forces during a stone-pelting incident. However, while Ahmad drowned the other two youths managed to swim to the shore. CRPF PRO Rajesh Yadav told Hindustan Times that Ahmad was part of a group of stone pelters when the CRPF men tried to chase him away. Troops as usual tried to disperse the youth by chasing them. The young man thought that he would jump into the river and run away, Yadav said. Meanwhile, Saturday marked the 50th day of curfew in the Valley following the protests that erupted after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. With no let up in separatist-called shutdown, the police late on Friday arrested Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, one of the key separatist leaders spearheading the protests, and locked him up in a government facility in Srinagar, a police officer said. Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was also detained on Saturday as he tried to march towards the army headquarters at Badamibagh. Following more attacks on its drivers and cargo, the Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Owners Association again suspended ferrying fuel to trouble-torn Kashmir. Amid the turmoil, Kashmir continued to be plagued by militancy as militants killed a policeman in Quil village of south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday, gunning him down from a close range. Irshad Ahmad Ganai was leaving his home for work at Pulwama police lines when he was attacked by extremists, sources said. He died on the spot. (with agency inputs) Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to discuss the unrest in the Valley, which has been under curfew for 48 days following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. Mufti is understood to have told home minister Rajnath Singh that the Centre needs to announce confidence-building measures to show its earnestness in resolving the crisis. She is likely to raise the issue in her meeting with Modi. An all-party delegation will visit Kashmir in the first week of September in stepped up efforts by the government to end a wave of violence that claimed the life of another youth in the valley on Friday. Read: Can Modi discard policy that has brutalised Kashmir? Muftis meeting with Modi comes after a clear message from the Centre to the chief minister to control the violence that has killed 69 people so far. This is the first meeting between the two leaders after the unrest began following Wanis killing on July 8. Modi expressed deep concern and pain on Monday over weeks-long deadly violence in Kashmir, saying there was a need for dialogue and a permanent solution to the regions troubles. The prime ministers remarks came at a meeting with opposition leaders from Kashmir. Those who lost their lives during recent disturbances are part of us, our nation. Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us, a government statement quoted Modi as saying at the meeting. On Thursday, Mufti strongly defended action by security forces during a press conference, saying: People came on streets, we imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk... She said 95% of the people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but the other 5% were resorting to agitation. Read: For bringing peace to Kashmir, India cannot wish away Pakistan The decision to send the all-party delegation came a day after the Union home minister ended a two-day visit to Kashmir, announcing the governments willingness to speak to anybody and promising an alternative to pellet guns which have left hundreds of people with eye injuries. The exact date of the visit and composition of the delegation will be finalised after consultation with all political parties, said a senior government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Both the Centre and the state government are hoping that the situation will improve in view of the approaching Eid-ul-Zuha next month. The thinking in the government is that the visit of leaders of different political parties might help in soothing the nerves and return of normalcy in the Valley as had happened in 2010. It was on September 20, 2010 that a 39-member all-party delegation visited Kashmir to assess the situation in the wake of violence that claimed more than 120 lives in three months from June. The delegation gave eight suggestions, including appointing a team of interlocutors. The interlocutors -- journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former information commissioner MM Ansari were appointed in October 2010. They were tasked to begin a process of sustained uninterrupted dialogue with all sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially with youths and students and all shades of political opinion. In their report submitted to the then union home minister P Chidambaram in October 2011, the interlocutors laid down a road map for the government to address all issues pertaining to the state. Among the recommendations included regional councils for all three regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - to address local aspirations apart from improving governance with a focus on women and children. The report, also containing suggestions on financial packages in terms of jobs, rehabilitation of families of victims of violence and reducing the number of troops in civilian areas, is yet to be implemented. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai was killed when security forces fired on a group of protesters in Pulwama district. The death toll since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani rose to 69 even as the valley remained under for the 49th day. Pulwama chief medical officer Fayaz Ahmad Shah said more than 20 wounded persons were brought to various hospitals, many of them with pellet injuries. Ganai, who according to locals was a college student, was hit by bullets in Haal area of the Pulwama district. Residents said that clashes erupted after people were not allowed to hold a protest prompting the youth to pelt stones on the government forces. The forces retaliated with tear gas shells, pellets and bullets. Tala Marandis resignation as Jharkhand BJP chief just 13 weeks after his appointment has a lot to do with his criticism of his own government over proposed changes in the laws safeguarding tribal land rights, analysts said. The Santhal leader -- who represents the Borio assembly constituency -- was replaced by Lakshman Gilua, another tribal leader who represents the Chaibasa constituency in the Lok Sabha. The resignation came after a string of controversies involving Marandi, including charges of sexual exploitation against his son. A statement issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Marandis resignation, submitted on August 11, has been accepted and Gilua has replaced him. Marandi comes from the Santhal Pargana. He was the first Santhal tribal to be appointed state BJP chief, a move by the party to counter the main opposition party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. JMM is perceived to be most representative of Jharkhands tribal population and Santhal Pargana is considered a JMM bastion. Marandi was to play a role in bridging the gap between the government and the tribal people, especially when the state is headed by a first-time non-tribal chief minister, Raghubar Das. Tribals account for 27% of the states population and the BJP gets a large share of their votes. Party sources said Raghubar Das was unhappy with Marandis functioning and had conveyed this to the BJPs central leaders. The central leadership went with Das and opted to replace the controversial tribal leader with another who belongs to the Kolhan region. Marandi first landed in trouble for allegedly marrying his son Munna Marandi to a minor girl. The bride was reportedly selected in haste after another girl lodged a police complaint alleging that Munna had sexually exploited her. The original fiance backed out after the sexual exploitation charge was levelled against the Marandis. The controversy had not fully died down when Marandi joined the opposition in criticising Raghubar Dass government over proposed changes in the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act through an Ordinance sent to the President for approval. The two laws restrict transfer of land belonging to the Scheduled Tribes. The proposed changes in them have been dubbed by the opposition as a great betrayal of the tribal people by BJP. The criticism has come not only from the opposition parties but also by the BJPs coalition partner, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). The BJP itself is divided over the changes in the two laws, as reflected in the criticism voiced by Marandi, who said: Any change in the two land acts will put a question mark over the existence of the tribal people of the state. The ordinance, if notified, will allow the government to acquire farmland for non-agriculture purposes such as construction of roads, power plants and even marriage halls. Marandis statement has allowed the opposition to attack the government with renewed vigour, with JMM executive president Hemant Soren claiming that more than a dozen legislators of the BJP were in contact with him over changes in the two acts. An embarrassed BJP got an opportunity to remove Marandi when he announced his 50-member team. More than six people, including Meera Munda, wife of former chief minister Arjun Munda, who had been named vice president, refused to come on board. I have personal engagements and I shall not be able to give time to the post. I shall continue to be a party worker, Meera Munda said. Marandis nomination of Veer Vijay Pradhan as the state BJP Yuva Morcha chief was also opposed. Several youth wing leaders sat on dharna at state BJP headquarters to protest the nomination. Former finance minister, Yashwant Sinha, who had declined to serve as a special invitee, supported the youth wing leaders and met them. Marandi was then summoned to New Delhi, a process that culminated in his resignation as the Jharkhand BJP chief. We respect Tala Marandi who maintained the party tradition by offering his resignation after the court issued summons to him, Raghubar Das told reporters in Jamshedpur, referring to the case against Munnas alleged marriage with a minor. The government-imposed curfew in Kashmir entered the 50th day on Saturday, making it the longest-ever in the history of the state. Kashmiris have witnessed curfews and restrictions many times ever since militancy erupted in the Valley in 1989. But never ever has the period of restrictions stretched continuously for 50 days. This time it is unprecedented. We have witnessed a strict curfew over whole of Kashmir. It must be a record, said Noor Ahmad Baba, renowned political analyst and retired professor from the University of Kashmir. Curfew was imposed on July 9 after people took to the streets protesting and attacking security installations against the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, in south Kashmir. As many as 70 persons have been killed and thousands injured as security forces resorted to firing to control the protests. During early militancy, Kashmir was shut for a month after militants entered the Hazratbal shrine in October 1993. Similarly in 2010, the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference-Congress government also imposed curfew after protests spiralled out of control when a fake encounter by the army in which three youths were killed in north Kashmir came to light. The unrest continued for months together with over 110 people losing their lives while the government imposed curfew for brief spells. This time, the curfew is far more severe. We have not had a single days deal or relaxation since July 9 compared to previous unrests when there were relaxations every 10-15 days, said 34-year-old Gowhar Ahmad, an old-city resident who works for a consultancy. Also, the curfew has been strict across the entire Valley be it Srinagar city, towns or villages as protests have been widespread, especially in the countryside. But why has there been no relaxation? A senior journalist, not wishing to be named, said the PDP-BJP government imposed curfew expecting protests to subside soon. But that did not happen. The state also used unprecedented force killing 70 people with bullets and injuring hundreds with pellets, he said. This time, there is more anger and hence more defiance. So, whenever they try to lift curfew, people come out protesting vehemently, added the journalist. However, one aspect which has aggravated the severity of restrictions on people is the tussle between separatists and state. The separatists have clearly told people to open shops in the evenings only. In response, the state has been imposing curfew even at night. Many residents have complained that security personnel were not allowing even essential commodities to reach people. In my memory, I have never witnessed such restrictions that men in uniform not even allow milk or vegetables to reach markets. Recently, I was not allowed to take a relative to hospital. Peoples miseries are increasing. So, obviously anger is escalating, said Ishfaq Ahmad, a college lecturer. Baba said the continuous bandhs and curfews have completely shut down the society in Kashmir. Hartals and curfews are reinforcing each other, putting tremendous strain on the people. Society cant survive under this kind of complete control. Some activity has to be allowed. Youths body retrieved from Jhelum Meanwhile, the body of a youth, who had jumped into the Jhelum after allegedly being chased by security forces during a protest on Friday, was retrieved on Saturday. Locals fished out the body of 24-year-old Shahnawaz Ahmad from the river in the Sangam area of Anantnag district. Police and residents said Ahmad along with two other youths had jumped into the river after a group of youths was chased by security forces during an incident of stone throwing. The other two managed to swim ashore. PRO CRPF Rajesh Yadav told Hindustan Times that Ahmad was part of stone pelters when he was chased by the CRPF. Troops as usual tried to disperse the youth by chasing them. The young man thought he would escape by jumping into the river, Yadav said. Two days after storming out of a joint press conference with Union home minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. Insiders say Mehbooba had a wish list that included starting dialogue with the separatist as unrest continues to roil the Valley. The chief minister who lost her cool after being grilled by the media at the press conference is also unhappy with the centres slow response, PDP insiders say. Sixty-nine people including have lost their lives in the turmoil that has been raging in Kashmir since July 8. More than two thousand protesters have been injured, mostly by pellet guns in security crackdowns. In a bid to buy peace, the Centre is awaiting an expert committee report to take a decision on a substitute for pellet guns. In what was to be a confidence building measure Singh indicated a substitute for pellet guns that has caused a spate of blindings, was in the offing. Kashmir watchers, however, say to bring in peace, the choice of words should have been better. The promise they expected was to stop the use of excessive force and ensure a halt to civilian casualties. Policeman chase Kashmiri protesters in Srinagar. (Waseem andrabi/HT File) Read: Can Modi discard policy that has brutalised Kashmir? Pellet gun victims show a very barbaric face of India, it needs to be discarded immediately without waiting for any expert opinion, says senior CPI(M) leader in the state Yusuf Tarigami. Tarigami even objects to the home ministers choice of words -- to find a substitute. India is saying we will find a substitute to the pellets, (which) means we wont kill you with pellets but will use an alternate method, instead of saying we wont use force on Kashmir people. They should say killings need to be stopped, he added. What has added fuel to the current unrest is the chief ministers justification for the killings saying, people who attack the camps will get bullets. The National Conference reacted strongly after Mehbooba insisted that the youth who were killed, attacked army camps and did not go there to buy toffees and milk. The NC called the chief ministers statement provocative which would only worsen the situation in Kashmir. Singhs message during his second visit to Kashmir in a month was overshadowed by Mehboobas strong reaction. Experts feels, the reaction was more due to helplessness than anger. She has nothing to say, the questions were not very provocative or tough, the fact is she has no answer, said a senior journalist who did not want to be named. For the state the onus of bringing peace seems to be on people, he said. While Singh appeared more accommodating than in his previous visit, it was the ambiguity of not offering anything concrete which disappointed people. Even the jobs they are offering is in army and police. They said 10,000 more SPOs are needed. Do they want to turn Kashmir into a police state? he asked. A soldier stands guard during a curfew in Srinagar. (Waseem Andrabi/HT file) Read: Police constable killed by militants in Kashmirs Pulwama A senior PDP leader, who did not want to be quoted however, said: Centre is ready to talk to anybody but Pakistan. While Singh indicated a possibility of talks within the framework of Kashmiriyat, insaniyat and Jamhoriyat (the three words have been liberally used by BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014 elections). Many in Kashmir now expect the rhetoric to be followed by concrete steps There was ambiguity in whatever he said, be it talks with separatists or discarding pellet guns, said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, moderate separatist and valleys head cleric. I think the time has come to call a spade a spade--Kashmir is a political problem, needs a political solution. India needs to acknowledge that, he added. The mainstream parties, although not dismissing the home ministers visit entirely, want the government to walk the talk. Rajnath Singhs Kashmir visit is not a big step in restoration of peace but can surely be a step forward only if there is engagement with the voices of dissent, said Tarigami. That section of society needs to be reached out, he added. A senior National Conference leader called Singhs visit hasty. It was only a day earlier did the Prime Minister say there was need for dialogue. Singh should have come prepared . Such visits require the state government to do a lot of mobilisation, you have to cajole, beg, reason with people to get them to the table. Nothing of the sort happened, the NC leader said. An all-party delegation is expected to visit the restive Valley in the first week of September. I hope there is better preparation that time, the NC leader hoped. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Australian journalist, who broke the Scorpene submarine leak story, said on Saturday the leaked material posted online by his newspaper was just the tip of the iceberg, cautioning India that the datas interception by foreign intelligence agencies in its original form could be damaging. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday the revelations were not a big worry but India was prepared for the worst. The ministers comments seem to be aimed at calming down concerns in India about sensitive material being available in its uncontrolled form, journalist Cameron Stewart, 53, told HT from Melbourne. Six Scorpene submarines are being built in India in collaboration with French shipbuilder DCNS under a Rs 23,562-crore project. His newspaper, The Australian, redacted sensitive details before uploading around 30 documents on the web the leaks that detail the contracted parameters and combat capabilities of the Scorpene run into 22,400 pages. The newspaper is unlikely to publish more material from the leaked files. He said, We dont intend to publish many more documents on the web. The intention was to reveal the story of this serious breach, not to release documents. The few documents we published on the web were to back the story. The newspaper reported on Friday that the whistleblower behind the leak plans to hand over the disk to the Australian government on Monday. As the navy scrambles to assess the potential impact of the leak without access to the massive tranche of documents, defence ministry sources said on Saturday India would activate diplomatic channels to obtain the disk. Stewart has not read the entire set of 22,400 leaked pages but he has pored over an awful lot of those documents. No international navy would want such sensitive details to be out in the public domain. I have gone through all the major directories in the documents with the help of an expert, he said. India has written to French authorities to probe the leak with urgency and share the findings. South Block sources said the French company has not made direct contact with the government after the leak. Have Indian agencies contacted him? No one has but even if they did, I will not be in a position to give them any data. The data is not mine, I dont have a copy of itI have only accessed it, he added. Read: India should be worried about the Scorpene data leak case. Heres why The prolonged absence of the ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus is negatively affecting the level of relations between the two countries, and this issue was discussed by foreign ministers of the two countries in Kyiv on August 26, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has said. "A long-time absence of a head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Belarus naturally affects our relations," he said after the opening ceremony of the residential complex of the Belarusian Embassy in Ukraine and the residence of the ambassador of Belarus to Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday. Makei said that he discussed the issue of the appointment of the Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and received assurances that this matter will be resolved soon. According to him, the presence of an ambassador will help deepen relations between the two countries. In its eagerness to restructure the Medical Council of India (MCI) to overhaul medical education in India, the Centre is taking away its autonomy. Under the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, the states and the Centre nominate and elect members to the MCI, which is Indias apex body for regulating medical education and registering doctors, but a new proposal gives all authority to one committee constituted by the government. There is need for overhaul because medical education and sciences have evolved rapidly over the past few decades, but checks and balances are essential to ensure the MCI doesnt lose its autonomy and democratic structure. The PMO-constituted three-member committee headed by Niti Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya has recommended the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 be replaced with the National Medical Commission Bill, 2016. The draft National Medical Commission Bill, which is open for suggestions till August 31, proposes that a government appointed broad-based search-cum-selection committee select regulators, instead of them being nominated and elected. The Panagariya committee report is one among several others including the Standing Committee on health and family welfare report being consulted before the MCIs restructuring finally happens. Health minister JPNadda admits the health ministry wants more control in the running of the autonomous body. So far, the government didnt have direct control (over the MCI). This way, at least we will be directly responsible (for the decisions taken),said Union health minister JPNadda. Overhaul, but at what cost Doctors dont see the change happening for the better. The draft bill and the report by NITI Aayog should have suggested a policy to check growing commercialisation of medical education, instead the policy directions given shows that it seeks to further accelerate privatisation and commercialisation of medical education, said Dr Abhay Shukla, member, Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare, which termed the bill a huge disappointment. The functioning of the Supreme Court-appointed Oversight Committee (OC) appointed to oversee the working of the MCI made headlines for the wrong reasons this week when it granted recognition to medical colleges inspected and declared unfit by the MCI for not meeting the teaching and infrastructure standards. Our assessors found several discrepancies on the ground, such as lack of adequate infrastructure, faculty, patient load etc. We go by the book, so we didnt clear them, said Dr Jayshree Mehta, president, MCI. During one such inspection, Saraswati Medical College in Unnao, Lucknow, had presented a three-day-old baby as a newborn to convince the inspectors that the hospital had a functioning obstetrics and gynaecology department. The colleges were cleared for recognition only after ensuring all of them would comply with the guidelines, said Justice RM Lodha, head of the OC. As a one-time measure, the OC has given these colleges time till September for compliance and asked the head of the college management to give an affidavit and a bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore along with the fees to ensure compliance, he said. We welcome any criticism even though what we have done is within the four corners of the mandate given to us by the SC. Our focus is to see the quality of medical education isnt compromised, said Justice Lodha. Improve standards There is certainly need to overhaul medical education. The quality of doctors we are producing has gone down, which is primarily because of the private medical colleges that have been allowed to mushroom even when they dont have the required infrastructure, patient load or faculty to train aspiring doctors, said Dr KK Talwar, former chairman, governing body, MCI, and former director of PGI Chandigarh. MCI members say the restructuring is about medical education and has nothing to do with whispered allegations of corruption. I dont understand the cleaning up business as no rules were broken, especially in dealing with private medical colleges, since I took over after the MCI was reconstituted in 2013. All parliamentary rules and regulations have been followed, said Dr Mehta. More than restructuring and changing names, what is needed is selecting the right people to ensure that the standard of medical education doesnt suffer. We owe it to the people of India, said Dr Talwar. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed Pakistan on Saturday for fuelling tension in the Valley, which has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month. After a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Mufti said the Kashmiri youth were attacking securitymen and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders. She appealed to the separatists for peace, saying they will have to help us save the lives of the youth. Sixty-nine people have been killed and thousands injured in the Valley in clashes after Wanis death on July 8. Pakistani leaders have criticised India over the unrest. For its part, India has accused Islamabad of interfering in New Delhis internal affairs and stoking tension in Kashmir. I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldnt provoke them to attack police stations -- and save youth from being killed, the chief minister said. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti talks to the media after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO) Muftis meeting with Modi came just two days after home minister Rajnath Singh visited to Srinagar and met the CM, among others, over law and order. After Saturdays meeting, Mufti said she was happy that the central government was reaching out to all stakeholders to restore peace in the militancy-hit state. I have high hopes from the Prime Minister. As Mufti visited the national capital, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, moderate separatist leader and the Valleys chief cleric, was arrested in the morning and lodged in a jail. An all-party delegation will visit Kashmir in the first week of September in stepped up efforts by the government to end a wave of violence that claimed the life of another youth on Friday. Both the Centre and the state government are hoping that the situation will improve in view of the approaching Eid-ul-Zuha next month. The thinking in the government is that the visit of leaders of different political parties might help in soothing the nerves and return of normalcy in the Valley as had happened in 2010. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday appointed 22 parliamentarians as special envoys for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September, Sharif was quoted as saying by Dunya News. The move marks an escalation in Pakistans ongoing row with India over the unrest in Kashmir following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. Read: India sends letter to Pak, says talks only about terrorism, PoK Sharif said Pakistan will remind the United Nations of its long-held promise of self-determination for the Kashmiri people, the report said. Sharifs remarks came on the 50th day of violent protests in Kashmir that have claimed 69 lives and left hundreds injured. India has accused Pakistan of inciting violence in Kashmir and supporting cross-border terrorism. The war of words between the two countries heated up after India said it would take up Pakistans offer of talks provided they focussed on cross-border terrorism and not Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria told a recent news briefing in Islamabad that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had crossed a red line by raising Balochistan in his Independence Day speech. He also said Pakistan will raise the Kashmir issue at the UN general assembly next month. Read: For bringing peace to Kashmir, India cannot wish away Pakistan Modi recently said Pakistan will have to answer for atrocities in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. During his Independence Day speech, he again referred to the matter and said people in Balochistan and PoK had thanked him for raising the issue. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup later accused Pakistan of being involved in violence and terrorism against India since 1947 and supporting terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir that continues to the present day. Pakistani national Nand Lal Maharaj, who was arrested on charges of being an ISI agent, operated two accounts on Facebook for obtaining strategic information from people living in the border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, police said on Saturday. The spy, also known as Nand Lal Garg, revealed during interrogation that he used the two accounts to communicate with his sources in the border areas. Maharaj had uploaded pictures that he had taken of several places in Jaisalmer in one of those accounts. The account also contained pictures of some places in Pakistan. Police superintendent Gaurav Yadav today cautioned people against speaking with unknown persons on social media. He also appealed to them to inform police if they come to know of any suspicious persons. Maharaj had been arrested near the Indo-Pak border in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan earlier this month, with police claiming to have recovered classified information from him. He is a resident of Sangad district in Pakistan and had come to India earlier this month on visa. With the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) continued to attack Rahul Gandhi over his comments about the RSS involvement in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress asserted that it was a known fact that the RSS was against the Mahatmas ideology of peace and harmony. Congress leader Rizwan Arshad told ANI that the party is going to fight the RSS and its ideologies tooth and nail, as it is an organisation that works for its own convenience. It is a known fact that the RSS distributed sweets the day Mahatma Gandhiji died. It is a known fact that Nathuram Godse was a member of the RSS and it is a known fact that they were upset with Gandhiji because he wanted to keep this country united and that he wanted all religions to live in harmony, Arshad said. The RSS wanted bloodshed and it is their ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi, Arshad added. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that Rahul Gandhi was compromising his own credibility with his remarks against the RSS and asked whether he would be able to accept the allegation that the Congress was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. If Rahul Gandhis logic is taken to a logical conclusion, then can we say that the Congress is responsible for the massacre of Sikhs in this country? In 1984, we are aware that Congress leaders were involved in massacre of Sikhs. But if we say that the Congress was responsible and it was a part of the Congress conspiracy, will Rahul Gandhi accept this? BJP leader Sudesh Verma told ANI here. The Congress vice-president said on Friday that he stands by his comments on the 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, he tweeted. Rahul Gandhis counsel Kapil Sibal on Wednesday 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. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday that separatists will have to decide if they wanted to hold talks with the government to break the cycle of violence in the Valley, which has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month. On the 50th day of the lockdown in Kashmir, Mufti called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time in New Delhi to hold a meeting on the recent unrest. She reportedly sought the creation of a group of interlocutors to hold talks with all stakeholders, lashing out at Pakistan for stoking violence. Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in clashes between stone-pelting protesters and security forces since Wanis death on July 8 as Muftis government faced criticism over the handling of the demonstrations. They (the separatists) have to decide if they want to talk. On one side, you tell youth to attack security forces and army camps... Talks should be held with those who want peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. For others, it is a business. Those who provoke people and cause bloodshed dont want talks. She appealed to the separatists for peace, saying they will have to help us save the lives of the youth. On a recent visit to Srinagar, home minister Rajnath Singh too hinted at dialogue with separatists, saying those who believe in jamhooriyat (democracy), insaniyat (humanity) and Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri ethos) should come forward for talks. Sources said Mufti feels that separatists should be allowed hold their protest rallies, but the Centre wants to go slow on this. Sources in J-Ks ruling Peoples Democratic Party said Mufti advocated before the PM a three-pronged action plan, including the involvement of separatists in substantive dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti at a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI) Mufti also asked for a group of interlocutors who will talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy of dialogue with all parties, including Pakistan. The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil, Mufti told reporters. But she blamed Pakistan for not seizing the peace move made by PM Modi. Our Prime Minister took bold initiatives of inviting (Pakistan Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif for oath-taking ceremony and later flew to Lahore. This was unfortunately followed by the Pathankot terror attack (which India blames on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed). Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan was fuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our home minister Rajnath Singhji went to there (for a Saarc summit), but again, unfortunately, Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend the courtesy that needs to be given to a guest, she said. Pakistani leaders have criticised India over the unrest. For its part, India has accused Islamabad of interfering in New Delhis internal affairs and stoking tension. Mufti hinted at continuance of the tie-up between the PDP and Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the foundation of the alliance was Vajpayees Kashmir policy. She recalled the words of her late father and former chief minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that only the Prime Minister (Modi) who enjoys two-thirds majority can resolve the Kashmir crisis. If things dont happen during his tenure, it wont happen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step of going there, today said again that we need to talk to our own people because people are dying, Mufti said. She said an all-party delegation from New Delhi will reach Srinagar (in the first week of September) and make efforts to reach out to the people in the state. Similarly, I will ask Pakistan if they have some concern for the people of Kashmir they should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley, she said. GUJARAT IN A STATE OF WAIT AND WATCH Something different happened in the Gujarat assembly last Tuesday. More than a month after the flogging of four Dalits in Gir Somnath districts Una town for skinning a dead cow, Congress MLAs created a ruckus over the issue. It was unusual because atrocities on Dalits have not been part of the mainstream politics in Gujarat or elsewhere in the country. The Una incident triggered a wave of unrest among the community across the state. There were violent protests in Jamnagar, Surendranagar and Rajkot districts. Around 20 Dalit people attempted suicide. During a massive Dalit rally on July 31 in Ahmedabad, community members--under the banner of Una Dalit Atyachar Ladai Samiti (UDALS)--held a massive rally. Tanners pledged that they would discontinue their traditional occupation and demanded land from the government. In the 10 days march that culminated in a mahasammelan in Una, the UDALS tried mobilising people on Dalits issues. Members of the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladai Samiti during the Ahmedabad to Una march. (Siddharaj Solanki/HT Photo.) Congress legislators trying to corner the BJP in the assembly is a clear indicator that the political establishment in the state has taken note of the Dalit upsurge. But it is too early to say if it will change the political equation in the upcoming assembly election in Gujarat. MOVEMENT IS APOLITICAL While skeptics have been trying to find a political hand in the agitation, the UDALS has maintained that its movement is apolitical. On second day of the march to Una, Congress workers came to greet the marchers at a stop-over in Ahmedabad districts Dholka city. They were told that they were welcome only if they wanted to join in the individual capacity. During a halt at Bhavanagars Dhasa city, a former Congress MLA came to extend support. Samiti members shouted Congress- BJP murdaabad slogans when he left. During the August 15 mahasammelan in Una, organisers left the stage abruptly leaving the audience in a tizzy. Political people came on the stage against our wishes. We did not want to be seen with them, said Subodh Parmar, member, UDALS core committee. Last Saturday, Parmars aide and Samiti convener Jignesh Mevani held a press conference at Delhis Press Club to announce his resignation from the AAP. Since the beginning of the agitation, there was criticism that because I was an AAP member, I instigated the protest on behalf of the party.I had to resign to prove my critiques wrong, Mevani told HT. I always kept my political affiliations away during the protest. Nor did the AAP approach me to give it a political color. In fact, the charm of this movement is that it is apolitical, he added. Mevani plans to launch an organisation for the Dalits soon but has ruled out going political. IMPACT ON POLITICS Prima facie, it appears that Dalits may galvanise against the BJP. As compared to 35 per cent estimated Dalits who voted for the BJP in 2007 assembly poll, the vote share declined to 23 per cent in 2012, as per the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies data. BJP may lose further, said Gujarat based sociologist Ghanshyam Shah. All BJP MLAs are discredited because they were not seen anywhere during violence on Dalits. The gap between the elected representatives and the Dalit masses will widen, he added. The Gujarat Congress seems upbeat. The BJP has utterly failed to save the rights of the Dalits. We have raised the issue in the assembly and held an Akrosh rally in Gandhinagar. Whether our vote-share increases or not is secondary. What is more important is that we keep the ruling party on its toes by continuously raising this issue, said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. The BJP is in a denial mode. Saurabh Patel, ex cabinet minister in Gujarat said, The issue has been blown out of proportion. What has happened is wrong and we have taken action. But Congress is trying to take political mileage out of it. Gagan Sethi, co- author of the book Lest We Forget that traces communal violence in the state in 2002 said that there was a possibility of the division of sub-castes within Dalits, orchestrated during 2002, getting over. With maybe the Patidars joining in and the Muslim groups actively seeking and offering solidarity with the Dalits will change the equation substantially specially in the candidate selection by political parties. UNITED WE STAND? Gujarats Dalits will have to project a united front and seek support of other communities for the government to take them seriously. The Dalit unrest across the state is being hailed for its young leadership. It is credited for making Dalit issues part of the mainstream narrative. But sections of the community did not extend support to the protests because they are not comfortable with Mevanis background, approach and lack of clarity. The fact that he has not worked with the community at the grassroot, his call for rail roko and attack on both caste and class (in all his speeches, he said Jai Bhim and Laal Salaam in the same breath) are held against him. Martin Macwan, founding member of Navsarjan NGO, is a pioneering Dalit activist in Gujarat. Mevani holds him in high regard. Macwan said he was glad that the agitation led to a social and political awakening among the youth but was disappointed because not much thinking went into it. For a movement to have impact on the ground, it has to be well thought out. Otherwise, it can cause damage, he said. The UDALS members do realise that numbers are crucial. They have been trying to garner the support of Muslims and tribals for upcoming protests. We live in Dalit bastis in villages. Our Muslim brothers live in ghettos in cities. Both have been ignored by the government. Both expose the Gujarat development model, Mevani said in his speeches in pockets in Dholka and Batod which had significant Muslim population. The Samitis key demands include implementation of the Forest Rights Act and release of Muslims who have been illegally detained on terror charges. The Una viral video has impregnated Gujarat with possibilities. UTTAR PRADESH Mayawati resurrects as the BJP tries hard to make inroads across the state Ramjivan Gautam, 55, a native of Babuhariya Purwa village in northern Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri, proudly calls himself a hardcore supporter of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A Dalit, Gautam has been casting his vote for the BSP in the assembly and Lok sabha polls. These days he is a bit perplexed. The BSP leaders have not visited my village yet but the BJP leaders have held meetings and sent a rath carrying the statues of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha. The initiative of the saffron brigade has forced us to rethink. If the BSP candidate is not in a position to defeat the SP nominee, we will not hesitate in supporting BJP, he said. Gautams comments reflect the efforts the BJP has been making to assimilate Dalits in UP. Participating in the Tiranga Yatra, BJP president Amit Shah stopped over at party MP Kaushal Kishores residence in Lucknow. BJP president Amit Shah having lunch at the residence of the party's Dalit MP Kaushal Kishore in Dubagga, Lucknow. (Ashok Dutta/HT Photo.) Dalits are mystified over the regular visit of BJP leaders. Our aim is to get rid of anti-Dalit SP government. Before the election, we will hold a meeting to decide to vote for BSP or BJP, said gram pradhan Ranjit Raidas. Earlier, except the BSP no other political party was discussed in this Dalit dominated village, he added. In nearby Banihar village, BSP district unit office-bearer Harilal Dinkar is busy preparing the chart of the cadre camps. We are organising camps in Dalit-dominated village to counter the strategy of rival parties and to consolidate the hold of the Dalits, he said. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP succeeded in winning the support of Dalits but we are determined to stop their chariot in the assembly election. We have told the Dalit community members that the aim of BJP leaders is to grab their vote. They are not concerned about the welfare of the community, Dinkar said. But post Una incident, the BJP is fighting a perception battle. Many cases of cow vigilantes indulging in violence against scheduled castes in UP and Gujarat have sent out the message that the saffron party is anti-Dalit. Political observer RK Mishra said, The 21% Dalit vote in UP will be a game-changer in the 2017 assembly election. If the BSP continues to maintain its sway over the Dalits and gets the support of Muslims as well as Backward Castes then it will emerge as the single largest party. If the BJP succeed in breaching Dalit fort, it will not only stop Mayawatis march but improve their tally as well, he said. The BSP was placid until around a month ago. But the Una incident and senior BSP member Dayashankar Singh abusing party chief Mayawati led to thousands of party workers protest on the streets.Mayawati has been trying to mobilise Dalits over flogging of SC youths in Una, Gujarat. She not only raised the issue in Rajya Sabha but also visited Ahmedabad to express solidarity with the victims. The massive turnout at the BSP rally in Agra earlier this month has generated hope among party leaders that Dalits will stand solidly behind them. The BSP will find the going tough in western UP where significant number of Dalits has apparently gone to the BJPs fold during 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. The bus yatra 27 saal UP behal launched by AICC president also focused on Dalit-dominated villages. Congress leaders said that Dalit, Muslims and Brahmins were traditional vote bank of the party and they were working hard to regain it. PUNJAB Can Dalit vote sway one way? Punjab presents a paradox when it comes to caste politics. The states polity has been dominated by Jat Sikhs even though 32 percent of its population comprise dalits, the highest among all states. But the affluent Jat Sikh community -- mainly farmers with large landholdings -- has ensured its main political parties succumb to the compulsion of having a Jat Sikh as its CM face relegating dalits, who are either landless or have small landholdings, to the fringes much like they stay in outskirts of villages called veras. Yet they do not form an exclusive vote bank for any political party as they are divided among all religions, including the majority community of Sikhs that comprises nearly 57 percent of its population, the Hindus which make 38 percent of its population in addition to Muslims and Christians. Among Dalits too, there are as many as 39 sub-castes in Punjab such as Adharmi, Valmiki, Ravidassia and Mazhabi Sikhs, most of the latter regard themselves as Sikhs. But together they affect the poll outcome of nearly 30 percent of states 117 constituencies falling in the reserved category. The number of seats reserved for the scheduled castes (SCs) in Punjab has gone up from 29 in the delimitation order of 1976 to 34 after the delimitation order of 2008. Reasons why no political party of Punjab can afford to ignore the Dalit vote bank. But unlike other poll-bound states of UP and Gujarat, the Dalit upsurge against atrocities and discrimination may not resonate in Punjab, says Professor Ronki Ram, political scientist at Panjab University. Though Dalits in Punjab have been seeking their own distinct social identity through deras and own gurdwaras, it has not translated into a separate vote identity. The 32 percent Dalit vote is split across main political parties and different sub-castes within Dalits have their own political affiliations. So the vote scatters between parties they owe allegiance to and there are popular Dalit leaders across all parties, Ram says. Angry followers of Dera Sachkhand during a protest in Amritsar in 2009 after a Dera sect was attacked in a shootout in Vienna. (Munish Bayala/HT Photo.) Dr Pramod Kumar, head, Institute of Development Communication (IDC) in Chandigarh cites the example of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to explain why the Dalit vote cannot sway one way in Punjab. The BSPs vote share has fallen from 16 percent to four percent in Punjab in the last two decades. The party could not make inroads into Punjab as its electoral politics is not based on caste dynamics. Culturally, the Dalits want to follow Jat Sikhs and wear white kurta-pajamas like them. Though socially, they want to have a distinct identity which is manifested in separate cremation grounds, deras and gurdawaras, it is mainly as a reaction to the dominance of Sikh institutions such as the SGPC which have excluded Dalits from their centres of faith. The dalit upsurge in UP and Gujarat may not affect Punjab nor can it sway the Dalit vote towards one particular party. Though Dalits in Punjab may have experienced socio-economic neglect, but they are not hounded like prey, he says. Emerging Dalit leadership But almost all mainstream political parties of Punjab are trying to woo the Dalit votebank which is split among various sub-castes and its their deras by conceding high positions in party organisations to influential caste satraps. Even the upper caste-centric BJP to now have a dalit state president in Vijay Sampla while the Congress has a dalit face in leader of opposition Charanjit Singh Channi. Even the Jat dominated Shiromani Akali Dal gave substantial representation to the Dalits as ministers and by having a dalit speaker, Charanjit Atwal. As its makes an ambitious foray into Punjab politics, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too is not behind in woo dalits policy. Its national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has joined the list of politicians wooing sects or deras in Punjab. Kejriwal paid a much-hyped visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar -- the Doaba heartland of dalits. Known as the Mecca of Ravidassia sect of Dalits. Kejriwal knew the poll math as over one-third Dalits belong to this sect which translates to 12% of states population. Sikh-Dalit flare-ups After militancy came to an end in the state in the late nineties, it is not Sikh-Hindu tensions but bloody flare-ups between Sikhs and followers of influential deras dominated by dalits seeking a cultural assertion such as Dera Sachkhand Ballan and Dera Sacha Sauda, which have gained the political muscle to affect poll fortunes of political parties as vote banks. Though cow vigilante groups have also been overactive in Punjab and the state Police has recently arrested self-styled Gau Raksha Dal chief Satish Kumar, cow vigilantism has not acquired dalit atrocity colour in Punjab. It has brought Hindu organisations, those which have lost relevance after terrorism ended in the state such as All India Hindu Suraksha Samiti and various factions of the Shiv Sena and turned into cow vigilantes -- into direct conflict with states progressive dairy farmers, mostly Jat Sikhs, who claim their flourishing cow breeding business has been wiped out. Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreyas latest effort to stop the proposed labour strike on September 2 has fallen on deaf ears. While Dattatreya dished out how the NDA government fulfilled many promises and is on course to settle other issues, labour unions remain unimpressed. In the letter he mentioned that the Centre is working towards giving a minimum national wage to workers. We have been hearing this for the last one year, said Tapan Sen, general secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The Left and Congress-affiliated unions have planned the general strike to oppose the NDA governments economic and labour policies, exempting hospitals, medical stores, milk distribution and other emergency services from the day-long strike. Dattatreyas letter mentions measures like the price stabilisation fund, PM crop insurance and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, which have been taken, while a national carrier service has been launched for generating employment. While the minister claimed that the government is ensuring strict enforcement of all labour laws, trade unions disagree. In a letter to Dattatreya, CITU said that no tangible proactive steps have been taken in favour of millions of workers. During the UPA rule, the opposition trade unions had managed to bring Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) on the streets to protest against its government. This time, the government has found its face-saver as the RSS trade union arm, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, has not jumped on to the protest bandwagon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said universities and institutions of higher learning must be bastions of free speech and expression and debates should be encouraged. Universities and institutes of higher learning are the best forum for debates, discussions, free exchange of views...such atmosphere should be encouraged, Mukherjee said at the first convocation of Nalanda University, after laying the foundation stone for the first phase of construction work on the campus and awarding degrees in Rajgir, around 80 kms south east of Patna. He said modern Nalanda University (NU) should, like the ancient one, be the place for free-exchange of ideas and viewpoints, keeping aside all narrowness, and encourage open debate and discussion. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the space of this new institution, he added. Mukherjee said ancient Nalanda was a melting point of civilizations, a confluence of four historic traditions - Indian, Greek, Persian and Chinese - and the modern one needed to keep up the rich tradition. Referring to the book 'Argumentative India' by Nobel laureate and founding NU chancellor Prof Amartya Sen, who was also present, Mukherjee said, "He has written how history and traditions have always celebrated the argumentative Indian. It cannot be done away with, as it is part of our life and ethos. The lesson for modern Nalanda is to ensure that the great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts." The President said universities must be bastions of free speech and expression, providing room for diverse and conflicting schools of thought. "They must be a flag-bearer for the co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies," he added. Pranab, who was involved with NU during its gestation stage as India's foreign minister, said he was privileged not only to deliver the address at the first convocation but also be at the site of his 'dream project. "It is a proud moment for me as the idea that revived NU took shape during my tenure in the south block," he added. Maintaining, that in the sphere of higher education, India was a magnet for world scholars in the past with institutions like Nalanda, Takshshila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi, Somapura and Odantpuri, he said, "Sadly, India's modern day universities are yet to reach the top position in world rankings. We must work towards regaining the glory of the past. It was only due to my persistent efforts that some of the universities figured in the top 200 in 2015," he recalled. Describing Nalanda University as a symbol of Asian resurgence, he said the 21st century was expected to be an "Asian century'. "At such a time, institutions of knowledge like Nalanda have critical importance. It is critical to India's 'Act East' policy," he added. He also had a word of praise for the 'net zero' concept at NU campus and said it could be a model for other university campuses, keeping aside lofty ideas. "By adopting a net zero energy goal, the university has attempted to link its historical legacy with urgent contemporary issues of environment sustainability." The NU campus is being planned in way that it shall be self-reliant so far as demand of energy, water and other natural resources are concerned. These needs shall be met from internal arrangement. The total energy requirement is proposed to be met through renewable sources only which would be a combination of solar photovoltaic panels and biomass. "Today, the entire humanity is confronted with the challenge of saving the world. Will we be able to give the coming generations the world that we inherited? International conferences may deliberate on fixing responsibility for environmental degradation, but we also have to face the consequences of wanton destruction of Mother Earth. We can have satisfaction finding faults and saying the responsibility lies elsewhere, but the penalties are for the entire humanity," he added. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said: "Mother Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of its children, but not greed of very few. It is the greed of a few that has created this situation." For the first batch students, he had a special message. "Entering real life outside this campus, you will face a sea of challenges and you have to handle them, without the fostering care of your alma mater. But you need not feel nervous with the knowledge and skills you have acquired here," he added. Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind, chief minister Nitish Kumar, chancellor George Yeo, vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal and Dr Amartya Sen also spoke on the occasion. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US embassy has denied the allegation levelled by BJP MP Virendra Singh Mast that he was asked by embassy officials to remove his pagdi or headgear for the visa documentation. The United States does not discriminate on the basis of religion nor do we forbid religious dress, the embassy said in a statement. During the visa application process the United States Embassy in New Delhi does not ask individuals to remove turbans or other religious dress. Nor do we ask individuals to remove their turbans for photos submitted in the visa application process, it added. Mast, a Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that he was upset at being asked to remove his pagdi and turned down the visa by the US Embassy before returning to his constituency Bhadohi. Mast, a well known agriculturist by profession who is always seen in a traditional saffron pagdi, was invited by the US Embassy to visit the country and give a lecture on Indian agriculture techniques. However, the BJP MP accused the embassy of telling a lie over the issue. I was certainly asked to remove my pagdi. They are lying, Mast told IANS. The embassy said that each year the US mission in India issues over a million visas for India citizens of all religions and ethnic groups to visit, work in, or study in the United States and that the number has been increasing every year. Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei has said that he has no information on the whereabouts of former Defense Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Yezhel. "I do not have the data on what his status is and where he is," the minister said in Kyiv on Friday answering a question about the possibility of handing Yezhel over to Kyiv. Makei stressed that this issue is within the competence not of the Foreign Ministry, but of law enforcement officers. Yezhel is suspected of misusing public office and assisting a third party from 2011 to 2012. He issued four separate tasks paid for by budget resources not paid to the organizations which carried them out (commercial entities were contracted to provide food services to Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel). These actions cost the state about UAH 43 million and had serious consequences. According to law-enforcement agencies, Yezhel has been put on the Ukrainian government's wanted list and steps have been taken to put him on the international wanted list. Kyiv's Pechersky District Court authorized a special pre-trial investigation of a criminal case involving Yezhel. The court has authorized his arrest and transfer to a court for determining pre-trial detention pending trial. On March 14, 2016, Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General and Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoliy Matios said Yezhel had been convalescing in a Belarusian military hospital. "If Yezhel is in territory of another state and, according to official information, is sick, there is no other choice under law but to wait for him to recover. We are not able to follow up on this case in Belarus," Matios said. Matios said Yezhel is wanted for questioning about his decision to green-light the sale of army property in 2011. "The decision made by the then defense minister resulted in the unlawful sale of two Tu-95MS strategic bombers to a legal entity. The state lost more than UAH 24 million as a result. The aircraft and aircraft parts were seized before they could be sold to Russia," the military prosecutor said. A man, along with his five-day-old baby and elderly mother-in-law, was allegedly forced to get off a bus on which his wife died in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, an allegation refuted by the bus staff. After getting off, they had to wait for an hour before getting assistance. The incident happened at Chainpura Parsai village on Thursday, but came to light on Saturday. Ram Singh Lodhi, from Goghri village in Chhatarpur district, was taking his wife Malli Bai (35), who had delivered a baby five days back, to Damoh district hospital for treatment. But her condition worsened and she died on the way. Sources said when bus conductor Sharda Prasad, driver Amar Lal and helper Dharmendra came to know about the death, they stopped the bus near Chainpur Parsai in Narsinghgarh around 5.30 pm and told Ram Singh to get off the bus with his wifes body. Repeated pleas by Ram Singh and his mother-in-law went in vain and they were forced to deboard the bus. The registration number of the bus is MP 34 P 1134. After nearly an hours wait, two advocates Mritunjay Hazari and Rajesh Patel, who were returning to their homes in Damoh, stopped and heard Ram Singhs story. The advocates called 100, but did not get any response, following which they arranged a private vehicle to take them to Chhatarpur. However, the bus staff claimed that Ram Singh had got off the bus willingly and they did not force him. The two advocates complained about the incident to the state human rights commission, DGP and regional transport officer. On Thursday, a tribal man in Odishas Kalahandi district carried his wifes body on his shoulders, accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, as hospital authorities allegedly did not provide a mortuary van or an ambulance. Damoh superintendent of police Tilak Singh said a case under sections 304, 336 of IPC has been lodged against the driver and the bus conductor. Both of them have been arrested. The bus has also been seized. A police team was sent to village Goghri and the statement of Ram Singh Lodhi was recorded, he said. Singh also said that the drivers licence will be cancelled following state home minister Bhoopendra Singh Thakurs directive. A third airport on Mumbais outskirts may soon be a reality, as the Maharashtra government is considering an abandoned airstrip and a 730-hectare plot in Kalyan to be developed as a domestic terminal. The move comes after it was found that the existing airports in Santacruz and Sahar have reached a point of saturation and may not be able to handle additional traffic till the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is operational, which is expected to happen only in 2020. The city has an aerodrome at Juhu. However, it is only used by helicopters and chartered planes. It cannot be used for passenger flight operations, mainly due to its limited size. The central governments plan to boost regional airport connectivity by building 50 new airports at small towns in the next three years will substantially add to the existing load at Mumbais airports. As such, the state government wants to develop an additional airport immediately, to decrease the air traffic at the city airports, which cater to about 40 million passengers annually. The proposed airport area falls in Naveli, Kalyan, and has an airstrip that was built by the Royal Air Force during World War II. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) looks after the airstrip, while the plot falls under the jurisdiction of the defence ministry. We expect a significant increase in Mumbais air traffic after airports are built at small towns under the regional airport connectivity plan. As the Navi Mumbai Airport is not expected to be ready soon, we need a new airport. Domestic flight operations can be held at Kalyan, said Swadheen Kshatriya, chief secretary of the state. According to officials close to the development, the proposed land can be used to operate small aircraft. Tussle over location The site at Kalyan was seen as a serious competitor to the Navi Mumbai International Airport when the state government started looking for land to develop a second airport. In 2007, National Security Advisor MK Narayan told the state that the airport could not be constructed in Kalyan as the proposed site was located near a research and development laboratory of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) However, local politicians demanded that the airport be relocated from Navi Mumbai to Kalyan in 2010 Centres regional connectivity scheme The state government signed an agreement with the civil aviation ministry to develop 10 almost non-functional regional airports/airstrips under the Centres regional connectivity scheme. The 10 airports are Kolhapur, Shirdi, Amravati, Gondia, Nashik, Jalgaon, Nanded, Solapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg Under the scheme, the central government will foot 80% of the cost of viability gap funding, and the rest will be borne by the state. Under the scheme, these airports will be provided with road, rail, metro and waterway corridors to ensure smooth connectivity with major airports and other modes of transport. India has more than 30 non-operational airports and more than 400 airstrips dating back to World War II. MMRDA conducts monorail trial The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday conducted a trial of the monorail between GTB Nagar station and Mint Colony on the Wadala- Jacob Circle corridor, called the second phase. According to officials, the trial was carried out from 11.30am to 2pm, during which, the monorail passed through areas such as Dadar and Parel for the first time. Tired of cat videos? Switch to canines. A trip to the Facebook page Dogs of Bombay feels like a sunny afternoon at the dog park, except that you dont need to leave your couch. Meet the parents, hear heart-warming adoption tales, even pick up a pup of your own. Hugo and Lyra out for a drive. Hugo and Lyra, for instance, look like Siamese twins. Meet their mommy on the Facebook page and hear her stories of sibling rivalry. Or hear how Polka Dot got her name from a veterinary student who adopted seven abandoned pups and lost all but this one. Polka Dot You can also write in to have your own doggie featured. Also check out Dogs of New York And... Dogs of London, which offers some cutting-edge news from the canine social calendar Health department officials concluded on Saturday that the deaths in Sarfabad village near Noida sector 73 did not occur due to a mysterious viral fever. A total of eight people died in the last 15 days in Sarfabad. The health department on Friday said six out of eight deaths occurred due to ailments such as tuberculosis, heart attack, liver failure and cancer. The remaining two deaths were suspected to be due to viral fever. On Saturday, the health department constituted a committee headed by chief medical officer Dr Vijay Deepak Verma to probe the deaths. It came to the conclusion that none of the reported deaths occurred due to viral fever. When confronted about the suggestion of two deaths, the CMO said that in the absence of any medical reports in respect of the two victims, it was difficult to pinpoint the cause of death. However, it is certainly not any viral fever. Let me tell you that fever is a symptom and not a disease. No viral fever has been reported to have caused death in one day. The cause of death could be septecemia. The two victims are 21 and 60 years old. Other causes of sudden death, such as myocardial infarction or heart failure is not a possibility because of their age and medical history, he said. Dr Verma said the inquiry committee doing the death audit came to the conclusion that the deaths could be caused due to septecemia but said a question mark hung over it as it was not too sure about the exact cause of death. The health department set a camp on Thursday for the free check up of suspected patients in the village. This is the third day that we sent samples from the village to the hospitals. But none of them are be infected with dengue, said Verma. The recent report by the health department did little to soothe the villagers who accused the government of brushing the matters under the carpet. There are families where all the members are burning with high fever. The situation of the village has not improved at all and the risk of another person dying from high fever still remains, said Sukhbir Pahalwan, a resident. Later in the day, Union minister and Gautam Budh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma visited Sarfabad and criticized the administration of apathy towards the villagers. Read: Noida: Govt downplays mystery fever deaths, locals disagree The situation of sanitation and cleanliness is very poor in the village. There is no proper health center or dispensary in the village. I will speak to the administration about these issues to get it fixed. Also, I will do whatever I can from my end to improve the situation of cleanliness in the village, said Sharma. The Noida Authority has directed the health department to clean the drains, sewers and collect the waste twice a day from the village. Our teams are visiting the village every day to keep track of the situation in the village. We have asked the health department to pick waste from the village twice a day. Earlier, we used to pick waste once a day. Fogging will also be done so that any chances of viral infection can be terminated, said Arun Vir Singh, additional chief executive engineer, Noida Authority. However, the villagers of Sarfabad accused the authority officials of inefficiency, saying that the cleaning of drains and sewers were seldom being done in their locality. It is only after we raised hue and cry and media reported the deaths that the officials sent workers to clean the drains. Earlier, our roads used to be flooded with dirty water from the drains, said Harsh Yadav, a resident of Sarfabad. Santokh Singh Salana, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for this seat in the coming assembly elections, is open for replacement, as he said on Friday, to defend himself after it came out that the Haryana government had dismissed him as canal patwari. Being busy in a public movement of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), I could not attend office and so was sacked for this reason, Salana defended himself at a press conference here. It is not a criminal offence. Earlier, he had claimed that he had quit the job. Salana said his partys political affairs committee (PAC) was looking into the matter and he was ready to accept its decision. Even if the party replace me, he said, I will remain with the party. Since the AAP released its first list of candidates in early August, some members are upset over ticket to Salana. On August 19, AAP circle in-charge Prahlad Singh Majri, youth incharge Rajdeep Singh Badla, and circle youth in-charge Manpreet Nanowal went over to partys national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi and he agreed to look into the matter. Supporters of ticket aspirant Manjinder Singh Romi said a sacked government employee could not be AAP candidate. In the February 2007 dismissal letter, the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) water services circle of Ambala reported Salana absent from duty since January 30, 2003, and that he failed to join despite several notices. Salana said he had to give time to Kanshi Ram Bachao Sangharsh Committee after I heard that BSP leader Mayawati had taken the party founder captive. The physical possession of Hotel Park Plaza in Sector-17 passed on to a consortium of lenders amidst high drama on Friday with the hotel management deploying bouncers and staff members to resist the move. The hotel management has been unable to pay back Rs 130-crore loan to the Punjab National Bank, the United Bank of India and Assets Reconstruction Company of India (ARCIL) it started borrowing in 2007. A posse of around 40 officers from the three stakeholders, accompanied by support staff and the police, entered the hotel at around 11.15am on Friday and finished sealing the hotel in three hours. All 250 guests staying at the hotel, among them actor Mangal Dhillon, were asked to vacate within five minutes. Bank officials were seen announcing guests to vacate within five minutes on a public address system. On August 3, district magistrate Anil Balaji Joshi had ordered that the possession of the hotel be passed on to these lenders after they moved an application. In spite of several requests and warnings, the hotel failed to repay its loan and we were forced to take possession. A notice that the property would be sealed was also pasted on the walls of the hotel three days ago. So, the hotel was informed of our decision, said Punjab National Bank assistant general manager SN Gupta. 250 GUESTS LEFT IN A RUSH CURTAINS FOR FASHION EXHIBITION With the announcement on the PA system creating panic among the 250-odd guests in around rooms, some left their breakfast in between. Others left in their night clothes. Actor Mangal Dhillon and his crew of 10 who had booked rooms for a week alleged that the police and the officials misbehaved with them. Such a turn of events is shocking. We never expected to be thrown out of a hotel in a city like Chandigarh, Dhillon said. A fashion exhibition slated to open at the hotel on Friday could not be held with the organisers forced to leave the venue. HOTEL CMD ALLEGES POLITICAL VENDETTA Chairman and managing director of the hotel, HS Arora, who is an NRI, said, It is political vendetta to grab my ` 700 crore property. I will approach the Centre, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand that justice be done. A day after he was removed as the Punjab convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sucha Singh Chhotepur on Saturday rejected the panel set up by the party to probe allegations against him and dared the leadership to make public the video in which he was shown accepting money from a ticket aspirant. He also hit out at the AAP leadership for orchestrating the sting operation against him and claimed that party leaders sitting in Delhi were collecting huge sum of money from volunteers in Punjab and NRIs without issuing receipts to them. Read: AAP sacks Chhotepur as Punjab chief after he fires at Kejriwal Barely six months ahead of the assembly polls in the state, the AAP on Friday removed 65-year-old Chhotepur as its Punjab convenor in the wake of the purported video clip in which he was allegedly seen accepting money. I was expecting it (the sacking) with the kind of allegation made against me. But I am a little surprised that a committee was formed after taking action against me. Generally, a committee is formed before taking action against any person in the party, Chhotepur told reporters here on Saturday. There is no sanctity of this committee as those people have been made part of this panel who wanted me out. They have now become the judge, he said. How can I accept this? I will not present myself before the panel as I reject this committee, he added. Read: Bhagwant Mann takes on Chhotepur, says every penny accounted for in AAP After sacking Chhotepur, the AAP had announced a two-member panel comprising Jarnail Singh, partys co-convenor in Punjab, and head of administrative and grievance cell Jasbir Singh Bir to probe the complaints against him. Chhotepur has instead demanded a new panel with suspended MPs Dharamvira Gandhi, Harinder Singh Khalsa and chairman of Punjab dialogue Kanwar Sandhu for conducting impartial inquiry in the matter. I want them to show the video, he said, adding, I was expecting appreciation for putting in heart and soul for two and half years to build the party in Punjab. And now they have done this with me. God will never forgive them. Read: If Chhotepur is guilty, so is entire AAP leadership, says Dr Gandhi On the allegations, he said he could not favour any ticket aspirant as he was not even a member of partys political affairs committee, the highest decision making body. Only Durgesh Pathak (national organisation building head) has the absolute power, he claimed. I was powerless. Those who have the power they get the money. Despite being the convenor, I was never taken into confidence on spending money collected from Punjab. I was never told how much money has been received from abroad. No receipt of money collection was issued, he claimed. Asked whether he will join Congress, Chhotepur said he has not yet decided on this front. There is no offer from the Congress. I know Captain Amarinder Singh for the past 30 years. Volunteers are my strength. I will go by whatever decision is taken by my supporters. I am not in hurry, he said. Read | HT Analysis | AAP jaisa koi? Punjab watches drama unfold as outsider faultline exposed Yesterday Amarinder, while being asked whether Congress would welcome Chhotepur, said, Congress partys doors are open for everyone whether Chhotepur, Navjot Singh Sidhu (cricketer-turnedpolitician), Pargat Singh or Inderbir Bolaria (suspended Akali Dal MLAs). Chhotepur, who had expressed displeasure ticket distribution by the AAP, also claimed that there was strong opposition by volunteers against 25 out of the 32 candidates who have so far been given tickets. He also hit out at AAP leaders, including MP Bhagwant Mann for just bowing before the senior leadership for every decision in order to stay in the party. Meanwhile, Chhotepur claimed that six Parliamentary zonal coordinators out of total 13 coordinators of the party in Punjab are with him. He said they are Jasbir Dhaliwal (Anandpur Sahib zone), HS Cheema (Jalandhar zone), Gurinder Bajwa (Amritsar zone), Amardeep Gill (Gurdaspur zone), Iqbal Singh (Khadoor Sahib zone) and Narinderpal Sharma Bhagta (Bathinda zone). Read: Chhotepur row latest on list of AAP fallouts in Punjab: Know the others A long-pending demand of industrialists in Ludhiana to establish an exhibition centre has finally bore fruit on Friday when deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that he would lay the foundation stone for it on November 1 during an interaction with traders of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). During the interaction, Upkar Ahuja, chairman, Small Industry Development Board, lauded the efforts of recently proposed Focal Point at Dhanansu as it is more than two decades since, a Focal Point was built in Ludhiana. But he also pointed out that the state government should pay attention towards the existing focal points and maintain infrastructure with proper sewerage and roads there. He also demanded that 50 acres of land should be earmarked for building flats for small scale industry at the proposed cycle valley project at Dhanansu. The deputy chief minister has asked us to identify the land for establishing exhibition centre and we will work out all the possible modalities with regard to the project soon. The road tax for factory buses which had been increased from `50,000 to `3,000,00 the deputy CM has assured us that by October 1, the road tax rates will be reduced,said Ahuja. Gurmeet Kular, chairman, Punjab Ramgarhia Welfare Board, said that the fourth stage verification must be quelled soon as it is causing huge losses and utter inconvenience to traders. Kular also demanded that value added tax (VAT) for cycle and its parts must be reduced from 6.05% to 2.5%, then the issue of refund will be resolved automatically. He also exhorted that technology transfer from overseas is the need of the hour and concrete steps need to be taken for it. MM Vyas, a renowned industrialists in Ludhiana, said, The interference of police department in industrial affairs is not acceptable and the government should make strenuous efforts to stop the ill-practice rather the members of industrial boards should handle such issues. There have been false theft cases registered against small scale trader wherein the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) authorities have imposed penalties in lakhs of rupees. UNAUTHORISED USE OF ELECTRICITY One of the traders complained that under unauthorised use of electricity (UUE), the PSPCL department has imposed a penalty of `18 lakh which is unbearable. There are number of incidents where traders are falsely implicated by authorities under UUE. To which the deputy CM assured that steps will be taken to streamline the functioning of the department. ARREST OF TRADERS ASSOCIATION MEMBER Jaswinder Thukral, president of Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association, claimed that he along with more than 250 members had planned to show black flags to the deputy CM outside Raddisson Blu hotel (one of the venues visited by him) but police conducted a house arrest and detained him inside his residence. The claim made by Thukral, however, denied by Sanjeev Kapur, station house officer (SHO) Shimlapuri police station, saying, We have not conducted any house arrest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lashing out at both Union and state governments for not fulfilling the promises made to them, the 1984-Sikh riots victims announced to hold a demonstration in Ludhiana on September 12. At a press conference here on Friday, Surjit Singh, president of the 1984 Sikh Danga Peerat Welfare Society, said, Both Union and state governments had made tall promises to victim families, but they have always stayed just promises and never been fulfilled. Today also, the victim families are running from pillar to post, but the governments are not bothered. Surjit Singh further said that the Union government had announced Rs 2 lakh each to 1,024 families in Punjab, but till date no deputy commissioner of the state has sought application from the victim families for this. A promise was also made by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal that the victim families would be given compensation of `5 lakh each, but nothing has been done till now, he said. Not only governments are responsible, but the lackadaisical attitude of the officers is also responsible for the plight of victim families, he added. The society members said that governments have been playing politics on the issue during elections, but have failed to do anything for the affected families. Surjit Singh said that four women members will be sitting on a fast-unto-death on September 12. Gurdeep Kaur, president of the women wing of the society, also criticised the alleged apathy of the government. Rain in Punjab left many cities waterlogged on Saturday. People had to be rescued from a flooded post office in Bathinda and five roofs collapsed in Jalandhar. Sirki Bazar at Bathinda on Saturday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT Photo) Punjab Agricultural Universitys weather centre in Bathinda recorded more than 100-mm rain. The citys Ajit Road, 100-foot road, Powerhouse Road, Sirki Bazaar, Mall Road, Ganesha Basti, Nai Basti, Amrik Singh Road, and Guru Nanak Pura Mohalla were under 4 feet of water at many places. An officer living in the low-lying Civil Lines area said water had entered his bedroom. The post-office workers in the area had to call police for help in evacuation. With water all around, we got so scared, said an officer who was saved. Bathinda deputy commissioner Basant Garg said 11 people had been rescued from the post office, even as 12 were still trapped till late evening. The administration is monitoring the situation. Read: One dead, two injured due to heavy rain in Bathinda city A waterlogged road in Jalandhar on Saturday. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo) In Jalandhar, more than four hours of heavy showers brought respite from heat in what has been a deficient monsoon season but faulty drainage had people sweating. Only 40% of the city has storm-water drainage system, while pumps clear water from the remaining areas, which takes time. The 120-foot-road, Focal Point, Lamba Pind Chowk, Chandan Nagar, Sodal Road, Basti Danishmanda, Basti Bawa Khel, Model House, Damoriya Bridge, Ekehari Puli, Neela Mahal, Gopal Nagar, and GT Road were the worst-affected areas. Even the road outside the district administration was flooded and a few people were injured in five incidents of roof collapse. At Phagwara, legislator Som Parkash had to respond to the increasing complaints of bad drainage from colonies under knee-deep water. He walked the flooded streets with mayor Arun Khosla and Bharatiya Janata Party workers. Read: Phagwara MLA takes tour of city in rain, slips on waterlogged road A flooded area in Ferozepur after the heavy downpour on Saturday. (HT Photo) The maximum temperature in the state hovered below normal in some areas. Amritsar settled at 27.2 degrees Celsius, seven notches below normal, after 10 millimetre rain during the day. Ludhiana and Patiala, which received 4.2 mm and 8.2 mm rain, respectively, had maximum temperatures of 29.2 and 32.6C. The figure was 33.8C in capital city Chandigarh. The weather department has predicted more rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab on Sunday. (With PTI inputs) The electronic declaration system of assets of officials will begin its work in Ukraine on September 1, 2016, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said in an interview with CNN, the Ukrainska Pravda Internet publication said. According to the publication, when commenting on the recent statements by Transparency International regarding the deterioration of the situation in the fight against corruption, Poroshenko said that the system of combating corruption is being reformed, and, the electronic declaration system, which was previously expected to start its work on August 15, will be launched on September 1. "We are launching it now ... namely on September 1, we will launch an e-declaration system. The topic of discussion with Transparency International was the situation surrounding the fight against corruption. Only five days remain [before the start of the system], and you will see that the project will start its work, and the electronic declaration is an effective tool for fighting corruption. The system of e-declaration will start its work on par with other elements of the anti-corruption system," the Ukrainian president said. As reported, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at a government meeting demanded the system of e-declaration of officials' assets should be launched on September 1, 2016 and threatened with dismissals for the failure to launch it. "My goal is to launch e-declaration from September 1. I demand this There is no other date," he said. As was earlier reported, officials announced the launch of the e-declaration system at midnight on August 15 despite the fact that its data protection system had not been certified by the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine. In particular, Transparency International Ukraine was disturbed by the launch of an electronic income declaration system without proper certification, and insists that the officials who are responsible for this should resign. Under the law on combating corruption, high-ranking officials are to fill in new detailed income declarations in 2016 within 60 days after the launch of the e-declaration system. In particular, electronic statements of assets and income should be submitted by the Ukrainian president and the prime minister along with their advisors and assistants, government members, deputy ministers, members of the national commissions and the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, the head of the State Property Fund and the central bank governor along with their deputies. Ukrainian parliamentarians and civil servants belonging to the "A" or "B" categories, as well as judges, prosecutors, investigators, heads, deputy heads of state agencies whose jurisdiction covers the entire territory of Ukraine are also subject to e-declaration. High-ranking military officers are also to declare their incomes with the help of the new system. As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces a deepening controversy over ouster of its state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur over a cash sting, its Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has claimed that Delhi CM and party chief Arvind Kejriwal will be acceptable to the people of Punjab but the CM face will be from the state. In a programme Press Conference aired on ABP News on Saturday, reacting to a question on whether the party was not declaring its CM face since an outsider Kejriwal will not be acceptable to the people of Punjab, Mann sounded cautiously optimistic over Punjabis accepting Kejriwal as chief minister if the rookie party is voted to power in the assembly elections due early next year. Also read | Exit Chhotepur, enter more trouble for AAP Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing a public rally on the occasion of Maghi Mela at Muktsar on January 14, 2016. (HT File Photo) Kejriwal will be acceptable to Punjabs people but he had made it clear that he will serve Delhi for five years. The CM face of the party will be from Punjab, he said. On speculations that he was eyeing the post himself, the comedian-turned-politician said he was the chairman of the campaign committee of the party and was not a contender for the post of state convener or in race for the CM face. But when asked if he considered himself competent to become Punjab CM, Mann avoided a direct reply, saying, I am a mass leader who lives in the hearts of people. I speak in their language and will accept whatever responsibility my party gives to me. I have told Kejriwal that I am ready to even paste posters on walls or wave the broom from a Ludhiana bridge. On Chhotepur alleging that Delhi leaders were running the show and discrediting state leaders like him, Mann said even the Congress has leaders from Delhi for organisational matters. Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh reports to Sonia Gandhi. Is Sonia from Bathinda? Is Harish Chaudhary (Congress secretary) from Bhucho Mandi? The Delhi leaders will go to other state once we win in Punjab. They will not even contest the panchayat elections here, he said. Also read | Strategy behind humiliating Chhotepur involves making way for Kejriwal in Punjab On suspended AAP MP Harinder Khalsa complaining to the Lok Sabha speaker that he cannot sit next to Mann owing to smell of alcohol, Mann said Khalsa was hand-in-glove with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and together they want to decimate AAPs Mission Punjab. The Congress and SAD will not be able to win even if they form an alliance or even if they bring US president Barack Obama. I am addressing rallies till 10 at night. I put them on Facebook. I am ready to put what I do after that also on Facebook. But let there be a dope test for all MPs, he said. Only party can decide to make cash sting video public: Mann Though Mann repeatedly said these were times of Right to Information (RTI) Act and social media, and everything was before the public, he failed to defend why the AAP was not making the cash sting video public despite Chhotepurs demand. It is up to the party to decide to make the video public. I have no hand in the sting. I do not even know who filmed it. There are more people who are coming out with complaints against Chhotepur demanding cash. All this will be put before the panel set up to investigate the allegations against him, he said. Must read | Chhotepur demands CBI probe, says AAP can defame him if found guilty The city police on Friday claimed to have arrested seven vehicle thieves from different places in the city and recovered as many as 13 stolen vehicles from them. Sandeep Singh, Amit Kumar and Pritpal Singh were arrested in the civil lines area at a naka set up at the Ghala-Mala chowk on the Majitha road on Wednesday. All belong to different localities of the city. Four stolen motorcycles and one scooter were recovered from their possession. The Chheharta police arrested two personsBaljinder Singh and Gursahib Singh of Hear village of the district. They were also arrested at a naka set at the Naraingarh Chowk on the Chheharta road on a tip-off. Eight stolen bikes and one scooter were seized from them. Their questioning was still on. Cases have been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the IPC. They have been taken on remand by the police fro further interrogation, said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) J Elanchazian Lovepreet Singh and Vinay, who are wanted in a case of bike-theft, were arrested by the Sadar police. One motorcycle and four snatched mobile phones were recovered from their possession, said Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, station house officer. ACP BL Singla said more vehicles are expected to be recovered from the arrested persons as investigation is on. In olden times, natural drains, commonly known as kuhals, used to carry rain and river water for irrigation. They used to be a lifeline of farmers as they were a great source of irrigating their barren lands. But, with time as the population increased and other sources of irrigation came into use, these drains were encroached upon by people to make houses and other structures and the government to make roads over them. But as the time passed, these drains have stated posing a threat to the structures and roads constructed over them. The roads constructed over them have started caving in at various places in the city. The Amritsar-Pathankot-Kullu road was also built over such a drain. Besides, many buildings, both commercial and residential, were also constructed by the people over or along it. But, now they are facing a risk as, at many points, the road has started caving in posing a great risk to the buildings also. Suresh Sharma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, said that a deep hole, that has developed before his house, poses a high risk to the foundation of his house as it is just a few feet from his house. He said the road, under which the drain runs, was not able to bear the pressure of the heavy traffic, and as a result the road was weakening at some spots. He said almost the entire Railway Road under which the drain passes at soem spots, and the shops constructed over it face the danger of a collapse due to the erosion of the soil. He said there was need to strengthen the underground drains and reducing the heavy traffic over such roads. MLA Ashwani Sharma, said he would soon consult engineers of the civic body to make some plans to avert the risk. I would also ask the police to check the heavy vehicles passing over these roads. Celebrity couples might not look like us,but actually they are quite like us. They make an effort to make birthdays and anniversaries special. While a night-out with friends or a family dinner, a weekend road trip at best, does it for us, celebs being celebs, they go all out. read more Shooting for TV show not very different from shooting for movie, says Nikitin Dheer Actors Nikitin Dheer and Kratika Sengar are a case in point. To celebrate their second wedding anniversary on September 3, the loved-up duo have taken time off from work for a vacation in Europe. A beautiful evening with the whole family after very long..(n yeah I clean up pretty good) A photo posted by Nikitin Dheer (@nikitindheer) on Aug 14, 2016 at 1:39pm PDT Nikitin, who is currently seen on Life OK show Nagarjun- Ek Yoddha, took to Instagram on Friday to share a photograph and wrote: And our second anniversary holiday begins. Europe bound... Family like friends. Holiday mode. And our 2nd anniversary holiday begins..Europe bound..#familylikefriends #holidaymode #withmyJKR A photo posted by Nikitin Dheer (@nikitindheer) on Aug 25, 2016 at 1:20pm PDT The actor, who is the son of veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, married Kratika in 2014. Kratika was last seen on screen in the show Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki. When I'm nt well..n u show up at wrk to surprise me..all my energies are restored..#lunchbreakwithwife A photo posted by Nikitin Dheer (@nikitindheer) on Jul 10, 2016 at 3:15am PDT North Americas most historic gurdwara suffered considerable damage due to a fire that erupted within its premises early on Friday. The Gurdwara Sahib in Vancouver is the successor to the first-ever Sikh temple in the country, and possibly North America, which was constructed in 1908. The new building, that replaced the original temple in 1970, was damaged in the fire that appears to have started on its second floor. Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the Khalsa Diwan Society that runs the gurdwara, told the Hindustan Times that the temple will be closed for at least two months. Dale Booth, Assistant Chief of the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services said the cause of the conflagration was still being investigated. The fire started at around 2 am and there were no reports of injuries, but Booth said it took a couple of hours to bring it under control because of the design of the building, as its cement-style structure retained heat. Much history is attached to this gurdwara, which is also known as the Ross Street Gurdwara due to its location. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vancouver during his Canada trip in April 2015, this gurdwara figured on the schedule. He visited it along with then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Dhaliwal said religious programmes will continue at the location but will move to a smaller adjacent building. We have another facility on other side, and we are planning to put tents in the parking lot, he said. Theres been extensive fire and water damage to the main building, one that was renovated just last year. The cause will be established once the fire department completes its investigation. We dont know; there may have been an electric spark somewhere, Dhaliwal said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Maldives dissident former president met opposition groups in neighbouring Sri Lanka on Friday to hatch a plan to topple strongman president Abdulla Yameen, opposition sources told AFP. Ex-president Mohamed Nasheed, who recently won asylum in Britain after being jailed by Yameens government, was among several exiled opposition groups meeting in Colombo, two people in Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party said. The opposition leaders are meeting in Colombo to work out strategies to legally topple Yameen, one MDP member told AFP. The MDP is part of a new coalition opposed to Yameen, called the Maldives United Opposition (MUO), formed in London in June where Nasheed sought asylum while on leave from prison for medical treatment. The Male-based news outlet Maldives Independent said Nasheed and two other seniors of the MUO arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The website report is accurate, a person close to the MDP told AFP. There was no immediate comment from the Maldivian government, but the administration has consistently maintained there is a plot to oust the President. In June, Yameens former deputy Ahmed Adeeb was jailed for 15 years on a charge of plotting to assassinate the president -- part of a sweeping crackdown on opponents, most of whom are in jail or exile. The international community has mounted fierce criticism against what they say is Yameens unlawful jailing of Nasheed and other opponents. Nasheed, the countrys first democratically elected leader who came to power in 2008, was forced to step down in February 2012 following a mutiny by police and the military. In March 2015, he was jailed for 13 years on a charge of terrorism for having a judge arrested when he was president three years earlier. US secretary of state John Kerry warned in May last year that democracy in the Maldives was under threat, saying Nasheed had been imprisoned without due process. The simmering political unrest in the nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands has dented its image as a paradise for upmarket tourists. Senior officials from India and the US will hold several high-level interactions over the next few days that are likely to be the last for the Obama administration. Defence minister Manohar Parikkar is scheduled to hold his third meeting with US defence secretary Ash Carter on Monday, at which officials hope to wrap up a defence deal which has been in the works for a while. Calling the defence partnership the most ambitious one over the past several years, a US official said, previewing the meetings on background, that the logistics agreement between the two countries Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) which was finalised during Prime Minister Narendra Modis June visit, could be signed in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of ministers visit or not. Also on Monday secretary of state John Kerry will be reaching New Delhi for the seventh India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. This is his fourth trip to India as secretary. He will be joined by commerce secretary Penny Pritzker for the dialogue on Tuesday, along with representatives from 12 US agencies. Kerry is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and national security adviser Ajit Doval. The secretary of state will also meet Modi. I wanted to underscore that this is ostensibly the last strategic dialogue of the Obama Administration and ostensibly Secretary Kerrys final visit to India, although I will never rule anything out, the official said, adding, Its an opportunity also to really mark them up on the enormous and consequential relationship this has become. Modi and Obama are also likely to meet, for possibly the last time for Obama as president, during a G-20 meeting in China starting September 4. It is not clear if they will have a bilateral meeting or just a pull-aside. Britains Prince William has spoken out about missing his mother Princess Diana every day since she was killed in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. The second in line to Britains throne opened up about his grief earlier this week during a visit to a hospice in Bedfordshire, east England, as he comforted a 14-year-old boy who had lost his mother to cancer last year. I know how you feel. I still miss my mother every day and its 20 years after she died, said the 34-year-old royal. The important thing is to talk about it as a family. Its OK to feel sad, its OK for you to miss her, he said. During the visit to the Keech Hospice in Luton, the Duke of Cambridge was accompanied by wife Kate. The Duchess also hugged to a six-year-old boy who had lost his eldest brother two years ago, saying: I love cuddles. The royal couple later visited the Young Minds youth mental health charity in London, where William warned volunteers he was feeling emotional. Prince Charles and Diana with Prince William in this picture released by Kensington Palace. (File Photo) Im carrying a lot of things at the moment. Ill be in floods of tears at the end otherwise. Ive had too many sad families with the air ambulance so I cant have any more stuff. Something on the lower level if I can, he said as he joined a mental health helpline to receive calls. The prince was referring to his part-time job as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) since July 2015, having previously served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) search and rescue. In recent months, William and Kate have focused much of their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children and young adults. Young Minds is a member of their Heads Together umbrella group of charities, launched by the duke and duchess with Prince Harry to tackle mental health issues. Read | UKs Prince Harry wishes he had spoken about mother sooner Government forces moved into the town of Daraya near the Syrian capital on Saturday after rebels and civilians were evacuated following a four-year siege by regime forces, a military source said. The Syrian army completely controls Daraya and has entered all of the town. There isnt a single armed man there, the source told AFP of the insurgents, speaking on condition of anonymity. Earlier, a first group of hundreds of rebels and their families evacuated from the town reached opposition-held territory further north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Daraya file is now closed after the evacuation of all the civilians, armed men and their families under the agreement reached on Thursday between the regime and rebels, Syrian state television said. It broadcast footage of army vehicles combing the streets of the town, one of the first to rise up against the regime in Syrias five-year-old revolt. The second and final convoy of rebels and civilians came out of Daraya today, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory monitoring group. The total number of evacuees was not immediately clear. The official SANA news agency reported that 4,000 civilians were to be directed to reception centres and at least 700 rebels escorted to the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syrian. At least five buses carrying fighters and their families arrived in Idlib, the Observatory said. The arrivals were the first since the evacuation of the town just outside Damascus began on Friday under the withdrawal agreement. Daraya had been ravaged by constant army bombardment, and only a single aid convoy, last June, has reached the town since it came under siege in late 2012. Victory sign Civilian residents of the town, believed to number around 8,000, have been taken to government-run reception centres pending resettlement. A Beirut-based television, Al-Mayadeen, aired footage of soldiers taking pictures with their mobiles of buses loaded with rebels, who were allowed to keep their personal weapons under the deal. With our blood and our souls, we sacrifice ourselves for you, O Bashar! soldiers chanted of President Bashar al-Assad as the buses drove by. Inside the vehicles the rebels remained mostly impassive, although some responded by making the victory sign behind the windows. Some 300 fighters and their families were evacuated during the first part of the operation on Friday, according to a military source. While they were taken to Idlib, evacuated civilians were transferred to Hrajela some 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Daraya. Daraya, just 15 minutes from Damascus, was one of the first towns in Syria to rise up against Assads government and became a symbol of the uprising. The rebels said they were forced to agree to evacuate the town because of deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Anti-regime activists have condemned what they called the forced displacement of Darayas inhabitants. Long sieges have prompted rebels in several locations to agree evacuation deals with the regime, prompting activists to accuse Damascus of using starve or surrender tactics. Rebel fighters pulled out of Syrias third city Homs last year under a similar evacuation deal to the Daraya agreement. More than 290,000 people have been killed and over half the population displaced since Syrias conflict erupted in March 2011. Pakistani forces are engaged in a tsunami of human rights violations in Balochistan, a top Baloch leader alleged on Saturday as he sought the help of the international community, including India in the nationalist movement. Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party and the grandson of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed in an encounter with the Pakistani army 10 years ago, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue. Pak forces are engaged in tsunami of human rights violations. We do not want to live with Pakistan anymore, said Switzerland-based Bugti as he demanded a referendum of Baloch people under the supervision of the United Nations. Speaking over phone from Switzerland where he had gone for a commemorative event to pay homage to his grandfather, Bugti urged the international community, including the US, Nato countries, Israel and India, to help them fight their cause. He said he is ready for a dialogue with the Pakistani government but insisted that there is no going back on the freedom movement. Balochistan, of the size of France, is Pakistans largest province which has been under illegal Pakistani occupation for the last seven decades, he said. Bugti said Modis reference to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech is the most powerful statement in the last seven decades. It is for the first time that an Indian prime minister has spoken. We believe that India should have taken this step a long time ago, he said, adding that he is convinced about Balochistans freedom. I am thoroughly indebted to Prime Minister Modi. I thank Prime Minister Modi for speaking raising the voice of Baloch people in his Independence Day address, he said, alleging that crimes by Pakistan against the Baloch have shocked global community. Use of aerial bombardment, use of gases have become routine, he claimed and added that Balochistan is the world capital of missing people. We are political people. We want to solve this with peaceful means. But there is no way we are going to be part of the Pakistan any more. We want freedom of Pakistan. We are not fools to try our luck again and again with Pakistan. We are ready to negotiate through peaceful means, Bugti said. Stating that his immediate course of action would be to create awareness in the international community, Bugti, at the same time, also called for military assistance to the Baloch freedom struggle. So far we have never received any support from any international countries, including India. We want to request India and other countries to help Balochistan. It is genocide of (the) Baloch (people) in Pakistan going on, he said. The forced psychiatric confinement and examination of the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Ilmi Umerov, who was charged of separatism, represents a clear violation of international human rights standards, an official spokesman for the EU External Action Service reported. The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. "We call for his immediate release and, given the serious concerns over his health, urgent and appropriate medical care must be ensured," reads a communique issued in Brussels on Saturday. The European Union has said that the rights of the Crimean Tatars have been gravely attacked through the banning of the activities of the Mejlis, the self-governing body of Crimean Tatars, and by labeling it "an extremist organization". "We reiterate our call for all Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by Russia, including Oleh Sentsov and Oleksander Kolchenko, who were sentenced one year ago in breach of international law and elementary standards of justice, to be guaranteed a safe return to Ukraine. As reported, on May 12, investigators at the Crimean branch of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) launched a criminal inquiry against Ilmi Umerov on suspicion of inciting violation of Russia's territorial integrity. The de facto prosecutor of the annexed Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya wrote on her Facebook page that in March 2016, Umerov spoke live on ATR television, where he publicly called for the need to violate Russia's territorial integrity. Subsequently, Umerov's speeches were posted to the Internet. Investigators of the Crimean FSB Head Department opened a criminal case against Umerov on suspicion of violation incitement of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. On May 13, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea opened criminal proceedings under Article 146, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal deprivation of liberty or kidnapping) and Article 162, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the inviolability of property). He is accused of calling for public action to change the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. On August 11, in Simferopol, the court granted the petition of the FSB investigator on Umerovs forensic psychiatric examination. During the court's sitting, an investigator attached the doctor's interrogation report to the case. They indicate Umerovs neurological diseases could lead to psychiatric problems. At the same time, the defense requested an examination by doctors for their client. A neurologist and psychiatrist, who were questioned by the investigator along with the attending physician, testified about the need for a psychiatric examination. According to lawyer Mykola Polozov, the observations of the doctors are probabilistic in nature. No one of them had seen or talked to Umerov, but made their conclusions on the basis of an abstract from a medical card. The court rejected the appeal. On August 21, Umerov lawyers said that they regarded psychological and psychiatric examination of their client as torture and would appeal to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Umerov's lawyer Mark Feygin said, "We regard psychological and psychiatric examination of Umerov in the state of deteriorating health conducted in the hospital of Simferopol as torture." Donald Trumps personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News on Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trumps car waited. I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy, physician Harold Bornstein of New Yorks Lenox Hill Hospital said. In the rush, I think some of those words didnt come out exactly the way they were meant. Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 -- 16 months older than Clinton -- would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. His health is excellent, especially his mental health, the doctor said with a laugh. He thinks hes the best, which works out just fine. In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trumps 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called astonishingly excellent. If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency, Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said on Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own. The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. #WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!! Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was not strong enough to be president. Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an excellent bill of health. ANKARA: Eleven Turkish police officers were killed and 78 people injured on Friday in a suicide truck bombing claimed by militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), three days into a two-pronged Turkish offensive against jihadists and Kurdish militia in neighbouring Syria. The blast almost destroyed the police headquarters in the south-eastern town of Cizre, just north of the Syrian border. Our sacrifice team staged a comprehensive action in Cizre that left dozens of police dead, said the PKK, which is known for exaggerating tolls. The attack retaliated for the continued isolation of its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and the lack of information about his whereabouts, it said. The explosion went off hours after the Turkish military shelled positions held by Kurdish militia inside Syria. Turkey says its three-day-old operation in Syria is aimed both at Islamic State and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units militia leading the fight against IS in the area. WASHINGTON: The United States has stressed on the need for Pakistan to not differentiate between terror groups based on their agenda or affiliation, asking it to ensure there are no safe havens for terrorists in the country. We have consistently raised our concerns to the highest level of the government of Pakistan on the need to deny safe haven to extremists, the state department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters on Thursday. We have pressed the government of Pakistan to follow up on their expressed commitment, their stated commitment, to not discriminate among terror groups regardless of their agenda or affiliation, she said. Trudeau drew the attention to what Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif had said that they would not discriminate. The terrorist attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul is against the best and brightest of Afghanistan and is a sign that we can all do more, she said. As we have in the past, we encourage the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together, not only in the wake of this attack and to ensure that such attacks dont happen again, but to increase their cooperation countering violent extremism at large, Trudeau said. Sixteen people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan on Wednesday evening, in a nearly 10-hour raid. Begun as a lark, the all-girl Rhea County Spartans soon attracted the attention of unamused Union officers. By Charles Rice I must tell you about a candy stew that they had at Uncle Franks last night, young Mary Paine of Rhea County, Tennessee, wrote to her Confederate-soldier brother in January 1863. Miss Jennie and Manurva had been up to town on a visit and came back there and asked if they might have one there. She told them she did not care if Uncle Frank was willing [,] so they waited till he came home and begged him until he agreed that they might have one there. So they went on home and came back that night with several other girls and had a fine time they say. But I will tell you who was there and then you can guess what a time they had. There was Miss Jennie, Manurva, Scrap, Ann Gillespie, Jane Locke, Molly Kelly, and Isabel Cunnyngham. [Colonel Onslow] Bean was the only gentleman there. Unbelievable as it might seem, most of these carefree young ladies would one day be captured by the Union Army and find themselves held as full-fledged prisoners of war. The story of the adventuresome Rhea County girls and the cavalry company they formed is an undeservedly forgotten incident of the Civil War. The Rhea County Girls Company was created in the summer of 1862 through a combination of boredom and the desire to be a part of the war for Southern independence. Almost all of the sidesaddle soldiers had fathers or brothers in the Confederate military, and the young ladies evidently felt frustrated because their gender prevented them from enlisting. Since they could not actually join the Confederate Army, they did the next best thing: They created an army of their own. Rhea County, located on the northern bank of the Tennessee River in east Tennessee, was one of the most pro-Confederate counties in the politically divided mountain region. Rhea County provided seven companies for the Southern army against only one for the Unionsomething of a record for east Tennessee. When their fathers and brothers marched off to war, the young ladies refused to be left out. Instead, the all-girl company came into existence. Mary McDonald, one of the oldest of the group, was duly elected captain. Caroline McDonald, evidently her sister-in-law, became first lieutenant. Anne Paine was picked for second lieutenant, while Rhoda Tennessee Thomison completed the commissioned list as third lieutenant. Named as noncommissioned officers were Jane Keith, first sergeant; Rachel Howard, second sergeant; Sallie Mitchell, third sergeant; and Minerva Tucker, fourth sergeant. The girls elected no corporals, and the remaining members of the company had to be content with the humble rank of private. These included Barbara Allen, Josephine Allen, Martha Bell, Mary Crawford, Kate Dunwoody, Martha Early, Ann Gillespie, Jennie Hoyal, Kate Hoyal, Maggie Keith, Jane Locke, Louisa McDonald, Mary Ann McDonald, Sidney McDonald, Mary Paine, Mary Robinson, Sarah Rudd and Margaret Sykes. Like their male counterparts, the ladies chose for themselves an appropriate martial namethe Rhea County Spartans. All the young women came from prominent local families. The average age was 18, although the 1860 U.S. census lists Mary McDonald and Caroline McDonald as both being 25, which would have made them about 27 when the company was formed. At first, the Rhea County Spartans contented themselves with simply visiting their soldier sweethearts and relatives among the three companies stationed in the area, presenting them with useful gifts of food and clothing. In mid-1863, however, Union troops entered the area, and the girls activities necessarily became more circumspect. The lady soldiers continued to hold clandestine meetings, if only to keep up their spirits and to exchange news of the war. Rural churches in the Washington area were their most common rendezvous. Almost certainly, the ladies must have engaged in at least a small amount of spying and information-gathering for the Confederate Army. What had started out as a lark became decidedly more serious. The Spartans never had any official connection with either the Confederate Army or the state of Tennessee. Nevertheless, at least one Union Army officer obviously took them quite seriously. After Confederate General John Bell Hood led the Army of Tennessee to disaster at the Battle of Nashville in December 1864, Union troops gained uncontested control of Rhea County for the remainder of the war. Among the units active in the region was the 6th Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Federal). Formed in Chattanooga in October 1864 to serve one year, the 6th Mounted Infantry was a ragtag regiment composed of a few genuine Tennessee Unionists combined with an unsavory assortment of Confederate draft dodgers and deserters. Its primary purpose was to combat the small band of Confederate irregulars who still roamed the Cumberland Mountains of east Tennessee and north Georgia. In the spring of 1865, Captain John P. Walker of Company B decided that the Rhea County Girls Company was just such an organization. Walker, a 38-year-old Rhea County farmer, was a typical Tennessee Unionist. Even though he owned real estate worth an impressive $1,000, Walker was land poor. In fact, the 1860 census listed his personal estate at a mere $180scarcely more than the value of a top-quality horse. Dodging the Confederate conscript officers until the Union forces gained the upper hand, Walker hastened to join the Union victors and share in the spoils. He quickly acquired a reputation for harshness toward Southern sympathizers, using his authority to pay them back for such indignities as he felt he had suffered. Walker certainly justified his reputation when he returned to Rhea County, for one of his first acts was to order the mass arrest of the girls company. As far as Walker was concerned, it was high time to teach the rebellious Southern ladies a lesson. Somehow he persuaded his commander, Lt. Col. George A. Gowin of Hamilton County, to go along with his plan. On April 5, 1865, while Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia was making the final desperate march that would end at Appomattox, Walker sent out his men to round up the Rhea County Spartans. As a native of Rhea County, Walker knew not only who the troublesome ladies were but also where to find them. First Lieutenant William B. Gothard accordingly proceeded to the area south of Washington, where the Spartans officers lived. Armed with a list of names, Gothard was ordered to arrest the women and report with them by noon the next day at the two-story house of William P. Thomison, a discharged Confederate soldier and the father of Lieutenant Rhoda Thomison. Other men from Walkers company marched to apprehend the disloyal women in the countryside around Smiths Cross Roads (now the town of Dayton) and Dunwoodys Mill. A few of the Spartans managed to elude their pursuers, but some 16 of the young women were arrested at gunpoint and brought before Walker. When they learned that they were to be sent to Chattanooga, the prisoners became understandably apprehensive. Mary McDonald penned a hasty note to the 6th Tennessees commander. She urged that Gothard, rather than Walker, be the one to accompany them. Doubtless the girls would prefer him, she said. We all know him. Gowin refused to agree, however, writing that Walker, a married man, will go with your company. Interestingly, the 6th Tennessee seems to have been alone in viewing the Spartans as a real military unit. It was an honor the unfortunate ladies could have done without. Gothard and his mounted men did escort seven of the female Rebels five miles from the Thomison house to Smiths Cross Roads, where Walkers home was located. The Union horse soldiers rode, while the women tramped along as best they could. At Smiths Cross Roads, the footsore Spartans were joined by six more of their number. All 13 then began the long march to the Tennessee River and Bells Landing. It was dark and rainy, and the women frequently stumbled through unseen puddles. Just before they arrived at the landing, the final group of three prisoners joined them. The crestfallen Confederates were made to wait on the flooded riverbank, the clammy mud oozing into their shoes and adding to their discomfort. Finally, their transportation arriveda crude little steamboat called USS Chattanooga. Their ordeal, however, was far from over. Chattanooga was the first of a series of vessels built by the Union Army at Bridgeport, Ala., to supply the besieged Union garrison at Chattanooga. Major General Ulysses S. Grants victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge had made that role unnecessary, and the no-frills steamboat had since enjoyed a somewhat checkered career. The steamer had engaged in so many foraging expeditions that citizens along the Tennessee River nicknamed the boat the Chicken Thief. Clearly not meant to carry passengers, Chattanooga contained only one small room suitable for the ladiesan enclosed area normally used for dining. The table and chairs were removed, and the 16 exhausted young women were crowded inside. Armed guards at both doors ensured that none of the dangerous enemies of the Union would attempt to escape. Many of the women had walked 10 or more miles to the landing, and the tired Spartans arranged themselves in rows on the floor and soon fell fast asleep. When the boat paddled up to the wharf in Chattanooga, Walker rousted out his prisoners and marched them under guard up muddy Market Street to the provost marshals office on the corner of Seventh Street. Captain Seth B. Moe of Ohio, assistant adjutant general of the Union Armys Department of the Etowah, took in the spectacle and promptly sent for his commander, Maj. Gen. James B. Steedman. Steedman already viewed Gowin and his hogback cavalry with contempt; Walkers latest escapade must have strengthened that feeling. If Walker expected to be congratulated on his victory, he was quickly disillusioned. Steedman sharply reprimanded the captain for taking up his time with such foolishness. He then ordered Moe to escort the ladies to the Central House hotel, where they were allowed to refresh themselves and were treated to the best meal the hotel could offer. While the Union general (a Northern Democrat with many Southern friends) went out of his way to demonstrate that not all Yankees were barbarians, he did require the women to take the oath of allegiance to the Union. Now Walker would have no further excuse to harass them. After the women had been fed, Moe dutifully saw them returned to Chattanooga for the journey back to Rhea County. The ladies accommodations were unchangedno chairs, no beds, and only the scant comfort of the bare wood floor. This time, however, there were no armed guards watching over them. Still, Walker had one last bit of revenge in mind. Even though Steedman had ordered him to escort the women to their homes, Walker simply abandoned them at the landing to make their way back as best they could. An irritated Steedman wrote to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas at Nashville recommending that the 6th Tennessee Mounted Infantry be turned over to the State authorities of Tennessee and replaced with good cavalry. Union Colonel Lewis Merrill was even more blunt. The Sixth Tennessee and First Georgia [Union Regiments], Merrill told Thomas, are, in General Steedmans opinion, utterly worthless. My own observation of the first named confirms this opinion. They are simply cowardly thievesuseless, except to keep a community embroiled and encourage guerrillas by running whenever attacked. The company disbanded when the Spartans arrived back in Rhea County. The war was nearly over, and the Spartans soon returned to the conventional role of 19th-century women. Weeks later, Walker was discharged from the Union Army and used his experience to gain a few appointive offices during the Reconstruction years. Then he, too, drifted into obscurity. By the time William G. Allen wrote an account for Confederate Veteran magazine in 1911, the girls company had been all but forgotten. Only three of the Spartans were then still living: Mary McDonald, Mary Ann McDonald and Rhoda Thomison. The aging male veterans, North and South, often met to relive their youth, but the Rhea County Spartans never held a reunion. That is regrettable, for the ladies had a fascinating story to tell. In a sense, they, too, had seen the elephant and done their patriotic duty as they saw fit. TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT YORK In 1995 I went with several friends on a week-long tour of the Meuse-Argonne Battlefield when we drove into the small town of Chatel-Chehery. If you didnt know what went on there during World War I, you would pass through these small towns without giving them much thought. As we drove into the center of town we saw a fine new marble monument. Slowing down, we saw the name York inscribed on the plaque, which stated in English and in French that it was presented by the State of Tennessee on the occasion of the centennial of his birth. Tennessee remembers her heroic native son. We knew this was the area where the 82nd Division fought, but we had no idea that a monument had been erected. Several cemeteries and a monument at Montfaucon are taken care of by the United States government, but a few state monuments, such as the Pennsylvanian memorial in Varennes, are in poor shape. I hope that the Sergeant York monument will be looked after. William J. Munday Lincoln Park, Michigan AT THE MOVIES Your article on author James Jones in the November/December 1998 issue reminded me of the most unforgettable movie moment I have experienced. It happened in Tokyo about eight years after World War II, when I watched From Here to Eternity playing in English with Japanese subtitles. Wearing my U.S. Army uniform in a theater filled with people who had been pained and humbled by a war their nation started, I began to fidget when the Pearl Harbor scene appeared on the screen. When the movie ended and the lights went on, I did not sense any agitation other than my own. Presumably, the Japanese moviegoers were able to separate art from life. Robert L. Caleo Bayonne, New Jersey THE REST OF THE STORY Could you please provide further information on your Alvin York farm story (A Gift for Sergeant York, January/February 1999)? Who owns the property today? Is it still in the family? Im sure that other readers would be interested too. Catesby B. Cannon, Jr. Canfield, Ohio Editors note: Michael E. Birdwell, the York archivist from the Tennessee Technological University, informed us that when Alvin York died in 1964, his widow agreed to sell 200 of the farms 400 acres to the state of Tennessee. The state did not assume control, however, until her death in 1984. Sergeant Yorks home was opened to the public in 1994, though the upstairs rooms are still not on view. It is operated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and is tangentially connected to Pickett State Park. The home is open 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. every day except Christmas and New Years. Following further restoration, the upstairs and some of the farms other buildings will be opened to the public. A friends organization, the Sergeant York Historical Association, assists the site and is currently raising funds for capital improvements and minor restoration work. ORDNANCE John Howard Paynes haunting Home, Sweet Home was the Civil War soldiers favorite song. By Ernest L. Abel A few weeks after the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862), about 100,000 Federal soldiers and 70,000 Confederates were camped on opposite sides of the Rap- pahannock River in Virginia. The battle had been one of the bloodiest of the war so far. More than 12,000 Federals had been killed or wounded; Confederate losses numbered about 5,000. The two sides were still licking their wounds, each entertaining murderous thoughts about the other. As was customary in camp, at twilight the regimental bands on either side began their evening concerts. When they were bivouacked close together, as they were that night, the opposing bands would sometimes play at the same time, trying to drown each other out. On other occasions they took turns. Often the bands waged a musical contest, each playing their own patriotic tunes with as much panache and enthusiasm as they could muster, making many twilight concerts veritable battles of the bands. Toward the end of the evening concerts, the music typically became more poignant and tender. On one particular night, a Federal band was especially melodic in its rendition of the Civil Wars favorite tune. The slow, plaintive notes floated like feathers through the air, gently nestling into homesick hearts. Night was the time when men wrote home to their mothers and sweethearts, or held silent communion with themselves. The soothing notes sent the heartfelt words of the beloved song running through their minds: Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble theres no place like home! A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, Which, seek through the world, is neer met with elsewhere: Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home! Theres no place like Home! Theres no place like Home. Almost as soon as the Union band began playing Home, Sweet Home, Confederate bands took up the strain. One after another, every regimental band in both armies joined in. Everyone ceased what they were doing. Pens were put down; books were closed; games of tag stopped; cards drifted to the ground. There wasnt a sound, except for the music. Then, in the words of Frank Mixson, a private in the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, Everyone went crazy. Mixson had not witnessed anything like it before. Both sides began cheering, jumping up and down and throwing their hats into the air. Mixson had never seen anything to compare with the wild cheering that followed the songs lingering notes. Had there not been a river between them, reflected Mixson, the two armies would have met face to face, shaken hands, and ended the war on the spot. Fredericksburg wasnt the only time Home, Sweet Home made Billy Yank and Johnny Reb forget they were enemies. In the summer of 1864, the Confederates under Maj. Gen. Jubal Early were about to confront Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridans Federals near Winchester and Martinsburg. Their picket lines were only a few feet apart in some places. As night fell, the pickets began talking to one another. Both sides were exhausted. One of the picket officers called over to the other that he would agree not to fire on their pickets, if the other side would do likewise. This would enable both sides to get a good nights rest. The bargain was quickly made. But though the pickets wanted desperately to sleep, they could not turn in without their evenings musical interlude. The Confederate pickets began singing some of their favorite songs. Then it was the Federals turn to be on stage. After a while, the sentries on either side lined up and sang Home, Sweet Home and went happily to sleep. On May 10, 1864, Confederates and Federals faced each other at Spotsylvania. To ease the tension, a Confederate band made its way from its usual position in the rear and began playing hymns. As soon as it stopped, a Federal band nearby started in with one of its own hymns. Then came a bout of patriotic songs. When a Confederate band finally launched into the familiar strains of Home, Sweet Home, both sides began cheering so loudly that it created a din not heard before in the hills around Spotsylvania. In the Federal Army, officers eventually forbade their bands to play Home, Sweet Home for fear it would make men so homesick they would desert or become too demoralized to fight. But they had nothing to worry about on that score. The song had just the opposite effect. In reminding them of their loved ones, Home, Sweet Home reinforced the basic and personal stake each soldier had in fighting for his side. In that sense, the song had a deeper meaning than more overtly patriotic songs, since patriotic songs appealed to general, rather than personal, feelings. The urge to protect ones home and family is more primitive and therefore more immediate. When Johnny Reb or Billy Yank sang Home, Sweet Home, or listened to his regimental band play it, he automatically thought of home and family, and his responsibility to protect them both. On the eve of the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862), Federal and Confederate soldiers were enjoying their regular nighttime concerts when, as usual, one of the bands closed with Home, Sweet Home. Again, both sides joined in, until the night air was filled with the emotional strains of the beloved song. Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary, were likewise comforted by the heartfelt song when the Italian songstress Adelina Patti sang it to them at the White House in 1862. The Lincolns 12-year-old son, Willie, had recently died of typhoid fever, and both parents were in deep mourning. The songstress had been invited to the White House for a private appearance in the hope that she might give them some respite from their grief. Miss Patti went through a repertoire of her best showpieces, ending with one of the saddest songs of the day, The Last Rose of Summer. When she was finished, she saw Mrs. Lincoln in tears and the president covering his face with his hands. The songstress instantly sensed that the song had reminded them of their recent loss. Perhaps if she sang a happy song, she thought, she might change their mood. But as she started in, President Lincoln, in a choking voice, asked her to sing Home, Sweet Home, the only song that could give them any solace from their grief. Both the words and music of the song came from an opera, Clari, or The Maid of Milan, which had its debut in London, England, on May 8, 1823. The tune was composed by Henry Bishop (1786-1855), the most famous English composer of the day, but it was the poignant lyrics written by expatriate American author John Howard Payne that made the song an international hit. Payne was born to William and Sarah Isaacs Payne in New York City on June 9, 1791, the sixth in a family of nine children. One of his cousins was Dolley Payne Madison, wife of President James Madison; another cousin was Robert Treat Paine, one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence. Although he became one of the best-known personages in America, Payne was often destitute and lived much of his life away from his native land. Many music critics have found the inspiration for Paynes immortal song in his longing for his early years, which he spent with his family in East Hampton, on Long Island. His father had moved the family to East Hampton when Payne was very young, and that is where Payne spent his earliest and happiest years. Many believe that this is the home he so fondly wrote about many years later. Payne was a precocious student and began writing poems and stories and acting at an early age. His father, a teacher, did not approve of his writing or acting and got him a job in New York as a clerk, hoping that he would be so busy working that he would not have time for such frivolous activities. But Payne kept writing. And when he was just 14, he began publishing a little weekly periodical, the Thespian Mirror, in which he reviewed plays and wrote theater gossip. His magazine attracted the attention of the editor of the New York Evening Post, who was so surprised to learn it was written and published by a young boy that he arranged for Payne to attend Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y., all expenses paid. Payne gratefully accepted, but left before graduating to support his family, which had fallen on hard times. At first, Payne had no trouble finding work as an actor. At 18, he was billed The American Juvenile Wonder. Although he was successful between 1810 and 1811, he could not find work on stage afterward, and when his father died, he decided to leave America to see if he could re-establish his thespian career abroad. Despite the War of 1812, he sailed to England that same year. Upon landing, he was thrown in jail as a foreign enemy and held prisoner for two weeks. Although he managed to find a number of acting jobs, he soon realized he would never recapture his earlier acting success and gave up the stage in favor of writing and adapting plays. Payne was very successful as a playwright but, unable to manage his money, he fell heavily into debt. It was while he was destitute that an English theater manager brought him a play and convinced him to change it into an opera and write a few songs for it. Although he had tasted success and had roamed mid pleasures and palaces, at this point in his life, Payne felt very lonely. He missed his homeland and became convinced that be it ever so humble, there simply was no place like home. He put those feelings into words. The theater manager then persuaded composer Henry Bishop to set Paynes words to music. Home, Sweet Home, the hit song from the opera, subsequently sold more than 300,000 copies in its first year, and afterward was printed in more editions with more variations than any other song of its time. The music publisher made more than $10,000 from the song, an enormous amount in those days. Payne was paid about $250 for his efforts and never received royalties. His name was not even included on the song sheet. In 1832, disillusioned and penniless, Payne returned to the United States, where he worked as a journalist in various cities. In Richmond, Va., he fell in love with Maria Mayo, a beautiful and charming Virginia belle. While courteous to Payne, Miss Mayo did not share his romantic feelings, preferring instead the military bearing of the general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, Winfield Scott. It was the last of many stillborn love affairs for Payne. Payne never recovered from his final bitter disappointment. Although he still appeared publicly, his enthusiasm for life had been sapped. Nevertheless, he remained a celebrity among people in the theater. One night in 1850, Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, was singing in Washington as part of her American tour. President Millard Fillmore, his family and cabinet were in the audience. So were Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and various other dignitaries. Payne was in the audience, as well. Home, Sweet Home was one of Linds favorites, and just before she started singing, she turned to face Payne and sang it to him. The usually stoic Webster was moved to tears, as was the whole audience. When the song ended, Webster stood up and bowed to Payne; others followed, giving him the greatest ovation of his life. Although he was not very successful as a journalist, Paynes fame as the author of Home, Sweet Home was enough to get him an appointment as U.S. minister to Tunis in the Tyler administration. In 1852, he died at the age of 61, far from the home and country that had inspired him. Despite the continued popularity of his song, few people thought about Payne until 1882. That year, a wealthy music lover from Washington, who had seen Payne on the stage many years before, was reminded of the songwriter and felt that the writer of one of Americas best-loved songs deserved to come home. Arrangements were made for Paynes body to be exhumed. On March 22, 1883, the boat carrying his body arrived in New York. As the casket was brought ashore, a 65-piece band played his immortal song. Paynes body lay in state in New York for several days as thousands paid homage. On June 9, 1883, Payne was reburied in Oak Hill Cemetery, just outside Washington, D.C. Taking part in the mile-long cortege were President Chester Arthur, his entire cabinet, members of both houses of Congress, and members of the diplomatic corps. The president of Columbia University gave the eulogy. As the casket was lowered into its final resting place, the Marine Band and the Philharmonic Society Orchestra played Paynes deathless masterpiece. The author of the Civil Wars most beloved song had finally come home to rest. * Whats On Stage Lots of comedy is on offer in London now. That includes a big new musical, The Witches of Eastwick, at Drury Lane (020 7494 5060). A Gothic tale set in an imaginary American small town, it was a movie, and now its a monster musical. It emerges in luridflower in a new retelling of three bored women who unwittingly raise the Devil. It certainly is spectacular; the three flying women (wonderfully played by Maria Friedman, Lucy Arnaz, and Joanna Riding) add the necessary magic, while, alas, Ian McShane as the Devil just doesnt. He tries hard but every move he makes he opens a can of squirms. Look for Peter J?back as the sweet young lover who sings ardently. See Witches for a real Drury Lane spectacular, though. Theres lots of dance and its exotically set and very theatrical. Pageant has come into the Vaudeville (020 7836 9987) from popular runs in the U.S. Its a look with a slant at Americas beauty contests through the years. This Miss America contest takes place every night, with the audience voting on the star. The laugh is that the girls are all fellas, and not copy-cat impersonatorsits all great fun as fuzzy chests and hairy legs in high heels are paraded as well as a set of dizzy costumes. The revival of The King and I from New York is an undoubted triumph for the London Palladium (020 7494 5020). Rodgers and Hammerstein made a marvel 50 years ago, and its staged here with spectacular design. As the governess who teaches the many children of the King of Siam, Elaine Paige sings charmingly and looks wickedly young. As the sexy king, Jason Scott Lee starts slowly but gathers pace and eventual charisma. A Busy Day at the Lyric (020 7494 5045) is a comedy by the great 18th-century diarist Fanny Burney. A visual feast, the production tells a tale of the Regency period. Snobbery is rampant, making for a lot of witty comment. Costumes range from Greek Revival fashions to robust and vulgar cartoons, after the great satirist George Rowlandson. The courtyard at Somerset House, an 18th-century palace off the Strand, will play host to outdoor opera and ballet by its new fountains, and a splendidly grand London palace will live again after decades as offices and a parking lot for tax officials. Stroll around, take tea on a terrace with river views, discover two great museumsthe Courtauld and the newly opened GilbertCollection. Stones in His Pockets at the Duke of Yorks Theatre (020 7836 5122) is a comedy from a new voice, Marie Jones. She crafts a clever play using but two Irish actors to convey the mayhem of a Hollywood movie being shot in a remote Irish village. Notre Dame de Paris clangs doom-laden bells at the Dominion (0870 607 7460). This musical version of the Victor Hugo novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame must have the original author cowering in the crypt. The music (Richard Cocciante) is notable, as are spectacular dances from a large, hard-working cast. But its a heavy versiontedious and poorly developed. The painful lyrics (the translations anyway, by Will Jennings) have to be heard to be disbelieved. Gilbert & Sullivan rollicks into the Savoy Theatre (020 7836 8888) with The Mikado until January. This popular spoof of Japanese fashions in Victorian England is a new look at a favourite operetta by the DOyly Carte Company. More serious opera in on tap at the vast Albert Hall (020 7589 8212) with Aida on 26th October and Tosca on 26th November. Recommended is The Reduced Shakespeare Company. Three crazy Americans speed thro comic cuts on Shakespeare and American history Tuesdays. Criterion (020 7413 1437). Michael Leech It was a photograph that drove a number of people to tears. Wolfram Gottschalk, 83, and his wife, Anita, 81, became viral after their granddaughter shared their sad tale with the world. It got 6,000 shares. The old couple separated when they found no room together in an old age home at Surrey, British Columbia, according to Ashley Baryik, 29. She posted their photograph on Facebook on Tuesday of her "Omi and Opi" sobbing and holding hands. She said it was "the saddest photo I have ever taken." Wolfram was diagnosed with lymphoma, so he is on a waiting list to go to his wife's home. Baryik said her grandparents got separated in January when her grandfather was hospitalized for congestive heart failure. As he waited, his wife Anita also applied for "senior assisted living," hoping to join him. She got a place in the home first even as her husband was transported to a transitional facility. Since then he has been waiting for an open bed in the home. "It's heartbreaking for my grandmother, she wants to bring her husband home every night. The old couple has been separated for eight months, so they weep every time they can see each other," said Baryik. It's been emotionally draining for both of them. Baryik put out an appeal for help when Wolfram was diagnosed with lymphoma this week. It brought a sense of urgency to bring the couple together. They seemed to be a victim of backlogs and delays by our healthcare system, according to the family. While appealing to the public, Baryik explained that the requests to Fraser Health seemed to have fallen on deaf ears for the last eight months. But on Thursday, a spokesperson contacted them to inform them that finding a bed for the grandfather was the number one priority. Even though she is grateful for the funds raised for the grandparents, Baryik said she is not interested in money. "Taking money defeats the purpose of fighting for families who can't afford privatised beds. We want everyone's focus to be on fixing the system rather than raising money and putting a band-aid on the issue," said Baryik. "Now with the news of cancer, our fight to have them in the same facility is even more urgent. They deserve this! Financially, physically and emotionally exhausted, me and my family are begging for your help my friends. We want justice for my grandparents who after 62 years together deserve to spend their last moments in the same building," Baryik concluded her plea." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte rebuked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno following her remarks on the government's anti-illegal drug campaign when she urged drug suspects to refuse to surrender sans warrant of arrest. "I am alarmed by the situation of impunity in our country whereby our court processes are not effected by law enforcement agencies," Sereno said as quoted by The Philippine Star. Sereno expressed concern on the spate of killings as a result of Duterte's campaign to eliminate the menace of drugs in six months' time. The newly-elected president, less than two months in office, gained popularity in his war against drugs, tagging high ranking government officials such as a senator, court judges, police generals, governors and mayors in illegal drug activities. The numbers of killings of drug personalities also breached the 800 mark with most fatalities reportedly engaged in gunfights against authorities while others were believed to be executed by vigilantes. Duterte said the statement of the country's chief magistrate can stir anarchy as it will encourage notorious drug lords to resist and fight government operatives. "Hearing your words 'do not allow yourself to be arrested if there is no warrant,' is a very dangerous statement. You will promote anarchy. There is no anarchy under my watch," he added. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called the forced confinement in a psychiatric clinic of one of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov the return to the Stalin era. "One of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar people Ilma Umerov was forcefully put to a mental clinic. So we see that Stalin times, the 30s of the 20th century have completely returned," Poroshenko said in an interview with CNN, the Ukrainian president's press service reported. "This is not the problem of just Ukraine. This is the problem of the whole world. And the U.S. as the leader of the world should be and is shoulder to shoulder with us in this fighting for global stability and global security," Poroshenko said. The head of state stressed that a the moment hundreds of Ukrainians are held hostage, are confined in Russian prisons and prisons in the occupied territory. Poroshenko called the whole democratic world to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and step up the pressure on Moscow for its violation of the international law as well as rights and freedoms of Ukrainians. Mac Miller is currently in album mode. The rapper is gearing up to drop his new LP The Divine Feminine on September 16, ahead of which hes released a few singles and a tour announcement, as well as a remix of Ariana Grandes Into You. It seems that after that remix dropped, the rumors started flying concerning a possible relationship between the two. Photos of the two kissing obviously didnt help. The two continue to fan the flame today, with more photos surfacing of another recent outing together. Mac and Ariana went to get tattoos together, following which Ariana was caught admiring Macs new hand tattoo. The Pittsburgh native also showed off the tattoo on his Instagram. Check out photos of the two above. Is this all a publicity stunt to help push The Divine Feminine or is it for real? Mac Miller & Ariana Grande 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. 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 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. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel ripped into a CBC comedian for mocking Stephen Harper during 2014's Parliament Hill shooting. Mark Critch from "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" published an Instagram photo of himself on Friday with the caption: "Stephen Harper stepped down. Here I am in his closet." Advertisement It's an apparent reference to the situation that unfolded in October 2014 as gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed reservist Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial and then stormed into the Parliament building. MPs and staffers all ran for safety as gunshots rang out. The Hill was locked down for several hours. Then-prime minister Harper reportedly ducked into a closet, according to CBC News, and then was moved to a more secure location. The RCMP commissioner later said that Harper followed "exactly" the training he had received. .@markcritch,I don't really have words to describe my disgust at this post of yours 1/ pic.twitter.com/6QCDkE7FCX Michelle Rempel, MP (@MichelleRempel) August 27, 2016 Critch published the photo to mark Harper's announcement that he's stepping down as Calgary Heritage MP, marking the end of more than a decade in Canadian politics. Advertisement But the comedian's post did not go over well with Rempel or many others on social media. "I don't really have words to describe my disgust at this post of yours," Rempel wrote in a series of tweets. "May you never have to experience hearing gunshots coming towards you while you're in a confined space. May you never have to choose between running for your life or trying to protect your friends from the unknown. May you never have a panic attack in a movie (that) has gunshots in it two years after running for your life." .@markcritch what you posted isn't satire, or comedy. It's a fucking embarrassment. Michelle Rempel, MP (@MichelleRempel) August 27, 2016 .@markcritch and thanks for triggering me, you asshole. Michelle Rempel, MP (@MichelleRempel) August 27, 2016 Political commentator Warren Kinsella also didn't mince words in a blog post calling Critch an "asshole." Advertisement However, others were not impressed with Rempel's choice of language. @stephenlautens@markcritch Wow. Does she kiss her constituents with that mouth? Christine Wong (@cjayewong) August 27, 2016 @MichelleRempel@markcritch nice language from an elected official, who apparently is also an embarrassment expert. Michael Nourse (@michaelnourse) August 27, 2016 Rempel later apologized on Twitter for her use of "expletives." Critch's post has since been deleted from Instagram but not before people could add their reaction. "Joking about a terrorist attack? Shameful" read one comment. So, has CBC fired Mark Critch yet? pic.twitter.com/ycGjlskEEm Dean Skoreyko (@bcbluecon) August 27, 2016 Critch told CBC News in a statement on Saturday: "Michelle and I had a good conversation. She wrote me an apology for flaming out and I deleted the picture. No hard feelings on either side." Advertisement Also on HuffPost As an unfulfilled lawyer who left a career in law to pursue my true passions, I'm always excited to hear the wild stories of people who have taken a similar, less conventional path: followed their hearts, sought meaning and joy above all else, and achieved great personal and professional success while doing so. I was delighted to find some of my fellow like-minded souls on the first night of my recent Hawaiian vacation. Doris and Floyd Christenson, owners of Mama's Fish House on Maui, are a great example of just the kind of kindred spirits I am talking about here. Advertisement Having been to Mama's once before, my boyfriend insisted that a road trip to the restaurant--an hour drive from our resort in Kapalua -- was well worth the long haul. Easily convinced by the promise of a romantic, open-aired restaurant with an ocean view, some of the island's best seafood, and a reservation perfectly timed to watch the sunset, I happily agreed to the excursion. I must admit, I was hoping for a fabulous dinner with a beautiful ocean view--it was our first night in Hawaii, afterall. But what I got was one of the most magical restaurant experiences I've ever had--from a tour of the kitchen by the Executive Chef, replete with a hubbub of cheerful, smiling line chefs (making 900 meals every day!), an introduction to the owners, Doris and Floyd Christenson who still frequent the restaurant, to warm conversation with some of the 320 restaurant staff--who gushed about the positive community that is Mama's Fish House. (This was the view from our table!) We were regaled with heartfelt stories about the local fishermen who supply the fish, the third and fourth generation farmers who supply the produce (including our very own server who also happens to be an organic farmer), and the woman who grows all of the lovely flowers in the arrangements she creates that adorn the restaurant. We were presented with leis handmade by the Executive Chef's wife; we were taught the appropriate Hawaiian ritual of lovingly placing them on each other with a kiss on each cheek and instructed on the traditional way leis are worn. We sat in awe as we learned that each and every detail of the restaurant, down to the tablecloths and dishware, supported the local community, and reflected the Christenson's commitment and connection to the island. Thankfully, all of this Hawaiian community spirit and warmth matched the spectacular taste of the food--we opted for a many-course feast of arguably some of the best dishes I have ever eaten. Our evening at Mama's wasn't just setting the bar high for the rest of our trip--it was setting the bar high, period. Advertisement It's one thing to eat a great meal or dine at a beautiful location. It's another experience entirely to eat at a place with the special kind of "mana," or "energy," that filled the place. With Tiki torches ablaze, the restaurant was abuzz with the warmth of a loving family gathering. It was gorgeous, sure, with the oceanfront view, fragrant Hawaiian breeze and Mama's charming and genuine island decor--shells and pieces from old sugarcane mills and aging photographs of the Christensons sailing journeys across the Pacific Ocean. But it was truly lit up by the magic that the Christensons created out of their love and passion--for island living, for the authentic flavors of French Polynesian cuisine, and for creating a business that felt more like a family, far from their original homes. Decades ago, before Maui was the tourist destination it is today, before people frequented the North Shore of the island where Mama's is located, and before Maui restaurants were even serving fish (if you can believe it, they mostly served steak!), the Christensons started building their dream fish restaurant in a small plantation house on the beach. Needless to say, the small plantation house has been expanded, and now Mama's even has a beautiful Inn and two incredible guesthouses (we couldn't help but peek into the Inn for future reference). Advertisement This isn't just a restaurant-on-the-beach business anymore, this has become a huge operation. But more importantly, it's one big supportive community operation. I loved every aspect of my night at Mama's Fish House. I loved the food. I loved the endless stories of the hundreds of lives--of fisherman and farmers and servers and other staff and purveyors--that the Christensons have touched. But what I loved most of all was the Christenson's personal story. They sailed the Pacific, they fell in love with Polynesia and Maui, they dared to make their dream a reality. Their story proves what I've always believed to be the key ingredient to real success: following your heart. And the incredible Polynesian flavors and foods that the Christensons share with us don't hurt, either. You can find more about Mama's here. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri It's still only August, but already the predictions that this would be an exceedingly banal presidential election campaign look like they've already come true. This week's campaign news might be summed up as an elementary school playground shouting match: "You're a bigot!" "No, you're a bigot!" Sigh. We've still got over two months of this to get through, folks. And nobody sane expects things are going to get any better any time soon -- quite the opposite, in fact. Now, normally August is the official "Silly Season" of politics, where reporters get so bored with the lack of actual political news (Congress having larked off on vacation for the entire month) that they write speculative pieces pondering ideas only one step removed from conspiracy theories. Like whether Donald Trump's real Machiavellian plan all along has been to start up his own alt-right media empire after he loses to Hillary Clinton. That's pretty much par for the August course. Over on the right, Rudy Giuliani is conspiracy-mongering the "Hillary is dangerously ill" storyline, which is also something you'd expect in August. Thankfully, we've only got less than a week to go until September, when pundits will all begin obsessing over the upcoming first presidential debate. So there's that to look forward to. Advertisement Speaking of the debate preparation, word is that Hillary Clinton hasn't yet decided who will "play Trump" in her debate prep sessions. Possible names floated: Joe Biden, Terry McAuliffe, Ed Rendell, and Alan Dershowitz. Then there are a few who probably could achieve the proper Trumpian levels of spontaneity: James Carville and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Our favorite suggestion, however, has to be Senator Al Franken. Franken has a lightning-quick wit and would likely be an incredibly caustic Trump stand-in, so we have to say he'd be one of the better candidates for the job. Donald Trump is (mostly, so far) sticking to the "read the damn speech as it's written" strategy his new campaign managers have imposed upon him, although he did emerge from the bunker of Fox News to give Anderson Cooper an interview this week -- the first non-Fox interview he seems to have given all month long. It didn't go real well, mostly because nobody has been able to figure out what Trump's position on immigration is at any particular moment. And that includes Trump himself, who was all over the map this week on what to do about the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States. Trump's always been a big fan of just rounding them all up and deporting them, which he has espoused too many times to count during his campaign. Now, apparently, someone told him that he actually needs a few minority voters to have any prayer of winning, so he's "softening" (his word) on the deportation force he's previously promised. Or maybe he isn't. Maybe they'll have to leave, maybe they won't -- it all depends on what day Trump is asked the question, because his answers keep radically flip-flopping. His campaign had earlier scheduled a big speech on the issue where he'd roll out his detailed deportation plans, but the speech had to be cancelled (assumably after the speechwriters had a nervous breakdown trying to figure out Trump's actual position). Or maybe it's a high-level fight within the campaign between the hardliners and those who have the ability to read a poll, who knows? Advertisement Trump is also finally trying to put together some semblance of a ground game, and he's surrounding himself with the best people, as promised. In a key Colorado district, this means a 12-year-old is running Trump's campaign effort. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried, folks. But back to Trump's newfound appreciation of minorities. After continuously bragging during the primaries about his poll numbers (including claims to be "winning" among Latinos and African-Americans), Trump finally seems to have realized that he is not, in fact, convincing many people of color to support him. So he's got a new message to them -- one he's delivering in front of lily-white crowds in multiple states. Trump's message? "Your life sucks, so vote for me because I couldn't possibly be any worse!" No, really -- that's his idea of outreach. That's not an actual quote, though, merely a summary. Here's an actual quote from one of his rallies this week: Look at how much African-American communities are suffering from Democratic control. To those I say the following: What do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump? What do you have to lose? You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the Hell do you have to lose? Later, he promised that if he becomes president, no black children would be shot while walking down the street -- a pretty sweeping promise! But what Trump doesn't seem to realize is that not every single black or brown American lives in an inner city, and furthermore that there actually are black and brown people with good jobs and living situations. Trump doesn't seem worried about his minority appeal, though, stating boldly that when he is re-elected in 2020, he'll get "95 percent" of the African-American vote. When asked about this tidbit of insanity, Trump running mate Mike Pence burst out laughing, on camera. All of that was just the beginning of Trump's week of minority outreach, mind you. By the end of the week, he was telling anyone who would listen that Hillary Clinton was a bigot. Anderson Cooper even helpfully defined the term to Trump ("Bigotry is having hatred towards a particular group"), but Trump refused to change his mind, when Cooper directly asked whether he still thought she was bigoted: Advertisement Oh, she is. Of course she is. Her policies. 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. This was all an effort to pre-empt Hillary Clinton's speech this week, where she laid out in painful detail why Donald Trump is, in fact, a bigot (more on this in a moment). But if anyone is wondering why the audiences at Trump's rallies are so startlingly non-minority in nature, perhaps it's because the campaign staff seem to be going out of their way to assure this homogeneity. A previous supporter of Trump (who now says he can't bring himself to vote for the man) wrote a first-person account for the Washington Post about how he was kicked out of a Trump rally: I still don't know why I was asked to leave. But I think it has something to do with my race. My mother is white and my father is Indian. When [the campaign security person] saw me, I wonder whether he noticed that I look different from most Trump supporters. I wonder whether he assumed that I couldn't possibly support Trump because of how I look. So, in other words, that minority outreach thingie seems to be going swimmingly! Maybe 95 percent of all minorities will be voting for Trump this year -- at least in Donald Trump's fevered imagination. Things have gotten so bad that it's hard for other racially-insensitive Republicans to even get attention. Maine's governor Paul LePage gave it the old college try this week, when he asserted that nine out of ten drug dealers arrested in his state were people of color, which he knew because he kept a binder full of all their mug shots. He then doubled down -- when asked whether this might be because of racial profiling, LePage stated: Advertisement Look, a bad guy is a bad guy, I don't care what color it is. When you go to war, if you know the enemy, the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, you shoot at red, don't you? You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy. And the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority right now coming in are people of color or people of Hispanic origin. I can't help that. I just can't help it. Those are the facts. Good thing he doesn't have to worry about minority outreach up there (Maine is 95 percent white). Maine's governor also -- for good measure -- left a profanity-laden tirade on a lawmaker's voice mail, just in case that whole "black/brown people are the enemy" thing wasn't enough to get him in the news. A local paper even wrote an editorial apologizing to the rest of the country for him, entitled: "Message To America: Sorry We Gave You LePage." LePage wasn't the only Republican caught on tape cursing like a sailor, though. A guy who lost two elections in Maryland moved to Florida and is running for a House district miles from where he actually lives. This serial campaigner was outraged that a journalist exposed the fact that virtually all of his donations have come from outside his district as well, so he dropped multiple F-bombs even though he knew full well he was being recorded. Is this a new trend, due to Donald Trump's candidacy? It's too soon to tell, really. But there was actually some good news out of Maine this week, as President Obama created a new National Monument in the north woods. We heartily applaud such conservation efforts, no less because we may have actually been to this land before (it'd be impossible to tell without a really good topo map), when we visited Baxter State Park, home of the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the highest point in Maine, Mount Katahdin. The newly-created Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument abuts Baxter State Park, and was President Obama's 100th birthday present to the National Park Service. So, like we said, not all the news out of Maine this week was bad. Hillary Clinton gave us all a preview of what the presidential debates are going to be like this week, with a speech given at a community college in Reno, Nevada. The entire speech was a point-by-point takedown of Donald Trump's character and unfitness for office. This week's talking points section is comprised of excerpts from this speech, which truly pulled no punches. For taking on Trump so directly and forcefully, Hillary Clinton is easily our Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week. Advertisement Donald Trump has spent the last two weeks desperately trying to convince white suburbanites that he isn't as scary and bigoted as they think. His floundering around in weak attempts at minority outreach were not really designed to appeal to minorities (since that boat has largely sailed already), but instead they were designed to soften his image among the demographic groups that normally vote Republican pretty reliably, but this year have been recoiling from Trump in horror. Clinton's speech was a necessary reminder that Trump is precisely as scary and bigoted as everyone thinks. All that Clinton really needed to do, in fact, was to stand up and read off some of the hundreds of things Donald Trump has said about how he sees (and how he would treat) minorities in America. His own words condemn him -- nothing else is even really necessary. Clinton's speech went even further, however. The broad theme she's been campaigning on recently has been: "What you see is what you get with Donald Trump." There will be no pivot, because there simply is nothing to pivot to. He is who he is, as even he will cheerfully admit. All Clinton did was to remind everyone of who Donald Trump is, as opposed to who he's now desperately pretending to be. Trump has had a message for minorities which has been pretty consistent throughout his campaign. Minorities, to him and his supporters, are "The Other." They are not us, they are outsiders to be feared, investigated, arrested, jailed, deported, and barred from entry to the United States. That's his minority message in a nutshell, and no amount of "outreach" now is going to change it. Hillary Clinton just reminded everyone of this fact. She did so in great detail, giving us a preview of some of the issues she'll be hitting Trump on during the upcoming debates. She is signaling that she will not shy away from taking Trump on directly, which is a relief. Trump is so vulnerable on so many issues that even Clinton's speech had to be confined only to his bigotry. Even so, there's so much to choose from that Clinton had the luxury of only providing the low points of Trump's campaign -- plenty of other offensive things he has said or done weren't even included. Advertisement For taking Trump on in such a bold fashion, Hillary Clinton easily wins this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award. [It is our standing policy not to provide contact information for political campaign websites, so you'll have to look Hillary Clinton up yourself to let her know you appreciate her efforts this week.] We actually don't have a Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award to hand out. We had two possibilities, but both of them are, at best, only "guilt by association with family members" scandals, which don't really qualify. The first of these was the exposure of yet another drug company using profiteering off of sick people as their business model. The price of EpiPens was hiked hundreds of dollars, just because the company thought it could get away with it. This company is led by Heather Bresch, whose multi-million-dollar salary also exploded during the same time period. The woman in question is the daughter of West Virginia's Senator Joe Manchin, who has been trying to lay low on the issue while many of his fellow senators are calling for an investigation. But Manchin himself bears no real blame for having a money-grubbing daughter, so no award is possible here. The second was a little bit more relevant to the politician. A House member from California, Ami Bera, got over $200,000 in campaign donations over two separate election cycles that were funneled to him by his father, Babulal Bera. When confronted by the evidence that he had financed the illegal campaign donation scheme, Babulal admitted it. He's now going to serve a year and a day in jail for doing so. But his son apparently had nothing to do with the scheme, so even having his father convicted of campaign money-laundering for his own benefit doesn't quite rise to the level of earning a Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week. Guilt by association, even with a close family member, doesn't really qualify. Advertisement So we're not giving a MDDOTW award out this week, unless we missed someone obvious you'd like to nominate for the award (down in the comments, as usual). Volume 405 (8/26/16) What follows are seven excerpts from Hillary Clinton's Reno speech on Donald Trump, presented in the order they appeared in the speech. Clinton has a pretty easy job, as we've mentioned, because attacking Trump is so easy -- just review his record of statements and actions. Trump's response was, predictably, to play the childish game of: "I know you are but what am I?" Or, perhaps, the more-adult version: "Who are you going to believe, me or your lyin' eyes?" As the presidential campaign moves into its final two months, more and more American voters are starting to pay close attention. Sadly, for many of them, this is the first time they've really done so. What this means is that everything that has happened so far has flown under the radar of millions of voters. Hillary Clinton needs to remind these folks of what Trump has already said and done as a candidate, every chance she gets. Most people have already formed an opinion about Trump, but not everyone. For those still open to persuasion (one way or the other), reviewing what has gone before is absolutely necessary. Trump's new campaign team is trying to reposition Trump as a friend and champion of minority rights in America. No, don't laugh -- that's exactly what they're now attempting. Clinton can't just sit back and hope everyone knows how laughable this is, she's got to make that case herself, repeatedly. The speech in Reno did an admirable job of doing precisely this, which is why we're turning over the whole talking points section to extended excerpts from this speech. No introductions are necessary for these talking points, we should also add -- Clinton's words alone are enough. Prejudice and paranoia From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia. He is 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. Advertisement In just this past week, under the guise of "outreach" to African-Americans, Trump has stood up in front of largely white audiences and described black communities in such insulting and ignorant terms: "Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing. No homes. No ownership. Crime at levels nobody has seen." Right now," he said, "you walk down the street and get shot." Not qualified for the job Now, Trump's lack of knowledge or experience or solutions would be bad enough. But what he's doing here is more sinister. Trump is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters. It's a disturbing preview of what kind of president he'd be. And that's 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, dark reaches of the internet, should never run our government or command our military. The pattern continued Well, throughout his career and this campaign, Donald Trump has shown us exactly who he is. We should believe him. Advertisement When Trump was getting his start in business, he was sued by the Justice Department for refusing to rent apartments to black and Latino tenants. Their applications would be marked with a "C" -- "C" for "colored" -- and then rejected. Three years later, the Justice Department took Trump back to court because he hadn't changed. And the pattern continued through the decades. State regulators fined one of Trump's casinos for repeatedly removing black dealers from the floor. No wonder the turn-over rate for his minority employees was way above average. And let's not forget Trump first gained political prominence leading the charge for the so-called "Birthers." He promoted the racist lie that President Obama is not really an American citizen - part of a sustained effort to delegitimize America's first black president. Textbook definition We all remember when Trump said a distinguished federal judge born in Indiana couldn't be trusted to do his job because, quote, "He's a Mexican." Think about that. The man who today is the standard-bearer of the Republican Party said a federal judge -- who by the way had a distinguished record as U.S. attorney, had to go in hiding because Mexican drug gangs were after him, who has Mexican heritage but just like me was born in this country -- is somehow incapable of doing his job solely because of his heritage. Even the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, described that -- and I quote -- as "the textbook definition of a racist comment." Advertisement To this day, Trump has never apologized to Judge Curiel. Dream on, Donald Through it all, he has continued pushing discredited conspiracy theories with racist undertones. You remember he said that thousands of American Muslims in New Jersey cheered the 9/11 attacks. They didn't. He suggested that Ted Cruz's father was involved in the Kennedy assassination. Now perhaps in Trump's mind, because Mr. Cruz was a Cuban immigrant, he must have had something to do with it. And there is absolutely, of course, no evidence of that. Just recently, Trump claimed that President Obama founded ISIS. And he has repeated that over and over again. His latest paranoid fever dream is about my health. All I can say is, Donald, dream on. This is what happens when you treat the National Enquirer like Gospel. How would they prove it? And he'd ban Muslims around the world, billions of them, from entering our country just because of their religion. Think about that for a minute. How would it actually work? So people landing in U.S. airports would line up to get their passports stamped, just like they do now. But in Trump's America, when they step up to the counter, the immigration officer would ask every single person, "What is your religion?" Advertisement And then what? What if someone says, "I'm a Christian," but the agent doesn't believe him? Do they have to prove it? How would they do that? Really, ever since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, America has distinguished itself as a haven for people fleeing religious persecution, believing in religious freedom and religious liberty. Under Donald Trump, America would distinguish itself as the only country in the world to impose a religious test at the border. 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. What a would be a cruel irony that someone running for president would equate us with them. More cowbell! Trump likes to say he only hires the "best people." But he's had to fire so many campaign managers it's like an episode from The Apprentice. The latest shake-up was designed to -- quote -- "Let Trump be Trump." To do that, he hired Stephen Bannon, the head of a right-wing website called Breitbart.com, as campaign CEO. To give you a flavor of his work, here are a few headlines they've published: "Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy." "Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?" "Gabby Giffords: The Gun Control Movement's 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. Breitbart tried to enflame them further. Advertisement Just imagine -- Donald Trump reading that and thinking: "This is what I need more of in my campaign." Chris Weigant blogs at: Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant Full archives of FTP columns: FridayTalkingPoints.com Rituals are powerful drivers of culture, so they should be thoughtfully designed and nurtured to reinforce the organization's values. Illustration Credit: Liz Fosslien, fosslien.com By Mollie West and Kate McCoubrey Judson Picture this: you're an engineer at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park. You're sitting in a lecture with a guest speaker, learning about the latest and greatest in nanotechnology. Next to you, one of your friends is capturing the speaker's best quotes on his phone. He texts a quote to a graphic designer friend who's sitting across campus in Facebook's internal print shop. The designer immediately designs a poster based on the quote, then pins them up around campus. As you walk out of the lecture, you see the posters--echoing the lecture that ended just seconds ago--already plastered on walls. Mind blown, right? But this is just another day at Facebook. The rapid poster-printing phenomenon is coordinated through Facebook's Analog Research Lab, an internal workshop open to everyone on campus. Employees can create any posters they want, on any topic they care about, and put them up anywhere--guerilla style. Advertisement Sounds like fun. But it's about much more than that. Facebook has always valued openness, creativity, and giving everyone the power to build things. Poster-making is a powerful expression of this. It's a great example of a ritual--a meaningful recurring practice that connects employees to an organization's core beliefs. Printing posters at Facebook, photo credit: Facebook Analog Research Lab Companies practice rituals of all kinds--celebration rituals, eating rituals, storytelling rituals. Why are they important? Rituals engage people around the things that matter most to an organization, instilling a sense of shared purpose and experience. They spark behaviors that make the work and the company more successful. Rituals can be powerful drivers of culture, so they should be thoughtfully designed and nurtured. This starts with setting an intention. What is the organization's unique purpose and set of values? What mindset and behaviors will help people deliver on those? A great ritual will reinforce that mindset and those behaviors in a way that feels authentic to the organization and its people. What works at one company, might feel totally foreign somewhere else. It's also important to think about what will make a ritual stick. Why will people want to participate? Can it start organically and catch on, or will people look to certain leaders to model it first? Designing a ritual that will sustain over time requires tuning in to the organization's existing culture, beliefs, and behaviors. Let's look at a few more examples. Advertisement When Howard Schultz returned to Starbucks as Chairman and CEO in 2008, his priority was to strengthen the core of the business: serving quality coffee. Schultz recognized that this starts with employees (known as partners). In his 2012 book, Pour Your Heart Into It, Schultz writes "It's our partners who pass on to customers their knowledge and passion about Starbucks." As a way to ignite this in every partner, every new hire takes part in a ritual tasting of his or her store manager's favorite coffees. The manager tells the story of where the coffee is from, how it's grown, and how it's brewed. It's a ceremonial experience that reinforces Starbucks' values--for the new partners and managers alike. When a marketing group in a multinational financial services company redefined its internal purpose, IDEO helped the group define three pillars of action to bring this new purpose to life. Each pillar was in support of behavior changes that needed to happen around energy, impact, and skills. For the energy pillar, the group wanted to improve the inefficiencies within their control and re-allocate more time and space to the most impactful aspects of their jobs. But how to make these behaviors stick? The IDEO team, led by Business Designer Simon Heather, helped the marketing group design and prototype a simple series of rituals for meetings, including ending meetings ten minutes early, removing chairs from meeting rooms to encourage briefer stand-ups, and declining at least one meeting a week when participation seemed unnecessary. These small rituals challenged current practices and helped shift behaviors around time management: instead of feeling the obligation to attend countless meetings, individuals felt energized with a renewed sense of ownership over their time. Etsy is all about supporting the local community, internally and externally. This cultural value sparked an employee food program, appropriately dubbed 'Eatsy.' It started with people gathering at a picnic table to have lunch together a few times a month. Soon enough, these informal communal lunches became a deliberate twice-weekly ritual with food provided by local vendors. Even the decision to provide lunch only twice a week was an intentional one. Because after all, "[i]t would be hypocritical for Etsy to say they believe in supporting local makers and local communities while creating an environment in which employees never have reason to leave their office or frequent local restaurants," says Etsy's global food program manager, Will Robb. This is a beautiful example of how a company's values are manifested in its lunchtime rituals. There are many other examples of great rituals that help employees live their organization's purpose and values. We've collected some of our favorites below. Dropbox: Cupcake Welcome Kit One of Dropbox's five core values is simply an image of a smiling cupcake. Why? Because Dropbox doesn't want to take itself too seriously. When Dropbox makes an offer to a new employee, the employee receives a special delivery at home: a cupcake kit in a beautifully designed box. This ritual reflects Dropbox's fun nature, and brings delight to its employees--even before they've joined the company. OXO: Collecting lost gloves As a reminder that OXO products must fit in hands of every shape and size, employees collect lost gloves that they find around the world and showcase them on a wall in their office. (Find a photo of the gloves on OXO's website-- scroll to the bottom of the page.) Toyota: Asking 'why' five times Toyota believes that every problem is an opportunity--so when something goes wrong, managers are trained to ask 'why?' five times in order to unearth the root cause instead of focusing on the surface-level symptom. This ritual acts as a heuristic to help employees solve larger issues. Gentle Giant Moving Company: Running the stairs As a reflection of the value that Gentle Giant places on strength and endurance--and as a nod to early employees' roots in college rowing--every new hire completes an inaugural 'running of the stairs' in a nearby stadium as colleagues cheer them on. Advertisement What unique rituals have become embedded in the daily experiences of your organization? How are you trying to evolve your workplace culture--and what kind of ritual might help? The word 'cult' is never benign in religious terminology as it is in the world of art, where Johnny Stonenoggin filmster extraordinaire may cult-ivate a cult following for his eccentricity in artistry. Eccentricity in religion, if recent enough, is rarely welcomed with approving nods. And when eccentricity is welcomed by followers of a novel religion, those followers never designate the new religion as a cult. Such is the denigrating power of the word cult for religion. Oddness in an ancient religion is no longer perceived as eccentric. No matter how implausible and bizarre a religious idea might be, if its pedigree is old, if generations are raised with that weird idea from youth, then that bizarre idea will become as believable, as commonplace, as immune to critical thought as a simple statement of fact about the color of summer grass. If the idea had been taught for a thousand years that we may inhale the actual aroma of our God through the ritual of setting clover alight, we would accept that idea and practice it without scruple. Advertisement New Religions In the late twentieth century some scholars of religion offered the term 'new religions' or 'new religious movements' (NRM) as a benign substitute for 'cults.' These scholars had grown weary of encountering a bias found in every stratum of society from nickel-plated broom pushers to copper-plated Ivy League Ph.Ds. It is a bias that may be put into bumper-sticker brevity: Old Good, New Bad Familiarity Good, Strangeness Bad Old-Time Religion Good, New-Fangled Religion Bad Or, as old-moneyed religionists say, 'I have a religion, you have a sect, she has a cult.' Prejudice against idea innovation, although the common coin of all conservative religiosity, should not be found in the higher arts of intellection, said these scholars who offered the fresh and unharmful term 'new religions.' After some decades, 'new religions' and 'NRM' caught on in higher education and doctorates were granted in the study of such things, and academic journals were established and entitled with that name. As the new term gained acceptance, there was an attending decrease in bias against novel religions among academics. However, the term 'cult' got mislaid in the shakeup, as all new religions were deemed as worthy as any other religion. Hold your ponies! Aren't some new religions harmful, hateful, distasteful, and downright wacky? Yes. And therefore 'cult' and 'cultism' are yet a needful terms. Advertisement There are cults out there, and they do not deserve benign inclusion in the 'new religions' taxonomy. If a new religion resorts to coercion, if it invites adoration of human personalities, if it welcomes sexual favors for its leaders, if it suggests isolation from family and friends, if it embraces money-making schemes, call a pickaxe a pickaxe: the new religion is a cult. Trouble is, a few of the older religions sometimes meet the cult criteria. But not many people would dare call these pickaxes pickaxes. During the past year, I've had the pleasure of receiving visits from Ayman Odeh, Ahmad Tibi, and most recently Basel Ghattas--as they passed through Washington. All are Palestinian citizens of Israel. And all are Members of the Israeli Knesset, part of the Joint Arab List that won a record 13 seats in the last Israeli election. It was a delight to sit with them and learn from them not only about the difficulties they face, but the progress they have made. I have written about how I first became attached to the Arab community in Israel. It was the insightful Palestinian novelist, Ghassan Kanafani who caused me to divert my doctoral dissertation research from the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to the Palestinian Arabs who remained in their homes after Israel was created in 1948. He gave me two reasons. While much had already been written about the refugees, there was an absence of good literature about the Palestinians "inside" and, he said, they are the most promising component group of the Palestinian people since they have been forged like steel in the hearth of Israel. Facing enormous difficulties, they have developed a uniquely progressive identity and, he believed, the day would come when they would be in a position to provide real visionary leadership for the entire Palestinian people. Advertisement My meetings with Odeh, Tibi, and Ghattas have given me the sense that Ghassan may have been right. These are remarkable individuals, part of a larger movement that has faced down the increasingly repressive, ultra-nationalist Israeli government while defending their rights and securing their political role. For the first three decades, the Arabs in Israel couldn't form political parties or join unions (these were reserved for Zionists or Jews). They lived under a draconian and discriminatory legal system. They lost their lands to widespread confiscation. The Israeli educational system forced them to study Hebrew and Jewish history instead of their own language and history. And those who resisted, were imprisoned or forcibly expelled from the country. Like other civil rights movements, these Palestinian citizens of Israel used every available opening to win their rights, facing down arrests, expulsions, and lethal violence. While tremendous problems remain, Palestinian citizens in Israel now form political parties, join unions, and teach their language and history. They still face systemic racism in housing, employment, education, allocation of the state's budget, and many other areas--and yet they have built and sustained a fighting force that continues to press their demands for justice and equality. Advertisement In creating their Joint List, the Palestinian citizens of Israel have forged a remarkable national unity bringing together diverse political currents: nationalists, traditionalists, and progressives--Muslims and Christians, alike. Netanyahu's far-right governing coalition has stepped up its assault on the Arab community in an effort to divide them and break their resolve. Israel has created a fake new identity for Christians--in an effort to divide the Arabs on the basis of religion. They have charged some Arab Knesset Members with "incitement" for advocating on behalf of their Palestinian brethren living under the suffocating economic embargo imposed on Gaza. Israel has passed laws prohibiting Arabs and progressive Jews from supporting the non-violent boycott movement protesting Israel's settlement policy and making it more difficult for them to receive grants from the EU to promote democracy and human rights. None of these repressive measures have broken their resolve or unity. In addition to my earlier studies, I have, in recent years, polled the Palestinian Arab citizens in Israel, as well as the Palestinians living under occupation and those in exile. Of all of the component parts of the Palestinian people, the Arabs in Israel are the most forward looking and the most committed to achieving justice for the entire Palestinian people. And as I have watched Odeh, Tibi, and Ghattas in action, I have been impressed by their political savvy. Unlike the divided and visionless leadership of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, the members of the Joint list have vision, a sound political sense of tactics and strategy, and a demonstrated ability to connect with the people they serve. While it is correct to acknowledge that Israel has done everything it could to weaken, punish, discredit, divide, and tie-in-knots the Palestinian leadership under occupation, the Israelis have been no less harsh in the treatment meted out to their own Palestinian citizenry. In this context, it is significant to note that while the efforts of several Arab states have failed, it is fallen on the shoulders of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel (the collective leadership of the Arab community in Israel) to launch an initiative to bring about reconciliation between the Palestinian factions of Fateh and Hamas. I have just finished reading a compelling Haaretz article "Stop with the Nonsense that Palestinians Are a Minority In Israel". The writer Gideon Levy argues that since Israel has refused to separate from the occupied territories and continues to entrench its settler colonies deeper into the heart of the West Bank and the Arab areas of what they call "Greater Jerusalem", the "era of the two state solution [is drawing] to a close" and has been replaced by a de facto "bi-national state" in which the numbers of Jews and Arabs are roughly equal. In this new reality, Arabs are not a minority, they are half of the population. Advertisement If this is to remain the case, and I see no evidence that the Netanyahu government will change direction or that any outside power will compel them to do so, then the Palestinian struggle will inevitably be transformed from one demanding independence into a movement demanding equal rights. This will merely be an extension of the fight that the "inside" Palestinians have been waging for seven decades. If this is to be the case, we may well see the day when the Palestinian citizens of Israel will emerge, as Kanafani predicted, as the new leadership of a unified Palestinian community fighting for justice and equality. "The Presidency should not be used as a platform for proving one's manhood . . ." "Inwardly he is a frightened person who sees himself as weak and threatened by strong virile power around him . . ." "Since his nomination I find myself increasingly thinking of the early 1930s . . ." "Unconsciously he seems to want to destroy himself. He has a good start, for he has already destroyed the Republican party . . ." What sound like remarks that could have been made about Donald Trump were actually written by psychiatrists in response to a survey during the 1964 presidential campaign. This embarrassing incident led to the now-famous Goldwater Rule, which bars psychiatrists from diagnosing public figures long-distance. Yet in this election cycle physicians are commenting on what they regard as one of the candidate's medical problems without being sanctioned by the American Medical Association. Advertisement What explains this difference? For the answer one has to turn to the historical context of the Goldwater Rule. The off-beat Fact magazine's September-October 1964 issue was called "The Unconscious of a Conservative." The editor-publisher, Ralph Ginzburg, opened the issue with a 19-page psychological essay that cited various facts, memoirs, and observations about Senator Barry Goldwater, followed by a number of excerpts from the survey results. In response to the question whether Goldwater was fit to be president, 2,417 out of 12,356 responded. Of those, 657 said he was fit, 1,189 said he was not, and 571 said they didn't know enough to answer the question. Goldwater sued and won. Normally a public figure is not protected against libel. However, in this case the judge found that Ginzburg had malicious intent. For example, Ginzburg edited some of the supposed quotations from articles and from the psychiatrists. So the Goldwater Rule was not a response to the legal case. Even before publication the medical director of the American Psychiatric Association had warned Ginzburg that the responses were not valid absent a "thorough clinical examination" of Goldwater. Six years later the American Psychiatric Association made that policy official, warning its members not to repeat that mistake. Advertisement But why did the American Psychiatric Association go beyond warning its members not to be malicious (something that shouldn't be necessary) and barring any comment on individuals' mental states without examining them? Why did the American Psychological Association not follow suit? And why has the American Medical Association not ruled that long-distance medical diagnosis by its members is also subject to sanction? One reason for the difference is that there's still a stigma attached to mental illness that does not apply to "medical" conditions. But the backstory of the Goldwater Rule goes deeper than that. To understand why the psychiatric association stands alone in its tough position, and why the Goldwater Rule is so unique, one has to appreciate the context of the 1960s and 1970s. At that time psychoanalytically oriented psychodynamic theorizing was the dominant style in psychiatry. In this period that gave rise to the young Woody Allen's neurotic character, sophisticates were far more obsessed with Freud and Freudianism than they are now. In the mid-1960s no one gave a thought to eliminating homosexuality from the diagnostic manual, as happened in 1973. Experimental neuroscience was vastly less developed and promising 50 years ago, especially in human beings. Other than some behaviorist therapy in massive mental hospitals psychoanalysis was the major game in town. So psychoanalytic psychiatrists had serious clout in 1964, therefore they had much to lose by being embarrassed by association with amateurish psychological assessments and poor political prognostication - not to mention a scurrilous publication like Fact. But there was yet another reason for professional psychiatry's reaction to the Goldwater debacle. For decades some psychoanalysts had dabbled in analysis of major figures, including those who were dead. Freud himself attempted to analyze Dostoevsky and da Vinci. In Moses and Monotheism he contended that Moses was really an Egyptian prince whose Jewish status was concocted by Jews, guilt-ridden about murdering their father figure. Advertisement Psychiatrists had long had mixed feelings about these practices. At the 1931 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association my father, the psychiatrist and psychodrama therapy founder J.L. Moreno, debated Freud's American representative, A.A. Brill, who diagnosed Abraham Lincoln as a manic schizoid personality whose depressive moods stopped short of mental illness. Turning the tables on Brill, my father questioned Brill's need to engage in the symbolic patricide of the Great Emancipator. A 2003 historical note in Psychiatric News said that "Moreno tore apart Brill's paper as being based on unproven and unsubstantiated conclusions." The Lincoln episode made national news as other psychiatrists protested Brill's paper as unfair and even unpatriotic. What my father called "necroanalysis" was long a controversial practice in psychiatry. Three years after the Goldwater incident a former American diplomat and patient of Freud's, William C. Bullitt, published a psychoanalysis of Woodrow Wilson based on notes he made of conversations about Wilson with Freud. The book was roundly criticized by psychologist Erik Erikson in the New York Review of Books and by my father on national television. Analysis of the dead is not a legal violation, but it nonetheless raises the question of fairness as the dead cannot defend themselves. To analyze a living person without data is not only bad practice, it also runs the risk of making the analyst look foolish if the individual later behaves in a way that the analysis didn't predict. If Goldwater had become president and didn't start World War III, more than a few psychiatrists would have had egg on their face. Analyzing a political figure, living or dead, runs the risk of politicizing a whole field. In the Goldwater case, it was no surprise that many if not most psychiatrists turned out to be liberals who were ill-disposed toward Goldwater's tough rhetoric, but mixing politics with professional expertise was and remains toxic. On pain of inconsistency, the same standard should be applied to all physicians, regardless of their specialization. (Barack Obama, speaking of race, in Philadelphia, March 18, 2008) In the midst of his first campaign for president, Barack Obama was forced to explain his long association with a pastor spotlighted for racially incendiary remarks from the pulpit of an African American church in Chicago. "The anger is real," Obama said then, speaking not only of the "memories of humiliation and doubt and fear'' that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's generation raised amid racial segregation still bear. He addressed "a similar anger'' among white Americans who've worked hard yet "feel their dreams slipping away" only to see "an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed... "Opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense,'' candidate Obama said in Philadelphia, in March 2008, with words that still apply near the close of his second term. "This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy -- particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own." The president, his public job approval riding above 50 percent in his final year, will return to Philadelphia in September, this time campaigning for his intra-party rival in that 2008 campaign, Hillary Clinton, immersed now in countervailing accusations of bigotry and racism in a contest with Republican Donald Trump. Advertisement "From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia,'' Clinton said in a multi-faceted assault on Trump's lack of character or qualification for the nation's highest office delivered this week in Reno. "He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties,'' she said of "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." And with the hiring of campaign CEO Stephen Bannon, publisher of the breitbart.com site favored by the "Alt-Right" -- which the Wall Street Journal describes as a mostly online movement that "rejects mainstream conservatism, promotes nationalism and views immigration and multiculturalism as threats to white identity" -- Clinton suggested that "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." "It's the oldest play in the Democratic playbook,'' Trump complained in his own attempt at a prebuttal in Manchester, N.H., before Clinton's address in Nevada. "When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: 'You're racist, you're racist, you're racist.' It's a tired disgusting argument." For a couple of weeks now, in an attempt to convince moderate swing voters that he is not a racist, Trump has made an odd appeal to African American voters who tend to vote 9-1 Democratic in presidential contests: "What the Hell have you got to lose?" It's Clinton, he contends, who views black Americans simply as votes to be won, and he argues that for generations "millions of African-American and Hispanic-American citizens... have been betrayed by Democratic policies." Yet this war of words is not merely another manifestation of the "racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years,'' as Obama put it. Some contend that the reporting of the week's cross-fire between the candidates -- which continues on Twitter and will loom large in the Sunday morning talk shows -- is actually purveying a "false equivalency." The idea here is that Clinton actually possesses far more ammunition in her case against Trump than he holds in his claim that she's "a bigot." And it's no coincidence that Trump is launching his first appeal to minorities at a juncture in which Clinton has gained a double-digit lead in some national polls. "I think Trump is fairly desperate at this point and to a certain extent has painted himself into a corner,'' says Carl Tobias, professor of law at the University of Richmond. "His outreach to African Americans seems to ring hollow, and once Obama is out there talking, that is sure to help Clinton in a lot of ways, certainly with that constituency." In a contest dominated by two of the most unpopular nominees in the history of modern opinion polling, there may be little gain for either in a debate on racism. "I think everybody all the way around is going to hold their noses and vote, which is unfortunate," Tobias says. "I think people almost stop listening at this point. I don't know where the high ground is, but nobody seems to be on it." Trump arrived at this fight with a history of questionable acts and remarks. In November 2014, the Twitter aficionado tweeted this about the president: "Sadly, because president Obama has done such a poor job as president, you won't see another black president for generations!" Asked by ABC News' Jonathan Karl at the time what he meant by that, Trump said: "He has set a very poor standard. I think that he has set a very low bar and I think it's a shame for the African American people... And by the way, he has done nothing for African Americans." Before that, Trump was among the highest-profile and most vocal proponents of the rumor that Obama is not a naturally born American citizen. Clinton running mate Tim Kaine, campaigning on the campus of historically black Florida A&M University the day after the Trump-Clinton exchange over racism, said: "Donald Trump was a main guy behind the scurrilous, and I would say bigoted, notion that President Obama wasn't even born in this country." The actual accusation of racism reached its highest volume in the campaign underway after Trump accused the federal judge handling a lawsuit alleging fraud at Trump University of bias because he's "a Mexican" and Trump wants to build a border wall against illegal immigration. It was the Republican Party's own House Speaker Paul Ryan who delivered the strongest rebuke of Trump's remark about Judge Gonzalo Curiel, a Mexican-American born in Indiana who has fought Mexican drug cartels as a prosecutor. Ryan said: "Claiming a person can't do their job is sort of the like the textbook definition of a racist comment." Advertisement Trump also has seized upon some stray Clinton comments to make his case for bigotry. "Hillary Clinton needs to address the racist undertones of her 2008 campaign,'' he tweeted to his 11 million followers on Friday, offering a video montage of news clippings. In one, Clinton is pictured on an old episode of NBC News' "Meet the Press" delivering a speech in which she said: "Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act." In that clip, it's the late host Tim Russert who suggests to Clinton: "It's as if you are minimizing, 'I have a dream.' It's a nice sentiment, but it took a white president to get blacks to the mountaintop." The comment goes unanswered by Clinton. It was during her contest against Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries that Clinton suggested that Obama is an eloquent speaker lacking a record of action and it's proven political leaders who've brought about real change. "I would point to the fact that that Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the president before had not even tried, but it took a president to get it done,'' she said. "That dream became a reality, the power of that dream became real in people's lives because we had a president who said we are going to do it and actually got it accomplished." Obama was forced to deny that his campaign was circulating the remark to rally black voters. "Senator Clinton made an unfortunate remark, an ill-advised remark, about King and Lyndon Johnson. I didn't make the statement," Obama told reporters. "I haven't remarked on it, and she, I think, offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous." Trump is playing another remark attributed third-hand and without direct quotation to Bill Clinton. Two years after that 2008 campaign, in their book Game Change, John Heilemann and Mark Halperin reported about the former president attempting to convince Sen. Ted Kennedy to support Hillary Clinton. "Bill then went on, belittling Obama in a manner that deeply offended Kennedy. Recounting the conversation later to a friend, Teddy fumed that Clinton had said, A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee," the authors wrote. In the years since, the comment relayed by an unidentified someone who purported to hear it from the one who claimed to hear it from Clinton has been repeated in media accounts as an alleged direct quote. Then there is the business of the "super predators," which Trump is replaying online. "How quickly people forget that Crooked Hillary called African-American youth SUPER PREDATORS' -- has she apologized?" Trump tweeted this week. In the 1990s, after President Clinton won passage of the Violent Crime Control Act, the first lady warned in a 1996 speech of "the kinds of kids that are called 'super predators...' no conscience, no empathy, we can talk about why they ended up that way, but first we have to bring them to heel." In this year's Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders took issue with the remark: "It was a racist term,'' he said in their final debate, "and everybody knew it was a racist term." Clinton later allowed: "I shouldn't have used those words, and I wouldn't use them today." "The Clinton's are the real predators," Trump has tweeted. For her part, Clinton claims Trump has demeaned the African American community with his portrayal of black neighborhoods as "war zones." "He doesn't see the success of black leaders in every field... the vibrancy of black-owned businesses... or the strength of the black church,'' she said in Reno. "He doesn't see the excellence of historically black colleges and universities or the pride of black parents watching their children thrive...And he certainly doesn't have any solutions to take on the reality of systemic racism and create more equity and opportunity in communities of color.'' She has reached far back into the billionaire's own business career to portray a record of racism. "When Trump was getting his start in business, he was sued by the Justice Department for refusing to rent apartments to black and Latino tenants,'' she said. "Their applications would be marked with a "C" -- "C" for "colored" -- and then rejected." The New York Times reports that the legacy of discrimination in Trump housing developments started with the developer's father. In the 1960s, as Civil Rights legislation was advancing in Washington, the Times reports: "Over the next decade, as Donald Trump assumed an increasingly prominent role in the business, the company's practice of turning away potential black tenants was painstakingly documented by activists and organizations that viewed equal housing as the next frontier in the civil rights struggle. The Justice Department undertook its own investigation and, in 1973, sued Trump Management for discriminating against blacks. Both Fred Trump, the company's chairman, and Donald Trump, its president, were named as defendants. "Absolutely ridiculous," the son said. "When it was over,'' The Times reports today, "Mr. Trump declared victory, emphasizing that the consent decree he ultimately signed did not include an admission of guilt." But the paper's investigation -- "drawing on decades-old files from the New York City Commission on Human Rights, internal Justice Department records, court documents and interviews with tenants, civil rights activists and prosecutors -- uncovered a long history of racial bias at his family's properties, in New York and beyond." "It takes a lot of nerve to ask people he's ignored and mistreated for decades, 'What do you have to lose?'" Clinton said this week. "The answer is everything!" Clinton went on to enumerate the support Trump has attracted from white nationalists such as David Duke, whose backing Trump took some time to disavow. She spoke of Trump's plans for a religious test for Muslims entering the United States -- a requirement to disavow Sharia law. "Under Donald Trump, America would distinguish itself as the only country in the world to impose a religious test at the border,'' she said. "Come to think of it, there actually may be one place that does that. It's the so-called Islamic State.'' And finally, Clinton says, Trump's campaign is being run by the publisher of a platform, Breitbart, which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as embracing "ideas on the extremist fringe of the conservative right. Racist ideas. Race-baiting ideas. Anti-Muslim and anti-Immigrant ideas -- all key tenets making up an emerging racist ideology known as the 'Alt-Right.'" "There's an old Mexican proverb that says, 'Tell me with whom you walk, and I will tell you who you are,'' Clinton said. "We know who Trump is. A few words on a teleprompter won't change that. He says he wants to 'make America great again,' but his real message remains 'Make America hate again."' Clinton has taken the fight to campaign ads, including the newest about losing "everything." Obama, who plans to campaign for Clinton in Philadelphia on Sept. 13, went there in March 2008 to disavow the comments of a pastor he'd known for years -- while standing by the man himself and offering a social context for his sentiments. This time, Obama plans to speak of Clinton's ideas for improving the economy. But his words from 2008 still resonate today. Advertisement "Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now,'' he said then. "We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America -- to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.'' Ironically, Obama in 2008 took a turn at describing the very electorate to whom Trump has appealed in his own campaign for president this year: Donald Trump recently ramped up his Black voter outreach in the wake of poll after poll showing him failing to overcome a historically weak Democratic nominee in his bid for the White House. His Black outreach is equal parts condescension and bluster. He talked down to Black voters recently pointing out, inaccurately and out of context, that "you're living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth are unemployed" before asking "What do you have to lose?" He also stated that he would get 95% of Black votes in his reelection campaign. Taken separately, these and other statements can charitably be said represent a deep misunderstanding of Black voters and Black life in America. Collectively, these statements reflect a deep delusion on the part of a candidate who has a history of race baiting. Like most Republican nominees during the last eight decades, Trump has plenty of room for improvement. Credible recent polls show him with one or two percent support among Black voters. This is astonishingly low even among Republican nominees. If he ends up with two percent in November, then he would get half of what the 2008 nominee, John McCain, received in the historic election of Americas first Black President. Advertisement In the 22 presidential elections since 1936, for which even rudimentary polling was conducted, no Republican nominee has won a majority of Black votes. Only one, Thomas Dewey in 1944, received 40 percent, the high water mark in more than 75 years of presidential campaigns. Only three, Wendell Willkie in 1940, Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, and Richard Nixon in 1960, got between 30 and 39 percent. More recent Republican nominees have done consistently worse. In the last 10 elections, only Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Bob Dole in 1996 won 12 percent of the Black vote. Even setting aside the historic Barack Obama-induced headwinds facing John McCain in 2008 (four percent) and Mitt Romney in 2012 (six percent), GOP nominees since 1968 have largely been in the 10 to 15 percent range among African Americans. Trump is on the verge of a historically bad performance. After all, even Barry Goldwater won six percent of the Black vote in a treacherous 1964 campaign. "Trump's strategy only works if Black voters are suddenly overtaken by amnesia and forget the many ways in which he has previously treated Black people." Trump's "outreach" assumes that a few events in which he cynically mentions Black people is all that will be necessary to win over large numbers of African Americans to his cause. This strategy only works if Black voters are suddenly overtaken by amnesia and forget the many ways in which he has previously treated Black people. Unfortunately for Trump, there is a decades-long track record to show who he really is. He took out a full-page newspaper ad in April 1989 calling for a return of the death penalty in the wake of the infamous "Central Park 5." The ad poured rhetorical gasoline on the anger many Whites felt over the five Black kids, the oldest of whom was 16, who were arrested for brutally beating and raping a White woman. They confessed under duress and without counsel present. Years later someone else confessed to the crime. DNA at the crime scene confirmed his guilt and the innocence of the falsely convicted. Trump has never apologized or acknowledged his inflammatory rhetoric during this period. Advertisement He joined up with racists when he became the most prominent among the far right birthers who repeatedly alleged that President Obama was not born in the United States. He elevated his profile among White racial conservatives by using his broad platform to traffic the false claims. Ignoring the evidence of Obama's Hawaiian birth, he claimed that his investigators found that he was not born in the United States. He never produced evidence, just headlines. When proven false, rather than acknowledge his wrongness, he talked about the "service" he provided by keeping the issue in the news. Even now he cannot bring himself to acknowledge that he was wrong on all the facts about Obama's birthplace. The birth certificate foolishness, moreso than anything else he has said or done during the campaign, has made him radioactive in the Black community. Even Black people who are lukewarm to Obama understand the racist undercurrent of birtherism. They also understand that Trump led the charge in stoking the flames of birtherism. Questioning the nationality of an obviously native-born American, after a 2008 campaign that would have been stillborn if he were ineligible to serve, was Trump's attempt to deligitimize the first Black President. Black people understood that then and remember it now. His campaign is replete with other racial missteps and dog whistles. Since announcing his presidential bid, he has consistently tweeted or retweeted White supremacist conspiracy theories, erroneous statistics regarding Black crime, and seemingly encouraged the physical attacking of Black protestors at his rallies. Let's also remember that David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has repeatedly spoken very highly of Trump. Duke cited Trump as the inspiration for his decision to run for the U.S. Senate this year. Any campaign that is serious about outreach to African Americans would at least do the following. First, it would include African Americans in significant decision making campaign positions. Second, it would advance policy proposals that reflect respect for and understanding of Black life. Third, it would constantly speak with an inspirational voice that encourages not demonizes. Fourth, it would advertise in Black media outlets and contract with Black vendors. More importantly than all this, serious outreach would be timely, not something seemingly done as an afterthought. Trump has failed on all counts. He has no significant African Americans in serious positions (No, Omorosa doesn't count!). He has made no policy proposals that show an understanding of Black issues. A speech given barely more than three months before the election is not timely. There has been no inspirational rhetoric and no evidence of significant Black media or vendor engagement. Advertisement Donald Trump won the Republican nomination by swimming in the rotten river of racial stereotypes and invective. Those now talking about his pivot to a more presidential general election mode would do well to remember that Trump has been around. And Black people know him well enough that a few speeches here and there won't change anyone's mind. The great sociologist Max Weber postulated that the birth act of modern capitalism was the secession of business from the household and thus the web of moral and ethical obligations that intimate form of human organization entailed. Zygmunt Bauman has called globalization the "'second secession'" in which unleashed capitalism has "'flown away'" from the constraints of the nation-state, in effect the larger household. Now, national households are clawing back their claims, reasserting sovereignty in an anti-globalization backlash that is profoundly realigning politics. "Across the West," Nouriel Roubini writes, "establishment parties of the right and the left are being disrupted -- if not destroyed from the inside. Within such parties, the losers from globalization are finding champions of anti-globalization that are challenging the formal mainstream orthodoxy. Thus, the traditional distinction between center-right and center-left is breaking down." In the U.S. and Britain, he notes, working class voters traditionally aligned with the left, are joining the ranks of Trump and Brexit. In continental Europe, discontent with immigration and austerity has given rise to new parties on both the far right and the far left. "A new political alignment,' Roubini concludes, "erases the old left and right paradigms of labor versus capital, workers versus business, taxes and regulation versus free enterprise. Instead, the new alignment will be organized around pro and anti-global integration forces." As Roubini points out, support for globalization these days comes mainly from the emerging economies, which have largely benefited from foreign investment and access to global markets. While inequality has grown within the West, he notes, it has diminished on a global scale. Advertisement To the extent global integration has touched Brazil, pride rises with greater prosperity. As the Olympics wound down, Adriana Caitano vents her anger in an open letter from Brazil "to people who love to come here to enjoy the beaches and stare at women in bikinis, but disrespect the country that hosts them." She imagines what the "American swimmers [involved in the faux robbery scandal] must have thought: Of course it would be very possible for four foreign, white, tall, Olympians to be assaulted in Rio de Janeiro. Who would not believe it? This underdeveloped country can't even clean a pool the right way. They would never be able to find the truth. So we'll just go back to the American dream with our medals." One can't speak these days of bikinis in Brazil without bringing to mind the controversy over banning the burkini in France, where local police this week forced a woman on a Nice beach to show more skin in her bathing wardrobe. Willa Frej reports on a man in France who has been paying the fines for women ticketed under the burkini ban. Nick Robins-Early examines what many regard as the weak reasoning behind the ban. And, indeed, by week's end, France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, suspended the ban in an initial ruling in a case brought by a human rights group. At the same time, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is running for office again, pledged he would implement a nationwide ban on the burkini if elected. During a visit to the beach in Izmir Province, Turkey, Ilgin Yorulmaz surveys opinion in that Muslim-majority country with a modern secular history. "With historical ties to France," she reports, "Turks are divided over their opinions of the burkini both in France and in their own country." Despite Canada's historic links to France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made clear his country doesn't share France's secular fundamentalism. "We should be past tolerance," he says, and move toward embracing diversity. In a post from HuffPost Maghreb, Akram Belkaid calls for, "open debate about this implicit requirement of total assimilation" behind the burkini ban. Writing from Germany where a debate is underway about banning the burqa, Christian Democratic Union politician Ruprecht Polenz similarly argues that, "underlying the burqa debate is the fear that we can never eliminate the differences in our society." Advertisement The repercussions of the Turkish coup continue to roil the geopolitical landscape. As U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey this week in an effort to temper rising anti-Americanism fueled by a belated and tepid response by U.S. authorities to the failed coup, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubled down on the demand to hand over Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the U.S. and whom he sees as the culprit behind the attempted overthrow of the government. Reviewing these developments, David Hearst asks, "Is America losing Turkey?" Doug Bandow thinks that it would be a good idea if America did lose Turkey. "The growth of Putinism in Ankara today is a terrible embarrassment, with no corresponding security benefit for America as compensation," he writes. "The U.S. should change its approach to reflect changing circumstances. Turkey's membership in NATO no longer serves America's and Europe's interests." Farah Mohamed examines the impact of the coup attempt on the long-festering conflict between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus. Resolution of that conflict is seen by many as a key stepping stone in Turkey's bid to join the European Union, a relationship now even more fraught as Europe is deeply wary of Erdogan's even sharper post-coup turn toward authoritarianism. As one Cypriot told Mohamed, some islanders, "feel caught up in a fight that does not belong to them." In an essay titled "Why China Fears a 'Color Revolution' Incited by the West," I argue that the U.S. should appreciate the resonances of China's history as a unitary state present in today's one-party system. By recognizing that system's legitimacy, the U.S. would allay the suspicion of China's leaders that it is seeking to foment regime change through the promotion and support of human rights activists. I further argue that, for the first time in the long history of China's "institutional civilization," an autonomous civil society is emerging because everyone now has the same information as those who rule them. "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," I conclude. "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." Writing from Beijing, Peiran Wei asks, "Why are Chinese companies, which have long been playing catch-up with their U.S. counterparts, now leading the way?" Finally, our Singularity series this week looks at how Harvard scientists have "radically rewritten" the E. coli genome, heralding a major step forward in synthetic biology. WHO WE ARE EDITORS: Nathan Gardels, Co-Founder and Executive Advisor to the Berggruen Institute, is the Editor-in-Chief of The WorldPost. Kathleen Miles is the Executive Editor of The WorldPost. Farah Mohamed is the Managing Editor of The WorldPost. Alex Gardels and Peter Mellgard are the Associate Editors of The WorldPost. Suzanne Gaber is the Editorial Assistant of The WorldPost. Katie Nelson is News Director at The Huffington Post, overseeing The WorldPost and HuffPost's news coverage. Nick Robins-Early is a World Reporter. Rowaida Abdelaziz is World Social Media Editor. CORRESPONDENTS: Sophia Jones in Istanbul. EDITORIAL BOARD: Nicolas Berggruen, Nathan Gardels, Arianna Huffington, Eric Schmidt (Google Inc.), Pierre Omidyar (First Look Media), Juan Luis Cebrian (El Pais/PRISA), Walter Isaacson (Aspen Institute/TIME-CNN), John Elkann (Corriere della Sera, La Stampa), Wadah Khanfar (Al Jazeera), Dileep Padgaonkar (Times of India) and Yoichi Funabashi (Asahi Shimbun). VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: Dawn Nakagawa. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Moises Naim (former editor of Foreign Policy), Nayan Chanda (Yale/Global; Far Eastern Economic Review) and Katherine Keating (One-On-One). Sergio Munoz Bata and Parag Khanna are Contributing Editors-At-Large. The Asia Society and its ChinaFile, edited by Orville Schell, is our primary partner on Asia coverage. Eric X. Li and the Chunqiu Institute/Fudan University in Shanghai and Guancha.cn also provide first person voices from China. We also draw on the content of China Digital Times. Seung-yoon Lee is The WorldPost link in South Korea. Jared Cohen of Google Ideas provides regular commentary from young thinkers, leaders and activists around the globe. Bruce Mau provides regular columns from MassiveChangeNetwork.com on the "whole mind" way of thinking. Patrick Soon-Shiong is Contributing Editor for Health and Medicine. ADVISORY COUNCIL: Members of the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council and Council for the Future of Europe serve as the Advisory Council -- as well as regular contributors -- to the site. These include, Jacques Attali, Shaukat Aziz, Gordon Brown, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Luis Cebrian, Jack Dorsey, Mohamed El-Erian, Francis Fukuyama, Felipe Gonzalez, John Gray, Reid Hoffman, Fred Hu, Mo Ibrahim, Alexei Kudrin, Pascal Lamy, Kishore Mahbubani, Alain Minc, Dambisa Moyo, Laura Tyson, Elon Musk, Pierre Omidyar, Raghuram Rajan, Nouriel Roubini, Nicolas Sarkozy, Eric Schmidt, Gerhard Schroeder, Peter Schwartz, Amartya Sen, Jeff Skoll, Michael Spence, Joe Stiglitz, Larry Summers, Wu Jianmin, George Yeo, Fareed Zakaria, Ernesto Zedillo, Ahmed Zewail and Zheng Bijian. From the Europe group, these include: Marek Belka, Tony Blair, Jacques Delors, Niall Ferguson, Anthony Giddens, Otmar Issing, Mario Monti, Robert Mundell, Peter Sutherland and Guy Verhofstadt. MISSION STATEMENT The WorldPost is a global media bridge that seeks to connect the world and connect the dots. Gathering together top editors and first person contributors from all corners of the planet, we aspire to be the one publication where the whole world meets. Hutchinson Zoo confirms avian flu in geese in its bird rehab center The virus was in geese being treated at the center. One animal was euthanized. The zoo's exhibit birds are being isolated indoors to protect them. Feature: "China Pavilion" opens window for Kazakh people to understand China Cui Yuying (L, front), deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, talks with a Chinese folk artist during China Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aug. 26, 2016. A series of "Feel China in Kazakhstan" cultural activities kicked off on Friday in the Kazakh capital of Astana and its largest city of Almaty. (Xinhua/Pavel Mikheev) ALMATY, Aug. 26 -- "I am glad that we can read books here not only in Chinese, but also in Russian and Kazakh languages," said Elizaveta, a primary school teacher in Almaty, as a China Pavilion opened here on Friday in the National Library of Kazakhstan. The 270-square-meter China Pavilion, an important part of the four-day "Feel China" project in Kazakhstan, was divided into three zones: Chinese traditional culture experience zone; reading zone and smart life experience zone. In the traditional culture experience zone, visitors could see and learn Chinese traditional cultures, such as musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, abacus, and the magic Tangram, or seven-piece puzzle. Besides, a three-meter-long Chinese dragon made of a kind of environmentally friendly paper exhibited the Chinese 3D painting carving technique. Visitors pose for photos during the opening ceremony of China Pavilion at the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aug. 26, 2016. A series of "Feel China in Kazakhstan" cultural activities kicked off on Friday in the Kazakh capital of Astana and its largest city of Almaty. (Xinhua/Roman Gainanov) In the reading zone, there were more than 8,000 volumes of books and videos and publications for visitors to learn about Chinese history, culture, language and economy. All the books and videos were donated by China. Visitors could also see and feel the convenience and magic wonders thanks to China's own high technologies in the smart life zone. The director of the National Library of Kazakhstan Zhanat Shaidumanov highly praised China Pavilion, which combined special and high technologies with traditional Chinese culture. He said that "The China Pavilion provides visitors a closer look at Chinese culture and a good opportunity for the people of Kazakhstan to experience and understand China," adding that "I believe the China Pavilion will attract more readers and researchers." A Chinese folk artist makes pottery artwork during China Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aug. 26, 2016. A series of "Feel China in Kazakhstan" cultural activities kicked off on Friday in the Kazakh capital of Astana and its largest city of Almaty. (Xinhua/Pavel Mikheev) The pavilion was jointly sponsored by China's State Council Information Office, Information office of Chongqing municipal government and the National Library of Kazakhstan. The opening ceremony of the China Pavilion was one of the most important parts of the "Feel China" project in Kazakhstan", which will last from Aug. 26 to 29 in the Kazakh capital of Astana and Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan. The "Feel China" project was co-sponsored by China's State Council Information Office, the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan, the municipal governments of Astana and Almaty, and the governments of China's Henan, Hubei and Sichuan provinces as well as Chongqing Municipality. The project, which opened for the first time in the Central Asia, is aimed to further strengthen cultural exchanges and deepen friendship between China and Kazakhstan. A Chinese folk artist presents pottery artwork during China Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aug. 26, 2016. A series of "Feel China in Kazakhstan" cultural activities kicked off on Friday in the Kazakh capital of Astana and its largest city of Almaty. (Xinhua/Pavel Mikheev) (Xinhua) 13:10, August 27, 2016 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 26 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen reiterated late Friday that the South China Seaissue should be settled through peaceful negotiations by the parties directly concerned. "The South China Sea conflict should be resolved peacefully by the Chinese and Vietnamese governments," the prime minister wrote on his official Facebookpage in response to a Vietnamese Facebook user who criticized the Cambodia's position on the issue. "It's the sole decision of Vietnamese government to solve the issue of South China Sea. It's your right to chose war or peace solution on this particular issue," Hun Sen wrote. "Definitely, you should respect the country of Laos, especially Cambodia, because we're not related in the South China Sea issue." Meanwhile, the prime minister urged the Vietnamese government to educate its people not to bother him anymore, saying that in recent months, he had received many inappropriate and insulting comments made by Vietnamese people targeting him and the Cambodian people. "I want to tell you to respect our country's independence and sovereignty because Cambodia has equal right with other countries including Vietnam," he said, referring to the Vietnamese Facebook user. (Xinhua) 13:14, August 27, 2016 BEIJING, Aug. 26 -- China's coast guard chief, Meng Hongwei, met with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Quang Dam, on Friday in Beijing to discuss cooperation in law enforcement. According to a consensus reached during the meeting, both sides will patrol shared fishing areas in the Beibu Gulf twice a year, and both sides will exchange friendly visits of coast guard vessels at earliest possible date. Moreover, Vietnam will send personnel to participate in the capacity-building training on maritime law enforcement to be held by China in 2017, and both sides will organize on-site mutual visits to each others' inspection vessels during law enforcement operations. FTC Charges Academic Journal Publisher OMICS Group Deceived Researchers Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission has charged the publisher of hundreds of purported online academic journals with deceiving academics and researchers about the nature of its publications and hiding publication fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The FTCs complaint alleges that OMICS Group, Inc., along with two affiliated companies and their president and director, Srinubabu Gedela, claim that their journals follow rigorous peer-review practices and have editorial boards made up of prominent academics. In reality, many articles are published with little to no peer review and numerous individuals represented to be editors have not agreed to be affiliated with the journals. According to the FTCs complaint, OMICS does not tell researchers that they must pay significant publishing fees until after it has accepted an article for publication, and often will not allow researchers to withdraw their articles from submission, thereby making the research ineligible for publication in another journal. Academic ethics standards generally forbid researchers from submitting the same research to more than one journal. The defendants in this case used false promises to convince researchers to submit articles presenting work that may have taken months or years to complete, and then held that work hostage over undisclosed publication fees ranging into the thousands of dollars, said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. It is vital that we stop scammers who seek to take advantage of the changing landscape of academic publishing. Among the deceptive statements OMICS made to researchers, according to the complaint, were descriptions of its journals as having a high impact factor, a term that describes approximately how frequently articles in a particular journal are cited in other research. Thomson Reuters proprietary measure of journals impact factors is the widely accepted standard, but OMICS allegedly calculated its own impact scores and did not clearly disclose that fact to consumers. The defendants also tell researchers that their journals are indexed by federal research databases, including the National Institutes of Healths PubMed and MEDLINE services, when in fact that is not true, according to the complaint. In addition to misrepresentations related to their journal publishing services, the FTCs complaint alleges that the defendants regularly deceive consumers while promoting academic conferences they organize. The defendants allegedly include the names of prominent researchers as participants and presenters at the conferences, which charge registration fees that can cost more than $1,000, when in fact many of those researchers often did not agree to participate in the events. The FTCs complaint charges the defendants, OMICS Group Inc., iMedPub LLC, Conference Series LLC, and Srinubabu Gedela, with multiple violations of the FTC Acts prohibition on deceptive acts or practices. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 3-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Watch: Man's Fire Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong, Beard Up in Flames The China Pavilion, located in the National Library of Kazakhstan, opened on Friday, Aug. 26, becoming an important part of the Experience China cultural activity underway in the central Asia country. Built by Chongqing, it was planned in two months and built from the ground up in one month, surprising Kazakhstan. But inside the pavilion, more surprises awaited. One of the biggest surprises was the virtual reality night tour of Chongqing. Knowing that VR is the hottest new technology, Chongqing wanted to incorporate this technology into the experience to let visitors to the pavilion learn about the mountain city in an exciting new way. Just put on the VR glasses, and poofyou can fly around Chongqing, experience the citys heavy traffic in 360 degrees, and see the dazzling nightscape. No license or goggles required. The pavilion also includes a library of classical works if you want to get to know the history of Chongqing, and there are plans to translate Chinese books for the people of Kazakhstan. The pavilion provides a rich experience, both modern and traditional. Visitors can practice calligraphy or learn about Chinese tea ceremony. There are games too, to challenge curious minds and to test knowledge about China. Chongqing wants people to see its culture. When visitors walk into the China Pavilion, they are greeted by a huge Chinese dragon. This dragon is not a painting or digital graphic, but a lifelike creation made from cardboard. So lifelike, in fact, some visitors are startled. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Weve all heard of conceptual art. But lets stop for a minute and think about the word conception. To conceive means pregnancy. It is the ultimate act of creativity although it gives the creator no hand in the design or the result. It is arguably an artists job to hammer loudly at the door of and draw attention to taboos which wider society has difficulty naming, or only talks about in whispers. But there is one hush hush subject which, despite 3.5 million of people in the UK having experience of it, seems to have found little form in the galleries or studios of mainstream artists. What is it? Infertility. The worlds first test-tube baby might be approaching her 40th birthday but the subject of medical intervention around infertility has been little explored in modern art. Perhaps it is too painful. Perhaps no one wants to know. There probably are artists out there doing it, but is anyone buying these works? Is the picture just too real? It took more than 30 years after her death, after all, for the brilliance of Frida Kahlo to become recognised widely. A brilliance underpinned by her raw, brutal even, depictions of her miscarriages. The famous painting, Henry Ford Hospital (1932), named for the Detroit medical centre where she lost her first baby, shows her bloodied and nude form connected with red umbilical threads to the foetus and other symbols of death. Her husband, the artist Diego Rivera, wrote of it and other paintings from the 1932 (see also My Birth, Detroit Industry): [After the miscarriage] Frida began work on a series of masterpieces which had no precedent in the history of art paintings that exalted the feminine qualities of endurance of truth, reality, cruelty, and suffering. Never before had a woman put such agonized poetry on canvas as Frida did at this time in Detroit, Rivera wrote in autobiography, My Art, My Life. Has anyone since? Tracey Emin produced frank and moving drawings in response to the two abortions she had. In an article for The Independent, she described feeling that in return for her childrens souls shed been given her success. But honest and beautiful though her drawings and thoughts on the subject are, it is still very different from infertility and involuntary pregnancy loss. One of the rare modern artists tackling the infertility taboo head on is Tabitha Moses. She was awarded the Liverpool Art Prize 2013 for her breathtaking work about miscarriage and IVF. She embroidered the years of infertility and failed IVF treatments onto hospital gowns. The delicate textiles include tiny stitched ovaries filled with eggs, syringes to denote the hormones injected daily to promote egg production, a tiny coffin-shaped set of swaddling bands rimmed in horrifying red. They are discomfiting, but stunning. Even when I was lying with my legs in stirrups at the IVF clinic waiting for the fertilised embryo to be put into my womb, I remember thinking that, whatever happened, it was all going to be useful material, Moses, 44, said in an interview in 2014. Any artist would think like this: all experiences can feed into what you produce. But I was also giving myself a safety net, thinking something good will come of this, baby or not. Tabitha Moses poses for a self portrait as part of her Investment exhibition about fertility (Stuart Semple and Tabitha Moses) The artist, who took part in the first ever Fertility Fest arts festival at the Park Theatre earlier this year, went on to have a daughter after a successful round of IVF using a donor egg. Egg donation is a subject that Dorset-based artist Stuart Semple is passionate about. You might remember his 2009 public art project HappyCloud, when he released thousands of smiley faced clouds made of soap and helium from Tate Modern. On 1 September six large-scale outdoor installations by Semple will pop up simultaneously in six cities across England and Scotland as part of a work highlighting the chronic shortage of egg donors in Britain. For the project, Something Amazing, Stuart will also release 1,000 balloons with a screenprinted portrait of his sisters pregnant belly on them he will encourage them to pass these precious gifts (Semples work sells for up to 300,000) onto others. The commission by the Fertility Partnership is designed to raise awareness of the need to recruit more egg donors. Im a bloke. Talking about womens infertility. Theres no doubt that theres some stigma and taboo around the subject. Its a very personal thing, Semple says. People will wake up to these huge, sculptural balloons on their streets. But Im also releasing smaller balloons which feature a picture of my sisters tummy - my first portrait of my nephew. Theyre actually quite valuable and they come with a note asking you to give them to someone who deserve them. If more women knew they could do it [egg donation], then I think they would. But of course its a big ask. Its the most altruistic and full on thing a woman can do. Semple knows hes not going to solve the chronic shortage of egg donors in Britain overnight, but hes hit upon a wonderful way to get the conversation started - and to put infertility into a shape and context that shows how random and widespread it is. There is no knowing who will catch his balloons, or to whom they will be given. If even one baby is born then its been worth it. Something Amazing by Stuart Semple takes place on 1 September in Southampton, Oxford, Chelmsford, Glasgow, London and Nottingham in sites yet to be revealed 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 }} Hundreds of couriers for UberEats, Ubers food delivery service in London, are planning an all-day strike on Friday over low pay, in the latest sign that unrest among workers in the sharing economy is growing. The news comes after couriers from rival food delivery service Deliveroo protested outside the companys headquarters in London over proposed changes in the way they were paid, earlier this month. Matt Gingell, an employment law partner at Gannons solicitors, told The Independent that the Deliveroo strike may well have had a knock on effect. These UberEats drivers are also questioning their pay deals. There does now seem to be a growing impetus within the UK gig economy for individuals to challenge their work status, he said. UberEats has drastically reduced couriers rates since the service launched in the capital in June, according to the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain which helped organise the strike together with United Voices of the World Union. Workers are now calling for UberEats to implement payment rates equivalent to a living wage of 9.40 an hour. Couriers claim rates have been drastically cut from 20 per hour when they joined in June. UberEats, which offers no guaranteed minimum income, now pays 3.30 per delivery or less during off-peak hours and around 6.30 to 7.30 per delivery during peak hours, minus a 25 per cent fee taken by the company. Its a scam. Although they speak of flexibility the bosses at UberEats have been cutting pay since day one. Were telling them we need the London Living Wage, Imran Siddiqui, scooter courier for UberEats, said. Siddiqui also said UberEats does not offer any sick pay meaning couriers have to take a week of holiday when they are ill or injured. Deliveroo pay protest Alex Czarnecki, general manager at UberEats, said the company is committed to being the best option for couriers in London. Unlike other companies we dont set shifts, minimum hours or delivery zones couriers can simply log in or out when and where they choose. This is why weve seen hundreds of new couriers sign up in the last week alone, Mr Czarnecki said. As UberEats grows couriers are busier than ever. In fact so far this week couriers delivering lunch and dinner have made over 10 per cent more an hour than they did in the same period last week. Our office is open and our team is always available to chat to couriers, he added. On average, couriers take home more than the London living wage at meal times, UberEats said. 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 But Mags Dewhurst, the chair of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britains couriers and logistics branch, said UberEats is becoming less and less rewarding to work for. By paying a piece rate, they are saying they only want to pay for work when they can make a profit out of it. They are saying work is only when someone is making a delivery, but people are providing a service to the company when they are standing around waiting for orders. Without that, UberEats wouldnt be able to function, they 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 }} Lupita Nyongo has described the effect of being exposed to advertisements for skin lightening creams as an adolescent. Nyongo grew up in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi before moving to the US and studying film and theatre in Massachusetts. Her big break arrived in the form of her Oscar-winning performance in 12 Years a Slave. The 33-year-old says her self-worth was damaged by growing up with skin lightening adverts propagating the false notion of lighter skin as more beautiful. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. In an interview with The Times, Nyongo said she was surrounded by adverts showing successful women as those with lighter skin from a young age, a message she began internalising as a teenager. My teenage years were plagued by the idea that light skin was better skin. There were adverts on TV about a woman trying to get a job and she only got it when she applied skin lightening cream. I felt that I was not considered beautiful because of my complexion. My self-worth was deeply compromised in those years." Skin lightening is a controversial but lucrative market. Global Industry Analysts predict the industry will be worth 14 billion by 2018. The actress Emma Watson said she no longer models for beauty products which do not always reflect the diverse beauty of all women after being criticised in March for being the face of Lancome's Blanc Expert in 2011. The product was described as a skin whitening product on its website but the description explains that it is for reducing pigmentation marks and dark spots rather than bleaching skin. Recommended Read more Azealia Banks defends the use of skin lightening products In July, the rapper Azealia Banks defended the use of skin lightening products, arguing that it is a womans right to use whatever products they wish. Whats the difference between wearing a weave and changing my skin colour? she asked fans during a Facebook live. No one was upset when I was wearing a 30inch weave and tearing out my edges [...] you guys loved it. I dont understand what the difference is. 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 actress Maxine Peake has criticised actors who retracted their support for Jeremy Corbyn when his leadership of the Labour party was challenged after the Brexit result. Mr Corbyn enjoyed an unprecedented level of high-profile support in the UK and elsewhere, with Danny DeVito emerging as a huge fan. But the months after he was elected leader have been increasingly turbulent and deep divisions have emerged within the Labour party over his position at the helm. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Show all 11 1 /11 The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He called Hezbollah and Hamas friends True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups friends after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be part of the debate for the Middle East peace process. I use (the word friends) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk, he added. Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. Reuters The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyns original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is haunted by the legacy of his evil great-great-grandfather False. A Daily Express expose revealed that the Labour leaders ancestor, James Sargent, was the despotic master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about pigeon bombs in Parliament This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled pigeon bombs, proposing that the House register being appalled but barely surprised that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: The House believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. It was not carried. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He rides a Communist bicycle False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a Chairman Mao-style bicycle earlier this year. Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao, he later joked. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn 'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews' False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a rumour passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Ricas move to abolish it armed forces. Wouldnt it be wonderful if every politician around the worldabolished the army and took pride in the fact that they dont have an army, he added. The caveat that every politician must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He missed the induction into the Queens privy council True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyns republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem. Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials respect in the proper way, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese True. The group lists its purpose as the following: To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers. In June, Ewan McGregor praised Mr Corbyn for refusing calls for his resignation. In an interview with the Telegraph, Peake echoed his sentiment and voiced her exasperation at actors who had turned on him. Im slightly annoyed with people in my business who backed him at one point and then, for whatever reason, probably their own personal interest, have now [abandoned him]. "Hes so calm and collected and seems unruffled and unfazed by [the leadership contest]. I said 'How are you? and he just said 'Weathering the storm. Itll be alright. Hes just a great role modelHes someone whos got compassion. Whats wrong with wanting the best for everybody? 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 }} Juno, the spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter, orbited closer to the giant planet than any man-made object before it, in a record-breaking approach on Saturday. The Nasa creation, which was launched five years ago, made the close approach to Jupiter by soaring around 2,600 miles above the planet. As it cruised by at a speed of 130,000 mph, Juno was expected to capture astonishing images and plenty of scientific data, say mission controllers at Nasa. The probe was said to have reached its closest point at 1.51pm following the spacecrafts dizzying flight path which involved escaping Earths orbit and moving into Jupiters. Juno probe reaches Jupiter Scott Bolton, a principle investigator at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio in Texas, said Juno would have its whole suite of nine instruments activated as it soars above Jupiters swirling cloud tops. The instruments had previously been switched off so as to survive the entry into the planets dangerous radiation belts. "This is the first time we will be close to Jupiter since we entered orbit on 4 July. Back then we turned all our instruments off to focus on the rocket burn to get Juno into orbit around Jupiter," said Dr Bolton. "Since then, we have checked Juno from stem to stern and back again. We still have more testing to do, but we are confident that everything is working great, so for this upcoming flyby Junos eyes and ears, our science instruments, will all be open. "This is our first opportunity to really take a close-up look at the king of our solar system and begin to figure out how he works." 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 Nasa space agents have said they hope to release some of the first detailed pictures of Jupiter's north and south poles. It could take some days for the images to be downloaded on Earth. Scientists are also anticipating a wealth of data about Jupiter's composition, gravity, magnetic field, and the source of its 384 mph winds. A British team from the University of Leicester are playing a key role in the mission by focusing on the planets magnetic field, its auroras and atmosphere. There are also some "passengers" onboard the spacecraft, which is powered by three enormous solar panels. These are titanium-built Lego figures of 17th century astronomer Galileo Galilei, the Roman goddess Juno and her husband the Roman god Jupiter. Scientists celebrate in Mission Control at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the solar-powered Juno spacecraft goes into orbit around Jupiter (AP) A spacecraft called Galileo has also orbited Jupiter and its moons from 1995 to 2003, but at a distance much further out than Juno. The previous record for a close approach to the planet was set by Nasas Pioneer 11 spacecraft, which passed at a distance of 27,000 miles in 1974. In total, 35 more close flybys are planned during Juno's primary mission, which is scheduled to end in February 2018. Juno was first launched into space by an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida on 5 August 2011. It took five years to complete the 1.8 billion-mile journey from Earth, including a trek through circuit-frazzling radiation that requires its flight computer to be armoured in a titanium vault weighing almost 400 lb. At the end of its 20-month mission, Juno will self-destruct by plunging into Jupiters dense atmosphere. The craft is part of Nasas New Frontiers programme of robotic space missions which last year saw the New Horizons craft obtain close-up views of dwarf planet Pluto. Additional reporting from Press Association (Xinhua) 16:22, August 27, 2016 BEIJING, Aug. 26 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday met with Peter Thomson, president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, pledging to support the work of the United Nations. Li said globalization was frustrated and uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the international situation are on the rise with the sluggish recovery of the world economy, growing geopolitical risks and threats posed by terrorism and the refugee issue. China firmly supports a "strong and robust" role for the United Nations as the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental organization, Li told Thomson. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the restoration of China's seat in the United Nations, said Li. China has always been committed to the international system with the United Nations at its core and defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said the premier. China will safeguard the authority of the United Nations and support its work under the new circumstances, he said. "We will make joint efforts with all countries to address the challenges, enhance and improve the global governance system, promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development so as to create a win-win situation," Li said. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, endorsed and launched at the UN Summit for Sustainable Development last year, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, is a blueprint for eradicating poverty across the world for the next 15 years. Thomson said as a country with much influence in the world, China has played a major role on promoting the international peace and sustainable development. The United Nations appreciates China's long-term support, and looks forward to lifting relations with China to a new height, he said. Thomson, who will take office in September, is visiting China from Thursday to Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Earlier on Friday, Wang held talks with Thomson on all-round cooperation. Wang reassured Thomson on China's efforts in climate change and promoting green, low-carbon and sustainable development, including pushing for the early effectiveness of the Paris Agreement and helping developing countries to strengthen capacity building in climate change. China has already started implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will push G20 members to formulate an action plan for its implementation in the upcoming G20 Hangzhou summit, Wang said. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Thomson Friday. 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 }} Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has suggested her party could form an electoral pact with Labour at the 2020 general election, in a move that would anger many Labour MPs. The MP for Brighton Pavilion told The Guardian: My office got a message from his office saying that they were interested in meeting to discuss it. Thats as far as weve gone because, of course, weve had an election campaign. Ms Lucas has recently co-edited a book with Labour MP Lisa Nandy on cross party co-operation. But the prospect of any formal alliance was denied by Labours deputy leader Tom Watson, who said said: I am not aware of any talks relating to an electoral pact with the Green party. Ms Lucas said there was no chance of anything being formalised while a leadership contest was underway, but suggestions of electoral agreements between her party and Jeremy Corbyns Labour have persisted for some time. Im hopeful because more and more people in the Labour party are recognising that, no matter who their leader is, theyre very unlikely to form an outright majority government in the next election, with whats happening with the constituency boundary changes, Ms Lucas said. Once youve got a Labour party in whose interests electoral reform is, then obviously thats a gamechanger. Im imagining people in Labour are looking at Scotland, where they got about 25 per cent of the vote in the general election and just one seat. That isnt fair for them. The Green Party has consistently backed reform to the countrys First Past the Post system, that led, for example, to Ukip winning just one parliamentary seat for its 4.5 million votes. But a comparatively minor change, the introduction of a new voting system called Alternative Vote Plus, was defeated in a referendum in the last parliament. Were not talking about a blueprint and were certainly not talking about something imposed from the centre to the local areas, Ms Lucas said. 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 }} Former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell has angered Eurosceptic politicians by saying that Brexit is not inevitable. Lord ODonnell is no longer a member of the civil service, which must remain strictly neutral on matters of government policy, but his views are still highly influential. He also said that whatever happens, the UK will have to keep some EU laws and rules. Lord ODonnell, now a crossbench peer, told The Times: "Lots of people will say, Weve had the referendum, weve decided to go out, so thats it, its all over. "But it very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes before then. "It might be that a broader, more loosely aligned group, is something that the UK is happy being a member of." But he also acknowledged that this was "not what people voted for". Ukip MEP Douglas Carswell said Lord ODonnells contempt for democracy is shocking and typical of the mandarinate in Whitehall. His words, he said, Illustrate how our democracy has been subverted by career civil servants. Lord ODonnell also said that implementing Brexit would be extremely complicated, and take years. Leaving, he said, "means a huge administrative and legislative change because of all of those rules and laws and directives that have been implemented over this last 40 years". He added: "My instinct is we will almost certainly stick with them (the EU rules and laws) and say, OK, well keep them for now, so you can leave with everything in place." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Owen Smith has called for university tuition fees to be abolished and replaced with a graduate tax. The Labour leadership candidate also wants to dramatically reform apprenticeships, promising a guarantee of living-wage paying internships for 18-year-olds. Under his proposals, graduates would pay a top up tax of between 1 and 2 per cent, a system that, in real terms, would be very similar to the current system of salary linked fee repayment on graduation. Mr Smith speaking at an event at Nottingham University, told students: "Young people have been let down time and time again by this Government. Our failure to give the next generation the best start in life possible is the great scandal of our time. "The promise that each generation stood a chance of doing better than the generation before has been shattered. Young people today are more likely to be unemployed, less likely to have an apprenticeship, more indebted and less likely to own their own home. They have been given a rotten deal and we must turn this around. "If I am elected Labour leader, I'll offer young people a better deal scrapping tuition fees, guaranteeing apprenticeships paid at the living wage and giving them a helping hand on to the property ladder. This is the start in life every young person deserves." Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn clash at latest leadership debate Under Mr Smith's plan, graduates would pay the additional tax on income above 15,000 for a specified period possibly around 25 years after leaving university. The policy could also include a higher rate above 1 to 2 per cent for graduates in the top tax bracket. The guaranteed apprenticeship would be available to people with level three qualifications the equivalent of two A-level passes and would last for a minimum of two years. The schemes would include at least one day a week of off-the-job learning as well as the on-the-job training. Doubling the apprenticeship levy paid by large firms from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent would fund the policy. Paid traineeships would be offered to students who do not have the grades to access Mr Smith's new apprenticeship schemes and would effectively replace the current lower-level apprenticeships. Mr Smith is also launching a new home building scheme specifically linked to young people. It would involve building 50,000 "first homes" a year, available for rent to under-30s at 80 per cent of the local rate, with the remaining 20 per cent going into a savings scheme for a deposit to buy the home outright. At the end of the tenancy of between five to eight years, the tenant could buy the property, with the savings covering the deposit for a mortgage. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May is to launch an official audit of racial inequality in public services which she says will reveal difficult truths about disparities in modern Britain. The results of the investigation will be made public and allow service users to check how race, gender and income affect the provision of hospitals, schools and employment. The Prime Minister said the audit would help fulfill her central promise of making the country work for everyone, not just a privileged few. When I stood on the steps of Downing Street on my first day, I made clear that I believe in a United Kingdom by every definition, and that means the Government I lead will stand up for you and your family against injustice and inequality, she said. Today, I am launching an audit to look into racial disparities in our public services that stretches right across Government. It will highlight the differences in outcomes for people of different backgrounds, in every area from health to education, childcare to welfare, employment, skills and criminal justice. This audit will reveal difficult truths, but we should not be apologetic about shining a light on injustices as never before. It is only by doing so we can make this country work for everyone, not just a privileged few. Downing Street was keen to stress that it expected the audit to show how white working class people, as well as ethnic minorities, were often left behind in provision. Labour also launched a consultation to develop the partys policies on fighting racial discrimination. The scheme is being launched alongside the Race Equality Advisory Group, chaired by Patrick Vernon OBE. Jeremy Corbyn, who has long campaigned against racism, attacked some in the right-wing media for sowing division across the UK. In Britain, hate crime is rising. More than half of all young black people are unemployed. Black people are a shocking 37 times more likely to be stop and searched," he said. "Labour must be a party that fights for black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, and a diverse and united Britain. Recommended Read more Privileged students six times more likely to secure places at top unis Words matter. We must never pander to elements of the right-wing press, which sow division in our society and demonise Muslim communities. We must stand against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, wherever they exist. But it also means going further and addressing the systematic disadvantage that so many people face. To build a society that works for everyone, we will end austerity and invest 500bn in jobs, infrastructure and public services as part of our plan to rebuild and transform Britain. Theresa May in quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Theresa May in quotes Theresa May in quotes On being described by the former chancellor Ken Clarke as a bloody difficult woman: Politics could do with some Bloody Difficult Women actually Rex Features Theresa May in quotes On keeping secrets even from her husband: There are some things I am told that I am not able to confide in anybody Rex Features Theresa May in quotes On the relentless focus on her appearance during a speech at the Women in the World summit: "I like clothes and I like shoes. One of the challenges for women in the workplace is to be ourselves and I say you can be clever and like clothes. You can have a career and like clothes Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On comparisons to Margaret Thatcher: I think there can only ever be one Margaret Thatcher. Im not someone who naturally looks to role models. Ive always, whatever job it is Im doing at the time, given it my best shot. I put my all into it, and try to do the best job I can AFP/Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On her rebelliousness, or lack of, as a teenager: I probably was Goody Two Shoes at school Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On being replaced as chairman by Lord Saatchi and Liam Fox in 2003: Yes, it takes two men to step into the shoes of one woman AFP/Getty Images Theresa May in quotes What Theresa May said when she was asked about her political ambitions during an interview with Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, a lawyer married to Nick Clegg, in December: MD: "My very last question is: that little girl who is somewhere there, is she dreaming of becoming the next British Prime Minister?" TM: "Shes dreaming of carrying on doing a good job in the Home Office" Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On not being able to have children: I like to keep my personal life personal. We couldnt have children, we dealt with it and moved on. I hope nobody would think that mattered; I can still empathise, understand people and care about fairness and opportunity Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On whether she can deliver the mandate of the EU referendum: I think for party members and indeed for others, I would say look at my record. I think they can see that Im somebody who gets on with the job, but Im also somebody who says it as I see it and actually delivers on what I say Getty Images Theresa May in quotes On the equally relentless obsession with her shoes: As a woman I know you can be very serious about something and very soberly dressed add a little bit of interest with footwear. I always tell women you have to be yourself, dont assume you have to fit into a stereotype and if your personality is shown through your clothes or shoes, so be it Getty Images Angela Rayner, Labours shadow minister for equalities, added: Labour has a proud history of tackling race equality, but recent events and the rise in extremism across Europe has shown that despite the progress which has been made, more work needs to be done. This consultation will take the first steps in developing policies which can tackle the structural issues which affect Britain's BAME communities and the new challenges we all face in building a fairer, more equal society. The two schemes come on the heels of a warning by the United Nations that British politicians divisive, anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric during the EU referendum campaign had fuelled a surge in hate crimes. The UNs Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it was seriously concerned that British politicians whipped up hatred and then failed to condemn racist abuse during the campaign. Immediately following the referendum, hate crimes surged by 42 per cent in England and Wales, with a total of 3,076 incidents recorded across the country between 16 and 30 June. Many areas that voted strongly for Leave also posted even higher results, police figures obtained by The Independent showed. 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 black politician in South Africa has called for a revolution to end white supremacy of landownership with a land grab a move similar to Robert Mugabes policy in Zimbabwe. Andile Mngxitama, the leader of Black First Land First has set out a list of demands that include land expropriation without compensation and nationalisation of the mainly white-owned mines and banks. Whites own an estimated 80 per cent of farmland. His call comes as tensions increase in South Africa following municipal elections at the start of this month, and as the pressure grows for the white-dominated Democratic Alliance to go into coalitions with the radical black Economic Freedom Fighters led by Julius Malema. A coalition is likely after the ruling African National Congress, the party of Nelson Mandela, has suffered its worst election result winning 54 per cent of the vote earlier this month. Many black loyalists are angry that they have not achieved economic emancipation two decades after apartheid ended. Mr Mngxitama, whose party has its powerbase in Soweto, opposes any coalition between the Economic Freedom Fighters and the racist, anti-black Democratic Alliance as it would strengthen the hand of white supremacy. He said: I call on our people to end white racism and to enforce the return of our land. If the unlikely partners form a coalition they could control former ANC strongholds of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth. 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 Mr Mngxitama, who criticises the ANC for failing to use its power to advance black liberation, warned that a coalition with Democratic Alliance would only benefit the same people who have benefited from stealing our land. In the lead up to the 3 August municipal elections, 13 ANC politicians were murdered and the South African Broadcasting Corporation put a ban on broadcasting attacks on government buildings, fearing it would provoke more violence. South Africas 55 million population is 77 per cent black and nine per cent white, but blacks are becoming increasingly frustrated at inequalities. Many get half the pay of whites, only three per cent of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is black-owned, and the four major banks are white-dominated. Justice Piitso, of the South African Communist Party, aligned to the ANC, said: A severe storm is coming if the elite does not further black economic empowerment. Whites still own the mines, tourism, our livestock, the land, the air, the sea. If they dont reform the economy this country will explode. South Africas white minority has also been warned by mainstream ANC politicians that they face an uprising if they fail to make urgent reforms to end economic apartheid. ANC leaders are now urging radical reforms, including nationalisation of industry, to win back the black vote. Kebby Maphatsoe, the veterans minister, said: We are very, very worried if we dont do anything to change our economy from being in the hands of the minority we will have our people uprising. South Africa: Pressure mounts on ruling ANC after election losses There are an estimated 1.6 million British expats living in South Africa. Some are nervous that calls for land grabs could destabilise the country. There is a danger of racial tension getting out of hand where people point to the whites and demand their land back, said David Mitchell. It could make living here very difficult. The ANC, led by the controversial Jacob Zuma, will face its next major test in the 2019 general election. 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 from a German school in Argentina wearing swastika armbands and Hitler moustaches have attacked Jewish students at a South American resort, it has been reported. The attack is said to have taken place during a trip to San Carlos de Bariloche, a town which became a haven for fleeing Nazis after the Second World War. According ot witnesses the students - from Lanus German School - reportedly arrived at a party in a nightclub in fancy dress. Some of them were in leathers with swastikas painted on their chests and backs, Dan, one of the students who was attacked, told Argentinas TN television channel, according to the Telegraph. We wanted them to be thrown out of the club but they shouted f******* Jews at us and proudly showed off their symbols, Dan added. The headmaster of Lanus German School, Silvia Fazio, apologised and said those involved would face punishment. She described the events as indefensible. 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 They will have to make some act of atonement for the damage caused, Ms Fazio said, according to the Daily Mail. Ms Fazio stressed that the trip to San Carlos de Bariloche was not organised by the school, but arranged privately. There is much to reflect on, she added. 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 }} For the second time in less than a year in the same indigenous Canadian community, two men have found out they were swapped at birth It has been suggested the discovery raises questions about the standard of healthcare for indigenous people in Canada. David Tait and Leon Swanson were swapped at government hospital Norway House in west Canada 41 years ago, DNA testing has confirmed. The two men were understood to be friends as children. They claim they were bullied in their youth because of their resemblance to each others families. Mr Tait made an impassioned plea for further investigation. "Its pretty tough, it hits you like a ton of bricks, he told local press in Winnipeg. David Tait spoke of his distress after finding out he'd been switched (CBC) [Im] angry, confused, upset. Id like to get some answers so I know whats going on." In 2015, DNA testing proved childhood friends Norman Barkman and Luke Monias, both 41 and born three days apart, were also switched at birth. Leon Swanson (CBC) Eric Robinson, former aboriginal affairs minister who has been assisting the families, repeated a call for a federal investigation into the cases. He added he suspects there are more undiscovered cases. "What happened here is lives were stolen," Mr Robinson said, "You can't describe it as anything less than criminal. "We can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature is not acceptable he added, according to CBC. Health Minister Jane Philpott issued a statement saying an inquiry will take place. 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 "Cases like this are an unfortunate reminder to Canadians of how urgent the need is to provide all Indigenous people with high-quality health care," she said. The 1.4 million indigenous people in Canada often face considerable social and economic hardship. The group is often victim to prejudice and healthcare provided to them is often considered subpar. Despite the trauma of the discovery, Mr Tait remained optimistic about the future of his family relationships. The hospital where Tait and Swanson were switched (CBC) "Theyll always be my mom and dad, regardless. They raised me from Day One and thats the way its going to stay," Mr Tait, said, indicating towards the couple who raised him. "Plus, I get another brother, another mom and dad," he told local press. Additional reporting by 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 }} Two days after two nuns were found brutally murdered in one of the poorest corners of Mississippi, plunging the state into mourning, the authorities said they had taken a suspect into custody. Rodney Early Sanders, 46, was charged with two counts of capital murder in the case after extensive interviews with detectives during Friday, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman, Warren Strain, said in a statement. Both sixty eight years old, Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, were beloved practitioner nurses who worked in a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi, the largest town in Holmes County, which, with a population of just 18,000 is the poorest in the state. Their shared home was also in Lexington. Their work, for instance insuring local residents with diabetes received regular insulin injections and giving flu shots, was key to keeping the countys hard-pressed health system going and their death leaves a huge hole, officials said. This is a poor area, and they dignified those who are poor with outreach and respect for them, said the Rev. Greg Plata, of the St. Thomas Catholic Church, addressing the loss to the community the death of the nuns will represent. They treated each person as a child of God. Those arguably feeling the greatest shock are the patients the nuns devoted their love on. The bodies of both women were discovered in a residence in Lexington on Thursday. While there has been no official word on the manner of their death, the Rev. Plata said he had been told by police that they had been stabbed. The nuns car was reportedly stolen in the course of the crime and was later found by police one mile away from their home and abandoned. As they began their investigation, the Mississippi police offered a reward of $20,000 to anyone able to offer information on what had happened. (The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth) Briefly acknowledging that the arrest had been made late on Friday night, Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jodan said only that, Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation. Mr Sanders was said to be a resident of Kosciusko in neighbouring Attala County. "With the cooperation of the Durant and Kosciusko Police Departments, Holmes County Sheriff's Department and the Attorney General Office this heinous crime has been resolved," he added. Rev. Greg Plata of the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington (AP) A wake for the two women will be held on Sunday at St. Thomas Church and a memorial Mass is scheduled Monday at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle in Jackson. The diocesan chancellor, Mary Woodward, said the service will be an opportunity for the diocesan community and friends to celebrate the lives of these two remarkable women. Catholic leaders in the district are urging their congregations to find forgiveness for those who may have taken the lives of the women. Forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian, the Rev. Plata contended. Look at Jesus on the cross: 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' But their bereft patients may not find forgiving that easy. Right now, I don't see no forgiveness on my heart, said Joe Morgan Jr., a 58-year-old former factory worker who has diabetes and received care from Sister Merrill, adding whoever killed her should be executed. She doesn't deserve to die like this, doing God's work, he told the Associated Press. There's something wrong with the world. Contacted in Massachusetts, a sister of Mr Merrill said she had moved to Mississippi in 1981 determined to dedicate her life to helping the poor in one of Americas most deprived states. For years, she would be seen darting between small towns and farms on her moped getting medical care to those who needed it the most. And according to a nephew, David, Sister Merrill had been working with Sister Held for many years. We always considered Margaret just part of the family, he said. The word 'sister' has many meanings, and they fulfilled all of them. 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 pastor who reportedly said the LBGT community 'deserved' the Orlando shootings has been charged with child molestation. Kenneth Adkins, from Brunswick, Georgia, turned himself over to authorities, after allegations were made by a young male who was once a member of his congregation. Mr Adkins - who denies the accusations - and his wife Charlotte had reportedly been mentoring the boy. We are disappointed with what appears to be a rush to judgment by law enforcement authorities in this case. We are confident that Kenneth Adkins will be found innocent of all charges. Mrs Adkins told The Florida Times-Union. This young man was part of our teen ministry, she said. Ken and I have treated him like family, as has our church, she added. The 56-year-old, who also works as political consultant, has sparked controversy throughout his career through several outspoken comments. Mr Adkins caused outrage with postings about the Orlando shooting - in which 49 people were killed by gunman Omar Mateen - on his Twitter account. The account has since been closed to non-subscribers. 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 Been through so much with these Jacksonville Homosexuals that I dont see none of them as victims. I see them as getting what they deserve!! he allegedly tweeted. Mr Adkins later said he was not referring to the shooting victims, but instead his tweet was strictly meant for the Jacksonville group that has made my life a living hell Mr Adkins attorney said his client was looking forward to having his day in court. 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 prominent opposition figure in Venezuela has been randomly picked up from his house by security agents of the government and transferred to a prison, family members allege. The unannounced taking into custody of Daniel Ceballos, a former mayor of the western city of San Cristobal, is being seen by human rights observers as well as the opposition movement in Venezuela as further evidence of the regime of President Nicolas Maduro battening down its hatches as popular dissatisfaction with an economy in virtual shambles continues to swell. Recommended Read more Venezuela lets Jamaica pay off oil debts in food as shortages worsen Mr Ceballos, 32, was catapulted to notoriety during the widespread anti-government protests of 2014. While much of the street unrest happened in Caracas, the capital of the country, his own city also become a focus of the dissent. Security agents showed up Mr Ceballos home at 3am on Saturday and told his wife, Patricia Ceballos, that he was being taken away for a medical exam. They put him in a waiting ambulance, which instead delivered the politician to the same prison in central Guarico where he had been detained until his release a year ago. He had been under house arrest since then. This is how my daughter Victoria said goodbye to her father, Ms Gutierrez said on Twitter. The dictatorship isn't going to destroy my family. Freedom will come soon. She also used Twitter to release video of the moments when the security agents were at their home. International opprobrium of the seizure of Mr Ceballos came quickly on Saturday. Authorities in Venezuela seem to be willing to stop at nothing in their quest to prevent anyone from criticizing them, particularly as the political and humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate, said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at the rights group Amnesty International. Tensions are again escalating in Venezuela ahead of fresh protests planned for next Thursday against efforts by the government to thwart or at least stall a vast popular effort to force a recall vote on President Maduro, the former bus driver who was anointed by former President Hugo Chavez before his death from cancer in 2013. Mr Maduro narrowly won the elections soon thereafter and vowed to continue Mr Chavezs socialist revolution in Venezuela. However the last two years have seen a shocking collapse of the countrys economy, caused by a combination of government mismanagement and the fall in the price of oil. The opposition, which seized control of the national congress in elections last year, wants a recall election to happen before the end of this year. If Mr Maduro were to lose, which seems likely, new presidential elections would have to follow. However, if the recall vote is pushed into next year, Mr Maduros deputy would step in and serve out the rest of his term. Mr Ceballos was among a number of political leaders who encouraged the protests of 2014 and were punished with prison time. Among his peers, the best known is Leopoldo Lopez, who remains behind bars in spite of international pressure on Venezuela to release him. Mr Lopezs wife, Lilian Tintori, has maintained round-the-clock pressure on the government to release him. Sichuan province put on full display its rich cultural heritage in a charming event to deepen cultural relations between China and Kazakhstan, which kicked off in Almaty, Kazakhstan on August 26, 2016. A series of "Experience China" cultural activities kicked off on Friday in the Kazakh capital of Astana and its largest city of Almaty. Kazakhstan people learned more about Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, shadow puppets, eggshell carving, calligraphy, gourd pyrography, and Sichuan tea ceremony. In addition, they got to see some amazing performances. But the giant panda art installation received the most praise. This makes people care about China the most, a local friend told a reporter. Pandas are well liked by everyone, This is probably the biggest surprise. No doubt, pandas are a national treasure. 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 suspected mastermind of an Isis attack that killed more than 20 people at a cafe in Bangladesh has been shot dead by police. Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian militant, died in a gun battle after security forces raided a building near Dhaka on Saturday. AKM Shahidul Hoque, head of the national police, said he was killed alongside two unidentified men in Narayanganj. Bangladeshi police guard a house following the raid in Narayanganj (EPA) Officers raided the house acting on a tip that it was hideout used by Chowdhury and other militants, he said. The suspects opened fire at police, who retaliated and shot the men dead after they failed to surrender. Bangladeshi authorities previously named Chowdhury as the mastermind of cafe attack and a bombing and shooting massacre that targeted people gathering for Eid prayers six days later. Police identified him as the head of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, an Islamist militant group, but Chowdhury has appeared in Isis propaganda as the leader of the terrorist groups faction in the country. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Dhaka cafe attack following a series of machete attacks and assassinations, but the government has denied the group has a presence in the country and blamed the atrocity on local organisations. Officers inspect the house where police say they found Chowdhury (AP) Five militants armed with guns and knives stormed into the Holey Artisan Bakery and took diners hostage on 1 July, forcing them to recite parts of the Quran to be spared and killing anyone who could not. Nine Italians, seven Japanese people including a pregnant woman, an Indian teenager, American student and several Bangladeshis were murdered in the 10-hour siege. Police admitted mistakenly shooting the pizza chef dead as they stormed the building, initially saying six attackers had been killed but later revising the number to five. Isis published photos of the gunmen through its propaganda agencies, showing them dressed in black with Arab-style headscarves, smiling with assault rifles in front of the groups black flag. The group has been prominently advertising its expansion into Bangladesh, featuring an interview believed to be with Chowdhury in the April edition of its English language magazine. In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Bangladesh attacks In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu ashram worker Nityaranjan Pande, 62, was hacked to death in Pabna on 10 June 2016 AP In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu priest Anando Gopal Ganguly, left, was murdered in Jhenidah in Bangladesh on 7 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, was murdered in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 5 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh Students Union arranged a torch procession in protest over recent murders of free thinkers in Dhaka NurPhoto In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Murdered gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan, who was editor at Bangladeshs only LGBT magazine Rex In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A Bangladeshi policeman stands guard at the site of the murder of a law student, hacked to death by four assailants the night before, in Dhaka on April 7, 2016 AFP/Getty In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People have protested against the murders around the world, seen here in Kolkata AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A relative of dead Bangladeshi blogger Washiqur Rahman reacts after seeing his body at Dhaka Medical College in Dhaka on March 30 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People gather on the spot where Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy was killed in a street in Dhaka (EPA) EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladeshi social activists shout slogans during a protest against the killing Avijit Roy in Dhaka on February 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images Hailed as the emir of the faction under the war name Shaykh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif, Chowdhury vowed to target Shia and Ahmadi Muslims, crusaders, Hindus and missionaries. We let our actions do the talking, he was quoted as saying. Our soldiers are presently sharpening their knives to slaughter the atheists, the mockers of the Prophet and every other apostate in the region. Criticising the Jamaat-e-Islami group blamed for previous terror attacks, Chowdhury made no mention of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh. Isis is believed to have drawn much of its local membership from the group, which has been praised in propaganda but made no known pledge of allegiance. Chowdhury, believed to be around 30 years old, was born in Bangladesh but grew up in Canada. Bangladesh attack raises security questions He lived in Ontario with his family and completed a chemistry degree at the University of Windsor but left Canada in 2013 in a suspected attempt to travel to Syria. Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the cafe attack, including a British-Bangladeshi man who has been imprisoned without charge for almost two months. Hasnat Karims family say militants forced the father-of-two to act as a human shield during the siege of the Holey Artisan Bakery, where he had been celebrating his daughters 13th birthday. But Bangladeshi authorities suspect him of colluding with jihadists and refused to release him, despite accusations of arbitrary detention and human rights violations by lawyers. No charges have been brought in a series of court appearances and a judge refused another bail application on Wednesday, leaving the 47-year-old detained without access to a lawyer or visitation rights for his family. Hasnat is a loving and devoted father and husband and we will continue to cooperate with the authorities to secure his release, a statement from Mr Karims relatives 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 }} North Korea has threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by provocative American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas, Korean People's Army (KPA) announced on Saturday. The army accused US and South Korean soldiers of deliberate provocations by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It added that the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the brink of war due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. Floodlights directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots, the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation, it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Inside the daily life in North Korea Show all 19 1 /19 Inside the daily life in North Korea Inside the daily life in North Korea People reading a newspaper at the metro station Inside the daily life in North Korea Thoughts of the leaders on the tram. They have about a dozen of these on every tram, all with different thoughts Inside the daily life in North Korea Young people training for a big upcoming festival Inside the daily life in North Korea People at the Pyongyang's annual marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea Many stars on one of the trolleys in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea An intimidating poster in a primary school in North Korea. Inside the daily life in North Korea Solar panels installed on a street lamp. Inside the daily life in North Korea A poster on the window next to one of the venues we visited in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Kids playing football next to the Arch of Triumph. After a while tourists were allowed to join, so some of us did Inside the daily life in North Korea Class in an educational center in Pyongyang (where people over 17 years old can attend any classes they choose after school, for free) Inside the daily life in North Korea People waving at me during the Pyongyang marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea People having a great time dancing at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea A metro driver in a metro station in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Fireworks to mark the birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung on our last night in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea My wonderful tour guide at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea One of the parks in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea A person rowing some boats for the day at a river in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea The National War Museum Inside the daily life in North Korea Public park in Pyongyang The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. On Tuesday, the American-led U.N. Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the U.N. Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile-wide demilitarised zone. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the area. In August 2015, land mine blasts, which Seoul blamed on Pyongyang, maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused tensions between the two Koreas to flare. 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 }} Update: On 1 May 2017, Mbah Gotho's death at the age of 146 was announced The worlds oldest man has been named as Indonesian Mbah Gotho, who is 145 years old, with documentation that says he was born in 1870. Mr Gotho said he began preparing for his death in 1992, even having a gravestone made, but 24 years later he is still alive. He has now outlived all 10 of his siblings, his four wives and his children. Though his age is impressive, Mr Gotho told a regional news network: What I want is to die. For the past three months he has needed to bathed and spoon-fed, and is becoming increasingly frail. Mr Gotho has official documentation which shows his age, and the Indonesian records office says it has confirmed his birth date as December 31 1870. If this is correct, this would earn him the title of the oldest person ever, a title currently held by French centenarian Jeanne Calment, who was 122 when she died 23 years younger than Mr Gotho. If the documents cannot be independently verified, however, Mr Gotho will not go down in the record books. Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Show all 12 1 /12 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Dirty Dancing Johann Liedtke,92 und Marianne Pape, 79 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Breakfast at Tiffanys Marianne Brunsbach, 86 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Titanic Erna Rutt, 86, und Alfred Kelbch, 81 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Saturday Night Fever Irmgard Alt, 79, und Siegfried Gallasch, 87 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes The Blues Brothers Margarete Schmidt (r.), 77, and Lothar Wischnewski 76 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Cabaret Martha Bajohr, 77 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes The Seven Year Itch Ingeborg Giolbass, 84, and Erich Endlein, 88 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Easy Rider Walter Loeser (l.), 98, and Kurt Neuhaus, 90 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Mary Poppins Erna Schenk, 78 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Giant Joanna Trachenberg, 81, and Horst Krischat, 78 Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes Rocky Erwin J. von der Heiden, 80 Contilla Old people's home residents recreate famous movie scenes James Bond Wilhelm Buiting, 89 There are a number of people who claim to have broken Jeanne Calments record, such as Nigerian James Olofintuyi, who claims to be 171, and Dhaqabo Ebba from Ethiopia, who claims to be 163, but without verifiable documents they cannot be given her title. The centenarian, from Central Java, says he spends his time listening to the radio, as his eyesight is no longer good enough to watch television. When asked the secret to a long life, he said: The recipe is just patience. 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 United Nations has welcomed a ruling by Frances highest court that the burkini ban is seriously and clearly illegal, as right-wing politicians have vowed to continue their bid to ban the swimwear. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: We welcome the decision by the court. I think our opinion was expressed fairly clearly the other day on the need for peoples personal dignity and person to be respected. Speaking prior to the court ruling he said: Its about respecting the dignity of people; its about respecting the dignity of women. And from what Ive seen in the photos, it doesnt look like that was the case in this particular incident. Images of a woman being ordered by armed French police to remove the modest swimwear tunic while sitting on a beach in France, provoked outrage round the world. A court found bans on the garment, which have been initiated by several French towns, amount to a violation of fundamental liberties. Judges found there was insufficient reason to believe the swimsuits pose a risk to public order, despite claims from right-wing politicians that burkinis are a provocation which could cause religious and political tensions. However, despite the court ruling and UN backing for the decision, some right-wing politicians have vowed to keep the ban in place. Ange-Pierre Vivoni, Mayor of Sisco in northern Corsica, said: Here the tension is very, very, very strong and I wont withdraw it. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy who is running to return to office in 2017 vowed to impose a nationwide ban on the swimwear if re-elected to the post. He described burkinis as a "provocation" and said: "I refuse to let the burkini impose itself on French beaches and swimming pools... there must be a law to ban it throughout the Republic's territory. Our identity is under threat when we accept an immigration policy that makes no sense." Front National (FN) leader Marine Le Pen vowed that the fight to outlaw the garments is not over and will now be pursued on a national legislative level: as quickly as possible through a ban by central government. Nice deputy Mayor Christian Estrosi echoed the sentiment, writing on Twitter: we need a law. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has described the swimwear as amounting to enslavement of women. 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 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. 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 }} Four out of five German people think the burqa should be banned in a number of public places, according to a survey conducted for German broadcaster ARD. Of over 1,000 respondents, 81 per cent said they were in favour of legislation that would ban anyone from wearing a burqa within public institutions. More than half said they were in favour of a total ban. Just 15 per cent of German respondents said they did not think any sort of burqa ban should be put in place. Security officials in Germany have proposed a ban on wearing burqas in some public places, such as in schools, universities and in court, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has opposed a blanket ban due to constitutional issues. Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously said that a completely covered woman has almost no chance of integrating herself in Germany but opposes a ban. Heated debate over aspects of some Muslim attire have broken out in Europe after a number of French towns laid down bans on the burkini a term used to describe modest swimwear worn by Muslim women. 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 The bans have faced criticism from many quarters both inside and outside France A French court has ruled at least one of the local bans to be clearly illegal, but right-wing politicians have promptly vowed to preserve the bans if elected. 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 }} Hungary is planning a new and even more massive fence to prevent refugees from crossing its border on their way to western Europe. The Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, said the construction would stop any surge in asylum seekers if the EU-Turkey deal reducing boat crossings over the Aegean Sea collapses. Technical planning is under way to erect a more massive defence system next to the existing line of defence, which was built quickly [last year], he said. Hungary jails 10 migrants The existing razor-wire construction runs the entire length of Hungarys borders with Serbia and Croatia, where hundreds of thousands of migrants have crossed during the refugee crisis. The fence has been credited with sharply reducing flows, although footage has shown refugees attempting to climb or crawl under it. It is one of several controversial policies brought in by Mr Orban, who previously called migrants a poison and is known for his anti-immigration views. He said there could soon be a greater need for security at the borders if Turkey defualts on its agreement to keep refugees in the country and accept failed asylum seekers from Greece. If we cant do it nicely, we have to hold them back by force, Mr Orban said. And we will do it, too. How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a bottle of water towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian armoured personnel carriers are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian police spray water cannon on migrants at the "Horgos 2" border crossing into Hungary, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee reacts after Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee gestures as Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a stone towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon and pepper spray to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Migrants shout slogans as they stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen run as they are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees wait at the Horgos 2 border crossing EPA Turkish ministers have threatened to withdraw from the deal, which has caused a sharp drop in boats crossing the Aegean Sea since March, amid anger delays in an EU visa waiver programme and the response to a failed coup to oust Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Orban said it was in Europes interest to work with Turkey on security and other issues. Immigration and migrants damage Europes security, [they] are a threat to people and bring terrorism upon us, he said, arguing that this was caused by allowing the uncontrolled entry of large numbers of people from areas where Europe and the Western world are seen as the enemy. Calling for stronger controls at Europes external borders, he announced 3,000 new border hunters to tighten control at Hungarys fences. They have been widely condemned by human rights groups following protests by thousands of stranded migrants last year, who were beat back by police officers armed with truncheons, tear gas and water cannons. Soldiers work on the fence along the now-finished Croatian border (EPA) It recently emerged security forces have begun making scarecrows along the fences in crude attempts to deter refugees, while one Hungarian MEP suggested pig heads should be hung there last week. Hungary has also introduced controversial legislation that allows officials to return migrants to Serbia if they are caught within five miles of the border. But officials have denied repeated allegations that officers have used force to escort the migrants and refugees back to Serbia. Of 177,135 asylum applicants to Hungary in 2015, just 146 were approved, according to government statistics. The government has called a referendum on 2 October seeking political support for the rejection of any EU plans to introduce refugee quotas among its member countries. Meanwhile, Norway has started building its own fence along its border with Russia to keep out refugees using the route into Scandinavia. 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 man has been rescued by firemen after getting stuck in a public toilet. Cato Berntsen Larsen climbed into the toilet in an attempt to rescue a phone that his friend had dropped while using the toilet. The 20-year-old dived in feet-first and stood thigh-deep in the contents of the toilet for over an hour as he waited for help. I was obviously slim enough to get into it, but not slim enough to get out. I was down there for one hour, and it was very unpleasant, Mr Larsen told Drammens Tidende. The toilet is not connected to the sewer and has a tank that sits underneath which is cleared out once a year. It was disgusting as hell. The worst thing I have ever experienced. Animals were down there too. I will never enter a toilet again. Now my body hurts, and I will go home and get some rest, he said to VG. 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 Firefighters were forced to destroy the toilet to free Mr Larsen, who was unsuccessful in retrieving the phone. He was treated at hospital for some injuries to his upper arms and several bites on his body. 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 15 civilians have reportedly been killed by a suspected barrel bomb attack on a funeral being held in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Residents had gathered in the rebel-controlled Bab al-Nayrab district to mourn 11 children who died in air strikes two days before on Saturday when the explosions struck. Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of the injured victims told him two barrel bombs were dropped within minutes, injuring an ambulance driver responding to the first attack and hampering rescue efforts. Rescue workers search for victims through the rubble of a building destroyed during a reported barrel bomb attack in a rebel-held neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo on August 27, 2016 (AFP/Getty Images) Footage posted by activists online showed relatives screaming as victims were carried into a side street in body bags, leaving trails of blood on the floor. A dead body on an abandoned stretcher could be seen next to a partially crushed ambulance, surrounded by rubble and scattered body parts. A baby was visible among the bodies of the dead as children covered in dust were pulled from the ruins. The images could not be independently verified. The Syrian Network group put the death toll from Saturday's attacks at 11 but the pro-rebel Aleppo Media Centre said more than 20 people died. Helicopters flown by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad were suspected of carrying out the attack, although officials have persistently denied using barrel bombs. The cheap munitions see containers packed with explosives and shrapnel before being rolled out of helicopters and have were condemned for inflicting indiscriminate casualties in civilian areas by the UN Security Council. A girl who survived bombing on the rebel held Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood of Aleppo on 27 August (Reuters) Bab al-Nayrab is in a rebel-controlled part of Aleppo, which is split between opposition and government control. At least 13 people died in Thursdays bombing, which destroyed several houses. In a hospital, footage showed several toddlers and children being treated for wounds, next to crying family members covered in blood. Aleppo, Syrias most populous city before the start of the civil war, has been devastated by four years of bombing by both sides. Both the Assad regime and its Russian backers are accused of killing civilians with air strikes, while rebels have carried out bomb and rocket attacks on residents living in government districts. Fierce fighting continues between regime troops and a coalition of Islamist militias led by the former al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, who are battling to maintain a corridor between opposition areas and the rest of the Aleppo province after rebels broke the siege of the city earlier this month. The video which shows the suffering of the children of Aleppo Pressure for a lasting ceasefire between all parties in Aleppo has increased following air strikes that injured Omran Daqneesh and killed his brother, with images of the Syrian boy sitting dazed and covered in blood provoking horror around the world. The United States and Russia held talks on Friday aiming to agree a new cessation of hostilities but did not achieve a resolution. The US is leading a coalition including Britain and more than a dozen other nations that are targeting Isis with air strikes and backing rebels fighting the terrorist group on the ground. But Russia, alongside Iran and China, is supporting President Assad and follows the Syrian governments designation of all opposition groups as terrorists. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, said he and the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had established a path forward after nine hours of discussion in Geneva. We don't want to have a deal for the sake of the deal, Mr Kerry said. We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution. In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo The main focus of talks has been over how to separate opposition groups from jihadists as complex alliances continue to shift. They were held as rebels and civilians were evacuated from the Damascus suburb of Daraya by regime forces, effectively surrendering it to the government after a gruelling four-year siege. The UN warned that the world was watching as thousands of people were transported in buses to other rebel-controlled areas of Syria, while humanitarian groups expressed concern for their safety. Sireen, a teacher in Daraya, told Save the Children residents had no choice but to leave their homes, adding: The old people, the children, the young people, everyone has to leave. Its a done deal. Sonia Khush, the charitys director for Syria, said civilians must be treated with dignity and respect in the evacuation, which was not an answer to sieges across Syria. There are concerns for the safety and freedom of movement of civilians who are being transferred into shelters in government-held areas, she added. A Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy waits at the entrance of Daraya ahead of the evacuation on 26 August (Reuters) Mothers are particularly worried for the fate of their teenage sons as they leave Daraya. Families should be allowed to stay together and children in particular need to be protected. Tobias Ellwood, the minister for the Middle East, called on the Assad regime and its supporters to ensure their safe passage and equally protect those who choose to stay in accordance with international humanitarian law. The citizens of Daraya were among the first to hold peaceful protests for a better Syria, he added. They have been besieged for years, enduring terrible suffering under sustained regime airstrikes and cut off from humanitarian aid. We utterly condemn the appalling violence inflicted by the regime on this town. The UN must be granted immediate humanitarian access to Daraya and to all others in need in Syria. More than 5 million people live in hard-to-reach areas of Syria, according to UN figures, including almost 600,000 people (250,000 of them children) living in 18 besieged areas 15 by the government of Syria or its allies, and three by rebels. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Turkish forces have bombed opposition groups backed by the US-led coalition as an operation to drive Isis and Kurdish rebels out of northern Syria continues. Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels deployed by Turkey battled coalition-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for territory south of the city of Jarablus on Saturday. The SDFs Jarablus Military Council said air strikes struck homes and killed civilians in the village of al-Amarneh, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens the fate of the region. A statement said its forces had not approached the border area to avoid clashes with Turkish-allied forces, adding: If they do not attack our forces, then we will keep the border strip secure. Officials from Turkeys Euphrates Shield released a photo showing smoke rising from the bombed location but said fighter jets were targeting positions held by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG). The fighters are key allies of the US-led coalition after a successfully driving Isis out of swathes of northern Syria but are regarded as terrorists by Turkey. As part of a deal struck between American and Turkish officials last week, Kurdish militants were told to pull back to the east of the Euphrates River but it was unclear whether all factions would obey the order. Turkish officials the FSA took five villages near Jarablus on Saturday. The Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, whose fighters decapitated a child on video in Aleppo last month, announced the seizure of al-Amarneh from the SDF on Saturday. Faylaq al-Sham, another Islamist rebel group in the Turkish alliance, said it captured two SDF fighters, whose fate remains unknown, during clashes in the village of Yusuf Bek. There were reports of several SDF fighters being killed in the battles, less than 10 miles south of the Turkish border. In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks driving to the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus yesterday AFP/Getty In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish-backed gather on the outskirts of Jarabulus, Syria, ahead of an offensive on 24 August 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks make their way towards the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, Syria August 24, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish soldiers return from Syria to Turkey with tanks after a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria, Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey, 25 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, AP In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks on their way to the Turkish-Syria border during an operation against Isis on 24 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Syrian opposition fighters being transported during preparations to enter Jarabulus in Karkamis, Turkey, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria An air strike hitting Isis-controlled territory near Jarabulus, near the Turkish border, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria A Turkish army tank and an armoured vehicle stationed near the border with Syria. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery has launched new strikes at Isis targets across the border AP It followed unconfirmed allegations by Kurdish rebels and media that the FSA had used chemical weapons in the village of Dandaniyah on Friday. A statement was released from Euphrates Shields official social media accounts denying reports of civilian casualties and condemning false news and fake images being spread by members of terrorist organisations. Recommended Read more Turkey may be overplaying its hand with Syria ground offensive President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched the offensive late on Tuesday evening, saying it aimed to clear all threats from border regions and drive Isis out of the strategic city of Jarablus. But FSA rebels sent into Syria with support from Turkish tanks, jets and special forces, arrived to find it deserted by militants who had already pulled out and the focus swiftly moved to Kurdish rebels. Fikri Isik, the Turkish defence minister, said Turkey would not let the YPG and its allies join up Kurdish territory in north-east and north-west Syria. Isis should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But it's not enough for usthe PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there, he added. The SDF had previously advanced to within a mile of Jarablus after driving Isis out of swathes of northern Syria in recent months, including the key city of Manbij. But Turkey has been alarmed by the alliances success, enabling Kurdish groups to control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border. Turkish-backed rebels secure Jarablus in northeastern Syria Despite being regarded as valuable allies of the US-led coalition, Mr Erdogan has called the fighters terrorists and linked them with the separatist PKK group, which is fighting an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey. 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 comes amid continued fighting and bombardment elsewhere in Syria, with at least 15 civilians reported killed by suspected barrel bombings in rebel-controlled Aleppo. The explosions reportedly hit mourners gathering to pay their respects to 11 children who died in air strikes in the same district just two days before. Battles raged between regime troops and a coalition of Islamist militias led by the former al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, who are trying maintain a corridor between opposition areas and the rest of Aleppo province after rebels broke the siege of the city. Pressure for a lasting ceasefire between all parties in has increased following air strikes that injured Omran Daqneesh and killed his brother, with photos of the Syrian boy sitting dazed and covered in blood provoking horror around the world. A man carries an injured child after the bombing in the rebel held Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood of Aleppo (Reuters) The United States and Russia held talks on Friday aiming to agree a new cessation of hostilities but did not achieve a resolution. The US is leading a coalition including Britain and more than a dozen other nations that are targeting Isis with air strikes and backing rebels fighting the terrorist group on the ground. Russia, alongside Iran and China, is supporting President Assad and follows the Syrian governments designation of all opposition groups as terrorists. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, said he and the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had established a path forward after nine hours of discussion in Geneva. We don't want to have a deal for the sake of the deal, Mr Kerry said. We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution. The discussions were held as rebels and civilians were evacuated from the Damascus suburb of Daraya by regime forces, effectively surrendering it to the government after a gruelling four-year siege. The UN warned that the world was watching as thousands of people were transported in buses to other rebel-controlled areas of Syria, while humanitarian groups expressed concern for their safety. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A mother has drowned after diving into a lake to rescue her two-year-old son. Chelsey Russell jumped from her houseboat after her son fell overboard during a family trip across Lake Powell in Utah. The 33-year-old from Colorado dived in to rescue her child, while onboard her brother stopped the motor as soon as he could. Travelling at eight miles per hour, he said the boat was already some distance from the struggling pair. Realising he was too far away to swim to his sister, he returned to the houseboat to fetch a smaller motorboat they were towing. Neither Ms Russell nor her son had lifejackets on, and her brother had to retrieve a knife to cut the motorboat loose as the minutes passed. Ms Russell managed to keep her son afloat on her chest for at least five minutes before her brother reached her. When she was pulled from the water, Ms Russell was unconscious, while her son in a stable condition. Bystanders and officials performed CPR on Ms Russell, but could not revive her. Rick Eldridge, the San Juan county sheriff, said according to CBS News: "She was holding the baby out of the water the best that she could." He added he suspected the cause of death was drowning, but said the medical examiner would rule exactly on the case soon. Boaters aged under 12 are required to wear life jackets on Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a site of natural beauty which has seen six deaths this year. A legal associate at law firm Welborn, Sullivan, Meck & Tooley, Ms Russell was highly regarded by her employers. The firm posted a statement saying: "Chelsey was an amazing mother, an exceptional legal talent, an extraordinary athlete, a loyal and generous friend, and left us all better for knowing her. "She is sorely missed." Lake Powell is a reservoir, embraced by towering sandstone rock, on the border of Utah and Arizona in the US. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 27 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the number of observers Aug. 27 registered to monitor the referendum. Some 16 observers were registered to monitor the referendum, Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman, said. Among those registered are the representatives of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the message said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to hold a referendum on amending the Constitution September 26, 2016. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The people of America would like to apologise for their presidential candidates this year. Well, I imagine they would, since polls show their level of enthusiasm for either of them hovering somewhere south of Tierra del Fuego. A pox on both their campaigns, they cry. Its not just the nastiness of it all, though last week pretty much took the biscuit in that department. Bigot! cried Donald Trump, dismissing Hillary Clintons long history of support among African Americans as a great big fraud. Racist! she shot back in a speech in Nevada, suggesting that Mr Trump is trying to turn the Republican Party into a chapter of the KKK. No, the disgust voters feel is more about the cynicism of it all. Clinton hasnt been saying quite so much about income inequality of late as she carouses through the homes of the one per cent raising cartloads of cash for her party. She smiles through it all, quite likely loathing half of her hosts. She smiled too when she attended Mr Trumps wedding in 1995. Conviction politics isnt a phrase Trump has ever heard of, either. What does he believe in, beyond his own brilliance? He believes in the wall he is going to build along the almost-2,000 miles of border between Mexico and the US. And he believes Mexico will pay for it. Or does he? Not to make excuses for them, but its worth noting that the system for electing presidents in America is such that policy consistency is discouraged; its designed to make flip-floppers of them. At its simplest, US elections go on too long. In Britain political candidates have to stand by their policy positions without too much obvious deviation for only a month or so. Thats not so hard. Here, they must stick to their various guns, without wavering, for near-on two years. But more than that, there is the two-stage nature of it all. As Trump is now finding out to his great cost, competing in the primaries for your partys presidential nomination is a very different proposition from running a general election campaign, which is where we are now. In the last days of summer, Clinton is hopscotching between private parties (AP) Clinton is experiencing something of this. Fending off Bernie Sanders in the primaries meant tacking hard to the left, for instance abandoning President Barack Obama on approving a new mega-trade treaty with 11 nations in Asia and the Pacific. Today she is swinging back to the right, trying to reel in moderate Republicans while hoping the liberal wing of her party wont notice. Nigel Farage urges Donald Trump voters to 'stand up to the establishment' Trumps contortions are more painful to watch. On Wednesday he appeared on a stage in Mississippi with Nigel Farage. The message, presumably (though most in the room wondered what the odd British fellow was doing there), had to do with their shared affection for reinforcing borders. But appearing the same day on Fox News, Trump confirmed what many of his supporters were already fearing, that he was no longer sure that his pledge to deport the 11 million people living in the country illegally was deliverable (or, more to the point, politically wise). Maybe some could stay if they paid their back-taxes and didnt have any sort of criminal record, he mused. They have to pay taxes. There's no amnesty as such. There's no amnesty... But we work with them, Trump said, making clear that amnesty erasing the fact of their having crossed the border illegally is exactly what he is now considering. Four years ago, Mitt Romney fell into something of the same trap. Ingratiating himself with conservatives in primary season he took also took a harsh stance on immigration, rambling about illegal Hispanics self-deporting, only to find he had row back when he had secured the nomination. It reinforced his already well-established flip-flopper reputation. Flip-flop doesn't adequately describe what Trump is now contemplating on immigration. Apparently he will tell us what he really thinks in a speech soon, though he has twice postponed delivering it, presumably because he is still in a muddle himself. Indeed, his entire campaign appears this weekend to be split down the middle about it. But if he moderates his stance in the way he hinted at last week, he will have moved himself firmly into the Democrat column on the issue. Indeed, immigration policy under Trump would be much the same as it is now under Obama deport the baddest apples and find a way for the rest to stay. Presumably at that point the wall will become redundant too. His supporters wont have anything left to chant at his rallies. Well, except for Lock her Up. Trumps strategy in the primaries was effective. He presented his deportation plan, while also promising to enforce a total ban on Muslims entering the country, and demolished each of his rivals one by one principally by dismissing them as weak on immigration. He eviscerated Jeb Bush in particular, who had made the tactical error early on of suggesting that many of those entering the country illegally do so out of love for the families they must feed. Now that he is flirting with abandoning his hardline approach, reasoning correctly that only by doing so will he have any hope of getting Hispanic support in November, plenty of people are feeling a bit disgusted, including many of those who made him the nominee with their primary votes. So too is Bush. I don't know what to believe about a guy who doesn't believe in things, the former Florida governor said of Trump last week. His views will change based on the feedback he gets from a crowd or what he thinks he has to do. Life is too complex. By now a few Sanders fans will be raising their hands. His challenge to Clinton arguably went as far as it did precisely because most voters think she is not to be trusted on anything while he seemed genuine. That was his power. But it didnt pay off. And in a disappointing coda to his campaign, he has just founded a political action committee called Our Revolution that is set up in a way that will allow it to take in large amounts of dark money from where ever it may come. Even Bernie will betray his own principles when it suits him, it seems. The voters are not naive. They know that politicians are a slippery lot. And the way candidates in this country are forced to pander first to their own party base to win the nomination, before they turn to winning over moderates and independents in the general election, demands slipperiness. But the voters are entitled to expect a modicum of integrity and consistency in that process. Arguably Clinton attains that standard. Trump may be about to prove he does not. An artists impression of the new hotel, behind the former Clerys department store in the capital An Bord Pleanala has approved plans for a new-seven storey 16m boutique hotel in the capital. In giving Tetrarch Capital the go-ahead for the 158-bedroom hotel behind the former Clerys department store, the appeals board dismissed appeals lodged against the City Council permission by An Taisce and one of the best known names in the hotel industry, Wynn's hotel. The plan involves Tetrarch firm Sagrada converting Sackville House into the new hotel. Tetrarch Capital owns several hotels including the Marker hotel in Dublin and the Powerscourt Hotel in Co Wicklow. The hotel is slated to open in early to mid-2018 and will go some way towards addressing the hotel room shortfall in Dublin. The project will involve the creation of 150 jobs and Dublin City Council initially gave the plan the go-ahead after its planner stated that the hotel will introduce a vibrancy to an inner city street in need of regeneration and have a positive impact on the surrounding area. In its appeal against the council's decision, Wynn's Hotel claimed that the permitted hotel "illustrates a lack of ambition for the site and for the city, including O'Connell Street". In its appeal, An Taisce said the height of the development was excessive and its design was inappropriate for its Marlborough Street location. CIE objected to the planning application before the City Council but did not appeal the council decision. But the board said that the hotel would not seriously injure the area's amenities or adversely impact its architectural heritage. Apple may be gearing up for a recruitment drive that would cement its position as one of the countrys biggest private sector employers. Photo: JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images Brussels is reportedly set to announce within days the end of its long-running probe into whether Apple's tax treatment in Ireland amounted to unfair 'State aid' from the Government. The 'Financial Times' reported last night that the European Commission may announce its findings at the start of September, and will find against Ireland - potentially meaning the US technology giant could be hit for back taxes that could amount to billions of euro. However, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has already insisted the Government here will appeal against any adverse finding in the case, even though the back taxes would ultimately be paid to the Exchequer here. Meanwhile in Cork, Apple may be gearing up for a recruitment drive that would cement its position as one of the country's biggest private sector employers. The company last week received planning permission to expand its facilities in Holyhill, which could lead to an additional 1,000 jobs at the facility. Apple currently employs 5,500 people in Ireland, and is Cork's biggest private sector employer. It has recently begun building an 850m data centre in Galway. Read more: End of probe nigh as Apple could be hit for back taxes of billions of euro The Department of Finance said it has no new information on either the timing of the decision from Europe, or what it will be. In July, Mr Noonan said a decision could come in September or October. Last night, Apple officials pointed to a previous statement made on the matter. "Apple has received no selective treatment from Irish officials over the years. We're subject to the same tax laws as the countless other companies who do business in Ireland." The company's chief executive, Tim Cook, has previously said that Apple would appeal any verdict that did not reflect "a fair hearing". Earlier this year, Apple's Irish Vice President of European Operations, Cathy Kearney, defended Apple's record on tax. A finding against Ireland would be a major blow for the Government, which has insisted it has no case to answer. Advantage Brussels has accused Ireland of striking a tax arrangement with Apple that was based on keeping jobs here, but which gave the company an advantage that amounted to state aid and went against international guidelines. The Apple probe dragged Ireland to the centre of the global controversy over ultra-low taxes paid by some big corporations. Tensions between Washington and Brussels over the latter's state aid investigations involving a number of US companies, including Apple, has been high this year. Just this week, the US Treasury published a paper claiming that the probes were inconsistent with international norms and undermine the global tax system. An employee looks at financial data on computer screens, in front of a view of The Shard building One of Europe's biggest stock exchanges, Bats Europe, could open a base outside London following Brexit, with Dublin a possible contender - voicing doubts about whether the City of London would secure sufficient access to the European market. Bats Europe accounts for about 24pc of daily trading in European shares and a shift of UK operations of one of the financial sector's biggest success stories would be a blow to London's prestige as a global financial centre. Barring a clear sign that Britain will get full access to the single European market, Bats will begin work on setting up a second base next year if Brexit is expected in 2019, Bats Europe chief executive Mark Hemsley told Reuters. He said while no firm decision had been made on whether to relocate some operations to the European Union if Britain leaves the bloc, there was no real alternative as things stand. "If I look at the current scenarios, the only one that does give certainty to your customers is to actually have an entity within an EU country," Mr Hemsley said, citing Dublin as a possible location. "Until we see a path that tells us otherwise, that will be the most likely outcome at the moment." Uncertainty about what kind of trade deals Britain will be able to negotiate with Brussels is forcing many companies with pan-European businesses to come up with contingency plans. The comments by Bats Europe's ceo are the latest sign firms are wary about waiting too long for fear of losing customers. Financial firms based in London use a so-called EU passport to offer services across the bloc from one base, but few expect to have continued full access to Europe's single market after Brexit. While Britain will negotiate new trade terms with the EU, Mr Hemsley said all the scenarios aired so far - being part of the European Economic Area like Norway, bilateral deals like Switzerland and Canada, "equivalence regimes", or relying on World Trade Organisation rules - were problematic. British Prime Minister Theresa May has talked of a "bespoke" deal with Europe but so far there have been no details and much hinges on what terms EU member states will accept. Bats Europe was created in 2011 when US Bats snapped up Chi-X Europe, then a four-year-old trading platform that had became one of Europe's biggest exchanges, eclipsing national exchanges that are centuries old in some cases. Mr Hemsley said he was open-minded about which country Bats would chose but said Dublin was attractive. "We are looking at the underlying legal framework of a country and Ireland is quite attractive because it's the most similar to the UK structure," Mr Hemsley said. "We look at local tax environments, labour laws, availability of personnel. We are open minded, but Dublin is attractive on a number of those levels." (Reuters) It's round two in the international brand war between the snack box and the Big Mac. This follows fast-food giant McDonald's looking to frustrate Supermac's expansion plans into Europe for a second time after formally objecting to the Galway firm using the Supermac's logo to sell its curry chips, snack box and other fast food in the EU outside Ireland. The curry chip and snack box are synonymous with the Supermac's brand built up over almost 40 years by Ballinasloe former teacher and Supermac's boss Pat McDonagh. However, McDonald's - which last year enjoyed global revenues of $25bn - appears determined to ensure that the Supermac's snack box is never sold in the EU outside Ireland. McDonald's was successful earlier this year in opposing the Supermac's plan with the European Commission. In a 24-page ruling, the Office of Harmonisation for the Internal Market (OHIM) at the Commission agreed with McDonald's that Supermac's application for a trademark was likely to cause confusion among the public over the two different fast food brands and their products. Supermac's subsequently appealed the refusal but then withdrew the appeal and instead lodged a fresh application in May of this year with the OHIM. The west of Ireland firm lodged the revised application after Mr McDonagh stated that the firm learned a lot from the European decision and adjusted its application accordingly. Mr McDonagh told the Irish Independent yesterday that he wasn't surprised by the McDonald's objection. "It is par for the course. I haven't had a chance to read it as yet," he said. Mr McDonagh is optimistic that the application will succeed this time, adding: "We will keep fighting until we succeed." Any party wishing to object to the new trademark application had until next Wednesday to make a submission and with only days to go to the August 31 deadline and no other opposition recorded against Supermac's, McDonald's has registered its opposition to the Supermac's brand being used to sell its fast food. In papers lodged with the OIHM in Alicante, Spain, McDonald's has confirmed it is basing its opposition to the Supermac's brand as "there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public" between the two brands. The battle will now go into 2017 before a victor emerges. A spokesman for the OIHM said yesterday that a two-month cooling-off period will take place after August 31. If the two parties can't reach an agreement, McDonald's has a further two months to give the reasons why it is opposing the trademark. Supermac's will then have two months to respond before a decision is made. Cfo Ryan Preston and ceo Robert Pitt at the announcement of the INM interim results to June 2016. Photo: Frank McGrath The 9pc tax charged when customers buy newspapers in Ireland should be scrapped to level the playing field with the UK and other European markets, according to the head of Independent News & Media (INM). INM reported a profit before tax of 18.5m for the six months to the end of June 2016 yesterday. The company's cash balance at the end of June was 62.4m. But the results also show falls in print advertising (-7.8pc) and print circulation (-5.4pc) in Ireland, where INM's markets leading titles include the Irish Independent, 'Sunday Independent' and 'independent.ie'. "Despite a challenging trading environment, the group performed well in the first half of 2016, with profit before tax growth of 22.5pc to 18.5m. However, underlying operating profit growth of 3.1pc better reflects the challenges the industry and INM face," said chief executive officer Robert Pitt. Directors said they are not proposing to make a dividend payment in 2016. Instead, the company's growing cash pile is earmarked for investment back into the business, including potentially buying print businesses in Ireland but also larger acquisitions of digital business outside the country that would enhance INM's future growth prospects. Combining cash on hand and potential borrowings INM has a potential war chest of 119m for deals, Robert Pitt said. Given its current concentration on the island of Ireland INM is "not an aggressive buyer in the Irish market", he said. Elsewhere, any takeovers are likely to be of significant scale and of businesses that are already up and running. "We are not looking for small startups. We are not looking at businesses that need management turnarounds," he said. The UK is the main focus of interest for potential deals - though the June Brexit vote could slow deal activity in the short term, he said. Deals beyond the UK are also possible, he said. INM would bring operation excellence as well as finance to any new acquisition, he said. The cash balance rose even after the impact of the weaker sterling and the use of funds for deals to buy Northern Ireland-based publisher Greer Publications and the 50pc stake in CarsIreland.ie not already owned by the business. The first-half figures show overall revenues grew by 2.7pc in the period to reach 162m. Profits were bolstered by growth in digital advertising revenue, which was up 23.4pc at the end of June compared to a year earlier, as well as a 2.2m cut in interest costs following repayment of INM's former debts, and a significant decrease in operating costs. Digital advertising revenue helped offset the decline in print. Shares in INM closed unchanged yesterday at 14 cents each, after the results. The increase in profits reflects a drop in borrowing costs and strong growth in both digital advertising and INM's distribution business in particular, the company said. Operating costs fell significantly in the period, due to the closure of printing operations in Belfast, integration of print and digital newsrooms and the wind-down of GrabOne, a coupon and discounts business. After a strong first half, the pace of growth in INM's Newspread distribution business is expected to slow in the second half of the year, because the comparison period in 2015 already included new contract signings with clients including 'The Irish Times'. Speaking after the results, Robert Pitt said VAT on news products should be scrapped, to bring Ireland into line with other markets. "A zero percent VAT rate would level the playing field," he said. The current regime puts mainly Irish media businesses at a disadvantage to international operators that sell into the market here from larger, lower tax economies - in particular the UK. Earlier this year, Norway slashed the tax on all news publications to zero, in line with the country's policy of encouraging a diverse and healthy media sector. The UK, Belgium and Denmark all have zero VAT rates on newspapers; and across Europe rates of 5pc or below are common. In Ireland the zero rate applies to books but not newspapers and magazines. In Ireland the VAT rate on newspaper was reduced to 9pc in 2011. John and Brenda Hannon with their children Aoibheann (2) and Siomha (four months) at their home in Galway. Photo: Hany Marzouk John and Brenda Hannon returned home from five years in Perth, Australia, with a baby girl, another on the way and hope for a new future in Ireland. But the cost of their move back to Corofin, Co Galway, last December made everything a little less smooth. "About one-third of our savings were gone in two months," Brenda told the Irish Independent. Applying for car insurance, healthcare and even getting an internet connection proved challenging as the family readjusted to life in Ireland. "We had been warned the car insurance would be a massive issue at the start," Brenda said. Both John and Brenda had no claims bonuses in Australia, but they were not recognised by Irish providers. "Our first quote for car insurance was 3,000. We managed to get that down to 1,600," she added. Getting private health insurance was no easy task either, with Brenda's previous Irish provider refusing to recognise that she had been a customer before leaving the country. "Even getting set up with internet was hard," she added. "It took nearly two months before we were fully connected." Meanwhile, Brenda and John are self-employed, which had implications on their welfare entitlements on their return home. As for ensuring they could reside in Ireland, Brenda said: "It was like being a foreign national." "I had to prove that I was Irish," she said. "I was asked to name all the people I knew who were Irish citizens." She was then asked to provide the PPS numbers of those she named as well. Brenda and John, who both born in Sligo, moved to Australia in 2010. They intended to travel for only a year, but the economic crash in Ireland convinced the couple to stay longer. It was only when they had their first child, Aoibheann (2), that they decided to return home. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 27 Trend: YARAT Friends membership platform, functioning within YARAT Contemporary Art Space and connecting contemporary art lovers, is pleased to announce opening of a new season and conclude the summer season with the musical ceremony on August 26, at Mayak restaurant, one of the most delightful and brand new places of the boulevard. During the ceremony, the platform, retained in memories with several events uniting contemporary art lovers since its establishment, will introduce the new program strategy and several new opportunities focused on its further directions of activities and for all categories of the community. The program will function on larger scale starting from September by creating opportunities for corporates and individuals who love art and want to support it by being its member and participate in the events more actively. The artistic program of the ceremony is prepared by the active member of YARAT Friends platform Sevinj Aghasiyeva. The ceremony will be led by Husniyya Maharramli, a well-known compere and the member of the platform. Official media partner of the ceremony is another active member of the platform Lala Mirzoyeva, Zuleykha Modern Woman Magazine. About YARAT FRIENDS YARAT Friends is a unique platform for corporates and individuals to be a member of the Art community. The goal of platform is to introduce the notion of contemporary art to wider ranges of the society and create a community of contemporary art lovers. The platform offers exclusive tours with the participation of curators and artists, invitations to events and special ceremonies organized only for members, as well as additional opportunities and advantages like special Art Travel program. By being a member of YARAT Friends community, you will have the opportunity to improve your knowledge, contribute to the development of contemporary art and support delivering the best contemporary culture of Azerbaijan to the world. Art lovers who want to be the member of YARAT Friends platform can get in touch through email address [email protected] or contact directly to YARAT Center. Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins dancing on stage with host Daithi O Se during the Rose of Tralee. Photo: Frank McGrath RTE says it "regrets" causing any Rose of Tralee contestants "upset" during the filming of the documentary 'Road to the Dome'. The national broadcaster has come under fire after several Roses criticised the way they were treated during filming. Both Down Rose Fainche McCormack, and Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins, have aired their frustration with RTE and the show's producers. Ms McCormack said none of the Roses signed up "to be treated like animals in the circus". Meanwhile, Parkins described the programme as "unethical". Both of the women took issue with the so-called "rose cull" that took place early last Sunday morning. Expand Close Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins voiced her support for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment at this year's Rose of Tralee. Picture Credit: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins voiced her support for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment at this year's Rose of Tralee. Picture Credit: Frank McGrath Before filming began, the contestants' phones were confiscated and they were divided into two rooms. In one suite, 32 women were told they had made it through to the final stage of the competition. Read more: 'Like animals in a circus' - Rose of Tralee contestant slams 'cruel and disgusting' festival treatment At the same time, in a room across the corridor, 33 less-fortunate Roses heard their journey had come to an abrupt end. "We were barked at and told not to do anything to ruin the shot," Parkins said. "It was all about getting the shot, I signed up for the Rose of Tralee, I didn't sign up for reality TV. I was really disappointed, I thought it was unethical." Parkins added that many of the women had been deeply upset. "They got us up early so we were tired, and to get a reaction. It was extremely manipulative. "We were not told about that [process of elimination] until midnight the night before. Video of the Day "I think if they had told us further before we wouldn't have been happy to participate." The Down Rose shared Ms Parkins's sentiments. In a now-deleted Facebook post, McCormack said: "I could go on for days about the many ways we were manipulated, bullied and mistreated ... None of us signed up for a cheap reality television show and now unfortunately the Rose of Tralee is an experience I will never forget, for all the wrong reasons." She added that it was "a shame that television viewing numbers became more important than the truly amazing girls that got hurt and that now have to deal with the emotional trauma of the whole, quite frankly disgusting and cruel, ordeal." Last night, RTE said it regretted that the production of 'Road to the Dome' had soured McCormack's Rose of Tralee experience. "We regret that the Down Rose, Fainche McCormack, was upset at elements of the filming process ... the Rose of Tralee Festival has agreed to review the process for next year," a spokesperson for the station said. 'Road to the Dome' was a new addition to the Rose of Tralee's television coverage this year. RTE added all 65 Roses "were aware from the outset that they were being filmed at all stages". Yesterday, CEO of the Rose of Tralee Anthony O'Gara said organisers had apologised to all 65 Roses. "The manner in which the announcement was made was insensitive and we'll take that on board. We have apologised to the Roses. I accept that Fainche is genuinely upset and I understand. The girls weren't properly briefed ahead of Sunday night's show." In 2014, Maria Walsh became the first openly gay Rose. Photo: Steve Humphreys Chicago Rose and Rose of Tralee winner Maggie McEldowney waves to the crowd after her victory The 2016 Roses have come together for a good cause. Picture: Frank McGrath Chicago Rose and Rose of Tralee winner Maggie McEldowney waves to the crowd after her victory Patronising the women taking part in the Rose of Tralee is something of a national sport. We think we have them pegged. Naive Daddy's girls who talk about milking cows while wearing GAA jerseys. Their father is in the Garda band, they teach at St Brigids, and they love tea, cardigans and Tayto sandwiches. Their boyfriend Micheal Og is in the audience, but "would you go away out of that, Daithi, sure it hasn't even crossed our minds yet!" Then there is the diaspora; ladies who once shook hands with a man who smelled of turf and as a consequence now consider themselves as Irish as soda bread. Expand Close Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins in Tralee Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins in Tralee Photo: Frank McGrath But this year, our attitudes towards the Roses proved to be more predictable and outdated than the competition itself. Which is why when Brianna Parkins broached the subject of the Eighth Amendment, we were all shocked. Sitting in the press room, we couldn't believe our ears; "Is she really talking to Daithi about abortion in the fecking Dome?" The next day, chair of the Rose of Tralee judging committee Mary Kennedy said the festival wasn't the place to discuss the issue. Expand Close Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney who was announced as winner of the 2016 International rose of Tralee, pictured celebrating on stage at the Dome in Tralee. Photo:Frank Mc Grath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney who was announced as winner of the 2016 International rose of Tralee, pictured celebrating on stage at the Dome in Tralee. Photo:Frank Mc Grath On the contrary, I think the Rose of Tralee is the perfect place to broach the issue. When Parkins spoke about repealing the Eighth Amendment, she wasn't bringing the issue into every living room across the country. Read More It was already there; statistically, just about everyone in Ireland must know someone who has made that journey overseas. Video of the Day But it did get us talking about a subject that can be difficult to express any sort of opinion on. One misjudged comment or question and you're in danger of being labelled a backward-thinking misogynist, or an advocate of murder. Expand Close Maria Walsh is the 2014 Rose of Tralee / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Maria Walsh is the 2014 Rose of Tralee Within the space of two days this week, for example, I was accused by a pro-lifer of endorsing a liberal agenda, and a pro-choicer for showcasing a conservative bias. Even raising the subject can land you in hot water. So instead, many of us take the easy road, keep schtum and watch the two sides thrash it out. But then, suddenly and unexpectedly, abortion was being discussed by the loveliest ladies at the loveliest festival in all the land. Expand Close The 2016 Roses have come together for a good cause. Picture: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 2016 Roses have come together for a good cause. Picture: Frank McGrath A contest that, according to its critics, celebrates an Ireland that no longer exists. Surely in such a conservative environment her words would be met with animosity. But rather than chase Brianna out, they listened. Read More No one screamed in outrage, the sky didn't fall in - in fact, Brianna got a firm round of applause. And she wasn't the only Rose to have a strong opinion on the issue. Chairman of the Rose of Tralee Anthony O'Gara said he presumed "a significant number of [Roses] would share that opinion". The Rose of Tralee can be viewed as a cultural touchstone, and discussing the Eighth Amendment indicates a seismic cultural shift in our society. In 2008, Fiona Canavan was the first unmarried mother to take to the Dome stage. In 2014, Maria Walsh became the first openly gay Rose. The following year, we voted for same-sex marriage in the referendum. I'm not saying the vote was a result of us getting used to seeing a gay Rose of Tralee, but it indicated times and opinions were changing. Slag it off all you want, but the Rose of Tralee is a barometer of change in middle Ireland. While many disregard it as twee and naff, the competition is probably more progressive than any condescending view of it might suggest. Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey is escorted into court on the day of his trial in March 2006. Photo: Netflix The lawyer for a Wisconsin prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series Making A Murderer has filed a motion seeking permission to perform extensive scientific tests on evidence she believes will show he is innocent. Prosecutors believe Steven Avery killed 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach in his family's Manitowoc County salvage yard in 2005. A jury convicted him in 2007 and he was sentenced to life. Avery insists the authorities framed him. His lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, told reporters outside the Manitowoc County courthouse on Friday that she wants to date blood and DNA found at the scene to see if it was planted. She promised the results will show that Avery is not guilty and that someone else killed Ms Halbach, although she declined to say who did it. "The most reassuring thing is that we are going to get to the bottom of who killed Teresa Halbach," Ms Zellner said. "And we firmly believe that we will establish it was not Steven Avery." Avery, now 54, was charged in November 2005 with the sexual assault and killing of Ms Halbach, a photographer who disappeared that Halloween after travelling to the salvage yard to shoot photos for a car magazine. Investigators found her charred remains in a burn pit in the yard. Avery and his then 16-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey, lived on the property. A jury convicted Avery in 2007 of being a party to first-degree intentional homicide and a judge sentenced him to life in prison. He was acquitted of a charge of mutilating a corpse and prosecutors dismissed counts of sexual assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Later that year, a separate jury convicted Dassey of being party to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and sexual assault. He, too, was sentenced to life. Video of the Day The case fascinated the public. Avery rose to fame in 2003 when he was released from prison after spending 18 years behind bars for rape; a DNA test showed he did not assault the woman. The case raised questions about eyewitness reliability and illustrated the power of DNA testing. Avery contended police framed him for Ms Halbach's death because the rape exoneration embarrassed them and he had a 36 million US dollar (27 million) wrongful conviction lawsuit pending against Manitowoc County. That lawsuit collapsed when he was arrested in Ms Halbach's death. Avery has alleged that investigators planted blood taken from him during the rape case and planted Ms Halbach's DNA at the scene. He argued in an appeal that he should have been allowed to blame others for Ms Halbach's death, that police illegally searched his trailer and that a judge improperly replaced a juror during deliberations. A state appeals court rejected those arguments in 2011. Avery and Dassey burst back into the public consciousness late last year after Netflix aired Making A Murderer. The documentary raised questions about investigators' integrity in the Halbach case. Prosecutors insisted the show was one-sided but it still created a national groundswell of support for Avery and Dassey. A federal magistrate judge overturned Dassey's conviction this month, ruling that investigators took advantage of his youth and intellectual deficits to coerce him into confessing to Ms Halbach's killing. The state Justice Department has 90 days to appeal the ruling or decide whether to retry him. If the agency chooses to do nothing, he will go free. In War Dogs, which is based on a true story, Todd Phillips investigates the murky world of freelance arms dealing. Among the many novel initiatives of the Bush/Cheney axis was the deregulation, not just of soldiering, but of government weapons contracts. This left the way clear for a group of bottom-feeding entrepreneurs to supply arms to US allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill play two such 'war dogs', David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, childhood friends who fancy themselves as high-flying arms dealers. Efraim is the dynamo, a smooth-talking maniac who's obsessed with the Al Pacino movie 'Scarface'; Packouz is a feckless geopolitical innocent who wants to make enough money to support his pregnant girlfriend. Initially, they make a lot, but when a major arms dealer enters their orbit, things get out of hand. War Dogs is an odd film, a sort of comedy (Mr Phillips made the 'Hangover' movies) that seems to have serious intentions. But it treats arms dealing as a heady adventure, ignores its consequences, and Hill and Teller manage to make their characters even more dislikeable than they were intended to be. Julieta finds Pedro Almodovar in sombre mood. The Spanish director abandoned his shock tactics and sexually themed provocations some years back in favour of more arch, stylish and soul-searching dramas. This has resulted in truly great films like 'Talk to Her', 'Bad Education' and 'Volver': Julieta belongs in their exalted company. Emma Suarez is Julieta, a middle-aged woman who's about to leave Madrid for Portugal with her boyfriend when she meets a ghost from her past. Beatriz was the best friend of Julieta's daughter, Anita, who ran away years before. The sight of Beatriz plunges Julieta into despair, and she begins remembering the tribulations of her younger years. Adriana Ugarte plays the younger Julieta, who's on a train to Andalusia in the 1980s when she falls for a handsome fisherman called Xoan (Daniel Grao). A daughter, Anita, arrives, but their relationship is precarious, and will be marked by tragedy. Time and again, Almodovar has mined the tensions and depths of mother/daughter relationships, and here he delves into the bottomless pit of a mother's grief. His film is both melodrama and meditation, his two leading ladies rise to the task brilliantly, and the director unfolds his sometimes unlikely tale with the ease and skill of a master. Documentary-maker Aoife Kelleher impressed many with her last film, 'One Million Dubliners', an intimate portrait of Glasnevin Cemetery. And in her latest documentary, Ms Kelleher tilts her lance at another quirky Irish institution, Knock. In Strange Occurrences in a Small Irish Village, we hear the story of the apparitions of 1879 from direct descendants of the people who reported them. Those sightings transformed a sleepy Mayo village into a booming place of pilgrimage for much of the 20th Century, though the shrine's popularity has declined of late. Knock's parish priest, however, is certainly doing his best to reverse that trend: an energetic and charismatic man who reminded me distractingly of Fr Ted Crilly, Fr Gibbons is making connections between the shrine and Irish-America which could make a huge difference for the community's future. He's very much the star of this show, but Ms Kelleher's film also profiles those who visit the shrine, the shopkeepers whose income depends on it, and one woman who claims to have been miraculously cured by it. Strange Occurrences doesn't set out to poke fun, but instead lets Knock and its devotees speak for themselves, sometimes to their detriment. THE family of former Olympic Council of Ireland boss Pat Hickey have 'huge concerns' about his mental state in a Brazilian prison, a solicitor acting for the family has said. Anne Marie James was speaking to Marian Finucane on RTE Tadio One this morning. She said the family have huge concerns about his ability to get fair trial, given the handling of the case so far. "He can't say anything, he's gagged, he's in a prison cell. There is a presumption of innocence in the constitution of Brazil, I believe the police have been disregarding their own constitution," she said. "The drip feeding of information in a situation where he's gagged and can't respond doesn't lead to a fair trial, in my mind", she later added. She said the family have not had any contact with Mr Hickey since his arrest, and are concerned for his well-being. "The family haven't been in contact with Pat. They have huge concerns about his mental state and the fact he's missing all of them and they haven't been in any contact. The family have been relying on the media for information on the 71-year-old. "Most of the reports we're getting are via RTE. But we know have heard Mr Hickey has asked for mosquito repellent, which would imply he's exposed to mosquitoes which carry malaria and zika virus. She also said that Mr Hickey did not have his head shaved on entering the prison, despite media reports to the contrary. The family are now calling on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, to put pressure on the Brazilian authorities to act in the case. She said the government should voice its objections to the manner in which Mr Hickey's arrest was filmed and shown around the globe. "My concern is that his line might be that he's not going to interfere in a judicial process... but that doesn't mean he cannot make our objections."Family of Pat Hickey have 'huge concerns about his mental state' Former president Mary McAleese has said that seminaries in Ireland should be gay friendly. This week it emerged that a closer eye will be kept on how Maynooth's seminarians spend their time from now on as part of a stricter regime being introduced in the wake of the gay dating app scandal. The Irish Independent reported that all trainee priests will now be required to eat their evening meal in the college rather than being allowed to dine wherever they choose. They will also be required to attend evening rosary at 9pm, which hasn't been obligatory until now. The seminary council will now eat both breakfast and dinner with the seminarians in the historic Pugin Hall rather than in the Professors' Refectory. But Dr McAleese, a staunch Catholic who campaigned fearlessly for a yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum, told the Daniel OConnell Summer School in Kerry yesterday that the Catholic Churchs teaching on homosexuality was worryingly dangerous, according to the Irish Times. We have the phenomenon of men in the priesthood who are both heterosexual and homosexual but the church hasnt been able to come to terms with the fact that there are going to be homosexuals in the priesthood, homosexuals who are fine priests, Mary McAleese said. They havent been able to come to terms with that because the teaching of my church, the Catholic Church, tells them that homosexuality is, of its nature, intrinsically disordered those are the words of Pope Benedict and that homosexual acts are, in his words, evil, she added. I am just worried that the Maynooth controversy seems to be concentrating on the wrong things. A seminary should be a place where people feel welcomed, not somewhere where they feel welcomed, not somewhere where they feel policed after all, there are young people who havent yet taken a vow of celibacy. In 2012, Pope Benedict sent two archbishops to Maynooth to investigate whether it was "gay friendly". They wanted to be reassured that neither place was, in their words, gay friendly so they walked away happy that they were gay unfriendly, hostile to gay people what sort of message does that send out to young men who are there who are gay, to priests who are gay? Dr McAleese said. The tighter controls being implemented in the seminay are part of a suite of measures announced on Wednesday by the trustees of Maynooth which included a review of "appropriate use of the internet and social media" by the 50 or so trainee priests and their staff. Earlier this month, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin withdrew his seminarians from Maynooth following allegations that students were using gay dating app Grindr. A woman who wanted to have an abortion performed in an Irish hospital was refused the termination last year after taking her case to a review panel. (Stock image) A woman who wanted to have an abortion performed in an Irish hospital was refused the termination last year after taking her case to a review panel, the Irish Independent has learned. The circumstances of the woman, whose details have not been released, were deemed to be outside the legal scope of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act of 2013. She was initially refused the abortion and went on to avail of her right to a review of the decision. This review is conducted before a panel of medical practitioners. These are drawn from a group of doctors who have volunteered to sit on the panels. In cases where there is a risk of suicide, there must be two psychiatrists on the review panel. The doctors who are reviewing the case must not have been involved in the original decision to refuse the termination. Dr Philip Crowley, the HSE's National Director of Quality Improvement, in a report to Health Minister Simon Harris, said she did not meet the criteria for a "lawful termination." Under the legislation, a termination of pregnancy is allowed to save the life of a pregnant woman. Risk It is permissible where the threat to life is due to physical illness or there is a risk of suicide. Just one review of a refusal to carry out a termination was recorded last year. Some 26 terminations were carried out here under the legislation in 2015. Fourteen pregnancies were terminated due to physical illness, and nine were allowed in cases where a woman's life was at risk. In 2014, there were also 26 terminations of pregnancy. Three of the cases were of women who were shown to be at risk of suicide as a result of their pregnancy. The other 23 cases were related to the woman's health, such as physical illnesses and emergency situations. The relatively low number of terminations under the legislation so far has shown that fears about "opening the floodgates", particularly under the heading of 'suicide risk', have not materialised. However, last year some 3,451 women who gave their addresses in Republic of Ireland had an abortion in England and Wales. This was a decrease of 7.6pc compared to 2014. But agencies in favour of widening the law here insist the real figure is higher. They also warn of the practice of buying abortion pills online. A closer eye will be kept on how trainee priests in Maynooth spend their time from now on in the wake of the 'gay culture' revelations at the seminary. A stricter regime is being introduced in the wake of the 'Grindr' gay dating app scandal at the college. All trainee priests will now be required to eat evening meals in the college rather than being allowed to dine wherever they choose, the Irish Independent has learned. The seminarians will also be required to attend evening rosary at 9pm, which has not been obligatory until now. The seminary council of senior staff will now eat both breakfast and dinner with the seminarians in the historic Pugin Hall, rather than in the Professors' Refectory. The tighter controls are part of a suite of measures announced on Wednesday by the trustees of Maynooth, which included a review of "appropriate use of the internet and social media" by the 50 or so trainee priests and their staff. Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin withdrew his seminarians from Maynooth following allegations that students were using the gay dating app. Now the country's most senior bishops have admitted concerns about an "unhealthy atmosphere" there. For many, he will rank as the greatest leader that Fine Gael and Ireland never had. Peter Barry, who earlier this month celebrated his 88th birthday, died yesterday after a short illness surrounded by his family in his native Cork. Expand Close Peter Barry and his daughter, Deirdre Clune, who is now an MEP, attending the funeral of Dr FitzGerald in Dublin in 2011. Pic Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Peter Barry and his daughter, Deirdre Clune, who is now an MEP, attending the funeral of Dr FitzGerald in Dublin in 2011. Pic Tom Burke Tributes to the former Tanaiste flooded in from across the business, political and sporting worlds. But it was in Cork where his loss was most deeply mourned with Mr Barry representing a link to the proud political era of Jack Lynch when Leeside was front and centre of Ireland's political stage. A former Lord Mayor of Cork, Mr Barry served as a TD for 28 years and also helped oversee the remarkable expansion of his family business, Barry's Tea, into one of Ireland's best-known consumer brands. Mr Barry was also famous for describing himself in the Dail register throughout his lengthy career as a "tea taster" rather than a businessman. A key architect of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, Mr Barry was also a staunch supporter of Dr Garret FitzGerald's famous 'constitutional crusade' in the 1980s. Ranked almost as a patrician figure within Fine Gael, he was conservative enough to ensure that, when he personally opted to back policies, even the most reticent members of the party felt obliged to follow suit. Mr Barry famously lost out in the race to succeed Dr Garret FitzGerald in 1987 and retired from national politics in 1997. The father of six was then succeeded by his daughter, Deirdre Clune, in his old Cork South Central Constituency. Read more: Former Tanaiste Peter Barry passes away after a short illness Read more: Peter Barry remembered as key player in Anglo-Irish Agreement Ms Clune is now an Ireland South MEP for Fine Gael. Uniquely, three generations of the Barry family served as Lords Mayor of Cork. In 2010, Mr Barry received the highest accolade his native city could bestow, the Freedom of Cork. Mr Barry had served as Cork's Lord Mayor in 1970 - a role he was deeply proud of given that his own father, Anthony Barry, had served as Cork's Lord Mayor in 1961. The Barry family political dynasty began with Anthony Barry, who was first elected to the Dail for Cork Borough in 1954. After his retirement from politics, his Cork seat was successfully won back by his son, Peter Barry, in 1969. Whereas his father had lost a Dail election, Peter Barry established himself as a dominant force in Cork politics for Fine Gael in the 1970s and 1980s, being returned at every election he contested over three decades. Over the course of his career, Mr Barry's political and business skills saw him hold a number of senior portfolios for Fine Gael including education, transport, environment, labour, industry and commerce, and, finally, foreign affairs. It is for the latter that he is best remembered. Mr Barry served in the Cabinet of Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave before being appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs by Dr Garret FitzGerald in 1982 at a critical juncture in Anglo-Irish relations. Together with Dr FitzGerald and then Labour leader Dick Spring, the three men helped hammer out the Anglo-Irish Agreement with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher between 1982 and 1985. The agreement, now widely considered to be the cornerstone for the current peace deal in Northern Ireland, was achieved despite one of the most violent periods in Anglo-Irish relations including an IRA attempt to assassinate Mrs Thatcher as she attended a Conservative Party conference in Brighton. Some within Fine Gael favoured Mr Barry taking the leadership after Dr FitzGerald signalled his resignation following the 1987 General Election defeat. However, despite having served as deputy leader of Fine Gael, from 1979-1987 and from 1989-1993, Mr Barry was ultimately content to play a senior role in front-bench politics under, first, Alan Dukes and then John Bruton. In retirement, Mr Barry maintained a relatively low profile and largely shunned the limelight. Senator Jerry Buttimer, a former Cork South Central TD, said Mr Barry actively encouraged young people to become involved in Fine Gael. The respect in which the former Tanaiste was held was underlined by current Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Des Cahill, who revealed that when he decided to enter politics in 2009, the first person whose advice he sought out was that of Mr Barry. Mr Barry socialised within his lifelong and close-knit circle of friends in Blackrock and Cork, indulging his love of travel and the arts. He was modest in his personal tastes and, while a TD, drove a Ford car because the marque was Cork-based. His greatest blow came in 2013 when his wife and lifelong companion, Margaret, died after a short illness. Although, Mr Barry preferred to remain out of the limelight in retirement, he did hit the headlines a decade ago when he bought the Michael Collins/Kitty Kiernan letters so they could be displayed in Cork and not be lost to an overseas buyer. From the left: Sir Geoffrey Howe (Britain's foreign secretary), Peter Barry (Irish foreign minister), Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Dr Fitzgerald (Irish Prime Minister), Dick Spring (Irish deputy Premier) and James Prior (Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary) at Chequers in Buckinghamshire for the Anglo-Irish talks. Photo: PA Wire Former Tanaiste Peter Barry was a man of "great courtesy" and "immensely popular across all parties", President Michael D Higgins has said. The President said his view of Irish history was "a long one and he brought all that wisdom to bear in his contributions to achieving the Anglo Irish Agreement of 1985". He added that in his non-political life he "gained enormous respect internationally through his work in the family business". Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the party's former deputy leader would be deeply missed. "Throughout his long and distinguished political career, Peter gave outstanding service to his country and to his native city," he said. "In particular, his central and pivotal role in negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 helped to create the foundations on which the peace process in Northern Ireland was built." Mr Kenny said he left an "extraordinary legacy". Current Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald added Mr Barry had "served his country with distinction, dignity and integrity". "I will always remember him fondly as a great colleague totally committed to the highest standards in public office," she said. Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who now holds a seat for Fine Gael in Mr Barry's Cork South Central constituency, praised his contribution to business on Leeside. "His contribution to Cork and to Ireland at very challenging times, both economically and politically, will be favourably remembered. "For my part, the Barry family were largely responsible for our family entering politics in the early 1980s," he said. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin described him as a "distinguished minister" who will be best remembered for his stewardship of the Department of Foreign Affairs. "Under his leadership he built a family business, which has employed generations of Cork people, into an iconic Irish brand. Former Labour Party leader Dick Spring said Mr Barry was an "extremely loyal colleague, and was trusted and respected by parliamentary colleagues on all sides of the House". He credited Mr Barry with playing a "central role" in developing a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The US Dollar sale restriction by Azerbaijani banks is an inevitable step aimed at providing everyone with foreign currency, president of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA), chairman of the Supervisory Board of the countrys Rabitabank Zakir Nuriyev said. Many banks have recently restricted the sale of foreign currency due to the ongoing cheapening of the Azerbaijani manat. However, some banks have set limits or completely suspended the sale of foreign currency. The head of the ABA said that banks buy foreign currency at auctions organized by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the countrys State Oil Fund (SOFAZ). However, demand at these auctions exceeds supply a lot, and banks cannot buy as much foreign currency as they need. During August 2016, SOFAZ sold $344.5 million to banks. Up to $50 million is put up for sale at each auction. The auction takes place twice a week, and nearly 25-28 banks take part in it. The problem is that banks dont have enough foreign currency, said Nuriyev. If they had enough dollars, surely they would sell them to their customers. Currency exchange is a non-credit income of banks. Naturally, the banks wouldnt have refused from profits if they had had such an opportunity. At the same time, the head of the association spoke about the increase of commission fee by banks for cashing out the US dollars when using manat cards. Nuriyev considers the move logical and necessary to prevent speculations. Some people, who have manat cards, cash out their money in US dollars, Nuriyev said. Profiteers, who have multiple cards of different banks, often act like that. It is difficult to control this process, therefore, to reduce the people's interest for such activities and to prevent speculations, banks have decided to increase the commission fee for cashing out dollars when using manat cards. He added that increasing the fee for this type of transaction has nothing to do with the four-percent currency corridor set by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the banks should adhere to it when determining the exchange rate. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan limited the currency exchange rate corridor within four percent of the official rate [-4 percent on purchase, +4 percent on sale] in an instruction sent to the banks Jan. 8, 2016. These measures were taken to stop speculations with currency in the country. Irish people wishing to return home after moving abroad still face major barriers, a leading emigration advice service has said. Rising rental prices, higher insurance costs and visa fees for spouses and children all await emigrants who want to come back, with some even at risk of becoming homeless. It comes as CSO figures revealed there has been a 74pc increase in the number of Irish citizens choosing to return. Danielle McLaughlin, policy officer with the Crosscare Migrant Project, said the organisation offered support to those struggling with the process of coming back. "We have had an increase in calls in relation to people with family members - spouses or their children born in another country," she told the Irish Independent. She also said that 248 individuals called the service in relation to coming home between July 2015 and March 2016. "The top countries they were coming home from were the UK, the United States of America and Australia," she added. While each caller had different reasons for seeking support, Ms McLaughlin said that some were even on the brink of homelessness. "A lot of the issues would be accessing emergency accommodation for people returning in crisis," she said. "Some people are not fully aware of the housing crisis in Dublin. "They need that support when they can't get accommodation." Meanwhile, others seek help with bureaucratic tasks such as applying for visas for non-Irish family members. Read more: Shane Coleman: The grass looks a bit greener at home - but returning emigrants won't get much from their political leaders "A lot of the issues are when someone has a partner who is not Irish, in particular those from visa-required countries, like the USA or Canada," she said. "This family would have to enter Ireland and apply for residency here. That could take up to six months and the partner would not be able to work." Ms McLaughlin urged those considering coming back to Ireland to be aware of any processes and costs they may face at home. "There are flight costs, but they will also need their first month's rent and a deposit, if they are going for rental accommodation. They should look at the job market here, and look at their qualifications," she said, adding that they may need to check if their qualifications are valid in Ireland. At present, there are several fees that returning Irish citizens must consider when coming home. Car insurance is one of the most expensive factors when returning home, and some providers do not accept 'no claims bonuses' from another state. Other costs include citizenship fees, which can be 1,125 for non-Irish adults and 375 for minors. Meanwhile, passport fees start from 80 for an adult and 16 for a child. Shipping costs for furniture or other heavy goods from Australia can range from 849 to 1,526. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was "acutely aware" of the administrative and financial challenges faced by returning emigrants. The spokesperson added that an inter-departmental committee had been set up to address those challenges. The department also said it had provided 11.5m worth of funding to support services for the returning diaspora in 2016, and also encouraged people to consult the Global Irish Hub on its website. There were 160 inter-country adoptions registered in Ireland last year. Photo Credit : Stock/Getty Images The number of Irish people successfully adopting a child from abroad is on the rise again, it emerged yesterday. There were 160 inter-country adoptions registered here last year - 82 of which were processed under 2010 legislation, which introduced tighter restrictions. Expand Close Click to view full size graphic / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Click to view full size graphic The updated legislation on adoption had contributed to a slow-down in foreign adoptions as a result of several countries being closed off to Irish people. The latest figures show Vietnam, which was shut to prospective parents for a number of years, has re-emerged as the most popular country for adoptions to Ireland. It accounted for 31 of the children who became part of a new family in Ireland. Another 15 children were adopted from China and 11 from Mexico, according to the annual report of the Adoption Authority. Eight were adopted from Bulgaria, six from the USA and five from the UK. A small number of children were registered from Cambodia, Lithuania, Thailand and two from Russia. Assessment Other new parents who had a foreign adoption last year were couples and single people who had been given a certificate of eligibility under the old legislation. Children who are available for adoption abroad now tend to be older and many also have special needs. The authority said another 86 people, who had gone through assessment, were given a certificate of eligibility last year. There were 92 orders to adopt children domestically within Ireland last year - the majority were made in stepfamilies. Some 13 children who were in foster care were adopted by their family. The rest included children who were adopted within an extended family. Adoption Authority chief executive Patricia Carey noted last year was "productive" due to the passing of the Children and Family Relationships Act which addressed anomalies in family law. It allows for a range of parenting options, including guardianship and rights for grandparents and other relatives. "It heralds one of the most significant changes in family law in a generation," she said. Other legislation on contact and tracing has yet to be published and is not due before the end of the year. In the meantime, the Adoption Authority has a voluntary contact register which allows adopted adults and birth parents to provide their details indicating they would be willing to be contacted. Reunions More than 11,000 names are registered and 670 reunions have been facilitated in the last decade. Ms Carey said the authority was encouraging birth parents to register because to date, statistically more adopted people had put forward their names. The register remained a critical tool in enabling agreed contact between adopted and birth relatives. Last year, 2,622 applications to join the register were received. A four-year-old British girl has died in a Spain after drowning in a swimming pool during a family holiday to celebrate her grandfather's 60th birthday. Blossom Kelly (4), from Skelmersdale in Lancashire, was reportedly pulled unconscious from a pool in the town of Sils, near Girona on August 20, according to Spanish media. She was airlifted to hospital in Barcelona but died a short time later in hospital. Blossom's mother Vicky Kelly said taking her young daughter off life support was the "most difficult decision of our lives". Expand Close Tributes poured in for the four-year-old / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tributes poured in for the four-year-old "Words can not describe how we as a family are feeling right now but it hurts so bad. Telling my kids that their sister had gone was the worst thing I have ever had to do. "God knows what we are going to do without the most gorgeous little character in the world. She was my best mate and I'm going to miss her so so much," Vicky wrote in a moving tribute to her daughter on Facebook. Vicky kept friends and family updated on Blossom's condition as she fought for her life in Spain. "Blossy has not had the MRI scan today as there were other people who needed it more urgently but she will have it tomorrow at some point. "She has had several other tests through the day and has shown slight improvements in them and is reacting to things when she doesn't like them which is all good signs. Her bloods have started to improve too so we are all keeping super focused and extremely positive." After Blossom showed few signs of improvement the family decided to take her off life support. She put on the most amazing battle but her little body was tired and we had to make the most difficult decision of our lives and let her go and she chose to go today on her daddys birthday," mum Vicky wrote. Heartbreaking tributes flew in four the tragic four-year-old with aunt Hayley Thomas saying: "Life will never be the same with out you gorgeous girl, but we are all so thankful for the four and half years we got with you!!! The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said they are their offering assistance to the family. MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace has blasted fellow BBC star Mary Berry, saying the Bake Off legend's opposition to the deep-fat fryer is "an attack on our British way of life". Berry told Good Housekeeping magazine this week that she does not think any home should contain the cooking appliance, and also spoke out against fizzy drinks for children. In response, Wallace wrote in the Sun on Saturday that while "we probably did use the fryer a little bit too much" when he was young, fatty food is okay in moderation, adding: "Our nation was built on chips and spam fritters." He said: "Just thinking about it takes me back to happy times when what we call dinner now was known as 'tea' and we ate it around five o'clock. Dinner was what you had at school at midday. "The smell of deep-fat frying was universal back then, wasn't it? It brought families and friends together. "To suggest getting rid of it isn't just an assault on the deep-fat fryer but on the traditional British psyche. "I love Mary dearly but this is an attack on our British way of life. We fry things, that's what we do. It's like banning the wok in China or outlawing the pizza oven in Italy. It's ludicrous." Berry is back on screen with fellow judge Paul Hollywood in the new series of Bake Off as another group of flour-dusted hopefuls see whether they can stand the heat of the kitchen. The 81-year-old told Good Housekeeping about her desire to make children more healthy. She said: "Many people think children must have chips. I don't think any household should have a deep-fat fryer. "I never fry a doughnut. If you want a doughnut, go and buy one once in a blue moon. It's about everything in moderation." Supervalu Ireland has apologised after one of its recipes in its Good Food Good Karma series apparently required the addition of a ghoulish ingredient. Eagle-eyed cooks were left confused when the recipe leaflet for a Thai Massaman Curry by the Happy Pear seemed to recommend adding a piece of fresh finger. The recipe was, of course, referring to a half-thumb sized piece of ginger instead. This week Supervalu, which is running the series to encourage Irish people to cook more, moved quickly to clarify that it would rather that all home cooks preserve their fingers instead. We would like to apologise for our little human error on our most recent recipe leaflets in store. We made a tiny mistake on The Happy Pears Massaman Curry recipe. We seriously do not condone putting a thumb sized piece of fresh finger, peeled and finely sliced into your dish! We of course meant GINGER! We also highly recommend that you are careful when slicing and dicing your ingredients so watch your fingers please! Supervalu has enlisted many well-known food producers and chefs like The Happy Pear and Kevin Dundon to roll out the Good Food Good Karma campaign. Premium John Downing Opinion New British prime minister Rishi Sunaks succession proves an important milestone in British political inclusivity There is an old saying in British politics that goes: The right looks for converts while the left seeks out traitors. It comes to mind when one reflects upon the election of Rishi Sunak as the UKs first non-white prime minister in a party traditionally seen as most opposed to mass immigration and the dilution of national identity via multiculturalism. 'Don't mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it" - Basil Fawlty The divisive and emotive issue of abortion raised its head this week in the most unlikely of arenas. Had Paddy Power been taking bets on the talking points for the Rose of Tralee in 2016, the odds on any reference to repealing the Eighth Amendment would have been huge. The Rose of Tralee, our 'lovely girls' competition that we know and love, is hardly renowned for its sparking political repartee. Priding itself on being 'politically neutral', the pageant's mood music is of motherhood and apple pie, where goodness and wholesomeness are the order of the day. In terms of taxing yourself cerebrally, it's probably only a step away from anaesthesia. This year, the 'A' bomb was dropped on prime time TV - and not by a politician or a campaigner. All bets were off as Brianna Parker, the Sydney Rose, said that she "would love to see a referendum on the Eighth coming up soon''. When Daithi O Se frantically flicked through his memory bank for the handbook reference of how to deal with awkward situations, he found no mention of how to handle what is arguably the most problematic political subject of our time. Wishing he was back dealing with the man posing as a priest protesting about fathers' rights, our horrified host endeavoured to ensure that his eyes remained in their sockets, as he moved the conversation along to safer territory. Fearful that next year's outing might eclipse the Magill Summer School for politically provocative discourse, chair of the Rose of Tralee judging panel Mary Kennedy declared the festival "was not the place'' to broach the subject of abortion. Maybe not, but it does pose the question - where is the right place to discuss abortion, and why shouldn't a Rose in full bloom express her views? The supposed incongruity of the abortion debate entering the Dome was only heightened by another extreme, as two Irish girls took to Twitter to document their journey to the UK for an abortion for all the world to see. A GAA club banned a meeting on the topic and high profile celebrities across the globe commented in wonder as we engaged in a national shoulder shrug that said "sure it's happening every day''. The Government is determined that the substantive issue of the Eighth Amendment will not be on the agenda any time soon. That's why they have set up a Citizen's Assembly under Ms Justice Mary Laffoy. Its purpose is to put the issue into outer orbit for now. However, a civilised convention to help define the parameters of the issue may set a civilised tone. Not with one side shouting down the other but an informed exchange that hopefully will produce more light than heat. A debate which has a practical and pragmatic purpose at its core. That is to provide the clarity that medical practitioners need to save lives, and simply to find out exactly what the majority view of the people of this island is about abortion now. It is not easy to invoke change in a country built on a bedrock of secrecy. When it comes to the abortion debate in Ireland, people who do not see themselves as being 'involved' tend to switch off due to the sometimes caustic nature of the debate and the vociferous campaigning by both sides. Some fight to hold on to the status quo, while others argue to allow freedom of choice. Within the two extremes rages a fight for morale supremacy. Historically, campaigns around referenda on this issue have alienated many, preventing them from even listening, never mind persuading them to commit to either side. The challenge is to win the hearts and minds of the undecided. But drowning us all in a red mist of fury again will serve no purpose. In the 1980s, the hate and anger unleashed made any real discussion or decisions almost impossible. This fragile Government does not need any more headaches than it already has, so must box very clever. Problems are not simply confined to the Government's own agenda. Strategists will be acutely aware of the platform the abortion debate creates for the Opposition. To many, the Mick Wallace and Clare Daly 'Private Memberss Motion' looked more like political opportunism than any meaningful attempt to address the issue. Pursing it did not further any cause, other than propelling the two sponsoring deputies into the limelight. Immediately challenged by vehement arguments from the Attorney General surrounding the legality of proposed legislation, it was always doomed to fail. But not before it had driven a divide within Government by delivering an embarrassing blow to Enda Kenny. A public humiliation that may be forgiven for now, but is certainly not forgotten by many in Fine Gael. Ultimately, no Irish politician may ever be able to come up with a solution to satisfy all sides. What political leaders can do is change the climate of debate by not using the issue to score political points. A positive change would be to ask everyone involved in the debate to think and act in a more enlightened way. A moral code agreed to by all political leaders which would be more tolerant of others' views and accepting of the decision of the majority, whatever the outcome. Should such a debate occur, we might be less susceptible to the suspicion that lurking beneath the campaigns are either religious beliefs which constrain medical treatment on one side, and an uncaring liberalism which will not be contained on the other. Bringing abortion into the Dome in Tralee proved a talking point that was perhaps an indication of our glacial capacity to move with the times. Maybe this is the moment for other people who are not immersed in political advantage to play a more prominent role in the debate about the Eighth Amendment. In that regard at least, it was a good year for the Roses. Premium What will it take to unite Ireland? Opinions are divided There are those for whom Northern Ireland is a geographical fragment of the UK holding true to empire on its western flanks, and those for whom partition is a century-old wrong that must be overturned. Somewhere in the middle are the persuadables people willing to accept either unity or union, so long as the justification is logical. One way or another, the unity conversation is in the air. Details added (first version posted at 10:21) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 Trend: Fitch Ratings assumes that Azerbaijan will continue to experience broad social and political stability and there will be no prolonged escalation with Armenia regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to a level that would affect economic and financial stability, according to the agencys report posted on its website Aug. 27. Fitch Ratings has affirmed Azerbaijan's Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'BB+'. The issue rating on Azerbaijan's senior unsecured Foreign-Currency bond has also been affirmed at 'BB+'. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at 'BB+'. The Short-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency IDRs have been affirmed at 'B' and the issue rating on Azerbaijan's senior unsecured Short-Term Local-Currency bond has been affirmed at 'B'. By now ,the world knows the haunting face of Omran Daqneesh, the three-year-old Syrian boy captured on film after an airstrike on his home city of Aleppo. The clip of Omran looking dazed and bloodied went viral just over a week ago. It was shocking footage and a strong rebuke to those who would prefer that the horror of Syria's five-year war remains out of the headlines. There have been countless Omrans throughout the conflict that has torn his country apart since 2011 but their faces and names are unknown. Children traumatised like Omran, children killed, tortured, maimed, orphaned, lost. Since Omran's image caught the world's attention, causing a CNN anchor to cry and prompting outrage in newspaper columns and social media, 13 children have been killed in Aleppo. Eleven children, including an infant, were killed when regime forces carried out a barrel bomb attack - a favourite tactic - on a rebel-held neighbourhood of eastern Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two children were also killed in rebel shelling on government-held territory in the city's eastern flank. Omran's 10-year-old brother, Ali, who was also injured in the earlier bombing that wounded his sibling, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. But neither his death nor those of the other children of Aleppo whose lives were snuffed out this week made headlines. Nor did the outrage momentarily sparked by Omran's pitiful face make a difference in the grinding see-saw fighting in Aleppo, the storied city of northern Syria that was once the country's commercial giant. Omran is one of an estimated 75,000 children trying to survive in eastern Aleppo, the part of the city that has been a stronghold since summer 2012 for rebels trying to dislodge President Bashar al-Assad. In June, the regime, backed by devastating airstrikes carried out by Russian warplanes on the orders of Assad's ally Putin, thought it had secured a decisive blow against its adversaries by seizing the last remaining route into the rebel-held east of the city. The siege that ensued pushed the 300,000 people still living there to their limits. Humanitarian aid was cut off and few of those trapped were able to escape. Residents talked of the privations reaching such a level that people were cooking leaves plucked from trees to fill their stomachs. To the surprise of many, rebel forces broke the siege in early August but the fighting has only intensified since, as have the airstrikes. While Assad's opponents have been given a glimmer of renewed hope, his forces and external allies in Moscow and Tehran are determined to crush the rebels completely. The greatest fear is what comes from the sky. Hospitals, ambulances and bakery queues have been targeted in regime air strikes over the past four years. Not for the first time, the UN and aid agencies are warning of even greater catastrophe now befalling Aleppo. What Omran's confused face captured was the tragedy of Syria's children, caught up in a war they cannot comprehend, a war with no end in sight. One in three Syrian children knows nothing but war, having been born after an uprising against Assad - marked initially by peaceful protests met with regime violence - tipped into a vicious, multi-faceted civil war and drawing in powerful regional actors becoming entwined with geopolitical interests. Hundreds of thousands of Syria's children have grown up playing in rubble or in refugee camps, watching their neighbourhoods being destroyed or being evacuated from their homes, schools or hospital beds as their own government bombs them from the air. Meanwhile, the wheels of diplomacy continue to turn slowly with little or no effect. The UN has pushed for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo to allow for assistance to get through, estimating some two million people are in need on both sides of the conflict there. Russia has agreed to the humanitarian ceasefire - though many are sceptical Moscow will hold to it - but the UN is still waiting for other actors on the ground to support it. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is trying to coax regime and opposition representatives back to the negotiating table in an attempt to salvage dashed efforts to build a broader ceasefire agreement. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were expected to discuss such moves at a meeting yesterday. Such machinations in foreign capitals feel very far away from the lived realities of the people of Aleppo and other towns across Syria that have been besieged for months by both rebel and government forces. Jan Egeland, who heads the UN's humanitarian task force, has warned that food shortages in several towns have led to chronic malnutrition which could very soon turn into something much worse. "Starvation is just around the corner," he said this week. Dead Minke whale washes up on Shankill Beach at the end of Quinns Road A dead whale washed up on the beach at Shankill last Friday morning. The mammal had been seen off the coast at Greystones and Bray, before finally beaching in Shankill. Dublin Coast Guard issued a small craft warning as the animal floated in waters off Killiney and Shankill on Friday. Crowds of people made their way to Shankill to see the unusual sight. However the local authority sealed off the area and warned people to stay clear of the dead whale. Padraig Whooley, sightings officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said that they know the whale was already dead before it landed on the beach because it was lying belly up. It appeared to be moving around to an extent because it was partly still in sea water. According to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, distinctive slices on the side and upper body of the whale suggest that the propellor of a ship may have killed it. While this is the most likely cause of death, it is also possible that the damage may have been caused post mortem. They said that the whale may have been forced inland due to windy conditions on Friday. The group identified the mammal as a juvenile fin whale. At 10.9 meters it is too large to be a minke whale. An adult fin whale can reach up to 25 metres. This is a rare record of what they said is the 'planet's second largest animal' on the east coast of Ireland. This is only the third recorded stranding of this species on the east coast. IWDG said that they have been calling for post mortems on unusual stranded sealife such as this. However they said that this is unlikely. 'Necropsies on large whales on beaches is extremely difficult logistically and usually do not reveal the cause of death.' As numbers of whales in Irish waters increase, more of them are expected to be seen washing up on beaches, according to the IWDG. The whale was later washed back out to sea. The Firehouse Bakery in Delgany has made the shortlist of a national search for the best shops in Ireland. These local retailers have been selected from 30,000 nominations submitted by the public for the Irish Times Best Shops in Ireland initiative. 'The shortlist of 100 includes a brilliant range of shops from remote family run stores to slick new business that are aiming for the big time,' said spokeswoman Orla Mulcahy. 'Independent retailers have not had an easy time in recent years but as the economy imporves there are some really intersting new trends in the shops sector.' This is the fifth year of the Best Shops competition which is sponsored by AIB. Winners will be announced this Saturday, August 27. At the Firehouse they offer food as it should be - simple dishes, quality produce, comfort food with a touch of class. At the Firehouse Bakery individually crafted loaves, stone baked pizzas hot from the clay oven as well as both sweet and savoury treats will be waiting for you. Simon Healy of AIB said that they are 'delighted that local communities have come out in force to support their favourite shops.' Kanturk twinning association welcomed its neighbours from France this week. The visitors from the town of Rostrene in Brittany France arrived to Ireland on Saturday. The weather warnings from Met Eireann didn't heed their long trip to Kanturk and most certainly didn't dampen spirits. Jerry Hickey, chairman of Kanturk and District Community Council, welcomed the visitors and wished them a pleasant visit at a welcoming party held in the Alley Bar on Saturday night. A great night of songs and stories of past visits was had by all, which no doubt will continue throughout their weeks visit. Products from the Effin based Old Irish Creamery brand won three gold awards and three very highly commended certificates at this year's Nantwich International Cheese Show, which is held annually in Cheshire in the U.K. This is in addition to the already glittering array of awards won both in international and domestic cheese shows and brings the number of awards won for excellence of product to over 90 in recent years. This is all the more creditable when one considers that this year's Nantwich Show set a world record with 5,000 cheese and dairy product entries in what the organisers say is the biggest and best cheese show in the world. Old Irish Creamery cheese is manufactured in Effin, just a few miles over the Limerick border from Charleville, by former Golden Vale cheese factory master cheese maker Jim O'Doherty, who is joined in the venture by his son James and wife Lulu. Here they produce a superb range of natural speciality cheeses for the home and export markets from their own specific formulations using only the finest ingredients. "We are a family run enterprise with a huge emphasis on producing top quality cheeses which are on a par and indeed surpass any other cheese products made anywhere in the world. This is borne out by the awards we have won in open international competition at Nantwich and in the World Cheese Awards, as well as here at home in Ireland. We are justly proud of what our family run enterprise has achieved," says Jim O'Doherty. "This year we have added Pumpkin Seed, Beetroot and Chia, Coffee and Murphy's Irish Stout flavours to our already extensive range of natural cheeses and these are already in the shops and are also in much demand on the export market. The addition of these flavours brings to 22 the number of flavours available in our brand range from Old Irish Creamery and already proving to be a big hit with our customers," said James O'Doherty, who looks after the marketing of the cheese products. New deputy principal at CBS The board of management of C.B.S. Charleville has announced the appointment of Ms Tracey Groome to the position of Deputy Principal. Tracey comes from the Lasallian tradition, De La Salle College, Macroom where she taught English, Drama and CSPE. She is a B.A., H.D.E. graduate of U.C.C. and also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Trinity College, Dublin. In addition to her teaching experience Tracey has served on secondment with the Department of Education and Skills for a number of years as a School Completion Coordinator. The Board wishes Tracey well in her new role and looks forward to working with her in the forthcoming academic year. Ms Groome, who succeeds Tim O'Callaghan as Deputy Principal, joins the C.B.S., as the school celebrates the 150th anniversary of its foundation in 1866. The school community is also looking forward to the official opening of the new extension to the school, which was completed earlier this year. The extension provides a state of the art practical suite and includes a practical classroom, preparation room, store room, extraction room and boiler room along with three general classrooms, locker area and circulation areas. C.B.S Charleville has been an integral part of the local community since 1866 with many famous alumni passing through its doors. The school has expanded and evolved over the past 149 years to become a very well respected feeder school to all major universities in Ireland and overseas. Over the past five years alone, student numbers have increased by over 100 from approximately 230 to 330 students. Whilst the aim of the school remains the enablement of its students in their goal of trying to achieve the best academic results, it is envisaged that with these new facilities, students will also have the opportunity to excel in practical subjects, giving them a broader subject choice with college courses and career choices in mind. Meanwhile, commenting on the results achieved by the 2016 Leaving Certificate class, the Principal, Maurice Keohane, said, "Charleville C.B.S. students achieved an excellent set of results in the Leaving Certificate Examinations again this year. The students performed exceptionally well with the number of students taking subjects at the Higher Level exceeding the national average. "The students and staff must be congratulated on the achievement of such a high standard." Mr. Keohane also thanked the parents for their support during the year and wished the students well in their future studies. Town history tour for Heritage Week Charleville Heritage Society will mark National Heritage Week with a heritage walk through the town starting at the town plaza at 2.15pm on Sunday, August 28. The walk will be conducted by Ian Doyle, chairman of the Heritage Society, with Owen Binchy, and it will follow the historical map published earlier this year by the Heritage Department of Cork County Council. Places of historical interest, some of which were not included in the map, will be pointed out along the way and more information on these areas will be relayed to the attendance along the way. Meanwhile, the Heritage Society's plans for the forthcoming Festival of History in Charleville on the weekend of September 9-11 are well in hand and full details of the programme to recall the close association between Charleville and the Croke family will be available next week. This the fifth Festival of History in Charleville and local historical figures such as Archbishop Daniel Mannix, Eliza Lynch, Sean Clarach MacDomhnaill and Daniel A. Binchy have been commemorated for the people of the town. Charleville Heritage Society is promoting the preservation of our local culture and heritage so that future generations will benefit, be educated and informed of the historic influence that local individuals have had, or how the results of their activities, have impacted on our own local community, and in some cases their influences on communities around the world. The members of the Heritage Society and supporters will take up their annual street collection over this weekend on Friday and Saturday. It has been a week of anxiety and anticipation for the 52,000 or so students' anxiously awaiting their first round CAO offers. It's also an emotionally draining time for students as they come to terms with disappointment and delight in equal measure as course choices are revealed. Added to this emotion is the final deadline for applications to view Leaving Cert exam scripts, as some students try to decipher where precious points were lost. While exams time is a most challenging time for students, results time is equally fraught with stress as decision-making reaches a climax. This year more than 4,000 students failed Leaving Cert Maths - almost 10 per cent of Ordinary Level Maths entrants failed - meaning that they will be unable to secure a place on countless courses that require a pass as a basic entry requirement. The statistic once again sparks the debate over proficiency in teaching the subject. Meanwhile, more and more students are now looking abroad as Mathematics is not an entry requirement for many universities in the UK and other parts of the EU. This raises the question of whether or not we are approaching the subject in the right way and prompts calls for more 'user friendly methods' of teaching. Of deeper concern, though, is the rising drop-out rates, particularly among first year college students. This is a trend that is largely ignored at this time of the year as competition for places intensifies. But this approach lets some students down later on when they suddenly realise that their choice of course doesn't suit them. There will always be students for whom the course fits perfectly, but with a deluge of degree courses coming on board, as well as rising competition between Universities and Institutes of Technology to attract students, selecting the right course has never been more important. Added to the mix is society's 'paring down' of CAO choices. This is when media, universities and, at times, parents drive the narrative that course choices should be driven by economic and job necessity, an approach that can often funnel students into courses driven by expectation rather than personal choice. CAO trends this year see a surge in Business, Computers and Construction-related courses with thousands of students opting for such courses in the hope of job security. It is reflected in the need for more housing and the high-tech acceleration in keeping our economy competitive. What the economy demands of students has merit, but only to a point. What each student, individually, wants is what matters most. Students with their heart genuinely set on a course, and who come up a few points short of the total, need better recourse to a more flexible and sympathetic system. A greater emphasis on interviews, for example, to help determine a student's choice of course might better reveal the applicant's willingness and aptitude than the current points system. A mid-Cork community was praised by President Michael D Higgins for commemorating its past when he officially opened a new museum in the village which records and displays its links with some of the seminal events in the fight for Irish freedom. President Higgins said Independence Museum Kilmurry was an important amenity which revealed the area's links with events of 1916, the War of Independence and the Civil War and consequently would prove a valuable resource for people interested in the revolutionary period. "The village of Kilmurry can claim an important role in the story of Ireland's fight for independence - not only does it lie just a few kilometres from Beal na Blath, the site of Michael Collins's assassination but it was here that Terence MacSwiney who played his own significant part in Ireland's journey towards independence, was born," he said. "When we reflect on the turbulent chapters of Irish history that were written between 1917 and 1923, the West and Mid-Cork regions can be seen to have played an important role in events that would have change the social and political nature of Ireland forever. President Higgins instanced the role of the West Cork Brigade under Tom Barry and Liam Deasy and their successes against British forces at nearby Kilmichael and Crossbarry as further evidence of Kilmurry's links with the story of Ireland's fight for independence. "There can be no doubting the significance of this region in the history of Ireland's revolutionary period and I am delighted therefore that some that rich history with its profound connection to our story of independence will be preserved here in Kilmurry and made accessible to all." Great credit was due to the Kilmurry Historical and Archeological Association for having the foresight to develop such a space and it was testament to the sense of community that exists in Kilmurry that it was so committed to the preservation of an important part of Ireland's national heritage. "As President of Ireland, it always gives me great pleasure to witness these occasions in which communities come together to create such spaces which has such power to connect us to a common past," President Higgins told an audience of several hundred. "Such works of historical importance are valuable endeavours which recognise that places such as this museum and cultural centre provide unique portals into a shared and rich past," he said as he officially opened the Independence Museum Kilmurry. The museum is the brainchild of Kilmurry Historical and Archeological Association which was founded in 1963 and which in 1965 opened the Terence MacSwiney Memorial Museum as a tribute to the Lord Mayor of Cork who was born in the parish but died on hunger strike in Brixton in 1920. KHAA Chairman, Noel Howard explained that when renovated farm building that housed the original museum began to fall into disrepair, putting the many valuable historical and archeological artefacts from the area at risk, a decision was taken to build a new museum. Mr Howard said KHAA applied for funding to the West Cork LEADER programme and received 410,000 and they contacted Theo Dahlke, curator of Allihies Copper Mine Museum on the Beara Peninsula and co-founder of Heritageworks who design and build heritage projects. "We felt that a museum would make Kilmurry a destination for the ever growing numbers of history buffs - its close proximity to Kilmichael, Beal na Blath, Crossbarry and other War of Independence sites gives it a key role in telling our country's story in the decade of centenaries," said Mr Howard. President Higgins told those gathered at the museum on Sunday that while it was through the written word that people gain so much of our knowledge about what has preceded them, a fuller appreciation can often be achieved through seeing and experiencing the artefacts of everyday life. "That is why so many of the artefacts here are deeply significant - the complete kitchen of An t-Athair Peadar O Laoghaire, the GAA related memorabilia dating back to the formation of that organisation and the pre-historic farm tools and equipment," said President Higgins. "Of course, the museum here also houses a wheel from the Crossley Tender used by the Auxilaries who were ambushed at Kilmichael - all of these connect us to the past with an immediacy which words and descriptions alone cannot achieve." Describing the Independence Museum Kilmurry as "a true project of citizenship", President Higgins said the project will "stand as a great legacy by today's community at Kilmurry to generations of Irish people to come" before he congratulated the community on its achievement. "Today is the culmination and celebration of a long journey which saw many volunteers generously give off their time to research, design and source and raise funding for this important project - you can be very proud of what you have achieved," he declared. For further information on Independence Museum Kilmurry, please visit www.kilmurrymuseum.ie. A Macroom born businesswoman has spoken of her delight after her shop was chosen by An Post as one of four shop fronts nationwide to be included on a new series of stamps to celebrate the great tradition of craftsmanship in Irish cities and towns. Joan Lucey, originally from Sandy Hill in Macroom, first opened her bookshop, Vibes & Scribes, in South Square in Macroom in 1991 but she later moved the business to Bridge Street in Cork city, which was chosen as one of the four shop fronts to feature in the new range of stamps from An Post. "It's a great honour to be selected by An Post and it's a tribute to our staff who do such a fine job in creating a such a vibrant window display with the craft materials and wools and other fabrics that we sell in the shop," Ms Lucey told The Corkman. Ms Lucey originally opened Vibes & Scribes as a bookshop selling new and bargain books on Bridge Street but she converted the premises to a crafting supplies shop four years ago after moving her book business to a new premises located on Lavitt's Quay also in Cork city centre. The red brick four storey building on Bridge Street dates from around 1880, built some 20 years after the foundation stone was laid for the new St Patrick's Bridge, and is part of Cork's Victorian Quarter, which centres on Bridge Street and Mac Curtain Street, she revealed. "It's a fantastic building - it had been occupied by Burwood car accessories until the mid-1980s before I took it over and it boasts a wonderful handcrafted spiral staircase which was made in Cork and I'm just thrilled that An Post saw fit to include us in their new series of stamps," she said. According to An Post, shop fronts are an important element of Irish architectural history and the service commissioned designer Ger Garland to create four new photography based stamps which celebrate Ireland's rich shop front heritage "Irish shop fronts often feature classical design elements such as hand carved corbels, columns and cornicing, hand painted signage and carved block letters, etched glass and ornate exterior tiling - they are living legacy to the skilled tradesmen who created them," said An Post. According to An Post, Vibes & Scribes is notable for "the carved limestone arcade to the ground floor which was clearly executed by skilled craftsmen" and which has been well maintained over the decades and continues to provide a striking shop frontage for the business. Vibes & Scribes was one of two Cork shop fronts to feature in the series of stamps with Clerke's of Skibbereen, a small family-run traditional grocer shop dating back to 1959, also featuring along with The Winding Stair bookshop in Dublin and Thomas Moran's Hardware Store in Westport, Co Mayo. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 27 Trend: Ukraines Antonov State Enterprise has started the AN-178 aircraft production as part of the contract for supplying 10 aircraft of that model to Azerbaijans Silk Way Airlines, said a message posted on the enterprises website Aug. 27. The AN-178 aircraft certification tests are one of the enterprise's priorities today, Alexander Kotsuba, president of Antonov State Enterprise, said. "We are testing the aircraft by using the requirements of CS-25 European norms," he stressed. So far, AN-178 aircraft made around 100 flights with a total duration of more than 160 hours, the message said. "Today the aircraft is preparing to continue the flight tests, the message said. The goods are planned to be loaded and unloaded on pallets and containers." Antonov State Enterprise and Azerbaijans Silk Way Airlines signed a contract in May 2015 to assemble 10 AN-178 aircraft in Ukraine and then supply to Azerbaijan. According to the terms of the contract, the first two aircraft must be delivered by late 2018, eight more aircraft upon the sides agreement. An opportunity of establishing a joint venture for AN-178 aircraft production was also discussed during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenkos visit to Azerbaijan July 14, 2016. The annual Ledwidge Day which commemorates famed Slane poet Francis Ledwidge took place recently in the Conynham Arms Hotel in Slane. During the run up to the Easter Rising 1916 Ledwidge had been based in Cairo but he was hospitalised in Manchester suffering from gallstones and an inflamed back. The Rising took place on April 24th and the poet returned to Ireland on May 10th. It was that visit home which was recalled at the annual Ledwidge Day which took place on Sunday, August 14th. The commemoration is normally held in July close to the date of Ledwidge's death but this wasn't possible this year and the day was put back closer to the date of the poet's birth 19th August. Francis Ledwidge Museum Chairperson Rosemary Yore said that during Ledwidge's home visit he travelled to Dublin and witnessed the devastation in the city following the uprising. In his unpublished poem 'O'Connell Street' he protested that the Easter Rising should not be dismissed as a 'noble failure' made in vain, but that it 'hath a victory of its own' to be 'down the generations thrown'. He expressed his hope that a new Ireland would arise from her ashes in Dublin, like the Phoenix, with one purpose, one aim, and one ambition. 'I tell you this in order that you may know what it is to be called a British soldier while my own country has no place among the nations but the place of Cinderella'.To mark the centenary of the Rising, this year's Ledwidge Day adopted a format of music, song and poetry, connected as closely as possible to 1916. Artistes contributing to the programme included the Drogheda Orchestral Collective conducted by Aideen Morrisssey, poet Tom French, Soprano Louise Martyn, poetry reader Frances Mulley from Belfast, soprano Rebecca Byrne, tenor Owen Rafferty, harpist Dearbhail Finnegan and her husband flautist Robin Slater. The accompanist was Brian McIvor and the MC was Paul Murphy. The Dominican community will mark a milestone this Saturday, August 27th (3pm) when a mass is celebrated at the Magdalene Tower for just the second time in over 500 years. A lot of organisation has taken place in advance of the gathering with Louth County Council, the office of mayor, Oliver Tully, the gardai and others playing their part in the preparations. Since it was announced that the event was taking place, a lot of people have come forward to help, with Fr Jim Donleavy, the man who inspired the idea, amazed by the backing they have received. They have secured a sound system for the ceremony and the nearby St John of God centre have offered the venue for the during of the mass. Local historian Brendan Matthews confirmed that a mass took place in August 1906, celebrated by Fr Coleman. A chapter meeting of the Dominicans takes place in Tallaght at the end of August and it is expected that a firm decision will be made in relation to the church. Entry to the ceremony is reserved due to health and safety at the site. A man whom Gardai claim was behind the wheel of a car that was allegedly involved in four dangerous driving incidents in Drogheda last week has been refused bail. Terence Maughan, (36), formerly of Woodland Park, Dundalk and whose address was given as no fixed abode, was before last week's vacation sitting of Dundalk District Court where an application for bail was made. The defendant is charged with dangerous driving on Shop Street, Peter Street, the North Road and the Rathmullen road on August 16 as well as driving without insurance , having no driving licence, and drink driving at Sheepgrange, Drogheda. Judge William Hamill was told Maughan made no reply to the charges when they were put to him. Gardai said they were objecting to bail being granted on a number of grounds, including, they allege, that Maughan is already in breach of bail conditions set on another matter. The court was told that as part of those conditions, set on March 7, Maughan was to reside at an address at Woodland Park, Dundalk and sign on at Dundalk Garda station twice a week. In addition, he was not to drive any vehicle. Gardai alleged that Maughan was arrested on August 16 while driving a car and he has 'never signed on'. Solicitor Eleanor Kelly said her client was in the North of Ireland from March to the start of August and said Maughan had not lived at Woodland Park since his return. Gardai claimed the defendant has failed to provide them with an alternative address. Ms Kelly said Maughan is living with his brother in Termonfeckin as the family no longer live at Woodland Park. She said Maughan was willing to abide by any bail conditions, including giving an undertaking to the court that if granted bail, he would only be a passenger in a vehicle. Judge Hamill refused bail, however, and remanded Maughan in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court tomorrow (Thursday). There were nerves, tears and plenty of smiles too as Leaving Cert students gathered last Wednesday morning to pick up the results of two years of hard work and study. For many, the day was the culmination of many hours of blood, sweat and some tears as they worked towards the exams that will determine their future path over the coming years. While there were some disappointments along the way, for most the morning was one of relief that the wait was finally over and joy at the results each of the envelopes revealed. At St Oliver's Community College, the tension was mounting as the time ticked by until results were finally handed out shortly after 10am. While the students celebrated, the teachers breathed a sigh of relief as the results were good across the board. Deputy Principal Una Kirk said: 'There's great jubilation here in the school today, we're delighted with the performance of a significant number of students at all levels. Particularly at the higher end of things, we've outperformed out of our skin, right across the board we've seen a really really strong performance in a whole range of areas.' 'I'm over the moon, I want to study Spanish and Law in DCU and I'm 100 points over what I need so I'm delighted,' said Sarah McKenna, who secured A1s in English, History and Spanish. 'Overall I'm quite happy. I put in the work and overall the results showed that,' said Killian Shevlin who plans to study Chemical and Pharmaceutical sciences in DCU. Daniel Danev also had plenty to celebrate with 555 points overall. 'It went great, I got what i wanted in maths, I surprised myself with my English results. I'm just happy it's all done now! We can go and celebrate.' Emma Smith was happy with her results, despite one disappointing mark. 'I failed accounting but I knew i was going to fail that.' However, overall she was happy and has secured a place on the course she wants. I failed all my mocks and I passed everything on this so I'm happy enough with that. I'm going to DIFE to do culinary arts. Shannon Davis from Riverbank was happy with her results and is now looking forward to starting college in September. 'I passed everything. I'm going to do hairdressing in DIFE,' she said. At St Mary's, there were plenty of happy faces too with most students pleased with their results. 'I was happy with what I got,' said Andrin Kraja from Duleek. 'I'm hoping to do retail management in Galway, offers are out on Monday for fingers crossed I'll get it.' Leo Gray also had plenty to smile about after securing 530 points. 'I'm happy enough with it, it should get me my course so that's the main thing. I want to do Earth Science in Trinity.' Irish water estimates that the leakage rate in homes across County Louth currently stands at 32%. The rate is based on figures from the national metering programme, which shows that leakage from the network is a serious problem on a national scale. The National metering programme estimates the leakage rate in Meath is 39%, based on 2015 figures while lost water nationally is estimated at 47%. Figures just released to the end of March this year have shown that 573 householders in Louth benefited from Irish Water's First Fix Free scheme as the utility responsible for the country's water and waste water management urges more householders to avail of the free service. Irish Water's First Fix Free scheme launched in early 2015 across all metering regions in Louth and throughout the country. To the end of March, 75,974 properties were identified with customer side leaks, 2,509 of which have been found in Louth. In 2014 it was estimated that water leakage levels could be as high as 49%. This figure was based on limited data, estimated customer use and varying methods of calculating leakage around the country. As a single utility, Irish Water is able to standardise methods of calculation of leaks and properly understand how much water households use through our domestic meter dataset of approximately 850,000 connections. In May 2014 the Government announced funding of 51m for a scheme to address water leakage on pipework within a customer's property boundary under a 'First Fix' scheme. Under the scheme Irish Water notifies customers where suspected leakage is occurring within the boundary of the property outside the home and offer a free leak investigation and repair if appropriate. The vast majority of leaks are underground so go unnoticed and undetected. To avail of the scheme, customers must have a confirmed leak on their external supply pipe; have water meter installed on their property (so the leak can be verified); and have a working and accessible inside stop valve. Irish Water's Water Conservation Strategy Specialist Kate Gannon, welcomed the number of householders in Louth who are availing of First Fix Free while encouraging greater uptake of the scheme. 'Leakage of water from the network is a serious problem on a national scale and that is reflected here in Louth,' she said. 'Lost water is estimated at 47% nationally and 32% in Louth. 2,509 of households in Louth will have already received a letter indicating a potential leak on their property and these householders should contact Irish Water, if they haven't done so already, to request a free leak investigation,' she added. The schoolbooks were finally cast aside for students in Enniscorthy last Wednesday as they collected their Leaving Certificate results. At St Mary's CBS Enniscorthy there were plenty of smiling faces after principal John Ryan dished out the results to the 119 strong class. Daragh Byrne exceeded his own expectations. 'It went well enough. I was happy with how I did. I didn't think the Leaving went well for me so I'm more than happy with how it went. I was expected to get lower marks than I did so it's great. 'I'm hoping to study Engineering in WIT and I've a few points to spare as well so that's great. I was ok until the night before because I'd been busy playing hurling. I was nervous too this morning but my mother was more nervous than me.' Pierce Sinnott was on cloud nine with his result of 615 points however he still intended to have one or two rechecked. 'I got 615 points and I'll be studying Nano Science in Trinity. I'm hoping that will lead to a research post. I was hoping for 625 points so I think I'll check over the scripts of the subjects I got an A2 in which were Chemistry, Irish and Applied Maths, even if it's only for the prestige! 'I got 5 A1's as well which was great. I did get nervous about half an hour before getting the results but I just tried not to think about it. I managed to put them out of my mind all summer and kept my mind on other things.' Sheamus Breen had more 540 reasons to celebrate when he opened his results envelope. 'I got 540 points overall so I'm delighted. I've 30 points extra for General Science in UCD so I'm fairly confident of getting an offer for that. I didn't really know what to expect to be honest when I came in. I hadn't really been thinking about the results so I wasn't that nervous. I just didn't let it get to me. I think mam was nervous alright but my dad wasn't too bad.' Classmate Conor Carthy is also off to UCD to study General Science but with an emphasis on physics. 'I got 530 points so I was delighted. Ultimately I'd like a research position in physics. I was fairly nervous especially a few tests didn't go the way I hoped. I got pretty much what I expected but I was thrilled with my A1 in Physics. 'I couldn't sleep for a while before the results but I was grand this morning. I just came down here straight after I got up so I didn't have time to be nervous.' John Ryan, principal at St Mary's CBS, said that overall the results had been very good. 'We had two students getting 615 points, Fergal Grannell and Pierce Sinnott. They had both done an extra subject and got 8 A's. I wasn't surprised with the results we had here because they have been a good group of students and they all helped and supported each other along the way. 'I was delighted but not surprised by them. They all fully deserved them and contributed to the school in other ways as well. We had a good number of students who received between 500 and 600 points as well as plenty in excess of 400 points. 'It's heartening to see as well that a good number of students who got very good Leaving Certificate results have already started apprenticeships. We are delighted that so many are going to college but we are equally pleased to see so many of them doing apprenticeships. 'We're a school that serves the whole community, all abilities, interests and aptitudes. It's good to see that opportunities for students wishing to do an apprenticeship have opened up again.' John said that he had had an early start on results day and confessed to being nervous. 'I was nervous for them. I knew they had worked very diligently as had their various teachers so I was anxious they get the results they deserved. I think that they did and all their hard work paid off.' John said that all 119 students had said the traditional Leaving Cert programme adding it was the first time in a decade that they hadn't had any student sit the Leaving Cert Applied programme. Over at Colaiste Bride principal Tom Sheridan was more than happy with the results his charges achieved. 'It went very well here. We were very happy and the girls themselves were happy which is the most important thing. 'The results were very good and we had at least one girl who got 6 A1's at higher level. In general though the results were super and everyone was happy. We didn't have the problems that a lot of schools had with the Maths results and I think that almost everyone who sat the Higher level paper passed. 'We had some outstanding results in various subjects. Two of the teachers were counting up how many A1's at Higher Level the students had achieved and in some cases it was eight which is fantastic. 'We were delighted with how well the girls did and to see their hard work pay off. We will be carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the results over the next couple of days but they all did very well here. 'The girls were happy and that's the main thing. We just want them to get the course they want now because obviously if a student falls shy of the points needed regardless of getting very high points she will be disappointed. 'A lot of the students arrived at the school with the parents who were also very pleased with the results. Tellingly we didn't receive a single phone call from a worried or anxious parent after the results which is always a good sign.' Principal at FCJ Bunclody Frances Threadgold was very pleased with the results from her students but feels that the delay between issuing the results and the CAO first round offers is very unnecessary. 'We had 124 students in total, 60 girls and 64 boys, and they all seemed very happy leaving here. We also had very good Maths results which doesn't seem to have been reflected nationally. Everyone here seemed very happy with their Maths which is great. 'We had two boys who received 6 A1's which was great for them but equally we were delighted with the students who found some aspects of learning difficult and who outshone themselves. There were tears of joy from many of those who had worked really, really hard . 'Everyone talks about the high fliers but these students are work just as hard.' Frances went on to pay tribute to guidance counsellor Ciara Kenny and learning support counsellor Louise Kenny who had both come into the school on results day to help the students while secretary Nicola Carr was also singled out for praise. 'I met every student on the morning of results day and go through their results with them so Nicola works hard to ensure it all runs smoothly and is an integral part of the team. It's an extremely anxious time for students and we have formed such a close bond with them over the past number of years that I feel it is important to give each individual student time.' 'I noticed that quite a few of them already had apprenticeships up and running which is great. I've been handing out results here for the past eight years and those apprenticeships just weren't out there. But the amount of boys that came in to collect results in their working clothes are great. 'A lot of those already had the security of their place before the results but still worked hard to do the best they could. 'Obviously while everyone seemed happy some don't know where they stand until they get their offers. However I do think that the Department of Education and the CAO should be able to work together to produce both the results and the offers on the same day. I don't understand how we can't wait a couple of more days for the results or have the offers out a couple of days earlier. 'The gap leaves the students in nomad's land and it's added pressure.' James Murphy, principal of Bunclody Vocational College said there had been great relief all round at the school once the results were handed out. 'The results this year were very good, excellent really. The girls in particular had the best results seen in the school since 2000. The lads held their own. They didn't do as well as the girls but their results were on a par with previous years. Hopefully they will all get the places they want in the next stage of their studies. There is a big increase in the numbers applying for college so it is a worrying time for them. 'We worked hard to bring the students who would have been in the 300-400 points bracket up a bit and similarly those who were in the middle to top levels also worked hard to improve their grades. 'We were very pleased with the results from the 25 students we had and our results are paying dividends because we are increasing our numbers year on year.' Vice Principal at Enniscorthy Vocational College Ian Wickham was also delighted with the results achieved. 'The students did very well. Those who were diligent and worked hard reaped the rewards. We had quite a few students around the 500 mark. There was a significant improvement in the results and we are hoping a lot of them will go onto higher education. 'There were a few people disappointed but perhaps they hadn't put the work in. The students were very anxious and apprehensive coming in but overall they were very happy. 'A lot of credit must go to the teachers, many of whom helped the students after school which was a great help.' In total 86 students sat the Leaving Cert at the school. There are a number of events taking place at Enniscorthy Library as part of Heritage Week. On Tuesday, August 23, at 11am a member of staff at the Irish National Heritage Park, in traditional costume, will be on hand to help young people craft their own Viking shield. Those attending the workshop will learn about why shields were so important to Viking warriors during warfare. This is a workshop for 9-12 year olds. On Thursday, August 25, at 7pm there will be a guided walking tour of the town. Led by Mary O'Higgins the walking tour will focus on sites associated with the 1916 Rising. It will leave from the Enniscorthy library at 7pm. To book contact the librarian on 0539236055. The recent patron at Mount St Benedict, where a plaque unveiling took place in memory of Maire Comerford and Aileen Kehoe, who were members of Cumann na mBan during the 1916 Rising. The contribution to the 1916 Rising by two women who are buried in a small cemetery at Mount St Benedict near Hollyfort was remembered with a plaque unveiling ceremony at the annual patron held on a beautiful summer's evening recently. Maire Comerford and Aileen Keogh were both members of Cumann na mBan who were involved in the Rising, and the struggle in the years that followed. Maire was a native of Rathdrum, while Aileen was from near Ballon. They later moved to Mount St Benedict which was home to Fr Sweetman who ran a school there. Aileen worked as matron to the school. Maire became a journalist at The Irish Press. It was their wish to be buried at Mount St Benedict. The event was organised by the Fr Sweetman Memorial Committee, and MC Jim Flynn explained some of the background to the small cemetery. A known Republican, Fr Sweetman was a colourful figure who ran a school at Mount St Benedict from 1909. He had been a chaplain in the Boer War in South Africa, and famously decided to grow tobacco at Mount St Benedict. He died in 1953, and is also buried at Mount St Benedict and is also remembered on the plaque. There was a great turnout for the patron, with prayers said by Fr Richard Lawless of Craanford. The memorial was unveiled by Maire's nephew Joe Comerford and Aileen's grandnephew David Keogh. The tricolour was raised by Laurence Sweetman. Music was provided by Pat Jordan, while Eugene Hogan sang the National Anthem. The evening was also enriched by the contribution of re-enactors from Enniscorthy. Mount St Benedict is now home to the Darcy family and the committee sent a sincere thank you to them for their help and co-operation. Refreshments were served in Cooney's of Hollyfort afterwards. A big thank you went to all who helped organise the evening, and to all who attended what turned out to be a special evening. Before he returned home to Germany after yet another enjoyable visit to Gorey, Ulf Brix made a presentation to Bruce Copeland and his family, to mark 40 years of friendship which led to a tradition of German students visiting Gorey each summer since 1990. Ulf and his family know the Copelands very well at this stage. Ulf first arrived in Ireland as a young teacher 40 years ago, and was hitchhiking in Bray when he was picked up by Bruce Copeland who was travelling home to Huntington, Clogh. Bruce invited Ulf home to meet his parents, brothers, and sister on the farm, and Ulf was invited to spend the night on the farm. The next day, he continued on his journey around Ireland, but he kept in touch with the Copelands and also with the Collier family whom he also got to know, and attended a family wedding the following year. Ulf's wife and sons later made trips to Ireland, and in 1990, he brought his first group of students over for a few weeks in Gorey to learn English and experience the Irish welcome he received all those years before. Last year, a reception was held in Gorey Library to mark the 25th anniversary of the trip, with visitors from the German embassy in attendance. Ulf, who attended a Collier family christening on his last day, said that his friendship with the Copelands and Colliers had the most important impact on his life. He presented an engraved plate, bearing the crest of his home area, to them as a symbol of their very long friendship. Gardai in Enniscorthy are appealing for witnesses after a shop in Kilmuckridge was robbed. At around 3am in the early hours of Monday morning thieves broke the window of Hammel's Centra in Kilmuckridge. They then proceeded to steal tobacco and alcohol from the store before fleeing the scene. Anyone who noticed anything suspicious is asked to contact Enniscothy Garda Station on 053 9242580. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, August 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan is opening its permanent representative office under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs decree said Aug. 27. According to the message, the Turkmen embassy in Austria has been charged with the functions of the representative office. Diplomat Silapberdi Nurberdiev, heading the diplomatic mission, has been appointed permanent representative of Turkmenistan to the IAEA, the message said. According to the message, the main department of civil defense and rescue operations of the Turkmen Defense Ministry will act as the national coordinating body for cooperation between Turkmenistan and the IAEA. The department will be charged with the implementation of Turkmenistan's international commitments indicated the IAEA statute, the message said. Turkmenistan gained full membership in the IAEA in early 2016. Earlier, Turkmenistan cooperated with the IAEA on the basis of the Agreement for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons signed in 2005. IAEA headquartered in Vienna was established in 1957 as an independent intergovernmental organization in the UN system. IAEA activity is aimed at developing the cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Enniscorthy Drama Group will stage its production of A Whistle in the Dark in the National Opera House on Saturday, August 27 at 8 p.m. The play by Tom Murphy first premiered in 1961 at the Theatre Royal Stratford East London having being rejected by the Abbey Theatre. It went on to become a West End hit for Murphy who was just 25 years at the time. The three act play tells the story of the climatic confrontation between Michael Carney, the oldest of the Carney brothers, his father and his brothers, a brawling, hard-drinking, criminal gang of Irish immigrants living and working in Coventry. The play is a powerful portrayal of tribal violence and the devastation it brings in its wake. 'Oh, and that's me playing the pipes on 'Nationwide'... It's almost an afterthought at the end of a lengthy interview which covers the remarkable musical career of Gorey uilleann piper Mark Redmond who has yet to turn thirty. The people of Gorey have followed his progress from playing in French's Pub on a Thursday night, to winning gold in the 2003 All Ireland Fleadh, right up to his performances for world leaders on an international stage. It's as if the 28-year-old has become the go-to-guy for uilleann pipes when the nation needs him. When the fact that his musicianship is heard daily in Irish living rooms, is almost an afterthought, then the list of his achievements must be impressive. The past year alone has seen Mark playing centre stage at several high profile events, including the 1916 State Ceremony at Arbour Hill which was broadcast live on RTE1, with the President and Taoiseach in attendance. He was on the stage during Jack L's performance in the remarkable RTE Centenary concert at the Bord Gais theatre on Easter Monday. The show, which was broadcast on RTE1 met with huge critical acclaim. In another 1916-related event, he played with Glen Hansard at the National Concert Hall for the Imagining Home Series which was broadcast live on RTE Radio 1. He also played a lament at Arbour Hill for a private ceremony for family members of the 1916 participants. In May, he went Stateside to perform at the Ireland 100 Commemoration show at the Kennedy Centre in Washington. This concert featured a new composition for solo uilleann pipes and orchestra called Olagon, or 'Wail', and for Mark it was the highlight of his year so far. 'It was about 8 to 10 minutes long and conducted by the world famous pianist, Barry Douglas,' he recalled. 'The piece represents the innocent children of 1916.' In attendance at the performance was the Irish Ambassador to the US, Ann Anderson, and a host of US diplomats. A trip to Washington might seem like living the high life, but he only got half a day to see the sights, while the other days before the concert were spent practising and in rehearsals. 'You're practising because you're so nervous,' he admitted. 'I was there for three days solid, but it came out so well.' This performance came about after he was contacted last September by Belfast composer Neil Martin. He was commissioned by Barry Douglas to compose a piece for solo uilleann pipes and orchestra. 'It has always been a particular favourite of mine - uilleann pipes with orchestra, and I had previously performed a work by Neil in the NCH, Dublin in 2011, so I didn't think twice about saying yes to his latest composition,' said Mark. He said he is generally called upon to play with the RTE Concert Orchestra a few times a year when the uilleann pipes are required. 'It's not every day you slap on the tux and sit in front of a conductor,' he smiled. 'I would do it every day if I could.' He first picked up a set of pipes in the winter of 2000, and thirteen years later, he decided to make it a full-time occupation. He began his musical career with the tin whistle while in primary school at St Joseph's in Gorey. 'My parents listened to a lot of Irish music and there was this sound I kept hearing,' he explained. His fifth class teacher John O'Brien brought in a small beginner set of bagpipes, and when Mark got home, he tried to explain to his parents John and Margaret what the instrument was by squeezing a water bottle under his arm and holding the leg of a stool. 'My father realised what it was and he went to look for a set for me,' said Mark. 'You can't go into a music shop and buy a set. You have to contact a pipe maker and he'll put you on a waiting list.' He started with a beginners' set, and then a half set, and within a few years he progressed to a full set. 'It takes a few years to get to the stage where you are able to play a full set,' he said. 'There's so much going on in a full set. Everything is hand-made, and most pipe makers only do four sets a year. There are very few really good pipe makers out there.' He began playing with John O'Brien and other trad musicians in French's on Thursday nights around fifteen years ago and continues to do so when he can. There was also an uilleann pipers club in Wexford which he attended for about a year when he started out. After that, he went around the country to different summer schools learning a lot from various teachers. Combining an almost nomadic lifestyle with a regular job wasn't without its challenges. 'I tried a part-time job in Dublin, but I found I was turning down too much other work,' he said. The temptation was also there to get a steady income by joining one of the groups that tour the globe with Irish themed shows, but Mark has so far resisted doing too much of this as it limits his availability to take on shows such as 'Centenary.' 'Centenary was one of the better shows,' he said. 'When I got the scores, I thought it would be interesting, but I didn't think it would be so big.' 'During the show, I was backstage in the green room, and the social media manager couldn't believe the positive reaction the show was getting from everyone,' he added. The performance in the Concert Hall with Glen Hansard was also a memorable evening. 'We all got up on stage at the end and sang "The Auld Triangle" that night,' he said. Not all his work is on home soil. 'I was in Nice at the time of the attack there,' he said. 'I was there for a show, but understandably, it was cancelled.' Last October and November he played in South Korea and Australia. 'There are always a few events here and there,' he continued. 'I recently played at a 1916 event in New Ross at the O'Hanrahan Bridge. Yesterday, I recorded a CD with Tara McNeill of Celtic Woman, and I've just got an email about a trip coming up to China, an expo tour with the Minister for Education.' 'A couple of years ago, I did a few months with Riverdance around the UK, but I don't like to go on long tours because something always pops up at home,' he added. 'Summer time is always a bit off. I could be teaching at various festivals and summer schools.' He also has to find time for the PhD he began in February at the DIT Rathmines College of Music. 'I'm up and down to Dublin a lot in winter, playing and teaching at different events,' he said. 'A lot of touring happens in the winter too, so summer is almost a break from it all. In the winter months you could end up anywhere.' Last week saw talented young musicians from Wexford and across the country descend on Ennis, Co Clare, for the All Ireland Fleadh. Such events provide a valuable training ground for young musicians like Mark Redmond. How many of them will bring their talents to the far-flung corners of the world? Perhaps one of them might even get to play the next time 'Nationwide' decides to revamp its them tune. Kerry County Museum has unveiled a packed programme of events to be held to coincide with Heritage Week which runs from until August 28. On Thursday the museum will host a lunchtime lecture (1.10pm) entitled 'The Ardfert Witnesses at the Casement Trial' where museum curator Helen O'Carroll will shed light on the stories of the five civilians that witnessed the arrival of Roger Casement to Kerry in 1916 and subsequently gave their evidence at his trial. On Friday at 6pm, a film about Ireland's and Argentina's fight for Independence - 'In the Name of Freedom' - will be shown at the museum, while Saturday will be the busiest day with two events lined up. The first is a Walking Tour of Tralee to celebrate Tralee 800 which leaves the museum at 10am. Participants will join education officer Claudia on a 40-minute guided walking tour around Tralee to discover the vanished medieval town. There will be free entry to the Medieval Experience before or after the tour. At 3pm, the museum will host 'Behind the scenes - The Making of Media Rising, an interactive 1916 exhibition' which brings the little known stories of 1916 to life and sheds a light on the making of this innovative project. Finally, there will be free entry to the Medieval Experience on Sunday. The Gospel reading at Mass on Sunday contained the line: 'Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.' (Luke 13:30). Indeed that sentiment has appeared in Gospel readings at Mass on at least three occasions in the last 10 days. I imagine it can be interpreted in a variety of ways but surely it is telling us to care for the weak and the fragile: at our peril can we stand idly by while people are being brutalised, exploited and killed. Last Tuesday, August 16, the day after the feast of the Assumption, Channel Four News reported from one of the last hospitals still standing in the Syrian city of Aleppo. The story it told was shocking. A nine-month-old baby covered in blood was rushed into the makeshift hospital. He had a wound at the side of his head, the result of shrapnel from a barrel bomb hitting him. His uncle was killed en route to the hospital. It was almost impossible to watch it on television. A little nine-month-old baby to have this happen him. It's cruel, heartbreaking too. It was some relief to see the love and kindness of the hospital staff who were caring for him. The planes dropping bombs have been made by large industrial corporations. Most likely by US, Chinese and Russian firms. According to the Institute of Strategic Studies, last year the US spent $597.5bn on 'defence'. China spent $145.8bn, Saudi Arabia $81.9bn, Russia $65.6bn and our neighbours, the UK $56.2bn. Just imagine the number of wealthy people who made large sums of money in all that business. No fear of any of them or indeed their children being rushed into a makeshift hospital bleeding to death. But it's their hardware that is flying overhead unleashing the terror. Most likely the aircraft manufacturers all dine and wine in the best of restaurants, send their children to private schools. Later that evening I was back thinking of that line in the Gospel: 'Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.' This time I had just finished talking to a man in his early 50s who has no spare cash, he has no resources and lives from hand-to-mouth. He has no job and he lives in a dingy one-room flat. He could not afford a suit for an upcoming wedding. Shocking, depressing too. Has it ever dawned on you how in 'religious circles' there seems to be so little argument or dispute about this line in the Gospel? Seldom is there a heated debate about these sort of things. Compare the silence on these topics to what goes on in the area of sexual morality. Just look at all the scraps and rows that have developed over gay marriage and divorce. Allow gay marriage and divorce and the end is nigh but allow people become billionaires by building weapons of death and there's not a whisper. Who cares about a middle-aged man who can't afford to buy a suit for a wedding? The day the Leaving Cert results came out a teacher I know was over the moon. Two of her pupils did well in English. 'The odds are against them as they sleep rough,' she said. And then there are the one billion people who have not enough food to eat. It's obscene. Baffling too. Brookfield College students Caoimhe Maw (The Spa), John Carroll (Tralee) and Michaela Brosnan (Ballyduff) pictured looking very happy after receiving their Leaving Certifcate results Secondary schools across the county have expressed delight at their students' Leaving Certificate results. The scene at Killorglin Community College was similar to the one that played out across Kerry. Deputy Principal Donal O'Reilly was thrilled with the overall results, saying: "It's great to see our students' dedication being rewarded with fine results - we've changed our approach to teaching and learning significantly in recent years, and the fruits are being reaped". Meanwhile over at the Intermediate School Killorglin, two students scored more than 600 points, and one in five of the school's students cleared the 500 mark, which is well above the national average. There was a similar reaction in Killarney, as St Brendan's students welcomed their results warmly. The school scored well across all disciplines, and Principal Sean Coffey said the results were "a high point to add to our sporting and competitive successes in 2015/16." "Our teachers are hugely committed, and that shows with a fifth of our students picking up over 500 points. I wish these young men all the best at university." Eileen Kennelly, Principal at Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, was shining with pride last Wednesday: "We had two girls who got 605 points, terrific results, but students were delighted across the board. I'm happy that we helped everybody achieve what they wanted to achieve." "I'm particularly proud of our performance in Higher Level Maths - we far outstripped the national averages." Castleisland Community College's Vice Principal Teresa Landers told The Kerryman "the school achieved excellent results. We had a very large number of students who scored over 500 points, and it looks like most will be offered their first preference course on Monday." It was a similar story in the south of the county, according to Colaiste na Sceilge's Principal John O'Connor: "One girl told me in the morning that she was expecting to get around 500 points, but she ended up getting 570 - and that was the narrative across the board, with many students surpassing their expectations. Overall, these were our best ever results, I'd say. It's extraordinary, but a reward for hard work done by students and staff." Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne Principal Padraig Feirtear said students in West Kerry were thrilled with their achievements, and that the school continues to perform far above the national averages. "The overall picture for both the Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert applied shows that the school has done exceptionally. More than 27 per cent of our students scored more than 500 points, which is almost triple the national average," he said. "It's little wonder then that when the CAO offers came out on Monday, there was a lot of delight around Dingle. John O'Rourke, Principal at Mercy Mounthawk school in Tralee, was equally delighted with his students' results, saying that fantastic scores were achieved and that he was very proud. Mr O'Rourke did however express some criticism of the CAO's offers system. "Students everywhere get their results on the Wednesday, but didn't know for sure until the following Monday if they got their courses or not. I'm sure there's a reason for the system being set up in this way, but it's certainly an added stress to have to wait it out," he said. "But that's just a little bother. Our scores were excellent and thankfully there were plenty of happy faces at Mounthawk after the offers." Meanwhile Principal Cathal Fitzgerald of Causeway Comprehensive School said: "All at the school are delighted with our student's results and the positive results demonstrated the strong work ethic of our students and teachers." Staff of Bank of Ireland Listowel are setting up a Pop Up Shop in aid of the Make-A-Wish Foundation this Thursday, August 25 at 6.30pm. The venture comes in the wake of the untimely passing of their colleague, John Strahan - branch manager in Bantry lost his life following a road traffic accident in March. Prior to his passing, Mr Strahan was keen to raise as much funds as possible for the Make a Wish Foundation and Denise Mullane, branch manager in Listowel said that her staff had decided to finish the mission he started. The sale will include pre-loved designer and high quality clothes, handbags, shoes and jewellery which have been donated by the public and colleagues in Bank of Ireland, which can be purchased for a fraction of the normal price. Proceeds will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which aims to grant the wishes of children and teens with life-threatening medical conditions. Dathi O Se opens the new MRI facility at the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee. Pictured with Daithi is Senior Radiographer Aine Donovan. A new multi million Euro Diagnostic Imaging Facility has been launched at the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee. The upgraded MRI and CT technology at the hospital will offer faster and more comfortable scans for patients with the capability to perform a wider range of CT examinations with a much improved MRI image quality. Patients from the Kerry region can attend the facility for General X-Ray/Fluoroscopy/Ultrasound/DEXA/CT. The unit is accessible by GP Referral and fast access and timely appointments are available. The new facility will be run for the Bon Secours by Alliance Medical, a leading provider of outsourced diagnostic imaging across Europe. The facility was officially opened on Friday by RTE's Dathi O Se who took a break from his Rose of Tralee hosting duties to attend the opening ceremony. "The delivery of world-class medical treatment is vital to us. It is important therefore when choosing our partners that we work with like-minded organisations," said Bon Secours Tralee CEO T.J O'Connor. "Alliance Medical has a proven track record in delivering quality diagnostic imaging solutions throughout Ireland and Europe and we are confident that they will continue to provide high quality and timely MRI and CT services for our patients in Kerry and beyond." Husband and wife team, Pat Rogers and Tina Reed, Killarney, competing in the ITERA World Expedition Race 2016, a non stop 600Km Journey, starting at Westport House, Co Mayo, to Killarney Co Kerry, along the Wild Atlantic Way, through Mayo, Galway, Clare and Kerry. The Adventures will cycle, trek, kayak, coasteer in teams of four. Teams from all over the world have travelled to compete in this event. What a view...after the horrendous conditions of the past week teams enjoyed the views on the last stage of the ITERA Adventure Expedition Race, canoeing on the Lakes of Killarney Noel O'Leary, David Spence, Caroline Bullard and Ailise Deane, descending the MacGillycuddy Reek's before they head for Lord Brandon's Cottage to canoe down the Lakes of Killarney, Pol O'Murchu with Owen Boyhan, part of Team Basecamp AR, on the last stage of the ITERA 2016 Adventure Expedition Race, canoeing down the Old Weir Bridge, Killarney National Park, after a 600km gruelling non stop journey, in horrendous conditions from Westport House to Killarney Noel O'Leary, Ailise Deane, Caroline Bullard and David Spence, Team 7 DAR Dingle, on the Twelve Bens, Connemara, competing in the ITERA World Expedition Race 2016, a non stop 600km journey, starting at Westport and travelling the Wild Atlantic Way, through Mayo, Galway and Clare before reaching Kerry. The adventurers from all over the world cycled, trekked and kayaked in teams of four. After a week of gruelling and intense outdoor pursuits, the ITERA Expedition Race has finally come to an end in Killarney. The race was a leg on the AR World Series, and with the Gleneagle Hotel serving as the competition's base, the Kerry town was showcased once more on an international stage. Teams from all over the world travelled to Ireland for the non-stop, fast-paced journey which traversed the entire Wild Atlantic Way to its finish line near Lough Leane in Killarney. Teams were transported from Killarney at 6.30am last Wednesday, to Westport House in Mayo, the race's starting point. It was the French team, 33 FMR, that was first to cross the line on Sunday morning, finishing the 600km race in an incredible time of 90 hours, 56 minutes and 17 seconds, but Kerry's Team Dar Dingle, consisting of Noel O Leary, Ailise Deane, Caroline Bullard and David Spence, also impressed. They finished their expedition on Monday afternoon, having braced the unfavourable elements on Carrauntoohil and across the McGillicuddy Reeks. Heather Snelgar from Dublin competed in the race, and she said her team was hugely impressed by Killarney. "I'd been to Killarney before, but two of my team, including my husband who is South African, had not. They'll be back - they were very taken by its beauty and its people." "While we were up on the reeks, the weather wasn't great, unfortunately, but the following day the sun was out, so we visited the lakes. The place was looking terrific. "It wouldn't have mattered though if the weather hadn't picked up, because the craic we had with the people of the town was one of the highlights of the race." Rob Howard of ITERA Ireland commended each of the teams who were determined to finish the gruelling challenge. "They've survived the worst possible August weather and while it made for a more challenging race, it didn't stop most of the competitors making the finish line," he said. The groups celebrated at the Gleneagle and will take a hard earned rest over the coming week - and a hot shower! Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, August 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan intends to sign the Paris climate agreement, the Turkmen government said Aug. 27. According to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs decree, Rashid Meredov, Turkmen foreign minister, deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, will sign the document. The Paris agreement was adopted by all 196 sides of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 21st Conference, held in Paris December 12, 2015. The agreement is a "road map" of measures that will reduce emissions released to the atmosphere and strengthen resilience to climate change. FATHERS for Justice founder Matt O'Connor - who sensationally stormed the Rose of Tralee stage during Monday night's live broadcast - insists his actions were justified. . Mr O'Connor - whose campaign group are known for colourful protests in the UK - says the issue of fathers' rights and family break ups transcends what he called "a mere beauty pageant." "It was a peaceful protest and it was a classic example of the agitprop we're known for," he told The Kerryman. Fathers4Justice are well known for their protests in the UK but until now they haven't had any significant presence in Ireland. Mr O'Connor - whose family hail from Sneem - said that is set to change and the Rose of Tralee was a platform for the launch of a national campaign. "I've grown up watching the Rose of Tralee. It's one of the biggest and most popular shows in Ireland and I knew it would be the ideal stage on which to launch our campaign. People in Ireland can expect to be seeing a lot more of us," he said. He also addressed the priest's garb he wore during his stage invasion, an outfit many thought may have been inspired by TV comedy Father Ted's association with the pageant. O'Connor said the reasoning behind the outfit was far more practical. "I just thought a priest's outfit would be the best disguise to get past security at an event like the Rose of Tralee. It worked; I made it 100 yards up to the stage and nobody tried to stop me," he said. Mr O'Connor would not apologise to Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly for interrupting her appearance but he wished her the best of luck in the competition. For her part Lisa Reilly said she was close to tears when the incident occurred. "I was very, very close to bursting out crying, I'm not going to lie, and Daithi gave me a bit of a squeeze. Then everyone started to stand up for an ovation, especially the escorts and the Roses," she said. "That gave me a push and I said 'Lisa you need to do this, people are watching'. It was the first time in eight years a Cavan Rose was in the Rose of Tralee so I wasn't going to let people down." The Rose of Tralee said it will put improved security arrangements in place near the stage to avoid any future incident of a similar nature. Work on a 2.3 million flood defence scheme in Foynes is due to start next month. A permanent tidal defence barrier will be erected in Foynes following approval from the government, through the Office of Public Works. In January and February of 2014, the highest tides ever witnessed in Foynes were recorded. The resultant flooding caused major upheaval for residents and business owners alike. Consulting Engineers Nicholas O'Dwyer and JBA Consulting were appointed to carry out a scheme design and oversee the construction of permanent flood defences for the town. Following a competitive tender, Wills Bros Ltd from Mayor were selected for the project. Contracts have been signed with works due to begin in September. "Limerick has been particularly hard hit by flooding in recent years, with many flood events. "My Office, the Office of Public Works in partnership with Limerick City and County Council, has been working hard to progress solutions to these flooding problems," said OPW Junior Minister Sean Canney. ALMOST 400 new internet domains were registered in Kerry in the first half of the year. In all 391 .ie domains were registered in Kerry in the first half of 2016 according to the latest dot ie Domain Profile Report, published by the IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the company responsible for the management and administration of Ireland's official internet address, .ie. The figure is an eight per cent increase on same period in 2015. "Nationally, the .ie domain database continues to grow at a steady rate. Last year, we recorded just under one hundred .ie registrations each day, so it's encouraging to surpass that in the first half of 2016. Clearly, Irish businesses value .ie's 'Identifiably Irish' brand," said IEDR Chief Executive David Curtin. "The increase in registrations in Kerry demonstrates this. However, access to high-speed broadband remains a chronic problem, and continued delays to the National Broadband Plan are keeping households and SMEs offline," Mr Curtin said. TWO men -one Afghani and one Nigerian - who were involved in a brawl on Ashe Street last Tuesday morning have been cautioned by Gardai. The men - both aged in their twenties - began fighting on Castle Street and their altercation continued for ten minutes on Ashe Street. Gardai said as both men have never come to their attention before and as no third party was injured and no property was damaged they had decided to issue the men with a caution. Young entrepreneurs in Wexford are being encouraged to take part in the search to find Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur. The initiative is co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and begins with a nationwide competition across three categories at county level: Best Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business. A total of around 450 applicants, across every Local Authority area, will be invited to regional 'Entrepreneur Bootcamps' in November, to help them develop their business and new venture ideas. Each Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is running a competition in each county aimed at finding winners in each of the three categories as well as an overall county winner. Each LEO will have a total fund of up to 50,000 to invest in six businesses (three category winners and three runners-up) according to criteria including businesses' investment needs. The three categories are: Best Business Idea (pre-trading); Best Start-Up Business (up to 36 months), with up to 20,000 investment fund through every LEO (15,000 for category winner and 5,000 for runner-up, through every LEO) and Best Established Business. The county winners will then proceed to eight regional finals from which 24 contenders (three from each region - one in each category) will be selected to compete for the national title of Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur. A further 100,000 investment fund will be available to invest in the winners of the three categories at the national final, one of which will also be named with the prestigious title of Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur. The competition was launched last week by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O' Connor who said: 'Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition offers a very significant stepping stone into the world of running your own business for young people aged 35 or under. It's not just the scale of the investment fund on offer that makes IBYE such an important competition but the intensive bootcamps as well.' To enter, young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 inclusive are being asked to visit the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie, to submit their entry online. The closing date for entries is Friday, October 14 and there is no entry fee. Further information and details are also available from the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. The owners of Ballyhack Smokehouse are in smoking hot form having received a funding boost of 15,000. Linked Finance, Ireland's leading peer-to-peer (P2P) lending company, raised 15,000 for the Arthurstown based business through the company's online lending platform. The platform is being used by the company to increase stock levels to meet customer demand. Ballyhack Smokehouse is run by the Walsh family who have been catching and handling wild salmon for five generations. Trading under the name Fisahoy, Michael Walsh is a wholesaler. He also specialises in producing Smoked Irish Organic Salmon and Smoked Wild Atlantic Salmon. Michael supplies his produce to some of the best known restaurants in Dublin, multiple food fairs and also ships directly to customers worldwide. Michael has always been deeply involved in the fisheries sector and was chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen until 2010. Michael uses a special traditional smokehouse to achieve the traditional artisan flavour of the Ballyhack Smokehouse Salmon. By using only three ingredients, beechwood chips, salt and wild or organic Irish salmon, the Walsh's produce a smoked salmon with a truly distinct flavour. Over the past three years, Linked Finance has helped more than 420 businesses in Ireland to raise funding to meet their business objectives. In County Wexford, Linked Finance has supported 17 different businesses, raising a total of 357,780 for them. Linked Finance is targeting to have lent over 350m to SMEs by the end of 2019. Michael Walsh, Ballyhack Smokehouse, said: 'I have people from all over the world ordering online, and the reaction we have received from our customers has been nothing short of amazing. I have worked very hard to get the business to this stage and now demand is increasing to such an extent that the additional funding raised through Linked Finance will really help me to meet our customer's demands. Before partnering with Linked Finance I thought getting access to finance would be a cumbersome and drawn-out process, but it couldn't have been easier.' Niall Dorrian, CEO, Linked Finance said: ''Ballyhack Smokehouse is the perfect example of a business that investors on the Linked Finance platform love to get behind. It is extremely rewarding to see a company who has raised funds on the platform that will allow them to unlock the potential of their business. The purpose of our platform is to provide SMEs with quick and hassle-free access to funding. Linked Finance provides an alternative solution to traditional funding methods, so SMEs can continue to grow their businesses.' Linked Finance brings a new viable alternative to borrowing from the banks, where people with savings can connect and lend to trustworthy businesses that wish to borrow. A dedicated Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit will be completed at Good Counsel College this Autumn. The unit, which will cater for 12 students, is being built on the large campus in the Bosheen by local builder John Somers, who is also working on two new classrooms and two dedicated rooms. The works are expected to cost in the region of 2m. Deputy Principal Aidan O'Brien said: 'Classes have been time tabled for the new classrooms and the ASD unit will be completed by November. It will be a dual unit for two sets of six students.' Mr O'Brien said all of the students come under the ASD umbrella. 'We have already prepared for them in a more limited accommodation but this is a new purpose built unit for kids on the autistic spectrum. The aim is to have as substantial an integration as possible.' He said many of the pupils are already intergrated into the mainstream school to a great extent. 'The students will have access to unit facilities for certain modules so it will be of specific benefit to them; some of the students will acces it more than others.' The ASD unit is due to be completed in November. The school, which has 830 pupils, is at full capacity and every year around 80 youths who apply to attend Good Counsel cannot attend due to limited space. 'It's not something we enjoy as effectively people who want to come to the school can't and some of their friends are after getting in so it can be difficult.' Despite the wintry, inclement weather more than 320 triathletes turned out to brave challenging conditions for the Tri the Hook on the Hook Peninsula on Saturday. The high cliffs of Baginbun head protected the bay to allow a sheltered but choppy swim take place. Winds continued blowing during the 22.19km cycle but most of the route was protected to allow a pretty steady cycle to take place on a very technical route. The 5.3km run took competitors off road over the top of Carnivan and back on to local roads to finish in the village of Fethard-on-Sea. 21-year-old Kieran Jackson from Tramore won the male race in a time of 1:07:58 and Kim Hickey from Ranelagh, Dublin, won the female race in 1:20:19. Once again Tri the Hook received huge support from the local community with assistance given by the RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard, St Mogue's GAA, Fethard Amenity Park, Order of Malta, local land owners and members of the local community turned out in force to marshal the event. Event equipment and prizes were supported by a number of local businesses and business people including Version 1, BAM Contractors, South East Form Work, South East Vegetables, Sincon Engineering, Foley Agri Hire, NVD, Hookless Holiday Village, Glendine Country House, Hooked Kite Surfing, Haven Lodge - Wellingtonbridge, Kilmokea Country Manor, Duncannon Holiday Park, the Moorings B&B - Duncannon, Sanibel B&B - Fethard, Hook Head B&B, Kehoe Marine, Roche's bar and restaurant, Neville's Fethard-on-Sea. Competitors' goody bags were filled by Future Nutrition, Flahavans, Powerful Yogurt, Centra Floods and Dillon's Londis. This was the sixth Tri the Hook race which is organised by Hook Tourism, Neville's and Dillon's Londis. The spending by Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board of 420,000 on unused office space has contributed to a national bill of over 1 million incurred by State bodies on leases for office space no longer required. Accounts reviewed by the Comptroller and Auditor General show that seven agencies engaged in 'ineffective expenditure' on unused accommodation including Galway Roscommon ETB, the National Transport Authority, the Law Reform Commissiion, the Health Research Board, Safe Food Ireland and IDA Ireland. Waterford Wexford ETB accounted for the single biggest expenditure, incurring approximately 420,000 on the lease of Iberius House in Common Quay Street in Wexford between July 2006 and October 2014. The spending arose after the former Wexford Vocational Education Committee (VEC) moved to a new premises despite being locked into a long-term rent agreement on its original headquarters. The VEC left its old offices at Iberius House in 2006 as the building was deemed to be unsuitable and moved to new rented premises at Ardcavan Business Park. Iberius House was sub-let for a period of time but the total amount received in rent from 2006 to 2014 was 119,500 while the rent paid by the VEC amounted to 540,000, giving a net spend of 420,500. It was suggested that the VEC would not have gone ahead with the move if it had seen the eventual collapse in the rental market. Iberius House was sold on behalf of receivers for 405,000 in March 2014. The VEC lease ended in October of that year. Less than a third of ambulances bringing patients to Wexford A&E have a turnaround time within HSE targets. The average turn-around time for ambulances arriving at Wexford General Hospital before they are ready to respond to other emergency calls is 29 minutes and 21 seconds. Just under a third (31.6%) of ambulances bringing patients to the A&E department are cleared within the HSE target of 20 minutes or less, according to figures released by the National Ambulance Service. The information was supplied in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Cork TD Billy Kelleher who asked the Minister for Health to provide statistics relating to ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide during the last calendar month for which figures are available which was May. The average turn-around time, meaning the time it took for ambulances to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and be ready to respond to other calls, varied from 21.38 minutes minutes in Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown in Dublin to almost 45 minutes in Mayo General Hospital. At Wexford General Hospital, the average turn-around time was 29.21 minutes. Two hospitals failed to achieve even a 10% success rate in reaching the 20 minute target- Galway at 8% and Mayo coming in at 9.7%. At Wexford General Hospital, a total of 206 ambulances or 31.6% were cleared in 20 minutes or less ; 393 or 60.4% of ambulances were cleared in 30 minutes or less; 618 or 94.9% were cleared in 60 minutes or less and 33 ambulances or 5.1% took between one and two hours to process. The average turn-around time in Waterford University Hospital was 29.97 minutes. Wexford paramedic and ambulance service employee Cllr. Ger Carthy said ambulance turnaround delays are not the fault of hospital staff. 'In fairness to Wexford General Hospital, the staff try their best to release ambulance crews as quickly as possible but unfortunately there are times when the hospital is full to capacity and there's nowhere to put patients,' he said. 'The way I see it, it's not the fault of the A&E or the hospital itself. It's the lack of beds. Bed closures are the problem. A lack of 24-hour consultant cover can cause delays at night,' said Cllr. Carthy, adding that the ambulance service also needs more staff. 'It's worse at Waterford University Hospital. It's chronic down there at times', he said. Tallaght Children's Hospital had the best record, hitting the 20-minutes target for 58% of ambulances. Navan, Connolly and St. James' Hospital also turned around a majority of ambulances within the target time. The National Ambulance Service collates 'Ambulance Turn-around Times from the National Computer Aided Dispatch System which electronically records the arrival time of the ambulance at a hospital to the time the ambulance is ready and available to respond to another call. This time includes the clinical hand-over of a patient to hospital staff. Many of the hospitals with low turnaround rates also experience overcrowding in their emergency departments. The failure to reach turnaround targets has a knock-on effect for the ambulance service as it makes it harder to respond to new call-outs in the target time if paramedics are delayed at hospitals. Ireland's first large-scale ground based solar electricity generation park which opened in Co Antrim recently. The 30 acre farm cost in the region of 6.45 to build A solar energy company has been refused planning permission to build two solar farms in Wexford. Wexford County Council refused Highfield Solar Limited permission to build an 89.5 hectare solar farm at Ballyminaun Big, Grahormick, Hilltown, Jonastown, Newhouse, Gibboughstown, Garryhask, Crosstown, Killinick and Tomhaggard and a 12.7 hectare farm at Monafin, Enniscorthy. In respect of the proposed larger solar farm at Killinick the council received two submissions from local residents, Dara Phelan of Grahormick, Killinick, and Juergen Besemer, Hilltown, Killinick. Wexford County Council refused permission for the farm for several reasons. It said that an objective of the County Development Plan is to 'require all developments to be appropriate in scale and sited, designed and landscaped having regard to their setting in the landscape so as to ensure that any potential adverse visual impacts are minimised'. It went on to say that the proposed 89.5 hectare farm would 'have an adverse effect on the visual amenity of the area and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area'. The council also said that development had failed to have regard to its setting in the landscape in terms of scale, siting and elevated nature. The second reason for the planning refusal was possible adverse effects to nearby homes and road users from the glare of the panels. It said 'the planning authority is not satisfied it has been adequately demonstrated that residential properties in close proximity to the site will not be adversely effected by glint and glare arising from the proposed development. 'It is also consider that the proposed development could endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard because it has not been demonstrated that the glint and glare arising from the proposed development will not have a negative impact on the users of the surrounding regional road network.' The final reason for the refusal was the council felt that 'inadequate information has been submitted in connection with the application in order for the Planning Authority to fully assess the environmental impacts of the proposed development on water quality and wintering waterfowl arising from the grid connection proposals. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area.' Four submissions were received from members of the public in respect of the application for the solar farm at Monafin. These came from Thomas Keane, Glengary House, Monafin; Martin and Catherine Canavan, Borodale, Monafin; Elizabeth and Pat Fitzgerald, Monafin and John and Siobhan Bolger, Monafin. Wexford County Council gave two reasons for refusing the application. Its first reason was that the development would be 'contrary to proper and the sustainable development of the area'. It said that all developments should be 'appropriate in scale and sited, designed and landscaped having regard to their setting in the landscape so as to ensure that any potential adverse visual impacts are minimised'. However it said that 'the proposed development due to its scale, siting and elevated nature of the site fails to have regard to its setting in the landscape and have an adverse effect on the visual amenity of the area'. In addition to this the council also said it 'is not satisfied that it has been adequately demonstrated, given the absence of any natural screening, the orientation of the arrays and the topography of the land, that the dwellings to the west of the site will not be adversely effected by glint from the proposed development. 'Therefore, the proposed development would have a detrimental effect on residential amenity.' Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, August 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov intends to pay a working visit to Germany August 29-30, the Turkmen government said Aug. 27. According to the message, several documents are planned to be signed as part of the visit. The diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Germany were established in 1992. The legal framework, including 33 international documents, has been formed over the years, the message said. According to the message, President Berdimuhamedov paid his first visit to Germany in November 2008. At present, Turkmenistan and Germany successfully cooperate both bilaterally and as part of the authoritative international organizations, primarily the UN and the OSCE, the message said. The trade turnover has recently increased by 11 percent between the two countries. Turkmenistan is interested in drawing Germanys huge capital and advanced technology. The sides regularly hold joint business forums, which bring together representatives of the companies specializing in trade, energy, chemical industry, banking, transport, communication, construction, industry and agriculture. Among the companies are RWE, Bosch, KNAUF International, STRABAG AG, CLAAS Global Sales GmbH, Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Goetzpartners Management Consultans GmbH and others. The Turkmen government has established cooperation with RWE, by signing a production sharing agreement (PSA) in the development of offshore fields in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea in 2009. The sun shining down in temperatures of 26 degrees it was a more than pleasant day to visit a thriving herb farm in North Sligo. Nestled close to Ballintrillick not far from the main Sligo to Donegal road near Cliffoney lies the herb farm and clinic of Ross Hennessy and his partner, Marina Kesso. Over an acre of their three acre holding is set with herbs, a crop that is becoming more valuable every year as more and more people become interested in the alternative to regular medicine to cure many ailments including insomnia, nervous disorders, digestive/respiratory conditions, fatigue and high blood pressure/cholesterol. "Stress would be a common factor in a lot people's problems. It can lead into other conditions such as digestion problems and insomnia. "Herbs are good at calming the nervious system and help recover it rather than sedating it which other medicines do. "Herbal medicine is complimentary and we find that sometimes people say they have as gone as far as they have with their GP in the treatment of a particular condition," says Ross, a native of Tipperary who moved to North Sligo three years ago, establishing the Iona Herbal clinic there and Bareroot Botanicals Limited with Dubliner Marina adjacent to their cottage style home. Marina runs an additional clinic at the Wellness Centre in Sligo. Ross studied herbal medicine for six years, graduating with a diploma from Griffith College and he finds it is an area where advances are being made rather quickly. The couple grow some 150 types of herbs on their farm with some being harvested yearly, biannually and others can take up to ten years. These herbs are dried for teas or processed into tinctures (liquid extracts), vinegars, oils and glycerites. Herbal remedies are created from between 5-7 herbs based on a patient's symptoms, constitution, subtle imbalances in energy and the specific direction in which their treatment is to be taken. The herbs work synergistically to give symptomatic relief while gently but effectively bringing the patient's whole system back into balance. Herbs also assist in the emotional and spiritual aspects of a persons wellbeing and their energies effect the energies of people. No two remedies are alike as no two people are alike. As herbs work on an energetic level this can bring about emotional shifts whilst also supporting your needs. The overall effect is a gradual and safe return to harmony and balance. Ross says the weather is quite good for growing herbs on his farm with a good mix of rain and sunshine with the only problem being wind. "There are no pesticides used, everything is organic and weeding is constant. You could spend days weeding. We also get in a lot of volunteers to help us," he says. There's a break in December and January but as soon as February comes it's back in the herb farm again. The herbs are picked fresh from the farm and processed in the laboratory which is also on site, with the end result being a liquidised medicine which can be dispensed after consultation through the clinic to patients. "The feedback, particularly from people who have been suffering from chronic conditions has been really positive. Many are surprised at the good results," says Ross. Another interesting aspect of the business is that local farmers are now being taught how to grow herbs. A training course has resulted in some 30 farmers in the area growing herbs which Ross is now buying. Such has been the success of the farm that Ross and Marina are now in a position to move into commercially processing the plants into tinctures for other Irish herbalists under the name Irish Herb Dispensary Ltd. It's an area which Ross and Marina are really excited about, the latest expansion, meaning herbs grown in North Sligo will be reaching an international market. It all means the herb farm will be busier than ever with Ross saying production needs to double each year to keep up with demand. A 31-year-old father of seven wanted in Britain on blackmail charges has been granted bail at the High Court in Dublin. Hughie Patrick McGinley, of Ballyfree Halting Site had been in custody in Cloverhill Prison since being remanded there by the court on August 2nd. McGinley had been arrested in Sligo on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued last February. The warrant seeking his surrender says he is wanted to face trial on charges of blackmail, conspiracy to commit blackmail and possession of criminal property. McGinley, the warrant further alleges, was involved with a number of others who have been before the British Courts. Evidence of arrest had been given by Detective Garda David Hannigan said he arrested Mr McGinley at Ballyfree Halting Site, Sligo. At the High Court last Tuesday, an application for bail was made by McGinley's barrister, Mr Pat O'Sullivan, instructed by KOD Lyons solicitors. This was opposed by the State. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly granted Mr McGinley bail with 2,000 cash lodgement and an independent surety of 1,000. McGinley, who is contesting his extradition, was also ordered to surrender his passport and to sign on daily at Sligo Garda Station. The father of seven was in receipt of social welfare, the court was told. The extradition hearing has been adjourned for mention to September 12th next. The second week in November has been set for the start of the mobile breast cancer mannography service at Sligo University Hospital. Appointment letters for the service are expected to be issued shortly. There has been a long running campaign for the return of the service to Sligo and it is understood that next year will see two one-week visits by the service in spring/summer and autumn/winter. It had initially been stated that the service would begin in September with one visit. The service will be offered to patients on the five year post diagnosis surveillance mammaography programme and will have the capacity to see approximately 40 patients per day over the two visits. A company called Action Cancer from Northern Ireland was successful in its tender for the service and the delay in starting the service in Sligo was due to registration of its staff. As the service is provided by mammographers they have to registered with CORU, the body which regulates health and social care professionals in the interests of patient safety in Ireland. Even though they are all experienced radiographers who qualified in the UK, the registration process has taken much longer than the company anticipated. The service cannot begin untilt he staff have the necessary registration. A start date in mid November is now being looked at and in the meantime, women in the Sligo area will continue to be offered a service in Galway. Government TD Tony McLoughlin said: "I know from a very personal capacity the damaging effect which cancer can have on our families and the fears involved. This is why, when given the opportunity to fight for the return of a local health service which Fianna Fail first removed after they crashed the economy. I led this fight from the start and I am glad to stand over my work to date on this issue and to say this service will be returning this year. More students are choosing IT Sligo as their first preference, with the institute recording a 2.3 per cent rise in applications to Business, Engineering and Science courses. It's almost on a par with the 3 per cent rise in the number of CAO first round offers made to students across the country. There has been a surge in applications for particular IT Sligo courses linked to the construction industry such as Architectural Design, which again reflects the national trend, while several of the Institute's new honours degree courses in Health Science & Physicality and Agri-food Science have also attracted strong interest. Despite the increase in college applications and offers this year, some 20,000 people are still without a college offer to date. But there are still options. To help prospective students weigh up their third level choices, IT Sligo is holding a CAO Drop-In Clinic this Friday, August 26th from 10am to 4pm in Room B1201 of the Institute's main building. This event will provide valuable advice and insights for prospective students and their parents, on all aspects of IT Sligo's courses, as well as the student experience. Over 52,000 applicants received an offer from one of Ireland's third level institutions in round one yesterday (Monday) with a noticeable surge in applications for course programmes linked to the economic recovery. See Leaving Cert results pages 16-20. Two men charged with membership of the IRA following their arrest in Sligo are expected to make an application for bail when they re-appear at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday. The two originally appeared at an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on Tuesday night last week charged with membership of the IRA. Damhan McFadden (27) of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare and Julian Flohr (35) of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army on 14 August. They were initially arrested in the Manorhamilton area last Sunday night week and brought to Sligo Garda Station. Garda Kieran Staed gave evidence of McFadden on Tuesday last at 5.25pm on Pearse Road and subsequently charging him to which the accused made no reply. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to McFadden was given by Garda Eamon McDonnell and the accused made no reply, the court heard. Flohr was represented by Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor while Mr John Moher BL appeared on behalf of McFadden instructed by Mr Maurice Galvin, solicitor. Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge William Hamill, remanded both men initially in custody to reappear at the court last Friday, 19 August, when their case was listed for mention with the men appearing via videolink. At this brief hearing both men were further remanded in custody to appear in person at the court this Thursday where applications for bail in respect of both accused are expected to be made. Actress Georgia May Foote and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice have split up - less than a year after confirming their relationship. The pair met when they were partnered on the dancing show in 2015 but Foote has said it is better for them to be friends. She wrote on Twitter: " 'It is with great sadness we have decided to split up. There is nobody else involved. "Although it was not an easy decision to make, sometimes you realise that it is better to be friends and this is one of those times. 'We both have very busy work schedules for the rest of the year so we are both going to focus on our upcoming work projects and we wish each other well for the future." Foote, 25, added that she had real feelings for her former boyfriend, writing: "Nothing I ever said about my feelings to Gio were fake before people start. I still love him very very much. But things change. Please..." She added: "Be respectful to me at this time by not saying awful things. This is a hard time for me." Pernice, 25, retweeted Foote's message. The couple were runners-up on Strictly Come Dancing, losing out to The Wanted's Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani. Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Guests attend the Irish Premiere of Daddy's Home at The Savoy, Dublin, Ireland - 07.12.15. Pictures: G. McDonnell / VIPIRELAND.COM **IRISH RIGHTS ONLY** *** Local Caption *** Missy Keating, Yvonne Connolly (Yvonne Keating), Jack Keating 2016: Missy Keating, pictured with mum Yvonne Connolly, now has her sights set on a Hollywood career. Photo: Kieran Harnett. Yvonne and her children, Jack, 17, Missy, 15, and Ali, 10, on a family holiday in Los Angeles last month Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Ali Keating is following in her family's famous footsteps. Yvonne Connolly and ex-husband Ronan Keating's 10-year-old daughter took centre stage in her first photocall with her mother, the latest in her family to choose life in the spotlight. Yvonne, a former top model and her daughter looked at ease in front of the camera as they promoted Old El Paso's new Mini Soft Taco range in their makeshift kitchen. Ali isn't the only Keating child to show an interest in the spotlight - her big sister Missy (15) is a successful actress who began her career at the same age as Ali, but is now taking a backseat to focus on her secondary school studies, while Jack (17) recently completed work experience with The Ian Dempsey Show on Today FM and is eyeing up a radio career. Expand Close Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan The mother-of-three, who also guest hosts The Seven O'Clock Show on TV3, said: "The ones you think will (get into showbiz) sometimes don't ... and the ones like Jack, who I think never will, he worked with Ian Dempsey on the Breakfast Show for work experience. "He has no interest in performing but as soon as he did that he was like, 'Oh my god, I want to be Ian Dempsey'." The family are fresh from a trip to Los Angeles for business and pleasure, mixing in meetings with some sunshine. Connolly will erturn to the City of Angels next month where she will attend the Emmys with boyfriend John Conroy, who is nominated for cinematography for his work on Luther. Expand Close Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Yvonne Connolly and daughter Ali Connolly Keating (10) at the launch of the new Stand N Stuff Mini Soft Tacos by Old El Paso. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Honey G, otherwise known as 35-year-old Anna Georgette Guilford Syco/Thames TV X Factor judge Louis Walsh who said he would consider assisted suicide to avoid spending his life in a nursing home when older The X Factor judge Louis Walsh said he would consider assisted suicide to avoid spending his life in a nursing home when older. The 64-year-old said he agreed with TV personalities Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who revealed in 2014 that they have an assisted suicide pact if one of them falls seriously ill. Asked whether he would follow in their footsteps, Walsh told Digital Spy: "Yes, I would. I've thought about that. "I don't want to hang around in a wheelchair in a nursing home. I don't. I don't want to be like that. Expand Close X Factor judge Louis Walsh who said he would consider assisted suicide to avoid spending his life in a nursing home when older / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp X Factor judge Louis Walsh who said he would consider assisted suicide to avoid spending his life in a nursing home when older "I have thought about it recently. I would take some pills and fly off. That's why we have to enjoy ourselves while we are here." He is returning to screens on Saturday night as part of the new X Factor judging panel, after being replaced by Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw in the last series. Walsh joins Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne for the show's 13th season. :: The X Factor begins on Saturday on ITV at 8pm. The attack occurred in an area of Aleppo, Syria (AP) At least 15 civilians have been killed in a barrel bomb attack on a wake being held for children who died in earlier air strikes in the rebel-held Syrian city of Aleppo. Hospital officials said suspected government helicopters dropped bombs in the Bab al-Nairab area, and it is feared the death toll will increase. Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of those injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped as people paid their respects to 11 children killed on Thursday in an air strike in the same area. Minutes later, another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver and hampering rescue efforts. The Syrian government and its Russian ally are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 27 By Demir Azizov Trend: High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has appointed Eduards Stiprais of Latvia as the head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, the EU office in Tashkent reported. Eduards Stiprais has worked for the Latvian Diplomatic Service since 1993 and is one of the most experienced Latvian diplomats. He has worked as the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Latvia to the UK and Northern Ireland, director-general of the Bilateral Relations Directorate, head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in the Permanent Representation of Latvia to the EU, as well as serving as head of the Secretariat of Latvias Delegation for Accession Negotiations. Prior to appointment, Eduards Stiprais worked as the Under Secretary of State and Political Director of the Latvian Foreign Ministry. At the post of the head of the EU delegation, Eduards Stiprais will replace Yuri Sterk of Bulgaria and start working in September 2016. Uzbekistan and the EU signed the agreement "On partnership and cooperation" in 1996. The EU diplomatic office in Uzbekistan opened in 2012. In July 2015, the organization approved the allocation of 168 million euros worth financial aid to Uzbekistan for 2014-2020. The funds are allocated for improving the irrigation infrastructure, using renewable energy sources in agribusiness and promoting the program for creating new jobs in Uzbekistan's regions. Charlotte the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig is back cheering up elderly folk at a Pennsylvania centre after disappearing from her owners' car. Katie Manni said Charlotte, a therapy animal at Beaver Elder Care and Rehab Centre in Hopewell Township, was back home in Aliquippa on Friday after having been missing since July 11. The pig was left in a car with a pair of pug dogs for about 10 minutes while Ms Manni's fiance Edward Perry went into the rehab centre to get keys from Ms Manni, who directs nurses there. When he returned, Charlotte was gone. The couple had offered a 500-dollar (380) reward for Charlotte's safe return. Ms Manni did not give further details about the circumstances of Charlotte's return but said previously that someone might have opened the car door to help her get out or to see her up close and she escaped. Ms Manni and Mr Perry obtained Charlotte in February, when she was six weeks old. AP The protest was staged on top of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate (AP) Anti-Islam activists have staged an hour-long demonstration on top of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The protesters unfurled a banner calling for "secure borders" in Germany as crowds of tourists milled around the monument. Police said 15 people were briefly detained over the protest and are likely to face charges of trespassing, harassment and breaching laws on public assembly. Berlin police spokeswoman Patricia Braemer said the protesters belonged to the Identitarian Movement. Germany's domestic intelligence agency earlier this month said it was putting the far-right group under observation because it aims to subvert democracy. Leaflets scattered by supporters of the group claimed the government is trying to replace Germany's population with Muslim immigrants. Germany has seen an unprecedented influx of asylum-seekers, many from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, over the past year. A photo released by New Zealand police shows Pavlina Pizova and Ondrej Petr taking a selfie at an undisclosed location. Picture: AFP/Getty Images A tourist from the Czech Republic who went missing nearly a month ago while hiking in the New Zealand wilderness has spoken of the "harrowing" ordeal during which her partner died. Pavlina Pizova said she could not free her partner, Ondrej Petr, after he slipped down an icy bank and became wedged between rocks and branches. After he died, she stayed with him through the freezing night, and it would take almost another month before Ms Pizova was rescued. The tourist, who was found on Wednesday at a park warden's hut on the snowed-in Routeburn Track near Queenstown, broke down in tears as she read aloud her account in halting English. Czech consul Vladka Kennett provided more details. Ms Pizova's comments came soon after rescuers retrieved the body of her partner, 27-year-old Mr Petr. The couple set out on July 26 to hike the scenic track, a 32km route that typically takes three days in the summer, but which can become treacherous in the winter months from June to August. Ms Pizova said they made several mistakes: they did not tell anybody of their specific plans, they did not take a locator beacon, and they underestimated the winter conditions. "All these aspects contributed to our tragedy," she said. Midway through the hike, as they tried to reach the Lake Mackenzie Hut, things started to go wrong. "The conditions were extreme. We encountered heavy snowfall and low cloud which contributed to our enforced overnighting in the open," Ms Pizova said. "In our attempt to reach the hut, the tragic accident happened." Ms Kennett said Mr Petr fell down the slope. "Pavlina slipped behind him, and was unable to help him out, and that was it," Ms Kennett said. "She stayed with him for the first night, beside him, because first of all she wanted to be with him, and she couldn't move any farther due to the weather conditions." Ms Kennett said Ms Pizova spent another night outdoors as she remained lost in the deep snow. She rubbed her feet and tried to keep her blood circulating, and wore all the clothes and blankets she had with her. Ms Pizova said she finally found her way to the Lake Mackenzie Hut and broke into the warden's quarters through a window. She said she tried to hike out several times but her frostbitten feet and the avalanches she was witnessing discouraged her. Ms Pizova would end up spending nearly a month at the hut. She used ash to fashion a letter 'H' in the snow to signal for help. But other hikers were avoiding the route, and the planes and helicopters she waved at never saw her. Ms Kennett said Ms Pizova also tried making snow shoes, crampons and walking sticks from items she found around the hut, attempts which would later impress rescuers. But Ms Kennett said she never made it more than a few hundred metres from the hut before turning back. "She wasn't confident to carry on but she didn't give up trying," Ms Kennett said. "She tried everything she could, given the conditions." Ms Kennett said Ms Pizova survived on food left behind by the wardens, who do not live there during the winter. Police inspector Olaf Jensen said it took weeks before friends and family realised the couple were missing and raised the alarm. He said the Czech consulate informed police on Wednesday and they launched a search the same day. He said police found the couple's car at the trailhead and sent a helicopter along the route. He said Ms Pizova was relieved to see her rescuers. "It's very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported," Mr Jensen said. Ms Pizova, who was travelling around New Zealand on a working holiday with her partner, is eager to return home as soon as possible, Ms Kennett said. Ms Pizova said she wanted to warn other travellers to seek good information and to be aware how quickly the New Zealand weather can change. Ms Kennett said she can barely understand how the hiker managed to survive her ordeal. "I think she is a really tough woman," she said. Top commanders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are preparing to gather one final time to ratify a peace accord reached this week with government negotiators and map out its political strategy without weapons. "The historic importance of this event merits the people of Colombia and the world see first-hand the development and conclusions of what will be the last conference of our armed organisation," the FARC said in a statement on Saturday inviting media to cover the 10th conference. The summit will take place on September 13-19 in the jungle surroundings of San Vicente del Caguan, an area where the rebels have long been dominant and which was the centre of a Switzerland-sized demilitarised zone ceded to the FARC during the last serious attempt at peace more than a decade ago. Some 200 delegates are expected to attend including 29 members of the FARC's central command, a top decision-making body. Several foreign dignitaries it did not name are also invited. The 297-page peace accord reached this week in Cuba seeks to bring an end to Latin America's oldest guerrilla war, which has caused more than 220,000 deaths and driven five million people from their homes over five decades of bloody warfare. As part of the deal, FARC members must turn over their weapons within six months after the deal is formally signed and instead seek to persuade sceptical Colombians that it is ready to play by the rules of democracy. In exchange, the FARC's still unnamed future political movement will be granted a minimum 10 congressional seats - five in the lower house, five in the Senate - for two legislative periods. In addition, 16 lower house seats will be created for grassroots activists in rural areas traditionally neglected by the state and in which existing political parties will be banned from running candidates, a move critics of the peace process say will further boost the rebels' post-conflict political power. After 2026, both arrangements will end and the former rebels will have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box. The FARC last held a major summit in 2007, in the midst of a US-backed military campaign that decimated its ranks and led to the killing of several top commanders. Colombians will also be given a chance to ratify the accord in a national referendum on October 2. Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group but are still likely to endorse the deal. AP A man has died after collapsing at the Creamfields festival, police said. The 26-year-old was found collapsed in a campsite at the dance music event at Daresbury, near Warrington, Cheshire Police said. He was discovered at around midnight on Saturday but emergency services were unable to save him. The four-day festival, which started on Thursday, includes performances from stars including Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Fatboy Slim and Pete Tong. A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "Last night we were notified following concerns for a man in one of the campsites and, sadly, a 26-year-old man from the Cornwall area passed away. "Formal ID is to take place and we are awaiting the results of the post mortem examination to establish the cause of death. Our thoughts are with his family at this time." He added: "Officers continue to take positive action against those who risk others' lives by attempting to bring illegal drugs onto site. The Constabulary wants to remind people that drug supply at Creamfields will not be tolerated, and officers will take robust action where necessary." A man has been rescued by firemen after getting stuck in a public toilet. Cato Berntsen Larsen climbed into the toilet in an attempt to rescue a phone that his friend had dropped while using the toilet. The 20-year-old dived in feet-first and stood thigh-deep in the contents of the toilet for over an hour as he waited for help. I was obviously slim enough to get into it, but not slim enough to get out. I was down there for one hour, and it was very unpleasant, Mr Larsen told Drammens Tidende. The toilet is not connected to the sewer and has a tank that sits underneath which is cleared out once a year. It was disgusting as hell. The worst thing I have ever experienced. Animals were down there too. I will never enter a toilet again. Now my body hurts, and I will go home and get some rest, he said to VG. By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 Irans Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) has signed a deal with a French company for cooperation in South Pars Gas field, Mohammad Meshkinfam, director of Engineering and Construction at POGC, said. Under the deal the French company will carry out gas pressure drop studies in the field, Meshkinfam said, Mehr news agency reported Aug. 27. He did not unveil the company name and the contract value, forecasting that preliminary studies are expected to be carried out within six months. A second consultation agreement will be signed with an international company as well, in the near future, Meshkinfam added. He further said that installing gas compressor stations is the main approach to prevent pressure loss in the field at the moment. Once the new phases of the joint gas field comes into force, projects for marinating the gas pressure in the field will be implemented, he said, adding that new tenders will be held in the next two years regarding installation of gas compressor equipment. South Pars is divided into 24 development phases and contains 40 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. It covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers are situated in Qatar's territorial waters. Currently Irans gas production in the field stands at 430 million cubic meters per day. US authorities have arrested dozens of postal workers in Southern California for mail fraud and other crimes Federal prosecutors in Southern California have charged dozens of postal workers and others with theft, fraud and other crimes - including a carrier who allegedly hoarded 48,000 items of mail. The US attorney's office said it had charged 33 people with theft, possession of stolen mail, conspiracy, embezzlement, bank fraud, making false statements and use of stolen credit cards. One case says a former Mail Handlers Union executive stole more than 150 mobile phones at a distribution centre in the Moreno Valley and traded them through a website. Another accuses a Los Angeles mail carrier of being involved in a scheme that created pre-paid PayPal debit cards using stolen identities. Prosecutors say the fraud caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. AP On the day he was sworn into office, Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte went to a Manila slum and exhorted residents who knew any drug addicts to "go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful". Two months later, nearly 2,000 suspected drug pushers and users are dead and morgues continue to fill up. But faced with criticism of his actions by rights activists, international bodies and outspoken Filipinos, Mr Duterte has stuck to his guns and threatened to declare martial law if the Supreme Court meddles in his work. According to a survey early last month, he has the support of nearly 91% of Filipinos. National police chief Ronald dela Rosa told a Senate hearing this week that police have recorded more than 1,900 dead, including 756 suspected drug dealers and users who were gunned down after they resisted arrest. More than 1,000 other deaths are under investigation, and some of them may not be drug-related, he said. Jayeel Cornelio, a doctor of sociology and director of Ateneo de Manila University's development studies programme, said he suspects only a few of Mr Duterte's supporters are disillusioned by the killings and his rhetoric because voters trust his campaign promise to crush drug criminals. They also find resonance in his cursing and no-holds-barred comments. Mr Duterte's death threats against criminals, his promise to battle corruption, his anti-establishment rhetoric and gutter humour have enamoured Filipinos living on the margins of society. He overwhelmingly won the election, mirroring public exasperation over the social ills he condemns. Economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia has said the killings "may be a necessary evil in the pursuit of a greater good", a sentiment echoed by a deluge of comments by Duterte supporters on social media deriding his critics and defending the brutal war on drugs. "The killings are okay so there will be less criminals, drug pushers and drug addicts in our society," said Rex Alisoso, a 25-year-old cleaner in Manila. He said people have got used to the way Mr Duterte talks and voted for him knowing his reputation. Kim Labasan, a Manila shopkeeper, said she does not like Mr Duterte's constant swearing, his "stepping on too many toes", and his decision to allow late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery. But she supports the anti-drug war despite the rising death toll because, she said, she has personally seen the effects of drugs. Addicts in her town north of Manila have ended up with "poisoned brains" and even robbed her family's home. Mr Cornelio said: "A battle of moralities is being waged right now by this administration - before, if you were a human rights advocate you are a hero of the country, now you are seen as someone who can destroy the country." He said Mr Duterte fosters "penal populism" - identifying a particular enemy, a criminal, and then hunting him down to death. Because the results are visible, tangible and people feel it, "it becomes more important than many other things to the ordinary person". Mr Duterte has said drugs are destroying the country. In his State of the Nation address last month, he said "human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country". Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, said Mr Duterte "is stream-rolling the rule of law and its advocates both at home and abroad". The killings suggest his aggressive rhetoric advocating extra-judicial solutions to criminality has found a receptive audience, he said. Ferdie Monasterio, director of a travel-sharing company who does not support the president, said: "His supporters are cheering him on, but wait till one of them is killed. He is no different from Marcos and it looks like he wants to establish a dictatorship." Mr Cornelio added that the death toll is not the clincher in turning public sentiment against Mr Duterte, because a lot of people look at them as justified killings. He said Mr Duterte's first year in office will be crucial since he promised quick action. "I think the threshold has to do with the delivery of the promises," he said. "Are changes going to happen sooner or later? If they don't then, people will start getting disillusioned." AP Mourners in Italy prayed, hugged, wept and even applauded as coffins carrying victims of the country's devastating earthquake passed by at a state funeral on Saturday, grieving as one nation after three desperate days of trying to save as many people as possible. In the central town of Ascoli Piceno, they gathered to bid farewell to 35 of the 291 people confirmed dead so far after the quake that struck a swathe of countryside early on Wednesday at the foothills of the central Apennine mountains. The coffins of 35 people had been brought to a community gym - one of the few structures in the area still intact and large enough to hold hundreds of mourners. The local bishop, Giovanni D'Ercole, celebrated mass beneath a crucifix he had retrieved from one of the damaged churches in the picturesque area of medieval stone towns and hamlets. Emotions that had been dammed up for days broke in a crescendo of grief. One young man wept over a little girl's white coffin. Another woman gently stroked another small coffin. Many mourners were recovering from injuries themselves, some wrapped in bandages. Everywhere people knelt at coffins, tears running down their cheeks, their arms around loved ones. "It is a great tragedy. There are no words to describe it," said Gina Razzetti, a resident at the funeral. "Each one of us has our pain inside. We are thinking about the families who lost relatives, who lost their homes, who lost everything." As all of Italy observed a day of national mourning, with flags at half-staff, Bishop D'Ercole urged residents to rebuild their communities. "Don't be afraid to cry out your suffering - I have seen a lot of this - but please do not lose courage," he said in his homily. "Only together can we rebuild our houses and our churches. Together, above all, we will be able to restore life to our communities." President Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members, stopping to speak to some of them. When the coffins were brought out of the gym, the mourners applauded, a traditional Italian way of honouring people who die in tragedy. The bishop recalled the heartbreaking story of nine-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, whose embrace apparently allowed her younger sister Giorgia to survive. He said 15 hours after the quake struck on Wednesday, he returned to the church in Pescara Del Tronto to recover its crucifix. Close by, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters. "The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace," Bishop D'Ercole said. Giulia was among those buried on Saturday, while her younger sister had her fourth birthday at a hospital, trying to recover from the ordeal. "The melancholy grabs on to your heart. You feel a sense of weakness, of depression," said Fiore Ciotto, a resident of Ascoli Piceno who attended the funeral. "An event like this weakens you physically and mentally." Across the area, a cool retreat for those seeking to escape Italy's hot summers, many of the dead were children and elderly people, some of them visiting grandparents before school resumed. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36am on Wednesday and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, killing at least 291 people and injuring nearly 400. Nobody has been found alive in the ruins since Wednesday, and hopes have nearly vanished of finding any more survivors. Before Saturday's mass funeral, the president visited Amatrice, which bore the brunt of destruction with 230 fatalities and a town turned to rubble and dust. Eleven others died in nearby Accumoli and 50 more in Arquata del Tronto, 10 miles north of Amatrice. Mr Mattarella arrived by helicopter and was shown the extent of the damage in Amatrice by its mayor, Sergio Pirozzi. The president thanked rescue workers who have been working around the clock, some barely taking breaks for sleeping. Saturday's funeral involved most of the dead from Arquata del Tronto. As deep as their anguish was, Saturday's mourners at least had coffins with bodies to honour and bury. Many of the dead from Amatrice are now in a refrigerated morgue in an airport hangar in Rieti, the provincial capital that is 40 miles away, awaiting identification. On Tuesday, a memorial service - without the bodies - will be held for the dead of Amatrice on that battered town's outskirts . Overnight, residents were rattled yet again by a series of aftershocks. The strongest, at 4:50 a.m., had a magnitude of 4.2, according to the US Geological Survey, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4. The Italian institute said the earthquake caused the ground below Accumoli to sink eight inches, according to satellite images. AP Police at the Durant home of the two nuns (AP) Police in Mississippi have arrested and charged a 46-year-old man over the killing of two nuns. Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said Rodney Sanders, of Kosciusko, had been charged with two counts of capital murder. The bodies of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68, were discovered at home on Thursday after they failed to arrive for work at a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi, about 10 miles from Durant, where they lived. Lt Colonel Jimmy Jordan said: "Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation." He is being held in an undisclosed detention centre awaiting an initial court appearance. Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Jackson said a wake for the nuns would be held on Sunday at St. Thomas Church in Lexington, with a memorial mass on Monday at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle in Jackson. Diocesan chancellor Mary Woodward said the memorial service would be "an opportunity for the diocesan community and friends to celebrate the lives of these two remarkable women". AP In the poverty-stricken area where the two nuns were killed, forgiveness for their killer is hard to find, even if forgiveness is what the victims would have wanted. The nuns were nurse practitioners who dedicated their lives to providing healthcare to people in the poorest county in the state. And as the investigation into their deaths continues, many residents wondered how they will fill the hole the killings have left. "Right now, I don't see no forgiveness on my heart," said Joe Morgan Jr, a 58-year-old former factory worker who has diabetes and was a patient of Sister Merrill's at the clinic where the two nuns worked. He said Sister Merrill would want him to forgive whoever killed the women, but he hopes the perpetrator is arrested, convicted and executed. "She doesn't deserve to die like this, doing God's work," Mr Morgan said, shaking his head. "There's something wrong with the world." Their stolen car was found abandoned a mile from their home, and there were signs of a break-in, but police have not disclosed a motive. Authorities have not said how the women were killed, but the Rev Greg Plata of St Thomas Catholic Church, where the nuns had led Bible study for years, said police told him they were stabbed. Mr Plata said both nuns' religious communities have asked that people pray for the killer or killers. Asked about people's struggles to forgive, the priest said: "Forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian. Look at Jesus on the cross: 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.'" The killings did more than shock people and plunge the county into mourning. They leave a gaping hole in what was already a strapped healthcare system. Dr Elias Abboud, who worked with the sisters for years and helped build the clinic, said it provided about 25% of all medical care in the county. The two nuns cultivated relationships with drug company representatives, who often left extra free samples, according to clinic manager Lisa Dew. "This is a poor area, and they dignified those who are poor with outreach and respect for them," Mr Plata added. "They treated each person as a child of God." AP A Syrian man carries a wounded child in the rubble of buildings following a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nairab neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Thursday. Photo: Ameer Alhalbiameer/Getty 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, UN officials said. The UN has pushed for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo to alleviate suffering for about two 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 UN humanitarian task force, told reporters yesterday. Mr Egeland's boss, UN 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 has said it supported UN efforts to bring all sides together to deliver humanitarian relief to Aleppo and would welcome Russia's constructive engagement. The US State Department said while Washington backed the 48-hour Aleppo ceasefire, it was focused on achieving a broader country-wide cessation of hostilities. "If the UN says they need 48 hours, of course we support the UN 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. Separately yesterday, the rebel-held city of Daraya surrendered to the Syrian regime after four long years of siege, bombardment and starvation. The surrender is a victory for Assad, as Daraya is a suburb close to central Damascus and one of the first areas to rise up against his regime. Under the terms of surrender, the 8,000 civilians who stayed in the city will be moved to regime areas while several hundred rebel fighters will be given passage to go to Idlib, an opposition-held city in the north. The rebels will be allowed to carry their personal firearms with them but must leave behind whatever heavy weaponry they still have. Residents of the city said they were heartbroken that their years of resistance had ended in surrender. "It's our land. We paid for it with our blood. My heart is shattered into pieces," said Ahmad, a 23-year-old man who has not seen his girlfriend or family members since the regime siege began in 2012. "I do not know what will happen to us, whether I will be killed or allowed to live. For so long Daraya is all I have known, and I am feeling lost and distraught at having to leave." Ahmad expects to be transferred to western Ghouta, another Damascus suburb where regime forces used chemical gas to kill several hundred people in 2013. Some opponents of the regime tweeted pictures of the rebel commanders in Daraya, accusing them of betraying their people by agreeing to give up the town. The regime's victory in Daraya has more than just symbolic value. The end of the siege will also free up regime troops to fight rebel forces elsewhere near Damascus. It is not clear how quickly the evacuation will take place but regime supporters posted photos purporting to show Assad loyalists entering the battered remnants of city. The regime siege of Daraya began in late 2012 and only a single food convoy has been able to enter the city in the last four years - a Red Crescent delivery that arrived in June. Regime forces have encircled the city for years but stepped up their bombardment in the last few months, including dropping napalm on residents last week. The city's only hospital was also bombed in August. Facing starvation and ever increasing attacks from the air by both Assad's forces and their Russian allies, rebel commanders and the city's civilian council decided to give in. (Daily Telegraph, London) North Korea has threatened to aim fire at lights used by "provocative" American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the demilitarised zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army (KPA) accused US and South Korean soldiers of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the "brink of war" due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the US and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. "Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots," the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. "The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due counter-measures and label them as provocation," it said. The warning came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. The statement approved by all 15 members deplored the fact that the North's ballistic missile activities were contributing to its development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and increasing tensions. It urged all UN member states ''to redouble their efforts'' to implement sanctions against Pyongyang, including the toughest measures in two decades imposed by the council in March. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch. North Korea has repeatedly flouted UN resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and has continued to launch missiles, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region. The latest submarine launch of a ballistic missile came on Wednesday, and South Korean officials said it flew about 310 miles, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. That means all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, are within its striking distance. On Tuesday, the American-led UN Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the UN Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile wide demilitarised zone. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the zone. In August 2015, land mine blasts that Seoul blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused tensions between the two Koreas to flare. AP Baku, Azerbaijan, August 27 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: It would have been a pity for the world if lets say Mercedes Benzs market was limited to Germany due to lack of proper promotion. The pity exists, however, for some other product that is as much cherished worldwide. The Persian rug is well-known across the world for its quality, beauty, and character. Yet, the market it enjoys is far from what experts and businessmen in the rug and carpet market believe it deserves. August 27 was the last day of the 25th Iran Handmade Carpet Exhibition in Tehran. Trend took the chance to ask some of the exhibitors about their concerns. Almost unanimously they cited the lack of unified, powerful, and targeted promotion as the biggest hurdle against the export of the Persian carpet. Iranian customers buy 20 million square meters of carpet each year. Considering the fact that the world population is 100 times greater than Irans, through good promotion a great potential will be activated. If lets say only five percent of the world population is encouraged to finally buy the Persian rug, the consumption will jump by 10 million square meters a year, Hushang Fakher, owner of Sarab Baft, a handmade Persian rug company, said. Karimi, head of the Association for Carpet Producers and Exporters of Iran said correct promotion is needed, adding, It is a governments job, not a tradesmans. We expect our embassies and trade attaches to do better. In the first half of 2016, Irans nonoil exports to the United States grew by degrees to reach $39 million. Surprisingly, the Persian rug had the greatest share in the exported value. The Persian rug is still the worlds number one in terms of quality. However, in terms of marketing it has lost to Pakistan, China, and India. The Persian carpet dates back 2,500 years, while those of the other countries date back only about 100 years, said Qias Ale-Rasoul, who has been exporting carpets for 60 years. Carpet counts for 20 percent of Irans nonoil export value. This is while gas condensates, now exported at about 400,000 barrels per day, are also put in the nonoil basket by the Iranian government. That indicates how great the 20 percent of the Persian rug is. According to Director of the National Iranian Carpet Center Hamid Kargar, despite the shortcomings, the Persian rug still counts for 30 percent of the worlds carpet trade. Last Iranian fiscal year (which ended March 19), Irans direct handmade rug export to the US, one of its greatest traditional markets, stood at $27 million. Carpet has a unique potential for job creation as well, with many job titles in dying, weaving, selling, research, etc. In Iran, about one million people are working in the weaving section alone, 700 thousand of whom work fulltime. Follow the author on Twitter @mehdisepahvand Bangladeshi police inspect a two-storey house after a raid in Narayanganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka (AP) Police in Bangladesh have killed three suspected militants, including an alleged mastermind of an attack on a cafe last month that left 20 people dead. Top counter-terrorism official Monirul Islam said police raided a two-storey house in Narayanganj, near the capital Dhaka, early on Saturday and killed the suspects. The dead included Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian who police believe was one of two masterminds of the attack on a popular restaurant in Dhaka. The militants belonged to the banned group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque said. Chowdhury was the mastermind of the July 1 attack in Dhaka and another attack on an Eid congregation outside Dhaka on July 7 marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, he said. Bangladesh police have been conducting raids across the country to hunt down those behind the attack. The police chief said security officials raided the house acting on a tip that Chowdhury, along with other suspects, was hiding in the building. The suspects opened fire at officials who retaliated, he said. A Swat team made the final push and fatally shot the suspects after they failed to surrender. Mr Hoque said the team asked them to give themselves up but they continued firing. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack but authorities denied that and said it was the work of the JMB, adding that IS has no presence in the Muslim-majority country. The attack on the upscale Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka killed 20 people, including 17 foreigners. The July 7 attack on the prayer gathering north of Dhaka left four people dead, including two police officers. AP Zimbabwe has been the scene of anti-government protests Zimbabwe's police arrested 67 people following a violent protest that rocked the capital, Harare, as the president warned against an Arab Spring type of revolution. Police spokesman Paul Nyathi on Saturday said they had recovered some property looted during the protests. Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons in running battles with anti-government demonstrators on Friday, despite a court order that the protest could take place. President Robert Mugabe warned opposition leaders against attempting an Arab Spring type of revolution, according to the state-run Herald newspaper. Frustrations over Zimbabwe's rapidly deteriorating economy are boiling over in this once prosperous but now economically struggling southern African country. Police have often used tear gas, water cannons and open violence to crush anti-government protests, which have become a near-daily occurrence. AP Backed by Turkish tanks and reports of air strikes, Turkey-allied Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish-led forces in north-eastern Syria in a new escalation that further complicates the already protracted Syrian conflict. Turkey's military did not specify what the air strikes hit, saying only that "terror groups" were targeted south of the village of Jarablus, where the clashes later ensued. A Kurdish-affiliated group said their forces were the target and called the attack an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation". If confirmed, it would be the first Turkish air strikes against Kurdish allied forces on Syrian soil. Late on Saturday night, Turkey's official news agency reported that one Turkish soldier had been killed and three wounded by what it said was a Kurdish rocket attack in Jarablus, near where the fighting has raged. It is the first reported Turkish fatality in Syria. The new escalation highlights concerns that Turkey's incursion into Syria this week could lead to an all-out confrontation between Ankara and Syrian Kurds, both American allies, and hinder the war against the Islamic State group by diverting resources. Sherwan Darwish, a spokesman for Kurdish-led forces in the village of Manbij, said on Twitter on Saturday night: "While our forces fighting #IS Some #Turkey backed militias r attacking our positions & hampering our & Intl Coalition's fight against terror." The clashes underscore Ankara's determination to push back Kurdish forces from along its borders, and curb their ambitions to form a contiguous entity in northern Syria. Kurdish groups have already declared a semi-autonomous administration in Syria and control most of the border area. Jarablus, and Manbij to the south liberated from IS fighters by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month, are essential to connecting the western and eastern semi-autonomous Kurdish areas in Syria. Turkish officials said they will continue their offensive in Syria until there is no longer any "terror" threat to Turkey from its war-torn neighbor. Ankara backed Syrian rebels to gain control of Jarablus last week. They are now pushing their way south. On Saturday, the Syrian rebels said they have seized a number of villages south of Jarablus from IS militants and Kurdish forces. Clashes were fiercest with the Kurdish-allied forces over the village of Amarneh, eight kilometers (five miles) south of Jarablus. The media office of the Turkish-backed Nour el-din el-Zinki rebel group said the Syrian rebels were backed by Turkish tanks. A news report on ANHA, the news agency for the semi-autonomous Kurdish areas, said local fighters destroyed a Turkish tank and killed a number of fighters in an attack by the Turkish military and allied groups on Amnarneh. There was no immediate comment from Turkish officials. The clashes were preceded by Turkish airstrikes against bases of Kurdish-affiliated forces and residential areas at Amarneh. The Jarablus Military Council, affiliated with the US-backed Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces, said the Turkish air strikes marked an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation" that "endangers the future of the region". It vowed to stand its ground. Other groups which are part of the SDF vowed to support them, calling on the US-led coalition to explain the Turkish attacks on allied forces. Turkey's state news agency, citing military sources, said the Turkish military joint special task forces and coalition air planes targeted an ammunition depot and a barrack and outpost used as command centres by "terror groups" south of Jarablus on Saturday morning. The Anadolu Agency did not say which group or village was targeted. Turkey has long suspected the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, of being linked to Kurdish insurgents in its own south east, which it labels as a terror group. It has demanded the YPG, which makes up the bulk of the SDF and has been one of the most effective US allies in the fight against IS, withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates River. The US supported Turkey's call for the Kurdish forces to move back, and Kurdish officials said they withdrew the YPG forces from Manbij. But following the Turkish offensive, local forces with Kurdish fighters and backed by YPG advisers pushed their way north of Manbij, in a rush for control of Jarablus. Meanwhile, the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, appealed to the opposition to approve plans to deliver aid to rebel-held eastern Aleppo and government-held Aleppo through a government-controlled route north of Aleppo during a 48-hour humanitarian pause. Aleppo has been caught in a bloody circle of violence, with rebels and government forces each promising to unite the divided city. The UN said it has pre-positioned aid ready for delivery into Aleppo, to reach 80,000 people on the rebel side and some on the government side. But the opposition, whose fighters have opened another route in the south, were wary of the use of the government-controlled route. "People are suffering and need assistance. Time is of the essence. All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now," Mr de Mistura said in a statement, urging an approval by Sunday. But violence raged. Suspected government helicopters dropped two barrel bombs on a wake held for children killed a few days earlier, killing at least 15, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Aleppo Media Centre, an activist group in the city, and volunteers on the scene put the death toll higher at 24. Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of the injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped in the Bab al-Nairab neighbourhood as people paid their condolences for children killed on Thursday in an air strike that left 11 children dead in the same neighbourhood. Minutes later, Mr Khandakani said another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver, and hampering rescue efforts. The Syrian government and its Russian ally are the only ones operating helicopters over Aleppo. The government denies it uses barrel bombs. Elsewhere, the Syrian government said it now has full control of the Damascus suburb of Daraya, following the completion of a forced evacuation deal struck with the government that emptied the area of its remaining rebels and residents and ended a four-year siege and gruelling bombing campaign. The declaration comes a day after the evacuation of nearly 5,000 residents and fighters from the suburb began. The deal followed an extensive government campaign of aerial bombing and shelling of Daraya, the last bastion against President Bashar Assad in the western Ghouta region, south west of Damascus. Some 700 gunmen and 4,000 civilians were evacuated. The gunmen and their families headed to the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province. Other civilians were escorted to shelters in government-controlled suburbs of Damascus. AP Pickens wins it all in the girls golf state championships Pickens won it all in the AAAA SCHSL girl's golf state championships by remaining aggressive and "diving across the finish line." Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 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. Director Cheran in a recent audio release function of a new film Kanna Binna` spoke about how the small time Tamil producers are losing crores of money due to piracy especially on the online platform. He said that it was mostly Sri Lankan Tamils who upload movies on the internet and even when the film industry raises voice in their favor in many issues they continue to damage it. This caused a huge furor among Eelam Tamils who condemned the director. Cheran has issued a statement clarifying that he did not mean all Sri Lankan Tamils but only those who support online piracy. Here is his statement in Tamil. After stupendous success of 'Irudhi Suttru', actor Madhavan is being flooded with offers to team up with prominent directors. As we had reported earlier he will be working in a film with director Karu Palaniyappan and he is also expected to play the lead role in the Tamil remake of 'Charlie' to be directed by Vijay. Now director Sarkunam has confirmed that Madhavan will be the hero of his next directorial venture . This will also be Maddy's immediate project after 'Irudhi Suttru' as he will start shooting for the film from October 2016. Back in July IndiaGlitz had reported about the two joining for a film. ALSO READ: Madhavan to do a Tamil film before 'Charlie' remake This will be a village based subject and a new avtar for Madhavan who has not acted in rural subjects. Maddy will have a slight change in makeover including a change of hairstyle for this film. The supporting cast members are being finalized and it is rumored that Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff is in talks with the makers to play a pivotal character. Ghibran introduced by Sarkunam with his 'Vaagai Sooda Va' will be teaming up again with him for the musical score of this film. 'Irudhi Sutturu' Editor Sathish Surya will take care of Editing this film. The shooting of this yet to be titled film will begin in Thailand in October and subsequent schedules have been planned in Nepal. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Iranian and Russian companies signed contract to build five offshore drilling rigs with the aim to explore and extract oil and gas in the Persian Gulf field worth one billion dollars, IRNA reported. The contract was signed here on Saturday afternoon between Managing Director of Tasdid Offshore Development Company Ehsan Mousavi and CEO of Krasnye Barrikady Alexander Ilyichev. The Russian company is to provide 85 percent worth of the contract. The drilling rigs are to be built in Khorramshahr port city within next two years. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales, Press TV reported. During the meeting in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz on Friday, the two senior officials exchanged views about issues of common interest. Later in the day, the Iranian foreign minister and his Bolivian counterpart, David Choquehuanca, attended the opening ceremony of the first trade and investment meeting of Iran and Bolivia. Zarif delivered a speech at the biggest economic meeting between the two countries in the presence of nearly 200 businessmen and economic activists of the Iranian and Bolivian state and private sectors. Following the Iranian ministers speech, Choquehuanca awarded Bolivias highest state medal, Condor de los andes, to Zarif. Meanwhile, Iran and Bolivia signed a document for cooperation in the space sector in the presence of the two foreign ministers. Zarif kicked off his six-nation Latin American tour on Monday 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 where he met with Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez and the countrys President Raul Castro. The Iranian foreign minister also paid visits to Nicaragua and Ecuador. He wrapped up his trip to Chile and arrived in Bolivia on Friday and will also visit Venezuela on the final leg of his tour. The Bolivian president paid a visit to Tehran in November 2015 to attend the third summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). The fourth GECF summit is due in Bolivia in 2017. Morales also met with senior Iranian officials including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The Medical Council of India has announced a digitization initiative on Friday to bring more transparency and have regular checks on ghost faculties in medical colleges. Under the Digital Mission Mode Project (DMMP), the MCI will use a biometric system to not only expose ghost employees in institutions but will also monitor attendance of faculty members in 439 medical colleges. A Government-appointed panel led by Arvind Panagariya has passed a draft bill to create a National Medical Commission in place of MCI because of complaints of corruption and failure to perform tasks. The monitoring of attendance of faculty through a biometric system involves a real-time medical register, issuing of IDs for which Rs 45 crore has been allocated as budget. The government has asked the body to finish the project within six months. The panel has also decided to issue Electronic Radio Frequency Identification (ERFI) to doctors which will enable them to practice across the country after they get registered with MCI. Furthermore, the body clearly states that medical faculties can be a part of one medical college in the same academic year. Since the time that MCI has decided to go online, the apex body has recommended state medical councils to order the immediate suspension of ghost faculties. The need to take this step came when two doctors were found acting as ghost medical faculties. Dr. Vijay Kumar Sharda of Government Medical College Patiala was working as ghost faculty for NC Medical College in Panipat, and Dr. Ved Prakash Gupta was acting as ghost member in Sri Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary Medical College in Gurgaon. Taking the direction of MCI, the Punjab Medical Council has also decided to remove the name of the faculties from the state medical register for six months. Once the project comes to action doctors will have documented proof of their registration at all times. It will also facilitate working of medical practitioners under One Country One Registration. Further, the biometric-based network will provide information on the medical professionals on the website which shall enhance strict enforcement of the ethical code of conduct. After registration, details of the 9.5 lakh doctors will be available online, and the fake doctors will be eliminated. Even though this is not the first time that ghost faculties has been revealed. But MCI claims that this project is the first of its kind to be implemented by the regulatory agency. Envisaged in 2009 it will bring the functioning of MCI to global standards comparable to any other country in the developed word. Macher Jhol might be the staple food for Kolkatans but when in Kolkata (Calcutta), it would not be wrong to say food lovers love to gorge on Chinese food. Well, the liking for cuisine could be both for authentic or modified versions. The history of Chinese cuisine in Kolkata dates back to the 18th century with a large number of Chinese locals settling on Indian soil. Chinatown (Tangra) is home to several Cantonese families and one need not worry about their food experience. Lets take a look at some of the best rated Chinese restaurants and dining places. 1. Eau Chew mohamushkil Set up in the 1920s, Eau Chew is currently the oldest surviving family-owned Chinese restaurant in India. Apart from giving culinary wonders like Chimney Soup and Josephine Noodles, the place is supremely famous for assorted Chinese cuisine. Run by the fourth-gen of the Huang family, Eau Chew will leave you amazed with its simplicity and adequate variety. Some of the most ordered delicacies are Pork Spare Ribs, Roast Chilli Pork, Sauteed Greens, Meat Ball Soup, Steamed Fish with Soy Sauce, Chicken in Wine Sauce, Flaming Fish and Fish with Chilli Black Bean. What makes this place different from the competition is their stress on retaining original in flavours. Avoiding ajinomoto and oil while following the path of undercooking makes Eau Chew a memorable eating experience. 2. Tung Fong buzzintown Run by a Chinese family, Tung Fong is one of the few restaurants in Tangra which serves a buffet in the afternoon. Dining at Tung Fong becomes an experience with the right combination of taste and ambience. buzzintown Apart from serving mouth-watering good food, the place will also leave in awe with its elegant atmosphere and quick service. With waiters continuing to serve the delicacies with a smile, eating at Tung Fong becomes memorable. Thai Soup, Veg Wanton, Dim Sums, Chilli Potato, Honey Glazed Chicken, Kung Pao Prawn, Thai Garlic Fish, Yang Chu Fried Rice Smoked Lamb, Garlic Prawns are just a few suggestions from the varied range served at the place. 3. Kim Fa tripadvisor Do not judge a book by its cover as Kim Fa might not attract you with its average look from the outside. But it is the cuisine served inside that will keep you hooked compared to other restaurants in Tangra. Move over the questionable ambience and focus on the yummy tasty morsels of Seafood Soup, Chilli Chicken Dry, Lemon Chicken, Chilli Prawns, and Golden Fried Prawns. So if you're planning to treat a large group of friends on a nominal budget, Kim Fa is the place you ought to visit. 4. Hatari Restaurant Sify Hatari Restaurant offers an array of lip-smacking sumptuous Cantonese food that would linger on your taste buds. This multi-cuisine restaurant boasting of several outlets opened its first restaurant in 1966 and was named after Howard Hawks' film 'Hatari'. Sify From originally being absolutely a Chinese restaurant, they have introduced other cuisine as well. Dry Chili Pork, Crispy Golden Prawn, Singaporean Noodles, Mongolian Prawn, Chicken Momo with Soup, Fish with Oyster Sauce, Brown Glazed Duck are the most recommended food items at Hatari. 5. China Whites eveningflavors Situated in Gariahat Road, China Whites is popular among the younger lot. The reason for this demand is their love for hookah. A contemporary and cozy setting makes the ambience worth a visit. Coming to the food, it gives neck to neck competition to other Chinese eateries of the area. Prawn Tavanjan, Sliced Fish with Hot Garlic Sauce, Tai Chi Chicken, Pak Choi Exotic Vegetable, Crab In Hot Garlic, Fish Chilli Wine and Mix Sea Food Hot Garlic are some of the hit items among youngsters and office goers. 6. Chinoiserie Happytrips Chinoiserie at Taj Bengal is what Chinese food lovers swear by. The quality and service is impeccable and the selection of appetising spread of dishes from Sichuan and Canton. Being one of the posh places to relish Chinese cuisines, average cost for two people is Rs. 3600 at Chinoiserie. Happytrips Right from the grand interiors of the place to the tasty food palate, the place will register a place in your mind. Signature dishes like the Peking Duck, Crackling Spinach, Pork Dim Sum, Stir-fried Veggies with Mushroom, Golden Corn, Broccoli in Black Pepper Sauce, Stir-fried Spicy Lamb and Mongolian Chicken are definitely must-trys. 7. Beijing Restaurant topyaps Not the Chinese capital but this restaurant can definitely be called the food capital of China Town. Beijing, one of the oldest and most popular Chinese restaurants in Kolkata, is insanely popular for its authentic cuisine. bhaveshbhatia From delicious spring button mushrooms, chicken dumplings, spring prawns to Lung Fung Chicken Soup, Cantonese chicken, Szechwan duck, chicken in black bean sauce, Chicken American Chopsuey and Chicken Cantonese rice, Beijing reflects the right balance of spices and flavours. 8. Golden Joy kolkatarestaurants.net Another gem of Tangra, Golden Joy justifies its name in fashion. The bar cum restaurant is ideally placed between admirable slick ambiences in affordable budget. Located at Matherswar Tala Road, the restaurant has an enviable open space which can accommodate 200-250 diners at a time. kolkatarestaurants.net The Indian-Chinese food items like Dim Sum, Chopsey, Chowmein, Manchurian, Fried Rice and Noodles along with liquor at a reasonable price makes Golden Joy a fairly popular place. Moving to their extensive menu, it is another mesmerising menu to choose from - Chilli Garlic Paneer, Dragon Chicken, Ginger Chicken, Salt & Pepper Chicken, Korean Fish Sticks and Kung Pao. 9. Fung Fa topyaps Located near the entrance of Chinatown, Fung Fa is an attractive spot for Cantonese food lovers. Apart from enjoying the advantage of easy access to the main road, Fung Fa is hailed for its good food and cheap liquor. tripadvisor Safe to call it a dimly lit average decor restaurant where one can enjoy tasty food without burning a hole in pocket. Some of the recommended dishes are Fish in Oyster sauce, Shredded Chicken, Honey-Pepper Fish, Mixed Rice Noodles etc. 10. Kafulok tripadvisor For generous portions on a reasonable budget, Kafulok is where you should head. One of the popular eateries among the middle class income group in Chinatown, Kafulok is buzzing with family crowd during weekends. Its motto of not compromising on quality despite being affordable makes the restaurant most talked about. zomato.com The decor is basic but they compensate it with fast service and gastronomical wonders. Some of the most recommended dishes are Chilli Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Chilli Garlic Pepper Chicken, Garlic Prawn, Mixed Hakka Noodles, Fish in Hot Garlic Sauce, Pepper Chicken and Hakka Sui Mai. 11. Yauatcha dineout The London based Michelin starred restaurant specialising in dimsums opened in 2015 is a hit among the diners. Yauatcha translates to 'Yau having tea' which despite being deemed as fairly expensive is swarmed with food lovers. dineout Apart from its core strength of serving authentic dim sums, they are also known for bringing a range of Chinese dishes on the table. Shiitake Mushroom Dumpling, vegetarian poached Peking dumpling, Crispy Duck Roast, Spicy Aubergine Sato Bean, Prawn Cheung Fun and Stir-Fried Penang Kwetio Noodles are some of the must try dishes if you plan to visit the place anytime soon. Yauatcha also has one of the finest bars in the Kolkata offering a selection of signature cocktails. 12. Chowman chowman The tagline of this fancy restaurant reads Think ChineseThink Chowman, which is enough for you to add it to the must visit list. Started in 2010, Chowman has become one of Kolkatas favourite destinations for fine dining under the leadership of Debaditya Chaudhury. chowman Their claim to fame is their lavish spread of chicken, prawn, fish, duck, lamb, pork, crab etc. Apart from the much talked about authentic Chinese cuisine, Chowman is equally famous for their ambience that boasts of decor from the markets of China and Hong Kong and sauces and crockery being imported from Thailand & China. There are many inspiring stories from India. Stories of students studying under a street light, those of authors whose manuscripts get rejected over and over again and of chaiwallahs. Delhi has one such incredible story of a man in his 60s, a chaiwalla on the street to earn money and, an author of 24 books based on his life experiences. It wont be an exaggeration to call him Delhis most popular chaiwalla - for his passion to write has attracted a lot of attention. Besides, he has been honoured by many dignitaries, including Indira Gandhi and Pratibha Patil. Also, there are many elite visitors to his tea stall in the bustling ITO area. They visit him for his warm milky cup of chai and, to chit-chat with him about his interesting observations of life. Here's what he had to share with Indiatimes in an exclusive interview, over tea... BCCL "My passion for reading developed when I was in Class 8. I remember vivaciously reading Gulshan Nanda Upanyas - a popular Indian novelist and also a screenwriter of some of the popular Hindi films like Kati Patang, Khilona and Daag among others. I was studying in Hindi-medium and went on reading many more popular writers like Sharad and Munshi Premchand who inspired me. I also read Time Magazine and William Shakespeare at that time." The journey from his town to the big city was not an easy one. "I worked with a doctor in Amravati district in Maharashtra for five years. I was 10th standard pass till this time. Then, I went to work in a textile mill for another five years. Before trying other odd jobs in Delhi since 1975, I finally decided to make a living with selling tea in ITO in 1980. It was the most profitable business for me, to feed my family. It was in Delhi only when I decided to become an upanayskar (novelist). My journey had just started then." BCCL Despite being rejected by several well-known publishers, he never lost heart. "As I said before, it was not easy for an ordinary person to approach big publishing houses. I was turned down many times, as people from a simple background, are perhaps not perceived as writers anyways. Also, I feel there are few readers for Hindi literature, which was another deterrent to publishing my first book. However, that didnt stop me. I decided to publish my first book on my own. My first self-publish novel was released in 1979." His best-selling novel, Ramdas sold 4,000 copies! BCCL "Ramdas was published by the Bhartiya Sahitya Kala Prakashan in 1992, and it was re-published four times, as it gained immense popularity", Rao says. "The book has also been conferred with the Indraprastha Sahitya Bharti Award in the year 2003. It was about a boy called Ramdas, who drowned in a village. I was a witness to the incident. This novel is based on a real life story. Ramdas was a characterless teenage boy. But a teacher of his school completely reformed him and he became favourite student of all the teachers. His accidental death left the entire village in a state of shock." BCCL "I have written 24 books till date. Out of which, 12 books have been published and 6 books have been re-published. Today, my books are available on Amazon, Flipkart, and are also available on Kindle (with English translation)." And there is variety in his writing as well. "I have so far written on crime, short-fiction, literature, romance, philosophy and mythology to name a few. Some of my other popular titles are Narmada, Abhivyakti, Dansh, Renu, Ahankaar and Drishtikon." His talent and dedication have found him famous patrons! BCCL "I met the honorable Prime Minister of India in May 1984. I was informed that Mrs. Indira Gandhi is impressed with my work and dedication, and has personally invited me to meet her in Teen Murti Bhawan. She was a very humble person and encouraged me to write more. When I expressed my desire to write a book on her; she told me to write a book on her work rather than her life. I wrote a natak (play) on PM, which was published. However, I could not present to her my writing on her tenure as the Prime Minister of India from 1969-72, as she was shot dead before that." "I have been bestowed with awards from many NGOs and also had the honor of receiving recognition from the former Indian President Mrs. Pratibha Patil on 23rd January 2009." BCCL Even at 60, Rao's journey continues, "I had completed by education in Marathi medium till the 10th standard. I am a graduate from Delhi University now. I recently completed M.A. in Hindi Literature from IGNOU in August this year. I also plan to pursue a PHD and gain command in English and other languages." You can follow the Laxman Rao here or drop in for tea and chat at his stall in ITO. 1. Katrina Kaif gave her take on her breakup with Ranbir Kapoor. Katrina gave an interview to Rajeev Masand recently in which she also spoke about her breakup with Ranbir, but her take on their separation is drastically different from Ranbir's. 2. Salman Khan dresses up as an astronaut for Bigg Boss 10 promo! The promo of Bigg Boss 10 is finally out, where you can see Salman play an astronaut. 3. Illeana D'Cruz spoke in detail about her mental illness and how she dealt with it. Illeana spoke at length about how she was dealing with mental illness for more than a decade, and how she's now at a better place and she's dealing with it all gracefully. 4. Pakistani shoemaker gets jailed for designing deer skin sandals for Shah Rukh Khan! Jahangir Khan landed himself in jail after he boasted to the media that he was going to send Peshawari sandals made from deer skin to Shah Rukh. 5. SS Rajamouli has shot four different climax for Baahubali : The Conclusion. According to a report, director SS Rajamouli has shot not one, not two, not three, but four different climaxes for the movie. Yes! He has four different answers to why Katappa killed Baahubali! indianexpress We all know that Shah Rukh Khan has got fans all over the world, and that some of them have done pretty crazy things for him. Needless to say, he has fans across the border as well, in Pakistan. And one such fan from Pakistan, Jahangir Khan, recently got arrested for designing deer skin sandals for him. Yes! Jahangir Khan landed himself in jail after he boasted to the media that he was going to send Peshawari sandals made from deer skin to Shah Rukh. According to reports, a cousin of Shahrukh who lives in Peshawar went to shoemaker Jahangir Khan last Friday and asked him to make two pairs of Peshawari sandals for the actor. entertainmentweekly "Apparently Jahangir Khan is a big fan of Shahrukh and decided to send the Bollywood star a special gift, Peshawari sandals made out of deer skin, from his side. Soon after the news spread, the wildlife department officials contacted us and filed a complaint. We had to go and pick up Jahangir who is now behind bars." Bangladeshi security forces killed four Islamist militants, including the mastermind of an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed, the head of police counter-terrorism in Dhaka said. The militants were killed in a raid on their hideout in Naraynganj, outskirts of Dhaka. Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the alleged mastermind of the attack on the cafe, was among those killed. Read more 1. 2 Dead As Fire Breaks Out In Murshidabad Hospital Two people were killed while some others sustained injuries when a fire broke out in Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital on Saturday. Panic prevailed in the hospital as people ran helter-skelter leading to a near stampede. "A fire broke out in the hospital. Two causalities were reported. Fire has been brought under control. There is no need for panic", chief medical officer of health (CMOH) S Saha said. Read more 2. India To Make Renewed Pitch To Acquire Armed US Drones 'Predator' India is likely to make a renewed pitch to acquire armed drones from the US during defense minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to Washington next week to meet a requirement of the air force for a stealth cross-border strike option. These are the very drones the US deploys frequently on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Any such acquisition, sources said, will bolster India's offensive options along some of its porous borders. Read more 3. Being Stuck In Traffic Jams May Increase The Risk Of Cancer, Says A New Study Apart from wasting your time, long traffic jams may cause exposure to toxic fumes, and potentially increase various health risks, including cancer, say researchers, one of them of Indian origin. Exposure to outdoor air pollution is among the top ten health risks faced by humans and is especially pronounced in urban concentrations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In October 2013, WHO classified outdoor air pollution as being carcinogenic to humans. Read more 4. DGCA To Crackdown On 'Cockpit Selfies' By Pilots, To Issue Circular On Air Safety With clicking of midair selfies by pilots in cockpits getting recognised as a major distraction to safe flying globally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is soon going to issue an "air safety circular" on the issue. Airlines are going to be asked to ensure crew does not click pictures in cockpits mid-air. The regulator had last week grounded some pilots for a week for taking mid-air selfies in the cockpit and warned others against doing so. "Our upcoming circular will comprehensively cover photography in aircraft," said an official. Read more 5. 400 Troublemakers In Kashmir Including Local Hizbul Commanders Identified, Likely To Be Held Under Public Safety Act In a bid to break the cycle of violence in Jammu & Kashmir, central agencies have identified 400 local leaders fuelling protests and shared their names with the state police for an immediate crackdown, including detention under the Public Safety Act. Intelligence officials said the list included overground workers of Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorist outfits, besides local-level functionaries of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, the outfit of 'hardline' separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and Jamaat-e-Islami. Read more 6. Zakir Naik Likely To Face Terror Charges As Government Set To Ban His NGO Trouble seems to be growing for Mumbai-based controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The televangelist who is accused of inspiring a number of people to join ISIS might be slapped with terror charges. The union home ministry has decided to book Naik under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his speeches. "The primary ground for invoking terror charges against Naik are statements by those involved in past terror acts, conceding that they were motivated by his speeches," said an intelligence officer. Read more The Haryana assembly on Friday afternoon turned into a makeshift religious discourse hall for the 'Kadwe Pravachan' of well-known Jain monk Tarun Sagar ji Maharaj. This was the first time that such a programme was organised inside the state assembly hall. To ensure protocol was not violated, the discourse was held after the day's proceedings were adjourned till Monday. BCCL The monk was seated on a platform higher than that of speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar and governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, both of whom were present in the House. While praising the Manohar Lal Khattar government, he asked the opposition not to accuse BJP of saffronising the assembly by holding an event like this. "Don't term it as saffronisation but as purification of politics. When religion enters politics, it brings purity. While it becomes a disaster when politics enters religion," he told the gathering. However, no one in the opposition seemed to mind the monk's presence in the House. Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry and INLD MLA Zakir Hussain were among those who greeted the monk on behalf of their MLAs. Chaudhary even recited the opening lines of a bhajan - 'Guruji ko kariye vandana' - in praise of Sagar. BCCL The monk strongly advocated a mix of religion and politics. "I told the chief minister that you have the 'mantri mandal' (council of ministers) and we have the 'kamandal' (water dispenser that saints carry)," Sagar said. "If the two get together, it will reform the world and help create a strong nation." The monk opened his session with praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign while expressing concern over the deteriorating sex ratio in the country. "Daughterless men and women should be barred from entering politics," he said. "Similarly, those having only daughters should be given priority over those having daughters and sons. Religiously, the saints should refrain from taking bhiksha (alms) from the house of those who don't have daughters. Similarly, socially those don't have daughters be boycotted when it comes to matrimonial alliances." The monk attacked Pakistan in his speech saying,"Jo ek baar galti kare woh nadan, do baar galti kare woh shaitaan, teen baar galti kare who haivan. Jo baar baar galti kare woh Pakistan (one mistake is an act of innocence, two mistakes are done by the devil, three are done by the beast but the one who repeatedly makes mistakes is Pakistan). And the one who forgives all of these is Hindustan." He also made out a strong case for involving women in nation-building and making India corruption-free for five years. Without naming anyone, Sagar also launched a scathing attack on Congress leaders. "From Independence till now, only a few leaders have worked selflessly for the country," he said. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was invited as the chief guest, did not come for the discourse. Chouhan was the first to invite Sagar to attend the assembly in his state. Trouble seems to be growing for Mumbai-based controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The televangelist who is accused of inspiring a number of people to join ISIS might be slapped with terror charges. BCCL The union home ministry has decided to book Naik under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his speeches. "The primary ground for invoking terror charges against Naik are statements by those involved in past terror acts, conceding that they were motivated by his speeches," said an intelligence officer. His organisation, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), which is in the midst of controversy over alleged "forced conversions" also could be booked under the UAPA and faces closure. BCCL The organisation's activities had come under the scanner after the brother of one of the over-a-dozen Kerala youth who are believed to have joined IS alleged that he was forced by an IRF member to come to Mumbai for conversion. Two associates of Naik, Arshi Qureshi and Rizwan Khan have already been booked by Mumbai police under UAPA after the father of Ashfaque Kader Ahmed, one of the missing Kerala youth, lodged a complaint claiming that his son was radicalised by the duo to join IS. BCCL Once IRF and its associate organisations are declared as 'unlawful', it will face closure of its offices and interests across the country. Apart from having its head office at Mumbai, IRF runs the Islamic International School in Mumbai and Chennai through the IRF Educational Trust and owns many properties in Mumbai. The government has also banned the broadcast of Naik's TV channel, Peace TV. The controversial scholar who was in Saudi at the time of the Dhaka terror attack, of which two of the terrorists were allegedly his followers, has refused to return to India, while claiming that he did not inspire anyone to join any terrorist organisation, and termed ISIS unislamic. Bangladeshi security forces killed four Islamist militants, including the mastermind of an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed, the head of police counter-terrorism in Dhaka said. AFP The militants were killed in a raid on their hideout in Naraynganj, outskirts of Dhaka. Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury , the alleged mastermind of the attack on the cafe, was among those killed, he said. Tamim Chowdhury had returned to Bangladesh from Canada three years ago. He had since led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims Five assailants stormed an upscale cafe in Dhaka's Gulshan neighbourhood on July 1 and killed 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners in Bangladesh's deadliest single militant attack. The siege was by far the deadliest in a string of attacks claimed by Islamist groups which have blighted Bangladesh over the last three years. The Islamic State organisation claimed responsibility and the gunmen were pictured posing with IS flags in images posted on a website affiliated to the group. By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 Iranian army unveiled the countrys first homemade vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone on Aug. 27, during a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan. The drone dubbed "Roham", which is capable of photogrammetric data acquisition, does not require a runway for take-off and landing, Tasnim news agency reported Aug. 27. It can be used in hard areas in mountainous and jungle terrain as well as maritime missions to conduct aerial surveys. The Islamic Republic says that has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems in recent years. Iran has manufactured its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes since 1992. Iran also unveiled its first domestically-manufactured long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2010. France's top administrative court has finally overturned the ban on Muslim women wearing a burkini on the French Riviera after the ruling was condemned worldwide. The burkini, a swimwear item for Muslim women that covers the head and the body was banned by the French on the beaches of the French Riviera recently and has been a hot topic of discussion in a lot of conversations worldwide. So much so that it also caused a divide between the French government and its people. Mashable/ AP The topic was escalated this week after a photograph of a woman being asked to remove her burkini by the police on a beach in Nice went viral, leading to worldwide condemnation of the act. Even though the ruling has been overturned now, it should be noted that the order specifically concerns only a small Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet. However, many believe that this decision will set a precedent for the rest of the 30-odd beaches in the country that have banned the swimwear citing terrorism as the reason. Reuters This comes after lawyers from two human rights groups challenged the legality of the ban in court. They said that the order infringes on basic freedoms of a human being apart from adding that the mayors have overstepped their powers by telling women what to wear. Cannes was the first city to introduce the ban after the terror attacks of 28th July. 15 other French resort towns have banned the burkini since. Many women have also been fined 38 (Rs 2,856) for wearing the outfit. A 48-year-old Palestinian refugee who was hired as an intern at a German mayor's office was fired from work on her very first day just because she refused to remove her headscarf. Mayor Elisabeth Herzog-von der Heide of the town Luckenwalde, near Berlin, fired the intern for refusing to accept orders, reported The Local. ibtimes However, the mayor insists that her being a Muslim had nothing to do with this. The Islamic headscarf is a means of expressing a religious worldview, Herzog-von der Heide was quoted as saying. Wearing a headscarf would violate the neutrality of the town where even crucifixes aren't allowed. The Palestinian woman who had been hired for a project called Perspectives for Refugees was supposed to work there for about six weeks. She said that she did not want to remove the scarf in the presence of men. Therefore Herzog-von der Heide told her that they won't be able to provide a suitable working environment. The lady said it would have been better had they clarified this particular policy beforehand. theislamicmonthly.com While some members of the parliament condemn the act by saying that "there is no legal basis for this decision, and "It is something different than a crucifix on the wall, there are other sections of the society like political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) who praised the decision by the mayor. If the cross is not permitted in the rooms of the town hall, then there should not be special treatment for Muslims, said AfD state parliament representative Thomas Jung. The mayor deserves respect and not scolding for her uncomfortable decision, he said. Reuters The banning of the headscarf remains a hot topic in Germany as the nation stands divided on whether it should be allowed in a professional environment. A young lawyer in Bavaria won a victory at the end of June when the court sided with her that she would be able to wear a headscarf while performing legal duties. The judge stated that there were no legal grounds for denying her religious and educational freedom. However, more recently two major judges associations have said that they are in favour of banning headscarves in court. Cover image from The Islamic Monthly. Images used for representational purposes only. Ashley Baryik/ Facebook This photograph of an elderly Canadian couple has gone viral after their granddaughter shared their emotional story on Facebook. In her post, Ashley Baryik, 29, said that her grandparents Wolfram Gottschalk, 83, and Anita, 81 have been separated after 62 years of marriage because there is no room for both of them in the same elderly care home in Surrey, British Columbia. The touching photograph shows Ashley's "Omi and Opi" wiping tears as they held hand hands. Calling it "the saddest photo I have ever taken," her post has been shared over 6,000 times on the internet. Facebook/ BBC Mr and Mrs Gottschalk were separated in January when Mr Gottschalk got admitted to a nursing home for congestive heart failure. While waiting, his wife Anita also applied for senior assisted living hoping that she would be able to join her husband there. But Mrs Gottschalk got a place first while Mr Gottschalk was moved to a transitional facility while he patiently waits for a bed to open up at his wife's nursing home. Mr Gottschalk was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this week which led Ashley to appeal to Facebook for help now that there is an urgent need to reunite the lovely couple. "His Dementia is growing ever stronger each day, but his memory of my grandmother has not faded a inch...yet. We are afraid however that if they are living apart much longer, his memory of her won't stay. This has been a strain on our family, making the 30 minute commute to bring her to see him, every second day, so he does not forget her. Now with the news of cancer, our fight to have them in the same facility is even more urgent," the post read. BBC Ashley blames the couple's separation on the delay by the health care system. She contacted the local MLA and contacted Fraser Health but her pleas haven't been answered in the last eight months. It is reported that a Fraser Health spokesperson got in touch to say that finding a bed for her grandfather is their number one priority right now. The overwhelming show of support has also led to some people offering financial support but the family refuses to take any donations since they want to keep the focus on Canada's senior care system. The whole point of this is to fight for those who cannot afford privatised beds, she told BBC. Here's the heartwarming post - Share this story as much as you can. Let's help the Gottschalks get back together. Demos Exhibitions gathers the latest technologic products under a single roof in the FLUID POWER EXPO TURKEY. This is to in order to increase the existing potential market, and create new markets domestically and overseas for Hydraulics, Pneumatics and Automation Technologies and Equipment. If you want to increase your market share, reach local and global markets, enhance your brand recognition and head for new targets, then benefit from this opportunity and reserve your place. FLUID POWER EXPO TURKEY will help you reach a large proportion of the market in a short period and it is the best platform to network and demonstrate your products and services. Crimea, Georgia and the New Olympic Sport - Russia Bashing By Felicity Arbuthnot In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People. (Eugene Victor Debs, 1855-1926.) August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Global Research " - Oh dear, as the fantasy of Vladimir Putin as Vlad the Terrible ratchets up in the US-UK-NATO driven new Cold War, the Independent runs a piece headed: What lies behind the new Russian threat to Ukraine, (1) the sub-heading is: Vladimir Putin, his opponents repeatedly point out, has form on this. The war between Russia and Georgia took place in 2008 at the time of the Beijing Olympics Trying to find the Russian threat to the Ukraine is, as ever, a hard task. It was of course the US which organized the February 2014 coup which replaced the legitimate government and reduced yet another country to chaos. Russia however also appears the victim in a recent incident which triggered the Independent article which Katehon (2) describes with admirably clarity: A Ukrainian group of saboteurs was arrested last week (10th August) by Russias secret service, the FSB. It was revealed that the Ukrainians had intended to organize terrorist attacks in Russian Crimea. During the arrest, two Russian citizens from the Federal Security Service and military of the Armed Forces were killed. This tragic incident has provoked tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian regime has begun to move its troops towards the border with Russia and the republics of Donbass, preparing for an invasion. Thus Ukrainian forces are thus encroaching on Russia, not the other way round. Moreover, according to The Telegraph (10th August): Russian security agencies said on Wednesday that two Russians were killed as they thwarted Ukrainian commando raids into Crimea over the weekend. (Emphasis added.) The paper expands: The FSB said the agent who died was killed during an overnight operation on Saturday and Sunday, when officers smashed a terrorist group and seized an arms cache including twenty homemade explosive devices. The Agency claimed Ukrainian forces tried to break through twice more on Sunday night and Monday morning, killing a Russian soldier. Katehon further comments: Obviously, this hostile activity is coordinated with the United States and NATO, which want to unleash a new war on the border with Russia. At the same time, the US leadership believes that Russia will not inflict a crushing defeat on Ukraine and thereby objectively lower its status in the geopolitical confrontation by trying to solve an insolvable conflict. At the same time, the United States wants to show Russias aggressiveness to Europe. Faithfully toeing the Wests misteaching mantra, the Independent article dropped in: Crimea has not experienced serious military action since it was annexed from Ukraine by the Kremlin in the chaotic aftermath of the Maidan protests. Crimea of course, was not annexed by a marauding Russia as is implicated. Only two years ago the paper wrote (3) of the referendum 16th March 2014 ( held in Crimea arranged by Crimea, not Russia in which over 95% of voters made their feelings clear over the US engineered coup: Fireworks exploded and Russian flags fluttered above jubilant crowds on Sunday after residents in Crimea voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia after the polls closed late on Sunday, crowds of ethnic Russians in the regional Crimean capital of Simferopol erupted with jubilant chants in the main square, overjoyed at the prospect of once again becoming part of Russia. The referendum was monitored by 135 international observers from 23 countries.* Russia thus had not aggressively annexed Crimea, the people had voted to secede. Definition of referendum: A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision. (Oxford Dictionary.) At the time of the referendum Russia anyway had a lease on Crimea until 2042 under the Kharkiv Pact. On the day of the referendum the White House released a statement ending, apparently without irony: In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another. We call on all members of the international community to continue to condemn such actions, to take concrete steps to impose costs, and to stand together Breathtaking. This from a country that has, since the end of World War 11, forcibly seized, invaded, interfered in or decimated thirty three countries to 2011 (4) not counting Syria and Ukraine subsequently. As for: The war between Russia and Georgia took place in 2008 at the time of the Beijing Olympics, in the Independents epic bit of Russia bashing: Leaked State Department documents provide further evidence that United States authorities knew that the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia, a key ally of Washington in the Caucasus region, initiated the August 2008 war with Russia. Cables from US diplomats in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, were released through the whistleblower website WikiLeaks. They show that Washington was well aware that the Georgian government was intensifying its military build-up near the breakaway province of South Ossetia in the weeks before the outbreak of full-scale hostilities. (5) Further: A cable records that US embassy observers witnessed 30 government buses carrying uniformed men heading north towards South Ossetia the day of the Georgian attack. The Georgian assault on South Ossetia, launched August 7, involved the shelling of the main city of Tskhinvali followed by a ground invasion by 1,500 troops. The operation destroyed hundreds of civilian properties and claimed the lives of an estimated 160 South Ossetians and 48 Russian military personnel. Despite this knowledge of Georgian military preparations, once the war began, US ambassador John Tefft simply relayed the claims of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili that Russia was the aggressor. The pretext for the attack was US ally Georgias allegation of an imminent Russian attack. The subsequent investigation into the invasion and destruction, held under Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, found that: None of the explanations given by the Georgian authorities in order to provide some form of legal justification for the attack, were valid. In particular, there was no massive Russian military invasion under way, which had to be stopped by Georgian military forces, Tagliavini confirmed. There is the question of whether the force by Georgia during the night of 7/8 August was justifiable under international law. It was not , the investigators found. It was: The shelling of Tskhinvali by the Georgian armed forces during the night of 7 to 8 August 2008 which marked the beginning of the large-scale armed conflict in Georgia, the Report stated. Thus Georgias belligerence triggered Russias response in defence of an allied country, Russias own military personnel and Russias three military bases there. The parallels between the Georgia and Crimea disinformation are stark, whether orchestrated by political Western Cold Warriors, or media ones. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov has said relating to the Crimea insurgents: We really dont conceal what is known, we show people who were detained, stores with weapons and munitions, which were detected in the Crimea. Of course we cannot show everything on TV, but we have irrefutable evidence that it was sabotage, which had been masterminded by the main directorate of intelligence of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry and aimed to destabilize the Russian Crimea. (6) He added: Russia is open for provision of additional facts to our Western partners, who are seriously interested in avoidance (of a repeat) of what happened in the future. For that to happen, one should influence Kiev, he added pointedly. So why the Independents strange interpretation of above events and creating a fantasy of Russia planning an Olympic timed war? Heaven forbid it would be anything to do with their owner, Russian billionaire and former KGB agent (7) Alexander Lebedev, who bought the ailing newspaper for just a 1 in March 2010, pledging major financial backing. The Independent, built a name on foreign policy expertise, but this year has been forced to shut down the main daily print version and the Independent on Sunday. Whilst the Independent is still on line, the only hard copy in its stable is the good, but more limited daily I. Billionaire backers are rare in these straightened times. Mr Lebedev is a Putin critic. The cynic might say there could be a connection given the slant of the Crimea story. However with titles Alexander Lebedev has backed (8) at home and abroad, he has always vowed never to interfere with editorial policy, so many would surely regard such thoughts as conspiratorial rubbish. Notes 1. http://www.independent.co.uk/ voices/the-rio-olympics-are-a- distraction-russia-is- positioning-itself-for- further-action-against- ukraine-a7186736.html 2. http://katehon.com/agenda/ europe-worried-prospect-war 3. http://www.independent.co.uk/ news/world/europe/crimea- referendum-how-why-and-where- next-for-soon-to-be-divided- ukraine-9195310.html 4. http://www.globalresearch.ca/ list-of-countries-the-usa-has- bombed-since-the-end-of-world- war-ii/24626 5. https://www.wsws.org/en/ articles/2010/12/geor-d06.html 6. http://www.pravdareport.com/ video/16-08-2016/135337- crimea-0/ 7. https://www.theguardian.com/ media/2010/mar/05/lebedev- buys-independent-newspapers 8. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/article/2006/ 06/07/AR2006060701166_pf.html For London, Propaganda is an Art By Thierry Meyssan August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Voltaire " - Just as in all wars, the war against Syria has triggered an avalanche of propaganda. And the use of children is always a winning strategy. So, at the beginning of the war, Qatar wanted to demonstrate that the Republic, far from serving the general interest, actually despised the People. The petro-dictatorship then broadcast, on its TV channel Al-Jazeera, the legend of the children of Deraa, supposedly tortured by the police. To illustrate the cruelty of its adversary, Qatar specified that their fingernails had been torn out. Of course, despite research, no journalist could find any trace of these children. The BBC broadcast an interview with two of them, but their nails were still intact. Since the myth could not be proved, Qatar then launched a new story that of a child, Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb (13 years old), who had allegedly been tortured and castrated by the regimes police. This time, they provided a convincing image. Everyone could see that the body had no sex. However, the autopsy showed that the body had been poorly preserved, and that it had fermented and swollen. The stomach hid the childs sex, which was still present. At the end of 2013, the British took over the task of war propaganda. They had a long experience in that sector, and are considered to have invented modern propaganda during the first World War, with the Office of War Propaganda. One of the characteristics of their method is to rely on artists, because aesthetics tend to neutralise critical thinking. In 1914, they recruited the great authors of the time like Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling to publish texts which attributed imaginary crimes to their German enemy. Then they recruited the heads of their major newspapers to publish the imaginary information invented by the authors. When the United States adopted the British method, in 1917, with the Committee on Public Information, they made a more precise study of the mechanisms of persuasion, with the help of star journalist Walter Lippmann and the inventor of modern publicity, Edward Bernays (Sigmund Freuds nephew). But, persuaded of the power of science, they forgot about aesthetics. At the beginning of 2014, the British MI6 created the company Innovative Communications & Strategies (InCoStrat) to whom we owe, for example, the magnificent logos of the armed groups, from the most moderate to the most extremist. This company, which has offices in Washington and Istanbul, organised the campaign to convince the Europeans to offer sanctuary to 1 million refugees. It was this company that photographed young Aylan Kurdi, drowned on a Turkish beach, and managed, in two days, to have it published on the front page of the main Atlantist newspapers in all NATO countries as well as those of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Every year, before the war, a hundred people died from drowning on Turkish beaches, and no-one mentioned it. And above all, only the tabloids showed photographs of the corpses. But this photo was so well composed Since I noted that a body can not be washed up perpendicular to the waves, the photographer explained later that he had moved the corpse for the needs of the photo. The photo of young Omran Daqneesh (5 years old), in an ambulance in West Aleppo, is thus accompanied by a video. The two supports enable the information to be exploited by both the written Press and the television. The scene is so dramatic that a news-reader from CNN could not stop herself from crying when she saw it. Of course, when we think about it, we notice that the child was not attended to by the medical personnel who gave him first aid, but by a group of extras, (the White Helmets), who placed him facing the cameras. The British film directors care nothing about the child, whose only interest for them is as a feature in their images. According to Associated Press, the photograph was taken by Mahmoud Raslan, whom we can see in the video. According to his Facebook account, this man is a member of Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki (supported by the CIA, who supplied the group with BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles). Still according to his Facebook account, and as confirmed by another video, it was Raslan who, on the 19 July 2016, personally cut the throat of a young Palestinian child, Abdullah Tayseer Al Issa (12 years old). European laws lay down strict guidelines for the use of children in publicity. Clearly, these laws do not apply to war propaganda. Translation - Pete Kimberley By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 Iran has foiled cyber attack attempts which targeted its petrochemical complex, Gholam Reza Jalali, Brigadier General, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, said. During the inspections in one of the countrys petrochemical complexes, inactivated viruses were discovered and the necessary defensive measures were taken in this regard, Jalali said, SHANA news agency reported Aug. 27. He did not unveil further details on the issue. Jalali also said that the investigations carried out by his organization revealed no link between recent fire incidents in petrochemical complexes and a cyber attack. A series of fires and explosions in major Iranian oil and gas facilities in recent weeks killed at least one and caused major damage. The fire brigades were extinguishing the first fire, which started on July 6, in the Bouali petrochemical plant on the Persian Gulf coast, three days. There were no fatalities but damages are estimated to be tens of millions of dollars and insurers say it could be the biggest compensation claim in Irans history. Earlier, Abolhasan Firouzabadi, secretary of Irans Supreme National Cyberspace Council, said that it is considering cyber attacks as a possible cause of the unprecedented incidents. Irans oil industry was damaged as a result of various cyber attacks previously. In April 2012 a virus forced the oil ministry to disconnect its main oil terminals and facilities from the Internet to protect them from damage. Last year Iran accused the US of new cyber attacks against the Iranian oil ministry website. The attacks continued for four days during the holidays of Iranian New Year (started on March 21, 2015), Kamal Hadianfar, Brigadier General, head of the Islamic Republic Cyber Police said, adding that the attacks were carried out from IPs inside the United States. Trouble Between Moscow and Tehran? By The Saker August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Saker " - While the granting of the use of the Iranian airbase in Hamedan to the Russian Aerospace forces was greeted with a lot of coverage, the recent departure from Hamedan of the Russian Tu-22M3 has attracted much less attention. The official Russian line on this was very neutral, as shown by this article in Sputnik. What really took place, however, deserves some further scrutiny. First, it should be said that the Russians had been using that airbase for a quite a while already, but that the deal between Russia and Iran had been kept secret. According to Russian sources, it appears that the Iranians were completely surprised when this information was made public and that some factions inside the ruling elites of Iran were outraged at what they saw as a public admission of a compromise of Iranian sovereignty. First, it was the Iranian Defense Minister, Hossein Dehghan, who expressed his outrage at what he saw was a Russian leak made without Iranian agreement. According to Dehghan, the Russians wanted to show that they were an influential superpower and that is why they made that information public. Soon after that, both the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Russian ambassador to Tehran confirmed that the Russians had left Hamedan and that they would only come back when the two countries would agree to their return. However, there might be more to this than meet the eye. According to the same Russian sources, what might be taking place is an internal struggle between different Iranian factions, specifically the Iranian armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Russians believe that the website which initially released this information, Warfare Worldwide, is linked to the Iranian Armed Forces who, according to the Russians, leaked this info (and pictures) through Warfare Worldwide in order to embarrass the Iranian government. Once this information was made public, the Russians had to confirm it, and that resulted in some very heated exchanges in the Iranian Parliament. Russian experts have stated that the decision to offer the use of Hamedan to the Russian Aerospace forces could not have been made without the person approval of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and the Russian Aerospace forces had been using the Hamedan airbase since last year, but the (fully understandable) hyper-sensitivity of the Iranian public to the issue of sovereignty made the publication of this information highly embarrassing for the Iranians, especially the conservatives. A second problem is that the Russians were mostly working with the IRGC, since they are the ones fighting inside Syria, while the Iranian Armed forces were unhappy with this arrangement. Whatever may be the case, in the short term this is definitely bad news, not only because this complicates the execution of Russian air strikes against Daesh, but also because it shows that all is not perfect and sunny in the informal alliance between Russia and Iran. In the mid to long term, I fully expect both sides to mend fences and workout a series of mutually acceptable collaboration protocols between the two countries. In that sense, this is good news. In truth, neither Russia nor Iran have any options but to work together. The Iranians in particular absolutely need a strong partnership with Russia to keep the US-Takfiri-Zionist-Wahabi (what a combo!) alliance at bay and to continue to be the backbone of the resistance against the AngloZionist Empire in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere. If this leak was truly an effort of the armed forces to sabotage an IRGC run operation, than the Supreme Leader will have to clean house and make sure that all the factions of the Iranian government work together rather then against each other. Considering the kind of vicious infighting taking place for years (and still continuing) in Russia between the Atlantic Integrationists and the Eurasian Sovereignists, I think that Vladimir Putin will have a very great deal of understanding for the difficulty to run a covert operation in a country in which different factions compete against each other. The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire By Mike Whitney August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Counterpunch " - The main architect of Washingtons plan to rule the world has abandoned the scheme and called for the forging of ties with Russia and China. While Zbigniew Brzezinskis article in The American Interest titled Towards a Global Realignment has largely been ignored by the media, it shows that powerful members of the policymaking establishment no longer believe that Washington will prevail in its quest to extent US hegemony across the Middle East and Asia. Brzezinski, who was the main proponent of this idea and who drew up the blueprint for imperial expansion in his 1997 book The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives, has done an about-face and called for a dramatic revising of the strategy. Heres an excerpt from the article in the AI: As its era of global dominance ends, the United States needs to take the lead in realigning the global power architecture. Five basic verities regarding the emerging redistribution of global political power and the violent political awakening in the Middle East are signaling the coming of a new global realignment. The first of these verities is that the United States is still the worlds politically, economically, and militarily most powerful entity but, given complex geopolitical shifts in regional balances, it is no longer the globally imperial power. (Toward a Global Realignment, Zbigniew Brzezinski, The American Interest) Repeat: The US is no longer the globally imperial power. Compare this assessment to a statement Brzezinski made years earlier in Chessboard when he claimed the US was the worlds paramount power. The last decade of the twentieth century has witnessed a tectonic shift in world affairs. For the first time ever, a non-Eurasian power has emerged not only as a key arbiter of Eurasian power relations but also as the worlds paramount power. The defeat and collapse of the Soviet Union was the final step in the rapid ascendance of a Western Hemisphere power, the United States, as the sole and, indeed, the first truly global power. (The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Basic Books, 1997, p. xiii) Heres more from the article in the AI: The fact is that there has never been a truly dominant global power until the emergence of America on the world scene.. The decisive new global reality was the appearance on the world scene of America as simultaneously the richest and militarily the most powerful player. During the latter part of the 20th century no other power even came close. That era is now ending. (AI) But why is that era is now ending? Whats changed since 1997 when Brzezinski referred to the US as the worlds paramount power? Brzezinski points to the rise of Russia and China, the weakness of Europe and the violent political awakening among post-colonial Muslims as the proximate causes of this sudden reversal. His comments on Islam are particularly instructive in that he provides a rational explanation for terrorism rather than the typical government boilerplate about hating our freedoms. To his credit, Brzezinski sees the outbreak of terror as the welling up of historical grievances (from deeply felt sense of injustice) not as the mindless violence of fanatical psychopaths. Naturally, in a short 1,500-word article, Brzezniski cant cover all the challenges (or threats) the US might face in the future. But its clear that what hes most worried about is the strengthening of economic, political and military ties between Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and the other Central Asian states. This is his main area of concern, in fact, he even anticipated this problem in 1997 when he wrote Chessboard. Heres what he said: Henceforth, the United States may have to determine how to cope with regional coalitions that seek to push America out of Eurasia, thereby threatening Americas status as a global power. (p.55) To put it in a terminology that harkens back to the more brutal age of ancient empires, the three grand imperatives of imperial geostrategy are to prevent collusion and maintain security dependence among the vassals, to keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together. (p.40) prevent collusionamong the vassals. That says it all, doesnt it? The Obama administrations reckless foreign policy, particularly the toppling of governments in Libya and Ukraine, has greatly accelerated the rate at which these anti-American coalitions have formed. In other words, Washingtons enemies have emerged in response to Washingtons behavior. Obama can only blame himself. Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin has responded to the growing threat of regional instability and the placing of NATO forces on Russias borders by strengthening alliances with countries on Russias perimeter and across the Middle East. At the same time, Putin and his colleagues in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries have established an alternate banking system (BRICS Bank and AIIB) that will eventually challenge the dollar-dominated system that is the source of US global power. This is why Brzezinski has done a quick 180 and abandoned the plan for US hegemony; it is because he is concerned about the dangers of a non-dollar-based system arising among the developing and unaligned countries that would replace the western Central Bank oligopoly. If that happens, then the US will lose its stranglehold on the global economy and the extortionist system whereby fishwrap greenbacks are exchanged for valuable goods and services will come to an end. Unfortunately, Brzezinskis more cautious approach is not likely to be followed by presidential-favorite Hillary Clinton who is a firm believer in imperial expansion through force of arms. It was Clinton who first introduced pivot to the strategic lexicon in a speech she gave in 2010 titled Americas Pacific Century. Heres an excerpt from the speech that appeared in Foreign Policy magazine: As the war in Iraq winds down and America begins to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, the United States stands at a pivot point. Over the last 10 years, we have allocated immense resources to those two theaters. In the next 10 years, we need to be smart and systematic about where we invest time and energy, so that we put ourselves in the best position to sustain our leadership, secure our interests, and advance our values. One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased investment diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise in the Asia-Pacific region Harnessing Asias growth and dynamism is central to American economic and strategic interests and a key priority for President Obama. Open markets in Asia provide the United States with unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and access to cutting-edge technology..American firms (need) to tap into the vast and growing consumer base of Asia The region already generates more than half of global output and nearly half of global trade. As we strive to meet President Obamas goal of doubling exports by 2015, we are looking for opportunities to do even more business in Asiaand our investment opportunities in Asias dynamic markets. (Americas Pacific Century, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Policy Magazine, 2011) Compare Clintons speech to comments Brzezinski made in Chessboard 14 years earlier: For America, the chief geopolitical prize is Eurasia (p.30).. Eurasia is the globes largest continent and is geopolitically axial. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the worlds three most advanced and economically productive regions. .About 75 per cent of the worlds people live in Eurasia, and most of the worlds physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for 60 per cent of the worlds GNP and about three-fourths of the worlds known energy resources. (p.31) The strategic objectives are identical, the only difference is that Brzezinski has made a course correction based on changing circumstances and the growing resistance to US bullying, domination and sanctions. We have not yet reached the tipping point for US primacy, but that day is fast approaching and Brzezinski knows it. In contrast, Clinton is still fully-committed to expanding US hegemony across Asia. She doesnt understand the risks this poses for the country or the world. Shes going to persist with the interventions until the US war-making juggernaut is stopped dead-in-its-tracks which, judging by her hyperbolic rhetoric, will probably happen some time in her first term. Brzezinski presents a rational but self-serving plan to climb-down, minimize future conflicts, avoid a nuclear conflagration and preserve the global order. (akaThe dollar system) But will bloodthirsty Hillary follow his advice? Not a chance. Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com. 'Propagandising For War' By Media Lens August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Media Lens " - A report published by the London School of Economics last month found extreme levels of bias in BBC reporting. The 'impartial' BBC's 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 corporation's 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 Robinson's 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 Robinson's 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 BBC's 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, Obama's 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 world's sole superpower has proven powerless to stop the kind of military cooperation it practices the world over all the time how awful! Simpson's 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 can't face alone.' Interfering In A Big Way In a classic example of BBC imbalance, Dr. von Hippel then supported Robinson's and Simpson's interpretation of the cause of the Syria disaster, noting of Obama that, 'as John Simpson was saying, he didn't 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 CIA's 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 one's 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 didn't 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 who'll go: "Haven't 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 doesn't mean to say that everything you do, or don't 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 it's 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 administration's 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 Obama's 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 Qaeda's 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 Hippel's complaint about Obama's failure to arm the opposition earlier, she should know very well (because Hillary Clinton acknowledges it in her memoirs) that Obama's 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'. 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: today@bbc.co.uk - Twitter: @bbcnickrobinson No Need for Russia to Apologize for Curbing US Provocation By Finian Cunningham August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - Predictably, Western protestations ensued after Russia this week blacklisted a group of US-based so-called non-governmental organizations as being undesirable on its territory. Among the banned group of seven were the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy and the Open Society run by capitalist billionaire-speculator George Soros. These organizations have launched numerous civil-society groups in Moscow over recent years which allegedly are involved in promoting democracy, business enterprise and free media. Under Russian law, passed in 2015, the government has the right to sanction any group as undesirable if it is deemed to undermine Russias constitution and state security. It is a moot point why such American outfits that have demonstrable political allegiance to Washington and its inimical agenda towards Russia were even allowed to set up in the country in the first place. US ambassador to Russia John Tefft decried the latest sanction by the Kremlin. He said: We see this move by the Russian government as another deliberate step to further isolate the Russian people from the world. The arrogance in the American ambassadors words are astounding, but typical of Washingtons supremacist self-regard. So Russian people are, we are told, being isolated from the rest of the world? Notice how US-based advocacy groups are somehow equated with access to the world and as if they are paragons of virtue. The quickest way to gain a reality-check is from asking this question: how many Russian NGOs are operating in the US? Thats right none. Yet, the self-proclaimed exceptional Americans consider it their prerogative to export groups to promulgate supposed Western values in Russia and dozens of other countries around the globe. AFP 2016/ LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI To illustrate just how isolated Americans are from Russian influence, one only has to consider how antagonistic US politicians, media and pundits are towards Russia-based news broadcasters. Channels like RT and Sputnik are routinely vilified as Kremlin propaganda, even though they are arguably more balanced than the slew of American corporate-controlled outlets that act as unquestioning cheerleaders for US foreign wars and subversions. Bear in mind, too, RT and Sputnik are publicly recognized news channels. They are not clandestine organizations operating with a hidden agenda. Now, if thats the kind of hostility which legitimate Russia-based international news channels are hit with, one can only imagine the uproar if there were actually Russian-sponsored civil-society groups based in Washington that published reports and press releases which continually sought to undermine the American constitution, institutions and government policies. Such hypothetical Russia-supported networks would be booted out of the country as agents of a foreign enemy if not facing jail time as spies. Again, as a measure of the likely furore, look at the recent alleged computer hacking of the Democrat partys database and how that has been rabidly attributed to Russia trying to interfere in the US presidential elections. There isnt a shred of evidence for such alarmist hacking claims, but the point to note is how knee-jerk bellicose Washington is to even the mere notion that Russia could possibly be intruding in American domestic politics. But in Russias case against the US organizations, this isnt hypothetical. The list of American NGOs banned this week by Russia are provably inimical to Russias domestic politics, its constitution and institutions. AFP 2016/ KARAM AL-MASRI George Soros, Mister Money-Bags behind Open Society, has repeatedly accused Russia of outlandish policies, such as precipitating the European refugee problem as a way to undermine the European Union, as well as intending to invade Eastern European states. The term non-governmental organization is a complete misnomer. It is a clever fraud, just like many of the other claims made by these groups. Far from being supposedly independent and private, the blacklisted groups are bankrolled by the US State Department and Congress, and, especially in the case of Soros Open Society, are intimately linked with Washingtons foreign policy goals. That makes them very much American governmental agencies. Under the thinly veiled guise of promoting democracy the US-sponsored agencies are all about destabilizing Russian society and undermining the governing authorities. This subversive activity would not be tolerated for one second if the shoe were on the other foot over in the United States. So why should Russia accept unilateral American subversion and sanctimony? The insidious, and frankly dangerous, purpose of the National Endowment for Democracy, Open Society and all the other Orwellian-named American outfits can be gleaned from the way these same groups are responsible for a host of color revolutions and regime changes since the dissolution of the Soviet Union nearly a quarter of a century ago. They serve as the soft power arm of US imperialism. Former Soviet Republic Ukraine was a prime target. State Department official Victoria Nuland is on record for disclosing that $5 billion was funneled into the country from the early 2000s to precipitate regime change that culminated in 2014 when the elected government in Kiev was ousted by CIA-backed fascists. The new regime is responsible for a war on ethnic Russians in the east of the country since 2014 which has killed 10,000 people, and for ongoing efforts to sabotage Crimea. The bigger purpose of the US-backed regime change operation in Ukraine is to act as a spearhead against the real prize, Russia. It was the US State Department and George Soros who were instrumental in overseeing the Kiev regime-change coup. Translated from Orwellian lexicon, promoting democracy means promoting Washingtons version of democracy which is to install vassal regimes that will roll over for American capitalists like Hungarian-born Soros. Russias independent government under President Putin has qualified it for Washington-inspired regime change. And as Russia defies Washingtons hegemonic ambitions over Ukraine and Syria, the target on Putin becomes ever more intense, as far as the imperialist warmongers in Washington are concerned. Previous Russian elections have been disparaged by the NED, Soros and the other US-sponsored agents. With the forthcoming Kremlin elections one could expect that a major negative media onslaught was being prepared by these same Washington-funded groups. Allegations of election fraud flagged by Soros and NED-funded networks in Moscow would have been amplified by Western media outlets in the usual manner. Also, if Democrat contender Hillary Clinton wins the US presidential poll in November it is a safe bet that the Washington warmongering cabal in the CIA and foreign policy establishment would have ramped up the subversive thrust of the US agencies in Moscow. Russia is therefore right to pre-empt. After all, would the reverse have been accepted in the US. No way. The inevitable Western outcry alleging Russia clamping down on democratic rights is laughable for its arrogant double think. The West imposes sanctions on Russia over trumped-up claims, then expects to get away with Washington-funded groups infiltrating with destabilizing disinformation; and then when the Russian government restricts these groups, Washington has the brass neck to protest. This is the mindset of a megalomaniac. What does it want next? Russia to apologize for existing? Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. Hillary Clinton is Spreading Islamist Extremism By Andre Vltchek August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - If the West in general, and the United States in particular, left the Arab and Muslim world alone and in peace, we would most likely never see all those terrorist attacks, which are rocking the world from Indonesia to France. There would be no Mujahedeen and its mutation into al-Qaida; in Afghanistan or elsewhere. There would be no traces of the ISIS (or ISIL or I.S. or Daesh or however you choose to call it), in Syria, Iraq, Libya or anywhere else. Part of the Saudi Royal mafia. They are all hardcore reactionaries and Washingtons eager accompliceslike Israel and the rest of the NATO vassal states in spreading murderous chaos around the globe. And the super-conservative Wahhabi Islam, that outdated, freak Saudi mutant, would remain in the religious schools of the ultra-regressive Kingdom, instead of gaining ground all over the Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. But the West embarked on a brutal, Machiavellian path: it decided to destroy socialist Islam that (historically) moderate, compassionate and progressive religion. It smashed once secular Egypt; it overthrew the government in socialist Iran and then in near-Communist Indonesia, implanting in all these places horrifically degenerate and fully outdated religious concepts. It used extremists to destroy healthy patriotism and socialism. Like the Brits in the 19th Century (You can control peoples brains, while we will control your natural resources), the West embraced Wahhabi teaching, because it was able to guarantee full obedience, dictatorial (pro-Western) governance and oppressive feudalism. Islam has been used and abused, manipulated and virtually stripped of its essence. The process has gone so far that two leading Iranian scholars, during my visit last-year to Teheran, declared to me: In so many parts of the world, the West created an absolutely new religion. We dont recognize it, anymore. It has nothing to do with Islam. Correct. Like a naughty, spoiled and heartless child, the West, after destroying the Soviet Union, painstakingly constructed its new enemy militant Islam so it could continue indulging in its favorite activity, which is perpetual conflict, endless wars and plunder. It is as simple as that. The greatest oppressors of the Muslim people, those in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia have all been closely allied to the West. The most terrible terrorist Muslim organizations, from Al-Qaida to ISIS, have been created, armed and supported by the West and its cronies. In Europe and in the United States, the fear of terrorists is fully exploited by the Western regime. It still clings to power mainly thanks to such fear implanted in the brains of ordinary people. And what about the War on Terror? Yes, there really is such war, but the West is not the one who fights it. As this goes to print, the war against terrorism is being fought by Russia, Iran, China, Syria, Hezbollah and their allies! ***** The West is still closely collaborating with the terrorists. It miraculously avoids targeting them when fighting wars against them; it financially supports some and trains others. It criticizes and antagonizes those who are actually fighting the extremist militant groups. Extremists have been unleashed, like Rottweiler fighting dogs, against almost all progressive governments in the Middle East, but also against China and Russia. Extremist Muslims, extremist Christians, even extremist Buddhists! In turn, the politicians in the United States are regularly supported, financially, by the regimes (including those of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, etc.) that are spreading, relentlessly, throughout the world, the most intolerant and grotesquely violent religious concepts. Despite their essential servility and cowardice, even some North American mainstream media outlets are now actively discussing various schemes involving the financing of the Clinton Foundation by Saudi Arabia (alongside several leading transnational corporations and Wall Streets largest banks). On its Breaking News, as far back as in 2008, the CNN reported: The donations to the William J. Clinton Foundation include amounts of $10 million to $25 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and real estate mogul Stephen Bing, a personal friend of Clintons. The Clintons came under intense pressure during Hillary Clintons campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to release the names of donors to both the Foundation and to the Clinton presidential library in Arkansas. Bill Clinton agreed to the release of the list after President-elect Barack Obama nominated Hillary Clinton to become Secretary of State. The governments of Kuwait and Qatar are also on the list, as is Saudi businessman Nasser Al-Rashid, who has close ties to the Saudi royal family. Saudi Sheikh Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi, reputed to be one of the richest men in the world, is among the donors as well. Both Saudis contributed in the $1 million to $5 million range. A group called Friends of Saudi Arabia and the Dubai Foundation appear in the same category. As recently as on August 20th, 2016, The New York Times wrote something similar, essentially reconfirming the validity of the earlier reports, while adding many more details and adjusting the figures: The kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated more than $10 million. Through a foundation, so did the son-in-law of a former Ukrainian president whose government was widely criticized for corruption and the murder of journalists. A Lebanese-Nigerian developer with vast business interests contributed as much as $5 million. For years the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation thrived largely on the generosity of foreign donors and individuals who gave hundreds of millions of dollars to the global charity. But now, as Mrs. Clinton seeks the White House, the funding of the sprawling philanthropy has become an Achilles heel for her campaign and, if she is victorious, potentially her administration as well. References to Lebanese-Nigerian developer are actually related to Gilbert Chagouri, the controversial Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire construction magnate. Long time Clintons top aide, Huma Abedin (who spent part of her childhood in Saudi Arabia) has been an intermediary between the former Secretary of State and pro-Saudi interests. She also negotiated financial support for Ms. Clinton from Mr. Chagouri and other individuals, organizations and businesses originating from the Middle East. The accusations and evidence keep coming in, from different media outlets, both left wing and right wing. On August 1st, 2016, the conservative Breitbart News stated: Khizr Khan, the Muslim Gold Star father that the mainstream media and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been using to criticize Donald J. Trump, has deep ties to the government of Saudi Arabiaand to international Islamist investors through his own law firm. In addition to those ties to the wealthy Islamist nation, Khan also has ties to controversial immigration programs that wealthy foreigners can use to essentially buy their way into the United Statesand has deep ties to the Clinton Cash narrative through the Clinton Foundation. Hillary Clintons dependence on Saudi sponsors has been strongly influencing her decision to maintain a foreign policy in the service of Riyadh and support for various terrorist groups controlled by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in and beyond the Middle East region. In reality, she is simply representing continuity of an already existing, deadly trend. The regime has been evolving for decades, but especially since the Ronald Reagan years. Republicans or Democrats: it truly matters very little. Both parties spread terror all over the world. True, George W. Bush invaded Iraq, but people like Bill Clinton are close friends and supporters of Paul Kagame, the Rwandese butcher of Congo, with the blood of some 10 million people on his hands. Democrat and moderate, Bill Clinton, was also responsible for the criminal bombing and destruction of socialist Yugoslavia. And so it goes But under Barack Obamas rule, the last hope for an independent Middle East and the Arab world has virtually evaporated. Libya has been destroyed; the Syrian civil war [Civil War? DV. Ed.] was launched from Washington, London and Paris. Saudis bathed rebellious Yemen in blood using UK and US produced weapons. Virtually all Arab Spring revolutions were infiltrated and diverted. And in Bahrain, the Shia majority was literally raped by Saudi Arabia and its own ruthless rulers, with British advisors standing by. The US and Europe has kept selling arms to the Gulf, building new military bases while supporting the most appalling and bloodthirsty regimes. The Obama/(Hilary) Clinton Era has greatly improved the symbioses of Western imperialism, big business, and pro-Western fascist regimes worldwide, but particularly in the Middle East and Africa. This toxic embrace has proved fatal to millions of people in these two parts of the world. Hopes for self-governance have been ruined. Corpses keep piling up in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and elsewhere. The West does not care, as long as it stays in charge of the show, and for as long as hundreds of billions of dollars are made by weapons producers. Even if millions are dying, there is still an uninterrupted flow of raw materials to the West and Japan. Therefore, it is business as usual. Un-people and their lives are worth nothing. ***** At one point, Russia, Iran, China and others have said enough is enough; lets fight against the true terrorists! Lets fight ISIS and other bigots! Lets give hand to the independence-minded, socially-oriented patriots. This led to total outrage in Washington, London, and Paris (and Tokyo). Disobedience and rebellion against the global (Western) order could not be tolerated! It had to be crushed, even at the cost of a new and deadly world war. NATO, Washington, Europe, Japan, and South Korea all started a direct confrontation policy against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea (DPRK) and other members of the Coalition of Daring. Brazil, an important member of BRICS, was recently destroyed by the extreme-right coup supported by the West. Even the Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, in his rare moments of sanity, is clearly aware of the danger. He does not wish to confront Russia. He is obviously not willing to sacrifice tens of millions of human lives for some grotesque dreams of total world domination by market fundamentalism backed by the white (or Western) supremacist dogmas. But Trumps moments of sanity are defined as madness by the mainstream propaganda. Not surprisingly! As was correctly stated by the great Indian thinker, Arundhati Roy, some several years ago: now war is called peace and black is called white. ***** The Clinton campaign has gone into overdrive. It attempts to distract attention from its own funding scandals, by accusing Donald Trumps aides of receiving financing from abroad. Trump is now described as Russias agent. This game it is all self-serving: nothing to do with the interests of the world, or even the interests of the common American people. For as long as the general political trend of the West does not radically change, or for as long as the West is not stopped by outside forces, perpetual wars will continue. Monstrous genocides in Africa, the destruction of entire states and regions in the Middle East, all this could easily spread to other parts of the Planet. It is clear now that if provoked and confronted, countries like China, Russia and Iran would not hesitate to fight back. They also may fight for others for their tortured allies. The Western implants and buddies, Mujahedeen/Al-Qaida, have already destroyed Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. ISIS, another mutant unleashed by the West and its allies, have been devastating Iraq, Syria, Libya and now what is left of Afghanistan. These movements have really nothing to do with Islam. They were manufactured in Washington, Riyadh, London, and Doha (and most likely even in Tel Aviv), for several concrete purposes, all of them thoroughly foul. They are making sure to ruin the socialist nature of Islam, insisting exclusively on the implementation of outdated fundamentalist interpretations. ***** Huma Abedins mother, Dr. Saleha Mahmood Abedin, is one of the founding members of the Muslim Sisterhood, and chairperson of the International Islamic Committee for Woman and Child (IICWC). She is also a well known writer and editor based in Saudi Arabia. Her organization (IICWC) had repeatedly argued that laws banning female circumcision should be revoked, as well as laws prohibiting child marriage and marital rape. During her visit to KSA, Hillary Clinton spoke at the Islamic college of Dar El-Hekma (where Dr. Saleha Abedin was a vice-dean) shoulder-to-shoulder with her favorite aide Huma. Was this just an insignificant episode? Like those millions of dollars in Saudi Arabian funding for Clintons foundation? Like the US foreign policy in the Gulf and in the Middle East, like spreading Muslim extremist groups to all corners of the world, from Africa, the Middle East, to Southeast Asia and even China? Like unleashing conservative Islam against socialist Muslim countries? Too many episodes! Too much blood It is time to say what is by now obvious: The US establishment is not fighting Muslim terrorism or even extremism; it is manufacturing it, and injecting it everywhere. The only real enemy that Washington, London and Paris have, for decades, even for centuries, is the anti-colonialist struggle, and the burning desire of people, worldwide, to terminate the Wests global dictatorship. Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. His latest books are: Exposing Lies Of The Empire and Fighting Against Western Imperialism .Discussion with Noam Chomsky: On Western Terrorism . Point of No Return is his critically acclaimed political novel. Oceania a book on Western imperialism in the South Pacific. His provocative book about Indonesia: Indonesia The Archipelago of Fear . Andre is making films for teleSUR and Press TV. After living for many years in Latin America and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides and works in East Asia and the Middle East. He can be reached through his website or his Twitter . Home Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter The One Trillion Dollar War - Nothing To Show For It By Joe Clifford August 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - We have become so accustomed to war we dont even bother to discuss it anymore. The war in Afghanistan has dragged on for almost 15 years, and it is no longer mentioned or discussed on corporate news. The clown show, sometimes called a presidential race, has been reduced to two candidates, both of whom are hated by the voting public, and neither has raised the issue of Afghanistan once. The candidates have not been asked about it, and neither has spoken about it. It is the silent war that appears to be never ending, but just because it is not discussed does not mean you are not paying for it. So far the tab is one trillion dollars and rising every day. To most of us a trillion dollars is a meaningless figure, because most readers, myself included, cannot relate to a trillion, but consider this. A trillion dollars looks like this: $1,000,000,000,000, and a billion looks like this: $1,000,000,000. A trillion dollars equals one thousand times a billion, so there are 1,000 billion in a trillion. Still cant relate? How about billions? One billion equals 1,000 million. Still cannot relate. One trillion dollars spread out flat on the ground would cover 4 thousand square miles. If you stacked one trillion dollars in a pile, the pile would be 68,000 miles high. So what is the point? What do we have to show for our one trillion-dollar war? What have we accomplished? We have nothing to show, and have accomplished absolutely nothing. NOTHING!!! The Taliban now controls more land in Afghanistan than ever. US forces cannot venture into the Afghan countryside because they will get killed. The only place in the entire country that is considered under US and Afghan control is the capital city of Kabul, which coincidentally is where the US has its giant embassy with its Green Zone. However, even within Kabul, US troops usually resort to helicopters to get from one section of Kabul to another for fear of getting killed in cars or armored vehicles. Originally we went to Afghanistan to get Bin Laden and the perpetrators of 9/11, despite the fact that none of those perpetrators came from Afghanistan. They all originated in Saudi Arabia. The Taliban contacted the US government and said they were willing to give us Bin Laden if we presented proof or evidence that Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. The US refused their offer, so the entire war was a wasted effort from day one. First we attacked the wrong country, and second, Bin Laden could have been handed over to us without any war. When the war did not go as expected, President Obama announced a new Drug War in Afghanistan. So how has that gone? We have spent about 10 billion dollars on the drug war, and the rate of opium and heroin production is now about 40 times greater than when the drug war began. Afghanistan now is responsible for about 85% of the worlds heroin production. The US nor the Afghan government can go into the highly productive heroin and opium areas for fear of their safety. Once outside Kabul, US soldiers are at great risk. The Taliban sells its heroin around the world and uses the money to finance its war against the occupation of their country by the US. So what are we doing there?? Who knows? The war is not good for the Afghan people, or the US army, and certainly not the American people. It goes on endlessly with no winner. At some point down the road, the US will be forced to end the occupation and leave Afghanistan to its own people. Isnt that the way it should be? Since 9/11 cannot be used as a pretext for the endless Afghan war and occupation, the focus had to change. We began saying the Taliban had to be stopped from taking over the government. But wait; two opposing forces fighting to control a country is a civil war, i.e. North vs South in Civil War. What business is it of the US to get involved in another countries civil war? What give the US the right to decide who should rule Afghanistan? There is no such right! So in the end, we have no business being there, and never had a legitimate reason to get involved in the affairs of Afghanistan, but we have been for 15 years. One trillion dollars of your money has been spent on an illegitimate war which has resulted in absolute and total failure. But the Military Industrial Complex has grown rich, which just might be the point of this whole endless war. A wonderful example of corporate welfare. Will either of the two candidates end this nonsense? No, but Jill Stein will. What could have been done with one trillion dollars? How about infrastructure, how about Single Payer health care for all, how about free college for all? When Democrats, Republicans, and corporate media say such things are not affordable, they are lying. Easily affordable if we stopped our worldwide wars. All other major nations have these things; they can afford them because they dont just do war. What fools we are. 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. A businessman, identified simply as Ogbaire, has allegedly murdered his associate, Lawrence Ojoh, and buried his body in a shallow grave in Warri, Delta State. Okoh, a native of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, left his Port Harcourt business outfit to supply generator spare parts to a customer in Warri. After the supply on August 2, Okoh, fondly called Law, did not return home and police declared him missing. The deceased had, earlier that day, sent a text message to his wife that he would not make it back to Port Harcourt and that he would pass the night with his customer in Warri. His wife contacted the customer, who claimed that he knew the deceased very well, but that he did not see him for over a period of time. The police raided the spare parts market in Warri where the wife was able to identify some of the parts her husband left with on the fateful day. The shop owner, where the parts were found, took the police to the person who supplied them. The suspect was the one who told Okohs wife that he had not seen her husband in a long while. Ogbaire allegedly confessed to the police that he murdered Okoh and buried him in a shallow grave in an uncompleted building. A senior police officer in Warri said Okohs decomposing body had been exhumed and released to the family in Ubulu- Uku for burial. He said: The suspect has confessed to the crime that he killed Okoh in order not to pay him the money for the spare parts, he supplied him. The officer added that the suspect also confessed that he committed the act with another person. A family source said Okoh left behind twins. My cousin got married eight years ago and just got twins last year. The wife is now a widow while the twins, who are minors, will not see their father again. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, confirmed the story. She said: The principal suspect had been arrested, after taking the police to the shallow grave. We have exhumed the body. Ubulu-Uku, Okohs hometown, has been thrown into mourning. Source: New Telegraph On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the Syrian issue with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva. Lavrov said after the talks that there is "better mutual understanding of this issue" between the two countries, Sputnik reported. "Some of the differences in those discussions toward a durable solutions have been narrowed, but as Secretary Kerry said, issues still remain that need to be addressed. There is no agreement at this time," Cook said on Friday. Earlier this week, Samir Aita, a member of the Syrian Democratic Forum opposition party, told Sputnik that the United States should be pursuing practical cooperation with the Syrian regular army, just like Russia has been pursuing practical cooperation with the armed opposition, in order for a lasting ceasefire to be achieved in Syria and for terrorists to be defeated. Lavrov said after talks with Kerry on Friday that the two had agreed that Russia would continue to work with the Syrian government and opposition groups that cooperate with it, while the United States would continue working with the groups they can influence in Syria and with regional partners. 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 Russia and a range of other countries. Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is helping to relay the foundation of a new Nigeria, after years of neglect and mismanagement. Osibanjo stated this at the ongoing 41st Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF) held in Benin, the Edo State capital with the theme: Let Us Rise Up And Build. Represented by the Aso Rock Villa Chaplain, Rev. Sheyi Malomo, the vice president, who took a text from the book of Nehemiah 2:18, said On assumption of office last year, this administration inherited a badly managed economy with a high level insecurity; we decided from the beginning that we will tackle the challenges without fear. By the grace of God the Buharis administration is relaying the foundation of a new Nigeria to the Glory of God. According to Malomo, We will ensure that there is restoration of all the years the locust have eaten adding, The government has introduced a major fiscal measures on hard earn income, first, among which is the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account, (TSA) which has helped to remove over 40,000 ghost workers from the MDAs which is a huge plus to the Nation. He, however, stressed that it will require patience for the Buhari administrations policies on infrastructures to begin to manifest. The President of the NCGF, Dr. Sam Initina, who earlier in his remarks said time has come for Christians to rise up to the occasion, said: I thank God for steering the ship of the NCGF safely for the past three years of our tenure. Initina, however, thanked the administration of President Buhari and all the security forces in the country for recording huge success in the fight against the deadly Boko Haram insurgency adding, that: God who has started this great work will see to the total annihilation of this terrorist group. He, however, kicked against the administrations plan to establish grazing reserves across states of the federation. We oppose this plan which will allow these terrorists easy spread throughout the whole Federation where they will continue with their bestial behaviour of raping women, killing farmers, destroying their crops and forcefully taking over their land and houses, the NCGF leader stated. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buharis administration. Vice President of CAN, Elder Joseph Otubu, made the call at the Mass Choir Fiesta of the Motailatu Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), at the International Headquarters Ajah, Lagos. The fiesta was entitled: God of Perfection. Elder Otubu urged Nigerians not to relent in prayer for the country, adding that the President is working very hard for the good of all. We must not confess negatively for this country, because all over the world people are experiencing economic punch, so Nigeria is not an exception. Lets continue to pray for the best, for our political leaders to be honest so that the money that is meant for the masses will be spent for the masses, he said. The Prelate and Spiritual Leader, MCCSW, Elder Isreal Akinadewo, in his welcome address, said it was important for Nigerians to commit their ways to the Lord. He is the builder of our lives; the midwife of our deliveries; the initiator and executor of our plans and the progenitor of our existence. God is being praised today for perfecting every good thing for us, he said. The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said the amount of money embezzled by past administrations could have been used to foster programmes that would develop the country and engage restive youths meaningfully. At the political realm, accountability is important; probity is important; and people should not just take people for a ride and think that they are there and they can do what they like, he said. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned all the banks in Nigeria to henceforth freeze all accounts receiving illegal foreign exchange (forex) inflows into the country. The apex bank directed the banks to conduct Know Your Customs Business (KYCB) checks on all their customers to ensure that they do no transact illegal/illicit flows. The CBN equally directed the banks to identify and freeze accounts receiving illicit forex and submit the account details of the accounts held in Naira or foreign currency to the CBN for prompt reporting to the security agencies. While some states are putting a stop to street hawking, Gov Ben Ayade-led administration of Cross-River is putting a law in place to legalize the activities of trading in the streets. The state government is proposing a bill seeking to protect the rights of street hawkers, for them to carry out their hawking activities without any form of intimidation. The Hawkers Protection Bill, when passed into law will allow only adults from 18 years and above in reflective vest to hawk at designated time and locations. The act of hawking has been a long standing African tradition that dates back centuries and allows for both children and adults moving about with their wares for sales. Many have opined that hawking most times constitutes a menace in traffic and many hoodlums hide under its cover to perpetuate crime thereby, discouraging the act of hawking. Different circumstances have led people into this most popular form of trading. To some, they cant afford to rent shops, to others, their only means of survival is this form of business and are happy with governments proposed bill. Meanwhile, the move appears to go down well with the people of the state as some residents in Calabar are praising the governor for his administrations thoughtful development. 2 popular cultists identified as Papa Obodo and Osazee were yesterday killed in a renew cult war between Eiye and the movement cult groups. One of deceased (Papa Obodo) was chased by members of the Movement and stoned to death at Oyenmwonsa street in Benin while the second cultists identified Osazee whose wife delivered a baby on Sunday was shot on the stomach while attempting to scale a fence around Osemwende street. The corpses of the deceased cultists have been deposited at the morgue. See more photos below. Source: nigeriacamera.net The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned in strong terms, the attack on residents of Ndiagu, Attakwu, Akegbe-Ugwu in Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State by marauders suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The attackers, numbering about 50, were reported to have killed a Catholic seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor and slit the stomach of a six months pregnant woman whose name was simply given as Mrs. Nwarum in the wee hours of Thursday. Four other persons were also severely injured during the attack. In a statement signed by the Chairman of states chairmen of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Alex Okemiri, the group expressed disappointment at the unrestrained activities of the herdsmen and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the herdsmen. This is becoming one incident too many and we want President Buhari to rein in his Fulani kinsmen from killing and maiming innocent Nigerians. The Fulani Herdsmen have continued to unleash terror on all parts of the country despite the assurances by Mr. President that it would stop. We therefore, call on Ndigbo, southerners, Middle beltans and moderate Arewa people to defend themselves in the face of this continuous killings and inability of the Federal Government to protect them. Self-protection and preservation is the first law of nature. The Enugu State government should act like the Abia Governor and set up a well-armed vigilante groups in all autonomous communities in Enugu State to engage these blood thirsty Fulani herdsmen. An 18-year-old girl who had escaped from an Australian correction centre responded to police after her mug shot was posted on Facebook. She asked them to please, use a better picture of her. She even provided the picture for them. Amy Sharp escaped from Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex on August 19th. The police released her mug shots to the media and asked the public to be on the watch for her. Sharp then went on a TV stations Facebook page and asked them to use a different picture of her. Her post was said to have brought in a huge number of comments. She has however been arrested by police and taken to Newtown police station for further questioning. A new vista has been introduced into the corruption allegations currently rocking the House of Representatives as a former Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Friday, accused some senior lawmakers in the House of living large by appropriating illegal allowances to themselves at the expense of Nigerian taxpayers. The accused lawmakers, who currently serve in various capacities as principal officers of the lower legislative chambers, have allegedly shared more than N10 billion amongst themselves as office running cost. Mr. Jibrin, who has turned into a crusader of sorts against official sleaze in the nations legislative arm, accused the principal officers of living a life of luxury, which they never enjoyed before becoming legislators. The former appropriation committee chair, who made the latest allegations in a statement last night, as part of the unfolding budget padding scandal he triggered more than a month ago, said the 10 principal officers and the funds they have allegedly received so far as running costs, included the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, who allegedly got the lion share of N1.5 billion. Others on the list included Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, N800 million; Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, N1.2 billion; his deputy, Buba Jibril, N1.2 billion; House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, N1.2 billion; and his deputy, Pally Iriase, N700 million. The rest included Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, N1.2 billion; Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, N700 million; Deputy Minority Whip, Binta Bello, N700 million; and one Chuma he listed as Minority Whip, N700 million. This is the first time Jibrin will be specifically mentioning Mr. Gbajabiamilas name since he began waging political and media war against the House leadership for weeks. In his statement on Friday, the Kano federal lawmaker said he listed the House leader and other principal officers to show that he was not only waging a war to remove Mr. Dogara from office but also to stop the questionable office running largesse, which he described as the sole unifying force for the 360-member House. Most of these members use it to acquire properties, cars and live a life of luxury they never lived before coming to the House, Mr. Jibrin said. He vowed to continue the fight because It is only when the legislature comes with purity that effective oversight will be carried out and investigative hearing to expose fraud and corruption can be undertaken. Mr. Jibrin said he was waging the campaign with the hope that it would bring about a lasting turnaround in the fraudulent premise upon which many aspiring lawmakers readily base their ambitions. The consequential effect of dealing with corruption in the House, especially the allowances issue, will take its toll on even elections. Candidates usually spend so much money hoping that they can recoup from the huge allowances they will receive when elected into House. When you know that there is no such money in the House to be shared, I am sure nobody will want to put in so much money just to win an election to the House. The resultant effect will be that only people who truly want to serve will vie for the office, and voters will be obliged to vote according to the dictate of their conscience. This is just one advantage, Mr. Jibrin said. He also ascribed his perseverance in the budget padding scandal to his natural desire for political advocacy. I have said it repeatedly that this activism has been running in my blood, and thankfully the fallout of the 2016 budget became the trigger and provided me with the right avenue. Mr. Jibrin, therefore, implored Nigerians to remain steadfast and vigilant as he leads the cause to liberate it from those he described as corrupt elements. As we continue this struggle to wipe out corruption and restore sanity in the House of Representatives, I will continue to urge Nigerians to remain vigilant as these corrupt elements can go to any length to change the narration and evade justice, Jibrin said. The House leadership is yet to react to this latest round of allegation by the former appropriation committee chair. A former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association, and now governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, has denied reports that he made uncomplimentary remarks against a national leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A group, Ondo Collectives for Change, had blasted the APC governorship hopeful for insulting Mr. Tinubu while appearing as guest on a programme tagged: Guest of the week on an Akure based station, Positive 102.5 FM on Thursday. In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Akeredolu said he did not insult the APC leader over the alleged imposition of candidate on the party, saying reports to the contrary, were untrue. The statement reads: My attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds especially on the social media linking me with some ridiculous comments and incendiary quotes on the purported endorsement of candidates in the governorship primary. Those who know my antecedents will attest to the fact that I am a man of courage. For the avoidance of doubt, I did not insult any of our national leaders in APC, especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as quoted mischievously in the social media. According to the aspirant, he stood by the assurances given by the leaders of the party that there would be free and fair primary. What is happening in Ondo state right now is that some leaders are using the name of Asiwaju Tinubu to cause confusion; claiming that he had given them money to work for a particular aspirant, Mr. Akeredolu said. Anybody doing such cannot be described as a leader. Asiwaju Tinubus last communication on Ondo State Governorship primary was that there will be free and fair primary. Mr. Akeredolu warned desperate politicians to stop causing confusion with Tinubus name. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said those who attacked him at a mosque in Lokoja, the state capital on Friday afternoon, were sponsored political miscreants who saw his ongoing reforms in the state as inimical to their selfish interests. He said some of the attackers were promptly apprehended by security agents and market women, adding that the politically motivated attack would be thoroughly investigated. Some aggrieved residents of the Confluence state had hurled stones, rotten fruits and vegetables at the governors convoy shortly after he observed Jumaat prayers in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the states creation. The attackers decried the worsening economic situation, worsened by months of non-payment of salaries. Fridays attack against Gov. Bello, who assumed office in January, came about a fortnight after he suffered a similar fate while visiting Ankpa, the headquarters of Ankpa Local Government Area of the state. RELATED POST: Angry Residents Attack Governor Bello With Stones In Lokoja The governor, in his reaction to the yesterdays incident, accused his political adversaries of importing thugs into the state in a desperate bid to maintain the status quo. We are not unaware of scheming by change resistors to sponsor attacks against government officials, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo said. Sponsoring attacks against the Governor will not stop our march to restore sanity to the polity. Mr. Fanwo also attributed the attack to a raging syndrome occasioned by the governors sweeping reforms in the states civil service, promising that the names of those suffering from it would soon be published. The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello will soon publish the names of corrupt citizens of the state who are behind the Ghost Workers syndrome, he asserted. Mr. Bello had since coming into power in controversial circumstances, embarked on a broad re-verification exercise for the states civil servants, citing widespread abuse in workers payroll, a situation he said saw the state losing billions to fraud in a state bleeding from diminishing revenues. His insistence on sanitizing the payroll pitted him against the organized labour in the state, who accused his administration of insensitivity to workers plight. Mr. Bello thanked Kogites, who swung to action and repelled Fridays attack against him and his entourage, adding that they should remain resolute in their support towards the restoration of the lost glory of the state. Eight soldiers were killed in an attack in Paraguay's north by suspected members of a little-known rebels group, authorities said Saturday, just days after Colombian officials and guerrillas reached a peace deal to end the longest running insurgency in Latin America, Associate Press reported. Paraguayan Interior Minister Francisco De Vargas reported the first five deaths from the Saturday attack in Arroyito, a town about 305 miles (490 kilometers) from Asuncion. Dr. Bernardo Jacquet, a physician at Hospital Concepcion, located some 55 miles (90 kilometers) from where the attack occurred, later said that the death toll had risen to eight. Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by a little-known Paraguayan guerrilla group called the Paraguayan People's Army. Federico Delfino, the country's prosecutor for anti-kidnapping efforts, says that the attackers got away with eight M4 carbines, bulletproof vests, and the victims' personal belongings. A mass funeral for some of the victims of an earthquake in Italy was held today. The magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the town of Amatrice on Wednesday and left 290 people dead. More bodies are still being discovered as rescuers continue to move rubble and debris. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was among those attending the funeral along with President Sergio Mattarella, who earlier visited Amatrice, the town with the most casualties. New Mexico police said they found charred body of a nine-year-old girl who had been raped, murdered and dismembered in an apartment. According to the Police, the girl, identified as Victoria Martens, was first injected with methamphetamine, then sexually assaulted, strangled, stabbed and then dismembered. Officers arrived at the the family apartment at the Arroyo Villas Apartment Complex on Irving Boulevard in Albuquerque, after they received a call about a disturbance inside. The girls body was found in a bathroom, rolled up in a blanket that had been set on fire. Police Chief, Gordon Eden, said, This is a horrific tragedy for our community. I want to assure the public that we will pursue justice and we will make sure that we exhaust every resource into this investigation. Victorias mother, Michelle Martens, her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, have been charged with child abuse resulting in death and kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. Gonzales and Kelley have also been charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor. Martens confessed that Gonzales had drugged the girl so that he could have sex with her. She said Kelley held her hand over Victorias mouth and stabbed her in the stomach after Gonzales strangled her. She said Gonzales and Kelley then dismembered Victoria. Source: Punch Vanguard ONE of the leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Congress APC in Ondo state, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday lashed the national leader of the party Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his endorsement of an aspirant ahead of the Primaries. Punch The Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, has said the state had no plans for grazing reserves and ranches. Thisday The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu on Friday said there was nothing on ground to justify the over $40 billion that has accrued to the Niger Delta region in the past 12 years through various intervention agencies. The Sun The Peoples Democratic Partys gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) has promised to initiate economic policies that will make the state less dependent on Federal allocation even as he wants to ensure the recently approved Ilaje Free Trade Zone is made a spring board for the economic development of the state. Guardian President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya, assured that Nigeria would diligently ensure full rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and find lasting solutions to combat threats of terrorism. Daily Trust Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River yesterday said though a PDP chieftain, he works harder than most APC governors in projecting the image of President Muhammadu Buhari. Leadership Nigeria will diligently ensure full rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and find lasting solutions to combat threats of terrorism in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, said Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya The Nation The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says N1,956,007,975.81 has accrued to government as interest from the public funds sized from a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and other suspects under investigation or trial. National Mirror Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has refuted a news report claiming he was pelted with stones by some miscreants at the Lokoja Central Mosque today. The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) says it has finalized arrangements with the World Bank to grant scholarships to 1,000 less privileged students selected from every state in the country. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Abdallah Adamu, said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that the move was part of the mandate of the Education for All (EFA). The statement said Mr. Adamu made the disclosure when he received members of the Arewa Students Forum (ASF) who visited him in Abuja. The university said it was also targeting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the society. According to the statement, married women, who suspended their education due to some reasons, were also among the universitys priorities. The statement quoted Mr. Adamu as urging members of the forum to join in the campaign to ensure that access to tertiary education was taken to the grassroots around the country. It said in doing this, it would go a long way in the forums drive to contribute their quota to nation building and spread the activities of the university. It will also go a long way in attaining the Education for All (EFA) agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and the Federal Government. I urge members of the forum to step up efforts in ensuring that more students from the 19 northern states are registered in the institution as part of the beneficiaries of the World Bank/NOUN 1,000 scholarship initiative, the statement said. It said the president of the forum, Habib Ahmed, lauded the vice-chancellor for his contributions to the education sector. U.S health officials have issued warnings over the increasing incidence of heroin spiked with elephant tranquilizer. The tranquilizer, carfentanil is a powerful opioid and is said to be one hundred times stronger than morphine. Carfentanil is so powerful, it can knock out an adult elephant and drug dealers are now cutting heroin with the drug to stretch their supply. Officials are now warning drug users, many of whom are not even aware that heroin is now being cut with the highly potent opioid. Authorities have reported a spike in heroin overdoses, with 36 reports of overdoses and two deaths. The Police yesterday announced the arrest of 29 suspected criminals and recovery of 12 exotic cars. According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Anwunah, the arrests were carried out by the IGPs Special Tactical Squad from different states of the federation. The operation, he stated, will be sustained. Anwunah listed the names of the suspects as well as the recovered vehicles and advised members of the public to check through the list for possible identification and provide proof of ownership to enable them reclaim same. The recovered vehicles are currently in safe keeping at the IGP Special Tactical Squad on Heinous Crime facility at SARS premises old Abattoir Guzape District, Abuja, he stressed. In a related development, the IGPs Special Tactical Squad working on intelligence sourced in Kogi and Edo States, arrested eight suspects in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling in the two States. The police spokesman stated that Three AK 47 riffles and 147 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects. All the suspects confessed to the crime and have admitted to the various roles they played in the commission of the offence. They will be arraigned in court at the close of investigation, he said. While commending the officers and men of the Special Tactical Squad for the high level of professionalism displayed in the course of the operation, he expressed the IGP assurances that the force is being repositioned with modern crime fighting techniques to tackle crime and criminalities in the country. Less than 24 hours after he proffered solutions to Nigerias economic challenges, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo, has come under fire from Senator Shehu Sani. Sen. Sani, a prominent rights activist, is of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the senator, the former CBN chief is not in a right position to offer any advice to President Muhammadu Buhari on how he can pull Nigeria out from the woods when it was his (Mr. Soludos) policies, as head of the apex bank that brought the country to its terrible state. Soludo, who spoke on Thursday at the 4th Progressive Governance Lecture Series of the Progressives Governors Forum in Kaduna, advised that, The APC should go back to its manifesto and instigate framework that will engender the atmosphere for growth as Nigeria cannot develop with the current structure where institutions are created only to share from the federation account. He said it was better Mr. Buharis administration started thinking outside the box, rather than continue to blame the past government for the nations economic problems. On the ongoing fight against corruption, the former CBN governor said rather than combat the cause, the current administration was busy fighting the symptoms. I dont believe the way we are fighting corruption is the way we should go about it. We are only fighting corruption on the surface; we have to fight it from the systemic level. Mr. Soludo made these scathing remarks in the full glare of all APC governors and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who was present at the lecture series. But Mr. Sani, who represents Kaduna Central, responded to Mr. Soludos advice yesterday, saying that it would be too early to forget that his (Soludos) stewardship at the CBN was the foundation of the current economic crisis in Nigeria. While acknowledging that the former CBN Governor was entitled to his opinion, the senator said it was good to remind him of the role he played in bringing down the countrys economy. If Soludo and his Government had actually implemented such lofty ideas of reforms, we couldnt have found ourselves where we are today, Mr. Sani said. Its too early to forget the legacy of cronyism, elitism and vindictiveness that occasioned the past administrations. Soludo was lucky to serve under a Government that was powered by $140 per barrel and without the headache, heartache and bloodshed that has become of Niger Delta and the north east. Soludo need to be reminded that most of those today on trial for stealing our public funds were the same people rooted in the Government he served before GEJ. Yes PMB is tackling the symptoms of corruption, but the symptoms were there for 16 years. If Soludo and others have combated the symptoms, PMB could have now focused on the ailment. Its not in contention that blame game by the PMB administration against GEJ must end but under PDP three Governments for 16 years, hardly a day passed without the same blame game on late Abacha. Mr. Sani did not spare the APC governors for inviting Mr. Soludo to speak at the lecturer series, accusing them of hiding behind the former apex banks chief to condemn President Buharis economic policies. Those who invited Soludo did that to rubbish PMBs economic policies that they dont have the balls to do. What is the reason and the logic behind APC chieftains inviting a PDP economist to lecture them on the economy? The very party they consistently deride for ruining this country for 16 years? The Nigerian Army on Saturday said five suspected militants were killed when they attacked troops in operation Crocodile Smile, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects arrested. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who disclosed this in a statement, also said the 133 Special Forces Battalion of Nigerian Army troops carried out a precursor operation to Exercise Crocodile Smile aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta. In the course of the operation, 5 militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested. The operations which was conducted yesterday 26th August 2016, was carried out by the Special Forces at the militants camps, the statement added. The army spokesman said items recovered from the camps include 2 AK-47 rifles, 11 Pump Action Guns, a locally made revolver pistol, 292 cartridges of live Ammunition, 199 rounds of AK-47 rifle Ammunition, 4 electricity generating sets and a Camp Gas Cooker. Usman said the troops also recovered an abandoned Engine Boat left by the fleeing militants. The eight-month curfew in Diyarbakir city, southeast Turkey, is to be lifted Saturday morning, the provincial governors office said Friday, Anadolu reported. The restrictions in the Sur district were imposed in December as security forces attempted to flush out PKK terrorists. In a statement, the governors office said the curfew would be lifted in six of seven areas at 7.00 a.m. local time (0400GMT) Saturday. It would remain in the seventh due to escalating terror activity in the region and to ensure the security of lives and property, the statement said. Fresh curfews were declared for 25 villages in Diyarbakir province in June as security forces launched counter-terrorism operations. The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year. Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed. Some of Senate President Bukola Sarakis aides involved in the November 20, 2015 theft of N310 million being transported to the senator have disclosed why they stole the cash. The aides snatched the cash from a bureau de change operator at 5 Nana Close, Maitama in Abuja. Tracked down by SaharaReporters and speaking anonymously, some of Mr. Sarakis aides, who are currently on the run, said the senator was in the habit of warehousing large volumes of cash, mainly for use as bribes to judges, investigators and prosecutors to ensure the scuttling of his trial for false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The theft, first reported by SaharaReporters, featured five officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) led by Abdulrasheed Maigari, the most senior of the DSS officers attached to Senator Saraki. Mr. Maigari hails from Dungo local government area of Taraba State. The other DSS officers involved in the heist were Ibbi George from Adamawa State, Patrick Ishaya from Plateau State, Peter Okoye from Delta State, and Solomon Yunusa from Kogi State. Other participants included four other aides of Mr. Saraki and five serving military officers led by one Captain Hassan Mshelia. The aides at large revealed to a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Senator Saraki often used a house, 18 Lake Chad Crescent, Abuja, as a warehouse for illegally acquired money. They said huge stashes of cash from First Bank Plc. branch located at Coomasie House in Abuja were often stored in the house. The aides added that the funds were then moved on behalf of the Senate President for use in a variety of special political assignments ordered by Mr. Saraki. The sources said cash was regularly moved from the bank and the house on Lake Chad Crescent to Mr. Sarakis mansion at 5 Nana Close in Maitama, from which lawyers as well as judges and their designated representatives collect the cash to obstruct justice. They said Mr. Saraki regularly used five of his official security aides, supported by five soldiers usually chosen by Paul Ibok, his Chief Security Officer, to move the funds. The aides disclosed to SaharaReporters that, between October and November 2015, there were three cash movements to No 5 Nana Close. According to them, the cash was usually received by Mr. Sarakis Deputy Chief of Staff, Peter Makanjuola, who also has the duty of distributing it to judicial officers with whom various deals had been struck regarding plots to scuttle the Senate Presidents trial. In one instance, the aides disclosed, N550 million was delivered to Justice Alfa Belgore, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, to carry out an illicit assignment of obstructing justice on behalf of Mr. Saraki. On another occasion, DSS officers working with soldiers took the sum of N370 million to a venue. According to the wanted DSS operatives, the Senate President had 23 DSS operatives attached to him. The DSS officers are split into two teams (A and B), with both teams taking turns to provide security for the Senate President, who lives in an eight-bedroom official residence. The building, known as White House, shares a wall with the official residence of the Inspector-General of Police. Our sources said that, having observed the unrestricted movement of large sums to Senator Sarakis home, some of his DSS aides also developed an appetite for cash. Thus, on November 20, 2015, an aide of Mr. Saraki directed the leader of Team A, Ibrahim Shariff, to call Mr. Maigari, who had been off duty, to return to work for a special assignment. On his return, Mr. Maigari was told to join four colleagues and five soldiers to go meet one Ibrahim Kabir, a First Bank employee, to pick up money for the Senate President. They said Mr. Kabir happens to be the account officer for Hassan Abubakar Dankani, Mr. Sarakis favorite bureau de change operator. One longtime associate stated that Mr. Saraki had been using Mr. Dandani to launder funds since the senators days as the governor of Kwara State. Our sources said that, with the increasing scrutiny on him, Senator Saraki had decided against using the DSS officers attached to him to escort cash movement. Instead, the senator asked the management of the bureau de change to make their own arrangement for security escorts to move the cash to Senator Sarakis home. However, with their own growing hunger for money, Senator Sarakis security details had hatched a plot to corner the cash. And they recruited other colleagues and Captain Mshelia. Dressed in military fatigue, the security agents positioned themselves near the senators home and ambushed the vehicle in which the bureau de change operator was conveying the cash. SaharaReporters learnt that the security officers told those moving the cash that they were under arrest for money laundering. The police officers hired as escorts by the bureau de change operator had to leave the scene when the DSS men showed their identification tags, which gave the impression that they were on legal duty. Once the policemen had left, the DSS officers, including those attached to Mr. Saraki, told the bureau de change operator that they knew of the destination for the cash and that moving huge sums of cash outside the banking system was illegal. The DSS officers then demanded N350 million in order to allow the vehicle to proceed. After a period of haggling, the officers settled for N310 million. When Mr. Dankani was informed of the development, he phoned Senator Saraki, who instructed him never to mention his name in connection with the cash. Unaware that those who carried out the theft included members of his security detail, Mr. Saraki thought he was safe from being exposed. Shortly after SaharaReporters reported the heist, disclosing that the cash belonged to Mr. Saraki, the senators spokesman, Yusuf Olaniyonu, issued a statement denying the senators ownership of the stolen money. We want to say categorically that Dr. Saraki is not the owner of the stolen money. He does not know the owner who is said to be a bureau de change operator. The police that investigated the robbery incident and the SSS, which issued a statement on it, can confirm that there is no link between the Senate President with the ownership of the money, Mr. Olaniyonu claimed in a statement. Mr. Olaniyonu also told SaharaReporters that the police had issued a statement on the matter. But when SaharaReporters demanded where to find the said police statement, he said we should check a ThisDay report, which he claimed contained the police statement. The paper quoted Wilson Inalegwu, Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, as saying: In the course of the investigation, we were able to get the names and identities of some of them (the suspects). Unfortunately, two of the DSS operatives are attached to the Senate President. Every step of the way, Mr. Saraki made valiant efforts, abetted by the DSS boss, to prevent the money from being linked to him. Mr. Dankani, the owner of the bureau de change, said the robbery took place at 5 Nana Close, off Mississippi Road in Maitama and claimed that the robbers dropped off his boys on the outskirts of Abuja. His version of events, however, was disputed by Mr. Sarakis DSS aides, who told this online newspaper that there was no need to have taken them, as there was no confrontation between them and Mr. Dankanis boys. After taking the cash, the aides said, they left for Maigaris house in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where they shared the loot before returning to work with Mr. Saraki. Mr. Dankani also told SaharaReporters that he is a nephew of former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Mr. Sarakis DSS aides disclosed to SaharaReporters that the ex-head of state and the Senate President are very close friends, adding that they had accompanied him numerous times on his visits to Abubakar at his Lake Chad Crescent mansion. Six days after the theft, both Mr. Maigari and Mr. Ibbi were arrested around 8:30 pm, as they prepared to accompany Senator Saraki to see President Muhammadu Buhari. After their arrest, the wanted aides narrated, they requested to see the DSS Director-General (DG), Lawal Daura, to explain why they stole the money. Mr. Daura declined the request, but sent a DSS officer to tell them that the matter would be resolved internally. He sent firm instructions through the officer that the arrested officers should make statements, but ensure that such statements should not link the stolen cash to Mr. Saraki in any way. As such, the detained officers wrote choreographed statements dictated to them by investigators. Mr. Sarakis aides on the run disclosed that Mr. Daura and the Senate President are intimate friends and that, on at least four occasions, he secretly met with the senator after the latters corruption trial had begun. The first of the clandestine meetings took place at Barcelona Apartments in Abuja. On two other occasions, Mr. Daura and Senator Saraki met at night at the Senate Presidents official residence. SaharaReporters has constantly reported that the DSS boss, Mr. Daura, was providing strategic support to the Senate President to help him frustrate his trial. A statement issued by the DSS on December 6, 2015 was carefully tweaked to give the public the misleading impression that the stolen cash belonged to the bureau de change operator. The statement also failed to provide details of the purported robbery. Signed by Tony Opuiyo, the DSS statement said: The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that the Service has arrested two (2) out of five (5) of its staff involved in the robbery and sharing, on November 20th, 2015, of the sum of three hundred and ten million naira (N310m) belonging to a Bureau De Change operator in Abuja. While three (3) of the DSS staff are now at large, the Military Authorities have commenced a detailed investigation of five (5) of its personnel involved in the crime. It added that preliminary investigations revealed that Mr. Maigari conspired with four colleagues to steal the money. Currently, only Mr. Maigari and Mr. Ibbi are in detention at Kuje Prison, awaiting trial. The others are at large. Representatives of the detained operatives said the DSS first charged them to court in April 2016, after media reports revealed that the money stolen belonged to Mr. Saraki. They were charged to court for planning to demand their freedom through the filing of a fundamental right enforcement suit in Abuja. Mr. Sarakis security aides who remain on the run told SaharaReporters that five soldiers are also in detention at Kuje Prison in connection with the theft. In April, the police charged the soldiers to court for robbery. But curiously, the soldiers are being tried separately from the DSS officers because the DSS refused to hand over Mr. Maigari and Mr. Ibbi to the police for prosecution, claiming it did not trust the police. Representatives of the detained DSS officers said they recently discovered that Sunday Agaba, a man who accompanied them to steal and was described as a bureau de change operator, is actually a retired Army officer. He was shot by the police as they arrested him. When SaharaReporters blew the lid on this, both Mr. Maigari and Mr. Ibbi were removed from the underground cell where they had been kept and allowed for the first time to meet with their respective families. It was during such interactions that they realized they had been branded armed robbers. They disclosed that if they were prosecuted along with the soldiers, they would give the exact narration of the alleged robbery incident. SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Dankani was listed as a witness in the case. But on cross-examination in April, he claimed he was forced to come for the trial. When SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Dankani shortly before this report was written, he claimed to have a hazy recollection of what went on with the bullion van on the day of the incident. However, he insisted that the money stolen belonged to him. The DSS operatives being prosecuted claimed that the stolen money was recovered from them in full. However, the DSS told the court that it recovered only N96 million. The DSS operatives are due to appear again at the Federal Capital Territory High Court 18 when judges return from vacation. Mr. Saraki too is on vacation with his entire family in Ibiza, Spain. The theft of N310 million was not the only time Mr. Sarakis money laundering had provoked aides to steal from him. A group of aides at his house in Ilorin recently stole cash worth N110 million from his bedroom in Kwara State. Source: SaharaReporters You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Irish church leaders have reportedly been holding crisis talks over allegations that trainee Catholic priests in Ireland are frequently using the gay dating app Grindr. Responding to the allegations Church leaders have ordered an urgent review of the appropriate use of the internet and social media at St. Patricks College, Maynooth, the centuries-old Irish training centre for priests, and they have also called for a review of the way that whistle-blowers submit their complaints. The talks come after the most senior Catholic in Ireland, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, said he was sending student priests to Rome, effectively boycotting Maynooth in County Kildare, which is located just 16 miles west of the capital. Martin said the recent allegations that a gay culture exists at the school and that some students have allegedly been using Grindr, the gay dating app, could be fostering promiscuous sexuality. Diarmaid continued that there were other unsettling allegations that whistleblowers were dismissed from the seminary after bringing the issue to the authorities. To date no one has explained how or why heterosexual seminarians tracked the movement of gay seminarians via the gay dating app before alerting the authorities. But the swift response to the allegations has some critics wondering what constitutes a crisis for the church? For years - in fact for decades - the abuse crisis in the church was often ignored or covered up so why have church leaders have moved so swiftly on this issue, some ask? Others have laughingly questioned how sending new seminarians to Rome can be seen as a move to protect them from gay culture? Some have suggested that the churchs rigidly enforced celibacy rule is what really fosters the secretive and promiscuous sexuality they complain of, and that their refusal to acknowledge the value of same sex marriage or relationships damages the opportunity for gay people to foster monogamous relationships. Meanwhile four Archbishops and thirteen senior Bishops have called on the church to set up an independent audit into the running of both Irish seminaries at Maynooth and at St Malachy's in Belfast. The Republican Party co-founder Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Partys standard bearer in the 2016 election, Donald Trump could not hold more different views on the topic of immigration. Trump has shown signs of relaxing his hardcore views but until we see the actual paperwork I will remain deeply sceptical. He is saying anything right now to get back in the race. Lincoln was very comfortable among immigrants, believing they added greatly to the work force. Indeed, he was surrounded by immigrants most of his life. Half of the population of Springfield, Illinois, were either German or Irish immigrants. His children were reared by Irish nannies who Mrs. Lincoln often complained about. Lincoln apparently learned Emmet's Speech From The Dock from one of them and would recite it ever after. He likely also knew the most popular song of that era Kathleen Mavourneen (written by an Englishman for lonely Irish immigrants) about a young man leaving Ireland and his beloved. Ironically it was beloved on the rebel side where far fewer Irish fought. Lincolns army was composed of immigrants from many countries and most notably Ireland, where up to 200,000 soldiers hailed from. At Gettysburg the Pennsylvania 69th mostly Irish immigrants, stopped Picketts Charge when it threatened to overcome Union lines and other Union soldiers had fled. If the 69th had yielded the tide of battle would have turned and Robert E. Lee would have lead a Confederate march on Washington. It was the turning point of the war. With the Irish in that fight were European jews and Germans. Thus Lincoln came to value emigration greatly. At his own insistence, Lincoln assisted in the writing of the 1864 platform for National Union on immigration at the Republican Party congress in Baltimore. Read More: Here's what Abraham Lincoln would have to say about Donald Trump He insisted that the following sentence be included in their platform stating: That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the wealth, development of resources and increase of power to this nation, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy As a re-elected president, Lincolns Act to Encourage Immigration was passed on July 4, 1864, the only law ever passed calling for more immigration. A liberal disposition towards this great national policy is manifested by most of the European States, wrote Lincoln, and ought to be reciprocated on our part by giving immigrants effective national protection. I regard our emigrants as one of the principal replenishing streams which are appointed by Providence to repair the ravages of internal war, and its wastes of national strength and health. As for Senor Trump here is the 2016 Republican platform: Americas immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States, and the interests of American workers must be protected over the claims of foreign nationals seeking the same jobs. (Sure Americans are lining up to work at chicken plucking, beef boning, apple picking, landscaping, baby minding, housekeeping, cooking, table bussing, or as exploited construction workers.) The Trump platform continues: With all our fellow citizens, we have watched, in anger and disgust, the mocking of our immigration laws by a president who made himself superior to the will of the nation. We oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by breaking the law, have disadvantaged those who have obeyed it. The executive amnesties of 2012 and 2014 are a direct violation of federal law and usurp the powers of Congress as outlined in Article I of the Constitution. These unlawful amnesties must be immediately rescinded by a Republican president.... the presence of millions of unidentified individuals in this country poses grave risks to the safety and sovereignty of the United States. In Trumps America immigrants are drug dealers and rapists, judges descended from immigrants are incapable of ruling fairly, walls will be built to keep people out. All Muslim immigration will be stopped. Incredibly, American Ebola victims infected abroad, will not be allowed into the United States One can only imagine Lincoln looking at these modern attempts at law and order and wondering if the anti-Irish and anti-immigrant Know Nothings of his era. who he passionately opposed had taken over his country. He would not be far from the truth. August 27 is "The Duchess Who Wasn't" day, which celebrates the life of Irish author Margaret Wolfe Hungerford. On this day, take every opportunity possible to slip a well-known phrase into the conversation: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The famous phrase is used internationally to describe how various things and people may seem differently beautiful from one person to the next. But you may not know that these words of wisdom came from the pen of 19th-century Irish novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, who we celebrate today as The Duchess who wasnt. Although only living until 42 years of age, The Duchess, the name she often used to remain anonymous, has at least 57 works attributed to her name and could have many, many more pieces of writing published, as much of her earliest work was released completely anonymously. Although not known for her great character development or depth to her stories, Hungerford nonetheless became a highly admired and sought-after romance writer in the closing stages of the 19th century, earning her mentions in other famous works such as James Joyces Ulysses, where she and her most famous novel Molly Bawn cropped up in chapter 18. It read: "...Molly bawn she gave me by Mrs. Hungerford on account of the name I don't like books with a Molly in them like that one he brought me about the one from Flanders..." Born the eldest daughter of a Church of Ireland Minister in 1885, Margaret was raised in Rosscarbery, Co Cork, where she showed her writing talent from an early age, putting together pieces for her friends to enjoy and winning many writing competitions at school. Her father Canon Fitzjohn Stannus Hamilton was from Dunboyne in Co Meath and it is believed she would have had a fairly comfortable lifestyle throughout her childhood as the daughter of a minister, affording her a greater education than the majority of children in Ireland at the time, just less than a decade after the Great Famine. She married Dublin solicitor Edward Argles when she was only 17 years old in 1872, living with him in Dublin and quickly having three daughters, Daisy, Reine, and Elsie. Their marriage was to be short-lived, unfortunately, and Margaret found herself widowed with three small children under the age of six when she was aged just 23. Hoping to carve out a living for herself and her children through the writing talent she had shown in school, Margaret took up her pen with renewed vigor and returned to her family home at Milleen House in Rosscarbery. Already writing throughout her first marriage, her career took an upswing with the publication of her first novel Phyllis closely followed by the book which would bring her fame Molly Bawn. On her return to Cork, Margaret struck up another relationship, with the eldest son of the local landlord, much to the dismay of his mother. Thomas Henry Hungerford lived in Cahermore House, situated just around the corner from where Margaret lived, and as a member of the well-known Hungerford family, it can be presumed he had already met with the local Protestant Minister's daughter before her move to Dublin. As the eldest son of Henry Jones Hungerford and Mary Boon Couper, Thomas Henry had trained for the army but his family was reluctant to let him go, his father refusing to give him the money for his commission when it was time for him to leave. Traveling to fight in the Boer War in South Africa in 1881, he was promptly called home by his mother, who claimed she was worried about his fathers behavior, only to reach Cork and discover his mother had simply designed to marry him off to another rich young lady: Miss Townsend of Derry House. Thomas Henry was quick to turn down the marriage with Miss Townsend (who would later marry George Bernard Shaw) and his mother was left appalled when he went on to secretly marry his neighbor Margaret in London while she was on a business trip to meet with publishers, a widowed writer with three children regarded as a disagreeable match for her eldest son. Married again in 1882 just a decade after her first marriage, Margaret returned to Milleen House where her next two children Henry and Vera were born. The wrath of her mother-in-law failed to wane, however, and with Margaret fearing to be in the same room as her, the couple and the five children relocated once more to St.Brendas House in Bandon, Co. Cork (now called Overton House). It was here that Margaret is said to have been at her happiest, giving b irth to one last son Tom and continuing to write for eight years in St. Brendas before her untimely death from typhoid fever, aged 42, on January 24, 1897. She was in the middle of completing her book The Coming of Chloe when she died. Relying on flirtatious dialogue and delicate love scenes, Margarets style of a romance novel was very much in vogue, keeping with all the upright morals appropriate to the time. They were seen to be entertaining and charming and captured the essence of the fashionable society of the day, often using settings in Ireland. Writing articles, short stories, and novels on commission, she is most remembered for her character Molly Bawn, an Irish girl who riles up the temper of her lover with her flirtatious manner and her apathy for the normal social conventions of late 19th century Ireland. It was also in this book that the phrase Beauty is on the eye of the beholder was first coined. Setting aside three hours each morning for her writing in a highly organized room, surrounding herself with reference books, Margaret was often published under Mrs. Hungerford but it is as The Duchess we will remember her today. H/T: TheIrishStory.com * Originally published in 2016. Last updated in August 2022. IrishCentral Book Club Looking for Irish book recommendations or to meet with others who share your love for Irish literature? Join IrishCentrals Book Club on Facebook and enjoy our book-loving community. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: A third group of Turkish tanks may enter Syria if the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party) forces dont leave the city of Manbij located on the west bank of the Euphrates, HaberTurk newspaper reported Aug. 27 citing military sources. The YPG and the PYD have to comply with the agreement between the US and Turkey, which requires them to leave the west bank of the Euphrates, according to the newspaper. 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, the first and the second group of 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), the YPG and the PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Dublin-based company was forced to abort plans of a stock market flotation in April after meeting with resistance from some major shareholders. The company has not commented on the likelihood of the plan being resurrected since but the uncertainty caused by Brexit is likely to have put it on the backburner for the time being. In an interim management statement released yesterday, One51 said it had incurred exceptional costs of 3.3m in the six months to the end of June. Of these costs, 2.7m arose from the deferred IPO. The company described its performance during the period as being ahead of expectations with earnings up 105% at 27.2m. Revenue increased by 51% to 214.2m while pre-tax profit climbed 37% to 11.3m. The companys net debt stood at 146.8m at the close of June compared with 120.3m at the same period the previous year. The acquisition of Canadian firm IPL in July 2015 was a major factor in the companys improved results, according to One51 chief executive Alan Walsh. The effect on the company of the UK referendum result in June remains largely unclear but should become more apparent as the year progresses, said Mr Walsh. We have successfully integrated the transformative IPL acquisition into our plastics division, he said. That business, which has performed ahead of expectations since acquisition, delivered very strong results during the first half of the year. UK earnings were adversely affected by the fall in the value of sterling in the wake of Brexit. Other potential impacts of Brexit are difficult to assess currently but should become clearer in the second half of the year. The second half of the year has started satisfactorily across all divisions with a number of significant capital investment projects undertaken in the first half of the year now coming into production. The company can boast a number of high-profile investors, including Dermot Desmond. Mr Desmond reportedly increased his share in the company to approximately 25% earlier this year. A host of Irish co-ops, including Glanbia, Dairygold, Kerry, and Lakeland, also hold significant investments in the company. The deferral of the companys planned IPO came as a blow to Irish farmers who were in line for a significant cash boost, through the co-ops shareholdings, had the proposed flotation gone ahead. In giving Tetrarch Capital the go-ahead for the 158- bedroom hotel behind the former Clerys department store, the appeals board dismissed appeals lodged against the City Council permission by An Taisce and one of the best-known names in the hotel industry, Wynns hotel. The plan involves a Tetrarch firm, Sagrada Ltd, converting Sackville House into the new hotel. Tetrarch Capital already owns several hotels including the Marker Hotel in Dublin and Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow. The hotel is slated to open in early to mid-2018 while the project will involve the creation of 150 jobs. Dublin City Council gave the plan the go-ahead after its planner stated that the hotel will introduce a vibrancy to an inner city street in need of regeneration and have a positive impact on the surrounding area. In its appeal against the city council decision, Wynns Hotel claimed the permitted budget hotel illustrates a lack of ambition for the site and for the city including OConnell St. In its appeal, An Taisce said the height of the development was excessive and its design was inappropriate for its Marlborough St location. However, giving the go-ahead, the appeals board said the development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would not adversely impact upon the architectural heritage of the city centre. 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 litre luxury vehicles with polluting engines. The settlement includes $1.2bn 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 VWs North American region. The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5bn in total in the US 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 US fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 litre 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 $15.3bn to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 US states. VWs US 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 litre diesel vehicles on dealers lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers. 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 cant sell, their franchise value has gone down and theyve invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises. As a result of the scandal, the VWs US sales are down 13.6% in 2016 after falling 5% last year. VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 litre engines at a cost of up to $10.03bn. This years event coincides with the early arrival of humpback whales and other species of whales and dolphins along the Irish coast. The purpose of the whale watch day is to raise awareness of the 24 species of cetaceans (porpoises, dolphins, and whales) recorded to date in all Irish waters, by giving IWDG members and the public an opportunity to look for and observe some of these marine mammals in their natural environment. The sporting body confirmed the move last night, saying officials from independent accountancy firm Grant Thornton will be given three weeks to uncover what is happening at the organisation. In a statement confirming the move, the OCI said the international company will be asked to focus on the policies, procedures, processes and practices of both the OCI and its agents relating to the distribution and sale of tickets for Rio 2016. On the first anniversary of her near-death experience, the family of Ita Winston, from Galway, said they will be forever grateful to Emmet OSullivan for saving her life. Itas husband, Barney, said if it wasnt for Emmets quick thinking and CPR that morning, his wife, a mother of three and grandmother of four, would have died. She had no pulse and was turning blue. The paramedics said if it wasnt for the CPR, she wouldnt have made it. Emmet deserves such credit. He is such a wonderful person, he said. Hes a very quiet guy and paise rubs off him very easily. But for Ita, this was a life or death situation. Emmet, 26, from Gurranabraher in Cork, who works with the Cork-based moving and storage firm Nat Ross, was on a furniture moving job in Galway with colleagues, Mark Murray, who lives in Fermoy, and CJ OSullivan, from Castleisland, on August 27, 2015 when they heard calls for help from a neighbouring house. Ita, who was 67 at the time and who had never been sick a day in her life, was minding her grandchildren in her daughter Aoifes house when she collapsed from long QT syndrome an interruption of the electrical charge in her heart. Emmet and his colleagues rushed to help, and Emmet, who had taken a 90-minute CPR course at St Vincents GAA club in Cork just weeks earlier, began compressions, and an ambulance was called. I put her in the recovery position and could see that she was turning blue, he said. I told Mark to ring an ambulance and the operator came on the phone and told me to do compressions until paramedics arrived. I did about 15 compressions, and Ita gave a big gasp of air. The operator told me to keep going but I was afraid in case Id break her chest bone. When I slowed down the CPR, I could feel her breathing going down again. To be honest, it didnt look good at the time. I dont know what came over me, maybe it was adrenalin or tunnel vision. But I knew I had to keep going, this is what I have to do, nothing else mattered. Despite tiring, Emmet continued CPR for almost 15 minutes, with help from CJ, until Mark flagged the paramedics down. They used a defibrillator to shock Itas heart up to seven times and rushed her in critical condition to hospital. Paramedics told Emmet later that if it hadnt been for his CPR, she wouldnt have made it. Ita Winston meets the men who saved her life, Emmet OSullivan on the left and Mark Murray Last night, he played down his role in the emergency but said: It took a while to sink in afterwards what had happened that a simple act can save someones life. It was surreal to be honest, to know that youve saved someones life. Both Emmet and Barney agreed to share the story to highlight the importance of learning CPR. Emmet said: I didnt think I would ever have to use it. But to think that a 90-minute or two-hour course, two hours out of your life, could save someone elses life it should encourage everyone to do it. Barney said he, his wife and their family could never thank Emmet, his colleagues and the paramedics, John Dillane and Seamie Hayes, enough, and he encouraged people to learn CPR. Emmet, who is celebrating with his partner, Anita, the birth of their first child, Riley-Ann, five weeks ago, said he is delighted that Ita has made a full recovery. The Winstons have now forged a strong bond of friendship with Emmet and his colleagues, and with the paramedics. Barney said Itas near-death experience and her full recovery has changed their outlook on life, and makes them cherish every moment together, with family and friends, and the retired teachers are enjoying life to the full. The bucket list has been emptied. Weve travelled a lot over the last few months and were now looking forward to Cronas marriage in December, Barney said. The department has also cast doubt over the effectiveness of establishing a hi-tech Garda unit to monitor and take down extremist online material. This follows the publication of a damning report by UK parliamentarians, which accused Facebook, Twitter, and Google of consciously failing to combat the use of their sites to promote terrorism. The three companies, which have their European headquarters in Ireland, have strongly disagreed with the House of Commons report. The Department of Justice has confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it has had discussions on this issue with the internet corporations. It said there were no plans to legislate on it and that a purely voluntary approach was being taken. The department has had discussions with the relevant companies on this matter, it said in a statement. At this point in time there is no European regulation in this area; the favoured approach being to work with companies to identify possible approaches and solutions. The Department of Justice It said Ireland also contributed to discussions on an EU approach to dealing with this issue and was supportive of the EU Commissions Internet Forum, which had been set up to engage with the companies concerned. The UK report noted that the EU had developed rules last May on requirements on the three social media giants, and Microsoft, to take down illegal hate speech. It said this was a first step and said these efforts should be replicated to counter online extremism. It called on the British government to develop and enforce its own measures in relation to this area. This would be carried out by the Metropolitan Polices counter terrorism internet referral unit, which, it said, should be upgraded into a hi-tech, round-the-clock body to monitor and quickly block sites. In response to the need for a similar unit in Ireland, the department said: The department has noted the calls for round-the-clock monitoring of the internet. However, the volume of online material raises questions about how effective such a mechanism might be. It added: There are already processes in place by which law enforcement agencies can bring unacceptable material to the attention of the relevant companies, notably through Europols internet referral unit. The department said countering radicalisation and terrorism required both hard and soft security measures. It said online radicalisation was only one issue and that direct engagement with at-risk communities was also one. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Turkish Air Force is inflicting air strikes on the positions of the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) in the Syrian territory near the city of Jarabulus liberated from the militants of the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group, Hurriyet newspaper reported Aug. 27. The shelling of the YPG positions started Aug. 27 morning at 10:00 (GMT + 2 hours). Earlier it was reported that a third group of Turkish tanks may enter Syria if the YPG and the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party) forces dont leave the city of Manbij located on the west bank of the Euphrates. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city. 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), the YPG and the PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu So far this year, the Department of Education has received only five applications for the alternative grants scheme for those who are ineligible for support through the normal college grant system. Set up on a pilot basis last year by then education minister Jan OSullivan, it aimed to assist students who had been through the school system here but who were still in the asylum-seeker process. There were 37 applications for assistance, but only two of them were successful, as reported by the Irish Examiner in May. At least 30 to 40 students who are in the asylum-seeking process, many of them living in direct provision accommodation, are believed to have sat the Leaving Certificate this year. Similar numbers are expected to do so in the next few years, and Irish Refugee Council education adviser Charlotte Byrne said the figure could be as high as 100. She understands the biggest reason for grant applications being unsuccessful last year was that students did not meet the requirement that they must have attended school here for at least five years. There are a lot of teenagers who have managed to do the Leaving Certificate, often in a language that is relatively new to them. But then they have to sit around being idle because they cant go to college, Ms Byrne said. She said it would be much more reasonable if students were still required to have completed the Leaving Certificate, but to have been in school in Ireland for the entire two-year senior cycle instead of for five years. She said the same residency requirement that applies to Irish grant applicants could apply, meaning they should be living in the EU for at least three of the last five years. The system is preventing people who want to learn and work and fend for themselves, its tying their hands, she said. While third-level colleges are entitled to charge non-EU students full tuition fees, sometimes more than 10,000 but depending on the course, most are understood to waive fees or offer some other arrangements for small numbers of asylum seekers registered each year. Only five applications were received up to Wednesday from asylum seekers for the grant scheme, which Education Minister Richard Bruton announced in June he would be continuing on a pilot basis for this year. It provides for the same level of support as Irish and EU students may receive from Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi). They range from payment of the 200 or 3,000 annual fees for further or higher education, respectively, up to maintenance grants of between 300 and 5,915. To be eligible, asylum seekers must fall within the same income thresholds as Irish applicants to Susi, and have a combined period of at least five years in the protection process or at leave-to-remain stage. A department spokesperson said the scheme opened for applications on June 3 and is open until November 4. The burkini ban is a decision that comes from a place of fear and it really concerns me that it is having such an impact. Again, its women who are suffering the consequences. Its a complex issue but in essence, this is another form of social control of women, with the veil or burkini now being used as just another political tool at a time of rapid social change, she told the Irish Examiner. Having helped developed surfing in Iran, she explained that many women she worked with found freedom in the sea. Ive experienced first-hand the amazing benefit that even a few moments of escape into the sea can have on our wellbeing and mental health. Women Ive worked with in Iran on surf programmes there have described the impact of the sea as healing, cleansing, how it washes away worries, brings a sense of calm and freedom from stress on land. It deeply saddens me that some women are denied this experience, she said. Easkey explained that the surf hijab, similar to the burkini, has allowed Muslim women to participate in the sport when they could not otherwise have done so. Like in the award-winning documentary of Irans first female surfers, Into the Sea (directed by Marion Poizeau), which highlights how the surf hijab (full covering of the female body, including the head) is a key factor for the acceptance of women in surfing and their ability to actively participate, she explained. Easkey herself, who is from Donegal, has worn the surf hijab. For me, what matters most is making that experience accessible to all, regardless of culture, beliefs, background, gender, clothing. Why cant we instead celebrate the beauty in our differences and still share the joy of being on the beach and in the water, she said. Meanwhile, the creator of the burkini, Australian woman Aheda Zanetti, told Morning Ireland yesterday that the garment is misunderstood. Its supposed to integrate among Western society. It doesnt symbolise Islamic term or Islamic type of dress. It doesnt even symbolise that a Muslim wearer would wear it, she said. McDonalds was successful earlier this year in opposing Supermacs plan with the European Commission. In a 24-page ruling, the Office of Harmonisation for the Internal Market (OHIM) at the Commission agreed with McDonalds that Supermacs application for a trademark was likely to cause confusion amongst the public over the two different fast food brands and their fast food products. Supermacs appealed the refusal but then withdrew the appeal and instead lodged a fresh application in May of this year with the OIHM. Supermacs lodged the revised application after boss Pat McDonagh stated that the firm learnt a lot from the European decision and adjusted their application accordingly. Any party wishing to object to the new trademark application had until next Wednesday, August 31, to make a submission, and McDonalds has registered its opposition to the Supermacs brand being used to sell its fast food. In papers lodged with the OIHM at Allicante, Spain, McDonalds has confirmed it is basing its opposition to the Supermacs brand as there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public between the two brands. A spokesman for the OIHM said yesterday there will be a two-month cooling off period after August 31 and if the two parties cant agree, McDonalds then has two more months to state its opposition to the trademark. Supermacs will then have two months to respond to the points made by McDonalds and then the OIHM will then makes its decision. MacDonalds has successfully blocked Supermacs from operating in Australis and the EU since mid-2014. The minister will outline the position to Mr Hickeys relatives after they called on cabinet to help remove him from jail. It comes as prison authorities are to allow journalists into the Bangu prison complex, where Mr Hickey and Kevin Mallon are being detained, for a visit on Monday morning. It is expected reporters will be able to tour parts of the prison and to take some photographs where specifically allowed by the authorities. However, they will not be able to meet Mr Hickey or Mr Mallon. In a public statement released through Kirwan McKeown James Solicitors last night, Mr Hickeys family said Irish politicians need to help him as they are gravely concerned about his treatment. The statement, which is understood to have not been sent directly to any of the politicians involved, said the Hickey family want Mr Flanagan, Transport Minister Shane Ross, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny to urgently intervene in addressing the extremely worrying issues surrounding his arrest and detention. The statement noted that while Mr Hickey was arrested seven days ago, he has yet to face any charges and is likely to remain in the Bangu prison complex for up to three months before a court hearing, unless he is granted house arrest or freed. And, hitting out at the filming of his arrest, his detention in a high-security prison without charge, the effects on his health and the public disclosure of evidence by Brazilian police to the media without a right of reply all standard practices in Brazil they said they want to meet with the senior Government ministers immediately to help secure his release. The Hickey family is gravely concerned about the effect this degrading and humiliating ordeal has had on their father and grandfather and how it continues to affect his physical and mental health, the statement read. In a detailed statement responding to the remarks last night, Mr Flanagan agreed to meet with members of Mr Hickeys family in the coming days. However, despite the development, he also stressed that the department cannot, however, provide legal advice or interfere in any way in the judicial process in another country, a position which will be underlined to the Hickeys next week. Mr Ross did not rule out meeting the Hickey family, but said Mr Flanagan is the most appropriate person to meet with them at this point. The grandson of a blacksmith and the son of a shopkeeper and TD, he was as at home talking and tasting tea with experts in his familys Barrys Tea headquarters in Cork City as he was negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement in the cauldron of Northern Ireland politics at the height of the Troubles. His business and political colleagues and critics recall his no-nonsense approach, his wit, and modesty. He wasnt one for small talk, but when he spoke, everyone listened. In many ways he wasnt a natural politician, avoiding petty political spats and much more interested in getting things done. His approach to both business and politics was, no doubt, shaped by his childhood and early retail career in the Cork of the 1930s where, although growing up in comfortable surroundings, his daily contact with customers in the family shops served as a constant reminder of the struggles facing ordinary people. And he always remained acutely aware of his familys humble origins. Barrys Tea was founded in 1901 by Mr Barrys grandfather, James J Barry, a blacksmith from Ballyhooly in north Cork who came to the city to work as an apprentice grocer in Simcoxs on St Patricks Street. James jumped the counter to open his own shops, first on Bridge St and soon afterwards on Princes St. James married Annie Ryan, a stridently independent woman who was reported to be the first woman in Cork to ride a bicycle in public an activity which was deemed at the time to be improper for the weaker sex an act of defiance which saw her pelted with tomatoes on occasions. But it was Jamess son, Anthony, the eldest of their 11 children, who decided to specialise in the sale of loose tea, a strategic decision which would lay the foundations for what would eventually become the Barrys Tea empire. Anthony married Margaret Costelloe, the daughter of a Cashel jeweller, and Peter was born in August 1928. Six years later, Anthony was awarded the Empire Cup for tea blending, confirming his expertise in the tea trade. As Peter was schooled first at the Model School and then at Christian Brothers College on Wellington Rd, Anthony maintained the retail business during the Second World War, and Peter joined the firm in 1946. He married Margaret OMullane, from Wilton, in 1953. The couple would have six children four sons and two daughters. Anthony continued to source tea mostly from India and Sri Lanka, selling it from the shop on Princes St, and the blends grew in popularity. He also became involved in politics and was a Dail deputy for the borough constituency of Cork from 1954-57 and 1961-65, and Lord Mayor of Cork in 1961-62. By the early 1960s, Peter was becoming more involved in the business pioneered the concept of wholesaling tea, sourcing it from East Africa and selling first to other shops in Cork, expanding into the suburbs, and then to the rest of the country. There was an incredible reaction to these new blends, and they became a Barrys Tea signature. Building on this success, it was Peter who spearheaded the rapid expansion of the company during the 1970s to a point where, by the end of the decade, it held a 30% stake in the Irish tea market, worth more than 40m at the time. Following approaches from Fine Gael in the late 60s, Peter decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and enter politics. And while he continued to remain interested in the tea business, his day-to-day involvement in the firm lessened as his life became dominated by politics. He was a TD for Cork South Central from 1969-97, and was deputy party leader from 1979-87, and again from 1989-93. He was transport and power minister during the 1973 oil crisis, before moving to education. He also held the environment portfolio in 1981 in the Fine Gael-Labour coalition before being appointed foreign affairs minister in 1982, a position he held for five years. During this time, he negotiated the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 a moment he regarded as the highlight of his political career and he was also foreign affairs minister when Ireland signed the Single European Act, and negotiated the enlargement of the European community to include Spain and Portugal. Peter Barry, Dick Spring, and Tom King witness Garret Fitzgerald and Margaret Thatcher signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 After Garrett FitzGerald resigned as Fine Gael leader in 1987, Barry and John Bruton contested for the party leadership, but lost out to Alan Dukes. His failed leadership bid led to Barry becoming known as the best leader Fine Gael never had. He was also influential locally, playing a key role in setting up the passport office in Cork, in retaining the Bord Gais headquarters in the city, in the development of the Ringaskiddy Deepwater Berth, in securing an extension to the main runway at Cork Airport, in behind-the-scenes talks which led to the takeover by Heineken of what was, at the time, a troubled Murphys Brewery, and in the development of the visionary Land Use and Transportation Study for Cork. Reluctant to pressure his children into politics, Barry was influential in encouraging the late Hugh Coveney, a former minister and father of current Housing Minister Simon Coveney, with whom he had business relationships, to run for office. Despite his influence in politics and business, Barry disliked the merchant prince label, preferring to describe himself as a tea taster, and he became the stuff of legend early in his Dail career, when he filled out a Dail occupation query form, describing himself as a tea merchant, importer and taster. Questions about his considerable wealth were also batted away, answered in one interview with an understated Im comfortable. In 1970, he became the second generation of his family to be elected Lord Mayor of Cork, as he watched with great pride from the public gallery of City Hall in 2005, when his daughter, Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, also took the chain of office, cementing the familys reputation as one of Irelands great political dynasties. Peter Barry with his daughter and current MEP Deirdre Clune and former Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton after he received the Freedom of the City of Cork on June 12, 2010. Picture: Denis Scannell Mr Barry retired from politics ahead of the 1997 general election, and his seat was won by Ms Clune, which she lost in 2002 but regained again in 2007. In retirement, he kept a low profile, in a bid not to overshadow his daughters political ambitions. But he was thrust reluctantly into the limelight in 1998, when it emerged that he spent 43,000 to buy in trust the 300-strong collection of Kitty Kiernans love letters to Michael Collins. He said he bought them because the State appeared to be making no effort to keep them in the country. In 2010, at the age of 81, he was finally conferred with the Freedom of Cork by the then Fine Gael Lord Mayor, and current European Affairs Minister, Dara Murphy, who said the honour was long overdue. Mr Barry was joined at the celebration by his beloved wife, Margaret, and their six children. Margaret died three years later. In an interview in 1998, Mr Barry singled her out for praise: In everything I did, Margaret was an equal partner. According to figures provided by the Department of Defence, 17 members of the Defence Forces last year failed random drug tests. Five members failed drug tests in 2014; 13 failed in 2013; and 16 failed in 2012. The Defence Forces operate a zero-tolerance policy towards drug taking as it is seen as incompatible with membership; all necessary measures are taken to achieve a drug-free society within the organisation. The primary objective of the Defence Forces drug-testing regime is deterrence. According to the department, the Defence Forces drug-testing team carried out 13 operations last year, testing a total of 1,184 personnel some 98.56% proved negative. The Defence Forces is committed to testing 10% of members each year. Of the 1,184 tested, 773 were examined in army brigades, with 51 from the Defence Forces HQ, 76 in the naval service, and 230 in the air corps. The drug-testing programme was introduced in 2003. Since then, 105 Defence Force personnel have tested positive from a total 18,514 examined. A spokesman for the Defence Forces representative organisation, PDForra, said: We take the issue of drug-taking seriously and recognise the need to have drug testing procedures in place. He would not be drawn on the increase in positive tests last year. In the testing regime, the teams call in unannounced and select their subjects at random. Those who test positive face three options: They can retire; be discharged or face withdrawal of a cadetship; or continue in service if they can make a case that taking the drug was inadvertent or the result of some circumstance, such as a spiked drink. Those who test positive for a controlled drug, as specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, are subject to an administrative process, including the testing of a B sample if requested. In the past, some of those disciplined as a result of testing positive have challenged the decision in court. In relation to the 17 members who tested positive, the department said that appropriate administrative action ensued in all cases. At the end of last year, two members of the Defence Forces were subject to targeted drug-testing. A spokeswoman for the Defence Forces said yesterday: Compulsory random drugs testing and targeted drugs testing support the Defence Forces policy on drug and substance abuse or misuse. This is based on the premise that unlawful possession, supply, or use of a controlled substance is incompatible with membership of the Defence Forces. Detective Chief Superintendent John McMahon, head of the Special Detective Unit, has notified Garda HQ he intends to leave, as he is reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60. The loss of Chief Supt McMahon, who had also headed the Garda National Drugs Unit and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is seen as a significant blow to the force. Sources said this is particularly so given the lack of experienced officers available to fill specialised roles. It comes as another experienced criminal investigator, Detective Inspector Kieran Houlihan, left last Friday as a result of mandatory retirement. Det Insp Houlihan, based in the Dublin Northern Region, was highly regarded by colleagues and was leading several serious investigations at the time he had to leave. These retirements follow the shock announcement a week ago of the departure, for different reasons, of Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne in October. Asst Comm Byrne is the head of the National Support Services, which oversee the work of all the serious crime units. He made his decision after he secured a high- profile policing position in the Cayman Islands. Many of these retirements raise again the issue of compulsory retirement at 60 compared to 65 for the rest of the public service. A number of senior gardai are concerned at the loss of experience, and said the situation is only set to worsen in the coming year. Next year there will be a significant number of senior people who will be obliged to retire, one source said. A second source said: A whole cohort are hitting 60 in the coming year. Most of them are in senior positions and most probably want to stay on, but cant. The issue has been the subject of challenges, most prominently in a High Court case taken in 2008 by then assistant commissioner Martin Donnellan. The judge ruled the State is entitled to maintain the retirement age. The State argued the retirement age was necessary to ensure talented younger people could move through the ranks. A separate source said there are pros and cons to the retirement age, but suggested that circumstances might be different now and that the issue could be re-examined. Another source said the problem is that recruitment came in batches so that retirements hit the force in waves, and that the issue is a structural one. Numerous sources said succession planning is not there to replace people due to retire. One idea suggested is that the Garda Commissioner could set up a panel of people who are retiring and who want to stay on and take them in under contract as needed, as happens in teaching and the HSE. A Department of Justice spokesman said there are no plans to change the current retirement age. YSL Beaute Scandal Collection There is a moment in most episodes of Sky Livings Scandal at which all seems lost. And in this moment White House Communications Director Olivia Pope appears desolate and we wonder if this time this time her father/inner demon/latest GOP nemesis has her beaten. But then something clicks, her eyes round with inspiration and she jumps up and sweeps from the room, cape-coat and curly hair flying. Her plan will shield her erstwhile lovers administration from disgrace once more. Political scandals, even after five seasons and with a trope this established, are pretty compelling. Fashion scandals not so much. Were so used to designers attempting to shock with over-sexed ads, sheer clothes and ever more elaborate shows that its hard to raise a well-shaped brow. This new Scandal makeup collection is named not for modern couture but the response to a 1971 show at which Yves Saint Laurents clothes were thought to celebrate the style of women who survived WW2 occupation on their backs (the ones who had their heads shaved during the Liberation). Though it took a drubbing in the press at the time, wealthy women quickly adopted some of the collections more provocative pieces, thereby qualifying questionable taste as fashion. Anjelica Huston even modelled them for Vogue Italia. Quoted in the March 1971 issue of Vogue Paris, Saint Laurent, who was eight when Charles de Gaulle made his rousing speech at the Hotel de Ville, said that the young, they dont have any memories. The bold and clashing colours of this autumns makeup collection recall his desire to be both seductive and retro. Fanta lips courtesy of YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mattes, 33, in Orange Seventies, raccoon eyes painted with YSL Full Metal Shadow The Mats, 29, in Plum Velvet or any combination of shades from the YSL Couture Scandal Palette, 55, creates a very strong look. You can lighten up with a slick of the more sheer YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil, 29, in Make Me Nude or just restrict the colour indulgence to your nails with YSL La Laque Couture, 23, in Fur Green or Vintage Plum. Dior Skyline Collection Nothing signals the end of summer makeup like plum-coloured lids and coppery lips. Skin-wise, however, Dior Beauty is still hooked on contouring. Skyline is inspired by architecture, using makeup to define facial structure in the same manner a photographer uses light and shade to create beautiful images. Highlighters add volume, bronzers create shadows, buffing smoothes harsh lines...you know the drill. The new products make short work of the process, though, especially the double-ended Diorblush Light & Contour Stick, 39. Available in three gel-cream shades, the matte contouring end blends atop foundation very nicely. The strobing tip is not too glittery for daytime wear. This accessible take on an often dramatic look was the brands aim. The idea of correcting skin using contrast is not new. But nowadays, formulas have evolved tremendously, The products in this Fall collection can be used either to create an ultra glamorous look or as part of the morning routine, say Creative and Image Director Peter Philips. Hes also produced four colour correctors, Fix It 2-in-1 Prime & Conceal, 35, (one each for redness, dark circles, sallow patches and dullness), to even out the rest of the complexion. Eyes, nails and lips are moving on from last season with a fresh stock of deep purples, browns and berries. The Dior Skyline 5 Couleurs Eye Palette, 60, in Capital of Light has four powder shades printed with the Eiffel Towers lattice, if you like the little details that make a collection collectable. Even if you dont, the silky, non-flake pigments are very flattering and easy to work with and the fifth shadow, a serum, doubles as liner. Dior Diorshow Brow Chalk, 24.50, a pigment pen with an angled tip, helps create the illusion of thick brows. Dior Le Vernis, 26, comes in cafe au lait nude (Minimal) and chocolate (Obscure). The lips are as central to Skyline as they were at Paris Fashion Week in March. Dior Addict Lipstick, 36, in Sophisticated topped with Dior Addict Gloss, 30, in Famous gets you Kendall Jenners look from the show. Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo Tom Ford created one of the first and best palettes of the contouring trends current iteration way back in 2011. With the launch of the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Palette, 68, the designer sought to use symmetry to enhance natural beauty long before the technique went cult. Enhancing your lip size with colour has been a thing for quite a while, so he is a bit late to the party with this new Lip Contour Duo, 49, but the eight-shade range is so gorgeous I doubt youll care. The double-ended pen features a slim pencil tip for refined definition. The other end is a full-coverage lipstick with hydrating oils and shimmer pigments to create temporary fullness and add dimension. Devil Inside red and Throw Me On peach are especially pretty. All shades are on counters from September 12th. MAC X Star Trek Collection MAC celebrates the women of Star Trek with a colour collection launch that coincides with the franchises 50th anniversary. Commander Deanna Troi, Nyota Uhura, Seven of Nine and (I can scarcely believe this was really a thing) Vina the Orion Slave Girl have inspired 23 makeup products, one fan brush and one shadow brush. Its a little out there, as collaborations go, but MAC has already put out a collection inspired by troll dolls this year. Why get back on piste now? The MAC Lipstick, 20, and Lipglass, 22, come in the most wearable shades. The Khaaannnn! red-berry gloss and Llap rose-champagne lipstick are lovely. Trip The Light Fantastic Powder, 31, a variation on MACs Mineralize Skinfinish highlighting powder, comes in Luna Lustre sheer rose and Highly Illogical luminous coral. Most of us should also be on board with MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, 23, in On The Hunt black and MAC Studio Nail Lacquer, 10, in Enterprise silver-chrome. DOES the name Mary Elmes mean anything to you? To my shame, I only recently came across the Cork woman who has earned the name the Irish Oskar Schindler for her work in France saving Jewish children from the Nazi gas chambers during World War ll. In 2013, she became the first Irish person to be honoured as Righteous Among the Nations by Israels official memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem. A year later in France, her son and daughter who still live there were presented with a posthumous medal in memory of their mothers life-saving work. Yet here, in her native country, the name Mary Elmes is not widely known. Why isnt this amazing woman a national heroine? At least two upcoming events will help to change that. From September 14 to 16, the Smashing Theatre Company in Dublin will host an international symposium remembering the work of women in wartime, among them Mary Elmes and another woman, Ettie Steinberg, the only Irish woman known to have died in the Holocaust. In Cork on September 30, Mary Elmes will be one of several women honoured at the national conference of Network Ireland. Both events will do much to rewrite women into history and more besides. Artistic director of Smashing Times Theatre Company Mary Moynihan said the event is designed to explore how the past can inform a new vision for the future. And if there is something we need right now it is a vision of a future that takes us very far away from the present, which resembles the days before the Second World War, far too closely for comfort. Theres the rise of populist politics, for one thing: Donald Trump is just one politician of many who appears to have dispensed with the truth in a cynical attempt to whip up the masses. Theres the rise of the far-right in Europe, which plays on fear and must be called to account for the increasing number of racially motivated hate crimes. A wave of racial abuse followed in the wake of the Brexit vote, but who would want to be a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf in any country in Europe today, not just in burkini-banning France? Then, of course, there is the ongoing shame of the refugee crisis. Recalling Mary Elmes work with refugees, first during the Spanish Civil War and later in the Second World War, throws into sharp relief how poorly we have coped with the current refugee crisis. Her work might have been completely forgotten had it not been for Bernard Wilson, an Englishman and regular visitor to France who started to research the work Quakers had done in wartime internment camps in the southwest of the country. When he blogged about it, American Professor Ronald Friend got in touch to say he was looking for a woman called Mary Elmes who had helped him and his younger brother escape deportation to the Nazi death camps. He wanted to get in touch to say thank you. Bernard Wilson then started to chronicle Marys life from her birth in Cork on May 5, 1908 her father, a pharmacist, ran the family business in Winthrop Street to the gold medal she was awarded by Trinity College Dublin after graduating with First Class Honours in French and Spanish. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, she went to work with the British and American Quakers as a relief worker and would spend the best part of ten years working to save lives in Spain and later in France. Theres a reference to her hiding Jewish children in the boot of her car and driving them to safety in the Pyrenees, but nobody is sure how many lives she saved. Fellow relief worker Lois Mary Gunden Clemens wrote on August 10, 1942: when I got back to colony found a little boy crying Miss Elmes had brought us three Jewish boys in an attempt to save them when their parents leave; had quite some time quieting the poor little fellow; but finally his sobs died down Mary Elmes did come under suspicion and spent six months in a Gestapo prison but being Irish and neutral helped to secure her release. Ettie Steinberg was not so lucky. Born in 1914, she was reared with six siblings off the South Circular Road in Dublin. She worked as a seamstress her sister said she had golden hands before marrying Vogtjeck Gluck and moving to Antwerp. The rise of fascism forced the couple and their son Leon to flee to France where, for two years, they moved from house to house, never staying more than a night, in a vain attempt to avoid deportation. They were deported from Drancy, outside Paris, on September 2, 1942, at 8.55am. They arrived in Auschwitz two days later and were immediately sent to the gas chambers. Ettie, however, seems to have known what was in store. She wrote a postcard and threw it from the train window. Incredibly, it was found and sent to her family in Dublin. It read: Uncle Lechem, we did not find, but we found Uncle TishBAv, which was a cryptic message thought to mean that instead of finding good fortune, we found destruction. Her story will be brought to life in Ode to Ettie Steinberg, a play by Deirdre Kinahan reimagining moments in Etties life. It runs at the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Dublin on September 14-16. Its heartening to see that some of the forgotten stories about women and how they experienced the war are now being retold. As we know only too well, those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. But can we, as the organisers of the forthcoming symposium hope, go on to draw inspiration from those women to shape a better future? Who knows? But even if we do repeat the past, at least now we cant say weve forgotten it. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 27 Trend: The Free Syrian Army liberated five more villages in Jarabulus and Chobanbey districts located in northern Syria and bordering with Turkey from the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorists, Turkish Anadolu agency reported Aug. 27. 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. After he died, she stayed with him through the freezing night. It would take almost a month before Ms Pizova would be rescued from the New Zealand wilderness in an ordeal she described as harrowing. The Czech tourist, who was rescued on Wednesday from a park wardens hut on the snowed-in Routeburn Track near Queenstown, broke down in tears as she read aloud her account in halting English. Czech consul Vladka Kennett provided more details. Ms Pizovas comments came soon after rescuers retrieved the body of her partner, Ondrej Petr, 27. The couple set out on July 26 to hike the scenic track, a 32km route that typically takes three days in the summer, but which can become treacherous in the winter months from June to August. Ms Pizova said they made several mistakes: They did not tell anyone of their plans; they didnt take a locator beacon; and they underestimated the winter conditions. All these aspects contributed to our tragedy, she said. The conditions were extreme. We encountered heavy snowfall and low cloud which contributed to our overnighting in the open. In our attempt to reach the hut, the tragic accident happened. Ms Kennett said Mr Petr fell down the slope. Pavlina slipped behind him, and was unable to help him out, and that was it, said Ms Kennett. She stayed with him for the first night, beside him, because first of all she wanted to be with him, and she couldnt move any farther due to the weather conditions. MS Kennett said Ms Pizova spent another night outdoors as she remained lost in the deep snow. She rubbed her feet and tried to keep her blood circulating, and wore all the clothes and blankets she had. Ms Pizova says she finally found her way to the Lake Mackenzie Hut and broke into the wardens quarters through a window. She says she tried to hike out several times but her frost-bitten feet and the avalanches she witnessed discouraged her. Ms Pizova would end up spending nearly a month at the hut. She used ash to fashion a letter H in the snow to signal for help, but other hikers were avoiding the route, and the planes and helicopters she waved at never saw her. Ms Kennett said Ms Pizova survived on food left behind by the wardens, who do not live there during the winter. It took weeks before friends and family realised the couple was missing and raised the alarm. On Wednesday, the Czech consulate informed police, who began a search the same day. Earlier this year conditions there were so bad that, amid reports of the army burning local wheat fields, some people were reduced to eating grass and sending their children out to beg, the UNs World Food Programme said. Insurgents and government forces agreed a deal on Thursday to evacuate the town, which the Syrian army has surrounded since 2012. The UN said only one shipment of aid has reached the area since then. A Reuters witness saw six buses leaving the town. Footage on state television showed buses carefully driving past a large group of soldiers through streets lined with rubble. Peeping from the window of one of the vehicles was a small child no older than four or five, too young to remember life before the siege. A first group was later reported to have arrived at a housing centre in Herjalleh, another suburb west of Damascus, by Syrian state television. A Syrian Army general told reporters in Daraya that around 300 families of fighters would leave the town by last night, and in total around 700 fighters and 4,000 civilians would be evacuated today. Two Free Syria Army rebel groups, the Shuhada al-Islam and Ajnad al-Sham, will travel today to Idlib, a rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. The plight of civilians in Daraya and other besieged areas has long been of concern to the United Nations, which has condemned the use of starvation as a weapon by both sides However, the United Nations was not consulted on Darayas evacuation plan and UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and UN humanitarian co-ordinator Stephen OBrien voiced deep concern about it. They said civilians should be evacuated only if their safety could be guaranteed and it was on a voluntary basis. There have been previous deals to allow similar evacuations of besieged fighters and civilians, or to let people return to their homes after ceasefires were agreed. We are fighting absurdity with absurdity, said Jessica Jin, leader of the protest called Cocks Not Glocks: Campus (Dildo) Carry, where hundreds of sex toys were given away at a rally that coincided with a return to classes at the universitys flagship campus. 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, said Ms Jin. On August 1, a so-called campus carry law backed by the states Republican leaders went into effect that allows concealed handgun licence holders aged 21 and older to bring handguns into classrooms and other university facilities. The lawmakers said campus carry protects the rights of gun owners and could prevent a mass shooting on campus. Hundreds of university faculty and staff lobbied to block campus carry, arguing the combination of youth, academic stress, alcohol, and firearms could be deadly. A US district judge denied a motion from three University of Texas professors who wanted to ban guns in their classroom after the state gave some students that right under the law. Protests organisers shouting slogans such as if you are packing heat, we are packing meat handed out hundreds of sex toys, many donated by area stores. Burma This Week in Parliament (August 22-26) A view of the Union Parliament in Naypyidaw during its opening session on Feb. 8, 2016 / The Irrawaddy Monday August 22 In the Upper House, Sai Aung Htun of Shan State Constituency 2 asked if by-elections would be held in Shan States Mong Hsu and Kyethi townships, since polls were not held in those townships during the 2015 general election due to conflict. Aung Myint, member of the Union Election Commission (UEC), replied that when by-elections are held in early 2017, polls will be organized in those townships in line with election laws and by-laws on the condition that the two townships meet the requirements to host free and fair polls. Tuesday August 23 In the Union Parliament, lawmakers discussed the draft law to amend the 2016 Union Budget Law. The parliamentary by-vote approved the draft law, which cuts ministry budgets, except for the ministries of education, health, ethnic affairs, defense and the state counselors office. About 470 billion kyats (US$400 million) were slashed from a 20 trillion kyats ($16.5 billion) government budget. Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance Maung Maung Win elaborated on the signing of the second revised Asean comprehensive investment agreement by Burma. Lawmakers discussed the presidents proposal to ratify the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities. Wednesday August 24 In the Lower House, lawmakers debated Dr. Hla Moes proposal, which urged the Ministry of Education to adopt a system that could properly assess the educational qualifications of students at a basic level in order to contribute to the educational policy and objectives of the government. Parliament documented the proposal. In the Upper House, lawmakers debated the science, technology and innovation draft law. In response to the discussions, the Speaker of the Upper House asked the bill committee to review the discussions. The Union Parliament passed a bill to amends the 2016 Union Budget Law. Thursday August 24 In the Lower House, lawmakers debated the amendments proposed by the Upper House to the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, and approved a draft law to amend it. In the Upper House, Min Naing of Sagaing Division Constituency 12 asked if the government had a plan to appoint ethnic language teachers during the 2016-17 academic year. Union Minister for Education Dr. Myo Thein Gyi replied that his ministry did not have a plan for the time being, but that textbooks in 49 ethnic languages for grades 1, 2 and 3 had been distributed to 540,000 students in 187 townships, and a budget had been allocated for ethnic language teachers. In the Union Parliament, lawmakers continued discussing the ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities, and Parliament approved the ratification of the convention. Friday August 26 In the Lower House, Win Myint Aung of Dabayin Constituency asked if the government had a plan to form committees to supervise prisons and take care of inmates. Deputy Home Affairs Minister Maj-Gen Aung Soe replied that the Myanmar Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court judges, local authorities and the International Committee of the Red Cross make visits to prisons and leave recommendations, and that his ministry acts on those recommendations and therefore has no plan to form such committees. In the Upper House, Pe Chit of Rangoon Constituency 9 asked if the government had a plan to sign the Ottawa Treaty and whether there was mine detection and clearance plans in place to help save the lives of rural people in current and former conflict zones. The deputy defense minister replied that it was currently impossible to sign the treaty given the ongoing clashes in the country. He added that his ministry was clearing mines in some areas of Karen State. The Upper House also approved the territorial sea and maritime zone draft law. In the crowded smart phone market, manufacturers have to find something that would make their product stand out apart the others in order to be noticed. Samsung may have a new technology that could set its smart phone apart from the others. It has been said that Samsung would release the Galaxy X, which would have a foldable display screen. Samsung has innovated with the display for its smart phones. It has been the first to come out with the AMOLED display. With AMOLED displays, colors are shown more vibrantly as opposed to LCD display. Now Samsung is taking mobile screen technology even further with a foldable display screen. It has been rumored that the Samsung Galaxy X would be the first ever smart phone that will have it. It's speculated that the Samsung Galaxy X might come out sometime in 2017, according to Digital Trends. Samsung has filed a number of patents for a foldable smart phone. In one of its patents, it is claimed that the phone could have different modes when folded and unfolded. Also to be featured on the Galaxy X would be dual cameras as well as 4K resolution for the display. For the 4K resolution, Samsung is already developing it for the Galaxy S8, as Android Headlines reports. This would be the Bio Blue 4K technology. It is said that with this technology screen resolution would even be brighter than the current AMOLED technology. This same technology might also be used for the Galaxy X. With 4K resolution as well as a foldable display, it will be smart phone that would be very different from those currently in the market. It is not just on the display that it will stand out though, as it will also have dual cameras that could give out more detailed and colorful photos. Dual cameras though aren't new as LG has the LG G5, which already has dual cameras. The Huawei P9 as well has dual cameras. However the Samsung Galaxy X will have many features on it if it will have dual cameras alongside a foldable, 4K display. It has also been said that Samsung is testing out two variants of the Galaxy X. One will have the Snapdragon 620 as its processor, while another will have the Snapdragon 820 or 830. These processors have the Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The Galaxy X is also said to come with 3GB RAM and its storage capacity could be expanded through microSD. As the smart phone market grows even more crowded, the Samsung Galaxy X will definitely stand out from all the other smart phones. A foldable smart phone will be an innovation that other manufacturers will watch out for. The industry will see if such a smart phone will be a hit to the public, and if it should then others just might follow and have their own foldable smart phones. If you want more on smart phones, then the iTechPost report about the best smart phones for 2016 would be the one to check out. Ever since its release, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been endlessly praised for its high-end specs, innovations and features that truly make it unique. But on the other side of things, there is the OnePlus 3, that boasts of similar specs, at less than half the price. A differential like that begs to ask the question which handheld is wholly better than the other. Specs Camera: When it comes to the camera, Forbes notes that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 does not take more spectacular images than the any other flagship, particularly the OnePlus 3. The publication argues that, as far as smartphones go, the technology has somewhat plateaued.In fact, it terms of a strict count on megapixel, the Chinese option has its Korean competition beat. According to Tech Times, the OnePlus 3 has a 16 megapixel rear camera and an 8 megapixel front camera. Meanwhile the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a 12 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. Display: The OnePlus 3 has a 5.5 inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Its pixel density is 401 ppi that is protected by a Gorilla Glass 4. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a 5.7 inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The unit's pixel density is also superior at 518 ppi, which is under Gorilla Glass 5. Power: The Chinese handheld is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 820 that runs on an impressive 6GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Samsung flagship has an octa-core Snapdragon 820 processor and a lower 4GB of RAM. Storage: Both devices start at 64GB of internal memory. However, only the Note 7's memory can be expanded to 256GB via a microSD card. Battery: While the Samsung Note 7 also has a larger 3500mAh battery when compared to the 3000mAh battery of the OnePlus 3, the latter boasts of a Dash Charge support that can charge 60 percent of the battery in just 30 minutes. Additional Features In terms of features, the OnePlus 3 matches the fingerprint scanner of its competitor, but does not have the S Pen, dust and water resistance nor the iris scanner of the Note 7. Price As mentioned earlier, the OnePlus 3 which is priced at around $399, is less than half the $864 price tag of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 27 Trend: Four Turkish servicemen were injured in the shootout between the Turkish servicemen and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the countrys Semdinli area, southeastern Hakkari province, Anadolu agency reported Aug. 27. According to the agency, two injured are in serious condition. The injured were taken by helicopter to the Hakkari State Hospital. An air operation was launched to detain the PKK militants, the message said. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Cisco Systems has released some security patches for a critical flaw in Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) firewalls found to be the target of an exploit cyberweapon linked to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Security analysts expect that the networking company will soon release more fixes. Cisco Firewalls Vulnerable To NSA's ExtraBacon Exploit The security flaw in Cisco's ASA firewalls is exploited by a cyberweapon dubbed ExtraBacon. According to cybersecurity experts, this is one of the tools used by the Equation, a group believed to be a cyberespionage team linked to the NSA. According to Computerworld, earlier this month the ExtraBacon exploit was released together with other exploits by a hacker group using the name Shadow Brokers. The group has put up online for auction files provided as a sample of a larger Equation set of hacking and cyberweapon tools. A buffer overflow vulnerability is exploited by the ExtraBacon tool in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) implementation from Cisco's Adaptive Security Appliance software. According to TechTarget, after researches found an easy way to modify the SNMP exploit, the danger of the NSA-linked ExtraBacon exploit grew. The cyberweapon could be easily made to be effective against newer versions of Cisco's ASA software. As long as they can send traffic to their SNMP interface on the affected devices, attackers can remotely execute rogue code. The only thing typically required in order to remotely execute rogue code on Cisco affected firewalls is being on the same internal network as the targeted devices. As a measure against the NSA exploit cyberweapon, the networking company Cisco Systems updated its advisory in order to announce the availability of patched versions. The fixes come for different Cisco ASA branches, including 9.1.7(9), 9.5(3) and 9.6.1(11). According to the vendor, it is recommended to update devices using ASA software versions from the 8.x and 7.x branches to version 9.1.7(9). The Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM), the Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software and Cisco PIX Firewalls are also affected by this vulnerability, in addition to ASA software. No patches will be provided for Cisco PIX Firewalls and Cisco Firewall Service Modules that have reached their end of life, but software version 6.0.1(2) was released for Cisco FTD. Looks like Samsung is not the only one facing supply shortage for their flagship. There have been reports claiming Apple might not have enough iPhone 7 units at launch. Apple iPhone 7 release date has already been revealed and as the date nears, the suppliers are struggling to catch up with the demand. Since it is obvious that Apple is sticking to their usual iPhone 7 release date, the suppliers won't be able to produce on time. Apple's suppliers are still trying to address the issue regarding the components that are missing. The high demand of the unreleased iphone 7 should be flattering for Apple, but the question is - will they be able to sustain the high demand? Business Insider reports that Apples sales for the iPhones have been dropping for the past two quarters. Even if it seems like there is a high demand for the new iPhone 7, orders have been down by 15 percent in 2016. Since the supplier declared the low yield rates of several components, this might not be the real reason for them missing the iPhone 7 release date. According to a report published on Forbes, one of Apple's manufacturers in mainland China - Pegatron - are not doing good. Conditions are getting worse due to excessive and illegal overtime work. China implemented a labor law that interns are not allowed to render overtime, but China Labor Watch found out that Pegatron's student interns are able to contribute an average of 80 hours per month on overtime in order to meet the demand before the iPhone 7 release date. China Labor Watch states that Pegatron workers only receive a gross income of $213 a month, and this may be one of the reasons why the Shanghai Municipal Government bumped up the minimum wage to $330. The Pegatron workers received a raise, but the real wages they received are actually amounting to something lesser than the sum of what they previously earned. Pegatron did give its workers a salary bump, but they kept the labor costs low, decreased social support, changed the bonus structures and the compensation as well. Since Apple's profits have been declining, the suppliers are affected by the decline big time and it resulted to exploitation of their workers. The news about Apple taking advantage of their workers before the iPhone 7 release date have reached the offices of their CEO and COO. Cook and Williams have already made a statement saying they are offended by the allegations, and now they are currently in a huge battle with BBC for suggesting expolitation of their workers. Rumors that Netflix's hit TV series "Marco Polo" is getting cancelled in the middle of season 2 has been put to rest. Fans can breathe in a quick sigh of relief. But brace yourself because according to rumors, it remains to be seen whether Marco Polo is going to be renewed for next season. Aside from that, there's speculation that Marco Polo Season 3 is not going to be aired at Netflix. According to Release Date, Marco Polo scored 8.1 out of 10 from at least 40,000 users. It also has received at least 166 reviews and 17 critic reviews and if Netflix is considering these data, they would surely want to keep Marco Polo Season 3 under their wing. Marco Polo has gained such following because of its diverse casts, and of course, the series' splendid martial arts scenes with intricate techniques. In an interview from Hollywood Reporter Full TV Executives Roundtable, Ted Sarandos explained that Marco Polo has done "what it was supposed to do." He discussed the future of Marco Polo with other TV executives such as Richard Plepler from HBO, Josh Sapan from AMC, Nancy Dubuc of A+E and even Bonnie Hammer from NBCUniversal. No details about the negotiation have been officially announced. On the casting side, Benedict Wong will still reprise his role as Kublai Khan when Marco Polo returns for season 3, although it was rumored that he is expected to appear less and less over time. MNR told there are rumors Wong's character, Kublai Khan, is going to have an untimely demise in season 3. Kublai Khan is going to face a new character - a Christian warrior priest, a Templar of some sort that can possibly kill Kublai Khan in Marco Polo Season 3. In any case, we can be assure that the TV executives are fighting for the renewal of Marco Polo next season because fans can't get enough and are clamoring for another season of the show. Avid fans of the hit TV series "Pretty Little Liars" have been speculating a lot about the show's nearing finale set on Aug. 30. On Monday, Freeform released the official synopsis of the show's summer ending with nothing but teasers that made all fans rave more. "The Liars face off with their enemies in a chaotic fight that ends fatally. One of the PLLs learns a secret about her past that changes everything while another Liar discovers something about her future that could alter her course forever." Based on the said synopsis, someone might get killed after a big fight between the Liars and their enemies. Hollywood Take suggests that it will Toby while the TV Line bets on Noel, Jenna and Yvonne. Whoever meets his/her ignoble end will be revealed once the show premieres next week. Another hint based on the "Pretty Little Liars'" synopsis is the unnamed liar's "secret about her past". Report claims it has something to do with who is Mary Drake's second child. Popular theories include Spencer as the other child. But the most intriguing speculation is that Aria is the child thus possibly making her Aria Drake or A.D. Or it can even be Alison as some fans claim. And lastly, one of the biggest theories in "Pretty Little Liars" Season 7 finale is the pregnant Liar. The Inquisitr theorizes that Spencer will carry Toby's child. It was hinted that Toby might perish in a car accident making him to "live on" in his child. Love will never die after all. With an increasing anticipation as to what will really happen in the series' summer finale, it is safe to say that the show is definitely a must watch. It's only a matter of time before the truth unfolds. "Pretty Little Liars" Season 7 summer finale premieres Aug. 30. The much awaited "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is expected to release next year with high expectations from fans and critics alike. A lot of rumors have been circulating online, hinting on possible theories in the series' third season. However, there are no solid plots yet as of this writing making manga and anime enthusiasts rave more about the possible flow of its story. Majority of the viewers claim that the anime series somehow changed the essence of the original manga. This proves true as fans started complaining on how different the story was particularly on season two. "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 1 Recap On July 4, 2014, "Tokyo Ghoul" aired its very first episode entitled "Higeki" (Tragedy) on Tokyo MX. The story focused on Ken Kaneki who befriended a woman named Rize Kamishiro. Little did he know that this charismatic woman is in fact a ghoul. Rize ended up trying to eat Kaneki. However, the protagonist was able to survive the attack. This closely follows the flow of the manga's storyline which makes it a huge success to anime fans. On the other hand, "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 2 appeared to have a rather cold reception than the first. In season two, the main character Kaneki had an intense battle with Kishou Arima eventually ending up with Kaneki being badly injured and somehow lost his sanity. It was reported that the previous season of the hit series received criticisms from the fans, claiming that it did not follow the original storyline based on the manga. What To Expect In "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 With the unlikely reception from fans in Season 2, it is safe to say that a change in approach will make or break the said series. Many fans have been appealing to Studio Pierrot, the company behind the franchise, to stick with the manga's original flow. Hall of Fame Magazine reported that the upcoming season of "Tokyo Ghoul" might feature Chapterss 88 and 89 of the original manga wherein Kaneki persuades Kanou to join his cause. The release of the said "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 remains unclear. With the live-action movie currently in production, it might take until next year before fans can enjoy the series. On a brighter side, this can give the producers and directors longer time to prepare and hopefully, make it similar to the manga series. A Virginia couple has pleaded guilty to H-1B fraud charges in a scheme that made them millions, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday. The married couple -- Raju Kosuri, 44, and Smriti Jharia, 45 -- created a visa-for-sale system involving some 900 H-1B visa petitions over a multi-year period, according to the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Court records detail an elaborate operation that required a series of fictions to pull off. Through a series of shell companies that purported to provide IT staffing and services to corporate clients, the defendants claimed to seek H-1B visa petitions on behalf of workers. These workers had to pay the visa fees, legal and administrative costs -- as much as $4,000 -- in violation of the visa program's rules. When the H-1B visa workers were not on a job they were "benched" -- not paid, a practice not allowed under the program's requirements. Foreign workers are required to be paid continuously regardless of employment by an end client. "These rules are designed to protect foreign workers from predation by American employers, to guarantee them a salary during the period of their visa eligibility, and to provide working conditions for foreign workers which will not adversely affect the working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers," said the government, in court records. When the visa-holding workers complained "about the difficulty of trying to live in the U.S. without income" they were told they were "nothing more than hourly consultants." The H-1B visa workers were told to "falsify their resumes" to deceive immigration authorities about their employment history. To explain how the phony process worked, the government cited a visa petition submitted on behalf of a person identified only as "A.G.," which claimed he would be working as a computer systems analyst for a particular company. But the supporting letter was actually written by one of the defendants in the scheme. The guilty plea includes admitting to charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and visa fraud, among others. As part of the case, Kosuri agreed to forfeit proceeds from the venture -- in the amount of $20.9 million. The couple will face sentencing at a later date, a DOJ spokesperson said. The attorney representing the defendants declined to comment. Kosuri and Jharia were indicted by a grand jury, along with four others, in April. At that time, the U.S. said they faced up to a maximum of 30 years in prison. 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. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the Chinese New Year celebrations in Toronto. (Photo : Twitter) Political analysts said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's upcoming visit to China will be a tricky one, as he will have to contend with several sensitive issues while trying to establish a greater relationship with the country. Trudeau, who will be in China for a five-day state visit on Aug. 30, will have to tread carefully if he wants to start negotiating a free trade agreement with China, Conservative Party member Tony Clement said. Advertisement According to Clement, Canada will need to first see to it that whatever deal might be proposed will be within the judicial principles the country stand by before pushing further with negotiations, the National Post reported. However, other members of the party, as well as those from the Liberal Party, expressed their support for pushing more trade ties with China. One senior Conservative Party member suggested that there should even be back doors to9 help speed up free trade talks. Meanwhile, former ambassador to Tokyo Derek Burney stressed that isolated incidents should not hamper the progress of free trade discussions with China. Burney was referring to an incident in June where Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi angrily rebuked a Canadian journalist after the latter asked him about China's actions in the South China Sea. The event triggered furor in the Canadian media, with the opposition accusing Trudeau's government of backing down easily in the face of Chinese bullying, which the Prime Minister countered. Trudeau is also faced with the task o9f resolving several economic issues with China, including the possible annual $2 billion worth of losses on exports due to tighter Chinese restrictions, The Globe and Mail reported. China is also reportedly pressuring Canada to withdraw support for the international tribunal ruling that the former's claims of and actions in the South China Sea are in violation of the Unit6ed Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Trudeau has earlier said that he will build "a closer and more balanced relationship" with China. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. People line up outside the Postal Bank of China in Beijing to buy stamps for the Year of the Monkey celebration in January. (Photo : Getty Images) China's Postal Saving Bank is close to getting the $2 billion worth of shares pledged by China State Shipbuilding Corp. in its planned $7 billion-plus initial public offering (IPO), considered to be the world's biggest IPO this year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement People familiar with the matter said that the commitment, including those of other state-owned enterprises, is one of Postal Savings Bank's "cornerstone" investments as the company plans to go public by the end of September. The two Chinese firms' investment deal shows how money flows in China wherein Hong Kong serves as the gateway that links Chinese companies with capital from global investors. At present, Chinese local firms are financing other Chinese companies for their Hong Kong listing. Over the past years, it has become common practice in Hong Kong IPOs to allow cornerstone investments, in which investors buy stocks at the offering price and keep them for a period of six months. The practice allows marquee investors to attract others such as sovereign-wealth funds and tycoons to sign up for an IPO. But since Hong Kong's stock market fell in June last years, bankers rely mainly on companies from the mainland for cornerstone commitments to make sure that their IPOs on the Hong Kong exchange will succeed. According to private sources, about 60 percent of offerings have been bought by cornerstone backers, mostly mainland firms, out of the companies that have raised more than $500 million in Hong Kong IPOs. Bankers said that China State Shipbuilding's investment underscores how state-owned conglomerates look for ways to invest their money. According to the report, the oversupply of vessels and weak international trade has cased China State Shipbuilding to look for new sources of income, expanding into areas that include as real estate, bridge construction, steel-manufacturing and financing. The company said in its website that it operates in more than 20 fields, from metallurgy and aerospace to petrochemicals. This year, the company also supported two other Hong Kong IPOs so far this year, committing $270 million to Bank of Tianjin Co's $1 billion April offering and also invested $50 million in the $799 million IPO of CDB Financial Leasing. Rival state-owned shipbuilder China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. is also diversifying into non-shipbuilding business and also currently negotiating to invest in the Postal Savings Bank IPO, according to Liu Zhengguo, a company spokesman. China invites foreign tech companies to cybersecurity discussions. (Photo : Getty Images) China is changing its way of dealing with tech companies outside the country as it now welcomes opinions and comments from them in drafting a new cybersecurity rule that covers foreign firms like Microsoft. A report from the Wall Street Journal revealed how China is setting a "new tone" that is more inclusive than ever as select foreign tech companies like Microsoft and Cisco are now given the chance to share their thoughts on standards of cybersecurity. Advertisement The Initiative "We should energetically participate in the development of international rules and standards for the internet space, to strengthen our power of discourse and our influence," the CAC said in a statement. Based on the WSJ report, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) made an initiative to invite several foreign tech firms to join the Technical Committee 260 (TC260) where the cyber security standards of the country will be discussed. Aside from Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc., other companies who were invited to join the activities under the TC260 are Intel Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). Microsoft and Cisco confirmed that they will be joining the initiative where they will "take an active part in drafting rules, rather than participating simply as observers, the WSJ stated. The issues to be tackled in the initiative are divided into seven working groups including one that would focus on encryption and another on cloud computing and big data. The Extent of Collaboration While China appears to be lightening up with foreign tech companies through the TC260, there is still the question of the extent of influence that the companies will present per insider sources who are familiar with the matter. Even so, analysts are happy to see that China is now opening its ears to opinions from others who are as much a part of the issue as the country. "It's still early days, but there are encouraging signs that China is recognizing the international nature of the tech supply chain and working more broadly to align its strategy with the market realities," said Bruce McConnell of the EastWest Institute, a New York-based think tank. In the recent past, China has also showed signs that it is gradually opening up for public opinion particularly in July when a draft of the Cybersecurity Law was passed around the Internet for public comment. The country has also proven its willingness to extend open arms to foreign investors when Beijing suspended rules that requires tech firms to prove that their equipment is "secure and controllable" via intense testing and information disclosure. iPhone 7 is Apple's upcoming flagship device for 2016 and is expected to launch in early September. (Photo : Getty Images/John Gress) Photos of the upcoming iPhone 7 device have leaked through renown Taiwanese Popstar Jimmy Lin. Following his accurate history of apple products since 2012, his photos have been considered as some of the most reliable iPhone 7 leaks to date. In the pictures, Lin is seen sited at a cafe holding a device that matched the widely aroused rumors of what to expect from iPhone 7 in a few weeks. The handset has an iPhone 6-inspired look, just as predicted. A dual camera system can also be seen in the picture as well, Forbes reported. Advertisement Whilst anticipating fans got excited by the new leaks, Lin's photos do not shed any light on the controversial omissions and updates: headphone jack removal and pressure sensitive home button amongst others. They, however, may represent the real device, judging from the Popstar's past successful encounters with iPhone 5 and 6 leaks through 2012 and 2014. According to PC Tablet, Lin first made a reputation with accurate leaks when he posted photos of himself with an iPhone 5 on his Weibo page before the official release of iPhone 5. He then leaked photos of iPhone 5C in 2013 and that of iPhone 6 in 2014. The photos proved to be genuine and accurate, and Apple employees in Hong Kong also confirmed that Lin's iPhone 6 was a genuine Apple device. The dual camera on Lin's handset, as seen in the photo was the most conspicuous component that aligns with numerous leaks. Apple has, however, not confirmed any of the widely spread speculations and leaked images although the official release is approaching. Meanwhile, Apple is expected to introduce an update for the current generation MacBook Pro. The updates include a slimmer design, 5k Thunderbolt display, a touch sensitive panel, and a USB Type-C port. In addition, the company is also expected to launch the next generation Apple Watch, which is rumored to be similar to the current generation watch although much faster. This is due to the implementation of WatchOS3 that was announced at the WWDC event hosted earlier this year. Pre-orders for the iPhone 7 handset will begin on Sept. 7 while the device is expected to hit shelves on Sept. 16. Watch the clip below for an iPhone 7 rumor roundup: President Xi Jinping has called for the protection of Qinghai Lake and other resources of the region during a three-day visit to Qinghai Province. (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the protection of the ecosystem as "the most important foundation" of sustainable development, during his three-day visit of Qinghai Province that started Monday, Aug. 22 through Wednesday, Aug. 24. Xi also called the ecosystem of the place as the region's "biggest merit, responsibility and potential," and urged that measures be taken to ensure that economic, social and environmental developments are taken up altogether, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement The President told local officials that he wanted Qinghai to be a model of eco-friendly development, circular economy and ethnic solidarity. He said new concepts must be used to guide development, adding that efforts must be made to deal with structural and mechanism issues which delay development. Xi stressed that supply-side structural reform is key to development in the future and he urged people to raise the overall quality and efficiency in the supply chain. The Chinese leader also called on Qinghai to take the main responsibility in safeguarding the Sanjiangyuan region, which is the source of China's three major rivers. He said that there must be coordinated efforts in the implementation of projects such as energy conservation and emission reduction, natural reserves, ecological protection around the Qinghai Lake and desertification control, as well as the return of arable land to grassland and forest. Xi also visited the Qinghai environmental monitoring center, a Qinghai-Tibet Railway bridge and other locations, including a solar power company in Xining. He praised Qinghai's accomplishments in clean energy as he urged state-owned enterprises to take a leading role in innovation and produce better products. The President also visited Chaerhan Salt Lake, the country's biggest salt lake, in Qaidam Basin, where he said that exploitation and protection of natural resources must be balanced and urged people to create ways and industrial methods that will result in low consumption, fewer emissions and high returns. The Chinese leader also went to villages of local people who were relocated from another area to a newly-built Banyan Village in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County. Xi said that relocation is an effective way to alleviate poverty as he urged villagers to participate in planning future villages. "The building of new villages should be integrated with measures to promote production and employment, improve basic public services and protect ethnic, regional and cultural features and styles," Xi said. Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with military officers in Qinghai. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Nicolas Cadene, in an interview at LExpress analyzes the French court ruling issued Friday that struck down the ban by the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet on Muslim women wearing modest clothing at the public beach. The ban was on the burkini, invented by a Lebanese fashion designer to allow observant Muslim women to go to the beach with their families. But women wearing loose street clothes at the beach have also been bothered by police. Cadene is a rapporteur at the Secularism Watchdog (lObservatoire de la laicite), a Ministry of Education body that advises the French government on the implementation of the secularism provisions of the French constitution. The Counsel of State found that wearing a Burkini creates no trouble for public order and is simply not illegal in current French law. In response, the French right wing has demanded that the National Assembly enact anti-Burkini legislation. LExpress worries that the French executive, or at least the ministry of interior, might be inclined to appease the Islamophobic and anti-immigrant right wing on this issue. LExpress asked Cadene for his reaction. He said he wasnt surprised and was very pleased that the court had upheld rights in such a clear way. He said that the court had reaffirmed the principle that secularism cannot be invoked to forbid wearing a piece of clothing in a public space, which creates no actual difficulty with regard to public order. And they found that the Burkini doesnt generate any such disturbances. LExpress pointed out that the logic of rights is not particularly visible in the realm of politics, since several members of parliament have already called for anti-Burkini legislation. Cadene said that it is disquieting to see these reactions. He pointed out that August 26, the date of the verdict, is the anniversary of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man. Article 10 says, 10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law. He said the members of the National Assembly just are not reacting in accordance with the Rights of Man, which has constitutional force. LExpress pointed out that the court did not address the question of whether the Burkini is ostentatious or not. Cadene said that ostentation is a political judgment, not a legal one, and there are no laws forbidding it. He instanced only three pieces of French legislation that observers have attempted to relate to this case, and dismissed all three as irrelevant. There is the 2004 ban on wearing religious paraphernalia in K-12 schools. There, the rationale is to protect minors from any sort of pressure, so as to allow them to study in peace. He implied that such a rationale could not be invoked with regard to adults in public spaces. There is also a prohibition on clothing that covers the face, but this provision, he said, is simply a matter of security, since it prevents the identification of the person who wears it. Again, this issue does not arise with regard to the Burkini, since it leaves the face bare. He added that, third, government officials must avoid expressing their religious opinions. But this prohibition came about because they are representatives of the state and so must be neutral. LExpress pointed out that some commenters look at the issue in the frame of womens rights, seeing this beachwear as retrograde, and wanted to know if this debate can be pursued in the wake of the ruling. Cadene said that the decision has affirmed the law that is in effect. It doesnt forbid debating ideas. It should be decided whether this clothing is retrograde for the condition of women. But in a state based on the law, you cant just prohibit things you dont like with no legal basis. I think Cadenes location of choice of clothing as an expression of ones opinion, and therefore protected under Article 10, is brilliant. In the US, this sort of issue would likely be decided in the light of our First Amendment. Government laws dictating how people dress are called sumptuary laws. Although some delegates to the US constitutional convention wanted to specify such laws as a prerogative of the federal government, in the end they did not. (Some wanted to forbid aristocratic dress inappropriate to a republic). In the end, the federal government doesnt have any right to tell us how we can dress. Local governments often pass decency legislation, but those laws typically mandate that people cover up, not that they uncover. The French mayor wanted to make French women wear revealing bathing suits on the grounds that they are republican and secular, whereas Burkinis or loose street clothes on the beach are an ostentatious sign of a woman being pious and religious inappropriate in the public spaces of a republic. This attitude comes out of the French conception of laicite or secularism, which isnt like the American. French in the strong republican tradition see religion as a little like we now view smoking, as something that is probably bad for people and which should be discouraged, but which is too popular to be banned. So banning a Burkini for the public good would be viewed by them as like banning cigarettes in public. But there are real problems with giving the state the right to regulate what is essentially a manifestation of private opinions on the part of a citizen, as was pointed out above. Sometimes Islamophobic conservatives express outrage that Western progressives support Muslim rights that the conservatives want to curb. But progressives also support Sikhs, Haredi Jews and others who want to be different, as long as their being different doesnt harm anyone. (Thus, Sikh construction workers have to wear a hard hat or they would cost everyone a lot of money in health care; and Haredi bus drivers cant exclude women or girls because that would be a form of discrimination and a tort). The reason progressives support these groups is that we believe being different is an extension of the First Amendment. Conservatives have passed a raft of state and federal laws protecting religious groups from government interference, but they define religion as only evangelical Christians and they ignore the issue of actual harm religious practices can do (thus business people claimed the right not to serve African-Americans on religious grounds back in the 1960s and 1970s). In short, the progressive position is principled, the conservative one hypocritical and arbitrary. Let me also point out that the French Third Republic was founded in 1870, and that this swimsuit for women was proposed in 1893 in the French specialty publication, the Fashion Monitor (Le Moniteur de la mode : journal du grande monde): And heres Edouard Manet, On the Beach, 1873: You can say that wearers of Burkinis are harking back to early days of the Third Republic. You cant say they are behaving in unprecedented ways for citizens of the Republic. A farmer walks past a pile of corn at a state grain reserves depot on Dec. 19, 2008, in Yushu in Jilin Province, China. (Photo : Getty Images) China's agricultural ministry announced Thursday that it will advise Chinese legislators to formulate a law on genetically modified (GM) food safety at a later date, adding that GM food found in the Chinese market is as safe as non-GM food. Regulations issued by the State Council in 2001 and the revised Food Safety Law of 2015 already provide a legal basis for GM food production and management, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said on its website. Advertisement The ministry stressed that GM food safety standards in China are scientific and strict, so GM products produced under the national system of safety evaluation and supervision are as safe to eat as traditional non-GM products. However, some experts questioned the MOA's position over existing regulations and laws related to GM products. Xia Youfu, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics and an expert on trade in GM products, told the Global Times that while the MOA is responsible for overseeing GM food safety, it should not act as a "referee" and "player" at the same time. "The MOA, which has a duty to study and popularize GM agricultural products, has cooperated with many giant GM food producers such as Monsanto. How can it also play a role in law enforcement on GM food safety?" he said. Xia added that China must instead formulate a law authorizing other government agencies to supervise food safety. Lu Baorong, a biology professor at Fudan University, said the current regulations and laws are not clear as how food products can be classified as genetically modified. Although China's current laws on GM labelling stipulate that all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should be labelled as such, many products that mix GMOs to one degree or another may not follow the regulation, according to the Global Times. If a GMO content threshold is set, below which GM foods will not be labeled, the rules will be observed more strictly, Lu said. The safety of GM foods has been a hot topic in China since 2013, when Cui Yongyuan, a former state TV host and outspoken GM food opponent, had an online spat with Fang Zhouzi, a science writer and advocate of GM food. The Legal Weekly reported in September 2014 that 71 lawyers in China have filed lawsuits over poor GMO labelling of cooking oil. Apple iPhone 2017 rumors: Apple Inc. will release three iPhones; Models may come in curved OLED and LTPS display The Apple logo is displayed on the back of an iPhone on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo : GettyImages/Carl Court) With the following month being the official release of iPhone's new flagship devices to be released on 2017, Apple Inc. is rumored to introduce three new iPhone models, including a premium handset that will sport a curved display like the Samsung Electronics' features observed on its top-of-the-range smartphones. Advertisement The said plan was according to a source familiar with Apple's plans, as told to the Nikkei Asian Review. The anonymous tipster added that "There will be a 4.7-inch model, another that will be 5.5-inches and a premium handset that will be either 5.5-inches or larger equipped with a screen bent on the two sides." David Hsieh, a senior director at market research specialist IHS Display Search, stated that the premium handset will adopt advanced organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, backed by the idea that Samsung Electronics will be Apple's sole OLED supplier next year, while the other two models will stick with low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) panels. OLEDs give impressive qualities to smartphones such as sharper color contrast and flexibility while allowing manufacturers to create curved and even foldable screens. Although rumors are circulating regarding the dual-camera system and redesigned antenna lines, Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to remove the headphone jack in its next iPhone, promoting Bluetooth and Lightning headphones instead. The removal will give the company a chance to include a second speaker in the iPhone, which could improve the sound quality and volume of the device's speaker system. According to the same publication, the dual-camera system will capture color differently, and simultaneously take pictures that are then merged into a single photo. The product is suspected to allow greater brightness and detail in photos, and sharpen photos captured in low-light scenarios. More so, the new iPhones are rumored to have a button that "provides feedback to the user via a vibrating haptic sensation" instead of the familiar press-triggered home button. Now, a pressure-sensitive button will change this function, which will be similar to the trackpads on the latest MacBooks. Meanwhile, Taipei-based Yuanta Investment Consulting analyst Jeff Pu stated that Apple is likely to give up metal casings for iPhones and shift to a new look - a front glass cover and chassis, joined by a metal bezel for all its handsets next year. BLADEN Nebraska Extension will host a drought management meeting for south-central Nebraska ag producers and representatives of allied industries at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the new exhibit hall on the fairgrounds in Bladen. Topics will include early weaning of calves and options to supplement cows with feed until crop residues are available for grazing. There will be a question-and-answer session. For more information, contact Erin Laborie at the Webster County Extension office at 308-268-3105 or erin.laborie@unl.edu, or Rhonda Herrick at the Franklin County Extension office at 308-425-6277. KEARNEY A Buffalo County jury convicted a Broken Bow man of giving away his employers milled asphalt. Robert Eacker, 43, was found guilty of one count of felony theft Tuesday in Buffalo County District Court. It took the jury of five men and seven women about an hour to reach its verdict. Eacker will now have a presentence investigation by the State Probation Department. A report of those findings will be sent to Judge John Icenogle for use in determining a sentence. If he isnt placed on probation, Eacker faces one to 20 years in prison. He could also be ordered to pay restitution. A sentencing date hasnt been set. Eacker was convicted if giving milled asphalt from Highway 10 south of Pleasanton to residents in rural Buffalo County in July. The millings were supposed to be delivered to a stockpile north of Buffalo County. Eacker was employed with Vontz Paving Inc. of Hastings from June 11 to July 12 as a milling foreman specifically to work on the Highway 10 project. Vontz was in charge of the $1.3 million project that resurfaced 10.4 miles south of Pleasanton. About 34 truckloads of asphalt millings, valued at $10,200, were diverted. e-mail to: Marwan Muhammad, head of the Collective Against the Islamophobia in France, answers reporters outside the Conseil d'Etat, France's top administrative court, in Paris, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. The court has overturned a town burkini ban amid shock and anger worldwide after some Muslim women were ordered to remove body-concealing garments on French Riviera beaches. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla) In this photo made Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, Dominique Alexander makes cell phone call from the doorway of his apartment in Dallas. Alexander, a leader of the protest where a sniper killed five law enforcement officers in Dallas was ordered to prison Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, for unrelated probation violations. Alexander, the founder of the Next Generation Action Network that organized the July 7 rally to protest fatal police shootings of black men, had been on probation for a 2009 felony conviction for injury to a child.(AP Photo/LM Otero) Bangladeshis gather near a shooting scene in Narayanganj, outskirts of Dhaka, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Police in Bangladesh say they have killed three suspected militants, including Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian, who police believe was one of two masterminds of the attack on a popular restaurant in Dhaka. (AP Photo) 2K Shares Share Dear Pamela, Let me start off by telling you that I am a warrior, a protector, and a healer. I am an Army veteran. Ive worked as an EMT, completed a bachelors degree and two years of medical school, plus Im raising a family. Ive achieved amazing things, but I have never been defeated like Ive been over these past few years. Honestly, I was less stressed in Afghanistan. Medical school is worse than my deployment experience. Its not easy to share this so bear with me. When I finished undergrad, I decided to be a doctor. So off I went. Completed my sciences at a local community college, volunteered at hospitals, and worked as an EMT to beef up my resume for med school applications. I got all my applications in then boom: I was deployed to Afghanistan. I was recruited to deploy with military police as a combat medic. During the first few missions, I was scared for my life. After that, I became numb to that fear and just focused on making sure I was able to save my guys lives if we were attacked. The stress was incredible, but I had their back, and they had mine. In an unsafe country and a future filled with uncertainty, I felt secure because we supported each other. Once I was home, I started medical school, and I was so excited! I was finally living out my dream. Ive always been able to make friends with no problem, and Ive always done well in school, so I was good to go. I am not the traditional medical student. Im 30 with a family, and it turns out my life is very different than my peers, so I isolated myself. The course material was incredibly difficult for me. I struggled. I barely passed some exams and always wondered if I would make it to the next course. I worked so hard to do well, but couldnt hack it. I was just in awe at how much more intelligent everyone else around me was. This was it; I had put all of my eggs in this basket, and my basket was falling apart. I cried almost every single day. My family was there to support me, but no one could understand what I was going through. Or so I thought. I never really opened up to other medical students because they seemed so smart and were doing well. It was bad. Heres the worst part: I thought it would be easier to die than continue living like this. I started to see a therapist, and we identified that I was persistently depressed and passively suicidal. I know Im a strong, intelligent woman. But medical school broke me down. Im in my 3rd year now and have realized what is most important to me: self-care, my family, and close friends. I cant help others at my own expense anymore. I get that Im learning information that will save peoples lives, and I need to take it seriously. Believe me, I do. Yeah, I get nervous that I will be pimped and not know the answer to a question or do badly on a test again. But I am done letting that stop me from living a life I love. Regardless of my transcript and test scores, I will be an amazing doctor! I already make a difference in peoples lives and will continue to do so. I hope other medical students can learn something from my story. You are all amazing! Please take care of yourselves. Pamela, thank you for standing up for us. It means the world. Sincerely, Michelle Suicide is an occupational hazard in medicine. Lets talk about it. Pamela Wible pioneered the community-designed ideal medical clinic and blogs at Ideal Medical Care. She is the author of Physician Suicide Letters Answered and Pet Goats and Pap Smears. Watch her TEDx talk, How to Get Naked with Your Doctor. She hosts the physician retreat, Live Your Dream, to help her colleagues heal from grief and reclaim their lives and careers. Image credit: Pamela Wible There is a serious case of car theft across the border, and drivers are concerned. Almost 16 cars are stolen per week at the border, with only about half of them recovered. Mexico's National Defense says it's a problem they see everyday. They assure the public there are current investigations going on regarding carjacking in the city. Mexico's National Defense urges the public to report this type of crime to Nuevo Laredo's emergency line. A City Council meeting in Rio Bravo is interrupted by angry citizens upset that Mayor Francisco Pena hasn't taken action on certifying a recall petition submitted last month. The mayor had called the meeting on Friday morning, but it was cut short after angry citizens didn't allow the meeting to proceed. It all stems from a recall petition submitted to the Mayor's Office, but was never certified by Pena. Residents say Pena was supposed to verify the petition signatures by August 11, but never did. At Friday's meeting, Pena advised residents in attendance the petition lacked the sufficient number of signatures. But residents are calling foul, saying Pena should never have been the one to review the recall petition because he is the one they are looking to remove. The City Council ended up tabling the agenda item, and voted to give the city attorney time to meet with Mr. Lopez to be able to correct any issues still pending. Webb County received $10,000 from the Governor's Office to host several workshops. The workshops will all focus on how to create and maintain a small business. "We're planning on putting together speakers that can explain how a business is created, and people that can lend money to create a business," says Director of Economic Development Juan Vargas. There is no word yet on when these workshops will take place. Derek Hughes has recently taken up his post as Superintendent of the Thomastown District and has vowed to make South Kilkenny 'an inhospitable place for criminals'. Supt Hughes is familiar with this large rural hinterland and was stationed as a sergeant in the Thomastown area from 2009 until 2011. His grandmother also came from Thomastown and he has extended family in the area. I am delighted to be appointed as Superintendent for the Thomastown District. I am very familiar with the area and in my most recent role as Detective Inspector I had responsibility for crime in Thomastown. Further crackdown on crime I am very proud of the fact that by the end of 2015 the number of burglaries had reduced by almost 30% and hopefully we will have a similar outcome this year. This reduction was achieved as a result of the close co-operation which we have with the local community and the information that they give us. There were two recent examples which showed this - the post office robbery in Mullinavat which was solved in no small part by the actions of the public and the crime spree in Stoneyford which was solved by information provided by a member of the public. The criminals in both incidents were remanded in custody following garda objections to bail and this eliminated the opportunity for them to commit further crime. My aim is to make the Thomastown district a very inhospitable place for criminals and the gardai in Thomastown will achieve this through checkpoint activity and by intelligence-led community policing operations, he said. Fatalities on the roads The superintendent stated that there were three fatal accidents in the district since January and he stressed that this is 'of huge concern' to him. In an effort to reverse the trend we will be increasing our speed checks and our mandatory alcohol check points in an effort to ensure that everyone who is using our roads is doing so in a correct and safe manner. Adequately resourced The importance of public co-operation is also highlighted in the context of resources especially in a large and often sparsely-populated district. There are adequate resources in terms of to police the district. My wish is to have a guard in every townland but as it is a large rural area that is not possible which again highlights the need for close co-operation between the public and the gardai, he said. A number of community engagement forums will start in September with the first forum being held next month. Community text alert schemes in the district have also been very successful and have proved instrumental in both the reporting of crime and bringing culprits to justice before the courts. It is important that we learn from people what their particular needs and concerns are. At present there are adequate resources in terms of transport and personnel and we can secure extra resources from the division as required. We have no issue with transport resources. I hope that over the last year that the people of Thomastown and the surrounding areas have noticed an increase in checkpoint activity targeting criminals and this bolsters a feeling of public confidence, he added. The Dublin native passed out of the Garda Training College in Templemore in 1998 and was previously stationed in Clondalkin, Kilmainham, the National Bureau for Criminal Investigation and Store Street in Dublin. He was stationed as a sergeant in the Thomastown District from 2009 to 2011 and worked in the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. He was promoted to the rank of Detective Inspector of the Carlow/Kilkenny Division in 2013. It is clear that Superintendent Hughes realises the importance of engagement with the local community and emphasises that the door of his office is always open should any member of the public want to meet with him. Aug 26 (Reuters) - Venezuela has signed over $5.5 billion in mining deals with companies including Canada's Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO and China's Shandong Gold, President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday. Barrick, the world's largest gold producer, said in a statement that "at the invitation of the government, we intend to review information pertaining to mining opportunities in the country." A spokesman for the Toronto-based company did not respond to questions about spending or development plans in the country. "Today we are signing investments and letters of commitment for projects for over $5.5 billion," said Maduro in a televised meeting with foreign mining executives. The deals are part of a plan to ease the OPEC nation's grave economic crisis that has caused food shortages and supermarket riots. Earlier this month, Maduro said Venezuela had struck $4.5 billion in mining deals with foreign and domestic companies. He also said that he expected $20 billion in mining investment contracts to be signed in coming days. It was unclear if the $5.5 billion were part of the broader $20 billion investments. (Reporting by Diego Ore and Susan Taylor in Toronto, writing by Alexandra Ulmer; editing by Meredith Mazzilli, Bernard Orr) SHARE By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun VASHON ISLAND The closing of Vashon Island's only medical clinic has emphasized state ferries' role as floating ambulances. CHI Franciscan ceased operating its clinic on Aug. 5, citing financial difficulties. Neighborcare Health, a Seattle nonprofit, plans to open a new one in mid-to late-September. In the meantime, the number of patients that Vashon boats are transporting to Seattle has jumped. So far this year, 531 people have received medical priority loading or evacuation off the island. And it's not just Vashon. Bainbridge Island ferries have delivered even more patients 673 to Seattle hospitals. Systemwide, there have been 1,857 transports. Ferries are a lifeline to ferry communities, especially those on islands, said Washington State Ferries spokesman Ian Sterling, their only way off other than being airlifted. "We will do all we can to accommodate them," he said. "We'll hold a boat to wait for an ambulance. We'll leave early. We'll leave late. We'll even do special sailings to get this person to help as soon as possible. It is something our crews are trained to do, and we are very proud to be able to help." Vashon Island Fire and Rescue medics respond to emergencies and determine the severity of a patient's injuries. If they're "extremely life-threatening," Airlift Northwest is called to fly the person to a trauma center, said Assistant Chief Bob Larsen. If the patient needs basic lifesaving such as treatment for chest pains, the aid crew calls the ferries' watch supervisor to see when the next ferry is due and whether it's on time, and request medical priority. The aid car and one family car are first on and first off the boat, which can be held for five minutes. For more serious injuries, the medics call for an evacuation, and the watch supervisor figures out the quickest response, whether it's holding a boat, leaving early or diverting a trip to stop at Vashon. "The ferries have always been cooperative," Larsen said. "We wouldn't survive without their cooperation." Diverting and holding ferries wreaks havoc on a schedule that's already difficult to keep to. Customers become aggravated when their sailing is late or canceled. "The majority of those who are on the island at least understand that it is an absolute necessity," said Vashon ferry advisory committee chairman Greg Beardsley. "I know it really mucks up the schedule when you're talking about Southworth, but you guys have Harrison (Medical Center). It is a first stop we don't have." Rex Wilson, Beardsley's peer with the Southworth ferry advisory committee, understands. "Obviously they're necessary or we wouldn't be doing them," he said. "You can't airlift everybody." Bainbridge Island Fire Department and Bainbridge Island Ambulance Service combined for its 673 emergency ferry trips so far this year. When they need a priority load or evacuation, medics contact Kitsap County 911 dispatchers, who work it with the ferries. The schedule isn't affected as significantly as the triangle route because of frequent sailings and having two terminals instead of three. Boats generally aren't held more than five minutes. "We're cognizant of them having to keep a schedule and they're cognizant of us having to get to the hospital," said Bainbridge Fire Assistant Chief Luke Carpenter. "It's been a decadeslong relationship that has worked very well for us and our community." SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff PORT ANGELES Navy officials approved the building of a new pier and support facilities at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles to provide a forward staging area for a security detail that escorts submarines traveling between Naval Base Kitsap and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The decision follows a two-year public process. The site will include a pile-supported pier about a half mile east of the Coast Guard station entrance, an onshore facility for offices and crew rest, an armory, an above-ground fuel tank and distribution system, and utilities. The Navy will perform mitigation for the loss of aquatic resources and for impacts to tribal treaty resources. It will include removing rock armoring, imported fill and debris, concrete and asphalt pads and storage structures at the Icicle Seafoods laydown area; grading to create a low slope beach; nourishing beaches with sand and gravel, and native vegetation; and removing a nearby derelict building. The final environmental assessment, the Navy's decision and the finding of no significant impact can be viewed at http://go.usa.gov/tAr4. SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff BANGOR The USS Houston was decommissioned during a ceremony Friday at Deterrent Park at Naval Base Kitsap. Houston sailors, past and present, along with friends and families, celebrated the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine's 33 years of service. Homeported at Pearl Harbor, the Houston arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility for inactivation and decommissioning on July 14. It will spend the next year going through deactivation and the disassembling of components for historical archiving. Capt. Michael Lewis, the Houston's 13th commanding officer, from Bend, Oregon, was the keynote speaker. "Today we are here to say farewell to USS Houston and allow her to pass the torch to the next generation of submarines," Lewis said. "It is with a sad and heavy heart that I am here, along with so many of her former shipmates, to give her our final thanks and honor a fast ship who sailed into harm's way time and time again, and that always brought her crew back home safe and sound, and for this, we as a nation are forever grateful." The boat conducted nine Western Pacific deployments. Recently, she served as the training platform for not only her crew but for 46 submariners from five other boats, and provided command courses for prospective commanding officers. The Houston was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, and was commissioned on Sept. 25, 1982. It joined the fleet as the 132nd nuclear-powered submarine and the 20th of the Los Angeles class. It earned two Navy Unit Commendations and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Senior Chief Juan Guedea, a volunteer from Naval Hospital Bremerton, helps clean up a homeless camp on the Clear Creek Trail on Friday. About 50 volunteers helped haul out trash that had built up on the popular trail in Silverdale. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN) SHARE Chief Beverly Glauber, a volunteer from Naval Hospital Bremerton, disposes of a syringe found in a homeless encampment on the trail. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN) Naval Hospital Bremerton sailors haul out trash from the Clear Creek Trail on Friday. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN) Joe Summers, outreach manager at the Kitsap Rescue Mission, picks up trash at a homeless camp on the Clear Creek trail in Silverdale on Friday. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN) Volunteers get organized before heading out to clean up the Clear Creek Trail on Friday. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN) By Christian Vosler, christian.vosler@kitsapsun.com SILVERDALE Volunteers from Kitsap Rescue Mission, Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Hospital Bremerton joined forces Friday to clear away refuse from homeless camps around Clear Creek Trail. Armed with rakes, shovels and plenty of garbage bags, volunteers tackled what has been an ongoing problem. Kitsap Rescue Mission Outreach Manager Joe Summers estimated at least 50 volunteers were present to help with the cleanup. "You're making a major difference to the community here, in a very positive way," Summers said in a speech to volunteers following the cleanup. Homeless people set up camps along the trail, leaving behind a great volume and variety of trash including hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia. The mixture of dry conditions and fire pits that can be found at many of the sites is also a concern to officials. The safety and public health risks have caught the attention of the Kitsap Public Health District, which provided the tools and paid for disposal of waste on Friday. The Kitsap County commissioners are working on a special fund for cleanups like this one, and in February approved an ordinance that allows for certain types of "transitory accommodations." "It's a multi-district problem, not a Central Kitsap one," said Commissioner Ed Wolfe, who was at the cleanup. The eventual goal, however, is systemic change. When Clear Creek Trail Director Mary Earl previously cleared out some of the sites in October, she said within two weeks people were back in the camps. "The problem is homeless people that need a place to live and they come out here and they don't have the facilities to take care of themselves," Earl said. "They need a place to live." During the cleanup, a young couple was found at one of the three sites marked for cleaning. They gathered their belongings, assured that when they returned only the debris around their camp would be gone. "We're not here to displace anybody, that was never the idea," said Michael O'Shaughnessy III, men's program director for Kitsap Rescue Mission. "But it's an action to make initial contact and to offer resources." The cleanup was also an attempt to break down the stigmas that surround homeless people, Summers said. "Everybody thinks that anything and everything that was ever dumped anywhere was done by the homeless, and that's not true," he said. Kitsap Rescue Mission hopes to have monthly cleanups at sites around the county, according to Summers. The next event is tentatively scheduled for September 30 in Port Orchard. SHARE They told me not to overreact. Read the comments "in context," they said. And, after all, Christine, you're an immigration lawyer; you have a tendency to blow these things out of proportion. Chill, lady. Go say a rosary and call us in the morning. That's pretty much the reaction I got when I posted Stephen Bannon's comments on Facebook. In case you don't know what comments I'm referring to, let me help you with a few choice tidbits: This: "I understand why Catholics want as many Hispanics in this country as possible, because the church is dying in this country, right? If it was not for the Hispanics." And this: "(Paul Ryan) is rubbing his social justice Catholicism in my nose every second." And this: "That Whore of Babylon stuff, who's to say it's not really true?" OK, OK, he didn't say the last one. He might have thought it, but he didn't say it. Still, I wouldn't put it past Donald Trump's new campaign chief executive to say something along those lines, and still get thunderous applause from Trump supporters, even Catholic ones. On my own Facebook page, after posting a link to Bannon's comments, some of my virtual friends fired back about the pedophilia scandal and sanctuary cities, as if there was a direct correlation between Bannon's rather racist implications and the very real problem of weak or fluid borders. There isn't. You can legitimately have concerns about the interplay between unemployment, criminal justice, national security and the broken immigration system without plunging deeply into the oozing La Brea Tar Pits of bigotry known as "the national discussion on political pandering." In fact, I'm all for a real discussion about sanctuary cities, because I generally oppose any system that allows criminals, regardless of their immigration status, to slip through the hands of our police and prosecutors. Call it "sanctuary city," call it "political correctness," call it whatever you want, the safety of those living in this country must trump every other consideration. Every other. But I won't allow slurs against my faith to be justified by irrelevant and off-point debates about illegal immigration. Bannon basically said my church was in the business of supporting illegal immigration so that it could pad its numbers and add money to the weekly collection plate. He knew exactly what he was doing when he conflated "immigrant" with "Hispanic," puckering up for that high-pitched dog whistle that identifies all "undesirable foreigners" as papists. The man is not only offensive. He's wrong. While most Mexicans, Central and South Americans and other Latinos self-define as Catholics, a very large minority are evangelical Christians or belong to one of the other Protestant denominations. This is something that's been lost on Bannon, who presumably whispers in Trump's ears. And I'm thinking that's because it's an easy thing to slam the Catholic Church these days, which has been living through a rather dark period.I'm sick of it, and I'm used to dealing with that attitude from liberals who never saw a vestibule they didn't want to refurbish as a transgender bathroom. I've dealt with the rants of pro-choice Catholics who've added abortion to the list of sacraments and who see absolutely nothing immoral or evil in allowing "other people" to choose infanticide. Yes, I said infanticide. Sorry if that upsets you. Actually, I'm not. Bannon is just another example of what I like to call "the backdoor bigots." They don't actually come out and say they hate the church, because even though anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice, it still doesn't fly in polite company. Instead, then, of actually coming out and calling Mother Teresa the sister of Miss Babylon, they will point to some negative societal influence or occurrence and then deftly tie the church to it. Liberals of the "they're all pedophiles" ilk, the former Catholics and the "recovering Catholics" and the rest of the motley crew, will point to homophobia and sex abuse (in the case of priests, usually same-sex abuse) and policies that allegedly hurt and disenfranchise women to undermine the good that the church has done and will continue to do. The greatest private social network of charity across the nation is supported by the Roman Catholic church, including schools, hospitals, women's shelters, crisis pregnancy clinics, orphanages and a host of other institutions that exist to be "their brother's keeper." But for the left, this pales in comparison with the fact that this church stands in the way of social engineering, which upsets their secular apple cart. But the right is equally adept at its delegitimization tactics, and Bannon is Exhibit A. It's ingenious, really. Take someone who is already persona non grata in society, a Catholic. Conflate him with someone who is even less desirable, an immigrant. Push it a little further, and make that immigrant "illegal." Add water, stir, and you have the perfect souffle of blame. People who think the church is a den of pedophiles and hates women will likely vote for Hillary in the fall. On the other hand, people who think the church hides criminal aliens behind the altar will gravitate toward Trump. Once again, I'm reminded why I'm disgusted by both sides. And once again, I'm reminded why Al Smith lost that presidential race, and JFK needed to assure the Houston pastors that he wasn't in the pope's pocket. The times, they're not a-changing. Christine Flowers is a lawyer and a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. Readers may email her at cflowers1961@gmail.com SHARE I just finished teaching some talented and inquisitive high school students about the Great Depression. In this summer course, we read John Steinbeck's 1939 classic, "The Grapes of Wrath." For those who need a brief refresher, the book tells the sad tale of the Joad family white Oklahoma farmers, possibly share croppers, who lost their farming rights to a mere 40 acres, in the dust storms and agricultural disaster of the mid-1930s. This close and extended, fundamentally Christian, not-well educated family, like thousands of other similar families, migrated westward with their scant remaining possessions and a small purse of funds in a dilapidated old car, with ten people of three generations. They went principally "on a hope and a prayer," that of finding good work as migrant pickers. Steinbeck tells the tale of their journey westward to California with eloquence, with respect for their values and with compassion. Moreover, this amazing writer and "not quite" Stanford graduate displays an extraordinary understanding of economics and of Marxism. He understands the power of a single buyer (monopsony) as he relates how the migrant families before their journey sell some of their possessions for a pittance. Or, he shows how the migrants as buyers of automobiles are subject to the market power of the used car sellers, who disguise the poor quality of the used cars. Steinbeck demonstrates better than most economics texts the behavioral economic problem of asymmetric information or "the lemon problem." In the true Marxian sense of technology changing production and then affecting the entire superstructure, Steinbeck shows the invasion of the big tractors and the advent of more corporate farming into the battered south central part of the United States, with Oklahoma and Arkansas losing so many small farms. What nature was undoing with weather, humanity itself was finishing with technological change and a reallocation of labor and capital. A way of life was ending. To their questions about losing their land and their homes, the Joads and others were not really given answers that were understandable. They were told that it was maybe the "fault" of the landowners, but maybe more the fault of the big city bankers who now owned the land. But, really, did it matter? As we listen in July 2016 to the national political conventions at which the powerless are courted by both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I ask myself whether either candidate really has a message of hope for the Joads of 2016. For we have such people today, they just do not come from small, formerly sharecropped farms. Where do they come from? Some had been coal miners in West Virginia. From environmental regulations to attractive and competitive energy alternatives to public unease with coal, that industry has lost significant production and employment. The former textile workers of central and eastern North Carolina, as well as those in South Carolina face bleak job prospects. Imported textile items dominate our markets. The producers of steel and autos of the mid-west or Rust Belt also face challenges from imports. To the three examples mentioned above, others can be added. What are these workers to do? The Joads at least had the illusory promise of migrating westward, hoping to find a better economic life. Steinbeck's answer for the Joads centered on a benevolent government within a communist society, one that would provide employment and shelter, as well as self-governance, like the publicly funded migrant camp that the Joads found for a brief period of time in California. But history has proved in the post-World War II era that such public provision of goods and services really cannot work, as idealists might hope. So, despite the good efforts of Bernie Sanders and his populist supporters, I am not sure the government can truly care for the needs of the 21st century American Joads. And so, do either the Democrats or the Republicans in 2016 offer our contemporary Joads a future? In the midst of all the bickering, the negative campaigning, the lifted speech of the Republican convention, and the leaked emails of the Democratic convention, the plight of the Joads appears lost. I see few sound and credible policy proposals that are aimed at our contemporary Joads. The remedy for their cause and their plight may first need the 21 century equivalent of a compassionate and gifted individual who can articulate the depth of their challenge. Then a true bipartisan consensus, formed out of good will and without the anchor of political expediency needs to formulate effective policies. Such policies must recognize that the current beneficiaries of our societal changes must share some of the gain with those upon whose shoulders our past affluence was built. Who can lead this charge? Can Donald or Hillary command the trust, the goodwill, and the expertise to bring us out of this dismay, a dismay that is growing and spreading along economic and racial lines? Will he or she among them who is serious look our contemporary Joads in the eyes, and sincerely say, "I pledge that your cause will be my cause." That should be the one for whom the Joads of today should vote. Clark G. Ross is the Frontis W. Johnston Professor of Economics at Davidson College. He wrote this for The Charlotte Observer. SHARE Amid the rioting in Milwaukee, there is also a clash between two leading lawmen there Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and the city of Milwaukee's Chief of Police Edward Flynn. They have very different opinions about how law enforcement should be carried out. Chief Edward Flynn expresses the view long prevalent among those who emphasize the social "root causes" of crime, such as income disparities and educational disparities, as well as the larger society's neglect of black communities. Chief Flynn puts less emphasis on aggressive police action and more on community outreach and gun control. Sheriff David Clarke represents an opposite tradition, in which the job of the police is to enforce the law, as forcefully as necessary, not to make excuses for lawbreaking or to ease up on enforcing the law, in hopes that this will mollify rioters. Sheriff Clarke would also like to see law-abiding blacks be armed. Differences of opinion on law enforcement are sharp and unmistakable and have been for more than 50 years. However, as the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan used to say, "You're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts." Unfortunately, facts seem to play a remarkably small role in clashes over law enforcement policies. And that too has been true for more than 50 years. In his memoirs, the Supreme Court's Chief Justice Earl Warren declared that "all of us must assume a share of the responsibility" for rising crime rates in the 1960s because "for decades we have swept under the rug" the slum conditions that breed crime. But the hard fact is that the murder rate in the country as a whole was going down during those very decades when social problems in the slums were supposedly being neglected. Homicide rates among black males went down by 18 percent in the 1940s and by 22 percent in the 1950s. It was in the 1960s, when the ideas of Chief Justice Warren and others triumphed, that this long decline in homicide rates among black males reversed and skyrocketed by 89 percent, wiping out all the progress of the previous 20 years. The same reversal in the country at large saw murder rates by 1974 more than twice as high as in 1960. This was after the murder rate had been cut in half from where it had been in the 1930s. Ghetto riots, which erupted in the 1960s, were blamed on poverty and discrimination. But what were the facts? Poverty and discrimination were worse in the South than in the rest of the country. But ghetto riots were not nearly as common in the South. The most deadly ghetto riot of the 1960s occurred in Detroit, where 43 people were killed 33 of whom were black. In Detroit at that time, black median family income was 95 percent of white median family income. The unemployment rate among blacks was 3.4 percent and black homeownership was higher in Detroit than in any other major city. What was different about Detroit was that politicians put the police under orders that restricted their response to riots and some rioters said "the fuzz is scared." It was black victims who paid the highest price for letting rioters run amok. By contrast, Chicago's 1960s Mayor Richard Daley came on television to say that he had ordered his police to "shoot to kill" rioters who started fires. There was outrage among the politically correct across the country. But Chicago, with a larger population than Detroit, had no such death rate in riots. In later years, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's aggressive police policies in high-crime neighborhoods cut the murder rate down to a fraction of what it had been before. But, in England, opposite policies prevailed, with what London's "Daily Telegraph" newspaper referred to as "politically correct policing" that has police acting "more like social workers than upholders of law and order." Although England had long been regarded as one of the most law-abiding nations on Earth, riots that swept through London, Manchester and other British cities in 2011 were virtually identical to riots in Ferguson, Baltimore and other American cities. Most of the British rioters were white but what they did was the same, right down to setting fire to police cars. But do facts matter anymore? Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com. The Telegraph reports: Theresa May has hit back at Jean-Claude Junckers claim that borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians. The European Commission President called for all of Europes borders to be opened to show solidarity with the growing numbers of refugees trying to move across the continent. His comments come as countries across Europe have been forced tointroduce tighter border controls to stem the flow of people. Speaking at Alpbach Media Academy Mr Juncker said: Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Mostly sunny. High 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. SHARE By Jack H. Mccall Jr., Special to the News Sentinel East Tennesseans are familiar with half of the Allies' atomic program activities; that being, of course, the Manhattan Project and the creation of the first atomic bomb. Less familiar is the other half of the equation: what were the Nazis up to as to atomic weapons, and what could the Allies do to halt or delay Hitler's own program? The gripping account of the Allies' efforts to stop the German atomic program dead in its tracks which largely took place in the wintry expanse of occupied Norway is the story at the heart of Neal Bascomb's "The Winter Fortress." When we think of the European campaigns of World War II and of the resistance to Nazism, the saga of occupied Norway often is neglected, but, as Bascomb's compelling account makes clear, Norway was a beehive of resistance. Seized by the Nazis in spring 1940, many Norwegians refused to surrender meekly to the occupying forces. Among those who joined King Haakon to continue the fight from Britain was a distinguished young professor and industrialist, Leif Tronstad. Brilliant, brave and devoted to his countrymen, Tronstad's escape to England was fortuitous, not only for his country, but also for the Allied cause and arguably, all of humanity. The world's nuclear physicists had discovered by the beginning of World War II that a very rare isotope of uranium, U-235, was critical to creating a successful atomic reaction. Equally as vital to the process was deuterium, found in "heavy water," which existed in even scarcer amounts than the uranium ore. The world's principal supply of heavy water was extracted at the Norsk Hydro Vemork facility. Located in the remote mountains of Norway, the factory was soon in German hands. Located high on a steep-walled promontory over a river, it would be hard to imagine a more impregnable or isolated facility. By 1941, reports reached the British of feverish German efforts to increase Vemork's production and ship the product to the German homeland. To Britain's scientific minds, it was beyond doubt that the heavy water was being used for atomic experimentation and rumors began to reach Britain as well of Nazi efforts to develop a bomb that could flatten London. Enter Professor Tronstad: one of his prewar jobs had been to develop the Vemork factory. Assuming command of a group of Norwegian commandos, Tronstad drove his men relentlessly, sure of only one thing: that as long as the Nazis could obtain heavy water from Vemork, time was not on the Allies' side. One small group, the "Grouse" team, landed by parachute in the midst of a howling Norwegian winter. Isolated for months on the frozen terrain, the group eventually ran out of food and was forced to eat soup made of moss. The Grouse team's odyssey of survival is a harrowing one. After a host of soul-crushing experiences including near-starvation and the loss of two gliders of British commandos, the survivors of which fell into the brutal hands of the Nazi SS, the Grouse team was joined by another group of Norwegian commandos. The race to destroy the Vemork facility was on. The tale told by Bascomb in "The Winter Fortress" is compelling and makes for an absolute page-turner. It is as much a saga of adventure and survival in the mode of Jon Krakauer and Sebastian Junger as it is an account of wartime sabotage, secret agents and resistance fighters. Bascomb's account is poignant, as well. Each of the Norwegian freedom fighters suffered extreme deprivations, and many lost friends, neighbors and family members to the Gestapo's bloody dragnets. The nightmares of putting their fellow citizens and hometowns at risk preyed on the commandos, alongside the narrow odds of a successful assault on the Vemork factory the "winter fortress" itself. "The Winter Fortress" is epic in its sweep and is masterfully narrated by Bascomb, author of five prior books. It amply demonstrates the bravery and sacrifices borne by a small and unlikely group of heroes who risked all to ensure nothing less than the survival of humanity from the unthinkable: an atomic-armed Nazi Germany. The book's motto could be that of Joachim Ronneberg, one of its heroes: "You've got to fight for freedom every day. And for peace. It's like a glass boat; it's easy to break. It's easy to lose." SHARE First Baptist concert features Montecarlo First Baptist Church of Knoxville will host Montecarlo, a classical music group from Colombia, for a 7 p.m. concert on Sept. 11. The concert will feature performances of popular music with a classical style. Admission is free, with the opportunity give a love offering. Founder and manager John Bedoya says his objective for Montecarlo is to reflect the goodness of God while giving musicians opportunities to grow professionally. This is Montecarlo's first tour in the United States. The church is located at 510 W. Main Street downtown. Info: www.fbcknox.org or 865-546-9661 UT prof to speak at Seekers of Silence Dr. David Goslee, University of Tennessee professor emeritus of English, will speak on "Love Was Our Lord's Meaning: The Visions of Julian of Norwich" at the Saturday, Sept. 3, meeting of Seekers of Silence at Church of the Savior. The meeting is open to all and free of charge. Gather at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. The church is at 934 N. Weisgarber Road. Julian of Norwich was a Christian mystic and theologian. Her "Revelations of Divine Love," written around 1395, is the first book in the English language known to have been written by a woman. Julian was also known as a spiritual authority within her community. Local presidential campaign headquarters for both Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump will open officially over the next few days. An open house for the Clinton for Knoxville campaign will be 2-5 p.m. today with a program of speakers somewhere between 3-3:30 p.m., said Sylvia Woods, campaign office captain. The speakers will be local Democratic officeholders and legislative candidates in November. The headquarters is on the second floor of the Knox County Democratic Party headquarters, 311 Morgan St. The building does not have handicapped accessibility, so the party's office and headquarters for Gloria Johnson, seeking to represent the 13th District state House seat, on the ground floor will be open, Woods said. U. S. Rep. John J. "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will help to open the Knox County Republican Party's Trump-Pence headquarters 6-8 p.m. Monday at 11134 Kingston Pike. Other Republican county and state officeholders who represent a portion of Knox County are expected to attend, officials said. The GOP campaign office has been open about a week to get materials in after arrangements for a headquarters were made quickly through contacts of former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison, who has worked for the Trump campaign since before the March primary. Campaign gear will be available at both locations. When the Republican Party announced its location, county chairman Buddy Burkhardt said he and others were trying to get one of Trump's children to attend. They were still trying earlier in the week, an official said. A different type of political event will occur Thursday when newly elected and re-elected Knox County officeholders will be installed at 9 a.m. in the main assembly room of the City County Building. Burchett will preside at the installation of Law Director Richard "Bud" Armstrong, re-elected to another four-year term; John Whitehead, taking the oath of property assessor after having been term-limited earlier and now re-elected; seven county commissioners; and four school board members. On Sept. 8, the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by the Hillary for America campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties in 38 states, including Tennessee, will hold a Puerto Rican dinner in celebration of Clinton's candidacy. Called Knoxville TN Latinos por Hillary y Democratas, the 6:30-8:30 p.m. event will be at the home of Loida Velazquez, 8710 Glen Echo Drive, at $50 for supporters and $25 for guests. Reservations can be made at kgiel@ hillaryclinton.com. SHARE Critics say Donald Trump's campaign is too cozy with Russia, but Hillary Clinton may have problems of her own. Critics charge that foreign governments gained access to Clinton when she served as secretary of state by making donations to a charity, the Clinton Foundation, overseen by her family. Clinton says the foundation will stop taking foreign donations if she's president, but Republican critics have called for the organization to be shut down entirely. Is the Clinton Foundation a problem for Clinton? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, debate the issue. JOEL MATHIS With Bill and Hillary Clinton, as always, there's a thin line between "kind of gross" and "clearly wrong." And so it is with Clinton Foundation. Hillary Clinton's defenders say the Clinton Foundation does tremendous, life-saving work and they're right. But that doesn't mean the charity isn't a problem for her. Why? It's pretty well accepted that appearances of a conflict of interest can be just as bad in public life as actual conflicts. So if you're secretary of state and foreign countries standing to benefit in a variety of ways, financial and otherwise, from U.S. policy are pumping millions of dollars into your husband's charitable foundation, well of course it looks like a potential problem. And if you're running for president and all these foreign countries, as well as big corporations, keep being eager to donate, well of course that looks like a potential problem as well. Here's the thing: The Clintons, fair or not, have to walk a much, much tighter ethical line than everybody else. Because the public is primed to see them as acting unethically. And while they're not as bad as Republicans make them out to be, it's also the case that they legitimately screw up now and again, giving new life to all the rest of it. Bill really did lie to a grand jury about his sex life; Hillary really did handle her emails poorly and then really did exaggerate in suggesting the FBI had exonerated her. Now: Damon Linker, a writer at The Week, points out that Hillary Clinton's critics haven't actually found a smoking gun in all of this, no evidence of a quid pro quo in which money was exchanged for services. But Americans have the right not to have to guess whether or not that's the case, and have the right to expect a potential president to go far above and beyond the minimum necessary to keep his or her house in order. The funny thing is: She's still the better presidential candidate this fall. Donald Trump is just that dangerous. The temptation is to give her a free pass as a result but that wouldn't be right. We need accountability from all our candidates. BEN BOYCHUK She's crooked, you know. Donald Trump, for all his terrible bluster and braggadocio, is surely right about that. Hillary Clinton was reckless with national security secrets when she was secretary of state and has been utterly shameless when it comes to telling the truth. And little by little, voters are learning that she likely used her family's foundation to trade access to the State Department for hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars in donations. Trump is a bit more cavalier than responsible journalists would be in describing what Clinton allegedly did as secretary of state. Then again, supposedly responsible mainstream journalists have been far behind the curve when it comes to investigating the Clinton Foundation. Well, they're catching up now. The Associated Press recently 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." "Combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million," the AP story continued. "At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million." Did those donors get anything for their gifts other than access? We don't know yet. But access to the secretary of state isn't trivial. One of those donors, Gilbert Chagoury, has pledged $1 billion to the Clinton Global Initiative. Chagoury is a Nigerian billionaire who was forced by the Nigerian government to pay nearly $300 million in 1998 to avoid prosecution for his allegedly corrupt ties to former dictator Sani Abacha. He's also a business partner of Marc Rich, a fugitive who won a pardon from President Bill Clinton on his last day in office in 2001 for his business deals with America's enemies in Iran, North Korea and Cuba. By the way, it's unclear just how much "life-saving work" the Clinton Foundation does. Charity Navigator doesn't offer a rating, positive or negative, citing the foundation's "atypical business model." According to the group's IRS disclosures, however, nearly 60 percent of the foundation's expenditures in 2014 went toward salaries, benefits, travel and conferences. "It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins," Trump said in Austin, Texas, this week. Let's hope voters have a better idea before Election Day. Joel Mathis (joelmmathis@gmail.com) is an award-winning writer in Kansas. Ben Boychuk (bboychuk3@att.net) is managing editor of American Greatness. SHARE Three years ago, I participated in a well-publicized announcement that was both exhilarating and terrifying. Gov. Bill Haslam and other government, business and education leaders from across the state announced the formation of WGU Tennessee, the state-based affiliate of Western Governors University. WGU is the self-paced, competency-based, accredited, not-for-profit online university formed in 1997 by a group of governors of Western states seeking to improve and supplement workforce development. As we celebrate our third anniversary, WGU Tennessee has already affected thousands of Tennesseans, particularly in the Knoxville area. When we launched WGU Tennessee, there were about 690 Tennesseans enrolled in the WGU system. Today there are more than 2,700 210 in the Knoxville area alone. That doesn't include the more than 1,300 Tennesseans who have graduated from WGU Tennessee. WGU Tennessee students are part of the 900,000 working adults in Tennessee who have completed some college courses, but need a flexible way to learn, advance their careers and provide a better life for themselves and their loved ones. We have focused on working adults as one of the original components of Gov. Haslam's "Drive to 55" initiative to increase the number of college graduates in Tennessee to 55 percent by 2025. My team and I have met with mayors and county executives, print and broadcast news media, business leaders and chambers of commerce, and local education practitioners, as well as students and potential students, graduates and faculty in every major market in Tennessee. I have driven more than 100,000 miles crisscrossing the state. Today we have students from 91 of the state's 95 counties, and we have awarded more than $730,000 in scholarships to Tennesseans. We are especially proud that we have developed formal partnerships with more than 50 businesses, all of which need a highly educated workforce. Some of the largest include First Bank of Tennessee, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and HCA, not to mention our partnership with Knox County Schools. Our partnerships with major health care companies in our state are helping them boost the percentage of their nursing staff who hold a bachelor's degree in a convenient, cost-effective way. We have begun the task of providing more STEM teachers to fill the gap in Tennessee's schools. Many of these new teachers are second-career adults with real-world experience. We are also helping train the tech workforce with degree offerings including data management and analytics, software development and information technology security. We have signed articulation agreements with all 13 of the state's community colleges. WGU Tennessee limits its offerings to bachelor's and master's degree curricula in four subject areas: education, nursing, information technology and business. Our tuition is approximately $3,000 per six-month term, or $6,000 per year, and has not been increased in the past eight years. Students complete as many courses as they can for a flat rate. When students move faster through their program, they save money as well as time. While we have achieved a great deal in the past three years, there is still much work to be done. Tennessee is poised to become a national leader in education and workforce development, but challenges lie ahead. WGU Tennessee and its 120 employees are honored to be part of this important work as we strive to help our state fill a critical gap in the higher-education landscape. Kimberly K. Estep is the chancellor of WGU Tennessee. For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu, or call 855-948-8495. SHARE As a former Naval Intelligence officer, I found it interesting that Trump's chief political adviser Paul, Manafort, was a political adviser to Viktor Yanukovych, the Russia-loving head of Ukraine, for several years. After the Ukrainian people threw him out for being too close to Russia, Trump's buddy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine and took the Crimea away. With Trump's call for Russian hacking of his opponent's computers and his generally favorable attitude towards things Russian, including support for the Russian-supported regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, one becomes suspicious. What's in it for Trump? Is this why he won't release his taxes? Warren Buffet offered to release his taxes simultaneously with Trump and compared him to a monkey, but Trump hasn't lashed out at Buffett. Is it because Buffet is bigger and stronger than he is? In any event, should Trump be elected, get ready to change the state flag to the hammer and sickle. Ben Brabson, Sevierville By Choi Sung-jin Calls are growing louder for local credit card companies to establish a network to allow Korean cardholders to pay for their overseas purchases without the help of global credit card companies, such as Visa and MasterCard. Such demands have intensified since Visa, the world's largest credit card company, announced earlier this year that it would raise the fees for overseas credit card purchases by Korean consumers, from the current 1.0 percent to 1.1 percent. Eight Korean credit card firms affiliated with Visa say the unilateral move is unfair and they are considering taking the case to the Fair Trade Commission. "Visa attempted to raise the fee to no avail in 2009, and is trying to do it again," said an industry executive. "As Koreans' credit card use abroad has grown sharply, Visa will enjoy double benefits." Overseas credit card use by Koreans soared from $2.48 billion in the first quarter of 2013 to $3.29 billion in the first three months of this year, recording a hefty increase of 32 percent. Given that global brand cards are currently getting fees of 1 percent on overseas purchases, they earned about $33 million (36.8 billion won) from Koreans in the first quarter of this year. When Visa unveiled a plan to increase fees in Asia in April, it caused a controversy by including Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hong Kong as the target countries while excluding China and Japan. The U.S. company said it would decide on fee hikes for Asia's largest and second-largest economies but has yet to make any announcement to that effect. Industry watchers say Visa might have intentionally excluded the two countries from fee hikes because Japan has JCB and China has CUP as their independent payment systems for overseas purchases. Among global brand cards, Visa accounts for 54 percent of the Korean market, followed by MasterCard's 35 percent with the other 11 percent shared by American Express and Union Pay. "Domestic credit card companies are now in a triple distress," said an industry executive. "Merchant fees have been lowered since January, and card sales are expected to fall sharply because of the implementation of the strict anti-corruption law on Sept. 28. Coming on top of these is Visa's move to raise fees for overseas card use." The Credit Finance Association and eight credit card issuers are considering filing a complaint with the government's antitrust watchdog. In addition, they are planning to visit the headquarters of the San Francisco-based company while consumer groups plan a boycott from shopping with Visa. The problem is that none of these efforts can go toward a fundamental and lasting solution as long as the global brand cards continue to dominate the market worldwide as they do now, industry watchers say. Some local credit card companies are moving toward setting up their overseas payment networks exclusive of global brand cards. BC Global Card, for instance, has become the first Korean credit card to allow its holders to pay for their overseas purchases without fees, in a business tie-up with Discover Card of the United States. It has issued about 9 million cards since making its debut in April 2011. "Our card is especially popular among consumers in their 20s through their 40s, as it permits easy payment for overseas online shopping," said a BC Card official, while acknowledging there are some restrictions in offline payments depending on regions as it uses the payment networks of Discover Card. Shinhan Card also has recently signed an agreement with NTT Data, a settlement agency service of Japan's NTT, to expand affiliated stores and open the latter's business network for overseas payment, allowing other Korean credit card firms to use its affiliated stores. Through a partnership with NTT Data, Shinhan has provided services since March 2015, which allow Koreans to make purchases in Japan without using Visa or MasterCard. Since the end of last year, the eight Korean credit card firms have also taken turns to use the won-currency settlement system of Google Play Store, with LG Uplus serving as their payment gateway. The credit card issuers also expect that the role of global brand credit cards will diminish because of the rapid development of fintech and the emergence of electronic currencies such as Alipay and Tenpay, the industry watchers said. The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea kicked off a convention on Saturday to select a new leader, with the outcome set to lay the foundation for next year's key presidential race. Rep. Choo Mi-ae, who is known to represent the faction that supports the party's leading presidential hopeful Moon Jae-in, is widely expected to beat her two rivals, Kim Sang-gon and Rep. Lee Jong-kul. Political pundits said if Choo wins the election as expected, the so-called Moon faction can gain more ground within the party and better prepare for next year's presidential election. Moon stepped down from the party's top post earlier this year following internal strife. If Kim or Lee is elected the new head, however, the party may face more intense competition to pick its presidential candidate, they added. The result is also set to bring major "left-leaning" changes to party policies, including its stance on the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in the country, they also said. Kim Chong-in, the party's interim head, has been maintaining a neutral stance against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country, which bought criticism from some of its progressive lawmakers for being reluctant to voice protest. Choo, a five-term lawmaker who represents the Gwangjin District of Seoul, earlier vowed she will take a tougher stance in regards to Minjoo's position on THAAD. The move will also apparently further weigh down the party's relationship with the conservative ruling Saenuri Party, which claims the missile defense system is integral to defending South Korea against Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats. On Saturday's convention, the main opposition party will also elect the heads of the women, elderly, and youth committees. (Yonhap) Employees at Lotte Group, South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate, were shocked Friday by the news that its No. 2 man had died ahead of his planned appearance before prosecutors for questioning over his role in a series of scandals. Lee In-won, the group's vice chairman, was found dead in Yangpyeong, south of Seoul, earlier in the day in an apparent suicide, according to the police. Lee has been regarded as one of the closest aides to Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin. "He might have been put under emotional pressure (before the prosecutors' summons)," said a high-ranking official at the group. Another official added, "Lee was respected by Lotte employees for his faithful and reasonable management style. He was a devout Christian and highly ethical." The 69-year-old Lee had worked for Lotte for 43 years and served as the chief of Lotte's policy headquarters, a control tower, until recently. He oversaw the group's overall affairs and rose to the post of vice chairman in 2011 with the owner family's support. North Korea's military has raised its alert posture to its highest level in response to an annual joint military drill between Seoul and Washington, a government source here said Friday. The North ordered its military on the highest special alert early this week as the allies kicked off their annual military exercise on Monday aimed at countering Pyongyang's potential aggression, according to the source. This year's alert level was one notch higher than that issued during last year's joint military drill, indicating that North Korea is highly sensitive to the drill. North Korea has long denounced the military drill as a rehearsal for invasion, but Seoul and Washington said that the exercise is defensive in nature. North Korea threatened Monday to make a "preemptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the U.S. in response to the allies' exercise which involves some 75,000 troops including about 25,000 from the U.S. side. The source said that North Korea is also intensifying its military drills at front-line areas. North Korea fired off a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday in an apparent protest against the Seoul-Washington military drill. The North's leader Kim Jong-un hailed the latest missile launch as the "greatest success," claiming that his country has full capability to carry out nuclear attacks. The missile flew about 500 kilometers toward Japan, marking the longest flight by such a missile and raising concerns about the technical advances in the North's missile program. (Yonhap) In June, an Egyptian court ruled that the islands belong to Egypt, a decision that has been appealed by the government Egypt's High Administrative Court accepted Saturday a recusal request of the panel reviewing a government appeal against a ruling asseting Egyptian sovereignty over two Red Sea islands. In April, Egypt's government agreed to transfer the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia, saying they had always belonged to the Gulf country. However, an Egyptian court voided the move in June, ruling that the islands belong to Egypt, a decision that has been appealed by the government. The decision to transfer the two strategic islands at the southern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi hands sparked widespread public outcry in the country. Dozens of people were arrested and put on trial for protesting the deal, though many have since been released after paying hefty fines. Lawyer Khaled Ali, who filed the recusal request, cited alleged interference of the executive authority with the judiciary. His request stated that Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdy Al-Agaty called on the court overseeing the appeal to "accept the appeal within a week." Ali said that Al-Agaty is a former judge who previously worked in the same court and thus could influence its ruling. The Egyptian government has repeatedly said that the islands have always belonged to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt was merely administering them on behalf of the Saudis since the 1950s. Search Keywords: Short link: On Thursday, another court ordered the release of human rights lawyer Malek Adly pending investigations, but the prosecution appealed the decision An Egyptian court upheld Saturday the decision to release lawyer and activist Malek Adly, turning down a prosecution appeal on Adly's release. On Thursday, another court ordered the release from detention of human rights lawyer Adly pending investigations on a number of charges, including inciting protests. The prosecution appealed the decision. The well-known lawyer, who was arrested 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 undermining 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 has deteriorated rapidly because of the conditions of his detention. Protesting without a police permit is a crime in Egypt, and violators are often give jail terms and hefty fines. Search Keywords: Short link: Irked by the recurring killing and maiming of villagers in Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen and the seeming hopelessness of the security architecture in the state, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, described the governors of the South-eastern states as weak and incapable of performing the primary function of governance. It said that had the governors established a pan-Igbo security outfit in addition to conventional security agencies, the South East geopolitical zone, would have been better protected against rampaging herdsmen. Continue This assertion was predicated on the fact that the governors of Ekiti and Abia states, had while responding to the activities of the herdsmen, promulgated laws aimed at checkmating their unwholesome movements. Specifically, the Ekiti State House of Assembly passed a bill banning free cattle grazing in the state, while Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had ordered the revival of the moribund state-owned vigilante group, the Abia State Vigilante Services ,AVS, to enhance community policing.These, among others, were the measures many told Saturday Vanguard, had long been expected of Ugwuanyi, who had experienced series of devastating attacks on Enugu communities by herdsmen in the last four months. In a statement by its leader, Mr. Uchenna Madus, said: We blame Igbo leaders for these unchallenged confrontations, unwarranted and cowardice killing of our people by Fulani herdsmen in our own land. The known enemies have the effrontery to commit this sacrilege today against Ndigbo who they were afraid of during Nigeria/Biafra war because Igbo political, religious, opinion leaders are afraid of Buhari. Until Igbo leaders wake up from their slumber and understand the efficiency, efficacy, and potency of Igbo-based grassroots organizations including the Biafra agitating groups who are committed to Ndigbo, Igbo land will continue to experience more devastating attacks. Why should Igbo governors continue to rely on the security personnel in their states, spending millions of naira on them while neglecting groups that can ensure security in Igbo land? Vanguard Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates A mum has admitted murdering her baby daughter before fleeing to Uganda. The body of 20-month-old Sarah Dahane was found at Angela Whitworths home in Bicester, Oxfordshire, on 16 May 2013. On the day the little girl was discovered, Whitworth, 44, flew to Nairobi in Kenya, before travelling on to Uganda. She was arrested on 9th of March this year in a joint operation between Thames Valley Police and the Ugandan authorities. Two weeks before she was detained, Thames Valley Police had offered a 10,000 reward to try and track her down. Appearing at the Old Bailey from Bronzefield prison, Whitworth, wearing a lime green T-shirt with a black pattern pleaded guilty to murdering her daughter on 15 May 2013. Mr Justice Saunders said she will be sentenced on October 4th when she faces a life sentence. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates President Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja to attend this years International Conference on African Development (TICAD Vi) in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit holding this weekend is 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. See more photos below Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Scotland and Canada will allow police officers to wear hijabs on the job in a bid to attract more Muslim women to join their forces. Both countries announced their policy changes this week amid controversy over a French towns ban on burkinis, which was overturned by the countrys highest administrative court yesterday. Scotland police said in a statement it hoped the policy change will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds to the life skills, experiences and personal qualities that our officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates A Texas man has been accused of beheading his wife just hours after police officers visited the couple for a welfare check. Bellmead police Sgt. Kory Martin says officers visited 23-year-old Davie Dauzat and his 21-year-old wife, Natasha, on Thursday at their mobile home in Bellmead, 80 miles from Dallas, after a relative called police. Officers found no trouble and left. Yet just two hours later, a relative called police once again to say Dauzat had killed his wife. Police returned and found Natasha Dauzat had been decapitated and her head had been placed in the freezer. A hostage negotiator made contact with Davie Dauzat, who came out of the home covered in blood, police said. The couples two toddlers were home, but not hurt. A source close to the investigation said Natasha had been stabbed before she was decapitated. He was still inside with the children at one point, said Sgt. Kory Martin, spokesman for Bellmead Police. We had a hostage negotiator who made contact with him and as soon as we made contact with him, asked him to come outside, he voluntarily came outside and we were able to get him into custody and we quickly had units run inside that home and secure those children and the crime scene. The Facebook page of Natasha Tagliarino Dauzat recently stated Im the happiest girl ever with an amazing Husband and kids and I love them. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Barely a day after advising President Muhammadu Buhari on what his administration needed to do to salvage Nigerias economy, Charles Soludo, a former Central Bank governor, has come under fierce criticism from a Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani. Mr. Soludo cant proffer solutions to Nigerias economic woes when it was his policies, as head of the apex bank, that brought the country to its terrible state, Mr. Sani said. Mr. Soludo, who spoke on Thursday at the 4th lecture series of the Progressives Governors Forum in Kaduna, advised that, The APC should go back to its manifesto and instigate framework that will engender the atmosphere for growth as Nigeria cannot develop with the current structure where institutions are created only to share from the federation account. He said it was better Mr. Buharis administration started thinking outside the box, rather than continue to blame the past government for the nations economic problems. But Mr. Sani, the All Progressives Congress senator, representing Kaduna Central, responded to Mr. Soludos advice, by saying that it would be too early to forget that his (Soludos) stewardship at the CBN was the foundation of the current economic crisis in Nigeria. The senator, in an email sent to Premium Times, Friday, said Mr. Soludo was entitled to his opinion, but that it was good to remind him of the role he played in bringing down the countrys economy. If Soludo and his Government had actually implemented such lofty ideas of reforms, we couldnt have found ourselves where we are today, Mr. Sani said. Its too early to forget the legacy of cronyism, elitism and vindictiveness that occasioned the past administrations. Soludo was lucky to serve under a Government that was powered by $140 per barrel and without the headache, heartache and bloodshed that has become of Niger Delta and the north east. Soludo need to be reminded that most of those today on trial for stealing our public funds were the same people rooted in the Government he served before GEJ. Yes PMB is tackling the symptoms of corruption, but the symptoms were there for 16 years. If Soludo and others have combated the symptoms, PMB could have now focused on the ailment. Its not in contention that blame game by the PMB administration against GEJ must end but under PDP three Governments for 16 years, hardly a day passed without the same blame game on late Abacha. He also attacked APC governors for inviting Sanusi to speak at the lecture series. Those who invited Soludo did that to rubbish PMBs economic policies that they dont have the balls to do. What is the reason and the logic behind APC chieftains inviting a PDP economist to lecture them on the economy? The very party they consistently deride for ruining this country for 16 years? Premium Times Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Naji was sentenced to prison for 'violating public decency' by using 'explicitly obscene phrases and words' in an excerpt of his novel published in a newspaper A Cairo misdemeanour court rejected on Saturday a request by novelist Ahmed Naji that a two-year prison sentence against him for publishing sexually explicit material be suspended pending an appeal. Naji was sentenced to prison in February for "violating public decency" by using "explicitly obscene phrases and words" after excerpts of his novel The Use of Life were published in a literary magazine in 2014. Naji had been acquitted in January but the prosecution appealed the verdict and he was sentenced in a retrial. The case was brought against him late last year by an individual, in his capacity as a concerned citizen, who claimed to have experienced "health issues" after reading the excerpt. Naji's defence team has filed an appeal before the cassation court against the two-year sentence, but an appeal hearing has not yet been scheduled. Egyptian novelists and intellectuals have declared their support for Nagy, demanding his release and stating that his prison sentence is unconstitutional. Search Keywords: Short link: The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Egypt's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Friday terrorist attack that killed at least 11 people near a security checkpoint in the city of Cizres, southern Turkey. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Egyptian foreign ministry expressed its condolences for the families of the victims of the bombing, which injured at least 78 people. The ministry's spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Egypt stands beside the Turkish people in the fight against terrorism. Search Keywords: Short link: PRESS RELEASE 9/11 Families Produce Powerful Videos To Push for Passing JASTA Aug. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)9/11 families and survivors of the attack are in a mobilization to pass the JASTA (Justice Against Supporters of Terrorism ACT) in the House immediate when Congress reconvenes. The 28pages.org website yesterday posted several hard-hitting videos produced by widows of 9/11 victims and a powerful statement by Kristen Breitweiser, a 9/11 families leader, whose husband was killed in the attack. "The reality is that the Saudis throw a lot of money around Washington, D.C. and they have a lot of influence. The Saudis have the president and the State Department on their side. I think thats un-American, I think its unpatriotic, I think its disgusting, frankly. I dont know how President Obama will be able to commemorate the 9/11 attacks, by giving a speech or laying a wreath or what have you, when he stabbed the 9/11 families in the back by supporting the Saudis over the 9/11 families ... (emphasis added), Breitweiser said. "Talking about the 28 pages from the 2002 Joint Congressional investigation, she added, Youve got plenty of information out there that the 9/11 Commission did not do a full investigation of the Saudis. Several 9/11 Commissioners themselves acknowledge that. Whether you want to talk about the budget, whether you want to talk about the way (9/11 Commission executive director) Philip Zelikow set it up, it was not a full investigation. Thats one of the reasons why were fighting for JASTA, because at least in a court system well have discovery.... we want the American public to see the evidence and see the information and be fully engaged and educated on the issue, Breitweiser said. "We believe that 15 years is long enough and it would honor our loved ones if they would pass JASTA and allow us to proceed with our path to justice and holding the Saudis accountable for their alleged role, Breitweiser added." The article is illustrated with a recent photo of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sitting in Riyadh and laughing together. Ryan is under strong pressure to schedule a vote on the bill which has already passed the Senate. New Sleep Apnea Approach Review - Giving to the Community Sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that has plagued millions worldwide, can be even more harmful than originally believed. While some patients respond well to CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) masks, others find the devices nighttime use uncomfortable and do not wear it enough to produce the desired effect, according to Dr. David Potts, owner of Lake County Dental Care in Libertyville, Illinois. Because patients with CPAP masks often dont benefit, Potts said he and his team have perfected Oral Appliance Therapy, an alternative method to the often-cumbersome masks and frequently risky surgeries used to treat sleep apnea. Potts explained the device as a contraption that snaps onto the teeth to hold the tongue in place, avoiding airway obstruction. The tongue is probably the most common obstruction for the mouth, said Potts. With this durable medical device, theres much more compliance so its much more effective. As yet another alternative for serious sleep apnea cases, Potts said Lake County Dental Care also offers a pacemaker-like device that features sensors to open up airways when they become obstructed. There are people who have central sleep apnea where the body is not recognizing that its not breathing, Potts explained. One of the real safety concerns is people who fall asleep while driving. There are lots of those kinds of things. It puts everyone in danger. Because of the prevalence of falling asleep behind the wheel, sleep apnea treatment is particularly important for truckers, Potts said. In fact, he explained, after a recent treatment for sleep apnea among truckers, hospitalizations among those truckers declined by 91 percent. Potts said the importance of a proper amount of restful sleep on a regular basis couldnt be underestimated. There are a tremendous amount of things that sleep affects, Potts said. For example, we transfer our short-term memory into long term memory while we sleep. It affects our weight and mood. The skin of people who dont sleep well ages twice as fast. Potts also said proper sleep rejuvenates blood vessels, strengthens the heart and can decrease the risk of stroke and diabetes. . Because Lake County Dental Care wants to reach and assist low-income adults, Potts said they inform these patient's through broadcast radio stations, churches, womens shelters and food pantries. In fact, WGN Reporter Marcus Leshock spoke at length about Dr. Potts philanthropic efforts at the anchor desk during cross-talk. Potts said he was inspired to start the program in Illinois after a friend of his in Oklahoma started a similar program about eight years ago. It went so well in Oklahoma, he said. Its just been a really great thing to do. Photos: courtesy of Lake County Dental Care More information can be found at the Lake County Dental Care website If youre planning a trip south of the border, you can expect to save a little on your flight to Mexico. An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that took effect Aug. 21 will drop restrictions on the number of airlines that can fly between the two countries, thus increasing competition and lowering fares. Thanks to the agreement that followed four years of negotiations, U.S. and Mexican airlines seeking to fly between the two countries will only be limited by the number of slots a scheduled time to land or takeoff available at various airports. Advertisement The new agreement will benefit U.S. and Mexican airlines, travelers, businesses, airports, and communities by allowing increased market access for passenger and cargo airlines to fly between any city in Mexico and any city in the United States, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. He added that the increased competition should lead to lower air fares. Several airlines have already announced new routes to Mexico. Southwest Airlines said that starting Dec. 4, the carrier will fly three new nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Cancun, San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. Delta Air Lines said it plans on Dec. 17 to start new daily nonstop services from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport to Cancun and from LAX to Los Cabos, plus a Saturday flight from Kansas City, Mo., to Cancun. American Airlines said it has started taking reservations for new daily flights from LAX to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta starting Dec. 15. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter ALSO Delta criticized for deleting same-sex love scene from in-flight movie Carol Labor Day weekend airfares expected to drop from recent years Ashley Furniture slashes production in Inland Empire, lays off 840 workers When graphic designers at childrens tablet and app maker Fuhu Inc. put up a Christmas tree with wacky ornaments for the holidays, an executive ripped them off and trashed them. They couldnt get a whiteboard for brainstorming or leave colored pencils or markers on their desk. Former employees said the edict against untidiness emanated from a single leader, co-founder and President Robb Fujioka, whose marching orders effectively banned fixtures of office life as common as filing cabinets and snacking at the desk. Advertisement Fujioka has said he runs a democratic dictatorship at the struggling, 8-year-old El Segundo company. His micromanagement closely monitoring, for instance, details as small as packaging labels and the waist size of animated characters represented an asset as Fuhu tried to find its footing. But as Fuhu grew to dominate the market for tablets tailored to children, Fujioka became a liability with a penchant for neatness that stifled creativity, a hot temper that drove workers to tears and a focus on minutiae that stalled projects, interviews with 19 people who worked at or with the company suggest. They are left to wonder whether Fujioka held on too tight, for too long. The fundamental issue is that when you have a vision and start the venture, thats markedly different than taking the company to the next level, said Suren Dutia, a former entrepreneur who advises start-ups on leadership transitions. Founders must be brutally honest: Are they still qualified to steer the ship? With a parking lot overflowing with exotic cars and a string of office renovations, Fuhu appeared a success story, generating nearly $200 million in sales in 2013. But several lawsuits and disputes with vendors, including a $100-million unpaid tab with Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn, had left Fuhu in financial turmoil by last year. El Segundo toy maker Mattel Inc. acquired the more than 400-employee start-up for $21.5 million in January out of a bankruptcy auction. It was well below the $1-billion valuation Fujioka had hoped to reach through an initial public offering that he repeatedly vowed was 18 months away. Banks such as Goldman Sachs privately rated the company as far from IPO shape, though it eventually worked with JPMorgan Chase to secretly file a prospectus. Fuhu spokespeople have refused to make Fujioka available for an interview since the bankruptcy. In Inc. magazines September issue, he admits many internal issues stemmed from him. There was a bankruptcy of the business, but there was also a bankruptcy of the corporate culture. Robb Fujioka, co-founder and president of Fuhu There was a bankruptcy of the business, but there was also a bankruptcy of the corporate culture, he said. Fuhu by email denied or disputed characterizations by former employees. Designers, for instance, had collaboration tools beside whiteboards, eating at desks was welcome and no one discarded decorations, the company said. As much as it was able to triumph and overcome, there were many things that could have improved and serve as key learnings that help the team continue to grow, a company statement read. Fujioka, 46, had run several online marketing companies before he launched Fuhu alongside brothers Steve and John Hui, who had sold a PC business to Gateway. His supporters said Fuhus downfall primarily is a result of market dynamics. Tech giants such as Samsung and Amazon.com flooded stores with more affordable alternatives to Fuhu tablets. Demand fell as smartphone screens grew larger and people held onto tablets for many years. Fuhu also lacked big contracts with schools. But former employees say the disorganized and grueling workplace took a toll on company culture and output. Warned by reviews on jobs site Glassdoor or by friends and family close to the company, many workers expected long hours. They were lured, though, by the buzz around tech start-ups, their meritocracies and get-rich-quick potential. But many soon found the conditions extreme. People were treated like adults, but being monitored like they were on a playground, said a former worker, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid reprisal from Fuhu and Fujioka. Many felt pressure to stick around late despite having completed their tasks for their day. You sat there like a dunce, another former worker said. Graphic designers packed notebooks and other supplies into drawers when not in use to appease management. It was a giant stress cage, said a former designer. I felt unsecure worrying about how many implements I had out on the table. Employees received perks: Unlimited vacation, an office gym with personal trainers, free lunches, loosely monitored overseas work travel and celebrations including a nearly all-expenses, two-day trip to the Hard Rock in Las Vegas in 2014. But workers said high turnover crowded workloads, starving chances to go on vacation unless Fujioka favored the individuals. Contractors couldnt access free food (although friends sneaked it to them), and one former employee said she got scolded for taking too many snacks. New hires said they never received a walk-through of Fuhus tablets and apps. Those who requested a tutorial said they waited months for the experience. Fujiokas insistence on approving small details distracted him from bigger issues, said two people who interacted with him closely. Its unclear if Fuhus board of directors recognized the apparent mismanagement or why investors such as Foxconn didnt act sooner. Many, including film studio DreamWorks, declined to comment. Fuhu also had an advisory board, though an industry heavyweight on the panel said he hadnt talked to Fuhu in at least four years. Fuhu said its directors met regularly and were a part of all key decisions. Erik Beyer, a veteran game designer who spent a year at Fuhu, described Fujioka as the antithesis of a good leader. Youve got to trust your employees, thats why you hired them, Beyer said. Anyone in that role should be focused on the big picture and propagating a vision, but that vision shouldnt include work for the sake of work. Fujiokas oversights included not enforcing stringent budgets. A former finance staffer whose assertions Fuhu denied left stunned that the company spent five times as much to ship tablets by air versus sea for no particular reason. When it filed for bankruptcy, Fuhu owed Foxconn more than $61 million as cash flow suffered from slowing sales, failed products and thin profit margins. Fuhu also entered a $50-million dispute with distributor D&H, contributing to the bankruptcy of manufacturer Keen High Technologies Co., according to court records. The Foxconn partnership destabilized over several transgressions, the ex-finance worker said. At one point, Fuhu agreed to sell tablets for less than Foxconn would ever agree to. Last year, Fuhu publicly blamed Foxconns mishandling of tablets for lackluster sales allegations that Foxconn called unfounded and threatened to sue over. Creditors continue to seek repayment from Fuhu. Daniel Choi, an animator who after two years was laid off, said he should have seen the bankruptcy coming sooner. You see poor management, he said. You see it every day. Product ideas unsupported by broad market research often came from Fujioka talking to his kids. Two former managers said plans to develop baby monitors didnt have any research behind them. Technologists at the company didnt get solid answers to why tablets began requiring proprietary cables. Thorough vetting occurred, and Apples strategy of proprietary accessories inspired its own, Fuhu said. Workers felt rushed to complete projects so managers had time to get Fujiokas approval. The rush contributed to faulty products, including a weak charging system now at the center of potential multimillion-dollar class-action litigation. Fujioka also created the partnership, a handpicked group of about 20 employees who met with him every Monday. Former employees said partners toted around walkie-talkies, racing over just to hand him eating utensils. Fujioka viewed the partnership as a motivator. Many partners were young. They received promises of both large stakes in Fuhu and grooming for top positions, according to someone nearly named partner. They served as posse and advisors but never questioned Fujiokas decisions, the person said. Chief Executive Jim Mitchell, largely in charge of relationships with contractors and investors, went along with Fujiokas orders, several people said. See the most-read stories in Business this hour The partnership and other quirks knocked at morale. Although Fuhu denies the allegation, one set of workers expressed distress because its team received public evaluations, with names and performance measurements posted in red pen on a wall. The only former employees who described a pleasant experience were among the few dozen software developers at the companys technology offices in Silicon Valley and Colorado. Their lone dread was a visit from headquarters it meant that developers would have to wipe down their desks. A Fujioka backer described him as an aggressive entrepreneur whose style may have worn thin over time. In one incident, which Fuhu said never happened, a freelancer complained aloud that his chair had gone missing. Fujioka, who held 10% of company shares entering the bankruptcy, overheard. Thats not your chair, thats my chair, Fujioka said, according to a person who witnessed the encounter. Hes saying everything in this office is his. He storms off, the person said. The freelancer was soon let go. paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP Twitter: @peard33 ALSO Bijan property on Rodeo Drive sells for $19,000 a square foot Delta criticized for deleting same-sex love scene from in-flight movie Carol Ashley Furniture slashes production in Inland Empire, lays off 840 workers Good night to a good show My favorite show canceled? [Nightly Show Host to Bid Farewell, Aug. 18] I knew it was too truthful to be on TV. Catalina Garcia Van Nuys :: Larry Wilmores commentary was spot on, and the round-table had articulate discussions even when you were laughing at what was being said. More important, a lot of stereotypes were dissolved during these discussions. Who knew rappers were intelligent, thoughtful people, up on current events? Comedy Central should have stuck it out. An important voice was lost. Advertisement Tony Schaffer Los Angeles :: Thank you for an intelligent and sympathetic review (and obituary) of the only show I still watch regularly on Comedy Central. I love to hear Wilmores comedic twists on political happenings. They make me laugh at things that otherwise would make me cry. For me, a white woman, experiencing the African American point of view is an extra plus. Katherine King Venice :: My personal favorite? Grace Parras over-amped Nightly Nightly reporter, whose indefatigably dazzling smile and innuendo-tainted observations betrayed her role as all-too-eager shill for the Hollywood hype machine. William P. Bekkala West Hollywood :: My DVR records the shows and give a refreshing perspective to the stressful daily news flood. It is so sad that he doesnt have the respect of the producers and bill payers. I am actually crying right now. Common sense has been dumped again. Sally Cook Camarillo Athletes pack the field as fireworks blast off during the Rio Olympics 2016 opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times ) Just allow Brazil to be Brazil Thank you for the article on the opening ceremony [Rio 2016: Why Opening Ceremony Matters, Aug. 8]. Im a Brazilian citizen living in the U.S. for the last 16 years, and Im currently working through a lot of shame and anger not only around what my home country could have done better but also on how it keeps getting described in an excessively negative light. There is so much that I appreciated in your article, but your references to colonialism and how Brazil has been viewed as a refractory adolescent touched on something that I wish was more often acknowledged. Brazil has many problems, many of them that we (Brazilians) created, but as you mentioned, the country is not just a list of unfixable problems. And, hey, nobody was assaulted by a huge crowd of muggers, drug lords, kidnappers, attacked by disease-carrying mosquitoes or killed by bits of flesh-eating raw sewage. Andre Zandona San Francisco Come on, baby, light the 60s Regarding Feedback: When the Doors Swung Open to 60s [Aug. 21]. Robert Chapman has made a good point. From now on when I mouth off about the 60s, Ill say they were from 64 to 67. John Densmore Los Angeles Landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx designed the walkways and landscape on Avenida Atlantica, the main street that runs along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times ) Appreciation of a Brazilian architect Delighted to see Roberto Burle Marx celebrated [Landscape Architect Roberto Burle Marx Emerges as a Minor Star of the Olympic Games, Aug. 13]. His legacy among landscape architects is great. Thanks for spreading his legacy to a wider audience. Stephanie Landregan Los Angeles House is a key to understanding Regarding An Inglorious End to a Celebrated House? [Aug. 17]. I have long appreciated Christopher Hawthornes insightful, contextualizing commentary on Los Angeles architecture. So again in his piece on Tomas Manns house, which is up for sale but considered pretty much a tear-down. Hawthorne sees it as another example of the fragility of L.A.s cultural heritage, in this case, its architectural history. There is a word in German for such a lack of a sense of history, Geschichtsvergessenheit, historical obliviousness. Mann was German, of course, but it was in the U.S. , Princeton first, and then L.A., where he could record his weekly broadcasts to Germany, reminding the world in those dark years that there still was another Germany. To keep this history alive by saving Manns house would honor both a great writer and the city of Los Angeles itself. Hans J. Rindisbacher Claremont :: The key to understanding any proposal to turn Thomas Manns old house into a museum, is that people dont want to spend their money on house museums. Thats why house museums dont have enough customers to pay the bills and have to ask for donations, volunteers and government money. Sharon Gehl San Diego A complicated restitution case. A composition that mind-melds four orchestras. And an L.A. artist gets ready to transform a downtown museum. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times (and the blogger behind Culture High & Low), and here are the weeks top arts and culture stories: Paintings held by Nazis to remain in Pasadena The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. (John Antczak / AP ) Advertisement For almost a decade, a pair of beguiling paintings of Adam and Eve by German Renaissance master Lucas Cranach the Elder have been at the heart of a restitution battle between Pasadenas Norton Simon Museum and the descendants of Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, whose firm was forced to sell them to the Nazis during World War II. Now, a U.S. judge has ruled that they belong to the Norton Simon. Goudstikkers heirs will appeal. This week, I wrote about the incredible journey these paintings have made, one that raises difficult questions about the murkiness of ownership during revolution and war and if it should matter whether the person trying to reclaim Nazi-looted art is the daughter of a Nazi. Los Angeles Times In related news: The 99% Invisible podcast has a pretty terrific story about the photographs of Lucia Moholy, who documented the architecture of the Bauhaus. Moholy lost her negatives when she was forced to flee Germany during World War II. They were rescued by architect Walter Gropius but thats just the beginning of the tale. 99% Invisible An L.A. artist gets his first museum survey An exclusive clip of Doug Aitkens migration (empire) as it will appear in MOCAs the Geffen. Doug Aitken will be taking over the Museum of Contemporary Arts Little Tokyo space starting Sept. 10 for his first career survey, Electric Earth. For the show, Aitken will be installing seven large-scale video pieces and a new sound piece, transforming the space in the process. How can we see it as a kind of living, breathing space where the viewer feels empowered, Aitken tells The Times Deborah Vankin. Where its always evolving, always moving forward. Los Angeles Times Job cuts at San Diegos contemporary museum In advance of a major fall renovation at its La Jolla exhibition space, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is cutting eight full-time positions and 20 part-time spots. Voice of San Diego A concert for four orchestras Karlheinz Stockhausens 1960 composition Carre was a radical work for a radical era. Written for four orchestras and choruses that surround an audience, its as concerned with musics structure and pitch as it is with the ways in which sound travels through time and space. Stagings of it are practically impossible undertakings, but a recent performance in Bochum, Germany, revealed its power. The ensembles never seem to react to one another, writes Times classical music critic Mark Swed. Yet, somehow, everyone swims in the same sonic ocean, and that is transporting. Los Angeles Times While in Europe, Swed also ducked into Salzburg to check out the Gustavo Dudamel-Cecilia Bartoli production of West Side Story reimagined as an opera. The verdict? It is, Swed writes, an outright theatrical turkey, indiscriminately gobbling up opera and Broadway. Los Angeles Times Falling in love (again!) with the Bard Of Shakespeares plays, Loves Labors Lost is one of the trickier ones to pull off, writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty, with its arcane language and satire intended for devotees of Renaissance literature. But a staging of this lesser-known play at the Old Globe theater in San Diego is bringing fresh life to the material. Los Angeles Times Q&A: Hal Linden returns to the stage Hal Linden will star in The Fantasticks at the Pasadena Playhouse. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ) Hal Linden has starred on Broadway, played clarinet in big bands and been the personable Emmy-nominated lead on the TV series Barney Miller. Now, hes prepping for a role in the musical The Fantasticks, which begins previews at the Pasadena Playhouse on Sept. 6. Its a simple little story about truth, about life and love, he tells writer Susan King. Los Angeles Times Art of the disabled on its own terms A group show at the Good Luck Gallery in L.A.s Chinatown showcases an array of intriguing works from the Disparate Minds initiative, bringing work by developmentally disabled adults into the broader dialogue about art. Reviewer Leah Ollman is a fan: One of those great, double-strength shows whose work is as fresh and memorable as the larger, lingering ideas and questions it provokes. Los Angeles Times Plus: How Helen Rae, a 77-year-old Claremont artist, who was born deaf and is non-verbal, communicates through her drawings which are inspired by the pages of fashion magazines. Vogue In other news The 13th century Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is declared safe after central Italy is struck by a devastating magnitude 6.2 earthquake. The Art Newspaper In a time of uncertainty, Mexican artists are returning to their roots. New York Times Not a horror movie: Important world monuments, including the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., are being afflicted by a mysterious black slime. Artnet The bizarre trial of painter Peter Doig, who was sued over a painting he didnt paint, is now over and he has emerged victorious. Dushko Petrovich reports. Artnet I visited the very tony, very dude-ish Glenstone art collection in Potomac, Md., and took lots of pictures. Los Angeles Times L.A. artist Jaque Fragua is doing street installations that remind the city of its native past. Fast Company The Herb Alpert Foundation has given a transformative donation of $10.1 million to Los Angeles City College so music majors can study tuition-free. Los Angeles Times Playing Beethoven in nightclubs. New York Times Yo-Yo Mas Silk Road Ensemble brought its global panoply of musical styles to the Hollywood Bowl in a concert that included a tribute to Prince. Los Angeles Times And since were on the subject of the Bowl, Ken-David Masur made his conducting debut there this week. Reviewer Rick Schultz was impressed. Los Angeles Times Steppenwolf, Chicagos brash and uncompromising theater company, is turning 40. Vanity Fair Please Dont Ask About Becket, a new emotionally astute drama by Wendy Graf at the Sacred Fools Theater Black Box in Hollywood, takes on angsty adolescence. Los Angeles Times A dance critic considers synchronized swimming: In ballet, pain comes from impact with the floor; in synchro, pain comes from thrusting up against the water. New York Times A superb show devoted to the work of California Light and Space artist Robert Irwin in Washington, D.C., sheds light on his early work. ARTnews A San Francisco exhibition has taken Kurt Russell as a point of inspiration. Because, hello, Kurt Russell. io9 And last but not least A piece of fiction inspired by Silicon Valley. Because I love the smell of disruption in the morning. n+1 Sign up for the Essential Arts & Culture newsletter! Find me on Twitter @cmonstah. Is a repressive 19th century drama from a newbie director the most radical movie of the season? Ever since his Lady Macbeth a 19th century re-imagining of a Russian novella about an arranged marriage became one of the conversation pieces at the Toronto International Film Festival, director William Oldroyd has found himself having an unusual conversation. Filmgoers whove seen his movie and expected (or apparently dont know much about) William Shakespeare have been wondering what happened to Duncan, Banquo and the rest of the gang. I know it sounds funny, but Ive had people come up and say to me, This isnt anything like the play, Oldroyd recalled in an interview. And I have to pause and think about what to say. I mean, its not an adaptation of the [Shostakovich] opera either. Its not really anything traditional. The director isnt kidding. This is already shaping up as a film year of a particular trend: complex female characters reacting provocatively to sexual repression and assault. Movies such as Elle, with Isabelle Huppert, and Una, with Rooney Mara, both confound simple victim narratives in ways that are honest or dangerous, depending on your point of view. Read More Wine trends in California can be exceedingly subtle, particularly when they involve wines as transparent as Chenin Blanc, a white variety thats been around for more than a century in California. For about the last 30 years, its gone largely overlooked and unregarded, until a dozen or so local artisans rediscovered it, resulting in a mini-renaissance for a white wine thats as old school as California gets. Chenin blanc originates in France, primarily in the central Loire regions of Anjou, Montlouis, Vouvray and Savennieres, where the grape is capable of multiple styles, depending on the warmth and length of the vintage this is how Chenin, with Riesling, has come to be viewed as one of the great barometers of climate terroir expression in the world. Here in California, the stylistic range is less dramatic but is getting more interesting all the time, as young winemakers prize its affordability, its relative ease of use no new barrels, early releases, immediate cash flow and bracing, anti-Chardonnay vibe. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Life & Style this hour Californias 2015 grape census lists 5,183 acres of Chenin in the California soils, much of it older plantings, vestiges of an era in the 70s and 80s when American tastes ran toward white wines. Most though were lackluster, and fairly sweet at that though Charles Krugs varietal bottling was highly prized. Just a few decades ago, it was the most popular premium wine in America. Meanwhile a few Napa properties Pine Ridge Chappellet and Lang & Reed, Napas Loire-inspired winery have worked with the grape even as tastes veered elsewhere. As reds overtook Californias grape output, Chenin was bypassed; overcropped, anemic iterations filled out anonymous blends and jug wines with its watery, phlegmatic temperament. But the cool thing about underappreciated vineyards is that they improve as they age. Vines recalibrate their physiological efforts toward producing quality fruit, which usually gets more concentrated, more complex, more characterful, like the vines at Buddha Dharma Vineyard, owned by a Buddhist community near Mendocino. Saddled with a long-term contract with a bulk wine producer, the vineyard has survived into its eighth decade, long enough for winemaker Pax Mahle to discover, disentangle existing contractual obligations and resurrect the site. Talk about karma. Just as in France, producers here are experimenting with levels of ripeness though unlike France, producers here arent dodging summer hailstorms or fall rains, so control over their picking dates is that much more exacting. The better of these wines are thrilling and racy, with a green-apple, limeaid pucker of acidity that makes them brilliant with seafood and summery fare. Vanguard California Chenin producers include Lieu Dit, Precedent, Birichino, Forlorn Hope, Pax, Roark, Field Recordings. Taken together, theyre as pure and electric a group of white wines as any in California. 2014 Sandlands Amador County Chenin Blanc Turley winemaker Tegan Passalacqua debuted his own brand, Sandlands, in 2010, and makes not one but three Chenins. This one is drawn from vines planted in 1979, leading with a scent of Meyer lemon and fennel pollen, with a slightly richer core of fruit, like wedge of Bosc pear, lightly salted. About $24 at Wine House, , and Silver Lake Wine and Domaine LA. 2015 Habit Santa Ynez Valley Jurassic Park Vineyard Chenin Blanc From vines planted in 1978, Angeleno (and American Dad cartoon character) Jeff Fischers frisky white has a lingering scent of white flower petals and a hint of peach. The flavors are more citrusy and stony, bone dry, with some breadth coming from aging on lees. About $30 at Esters, Everson Royce, Wine Exchange and Wine Country. 2014 LoFi Santa Ynez Valley Jurassic Park Vineyard Chenin Blanc Winemaker Mike Roth makes two picks of his Chenin blocks at Jurassic Park Vineyard for his Central Coast wine brand, LoFi: the first to give the wine nerve and a ripple of acidity, the second comes weeks later, when the fruit is riper, for added richness and phenolic grip. Theres a presence and length in the texture here that hints at the range this variety can express. About $26 at Domaine LA, Everson Royce and Silver Lake Wine. food@latimes.com Good morning. It is Saturday, Aug. 27. Heres what you dont want to miss this weekend: TOP STORIES Changing skyline: The building booms of Beijing and Shanghai are being replicated in downtown Los Angeles. When all these mega-projects are finished, theyre going to have to re-shoot the postcard picture of downtown L.A., said Mark Tarczynski, executive vice president for Colliers Internationals L.A. office. Los Angeles Times Running late: The downtown to Santa Monica Expo Line is proving a hit with riders. But its also showing the growing pains of L.A.s expanding light rail system. Expo Line trains are packed, and some are frustrated with how late the trains sometimes are. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Records fight: The First Amendment Coalition is suing the city of Los Angeles over the destruction of records related to former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge. The group, which advocates for open government, believes the city violated the California Public Records Act by withholding or illegally destroying the records. A spokesman for the city attorney declined to comment. Los Angeles Times Famous case: It was seven years ago Friday that Jaycee Dugard was rescued in one of the nations most notorious abduction cases. Dugard was just 11 when she was kidnapped near her South Lake Tahoe home. She was held captive for 18 years, during which time she gave birth to two girls. Sacramento Bee Court loss: Also on Friday, a federal appeals court found that Dugard could not hold federal parole agents liable for failing to supervise their parolee, Phillip Garrido. While our hearts are with Ms. Dugard, the law is not, Judge John B. Owens wrote in an opinion for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Los Angeles Times Counterfeit bills: The Secret Service believes theres a lot of funny money coming out of the Bay Area. Agents have found $5-million worth of phony $100 bills. Mercury News Forever young: Assembly Bill 1687 is pitting Hollywood against Silicon Valley. SAG-AFTRA wants websites to scrub actors birth dates to prevent age discrimination, but power-players like Amazon, Google and Facebook oppose the move on the grounds of free speech. 89.3 KPCC Prime real estate: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton just paid $19,405 a square foot for space on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. There are only 2 blocks on Rodeo Drive and every luxury retailer wants to anchor their brand on Rodeo, said Marc Schillinger, a director with commercial real estate company HFF. Los Angeles Times THIS WEEKS MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA 1. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will open a retrospective of photographer Anthony Hernandezs work next month. See L.A. through his lens. New York Times 2. New test scores are in for Californias kids. How well did your childs school do? Los Angeles Times 3. Theres a new baby at the San Francisco Zoo. SFist 4. A leaking suitcase. An injured woman. What was Winnie Ruth Judd doing in Los Angeles? LA Weekly 5. Heres what you need to know to have a successful ride on the Metro Expo Line. Los Angeles Magazine ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEKS GREAT READS Childhood traumas: Can poverty and violence affect the brains of children? Researchers examined Los Angeles teenagers and believe viewing violence and other factors changes their brains. Newsweek Death row: California hasnt executed anyone in years. But Los Angeles and Riverside counties still play a controversial role in the debate about capital punishment. New York Times Capturing the drug war: Police and vigilantes have killed 1,900 people since Rodrigo Duterte came to power in the Philippines on June 30. Thats created a lot of opportunity and work for photographers on the overnight shift. But the powerful images have yet to ignite anger or outrage. Los Angeles Times Questionable sentences: A Santa Clara County judge sparked a national debate for what many say was a light sentence for a Stanford University student found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman. Now, a second case of questionable sentencing has emerged. BuzzFeed LOOKING AHEAD Sunday: The annual Go Topless march will be held in Venice Beach. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad. Tunisia's new Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and members of his cabinet were sworn in on Saturday, the presidency said, after approval from parliament. The prime minister and his 26 ministers swore to "work devotedly for the good of Tunisia" and to "respect its constitution and laws", it said. Chahed, at 40, is the country's youngest prime minister since independence from France in 1956. He is also the seventh premier in less than six years since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Parliament late Friday approved the cabinet line-up, with 168 out 195 lawmakers who attended the session voting in favour, 22 against and five abstaining. The new cabinet will take up office on Monday after a hand-over ceremony from former premier Habib Essid. Chahed was appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi early this month after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in Essid's government following just 18 months in office. The new prime minister is a member of the president's Nidaa Tounes party and a liberal who was local affairs minister before his nomination. He and his cabinet -- which includes women, "young" ministers, three members of the Islamist Ennahda party and several independents -- will have to tackle pressing economic and security challenges. While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring, the authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty, unemployment, regional disparities and corruption that preceded Ben Ali's fall. The North African country in January witnessed its worst social unrest since the 2011 uprising. Tunisia has also been rocked by a wave of Islamist militants' attacks, including two that killed dozens of foreign tourists last year. Search Keywords: Short link: It was 3:30 a.m. when Emma Sanchez kissed her husband goodbye as he left for work one June morning. As Michael Paulsen took the couples three children back across the U.S.-Mexico border, Sanchez went back to bed. Hours later, she woke up to an empty two-story house on the outskirts of Tijuana. The couple have followed the same routine for a decade. Deported to Mexico in 2006, Sanchez has lived in Tijuana while Paulsen and their three young sons, all U.S. citizens, live in Vista, Calif. Their cross-border lives form part of the national debate over U.S. immigration policy. Activists point to the human cost of keeping families apart, while critics say the families could stay together if they choose to live in a place where the parents have legal status. Advertisement In the first half of 2014, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 22,088 unauthorized immigrants who claimed to have at least one U.S.-born child, according to the agencys most recent data. Experts and activists estimate that hundreds of these parents live in Tijuana. The degree to which the family unit and women and children have become the [immigration] flashpoint is without precedent, said Ev Meade, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego. Historically, weve never had a situation where families have been separated like this. Unauthorized immigrant parents were a key element of a plan by President Obama to provide deportation relief to as many as 5 million people. Though his plan would not have affected parents such as Sanchez, who have already been deported, it would have offered legal protections to parents who remain in the country illegally. There were about 5 million children under the age of 18 living with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent between 2009 and 2013, according to a January report by the Migration Policy Institute. An estimated 4 million of these children were U.S. citizens. A Supreme Court deadlock in June let stand a lower court decision blocking Obamas executive action. Critics say immigrants who knowingly cross the border illegally do not have a right to be in the United States, where they take resources and employment opportunities from legal residents and citizens. Deportation is the rightful punishment for those actions, they argue. ICE officials said 97% of the immigrant parents deported in 2014 met at least one of the agencys enforcement priorities, which include people with previous criminal convictions and previous deportations. Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the term family reunification has been appropriated by people who voluntarily decide to break immigration laws and then turn around and say theyre entitled to equitable relief of the consequences of their own behavior. Were talking about people who simply feel that they want their children to have a better life and are willing to break our laws to get it, he said. Sanchez acknowledges that she illegally immigrated to the U.S. but says her punishment was too severe. I understand that Im unauthorized and I know I did something wrong that went against U.S. law, but Im not a criminal, she said. I havent committed any serious offenses such as robbery, murder or prostitution. Sanchez entered the United States illegally in 2000. Before that, she had attempted to illegally come through the San Ysidro Port of Entry, but agents turned her away. She met Paulsen in Vista shortly after arriving. He noticed her at the bus stop in front of the body shop where he worked as a mechanic. Paulsen didnt know a word of Spanish at the time, and the two used an acquaintance as an interpreter. The couple married just one month after they met, in a civil ceremony in Vista. Sanchez was filing paperwork for legalization in 2006 when she was summoned out of the country, to an appointment with immigration authorities at the U.S. Consulate in Cuidad Juarez. Authorities told her she would be prohibited from returning home to Vista for 10 years, despite the fact that Paulsen, 51, is a U.S. citizen and a Marine veteran. Immigration law at the time stipulated that applicants seeking legal status must return to their country of origin. But once an applicant who had been living in the United States without permission left the country, they were automatically barred from re-entering for at least three years, sometimes for up to a decade. My whole world came crashing down. You cant believe that in one minute theyre destroying your life, your family, Sanchez said in Spanish from her home in Tijuana. She told her husband they should divorce. My whole world came crashing down. You cant believe that in one minute theyre destroying your life, your family. Emma Sanchez I thought to myself, How are we going to live like this, me in Mexico and my husband in the United States? During her first three months in Mexico, Sanchez stayed with her three sons in the popular resort town of Los Cabos, where a brother worked as a physician. Her oldest child, Alex, was 5; Ryan, 3; and Brannon, 2 months. But Paulsen wanted to be closer to his family, so he rented Sanchez a house in Tijuana. Though Paulsen contemplated moving to Tijuana, he said employment opportunities in Mexico were meager, and crossing the border every day for work would have been too difficult. In Vista, Paulsen and the boys rent a home with Sanchezs mother. Paulsen makes the 80-mile drive every weekend to the home in Tijuana. He pays two rents on a mechanics salary, more than $50 in weekly gas money and groceries to sustain both households. Sanchez rarely leaves her home, saying she fears crime in the neighborhood. She sells crafts from her stoop a few times a week and paints in her free time. I tell people, Ive got to go see my wife, she lives in another country. Its hard, Paulsen said. Id like to one day come home and say, Honey, whats for dinner? I want to do that one day. Typically, a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident can petition for his spouse to receive a green card or permanent residence. Children over age 21 can petition on a parents behalf, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Sanchez, banned from the U.S. for 10 years, is eligible to apply for re-entry. The boys lived in Mexico for a while, but Sanchez and Paulsen said health and educational resources for U.S.-born children living there were minimal and felt their sons were entitled to public education in the U.S., where they were born. Although I see them on the weekends and during breaks from school, I know that Im absent during their illnesses and for their day-to-day activities, Sanchez said. I know that they need me and that Ive been absent during the most important times of their lives. tatiana.sanchez@sandiegouniontribune.com Sanchez writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO Tank at Tesoro refinery in Carson blows lid and catches fire Border Patrol agents seize more than $3 million from cars; two arrested Federal judge denies injunction against California vaccination law for schoolchildren An FBI agent fatally shot a man while serving warrants at a Compton residence this week, an agency spokeswoman said Saturday. An FBI SWAT team arrived at the residence in the 14600 block of South White Street about 9:30 p.m. Thursday to serve the warrants, spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said An agent fired his weapon after a confrontation with the man, Eimiller said. An FBI medic and members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department rendered aid to the man at the scene, Eimiller said, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Advertisement The FBI did not identify the man or confirm whether he was the subject of the warrants, who was identified in a statement as a parolee-at-large wanted for absconding from parole and possession of a firearm, though Eimiller said the parolee had been arrested at the home and was in custody. No agents were injured and a gun was recovered at the scene, she said. Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County coroners office said Saturday that the mans identity could not be released because authorities had not yet informed his next-of-kin. The Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General will oversee the FBI investigation of the shooting, the FBI said in its statement. The Los Angeles County district attorneys office will also review the case. matt.stevens@latimes.com Twitter: @ByMattStevens ALSO Range fire in Kern County 45% contained; evacuation orders will be lifted at noon Max Ritvo, L.A. poet who chronicled his cancer battle, dies at 25 #RoseJam, other rolling closures could snarl weekend traffic Jack Wu, a former campaign treasurer for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, pleaded not guilty Thursday to grand theft, forgery and other charges in connection with Rohrabachers accusation that Wu stole campaign funds. Wu, of Newport Beach, was arrested in February. He is charged with three felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, 21 felony counts of forgery with sentencing enhancements for theft exceeding $100,000, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss of more than $200,000, according to the Orange County district attorneys office. If convicted, Wu could face a maximum sentence of 20 years and four months in state prison. Advertisement Wu was Rohrabachers volunteer treasurer for about seven years. Irregularities in the Costa Mesa Republicans re-election committee funds surfaced last year, when the campaign manager tried to pay a bill with the committee debit card and it was declined. The committee discovered it had only $187 in its bank account and that $170,000 was missing, according to the district attorneys office. Prosecutors claim Wu stole more than $238,000 from Rohrabachers campaign chest. Wu was accused of using some of the money to pay restitution to a company that had fired him, according to the district attorneys office. Rohrabacher replaced Wu as treasurer and froze the committees bank account, said the congressmans attorney, Charles H. Bell Jr. Previously, Wu started work for Russell Fischer Inc. in 2008 as a controller with a salary of $70,000, the district attorneys office said. About four years later, he became an independent contractor for Russell Fischer while running his own accounting company, Wubell Services, prosecutors said. His Russell Fischer pay was reduced to $2,000 every two weeks. Russell Fischer fired Wu in September 2013 amid allegations that he had collected $83,000 in unauthorized payments from the company, the district attorneys office said. Wu agreed to make restitution payments to the company for a year, according to prosecutors. Wu has written columns about local politics for the Daily Pilot, the Newport Beach Independent and the Orange County Register. alexia.fernandez@latimes.com Fernandez writes for Times Community News. ALSO Jaycee Dugard loses court case against federal parole officials Federal judge denies injunction against California vaccination law for schoolchildren Tank at Tesoro refinery in Carson blows lid and catches fire Federal authorities have charged dozens of Southern California postal workers and their associates with mail theft, embezzlement and an array of other crimes as part of a sweeping investigation into criminal activity at the U.S. Postal Service. A total of 33 defendants were charged in 28 cases, including one individual who was found to have had tens of thousands of pieces of mail in her possession, according to a statement released Friday by the United States attorneys office for the Central District of California. Arrest warrants were issued for six of the 33 defendants, officials said. Advertisement In addition to mail theft and embezzlement by postal workers and contractors, some of the cases involve bank fraud and false statements; a few allege crimes by people who are not USPS employees. The mail system plays an important role in our countrys commerce and social communication. Maintaining its integrity is vital, United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker said in a statement. Mail theft across Southern California has increased recently, which is significant since this type of crime tends to be a precursor to other crimes like identity theft and drug offenses. As a result, we are stepping up enforcement. The alleged mail theft manifested itself in a variety of bizarre and disturbing forms, according to prosecutors. Postal carrier Sherry Naomi Watanabe, 48, was found to have more than 48,000 pieces of mail at her Sawtelle residence, the Justice Department said. That mail was supposed to have been delivered on her route in Placentia. In another case, Nicole Elwood, 45, was charged with mail theft for allegedly stealing medications sent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans. Justin Brewster, a 25-year-old USPS mail processing clerk, is accused of stealing video games that were mailed to or from the video game rental service Gamefly; Michael Smith, 43, allegedly took money orders from a mail envelope; and prosecutors say Jarol Garcia, 33, stole at least 166 mobile phones from parcels as they went through the Moreno Valley Delivery Distribution Center. The overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees are honest and dedicated public servants who are worthy of our trust, said Brian Washington, special agent in charge of the Postal Services Office of Inspector General. However, when employees engage in criminal activity, our agency will aggressively investigate these matters to protect the overall integrity of the Postal Service. Most of the defendants were charged in indictments that were returned by federal grand juries last week, officials said. Defendants charged as part of the sweep will be arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Riverside, they said. matt.stevens@latimes.com Twitter: @ByMattStevens ALSO #RoseJam, other rolling closures could snarl weekend traffic Man fatally shot by FBI agent serving search warrants in Compton Range fire in Kern County 45% contained; evacuation orders will be lifted at noon A 600-acre fire that broke out Friday afternoon in Kern County is now 45% contained, officials said. No structures have been destroyed and evacuation orders will be lifted Saturday at noon, according to the Kern County Fire Department. About 500 firefighters are battling the fire, dubbed the Range fire, which was burning in the Bear Valley Springs area. Crew worked through the night to establish and reinforce containment lines, officials said. Advertisement Further north in Monterey County, the Soberanes fire, which has been burning for more than a month and has consumed 91,500 acres in Los Padres National Forest, is now 60% contained. A thick marine layer on Friday kept fire activity low along the coastal area. Similar fire behavior is expected Saturday, officials said, and no threats to fire containment lines are anticipated. The blaze, sparked by an abandoned, illegal campfire on July 22 in Garrapta State Park, has so far killed one person and destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings. About 410 structures are still under threat, and more than 1,500 firefighters continue to battle the fire in the steep, rugged terrain. Bulldozer operator Robert Reagan III was fatally injured while fighting the fire in a remote area on state parkland in Carmel, authorities said. Updating some of the other fires burning around California, with containment figures as of Saturday morning: Chimney fire: 45,008 acres burned and 70 structures destroyed in San Luis Obispo County; began Aug. 13; 51% contained. Rey fire: 33,006 acres burned north of Santa Barbara in Los Padres National Forest; Aug. 18; 46% contained. Cedar fire: 28,840 acres burned in Kern County; began Aug. 16; 20% contained. rosanna.xia@latimes.com Follow @RosannaXia for more education news ALSO Max Ritvo, L.A. poet who chronicled his cancer battle, dies at 25 #RoseJam, other rolling closures could snarl weekend traffic Boy, 12, fatally struck by pickup in Tustin had run away from home Wavering on immigration, Donald Trump talks tough in Iowa (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) After days of toggling back and forth on his immigration views -- specifically on deportations -- Donald Trump returned to his tough talk on Saturday, vowing that it will be his No. 1 issue should he win the presidency. From the first day in office, I promise the first thing Im going to do, the first piece of paper Im going to sign, is were going to get rid of these people, Trump, addressing supporters at Sen. Joni Ernsts annual Roast and Ride gathering in Iowa, said of criminal illegal immigrants in the country. The Republican nominee, reading from a teleprompter as he has done more frequently in recent weeks now, also reaffirmed that he would build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Still, despite his comments on Saturday, Trump, who is trailing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, appears to be considering a shift in his position. In a Fox News interview Wednesday, Trump expressed openness to being flexible about who he would deport, suggesting he might offer exemptions for those who have no criminal records and agree to pay back taxes. On Thursday, in an interview on CNN, Trump noted that you cant take 11 [million] at one time and just say, boom, youre gone. During the GOP primary Trump called for mass deportations of all nearly 11 million people in the country illegally. In response to his latest comments, some Republicans, such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have said Trumps wavering could hurt his standing with his base supporters. For Trump, Saturday was about stressing that hes not wavering on immigration particularly when it comes to immigrants in the country illegally who have criminal records. (He did not talk about the millions who have no criminal records.) Were going to get rid of the criminals and its gonna happen within one hour of when I take office, we start, he boasted. Bring them back where they came from. The food-truck world in Los Angeles just got a lot more interesting. This week, we highlight a new truck specializing in grain bowls, a truck delivering freshly baked bread and a taco truck from actor Danny Trejo. Hes the guy you often find wielding a machete on the movie screen. He also happens to be really into tacos. And summer may be winding down, but the heat will be sticking around for at least a couple more weeks. So weve got a great idea for how to cool down this weekend, and it involves lots of fresh fruit, ice and a dash of chamoy. Jenn Harris Guerrilla Tacos gets a permanent home Advertisement Guerrilla Tacos, Wes Avilas farmers market-fueled taco truck, will open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the downtown Arts District next summer. The news was announced to the delight of Avilas longtime fans, many of whom have followed the chef since his days slinging tacos under makeshift tents in front of coffee shops in 2012. Avila dished on where the restaurant will be, as well as what you can expect on the taco front. Wes Avila has announced plans to open a brick-and-mortar version of his famous taco truck Guerrilla Tacos. Pictured is one of his sweet potato breakfast tacos. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Bread on wheels Food Editor Amy Scattergood caught up with Amsalam and Alexander Phaneuf of Lodge Bread in Culver City, who have taken an old plumbing truck and converted it into a bread delivery truck. That means plenty of whole-grain, long-fermented, high-hydration loaves will be delivered to select local farmers markets this weekend. The two bakers are also expanding next door to their Culver City location, adding a wood-burning pizza oven and a 20-plus-seat patio. This converted plumbers truck now brings freshly baked whole grain loaves to local farmers markets. (Amy Scattergood / Los Angeles Times ) Montanara in Beverly Hills Italian street food is the focus of Vinoteca, a new wine bar inside Culina at the Four Seasons at Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, scheduled to open next month. This is where youll find montanara (fried pizza dough), made by executive chef Denis Dello Stritto, who grew up near Naples, Italy. Stritto plans on making both sweet and savory montanara, including a version topped with sweet berries and ricotta cheese, and another with burrata and prosciutto. Sweet montanara from Vinoteca, a new wine bar opening at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in September. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times ) Cool down with raspados Need a tip for how to stay cool this week? Think raspados. These Mexican shaved-ice slushies involve various fruits and the spicy condiment chamoy. We highlight three places serving excellent raspados. They also make for beautiful Instagram photos, if youre into that sort of thing. Fancy grain bowls on a truck What happens when four chefs who have worked at some of the best restaurants in the country get together to launch a food truck? Excellent grain bowls, pickled onion rings and killer desserts. This week we take a look at Pico House, a new food truck roaming the streets of Los Angeles, run by chefs who have worked at Bestia in Los Angeles and or Blue Hill in New York City. Brand director Qudoe Lee, left, and chefs Gemma Matsuyama, Chris Chi, Mavis J. and Phil Moses take cuisine to new heights at the Pico House food truck. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) Restaurant news This week, we check out restaurant openings, closings and chef shuffles, which has lately included a Serafina location coming soon to Los Angeles, plans for a new bar in the San Fernando Valley by the Scratch Restaurants Group called Woodley Proper, a new wine bar in Thai Town called Tabula Rasa Bar, and Christine Moore and Pam Perkins new cafe in Montrose called Cest La Vie. The Taste is coming: Our annual Labor Day food weekend, Sept. 2-4, will be here before you know it; heres how to get tickets. Jonathan Golds 101 Best Restaurants, the authoritative annual guide to local dining, is online for subscribers. Check us out on Instagram @latimesfood In the Kitchen: Sign up for our weekly cooking newsletter Check out the thousands of recipes in our Recipe Database. Feedback? Wed love to hear from you. Email us at food@latimes.com. To the editor: Are the former Seinfeld writers working on the script for the current presidential campaign? You recall that Seinfeld was a show about nothing, and the current campaign has risen to epic levels of nothingness. (Its time to take the Clinton out of the Clinton Foundation, editorial, Aug. 25) We hear Republican nominee Donald Trumps soliloquies, but since Trump speaks in thought bubbles, its difficult to make any sense out of his ravings. Were going to build a wall and theyre going to pay for it. What do you have to lose? what the hell do these outbursts mean? As for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, where Trumps speeches lack any real content, hers lack life or inflection. There is no there there in her pronouncements or any understandable substance. Reporters keep returning with Carl Sagan-like references to millions and billions of emails and ominous references to the Clinton Foundation. Before writing this letter, I went to the trouble of reading about the Clinton Foundation. I was horrified to learn that its a charitable enterprise that raises money for the poor to improve health, to fight poverty and address challenges to the environment. Clearly, Bill Clinton should be locked up if any of that is true. Advertisement I lived through the summer of love. I hope I can survive the summer of nothing Jonathan Greenspan, Westlake Village .. To the editor: The Clinton Foundations defenders are shameless. Clinton is supposed to be given a free pass on any inquiry whether she sold influence and favors as secretary of State (or permitted her subordinates to do so) because the foundation does wonderful charitable work. So, we are to believe she is not responsible for the conduct of her subordinates? Sure, and Richard Nixon was not responsible for John Ehrlichman. The executives of Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia and HealthSouth, among others, ensured their companies did wonderful charitable work too. Evidently, those executives were treated too harshly Kip Dellinger, Santa Monica .. To the editor: Your editorial focuses on a tree and not the forest. Access to influential decision-makers is a fundamental element of our political system. Our political structure enables the wealthy to game the system. Recent interaction between donors to the Clinton Foundation and Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of State simply reveals how the American system functions daily and is far more pervasive than you highlight. For those with hands-on experience, we must advocate strongly for formulating and structuring a new, transparent governmental system. It is insufficient to propose Clinton family members exclude themselves in Clinton Foundation business matters. The Clinton Foundation is one tree in the forest. Jim Watson, Dana Point The writer is a retired foreign service officer. .. To the editor: When I was a trial lawyer, we had a saying: If you had the facts on your side, you pounded the facts; if you had the law, you pounded the law; and if you had neither, you pounded the table. I have not seen one fact that suggests any lawbreaking. Yet Republican nominee Donald Trump pounds the table for the appointment of a special prosecutor. Politicians routinely give access to major donors. Shakespeare said it best: full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Robert G. Brewer, Sherman Oaks Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE READERS REACT Jews no longer prioritize social justice? Look at what theyre doing in L.A. Why did Mylan increase the price of an EpiPen? Because it could. Weve saddled college students with debt. Surprise: Theyre dropping out. Related Turkey sends more tanks into Syria as ceasefire efforts advance Turkey destroyed an arsenal and command post belonging to "terror groups" in strikes on Syria Saturday, the Anadolu news agency said, amid accusations Turkish jets had bombed Kurdish militia positions. The state-run agency did not say if fire was from artillery or war planes or which groups were targeted. It said the fire hit targets south of the town of Jarabulus, which was taken from jihadists by pro-Ankara rebels on Wednesday. As well as fighting Islamic State (IS) jihadists, Turkey's offensive in Syria is aimed at countering the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. Pro-Kurdish rebels in Syria had earlier said that they had been the target of Turkish air strikes Saturday morning, which followed shelling late on Thursday. "Turkish jets have this morning bombarded our positions in southern Jarabulus and the Til-Emarne village," said the Jarabulus Military Council which is linked to the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dominated by the YPG. "With this aggression, a new conflict period will begin in the region," it said. A monitoring group and Kurdish sources have also said Kurdish-backed fighters clashed with Turkish tanks on the Syrian side of the border on Sunday. Turkey sees the YPG and PYD as "terror groups" intent on carving out an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria although the United States works with them in the fight against IS. Ankara says that the YPG has failed to stick to a promise made by its US allies that the militia would move back east across the Euphrates following the seizure of the town of Manbij from IS earlier this month. Search Keywords: Short link: Jason Coosner, owner and director of the Burbank Dance Academy, proposed a lofty proposition to one of his students and her parents: Let me work with your child, and I will get them into one of the most competitive dance schools in the United States. That promise was made to dancer Chloe Crenshaw, 16, about a year and a half ago. She will be on her way to the Harid Conservatory Saturday, an elite ballet school in Boca Raton, Fla., that takes in a limited number of students each year. Founded in 1987, the conservatory has been giving gifted high school-age dancers the opportunity to train with some of the best dance instructors tuition free, all thanks to the schools benefactor and founder, Fred Lieberman. I promise you that if you stay with me, I will make sure that you get into a year-round program for professional ballet study, Coosner said he told Crenshaw a few years ago. Now, here we are. Here we are, a year and a half later and shes going. Promise fulfilled. Ballet dancer Chloe Crenshaw and Burbank Dance Academy owner Jason Coosner. Crenshaw will be attending the HARID Conservatory in Florida. (Roger Wilson / Burbank Leader) Though Crenshaw will attend Harid Conservatory for the academic year, she is not guaranteed a spot at the school next fall. Because of the schools ability to be selective about who it wants, Crenshaw will have to continue to prove to the faculty that she belongs there. I want to learn as much as I can from the teachers, Crenshaw said. A lot of them come from the Vaganova Ballet [Academy] in Russia, so I want to definitely learn as much as possible by the end of the year, because I dont know if theyll ask me to stay again for another year. Crenshaw, who recently returned from Florida after auditioning for the conservatory during its summer program, said that she and other dancers at the local dance academy were excited to hear the news from the school a few weeks ago. Though she recognized that she would be enrolled at one of the top dance schools in the country, Crenshaw said she had some reservations about choosing dancing as a career. Obviously, this is an amazing opportunity, and Id be crazy not to take it. But, then again, is dance the route I want to take? she said. That was the biggest decision for me, but, at this point, the best thing I can do is to take the opportunity to try to pursue dance because theres only a short time frame where dance is attainable for me. Crenshaw has been serious about dancing since she was 9 years old after she and her family moved from Chicago. She was introduced to Coosner about four years ago, when the Burbank business was the Burbank School of Ballet. Coosner, a South African native with a masters degree in dance from Southern Methodist University and a bachelors degree in musical theater from Elon University, was brought in by the former school director four years ago to develop choreography for other students there. However, Coosner saw something in Crenshaw and wanted to focus on his work with her. Chloe was really skinny, gangly, bucktoothed and kind of awkward, Coosner said jokingly about Crenshaw. But I saw something in her. It was from that point on that we really started working together and mentoring her and working with her to realize her dance dreams. When Coosner bought the dance school a year and a half ago, he renamed it the Burbank Dance Academy, brought in new teachers who had the same enthusiasm for dance that he had and made Crenshaw one of his top priorities. Crenshaw said when Coosner first joined the school, he implemented a more modern technique mixed with more commercial, or stage, dancing. "[However], as he became more involved with the studio, classical ballet became more of the focus, she added. As the practice hours at Burbank Academy increased, her skill level in classical ballet and contemporary dance steadily grew as she worked with Coosner. Though her fundamentals were sound, Coosner said it was his musical theater background that helped Crenshaw create her own artistic voice that distinguished her as an elite dancer. Theres an expectation of technical proficiency of certain skill sets that have to be in place when you go to a professional audition, but at the end of the day, the thing thats going to set you apart is what you are going to bring to the table thats uniquely your own, he said. From a very young age, thats what I start working with dancers on. Your artistic voice is something thats fluid and changes over time with experience, but its about the dancer being able to identify that and how to let that organically come through in their performance without it being affected, he added. Crenshaw, who would have been enrolled at John Burroughs High School, has enrolled at Laurel Springs School, an online high school, to allow her to focus on her dancing. Monday will be Crenshaws first day at Harid Conservatory, and the teen dancer said that she is nervous about being on the other side of the country and away from her parents. However, she said she is excited about this next chapter in her life and her dancing career. I just want to see what happens, she said. Im excited to see what pans out over the next year and the year after that. -- Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio Burbank students made gains on the states standardized exam, according to data released by state officials this week, in what marks the first year-to-year comparison following Californias adoption of new standards and computerized exam. Last spring, about 7,500 students in third through eighth grades as well as high school juniors were tested on the computerized exam in math and English language arts. Results show that district-wide, 61% of students met or exceeded the English standard, a five-point gain over the prior year, while 47% of students met or exceeded the standard in math, a seven-point increase compared to 2015. For Burbank school officials, the exam is one way to measure students knowledge. We dont overemphasize just one test score, however, we are very proud of our teachers and our students to get the type of gains that were seeing, said Burbank Unified Supt. Matt Hill. Burbanks scores also landed anywhere from 10 to 15 points higher than the state and county averages. At Burbank High, however, nearly 300 juniors refused to take the exam, after submitting forms last spring with their parents signatures allowing them to opt-out. In all, about 350 Burbank High juniors out of roughly 640 took the exam. The opt-out movement was initiated by then-junior Sam Gorman, who made students aware of how to skip the test. Hill said students effort in opting-out should send a message to state officials that they should reevaluate giving the exam to juniors. Hill said he heard from both students and parents that there was a desire among juniors to take and prepare for other exams, such as the SAT, ACT and AP tests, to determine if they are ready for college. Id encourage the state to continue to look into the value of administering the test to our juniors, Hill said. Results show 68% of Burbank High students tested met or exceeded the English standard, and 37% achieved the same in math. Meanwhile, Burroughs High reported higher scores over Burbank High in both subjects. At Burroughs, where about 570 out of roughly 580 juniors took the exam, 79% met or exceeded the English standard, while 45% did the same in math. Across Burbanks 20 schools, officials anticipate the scores will improve as they continue to focus on new curriculum in math and English language arts. Theres also a district-wide emphasis to concentrate on writing skills across all grades, said Sharon Cuseo, assistant superintendent for Burbank Unified. They show some good progress, Cuseo said of the scores. The more our teachers and our students acclimate to the new curriculum, we should see better improvement as well. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan The California Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence issued in 2009 for Billy Joe Johnson, a Costa Mesa native and white supremacist who was convicted of murdering another gang member in 2002. A jury found Johnson guilty of luring fellow skinhead Scott Miller from a party in Costa Mesa to an Anaheim alley, where he was shot to death. The white supremacist gang Public Enemy Number One had put out a hit on Miller after he spoke to the media about the gang, which he helped form, according to court documents. During Johnsons trial, he admitted to his part in killing Miller. He also claimed responsibility for at least four other slayings. Johnsons attorney at the time said Johnson hoped he would be sent to death row, where he would have a bigger cell, television privileges and other perks he wouldnt have at the prisons where he would serve the alternative sentence of life without parole. The Supreme Court rejected appellate attorneys arguments that the death sentence was improper. Among other arguments, lawyers for Johnson said Orange County prosecutors shouldnt have been allowed to introduce evidence about Johnsons lesser crimes when they presented their case for the death penalty. They also claimed the prosecutor committed misconduct by speaking directly to individual jurors instead of the body as a whole. According to court documents, the prosecutor asked each juror during closing arguments if the crime made him or her indignant. The court threw out the claim that this crossed a line, noting that Johnsons attorney at the trial never objected to the tactic. Residents of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine are being asked to donate school supplies to children at the Orange County Rescue Missions Village of Hope in Tustin, a transitional living facility for the homeless. Children at the Village of Hope attend various schools within the Tustin Unified School District. Currently, there are 79 children living at the Village of Hope, and approximately 42 of those children are school-age, Jim Palmer, president of the Orange County Rescue Mission, said in a statement. Preparing these young children for school and providing basic school supplies helps to lay the foundation for future development and growth. The Rescue Mission is seeking college- or wide-ruled paper, boxed markers, colored pencils, highlighters, index cards, packs of Kleenex and disinfectant wipes. Donations can be dropped off at the Village of Hope, at 1 Hope Drive in Tustin. The donation warehouse is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. * Concordia opens institute for leadership and counseling programs Concordia University Irvine announced Monday the opening of the Townsend Institute for Leadership & Counseling, led by Newport Beach-based psychologist, author and speaker John Townsend. The institute will be a part of the School of Professional Studies at Concordia. It was previously located at Huntington University in Indiana. According to a news release, Concordia University Irvine is the only university to offer the Townsend Institute for leadership and counseling programs. * Costa Mesa Planning Commission to hold special meeting Members of the Costa Mesa Planning Commission will hold a special meeting Monday. The commission will vote on whether to recommend that the City Council approve code amendments to reflect changes adopted as part of the recent update to the citys general plan namely a new land-use designation that would apply to the site of the Fairview Developmental Center and the creation of a residential incentive overlay covering some properties along Harbor and Newport boulevards, particularly motels. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 77 Fair Drive. * Code enforcement officer honored for cleanup efforts Costa Mesa CEO Tom Hatch presented code enforcement officer Mike Brumbaugh with the CEO Leadership Award on Thursday at a monthly employee meeting. Since 2012, Brumbaugh has been a part of the citys Community Improvement Division. He has helped clean up the multifamily properties in the citys Mission/Mendoza and Coolidge/Fillmore neighborhoods and recently helped a veteran find housing after 15 years of homelessness, according to a news release. "[Brumbaugh] organized community cleanup days that restored pride to the neighborhoods and drew accolades from many who call that neighborhood home, Hatch said in a statement. More than 150 people from Orange County and beyond gathered in Costa Mesa on Friday night to show solidarity with immigrants and push for changes to the nations immigration system. The event, held at The Crossing Church on Newport Boulevard, was part of El Camino del Inmigrante, or The Path of the Immigrant, an 11-day walking trek organized by the Christian Community Development Assn. in collaboration with other groups, including Bread for the World and World Relief. The theme of Fridays rally was Strangers No More, with organizers saying they hoped to promote solidarity with immigrants and raise awareness about families broken apart by deportation. Participants began their 132-mile journey Saturday at Border Field State Park, just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The march is scheduled to wrap up Tuesday in Los Angeles. Among those who flocked to The Crossing for the evening of music, prayer, discussion and reflection was Adriana Mondragon, a 31-year-old Santa Ana resident. She isnt a citizen, but shes lived, worked and gone to school in the United States since she was 5. Things that are relatively simple for most getting a drivers license, a job were more difficult for her growing up. Mondragon said she doesnt have all the answers for how to fix the nations immigration system, but of one thing shes certain: Something needs to change. I dont have the perfect solution, but whats in place now is not working, she said. Its tearing families apart. Mondragon said she was touched to see so many people take part in the event. Its a tremendous blessing to me, she said. It gives me great courage to know that Im not by myself, Im not there alone and that I have family and friends who are walking with me on this journey. Fullerton resident Bethany Anderson, 30, has walked more than 40 miles of El Camino del Inmigrantes route so far. She plans to walk more in the days ahead. She explained how because the neighborhood she and her family live in is primarily comprised immigrants from Mexico, immigration reform hits close to home. Its also why shes concerned about the political rhetoric made about immigrants. I think this is an important time to make a public stance that immigrants are really valuable to our community, Anderson said. They contribute to our economy, theyre an important part of the fabric of our nation and its time that our system reflected that. Officials from the Orange County Congregation Community Organization were on hand Friday helping attendees register to vote. I think its an opportunity, given that a lot of people are actually turned off by some of the hard rhetoric against immigrants, said Miguel Hernandez, the organizations executive director. We think its an opportunity to bring people together. Since entering Orange County, Anderson said the reaction of passersby to El Camino del Inmigrante hasnt necessarily been hostile, but its been more skeptical than what she saw farther south. We ran into one man today who said, Yeah, immigrants deserve to be treated with dignity, but theyre not entitled to citizenship, Anderson said. And I just responded, Are any of us entitled to citizenship? Am I entitled to more rights because I was born a couple hundred miles north of a border? Am I entitled to more dignity and more opportunity or wealth or privilege because of where I was born versus where some of my friends and neighbors were born? I dont think so. To read the article in Spanish, click here. Actress Danielle Kennedy is talented, gutsy and fearless traits she brings to her character, Ambassador Noonan the U.S. ambassador to Colombia in the new hit Netflix series, Narcos, about drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Though she doesnt have a large role in the 10-part series, Ambassador Noonan is important to the storyline, as her pivotal decisions bring the U.S. into the war on drugs in Colombia. Kennedys landed a coveted role in one of the most-talked-about shows of the new television season. And I couldnt be more proud of my pal of over 20 years. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding in 1993 and her husband, Mike Craig, was best man. Kennedy is my O.C. connection to Narcos. With Craig and eight kids, Kennedy lived in Mission Viejo, San Clemente and Laguna Beach from 1967 to 1995. By the early 1990s, she was a top-selling Realtor here, motivational speaker, sales trainer and author of bestselling books on real estate. Howd she get from here to Narcos? Leaving O.C. in 1995 for Sun Valley, Idaho, she became involved in a theater company, Company of Fools, and started acting. The Liberty Theater, where Company of Fools performs, is owned by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Willis, impressed with Kennedys talent, gave her a small part in his Showtime production of True West in 2002, which enabled her to get a Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, card. Leaving Sun Valley in 2005 for Newport Beach, Kennedy planned on pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. I thought she was crazy since Hollywood is so youth-oriented, especially when it comes to actresses, and shed passed 25 more than a few exits ago. Nothing deters Kennedy. She drove back and forth to L.A. for daily auditions, and wed joke about how much of her life she was spending on the 405 Freeway! As she landed roles with L.A.'s Odyssey Theatre company and in TV series like The Mentalist, American Horror, and Parks and Recreation, her resume kept growing. I knew she was serious about this acting thing and wasnt surprised she left Newport for L.A. in 2010. When she called last year with news shed gotten the part as Noonan, I was thrilled until I heard shed be spending the next six months in Bogota, Colombias capital. Living away from her husband, kids, grandchildren and friends for half a year? I wondered if shed really thought this thing through. Then I remembered why weve been friends for so long. She continues to remind me life is about remaining fearless and adventurous. So, with her family and friends rooting for her, off she went to Bogota. And it turned out she was able to make several trips home when she wasnt required on the set. On Facebook, Kennedy posted photos of the cast and the great city view from her apartment. It was evident she was having the time of her life. There was such a loving fun on set, she said. I didnt have a nervous day. It was one of the best experiences of my life. And thats crazy, because if you watch Narcos, loving isnt exactly a word that comes to mind. Narcos is gritty and captivating television. From the first episode I was hooked, as the story unfolded about how cocaine arrived in Miami from Colombia, and Escobars part in all of it. Told in part through narration by DEA agent Steve Murphy, who is played by Boyd Holbrook, I was glued to my seat as episode after episode of Escobars violent path played out. Warning: Narcos is not for the faint of heart as there are some pretty gruesome scenes. But they really drive home how horrific this period was in Colombias history. The show premiered Aug. 28 on Netflix. I watched eight episodes that day, two the next, and then I called Kennedy. She hadnt seen it yet. Im waiting for Mike and the kids to watch it and tell me how I did, she joked. Kennedy hadnt watched the dailies either. I assured her that she and the show was amazing. Narcos is getting lots of buzz. Howard Stern talked about binge watching it on his show, she told me. Peter Frampton tweeted about it. When Kennedy wrote him back saying she was a fan, Frampton started following her on Twitter! Needless to say Kennedy is thrilled. Last week, Narcos got picked up for a second season. Kennedy doesnt know if her character will return, but isnt thinking about that right now. Shell be in Sun Valley Sept 30 to Oct. 17th to star in the Company of Fools production of August: Osage County, and shes also busy with playwright Justin Tanners web series, Ave. 43. To hear more with Kennedy download my recent podcast livingoutloud.podomatic.com . The Glendale News-Press plans to reduce its print publication schedule from four days a week to two beginning Wednesday. The newspaper will continue to publish in print on Wednesdays and Saturdays and daily online. Thursdays and Fridays are being eliminated to lower expenses in a challenging time for print journalism. Serving our readers and our advertisers with both a print edition and a website is a balancing act, said John Canalis, executive editor of Los Angeles Times Community News. Weve experimented with adding daily print editions in the past but, at this time, focusing on Wednesdays and Saturdays makes the most financial sense. The News-Press sister paper, the Burbank Leader, has done well at two days a week, Canalis said, adding that he hopes the same publication schedule proves to be the right formula for Glendale as well. Paid and free News-Press circulation after the reduction is forecast at 9,992 copies on Wednesdays and 8,436 on Saturdays. An additional 922 copies of the Saturday edition will be delivered to Sunday-only readers. Online page views have averaged 19,000 a day in 2016. The News-Press is owned by and inserted in the Los Angeles Times and is available for free in parts of its coverage area. The Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies now view Islamic State as a shrinking and increasingly demoralized military force, a sharp shift from the seemingly invincible extremist army that declared an Islamist caliphate two years ago. The revised assessment comes after surprisingly swift and relatively bloodless victories this summer near Syrias border with Turkey and in the Sunni heartland of Iraq, two areas where Islamic State had appeared entrenched. The rapid recapture this week of Jarabulus, the militants last garrison by the Turkish border, helped close off a boundary region that was crucial for movement of recruits, supplies and money in and out of the groups quasi-state. Advertisement It also was the latest fight to suggest the Sunni militants no longer are willing to fight to hold territory against a sustained assault. Only one fighter was reported killed in the assault led by Turkish tanks. Several hundred others apparently fled. Partly as a result, U.S. officials have hinted that the long-delayed assault on Mosul, Islamic States self-declared capital in Iraq, may be launched this fall. The city of 1 million has been increasingly cut off by advancing Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces. Michael Knights, Iraq fellow at the nonpartisan Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said taking back Mosul, along with the Syrian towns of Deir ez Zour and Raqqah, will mark the end of the caliphate. After the fall of those cities, [Islamic State] will be just another terror group, he said. They might be able to throw a couple car bombs in city centers and mount small arms attacks, but they will no longer engage in heavy fighting on a daily basis. In other words, well be back to where we were in 2013. But most experts, including U.S. intelligence officials, warn that Islamic States ability to inspire or organize terrorist attacks abroad is unimpaired and may even pose a greater threat as foreign sympathizers are unable to reach the cut-off caliphate. Despite the progress, it is our judgment that [the groups] ability to carry out terrorist attacks has not to date been significantly diminished, Nicholas Rasmussen, head of the National Counterterrorism Center, told the House Homeland Security Committee recently. Militants still detonate car bombs or launch suicide attacks each night in Baghdad. They could devolve into the kind of sectarian insurgency that turned Iraq into a slaughterhouse after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, or morph into a stateless global terrorist network like Al Qaeda became after 2001. I dont think well ever be able to get rid of their ability to inspire attacks abroad just because they lose territory, cautioned a U.S. defense official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. They will continue to operate in the shadows and cause problems. As in other insurgencies, militants may be running away from battles now to survive and fight again at a time and place of their choosing, experts warn. They could be sent to other battles or used as suicide bombers. Moreover, Islamic State still has vast sway. It controls half the area it seized in Iraq in 2014 and 70% of its territory in Syria, according to U.S. estimates, and continues to haul in millions of dollars from taxes, fees and extortion. Current U.S. intelligence estimates say the group now fields as few as 16,000 fighters half its army of a year or so ago, but still a potent force. But U.S. officials point to undeniable progress two years and more than 14,000 airstrikes after President Obama first ordered a bombing campaign against Islamic State targets. The number of fighters on the front line has diminished, Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, commander of U.S. forces against Islamic State until this week, said in a teleconference from Baghdad. Theyve diminished not only in quantity, but also in quality. He added, All I know is when we go someplace, its easier to go there now than it was a year ago. And the enemy doesnt put up as much of a fight. As an example, he said that after U.S.-backed Iraqi forces recaptured Fallouja, key to the Sunni heartland west of Baghdad, in late June, militants fled their former stronghold in a large convoy that coalition aircraft quickly spotted and destroyed. They kind of made themselves easy targets for us, MacFarland said. I dont think they would have made that mistake a year or two ago. Each defeat has added pressure on the militants by cutting off routes used to move arms, supplies and reinforcements. That affects command, unit cohesion and efficiency. Now they have to go get somebody and bring them all the way across the desert to reconstitute somebody who gets killed fighting near Ramadi or Haditha or someplace like that, he said. And theres a good chance well spot them long before they get there. In addition to losing the border towns of Jarabulus and Manbij in northern Syria, the militants have been routed this month in Khalidiyah and Qayyarah in western Iraq. They previously were ousted from Hit, Al Hawl and Rutbah in Iraq. Islamic States overseas operations also are under siege. Fighting raged from mid-May until last week in Surt, the groups stronghold on the coast of Libya. U.S. airstrikes and British commando raids helped Libyan government forces finally retake the battered city. Elsewhere, Boko Haram, the groups affiliate in Nigeria, has lost territory to government troops. Islamic State branches in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, and in eastern Afghanistan, also have suffered sharp defeats. The evidence across the board is the decline of territorial control, said Seth Jones, a former U.S. counter-terrorism official now with Rand Corp., a nonpartisan think tank based in Santa Monica. The group appears to be losing steam on a number of fronts, he added. It has impacted recruits, finance and the broader narrative that it is winning. But he warned that Islamic State could make a vicious resurgence, much as Al Qaeda did in Iraq, especially if the U.S.-led coalition eases pressure. I take this with a huge grain of salt, he said. william.hennigan@latimes.com Twitter: @wjhenn brian.bennett@latimes.com Twitter: @ByBrianBennett ALSO Syrian rebels backed by Turkey and U.S. claim major victory over Islamic State Iraq executes 36 men convicted in massacre carried out by Islamic State Obama calls Islamic States defeat inevitable even as he warns of attacks in the West Syrian rebels backed by Turkish tanks clashed with Kurdish-aligned militiamen near a border city on Saturday, opposition groups and Kurdish factions said, adding yet another complication to the morass of Syrias civil war. The battle marked a breakdown of a fragile equilibrium that had been established after Kurds and Turks, backed by the United States, helped Syrian rebels oust Islamic State jihadists from a border city last week. Kurds have long been at odds with Turkey over their desire for an independent homeland, and Turkey has been battling a stubborn Kurdish insurgency. Advertisement In the aftermath of last weeks battle for the border city of Jarabulus, a U.S.-supported Kurdish militia said it would heed Vice President Joe Bidens warnings and withdraw to areas east of the Euphrates river to avoid confrontations with the Turkish-backed fighters who had wrested control of the area from Islamic State jihadists. But when a broader Kurdish-dominated alliance called the Syrian Democratic Forces refused to leave the village of Amarneh, roughly five miles south of Jarabulus, Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups launched an offensive to dislodge the group and consolidate their grip over areas taken from Islamic State. One Turkish soldier was killed and three were wounded in a rocket attack during the fight, according to Turkeys official Anadolu news agency. The battle presented a thorny situation for military planners of the U.S.-led coalition, which has launched sorties and provided reconnaissance and logistical support to both the Kurdish fighters and the Free Syrian Army, the primary belligerents on Saturday. A child waves toward Turkish troops heading to the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Halit Onur Sandal / AP ) The U.S. has pinned its hopes on the Kurdish fighters and the Kurdish-led alliance, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, becoming its main strike force against Islamic State. Yet it also assisted the Turkish-led rebel offensive on Jarabulus, dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, on Wednesday. That offensive successfully ousted Islamic State jihadists from the city. But the Turks also hoped it would sabotage Kurdish-led plans to integrate the area into an autonomous Kurdish corridor extending across a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. Ankara has insisted it would not accept any such entity along its borders because it would galvanize Kurdish groups in Turkey to pursue their secession plans. In the wake of Euphrates Shield, both sides have engaged in what amounts to a land-grab aimed at denying the other control of the border territories even while they continue clashes with Islamic State fighters still bunkered in some areas. In Saturdays clash, Turkish tanks stationed nearby in Jarabulus rushed deeper into Syrian territory to provide fire support to the Syrian rebels battling for Amarneh, according to Mustafa Sijri, spokesman of the Free Syrian Armys Mutassem Brigade. Their incursion came hours after Turkish F-16s pounded the village. The Jarabulus Military Council, which is allied with the Syrian Democratic Forces, called the Turkish incursion a dangerous precedent and escalation. It said the airstrikes had led to civilian casualties in the village. Another faction fighting under the Syrian Democratic Forces banner, the Army of the Revolutionaries, demanded the U.S.-led coalition explain the justification for the Turkish assault, and accused Turkey of supporting hardline Islamist groups, including the formerly Al-Qaeda affiliated Front for the Conquest of Syria. Jarabulus lies in the middle of two Kurdish-dominated swaths of land. The Syrian Democratic Forces had hoped to consolidate the city and its environs into a Kurdish-controlled area. But the U.S., which had in recent weeks given vital air cover to the Kurdish-led groups in their campaign on the nearby city of Manbij, chastised Kurdish fighters within the Syrian Democratic Forces for setting their sights on Jarabulus. No corridor, period. No separate entity on the Turkish border, said Biden in a press conference on Wednesday, adding that elements that were part of the Syrian Democratic Forces ... must move back across the [Eurphrates] river. He specified that the elements he was referring to were the Peoples Protection Units, a Kurdish group better known by its initials, the YPG. They cannot, will not, and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment, period, he said. A Syrian Kurdish journalist, Welat Bakr, said Kurds were outraged the United States had asked them to leave the area. Unofficial numbers say the YPG sustained 800 martyrs in the fight for Manbij, and then America comes and asks them to withdraw? This has shocked the Kurdish street, he said. He added that the Kurdish group had been left in an awkward position: If it does as the U.S. requests, it risks losing support among its followers; if it doesnt, it risks losing U.S. support. Although it said on Wednesday that it would withdraw its forces, the YPG appeared to follow a literal interpretation of Bidens edict and left behind its Arab partners in the Syrian Defense Forces to hold the area. YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said Friday that the group had no members left near Jarabulus and Manbij. However, Sijri, the rebel spokesman, said they were still present. The battles set the stage for a race to see who will take the city of Al-Bab, located 23 miles northeast of Aleppo city and still held by Islamic State. Like Manbij and Jarabulus, Al-Bab represents another link in the projected Kurdish corridor. They also further complicate the coalitions fight against Islamic State. Although the jihadist group has recently lost ground, it has been adept at taking advantage of fighting among the array of belligerents on the Syrian battlefield. On Saturday, it launched a counter-offensive to retake Al-Raii, 34 miles southeast of Jarabulus, from the Turkish-backed groups. Bulos is a special correspondent. ALSO: U.S. intelligence sees Islamic State as weakened after series of defeats Now that a peace deal with the FARC is sealed, can Colombia convince voters to approve it? Meet the Nightcrawlers of Manila: A night on the front lines of the Philippines war on drugs For all the divisive anti-immigration rhetoric heard along the Donald Trump campaign trail this election season, more and more Republican voters seem to be disavowing his proposals. A Pew Research Center study released Thursday, August 25, 2016 found 24 percent of Americans prioritize border security over all other immigration measures, compared to 29 percent who believe allowing undocumented immigrants to stay should be the priority. Researchers note that this is the first time public opinion favors a path to citizenship over enhancements at the U.S.-Mexico border. "The public is divided over many aspects of U.S. immigration policy. However, when asked about the priorities for policy toward illegal immigration, more Americans say better border security and a pathway to citizenship should be given equal priority than favor either approach individually," the study read. While Republicans overwhelmingly maintain that border security is the biggest priority, nearly half - 45 percent - of the 2,010 liberal and conservative voters surveyed said both issues are equally important. Majorities in both parties - 87 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of Republicans - said undocumented immigrants are just as honest and hard-working as Americans. Majorities of Reps and Dems say that undocumented immigrants are as honest and hard-working as U.S. citizens https://t.co/agp50mURz4 Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) August 25, 2016 Criminality and the Border Wall Donald Trump announced his candidacy by calling Mexicans "rapists" and "criminals." He campaigned on this belief, along with a promise to fortify the border wall at the Mexican government's expense. The hallmark of Trump's campaign drew strong opposition from the Hispanic community and immediate disapproval from then-Republican presidential contenders. Pew researchers found a majority of the public, too, questions Trump's policies. Over 60 percent of respondents oppose the wall, while 36 percent still favor it. Among white voter, 54 percent are against, compared to 43 percent of proponents. An equal share of African-Americans and Latinos - 76 percent - oppose it. Asked about dangers immigrants pose, 80 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of Republicans said undocumented individuals are just as likely as U.S. citizens to commit crimes; 42 percent of conservatives and 59 percent of Trump's supporters disagreed. "The differences between registered voters who support Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in their characterizations of undocumented immigrants, support for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and priorities for dealing with illegal immigration largely mirror partisan differences on these issues," researchers wrote. They added, "But among Trump backers in particular, there are some notable differences in these views by strength of support for the candidate." What Latinos Think Three-quarters of Hispanics said undocumented immigrants are as likely as U.S. citizens to commit serious crimes; two-thirds of whites agreed. Eight-six percent of Latinos said those living in the U.S. illegally are as honest and hardworking as American citizens, falling in line with the consensus of both major political parties. Nearly 80 percent of Latinos and Democrats said immigrants fill jobs that American citizens do not want; 63 percent of Republicans agreed. 71% of Americans say undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs citizens do not want https://t.co/7NMSHZFsoE pic.twitter.com/rHmXDXAkNr Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) August 25, 2016 Immigration in the 2016 Presidential Election Clinton has committed to introducing comprehensive immigration reform within her first 100 days in office. While the former secretary of state has not made immigration a cornerstone issue of her campaign, she still receives near 90 percent support nationwide from Latinos. Trump chipped away at Clinton's lead this week by backtracking on a vow to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the country. Most Trump supporters still view immigration as a big problem, and On Wednesday, the New York businessman told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he would grant exceptions to some undocumented individuals but fell short of committing to a pathway to citizenship. "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. A day later Trump reverted back to blocking any immigration reform measures allowing immigrants to stay. Trump did not clarify if he is still committed to creating a deportation task force. Kurdish-backed fighters clashed with the Turkish military in tanks on the Syrian side of the border on Saturday, a monitoring group and Kurdish sources said. "Turkish tanks advanced today near Al-Amarneh in Aleppo province, south of the border, and clashes broke out between them and fighters backed by Kurdish forces," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said. A source within northern Syria's semi-autonomous Kurdish region confirmed the clashes between local fighters and Turkey's army which has launched an incursion to expel jihadists from the border region. "It's the first such case since Turkish tanks entered into Syrian territory on Wednesday," Abdel Rahman said. He said the local fighters were Arabs allied with the Kurds. Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into Syria to bolster a military offensive against jihadists and Kurdish fighters. The deployment resulted in Ankara-backed Syrian Arab rebels wresting the border town of Jarabulus from the Islamic State (IS) group within hours on Wednesday. Al-Amarneh is also on the border, eight kilometres (five miles) south of Jarabulus. Turkey's military operation inside Syria -- codenamed "Euphrates Shield" -- aims to oust IS from the border region but also to counter advances by a Kurdish militia opposed by Ankara. Turkey's leadership has made clear that it aims to hold back the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which has led the fight against IS in northern Syria. Ankara says the YPG has failed to stick to a promise made by its US allies that the militia would move back east across the Euphrates River. Turkey sees the YPG and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing, which have links to Kurdish rebels in southeast Turkey, as "terror groups". Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Major Ali al-Shahrani, civil defence spokesman in southwest Saudi Arabia, told reporters a nine-year-old brother of the boy was also wounded when a Katyusha rocket hit their family's home. The attack came a day after rockets fired from Yemen struck a power station in Najran, marking a rare hit on Saudi Arabia's infrastructure after months of periodic bombardment of the area. Attacks have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks between the Shia Houthi rebels and their allies, and Yemen's internationally-recognised government which has the military support of a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Ten people have been killed in Najran since August 16, when a single strike claimed seven lives. The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since the peace talks collapsed. The coalition intervened in March last year to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Houthis and their allies seized much of Yemen. Search Keywords: Short link: A former Guantanamo prisoner now held by Venezuela's intelligence agency has gone on hunger strike, his lawyer said Saturday. Jihad Diyab, who was relocated from Guantanamo to Uruguay nearly two years ago, was detained after traveling to Caracas in July in an apparent attempt to see family, his California-based lawyer Jon Eisenberg told AFP. In an email, Eisenberg said he was concerned about Diyab, a 45-year-old Syrian national, after failing to establish contact with him. "We still have not had any communication with the Venezuelan authorities," Eisenberg said. "I feared from the beginning that (the hunger strike) could take place, so I'm not surprised." Held in Guantanamo for 12 years without charge, Diyab was released from the US military prison in southern Cuba to Uruguay in 2014 along with five fellow former detainees. On August 6, Diyab's lawyer had asked the Venezuelan government for permission to speak with his client by telephone to organize his defense. A US-based human rights activist confirmed Diyab's hunger strike. Three independent sources, who asked to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the case, said the Syrian man began his protest after "learning that the foreign ministries of Venezuela and Uruguay negotiated his deportation to Uruguay," Andres Conteris said by telephone. Diyab is also refusing to take liquids, according to Conteris, of the group Witness Against Torture. He hopes to be sent to Turkey or another third country to reunite with his family. The Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the case. Conteris traveled to Venezuela earlier this month to set up a meeting, but returned to the United States without success. Eisenberg represents Diyab in a lawsuit filed against the US authorities for force-feeding prisoners on hunger strike in Guantanamo. Diyab was captured in 2002 near the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Search Keywords: Short link: If you're driving through Tatamy, you might think you entered a TV time warp when you pass Ryan McGinley's home. Parked outside you'll see a DeLorean, the iconic model of car made famous by the 1980s movie "Back to the Future." You'll also see a van McGinley converted to look like the one driven on the 1980s action show "The A-Team." "People just pull up to my house and take pictures of my cars constantly. All the time," he said. "They'll get out of the car and take pictures and they'll drive off." McGinley is a self-described "motorhead" with a passion for restoring cars. He was in love with the vehicle more than the movie when he bought his DeLorean in 2008. Of the many cars he's worked on over 16 years, this was the toughest. "The motor didn't run. The doors didn't open," he said. "The tires were disintegrated off of it. It was covered in green algae. It was covered in pine needles." It took him years to get the car in shape. The wires had been chewed up by mice. He had to blow up the wiring diagram from inside the car to poster size in order to replicate the wiring system. After years of work, the DeLorean is road worthy. He said it was worth the work. He can't even stop to get gas without fielding questions from curious "Back to the Future" fans. The A-Team van was once the litter clean-up van for Phillipsburg. It was white with lettering and an orange light on top when McGinley bought it less than a year ago. He paused episodes of "The A-Team" on Netflix so he could see the paint scheme to apply to the van. "I was always a huge A-Team fan. I used to watch it as a little kid. I still watch it," he said. He installed fender flares and painted the grill as part of its transformation. He took the Chevy symbol off the front and replaced it with GMC to make it more authentic. Inside he installed jump seats and a table that can be unscrewed and quickly removed from the floor to make room for cargo. The cars are two of many he's spent hours in his garage working on with his neighbors, Duane "The Brain" Haahs and George "MacGyver" Illick III. Cars aren't the limit of McGinley's creativity. He took an old circuit breaker box from his home and turned it into a "flux capacitor" for his DeLorean. That's the device Doc Brown used to change the car into a time machine. "It lights up and fluxes," he said. McGinley said his son took the flux capacitor to the New York Comic Con where it was signed by the actor who played Doc Brown, Christopher Lloyd. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. School is starting, which means drivers need to remember when to stop. Here's a quick refresher on the rules when approaching school buses in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. When to stop When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing, a driver must also stop when: Approaching the bus from behind, even in a passing lane. Approaching from the opposite direction and there is no divider in the road. Approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Pennsylvania law requires drivers keep at least 10 feet away from the bus. New Jersey requires 25 feet. When it's OK to go When the bus's red lights have stopped, the arm has retracted and when all students are in a safe place. If there is a divider or median, traffic can continue in the opposite direction. Turning lanes don't count. The penalties Violations in Pennsylvania could result in a $250 fine, five points on the driving record and a 60-day license suspension. A first offense in New Jersey could warrant a $100 fine and 15 days of jail or community service. Subsequent offenses carry a fine of $250 or more and 15 days in jail. Five points are added to the license in each case. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Security camera theft suspect Bethlehem Township police say this man stole a security camera system Aug. 9, 2016, from the Wal-Mart on Route 191. Anyone with information is asked to contact township police at 610-419-9252. (Courtesy photo) Another police department is going to the videotape. This time, it's Bethlehem Township authorities who are looking for a man they say, coincidentally, stole a security camera system from the Wal-Mart on Route 191. The theft occurred about 11 p.m. Aug. 9, police said in a Facebook post Friday that included surveillance photos. Update 9/1- This suspect has been identified and charged. Thank you for the tips / shares. ------ RETAIL THEFT: On... Posted by Bethlehem Township Police Dept on Friday, August 26, 2016 The man reportedly got into a gray Hyundai Elantra with two other people. The car was damaged on the front passenger side and missing a hub cap. Anyone with information is asked to contact township police at 610-419-9252 or email akanaskie@bethlehemtwp.com. Other area departments have also recently sought the public's help with surveillance stills. On Saturday, Pocono Township police released photos of a group of people suspected of stealing credit cards at The Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville, Monore County. And on Wednesday, Pohatcong Township police posted on Facebook a photo of a woman believed to have stolen $370 from a purse Aug. 11 at the township Wal-Mart. Need assistance in trying to identify this person in a theft of money investigation. You can contact us on Facebook or call 908-454-9836 and ask for Officer Mirenda. Posted by Pohatcong Township Police Department on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Fernandos gives a fresh face to Italian restaurants that have always been closely associated with the Alexandria dining out tradition On the once very prestigious Fouad Street in the heart of Alexandria, close to the intersection with Safiyah Zaghloul Street, Fernandos is giving a new face to Italian restaurants that have always been closely associated with the Alexandria dining out tradition. The interiors are pleasant though the style verges more on the American than the Italian and the waiters are immediately welcoming without being overbearing. Typical of the trend of big chain eateries, Fernandos menu is done the modern way, which might not appeal to the old-fashioned, with big pictures next to the listed items. The drinks that Fernandos offers, in considerable variety and all alcohol free, are a good way to entice first timers. From the many coladas, mochatils and frizzes, the red basil, which is a mix of 7Up, strawberry juice and basil, and the blue basil, where strawberry is replaced with pineapple, prove to be the perfectly refreshing start to the meal to follow. A variety of starters fried mozzarella sticks, fried chicken sticks, mix and vegetarian spring rolls are decent enough, especially when dipped in the side sauces. The mix of fried calamari and shrimps is served with a considerably good tarter sauce that somewhat compensates for the over-frying that rendered the little items a bit too dry. The temptation of pizza or pasta is inevitable at an Italian restaurant, but the main dishes are also very inviting for a dinner of the hungry who missed lunch after enjoying the beach during the day. If in Alexandria, the wisdom would go, it is time to indulge in fish and seafood. This was not necessarily the sentiment inspired by the too crunchy calamari and shrimps. An order of the firmly play-it-safe chicken with red sauce and potatoes, with white rice and vegetables on the side, proved as perfectly safe as it promised. Another order of grilled fish fillet with a brown shrimp sauce, made only little success in overpassing the experience of the calamari and shrimp appetiser and gave dominance to the wisdom of indulging in fish and sea food, but only at a fish and seafood restaurant. The dessert on the menu looks inviting, especially in its chocolate variations, but then there is always the wisdom that in Alexandria you cannot miss Gelato Azza. The coffee is okay and so are the prices, at around LE350 for the meal, drinks, coffee and water. Fernandos is open until 1am and according to the waiter it takes its last order a little after midnight. Search Keywords: Short link: The President of Ireland, Mr Michael D. Higgins, will formally unveil a monument to the memory of the Leitrim Socialist Jimmy Gralton, at Effrinagh, Co Leitrim, on Saturday the 3rd of September. Gralton, a native of Leitrim, was the only Irishman ever deported by a native government. Speaking to the Leitrim Observer the Secretary of the Gralton Labour History Commemorative Committee Cllr Declan Bree said The committee and indeed the extended Gralton family are extremely pleased that the President has accepted the invitation. The granite monument is located on the site of Graltons Pearse-Connolly Hall at Effrinagh and we are indebted to all those who contributed funding towards the project. Proceedings will commence at 11am on Saturday morning the 3rd September, and those planning to attend are advised to arrive early as it is expected that parking restrictions will be in place, said Cllr Bree. Jimmy Gralton, as a young man, immigrated to the United States where he became involved in the American labour movement. When he returned to Leitrim in 1932 he became immersed in left-wing political activity. The Pearse-Connolly Hall became a focal point for his political activities. When a Red Scare enveloped the country in 1933, Gralton became the victim of a political witch-hunt and was deported from Ireland by the De Valera government as an undesirable alien. He spent the remaining days of his life in the American labour movement. He died in New York in December 1945. His remains were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. 10 Cutting-Edge Skin-Care Devices You Can Use at Home Don't ditch your dermatologist just yet. But consider supplementing your routine with these tools, which may help even skin tone, treat mild acne, smooth wrinkles, deflate puffy eyes, and more. NOT even the hint of a hint of disappointment will be allowed to cloud Marie Hennessys happy memories of the Rose of Tralee festival. It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And if I could do it all again, I would, she said. This years Limerick Rose was not one of the 32 to make it to the televised final earlier this week when Chicago Rose, Maggie McEldowney took the title. But the young woman from Rooskagh is adamant it has been the experience of a lifetime. And she is looking forward to continuing her role as Limerick Rose until March next year. Everyone will continue to represent their county and we are going to continue to work with our charities, she told the Limerick Leader this Wednesday, still hoarse from all the talking, laughing and cheering of the previous days and nights. So much will be happening between now and next March, she pledged. Marie, who teaches Irish at Desmond College, Newcastle West, said she really enjoyed her interview with presenter Daithi OSe in the Dome. I loved it, she said. This year, for the first time, all 65 Roses travelled to Tralee and there were two qualifying nights where all 65 were interviewed. However, it was only last Sunday that the names of the 32 young women selected to go forward for the televised final, were announced. The Roses were called at 5.30am, their phones were taken and each Rose was given either a white or a red rose. Only those with white roses went through to the final. I wouldnt want that to overshadow the week and a half of a fantastic experience, she insisted. The early start was hard, Marie Hennessy said, and she felt the approach could have been better handled. However, she insisted: That does not reflect in any way on the Rose of Tralee festival organisers. I think that goes back to RTE. (RTE commissioned a special behind-the-scenes programme about the Roses called Road to the Dome) We always knew coming here there were 65 Roses and it was going to be brought down to 32. We are the first ever group of 65 to go to absolutely everything. You couldnt be disappointed with that. We all had our night in the Dome, Marie said. It has been an unbelievable experience, she continued. And the 12 days had been chock-full of great experiences, from the five days in Dublin and the reception in Tralee to the Rose Parades and the Rose Ball. Every day seemed to top the next. After the excitement in Tralee, school came calling for Marie who was back at her post when the doors opened for the new school year this Friday. A newly established group that claims to represent farmers, fishermen and residents along the Shannon Estuary has warned that proposed dredging of the area around the Aughinish jetty could have serious adverse effects on marine life and water quality. The Rescue of the River Shannon Group (RRSG) has written to the Minister for the Environment asking him to halt the proposed dredging until its impacts can be studied further and the department is satisfied that there will be no adverse impact on the estuary. Its chairman, former city councillor Jim Long, stressed that the group was not opposed to the dredging itself, but to the method being proposed, whereby the material removed from the seabed will be pushed out into the river to be washed downstream rather than being removed and stored safely. He claimed that the seabed around the jetty may contain bauxite and alumina that has fallen into the water during loading and unloading at the pier. We are not totally against the proposed dredging which is needed to support the berthing of ships at Aughinish jetty, upon which jobs are reliant. What we are against is the method that is being used to carry out the work, he said. Last month, the company was granted a foreshore licence to carry out the dredging work which it said was necessary to maintain the design and navigational depth for shipping. Aughinish is proposing to conduct an eight-year programme of maintenance dredging with a maximum annual dredge volume of 8,000 cubic metres, or 16,000 tonnes. A bed leveller or plough dredger will be used to carry out the work by moving sediment material along the sea bed and which can then be distributed by the natural currents in the estuary. However, Mr Long believes the better solution is to remove the material from the seabed and store it safely on land. This can be achieved by suction dredging the areas applied for in the foreshore licence and pumped down to the huge red mud ponds on site, he said. In his letter to the minister, he stated: Our group feels, what has been allowed to happen here, is this company has taken the cheap option for themselves which your department has facilitated, but the cost to the estuary will be huge, with approx 16,000 tonnes per annum of sediment moved over an eight year period totaling, which we feel is an underestimated figure byRusal/Aughinish, 128,000 tonnes which in our view will destroy the estuary in all aspects. To our group its a huge environmental disaster facilitated by your department. Once this company starts work there is no way of quantifying this amount. The group has also sought a meeting with the minister to highlight its members concerns. Rusal Aughinish made no comment on the groups claims this week. TWO well-known school principals are preparing to open a new chapter in their lives having announced their departure from secondary schools in Limerick county and city. This week, Sean Twomey, who has been principal at Colaiste Iosaef in Kilmallock for the past six years, announced that he is to take up a new post as principal at St Aloysius College in Carrigtwohill, County Cork. And one of the longest serving secondary school principals in the country, Vincent Foley, has announced his retirement after 27 years at the helm at St Clements College on South Circular Road in the city. I will miss it but life moves on. I have plenty to keep myself occupied, said Mr Foley who has a keen interest in GAA his son Mark is an All Star hurler while his other son Brian is a selector with the Limerick minor hurling team who will contest the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on Sunday week. Prior to taking up the post of principal at St Clements Mr Foley was a teacher at St Endas for 14 years where he taught Irish and history. I went into Clements (an all boys school) in 1989 and was principal from 1989 to 2016. We moved from the old college to the new college in 2008, he explained. Both Vincent and his wife Anita are originally from Cork. Anita is from Tullylease while Vincent is from Doneraile. The couple, who reside in Adare, have six children, Vincent, Mark, John, Brian, Marie and Niamh. While he is looking forward to having more time to pursue his hobbies - he also enjoys walking, swimming, reading and travelling - Mr Foley says he will very much miss the supportive colleagues he has worked with over the years. We had great support from the Redemptorists. The inclusive nature of the school was always very much part of the Redemptorists philosophy and ethos. We also have great support from the Redemptorists trustees, the chair of the board, Fr Seamus Enright, staff, and all the boards of management and parents councils that I have worked with over the years. Sean Twomey meanwhile, is to continue at Colaiste Iosaef in Kilmallock until a new principal is in place at the school. I will be in situ in Colaiste Iosaef until my replacement is available to take over. Because the principal has retired in St Als Im in getting everything ready for the start of the year, he said, speaking from the County Cork school this Tuesday. Mr Twomey has been principal of Colaiste Iosaef for the past six years. When I took over we had about 220 students and now there are about 460 so it has more than doubled in the six years I have been there. I absolutely loved every minute of it. Its a fantastic school - there is a great work ethic among the staff. Sean and his wife decided to move back to Conna in East Cork in the past year. Sean is married to Niamh, a choreographer for Limerick Musical Society, and the couple have four children, Eabha, Saorla, Caitlin and Cathal. Aug 26, 2016, 3 PM The insignia of the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is featured in this Sept. 4 postmark from Fort Howard, Md. By Michael Baadke Defenders Day is a Maryland state holiday that takes place each year on Sept. 12. It commemorates the 1814 Battle of Baltimore and the successful defense of Fort McHenry against attacking British forces in the War of 1812. The sight of the American flag flying over the fort after the battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became The Star-Spangled Banner. This years commemoration includes the Sept. 9-11 Star-Spangled weekend in Baltimore and at Fort McHenry. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Fort Howard, Md., is the site from which the British Army and the Royal Navy launched the attack, and this year the community is offering a Defenders Day postmark that includes the American flag and a representation of the fort. To obtain this postmark, address your requests to: DEFENDERS DAY Station, Postmaster, 9200 Howard Ave., Fort Howard, MD 21052-9998, Sept. 4. The following cancels also are available: THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK DED Station, Postmaster, 355 Third Ave., Medora, ND 58645-9998, Aug. 25. (Theodore Roosevelt portrait, Quarter Launch, ATB 34.) AMERICAS BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS Station, Postmaster, 355 Third Ave., Medora, ND 58645-9998, Aug. 25. (Trees and American flag, circular marking with buffalo, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, 11 stars outside circle.) MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA Station, Postmaster, 355 Third Ave., Medora, ND 58645-9998, Aug. 25. (Adult holding hand of child overlooking scenic park view, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Celebrating the 100th birthday of Americas national parks.) THE ORGANIC ACT WASHINGTON, DC DED Station, Philatelic Clerk, 2 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC 20002-9998, Aug. 25. (Eagle head with NPS, Woodrow Wilson signature, Centennial.) ALASKA STATE FAIR Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Palmer, AK 99645-9998, Aug. 25. (Cartoon bee, Happy, Alaska State Fair 2016.) USS HOUSTON SSN-713 INACTIVATION Station, Postmaster, 602 Pacific Ave., Bremerton, WA 98382-9998, Aug. 26. (Outline of Texas, star indicating location of Houston, silhouette of submarine.) SPRAKERS Station, Postmaster, 582 Sprakers Road, Sprakers, NY 12166-9998, Aug. 27. (Profile silhouette representing American Indian, Betsy Ross flag with 13 stars in circle, 235th anniversary of the Currytown Raids.) CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, 1701 El Nido, Diablo, CA 94528-9800, Sept. 1. (Mountain, sun, large building, Diablo 1916-2016.) CELEBRATE OLDSMAR CENTENNIAL Station, Postmaster, 3905 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677-9998, Sept. 2. (Large 100 with Oldsmar Florida lettering in first zero, pier, flying bird.) The following cancels have been granted 30-day extensions: ALCATRAZ ISLAND Station, Postmaster, Box 880066, San Francisco, CA 94188-0066, Aug. 14. (Pelican standing, Golden Gate Bridge in distant background, Alcatraz is Spanish for Pelican, 82nd Anniversary.) AMERICOVER YOSEMITE Station, Postmaster, 800 W. Broad St., Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046-3199, Aug. 19. (Bear, mountains, trees, cloud.) 2016 USCS CONVENTION Station, Postmaster, 800 W. Broad St., Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046-3199, Aug. 19-21. (Centennial patch with USCG Aviation Centennial, biplane, three winged insignias, four stars, 1916 2016.) AMERICOVER YELLOWSTONE Station, Postmaster, 800 W. Broad St., Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046-3199, Aug. 20. (Buffalo, Old Faithful geyser, scenery, clouds.) SODA FOUNTAIN Station, Postmaster, 800 W. Broad St., Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046-3199, Aug. 21. (Banana split and two other soda fountain desserts.) AMERICOVER SMOKY MOUNTAINS Station, Postmaster, 800 W. Broad St., Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046-3199, Aug. 21. (Large bird, mountains, clouds, tree.) CLAWS AND PAWS Station, Retail, 1720 Market St., Room 2033, St. Louis, MO 63155-9998, Aug. 24. (White cat, black dog). GILLETTE, WYOMING Station, Postmaster, 311 S. Kendrick, Gillette, WY 82716-9998, Aug. 27. (Mans portrait, silhouette of man on horse, railroad engine, Celebrating 125 years.) DORADO Station, San Juan Stamps Office, 585 Avenue FD Roosevelt, Suite 103, San Juan, PR 00936-9998, Aug. 31. (Building with porch, Celebrating 100 years of the father of Dorado paintings, Development of rural services, 100 anos centenario Marcos Juan Algeria.) Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365. Instructions for requesting postmarks: Linns readers can see complete instructions for requesting postmarks here. Aug 26, 2016, 11 PM By Michael Baadke Lyndon Baines Johnson served as the 36th president of the United States for a little more than five years. As vice president under John F. Kennedy, he was sworn into office Nov. 22, 1963, following Kennedys assassination, and he served until Jan. 20, 1969. Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas, on Aug. 27, 1908. He graduated from Johnson City High School in 1924, and attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College (Texas State University), graduating in 1930. Not long after Johnson began his involvement in politics as a member of the Democratic Party, he married Claudia Alta Taylor, who was known as Lady Bird, in 1934. They had two daughters: Lynda Bird Johnson born in 1944, and Luci Baines Johnson born in 1947. Johnson was elected to Congress in 1937, and served in the South Pacific as a Navy lieutenant commander during World War II. In 1948, he was elected to the Senate, rising to minority leader in 1953, and majority leader the next year. John F. Kennedy chose Johnson as his running mate for the 1960 election. Following Kennedys assassination, Johnson continued policies laid out by his predecessor, including landmark civil rights legislation. At the same time, Johnson had to contend with the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, which would continue beyond the end of his administration. Johnsons Great Society programs sought to reduce poverty and increase opportunities for education, and he signed the Medicare program into law in 1965. Lyndon Johnson died of a heart attack on Jan. 22, 1973, just four years after leaving office. He has been honored on two U.S. postage stamps: an 8 memorial stamp issued Aug. 27, 1973 (Scott 1503), and a 22 stamp in the 1986 Ameripex Presidential set (2219i). SEATTLE College tuitions are becoming prohibitively expensive for many people, with Harvard University now costing almost $61,000 a year for tuition, room, board and fees. Given the high price tag, is it worth it to graduate from a highly selective school versus a less expensive, lower-tier one? The answer is, yes, "selectivity matters a lot," at least for most majors, according to two researchers. The duo compared the salaries of students who graduated from highly to not-so-selective colleges in the United States. In all, they found that 10 years after graduation, "graduates from the most selective colleges earn[ed] about $16,000 more annually compared to graduates from average selective colleges," they wrote in a new study, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. [9 Ways Going to College Affects Your Health] Moreover, the researchers found that a gender gap exists, even among graduates of highly selective colleges, such as Harvard and Stanford. Women who attended top-tier colleges earned about 16 percent less than men who majored in the same discipline at the same or other highly selective colleges, the researchers said. But selectivity still mattered. Women who graduated from top colleges earned more, on average, than women who attended less selective institutions, such as Indiana State University or Eastern Oregon University, the scientists found. "Harvard"-level selectivity The researchers, Dirk Witteveen, a doctoral candidate of sociology, and Paul Attewell, a professor of sociology and urban education both at The Graduate Center at The City University of New York (CUNY) investigated whether there was a link between college selectivity and future salary. Selectivity is different from quality, the researchers noted. Whereas quality usually measures a student's SAT/ACT scores, expenditures per full-time student and the ratio of students to faculty members, selectivity is a narrower concept that emphasizes the academic composition of the student body. Selectivity is usually measured by average SAT scores, they said. "Selectivity acts as a powerful signal of the intelligence and ambition of a colleges student body as a whole, rather than a measure specifying the quality of the education that a particular graduate has received," the researchers wrote in a draft of their study. Past studies have found a small link, or even no link, between attending a selective college and earning a higher average salary. But it's difficult to account for certain factors that also could influence the results and to use a nationally representative sample, and the new study did do those things, the researchers said. For instance, the scientists controlled for gender, age, race, parental income, parental education, SAT score, college GPA, college major and region of employment following college, among other factors. In addition, they included only college graduates who are now full-time employees. Then, the researchers looked at nationally representative surveys from 3,840 full-time workers who graduated from college in 1993 and 4,670 full-time workers who graduated in 2008. The 1993 group gave results 10 years after graduation (when they were about 33 years old), and the 2008 group gave results four years after graduation (about 26 years old). The gender findings were stark. The women in the 1993 group who graduated from the most selective colleges earned an average yearly income of $62,400 in 2003 about as much as the men who graduated from the least selective schools, who made an average of $62,200. The gender gap was also visible four years after graduation for the 2008 group, with the top-tier women earning less (about $52,400) than the low-tier men (about $56,500). [7 Ways to Reduce Job Stress] Less-selective schools Students could still make impressive salaries at lower-tier schools, as long as they majored in the fields of health, business/management and the math-related disciplines, such as computer science and engineering, the researchers found. Given that earnings in these fields are relatively similar among the highly selective and very selective colleges, "you might therefore want to choose a slightly lower competitive college if you think they have a good program in your favorite discipline," as a way to save money on tuition, Witteveen told Live Science in an email. People who majored in education earned the lowest income, although they still made more if they attended a highly selective school versus a low-tier school, he said. Because people who major in different subjects can have vastly different salaries, the Department of Education's "College Scorecard" likely isn't very helpful, as it just gives the raw average of graduate salaries, instead of assessing them differently, Witteveen said. The study was presented here Sunday (Aug. 21) at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting. Original article on Live Science. The soaring price of the EpiPen has garnered controversy recently, but there are alternatives to this well-known allergy treatment device. The EpiPen belongs to a class of medical devices known as epinephrine auto-injectors, which allow people to quickly inject a precise dose of the drug epinephrine. The devices are used to treat anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that can be triggered, in people who have the corresponding allergies, by foods, insect stings, medications and certain other substances. [More: How Do EpiPens Work?] Because anaphylaxis can be deadly, it's critical that people with certain allergies have immediate access to epinephrine auto-injectors, said the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In fact, the AAP recommends that children with food allergies carry two epinephrine auto-injectors with them at all times, in case a second dose is needed to treat an allergic reaction. (In general, allergies are more common in children than adults.) But in recent years, the price of the EpiPen has increased dramatically, from $100 in 2007 to a current price of $600 for a two-pack, according to The New York Times. This price increase may limit access to the drug for people who need it, said U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, who sent a letter this week to Mylan, the manufacturer of EpiPen, asking about the drug's pricing. And although health insurance may cover the drug, people with certain insurance plans, such as high-deductible plans, may have to pay the full price, according to USA Today (opens in new tab). But there is a cheaper alternative to the EpiPen, called Adrenaclick, which can be found at Walmart and Sam's Club for as little as $142 with a coupon, according to Consumer Reports. Adrenaclick provides the same medication, at the same doses, as the EpiPen, according to Adrenaclick's website. There's also a generic version of Adrenaclick, called "epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector." (There is no generic version of the EpiPen.) However, the method of administering Adrenaclick or its generic version is a little different from that for the EpiPen; for example, Adrenaclick has two caps that need to be removed, while EpiPen has only one cap. For this reason, it's important that users learn precisely how to use whichever device they have, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) said. "The stress of an anaphylactic reaction is not the time to realize you have a different auto-injector than what was demonstrated to you by your allergist," AAAAI said. Another brand of epinephrine auto-injector, called AuviQ, was recalled last year because it was found to deliver potentially inaccurate doses of epinephrine, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It is no longer on the market. It's theoretically possible to use a simple syringe with a dose of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis. But this method is more complicated, because patients need to make sure that they measure out the proper dose and delivery it quickly, Consumer Reports said. In one study, it took parents 142 seconds (2.4 minutes) to draw up a dose of epinephrine for infants using a syringe. (Since the dose of epinephrine in the EpiPen and Adrenaclick is premeasured, it doesn't need to be drawn up.) Also, people should not premeasure a dose of epinephrine in a syringe (to have on hand in case of an allergic reaction), because epinephrine can degrade if it's exposed to light for a long time, according to the AAAAI. On Thursday, Mylan said it would offer coupons that cover up to $300 of patients' out-of-pocket costs for the EpiPen. Original article on Live Science. 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. Local Fine Gael TD Peter Burke has urged Longford householders to avail of the free scheme run by Irish Water designed to fix water leaks. New figures released by Irish Water show that Longford households are already benefiting, with 109 householders availing of the First Fix Leak Repair scheme. The First Fix Leak Repair scheme is a free service run by Irish Water and it is great to see that 109 Longford householders have already benefited from it, the local TD said. Irish Waters First Fix Free scheme was launched in early 2015 across all metering regions in Longford and throughout the country. To the end of March, 75,974 properties were identified as customer side leaks, 1,033 of which have been found in Longford. "I urge householders across Longford to avail of this free scheme and have their leaks fixed - almost 30,000 customers have already contacted Irish Water to avail of a free leak investigation. Deputy Burke added that households with leaks will have already received a letter from Irish Water notifying them of the problem. Its really important for householders to fix their leak before it becomes worse and we all have a responsibility to do our bit to conserve water, which is a precious natural resource, he said. If you contact Irish Water requesting a leak investigation, one of their team will contact you within 10 working days to arrange a convenient time to visit, explained Deputy Burke. You can get in touch with Irish Water by calling LoCall1850 278 278 or through water.ie. He may only be a couple of weeks behind his desk, but newly appointed Superintendent Jim Delaney is already setting his sights on making an indelible mark as Longfords most senior garda official. The recently promoted former Detective Inspector replaced outgoing Superintendent Fergus Treanor earlier this month following the latest reshuffle announced by Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan. Supt Treanor had only been in the post for just over a year, taking over from Denis Shields who had been in Longford for six years. The hope in Longford now is that the new superintendent will remain in the county for the long haul. Having joined the Gardai in 1984, its fair to say Longfords latest superintendent has more than served his apprenticeship. I am 32 years in An Garda Siochana and during that time I have to say I am very fortunate to have worked with some very professional, excellent people both within our own organisation and in other agencies, he proudly asserted. Half of that three decade spell was spent working in a series of specialised Garda units in the Dublin Metropolitans Crumlin and Tallaght districts. Those endeavours culminated in promotion and a transfer to the then Longford Westmeath Garda Division to tackle drugs in this region. As Detective Sergeant in charge of one of the first dedicated Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, the onus on ensuring its success was obvious. That unit was based in Athlone but covered Longford, Mullingar and Athlone, Supt Delaney revealed. During that time we had some very notable successes of regional and national significance in relation to the size of seizures. Among them included high profile discoveries of ecestasy, cocaine, heroin and cannabis resin. The introduction of new legislation, most notably the imposition of the 1996 Section 2 Drug Trafficking Act was a further factor in helping the specialised drugs units. One of the many seizures which garnered local as well as national headlines was the seizure of 25,000 ecstasy tablets from a property in Longford town. Those achievements opened further doors, leading Jim to become involved in the Gardais Stepping Out initiative That was facilitated by the National Learning Network and was funded by the Department of Justice by providing training and rehabilitation to criminal offenders of which I was very proud to be part of, he said. By 2007, further career acclaim came calling when Jim was elevated to the rank of Inspector, only this time at an entirely different facet of policing. That was when I served as a Divisional Traffic Inspector in DMR East and would have had responsibility for overseeing a number of traffic operations connected with the development of Luas in south Dublin, specifically a number of Luas bridges installed over the M50 and M11 motorways. The best part of a decade on, it was a time he believes served him well. It was an enjoyable challenge and a quick learning curve having spent a lot of time in crime, he admitted. It was an experience that I was able to bring with me when I moved into my next role as a district inspector in Carrick-on-Shannon District in 2008. Stationed there for the past eight years, the last four of those were spent serving as Detective Inspector heading up a string of noted investigations into organised crime, dissident activity and murder investigations, some of which are still before the courts. Being in charge of such renowned cases brings with it its own challenges, not least in the emotional wrenches it places on the families of victims. When I look back on them, I think of the families of the victims, he said. I will say in one particular case in a trial in 2014 it struck me the level of commitment the family had in support of the victim. As a senior investigating officer there would be a certain amount of detachment and obviously you are meeting many of these families in very difficult circumstances who have lost loved one in very tragic, traumatic circumstances but we have specially trained people, family liaison officers and they are the people who work with families on a day to day basis. But leading well known crime investigations are only part of the story. In more recent times, Jim has had the honour of putting the required logistics in place for the G8 Summit in 2013 and the visit of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla two years ago. I was also fortunate enough to be involved with security preparations for the inaugural sitting of the Cabinet in Lissadel House and I was particularly proud of how they transpired. They were very good events for the public and yet everything went off without a hitch which showcased Sligo, it showcased our organisation and it showcased our country in a good light. Supt Delaney, however, is conscious of the many challenges the organisation still faces. He believes an ongoing programme of renewal and modernisation will go a long way towards meeting and overcoming those. We have to move with the times, he commented, but stopped short of issuing any direct appraisal of how the recent Garda whistleblower controversies may have dented its public perception. We have embarked on these programmes (of modernisation) before regardless of any controversy and I am not going to talk about any of that. I am aware that as an organisation we have taken some considerable criticism in the media but we get on and go about our business irrespective of that. We have a community out there to serve and we can only change peoples opinion in the manner in which we serve and do our business. We have excellent people and it has been hard for them to maintain the level of dedication and commitment they have done while the media has been so volatile but that is what is being a national organisation is all about. In terms of his own immediate aspirations in Longford, Jims message is simple. The first thing I want to do is to maintain and develop the well established links with the Longford community, he stoically put it. Resources, he insists are not an issue at the present moment. More pressing, for him, is the need to foster a greater focus of tackling crime at source. I may have a strong background in crime investigation but I am also keen to promote a focus on crime prevention. This can be achieved through partnership. Its an ethos Jim is anxious to permeate amongst his officers and the wider public at large. Our organisation has traditionally been an organisation that has had a strong connect with the community, he insisted. He backs this up by citing the famous quotation by its first ever commissioner Micheal Staines statement that the Gardai will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people. If there was one quote from me it would be of partnership and community engagement so that between all of us we can surmount the challenges that we as a policing organisation face in the 21st century, he concludes. 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 The Taliban took control of the district of Jani Khel in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia yesterday after laying siege to the district center for more than two weeks. Both Afghan officials and the Taliban confirmed that Jani Khel fell to the Taliban late last night. On Voice of Jihad, the Talibans official website, the group claimed that it stormed the enemy installations in Jani Khel district of Paktia province including district headquarters, police station and all its security and combat posts. Mujahideen took over the district and overran 10 combat posts as well as police checkpoints, raising Islamic Emirates white flag, the Taliban continued. Additionally, it claimed it killed 48 enemy personnel consisting of Arbakis [local militia], police and soldiers of ANA, or Afghan National Army, and seized 15 armored tanks and 16 armored fighting vehicles, and destroyed an additional six armored personnel carriers. The Talibans claims cannot be confirmed; the group routinely exaggerates the number of casualties inflicted on Afghan forces. The governor of Jani Khel confirmed the Talibans claim that it did overrun the district. Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days, governor Abdul Rahman Solamal told Reuters. Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight. If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces. Solamal warned on Aug. 10 that the district was in danger of falling to the Taliban. The clashes are still ongoing two kilometers from the center of Janikhel, he told TOLONews. If supporting troops are not sent into Janikhel as soon as possible, the district will fall into the hands of the Taliban. Solamals plea for reinforcements and the failure of the Afghan government and military to provide support to districts under the threat of Taliban assaults has become all too common. The Taliban is sustaining offensive operations throughout Afghanistan as Afghan security forces, backed by US airpower and special forces, continue to struggle containing the jihadist group. Reports from Afghanistan indicate that the provincial capitals of Kunduz and Helmand are also in danger of falling to the Taliban. The Taliban currently control or contest more than 80 of Afghanistans 400 plus districts, according to a study by The Long War Journal. That number may be higher as reports from some districts known to be Taliban strongholds are unavailable. The Obama administrations response to the deteriorating security situation has been to slow the withdrawal of US forces from the country, leaving 8,400 troops in Afghanistan instead of the 5,400 originally planned. Still, nearly 1,400 US troops will be withdrawn by the end of the year despite the fact that President Barack Obama described the security environment in Afghanistan as precarious. We have yet to hear an explanation as to how fewer troops will help the worsening security situation. The US military continues to downplay Taliban gains and exaggerate the performance of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. On Aug. 25, Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, deputy chief of staff for communications for Resolute Support, NATOs mission in Afghanistan, said that Afghan forces are generally on a positive trajectory. But overall, as we look at the country holistically, and as we compare and add into that the progress that weve seen at the ministry of defense and the ministry of interior from an institutional level, overall we still do believe that the ANDSF is performing better this year than they performed last year. We think that they are still generally on track with their offensive campaign plan, Operation Shafaq. And then finally, we still believe that they are generally on a positive trajectory. Cleveland made the statement despite the fact that that Taliban has regenerated its forces since the US withdrew the bulk of its combat forces, is threatening provincial capitals and seizing district centers, and operating openly as a military forces in multiple regions throughout Afghanistan. Additionally, Al Qaeda has become so emboldened by the success of the Taliban that it has established training camps in the country. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. North Korean scientists published a record number of research papers in international journals last year. This was apparently due to state support for research in order to legitimize the regime of new leader Kim Jong-un as well as influence from long-time ally China. The Korea Institute of Scientific Technology and Information found that 34 research papers in international journals last year involved North Korean scientists, the most in a single year since 1976, when North Korean scientists began participating in international research activities. The previous record was in 2010, when there were 29. South Korean scientists published 41,770 research papers in international journals last year. Most of the research papers focused on optical technology, including the production of transparent graphene used to manufacture flexible monitors, and laser optics. Math, agricultural science, electrical engineering, chemistry and physics were also popular subjects for North Korean research papers. But there were no papers by North Korean scientists on missiles or nuclear testing. The surge apparently owes something to Chinese influence, with 21 out of the 34 papers co-written with Chinese scientists. Most of the funding was also provided by China. Last year, China ranked second after the U.S. in terms of research papers in international journals. "China is North Korea's long-time ally and neighbor, so it makes sense for Chinese and North Korean scientists conduct joint research," said Choi Hyun-kyu at KISTI. But North Korean scientists also published joint papers with scientists from Australia, Germany and Switzerland. None of the reports were written solely by North Korean scientists. Experts say support from the regime also played a role. Kim Jong-son at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said, "Although North Korea was unable to revive its economy, it put forth goals for science and technology to rebuild itself." Although the number of papers involving North Korean scientists has increased, none were published in the three leading international journals -- Cell, Nature and Science. And their quotation frequencies were either in the single digits or zero. However, scientists around the world say the North's researchers are not to be underestimated. For example, North Korean laser expert Kwon Yong-hyuk won the Best Student Paper Award from the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers in June. The ISOPE symposium is the top scholarly gathering in the field of marine technology. Kwon developed a portable device to quickly analyze toxic pollution in the North Sea and beat 177 competitors to the honor. Lifestyle / Travel The Majestic Princess is designed with the affluent Chinese cruiser in mind, with fine dining options and an unending supply of shopping options. Aug 27, 2016 | By Staff Writer This is Princess Cruises first ship built specifically for Chinese guests. It is the latest development, just this month, as cruise services make a China pivot; MSC Cruises and Aida Cruises are both looking to capitalize from as early as next year in what is poised to become the largest cruise market in the world. After a short European tour, the brand new Majestic Princess will drop anchor in its home port of Shanghai beginning next summer. The Princess Cruises ship will sail to destinations in Japan and Korea. This is parent company Carnival Corporations 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. Recent reports suggest that prices have taken a hit, thanks a bit of oversupply but operators remain bullish. Perhaps that is because the Chinese Ministry of Tourism forecasts 4.5 million passengers by 2020. 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 such as Cartier, Bulgari, 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. Royal Caribbean is in second place with five ships based in China 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 Lines first cruise ship which is also tailor-made for Chinese customers and set to debut in July 2017. You can see for yourself what the Majestic Princess brings to the table from the video below. https://youtu.be/iKrN0EFtAOs K-pop girl group Girls' Generation will make a cameo appearance on NBC's "Better Late Than Never," the U.S. version of Korean reality show "Grandpas Over Flowers." The episode will be shot at COEX in Seoul this weekend. The Spanish Patent and Trade Mark Office (SPTO) and the Spanish Association for the Defence of Trade marks (ANDEMA) in collaboration with the Leading Brands of Spain Forum (FMRE) and the Chamber of Commerce of Spain have analysed the impact of industrial property rights in our exports, with regard to the internationalisation of companies, the Spanish economy and employment. The study "The triangle of a successful business: innovation, trade marks and exports", developed by a group of researchers from the University of Alicante, concluded that IP is of high relevance when it comes to export: 76% of the total exports in Spain, worth around 261,314 million, were supported by Spanish companies that are committed to the protection of their IP assets. Three of every four Spanish companies that become international and open new markets use industrial property as a positioning tool in their targeted markets. The study found that 75.04% of Spanish exports, with a total value of 257,790 million, come from companies that protect their trade marks as a differentiating intangible asset. These results show the positive effects of trade marks on export activities: companies with trade marks in their portfolio export 30 times more than companies that only have patents or designs. In addition, 32.05% of total Spanish exports, which reached a value of 110,092 million, are linked to Spanish export companies with patents, utility models or industrial designs in force within their IP portfolios. Talking about employment and, according to this report, a total of 4,144,000 jobs are derived from the export activity of companies with industrial property assets included in this survey, that is the 73.84% of the total employment generated by Spanish exports. Further, as to the main industrial sectors, the manufacturing industry plays a key role; its exports related to IP assets are 130,410 million, that is 80.74% of the total export in this area. This is followed by the transport and tourism sector and commerce, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles area, in which the exports due to trade marks exceed 40,000 million each. The results of this report point out the outstanding significance in numbers of protecting innovation through IP rights, its interaction with exports and its contribution to the Spanish economy. Trade mark registration, in particular, maximises product differentiation and it enhances recognition in international markets, establishing a direct link with consumers, being crucial for growing at an accelerated pace in Spain. Isabel Cortes PONS IPGlorieta Ruben Dario, 428010 Madrid SpainTel: +34 917007600Fax: +34 913086103clientes@pons.eswww.ponsip.com In May 2016, the government authority the Beijing Intellectual Property Office (Beijing IPO) published a decision affirming that Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus infringe a Chinese design patent number ZL201430009113.9, owned by a Shenzhen Baili Marketing Service Co Ltd. The Beijing IP Office's decision orders Apple to stop selling the iPhone. Apple has reportedly brought a lawsuit to seek judicial review of this administrative decision. The case is pending. Accused product Design patent in dispute The Beijing IPO's decision has been under a lot of spotlight since the decision was issued. Many Chinese patent experts seem to find it questionable that the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus have infringed Shenzhen Baili's design patent. A key patent issue here is the so-called design space, and how the rules related to design space play out in the China invalidation and infringement actions. Article 14 of the recent Interpretation (II) of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Patent Infringement Dispute Cases (SPC Judicial Interpretation II) stipulates that, in determining the knowledge and cognitive capability of a normal consumer regarding a design, the people's court shall normally consider the design space of such products with designs identical or similar to the patented design at the time that the accused infringement occurs. Where there is a larger design space, the people's court may conclude it is not easy for a normal consumer to notice a relatively minor difference between different designs; where there is a smaller design space, the people's court may conclude it is easier for a normal consumer to notice a relatively minor difference between different designs. In this case, if the accused products have a larger design space, a stricter standard in determining identity or similarity between different designs should be applied; otherwise a looser standard should be applied. The Beijing IPO's decision states that, although the designs of the accused products and the design patent in dispute have various differences, these differences are so minor that a normal consumer is unlikely to notice the differences; and, because a normal consumer is unlikely to notice the differences, it is proper to conclude that the external designs of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are not so significantly different from the design patent in dispute and that the accused products would fall within of the protection scope of the design patent. Although the Beijing IPO does not refer to the issue of design space, it appears that the officials of the Beijing IPO consider there is a large designs space for the touch screen mobile phones and therefore minor differences are not noticed by the normal consumers. However, the Patent Re-examination Board of the SIPO, which handles invalidity proceedings in China, apparently does not think so. In the patent invalidation proceeding launched by Apple against the Shenzhen Baili design patent, the Board found that the design patent in dispute had obvious differences with prior designs, particularly the curved design of the side of the mobile phones, and that such differences significantly impact the overall visual effect of the products. The decision seems to suggest the Board considers the design space of the accused products to be small, and thereby holds that minor differences such as the curve design of the side of the mobile phones are sufficient enough for patentability. It is somewhat surprising that Beijing IPO seems not to notice the decision of the Board. If the Board upholds the patentability of the patent, the same standards on the design space should be applied to the infringement determination. In other words, as the Board can distinguish the Shenzhen Baili design patent from various other prior art based on small changes, the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus should be compared with the asserted patent under the same standards small changes may lead to non-infringement. We hope that the appellate court the Beijing IP Court will make a clear ruling on how to determine the design space relating to the external design of the touch screen mobile phones. We will not be surprised that the same Board decision has been also brought to the Beijing IP Court for judicial review as well. The Beijing IP Court has to make a coherent standard. In addition to the legal issues of design patent infringement determination, some experts have raised serious concerns over the fact that Beijing IPO, as an administrative authority, issued an injunction against an important mobile phone product. Experts are asking why patent enforcement in China should be dealt with by both courts and local IPOs, and questioning whether this bifurcated approach will cause confusion and inconsistent judgments. This has been a hot topic for the fourth patent law amendments. Beijing IPO's decision in this case will no doubt be examined closely, as an example of success or failure of the administrative enforcement system in China. He Jing Liu Liangyong AnJie Law Firm26/F, Tower D, Central International Trade Center6A Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022, PR ChinaTel: +86 10 8567 5988Fax: +86 10 8567 5999wuli@anjielaw.comwww.anjielaw.com "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. 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. The first driverless taxi began work on Thursday in a limited public trial on the streets of Singapore. 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. MV WERFTEN signed a letter of intent with the engineering company Foreship in Stralsund today. The agreement includes parts of the basic design as well as design, purchasing and production assistance of the Endeavor class luxury expedition yachts. The 20,000 GT cruise vessels will be built at MV WERFTEN Stralsund, with production starting late 2017 and deliveries from spring 2019. We are excited to build a series of the world's first purpose-built expedition yachts, with PC6 polar-class designation, stated Jarmo Laakso, Managing Director of MV WERFTEN. Our own staff at all sites and other subcontractors have already been fully involved in this project. Foreship has proven to be a strong and reliable cooperation partner in numerous similar large-scale projects and will be a valued support in addition to our own workforce. Foreship is one of the leading cruise ship design and engineering companies worldwide, having been involved in projects such as Quantum of the Seas for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Breakaway for Norwegian Cruise Line as well as Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 for TUI Cruises. Being about 160 metres long and 23 metres wide, the Endeavor class vessels for luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises will be the worlds largest and most spacious expedition yachts. They are designed to operate mainly in Arctic and Antarctic regions and cruise in the tropical regions when travelling between the poles. They can accommodate up to 200 passengers in 100 suites and the same amount of crew. A new era in shipbuilding is being ringed in at the MV WERFTEN. This is an important day for the shipyards in the country, said Harry Glawe, Economics Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at the signing ceremony. Hundreds of jobs are being secured and created. We are pleased about Gentings looming long-term commitment in our country. Additionally on 18th of August, the owners architect agreements for the Endeavor project were signed in Wismar by Crystal Cruises with design companies Tillberg Design, AD Associates and Kudos Dsign, as well as with Tillberg Design, SMC and Kudos Dsign on the Global class cruise ships for Star Cruises. The 201,000 GT Global Class vessels will be over 340 metres long and 45 metres wide. Steel cutting for the first vessel is expected to begin in late 2017 and delivery is scheduled for 2020. The order book of MV WERFTEN includes a total of ten vessels in the next five years. Therefore the shipyard group is currently increasing its in-house capacity and competence at all three locations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the fields of project management, design, planning, purchasing and production. BP, Conoco Phillips, and Exxon Mobil said that the 65-billion dollar megaproject would be too unprofitable for them to move into the next phase of development. The Big 3 oil companies have told state lawmakers that the proposal on the table to pipe, liquefy and export North Slope natural gas is uneconomic and they won't move forward as partners. However, they said they would sell their natural gas to a state-developed project if it comes to fruition, which is more in doubt than ever. A report in WSJ said that Exxon Mobil Corp. has decided not to invest in the next stage of a proposed natural gas export terminal in Alaska and said it would work with its partners to sell its interest in the project to the state government. A spokesman for Exxon said Friday that the company will no longer invest in the proposal, which is transitioning to a state project. Exxon owns about one-third of the project, according to the state. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips and BP indicated that as things stand, they're also not likely to move into the detailed engineering phase of the project's complex facilities, such as an 800-mile pipeline and a plant in Nikiski to turn natural gas into a liquid for shipping. Platts quoted Dave van Tuyl, BP's Alaska regional manager as saying: "BP is not giving up on the project. Instead, we need to change gears and figure out how to reduce the cost of supply so that the project can be competitive. We believe that the best way to make that happen is with a state-led project and we support the state's efforts." A fourth partner, the state of Alaska, is investigating alternative project structures, including state ownership, and will continue development. Governor Bill Walker - a proponent of greater state control of the project since taking office - says alternatives, such as third-party investors or other advantages from a wholly state-led project, could still make the difference. Walker added that a project that is not economically viable will not be built. Have you heard about Maersk Line's smart reefers that can listen and talk? Cutting edge technology that reduces risk in customer supply chain, claims Maersk Line. "Were always looking for ways to improve cargo care on behalf of our customers. As the worlds biggest container shipping company, we play an important role in cold chains all over the world, and our care means your cargo has a safe passage from field to fridge," says a statement in the company website. Innovation is a key element for us in the quest to ensure that the goods arrive in the exact condition intended. "One of our new developments is called Remote Container Management (RCM), which turns the reefer container into a digitally connected device," says the company. RCM lets Maersk monitor the temperature and humidity in the container, enables it to handle alarms remotely, complete faster pre-trip inspections, and much more. "With RCM, we have developed an e-PTI method that can take that process down to 12 minutes by calculating the condition the reefer is expected to arrive at the inspection point in," observes Catja Rasmussen, Head of RCM Maersk Line. Already implemented in 270,000 Maersk Line reefer containers, its an innovation that lets Maersk take cargo care to the next level. "By ensuring and monitoring the ideal environment for your refrigerated goods, RCM lets you experience true peace of mind when you ship with Maersk Line," says the statement. Reefer containers have widely been credited for expanding global trade in fresh foods; their integrated, almost self-sufficient, nature enabling the door-to-door transport of 29 tonnes of goods from anywhere in the world to virtually anywhere else. And by their very nature, they ought to ensure continuous chilling of these goods irrespective of where they are. "We have listened to our customers and recognised the need to upgrade our reefer fleet. Our job is to enable you to deliver your promises in the exact condition they were intended to. When we pair our expertise and customer relationships with modern innovation, we can really make a difference in your supply chain," said Shereen Zarkani, Global Head of Reefer Management Maersk Line. Humans are hard-wired to hate losses, and all market declines-no matter the cause-result in smaller numbers, red font and down arrows when you log into your brokerage account or open your statement, as the case may be. The red is hard to avoid when you tune into CNBC. Hence, it is understandable that, on the heels of sharply negative markets from mid-2015 to early 2016, some folks' nerves remain a bit frayed. Negative markets are an unavoidable part of investing-in stocks, bonds, and pretty much anything other than cash. A key step toward dealing with negativity is having rational expectations. And, to that end, it's crucial to understand not all market negativity is the same. Knowing the differences can help you interpret financial media and keep an even keel whenever negativity strikes next. Preparing now for that eventuality helps make you a savvier investor. An important first step is understanding the language of market negativity. Not every firm or media outlet, let alone every pundit, uses the same terminology. To be clear, we are not discussing volatility. Volatility may be negative, but it can also be positive. A 2% daily rise is equally as volatile as a -2% drop. It is directionless. Negativity, obviously, isn't. The two most commonly used terms to discuss periods of market negativity are bear markets and corrections. Less common, but still worth discussing, is the term drawdown. We'll cover all three of these terms and include some real-world examples. What Is a Bear Market? What Causes Bear Markets? A bear market is a lengthy, fundamentally driven decline, generally exceeding -20%. The key to that sentence, though, is not the return figure. It is the cause that differentiates it from corrections-the phrase fundamentally driven. This implies the downturn is a rational market move. In a bear market, stocks are pricing in the negative fundamentals-for example, a coming recession, a damaging regulatory shift or other-causing the downside. Usually, in a bear market's early stages, these negative fundamentals are unnoticed, dismissed or ignored by most investors, due to widespread complacency or euphoria. 2000's "profits don't matter, only clicks" tech-bubble hype obscured a slew of negative signs, including inflated valuations for firms burning through cash, a flood of new stock supply via IPOs and an inverted yield curve-(short-term rates exceeding long-term rates). Less often, negative fundamentals stem from an external factor that crushes earnings/profits/economic growth-a wallop. 1937 is a good example, when the Fed massively jacked up reserve requirements, encouraging banks to slash lending and attempt to raise more capital suddenly. 2008 is another, as a new accounting rule implemented in late 2007 forced banks to unnecessarily write down trillions worth of viable assets that temporarily lacked a market, even though they didn't plan to sell them.[i] While no one-including us-has a perfect record of doing so, we believe it is possible to identify bear markets before they wreak all their havoc, since they have fundamental, identifiable causes. If you can foresee a bear market early enough, getting out of stocks to avoid downside may make sense. Nailing the exact top and bottom isn't likely at all, but it is possible to cut out a swath of the decline. Importantly, it isn't necessary to forecast bears to get good returns in stocks-their roughly 10% long-term return includes bear markets-but it can help, if done successfully. The opportunities will be limited-there have been only four bear markets in the last 30 years (2008-2009, 2000-2002, 1990 and 1987). At their outset, bear markets usually aren't identified by many investors. They tend to start gradually, with most of the negativity towards the end. By then, stock market declines are usually steep enough that few are unaware. Mass sentiment shifts from dismissing negative fundamentals to exaggerating them. It's this exaggeration of negativity that causes bear markets to end-a reality less bad than the worst case scenario commonly envisioned is fuel for stocks to rise. What Are Stock Market Corrections? Corrections are far more common. We define corrections as short, sharp, sentiment-driven down moves exceeding -10%. This is a common definition in the industry, but not the only one. Some folks use the term to mean any downside. Others suggest it is any non-bear market decline. Those are too liberal, in our view. The key here, again, isn't the magnitude. It's the term sentiment-driven. Corrections are not fundamentally supported-they are irrational down moves amid a broader uptrend (a bull market). It may sometimes appear they are fundamentally supported-like in 1998's big correction-but the fundamental reach isn't broad or deep enough. (Then, it was regional economic weakness mostly isolated to Asia.) Corrections are features of healthy bull markets, keeping sentiment from getting overly positive. When they hit, headlines usually notice and connect them to some broader cause-real or just perceived. When they end and stocks rise, headlines are usually in disbelief, as the factors they pointed to aren't fixed. 2016 is a case-in-point. Greece in 2010 is another perfect example, when fears over a Greek national default contributed to a sharp correction that began in April and ended in July. At their worst, global stocks fell 16.0%.[ii] Headlines were apocalyptic. Greece, we were told, could drive a double-dip recession. Greece was Lehman Brothers on a bigger scale. But, fundamentally, Greece was never the threat people presumed. It had major problems, to be sure. But those problems were insufficient to render a global bear market. When the year ended, stocks were up double digits. Greece wasn't suddenly fixed, growing and creditworthy, as data in the subsequent years would show. Quite the contrary. Its issues were real enough, but fear greatly and irrationally inflated them. The global market downturn was caused by sentiment. Sentiment shifted and stocks moved past Greece. By contrast, while we figure it is possible, we aren't aware of any historical bear market caused exclusively by sentiment. Given the lack of fundamental cause behind the correction, there really wasn't a way to foresee when it would start or end. Heck, news of Greece's budget issues first broke over four months before the correction began. Their issues remain to this day. Corrections are random, based on the whims of investor sentiment. We don't know of anyone with a history of repeatedly forecasting corrections. If you could, then getting out and buying back in at the low would be great. But corrections move so fast and unpredictably, there is a much greater chance you don't time the move well. By the time you are technically in a correction, chances are good the downside is nearly over. It is also incredibly unnecessary to time corrections. The aforementioned 2010 Greece-related correction is one of six bull market corrections we've seen since March 9, 2009. Over that full period, stocks are up significantly. Of course, there is never 100% certainty what you think is a correction isn't a bear. Portfolio management is about probabilities, not certainties. But if you broadly assess fundamentals and they aren't negative, history suggests the chances are very high you're looking at a correction. Drawdowns Another, more obscure, term industry types use to describe negativity is a drawdown. A drawdown is any peak-to-trough decline during a given period of time. No cause. No size range. It is a looser term, often used more liberally. One common way is to take a span of time, say a year, and find the biggest decline that occurred at any point that year. That is the year's maximum drawdown. We often find this misused, like in this article, which argued an initial Fed rate hike is bad for stocks. The article claims there was a drawdown exceeding 5% in the six months before or after an initial Fed hike in 13 of 16 historical tightening cycles (this was written before the December 2015 hike).[iii] The trouble, of course, is that if stocks initially followed the hike by rising and fell later in the period measured, you likely have a false read. And, six months before the hike stocks could be moving on factors unrelated to the Fed. Now, of course, there is still the issue of day-to-day drops, and the media often hypes things like "triple-digit Dow declines." (We have often written the Dow is a broken index, but we have yet to convince the media it isn't worth reporting.) Based on a Dow level of 18,448 (where it closed August 25), a 100-point drop equals -0.54%. Tiny! Besides, daily movements aren't worth fretting. The media also uses the term "crisis" quite liberally. But it stretches credulity when the same term is applied to a huge recession and bear market like 2008's Global Financial Crisis and the Fiscal Cliff Crisis, which had a market impact that rounds to zero. We'd advise them to differentiate, but we doubt they'd listen. Ultimately, if you need to earn equity-like returns on some or all of your portfolio to fund your needs or goals, you will have to accept the negativity that sometimes comes with the territory. It's uncomfortable, we know. But there is no smooth upward ride to high returns. However, preparing yourself mentally for negativity is a key trait of savvier investors. Evidently, dividends are the new stock buybacks. Yep, after years of "stock buybacks are the only thing fueling this bull market," buybacks have slowed, dividends are up, and now those lovely cash payouts are getting the credit for stocks' continued rise. As the narrative goes, ultra-low bond yields drove yield-starved investors to high-dividend stocks, inspiring companies to raise their payouts, driving demand higher, and sending prices and dividends higher in happy lockstep. But, they warn, it may not last: With dividends representing a steadily larger chunk of earnings, and earnings not so hot lately, payouts might not be able to keep rising, and some firms might have to cut. And if that happens, bye-bye rally. Frankly, it is one of the more convoluted hypotheses we have ever heard, and it doesn't hold water. Dividends' and stocks' tandem rise is coincidental, not causal, and this bull market should continue regardless of what companies do with their dividend streams. Now, we'll grant one thing: Dividends' rise as a percentage of earnings-also known as the dividend payout ratio-is anomalous in recent history. The dividend payout ratio fell during the prior two bull markets (Exhibit 1). Dividends per share were largely flat during the 1990s bull's second half, but rose during the 2002-2007 bull as stock buybacks reduced share count (Exhibit 2). Exhibit 1: S&P 500 Dividend Payout Ratio Source: FactSet, as of 8/25/2016. S&P 500 Dividend Payout Ratio (12-month trailing), 1/1/1996 - 8/24/2016. Exhibit 2: S&P 500 Dividends Per Share Source: FactSet, as of 8/25/2016. S&P 500 Dividends Per Share (12-month trailing), 1/1/1996 - 8/24/2016. Right off the bat, this guts the notion that stocks can't rise if dividend payouts don't. They have in the past and probably will again. Of course, bond yields were a lot higher then, exceeding dividend yields. Today, dividend yields swamp bonds, hence the concern. To which we'd say: Where is the evidence dividends are what's pushing up stocks? If they were, high dividend-paying stocks should be outperforming. Now, high-dividend stocks (as represented by the MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index[i]) have outperformed cumulatively during this bull market. But theirs was not an uninterrupted run (Exhibit 3). They trailed for long stretches during this cycle, even while-wait for it-dividend yields far exceeded bond yields. Exhibit 3: US High Dividend Stocks' Relative Returns Source: FactSet, as of 8/26/2016. MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index and MSCI USA Index total returns, 3/9/2009 - 8/25/2016. What's more, if dividends were driving stocks due to low bond yields, that should probably hold true globally, considering yields are extremely low across much of the developed world-in some cases, lower than the US and even negative. Yet globally, too, high-dividend stocks' outperformance isn't at all consistent. (Exhibit 4) They trailed throughout most of 2014 and 2015, despite yields falling across most of the developed world during that span. Exhibit 4: Global High Dividend Stocks' Relative Returns Source: FactSet, as of 8/26/2016. MSCI World High Dividend Yield Index and MSCI World Index returns with net dividends, 3/9/2009 - 8/25/2016. More recently, as stocks fell sharply from the start of the year through February 11, defensive sectors-which tend to have high dividend yields-outperformed by a lot, as investors sought shelter there. But as the chart shows, this was a blip. Assuming a short period of outsized returns means dividends are the main fuel behind stocks' rally is myopic. Relative returns-of any category-often fluctuate quite a bit. Sure enough, that trend fizzled out fairly quickly when the correction ended. Since 2/11, defensive sectors have lagged, and high dividend stocks have performed more or less in line with the broad market. Investors weren't chasing yield earlier this year, they were fearful-seeking safety. Whether or not companies raise, hold or cut dividend payments from here should have minimal influence over stock prices. That said, earnings weakness and its potential impact on dividends seems vastly overstated. Recent weakness is concentrated in the struggling Energy sector. Plunging oil prices, the result of a global oversupply, is to blame for this, not a weak economy. With Energy earnings having already cratered, and oil prices having largely stabilized, Energy profits may soon cease being a drag on overall earnings growth. Consensus S&P 500 earnings expectations currently reflect this. As of 8/19, 2017 earnings are expected to grow 13.3% y/y. With net income rising, companies will have plenty of bandwidth to deploy more and more cash as they see fit. Even if they don't raise dividends, they can alternatively use their profits to buy back shares-which increases earnings per share, acquire competitors and/or invest to support future growth, including new equipment and R&D. Which is really the point. We're in a bull market because corporate America is growing and thriving, fueled by economic growth that's better than most appreciate. Stocks move not on reality, but the gap between expectations and actual results. Earlier this year, many believed the world was heading into recession, and stock prices reflected that gloomy sentiment. Now that the global economy appears to be in much better shape than many thought, stocks have risen to new highs. This America, this house divided ... cannot stand In an election cycle that has scored the lowest in human decency, civilized behavior and speech; a cycle characterized by hate, viciousness, competing scandals, voluminous unproven allegations, scapegoats, fear-mongering, incitements to violence, death threats, and general moral decline bordering on decadence, I advise no child be exposed to any of it none! These public displays are not examples of an indispensible, exceptional and greatest nation in the world. Great leaders dont sink to adolescent catcalls, jeering mockery, vulgar insults and verbal abuse, or instigate violence. Great nations dont threaten other countries and sovereigns with regime change, assassination or war if they recoil from its political and economic diktats. Said about some people can be said of some Americans: They dont ever point out a pink elephant in the room! They sweep it under the rug. If it is too big to hide, they blame it on Putin, Russia, China, terrorists, foreign hackers, socialists, environmental fascists, baby killers, atheists, Black Lives Matter, welfare cheats, humanists, tax-and-spend liberals even FDR. Be a good American dont question? Stand in line, keep your mouth shut and believe what youre told to believe? Dont ever question the supremacy of money, markets and property the Holy Trinity of the Austrian School, the Chicago School, and the neoliberal and libertarian? Dont ever question the unassailable military-industrial-intel complex the largest brute-force cartel in the world? Dont ever question the corrosiveness of fiercely competitive dog-eat-dog living at a vulture stage of capitalism where selfishness and profiteering are virtues and mutual cooperation and respect are Deadly Sins? Dont ever question Corporate America that has outsourced jobs; keeps profits in offshore tax havens; seeks to privatized government itself; controls the flow of commerce; restricts Main Street, small business and the entrepreneur; disavows innovation to meet quarterly analyst expectations and pay insider bonuses? Dont ever question the usury of bankers who manipulate the money supply, dominate the markets, set interest and finance rates and have weaved almost every American into a web of life-long debt? Dont ever question flagrant consumerism the sanctified and obligatory acts of buying, buying, buying, buying non-essential products produced by slave-labor in Southeast Asia and sold by slave-wage laborers here in Americas retail mega-chains? Dont ever question the markets the indicator of the nations health. Disregard any fall in pension payments, interest, retirement benefits or freezing of COLA because the indicators all say the patient is in ideal health? Dont ever question if any Republican is an agent of the ubiquitous downturns in personal fortunes. Always remember: These events are due to liberals and leftists, the people who are destroying this country? Dont ever question the superior white male that manifest destiny (allotted by Providence itself!) has entrusted with safeguarding the nations pure stock and who is granted inalienable rights over the alien especially the non-Christian Muslim and over the inferior races of black-, brown-, yellow- and red-skin, as well as nearly half the world population who are women? Dont ever question the morally righteous religionist who throws the first stone? They think themselves Gods judge and jury and want to save you from Hell. Dont ever question police brutality and the murders of innocent young black males; or ever question why police have been militarized by Homeland Security to fight against their own townspeople? Dont ever question Americas seamless dragnet surveillance state that protects you from terrorists; or question the harmlessness of Google, Facebook, Twitter, and friends sweeping, collecting, analyzing and profiling every last measure of your privacy (its only to sell advertising)? Dont ever question the objectivity of mass-media news that earns its keep from advertising dollars? Advertisers who have the most to spend get the most copy, and the most protection. Those who have no money youll never learn about. Dont ever question Rush Limbaugh who will convince you Hitler was a Leftist and the Pope a Marxist; or question Elmer Gantry demagogues on TV and AM radio who will convince you Satan rules the world? Most importantly, dont ever, ever, ever, ever, ever question the Second Amendment? Even if the Constitution needs to be suspended in order to save it, retain the 2nd Amen. Finally, dont ever say America is a divided nation when almost every American AGREES on how divided it really is. Somewhere underneath the rising rubble formed by collapsing jobs, wages, infrastructure, institutions and civility; underneath citizens chaotically spinning and dizzy from civil, political, religious, gender and culture wars; awash in high-velocity propaganda and psychological conditioning; witnessing neighbors thrash against other neighbors and identity groups and wedge issues fight for supremacy over others ... is to be found ... America. But this historic and singular melting pot of immigrants, ethnics, races and creeds, this America, this house divided ... cannot stand. 2016 Michael T. Bucci (Michael T. Bucci is a retired public relations executive who currently resides in New England. He has authored nine books on practical spirituality collectively titled The Cerithous Material.) 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. SPX Downtrend Should be Underway The market started the week at SPX 2184. After a decline to SPX 2176 on Monday the market rallied to 2193. A pullback followed to SPX 2170 on Thursday, then a gap up opening on Friday, rally to 2188, selloff to 2160, then ended the week at 2169. For the week the SPX/DOW lost 0.75%, and the NDX/NAZ lost 0.40%. Economic reports for the week were mixed. On the downtick: existing home sales, Q2 GDP, consumer sentiment, and the Q3 GDP estimate. On the uptick: new home sales, the FHFA, durable goods orders, plus weekly jobless claims improved. Next weeks reports will be highlighted by monthly payrolls, ISM and the PCE. Best to your week! LONG TERM: uptrend The market continues to offer three basic long term counts, as we have been noting in recent weeks/months. Last week we gave the three counts an equal probability. After an additional week of watching the activity, and some improvement in the technicals, we are slightly raising the probability of one count and lowering the other two. The count we favor is posted on the DOW charts and it is the new bull market Primary III scenario. We do not expect many to agree, but we are raising its probability to 40%. The count suggests the market has only completed Intermediate waves i and ii, and possibility Minor wave 1 of Int. iii at the recent all time high. Since Primary wave bull markets unfold in five Major waves, and we are in the early stages of Major wave 1, this long term trend has a long way to go. The second count we favor is posted on the SPX charts and is the one we started with: an irregular Primary wave B. This one may be a bit more popular, but we are lowering its probability to 30%. This count suggests the major indices (SPX/DOW/NDX/NAZ) are making new highs during an ongoing long term bear market. As the new highs are part of an irregular counter-trend rally within an overall long term downtrend. The maximum upside potential for this count is SPX 2336 (1.618 times Primary A). Anything beyond that and the count is eliminated. Our least favorite count is actually the most popular. It is posted on the NYSE charts and suggests the bull market from 2009 is still underway, and the market is currently in Primary V. We are giving this count a 30% probability as well. The current wave structure suggests Major waves 1 and 2 have completed, and Intermediate wave i of Major wave 3 may have topped at the recent high. This index, surprisingly, has not even made a new all time high yet. Even the Wilshire 5000 is outperforming the NYSE. We believe this due to its excess exposure to foreign stocks. Making it more of an international index than a US index. MEDIUM TERM: uptrend may have topped Since the trends of all US major indices generally follow each other, the remaining sections will be on the popular SPX. After the Br-exit low at SPX 1992 in late-June an uptrend was underway. We have been tracking this uptrend with five Intermediate waves: 2109-2074-2178-2148-2194. As it unfolded we noticed that wave iii (104 pts.) was shorter than wave i (117 pts.), which requires wave v to be shorter than both. Third waves cannot be the shortest. Thus far wave v is quite short compared to the other two: 46 pts. Less than half of wave iii. After the SPX 2194 high on August 16th the market became quite choppy, and entered a trading range between SPX 2169 and 2193. On Friday after a rally to SPX 2188 the market broke through the low end of the range, hitting 2160. This suggests, as expected, a downtrend has been underway. In fact, a downtrend confirmation is not too far away from current levels. Since wave v was so small the likely downtrend support is not at wave iv, but between waves i and ii (SPX 2109-2074). Should the market correct that far, which is really only about 5%, the downtrend will have overlapped the previous uptrends in all the major indices. This overlap would help confirm the subdivisions noted in the DOW/NYSE counts in the long term section. For the SPX count, however, this creates a few more variables within the overall pattern of an irregular Primary B wave. We noted these variables on the daily chart. Medium term support is at the 2131 and 2085 pivots, with resistance at the 2177 and 2212 pivots. SHORT TERM From the potential uptrend high at SPX 2194 we can count a decline to 2169, a three wave rally to 2193, and now a three wave decline to 2160. This would suggest a small a wave at 2169, a small be wave at 2193, then a small c wave: 2170-2188-2160 so far. All of this activity is probably part of a larger a-b-c correction. If we apply the normal Fibonacci retracements to the SPX 1992-2194 uptrend we arrive with the following support levels: 2117 (38.2%), 2093 (50%) and 2069 (61.8%). Since SPX 2117 is only a 3.5% correction it is not likely to hold support. The other two levels are more in line with moderate corrections of late: 4.6% and 5.7%. With pivots at 2085 and 2070 these two levels also fit quite well. Short term support is at the 2131 and 2085 pivots, with resistance at the 2177 and 2212 pivots. Short term momentum ended the week just under neutral. FOREIGN MARKETS Asian markets were mostly lower on the week for a net loss of 0.7%. European markets were nearly all higher for a net gain of 1.7%. The commodity equity group were mixed for a net loss of 0.8%. The DJ world index lost 0.8%. COMMODITIES Bonds remain in a downtrend and lost 0.5% on the week. Crude appears to be in an uptrend but lost 3.0% on the week. Gold appears to be in a downtrend and lost 1.5% on the week. The USD is trying to uptrend and gained 1.0% on the week. NEXT WEEK Monday: personal income/spending and PCE prices at 8:30. Tuesday: Case-Shiller and consumer confidence. Wednesday: the ADP, Chicago PMI and pending home sales. Thursday: weekly jobless claims, construction spending, the ISM and auto sales. Friday: monthly payrolls (est. 190K), the trade deficit and factory orders. CHARTS: http://stockcharts.com/public/1269446/tenpp https://caldaro.wordpress.com After about 40 years of investing in the markets one learns that the markets are constantly changing, not only in price, but in what drives the markets. In the 1960s, the Nifty Fifty were the leaders of the stock market. In the 1970s, stock selection using Technical Analysis was important, as the market stayed with a trading range for the entire decade. In the 1980s, the market finally broke out of it doldrums, as the DOW broke through 1100 in 1982, and launched the greatest bull market on record. Sharing is an important aspect of a life. Over 100 people have joined our group, from all walks of life, covering twenty three countries across the globe. It's been the most fun I have ever had in the market. Sharing uncommon knowledge, with investors. In hope of aiding them in finding their financial independence. Copyright 2016 Tony Caldaro - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Tony Caldaro Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. ASHBY Two people are dead in Ashby after what police are currently calling a murder-suicide. Ashby police officers arrived at a residence on Watatic Mountain Road on Friday, at approximately 1:37 p.m., where they discovered the bodies of a man who lived there, as well as a female acquaintance of his. Police have stressed that though they currently believe the event to be a murder-suicide, the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Ashby Police Chief Fred Alden said that there was no suspect was being sought and that the incident posed no threat to the public. "This is a tragic situation and we thank the community for their patience during this investigation," Alden said. A number of agencies are working together with the Ashby Police Department to investigate the incident, including the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and the Massachusetts State Police. chicopee city hall photo.JPG Chicopee City Hall (DAVE ROBACK|REPUBLICAN FILE) CHICOPEE - The city's Cultural Council will hold a public meeting to get input from residents on how they think state money for the arts should be spent. Every year state lawmakers allocate money in the budget to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which then distributes money to each community to fund arts programs. The funding can be spent on a wide variety of programs and activities in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences. In the past the Chicopee Cultural Council has funded library programs for children, outdoor concerts, field trips, theater productions and writing workshops. Last year the Chicopee Cultural Council received funding requests of more than $98,000 but only had money for $34,517 in grants. Members are asking for input from people about what types of programs they feel are important so they can have more information when selecting grant recipients. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday in the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St. The Cultural Council will be accepting applications online starting on Sept. 1. Information about applying for the grants will be available on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website at www.mass-culture.org. The application deadline is Oct. 17. bo.JPG Paul Bockelman began as Amherst town manager on Monday. (Diane Lederman/The Republican) AMHERST -- Paul Bockelman's initial week as the town's first permanent manager in nearly a year has been a mix of meetings and issues -- like keeping apprised of the water shortage and the impending return of college students. The Select Board in June hired the former the director of administration and finance for the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Hampshire College graduate to become manager. He started Aug. 22. In his first days, he's come to see that "there's a lot of talented people working in town, who are really good at the job," he said. Over the past year, after the death of former Town Manager John Musante, they pulled together to keep the town going. "I don't think you can underestimate how hard that is," Bockelman said. Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek, then retired Reading Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, filled in after Musante's death. During his first days, Bockelman said, everyone has been "so generous, so inclusive" in welcoming him. A vase of lavender and white flowers was a physical testament to that welcome. People have stopped him on the street to say hello as well. "When you're six-four, you're kind of noticeable, and when you have a tie on," he said, laughing. Staying on top of the water shortage "is top priority," he said. He said staff are communicating daily about the water supply. After a voluntarily ban was implemented in July, there was a reduction in use. Town officials are still gathering numbers for this week following the mandatory ban on things such as outdoor watering, filling swimming pools or washing vehicles. Bockelman also met this week with the Cable Advisory Committee, which has been working on a new cable agreement with Comcast. The town has rejected the Comcast proposal and will be sending it back to the company. The agreement needs to be signed by Sept. 26. Bockelman said he's been trying to get out of the office. He had a walking meeting with Geoffrey Kravitz, the town's economic development director. While they were out he stopped to talk with public works employees about the work they were doing, which he said was fascinating. He also toured the town's water storage facilities and sat in on part of Police Department command meeting. He said he was impressed with how experienced and professional they were and the number of issues they face -- such as homelessness and getting ready for the college students coming back to town. Bockelman said he's also impressed "by how many big issues the town is addressing at the same time. (Officials are) willing to take on challenges." The town is looking at building a new fire station, public works building, school and library, for example. He said his management style is inclusive and collaborative. But, he said, "I'm not afraid of making a decision when a decision has to be made." During the weeks of transition between when he was hired and came on board he traveled out here weekly and met with key leaders to glean insight and ask, "how could I be a good town manager?" He asked what worked in the past with other managers and what didn't. Those were helpful he said and he was also able to find a house in that time and move in. He also attended a forum on homelessness in July. Now with his first week complete, he moves in to Week Two. His first Select Board meeting is Monday night, the annual University of Massachusetts Amherst-Chamber of Commerce welcome back breakfast is Tuesday and the first day celebration for the schools is Tuesday night on the Town Common. ROYALSTON -- A spectacular landscape in North Central Massachusetts is now permanently preserved and open to the public for canoeing, kayaking and hiking, thanks to the dedicated work of a family, a town, and a land trust. The family of J. Angelo Solinas on Aug. 24 transferred 139 acres to the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, creating the Royalston Eagle Reserve in an area off Winchendon Road. Solinas and his friends bought the land in the 1970s to create a natural getaway. The Italian immigrant and Gardner resident spoke of the land as "God's green earth." Angelo's son Jim worked with Royalston officials and Mount Grace to fulfill his father's vision of preserving the land forever. The reserve features open water, bog, shrub swamp, marshland, agricultural fields, and 51 acres of working forest. "Canoeing across this sheltered wetland is a dramatic experience. No signs of human habitation are visible," said David Kotker, major gifts officer for Mount Grace. The area is a patchwork of ponds and wetlands, providing refuge for blue heron, Canada geese, ravens, mallards, hooded mergansers, black ducks, and a rare juvenile golden eagle. "Eagle Reserve is a unique place that includes a magnificent pond ringed by mature forest, wetlands, and an esker," says Conservation Commission member Aaron Ellison. An esker is a long, sinuous hill formed by a retreating glacier. Royalston taxpayers devoted Community Preservation Act monies to the effort, and in December the town won a state grant to purchase a conservation restriction. That's when Mount Grace began its fundraising in earnest. The Royalston Community School will enhance its longstanding environmental education program in partnership with Mount Grace. Teacher Brian Snell said eagles from the nearby reserve often fly over the schoolyard as children play, and that the land serves as "nature's classroom." The property abuts the 28,000-acre Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area, noted for the presence of bald eagles, blue-spotted salamanders and wood turtles. The project is funded by grants from the town of Royalston, the Massachusetts Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity (LAND) program, the North American Wetland Conservation Act program, Fields Pond Foundation, the Community Foundation for North Central Massachusetts, and numerous individuals. Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust serves 23 towns in Worcester and Franklin counties and is supported by 1,100 members. Since 1986, Mount Grace has helped protect more than 31,000 acres. For more information, call (978) 248-2043. SPRINGFIELD -- Jeremi Thibeault reaped more than $20,000 during a 13-day robbery spree that included two banks, a convenience store, a pickup truck and a woman's leopard-print pocket book. It wasn't enough. As the former reality TV performer later told Springfield police, the money was spent on drugs, tattoos and a $5,000 motorcycle that broke down minutes after his second bank heist, eventually leading to his capture, according to court records. After robbing a TD Bank on Boston Road on Aug. 2, Thibeault jumped on his new bike and sputtered away; when the bike stalled nearby, he dumped it and stole a pickup truck from a landscaping business, according to the arrest report. After finding the abandoned bike, detectives traced it to former owner Jeremy Lopez of Springfield. As Lopez spoke with police later that day, Thibeault called with news about the bike -- and ended up with a larger audience than he realized when Lopez put the call on speaker phone "for all to hear," the report said. "Mr. Thibeault explained he had done something real bad with the bike ... and asked if Lopez was alone. He stated again that he had done something real bad ... and made Mr. Lopez promise he wouldn't tell anyone," the report said. "He continued talking and stated he had robbed the bank on Boston Road and the bike was on a side street. He also stated he didn't know where the keys were," the report said. Based on the conversation and other evidence, Springfield police obtained a warrant for Thibeault's arrest later that day. Arrested six days later, Thibeault pleaded not guilty to three unarmed robbery counts and related charges during his arraignment in Springfield District Court. Rejecting a prosecutor's request for $100,000 bail, a judge set the figure at $20,000. The spree began on July 27 when Thibeault walked into a TD Bank on 412 Boston Road, pulled his T-shirt over his face and jumped up on the counter. Approaching a manager counting $20 bills from the ATM, he scooped up the cash, jumped back over the counter and ran outside, leaving a trail of loose cash in the parking lot and across the street, the report said. Thibeault, who left in bank in a older-model car, used cash from the robbery to buy the motorcycle from Lopez, paying $5,000 all in $20 bills, the report said. He made a brief trip to Rhode Island, and then returned to rob another TD Bank on Boston Road on Aug. 2. "You are being robbed. I don't want to hurt anyone. Get on the floor," announced Thibeault, again wearing a white T-shirt pulled over his face, the report said. He made a teller fill a plastic bag with bundles of money, then tried to force her to open the vault. "You have two minutes," he said; when she told him it would take longer, he demanded that she open a safe instead, the report said. "I don't have the code. I can't open it," she said. He settled for grabbing $1,300 from the counter as a woman was withdrawing it and then took the woman's purse, too. "I know where you live. Don't be a hero," he told her. A neighbor saw Thibeault coming down Hardy Street, pushing the motorcycle with his feet. He abandoned the bike and made his way down a muddy embankment to Laconia Street, where he stole a 2004 Toyota Tacoma from a parking lot. Police followed the muddy footprints to the empty parking space, the report said. With more cash, Thibeault made a second trip to Rhode Island to feed his drug habit and get new tattoos, the report said. The money lasted six days. "Once again he was desperate for money to supply his drug addiction," Springfield police officer Joseph E. Brodeur wrote in the report. After returning to Springfield, Thibeault walked into the Racing Mart on St. James Avenue early on Aug. 8, this time without bothering to cover his face. Jumping over the counter, he took money from the register and ordered the clerk to open the safe. When the clerk said he couldn't, Thibeault fled, the report said. The spree ended a few hours later at the emergency room at Baystate Medical Center. Cocaine and adrenaline from the robbery had given him a rapid heartbeat, the report said. A security guard recognized Thibeault from surveillance photos released by police, leading to his arrest. During a videotaped interview at police headquarters, Thibeault admitted to all three robberies and provided details to back up his confessions. He also signed surveillance photos indicating that he was the person caught on camera. In the end, all the drama was about drugs, he told police. "He resorted to these crimes to feed his addiction," the report said. Thibeault is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Sept. 9. Montana State Universitys Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship is seeking local and regional businesses and non-profit organizations that are willing to offer students practical business experience in return for research, issue analysis or operational advice during the upcoming fall semester, which runs from Aug. 29 through Dec. 9. Participating students will be enrolled in "BMGT 463Entrepreneurial Experience" or "BMGT 475R Management Experience." Both are senior-level courses taught by Gary Bishop, associate teaching professor of management. Bishop said the entrepreneurial experience course is primarily focused on new start-up organizations or small, locally owned businesses. The management experience course focuses on more established businesses, as well as civic and non-profit organizations. Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/business/news/articles/2016/business-students-off-pro-bono-consulting-for-area-businesses-and-nonprofits.html Lewis and Clark Elementary School is now offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program. Its the first public elementary school in the state of Montana to offer the IB program. Initiated by the teachers and community as a response to the MCPS 21st Century Model of Education, the IB Primary Years Program expands student opportunities through inquiry while developing new models for teaching and learning. Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/32849746/first-montana-public-school-ib-program-comes-to-missoula Amazon.com will soon launch a program to experiment with a 30-hour workweek for select employees. The program will have a few technical teams made up entirely of part-time workers. These 30-hour employees will be salaried and receive the same benefits as traditional 40-hour workers, but they will receive only 75 percent of the pay full-time workers earn. Currently, the company employs part-time workers that share the same benefits as full-time workers. However, the pilot program would differ in that an entire team, including managers, would work reduced hours. By Karen Turner Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/08/26/amazon-is-piloting-teams-with-a-30-hour-work-week/ Just after his inspection tour to Jiangxi province, Premier Li Keqiang returned to Beijing on Aug 24 and chaired the State Council executive meeting. The theme of the meeting was improving the standards and quality of consumer goods, increase the effective supply of Made in China and meet the demands of consumption upgrading. Premier Li listed three cases from his Jiangxi inspection. Standards and quality of consumer goods should be improved to push the upgrading of Made in China industrial chain, said the Premier. The first case Premier Li mentioned was Lattice Power Co., a leading Chinese manufacturer of LED chips in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi. We used to be OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for foreign brands more often. Now we need to strengthen brand awareness, Premier Li said at the meeting. This cannot only improve enterprises competitive power, but also push them to improve quality. The Premier said that government work should focus on two aspects: helping enterprises build up brand popularity and good reputation, and setting compulsory national standards and enhancing quality supervision. Nowadays people like customized products, therefore we cannot standardize all products. Thats why the government should focus on supervision, Premier Li said. Supervision system must be innovated, and random inspections should be carried out. Repetitive work should be avoided, and fee collections be regulated. The second case Premier Li cited was a designers creative industrial park of Zhong Hang Chang Jiang Construction Engineering Company in Nanchang. To improve the standards and quality of consumer goods, we need high-quality skilled talent. We should enhance vocational education and skills training, establish a talent cultivation mechanism with schools and companies working together, Premier Li said. The third case cited by Premier Li was his first stop during the inspection, Funeng, a technology company in Ganzhou. At the meeting, the Premier stressed that improvement of standards and quality of industrial products and consumer goods should be closely connected with equipment upgrading. Our old mode was to manufacture based on current equipment; this should be changed, Premier Li said. He concluded the meeting by demanding system innovation, using the market and combining the power of ministries to improve the standards and quality of consumer goods. How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? According to a new study, the answer might depend on your DNA. Researchers suggest people with a DNA variation in the gene PDSS2 drink fewer cups of coffee than those without this variation. Share on Pinterest Drinking less coffee may be down to a genetic variant, researchers suggest. Study co-author Dr. Nicola Pirastu, from the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. It goes without saying that the U.S. is a nation of coffee drinkers; more than half of Americans drink coffee daily, consuming an average of three cups a day. But while some people are happy with a never-ending supply of the hot stuff, others are content with a single cup of coffee to wake them up in the morning. Previous research has suggested these disparities in coffee consumption may be down to differences in the way a persons body responds to caffeine the main stimulant in coffee but precisely what is behind these differences has been unclear. Some studies have suggested certain genes may play a role; a 2014 study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, for example, identified a number of genetic variants associated with caffeine metabolism. Now, Dr. Pirastu and colleagues say they have identified another genetic variant that may explain why some people drink less coffee than others. Advertisement "Rather than attempting to fully reconstruct the whole brain or a particular brain region, the solution seems to lie in realistic computational modelling of the brain," says DeFelipe. This approach has inspired scientists all over the globe to contribute to large multidisciplinary projects, known as big data projects. The challenge is grand because it goes straight into and beyond the matter of Is there one best way to study brain function?Designing an approach that tackles brain complexity has challenged scientists to rethink some of the most fundamental aspects of their work and to innovate. "Realist brain models based on biological data obtained in the lab can speed our understanding of brain function, because we expect it to require much less than timely experiments in living tissue," says DeFelipe, "But as a neuroanatomist, I believe -- as do many of my colleagues -- that there is a lot of confusion about the anatomy of the brain and that there are frequent misunderstandings and wrong assumptions about many aspects of the brain organization or the use of experimental animals," he explains.By uniting many contributors in the discussion, the article resulted in a constructive and thoughtful dialogue from different views on the study of the human brain. "My idea was to present this problem to other neuroscientists and general readers in a simple manner and, try to provide a solution," he says.The study of the human brain is challenging, not only because of its complexity and technical difficulties, but also because of ethical limitations. "For obvious reasons, we are not always ethically allowed to collect all the necessary types of data directly from human brains. So, there is a big debate about the range of specific strategies that we should use." The discussion also touches whether big worldwide projects, like the Human Brain Project based in Europe and the Brain Activity Map based in the United States, are a new and better paradigm to go forward, he says, or "if it is better to just follow the most common and traditional scheme of supporting relatively small groups of researchers."This discussion comes at an important moment for neuroscience, with potential impact on the hundred millions of funding devoted to the development of extraordinary technology inspired by biology. "The results of such large efforts can be a true paradigm shift", says DeFelipe, whose main focus is the study of cortical circuit organization and function, and the history of how we came to our current understanding.The outlook is inspiring. "By taking on such a grand challenge, this type of work involving hundreds of scientists, will generate results beyond our daily pursuits in the lab", says DeFelipe.Source: Eurekalert Advertisement 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.The ultrasound device used in the UCLA case was developed by Dr. Alexander Bystritsky, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA who directs the school's anxiety disorders program. He developed it as a potential treatment for anxiety and other brain disorders, such as seizures, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's 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."We found a way to jump start these circuits back into service," said the study's lead author, Martin M. Monti, a UCLA psychologist and neuroscientist who studies cognition and consciousness. The study was published online in theThe patient, Bradley Crehan was recent college grad. Crehan suffered a severe brain injury when his head hit the pavement after being hit by a car. "I'd probably had a little too much to drink and wasn't 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 didn't go well, so he was returned to the coma for another week. When he was brought out of that coma, he still wasn't 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.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."Crehan's recovery was swift and smooth. He left the hospital in four months, faster than anyone expected. He has finished physical and occupational therapy and is now working to strengthen his memory. He is driving, hitting the gym, applying for jobs, and hoping to enter the job market soon.Monti cautions that the reason for Crehan's 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."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 person's level of awareness can be challenging because episodes of consciousness can be fleeting.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.Another drug that affects dopamine levels, Amantadine, was shown to speed recovery in a trial of 184 patients with impaired consciousness.Researchers say it's 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 Schiff's first patient did, but the scientists were able to detect systematic changes in the sleep and wake cycle, showing the patient's brain did respond to the treatment despite the severity and length of his injury, Schiff said.But that's 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 didn't 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.Source: Medindia "O Sleep, O Gentle Sleep. Natures self nurse, how have I freighted thee, That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down And sleep my senses in forgetfulness." Shakespeare It has been considered that the playwright's clear descriptions of insomnia suggest that he himself suffered from this malady. Insomnia means getting insufficient sleep, which can be in the form of difficulty in falling asleep or difficulty in maintaining sleep. Insomnia is just a symptom, like fever, and is not a disease by itself. Diseases that can disturb sleep, like pain or anxiety usually cause insomnia. Everyone goes through occasional phases of insomnia, which resolves once the causative factor has been dealt with. Problems arise if insomnia continues to persist, which can have deleterious effects on one's health. Inadequate sleep can cause daytime sleepiness, which can affect one's productivity at work and may also increase the chances of motor vehicle accidents due to fatigue and impaired concentration. The Katrina-Ranbir whirlwind romance came to an abrupt end when the couple decided to part ways after just months into the new relationship. Ranbir recently broke his silence on the much publicized relationship, saying it went bad because of the negative media attention on his personal life amid all the upheaval. Katrina Kaif, in a recent interaction with Rajiv Masand, opened up about the break-up and explained how she dealt with it despite work pressure and prior commitments with Ranbir, including the upcoming movie Jagga Jasoos. Watch the interview and tell us what you think of the life of our celebrities in limelight. NH208A, which connects Tripura with the rest of India, got heavily damaged in the rains starting May this year. Because of the massive blockage on the highway, the supply of essential commodities including diesel, petrol, LPG and food grains had stopped, putting the landlocked state of Tripura in a very difficult situation. It was then that our prime minister stepped in. This is the story of how Narendra Modi intervened and got the highway repaired in just 6 days on war footing. Reuters In a Quora thread which is going viral, Pushpak Chkraborty narrates the incident which led to the repair of NH208A in Tripura in just 6 days. This is what he shared on Quora. An IAS officer who is well known to my father and is posted in North Tripura got a call at 10pm on 21st July. He was surprised to get a call so late in the night. A young voice from the other side apologised for calling so late and asked if he is free for a few minutes because the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi wants to talk to him. His brain froze for a few seconds and he could feel his legs shivering. He meekly whispered yes and after a few beeps, the call was transferred and none other than Mr Modi was on call. Modi apologised to him again for calling so late and said that he is just done with a meeting with Mr Nitin Gadkari and they needed his help to repair National Highway 208-A connecting Tripura to the rest of the country. He says he doesn't even remember how he responded to it. All he remembers is Modi telling him that the GOI has spoken to both the Assam and Tripura Government and all help would be provided to him to oversee the project. He didn't sleep that night. Modi's voice kept echoing in his mind and he couldn't believe what had just happened. He tried connecting all dots and couldn't find any logic. Next day, when he reached his office, he got communications from Tripura Government, Assam Government and GOI. He was sanctioned funds for the project to repair 15 kms of the highway. He immediately took his staff and went to visit the stretch. He found 6 JCBs standing there that were provided by Assam Government. Over the next 4 days, more than 300 trucks with materials kept arriving and along with local workers and PWD officials from Assam and Tripura, he opened the highway for vehicles with necessities for Tripura. Yesterday Mr Nitin Gadkari called him to thank him for his remarkable efforts and promised that NH-44 would be repaired on a war mode. He also asked him to visit PMO office whenever he is in Delhi. That's my India with such remarkable stories of valour and I am proud of it. This story signifies how the Central Government is concerned about its people and there are numerous, I repeat, numerous such stories from across the country. Reuters Its fair to say that Narendra Modi is a good, efficient, hands-on administrator who knows how to get the work done and this incident will surely boost his popularity in the North-east, which has been neglected for years by governments in Delhi. BAD AXE An investigation into the death of a 50-year-old inmate at the Huron County Jail in late May did not reveal improper action on the part of jailers or deputies, Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has told the Tribune. Hanson said three months of investigation will probably be concluded and revealed early next week. We investigated it and had it reviewed by the St. Clair County Sheriffs Office, and then had a meeting with corporate counsel (Steve Allen), and hope to have a final meeting next week, Hanson said. Our biggest delay is the documentation from the pathology report. Nancy K. Bouchard, 50, of Elkton, was found alone and unresponsive in her jail cell at 11:30 a.m. on May 21. It was about seven hours after her arrest by the Elkton Village Police Department for a felony-related firearms offense that had taken place in the village. CPR was initiated by a corrections officer and responding deputies, with Central Huron Ambulance Service personnel arriving shortly thereafter. Bouchard was eventually pronounced dead by ambulance personnel, and an investigator from the Huron County Medical Examiners Office was called. The medical examiner then ordered an autopsy. Hanson said there have been some suicide attempts in the jail during his nearly eight-year tenure as sheriff, but no deaths. He said he believed it was at least 30 years since someone has died in the Huron County Jail. An autopsy was performed and toxicology report was conducted, Hanson said. He added that video surveillance of the cell took place and has been secured. I can say we dont see any criminal malfeasance or neglect, he told the Tribune. Hanson also said the jail was fully staffed at the time of the incident. 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. Turkey sent more tanks into Syria Friday to consolidate its hold on the border town of Jarablus, and also fired artillery at a Syrian Kurdish militia group backed by the U.S. The Turkish artillery fired on forces of the Kurdish YPG (Peoples Protection Units) which allegedly were seen to be moving north from the city of Manbij toward Jarablus, Turkeys state-run Andalou news agency reported. About 200 Turkish soldiers from mechanized units and 150 Special Forces soldiers were involved in the cross-border action and were now involved in clearing operations, Andalou reported. The U.S. provided close air support for the cross-border action by Turkey that began Wednesday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said then that the incursion had the dual purpose of driving ISIS from Jarablus and preventing the YPG from taking the town. Vice President Joe Biden, on a one-day visit to Ankara Wednesday to mend frayed relations, backed Erdogan in demanding that the YPG move east of the Euphrates River in Syria. Biden said the YPG risked losing U.S. support if they failed to move to the east, but Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said Thursday that elements of the YPG were still west of the river. "We have made it absolutely clear that the (YPG) must go back across the river," Biden said. "They cannot and will not, under any circumstances, get American support if they do not keep that commitment." Turkey's defense minister, Fikri Isik, said Thursday that Turkish forces In Jarablus had the twin missions of securing the border against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and also making sure that the YPG militias "are not there." The YPG has proven to be the most effective anti-ISIS force in northeastern Syria, but Turkey has charged that the YPG is a terrorist organization with links to the Kurdish insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Isik suggested that the Turkish presence in Jarablus and other areas along the border might be open-ended. "It's our right to remain there until" opposition forces backed by Turkey were capable of taking control in the area, Isik said, according to the Associated Press. "For now, the withdrawal hasn't fully taken place" by the YPG, Isik said. "We are waiting for it and following it," he told the private NTV television station. Turkey has long advocated for a buffer area inside Syria protected by a no-fly zone to stop cross-border terror attacks and also to serve as a safe haven for refugees. At the White House Friday, Press Secretary Josh Earnest renewed U.S. arguments against a no-fly zone. "That is still off the table because of the implied military commitment to enforce it," he said. The responsibility for enforcing a no-fly zone was "all too likely to fall on the shoulders of the U.S. in a way thats contrary to our interests." "It sounds simple" to enforce a no-fly zone, Earnest said, but "the work would be intensive to say the least" and "it would be dangerous. All of that would come at the expense of our effort to degrade and defeat" ISIS, he said. --Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Veterans might leave the military concerned that they will have a hard time transitioning. Not all companies are committed to supporting service members during the transition to the civilian workforce, and not all can boast a veteran-friendly culture with values that align with those of the military. CarMax is looking to avoid that category. Known for providing career opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members and their families, and supporting military communities, CarMax is the nation's largest retailer of used cars, operating more than 160 stores in 37 states and still growing. CarMax, along with The CarMax Foundation, has pledged a total of $1.4 million over the next three years to organizations supporting the military, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes, KaBOOM! and The Mission Continues. Jack McCarthy, CarMax's military recruiter, shared some thoughts on what makes veterans stand out when approaching job fairs or direct job applications. First of all, veterans should do their research. Sometimes you will go to a job fair without knowledge of the companies that will be in attendance, and then it's more about making a good impression with the recruiter. Don't just talk about yourself -- ask questions. But if you can find out what companies will be there, ensure you bring your resume and target it to the position. Remember that, just as the military is more than infantry, a company has more job opportunities than the first one that pops into your mind. For example, CarMax has many positions other than sales associates available, including Manager in Training, Mechanic/Automotive Technician, Buyer, Operations Manager, Business Office Associate and Inventory/ Supply Associate. Interview with Jack McCarthy, CarMax Military Recruiter Q: What actions are you taking to further your veteran engagement? A: Annually, nearly 10 percent of the associates we hire are military and we expect that number will continue to increase. CarMax has partnered with a number of military bases across the county and respected military recruiting organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes, GI Jobs, and Recruit Military, to introduce the military community to why CarMax is such a great place to work. Q: Why do companies such as yours care about hiring veterans? What makes veterans stand out? A: With more than a quarter million service members transitioning each year out of public service, we have a tremendous opportunity to connect them to careers at CarMax that align with the skills and experience they gained while active in the military. Skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership are highly valued at CarMax and we are a company based on integrity, so transitioning service members and veterans are a natural fit for us. Q: What opportunities are there for career advancement at CarMax? Do veterans bring anything to the table that helps them advance faster than non-veterans might? A: At CarMax, we know that when we put our associates first, they put our customers first, so we place a strong emphasis on helping our associates grow both personally and professionally. Associates at CarMax are offered unmatched training and personal and professional development opportunities. In fact, CarMax has been recognized as a "Top 125 Training Company" by Training magazine for the past nine years. Veterans have strong potential to advance in their careers at CarMax because they share the same core values of integrity, respect, teamwork and honesty. Q: Do veterans have to start over when they come to your company, or is this one more step in their career? A: CarMax supports our nation's veterans, service members and military spouses for their selfless commitment and we are hiring them for their integrity, values, and unmatched skill set. CarMax has a strong training program, so having a background in the automotive industry is not a prerequisite for most positions at CarMax. We encourage those with a military background to join the CarMax team because we believe it would be a smooth transition from their previous careers with strong growth potential. We welcome them to check out available jobs at jobs.carmax.com. Interview with Jason Lowery, Veteran and Regional Vice President of Service Operations Q: How do you feel the culture compares at CarMax vs the military? A: There are three key direct themes that I have noted that correlate between the military and CarMax. First, both organizations have an intense foundation of integrity. In the Air Force, our first core value is "Integrity First." This is key to accomplishing any mission -- and building strong trust and solid relationships. At CarMax, integrity is woven throughout the organization because it is the principle our company was founded on. I truly respect this company for implementing policies that focus on maintaining a culture of integrity and treating associates with respect which are core to how we work and operate as an organization. Second, both organizations invest considerable time and energy in emphasizing personal growth and development. In the Air Force, I was a professional military instructor for 6 of my 10 years. I saw first-hand the impact that training and development had on our ability to develop skills and leadership abilities. At CarMax, there's an intense focus on not only developing the functional skills to accomplish your job, but also the considerable investment in growing personally and professionally. CarMax is also focused on growing careers, which I feel like I'm an example of. When I joined CarMax, I started as a training specialist. Within six months, I received the feedback and individualized development plan to become a manager in the organization. I next moved onto leading a larger team as director of talent management. Most recently, CarMax continued to invest in my development as I pursued a new career path in a field operational role. I am currently the regional vice president of service operations, responsible for 16 stores and nearly 1,000 Associates. I never would have had the skill set to accomplish this without what I learned in the Air Force and the continued growth and development opportunities at CarMax. Lastly, CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve such as no-haggle pricing and exceptional customer service. This sense of having a higher purpose or mission is exactly what I felt in the military, and I am excited to feel this sense of ownership again. Q: Was it a smooth transition? A: My transition from the U.S. Air Force to a civilian job at CarMax was much smoother than I anticipated. When I left the military in 2006 after serving nearly 10 years in active duty, I worried I would never again be part of an organization whose sense of values, inclusiveness, development, and family were as strong as what I experienced in the armed forces. Soon after joining CarMax in 2007, my worries were relieved. I found an organization that not only has these components -- but exemplifies them. I'm proud to call myself a CarMax Associate and would encourage any current or former member of the armed services to do the same. Q: What have you learned from this experience, and what lessons can you pass on to other transitioning veterans? A: When searching for a job, I learned that doing my research on the companies I was applying for was incredibly important. Just because I had the experience or skill set that the company was recruiting for did not mean they were necessarily a culture fit for me. Making sure that the core values of a company are aligned with my own personal values is what's going to determine whether I see my time with a company as just a job or a long-term career path. As for me, I couldn't have made a better decision for myself and my family when I hung up the "Air Force blue" uniform and put on the "CarMax blue" shirt. I would encourage any military member to consider CarMax not as a job -- but a new and exciting career with some very familiar and foundational themes of integrity, development, and mission/purpose. About CarMax CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and a large selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. CarMax will buy your car even if you don't buy ours. CarMax has more than 22,000 associates nationwide and for 12 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. Just Summer - Stalks & Bars CHANT WAGNER 2016 Five Unexpected Summertime Olfactory Life-Savers Rhubarb, Vetiver, Licorice, Oud and Chypre When it's almost too hot to wear perfume, but then you think that perhaps perfumery could help you overcome the big hot blahs of homogeneous heat coming down from above - and laterally from walls - try these five fragrance notes which are great alternatives to your more classic hesperidic or orange blossom scents. They work particularly well in very hot weather. We would know, we hope, it's been hot as Hades in Paris this summer... Rhubarb / Rhubarbe Paris at the end of August 2016 is in the midst of a brutal heatwave, so much so that two or three days ago, the very thought of wearing perfume felt like an unnecessary torture device to apply to yourself. Why be a masochist ? At the end of that dog day afternoon which left no room for extra niceties, it seemed, we could only come up with one faint notion : tart , tartness , then rhubarb , then let's test Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate now an idea born in that state of mind when you almost cannot bear the thought of wearing any scent but feel it's also perhaps the right time to test limits and seek help from the art of perfumery - smelling salts are out of fashion. The result was that Christine Nagel's scent, which is perhaps not really what you would call a show-stopper under normal circumstances, revealed some very subtle and refreshing green nuances, which felt creative, while functionally speaking, the eau took on all its meaning. It's what you can turn to when a heatwave has relented slightly, only slightly, and the degrees of temperature allow for civilisation to make a comeback via perfume. So, we give high marks to Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate for its efficacious functional aspect. Look at it as a sun-hat or an umbrella of a perfume and rely on its refreshing tartness to revive you. Vetiver / Vetiver When it was less crazy hot than two days ago but still respectably too-hot , vetiver appeared like a life-saver out of nowhere - or rather from an Yves Rocher boutique shelf. We reviewed this scent earlier this summer. It is excellent for summertime and to counteract summer heat. The fact that vetiver is often enlivened by a drizzle of citrus is all the better, but mostly, rooty and greenish vetiver by itself is a serious alternative to your more classic agrumes imported from Sicily. In India, they use weaved vetiver roots as curtains which once drenched with water let the breeze gently blow towards you with uplifting notes. Licorice / Reglisse Licorice is not normally seen as a summer note. Its olfactory coloring is dark. It's associated with the candies of fall. One day however riding on an overcrowded bus full of human steam, it occurred to us that someone had had the genius idea of wearing a fragrance which smelled like Eau de Reglisse by Caron. It was the ideal counterpoint to the baseline notes of humanity on the bus. Not that it smelled that foul, but it did smell palpable as if air might bounce back at you if you touched it with your finger. Licorice is absolutely delectable under such conditions - but also outside of them. It smells soft, elegant, lightly medicinal and roborative. It seems to whisper Zut ! to the melting temperatures, reintroducing an off-season olfactory element which takes your mind off the obviousness of it all. In France, eau de reglisse has been drunk as a refreshing and discreet beverage outside of mainstream trends thanks to Antesite, since 1898. Oud / Bois d'Agar Now that oud or oudh has become an incredibly mainstream perfume note even sold in mass-market outlets, you're bound to experience it not just in the beaux quartiers - and by Dior, Diptyque or Editions de Parfums - but everywhere. It's become affordable. Again, the bus is a great lab for smelling urban perfumes and their effects. Enter one in the summer at peak temperatures and you know you've entered a pot-pourri of sorts. So oudh, a powerful, strong note, known for its predatory character, for its prowl-like moves and overbearing personality might sound like the least compatible scent with a summer day. This pre-conception I cast aside when I caught whiff of a man's oud sillage which was not designer yet very efficacious as a roborative scent. It was not heavy. It was just spicy enough. It turns out oud can chew summer up and spit it out. So, find yourself a single-note oud scent - or showcased prominently in the new Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Noir or Yves Rocher Rose Oud - it works very well and this is why - of course - it is beloved in the Middle-East, pre-air-conditioned era. Chypre / Chypre The blend famous for its elegance reveals itself to be particularly adequate for summertime. It has an unadvertised bracing effect on the senses. Being laced with citruses and mosses or earthy notes somehow, its bright effect and tailored style puts you back into shape like an invisible corset would. It awakens the mind thanks to its inherent intellectual, man-made character. Here again, perfume, and a chypre fragrance at that, allows you to waft of the triumph of the spirit over matter - and soaring temperatures - in no time. Eau du Soir by Sisley, a simpler composition than its sister Soir de Lune, was a revelation in the summer. Aromatics Elixir by Clinique is perfect. Why not try a less well-known yet beguiling chypre such as La Perla Eau de Parfum ? Happy Fragrancing! EpiPen This 2013 file photo shows an EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector in Hendersonville, Texas. Pharmaceutical company Mylan is facing intense public scrutiny over the pricing of its EpiPen, a life-saving prescription medication for those suffering from severe allergic reactions. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File) Pharmaceutical company Mylan is facing intense public scrutiny over the pricing of its EpiPens, a life-saving prescription medication for those suffering from severe allergic reactions. Experts say the EpiPen costs just a few dollars to make, while Mylan charges over $600 for a pack of two. When Mylan purchased the EpiPen from Merck in 2007, each pen cost $57 each. Many health care advocates are accusing Mylan of price-gouging, but CEO Heather Bresch denies the charge -- and is offering some customers steep discounts on EpiPens. Tell us what you think: Should we #LetBizDecide prescription prices or do you believe in #HeathOverProfits? Vote below! Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said the complex supply chain in healthcare is to blame for the price increase: "This system needs to be fixed. No one knows what anything costs." Mylan CEO says Americans should redirect anger over skyrocketing EpiPen costs toward "broken" health care system https://t.co/JS3G2R3eEf CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2016 Mylan doesn't even get most of the money from the EpiPen price hike! CEO Heather Bresch said the price is the result of a system where "four or five hands that the product touches and companies that it goes through before it ever gets to that patient at the counter. That $608 is a list price. What Mylan takes from that, our net sales is $274, so $137 per pen." Plus, Mylan already offers steep discounts on its EpiPen to some patients. Mylan said a family of four with income up to $97,200 won't pay out of pocket for EpiPen. https://t.co/XihfH0Sq2F USA TODAY Money (@USATODAYmoney) August 25, 2016 And the argument that you can't get an alternative is not entirely true. You can ask your doctor for a generic. #Epipen is not under patent. You can get a generic: "Adrenaclick," substitutable as a generic for EpiPen in 21 states, for just $200 #Mylan Teri Peters (@hipEchik) August 20, 2016 But critics argue there's no denying Heather Bresch has gotten rich by jacking the price on patients with life-threatening allergies. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is also the daughter of a U.S. Senator, and has a history of questionable business practices. Heather Bresch, daughter of Sen. Manchin behind the 400% increase in price of EpiPens, is somehow worse than Shkreli pic.twitter.com/wVDfeS0xOe we're going to pass AVR (@SeanMcElwee) August 24, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has also come out against Mylan's price hike. Clinton releases a statement on EpiPen price hikes, calls for Mylan to immediately reduce them pic.twitter.com/hN3drHYUti Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) August 24, 2016 And Mylan has a near-monopoly in the market, thanks to the lack of FDA regulations -- putting the cost of the EpiPen out of reach for many working class families. Check out what one mom had to pay for her three EpiPen packs. Unbelievable monopoly. $1,844.24 #foodallergies pic.twitter.com/mEkXOYGqBY Robyn O'Brien (@RobynOBrienUSA) July 29, 2016 ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbor's Greenbelt Program, which works to preserve farmland and natural areas surrounding the city, has reached a milestone. The program just closed on its 50th land protection project, partnering with the Legacy Land Conservancy and Washtenaw County, the city announced. A nearly 82-acre piece of land off Jennings Road in Webster Township, northwest of the city, is being preserved through the latest acquisition, which brings the total amount of land protected under the program to more than 4,700 acres. "Considering that the Greenbelt Program celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first project in March, it is exciting that we have now been able to complete 50 projects, protecting more than 4,700 acres of natural areas and agricultural lands around Ann Arbor," said Ruth Thornton, program manager. "This would not have been possible without the help of our partners, the many landowners who have contributed to this program over the years and the residents of Ann Arbor who voted for the millage that provides the funding for this program." A map of the property off Jennings Road in Webster Township. The land will become a county nature preserve with a parking lot and trails and should be open next spring. The land for the 50th greenbelt project was owned by Carol Landsberg. The county now owns the property and it will be open to the public. The property includes a mix of prairies, field, woods and wetlands, and is located in the Arms Creek and Huron River watersheds. The Legacy Land Conservancy, an Ann Arbor-based conservation organization, was the lead partner in the transaction and now owns a conservation easement on the land. The city's Greenbelt Program, which is funded by Ann Arbor taxpayers, contributed $157,140 for the purchase of development rights, ensuring the land cannot be developed at any point in the future. Bob Tetens, the county's parks director, said the county paid $245,120 to purchase the property following the purchase of development rights. He said Landsberg sold the land at a reduced price -- 30 percent less than the $574,656 appraised value. "It was appraised at about $7,000 an acre and we got it for about $5,000 an acre," he said, counting both the city and county contributions. Tetens said the land will become a county nature preserve with a parking lot and trails. He said it should be open next spring. A map of Ann Arbor's greenbelt. Ann Arbor voters showed their support for the greenbelt by voting 2-to-1 in November 2003 to approve a 30-year tax to fund the program. The 0.5-mill tax, which costs the owner of a $200,000 home about $50 a year, brings in more than $2 million annually from city taxpayers. One-third of the money is for city parkland acquisition, while two-thirds is for land preservation outside the city. Since the millage was approved in 2003, the city has added 72 acres to the city's parks system. "Collectively, these parcels have helped to provide linkages between existing parks, added to existing parks and protected some of the remaining critical urban natural areas," the city stated in a news release. "To date, the Greenbelt Program has protected over 4,725 acres of farmland and open space surrounding the city of Ann Arbor, and has leveraged the city's funds with an additional $21 million from grants, landowner donations and other locally funded programs." The city has made greenbelt dollars stretch by leveraging matching funds from townships, the county, federal government and other sources. In addition to the Legacy Land Conservancy, other Greenbelt Program partners have included Ann Arbor Township, Lodi Township, Scio Township, Pittsfield Township, Webster Township, the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. KISSING 2/3 AW LuLu and Louis Smith in their home in Ann Arbor on Monday, March 17, 2008. Alan Warren, The Ann Arbor News (Alan Warren) ANN ARBOR, MI - Whether it was playing with jazz giants like Cannonball Adderly and Horace Silver, Motown artists like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye or instructing children at Ann Arbor Public Schools, Louis Smith was always surrounded by music. That is ultimately how Smith -- who recorded with Blue Note Records -- will be remembered, WEMU Music Director Linda Yohn said. Smith, who died on Aug. 20, leaves behind a legacy embedded in performing, teaching and appreciating music, Yohn said. "He never practiced false modesty - he was proud of his accomplishments but he didn't brag about them," said Yohn, who has been at WEMU for 29 years. "He would also always share with you what he was working on and how he was learning and growing. He was an example of how we all should live." Smith was born May 20, 1931, in Memphis, to Walter Smith and Betty Little-Smith. Although his father was an ice delivery man, he instilled a love of music in Louis at a young age, purchasing an old used trumpet and he would practice playing his every day after school. His father would take him to the famous Beale Street for nightly jam sessions where Louis would spend a great deal of time watching, listening and sitting in with the great jazz and blues musicians of the time. Music would remain at the center of Smith's life after graduating from Manassas High School in 1948, where he was a member of the Manassas High School Rhythm Bombers. He went on to attend Tennessee State University, where he was a member of the Tennessee State Collegians, and performed at Carnegie Hall with Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstein and Sarah Vaughn. Smith graduated from Tennessee State with a Bachelor of Science in Music and was drafted into the United States Army where he played in the Special Services Band. In 1955, following his tour of duty, Smith decided to pursue a more stable career as an educator in Atlanta. Since then he went on to teach music as a band director at Tennessee State University, Kentucky State University and the University of Michigan, where he served as the Director of Jazz Bands from 1971 to 1987. Smith also served as a music teacher, and band instructor with Ann Arbor Public Schools from 1968 to 1993. Yohn said it was difficult to separate Smith's life as a musician from his life as an educator, because the two almost always went hand in hand. "I think it's really hard, as his career rolled on, to separate the teacher from the performer and recording artist," she said. "I recall hearing Louis in concert and you would be so entertained, but you would also learn something because he had a really comfortable way of sharing information about his music. Whether it was about the song structure, a story about a song's composer or something from his life that inspired a song, you ended up learning something even if you didn't intend to." He signed his first recording contract with titan jazz label Blue Note Records in 1957, releasing "Here Comes Louis Smith," which featured Adderley. Shortly after the release of his second album, "Smithville," he joined the Horace Silver Quintet, in 1958. Smith's daughter Edwaa Smith was born Aug. 2, 1962. In 1968, while teaching music and band at Forsythe Junior High School in Ann Arbor, he met teaching colleague, Harriet L. Halpern, aka Lulu. The couple eventually married in 1976. Smith performed as a staff musician with Motown Records, traveled and recorded with greats such as the Temptations and Marvin Gaye and Ashford and Simpson. He was featured on the classic R&B recordings like "Papa was a Rolling Stone," and "What's Going On." In 1978, Louis signed his next recording contract with Steeplechase Records, where he released a total of 12 albums. He performed at the Montreux (Switzerland) and Nice (France) jazz festivals and the International Detroit Jazz Festival for 25 consecutive years. He is a former president of the Michigan Chapter of the International Association Jazz Educators and was in charge of adjudications for the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival. Smith performed in live concerts at numerous venues including Carnegie Hall and the Birdland, as well as the Newport Jazz Festival, Grande Parade du Jazz, St. Petersburg, Moscow and the Netherlands. In 2005 while vacationing in Hilton Head, Virginia, Louis suffered a massive stroke leaving him partially paralyzed and aphasic. The stroke forced his career as a musician and educator to come to an end. Ultimately, Yohn said, he'll be remembered as a man who passed on a love of music to everyone he encountered in one way or another. "Honesty, integrity, truth, strength and responsibility are some of the things that I recall hearing from everybody who studied with Louis Smith," Yohn said. "He is just so important, not only for his musicianship, but in making sure he gave life lessons to those who studied with him." Smith is survived by his wife Harriet L. Smith (Lulu); daughter, Edwaa Smith; son, Michael D. Collins, Sr.; grandson, Maurice Cumberbatch; grandson, Michael D. Collins, Jr.; granddaughter, Tiffany Collins; and great-granddaughters, Louise "Lulu" Collins and Alexia Cumberbatch. Smith's family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Nie Family Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, MI. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the funeral home, with visitation one hour prior. Michigan State Capitol Building Michigan State Capitol Building (MLive File Photo) LANSING, MI -- A Kawkawlin man was appointed to a statewide task force on autism, Gov. Rick Snyder announced Thursday. Christopher Pinter, CEO of the Bay Area Behavioral Health Authority, will join 11 others on the Michigan Autism Council -- an advisory board that oversees the Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders State Plan, according to a press release from the governor's office. "I thank Christopher for his willingness to serve in this important role and help improve delivery of services for Michiganders with (Autism Spectrum Disorder)," Snyder said in the press release. The Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders State Plan was created to build supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families through "access to information and resources, coordination of services, and implementation of evidence based practices," according to the state's website. Pinter's position in the state task force was previously held by Jeff DeLay, who resigned. Pinter is slated to serve the remainder of DeLay's four-year term, which expires Sept. 30, 2019. HAMTRAMCK -- One property owner is being blamed for hindering business development in downtown Hamtramck, and it's unclear what motivates the man, and why the city can't do anything about it. The buildings lining the south end of Joseph Campau, downtown Hamtramck's main thoroughfare, are well-preserved and appear ready for business. Yet for years, many of its storefronts have sat empty near overgrown lots littered with trash. The somewhat deserted feel gives the impression that there's not much interest in downtown Hamtramck, but area business owners say it's not disinterest nor natural economic forces that leave the district half-empty. They contend the arrested redevelopment is the result of one longtime property owner's unwillingness to lease his storefronts and maintain his vacant lots. That man, Birmingham businessman Henry Velleman, owns 35 downtown Hamtramck commercial parcels identified by MLive. He purchased most of them decades ago, and 27 of his addresses are currently either empty shops or overgrown lots. Velleman didn't return calls seeking comment, but multiple city officials say he prefers working with regional and national chains over mom-and-pop shops. He also sets rent at up to twice the market rate. Several business owners said they've tried to lease storefronts from Velleman, but were either ignored or quoted at least $1,000 per month for a 1,000-square-foot storefront - rent more in line with Ferndale. That's what neighbors say keeps his shops empty, and they label his practices detrimental to those who are pouring their lives into building businesses in Hamtramck. 'Golden opportunity' Tony Liggett, a longtime resident and co-founder of the Hamtramck Music Festival, said no one expects Hamtramck -- a two-square-mile Detroit enclave populated by Polish, Bangladeshi and Yemeni communities -- to develop into the next Royal Oak, but Velleman's properties are an obstacle to any sort of progress. "He has made it cost prohibitive for most boutique or cottage industry businesses, which is what we need. Sure, a Starbucks can afford his rent, but they aren't coming here and we don't want them here," Liggett said. "There's this golden opportunity because we're in between the southern 'burbs and growth in Midtown and Downtown (Detroit), and perfectly located for the cottage and independent businesses ... but we're going to get passed by. "There's plenty of demand, but for some reason, there's no supply, and we want some answers." It's also mostly up to neighbors to mow Velleman's vacant lots and clear them of debris and trash. While there's clear anger and obvious code violations, the city appears unwilling to take serious action. Officials have repeatedly said Velleman is regularly ticketed, but 31st District Court records show that neither he nor any of his LLC's have been cited since 2013. (Update: City Manger Katrina Powell later provided a list of warnings and dismissed citations issued in recent years:) Were the city to start ticketing Velleman this month, it could potentially collect over $8,000 in August alone. Outdated business model? Mayor Karen Majewski said the situation is "causing resentment" in the commercial district. She runs the Tekla Vintage shop that sits next to a vacant Velleman storefront, and said his empty spaces contribute to the impression that Hamtramck's business district isn't viable. "Hamtramck was built on mom-and-pop businesses," Majewski said, and Velleman's refusal to consider them "overlooks what our real strengths are as a community." "It also ignores a real opportunity for revitalization by independent businesses," she said. "I think he uses an old 1980s model to look for those national chains, but not only is that now unnecessary in Hamtramck, it's harmful to Hamtramck. "And it's not in keeping with national trends. What folks want, and the kind of places people want to shop in, is found in the kind of entrepreneurial spirit burgeoning in Downtown Detroit." Others note Velleman's contribution to downtown. Hamtramck economic development director Kathy Angerer highlighted that most of his empty spaces are clean, white boxes rather than eyesores. He's also turned second-story spaces in many of his buildings into high-end lofts, offered for as much as $2,000 per month. 'The next Chene Street' Andy Dow, a Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority board member and owner of The Painted Lady Lounge, doesn't view empty white boxes as beneficial to anyone. "I don't think it really matters (if his storefronts are maintained.) If 75 percent of his stores are empty, then Joseph Campau is the next Chene Street," Dow said, referring to the once vibrant east-side Detroit corridor that is now largely boarded, burnt and overgrown. "Imagine how much happier his loft tenants would be if they could shop in stores downtown. The whole reason people want to live in commercial districts is the accessibility to stores and the foot traffic, so if you go downstairs and it's abandoned, then you might as well live in the neighborhood." The neglect, business owners noted, would not likely be tolerated in wealthier Birmingham, and there's no sign of overgrowth or dumping at Velleman's home, a stately property with a manicured lawn, free from the trash and rotting couches found on his Hamtramck lots. "I've been in town and business for 18 years and he has places that have been empty now for going on five, ten years. But he doesn't care, because he doesn't live here," said Detroit Threads owner Mikel Smith. Liggett expressed similar sentiments. "It rubs me the wrong way when someone who doesn't live here sits on his hands and does nothing with his property," he said. "I'm not trying to drive him out of Hamtramck, but we want him to do something with these places." Other factors To be clear, no one pins all that ails downtown Hamtramck on Velleman. The city spent several years under the control of a state-appointed financial manager. The housing market is only now rebounding, and the current population is poorer than those who built downtown, and those who kept it lively until recent decades. Image is also an issue, and Hamtramck just isn't a place where people shop like they did generations ago. While there's clear excitement about the future among new and old merchants, especially as Detroit starts repopulating, there remain real challenges in attracting customers. For every Revolver, Detroit Threads, Bon Bon Bon, Golden Wheat, Bumbo's or Kim's that succeeds, there are many small ventures that fail. Some of those, like Ashley Stewart plus size clothing, moved out of or failed in a Velleman-owned store. Among his steady tenants are a small tobacco shop, several clothing boutiques, an Auto Zone, Check 'N Go, Game Stop and a Mr. Allen's shoe store. Liggett said the situation is especially vexing because downtown Hamtramck is in relatively solid condition compared to hot spots like Corktown, which has required huge investment to redevelop. Hamtramck is nearly turnkey. "We have an existing infrastructure that's there for the taking and it's not being utilized, because it's being held up," he said. "I can't thing of any reason you wouldn't have people in those places. "That's incomprehensible to me." No help from the city While the city can't force property owners to lease a shop, it could force Velleman to comply with city code. His empty storefronts are in clear violation of the city's vacant structure ordinance, and grass on his empty lots often far exceeds the eight inches permitted by code. An examination of some of the ordinances in which Velleman is in violation and the fee schedule found the city could have hit Velleman with at least $8,000 in fines in August alone. City staff, including Angerer and City Clerk August Gitschlag, have said that the city is ticketing Velleman for the blatant code violations. But court records indicate otherwise, and City Attorney Travis Mihelick said he wasn't aware of any litigation with Velleman, and he had never previously heard Velleman's name. Angerer and City Manger Katrina Powell didn't respond to requests for further comment. Majewski said she was also under the impression Velleman was ticketed. Hamtramck is run by a weak-mayor city government, so the mayor only represents one vote on city council, and Majewski can't unilaterally order further action. However, the lack of action has some suspicious. "They pick and choose their code violations," said Dow, who recently received a citation for a building violation at the Painted Lady. Some suspect the city's inaction is due to fear of Velleman, who officials say has demolished buildings when the city has blocked his plans. She suggested other business owners "quit whining" and mow Velleman's lots for him, or clean up garbage around his properties. That idea didn't go far with Velleman's neighbors, but merchants and city officials don't have any clear idea of how to resolve the situation. Some accuse him of being uninterested in working with the rest of the community. Liggett said the situation is disappointing, because Velleman could be a "shining star" in the local development community if he would market and lease his spaces. "His name would get out there and everyone would start looking for Velleman properties, because he's a great dude," Liggett said. "No one is asking him to do it for free, he's making a killing on his lofts, yet at the same time he's killing us." DETROIT, MI - Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced this week she will reevaluate her position on the possible release of a juvenile drug offender known as "White Boy Rick." "Having been deeply immersed in the juvenile life without parole murder cases for the last six months, I have noted parallels to the Richard Wershe case that have caused me to review the office position in this case. However, it is important to note that only the Michigan Parole Board determines who does or doesn't receive parole," she said in a statement distributed by Maria Miller, county assistant prosecutor and director of communications. Wershe, 47, is serving life in prison for being caught in 1987 with 17 pounds of cocaine. He was originally sentenced under the 650-life law, which required anyone convicted of possessing more than 650 grams - about 1.4 pounds - automatically serve a life sentence. The law has since been repealed, making it possible for Wershe to be paroled, an act multiple FBI agents have argued is appropriate. Wershe came close to being freed last year, when one of his lawyers argued Wershe deserves to be re-sentenced because of a precedent that said it's cruel and unusual punishment to give a minor a mandatory life sentence. A Wayne County Circuit judge agreed and ordered a new hearing, but Worthy, thwarted the opportunity, filing an emergency stay and appeal. "Prosecutor Worthy believes that Wershe's sentence is valid under the law, and she has not found any compelling reason to justify changing it," Worthy spokeswoman and Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller previously told MLive. The State Court of Appeals sided with Worthy, calling Hathaway's decision an "error of the law" that "constitutes an abuse of discretion." Wershe's next Parole Board hearing in 2017 has been said to be his best chance of being released. A U.S. Supreme Court opinion in January has Worthy and other prosecutors around the state reviewing old cases involving juvenile defendants. The nation's highest court ruled all juvenile offenders serving life in prison without the possibility of parole must be resentenced because such a penance is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. This decision might not apply to Wershe because he now has a chance at parole and he was not convicted of murder. The Supreme Court specifically referenced "homicide" cases. FLINT, MI -- As the 40th HealthPlus Crim Festival of Races kicked-off Friday in downtown Flint runners hit the streets for the Michigan Mile Race Series. The Michigan Mile Race is part of a six-race event by the USA Track & Field. The race started at 6:30 p.m. with the USATF Masters men's race, followed by the Masters women's race at 6:45 p.m. The competition continued with the seeded male racers at 7 p.m., seeded female racers at 7:07 p.m., and the high school challenge at 7:15 p.m. The open mile followed with the young runners mile for kids 12-years-old and younger finishing the event. The race began on Kearsley Street just past Wallenberg and stretched throughout the University of Michigan-Flint campus. Runners looped back around to Harrison Street and made the push for the finish line at First and Stevens streets. HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI -- State officials say a man injured in a workplace accident Thursday, Aug. 25, has died. Gerrit Blok, 50, of Ada, fell 22 feet down an elevator shaft at the Perrigo Co., 13295 Reflections Drive, on Thursday, Aug. 25. Ottawa County sheriff's deputies said Blok, an employee with Dan Vos Construction, was trying to retrieve an extension ladder from the shaft when he fell. Police said he was wearing a harness while working, but removed it after finishing a job. An obituary for Blok says he enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved fixing anything that needed fixing and was an avid hunter always looking to perfect his tree stands. Gary worked on the family orchard whenever needed, he was also employed for over 27 years with Dan Vos Construction Company," according to the obituary. This year's edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) which is being organised to celebrate the rich musical heritage of Africa and her talented artistes for the economic growth of the continent will take place in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, November 6. Two of Ghana's award-winning hiplife artistes, Sarkodie and Okyeame Kwame, are among some music stars from Africa and around the globe to be honoured for their contribution to African music at this year's edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA 2016). The two celebrated hiplife artistes were nominated in the Best Male Artiste in Western Africa category which also has Brymo, Flavour, Sidikiba Diabate, Tekno and Wizkid. The event, according to the organisers, is expected to attract over 2,500 guests from various African countries. The excitement is expected to be bigger as a number of renowned African artistes have been invited to perform at the event. Public voting in all categories begins on Tuesday, August 30. Some of the activities lined up ahead of the main event include Africa Music Summit on Friday, November 4 and the AFRIMA Music Village, an open musical concert featuring nominees and other top billed music stars. By George Clifford Owusu A new television series christened SHATTA TV series filled with a combination of twists, comedy, suspense and fun while teaching life lessons is set to hit Ghanaian TV screens. The 30-minutes exciting and must-watch funny satirical drama is produced by DKAMG MEDIA, a top-notch West African film production company. SHATTA is a dramatic comedy TV series which is set to dominate an era where Mexican, Indian and Spanish soap operas have become an inevitable spice on Ghanaian TV screens. The drama, full of hilarious moments, features Strika of NETFLIX's award-winning Beast Of No Nation, veteran Actress Adwoa Smart, Ibrahim Idrees (Too Much of Junka Town), Deborah Vanessa, Roselyn Ngissah, Yaa Baby, Katie Emerson (one of London's most celebrated actresses) and a host of other super-interesting personalities. Speaking at a news conference in Accra, Kofi Awuah, producer and director of the series, said it targets the youth to educate and entertain them on life lessons. He said the series shows a cosmopolitan avenue with diverse group of people capturing everyday activities in a satirical drama with a lot of comical undertone with quality concept. It is expected to serve Ghanaians with a co-equal to the top of the chart series like 'Empire', 'Game of Thrones' and would be aired at the peak times of TV stations,'' he said . Mr Awuah disclosed that the series comes with 13 episodes per season with at a total of 15 seasons to be aired with great cinematic excellence to project Ghanaian talent on the international arena. Tunisia's premier-designate Youssef Chahed said his 27-member cabinet would include eight women "in important" positions and "14 young" ministers. By Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) 27.08.2016 LISTEN Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's parliament on Friday resoundingly approved the new unity government of Youssef Chahed, supporting a cabinet line-up which will have to tackle the country's pressing socio-economic and security challenges. There were 167 votes in favour, 22 against and five abstentions. The cabinet, headed by Chahed -- who at 40 will become the country's youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956 -- is set to take office in the coming days. Abuja, Aug.26, (Allafrica.com/GNA) - Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has welcomed China's decision to support Nigeria in its quest to actualise the transition from Analogue to Digital broadcasting, Allaafrica.com has reported. He was responding to comments by the Vice-President of the StarTimes Group of China, Ms. Zhao Yueqin, who led a delegation of the company on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. In a statement, he said Nigeria was irrevocably committed to meeting the June 2017 Digital Switch Over deadline in order to protect broadcast signals from interference and also to unlock the creative potentials of Nigerians in technology and content development. "The process of digitalisation is unstoppable and irreversible; it's not a matter of choice. If we do not follow the world to digitalise and meet the June 2017 target, it means that our telephones, televisions and radios will not be free from interference. As a matter of fact, planet earth today does not know the extent of the dividends of digitalisation and how far it will go. "Digitalisation is going to affect the way we perceive and understand broadcasting. It will act as a catalyst to unleash the creative potentials of our youths. It will also provide the panacea to piracy. It will create so much possibility that will enable Africa leapfrog and join the next generation of technology," Mohammed said. He said his ministry would also borrow a leaf from China, particularly in the area of national re-orientation, having realized that Chinese economic boom and development were underpinned by the discipline of its citizens, their patriotism and dedication. "This ministry is going to start a campaign very soon to promote national rebirth and value re-orientation, because unless we change our ways and we are able to bring back discipline, integrity and values, the change we are talking about will not take place," he said. Mohammed, who expressed delight that the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China is waxing stronger in various sectors, said the trade volume between the two countries had jumped from $6.9 billion in 2009 to over $14 billion in 2015. He, however, stressed the need to correct the trade imbalance between the two countries by encouraging Chinese investors to set up factories in labour-intensive sectors in Nigeria and also canvassed for the abolition of the five per cent tax levied on agricultural products entering China from Nigeria. In her remarks earlier, Zhao, expressed China's willingness to assist Nigeria to realise the digital switch over. She stated the commitment of China to ensuring that every household in Nigeria has access to digital television signals. GNA D.I. Laary, GNA Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Head of University of Professional Studies' Centre for Public Accountability, has raised concerns over poor revenue collection practice by authorities, culminating in government losing millions of income to entities every year. He said, last year, six million registered taxpayers were supposed to pay income tax to government but only two million honoured - leaving a whopping four million go without paying levy - a situation that is largely attributed to being responsible for gross fiscal irresponsibility in the country. These concerns were expressed when Mr Kan-Dapaah addressed participants on 'the New Public financial management law: a comprehensive law on fiscal responsibility', at the national forum on open governance. The forum was organised by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a local chapter of Transparency International, on the topic: 'Building an Open Government in Ghana, Why Open Governance Matters?' The situation, he noted, was substantially contributing to high cost of doing business in the country and the local currency volatility and its attendant cost on the national economy. 'I think our tax collection agencies are not doing well, the Ghana Revenue Authority should go out there and collect the monies, we have the capacity to increase our tax revenue,' Mr Kan-Dapaah said. He also accused some chartered accountants of conniving and condoning with some individuals and entities to forge tax returns, and urged revenue authorities to do due diligence and be bold to prosecute such culprits. He said the situation arose largely because Ghanaians were too protective of each other and so refuse to report wrongdoers to appropriate agencies for the necessary penal sanctions to be applied. 'There is only one solution to solve the problem of corruption in this country, that is [punitive] sanctions, we should also be honest to report corrupt acts, but we are too protective of each other,' he said. He expressed worry that the practice of public financial management has been the same over the years. 'The real governance challenge that we have as a nation and the way forward is open governance, citizens must have all the information that they need.' In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Alhassan Azong, Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reforms Secretariat noted that taking into account, Ghana's political economy, it was imperative stakeholders gathered to examine effective measures that would bring about transparency and accountability in the management of public finance through open governance partnership (OGP) platform. 'OGP platform presents an enormous opportunity for Ghana to demonstrate to its good people and the international community of its deepest commitment to pursuing open government,' he said. He said the National OGP Action plan represented a clear indication of the country's intention of persistently deepening democratic governance and attaining gains of open government. The OGP is a global initiative that aims to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and encourage use of new technologies to improve governance. The OGP is overseen by a multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee that comprised government and civil society representatives aimed to improve service delivery and make governments more responsible, transparent and accountable to their citizens. In September 2011, late President John Evans Atta-Mills on behalf of Ghana, signed the OGP Declaration that enjoined Ghana to develop its OGP National Action Plan through a broad-based consultative process for submission to the Global Secretariat of the Partnership. Ghana was invited to participate and present its Action Plan at the OGP's April 2012 Conference in Brazil, but failed to attend because the country had not been able to develop the plan. In a bid to advance Ghana's commitment, an Interim Working Group, comprising government and CSO, was constituted in May 2012 under the auspices of the Public Sector Reform Secretariat. The Group took stock of practices and on-going programmes and projects that reflects OGP principles and proposed that a National Steering committee be formed to lead the development of the National OGP Action Plan. Ghana has developed her second OGP Action Plan with one of the commitments being to initiate discussions towards passage of a fiscal responsibility law. GNA Riyadh (AFP) - An Ethiopian worker was killed and 18 Egyptians were injured when the roof of a building under construction collapsed in Saudi Arabia, a newspaper reported on Friday. They were trapped when the metal roof in Mecca collapsed on Thursday, Okaz said on its website, citing the Civil Defence department. It did not say what caused the collapse, which is under investigation. The men had been doing metalwork at the time, Okaz reported. Fifteen of the Egyptians needed hospital treatment. A day earlier, two Pakistanis died in a separate construction accident in Mecca, the newspaper said. Millions of expatriates work as labourers and in other jobs in Saudi Arabia. In April last year, at least 10 construction workers from Pakistan and one from India died in the collapse of a convention centre being built at a university in Qassim northwest of Riyadh. Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned that the Arab Spring style of protests would fall flat in Zimbabwe after police fired teargas and beat up protesters staging the latest of a string of highly charged demonstrations. Dozens of police blocked off the site of the opposition rally for electoral reforms by 2018, when 92-year-old Mugabe who has ruled the southern African country for decades will seek re-election. The protesters responded to the clampdown by throwing stones at the police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe. "They are burning types in the streets in order to get into power. They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that is not going to happen here," said Mugabe in remarks broadcast by state television. Street vendors flee with their goods as Zimbabwe opposition supporters clash with police in Harare "What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country," said Mugabe accusing foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest. AFP correspondents saw armed police firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters gathered on the fringes of the central business district who were waiting for the march to start. Some people caught up in the melee, including children going to a nearby agricultural show, ran for shelter in the magistrate's court while riot police pursued the protesters and threatened journalists covering the rally. The usually-bustling pavements were clear of street hawkers and some shops were shut, as rocks, sticks and burning tyres were strewn across the streets. Opposition protesters also clashed with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had refused to clear their street stalls. ZANU-PF youths hurled stones at the opposition activists but were overpowered and their stalls set on fire. - 'Very deep anger' - The US embassy in Zimbabwe expressed "deep concern" over reports of violence and called on the government to "exhibit restraint" and respect human rights The march was organised by 18 opposition parties including the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe People First formed this year by former vice president Joice Mujuru. Opposition leaders condemned the brutal repression of the protest and vowed to increase pressure on Mugabe's regime. "If that was meant to cow us from demonstrating, I want to say we are going to do the same next week Friday," former Mugabe ally and ex-cabinet minister Didymus Mutasa told reporters. Protests "will continue until the day we vote", said Mutasa, a former top member of ZANU-PF who is now a senior member of Mujuru's party. "We have had enough of ZANU-PF misrule." Tsvangirai said the public would not be easily calmed. "The people's anger is very deep. The people's desperation is very deep," he said. "Today's brutal suppression of the people will not stop them from exercising their rights." - Government losing control - Dozens of police blocked off the site of an opposition rally to demand electoral reforms in Harare Tsvangirai said the regime was in its "sunset hour", warning that efforts to suppress the protests would backfire. "Citizens are like a spring: the more they are suppressed, the greater the rebound," he said. Charles Laurie, an analyst with Verisk Maplecroft in London, agreed that the government was on the verge of losing control. "The government is nearing a tipping point in its ability to control a population long used to violence and hardship, and who now have little to lose in putting themselves at risk in forcing political concessions," he told AFP. Police broke up the protest despite a court ordering them not to interfere or disrupt the march. Authorities said the had arrested 67 people, and lawyers said one of them was a journalist. Several foreign diplomatic missions based in Harare called on the authorities to ensure that basic human rights and freedoms are respected during policing. - 'Violence unacceptable' - Demonstrators in Harare began throwing stones at police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe The US embassy expressed "deep concern over reports of violence during some of the protests" and called on government to "exhibit restraint" and respect human rights. And the Canadian embassy also said it was "increasingly concerned with reports of violence and human rights violations in response to public protest" while the Australian mission said the use of violence was "not acceptable under any circumstance". Friday's march was to demand free and fair elections. The last elections in 2013 were won by Mugabe in a vote the opposition said was rigged. Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980. Under his rule, there has been an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. Libreville (AFP) - The people of Gabon vote Saturday to decide whether President Ali Bongo will remain in office or be unseated by a career diplomat and close associate of his late father, who ran the country for 41 years. The election takes place in a climate of persistent social unrest driven in large part by the economic impact of the slump in the price of oil, which has long dominated Gabon's economy. Bongo, 57, and ex-African Union Commission chief Jean Ping, 73, who both worked under Omar Bongo until he died in 2009, are seen as the only credible candidates among a field of 10. Until recently, Bongo was far and away the favourite, largely because several prominent politicians had declared themselves as candidates, thereby dividing the opposition. But protracted negotiations led all the key challengers to pull out and put their weight behind Ping, with the last of them withdrawing only last week. Gabon President Ali Bongo has long insisted he owes his presidency to merit and his years of government service Some 628,000 of Gabon's 1.8 million inhabitants are eligible to take part in the election, whose winner will be decided by a simple majority after a single round of voting. The campaign period has been acrimonious, marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two main camps, including accusations, and strenuous denials, that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run. On Friday, each side accused the other of trying to gain an illicit advantage by buying up voter cards in various parts of the country for sums ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 CFA francs ($20 to $100). Faced with repeated charges of nepotism, Bongo has long insisted he owes his presidency to merit and his years of government service. Gabon's main opposition presidential candidate Jean Ping is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally His extravagant campaign was based around the slogan "Let's change together", playing up the roads and hospitals built during his first term. In an overt jibe towards Ping's long association with his father, Bongo has also stressed the need to break with the bad old days of disappearing public funds and dodgy management of oil revenues. "There's a risk that certain people who did so much harm to our country will come back" to power, the president told a crowd of thousands during his last rally in the capital, Libreville. - Former brother-in-law rival - A man watches a televised political debate in Port-Gentil ahead of presidential elections in Gabon Ping has pledged to ensure, if elected, that Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear," dismissing the president's much-touted moves to diversify the economy into rubber and palm oil as mere window dressing. Despite boasting one of Africa's highest per capita incomes at $8,300, a third of Gabon's population live in poverty. Unemployment among the young, according to the World Bank, runs at 35 percent. Recent months have seen growing popular unrest and numerous public sector strikes as well as thousands of layoffs in the oil sector. Fears that this discontent might degenerate into violence are fuelled by memories of what followed Bongo's contested victory in the 2009 presidential poll. Several people were killed, buildings looted, a ceasefire imposed and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on "all political stakeholders, in particular the candidates, to exercise restraint, abstain from any acts of incitement or the use of inflammatory statements, and maintain a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election." He also urged the candidates to use "legal and constitutional channels" in the event of any dispute over the result. Ping and Bongo 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 AU Commission. Ping also has close family ties to the Bongo dynasty: he was formerly married to Omar Bongo's eldest daughter with whom he had two children. Ping 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." Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are courting support from Ghanaians in protest of governments decision to cede the company to a private investor. Staff of the company who on are on a three-day sit-down strike across the country says they will persist until the citizenry joins them in the fight. They say the proposed deal amounts to selling the company at the expense of their jobs and attendant bad impact on consumers. ECG staff in the Ashanti Region spotting red outfits massed up at the regional office amid drumming, dancing and chants of disagreement on Friday. They accuse the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) of acting unilaterally against the will of Ghanaians the masses and power consumers in particular. Noah Arthur Maclean who represents the youth of the worker's group said Ghanaians should understand what is happening. We want to get Ghanaians on board. When people understand; when energy experts understand, then we can all sit down and consider what is happening." "But its as if government or MiDA is pushing its own agenda and what has to be done have not been done. They are still pushing through what they want. Even if they want to go with PSP, there are better ways of doing it than whats happening now, he explained. According to him, that decision taken by government is not in the interest of the country as far as power generation and distribution are concerned. We had a position paper and we were expecting that if they are listening, they will push ahead what we are proposed. At least sit-down and have a dialogue and discuss those issues but that is not being done. That has been pushed aside and they are continuing what they wanted to do which we think its not the best option for Ghana, Mr Maclean has said. He disagrees with suggestions that the sit-down strike will negatively affect productivity, arguing that the workers will put in extra effort to make up for the lost time after each days action. Deputy Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Karbo, has said his party will not apologize to President John Mahama over claims that its presidential nominee, Nana Akufo-Addo, described him as incompetent. The description of government's records in office is either competent or incompetent, there is no middle ground, he added. The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), demanded an apology from Nana Akufo-Addo, who made the said comment against Mahama on one of his campaign tours. But Anthony Karbo while speaking on Eyewitness News argued that, Mahama has no reason to fail because of the abundant resources and revenues at his disposal. We [NPP] managed this country's economy very competently. Indeed we handed over an economy to this government by the close of 2008. So when we describe this government as incompetent it is to the fact because we are speaking to what the data is talking about. Especially when they have had so much of oil revenue and still the country's economy is lagging back. What they are saying is that, international prices of commodities have accounted for the slowdown of the Ghanaian economy, however, other countries like Ivory Coast, Kenya have all been under this global economic crisis but the quantum of loans, resources from cocoa, gold that has come to this government, Ghana should have been on the pedestal by now. So when we describe the government as incompetent, it is to the fact, Karbo insisted. Stop the insults first The NDC Campaign Spokesperson for the December 7 general elections, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has charged the NPP to first stop the insults if they want a clean campaign. President Mahama and Nana Addo, both on campaign trails have taken each other on in the last few days. President Mahama while touring the Western and Northern Regions attacked Nana Akufo-Addo's personality and his leadership style, describing him as a dictator and divisive. Speaking to Citi News, Joyce Bawa said When you look at the accusation from the opposition, what I want to ask is who was the first to describe president Mahama as incompetent, a man who has credited himself as an assembly man, an MP, a Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President and now President of Ghana. No matter the circumstances, no matter the level of context I think that a flagbearer of any political party must at least show some respect and decorum in their speech and the way you describe your opponent so yes am saying President Mahama is in campaign mood and has decided to meet the opposition boot for boot, she added. Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election related stories By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin The Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana, has called for the removal of the current taxes on medicines, which are contributing to the increases in prices of the commodity and threatens quality health care delivery. They said the removal of the taxes would not only improve the timely supply of most required medicines, but also lesson the bill burden of patients, especially those with terminal illnesses. It would further lower the cost of managing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and paying suppliers on time. Mr. Harrison Kofi Abutiate, the Chairman of the Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana, at a sensitisation workshop in Accra on Wednesday, said the current high taxes on imported medicine is a disincentive not only to importers, but also to government and patients. He said although the ECOWAS Platform has approved the removal of taxes on medicines of which some neighboring countries have complied with, Ghana has maintained the 17.5 per cent Valued Added Tax (VAT) on these commodities, leading to the high cost of importation. He explained that, apart from the 10 per cent import duty that was removed on imported medicines, a 17.5 per cent was put on imported finished medications, but only 30 per cent of medicines are manufactured locally, with the remaining 70 per cent being imported. Therefore, an additional 17.5 per cent VAT on imported medicines thus increases medicines bill of over 52.5 per cent, not to mention other additional taxes like ECOWAS Levy, Export Development Levy, Processing Charges, Special Import Levy, Development Fund Fee, Food and Drugs authority Inspection as well as the Ghana Standards Authority charges, he said Mr Abutiate argued that, being the biggest purchaser of medicines for the NHIS, Government is increasing its own price wage by maintaining the present taxes and called for an urgent review in policy. He explained that, drug resistance due to substandard imported medicines at low costs and the inability of patients to afford the required doses of medications, is contributing to the current increases in the disease burden of Ghanaians, which may also aggravate and swell up governments cost of Out Patient Department care and treatment of illness under the NHIS. Current statistics, he said, shows that in 2008, NHIS saw nine million outpatient visitations to hospitals, while in 2015, there were 29 million visitations, and within these same years' money paid to NHIS Providers was GH 183 million and GH 1 billion. If on the average half of these card holders got medicines which had all duties paid on them, the drug bill would have been halved, he said. Mr Abutiate said medicines are not ordinary products of commerce, but are essential in ensuring the health and the wealth of the nation, and must be treated as essential commodities in order to holistically attain the Good Life professed by the Ministry of Health. He said the workshop would explore all the avenues so as to arrive at a win-win situation for medicine suppliers, the National Health Insurance Authority and Government as well as patients. He encouraged local pharmaceutical companies to target the large scale production of essential medicines like anti-malaria drugs and others that are in high demand locally for ready market in order to remove imported substandard products from the market. Government has dismissed claims by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), that there is a freeze on the recruitment of lecturers into the countrys public tertiary institutions. The President of UTAG, Harry Agbanu, had said the freeze on employment of lecturers by the public universities had created some inconvenience in the various institutions. The universities have even threatened to cut down on the number of admissions in their schools. 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, he said at a press conference earlier this week. However, according to the Education Ministry, the claims from UTAG were untrue as some teaching staff had been approved for employment into the universities. There is no ban on recruitment because we are aware that approval has been given for some 1, 018 teaching and non-teaching staff for the tertiary staff. This number is the exact number requested by the tertiary and non-teaching staff through the NCTE, the Public Relations officer of the Ministry of Education, Francis Gbadago told Citi News. Education Minister Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang He added that, tertiary institutions that needed more staff were free to make requests but had to go through the right processes for approval. If the Universities need additional staff to be recruited, it's a very simple issue. They need to go through the due process by submitting their request through the National Council for Tertiary Education and it will be worked on for approval, he said. Reducing the intake for the institutions as suggested by UTAG is not an option because we have given them the opportunity to recruit more lecturers if they deem it fit; but then it must go through the due process. They must request it through the NCTE and when it gets to us, we'll forward it to the Ministry of Finance for approval. By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana Government has contracted a $50 million loan facility from Societe Generale Ghana (formerly SG-SSB) to finance the rehabilitation of Ghanas missions abroad. This comes at a time when government has been criticized for excessive borrowing, which has ballooned the public debt. The facility according to government, is coming at an opportune time to support the government address some of the challenges faced by Ghana's foreign missions. Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, led the government team during the agreements signing ceremony. A statement issued by Societe Generale, said they are happy to support Ghana improve infrastructure at its foreign missions. Societe Generale Ghana is happy to support the rehabilitation of Ghana's 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, the statement added. It is Societe Generale Ghana's desire to partner Ghana in the socio economic development of the country and to strengthen the already cordial business relations that has existed for many years between the Societe Generale Group, Societe Generale Ghana and the Government of Ghana. Societe Generale Ghana and the Societe Generale Group have financed various government projects to the tune of USD600 million between 2009 and 2016. Some of the projects the bank 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. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin Nairobi (AFP) - Japan will pour $30 billion (27 billion euros) in investment into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. "When combined with the investment from the private sector I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion," Abe said at the opening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, where he will meet dozens of leaders from across Africa. The chiefs and people of Akyem Awisa in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region celebrate the 2016 Afahye (festival) with a grand durbar today, August 27, 2016 at Abontenkesiem. The festival, themed, Education and tradition for development, is meant to showcase the significance of education and tradition as far as community development is concerned. The festival was launched in March 2016, by the Awisahene, Nana Kwarteng Karikari III, and has a series of activities to deepen the essence of the theme to community building and development. The special guest speaker is the Essikado Omanhene of the Central Region, Nana Kobina Nketsia V. It is expected that Nana Nketsia will use his expertise as one of the finest traditional rulers and an experienced academician in Ghana, to dissect the critical roles that tradition and education play in enhancing development. This years Afahye celebration will also mark 100 years of education at Awisa since Nana Kwabena Karikari I opened his doors to Christianity and gave plots of land to the Basel Missionary for the building of the first primary school in 1916. Nine years later, his successor, Nana Atta Dankwa Karikari II, supported the missionaries to build a boarding middle school to absolve the products from the primary school. In 1950 the chief fought for girls to be admitted into the sole male middle school and in 1952 Nana gave out a piece of land for the Methodist church to build a primary school. This festival therefore, recounts how tradition, alongside education, has made Awisa the hub of professionals for the Ghanaian society and the world at large. Awisa can boast of having produced prominent people like J.E.Y. Bosompem who was deputy clerk of the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly; District Commissioner (DC) Kwame Kwakye (first African DC in post-independent Ghana) and Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, a former minister of finance. Awisa is also boastful of their Krontihene, Profs K.A. Danso, Opoku Amankwa and Kwame Karikari. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Dr Adjei Maafo and three of the only seven female Colonels in the Ghana Armed Forces as at last month Col Sally Mensah, Col Yelbert and Col Amantana are others. The uniqueness of this years festival has to do with the many activities that have been lined up, including spelling bee, debate, MTN health walk, cross country, Bob Santo Nite and others, meant to deepen the values of tradition and education to drive development. Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) customers who visited the various offices of the company in Kumasi and other parts of the country in the last three days suffered the ordeal of waiting for three hours each day before they were attended to. This is because the aggrieved ECG staff were busily protesting against government's decision to privatize the company, a move which employees of the power company fear might have dire consequences for power users and the country in general. Wearing red arm bands and chanting war songs, the staff ignored the depressed customers for three hours. Bismarck Adomah, Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Branch of the Senior Staff Union (SSU) of the company, addressing the media, slammed government over its decision to privatize the ECG for the next 25 years, warning that the dangerous move could worsen the plight of Ghanaians. He noted that the foreign private investor would frequently repatriate money from Ghana to his country and strongly warned that such a move would lead to the further weakening of the Ghana currency, with its attendant effects on the people. The privatization of ECG, he reiterated, would lead to frequent increases in electricity tariff, adding that the people would struggle to pay. Poor rural dwellers might not be able to pay the huge bills so they might be cut from the power grid totally by the private power supplier. Mr. Adomah stated that currently several hospitals, government agencies and universities in the country owe the ECG huge amounts of money, indicating that ironically government is ready to address all the challenges facing ECG before the private investor starts business. He urged the government to stop interfering in the work of the ECG, stressing that the company could perform far better than the said private investor if it (ECG) was given a free hand to operate. According to Mr. Adomah, the problem with power in the country is not about distribution but generation, and so the ECG should not be made a sacrificial lamp by the government. From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi A TWO-WEEK ultimatum has been issued to the government by the University Teachers' Association of Ghana (UTAG) to immediately lift the ban on recruitment of lecturers in the various public tertiary institutions nationwide. UTAG issued the ultimatum at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, noting that failure on the part of the government to lift the ban would mean the inability of universities to take in more fresh students for the 2016/2017 academic year. The academic calendar is expected to begin by September. UTAG President, Harry Agbanu, who addressed journalists, disclosed that public universities are currently faced with the problem of inadequate staffing which he argued was impacting negatively on their work. Government had over the past few years refused to lift the ban on recruitment of lecturers by the various universities, even though they continue to run out of lecturers due to retirement and other issues. The refusal of government to allow the universities to recruit new staff, critics believe, is due in part to lack of funding to pay allowances and salaries to those lecturers as well as IMF conditionalities. This, according to Dr Agbanu, had led to a situation where the few lecturers in the institutions are being unduly overstretched. Inadequate Quota A few weeks ago, President John Mahama while addressing the maiden graduation of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, announced that his government had given approval for the recruitment of 1,018 lecturers for all public universities. The decision, he said, would boost the departments and faculties of the nation's universities. But UTAG argued that the challenges confronting the universities would persist if government did not lift the ban in its entirety before the next academic year commences since the figure given out was grossly inadequate. For instance, Dr Agbanu said the University of Ghana (UG) alone would need a new staff strength of 1,200 but the technical approval by the Public Services Commission provided for 897 workers to be recruited. However, financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance gives the university only 238 slots to be filled, putting undue pressure on the few lecturers available. According to him, the standard practice the world over is for universities to be given unbridled opportunities to employ more hands as and when they need them. Dr Agbanu complained, It is not proper to continue to stretch the capacities of the few dedicated staff of the universities without concern for their wellbeing. Meanwhile, as discussions on the need for government to completely lift the ban continues, UTAG has also called on management of the universities to consider scaling down on their first-year students' intake. BY Melvin Tarlue DAILY GUIDE has gathered that a four-day-old baby girl is missing at the maternity ward of the Bimbilla Government Hospital in the Northern Region under bizarre circumstances. According to reports, the mother of the baby, Tinam Bechebilambi woke up at dawn with intent to breastfeed her newly born baby only to find an empty baby cot near her. She reportedly raised an alarm which drew the attention of the nurses on duty. Tinam is said to have given the hospital authorities an ultimatum to find her baby else they would incur her wrath. The family members of Madam Tinam Bechebilambi expressed their disappointment about the incident to DAILY GUIDE, indicating that the woman underwent a painful Cesarean section at the hospital. It would be a big blow to all of us if after all that she went through she ends up losing the baby, they stated. District Police Commander, DSP Benjamin Aniah, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said at dawn on Friday, the baby was reported missing at the hospital. According to him, the matter was reported to the police by the chief of security at the Bimbilla Hospital. He indicated that the nurses and the security man had been arrested for questioning as part of investigations. From Eric Kombat, Bimbilla Centurion (South Africa) (AFP) - Stephen Cook and Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a good start after the hosts were sent in to bat in the series-deciding second Test against New Zealand on Saturday. South Africa were 100 for no wicket at lunch at Centurion's SuperSport Park. De Kock, the South African wicketkeeper, was moved up to open the batting which he does regularly in limited overs internationals after regular opener Dean Elgar sprained an ankle during fielding practice on Friday. Stiaan van Zyl came into the side and was expected to bat at number seven. De Kock was the more aggressive batsman, reaching 58 not out at lunch, while Cook again played a cautious opener's role. De Kock reached his half-century when he punched Boult through the covers off the back foot for his tenth boundary. Tim Southee and Trent Boult bowled testing opening spells, gaining some movement through the air and off a slow-paced pitch. Cook survived a confident appeal for leg before wicket by Boult in the fourth over when he was on one. The ball swung in sharply from the left-armer with the batsman back on his stumps. Umpire Paul Reiffel turned down the appeal and a New Zealand review failed when replays showed a faint inside edge onto the pads. Ironically, New Zealand did not seek a review when Cook was struck on the pads by Neil Wagner when he was on 36. The Black Caps and umpire Ian Gould probably thought the ball had pitched outside leg but replays showed it landed in line with the stumps and would have hit leg stump. GHANA is a contradiction in terms. By that, I mean this: we live in a country with its own way of doing things. All our communities have inherited rules for all the important things of life property rights; marriage; birth and death rites; and most important: justice. These traditions served our people for hundreds of years before we experienced a mere century or so of colonial rule under the British. Since then, we have been taken over by a personality construct that is at war with itself. Our traditional values are often difficult to reconcile with our adopted values relating to legal and juridical processes. In traditional Akan society (for example) every case that came to the chief's court involved people with whom the elders who acted as judge and jury were familiar. So they knew the character of each individual who was brought before them. The trials were also held in public. So the performance of each elder on the court was seen by everyone. Therefore, few elders could show favour to, or bias against, the alleged offender. Even more important, the main concern of the elders was to reconcile the parties in dispute. In pronouncing judgement after a hearing in public (followed by a private consultation by the elders behind closed doors) their spokesperson would address the guilty party in these terms: When we went to consult The Old Woman, she told us that you, Litigant Asomasi, had not treated Litigant Obenteng fairly, and that if you had taken a stick and beaten him to death with it, you would have treated him as a mere animal. And the whole assemblage would grunt: Heeeeeee! in support of the verdict. Of course, no litigant could be said to be completely satisfied with the outcome. But the public airing of the dispute often had a therapeutic effect even on those found guilty. Contrast this with the British system we now operate. A supposedly impersonal police force or prosecution service (whose incorruptibility cannot be guaranteed) presents a case against someone before a magistrate or judge (whose incorruptibility cannot be guaranteed!) If it is a civil case, lawyers (who would only get to know the litigants when they presented themselves in the lawyers' chambers) would try to find legal arguments that supported their clients' claims. In that adversarial atmosphere, justice can become a veritable gamble. What do you get if you place this witches' brew of ambiguities in the party-political domain? Or use it to write a Constitution? Don't believe that the people who write Constitutions do not have an axe to grind. I was a member of the Constituent Assembly that wrote Ghana's 1979 Constitution and I was appalled to find that even the representatives of the professional organisations, who were supposed to be politically neutral and thereby able to provide objective good sense to balance the biased proposals of the politically ambitious members, often joined hands with the politicians! Thereby, we missed an opportunity to write a Constitution that would have enabled us to capitalise on our multi-faceted experience in the social sphere, to craft a document both unique to us and easy to operate. We now have a hybrid Constitution that incorporates the worst aspects of governance in the two countries from which our document borrowed most liberally the USA and the United Kingdom. We have a system of majority carries the vote in a Parliament that mimics the UK House of Commons. But whereas in the UK, the House of Lords can act as a braking mechanism that halted the Prime Minister and his Cabinet in their tracks by delaying or even vetoing obnoxious legislation, in Ghana what the National Assembly decides is final. We do have an executive President instead of a Prime Minister, of course, but whereas in the USA, the powers of the President are severely curbed by the necessity to seek the advice and consent of the legislative arm of government, in Ghana, the President has a free hand as long as he can carry our uni-cameral Assembly with him. So our Constitution uses the words and mechanisms of democracy but does not protect the spirit of that democracy. It has created a situation that is nearly schizophrenic; a contradiction that has now trapped our President into granting a pardon to the Montie Trio. To be sure, the Constitution grants the President the power to pardon. But he is expected to exercise it in strict compliance with the Oath of Office that defines the spirit in which he has to fulfil his duties as President. This is the Oath he swore: I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons. Is pardoning people who have threatened to kill members of the Supreme Court and forcibly marry (i.e. rape) their head (who happens to be a woman) doing right by all manner of persons? If the 'Montie Trio' were members of the NPP as against the President's NDC would he have freed them? And if he wouldn't free NPP offenders of the 'Montie Trio' variety (as can be assumed) would that not amount to discriminating against people who were not in his own party? Would that be doing right to all manner of people? Secondly, how does undermining the authority of the Supreme Court the very Court that gave the President his job enhance the well-being of the people of Ghana? Richard M Nixon resigned the presidency of the USA in 1974 when it became public knowledge that he had authorised a criminal act, namely, the burglary at the Watergate offices of the Democratic National Committee. The US Senate would have impeached Nixon anyway, if he had not resigned. Significantly, those voting for impeachment would have included many in Nixon's own Republican Party. Why? Because they realised he was not in tune with the spirit of American democracy. Will our Parliamentarians impeach President Mahama for breaking the Presidential Oath that defines the spirit in which our President is supposed to act? By CAMERON DUODU www.cameronduodu.com The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Ayawaso West Wogon, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, has revealed that Parliaments decision to summon MPs from their break, has to do with the Minority's attempts to put forth concerns over President John Mahamas Ford gift saga. Speaking on Citi FM's News analysis programme, The Big Issue, the MP revealed, We have asked Mr. Speaker to call back the house we would want to raise the issue of the gift from Kanazoe to his Excellency the President on the floor of Parliament. This was in response to a circular indicating that the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has summoned parliament to sit on Thursday, September 1, in pursuance of Article 112(3) of the constitution and order 38(1) of the standing orders of Parliament. Mr. Agyarko however gave no indication if the Minority wanted to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Mahama but he simply said we will raise the issueswhen we get to that bridge we will cross it. The Minority in Parliament has already hinted of a possible impeachment process against President Mahama, for accepting the Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabe Contractor, Djibril Kanazoe. In July 2016, Citi News reported that the Minority had started started collecting signatures of Members in the House in a move some insiders said could lead to a push for impeachment proceedings against President Mahama. A Deputy Majority Leader, Alfred Agbesi, has however openly warned that the Majority will not tolerate any extra constitutional moves to investigate the President. Background President Mahama came under intense public criticism for accepting the Ford gift worth about US$100,000 allegedly to influence him. Djibril Kanazoe, admitted giving President Mahama the Ford Expedition vehicle, for which the President called to thank him. The gift, according to reports, was prior to an attempt by the contractor, to win a bid to execute the Dodo Pepeso-Nkwanta road construction project. The same contractor had also been contracted to build a wall, at a cost of over half a million dollars, for the Ghana Embassy in Ouagadougou. Mahamas letter to CHRAJ The Commission on Human rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) indicated that it has initiated steps that could lead to an investigation of President John Mahama, following the receipt of petitions from the youth league of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and another complainant, a private individual. But President Mahama, in a letter signed by his lawyer, Tony Lithur, asked CHRAJ to dismiss the allegations of conflict of interest. In the letter addressed to the acting Chairperson of CHRAJ, President Mahama held that he was innocent of all the allegations leveled against him. Can the Minority remove the President? For the Minority to succeed in grounding impeachment proceedings against the President, at least a third of MPs in the Ghanaian legislature must sign onto the petition for President Mahama's removal. Furthermore, for a President to be removed from office under the 1992 Constitution, at least two third-majority of MPs in Ghana's 275-member legislature, must vote for a motion calling for the President's impeachment. Such a vote will be taken only after a five-member committee set up by the Chief Justice indicts the President. Was Mahama wrong to accept gift? Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states, A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office. This constitutional provision has informed a new bill, Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013, presented by cabinet to Parliament. According to Section 21 (b) a public officer many not accept a gift, favour or an advantage that has the potential to influence the proper discharge of the public officer's functions or judgment, from a person with whom the public officer comes into contact in relation to the public officer's functions. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Members of Parliament (MP) have been recalled to consider a motion seeking to impeach President John Mahama for accepting a ford Expedition vehicle as a gift from a Burkinabe contractor. An investigative report by Joy News Manasseh Awuni Azure quotes Mr Kanazoe confirm giving the vehicle to the President through Ghanas Ambassador to Burkina Faso. But President Mahama in a breakfast meeting with the clergy in June denied using the vehicle for his personal comfort saying, it was given to the state. A summon by the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho directed MPs to return to the house on Thursday, September 1, but fell short of disclosing the agenda for the sitting. Joy News parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey says the MPs have been summoned to debate the motion before them. Joy News checks reveal that more than 50 percent of the minority have signed the petition to move the motion. More soon... Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected] The Gupta Family said: Since our decision to step down from all executive and non-executive positions in all our South African business in April 2016, the local management team has grown our businesses from strength to strength, with turnover and profits showing good growth and more jobs created. As a family, we now believe that the time is right for us to exit our shareholding of the South African businesses which we believe will benefit our existing employees, and lead to further growth in the businesses. As such, we announce today our intention to sell all of our shareholding in South Africa by the end of the year. We are already in discussions with several international prospective buyers and will soon be in a position to make further announcements. We believe that this decision is in the best interests of our business, the country and our colleagues. The Queen mother of New Edubiase in the Adansi South district of the Ashanti region, Nana Akua Dwum II, has urged men not to bite the nipple whilst sucking their wives' breasts. According to her, the best way to go about it is for men to use their tongues to lick the nipples and not the teeth. The Queen mother complained that some men do not know how to suck the breast at all and that they (men) should not allow their teeth to touch the breast. Speaking at an Anglo Gold Ashanti (AGA) sponsored cancer awareness programme in Obuasi recently, the Edubiase Queen Mother, whose comment was met with uncontrollable laughter, urged men to use their tongues in a steady up and down movement around the nipple. Nana Dwum II declared: There will be war should men be barred from sucking breasts. We would be prosecuted one after the other if it comes to that. Still at her educating best, Nana Dwum, however, made a clear distinction between men who are really exceptionally good at breast sucking compared to those men who use their teeth. She cautioned women to be careful with men who use their teeth whilst sucking the breast, to avoid being hurt or injured. I will plead with you (women) to give him your tongue if you realize he is about to reach orgasm, she advised, adding when you sense your man is going wayward take away your breast and give him your mouth. When he bites it, you also bite his, so that both of you will fast the following day. The queen mother pleaded with women to direct the men as to how best they (women) want it when the men are about to suck the breasts else just engage him with the tongue so that any bite would not have any serious repercussions on the breast. Nana Dwum also urged women to always do intermittent self-breast check-up at the hospital and called on AGA to organize such programs in all the traditional areas in the Adansi state and beyond. Nana Amoanimaa Dede II, Queen mother of Adansi Traditional Area, advised women to give their breast priority attention to reduce the high fatality rate from cancer. Nana Amoanimaa Dede II also corroborated the position of her New Edubiase counterpart that some men do not know how to suck the breast at all. It will not be out of place to hit your man hard to let him know it hurts, if he bites the nipples whilst sucking. By: Chronicle/Ghana 27.08.2016 LISTEN By Regina Benneh, GNA Sunyani, Aug. 26 GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Region has benefited tremendously in the provision of adequate educational infrastructure and facilities under the almost eight-year rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mr Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister said this when he addressed heads of department, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties' supporters, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the public at the 2016 government for the people (G4P) forum in Sunyani. The forum, on the theme: 'Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana,' aimed among other things at 'creating a platform for the Regional Coordinating Council, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Municipal and District Assemblies to engage the people, outline government initiatives and offer the citizenry an opportunity to interact with Ministers of State for answers to issues of primary concern to them'. He emphasised that laudable educational measures like the provision of leaching and learning materials and other logistics had resulted to the remarkable improvement in the education sector in the region. Mr Opoku cited among others that to encourage the boarding school system the region alone had been supplied with more than 40,000 student metal double beds and 80,000 mattresses to the senior high schools to enhance sleeping conditions of students for better academic performance. Touching on health, Mr. Opoku said government had done a lot to increase access to health services by the people because on assumption of power in 2009, the region had only 226 health facilities but had now been increased to 726. There were less than 10 health training institutions but these facilities have been increased to 11. He said it included nine polyclinics and 450 Community-based Health Planning Services Compounds in addition to a distribution of 45 pick-up vehicles and 1000 bicycles to the institutions and staff of the sector. He announced pupils in schools under the school feeding programme are being registered freely by the National Health Insurance Authority to guarantee provision ready access and affordable health services for them. Mr Opoku said besides helping to prevent absenteeism through sicknesses, the rate of truancy would also be reduced to attain quality standard of education in the region. GNA BJP governments in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand had earlier announced the implementation of the UCC. By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA Accra, Aug 26, GNA - A project dubbed: 'People for Health (P4H),' is ensuring improved access to quality health service delivery for citizens in 20 districts selected from four regions. The P4H project seeks to strengthen organisational and institutional capacities of government and civil society organisations (CSOs) for mutual accountability in health, HIV, water, sanitation and hygiene, family planning and nutrition policy formulation and implementation. It is a five-year project- March 2016- March 2021 being implemented by a consortium of three organisations led by SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), with Penplusbytes another NGO and the Ghana News Agency as partners, and sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The target regions include Greater Accra, Eastern, Northern and Volta while the districts comprised Karaga, Central Gonja and Yendi Municipality. Mr Siapha Kamara, Chief of Party of the P4H Project, who made a presentation on the project at an inception meeting in Accra, said the project seeks to leverage opportunities for change, building on consortium members' existing good relations with local governments, District Health Management Teams and the USAID ongoing initiatives in the health sector. The meeting, attended by representatives from CSOs, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana Health Service, Regional Coordinating Council, Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Aids Commission, and the Media, was to introduce stakeholders to the project and seek their support for its successful implementation to achieve the expected results. Mr Kamara said consortium members would work to increase citizens' voices to demand for and champion improved access to quality health services. He said: 'The consortium's emphasis on social accountability will increase CSO leadership, mobilise communities and key populations to demand quality delivery of health programmes, promote accountability in the use of health resources and simultaneously maximise the responsiveness of health service providers.' He said the project would improve inclusiveness and equity, helping to make the country a model for a health system which served the people according to their needs. Mr Emmanuel Essandoh, Senior HIV Advisor, USAID said in recognition of the importance of advocacy in bringing about improvements in socio-economic development in Ghana, USAID has employed a range of approaches in health, education, economic and governance sectors, to increase government accountability, responsiveness and transparency. It also includes support for providing integrated quality services, capacity building of indigenous organisations and strengthening of health systems. He said USAID/Ghana is committed to supporting the country in realising its goal of becoming an established middle-income country by 2022. Dr James Clayman, a gynaecologist at LEKMA Hospital who chaired the occasion said effective monitoring in the health facilities would ensure good management for increasing efficiency and effectiveness of health services. Mr Joseph Whittal, Deputy Commissioner, CHRAJ who was represented at the meeting reiterated CHRAJ's commitment to partner with consortium members to ensure the success of the project. GNA 27.08.2016 LISTEN Kumasi, Aug. 27, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr John Alexander Ackon, has expressed optimism that Ghana would survive and come out victorious in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. He, therefore, reminded Christians to revive their responsibility to pray for the peace of the nation and her leaders as the country goes into election this year. "There is no doubt that the peace we enjoy as a nation is due to the grace of God and the unceasing intercession of the saints of God. "Let us remember that the battle for peace is not yet over and it will take our prayers to ensure free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7," he said. Mr Ackon was addressing the National Prophetic Conference organised by the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) in Kumasi on the theme: "The Overcoming Power of the Last Days". The event, attended by the congregation from the northern sector of the country comprising the Ashanti, Northern, Western, Upper West and Upper East regions, is to seek the face of God and pray for His blessings and grace in this election year. Mr Ackon challenged Ghanaians to let the power and the grace of God shine in them, wait on Him in all situations and remain steadfast in the Lord. He commended the National Executive Council of the CACI for organising the conference which, he said, called on Christians to rededicate their lives to God. Apostle Dr Stephen Kwame Amoani, the Chairman of the CACI, appealed to all political parties to work towards a peaceful election and also accept the election results to ensure national unity and peaceful co-existence. "We are the people of one nation and, therefore, we must seek to promote peace at all times and in all endeavours,' Apostle Amoani said. Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia VI, Bantamahene, commended the church for its intervention and prayers for the nation, especially during this electioneering period. He urged all Christians to continue to pray before, during and after the elections to sustain the peace. Apostle Michael Nimo, former Chairman of the Church, led the congregation to pray for the nation and her leaders. GNA 27.08.2016 LISTEN By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Accra, Aug 26, GNA - Societe Generale Ghana (formerly SG-SSB) has signed a $ 50 million Credit Facility Agreement with the Government to finance the rehabilitation of some of Ghana Government Missions abroad. Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning signed for the Government, while Mr Sionle Yeo, the Managing Director of Societe Generale Ghana initialled for the bank, at a ceremony in Accra. The signing of the Credit Facility Agreement has come at a time to support Ghana to address some of the challenges faced by the Ghana Foreign Missions. The Deputy Minister expressed the appreciation of the Government for the assistance, and pledged the Executive's commitment to partner financial institutions and other stakeholders in bringing development and social improvement programmes to the people. Mr Yeo, in a comment, said it is the desire of the bank to partner Ghana in the socio -economic development of the country and to strengthen the already cordial business relations that has existed for many years between the Societe Generale Group, Societe Generale Ghana and the country. He commended Government for championing rule of law and respect for human rights in Ghana, which have deepened the country's democracy. He said: 'Societe Generale has significantly invested in Ghana's financial sector in view of the stable political environment and improving the economy with strong medium and long-term prospects. 'Therefore as a true development partner of Ghana, Societe Generale Ghana and the Societe Generale Group have financed various Government's...projects to the tune of $600 million between from 2009 - 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. GNA Ningo (GAR), Aug. 26, GNA - Nene Kanor Attiapa, the Acting President of the Ningo Traditional Area, has urged the government to attract both local and foreign investors with significant tax incentives. He said this would encourage entrepreneurs to invest more in projects that would go a long way to improve the living conditions of the people. Nene Attiapa made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after he had performed some rites to hand over lands for the construction of 225 MW Wind Energy by NEK Ghana Limited, a power generating company. He described the project as a good deal and expressed happiness, saying: 'I believe that after the completion of the project our woes of power outages within the traditional area will be over.' Mr Michael Sporri, the Project Development Wind Energy, told the GNA that the project would start next year and would be completed in 18 months. He said the power which would be generated would contribute 10 per cent to the Ghana's energy stock, adding; 'It is a reliable renewable electricity power to address the current energy crisis confronting Ghanaians.' Mr Sporri expressed the hope that after the completion of the project in the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region businesses would grow and the socio-economic standards of the people would improve. GNA By Patience A. Gbeze, GNA Dodowa (GAR), Aug. 27, GNA - Nii Osah Mills, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called for strategies that would respond to youth crime, re-integration and after-care services to support the development of vulnerable children and the youth. He said re-integration and after care services would address repetition, restore normal behaviour among juveniles and enhance reform. Nii Osah Mills was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Re-integrated Juveniles Centre at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region by the Child Research and Resource Centre (CRRECENT), a Non Governmental Organisation championing the re-integration of juveniles in Ghana. He said the youth bulge was a common phenomenon in many developing countries including Ghana where social unrest of all kinds associated with children and young people could emerge. 'Ghana is going through a demographic transition where it is predicted that the population of adolescents and young adults in the country is expected to hit 5.3 million by the end of last year, 2015,' he said. Nii Osah Mills said that could be gradually taking the country into the dreaded youth bulge phase. He said government recently came up with a comprehensive work plan to compliment the National Youth Policy and stressed the need for public private partnership to take advantage of the work plan to address delinquency and juvenile crime in the country. 'It is our hope that civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, and corporate bodies among others will compliment government's efforts to give hope to young people while securing the human resource of our dear country,' he said. The Minister, therefore, commended the CRRECENT for directly intervening through its juvenile re-integration programme. Ms Sussan Sabaa, the Executive Director of CRRECENT, said the centre had dedicated itself to the protection of young people over the past 10 years. She said the dream to have the project started in 2003 when the Juvenile Justice Act came into being showed that there was a huge gap when young people left correctional centres and integrated into society. Ms Sabaa said her organisation was commissioned in 2010 by Plan Ghana to do a baseline survey on the programme on Juvenile Justice in Ghana being supported by European Union. 'It was there that the dream got rekindled and became more urgent because the baseline brought out the challenges of young people who came out of incarceration to face in society. They are totally neglected, stigmatised and there is no structured programme to support them,' she said. Ms Sabaa said the CRRECENT sought to give those young people what they needed to be effectively reintegrated into society. She said they would move beyond reintegrating to providing the young people with shelter for their smooth transition into society. GNA By Iddi Yire, GNA Accra, Aug 27, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday launched its first-ever Communications Strategy Document which gives a clear roadmap in support of its five-year Strategic Plan. The 88-page document, if thoroughly implemented, would result in transforming the image of the Commission, improve its relationship with stakeholders, give a better publicity of the Commission's electoral activities, and increase public confidence in it. It, therefore, details exactly how the EC would disseminate information to stakeholders on its programmes and activities to attain the objectives of the Strategic Plan. It further outlines the Commission's target audiences, communications principles, internal and external communications policies, and the channels that would be used for both internal and external communications. Mrs Charlotte Osei, the EC Chairperson, said the Commission recognised that effective communication drove transparency, accountability and ultimately better services and outcomes. 'Our success in improving outcomes and the quality of the electoral services we provide is significantly dependent on our ability to look outward to serve the interest of the voting public,' she said. 'This communications strategy is the blue print of how we intend to effectively communicate with all internal and external stakeholders in order to meet our core electoral mandate,' she added. Mrs Osei said the document spelt out how the strategy would be implement and the mechanisms for results evaluation at predetermined intervals. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided the necessary funding for the writing and printing of the document. Mrs Osei said the Communications Strategy Document came at a time when the Commission had purposed to redefine its relationship with key stakeholders and reposition itself as a more transparent and responsive institution alive to its responsibilities of delivering credible world-class elections. 'We are aiming to be the Benchmark in Africa for the delivery of independent, trusted and world-class electoral outcomes. 'Effective communications is, therefore, imperative to building understanding and trust among our stakeholders,' Mrs Osei said. She said in view of the fact that the Commission now had a well-structured Communications Department, it was expected that the team would diligently work towards implementing the activities contained in the Communications Strategy. She said the USAID, through its Support for Governance and Democracy Programme, had been working closely with the EC towards a credible electoral process such as the redesigning of the Commission's website and building the EC's communication capacity. Mr Robert P. Jackson, the US Ambassador to Ghana, said the launch was an important milestone in the quest to ensure that Ghana remained one of the world's most open democracies and Ghanaians remained the world's most engaged electorate. 'With just over 100 days until Ghana's 2016 presidential election, we are clearly at a critical juncture. During the weeks ahead, the Commission has an important role to play. Communicating with the electorate is one of the most formidable - and consequential - challenges the Commissioners face. 'Without effective communication voters may misconstrue noble intentions and become disillusioned with the democratic process,' he said. He said Ghana had one of the world's most free presses and is one of the world's most vibrant democracies. 'This Communications Strategy will equip voters with the knowledge they need to engage in elections,' the US Ambassador said. GNA A Lecturer at the GIMPA Business School has said beside the raging debate about the legality of President John Mahamas remission of the sentences of the Montie 3, the move is wrong. Jemima Nunoo says she is disappointed that the President remitted the four months sentences handed to Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, who were jailed by the Supreme Court for scandalisng the court and bringing it into disrepute. I am not an expert but I can safely say what the President did was legal. It has legal backing. But it is not everything that is legal is beneficial. Neither is everything that is legal, constructive, she said on news analysis programme Newsfile on Joy FM and Joy News channel on Multi TV, Saturday. Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase walked home free on Friday after a month in jail following an Executive order to release them. They had threatened to kill and rape judges during a political talk show on pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC), local language radio station Montie FM. Accordiing them some members on the bench were anti-NDC and pro opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Following the sentencing of the trio and before the the release of a statement directing the them to be release, legal and governance experts have been divided about the legality of the Presidents capacity to exercise his prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the Constitution. However, speaking on Newsflie, Mrs Nunoo said because the freed ex-contemnors are known NDC activists, the Presidents decision presents grave consequences for the political space. She says because Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn the two panelists and the host of the programme, Salifu Maase, are known NDC sympathizers and activists, their release by the ruling party can be perceived to mean that the President has abused his power of discretion to favour members of his party. Its all about perception, she said. She surmised that especially that the three, not once, not twice but over a continuinjg period have been involved in character assignation, insults, vilifaction, all manner of unscrupulous things and one incident has led them to be found guilty of contempt, they should have served their full sentences. It was not about freedom of speech. They threatened death and rape. It is very serious, she said to dismiss arguments that the three were exercising their democratic right to free speech. She said contrary to what others have said, the four month jail sentence was not harsh, adding the intervention of influential in the punishment of people who break laws is creeping into the Ghanaian society. The Presidents action, she said, sets a bad precedence. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected] Police in the Nanumba North district in the Northern region have found the four-day-old baby girl stolen at the Bimbila government hospital Friday dawn. Two persons have also been picked up to assist with investigation. The suspects are 42-year-old Nanyim Nakwaja, and Samira, 21, who are natives of Kunkuna, a suburb of Bimbila. DSP Benjamin Aniah who confirmed to Starr News said the baby was found in the hands of Samira by some community members. According to Starr News sources, the first suspect Nanyim Nakwaja, a konkomba woman stole the baby from the hospital and handed it over to Samira. Sources say Samira was tasked to kill the child because the baby had a deformity and it was seen as bad omen in the Konkomba tradition to give birth to a deformed baby. Police is yet to establish whether parents of the baby have a connection to the suspects but the police commander in an earlier interview with Starr News said the mother of the baby didnt look worried. The four-day-old baby went missing in bizarre circumstances at the maternity ward of the Bimbilla Government Hospital. The mother of the baby, Tinam Bechebilambi from a village called Juhanayili said she woke up Friday dawn to breastfeed her baby only to find an empty cot next to her. -starrfmonline The Vice Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament has cautioned the Electoral Commission (EC) against plans to end the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise on Saturday, August 27. Kofi Osei Ameyaw says it would be a violation of the countrys Electoral Laws. The exercise, which is aimed at providing eligible voters, the opportunity to either register anew, or get their details verified kick-started on August 19 of this month and is ending today. But Mr Osei Ameyaw has warned the EC against ending the exercise saying the EC would be committing an illegality if it goes ahead with such. "How can something that is said to be continuous and then end? We should check the regulations because once the parties have consented to the Continuous Voter Registration it cannot stop until two months to elections," he said. Furthermore, he argued that the laws states that two months to election the registration should not stop adding those who come two months to the election can only voter in the next public election. "So I don't see why the EC can deprive citizens from entering the register when it is not two months to the lection," he maintained. But Head of Communication at the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzakpasu tells Joy News the processes that the EC would have to undertake in the lead-up to the election makes it almost impossible for the exercise to continue. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected] Folks, if public utterances coming from the NPP stables should be believed, then, they can lead us to only one firm conclusion that the NPP is damn unstable, porous, paranoid, and useless because of its own inherent weaknesses, not because of any outsiders negative influence to tear it apart. We raise some of those utterances from two angles to support our conclusion. The NPPs Acting General Secretary (John Boadu) is reported to have accused the NDC of infiltrating the ranks of the NPP to cause confusion. According to him, 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 uses the national security personnel to foment 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. (See http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2016/August-25th/npp-blames-ndc-for-sponsoring-fueling-confusion-in-the-party.php). The New Patriotic Party has blamed the regular wrangling within its ranks on "elements" in the National Security apparatus. According to the party, President John Mahama has deliberately increased funding to the state security agency in order to enable them sponsor confusion within the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition. (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Mahama-funding-National-Security-to-divide-us-NPP-465133). MY COMMENTS National Security being resourced to cause confusion in the NPP? What kind of senseless accusation is that? How inconceivable? How do these NPP people think at all about what political power entails? Do they even know the political inclinations of members of National Security? If they care, they should do their own background checks to know that not everyone recruited into National Security sings the praises of the government of the day. Is it in the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces, or the Bureau of National Investigation, or other analogous security-oriented institutions? Personnel in those institutions have their political inclinations and act the way they want to at election time. No one is a robot there to be manipulated. Those of us who know what we know will always caution the NPP people to stop their campaign of stupidity as far as National Security is concerned. Do they really know what National Security stands for? If they do, they should be the last to make such a stupid allegation. Why should the government spend resources on upgrading National Security only to use it to cause security problems for it to solve? Do these NPP people not know how much goes into supporting National Security (even if the returns arent quantifiable as it would be in the case of miners raising revenue for the country?). For their information, National Security provides nothing but SERVICE, which isnt money, even if that service provides the congenial atmosphere for those doing business to raise revenue for the country. A service is a service, but it must be respected as such. I can read a deeper meaning into this mad accusation. I suppose that the NPP is pitting itself against the orthodox National Security apparatus in the mistaken hope that it could supplant it with its own band of operatives being mobilized under the auspices of the Invincible (or Invisible) Forces or Bolga Bulldogs and other ill-defined and impulsive blocs of misguided elements being trained to cause mayhem at Election 2016 and thereafter. In that sense, the security threat posed to the country by Akufo-Addo and his NPP cant be under-estimated. It is a dangerous miscalculation to point out to Akufo-Addo and his gang. I like what the Coordinator of NDC 2016 Campaign, Kofi Adams, said in reaction, dismissing the NPP claims as baseless and adding that the NPP has kept the police busier than armed robbers have done over the period. And the more the NPP puts pressure on the national security apparatus, the more it undercuts itself. Ghana will survive all their kind of mischief. The truth must be told that Ghana is well-known for security operations and for being the oasis in the desert of anarchy in the West African sub-region or entire Africa. Ghana is respected for its political stability and open-door policy, not to talk about the far-reaching contributions of its leaders since the establishment of the Fourth republic to support peace-making efforts. Talk about Ghanas role in ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone; in the peacekeeping campaign in La Cote DIvoire after the Laurent Gbagbo nonsense; in Mali after the al-Qaeda mayhem; and many others. Within this context, it will be very much unbecoming for any politician seeking political power to abuse the system and introduce what will not work well for the country. If lazy politicians fail to accept their own inadequacies and quickly blame the incumbent for the internal woes of their own political front, especially by shifting that blame to National Security, they will be setting up time-bombs to blow everything apart. Ghana doesnt need such time-bombs. It needs cool-headed leaders who will mobilize the citizens to take their destinies into their own hands, even as they use the countrys resources to improve living standards. National Security is above narrow political confines. A paranoid NPP cannot see things as they are, which explains why it is accusing the incumbent for nothing. Let Akufo-Addo and the neophytes leading his campaign learn lessons that our countrys history offers so they dont go where angels themselves fear to tread. Once they annoy National Security, they cant have it easy-going. And why should they focus on National Security, anyway? I must say that of all their accusations, allegations, and whining over the years, this one on the National Security is the weirdest. And to imagine that Boadu didnt provide any shred of evidence to support his wild allegations? Let Akufo-Addo and his followers be advised. National Security remains National Security, no matter which political party wins the elections. No need to annoy anybody because no one knows the man behind the mask. I wish they will unpack this wise crack to tread cautiously. Truly, the NPP is being led by narrow-minded people who dont know what Ghanaian politics entails. Under the late Prof. Adu Boahen and former president Kufuors leadership, nothing of the froth coming from todays NPP stable came to notice. When Adu Boahen lost the elections, he was quick to blame Rawlings for stealing the verdict; but an inner-house analysis of the situation proved to him that he wasnt well-cut-out to outdo Rawlings. The flight into academic literature that produced the futile and unpatronized _Stolen Verdict_ ended his political career. A successful scholar he might be, but not anybodys cup of tea in politics. He faded just like that. Under Kufuor, the NPP entered Election 1996, carrying along with it the needless baggage that Akufo-Addo had wrought after bitterly undermining Kufuor when he lost the bid to lead the party. Rawlings whipped the NPP, and no one did anything in protest. The verdict of the voters was swallowed and the NPP thought it wise to give Kufuor a chance to attempt biting the cake at future elections. At Election 2000, Kufuor campaign on the basis of whatever his vision was, wrapped around the urgent appeal to Ghanaians to take a critical look at their living standards under the NDC administration and to be informed well enough to cast their votes wisely. They did so, but it didnt put him in office. Only after negotiating with the minority political parties did Kufuor succeed in the run-off. In all his stunting for votes, Kufuor never threatened any political opponent nor did he undermine the integrity of the orthodox state apparatuses. He presented himself as a trustworthy candidate. He did so at Election 2004 and prevailed. Never did he once condemn his political opponents as Akufo-Addo and his gang have been doing since Election 2008. Kufuor proved that he could win elections on merit, which was why he opposed the move by the Akufo-Addo team to challenge the outcome of Election 2008. He stood aside when the hard-headed Akufo-Addo proceeded to the Supreme Court with the useless petition against the outcome of Election 2012. And he has remained as such. Isnt there any useful lesson for Akufo-Addo to learn from precedent? Picking on National Security wont open door; it will needlessly endanger national life. Meantime, the quest for political power shouldnt go that way. History teaches us that dictators deploying the national security apparatus to reinforce and strengthen their grips on power end up being snuffed out by those very forces. Human beings have a limited capacity for nuisance. Lets remember that members of National Security have families whose experiences can differ drastically from their own, especially at Election time. So, why count on them to perpetrate electoral fraud or to perpetuate ones reign? And who has the skill to know the construction of the National Security operatives mind on his face? Akufo-Addo and his followers are really lost. Those like them who seek to win political power for the Mate Me Ho camp in contemporary times need to rise above the nuisance around which Akufo-Addo has wrapped his electioneering campaign stunts. Indeed, if there is any message of hope for Ghanaians, it should be given in the open and all orthodox state apparatuses allowed to do their work withou9t being threatened as is happening now. Folks, there is a lot more to say, but6 I will end it here with a pin-pointed advice to Akufo-Addo and his gang that as human beings, we have only one life to live; and we can do so if we know how to secure that life. Shouting Halleluia Halleluia all over the place wont make us saints or secure our lives against anything untoward coming from the toes on which we have stepped in the attempt to realize our personal ambitions. A loaded message to be unpacked by those who can. National Security is National Security!! An aspiring President who threatens National Security even before assuming office cant be protected by that establishment. As a boil standing exposed on a mans bald head, that figure is worse than the bulls eye. Can these NPP people think right not to sow the wind so they dont reap the whirlwind? They tried it to give Jerry Rawlings the impetus; when he struck, they bolted, tails between their legs. Is it now that they have adroitly tried to retrace their steps by swallowing back their own vomit that the situation will improve for them? They have snuggled to Rawlings but they are not yet there. And Ghana has survived all the pressure because of what Rawlings put in place by way of National Security. If the NPP people doubt it, they should ask Capt. Koda what made him develop diarrhoea when he was picked up by the BNI in connection with the three South African mercenaries. And he has been very quiet ever since. In truth, man always passes man. Let Akufo-Addo and his gang of malfunctioning political novices be prepared for more. They should be prepared to dance to the tune that they call. No more, no less for now. Let Akufo-Addo and his gang of malfunctioning political novices be prepared for more. They should be prepared to dance to the tune that they call. No more, no less for now. But the fundamental nettle is: If an outside force such as the NDC can penetrate the NPP camp now in the home turf in Ghanaian politics, what is the guarantee that a future NPP government cannot be penetrated by other outsiders who will definitely see the loopholes to use against Ghana's interests? And is Akufo-Addo willing to tell Ghanaians how the Italian financiers of his campaign for Election 2008 who were arrested by the Ghana Police and paraded at the National Police Headquarters got out of the web because of what the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Co. did by harping on mere sentiments instead of reasons related to National Security? Who is financing the NPP under Akufo-Addo to warrant the impudence that motivates their kind of campaign for Election 2016? Folks, we have the facts to expose their mischief. Let them take us on, and we will match them boot-to-boot, mouth-to mouth. I shall return E-mail: [email protected] Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor to continue the conversation. By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor The family of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator for Bawku Central who was granted unconditional amnesty in 2012 by President John Mahama have dismissed claims that their relative received the pardon on false grounds. The family was reacting to a claim by former Chief of Staff and lawyer for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Ato Dadzie, that Adamu Dramani Sakandes petition to the President to be released on health grounds was a ruse to walk free. Mr Sakande was jailed for perjury, false declaration of office, forgery and deceit of public officer in 2012. [Adamu Sakande] came out with a public statement that he was not ill, he has not been ill. The records are there Ato Dadzie said on Newsfile on Joy FM and on the Joy News channel (Multi TV), Saturday. Ato Dadzie said this to suggest that some members of the opposition party have equally enjoyed the benefits of the Presidents prerogative of mercy even under less serious instances. Some NPP members have said the recent remission of the sentences of the Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase was arbitrary and an abuse of the Presidents discretional power to intervene in a sentence. Others have said the three, jailed for scandalizing the court, were released on Friday August 27, 2016 because they are NDC activists. Nana Ato Dadzie Ato Dadzie also made reference to the Sakande pardon in his bid to ward off unrelenting criticisms that has greeted the recent remission of the sentence of the three. However, shortely after the NDC lawyer made the comments on Newsfile, an elder sister of Mr Adamu Sakande, who gave her name only as Elizabeth, called into the show to present a swift rebuttal. I have been instructed by my junior brother, Adamu Sakande, to ask you [host of the show] to require Nana Ato Dadzie to retract the false statement he made about his health during his incarceration and his health. As a matter of fact, he has never written a letter or held any press conference asserting that he was never sick. He is still battling with the aftermath of the issues concerning his health and currently seeking attention in the UK, she told show host, Samson Anyenini. Nana Ato Dadzie hurriedly retracted his claim, blaming a report he had read for the misinforamtion. He also apologized for same. President Mahama granted an unconditional amnesty to the former NPP Parliamentarian in December of 2012 after he served five months in jail. The Presidency at the time explained that the decision to pardon the legislator, who has been on admission at the cardio-thoracic center at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra was purely on medical grounds. The then Bawku Central legislator was jailed in July 2012 after being convicted by an Accra High Court on charges of perjury, false declaration of office, forgery and deceit of public officer. Soon after the December 2008 elections, Sumaila Bielbiel, a Bawku-based cattle dealer, challenged the eligibility of Sakande to be a Parliamentarian due to his dual citizenship. Bielbiel had alleged that Sakande held both British and Burkinabe passports, a charge the MP initially denied, claiming he had renounced his British citizenship. Ghanas electoral laws provide that anyone with dual nationality would have to renounce the other citizenship to qualify for holding an elected position in Ghana. Mr Sakande however denied the claims, spending most part of his term in Parliament fighting the case which travelled for over three years. However, the state in a surprise move preferred criminal charges against the MP and successfully prosecuted him. Expatiating on its judgment, the court noted that the prosecution had established beyond doubt that the Bawku Central MP was a Burkinabe, having been born in Burkina Faso, as his refugee pass issued in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1992 indicated, which the MP confirmed in his evidence before the court. He was however given a reduced sentence although perjury is a second degree felony which attracts not less than a 10-year jail term, as his counsel,Yoni Kulendi, pleaded for leniency for the MP who was suffering from a heart condition. After spending a few weeks at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, Sakande was in August 2012 rushed to the Cardio-Thoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after his heart conditioned worsened. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected] 27.08.2016 LISTEN Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur's convoy and some journalists were involved in an accident on the Winneba-Cape Coast highway, Saturday afternoon. Although Mr Amissah-Arthur was unhurt, the accident left four persons including journalists and presidential bodyguards injured. The Vice-President was traveling to Dominase for the 20th anniversary of Nana Kwebu Ewusi and also to celebrate Akwambo festival with the people. Eyewitness said Mr Amissah-Arthur's motorcade tried to stop a speeding vehicle, which failed to slow down for the convoy. As a result, the driver was unable to control the speeding car and crashed into one of the black SUV V8 vehicles in the convoy and summersaulted into the nearby bush. More soon... Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline 27.08.2016 LISTEN By Samira Larbie, GNA Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - Ms Antoinette Shor-Anyawoe, the Acting Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, has encouraged political parties to integrate Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues in their manifestoes and discuss same on their political platforms. This, she said, was necessary to create awareness of WASH issues during the 2016 general election and awaken key stakeholders to take concrete actions. Ms Shor-Anyawoe was speaking at the 56 National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) meeting organised by WaterAid Ghana in Accra to brief stakeholders on the WASH campaign for national development. It was on the theme: 'Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Election 2016 in Ghana'. It aims at soliciting support for WASH implementation and collectively discuss the way forward in ensuring its success and prioritisation in Ghana. Ms Shor-Anyawoe said political parties in their previous manifestoes had drafted policies on sanitation but that was marginal hence the need to make it their centre piece and discuss it vehemently to achieve the required change. She said often times political parties saw sanitation issues as merely constructing toilet facilities and providing water but it moves beyond that to sustainability to ensure the amenities served for a long term. She said Ghana had signed onto so many Sustainable Development Goals but their implementation was the problem and urged the political parties to show commitment by ensuring the programme worked for the benefit of all. Mr Enoch Cudjoe, the Acting Policy Manager of WaterAid Ghana, said there was the need for communities and political parties to scale up the support now and after the elections. He, thus, called for the necessary by-laws to be enforced to shape both political parties and communities as far as sanitation and health issues are concerned. Reverend Stephen Yaw Osei, the Director of Policy Budget, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said: 'Water is life, sanitation is dignity and hygiene is health and, thus, partnering with WaterAid through this initiative would make citizens very healthy'. He said government alone could not handle the situation and, therefore, needed private entities to come on board to address the challenge. He appealed for massive public support to ensure that the achievement of the various policies and programmes outlined in the plan did not become a mirage. GNA By Sarah Agyekum/ Belinda Kusorgbor, GNA Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - The leadership of Soka Gakkai International (SGI)-Ghana has admonished Ghanaians to protect the peace and dignity of the country to avoid conflicts before, during and after this year's election. He said the future generation would not forgive Ghanaians if the peace being enjoyed was destroyed. Mr Simon Ampadu, the Accra Regional Headquarters Leader of SGI-Ghana, said this during the presentation of the organisation's Election 2016 Peace Proposal on the theme: 'Respect for the Dignity of Life is the Foundation for Peace' to the Ga Traditional Council in James Town, Accra. He said SGI is a Buddhist organisation with over 12 million members in 192 countries worldwide, including Ghana. He said: 'The philosophy gives respect for differences in colour, race, tribe, gender, religious affiliation, political affiliation and wealth among others.' Mr Ampadu said the SGI focused on 'one nation, one people and one destiny, as in the patriotic song; 'Arise Ghana Youth.' He said transforming differences into a united mission and creating value out of the December election would see Ghana develop eternal peace and prosperity. 'Ghana must learn from bitter experiences of war from nations close to us. Instead of conflict and war, let us use constructive dialogue and abhor violence. We are one people with one destiny living within one nation,' he added. Mr Ampadu said SGI- Ghana, had for the past six months, prayed for a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election with the hope that Ghana would once again emerge victorious. He indicated that Mr Daisaku Ikeda, the SGI President, declared in 1960 that Ghana in the 21st century would be the nation to lead Africa to bring peace to the world. Nii Adote Otinkor II, the Sempe Mantse, said he was happy with what the SGI organisation had outlined in its proposal towards maintaining the peace prior to the election. He said Ghanaians are one people irrespective of their political and cultural differences and called on all to practice peace in deeds and not only in words. Mr Thomas Nii Boye Ashong, the Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, said political parties may change but Ghana would remain the same, and as such every Ghanaian should get involved to promote peace. 'Let us all try to maintain the peace because we cannot move to a different country should there be war,' he said. Mr Ashong gave the assurance that the proposal would be presented to government to act accordingly to ensure a peaceful country. GNA you are here: For this weeks video, we bring you Andy Villaruel, a 25-year-old from the Philippines, who builds miniature motorcycle models in incredible detail despite being born without hands. Villaruel has no hands and only one forearm but that hasnt stopped him from creating these incredible models for a company called Dumaguete Miniature Artworks. The models are actually of motorized tricycles, motorcycles with large covered sidecars commonly used in the Philippines as taxis. Because of his particular challenges, it takes Villaruel four days to complete one model whereas most of his coworkers can complete one per day. Shopowner Julius Lusaya met Villaruel in his home town of La Castellana and offered him the opportunity to learn how to build these models at his shop in Dumaguete six hours away. Because at the start, I really wanted to be able to impart the things I discovered. When I thought about the people I wanted to impart it to, I thought, why not teach persons with disability (PWD)? I really want them to have jobs as well, Lusaya tells Move.PH. Villaruel had difficulty finding employment because of his disability but Lusaya only had two requirements: that Villaruel knew how to use a hammer and how to use a pair of scissors. He did, so Lusaya hired Villaruel, spending four months training him to perfect building models without any assistance. PWD in Dumaguete creates hand-crafted mini tricyclesNO LIMITS: Andy Villaruel crafts intricately-designed miniature tricycles despite having no hands and forearms. Read the full story: http://s.rplr.co/G7gKG6d Posted by Move.PH on Friday, August 19, 2016 Read the full story on Rappler.com and learn more about Villaruel and the Dumaguete Miniature Artworks shop on its Facebook page. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 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." ___ It is in Ofori-Atta's own interest ... Sacramento, CA A federal judge declined to issue an injunction to stop a new state law that requires all school children to receive vaccinations. A lawsuit was filed by 17 families and two advocacy groups. The legislation eliminates the personal and religious belief exemption for vaccinations and only allows for medical exemptions signed by physicians. It applies to both public and private schools, as well as daycare facilities. The judges ruling on Friday comes as several children are heading back to class for the new school year. The lawsuit argues that the new rules are unconstitutional and that children are guaranteed a right to an education. The lawsuit will still proceed, but the injunction to stop the law in the meantime was denied. A legal victory Friday for parents across Florida who challenged six school districts over the use of the controversial Florida Standards Assessment. Judge ruled 3rd graders can't be retained solely on test scores Admonished Dept. of Education for giving out misinformation to school districts The judge ruled those districts Broward, Orange, Osceola, Hernando, Pasco and Seminole -- cannot consider just test scores when it comes to holding third graders back a grade. Gabi Weaver says its been a tough school year so far for her daughter. Camryn is having to repeat the 3rd grade. When she gets pulled for fourth grade math, the first day her friends asked why she has to return to a third grade class," Weaver said. "Her friends on the school bus ask questions. Weaver says her daughter Camryn is well above a third-grade reading level, but she refused to let her daughter take the FSA last spring because she said the test isnt a good assessment of her daughters ability. This test was meant to be taken in the spring so they could identify children who have deficiencies, and they could help those children before the year ends," Weaver said. "Thats not what they did this year. They said if you dont take it, youre not going, and thats kind of detrimental to everybody. But on Friday, a judge in Tallahassee ruled the school districts must also consider classroom grades and teacher evaluations, not just participation or performance on mandated standardized tests. We know now that report cards matter, which means teachers matter and our students are more than a number, Weaver said. We reached out to the Seminole County School District, but a spokesperson said they can't comment right now because this issue will likely continue in court. Judge Karen Gievers also said the Florida Dept. of Education was handing out improper information that was partly to blame for the actions of some school districts. She ordered the agency to stop "disseminating misinformation" on possible alternatives to passing the FSA. State education officials say they are still reviewing the judge's ruling. A weather shift to cool, damp weather is happening at the end of the growing season, when many producers would rather see hot, dry conditions to push crops toward harvest. In the farming community, we never turn down a good rain, explains Blayne Reed, AgriLife Extension Integrated Pest Management agent for Floyd, Swisher and Hale counties. But at this point, its a mixed bag. Referring to a classic Clint Eastwood movie, Reed said the additional moisture and cooler temperatures are covering the spectrum in production agriculture across the area - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. As he explains in his weekly Plains Pest Management newsletter, Most corn and sorghum fields are agronomically loving this week, unless harvest was delayed. The increase in moisture also usually helps control spider mites in these crops, but also aids in spreading fungal diseases which will need to be watched for economic impact. Cotton fields that are well cut-out with large bolls in the top crop and no more blooms to make are enjoying some good boll fill, while what will likely be the last few passes of the irrigation area make. Fields that have been cut-out for quite some time, dryland cotton mostly, regrowth is a real concern. Lusher cotton fields either not cut-out yet or still with blooms in the top crop trying to make this late are causing some concerns about potential maturity issues and regrowth potential. Thanks to another heavy round of bollworm moth flights, likely brought up with the winds carrying the moisture, those lusher cotton fields are now at serious risk for economic worm infestation as are most sorghum fields not already at hard dough stage. The National Weather Service says rain chances will improve Sunday through the middle of the week as the next upper level pressure trough moves into the southwest. Temperatures will remain slightly below normal through midweek. Rainfall totals from Thursday nights storm ranged from 0.05 inch at Floydada to 2.33 inches north of Hart, as reported to the National Weather Service. Other area totals include Abernathy, 0.07; Aiken, 0.52; Caprock Canyons, 1.44; Hart, 0.79. Olton, 0.10; Plainview Water Treatment Plant, 1.20; Plainview Herald, 1.03; Plainview Mesonet, 0.99; Silverton, 0.75; Tulia, 0.80; Tulia Mesonet, 1.19; and Turkey, 1.27 inches. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the moisture situation improved across the state during the past week with 14.93 percent of Texas considered to be moisture-deficit, down from 28.76 a week earlier. Unfortunately, most of the moisture-deficient counties are located on the South Plains. The central three-quarters of Floyd County along with the extreme southeastern corner of Hale County is listed in moderate drought along with the western half of Castro County. A tiny area of northwestern Castro is in severe drought. The southwestern third of Briscoe County and southern two-thirds of Swisher County are abnormally dry, with all of Lamb, Hale, Castro of most of Floyd County. The drought report notes that on Aug. 21, topsoil moisture in New Mexico was rated 78 percent very short to short, according to USDA. Also on Aug. 21, at least one-quarter of the cotton was rated very poor to poor in New Mexico (28 percent) and Texas (25 percent). Nationally, only 18 percent of the cotton crop was rated very poor to poor. Swisher County and the City of Kress are receiving USDA Rural Development funding to renovate the county courthouse, replace a leaking water tower and purchase a sewer jet truck. The two entities will be receiving a total of $3,846,750, in the form of loans and grants, announced Friday afternoon by the USDA Rural Development office in Temple. Formal presentation of the funds will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the main hall of the Swisher County Courthouse in Tulia, and at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Kress City Hall. 308 Skipworth. Weve been working with Amarillo architectural Greg Bliss for the past year and a half on the courthouse project, explains County Judge Harold Keeter. Now that we have secured the funding, we will be able to move forward and put the project out for bids by perhaps the first of October. Swisher County has been approved for a Community Facilities Direct Loan of $2,994,000 to renovate the courthouse by replacing windows, HVAC, roof and ADA upgrades and interior finishes; replace the roof and HVAC at the jail; and HVAC, new roof, upgrade interior finishes and ADA compliance restrooms in the Annex building. The original part of the courthouse was built in 1908-09, Keeter said Friday, and remodeled in 1962-63 after a fire. Thats when we changed the exterior to make it look more modern and added the annex. But its been at least 50 years since anything else has been done to the building. He hopes that most of the renovations can be completed in about a year since the extensive construction work means that county offices will be forced to move out of the courthouse and find new quarters elsewhere during the project. Well have to move out of the courthouse and the annex, he said. They will be putting a roof on the jail, but that wont require them to move out. The Swisher County Courthouse includes a basement and two upper floors, with annexes on either end. Many of the displaced county offices will move into a nearby structure that formerly housed the Health Department and State Human Resources Office before that building was vacated last August. The county has additional space in Tulia, but at this point Keeter isnt sure what will serve as a courtroom and related courts building. We have a couple of other spots in town that we are looking at. Keeter hopes that the USDA funding will be sufficient to cover the full cost of the renovations, but the County Commissioners Court wont know for sure until bids are open. I guess well cross that bridge, if necessary, when the time comes. The City of Kress was approved for a Community Facilities Grant of $10,000 to purchase a sewer jet truck, and a Rural Utilities loan of $211,000 and a grant of $631,750 to replace its leaking elevated storage tank and related connections. That work is expected to put Kress back into compliance with state regulations. Among those expected to attend Tuesdays formal funding announcements are Paco Valentin, USDA Rural Development Texas state director; Paul Simpson, representing U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry; Clyde Jenkins, USDA Rural Development area director; Swisher County Judge Harold Keeter; Kress Mayor Amparo Becerra; Greg Bliss, Swisher County Courthouse project architect; Vivian Klecker, USDA Rural Development community program specialists; Swisher County Commissioners Court members; Swisher County elected officials; and Kress City Council members. Kiwanis International of Plainview Thirteen members met at noon Thursday at Plainview Country Club for the regular weekly meeting. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Kent Bearden offered a prayer. President Kevin Lewis shared a thank-you note from Annabeth Allison for the clubs support of the 4-H program and the Silver Star Award Annabeth received. Member Mike Finley presented a plaque in recognition of the clubs support of the Plainview Y. In lieu of a program, members discussed plans for the 22nd annual Kiwanis BBQ Fundraiser to be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 in conjunction with the Plainview Bulldog home-opener against Tascosa. Tickets, available from any Kiwanis member or at the convenient drive-through the evening of the dinner, are $7 for a Weekends Barbecue sandwich, chips, dessert and water. - Kevin Lewis Plainview Lions Club The righteous are as bold as a lion . . . a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing, were the final words of the Lions District 2T2 Gov. James Jim Petty of Snyder who along with his wife Lioness Melissa Petty made their official visit to this Plainview Lions Club on Wednesday before a full delegation of purple and gold-vested local feline. His official speech worded the phrase, A mountain to climb, setting sights and attaining goals, which is the purpose of being a member of this club who all recite our slogan, We Serve at the conclusion of every meeting. Queen Madi Rossi and Princess Colti Wright serving their royalties at the head table, maintained peace and quite as usual. New Lion member Beverly James led our pledges, Travis Thornton and Sharon Wright led singing and Ron Miller gave the invocation. Parson Rey Rodriquez indicated that setting sights high would reward the benefactors with successful benefits. A tidy sum of shackles in the amount of $87 were rounded up for the Girl Scouts in our weekly raffle. Its great to be a Lion We serve - Ron White Soroptimist International Soroptimist International of Plainview met for their regular weekly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the West Texas Wood Fire Grill. At 12:10 p.m., President Debbie Price called the meeting to order, and member Marilyn Jennings led the opening prayer. Twenty-four Soroptimist members and one guest joined in reciting pledges to the American and Texas flags. After a brief announcement concerning the Soroptimist South Central Region District III Meeting scheduled for October in Irving, Jeannie Pennell introduced her guest, Phyllis Wall. Price then presented the two speakers for the day, new member Dorothy Leija, and long-standing member Jeannie Pennell. Leija shared her experiences growing up in Plainview, Texas, and how her life has been positively touched by so many in this and the Amarillo community. She also offered information related to her personal struggles with cancer. Pennell then described her up-bringing in Plainview, specifically as her life and adventures have related to twirling, teaching twirling, and owning/running The Barnyard Academy for an impressive 30 years. Members were delighted to hear from both of these courageous women. Following Jeannie Pennells presentation, members closed the meeting with the Soroptimist pledge. Price adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m. Learn more about Soroptimist International at http://www.soroptimist.org/ . -- Cindy McClenagan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 BART / / Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A 22-year-old man was arrested Friday in connection with a stabbing that left a man critically injured at a Civic Center BART Station platform this week, officials said. Roger Ortiz was taken into custody about 10:20 a.m., said Taylor Huckaby, a BART spokesman. Ortiz was booked into San Francisco County jail on suspicion of attempted murder. He was being held without bail. Inmates released from California prisons are less likely to be sent back for new acts of wrongdoing than they were a few years ago, according to the latest state report. But the rate of arrests after release is largely unchanged, making it unclear whether the lower re-imprisonment levels reflect any reduction in crime. Figures released Thursday by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation showed that 95,690 prisoners were released after serving their sentences between July 2010 and 2011, and 42,661, or 44.6 percent, were back in prison after three years. That is 9.7 percent less than the previous year and marks the fifth straight year of reduced re-imprisonment. The numbers also show a sharp decline from 2005-06, when 67.5 percent of the released inmates returned to prison within three years, the department said. The latest recidivism rate shows that were helping more inmates learn how to live a law-abiding, productive life, said state prisons chief Scott Kernan. But the report also said 75.1 percent of the prisoners released in 2010-11 were arrested at least once in the following three years, a slight increase over 2009-10 and only a little lower than the average since 2002-03. And 51.3 percent of the ex-prisoners were convicted of at least one crime in the following three years, the highest rate in five years. Theres a partial explanation for the decline in re-imprisonment rates: a 2011 state law that sent former prisoners to county jail, rather than back to state prison, for violating the terms of their parole, for offenses such as failing a drug test or not reporting to their parole officer. They can be sentenced to prison only for committing serious new crimes. The new law, known as realignment, also sends convicts to jail rather than prison for a variety of lower-level felonies. It was passed in response to court orders requiring California to reduce prison overcrowding that courts had found to be the major cause of substandard health care in state prisons. The report is evidence that the new law is relieving pressure on the prisons, said Stanford Law Professor Robert Weisberg, co-director of the schools Criminal Justice Center. But its unclear how much it shows an actual reduction in recidivism, he said. Younger ex-prisoners were more likely to return than older ones, the report said those released at ages 18 or 19 were back in prison 59.1 percent of the time in three years, compared to 31.1 percent for those 60 and older. The study also found wide differences among counties. Out of 1,281 inmates paroled to San Francisco in 2010-11, 679, or 53 percent, went back to prison within three years, one of the highest rates in the state, the report said. In neighboring Alameda County, the return rate was a below-average 40.1 percent. Another finding was that prison drug programs seem to be working. Out of 919 inmates who had received drug treatment in prison and follow-up care after release, only 141, or 15.3 percent, were re-imprisoned after three years. Those figures are encouraging, said Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, criminal justice and drug policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of California, but they also raise the question of why so few inmates are being treated for drug abuse that sent many of them to prison. We need to invest more in treatment, she said. Department spokeswoman Terry Thornton said the state has expanded drug treatment, which now serves nearly 8,000 prisoners and will be extended to 5,000 more in the next year. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko A South Bay father was charged with murder Friday after his 6-week-old daughter died from injuries hes accused of inflicting in what authorities called a horrific case of child abuse. Matthew George Zabala, 32, was arraigned in Santa Clara County Superior Court in San Jose on charges of murder, felony domestic violence and felony assault on a child with force likely to produce death. He was being held in jail on $1 million bail. Zabalas daughter, Mila, died Thursday night at Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where she had been rushed four days earlier in cardiac arrest from the familys home outside San Jose, officials said. The babys mother, who had been in a relationship with Zabala for five years, told detectives she was in a separate part of their family home Sunday when she heard her infant make a blood curdling scream, according to court records. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department / Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department The mother went to check on her daughter, then called 911 at 1:50 p.m. to report her baby was not breathing and possibly choking, according to the report. Emergency responders and sheriffs deputies went to the home and found the baby unconscious and not breathing. More for you South Bay father arrested in abuse of 6-week-old daughter Paramedics tried intubation and various lifesaving efforts at the home before taking the child to the hospital. At the medical center, doctors continued to try resuscitating the baby and cooling her body down. By the time the infant was taken to the emergency room, personnel estimated she had not been breathing for 30 to 35 minutes. The baby had no brain activity, according to doctors. An MRI exam performed Monday showed Mila had a skull fracture that was not caused by accident and was the result of intentional crushing of the skull, according to court papers. X-rays determined the girl suffered 14 factures, including nine broken ribs, a fracture in her left arm and multiple fractures on her legs. Its a horrific crime, and it touches our hearts, said Sgt. James Jensen, a spokesman for the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office. Sheriffs deputies were called to Valley Medical Center on Tuesday. They arrested Zabala on suspicion of child abuse after interviewing several witnesses, including his wife, and collecting evidence at the familys home on Boston Avenue in unincorporated Santa Clara County. Zabala was also charged with felony inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, stemming from abusing the babys mother, officials said. The childs mother told authorities he had a history of beating her. The mother accused Zabala of slapping, punching and choking her on several occasions. She had a bruised jaw during the interview with detectives, officials said. She told authorities she was injured two weeks before when Zabala grabbed her face. She also said he was too rough with her daughter, which Zabala admitted to detectives. Zabala told investigators he believes the skull fracture resulted from him ripping Mila from a car seat, which made her strike her head on the carry handle. Mila cried out in pain for about 20 minutes afterward, according to court records. The Sheriffs Office and the staff at Valley Medical Center have set up an online GoFundMe page to raise money for the babys funeral. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Capital Region's Italian-American community is reaching out to help after an earthquake that has killed more than 260 people in Italy. In Schenectady, a group of restaurateurs and civic leaders are organizing "Schenectady Loves Italy: A Pasta Fundraiser," said Phillip Morris, CEO of Proctors. The event's sponsors will include two restaurant families: the Mallozzis, owners of their namesake restaurant as well as Villa Italia, Belvedere Inn, Treviso, Johnny's and The Clubhouse; and the Mazzones of Mazzone Hospitality, owners of eight restaurants including Aperitivo Bistro in Schenectady, Angelo's 677 Prime in Albany and Angelo's Tavolo in Scotia. Others sponsors are Fundabilities, Proctors and the Daily Gazette. The event will be a small-plate fundraiser on the State Street sidewalk outside Proctors, from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday. "One hundred percent of the sales will go to the Italian Red Cross," Morris said. "We are inventing it as we go. We want to do it quickly at a time when it's foremost in everyone's minds." The event will cost $5 for a small plate, Morris said, and he hopes to attract 2,000 to 3,000 participants. The 6.2-magnitude quake struck Wednesday in central Italy, leveling centuries-old homes and destroying mountain communities that may be permanently destroyed. One of the hardest hit towns, Amatrice, is known for its foods especially a particular pasta dish with a pork shoulder flavor that will be among those served at the Schenectady event, Morris said. "This is a devastating thing. This is the slow destruction of human lives and the slow destruction of an ancient physical plant that can never be rebuilt the same way," he said. "It's a human tragedy and a cultural tragedy." The Italian American Community Center in Albany is also raising funds and has set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $10,000. "It's only been up five or six hours and we've already got a couple of hundred dollars," said James Sano, vice president of the community center, early Friday. Throughout the summer, the center also offers food and music to its members every Friday night. There are three more of the events to go, he said, and donations will be accepted at each. "We're going to put out a jar and do a 50/50," he said. All proceeds will be donated to the National Italian American Relief Fund, Sano said. Sano, who traveled through the region last year on his way from Venice to Rome, said he was struck by how fragile homes are in the sparsely populated region. "It's heart-wrenching. I've actually been there," he said. "The way they built these homes, some of them still exist from the 1500s, 1600s. They are not built to handle any kind of shock." The Italian-American Community Center sent out an alert to see if any local residents have relatives directly affected, he said. So far, none have come forward. The area affected by the quakes has mountain communities, some of which are not expected to survive the disaster. Louis Fazzone, president of the Sons of Italy in Rotterdam, said he expects to do fundraising. Frank Zeoli is president of the Italian American Community Center Foundation, the nonprofit arm that oversees voluntarily, cultural and educational events. Both the center and foundation's memberships are filled with people with ties to Italy, he said. "Some are from Italy. Others are first and second generation. We always have a deep connection to Italy," he said. "When you're Italian, we're all family," he said. "We have a concern for the families that were devastated by the earthquake. Regardless of the fact we don't have anyone directly who was affected. We are all Italians. We are all paesans. That's what we try to celebrate, the Italian spirit, the Italian way of life." tobrien@timesunion.com 518-454-5092 @timobrientu Albany The director of the state Committee on Open Government said in an advisory opinion that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office and the state department of Housing and Community Renewal should not hold back from release otherwise public documents based merely on the contention that they might relate to an ongoing federal probe of upstate development deals. " ... (T)he records sought, in my opinion, cannot be withheld on the ground that they were compiled for law enforcement purposes," wrote COOG Executive Director Robert Freeman in an opinion dated Thursday. The opinion was prompted by a request from the Times Union, which in recent weeks received rejections of requests made under the state Freedom of Information Law for two sets of documents. One requested the timesheets of Steven L. Aiello, who worked for the state's housing authority between July 2011 and July 2014. He is the son of Syracuse-area developer Steven F. Aiello, whose company COR Development is of interest in Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's investigation of several state-funded, upstate development deals. The Times Union also filed a FOIL request for financial disclosure documents completed by former Cuomo aide Joe Percoco when he returned to work for the Executive Chamber in December 2014 after a seven-month stint managing Cuomo's re-election campaign. Other disclosure forms submitted several months later by Percoco to the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics revealed that he received between $50,000 and $75,000 in consulting fees from COR Development in 2014. The company has consistently denied paying him. HCR and the Executive Chamber rejected both requests, using virtually identical language. "To the extent that records responsive to your request may exist, given the publicly-disclosed ongoing law enforcement investigation with which we have offered our cooperation, we are unable to comply with your request at this time under Public Officers Law 87(2)(e)," HCR wrote in its rejection. The federal investigation's interest in Percoco and COR was revealed in April, when the Executive Chamber received a subpoena from Bharara's office seeking information about actions by a half-dozen current or former administration officials, including Percoco, that might have benefited any of two dozen companies, including COR. No one has been charged with wrongdoing in the matter. The provision of Public Officers Law cited in the FOIL rejections holds that material can be withheld if it is "compiled for law enforcement purposes" and if its release would interfere with an investigation or judicial proceeding; if the release would deprive a person to a fair trial; if its contents would disclose a confidential source or information related to a criminal investigation; or if it would reveal specialized investigative techniques. In an email offered in its denial of the Percoco material, the Executive Chamber offered further legal analysis: "The important point in time as to 'compiling' of documents is not when they are created or initially received, but when they would be gathered for disclosure under FOIL," it said. In his advisory opinion, Freeman acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989 established this definition of "compiled" in this context. "Significantly, three Supreme Court justices dissented," Freeman wrote, noting that the dissent found the word to be ambiguous "a hole one can drive a truck through." " ... I agree with that contention," Freeman wrote. His opinion said there was no New York appellate court decision focused on the narrow question of what "compiled" means in regard to FOIL, and lower state court decisions have reached opposing conclusions. Freeman pointed to one of those decisions as being most in keeping with the intent of state FOIL law and its federal counterpart: a 1984 decision in which a Nassau County Supreme Court found that minutes of village board meetings were not exempt from disclosure under FOIL even though they figured in an investigation of a former village clerk. "Often records prepared in the ordinary course of business, which might already have been disclosed under FOIL, become relevant to or used in law enforcement investigation or perhaps in litigation," Freeman wrote. "In my view, when that occurs, the records would not be transformed into records compiled for law enforcement purposes. If they would have been available prior to their use in a law enforcement context, I believe that they would remain available, notwithstanding their use in that context for a purpose inconsistent with the reason for which they were prepared." The same principle was reaffirmed last month, Freeman noted, in a suit brought by the Long Island-based newspaper Newsday against the Town of Oyster Bay, which had rejected a reporter's request for the financial disclosure forms of a former town official charged with tax evasion. In that case, the court found the town's argument "wholly without merit. ... (The records) were not compiled for law enforcement purposes and therefore cannot possibly be subject to the law enforcement purposes exemption," the court ruled. Turning to the Times Union's requests for the Percoco and Aiello materials, Freeman said it appeared the law enforcement purposes argument used in both denials was "inapplicable." Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's 1989 majority opinion, he wrote, "to contend that records which were generated for purposes wholly unrelated to any law enforcement investigation may now be withheld due to their use in an investigation would, in my opinion, be unreasonable and tend to subvert the purposes of FOIL." COOG's advisory opinions are not binding, and this one is unlikely to prompt the Executive Chamber or HCR to produce the documents. Both of the Times Union's FOIL requests were appealed. Those appeals were also denied. "We have a lot of respect for Mr. Freeman," said Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi, "but we believe his interpretation in this instance to be incorrect and the case law, as established by the U.S. Supreme Court, to be firmly in line with these determinations." The administration has previously said Percoco's 2014 disclosure forms will be released when the probe is concluded. Cuomo has contracted with private investigator Bart Schwartz's firm to conduct a taxpayer-funded investigation into the upstate development deals in question. COOG, which operates as part of the Department of State, advises the government, public and media on Freedom of Information, Open Meetings and Personal Privacy Protection laws. cseiler@timesunion.com 518-454-5619 @CaseySeiler This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT - Work to help improve safety at one of Bridgeports most dangerous intersections is planned by the state Department of Transportation. Its the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard and State Street where there have been at least 25 accidents - one deadly - in the last few years. State Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport), who asked for safety improvements, said the project includes replacing and updating all the equipment, including changing all the signal to 12, adding back plates with retro-reflective strips, and better placement of the signals. He said the project was put out to bid last month is anticipated to occur next year. The changes are designed to make the signal heads more conspicuous and prevent violations of the traffic control, Rosario said in a Friday release announcing the work. About 8,100 vehicles a day travel through the intersection, according to state Department of Transportation data. Many of the accidents involved people running red lights, something many longtime Bridgeport drivers say is too common. Rosario said one of his constituents was killed in an accident at the intersection. Mayra Cardona, 39, was killed at the intersection on Nov. 23, 2013 in a two-vehicle accident. One vehicle with three occupants rolled over after impact. Cardona, the driver, was partially ejected and died from her injuries at the scene. Two passengers, aged 15 and 16, were transported to Bridgeport Hospital with minor injuries and were treated and later released. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Turn on your TV most any night and you'll find Houston favorite son Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory." The 43-year-old graduate of Klein Oak High School and the University of Houston honed his acting chops at Houston's Infernal Bridegroom Productions and Stages Repertory Theatre. Come September, he'll start his 10th season playing Cooper, the super-nerdy theoretical physicist. Parsons isn't the only star who hails from the Houston area. Television and film credits are filled with actors and actresses from the area. The one thing they all have in common, they say, is they grew up in a community that encouraged them to imagine that anything - even stardom - was possible. Two prime figures in that creative community were Cecil Pickett and Ruth Denney. Pickett taught drama at Bellaire High School from 1956 to 1968, when he left to teach at the University of Houston and Houston Baptist University. Denney left Lamar High School to found the High School for the Performing Arts in 1971, and went on to teach at the University of Texas-Austin. During their high school and college teaching careers, they nurtured young actors, then sent them off to New York and Hollywood. HSPVA groomed actors including Chandra Wilson, Beyonce Knowles, Lisa Hartman Black, Mireille Enos, Michelle Forbes and K. Todd Freeman. More Information Other actors who hail from the Houston area: Alexis Bledel: "Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007), "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" (2005) Hilary Duff: "Lizzie McGuire" (2001-2004), "Cheaperby the Dozen"(2003, 2005) Haylie Duff: "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004), "Material Girls" (2006) Lois Chiles: "The Way We Were" (1973), "Moonraker" (1979), "Broadcast News" (1987) Renee Zellweger: "Jerry Maguire" (1996), "Chicago" (2002), "Cold Mountain: (2003) and the "Bridget Jones' Diary" movies(2001, 2004, 2016) Loretta Devine: "Being Mary Jane" (2015), "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-2013) Isaiah Washington: "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-2007), "Romeo Must Die" (2000) Trey Wilson: "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Bull Durham" (1988) Skye McCole Bartusiak: "The Patriot" (2000), "Don't Say a Word" (2001) JoBeth Williams: "Stir Crazy" (1980), "Poltergeist" (1982, 1986) and "The Big Chill" (1983) Shelley Duvall: "Brewster McCloud" (1970), "Annie Hall" (1977) and "The Shining" (1980) Factoid CAt am alictatium a verro eum eos dolut ut perem fuga. Remped ut la voluptae paria volupti orionsequiInt, cus aut voluptate et vellamustio. Qui dendit que quam, commo beressin ea ium eaquis eum que ium qui rectatur sunt libus exerro in consedio moluptae volupta delest, quo corporecume autempore, aut inctet voluptate nos doloresci ad quis cus et fugit autecaerum ut iumquos atios essin plabo. Et evelign iaeribus enestibus, occulli quatios antiusandis eos aut faccuptaque volest quasin non eaqui nonet experciis et volorruntiae comnime niminihilis ad uta simus res es expelit ommolentur, occupis magnit fugiandis sunt rem quate parcias ab illum quis untiisqui con porporemped mil errum lam ut eumet aut enecto molumen ihicimu sdaeseq uiaepel estibero exceat hil molum res dolut vent restrum faccatus invellor See More Collapse Pickett nurtured the careers of actors such as Dennis and Randy Quaid, Brent Spiner and Brett Cullen, as well as his daughter, Cindy Pickett. Spiner, best known for his role as Data in the "Star Trek: Next Generation" TV series and movies, said Pickett's encouragement made him believe he could do anything. "I think about him all of the time," said Spiner, whose mother lives in Houston. "Certainly, I take him with me into every production, and I think about what he taught me." He said Pickett trained students in every aspect of acting. "He encouraged imagination a lot," Spiner said. "Like most good teachers, he encouraged trying to find truth in the moment, but he inspired versatility. He prepared us to do most everything. That has served me well. The only limitation I've felt was age - and only recently." Cullen jokes that he had hair down to his waist and took drama classes at Madison High School because his mom thought he wasn't a good student. While there, a couple of cute girls dared him to audition for a play, Archibald MacLeish's "J.B." He hammed it up - "it was the worst acting you could imagine," he said - and got the role. The play was part of a citywide competition, and through it, Cullen met Pickett. When he went to UH after high school, he signed up for Pickett's class and walked in to find Dennis Quaid, who had gone to Bellaire, as one of his classmates. Quaid remains one of Cullen's best friends. When Pickett died in 1997, Spiner, Cullen and Quaid took on the solemn role as pallbearers. "He is the reason why we have careers in this industry," Cullen said. "I was there for five years because they were doing some shows I wanted to do. He didn't talk theory. He taught us how to work and how to act. He taught us everything." Early in his career, Cullen was on TV miniseries "The Thorn Birds" and "The Chisholms," followed by roles on "Falcon Crest" and "The Young Riders." He played the antagonist in "The Replacements," a bad dad in TV's "Friday Night Lights" and a creepy congressman in "The Dark Knight Rises." Another teacher who factored into the acting-mentor crowd was Patsy Swayze, mother of actor Patrick Swayze and the dance instructor who taught John Travolta to two-step for "Urban Cowboy." In the 1960s and '70s, her Bellaire dance studio was a busy place. She prepared her son for the "Dirty Dancing" role that propelled him to stardom and nurtured other now-famous names such as Debbie Allen ("Fame," "Grey's Anatomy"), Broadway great Tommy Tune and actors Randy Quaid and Jaclyn Smith. Smith and Farrah Fawcett, a Corpus Christi native whose parents moved to Houston, were two of the three original "Charlie's Angels," the show to watch from 1976 to 1981. Smith was a student of Denney's at Lamar, studied dance with Patsy Swayze and was inspired by the new things she could try at Johnny George's Theater Inc. "Celebrity doesn't make a lasting career," Smith said. "The value is in the training and the work and who inspires you. It's really in being yourself; that's what I was surrounded with growing up." Allen and her sister, Phylicia Rashad, found fame on the stage and in front of cameras. Allen has earned Emmy and Golden Globe awards and worked as an actor, dancer, director, producer and choreographer. She earned praise for her early-career role as the school principal in the movie "Fame," and since 2011 has played Dr. Catherine Avery on "Grey's Anatomy," now filming its 13th season. Like her sister, Rashad has a long acting resume, but she's best known as Claire Huxtable, the matriarch on the long-running "The Cosby Show." Both Allen sisters have long lists of acting honors, and Rashad became the first black actress to win a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in 2004 for her role in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun." Both claim their free-spirited mother, artist and poet Vivian Ayers, inspired their creativity. There's also Peter Masterson, who began his career as an actor but found success as a director and producer, writing the stage adaptation of the Broadway musical, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," a collaboration with Tommy Tune. The cousin of playwright Horton Foote and a relative of the late Carroll and Harris Masterson III - whose grand home Rienzi was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Masterson and his wife, actress Carlin Glynn, raised three children who are also actors: Peter, Alexandra and Mary Stuart Masterson. Perhaps best known of the three is Mary Stuart Masterson, who appeared in several films including "The Stepford Wives," "Fried Green Tomatoes," Benny & Joon" and "Something the Lord Made." It was Spiner who summed it up best when he talked about the creative community that propelled so many. "Growing up in Houston, I was lucky to have good teachers," Spiner said. "But having a primary teacher in Mr. Pickett was a dream. It's what every person should have, a Mr. Chips, in your life. He did that for me." 1 Emergency landing: A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Orlando made an emergency landing Saturday because of a major problem with one of its two engines. Flight 3472 from New Orleans diverted to Pensacola, Fla., after the pilot detected something had gone wrong with an engine, according to a Southwest statement. The jet, a Boeing 737-700, landed with no apparent injuries to the 99 passengers or five crew members on board, Southwest said. Pictures taken of the plane made it appear that part of the engine had blown apart, but Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said there was no explosion. 2 Missouri flooding: Heavy rain swamped several areas of Kansas City, prompting high-water rescues and a temporary stoppage of the citys downtown streetcar service. Friday nights storms caused Brush Creek, which runs through the south side of the city, to rise 10 feet in an hour. The National Weather Service tweeted Saturday that 4.56 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The White Lives Matters movement will be listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center when it releases its annual Hate Map in February. "I can't speak to how many chapters will be listed, but it's clear that the leadership of the group, the ends of the group -- it's just a flat-out white supremacist group," said Heidi Beirich, director of the center's Intelligence Report, in an interview with Chron.com. "The ideology behind it, the racist leaders, everything about it is racist," Beirich added. The leadership Beirich refers to is 40-year-old Rebecca Barnette. In addition to having her hands in the White Lives Matter movement, Barnette is also the vice president of the women's division of the skinhead group Aryan Strikeforce. The center points to posts on Barnette's page on vk.com, a Russian social networking site used by white supremacists due to its lack of censorship. In an Aug. 3 post on "Intelligence Report," the center reports, "Barnette says that Jews and Muslims have formed an alliance 'to commit genocide of epic proportions' of the white race. Now is the time, she adds in the same post, for 'the blood of our enemies [to] soak our soil to form new mortar to rebuild our landmasses.'" "Her background, the rhetoric of the group, the hangers-on of the group are white supremacist," Beirich said. "The only question is how widespread they are, how many chapters there are." It is also worth noting that the phrase "14 Words" seen on posters at these events is a reference to the popular white supremacist slogan "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." The slogan was coined by David Lane, a member of the white supremacist terrorist group known as The Order, who later died in prison in 2007. It also is sometimes used in reference to the slogan, "Because the beauty of the White Aryan woman must not perish from the earth," which was also coined by Lane. White Lives Matter protest at NAACP in Houston The question as to whether the White Lives Matter group is a white supremacist group was asked, yet again, after protesters with the organization set up shop outside of the NAACP in Houston on Aug. 21. SEE ALSO: White Lives Matter protests outside of NAACP in Houston's Third Ward The group waved Confederate flags - a historic symbol, yes, but one that is also associated with slavery and oppression - and wore guns. As a result not everyone was convinced when Ken Reed, one of the protesters, said, "It has nothing to do with racism on our part." "The Confederate flag throws me off," resident Quintina Richardson said during the protest. "You're saying Black Lives Matter is a racist organization but when you're throwing the Confederate flag up and saying White Lives Matter, are you saying you're racist?" Black Lives Matter movement's motives questioned The same question has been asked about the Black Lives Matter movement, the movement which inadvertently birthed its antithesis. The Southern Poverty Law Center took notice after many requests to label the Black Lives Matter movement a hate group came across its figurative desks in the wake of the murder of eight Dallas and Baton Rouge police officers. SEE ALSO: Southern Poverty Law Center's 'Hate Map' identifies Texas groups Short answer: The center says the Black Lives Matter movement is not a hate group because it seeks to promote a race that has been marginalized throughout history (in other words, black lives also matter.) Plus, the center points out the movement's leaders have condemned violence. The center also points to the fact that "thousands of white people across America indeed, people of all races have marched in solidarity with African Americans during BLM (Black Lives Matter) marches, as is clear from the group's website." Looking at the photos above, the reverse can't be said for the White Lives Matter group. Hate groups on the rise (again) in America Hate groups have been steadily on the rise since 1999, starting with 457 groups identified by the SPLC. The center says the number exploded around the turn of the century "driven in part by anger over Latino immigration and demographic projections showing that whites will no longer hold majority status in the country by around 2040." The number of hate groups peaked in 2011 with 1,018 identified groups, before decreasing and reaching its lowest point of 784 groups in 2014. However, that number is back on the rise, with 892 groups identified in 2015. Take a look at scenes from the Aug. 21 protest in the gallery above. 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. A 20-year-old man is dead after being shot in the head on the East Side, according to San Antonio Police reports. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 500 block of Larry Street at 8 p.m., arriving to find a body laying face-down in the road near an abandoned home. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A San Antonio hit mans execution has been postponed. Rolando Ruiz, Jr.,on death row more than two decades for an admitted murder-for-hire, received his second stay of execution from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, based on a claim he had incompetent legal counsel at his sentencing. The stay was issued Friday. Ruiz, 45, scheduled to be executed next Wednesday, was sentenced to death in 1995 for the July 14, 1992 murder of Theresa Rodriguez, then 29, in the garage of her North Side home. He was 20 at the time and an active gang member. Now housed at Polunsky state prison unit near Livingston, Ruiz does not contest that he was paid $2,000 by brothers Michael and Mark Rodriguez to kill the victim, who was Michael Rodriguez's wife, so the siblings could collect $400,000 in insurance. The Rodriguez brothers and two other accomplices were sent to prison after pleading guilty in 1995. Michael Rodriguez later escaped from prison with six other inmates the group was dubbed the Texas 7 and they went on a crime spree that included the murder of an Irving police officer. Authorities caught up with them in Colorado. Michael Rodriguez was later executed. Ruiz first received a stay of execution in 2007 by arguing that his attorneys in 1995 decided not to follow leads in a psychologists report that could have helped him at sentencing. The halting of Ruizs execution does not necessarily mean that the Court of Criminal Appeals agrees with all of Kovarskys appeal, but simply wanted more time to consider its ruling. There is no timetable for that decision. bselcraig@express-news.net 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 A massive 650-pound fish was recently caught in a British Columbia river. The sturgeon has been a local legend for more than 40 years because of a distinct facial feature: a large pink nose received from a mysterious injury decades ago. Nick McCabe, 19, is the river guide and angler who caught the fish. According to Global News, he took two hours to reel in the giant. A jack-of-all trades, Tony McKnight worked hard to support his family and get ahead. My dad always had three jobs, his daughter Toni McKnight Adams said. He was so sharp, with his math skills, dedication, hard work and commitment. Getting his first job in the pecan industry as a teen, McKnight was soon managing crews of pickers and later, selling products for Pape Pecan House, where he worked for 45 years. Becoming an expert on pecans and pecan-growing, McKnight spoke at various events over the years, also making an appearance every year at the Texas Folklife Festival, gaining the nickname, The Nutty Speaker. He could look at pecans and tell you what a state they came from what variety they were, Adams said. McKnight died Aug. 19 at 77. Born and raised in Guadalupe County, McKnight started his first business at a young age, doing make-ready cleaning of military housing at Randolph AFB military housing while working at a cafe on base. We took care of the businesses with him as children, Adams recalled. McKnight and his wife also operated a cafe behind their home and, again with the help of their eight children, a pig farm. More Information Tony McKnight Born: March 6, 1939, Seguin Died: Aug. 19, 2016, Seguin Preceded by: Wife Ethel Francis McKnight; two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; 11 siblings; and parents Annie Mae Davis and Louis McKnight. Survived by: Daughters Janice Patterson, Cynthia Hazelwood, Shirley Richardson and son-in-law Sherman, Karen King and son-in-law Thomas, Charmaine Thompson, Toni McKnight Adams and son-in-law Darrell Adams; sons Gregory Chaney, and Adrian Rancier; 21 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Services: Funeral at 11 a.m. today at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis St., Seguin. See More Collapse In the pecan business, McKnight had a knack for finding labor, even in a pinch. He was able to pull people together, to find workers, Adams said. My dad could pick up the phone and get 40 workers in an hour. McKnight got the idea to become a bail bondsman after bailing his employees out of jail when they were arrested after a night on the town. When the workers would get in trouble, they called my dad to help them out, Adams said. Over the years, he also started his own pesticide business, including McKnight Spray Co. Off season, McKnight traveled, selling heavy agricultural equipment, and planting pecan trees in other states for people who were interested in starting orchards. As busy as he was, McKnight always made time to vacation with his family. We took two vacations a year without fail to Nuevo Laredo and to Rockport and Port Aransas, Adams said. The border was important to the agricultural industry, and my mom loved fishing. Retiring in 2010 after his health began to decline, McKnight continued his favorite pastimes, including playing dominoes and barbecuing. He also served as a deacon at his church. His life was full and rich, Adams said. mheidbrink@express-news.net For the past month, comforters, collapsible bookshelves and space-friendly dorm furnishings have been sitting in prime real estate at the front of most stores. A lot of that stuff the purple footlocker, the teeny cube fridge and the desk lamp will be paid for with graduation checks and gift cards, kind gestures from the proverbial village it takes to turn those crazy kids into job-holding, mortgage-carrying taxpayers. But higher education doesnt just require a certain amount of focus and a lot of work; it requires a lot money. And every year millions of young people turn to student loans to pay for their ticket to adulthood in the middle class. Thats also the ticket to big debt, and this is particularly true for those students whose lives take them away from college before they earn a degree. Weve all heard the stories about college grads not being able to find jobs after graduation; those who didnt get much further than Algebra II and Intro to American Lit face a bigger challenge. And when those pay-up notices start arriving in the mailbox, those cautionary tales turn into nightmares for the newly educated on the burden of debt who, in turn, become a burden of sorts on everyone else. This month, the Houston Chronicles Benjamin Wermund reported on a study that examined U.S. Education Department data regarding college graduation rates. Third Way, the nonprofit group that crunched the numbers, found that students at Texas public colleges have a 40 percent chance of earning a degree within six years. Forty percent. Ouch. Nationally, the study says that percentage rate rises to 50 percent, but even that number smarts. In fairness, the report points out that those numbers might be a bit misleading, because many students dont necessarily drop out, they just transfer to other schools and graduate there. And, of course, there are the students whose four-year journey turns into a 10-year slog to the finish line, because the need for health care benefits and a steady paycheck to support a young family often trumps ones tuition. Life takes people away from school, but debt doesnt go away. Wermund reported that some believe tying federal funding to colleges and universities to their graduation rates the way it is with high schools might work because it would put emphasis on retention. That makes sense, because withholding dollars tends to light a certain fire. However, there is a social issue here that begs a second look, and thats the idea that everyone needs to go to college. Its a paved and well-lit road, of course, and one that carries weight in the workplace, and that is a narrative a lot of parents who have made their way without the benefit of a degree dream of for their children. And the image of the late nights at the library and the lifelong friends romanticize the whole experience. But a college degree with its price tag and the payoff that it promises is not the only road to the middle class. There are skilled trades to be learned and many, many jobs that open doors for those willing to work hard enough to keep them open, with some of those doors leading straight to colleges and universities. Thing is, Americans too often give this path the side-eye, as if the choice not to go to college is relinquishing the road to a brighter future. More important, there is the fact that college isnt for everyone even when money isnt an issue its just especially true when it is. And thats hard for parents, who want the best for their sons and daughters after theyve completed their freebie high school education, to accept. Its even harder for a lot of matter-of-course students, who too often dont understand the burden of a 15-hour course load, much less the burden of a debt they wont feel until long after the last class is over. All they really understand is they dont want to upset their folks. Its a tough trend. And those cute and affordable little fridges make that choice so much tougher. mariaanglin@yahoo.com This is a Labor Day story about Mexican-American farmworkers who made civil rights history when they refused to let go of the radical idea that their wages should afford them a living. San Antonio will soon join the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of a strike and march by farmworkers engaged in the outdoor sweatshop known as cantaloupe harvesting. The Starr County employers of 1966 were paying farmworkers as little as 40 cents an hour, or about one-third of what sanitation workers of the era made. On June 1, 1966, Rio Grande City farmworkers launched a strike for better pay. While unions had expressed interest in organizing Texas farmworkers, the strike arrived suddenly. Cesar Chavez, legendary co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, told the Texas AFL-CIO Convention a year later, Here in the Rio Grande Valley, the strike came about overnight. So we had no experience, no preparation for the strike and we had to take it on immediately. That summer, the strike morphed into a 490-mile march, detours to visit towns and cities included, from Rio Grande City to the Texas Capitol. The goal: a state minimum wage law that would apply to farmworkers. The march began on Independence Day and culminated, cinematically, in a cascade of humanity more than 10,000 strong up Congress Avenue. Moving renditions of We Shall Overcome and a dramatic entrance of the farmworker contingent drew tears from crusty activists who thought they had seen it all. The Capitol rally included Chavez, U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough and U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio. Hank Brown, the fiery president of the Texas AFL-CIO and a San Antonian, committed the support of the state labor federation, which delivered much of the crowd and passion. Days earlier, Gov. John Connally met the marchers in New Braunfels and declared he would not lend the dignity of his office to a Capitol rally. Before arriving, the marchers were greeted warmly, usually by church officials, in community after community. In Connallys hometown of Floresville, the Methodist Church fed them. In Beeville, 1,000 supporters encouraged them. And in San Antonio, Catholic Archbishop Robert E. Lucey, a full-throated supporter of trade unionism, celebrated Mass at San Fernando Cathedral on Aug. 27, 1966, declaring, Mexican-Americans must stand up and defend themselves against discrimination and oppression. I dont have room to do justice to the labor rock stars who comprised the farmworker contingent, but let me give you the flavor of these people. Daria Vera, who retains fire in her eyes over the events of 1966, once laid across an international bridge to protest the employment of Mexican strikebreakers. She still joins fellow strikers in singing the corridos (ballads) that those who were arrested for strike activity composed while in jail. Ismael Diaz recalls stuffing cardboard into his shoes as the soles disintegrated during the march. When the Rev. Ed Krueger describes his exploits in Spanish, he breaks into English to quote precisely the Texas Ranger who informed him, Krueger, youre not a preacher. Youre just a troublemaker. Alex Moreno, who went on to become a respected state representative, quietly discusses the time he was beaten inside a strikers home as Rangers sought another striker. Some are no longer with us. Magdaleno Dimas suffered a beating that curved his spine out of shape and caused a concussion. He died young. The corrido Los Rinches de Tejas references the deadly beating and is an enduring example of how the art form empowers people to tell an alternative kind of history. In the 1800s and early 1900s, the weapon of choice in putting down strikes had been Pinkerton detective agency operatives. In the 1960s, Texas, as always, wanted to do this on the cheap. The busting of the farmworkers strike was carried out by government officials, in the form of the Rangers and even Starr County deputy sheriffs who dutifully became paperboys, passing out anti-union newspapers. No, Im not making this up. The U.S. Supreme Court reported in the case of Allee vs. Medrano that Texas law officers were engaged in even more interesting activities: Raymond Chandler, a union leader, got stuck with a $500 bond for a misdemeanor arrest when the maximum penalty he faced was a $200 fine. When friends arrived to bail out Chandler, they were threatened with arrest and told to leave. When arrested strikers shouted Viva la huelga (Long live the strike), a deputy sheriff struck the local union president and held a gun to his forehead. Texas Rangers held the faces of Krueger and Dimas within inches of a moving train after taking them into custody. Amid government intimidation, the strikers lost the short-term fight, big-time. They did not get a raise or a special legislative session. The strike withered away in 1967, not long after the Dimas beating. The long run is different. Farmworkers eventually won a minimum wage and other protections in Texas, with lawmakers such as Sen. Joe Bernal, D-San Antonio, leading the way. The Supreme Court decision in Medrano vs. Allee effectively ended the use of taxpayer-funded law officers to wage war against labor unions. The anti-picketing laws became a dead letter, cementing First Amendment rights for all of us. Another huge change: Latinos began exercising their power to choose elected officials under the Voting Rights Act. At the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the strike in Rio Grande City, the mayor and county judge, along with sheriffs deputies, joined enthusiastically in the celebration of the huelgistas. Rebecca Flores, the former UFW leader in Texas who is coordinating the golden anniversary events, notes she has drawn no contradiction in asserting the strike launched the Chicano Movement in Texas. However one writes the categories, the strikers and marchers laid groundwork for Henry Cisneros, the Castro brothers and other outstanding Mexican-American politicians. Ernesto Cortes, the brilliant moving force behind the Industrial Areas Foundation, launched his community advocacy after putting his academic life on hold to work with the farmworkers. Heres a thought: Knowing the story of the 1966 strike and march gives us perspective as history repeats. In 2016, the fight for living wages is as pitched as ever. In 2016, farmworker housing remains atrocious in some quarters, with little enforcement of the law. In 2016, Latinos do not exploit their full potential strength at the polls. But in 2016, it is still possible for ordinary people to do extraordinary things. As the strikers and marchers of 1966 showed, when you get knocked down, get back up, rinse and repeat, and magic can happen. Want to meet some unassuming people whose courage made a difference? The San Antonio commemoration of the 1966 farmworker strike and march will start at 10 a.m. Sept. 5, with Mass at San Fernando Cathedral, followed by a march and a rally at Milam Park. For more information on the farmworkers movement, go to https://farmworkers2016.org/. Ed Sills is director of communications at the Texas AFL-CIO, a state labor federation whose 237,000 affiliated members advocate for a raising-wages agenda in Texas. As Texans, we must listen to all voices as part of this effort. The rest of the world is looking. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush at Alamo Plaza, Aug. 4 The majority of us who have either actively participated in or followed the journey of Alamo Plazas potential transformation with great interest agree that the world is intently watching this project. We have patiently waited for decades for a positive manifestation to take place. But based on the early statements from those involved in a new master plan for the site, a question arises: Which selected voices are you now hearing? According to the language and intention of the legislation that led to the initial funding, it was the distinctive and overwhelming collective voice that called for the primary focus to be where it always should have been: the Alamos 1836 footprint and story of the decisive battle there. Those who were featured on a special video to raise the funds from the Legislature, especially Red McCombs and Henry Cisneros, were very clear on this message. McCombs emphasized his concern for our lack of focus on the 1836 event by saying shame on us several times. Cisneros eloquently insisted that it was this battle and this story of sacrifice that set us apart from the ordinary. He also said we need this story more than ever as both an educational tool and source of inspiration for generations to come. After decades of hearings, studies and research, no one should be surprised by that message. Even a prominent research company hired by the city of San Antonio said it clearly: San Antonio must protect its authenticity at all costs, or slip into a state of generica. Simply stated, focus on what makes you unique and present it boldly, because no one else has it. The Legislature heard more of the same from educators, historians and concerned Texans. No one called for keeping the status quo or watering down the original intent that led to the funding of the bill. Finally, there was genuine excitement about how the future of Alamo Plaza would be sculpted. So, just as we finally step on to the road to greatness and world-class status, we heard something quite different at the first public hearing on Aug. 2. Its not about focusing on uniqueness its about showcasing every era they can find through little shards and pieces of glass. In other words, the mundane rules over the exceptional event that draws people here in the first place. What happened? Who ordered the silencing of the collective voice of tens of thousands, maybe millions, of Alamo visitors? How did common sense lose again? Many felt political correctness suddenly infiltrated the original intention, diluted the history and hijacked the project. Some of the planners language was suitable for this early stage, but much of it was far removed from what was agreed upon by those who approved the funding. Shots were actually taken at the idea of re-creating the 1836 footprint. Even Colonial Williamsburg was deemed not an example to follow. As soon as World Heritage designation was mentioned, you could feel the tail wagging the dog. The battle cry shame on us! started coming to mind, and the sense that we had embraced generica was creeping up in the rearview mirror once more. This is a time for re-establishing equilibrium. We must clear our heads and focus on the original intent and the time-tested facts that support what the Texas Legislature acted on. Once again, the planners need to hear that collective voice that speaks from the most important place of all the heart. Lets start with the obvious fact that every study has pointed out. The Alamo of 1836 is paramount to success for San Antonio and Texas. Take care of the 1836 story and the other eras will thrive. Dilute the 1836 message and you will lose everything. People are drawn to historic sites because of their unique stories; they already live with the mundane and will not invest time or money in more. They seek to be inspired and engaged. Another fact is that authentic reconstructions work exceptionally well all over the world, inspire people to learn and explore, and create the opportunity to slip through time. Another complementary element is the use of quality interpreters and living history. Remember, this is a trip for the heart as much as it is for the brain and the feet. Alamo Plaza is not suitable for becoming a potpourri of history. There is not enough practical space or interest to be all things to all people. This is another reason why a huge world-class museum that would accommodate those other Alamo-related topics is necessary. The timing of this issue also arrives as the Texas Revolution era is becoming more inclusive, dynamic and international in scope. We need this 1836-themed project so that the healing can begin. The world that is watching right now is the same collective voice that has always urged us to move on with the 1836 Alamo, to not get bogged down and distracted with the world of mundaneness. There is no magic or vision there that can live as a slave of the ordinary. All that remains is for the planners to hear the rest of those collective voices that come from the wiser part of us the heart. Remember, reclaim, restore! Gary L. Foreman is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer, and has been a leader in the movement for Alamo Plaza transformation for more than two decades. Re: The lies our golden swimmers told us, Roy Bragg, Sports. Aug. 19: I was dismayed to read the Roy Bragg column about the antics of Ryan Lochte and three other U.S. swimmers in Rio de Janeiro. Bragg seems to believe that these were just teenagers out for a romp. Lochte, however, is a grown man, well into his 30s. He broke the law by making a false report, a legal offense. The greater offense, however, was to treat his hosts with such disrespect. His mother must have tried to teach him better. Maybe he should have shaken the water out of his ears and listened. Kathy Foster, Fredericksburg Business pirates Re: Aetna warned of insurance exchange exit if deal blocked, Business, Aug. 18: Aetna is blackmailing the federal government into allowing its purchase of Humana by threatening to pull out of the health markets where insurance is hardest to acquire. How about this? The feds should initiate a hostile takeover of both Aetna and Humana, and then offer the public reasonable rates based on the public welfare and not on profiteering. Pirates should be treated like pirates. Bryce Milligan Police accountability Re: Lack of transparency contracts fatal flaw, Rey Saldana, Other Views, Aug. 17: I completely agree with Councilman Saldana. Not only do our police officers need to be held accountable for their misdeeds, but all police forces across this nation need accountability. I hope our City Council does not approve this contract and has the guts to say no to the mayor. I venture to say that the mayor sees the writing on the wall and thinks she needs the vote from the police union to be re-elected. Oscar Cortez Wrong motive Re: S.A. gets ready to push its agenda in Austin, Metro, Aug. 18: The article depicts Mayor Ivy Taylors somewhat sideways support of nondiscrimination ordinances regarding the LGBT community as based totally on economic reasons. When the mayor was Councilwoman Taylor, the idea of protecting the LGBT community from discrimination offended her religious beliefs. Now, the idea of protecting the LGBT community seems instead to be based on enhanced business income and maybe her legacy. Why cant the citys political leader publicly admit, as I think most San Antonians believe, that nondiscrimination ordinances and practices are just the right thing to do, for their own sake? Danny Root, Bulverde Inflexible stance Re: Costly regulations shutting out homebuyers, Steve Louis, Other Views, Aug. 18: Certainly, regulations on development can be costly and dont always lead to expected or beneficial outcomes. But many work to save lives, prevent injury and illness, and preserve the ecosystem. Mr. Louis argument seems to preclude constructive dialogue on which regulations should remain, which can be improved, and which should be deleted. He provides no evidence for the implication that costs always outweigh benefits, nor does he acknowledge any regulations that might be worth keeping. This sort of inflexible stance makes it difficult for a useful conversation to emerge. Francine S. Romero, associate dean, College of Public Policy, and associate professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Texas at San Antonio Anatomy of nominee How Donald Trump became the nominee: As soon as Barack Obama became president, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would see to it that he got only one term. Since the Republicans are the majority in the Senate, he went on to oppose everything the president proposed. They refused to let anything come to a vote. So this is what brought on the do-nothing Congress, along with its very low ratings. Here comes the blowhard Trump, with all his lies and bullying. Even the Republicans cannot stand him. Well, sometimes you reap what you sow. Al Kaufman Throwing the race Considering how long Donald Trump has been making crazy allegations, demonstrating ignorance of the issues, and offering outrageous misstatements with adolescent fervor, it is clear he is trying to throw the election. What he has routinely done to his lenders in business he is now doing to his voters. The only difference is there is no way to declare bankruptcy and walk away from the nomination; he now must convey lunacy to lose the election (hes too narcissistic to drop out). Underestimating the constituencys desire to disbelieve, he got stuck with the nomination and now has to deal with it. Nevertheless, he has not yet lost; the Grand Old Party, like the rest of us, may be stuck with a grand old reality check. Believe me! So sad! Jerry Kempe, New Braunfels Venezuelas lesson Re: Venezuelas problems will cascade, editorial, Aug. 15: I noticed you avoided use of the word socialism when describing Venezuelas descent into economic disaster. The government under Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro was supposed to become a socialist workers paradise. Like the Soviet Union and Maos China before it, the government controlled the means of production, introduced price controls, demonized capitalism, and distributed money to the poor at the expense of the producers of wealth. Like most, if not all, socialist governments, it failed to produce what was promised the people. I fear that Venezuela may show where the United States is going if liberal politicians and social justice warriors have their way. Sam Shelton, Spring Branch Pens vs. computers Where have I been? When did handwriting cease to be taught? Is it because of computers? Yes, Im using an electronic device to compose and send this letter, but as a collector of writing instruments (200-plus at this time), I cant imagine not knowing how to use them. Computers certainly have their place and are convenient, but nothing can replace the feel of a pen to paper. Yikes. Susan Chambers 1 Deadly fire: A fire swept through a Moscow printing plant warehouse on Saturday, killing 17 migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan, Russian officials said. A representative of the Kyrgyz community said the victims were all young women trapped in a dressing room while changing into their work clothes. The fire was caused by a faulty lamp on the first floor of the warehouse, where many flammable liquids and paper products were stored, and it spread quickly through an elevator shaft to the dressing room, said Ilya Denisov, who heads the Moscow branch of emergency services. Denisov said the dead were all from Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. 2 Border tensions: North Korea on Saturday threatened to fire at the lighting equipment used by American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The Norths Korean Peoples Army accused U.S. and South Korean soldiers of deliberate provocations by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. Tensions at the border are high due to last Mondays start of annual joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. Its been an appropriately fractured, uneasy week in Zimbabwe. As the country has tried to deal with the long-anticipated death of its loved and loathed founding father, Robert Mugabe, the nation has experienced an unsettling and contradictory jumble of deep reverence, nostalgia, indifference, hypocrisy and anger, combined with an almost soap-opera quantity of plot twists. At the heart of those contradictions and twists, sits the enigmatic and widely reviled Grace Mugabe the grieving widow, her face now hidden beneath a dark veil, a woman whose fortunes, over the decades, have revealed so much about how power really works in Zimbabwe. Who is Grace Mugabe? She was the secretary who married the president, who then became infamous for her lavish shopping sprees and fiery temper. Grace earned a dubious doctorate and swept into politics, to head Zanu PFs Womens League. Why we are mourning for Mugabe It was Graces increasingly vitriolic interventions and obvious ambition that its widely believed provoked the military to stage the 2017 coup in order to thwart her faction in the governing party and with it her apparent dynastic plans. Was there misogyny wrapped up in the publics attitude towards her? No doubt. But the practical result of her politicking was that she fled the country and was ruthlessly purged from the party. But now shes back. And not, perhaps, just to bury her husband. Shes tough. Shell stay in Zimbabwe. Shell be persecuted, but shell stay, said Patrick Zhuwao, Mugabes nephew and one of Graces political allies who has chosen to remain abroad for his own safety. Grace married Mugabe, 41 years her senior, in 1996 This past week, Grace has been silent but centre-stage in Harare, as a furious tug-of-war has raged, sometimes in public, over the logistics and politics of where to bury her husbands 95-year-old body. There she was, sobbing, as the plane carrying his coffin from Singapore touched down in Harare. She declined the States hearse. She tore up its funeral plans. The family complained of State coercion. The dispute could be dismissed as a sideshow the sort of fractious haggling that might accompany the funeral of anyone who lived a long and complicated life. But here in Zimbabwe an opaque, corrupt, centralised and turbulent would-be-democracy every twist has been closely analysed for what it might reveal about an all-powerful elite that operates behind closed doors but sometimes erupts in spectacular public feuds, complete with allegations of poisonings and assassinations. The two met and started having an affair when she was a typist in Zimbabwes State House Hence the endless questions. Is Grace planning a political comeback? Who is winning the grave war? Has President Emmerson Mnangagwa backed down or is he being magnanimous in victory? Was the low turnout at Saturdays State funeral arranged to spite the Mugabes? Why did no-one applaud Mnangagwas florid speech? Who now wields power within the Mugabe family Grace or the clan elders? Why did Grace demand a special mausoleum for her husband? Will she be safe here? Can she make peace with Mnangagwa? You can see why they call it a soap opera. From liberator to tyrant The truth is that Grace will have to cut some sort of deal with the government if she is to remain in Zimbabwe with her wealth and security and family intact. Perhaps she already has. She and her husband overestimated their political power and their popular support two years ago with spectacular and disastrous results for them both. But who knows how long any truce might hold. Zimbabwes political future looks messy. The new government is trying to implement tough economic reforms but it lacks both public trust and the competence, unity and integrity to push through the necessary measures. The result is deepening economic hardship for the majority. Perhaps more fundamentally, Zimbabwean democracy is still broken. The opposition believes last years elections were rigged, and it may choose to take to the streets, like its counterpart in Kenya, to provoke a security clampdown and a crisis and perhaps to secure a power-sharing deal. In the midst of all this, Grace will presumably remain at the Blue Roof her grand mansion in Harares northern suburbs waiting for a hilltop mausoleum worthy of her husband to be completed, and preparing for a private burial and, perhaps, one more chance to spite the men who betrayed her husband and won this round in Zimbabwes game of thrones. BBC Breaking News via Email By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She now spends most of her time in India and other parts of Asia researching a book about artisanal textile workers but also writes regularly about law, political economy, and regulatory topics for various consulting clients and publications. She also writes occasional travel pieces for The National (http://www.thenational.ae). Business interests have launched a pre-emptive broadside against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPB) long-awaited regulations covering the use of forced arbitration clauses in consumer financial contracts. Financial institutions use such clauses to require consumers to use arbitration procedures to resolve a dispute, rather than allowing them bring class action or other types of lawsuits. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act mandated that the CFPB study the use of such clauses. This task was one of many slowed by the two-year stalemate over confirmation of CFPB director Richard Cordray. The CFPB arrived at its proposed rule after extensive study of the issue, first releasing public preliminary results in December 2013 and culminating in its May 2015 Arbitration Study. The bureau published its rule in May and solicited public comments. Now the bureau must wade through the more than 13,000 largely duplicative comments received before the comment period closed last week. The rule contains two key parts. The first would prohibit financial companies from using an agreement that would bar a consumer from participating in a class action concerning a financial product or service covered by the agreement. The second would introduce a modicum of greater transparency into arbitration proceedings, and require financial firms to submit records of arbitration proceedings to the bureau. Consumer advocates and others concerned about openness have long considered arbitration proceedings problematic as theres little transparency, records are not made public, past decisions have little precedential value, and there are limited grounds for appeal. In addition, since parties on one side of transactions tend to be repeat customers, this pattern may skew decisions to one side. The lack of transparency in the system means it is impossible to evaluate how fair an arbitration system is. The CFPB notes that although tens of millions of consumers enter into agreements using such clauses, little empirical research has been conducted on the subject. Nearly all the arbitration clauses it examined disallow class arbitration; 75% of consumers it surveyed were unaware that their consumer and financial contracts contain such clauses; and fewer than 7% of consumers understand that these clauses eliminate any right to litigate. About 50% of credit card debt is subject to such clauses, as is 44% of insured deposits, and upward of 85% of other types of financial contracts (e.g., mobile wireless services, prepaid cards, payday loans, and private student loans). The American Banker quotes a joint letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Bankers Association, the Financial Services Roundtable and 26 other national and state industry groups calling for the CFPB to withdraw the proposed rule, claiming this proposal would have the practical effect of eliminating the availability of low-cost, efficient, and fair arbitration programs for consumers. Various consumer groups support the proposal, including Public Citizen and Americans for Financial Reform. Class Action Lowdown Class actions get a bad press, partly due to the extensive efforts that have been made by business interests to tout the defects of the US legal system, especially laws, regulations, and procedures that allow consumers to recover for harms they have suffered. From the perspective of potential plaintiffs, class actions allow pooling of resources, making it economically viable to bring claims that individually may be too small to pursue. From the perspective of courts, class actions allow numerous similar claims to be combined and thus save court resources as claims are litigated together rather than separately. And from a systemic perspective, class actions allow private actors entrepreneurial plaintiffs attorneys, incentivised by the large potential fees they can reap from contingent fee arrangements, to act as private attorneys general. In what can be called a regulation by litigation model, these lawsuits impose de facto constraints on dangerous, fraudulent, or predatory behaviour that in other national systems might be controlled by effective upfront regulation by the nation state (and at one time in the US, were addressed by some public regulators). Supreme Court and Arbitration Clauses The use of arbitration clauses in consumer financial contracts has been on the increase since the 1990s. Financial institutions like such clauses because they limit their potential exposure to large jury awards. And over this period, the business-friendly Supreme Court has generally interpreted the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 (FAA) to allow enforcement of standard form pre-dispute arbitration clauses in consumer, employment and other types of contracts. The CFPBs pending rule-making would supersede the Supreme Courts 2011 AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion decision holding that the FAA pre-empted state law that would have prohibited the enforcement of a consumer arbitration clause with a no-class provision. Prior to this decision, courts were split on the issue of state law challenges to the enforceability of no-class provisions in arbitration clauses. The Supreme Court extended this decision later that year in American Express v. Italian Colors Restaurant , upholding an arbitration agreement that checked merchants from bringing class action lawsuits against the company. Constraints on Class Actions Over the last couple of decades, the US class action system has been significantly constrained, partly by political decisions, but also by a series of judicial opinions. Lets start with the political actions. Many of the same business interests arrayed behind the latest attempted squeeze on the CFPB were architects of the so-called legal reform or tort reform movements, such as the 1994 Contract With America. Both houses of Congress in 1995 passed the Common Sense Legal Reform Act, which, among other provisions, would have imposed loser pays rules and limitations on punitive damages; this legislation was vetoed by President Bill Clinton. Another bill, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, was ultimately enacted in 1995, over a Clinton veto, and made it more difficult to bring securities fraud claims (and in the opinion of some, made bubble-era abuses possible). Consumer advocates largely opposed such measures. In addition, trial lawyers, who at times have been the Democratic Partys single largest source of campaign funds, also opposed the initiatives. Moving forward a decade, in February 2005, the Senate passed the Class Action Fairness Act, with votes from 53 Republicans, one independent, and 18 Democrats including then-Senator Barack Obama. The House had previously passed the bill and President George W. Bush signed it into law. This legislation helped make it more difficult for plaintiffs to prevail in consumer class action lawsuits. The bill shifted most class actions from state to federal courts, the latter of which are usually considered to be less open to creative class action claims. Similar legal reform measures were also mounted at the state level, and these included state statutory changes, as well as efforts to elect Republican state attorneys general (or others supportive of similar pro-business measures). The 2005 federal legislation eased procedures for a defendant to appeal against an unfavourable class certification decision, and one intended effect, now especially apparent a decade later, has been to relax pressure on (corporate) defendants to settle, out of fear of losing a class action trial. Another major impediment to class actions has been a series of decisions the Supreme Court has made that restrict the award of punitive damages on constitutional grounds. Beginning with BMW v. Gore and including State Farm v. Campbell and Philip Morris v. Williams, these cases have steadily ratcheted down the amount of overall damages plaintiffs can hope to recoup.. These Court decisions are not as widely known as they should be. But they have had a major effect in reducing class action lawsuits because of the way such lawsuits are financed and developed. Plaintiffs attorneys frequently function as entrepreneurs in pioneering new areas of legal recovery. To develop successful such lawsuits can take years, and cost millions of dollars. Plaintiffs attorneys usually bear the upfront costs of what can often be speculative litigation, with recovery uncertain; they in turn, are largely compensated by contingency fee arrangements. Such fees can seem exorbitant they may stretch to as much as 1/3 of the total costs of a successful judgement or settlement. But the situation is more complicated than it appears on its face. Fees are contingent on success and are only earned if the lawyers recover money. In the event of a loss, plaintiffss attorneys receive nothing. It requires investment of considerable money up front to develop these claims to the point where plaintiffs attorney have leverage to secure a settlement (for virtually none of these cases ultimately goes to trial). Not every case results in a win or settlement, and if the expected benefits were not outsize when money is actually recovered, these attorneys would have insufficient incentives to bring claims in the first instance. (Just how outsize these fees need to be to achieve these results should of course be a topic for discussion and debate.) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one group that has spotlighted the level of attorneys fees, especially relative to the amounts that the class action plaintiffs themselves ultimately receive. Some courts have also increased their scrutiny of consumer class action settlements. Judge Richard Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2014 authored three opinions overturning district courts approval of settlements, over objections, of consumer class actions. Posner examined issues relating to attorneys fees, and also examined the collusive effects of some typical settlement structures, which lower settlement costs for class action defendants. Posners decisions are only legally binding as precedent in the Seventh Circuit. While they attracted substantial commentary, the impact of these decisions outside of the Seventh Circuit has been muted. Courts will continue to lean toward approving such settlements, except in the most extreme cases, as these reduce pressure on court resources. But theres a larger point that these critics miss. If the major benefit of class actions is their deterrent effect on the behaviour of corporate defendants, then the distribution of monetary rewards between plaintiffs and their attorneys is beside the point. Regardless of who receives what proportion of a successful judgement or settlement, a robust class action system imposes real costs on businesses, as partly demonstrated by the intensity of their lobbying efforts against the class action system. The net effect of tilting the class action playing field in a business-friendly direction is only to reduce pressure on firms to police their behaviour. The current private litigation system overwhelmingly relies on entrepreneurial plaintiffs attorneys to bring lawsuits against corporate defendants that engage in practices that hurt consumers. If these attorneys are not incentivised to bring private lawsuits, few lawsuits whatever will be brought. Weve certainly seen the sad reality of an overwhelming lack of effective Department of Justice enforcement actions against corporate defendants, especially financial institutions, during the Obama administration. The CFPB lacks resources to enforce consumer rights effectively and is dependent on private enforcement mechanisms. And so overriding existing legal precedent and thereby making it possible for attorneys to bring class actions is one of the limited tools the CFPB has at its disposal to shape the practices of financial institutions. Such a move will not be unopposed. If the CFPB follows through and implements its proposed class action-friendly agenda, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its allies have already served notice that they will mount a legal challenge to the new rules. The Chamber sent a 103-page comment letter to the CFPB outlying some of the legal challenges it will raise. And depending on the electoral result, Congress, and maybe the incoming president, may make their own attempts to reign in the CFPB. Tammy Garrett: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalist Meet Tammy Garrett and her cause, Rapahope Children's Retreat Foundation. Tammy is one of four finalists chosen for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian award for her dedication to helping children. Government: Sending ionized gas to Earth's ionosphere could improve radio communication Air Force references controversial HAARP while discussing new technology to improve radio signals Weather and jet stream manipulation (NaturalNews) Despite the fact that nearly everyone living in the United States can physically view evidence of weather modification , the establishment continues to deny the government's ability to manipulate various weather systems This is in addition to the fact that the U.S. government signed a treaty in 1977 prohibiting the use of weather modification as a weapon of war. Yet, chemtrails a poisonous chemical mix including aluminum, barium and cadmium released from planes are still considered a conspiracy theory by many.However, the U.S. Air Force recently revealed a technologically advanced plan to detonate plasma bombs in Earth's upper atmosphere using a fleet of tiny satellites to "improve the range of radio communications," according to theThe Air Force says it would use "CubeSats" to carry enormous amounts of ionized gas to the ionosphere in an effort to develop radio-reflecting plasma. The department says it has granted contracts to three research teams in the hope that they can develop the technology.Because the ionosphere is denser and carries charged particles after the sun goes down, radio signals can travel further. The ionosphere is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that's ionized by solar and cosmic radiation. It lies 46 to 621 miles above our planet, according to the Stanford Solar Center."During the night, without interference from the Sun, cosmic rays ionize the ionosphere, though not nearly as strongly as the Sun. These high energy rays originate from sources throughout our own galaxy and the universe -- rotating neutron stars, supernovae, radio galaxies, quasars and black holes," the Stanford Solar Center explains."The ionosphere has major importance to us because, among other functions, it influences radio propagation to distant places on the Earth, and between satellites and Earth."Radio signal communications can be improved, however, by sending massive amounts of ionized gas to the ionosphere, says the Air Force, allowing them to create radio-reflecting plasma "For the plans to work, researchers must develop a plasma generator small enough to fit on a CubeSat, and they must find a way to control how the plasma disperse once it's been released," according to theAn ongoing project at the University of Maryland is working to develop a plan that would "heat metal by detonating a small bomb," using the blast to create electrical energy.Similar efforts were made by researchers working with the High Frequency Active Research Program, also known as (HAARP), in Alaska.Scientists have attempted to develop plasma "using radiation from ground-based antennas to stimulate the ionosphere." But the Air Force says its plan is much more efficient.HAARP is thought to be the driving force behind weather and jet stream manipulation. Emitting powerful radio frequency signals into the atmosphere can be harmful to all life forms, says Dane Wigington of"The dangers we face from global climate engineering are not only from the atmospheric saturation of highly toxic aerosols, but also from the constant bombardment of extremely powerful radio frequency signals that are also permeating our atmosphere from the clouds to the ground all over the planet."Researchers with the U.S. Air Force say their plan to detonate plasma bombs in the Earth's atmosphere is still in the early stages. However, once the agency has confirmed what it believes is the best strategy, it will begin testing plasma generators in vacuum chambers and on space exploration flights. Wastewater treatment plants incapable of filtering out plastic litter harmful to wildlife Research shows fish consuming tiny bits of plastic suffer intestinal problems Eco-friendly alternatives to microbeads (NaturalNews) Tiny little microbeads found in various cosmetic products used to exfoliate skin are currently being phased out of the United States due to their adverse effects on the environment. Last year, the U.S. passed a law banning the ingredients, ruling that their use must be completely terminated by July 1, 2017.However, some experts say that the law doesn't go far enough. For example, the British Parliament is now calling for a worldwide ban on microbeads due to the severe and often deadly dangers they pose to wildlife."Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain," committee chair Mary Creagh said in an interview with the BBC. "A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean."Similar to many other harmful substances, microbeads are not filtered out by wastewater treatment plants because of antiquated and often totally inadequate infrastructure. As a result, microbeads eventually end up in our waterways, causing trouble for marine life.While harmful on their own, the microbeads can become even more threatening to animals because they often absorb chemicals and bacteria as they move through piping and the environment.Fish, turtles and other aquatic life have been known to eat the tiny pieces of plastic, mistaking them for food. As a result, they become lodged in their stomachs and intestines, sometimes causing fatal damage to the animals.Researchers say that the impact of microbeads and other plastics on the ocean are quite well understood; however, less is known about the consequences of this pollution invading rivers and lakes.Reporting from thereveals that the tiny microscopic pieces of plastic are showing up in the Great Lakes of North America, particularly Lake Michigan.While conducting water sampling in 2013, researchers discovered more than 19,000 strands per square kilometer after using fine mesh nets to strain water near the surface."Microfibers accounted for about 16 percent of the plastic dredged from the water, compared with 4 percent of what they found in the rest of the Great Lakes," thereported.The Wildlife Conservation Society confirms that a ban on products containing microbeads is definitely a step in the right direction, especially since alternatives are already available.Natural alternatives to microbead exfoliants include whole oats or baking soda if you have sensitive skin and are looking for something less harsh.However, if you're interested in sloughing off dead skin cells, ground almonds, walnut shells and coffee all make excellent substitutes, according to. And if that doesn't do the trick, sugar and sea salt are great options, as well.For those interested in ensuring microbead products are avoided altogether, you can find a neatly compiled list documenting products that contain the plastic pollutants here In addition to cosmetics, plastic microbeads are also found in products like toothpaste and even in clothing, with the latter called microfibers.Invisible to the naked eye, these "minuscule filaments" are very tiny fibers made from a variety of petroleum-based materials such as polyester and nylon that shed from clothing when laundered.Again, due to their size, these tiny bits of plastic are not filtered out by washing machines or treatment plants. Some experts say that resorting back to natural fabrics made of cotton and wool could help curb microplastic litter.Others suggest that manufacturers determine whether better filters could be added to washing machines, a system similar to the way in which dryers trap lint from clothes. (NaturalNews) Even doctors across the pond are giving out antidepressants like candy . Shocking figures reveal that the youngest patient to receive antidepressants at NHS Tayside doctors' behest was a 1-year-old little boy.Between the months of January and May of 2016, the NHS Tayside Trust reportedly prescribed antidepressants to at least 450 children. Health bosses say that the youngest person prescribed these drugs during this period of time was a whopping 7-years old, but back in 2014, a boy who was just a year old was given these mind-altering drugs The Trust later revealed that as many as four 1-year-old children were prescribed antidepressants in 2014 alone. They also claimed that antidepressants can be prescribed to help children overcome chronic pain and bedwetting. Apparently, 1-year-old infants are now expected to be able to hold it overnight and are able to verbalize what chronic pain feels like.Though teens between the ages of 14 and 17 are the most likely age group to be prescribed antidepressants, the incidence of younger and younger children being given these drugs also continues to climb.reports that since 2005, the number of teens prescribed antidepressant drugs has increased by a shocking 54 percent.reports that here in the U.S., children under the age of 5 are the fastest growing group of non-adults being prescribed antidepressant medications. Of the 17 million children who are prescribed any one of the many psychiatric drugs available today, 10 million reside in the United States.There have been many concerns expressed about the use of these and other stimulant drugs in children. Multiple regulatory agencies from Europe, Australia and even right here in the U.S. have issued warnings about the use of these heavy-handed medications. Antidepressants are known to cause suicides, suicidal thoughts and hostility in young children and teenagers. Stimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Concerta have also been found to cause suicides and violent, aggressive or psychotic behavior in kids. These same drugs can also have catastrophic physical effects such as heart attacks and strokes, and can even lead to sudden death.reports that children as young as four have attempted suicide, and that children as young as five have committed suicide,. The organization also states: "Between 1995 and 1999, antidepressant use increased 580% in the under 6 population and 151% in the 7-12 age group." Twelve years ago, in 2004, the FDA ordered that a "black box" label be placed on antidepressants to warn parents that these drugs can cause suicide in children and adolescents. What this warning label fails to do, however, is notify parents that their child's doctor cannot predict whether or not this will happen.One of the primary reasons these medications are so heavily prescribed for children is because parents trust doctors to suggest what is best for their children but not every doctor is actually doing that. Many doctors are doing what is best for their bank accounts, not for their patients.According to, the vast majority of parents are not being informed of the potential risks of these medications when they agree to a psychiatric drug prescription. They are not being told that there is no blood or urine test that can be conducted to determine the cause of a mental disorder, and that the drugs they are being prescribed are not a cure. Psychiatric drug prescription is really a guessing game, at best.The sad part is that parents who agree to this line of treatment truly believe that they are doing what is best for their children, and it is outrageous that doctors take advantage of the trust that parents implicitly place in them to take care of their kids. Ruffalo just one of many who oppose the merger Bayer and Monsanto prepared to fight (NaturalNews) Bayer and Monsanto are facing some tough opposition in their quest to get their merger cleared by antitrust regulators. A number of concerned environmental groups are putting up a fight, but one of the most vocal detractors comes in the form of the Incredible Hulk.Actor Mark Ruffalo, who played the character in two of thefilms, joined a chorus of voices calling on US Attorney General Loretta Lynch and EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager to block the merger. An August 7 tweet from the actor using the hashtag #MergerFromHell says the merger would be a "disaster for the global food supply."It's easy to see why he is so outraged by the potential move, which would create the biggest producer of pesticides and seeds on the planet . An agreement is expected within the next two weeks that would set the stage for the two firms to seek antitrust approval.Ruffalo is far from the only person to take such a strong stance against the merger of two companies that many feel are responsible for many of the evils facing the world today. Mike Adams, the Health Ranger and Food Forensics author, called it "the perfect match made in chemical Hell," and summarized the situation quite nicely when he wrote:Consumer groups and environmental groups alike have been calling on regulators to block the deal. Several European Parliament members have started petitions stating that such a transaction would dominate the European seed market and further limit the choices available.The deal would cause Monsanto's dominance in the seed and herbicide industry to grow and get rid of direct competition between the companies, which could adversely affect research and development in the future. This could also lead to higher food prices. Monsanto and Bayer together already account for 70 percent of the cotton acreage in the U.S.Of course, the firms are used to opposition. European campaigners have long been trying to halt the production of genetically-modified plants, bee-killing pesticides and carcinogenic weed killers. Both companies have teams of lawyers and PR people who are quite skilled at spinning the situation in their favor, however, while their government connections and deep pocketbooks ensure that their interests are protected.The head of crop science at Bayer , Liam Condon, thinks that any competition issues could be avoided simply by selling off some smaller divisions. European Parliament Green Party spokesman, Richard More O'Ferrall, said: "Given that the ostensible aim of this merger is market dominance, it's hard to see how some token splits would ease concerns."In a letter to German politicians last month, Vestager said that her goal as EU antitrust head was ensuring access to quality food for European consumers at affordable prices, and she said that the bid would be investigated very carefully. She added that concerns about the merger's effect on prices, availability, and research and development would all be considered.Ruffalo has long had his eye on Monsanto's unethical practices. In a piece forlast December that the actor penned personally, he outlined exactly why he thinks Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant is a horrible person. In fact, he happened to run into him in a CBS green room and told him to his face: "You are wrong. You are engaged in monopolizing food. You are poisoning people. You are killing small farms. You are killing bees. What you are doing is dead wrong."Those wrongs are only likely to get worse if Monsanto joins forces with Bayer. Researchers used high resolution laser data to discover a huge swath of 200-300 meter donut shaped circular mounds composing a reef behind the Great Barrier Reef. The Royal Australian Navy provided the data gathered from LiDAR-equipped aircraft. Scientists from James Cook University, University of Sydney and Queensland University of Technology worked together to analyze the seafloor data. "We've known about these geological structures in the northern Great Barrier Reef since the 1970s and 80s, but never before has the true nature of their shape, size and vast scale been revealed," James Cook University's Dr. Robin Beaman said in a release. "The deeper seafloor behind the familiar coral reefs amazed us." This amazing seafloor is made up of fields of Halimeda bioherms, the donut shaped circular mounds. A common green algae called Halimeda, grows and forms the reef like bioherm structures. Halimeda is made of calcified parts. When it dies, it becomes small white flakes of limestone. The build up of the flakes is responsible for the large size of the bioherms. Geographically, the fields of bioherms go from the Torres Strait to Port Douglas. The depth of the bioherms is up to 10 meters. "As a calcifying organism, Halimeda may be susceptible to ocean acidification and warming. Have the Halimeda bioherms been impacted, and if so to what extent?" associate professor from the University of Sydney Jody Webster said in the same release. Less is known about deeper seafloor and how it is affected by climate change compared to the more well known and studied reefs. Mapping the Halimeda bioherms is a first step toward familiarization with some of the deeper seafloor. Dr. Beaman is already planning future research of the structures. Preliminary plans include sediment coring, sub-surface geophysical surveys, and employing autonomous underwater vehicle technologies to unravel the physical, chemical and biological processes of the structures. The California State Bar is once again facing criticism over mismanagement and misspending this time, state auditors say the agency is overpaying its employees, all while the bar's fund to repay victims of corrupt lawyers is millions of dollars short. The California legislature created the public agency 89 years ago to protect consumers from dishonest attorneys, however, a recent state audit is highly critical of the bar, citing a lack of transparency" and inappropriate financial decisions that the agency tried to keep hidden from lawmakers. The agencys largest expense includes salaries for its more than 500 employees. Top executives at the bar get paid far more than other state employees in similar positions. In fact, 13 employees at the bar, including Executive Director Elizabeth Parker, receive bigger salaries than Gov. Jerry Brown. Parker was brought in last year to reform the bar. Critics, however, say new leadership over the years has never been enough to turn around the beleaguered agency. For her part, Parker says salaries at the agency are comparable to what is offered at other state bars, and adds changes wont be made overnight. It may not be correct to assume that there is just a one-size fits-all set of pay structures throughout California, Parker said. That, in fact, is not the case. Parker, who received a $32,500 housing and moving allowance in 2015 and 2016 and an annual salary of $267,500, is one of three top executives at the bar who were brought in last year to help transform the agency after years of harsh criticism from lawmakers, state auditors, and government watchdog groups. The governor makes $182,784. We have challenges, theres no question, Parker said. We've got the right team in placeto really make some of the changes that are needed and that have long been mentioned. State Bar Offers Employees Pricey Salaries, But Cant Afford to Pay Victims Critics believe its hard to justify those employee salaries when the bar cant even afford to carry out its own basic responsibilities. The state bar has a fund to pay back clients who were ripped off by dishonest attorneys. That fund, however, is dangerously low. According to a May 2016 state audit, not only did [the California State Bar] fail to take steps to address the problem or to communicate the funds true financial situation, it did the opposite. The Client Security Fund totaled $2.2 million last year, but the bar needed $18.9 million to pay out its backlog of claims thats a shortfall of $16.7 million. The audit also determined the bar tried to keep that gap hidden from state lawmakers, even though the lack of funds doubled the amount of time it took to process consumer claims. Victims, including those who were overcharged by attorneys or defrauded out of money or property, are now forced to wait up to five years before they receive compensation from the state, according to the audit. Thats a real concern, Parker said. Its been a concern from the minute I learned about it. The bar has since transferred $2 million into the fund from other resources, but Parker says a long-term fix might mean raising annual membership dues for attorneys throughout the state. Currently, fees total nearly $400. But we don't want to make that request before we're certain that every dime we spend and, indeed, every charge we make is calibrated with public protection in mind, Parker said. Private consultants have been hired to study the bars spending, including employee salaries and benefit packages. Those findings are scheduled to be released on Oct. 30, but Parker maintains the bar has already taken steps to reduce wasteful spending. The agencys 2016 budget reflects a 29 percent decrease in travel and a 24 percent drop in catering, representing a savings of $1.5 million, according to an analysis by the State Assemblys Judiciary Committee. In written responses submitted to the California State Auditor, the bar said it agreed with many of the findings and described the audit as a balanced analysis of the myriad of issues facing the State Bar. The agency, however, did criticize the report for not making a clearer demarcation between past management issues faced by the State Bar and the efforts of new leadership over the last seven months. The bar also rejected the assertion that it attempted to conceal the lack of money in its victims fund, arguing that information was reported to the Board of Trustees via public board reports. State Bar Acknowledges Long History of Problems Earlier this month, the bar released its own 57-page report highlighting recommendations on how to enhance the protection of the public. The report also acknowledged the bars own sordid history, saying the problems at the state bar are not recent in origin: indeed, decades of studies, reports and statutory provisions reflect efforts to reform the state bar, most with only modest impact. The bars report, however, should have been completed and released to the public two years ago. In 2011, the California legislature instituted a requirement that the bar complete the analysis every three years, beginning with an inaugural report in 2014. I Have to Thank That News Report In May, the Investigative Unit revealed how the bar was accused of failing to keep watch over some of the states worst attorneys. In trying to clear its backlog of consumer complaints against attorneys, the bar allowed some lawyers to continue practicing, even though they should have been disciplined or disbarred, according to another state audit released in June 2015. I have to thank that news report, said Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco. Chiu says reporting by the Investigative Unit pushed him to co-author legislation to reform the California State Bar. Chiu is now calling for a larger percentage of non-attorney representation on the state bars Board of Trustees by reducing the number of attorney members. Chiu also supports enlisting an independent enforcement monitor, appointed by the Attorney General, who would watch over the bar. Through scandal after scandal, [the state bar] has shown that they are not focused on its core mission, but instead spending monies in all sorts of different ways that I think are abusing its public responsibility, Chiu said. We've been finding out there's a lot that's crawling underneath the surface that is not what it should be. Chiu is also pushing to create a commission to study whether the bar should split into two separate organizations, since it currently serves as both a trade group for lawyers, as well as a regulatory agency that is supposed to discipline attorneys. We would separate those two functions, as is the case for every other major profession in the state of California, Chiu said. The Foxes are Guarding the Henhouse While most states across the country share a similar bar structure to California, 18 states, including Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, have non-unified bars, according to an analysis by the Assemblys Judiciary Committee. Those states have private trade associations, which are not regulated by the state. California should follow the lead of those states to eliminate an inherent conflict of interest, reform advocates say. The foxes are guarding the henhouse, said Ed Howard, Senior Counsel for the Center for Public Interest Law, a non-profit group that serves as a watchdog for government boards and agencies. What we need is a state bar that doesnt have conflict of interest baked into the very fabric of its DNA, Howard said. Thats when well start to see a real change in the state bars behavior, but until then its just a scandal machine. Parker wont say whether she supports the idea of dividing the state bar, but acknowledges the agencys notorious legacy of dysfunction and questionable financial decisions. I guess I'd say that I think we're turning this ship around, Parker said. I think we're going in the right directionit is a big ship and it won't turn in a day. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection was notified that the Millennium Tower was sinking about the same time the first owners started moving into the luxury high-rise in 2009, documents obtained by NBC Bay Area show. According to the documents released Friday, the engineering firm on the Millennium project alerted the city in early 2009 that the building had sunk 8.3 inches and could sink another four inches. The findings were summarilzed in a Feb. 25, 2009 letter the Millennium project's engineering firm DeSimone Engineers sent to the city, according to documents obtained NBC Bay Area obtained under the state Public Records Act. The issue of the extent of sinking had become an issue at this point with the transit project being next door by the public Transbay Joint Powers authority, an amalgam of public agencies. The chief engineer for the authority, Brian Dykes, reminded the developer in a Jan. 14, 2010 about the fact that the findings DeSimone Engineers had told the city about the year before. The actual Feb. 25, 2008, letter the firm sent to the city, however, has not been disclosed. According to Dykes, the soils firm Treadwell and Rollo's findings were included in that letter DeSimone sent to the city. Dykes then pressed the builder further about the cause and nature of the sinking problem. Treadwell and Rollo, according to Dykes, blamed the problem on too much dewatering of the foundation. The basement of the building routinely flooded with ground water. Such draining removes tiny particles that help hold clay together, and the drying can cause soil settlement, experts say. According to Dykes' letter, the soils firm also cited the "limited effectiveness" of pre-drilling method used to install the piles that were driven 90 feet down to support the foundation. Pre-drilling is supposed to limit the disturbance to surrounding soils by the pile driving process. It is designed to assure that soil is not so disturbed that it can cling to the piles and hold them in place by friction. While the transbay project authority released its letter to the builder, it did not provide the builder's response. Dykes was out of the office and not available for comment Friday. Treadwell and Rollo has declined comment on the matter. A Department of Building Inspection spokesman said that the staff of the agency "had no recollection of any such notification." William Strawn, in an email statement to NBC Bay Area, added: "We are still gathering all our records on this address - so it is theoretically possible that such a notification is among these records....I simply cannot say whether it exists or not at this time," Strawn said. However, he said that "such a notification would receive immediately a demand that they provide the department with a detailed engineering report documenting their findings, and providing DBI with their proposed remedy to stabilize such settlement." The burden is on the builder to notify the residents, he said. "They built the building and sold the units, not the City." As to issuing certificates of occupancy for the building at the time, Strawn said that the agency would not issue them "unless all reviews have been completed and signed off by appropriate inspectors and special inspectors. The fact that we did issue these suggests to me we had no such notification, as alleged." Charlie Goodyear, a spokesman for the Millennium Tower Association said the owners group "has recently been made aware of correspondence dating back to 2009 regarding settlement of the building." The association is investigating to "determine whether information should have been made known to the Association and to owners within the building." He said the owners have independent experts and is "assured that the building is safe." District Attorney George Gascon Friday said he hopes to announce a decision soon in the investigation into the 2015 police shooting of a Guatemalan man in the Mission District. Activists have criticized the slow pace of the investigation into the Feb. 26, 2015 death of Amilcar Perez Lopez, and held a vigil and rally to mark the 18-month anniversary of his death. Gascon said that the investigation has been delayed in part because some witnesses came forward a year or more after the shooting, opening up new lines of inquiry and prompting investigators to seek input from expert witnesses. He said he understood the frustration of advocates and family members. While community members have called on him to file charges and let a jury decide, he said he had explained to them that as a prosecutor he needed to make sure he had a case that would stand up in court. "I'm hopeful that we're weeks away from coming to a final conclusion," he said. "But the thing that I have made really clear is that this is one of those things where I would rather be sure that I was right than to try to go out with a conclusion that is based on partial information." Members of the Justice for Amilcar Perez Lopez Coalition on Friday said they are calling for an investigation by state Attorney General Kamala Harris. After meeting with Gascon in July, they said they now believe he has already tentatively decided not to charge the officers a claim he denies. "DA Gascon has all the evidence he needs to bring this case to trial," group member Father Richard Smith said. "So far, we're disappointed. He's shown great courage in addressing other SFPD scandals, but in this instance he seems to lack the political and moral will." Perez Lopez was shot and killed around 9:45 p.m. by plainclothes officers responding to a 911 call reporting a man running with a knife down Folsom Street toward 25th Street. The caller said the man was chasing another man. Police said the officers arrived a minute later, saw a suspect with a knife and drew their firearms, ordering him to drop the knife. They fired at the suspect a minute later. Activists have raised questions about whether Perez Lopez understood police commands, given the language barrier, whether he understood that the plainclothes officers were police, and whether he had already dropped the knife when he was shot. Smith said that two autopsies and witness reports have indicated Lopez Perez was shot in the back. Advocates have alleged that he was shot as he fled from plainclothes officers who he did not realize were police. Gascon said he plans to forward the results of the investigation to Harris and to the U.S. Department of Justice for review when it is completed. He noted that in addition to providing "another set of eyes," those offices have legal tools not available to him, such as civil rights investigations. San Francisco police on Friday released the sketch of a man accused of viciously beating a woman last weekend, and sought the public's help in identifying the suspect. 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. On Friday, police made special mention of a mole on the man's right cheek. 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 attack was random. According to police, the man said something to the woman just as he attacked her. "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. Four-year-old Jackson Scherlen didn't have his father at his side on the first day of pre-K in Texas this week. But he did have about 20 of his father's brothers and sisters from the Amarillo Police Department to give him a hug and wish him the best. Officer Justin Scherlen never missed the first day of school for his four children, according to the Amarillo Independent School District, but he died recently from complications of an on-duty vehicle crash that took place last year. He left behind his children and wife, Jessica, and to help fill the void as the kids when back to school, nearly two dozen of his fellow officers escorted them to school on their first day, the school district said. Jackson hugged and high fived every one of the officers before going to class at at Coronado Elementary School. "You have fun, OK? Be good," says one officer, as seen in video of the goodbye. "See you, bud. Have a good day at school," says another. The group posed for photos outside the school as well, preserving a bittersweet memory for the Scherlen family and their larger family at Amarillo PD. "As a police department we feel like we're a family. We're around each other so much that we get to know each other, we get to know each others families that we feel that close, Officer Jeb Hilton told NBC affiliate KAMR in Amarillo. The station reports that two of Scherlen's other children, a fourth and a second grader, were also escorted to school Monday, before the officers returned to take Jackson to his pre-Kindergarten class. Chance the Rapper said he's out to tell the truth about Chicago -- and that includes his perception of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the shooting death of Laquan McDonald. During an interview with GQ released this week, the Chicago-based musician reflected on the fatal 2014 police-involved shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Chance, whose real name is Chancellor Bennett, is the son of Ken Bennett, who served as deputy chief of staff and director for Mayor Rahm Emanuels Office of Public Engagement. The elder Bennett also worked for former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and President Barack Obama. It was really hard for my dad, Chance told the publication. He worked on a lot of very noble and decent causes. And I think he believed in Rahm as much as everybody else did." During the interview, Chance noted that his fathers role has consisted of getting a call every morning with a list of all the people with their names and ages of who got shot. The rapper reflected on the relationship between the police and the black community. We already have a really bad relationship with the police, the rapper said. They kind of have us stuck in our corners of the West Side and the South Side and only come through our neighborhoods when theyre trying to do some bull****. Now we have video of them doing us like this it was just scary, I think for everybody, he added. It's a topic he references in his music as well. "I think it's always the job of an artist, in trying times or not-- it's always our job to tell the truth," he said. During two separate appearances on Saturday Night Live, Bennett referenced McDonalds shooter, Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. Chance also talked about meeting President Obama at the White House in April. He joined the president and a host of other celebrities to discuss the White Houses My Brothers Keeper initiative, as well as criminal justice reform. After posing for photos and signing autographs, the president invited Chance to join him in his office. He brings me up to his office, and we had a really good conversation about what I was working on, Chance said. He told me I needed to start selling my music. Hes a good man. The rapper also claimed the Obamas were bumping his new mixtape, Coloring Book, at the White House. Malia listens to Coloring Book and I send them stuff sometimes, he said. I havent seen Malia since I was a kid. I think they were both in school the day that I went up there recently, but Barack was talking about it." Or, uh, President Obama was talking about it." Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may have grown up like many other rambunctious children with two brothers, but there was something about his childhood that may have primed him for success. Emanuel and his brothers were recently profiled in the Sept. 5 issue of Time Magazine for a piece that dealt with succesful American siblings. The article paints the picture of a group of fist-fighting brothers who were often reeled in by their activist mother, Marsha, who was occasionally arrested for demonstrating against segregation in 1960s Chicago. If we did not go with her to a particular protest, that protest was brought home, Emanuel told the publication. Just eating dinner was a test of current events." Ultimately, the Emanuel boys grew to be independently successful men. The familys eldest, Zeke, is a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania. Like Mayor Emanuel, he was also a member of the Obama Administration. He served as one of the key architects of the Affordable Care Act. The youngest brother, Ari, created William Morris Endeavor, one of the countrys largest talent agencies. The foul-mouthed agent from the HBO television series Entourage, Ari Gold, was influenced by Emanuel. The brothers also have a much younger, adopted sister, Shoshana. The TIME piece looked at the lives of nine American families with children, like the Emanuel brothers, who grew up to achieve great success. It went on to analyze the similarities the families shared, like having involved parents, plenty of opportunities, and few obstacles many underpriviledged children face. Further, it found that eight of the nine families had a parent who was an immigrant or educator, five had a parent who was both and many parents were involved in political activism. During their childhood, political activism was a key influence in the Emanuel household. You could, by protesting or coming up with ideas, actually change the world, Zeke said. I think thats a very important message. Its not that it will change necessarily, but the world can change, and that you have a responsibility to try to make a change. In an accompanying video, Emanuel reflected on telling his mother he was worried that she loved his brother Zeke more than him. The mayor said she jokingly told him that she hated all the brothers equally. If you really want to know what motivates us, you can end the interview right there, Emanuel said. The brothers also reflected on their father, Benjamin, a pediatrician who forged a campaign against lead paint. He was very much of a get things done, which I think his three sons have inherited, Zeke said in the video. We dont sit around thinking a lot, I think were relatively quick decision makers. That doesnt mean we get it right every time, but we get it right enough of the time and save a lot of time on the decision-making, Zeke said. In the video, Emanuel noted that the brothers have remained close throughout the years. Ari, Zeke and I are competitive, the mayor said. On the other hand, when its, Aris doing what Aris trying to do, Zeke and I are his greatest allies. Only your brother can dunk your head under water. Anybody else touches you, well kill you, the mayor added. The eldest Emanuel also noted that the brothers were forced to become tough during childhood. "We were called a lot of bad names, and we had to withstand that and continue to go on," Zeke said. "That breeds a certain kind of toughness. If there wasn't blood it was a good night," he added. Fifteen shootings were recorded in the first 12 hours of Chicagos weekend that left four people dead and another 16 wounded across the city. Nykea Aldridge, a cousin of Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade, was shot to death Friday afternoon as she pushed one of her children in a stroller in the Parkway Gardens neighborhood on the South Side. Aldridge, of the 6400 block of South King Drive colloquially referred to as O Block was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to the head and arm and was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office. About 3:30 p.m., Aldridge, 32, was walking with a baby in a stroller and a man in the 6300 block of South Calumet when two male suspects walked up and fired shots at a third man, according to Chicago Police. As she was walking down the street some type of altercation occurred which didnt involve her, Deputy Chief of Detectives James Jones told reporters at Chicago Police headquarters Friday night. A 55-year-old man was killed in a shooting Friday evening in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side, police said. He was shot in the upper right arm at 6:13 p.m. in the 900 block of West Wilson, according to police. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 6:51 p.m., according to police and the medical examiners office. Minutes earlier, Romon M. Tolbert, 35, was standing on a corner in the 1500 block of North Meade Avenue when a male got out of a vehicle and approached him shooting, according to police and the medical examiners office. The shooter then got back in the vehicle and drove away. Tolbert, of the 200 block of North Kildare Avenue, was shot in the head and chest and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:49 p.m., authorities said. Two men were shot one fatally in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side early Saturday, police said. The two, ages 21 and 24, were driving home in an allery in the 500 block of West 127th Street about 3:35 a.m. when a male with dreadlocks shot them as he was inside a blue truck, police said. Both were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The younger man was shot in the shoulder and later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. The other man was shot in the leg. His condition stabilized. Additional details were not available early Saturday. The most recent nonfatal shooting left a teen boy and two men wounded in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. The three were eating as they sat in a car in the 5400 block of West Ferdinand about 3:05 a.m. when someone walked up and shot them, police said. The teen boy was shot in the right arm and also suffered a graze wound to his left arm, police said. One man, 22, was shot in the left knee, while the other man, also 22, was shot in both feet. All three were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said. At least 12 other people have been shot across the city since Friday afternoon. More than $6.1 million in erroneous exemptions was returned to communities in the Chicago area in August, the Cook County Assessors Office announced Thursday. We are happy to send this money to the taxing bodies originally entitled to it, said Assessor Joseph Berrios in a news release. This office takes great pride in recovering millions of dollars that rightfully belong to our communities and preventing future loss of money by permanently removing these years-old erroneous exemptions. According to the release, Berrrios was a key proponent of the effort to have the Erroneous Homestead Exemption Program signed into law in 2013. Residents can have exemptions only on a primary residence. The assessors office recoups funds from those who have improperly received homeowner, senior, disabled persons or disabled veterans exemptions. Taxpayers billed for erroneous exemptions can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. If a bill is not paid after 30 days, the assessors office sends out a second notice prior to a lien being placed on the home. If taxpayers are receiving an erroneous exemption or know of those who are, they should come forward and notify our office, Berrios said in the release. I want to make sure everyone pays only his or her fair share of property taxes. No more and no less. Taxpayers may anonymously report erroneous exemptions at http://whistleblowing.cookcountyassessor.com/. Illinois was ranked one of the nations worst states for taxes in a new survey released Thursday by financial forecaster Kiplinger. Pope Francis has not yet named an American cardinal, but many church watchers expect that to change soon. Chicagos Archbishop Blase Cupich is considered on the short list as well as Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, Philadelphias Charles Chaput and Dallas Kevin Farrell. Since the death of Cardinal Francis George in April 2015, Chicago has been without a Cardinal. Pope Francis has been more nontraditional in his appointments, but adding to the speculation, Francis selected Cupich to join the Vaticans Congregation of Bishops. Insiders are looking to perhaps a November consistory timed before the end of the Jubilee of Mercy on Sunday November 20th. A consistory is a Latin word for stand together. There is no guarantee that Cupich will be in the next class, however in July he was named to one of the most influential positions as one of only 30 members of the Congregation of Bishops. It considers new bishops appointments to the pope and the position means Cupich will travel more frequently to Rome. Earlier this week, the Jesuit magazine America predicted Pope Francis will hold his third consistory before the end of the year and create at least 13 new cardinals. America notes the pope has been working this summer on the possible choices with an announcement by mid-October. If not November, the next likelihood for the cardinal elevation is February 2017. An arrest has been made in the New Britain church shooting that happened last Friday, police told NBC Connecticut. New Britain Police said one person is in custody following the shooting that happened on Arch Street near the church around 8 p.m on Aug. 19. Resonding offers found a 77-year-old Angela Semidey, who is married to the pastor, suffering from a gunshot wound to her leg at the Arch Street Church: Iglesia Cristiana El Sigue Siendo Dios. "I had all the children outside, trying to push them inside so that none of them would be hurt putting them inside. I was the last one that went inside and so I felt something that hit me in the area above my hips," said Semidey, in Spanish to NBC Connecticut. Friday police arrested Kunta Kinta Cupe, 39, of Branford for the shooting and charged him with one count each of assault first-degree and criminal attempt assault first-degree; and two counts each of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm. Cupe's bond was set at $750,000. On the first anniversary of the deadly shooting of two journalists on live television, the TV station they worked at held an on-air moment of silence to remember them. Friday marks one year since reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were gunned down at close range during a broadcast. Ward was 27. Parker was 24. "Our hearts are heavy today and I'm sure your hearts are too. It was exactly one year ago that we lost our dear friends Alison Parker and Adam Ward. A lot of you were watching at that time," WDBJ anchor Kimberly McBroom began in the morning remembrance. Parker and Ward were "two beautiful, wonderful people, and we miss them every single day," McBroom continued, asking viewers to join them in a moment of silence. Then, without music or narration, photos of Parker and Ward flipped on screen for 1 minute 30 seconds. "A year ago right now, we were all traumatized," Jeff Marks, who was the general manager at the Roanoke-based CBS affiliate and now works for the station's corporate owner, told NBC News Friday. "I went through that morning in my mind again this morning. What happened now, what happened next." Vester Flanagan II, who had been fired from the station, shot the journalists as Parker interviewed Vicki Gardner, a local chamber of commerce official, and Ward operated the camera. Flanagan killed himself as police pursued him; Gardner lived to tell about the deadly attack. Parker's boyfriend, WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst, told The Roanoke Times he would spend the day with "some of those Alison loved most, and that will help," he said by email. Amid his grief, he told the paper he was "humbled by the kindness and generosity people have shown after the murders." The new Dallas County Republican Chairman, Phillip Huffines, came to NBC 5 this afternoon to discuss his new position. He inherits a party with a diminished war chest, reportedly with $180 in its bank account when the former chairman resigned. "I spent a lot of time on fundraising. You see, Julie, I am going to make certain the party is on sound financial foundation, sound footing and that we implement business principles. Because I am a businessman, and our organization is going to be restructured around business principles, mainly with strategic planning and recurring cash flow. That is super important," said Huffines. Huffines, the twin brother of Texas State Sen. Don Huffines, said he has spoken with donors who are excited because they see the party coming together. He says he has met with almost all of the state representatives and candidates on the ballot. Earlier this week, he was in Fort Worth for the fundraiser for Donald Trump. We asked Huffines if Trump should tone down the rhetoric in the final months of the campaign. "I can't answer that because I am not running for president. He is the one running for president, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure that every Republican gets elected," added Huffines. A dog named Sparky was rescued from a California storm drain where it took shelter from a coyote Saturday morning, authorities said. When a neighbor saw a coyote with Sparky in its mouth around 6:30 a.m. in Lake Forest, she tried to shoo it away so the dog could escape, according to Captain William Lackey of the Orange County Fire Department. When the coyote dropped Sparky, he ran into a storm drain to hide. The coyote was too big to fit inside the storm drain so it left the dog there. But Sparky needed to be rescued from his hiding spot. The Orange County Fire Departments technical rescue team was able to get into the storm drain on the 24000 Block of Paseo Sombra to rescue Sparky. Lackey said Sparky was in good condition when they rescued him, and was headed to the veterinarian for an evaluation. A family is seeking answers and justice after a 32-year-old man was fatally shot by an FBI agent Thursday night at his mother's home in Compton. Agents with the FBI's SWAT team in Los Angeles were serving a warrant at the home located on South White Avenue, when an agent fired at a man after an altercation, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital after an FBI medic and fire officials tried to treat him at the scene, Eimiller said. But the family of David Coborubio, who left behind a 9-year-old daughter, said he was moved outdoors to the street, where he died. Anna Reyes, his sister, said she asked to see a warrant before the FBI stormed into their house, but an agent told her it was "irrelevant." "One of the FBI agents was like, 'that's irrelevant, you don't need to see one,'" she said. "'That's irrelevant. You don't have to see one. We'll show you one later. That's irrelevant.' For me, I'm like, you're coming into my home, I heard shots fired? I knew it was my brother who was hit." The warrant named another man, identified as 39-year-old Paul White, who was wanted for fleeing parole and possessing a firearm. He was arrested at the residence and is in custody, according to the FBI. "I want to know why they killed my son," said Mona Martinez. "I want to know what the hell they were doing here." The family said they haven't seen or located Coborubio's body. A gun was recovered at the scene. The shooting will be investigated by the FBI's Inspection Division from the headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Los Angeles District Attorney will also review the incident, according to Eimiller. Police are investigating a shooting in northwest Miami-Dade that killed two people, including a 15-year-old boy early Saturday morning. According to investigators, on Saturday at around 12:40 a.m., Miami-Dade Police received a call of a shooting at northwest 83 Terrace and northwest 19 Avenue. As officers arrived at a gathering, they discovered six people were suffering from an apparent gunshot wounds. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the incident and pronounced two of the victims, one being a juvenile, dead on the scene. One adult female and two adult males were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma in stable condition. One adult male was treated and released on the scene by rescue crews. Investigators say that the subjects fled in an unknown vehicle. Police have not released the names of the victims. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact CrimeStoppers (305)471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477. The investigation ongoing; check back NBC 6 for updates. Miami-Dade Police are seeking the community's help in finding a woman who robbed a Miami pharmacy with a gun on Thursday night. Investigators say a woman entered the pharmacy located at 11503 Quail Roost Drive in Miami around 7:30 p.m. and pretended to buy merchandise. As the cashier was ringing up the merchandise, she pulled a gun from her waistband and demanded money from the cashier. The cashier pretended not to hear her, at which time the robber became nervous and fled the store with only the merchandise. Authorities say the woman was wearing a "burnt orange" long-sleeve shirt. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS. A 26-year-old man was charged Saturday morning with raping a young woman he escorted into a Manhattan park after meeting her on the subway, police said. Anthony Camilo, a Bronx resident, met the 24-year-old woman aboard a Brooklyn-bound F train and suggested they get off the train and wait in Riverside Park for a friend who would give her a ride to Brooklyn, investigators said. Once inside the park, Camilo allegedly began to choke her and force her to the ground. The woman told police that he then raped her and fled when she managed to scream for help. Police canvassed the park, looking for a suspect described by eyewitnesses. They apprehended Camilo at about 12:20 a.m. in the park, near West 70th Street. Camilo was charged with rape, strangulation and two counts of sexually motivated assault, police said. There no information indicating he had obtained a lawyer who could comment on his behalf. The woman was treated for her injuries at Mount Sinai West hospital. Two young children were found trapped inside a hot car parked in the Bronx, banging on the windows as they sat in the sweltering heat, police say. Police say an officer was driving on Barnes Avenue in Morris Park Friday evening when he noticed someone hitting a car window, trying to get the 3-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl out. The good Samaritan and other witnesses told police the kids were banging on the window, desperate to be let out of the locked livery cab car. The windows were rolled up, and the car ignition was off so there was no air conditioning. The officer used a life hammer device to break the window and get the kids out. The children were taken to the hospital to be evaluated but appeared to be OK. The civilian rescuer told NBC 4 New York the parents had left the children in the car for 20 minutes while they looked at apartments. Police arrested the father, 39-year-old Javed Shoaib, for endangering the welfare of a child. It's not clear if he has an attorney who could comment on his behalf. The mother was not arrested and went to the hospital with the children, police said. A Paterson, New Jersey, man died early Saturday from wounds suffered in a street shooting, the latest in a wave of violence that has rocked the city this month. Police responding to an alert sent through the city's gunfire detection system found Gionicco Robinson just before 2 a.m. on North Main Street. The 20-year-old city man was taken to a hospital but died there a short time later. A motive for the shooting has not been determined, said Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes. Authorities declined further comment on the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation. The incident marked the eleventh time this month that a shooting killed or wounded a person in Paterson. There have been 51 such incidents overall, and the city has recorded 11 homicide this year. Police are asking for the public's help to identify a man accused of grabbing a 12-year-old boy, placing him in a chokehold and stealing his cellphone last weekend in Brooklyn. Investigators on Saturday released a sketch of the suspect. The boy was walking along Sutter Avenue in the Brownsville neighborhood last Sunday afternoon when he was grabbed from behind and dragged into an apartment building near Mother Gaston Boulevard, police said. While restraining the boy in a chokehold, the man pulled the boy's Apple iPhone from his pocket and fled, police said. The boy was treated for a minor leg injury at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. What to Know Former Navy Gunner Peter Kaisen, 76, was found dead from a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center Two unnamed medical center employees told news reporters that the suicide occurred after Kaisen was denied help at the emergency room The facility's director says there is no evidence that Kaisen entered the facility before taking his life There is no evidence that a former Navy gunner who killed himself earlier this week outside a veterans medical center on Long Island was denied treatment that day, says the facility's director. Philip Moschitta, director of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, states in an Aug. 26 letter to Congressman Lee Zeldin that the facility's preliminary review of the incident uncovered no indication that Peter Kaisen had entered the center before his body was found last Sunday in the parking lot. "It appears the details of the tragic incident may have been misrepresented in the media coverage," he wrote. The letter is a response to a request for information made by Zeldin, who represents the area and sits on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Kaisen, 76, a resident of Islip, was found dead of a gunshot wound last Sunday in a parking lot at the facility. Moschitta said in the letter that video surveillance shows Kaisen enter the parking lot and remain there for 12 minutes. He adds that there are no emergency room records indicating that he sought help that day. "While at this time, it appears that the individual did not seek any medical attention we will continue to review additional surveillance cameras near the entrance of our emergency room, and all of our telephone records to see if the individual contacted our facility within the last week," he wrote. "Please understand that our staff of medical professionals would never turn away an individual who required any level of healthcare." Two people connected to the medical center anonymously told news reporters after the incident that Kaisen was angry because he was denied emergency room care. His wife, Joan Kaisen, told reporters that her husband suffered from severe back pain caused by an auto accident in the 1960s when he was a police officer. U.S. Reps. Peter King, a Republican, and Steve Israel, a Democrat, sent a letter to the heads of the FBI and the Department of Veterans Affairs asking for a "transparent" investigation into the death. Prosecutors say a New York City jail guard raped an inmate last year in the women's facility of the Rikers Island jail complex. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced Jose Cosme's arraignment on first-degree rape, sexual abuse and other charges Friday. Officials say the 36-year-old Cosme forced himself on the woman last November. They say inmates cannot consent to sex. Jail officials say the nine-year veteran is being suspended. It wasn't clear if Cosme had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A union spokesman hasn't returned a message. A 2015 consultant's report showed entrenched problems at Rikers in dealing with sexual abuse. A separate lawsuit by female inmates claims widespread abuse. A jails spokeswoman says reform efforts at Rikers include complying with federal standards on sexual assault prevention. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the U.S. and Russia are close to a deal that could end the fighting in Syria, NBC News reported. "Today I can say we achieved clarity on the path forward," Kerry said in Geneva, where he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have been negotiating on a way to reach a ceasefire. Kerry cautioned there is more work to do, but added, we are close. Sources close to the negotiations told NBC News the framework of the agreement being discussed includes a nationwide ceasefire and unrestricted access given to humanitarian groups. Still, some of those involved in the negotiations expressed concern that even if a deal was reached, it would not hold for long. Green party presidential candidate Jill Stein cherry-picked the findings of a disputed study when she claimed that global warming would cause sea levels to rise on average not one yard but many yards in as soon as 50 years. Scientific consensus says a more realistic rise is 0.33 to 1.33 yards above current levels by 2100. Stein made her claim in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23 during a press conference in which she discussed her Aug. 21 visit to flooded areas in Louisiana and the natural disasters link to climate change. According to a 2016 report by the National Academies of Sciences, global warming is expected to lead to more moisture in the atmosphere. This, in turn, can increase the frequency of extreme rainfall events like the one that recently took place in Louisiana. Primarily affecting regions around Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the flood damaged tens of thousands of homes and killed 13 people, NPR reported. The Red Cross also called the flood likely the worst natural disaster in the United States since 2012s Superstorm Sandy. Stein did accurately state, Any one storm cannot be definitively pegged to climate change, but when you see so many at such extreme levels, theres no question, according to the scientists, that this is a consequence of warmer air that holds much more water. But then she moved on to exaggerate the extent of projected sea level rise. Stein, Aug. 23: There are these growing warnings about sea level rise, according to James Hansen, the foremost climate scientist he is predicting meters-worth, that is yards-worth not one yard but many yards worth of sea level rise as soon as 50 years from now. And that of course would be an absolutely devastating sea level rise that would essentially wipe out coastal population centers, including the likes of Manhattan, and Florida and so on, and actually all over the world, the entire country of Bangladesh. This isnt the first time Stein has exaggerated the extent of projected global sea level rise. But it is the first time she has cited Hansens work while making her claim. Scientific Consensus on Sea Level Rise Hansen, a climate scientist at Columbia University, and colleagues did conclude, Continued high fossil fuel emissions this century are predicted to yield sea level rise, reaching several meters over a timescale of 50150 years in a study published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in March 2016. However, reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which are both collaborations of hundreds of scientists, project a much smaller rise over a longer period than Hansen. The 2013 IPCC report predicts an average rise of between 0.26 to 0.98 meters (1 meter = 1.09 yards) in the global sea level by 2100, with the higher end entailing a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario. The 2016 Global Change report similarly projects a 1 to 4 feet (3 feet = 1 yard) rise by 2100. However, the report also states, In the context of risk-based analysis, some decision makers may wish to use a wider range of scenarios, from 8 inches to 6.6 feet by 2100. Still, 6.6 feet translates to 2.2 yards, which is not many yards, and it also would not occur in as soon as 50 years. In his paper, Hansen and colleagues argue that ice covering the North and South poles will melt at rates much faster than predicted by the IPCC and others. Instead of a linear rate, the researchers argue the rate will grow exponentially, doubling every 10, 20 or 40 years. This will lead to multi-meter global mean sea level rise in about 50, 100 or 200 years, respectively, the authors conclude. But the group also admits that, while the data they analyzed are consistent with a multi-meter sea level rise in around 50 years, they cannot exclude slower responses. This is why the researchers give a timescale of 50 to 150 years to reach several meters of sea level rise. In an email to us, Hansen also explained, If we stay on business-as-usual high emissions, I would say that several meters [of sea level rise] is unlikely in 50 years, though possible. In 100 years it is likely, and I cant see how it could be avoided in 200 years. But back in March, Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University and a lead author on a chapter of the IPCCs third report, told The Guardian: Im always hesitant to ignore the findings and warnings of James Hansen; he has proven to be so very prescient when it comes to his early prediction about global warming. That having been said, Im unconvinced that we could see melting rates over the next few decades anywhere near his exponential predictions, and everything else is contingent upon those melting rates being reasonable. In 1988, Hansen, then a NASA scientist, testified before Congress on the dangers of global warming. His testimony instigated broader awareness of the issue, which has led some to call him the father of climate change awareness. Steven Goodbred Jr., an environmental scientist at Vanderbilt University and expert on sea level rise in Bangladesh, agrees with Mann that Hansens warnings should be heeded, but also said Hansens latest findings are over the top. Meters of sea level rise would require major collapse of Greenland or East Antarctic ice sheets, Goodbred told us by email. While improbable, the evidence that Hansen et al put forth warns us not to think impossible. Not as Simple as Sea Level Rise Goodbred also told us issues in Bangladesh, which Stein mentioned specifically, cant be boiled down to sea level rise. The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, which flow from China and India to Bangladesh, together deliver the largest sediment load on earth at around 1 billion metric tons per year, he explained. That sediment distributed across Bangladeshs low-lying coastal region could keep pace with the current rate of sea level rise, perhaps with relatively limited consequences (though certainly not none). Along these lines, any reduction in that supply would harm the systems ability to respond to sea level rise, added Goodbred. Threats to sediment delivery (that are more probable than Hansen et al scenarios) include dam construction, water diversion, and increased irrigation/water extraction in upstream areas of India and China. Many of these modifications to the river systems are already planned or ongoing, he said, and represent as much of a threat to Bangladesh as sea level rise does. Mann told us the situation in Florida and Manhattan, which Stein also pointed to specifically, cant be reduced to sea level rise either. Even 5-6 m of sea level rise would not submerge New York City, or most of Florida, he said. Due to the threat to our coastlines from the combined effect of sea level rise and potentially more potent hurricanes, we might indeed be looking at managed retreat from coastal regions like Miami and New York City on a timeframe of 50 years, he added. But it wouldnt be because of inundation of these regions. It would be because the cost to insure property would become prohibitive given the greatly increased coastal risk. In other words, Miami and Manhattan probably wont be completely underwater in 50 years, but it may become too expensive for many to live there due to increased property insurance costs. Stein was on the mark when she said warmer air, which can hold more water, has the potential to bring about more extreme weather events, such as the one in Louisiana. But her claim that global warming would cause sea levels to rise on average not one yard but many yards in as soon as 50 years is an example of a greatly exaggerated version of reality that has a kernel of truth to it, Mann told us. Current scientific consensus puts the likely global mean sea level rise at a maximum 1.33 yards above current levels by 2100. And for Manhattan, Florida and Bangladesh in particular, issues go above and beyond sea level rise. The attorney for a Wisconsin inmate featured in the hit Netflix documentary series "Making a Murderer" filed a motion Friday seeking permission to perform extensive scientific tests on evidence she believes will show he's innocent. Prosecutors believe Steven Avery killed 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach in his family's Manitowoc County salvage yard in 2005. A jury convicted him in 2007 and he was sentenced to life. Avery insists the authorities framed him. His attorney, Kathleen Zellner, told reporters outside the Manitowoc County courthouse Friday that she wants to date blood and DNA found at the scene to see if it was planted. She promised the results will show that Avery isn't guilty and that someone else killed Halbach, although she declined to say who did it. "The most reassuring thing is that we are going to get to the bottom of who killed Teresa Halbach," Zellner said. "And we firmly believe that we will establish it was not Steven Avery." The Wisconsin Department of Justice is handling post-conviction activity in Avery's case on behalf of county prosecutors. A spokesman for the agency didn't immediately respond to an email Friday afternoon. Avery, now 54, was charged in November 2005 with the sexual assault and killing of Halbach, a photographer who disappeared that Halloween after traveling to the salvage yard to shoot photos for a car magazine. Investigators found her charred remains in a burn pit in the yard. Avery and his then 16-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey, lived on the property. A jury in 2007 convicted Avery of being a party to first-degree intentional homicide and a judge sentenced him to life in prison. He was acquitted of a charge of mutilating a corpse and prosecutors dismissed counts of sexual assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Later that year, a separate jury convicted Dassey of being party to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and sexual assault. He, too, was sentenced to life. The case fascinated the public. Avery rose to fame in 2003 when he was released from prison after spending 18 years behind bars for rape; a DNA test showed he didn't assault the woman. The case raised questions about eyewitness reliability and illustrated the power of DNA testing. Avery contended police framed him for Halbach's death because the rape exoneration embarrassed them and he had a $36 million wrongful conviction lawsuit pending against Manitowoc County. That lawsuit collapsed when he was arrested in Halbach's death. Avery has alleged that investigators planted blood taken from him during the rape case and planted Halbach's DNA at the scene. He argued in an appeal that he should have been allowed to blame others for Halbach's death, that police illegally searched his trailer and that a judge improperly replaced a juror during deliberations. A state appeals court rejected those arguments in 2011. Avery and Dassey burst back into the public consciousness late last year after Netflix aired "Making a Murderer." The documentary raised questions about investigators' integrity in the Halbach case. Prosecutors insisted the show was one-sided but it still created a national groundswell of support for Avery and Dassey. A federal magistrate judge overturned Dassey's conviction this month, ruling that investigators took advantage of his youth and intellectual deficits to coerce him into confessing to Halbach's killing. The state Justice Department has 90 days to appeal the ruling or decide whether to retry him. If the agency chooses to do nothing, he will go free. HATFIELD, Pa. -- A fear that family conflict might spill over into his father's business led Thomas Miller to strike out on his own as a young man. Now, as he approaches retirement, he's learned that partnering with family is really no strange brew. Alongside his wife and son, Miller operates Thomas Miller & Co., a Hatfield business that provides coffee and food services to offices, facilities and restaurants across the Greater Philadelphia region. He didn't always embrace the family business life. After a semester in college, the Solebury native was drafted into the U.S. Navy. When he returned four years later, Miller went to work for an engineering firm in King of Prussia. At the same time, Miller's father, also named Thomas, and older brother Bruce, were operating an institutional food business in upstate New York, delivering coffee and food goods to restaurants, convenience stores, hospital and prisons. The youngest son contemplated joining in the family business, but he was afraid conflict might emerge from working together and ultimately create division among the brothers and their dad. "I knew what happened in a lot of family businesses and just wanted to avoid that family conflict. I thought, for me, it was better to do this on my own. I'd get guidance from them and grow it on my own," said Miller, 67, of Doylestown Township. In 1975, he created Thomas Miller & Co. and ran it as a side business to his engineering job. By 1978, Miller decided to quit his day job and take his business full time. In 1980, Cathie Miller had just graduated from college and was working as a manager at a Jenkintown deli. "(Miller) was my coffee guy," she said. "He delivered coffee to the gourmet deli I worked at, and I thought he was cute." By 1983, the couple was married and Thomas asked his wife to help out with the business for just six months. It's now been 33 years; Cathie, 58, today serves as vice president, and the two are affectionately called "TomCat" by their 11 full-time employees. When an office, restaurant or other organization contracts with Thomas Miller & Co., the company provides the commercial-grade equipment at no cost. In turn, the customer orders all of its coffee products through Thomas Miller & Co. Staff for the coffee business routinely maintain, repair and replace brewing equipment and restock coffee and food items at the customer's location. "We cater to whatever the client wants. Some clients don't want us to touch anything and some want white-glove service," said Cathie Miller. The Millers agree that their local company's attention to service has made all the difference in keeping and growing its client base. Most of the growth is from word-of-mouth referrals. The owners even forward night-time and weekend service calls to their personal cell phones so they can respond immediately. The personal touch sets them apart from corporate competitors, they said. The coffee service industry, though, has changed over the years. When Thomas Miller & Co. started decades ago, there were more local competitors. Now, many of those small businesses have sold out to larger corporations. Yet the office coffee service continues to grow; according to the research firm Research & Markets, it's expected to grow by 4.48 percent through 2020. The Millers attribute that growth to the rise in Keurig and other personal brewing systems along with a millennial generation that enjoys specialty coffees and teas. In the '80s, Cathie Miller said, you'd see workers on break drinking hot coffee and smoking cigarettes. In the '90s, you'd see workers drinking a cold Pepsi or other bottled soft drink. Today, you see more people drinking specialty coffee drinks, like those sold by Starbucks. "Starbucks has raised the bar for our industry for the last 10 to 15 years," said Thomas Miller. The Millers have followed that trend by offering a wide array of specialty coffees, cold brews, fair-trade and small-batch roasted coffees. "They are willing to pay a little bit more, recognizing that different quality coffee comes as at a different price point," said Cathie Miller. With their eyes set on semi-retirement, Thomas and Cathie Miller are preparing their 25-year-old son, Thomas, to take the helm. The couple recently purchased a second home in Florida. Their son graduated with a degree in small business management, and the owners gradually are handing over some of their duties. The Millers have been talking business since they were dating, but they recognize that it's important to have an exit strategy. "It's been so much part of our lives. I think we're just trying to figure out how we can start stepping away," said Thomas Miller. After all, said Thomas Miller, the best way to hand off a company is to pass it on to family. Information from: Bucks County Courier Times, http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com A Jewish woman in suburban Philadelphia woke up last week to a spray-painted swastika on her trash bin, and now her neighbors and strangers from other countries are rallying to support her by painting their own garbage cans with flowers, hearts, birds and butterflies. It was a typical Aug. 19 morning for Esther Cohen-Eskin when she went outside and saw the Nazi symbol on her bin. She said she felt horrible and knew she was targeted because the sign didn't appear anywhere else in her Havertown neighborhood, where she's lived for almost 20 years. "It's not like someone wrote some obscenity on my trash can or gave me the finger," she said in a telephone interview Thursday. "The swastika is such a deep-rooted sign of hatred for everyone, especially Judaism, that I felt so targeted." She spoke to her husband and called police, who have begun an investigation. She called a friend for advice and he told her: "The only way to triumph hate is with love." Hearing that, Cohen-Eskin, an artist, decided to paint over the swastika with flowers, and to stick letters in mailboxes asking her neighbors to paint their trash bins as well, turning symbols of hate into symbols of love. "We decided that painting something over this ... it kind of made the swastika completely meaningless," Cohen-Eskin said. In this tight-knit community of different religions and creeds, the searing symbol of hate made Cohen-Eskin's letter electrifying. "I still get goosebumps," said Megan Connell, one of Cohen-Eskin's neighbors. "I had to explain to my three-year-old that someone could do something so ugly, and we took it as a family thing." A local bar, Connell's mailman, and others spread word across town, and people online started passing around Cohen-Eskin's story. After she sent the letters, she went out for an art show and came back to hundreds of messages and phone calls from people as far afield as Canada, Germany, and Ireland. Many sent pictures of trash cans they painted in a show of support. A tough part of Cohen-Eskin's request was that neighbors first paint a swastika, and then cover it with images of love and peace. Connell said that part of the task was "very, very difficult." "It's something you would never want to put ever, and not anything I ever thought I would be painting on anything," she said. Connell decorated her bin with an owl to send the message that the neighborhood is watching, even at night. Other neighbors painted the word "unity" on their bins up and down the block. "I was so sad and I just wanted to do anything I could do to help," said Jenny Farley, recalling how Cohen-Eskin and her husband brought banana bread to greet her when Farley moved next door eight years ago. "I think everyone came together and said, 'How can we support them?'" Now, Cohen-Eskin wakes up every morning to new pictures of beautifully painted bins from all over the world. "It gave me a whole new reassurance in humanity," she said. "I feel invigorated by all the love. It's exciting ... it makes you feel there's so much good out there." Kyung Kim was home with her dog when the flood waters began to rise in Lafayette, Louisiana. Within a few hours, more than 2 feet of water filled the first floor of the home along Bourque Road. The lights went out and for three days she sat in the dark, watching snakes and catfish swim by her door. At one point, people came by with a boat offering her a way out, but she didn't want to leave. Her husband, Steve, was away in Colorado and she was worried about the house. "I told them no, I was staying," she said. They did help her charge her phone, though, so she could keep in touch with relatives. Knowing the dire situation at home, Steve jumped on a plane for Baton Rouge -- about 60 miles west of Lafayette. He took a cab from the airport, but while the water had receded from the Kims' neighborhood, the road leading there was still inundated. Desperate to get home, Steve waded, for a mile, through snake-infested waters. "I saw him coming," Kyung explained, holding up her arms over her head, "with water up to here," she said gesturing to her chest. The Kims moved to the United States from South Korea in 1999. Kyung runs a salon nearby. It's the couple's only source of income. She says as soon as the water receded, she began scrubbing the house. "I had no idea you had to do all that," she said pointing to the pile of debris on the side of the street. Thing is, if you don't rip out everything touched by the flood water, mold can take over the home. Sara Smith/NBC10 On this Friday, the Kims have extra help in the clean up. Volunteers from Samaritan's Purse, a North Carolina-based Christian disaster relief organization buzz around like bees in bright orange shirts. It's just one job site of more than 3,500 that have been requested by those affected by the flooding across the state. Volunteers from our region are helping victims of the disaster in Louisiana. NBC10.COMs Sara Smith tells us what kind of work Samaritans Purse offers. Among the volunteers were Drew and Pat Alexander from Aldan, Pennsylvania, a small suburb in Delaware County. "We both have a spirit for serving people in a time of need," Pat says of why she and Drew drove 20 hours south to help. "Some people run from disaster, we seem to run to disaster." Sara Smith/NBC10 The Alexanders have been married 34 years and volunteer with multiple organizations together. "We're at just about every disaster we can get ahold of," Drew explains. "We know the need is there and we have some ability to be able to help to ease people through those difficult times they're experiencing. That's our mission in life." The Kims also met with a FEMA adjuster this day. They hope for some help from the government to rebuild. They, like so many others, don't have flood insurance. Sara Smith/NBC10 Standing among the mess, Kyung feels grateful. "I'm so lucky, look at all those cars, all those people helping us," she said. Her thoughts about the volunteers is heartfelt, but unfortunately the work won't be over once they leave. A large crowd expected next month at a public meeting on Cheltenham's troubled sewer system has led township officials to book the high school's theater. The special meeting to discuss proposals for fixing the century-old system, including possibly selling off the 120 miles of township-owned collection pipes, will be held Sept. 28 at the Little Theater inside Cheltenham High School, officials said in a statement on the municipal website Friday. In addition to plans for the publicly-owned system, the township's board of supervisors will also discuss ongoing proposals for privately-owned sewer laterals at the 7 p.m. meeting. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has mandated that Cheltenham and its residents upgrade the township-wide sewer system because it has fallen behind runoff and overflow standards. But the costly upgrades, both to the public coffers and to property owners, have proven difficult for local elected officials to implement. Since May, the township board of supervisors have twice delayed voting on proposed legislation to begin mandatory inspections of all private laterals. Those are the pipes connecting private property owners to the public system. Township Manager Bryan Havir told NBC10.com in May that bringing the public system up to state standards could cost as much as $80 million over the next decade. Replacing private laterals, which in many homeowners' cases date to the early 20th century and are made of now-crumbling terracotta, could cost up to $10,000, officials have said. The cost to property owners depends on the size of the property, particularly the distance from inhabited structures to the street. In the statement posted Friday, the township once again explained the dire situation facing the long-neglected system: "Like a lot of inner-ring communities, Cheltenhams sewer infrastructure is showing its age. ... Over time, pipes can crack or break, joints can separate, and tree roots can cause blockages. Such defects can allow clean rain and groundwater to enter the sanitary sewer system, which unnecessarily inflates the sewage treatment costs and can overwhelm the system. If the problem is left uncorrected, sewage can back up into homes and businesses, and overflows can pollute waterways." The township has proposed charging property owners for inspection fees, which officials have said would allay the cost to have every property's laterals inspected. The initial proposals have called for inspections to begin in the neighborhoods of Cheltenham Village and Glenside as early as this fall. But after township supervisors opted to hold a public hearing late next month, that timeframe has become less likely. With about 15,000 parcels in the township, inspections will take seven to eight years. After the first two neighborhoods, the township's proposal called for inspectors to next canvas the Wyncote and Melrose Park East sections. The schedule beyond that was never publicly announced. As local officials have done in recent months, they reiterated Friday that the state DEP is requiring the expensive overhaul. "Over the years the township has taken multiple steps, and continues to act, to address the issue within publicly owned pipes and via illegal sump pump disconnects," the posted statement said. "The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is requiring Cheltenham officials to prioritize a comprehensive assessment program and repair of private laterals, the small, privately-owned lines that connect homes, businesses and institutions to the sanitary sewer mains." The Montgomery County town is part of what state officials have described as a $30 billion infrastructure problem for Pennsylvania. State Rep. Steve McCarter (D-Glenside) said "inner-rim suburbs" -- those bordering metropolitan areas like Philadelphia -- across the state face similarly dire situations. "Nobody wants to talk about whats underground and out of site," McCarter said. "But its going to cause a lot of consternation and disruption." A 28-year-old man has been charged with beating his mother and father to death inside the family's West Deptford, New Jersey, home, police said. Ryan Coles faces homicide charges in the deaths of Edward and Rosemarie Coles. A member of the family found the couple's bodies after stopping by their Pennfield Drive home Friday. Police said they went to the house after being unable to get hold of them over the phone Thursday night. Police said Ryan Coles was in the house when they arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and later charged in the deaths. He was placed in Salem County Jail Saturday on default of $1 million bail. It's not clear if he has retained an attorney. Family photo / West Salem Correctional Facility An autopsy performed Saturday determined the couple died from blunt head trauma and their deaths were ruled a homicide. Edward, 58, and 55-year-old Rosemarie Coles formerly owned a well-known music store Coles Music Service in the community. "It's been a shock. It's been a rough day," said Lauralee Houghton, Ed's cousin. She bought the business from him in 2012, but he regularly worked in the store fixing instruments, she said. "We have customers come specifically to us because of Ed's work and reputation," she said. "I'll just miss Ed's sense of humor." Houghton said she didn't know Ryan well and that she never worked with him. The Chula Vista Police Department received a $77,387 grant to aid in its battle against alcohol related crime. Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano announced Friday that the department was awarded the grant on behalf of the California Alcoholic Beverage Controls (ABC) Grant Assistance Program (GAP). California ABC, a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, gives out 54 grants to local law enforcement agencies every year. In total, the GAP has given over $30 million to law enforcement to fight alcohol-related crime. The funds are dedicated to reducing illegal alcohol sales to minors and obviously intoxicated persons, and other illegal solicitations of alcohol. The GAP has been around since 1995 and was created to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The programs goal is to put bad operators out of business, keep alcohol out of the hands of minors and bring penalties such as fines and suspensions against businesses that violate laws. There is something brewing in San Diegos agriculture. Hop farms are growing almost as quickly as the plants that can sometimes drop six to 10 inches per night. According to the San Diego Farm Bureau, there are now 15 hop growers in the county compared to zero almost a decade ago. Its something were trying to see if itll work because the beer industry is so huge in San Diego, Gary Johndro, who owns San Diego Golden Hop Farm, told NBC 7 San Diego. San Diegos craft beer industry has exploded over the past decade. According to the San Diego Brewers Guild, there are 128 breweries in San Diego County at the moment, with a couple dozen more on the way. In 2015, the craft brewing industry generated about $850 million in San Diego and employed more than 4,500 people. Its obvious why local growers are trying to get in on the success of San Diego suds. [G] San Diego Hop Farms Grow Amid Thriving Craft Beer Industry Johndro has about 1,400 hop plants right now, and says he expects to sell the entire hop haul over the next couple of weeks. Right now is hop harvest season, one of the best times of the year for local brewers. This is my favorite time of the year to be brewing, explained Tom Nickel, owner of Nickel Beer Co. in Julian. All of the fresh hops are coming in and we finally have a hop industry in San Diego where you can get freshly grown hops pretty much the same day theyre harvested and brew with them right away. Brewing with whole, fresh, hop flowers is a process known as wet hop. This type of beer has grown in popularity over the past decade, but its not cheap to produce. A batch of wet hop beer will use several times as many hops as a typical brew, all for a flower that will only soak in the beer for about 90 minutes of the nearly two-week-long brewing process. Still, brewers like Nickel say its worth every dollar, and every minute. To me, fresh beer is going to be the best tasting beer you can get, he said, Im not looking to save money, just looking to make great beer with local ingredients. And that works out well for growers like Johndro, and Eric March, who started growing hops nine years ago at Star B Ranch and Hop Farm. March says people laughed at him when he started. A lot of people didnt think it was possible, March told NBC 7. Hops thrive in the much wetter, longer summer days of the Pacific Northwest, but growers like Johndro and March have found certain varieties of the plant do very well in Southern California and they have the customers to back that up. I have pretty much as many people coming to me to ask about growing hops or start growing hops as I do brewers coming to me that want to use my hops, March said. Nickel said San Diego hops have their own unique characteristics, and it doesnt hurt that theyre delivered in person, without having to pay for shipping from another state. The trickle down does not end there. After theyve been used for brewing, Nickels brewery sells its used hops to local ranches as feed for livestock. Scot Blair, of Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery, said its exactly what he likes to see for region. The whole footprint of this process of fresh hop beer is very sustainable, Blair said. Monkey Paw is another local brewery that produces wet hop beer. In fact, the business just tapped a keg this week of its newest wet hop creation. In other words, you can expect the relationship between San Diegos growers and brewers to keep flourishing. For Johndro and other small business owners who are in the mix, thats certainly worth a toast. Its just exciting to be a part of it, he added. As part of the remembrance of the attack on Sept. 11, 2001 and the heroic answer by first responders, the Alexandria Fire Department will be part of an anniversary photo at the Pentagon on Sunday. Current members and volunteers who were part of the Pentagon response 15 years ago will be in attendance. The photo will be taken at the Pentagon Memorial site, in Arlington, Virginia. The memorial is an outdoor tribute to those in the Pentagon and on Flight 77 who died in the attacks. One hundred eighty four people were killed when an American Airlines plane was directed into the Pentagon. The incident was part of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda, an Islamic terrorist group, in Washington, D.C., New York, New York, and Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured as a result of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The U.S. Department of Education took enforcement action against three schools that specialize in medical education as hundreds of local students scramble to find somewhere else to go. Three Medtech campuses in the D.C. area are closing just a few weeks before school was supposed to start. I am devastated, Im so sad, said Natasha Washington, a student at Radians College, Medtechs D.C. campus. I didnt even know what to do when I read the email. I was shaking and Im just like, I dont know where to go. That email from Medtechs Board of Directors said the school was closing effective Sept. 16. The Department of Education cut off federal financial aid funding to Medtechs Radians College and Medtech campuses in Falls Church, Virginia, and Silver Spring, Maryland. The department said an investigation into the for-profit school uncovered egregious representation of job placement rates. Students should be able to trust that colleges are telling the truth not using smoke and mirrors about their graduates job placement rates, a statement from the Department of Education read. Unfortunately, Medtech violated the trust of both students and taxpayers by valuing profits over the students they serve. Some students said they spent thousands of dollars on an education that is now worthless. News4 reached out to Medtech for a comment but has not heard back. An email to students said Medtech is coordinating with other institutions in the area to offer transfer options. They say they can transfer us to other schools, but those other schools, its a different program from what were taking, said one student who did not want to be identified. Thats not what we signed up for. There are alternatives for students and financial help may be available to them as well, according to the Department of Education. Stephen Bannon's appointment as chief executive of Donald Trump's campaign has drawn scrutiny to his personal history, including a 1996 arrest in a domestic-violence case that was ultimately dismissed, NBC News reported. Court records show that Bannon was charged with three misdemeanors in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 22, 1996, after his then-wife claimed he attacked her. A police report obtained by Politico and confirmed by NBC News details a New Year's argument about finances that allegedly became physical. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and about six months later the case was dismissed after prosecutors said they could not find his wife, court documents show. Asked about the old charges, a personal spokeswoman for Bannon noted they had been dismissed, while the Trump campaign did not comment. Three people were injured Friday night after a truck drove into a restaurant in Hingham Massachusetts, police said. Two customers of the restaurant, a 59-year-old Hingham man and a 52-year-old Hull woman, were seriously injured. A 24-year-old woman, the truck passenger got minor injuries. Police responded to a report that a truck, a 2006 Toyota Tacoma, drove into the front of The Square Cafe at 150 North Street At around 9:59 p.m. Friday. Truck driver Jeffrey Mahoney, 29, of Quincy, was arrested and charged on three counts, including operating to endanger and possession of a class B substance. Mahoney is scheduled to be arraigned on August 29. A chase and a violent struggle ensued on Winter Street Thursday morning as Boston police recovered a loaded gun while patrolling the Boston Common for drug transactions. Police approached the suspect who was later identified as Rayshawn Mohameed, 18, of Dorchester, seated on a bench close to the the Soldiers and Sailors Monument right after he had made an illegal transaction. While the officer was speaking to him, Mohameed allegedly began running towards Downtown Crossing. As the officer chased and tackled the suspect who allegedly began to yell I got a gun!, another officer from the Transit Police arrived to help. Police eventually took the suspect in to custody and recovered a loaded .22 caliber Ruger SR22 handgun from his pocket. It was later learned that that the gun was reported stolen in Randolph. Officers also said they recovered 23 bags of marijuana and $209 in cash. The BPD officer was taken to a hospital for medical attention and was later released. The suspect will appear in Boston Municipal Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, assault and battery on a police officer and receiving stolen property. A major component to Harvard Square's appearance may be gone by the end of next year. Officials in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have plans to renovate the area -- but they do not include the Out of Town News stand. "I don't think they should displace the News itself," said Cambridge resident Arthur Hughes. "It's been there forever." Since 1984, the newsstand has occupied what used to be part of the subway station. It's given hundreds of college students jobs and opportunities to read news from around the world. "I like looking at the French and Spanish magazines," said resident Lizzy Guerrero. According to the Boston Globe, the move is part of a $15 million improvement plan for Harvard Square. The stand is rented out by the city of Cambridge, but people who shop at the kiosk are saying this move could phase out a piece of history. "It is kind of sad because been here as long as I've been here," said Harvard student Rachael Ieszenberg. "I live downtown, and I love downtown, so I come here quite often." "They're going to take away a lot of cutler that I know a lot of people read about," said Guerrero. The newsstand dates back to 1955, but it's up to Cambridge officials to let the public know if it will survive 2017. "It would just leave a void in Harvard Square that would take a while for people to get adjusted to," explained Boston University student Ramin Tadassori. A man in a wheelchair was shot and killed Saturday morning in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, police said. At around 3:33 a.m., police responded to a call that a man was shot in the area of 454 Centre Street. The victim was hospitalized and later pronounced dead. Neighbors said they know the man who was shot. So far, no arrests have been made. An investigation is underway. Anyone with information is asked to called Boston Police Department's Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470. Two Massachusetts men were arrested Friday after police say they dealt heroin and fentanyl. Police arrested Richard Lara of Dedham and David DeLeon of Boston after a month-long investigation. After search warrants were executed in both Boston and Dedham, police say over 300 grams of heroin was recovered, along with cocaine, crack and cash. The suspects were charged with trafficking and distributing heroin, and with distributing fentanyl. Police say additional charges will be sought against the men. Police have arrested one man in connection with a shooting death in Roxbury back in March and are asking for the public's help in finding two other suspects. On March 21, police responded to a call for a person shot at 3:05 a.m. in the area of 66 Humboldt Avenue. The victim, Allex Bryant, 28, of Boston, was pronounced dead on the scene. Police announced Saturday that Dartanyan Pledger, 24, of Dorchester, was placed in custody Thursday by the U.S. Marshal Task Force in Atlanta, Georgia. He was charged with murder in connection to the case. Authorities are now asking for the public's help in finding two other suspects, Niccokowan Pledger-Grant, 26, and Lisa Lewis, 24, both of Quincy. Pledger-Grant is wanted for murder while Lewis is wanted as an accessory after the fact. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470. A police union in Boston is trying to stop the department from making officers wear body cameras as part of a pilot program. Boston Police are rolling out a program to test out body cameras beginning in September. It was initially voluntary, with the department seeking officers to be among the first in the city to wear them. But when no officers stepped forward, Commissioner William Evans elected to assign cameras to officers randomly. The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association is seeking an injunction to stop officers from being required to wear cameras. "The BPPA cant stand by and allow the City to blatantly violate the agreement it signed just over a month ago," the union said in a statement. "We had to act and act quickly to prevent this miscarriage of justice." The union noted that it worked hard with city and department officials on a version of the program that "made sense and protected everyone's rights." The Boston Police Department and the office of Mayor Marty Walsh told necn they are still reviewing the injunction. "The union is exhausting all of their options and obviously they are filing suit," said Walsh. Training has already started and both the mayor and commissioner say the opposition isn't as strong as it seems from officers. "I think the guys get it but I hope when the public sees this, it doesn't reflect poorly on the guys because they are out there working as hard as they can with the community," Evans said. "I think they get it, but it's more of the contractual language and whatnot that's causing this to happen. But please don't let it reflect poorly, our guys are doing a great job out there." Councillors express concern about overdevelopment and parking NEWBURY town councillors have objected to town centre plans for a four-storey high retail and residential development made up of 14 flats and an integral car park. At a planning committee meeting held at Newbury Town Hall on Monday, town councillors warned of overdevelopment on the proposed development site at 31-34 Bartholomew Street. Developer Ressance wants to build 14 two-bed apartments with associated retail space, and an undercroft car park with space for 10 cars and 28 bicycles. The size area of the existing shops and businesses would drop from the current 227 sq m to 86 sq m, and employ two full-time members of staff. Ressance said of the proposed development: The building currently on site neither makes efficient use of brownfield land, nor does it enhance the street scene of Bartholomew Street. The proposed scheme will make an efficient use of land and improve the street scene. It will add to the much-needed housing stock in West Berkshire and, as all dwellings will be available through the Governments highly-successful Help to Buy Scheme, it will offer a great opportunity to first-time buyers and other owner- occupiers. The development will provide new commercial space on the ground floor, which will improve the active frontage of Bartholomew Street. Town councillors, however, raised concerns of both the height at four storeys and the proposed undercroft parking arrangement, which would provide a single access point on to the Bartholomew Street and Market Street junction. Elizabeth OKeeffe (Lib Dem, Victoria) said: I am very concerned about the underground car parking area. I am not clear where they are going to come out. It seems to be a very peculiar place to be turning, right where there are traffic lights. I would propose we are not very happy with this one. Its a case of over-development and it is inappropriate for this part of town. Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns) said: There is no real indication of the design or what it is going to look like. Miles Evan (Con, Victoria) agreed: How we are supposed to make any observations based on what is just a few squares on a board I dont know. Councillors ultimately objected to the proposal on the grounds of a lack of information, and concerns of the height and underground car park. The application, which was first submitted for consideration last month, will next be considered by West Berkshire Council at a later date. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark arrived at Glostrup city in order to attend the events relating to the 825th anniversary of establishment of Glostrup city on August 27, 2016. In 2016, Glostrup municipality celebrates the 825th anniversary of its establishment. Glostrup municipality holds several events for that anniversary. A music festival is being held on August 27 and 28 in Glostrup Stadium. What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer? Steve Hoffman is editor of the Piatt County Journal-Republican. He can be reached at shoffman@news-gazette.com Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Nearly 400 non travel-related Zika infections will occur in Florida before the end of the summer, according to new projections by biostatisticians at the University of Florida and other institutions. In addition, the virus is projected to spread to several other Southeastern states with handfuls of cases projected to pop up from Texas to South Carolina and even Oklahoma. The projections come weeks after the Florida Department of Health identified the nation's first locally acquired cases of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade County. UF researchers had already produced projections for other countries, which have experienced local Zika virus transmission for months - and in some cases, years. Though the virus has been in South America for more than a year, some scientists doubted that it would ever come to the United States. "It wasn't clear at first whether mosquito densities were high enough to sustain an outbreak in the U.S.," said Dr.Ira Longini, a professor of biostatistics in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine. Once the first cases of locally transmitted Zika fever were identified in Miami, however, Longini and his colleagues felt more comfortable publishing 2016 estimates projecting the number of locally transmitted cases that they expect will occur in Florida. The model projects 395 Zika infections in Florida by Sept. 15 due to local transmission and 79 symptomatic cases by the same date. In addition, they forecast that a median of eight of the infections will be in pregnant women during their first trimester. Other states expected to see locally acquired Zika are below, followed by the number of locally acquired cases and the number of symptomatic cases: Alabama - 11, 2 Arkansas - 3, 1 Georgia - 6, 1 Louisiana - 4, 1 Mississippi - 10, 2 Oklahoma - 12, 2 South Carolina - 16, 3 Texas - 5, 1 While many researchers have performed retrospective analyses of Zika infection outcomes using data from Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, none to date have involved prospective cohorts. This cohort will allow investigators to follow pregnant mothers through time, measuring the pregnancy outcomes of those who were likely infected in the in the first trimester of their pregnancy. The results of the research will help Longini and others further codify the range of birth defects that fall under congenital Zika syndrome, as well as the likelihood of microcephaly and other birth defects. As many of the prospective mothers began their pregnancies during late 2015 and early 2016, Longini expects to begin learning about their pregnancy outcomes in the fall. Much of the analysis presented on the website was published last July in bioaRchive. Longini, a senior researcher at UF's Emerging Pathogen Institute, partnered with Dr. Alessandro Vespignani at Northeastern University, Dr. Elizabeth Halloran at the University of Washington, and scientists from several other institutions to produce a website showing how Zika virus has spread through Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and projecting how it might spread in the future. At UF, Longini worked with Dr. Natalie Dean, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biostatistics, and Dr. Diana Patricia Rojas, a third-year graduate student in the department of epidemiology, to contribute to the publication. The three also collaborated with UF biostatisticians Dr. Yang Yang and Dr. Eben Kenah to produce an article in Eurosurveillance on Zika epidemiology and transmissibility in Colombia. "In Colombia, we're trying to estimate the proportion of women infected in the first trimester who get microcephaly and other birth defects," Longini said. The researchers are partnering with the Colombia National Institute of Health, which has assembled a cohort of 15,000 pregnant women who are either known to have been infected with Zika virus while pregnant or who suspect they were infected. "That's the largest cohort in all of Latin America," Rojas said. "It will give very good information about the exact proportion of pregnant women infected with Zika that can develop birth defects." Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs being developed to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer and sexual dysfunction, today reported financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and updates on its drug development programs. Clinical Development Program and Corporate Highlights Include: Piclidenoson (CF101) Upcoming Phase III Trials in Rheumatoid Arthritis & Psoriasis Rheumatoid Arthritis: Can-Fite reached an agreement with the European Medicine Agency (EMA) on the protocol design of its upcoming Phase III trial of Piclidenoson in the treatment of rheumatoid arthrosis. Based on the suggestion of the EMA, Piclidenoson will be developed as a first line therapy and replacement for the current gold standard, Methotrexate (MTX), the most widely used drug for rheumatoid arthritis, a treatment market forecast to reach $38.5 billion by 2017. The planned Phase III trial will aim to show Piclidenoson is not inferior to MTX. Based on this clinical study design, Can-Fite is now conducting preparatory work for the trial including drug tableting, packaging and labeling work. The Company plans to submit its study protocol to the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of clinical sites in the first quarter of 2017. Psoriasis: Can-Fite submitted a Phase III clinical trial protocol for Piclidenoson in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis with the EMA in the first half of 2016. Based on a pre-submission meeting the Company had with the EMA, the planned trial will be a head-to-head study comparing Piclidenoson to apremilast (Otezla), a recently approved oral drug from Celgene. Can-Fite expects a meeting with the EMA to discuss the trial's design in the third quarter of 2016. New mechanism of action data showing Piclidenoson may offer efficacy similar to industry-leading biologics, without the associated harmful side effects, were presented by Can-Fite at Psoriasis 2016, the 5th Congress of the Psoriasis International Network, in Paris, France. The oral presentation titled, "CF101 via A3AR Activation inhibits IL-17 and IL-23," was delivered on July 7, 2016. The peer reviewed scientific journal, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, published data from a Phase II/III trial of Piclidenoson in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. The study titled, "Treatment of Plaque-Type Psoriasis With Oral CF101: Data from a Phase II/III Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial," was published in August 2016. CF102 Ongoing Phase II in Liver Cancer & Plans to Commence Phase II in NASH Liver Cancer: Can-Fite continues to enroll and dose patients in its global Phase II study of CF102 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. Enrollment of approximately 78 patients in the U.S., Europe, and Israel is expected to conclude in the second half of 2016. NASH: Can-Fite worked with world renowned Key Opinion Leaders in the field of liver diseases to complete the protocol design for its upcoming Phase II trial of CF102 in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the precursor to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). By 2025, the addressable pharmaceutical market for NASH is estimated to reach $35-40 billion. The Company plans to file its protocol with IRBs in the second half of 2016. CF602 Preparing for Phase I in the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction Can-Fite is currently conducting Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies of CF602 in the treatment of sexual dysfunction to support commencing a Phase I study in the first quarter of 2017. The Company presented data at the American Urology Association's Annual 2016 Meeting in San Diego, California. The presentation titled, "CF602 Improves Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats," was delivered on May 10, 2016. CF602's mechanism of action, its efficacy in increasing penile intracavernous pressure (ICP), and single dose efficacy were included in the presentation. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "In the first half of 2016, we were particularly encouraged by feedback received from the EMA, indicating we conduct head-to-head studies of Piclidenoson in psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. These studies will compare Piclidenoson to drugs that are used as the standard of care today. Because of Piclidenoson's well established safety profile, proving efficacy that is equivalent to the comparative drugs would highlight the benefits of Piclidenoson in delivering a safe, effective and oral treatment," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman. "In addition to heading into Phase III studies of Piclidenoson, we are pleased to continue the development programs of CF102 and CF602 to address unmet clinical needs." Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were NIS 0.43 million (U.S. $0.11 million) compared to NIS 0.27 million (U.S. $0.07 million) in the first six months of 2015. The increase in revenue was due to the recognition of a portion of the NIS 5.14 million (U.S. $1.36 million) upfront payment received in March 2015 under the distribution agreement with Cipher Pharmaceuticals. Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were NIS 9.97 million (U.S. $2.59 million) compared with NIS 5.75 million (U.S. $1.5 million) for the same period in 2015. Research and development expenses for the first half of 2016 comprised primarily of expenses associated with the Phase II study for CF102, preclinical study for CF602, as well as expenses for ongoing studies of CF101. The increase is primarily due to costs associated with preparations of the CF101 Phase III studies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. General and administrative expenses were NIS 4.99 million (U.S. $1.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to NIS 4.67 million (U.S. $1.21 million) for the same period in 2015. The increase is primarily due to an increase in share based compensation expense. Financial income, net for the six months ended June 30, 2016 aggregated NIS 3.19 million (U.S. $0.83 million) compared to financial income, net of NIS 1.88 million (U.S. $0.49 million) for the same period in 2015. The increase in financial income, net in the first half of 2016 was mainly due to a larger decrease in the fair value of warrants that are accounted for as financial liability as compared to the same period in 2015. In addition, the increase in financial income, net in the first half of 2016 was attributable to a decrease in financial expenses due to exchange rate differences as compared to the same period in 2015. Can-Fite's net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was NIS 11.35 million (U.S. $2.95 million) compared with a net loss of NIS 8.27 million (U.S. $2.15 million) for the same period in 2015. The increase in net loss for the first half of 2016 was primarily attributable to an increase in research and development expenses offset by an increase in financial income, net. As of June 30, 2016, Can-Fite had cash and cash equivalents of NIS 46.42 million (U.S. $12.07 million) as compared to NIS 66.03 million (U.S. $17.17 million) at December 31, 2015. The decrease in cash during the six months ended June 30, 2016 is due to operating expenses. For the convenience of the reader, the reported NIS amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars, at the representative rate of exchange on June 30, 2016 (U.S. $1 = NIS 3.846). The Company's consolidated financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2016 are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, announced it has awarded $575,704 in Quality of Life grants to 79 nonprofit organizations nationwide. Quality of Life grants support fellow nonprofits that mirror the Reeve Foundation's mission and commitment to foster community engagement, enhance independence and promote self-determination. The program has awarded over 2,700 grants, and now has distributed over $20 million in grants since its inception in 1999. "Awarding over $20 million in Quality of Life grants to thousands of nonprofits is a thrilling milestone for the Reeve Foundation," said Maggie Goldberg, Vice President of Policy and Programs, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. "This program has become a cornerstone of the Paralysis Resource Center, and we are excited to continually expand the Quality of Life grants with new opportunities such as our High Impact Innovative Assistive Technology grants and by awarding more grants to serve areas where people are medically underserved." Awarded twice yearly, grant requests were evaluated and scored based on a rigorous review process to determine funding for organizations that improve daily life for those living with paralysis, as well as their families and caregivers. In this particular grant cycle, the grantee review board awarded a significant number of grants in medically underserved areas for modification projects, animal service programs and veteran programs. "Accessibility modifications and service animals help create greater independence both in home and public settings, which is key to increase inclusion in the community." said Donna Valente, Director of Quality of Life Grants. "By supporting these types of programs in underserved areas, we are able to remove barriers to independent living for individuals living with disabilities and their families." Grantees from this cycle include: Disability Action Center NW, Moscow, Indiana $17,500 A variety of modular aluminum ramp systems that are designed to address different needs will be purchased and then deployed to community service organizations that will utilize trained volunteers to install ramps for community members on a short- or long-term loan basis, thus meeting access needs in a more efficient, widely available, safe, and timely manner. Commonwealth Community Care, Boston, Massachusetts - $13,461 Commonwealth Community Care provides comprehensive, high-quality primary care in the most effective and cost-efficient manner possible to adults and elders with complex physical, developmental, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities by reducing barriers to care and establishing highly personalized partnerships with them. This Quality of Life grant will support the purchase of a bladder scanner that will be utilized both during home health care visits and in the clinic for members who have difficulty accessing urological care through specialists. Virtual Photo Walks Washington, DC - $7,200 Virtual Photo Walks (VPW) is a nonprofit organization in the United States and Canada that uses smart phones and video conferencing to enable people isolated by illness or disability to travel the world in real time. Images and videos are provided by a mixed team of photographers and videographers who are abled-bodied or are living with a wide range of conditions including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and muscular dystrophy. Grant funds will help to support the acquisition of a TrailRider (a modified wheelchair which will enable individuals that use wheelchairs to hike) and a TrailRider arm to hold a smart phone to allow the hikers with disabilities using the TrailRider to stream and guide walks through video-conferencing. Operation Ward 57, Seattle, Washington - $3,750 This Quality of Life grant will help to support the Standing Guard Service Dog Program, which provides support for veterans and their service dogs in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence. This program partners with several non-governmental agencies to help find and place service animals with disabled veterans and assists with costs of vests, training, transportation, and veterinary care. Quality of Life grant funds will enable the Standing Guard Fund program to respond to critical needs for five wounded Veterans with whom service dogs have been placed to enable them to live more independently in the community. Millions of individuals affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) are visually impaired due to photo-degeneration of retina. The visual loss starts with the peripheral region progressing towards the center leading to tunnel vision. Currently, there is no cure to restore vision in these patients. The disease leads not only to physical impairment, but has a significant emotional and psychological impact on quality of life of patients as well as their family members. Nanoscope scientists have developed a highly photosensitive Multi-Characteristics Opsin (MCO) that allows stimulation of retinal cells for restoring vision in patients with RP and other genetic retinal diseases who have lost their photoreceptors. NanoScope Technologies has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Audacious Goal Initiative (AGI) R01 Grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to re-sensitize the photo-degenerated retinal areas with MCO by targeted gene delivery using an infrared (IR) ultrafast laser. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today By facilitating cross-disciplinary research, the Audacious Goal Initiative is tackling the most devastating and difficult-to-treat eye diseases. Through strategic research funding, the NEI has enlisted dynamic scientists who are developing the necessary knowledge and technology to make the goal a reality. "It is the first time an Audacious Goal Initiative (AGI) Grant has been awarded to a Texas institution. We will collaborate with local medical and research institutions to further advance our technology," said Sulagna Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer of Nanoscope Technologies. "Besides the unique IR ultrafast laser delivery and confocal microscopy platform, Nanoscope provides a dedicated and supportive environment to develop and translate the technology. It will require significant efforts for developing and optimizing the technology," said Samarendra Mohanty, Chief Scientific Officer of Nanoscope Technologies and Principal Investigator of the NEI AGI R01 grant. "Nanoscope Technologies is the only company that has been awarded such a grant since the Audacious Goal Initiative was announced by NIH. For the first time, we will develop and carry out ultrafast laser based gene delivery to the retina in living, blind animals for vision restoration. The technology will have significant potential for future clinical ophthalmological use in humans" said Weldon Wright, Chief Medical Officer of Nanoscope Technologies. The NanoScope research team and company are dedicated to the goal of developing laser gene delivery technologies for vision restoration. News18 Blogs India From France to India: A win for Muslim Feminists A file image of a woman in a burkini swimsuit. (Courtesy: Getty images) What a day it has been for gender justice. In India, you had the Bombay High Court comprehensively upholding the constitutional right of women to access places of religious worship. In France, the absurd ban on the burkini was suspended- at least for now. The big take away from the two very different cases has been the same- the validation of the basic rights of women and endorsement of their choice to perform their religion in public as they deem fit. In both instances, the word from the judiciary was: stop the policing. The irony of course is another issue altogether. While in India we are speaking of opening doors to allow women the same religious freedom that their male counterparts enjoy, in France the struggle is to ensure that Muslim women can keep on a costume that the French believe is inherently against their secular principles of being a non-religious state. What unites these two landmark judgments is the dichotomy of Muslim women in the public eye. Aheda Zanetti , the woman who created the burkini (a full body swimsuit) has gone on record to say that the rationale never was to create a garment that embodies the limitations that Islam puts on women and not on men. Aheda told The Guardian recently that the idea was to give Muslim women more freedom, not to take it away. The world this week was moved by shameful pictures of armed policemen forcing a burkini clad woman in Nice to remove her long sleeved top. Many asked, how could forcing a woman to wear less clothes be qualified as a bid to impose secularism? How much of what we saw in Nice was Islamophobia? Most politicians in France have backed the ban. The burkini has at best been labeled a symbol of enslavement, at worst a provocation. Is it as provoking as a nun in a habit? Or men and women proudly brandishing their crosses? Who decides whats secular and not discriminatory? That basic tenet of equality was upheld in Mumbai today as well. The Bombay High Court dismissed the Haji Ali Dargahs shaky defense- that the entry of women into the shrines sanctum sanctorum is un-Islamic. It also refused to see any merit in the bizarre argument that women were being refused entry for their own good (of course they were). The Dargah claimed that when women knelt and bent forward to pay homage at the shrine, their dupattas could slip and expose their 'modesty'. The court labeled that ban as violative of constitutional equality as also regressive and prejudiced. At a time when Muslim women in India are fighting for their right to overturn another biased practice, that of the triple talaq, this is a watershed moment for the community. Of course, a court judgment will not change mindsets overnight but it does bring into focus the question of interpretation of religious rules. What is un-Islamic? Where do liberte and egalite come in? Who decides what's immodest? Why should either the police or the clergy tell these women when clothes should 'protect their modesty' or what qualifies as 'too many' clothes? France wants Muslim women to appear to be more secular in their sartorial choices by abandoning the hallmark of their religious identity. Clerics in India want women from the community to respect limitations that someone else has set for them as per their reading of the Quran. Freedom, imposition of will and constitutional rights are the common narratives that bind Muslim women across national identities here. French or Indian, the struggle for gender justice for Muslim women remains the same. It still boils down to the right to owning your own bodies, the right to making your own decisions, it's still about fighting everyday to access public spaces. It's about defeating patriarchy that takes many shapes and forms to keep women from rebelling and forcing them to comply with norms that someone else set for them. It boils down to equality, every single time. And now thanks to the courts, we have a little more of that going around in India and France. Bask in the moment ladies, the fight is far from over. A Texas jury said a General Motors Co 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 airbags. The company previously acknowledged that some of its employees knew about the switch defect for years before a recall was initiated. Mumbai: In a big disappointment for the lenders for the second time, auction of the long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines' (KFA) trademarks and logo turned out to be damp squib once again despite having a lower reserve price. Banks also had put on the block some of the moveable assets of the company worth Rs 13.70 lakh lying at the Kingfisher House, for which, too, no bidders came forward. In their second attempt, the 17-lender consortium led by State Bank of India had put the airline's trademarks including Kingfisher logo and the once-famous tag-line 'Fly the Good Times' on the block, to recover a part of their over Rs 9,000-crore loans from beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and his grounded carrier. Banks had also put the Flying Models, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher and Flying Bird Device on the sale. "I think the reserve price for the trademark was still found to be high by the bidders," a source said. Legal experts said the entire brand value of the Kingfisher brand has taken a beating and so bidders remained elusive. "Value of trademark of the entire group has gone down to almost nothing and nobody will like to buy it," said an expert dealing in intellectual property rights. In April, the banks had made a failed attempt to sell brands and trademarks of the airlines, owned by Mallya. The auction was unsuccessful as none of the bidders came forward due to the higher reserve price of Rs 366.70 crore. In today's auction the reserve price was reduced by 10% to Rs 330.03 crore, but still no bidders came forward. The Kingfisher brand itself was valued at over Rs 4,000 crore by consultancy Grant Thornton when the airline was at its peak. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA said, at its peak, it was the largest airline in the country with a five-star rating from Skytrax. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademarks. Lenders had also put on sale movable assets worth Rs 13.70 lakh lying at the Kingfisher House. The items on sale included eight cars-Toyota Innova & Corolla, and Honda City & Civic among others. The reserve price of each car was set differently in the range of Rs 90,000-2.50 lakh. Earlier this month, the auction of Kingfisher House proved a damp squib again as no bidder turned up for the erstwhile headquarters of the Mallya-led airline at a reduced reserve price of Rs 135 crore. The Kingfisher House has a built-up area of over 17,000 sq ft and is located in the plush Vile Parle area near the domestic airport in the megapolis. On Thursday, rating agency Crisil revised its ratings on the bank loans of Kingfisher Airlines to 'not meaningful' from 'Crisil D' (default grade). "The rating revision is because KFAL's creditors (including bankers) have filed winding up petitions against the company. Furthermore, it remains in deep financial distress following the cessation of operations in fiscal 2013 and complete erosion of networth," the agency said. Crisil had rated bank facilities, including long and short term loans, working capital loans and cash limit worth Rs 5,582 crore, given to the now defunct airline. New Delhi: Shares of Welspun India rose by nearly 7% on Friday, halting its four days of consecutive decline on value-buying at lower levels. The scrip, after a positive opening, gained 6.25% to Rs 57.80 on BSE. On NSE, shares of the company went up by 6.75% to Rs 57.70. In the last four days, the company's scrip has declined by over 47%, wiping out Rs 4,867.3 crore from its market valuation. US-based retail chain Bed Bath & Beyond is conducting third party audit of items sourced from Welspun India, joining the likes of Walmart and JCPenny following lapses in supplies by the Gujarat-based firm to the US-based Target. Welspun India Managing Director Rajesh Mandawewala on Thursday told analysts in a conference call that the firm is in the process of appointing an external independent 'Big Four Auditor' to audit all of its supply systems and processes to understand the root cause. Global retail majors Walmart and JCPenney are already investigating textiles sourced from Welspun India for product integrity, while IKEA is awaiting the outcome of a probe by the Indian firm in the wake of lapses in supplies. Welspun, which was supplying bedsheets and pillowcases made of Egyptian cotton to Target, was alleged by the US-based retailer for substituting another type of non-Egyptian cotton when producing sheets supplied between August 2014 and July 2016. Target has decided to terminate its contract with Welspun after an investigation. Three retired generals and two former governors are in the race to replace NN Vohra as governor of Jammu & Kashmir, part of the centres effort to jump start the governance process in the near paralysed state. A top Union government official told News18 that BJP leader General BC Khanduri, a Union minister in the AB Vajpayee government and also a former chief minister of Uttarakhand, is a likely successor to former bureaucrat Vohra, who has been the JK governor since 2008. Also in the race are General Syed Ata Hasnain, who was a former commander of Srinagar-based XV Corps, VP Malik who was the Chief of Army Staff during the Kargil war, former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vijay Kapoor and former Mizoram Governor AR Kohli. A final decision would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a few days, the official said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity around the issue. Khanduri, noted for kicking off the Golden Quadrilateral project during Vajpayees term, may have an edge, but one school of thought is that at 81 he may be past his prime. General Hasnain is associated with the Vivekananda Foundation, a Sangh Parivar-affiliated think tank that has seen many of its fellows graduate to key roles in the Modi government. None of the luminaries being considered were immediately available for comment. Kashmir has been on the boil for 50 days now after the encounter killing of militant Burhan Wani. The state is undergoing the longest curfew in its strife-torn history and New Delhi had to deploy the BSF in parts of the state to restore normalcy. Army establishments and police stations have come under attack during this period and the use of pellet guns by CRPF had drawn flak from civil society groups. While New Delhi acknowledges Vohras contributions to the state, the thinking is that the state needs a new strategy to contain the fresh bout of violence. Which way the Modi governments Kashmir policy is moving will also be evident on just who the Centre nominates as the next governor. A retired General could mean New Delhi is in no mood to relent, while a civilian at the helm could signal the launch of a fresh outreach plan. Vohra, incidentally, is the first civilian governor of the state after Jagmohan ever since militancy broke out in the state in 1989. Here in brief are the five top names in contention: BC Khanduri Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, the likely successor, took part in the freedom struggle during his student days before he joined the army as an egineer and retired as a Major General. After he took to politics he became chief minister of Uttarakhand twice,from 20072009 and 2011-2012. He was Minister of Surface Transport in the AB Vajpayee government during which time he initiated the Golden Quadrilateral highway network connecting major cities. 81-year-old Khanduri is presently an MP from Garhwal. Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain The other likely successor in the race Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) has served as GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, that plays a crucial role in tackling militancy in the Valley. Hasnain is a highly-decorated Army officer who has served in Kashmir and has first-hand knowledge on the Valleys security issues and how to handle them.During his tenure there, the Army had neutralised several top militants and had contained infiltration. Gen VP Malik General Ved Prakash Malik, also a contender, was the Army chief during the Kargil war, had the top job in the force from September30, 1997 to September 30 2000. VP Malik coordinated and oversaw the planning and execution of Operation Vijay which beat back Pakistan's attempted intrusion in Kargil sector during May to July 1999. After retiring in 2000, he settled in Panchkula near Chandigarh. A R Kohli 74-year-old Amolak Rathan Kohli is a former governor of Mizoram from from 2001 to 2006. A management graduate from IIM Calcutta, Kohli was close to former PM AB Vajpayee and his deputy LK Advani which led to his getting the gubernatorial post. Kohli is respected as an eminent educator and human resource trainer who has been involved in the establishment of various educational institutions and programmes. His son Nalin Kohli is the national spokesperson of the BJP and a Supreme Court lawyer. Vijai Kapoor Vijai Kapoor is a former IAS officer who was Lieutenant Governor of Delhi from April 20, 1998 to June 9, 2004. Presently he is director at Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited. New Delhi: Shortly after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday blamed Pakistan for provoking violence in Kashmir and also said she favoured talks with "only those who want peace" in the Valley. Addressing media persons in Delhi after her meeting with PM Modi, the J&K chief minister said Pakistan was trying to instigate the youth of the Valley who are out on the streets fighting security forces. Mufti said Pakistan lost a "golden chance" to discus the problems in Kashmir when PM Modi, and later Home Minister Rajnath Singh, visited the country. "It is time for Pakistan to respond if it wants peace in Kashmir," she said. The chief minister said separatists should come forward and help J&K government in saving innocent lives and also reiterated that she favoured talks with only those who want peace. "I appeal to all those protesters. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance. I've been chief minister for only two months now," she said issuing a call for calm in the Valley which has been under curfew for 48 days now. She said the Prime Minister was very concerned about the ongoing bloodshed. "95% of people in Kashmir wants peace," she added. Mufti, who arrived in the national capital the previous evening, met Modi at his official 7 Race Course Road residence. The meeting comes days after Mufti and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh presented a united front in Srinagar, saying there will be no compromise in security measures in the valley. The government will consult all political parties before finalising an itinerary for the tour aimed at restoring peace in the Kashmir Valley. Sources said the visit of the all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be discussed after Mufti's meeting with Modi. The facilitation of the all party delegation to the troubled state is considered to be an attempt by the government to bring the political parties on board of the process initiated to bring peace in the state. Washington: Defence Secretary Ashton Carter would host his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar at the Pentagon on Monday, weeks after India was designated as a major defence partner by the US. The Pentagon on Friday said Carter will host an enhanced honour cordon to welcome Parrikar to the US Defence Department headquarters. Following the arrival ceremony there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. After the ceremony there will be a bilateral meeting followed by a joint press conference at the Pentagon, a statement said. "This will be Carter's sixth meeting with Parrikar, and comes just weeks after India was designated a major defence partner of the United States during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington," the Pentagon said. Carter had met Parrikar during a visit to India in April. The India-US Defence partnership has been the most ambitious one over the past several years, a senior State Department official told a group of South Asian reporters on Friday. "During the Prime Ministers last visit we were able to announce that the logistic agreements have been finalised, so we look forward to being able to sign that in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of ministers visit or not," the official said. "We are certainly welcoming and hopeful for continuing to move forward on that and continuing to move forward on the fact that we have designated India as a major defence partner into and continue to progress in that direction," the official added. New Delhi: In the midst of unrest in Kashmir, Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit on Saturday said that Pakistan is ready to discuss the Kashmir dispute with its Indian counterpart. He said, "You all know that we took a step towards having dialogue but that didn't work out. We did send invite to India but that did not move forward. We do feel talks on Kashmir needed." On August 14, Basit had said that his country's Independence Day year is dedicated to Kashmir and vowed to continue the "fight" till the Valley "attains freedom". "We dedicate this year's Independence Day to the struggle of Jammu and Kashmir. Our struggle will continue till J&K gets freedom," Basit said during celebrations to mark Pakistan's Independence Day in Delhi. On the context of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, he said, "Ye baat purani ho gayee hai". #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... We need every kind of support from India. It is the responsibility of India as a responsible neighbour and as head of world's largest democracy to speak for the Baloch people," said Bugti, head of the Baloch Republican Party which is outlawed by Pakistan. Prominent Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti has urged India to announce a policy to help the people of Balochistan in their fight for independence from Pakistan.Bugti in an interview given from Geneva to media portal Jan ki Baat said his message to people of India is to "raise their voices for their Baloch brothers".Bugti - grandson of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed by the Pakistani army 10 years ago - lives in Europe. The Baloch Republican Army is designated as a terrorist organization in Pakistan.Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to the Baloch struggle in his Independence Day speech as a "positive development", Bugti said his people needed "every kind of support.""20,000 Baloch political leaders, lawyers and activists have been brutally murdered. Schools and colleges have been turned into military outposts," Bugti said.He also pointed out that people in the region have been suffering from ailments after Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. Balochistan was annexed by Pakistan in 1947 and people there resent Islamabad seeing the province as a "colony." The leaked data on Scorpene submarine had reportedly changed a few hands, after being taken from DCNS by a subcontractor, before reaching the whistleblower. The Indian government has so far maintained the leaked information does not cause any major concern, while analysis of the data is on to ascertain the level of information contained. Stewart however tweeted calling the statement "wrong" and said: "Will release (self-censored) weapons doc Monday." He says he is a whistleblower and maintains that revealing to the world, via The Australian, that this classified data exists in a dangerously uncontrolled form is worthwhile because it will serve Australia's interests even if it causes an international furore," said the report. Stewart wrote in the report: "But it seems that the story behind this leak may be more incompetence than espionage -- more Austin Powers than James Bond." According to the report, the "speculation" is that the data on the Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officer's new job. It highlights here the information was vulnerable to hacking and it is now known if any adversaries chanced upon the information at that time. As per the report, the receiver transferred the data to an encrypted disk and erased and destroyed the original CD. The whistleblower who blew the lid off the leaked Scorpene documents and handed it to The Australian newspaper will be sharing the data with the Australian government on Monday, a report by the journalist who broke the story said.Australia had awarded French contractor DCNS a USD 38 billion contract last April to design and build its next generation of submarines for India.The report by Cameron Stewart also said that the authorities in Australia are aware of the whistleblower's identity."He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the article said.The journalist, in a series of tweets, also said that he will release documents related to weapon systems on Monday.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Friday said the leaked information did not contain data on the weapon systems.The report in the weekend edition of The Australian meanwhile told the story of how the 22,400 documents from French DCNS reached the newspaper continents away.According to the report, the information, which has had both India and France in a fix, was delivered to the whistleblower's mail box.It also said that the whistleblower's hope is that this would "spur the (Australia's Malcolm) Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia's $50 billion submarine project does not suffer the same fate".According to the report, the CD with the documents has been in Australia for more than two years.The report ruled out the "corporate war angle" that was given by DCNS and said for competitors to strike, Norway would have been a better place than Australia as DCNS is pitching its submarine for the country's navy.He wrote quoting sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS.Stewart wrote that the subcontractor had copied some "sensitive data" from DCNS in France, and took it to "a Southeast Asian country".The two men worked there, "carrying out unclassified naval defence work".However, the two men are said to have "fallen out with their employer", a private company run by a Western businessman, following which they were sacked and not allowed inside the building.The company refused to give them the data, and sent the data later to its head office in Singapore where it was uploaded on an internet server.However, while the article in its opening lines implies the CD with the data was delivered to the "whistleblower" some time in April 2013, giving the timeline from Singapore it says the data was uploaded on an internet server on April 18, 2013, where it could have stayed for a few days or a year.It was uploaded for "for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers".Later, the data was sent in a CD to the person in Sydney through post, who realised it contained sensitive information about India's submarine programme.The information has been lying with the person since then -- for almost two years. New Delhi: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in the Valley. Mufti arrived in the national capital on Friday evening and her meeting with Modi is scheduled at his official 7 Race Course Road residence. The meeting comes days after Mufti and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh presented a united front in Srinagar, saying there will be no compromise in security measures in the valley. "We will not bend to the will of the 5% who aim to spread havoc in the state," Mufti had said. In September first week, an all party Parliamentary delegation is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir and meet a cross section of people, amidst the unrest. Government will consult all political parties before finalising an itinerary for the tour aimed at restoring peace in the Kashmir Valley. Sources said the visit of the all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be discussed after Mufti's meeting with Modi. The facilitation of the all party delegation to the troubled state is considered to be an attempt by the government to bring the political parties on board of the process initiated to bring peace in the state. Meanwhile, the curfew entered the 50th day and normalcy has not returned in the Valley since the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. Local business was badly hit in state and the losses touched more than Rs 6,000 crore, government sources said. So far, the clashes have left 70 people dead. (With input from agencies) Washington: Donald Trump's personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trump's car waited. "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy. In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 -- 16 months older than Clinton -- would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an "excellent" bill of health. Beijing: Four key suspects have been arrested in connection with a telecom fraud case in east China's Shandong Province, which reportedly led to the deaths of three persons. Police teams were sent to at least five provinces in southern and eastern China in search of the suspects and four of them were detained as of late last night, a provincial police official said. The suspects are all male, aged from 19 to 35, three of whom are from Fujian Province and another from Chongqing Municipality. The case came to public attention after widespread media reports about the death of Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old high school graduate in Linyi City, who died of a cardiac arrest on Aug 19, after she was duped by the telecom fraudsters. She was reported to have lost 9,900 yuan (USD 1,490) from her university tuition fees to telecom fraudsters. "My daughter was so shocked and sad when we came out of the police station. She was sitting in my tricycle and when I turned back to check on her, she had collapsed on the tricycle," the girl's father Xu Lianbin said. Xu's mother is disabled and her father works at a construction site. It took the family a lot of work to raise enough money for her first year fee and losing it all was unbearable, Xu's relatives told Xinhua. Just a few miles away, another student, Song Zhenning, was also reported to have died similarly, having lost money in another fraud case. The third incident was also reported from here. The Ministry of Public Security issued arrests on Friday, state run Xinhua news agency reported. BLACKSBURG Students have just returned to Virginia Tech for fall classes, but just off campus horticulture professor Holly Scoggins is already administering an exam. Shes not testing students, but a species of plant long gone from Virginia agriculture that may eventually make a comeback: hops. Were trying to see what varieties might do well for growers in Virginia and extrapolating that to the mid-Atlantic region, Scoggins said. Scoggins and her team, along with collaborators from several academic departments and Virginia State University, are hoping the grant-funded hops trial yard off Prices Fork Road will give researchers information to help growers choose the most productive varieties and care for them in the most efficient ways. Scoggins has received $15,900 from the Virginia Agricultural Council and $30,000 from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the project. About $21,000 in additional funds from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant awarded to Virginia State University will go to Tech to test plants in Blacksburg for optimum nitrogen levels, she said. Vigorous perennials related to hemp, hops plants grow up to 25 feet in one season. In late summer, the plants produce an acidic flower bud, or cone, that when added to beer imparts a refreshing astringent quality. Hops were a major crop in colonial Virginia, but later shifted to other parts of the country. Different varieties also can impart the complex flavors favored by craft brewers. Today, 164 craft breweries are operating in Virginia, according to the states Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, creating an increasing demand for hops from which Virginia growers might be able to profit. There are challenges to developing an industry here, however. Hops typically do less well in Virginia than in other parts of the country with longer summer days and less humidity. U.S. commercial production is centered in the Pacific Northwest, where Washington state leads with 56 million pounds grown there in 2014, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mid-Atlantic hops yields, even from mature plants, lag far behind the Pacific Northwest. One acre of plants in Oregon produces between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of dried hops. Meanwhile, the same variety grown in North Carolina yields between 160 and 320 pounds of dried hops, according to research done by North Carolina State University. There are gaps in knowledge, too. The plants are not widely studied, and there isnt enough information to help growers troubleshoot disease, nutritional deficiencies and the best cultivation techniques, according to Scoggins. For example, researchers suspect that Virginia yields have been lower in part because growers under-fertilize the heavy feeding plants. The fertilizer study is expected to shed light on the best nitrogen rates, she added. In Virginias warm and humid environment, hops are beset by fungal diseases and pests, such as the European corn borer, which as its name suggests bores up through the stem of the hops bine, damaging the plant. We didnt even know they were a problem, Scoggins said. Leafhoppers, Japanese beetles and other insects have been issues for some varieties. Diseases like powdery mildew and some strains of blight have also made appearances, Scoggins said. Knowing the challenges, she and collaborators from entomology, Virginia Cooperative Extension and other areas can develop recommendations to help growers avoid or minimize problems. With help from graduate students, this week Scoggins is harvesting at the trial yard, where about a half an acre is planted with about a dozen varieties of hops. The team first must cut down the up to 19-foot-tall hops bines (not vines), and then pick each cone by hand. They meticulously weigh the harvests from each picking. This data will help determine the yields of each cultivar. Then the team will take their bounty to Brian Wiersema, the pilot plant manager for Techs Department of Food Science and Technology, including a new research brewhouse. Wiersema said he will dry the hops in an oast, or hops drying kiln, to give them a longer shelf life. The kiln can do up to 44 pounds of hops in up to 14 hours. The drying is done gently over low heat to preserve the all-important aromatic oils, Wiersema said. He plans to use some of the hops in the research brewery, Wiersema said. Beer made at the brewery can only be used for research purposes at this point. Scoggins said she has been talking to local brewers about the possibility of providing them some hops for their brews, as well. Samples of the cones are also going to Techs enology laboratory Director Ken Hurley, who will do chemical analyses. He can quantify the levels of bittering agents and aroma compounds, and compare what he finds with what has been published in the literature. Hurley has a lot of samples to run before drawing any conclusions, but so far he said the levels of the oils have been higher than expected for Virginia hops. Hurleys hypothesis is that Virginia hops produce more flavor and aroma compounds than the same plants grown elsewhere. Last year he received $7,500 from the Virginia Agricultural Council to study this facet of hops. If the evidence bears out his suspicion, it would be a powerful marketing tool for Virginia growers, and likely spur more to branch out to hops. Its a highly interdisciplinary project, Scoggins said. Even the architecture and design school is in on it. Chip Clark from that school designed the trial yard, which other growers can use as a model for their own operations, she said. Scoggins said it will take at least three years to determine how well each hops variety will do in Virginias challenging environment. The Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a Lynchburg Circuit Court ruling that ordered Babcock & Wilcox to pay Areva Nuclear Power $16 million in damages in a dispute over royalty payments. In its June 30 opinion numbering 43 pages, the states highest court ruled no royalty payments are owed to Areva. In sum, we hold that the trial court erred in failing to set aside the verdict and enter judgment for the B&W defendants on Arevas royalty and trade secret claims on each of the 15 contracts on the verdict form, the opinion said. Our holding moots Arevas assignments of cross-error we reverse and enter final judgment dismissing Arevas claims. Written by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, the opinion examines the sub-license agreement the companies made in 2004 regarding B&Ws usage of Areva technology. The opinion discussed the use of Areva-exclusive technology at specific nuclear plant types, technology use at an uncompleted plant, commercial nuclear service plants, site services both on and off site, the first contract exclusion noted in the 2004 agreement, and the claim B&W violated trade secrets. The company, now known as BWX Technologies and headquartered in Lynchburg, said in a news release Friday that Arevas case lacked merit and [BWXT] has consistently denied that royalty payments were due.BWXT is pleased with the courts ruling and the resolution it has brought to this matter. In an email statement to The News & Advance, Areva Vice President of Communications Denise Woernle said, We believe the jury made the right decision based on the information presented in court, so were clearly disappointed by the Supreme Court of Virginias decision. B&W filed its appeal to the state supreme court in May 2015. The case was argued before the court in March. Areva, a French nuclear-operations company, filed suit against B&W in 2011, accusing it of breaching a contractual agreement and misusing nuclear trade secrets by using Arevas technology without paying royalties. The three-year legal battle between the competitors culminated in an eight-day trial in December 2014 involved hundreds of exhibits, multiple witnesses, nuclear technology contracts and inspection of lengthy documents. The jury decided in Arevas favor, saying B&W violated the Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act leading back to a 2004 agreement between the companies. The jury concluded B&W breached the agreement with Areva by using its technology and not paying Areva royalties in 15 contracts B&W won from other businesses. B&W claimed these contracts didnt meet conditions outlined in the agreement and thus it did not owe money. The nearly $16.1 million in damages the jury awarded to Areva is the amount of royalties B&W would have owed from the contracts. Areva asked for 4 percent royalties on the contracts since March 2004, as part of a sub-license agreement the two companies entered into that year. In March 2015, Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge Mosby Perrow denied a motion from B&W to dismiss the verdict and also denied the companys request for a retrial. I dont see any point in agonizing over this any longer, Perrow said at the time. I think there was a fair trial. BWXT employs roughly 2,500 in the Lynchburg area; Areva employs about 1,375. Lawyer: Belize gay rights ruling affects TT law It was therefore an honour to have participated in this landmark decision and be part of the legal team led by Christopher Hamel- Smith SC which in a direct way improve the rights of LGBTI persons in the Commonwealth. Boy Shows Why 'Adventure' Really Is His Middle Name (Newser) Italy thinks "cultural consumption" is important, and it's putting its money where its mouth is, to the tune of $330 million. The country is moving forward with its pledge to give every kid turning 18 this year in Italy 500 (roughly $560) to spend on "cultural products and events," reports Artforum in a translation of the Italian paper El Mundo. Citizens and permanent residents who were born in 1998 must register on www.18app.it and download the "18app" app. A government undersecretary hailed the fact that the money won't be "allocated through bureaucracy" but instead through some 550,000 teenagers' decisionswith one limitation. The funds can be spent on books, theater, concerts, exhibitions, and museums, but not on albums. The money must be spent by the end of 2017, reports the Telegraph, which notes the program was announced by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi 10 days after the November terror attacks in Paris. With spending on security being hiked by one billion euros, he said the same amount would go toward new cultural spending. "We will not give in to terror. We have centuries of history that proclaim the fact that culture will beat ignorance, that beauty is more tenacious than barbarism." (Read more Italy stories.) (Newser) No home or building in the US has the ZIP code 48222, and yet more packages are being delivered to it than ever before. The New York Times has a fascinating peek at life aboard the country's only floating ZIP code, assigned to a nearly 70-year-old boat that calls the Detroit River home. Mail addressed to 48222 is delivered to the JW Westcott II of Detroit's JW Westcott Company (est. 1874), which it turn delivers it to the massive freighters crossing the Great Lakes between the US and Canada. The freighters don't have time to stop for their crews' mail, so the JW Westcott II sails right up alongside the vessels, keeps pace with them, and makes the delivery, usually in a bucket (hence the company's official motto: "Mail by pail.") At the same time the Postal Service is hurting, business is booming for JW Westcott Company. The freighters' crews rarely have a chance to shop, sometimes going two months without leaving the boatJim Hogan, part of five generations of Hogans to run the mail boat, describes them as "basically trapped"so the JW Westcott II helps them out, delivering pants, toilet paper, coffee pods, pizza, books, cigarettes, and more. Sailors pay over the phone with their credit cards or simply lower cash down in the bucket. The JW Westcott II services approximately 100 freighters, making 15 to 18 deliveries every 24 hours. Read more about the exploits of the JW Westcott II here. (Read more mail stories.) (Newser) Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped as an 11-year-old and held captive for 18 horrifying years by a man who was supposed to be supervised by parole officials because of a conviction for another kidnapping. A federal court, however, has ruled that no matter how badly parole officers may have bungled their supervision of Phillip Garrido, Dugard isn't allowed to sue the federal government, reports Reuters. "While our hearts are with Ms. Dugard, the law is not," Judge John Owens wrote after a three-member panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled 2-1 against Dugard, who was appealing an earlier ruling. "Phillip Garrido, a parolee with a terrible history of drug-fueled sexual violence, committed unspeakable crimes against Jaycee Dugard for 18 years," Owens wrote. "State and federal authorities missed many opportunities to stop these tragic events." The court noted that a federal parole officer failed to report no fewer 70 drug-related parole violations, despite being aware that Garrido was known to become sexually violent while on drugs, the Los Angeles Times reports. But because courts have limited the liability of the federal government for incompetent parole officers, Dugard still can't sue, the court ruled. In 2010, California settled with Dugard for $20 million. (Parole officers once actually spoke to Dugard while she was still a captive at Garrido's California home.) (Newser) A couple was rescued from a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after their cry for help was spotted by a US Navy helicopter, the BBC reports. The couple were identified as Linus and Sabina Jack, both in their 50s. According to USA Today, they set sail in an 18-foot vessel Aug. 17 in Micronesia with few supplies and no emergency equipment. They were supposed to arrive at their destination Aug. 18 but didn't show, ABC News reports. The US Coast Guard was informed the Jacks were missing Aug. 19, launching an international search involving 12 boats, two aircraft, and more than 16,500 square miles. On Wednesday, a Navy helicopter spotted the letters "SOS" dug into the sand on Micronesia's East Fayu Island. A boat arrived to pick the Jacks up Fridaymore than a week after they disappeared. (Read more search and rescue stories.) (Newser) A suspected murderer Michigan authorities have been hunting for more than 30 years may be living in California disguised as a woman, the Los Angeles Times reports. John Gentry Jr. was 30 years old in 1983 when he was released from a Michigan prison after serving time for nearly killing his boyfriend. According to Reuters, he started dating 25-year-old Barbara Gerber, who had worked in the kitchen of a jail where Gentry was an inmate. Unbeknownst to Gerber, Gentry also started dating 52-year-old William Veith in neighboring Ohio. Then Gerber was found with her throat slit. Six days later, authorities found Veith dead after he was beaten over the head with an ax handle. They suspect Gentry killed his lovers after they found out about each other. Authorities tracked Gentry to Indiana but lost the trail. He sent two postcards from San Diego and Los Angeles, and that was the last authorities heard of him. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for him in 1988 to no effect, CBS Detroit reports. Jeff Smith, the Michigan investigator working the cold case, says information received in the past five years hints that Gentry may have adopted his middle name Kelly and started hanging around West Hollywood dressed as a woman. He may also be dead. Smith says Gentry's fingerprints haven't popped up anywhere, and it would be unusual for him to live within the law for so long. Authorities have released aged-up photos of Gentry in the hopes of getting a lead from the public. (A woman became a PI to help solve her friend's murder.) (Newser) A 21-year-old concession worker fell to her death early Friday in Yellowstone National Park, Reuters reports. Estefania Alcivar was hanging out with coworkers near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River around 3:15 am when her coworkers say she fell into the canyon. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, Alcivar's coworkers called 911, but rescuers weren't able to recover her body until nearly seven hours later. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is 800 to 1,200 feet deep, NBC News reports. Alcivar is from Ecuador. The National Park Service hires workers from abroad to give young people the opportunity to "come here to improve their English and learn about this country." Her death is under investigation. Earlier this summer, a man from Oregon died when he fell into a hot spring at Yellowstone. (Read more Yellowstone National Park stories.) (Newser) A woman who videotaped herself sexually assaulting a 4-year-old relative and then sold the footage is headed to prison, the AP reports. Pamela Dziminski received a 25-year sentence Friday. The 30-year-old New Jersey woman had pleaded guilty last year to aggravated sexual assault after authorities discovered the videos online. Authorities say Dziminski admitted performing sex acts on the boy and taping them on her cellphone. She then sent the videos to three people who gave her cash. Child welfare officials alerted Mercer County authorities when they found a video circulating online. They say Dziminski also took nude photos of the child and nude photos of herself with the child. Dziminski's attorney unsuccessfully argued for a lesser sentence, saying there were other circumstances that affected her client's behavior. (Read more sexual assault stories.) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 16F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low near 0F. Winds light and variable. Bankura: Three elephants died on Friday after being hit by a train in South-Eastern Railways Bankura-Howrah section in West Bengal.Divisional Forest Officer, Panchet, Ayan Ghosh told PTI two elephant calves and their mother were knocked down by the Kharagpur-Adra Passenger at around 7:30 PM. The train moved on but the jumbos mutilated carcasses spread across the tracks between Bisnupur in Bankura and Piyardoba in West Midnapore for over two hours disrupting train movement in the section, the DFO said. The carcasses were removed from the tracks by the forest and rail personnel with the help of locals after which train movement was fully restored, he said. The pachyderm family was crossing the track, skirted by dense forest on both sides, when the mishap occurred, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the current security situation in the Valley. Mufti after meeting PM Modi said: "Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the valley." "PM Modi, like all of us, is very concerned with the situation in J&K," said Mufti. Highlights of Mehbooba Mufti's addresses to the media after meeting PM Modi in Delhi: # As a mother it bothers me that people tell children, go stone a police station, that will solve issue. # Modi ji took an initiative, our home minister took an initiative, they went to Pakistan, but now its upto Pakistan to respond. # Then, Pathankot happened after that (Par badkismati ke sath uske baad Pathankot hua). # Help me (Meri madad keejiye), A Mehbooba Mufti asks media to cooperate with her on resolving current crisis. # Situation was really bad in the Valley, and Pakistan was trying to fuel tensions in the Valley. (Pichle dinon Kashmir mein haalaat kharab hue, aur Pak khulke haalaat ko theek karne ke bajaaye, koshish kar rahe the provocation ho.) # Sadly, Pakistan has repeatedly wasted chances to talk and resolve issues. # Like Mufti sahab used to say that Modi ji has 2/3rd majority and if during his time the situation doesn't change then it will never change. # I was happy that PM Modi had invited Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and then visited Pakistan also. (Mujhe khushi hai ki Modi ji ne na sirf pehle apni oath ceremony mein Nawaz Sharif sahab ko bulaya, balki khud Lahore chale gaye). # Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the valley. # PM Modi like all of us is very concerned with the situation in J&K. This was the first time PM Modi met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti since 50 days of unrest in Kashmir. WATCH: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi (source: PMO)https://t.co/SkdZQHS23Y A few days back, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had paid a visit to the state, where he assessed the situation on the ground and held meetings with representatives of civil society, political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals to understand what needed to be done to restore normalcy in the valley. 50 days of unrest in Valley Kashmir continued to witness casualties with one more youth getting killed and several others getting injured in a clash between protesters and security forces on Friday even as curfew was in force in many parts of the valley to thwart a planned march by separatists. Normal life remained paralysed for the 50th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. 18-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai and several others were injured in action by security forces against protesters at Nikas Arbal in Rajpora area of Pulwama district this afternoon, a police official said. Ganai, with pellet injuries in his chest, was rushed to district hospital Pulwama where he was declared 'brought dead' by the doctors, the official said. With this death, the toll in the ongoing 50-day unrest has reached 67. Meanwhile, curfew was on Friday extended to several areas of Kashmir to foil a planned march by separatists to Eidgah in old city area. Curfew was extended to entire Srinagar district, Pulwama district and south Kashmir towns of Shopian and Anantnag North Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Pattan and Handwara were also placed under curfew while restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley, police said. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq attempted to take out processions to Eidgah but both were detained just when they left their residences where they are under house arrest. Mirwaiz, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, tried to take out the march along with his supporters from his Nigeen residence but was taken into custody. He was later shifted to Chashma Shahi Guest House. Geelani, chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, was also taken into custody as he tried to defy the house arrest orders, a police official said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : A policeman was shot dead by suspected militants in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday, police said. Constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai was shot by unknown gunmen outside his residence at Koil in Pulwama this morning, a police official said. He said Ganai sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The cop, however, succumbed to injuries at the hospital, the official said.Amid continuous Curfew of 50 days, suspected militants shot dead a policeman in Quil area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district, reports said. Early morning, men armed with guns fired shots at constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai outside his house in Quil in the volatile southern district, Kashmir Dispatch reported.Ganai, who was on way to the district police lines Pulwama, sustained critical injuries in the attack. He was taken to sub-district hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday picked on Prime Minister over Lt Governor Najeeb Jungs remarks on illegal decisions taken by the AAP government. "Modiji's thoughts are completely negative. He himself cant do anything good. And when others do, he gets it overturned," Kejriwal tweeted. Speaking at an event, Jung on Friday said that illegal decisions were taken by the city government before the Delhi High Court spelt out that the LG was indeed the administrative head of the national capital. Jung also rubbished Kejriwals oft-repeated claim that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have tried to stop the AAPs governance initiatives. Last month, Arvind Kejriwal in a video message had claimed that PM Narendra Modi can go to any extent to destroy him and even can try to kill him. (Also Read: PM Narendra Modi can get me killed, says Arvind Kejriwal in a video message) I want to tell everyone today that it is a very critical time. In the times to come, this oppression is going to turn very dirty. They (the Modi government) can go to any extent. They can try to kill us. They can try to kill me. They can do anything, Delhi Chief Minister said in a speech released on the internet by his party. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. Mufti, who called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and discussed the situation in the Kashmir Valley, told reporters that he was very concerned about the situation and has asked for steps to end this bloodshed so that the state comes out of the present turmoil. (Also Read: Pakistan openly provoking and fuelling tensions in Valley, says Mehbooba Mufti after meeting PM) The Prime Minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The Prime Minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil, she told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Modi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be looking to exploit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from UNGC. He has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to be despatched to world capitals to highlight Kashmir issue at UN. We will remind the United Nations its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people, Sharif said. Stepping up Pakistans diplomatic offensive, the prime minister said he has decided to send the parliamentarians for highlighting the Kashmir issue in different parts of the World. The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September, Radio Pakistan reported. We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise, he added. Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Muzaffar Wani, father of slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, on Saturday met Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at his ashram in Bengaluru. The spiritual guru said this on social networking site Twitter Saturday, saying Muzaffar Wani was in his ashram for two days and that they discussed aseveral issuesa. aMuzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues,a Ravi Shankar tweeted, without elaborating. The tweet was accompanied by a picture of the two together. Ravi Shankar referred to the meeting with Muzaffar Wani on a day Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presented a athree-pronged action plana that includes a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the troubled Valley. After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8 in the wake of protests over the death of Burhan Wani, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was avery concerneda about the situation and has asked for steps to end this abloodsheda so that peace returns. Mehbooba outlined a athree-pronged action plana before the Prime Minister for resolution of the Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. Sources said the plan also includes facilitating the visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley, a possible change in Governor and appointing interlocutors to hold talks with all stakeholders in the state. Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues. pic.twitter.com/IDyyxJSG83 a Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) August 27, 2016 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Winning over the poor was at the heart of Saturday meeting of BJP chief ministers with the party forming a committee to finalise a garib kalyan agenda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking them to work in mission mode to make their states a model for execution of his governments schemes, mostly aimed at benefiting the poor. Modi exhorted them to work on multiple fronts to develop their states at a fast rate, saying they should not just move to one project after finishing another and instead take up several programmes together without showing any lapse. Chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and JharkhandShivraj Singh Chouhan, Devendra Fadnavis, Raghubar Das respectivelybesides party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will prepare the poors welfare agenda that will fix a few common goals for the party-ruled states besides identifying schemes which they could give special focus. The day-long meeting here deliberated over six subjects, including welfare of the poor and farmers, woman empowerment, youth and employment besides good governance, with Modi speaking about a host of schemes covering these sectors. The Prime Minister asked us to work in mission mode; to take up several works at once and show no lapses. Then we can develop fast, Chouhan told a press conference after the conclusion of the meeting. With the party and its governments facing attack from the opposition over issues concerning Dalits and minorities, it believes that a stronger emphasis on welfare schemes, especially targeting the poor, can firewall it against adverse political outcome and instead help it reach out to the weaker sections. Chief ministers also gave a presentation of their governments works in line with the partys welfare agenda and how some of the schemes can be adopted by others. Party leaders said good governance, development and pro-poor measures were the focus of the exercise and politics and coming elections in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, found no mention in their deliberations. Modi also touched on the fact that the two medals won by India in the Rio Olympics were claimed by women as he underlined the need for woman empowerment. Our daughters have proved how capable they are, he said. The committee formed to prepare the poors welfare agenda will give its report in two-three few weeks, Sahasrabuddhe, who is also the head of the partys good governance department, said. Modi told the partys chief ministers and deputy chief ministers to make their states a model for the effective execution of the central schemes. He spoke about Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to provide LPG cylinders to poor households, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, skill development and farm insurance scheme among others. He asked the CMs to work for cent per cent Adhaar card enrolment and adoption of farm insurance scheme by all farmers. Schemes in certain states like water conservation by digging small ponds in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, several pro-poor and girl empowerment exercises in Madhya Pradesh, were also discussed. While Modi delivered the concluding address, party chief Amit Shah inaugurated the meeting, which was also attended by the partys Parliamentary Board members and its presidents in the states where it is in power. Asserting that BJP has ushered in an era of politics of performance, its president Amit Shah asked the partys chief ministers to make their states an effective instrument for execution of the Centres pro-poor and good governance agenda. Noting that the party rules over 51 per cent of the countrys landmass and 37 per cent population, he said states would play a key role in the success of the Modi governments welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tyler Sizemore / Tyler Sizemore Four men were arrested following a fight over noise levels at a house party Friday night in Danbury. Rory Roberts, 18, and Shaborn Venner, 19, both of Danbury, were arrested on Avalon Valley Drive with two juveniles, after police say they assaulted the downstairs tenants when confronted about the party being too loud. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Zombies and slasher villains invaded the city Saturday as part of the third annual Connecticut Horror Fest. A section of the Matrix Corporate Center was converted into a mini-graveyard where thousands of horror fans mingled with celebrities of the horror genre. Among the celebs were film director George Romero, whose Night of the Living Dead kicked off the zombie craze, Ricou Browing, who played the Gill-Man in The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Zach Gilligan from Gremlins and Mark Steger, who plays the Demogorgon in the new hit Netflix show, Stranger Things. We really enjoy bringing the community out for this, said Christine Caprilozzi, the lead organizer and co-founder of the Fest. She and her husband, Rob, started the fest in Waterbury in 2014 as a way to celebrate the horror genre. The fest drew such a crowd that it moved to Danbury last year for a larger venue. Caprilozzi said about 2,200 people attended last years fest and she expected at least 2,500 this year. Danbury is a fitting home for the fest, partly because, thanks to Mayor Mark Boughton, the city has its own Zombie Emergency Action Plan. Boughton was in attendance Saturday to help present a girl dressed as a broken doll with the first-place prize in the childrens costume contest. Among the costume winners was Justin Blasl, who won third place for his portrayal of Michael Myers from Halloween. Blasl said he decided to portray the killer because he really enjoys the movie franchise, but also because he misplaced his Jason mask and Freddy Krueger claws. This is the second year Blasl and his mother, Tiffany Cable, both of Naugatuck, attended the fest. They are big fans of the horror genre. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, Cable said. Mother and son said they liked this years event better than last year because there were more people, better costumes and great guests. Blasl said the zombie Santa and zombie priest were his favorite costumes, adding he wished the Demogorgon was in costume. I hope they keep this going, Cable said. Caprilozzi said she her husband hoped to create a welcoming atmosphere for the fest. We try to make it as fan-friendly as possible, she said. That sense of community has inspired Tina Cason and Colleen Lippincott, both of Virginia Beach, Va., to plan to return next year and to check out other horror conventions. Lippincott said her favorite part was meeting Romero and hearing him speak at a breakfast that kicked off the event. Her hero is George Romero, so she was stoked, Cason said. Lippincott said she enjoyed hearing him speak about his film, Night of the Living Dead, and signing a picture of himself surrounded by a crowd of zombies. She said she gained a new appreciation for the well-known photograph when he told her the man who usually did the makeup for his films hated the picture because all but a few of the zombies are wearing masks. Thats a neat little tidbit I learned, she said. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345; @kkoerting Some parents of the over 200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014 are currently reaching out to the Presidency... Some parents of the over 200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014 are currently reaching out to the Presidency for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that will not have anything to do with the BringBackOurGirls campaigners.This is coming at a time when security operatives prevented the BBOG campaigners from gaining entrance to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday and Thursday for a meeting with Buhari.A top Presidency source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that while the campaigners had been parading only two parents of the girls, the women leader of the Chibok parents, Yana Galang, had expressed their desire to meet with the President.He said the woman told the Presidency that the parents would wait for the first child of late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed (retd.) and Chairman/Executive Officer of Murtala Mohammed Foundation, Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, to return to the country in September to facilitate the meeting.The source said, The Chibok parents women leader called and reiterated their commitment to work with the government.She said that they are looking forward to a meeting with the President or with government officials, which has nothing to do with the BBOG campaign.She said they will wait until Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode returns to the country at the beginning of next month, so she can facilitate this.He added that while the campaigners have been parading the two Chibok families based in Abuja and another based in Minna, Niger State, none of those based in Chibok have attended their rallies.He said Galang also reported that one of the parents who have been attending the rallies, Esther Yakubu, called and scolded her about recent media comments credited to her.Galang had in the report said, We (Chibok parents) do not want to do anything that the government will not be happy about. We are not after any organisation that is against any party or religion, and we are supporting the Federal Government to help us release our girls.He said they wanted her to publish a retraction which she said she would not do.Another source had earlier told our correspondent that Buhari refused to meet with BBOG campaigners because of Dr. Oby Ezekwesilis alleged rudeness to him when he met them on January 14.He said with what happened at that meeting, nobody could stick out his or her neck again to convince the President to meet with them.He said, You will recall that at the last meeting, the President sent a minister and some aides to meet with them at the old Banquet Hall.At a point, the campaigners insisted that they must meet the President and no other person. So some of us went to meet the President and persuaded him to meet them which he did.Surprisingly, the former minister (Ezekwesili) was rude to President Buhari during the meeting that was held behind closed doors by telling him that she was not satisfied with him.But the BBOG spokesman, Abubakar Abudullahi, said the coalition has no control over the parents of the kidnapped schoolgirls, noting that they were free to see the president without the group.We dont have control over the Chibok parents and they are free to see the president or whoever they wanted to see; we are all working for the same goal. That is all I have to say about it, he said in a phone conversation on Friday.It will be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had said on Thursday that the Federal Government has not given up on the abducted girls.He said Buharis heart was with the girls and their parents and that efforts to find them would continue.The presidential spokesman said, The Presidents heart is with the Chibok Girls and their parents. He understands their feelings. The government has not given up on the missing girls. Efforts to find them will continue.So far, the countrys gallant and re-energised military has taken back more than 20,000 citizens held hostage by the terrorists. President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday assured that the Niger President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday assured that the Nigerian Government would diligently ensure full rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram insurgency and find lasting solutions to threats of terrorism.The President, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, spoke at the opening of the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), in Nairobi, Kenya.He insisted that Boko Haram terrorists had been degraded, adding that reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country had been receiving huge and immediate attention.While acknowledging the Japanese Governments support through UNICEF in the rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims, President Buhari commended development partners for their work geared toward improving the lives of about two million IDPs in the country.He said, The bottom line is that these problems are our primary responsibility. We must tackle them and find lasting solutions for ourselves.I took over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria when the North eastern part of the country was being ravaged by Boko Haram.However, soon after assumption of office, our administration with the support of our immediate neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin- and international partners including Japan, faced the challenge frontally. `As I speak the terror group has been decimated and life is beginning to return to normal in the affected region.The challenge we currently face which is also being addressed, is that of the IDPs which number over two million to get them re-integrated with their families and their original homes. Nigerians grieved, parents wailed loudly and inconsolably, April 14, 2014 when Boko Haram terrorists assailed and abducted about 276 adole... Nigerians grieved, parents wailed loudly and inconsolably, April 14, 2014 when Boko Haram terrorists assailed and abducted about 276 adolescent secondary school girls in Chibok, the countrys Northeastern state of Borno.As the helpless girls were agonized in the hands of their captors on the journey to an unknown destination with terror vermin, national outrage poured out aplenty against the authorities of Nigeria.The terrorists captured the girls in a single raid and conveniently ferried them away to their dungeon, which was later identified as Sambisa forest, far from Chibok. The Islamic insurgents accomplished this inglorious feat unmolested and unchallenged by Nigerias security agents ,the rest has become history.Strangely however, the Federal Government of Nigeria under the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, the sole custodian of minutely security reports across the nation were delighted more in denial of the incident. The president and his team of security chiefs in a move, publicized the worse indifference to a sovereign absurdity which regrettably dragged the issue into the politics of Jonathans re-election gamble in 2015.The administration hedged action and faltered in the face of this shameful national security lapse and disgrace to Nigeria. It awed many that the Federal Government of Nigerian claimed the incident was crafted to derail his re-election ambition. Meanwhile, several other men and women were either abducted or murdered by same Boko Haram terrorists in the region before the Chibok episode.The lengthy period of inaction by government and security agents afforded the Boko Haram insurgents to goad their captives into their dungeon neither molested nor challenged.Days after, when the Nigeria government could not contain the pressure occasioned by the consistent drumming of the incident in the media, accorded indisputable veracity by tales of two or three of the abducted girls who escaped while being ferried away. It was only then that it dawned on Federal Government of Nigeria and security agents that the trouble was beyond boardroom politics. But nevertheless, it pushed no determined military action for their rescue.The slumber festered until tensions about the girl's abduction enveloped Nigeria. Mothers and women of all ethnicity in Nigeria unanimously condemned the savage and beastly act. They scolded government for abdicating on its constitutional and sacred duty of protecting lives and property of Nigerians.It sprouted unimaginable agitations for action. It inspired Dr. Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who co-ordinatively spearheaded angry Nigerian women by launching the Hashtag #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG). It stirred international outrage to the extent wife of Americas President Barack Obama, Michelle, also conscripted herself in the league of world women leaders crusading for concerted action to rescue them, by a post on her personal twitter handle denouncing the act. Pakistani advocate of girl-child education Ms. Malala Yousafzai also joined the fray.The advocacy of BBOG which elected upon itself to sit-out, all day, at the Unity Fountain Square in Abuja to draw national and international attention to the plight of the abducted girls suffered regrettable ignominy. On several occasions, gun trotting security agents were used to disperse them and at a point, their quest to take the campaign to Aso Rock was rebuffed almost violently. But they endured and remained resolute.But the Nigerian military appeared helpless in the face of this dilemma.Foot soldiers in the battlefield shirked in the war front. They complained of unpaid allowances, hunger and lack of weapons to combat the terrorists and liberate the captured girls. While they loathed, security chiefs, who by unspoken action, dreaded physical appearance anywhere in the entire Northeast.As it would later be revealed, under President Muhammadu Buharis arms probe, over $15billion, popularly christened, Dasukigate, was gulped the usual Nigerian way. Quite awfully, it was the then service chiefs who allegedly sat in Abuja and shared arms funds meant to prosecute the war against terrorists.No need to re-emphasize. But the contour of the war against terrorists in Nigeria changed with the emergence of President Buhari. The re-organization of the military top echelon and procurement of arms and ammunitions were one of the first priority actions he took barely weeks into office. The presidents appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Tukur Buratai did not only enliven the army, but gave a new tonic to soldiers on the insurgency warfront.Expectedly, Buratai re-organized military command structure and brought on board proven officers, who shared in the vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria about the military, professionalism, dedication, and valour to head various commands. Thereafter, he directed redeployments of soldiers, redundant in isolated places to the Northeast, the epicenter of the war on terrorists. He posted about 1,000 soldiers in Lagos from the Reconnaissance Battalion Badagry to the Northeast.In addition, he introduced combat motorbikes because troops had insurmountable difficulties navigating the muddy or sandy terrain of Borno state to trace terrorists hideouts, with military vehicles especially the path to Sambisa Forest. It was one loophole his predecessors never envisaged. His words, our troops will be able to pursue the Boko Haram sect anywhere.Again, he issued stern and strict instructions to commanders of various battalions or Military Tasks Forces not to condone operational lapses in their areas of jurisdictions. Those who reneged faced military court martial. He opened up roads and streets closed for nearly two years and instructed soldiers to ensure civilian users of such roads are not attacked or molested in anyway. It restored confidence in the civil population, which responded positively by gradually returning to abandoned and ruined homes.Buratai exceptionally led other arms of the military to tour deserted areas in the Northeast. To lead by example, he laced his combat shoes and khaki, descended from his high position to personally lead onslaught against insurgents in territories previously captured and annexed; removed their flags and reclaimed Nigerias sovereignty from the 16 LGAs insurgents held sway in the Northeast.As if the feat was not enough, he dared them to attempt a comeback, if they are brave enough. None took the risk. Instead, remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, who sought refuge in communities, began submitting themselves to the Nigerian Military in droves. The action was also spiced by confessions which provided useful insights into the thickest of the hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists.In effect, Sambisa forest disrobed itself of the trumpeted mystique, as soldiers went berserk on a conquering spree, demolishing their camps, arresting dozens and handing them over to prosecuting authorities.These fresh milestones were sequel to Buratais boasting of the morale of troops, through the magnanimity of President Buhari, with new arms and ammunitions, timely payments of salaries and duty allowances of troops, constant field visits for supervision. Soldiers who displayed exceptional gallantry were rewarded with instant replies and decorations with new ranks of promotion, realities only previously tenable in their realm of dreams.Consequently, several Boko Haram captors, including the Chibok girls regained freedom in trickles, alongside, other men and women variously held hostage for months, if not years. Nigerians are loudly mouthing the instincts of survival of the rescued. As at today, more than 5,000 Nigerians held by Boko Haram have regained their freedom based on the consistency of Buharis new face of terrorist's war under Buratai in alliance with other armed forces as well as the Civilian JTF.Therefore, the narrative has unavoidably changed, even for Buharis impenitent critics and detractors, who never believed in the campaign against terrorists in Nigeria. They score Buhari very high on security and anti-corruption wars in less than one and a half years. Its trite that respected Western countries have admitted this rare feat and also, thrown their weight behind it with support in multiple ways-weaponry and IDPs packages.Particularly, even the perpetually strict and cynical America, a super world power, under President Obama has sent her salutations. Its Secretary of State, John Kerry is loud about it; everywhere he berths in the world.It is no surprise that the BBOG campaigners have also taken the back bench in their public activism and agitations against the military, having sensed some meaningful action in this regard. It is evident by their quiet, pensive, but consolatory mood with the recent freedom of Amina Ali, another freed Chibok girl, received by the Presidency. No doubt, the number is now far less than 160 of Chibok girls still in captivity.But silently, BBOG organization has to do more. The campaign now should have focused on their public appreciation of the Nigerian military and the Nigerian government under President Buhari. In fact, they should lead agitations for their improved welfare to embolden them farther to reclaim more captives of Boko Haram.Much more, BBOG campaigns could extend to Boko Haram victims, still in IDP camps in order to stimulate state governments of the affected states and humanitarian groups around the world to do more to assist them reclaim their lives from the ruins.UN set a recent example, when its humanitarian chief, Stephen OBrien announced the release of $13 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the body to provide life-saving assistance for the victims in IDP camps. Thanks a million times.But more importantly, like COAS remarked recently, state governors of states affected by Boko Haram terrorism need to do more to finally dispel the fears of IDPs still marooned in distant places by stepping up efforts of rehabilitation, as presently being undertaken by the Peace, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation Initiative. It is necessary to re-enact former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowons 3 Rs, after Nigerias regrettable civil strife.Abiodun writes from Ibadan, Oyo State. Cuba, China sign new accords to boost economic cooperation Updated: 2016-08-27 10:58 (Xinhua) HAVANA - Cuba and China on Friday signed new agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in a number of fields. Zhang Xiangchen, deputy international trade representative with China's Ministry of Commerce, and Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, signed the conclusive documents for joint projects in the sectors of telecommunications, industry and water resources. "We have reviewed the advances made in our relations and planned out our economic collaboration for the next year," Zhang told reporters after the signing. Malmierca said the agreements prelude an expansion of bilateral economic cooperation. "Chinese investments in Cuba are starting to blossom and we have a joint strategic vision of the future," he said. China is Cuba' s second largest trading partner. Chinese enterprises have participated in many joint projects contributing to Cuba's economic and social development. The police in Lagos state has arrested three men Ubajide Ebuka, Ifeanyi Okoye, and Ilebunam Emeka, who specialize in breaking into shops... The police in Lagos state has arrested three men Ubajide Ebuka, Ifeanyi Okoye, and Ilebunam Emeka, who specialize in breaking into shops at the Mushin and Ladipo Auto Spare parts market in the state.The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, FSARS, following a tip off that they were allegedly breaking into a building material store to cart away valuables.The police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, who paraded the suspects said the police recovered two guns and a cutter from the gang and are on the trail the fleeing member of the gang.Ebuka, in his confession before newsmen at the state police headquarters on Friday claimed he had been to two robbery operations with the gang.He revealed that Emeka hired them to rob his boss so they can make quick money.Ebuka, 24, said I am from Anambra state. I am a sales boy in Ladipo market. I met one Ekene while I was serving my master at the market. Last month, I asked Ekene how life was treating him and he said I should meet him at Isolo after the days job.I got to the spot where he was and I saw his friends with him. One of his friends called Chibuzor took us in his car for operation at Mushin where we broke into the shops and stole money. The second operation at Ladipo market was orchestrated by Emeka. We met at our usual spot at Isolo and Chibuzor asked Emeka what this job was. Emeka told him that he was helping his boss to sell building materials.Chibuzor said Emeka will take us to his masters shop and that was how we got them. Chibuzor brought out the guns and the cutter but as we were about to attack the shop that night, police men came from nowhere and attacked us. Chibuzor and two other guys escaped but we were not lucky.On his part, Emeka blamed bad friends for luring him to the gang.According to him, My friends told me about attacking my bosss shop. I felt there was money in the shop so I invited them to rob my boss. This is my first time. I felt there was money in the shop but we were arrested in the act and I regret my action. The State police command have announced that it has arrested some of the thugs and miscreants who reportedly pelted governor Yahaya Bello ... The State police command have announced that it has arrested some of the thugs and miscreants who reportedly pelted governor Yahaya Bello and his convoy with stones and fruits at a Kogi mosque on Friday. The Kogi state government has also issued a statement refuting media reports that Governor Yahaya Bello was on Friday stoned during Juma'at prayer at a mosque in the state. Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate incident, which occurred during the Jumaat Prayer at the Lokoja Central Mosque to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the creation of Kogi State," the statement, issued by Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said. It was discovered that some sponsored miscreants caused a mild drama as they were caught with stones while one of them attacked one of the security aides of the Governor. The gallant market women at the Lokoja Old Market accosted the perpetrators and stopped them from absconding from the scene in solidarity with the Governor. The Governor wishes to thank the market women and security agencies, who rose to the occasion to protect lives and property at the scene of the unfortunate incident. No life was lost and no serious injury was recorded. We can also confirm that arrests have been made and those arrested are already giving useful information to security agents investigating the politically motivated attack at the Mosque. Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, the Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, on Friday reportedly advised intending pilgrims to settle their debts and leave ... Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, the Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, on Friday reportedly advised intending pilgrims to settle their debts and leave their wills behind before travelling to Saudi Arabia.The Abuja-based Islamic scholar, while delivering Jummaat sermon titled Essential tips for Hajj Preparations, said the need to leave a will behind was because the journey to Holy land may be the final journey for some pilgrims.He explained that it was an invitation from Allah to the most famous acts of worship, adding that hajj was a unique and extra ordinary journey in the life time of all pilgrims.Al-Yolawi said, An intending pilgrim should settle his debts and leave behind him a clear record as well as writing all his wills or what he intends to pass to his family.Journey to hajj requires high level of patience, because it was always accompanied with difficulties ranging from fatigue to physical and social abnormalities as well as intolerance from other pilgrims.One should not allow Shaitan (devil) to hijack him and spoil his hajj out of ignorance or annoyance. This emphasises on the importance of piety as first ingredient of ones journey to Mecca, which means to maintain good relationship with your Lord by devoting yourself to obey him.According to the cleric, the intention behind ones journey to hajj must be for the sake of Allah alone as, whoever, performs any act of worship in order to please people or gain popularity has done wrong.While admonishing pilgrims that they should ensure that their sources of income are clean and legitimate as that would please Allah, the cleric said, Prophets Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: learn your rituals from me, for I do not know whether I would be performing Hajj after this Hajj of mine, (Muslim Hadith no 1297).On taking photographs, Al-Yolawi warned that it was wrong to take photographs for whatever purpose while observing hajj rites, saying that such action could contradict pilgrims sincerity of performing hajj for the sake of Allah.He, however, prayed to Allah to continue to protect Islam and safeguard Nigerian pilgrims as they take off to Saudi Arabia, saying, May the Lord accept their Hajj, prayers, grant their supplications and bring them back to us in peace and safety. ENGLEWOOD -- "Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord." That's the inscription on a 19th Century tombstone, absent from a body, found in a culvert near the Englewood police station. Englewood officials have spent more than a decade trying to find the final resting place of the body that belongs to the stone, the body of James H. Prentice. They've searched through records, reached out to distant relatives and even had the prosecutor's office scan the ground with radar, but the mystery remains. "We don't know where he is," said Assistant City Manager Wendy Weibalk, who spent time this year trying to solve the mystery. James H. Prentice was born on January 29, 1817 and died on April 24, 1891. Department of Public Works employees found his tombstone in 2005, when a lot near the police station was cleared, according to a police report. Searches for Prentice at the nearby Brookside and Mt. Caramel cemeteries turned up nothing. With no relatives found and no other leads, the stone was left as is -- in the culvert. When a new fire station opened this year, near the police station and in front of where the tombstone lay, the case of the missing body received new attention. "It was not an honorable or appropriate spot for a tombstone," Deputy Fire Chief Erik Enersen said. "I do wonder where he is, we were all left scratching our heads where the body could be." Through the internet, Weibalk, the assistant city manager, was able to put one of the first cracks in the case when she found a quilt, made by Prentice's mother, Jemima Parmalee Prentice, that had been donated to the Colonial Williamsburg Museum by distant relatives. Later, Wiebalk determined Prentice had lived in Brooklyn, where he invested millions into the fur, hat and paper businesses, according to the an obituary posted in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on April 26, 1891. The obit fails to mention where he was buried, but some think he might be buried in Brooklyn, somewhere. Weibalk contacted the relatives, scattered across the nation, and found out more information on James Prentice, but not where his body might be. "I was surprised, it was unusual," said Jonathan Lusk, Prentice's great-great grandson. "It's clear that something went wrong somewhere and who knows when it happened." Lusk, a Maryland resident, said he and his siblings checked old family books for clues on where Prentice could be buried, but came up unsuccessful. Searching through town history Wiebalk learned that one of Prentice's nine kids, James Howard, moved to Englewood. He opened a lumberyard and was prominent in local politics. He died in 1931 and was buried at Brookside Cemetery, as mentioned in the "The Book of Englewood," which documents city history. The lumberyard owned by James Howard was located near where the tombstone was found, a possible explanation for how the tombstone wound up where it did. Weibalk worked with Brookside Cemetery to finally move the tombstone near his son's grave earlier this month. "It's the wildest thing," said Stephen Huber, Superintendent at Brookside, "Could be a million different things that happened." With the stone moved and no more leads to probe, the city put the issue to bed, but the mystery remains. "I think the end result that the stone ended up with family is a great idea and I'm happy for the solution," said Lusk. Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook. CAMDEN -- Local activists have been fighting to get state recognition for a boarded-up home in a rough neighborhood, in the hopes that it could be fixed up and made into a kind of museum or civil rights office. They say that while the site doesn't look like much, it's a valuable piece of local and national history because Martin Luther King Jr. lived there during a formative period of his young life. Patrick Duff, an amateur historian from Haddon Heights, has said that he discovered King's connection to the home while researching a racist encounter King had in Maple Shade in 1950. A bartender refused to serve King and a few friends and even fired a gun in the air, according to an article at the time. The criminal complaint King and his friends filed listed his address as 753 Walnut St. in Camden. In a video describing his research, Duff said the homeowner, Jeannette Lily Hunt, told Duff that she remembered meeting the young King. He stayed at the home on and off for several years while he attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania, Duff said. He said he has found evidence that the incident in Maple Shade is what spurred King to get involved in the civil rights movement. U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross has joined the call for the site to be designated historic. In a letter to the state's historic preservation office, Norcross said that Colandus Francis, president of the Camden County NAACP, would like to see it become office space for the chapter, as well as a museum. Fixing up the property is not going to be easy or cheap, but even before that work can begin, proponents of the project are dealing with challenges. There has been a delay in getting the property named a historic landmark and the city has issued a demolition notice stating the property is unsafe. Here's a look at the issues that Duff and his supporters will have to overcome to get his dream realized. A museum... here? Several neighbors living around the twin home on Walnut Street said that it would be strange to plunk a museum or some kind of center in the residential neighborhood, though they would like to see the home rehabilitated instead of torn down. Alfonso Taylor, who lives a few doors down and across the street from 753 Walnut St., said it is silly to think that people will want to visit a museum or other public space in that neighborhood, which has had problems with drugs and in recent years become littered with trash, as well as boarded up houses. "They're doing all this about MLK, but why do they want to put a center like that in this area?" Taylor said. He said that if King were alive, he would be much more concerned with the bigger problems in Camden -- like drugs, the lack of jobs, and relations with police -- than the potential loss of a historic home. The $150,000 to $200,000 that Duff has estimated it would cost to fix it up the house would be better spent on those other problems, Taylor said. Hunt told the Philadelphia Tribune she thinks rehabilitating the home will be good for the neighborhood. Did King actually lived there? Before the state can award the historic designation, officials have to verify that he lived there. Duff has said he's found ample evidence that King lived at the home during the early 1950s. He ended up there because his seminary roommate was a cousin of the homeowner, Benjamin Hunt, Jeannette Lily Hunt's father-in-law. Duff said in the video that in a 1981 Courier-Post article, Benjamin Hunt said King lived there on and off for two years. Duff is hoping to crowd-source trips to Boston and Atlanta to find "vital" information in archives about King, which he said will help convince the historic preservation office of King's residency. But Philly.com reported that the author of the King biography Bearing the Cross, David Garrow, said King only occasionally stayed at the house while visiting his seminary friend. He told the website he based that on interviews with Crozer classmates and other evidence. Bureaucracy isn't quick Duff told Philly.com that the question of how much time King spent at the house is part of the reason it is taking so long to get the historic designation. He submitted the application to the historic preservation office in January 2015 but still has not heard the outcome. A spokeswoman for the office told the news site that in early August that the application was still under review. Back in May, the office told the site that the application would be processed soon but was delayed because the office sought additional information. The city issued a demolition notice Hunt received a demolition notice in July, warning her that the city would move to tear down the house if she didn't bring it up to code. Obviously if the house gets torn down, the historic preservation office won't be any help then. But it doesn't seem that the city is aiming to demolish the house anytime soon, and Duff said it has been notice has been rescinded. Urban Enterprise Zone program coordinator Vincent Basara told Philly.com that the city does not plan to tear the house down and only issued the notice as part of a routine maintenance effort to clean up urban blight. Who will pay for it? The home is not in good shape. According to NewsWorks, the ceilings are shredded and hanging down, the floors are unstable and debris fills every room. Hunt told the Philadelphia Tribune that after her father-in-law died she rented the home to a family the eventually trashed it and stopped paying rent. After they moved out, drug users vandalized it and stole pipes and anything else of value, she told the newspaper. Duff told the Courier-Post that it will likely cost between $150,000 to $200,000 to fix up the house. He plans to do some fundraising himself, but also said getting the site named a historic landmark would make some state funding possible. A few entities have already come forward to help cut some of costs of the project. Norcross' letter of support to the historic preservation office reveals that the city has agreed to donate the vacant parcel next to 753 Walnut St. if the project gets off the ground. The Camden campus of Rutgers University Law School is also donating its time to create a nonprofit for the group, he wrote. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. CAMDEN The little girl who was struck in the head by a stray bullet Wednesday night has died, her father announced in a Facebook post. "(It's) official ladies n gentlemen my baby Gabrielle Hill Carter is no longer with us. Thank you all for ur prayers," her father, Will Phillips, said Friday night. Gabrielle, 8, was outside near S. 8th and Cherry streets when she was shot shortly before 9 p.m. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The girl was not believed to be the target, authorities have said. The shooter fled the scene and remains at large. A reward offered for information leading to an arrest is now at $12,000 following a donation from a private citizen and the Citizens Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the county police department have also contributed to the award. Law enforcement has been on an intense manhunt for those involved in the shooting, described as "cowards" by Chief of Police Scott Thompson. Anyone with information can submit anonymous tips by calling 215-546-TIPS or 877-345-TIPS. Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 403 Forbidden 403 Forbidden Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied RequestId: FCCCCD78C5C30E47 HostId: WGUq/rVHa8+jVJaZzmI19WusK4qSPmTqvIOoN5hgIUAisSYk+WZb6WrtVxWe/v4CSUoAKxXoJUk= An Error Occurred While Attempting to Retrieve a Custom Error Document Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied NEWARK -- Authorities in Essex County said Saturday they are investigating two separate shootings in Newark, including one that turned fatal. Investigators from the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office were on Belgium Street early Saturday morning to investigate a fatal shooting, said Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. She said a man was shot dead at that location but that she did not have details about the incident, which was reported around 6 a.m. The second shooting occurred at Central Avenue and 3rd Street, said city Police Director Anthony Ambrose. He said a man was injured during a dispute in Domino's Pizza. Ambrose said police have warrants for a suspect in that shooting but he had no further information. MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. As the Ontario government sifts through three separate Ring of Fire road proposals, mine and railroad developer KWG Resources has now posted a preliminary plan of its own. As the Ontario government sifts through three separate Ring of Fire road proposals, mine and railroad developer KWG Resources has now posted a preliminary plan of its own. The Toronto exploration firm has decided to make public a once-confidential east-west access road study, outlining a permanent road to the Ring of Fire that would link four remote First Nation communities along the way. The 2013 report was prepared by Green Forest Management of Thunder Bay. Their proposed 305-kilometre gravel road begins northeast of Pickle Lake and tracks eastward toward the mineral deposits of the Ring. The projected costs range between $83.6 million to $99.9 million. Annual maintenance costs are pegged between $4.2 million and $6.1 million. Branch roads would connect to the First Nations communities of Eabametoong, Neskantaga, Webequie and Marten Falls at a cost range of between $36.1 million and $73.1 million, depending on the road alignments selected. The annual costs to maintain approximately 200 kilometres of community roads would be between $1.4 million and $2.6 million. We had this report prepared in 2013 to scope out the most rational options available to supply our railroad construction and address local aspirations, said KWG president Frank Smeenk in an Aug. 26 statement. While we shared it extensively on a confidential basis, its a very practical approach has not yet found traction, so we thought it timely to make the study public now as we prepare to discuss railroad construction financing options. The road network considered here is a desirable, if not indeed an absolutely necessary first step to opening this area development cornucopia and starting to create quite a few ongoing local jobs throughout the entire region. Publicity-hungry KWG, 30 per cent owners of the Big Daddy chromite deposit, has made waves in striking agreements to conduct a Ring of Fire rail feasibility study for its development partner, China Railway First Survey & Design Institute, and has discussed off-take supply agreements to Chinese customers. The company also hit the social media scene this summer with a racy and viral promotional video showing bikini-wearing models. Among the challenges identified in the Green Forest report was the difficulty of road construction over the northwestern Ontario terrain and in finding sources of road building material and aggregate the closer one gets to the James Bay lowlands. Aggregate sourcing and importation is expected to be one of the higher cost components, said the report. The consultants cautioned against using the existing winter road network unless it is absolutely necessary or unavoidable since these roads are located in low, wet areas. Green Forest recommends taking the more direct route to the Ring of Fire, maximize the use of high ground and nearby available road building material, and avoid swamp and muskeg as much as possible. KWG said adding more roads to Nibinamik, Kingfisher Lake, and Wunnumin Lake are feasible but required further research. The pressure is building on Queens Park and Ottawa to make a joint funding announcement this fall that will fund the development of the infrastructure, expected to get underway in 2018. Other east-west road studies have been filed for the province to review and coalesce into one comprehensive plan to satisfy industry, First Nations and get activity moving in the remote James Bay exploration camp. Noront Resources has tabled its own proposal of a 280-kilometre-long road, following the winter road network, extending east from the provincial highway system at Pickle Lake, while the engineers at Hatch Mott MacDonald prepared a confidential report for the province. Last year, the Ring of Fire communities of Webequie, Eabametoong, Neskantaga and Nibinamik received a combined $732,000 from the federal and provincial governments to conduct a regional community service corridor study. The substance of that report calling for more study has been released to select media outlets. Photo: Via Getty Images While many experts say the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria is on the decline, you wouldnt know it from the organizations public narrative. ISIS aggressively promotes the attacks it directs, supports or inspires. The extremist group recently took credit for attacks in Orlando and Brussels, reinforcing its image of being an unstoppable and legitimate network. And it has built that image through a troublingly savvy combination of traditional and new media. The ISIS propaganda strategy compels people to action: ISIS has persuaded an estimated 30,000 people from more than 85 countries to travel to hostile war zones in Iraq and Syria and inspired other supporters to commit acts of violence on ISIS behalf in their home countries. And ISIS propaganda does not only focus on its military activity: ISIS also tries to portray itself as an effective government, but that effort rarely gets the same level of attention in the mainstream U.S. press as its military activity. The caliphates narrative helped fuel expansion beyond Iraq and Syria to regions such as Libya, Yemen, and even Afghanistan, where its competitor al-Qaida has been operating and messaging for years. Instead of selling a physical product, ISIS executes a robust and technically savvy propaganda strategy to sell the image of the caliphate. ISIS propaganda engine yields four key marketing insights that highlight why the groups messaging is so resilient. (Note: We considered embedding some specific examples of ISIS propaganda but decided against it because we do not wish to boost the legitimacy and exposure of the images.) 1. ISIS knows its target audience It is crucial for any international corporation to master the ability to adapt marketing strategies and content for assorted foreign audiences and to make that content easily discoverable. ISIS is able to sustain a global reach while resonating locally by adopting a broadly consistent narrative of different themes to appeal to recruits. Story continues In home-base countries like Iraq and Syria, ISIS propaganda often depicts ISIS governance successes to reinforce support from local populations. When fomenting hatred of Western governments, ISIS relies on highly sophisticated, multilingual content intended to outrage the public and get picked up by the mainstream press. Foreign recruits in ISIS media department are critical to ensuring that the content targeting a specific region has the substance and timing to achieve maximum impact. These recruits provide basic translation services, monitor the reaction to ISIS propaganda, and use that feedback to tailor future content. Once the content is tailored to the target audience, consumers need to be able to quickly and reliably obtain it across multiple channels and devices. Digital aggregators such as search engines and social media platforms allow anyone to filter content and pull ISIS propaganda. The group uses hashtags to spread campaigns on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, while those very companies try to identify and block terrorist content. ISIS has even gone so far as to develop its own digital aggregators, including language-specific websites, Telegram channels and mobile apps to further filter out noise and push content to an active audience. 2. ISIS saturates the market Modern marketing departments recognize the importance of saturating their diverse target audience with content of varying formats and production value. The scale and variety of ISIS propaganda system are immense. The system is composed of videos, photo essays, magazines, audio programs and news bulletins in more than a half-dozen languages. ISIS saturates the market with an average of 38 pieces of such content a day. How can ISIS create that much daily content? By primarily relying on more than 35 provincial media offices to frequently publish visual content (even if relatively unsophisticated), ensuring that ISIS audience has constant access to a large volume of timely information. Complementing these efforts is a group of professional media developers capitalizing on the democratization of modern media development tools. These developers are creating highly sophisticated content, including feature-length movies containing meticulously rehearsed scenes with stylized special effects. Both the format and complexity of ISIS content are markedly different from al-Qaidas, which featured senior leadership using a static camera and referencing outdated events in formal Arabic. ISIS highly produced content is fresh and more enticing to Sunni millennials, the primary demographic for recruitment. ISIS emphasis on production values assists in attracting the attention of mainstream media, ensuring that its narrative is broadcast to a global audience, and it seeks to portray an image (whether true or not) of an effective and well-run government. 3. ISIS adapts to modern media As technology advances, the means by which people receive information also evolves. In order to maintain a connection with the target audience, publishers must adjust their primary distribution methods between print, broadcast and, now, new media. Militant propagandists followed the same transformation. For example, al-Qaida initially relied on TV networks like Al Jazeera to distribute its messages and later embraced the Web by relying on password-protected Arabic-language Web forums to distribute propaganda. But ISIS moved beyond al-Qaidas private online network. Recognizing the desire of its audience to leverage mobile platforms for media consumption and engagement, ISIS developed a decentralized and diverse network of free file-upload sites, social media platforms and messaging apps to ensure continuous and cost-efficient access to a global audience. Offline, inside ISIS-controlled territory, ISIS still relies on traditional media like print publications and broadcast radio to target local audiences while also removing competing alternatives. This diverse set of distribution channels enables ISIS to reach an equally diverse set of target audiences, including opponents, the international community and potential recruits. 4. ISIS grooms brand ambassadors Word of mouth is the most effective messaging in all of marketing, perceived by consumers to be more trusted than marketing messages straight from a corporation. Just this month, new measures in the U.K. propose separating extremist prison inmates from other inmates to prevent them from radicalizing others. ISIS primarily relies on a combination of hashtags and a relatively small group of Twitter accounts that tweet its content more than 150 times a day. This results in a decentralized and redundant distribution network largely protected from censorship, despite these accounts being frequent targets for suspension by Twitter. Of course, the key to growing a brand footprint is getting people to share content. Once ISIS content is made available to the public, digital supporters share it with zeal. They provide encouragement and direction; they counter anti-ISIS messaging; and they repackage, retranslate and redistribute their own unofficial content. Personalization of content is also crucial in supporting the radicalization and mobilization process. Since ISIS doesnt typically own the platforms where its propaganda is hosted, it isnt able to develop the detailed user profiles most companies rely on for targeted advertisement. Instead, ISIS supporters and recruiters match propaganda with the motivations and interests of each potential recruit they target. Capitalizing on the excitement and momentum that conversations and user-generated content generate, ISIS encourages the activity further through propagandist press releases that frame online support as a legitimate form of jihad, on par with physical fighting. The continuous discourse generated by the group of unofficial supporters not only sustains and reinforces ISIS narrative but also strengthens its brand credibility, expanding its base of loyal support. The trend also further radicalizes ISIS existing and future supporters making them more potentially dangerous. Wil Selby is an emerging technology and national security researcher in Washington, D.C. Follow him on Twitter at @wilselby or visit wilselby.com. The federal government has barred ITT Technical Institute, which has a Merrillville campus, from enrolling any new students using federal financial aid. Our responsibility is first and foremost to protect students and taxpayers, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said in a statement. "Looking at all of the risk factors, its clear that we need increased financial protection and that it simply would not be responsible or in the best interest of students to allow ITT to continue enrolling new students who rely on federal student aid funds. An ITT spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. ITT's Merrillville campus, at 8488 Georgia Street, offers classes and degrees in business, electronics technology, information technology, nursing, and drafting and design. The U.S. Department of Education has "significant concerns" about the Carmel, Ind.-based for-profit school's "capacity, organizational integrity, financial viability and ability to serve students." The federal agency ordered ITT to disclose to students that it's not in compliance with accreditation criteria and is barred from awarding raises or bonuses to executives. It must increase its surety to $247 million as reimbursement for Title IV aid and warn the Department of Education if it's about to go out of business. Federal and state governments have been cracking down on for-profit colleges. They say some of them aggressively recruit students but don't take enough steps to ensure they graduate and often saddle them with more debt than they can repay. Brown Mackie College closed campuses in Merrillville and Michigan City in June after its parent company reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after it was sued over false marketing claims. Indiana Dabney University, in downtown Hammond, abruptly closed in 2014, leaving 80 nursing students in the lurch, after losing its accreditation. MonoSol RX, a pharmaceutical company that was spun off from Merrillville-based MonoSol, secured a $50 million credit facility that will be used to pay debt and move forward clinical-stage drug candidates. "Securing a sizeable credit facility with a leading global life sciences fund such as Perceptive Advisors is a significant accomplishment for MonoSol Rx and provides an important validation for the Company and our PharmFilm technology platform," said Keith Kendall, CEO of MonoSol Rx. The New Jersey-based specialty pharmaceutical company makes a dissolvable film for drugs at two plants in Portage, where its research and development operations are also based. The credit facility will allow MonoSol Rx to repay outstanding debt to White Oak Global Advisors and provide the company with important working capital, Kendall said. Hundreds of steelworkers rallied Friday afternoon in downtown Gary to protest the layoffs of about 75 workers and pay cuts for about 200 more. United Steelworkers union members marched to the gates of U.S. Steel's Gary Works steel mill, where the union says the company gutted its maintenance department after the consulting firm McKinsey recommended hiring contractors to do maintenance instead. In addition to the layoffs, the company reassigned 200 workers to a work gang where they're making at least $3 or $4 less per hour. "We're not going to let two or three people in this corporation get rich off the backs of our families," USW Local 1066 President Billy McCall said. "That's not going to happen. None of us here are going to tolerate it. They need to realize they're not dealing with a few people. They're dealing with two or three thousand people." U.S. Steel has declined to comment. Despite cost-cutting efforts, the Pittsburgh-based company lost $1.5 billion last year and has failed to turn a profit during five of the past six years. Last year, the steelmaker sent layoff notices to 9,000 of its 35,000 workers worldwide, though not all lost jobs and some have since been recalled. Earlier this year, it cut 25 percent of its non-union workforce. United Steelworkers Local Union 1014 President Rodney Lewis said steelworkers are fed up. "McKinsey has come in this place and they have told each and every one of you we can do four people's jobs with one person because we need to make more money," he said. "I promise you, your leadership will not stop fighting to make sure this place this place is safe. We will not let a group of consultants walk in and take this floor. This is our mill." The union has filed a grievance to appeal the layoffs and reassignments, which USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap said violated the contract they just negotiated. An independent third-party arbiter will decide whether the contract would permit the layoffs. Millsap said the union does not want to tell U.S. Steel how to manage the company but wants to opportunity to at least negotiate before any layoffs take place. "We are a fighting union," he said. "We will not give up our jobs. We will not give up our safety." Union members are worried about safety at the mill if there's no permanent staff to do preventative maintenance, such as to ensure cranes don't topple over, Millsap said. Hundreds of work orders have been going unfilled since the layoffs started a few weeks ago. "Every workplace has work hazards that employers and employees must be aware of," he said. "In a steel plant, those hazards are much greater. The risk is much higher for employees." VALPARAISO A 28-year-old South Haven man already facing a charge of child molesting, appeared in court Friday on 12 new counts of possessing child pornography. Phillip Kress showed no reaction, but others in the courtroom winced as the new charges were read by Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa. The charges refer to various videos and images, Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek told the court. Kress pleaded not guilty to the new charges and a trial was scheduled for Feb. 6. There already is an Oct. 10 trial scheduled on the initial count of child molesting. Kress is accused in that initial case of molesting a then-5-year-old girl between July 1, 2014, and Feb. 21, 2015, using a sex toy, according to court documents. The girl reportedly told family members about the abuse even though Kress told her not to tell anyone or he would be really mad. A former girlfriend reportedly told police that Kress had pornography on his computer, but that it was locked up, according case records. She said she caught him watching it on several occasions, but he would close it immediately. Among the items police seized from Kress home were a computer and a hard drive, according to records. GARY Police are investigating after someone opened fire on a Gary man Thursday night in the 1700 block of Garfield Street. Police were called to the area about 6:40 p.m. The suspect reportedly walked up to a man sitting in his vehicle and asked why he was talking to a woman. He then began firing shots at the back of the victim's car. The woman was outside of the vehicle and was not injured. The 35-year-old victim drove away from the area, struck a truck, and waited for police in the 1700 block of Grant Street, according to police. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. Anyone with information is asked to call Gary Police Sgt. Gregory Wolf at (219) 881-1210. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP. A long-time community leader, Paul Palmer is one of only 30 local residents selected to be a torch bearer when the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay travels through Lake County this fall on its 3,200-mile journey throughout the state. Im honored and humbled, says Palmer, a Lowell resident, noting he was surprised when he received the invitation. Many months ago, Dan Blankenship called and said, Id like to get some information about you. He knew Id been a member of the Lowell Lions Club for 31 years and he asked me about my other activities. Then, when I was notified Id been selected as a torch bearer, I called him and said, You did this! But Palmer is more than just a long-time member of the Lions Club, having served as past president as well as on the board of directors, safety chairman and Lion Tamer. Hes also active in the towns Chamber of Commerce and Lowell Moose Lodge 2437. And, having served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, he is a member of American Legion Post 101. The Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world, Palmer says, with over 1.4 million members and 43,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. This year the Lowell Lions are celebrating their 78th year. We keep track of former members, Palmer says. Weve had a total of 465 members overall since the original 33 when the Lowell Lions Club was founded on April 6, 1938. Holding six fundraisers a year, Palmer notes that all of the Lowell Lions Club net profits benefit their main goal for funding community and state projects that help visually and hearing impaired individuals in need of assistance. The money we raise goes straight back into the community, Palmer says. Palmer and his wife, Carol, who have been married for 47 years, have three children and 10 grandchildren. They all live within 15 minutes of us, so we get to see them a lot, he says. Neither Paul nor Carol are from Northwest Indiana, but instead grew up in Massachusetts. He attended East Coast Aero Tech, but it was during the early 1970s, when a deep recession left many people out of work, including Palmer. Id had four jobs in two years, he recalls. Everybody was laying off. My second-oldest brother started the KOA in Roseland and he said, I think you should move out here; I think you could get a job in a day. I kind of laughed and said, In a day? But he and Carol were willing to move and within a day, Palmer was working for G&N Aircraft, a company in Griffith that rebuilds aircraft engines. He left the aircraft industry in the late 1980s when a friend from Hebron suggested he get into real estate. I took and passed the test and worked for John Hancock for 10 years, he says. Some friends were leaving the company and becoming self-employed and were making more money, so I started Palmer & Associates in 1988. Its all about taking care of your family. And its about taking care of your community. Lowell is a very nice small town where people help each other out, Palmer says. I love it here and I wouldnt move for anything. (Adds details from court hearing) By Nate Raymond NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The former chief executive officer of Comverse Technology Inc pleaded guilty to securities fraud on Wednesday and was ordered detained a decade after fleeing the United States for Namibia to avoid prosecution. Jacob "Kobi" Alexander, the Woodbury, New York-based software developer's founder, entered the plea in federal court in Brooklyn, after ending his fight to avoid extradition. Following his plea, the 64-year-old Israeli citizen's lawyers sought his release on a $25 million bond pending his Dec. 16 sentencing. But U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered Alexander detained, calling him a flight risk. "His intelligence and his guile are a clear indication that he can't be trusted," Garaufis said. Benjamin Brafman, Alexander's lawyer, said he was "bitterly disappointed." It was unclear if Alexander would appeal. The case was one of the last open U.S. prosecutions arising from government or internal investigations of stock options backdating at over 200 companies, including Comverse, which was acquired in 2013 by former unit Verint Systems Inc. In backdating, a company retroactively grants stock options on dates when stock prices are lower, making them more valuable. Concealing the practice through improper accounting is illegal, and can inflate earnings. In court, Alexander admitted he and other executives from 1998 to 2001 used "hindsight" to select the effective dates for granting options for employees, resulting in misleading statements to investors. "I deeply regret having participated in this conduct," said Alexander, who faces up to 10 years in prison. Alexander fled to Namibia with his family in July 2006 amid the investigation, prosecutors said. Charges were announced that August against himself, William Sorin, Comverse's general counsel, and David Kreinberg, its finance chief. Extradition proceedings were still pending when Alexander reached a deal in May to return to the United States to plead guilty to the single count. He had faced 35 counts. Story continues In court, Brafman said Alexander returned "so he would have this nightmare behind him." Alexander's effective exile forced him to attended his parents' funerals by Skype, he said. Sorin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Kreinberg was spared prison after pleading guilty. While abroad, Alexander agreed in 2009 to pay $60 million to Comverse in connection with shareholder litigation, and to waive over $72 million in claims he had against Comverse. He settled related civil government lawsuits in 2010, resulting in a $6 million penalty by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is U.S. v. Alexander, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 06-cr-00628. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; editing by Alan Crosby and Tom Brown) Police in Brooklyn are looking for a man they say tried to rape a woman at knifepoint. Investigators say the man in the above sketch threatened the 24-year-old in Bedford-Stuyvesant around 6 a.m. Sunday. He allegedly forced her to follow him to an alley on Louis Place near Atlantic Avenue. That's where police say he groped and put his mouth on the woman. She fought him off until he stole her cellphone and ran away, according to police. "It's frightening because I got kids that live near here also, and somebody walking up like this and basically, most people not hearing about it, makes it even worse again," said one person in the neighborhood. "It's really a safe block, and nothing really happens around here, so I'm surprised to see it." Authorities say the man was also caught on surveillance video. He is described as being in his 30s and was last seen wearing blue shorts and a brown shirt. 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. Police are sending an explicit warning ahead of next weekend's West Indian Day celebrations. This flyer, which the 71st precinct of the NYPD posted on Twitter, is aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's deadly violence in Crown Heights. Last Sept. 7, Carey Gabay, 43, a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo was killed when he was caught in the crossfire of a gang shootout during the early-morning J'Ouvert procession on Labor Day. Four men have been indicted in connection with Gabay's death. Another man was fatally stabbed during the festivities in an unrelated incident. A New York millennials ambitions go awry when life happens in Maggies Plan, starring Greta Gerwig. Ron Howard tries to harness a whale in In the Heart of the Sea. And the 1980s pop star Debbie Gibson reimagines her life, in a way, in Summer of Dreams. Whats Streaming MAGGIES PLAN (2016) on Amazon and iTunes. Greta Gerwig who else? plays Maggie, a hyper-organized New York millennial who has plotted her life right down to the sperm donor for her future child: Guy (Travis Fimmel), an artisanal-pickle maker from Brooklyn. Then an academic specialist in ficto-critical anthropology (Ethan Hawke) asks her to read the first chapter of his novel, and she falls, even though hes married to a Columbia professor (Julianne Moore). And soon she has not only a baby of her own but also two stepchildren something she didnt plan for. Maggies Plan is a modest movie, reluctant, like its heroine, to make large claims or excessive demands, A. O. Scott wrote in The New York Times about Rebecca Millers screwball comedy. But it is also cleareyed, generous and funny tart but not sour, sweet but not too sweet, like one of Guys pickles. Whats on TV Peace has come to the land of the Redstones, at least for now. The family feud that had persisted even after a truce was declared last week in the fight over Sumner M. Redstones $40 billion corporate empire appeared on Friday to be on its way to a resolution. Mr. Redstone has agreed to meet in person with Keryn Redstone, his 34-year-old granddaughter, who joined his former confidants in the bitter legal battle challenging his competence. That meeting will be part of a broader resolution that includes clarifying her role as an equal beneficiary of the trust that will control Mr. Redstones companies after he dies or is declared incompetent. Image Sumner M. Redstone has agreed to meet with his granddaughter who joined a lawsuit against him. Credit... Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images The agreement paves the way for a conclusion to a vicious legal battle that has included court fights in Massachusetts, Delaware and California. Ms. Redstone had challenged the settlement reached last week that put an end to the battle for control of Viacom. Ms. Redstone agreed on Friday for the Massachusetts court to dismiss the claims brought by Philippe P. Dauman and George S. Abrams, two former directors of the trust, in a suit asserting that Mr. Redstone lacked the mental capacity to make decisions about his businesses. Last month, Milo Yiannopoulos, the sites tech editor, was banned from Twitter after inspiring a sustained online harassment campaign against the Saturday Night Live actor Leslie Jones. Reports surfaced this week about domestic violence charges filed against Mr. Bannon stemming from a divorce in 1996. Supporters say it is the sites willingness to embrace viewpoints considered far outside the bounds of respectable political discourse that is the very source of its success in the same way that Mr. Trumps more extreme proposals, like banning Muslims from entering the country, galvanized the Republican primary electorate. And like Mr. Trump, Breitbart excels on social media. Last month, it ranked as the 11th most popular site on Facebook, according to statistics from the social analytics firm NewsWhip. A year ago, its Facebook page had fewer than a million followers; now, it has more than 2.3 million. The Breitbart home page drew 18 million visitors last month, roughly the same as Politico, according to data from comScore. It beat conservative competitors like The Daily Caller, though mainstream sites like CNN draw tens of millions more visitors each month. Breitbart, which is privately owned, has declined to release revenue figures. The site appears to be backed by Mr. Breitbarts estate; its chief executive, Larry Solov; and the family of Robert Mercer, a wealthy conservative donor and Trump supporter, according to corporate documents and two people briefed on the companys finances. For Mr. Marlow, the editor in chief, the sites success comes from attracting an underserved segment of conservatives opponents of immigration and free trade who did not see their views reflected in other outlets. Juan Deleon was standing in the lobby of the Harlem apartment building where he lived on Feb. 11, 1990, arguing with the mother of his two young daughters, when gunshots, at least eight of them, rang out. She had fled by the time police officers arrived and pronounced Mr. Deleon dead where he had fallen. When she was questioned two days later, the woman, Zunilda Rosario, then 21, told detectives that another man had killed Mr. Deleon and spared her, according to a criminal complaint. She was freed, and the case went cold. On Thursday, 26 years later, she was arrested on murder and weapons charges after the case took an unexpected turn: An eyewitness called the police. An investigation turned up other witnesses who said Ms. Rosario had a tumultuous romantic relationship with Mr. Deleon, whom she threatened to kill after he fathered a boy with another woman, according to the authorities. Ms. Rosario, now 48, was taken into custody at Kennedy International Airport, where she had just returned to the United States on an afternoon flight from the Dominican Republic. At her arraignment on Friday in Criminal Court in Manhattan, Judge Joanne Watters ordered her held until her next court appearance on Wednesday, when her lawyer said he planned to request bail. The company that runs a call center for Access-A-Ride, the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys service for people with disabilities, and the union that represents its workers have reached an agreement to raise their wages to at least $15 an hour by 2018, the union announced on Friday. The union, Transport Workers Union Local 100, had held contentious negotiations with the authoritys contractor, Global Contact Services, over working conditions and wages at the Access-A-Ride call center in Queens. After the workers raised concerns over bedbugs in the office and other problems, the authority said it would investigate the complaints. Under the agreement, newer call center employees would see their hourly pay increase gradually to $15 by the end of 2018. More experienced workers would make $15.40 an hour by 2018. The workers must ratify the agreement and a vote is expected in September. The union had threatened to strike, arguing that workers should receive higher wages because they provided a critical service for the authority, which is a state-run agency. The employees, many of whom have earned from $9 to $11 an hour, said they wanted to be paid on par with state workers, especially after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, announced last November that he would raise the minimum wage for New York State workers to $15. 2. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake, while not small, is not particularly large. The reason it caused so much damage is that many of the beautiful ancient buildings are composed of unreinforced masonry (stone). These are the most dangerous buildings to be in during an earthquake as they have very little sheer strength, and therefore collapse when exposed to lateral ground accelerations. Such buildings can undergo seismic retrofitting, but the process is expensive and I suspect that most buildings in Italy have not undergone such a procedure. So therefore it is likely an unaddressed infrastructure issue that led to wide such spread devastation. Geoscientist in Tallahassee, Fla., reacting to an article about the earthquake that struck central Italy, killing more than 200 people. My fellow venture capitalists and private equity investors are paying close attention to the heated election-year rhetoric about the future of carried interest, which is the performance fee we charge to manage other peoples money. Carried interest is the fund managers share of the earnings from a profitable investment, normally paid on top of a much smaller management fee. Its also a subject of increasing political disfavor. Over the past year, every major presidential candidate from Jeb Bush and Donald J. Trump to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders has called for an end to a tax loophole that exists for carried interest. Mrs. Clinton has vowed that if Congress does not close the loophole, as president she would ask the Treasury Department to use its regulatory authority to do so. Ultimately, the controversy has to do with tax fairness, or the lack thereof. Instead of being taxed as wages or commissions earned, carried interest is currently taxed as if it were a personal investment, or capital gains. This gives us a significant tax advantage since the capital gains tax rate is about 50 percent lower than the top rate on ordinary income. When I started my first fund, Alan Patricof Associates, in 1970, I vividly remember my accountant telling me about my first sale of an investment: Were going to treat this as capital gain, but sooner or later, it will be characterized as ordinary income. As the nations chief executive, the president gets to set standards for companies that do business with the government. In 2014, after a Senate report found that many federal contractors had been repeatedly cited for cheating, harassing and injuring their employees, President Obama ordered federal agencies to check how well companies have complied with labor laws before awarding contracts. The president gave procurement officials and federal regulators two years to write rules putting the order into effect and they needed every minute. Federal contracting is a $500-billion-a-year business, and federal labor law includes 14 different statutes. Regulators had to weigh input from companies that could be affected by the changes as well as from the general public. This week, in a big step forward for labor standards, the final regulations and guidance were issued. The new procedures require companies to disclose violations from the previous three years when bidding for new contracts of $500,000 or more. They require procurement officials to take the common-sense step of considering past wrongdoing that is serious, willful, repeated or pervasive in weighing whether to award a contract. The main goal is not to deny contracts or to blacklist companies, as critics claim, but to rectify and prevent violations. To that end, the new rules allow companies to meet with compliance officials and develop plans to fix violations before submitting bids. If a given company takes corrective action, its bid will be considered. The rules lay out procedures to check compliance. NEW YORK An article on Thursday about a veteran who killed himself in the parking lot of a Veterans Affairs hospital in Northport, N.Y., referred incorrectly to the First Congressional District of New York, whose representative, Lee Zeldin, has been looking into complaints about the hospital. While it is on Long Island, it does not include Northport. An article on Aug. 19 about how a false report of a shooting at Kennedy International Airport provided officials with a case study in examining the airports security procedures misstated part of the name of an agency that has security officers at the airport. It is the Transportation Security Administration, not Transportation Safety Administration. BUSINESS DAY Because of an editing error, a picture caption on Friday with an article about a rift in the music industry that was brought to light by the release of Frank Oceans new album Blonde misidentified the source of one music video image in some copies. The image, of Frank Ocean sitting next to a car with a drink in his hand, is from the video Nikes, not from the album Endless. WEEKEND The theater entries in the Listings pages on Friday erroneously included one play among productions that will close this week. The Good Earth, at the Flea Theater in Manhattan, does not close until Saturday, Sept. 3. You dont set out to try and steal anything, but it can happen, Ms. Parton said in an interview with the BBC last week. Especially in music, because theres so much of it. If you write all the time, youre going to collect those things and not know it. Cryptomnesia occurs when someone claims to have had an original thought (or in the case of a song, a melody or beat) but actually encountered the notion or sound earlier and forgot about it. To different degrees, we have all been guilty of cryptomnesia. And in a world flooded with information, we are especially prone to forgetting where ideas originated. Perhaps you tell a friend, Hey, I have an idea, lets go to this new restaurant for dinner. And then your friend says, Yeah I said we should do that a week ago. You might be certain the idea was yours, when in reality, you had a lapse in memory, said Amanda C. Gingerich, an associate professor of psychology at Butler University. Its a common error that we all do, all the time, she said. Psychologists think cryptomnesia happens when we fail to register the source of information whats known as a source-monitoring error. As our brains amass memories, details are ranked. In this filtering process, the origins of facts often fall secondary to the facts themselves. WASHINGTON A new era of high-speed train travel is coming to the nations busiest rail corridor. Federal officials on Friday announced a $2.45 billion loan to Amtrak for the purchase of state-of-the-art trains to replace the aging Acela trains that use the Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston. Amtrak plans to put the first of 28 new trains into service in about five years. Once they are fully deployed, officials expect the Acela to depart every half-hour between Washington and New York and every hour between New York and Boston. That should increase passenger capacity by about 40 percent, they said. While the new trains will not approach the speeds of some Asian and European trains, officials said they hoped that the new Acela would travel at 160 miles per hour in some places, up from 135 m.p.h. now. The trains will theoretically be able to go faster than 160 m.p.h., though that would require a huge upgrade of the track system. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., a longtime Amtrak supporter who frequently travels by train between Washington and his home in Delaware, announced the loan at the station in Wilmington that is named in his honor. Paul R. LePage, the ever-combative Republican governor of Maine, refused on Friday to apologize to a Democratic state lawmaker for leaving a threatening and expletive-studded voicemail message that was criticized by some state Republicans and left top Democrats suggesting that Mr. LePage should resign. It was the latest political conflagration for the second-term governor, who has survived a series of controversies over comments perceived by observers to be offensive and racially charged. On Friday, officials with Maines Republican Party said they had no comment, but the state Senate president, Michael Thibodeau a Republican who, like his colleagues, is up for re-election this fall urged Mr. LePage to apologize. I have heard from many members of my caucus regarding their dismay over the inappropriate comments made this week by Governor LePage, Mr. Thibodeau said in a statement. He should apologize immediately. The anodyne welcome letter to incoming freshmen is a college staple, but this week the University of Chicago took a different approach: It sent new students a blunt statement opposing some hallmarks of campus political correctness, drawing thousands of impassioned responses, for and against, as it caromed around cyberspace. 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, John Ellison, dean of students, wrote to members of the class of 2020, who will arrive next month. It was a not-so-veiled rebuke to the protests calling for limits on what kinds of speech should be condoned on campus, and who should be allowed to speak, that have rocked Yale, Wesleyan, Oberlin and many other colleges and universities in recent years. Some alumni, dismayed by the trend, have withheld donations from their alma maters. The Chicago letter echoed policies that were already in place there and at a number of other universities calling for the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas. But its stark wording, coming from one of the nations leading universities, and in a routine correspondence that usually contains nothing more contentious than a dining hall schedule, felt to people on all sides like a statement. RIO DE JANEIRO Federal investigators in Brazil said Friday that they would seek corruption charges against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former president who has ranked among the countrys most influential political figures. The move by the Federal Police, an investigative force similar to the F.B.I., deals a new blow to Mr. da Silva and his once-dominant Workers Party at a critical juncture: the Senate just began an impeachment trial of Dilma Rousseff, the suspended president who is his handpicked successor, on charges that she manipulated the budget. Brazil was shocked when agents from the Federal Police raided Mr. da Silvas home and held him for questioning in March. Now investigators are seeking formal charges, accusing Mr. da Silva of illegally benefiting from about $750,000 in improvements paid for by a giant construction company at a beachfront apartment. They also accuse him of money-laundering and misrepresenting his assets. Federal prosecutors will decide whether to charge Mr. da Silva, who already faces a range of legal problems and will go on trial in a separate obstruction of justice case. The findings tie Mr. da Silva, who is universally known as Lula, to the colossal graft scheme engulfing the national oil company, Petrobras. Investigators said they would also seek corruption charges against executives at O.A.S., the construction company that paid for the improvements at the apartment and benefited enormously over the past decade from dealings with Petrobras. UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council on Friday strongly condemned four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them grave violations of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. A press statement approved by all 15 members of the Council on Friday night deplored the fact that the Norths ballistic missile activities were contributing to the countrys development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the East Asia region. The Council expressed serious concern that North Korea carried out the test-fires after six ballistic missile tests between April and June in flagrant disregard of the Councils repeated statements to halt such launches as well as nuclear tests that violate the Council resolutions. It urged member states to redouble efforts to put into effect sanctions against North Korea, including the latest and toughest measures imposed by the Council in March. CASETTA, Italy Romano Camassi, a seismologist, picked up a sand-colored speck as he surveyed the damage from this weeks earthquake on the green mountain crest where the village of Casetta, now ruins, once perched. This is just ground, soil, he said, sadly. In so many buildings in this area, that was the material used to keep together the irregular stones found in the surroundings which people used to build their homes. Experts like Mr. Camassi, who was part of the first team from Italys Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology to arrive at the quake zone in central Italy, say the destruction was amplified by vulnerable buildings whose upgrades to anti-seismic codes were deemed too costly for many Italians to carry out, too complicated to finance and too cumbersome to get approved. Italy is beloved for its rich architectural history. But that beauty comes at a steep price: both the lives lost when nature reminds its borrowers who is boss, and the money required in the attempt to even the scales. The country has spent an average of 3.5 billion euros a year, or $3.9 billion, for the past 50 years to fix earthquake damage, according to the Italian Association of Builders. And, in the aftermath of Wednesdays quake, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced yet another plan to rebuild and buttress Italys ancient infrastructure. BEIRUT, Lebanon Hundreds of rebel fighters and their families left a long-besieged suburb of the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Friday, under an agreement with the government that amounted to an opposition surrender of territory and a symbolic defeat. Carrying their belongings in suitcases and overstuffed plastic bags, residents filed out from between rows of destroyed buildings to board buses that would take them from the town of Daraya to rebel-held Idlib Province, a place about 200 miles north that few of them have ever seen. Thousands more civilians are to leave for other government-held suburbs of Damascus in the coming days under the deal that hands the town to the government. Few of Darayas residents hold out any hope of returning. As they prepared to evacuate Friday, residents kissed the ground and visited the graves of relatives for the last time. The scene was reminiscent of the evacuation of rebels and civilians from the old city of Homs two years ago, an area that remains largely deserted today. Daraya, like Homs, has been a symbol of revolt since the earliest peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011: Leaders of the civilian opposition hailed from Daraya, and many of them were imprisoned, with some tortured to death while in custody. The ultimate fall of the rebellious town now symbolizes the failure of the moderate opposition rooted there and those affiliated with the early civilian protests to firmly unite fractured rebel groups. Isolated by government blockades for four years and bombarded relentlessly, Daraya stood out as a place where the main rebel groups remained under local control and not affiliated with extremist factions. Because it lies close to a military airport and is less than two miles from downtown Damascus and also perhaps because it represented an alternative to government authority and the rule of extremists affiliated with the Islamic State or Al Qaeda government forces had been determined to take the town. Its fall will free up hundreds of pro-government fighters for other battles. Bill Ackman One of Bill Ackman's key researchers on Valeant is leaving Pershing Square and plans to launch a startup focused on reducing healthcare costs. Jordan Rubin, a member of Ackman's 10-person investment team, is leaving Pershing Square Capital Management in the coming weeks after seven years at the firm. As an investment analyst, Rubin, 32, contributed to positions including Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Zoetis, Allergan and Family Dollar. "I think extremely highly of Jordan," Ackman told Business Insider. "He's a very talented, hard working, smart person, and I think he's going to be enormously successful with his new venture." Rubin and Bill Doyle, who also recently left Pershing Square, led the research that resulted in Pershing Square's "partnership with Valeant in its efforts to merge with Allergan," according to a 2014 letter filed with the SEC. Rubin also features heavily in 818 pages of Valeant-related information released by the US Senate in connection with its investigation into the pharmaceutical company's business practices. Several emails from Rubin to former Valeant CEO Mike Pearson were published in the document dump, along with other emails from Ackman where Rubin was CC'd in. Wait what is a hedge fund BI EXPLAINS Rubin's departure comes as Pershing Square hits a rough patch in performance, largely from positions like Valeant, which has dropped in value this year, partly over concerns about the company's drug price hikes. The Pershing Square L.P. fund fell -16.2% last year after posting 36.9% gains the year before, according to a Pershing Square document. Pershing Square Holdings, a publicly traded vehicle that is a proxy for Ackman's hedge fund, is down -17.8% through August 16. pershing square Rubin joined Pershing Square in 2009 after a stint at Goldman Sachs, where he worked as an analyst in the special situations group. In a statement to Business Insider, Rubin said he was "grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to many profitable and innovative investments at Pershing Square" and that he is "excited to begin the next stage" of his career. Story continues "I hope to follow in the footsteps of other successful Pershing Square alumni who have chosen an entrepreneurial path," he said, adding that he plans to continue to invest in Pershing Square's fund. Rubin is partnering with an unnamed healthcare entrepreneur for the startup, which will target reducing healthcare costs and is set to launch later this year. Other prominent staffers have also departed the firm in recent months. In May, the firm announced that Bill Doyle, who was also behind the Valeant bet, was leaving. Paul Hilal, Ackman's former second in command, left last year and is in the early stages of starting his own hedge fund. Earlier this year, Pershing Square also cut more than 10% of staff, mostly in operations. But there have also been additions. Jenna Dabbs, a former federal prosecutor in New York who was hired last year as senior counsel, joined Ackman's investment staff earlier this summer, making her the first woman ever on the team. NOW WATCH: Warren Buffett's sister needs your help giving away millions More From Business Insider SALEM, Mo. Standing on a wooded hillside in the Ozarks, about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis, Brad Boswell watches a chain-saw-wielding logger make several deft cuts at the base of a 100-foot white oak. The logger points to a clearing down the slope and, with one final, quick slash, sends the tree falling, exactly where he pointed. Mr. Boswell scrambles over to look at the swirls and loops that make up the trees cross section. If theyre consistent, and the wood doesnt show scars from fire damage or disease, it will most likely end up in some of the hundreds of thousands of barrels that his 1,500-person company, Independent Stave, turns out every year. His great-grandfather, T. W. Boswell, founded Independent Stave in 1912, and Brad Boswell now runs it with his brother and sister. Based in Lebanon, Mo., it is the worlds largest barrel manufacturer, at a time when demand for wine, whiskey and beer all of which rely on barrels for aging is skyrocketing. The United States is now the largest market for wine barrels. Domestic whiskey production is up 41 percent in the last decade and, thanks to a quirk in federal law, almost every drop has to be aged in a new oak barrel. The demand has come on so suddenly and vertiginously that barrel prices are up 70 percent since 2012, and some cooperages have 12-month waiting lists. Again, doctors found nothing they could pinpoint as the culprit. My acupuncturist was the first to suggest a potential trigger: Could my rash be stress-induced, he asked kindly, as he slid needles into my face and arms. I thought back. It wasnt completely outrageous: The first outbreak started in June, around the time that a man threatened to shoot up my local gay bar in Brooklyn, Orlando style. And it flared as outrage and grief over the killing of two black men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, by police officers began flooding my social media feeds, in a macabre loop that swooped from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram and back. The video that emerged in July of a young black woman named Sapphire Williams being forcefully arrested while giving an interview to a reporter still gives me nightmares. Each time a photograph of Korryn Gaines, a young mother killed by police during a standoff in her home, floated across my screen, I saw my 19-year-old niece who attends college in Baltimore, and wept at the thought that it could have been her. All the rage and mourning and angst works to exhaust you; it eats you alive with its relentlessness. These slayings obey no humane logic. They force you to reconcile your own helplessness in the face of such brutal injustice, and the terrifying reality that it could happen to you, or someone you hold dear. Recently, in an attempt to unwind and de-stress, I switched off my phone after a relaxing day at the beach, and returned home only to see my feeds full of more crushingly depressing news about another killing, in Milwaukee, and the fatal shooting of an imam and his assistant in Queens that was attributed to a wave of anti-Muslim hostility being stoked across the country. Raul Matias, 31, is a quality assurance engineer at Wink in New York. Q. What is Wink, and what is your role there? A. Wink is an app that allows people to monitor and control devices in their home, like a thermostat or a front-door lock. It also enables people to create a schedule so lights turn on every day at 5:30 p.m., as an example, or a shortcut so that the door is unlocked and the lights are turned on simultaneously. It also controls things like Amazons voice assistant, Alexa. I lead a team of four who test whether the devices work the way they should when controlled from the app. What does your work involve? As the programmers integrate each device into the app, we write test plans that detail the steps well take to determine whether it works according to the operating instructions, and then we perform the tests. Do the house lights turn on when Wink directs them to? If not, we tell our programmers, who fix the code. Were you interested in computers as a child? I used to take them apart to see how they worked, and my mother would get mad. I also wanted to join the Navy and travel the world when I got older since I had never been anywhere outside Queens, where I lived. I enlisted after high school and served as a gunners mate in Norfolk, Va., and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, testing and maintaining our guns and training our sailors on them. In Dubai, I also guarded our Navy ships. In the 1970s, I quit college and enlisted in the United States Marines. I was young, and there was a war on. As it turned out, I spent a decade on active duty. I was deployed twice to the Far East, and spent time in a dozen other places as well including a very cold winter in an exercise on the Alaskan tundra. The Marines were good to me. They promoted me from the enlisted ranks, sent me to Officer Candidate School, and let me lead and learn from some inspiring people. As I progressed through platoon leader, company commander, battalion staff officer and serving on the staff of the First Marine Division commanding general, I learned the value of disciplined planning, preparation, teamwork, flexibility and perseverance. I learned how to lead in times of chaos and confusion. And I learned a lot about strategy and tactics. The Marines also allowed me to complete my B.A. and obtain an M.B.A. It was tough to leave. But after 10 years, I had to decide whether to make the Marine Corps my career or move on. I chose to move into civilian life. My first job was at the headquarters of Dun & Bradstreet, which was then a diversified holding company buying, selling and managing information and technology businesses around the world. We owned 23 other global brands including Moodys, the bond rating firm; and AC Nielsen, the market-research firm known for its TV viewership ratings. While working at Dun & Bradstreet, I realized that many of the skills I had learned as a Marine were applicable to getting things done in corporate America. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.s bleak assessment of La Guardia Airport as third-world propelled a complete reconstruction. But the path to a modern La Guardia was not supposed to include travelers dragging luggage through gridlocked traffic on a highway to catch their flights. Now it does. The most ambitious airport project in the country, an eight-year, $8 billion plan to turn La Guardia into a first-class travel hub, has barely begun, but social media has already been flooded with tales and images of taxis and buses mired in traffic jams, unable to get anywhere near terminals to pick up and drop off passengers. On Monday, a particularly bad day, some harried travelers abandoned cars and navigated the clogged Grand Central Parkway the main highway serving La Guardia on foot with suitcases in tow. Such traffic debacles have become so common that seasoned fliers and travel bloggers have recommended avoiding La Guardia altogether, perhaps for years to come. The Transportation Security Administration has warned travelers to arrive at La Guardia a minimum of 2-2 hours before takeoff, and maybe even earlier around holiday weekends. A broad change to the provision would likely cause minor-level chaos within the U.S. political system, Emma Green wrote in The Atlantic this month. There would no longer be any meaningful difference between charitable groups and lobbying organizations. And yet what is Donald Trump but a sworn agent of chaos? Repealing the Johnson Amendment would most likely flood our political system and especially Republican Party coffers with still more money, all of which would be tax deductible. Whether Mr. Trump ever gets that opportunity could well be decided by the demographics of a country that is less white and less Christian than it has ever been. This was mostly Lyndon Johnsons doing as well. Throughout most of the history of the United States, as the historian Randall B. Woods wrote in LBJ: Architect of American Ambition, laws were on the books that declared the vast majority of the people in the world legally ineligible to become full citizens solely because of their race, original nationality, or gender. Free Africans and Asians were repeatedly barred from the United States. The bogus science of eugenics and fears of importing radical, foreign ideologies inspired the 1924 National Origins Act, which slammed shut the golden door through which millions had found safe haven. Immigration from countries outside the Americas was limited to 2 percent of the total number of foreign-born persons from those nations who were residing in the United States according to the 1890 census that is, before the peak years of immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Immigration was cut by more than half within a year, with the number of immigrants from Italy alone reduced by over 90 percent. More terribly, a decade later the new quotas helped prevent millions of European Jews from escaping the Holocaust. The devastation of World War II and the conflicts of the Cold War led to some softening of our immigration rules, but not much. Southern congressmen opposed taking in even the most desperate refugees from Europe as vehemently as Trump supporters wish to exclude Syrian refugees today. The McCarran-Walter Act, passed over President Harry Trumans veto in 1952, contrived to renew the bar against almost all Asians and most Jews. Pat McCarran, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, associated both these groups with Communism, and defended his bill in words that might have been lifted straight from the Trump campaign: I take no issue with those who would praise the contributions which have been made to our society by people of many races, of varied creeds and colors, he proclaimed, but added: However, we have in the United States today hard-core, indigestible blocs which have not become integrated into the American way of life, but which, on the contrary are its deadly enemies. Today, as never before, untold millions are storming our gates for admission, and those gates are cracking under the strain. When I wrote an obituary for an elderly woman, I got choked up interviewing the deceaseds friend. I also got choked up when I went to cover a local couple adopting five Russian siblings. On the afternoon the new family arrived at the Charlotte airport, they were greeted by a cheering crowd, and the Russian siblings looked overwhelmed. In late August, Princess Diana died, and after that I drove around listening to Candle in the Wind 1997, getting lost this was years before I or most people had a cellphone or GPS, and I relied on a huge paper map and flat-out bawling. I wasnt completely incompetent, but my bumbling seemed to extend in all directions. I often worked a 1 to 10 p.m. shift, which meant that the exercise class at the Y that worked with my schedule was Moms in Motion, or aerobics for pregnant women, taught by a woman who was herself very pregnant. I was not pregnant, nor was I up to anything that could have made me so. I had exactly two datelike experiences that summer, if your bar for datelike is low. The first entailed a guy from the newspaper coming over one night, drinking beers, watching television, then us somehow both getting locked out of the apartment and never kissing. The second experience involved being set up with someone who lived a few hours away and was house-sitting for people who owned large dogs. Before I went to visit, he told me over the phone that an advantage of the dogs was that you and another person could fall back on discussing them if it turned out you had nothing else to say to each other. Within five minutes of my arrival, we were discussing the dogs. I was supposed to stay for two nights but left the next morning, in the pouring rain, feeling such relief as I drove away that it was indistinguishable from exhilaration. Back at the newspaper, I wrote about amateur tryouts at a comedy club, and I failed to get last names for a few of the people whose jokes I quoted. I was later told that the oversight was one of the reasons I would not be offered long-term employment with The Observer. I suspect it was this error that led to my final and most dramatic one. For the last three weeks of my internship, I worked in the Rock Hill, S.C. bureau, where by coincidence six of the dozen or so employees were named John. I was assigned to cover the imminent verdict of a murder trial in a small town. An editor told me to try to get a comment from one of the jurors. As I left the courthouse on the second day, I saw a juror in the parking lot, approached him, and asked for his name and number so I could contact him after the trials conclusion. The man shook his head and backed away. Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic relations. The Saudis do not even recognize Israel as a state. Still, there is evidence that ties between Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states and Israel are not only improving but, after developing in secret over many years, could evolve into a more explicit alliance as a result of their mutual distrust of Iran. Better relations among these neighbors could put the chaotic Middle East on a more positive course. They could also leave the Palestinians in the dust, a worrisome prospect. A recent case in point was a visit to Jerusalem last month by a Saudi delegation, led by a retired major general, Anwar Eshki, that included talks with Dore Gold, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official. The meeting was notable because it was openly acknowledged. General Eshki and Mr. Gold reportedly began secret contacts in 2014; they went public last year by appearing together at an event in Washington. Israel and the Sunni Arab states last fought a war in 1973. Now, after decades of hostility, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is seeking to engage his countrys former enemies. Meanwhile, since coming to power 18 months ago, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and his son Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have shown a surprising willingness to take foreign policy risks. The Israelis and the Saudis have reasons to work together. They share antipathy toward Iran, the leading Shiite-majority country. Both are worried about regional instability. Both are upset with the United States over the Iranian nuclear deal and other policies, including those dealing with Syria. For some time, Israeli and Saudi officials have been cooperating covertly on security and intelligence matters. In his race against Marco Rubio to become the Republican nominee for one of Floridas two seats in the Senate, the rich, brash homebuilder Carlos Beruff could not be welding himself more tightly to Donald Trump. A recent television ad of his attacked Rubio for not being as tough as Trump. He affirmed and then one-upped Trumps past call for a ban on Muslim immigrants, suggesting a prohibition against anyone from the Middle East except Israel. His tweets are Trumpian, including this proclamation: I wont read a bunch of political crap off a teleprompter. The Miami New Times crowned him the Cuban-American Donald Trump. Little Trump of Florida, said the publication Roll Call. So hows that working out for Beruff? Not so well. Polls put him anywhere from 30 to 60 points behind Rubio in the primary, which takes place Tuesday. He trailed by double-digit margins even before Trump wanly and dutifully signaled support for Rubio earlier this month. The quality to which every anti-rhetorician aspires is authenticity. But there is a big difference between proclaiming your authenticity and actually being true to yourself and the facts. So let me use a different term: authenticism, for the philosophical and rhetorical strategy of emphasizing the authentic above all. Modern authenticism began as a reaction to the Enlightenment program to recast language to conform to the notion of Reason. Immanuel Kants friend Johann Georg Hamann was one of the first to make the case that, if you take ideas and words out of their behavioral and cultural context, they lose meaning and relevance. A purely rationalist language would no longer be able to express community or faith. Hamanns contemporary, the philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder, made the critical link between language, culture and nationhood, and soon authenticity of language became associated with another product of Enlightenment thought: nationalism. These ideas entered European thought through a chain of influence that stretched from Hegel to Kierkegaard to Nietzsche. By the early 20th century, Martin Heidegger was distinguishing not just between authentic and inauthentic modes of being, but between authentic and inauthentic language. Once you heard the voice of a man, and that voice knocked at your hearts, it wakened you, and you followed that voice. That was Adolf Hitler, the man whom Heidegger would praise for helping the German people rediscover their authentic essence, addressing government and Nazi party leaders in September 1936. According to Hitler, the miraculous appearance of the voice by which he meant the profound bond between himself and his audience that let him express their deepest feelings allowed ordinary men and women, who were wavering, discouraged, fearful, to unite as a Volk, or national community. It was at once a political and a personal voice that, thanks to the invention of radio, could reach out not just to audiences at political rallies, but into any living room. Authenticism was banished to the fringes of politics after World War II and the defeat of European fascism. Technocratic policy-making delivered relative prosperity and security for the majority, and many voters found the rationalist rhetoric of mainstream politicians credible. Authenticism does not even rate a mention in George Orwells landmark 1946 essay Politics and the English Language. But the uncertainty and division that have followed the global crash, mass migration and the Wests unhappy wars in the Middle East have given it a new opportunity. Todays authenticists come in many different guises, from pure anti-politicians like Mr. Trump and Italys Beppe Grillo to mainstream mavericks as diverse as Britains Boris Johnson and Ted Cruz. None of them are Hitlerian in intent, but nationalism typically looms large (Make America Great Again!), as does the explicit or implicit contrast between the chosen community and a dangerous or unacceptable other, which in 2016 almost always means elites and foreign immigrants. They also like to contrast their own down-to-earth way of speaking with the complex and, to many ordinary voters, bewildering language of technocracy. As Michael Gove, one of the leading campaigners for Brexit in the recent British referendum, succinctly put it: People in this country have had enough of experts. ISIS wall The terrorist group ISIS, while dealing with a consistent loss of territory in Iraq and Syria and unfulfilled plans for Libya, has shed benefits and raised taxes as it starts running out of money. An ISIS memo found earlier this year saying the group had cut salaries for fighters by 50% was widely circulated as evidence of the group's financial problems. But Adam J. Szubin, the acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the US Treasury Department, explained that's not the extent of the measures ISIS has taken to rein in its spending. "Overall, ISIL is significantly constrained in terms of its funding," he told the CTC Sentinel, a publication of the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point. Szubin noted that ISIS is cutting benefits as it tries to deal with a cash crunch. "We received information earlier this year indicating that ISIL stopped paying death benefits to families of ISIL personnel," Szubin said. "That's a core benefit that a group like ISIL needs to promise to the families of those going on suicide or likely suicide missions in order to maintain their operational tempo." ISIS is also relying more on taxation for revenue. "We've seen them significantly increase taxation rates and increase the categories of activity they're now taxing," Szubin said. "While they had once held off from taxing the poorest civilians on humanitarian grounds, they are now taxing across the board." And the group is increasing rates and dipping into pensions, according to Szubin. "Where the rates might have once been 3% or 5%, we see those doubling, and we see them going after everything from income to remittances to picking up pension payments," Szubin said. "Every aspect of life is being taxed, including real estate." Szubin also disputed the notion of across-the-board salary cuts for ISIS fighters, speculating that its highly skilled workers are probably still being paid the same while its foreign fighters are likely suffering the most from the cutbacks. Story continues "I have no doubt that ISIL continues to pay its chemical engineers and the people who are advanced on the weapons side, people who are helping it on the gas-refinery side, the same salaries they used to pay them," Szubin said. "The 50% pay cut is probably for the foreign fighters or those who are in the second or third ring, and it's a pretty significant pay cut." Defections from ISIS are thought to be increasing as salaries decrease. In its propaganda, ISIS paints a picture of a thriving "caliphate," the name is uses for the territory it controls, but many foreigners who have traveled there have returned to the West disillusioned and with stories of extreme poverty and hardship in ISIS areas. And local fighters especially in Syria, where a civil war is raging will sometimes choose to join whichever militia or group has the most resources. "They have been able to attract unprecedented numbers of foreign fighters to come join their cause based on two things," Szubin explained. "One was battlefield success and this narrative that they were moving towards establishing a caliphate. They no longer have that. The last six months have been nothing but loss of territory followed by loss of territory." The second reason ISIS was able to grow so quickly was the competitive salaries the group offered. "Secondly, they were paying better than the going rate, more, for example, than a civil servant could be expected to receive in a place like Iraq and more than other militia groups were paying," Szubin said. ISIS is also seeing its oil revenues plummet as the US targets tanker trucks. The military has also seen some success in targeting cash storehouses. Despite ISIS' financial woes, it doesn't look like a total collapse is imminent. But the group is struggling both financially and militarily, and it no longer looks to be growing. "I do think they're feeling financial strain across the board," Szubin said. "If you look at a number of the military fronts, they're feeling strain there. I think they're feeling it in terms of the public narrative. And they're feeling strain in terms of the internal support by Sunni populations who have soured even further on ISIL. They are back on their heels." NOW WATCH: The US Army is sending Apache attack helicopters to fight ISIS in Iraq More From Business Insider Teachers hear the phrase tough love all the time; it is used to justify hurtful practices such as not giving black students the second chances that others receive to complete assignments, suspending students for breaking minor rules that others are not punished for, or yelling at students for being playful or asking too many questions. Many black male teachers at first believe in the need for tough love. When they realize it is code for doing damage to black students, they are filled with remorse and often leave the field of teaching. About a year ago, a teacher named Joseph Mathews came rushing into my office saying: I cant look those black boys in the face and make them feel like I felt in school anymore. I have to quit. This is a pervasive yet under-researched phenomenon that seriously affects teacher retention. To his credit, Mr. King has recognized what he calls the invisible tax on minority educators. This tax is paid in the extra disciplinary and relationship-building work that black teachers do beyond teaching. Unfortunately, acknowledging the tax does little to alleviate it or its consequences. Instead of fixating on black male teachers, we need to examine how teachers are trained, their beliefs about young minority men, and how they engage their students. They should be prepared to teach to each students unique needs, and to recognize that no student learns best under conditions that make him feel uncared for. If the notion that we must hire black male teachers in order to have positive role models for black youth makes sense, how can we not recognize that untrained and unprepared black male teachers can cause more harm than good? I vividly remember, as a boy, having a black male teacher who didnt see any value in me as a person, and who didnt seem to enjoy teaching black and brown boys. Our school was diverse, with students from many ethnic and racial backgrounds, and this teacher clearly treated black male students differently, raising his voice and enforcing rules more strictly. He was allowed to teach the way he did because he was dealing with black male students who were perceived to need tough love. But I felt targeted by the very teacher who (because he was black) was supposed to be the person I connected to. The first offshore wind farm in American waters, near Block Island, R.I., was completed this month. With just five turbines, the farm wont make much of a dent in the nations reliance on fossil fuels, but it shows the promise this renewable energy source could have. When the turbines start spinning in November, they will power the island, which currently relies on diesel generators, and will also send electricity to the rest of Rhode Island. Putting windmills offshore, where the wind is stronger and more reliable than on land, could theoretically provide about four times the amount of electricity as is generated on the American grid today from all sources. This resource could be readily accessible to areas on the coasts, where 53 percent of Americans live. This technology is already used extensively in Britain, Denmark, Germany and other European countries, which have in the last 15 years invested billions of dollars in offshore wind farms in the North, Baltic and Irish Seas. In 2013, offshore wind accounted for 1.5 percent of all electricity used in the European Union, with all wind sources contributing 9.9 percent of electricity. By contrast, wind power made up only 4.7 percent of electricity in the United States last year. While electricity generated by offshore wind farms is more expensive than land-based turbines, costs have fallen with larger offshore turbines that can generate more electricity. Construction firms have also become more efficient in installing offshore farms. Each Saturday, Farhad Manjoo and Mike Isaac, technology reporters at The New York Times, review the weeks news, offering analysis and maybe a joke or two about the most important developments in the tech industry. Farhad: Hows it going, Mike? Im in the midst of a whole lot of traveling I just got back from Atlanta, Im on the way to Portland for a wedding and next week Im heading to Detroit. All I want to do is stay home and do nothing for a day. You know, kind of like your life. Mike: Funny you say that, as Im typing my half of the newsletter this week from inside Terminal 2 at the San Francisco airport. As of 5 in the morning. I, too, would like to stay home and do nothing for a day. Alas, duty calls. And by duty I mean Mexican food with my family in Texas. Farhad: O.K., so heres what happened in tech this week. Lets start with Uber, which continued to lose a lot of money while growing a whole lot. Thats according to a report from Bloomberg News, which got hold of the ride-hailing companys second-quarter financial numbers. John Lammas, the 56-year-old vice president for power generation engineering, started his working career 40 years ago, on the shop floor of a Rolls-Royce jet engine factory in Birmingham, England. He has been with G.E. for 31 years, moving up the ranks of the companys jet engine and power turbine divisions. Im an old mechanical guy, he said. But a couple of years ago, he issued an edict: no more paper drawings. In the past, a model of a new part would be made and then converted to detailed blueprints running to 70 pages or more. These would then be physically sent to G.E. manufacturing engineers and outside suppliers to begin setting up the tooling, casting and cutting for the part. This prototype-and-blueprint routine took up to eight weeks. Now, engineers use 3-D computer models, skip the prototype step and instantly send the models electronically. This goes a step beyond computer-aided design, which is commonplace. In Greenville, the designers are for the first time linked directly with manufacturers and suppliers in real time, in what G.E. calls a digital thread. This means they can collaborate in ways that have changed the work process while making it more likely that problems or defects are spotted sooner. Traditionally, one set of engineers designed a part, and only then passed it on to manufacturing. If a problem arose on the supplier side, the design was kicked back and the process started over. Jobs are combining in this digital world, Mr. Lammas said. Greenvilles own equipment has been a Predix guinea pig. The machinery and factory were retrofitted with data-generating sensors and the software. Matt Krause, the plant manager, said that last winter, when a snowstorm shut the factory for a day, the sensor network detected that the plant had consumed 1,000 pounds of argon, an inert gas used in coatings for parts. The leak was fixed, saving $350,000 a year. SAN DIEGO A California judge has rejected a request by physicians to immediately suspend a new state law allowing terminally ill people to end their lives. Judge Daniel A. Ottolia of Riverside County Superior Court ruled on Friday that the law would remain in effect for now. But he agreed to allow the physicians to pursue their lawsuit claiming that the law lacks safeguards against abuse. The law, which took effect on June 9, allows terminally ill adults to obtain a prescription for life-ending medication if a doctor has determined they have no more than six months to live. Supporters of the law have argued that terminally ill people could face prolonged, painful deaths if it is suspended. Four months ago, as Hillary Clinton turned her attention from the Democratic primary toward a fall race against Donald J. Trump, her campaign released a commercial titled Love and Kindness. Against the soundtrack of a soulful ballad, the advertisement showed Mrs. Clinton in a series of warm embraces, including one with a grieving mother. The onscreen text included the phrase do all the good we can, in all the ways we can, for all the people we can. Through secular eyes, the advertisement linked Mrs. Clinton to some resolutely uncontroversial concepts hope, kindness, love, good. In doing so, it sought to soften the perception that she is untrustworthy and unlikable. From a theological viewpoint, however, the commercial communicated in profound and coded ways. The music evoked a cappella gospel quartets. The text echoed an axiom of the Methodist Church, Mrs. Clintons lifelong denomination. The very title of the spot could well have been Agape and Chesed. Jeremiah J. OKeefe, who earned ace status in his first aerial battle when he downed five Japanese planes over Okinawa during World War II and later entered Mississippi politics as a staunch opponent of segregation, died Tuesday at his home in Biloxi, Miss. He was 93. The cause was congestive heart failure, his son Joseph said. Mr. OKeefe, known as Jerry, enlisted in the Navy immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After earning his wings, and a lieutenants commission in the Marine Corps, he joined the VMF-323, a newly formed squadron nicknamed the Death Rattlers. On April 22, 1945, Mr. OKeefe and his fellow pilots, assigned to protect American ships unloading troops and supplies in Okinawa, took to the skies. We had been patrolling above the picket ships for over two hours without any activity and no enemy planes in sight, he said on the History Channel program Dogfights in 2008. All of a sudden we were notified by a picket ship below us that a large number of enemy aircraft were coming down from the north the direction of Japan. Josephine Del Deo, a writer and preservationist who helped safeguard the embryonic Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts and preserved the historic character of Provincetown, at the capes tip, died on Thursday in Provincetown. She was 90. The cause was complications of a stroke, her son, Romolo Del Deo, said. Ms. Del Deo and her husband, the artist Salvatore Del Deo, were leading figures in the bohemian aristocracy that dominated Provincetowns vibrant cultural life in the decades after World War II. Today, it is easy to take for granted that the capes back shore appears much as it did when Henry David Thoreau walked it in the mid-1800s, and that Provincetown, however much it has changed, still looks like a cozy fishing village and art colony of the early 20th century. But neither outcome was assured in the late 1950s and early 60s, when Ms. Del Deo and others fought the redevelopment of the Province Lands 3,200 acres of beaches, dunes, marshland, forests and ponds that had been a common public asset since the days of Plymouth Colony. Looking back, Mr. Trumps response to the lawsuit can be seen as presaging his handling of subsequent challenges, in business and in politics. Rather than quietly trying to settle as another New York developer had done a couple of years earlier he turned the lawsuit into a protracted battle, complete with angry denials, character assassination, charges that the government was trying to force him to rent to welfare recipients and a $100 million countersuit accusing the Justice Department of defamation. When it was over, Mr. Trump declared victory, emphasizing that the consent decree he ultimately signed did not include an admission of guilt. But an investigation by The New York Times drawing on decades-old files from the New York City Commission on Human Rights, internal Justice Department records, court documents and interviews with tenants, civil rights activists and prosecutors uncovered a long history of racial bias at his familys properties, in New York and beyond. That history has taken on fresh relevance with Mr. Trump arguing that black voters should support him over Hillary Clinton, whom he has called a bigot. While there is no evidence that Mr. Trump personally set the rental policies at his fathers properties, he was on hand while they were in place, working out of a cubicle in Trump Managements Brooklyn offices as early as the summer of 1968. Then and now, Mr. Trump has steadfastly denied any awareness of any discrimination at Trump properties. While Mr. Trump declined to be interviewed for this article, his general counsel, Alan Garten, said in a statement that there was no merit to the allegations. And there has been no suggestion of racial bias toward prospective residents in the luxury housing that Mr. Trump focused on as his career took off in Manhattan in the 1980s. In the past, Mr. Trump has treated the case as a footnote in the narrative of his career. In his memoir The Art of the Deal, he dispensed with it in five paragraphs. And while stumping in Ohio, he even singled out his work at one of his fathers properties in Cincinnati, omitting that, at the time, the development was the subject of a separate discrimination lawsuit one that included claims of racial slurs uttered by a manager whom Mr. Trump had personally praised. Donald J. Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to comment on the news that a cousin of Dwyane Wade, the N.B.A. star, had been shot and killed in Chicago, linking the death to his effort to win support from African-American voters. Dwayne Wades cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago, Mr. Trump wrote, misspelling Mr. Wades given name, which was later corrected. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP! Mr. Trump, who initially did not express sympathy for the family of the slain woman, Nykea Aldridge, later in the day posted a Twitter message offering his condolences. Mr. Trump has been courting African-American voters by painting a dire picture of life in minority communities, one troubled by poverty, violence and dysfunction, especially in inner cities. The US Food and Drug Administration has revised a previous guideline issued in February that recommended active screening of donated blood only in "areas with active Zika virus transmission" (AFP Photo/Chandan Khanna) Washington (United States) (AFP) - US President Barack Obama called on Congress Saturday to step up funding to combat the Zika virus, warning that delay is putting more Americans at risk. Obama's latest appeal, in his weekly radio address, came the day after the US authorities expressed deepening worry about the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, urging that all donated blood be tested for Zika. The Congress has denied past administration requests for Zika funding, instead redirecting funds that had been earmarked to fight Ebola, cancer and other diseases. "That's not a sustainable solution," Obama said. The delay for more funds "puts more Americans at risk." Congress "should treat Zika like the threat that it is" and "fully fund our Zika response," he added. "A fraction of the funding won't get the job done. You can't solve a fraction of a disease." Zika infections in pregnant women can cause a severe birth defect known as microcephaly, in which babies develop abnormally small skulls and brains. More than 2,500 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Zika, along with more than 9,000 in Puerto Rico and other US territories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those cases were brought in by people infected while traveling abroad. There are 584 pregnant women on the US mainland with lab evidence of Zika infection, and 812 in the US territories. Florida in July announced its first cases of locally transmitted Zika, with 42 infections. - Revised guidelines - The Food and Drug Administration revised its guidelines for blood donations on Friday, recommending that all donated blood be tested for the Zika virus. Its previous guideline issued in February recommended active screening of donated blood only in "areas with active Zika virus transmission." Since there is "still much uncertainty regarding the nature and extent of Zika virus transmission," the recommendation for testing all donated blood "will help ensure that safe blood is available" for everyone, said Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Story continues Stricter national safeguards are needed as evidence has emerged that Zika can be transmitted sexually, and those infected often show no symptoms, the FDA said. Donated blood is already being tested in Puerto Rico and Florida, where at least one unit of blood was found to contain the Zika virus and was intercepted, Marks told reporters on a conference call. Expanded blood supply testing "will be in effect until the risk of transfusion transmission of Zika virus is reduced," the FDA said. Zika is primarily spread by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it can also be transmitted sexually. The US authorities on Friday announced the first known case of a man who had Zika but did not know because he showed no symptoms -- and subsequently infected his female partner during unprotected sex. Four out of five people who get Zika do not show any of the common symptoms, which may include fever, rashes, joint pain and red eyes. "As new scientific and epidemiological information regarding Zika virus has become available, it's clear that additional precautionary measures are necessary," the FDA's acting chief scientist Luciana Borio said. The World Health Organization says 53 countries around the world have reported Zika outbreaks since 2015. Donald J. Trump met privately last week with Sheldon G. Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate, who this spring pledged to contribute as much as $100 million to support Mr. Trumps campaign but has not yet followed through on that commitment. Meeting in his suite in New Yorks St. Regis hotel, Mr. Adelson, the chief executive of Las Vegas Sands and one of the Republican Partys largest donors, told Mr. Trump that he was committed to his campaign, but urged the brash candidate to demonstrate a measure of humility, according to five Republicans briefed on the conversation who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The conversation took place last Wednesday, the day before Mr. Trump used a rally in Charlotte, N.C., to say, without offering any specific examples, that he had regrets over saying the wrong thing. While that change in tone may have been welcomed by Mr. Adelson, it was unclear if it would be enough for him to fulfill his pledge to Mr. Trump. Mr. Adelson was uneasy with Mr. Trumps behavior in the weeks after the Republican convention last month, his advisers said, a period in which the Republican nominee ridiculed the parents of a Muslim American soldier who had been killed in Iraq. KABUL, Afghanistan The feud between two police families from the village of Daku, on the northern Afghan Shomali Plain, goes back so far no one really knows what started it. Six dead bodies later, no one sees an end to it, either. The latest to be killed was Sohrab Nezami, a 23-year-old who was gunned down in Kabul on Aug. 19. His relatives say he was the third of three brothers to die in circumstances for which they blame the other family, led by Gen. Zemarai Paikan, a prominent police commander. An investigation has been ordered by President Ashraf Ghani. But the issue is so delicate that government spokesmen would not even admit that the latest death had occurred, or say who it was except obliquely. Yes, the boy was shot by bullets in Kabul city, and he was killed, said Fraidoon Obaidy, the head of the Kabul polices criminal investigation division. At this point, the two sides have claims against each other. That is all we can say. KABUL, Afghanistan The Taliban have overrun a border district in the southeastern Afghan province of Paktia and inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan security forces, officials said Saturday, as the insurgent fighters opened a new front in a once-volatile region. Local officials expressed alarm that the attack in the Jani Khel district overnight Friday was led by fighters of the Haqqani network. The network, an arm of the insurgency based in Pakistan, is known for its urban assaults, and the officials say it is trying to create a foothold to re-establish its headquarters in Afghanistan. Abdul Rahman Zurmati, Jani Khels governor, said his troops had been under siege for nine days. The district fell to the Taliban late Friday, he said, because his forces ran out of ammunition and reinforcements did not arrive. We were 90 people, and we had to fight against 1,200 Taliban, Mr. Zurmati said in a phone interview. Twenty-seven of my men have been killed. At first, some of them were wounded and we brought them to the main road, but then a land mine exploded and they were killed. We killed 130 of the enemy. DHAKA, Bangladesh A Canadian man suspected of having planned a July attack on a bakery in Dhaka that left 22 people dead was killed in a shootout with the Bangladeshi police on Saturday, officials said. The man, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a 30-year-old Canadian citizen of Bangladeshi descent, was one of three militants killed in the raid outside Dhaka, the capital, the officials said. The Bangladeshi authorities have said Mr. Chowdhury planned the July 1 assault on the Holey Artisan Bakery, a restaurant popular with expatriates and middle-class Bangladeshis. Some analysts believe Mr. Chowdhury acted as a coordinator for the Islamic State militant group in Bangladesh and northeastern India. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in Bangladesh, including the assault on the bakery. BANGKOK, Thailand President Abdulla Yameen of the Maldives, who is under pressure to step down, faces allegations of corruption dating back more than a decade, including oversight of questionable oil sales to a Myanmar dictatorship under economic sanctions. Mohamed Nasheed, who became the countrys first democratically elected president in 2008 but was forced to resign in 2012, contends that a state-owned company once led by Mr. Yameen sold nearly $300 million worth of oil to Myanmars military dictatorship in the early 2000s. Later, Mr. Nasheed said, nearly half the money disappeared. At the time, the Myanmar regime faced strict sanctions from the United States and the European Union. Mr. Nasheed said the oil shipments had helped the regime circumvent the sanctions and hold on to power. In his first public comments on the oil deal, Mr. Nasheed said he believed that his attempt as president to recover as much as $137 million of the missing money had been a significant factor in his ouster and subsequent imprisonment. He also contended that Mr. Yameen was now using the presidency to enrich himself, and that Mr. Yameen and his associates had received kickbacks from the sale of government-owned islands. SEOUL, South Korea Five years ago, Sun Mi Stapel, a claims handler at a Dutch insurance company, began searching for her South Korean birth family. Ms. Stapel first turned to the Dutch adoption agency that had placed her with her adoptive parents in Krommenie, the Netherlands, where she grew up. Then she tried Korea Social Service, which had handled the Korean side of her adoption. Last year, she finally obtained her adoption files, but they were missing vital information. She traveled to Seoul, appearing on a morning television show with her baby photos and asking viewers to call a hotline with any information. She registered for a national database for missing people. She distributed fliers in the neighborhood around her orphanage in Incheon, where she was born, and visited nursing homes and community centers there in hopes of finding someone who knew her parents. No one did. So on a recent Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Stapel, 46, went to a guesthouse for adoptees in Seoul, where a volunteer rubbed the inside of her cheek with a cotton swab, dropped the swab in a tube and shipped it to a lab in Texas, where her DNA will be analyzed and uploaded to a website that scans submitted samples for genetic matches. PARIS The policeman in the photo is nattily attired and appears to have a slight smirk as he writes out a ticket for the woman standing before him awkwardly in her offending swimwear; perhaps he enjoys making her feel uncomfortable. No, she is not wearing a burkini. The photo dates from 1957. The woman is wearing a bikini on the beach at Rimini on Italys Adriatic coast. At the time, Italy prohibited the revealing bathing suit; it was too immodest to be worn in public. In the midst of Frances fight over banning the burkini, the bikini is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and photographs chronicling its debut and early history in the 1940s, 50s and 60s are on display in one of Pariss chic galleries, prompting parallels to the uproar over the burkini today. What is it about womens swimwear and more generally womens attire that over and over in history has attracted controversy and impelled societies to legislate or regulate womens choices? MOSCOW A fire at a printing warehouse in northern Moscow that killed at least 17 migrant workers on Saturday was triggered by a faulty electrical lamp, officials said. The fire started around 7 a.m. in the warehouses first-floor loading zone and quickly climbed an elevator shaft to the fourth floor, where around 30 workers were finishing their night shift. Firefighters arrived five minutes after receiving a call and extinguished the fire within two hours. They rescued at least 12 people, but also found 16 bodies. Many workers were trapped in a remote room of the building, and the firefighters had to destroy a wall to reach them, the state-run Rossiya 24 news channel reported. KAZAMABIKA, Gabon For months, Jacqueline Gnagne carefully tended the cassava, corn and peanuts she planted inside a national park. Rangers helped her string barbed wire to protect her crops. Just before harvest time, she even moved into a small cabin at the edge of the field so she could keep a 24-hour watch. Every night she waited. At the first sound of breaking branches, she beat on a metal drum that echoed through the forest of Lope National Park. It was no use. The elephants came anyway. A baby managed to squeeze in between the fence wires. Its mother followed, barreling through. They ate everything. Furious, Gnagne, chief of the village down the road, phoned government parks officials who protect the endangered elephants. Look at what your children have done, Gnagne fumed. In most countries, the exchanges would probably not have even registered as a blip on the presidential radar. But they caught the attention of Gabons president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has made protecting this central African nations wildlife and forests a centerpiece of his tenure. Bongo, whose family has held Gabons presidency since the Lyndon B. Johnson era, has earned international praise for his commitment to conservation. But as he faces re-election Saturday, his efforts have earned him something else as well: resentment from many residents who complain that he worries too much about wild animals and not enough about them. Some potential voters said they planned to sit out the vote in protest, repeating a common refrain that can be heard in the forests and on city streets alike: Let the elephants vote for him instead. Elephants can live everywhere; thats not our problem here, said Claude Somand-Mayila, who lives in a poor neighborhood in the capital, Libreville. There are no jobs in this country. Zero, zero, zero. Im looking for a change, but there is no change. Despite the many frustrations in this oil-rich nation with glaring inequalities between the wealthy and the poor, political analysts say Bongo is likely to win. The campaign of his chief rival Jean Ping, the former African Union chairman and Gabon-born son of a Chinese businessman has accused Bongo of being born in Nigeria, making him ineligible for office. Bongo has denied the claim. Observers fear the votes outcome could prompt riots. In 2009, when Bongo won the election after the death of his father, Omar Bongo, violence broke out as protesters called the vote a fraud and the Bongo family rule an autocracy. Trying to step out from the shadow of his fathers nearly 42-year rule, Bongo says he wants to win over the population on the basis on his own accomplishments. And in many areas of the heavily forested nation, elephants are standing in the way. So this month, Bongo brought in electric fencing experts from Kenya to string wires to protect the crops of Gnagnes tiny village, a pilot project he says could be deployed in other villages inside the forest. We dont want to leave anyone by the side of the road, Bongo said in an interview at his seaside presidential palace in Libreville. Many people already feel like he has. Bongos conservation efforts are well known abroad. He banned commercial fishing off coastal waters to establish an enormous marine protected area. He expanded the number of rangers and other employees in the national parks, to 750 from 60, to fight illegal logging and poaching in some of the most pristine forests in the world. He is a regular at international climate and conservation conferences. But the presidents passion for trees and animals has also flummoxed many residents in a nation that suffers from tremendous inequality. In a neighborhood of the capital called Cei, abandoned, rusting cars seem to melt into dirt streets lined by apartment buildings with broken windows and crumbling balconies. A river of trash and sewage winds through the neighborhood. Not far away, government ministers cruise down a coastal highway in Mercedes SUVs. A 2013 McKinsey report commissioned by the government of Gabon classified 30 percent of the Gabonese population as vulnerable, living on about $140 a month. Bongo said he took the report to heart. In 2014, he said his government created $500 million in new health and education programs, including 40,000 scholarships, aimed at improving quality of life. Bongo has tried to distance himself from the lavishness that was a hallmark of his father, whose tenure was best known for enriching himself and the loyal elite. Last year, the younger Bongo sold off some of his inherited French real estate, pledging to give the proceeds to the people of Gabon. But skeptics noted the sale came as a judicial inquiry was underway into the Bongo familys holdings and secret overseas bank accounts, accusing them of misusing public funds. The investigation is continuing. Bongo promised to build a university with money from the real estate sale. He said construction on it and three other universities would start next year. A new mining school opened this summer. Many of Bongos efforts have yet to trickle down to residents, particularly in Libreville, where dense treetops give way to flat tin roofs of ramshackle shacks that stretch across the horizon. Bongo is urging patience. The cities are where the poverty really mostly is, Bongo said. We have started programs to fight that. Bongos elephant fence project is a small piece of a sweeping plan he said he created to shift Gabon from its heavy reliance on oil revenues. Low prices have caused Gabon to fall behind in payments on government contracts. But even more worrisome, the countrys oil reserves are dwindling. Bongo has banned the export of timber to encourage local processing, and, for the first time, the country has begun processing its own manganese. The export of all raw natural resources will be banned by 2020. Oil now accounts for about 27 percent of gross domestic product, down from 40 to 50 percent in years past. Our economic model was too simplistic; it was based on exporting, said Regis Immongault Tatagani, Gabons minister of the economy. Our new model is based on transforming the resources in our country. Expanding agriculture is one central element. Most of Gabons population of 1.7 million lives in a handful of crowded cities. Bongo wants to lure them back to the land. A new cooperative program offers training, financing and several acres to anyone who will uproot themselves to work the land in rural areas. At least 13,000 people have enrolled, said Gagan Gupta, country director for Olam International, an agriculture company partnering with the government on the program. But no one can farm successfully if the nations 40,000 forest elephants eat the harvest. In Gnagnes village, which was settled in the forest long before it became a national park, signs of elephant invasion on a recent morning were everywhere. Bushes were trampled. Heaps of dung were visible. Nearby, workers were installing the 125-acre, solar-powered wire perimeter that packs enough voltage to scare off a 21/2-ton elephant. We could avoid importing $800 million dollars worth of food if we can get agriculture going, said Lee White, Gabons director of national parks. With the new fence, Bongo said he was trying to balance the needs of the population with his passion for conservation. It is the same philosophy Bongo said he applied when creating a palm oil plantation, though those kinds of projects are often criticized by conservationists because the operations swallow trees and animal habitats. Officials used new satellite technology to identify a site for the 250,000-acre operation that they said would do the least damage to biodiversity. The government said it expected the project to create 12,000 jobs. Bongo is also hoping to lure investors to his new economic zone, where they can operate tax-free for 10 years. So far it has 91 companies, which employ about 1,000 Gabonese workers, said Jasveer Singh, chief executive of the zone. On a recent afternoon, workers punched in at Gabon Wood Industries, a company with Malaysian investors that processes timber. All but 11 of 82 employees of the company are Gabonese. Im voting for the president, said Kombe Gustave, who was one of them. Hes for all the people, for the Gabonese. PARIS After a month of intense national scandal and heightened international outrage, Frances highest administrative court, the Conseil dEtat, on Friday overturned the burkini ban in a coastal area of the south of France. Imposed in the name of secularism, perhaps Frances most sacred ideal, the highly controversial burkini bans currently affecting 25 French towns and cities besides Villeneuve-Loubet, which the court primarily addressed prohibit Muslim women from wearing full-bodied bathing suits designed to respect traditional codes of modesty on the beach. But in its Friday ruling, the administrative court concluded that the idea of a burkini ban insulted fundamental freedoms such as the freedom to come and go, the freedom of conscience and personal liberty. In recent weeks, a network of local mayors and officials across France passed similar bans on the Australian-born bathing suit, casting the burkini as the latest iteration of the burqa, the full-face veil that, in 2010, France became the first European country to ban outright. This 2010 law followed an earlier 2004 law prohibiting religious wear such as headscarves in public schools. Their principal argument similar to those employed by the authors and supporters of the previous laws is that traditional Muslim dress somehow impedes the rights of women in the historic French Republic of liberty, equality and fraternity. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, for example, expressed his opposition to the burkini in nothing less than the language of human rights: the suit, he said, was a means of enslavement. By that logic, the French state is duty-bound to emancipate Muslim women not only from the clutches of their religion but also, by extension, from themselves. For Christian Estrosi, an outspoken supporter of the burkini ban who runs the Provence-Alpes Cte dAzur regional council, where a significant number of the bans were passed, Fridays decision was a contradiction of precisely those Republican values. In that spirit, public space is a place where everyone, without discrimination, can be a free citizen, he said in a statement. Wearing an outfit that fully covers the body to go to a beach does not correspond to our vision of living together, particularly with regard to the equality of men and women. Estrosis office declined to provide additional comments Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Muslim leaders and French human rights advocates celebrated the decision, saying that the burkini bans represent little but thinly veiled institutionalized Islamophobia in a country that is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, if not its largest. Marwan Muhammad, the director of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France, one of the nongovernmental organizations involved in challenging the burkini ban, called Fridays decision a huge victory for human rights in France. It affirms fundamental freedoms, he said in an interview. But its also a political victory: The courts will not give into political Islamophobia. There are a number of judges that will affirm the rule of law. We are able to protect and defend human rights. After all, a particular reading of Republican values was not the only objection to the burkini. After the recent terrorist attack in Nice, when a Tunisian resident of the city killed 85 people and injured hundreds more in a truck attack on Bastille Day, the burkini ban, for many, assumed a strikingly reactionary bent. For a growing number, the burkini represented, in the words of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, a provocation. The city of Nice, of which Estrosi was formerly mayor, outlawed the bathing suit because, he said, it overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks. On Tuesday, images emerged of French police officers surrounding a Muslim woman on the beach in Nice, demanding that she remove some of her coverings. The images spread on social media across the globe. Theres a kind of institutional validation for this racism, Muhammad said. And this will not go away with this overturned law it will take a long time to challenge how deeply Islamophobia is embedded in France. NEWPORT BEACH California Coastal Commission staffers are recommending that the agency approve the development of homes and a resort on the Banning Ranch oil field if the developer further scales back building near environmentally sensitive areas and gives animals like the burrowing owl more space. Developer Newport Banning Ranch submitted plans to build 895 residential units and a 75-room resort on the 401-acre property. Under the proposed project, 329 acres would remain open space and 15 acres would be set aside for oil operations. Although the land has been used for oil development since the 1930s, sensitive coastal animals have made the area home, including the threatened California gnatcatcher, endangered San Diego fairy shrimp and the protected burrowing owl. The property along Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach is one of the few places in Southern California where these owls can search for food, and biologists say the predators need at least 200 acres of land to hunt. Under the proposed conditions, any development would need a 100-foot setback from the California gnatcatcher habitat, a 100-foot setback from vernal pools and other wetlands and a minimum 164-foot setback from owl burrows. The Coastal Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Sept. 7 in Newport Beach. Contact the writer: lawilliams@scng.com LOS ANGELES Three young children kidnapped from the Los Angeles area after their mother was killed have been returned to California from New Mexico as investigators shift their focus to filling in the gaps in the case. The children, between 2 and 5, were flown back to the Los Angeles area Thursday, Los Angeles County sheriffs Capt. Steve Katz said. Theyre in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, which will decide whether they can be placed with family members. Meanwhile, Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, and Brittney Humphrey, 22, were being held without bond in Pueblo, Colorado, where they were arrested without incident Thursday. It was unclear whether they had attorneys. Robertson and Humphrey are considered persons of interest in the death of Humphreys half-sister, 26-year-old Kimberly Harvill, whose body was found with gunshot wounds along a road in a remote area of Los Angeles County on Aug. 14. Katz said detectives were expected to fly to Colorado on Saturday to interview the couple about Harvill. We really do need to find a few more pieces to the puzzle to get a better idea of events and how they transpired, Katz said. During the search, authorities said Humphrey and Robertson should be considered armed and dangerous. They were found as Pueblo police officers conducted an unrelated fugitive roundup at a motel. A baby girl belonging to Robertson was found unharmed and was in state custody. Katz said he didnt know whether the couple had a gun at the time and Pueblo police declined to answer questions about the case. A day before the couple was arrested, Harvills three children were found safe at a motel on the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Police said Robertson and Humphrey had asked a man at the motel to watch the kids, and he called police when the couple didnt return. The childrens father, Kenneth Chad Watkins, killed himself by lying in front of a train last September, according to the Fresno County coroner. Harvill and the children had most recently lived in Fresno and were transitory, moving from motel to motel, Katz said, adding that they depended on panhandling to survive. In the days before her death, Harvill was staying with the children in Lebec, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County where authorities said Robertson and Humphrey were living and where Harvill was killed. Harvill, Humphrey and Robertson were all involved with methamphetamines, detectives said. Investigators said they knew of no ongoing conflict between the sisters. ANAHEIM The mother of an Anaheim man killed in a 2012 police shooting pledged Friday to continue fighting for the truth behind her sons death now that an appeals court has revived a federal lawsuit tied to his death. Genevieve Huizar gathered with her family and attorneys at Anaheim City Hall to discuss the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to throw out a jury verdict that found the city of Anaheim and Officer Nick Bennellack not liable for the killing of Manuel Diaz during a foot chase. This is what I have been fighting for all along, Huizar said of her suit against the city. I havent stopped fighting, even when we lost in court. The earlier jury was supposed to focus only on what Officer Bennellack knew at the time he pulled the trigger. But a panel of appeals court judges determined that the jury verdict was influenced by irrelevant inflammatory evidence focused on Diazs gang ties and drug use. On a March afternoon in 2014, Diaz was talking to several people in an alley when he spotted police officers on patrol and ran. The officers chased Diaz into the courtyard of an apartment complex, where the shooting took place. The complex is in a neighborhood known for gang activity. Bennellack has said he shot Diaz because Diaz was reaching toward his waist while running, leading the officer to believe he was armed. Jurors who sat through the previous trial agreed, deciding that it was reasonable for the officer to fear for his life. Coming after a series of officer-involved shootings in Anaheim, Diazs death touched off days of protests and a riot. Huizar and her attorneys allege that Bennellack used excessive force, noting that Diaz was unarmed and shot in the back. They have pointed out that Bennellack has been involved in at least one other police shooting that resulted in a suspects death, which was cleared by District Attorneys Office investigators. My son was wrongfully killed, shot in the back and executed, Huizar said on Friday. Humberto Guizar, one of the attorneys representing Huizar, said on Friday that the issues raised by the appeals court were part of larger systematic problems surrounding police-shooting investigations and trials. They immediately dehumanize the family, Guizar said of law enforcement. They go after the character of the person who was killed rather than the person who fired. The suit, which seeks a financial judgment, will likely return to the U.S. District Courthouse in Santa Ana. Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com A federal appeals court has ruled the U.S. government cannot be held responsible for the 1991 kidnapping of former Orange County resident Jaycee Dugard, who was held captive for 18 years in a ramshackle compound in Northern California. By a 2-1 vote, the panel said in the Friday ruling it is sympathetic to Dugards ordeal, but added the interaction of federal and state law prevents her from recovering damages for the incompetence of parole officers supervising her kidnapper, Phillip Garrido. Phillip Garrido, a parolee with a terrible history of drug-fueled sexual violence, committed unspeakable crimes against Jaycee Dugard for 18 years, Judge John B. Owens wrote on behalf of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. While our hearts are with Ms. Dugard, the law is not. Dugard was raised in Orange County, but her parents moved to South Lake Tahoe nine months before her 1991 kidnapping. While Garrido was on federal parole he and his wife kidnapped Dugard, who was 11, as she walked to a school bus stop. For the next 18 years, Garrido held Dugard captive, sometimes in chains, in a shed he built in the backyard of his residence in unincorporated Antioch. Dugard gave birth to two of Garridos children without any medical treatment or prenatal care. She and the children remained captive until their discovery in 2009. Garrido was given the maximum possible sentence of 431 years to life in prison in 2011 after pleading guilty to kidnapping and 13 sexual assault charges, including rape and committing lewd acts captured on video. The state paid Dugard a $20 million settlement under which officials acknowledged repeated mistakes were made by parole agents responsible for monitoring Garrido. In September 2011, Dugard sued the federal government allegding that parole officials supervising Garrido failed to report several violations prior to her kidnapping that would have returned him to prison and prevented the abduction. Her lawyers listed a number of incidences in the complaint, including failure to get Garrido proper mental health treatment and not providing adequate information to state authorities when he was transferred to their charge. It also says Garrido tested positive for drugs and alcohol while on parole, a violation for a sex offender, but was never punished. In addition, authorities ignored reports of sexual misconduct, including a complaint that Garrido showed up at his former victims work and made an alarming comment to her, the complaint says. However, the Court of Appeals ruled the federal government was not liable because there are no facts to show in advance that Dugard would become a victim. Each member of the general public who chances to come into contact with a parolee or probationer must risk that the rehabilitative effort will fail, Owens wrote. Chief U.S. District Judge William E. Smith cast the dissenting vote. As the majority states, our hearts are with Ms. Dugard, he wrote. But for the incompetence of both California and federal officials, the unspeakable crimes committed by Garrido would have never occurred. Jonathan Steinsapir, Dugards appellate attorney, said Saturday he was obviously disappointed with the majority ruling. We believe that the dissent more accurately reflects the state of the law in this area, he said, and we intend to ask for rehearing, including a renewed request that the 9th Circuit certify these unsettled issues of California law to the California Supreme Court for resolution. Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter:@thechalkoutline Well-run charter schools have been a lifeline for many families. That ought to have been the thesis for a recent editorial in the Los Angeles Times. Instead, it was just a sentence buried within a lengthy, misleading portrayal of California charter schools. The Times editorial, drawing from a study produced by the American Civil Liberties Unions Southern California chapter and the nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization Public Advocates, used data from a few outlying schools to paint a picture of bias and discrimination in charter schools admissions processes. It is a mischaracterization that flies in the face of the actual mission and impetus for most charter schools. Charter schools are one of the few bright spots in Californias otherwise underperforming public education system, and many have been designed specifically to improve education in minority communities and low-income areas. We should be celebrating charters and aggressively increasing the number of charter schools available to the public not attempting to make them more like traditional public schools. Why not? Well, for starters, our current traditional public education system is failing our kids. Fewer than half of students attending public school in the Golden State are proficient in English and math. Only 49 percent of students in California are proficient in English, and only 37 percent are proficient in math, according to data released Wednesday by the California Department of Education. Also troubling is the achievement gap in proficiency between black and Latino students versus their Asian and white counterparts. In English, only 31 percent of black students and 37 percent of Latino students scored proficient, compared to 64 percent of white students and 76 percent of Asian students. And the proficiency percentages for math are more worrisome: 18 percent for black students, 24 percent for Latino students, 53 percent for white students and 72 percent for Asian students. Its no wonder some education reform advocates call public education the civil rights issue of our time. Test scores arent the only metric for judging the success of traditional public schools, though. College preparedness and acceptance are also useful indicators. When comparing the data between traditional schools and charters, the contrast is telling. For example, 20 percent of all charter school applicants were accepted to University of California schools, compared with only 14 percent of non-charter students. Also, charter schools are helping to even out the achievement gap between ethnicities. Data analyzed by the California Charter School Association showed that 19 percent of Latino and African American charter school applicants were accepted to UCs, compared with just 11 percent for Latino and African American students attending traditional schools. And a higher percentage of African American and Latino charter students apply to UCs, compared to traditional public school students, 35 percent versus 19 percent. Perhaps most consequentially, a higher percentage of low-income students from charter schools are being accepted into UCs than from traditional public schools: 21 percent of low-income charter school applicants were accepted to UCs, compared with just 11 percent of low-income traditional school applicants. Something is clearly working at charter schools that is not working in traditional schools. Despite increased spending on traditional public education and programs to increase its quality, the system is leaving too many students behind. Proponents of the current public school system argue that schools need more money. But consider how much money our state spends on public education each year for kindergarten through 12th grade. California will spend $51.2 billion on K-12 education this year more than 40 percent of the states general fund budget according to the Department of Finance. Overall spending for California public schools is about $76.6 billion when federal funds and other funding sources are added, according to the California Department of Educations website. The groups and individuals typically opposed to charter schools and other types of reforms are those with vested economic interests in maintaining the status quo of the current public education system. Thats why they attack public charter schools. Its unfortunate to see the L.A. Times, the ACLU and Public Advocates give credence to, and parrot, the arguments of special interests opposed to reasonable education reforms. Of course, no charter school or traditional public school, for that matter should put absurd hurdles that could disadvantage the admission of low-income and minority kids, and those that do should absolutely be held accountable. But lets not be irresponsible by trying to paint the entire charter school system as having bias, or the potential for bias, when we know this is patently false. Also, instead of singling out charter schools, why not do an analysis of the entire public education system in the same way the ACLU and Public Advocates studied charter schools? The Times conclusion, based on the study, was that the state has done a terrible job of requiring stringent oversight of these [charter] schools. What about the terrible job the state has done in the oversight of traditional public schools for decades? After all, that is where the largest number of students are educated. Lets apply the same standards to all public schools in Californias education system and ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions. Here is one to start with: Is it discriminatory to determine a childs school by the neighborhood or ZIP code in which he or she lives (i.e., by their socioeconomic status)? Progress, reform and modernization are desperately needed in our faltering K-12 public education system. Charter schools are not a silver bullet, but they are helping because they are more innovative and nimble than their traditional school counterparts, have more local control and input over the approach to teaching and learning and are more accountable directly to the communities and families they serve. Lets find ways to expand the charter approach and make traditional public schools more like charter schools not the other way around. Brian Calle is opinion editor for the Southern California News Group. FULLERTON Allkiinds HQ is in co-chief executive officer and president Luke Laubhans garage. Apart from a thermostat that reads 85 and a burlap curtain that hides parked tricycles, the space is as nice as any other millennial startup. A simplistic wooden table, adorned with a succulent, serves as a communal desk and meeting table. String lights hang from the ceiling. A television sits at the end of the table and is used for presentations. Allkiind, which launched two weeks ago, describes itself as a social-good operation. Giving back is integrated into the business model. For every purchase, 10 percent of revenue is donated to a local charity or organization. Thats one of the biggest motivation factors for us to do this, Laubhan, 37, said. It started with wanting to do something really positive and really good. Allkiind was co-founded by Brea resident Doris Neufeld, 28, who also serves as co-CEO and marketing director. Amanda Maldonado, 23, and Jordan Batti, 23, joined on as outreach and marketing coordinators. The companys first give was a care package delivered to a patient going through a last round of chemotherapy. They also donated a backpack full of school supplies to Eli Home, an Anaheim organization that helps abused kids. For now, Laubhan said the company is starting out with smaller, local donations. However, they plan to venture out with larger donations to animal shelters or education programs. There are different opportunities and ways to do this, he said. We aspire to spread as much good and kindness as we can. In addition to giving back through monetary donations, the team members said they hope to give back to customers through positive messages. Phrases including Conquer from within, Far better things ahead, and a simple Yup are screen printed onto shirts, posters and greeting cards. This year weve seen a big hype in the graphic design and graphic tee industry that follows a negative approach, Neufeld said, mentioning designs such as I cant even. We wanted to be a counterpart to that, she said. The team brainstorms ideas and comes up with designs in the garage HQ. They then have shirts, which come from vendors in downtown Los Angeles, screen printed locally in Orange and Fullerton. So far, they have shipped more than 200 orders to locations including Southern California, New York, Massachusetts and even Germany and Hungary. Maldonado said they plan to expand to selling shirts in brick-and-mortar shops. One of the first boutiques will be Fullerton-based Share and Do Good. If you have a choice to work in fashion or in fashion that gives back, its a pretty easy choice, Neufeld said. Its way more rewarding at the end of the day. Contact the writer: 714-796-7831 or aratzlaff@ocregister.com Loretta Sanchez is pushing for more than the two debates agreed to by U.S. Senate opponent Kamala Harris before the November election, but could end up with one or none. Harris, the states attorney general, announced Aug. 5 that she was accepting debate offers from the Sacramento Bee on Sept. 20 and CSU Los Angeles Pat Brown Institute/KABC on Oct. 5. Sanchez, a congresswoman from Orange, did not accept the Bees invitation by a Aug. 22 deadline, but said in a radio interview Tuesday that she wanted more faceoffs. Related: Sanchez campaign says it can overcome hurdles I believe we already did a debate in that (Sacramento) area, she said on San Diego-based KOGO AM, referring to an April 25 debate in Stockton. I would like more than two debates, which is what Ms. Harris wants, and we should be up and down the state. Sanchez also referenced the Sacramento Bees endorsement of Harris, indicating that she preferred neutral ground and wanted voters from throughout the state to have access to the faceoffs. Her campaign said it was talking to prospective debate sponsors in the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Los Angeles, including the Pat Brown Institute. A Harris spokesman dismissed Sanchezs call for more encounters. Our campaign is done debating debates, Nathan Click said. Three weeks ago, our campaign publicly agreed to the two most fully-formed and highest profile debate proposals we received, one in Northern California and one in Southern California. If Sanchez wants to debate, she should show up to the KABC debate. In addition to Stockton, the two Democrats debated in San Diego before the primary. Harris and Sanchez were the top vote-getters in the June primary in the race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer. Harris finished with a substantial 40 percent to 19 percent advantage. Harris is also far ahead in fundraising, $12 million to $3.9 million. Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College, said Harris strong position means that Sanchez is the one who most needs the exposure debates can provide. She needs all the TV she can get, Pitney said. But Kamala Harris holds all the cards and theres not a lot of reason for concessions from that side. Luis Vizcaino, senior adviser to the Sanchez campaign, said voters throughout the state deserve to see more of the two candidates. Now is the time for Kamala Harris to prove she is fearless by agreeing to more than just two U.S. Senate debates, he said. Negotiations are still open and we encourage her team to have an actual conversation and not arrogantly announce that they have decided to limit the voters to only two debate opportunities. In Sanchezs Tuesday interview, conservative host Carl DeMaio raised the possibility the congresswomans gambit could result in no debates. If I get nothing, I get nothing, Sanchez replied. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com COSTA MESA As she walked 16 miles Friday, Bethany Anderson thought about a friend who lives life in the shadows as an undocumented immigrant. Anderson, 30, a Fullerton resident, is walking part of the journey with her husband, two daughters (ages 3 and 1) and the Solidarity, a Fullerton ministry. She is among those walking to highlight what they say is a broken immigration system and the plight of those who make the arduous journey across the U.S.-Mexico border. About 150 immigration-reform advocates crossed into the Border Field State Park, across the border from Tijuana, Mexico on Aug. 20 to embark on the El Camino del Inmigrante, or The Path of the Immigrant, a 132-mile, 11-day journey organized by the Christian Community Development Association and Bread for the World and World Relief. Anderson has completed 41 miles, with another 16 planned before the route ends at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, where they plan to hold a rally. This is an important time to make a public stance that immigrants are actually really valuable to our community, she said. Its time that our system reflects that. The walkers travel several miles each day in the Southern California summer heat carrying their own belongings and nurturing blisters, stopping along the way for water breaks and overnight stays in churches. The Crossing Church, where the walkers stopped Friday night, held a prayer service and discussion of immigration-related issues. Adriana Mondragon, 31, of Santa Ana, said her parents brought her from Mexico when she was five but didnt tell her she wasnt a citizen until her teens. She said she was thankful for those advocating on her behalf and others who are in limbo while the immigration debate rages. Its a tremendous blessing to me, Mondragon said. It gives me great courage to know that Im not by myself, that I have family and that I have and friends that out walking with me in this journey. Mondragon said she was able to get a drivers license and a job because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. She now has a masters degree from Chapman University and is a marriage and family therapy intern. I dont have the perfect solution, but whats in place now is not working, she said. Its tearing families apart. A 44-year-old man, who declined to give his name, traveled from his native Guatemala for the walk and carried the dress shoes he wore in 2002 when he left his wife and four children to come to the U.S. I didnt want to leave my family, but it felt like an obligation because there werent any opportunities there, he said through a translator. After obtaining a fake Mexican ID, he traveled with several others with the guidance of a coyotaje to cross into Brownsville, Texas. By then, two people in his group had died. He lived in San Francisco for four years while working at a local missionary before returning to his home country to start his own. I wanted to experience and remember and be part of this movement in solidarity with new immigrants, he said. The response from onlookers on the street has been mostly positive, organizers said. Anderson said she wouldnt describe the reaction from onlookers in Orange County as hostile, but more cynical than San Diego County. She recalled an encounter with a man who said immigrants deserve to be treated with dignity but are not entitled to citizenship. Are any of us entitled to citizenship? Anderson said to the man. Am I entitled to more rights because I was born a couple hundred miles north of the border? Am I entitled to more dignity or wealth or privilege because of where I was born versus where some of my friends and neighbors were born? The walk continues Saturday and ends for the night at the First United Methodist Church in Seal Beach. Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com YORBA LINDA Darlene Messick walks past the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum every morning. When she looks at the retired Army One helicopter on display, she said she still sees President Richard Nixon saluting from the White House South Lawn the day he resigned from office. On Friday, the longtime Yorba Linda resident watched the helicopter take another sort of flight. As part of the librarys $15 million renovation of its galleries, the nearly 60-year-old chopper was lifted by a crane onto a flatbed truck that drove it to the Chino Airport to be refurbished by Rancho Cucamongas California Aero Fab. This is awesome, Messick, a retired schoolteacher, told her friends several times Friday as they watched the operation. The refurbishment is expected to take seven weeks, with the helicopter returning in time for the Oct. 14. opening of the renovated galleries. Messick, 66, was one of a few dozen observers Friday taking pictures and recording video with her phone of the helicopters removal. This is history, she said. Whether you liked Nixon or you didnt. This is my current event; my grandchildrens history. On display outside at the library since 2006, the helicopter which flew presidents John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Nixon and Gerald Ford will be repainted and glossed, said Joe Lopez, a Richard Nixon Foundation spokesman. Itll look fresh out of the 1960s, he said. The presidential insignia, lettering, white striping and American flag also will be repainted. Windows will be cleaned. Inside, new flooring and carpet is being installed. New upholstery and curtains will be added. Its a piece of history, Lopez said of the helicopter, which was built in 1960 and retired in 1976. We want it here looking nice. Nixons black 1967 Lincoln Continental limousine, currently on loan to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, will return to the library next year, Lopez said. Theres so much history inside (of the helicopter), said Messick, who said she watched Air Force One fly over her Yorba Linda home on Aug. 9, 1974 as it took Nixon to San Clemente following his resignation. All you have to do is look at it. You could even have your eyes closed and still feel the history. Contact the writer: 714-796-7724 or bwhitehead@scng.com LONG BEACH Still riding their momentum from the Olympic Games in Rio, Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross now find themselves just one match away from gold-medal contention at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball after two more wins Friday at Alamitos Beach. After defeating Americans Summer Ross and Lane Carico, 25-15, 19-21, 15-8, in the Round of 16, the top-seeded bronze medalists from Rio took on fellow U.S. Olympians Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat in the quarterfinals. Thats not what we look forward to at an international tournament, Ross said of facing two American teams in a row. No one wants to knock out their own country, but it happens all the time. It shows how deep the tour is too, Walsh Jennings added. Were playing good teams early. Both those teams we played are very good and very capable. This tour is so deep and Im really happy that its here in Long Beach for people to see its not just Brazil and USA. The world is rad and I think this is enlightening for a lot of people. Ross and Walsh Jennings coasted through the first set, with Fendrick and Sweat never really settling in, but the second was much different as it was tied on 15 occasions and neither team led by more than two until the final point, a kill by Ross to lock down the 21-14, 21-18 victory. I think we served well down the stretch, Ross said. In the middle we kind of let them off the hook a few times, but toward the end we were pretty tough and made one or two scramble plays to get the lead back. You cant worry about whether youre up or down. You just play one point at a time and do the best you can. Walsh Jennings paced the attack with eight kills in the second set, while Ross added six and each delivered two aces. I think they moved us around when they were serving, Walsh Jennings said. We had a tougher time in game two. Initially we werent getting the points were got in game one and then it started to turn. Ross and Walsh Jennings will play the fifth-seeded German duo of Julia Sude and Chantal Laboureur in the semis Saturday at noon. The winner will face either Spains seventh-seeded Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo or 13th-seeded Germans Katrin Holtwick and Ilke Semmler. In a testament to what Walsh Jennings said about the depth on the FIVB World Tour, neither of the German semifinalists reached the Olympics. In fact, Holtwick and Semmler reached the final four with a 21-19, 16-21, 15-9 quarterfinal victory over German Olympians Britta Buthe and Karla Borger. Fendrick and Sweat failed to get out of their pool at the Olympics, but they exacted some revenge with a 21-13, 10-21, 15-11 over Polands Monika Brzostek and Kinga Kolosinska earlier Friday. Coming back definitely took some effort to get ready for this. Mentally and physically, its been a long season, Fendrick told FIVB.org. Our whole goal was getting to the Olympics and medaling in the Olympics. Playing them again, I had the Olympics on my mind and I really wanted to win that match. Elsa and Liliana, also Olympians, won three matches Friday, including a surprisingly easy 21-17, 21-18 victory over second-seeded Brazilians Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca, the top-ranked team in the world heading into the Olympics. Elsa and Liliana earlier eliminated Switzerlands 10th-seeded Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Verge-Depre, 19-21, 21-14, 15-8, before taking out the 12th-seeded Argentinian duo of Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug, 21-19, 21-16. Holtwick and Semmler also won three matches Friday, topping 17th-seeded Canadians Taylor Pischke and Melissa Humana-Paredes, 21-11, 21-17, and Olympians Barbora Hermannova and Market Slukova of the Czech Republic, 21-17, 21-16, before taking out their fellow Germans. In the womens match of the day, Japans Miki Ishii and Megumi Murakami, playing their fourth FIVB World Tour event, upset fourth-seeded Brazilians Eduarda Lisboa and Elize Maia, 31-29, 24-26, 19-17, in a match that lasted 1 hour, 6 minutes. On the mens side, top-seeded Olympians Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena defeated Canadians Josh Binstock and Samuel Schachter, 21-14, 21-15, in the Round of 16. I thought we played with a lot of energy that game, Lucena told FIVB.org. I felt better than the previous two days. Were in the quarterfinals now and we have to step up. Phils scoring a lot of points, which is great. It makes my job easier. We get things done. We just came up with a whole new set that game, like up-tempo playing in the middle. With the wind, that helped me. We did a good job. Phils serving great, blocking great. The wind was nothing compared to Rio during the Olympics, but I thought we handled it well here. It was swirly here and in Brazil you had one bad side. But you know what? Its part of our job. Dalhausser and Lucena face Spains sixth-seeded Olympians Pablo Herrera Allepuz and Adrian Gavira in a quarterfinal Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Theyre solid, were going to have to play good, solid volleyball, handle their serve, Dalhausser told FIVB.org. Theyre a good serving team and well see what happens. The only other time the teams have met in FIVB play was last year in Long Beach, when Dalhausser and Lucena won a three-set semifinal. In Saturdays other mens quarterfinals, Italys 20th-seeded Alex Rangheiri and Marco Caminati will play against Polands 21st-seeded Michal Bryl and Kacper Kujawiak, Polands fifth-seeded Olympians Piotr Kantor and Bartosz Losiak meet Latvias second-seeded Olympians Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins and Brazils third-seeded Olympians Pedro Solberg and Evandro face Mexicos eighth-seeded Olympians Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen. The $800,000 WSOBV is the final stop in determining the participants in the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals, to be held Sept. 13-18 in Toronto. The top eight mens and womens teams from the World Tour qualify (with a maximum of two per country, per gender), alongside four wild-card selections per gender. SUMMER SCHOOL USCs NCAA national champions Sara Hughes (Mater Dei High) and Kelly Claes (El Dorado High) finished ninth in the womens draw. Claes and Hughes, who reached their first AVP tourney final this summer and defeated a pair of Olympic teams in their FIVB World Tour main draw debut in Austria last month, won their first elimination match Friday before falling in the Round of 16 to Talita and Larissa, 21-18, 21-10. This is definitely a very big learning experience, Hughes told FIVB.org. Weve been playing at the collegiate level for so long so its hard to know if you can compete at this level and this whole summer both domestically and internationally weve learned so much. Playing three-time Olympians is a surreal experience for us and the first (set) it was a battle, we were right there with them and the second, they took it to us. Coming off the court, I cant be mad at that, I can only take it as a good thing. We want to be that team, we want to be the best in the world. Claes and Hughes received a wild card for the FIVBs Klagenfurt, Austria event last month and they stunned eventual Rio Olympic gold medalists Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany in their first pool-play match. For good measure, they also upended Canadian Olympians Jamie Border and Kristina Valjas. Claes and Hughes are actually the last team to beat Ludwig and Walkenhorst. Claes and Hughes advanced from pool play Thursday, then opened Fridays elimination round with a 21-19, 27-25 victory over Switzerlands Tanja Huberli and Nina Betschart. It was awesome, a little revenge, Hughes said, referencing a loss to the Swiss duo in the Austria event. Theyre an amazing team. I think were going to pair up with them a lot in the future. Ive been playing with them since youth level, so its fun to see how weve all kind of grow up together. Claes and Hughes were undefeated during their junior season at USC, leading the Trojans to the sports first NCAA-sanctioned national title. Its been such an incredible experience, Claes said of their experience on the pro tours. Weve learned so much coming out here and not only competing with all of these teams, but watching them on and off the court. Its cool to see all the different warmups and nutrition. Im trying to pick up little pieces from all the pros. Ive been keeping little notes on things, trying to piece together what I can get from it. Its been such a cool experience. News services contributed to this report. Contact the writer: jjfiddler@scng.com In the past decade, Californias charter school sector has doubled in size, and now serves nearly one in 10 of the states public school students. Yet, despite massive technological and educational changes, the states charter school governance policies havent been updated since the first charter law was passed nearly 25 years ago, leaving charter school operators and school district officials frequently at odds with each other, with students and parents caught in between. This tension was on full display at a recent legislative hearing before the state Senate Education Committee, where district representatives testified that Californias charter school laws have failed to produce accountability, while charter school leaders questioned the fairness of giving school districts the power to act as the states primary authorizers of charter schools. But the two sides did agree on this: Californias system for approving and overseeing charter schools is broken and must be fixed. Most of Californias 324 charter school authorizers are school districts, nearly half of which oversee just one charter school. Authorizers process applications from prospective charter schools and then, if the school is approved, continue to monitor their academic results and renewals. This key task, however, is often carried out by a single district employee who lacks any specialized training or expertise. Additionally, this arrangement essentially puts the fox in charge of the henhouse school boards, which usually dont want to lose their students to charters, get to decide which charter schools are approved and opened. Although rejected charters can first appeal to county offices of education and then to the State Board of Education, this process is costly and time consuming, making it difficult for startups that may lack resources to navigate a complex bureaucracy. It also drains educational resources from SBE, which has fielded 40 appeals in the past six years and currently oversees 33 charters. This muddled process was highlighted by three charter school applications that were recently denied by Santa Ana Unified Vista Heritage Charter Middle School, Ednovate High School and Magnolia Science Academy but eventually approved on appeal. I just think its politics, said Caprice Young, CEO of Magnolia Public Schools, which operates 10 charter schools across Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego. Were a very high-quality program, and the school districts see it as competition. School districts dont like that and vote No. The state tends to be unbiased. The governance structure for overseeing charter schools that do get approval is also seriously flawed, leaving school operators and district officials with unclear expectations that complicate the ongoing renewal process that charter schools undergo. California was an early leader in charter schools, and must revisit its governing process if it wants to recapture that spirit of innovation. First, the charter school authorization process should be overhauled so that districts are no longer the primary gatekeepers. Instead, specialized non-profits, universities and state education leaders would be more appropriate authorizers of charter school applications. This shift would not only eliminate the conflicts of interests inherent in school districts seeking to block charter school competitors, it would also introduce a more professionalized infrastructure and consistency to the process. Additionally, California should create statewide academic and financial performance frameworks that set clear standards for charter schools. Any charter school that fails to meet the states expectations for three consecutive years should automatically be revoked, even if its contract term has not yet expired. Since this provision is meant to quickly weed out failing schools, the minimum thresholds set should leave no doubt as to whether or not a charter school is underperforming. Lastly, these frameworks along with individual performance contracts that clearly detail the expectations that are unique to each charter school should be used to drive renewal decisions. Charter schools should be renewed based on their successes and failures with students, not school district politics. Charter schools are already accountable to their most important stakeholders students and parents, who can leave charters for their neighborhood public schools anytime they want. The public school system, charter schools, parents and students would all benefit if the state were to set clear accountability standards for charters. Aaron Garth Smith is an education policy analyst at Reason Foundation. ANAHEIM Six members of the Buffalo Soldiers Association were honored Friday at Disneylands Flag Retreat Ceremony. One of them, Franklin Henderson, recalled his time in service. When I was a cadet in ROTC, one of the enlisted men had served in the 10th Cavalry, and he kept telling stories about these old soldiers called Buffalo Soldiers, Henderson said. He looked into it and found that they were a part of the Armys cavalry, and wanted to learn more. Meanwhile, Henderson was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1952, out of ROTC at Southern University and was immediately called to active service during the Korean conflict. I was lucky, he recalls. Instead of sending me to Korea in 1952, the Army decided to send me to Alaska. Henderson was part of NORAD, there to be the first line of defense in case the Soviet Union decided to invade from the polar route. I was born in Miami; I had never seen that much snow, he said. After voluntary relief from active duty, he stayed in the U.S. Army Reserves until he retired in 1982 with 30 years of active and reserve service. While in the reserves, the Los Angeles resident worked as an electrical engineer at Hughes Aircraft for 26 years, retiring in 1989. But while in the Army, Henderson started looking into the Buffalo Soldiers. He found out that the original troops (the 9th and 10 Cavalry Regiment), were created in 1866 by an act of Congress. The regiments were made up of former slaves, freemen and Civil War soldiers, all African-Americans. The regiments were assigned to serve west of the Mississippi River to protect settlers as they moved west. During that time, they earned the nickname of Buffalo Soldiers. The source of the nickname Buffalo Soldiers has several different origins, according to different websites and Henderson. One says they were given that name by Native Americans because of the way they fought, which reminded them of the way buffalos fought. Another possible origin story says it was given because of their curly hair and the third because they wore thick coats made from buffalo hides during the winter. Besides providing security for settlers, nearly 500 Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to protect Californias National Parks, including Sequoia and Yosemite. Henderson soon joined the Buffalo Soldiers Association and eventually became its national president. He still attends its reunions every year, 39 years now. Saturday, Henderson and others were on hand to receive, on behalf of the Buffalo Soldier National Museum in Houston, the 2016 Veterans and Business Award from the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce during a banquet held at the Disneyland Hotel. Some people dont think the nickname is a good one, but it is a nickname we wear with pride, he said. Contact the writer: meades@scng.com or follow on twitter @markaeades LIVERMORE Employees at Bay Area charter school have been accused of abusing a foreign exchange student from China. The East Bay Times reports that a California Preparatory Academies teacher was charged with assault and child cruelty and former leaders of Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory have been charged with failing to report the alleged abuse. According to Court Documents, in January a 14-year-old student was at an after-school tutoring session at the charter school with the teacher accused him of copying homework and embarrassed the student in front of others. The student left, but was found by the teacher and forcibly returned to school. The teacher is also accused of verbally abusing the student. The student had a laceration to his shin and complained of pain to his knees as a result of the incident. ANKARA, Turkey A Kurdish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden truck into a checkpoint near a police station Friday in southeast Turkey, killing at least 11 police officers and wounding 78 other people, the prime minister said. The attack struck the checkpoint 50 yards from a main police station near the town of Cizre, in the mainly-Kurdish Sirnak province that borders Syria. Television footage showed black smoke rising from the mangled truck and the three-story police station gutted from the powerful explosion. Rebels linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK claimed the attack the latest in a string of bombings by the group targeting police or military vehicles and facilities. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed to destroy the terrorists. No terrorist organization can take the Turkish Republic hostage, he told reporters in Istanbul. We will give these scoundrels every response they deserve. This attack, which comes at a time when Turkey is engaged in an intense struggle against terrorist organizations both within and outside its borders, only serves to increase our determination as a country and a nation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Ned Price condemned the attack and said that, if confirmed, it is just one in a disturbing string of attacks by the PKK. We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, a NATO Ally and partner that continues to be afflicted by terrorist attacks indiscriminately targeting both security personnel and civilians, he said in a statement. Turkey has sent tanks across the Syrian border following weeks of deadly attacks by the PKK and the Islamic State group. The operation aims to help Syrian rebels retake Jarablus, a key IS-held border town, and to contain the expansion of Syrian Kurdish militia who are linked to the PKK. Heightened PKK attacks inside Turkey could prompt Turkey to take bolder moves against the Syrian Kurds. On Thursday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Turkish artillery fired at Syrian Kurdish fighters who were advancing north toward Jarablus despite Turkish warnings for them to retreat. In a statement on the website of the PKKs military wing, the militant group said the Cizre attack was in retaliation to jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalans isolation on his prison island off Istanbul. The rebel leader has been denied visits since April 2015, as a peace process between the PKK and the government began to falter. Violence between the PKK and the security forces resumed last year, after the collapse the two-year peace process in July. Hundreds of security force members, militants and even civilians have been killed since. At the same time, Turkey has been afflicted by deadly attacks blamed on Islamic State militants, including a suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in southeast Turkey last week that killed 54 people and an attack on Istanbuls main airport in June that killed 44 people. According to the Sirnak governors office, three of those wounded in Fridays attack were civilians. Cizre was placed under 24-hour curfew for several weeks earlier this year as the security forces launched operations to root out Kurdish militants. Since hostilities with the PKK resumed last summer, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to the Anadolu Agency. Human rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed. The PKK is considered a terror organization by Turkey and its allies. Some 40,000 people have been killed since the conflict started in 1984. The attacks on police come as the country is still reeling from a violent coup attempt on July 15 that killed at least 270 people. The government has blamed the failed coup on the supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and has embarked on a sweeping crackdown on his followers. On Thursday, Kurdish rebels opened fire at security forces protecting a convoy carrying Turkeys main opposition party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the northeast, killing a soldier and wounding two others, officials said. The rebel statement Friday said the target of the attack was Turkeys security forces, not Kilicdaroglu. The best photos and words cannot fittingly describe what standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon is really like. It is the place that President Theodore Roosevelt said every American needs to see. AMAZING RANGE Inside the Grand Canyons walls, visitors not only get a breathtaking view of amazing scenery but a tour of the earths history dating back more than a billion years. The richness in geological history is equaled by the array of animals and plants that live in the park. From the forests around the North Rim to the desert canyon floor 6,000 feet below, animals and plants from most areas of North America are found. In general, termperature increases 5.5 degrees with each 1,000 feet loss in elevation. So if its 70 degrees at the rim, it would be 103 at the bottom. WILDLIFE Desert bighorn sheep are the largest native animal in the park with males weighing up to 300 pounds. Two nonnative species living in the park, bison and elk, are larger. The bighorn generally inhabit the lower ridges of the park. California condors are one of the worlds largest and rarest birds. The birds have a 9 1/2-foot wingspan and can be seen soaring near the canyons rim. Condors disappeared from the canyon in the 1930s, and in 1982, there were only 22 in world. They have been brought back to the canyon and are slowly increasing in number. Species in the park Birds: 373 Mammals: 92 Reptiles and amphibians: 57 Non-native animals: 23, such as bison and elk Fish: 18 CANT-MISS SIGHTS The South Rim of the canyon features the most attractions, including several museums, educational trails, restaurants and shops. Top attractions at the South Rim 1. Hermits Rest 2. Kolb Studio 3. Trail of Time (Educational walk along the rim from the geology museum to the visitor center) 4. Mather Point 5. Desert View Watchtower The Desert View Watchtower perched on the east side of the South Rim was rededicated in May from a souvenir shop to a cultural heritage place. The seven-story tower was designed in 1932 by architect Mary Colter. The building resembles prehistoric constructions of native people, particularly the Hopi. The building features murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. On a clear day, views can be more than 100 miles. Grand Canyon National Park basics Entrance fees: $30 for a seven-day pass per private vehicle. Annual pass: $60 Visitors per year: 4.7 million (2014) South Rim campgrounds Mather campground: $18 per night Desert View campground: $12 South Rim lodging: Six lodges on top and one at the canyon bottom. Plan for reservations six months in advance during peak visitation months. Sources: National Park Service, National Parks of the West by Sunset Magazine, Geology.com Photos: Staff, The Department of Interior Boris Govzman doesnt remember going into cardiac arrest while driving along the I-405 in Irvine. Wednesday, after a week in a coma, the 69-year-old woke up at Hoag Hospital Irvine and was shocked when told that his 13-year-old grandson had given him CPR, and his 11-year-old grandson had helped, too, in saving his life. If it would have happened differently, I might not be alive today, Govzman said in his hospital room Friday. His doctor, Ethan Yalvac, concurred: If no one had provided CPR the outcome would not have been a good one. It all started off as a pretty typical Southern California vacation: grandparents with their two grandchildren, all four from Seattle, a trip to Universal Studios, a walk through Hollywood, a visit to the beaches and a drive to Los Angeles International Airport for the trip home. On that morning drive on Aug. 16, 13-year-old Daniel Tyshler, his brother Jonathan, 11, and their grandparents, Boris and Larisa Govzman, were near the Jeffrey Road off-ramp. All of a sudden I see the car swerving to the right through all the lanes, Daniel recalled Friday morning over the phone from Seattle, back home to prepare for the new school year. The rental car veered right across lanes, and then onto the shoulder through a stretch of trees and brush, finally coming to a halt in a bed of ice plants. The brothers, in the back seat, saw that their grandfather was unresponsive. Their grandmother was panicked. I just started to shake him and said, Boris! Boris! Wake up!, she said from his side at the hospital. Jonathan moved his grandfathers head to ensure blood circulation and tried to calm their grandmother. Daniel called 911. Another motorist stopped to help and told the dispatcher their location. I started doing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth, Daniel said. Daniel had learned CPR in a health class the previous school year. To the soon-to-be eight-grader, the class was boring. Now Im glad that they taught it, he said. After two rounds of CPR, paramedics arrived. Sgt. Chris Johnson of the California Highway Patrol did, too. There are a bunch of trees and ice plants, and they just go right down the middle of it all and dont hit a single thing, Johnson recalled. (The officer has kept in touch with the family, and so has the good Samaritan.) The boys seemed calm, the officer said, praising their fast thinking. At the time, the boys parents were back home in Washington. Daniel updated them while they hustled to California. The brothers also helped the doctors talk to their grandmother, who speaks Russian and limited English. Until their grandfather woke up from the coma, the boys insisted on staying in Orange County, sometimes sleeping on waiting-room chairs. Yalvac, Govzmans cardiologist, said the grandfather did not have a heart attack but arrhythmia, though it is unclear why the usually-healthy mans heart stopped. He will be in the hospital for a few more days. Boris Govzmans voice broke and his eyes moistened. They are very intelligent boys, he said in Russian through his daughter. His wife teared up: Im not only proud of them but Im grateful, because they saved my husbands life. The trip was supposed to be the boys summer vacation before school and the grandparents anniversary gift. But the grandfather just doesnt remember the trip. I have to repeat the vacation, he said. Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or afausto@scng.com NEW YORK (AP) With government officials now warning pregnant women to avoid Miami Beach in addition to Puerto Rico, some sun seekers are desperately scrambling for a Zika-free vacation. And that has left other tourist destinations to capitalize quietly. Travel experts say families worried about Zika are now looking to Arizona and Southern California to get some sun, along with cooler weather locales such as New England and Canada. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or through sex with an infected person. In pregnant women, a Zika infection can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly, where babies are born with a dangerously small head. In others, it can lead to Guillain-Barre, which can cause temporary paralysis and in rare instances, death. That was the case earlier this month of a man between 35 and 45 years old who died in Puerto Rico after being infected. Given that background, many would-be vacationers dont want to take the risk. Jen LeFante and her husband, Chris, are expecting their first child in March. The New Jersey couple had wanted to escape to Puerto Rico or the Florida Keys for some relaxation before the baby arrives. But it seems like every travel destination we picked is on the Zika list, she said. Instead, they are doing a number of smaller, driving trips, including ones to upstate New York and Vermont. Id much rather be on a beach, LeFante said. Bermuda has seen several groups move meetings and conventions there from Caribbean islands, according to Glenn Jones, director of public and stakeholder relations at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Thats been a welcome and unexpected boost to our business this summer, Jones said. However, the island nation off the coast of the Carolinas has been careful about how it handles the situation. Educating tourists who ask about the absence of Zika is fine, but dont expect a marketing campaign around it. There is a delicate balance there, Jones said. We dont proactively seek to capitalize on this. Ingrid Kessler takes a vacation every few years with 10 family members, spanning three generations. This years adventure was planned for Riviera Maya in Mexico. But with two members of the group at child-bearing age and older members with compromised immune systems that plan was scrapped because of Zika. Canadas Banff National Park was briefly considered as an alternative but the group wanted beach time and the chance to go scuba diving. So Bermuda won out. Such travel shifts worry tourism officials in destinations with Zika. Miami is the first spot on the U.S. mainland where the virus has been transmitted by mosquito bites. The tourism industry has a lot at risk. More than 15.5 million people made overnight visits to Miami and nearby beaches in 2015, with an impact of $24.4 billion on the local economy, according to figures from the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of that business is likely to go elsewhere. Visitors bureaus in some other destinations either said they didnt have proof of a Zika connection to their growth or were hesitant to speak about the bump, fearing that they might be perceived as gloating amid somebody elses misery. But clues to the shift have surfaced, including in regulatory filings of publicly traded companies. James Murren, CEO of MGM Resorts International, said on a recent earnings call that Las Vegas was benefiting as vacationers book away from Florida. As sad as that situation is in Florida, I certainly dont want to benefit from it as a result of that, but I can say that were seeing a pickup in air traffic and in driving traffic even in the last couple of months, Murren said on Aug. 4. That has hurt a particularly popular part of the travel business: honeymoons and so-called babymoons, trips prior to the arrival of a new child. For those destinations with Zika warnings, there has been a significant loss in business. During the first half of this year, the average hotel occupancy rate in Puerto Rico fell from 78.6 percent to 74.8 percent, according to STR, a firm that tracks hotel data. May was particularly devastating with occupancy falling to 67 percent. The luxury Belmond La Samanna hotel on St. Martin lost $700,000 in revenue a 12 percent drop in April, May and June as guests stayed away because of concerns over Zika, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marriott International also said that its hotels in the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico saw declining performance due to Zika concerns. Its too early to estimate the economic toll of Zika. There are added health costs, the loss of business and the lack of travel. The 2002 and 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was estimated by the World Bank to have cost the global economy $54 billion. Magazines including Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler have been offering Zika-Free Destination guides, offering alternative destinations. They include Bermuda; Charleston, South Carolina; San Diego; Palm Springs, California; Hawaii; and Arizona. And not every destination has to be warm-weather. When travelers tell me they want a place thats Zika-free, terrorist-free and affordable, I suggest Canada, said Wendy Perrin, a travel expert who offers advice on WendyPerrin.com. Those who really want to head to Latin America are planning trips to places at higher elevations where mosquitoes dont live, such as Machu Picchu in Peru, Mexico City and Bogota, Colombia, Perrin said. "What's going on?" my best friend, Jeff, asks. We talk on the phone daily since I left Los Angeles for New York seven years ago to find a husband. Today, I tell him how I feel stuck with my writing, overwhelmed by deadlines and distant from said hubby. The one thing we don't discuss? The baby. Unless she's with me, I don't talk to Jeff about my 1-year-old. It's not that he isn't ecstatic for me that I finally had a child. God knows, he probably heard me cry about my years of infertility more than my husband, for whom I've always tried to stay upbeat. It's just that, as a gay polyamorous man Jeff has a husband, a boyfriend and a few other lovers he is rather indifferent to the particulars of parenting. A lot of my friends are that's what happens when you get hitched after 40. I get it. For a long time, I wasn't sure I wanted kids. Raised as an Orthodox Jew, I was expected to marry and procreate by the time I was out of college. But a devout and domestic life seemed like a trap. Why give up my carefree lifestyle? Especially since I feared I would mess up motherhood as badly as my own uninvolved parents had. It was only in my late 30s when the nights grew long and lonely and I became an aunt that I wondered what it would be like to have a child. Craving my nieces' company, filling their library with books, babysitting whenever I could, I was learning how much more capable I was than my own unprepared parents. They had been in their early 20s and not in love when they started having four kids; they divorced 30 years later. So, yes, I do understand what it's like not having kids. I understand my long-married pal who "played Russian Roulette" with her birth control, figuring that, if it happened, it happened. (It didn't.) I felt for my college buddy who was so traumatized by his childhood that he had no desire to procreate. And of course I sympathize with all my gorgeous girlfriends who haven't met the right man yet, or the ones who did too late to make motherhood possible. I could have been any of them. That's why I'm so keen to keep them in my life, even though I'm a parent now. Sure, I have mom friends. Not from those awkward hospital support groups or Mommy & Me yoga just friends I've already had who had kids at the same time. But I want my entire posse the ones who knew me when I never thought I'd meet someone, who were wingmen at those dreadful singles parties, and who listened to my crazy JDate stories. (It's hard to believe we had to read and write entire profiles instead of simply swiping!) I did have to make some adjustments to keep these people in my life. Not everyone wants to hear about the challenges of breastfeeding, the sleepless nights of raising a newborn or the hysterical contents of my daughter's diaper after she eats corn. "You're really missing out" is something you'll never hear me say. Mostly because I recognize that parenthood isn't for everyone. And it takes sacrifice on their part, too, to know that I can't do late-night excursions anymore, that date-night out requires finagling babysitting logistics and forking over quite a bit of cash. And sometimes the baby needs to come along. Not everyone has made the cut. When I was pregnant, a close single friend picked a fight with me over something I found trivial, and we fell out of touch. It could have been that me having a husband and baby was just too much for her. Another couple became so gleefully child-free the types who post GIFs about how they're sleeping late with the dog that we've had trouble connecting now that I'm a parent. When we're together, I'm so nervous about being one of those people who talks only about my kid that I can hardly think of anything to say at all. I'd tried to do the same thing when I got engaged. I tried to prove to my single friends that I was the same I'd always been. But marriage did change me. And motherhood has, too. For the better! I put others first, I'm (a little) less self-involved ... and I'm probably more boring. Especially to my child-free friends. So maybe I should go ahead and join that Mommy & Me yoga class and stop trying to keep my old pals around. I can always reconnect with them in about 18 years. *** Amy Klein writes about fertility, health and parenting. She's working on a memoir, "No Sleep Till Baby." Robert Marcotte is remembered by family as a renaissance man a mans man with a great sense of humor who could tell a wicked story. He served as president of Marcotte Insurance in Omaha and national president of Ducks Unlimited, a wetland and waterfowl conservation nonprofit. Marcotte died of natural causes Tuesday at Bergan Mercy Medical Center. He was 91. He was on the boards of so many different organizations, Marcottes son, Robert Rob Marcotte Jr., said. But one stood above the rest: His greatest passion was waterfowl. Marcotte was the son of Omaha natives Emily and Lionel Joseph LJ Marcotte, who founded Marcotte Insurance. The company still operates from an office on West Dodge Road. The family is no longer connected to the company, but the Marcotte name lives on. An alumnus of Creighton Prep and Georgetown University, Marcotte graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1951. He became an accomplished general agent for Mutual of Omaha in addition to being president of Marcotte Insurance from 1957 until retiring in the early 1990s. Marcottes daughter Barbara Marcotte Woodling said her father was most proud of his conservation work through Ducks Unlimited and other organizations. Marcotte was active in Ducks Unlimited for six decades. He was elected Nebraska state chairman in 1957. He served on the national board of directors and was national president from 1980 to 1981. Marcotte was dedicated to his passions, which included hunting waterfowl and aviation. Some of the organizations he dedicated his time to include the Whooping Crane Trust Fund, Boone & Crockett Club, Audubon Society, National Rifle Association, Nebraska Historical Society and Omaha Airport Authority. Marcotte served in the Army Air Corps as a second lieutenant during World War II when he was an aerial gunnery instructor. He owned planes and would pilot on many hunting and fishing adventures. Woodling said her father had an insatiable curiosity. That curiosity and love of adventure took Marcotte all over the world. South America, Africa, Russia you name it, said Rob Marcotte, who accompanied his father to Zimbabwe. Marcotte visited China in the 1980s to advise a Chinese wildlife organization about wetland restoration. He made sure to share his passions and curiosity with his five children. The family would take trips to the Cabin, their property along the Platte River near Yutan, Nebraska. He wanted us all to be familiar with how to function in the wild, said Marcotte Woodling, who attributes her career in natural resources to her father. His children remember family road trips where dad was a walking historical marker. Rob Marcotte said he was always giving you a history lesson, Along with Rob Marcotte and Barbara Marcotte Woodling, Marcotte is survived by daughters Marian Mimi McClelland and the Rev. Susan Hazen and sister Laurette Naylor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara W. Marcotte, and daughter Carol Marcotte Fick. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Christ the King Catholic Church. Target is considering shifting some orders to Trident after it terminated $90 million of business with rival supplier Welspun India for labeling cheaper bedsheets as premium Egyptian cotton, according to people familiar with the discussions. The U.S. retail giant has begun sampling sheets manufactured by Trident, according to the people, who asked not to be identified, as the talks are confidential. Trident, based in the northern state of Punjab, supplies terry towels to Target and is one of the few Indian companies with the capacity to produce more bedsheets, they said. Target on Aug. 19 severed business ties with Indias largest home textiles exporter after discovering that sheets and pillows labeled as premium Egyptian cotton were actually made with another type of cotton. The retailer pulled the items from its stores and offered customers refunds. A man with what his father described as a history of mental health problems and a methamphetamine addiction on Thursday night drove a stolen pickup truck into an airplanes front landing gear at Eppley Airfield, police said. The incident caused nearly $1 million in damage, according to police, $975,000 of which was damage to the plane. Delairo Koonce, 35, parked his own pickup outside a parking garage at the airport about 9:30 p.m. and walked to the south end of a driveway in front of the terminal. There, he screamed that people were trying to kill him, said Tim Conahan, the chief of the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department. An Eppley police officer approached and tried to calm Koonce, but he would not let the officer get close, and he bolted for the garage, Conahan said. Inside, several officers tried to contain him, but he again ran, this time down the front driveway where travelers lug bags as they head to and from the airport. He was bound for bushes at the base of an 8-foot barbed-wire-topped fence and climbed it. In the dark, officers listened as he scaled the fence but could not see him. There, he took off his pants, Conahan said. Inside the airports perimeter near the south ramp, Koonce stripped off his shirt and got inside an unlocked and running Southwest Airlines pickup parked just outside the airlines office, Conahan said. Police cut him off as he drove, but he doubled back, then headed under a jet bridge. Six to seven minutes after the incident began, Koonce, wearing only boxer shorts, drove into the nose gear of a Southwest plane parked at Gate 17. Passengers had just begun to board the flight, which was headed for Las Vegas. Officials are reviewing the incident to determine whether security adjustments are necessary, Conahan said. He said Koonce was contained to the ramp and did not gain access to the runways or taxiway. The planes nose-gear tires were flattened, so another plane flew the 113 passengers to their destination, Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said. The flight arrived three hours later than originally scheduled. The pilot of the struck aircraft suffered a minor knee injury when his leg hit a console in the cockpit, and a flight attendant hit her elbow. They declined medical treatment. Koonce also was injured. He was cut by the fences barbed wire and struck his head on the pickups windshield in the crash. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center because of his erratic behavior, Omaha police said. He will be booked on suspicion of felony destruction of property and vehicle theft, Conahan said. Until recently, Delairo Koonce was happy and stable and working to support his four children, his father, Brian Koonce, said. Delairo Koonce had been working 12-hour days for Airlite Plastics, his father said. The company, located a mile north of the Eppley terminal, wanted to hire Koonce after he finished working there under a temporary contract, Brian Koonce said, but Delairo Koonces therapist said it would be too much for him. An Airlite Plastics spokeswoman said she could not confirm whether Koonce had worked there. She said she would need an employees approval before releasing the persons work history. On Wednesday, Delairo Koonce told his father that he needed inpatient treatment. Pops, if something happens to me, tell my kids I love them, he said, according to his father. Delairo Koonce was unable to get into a treatment program, his father said. Nebraska is falling down on the people, Brian Koonce said. They just want to lock him up and not give him any help. Its messing me up. I know hes crying for help. Brian Koonce said his sons addiction to methamphetamine was connected to his mental health problems and started when he was a young adult and lived in the family home. Delairo Koonce went to live in Missouri a couple of years ago to try to get away from the methamphetamine scene in the Omaha area, his father said. The younger Koonce was arrested in Missouri in December 2014 on suspicion of assault on a law enforcement officer. His father said he had been involved in a police chase. Delairo Koonce later was sentenced to two years probation for misdemeanor assault/placing a worker in apprehension of physical injury. Omaha and Eppley police, the FBI, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Security Administration are collaborating in the investigation. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Omaha Public Library wants to help readers find new books or at least books new to them. Every month, library employees recommend reading based on different writing themes, genres or styles. As summer winds down and many families are getting into their back-to-school routines, library staff members share some of their favorite school-related selections. Find these titles at your local branch or omahalibrary.org: Barbara Banninga, library aide at W. Dale Clark Library, recommended Jesse by Gary Soto. The book is about two brothers who work farm fields through the summer to earn money for their college education. It has a historical slant, since it takes place during the Vietnam War era in the 1960s. David Dick, clerk at Charles B. Washington Library, picked A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. Ged was a gifted boy wizard decades before Harry Potter. A headstrong boy from a small island discovers his potential and goes to a school to learn how to use his powers. Reckless use of magic leads him to take responsibility and come to terms with his own dark side. William Hall, library specialist at Saddlebrook Library, recommended Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink. This book is all about personal motivation, a key ingredient in having a successful school year and life. In laymans terms, Pink discusses recent research findings and applies the results to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Autumn Hill, youth services librarian at Benson Library, recommended The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks by E. Lockhart. During her sophomore year at boarding school, Frankie starts dating a popular senior. After being excluded from the all-male secret society he belongs to, Frankie secretly takes it over issuing anonymous instructions for increasingly clever and more elaborate school pranks. Karen Pietsch, branch manager at Benson Library, recommended The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Nobody Owens has lived in the village graveyard as long as he can remember, playing among the gravestones with ghosts for teachers and gas station food delivered by a gentle vampire. Now with a (live) girl trying to befriend him and a murderer on his trail, he must finally venture into the world of the living. Kids will appreciate this macabre and witty coming-of-age story by acclaimed author Gaiman. Pietsch also picked The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Desperate to shed his California upbringing, Richard Papen spends every penny he has to attend a second-rate Eastern private college where he falls in with a pretentious clique of classics majors and their eccentric mentor. Richard is at first dazzled by the sophisticated trust-fund kids and their obsession with drinking, pills and Greek literature, but a sinister secret soon surfaces and sets in motion their own version of a Greek tragedy. This dark and meandering literary thriller is the perfect read for darker, chillier days. Judy Shannon, collection manager for Omaha Public Library, suggested several titles for busy parents who are looking for lunch ideas: Beating the Lunch Box Blues: Fresh Ideas for Lunch on the Go! by J.M. Hirsch has photos with tips and ideas for both adults and children; Vegan Lunch Box: 130 Amazing, Animal-Free Lunches Kids and Grown-Ups Will Love! by Jennifer McCann has menus and includes allergy-free recipes; and Lunch Box Letters: Writing Notes of Love and Encouragement to Your Children by Carol Sperandeo may help keep lunch from being a total disaster. Wendy Townley, development director, Omaha Public Library Foundation, recommended I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. Wolfes best-selling novel will transport you to your college days quicker than you can say the freshman fifteen. The varied classmates who weave their way through the young (and relatively naive) Charlotte Simmons life will make you nostalgic for your undergraduate experience or grateful that its over. There's lots to do this weekend. A few things we recommend include: Film: Black Men United invites the public to Dine, Digest and Discuss from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Big Mamas Kitchen, 3223 N. 45th St. The film White Like Me: Race, Racism and White Privilege will be shown. The free event includes food and discussion. Speaker: Come to the Sarpy County Museum at 2 p.m. Sunday to hear Native American speaker Wynema Morris. This free event is open to the public. Morris, a member of the Omaha Tribe, speaks and teaches about traditional, historical and political issues of American Indians. She has taught at the college level for the past 15 years, currently at Nebraska Indian Community College. Picnic: The annual Irvington community picnic will be held Sunday at Northwest Hills Church, 9334 Fort St. The potluck lunch begins at 1 p.m. Pie social: The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts continues to host pie socials at its Carver Bank location, 2416 Lake St. The free potluck-style pie social Saturday will explore the artists role in planning and designing the built environment. The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Mural: There will be an unveiling of a new mural at 1 p.m. Sunday followed by music and food at Dinkers Bar and Grill, 2368 S. 29th St. The South Omaha Mural Projects collection of cultural murals is underway, and the Polish Mural (the fourth mural of the set) is complete. The potluck portion starts at 1 p.m. There will be a short presentation by the artists at 2 followed by polka and other polish music by Doubleshot. There will be a traditional breaking of a chair for good luck at 3:30. Fossils: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Harrison, Nebraska, will celebrate Founders Day Saturday with a full day of activities. From 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be walks, talks, kids activities and birthday cake. On Sunday, speakers will discuss Following the Footsteps of Early Paleontologists in Badlands National Park at 2 p.m. in the Agate Fossil Beds visitor center theater. Admission is free. Woodworking: Join a celebration of local woodworking artists with artistry and craftsmanship on display and for purchase during Midwest Woodworkers annual show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the store. Enjoy live chainsaw carving, woodturning demonstrations and fractal wood burning; meet and talk with the artists at 14605 Wright St. Refreshments available. Eighty years and 10,000 flight hours after climbing into an airplane for the first time at the local airstrip, Council Bluffs native Charles Bock loves flying as much as ever. These days, Bock, 90, putters about in a two-seat Europa that he built from a kit not quite as dangerously as when he flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, or as swiftly as when he zoomed at Mach 3 as a test pilot in the sleek SR-71, one of many jets he flew during a 30-year Air Force career. But it still gets the blood flowing. When you build your own airplane, youre the test pilot, Bock said in a phone interview from his home in Nevada. In the Air Force, Bock earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and several air medals. The Society of Experimental Test Pilots chose him for its prestigious Kincheloe and Tenhoff awards. But today hell get a special honor, back in his home state: induction into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame. The ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. in Greenfield, Iowa, about 85 miles east of Omaha. He has had a supersonic, stellar career in aviation, said aviation historian David Wendell, of Marion, Iowa, who will emcee the Hall of Fame ceremony. Hell join Wilbur and Orville Wright (who once lived in Cedar Rapids), pioneer plane builder Glenn L. Martin, and astronauts Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7) and Peggy Whitson (International Space Station), among others. Aviation pioneer Jerome Hunsaker, a native of Creston, is being inducted posthumously. He was president of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Co. and supervised the construction of Navy lighter-than-air airships in the 1930s. Its great, Bock said. I feel like Im in with a group of very distinguished people who accomplished a lot. The son of a pharmacist in Council Bluffs, Bock and a friend used to pedal their bicycles to the airport to watch the airplanes. We were hoping maybe someone would take pity on us and give us a ride, he said. For his 10th birthday, his parents bought him an introductory flight in a Piper Cub. He was hooked. I wanted to be a pilot. All my life, thats all I ever wanted, Bock said. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1943 and signed up for the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program. He took a job at the Martin Bomber Plant at Offutt Air Force Base, building B-26s on the graveyard shift until his training slot opened the following year. But by the time Bock finished his schooling to become a navigator on B-29 bombers, World War II had ended. So he used his GI Bill to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering at Purdue University. Boeing hired him for a job in Seattle, but a desk job didnt suit him. I was a junior engineer, sitting at a big drafting table, he said. I kept walking over to the assembly line and watching them put together the B-47s. The Korean War bailed him out. The Air Force called him up, and this time sent him to pilot training in 1950. He chalked up 51 combat missions flying B-26 bombers in Korea. After the war, Bock landed a coveted test-pilot slot at Edwards Air Force Base, in an era when test pilots were the cowboy gods later immortalized in the book and Hollywood film The Right Stuff. He flew cutting-edge jet aircraft of every stripe. He was friends with future astronauts Deke Slayton and Gordon Cooper and also knew Chuck Yeager and Neil Armstrong. He was the first pilot to fly the Convair B-58 Hustler, and in 1959, flew a B-52 that launched the first X-15 rocket plane. Bock also flew bombers for the Strategic Air Command, including the B-29, B-50, B-45, and, at Lincoln Air Base, the B-47. In 1962, he was one of eight pilots selected for a new Air Force astronaut program separate from NASAs. It made a big splash in all the papers, Bock said, but the Air Force program was scrubbed about the time the officers finished their training. He did get a nice consolation prize: flying the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird. They threw me back in the briar patch, Bock said. I was quite happy. During the Vietnam War, he returned to combat, this time as an F-100 Super Sabre fighter pilot. He flew 52 missions before being sent to the Pentagon as chief of safety for the Air National Guard. As his military retirement date neared in April 1973, Rockwell International approached Bock about becoming its chief test pilot. He flew for the company until 1981, and piloted the new B-1 bomber on its maiden flight on Dec. 23, 1974. Bock married his high school sweetheart, Gere Chandler, who also was from Council Bluffs. They raised three children together. She died in 1986. Hes been married to his second wife, Joyce, for 19 years. Though Bock no longer has family in Council Bluffs, hes looking forward to his trip home. In his later years, he is now earning rewards from a long, pioneering Air Force career. I feel very honored, Bock said. Contact the writer: 402-444-1186, steve.liewer@owh.com Judge Robert Rossiter Jr., a longtime Omaha lawyer, now officially wears the robe of a U.S. District Court judge. Rossiter was formally inducted at a ceremony Friday afternoon at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse downtown. Speaking at the ceremony, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said Rossiters journey to the bench was a result of his conscious choice to be a person of integrity. The path to Fridays investiture ceremony took two years. Fischer and former Sen. Mike Johanns recommended Rossiter to President Barack Obama in August 2014. In June 2015, Obama nominated him, and last September, Fischer testified on behalf of Rossiter at a Senate Judiciary Committee. In October, that committee approved the nomination and sent it to the full Senate, which voted in June of this year to confirm Rossiter. Part of the delay was caused by how the Senate has taken to confirming federal judges. Federal district judges used to be lumped together and confirmed all at once, expediting the process, but the Senate now confirms them individually. In April, the vacancy was defined as a judicial emergency, which the federal court system defines as a seat unfilled for more than 18 months in a district with high caseloads. Rossiter takes the place of Judge Joseph Bataillon, who took senior status in 2014. Rossiter was a partner at the Omaha law firm of Fraser Stryker, where he worked for 33 years. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1981, where he served as the executive editor of the Creighton Law Review. After receiving his law degree, Rossiter clerked for U.S. District Judge C. Arlen Beam, who administered the oath of office Friday. WASHINGTON Rep. Steve King wants Donald Trump to clarify his position on illegal immigration when he visits Iowa today. In an interview with The World-Herald, the Iowa Republican described going through a range of emotions this week listening to Trumps statements on illegal immigration. He made some remarks about how apparently the good ones would get to stay, and thats not consistent with his full history of immigration policy, at least with regard to a presidential candidate, King said Friday. That began to trouble me instantly when I heard that. But Trump has since said in a CNN interview that he still opposes a path to legalization for those living in the country unlawfully the position that King wants him to maintain. Someone described it as a 360-degree pivot, King said with a laugh. If thats where hes pivoted to, I hope he stays there. An outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, King represents Iowas 4th District. An early supporter of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, King only recently endorsed Trump. King said he always thought that he and Trump were on the same page with regard to illegal immigration. After all, he said, he sent immigration policy materials to Trump advisers even before the businessman announced his presidential bid and a fair amount of that material ended up on Trumps campaign website. But Trumps comments this week have given King some heartburn. The congressman said he hopes Trump allays those concerns today. Specifically, he wants Trump to reiterate his commitment to two policy positions: eliminating President Barack Obamas executive actions on illegal immigration and blocking any path to legalization for those in the country illegally. You cannot restore the rule of law if you reward lawbreakers, King said. That is the center of this entire immigration issue. Dennis Goldford, political science professor at Drake University, said it appears that Trumps new campaign aides are pushing him to shift away from the uncompromising position on immigration that helped him win the GOP primary and embrace a more moderate approach that could expand his appeal for the general election. But its tough to square the new approach with his past rhetoric. Hes all over the map with regard to what hes saying now, Goldford said. Nobody quite understands what hes doing. Goldford said Trumps core supporters have shown a willingness to afford him latitude when he makes inconsistent statements or changes his policies, but it remains to be seen whether a shift on immigration would be a step too far. For his part, King said he believes that an immigration policy change could indeed rattle Trumps base. I can feel the churn of uneasiness, King said. The base has been betrayed so many times; theyre very sensitive about it. And that ultimately could undermine Trumps chances of capturing the White House. I dont know how you get elected president of the United States if youre going to alienate your base, King said. Karnataka to survey all Arabic schools to check if on same page as state board How Hizbul Mujahideen used cross border trade to raise Rs 80 crore? Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Aug 27: The scope of the investigation being conducted by the National Investigation Agency probing the flow of money into Jammu and Kashmir to fuel the unrest is likely to widen. Remittances from West Asia and Europe into Jammu and Kashmir are now under the scanner. The NIA has already found that some Kashmiri businessmen from Saudi Arabia had over invoiced the price of goods and pumped money into the Valley. Intelligence Bureau tells how money from Pakistan fuelled the J&K unrest The NIA would revisit its 2013 chargesheet filed against the Hizbul Mujahideen in which it was stated that Rs 80 crore had come in from Pakistan to fund terror activities. The Hizbul Mujahideen had roped in some truck drivers involved in cross border trade for this operation. In addition to this, the Enforcement Directorate too had probed a case in which it was found that a Hurriyat Conference member, Firdaus Ahmed Shah had received funds from Italy through the Western Union Money transfer. A team of the ED which is also probing another similar case has found that money had come in from West Asia and Europe. Unrest in J&K led to fake currency influx from Pakistan Funding terror NIA officials say that the Hizbul Mujahideen had roped in some truck drivers involved in cross border trade. The Hizbul Mujahideen had sent its terrorists to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as traders. The truck drivers would ferry them across to PoK. The NIA during the course of its probe learnt that when these terrorists returned from PoK they had with them huge chunks of cash and weapons. The terrorists from Pakistan parked in PoK would facilitate both the cash and the weapons. It was further found that Rs 80 crore had come into the Valley in various installments. The NIA and the Enforcement Directorate would now coordinate to probe into similar cases. Both agencies are probing the money flow into the Valley. The NIA is now specifically probing into the flow of cash to fund the unrest. The ED on the other hand is probing the flow of funds from Pakistan to finance terrorist groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 27, 2016, 12:40 [IST] Registrations for CEED, UCEED 2023 to commence in October: All the details here Zomato, Portea among 31 companies blacklisted by IITs Business oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Mumbai, Aug 27: Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on Thursday blacklisted 31 companies including a large number of startups, barring them from hiring from their campuses for one year. According to a report in DNA, 28 of these are startups. While the list of the banned companies is not made public yet, Economic Times reported that Flipkart may lose its 'Day One' recruitment status at the campus placements. IIT-B bans 9 startups for revoking, delaying placement offers Apart from Flipkart, even InMobi had deferred the joining dates of its new recruits from July to November 2016, stating that the new joinees will be idle in the period. According to Economic Times report, the move was taken by All-IIT Placement Committee (AIPC) after it was reported that several companies were defferring the placement of its students over the past few months. The report also suggested that "Ola was finding it difficult to take on students they had hired and were delaying the process." Other companies who feature in the list are Zimply, Pepper Tap, Grabhouse and more. The committee also banned Zomato from recruiting for one year. Meanwhile, 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. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 27, 2016, 14:53 [IST] Who is Yasin Malik? The Kashmiri separatist sentenced to life in terror funding case Should Kashmir be given to Pakistan: Row erupts after this question appears in MP civil service exam From hijab to Kashmir, Zawahiri was Al-Qaeda's voice for everything anti-India The Hurriyat Calendar: Aug 14 Pray for Pakistan; Aug 15 Black Day, block I-Day; lock down J&K! Feature oi-Vicky The Hurriyat Conference in Jammu and Kashmir has spared no effort to stoke passions and ensure that the state has been on the boil for the past 50 days. Week after week the Hurriyat Conference issues a calendar of events for the week which has been one of the main reasons for the violence not subsiding. Officials would say that unless the Hurriyat stops issuing such calendars, the violence will not subside in the Valley. Interestingly the three separatists are today under arrest after they had announced in today's programme that they would march towards the 14 corps of Indian Army at Badami Bagh, Srinagar and ask the GOC to vacate Jammu and Kashmir. J&K: Police constable shot dead by terrorist Why is Yasin Malik refusing treatment at AIIMS, Delhi? The Hurriyat's calendar is basically a programme of protests that is issued every week. Since the death of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander on July 8, the Hurriyat has issued over 4 calendars. In all the calendars one common programme is to pray for the prosperity of Pakistan. The calendars are sent out as press releases or through Whatsapp. Here are some of the calendars that have been issued by the Hurriyat Conference since the protests broke out on July 9. The August 11 calendar: August 13: Referendum March; March from every Mohallah, Village, locality, Tehsil and District towards Lal Chowk Srinagar. If and wherever stopped, sit and continue protest for till Sunday Evening; People hailing from Jammu and Kashmir and their sympathizers who are residing outside India will organize referendum march of their respective cities and capitals. (Relaxation after 6 pm to 6 am) both days August 14: During the Referendum march, offer special prayers on 14th of August for the stability of Pakistan after every Nimaz. August 15: Civil curfew and black Day: From 7:00 am onwards block all the roads towards and around the place of celebration of Indian Independence day; District development commissioners are asked not to hoist the Indian Flag in any part of the Jammu and Kashmir. Parents are directed not to send their wards for participation in these celebrations. Raise black flags on your houses, shops, market centers and local chowks wear black dresses or black bands on this day. Black Day for PaK (Azad Kashmir) as well; all the political parties and people of Azad Kashmir hold protests with black flags against Indian occupation. NRKs to protest with black flags in front of embassies all over the world. There will be no relaxation. Kashmir Political Pot's Boiling: Governor's Rule or New Governor? August 16: (Relaxation after 6 pm to 6 am). Members of all trade and manufacturing bodies including shopkeepers hold a sit in protest from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at all district central markets. Women's Protests from Zuhar to Asr and Men's protest from Asr to Magrib; Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha; banging of roof tops. August 17: (Relaxation after 6 pm to 6 am) UNO March: March from every Mohallah, Village, locality, Tehsil and District towards UN office, Lal Chowk Srinagar. If and wherever stopped, sit and continue protest till evening. August 18: (Relaxation after 6 pm to 6 am) A poster letter asking all Legislators and workers of pro-Indian parties to resign from their positions and parties be disseminated throughout Jammu and Kashmir via every media. Assemble and occupy all roads for one hour from 5pm to 6 pm. Offer Asr nimaz on roads as a mark of protest. Directions for all the days The Protests be held across Jammu and Kashmir on all days. Shutdown across J&K on all days except the relaxation mentioned in the programme. Lockdown all the routes entering your mohallas, villages and localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K police. Mashall bardaar processions should be carried on alternate days The August 18 calendar: August 20, Saturday: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Azadi Road Shows, Join for Azadi Road Shows and march towards district headquarters. March on two wheelers (Motorcycles & Bicycles) and march by foot; If and wherever stopped, assemble, occupy and protest at that place till evening. August 21: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Poster Letter to Pro Indian Legislators A poster letter asking all MLAs , MLCs and Ministers from all pro-Indian political parties to resign from government and party positions to be pasted on every wall, post and poll around their residence and in the locality. Assemble and occupy local chowks and centers from 3pm to 5pm August 22: (relaxation from 10 pm to 6 am) Tehsil Headquarters March March from every Mohalla, Village and Locality towards respective tehsil headquarters. Offer Zuhur prayers at Tehsil headquarters and after Nimaz hold "Referendum Congregations" for the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir. Block all roads towards and around civil secretariat Srinagar, DC & Tehsil offices and ensure that no employee should join the duty. August 23: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Women's Protest. Assemble and occupy local chowks and centers from Zuhr to Asr in the vicinity of your mohallas, villages and localities; Protest peacefully Chilli filled PAVA grenades to replace pellet guns in J&K but CRPF is not happy August 24: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Assessment Drive Resistance/Masjid committees in all villages and localities visit each and every household and prepare a list of the needy. Also visit the families of martyrs and injured, prepare a detailed list of the family and their needs; Make arrangements for their support August 24: (relaxation from 10 pm to 6 am) Graffiti Day-Paint all roads, lanes, walls, post & polls, with resistance slogans; Protest against the recent attack on mosques by Indian forces including 27th anniversary of Jamia Masjid siege; Protest from Asr to Magrib Directions for all the days Protests be held across Jammu and Kashmir. Shutdown across J&K on all days except the relaxation mentioned in the program. Lockdown all the routes entering your mohallas, villages and localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K police. Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha. The August 24 calendar: August 26: (relaxation from 10 pm to 6 am) Azadi March to Eidgah Srinagar Join for Azadi March to Eidgah Srinagar. Move from every Mohallah, Village, locality, Tehsil and District towards Eidgah Srinagar. Offer Friday prayers at Eidgah Srinagar. Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha. August 27: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Letter to Indian armed forces (Army, BSF, CRFP, ITBP, CISF) Joint Resistance Leadership will march towards 14 core (sic) of Indian Army at Badami Bagh, Srinagar and ask the GOC to vacate Jammu and Kashmir. Come to Masjids during night for one hour (10 pm to 11 pm), Offer prayers for freedom of Jammu & Kashmir. August 28: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Assessment Drive Resistance/Masjid committees in all villages and localities visit each and every household and prepare a list of the needy. Also visit the families of martyrs and injured, prepare a detailed list of the family and their needs. Make arrangements for their support. August 29: (relaxation 10 pm to 6 am) Lockdown all government offices except essential service Except for essential services, lock down all government offices and don't allow movement of any employee towards these offices for joining. Divisional Commissioner, all Deputy Commissioners and Heads of all Departments are warned not to threaten the employees in any manner. Otherwise list of all such officers will be made public for comprehensive social boycott, play Islamic and Azadi Taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha. August 30: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Women's Protest Assemble and occupy local chowks and centers from Zuhr to Asr in the vicinity of your mohallas, villages and localities; protest peacefully August 31: (relaxation from 6 pm to 6 am) Occupy Highway and Inter-district Roads Assemble and occupy highway from Banihal to Salambad Uri and all other inter-district roads from 11 am to 4 pm.Offer Nimaz-e-Zuhr on roads. September 1: (relaxation 10 pm to 6am) Stop Propaganda War Machinery of Indian State Block all the roads towards and around the institutions of propaganda war machinery viz., Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir and Information Department, ensure no employee is allowed to enter the premises by occupying the roads around. Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha. Directions for all the days Protests be held across Jammu and Kashmir. Shutdown across J&K on all days except the relaxation mentioned in the program. Lockdown all the routes entering your mohallas, villages and localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K police. OneIndia News Hardik Patel demands release of Patels convicted in 2002 riots cases India oi-PTI Ahmedabad, Aug 27: Quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel has demanded the release of Patel youths convicted in various riots cases of 2002, but alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not facilitate it as he now wants to project himself as a "secular" leader to the world. Patel in a letter to Modi, has listed 102 Patel community members, who have been awarded life imprisonment in different riot cases of 2002. "Everybody knows that Narendra Modi first became chief minister of Gujarat taking the benefit of 2002 riots and then become Prime Minister of the country," Hardik Patel said in a letter addressed to Modi accusing him of being responsible for the carnage. "Many Patidar youths have been sentenced (by courts) in riots cases. I have given a list below," he said in the letter. Patel is at present residing in Udaipur, as he has been asked to stay outside Gujarat by the State High Court as part of one of his bail conditions. "All these Patel youths are rotting in jails of Gujarat. Modiji is now Prime Minister. He can recommend to the President for release of Patel youths involved in riots and get them released," Hardik said in the letter. "But, I know Modiji will not do that as he wants to show the country and the world that he is a secular person. Modiji has misused Gujaratis and particularly Patidars," Hardik alleged. He then goes on to give a list of various riots cases and number of youths convicted by courts in this connection. A year back, Hardik had started his agitation with a demand for inclusion of his community in the OBC category for reservation. Violence had erupted after he held a mega rally here on August 25 last year in which government and private property worth crores of rupees were damaged and 11 persons, including one policemen, were killed. Later, he was arrested on sedition charges and spent about nine months in jail. He was released thereafter following which he formed a new team for his agitation. His old associates like Ketan Patel and Chirag Patel, who were co-accused in sedition case with him have alleged that the young leader has amassed wealth in the name of Patel quota agitation. They have also accused him of ruining the agitation due to his ambition of becoming a leader at a young age. PTI In India terror down by 34%, civilian deaths by 90% since Art 370 scrapped: Shah Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh Mehbooba meets Modi, blames Pakistan for Kashmir unrest India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Aug 27: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday blamed Pakistan for instigating unrest in the state. Mehbooba told reporter after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here that youth in the Kashmir were attacking security forces and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn't provoke them to attack police stations -- and save youth from being killed," the Chief Minister said. The meeting with Modi came just two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Srinagar during which he met with Mehbooba, among others, as the Valley continued to remain on the boil and curfew continued for the 50th day. Angry Mehbooba Mufti ends press meet with Rajnath Singh abruptly The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said she was happy the central government was reaching out to all stakeholders to restore peace in the troubled state. "I have high hopes from the prime minister." IANS 5-year-old dies after being attacked by pack of dogs in MP MP CM's 5-day US visit to attract investments begins tomorrow India oi-PTI Bhopal, Aug 27: With an aim to attract investments in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will embark on a five-day US tour from tomorrow. "During his visit, Chouhan will meet potential investors and apprise them of prevailing favourable conditions and investment opportunities in the state," an official of the Public Relations Department said today. The Chief Minister will reach New York on August 28 where he will be welcomed by the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), he said. On August 29, he will be meeting prospective investors including Rajeev Kaul, MD of The Kaul Group, Tara Nathan, EVP PPP MasterCard, a representative of Pfizer, Hamilton, a representative of Xylem (a water focus innovation and technology company), Claudio Lilienfeld, Director, Government Affairs, Asia Pacific. MP: Youth denied Army job for sporting Modi tatoo on his chest The Chief Minister will also meet top officials of major companies on August 30, including Chaitanya Kanojia, Co-founder, Starry, Jeff Toll, CEO, Managing Principal, RMC, Peter Barkey, Principal, RMC, Anupam Sarwaikar, CIO RMC, and Rajeev Nair, Founder and CEO of Solarinno, the official said. During this visit, a number of MoUs are expected to be signed. Chouhan will have important meetings with leading business leaders on August 31 as well and will be back home on September 2. PTI No need of people like Chhotepur in SAD: Sukhbir India oi-PTI Amritsar, Aug 27: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said it will not welcome leaders like Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who has been removed as AAP's Punjab convener, into party fold. "The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has lots of committed workers and a dedicated cadre so there is no need for people like Sucha Singh Chhotepur to be brought into the SAD fold," SAD President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said while interacting with the media here. Attacking AAP, he said that this party is "on the verge of getting finished" and only the "last rites" needed to be performed, looking at its present state of affairs. Describing AAP as a "bunch of no do-gooders" who are only interested in "money minting", he said that its "hastily assembled conglomerate" of so-called leaders managed to "lure" people of Punjab with their "guiles" during the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 but now the people have seen their "real faces" and won't fall into their "trap" anymore. Taking a jibe at Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir said he didn't "care to show his face" to the people of Amritsar, despite being the elected representative from here. He alleged that both AAP and Congress did not care either for the interests of Punjab or the rich cultural and religious traditions of the state. Coming to the development of Amritsar, he said the city underwent a transition for the better during the previous nine years era of SAD-BJP government with Rs 3,000 crore being spent on various progress oriented infrastructural projects. Elaborating his plans to turn Amritsar into a hub of Tourism, Sulhbir said that the beautification of area around Golden Temple, besides the current beautification of Shri Durgiana Mandir and the focus on Rs 250 crore project of giving facelift to the Gobindgarh Fort, would further strengthen Amritsar's status amongst the tourist destinations. People will teach a lesson to Sidhu: Parkash Singh Badal He said that the state government would hold talks with the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to hold a summit in Amritsar for hosting more than 30 ministers of various countries in December. The Deputy Chief Minister also met officials of various departments and took stock of the various development centric projects concerning the city. PTI Who was Banda Singh Bahadur? Remembering the first Sikh ruler on his death anniversary Indian Sikh man separated from his family during Partition meets his Pakistani Muslim sister in Kartarpur Sikh body demands security for minorities in Kashmir India oi-PTI Jammu, Aug 27: Amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, a sikh body today appealed to the state and the central governments to take adequate security measures for minorities living in the Valley. "Minority communities living in Kashmir have become easy target. If they dont support the protesting mob, then they are attacked by them and if they come out with the mob, they became the target of security forces," Rinku Singh, chairperson, Guru Manyo Granth society, an amalgam of various Sikh religious and social organisations said. He said the business of minorities have been worst affected by the ongoing turmoil and demanded economic and employment packages be provided to them. Geelani tells the army to vacate Jammu and Kashmir, gets arrested "The government should come out with a comprehensive employment and economical packages for the minorities of Kashmir," he said. PTI Karnataka to survey all Arabic schools to check if on same page as state board Smoke in Bengaluru Metro tunnel: Trains halted for several minutes India oi-Shreyas By H S Shreyas Bengaluru: Bengaluru Metro Rail services were halted for several minutes and the Minsk Square station cordoned off to the public and media on Saturday morning after smoke was detected in the underground tunnel between Cubbon Park and MG Road stations at around 11.30 am. Although there was no official word on the cause of the smoke, Metro workers at the spot told OneIndia that an electrical short-circuit had caused a minor fire. Metro rail services between on the Purple Line were reported to have resumed by noon. Speaking to OneIndia, a BMRCL official said senior officials rushed to the Minsk Square as soon as smoke was reported. "We will be able to say what caused the smoke only after the officials investigate it," he said. OneIndia News Tripura Governor expresses concern over cross border terrorism India oi-PTI Agartala, Aug 27: Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has expressed concern over cross border terrorists from Bangladesh seeking safe haven in West Bengal and urged for further strengthening of bilateral ties through sharing of river waters. Pointing out that as a lower riparian country, Bangladesh, should get its due share of water to further strengthen bilateral relation with the neighbouring country, Roy said,"Five rivers including Sutlej, Chenab flow from India to Pakistan and despite deterioration of our relation with the country, India has not stopped sharing water." "So, India cannot deny sharing of water with the lower riparian country, Bangladesh. Let this irritant be removed," Roy said last evening after inaugurating a conclave, "Cross-Border Terrorism in Bangladesh: Implications for India's Border States," organized by a news portal here. He said the visa system between Bangladesh and India should be simplified and he has taken up the matter with the central government. Roy, a former leader of BJP in West Bengal, said, "Nearly half of the border of Bangladesh is with West Bengal and many terrorists from the country are using the state as their sanctuary. It is alarming." A B Mathur, former Chief of Research and Analytical Wing (RAW) said, "Pakistan is the source of terrorism in South-Asia. Army and ISI rule the country in the real sense and sponsor terrorism. Army is funding and encouraging terrorism." Expressing his gratitude to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mathur said, "She is fighting against terrorism in her country and did not allow insurgents of north eastern region of our country to use the soil of her country. If terrorism grows in Bangladesh, it is also a matter of deep concern for us." Director of NSI, Bangladesh, Nurul Absar said, "Our country follows the principle of zero tolerance towards terrorism. It is presumed that different terrorist groups in our country are trying to regroup and our government is alert." NFR to carry fuel tankers on flat wagons to Tripura He said terrorist groups made an attempt on the life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2004 because she was against terrorism. Absar said, "Bangladesh is not Pakistan or Syria. Our people are influenced by the Sufi thoughts, so it would not be possible for the terrorists to find solid ground in our country. Country would overcome the menace of terrorism." He also attached importance on sharing of information regarding activities of the terrorists so that both the countries could act against them. PTI Whistleblower to handover Scorpene data disk to Aus govt: Newspaper India oi-PTI New Delhi, Aug 27: The 'whistleblower' behind the Scorpene document leak will hand over the disk containing thousands of pages of data detailing the Indian submarine's stealth and warfare capabilities, to the Australian government on Monday, The Australian newspaper on Friday said. It said that the identity of the unnamed whistleblower is already known to the Australian authorities. The weekend edition of the newspaper said that neither France nor India knew about the leak till Monday afternoon when it sought a comment from French firm DCNS. India downplaying Scorpene document threat: Journalist who broke story The paper said whistleblower wants Australia to know that its future submarine partner, France has already lost control over secret data on India's new submarines. His hope is that this will spur the Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia's 50 billion dollar submarine project does not suffer the same fate, it said. "He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the newspaper said. PTI Hindu girl weds childhood Muslim friend in Pakistan International oi-PTI Karachi, Aug 27: In a rare case of peaceful inter- religious marriage in Pakistan, a Hindu girl has tied the knot with his childhood Muslim friend after converting to Islam, with their families properly solemnising the marriage in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. The family of Gordhan Das Khatri willingly allowed their daughter to convert to Islam in order to marry her childhood friend Bilal Qaimkhani whose father Muhammad Yousuf Qaimkhani is an old friend of Khatri. The two families lived for years in the same neighbourhood at Hathungo town in Khipro city of the province and developed close friendship. "When Khatri learnt that his daughter wanted to marry the son of his friend Qaimkhani, he invited his friend's family to his place in Mirpurkhas where the marriage was solemnised," said Ahmed Sanjrani, a common friend of the two families today. After the marriage, a reception party was held where a large number of Hindu and Muslim relatives were present. Hindus in Pakistan often complain of abduction and forceful conversion of their women to Islam. There have been several cases of Hindu girls getting converted to Islam without their consent. Hindu legislators in the past have also raised the issue. PTI Induction of Congress MLAs into BJP is death of Parrikar's legacy, says outgoing Goa deputy CM Manohar Parrikar to meet US defence secretary at Pentagon on Aug 29 International oi-PTI Washington, August 27: US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter would host his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar at the Pentagon on Monday (Aug 29), weeks after India was designated as a major defence partner by the US. The Pentagon on Friay said Carter would host an enhanced honour cordon to welcome Parrikar to the US Defence Department headquarters. Following the arrival ceremony there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. After the ceremony there will be a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press conference at the Pentagon, a statement said. "This will be Carter's sixth meeting with Parrikar, and comes just weeks after India was designated a major defence partner of the United States during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington," the Pentagon said. Carter had met Parrikar during a visit to India in April. The India-US Defence partnership has been the most ambitious one over the past several years, a senior State Department official told a group of South Asian reporters on Friday (Aug 26). "During the prime minister's last visit we were able to announce that the logistic agreements have been finalised, so we look forward to being able to sign that in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of minister's visit or not," the official said. "We are certainly welcoming and hopeful for continuing to move forward on that and continuing to move forward on the fact that we have designated India as a major defence partner and continue to progress in that direction," the official added. PTI Former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa not accorded any privileges, immunity by Singapore govt Indian origin man sentenced in Singapore for driving ambulance under influence of alcohol Singapore bids adieu to late Indian-origin president Nathan International oi-PTI Singapore, Aug 27: Indian-origin former Singaporean president S R Nathan, who passed away earlier this week, was laid to rest after a state funeral on Friday (Aug 26) with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong describing him as one of city-state's greatest sons. Nathan, who was 92 at the time of his death, had spent 40 years in Singapore civil service and two-terms as President from 1999 to 2011. He suffered a stroke on July 31 and was in intensive care of a hospital till he passed away on August 22. The family held a private cremation after the state funeral service. Seven eulogies were delivered at the state funeral service led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre this afternoon. Prime Minister Lee described Nathan as "one of Singapore's greatest sons". "He played a leadership role in the Indian community. But he was also a President for all Singaporeans, and cared deeply about racial and religious harmony," said Lee. A lone bugler from the military band sounded the 'Last Post' after the state funeral for the Singapore-born Nathan. A minute of silence was also observed, after which the Rouse was sounded -- a symbolic call back to duty after respect has been paid to the memory of the deceased. Singaporeans, led by President Tony Tan Keng Yam, and diplomats paid their last respects to the late president at the Parliament, where he was laid to rest with full honours. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife also paid respects to Nathan, making a brief stop-over in Singapore en-route to Kenya. Abe told Nathan's wife that Japan will never forget Nathan as he was the first head of state to visit Hiroshima and meet the atomic bomb victims during a state visit to Japan in 2009. "For me, President Nathan was a great son of Singapore, a great educator, leader and statesman. He was also a great friend of Indonesia," wrote former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the condolence book he signed at Singapore Embassy in Jakarta. Ambassador-at-large Gopinath Pillai, in his tribute at the state funeral service, said giving back to the Hindu and Indian communities was of great importance to Singapore's late President. Nathan was one of the founders of self-help group Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and as chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB), he ensured better accounting procedures were put in place. Pillai said Nathan had told him that he took on the role of chairman of HEB because he felt that just as there were credible Indian ministers who had won the respect of all races in Singapore's political arena, the various Indian institutions here should also be credible. "He did not think doing your best was good enough. Doing what was required was more important," said Pillai, delivering the last of seven eulogies at the funeral service for Nathan. PTI At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats US horror: Mom, boyfriend arrested over 10-yr-old's brutal murder International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Albuquerque (US), Aug 27: She was preparing to celebrate her 10th birthday but Victoria Martens was found dead in her family's home by Albuquerque police officers. Her dismembered body was found weapped in a blanket put on fire. Details of what New Mexico state authorities called an unspeakable crime surfaced on Thursday (Aug 25) in a complaint filed against the mother of the victim, her boyfriend and his cousin in connection to the murder. The three were taken into custody on Wednesday night. Police said the 10-year-old was injected with methamphetamine drug, sexually assaulted, strangled and stabbed. Her body was dismembered later. The police personnel went to the spot after receiving a call before dawn on Wednesday and discovered the gruesome scene that left them shocked. A makeshift shrine was made under a tree at the residential complex with relatives and flowers dedicating flowers, balloons, toys and candles to Victoria. Many said the memorial made up the child's birthday gift. Michelle Martens, the 35-year-old mother of the victim; her boyfriend Fabian Gonzales, 31, and the latter's same-age cousin Jessica Kelley faced charges of child abusing leading to death and tampering with evidence. The two cousins were also accused of sexually penetrating a minor. Both Gonzales and Kelley have arrest resords, it was said. Oneindia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, August 27, 2016, 17:05 [IST] Why is Yasin Malik refusing treatment at AIIMS, Delhi? New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 27: An attempt being made to shift Yasin Malik to New Delhi to obtain medical treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has been termed as dubious by the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. The attempt to move Malik to Delhi comes after the arrest of separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Another separatist, Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest at his Hyderapora residence in Jammu and Kashmir. The Hurriyat Calendar: Aug 14 Pray for Pakistan; Aug 15 Black Day, block I-Day; lock down J&K! Although authorities maintain the decision to shift Malik is purely medical, the JKLF says that this is a dubious offer of the "rulers." The authorities at the Srinagar central jail had approached Malik for the past two days to under medical test at the AIIMS, Delhi. The authorities are learnt to have told him that as per the advise of the doctors, some of the facilities were not available at the SKIMS Srinagar due to which the government has decided to shift him to Delhi and admit him at AIIMS Delhi. The JKLF, however, is suspicious about this offer. They say that his health is relatively better and he never complained about this to the jail authorities. In a statement the JKLF says that such tests are normally available at many places in Srinagar and in THE rest of Kashmir too but ironically rulers seem to be in a hurry to shift him to Delhi on the pretext of medical treatment and tests. OneIndia News Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appointed 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight "the Indian brutalities and human rights abuses" in Kashmir internationally. Sharif's announcement comes days after India has refused to Pakistan on Kashmir issue. Kashmir has been under curfew and restrictions since protests broke out over the killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. At least 70 civilians have died in clashes between protesters and security forces and thousands injured in the worst violence to hit the Valley in many years. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Daily Record 13 Oct 2022 Non-urgent operations requiring blood may now be postponed to ensure stock is reserved for patients who need it the most. Oneindia 24 Dec 2021 According to the Bangladesh police, at least 32 people were killed when a ferry caught fire early on Friday morning in the southern.. Jerusalem Post 29 Oct 2022 The truck carrying the antisemitic message had been seen in Dix Hills, New York. Mashable 23 Oct 2022 Breaking two Spotify records in one day? For Taylor Swift that's no snow on the beach. Over the course of 24 hours,.. Rumble 16 Sep 2022 The radical left melts down about illegal immigrants in their cities- The inflation bubble is set to burst- The Deep state is.. Sky News 26 Oct 2022 In 1965, before women in America had the constitutional right to choose abortion, a then 19-year-old student at the University of.. Reprinted from Consortium News In a column mocking the political ignorance of the "dumbed-down" American people and lamenting the death of "objective fact," New York Times columnist Timothy Egan shows why so many Americans have lost faith in the supposedly just-the-facts-ma'am mainstream media. Egan states as flat fact, "If more than 16 percent of Americans could locate Ukraine on a map, it would have been a Really Big Deal when Trump said that Russia was not going to invade it -- two years after they had, in fact, invaded it." But it is not a "fact" that Russia "invaded" Ukraine -- and it's especially not the case if you also don't state as flat fact that the United States has invaded Syria, Libya and many other countries where the U.S. government has launched bombing raids or dispatched "special forces." Yet, the Times doesn't describe those military operations as "invasions." Nor does the newspaper of record condemn the U.S. government for violating international law, although in every instance in which U.S. forces cross into another country's sovereign territory without permission from that government or the United Nations Security Council, that is technically an act of illegal aggression. In other words, the Times applies a conscious double standard when reporting on the actions of the United States or one of its allies (note how Turkey's recent invasion of Syria was just an "intervention") as compared to how the Times deals with actions by U.S. adversaries, such as Russia. Biased on Ukraine The Times' reporting on Ukraine has been particularly dishonest and hypocritical. The Times ignores the substantial evidence that the U.S. government encouraged and supported a violent coup that overthrew elected President Viktor Yanukovych on Feb. 22, 2014, including a pre-coup intercepted phone call between Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt discussing who should lead the new government and how to "midwife this thing." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, flanked by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria 'Toria' Nuland, addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting room at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, at the outset of a bilate (Image by [State Department Photo]) Details DMCA The Times also played down the key role of neo-Nazis and extreme nationalists in killing police before the coup, seizing government buildings during the coup, and then spearheading the slaughter of ethnic Russian Ukrainians after the coup. If you wanted to detect the role of these SS-wannabes from the Times' coverage, you'd have to scour the last few paragraphs of a few stories that dealt with other aspects of the Ukraine crisis. While leaving out the context, the Times has repeatedly claimed that Russia "invaded" Crimea, although curiously without showing any photographs of an amphibious landing on Crimea's coast or Russian tanks crashing across Ukraine's border en route to Crimea or troops parachuting from the sky to seize strategic Crimean targets. The reason such evidence of an "invasion" was lacking is that Russian troops were already stationed in Crimea as part of a basing agreement for the port of Sevastopol. So, it was a very curious "invasion" indeed, since the Russian troops were on scene before the "invasion" and their involvement after the coup was peaceful in protecting the Crimean population from the depredations of the new regime's neo-Nazis. The presence of a small number of Russian troops also allowed the Crimeans to vote on whether to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia, which they did with a 96 percent majority. In the eastern provinces, which represented Yanukovych's political base and where many Ukrainians opposed the coup, you can fault, if you wish, the Russian decision to provide some military equipment and possibly some special forces so ethnic Russian and other anti-coup Ukrainians could defend themselves from the assaults by the neo-Nazi Azov brigade and from the tanks and artillery of the coup-controlled Ukrainian army. But an honest newspaper and honest columnists would insist on including this context. They also would resist pejorative phrases such as "invasion" and "aggression" -- unless, of course, they applied the same terminology objectively to actions by the U.S. government and its "allies." That sort of nuance and balance is not what you get from The New York Times and its "group thinking" writers, people like Timothy Egan. When it comes to reporting on Russia, it's Cold War-style propaganda, day in and day out. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website Here is an informative article by Dmitry Orlov. I use the writings of Orlov and The Saker as checks on my own conclusions. In his article Orlov concludes that the United States is a dead nation, still walking, but no longer a uni-power. I agree with Orlov that US weapon systems are more focused on profits than on effectiveness and that Russia has superior weapons and a superior cause based on protection rather than dominance. However, in his assessment of the possibility of nuclear war, I think that Orlov under-appreciates the commitment of Washington's Neoconservatives to US world hegemony and the recklessness of the Neoconservatives and Hillary Clinton. Washington is incensed that Russia (and China) dare to stand up to Washington, and this anger crowds out judgment. Orlov, also, I think, under-estimates the weakness in the Russian government provided by the "Atlanticist Integrationists." These are members of the Russian elite who believe that Russia's future depends on being integrated with the West. To achieve this integration, they are willing to sacrifice some undetermined amount of Russian sovereignty. It is my conclusion that Washington is aware of the constraint that the desire for Western acceptance puts on the Russian government and that this is why Washington, in a direct thrust at Russia, was comfortable orchestrating the coup that overthrew the elected Ukrainian government. I believe that this constraint also explains the mistakes the Russian government made by refusing the requests of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics to be reincorporated as parts of Russia, where the territories formerly resided, and by the premature withdrawal from Syria that allowed Washington to resupply the jihadists and to insert US forces into the conflict, thus complicating the situation for Russia and Syria. Orlov sees Russian advantage in the ongoing conflict between Kiev and the breakaway republics as the conflict could be leading to the collapse of the US puppet government in Kiev. However, the disadvantage is that the ongoing conflict is blamed on Russia and feeds Western anti-Russian propaganda. It also makes Russia look weak and unsure of itself as if the Western criticism of Russia's reincorporation of Crimea has struck home and Russia is afraid to repeat it by accepting the pleas of the break-away republics. Moreover, if the Russian government had accepted the requests of Donetsk and Luhansk to return to Russia from which they were artificially separated, not only would the conflict have been ended, but also the Ukrainian people would have realized the disaster caused by Washington's coup against their government, and Europe would have realized from decisive Russian action that it was not in Europe's interest to provoke Russia in behalf of Washington. The correct Russian response was prevented by the Atlanticist Integrationist desire to appease Washington. In contrast to Orlov, The Saker underestimates Russian military strength, but he does understand the constraints placed on Russian decisiveness by the Atlanticist Integrationists, who seem to count in their ranks the economic establishment including the central bank and perhaps the prime minister himself. Putin does not seem to be overly concerned with what appears to me to be a fifth column of Washington's agents as Putin himself has placed heavy bets on achieving accommodation with the West. However, Putin has cracked down on the US-financed NGOs that have tried to destabilize Russia. Western reporting and think tank and university reports on Russia are propaganda and are useless to understanding the situation. For example, in the current issue of The National Interest Thomas Graham, who had the Russian desk on the National Security Council during the George W. Bush regime, attributes the "destabilization of eastern Ukraine" to "Russia's annexation of Crimea." He avoids mentioning the US-orchestrated overthrow of an elected Ukrainian government and that Crimea voted overwhelmingly (97 percent) to rejoin Russia when faced with the Russophobic government Washington established in Kiev. According to Graham, the foul deed of Russia's acceptance of a democratic outcome upset all of Washington's very friendly, supportive, and hopeful attitudes toward Russia. With all of Washington's "assumptions that had guided America's Russia policy" irreversibly dashed, it is no longer possible to maintain that Russia "is a suitable partner for addressing global issues." Graham goes on to define Russia as a problem because Russia favors a multi-polar world to a uni-polar world run by Washington. It is possible to read Graham's repeat of the propaganda line as Graham genuflecting before the Neoconservatives before going on quietly in a low-key manner to attack their hegemonic attitude toward Russia. In his concluding paragraph Graham says that Washington must find a new approach to Russia, an approach of balance and limits that rejects "resort to force, which would be devastating given the destructive power of modern weaponry." All in all, it is an artful argument that begins by blaming Russia's response to Washington's provocations for a dangerous situation and concludes with the argument that Washington must adjust to Russia's defense of her own national interests. It is reassuring to see some realism creeping back into Washington attitudes toward Russia. However, realism is still a minority view, and it is highly unlikely that it would be the view of a Hillary regime. In my opinion, the chance of nuclear war from Neoconservative intention, miscalculation or false launch warning remains high. The provocations of US/NATO military forces and missile bases on Russia's borders are reckless as they build tensions between nuclear powers. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Democratic Donkey Down (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA In most cases satire reveals many hidden truths. Such was the case with the 1997 Barry Levinson film "Wag the Dog"; obviously done as a spoof on the Bill Clinton's sexual imbroglio with Ms. Lewinsky, and the damage control done to modify it. The inner meaning of the film reveals just how foolish the Amerikan public is, and how susceptible many are to well thought out propaganda. Well, isn't that how we really are folks? Thirteen years ago a majority of Amerikans fell for the lies and half-truths that the Bush gang peddled regarding the invasion of Iraq. So much so that even now the idea of "regime change" has become respectable. The mainstream phony and embedded news media finds ways to justify the extension of our Empire for...duh, "humanitarian interventions"...yes, we care so deeply about our Arab brothers and sisters... not. Are the people in the Middle East better off now with all of our "help"? We have become too accustomed to the tactic and strategy of being against someone or something more than being for something else, like our principles, values and morals. There is no need to focus my attention on the core Democratic and Republican conjoined twins of the two-party con-job. As the character from the great play "Twelve Angry Men" said about one of his fellow jurors, a bigot: "He doesn't hear you... and he never will!" Similarly, I won't focus on those members of the Democratic voting public who will always vote for a Democrat no matter what. Especially after reading Michael Moore's latest piece that basically said: 1. "Trump must be stopped ", and 2. "Hillary is OK with me ". Rather, the real conundrum is for those who really want to see clear cut progressive change, since many of us actually refer to ourselves as "Progressive Democrats ". That said, one has to place Moore in that same "h e doesn't hear us" group. "F eel the Bern" Sanders has let diehard progressive Democrats down by publically supporting " Killary." Meanwhile, the Green Party has a platform that clearly surpasses Sanders' platform by a progressive mile! Yet, if you speak one-on-one with many of the "I don't hear you" folks they will give you a replay of the famous pragmatist argument used against the Ralph Nader campaign of 2000: "We love you Ralph and love your ideas but...YOU CAN'T WIN! Voting for you is giving a vote to Bush." As this writer has stated before, "A pragmatist is the fellow facing a firing squad who asks for a blindfold!" How in the hell can true progressives cast a vote for a person (and party) that has so many neo-cons supporting it? Have we not learned from Obama's continued "pragmatic gift" (a.k.a. bailout) to the crooked Wall Street "banksters", Obama's pragmatic feeding of the military industrial complex that already eats 54% of our income taxes, the pragmatic illegal aggression against Libya in 2011, and now Obama's and "Killary's" pragmatic New Cold War with Russia (because we care so deeply for our Ukrainian and Crimean brothers and sisters, not...to name but a few of the many terrible Obama-Killary pragmatic non-progressive actions? There is little hope for real change at this time in Amerika. Honestly! The rigged electoral system has finally reached the bottom of the pit of corruption with both of the terrible people, "Killary" and "Trumpery" running for president, along with their cronies Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mike Pence (R-IN). Either of these presidential candidates and their cronies will sink our republic further down in the swamp of Empire. So, if that is the case, then all good and decent citizens out there should finally make their votes count! " by voting for a 3rd party. Those out there calling themselves "principled conservatives" would best vote Libertarian. Those who feel they are "true progressives" should vote for the Green Party. Yes, both of these two parties and their candidates "CAN'T WIN", but if they get enough votes it may signal the beginning of the end for the two party con job. Meanwhile, as Chris Hedges has hammered home many times, theoretically voting should count for something but it really doesn't in this day and age. Yet, voting can count for something and will make a strong statement to the rest of our fellow citizens if more of us refuse to support the two parties and any of their candidates in any race. History has shown that when a mass of citizens gets out into the public square in support of one key issue...the powers that be cannot ignore them, not when the numbers are so great and the voices so loud. For example, we had an incident in my town of 50,000 a few years ago. The city council decided to put a blockade up on a certain street, one that had a handful of Mom and Pop businesses on it. The residents of an adjoining residential street complained about delivery trucks going thru and stifling their children from playing in the street. Shoppers to the businesses on the other street were now put in harm's way, because the only new route to and from the Mom and Pop stores was through a heavily traveled and dangerous traffic intersection. So we did something about it, we got a petition drive going and 15 of us met at the following city council meeting. Each of us signed up to speak to the council people, and one by one we did. After hearing us speak in protest to the blockade, the mayor called for an executive closed door session. Soon after that the blockade was ended. If in a town of 50,000 a handful of protestors with a few hundred signatures got something done, imagine what hundreds of thousands of us could do if we stand out there and demand a cutback of our Military Industrial Empire Complex? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Air Conditioning Systems Market to reach US$167 bn by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=436 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/air-conditioning-systems-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The vendor landscape of the global air conditioning systems market is speckled with large and established companies such as Gree Electric Appliances, Inc., Daikin Industries Ltd., and Carrier Corporation; emerging players such as Panasonic Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and The Midea Group; and promising vendors such as LG Electronics, Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd., and Hitachi Ltd. Each of these players have been striving to strengthen their position in the air conditioning systems market and achieve sustainable growth.Transparency Market Research finds that in order to achieve these goals, companies are presently focused on integrating products so as to expand their customer base and reach out to newer audiences. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions have also been a core strategy for a number of players. A case in point would be Carrier, who, in 2011, joined hands with the Midea Group of China to manufacture as well as distribute HVAC systems in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. This joint venture not only helped Carrier form a strong distribution network in these promising countries but also established a strong foothold for the company at a global level, the lead analyst of the TMR study states.Download free exclusive Sample of this report:Energy-efficient Air Conditioning Systems Gain ProminenceThe growth of the air conditioning systems market can be largely attributed to the rapidly expanding construction and housing sector. Increasing construction permits, especially for commercial infrastructure, means a rising need for equipment such as air conditioning systems, a TMR analyst explains. The market for air conditioning systems is also driven by stringent government regulations, technological developments, rising consumer expectations, increased demand from the commercial sector, strong demand from Asia Pacific, and climate variations. The surge in awareness regarding the importance of indoor air quality has also generated an increased demand for advanced air-purifying technologies.In contrast, the air conditioning systems market faces a major roadblock increased energy consumption. However, TMR finds that this challenge can be easily addressed. The emergence of ongoing trends such as green technologies, smart homes, and energy-efficient systems are driving manufacturers of air conditioning systems to focus on innovation and come up with equipment that meet the rising energy requirements of consumers and governments alike. Thus, this obstacle also presents market players with several opportunities for growth over the coming years, the author of the study states.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Split ACs Witness Highest DemandThe global market for air conditioning systems was pegged at a value of US$104.4 bn in 2015, which is projected to rise to US$167 by the end of the forecast period. Assuming these figures hold true, the market is likely to expand at a 5.1% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. The air conditioning systems market is projected to expand at a much faster pace in terms of volume, registering a 6.2% CAGR during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominates the global air conditioning systems market by volume and value, with the Middle East and Africa witnessing the fastest growth. While split ACs enjoy the lead at present, the portable air conditioning systems segment is likely to expand at the highest CAGR by 2024.This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled Air Conditioning Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016-2024.Air Conditioning Systems Market Analysis, by Equipment TypePortable air conditioning systemsWindows air conditioning systemsSplitsCassette ACsSingle PackagedChillersAirsideAir Conditioning Systems Market Analysis, by ApplicationIndustrialCommercialResidentialAutomotiveAir Conditioning Systems Market Analysis, by Distribution ChannelConventional StoresDIY StoresFurniture storesSupermarketsCompany Owned/ Authorized StoresDealersInstallersAir Conditioning Systems Market Analysis, by GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.CanadaRest of North AmericaEuropeThe U.K.GermanyFranceSpainItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificJapanChinaIndiaIndonesiaRest of Asia PacificMiddle East and Africa (MEA)The UAESaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaRest of the Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoArgentinaRest of Latin AmericaTransparency 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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: In-flight Autopilot Systems Market is expected to reach US$8.14 bn by the end of 2021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8092 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/inflight-autopilot-systems-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The competitive scenario for in-flight autopilot systems is highly consolidated, making it difficult for new players to enter the market. Rockwell Collins, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., and Garmin Ltd. were the top three players in the market in 2014, when they collectively held 63% of the in-flight autopilot systems market.L3 Communications Holding, Inc. and BAE System Plc. are some of the other key providers of in-flight autopilot systems. Less than a quarter of the global market was shared by regional players in 2014, signifying the niche characteristics of in-flight autopilot systems.Key providers of in-flight autopilot systems are expected to be impacted by the recent advancements in aviation technology, including digital flight control integration and the heavy use of sensors in defense and military vehicles.Download free exclusive Sample of this report:Aviation Industrys Demand for Automation Buffs Scope of In-Flight Autopilot SystemsOne of the key drivers increasing the demand for in-flight autopilot systems is the current evolutionary phase in the aviation industry, wherein automation is a core requirement. Technological advancements in both industries are making it easier for advanced in-flight autopilot systems to be used in situations where human guidance can be kept to a minimum while the autopilot systems manages tracking and guidance at a highly efficient level.This also includes the demand for autopilot landing systems that can ensure the safe landing of planes in weather where human guidance might fail due to lowered vision and other issues.Over-dependence and High Costs Still Limiting Market Growth PotentialAs an ancillary industry, developers of in-flight autopilot systems are completely reliant on the aircraft industry for their revenue, states a TMR analyst. This can often put them under pressure due to the currently turbulent nature of the aircraft industry itself.Even major airlines have closed or reduced operations in recent times, dealing a heavy blow to the in-flight autopilot systems industry. These companies include Air Onix, Air Lituanica, and Airlinair, whose cessation of operations has created huge shortfalls in the demand for in-flight autopilot systems.Complicating matters even further is the fact that in-flight autopilot systems are already a niche market with high system costs. This not only prevents new entrants from expanding in this market, but also creates several restrictions on established players as well.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Majority of In-Flight Autopilot Systems Revenue Earned through Fixed Wing AircraftThe revenue earned globally in the in-flight autopilot systems market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 4.6% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2021. This market is expected to reach US$8.14 bn by the end of 2021.Flight director systems will consistently hold the largest revenue generation scope between 2015 and 2021, by the end of which period it is expected to generate US$2.43 bn in revenue.Fixed wing aircraft are the leading contributors to the in-flight autopilot systems market. This segment is expected to reach US$6.36 bn by the end of 2021.The information presented in this review is based on a Transparency Market Research report, titled, In-flight Autopilot Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021.Key Takeaways:North America leads global market, expected to reach US$3.82 bn by 2021.Commercial aircraft in-flight autopilot systems remain most popular avenue, expected to reach US$5.2 bn by 2021.By the end of 2016, flight director systems expected to reach close to US$1.98 bn in revenue.Key Segments of the Global In-flight Autopilot Systems MarketGlobal In-Flight Autopilot Systems, by System TypeFlight Director SystemAttitude and Heading Reference SystemAvionics SystemFlight Control SystemOthersGlobal In-Flight Autopilot Systems, by Aircraft TypeRotary WingsFixed WingsGlobal In-Flight Autopilot Systems, by ApplicationCommercial AircraftMilitary AircraftCivilian AircraftGlobal In-Flight Autopilot Systems, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the WorldTransparency 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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Active Electronic Components Market Expected to Reach US$376.9 bn by 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1077 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/active-electronic-components.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Active Electronic Components Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, the active electronic components market was worth US$ 182.9 Bn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$ 376.9 Bn by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2015 to 2023. North America was the largest market for active electronic components in 2014. Growth in this region is driven by growing adoption of renewable energy resources and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Along with this, growing popularity of portable electronic devices will remain the key driver for the active electronic components market. Active electronic components market in North America is expected to be superseded by Asia Pacific during the forecast period. In 2014, North America accounted for around 32% of the overall active electronic components market. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth during the forecast period at a CAGR of 9.1%. China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are among the major markets driving the demand for active electronic components in this region due to growing electronic manufacturing activity in these countries.Download free exclusive Sample of this report:The active electronic components include semiconductor devices, display devices and others. Various semiconductor devices include diodes, transistors, integrated circuits and optoelectronic components. In 2014, semiconductor devices accounted for around 50% share of the overall active electronic components market. Reduction in component size and reliability has been aiding the growth of active electronic components market. This has made them effective for use in miniature applications such as tablets, smartphones and smart watches. Further, rising global concerns for energy efficiency have increased the need for energy efficient active electronic components. The market for display devices is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2015 to 2023. Medical and military applications are driving the demand for display devices among active electronic components. Various display devices in the active electronic components market include microwave tubes, cathode-ray tubes, x-ray tubes, photoelectric tubes and triodes. In 2014, x-ray tubes segment held the largest revenue share of around 28% of the overall market for display devices market. X-ray tubes segment is expected to continue its market domination in the display devices segment throughout the forecast period from 2015 to 2023.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Key players in the active electronic components market include Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Texas Instruments, Inc., Maxim Integrated Products Inc., ST Microelectronics NV, Analog Devices, Inc., ON Semiconductor, Diotec Semiconductor AG, NXP Semiconductors NV, Toshiba Corporation, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation and Renesas Electric Corporation.The active electronic component market is segmented as follows:Active Electronic Components Market Analysis, by Product TypesSemiconductor DevicesDiodesTransistorsIntegrated CircuitsOptoelectronic ComponentsDisplay DevicesMicrowave TubesCathode-Ray TubesX-ray TubesPhotoelectric TubesTriodesOthersActive Electronic Components Market Analysis, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeEU7CISRest of EuropeAsia-PacificJapanChinaAustralasiaRest of Asia PacificMiddle East and Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesNorth AfricaSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaTransparency 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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Hey, Portland, we're No. 1 again. Well, one of the sour beers made here is. For the second time, Eric Asimov of The New York Times declared a Kriek brewed by Cascade Brewing worthy of four stars. That score, the Times' highest, has been earned by Cascade's 2014 and 2010 Kriek, which won the Times' 2011 taste testing. Cascade says its Kriek is a blend of red ales aged in oak wine barrels with sour and Bing cherries for up to 14 months. Cascade's lead blender, Kevin Martin, says the Kriek is made in batches over four to six months and aged in oak barrels for 12 to 14 months. Those barrels are then blended to create the year's Kriek. The Times' article noted that many of the sour beers they tasted are treated much like wine: packaged in 750 milliliter bottles and priced as high as $30. The Kriek does indeed come in 750ml bottle and retails for $24. For its taste test, the Times gathered 20 American-made sour beers. In awarding the honor, Asimov described the 2014 Kriek as "bright, lively, distinctive and complex." If you'd like to decide that for yourself, Cascade has about 48 bottles left. And will have some on tap. Cascade says that sales have picked up since the Times' article was published. If you miss out on the 2014 Kriek, Cascade has the 2015 out, and Martin says it's as good or better than the 2014. Another Oregon beer the Times praised is the Far West Vlaming from Logsdon Farmhouse Ales in Hood River. It garnered three out of four stars. Logsdon describes it as a red ale brewed in the West Flanders style that's aged in oak barrels and then blended with young beer. -- Sue Jepsen 1strike.JPG In this Sept. 10, 2015, file photo, striking Seattle School District teachers and other educators walk a picket line on a pedestrian overpass near Franklin High School in Seattle. (The Associated Press) By Elizabeth Hovde Summer is ending. And what summer would be complete without talks of a teacher strike? This year, that talk is going on in Clark County. Evergreen Public Schools, a school district just across the river and one of Washington state's largest, is supposed to start Wednesday. But district leaders have been in contract negotiations with the Evergreen Education Association since March, and the union's president, Rob Lutz, said in an Aug. 19 Columbian article by Susan Parrish that those negotiations were going nowhere. The plot thickens: On Friday, a temporary restraining order was issued prohibiting the strike. If employees do not go to work on the first day of school, they'll be in violation. The legal action is justified, although it remains to be seen what impact it will have. Public employee strikes are illegal in Washington, but teachers unions regularly snub the law, which lacks teeth. In Evergreen's case, the union, which represents more than 1,800 teachers, is demanding an increase in salary-and-benefit packages for teachers, among other things. The district has already offered a "total compensation package to EEA members that exceeds what other school districts in Clark and Cowlitz counties offer their teachers, and is competitive (when the local cost-of-living is factored in) with our peer districts across the state," a recent Evergreen school district letter to families said. (Read the district's letter at http://www.evergreenps.org/Negotiations and the union's requests at http://www.eeaoffice.com.) Evergreen teachers earned between $40,417 and $76,179 in total compensation during the 2015-2016 school year, Parrish reported. They'll earn a higher amount in the 2016-2017 school year, even without more from the district, as a result of a state pay raise. Whether that's a good or fair salary or not depends on your perspective. And it doesn't matter in this context. People choose jobs offering various wages all the time. They don't take them if they find them unacceptable or leave the jobs as soon as possible if they do. Many people in my industry are having to find new careers or coupons for ramen and good soundtracks to accompany a weird era of life. Newspapers are changing. Unlike teachers, most workers don't have the ability to take the state's school-age population and their families hostage when they don't like their work conditions or pay. A state-appointed mediator was called in to join the bargaining-session fun. At the union's general membership meeting Aug. 30th, the day before school is supposed to start for the district's 26,000-plus students, members will either vote to ratify a new contract or vote to strike. When strikes occur, parents and employers have to find work-arounds -- just when they thought they could return to their regularly scheduled programming, as the state makes good on its promise to offer a K-12 education financed by taxpayers. Last fall, teachers in three other Washington state school districts went on strike: Seattle, South Whidbey Island and Pasco. Strikes are a tradition in the Evergreen State. The Washington Policy Center said recently, "Washington state is plagued by teacher strikes, more than any other state in the country. Reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that a child attending a school in Washington state is more likely to have his or her education disrupted by a teacher strike than a child in any other state." In 2006, Washington's then-Attorney General Rob McKenna wrote a formal opinion on the law saying: "In Washington, state and local public employees do not have a legally protected right to strike." And "if it so chooses, the Legislature may establish penalties that would apply to employees who engage in unlawful strikes." It should. Teachers unions are often fighting for good things, along with increased pay and different working conditions, as is the case in this Clark County fight. As an emergency substitute in the Vancouver School District, I see first-hand the substitute-teacher shortage in Clark County that the teachers union complains about. And the union is concerned with a shortage of counseling and other services for an increasing number of students with special needs. I wholeheartedly agree that schooling today is different today than in the past -- in part because of all the special needs. But teachers unions fight these issues unfairly. Instead of hostage taking, they need to lobby the taxpayers that employ them and the families utilizing them. They need to have more discussions with the district and the public about priorities, so education's basics come first. Wants and needs chosen for schools now are debatable. Unrealistic societal expectations of schools also aren't helping educators, who have a really tough job most often done admirably. All of us can work on that. Elizabeth Hovde's column appears on the fourth Sunday of the month. This posting has been updated to include information about a temporary restraining order issued Friday. wallace.jpg Wallace Books, the scene of the Sellwood crime (Steve Duin) Early on the afternoon of Aug. 15, Hilary Leah Bishop hopped to post a video of a dog receiving a full-body massage. "Yep," Bishop wrote, "this is what my massage clients feel like." Five hours later, Portland police say, Bishop, 44, arrived at Wallace Books in Sellwood, just before closing. Decked out in black and a ski mask, Bishop aimed a gun at Lynn Ferguson, the cops tell us, and said, "Give me your twenties." Twenties? "At an independent book store?" owner Julie Wallace would later say. "On a Monday night in August?" That is not the last of the small, sad turns in this crime story. This is what it feels like when a life unravels. Ferguson wasted no time handing over everything in the cash drawer. As the robber slipped out the door, Lonny Keller was standing 25 feet away, at the corner of Southeast Milwaukie and Knapp. "She was wearing all black and a ski mask, like a '70s cops and robbers movie," Keller says. "That's unusual attire in my world but it is Portland." Hilary Bishop, in better days. The woman pulled off the mask and came down the steps, passing 10 feet from Keller. "Deer in the headlights," he says. "She looked at me like, 'Whoops,' and walked away." Keller is a parole and probation officer in Washington County. As Ferguson inched outside with the phone in her hand, a 911 call already in progress, Keller asked, "Did that woman just rob you?" As he set off after the robber, Ferguson yelled after him, "She has a gun." In a four-count indictment, the Multnomah County district attorney says Bishop also waved "what purported to be a dangerous and deadly weapon" the previous night, Aug. 14, at Clogs-N-More on Southeast Hawthorne . That may explain the ski mask. Bishop once lived four blocks from Clogs-N-More. "It's her favorite store," says her ex-husband, Dewey Mahood. "She wears clogs from there." Hilary Leah Bishop As Keller followed the woman north on S.E. Milwaukie, he also called 911. When she squeezed into a Mitsubishi Mirage, illegally parked in front of the Boys & Girls Club, he wrote the license number on his hand. He misread an "X" as a "K," but the police were up to the challenge. "Every squad car in Southeast was looking for her," Wallace says. At 7:30 p.m., the cops executed your standard high-risk stop at S.E. 31st and Holgate. According to court records, police found "a large amount of dollar bills" underneath Bishop's purse, and a tote bag containing a black hoodie, "a replica pistol, and a black mask with eye holes." Police then brought Ferguson and Keller to the intersection for IDs. Ferguson had her doubts, Wallace says, because she never saw the woman's face. Keller? "None whatsoever. Same eyes. Same cheekbones." An evolving reality. "She was very upset," Keller says. "She was crying heavily." She's not the only one reeling over the arrest. "All of our friends are shocked," says Mahood, who owns Mothership Music on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. "She's always been the most peaceful, animal-loving vegetarian. Very anti-gun. That this happened is almost insane." Many of those friends are in the local book community. Bishop worked for years at Broadway Books and Powell's before she became a licensed massage therapist. "They bought a house behind the Hawthorne Powell's store," recalls Donna Kane, who retired from Powell's in 2014. "She was always seemingly happy with them married and living in their little house." Then something came undone. Mahood and Bishop separated, divorced, wrangled over custody of their daughter. Bishop had a serious car accident, Kane says, that left her hospitalized for months. "This is the population I work with," Keller says, "and my first instinct is to ask, 'What's the driver?' The biggest ones we deal with are addiction and mental health. What happened? People don't normally jump to armed robbery." Brian Schmonsees, the public defender assigned to Bishop's case, had no comment. Tara Gardner, a deputy district attorney, said there's an "ongoing investigation" as to whether Bishop will be charged in other crimes. Was she drawn, toy gun in hand, to the stores that were most vulnerable ... or most familiar? "The police look at it one way: She was targeting small businesses where they didn't have security cameras," Wallace says. "I'm concerned she didn't have a safety net. "Am I giving her a free pass? No. She did something wrong. But what systems are in place that she gets the help she needs?" For the moment, Mahood - who has not been close to his ex-wife for years - is glad she's housed at the Justice Center. "As horrible as this sounds, it's the safest place for her now," he says. "She needs help. She is obviously out of control." -- Steve Duin stephen.b.duin@gmail.com 1rosenblum.JPG Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is pictured here in her Portland office. (The Associated Press) As legal briefs go, there's not much surprising in the arguments offered by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum's office. The filing backs Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian's finding that a Christian-owned bakery violated Oregon's anti-discrimination statute when it refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. It counters the Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery's claims of religious freedom. And it stands behind Avakian's eyebrow-raising award of $135,000 in damages to the couple for their pain and suffering. But deep in the filing, things go off the rails. The brief, written by Senior Assistant Attorney General Leigh Salmon, addresses a side issue in which Avakian concluded that comments by the bakery owners violated a separate state law that prohibits advertising a future intent to discriminate. In supporting Avakian, the brief contends that seemingly innocent language may be found to violate state law. It's an astounding assertion. It's even more so when you consider that the Department of Justice, in charge of protecting free speech and Oregonians' civil rights, is the one making that assertion. The idea that the government may find you in violation of state law based on how it chooses to interpret what you say is a chilling claim. http://media.oregonlive.com/opinion_impact/photo/agenda-2013jpg-da8a3522a991b9c6.jpg Editorial Agenda 2016 Get Oregon centered Better leadership in education Make Portland a city that works Build Oregon prosperity Protect and expand personal freedom Get pot right _______________________________ By now, Oregonians know the case's background by heart. A lesbian couple had hoped to order a wedding cake from Sweet Cakes by Melissa, a Gresham bakery. One of the women, Rachel Bowman-Cryer, went with her mother in 2013 to the bakery where she spoke with co-owner Aaron Klein. When Klein heard the cake would be for two brides, he apologized and told her "We don't do same-sex wedding cakes." The denial upset Rachel Bowman-Cryer and angered her partner, Laurel. They filed a complaint with the state, not realizing a media storm would ensue. Eventually they filed a new complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, which investigated whether the bakery violated the state's anti-discrimination law. Avakian rightly concluded that the bakery had broken the law. But he opted to go further. He cobbled together comments the Kleins had made to argue the bakery was also advertising its intention to keep discriminating in the future, in violation of another state law. Oregonian editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. are Helen Jung, Mark Katches, Steve Moss and Len Reed. To respond to this editorial: Post your comment below, submit a , or write a . If you have questions about the opinion section, contact Len Reed, interim editorial and commentary editor, at or 503-294-7667. Avakian noted a sign that the Kleins posted in their store, which closed amid the uproar. In the handwritten sign, the couple shared their frustration over the state's actions and pledged to "continue to stand strong." Avakian also pointed to snippets from two interviews that Aaron Klein gave. In one, Klein, asked to recount what happened on the day he refused the wedding cake request, recalled that he apologized and told Rachel Bowman-Cryer they didn't "do same-sex marriage, same-sex wedding cakes." In an interview five months later, Klein said the couple felt they had to "stand firm" in their beliefs. Collectively, Avakian argued, the Kleins were communicating a future intention to discriminate. Salmon defends the argument. "Specifically, respondents noted their intent to 'stand strong' and 'stand firm' in their fight," she writes. "While those statements could refer to their legal battle, those statements also could refer to the denial of services to same-sex couples -- specifically, providing cakes for same-sex weddings generally. From those statements, then BOLI could reasonably infer a prospective intent to deny services to same-sex couples. That is a communication 'to the effect that' services would be denied based on sexual orientation within the meaning of ORS 659A.409." There's a lot to pick on in those four sentences. First, the attorney general's office admits the comments could refer to the couple's objection to the state's case - a perfectly reasonable, nondiscriminatory statement that does not violate the law. Yet the state is arguing that it should be allowed to instead "infer" a meaning that would make the comments illegal. That alone should sink the state's argument. But the brief also contends that it is the three statements "taken together" - not viewed individually - that allows someone to infer from them that the Kleins are advertising their intention to continue discriminating. If the government wants to punish someone for their words, it needs a stronger case than one built on vague, cherrypicked comments from incidents that occurred months apart. What this suggests more than anything is that the attorney general's office would rather circle the wagons around Avakian than defend citizens' free speech. This is a stand that Rosenblum did not have to take. Certainly, Rosenblum's office should defend Avakian's valid finding that Sweet Cakes discriminated illegally against the Bowman-Cryers. Her office could even defend the exorbitant damages ordered by Avakian, even though the Bowman Cryers wanted only an apology. But instead, she chose to also endorse his constitutionally deficient conclusion that Kleins' ambiguous words violated state law. Conceding that weak claim would require the willingness to stand for what's right, even though it would benefit an unpopular cause. But Rosenblum buckled. Oregonians lose. The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board A federal judge has granted Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's motion to quash a subpoena issued by Ryan Bundy that demanded her presence as a witness for next month's Oregon standoff trial. Ryan Bundy had sought the governor's testimony, arguing that she directly involved herself in the case by "actively managing'' the law enforcement response to the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. He cited remarks the governor made at a Jan. 20 news conference, in which she called on federal law enforcement to move quickly to end the occupation. He also gave the court a Jan. 20 letter that Brown sent to the FBI director and U.S. attorney general, insisting on a "swift resolution'' to the occupation and asking federal law enforcement to "end the unlawful'' takeover of the wildlife refuge as "safely and quickly'' as possible. The subpoena Ryan Bundy sent to Gov. Kate Brown (Court document) Oregon Justice Department attorney Marc Abrams, on behalf of the governor, countered that Gov. Brown didn't have direct knowledge of law enforcement operations. He argued that making her testify would interfere with her busy schedule, and the information could be obtained from other sources. U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown, no relation to the governor, agreed with Abrams. Document: The judge's order "The Court notes Ryan Bundy has not demonstrated Governor Brown has any personal knowledge of the law enforcement response to the events at MNWR that is not otherwise available from other sources, notably including the law enforcement officials present at the time who actually directed and carried out such operations,'' the judge wrote. She also wasn't swayed by Ryan Bundy's argument that public statements the governor "allegedly made regarding danger'' at the refuge kept employees of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from conducting their work. The judge cited case law that limits the subpoena of "heads of government agencies'' to testify in court only in "extraordinary circumstances.'' Judge Brown found Bundy failed to show that "extraordinary circumstances'' exist that would justify ordering the governor to testify in the case. In another matter, Ryan Bundy, who is representing himself with a standby counsel and volunteer paralegal, is set to go before Judge Brown Tuesday afternoon, to argue why the judge shouldn't strip him of his pro se status. The judge said she's poised to appoint him a lawyer because of his "open defiance'' of court authority and unwillingness to follow court orders. Co-defendant Kenneth Medenbach will also be given the chance at that hearing to argue why the court shouldn't strip him of his right to represent himself. Ryan Bundy and Medenbach are among eight defendants set for trial on Sept. 7 in the federal conspiracy case arising out of the 41-day armed takeover of the federal wildlife sanctuary in Harney County. Eleven co-defendants have pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge. Seven others are scheduled for trial in February. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian The widow of Lavoy Finicum, the 54-year-old Arizona rancher and key figure in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation earlier this year, plans to sue the Oregon State Police and FBI for civil rights violations relating to his death, her lawyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday. Jeanette Finicum, who has been outspoken in her criticism of the shooting, retained California-based attorney Brian Claypool, who said he plans to sue both the state police and two individual FBI agents over Lavoy Finicum's death on Jan. 26 on a remote stretch of Highway 395 north of Burns. Document: Jeanette Finicum's tort clam Claypool, who is also representing Ryan Bundy in the ongoing criminal case over the refuge takeover, said in a statement that his intent to file the lawsuit comes as new evidence has emerged. "There is now physical evidence (shell casings) that proves that two FBI agents lied during the law enforcement investigation by stating that they did not fire the first shots at Finicum's vehicle," Claypool said. "The US Department of Justice is investigating the two FBI agents for perjury." Finicum, who had become a spokesman for the self-proclaimed militia group that staged the takeover of the refuge in protest of federal use of public lands, was traveling with several other key figures from the standoff on the day of the shooting en route to a community meeting 100 miles north of the refuge in John Day. Finicum was driving a truck that carried carried Ryan C. Bundy, 43; Ryan W. Payne, 32; Shawna Cox, 59; and Victoria Sharp, 18. In the Jeep behind them was driver Mark McConnell, 37, Brian D. Cavalier, 44, and Ammon Bundy, 40, the public face of the occupation. The occupiers had been moving without police interference between the refuge and Burns, even attending a county-sponsored community meeting at Burns High School a week before the shooting, but that day state police and FBI agents attempted to pull over both vehicles. Finicum nearly ran over an FBI agent before stalling in a roadside snowbank as he attempted to elude the roadblock set up by law enforcement officials. Officer statements and cellphone video taken by Cox from inside the truck showed that Finicum repeatedly ignored police orders, first at the traffic stop and then after he crashed trying to get around the officers. Officers repeatedly ordered Finicum to get on the ground after he got out of the truck, according to the video shot by Cox. An investigation found that Finicum first faced a state trooper taking cover in nearby trees, then turned toward two troopers advancing from the highway. Those two state troopers fired when Finicum turned back toward the trooper in the trees while reaching for a loaded 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol inside his jacket, investigators said. He died at the scene. Prosecutors found that state troopers were justified in their use of deadly force against Finicum. "All six shots fired by the Oregon State Police, the three into the truck and the three that struck Mr. Finicum, are justified," said Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris. The shots were "in fact, necessary," he said. But five unnamed FBI agents have since come under investigation by the Department of Justice after one of them allegedly lied about firing twice at Finicum and the four others were accused of helping to cover it up afterward. Ryan Bundy was wounded -- with his supporters claiming a bullet lodged in his arm, where it remains -- at some point during the shooting, but who fired the shot that wounded him or if he was wounded by shrapnel remains unclear. The investigation into the FBI's role in the incident has fueled conspiracy theories over Finicum's death, which Claypool described as "motivated by political reasons." Finicum's family said in a statement after the shooting that he was "executed in cold blood" and accused law enforcement of deliberately misleading the public about what happened. His widow, Jeanette Finicum, echoed their sentiment. "My husband was murdered," she said in a statement. Claypool said, although a lawsuit had not been filed yet, Finicum's family would be moving forward with the claim "with 100 percent certainty." Claypool said more details on the suit would be revealed at a press conference in late September. The Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Les Zaitz contributed to this report. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 An attorney for Ryan Bundy said his client will not agree to have metal fragments removed from his shoulder due to concerns that the metal, which he described as "a crucial piece of evidence," could be lost or damaged by law enforcement. Brian Claypool, who is acting as co-counsel for Bundy, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Bundy has no plans to have the fragments removed from his arm as it has little bearing on his criminal case, though he left open the possibility of having it surgically removed ahead of a civil lawsuit Bundy plans to file against the government. "He has not agreed to it being removed," Claypool said in a phone interview. "The concern, from both him and I, is the preservation of evidence." Bundy was among the organizers of the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon outside of Burns. He was injured when state police and FBI agents stopped him and other occupation leaders at a roadblock on a remote stretch of Highway 395 while they traveled to a community meeting in John Day on Jan. 26. It was during that traffic stop that Oregon state troopers opened fire on Robert "Lavoy" Finicum, an Arizona rancher who had come to be the spokesman of the occupation. Finicum was killed in the altercation, but prosecutors cleared the troopers who shot him of any wrongdoing, saying saying state law allows use of lethal force when someone poses a deadly threat. Finicum repeatedly reached toward his pocket where he was carrying a loaded handgun, video of the incident showed. Bundy and his supporters claim that the metal in his arm came from a bullet he took that day, though exactly how he came to be wounded has not been determined. Even as the state troopers were exonerated, however, FBI agents who also took part in the operation came under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice after one of them allegedly fired shots, lied about it and other agents helped to cover it up. It was those shots, allegedly fired by the FBI agent, that Bundy says left the bullet lodged in his shoulder. Claypool made clear that he has faith in the prosecutor's ability to handle evidence, but given the fact that the metal fragments don't pose an immediate health risk to Bundy and are not germane to his criminal trial, which is set to begin Sept. 7, he would rather leave them in his client's arm. "I've been involved in at least 20 to 25 cases against federal law enforcement and I've seen evidence lost or destroyed," Claypool said. "I'm not saying that it would in this case, but we want to be as safe as possible." Ryan Bundy has pleaded not guilty to a federal indictment charging him, along with other organizers of the takeover, with conspiring to impede federal employees at the refuge. Claypool said that the fragment lodged in his arm isn't relevant to the criminal trial, but could play an important role in a civil case Bundy plans to file against the FBI and Oregon State Police. "I can't emphasize enough how important it is where this bullet came from," Claypool said. "In order to pursue the lawsuit, we'll need to show where that bullet came from." Finicum's widow, Jeanette Finicum, who is also represented by Claypool, announced last week that she would be pursuing her own civil case against the government over her husband's death. Earlier this month, Bundy was involved in an altercation with sheriff's deputies when he refused to let them handcuff him to take him out of the downtown jail. On social media, his supporters speculated that he was being taken to the metal fragment removed from his shoulder. Claypool conceded that, at some point, whatever is in Bundy's arm will have to come out, but until he files his civil case, he thinks it is safer in the shoulder of his client than it would be in an evidence locker. "At some juncture, he'll have to have the bullet removed," Claypool said. "But preservation of evidence is crucial to us and you don't need the bullet for the criminal case." The Oregonian/OregonLive reporters Les Zaitz and Aimee Green contributed to this report. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 CORVALLIS -- A former Oregon State University student will spend up to five years in prison after his conviction on charges related to campus-area break-ins. The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports Ronald Wesley Vaughan was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of burglary, sexual abuse and criminal trespass. Vaughan was accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she showered in her home near the campus. Police say a cell phone found at the scene of the woman's assault was matched to Vaughan. He was also accused of breaking into three dormitory rooms. Vaughan will be supervised for three years after his release and required to register as a sex offender. He was given credit for time served. Defense attorney Shaun McCrea said in court that Vaughan had no history of previous crimes. -- The Associated Press Angel's Rest A view from the top of Angel's Rest trail. A hiker died Friday, Aug. 26. 2016, after a 40-foot fall off the trail. (Terry Richard/Staff) A hiker death and two separate search and rescue missions marked a busy stretch that ended Friday evening in the Columbia River Gorge. Authorities were dispatched on three separate missions starting Thursday night: First for a Texas firefighter who went missing on his way down from Sherrard Point; then for a man who fell about 40 feet off the side of the Angel's Rest trail; and finally for a pair of Portland hikers lost near the climax of the same trail. The man who fell off the side of the popular Angel's Rest trail near a small waterfall was already dead when a rope-rescue team reached him Friday morning. Authorities found the man and his hiking companion, who called 911, about a half-mile from the Angel's Rest trailhead, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Deputies haven't publicly identified the man, who's in his 30s. The death appears to be an accident, said Capt. Steve Alexander, a sheriff's office spokesman. He didn't know if anyone else saw the fall. Detectives and a medical examiner will investigate the death. Long night & hot day in the Gorge. 3 missions. 3 rescued and safe, 1 didn't make it after a fall. A happy & sad day. Team out of the field. Mountain Wave SAR (@MountainWaveSAR) August 27, 2016 Later in the day, searchers used a rope system to rescue the pair of Portland hikers off the trail near the top of Angel's Rest, deputies said. They found Lyndale Galino, 19, and Deaven Thielen, 20, around 3 p.m. The hikers told authorities they had been stranded on an embankment because of loose rock, deputies said. Neither hiker suffered serious injuries, deputies said. Safety tips Don't hike alone Stay on marked trails Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member, and check in when you return Devise an emergency plan and make sure everyone knows what to do if they become separated or an emergency arises. Give children whistles and tell them to "stop and blow" if they get lost. Take breaks or vary your pace to maintain your energy Drink plenty of water but never drain your supply between refills Wear appropriate clothing Be aware of your surroundings and plan your approach before hiking in more hazardous areas. Consider bringing a map, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, flashlight, waterproof matches, first aid kit, water, water-purifying tablets, energy bars, granola or fruit, extra clothing -- Source: U.S. Forest Service; National Park Service Deputies were first called to the gorge around 9:30 p.m. Thursday on the report that a hiker, Austin firefighter Devin Paez, was lost. Paez, 26, was hiking with three friends when he decided to head back down the trail alone, leaving his equipment behind. Two of the friends are fellow Austin firefighters. One of Paez's friends ran to catch up with him but couldn't find him. Overnight teams searched about 20 miles of trails but weren't successful either. Paez told authorities Friday he got lost when he took a wrong turn following what he thought was a trail and then stumbled down a steep embankment. He couldn't get back so he stayed where he was until morning when he made his way back up, drank water from a creek and continued following trails. That's when a hiker saw him and contacted authorities. Paez was dehydrated and had scratches on his arms and legs but was otherwise unhurt, deputies said. The death was at least the third this month involving climbers or hikers on the Oregon side of the gorge. A New York hiker died in early August after he fell about 70 feet into Punch Bowl Falls. And Samuel Shin, a 28-year-old Portland climber, died in mid-August after falling about 50 feet onto rocks at Dry Creek Falls, according to the Hood River News. Both waterfalls are near Cascade Locks. Multnomah County sheriff's deputies want to remind hikers to research their routes ahead of time, stay on trails, carry necessary supplies and nourishment, and tell someone where they're going and when they plan to be back. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 The Associated Press and Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report A 2-alarm fire caused by a "smoker's carelessness" damaged three units in a Southwest Portland Apartment building and displaced eight people Saturday morning, officials said. Portland Fire and Rescue first reported the blaze around 7 a.m. with multiple crews responding to an apartment complex on the 5000 block of Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. About 20 minutes later, firefighters called for a second alarm as the fire grew. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by about 7:45 a.m. and no injuries were reported, though seven adults and one teenager were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross would be assisting the victims to find shelter, Portland Fire and Rescue reported on Twitter. Eastbound lanes of Beaverton Hillsdale Highway reopened by 9 a.m., but westbound lanes remained closed between 45th Avenue and Shattuck Road and weren't expected to reopen until around 10 a.m. Investigators believe the fire was caused by when a lit cigarette was discarded on a deck. Another apartment fire displaced 14 people -- 10 adults, four children and their pets -- in Milwaukie Friday evening. Crews responded to the blaze on the 4800 block of Southeast Boardman Ave near Mclaughlin Boulevard around 6 p.m. A Trimet bus with air conditioning was brought in to keep the residents cool while firefighters battled the blaze, according to a report from KATU, and the Red Cross came in to help those displaced by the fire. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 Zika Blood Testing On Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that all U.S. blood banks start screening for the Zika virus, a major expansion intended to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne disease. (The Associated Press) WASHINGTON -- All blood donated in the U.S. should be screened for Zika to prevent the virus from spreading through transfusions, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. "The recommendation for testing the entire blood supply will help ensure that safe blood is available for all individuals who might need transfusion," Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. Zika is spreading rapidly throughout the Americas, with 50 countries and territories now dealing with active outbreaks. As of Wednesday, 8,746 people in Puerto Rico have been infected with the virus locally, along with dozens of additional cases of local transmission in the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida is the only U.S. state with Zika infections that can't be linked to travel. As of Wednesday, 29 people there have been diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed infections, the CDC says. The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes through their bites. Once infected, a person can spread it to another through sexual contact. Most notably, an infected pregnant woman can pass the virus to her unborn child, putting the baby at risk for microcephaly and other brain-related birth defects. Donor blood can be another important source of Zika transmission. During a Zika outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013 and 2014, nearly 3 percent of blood samples from people with no sign of infection were found to contain the virus, which could have been spread to others through routine infusions. And in Puerto Rico, where screening has been recommended since February, nearly 1 percent of blood samples from donors with no symptoms of Zika turned up positive for the virus, according to the FDA. Screening potential donors before they give blood is unreliable, since four out of five infected people never develop any outward sign of infection. Among those who do, most have vague symptoms like fever, headaches or joint or muscle pain. To get around this problem, the FDA's new guidance calls for testing all donated blood using a so-called nucleic acid test. These tests search for specific genetic sequences in certain viruses, such as HIV or hepatitis. Versions that look for Zika are still undergoing final FDA review. If any blood is found to be infected, any other blood given by the same donor in the past 120 days should be quarantined, according to the new guidelines If some of that blood has already been used to treat another patient, the recipient's doctor should be notified. If no screening test is available, blood collection agencies can purify blood platelets or plasma using one of the FDA's approved methods. In the future, if a pathogen reduction technology becomes available for red blood cells or for whole blood, these methods could be used instead of a nucleic acid test, the FDA said. Although there's no longer any need to ask potential donors about their recent travel to regions affected by Zika, any prospective blood donor who says they have been infected with Zika should be asked to wait until their symptoms have resolved or for 120 days, whichever is longer, the FDA said. The new guidance applies immediately in Florida and in territories with at least one case of a locally acquired infection. All blood collection should be put on hold until the new procedures can be implemented, the FDA advises. Blood collection agencies in states that have reported travel-related Zika infections or that are close to areas where mosquitoes are known to have the virus should implement the guidelines within the next four weeks. These include Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina and Texas. Facilities in all other states should be following the new guidelines within the next 12 weeks, the FDA says. -- Los Angeles Times LEXINGTON, Miss. -- A man suspected in the slayings of two Mississippi nuns who were found dead inside a residence within the community they served has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder, Mississippi authorities said. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said in a statement released late Friday night. Both women were 68. The bodies of both women were discovered Thursday after they failed to show up for work at a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi, about 10 miles from where they lived. "Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation," Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jordan said in the statement. Authorities said Sanders was being held in an undisclosed detention center pending a court appearance. Meanwhile, in the poverty-stricken Mississippi county where the two nuns were slain, forgiveness for their killer is hard to find, even if forgiveness is what the victims would have wanted. Held and Merrill were nurse practitioners who dedicated their lives to providing health care to people in the poorest county in the state. And as authorities sought the killer, many residents wondered how they will fill the hole the women's deaths have left. "Right now, I don't see no forgiveness on my heart," said Joe Morgan Jr., a 58-year-old former factory worker who has diabetes and was a patient of Merrill's at the clinic where the two nuns worked. He said Merrill would want him to forgive whoever killed the women, but he hopes the perpetrator is arrested, convicted and executed. "She doesn't deserve to die like this, doing God's work," Morgan said, shaking his head. "There's something wrong with the world." Both women worked at the clinic, where they gave flu shots, dispensed insulin and provided other medical care for children and adults who couldn't afford it. Their stolen car was found abandoned a mile from their home, and there were signs of a break-in, but police haven't disclosed a motive. Authorities have not said how the women were killed , but the Rev. Greg Plata of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, where the nuns had led Bible study for years, said police told him they were stabbed. The state posted a reward of $20,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Plata said both nuns ' religious communities have asked that people pray for the killer or killers. Asked about people's struggles to forgive, the priest said: "Forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian. Look at Jesus on the cross: 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.'" On Friday, a handwritten sign on the front door of Lexington Medical Clinic said it was closed until Monday. The clinic and the nuns ' home in Durant are in Holmes County, population 18,000. With 44 percent of its residents living in poverty, Holmes is the seventh-poorest county in America, according to the Census Bureau. The slayings did more than shock people and plunge the county into mourning. They leave a gaping hole in what was already a strapped health care system. Dr. Elias Abboud, who worked with the sisters for years and helped build the clinic, said it provided about 25 percent of all medical care in the county. The two nuns cultivated relationships with drug company representatives, who often left extra free samples, according to clinic manager Lisa Dew. "This is a poor area, and they dignified those who are poor with outreach and respect for them," Plata said. "They treated each person as a child of God." Merrill's sister Rosemarie, speaking by telephone from her Stoneham, Massachusetts, home, said her sister had been in Mississippi helping the poor since 1981 and had previously worked in Holly Springs, where she used to ride around on a moped and was instrumental in locating the source of a tuberculosis outbreak. Merrill was raised in the suburbs of Boston and came from a working-class family, her father a laborer and her mother a bookkeeper, her nephew David said. He said his aunt had worked with Held for many years. "We always considered Margaret just part of the family," he said. "The word 'sister' has many meanings, and they fulfilled all of them." Rosemarie Merrill said she doesn't know what will happen to the clinic now and worries about the effect on health care in Holmes County. She said her sister and Held would often go into the clinic on Sundays after Mass or on their days off. "It's just going to be a disaster," she said. Genette Pierce, who works at a home health and hospice business a few doors down from the clinic, said: "Their patients -- all of them -- they're going to be lost without them right now." -- The Associated Press Getting away from Portland means leaving the congestion of the big city behind, but it doesn't have to mean ditching the food, cocktails and coffee as well - at least not anymore. This weekend marks the opening of The Suttle Lodge, a new getaway near Sisters that's adding more than a dash of Portland culture to the central Oregon getaway. The property formerly known as the Lodge at Suttle Lake has been completely revamped over the last year by the Mighty Union, the group behind Portland's popular Ace Hotel. While the creative team wanted to maintain a certain rustic lakeside ambiance, they also aimed to bring along a few amenities from the big city. "I guess you could say that we've come to expect some basic comforts of what you come to find in Portland," Donald Kenny, a partner at Mighty Union, explained. "But only because they're a part of the trappings we've all become accustomed to." Chief among those amenities is a full "fish-shack-meets-diner" style menu at the lodge's Boathouse restaurant, created by chef Joshua McFadden of Portland's Ava Gene's. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering steamed egg sandwiches, grilled trout, poached salmon salad, hot dogs and more. The lodge's lobby cocktail bar also comes with Portland fingerprints, serving a menu crafted by Sean Hoard, former bar manager at Portland's Teardrop Cocktail Lounge. Overall, the Suttle Lodge is closely modeled after the Ace Hotel, focused on comfortable community spaces and a variety of lodging options ranging from luxurious to downright rustic. The lodge's 11 rooms and 16 cabins are divided by category: basic, standard and deluxe. The basic accommodations - rustic cabins that sleep six - run less than $70 a night, while standard lodge rooms cost around $150 to $200, and deluxe cabins range from $200 to $400. "We don't really like to shoot for a particular demographic," Kenny said. "We can offer a whole wide range of price points and get them under the same roof." Or rather, on the same piece of land. Because while the lodging experiences may vary, the natural experience at The Suttle Lodge is universal. The getaway is settled beside the scenic Suttle Lake, nestled into the Deschutes National Forest. Trails lead from the lodge to nearby Black Butte, Round Lake, Cache Mountain and other destinations, as well as Camp Sherman, an unincorporated community on the Metolius River. It leaves a lot of room for local exploration, but Suttle Lake - 21 square miles in all - is a beauty in and of itself. The lodge offers canoe, kayak and stand up paddle board rentals at the Boathouse, and includes free use of a canoe with each luxury cabin. But lodgers shouldn't expect to be alone on the water: Two campgrounds, a boat launch, a day-use area and a Methodist camp surround Suttle Lake, ensuring busy boating on warm summer days. If it sounds too overwhelming, consider relaxing into the vibe at The Suttle Lodge instead, which like any good restaurant or cafe in Portland, is designed to be laid back, and is well-crafted with intention. "What we were really looking to do is change the emotional attachment or how people connected with the place," Kenny said. "Come as you are; do as you want ... Time kind of runs on its own out there." And enjoy a locally-roasted pour-over coffee while you're at it. --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Derrick Brandt enters the world, he will require three open-heart surgeries before his second birthday. Thats what doctors told mother, Deanna Toner, 22, a Sanford native now living in Saginaw. At times, his heart rate shoots up to 300 beats per minute, Toner said about twice the normal 110 to 170 range. Toner and boyfriend, Joseph Brandt, 32, found out in May theyd welcome a baby boy. Thats also when theyd heard of Derricks rare condition. I was upset, I cried right away, said Toner, mother of a 1-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. Derrick is due Monday. An ultrasound shows hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect in which it cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to the body properly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It affects one out of every 4,344 babies born in the United States each year. The cause is unknown. Both Toner and Brandt are cooks at the Saginaw Country Club. Toner said she thinks insurance might cover Derricks medical bills. She set up a GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/2de7zks with a goal to raise $2,000, which she said will cover living costs while taking maternity leave. Weve just been struggling financially, she said. There is also a Benefit For Baby Derrick Facebook event page (see: http://bit.ly/2bm8ueC) for a spaghetti benefit dinner scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Sanford Lake Bar & Grill. The cost is $10 per plate. A silent auction and 50/50 drawing are planned. Even after surgery, Derrick will be at a most critical stage in his life, Toner said. Enduring three stages of surgery doesnt mean an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is cured; they may have lifelong complications, according to the CDC, and those who receive a heart transplant will need to take medicines for the rest of their lives to prevent their body from rejecting the new heart. I will have to miss quite a bit of work, putting our family in a hole with the trips, and lack of income, Toner wrote on the GoFundMe page. We are trying to move as well, because the apartment we have is not big enough for our growing family, being a two bedroom. We have no baby gear for a newborn, no crib, no diapers, nothing for him. We are reaching out. This is a hefty goal. We do not expect to reach it, but anything helps. Thank you. For more information, contact Deanna Toner at (989) 293-7242. The case of an assault that occurred in Sanford is closed, and no stabbing occurred, the Midland County Sheriffs Office reports. A caller to the Daily News stated a man suffering from stab wounds was found in a ditch along South Cedar Street in Sanford on Tuesday night. Unlike Washington, D.C., Michigans state government is constitutionally prohibited from spending more than it takes in each year and borrowing to make up the difference. Yet state taxpayers are still liable for large amounts of state debt, for purposes both practical and problematic. The debts of greatest concern to residents are general obligation bonds, backed by general taxpayer dollars. Payments come right out of the general fund tax revenue the state uses to support the rest of what it does. Michigans recently passed budget includes $137 million to make payments on this debt, paid from the general fund. (Most of the money in that fund comes from the state income tax.) But not all taxpayer debt is general obligation debt. Some $3.1 billion borrowed to build or improve state offices and college buildings is also of concern because it will take another $247 million from next years budget money that wont be available for other uses. Taxpayers wont have to worry so much about some portions of the states $26.6 billion official debt. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority, for instance, borrowed $2.0 billion and then lent it in turn to housing developers. But taxpayers will not be liable as long as developers make their payments. The major threat to taxpayers in Michigan and around the country is the semi-off-the-books debt and pensions are exhibit No. 1. Michigan state and local governments have promised their employees far more in pension benefits than can be supported by the amount set aside for that purpose. There may be no official mortgage or bond offering for this debt, but every taxpayer is on the hook for it nonetheless. The state-run school pension system is largest pension system in Michigan. Lawmakers have promised teachers and other school employees $67.7 billion in pension benefits, but have set aside and invested only enough to cover $41.0 billion. Taxpayers carry the burden for the $26.7 billion difference, and it is a heavy lift: $2 billion of the amount paid in state and local school taxes goes to fill this hole. Given the complexities of estimating the obligations of pension systems and the continued annual increases in stated unfunded liabilities, the actual numbers are likely higher. How did the school pension system become significantly underfunded? It came about in two ways. As auditors have noted, state officials and lawmakers made overly optimistic assumptions about how quickly payrolls would increase and how much the pension funds would earn on their investments. So the actual debt owed to retirees in this system may actually be higher than $26.7 billion. It was problematic enough for officials to base the system on imprudent predictions. Equally damaging, though, was their failure to make full payments recommended by the financial experts. For 2015, for example, actuarial accountants said the state should put away $2.18 billion to help fund teacher retirements. But it deposited $1.97 billion, or $210 million less. That marked 2015 as the sixth consecutive year in which the state failed to make what actuaries call the annual required contribution for the pension system. Moreover, the pension figures ignore billions of quasi-liabilities represented by health insurance benefits that have been promised to school and government retirees. Unlike its treatment of pensions, Michigans Constitution does not prohibit trimming those insurance benefits, or even eliminating them altogether. Because the pension underfunding has gone on for decades, more money is owed to government employees and retirees than to any other class of creditor. That is a bad situation for those workers and for taxpayers alike. To prevent the problem from getting worse, governments should stop providing pension benefits that can and have been underfunded and instead offer employees defined contribution benefits. James M. Hohman is the assistant director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy The first Hollywood home of much loved American actress Lucille Ball was recently listed for $1.75 million. The delightful two-bedroom bungalow with palm trees in the front yard sits in the heart of the West Holllywood's historic Spaulding Square neighborhood, an enclave of mostly Colonial-style bungalows developed between 1916 and 1926. Early residents were silent film stars and directors, according to the neighborhood association. The B-1B Lancer officially replaced the B-52 Stratofortress in support of U.S. Pacific Commands Continuous Bomber Presence mission Aug. 15, during a Transfer of Authority ceremony. Lt. Col. Jeremy Holmes, 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, relinquished authority to Lt. Col. Seth Spanier, 34th EBS commander from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The 34th stands ready to provide a tangible assurance to allies and partners in the region and a clear deterrent to potential adversaries, Spanier said. Above all else, we will provide the capability to rapidly transition to major combat operations on a massive scale, if ordered. The B-1 units bring a unique perspective and years of repeated combat and operational experience from the U.S. Central Command Theater to the Pacific. They will provide a significant rapid global strike capability that enables our readiness and commitment to deterrence, offers assurance to our allies, and strengthens regional security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. B-1s were last here in April 2006 and have returned to support USPACOM in conducting routine, strategic deterrence and regional training missions. Incorporating the B-1 into Pacific operations exercises USPACOMs ability to integrate a unique capability with regional allies and partners in a different part of the world. The unique thing about our opportunities here as part of the continuous bomber presence is we really have the opportunity to train across all of the mission sets that the B-1 is capable of, Spanier said. So we will routinely, on a day-in and day-out basis, get to train with the land, air and naval forces of both the U.S. and our allies and partners in the region. It's really an unmatched training opportunity for our squadron." The deployment brings more than 300 Airmen who are trained and ready to ensure the performance of the B-1. The B-1Bs superior handling, substantial payload, excellent radar targeting system, long loiter time and survivability make it a very capable combatant commander platform. B-52s have served non-stop rotations since 2006, which have been shared between the bomber squadrons from Minot AFB, North Dakota, and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. During this rotation, the 69th EBS worked in concert with F-16 fighter aircraft from the 112th Fighter Squadron from Toledo Air Guard Base, Ohio, where they developed tactics, techniques and procedures for defensive Guam concepts of operation. The squadron also participated in various exercises such as exercise Pitch-Black and Rim of Pacific in Hawaii and Australia. Between the major exercises, the team conducted freedom of navigation operations over the South and East China seas where they flew numerous missions with coalition partners from the Republic of Korea and Japanese Self Defense Air Force. Overall, the team flew 80 pacific power projection sorties, accumulating nearly 1700 flying hours. Additionally, the 69th EBS conducted a first-ever live fire integration with the U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer, USS Spruance (DDG 111), which involved employing multiple munitions on the Farallon de Medinilla weapons range near Guam. Today we mark the end of an era of B-52s continuously operating here and patrolling the skies over the pacific area of responsibility, said Col Samuel White, 36th Operations Group commander. We also mark the beginning of a new era by bringing back the B-1 crews after they spent nearly a decade supporting combat operations and gaining necessary experience needed to perform and participate in this CBP mission. Air Force Global Strike Command continues to routinely deploy bombers to Guam, which provides opportunities to strengthen regional alliances and long-standing military-to-military partnerships. Late August brings many annual rites of passage associated with the start of school. Buying supplies. Meeting new teachers. Digging up an old couch. Wait, what? Whats a couch got to do with it? College students moving into apartments for the first time are often on the hunt for furniture. Since they typically dont have extra money to spend on their new place, they can be very creative in home decorating. Usually this involves the time-honored tradition of inheriting their parents old furniture or driving around town, looking for a castoff along the road that doesnt appear to be a safety hazard. You can always count on hearing great stories about someones first car, but have you ever heard about a persons first couch? My first couch was a hand-me-down from my parents when I moved into an apartment with three other guys at Illinois State, said Marty, now a married father of twin preschoolers. The couch, a leftover from his mothers southwestern motif decorating phase, was brown and white. Like the hide of a heifer. It wouldve gone well with a Longhorn skull and an adobe hut, he said. Not surprisingly, the clay-colored couch clashed with the hue of the student apartments carpet, which could be described as aged beer stain. The couch was too big for the room. In fact, the only possible space for it was alongside the kitchen counter; normally the spot occupied by counter barstools. The problem with this arrangement was the lip of the countertop extended a bit, guaranteeing anyone sitting on the couch would bang his head on the Formica counter when he stood up or leaned back. I probably hit my head 30 times before I finally figured it out, Marty said. But I loved that couch. It was like the Titanic -- huge and deep -- and long enough to pass out on after a long night of um, studying. Sadly, the couch experienced so much abuse that by the end of the school year, the piece resembled a pallet with springs. On the last day of class, the roommates put the former furnishing on the curb. It was gone within an hour. Its possible, Marty speculated, the couch still exists somewhere on the ISU campus, supporting the study habits of another generation of college students. Another friend, the husband of an interior decorator, was also the recipient of his parents old couch. When his folks had purchased the new davenport, it was the best money could buy at the time. And, it was red-, green- and gold-striped velvet. We called it the Fruit Stripe couch, he said. My wife, being a decorator, only allowed it in the basement man cave, but Fruit Stripe was legendary and served us well. Not all first couches are hand-me-downs. Co-worker Alice remembers well the first piece of furniture she purchased. At the time, I was sharing an apartment with a friend. I was so excited to have a new couch and call it my own, she recalled. But during their first week in the apartment, Alices roommate broke her leg. She couldnt sleep in her bed and was laid up on my new couch for most of the summer, said Alice. I dont think I got to sit on until months later. My own first couch, a secondhand gift from friends, was a rust and gold, floral-patterned beast that was eight feet long. My grandmother knitted an afghan to cover it. I still have the afghan, but today it covers a leather couch selected by my husband and much loved by our spaniel. Im not wild about our leather couch. In fact, its probably time to carry on that time-honored August tradition. Im sure our daughters apartment is in need of a new couch. It probably began with a conversation with his mother, for it was Ryan Lochtes mother who first told the lie publicly. Ileana Lochte told USA Today at around 9 a.m. Aug. 14 that her son had been robbed at gunpoint just hours earlier. Lochte himself retold this tale to NBC about three hours after his mother had spoken publicly. It doesnt take rocket science to figure out that Lochte was trying to avoid some embarrassment when he talked with his mother. Then, after Mom went public with what she thought was the real story, Lochte felt compelled to double down on his lie and restate it to NBC, and events spiraled out of control. Brazilian authorities interviewed all involved. Video evidence was examined. Lochtes story did not add up. It was not true. Many have commented on the wrongs committed, including how Lochte used preconceived ideas about Rios crime rate as a means of hiding wrongdoing. Oh, there are lots of wrongs here. American party boys acting riotously; the manipulation and maligning of Rios reputation. We can enumerate those wrongs and more. However, Lochte would not have been in trouble; he would not have lost his millions of dollars in endorsements and tarnished his reputation and that of the American swim team, except for one little sin. He lied. The Christian message is that all of us are guilty as sinners. And sin is not defined by how big it looks to us. It all matters, and we suffer greatly because of our sins. So we need to admit and turn away from our sin and look to Jesus and his death at the cross to forgive us. Only by admitting our failure and pleading for Gods grace can we be made whole. Sadly, up to my writing this article, Lochte cannot bring himself to say that he lied. He overexaggerated, he says. He wants to hold on to his pride, which is the one thing he must give up to be made whole, whether with Brazil or with God. By all accounts, Ryan Lochte is an amazing swimmer, winner of six gold medals and numerous world records. But his life came crashing down last week because of one little sin. That sin was not that he vandalized a gas station in Rio. It was not that he was drunk. It was not that he urinated in the bushes. The sin was that he lied. Beware of what one little sin can do. BLOOMINGTON The former president and CEO of The Baby Fold and BroMenn Healthcare has been named interim CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal. Dale Strassheim will serve while the club's board of directors searches for a long-term replacement for Grant Anderson, whose last day with the club was Friday. The club announced Strassheim, who retired from The Baby Fold in 2014, as interim CEO late Friday. "I am honored to be associated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington-Normal," Strassheim said in a prepared statement. "The organization, its dedicated staff and their committed board of directors lead a very respected organization that is providing critically needed services and support to the future of our society." In addition to his years with The Baby Fold and the former BroMenn Healthcare, Strassheim's 40 years of management experience includes leadership for numerous organizations. Anderson left the club based at 1615 W. Illinois St., Bloomington, after he was named CEO of a larger club, the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County, Calif. Anderson helped to turn around the Bloomington-Normal club when it was in financial disarray three years ago. The club annually serves 800 at-risk youths with after-school and summer programs. It has more than 20 full- and part-time employees and an annual budget of $900,000. The club board of directors has created an executive search committee whose members are Strassheim, Pam Reece, Rex Schaeffer, Dr. Holly Houska, Toni Farrington, Sherry Thomas and Shelleigh Birlingmair. The committee begins its work Monday and hopes that a new CEO can begin Jan. 1. Birlingmair said the club has "an incredible support mechanism" and remains committed to its mission during the transition. "We are very fortunate to have Dale Strassheim step in as our interim CEO to continue the work Grant started," Birlingmair. "We remain committee to the families, children and community we serve." NORMAL Improvements to bus crowding and scrambled routes in McLean County Unit 5 will begin Monday, according to Superintendent Mark Daniel and First Student Area General Manager Bob Rutkoski. Also starting Monday, the district will implement a new after-hours phone answering system, available until 6 p.m., to take questions or concerns. The number is 309-557-4800. These will be Unit 5 people who are familiar with busing and working with families, said Dayna Brown, Unit 5 director of communication and community relations. Rutkoski asked for parents to not expect perfection come Monday, but improvement. Our message to the community as a whole: We hear you," he said. "We know they didnt get the start up they deserved. We are working hard for them." Daniel told a room of frustrated parents Wednesday that improvements would begin Thursday afternoon, but said Friday, We delayed any routing changes until Monday. It takes 24 hours for Skyward to upload any changes and we wanted to make sure parents were aware far enough in advance. District officials said they were assured by First Student that the original plan would be sufficient prior to the first day of school. We spent many months working on this project in partnership with the district," said Rutkoski. "We routed phantom routes with assumed ridership. Those plans were then checked by a third party, VersaTrans, who confirmed the assumptions. He said the changes to start and dismissal times formed the perfect storm because the adjustments changed assumed ridership. We immediately had to figure out how to utilize the same fleet to fix overcrowding issues and late buses, said Rutkoski. First Student employees have been working overtime this week, said Rutkoski, to clean up routes by Monday. The improved routes should be posted in the online system for parents to view by the weekend. When you have 40 students in a 73-passenger bus, you route it to pick up more students at one stop and relieve a bus at another. Thats what we are doing. Were looking at known ridership now, he said. Daniel said the first step was to address overcrowding issues on buses because of the safety concerns. He said administrators have been checking buses to ensure everyone has a proper seat. The next item of importance is limiting the amount of time students, especially elementary students, ride a bus. Late bus arrivals will be announced over a building intercom, said Daniel, and teachers are expected to be understanding of students late to class. On Friday, Rutkoski said that 21 First Student bus drivers for Unit 5 called in sick. If the district was operating these routes on their own and 21 drivers called in sick, they would be dead in the water, he said. The footprint from First Student means we can bring in substitute drivers from other locations so we dont have a total stop of work. He said the company called in drivers from Bartonville, Joliet and even Wisconsin to help. Our drivers are professionals. I have total faith in them, he said. NORMAL Officials could hit a major milestone next week in the road to a new Normal Public Library. Normal City Council and NPL's Board of Trustees will meet 4 p.m. Tuesday to interview three architects to lead the next phase of development. A decision could follow as soon as the board's next meeting 5 p.m. Wednesday. "The board put out (a request) to complete site analysis, building programming and conceptual design for a new facility, specifically looking at the uptown south site," said library Director Brian Chase. "This isn't the actual designing (of) the facility. This is looking at the site; talking to the staff, the board and the council; and defining what is the new library." After 14 companies submitted materials, members of the board, council and library staff interviewed six and selected three finalists. Those firms Milwaukee-based Engberg Anderson Architects, Minneapolis-based HGA Architects and Engineers and OPN Architects in Iowa and Wisconsin will each give a 45-minute presentation and take questions for 15 minutes. "The presentations will be the first time most of the board and most of the council meet these firms, with the exception of OPN," Chase said. OPN led public brainstorming sessions on the new library this spring. Members of the board, council and library staff have visited at least one library designed by each firm, including Cedar Rapids Public Library, from OPN; Iowa City Public Library, from Engberg Anderson; and Milwaukee Public Library's East Branch, from HGA. Chase said the Milwaukee branch is an example of a library integrated with a community: it has attached apartments and an AT&T store. "We really want someone who can build a successful library but do so in that mixed-use setting, to be sure everything works together. ... By being the first development on that site, we really have a wonderful opportunity to do it right," he said. "We're also interested in what they see as potential for meeting spaces and collaborative spaces, how libraries are changing," he added. The selected firm will negotiate a contract with the library, then begin a six-month planning process. Chase said the firm also could do further design work on the building, but that will be decided later. Officials hope to open the new library in about five years. "We're going through a strategic planning process now (talking about future services), and we're holding off engaging the public so we can do that once," Chase said. "We have these parallel processes going on, but we want them to intersect, for the sake of efficiency and to keep those conversations related." City Manager Mark Peterson said he expects the council to have a significant influence on the board's selection. "There's some hope there will be a meeting of the minds, so to speak, and that the library board can go forward with a vote on a final selection with a level of comfort that they know where the council's at," he said. BLOOMINGTON The 100 Black Men of Central Illinois hosted its eighth annual Excellence Gala on Friday night and introduced community awards that align with the organization's focus areas of mentoring, education, health and wellness and economic empowerment. The 100 Black Men of Central Illinois is the local chapter of the national organization whose primary focus is mentoring youth. The gala was at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Awards and recipients were: Excellence in Mentoring to Dodie Dunson Sr. for his years of guiding youth at Western Avenue Community Center's Lawrence Irvin Neighborhood Center (LINC). Excellence in Education to Normal Community High School for collaborating with 100 Black Men on two programs. Excellence in Economic Empowerment to Central Illinois SCORE for fostering success for small businesses. Excellence in Health & Wellness to The Pantagraph for ongoing coverage of the Zika virus. The chapter also honored its mentor and mentees of the year. Mentor of the Year is Paul Hursey, a charter member of the organization who serves as coordinator of its Mentoring for Life program. Mentees of the Year are Markus Brooks and Jordin Stipp. Brooks, also the 100 Black Men of America National Mentee of the Year, participated in the Mentoring for Life program for 2 years and became a student leader. Stipp participated in the Mentoring for Life program for eight years and his team placed third in the Black Data Processing Associates National High School Computer Competition. Keynote speaker at the gala was Harold Davis, an author and founder and CEO of the TALKS Mentoring program. What a mess. Its probably the biggest and certainly the most visible failure by local government in my 50 years of hanging around Bloomington-Normal. Dont take just my word for it. Gail Ann Briggs is in her 41st year as a member of the Unit 5 school board. Im appalled, Briggs told me. Its just beyond comprehension a lot of missteps in the process of balancing the budget against the needs of the district. Briggs and other board members had just spent an hour and 35 minutes listening to a parade of 22 parents, two grandparents, a union representative and an employee of the company that will be paid more than $7 million this year to transport Unit 5 students. Almost to a person they were angry, and a lot of what they said was new to school board members. They described how the sprawling school districts effort to cut transportation costs while it installed a sweeping change in school attendance hours had resulted in buses being significantly late and overcrowded. There were individual stories of misplaced students; of injuries being overlooked after two buses collided; of young children spending more than two hours on a bus each day when their schools are only minutes away; of what goes on when high school kids ride the same bus as junior high students; of a bus picking up students at an unplanned, unsafe location; of high school students needing to get up the same time as last year, even though their classes start 75 minutes later. And this was compounded by overwhelmed office staffs, unable to handle all the phone calls and answer questions from worried, frustrated parents. Their statements were frequently interrupted by applause from the 300 parents, teachers and drivers at Wednesdays meeting. One guy occasionally shouted that school superintendent Mark Daniel step down. Another parent wondered out loud whether it wasnt time for both Daniel and school board president Meta Mickens-Baker to step aside. By then, Mickens-Baker had given up on enforcing a 3-minute rule for speakers. Theres plenty of blame to go around. First Student, self-described as North Americas largest student transportation provider, didnt dedicate enough resources to properly address what it surely knew was a challenging situation. This week, it replaced its local manager and added some people. Too little too late to avoid a start-of-school crisis. Unit 5s administration underestimated the complexity of changes the First Student worker called too much too fast and was ill-prepared to cope with problems on a real-time basis. School board members failed to foresee operational risks involved with coupling changed and fewer bus routes with revised school hours. They should have been less trusting and insisted school administrators lay out plans to deal with the unexpected. And, of course, blame hangs all over the state of Illinois and our elected officials. If they had acted responsibly on school funding issues, Unit 5 likely wouldnt be facing budget problems that compelled cumbersome change. Parents want their kids start to the school year to be smooth, fun and stress-free. Yes, we expect a lot probably too much of our schools. But its not asking too much for them to ensure safe, on-time transportation. On this, Unit 5 gets an F. Three-way race Unlike Thursdays Illinois Supreme Court partisan decision that keeps remap reform off the fall ballot, reason prevailed over politics earlier in the day when a federal judge ruled independent candidate David Gill of Bloomington should appear on the ballot in the 13th Congressional District. Unless theres an appeal, it means a three-way race among Gill, incumbent Republican Rodney Davis of Taylorville and Democrat Mark Wicklund of Decatur. The question is whether enough of the American mindset that has produced support for outsiders like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump will rub off on Gill to mount a serious challenge to Davis. In the past year, several states across America have been advocating bill that supported shared parenting and Missouri was among those states. Now, the state's shared parenting bill, HB 1550, will finally enacted as a law starting on Aug. 28. Due to several studies about the benefits of shared parenting after a divorce and the burgeoning cases of parental alienation, Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Government finally signed the shared parenting bill, turning it into a law. Missouri's shared parenting law, which unanimously passed the Senate, will allow ex-couples to have an egalitarian approach to child custody and visitation. Deemed as the most advantageous approach for children's well-being, not to mention the positive impact on parental and gender equality, the shared parenting law will be more child-centered. According to emissourian.com, Rep. Kathryn Swan stressed that the courts will no longer follow the default custody order instead, it will allow parents to develop and create a parenting plan that will best suit the needs of a child or children. Missouri's HB 1550 aka shared parenting bill was reportedly supported in the House 154-2. It was also comprehensively studied and deliberated by a subcommittee, which was headed by Missouri Bar Family Law Section Council chairwoman Patricia Scaglia. Meanwhile, National Parents Organization (NPO) strongly praised Gov. Jay Nixon and the government of Missouri for approving the shared parenting bill as a law. NPO founder Dr. Ned Holstein said that the shared parenting law will finally eliminate the tragic heartaches and suffering of divorce and separation, as well as the obsolete family courts' approach of sole custody by promoting equality and co-parenting. Unfortunately, Missouri's shared parenting law was also plagued with skepticisms. As a matter of fact, Ohio University parent-child relationships and divorce experts Dr. Donald A. Gordon and Dr. Jack Arbuthnot highlighted the fact that shared parenting may not be effective for every family situation despite its promising benefits, The Missouri Times revealed. Moreover, feminist organizations such as the National Organization for Women, also opposed the shared parenting law. The reason? The shared parenting approach may lead to "forced custody arrangements," not to mention limit the parental plans in cases of high conflicting families. Missouri is not the only state that passed the shared parenting law. In fact, the governments of Utah, Minnesota and South Dakota have also passed the same legislation. Florida, on the other hand, opposes the shared parenting approach, Parent Herald previously reported. Do you think shared parenting is really beneficial to divorcing or separating couples? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Netflix offering "Bloodline Season 3" continues its tricky premise where John Rayburn (Kyle Chandler), having murdered eldest brother Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), sees the Rayburns falling apart. While Season 3 of the Netflix series will decide the fate between Nolan Rayburn (Owen Teague) and Diana (Jacinda Barrett), Kyle Chandler says "Bloodline" is about blood rather than evil. Indiewire cites Kyle Chandler in clarifying that "Bloodline" is not really about evil. Instead, fans of the Netflix series should go beyond the intrigues surrounding the Rayburns in "Bloodline." Kyle Chandler points out that "Bloodline" is really about family and how that family grows together or apart with the test of time. The Netflix series illustrates with John Rayburn and the Rayburns how these blood ties evolve or devolve as family members make their individual paths and choices. According to Kyle Chandler "Bloodline" is a mirror of what happens to many real-life families. The tribulations of John Rayburn and the Rayburns in the Netflix series are things that families experience in some form or degree. Just drive. Bloodline will return in 2017. pic.twitter.com/q05AUiGfEu Bloodline (@Bloodline) July 13, 2016 Granted not all families get into scrapes as murder, drugs and infidelities as John Rayburn and the Rayburns in "Bloodline." Still, "Bloodline" does use John Rayburn and his family to depict varying degrees of dysfunction that result from life choices, circumstances and changes that come with time. What "Bloodline" hopes to show are the things that fracture a family and the trust within a family rather than any propensity for evil. As it is, "Bloodline Season 2" ended with John Rayburn, Kevin and Meg torn by their shared secret. Uproxx points out that "Bloodline Season 3" does have the issues of Kevin murdering detective Marco Diaz (Enrique Murciano) and Diana posing a threat to Nolan Rayburn and Eve as an offshoot of the Netflix series' previous episodes. Just as Kyle Chandler described, Kevin and Meg (Linda Cardellini) each decided to turn on John Rayburn, which triggered the murder of Marco Diaz in "Bloodline Season 2." Nolan Rayburn, on the other hand, decided to come clean to Diana about his part in why Danny even came back to the Florida Keys, which triggered the unfortunate murder in "Bloodline Season 1." The media outlet proposes that the "Bloodline Season 2" confession puts Diana in the position to destroy what chance Nolan Rayburn has to find a home among the Rayburns. One wonders, given what happens whenever the Rayburns decide to come clean, if Nolan Rayburn could murder Diana, too, should she prove to be a threat. Although questions on Nolan Rayburn being the real son of Danny were raised in the previous seasons of "Bloodline," such a deed in the coming Netflix episodes should settle doubts. Firm news from Netflix on the "Bloodline Season 3" air date remains pending. Meanwhile, do you think Kevin, Meg and John Rayburn could pull together in "Bloodline Season 3?" In recent years, the evolving alliance of education and technology has certainly become an undeniable reality. As a matter of fact, the incorporation of technology in educational institutions and in K-12 curricula has been gradually implemented, with instructions becoming more data-driven, personal and individualized. So, how exactly did education and technology become an emerging and powerful combination that set to transform the field of education? According to Bangkok Post, technology is playing such a significant role in the evolution of education in the digital era. Experts revealed education technology (EdTech) has the potential to augment the learning process of students, not to mention EdTech's power to improve the teacher-student relationships and learning atmosphere in schools. Global education experts also stressed that EdTech has opened vast opportunities for development, especially in terms of education. Education technology has also been a strong and emerging combination to transform education as it lessen the time and distance between educators and students. Topica CEO and founder Tuan Minh Pham also added that EdTech eradicated the learning barriers in education. Other international education technology experts also outlined how EdTech continuously evolved, from the initial digital contents, to the dot-com second wave and the latest adaptive learning approach. Unfortunately, Klett Group managing director David Klett highlighted the fact that the impact of EdTech may be limited in the K-12 educational systems. Klett also discussed how education technology was more strongly welcomed in the United States than in Europe. But in spite of that fact, little to no improvements have been recorded, particularly when it comes to the dropout rates in America. Despite the challenges, education technology is still perceived as a helpful tool to boost or substitute the existing learning and teaching approaches. EdTech can also reportedly assist in making schools a conducive social environment for students. Meanwhile, as school year gears up, the Office of Education Technology has recently explained the difference between the active and passive uses of Edtech. In a MeriTalk article, a short infographic detailed the need to bridge the gap on digital use by making sure that students will be able to comprehend how to use technology in a creative and productive manner. In other education technology-related news, EdTech entrepreneurs are urged to monetize their products. In fact, EdSurge shared some ways how companies should position their products for a maximum success in terms of sales. What do you think are the benefits of integrating technology in education? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Up until now, there are still no updates about Michael Schumacher's health condition and recovery. However, a former Formula One priest has revealed that he has known some information about the current status of the 47-year-old German racing legend but stressed he had lost his contact to the Schumi. As the world commemorated Michael Schumacher's F1 debut two-decade-and-a half ago, ex-Formula One priest Don Sergio Mantovani emerged claiming that he has more scoops about Schumi's current state of health than he wanted to share. According to Wheels24, Mantovani told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag that Schumacher is still a "hero," who remains to be much loved by his fans. Despite the uncertainties that plagued Michael Schumacher's health condition and recovery, Mantovani revealed that Schumi is a "fighter" who believes in God but doesn't spend time to go to church. While he knows more than he wanted to say, Mantovani admitted that he recently have contact with the Schumachers and Michael. Mantovani also stressed that with everything that had happened to Michael Schumacher, only God really knows what's in store for the embattled seven-time F1 world champion. As for the racing career of Michael's son Mick, Mantovani said that his father's current absence on the race track and in his life are just challenges from the Creator. Meanwhile, the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix has recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Michael Schumacher's first debut into the sport and the race track. Due to his unparalleled contributions and influences in the world of car racing, The Telegraph outlined 25 reasons why Schumacher is the world's greatest race car driver. BBC Sports, on the other hand, reminisced how Michael Schumacher got his first massive break in the racing realm. Based on the report, Schumacher, who was 22 at the time, made an impression in Formula One when he secured the seventh place on the grid for the Jordan Grand Prix team. As for Michael Schumacher's health condition and recovery, Parent Herald previously reported that the ex-F1 superstar still undertakes rehabilitation at his Swiss mansion. Unfortunately, several reports claimed that Schumi's health condition remains "unchanged," while other rumors claimed that his health has continued to deteriorate day by day. So, what are your thoughts on Michael Schumacher's health condition and recovery? Share them below and check out Parent Herald for more news and updates. Fans are clamoring for more Adidas NMD releases. The very exclusive pair has been released in different colorways ever since it first hit stands in 2015. However, despite the constant release, fans are still enduring long queues just to cop a pair. Along with the Yeezy Boost 350 and the Adidas Ultra Boost, the Adidas NMD release is considered as one of the most in demand footwear as of writing. Good thing, the Brand with Three Stripes are constantly making an effort to keep fans' interest high. According to new reports, a new Adidas NMD release featuring new materials is underway. The sneaker has received a lot of positive feedback because of its very comfortable fit, thanks to breathable mesh or Primeknit materials. These have been the NMD's major selling point. However, Sneaker News revealed that a new Adidas NMD release will be made in suede and leather, a new material for the highly coveted pair. The site noted that the new pairs will be ideal for the colder months coming. Apart from the new suede and leather NMDs, Europe is in for a treat as some exclusive colorways have been released in select retailers recently. According to Kicks On Fire, two new iterations have been released in the continent today. The first colorway boasts of a Green, Black and White combo, and the other comes in Onix, Bold Onix and Black. There has been no confirmation whether these exclusive European Adidas NMD release will also be made available in other parts of the globe. For the meantime, hopefuls can just wait for further releases coming to their country. Stay tuned for more Adidas NMD release updates here! Google Nexus 2016 is a highly anticipated device soon to be released, and while people are waiting for its official launch, there are plenty of speculations, leaks, and rumors regarding its specs and features. Words have it that the newest Google mobile phones will hit the market in October, and will come with features not yet available in other phones, including one that may not please consumers. Google Nexus 2016, which are reportedly named HTC Marlin and HTC Sailfish, will run Android 7.1 Nougat. Google last week officially rolled out the new Android 7.0 Nougat, but speculations emerged that the upcoming Nexus flagship phones will run a much newer version when a post on Reddit revealed that the tech company is already testing the first update, BGR reported. To add to that, David Ruddock of Android Police also dished on Twitter, "Looks like the new Nexus phones will launch with Android 7.1, which is now confirmed to be Nougat's MR1 release." This is based on Google's announcement about its plan to release quarterly maintenance update. Looks like the new Nexus phones will launch with Android 7.1, which is now confirmed to be Nougat's MR1 release. David Ruddock (@RDR0b11) August 23, 2016 The MR1 update is expected to come with two new features--a new launcher and a new Google Assistant in the new home screen. The app drawer will no longer have a separate app icon, instead it can be brought up by sliding up from the bottom of the screen. Meanwhile, HTC Marlin and HTC Sailfish will also come in 32GB and 132GB models, a feature that not everyone may like as it may not be that useful for the users. LlabTooFeR wrote on Twitter, "Curious fact about Android N for upcoming HTC Nexus phones, all partitions will be doubled...What a waste of storage." Curious fact about Android N for upcoming HTC Nexus phones,all partitions will be doubled..What a waste of storage.. pic.twitter.com/OM44oAzdDq LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) August 22, 2016 When it comes to prices, Nexus Blog said that a 32GB Marlin is likely to start at $599 and $449 for the Sailfish. At this point, all of these remain as speculations. 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. Saturday Link Love is a new feature where I collect and post links to various articles Ive come upon over the past week. Feel free to share any interesting articles youve come along as well! The more the merrier. Note: Inclusion does not imply full agreement. Citing Catholic Rules, Doctor Turns Away Bleeding Woman With Dislodged IUD, on ReWireThe doctor left Jones to confer with colleagues, before returning to confirm that her hands [were] tied, according to two complaints filed by the ACLU of Illinois. A C-SPAN caller asked a black guest how to stop being prejudiced. Heres how she responded. on Washington PostHeather McGhee, the president of Demos, a progressive public policy organization that advocates for equality, was visibly moved as she absorbed the callers question. 8 Odd Beauty Standards in Turn-of-the-Century Photographs, on Mental FlossSlimmed noses, banished blemishes, nipped-in waists, and other common photo modifications existed long before computers. This Iranian activist fights for womens rights not to wear hijab. But Donald Trump has complicated her effort. on Washington PostHer movement began almost accidentally, with a photo she posted of herself running on a London street. Theres Nothing Romantic About Public Proposals Like Colton Underwoods, on The EstablishmentI completely understand how the gesture looks sweet on the surface. The Golden Compass and the Breaking of Childrens Wills, on Homeschoolers AnonymousI cannot help but see a parallel between many of the children in The Golden Compass . . . and homeschooled children like Hana Williams. Its Not Okay, and Were Not Alright, on Life After I Kissed Dating GoodbyeJust because not everyone experiences the fallout of an oppressive system in the same way does not mean that the oppressive system does not exist. Patna: President of India Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Patna on Friday on a two-day visit to Bihar. He was greeted by Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Cabinet members, and other top officials at the Patna Airport. After receiving the customary salute by the armed forces, the President was escorted to the Governor's mansion where he would be spending his night. On Saturday, President Mukherjee will leave for Nalanda on an Air Force helicopter to attend the convocation ceremony of the Nalanda International University where he would honor 12 students, including two students with gold medals. He will also lay the foundation stone of a new building in the Nalanda International University campus. The President would return to Patna at 1:30 pm and later leave for Bangalore from Patna Airport. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. As we get closer to the Championship, see how the action will take place! Inland Rep. Pete Aguilars campaign took aim at his GOP opponents recordkeeping as the first-term Democratic incumbent went on the attack in the race for a San Bernardino County congressional seat. A spokesman for Republican Paul Chabot dismissed the accusations while accusing Aguilar of using a Democratic sit-in on the House of Representatives floor to solicit campaign donations. In a press release issued Friday, Aug. 26 entitled Paul Chabots Financial Disclosures: Intent to Conceal Information from the Public?, Aguilars campaign took issue with number of items on Chabots federally required financial disclosure forms, including: Questioning the source of a $50,000 campaign loan from March. Faulting Chabot for not specifying whether he was still the owner of Chabot Strategies LLC. Accusing Chabot of failing to disclose royalties from a 2011 book he wrote. Alleging Chabot was more than a year late in filing his 2015 financial disclosure form. Mr. Chabot did not report the amount of income earned on any of his assets in 2015 and 2016. Taking Chabot to task for his reporting of his student loan debt. This lack of transparency is troubling and Inland Empire residents deserve honest answers to these questions from Mr. Chabot, the Aguliar release read. In response, Chabot spokesman Ryan Hall made reference to the House sit-in earlier this year, which sought to force the GOP-controlled House to vote on gun control legislation. Aguilar is making incorrect assumptions, Hall said. His tactics of attacking a small business owner is symbolic of his F rating by the National (Federation) of Independent Business. Aguilar is a sitting member of Congress and the true ethics violation is his fundraising from the House floor sit-in to raise money for his re-election campaign. Aguilar, who used to be Redlands mayor, and Chabot, a reserve naval intelligence officer, are on the Nov. 8 in Californias 31st Congressional District, which includes Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Colton, Loma Linda and Grand Terrace. Its a rematch of 2014, when Aguilar beat Chabot for an open seat in a race closely watched at the national level. Each candidate has tried to paint the other has beholden to their partys extreme elements. A supporter of Donald Trump, Chabot is hoping a conservative message with an emphasis on national security the district is home to the site of the Dec. 2 terror attack will carry him to an upset of the better-funded Aguilar. Several nonpartisan political forecasters expect Aguilar to win a second two-year term. George Jackson, 73, has never been to England. Hes never been to Europe. But he has lived in a castle, where the walls are hung with swords. The rooms are decorated with coats of armor and Medieval looking tapestries suspended above carved antique furniture. And the castles outer stone towers are surrounded by a grass-filled moat. He could pull up the drawbridge whenever he needed to. Its quite defensible, Jackson said of his home perched above the mountain community of Oak Glen. Its a real castle. He should know. He built it, brick by brick. The stone walls are actually split-face irregularly surfaced concrete blocks. The same material was used to construct the wall that curves its way around the castle yard, and the small turrets on either side of each of the three gated entrances, the main one of which sits at the end of a narrow winding road. Legend has it, it was started 1187 AD, Jackson joked, referring to the 12th century style Norman design, with round towers on each corner. In reality, the foundation was laid in 1987. It took Jackson 15 years of work evenings and weekends before it was ready for habitation. After 10 years of being king of his domain, he moved to Florida. That was in 2012. Hes still trying to sell the castle. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); He put it on the market six years ago, when he was still living here, for $4 million. We had an offer at $3.2 million five years ago, said Jacksons realtor J.R. Allgower. But Jackson thought he could do better. So he waited. And waited. Recently, he dropped the price for the four-story, 4,200-square-foot home and the seven-acre parcel it sits on to a little under $1 million. Its currently in escrow, but Allgower said hes not completely confident the sale will go through. Its not easy to sell a castle, he said. People love to come and look at it. They take pictures, they rent it out for weddings. But to live there? It takes a certain kind of person. Jacksons isnt the only castle in Southern California. There are several others. But his may be the only one that was handbuilt pretty much by one man. When he set out to build his own home, he said he knew he didnt want a traditional structure. I just wanted to do something that was different, you know? he said. I figured if I built a castle, nobody could tell me I did it wrong. I took some architectural classes at La Sierra (University). The first (castle) design I drew was like 100,000 square feet. The engineer said, Do you have any idea what that would cost? One can hardly blame Jackson for getting carried away. Hed been inspired by Cinderellas Castle at Disney World. He said he even met with officials at the Florida resort, who warned him about copyright infringement before connecting him with the firm that designed the castle. The firm offered to provide him with reference material. They sent me one set of reproductions of the blueprints of the castle, he said. I dont think they thought Id probably ever get it built. They didnt know the tenacity Jackson had. He worked evenings when he got home from his job as a lab tech at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana. He gave his weekends over to construction. When he needed help, hed call on friends. Mostly, he worked alone, he said. Twenty to 30 blocks a day, he said. Thatll do it. Among the features he incorporated is a spiral stair case that curls its way up the southeast tower. The handrail is a heavy chain, held in place by loops that are anchored to the wall. Numerous helmets of armor serve as shades for electric lights. In one alcove sits an antique settle or bench with hand-carved armored figures standing at attention. Jackson said he thinks it came from Scotland. He bought it from Mr. Beasleys, a Riverside antique store. Thats also where he found a stained glass window that depicts St. Anthony. Its got some very fine detail that I didnt even notice, he said of the window. His rosary has a (memento mori) skull. I dont know the significance of the Catholic things, but Catholic people really went goo-goo over it. I had several people ask me if they could light a candle in front of it and say a prayer and I said sure. I even gave them the candle. He probably didnt have to go far. There are wrought iron candle holders on the castle walls, and a round table with high-backed carved wooden chairs. Practically all the stuff I got came from Mr. Beasleys, Jackson said. I got to know the owner pretty well. Hed call me up and say, Ive got something here for the castle. Other things, such as the tapestries and swords came from eBay and mail-order sites. If there is any history behind the items, Jackson knows little of it. He seems to have been more interested in their effect in creating an Arthurian feel to the place. He even kept a loaded crossbow. I did shoot a bear off the front porch one time, he said. The bolt he shot from an open window didnt hurt him much. It just bounced off and made him mad. Jackson was generally more hospitable to human guests. The castle was often filled with large parties, he said. In addition to holding his own gatherings, he regularly rented the place out on weekends for weddings and birthday parties. We had wonderful Halloween parties there, he said. We had around 350 people at our biggest Halloween party. Christmas parties were kind of nice there. I had a little theater organ in the hall that I played. In fact, Jackson said, playing the organ, which still sits in the main hall, is his fondest memory of living in the castle. Probably playing the organ in the great hall was as much fun as I had doing anything, he said. That may only be because building officials took away maybe the only thing that could have provided more enjoyment: his trap door. At the top of the first floor, I had a trap door that would dump you into a dungeon below, he said. The building inspector had a fit. He made me take it out. It wasnt the only disappointment Jackson had with the castle. His project, he said, cost him his marriage at the time. She wanted to live in an apartment in Redlands, he said. I wanted a place out in the woods. He has since remarried. He and his current wife, Carmen, found a place in his hometown of Lake City, Fla., a few years ago. Not having to maintain a castle, George said, is better for his health. But he does miss being king. We had a lot of fun, he said. The Inland Empire has a smattering of royal dwellings: Running Springs castle Mel Bacon, owner of Coronado Stone Products in Fontana, built this classic looking castle in Running Springs in the late 1980s. He and his wife lived in the 6,200-square-foot home, the interior of which was conventionally designed, full-time for about 15 years, he said. It never got old. Every time Id drive in it kind of amazed me, he said. Bodewin castle Cathy Bodewin said there is a connection between Mel Bacons Running Springs home and the castle she and her husband Andy built on Crystal Ridge in Riversides Mission Grove area. The couple had subdivided a large parcel of land in the area into about 30 lots. At the time, there were no homes in the area. We thought we needed to build something that would attract people to come out to the area, she said. Her husband thought a castle would do the trick. Theyd heard of the Running Springs castle and drove to the mountains to take a look. They met Bacon and his firm ended up doing the stonework on their castle. Benedict Castle The Riverside castle was designed by Henry L.A. Jekel, a well-known local architect, as a home for Charles Benedict, a wealthy financier. Benedict Castle is a massive 20,000-square-foot complex with a monolithic great hall and an accompanying tower. It was built between 1922 and 1931 and was inspired by Spains Alhambra. The exterior is stucco over adobe brick, rather than block or stone. The castle later became a Servite seminary and today houses Teen Challenge of Southern California, a Christian substance-abuse recovery program. Ragsdale castle John L. Ragsdale built the rock castle on a hill in Perris in the 1920s, using more than 300 tons of river stone that he and his wife reportedly loaded into their truck on weekends from deposits in Banning and Whitewater Canyon. Ragsdale owned a string of gas stations, but his businesses werent enough to protect him from the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression. He and his wife had to sell the 4,000-square-foot home in the mid-1930s. The castle, perched above Interstate 215, has remained in private hands to this day. Aimees castle Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson built a brilliant white castle a mix of Moorish and art deco influences on a hill overlooking Lake Elsinore in 1929. It was retreat from her busy life in Los Angeles. She decorated the 5,000-square-foot home with crystal chandeliers, jade figurines, sunken tubs with gold faucets and velvet-covered walls. In 2005, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, the modern-day organization descended from McPhersons Foursquare Gospel Church, bought castle, which had fallen into disrepair, and had it restored. Ownership passed to Nancy Dufresne, senior pastor of World Harvest Church, in 2015 for an undisclosed sum. Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@scng.com or 951-368-9595 CORRECTION: The deadline to submit rebuttals to the arguments for and against ballot propositions is Tuesday, Sept. 6. The date was incorrect in a previous version of this article. James Penman and Tim Prince dont agree on much, but they agree that changing the city charter is a bad idea and they represent groups that both submitted ballot arguments against the charter change proposal. But their arguments arent the same, leaving City Clerk Gigi Hanna to decide which one would be sent to voters. She did it by flipping a coin while vacationing in Oregon. And thats where the agreement ends. Penman, the former city attorney, sent Hanna an email Thursday, Aug. 25, objecting to the clandestine coin toss, saying she should have selected the argument signed by himself and other current and former elected officials. You have chosen to print an opposition argument with little or no substance, one signed by citizens whom we assume are well-intended but who, unfortunately are not as well informed as to how the repeal of our current, pro-public city charter and its replacement by a voter unfriendly substitute, will impact San Bernardino City governance, Penman wrote. Just as disturbing is the fact that you purportedly made your decision based on a coin toss, held without any notice or public announcement beforehand. In a follow-up email, Penman said that in his interpretation of the law, his groups argument should be put on the ballot. Failure to do so could result in a subsequent invalidation of the election outcome, in our opinion, Penman wrote, with could in bold and italics. A new version of the charter in essence, a constitution that structures the citys government and limits what officials may do will be on the ballot Nov. 8, after a citizen committee determined that the existing charter contributed to the citys problems and spent nearly two years writing a new one. Prince, an attorney and longtime critic of Penman who ran to replace him as city attorney, shot back at the criticism of his argument. Thats typical banter from a really disastrous city attorney that took over this city at its top as an All America City, as a city that had a bright future and through his personality, flaws and defects literally ran us into the ground and wouldnt let go his clutches until we were gasping for our very life in bankruptcy court, Prince said. And he still thinks hes the answer. Penman said he wasnt surprised Prince felt that way. When more than one argument is submitted, California election code says the city elections official thats Hanna shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the arguments against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. It instructs the official to give preference, in order, to members of the legislative body authorized by that body, the sponsors of the measure, bona fide associations of citizens, and individual eligible voters. While Penmans first contention was that the coin toss should have been public, he said after consulting the election code that his argument was the only one signed by a member of a legislative body Councilman John Valdivia, the only councilman to vote against putting the charter on the ballot. Penman acknowledged that Valdivia was not authorized by the City Council, but said it would be unrealistic for the majority that voted against him to make that authorization. Nonetheless, the intent of the Legislature in passing 9287 is clearly shown by stating that a member of the legislative body was to be given preference in writing a ballot measure argument under the conditions stated, Penman wrote. We contend that the spirit of the law, giving preference to a member or members of the legislative body, should be applied by you in this case and the argument against Measure L signed by Council Member Valdivia should be the one printed. City Attorney Gary Saenz said his deputy, Jolena Grider, recommended a coin toss or the roll of a dice in the case of marijuana legalization measures that also drew more than one argument against but not the controversy. Hanna did not return an email or phone calls, but she posted a 61-second video of a coin toss to Facebook. She can be heard narrating as another woman tosses the coin in a back yard. As I am on vacation, I chose to videotape this, and it was also recommended by the City Attorneys Office, Hanna said. So, here it is for you all to see. The arguments The argument in favor of the new city charter is signed by Jill Vassilakos-Long, president, League of Women Voters of San Bernardino; Albert Karnig, president emeritus, Cal State San Bernardino; Margaret Hill, board member, San Bernardino City Unified School District; Gloria Macias Harrison, small businesswoman; and Chris Mann, founder, Inland Empire Taxpayers Association. The Bankruptcy Courts Recovery Plan called for the city to update the charter to operate in a more efficient, accountable, and transparent way, they argue, listing some of the components of the proposed new charter. Measure L does that so San Bernardino can get back on the right track and begin to move forward. Princes argument was signed by Clifton Peters III, president, San Bernardino City Library Foundation; Roger Henderson, ambassador, San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce; Robert Porter, founder of the Facebook group I Love San Bernardino; Richard Avila, business owner; and Prince, who is vice president of the Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino. It notes checks and balances of allowing people to elect the city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer, which would be appointed positions under the new charter, and emphasizes San Bernardinos heritage. This proposal to throw away our historic charter follows outsourcing City departments and giving away our historic fire department, reflecting loss of pride in our history and hope in San Bernardinos future, the argument concludes. We stand apart from cookie cutter cities in Orange County (from which our politicians high-priced consultants hail). Orange County suburbs lack San Bernardinos time-tested charter, heritage and follows. Penmans argument is signed by John P. Wade, a retired Superior Court judge; former mayors Evlyn Wilcox and Judith Valles; Valdivia; and Penman. They structure their argument by saying Measure L eliminates citizens vote, lessens accountability, means no independence, and takes power away from the elected mayor to give it to the unelected city manager. WE BELIEVE THAT TAKING AWAY VOTER CHOICE reduces accountability to the people and increases exposure to mismanagement and corruption similar to that alleged in Bell, Beaumont and Moreno Valley, they argue. Rebuttals to those arguments will also be distributed to voters. Those rebuttals are due to the city clerk by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6. Contact the writer: rhagen@scng.com; @rmhagen on Twitter Proponents of the Nov. 8 ballot propositions 62 and 66 agree on one thing Californias death penalty system is an unequivocal mess. They completely disagree on what to do about it. Prop. 62 would get rid of the death penalty altogether while making life in prison without parole the states maximum penalty. Prop. 66 would reform the criminal justice systems handling of death penalty cases with the goal of speeding them up. (Prop. 66) is going to create a better system, a system of due process that is going to fix the broken appellate system, said San Bernardino District Attorney Mike Ramos, co-chairman of the Yes on 66 campaign, at a press conference in Murrieta on Friday. If passed, the measure would designate Superior Court for initial death penalty appeal petitions, limit successive petitions, establish a time frame for court reviews, require appointed attorneys who take noncapital punishment appeals to accept death penalty cases and authorize the transfers of death row inmates to other California prisons. Spokesman Jacob Hay for the Yes on 62 campaign said passage of Prop. 66 is not the antidote. Both sides agree the death penalty is failing, Hay said. The system has grounded to a halt and is not a deterrent to crime. (Prop. 66) takes all the problems with the death penalty and makes them worse. In an effort to fix the system, which hasnt been able to be fixed in 40 years, Prop. 66 tries to rush justice, moves death penalty cases to local courts and puts taxpayers on the hook for attorneys. In replacing the death penalty with life without parole, Prop. 62 would apply retroactively to those now sentenced to death and require inmates sentenced to life without parole to work with the state correction systems program. Clarence Ray Allen was the last California inmate to be executed on Jan. 17, 2006, after spending 23 years and one month on Death Row in San Quentin prison. According to an Aug. 5 corrections department report, there are now 746 inmates who could be executed if their cases ever cleared the prerequisite appeals. Among counties, Riverside, with 89, is second to Los Angeles with the most inmates on Death Row. San Bernardino County has 40. Both measures would increase maximum-sentenced inmates pay to be applied to victim restitution. Proponents of both say their solution would save millions of dollars. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, who is the campaigns regional chairman, said he has faith in voters. I believe the people of California are going to do the right thing and pass this initiative, he said. Hestrin, Ramos and other Prop 66 supporters at the Murrieta function were accompanied by Mary Ann and Bill Hughes. Their 11-year-old son Christopher Hughes was murdered in 1983 at a neighbors house along with the father, mother and 10-year-old daughter of the Chino Hills household. The man convicted of the murders, Kevin Cooper, remains on Death Row. Since then, our family has been put through our own special hell, Mary Ann Hughes said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams@pressenterprise.com The Moreno Valley Unified School District will hold its Unity Conference offering tips to parents Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Riverside Convention Center. Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at UCLA who has authored several books on the topic, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics that will be covered at the conference include applying to the University of California, dual immersion programs, the DREAM Act, emotional intensity in gifted students, nutrition and high school sports. The district will provide transportation from Canyon Springs, Moreno Valley, Valley View and Vista Del Lago high schools and the district office. For more information, go to mvusd.net or call 951-571-7525. A fire at a Riverside home Saturday, Aug. 27, caused unspecified damage to the two-story residence. The blaze began at 11:18 a.m., in the attic of a home at 19819 Allenhurst Street in the Orangecrest neighborhood, a Riverside Fire Department news release states. The 17 firefighters dispatched were able to quell the flames, though the extent of the damage was not specified in the report. No injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation. No other information was available. In stark contrast to the green grass and trees enhancing the Elsinore Valley Cemetery, an adjacent rectangular lot set apart by hedges consists of rows of burial monuments separated by barren brown dirt. Beyond the Home of Peace archway that signifies the entrance, the presence of loose stones left atop marble markers and inscriptions etched in Hebrew script are evidence that the section is devoted to the deceased of Jewish faith. The Jewish Online Worldwide Burial Registry, an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, lists the Lake Elsinore site as one of just two Jewish cemeteries in Riverside County and 77 in California. In contrast to one in Riverside, where there have been more than 2,200 burials, Home of Peace has accommodated about 270 and not many in recent years. It doesnt get much use, said Elsinore Valley Cemetery District Manager Denice Enochs. We have visitors every few weeks or so. Dedicated in 1954 to serve a growing Jewish community in Lake Elsinore during the postwar years, the 6-acre cemetery has room for more than 500 additional tombs. The most recent burial was in 2015. Theres probably only been 10 in the last 10 years, if that, Enochs said. The dearth of activity occurs despite the passage of legislation in 2010 that loosened burial restrictions on those who lived outside the district, a tax-funded, county-sanctioned agency serving Lake Elsinore and some adjacent areas. Now, Jewish families from throughout Riverside County are eligible for burials there for the standard $750 nonresident fee plus burial and vault costs. Yet enactment of the law authored by then-Assemblyman and now County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries did not stimulate a rush to the cemetery. The lack of use is testament to the fact the population for whom the cemetery was meant to serve has migrated to other areas of the region, such as Murrieta and Corona, where there are thriving temples. Whatever is known about Home of Peace is mostly traced through written records and newspaper accounts. Everybody who knew anything about it is pretty much dead, said Jeanie Corral, a longtime resident and chronicler of the areas history. Lake Elsinore emerged as a destination for those of Jewish ancestry after World War II. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the Jewish population numbered about 1,000 residents, nearly a fifth of Lake Elsinores population, Corral said. The Hebrew Congregation, which established a synagogue in 1948 at Limited and Spring streets, opened the cemetery, where such notable residents as former Councilman Eugene Carter are buried. Another temple was established farther north on Spring Street by Congregation Beth Israel. In the 50s, there was a large Jewish population here and a large number of Jewish businesses on Main Street, said Lake Elsinore Historical Society President Ruth Atkins. There were several buildings here in town that were originally built as Jewish buildings and now have been repurposed. Some linked the communitys departure with the destruction of the Hebrew Congregations synagogue by arson in 1978, though the association may be more symbolic than real. An escapee from an Oregon state mental hospital who mistakenly was released from Riverside Countys general hospital admitted starting the fire and was arrested, according to a newspaper account. In the early 1990s, the cemetery was left unkempt until a pair of groundskeepers with Elsinore Valley Sean White and Francisco Villanueva voluntarily pulled weeds, planted hedges and polished headstones. The district bought the property in 1995 for $65,200. The cemetery is in immaculate condition. A small circular pad with a bench and trees was added recently to offer a resting place to visitors. No matter how few. Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams@pressenterprise.com Dog rescue to hold clothing drive NORCO 2nd Chances Rescue is hosting a clothing drive to raise money for its operations. Most of the dogs the non-profit organization rescues need medical care, grooming, training and bedding. Clothing may be brought to 2nd Chances Rescue at 1204 Sixth St. between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13. Information: Michele Johnson at 949-246-0248; 2ndchancesrescuenorco.com Staff report Sierra Club to host wildlife photographer REDLANDS College professor Sherry Schmidt will give a presentation on her trip to photograph wildlife in Botswana and Namibia at the next meeting of the San Gorgonio chapter of the Sierra Club. The chapter covers Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The meeting, open to the public, is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane. Parking and admission to the meeting are free. Schmidt teaches at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Information: 951-686-4141 or ralph.salisbury@sangorgonio.sierraclub.org Manny Otiko San Bernardino Historical Society to meet SAN BERNARDINO Jim Wood will give a lecture on the Early Rail Lines Around San Bernardino at the San Bernardino Historical Society meeting on Thursday. The meeting, open to the public, is 7 p.m. at the Christian R. Harris Memorial Hall next to the Heritage House at the corner of Eighth and D Streets. Information: Nick Cataldo at 909-709-3792 or sbhistoricalsociety@mac.com Manny Otiko Cellar Door Books plans release party RIVERSIDE Fans of Ransom Riggs are invited to celebrate a new companion to the authors Miss Peregrines Peculiar Children young adult series Saturday at Cellar Door Books. The new release, Tales of the Peculiar, will be for sale. Riggs designated Sept. 3 Loop Day in her writings. Cellar Door Books is at Canyon Crest Towne Centre, 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Suite 30A/B. The release party is from 2 to 5 p.m. Information: cellardoorbookstore.com Staff report Registration underway for Riverside Breast Cancer Awareness Walk RIVERSIDE The Riverside Breast Cancer Awareness Walk is set for Oct. 15 at Ryan Bonaminio Park and Mt. Roubidoux. The walk supports the Pink Ribbon Place, a local breast cancer resource center. To register, go to pinkonparade.org. Prices go up on Sept. 25. Manny Otiko Coffee with a Cop event planned SAN JACINTO The Riverside County Sheriff Departments San Jacinto station will host a Coffee With a Cop get-together Wednesday, Aug. 31. The event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Starbucks, 2281 W Esplanade Ave. The meeting is a chance for residents to ask questions, raise concerns or get acquainted with officers in an informal setting, police said. Staff report Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com. The first of three days of events advocating for less punishment and more investment in education drew dozens Thursday to the Inghram Community Center in San Bernardino. Billed as a roundtable discussion, Thursdays event consisted of speakers pointing to the harmful effects of suspension and imprisonment on students particularly students of color and suggestions on how to combat what they call the schools-to-prisons pipeline. An art and music festival that runs from 5:45 to 9:15 p.m. today at Cal State San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, will follow as part of a 10-city #SchoolsNotPrisons tour. The tour, which also included an artivism exhibit Friday at Anne Shirrels Park, is organized by Revolve Impact, a Los Angeles-based company that works on justice-related campaigns. San Bernardino is the second stop on the tour, after Sacramento. Thursdays event ended with participants pledging to join in a San Bernardino County task force on safety and intervention. Many people already shared the goal, said San Bernardino City Unified School board member Gwendolyn Rodgers afterward, but the unity was inspirational. That was the most moving part, taking that pledge, Rodgers said. We need to stand together and work on prevention. Tia Martinez, a national advocate for school discipline reform, gave a historical perspective behind what she said was a doubling of suspension rates over the past 40 years nearly a tripling for African American students. There wasnt an increase in major incidents to account for the increase, she said. The explosion is driven by much more small things: the tardies, the not paying attention in class, Martinez said. Everything that used to be the teacher is going to talk to you after class, the teacher is going to call home, got bumped up to suspensions. And everything that was a suspension got bumped up to an arrest. Martinez said a single suspension doubles the risk of a person being retained a grade and doubles his risk of dropping out. It also means the student is spending more unsupervised time in poor, racially segregated neighborhoods, part of the reason suspensions triple contact with the juvenile justice system. According to Martinez, 68 percent of black men without high school degrees go to prison by age 35. Martinez encouraged teachers to go to parents homes for meetings, work as a school district to agree to a set of values and implement restorative justice a system that emphasizes repairing harm rather than punishment. Kim Carter, founder and executive director of Time for Change, presented data on how a criminal record can make it more difficult for people to turn their lives around. As one of my clients says, How can I rewrite the story of my life if you keep reading the last chapter? Carter said. Its great that were coming together to fix this. The question is, will our leaders do it? Officials from several school districts attended, including San Bernardino City Unified Superintendent Dale Marsden. We are grateful our community can come together to strengthen our systems of support for students, Marsden said in a written statement. Together we can make hope happen for every child. Contact the writer: rhagen@scng.comTwitter: @rmhagen A 3-year-old Eastvale girl who inspired others to post videos of themselves dancing is one step closer to affording a surgery that could allow her to dance. In July, Christina Smallwood began the Do You Dare to Dance challenge to raise money for a surgery that may allow her daughter Finley, who has cerebral palsy, to walk. The procedure isnt covered by the familys health insurance. Her goal was to raise $60,000. A $5,000 pledge from Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside, who is a friend of her father, will put them at that mark, Christina Smallwood said Friday. Smallwood said she and her husband, Josh, never expected the campaign to take off so quickly, with close to 1,000 people donating amounts large and small. We feel so blessed so many people rallied together and still are rallying to help, she said. In the challenge, participants were asked to post a video of themselves dancing to the Meghan Trainor song Better When Im Dancing. Those who dont create a video within 24 hours are asked to donate $20. Many have done both, with videos posted on a Facebook page created for Finley. The Smallwoods also are accepting toys and games donations for Finley, who will be confined to a bed after the surgery. Christina Smallwood said the surgery is set for late October at the St. Louis Childrens Hospital in Missouri, which has a Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity that specializes in the procedure. The money will cover the surgery, travel and lodging in St. Louis. It feels awesome, a big sigh of relief, Smallwood said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9558 or ighori@scng.com ITT Technical Institute, which has been struggling with both the federal government and its accrediting agency in recent years, suffered another blow this week. The for-profit school already was on heightened cash monitoring status with the Department of Education. But this week the agency took additional steps, one of which immediately bars the companys 130 campuses from enrolling new students who rely on federal financial aid for their educational expenses. ITT has 15 schools in California, including sites in San Bernardino, Corona, San Dimas and several Los Angeles-area locations. The companys long-running problems include a 2014 lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleging that ITT employees persuaded students to take out high-interest private loans when their federal loans failed to cover all of their costs. That same year, the school was placed on heightened cash monitoring, which meant the Department of Education would reimburse the schools for federal aid only after students had received the money. In the announcement Thursday, education officials said they were increasing their level of financial oversight in addition to restricting new enrollment. They also are forbidding ITT from providing raises, bonuses or extra compensation to its executives. On Friday, the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education imposed a complete enrollment ban on ITT beginning Thursday. The company now is required to have a surety on file essentially an emergency cash reserve of $247 million with the education department within 30 days. Thats about double the amount ITT was told it had to meet in June, when the department demanded ITT raise its $80 million surety to $124 million. Students at the San Bernardino campus said they already have seen an impact on staffing. Keith Stephens, 22, of Riverside is working on a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. He estimates there were about 40 recruiting representatives at the school when he started attending two years ago. Theres only like two representatives left, he said. One, said fellow student Yasmine Vasquez, 25, of San Bernardino. They laid off one this morning. Stephens said he still has 18 months to go to complete his program. He admits to being a little concerned. Dustin Hargrove, 24, of Highland said he just hopes the school wont close before he completes his studies in a year. Its out of our hands, he said. Both he and Vasquez also are in the electrical engineering program. The director of the school declined to comment on the latest action. He referred questions to the corporate office. An inquiry for comment there received no reply. UNIONIZING GRAD STUDENTS The National Labor Relations Board issued a decision this week in response to a case involving efforts by the United Automobile Workers to organize graduate students at Columbia University. The labor boards 3-1 ruling Tuesday in favor of unionization reverses an earlier ruling by the board that said grad students were not employees with rights to organize. The ruling applies only to private universities. Private universities in the Inland Empire said they expect the new ruling to create little change. At Loma Linda University, Chief Legal Counsel Kent Hansen said the school does not expect any change in policy or budget. He was not pleased with the decision. The NLRB takes a very expansive view of what constitutes an employer-employee relationship, he wrote in a statement. We respectfully disagree. Most of these students will become teachers themselves. Serving as teaching assistants allows them to develop necessary teaching skills. Hansen also represents La Sierra University. He said the small size of the school would mean little if any change. At the University of Redlands, Cory Nomura, vice president for finance and administration, issued a statement saying, the University of Redlands does not expect the ruling to have much impact on its campuses. Our professors not our graduate students are our primary teachers. In an email, Mark Wyatt, spokesman for California Baptist University, said the school was reviewing the ruling but it was too soon to say what (the impact) may look like in the future. Contact the writer: 951-368-9595 or mmuckenfuss@scng.com Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, popularly known as 'Montie 3' have been released from prison after President John Mahama remitted the rest of their sentence. One of the lawyers for the three, Edudzi Tamakloe confirmed this on his Facebook page with a post saying "Happy seeing our clients after they were released from the Akuse Prison. They were initially at Nsawam prison. God bless President Mahama. God bless Ghana. The three were given a four month sentence in July for criminal contempt of court after they threatened the lives of Supreme Court Justices on a live Montie FM radio programme. After the three were sentenced, President John Mahama was petitioned to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers per Article 72 of the constitution to free them. According to the petitioners, the three have shown remorse for their comments hence the four month sentence was too harsh. The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Council of State according to the Constitution. A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, explained that the President had taken a decision to pardon the three on compassionate grounds given the remorse they had demonstrated. He further said in an interview on Peace FM that it is inappropriate for Ghanaians especially the opposition parties to criticise President Mahama for freeing the Montie 3 because they have not been pardoned. Their sentence has been remitted he said. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Audio Attachment: Listen to John Boadu on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' Acting General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has indicated that the party will not leave any 'attack' from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) "unreplied". He claims there are Ghanaian some electorates who can be induced with money as low as 5 cedis to change their minds and vote for a particular political party. Due to this, the NPP will counter every criticisms from the ruling party directed at the party's flagbearer, Nana Addo. In Ghana, 10 cedis can change somebodys mind to vote. Ghc 10 is even huge. Sometimes, 5 cedis; so if you leave it this way, you create problems for yourself," he said. John Boadu noted that though President John Dramani Mahama and his appointees are making up stories about Nana Addo and deceiving Ghanaians about the NPP flagbearer's personality, their height of absurd allegations was when they (NDC) accused him (Nana Addo) of being a "dictator". "...under no measure can you even describe Nana Addo as a dictator. You cant, he stressed According to him, NDC is the only party that has been persecuting its members to the extent that some of the party folks were compelled to form their own political sects. He believed no smearing of Nana Addo's character will change the minds of Ghanaians as the Mahama administration has worsened the plight of Ghanaians. There is no political party whose members have been persecuted with three other political parties formed out of that persecution....nothing in the annals of this country's political history can beat what happened in the NDC. The NDC has no peers when it comes to that," he emphasized on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /Peacefmonline.com/Ghana 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 An 18-year-old woman who escaped from police custody in Sydney has been re-arrested and faces fresh charges, after commenting on a 7 News Facebook post seeking information about her whereabouts. Amy Sharp fled from the Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex last week, having been held in custody for property offences, and yesterday, 7 News shared a bulletin describing the teens appearance and last known whereabouts. The photos that they attached, showing Sharp wrapped in an itchy-looking, police-issue blanket, are not exactly Instagram worthy, and not even the most liberal application of the Valentia filter could do a damn thing to fix em. Sharp, clearly not loving the prospect of the fugly pink blanket showing up in her future Google image search results, went ahead and commented on the post, giving 7 News another, more flattering picture to use instead. Can you use this photo, please and thank you, she said, deploying a never-more-appropriate smiling-face-with-halo emoji and signing off with a cheeky xx. Smarts post promptly exploded on Facebook, and since the above, super sassy screenshot was taken, her post has racked up more than 45,000 likes. The party appears to be over, however, with NSW police announcing overnight that they now have Sharp back in custody. In a media release, they said: Police have charged a woman who allegedly escaped from the Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex last week. Police had been searching for the 18-year-old woman since she escaped on Friday 19 August 2016. About 12.20am today (Saturday 27 August 2016), the woman was arrested in Wentworth Park by police from Leichhardt Local Area Command, assisted by officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad. She was taken to Newtown Police Station where she was charged with escape lawful custody, as well as an outstanding warrant. She was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Bail Court today. Our pick is for Margot Robbie to play her in the inevitable movie adaptation of this gripping saga. Source: NSW Police / Facebook. Photo: Reddit Australia. Back in December a geological epoch ago in terms of Donald Trumps fuckups the Republican Presidential nominees website presented a letter from his physician Dr. Harold Bornstein, espousing the mans supposedly stellar health. Despite all evidence suggesting that the man is, in fact, a pumpkin-cross-scarecrow homonculus, Dr. Bornstein wrote that Trump is actually in remarkably good nick. A fair dinkum lifelong avoidance of smoking and drinking may have helped there. Then, Dr. Bornstein went and wrote if elected, Mr Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. That hyperbolic line would have stayed buried underneath the many fresher layers of baffling BS presented by the campaign, but a new, nearly-psychotic obsession with Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons supposed health has brought the spotlight back on Trumps constitution. Welp, NBC went ahead and gave the good doctor a quick grilling about that weird, weird letter. As it turns out, Dr. Bornstein pumped it out in five minutes. And didnt even bother to proofread it. Well, I thought about it all day, and at the end I get rushed and I get anxious when Im rushed. So, I thought if I got four or five lines out as fast as I could, theyd be happy. NBC probed the doc as to what gave him the authority to make that claim (and to disregard the absolute goddamn tank of a human that was Teddy Roosevelt). Dr. Bornstein said I like that sentence to be quite honest with you and all the rest of them are either sick or dead. Flawless. On using Trumps wide array of superlatives, he said I think I picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own, which also inspires quite a bit of confidence. In another comment, Dr. Bornstein said his health is excellent, especially his mental health. We can certainly hope the bloke isnt as temperamentally unfit as rivals campaign claims, cause Trump currently has a still-too-large likelihood of becoming leader of the USA. At least our controversial political leaders can back up their health claims with solid budgie-smuggling evidence. Source: NBC. Photo: Alex Wong / Twitter / donaldjtrump.com. A group of around 20 student protesters converged on the University of Sydneys Open Day this morning, bearing mattresses emblazoned with messages drawing attention to the issue of sexual assault on campus and at residential colleges, and to USyds alleged lack of action. Members of University of Sydneys Womens Collective and its supporters displayed mattresses bearing phrases like red tape wont cover rape and university silence perpetuates violence to the parents of prospective students. Protesters entered the Eastern Avenue lecture theatre during an Open Day event and spoke to the audience about their experiences with sexual assault before management reportedly attempted to silence them. Lights in the auditorium were also switched off in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. Protestors speak gravely about experiences of sexual assault and university inaction #usydopenday pic.twitter.com/RuMlC1Tlyp Nina Dillon Britton (@n_dillonbritton) August 27, 2016 Security and management asks protestors to wrap up. Protestors: Just forget about PR for one minute. #usydopenday pic.twitter.com/gUdZEGVjd5 Nina Dillon Britton (@n_dillonbritton) August 27, 2016 Despite that, one parent who was present said I think about these issues. It was so moving for me each of those girls would have gone through a lot to get up there. The fact that people [tried to silence them] is disgusting, it shows [that some people] find the issue still too hard to deal with. Regarding the protest, Womens Officer Anna Hush said parents understandably want to know that their children will be safe while they study at Sydney Uni. The university is invested in promoting a slick, clean image to parents, but that stands in stark contrast to the reality of students who have faced sexual assault and harassment. That reality was laid out in pamphlets disseminated at the protest; the handout cites the shocking figure that 41% of students who reported their assault to the uni (and only 6% even did) found its procedures did not help at all. Pamphlets handed out to parents showing horrifying stats of sexual violence. #usydopenday pic.twitter.com/vHYYg4vU7Y Nina Dillon Britton (@n_dillonbritton) August 27, 2016 The demonstration also drew attention to an open letter co-signed by Hush, demanding ten changes to university policy to increase student safety and support. Hush said USyd had offered inadequate communication with the Womens Collective regarding the letter, and maintained this university is not a safe place for [students] while the university refuses to meet our demands. Protestors demands are same of those of an open letter published by a decade of wom*ns officers. #usydopenday pic.twitter.com/be6kttMgoA Nina Dillon Britton (@n_dillonbritton) August 27, 2016 In a response to the open letter posted online earlier this week, USyd denied lagging behind on student safety, saying it will continue to do whatever it can including discussing many of the sensible recommendations outlined in the letter to reduce the experience of sexual assault on campus. In any case, the issue of sexual assault on University of Sydney campuses has come to a head this year, leading to the unis decision to appoint former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to address its toxic culture. Source: Honi Soit / news.com.au / Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Nina Dillon Britton / Twitter. One of the defining artists of our generation released a musical masterpiece this week, but while I could go on about Carly Ray Jepsens E-MO-TION: Side B all day, this article is about Frank Oceans Blonde, which also came out this week and is also quite good. Oceans new album arrived last weekend, on the crest of a hundred-foot wave of hype physical copies were available to the lucky few who made it to Oceans NYC pop-up store, and everyone else had to make do with an iTunes and Apple Music exclusive release. While piracy is par for the course in this day and age, it appears that the thirst for Frank Ocean is especially strong, and unofficial figures, reported by the blog Music Business Worldwide, suggest that it has been pirated almost a million times in less than a week. As of midday Thursday in the UK, the album had been been illegally downloaded approximately 753,849 times, a number that only reflects piracy for the entire album, and doesnt include individual track downloads or illegal streams. Per reports from data analysis firm MUSO, illegal streams are now one of the most popular forms of piracy worldwide, so the likely number of people whove had a sneaky listen or three to Blonde is probably significantly higher. As massive as those numbers are, theyre nothing compared to the piracy figures for Kanyes The Life Of Pablo, which was illegally downloaded 500,000 times in the first 24 hours that it was a Tidal exclusive. Ocean self-released Blonde, just days after his previous visual album endless wound up his contract with Universal/Def Jam, an unprecedented situation that has led many to question whether his former label might take legal action. Source: Music Business Worldwide. Photo: Josiah Kamau / Getty. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 2016 EPT Barcelona Main Event Day 4: Sebastian Malec Ascends August 26, 2016 Paul Seaton With 24 players remaining, Sebastian Malec leads the field as just three tables of players head to Day 5 of the 2016 PokerStars.es EPT Barcelona Main Event. The day started with a flurry of action, bringing the field down from 98 players to 75 in the first level. We lost Van Hiep Tran, Tobias Revenas, and Padraig O'Neill before we knew it, and they were swiftly followed out of the door by players such as Jerome Sgorrano, Ping Liu and Daniel Tang, whose lost to Pavel Veksler's . They weren't the only players to exit in their droves, as big names continued to fall on Day 4. Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier and Team Online PokerStars Pro Mikhail Shalamov both took to the exits, ahead of Eugene Katchalov and Sam Grafton, who almost lasted the day before his hopeful move with ran into the monster hand of for Anthony Chimkovitch. Jason Mercier in action during Day 4 Chimkovitch was one of several players who looked certain to run up a huge lead only to crash into a brick wall just when the opportunity to do so arose. He was desperately unlucky not to eliminate Alexandru Baron when Baron's pocket tens spiked a set when committed pre-flop against Chimkovitch's pocket aces. After exits for top professionals such as Byron Kaverman and local players such as Daniel Luis, who has now cashed twice in this EPT festival, we made it to 24 players. Sebastian Malec leads the way with 5,640,000, a huge chunk of chips clear of second-placed Uri Reichenstein with 3,870,000. Tomorrow will see us bring the field from 24 players to our final eight. One of those will be crowned EPT Barcelona Main Event Champion for 2016 and pocket a cool 1,122,800! Join us at 12 p.m local time tomorrow for all the action as the PokerNews team continue to bring you all the drama, tension, and excitement until a winner lifts the trophy on Sunday evening. 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. Unibet Open Copenhagen: Haci Bayram Leads the Day 1b Runners August 26, 2016 Frank Op de Woerd Day 1b of the Unibet Open Copenhagen attracted a field of 223 players. Together with the 152 that played on Day 1a, that made for a total of 376, and when the day was done it would be Haci Bayram from Denmark who collected the most chips, turning a 30,000 starting stack into 285,500. A slate of big hands played out during the day, with Emma Wikberg getting it in with a set against the top pair and top kicker of one of her opponents as one of the early highlights. Tina Christensen, another Unibet Open regular, also doubled up early but in the end came up short and busted during the penultimate level of the day. Two-time Unibet Open champion Mateusz Moolhuizen flew over from Barcelona for this tournament. He played in Barcelona all week but couldn't pass on the chance to become the first 3-time champion and made his way to the sunny Danish capital to try his luck at another Unibet Open. Moolhuizen initially did well, picking up pots left and right, but had a small setback losing king-queen to queens in a blind vs. blind battle. A good call with second pair in a three-bet pot catapulted him back into safe territory, but unfortunately in one of the last hands of the day he lost a 200,000 pot with ace-king against aces and ended with 9,700 in chips, just five big blinds. Another familiar face on the tournament circuit, Jorn Walthaus, also made an appearance at the Unibet Open. The Dutchman, living in Bali these days, flew over to battle it out on the felt here in the Nordics. He gathered 106,000 in chips by the time the day was done. As registration closed the prize pool was announced. A total of DKK 2,707,200 (363,595) is to be divided amongst those in the money, with the winner walking away DKK 525,000 (70,514) richer. A total of 53 players will be cash in this tournament, meaning a little over 14 percent of the field is getting paid here in Copenhagen. No uproar to be heard about that. A total of 82 players survived Day 1b. Together with the 52 that survived Day 1a that makes for 134 players that will start Day 2 tomorrow, with 81 players until we hit the money. A full list of the Day 2 table draw can be found in our live reporting pages. Play will get underway at noon local time again, with the goal to play down to a final table of nine. Whether that objective will be reached or not remains to be seen. PokerNews will be on the floor for continuing coverage of the Unibet Open Copenhagen. 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. Republicans have managed to issue vague tweets of support for Paul Pelosi after a man inspired by their rhetoric and the January 6th election denial sold not only by former President Trump but also elected Republicans viciously attacked the Speakers husband with a hammer, sending him to surgery. CNN reported on the attackers obsession with Republican claims that the election was stolen and denial of the January 6th attack: Last year, David DePape posted links on his Facebook page to multiple videos produced by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell falsely alleging that the 2020 election was stolen. Other posts included transphobic images and linked to websites claiming Covid-19 vaccines were deadly. The death rates being promoted are what ever THEY want to be promoted as the death rate, one post read. DePape also posted links to YouTube videos with titles like Democrat FARCE Commission to Investigate January 6th Capitol Riot COLLAPSES in Congress!!! and Global Elites Plan To Take Control Of YOUR Money! (Revealed) Republicans have managed to squeeze out the very most backbone theyve managed since Trump by saying meekly: hey, violence isnt okay. Becky and I are thankful to hear that Mr. Pelosi is expected to recover from this horrible attack, and were praying for his entire family. Violence is unacceptable. John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) October 28, 2022 That is not actually how a leader goes about calming down their base. A real leader would say: The election was not stolen, you are not being targeted, January 6th was a deadly terrorist attack incited by Donald Trump which resulted in police officers dying and having to leave the force, your vote does count, Covid vaccines are not killing people, trans people arent grooming your kids, the truth about slavery isnt going to hurt you, and Democrats are not going to destroy your way of life. But if they said all of that, how would they get out the vote? And so they pander. This isnt meant as a hot take gotcha. Its actually long past due. This country is still reeling from the impact of the Trump domestic terrorist attack of January 6th, largely because Republicans decided to not only defend it but lionize the attackers as heroes. They do this because they are cowards who put their own power over the good of the country. Yes, its been a long road getting here littered with violent rhetoric, threats, actual political terrorism, and so many conspiracy theories. at least 104 political ads from Republican candidates running for U.S. Congress, governor, or attorney general this year that display and feature firearms or weapons. Many even include implicit or explicit threats against political opponents or the government, the Center for American Progress found in July. Some of these ads show the Republican shooting at Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Joe Biden, and more. There are too many examples to list, but heres just a few: In a February 2022 ad that aired during the Super Bowl, Arizona senate candidate Jim Lamon is in a showdown with President Joe Biden, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Lamon shoots at the Democrats, disarming them and forcing them to flee the town. In an August 2021 ad, Mike Collins uses a firearm to blow up Nancy Pelosis plan for America. He then states: Conservatives have gotten steamrolled thanks to spineless politicians for far too long, and its time to fight back. And if you think Im just going to fight the Democrats, think again. Because in the swamp, its RINO season too, before shooting at a cardboard rhino. In a recent July 2022 ad, Jerone Davison uses an AR-15 to scare off a dozen angry Democrats in klan hoods. A March 2022 ad shows Josh Clark holding an firearm, explaining hes giving away an AR-15 every week until the election to ensure that Georgians are equipped and ready to protect their family and to fight against tyranny and evil when necessary against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The ad then shows Clark shooting an AR-15 at targets, with his children and others also taking turns firing the weapon. In case its not clear that Republicans are continuing to be cowards even as Paul Pelosi is in surgery for an attack inspired by their own rhetoric and by rhetoric of their party leaders, this is the same party running these ads below these violent, ugly, disgusting ads. So its become hard to argue that violence to the level of political terrorism is not a large part of the Republican Party brand. Conservative David Frum called it out exactly: Coming soon: "It's outrageous that anybody would hold me responsible for this heinous act just because I starred in a campaign ad firing hundreds of rounds from a machine gun at a photo of Nancy Pelosi." David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 He listed a sampling of these ads: Former governor of Missouri. pic.twitter.com/ae2qmMWagD David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Member US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/hi3YLaLEYc David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Speakers, 2020 national political convention pic.twitter.com/vkXrtVHzWA David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Member, US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/5GB6DiUx3Y David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Governor of a state pic.twitter.com/NtZfL20j3e David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Governor of a state pic.twitter.com/srNChDgA7Y David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Member, US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/REHseHEIgF David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Defeated candidate US Senate pic.twitter.com/7RPzJfZ1Mf David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022 Gosh, who would have thought being in bed with the gun manufacturing lobby and fetishizing weapons of mass destruction to be caressed lovingly on your Christmas card would ever lead to violence. Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said of Pelosi, I want you to watch Nancy Pelosi hand me that gavel. It will be hard not to hit her with it. Oh. Thats totally normal. This is what it takes to win with the incel crowd threaten to hurt a woman because you allegedly have different policy ideas. Its not as if Pelosis party incited and participated in a coup against their own country and tried to assassinate Kevin, as Kevins party did to the United States and to Speaker Pelosi BEFORE he felt compelled to share his fantasy about hitting the Speaker. So its a wonder what would even justify such a thought. Still, we dont hear such things from Pelosi herself or from Republican former Vice President Pence, who was also an assassination target by Trumps terrorists. Republicans are set to take control of at least part of Congress and put some of the most dangerous Republicans into even larger positions of power. Thats not a party thats sorry or even acknowledging the role theyve played in both the January 6th terrorist attack or this horrific attack on Paul Pelosi, which was meant for the Speaker herself, in yet another January 6th repeat. The media wont hold them accountable, so we have to do it ourselves. The best way to hold Republicans accountable is at the ballot box. Vote early, take others to vote on election day, work election protection, and talk to your community about whats at stake. We cant allow Republicans to continue this reign of terror. Victor Davis Hanson is a noted classical historian, a specialist on ancient warfare, the author of such books as The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece (1989), which sit proudly on my own shelf not five feet from where I sit now, typing this. He is also a noted conservative, who writes for the National Review Online. It is always dangerous to paint with too broad a brush. Hanson, for example, in the above-named book, argues that we must not delude ourselves into thinking that an exchange of even tactical nuclear weapons is somehow justifiedit is fearsome to think that Americanscould claim a heroic purpose in such a scenario. This is a far cry from Donald Trumps position on proliferation of nuclear weapons, urging people who dont have one now to get theirs quick. You would think then the sensible position then would not be pro-Trump. Hanson doesnt see it that way, focusing instead of Hillarys high crimes and misdemeanors, seemingly based on Republican talking points that have become fact by virtue of being repeated so often. And this isnt Hansons only unfortunate brush with fake facts. In a post at National Review Online Thursday, Trump 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 . . . Davis discusses Trumps immigration policy(s), arguing that, There was always only one sensible position on immigration: ensuring that legal immigration was meritocratic, diverse, and measured to facilitate rapid assimilation and integration while ending illegal immigration entirely through a mixture of new border fencing/stepped-up patrolling, increased visa and refugee scrutiny, employer fines, and rapid deportation of those who committed serious misdemeanors and felonies, had no work history, were always on government support, or who had arrived within the last one to two years on the scent of amnesty. Davis argued that the figure so often used, 11 million, is an ossified figure from the 1990s but that if were going to use it, only some 2-4 million would fit into the group named above and therefore suffer deportation, and that even then, they should not be rounded up and herded onto cattle cars but gradually and as individuals as they come in contact with local, state, and federal law-enforcement and bureaucratic agencies. This obviously wouldnt sell with the white supremacists of the alt-right. Trump would never say it if he thought it. There is no drama in just letting the legal process do its thing. Thats the establishment way, after all. But lets get back to Hansons take. We can take issue with Hansons claim that Trumps original promise to make Mexico pay for the wall was neither crude nor surreal, because really, it was both. Hanson argues that given it is possible to place a federal tax (510 percent) on all remittances sent overseas by those who could not prove legal residence ($35 billion per annum in revenue?), combined with some sort of minimal effort to avoid bundling and the avoidance of the tax by using third parties, the wall could be paid for by Mexicans, if not by Mexico. And there is a bit of tit-for-tat in Hanson saying this. You hate to see a historian of all professions come a cropper on facts, especially so noted a historian as Hanson, but here he falls into a Republican talking point, arguing, Certainly, slapping a tax on remittances was logical and measured compared to the Mexican governments policy of actively undermining U.S. law to the extent of the caricature of printing comic-book manuals of how to make it across the border illegally. The problem, of course, is that this is simply not true. PolitiFact looked at this claim back in 2010 when Lamar Smith (R-TX) said, Mexican government officials hand out brochures showing individuals how they can avoid our Border Patrol, how they can get into our country. PolitiFact rated Smiths comment Mostly False, because while such a document did exist, it was only apparently handed out from 2004 to 2006, and it stated right at the outset that the safe way to enter another country is to do so legally, by acquiring a passport in Mexico and a visa from the destination country, and that There is no information on where to cross the border or how to avoid the Border Patrol or U.S. authorities when doing so, let alone contain information on how to avoid law enforcement while crossing over. In fact, it advises cooperation if apprehended. Hanson is no doubt on firmer ground when he claims, Trumps tremendous error was the same as the 2012 Republican primary bluster (ironic since Trump post facto castigated a defeated Mitt Romney on just this point), namely the impracticable effort to send 11 million en masse back to Mexico, regardless of their individual statuses. By overreaching in bombastic fashion in the primary, Trump won the issue but painted himself into a corner that his new team is now trying to airlift him out of with the hope that the hypocrisy and deceit will die down before the election and Trump can win over 45 percent more of the Latino vote (and some turned-off independents and Republicans), which at a 26-30 percent rate in some states might make a difference if he doesnt lose that commensurate edge by alienating some of his base who would stay home in disgust that he proved to be just another politician. Hanson argues that much as it amuses the Left, In the end, I doubt his flipping will either help or hurt much. The real tragedy, as he sees it, is another blown 48 hours, time that could have been spent pushing all the Rights numerous invented scandals about Hillary Clinton, like how she is supposedly mortgaged to La Raza extremists. Sadly, facts taken a back door to ideology, and few facts survive that sort of contact, as Hanson has demonstrated here. Hanson sees this distraction as a bad thing, but really, Clinton has become the MSMs unhealthy obsession, and they needed a break. So, apparently, does Hanson. At the supermarket, shoppers receive detailed receipts of their scanned and bagged items. After restaurant meals, wait staff hand diners itemized bills. But call out "Check, please!" to a financial services provider and the result might be a rundown of cryptic line items 12b-1? Expense ratio? Or a passing reference to Part 2 of Form ADV. Thanks to a new fee-disclosure rule from the Department of Labor, financial pros who offer retirement advice will have to disclose all costs associated with their services and products beginning in April. But a disclosure that meets the letter of the law might not tell you exactly how much you're paying in dollars and cents. To find out, you need to know what those fees are called, where they're referenced and how they're calculated. What's missing from your retirement statement? "Amount due for fees" isn't a line item most investors will find in their statements. Instead, fees are typically expressed as a percentage of the assets in an account and then skimmed off the top of annual returns or baked into an investment's share price. ADVERTISEMENT The lack of clarity might explain why 46 percent of full-time employed baby boomers polled by investment advisory firm Rebalance IRA in 2014 said they believed they paid no fees in their retirement accounts. If only that were true. Based on average contribution rates, 401(k) fees and plan costs, a median-income couple, both of whom work, would pay nearly $155,000 in investment fees over 40 years, according to public policy organization Demos. That's almost one-third of their total retirement savings returns. Fees charged by mutual funds within 401(k) plans are on the decline, but all-in costs including plan administrative fees often depend on factors including plan size, total assets, service levels and fee structure that are largely outside of an individual consumer's control. Start digging for fees here If you know what you're looking for, it's a lot easier to find the fees buried in 401(k) plan summaries, obscured by jargon in mutual fund prospectuses and banished to the dark corners of money management firms' FAQs. Here's where to point your headlamp: BROKERAGE COSTS:The broker with the lowest commissions might not be the best deal. Investors who trade infrequently should look out for annual inactivity fees and maintenance costs (which can range from $50 to $200 combined). There also are transfer or liquidation fees ($50 to $75 for a full or partial transfer) and fees to access data feeds and trading tools, which can range from $5 to $50 or more per month for real-time quotes to hundreds of dollars for premium reports. 401(k) ADMINISTRATIVE FEES:Some employers match a portion of each employee's retirement plan contributions, and the most generous also kick in for the costs of record keeping, compliance and investment curation. That tab is usually about 1 percent to 2 percent annually, charged as a percentage of assets. See the plan's "summary plan description" or email HR to find out if you or your company pays the administrative fees. If the fee is on the high side, consider investing in the 401(k) only until you've maxed out the company match and directing additional retirement savings dollars to a self-managed IRA. MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT FEES:Want a new way to say "fee"? Crack open a mutual fund prospectus where sales commissions, management and administrative costs are referred to by names such as "loads" and "12b-1 fees." The double blow of the "expense ratio" is the most costly of all: First, as the account balance increases, so does the amount skimmed off the top to cover fees. And every dollar paid in fees is one less dollar left to compound and grow. ADVERTISEMENT At the high end of the fee spectrum are actively managed mutual funds helmed by investment managers, which carry an average expense ratio of 1.31 percent, according to trade association Investment Company Institute. Index mutual funds, which have an average expense ratio of 0.71 percent, are a lower fee alternative. They're cheaper because they're automated to match the return of a particular market index. In the middle are target-date mutual funds a hybrid of active management and index investing with an average expense ratio of 0.94 percent. These averages provide a good baseline, but it's even better to compare a fund's expenses and returns with those of its peers via sites such as Morningstar.com, FeeX.com and FINRA.org. PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT/ADVISORY FEES:The cost of hiring a fee-only financial planner sounds straightforward. But is that fee charged per hour, by task, as a percentage of assets managed or a combination of these methods? And is there a minimum or required retainer? Form ADV which advisers are required to file with the SEC and provide to clients at least once per year covers a money manager's fee arrangement basics, but the best way to learn specifics is to ask. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors offers a script of tough questions to ask a financial adviser. Three key decisions about retirement benefits can help couples make their money last or dramatically increase the chances the survivor will end up old and broke. Widowed women are twice as likely as their male counterparts to live in poverty during retirement, according to a March study by the National Institute on Retirement Security. But anyone who outlives a mate can be vulnerable to a big drop in income and lifestyle because of shortsighted decisions about claiming benefits. "Most people don't quite get the math," said Delia Fernandez, a certified financial planner in Los Alamitos, Calif., who primarily advises middle-class clients. "They're so focused on getting the highest payment now." Fernandez remembers one husband who wanted to take early retirement and the maximum possible pension, not realizing if he died first, his wife's income would fall by 75 percent. "It's all about, 'I'm getting out of this job and getting the most money because I've got things to do,'" Fernandez said. People don't realize their spouses may have to live for years, or even decades, on truncated incomes. ADVERTISEMENT These are the decisions that couples need to get right: How to take retirement benefits You may be offered a choice between taking a lump-sum distribution from your retirement plan or accepting a series of monthly checks. Theoretically, it's possible to earn more through time by investing the lump sum, but a bad market or a too-rapid withdrawal rate can undermine your returns. By contrast, the monthly checks could be guaranteed income that can last for both your lifetimes. Couples should try to make sure at least their basic expenses in retirement are covered by sources of income that are guaranteed, which can include Social Security, pension payouts and annuities, said Gary Koenig, vice president of financial security for AARP's Public Policy Institute. All 401(k) plans give savers a lump-sum payout option, and many offer the choice of taking a monthly check, but the amount you get may vary depending on how your investments perform. If you want guaranteed income, you typically would have to roll your money into an IRA, then use some or all of the money to buy an immediate fixed annuity from an insurance company to create a steady income stream. Those with traditional pensions typically are offered guaranteed monthly checks as the default option, but some pension plans may offer a lump sum. If an adviser suggests you take the lump sum and then buy an annuity, ask how that's better than just getting the checks from the original retirement plan, said Jim Ludwick, a certified financial planner with MainStreet Financial Planning in Odenton, Md. "In 10 years of analyzing annuities, I've never seen one that was better" than what a pension plan offered its participants directly, he said. "The company payout is always more generous because it doesn't have to make a profit." Which payout option to choose If you do opt for monthly checks from a pension fund, you need to decide how big your checks will be and how long they will last. ADVERTISEMENT Let's say your pension plan would give you $3,000 a month if you opted for the single-life payout but that payment ends when you die. A joint-and-survivor payout that drops by half after your death might start at $2,873, assuming you and your spouse are about the same age. If you want the checks to stay level after you die, your initial monthly payments might shrink to $2,754. Fernandez suggests clients choose this option unless there's a compelling reason to reduce it, such as a spouse who "has a whole bunch of money or a pension of her own, and she doesn't need the survivor option." Also, be wary of insurance schemes that suggest you opt for a single-life payout from a pension and use a part of that larger check to buy life insurance instead. This so-called pension maximization may be a plan only an insurance agent could love, so run it past a fee-only financial planner one who doesn't earn commissions on insurance sales for an objective second opinion before you proceed. When to claim Social Security The higher earner typically should delay starting Social Security as long as possible because that's the benefit the survivor will get, Koenig said. (The survivor's benefit is the larger of the two the couple receives.) Delaying is particularly important if one spouse didn't work or didn't earn enough to get a significant benefit because the spousal benefit is based on what the higher earner gets. Here's an example to illustrate the difference. Say the higher earner would get a $2,000 monthly check at 66, the current full-retirement age. That would entitle the lower earner to a spousal benefit of $1,000 at his or her full retirement age. If, instead, the couple applies when they first become eligible for benefits at 62, the higher earner's check falls to $1,500 and the lower earner's to $700. So instead of $3,000 they would get $2,200. When one dies, the other gets a survivor benefit of just $1,500, versus the $2,000 that spouse would have received had the couple waited until the higher earner turned 66. Those who wait beyond full retirement age can increase their benefits by an additional 8 percent per year until their checks max out at age 70. Conversely, an early start locks in a permanently reduced check. ADVERTISEMENT With all three decisions, couples should talk about the various "what if" scenarios, including what would happen to the household's income and savings if either partner lives longer or dies sooner than expected, said Mark Struthers, a certified financial planner and certified financial analyst with Sona Financial in Minneapolis. Struthers cautioned against obsessing too much about which payout option would result in the most money because those calculations assume we can predict what lies ahead. "The break-even point is not really relevant," Struthers said. "The question is, is your wife going to end up eating cat food because her income dropped 75 percent?" Between 1960 and 1968, The Andy Griffith Show was a must-see TV program before there was "must-see" television. It was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, N.C. For fans that follow the escapades on oldie's channels, a visit to the Mayberry Cafe in Danville, Ind., is overdue. The Mayberry Cafe is on a quiet corner with views of the courthouse, parkland and business streets. The idyllic location could be mistaken for the Carolinas. Inside the two-story building, the ambience definitely harkens to the long run of the television show and mid-century, small town America. Comfortably seated with a menu and a cup of coffee, cares whisk away as if Andy Griffith's character, "Sheriff Andy Taylor", and his son "Opie" were at the next table. Opie was played by a young Ron Howard, now grown-up and both an Oscar nominated and Oscar award-winning director and producer. The Andy Griffith Show was first broadcast in black-and-white. Several years into the eight-year run, television switched to color. The family oriented, virtually crime-free program provided lots of time for the sheriff to philosophize and to help out one Mayberry resident after another. All with the help of his cousin, "Deputy Barney Fife," a role memorialized by actor Don Knotts. Enter David Browning, a Barney Fife Tribute Artist, whose devotion to Mr. Knotts and his characterization of "Barney" draws fans from across the planet. Making his way through the dining room, he hands out parking tickets with humorous rejoinders, cajoles the ladies and graciously poses for photos. He is a hoot and a half. ADVERTISEMENT When the deputy isn't walking through the dining rooms at the Mayberry Cafe, he can be found greeting tourists, welcoming tour buses or at the Hendricks County Historical Museum that's where the interpreter for "Aunt Bee" bakes cookies and hands out samples to visitors who stop for a tour. Both are around Danville throughout the year. When the Mayberry in the Midwest festival is in full swing, their appearance schedule soars. Held in May, the three-day event turns out a parade, an Opie Look-a-Like contest, antique tractor show, Squad Car Nationals, live music and more tribute artists. Original cast members have also made appearances. The Hendricks County Historical Museum is open and ready for selfies from the jail cell or any room in the house. Hendricks County native son Levi Riggs doesn't always make it home for the festival but visits from Nashville as often as possible, including one weekend when he and his sister, Lauren Riggs, host a concert on the Downtown Square. Riggs has opened for The Band Perry, Colt Ford, Jo Dee Messina, even Travis Tritt. The concert stage is on the opposite corner from the Mayberry Cafe. When Brad and Christine Born decided to open their restaurant in Danville, none of the above was part of the plan. His idea was good food served in a hometown setting that would kindle the good spirits that he found on The Andy Griffith Show. The two decided on Danville because the town appeared to be a good fit. That was in 1989 and the Borns were correct. The fit couldn't be better. The Borns created the Mayberry Cafe for their own dream but, unwittingly and charmingly, it opened others for an entire town. Dear Answer Man, is it common for health systems such as Mayo to contract out for their food service operations? There aren't many health systems such as Mayo, in terms of size and reach, so it's tough to make an apples-to-apples comparison. But yes, it's common for health systems and hospitals to contract for food services. Morrison Healthcare , the company that Mayo plans to contract with for its food and nutrition services, works with about 650 hospitals and health systems nationally. They include New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center (1,171 beds), Yale-New Haven Hospital (1,541 beds), Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta (945 beds) and hundreds more. Another of the biggies is Aramark , which employs or manages about than 50,000 people who provide food services to more than 1,100 health care organizations across North America. Among the latest additions: Kennedy Health in New Jersey (607 beds), Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee (nearly 1,000 beds, plus the Vanderbilt Medical Group and its 200 clinics), Thomas Jefferson University Health System in Philadelphia (951 beds), and Einstein Healthcare Network in the Philadelphia area (1,200 beds). I made a few random calls for my own information. A spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Servicessaid only that they "contract with another company to provide food service." ADVERTISEMENT A spokeswoman for Johns Hopkinsin Baltimore said by email, "We do contract our food services out. We use Sodexo," the firm that Mayo is transitioning away from. According to a news story about Hopkins' food program, they serve about 13,000 meals a day for patients and workers. Sodexo , by the way, is a multinational giant. The parent company is in France; Sodexo USA cranked out 41 percent of the conglomerate's revenues in fiscal year 2015, according to the website Food Management , which ranked it as No. 3 among food services companies. Among its newer clients: The U.S. House of Representatives and three UMass Memorial Medical Center campuses in Massachusetts. Cleveland Clinic, another of Mayo's arch-rivals, switched last year from Aramark to Sodexo for chow on its main campus and at its children's hospital. They kept Aramark for their eight regional hospitals and their facilities in Florida. About 350 Aramark employees were given the "opportunity" to work for Sodexo when that change occurred. That's the type of opportunity that hundreds of Mayo's current food workers are being given with Morrison, which has led to union protests and pickets. Interestingly, Cleveland Clinic was with Sodexo as well as AVI Foodsystems Inc. prior to 2012, when it changed to Aramark. As you can see, it's a dog-eat-dog world in health care food service, and in the health care world as a whole. Mayo is hardly alone in looking for cost-savings and new ways of delivering quality services, including food services, so that another health care system doesn't eat their lunch. An article in Modern Healthcare a few years ago said this about the food service part of the health care business: "Annual spending on food does not make up a large percentage of a typical hospital's total expenses. For example, Fletcher Allen (Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.) spent about $4.2 million on food in fiscal 2012, compared with the roughly $956 million in total expenses the hospital reported that year. "However, food prices are generally rising about 3 percent to 5 percent each year, putting ongoing pressure on budget-conscious hospitals to develop strategies that offset rising costs. And as reimbursement cuts weigh on financial decisions, some hospitals are re-evaluating whether to outsource food service as they address patient-satisfaction scores, the health of the communities they serve and growing food costs." ADVERTISEMENT That's what's going on at Mayo, for better or worse, and that's why there's now a firestorm led by the powerful Service Employees International Union , which has 2 million members in North America. SEIU Healthcare claims to be the largest health care union in the U.S. and Canada, with 1.1 million members. One last scrap of information, and there's plenty out there on the topic: According to the website Food Service Director , a recent survey of 184 hospitals showed that 76 percent of food service programs were self-operated; 20 percent were contract-operated; and 4 percent were a blend, which apparently is where Mayo fits in. A woman accused of stealing nearly $13,000 from the credit union where she worked has been sentenced to a year in jail, stayed for two years, placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution. Pamela Sue Ingvalson, 52, of Blooming Prairie, was charged in May with four counts of gross misdemeanor theft and one count of felony theft. She pleaded guilty Tuesday in Olmsted County District Court to the gross misdemeanors; the felony count was dismissed. Ingvalson was immediately sentenced to 365 days in jail, stayed, and two years of supervised probation. She must also pay $12,879 in restitution. The investigation began in September, when an official with Affinity Plus Credit Union in Rochester reported an employee theft, naming Ingvalson as the suspect. She'd been a teller there for eight years. The official said an internal audit of Ingvalson's cash drawer revealed money was missing, the complaint says. When confronted, she reportedly admitted to taking money from her cash drawer, then accessing customer accounts to balance her drawer in an attempt to hide the missing money. ADVERTISEMENT In a November interview, Ingvalson confessed she'd taken money since 2013, taking cash from her drawer and depositing it in her own account through the bank's ATM. After temporarily adjusting the balances of other customers' accounts to hide her thefts, Ingvalson would later credit the money back to them. Ingvalson gave investigators the dates and amounts of money she took, court documents say, including $533 from July to December 2013; $2,661 from January to June 2014; $1,900 from July to December 2014; $2,010 from January to June 2015; $715 from July until she was caught. A Rochester man appeared Wednesday in Olmsted County District Court, where he's been charged with two counts of felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Jeffrey Steven Wile, 57, was charged by summons in July; his next court date has not been set. The investigation began in November, when authorities learned a woman was being evicted from a nursing home because her bill was about $55,000 in arrears. Wile was responsible for paying the victim's bill after being granted power of attorney, the complaint says, but had made just five payments to the facility since August 2014, when the woman moved in. According to the victim's account statements from the facility, Wile told staff several times that he'd applied for medical assistance. As the detective investigated, he found two bank accounts in Wile's name. One had been opened with money from a check written to Wile by a credit union in Alabama. The detective learned the money had come from the woman's previous caregiver; it was the balance of the victim's account when she moved from Alabama to Minnesota, court documents say. The caregiver said he sent the $37,589 balance to Wile to open a local account for the woman. ADVERTISEMENT A review of the local accounts indicated the total amount withdrawn was $22,537.86. Payments included payments to an insurance company every month from June 2013 to February 2015, totaling $5,511.04. Officials with the insurance company allegedly said the payments were for medical insurance for Wile. He told the detective the cash withdrawals from the victim's account were to pay for gas and meals when Wile took the woman to appointments and out to eat. He eventually admitted he'd used some of her funds for himself. Wile claimed a $3,500 check written to himself in February 2014 was used to travel to Alabama to represent the woman in a lawsuit related to the sale of her house. When the detective contacted the attorney involved in the case, however, he said Wile came to Alabama for a one-day hearing in 2013, and the matter was resolved by court order in April 2014. A file of receipts Wile gave authorities contained 76 gas receipts, the complaint says, but only 27 matched the dates of cash withdrawals from the victim's accounts. Only five of those receipts matched dates the victim was taken out of the nursing home, the reports say. AUSTIN A man convicted of slashing his niece with a knife during a family argument has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Hector Alonzo Estrada, 37, pleaded guilty Aug. 8 to one count of felony domestic assault. In exchange, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count each of domestic assault and terroristic threats were dismissed. All are felonies. Estrada was sentenced Thursday in Mower County District Court, with credit for 57 days already served. The case began late June 29, when Austin police were sent to a home in the 1900 block of Fifth Avenue Northwest for an assault in progress. En route, officers learned a woman had been stabbed and was being taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. An officer was able to stop the car about a block from the home; the woman said Estrada had cut her hand, then left the house, the complaint says. An ambulance arrived to treat the victim, who said Estrada had come to the home, drunk, earlier in the day. The victim's mother argued with Estrada and told him to leave; he refused, so the woman began to call the police. Estrada, upset because he had nowhere to go, "slapped" the phone out of his sister's hand and grabbed a knife, court documents say, holding it against his own neck. ADVERTISEMENT His niece, the victim, tried to talk to Estrada to get him to drop the knife. Instead, he approached his sister, the report says, so his niece intervened. She told authorities Estrada tried to stab her but "slashed" her hand; the victim believed he would kill her or her mother, the complaint says. Estrada was found soon after the incident riding a bike in the 1500 block of Fourth Avenue Northwest. A search of his belongings revealed a small black pouch with a glass methamphetamine pipe inside. Estrada was arrested; en route to the jail, he allegedly threatened the officer and the officer's family, then was noncompliant with jail staff. Estrada confirmed he'd argued with family members and put a knife to his own throat but denied knocking the phone out of his sister's hand. He didn't intentionally slash anyone, he said, but thought his niece "grabbed the knife" and got cut. A conservative group is accusing a DFL candidate and a former state lawmaker of violating Minnesota campaign law. The Minnesota Jobs Coalition filed a complaint with the state's campaign finance board on Thursday against House District 27A candidate Gary Schindler and former Austin DFL Rep. Robin Brown. The complaint alleges Schindler knowingly accepted a prohibited corporate donation of $2,900. The group claims that donation came from Brown's horse business Wedgewood Peruvian Pasos. "In Minnesota, we have laws, and I think it's important to follow them," said John Rouleau, Minnesota Jobs Coalition's executive director. Schindler is challenging freshman Republican Rep. Peggy Bennett, of Albert Lea. The disputed donation dates back to an endorsing convention in March. The complaint alleges Brown presented Schindler with the check for $2,896.56, saying it came from leftover donations in her own campaign account. But the group says the check had the name of Brown's horse business on it not her campaign committee. ADVERTISEMENT The complaint also accuses Schindler of falsely reporting the contribution as being from Brown's campaign account, despite it coming from her horse business. The group says Brown also falsely reported the check came from her campaign committee and not Wedgewood Peruvian Pasos. Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board Assistant Director Jeff Sigurdson did not immediately return a phone call regarding the complaint. The Minnesota Jobs Coalition did receive a letter from the board saying it had received the complaint and will make an initial determination within 10 days. Brown's husband, Joe Brown, served as his wife's campaign treasurer. He said they were in no way trying to skirt state campaign finance law. Rather, it came down to confusion over how to handle the campaign dollars. Brown said the couple had three accounts at the same bank. They decided to close out her old campaign account and set the money aside in a different account. "We may have written that check on the wrong account. We certainly didn't mean any malfeasance by that," he said. Robin Brown served in the Minnesota House from 2007 to 2011. She hasn't run for office since then. In an interview, Schindler said his campaign returned the check to Brown within three hours of learning about the campaign fundraising complaint. He said he and his campaign treasurer did not realize the check was from Brown's business. "We were making a good faith effort to follow these (campaign finance) rules as closely as we could," he said. "We should have scrutinized that check more closely." Schindler said he already has contacted the state's campaign finance board to report the error. Joe Brown also has reached out to the board for direction on how to handle the returned donation. ADVERTISEMENT He added, "If I made a mistake, it's my mistake. I certainly apologize. I was the campaign finance chair. Gary and Robin had nothing to do with this. If anybody takes a hit, it's me, and I take full responsibility," WINONA On June 3, 2008, Judy Bodway got a call from then-Winona Mayor Jerry Miller saying there would be a news conference at City Hall that evening. It seemed folks from the Minnesota Department of Transportation had something to say. Miller told Bodway she needed to be present. As to what MnDOT might say: "I had no inkling," said Bodway, who was then Winona's director of economic development. The message was that the Winona Bridge, bridge 5900, the main channel bridge across the Mississippi River from Winona to Latsch Island, was being closed, effective immediately. That night. Bodway's response? A mild curse word came to mind. A recently completed workforce study showed about 2,500 people crossed the bridge daily for work, she said. That did not include trucking, goods coming into or leaving the city and general travelers. The nearest bridge crossings for a detour were either a 70-mile round trip to Wabasha or a 66-mile round trip to La Crosse, Wis. ADVERTISEMENT In the wake of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis on Aug. 1, 2007, the safety of bridges in Minnesota had been called into question. An inspection of the Winona Bridge showed potential problems. Deteriorating trusses, compromised gusset plates nearly identical to the plates that contributed to the I-35W bridge failure and general wear and tear had MnDOT questioning the Winona Bridge's safety. As this was explained at that news conference, all Bodway could think about was the people who relied on Bridge 5900 to get back and forth from Winona to Wisconsin each day. The next morning was a Wednesday. Immediately, Bodway and the rest of the city staff "It was basically done with five or six staff people" started working on alternatives to get commuters across the river daily. Bodway scrambled to find passenger ferries the city could hire to run from Latsch Island to Levee Park in Winona, but there was nowhere for ferry riders to park their cars on the island. So Bodway's team contacted cities and schools in Wisconsin that could be used as commuter lots, then found buses to run from those lots to the ferry on Latsch Island. "This was a logistical nightmare, but by the following Monday, we had the ferries up and running," Bodway said. Potential pitfalls included getting a dock built at Latsch Island and arranging for the bus drivers, who lived in Winona, to get to the buses parked in Wisconsin for their early morning routes. "We had to get bus drivers to Latsch Island at 3 a.m. Fortunately, the fire department boat took them over." The ferries ran for a week before MnDOT reopened the bridge for cars and light trucks on June 14. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people used the ferry daily, Bodway said. Of course, a collapsing bridge forcing the city of Winona to scramble to update its river crossing happened before. Bridge collapse, panic ADVERTISEMENT On Oct. 9, 1935, a car crash caused an entire pier-to-pier span of the old wagon bridge that crossed the Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wis., to tumble into the water below. In addition to causing traffic to be either rerouted or ferried across at La Crosse, the bridge's downfall made city leaders upstream in Winona wonder about the 1892 High Bridge that crossed from Latsch Island to Winona. The bridge was of the same design as the one that failed in La Crosse. "That got people in Winona going to replace the High Bridge," said Walter Bennick, archivist with the Winona County Historical Society. "The car hit the (La Crosse) bridge going just 30-40 miles an hour. It hit a girder and the bridge just fell," Bennick said. A story in the Winona Republic Herald from Jan. 21, 1939, called for replacement of the Winona bridge, declaring, "Such structures built solely for horse traffic cannot stand the strain of modern motor transportation forever. The day of replacement must come soon." However, the load created by modern motorcars and trucks in the 1930s made the public question the bridge's ability to continue serving the city. "The High Bridge had a load limit of 7-and-a-half tons," Bennick said. "That put some limits on crossing it." By 1940, construction began on the new Winona Main Channel Bridge. Built of a unique cantilever through-truss design, the bridge opened in 1942. Shortly thereafter, the old High Bridge came down and was removed in the spring of 1943, said Kristen Zschomler, historian and archaeologist in the Office of Environmental Stewardship for MnDOT. Historic Bridge Thousands of truss bridges were built in Minnesota's history. "But only a handful of cantilever through-truss bridges were ever built," Zschomier said. The cantilever through-truss design was used in Winona to provide maximum clearance for boats on the river. ADVERTISEMENT "As the few other cantilever through-truss bridges were replaced, Bridge 5900 in Winona has survived as the only example left in the state of Minnesota that was built before 1946," Zschomier said. In addition to the cantilever through trusses, the bridge's other historical features include the deck trusses on the approach spans and the two-column piers that support the bridge. The piers are considered mildly art moderne, an architectural style of the 1940s that followed the more popular art deco era of the 1930s, Zshomier said. While a new span just yards upstream has been constructed to eventually provide two new lanes of traffic, the 1942 bridge will be rehabilitated. Terry Ward, project manager with MnDOT, said the through-truss sections will be fixed in place to deal with corrosion to the trusses and other support elements. "The majority of the corrosion is below the deck," Ward said. "We're adding what we call post-tension bars to address the fracture critical nature of the through truss." Rehabilitating the 1942 bridge alongside the new bridge opening today means the city likely never will have to live without a bridge again, Bodway said. "It made the public well aware of the connection between our community and Wisconsin," she said. "It made us aware of the importance of a bridge in Winona." WABASHA A rural Wabasha County man who has an long-running dispute with the county's West Albany Township over access to township minutes is trying to get his case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, if heard and won, will have widespread implications for townships across the state and other groups too, his attorney contends. Bernard Eggenberger lives on 30 acres in the township, which is south of Lake City and had 398 residents in the 2010 census. He believes the township has engaged in some illegal acts, and he's determined to find out. But he said he can't get copies of records he needs to get the county or state to follow up. He took his case to Wabasha County District Court, but the Association of Minnesota Counties got it moved into federal court. He lost in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis and also his appeal with the Eighth District Court of Appeals, though that court agreed he has a right to publish the records, but not a right to the records. Now, his attorney, Erick Kaardal of the Twin Cities, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear it. Monday was the deadline for the township to react to that petition. ADVERTISEMENT Jessica Schwie, of the Twin Cities, the township attorney, gave this statement Wednesday: "West Albany Township has decided to not file an objection to Eggenberger's petition for review in order to expedite the review process by the Supreme Court. At this time, we are waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court on whether they will grant review of the 8th circuit's opinion and will consider our options for future handling at the time of their decision." A look at the minutes Eggenberger believes the township illegally sold land in Theilman and allowed part of a house, and septic system, to be built on township park land. But he said the township didn't put that in the minutes. "They won't let me see the minutes," he said. Eggenberger said he's pushed the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for a matter of principle. "There is no governmental agency that will step up and help me," he said. "I will get the truth out." If he doesn't speak out, he questions if anyone else will. "This court says they can deny that information to anyone they want for any reason they want," he said. "If they can do it to me, they can do it to anyone else." ADVERTISEMENT He declined to say how much it's cost him so far. This is a hugely important case with state and nationwide implications, Kardaal said. There are hundreds of Minnesota townships that are not subject the state Data Practices Act. The act doesn't apply to most townships outside the metro area or larger cities. But even if state law doesn't require open records, "we believe the Constitution covers it," he said. Part-time government What Eggenberger contends is that "it's hard to go to a meeting without having knowledge of what has gone on before the meeting," the attorney said. The First Amendment gives people the right to criticize the government but the people first need information, he said. But the township is saying it only has to release information if it wants to. "I think we have a shot at the Supreme Court," he said. He pointed out that U.S. Supreme Court relied on First Amendment arguments to allow newspapers access to President Nixon's Oval Office audio tapes. Schwie, in a memorandum seeking support of the district court's decision, said Eggenberger has been allowed to attend meetings, record them, look at records but not record them and has engaged in a discourse with the township. He is also demanding the records be put online, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Townships were exempt from the data practices act maybe 30 years ago because "townships don't have full time staff and the clerks are essentially volunteers," said Eric Hedtke, general counsel for the Minnesota Association of Townships Agency . "Some of these data requests can be quite onerous," he said. At the same time, Hedtke said, the association encourages townships to reply to any reasonable request. In West Albany Township, the township clerk keeps notes by hand in a ledger book, he said. The clerk let Eggenberger come into his house (there is no town hall) for a few hours to read the book. But Eggenberger demanded copies, a request that was shot down by two federal courts. "In our view, the township did what we told them to do," Hedtke said. When a request gets unreasonable, you have a reasonable reason to say no, he said. 'I would be shocked' If the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case, "I would be shocked," Hedtke said. Mark Anfinson, attorney for the Minnesota Newspaper Association, said the MNA won't file a friend of the court brief. "It's an interesting case of some importance," Anfinson said, but the association has to be prudent in how it uses its resources. If a news organization isn't involved, it's rare for the association to get involved. "It would be nice" if the principle Eggenberger is advancing was upheld, Anfinson said, but he also realizes there are limits to what small townships can do. The state data practices act realized a lot of data requests would be quite burdensome, Anfinson said. Over the years, the association has tried to expand public access and got larger townships outside the metro area required to follow the Data Practices Act. Those townships have larger suburban populations, even if they aren't part of a city, Anfinson said. FALCON HEIGHTS Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are unlikely to show up at State Fair this year, but their supporters are making the case to fairgoers whether they want to hear it or not. Inside the Minnesota DFL booth, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was giving a pep talk to party faithful on first day at the fair. Klobuchar is not on the ballot this year. That gives her plenty of time to talk up the presidential candidacy of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, along with some criticism of Republican nominee Donald Trump. "I feel like our base of our party right now knows the arguments," she said. "And I feel like the independent voters, as you see from the polls, are starting to say 'I don't want to take a risk on someone who has a temperament like Donald Trump.'" Also at the DFL booth, fairgoers were posing for photos with life-size cutouts of Clinton, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. ADVERTISEMENT The Republican Party of Minnesota had its own set of cutouts for photos. One is of Clinton, but this time she's dressed in black-and-white-striped jail house garb. "We try to have a little bit of fun with things here at the booth, and we are really emphasizing this year the solutions that Republicans are offering," said Minnesota Republican Party Chair Keith Downey. Downey was also talking up Trump. "People are very nervous about what's been going on in Washington, D.C., and we have an outsider candidate who has connected with everyday people in a way that Republicans haven't in a long time," he said. Candidates were a little hard to find on the morning of opening day, but Republican Fifth District Congressional candidate Frank Drake was busy shaking hands at the front of the GOP booth. Drake, a political newcomer who's challenging incumbent DFL Rep. Keith Ellison, said he plans to spend several days campaigning at the fair. He said it's is a good way to introduce himself to voters. "What I'm running up against is people don't know who I am," he said. "They don't know that there's an opposition to Keith Ellison. If they knew they had a choice, they might say 'I'm for that guy. I'm for the Drake.'" Candidates tend to like the State Fair because they can meet a lot of people in one place. They also like the timing of the fair at the end of summer. ADVERTISEMENT DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen of Minneapolis paused on a relatively quiet fairgrounds corner to explain how the campaign season traditionally moves into a different phase at fair time. "I mean I think there are two things," he said. "There's the State Fair and people going back to school. That's when people start directing their attention to the business of the election coming up. So, this really is a turning point. People are more engaged. They are more willing to kind of talk about specific issues instead of just getting to know the candidate." MINNEAPOLIS The international controversy surrounding the burkini the long, loose swimwear used by Muslim women, and banned by certain cities in France has been unsettling for some women and girls in Minnesota. "My burkini is purple and hot pink," said Nausheena Hussain, 39, at her local YMCA in Coon Rapids. "It's a nice color combination, especially when I've got my purple Speedo goggles on." She laughed. Citing security concerns after terrorist attacks, French authorities in some cities have been issuing citations and forcing some women to remove their swimsuits. From the pool in Coon Rapids, Hussain, executive director of a new group called Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, sees such actions as counterproductive in the fight against extremism. "I feel like they're just kind of playing right into what ISIS wants them to do, which is controlling women," she said. "To me it's such a misogynistic act. And to link the burkini to extremism is, to me I don't understand that connection." The 39-year-old mother of two teenagers said she didn't learn to swim until four years ago. A Muslim instructor gave her private lessons in a pool, until she gradually became a strong swimmer who enjoys the ocean. ADVERTISEMENT "Just the way the waves hit you," she said, "it feels, really, like you're one with nature. And, coming from a faith perspective, it's a creation of God, and to be able to enjoy his creation just feels like being part of the master plan of his creation." No men allowed Zahra Hassan, a community outreach coordinator for the Minneapolis nonprofit Fairview Health Services, works to make swim opportunities available to Muslim girls and women as a matter of health. One day a week, her group offers free swimming lessons at the University of Minnesota to Muslim girls and women, with no men allowed. "It makes it easier for the community to learn when they know that they can be in a pool where they don't have to worry about wearing a scarf," she said. "They can wear whatever they want in the pool, as long as the windows are covered, we have a female instructor, a female lifeguard. It's great." Even with the windows covered, some of the student swimmers opt for greater modesty of a burkini. One 12-year-old Muslim girl asked not to be identified because she fears people might make fun of her swimwear. "When I swim in privacy, it helps me to not be stressed about who's looking at me because I don't have a really high self-esteem and I'm shy," she said. Hafso Warsame, 11, doesn't have a burkini. Instead she swims in a shirt and long pants. "When I swim it makes me feel good, makes me feel like a dolphin," she said. "When I'm in the water, it makes me feel happy." ADVERTISEMENT Nearby, another swimmer, 56-year-old Nadifa Ahmed, floated in her leopard-print burkini. "I'm really happy the days that I come to swim," she said in Somali. "I have high blood pressure, and the days that I come swimming, afterwards I'm very relaxed. I wish the program was three days instead of the one day." Real disparities At another pool, this one at the Midtown Minneapolis YWCA, a diverse group of swimmers included Muslim women in burkinis who have chosen to swim in a co-ed facility. Ellen Cleary, the community impact director at Midtown, lamented the "real disparities when it comes to access to swimming, and safety around swimming, for communities of color in Minnesota." So to be more inclusive of diverse groups and faiths, the YWCA changed its rules in recent years to allow greater variety in dress codes. Before that, burkinis would not have been permitted. "Water and swimming is part of our culture," she said. "We don't want there to be barriers to that. We want all kids to grow up knowing skills to be safe around water." Union nurses at five Twin Cities Allina Health hospitals have set Labor Day as a strike date. The Minnesota Nurses Association announced its strike plan Friday at the Labor Hall on the grounds of the State Fair, flanked by representatives from other unions. "We're here today because Allina Health continues to ignore the voice of their nurses. Instead of listening to what nurses say, Allina is intent on telling them what they need," said nurses union leader Rose Roach. The dispute involves nurses at Abbott Northwestern, United, Mercy and Unity hospitals, as well as the Phillips Eye Institute. The nurses want to keep their generous, but relatively high-cost, union-only health plans. Allina wants them to shift into its corporate plans. Those offerings have lower monthly premiums but come with potentially larger out-of-pocket costs than do the nurses-only plans. ADVERTISEMENT The two sides should continue trying to work out a deal, said Allina Spokesman David Kanihan. Announcing a second strike date isn't going to help bring them together, he said. "I think that's the wrong way fundamentally to get to this issue," Kanihan said. The nurses struck for one week in June over the dispute. The next one could go much longer. "We're willing to strike to save our insurance. We're prepared to be out for as long as it takes to protect our lives and livelihoods," said negotiating team member Angela Becchetti. The other union leaders unions at the news conference pledged their solidarity. "We plan to be on the picket lines with MNA for as long as it takes for them to get a fair and decent contract," said Eliot Seide, who leads AFSCME Council Five and it's 40,000 government workers. "Yesterday our executive board decided also that to start out the strike from for MNA we're giving them a check for $10,000 for their strike fund." As of mid-June, the nurses union had investment assets topping $4 million, a large majority of it dedicated to a strike fund. The nurses hope calling an open-ended strike will apply more pressure to Allina. ADVERTISEMENT University of Minnesota labor relations professor John Remington said the threat raises the stakes for both sides. Remington speculated there will be very serious last-ditch negotiating between now and Labor Day. "You know the parties have to seriously engage and then sort of assess each other's bottom lines so this could be some real hard bargaining in the next week or so," he said. John Budd, another U professor, said the union and management appear so dug in over the health insurance dispute that he's not optimistic about the possibility of a settlement anytime soon. "At some point there is the possibility that Allina just decides they're done negotiating," said Budd. Budd says Allina might end up declaring negotiations are at an impasse and imposing a contact on the nurses. "Under labor law companies don't have to agree to anything, they only have an obligation to bargain in good faith," he said. Union leader Rose Roach erupted at the thought of Allina imposing a contract. "Really? That's a nuclear option. Why on earth would an employer do that to nurses? It's outrageous," Roach said. ADVERTISEMENT Union leaders promised they would challenge an imposed contract with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Allina has not been negotiating in good faith. Allina spokesman David Kanihan said the health system wants to continue talks. But just like the union, Allina is accusing the other side of failing to negotiate. He said Allina plans to have teams of replacement nurses ready to staff the hospitals, as the company did during the one-week strike in June. "We don't want a strike. We believe a strike can be avoided. We now have 10 days to do that and I hope that can occur," Kanihan said. "But if a strike should go forward, we will be prepared." Steve has started a series called Why do liberals hate Trump? The first installment is here. I look forward to reading the subsequent ones. I think one reason why liberals hate Trump is the same reason why many conservatives dislike him: Hes not one of theirs and hes an awful guy. Suppose Trump were the Democratic nominee running against, say, Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. Might not conservatives hate Trump almost as fervently as liberals do? I suspect so. As it is, Trump is the non-leftist in the race. Thus, its understandable that a great many conservatives will vote for him. Its also understandable that the vast majority of conservatives dont hate him; that most conservative commentators tend to direct their fire at Hillary Clinton, rather than Trump; and that they decline to dwell on Trumps shortcomings. Harder to understand are attempts by conservatives to lionize Donald Trump. Im thinking here of Jerry Falwell, Jr. Writing in the Washington Post, Falwell proclaimed Trump a leader with qualities that resemble those of Winston Churchill. Falwell added, my family has grown to love all of the Trumps because they are wonderful people willing to sacrifice much for their country. I find it interesting that Falwell had to throw in all of the Trumps to lend plausibility to his expression of love for Donald. Peter Wehner has written what I think is a devastating response to Falwell. Wehner argues that with his partisan, reckless comments, the Evangelical celebrity dishonors his Christian faith. I cant speak to that. However, I find Wehners attack on Trump persuasive in nearly every respect. Heres a sample: Falwell praises Trump for his kindness and generosity. What a curious way to refer to a man who has mocked a former prisoner of war, the grieving mother of a war hero, and a reporter with a physical disability. Trump likened Ben Carsons pathology to that of a child molester, ridiculed Carly Fiorinas looks, made menstruation jokes about Megyn Kelly, called her a bimbo, and called women in general fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals. He humiliated his first wife by engaging in a very public affair. As for his purported generosity, we know he lies about his charitable giving. I dont claim that liberals hate Trump for these reasons alone. If he were a leftist, they would be mostly okay with him, as they are mostly okay with the the corrupt, venal, and pathologically dishonest Hillary Clinton. But I do think that Trumps poor character produces genuine bipartisan disgust. Of all the Clinton Foundation/Clinton cash scandals, the one Ive always considered most disturbing involves the Russians gaining control over a large share of Americas uranium. Relying on a New York Times report, I wrote about this scandal here. Newly uncovered State Department documents shed additional light on this scandal. But before getting to the new material, Ill summarize what the New York Times reported. What we knew already In 2005, Bill Clinton and Frank Giustra visited Kazakhstan. Giustra is a massive donor to the Clinton Foundation. Giustras goal was to buy uranium mines in Kazakhstan. To this end, he and Bill Clinton met with leaders of the Kazakhstan government. As a result of the visit, Giustra got major mining concessions, which were approved by the Kazakhstan government. Kazakhstan got Bill Clinton publicly to praise its alleged progress in democracy and human rights. The Clintons received a $31 million donation to their Foundation from Giustra, along with a pledge to donate $100 million more. The deal with Kazakhstan made Giustras company, Uranium One, a major player. It proceeded to buy large amounts of holdings in the United States, and became an attractive target for Russia. A Russian company made a hugely attractive offer to purchase the company. Uranium One agreed to the purchase. The deal required approval by the U.S. government, including by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During the period when the deal with Russia was under consideration, the Clinton Foundation reportedly $2.6 million from Uranium One. Its contributions were not disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Hillary had reached with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors. During this period, Bill Clinton also received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank that was promoting Uranium One stock. This was more than his usual speaking fee. Hillary Clinton duly approved the deal. It made the Russian company Rosatom one of the worlds largest uranium producers and brought Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain. The deal left huge amounts of U.S. uranium under the control of Russia. The New York Times estimates this share at 20 percent. But Peter Schweizer, the author of Clinton Cash, say that it amounts to up to 50 percent of projected U.S. uranium output. What we have recently learned When Hillary Clinton was questioned about the deal, she said she had no reason to intervene in the decision. But Raphael Williams of Circa reports that memos contained on WikiLeaks show Clinton was warned about Russian attempts to flex its muscle in uranium markets. And members of Congress also sounded the alarm. The State Department had obtained a strategy paper from Rosatom, the Russian company seeking to purchase Uranium One. The strategy paper alarmed U.S. diplomats because it confirmed fears that Russia was moving to control the long-term supply of nuclear fuel, shut Westinghouse out of the market, and extend Moscows influence over Europe. The resulting diplomatic cable lays out what Williams calls a clear warning from career U.S. officials about why expanding Russias control of uranium markets was bad for the United States and for its allies in Europe. In addition, members of Congress pointed to the dangers of the Rosatom deal. Sen. John Barasso said it would give the Russian government control over a sizable portion of Americas uranium production capacity. Rep. Peter King said it would pose great potential harm to the national security of the United States. Clinton, then, had ample reason to intervene in the decision. But doing so would have been inconsistent with the interests of those who were donating so generously to her Foundation. Despite the warnings from her own diplomats and from Congress, Clinton let the deal go through. Who were the winners in the transactions that began with Bill Clintons visit to Kazakhstan and ended when the U.S. approved the Uranium One-Rosatom deal? The Russians, obviously, but not just them. Frank Giustra won big. So did the Clintons who raised tens of millions, if not more, in this saga. Even Kazakhstan came away with something, though whether it contemplated Russia controlling its uranium is another matter. Only America is the loser. I dont think we have said much about Hillary Clintons speech in which she denounced Donald Trump as a racist of the alt-right, thereby confusing, no doubt, most of her audience. Much could be said about Hillarys smearsa Republican racist running for president? Not again!but I want to comment on just one aspect of it: her claim that the billionaire businessmans campaign [is] one that will make America hate again.' My question is: where has Hillary been for the last eight years? Has she failed to notice that she was part of an administration that went a long way toward making America hate again? Her boss, Barack Obama, deliberately fomented racial conflict for the purpose of political gain. Obama appointed Attorneys General who imposed a racial agenda on the Department of Justice, refusing, among other things, to redress civil rights grievances if they were asserted by whites. In the earliest days of his administration, Obama began a pattern of stirring up hate against police officers by intervening in a trivial incident in Cambridge, Massachusetts, deriding policemen as stupid. Obama and others in his administration stirred up hate against whites on the part of African-Americans, as when Joe Biden outrageously told a black crowd that [Republicans are] going to put yall back in chains. Obama incited hatred against police officers in particular, and whites in general, as, for example, when he sent a White House delegation to the funeral of a black thug who had been killed in self-defense by a white police officer, as his own Justice Department later found. The climate of hate that Barack Obama and his minions have fomented has contributed to the first significant increase in violent crime and homicide in 20 years, including a wave of murderous attacks against police officers. It is no wonder that large majority of Americans say that race relations have gotten worse under the administration in which Mrs. Clinton served. Make American hate again? Hate has been spreading in America for years, but the culprit isnt Donald Trump, it is Barack Obama. Obama did more to make America hate again than any politician of modern times. 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. In recent years, Nigerias domestic intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS), has come to be known and addressed as the Department of State Services (DSS). From virtually no mention in the Nigerian and foreign media in 2011, the reference to DSS as the name of the agency has become widespread. Very few people know or remember the State Security Service (and not Department of State Services) as the legal and authentic name of the agency today. In this fact-check, PREMIUM TIMES examines how the SSS disregarded its enabling law and surreptitiously gave itself a new name, not known to any Nigerian law. This newspaper is relying on the the Act that established the SSS, as well as interviews with serving and past security personnel, analysts, lawyers and journalists. None of these respondents could cite any enabling law that empowers the SSS to refer to itself as SSS. SSS or DSS? Checks by PREMIUM TIMES showed that the SSS began describing itself as Department of State Services in official correspondences and in statements to the media in 2011. Five years later, the reference to the agency as DSS, instead of SSS, has become so popular in the media today that PREMIUM TIMES is the only outlet in the country that sparsely uses DSS in news stories. This suggests that the policy may have come into effect during the days of Marilyn Ogar, the former spokesperson of the Service who signed press statements distributed to the media. Foreign reports also mirror that abrupt change. For instance, since it started compiling its annual human rights report on Nigeria in 1976 till as late as 2012, there was zero mention of DSS by the U.S. Department of State. But by 2013, the State Department used DSS interchangeably with SSS. By the time the 2014 edition of the report was published, the SSS had been completely dropped for DSS. The National Security Agencies Act, Decree 19 of June 5, 1986, established the SSS and two other intelligence agencies for the Nigerian state. Section One of the Act states: There shall, for the effective conduct of national security, be established the following National Security Agencies, that is to say-(a) the Defence Intelligence Agency; (b) the National Intelligence Agency; and (c) the State Security Service. Throughout the Act, the State Security Service was mentioned three times, and nowhere was the Department of State Services cited. Instrument One of 1999 Those who try to provide reasons for the use of DSS say the agency is acting in accordance with the provisions of an instrument adopted in 1999. Some SSS officials say Instrument One, a subsidiary regulation derived from the Armed Forces Act, came into effect on May 23 of that year, shortly before a former military ruler, Abdulsalami Abubakar, left office as democracy returned to Nigeria. But legal experts say Instrument One was never made available to the public, and was not gazetted. PREMIUM TIMES confirmed that Instrument One was never gazetted. This newspaper perused a copy of the Instrument and no where in the document was SSS allowed to refer to itself with another name. Even if Instrument One were to be a regulation made pursuant to the NSA Act, it still wont give the SSS the power to go by another name in official documents without an amendment to the NSA Act that reflects the changes, says Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Ms. Ogar took charge of SSS public affairs department in 2009, and began issuing press statements on behalf of the Service same year. Between 2009 and mid-2011, she was widely quoted in the media as a spokesperson for the SSS. Reporters present at her maiden press briefing also say she introduced herself as public affairs head in the SSS. During that period, there is little evidence to suggest that she made any reference to DSS in press statements. However, DSS was boldly written on the bulletproof vests that personnel of the agency wore during the arraignment of Iranian arms dealer, Azim Aghajani, between December 2010 and January 2011. The first known citation of Ms. Ogar as a DSS spokesperson was in a press statement she distributed on August 31, 2011, announcing that some suspects were arrested in connection with the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations offices in Abuja. Owing to various speculations and misrepresentations in the media arising from the bomb attack on the United Nations (UN) building on 26th August, 2011 in Abuja, the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of other security agencies wishes to state as follows, the release read in part. Subsequent press statements issued by Ms. Ogar were signed using the name Department of State Services. Francis Suberu, who has over 10 years experience as a crime beat reporter, credits the widespread adoption of DSS to Ms. Ogar. I can tell you it was Ms. Ogar that started using DSS in statements, Mr. Suberu, an employee of National Mirror, says. Another crime reporter with fair knowledge of covering the SSS is Taiwo Jimoh of New Telegraph Newspapers. Mr. Jimoh tells PREMIUM TIMES he didnt observe the use of DSS until Ms. Ogar started relating with the media in 2011 or thereabouts. Ms. Ogar retired in September 2015 as an assistant director, public affairs, in the SSS. Tony Opuiyo, who appears to have taken over Ms. Ogars role, has sustained the practice as all press statements he has so far distributed were signed using DSS. PREMIUM TIMES understands that Ms. Ogar took the decision to amplify the use of DSS as part of a communication strategy against Boko Haram. So the SSS had to come out with new strategic communication and ICT to make Nigerians understand that it has nothing against them and, in fact, needed their support to combat terrorism, says Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. All that was done when Marilyn Ogar was the spokesperson. Before Ms. Ogar, you can hardly see SSS parade suspects on television or make public service announcement to encourage public support in counter-terrorism or other challenges. A former SSS director said the agency has legal provisions for subsidiary legislations and the adoption of DSS is in line with those. But even this is swiftly challenged by Mr. Odinkalu and other lawyers, including Femi Falana and Liborous Oshoma, who said the agency could only make regulations to govern its operations and not unilaterally assume a new name for itself. Mr. Odinkalu said SSS is running afoul of the law by parading itself under a name with which it cannot be sued to any court in the land since it is only known as SSS in the National Security Agencies Act that established it. Mr. Odinkalu made specific reference to the NSA Act which is part of the four existing laws listed in the Transitional Provisions and Savings component of the Constitution. Section 315 (five) of the Constitution lists the four existing laws as: the National Youth Service Corps Decree 1993, the Public Complaints Commission Act, the National Security Agencies Act and the Land Use Act. To carry out any alteration to any of these laws requires the satisfaction of Section 9 (two) of the Constitution, which is the same requirement for any amendment to the Constitution itself, Mr. Odinkalu said. He said the potency of these provisions was recently tested when President Goodluck Jonathan unilaterally renamed the University of Lagos. Mr. Jonathan took the decision on May 29, 2012, to rename the institution as Moshood Abiola University in honour of the late pro-democracy campaigner and acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election which was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, a former head of state and dictator. But the former leader had to back down on the decision after his administration realised that the University of Lagos was created by an act of parliament in 1962 and, as such, cannot be altered without recourse to the National Assembly. CONCLUSION The use of the name Department of State Services (DSS) by the State Security Service (SSS) is illegal and a violation of Nigerias National Security Agencies Act. It should be reversed. A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Friday accused some senior lawmakers in the House of living large by appropriating illegal allowances to themselves at the expense of Nigerian taxpayers. The lawmakers, who currently serve in different capacities as principal officers of the House, have allegedly shared more than N10 billion amongst themselves as office running cost, a subhead legislators have used for years to corner illegal allowances to themselves. Nigerians have complained about these illegal allowances for years but this is the first time in Nigerias history that a serving lawmaker would open up on the sharp practices. Mr. Jibrin disclosed the details in an email to PREMIUM TIMES Friday night as part of the unfolding budget padding scandal he triggered more than a month ago. The 10 principal officers and the funds they have allegedly received so far as running costs included the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, who allegedly got the largest share of N1.5 billion. Others on the list included Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, N800 million; Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, N1.2 billion; his deputy, Buba Jibril, N1.2 billion; House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, N1.2 billion; and his deputy, Pally Iriase, N700 million. The rest included Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, N1.2 billion; Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, N700 million; Deputy Minority Whip, Binta Bello, N700 million; and one Chuma he listed as Minority Whip, N700 million. But contrary to what Mr. Jibrin stated in his statement, PREMIUM TIMES could not find any lawmaker by the name Chuma with the designation of Minority Whip. Similarly, Mr. Jibrin listed Mr. Barde as Deputy Minority Leader who has been in the House since 2007. But findings by this newspapers showed that Mr. Barde was first elected in 2003 and he serves as Minority Whip. Our Efforts to get Mr. Jibrin to clarify these ambiguities were unsuccessful as calls to his known telephone number was neither answered nor returned. Although the latest allegations primarily targeted the familiar names Mr. Jibrin had been waging political and media war against for weeks, it nonetheless, marked the first time the Kano lawmaker would openly accuse Mr. Gbajabiamila of being a beneficiary of fraudulent proceeds. The inclusion of Mr. Gbajabiamila did not however entirely come as a surprise to observers. He was among the principal officers who jointly signed a statement last week to castigate Mr. Jibrin and threaten him with sanction when the House resumes from its recess in September. In his statement on Friday, Mr. Jibrin said he listed Mr. Gbajabiamila and other principal officers to show that he was not only waging a war to remove Mr. Dogara from office but also to stop the questionable office running largesse, which he described as the sole unifying force for the 360-member House. Most of these members use it to acquire properties, cars and live a life of luxury they never lived before coming to the House, Mr. Jibrin said. Mr. Jibrin said he would continue the fight because It is only when the legislature comes with purity that effective oversight will be carried out and investigative hearing to expose fraud and corruption can be undertaken. Mr. Jibrin said he was waging the campaign with the hope that it would bring about a lasting turnaround in the fraudulent premise upon which many aspiring lawmakers readily base their ambitions. The consequential effect of dealing with corruption in the House, especially the allowances issue, will take its toll on even elections. Candidates usually spend so much money hoping that they can recoup from the huge allowances they will receive when elected into House. When you know that there is no such money in the House to be shared, I am sure nobody will want to put in so much money just to win an election to the House. The resultant effect will be that only people who truly want to serve will vie for the office, and voters will be obliged to vote according to the dictate of their conscience. This is just one advantage, Mr. Jibrin said. Mr. Jibrin made the first revelations about the fraudulent manipulation of 2016 budget on July 21, a day after he was eased out as chairman of the powerful appropriations committee. This week, he celebrated the first month of what experts described as of one Africas biggest parliamentary scandals and ascribed his perseverance to his natural desire for political advocacy. I have said it repeatedly that this activism has been running in my blood, and thankfully the fallout of the 2016 budget became the trigger and provided me with the right avenue. Mr. Jibrin, therefore, implored Nigerians to remain steadfast and vigilant as he leads the cause to liberate it from those he described as corrupt elements. As we continue this struggle to wipe out corruption and restore sanity in the House of Representatives, I will continue to urge Nigerians to remain vigilant as these corrupt elements can go to any length to change the narration and evade justice, Mr. Jibrin said. Mr. Dogaras spokesman, Turaki Hassan, did not answer PREMIUM TIMES calls seeking comments for this story. Abdulrazak Namdas, the spokesperson for the House, could also not be reached for comments as his listed telephone line was switched off the several times our reporter called. Human rights lawyers and activists have continued to express their concerns over the controversial arrest and prosecution of a man who named his dog Buhari. Joachim Iroko, a 41-year-old trader, was charged in Ogun State on Monday for naming his pet dog Buhari. Mr. Iroko said he named the dog as a mark of respect for President Muhammadu Buhari. Bolaji Ojikutu, a Chief Magistrate who heard the matter, granted him a 50,000 bail and adjourned the case till September 19. But the case has left many apprehensive about free speech in Nigeria. Lawyers and activists accusing the police and the government of acting swiftly on what seems less important, while far graver offenses receive no response. I am going to request the attorney-general of Ogun State to discontinue the frivolous charge, said Femi Falana, a rights lawyer. Mr. Falana said Mr. Irokos ordeal had no place in the Nigerian statute, adding that labelling his dog with his desired name was in exercise of his fundamental rights to free speech which should not be curtailed by the Nigerian state. It is against Section 36(9) of the Constitution to charge a man for a criminal offence that is unknown to law, Mr. Falana said. It is also illegal to use the machinery of government to harass any citizen. If the president is aggrieved by the naming of dog after him, he is at liberty to sue for libel. But the police cannot invoke criminal proceeding to intimidate the fellow. Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, said the fixation with Mr. Iroko despite sundry pressing issues, highlights the reckless, arbitrary and intolerable abuse of law enforcement powers by the police. Mr. Effiong, who is the convener of Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, a public interest think-tank, said Mr. Iroko had only exercised his freedom of speech and expression which did not amount to a contradiction of the statute under which hes being prosecuted. The fact that an individual or a section of the public considers a persons conduct repulsive and reprehensible does not necessarily bring such conduct within the contemplation of Section 249 (1) (d) of the Criminal Code so as to occasion a likelihood of breach of the peace, Mr. Effiong said. Mr. Effiong, who coordinated the fundraiser for Mr. Irokos bail on social media, said the timing of the police action looked highly suspicious. Lets ask the police one question: why are they just arresting him now? Mr. Iroko said. He got the dog as a gift in December 2015 and gave it the name. Nobody complained for more than eight months. Mr. Effiong said he was raising a legal team of about 100 lawyers to defend Mr. Iroko against what everyone can now see clearly is an attack on his fundamental rights to free speech. Fola Olubanjo, a public affairs analyst, said Mr. Irokos arrest and prosecution should not be seen as a mere episode in the headlines. Ive been watching the way the news media has been reporting this matter and I must be honest with you its not thorough enough, Mr. Olubanjo said. This should just not be so. Mr. Olubanjo said the recent violent attacks against people exercising their fundamental rights to speech and expression were enough to spur the government to adopt zero-tolerance towards any form of repression of free speech, if only to serve as a form of orientation. A woman was killed in Kano and another in Abuja. In both cases, they only exercised freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, Mr. Olubanjo said. The government clearly doesnt understand that if people are being arrested over a matter that is clearly in consonance with the principles of free speech, then no one should act surprised when a mob kills anyone for preaching the gospel on the streets. Mr. Olubanjo said the fact that the Buhari administration did not speak out against the injustice being meted to Mr. Iroko by elements of the state was equally condemnable, especially when he had a record of being allegedly intolerant of freedom of expression in the past. Look, this is a government led by someone with a terrible human rights record, specifically the repression of freedom of expression and freedom to say anything without fear, Mr.Olubanjo said. Clearly, theyre not doing much to show that theyre willing to let democratic principles guide them in the way they conduct the affairs of the state. But Liborous Oshoma, a Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs analyst, however said the matter must be dissected beyond merely free speech. Mr. Oshoma said Nigerians should not focus on criticising the government when the matter was clearly one of showing tolerance to engender peaceful coexistence. The man is an Igbo man and he named his dog Buhari. Not only that, he was also said to have written same on the dog in a neighbourhood of mostly Hausa people, Mr. Oshoma said. He definitely intended to provoke and incite violence in that neighbourhood. Mr. Oshoma said the neighbours were right to report the matter to the police, saying it shows clearly that they have the peace of the environment at heart. The matter is like having a white man walk his dog with Nigger boldly written on it, Mr. Oshoma said. Ordinarily, you dont want to do that unless youre ready to get picked up by the police. Mr. Oshoma said citizens must be able to distinguish the focal point between free speech and hate speech or deliberate attempt to incite violence. Laughable incident Hours after Mr. Iroko was released, the presidency put out a statement illustrating saying the controversy was laughable. It was the first public response on the matter. Since coming to power in 2015, no fewer than five persons have been arrested on matters bordering on free speech. Barely three months into the government, three bloggers, Demond Ike, Seun Oloketuyi and Chris Nwandu, were arrested and charged for offences that allegedly contravened Cybercrime Act in Lagos. Mr. Ike spent six months in custody, parts of which were in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. A month later, Emmanuel Ojo, was arrested in Abeokuta allegedly on the orders of Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, after posting some offensive materials on Facebook. The charges preferred against him remained stalled in the Abeokuta Division of the Federal High Court. Mr. Ojo said he had since fled Nigeria to another West African country after threats from powerful people became unbearable. Three weeks ago, Abubakar Usman, a pro-government blogger, was also arrested and detained for nearly two days for apparently publishing a report critical of the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu. Mr. Iroko said he had three dogs. He named one Obama, the second Buhari(later killed) and one after himself Joachim. Mr. Effiong said it was unfortunate that Mr. Iroko would be arrested while those who killed his dog and threatened violence against him were allowed to walk free by the authorities. Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Kano lawmaker at the centre of the unfolding budget padding scandal, on Saturday said he was also a beneficiary of a questionable office maintenance allowance for members of the House of Representatives. Mr. Jibrins confession came a day after he accused 10 principal officers of sharing more than N10 billion in fraudulent proceeds. The 10 principal officers who allegedly received billions of naira in running cost allowance include the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, who allegedly got the largest share of N1.5 billion, Mr. Jibrin said. Others on the list are Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, N800 million; Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, N1.2 billion; his deputy, Buba Jibril, N1.2 billion; House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, N1.2 billion; and his deputy, Pally Iriase, N700 million. The rest are Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, N1.2 billion, his deputy, Chukwuka Onyema: N800 million, Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, N700 million and his deputy, Binta Bello, N700 million. Mr. Jibrin, however, said he regretted taking the loot, adding that he would explain how he used his ill-gotten N650 million. I have records and account of how I spent every penny that I have taken. In fact, it has been published in a 150-page book, Mr. Jibrin said. However, I have never been comfortable with the money! Thank God the wasteful allowances regime has reached its Waterloo! The country and House will be better off! Todays revelation marks the first time Mr. Jibrin would deliberately implicate himself since he began driving the scandal five weeks ago. The Nigerian Army says at least five suspected members of the Niger Delta militants group were killed in Rivers State and a large cache of arms recovered by troops involved in Exercise Crocodile Smile, which commenced on Saturday. Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said at least 23 of the armed militants were seriously injured in a shootout between the troops and the militants in their hideout in the creeks. Various calibres of arms, including a speed boat, were also recovered during the exercise, he said. The 133 Special Forces Battalion of Nigerian Army troops have carried out a precursor operation to Exercise CROCODILE SMILE aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta geo-political region of Nigeria. In the course of the operation, five militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested, Mr. Usman, a colonel, said.. He said the operations, carried out by Special Forces on Friday, led to the recovery of an abandoned engine boat; two AK-47 rifles with 199 rounds of ammunition; 11 pump action guns, a locally made revolver pistol; 292 cartridges of live ammunition; four electricity generating sets and a camp gas cooker. Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, also confirmed the killing of the five militants and recovery of arms while addressing troops in Sapele, Delta on Saturday. Mr. Burutai said apart from those killed, there were other suspects arrested when they attempted to interfere with the training conducted for formations and units in the Niger Delta. He urged the troops to exercise professionalism in their operations and conduct as they move into the creeks for the exercise, and strive to minimize collateral damage to citizens lives and critical national assets located in the area. The Army Chief urged the troops to respect the rights of members of the communities while discharging their duties, urging them not to spare any criminal found in the creeks. He said the training was an exercise and operation geared at recovering the nations economic base and restoring normalcy in the region, assuring them of governments commitment to improving the welfare of soldiers and officers. (NAN) A former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has restated his commitment to the development of his home state of Adamawa, especially as it recovers from the effects of terrorism. In a statement released to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Adamawa, Atiku hailed the efforts of the federal and state governments, international organisations and especially the AUN-Adamawa Peace Initiative to ensure that life returned to normalcy for many citizens of the state who were directly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. We have been through tough times, but the tough times have brought out the best in us, Atiku said. We have seen the government and other organisations stretch themselves beyond what we imagined they could achieve and, today, the peace and progress in Adamawa is a testimony to their hard work. The Turaki Adamawa assured the state government, the AUN-API and other organisations working for the betterment of life in Adamawa, that they would always have his full support. He expressed his personal commitment to the peace and progress of the entire Nigeria, but added that charity must begin at home. I still aim to surpass every contribution I have made to Adamawa and to Nigeria so far, he said. When it comes to the development of state and country, this is certainly not a time to rest on our laurels. A second-year student of Mechanical Production Engineering at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Yusuf Musa, was on Wednesday found dead after he was suspected stabbed to dead by unknown assailant. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the student was killed as a result of a misunderstanding he had with a fellow final year student of Geology identified as Dauda. The schools Public Relations Officer, Zailani Bappah, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, but said the management was not competent to comment on the matter already being investigated by the police. He said the incident did not occur in either of the varsitys camps in Bauchi. Yes, I am aware of the incident and he is our student. But I must tell you that this did not happen on either the Yelwa Campus nor the Gubi Campus. It didnt happen on the school facility, he said The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mahmood Mohammed, said the case is under investigation. The case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), he said. An exhibit was recovered from the scene of the incident, the stick which was used to hit the deceased. We are working hard to recover the other exhibit that was used to stab him. Mr. Mahmood said the police had found out that the deceased was mobbed and that investigators have intensified efforts to arrest all fleeing suspects and bring them to book disclosing that so far one suspect has been arrested and is helping us with our investigation. The deceased, a direct entry student, was supposed to write his last paper for his first semester exams when he was found dead. Nasir Ingawa, a former special adviser to former Gov. Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, on Saturday said he stood by his claim that Mr. Shema diverted billions of naira of SURE-P funds for political campaign. Mr. Ingawa said he had no regrets revealing how the money that was meant for developmental projects for the state, was allegedly stolen. Mr. Shema had denied the allegation on Friday, and threatened legal action if his former aide failed to publish proofs within 48 hours. Mr. Ingawa said he was surprised that the former governor had, instead of addressing the issue he raised before the Justice Muhammad Suraj-led judicial commission of enquiry, chose to attack his family. The commission is investigating how N5.7 billion SURE-P funds were spent. Read Mr. Ingawas open letter to the former governor: Your Excellency Sir, I hope you are holding up well since we last met and I hope this piece meets you in the best of spirit. I am shattered and heartbroken that I personally have to write this rejoinder, but considering the fact that you have decided to bring yourself so low to attacking my personality and that of my respectable father, you have left me with no choice but to give you a piece of my mind (with all due respect, Sir). Firstly,it is with utmost displeasure that I saw your response to my allegations made at the Justice Suraj Mohammed lead Judicial Panel of Enquiry in Katsina on Wednesday 24th August, 2016. Knowing the person that you are, I certainly knew you would deny the allegations, but they still remain the bitter truth. Your Excellency Sir, the allegations are on record and I stand by them anywhere anytime, not because they will vindicate or implicate me, but simply because they shall stand the test of time as the truth (in this world and the hereafter). So please note that I will not be retracting my statements and if your intention is to threaten me and others that are yet to testify, it will not work! Secondly, I am sure you know I was raised better than to charge-at or abuse anyones family out of malice or political mischief, I have completely Isolated your family from any of your misgivings and I hope you are not preempting me to replicate your attacks on your family, even though I would never do that, out of respect and self-respect. My father is a retired civil servant of repute with over 30 years of service to the Nigerian Nation. He remains a peaceful farmer and a statesman in his own rights. So for Allahs sake, if you do decide to continue with your bid to discredit me, please leave my father out of it (he has the freedom to aspire for any government appointment if he so wishes, the same way you aspire to be President in 2019). Thirdly, Sir I can see from your publication you are threatening all with your lawyers and showing Nigerians that you are a highly placed citizen with connections to some of the countries best lawyers, I certainly have one big and most important lawyer that is above all and that is ALLAH, if we dont meet him soon In Sha Allah later and He (ALLAH) will judge between us. I will not get into this online and if you wish to clear your name please honour the invitation of the Katsina State Governments invitation and I will be there to make my statements again with all my evidences ready (facts and figures) instead of posting anything online, I assure you I shall speak the truth of what I know and will never ever be a party to falsely accusing anybody (including your humble self). Fourthly, Your Excellency Sir, I have been in and out of the U.S all my life, so visiting or living in the U.S has never been an issue to me. I assure you I am not running anywhere, I will remain part and parcel of a better Nigeria. I have plans to further my education and build my capacity, that is the only reason I have secured the three admissions as can be seen in the images below (please note that the dates are far before the appearance at the commission). So the baseless accusation of me running out of the country has not risen and it is again disappointing and disheartening to see you engage me dishonorably. Dear Sir, You are not the only one who has a reputation to protect. As earlier mentioned, I was brought up well and will not disrespect you or bring anyone of your associates into this. I wish you the best in clearing your name before the commission of enquiry in the next 48 hours. Nigeria will diligently ensure full rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and find lasting solutions to combat threats of terrorism in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, said Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya. Speaking at the opening of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), President Buhari reaffirmed that Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded, even as the reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country receives immediate attention. Acknowledging Japanese assistance through UNICEF in the rehabilitation of the victims of Boko Haram, the President commended development partners for their work geared towards improving the lives of some 2 million IDPs in the country. The bottom line is that these problems are our primary responsibility. We must tackle them and find lasting solutions for ourselves, spokesperson, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying. President Buhari told the summit attended by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, some 35 African leaders and chief executives of at least 80 major companies from Japan, that international cooperation with Nigeria was central in the decimation of Boko Haram terror group. I took over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria when the North-Eastern part of the country was being ravaged by Boko Haram. However, soon after assumption of office, our administration with the support of our immediate neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin- and international partners including Japan, faced the challenge frontally. ` As I speak, the terror group has been decimated and life is beginning to return to normal in the affected region. The challenge we currently face which is also being addressed, is that of the IDPs which number over two million to get them re-integrated with their families and their original homes, he said. On global health issues, which is a major focal point of the summit, President Buhari expressed special appreciation to the government of Japan for its contribution of 800 million Dollars to the fight against malaria, tuberculosis among others. The contribution is part of the 1.3 billion Dollars made available to the Nigerian Health Sector by the Global Fund. On the gains of TICAD, the President noted that partnerships between Africa and Japan will help create and improve investment opportunities in industries, agriculture, information technology, science and technology among others for the good of the continent and investors from Japan. In view of the challenges Africa is facing, the imperative for a viable partnership like the Tokyo International Conference on African Development cannot be over emphasized. Today, many countries in Africa including the oil producing ones are wisely seeking to diversify their economies away from mono-cropping. In Nigeria, our Administration has already taken concrete steps to diversify the economy by making agriculture not just a development programme but a thriving business. Investing in the economies of this continent especially through Public-Private-Partnership can contribute to building capacity for our economies, he said. The 2-day summit with the theme Advancing Africas Sustainable Development Agenda-TICAD Partnership for Prosperity, is being held outside of Japan for the first time since its inception in 1993. Among other things, TICAD aims to solve Africas development problems through quality technology in the health, industry, agriculture and environment sectors. A draft declaration to be adopted at end of the summit will seek to combat the growing threats of terrorism, conflicts and violent radicalism through the promotion of education and job creation. The Zamfara State Police Command has lifted the curfew imposed on Talata-Mafara and its environs on the August 22, following violent attack that led to the killing of eight persons. This is contained in a statement signed by the command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Shehu Muhammad in Gusau on Saturday. Mr. Muhhammad advised parents to ensure that their children remain law abiding and warned that anyone caught causing trouble would face the full wrath of the law. Police had imposed a dusk to dawn curfew following a mob attack that killed eight persons over alleged of blasphemy against Islam.(NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has said that all former civilian governors and deputy governors of old Anambra State of Enugu extraction would be paid pension by the state government. Speaking on Saturday during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation the state in Enugu, Mr. Ugwuanyi said the gesture was in appreciation of their services to their people. He disclosed that efforts were on to amend the pension laws of the state to give the move the desired legality. He said the state was appreciative of the roles of its founding fathers, who laboured to ensure the creation of the state on Aug. 27, 1991. The journey to the creation of the state invariably started with the discovery of coal and subsequent development of urban settlement of Enugu in 1909. We pay tribute to our founding fathers and former leaders whose agitations heralded a pleasant and more desired end to the long period of agitation, he said. Mr. Ugwuanyi said that the Coal-city state had remained exceptionally favoured, and had continued to play a key role in the socio-political and economic life of Nigeria. He said his administration had committed the state into the hands of God and would continue to record success in all endeavours in spite of obvious challenges. We vowed, in accordance with the ideals of the founding fathers of the state, to create fair and equal opportunities for every willing citizen to make a living in a peaceful and secure environment. We made this promise even in the face of severe economic downturn that has prevailed in the country since our assumption of office. However, we have forged ahead and doing our best to address the needs of our people within our limited resources, he said. The governor commended the Federal Government for the roles it had continued to play for the economic advancement of the state. Earlier in a sermon, the Bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Geoffrey Onah, said the state was destined for greatness in spite of the seeming challenges. Mr. Onah called on persons in political positions to work in accordance with their oaths of office, with a view to making life meaningful for the masses. (NAN) Jacki Lugg knows that she and her husband, Eddie Pagan, werent typical first-time homebuyers. They knew exactly what they wanted, and they could wait to find it. A search that started in 2010 didnt end until June, when they moved into a Mullica Township home on almost 5 acres with a big, detached garage. It had to be on a street where we could walk and ride bikes, says Lugg, who wants the familys three young children to have the kind of childhood she did. If a house came up on Moss Mill or Pleasant Mills (two busy roads), we werent interested. But even if theyre hardly typical, Lugg and Pagan represent a significant segment of the real estate market. In 2015, the New Jersey Association of Realtors reports, 40 percent of people who bought homes in the state were buying for the first time. How much are homes selling for near you? Transactions are from county property records. Settlement dates are listed; deed filings may Across the U.S., 32 percent were first-time buyers last year. Thats down from 50 percent in 2010, a post-recession year when Congress gave tax incentives to encourage first-time buyers to get into the market. An NAR spokesman said the group would prefer to see the nationwide share of first-timers closer to 40 percent and blamed the decline from that on lingering effects from the 2008 recession. To Dawn Delorenzo, the agent who represented the Mullica couple, first-timers are an even-bigger part of her personal picture. Delorenzo, of Joe Wiessner Realty in Hammonton, figures as many as 85 percent of her buyers are looking for their first homes. She finds that most are much better educated about the housing market now than 15 years ago, thanks to online sources such as Realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia. Shoppers get an idea of whats available and what it might cost before they even call an agent. Its not always accurate, but its out there, she says of online information in general. It gives people a better basis of what they want and what they want to spend. Delorenzo agrees that Lugg and Pagan werent standard-issue first-timers, because their wish list was so specific. Most people have a few different areas theyre interested in and can find others as they shop. Sometimes you have to broaden your search, change the price or take less, the agent says. Shore theaters, once a staple, now scarce STONE HARBOR When the Harbor Square Theatre reopened last month, it filled a void at the J For Lugg and Pagan, the home had to be in Mullica, where Lugg grew up and now teaches grade school. But she really wanted it to be rural Mullicas Devonshire section, which is maybe 20 percent of the townships area. Plus the house needed to be in a low-traffic area for a family that includes three girls, ages 8 and under. And they spent a lot of time looking, which they could afford to do because her parents, who still live in Devonshire themselves, also own a rental house in the township. Meanwhile, prices have been changing in most of South Jersey real estate, but theyre generally moving in buyers favor. Over the first seven months of the year, the median price for a single-family home in Atlantic County dropped from $196,000 in 2015 to $170,000 this year. Thats a 13.3 percent dip. In Cape May County, the median dropped about 8 percent, from $300,000 to $275,000 this year. In Cumberland County, prices dropped by a lower margin, from $131,000 to $126,000, or about 4 percent. Ocean County was the only local market to report a small price increase, just under 2 percent, from January through July. Prices have stayed virtually unchanged this year in Mullica, part of Delorenzos main turf. And even though she can sometimes show people who come looking to rent homes that they should really buy instead, she doesnt necessarily point entry-level buyers toward the biggest bargains. Atlantic County in particular is known for its high mortgage-foreclosure rate, but short sales often involve delays and uncertainty, and bank-owned houses sell as-is. Thats not the best situation, but I have done that with first-time buyers, the agent says. It can be stressful. To me, when youre buying a house, especially for the first time, you want it to be smooth, by the book. You dont want to have to go in and replace the septic system or do other expensive repairs. At least 10 projects planned along Black Horse Pike A seven-mile stretch of the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor and Hamilton townships is running Lugg says her buying process went almost miraculously smoothly. Once they found their house, it took just six weeks from first offer to closing. And they believe they got a bargain, paying about 17 percent less than the previous owner paid for the place in 2006, so the long search worked for a few reasons. I definitely felt more prepared in 2016 than 2010, she says. Contact: 609-272-7237 Twitter @PressBeach VINELAND The owners of General Mills Inc.s Progresso plant are negotiating severance packages with its union as the soup factory prepares to close at the end of 2017. More than 375 people will lose their jobs when the plant closes. City and state officials are hoping General Mills will change its mind about closing the plant. But if it does not, the company assured the city it will help Vineland look for another food processor to take over the plant. Brian String, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152, said he has had two of four planned meetings with management. We are in negotiation for effects bargaining bargaining severance, pensions and vacations, String said. City and state officials were hoping to offer financial incentives that might persuade General Mills to keep the plant. String said the union was open to renegotiating the four-year contract it recently struck with General Mills. But the decision to close was not based on labor demands, String said. Cumberland to get $9M site for budding food entrepreneurs BRIDGETON Cumberland County and the city will move forward on a $9 million food-developmen The company said labor costs had nothing to do with the decision to close, String said. After signing a confidentiality agreement and examining their financials, I agree. They did not predicate this on labor costs. We had nothing to offer the company. They were not looking for union concessions. The closing of the plant would be disastrous to the local economy, Vineland businesses said. Praful Thakkar, owner of Todds News Agency, started an online petition urging General Mills to keep Progresso in Vineland. Progresso has a second soup plant in Hannibal, Missouri. So far, 3,500 people have signed, including 900 people whose signatures he personally collected at his stores. It definitely is going to hurt all the areas businesses from trucking companies down to small businesses. It would be a big, big impact of downsizing in this area, Thakkar said. State Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, said he was waiting to see how labor meetings went before pursuing efforts either to change General Mills mind about closing or to find a replacement company. Van Drew said he spoke to Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno about state incentives to help General Mills remain in Vineland. But none of that makes sense to do if its hopeless, he said. Van Drew said he spoke with General Mills officials recently at a conference in Chicago. They said General Mills has a real estate division that could help Vineland find a replacement if Progresso closes. But we arent at that point yet, he said. Mayor Ruben Bermudez this week said the city, too, has hope it can change General Mills mind. We need to help them understand we need these jobs here, Bermudez said. Theyre going back and forth with the union now. Once they figure out a way to work things out, well be ready to work with them, Bermudez said. On our side, we have all the tools needed to help them stay. Vineland Economic Development Director Sandra Forosisky said General Mills has not equivocated in its intentions to close the plant. At this point, they have made their decision. I got that message loud and clear, she said. So now the question becomes what help General Mills can be in helping to attract a new operator for the factory, she said. The best we can do is to find a new tenant for the plant, she said. The state offers tax incentives through its Grow New Jersey program for every employee retained or hired. When they sold a plant in Ohio, the new owners kept the employees and even added some, she said. Once the dust settles, they assure me they can work with us. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller For the weightiest novel this fall, or most any season, Alan Moore has the grandest ambition. "The intention was to somehow combine four or five different books or impulses for books into one coherent whole," the author known for the graphic novels "Watchmen" and "V for Vendetta" says of "Jerusalem," a 1,266 page words-only union of science and fantasy that references everyone from Albert Einstein to Oliver Cromwell. Moore worked a decade on his all-encompassing tale, set in his native Northampton, England. "This is the book in which I have written most directly about the things that are most central to my life, these being my family and the place that I emerged from. By making the narrative so personal and specific I hoped to conjure a kind of universality, an evocation of the families and places that we all come from at some point in our ancestry, irrespective of who or where we are, but the fact remains that the materials of 'Jerusalem' come from a source very close to me." Fall is the time for "big books," whatever the page length, and some of the top fiction authors from around the world have new works coming, including Ian McEwan, Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood, T. Coraghessan Boyle, Rabih Alameddine, Emma Donoghue, Jonathan Safran Foer and Michael Chabon. Ann Patchett, owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, looks forward to selling Jacqueline Woodson's autobiographical novel "Another Brooklyn" and Colson Whitehead's celebrated, Oprah Winfrey-endorsed historical novel about slavery, "The Underground Railroad." Ann Patchett, the author, will be promoting her novel "Commonwealth," although she'll keep it low-key at Parnassus Books. "I'll sign them, put them in a linen bag, send them off with a picture of my dog Sparky. Sparky is the 'value added' element," she says. Another author-book store owner, Jeff Kinney, has completed "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down," the 11th installment in his multimillion selling series. He will tour worldwide on behalf of "Double Down," but at Kinney's An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, Massachusetts, the message is "try not to overdo it on the 'Wimpy Kid' front." "We have two small roller units with my books, and that's about it. I don't think someone coming off the street would know I own the bookstore if they hadn't heard beforehand," Kinney said. Whitehead's novel is among several notable accounts of black life, past and present. Wesley Lowery's "They Can't Kill Us All" is The Washington Post reporter's book on the Black Lives Matter movement. "The Fire This Time," edited by Jesmyn Ward, includes essays and poems on race by Isabel Wilkerson, Kevin Young and 16 others. Margot Lee Shetterly's "Hidden Figures," which has been adapted for a feature film, documents the historic contributions made by black women mathematicians to the country's space program. Douglas R. Egerton's "Thunder at the Gates" tells of the black Civil War soldiers made famous in the movie "Glory," which he calls a "powerful, beautifully acted" production that "manages to get absolutely everything wrong." Egerton says fiction and nonfiction on slavery and the Civil War have become more prominent in recent years. "When I was younger, novels that wrestled with slavery were few and often published by obscure presses," he says. "That appears to be no longer true. Perhaps also the sesquicentennial of the war and the dawn of Reconstruction has led ... to a rebirth of scholarship about black history. One of the depressing things about going to conferences now is to wander through the book exhibit and realize how many new books there are that I need to read!" Two books that could contain tough words for presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are scheduled for Nov. 15, the week after Election Day: Bernie Sanders' "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In" is expected to include his thoughts on his surprisingly competitive primary battle with Clinton, while Megyn Kelly's "Settle for More" will likely recount her feud with Trump and her thoughts on ousted Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. In music, Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" could be the hottest rock memoir since Keith Richards' "Life" was released in 2010. The Band's Robbie Robertson offers "Testimony" this fall, while "My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire" is a posthumous release from Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, featuring an introduction by Steve Harvey and foreword by producer David Foster. Brian Wilson and fellow Beach Boys founder (and first cousin) Mike Love continue their long-running and occasionally litigious family competition as Wilson releases "I Am Brian Wilson" and Love has "Good Vibrations." Often cast as the business-minded Beach Boy, at odds with the visionary Wilson, Love provides detailed accounts of how he wrote the lyrics to many of the Beach Boys' best known songs. "The problem is you have hundreds of thousands of words about us, not always by people who were actually there," Love says. "I wanted to show how I was actually working on the songs with my cousin, writing the lyrics while he was creating those incredible chord processions and harmonies." Other musical memoirs are coming from Tom Jones, songwriter Carol Bayer Sager and the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones. Beatle fans with some extra cash might consider "A Hard Day's Night: A Private Archive," a $125 volume of photographs, documents and memorabilia about the 1964 film that stunned critics and delighted fans. Annotation is provided by one of the world's foremost Beatle experts, Mark Lewisohn. "It isn't only the end-product that's extraordinary, it's the background story, too. It always comes down to the people, to the four guys themselves," Lewisohn told the AP. "Why was 'A Hard Day's Night' their first film when it could have been their third or fourth? They'd had movie offers for six months before this one and turned them all down, because The Beatles were always innately clear on what not to do as well as what to do. They were prepared to risk never appearing in a film at all than say yes to something 'soft,' which in their vocabulary meant 'stupid.'" NEW YORK Has Colonel Sanders nephew inadvertently revealed to the world the secret blend of 11 herbs and spices behind KFCs fried chicken empire? The company says the recipe published in the Chicago Tribune is not authentic. But that hasnt stopped rampant online speculation that one of the most legendary and closely guarded secrets in the history of fast food has been exposed. It all started when a reporter visited with Joe Ledington, a nephew of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Harland David Sanders. The reporter was working on a story for the Tribunes travel section about Corbin, Kentucky, where the colonel served his first fried chicken. At one point, Ledington pulled out a family scrapbook containing the last will and testament of Sanders second wife, Claudia Ledington. On the back of the document is a handwritten list for a blend of 11 herbs and spices to be mixed with two cups of white flour. While Joe Ledington initially told the reporter that it was the original recipe, he later said that he didnt know for sure. KFC which is a subsidiary of Yum Brands Inc. calls its recipe one of the biggest trade secrets in the world. It says that the recipe the reporter saw is not the real thing. Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate this one isnt either, KFC wrote in a statement. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company says that the original recipe from 1940 handwritten by Sanders is locked up in a digital safe thats encased in two feet of concrete and monitored 24 hours a day by a video and motion detection surveillance system. Joe Ledington could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. The newly formed nonprofit NJ Delaware Bayshore Council intends to advocate for the health and sustainability of towns in Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties that touch the Delaware Bay and River. Its first focus will be trying to increase payments in lieu of taxes made by the state to municipalities on permanently preserved lands, to compensate local governments for lost revenue when recreational lands become tax-exempt. We are providing great open space, the groups newly elected Vice Chairman Meghan Wren said. The state should put some value on it. Wren is also the founder and executive director of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve in Commercial Township. The center restored and runs the historic oyster schooner A.J. Meerwald. The board elected Lower Township Deputy Mayor Norris Clark as chairman and Jonathan Atwood, legislative director of the 1st District legislative team, as secretary treasurer. Large swaths of the bayshore are permanently preserved by the state and by nonprofit groups, Wren said, and people from all over New Jersey use them for recreation. Gov. Chris Christie cut PILOT payments for open space by one-third in 2011, said Downe Township Mayor Robert Campbell, who represents his town on the council. Payments fell from $9.824 million to $6.473 million. Year after year since 2012 the legislature has introduced bills to reinstate the PILOT funds (at their 2011 levels) and it has fallen on deaf ears, said Campbell. Assemblymen Bruce Land and Bob Andrzejczak and state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, all D-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, attended the councils first meeting July 28 and have introduced legislation to reinstate the larger payments. Van Drews S-301 passed the Senate earlier this year and A-805 has been introduced and is in the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The bills would require the state to pay each municipality an amount not less than its PILOT in state fiscal year 2010. The group will also focus on storm resiliency, sea level rise, further developing eco-tourism and the historic industries of the area such as the shellfish industry, participants said. Contact: 609-272-7219 Twitter @MichelleBPost 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. A state lawmaker wants to reinstate the death penalty in New Jersey for certain crimes against children, police and corrections officers. Assemblyman Ron Dancer, R-Ocean, on Friday said he will introduce a bill to restore capital punishment for convictions of certain homicides, including the killing of a victim 17 or younger. Dancer said the legislation is a response to the murder Saturday of a 2-year-old Pennsauken boy, allegedly at the hands of his mothers live-in boyfriend. Zacchery Tricoche, 24, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly beating the toddler to death. This is the type of case that demands that the death penalty be an option for the courts, Dancer said in a statement. The bill would extend the death penalty to terror suspects and suspects who kill police or corrections officers. A similar bill sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, would restore capital punishment for convicted murderers who commit another murder while in custody. The goal of that bill is to protect corrections officers from jailed felons who feel they have nothing to lose. The death penalty was repealed in New Jersey in 2007 in favor of life sentences without parole. Another bill, sponsored by Assemblyman David Rible, R-Monmouth, would restore capital punishment under wide list of aggravating factors that include defendants previously convicted of murder, those who torture the victim, those who place others besides the victim at risk of death, those who kill for money and those who kill to escape confinement or apprehension. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll last year found that 57 percent of respondents favored the death penalty for certain crimes. A 2007 Quinnipiac University poll found that 78 percent of New Jersey voters supported the death penalty for the most violent cases. Eight suspects on New Jerseys death row saw their sentences commuted to life in prison in 2007 when the death penalty was repealed. They included Jesse Timmendequas, the serial pedophile convicted of raping and murdering 7-year-old Megan Kanka. The girls death led to Megans Law, creating sex-offender registries in New Jersey. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, New Jersey is one of 20 states that do not sanction capital punishment. The last person put to death by the state in New Jersey was Ralph Hudson, an alcoholic who stabbed his waitress wife, Myrtle, to death in front of a large crowd of diners at Captain Starns Inlet Restaurant on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. He was executed in the electric chair in 1963. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller CAPE MAY The controversy hasnt stopped two weeks after the citys new police chief took control of a department in turmoil over the past two years. Chief Anthony Marino, a 25-year veteran of the department, acknowledges the unique challenges of his new position, where he oversees his old boss Robert Sheehan, whos currently suing Cape May to get his chiefs job back. And some say the decision as to who runs the Police Department still has not been settled. In fact, as of last week, the departments website listed Sheehan as the chief and Lt. Clarence Chuck Lear who retired as part of a settlement after a city probe into the use of comp time as the departments second-highest ranking officer. The site was updated after the publication of this article. City records indicate Sheehan still makes more money than Marino, even after Marino took over as chief. Sheehan earns $120,213 a year, while Marinos annual salary as chief is $109,382, according to the city clerks office. Marino, 48, whos lived in Cape May for 30 years, said he tries to ignore outside voices as he leads the 28-member department and aims to improve quality-of-life issues in the tourist resort. As far as detractors go, its something I try not to pay too much attention to, he said. Cape May council replaces Sheehan as police chief CAPE MAY City Council in a split vote on Monday appointed 25-year veteran Detective Sgt. A Sheehan, also a 25-year department veteran, was demoted to captain in March 2015 after a city inquiry found Lear took compensatory time against department policy under Sheehans watch. The Cape May County Prosecutors Office determined the charge against Lear was not sustained by the preponderance of the evidence, and Lear agreed to retire after 37 years at the department ahead of a municipal disciplinary hearing. City Council did not reinstate Sheehan, who remained acting chief until Marino was sworn in Aug. 15. Sheehan has filed a lawsuit under the states whistleblower act, and a court ruling could restore him to his position. Lear, meanwhile, is running against Mayor Ed Mahaney in November. Christopher Gray, an attorney representing Sheehan, said the former chief was retaliated against after he spoke up about the way the comp-time investigation was handled, which Sheehan believed was illegal. Because of his whistleblowing, he was demoted and skipped over for a promotion, Gray said, adding, He expects to be reinstated as chief. Mahaney declined to comment on the issue. Most of the citys critics are not attacking Marino directly. But some, like the head of the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association, Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner, have expressed disappointment in Sheehans demotion, calling it a huge mistake. Lear put out a statement saying he was very pleased the departments leadership crisis had been addressed, but he also said he wanted Sheehan as chief. Sheehan and Marino were two of the four officers considered for the job by council. Quite a few posters on social media displayed support for Sheehan. Cape May settles payroll case with police lieutenant CAPE MAY The city has reached a settlement with a police lieutenant accused of taking ille People took it personally, said Ben Miller, 48, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, a Cape May historian who operates the popular Cool Cape May Facebook page. They believe he was demoted for no legitimate reason. Marino said he went to the police academy with Sheehan and that the two officers have maintained a good relationship even as politicians and residents pick sides. There hasnt been any issues between us, Marino said. Weve known each other our whole careers. Patricia Gray Hendricks, 62, of Cape May, who is running for council, doesnt see the issue going away anytime soon. I dont think people will forget about it, she said. Marino said when he was appointed that the department had weathered 18 months of turmoil while the question of who would become permanent chief lingered. Our officers have handled everything very professionally over the last 18 months during this controversy, he said. He said the departments main issues during the busy summer months include disorderly people at bars and house parties and bicycle thefts, which have become a big problem in the area. Marino also said he wants to continue to strengthen ties between officers and the community. Even as he tries to lead the department forward, Marinos job remains in limbo he could lose his post if Sheehan wins his case against the city or the makeup of council changes. Its definitely a unique challenge in that Capt. Sheehan is still in the department, Marino said. He hasnt retired. Its something for the court to decide, he added. Its not something I have an opinion on. Cape May voters to fill unexpired City Council term CAPE MAY The two candidates for City Council in the November election agree on most of the Contact: 609-272-7411 Twitter @ACPressTomczuk A state lawmaker said he will introduce a bill providing a bathroom on the buses that take veterans to out-of-state doctors at Veterans Administration hospitals. Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, said the bill will provide state funding to buy vehicles furnished with bathrooms for South Jersey veterans who must travel to VA hospitals in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., or northern New Jersey. A bathroom on a bus is no trivial thing for elderly men and women who sometimes face a daylong trip to see their doctors, veterans advocate Joe Griffies, of Middle Township, said. A veteran who has an appointment has to get up early. They dont eat. They dont drink anything because theyre afraid of messing themselves before they get there, he said. Theyre dehydrated when they get there. And their biggest fear is theyll have to be admitted up there when their family is down here. Griffies said the bigger issue is the limited VA options to treat veterans locally. If a veteran has to travel out of state to get VA healthcare because of our politicians failure to provide adequate healthcare for our veterans, they should send them on chartered Greyhound buses with bathrooms, Griffies said. They should go in comfort. A second measure would reverse a state policy that charged transportation costs to veterans who live at the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home, a long-term care center for veterans and their spouses. The state currently charges veterans for transportation costs when they make appointments with outside doctors over an in-house doctors. Van Drew said reversing the policy would cost the state less than $1 million per year. Griffies said he welcomed the changes but was frustrated that veterans in South Jersey must continue to travel long distances out of state to see doctors and specialists. Getting a lavatory on the bus is just the beginning. It shouldnt take just as long to get veterans the proper local healthcare they deserve that is being denied to them, Griffies said. Contact: 609-463-6712 Twitter @ACPressMiller Abundant sunshine and warm ocean water should make for great beach weather along the Jersey Shore this week. But swell from an offshore hurricane is expected to lead to an increasing rip current risk that swimmers and surfers should be wary of. The National Weather Service is predicting an enhanced risk of rip currents through Tuesday, due in part to Hurricane Gaston, which is forecast to remain well east of Bermuda and well out to sea. Meteorologists expect the rip current risk to be elevated this weekend but likely peak Monday and Tuesday, as long-period swells from Gaston work toward the South Jersey coast. Beach patrols are prepared for the higher risk but stress its even more important this time of year to swim only when lifeguards are present. According to Renny Steele, captain of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, fewer lifeguards in late summer, plus the warm but more dangerous ocean, is certainly less ideal than the calmer waters of June and July. What's in a name? How Atlantic hurricanes get their names The peak of hurricane season arrives over the next few weeks, and is forecast to be the most Hurricanes are most likely to bring increased swell and rip current risk to South Jerseys beaches during the first two weeks of September. But as the peak of summer has passed, most shore towns cut down on the number of available lifeguards. Steele said Sea Isle has 20 percent fewer lifeguards compared to the midsummer peak. Most South Jersey beaches are still guarded, but the higher rip current risk in late August and September can keep lifeguards busy. Lifeguards are able to ascertain where rip currents are and are there to help keep people out of dangerous situations, Steele said, adding that most swimmers are unable to spot rip currents or assess the danger. Rip currents have claimed three lives along the Jersey Shore this summer. Two people died off Long Beach Island in separate incidents in June. Most recently, a Maryland man died Aug. 9 after trying to rescue his nephew from a rip current off an unguarded Wildwood beach. Most beach patrols also have had to respond to dozens of after-hours rescues throughout the summer, due to more people swimming after lifeguards are off duty and the unusually warm and inviting ocean water. Earlier this month, the ocean water off Atlantic City reached 83.3 degrees, the warmest temperature ever recorded at Steel Pier. The National Weather Service advises swimmers to swim only on guarded beaches and to never swim alone, at night or near jetties or other structures, where rip currents are more likely to form. The rip current risk is forecast to diminish by the middle of next week, as Gaston weakens and moves farther out to sea. Contact: 609-272-7247 Twitter @ACPressSkeldon 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. - New web-based echo reporting provides clinicians with improved remote access and convenience - Vendor agnostic expanded WebAPI enable easier integration for comprehensive patient data and analytics AMSTERDAM and ROME, Aug. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) today announced the launch of IntelliSpace Cardiovascular 2.1, the latest version of its next-generation Cardiovascular Image and Information Management System. Showcased at the Philips Booth (#E4-N100) during the ESC Congress 2016, IntelliSpace Cardiovascular provides clinicians with a single point of access anytime and virtually anywhere and allows for web-based echo reporting, delivering diagnostic quality viewing of echo images. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO The World Health Organization states that in 2015 cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.5 million deaths annually. Philips is committed to providing the latest advanced technology and integrated cardiology solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. IntelliSpace Cardiovascular provides cardiologists with an interoperable, patient-centric repository of comprehensive cardiovascular information to help support clinical decision-making, streamline workflows and reduce costs. "Now, the cardiologist doesn't have to search for images and reports from earlier tests or open multiple screens. Everything is presented in a unified view, on a chronologically ordered timeline," said Wally Wonnink, Supervising Physician on Echocardiography at the Elisabeth - Tweesteden Hospital Tilburg, the Netherlands. "This will give caregivers access to the patient's history of diagnosis and treatment and can help prevent unnecessary examinations." According to the Future Health Index, a recent study commissioned by Philips, 81% of cardiology patients surveyed feel it is important that the healthcare system in their country is integrated so that they do not have to have the same test or screening run multiple times due to visiting different facilities, further demonstrating the need for a fully integrated cardiology solution like IntelliSpace Cardiovascular. IntelliSpace Cardiovascular also features expanded vendor agnostic web application programming interfaces (WebAPI) to provide customers with easier access to third-party applications. The latest iteration of IntelliSpace Cardiovascular delivers seamless access to EMR data, scheduling systems and any web-based application supporting the clinician. The increased interoperability further centralizes patient data from multiple sources to streamline workflows, provide a more comprehensive patient view, and foster collaboration by adding clinical depth instead of information overload. Having a holistic view into the patient's history spanning diagnosis, treatment and therapy can improve patient care. "Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death, and account for more cost than any other chronic illness across the globe. Finding ways to speed the path to treatment for patients, while improving workflow productivity and enhancing patient outcomes, are critical to transforming cardiology care," said Yair Briman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Healthcare IT for Philips. "IntelliSpace Cardiovascular expands the ability for cardiologists to deliver care from virtually anywhere by giving them power to access diagnostic quality echo images remotely." For more information on Philips presence at ESC Congress 2016, please visit http://www.philips.com/esc and follow the #ESCcongress conversation @PhilipsLiveFrom to continue the conversation. For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Group Communications Tel.: +1 978-659-2638 E-mail: Kathy.Oreilly@philips.com Twitter: @kathyoreilly Joost Maltha Philips Communications Healthcare Informatics, Solutions and Services Tel.: +31 610-55-8116 E-mail: Joost.Maltha@philips.com Twitter: @JoostMaltha About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. The company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Related Links http://www.philips.com SOURCE Royal Philips He had good and bad points. Not enough transparency and too much trying to be the USA. Good for business and the economy and hard-working taxpayers. All in all I'd give him 60/100. In comparison I wouldn't give any other PM in the last 40 years more than 25/100 with the current moron sitting around 5/100 The proposed rule contains regulations that could end the practice of soring which involves deliberately causing pain to artificially exaggerate the leg motion of a horse's gait. The practice is commonly used on "big lick" Tennessee Walking Horses, but other gaited horses may also suffer from this practice. The AVMA and AAEP have been strongly committed to ending the practice of soring for more than 40 years. "These requests from the industry are intended only to stall implementation of the rule," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "A 60 day delay would ensure that the rule would not be implemented during the current administration and cause further delay in the implementation of long-overdue changes leading to the diminished welfare of more horses." Attempts at a legislative solution to this problem have achieved wide bipartisan support but have been thwarted before reaching the floor for a vote. The proposed rule would address the issue of soring through amendments to the Horse Protection Act. Two significant changes are: USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) would assume responsibility for training, screening and licensing horse inspectors. Instead of allowing horse industry organizations to handle these responsibilities, which can be ineffective due to conflicts of interest, inspectors would be veterinarians and veterinary technicians required to follow USDA rules and standards of conduct. USDA-APHIS would ban the use of all action devices, pads, and foreign substances at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions. This would align the HPA regulations with existing equestrian standards set forth by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The proposed rule is available for public comment at http://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2011-0009. Comments can be submitted through September 26. In addition, APHIS will be hosting a series of meetings where the public can provide additional comments and feedback. Future meetings are scheduled for: Tuesday, Sept. 6 , in Riverdale, Md. , in Wednesday, Sept. 15 , a call-in virtual public meeting. To register or learn more about the public meetings, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/horse-protection-amendments. AVMA currently endorses the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) policy on "The Practice of Soring." In addition, the AVMA has policy on the abolition of action devices and performance packages. To learn more about soring, visit the AVMA's resources on the subject at avma.org/soring. For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Sharon Granskog, AVMA media relations, at 847-285-6619 (office), 847-280-1273 (cell), or [email protected]. The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 88,000 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of professional activities and dedicated to the art and science of veterinary medicine. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401887 SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association Related Links http://www.avma.org CARROLLTON, Texas, Aug. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the leader in signs, graphics and visual communications, was honored with the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at a ceremony at the Pentagon on August 26th. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Business Consultant and Air Force Reservist Stephen MacKenzie and his family were in attendance with CEO Catherine Monson, who accepted the award on behalf of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. MacKenzie nominated his employer for the award because of the personal and financial support provided during his most recent deployment overseas. Secretary of Defense, Ashton B. Carter recognizes CEO Catherine Monson of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. at the DoD Freedom Awards, August 26, 2016 in the Pentagon Auditorium. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ricky Bowden) The Freedom Award is the highest recognition presented by the Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was one of fifteen employers from across the nation receiving the prestigious award. "We were honored to be in Washington, D.C. with the other award winners and their guests," said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "There were very moving stories of the sacrifice of the citizen soldiers and their families, as well as of the great support and caring by their employers and coworkers. My hope is that more companies will be motivated to do the same thing for the veterans, service men and women, reservists and National Guard members they employ." The fourteen other recipients include: Alaska Airlines, Albuquerque Police Department, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Burford Corporation, Carolinas Healthcare System, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Delmarva Veteran Builders, Hope Valley Industries, Idaho State Police, Lowe's, Maryland State Police, Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46, Seattle Fire Department and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Over 10 percent of FASTSIGNS franchisees are military veterans. Veterans possess a number of valued skills and a wealth of experience essential to corporate positions and successful franchise business ownership. As part of the commitment to veterans and to the military, FASTSIGNS International offers incentives to military veterans, including a reduced franchisee fee and a savings on royalties and advertising fees for the first year. FASTSIGNS International has also been recognized as a top franchise for military veterans by leading publications including USA Today, G.I. Jobs magazine and Military Times magazine, due to the recognition for the company's financial discounts for military veterans, corporate support and outstanding growth. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity and specific veterans incentives for veterans, contact Mark Jameson at [email protected] or 214-346-5679, or download an eBook that explores the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity at http://amzn.to/1FrnDJu. About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 615 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the US, Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns. CONTACT: Vanessa Davidson Corporate Communications FASTSIGNS 214-346-5744 or [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401868 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160216/333668LOGO SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Related Links https://www.fastsigns.com FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Markee Music owner Mark Begelman is proud to announce a charity drive aimed at raising money for the Sheriff's Foundation of Broward County. The month-long fundraising will start on September 1, 2016. Markee Music is South Florida's most renowned recording studio and music rehearsal spaces. All music bands and acts that check in via Facebook at Markee Music Store at 1700 S Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, Markee Music will be donating at least $1 per band/act towards the foundation. The drive is expected to raise a considerable amount of money given the fact that Markee Music hosts almost 100 bands every week. Last year, Markee Music hosted over 4,700 bands translating to over 16,000 hours of rehearsal time collectively. The upcoming charity drive is aimed at boosting the community efforts of the Broward County Sheriffs Foundation. Besides law enforcement, the police department which is located near Pompano Beach continues to serve the local community via numerous community affairs and outreach programs. Every single dollar raised in the charity drive will go towards supporting these programs. Markee Music is a world-class recording, rehearsal and music lesson facility that caters to all types of musicians and all types of music genres. The facility has state-of-the-art studio equipment and amenities. Markee Music has 6 soundproof rehearsal rooms, 4 soundproof music lesson rooms, a full recording studio, a lounges and a lunch room. The facility is open to all musicians in all genres from pop, rock, and country to jazz and blues. Countless bands have used Markee Music since it was set up over 5 years ago. Markee is the most popular recording facility in South Florida. For bands and acts interested in rehearsing or recording in the latest and greatest, there is in music equipment and acoustics a state of the art facility Markee also offers music lessons to anyone looking to develop, whether beginner or pro. Markee Music was started by Mark Begelman and Keith Ridenour. The name "Markee" is a blend of their first names. Mark and Keith have both had long and great careers in the music business. About Mark Begelman Mark has played music for more than 40 years. He still plays music to date with his band Monkey Mayhem. The band has held countless gigs and Mark is a former founder of Mars Music. When Mark is not touring, he's busy recording, producing or just enjoying listening to the bands that rehearse at Markee. In recent news Mark Begelman was called "A Real Life Tony Stark Is Florida's Best Charitable Man" by NBC. Other sites such as Cowbird have wrote a great biography seen here: Mark Begelman Bio About Keith Ridenour Keith is a musician and songwriter. Prior to starting Markee Music, Keith used to run his own studios, Ridenour Studios. Make sure you like Markee Music's Facebook page. All the details of the upcoming charity drive will be featured on Markee's social media pages. Visit them to show your appreciation and support here: Markee Music For more information on the upcoming charity drive, visit https://www.facebook.com/markeemusic Contact info: Phone: 954-794-0033, FAX: 954-794-0038 Organization: Markee Music Address: 1700 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Mark Begelman If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Chennai, Aug 24 : The makers of Suriya-starrer Tamil actioner "Singam 3", which is nearing completion, are headed to Malaysia to shoot the climax. The film is gearing up for a grand release this Diwali. "The team along with Suriya leaves on Friday to Malaysia. It will be a two-week schedule and they will shoot some important sequences apart from a major action block. Apart from this schedule, the team has one more song to shoot," a source from the film's unit told IANS. The film marks the debut of Hindi television actor Thakur Anoop Singh, who will be playing the antagonist. Directed by Hari, the project also stars Shruti Haasan and Anushka Shetty in the lead. Suriya, according to the source, will return in his police avatar, but in a more fierce role. Srinagar, Aug 24 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Wednesday morning and chose to be driven through a tense Srinagar amid heightened security and strict curfew almost all over the Kashmir Valley. The Home Minister's two-day valley visit is his second in a month to review security and hold talks with civil society members and politicians in Jammu and Kashmir. Before leaving from Delhi, Rajnath Singh tweeted that he "shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders" during his stay at the Nehru Guest House on the Zabarwan Hills near the eastern shore of Dal Lake in Srinagar. The minister extended an open invitation to all "who believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat and jamhooriyat", expressing his willingness to talk with those who have faith in the spirit of Kashmir, humaneness and democracy. Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials, flew in by a special plane into the technical area of the Srinagar international airport around 11.35 a.m. From there, his cavalcade started for the Nehru Guest House for a journey of about 12 km through uptown areas of Srinagar "to get a feel of the ground situation", according to an official. Officials said he chose not to take a helicopter ride to the Nehru helipad near the historic guest house where the government held talks with the moderate faction of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant group in August 2000. The talks, however, broke down after the leader of the faction, Majeed Dar, was gunned down by militants. The Home Minister is scheduled to review the security in the Kashmir Valley which has been under curfew since July 9 -- a day after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani that triggered weeks of unrest. At least 68 people have been killed in the violence in Kashmir. Rajnath Singh's visit follows a series of meetings the opposition leaders of the state had in New Delhi. He is also expected to meet Governor N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her cabinet colleagues. He will hold meetings with officials of civil, state and central intelligence and security agencies. The visit comes a day after daytime curfew was removed from Srinagar amid a relative calm in parts of the city. It was for the first time in more than five weeks that the restrictions were eased in the uptown areas. But the curfew was back in place on Wednesday. Mumbai, Aug 25 : It was a day dedicated to sustainable fashion and Indian textiles at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 and what better way to open the second day with a "Made in Assam" show titled 'Halodhi' where three top designers of the region enthralled the audience with their offerings. The show on Thursday here started with designer Aditi Holani Chandak showcasing a line under her label Aagor by Ants Craft. To the strains of flute player Prabin Nath, the show opened with eight black and red meghla chadors that were breathtaking in their beauty and elegance. To empower the women of the Bodo tribe, Aagor by ANTS Craft an NGO gave them the creative support they needed. Weaving fabulous textiles, the yards of fabrics that were turned into garments were stunning on the ramp. The easy, relaxed shirt dress was worn with a long-sleeved shrug while a striped skirt and blouse were cool additions. Making a show stopping entry was Bollywood star Sarah-Jane Dias in a slashed multi-coloured skirt with a black blouse that gave the show the necessary pizzazz. Next was Pranami Kalita for Pariah by Pranami. Making her debut at LFW W/F'16, the designer worked wonders with muga, eri and paat indigenous silks that are renowned in Assam and blended them with fabrics from other parts of India. The show opened with a gorgeous white and gold lehenga-choli-dupatta trio, which was followed by a red and ivory long kurta and luxurious red silk stole. Sleek pants, sheath with cape, one-shoulder gown and off-shoulder slim dresses kept the mood of the show high in fashion. Boleros and pleated skirts with cape blouses and the black-gold cross over kurta teamed with a lehenga added elegance to the line. Adding traditional Assamese motifs to highlight the garments, the designer used embroidery and weaving techniques to create a romantic and feminine but sustainable look. Promoting 'Slow Design', which is hand made by local artisans, the collection was a tribute to craftspersons of the northeast region. Also what stole the limelight was the showstopper dress in the form of brilliant electric blue silk and gold gown. Last was Anuradha Pedu for Naturally Anuradha -- who chose to start her show with traditional Assamese dance form called Sattriya by three youngsters -- Nupur, Nikita and Gunjan Talwar. A treasure trove of saris, dupattas and scarves with models appearing on the ramp in a riot of colours. The splendour of the northeast states was visible in the stylish weaves that left the audience breathless. (The writer is in Mumbai at the invitation of LFW organisers. Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in) Panaji, Aug 26 : Out of 583 foreign nationals booked for crime in Goa over the last five years, 333 went "underground" after getting bail, Deputy Inspector General of Police V. Gupta said on Friday. A total of 208 of the 333 foreigners who went "underground" were Nigerians, said Gupta, who heads a police drive against foreigners linked to crime and staying for a long time in Goa. The whereabouts of the 333 foreign nationals are not known, he told reporters here. "This exercise is not specific to Nigerians. Our drive is general, against foreigners who come here, indulge in crime, and against those who go underground after committing crimes. We are trying to identify them and our attempt is to deport them according to procedure," he said. Gupta said the drive was aimed at creating awareness amongst the general public, especially those locals who run small guest houses, which often host foreign nationals possessing dubious travel documentation. The issue of foreigners staying on in Goa after commission of crimes was discussed in the monsoon session of the Goa assembly. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has said a detention centre would be set up for foreign nationals awaiting deportation, so that their movements could be restricted until they are sent back to their countries. Goa is one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country, which attracts nearly half a million foreign tourists, a small section of which visit the state on long-term visas. Los Angeles, Aug 27 : Socialite Paris Hilton wants to release a fashion range for babies. The 35-year-old, who has an extensive beauty collection of 20 fragrances including her latest perfume Gold Rush Paris Hilton, a children's clothing line and a footwear range, wants to expand her fashion range further, reportsAfemalefirst.co.uk. "I want to continue to expand the brand. I'm getting into real estate and the tech world. I'm releasing new product lines all the time. I have my children's line. I want to do a baby line," Hilton said. This news comes after Hilton's younger sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild gave birth to her first child Lily Grace Victoria last month. This has led the entrepreneur to shop for clothes for her one-month-old niece and inspired her to create a capsule for the young target audience. "I love it. I'm so happy for my sister. The baby is such a beautiful girl. It's so much fun shopping for a little girl,a Hilton said. Los Angeles, Aug 27 : Actor Zac Efron has paid a heartfelt tribute to his dog named Puppy, who has died. The actor announced the news of Puppy's passing away, on Twitter and Instagram on Thursday, reports ew.com. "Through thick and thin you've always been my best friend. I'll see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron," Efron wrote with one of his favourite photographs of him and Puppy. In addition, the actor quoted Chance the Rapper's song "Finish line". "Felt hog tied ever since my dog died. He lived to 84, damn, that's a long ride. I know he just sits up there and he wait. 'I'll be racing up the stairs I'mma get to the gate singing' - Chance the Rapper," he added. Efron revealed the first image of Puppy in April 2012 after getting the Australian Shepherd on Christmas 2011. Efron has another Australian Shepherd named Dreamer, and adopted a dog, Chappelle, with his former girlfriend Sami Miro during their nearly two-year relationship. Manila, Aug 27 : A five-year-old girl has become the youngest reported victim of the war on drugs in the Philippines, a media report said on Saturday. Danica May Garcia was shot to death in her family's store by two men on motorcycles, CNN quoted the police as saying in Dagupan in Pangasinan province. According to local officials, the suspected target was Danica's grandfather. A community leader said that days before the shooting, the grandfather, Maximo Garcia, had turned himself in to police in an effort to clear his name, along with about a dozen accused drug users. "We have a witness who came forward to identify the gunman," Dagupan police Chief Neil Miro told CNN. "I will withhold the name of the suspect, but it seems it may have something to do with illegal drugs, too," the police chief said, adding "We are still investigating the real motive." According to Human Rights Watch, since President Rodrigo Duterte launched the national war on drugs after assuming office on June 30, over 1,000 Filipinos have been killed by unidentified gunmen between July 1 and August 19. More than 700 drug users and "pushers" have been killed in police operations, CNN added. New Delhi : Title: Elephant Complex: Travels in Sri Lanka; Author: John Gimlette; Publisher: Quercus (London); Pages: 518; Price: Rs 650 Sri Lanka has to be the most beautiful country I have ever seen, says John Gimlette, an accomplished travel writer who journeys to the island nation at the end of a long and brutal civil war. Anyone who has seen the country will more than agree. Marco Polo too felt it was the world's prettiest island. And an Englishman wrote in 1803 that Sri Lanka deserves the name Paradise. But as John discovered, there was as much blood as there was beauty. It takes skills to write about this beautiful landscape without getting too much enmeshed in the blood and gore and a politics of hateful divisions, of class, ethnicity and religion. Although most checkpoints had been rolled away and the colour was gradually seeping back to Colombo's Fort area when John made his way, he could feel a lingering tension beneath the city's jollity. Why not? Between 1983 and 2009, when the Tamil Tigers fought and lost their war, explosions became part of Colombo's routine, a sort of anti-landscape in which hundreds were killed. Colombo was aware of the rest of the island but was never quite sure where it was. People John came across knew their ancestral village, of course, but often that was all. They'd swear they lived in the most beautiful country in the world but few had ever seen it. Decades of language politics and war had neatly divided the island into a postcard beauty Sinhalese nation and a battle scarred and now wounded Tamil nation. John takes readers leisurely through a country where the people - read Sinhalese -- have one of the highest suicide rates in the world and yet appear also the happiest. War or no war, this is one country where more people die of snakebites than anywhere else in the world. John plunges into the Buddhist mysteries of Polonaurwa, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya, cities whose discoveries would affect the Sinhalese in a way no one had predicted. The author also meets the Veddas, Sri Lanka's original inhabitants, and goes on to other exotic spots including Kataragama, a pilgrimage centre for both Tamils and Sinhalese, and Ngombo, where thousands of beach boys serve women alone. Much before the horrors of the LTTE war consumed Sri Lanka, a leftwing Sinhalese group, the JVP carried out an insurgency that was brutally crushed. That was in 1989-90 when anybody could disappear, and between 10,000 and 15,000 people did, mostly boys in their teens. "Sri Lanka has never been the same from that moment on. It was the beginning of the great amnesia, a time when whole sections of society could vanish without a single memorial, prosecution or inquiry." In just one five-year period of LTTE war, Sri Lanka reportedly lost more people than they ever did in Nicaragua and El Salvador. The LTTE promised Singapore but its fiefdom, before it withered away, looked more like Eritrea, whose kids grew up knowing the difference between incoming and outgoing fire but without seeing a train or computer. By the time the war ended, leaving tens of thousands dead, a third of all schoolchildren in the war zones had been taken away by the Tigers, their anguished parents often hiding them in culverts and sewers to prevent abduction. When John reaches Kilinochchi, the former LTTE capital in the island's north, the sheer volume of men and machines is strangely overwhelming, like some great invasion that had never passed on. "If this war had been about hearts and minds, it wasn't any longer." And as it often happens, the victor went on to rewrite his enemy's story, to belittle his motives, to daub his temples and to sweep away his graves. Brutality never wins. So John meets a former Navy officer who saw such horror during the conflict that he now teaches people how to survive. A small LTTE "Jony" mine cost only $3 to make but $1,000 to remove it after the war -- and $10,000 to patch up each of its victims. No wonder, almost three quarters of those maimed in Sri Lanka had nothing to do with the war. The fighting cost the country $200 billion, lasted four times as long as World War II, yet there was still so much unresolved. Like the navy officer, a former LTTE combatant whose father helped him to flee Sri Lanka, says: "I never want to fight again. I have lost everything. I never want to see another T-56. I am finished." To John, it looks like everyone is busy trying to forget the past. But this is easier said than done. So Sri Lanka exists - with all visible signs of modernity along with cars that have never stopped plying since the 1950s: the Hillmans, Austin Cambridge and Morris Oxford. (M R Narayan Swamy can be contacted at narayan.swamy@ians.in) Srinagar, Aug 27 : Curfew and restrictions continued for the 58th day across Kashmir on Saturday, as the death toll rose to 72 in the ongoing unrest. Militants killed a police constable identified as Khurshid Ahmad Ganai in Koil village of Pulwama district on Saturday morning when he was leaving for duty. The body of another youth who had jumped into the Jhelum river at Sangam in Anantnag district on Friday was fished out on Saturday morning. A large number of mourners have now blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway squatting on the highway with his body. A 22-year-old youth was killed in Haal village of Pulwama district on Friday in clashes with security forces. Over 11,000 people including 7,000 civilians and 4,000 security personnels have been injured in the ongoing cycle of violence that started on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in a gunfight. Police said curfew will continue on Saturday in parts of Srinagar city, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Palhalan and Avantipura towns. "Restriction under section 144 of CrPC will remain in force in the rest of the valley," a senior police officer said. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were arrested on Friday when they defied house arrest and came out to join the separatist-called march in the city which was foiled by the security forces. All education institutes, shops, transport and other businesses remain suspended. Markets have been functioning in the interior of Srinagar and other cities and towns for a few hours daily so that people can buy the essentials. Ranchi, Aug 27 : Tala Marandi's sacking as Jharkhand BJP chief just 13 weeks after his appointment has a lot to do with his criticism of his own government over proposed changes in the laws safeguarding tribal land rights, observers say. The Santhal leader, who represents the Borio assembly constituency, was replaced by Lakshman Gilua, another tribal leader who represents the Chaibasa constituency in the Lok Sabha. The sacking came after a string of controversies involving Marandi, including charges of sexual exploitation against his son. A statement issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) merely said Marandi's resignation, submitted on August 11, has been accepted and Gilua has replaced him. Marandi comes from the Santhal Pargana. He was the first Santhal tribal to be appointed state BJP chief, a move by the party to counter the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the main opposition party, and also the one that is perceived to be most representative of Jharkhand's tribal population. Santhal Pargana is considered a JMM bastion. Marandi was to play a role in bridging the gap between the government and the tribal people, especially when the state is being administered by a first-time non-tribal Chief Minister, Raghubar Das. Tribals account for 27 per cent of the state's population and the BJP gets a large share of their votes. Party sources say Raghubar Das was unhappy with Marandi's functioning and had conveyed this to the BJP's central leaders. The central leadership went with Das and opted to replace the controversial tribal leader with another who belongs to the Kolhan region. Marandi first landed in trouble for allegedly getting his son, Munna Marandi, married to a minor girl. This bride was reportedly selected in haste after another girl lodged a police complaint alleging that Munna had sexually exploited her. The original bride-to-be backed out after the sexual exploitation charge stained the Marandi household. The controversy had not fully died down when Marandi joined the opposition in criticising Raghubar Das's government over proposed changes in the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act through an ordinance sent to the President for approval. The two laws restrict transfer of land belonging to the Scheduled Tribes. The proposed changes in them have been dubbed by the opposition as a great betrayal of the tribal people by the BJP. The criticism has come not only from the opposition parties but also by the BJP's coalition partner, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). The BJP itself is divided over the changes in the two laws, as reflected in the criticism voiced by Marandi, who said: "Any change in the two land acts will put a question mark over the existence of the tribal people of the state." The ordinance, if notified, will allow the government to acquire farmland for non-agriculture purposes such as construction of roads, power plants and even marriage halls. Marandi's statement has allowed the opposition to attack the government with renewed vigour, with JMM Executive President Hemant Soren claiming that more than a dozen legislators of the BJP were in contact with him over changes in the two acts. An embarrassed BJP got an opportunity to remove Marandi when he announced his 50-member team. More than six people, including Meera Munda, wife of former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, who had been named a vice president, refused to come on board. "I have personal engagements and I shall not be able to give time to the post. I shall continue to be a party worker," Meera Munda said. Marandi's nomination of Veer Vijay Pradhan as the state BJP Yuva Morcha chief was also opposed. Several youth wing leaders sat on dharna at state BJP headquarters to protest the nomination. Former Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha, who had declined to serve as a special invitee, supported the youth wing leaders and met them. Marandi was then summoned to New Delhi, a process that culminated in his resignation as the Jharkhand BJP chief. "We respect Tala Marandi who maintained the party tradition by offering his resignation after the court issued summons to him," Raghubar Das told reporters in Jamshedpur, referring to the case against Munna's alleged marriage with a minor girl. (Nityanand Shukla can be contacted at nityanand.s@ians.in) Patna, Aug 27 : Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw on Saturday arrived at Bodh Gaya in Bihar to offer prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple amid tight security, officials said. Gaya District Magistrate Kumar Ravi said Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, will offer special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Buddhists' holiest shrine, and circumambulate the Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple is considered a life time destination for millions of Buddhists across the world. Kyaw along with his wife and a 31-member Myanmarese delegation, comprising five ministers, government officials and family members, landed at Gaya International airport, 2 km from Bodh Gaya, in a special aircraft. They were welcomed by district officials. Bodh Gaya is 110 km from Patna. A police official said Kyaw also visited the Burmese monastery in Bodh Gaya and will visit other Buddhist temples there. Kyaw, who didn't speak to the media, will leave Bodh Gaya for Agra on Sunday to visit the Taj Mahal. Kyaw, who is on a four-day visit to India, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Monday. Some agreements between both sides are expected to be inked. This is the first presidential visit from Myanmar after Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power in March this year. London, Aug 27 : The Islamic State (IS) terror group has released a video showing five boys, including one it identified as British, carrying out the killing of prisoners in Syria. The children appeared to be about 10 to 13 years old and one boy, identified as Abu Abdullah al-Britani, is white, BBC reported. The video showed the children shooting dead five men identified as captured Kurdish fighters who are kneeling. The child is pictured in full military fatigues and a black hat alongside four other boys, and the prisoners are wearing orange jump suits. The identity of the boy said to be British could not be verified and the UK Foreign Office has not confirmed this yet. One of the children, identified as Abu al-Bara al-Tunisi (the Tunisian), addresses the Kurdish fighters in Arabic, promising more violence and saying the battle against them has not yet begun, the BBC reported. The other children are captioned as Abu Ishaq al-Masri (the Egyptian), Abu Abdullah al-Britani (the Briton), Abu Fu'ad al-Kurdi (the Kurd) and Yusuf al-Uzbaki (the Uzbek). Children have featured prominently in IS propaganda in which the militant group boasts about preparing the next generation of fighters. Rajgir (Bihar), Aug 27 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday attended the maiden convocation ceremony of Nalanda University and launched the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the sprawling university campus here, an official said. President Mukherjee awarded degrees to 12 students of the first batch of the university. "President awarded gold medals to two students and degrees to 10 students at the first convocation ceremony of Nalanda University," an official said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Chancellor of the university George Yeo and former Chancellor Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen were also present at the ceremony. Besides, representatives of eight countries participated in the ceremony. The university is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda University stood till the 12th century, when it was razed by an invading Turkish army. According to officials, the students awarded degrees by the President had joined the two inaugural schools -- The School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies - in the two-year Masters Programme. The university will be admitting a new batch of students in August and will also start the new school -- the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university currently has two functional divisions: the School of Historical Studies and the School of Environment and Ecological Studies. It started its first academic session in September 2014 in a makeshift campus. The fully-residential university is set to be completed by 2020. It will eventually have seven schools for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality and social sciences. Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. It is the second most visited tourist place in the Buddhist circuit in Bihar after Bodh Gaya, considered as the birthplace of Buddhism. Rajgir (then Rajagriha) was the first capital of the Magadha kingdom and one of the favourite places of the Buddha. The university is an initiative of the Indian government and 18 East Asian countries. New Delhi : While sections in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seem to believe, as Bal Thackeray did, that the gun is the only solution for the unrest in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown a willingness for conciliation which holds out some hope of forward movement. In contrast to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's rejection of any compromise with the protesters -- they are not satyagragis, he said mockingly, reflecting the BJP's hardline position -- Modi has described those who lost their lives as "part of us". This is however not the first time that such "one-step forward, two-steps back" tactic has been in evidence. Indeed, the situation has been complicated by, first, the lack of forethought in tackling the dissenters and, secondly, by the absence of a uni-directional approach. The first deficiency was evident in the killing of the Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani, by the security forces. It may not have been a rogue operation like the one in Pulwama district, in which a lecturer was killed and houses ransacked, which was "not sanctioned" according to the northern army commander, Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda. But, if the security forces had been somewhat more circumspect while going after the so-called poster boy of the insurgency, the violence of the last one-and-a-half months could have been avoided and the prime minister and the home minister would not have had to try so hard to douse the flames. Their exertions could have been avoided if in addition to ensuring that the security forces acted with restraint, as the army chief, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, has counselled, the government had advanced in one direction instead of alternating between hawkishness and pacification. But, even if the government forsakes a muscular approach, it is unlikely that it will be amenable to the "grand bargain" proposed by the Congress leader, P. Chidambaram, "under which Kashmir acceded to India". There is little doubt that it is no longer possible to return to the pre-1953 position to allow Kashmir to fly its own flag and have undiluted say on all subjects except defence, foreign affairs and communications. Even the committee the Manmohan Singh government had set up in 2012 had said that a restoration of the state's pre-1953 status would "create a dangerous constitutional vacuum". Instead, it wanted a "case by case review" of all central laws which have been applied to the state since 1952. Since an agreement on these lines will take time -- if it can be achieved at all -- what is needed at the present fraught moment is a large-hearted gesture to demonstrate that the prime minister's distress over the preference of local youths for stones and not laptops was not mere rhetoric. While the centre's decision to look for alternatives to the pellet guns, as indicated by Rajnath Singh, is welcome -- chilli grenades are being considered -- it can only be the first step. A more substantive initiative will be to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which is seen as a law whose inbuilt restraining factors have not been enough to dilute its draconian nature. It is more than likely that the security forces will not like such a step to be taken. Nor will the combative television commentators. But, for once, the centre will have to show that it is guided by what Modi called "insaniyat, jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat" (humanity, democracy and respect for the state's special identity) than an insensitive, file-bound, bureaucratic approach which ignores popular sentiments and political compulsions. Atal Behari Vajpayee, too, had called for a solution within the ambit of insaniyat. But it has become a convenient word devoid of any meaning. To invest it with genuine significance, the government has to opt for bold, out-of-the-box thinking. The AFSPA has been a favourite tool of the security forces in both Kashmir and the northeast. Even 16 years of fasting by Manipuri civil rights activist Irom Sharmila failed to have an impact on the policy makers in Delhi. Apart from the reluctance of the security forces to let go of the ruthless authority provided by the act, it is possible that the governments, of all hues, are unwilling to give the impression that it is being withdrawn under pressure. Both the BJP and the Congress have baulked, therefore, at the idea of scrapping the AFSPA. But there are other factors in the BJP's case which undermine its case to reach out to the malcontents in Kashmir. Foremost among them is the party's Hindi-Hindu-Hindusthani identity which the Kashmiris (and the minorities) find daunting. If the Modi government's emphasis on Hindi is coming in the way of the army recruiting young people from the non-Hindi-speaking states, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call to Hindus to produce more children is a palpable battle-cry against Muslim "domination". For all of Modi's and Rajnath Singh's mollifying efforts, the background of majoritarian politics -- enforced with the charge of sedition against dissenters and internationally-acclaimed NGOs -- is not conducive to winning hearts and minds in Kashmir. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 : At least two persons died and six fell severely ill after allegedly consuming mango kernel gruel in Odisha's tribal-dominated Rayagada district, an official said on Saturday. Six persons have been admitted to a community hospital in Kashipur block of the district. While a minor boy had died on Thursday, a 60-year-old man passed away in the hospital on Saturday, the official said. They had consumed mango kernel gruel in Sipijodi village of Talajhiri panchayat under Kashipur block. The deceased have been identified as Ranjan Kumar Majhi (13) and Shiva Majhi (60). According to the villagers, the tribals had prepared gruel from mango seeds and ate it. Ranjan died of diarrhoea while seven others including his parents were rushed to Kashipur community hospital. "We are conducting an inquiry to know whether they had consumed mango kernel or it was a case of food poisoning. A team of doctors is inquiring into the matter and steps would be taken accordingly," Rayagada Additional District Magistrate Laxmikant Behera said. Ottawa, Aug 27 : A Canadian couple, after spending 62 years of their lives together, are now being forced to separate because they cannot get into the same care home. Wolf Gottschalk, 83, and his wife Anita, 81, met and fell in love while their families lived in the same apartment complex in Dusseldorf, Germany when they were teenagers, the Daily Mail reported. The couple got married in 1954. Wolf worked in construction while Anita worked in retail. After a few months, they decided they wanted a better life for themselves and their future children and immigrated to Surrey, British Columbia. The couple built a successful life for themselves and were always together as they went on to have a family - a son and two girls. But after 62 years of being together every single day, the couple have been forced to live separately for the past eight months because there are no spaces at care homes close by that can accommodate the married couple, the Daily Mail said. Outlining the family's seemingly impossible situation in a Facebook posting that has gone viral, their granddaughter Ashley Bartyik wrote of her sadness and frustration at the current situation. "After 62 years together, they're inseparable. They do everything together," she wrote. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ashley said that her grandmother had cared for her husband up until January, when doctors told the family he needed to be in a care facility as his condition was worsening. Wolf is on a waitlist to move into the same nursing home where his wife is being cared for, The Residence at Morgan Heights, but the Fraser Health Authority was unable to say when it might happen. Ashley said they can't even share meals together since they aren't at the same facility. In one heartbreaking snapshot, she captured a photo of her grandfather sitting alone while looking out of the window, pining for his wife, all the while calling out the nickname for her, his "little mouse", the Daily Mail noted. Wolf is in the early stages of dementia and earlier this week was diagnosed with lymphoma. He also suffers from congestive heart failure. Chennai, Aug 27 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged the central government to withdraw the recommendation for conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a dam across Siruvani river in Kerala. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she urged his intervention to withdraw the recommendations made by the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The committee at its meeting held on August 11 and 12, recommended grant of Standard Terms of Reference for conducting EIA to Kerala to build a dam across Siruvani river at Attappady. "The Committee has decided to recommend this without obtaining the necessary comments of the Government of Tamil Nadu in contravention of its own decision in the meeting held on 28th and 29th March, 2016," Jayalalithaa wrote. The Chief Minister said river Siruvani is a sub-tributary of the river Cauvery which is an inter-state river and the Tamil Nadu government has written to the Centre and the Kerala government objecting to the proposed project. She said the central government has not informed Tamil Nadu about the proposal or that it would be considered at the Expert Appraisal Committee meeting. "It is regrettable that this has been done in unwarranted haste without the subject being part of the regular agenda for the meeting and with no intimation to the Government of Tamil Nadu, despite the earlier correspondence from Tamil Nadu," Jayalalithaa said. "In the minutes, it has been recorded that the Ministry of Environment and Forests has written to the Government of Tamil Nadu several times, which is factually incorrect," she added. Jayalalithaa also requested Prime Minister Modi to advise the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and its agencies and the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation not to accord any clearance to the projects in the Cauvery Basin of Kerala and Karnataka till the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee come into force and judicial references are finally settled. Los Angeles, Aug 27 : A 28-year-old Hungarian construction worker was killed on the set of the untitled "Blade Runner" sequel here, local studio Origo said. The accident took place on Thursday, reports hollywoodreporter.com. "The worker was underneath a platform, upon which the set was constructed, when it suddenly collapsed. The cause of the accident is not yet known," read a statement issued by Origo. According to a spokesperson for the studio, the incident occurred when the construction worker, whose name has not been revealed, was dismantling one of the sets, production on which had already been wrapped up. At the time of the incident, production of the untitled "Blade Runner" sequel was in progress on another location in the village of Etyek, where Korda Studios facilities are located. The sequel is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis and Robin Wright. New Delhi, Aug 27 : Former Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav on Saturday said the Hurriyat Conference must be included in any proposed peace talks on Kashmir. "The Centre and the state governments must find a way forward for peace in Kashmir. Any peace talks should also have Hurriyat Conference as a party," he told IANS. He also said that the BJP and PDP combine must focus on their governance agenda first, and do away with the use of pellet guns, which are being used to disperse protesters. "BJP has mentioned this in their agenda that they will have talks with everyone. If they want peace then they should talk with all kinds of peoples," Yadav added. Peace in the Valley has been disturbed, with at least 71 people killed, since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Over 11,000 persons -- including 7,000 civilians and 4,000 security personnel -- have also been injured in the deadliest unrest in the Kashmir Valley. New Delhi, Aug 27 : Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who is serving a jail term here, was admitted on Saturday to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital after he complained of uneasiness. Chautala, 81, was brought to the hospital in the morning; his condition is stable now, but he will remain hospitalised for at least four to five days, a hospital official told IANS. The doctors have conducted a routine check-up of Chautala and taken his blood samples to be tested for dengue, chikungunya and viral fever, the official said. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here on January 22, 2013 had sentenced Chautala, his son Ajay, and eight others to 10 years in jail after finding them guilty of illegally recruiting 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in 2000. The high court had upheld the punishment given by the trial court, while the Supreme Court on August 3 dismissed the plea of Chautala and his son Ajay, upholding their conviction and sentencing in the scam. Chautala belongs to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and served as Haryana's chief minister more than once. New Delhi, Aug 27 : While she was in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday attacked Pakistan and separatist leaders for inciting trouble in the state, but later in Srinagar her tone and tenor changed -- from being angry to conciliatory. During her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in the morning, Mehbooba lashed out at Pakistan - in a first for the fiery woman Kashmiri politician known for her soft spot towards Islamabad. But after she reached Srinagar, her office issued a statement giving a more placatory picture. The statement said during her talks with Modi, Mehbooba was said to have advocated a "reconciliatory" approach towards separatists as well as Pakistan for peace in Kashmir. "Mehbooba outlined a three-pronged action plan before the Prime Minister for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, including involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue, to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geopolitical realities," the statement quoted the Chief Minister as saying. However, when she addressed the media in Delhi after her 45-minute meeting with Modi, she came out strongly against Pakistan accusing it of creating the ongoing trouble in Kashmir where people seething with anger have been persistently holding violent anti-government protests for the past 50 days. At least 71 persons - including two policemen - have been killed since the July 8 killing of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen's Kashmir commander Burhan Wani. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it should stop provoking (Kashmiris) to attack police stations," she said in Delhi, asking Islamabad to mend its ways and stop triggering violence and causing deaths in the valley. But the statement issued in Srinagar said that Mehbooba spoke about "the reconciliation and resolution process with a fresh resolve", urging Modi "to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by (his predecessor) Vajpayee". She stressed on "the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state" and invited the separatist Hurriyat Conference for "a meaningful dialogue process for the peaceful resolution" of the Kashmir issue. During her days in the opposition Mehbooba - a strong votary of self-rule - openly used to question Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India. "Accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India has proved counter-productive," she once said at a north Kashmir political rally. Mehbooba's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a relatively new entrant in the ideologically divided political spheres of Jammu and Kashmir, where nurturing a pro-Pakistan sentiment has been a potent tool for politicians since long to attract voters. Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) head A.S. Dulat has succinctly described in his memoir "Kashmir: Vajpayee years" this character of Kashmiri politicians "speaking in different voices" in Srinagar, in Jammu and Delhi - right from Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah to Mehbooba. Dulat wrote about politicians' liking for the green colour in Kashmir where almost all political parties except for the National Conference and Peoples Conference have green party flags. "When Muslim United Front (MUF) was formed in 1987, it chose green as its flag's colour. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's favourite colour is green, which she uses while campaigning. All militant organizations make free use of green," Dulat writes. Mehbooba also drapes herself in full green during public rallies in Kashmir. She has a pen and inkpot as her party symbol - the same that Syed Salahuddin, the supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, used when he fought the infamously rigged assembly election of 1987. (Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at sarwar.k@ians.in) Dhaka, Aug 27 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said that the Rampal power plant project, being jointly built with India, will not affect the world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans. The agreement to build a 1,320 megawatt coal fired power plant near the Sundarbans was inked by India and Bangladesh on July 12 this year as part of bilateral cooperation to mark the transition from electricity export to generation level. Citing several facts and logic in favour of the project, Hasina expressed her government's firm determination to build the power plant to meet the demand for electricity, the Daily Star reported. The premier was briefing the media at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka on the Rampal project close to the Sundarbans amid concerns over the coal fired plant's environmental impact on the forest. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been alleging that the Hasina government is constructing the Rampal plant, located near the Sundarbans, for the interest of India despite knowing that it is harmful to the mangrove forests. The party had held protests against the construction of the plant in July. Hasina described Khaleda as an instigator for influencing people against the power plant. "A group of the vested quarter is confusing people by spreading baseless and fabricated information over the issue," Hasina said. Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited (BIFPCL), the joint venture enterprise, inked the deal with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). India's Exim Bank is to provide $1.49 billion for the project, scheduled to start generating power in 2019. In August 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India's state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) where they agreed to launch the project by this year. The NTPC and the BPDB agreed to implement the project on a 50-50 equity basis. The project would enhance both nations ability to generate electricity. Environmentalists say the power plant would cause extensive damage to the world's largest mangrove forest in the Sundarbans as well as affect the locals living nearby. New Delhi, Aug 27 : Asking BJP Chief Ministers to work on "mission mode" for better implementation of central government schemes in their states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday set up a party committee to prepare a road map of a uniform agenda for "welfare of poor". "The Prime Minister appealed us to work on 'mission mode'. The pace of work should not be slow. We have to move forward with a good pace and have to work on all fronts," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan quoted Modi as saying in his concluding remarks at the day long meeting of BJP Chief Ministers. Modi also warned the Chief Ministers that he won't allow negligence in implementation of schemes. "It was direction, or you can say, an appeal from the Prime Minister that no negligence will be allowed in implementation of schemes or even in governance," Chouhan said at a press conference after the meet. A committee was also formed, under Chouhan's chairmanship, to prepare a uniform road map for the welfare of poor. His Maharashtra and Jharkhand counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Raghubar Das and party national vice-president Vinay Sahastrabuddhe are the members of the "Garib Kalyan Agenda Committee, which could focus on basic necessities of common man like 'Roti, Kapada aur Makaan, Padhai, Dawai aur Rozgar ke Intezam' (food, clothing, housing, education, medicine and employment opportunities). "A common agenda will be formulated and a road map will be prepaered by the committee in coming weeks so that basic necessities of poor would be fulfilled. This agenda will be implemented by all the BJP-ruled states," Chouhan said. The meeting was attended among others by nine Chief Ministers and three Deputy Chief Ministers, except Rajashthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who was pre-occupied. Earlier, BJP President Amit Shah said that his party has ushered in an era of "politics of performance" in the country and asked the states to play a big role in the implementation of schemes and to bring in good governance. He also urged BJP Chief Ministers to replicate schemes which are running successfully in other BJP-ruled states. "The BJP has started an era of politics of performance in the country and our target is to give a decisive, transparent and corruption free government, besides providing welfare schemes to the downtrodden," Shah said in his inaugural address. Shah said it is the joint responsibility of the central and state governments to build a pro-poor welfare state and change the life of the common man, adding that states play an important role in the development of the country. Noting the BJP-ruled state governments are those which got re-elected time and again on the basis of performance, he also hailed the party-led NDA government saying it "has brought greater esteem to Indian culture and taken it to new heights. The way the world looks at India has changed". Later talking to reporters, Fadnavis said the meet was focused on the welfare of the poor, middle class, marginalised sections, farmers and labourers. "States play an important role in the development of the country. There are more than a thousand BJP MLAs all over the country, (and) more than 300 MPs," Fadnavis said at a press conference quoting Amit Shah. He said 37 per cent of India's population resides in BJP-ruled states, which also account for about 52 per cent of the country's geographical area and 41 per cent of its GDP. "If BJP ruled states can succeed in bringing change, a big part of the country will be developed. The states would play a key role in the success of the Modi government's welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it," he said. Fadnavis said having rapid development and change in BJP-ruled states would contribute to good governance of the country. In the first session of the meet, the Chief Ministers gave presentations on the prominent schemes they are running in their respective states with regard to the party's vision of "Antyodaya". Kolkata, Aug 27 : Dissident Congress legislator Manas Bhunia on Saturday sought immediate sacking of state party chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, saying he would write to Party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on the issue. "He (Chowdhury) should be removed immediately. The Congress in the state is melting like an ice cream under Adhir Chowdhury's leadership," Bhunia, a former state party president, told media persons here. Describing Chowdhury as an "outsider" who was "alien to the Congress culture," he said during Chowdhury's stewardship of the state Congress, the party was on the brink of destruction. Bhunia, who has been at loggerheads with the state party leadership over his decision to continue as the Public Accounts Committee chairman in disregard of the legislators' plea to him to step down, also sought the removal of Abdul Mannan from the post of Congress legislature party leader. Bhunia's diatribe against Chowdhury and Mannan came a day after they spoke out against him for clinging on to the PAC chairman's post. While Chowdhury had termed Bhunia as a Trinamool Congress "agent" and requested the party high command to start disciplinary proceedings against him, Mannan had commented that the Congress leaders would boycott the Sabong MLA and write to the high command to suspend him. "It is the Speaker who is custodian of the assembly. Mannan should remember this," said Bhunia, also a former state minister. Bhunia said he was "eagerly awaiting" letter from the party leadership sacking or suspending him. But he parried questions on whether he would leave the Congress. Mobile Readiness to Maintain the Flow of Business Company websites now need to be in the mobile Web? As a result of ever-increasing requests for more mobile-friendly websites and web-based applications, SiberName (a bilingual Canadian Registrar and Web Hosting provider) is considerably expanding its expertise and services into the mobile arena and fast becoming recognized as a preferred "mobile-Web Hosting provider". SiberName, itself, has a mobile-friendly website and has long been a part "Mobile Era" (Web 3.0). Since there's a much greater demand for domain-personalized web-mail accounts, mobile-friendly website development, 1-click mobile applications, mobile marketing and mobile sales tools, mobile app development, mobile eCommerce applications and mobile search engine optimization for mobile sites the owner of the company, Mr Bulent Turkoglu, has focused recent efforts on offering more mobile-Web hosting services and products. Their clients are now requesting for their new websites to be view-able, even modifiable from smart mobile devices. The latest offering is the auto-SEO mobile website builder "Sibername Boost" which anyone can access using a smartphone to build a mobile-friendly, auto-SEO website within minutes. It also has other mobile-friendly eCommerce website building tools that are modifiable via smart mobile devices. Visitor-dependent mobile websites is now available for website owners who want to personalize the visits of those browsing their webpages. Business people are more mobile and have less time for random socialization. They need to stay focused on business and stay connected to colleagues, clients, and suppliers at all times so there's no interruption in the flow of business, ever. SiberName knows this all too well and is becoming as ubiquitous as the Mobile Web. Much more can be achieved with mobile websites than with desktop websites, especially for business people. Contact SiberName at: support(at)sibername(dot)com Please read our blog article:"Mobile Readiness Helps Maintain the Flow of Business" Thanks to our valued employees and our customers, for helping Trideum make the Inc. 5000 list, for the second year in a row! Inc. magazine last week ranked Trideum Corporation NO. 4510 on its 35th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segment its independent small businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Dominos Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000. Thanks to our valued employees and our customers, for helping Trideum make the Inc. 5000 list, for the second year in a row! said Van Sullivan, CEO/President. We have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, which is a very exclusive honor. Our success is a true testimony to building something great for our employees, our customers, and our communities. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. Trideum Corporation, a small business provider of Modeling and Simulation (M&S), Test & Evaluation (T&E), Live Virtual and Constructive Interoperability solutions, capabilities analysis, and training systems development is pleased to be named to INC5000 for the 4th time. Trideum consistently provides services that exceed customer expectations. Founded in 2005 by President and CEO Van Sullivan, Trideum is dedicated to meeting the highest standard of quality. Trideum offers the combination of skilled manpower with the tools essential to provide engineering services to Government and Commercial organizations. Trideum has considerable experience managing programs for the DoD that developed, delivered, and operated models and simulations to meet requirements for force development, experimentation, analysis, testing, and training. Trideum applies an adaptive and responsive User Experience (UX) approach to develop and validate requirements, develop systems and technical architectures, and develop and integrate software and applications. Students will be moving into the residence halls as part of Husson University's Welcome Weekend activities on August 27-28. The value that Husson University offers to prospective students is one of the reasons why we continue to grow. We offer students the opportunity to get a great professional education at an affordable price. This weekend, Husson University will welcome first-year students along with returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors to their Bangor campus. The more than 600 first-year students will be the largest entering class in Husson Universitys history. The value that Husson University offers to prospective students is one of the reasons why we continue to grow, says Husson University President Robert A. Clark, Ph.D. We offer students the opportunity to get a great professional education at an affordable price. Students returning to Husson will notice a number of changes that reflect almost $6 million in campus investment. They include an upgrade of Winkin Fields147,000 square-foot turf surface, renovations in the Carlisle Hall residence facility, a new weight room in the Newman Gymnasium complex, a new temporary student wellness center and more. Students attending Husson University this year were selected from a pool of applicants from 37 states, the District of Columbia, and 35 countries. In addressing employers needs for quality employees, Husson believes that there are additional opportunities for growth. The University is currently working on plans that will lead to the construction of a new College of Business building and additional student housing in the coming years. In addition to new facilities, this years incoming class will have more educational opportunities than ever before. This semester, the university will begin offering three new undergraduate programs in biochemistry, data analytics, and exercise science as well as three new graduate programs in biotechnology and innovation, risk management and pharmacology. New faculty members are also getting ready to begin the academic year. According to Provost Lynne Coy-Ogan, Husson University continues to attract educational leaders from across the country. The combination of in-depth academic knowledge and real world experience that they bring to the classroom, makes Husson University an exciting and dynamic learning environment. Students interested in living on campus have the opportunity to reside in Hart, Carlisle, or Bell Residence Halls. In addition, the Universitys Living Learning Center offers four floors of suite-style living for 244 students. The Living Learning Center is unique on campus in that it also contains the Darling Learning Center and its experiential learning classrooms. This combination of housing and educational space provides a holistic learning environment for students. Welcome Weekend begins on Saturday, August 27, 2016 and continues throughout Sunday, August 28, 2016. First-year students will check in on Saturday, August 27 at ODonnell Commons. The check in is open from 8 am 1 pm. Once the check-in process is completed, students can begin moving their belongings into the residence halls. From 1:30 p.m. 3 p.m. on August 27, Husson will be hosting a Legacy Social in the Darling Atrium of the Beardsley Meeting House. This event gives parents who attended Husson, and their children, who are attending Husson this year, the opportunity to meet similar families. During this gathering, parents and students can network with others whose commitment to the University spans generations. A full schedule of Husson University Welcome Weekend activities is available here. For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in South Portland, Wells and Presque Isle provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies, science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu. The Klett Group is Germanys leading private provider of educational and continued education services, with 59 subsidiaries at 34 locations in 14 countries. Klett offers traditional textbooks, digital interactive learning solutions, book for professional development, and fiction. Kletts German and international schools and colleges have 185,000 students enrolled annually. Publishing companies under the Klett Group include: Klett, OBV, Bange, AAP Lehrerfachverlage, Pons, Rokus Klett, Difusion, Klett und Balmer, Raabe, Klett-Cotta, Friedrich, Esslinger, Klett Kinderbuch, ILS, SGD, Euro-FH, and Klett Langenscheidt. Analysis & Key Developments Financial The Klett Group increased sales by 35 million EUR to 495 million EUR compared to the previous year, when revenues accounted for 460 million EUR. Profit before taxes rose by 1 million EUR to 17 million EUR in fiscal 2015, demonstrating that the educational company is solidly positioned in its businesses. Kletts educational publishing generated the largest share of corporate revenue with 54.9%. The educational imprints held their position and increased profit by 1.5%. Adult and continued education accounted for 30.4%, with professional publications at 10.4% and general publications accounting for 3.2%. The Group closed the financial year above last years level despite the pending repayments to VG-Wort and high pension allocations. Internal Organization Two management changes will take effect on October 1, 2016. Thomas Baumann will move from the executive board of Ernst Klett AG to Kletts board of directors, and Lothar Kleiner, managing director of the Deutsche Weiterbildungsgesellschaft mbH since 2008, will move up to the executive board. The executive board also includes Philipp Haumann (spokesman of the board) and Tilo Knoche. Acquisition With the acquisition of the Best Sabel GmbH at the beginning of 2015, Klett has expanded its on-site learning institutions in Berlin, adding further kindergartens and primary schools, as well as a secondary school and a vocational academy to its portfolio. In January 2015 the Klett Group expanded its adult and continuing education segment with the purchase of the Cologne Business School (Koln, Mainz) and the European University of Applied Sciences (Bruhl, Neuss, Aachen, Rostock). International In 2015 Kletts international business continued to develop positively. The Klett Group was especially successful in Eastern Europe with the acquisitions of Novi Logos (Serbia) and Profil Klett (Croatia) at the beginning of the year. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. The Belgium-French group Media Participations is the largest comic book publisher in Europe with roughly 1,000 overall new titles per year including 600 bandes dessinees (comics) and annual sales of 25 million volumes including 15 million comic books. The company achieved modest growth in 2013 from previously acquired stocks as well as strategic in-house digital developments. Media Participation's principal brands are the comic book publishers Dargaud, Dupuis, Le Lombard, Urban Comics and Kana (manga); Citel Video, Dargaud-Marina, Ellipsanime, Dupuis Audiovisuel and Anuman Interactive; childrens book publisher Fleurus; and religion publisher Mame. Cartoon brands include Blake et Mortimer, Lucky Luke, Les Schtroumpfs (Smurfs), Blueberry, the series XIII and Thorgal, and more recent blockbusters such as Isaac le pirate and Blacksad. Citel Video gains multimedia revenue from Asterix, Tintin, Babar, Caroline, and Corto Maltese. Media Participations is also active in childrens books and television. The company produces a yearly output of 1,500 hours of TV programs through its own studios, and is involved in other publishing activities such as the magazine Rustica. The controlling holding company, MP Belgique, is under Belgium regulation. The company was founded in 1985 by former politician Remy Montagne and set up in todays configuration in 1991 by his son Vincent Montagne, with a vast majority of the shares held by the Montagne family and a minority stake by Axa insurance company. Media Participations has a staff of 1,100 with offices in France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. Analysis & Key Developments Financial Media Participations does not release any detailed financial data other than annual revenues. In fiscal 2015, revenues declined to 340 million EUR from 350 million EUR in 2014. The group had previously shown modest yet steady organic grows over several years, with an increase of 1% between 2013 to 2014. Ownership, Mergers & Acquisition, Internal Organization Current President and CEO Vincent Montagne took over in 2007. In 2012, Montagne was elected president of the French publishers association, SNE, to succeed Antoine Gallimard. International Media Participations is continuously increasing its international presence. The company began to focus on China in 2014 with book publishing, cartoons, and educational television programs. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. China South Publishing & Media Co. Ltd. was established in 2008 to operate the publishing businesses owned by Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group, which was created in 2001 as an investing and operating enterprise authorized by the Hunan Provincial Government. The group operates and manages all of the companies state-owned assets and public institutions owned by the former Bureau of Press and Publication of Hunan Province. China South Publishing & Media Co. Ltd was listed on the Shanghai stock exchange in 2010. As a multi-media publishing group it produces a wide spectrum of media products and is involved in editing, printing, distribution and investment. Book publishing includes trade, textbooks, educational materials, multimedia products, and investment. China Souths publishing business is carried out by twelve publishing houses. The company has also become the largest bookseller in the Hunan Province. Recently, the group established a digital publishing unit that plays a crucial role in their strategic transition. Subsidiaries of China South Media include China South Media Hunan Publishing Center Branch Company, China South Media Hunan Education Publishing House Branch Company, Hunan People's Publishing House Co., Ltd., Hunan Literature & Art Publishing House Co., Ltd., Hunan Yuelu Publishing House Co., Ltd., Hunan Science & Technology Publishing House Co., Ltd., Hunan Juvenile & Children's Publishing House Co., Ltd., Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House Co., Ltd., and Hunan Electronic Audio & Video Publishing House Co., Ltd. China South was fully listed in this ranking for the first time in 2015 after respective detailed and authoritative information was made available through cooperation with the Chinese independent publishing industry news service BookDao. Analysis & Key Developments Financial In fiscal 2015, China South experienced a boost in both revenues and earnings. Revenues climbed from 15.99 million RMB to 18.27 billion RMB. Earnings increased to 1.78 billion RMB from 1.53 billion RMB. The company benefited from its steady publishing growth, expansion of digital education and a large share of the textbook markets in Hunan and other provinces. China Souths retail operations performed well. According to the statistics provided by Chinese retail monitoring service OpenBook, the company had a 3.54% share in the Chinese trade retail market in 2015. Internal Organization In 2015, China South established a new subsidiary, China South Antuo International Culture & Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd., which is committed to exploring international publishing. Hunan BOFO Fund Management Co., Ltd., another newly established subsidiary of China South, invested in traditional publishing houses as well as cultural and media industries. International China South generates 76% of its revenues in the province of Hunan. Through copyright trade, imports and exports of books, China South has been actively exploring the international market. These efforts are led by a partnership with Huawei, a leading worldwide digital company, to develop digital publishing and educational innovation and continue with traditional publishing. In 2015, China South signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation with Pearson to deepen their cooperation on textbooks, teaching materials, digital education and international education. Digital Publishing Together with Huawei, China South established its digital education arm, Tianwen, in 2010. Tianwens core product is AiSchool, a cloud-based learning solution that targets K12 schools which experienced rapid growth in revenue and profitability. The system is used by more than 2,000 schools in 20 provinces. Tianwen posted revenue of 397 million RMB in 2015, and has found success overseas. Bestsellers The company had 19 titles listed on OpenBooks National Top 50 Bestsellers, and 28 titles were included overall on bestseller lists. Translated titles such as Passing by Your World and Le voleur d'ombres sold over 3 million copies each. Meet Your Unknown Self, A Brief History of Time, and Wish Someone by Your Side in Ups and Downs sold over 1 million copies each. The Secret, Prime Minister Of Qing Dynasty, You Are the Best Self, and You Should Believe Tomorrow Will Come sold over 800 thousand copies each. Let Me Stay By Your Side sold over 700 thousand copies. The company also created bestsellers from the promotion of translated titles such as Hot, Flat, and Crowded, which China South introduced to the Chinese market. Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time, The Universe in a Nutshell and The Grand Design, have also become highly popular. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. Phoenix Publishing and Media Group is one of the largest publishing groups in China. Its subsidiary, Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc., was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011. The group includes nine publishing houses, seven publishing companies, and printing facilities. The group published 21,583 titles in 2015, including 9,401 new titles and 12,182 reprints, and maintains a staff of 13,103. Phoenix Publishing & Media Group was founded in 2001 as Jiangsu Publishing Group. The group changed its name in 2004. Phoenix was fully listed in this ranking for the first time in 2015, as respective detailed and authoritative information was made available by the group for this ranking through cooperation with the Chinese independent publishing industry news service BookDao. Analysis & Key Developments Financial In fiscal year 2015, Phoenix Publishing & Media Groups total revenue reached 17.9 billion CNY, an increase of 1.67% over 2014. Net profits decreased by 9.75% from the previous year, to 1.313 billion CNY. International Phoenix Publishing & Media Group launched its English website en.ppm.cn at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in August 2015, as part of its mission to become an international publisher. The group opened the UK subsidiary PPM International (London) Ltd. in July 2016. A Namibia-based African subsidiary, Phoenix Welwitschia Printing Ltd, was officially opened in May 2015 by the governor of the Jiangsu Province. Phoenix International Publications (PIP) Ltd reported a revenue of 599 million CNY and a consolidated profit of 34 million CNY. Digital Phoenixs revenue from digital accounted for 840 million CNY in 2015, against 610 million CNY in the previous year. Phoenix Group is accelerating its pace to digitally transform its educational publishing business under the Phoenix Smart Education initiative, an agreement with the Jiangsu Provincial Education Authority to digitize its publishing, printing, and distribution system through the China Cloud Publishing & Printing Platform (CCPP). Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. Planeta is the leading Spanish-language publishing group in Spain and Latin America. It is also prominent in Portugal and France, where it owns Editis, the countrys second largest publishing company. Planeta is continuing to expand with an emphasis on reading groups, international cooperation projects, and digital, with the creation of e-book distribution platform Libranda and Nubico, a cloud-based reading platform with a flat subscription rate. Grupo Planeta is present in 25 countries, with more than 100 imprints and a catalogue of 15,000 authors. Aside from book publishing, the group has shares in the newspaper La Razon; the television company Grupo AtresMedia, which includes two of Spains top three channels, Antena 3 and La Sexta; and the countrys second-largest radio station, Onda Cero. Planetas Learning and university division reaches more than 100,000 students from MBA to university degrees in Barcelona, Madrid, and online. The owner familys Fundacion Jose Manuel Lara is a main sponsor of cultural events. Analysis & Key Developments Financial Grupo Planeta revenues from Publishing, Media, and Learning and universities divisions increased to 3 billion euros in 2015. The growth was due to the consolidation of the publishing division with full integration of Circulo de Lectores, the largest book club in Spain with one million members, into Grupo Planeta in Spain. Other factors were the acquisition of Volumen, the second largest book distributor in France, and the incorporation of the publishing house Sonatine into Editis. The recent increase in consumer spending in Spain also led to growth, and book sales in the country rose higher than the overall consumer market. This development has been seen in France and Latin America as well. Planetas Grupo Atresmedia division is the countrys market leader in television and radio. There is potential for further growth in the division due the improving economy. The Grupo Planeta Learning and University Division acquired a university in Spain dedicated to the tourism industry. The division also expanded by developing an ambitious professional training plan in partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, and others. Return to the full listing of the world's largest publishers. DAVENPORT -- Police are investigating a Thursday incident at Wood Intermediate School where an administrator was pepper sprayed by one of his students. According to a Davenport police news release, officers responded at 2:18 p.m. Thursday to the school at 5701 N. Division St. for a disturbance. Police said that as a school administrator was escorting two students off school property, one of the students pepper sprayed the administrator in the face. Take aromatherapy, Excel, knitting, wiring, Zumba at BHC Black Hawk College Professional and Continuing Education offers a variety of community education classes. Upcoming classes include: Excel Level 1 (Office 2013): Thursday, Sept. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $97. Belly Dancing: Wednesdays, Sept. 7 to Oct. 12, from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is $36. Zumba, Find Your Way to Fun and Fitness: Thursdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is $36. Introduction to Deaf Culture: Mondays and Wednesdays, Sept. 12-28, from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $119. Aromatherapy for Everyday: Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $19. Beginning Writers Workshop: Tuesdays, Sept. 13 to Oct. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $44. Home Wiring: Tuesdays, Sept. 13 to Oct. 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $89. Beginning Knitting: Wednesdays, Sept. 14 to Oct. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $48. Refresher Crocheting: Thursdays, Sept. 15-22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $28. Class locations vary. For details, visit bhc.edu/pace. To register, call 309-796-8223. Foundations of management covered in BHC course Black Hawk College offers the Foundations of Management Certificate Program for entry-level managers and supervisors. It provides the essential tools for supervising in todays workplace. The course will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27, at the colleges Outreach Center in East Moline. Cost is $650. To register, call 309-796-8223. HR Certification Preparation Program begins Sept. 8 Are you looking to advance your human resources career by taking the PHR/SPHR certification exam? Prepare for it with the Human Resource Certification Preparation Program at Black Hawk College. The class will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 8 to Nov. 17, at the colleges Outreach Center in East Moline. Cost is $875. To register, call 309-796-8223. Managers ready for certification with BHC class Black Hawk College offers the Certified Manager program for experienced managers in partnership with the Institute of Certified Professional Managers at James Madison University. Complete three Certified Manager courses and pass certification exams to earn the Certified Manager designation, a globally recognized professional credential for experienced managers. The next Certified Manager class, Leading and Controlling, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27, at the colleges Outreach Center in East Moline. Cost is $600. To register, call 309-796-8223. Quality engineer exam prep starts Sept. 12 Prepare for the ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (certification examination with the Certified Quality Engineer course at Black Hawk College. The class will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 12 to Dec. 5, at the colleges Outreach Center in East Moline. The $750 fee includes all materials from the Quality Council of Indiana. To register, call 309-796-8223. Heres a question for moral philosophers: Is it more immoral to be a bigot or to pretend to be bigot? The question is obviously relevant to Donald Trumps campaign right now. The facile way Trump seems able to turn his hate rhetoric on and off raises the question of how committed Trump is to his bigotry. Has he been exaggerating the bigotry that comes to him naturally in order to get votes? Trumps newest team of so-called advisers has promised that a kinder, gentler Trump will court minority voters in the weeks before the election. Trump actually seems to be listening this time. In order to woo Hispanic voters, he has been weaseling about his bullish promise of mass deportations, and hes been telling blacks they are so bad off they have nothing to lose by voting for him. In Trumpland, that constitutes romance. Trumps public displays of prejudice transcend race, which is why I use the word bigot instead of racist. For example, Trump still wants to ban all Muslims from entering the country, as far we know. His sexist remarks and views have been well catalogued. And he seems to have a deep-seeded animosity toward short men. But right now Trump, supposedly, is trying to soften his cultivated position as a racist and a racial scapegoater. There are so many layers of grotesqueness here that its hard to separate them. The language and phrasing Trump has been using in his pivot reveals his utter cluelessness and blind prejudice. Heres the nub of Trumps new pitch, made in Ohio on Monday. Read it carefully: Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and its safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. And I ask you this, I ask you this crime, all of the problems to the African-Americans, who I employ so many, so many people, to the Hispanics, tremendous people: What the hell do you have to lose? Give me a chance. Ill straighten it out. Ill straighten it out. What do you have to lose? First off, Trump was talking to an audience that was almost all white people, like all of his crowds. Trump lumped all African-Americans and Hispanics together as living the same disaster, which is ignorance beyond stereotyping. He lumps a whole ethnic group together even in praise (the Hispanics, tremendous people). He implies that blacks and Hispanics love him because he employs so many of them. And finally he insults the intelligence and dignity of blacks, Hispanics and every possible voter by crassly declaring, What the hell do you have to lose? A lot, is the clear answer. Trumps cynicism is so deep that he thinks that by going into white communities and saying blacks have nothing to lose by voting for him, theyll actually vote for him. He thinks black voters will ignore a track record of racism that extends far back from this campaign to his longstanding position as the most prominent monger of the Obama birther conspiracy theory. His cynicism is so deep that he thinks Hispanic voters will ignore a years worth of hate-mongering attacks on Mexican immigrants as murderers and rapists if he flip-flops a little on his signature issue walls and deportations. This is laughable as a strategy and it is laughable that the political press takes it seriously as strategy. For Trump, the objective is twofold, according to his aides and allies, The Washington Post reports in classic horserace fashion. He wants to make inroads with minority voters, who polls show overwhelmingly support Clinton. He also believes that a more measured approach on race can convince white voters now shunning him especially women that he is not the racist that his inflammatory rhetoric might indicate. I suppose its plausible that the real idea behind the Im not that big a racist pivot is to calm confused white voters on the fence. Does that somehow justify it? I feel badly for hard news reporters who arent supposed to express their opinions, as I can, and cover Trumps antics with straight faces and clear consciences. Trumps latest caper is unlikely to fool anyone. But it reveals yet another level of depravity in this rotten man. My original question was rhetorical. It doesnt matter how much of Trumps bigotry is theatrical and how much is genuine if there is anything genuine about Trump. Yes, there is something particularly sleazy and menacing about a person who can modulate their bigotry depending on the audience and poll numbers. But is such a person worse than the completely genuine bigot? In Trumps case, the argument is moot; he is both. Trump seems to believe his own repeated proclamations that he is a man without prejudice. He complains about people like me who call him a racist or a sexist but who dont really know him and know what is in his heart. But what may or may not live in Donald Trumps heart does not matter to this country. Its what comes out of his mouth that counts. DES MOINES -- MidAmerican Energy Co. on Friday received the final order from the Iowa Utilities Board for Wind XI. In a news release, MidAmerican Energy officials said the action was "a positive step toward the companys 100 percent renewable vision. This is an exciting day for our customers, the state of Iowa and MidAmerican Energy, said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy. We thank the board for its support and for moving quickly to deliver this ruling. In April, MidAmerican Energy announced plans for the $3.6 billion Wind XI project involving sites across Iowa. The precise locations are still being finalized. Now that the state has approved the project, MidAmerican Energy is finalizing plans to begin construction of 1,000 wind turbines, with completion expected by the end of 2019. The turbines will be placed into service over a three-year period, starting next year, with the final sites placed into service in 2019. MidAmerican Energy officials said Wind XI -- the largest wind project it has ever undertaken -- will add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind generation in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy is not asking for an increase in customer rates or financial assistance from the state to pay for the project. Wind energy helps us keep prices stable and more affordable for customers, provides jobs and economic benefits for communities and the state, and contributes to a cleaner environment for everyone, Mr. Fehrman said. Wind XI is projected to generate more than $1.2 billion in landowner easement and property tax payments over the next 40 years. Additionally, during construction, the project it is expected to add thousands of jobs to Iowas economy, with hundreds of permanent jobs created when the expansion is complete. Headquartered in Des Moines, MidAmerican Energy provides electric service to 752,000 customers and natural gas service to 733,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. Find free clothes, supplies at church ROCK ISLAND -- Two Rivers United Methodist Church, 1820 5th Ave., provides free clothing, toiletries, nonperishable food items, books, magazines and various household items at 11 a.m. on the last Saturday of the month. A free meal follows at noon. Celebrate with unified spirits MOLINE -- A Celebration with Spirit will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Unity Church of the Quad Cities, 5102 47th Ave. Presented by Barbara Douglass, it will include messages from the Spirit World and connections with loved ones, guides and Universal Source. The celebration is not affiliated with Unity Church It will cost $5. Call 330-714-0535 for information. Enroll in ministry marketplace classes MOLINE -- Marketplace School of Ministry will offer Tuesday night classes from Sept. 6 to Dec. 6, at New Life Fellowship, 2345 19th St. Classed will include a 6:30-7:30 p.m. New Testament Word Study; a free 7:30-8:30 p.m. class titled "A Biblical Approach to Revival, Signs and Wonders." Sign up at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 6, or at 7 p.m., for the second classes. Call Dr. Ken Lundeen at 309-788-0778 for information, or register the night of the classes. Annual holiday craft show scheduled DAVENPORT -- Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities will host its annual Holiday Craft Show and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in the church's social hall, 2930 W. Locust St., across the street from the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Vendors are sought. Beverages and walking tacos will be sold, as well as baked items including homemade cakes, pies, cookies and breads. The event is free for people to attend. People also may order holiday cookies and treats in advance for a a Dec. 19-21 pickup. Money raised by the church will help support outreach programs such as: Feed the Hungry, Sustainability, Anti-Bullying and Peace & Social Justice initiatives. Vendors will pay $20 per table. For information, contact Jennifer Robb at jennarobb0430@yahoo.com or 563-271-8872 to request a vendor application. Guest speaker fills folks with living hope DAVENPORT -- Living Hope Community Church, 216 W. Hayes, will welcome Dr. Jon Jenkins from Troutman, N.C., as its special speaker beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept 4. Thursday through Sunday evening services will be at 6 p.m. A morning service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1. Sunday services will be at 9 and 10:30 a.m. For information, call the church at 563-326-4673, or visit livinghopeqc.com. MOLINE -- Parishioners from five Lutheran churches in Moline will join hands to do God's work on Sept. 11. Calvary, First Lutheran, Salem, San Jose Obrero and Trinity Lutheran churches will salute local firefighters, police officers, EMTs and dispatchers to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attack. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has designated Sept. 11 as a "God's Work -- Our Hands" Sunday. The five congregations will share loose offerings and other donations collected Sept. 11 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, annually supported by thre firefighters' Fill the boot campaign, and the Moline Police Department's Shop with a Cop project. Church volunteers also will bring cookies to Moline departments as a "gesture of thankfulness for their past, present and future services," according to spokeswoman Barbara Johnston. "Patriotic postcards will be available at each church to write personal thank yous to acknowledge the ongoing services of these very special community servants," she said. "They keep Moline's citizens safe, secured and cared for. Their respective jobs are necessary for the well-being of our community." The Rev. Randy Willers, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church, called the effort a "wonderful way for Lutheran Churches to pay tribute to those who put their lives on the line for us every day." "And we appreciate the appreciation," said Moline Police Officer Justin Yuvan, a Salem church member who recalled learning about the 9/11 tragedy while attending classes at LaSalle-Peru High School. Moline Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Snyder said he was just getting home when he heard the news. "I remember how beautiful the day was, but how it turned so tragic," he said. "It means a lot to all of us to remember what happened, and to be remembered." Julie Dean-McCurdy, also of Salem Lutheran, said she has made it a point to tell her 6-year-old daughter, Macy, about the significance of 9/11 -- how sad of a day it was and "that many lives were lost." But they also talk about it as being the "largest rescue in history. "The first responders were able to save so many people and that is why we honor them," she said. She's hoping Macy will help deliver some of the cookies to local stations on Sept. 11. Almost 50 Illinois counties have filed lawsuits against Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, and the ill crafted SAFE-T Act. Introduced in the General Assembly by the Illinois Black Caucus, the Act passed the Democratic-led General Assembly in the wee hours of Jan. 13, 2021. Amongst many of its weaknesses and deficiencies, the Act eliminates cash bail, emboldens criminals, and makes it even more difficult for law enforcement to keep offenders off our streets. Public Safety personnel and States Attorneys across our great State have decried the legislation, noting that it was drafted and written with very little constructive input from Public Safety leadership, from either party; potentially impacting every Illinois community with dangerous consequences. Allowing perpetrators to bail out of jail, based on their good word that they will be glad to return to court is laughable, at best, and both ludicrous and dangerous, at worst. Soon after the SAFE-T Act was passed at the State level, the Republican-led Henry County Board drafted a resolution, requesting that the General Assembly repeal and replace the SAFE-T Act with a new criminal justice bill, this time with input from professional law enforcement, States Attorneys from across the State, and other Public Safety officials. We unanimously passed our resolution on May 19, 2022, and encourage all County Boards in Illinois to follow our lead. Our Republican-led Board in Henry County believes we all, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, deserve effective and fair law enforcement in our communities. Fifty-three years ago, on Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most iconic speeches in American history at the March on Washington. Kings masterful speech drew on Americas founding documents -- the Constitution and Declaration of Independence -- which, according to Dr. King, promised the riches of freedom and the security of justice to all Americans. The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream Speech and the Civil Rights Movement more generally. 1. What sentence was not in Martin Luther King Jr.s final written draft of the I Have a Dream speech? A. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. B. I have a dream. C. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation. D. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off. 2. In his speech, Dr. King said that civil rights activists had come to Washington to do what? A. Cash a check B. Demand equal pay C. Criticize the Kennedy administration D. Disobey unjust laws 3. The first black civil rights activist to propose a march on Washington was: A. W.E.B. Du Bois B. A. Philip Randolph C. Frederick Douglass D. Martin Luther King Jr. 4. The year 1963 marked the centennial of what historic event? A. The end of the Civil War B. The passage of the 13th Amendment C. Union victory at the Battle of Antietam D. The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation 5. Dr. King hoped his speech would be received the same way as: A. The Declaration of Independence B. Frederick Douglass speech, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? C. The Gettysburg Address D. Abraham Lincolns Second Inaugural Address 6. Civil rights activists organized the March on Washington to: A. Mourn the loss of Civil Rights organizer Medgar Evers B. Demand greater employment opportunities and racial justice C. Show their support for the Civil Rights Act then stalled in Congress D. Engage in massive demonstrations of civil disobedience 7. Following Reconstruction, when were federal troops called to the South for the first time to enforce civil rights? A. The integration of Little Rocks Central High School in 1957 B. To intervene in Birmingham, Alabama, during the May 1963 Childrens Crusade C. To protect CORE Freedom Riders in 1961 D. To protect those participating in lunch counter sit-ins, which began in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960 8. Which civil rights activist argued that sit-in protests were bigger than a hamburger? A. John Lewis B. Ella Baker C. Stokely Carmichael D. Fannie Lou Hamer 9. Who is known as the sacrificial lamb of the Civil Rights Movement? A. Malcolm X B. Medgar Evers C. Martin Luther King Jr. D. Emmett Till 10. What was not a part of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, decision? A. The separate but equal doctrine adopted in Plessy v. Ferguson has no place in the field of public education. B. Segregation of children in public schools on the basis of race deprives children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities. C. Desegregation will commence with all deliberate speed. D. Segregation in schools is a denial of the Constitutions equal protection guarantee. ANSWERS: 1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D, 5-C, 6-C, 7-A, 8-B, 9-D, 10-C (You can find the text of Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech at archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf) Sold Out This item is no longer available, but theres still much more to discoverkeep shopping to find something new to love! A look at John Davidsons gravestone might say it all. Gone but not forgotten reads the stone which tells of a man born in Scotland in 1804 just 28 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed in the United States. Davidson, who died in 1882, is among almost 100 people known to be buried at Summit Grove Cemetery, northeast of North Bend. For years, the cemetery where Davidson and other pioneer-era people were buried was overgrown with weeds and other foliage. It had been the target of vandals and forgotten by many, except for a few area residents, like Diane Emanuel and Don A. Andrews of North Bend and Gene Robertson of Rogers. Emanuels great-great grandfather is buried here and she hoped to gather a group to clean up the cemetery. Then in April 2011, Martin Casey Jones of Snyder launched the cleanup effort after he came to the pioneer cemetery in search of veterans graves and saw its deteriorated condition. I looked around and said, Somebodys got to do something, said Jones, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran. Bruce Ferguson of Scribner and Dianes husband, Roch, would join the effort. Together, the volunteer group spent hours cleaning overgrown trees and brush and setting up gravestones. Roch Emanuel would restore the doorframe of an old mausoleum, giving visitors an idea of the building that once stood there. For the volunteers, the cemetery restoration would be like a 4-acre puzzle as they worked to erect and piece together fallen and damaged headstones. Now, the cemetery which sits atop a hill has a grassy lawn, a fence, metal gate and the doorframe of a mausoleum. You can just feel the peace and serenity of this place, said Jones as he looked across the sweeping vista. You can see why they chose it as a burial site. Old-timers stories passed down through the years told of Native Americans, who died from diseases brought by Caucasian settlers, being buried here. If you use the grave locating rods, you can walk all over this hill and clear down to the creek and theres graves everywhere, said Andrews of North Bend. Arrowheads have surfaced in this area, Diane Emanuel said, and Jones noted something else. For some reason or another, they (Native Americans) liked this hill whether they considered it a sacred place or they just liked the view, a lot of it is speculation, Jones said. When the railroad came through in the 1860s, the government gave it land, which it could sell to pay for construction. James M. Cruickshank bought land in the area and farmed it. And although it was difficult to get horses up to the hill, folks enjoyed the view. You can see all the way to Morse Bluff, Jones said of the surrounding green landscape. You can see in all four directions. It was a great place for social activities. Then in 1873, Eleanor Townsend, 22, died and it was decided that she should be buried on the summit. Cruickshank would donate the land for the cemetery. As years passed, the cemetery would have more than one name like the Cruickshank Cemetery or Honest Johns Cemetery. About 30 percent of the people buried here are children, who died of illness such as typhoid and diphtheria. One row of gravestones shows several deaths from the Powers family. Eddie was only 5. Laura died on her 14th birthday. Group members believe a mausoleum was built at the cemetery in about 1914 by the James and Ellen Bryan family. Further research indicates that the familys name actually was OBrien, but Ellen so admired Nebraska politician and presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan that the family arbitrarily changed their last names spelling to match his, Jones said. The mausoleum, which housed their bodies, was a stone building about 8-by-8-feet square and 6 feet high and people could walk into the burial crypt. The mausoleum encased the couple. There were five people altogether in the plot, but a sons body was moved to Woodland Cemetery in North Bend. Rumors surround the mausoleum as well. Andrews shares one about glass that encased the bodies being broken and alcohol that preserved the Bryans drained off to be sold during the Prohibition in the 1920s. It would become a fad for teens to go down into the mausoleum to see the bodies encased in boxes with glass tops. At one point, someone went in with cement to cover the bodies. In the 1960s, vandals dynamited the mausoleum. The last person to be buried at the cemetery was Frank Ferguson, whod been a caretaker, and was buried there in 1976. Andrews father, Donald, mowed the cemetery for a while. A few guys from the Presbyterian church at Webster also worked to clean it up, but the cemetery eventually would fall into disarray. By the time the group of preservationists began working on the pioneer-era cemetery in 2011, it was overgrown with foliage. You could only see one or two headstones and there were trees, poison ivy, weeds, Diane Emanuel said. Jones learned that the cemetery was deeded to the Summit Grove Cemetery Association in the 1880s. Andrews sister, Avis, an attorney, researched which steps to take next. We had to get a petition to dissolve the association (whose members are all deceased), Jones said. They had to get a second petition asking Dodge County to assist with preservation and maintenance of the cemetery. The board of supervisors dissolved the association and agreed that according to state statute theyd take control of the cemetery. However, they said the area residents would need to form a nonprofit organization. About five days later, they formed the Summit Grove Preservation Group, which then went to work. During a couple of work days, the group cut down all but three trees, along with shrubs and brush. Most headstones were covered by brush. Many were laying on the ground. Our goal at that point was to see all the headstones, Diane Emanuel said. Headstones were put back into place. Stumps were removed. The county sprayed for noxious weeds. A fence, gate and flag pole were erected in 2014. Thrivent Financial provided some funds for the fence and gate. But there was another project namely the mausoleum, which had become rubble. Ferguson had a photograph of the mausoleum and Roch Emanuel tried to find what he could save. Emanuel reconstructed the doorway of the mausoleum. He spent countless hours reassembling the nameplate, which he put on two pedestals to become the door frame. He made a gate in his shop at Emanuel Custom Welding in North Bend. He then reassembled the perimeter fence of the Bryans plot. Robertson and Ferguson helped put the stones back in place for the fence. The mausoleum project would take about two years with the door frame being set a couple weeks ago. It really was fun, Roch Emanuel said of the project. And it did come together. Through the Veterans Administration, a headstone was provided for veteran Guy Robertson. Veterans from the Civil War, World War I and World War II are buried here. No one else can be buried here, however, because it would revert back to being an active cemetery and funding for preservation would be lost, Jones said. Maintenance is ongoing. More stones must be placed upright. As for future goals, group members have discussed working with West Point Monument Co., to get a chip with information about whos buried here and a cemetery overview. The chip could be placed in a centralized area and read by Smart phones. In the meantime, they are enjoyed the view. The best part is seeing the accomplishments, Robertson said. Its a beautiful place. What were doing now is going to prolong this cemetery into the future, because we all have families and kids who are hopefully going to want to take care of this. Rated 5 out of 5 by 4 reviewers. Rated 5 out of 5 by californiadreaming Beautiful colored stones! I'm usually someone who does not like colored stones other than blue. However, this combination of Kunzite plus rubelite stones is just beautiful! The diamonique stones are not too much. The stones do appear to form an evil eye shape. Glad that I ordered this low profile ring. 01-26-17 Rated 5 out of 5 by chai Beautiful kunzit! The gemstones on this ring are truly beautiful! The ring is gorgeous! 01-19-17 Rated 5 out of 5 by taylorkitsch What A DEAL! Love this ring and LOVE that I was able to acquire at such a terrific deal. I love it when QVC puts jewelry on sale. This is such a pretty and feminine ring, It is not too big and does not sit high up but yet offers a nice presence on the hand that lets itself be known. The colors of pink are amazing. Highly recommend. 01-03-17 Rated 5 out of 5 by MommyD47 Gorgeous! The moment that I saw this on air I knew I had to have it. It's even more beautiful in person! It fits true to size. It is not too bulky between my fingers. It sits up, but not too high. It sits up enough to showcase its beauty, but not so high that it would get bumped around. It is absolutely stunning! Early Merry Christmas to me!!! 12-01-16 LOGO by Lori Goldstein Knit Cardigan with Faux Suede Details is rated 4.3 out of 5 by 962 . Rated 5 out of 5 by LavendarBlue from One of best LOGO purchases out of hundreds! I am an early LOGO enthusiast & found this lightweight cardigan to be the most flattering & fashion-worthy piece I own. Hopefully they will keep this in stock, since I only have 1 color and would like to purchase the others. This is a great lightweight topper, is sleek and slenderizing. It doesnt bring much warmth, so is best in mid temp ranges/ seasons. Perfect for Colorado falls and springs. Rated 5 out of 5 by 88 from Wonderful Cardigan I purchased this in a beautiful shade of teal and love it! Hope it continues to be offered in additional colors XS. It does run large so I sized down from a normal size S. Rated 5 out of 5 by epoole59 from A Great sweater I am not on for the frilly puffy shirts of logo at age over 50, but her sweaters/cardigans are great. No puff ruffles or puffies, a great classic wear. Comfortable and classic style. Thanks for making for all styles wearers, love your knits! Just order true to garment size numbers. No downsizing here. Rated 5 out of 5 by PoppyD from Super Cute and Great Value Snagged this on a lunch time special and I love it! I'm a fan of Logo but not of the cost for the brand so the value of $23 was a steal! I have several other pieces in the line and love them. This one did not disappoint! It's cute, soft, and stylish. I'm 5'3 140 and the XS fit perfect. Had a very slight chemical smell but I aired it out for a few days and it's much better. Rated 5 out of 5 by Boot girl from The best cardigan!!!!!! I have 6 of these cardigans and just love them.Lori PLEASE bring them back in more colors.I've been reading the reviews and ALOT of us want MORE!!!!!! It is the easiest most comfortable,versatile cardigan.Don't change a thing,love the faux suede sleeves,and the change in zipper colors. *PLEASE *PLEASE *PLEASE *QVC ,bring us more it's the best cardigan!!!!!! : D Rated 5 out of 5 by Outdoorsfellars widow from Really nice sweaterm for fall! I purchased this sweater in the olive a while back. I typically wear a M and read the reviews an decided I would try a S and it fit perfect and still had plenty of room. 36DDD and 150lbs and still had room! I really wanted it in the black and they only had it in XS so I went ahead and ordered it knowing it would make a good gift if it didn't fit, and to my surprise it fit very nicely, soooo, glad I went for it!!! Rated 5 out of 5 by MrsTeach from Please bring it back This cardi is super flattering. Please bring it back in all colors! Shark Rotator Speed Powered Lift-Away 3-in-1 Vacuum is rated 4.4 out of 5 by 421 . Rated 1 out of 5 by dasberry from Shark lift off rotater This thing sucks now the belt has stopped working.don't waste your money on this. Rated 1 out of 5 by Katscrafty from Don't buy I purchased this vacuum 6/17 and it was great at first, I loved it. Then it seemed like I was always taking it apart because it would loose suction. Or it would overheay and I would have to wait an hour for it to cool down and reset itself. I would use it once a week and Disney vacuum up anything I wasn't supposed to I was always cautious about that. I used it the other day and iy sounded horrible so I turned it off and waited an hour, turned it back on and now the motor is going out on it. REALLY! It didn't even last 2 1/2 years? I will never buy another Shark product. How s a piece if crap. $300.00 down the drain. Rated 1 out of 5 by Ms Bina from Garbage piece and worthless warranty I'd give this product 0 star if I could. I purchased this vacuum less than 2 years ago. Since I have a house cleaner, I didn't use it much. I would say I used it no more than 8 times. The last couple of times I tried using the unit, the suction was practically gone and if it picked any debris, it would drop it back to the carpet/floor. I finally called QVC and was told to contact the manufacturer. I was on the phone for 45 minutes with the manufacturer rep. I was told in order to get a replacement, they needed to go thru the troubleshooting with me. I was finally told they would send me a replacement in 7 to 10 business days and I just needed to pay $21.95 for shipping. Well that call took place on November 5th. I called Shark this afternoon December 10th only to be told, not only they didn't know when I'd be receiving my shipment but it's not even going to be a new unit, they will be shipping a PART. Wait, what?? I'm not a vacuum tech. I complained and asked to speak to a supervisor but was told they would escalate the call, which can take 3 weeks. I was also told they have no idea when they'll have this part because they ONLY made these for QVC. Are they making a lesser quality product for QVC?? They were not willing to budge on sending a new unit. So I'm left with no certainty on anything. I did call QVC to let them know of this poor so called warranty service. I will buy my next vacuum at my local Costco and THAT'S why customers are loyal to Costco. they deal with the manufacturer and save their customers the headache. I know this isn't by any means QVC's fault but I will take my business where I feel the warranty or return policy is more solid. I hope the procurement team will think about their relationship with manufacturers and not just focus on price. Rated 1 out of 5 by Senyah from vac This model is good at all. It has poor suction and gets clogged up all the time. I can't vacuum a whole room without stopping to unclog the it a feww times. Rated 2 out of 5 by Shey237 from Should have spent the extra money My almost 10 year old dyson was slowly dying and instead of taking it in for a tune up I decided to get a new vacuum. I had heard it from everyone, mother included, "why would you pay so much for a vacuum?" So I switched to a shark. At first I loved it. The attachments were pretty cool and it did a great job, and then the 1st month was over and it wasn't sucking so well. So I washed the filters. That didn't help very much. It was still ok, so I continued to use it. Figured I would get a good 3-5 years from it. Nope, not the case. A year in and a hose has ripped inside the floor piece. I called customer service and that is considered wear and tear. They wanted to charge me $75 for a new piece. After a lot of complaining I finally got the part for the price of shipping. It was seriously a year in! I will save up my pennies again and when the hose breaks again in a year I will be going back to Dyson. I should have spent the extra money in the first place and stuck with Dyson. NOW I know why I spend so much on a vacuum. Lesson learned. Rated 1 out of 5 by lisadawne from waste of money It hardly has any power at all and jams up repeatedly. It doesn't work at all on animal hair. It has a few features I liked: longer cord, easy to push, lights. But, there was much more wrong with it than was right. Rated 1 out of 5 by Pacnorthwestmom from Stopped working Ive had the vacuum 1.5 yrs and it no longer works the motor completely died on me. Not to mention theres like 7 different filters! No surprise, thanks to Sen. Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) very public visit to Alstoms Hornell, N.Y. manufacturing plant on Sept. 21, 2015: Amtrak, as expected, has contracted with Alstom to supply 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets that will replace popular yet aging and technically problematic Acela Express equipment. The contract is part of $2.45 billion that will be invested on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor (NEC) as part of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand the Acela Express service, Amtrak said when announcing the contract on Aug. 26, 2016. The official unveiling occurred at Amtraks Wilmington, Del., station on the NEC, and it was given by, among others, one of Amtraks staunchest supporters and valued customersVice President Joe Biden, who in his days as a U.S. Senator from Delaware, commuted almost daily between his home in his home state and his office in Washington D.C. Amtrak and Alstom also signed a long-term contract under which Alstom will provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts. Combined, these contracts are worth $2 billion. The new trainsets will be based on Alstoms iconic and venerable TGV, in service round the globe for more than 35 years. Alstoms North American version, which like the Acela Express will be a tilting trainset with power cars at each end but unlike the aptly-nicknamed Fast Pig will be articulated, is called the Avelia Liberty. It will have one-third more passenger seats, modern amenities that can be upgraded as customer preferences evolve such as improved Wi-Fi access, personal outlets, USB ports and adjustable reading lights at every seat, enhanced food service and a smoother, more reliable ride. Alstom describes the Avelia Liberty as the latest development in its high-speed trainset portfoilio. The new trainset will be able to carry up to 33% more passengers than the current Acela Express trains, Alstom said. Its configuration includes an innovative compact power car and nine passenger cars, with the possibility of three more being added if demand grows. The train is capable of travelling at speeds up to 300 kph (186 mph), but will initially operate at a maximum speed of 257 kph (160 mph) based on NEC track speed limits. Additionally, each concentrated power car is equipped with Alstoms pioneering Crash Energy Management (CEM) system. Another key feature is the trainsets articulated architecture, which provides greater stability and passenger comfort while enhancing safety. The Avelia Liberty also includes Alstoms innovative Tiltronix anticipative tilting technology, which allows it to negotiate curves safely and more comfortably at high speeds. The trainsets will also meet current Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) safety guidelines, including a Crash Energy Management system. Amtrak is funding the trainsets and related NEC infrastructure improvements through an FRA RRIF (Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing) loan that will be repaid through growth in NEC revenues. They will be manufactured at Alstoms Hornell and Rochester, N.Y., facilities, creating 400 local jobs. Additionally, components will come from more than 350 suppliers in more than 30 U.S. states, generating an additional 1,000 jobs. U.S. content, which includes labor costs, is pegged at 95%. In addition to the trainsets, Amtrak is also investing in infrastructure needed to improve the on-board and station customer experience that will accommodate the increased high-speed rail service levels. Amtrak will invest in significant station improvements at Washington Union Station and Penn (Moynihan) Station New York, as well as in track capacity and ride quality improvements to the NEC that will benefit Acela Express riders and other Amtrak and regional/commuter rail passengers. Amtrak will also modify fleet maintenance facilities to accommodate the new trainsets. A prototype Avelia Liberty is expected to be ready in 2019, with the first trainset entering revenue service in 2021. All of the trainsets are expected to be in service, and the current fleet retired, by the end of 2022. 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 RECOIL Picks the Brain of One of the Most Experienced Long-Range Shooting Experts in the Industry Photos by Schultz Photography Todd Hodnett has carved his own well defined path by not fitting into someone else's predetermined box. He's a problem solver and pioneer in extreme long-range shooting whose career has had a snowball effect in the wider world, leading to improvements in the way our armed forces train and operate today. This Texas cowboy went from ranching, to competitive shooting, to teaching some of the most elite military members in the world. Growing up in Texas, Hodnett spent much of his free time hunting, and before long he pushed his long range capabilities to the limits as he took animals at ever further distances. Competitiveness always stirred within him, no matter the application. Within a year of taking up competitive cowboy action shooting, he was a national champion. Shortly after breaking into long-range competitions, he won major matches. Perseverance sets him apart from the rest. Taking opportunity by the horns, he founded Accuracy 1st, which trains both civilians and military. After establishing one of the best shooting schools in the world, Hodnett relied on his experiences as a pilot in order to fine-tune the way ballistic science was used and taught. By partnering up with companies like Applied Ballistics and Horus Vision, he's had an active role in bringing products to market that aid in making long-range hits possible. Hodnett's positive personality is contagious, while his experience is captivating. Even if you're not interested in long-range shooting, the story of how he's built his success might provide some motivation that'll help you push past your own perceived limits. RECOIL: Did you grow up shooting? Todd Hodnett: I grew up shooting and hunting, and that was just part of growing up in West Texas. We grew up right beside a prairie dog town, so I've been shooting scoped rifles since I was 6 years old. Once I got into ranching and farming, I was on horseback all the time, so I knew where the deer lived. The problem became that my hunting season would be over in about 30 minutes because as soon as the sun would come up I'd be waiting in the right spot. I ended up dropping the rifle and getting into bow hunting for about seven years and really enjoyed that. Because of that, I spent a lot of time in the field and got passionate about hunting again. What was your first gun? TH: The first gun I ever started shooting was a single-shot .22 and then moved up from there. My first long-range gun was a .22-250. Was cowboy action shooting a natural progression for you? TH: A buddy of mine who I traveled with shooting archery competitions called me up and said, Hey, I found our sport. I wasn't interested in it because I grew up ranching and farming and didn't want to dress up like a cowboy to shoot guns. But while on a hunting trip with him, I checked out his cowboy action shooting guns. After playing with his guns for a few hours, I was hooked and bought some of my own for the sport. While I waited about a month for my reloading stuff, I started with a dry-fire schedule. But, once I got my reloading stuff, I kept with that same dry-fire schedule for a year. I ended up winning regional and national matches that next year. That led to starting my pistol shooting school in the early 2000s. What helped you surpass guys who had been competing for years? TH: Tenacity. Going from a rancher to a national champion pistol shooter in a year was a commitment. I would dry fire three hours a day, every day. I always gave 100 percent. I don't consider anybody a natural. Everybody pays their dues; some people pay more dues faster and work harder. That person will get there more quickly. What's the best piece of advice you've gotten? TH: Never be satisfied with status quo. Don't be complacent; always strive to do better than you've done in the past. Don't let someone else set your limits for you. How did you end up training the military? TH: I was called out of the blue and was asked to teach Rangers some pistol techniques. I was happy to teach them. After the class, they asked me to shoot a sniper competition with them. They let me borrow a rifle, and ended up placing Sixth at the match. At the match it was announced the Sniper's Challenge match, which was the biggest of the year, had a few openings left. Me and a guy I met that day partnered up, and he lent me his rifle. The ammo I ordered arrived two days before the match, but it was enough time for me to zero it and play with it just barely. I was fortunate enough to win that match and several after. How did you end up training them to shoot long-range better? TH: After winning several matches using the Horus reticle, Horus called me up to ask if I'd shoot for them. They asked if I'd also demo for the military. While demoing the system for a military group in 2004, they asked me if there was anything I'd change about the way they shoot. I said yes, and from there I worked with them for a month. We went up to my high-angle facility in Utah. It worked out well and led to training several elite units. At the time, I was still doing ranching and farming while balancing my time to teach long-range shooting. What helped you become a SME in long range so quickly? TH: As far as long range, I'd been shooting it forever, but I wasn't formally trained. I didn't really have a box to think in. I started looking at different ways to extend my ranges with different reticle types I was using. I read sniper manuals and different books. A lot of stuff didn't work at far distances. I started questioning things. That became the motto that we live on, Question everything. By questioning everything we find out why the bullet did what it did. I tell guys, The bullet doesn't get to vote; it doesn't lie. The bullet gives us the answer, and we build everything backward. This developed the new way we do things with ballistic engines. Did you have a mentor who helped you along in shooting? TH: Not in the long-range shooting world. Once I got into the pistol side of shooting, it's been neat meeting some of the icons like Jerry Miculek, Rob Leatham, Jim Clark Jr., Michel Voigt, and Kyle Lamb. I've been blessed with good friends in the shooting community who are also icons. With long-range shooting, the term DOPE is frequently used. Do DOPE and ballistic engines go hand in hand? TH: When I came on board and starting teaching the ballistic computer and the Horus reticle system, all the military groups I was training were shooting every 100 meters to gather DOPE (Data On Previous Engagement). That has all changed now. We're really not gathering DOPE anymore; what we're doing is finding the actual algorithm the bullet's flying on we true. The beauty of truing is, even if your ballistic coefficient (B.C.) is off, your algorithm tracks in the opposite direction. We're looking for the time of flight to target. From that we equate backward to the muzzle velocity (M.V.) that gives us a perfect algorithm. I could care less whether my M.V. is tracking perfectly with the chronograph; all I care about is that my hold is perfect for every target. For long-range shooting, how important is an accurate B.C.? TH: BCs are suggested by the manufacturer, and we know a lot of them are off. Truing is the only way that you'll ever be able to gather a correct algorithm if your B.C. isn't perfect. If we knew the perfect B.C. and the perfect muzzle velocity, there's no need to true. But for the guys in the field, they don't have chronographs. One of the primary reasons we teach the way we teach is because in the field, I can take three or four rounds of ammo and gather the new M.V. by shooting it on a rock at the distance of transonic and have a perfect algorithm. When truing, you true at transonic because you measure long to predict short in any mathematical equation for accuracy. I don't have to shoot every 100 meters. This is one way the military changed some of their training. What advancements have you brought to military? TH: The points that we brought to the military that had exponential gains are: truing, speed shooting formulas we developed, and the tremor wind dots in the Horus reticle. The Tremor wind dots make it easy for guys to get on target and get shots off quickly. The Tremor wind dots will probably have the same leap as truing did. The Tremor wind dots helped to clean up the other Horus reticles that people felt were too busy. What do you think is the biggest problem with long-range shooting? TH: Some people think it's unethical to take a shot past 300 meters. It may be unethical for some people, but you should never put that limitation on somebody else. A good example is my son, who recently hit four out of five shots at a mile with my 300 Norma. So, with somebody who has the skillset, the tools, and who practices, that's something they feel confident in. I want more people to feel comfortable and build their confidence in taking those long-range hunting shots. It's a wonderful pastime to spend with family without it sucking a lot of money out of the family funds. What one piece of gear do you think every long-range shooter needs? TH: A bubble level. I don't care if it's one of mine or someone else's because if you're canted at all, you'll blame a miss on a bad wind call. You end up doubting your wind call if you're canted into or away from the wind. Cant is one of the biggest problems people have, but is the cheapest to fix. Do you think some people have become dependent on technological advancements instead of sticking to the basics? TH: As big of a scientific problem it is to put a small projectile on target a long ways off, we have ended up being super antiquated by having data books and writing down every shot. Which, to me is a waste of time. I think, like with every sport, people end up buying the wrong equipment. You have to be careful where you're getting your information. All apps aren't created equal. Very rarely do we find an app that is as accurate as a Kestrel. The problem is some new applications try to copy other ballistic engines. A good engine will be accurate and easy to use. You shouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to be able to use it. It has to be quick and it must be intuitive. A Kestrel with Applied Ballistics is probably the easiest to use and the most accurate because we're able to true it and use custom drag models. Speaking of drag models, which do you use? TH: The big difference with Applied Ballistics are the G1, G7, and the custom drag models. When you're dealing with custom drag models, you're not dealing with one of the standard drag models like the G1 or G7 you're not shooting the standard bullet. The standard bullet, which is 1 inch in diameter, weighs 1 pound and has a certain shape to it. All you're really doing is taking your bullet and trying to find the closest comparison number to that bullet, and that is your B.C. Then you're trying to bend the algorithm based off your comparison number. It's not really the perfect algorithm to have. People say The G7 is so much better than the G1, well it is better but not until you get past transonic. Up until transonic, they're nearly identical. As long as you true, a G1, a G7, or a custom drag model, they're all identical out to the distance that you true. All we're doing is re-bending the algorithm to make it fit. But G1 and G7 are good comparison models, but once Bryan Litz from Applied Ballistics understood truing, he was able to build custom drag models. By building custom drag models, we're shooting the predictions off of that bullet's drag model, not how it compared to a G7 drag model. That's a huge benefit when we shoot at further distances, like out to a mile. Where do you think the firearms industry is headed? TH: The firearms industry as a whole is going to be challenging with regulations. America has always been very pro-gun; unfortunately, things are changing all the time. I see trends that scare me to death. Most companies are ready for change and will adapt very quickly. As far as the long-range community, we've made huge leaps and bounds over the past 10 years especially. The world has changed in a huge way and everybody's caught on and making the needed changes. Most of the time, the people who aren't embracing the new stuff, it's because they haven't used it and have a lack of understanding. But, it's the same problem we had with the military community. What you're going to see are new reticles and new calibers. We're always tweaking, trying to get better scopes, better bullets, and better B.C.s. The industry as a whole, now that we know what we're capable of in the long-range world, the ammo's going to get better because people will demand it. Which calibers do you think we'll see more of? TH: The 300 Norma is an amazing caliber. I was a big fan of .338 until I shot a 300 Norma, and now that's all I shoot for long range. The .260 Remington, I think you're going to see a huge jump with it coming up in the future. We're already seeing a lot of players moving in that direction, and a lot of venders making better ammo. If I could only have two guns in my safe, they would be: a 300 Norma and a .260 LaRue. The .260 would replace all my M4s and all my .308s. It's a great caliber because it'll go transonic at 1,000, so it's a caliber that can do everything an M4 can do all the way up to nearly a 300 Win Mag. It's ease of shooting, and no recoil makes it great. A lot of the competition world already knows about .260 and 6.5 Creed, so the .260 I think you'll really see it coming into its own in the near future. The 300 Norma is the best long-range caliber you can get into today. I think 300 Norma will take over and rule the long-range, hunting, and military markets for the next decade. The 300 Win Mag, is a weapon system I was not originally impressed with. But, it's going to make a resurgence because of the .230 Berger, you get the capability of a .338 Lapua. And, it's what we call a Walmart gun. You can go to any store in the United States and pick up 300 Win Mag ammo to go shoot pigs at 200 meters for when you don't want to shoot your good Berger ammo. What advice would you give a shooter who wants to improve their long-range abilities? TH: No matter what happens, at the end of the day when the batteries fail, we still have to be able to go back to square one. You can never get past the fundamentals. All advanced shooting is, is when you don't screw up the fundamentals. Most of the time when we have problems shooting, it's because we're not taking care of the fundamentals. This isn't a Kentucky windage guessing game. Is there any one thing that you would recommend a shooter practice to improve their proficiency? TH: The number one thing is wind calls. Long-range shooting is about wind. After we changed the way we look at gathering DOPE and improved ballistic algorithms, elevation holds are a known. You have to go out and shoot in the wind. You have to learn what a gust of wind looks and feels like. One thing you can do is go outside with a Kestrel and learn how to calibrate yourself to wind because when you're on the trigger you can't look at the Kestrel. Train yourself to know how to adjust your hold for the wind. Learning more about wind will make you a much better long-range shooter. As far as guns and gear are concerned, which is more important? TH: Buy good optics. If you have to choose between spending money on a gun or an optic, spend the money on the optic. The optic will allow you to enjoy your day on the range. It's a fabulous tool that will retain its value. I'm not saying don't buy a good rifle. If you can, obviously a good quality gun like a Surgeon or a LaRue is money well spent and will also retain their value. But, if you have to make a decision, a good quality optic is paramount. Good quality doesn't have to mean expensive. The Bushnell lines of optics are very affordable and really nice quality. What would you suggest for someone looking to buy his first long-range rifle? TH: There are two different applications: bolt gun and semi-auto. For a bolt gun, you have affordable and top of the line. For affordable, the Tikka T3 Tactical. It's one of the best rifles you'll lay your hands on. It's a phenomenal little gun. It's an entry-level gun, but I'm not for sure it's not as accurate as some of the more expensive rifles you could buy. For top of the line, a Surgeon Rifle. I own several Surgeons, and love them never had a problem with them. And, Surgeon is a great company. For the gas guns, or semi-auto, I wouldn't buy a gas gun that isn't a LaRue. LaRue Tactical is by far the best in the marketplace. Past a good gun and optic, what else is important to you? TH: Ammo. You can't shoot a good gun and get performance with junk ammo. A lot of times people don't understand you cannot just go to Walmart and buy the sale ammo and expect good results. Once you find what the gun likes, as far as ammo, you can get the most out of the weapon system. For long-range shooting, you can't skimp on the laser range finder either. A good one will cost you, but it's what will help you make first round hits. A laser range finder that's capable out to the further distances is what you need. Essentially, you end up paying per meter for capability of the laser range finder. Which range finder do you use? TH: I use the PLRF 25C and the 05. I've got other ones, but primarily, I use those. How are your classes different than others? TH: Over the past 14 years of teaching my classes, I teach in a way that the new guy and the guy that's been there multiple times will still get something out of the class. We developed a class so the new shooter gains fundamentals, while the experienced shooter will be able to further understand the finer points of the fundamentals. When I teach a class, it's not to give you the answer for you to write down and memorize. My classes are taught for you to understand the reasons why. Knowledge sets you free. You can never make a bad decision if you have knowledge. I teach pure knowledge of: ballistics, reticle use, BCs, density altitude, drop, muzzle velocities, and different ways to shoot a weapon system. I continue to evolve my teaching. I develop ways to improve my shooting, and then that's made into a class. An example is I used to teach really heavy loads of bipods for recoil management, so you can get back on target and adjust. But, the reality is, one day I was teaching that and we were shooting off a vehicle, I would load the bipods, and they would slide. It made me unconfident in my long-range shots, because I was concerned I wouldn't get the same performance with my DOPE that I got while loading my bipods. And, I was correct. So, instead I started teaching consistent loading of bipods. Now I teach giving the weapon system a consistent base to perform off of for every shot. So are you saying you don't load bipods anymore? TH: If I'm shooting close, like 300 meters, or movers, I do load my bipods heavy because doing so will not pull me off the target. But, if I'm doing 800-meter head shots, I will load bipods as consistent to when I zeroed, trued, and gathered my information out to those distances. It's not an always or never when referring to bipods. It just depends. When I shoot long range, the process for loading my bipods is: I pull the weapon system into my shoulder Load the bipods with my shoulder Once my NPA is established and my crosshairs are on the target, I then start loading to the target, And, as I load to the target, as soon as my bipods start to roll, I hold the pressure that I have at that point, And pull the trigger. What you're looking for is being consistent with the weapon system. Since you assist with improving optics the military uses, can you explain some of the features future optics will have? TH: You're going to start seeing scopes that have data within them. I know Nightforce has one that's going to be released soon. It's something we've been asking the industry to produce for the last 10 years. You'll have the capability of having weapons-mounted range finders to where you'll put the crosshairs on the target, and all of a sudden you'll have all the data and elevation holds. In the near future, you'll be able to have wind holds as well. But, the scopes will still have legacy reticles, similar to the Horus Tremor 3. The Tremor 3 that can plug-and-play with new technologies will take over and be used by the military for the next 20 years. It's been a long process working with the government to produce optics we need, and it's getting very close. There are a lot of new designs and reticles that work with these capabilities. It's exciting and intriguing what's coming down the pipeline in the next five years. Why has it taken so long to get to this point in making scopes smarter? TH: The ballistic engines have to be really good that are included in the scopes. The problem has been that the capabilities weren't being reached for what we needed at further distances. A lot of companies invest R&D money and go down the roads we ask. They knock out the advances in small steps, but any error in the mathematical algorithm shows itself once you get out past about 500 meters. Many systems don't account for wind and aerodynamic jump. There are so many aspects that are accounted for in the ballistic engines, and some of the scopes don't include solid algorithms. What are the best and longest shots you've made or witnessed? TH: I was training Marines out in Utah, and the longest shot that several of us made during the training was a boulder, and it was 4,889 meters away. One of the most impressive shots I've seen was when my son shot a pig at 1,668 meters. Long range is different for everybody. I've seen phenomenal shots, which were closer distances, because the call was more difficult. Some of the luckiest shots, I've ever had were with a pistol. I tell people that when there's a bullet in the air, there's hope. You've been married for a long time, how'd you meet your wife? TH: We've been married for 27 years. We met while skydiving. I was jumping that morning and trying to get all my jumps in, and she was taking a class. Later that day, I was flying the airplane, and I got to throw her out of the plane. We were engaged a month and a half later and married a few months after that. What's your best memory or highlight, thus far? TH: I've been very fortunate throughout my career. But, being able to hunt with my boys gives me the best memories every year. We're able to take animals at extreme long ranges and spend time together. As far as in competition shooting, it's not the shots made. The friends that I've made in the shooting world have been the best part of my career. Some of my best friends are guys I've been able to train over the past decade. Being able to work and be friends with such amazing men has been a great opportunity. Do you have a plan for retirement and who will continue this legacy you've started? TH: Right now we're starting to look at franchising. We'd have Accuracy 1st in Australia, Canada, and Great Britain. Those locations would consist of guys who have been through our training multiple times and know the material. As far as, here in the United States, I'm not ready to retire yet. It's on the horizon, but not near. At some point, I'll have more instructors working with me to facilitate the needs of the military. We'll have quality instructors who have all the same knowledge. We'll never slack off on the quality of the instructors. We don't teach at a minimal level. EDC Depends on environment: Appendix carry Glock 43 and Sayoc knife ZEV 19 with DeltaPoint Pro and Pro-Tech Automatic/Switchblade folder knife Todd's Top 3 Tips 1. Buy a good scope 2. Get a level on your scope 3. Fundamentals are priority Proper gun setup for you Proper body alignment Be a consistent platform to allow your rifle to give you consistent results NPA (natural point of aim), find your target in your scope before you start to load your bipods Be consistent on your load. You can't load heavy all the time. Dry fire and watch your reticle movement. Play with your technique to minimize reticle jump. Shoot in high winds as much as you can. This is where you will learn. Never stop learning Be careful where you get your information. Question everything. The bullet always tells the truth Todd Hodnett Age: 52 Hometown: Levelland, Texas Family: Wife, Shannon, and sons Colby and Will Favorite firearm: LaRue .260 with NF 416 ATACR with T3 reticle Other favorite firearm: Surgeon 300N with NF 525 ATACR with T3 reticle Most notable event: Hunting with my boys Favorite Book: Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals by Brian Enos Favorite movies: Top Gun; Oh Brother, Where Art Thou URL: accuracy1stdg.com Writer Alan Bennett has long been known in the British filmmaking industry for his sincere and straightforward style of screenplays. In The Lady in the Van, with the help of Director Nicholas Hynter, he turns the script on himself and brings audiences a bizarre and (mostly) true story from his own life. The result is an utterly endearing and quirky character study that resonates with audiences on multiple levels. Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight People board houseboats Friday at Silverthorne Resort on Lake Shasta. The Central Valley Water Board has stated that harmful Cyanobacteria has been found in parts of Lake Shasta. They say that the levels are low and don't pose a threat to people swimming in the water but injestion of algae material could be harmful and extra caution should be used with children and pets. The toxin was found in the Pit River and Squaw Creek arm areas. SHARE Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight People board houseboats Friday at Jones Valley Resort on Lake Shasta. The Central Valley Water Board has stated that harmful Cyanobacteria has been found in parts of Lake Shasta. They say that the levels are low and don't pose a threat to people swimming in the water but injestion of algae material could be harmful and extra caution should be used with children and pets. The toxin was found in the Pit River and Squaw Creek arm areas. By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight One word of advice for those heading to Lake Shasta for the busy Labor Day weekend: have fun in the water, but you may want to keep your mouth closed when swimming and your dogs on the boat in certain areas. An outbreak of blue-green algae in several parts of the lake first reported in July has spread to more parts of the lake near the Jones Valley and Silverthorn resorts. Blue-green algae produces Anatoxin-a, a cyanobacteria that can cause a range of problems, including skin irritations, mouth ulcers, flu-like symptoms and poison dogs. But health officials and at least one resort manager say that the levels are low enough that people can still swim in lake. "We want to make sure that people understand that the levels of the toxins is well below any effect on people, the limits are very minimal," said Jones Valley Resort General Manager Rich Howe. "What we're telling our customers is to come out to the lake, it's safe, the water is fine to swim in and enjoy. Just use common sense. Don't be drinking gallons of water out of the lake." He also advises customers to keep their dogs out of the water and from drinking or eating any algae or moss. The Central Valley Water Resources Board also advises caution to those visiting the lake. "We're encouraging people to come to the lake, enjoy the lake and just use precautions in areas where we've identified the algae's toxin to be present," said Bryan Smith, supervising engineer with the Central Valley Water Resources Board. "It's safe to come to the lake and swim in the water, we're just cautioning that that should not be in areas where the toxins have been detected. And when swimming, avoid drinking water." The Central Valley Water Resources Board issued an alert Thursday that the toxin was detected in water samples taken Aug. 10 at Jones Valley and Silverthorn marinas and the Squaw River Arm. None of the tests approached a level generally considered threatening toward humans, Smith said. The highest concentration in Jones Valley of 0.5 parts per billion, a measure of dilution, is far below a warning that would prompt concerns about adults. "The threshold for the next level of warning for human contact, would be 20 parts per billion," he said. That warning focused on animals and small children, who should not be allowed near waters in those areas, Smith said. That's because young children may accidentally swallow water and pets may drink and lick contaminated water coating fur, he said. Everyone should avoid areas with algae clearly present. It isn't clear what caused the bloom or the spread of its poison. But all nine samples taken in eastern Lake Shasta tested positive for Anatoxin-a. Officials took additional samples have been taken in water west of the Squaw and Pit river arms, Smith said. Results can take more than a week. A staff member at the Lake Shasta Visitor's Center in Mountain Gate had not heard a single question about the algae or toxins since the announcement Thursday. U.S. Forest Service representatives said they've encountered gratitude from visitors for the warning. Photo by Larry Jordan Vermilion flycatchers have been extending their range northward from Mexico in recent decades. This one spent last winter in Maxwell. SHARE By Dan Greaney, Special to the Record Searchlight Winter is not yet chasing birds southward, but it's late summer, and the nesting season is pretty much done. This is slack time, a time to relax, to vacation. For empty-nesters and fledglings of many species, this is a time to go traveling. Where do they go? Bird-watching field guides have long offered range maps, showing winter ranges and summer ranges in different colors. Now, with more data informing the range maps, a variety of colors and dotted lines try to illustrate normal migration routes. But some birds just aren't routine. They travel outside the lines. In biology, these wanderers are known as vagrants. Because they fly, birds are particularly capable of vagrancy, and this can make for pleasant surprises in local parks and ponds. Vagrants often are young birds who, having strayed from their species' tried and true, may stay in a strange land for a long time. Black scoters, for instance, are ocean ducks that nest along the north and west coasts of Alaska. In 2011-12 a young black scoter lived at Turtle Bay East and Kutras Lake for a full year. Sometimes illness or injury can send a bird awry. In 1991, a Laysan albatross, which normally soars far and wide over the Pacific Ocean and nests in Hawaii or the Philippines, turned up at Whiskeytown Lake. The bird had some run-in with people, however. It had a dab of red paint on its forehead, and died days after arriving. Storms may blow birds off course, or sometimes their magnetic sense of north seems to get reversed. Or some birds just seem to wander more than others. Indigo buntings yes, they're a deep purple-blue nest in the eastern U.S. and winter in Central America and Cuba, but we have had visits to Whiskeytown Lake and to the Clear Creek Water Treatment Plant. The Water Treatment Plant also hosted a 2013 September stop by a wayward buff-breasted sandpiper, which normally flies down the Mississippi River from its Arctic Ocean nest to its winter home in Argentina. Also in 2013 a black-capped chickadee, common all along the Canadian border and down to the mountains north and west of us, showed up at a Redding backyard feeder. The flame-brilliant vermilion flycatcher lives in South America and up to as far north as Southern California, but this past winter one spent a few weeks at the Maxwell Cemetery, with his own bright plumage complementing the cut flowers there. Tufted ducks paddlers with jazzy fifties-style ponytails normally live in Japan and the Koreas, but one visited Redding in 2006. Another colorful traveler from east Asia, a falcated duck, has wintered at the Colusa Wildlife Refuge in four of the past six years, attracting a small horde of humans in its wake. Vagrancy in birds comes with both benefits and risks. Among the benefits, vagrants may help mix genes among separate populations, enriching the genetic health of the species. If they establish themselves in a new area, they expand their species' range, supporting a new area's vitality with a robust and stabilizing diversity. On the negative side, vagrants may spread disease such as West Nile virus or otherwise threaten existing species, as common ravens are certain to do by preying on nestlings as they expand into the far north. But for bird-watchers, vagrants are mostly a treat, a chance to witness the variety of life's beauties here in our own neighborhood. Dan Greaney writes for the Wintu Audubon Society. For bird-watching programs see wintuaudubon.org. This Jan. 25, 2013 photo shows Jack, one of the people Andrew George photographed for a project called "Right, Before I Die" that part of an exhibit at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Four years ago George approached the medical director of a Los Angeles hospital with an unusual request: He wanted to meet patients who were about to die in hopes of capturing the wisdom they'd gained through living, their thoughts on their demise and how the perspective with which they looked back on life now that it was about to end. Dr. Marwa Kilani, looking for a way to focus a conversation on the dignity people deserve, and often don't receive, during the last days of their lives, opened the doors of his hospital to George. The result, "Right, Before I Die,' an exhibition of photos and words, opens later this month at Los Angeles' Museum of Tolerance." (Andrew George via AP) SHARE By JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) 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 says. 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 says 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 says 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" says, 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." Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight People use the Sacramento River Trail. SHARE By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight Gradually, the city of Redding will switch out about 1,400 streetlights for more energy-efficient bulbs expected to stay lit for at least 20 years. The new bulbs will shine a brighter hue on neighborhoods and commercial areas throughout Redding. The city is also working to install lights on the Sacramento River Trail. But for some neighborhoods, streetlights are difficult to find, leaving many in the dark. Older neighborhoods in Redding have petitioned Redding Electric Utility to illuminate their streets and the process can play out democratically, with residents having to ask their neighbors what they think of lights. Some residents prefer the dark, said Service Planning Supervisor Jeremy Ross with REU. You want to ask everyone how they feel about a new light. Someone cant request for REU to place a light in front of their neighbors property. If a resident requests a streetlight all they have to do is ask first, the power company and then their neighbors. Ross said the one applying would need to circulate a petition and gather signatures to get the project underway. Costs and labor vary depending on where the new lights are going up. Live under a wooden electrical pole? Great, that means crews can easily access the overhead lines. Neighborhoods without overhead lines can expect some digging to access the underground lines. In that scenario it would not make sense for crews to install only one light, so REU would aim for multiple lights to be installed, said Ross. In Redding the average streetlight ranges from $4,000 to $5,000 for a multiple light install and covers the labor that comes with digging for the lines, said Ross. Lights installed on wooden poles are less, about $400-$500 and do not need to be covered by the customer who made the request. Alternatively, REU can install a single light for one resident. For an additional $30 on the monthly bill, a resident can have a light shine on only his or her property. The citys light retrofit will cost $429,128 and the lights are manufactured by the Silicon Valley-based company Leotek Electronics USA. REU could not verify which parts of the city are getting the new lights, only that they are being phased in over the next several months. Community Service Officer Barb Crumrine with the Redding Police Department recommends to all the Neighborhood Watch groups she interacts with that lighting is a big crime deterrent. Darker homes without lights have a connection to higher crimes. If your neighbors cant keep an eye out for you, then a thief can just as easily get in without being noticed, said Crumrine. Crime is not a determining factor when placing new streetlights in the city of Redding, said Ross. Norma Johnson lives in the Branstetter neighborhood in southwest Redding. She is afraid to go outside her home after dark, because of a lack of lighting. I come home after dark and cant see to open my gate. It is so dark and very scary. I keep my pepper spray in my hand just in case until I get back into my car, said Johnson on the Nextdoor neighborhood forum. Residents in the Parkview and Bonnyview neighborhoods in Redding shared the same concern about a lack of lighting and their safety. Lighting the city of Redding rests on REU. Traffic lights and crosswalks are the responsibility of the planning department. Parks have different rules, said Kim Niemer, director of community services, because parks close after sunset. Providing lighting for sporting events and ballfields makes sense and that means pockets of light for families to travel from the ballfields to the parking lots. In the past, lighting sections of a park such as benches and picnic tables, led to people congregating in the park after dark. Thats not something we want to encourage, said Niemer. The city of Redding is also looking to light up a section of the Sacramento River Trail from Caldwell Park to the Sundial Bridge. The project will sidestep the need for electricity with solar-powered lights, but will cost more than a regular light fixture, according to an outline of the project. The project carries a cost of $280,000 and the city will apply for grant funding. Niemer said some of that cost could be covered by donors purchasing the lights, their names adorned on a plaque. There will be test lampposts in place in the fall so locals walking the trails can get an idea of what to expect. The lights would be placed along 4,200 feet of the trail and crews will also install reflective stripping to the trails to better illuminate the area. SHARE Roads reopen at Siskiyou fire scene All roads in the Grade Fire evacuation area north of Yreka reopened Friday morning, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The 710-acre wildfire that started Wednesday was 65 percent contained Friday, Cal Fire reported. Four residences and four outbuildings were lost in the blaze. Residents in the Hawkinsville area who had to evacuate were allowed back into their homes Thursday night. However, Rocky Gulch and Hawkinsville-Humbug Road remained closed to nonresidents until further notice. Pistol shot causes school lockdown A 42-year-old man fed up with drug deals near his home chased another man and ended up forcing a school to go on lockdown Friday when he shot a starter pistol at the fleeing man. Michael Maurer, who lives on Mountain View Drive, saw a man he didn't know near his home and confronted him. The two argued, and Maurer chased the man, firing a starter pistol several times in the air to scare the other man off, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office. Nearby Prairie School went on lockdown after sheriff's deputies responded to reports of gunshots and a man chasing another near Dersch Road and Mountain View Drive. The deputies never found the fleeing man, but they did tell Maurer that he shouldn't chase people and shoot a starter gun in public. They also told him that his actions led to the lockdown of an elementary school. Maurer was not cited or arrested on any charges. The Sheriff's Office discourages people from confronting others who they think may be committing crimes. Instead, they ask that people note details about the person such as what they're wearing, what they look like and where the are heading and share those with law enforcement officers. Three vehicles crash at intersection A three-vehicle collision involving a medical transportation vehicle slowed traffic at the intersection of Caterpillar Road and North Market Street early Friday evening. According to Sgt. Chris Smyrnos of the Redding Police Department, the medical transportation vehicle from American Medical Response was traveling east on Caterpillar Road when it collided with a Lexus car headed north on North Market Street to get to Interstate 5. During the collision, a third vehicle, a Dodge Caravan stopped westbound on Caterpillar Road, was also struck. Other than one person complaining of pain, there were no other significant injuries reported at the scene, Smyrnos said. Others involved in the collision were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure, he said. Smyrnos said police will continue to investigate who was at fault, but alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor. Board of Education seeks to fill seat The Shasta County Board of Education is looking for someone to fill the spot for Area 2, which consists of the Bella Vista, Black Butte, Cascade Union, Castle Rock Union, Columbia, Cottonwood Union, Fall River Joint Unified, French Gulch-Whiskeytown, Gateway Unified, Happy Valley Union, Igo-Ono-Platina, Indian Springs, Junction, Millville, Mountain Union, North Cow Creek, Oak Run, Pacheco Union and Whitmore Union Elementary districts. The applicant must live within the boundaries of one of those districts and not be a Shasta County Office of Education or school district employee, nor be a member of a district's governing board. The Board of Education usually meets the second Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. though special meetings or study sessions at other times happen occasionally. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Sept. 1. They are available at shastacoe.org/office-of-education/board-of-education, or may be picked up at the superintendent's office at 1644 Magnolia Ave., in Redding. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Interviews will be conducted and a candidate will be chosen by Sept. 20. For more information, call 530-225-0227. Firefighters put out fire near freeway Crews extinguished a grass fire near Interstate 5 on Friday afternoon that burned just over an acre of vegetation. The fire, reported just before 2:30 p.m., was near the Riverside Avenue on-ramp, north of the Sacramento River, and temporarily slowed traffic. Photos by Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Redding native Monica Fisher walks along the Sundial Bridge on Aug. 18 with her brother Aaron. Monica Fisher and her brother were spending time together before she moved to Chico to begin her second semester at Chico State University. She will represent Redding in the upcoming 2017 Miss California USA pageant. SHARE Monica Fisher (center) and her grandmother, Lydia Reed (right), cut strawberries during the Walmart Camp for Life on Aug. 10. Fisher and her grandmother were volunteers at the camp held at Whiskeytown's N.E.E.D Camp. Fisher will represent Redding in the Miss California USA competition in December. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Monica Fisher practices dance routines Aug. 18 at Sun Oaks Tennis & Fitness in Redding. Fisher has been dancing since she was a young girl and plans to try out for the Chico State dance team. "Growing up dancing, it was always my sport. It gave me a way to express what I was feeling," Fisher said. "I always stuck with it. It has always been there in my life." By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight Redding's Monica Fisher didn't grow up a pageant girl, so when she filled out an application to compete for the Miss California USA pageant, she knew it was a long shot. But shortly after applying, the 20-year-old was called in for an interview, and selected. "I have to say, it's really great to represent my hometown," Fisher said about being selected. Although she didn't grow up competing in pageants, she's kept herself busy by immersing herself in arts and volunteer work in the city. She was part of the Rotary group Interact, and volunteered for causes such as Toys for Tots and Stuff the Bus. Having grown up dancing since she was a 3, with training in ballroom, jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet, she's most proud of her involvement in Dancing with the Stars - Shasta County Style, a benefit dance concert that raises money for One SAFE Place, a local domestic violence shelter. Fisher participated in the event as a professional dancer for five years, and came back last year as a dance director. But now her passion takes her to California State University in Chico, where she's majoring in mechatronic engineering. "Engineering is not a traditional career," she said. "It's a lot of studying." Her major combines mechanical and electrical engineering, and she hopes to use her education someday to work at the Ferrari Factory in Marenello, Italy. But with her engineering major, she's added a minor in communication studies. She knows it's an odd combination, but there's one thing she wants people to know about her engineers can communicate. As the competition draws closer and Fisher prepares her walk and speech, she's learning more about who she is. "I'm learning more about myself, and what makes me confident, unique, and what I want out of life," she said. This year, the Miss California USA pageant will take place in Long Beach from December 2 to 4 and the winner of the title goes on to represent Miss USA, and eventually Miss Universe for 2017. And it's an option Fisher is open to. "If I was given the opportunity, it would be a dream come true," she said. ... Lin Laishram from Manipur, in a candid chat, springs many surprises Text and photographs: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com Tell me your name and where are you from? I am Lin Laishram, from Manipur. I ask her (Like an idiot), 'what do you do?' I'm an actor. In Manipur? In Mumbai. Oops, I am so very sorry! Don't worry about it! Thank you for spotting me though for these questions :) I have just finished shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj's Rangoon; I am playing a Manipuri nurse. Its a period film about World War 2. I am very much looking forward to my role in the movie. I've also been a junior national level champion in Archery. Have long have you been in Mumbai? I've been living here since 2001. I used to be a runway model. I've done fashion weeks in Delhi and Mumbai. I've walked for Tarun Tahiliani and Shantanu Nikhil when Lakme and Wills were one. I've lived in New York and I was modelling there as well. I studied from Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. How has Mumbai treated you? Mumbai is one of the best places I have lived in. Here the people are much nicer than anywhere else. How was your journey from the ramp to the big screen? It's definitely not been easy. You see there is no role cut out for me. Everywhere I went they would ask me, 'what role would I fit in?' and I really had no answer. Now, I have big hopes with Rangoon. I have a pivotal role in it. In Mary Kom I had approached Umang Kumar for Mary Kom's role but maybe he had already imagined Priyanka. So I got to play her friend. It was very nice working with Priyanka; I got to learn a lot from her. On racism... I have faced so much racism that I have just started to ignore it. It's everywhere; even at work places we are made to feel like we are a different race. Once in Delhi, sometime in 2007-08 I I had a show. After the show I had to walk to the hotel, which was not very far. And that walk was one chilling walk! People passed comments like as if we are not Indians at all. I really don't know what goes on in their minds but Mumbai is much more educated on this than Delhi. Future plans... Movies and more movies Acting is my first priority and I'm also doing research on Manipur textiles for a documentary I am working on. I want to show my diverse rich culture to the world. What does fashion mean to you? Fashion to me would be wearing something very traditional. Fashion to me is connected to my roots. I want to revive my culture. That is why today I am wearing a Manipuri Phanek; it's like a Mekhla, a traditional garment worn by women across India's North East. Fashion to me is comfort, not following any trend, and, in fact, creating your own style, which I did today. What you are wearing today Lin? Its a cotton silk mix Manipuri Phanek (points to her skirt). A Phanek is a casual day-wear in Manipur. Since the weather today has been so gloomy and rainy I thought I should add a little colour to the situation and perk myself up. So I chose a very bright, push-up pink, a young and vibrant colour. And your jacket? My jacket is from H&M. I don't really look so much at brands, I go for comfort. I am not at all into brands. But whenever I like a good design, I pick it up. I like simple clothing. I got this crop top from a design house Issue, New York. At Lakme today... I came to support Asa Kazingmei, a fashion designer from Manipur. I don't really know him but a friend was walking for him. So I came to support my culture in Mumbai. Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016: Full Coverage Check out trendy outfits and accessories on Rediff Shopping! The transformation of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, once a naive politician, into the most elastic entities in Indian politics is complete, says Sudhir Bisht. When I was in the tenth standard, the science teacher asked my class a question, "Tell me students, what is more elastic -- rubber or steel?" The entire class roared back in unison, "Sir, rubber." "No, my dear students, steel as an object is more elastic than rubber. Though in common parlance, rubber appears to be more elastic... But because elasticity is the capacity of a body to resist stress and return to its original size and shape when the stress is removed. Elasticity is measured as a ratio of stress to strain..." The teacher went on and on as a few of us began to wonder what exactly did he mean. Of course, we later learnt what stress meant and what strain signified in Physics and were perfectly at ease with this theory of elasticity. What remained stuck in mind was that in the matters of Physics, steel and not rubber was more elastic. Steel, in fact, was one of the most elastic elements on earth. It wasnt until earlier this week that I realised that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was the latest epitome of perfect elasticity. This is what happened in the yet another episode of the weekly soap involving Rahul and his sense of history about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Some time in March 2014, perhaps after receiving a quick gyan download of history by his gurus in the Congress, Rahul in an election rally in Bhiwandi said (external link): "People of RSS shot at Gandhiji and today their people talk of him..." Taking serious offence to the utterances of Rahul, an aggrieved gentleman, a devoted RSS follower named Rajesh Kunte, filed a defamation case against the Congress vice president. As is well known, the First Family of the Congress party does not appreciate cases being filed against them, especially in the lower courts. The reason for this is unknown. It could be that the lawyer on whom they seem to have maximum trust, the eminent and honourable Kapil Sibal, may not be able to travel to mofussil town courts to represent them. Rahul approached Bombay high court to quash the case when the lower court asked him to appear before it. The high court dismissed his appeal. He then approached the Supreme Court, but the apex court told him that he must either apologise or face trial for his remarks alleging that the RSS was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. The Congress's First family also seems to believe that it is their entitlement to get the cases quashed from the higher courts. However, the judiciary has its own guiding principles which dont discriminate between a priest and a pariah and thus we often find the Congress VP rolling his sleeves up and down at various public forums. To cut a long story short, Rahul's lawyer, sensing that the Supreme Court may summarily dismiss his client's appeal to order the lower court to quash the defamation case, pleaded that the Congress vice president never intended to paint the entire RSS as the killers of Gandhiji. He said his client only meant to point his accusing finger at some people from the RSS. This was a significant climb-down from the earlier position of his client that virtually accused RSS in its entirety of being the killers of Bapu. The Supreme Court then accepted the plea of Rahul's lawyer which was supported by an affidavit that was submitted earlier in the Bombay high court. It appeared that the matter would come to a close if the original complainant, Kunte, was satisfied by the new position taken by the original defendant. It was then that the principle of elasticity came into play. No sooner than he thought that he had escaped from the case, Rahul was back to his former self. He tweeted, "I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said." He also attached the video of his controversial speech that he made in Bhiwandi in 2014. Thus, as soon as the young leader thought that the external stress was off his body, he was back to his very acerbic and critical position against the RSS. He even beats the ability of steel as an object in respect of its index of elasticity. Leaving matters of Physics aside, a few questions need to be asked of the Congress leader: What is his real grouse against the RSS? Is it that he really believes that the organisation was behind the killing of Gandhiji? In which case he should stick his neck out and take a position to that effect in the highest court. Is he bitter about the fact that the Saffronites are now praising Gandhi and Patel? In the Bhiwandi speech video, Rahul looks angry that people who opposed Gandhi and Patel are now turning their opposition into admiration for the Congress icons. Let us for a moment assume that all those who oppose Gandhi and Patel are evil people. But if the evil too is trying to tread the holy path, shouldn't he welcome the change instead of opposing it? Why was Rahul so hell bent upon quashing the court case that was filed by Kunte? In my memory, no leader has ever gone to jail for defamation in free India yet. The court case would have lingered on for decades and maybe forever. Is it that by bringing the matter to the apex court, Rahul wants to sensationalise the case and project himself as the most strident critic, the most ferocious fighter against the RSS? Is this new positioning to consolidate the anti-BJP votes for the party that finds itself completely marginalised on the national scene? Rahul made his controversial speech against the RSS in Bhiwandi, which is a Muslim majority city in Maharashtra. It made good politics to link the RSS with Gandhiji's murder just before the Lok Sabha elections. In the court, Rahul's able counsel did what he was supposed to do -- wriggle his client out of a situation where his client would have been forced to issue an apology to the RSS. Is Rahul's tweet signifying his immediate about-turn from the stand he took in the court aimed at the Uttar Pradesh elections due next year? Maybe his gurus have told him that his rival Akhilesh Yadav has provided enough laptops to young people to be hooked on to Twitter, and hence his tweet of standing by his Bhiwandi speech. It may be his attempt to get Muslim votes apart from the Brahmin votes. Or maybe it's the Prashant Kishor doctrine at work? Anyway you look at it, the transformation of this once naive politician into the most elastic entities in Indian politics is complete. Image: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: PTI Photo. Sudhir Bisht is an author and columnist writing from New Delhi. He tweets at @sudhir_bisht. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday presented a "three-pronged action plan" that included a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in the Valley rocked by turmoil that has left 68 people dead. IMAGE: J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti addresses media after her meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: Shirish Shete/PTI Photo After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8, Mehbooba told reporters that the Prime Minister was "very concerned" about the situation and has asked for steps to end this "bloodshed" so that peace can return to the Valley. Appealing to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, she said, "please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations." The chief minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations or army camps. "The prime minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The prime minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil," she said. Mehbooba, according to a state government release, outlined a "three-pronged action plan" before the prime minister for the resolution of the Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. However, the release did not spell any details but sources in the know said the plan includes facilitating visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley later next week, a possible change in Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the state. Stressing the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state, Mehbooba called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by the then NDA Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005. "Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi," she said. The chief minister said the intra and inter-state Confidence Building Measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and the region. "We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve," she said and added that the present prime minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee. Expressing anguish over the continued violence and killings, Mehbooba sought involvement of all the stakeholders for resolution of the problems facing J and K and improving the situation in the state. She said the focus of the state government, central government and all other parties in the country is to reach out to the majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir who want peaceful solution of the problem. IMAGE: Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi. Photograph: @PIB_India/Twitter "Every political party wants the bloodshed in Kashmir to end and a political process to begin, sooner the better," she said and added that all the parties, cutting across the divide, including the Hurriyat leaders shall have to come forward and help in saving innocent lives as also engage in a meaningful dialogue process for the peaceful resolution of the problems. On the All Party delegation, she said, "I hope they will meet different shades of political opinion to elicit their views on how to find a way out of the present imbroglio." Urging Pakistan to reciprocate with open mind and in good faith to the peace initiatives for the permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue, she said unfortunately Islamabad lost out on a "golden opportunity for reconciliation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Lahore December last and when Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Islamabad recently for the SAARC ministerial meeting. "Pakistan also has to take a step forward in the interest of peace and stability in the region," she said. "Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan was fuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our Home Minister Rajnath Singhji went to Lahore, but again, unfortunately, Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend the courtesy that needs to be given to a guest," she said. She also advised Islamabad to take a leaf out if its former President Pervez Musharraf's Kashmir policy who had opined that the UN resolution on Kashmir had no space in the present world. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-third majority. "If things don't happen during his tenure, it won't happen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step of going there, today again says we need to talk to our own people, because people are dying," she said. "I am sure that the prime minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPA did," she said. Maintaining that the aspirations and the interests of people of the state are supreme for her government, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir have been living a life of pain, suffering and uncertainty and they yearn for peaceful resolution of the problems confronting the state. Underlining the fact that she has just been in power for the last two months, she appealed to the people to help her resolve the crisis. "I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, but please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations," she said. Calling for greater focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidence-building measures, Mehbooba said, "We should not mislead ourselves about brushing the issue under the carpet as was done on earlier occasions like in 2008 and 2010. "The country's political leadership must commit itself to address all the dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region." She said that she had appealed to the prime minister to involve all shades of political opinion in meaningful deliberations for realistic and just resolution of the problem. Noting that not enough has been done to implement the 'Agenda of Alliance' between her party PDP and BJP, Mehbooba said Modi reiterated his commitment that the political, economic and developmental initiatives enumerated in the agenda will be implemented with sincerity of purpose. Asked about talks with Hurriyat, she said a dialogue should be held with all those who want talks. But "those who are instigating the people for carrying out attacks on camps and police stations are not interested in talks," she said. She also appealed to the separatist leaders to come and help her government in breaking "this cycle of violence" in the state. This was the first meeting Mehbooba had with the prime minister after the violence broke out in the Valley on July 8. So far 68 people have died in the protests that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Stepping up Pakistan's diplomatic offensive on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to be dispatched to world capitals to highlight the problem. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the World. These special envoys have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government", Sharif said in a statement. "I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir Cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September", he added. "We will remind the United Nations its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people," Sharif said. The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. "The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September," Radio Pakistan reported. "We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise," he added. Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance. Three days after a violent earthquake shook central Italy on Wednesday morning, the full picture of the devastation is becoming clear. By Friday evening, the death toll had risen to 278 while it is now estimated that 2,500 people have been left homeless. Furthermore, some 238 people have now been rescued from collapsed buildings while 388 people have been hospitalised with serious injuries. The Italian government declared on Saturday a national day of mourning, and a state funeral for some of the victims will be attended by Italian president Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Matteo Renzi, who authorised an initial 150 million in aid and cancelling residents taxes. In addition to the human loss, the earthquake has also damaged culturally important sites such as churches and cemeteries, leaving Virgin Mary statues and coffins in the rubble. A Virgin Mary statue is seen in cemetery following an earthquake at Sant' Angelo near Amatrice, central Italy. A damaged Virgin Mary statue is seen in a church following an earthquake at Cossito near Amatrice. A resident helps a firefighter to set down a crucifix from San Lorenzo e Flaviano church following the earthquake in San Lorenzo. A firefighter carries away a painting from the San Lorenzo e Flaviano church Lorenzo, which was reduced to rubble. Damaged family chapels are seen in a cemetery. Coffins covered by debris are seen in a cemetery following the earthquake. All photographs: Max Rossi/Reuters A couple who have spent almost their entire lives with one another, are being forced to spend their golden years apart because they cannot get into the same care home. Wolfram Gottschalk and his wife, Anita, were photographed by granddaughter Ashley Bartyik, who posted the image on Facebook in hopes it would spur officials to get the couple back together permanently. This is the saddest photo I have ever taken, she wrote. We want justice for my grandparents who after 62 years together deserve to spend their last moments in the same building. Wolfram, 83, and Anita, 81, are in separate care facilities in Surrey, British Columbia, and were ripped apart because they require different levels of care. Wolfram, who suffers from dementia and congestive heart failure, was hospitalised and moved to a transitional health care facility where hes been ever since. Meanwhile, Anita has moved to an assisted living facility a 30-minute drive away from her husband in the hope that a spot will open up for him in the complex care area. The image has been shared more than 6,000 times online. Image: In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Ashley Baryik posted a touching image of her "Omi and Opi" wiping away tears as they held hands, adding that it was "the saddest photo I have ever taken." Photograph: Ashley Baryik/Facebook Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of a cafe attack in Bangladesh that killed 22 people including an Indian girl last month, was on Saturday killed along with his two aides during a police raid on their hideout near the capital. The gunfight erupted after police started raiding a building at Naraynganjs Pikeparha on the outskirts of Dhaka, counter-terrorism units Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com. The units chief Monirul Islam earlier said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh. Police spokesman Jalaluddin confirmed that Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury was among those killed during the raid, the second major clampdown after the nine suspected Islamist terrorists were killed last month. A joint team from counter terrorism and transnational crime unit, police headquarters and district police cordoned off the house since the morning on information that a group of militants were staying there, superintendent of Narayanganj police Mainul Haq was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. As the security forces tried to enter the house, the criminals opened fire from inside, he said. Talking to reporters at the scene, the inspector general of police said the operation was carried out under codename Operation Hit-strong 27 in which polices elite SWAT conducted the main part. The duration of the operation was one hour. When we entered into the house we saw three bodies lying on the floor, he said. The face of one of them completely matched with the photograph of Chowdhury, which made us sanguine that he is the man, he said. Another police officer at the scene said the slain militants used to live in the house as tenants identifying themselves as medicine businessmen. He said the landlord extended cooperation in carrying out the raid. Few grenades and a pistol were found from the scene. Chowdhury, 30, was identified by police as the mastermind of the countrys worst terror attack on July 1 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka that killed 22 people. An Indian girl was among 17 foreigners killed in the attack. According to the investigators, Chowdhury had accompanied the five attackers from their Bashundhara flat to Gulshan, Dhaka and left the area after bidding them farewell just before the cafe siege began on July 1. The investigators also found his involvement in the Sholakia attack on the July 7 Eid day that killed four people, including two constables, an attacker, and a local woman. Chowdhury was also the mentor of the nine militants who were killed in a police operation at Kalyanpur on July 26. According to police, Chowdhury used to stay in Canada and might have developed a network of financiers abroad before coming to Bangladesh in 2013. Chowdhury has led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims since returning from Canada, officials say. Police had announced Tk 2 million reward earlier this month for information leading to Chowdhurys arrest. Investigators earlier identified Chowdhury as the leader of Neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh. Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. But police believe that Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which is close to the IS, was involved in organising the attack. The police chief had earlier said that Dhaka alerted Indian security agencies against Chowdhurys possible intrusion to the neighbouring country as a nationwide manhunt was underway to track him down at home. Chowdhurys family hails from the northeastern Bangladesh district of Sylhet and his father Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, who was a mariner, immigrated to Canada in the early 1970s. Image: Policemen stand guard along a road leading to the Holey Artisan Bakery and the O'Kitchen Restaurant after gunmen attacked it in Dhaka. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters President Pranab Mukherjee has said that universities and institutions of higher learning must be bastions of free speech and expression and debates should be encouraged. At the first convocation of the Nalanda University on Saturday, he said the varsity reflects an idea, a culture which flourished for 1,200 years before it was destroyed in the 13th century. He said that over the years, India has conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate and discussions through the institutions of higher learning. "Dr Amartya Sen in his book The Argumentative India has correctly pointed out that debate and discussion is the ethos, a part of Indian life which cannot be done away with. Universities and institutes of higher learning are the best forum for debates, discussions, free exchange of views... such an atmosphere should be encouraged," Mukherjee said. He said the modern Nalanda should ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts. "Universities must be bastions of free speech and expression. It (Nalanda) must be the arena where diverse and conflicting thoughts contend. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the spaces of this institution. Further, it must act as the flag bearer for co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies," he said. Mukherjee asked the students, who passed out of the varsity on Saturday, to progress in life, leaving behind "all narrowness of minds and constricting thoughts". The ruins of the ancient university are located close to the new campus. The MoU on the establishment of Nalanda University has so far been signed by 13 East Asia Summit participating countries and four non-EAS countries. Taking about the historical importance of Nalanda University, Mukherjee said it was a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese cultures. "Ancient Nalanda is known for high level of debates and discussions. Though the main subjects of study were Buddhist texts, importance was also given to critiques of Buddhism by various schools, study of Vedas and beyond," he said. Mukherjee gave away gold medals to two students and 12 post graduate degrees at the convocation. He also laid the foundation stone of the 455-acre permanent campus of the university in the foothills of Rajgir. It will be built with the help of "green technology". "I understand that Nalanda University is striving to be a net zero energy, zero emissions, zero water and zero waste campus, a first of its kind in India. By adopting a net zero energy goal as early as 2013, the university has attempted to link its historical legacy to urgent contemporary issues of environmental sustainability," he said. Till now, the classes were being held in a makeshift campus near the Rajgir bus stand. The School of Historical Studies, the School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions are operating in the varsity. IMAGE: President Pranab Mukherjee watches a model of Nalanda University campus after foundation stone laying ceremony at Rajgir, Nalanda on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo What you need to know about Powerball and the $825 million jackpot SHEFFIELD Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation will host an evening hike at Kothenbeutel Prairie, a diverse 40-acre prairie remnant and oak savanna located in northern Franklin County. It will be led by INHF Land Stewardship Director Ryan Schmidt at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. The public is invited to this hike on privately-owned land that boasts over 200 native species, including Downy gentian and Wood lily. The event ties into Iowas Prairie Heritage Week, a celebration promoted by Iowa Prairie Network and other conservation partners. Each September Iowans are invited to explore nature, learn about prairies and re-connect with Iowas prairie heritage. All ages are welcome to attend. Snacks and water will be provided, but hikers should bring a refillable water bottle. Participants are asked to wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Kothenbeutel Prairie is an INHF-owned site located approximately 20 miles south of Mason City. It is directly east of 1952 240th St., Sheffield. (Do not park at this address.) Look for directional signs in the area. Contact INHF Volunteer Coordinator Mary Runkel at mrunkel@inhf.org or 515-288-1846, ext. 17, with any questions or to RSVP. Details for this and other gatherings can be found at www.inhf.org. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowas land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 150,000 acres of Iowas wild places. ONE HEART ONE CITY Zion Lutheran Church, River of Life Church and Global Samaritan Resources have planned 'One Heart One City,' an event for the community to join together. The event is set for Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road. Approximately 2000 Food Paks (40K lbs. of food) will be assembled in partnership with Children's Hunger Fund for families in need in the Big Country and South Texas. Family and friends are invited to participate. Here's how you can get involved: 1. Come pack boxes at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday or until the last box is packed. 2. Provide financial support ($10 per box) with a goal of $20,000. Donations can be made online at www.Childrenshungerfund.org/OneHeartOneCity 3. Most important PRAY! Learn how you can be a part of a community that beats as One Heart and One City for One Kingdom. For more details, contact Steve Huerta at shuerta@childrenshungerfund.org. GRIEFSHARE Pioneer Dive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive, will begin a GriefShare program at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Room 114. The weekly seminar and support group is designed to help those who grieve rebuild their life. For questions, call Jill at 325-692-6776 or email her at jfleming@pioneerdrive.org. PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT STUDY OF EPHESIANS Classes for A Precept Upon Precept Bible Study will be held at Broadview Baptist Church, 2500 S. 27th St. The topic will be 'Ephesians: the Church Rooted in Love, Walking in Power' and will be led by Liz Hargrove. Classes will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon each Tuesday morning from Sept. 6-Nov. 8. Workbook pickup will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Cost for the workbook is $20. To enroll or for more information, call Liz Hargrove at 325-668-8170. Members from all churches are welcome to participate in this study. CHILDREN COME FIRST MOTHER'S DAY OUT 'Children Come First!' will be a Mother's Day Out Program at First Christian Church, 1420 N. 3rd St., meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 7. Registrations are now being accepted. Registration fee is $50 (or $55.00 per family) and cost per month is $145.00 with $20/month discount per additional child in the same family. The program is accepting children ages 3 months to 5 years old (or until they start kindergarten). Director Sarah Christopher and her staff are fully certified in CPR, AED and First Aid. Call the church to enroll 325-677-2186. Or to request more information from Sarah, email her at SARAHccffcc@gmail.com. YEAR ROUND MOTHER'S DAY OUT PROGRAM Hope 4 Life Church, 3502 Rebecca Lane, announces the August opening of Son-ny Day Kids, a year-round Mother's Day Out program for children ages 1-5 years. Two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), children will participate in an exciting day of learning and playing that includes Bible stories and videos, music, arts and crafts, puppet theater, educational activities, and lessons of faith and values in a safe and loving environment. Visit or call Janet, Mother's Day Out director, at Hope 4 Life Church at 325-692-7009, Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday, from 9 a.m. until noon, for more information or to register now. Leave a message for a prompt response. Places are limited. MOTHER'S DAY OUT PROGRAM TO BEGIN Lytle South Baptist Church, 1125 E Industrial Blvd., will start a Mother's Day Out Program for children ages 1- 4. The program will begin on Aug. 22 and follow the AISD school calendar. Sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The Cost: $25 Registration Fee (due at enrollment) is $25. The full time monthly fee will be $120 or $65 for one day per week. Each additional Child will be $10 less per monthly fees (first child is full price). For more information, email Cassie Sliger at sliger_cassie@yahoo.com or call the church office from 8:30 a.m. to noon 325-695-6533. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Abilene, 1541 Sayles Blvd., welcomes people of all religious beliefs and those who choose not to believe in organized religion to hear Dr. Templeton with Hendrick Hospice discuss End of Life issues from Advance Directives through Medical Power of Attorneys to Wills at 11 a.m. Sunday. For more information visit www.uuabilene.org. Send news of your religious organization or group to Religion Editor, Abilene Reporter-News, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, Texas 79604; fax it to 325-670-5242; or email it to jan.woodward@reporternews.com. Deadline is noon Monday. By Timothy Chipp of the Abilene Reporter News With school in session for the first week, everyone is getting back into the swing of things. That includes students adjusting to their new classrooms and teachers, the educators who have new students they must learn to appreciate. Then there are principals, who sometimes need to get used to either new buildings or, in the case of Stevanie Jackson, a new job. Jackson has spent the last handful of years leading the Cooper High School ninth-grade academy program. There, her job was facilitating a program designed to help young students at the high school adjust to their new surroundings. It's Jackson, who is now the principal at the brand-spankin'-new Bonham Elementary, who's trying to familiarize herself with new surroundings. I've heard it hasn't been an easy transition for Jackson, though I did receive one note from a particularly pleased parent who had nothing but praise for the first-year principal sent to us via our Abilene Reporter-News Facebook page. Wendy Bennett and her son, Lennon, were stuck in a traffic jam outside the new Bonham school trying to get home on Wednesday. They said Jackson played an integral part in freeing them up, and Bennett wanted her to receive some praise. This is not an ordinary story, though, because ending a traffic jam isn't exactly the a job duty for a principal and hardly worthy of praise. But Lennon is a special child and Bennett said Jackson's actions helped her family significantly. Bennett said Lennon, 11, has been diagnosed with autism and other conditions and was born with spina bifida, meaning "cleft spine," according to the National Institutes of Health. He's nonverbal, meaning Bennett must pay attention to his actions to determine his moods. And that Wednesday afternoon, she said, he was not handling the heat in their vehicle well. What's worse is they're without air conditioning in their vehicle, she said. Bennett said she called into the school's office and Jackson came out almost immediately. Soon, they were freed up and getting home. "We sat there for 15 minutes," Bennett said. "I called the office at Bonham, the principal came out right away, got the people to move their cars and home we went. "As soon as we got home, he was the happiest baby." It was a rather simple action that left one mother glowing. Abilene ISD Superintendent David Young said he has happy to hear about his new principal's efforts. Though he didn't want to praise one employee over any other, since there are countless teachers, staff and principals in the district making an impact all around, he did say it was nice to hear Jackson's name come up in praise. "This is just another example of an Abilene ISD employee going above and beyond for the students in the district," Young said. TSTC DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN PROGRAM GET FINANCIAL BOOST Hendrick Medical Center donated $2,500 to the Texas State Technical College's digital media design program through the school's Make a Texas-Sized Difference campaign. TSTC said the Hendrick donation will be used for $500 scholarships that'll be used for equipment needs of students to function in the program. After matching funds from the TSTC Foundation are applied, the gift is worth $5,000, the school said. SHARE By Timothy Chipp of the Abilene Reporter News The Abilene Independent School District received welcome news Friday as first-week enrollment showed a slight increase over last year, according to data provided by the district. Other Abilene schools and the Wylie ISD also reported either stable or slightly increased enrollment. According to fifth-day figures released Friday, Abilene ISD has 16,860 students, including 4,462 in high school. The former figure is up 103 students from last year's total of 16,757. AISD Superintendent David Young said he's pleasantly surprised by the increase, which comes at a time when the district had been expecting a slight decline. "When we build a budget, and as we're preparing staffing patterns and stuff like that, we are generally conservative," Young said about estimating enrollment. "We had hoped this (increased enrollment) would be the case, but we always say when you're looking at do we need to hire additional staff, you never do it until you see the whites in the students' eyes." Much of the growth this year comes from high school enrollment, the figures show. High school numbers jumped from 4,353 last year to 4,462 Friday. An increase also was recorded in the district's special programs 942 students this year compared with 922 last year which includes students enrolled in programs at the Jefferson Center and those in special education. The increase at the high school level is due in large part, Young said, to a large contingent of freshmen at Cooper High School. Though he didn't break down the numbers, Young said Cooper's freshman class actually is larger at this point than its counterpart at rival Abilene High. Though high school enrollment rose, enrollment at the elementary schools remained relatively steady, with 7,867 students this year compared with 7,887 last year a loss of 20 students. The opening last year of the Texas Leadership Charter Academy in the old Valley View Elementary School may have been a factor in the decline. Middle school enrollment also held somewhat steady, dropping only six students from last year's total of 3,595 to 3,589 this year. Among the pleasant surprises is stronger than expected enrollment at Johnston Elementary School, one of the new buildings the district opened this week, Young said. After boundary lines were redrawn this summer upon the closing of Jane Long Elementary, administrators tried to estimate class sizes at the north-side elementary schools. Those guesses, though, proved incorrect, and some staff already has been shifted to help the district remain in compliance with the state's 22:1 student-teacher ratio, Young said. A total of 10 teachers have been shuffled between schools, Young said, and two additional elementary school teachers should be hired in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Wylie officials said the district's early enrollment figures continue to show an increase as they have in years past. In total, Wylie said 4,202 students attended the first day of school Monday an increase of 4.2 percent from 2015-16. A large jump occurred at the high school, where enrollment now totals 1,091 students, up from 1,055 last year. The district's early childhood building and the intermediate and middle schools also reported an increase in students, while the populations dropped slightly at the primary and junior high schools, according to district-provided data. At the city's charter schools, the TLCA added a sixth-grade section as the school expanded from its original offering of kindergarten through fifth grade. This pushed total enrollment to 393 students, up from 298 last year. The school also added a new third-grade class and has a waiting list for several lower grades, according to Principal Melinda McCarty. Premier High School, Abilene's other charter school, reported 163 enrolled students this year, up from 155 at the start of school last year. One Abilene private school reported near-record enrollment. Abilene Christian School reported that a total of 381 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade have enrolled. Last year, early enrollment figures totaled 355 students. St. John's Episcopal School reported that its enrollment is almost dead even compared with last year, listing 261 students thus far in 2016-17 compared with 262 students at the start of the past school year. People experiencing a mental health crisis should not be treated as criminals, Police Chief Stan Standridge stressed Friday during a presentation at the second annual Mental Health Symposium in Abilene. Standridge told the audience that officers often are the first people to respond to a mental health situation. Sometimes a mental health-related call can last several hours and involve many people. 'By the time that we get there and figure out what is going and we notify other entities like Adult Protective Services, we have to wait for them to respond in the field,' Standridge said. 'They do their assessments and, like you heard (a member of the audience) say, it takes about an hour. The entire time the officers are still there.' Standridge said that if patients realize that they could be involuntarily committed, or if they were combative from the onset of the call, that places an officer in a difficult position. The officer has to reconcile the mental health issue with the possible offense, which is not easy to do at times, and find the appropriate solution. Standridge said that at the police academy, cadets are trained on how to work with someone going through a mental crisis. Cadets are taught to perceive the person as a patient first and not a prisoner. They also are taught to consider any mental health issues versus enforcing the law. The Abilene Police Department is looking at options to provide better service for people facing mental health issues, Standridge said. One way is by networking with other mental health professionals in the area. 'We need to continue to work with all the stakeholders. We need to try to improve the attractiveness of becoming a mental health marshal employed by the city Abilene. Then we ultimately need to train and recruit those individuals,' Standridge said, adding that the biggest problem is finding qualified applicants at the salary being offered. Standridge said the mental health marshal's position previously has been posted but there's been no success in attracting the right candidate. Pearl Merritt, regional dean for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, shared Standridge's thoughts about bringing people together from the community. Merritt said she wants to form a committee to examine this issue further and bring in people with various backgrounds including education, health care and law enforcement to share knowledge to help people who are facing a mental health crisis. Merritt added that the conference has been very successful. 'It has been outstanding. We have had close to 200 people attend,' she said. 'Some of the responses have been how important (it is) that we work together as a community to solve this problem. There are individuals across the entire spectrum with health care, the school system and with law enforcement.' 'We are coming together to talk about the issues and to network on how we can increase the quality of care for these individuals.' State Sen. Charles Schwertner told those gathered Friday at the Mental Health America of Abilene's second annual symposium that in the complex world of mental health policy, there are no easy answers and even novel solutions often bring their fair share of new challenges. Schwertner, an orthopedic surgeon, grew up in Abilene, where he spent many years watching his mother, Kaye Schwertner, who had a 'long, distinguished career' in serving people with mental illnesses. Kaye Schwertner was director of nursing for Abilene's MHMR Center for five years and then worked for the Texas Department of Health for 20 years, working as a surveyor, he said. As chairman of the Texas Senate's Health and Human Services Committee, Schwertner said he has worked to create a renewed focus on the state's ailing mental health care system. And as 'leading voice' on the Senate's finance committee, he said he has 'fought to increase funding on mental health by more than $500 million over the last four years.' Those new dollars have been used to increase access to community mental health options, expand wraparound services, develop a robust crisis intervention system, and implement a number of new programs designed to divert people with mental illness from county jails into more appropriate and cost-effective care settings, he said. But adequately addressing the many challenges that plague the system is complicated and ever-changing, he said. For example, as local mental health authorities have begun to provide more effective crisis stabilization services, thousands of low-acuity mental health patients are being diverted from overburdened state hospital systems into more appropriate care settings. But those state hospitals now find themselves struggling to treat those left. 'The most severe forensic and high-acuity patients have come to increasingly dominate the populations of our state hospitals,' he said. By the same token, as effort has established more successful jail diversion programs throughout the state, there has been a corresponding increase in inpatient forensic treatment in the state hospital system. In June, Schwertner called a hearing of the Health and Human Services Committee to discuss jail diversion, capacity in state hospitals and access in the state mental health care system. Through that hearing, it became clear that examining the state's approach to inpatient care is vital, as is eliminating remaining barriers that prevent the criminal justice system from working with the state's mental health care system in ways that best represent the interests of both individuals and society, he said. One of Texas' most troubling and acute challenges is providing adequate care and support to children of 'our beleaguered foster care system,' he said. Texas now faces a pronounced capacity crisis in foster care, a reality that keeps some children in psychiatric hospitals well beyond medical necessity and forces others to sleep in hotels and CPS offices because there is no other place for them to go, he said. Of 30,000 children in the Texas foster care system, 1 in 6 are considered high needs with severe emotional and psychological problems. Texas cannot make progress in improving access to mental health care without first addressing a staggering shortfall of mental health professionals, Schwertner said. The problem is particularly dire in rural areas, with nearly 200 of the state's 254 counties designated as mental health professional shortage areas. As part of the previous legislative session, Schwertner launched the Mental Heath Professional Loan Repayment Program, a state-funded grant program providing student loan repayment to mental health professionals who agree to treat patients in poorly served regions. 'The program will soon be making commitments to more than 100 new mental health providers,' he said. But although that's an encouraging start, it only 'scratches the surface,' he said, future growth requiring increased collaboration between Texas' medical schools and the mental health care system. Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much, but most agree on this: The federal government isn't working the way it should. Instead of fixing problems and boosting the economy, recent presidents have seemed to lurch from crisis to crisis from Iraq and Hurricane Katrina under George W. Bush to Islamic State and the Obamacare rollout under Barack Obama. The problem is real, and it's getting worse. One recent study found that 'government breakdowns' have occurred twice as often under Presidents Bush and Obama as during the decades before. That's driven public trust in government to historic lows. Last year, the Pew Research Center found that only 19 percent of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing most of the time. Partisans will tell you the reason is simple: People in the other party have messed things up. Republicans say big government doesn't work (even though it once did better, at least, than it's working now). Democrats say that's because Republicans won't let the government work. In a smart, concise book, 'Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again,' Elaine C. Kamarck, who worked on federal government reform in the Bill Clinton administration, argues persuasively that Bush and Obama failed to grasp the importance of managing the federal bureaucracy. As a result, she writes, they brought spectacular failures upon themselves. 'In modern America, the government the president leads is an afterthought until it takes down his presidency,' she writes. 'Voters are angry at politicians, and that's understandable,' Kamarck said. 'They're angry because they want a president and Congress that can get things done, and that's not happening. Some think it's because the politicians are corrupt. But I'm sorry; George W. Bush's problems didn't come from corruption, and neither did Obama's. And a lot of voters have decided that they don't want politicians any more that we ought to get nonpoliticians to do the job. But our real problem is that we've had a series of presidents who were so inexperienced in governance that they neglected a big part of their job, and that led to dramatic failures.' The neglected part of the president's job, she argues, is old-fashioned management: negotiating with Congress, implementing programs carefully and keeping an eye on the vast federal bureaucracy to stop crises before they happen. Over the past few decades, she notes, the government has become more complex, but the budgets for managing its bureaucracies have gotten smaller. Presidents and their aides have assumed that good politics and persuasive rhetoric could cover up flaws in performance. They were wrong. The task for voters and journalists in the rest of the campaign is to press the candidates to explain how they plan to accomplish what they've promised. 'George W. Bush got some very big things wrong despite having a brilliant political strategy,' she writes. 'And Barack Obama seems to be the epitome of someone who is a brilliant campaigner with a lackluster ability at governing.' Kamarck is a Democrat, but she's tough on Obama. On Obamacare, she writes, 'An inspirational and intellectual president failed the most basic test of leadership: creating reality from rhetoric.' What's the lesson for voters facing this year's choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? 'Easy question,' Kamarck said. (She's still a Democrat, after all.) 'Clinton talks about the importance of governing and having a Congress that can get things done. She has lots of plans, lots and lots of plans. That at least means she has a grasp of the problems. He has no plans at all.' But what about Trump's claim that as a purportedly successful businessman, he can force the federal government to shape up fast? It doesn't work that way, Kamarck warns. 'The government is different from the private sector in fundamental ways,' she notes. The president administers programs, but Congress acts like a disorderly and willful board of directors a problem Trump has never dealt with in his privately held companies, according to Kamarck. 'In most of the federal government, you can't just walk in and say, 'You're fired.'' In the long run, Kamarck says, the next president needs to focus on basic management precepts: Pay more attention to implementation. Do performance audits on the bureaucracy. Set up an 'early warning' system so you aren't blindsided by breakdowns. Meanwhile, the task for voters and journalists in the rest of the campaign is to press the candidates to explain how they plan to accomplish what they've promised. 'This is the time to ask: OK, how are you going to do it? They both agree that the most important priority is creating jobs. OK, who has the better plan?' We already know what the candidates want to do; we know their goals and policies are starkly different. What we don't know, in much detail, is how they would actually govern if elected, especially in the case of Trump. So let's stick to a simple question: How are you going to get it done? Email Doyle McManus, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com That thundering, reverberating sound coming from McMurry University's Radford Auditorium Tuesday morning wasn't an earthquake or an explosion, but rather the opening chapel service at the United Methodist school. Folks who live near Abilene Christian and Hardin-Simmons universities probably heard something similar in their neighborhoods as the spiritual life, along with the academic life, got back into full swing for the fall semester. Classes at all three of Abilene's four-year universities started Monday. Some sort of religious activity, whether a formal chapel service or informal spiritual gathering, started soon after. ACU is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and Hardin-Simmons is Baptist-affiliated. Contemporary Christian music, backed up by amplified guitars and drum sets, is the hallmark of today's gatherings of young Christians. But old-fashioned prayer is still in vogue, too. Kyle Watson, the new assistant chaplain at McMurry, offered an opening prayer Tuesday as ears were still ringing from the music. He asked God to be in the lives of the students as they begin a new semester of learning. 'We invite you into this process,' Watson said. 'May we be conduits of your love.' Hardin-Simmons students were greeted by Travis Craver, the new director of chapel and spiritual formation. Craver, who holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Hardin-Simmons, has been on staff at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church since 2006. He started as associate youth minister and most recently has been youth minister. An article in the Pioneer Drive newsletter thanked Craver for his work with youths at the church. 'As you have blessed us,' the article read, 'may you now be a blessing to the Hardin-Simmons family.' Hardin-Simmons students are required to accumulate 80 chapel credits during their college career to graduate, according to the university website. Credits can be earned in several ways by attending the weekly chapel service in Behrens Auditorium and approved events such as concerts and theater productions and by participating in service projects. Across town at ACU, the new spiritual development format instituted last year remains in place, Jan Meyer, director of spiritual formation, said in an email. Students can obtain Spiritual Formation Event Credits by attending one of various chapel services offered daily and by participating in service work and other approved activities. ACU undergraduate students under age 25 are required to earn 55 credits per semester, an average of four per week. Students will have as many as 200 spiritual formation events per week to choose from, Meyer wrote. The university is making it easier for students to find those events and register for them with a new app, 'Quest,' which is in the finishing stages. The name was chosen with a purpose, Meyer wrote. 'This name denotes our philosophy that we are all on a spiritual journey, our own quest,' Meyer wrote, 'and we make choices every day as to how we will engage with God and community.' At McMurry Tuesday morning, Haley Shepard was one of the seven members of the campus ministry leadership team greeting students as they entered Radford Auditorium. During the semester, a weekly chapel service is held in the Mabee Room of the campus center but attendance is not required. Still, it is popular with students, featuring music, a communion service open to everyone, and a message. Shepard, a sophomore biology major from Sherman, said students at McMurry come from a variety of faith backgrounds, not just United Methodist. The campus ministry team strives to make the service attractive to students, Shepard said, no matter their background. 'We want to make sure everyone feels at home in chapel,' Shepard said. Watching, but not leading, the opening service Tuesday was Jeff Lust, university chaplain and director of religious life. A 1983 McMurry graduate, Lust felt right at home at a chapel service. The purpose of campus ministry, he said, is to set students on a path of a lifetime of discipleship, friendship, and service. 'I'm hoping that they learn to look to and trust in God,' Lust said. Nothing makes an Iowa raccoon madder than when a family of humans invades its sweet corn patch. It happens every summer. But the masked marauders sometimes get the last laugh when they raid brim full garbage cans and scatter the heat ripened contents far and wide. They further add to the insult by conducting late night visits to backyard feeders where they tip support poles, dump expensive bird seed to the ground and drain oriole and hummingbird feeders of their sugary contents. Mission accomplished, the ring-tails quickly vacate their newly created disaster zone and head back to the sweet corn. Although highly efficient, the humans often miss an ear or two. The Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) has launched an appeal against a decision to uphold a ban on their athletes competing at next months Rio Games. The RPC filed the appeal in the Swiss Federal Court against the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "The appeal has been launched in the Swiss court," the Interfax news agency quoted RFC president Vladimir Lukin as saying on August 26. Earlier this week the CAS, sport's highest tribunal, rejected an RPC appeal against the ban issued by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The IPC decision followed revelations of widespread cheating in Russian sport that ignited a doping scandal that has threatened to split the Olympic Movement. The Rio Paralympics run from September 7-18. Based on reporting by Interfax and Reuters Ukraine's interior minister has vowed there won't be any "whitewash" as authorities investigate the death this week of a 31-year-old man at the hands of a half-dozen policemen with the man's family looking on. The minister, Arsen Avakov, made the pledge via Facebook after angry residents tried to overturn a police vehicle transporting police officers who were detained over Aleksandr Tsukerman's death in the village of Krivoye Ozero in the southern Mykolayiv region. With several of the officers already facing charges, Avakov also promised to disband the district police department and replace its entire staff. He said anyone who committed criminal activities would face trial. Shouting "Murderers!" and spitting, punching, and demanding justice, hundreds of people had converged on the district prosecutors office, where the six officers were being transferred to a detention facility. Some of the officers in custody were said to have been injured in the attack, despite Ukrainian security forces' efforts to contain the mob. Ukrainian media reports suggested that an unarmed Tsukerman was handcuffed and beaten by police before being shot dead in front of his mother, wife, and young son in his home late on August 23. The officers were reportedly summoned by Tsukerman's wife during an argument with her husband. Tsukermans mother described the police officers as kicking and beating him before shooting him several times. Tsukerman died at the scene. But the police officers' version of events contends the officers used force in self-defense after Tsukerman came out with a shovel and attacked the policemen, running after them for some 30 to 40 meters. There was also a related phone call and complaint from a taxi driver directed at Tsukerman the same evening, officials said, possibly involving a robbery. Local reports say at least three of the officers have been charged with murder. Angry Krivoe Ozero residents are calling their action the Second Vradiyivka, in a reference to public reactions to the brutal rape and beating of a local woman by police officers in the village of Vradiyivka, also in the Mykolayiv region, in 2013. At the time, hundreds of protesters stormed the Vradiyivka police headquarters, smashing windows and setting the building on fire after authorities were accused of trying to cover up the policemen's crime. Public protests continued until the police officers were given lengthy prison sentences and several high-profile law-enforcement officials were dismissed for mishandling the situation. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on local reports and reporting by RFE/RLs Current Time Washington and Moscow inched toward agreeing on a renewed cease-fire in Syria but fell short of announcing a deal after a daylong meeting between top diplomats in Geneva on August 26. "We are close," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry after the 12-hour talks. "But we are not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people." Kerry said "we achieved clarity on the path forward" for a revamped cessation of hostilities, adding that the "vast majority" of technical obstacles to a cease-fire were cleared but some issues remained unresolved. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed his American counterpart, telling reporters that "very important steps" had been made on a deal to stop the violence. "I think in the nearest time we will present the fruits of our joint efforts," Lavrov said. There had been hopes of a definitive announcement to stem the fighting in the war-torn country and on proceeding to a new round of UN-brokered peace talks. But Kerry stressed that they didn't want to announce an agreement prematurely, only to watch it fall apart as happened with a previous cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington in February. "We do not want to make an announcement...that is not enforceable, that doesn't have details worked out, that winds up in the place that the last two announcements have wound up," Kerry said. "Until we have, neither of us are prepared to make an announcement that is predicated for failure. We don't want a deal for the sake of the deal, we want a deal that is effective...and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution." Kerry said U.S. and Russian experts would continue to meet in Geneva in the coming days to try to iron out remaining obstacles to a durable deal. Lavrov said one of the unresolved issues is the possibility of coordinating air strikes against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria. On that point, he said the United States has not fulfilled its promise to separate the rebel groups it supports from Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, which has been fighting side by side with U.S.-backed forces. "Without a delineation between normal, healthy opposition forces and terrorists, I see no possibility of reaching a long-term and comprehensive cessation of hostilities," Lavrov said. Kerry said the United States is seeking to enlist neighboring countries that have influence in Syria to help separate rebel forces from the Al-Nusra group, which recently renamed itself Fateh Al-Sham Front and renounced its affiliation with Al-Qaeda. Air Support Kerry said neither Washington or Moscow is deceived by the name change. "Nusra is Al-Qaeda, and no name change by Nusra hides what Nusra really is and what it tries to do." While the United States has been providing financial support, training, advice, and some air power back-up to Syria's main opposition alliance, Russia has provided diplomatic support and air power back-up to Syrian regime forces. Kerry listed two main requirements to ensure a revamped cease-fire holds: unified responses to cease-fire violations by the Damascus regime, and checks on the rising influence of the Al-Nusra group. The two diplomats were briefly joined by United Nations envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who said he hoped the talks would revive peace negotiations that were last held in April. Successive rounds of negotiations have failed to end a five-year civil war that has killed more than 290,000 people, forced millions from their homes, and fed an unprecedented migrant crisis in Europe. Both Kerry and Lavrov stressed the need for fresh talks to find a political solution to the crisis. Kerry voiced hope that reestablishing a geniune cease-fire could "open the window of opportunity for us to be able to get to the table here in Geneva, and have a real negotiation about the future." The most immediate concern of all sides is the need for humanitarian aid for millions of civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo, which has been the focal point of fighting much of the year. The UN on August 26 described the lack of humanitarian access as "wholly unacceptable," saying just one aid convoy had completed deliveries this month. Russia last week gave its blessing to a weekly pause in fighting in Aleppo for 48 hours to allow aid in, but de Mistura said other unspecified parties are still blocking an agreement. Meanwhile, in a blow to opposition forces, rebels and civilians in the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya were evacuated on August 26 after agreeing to surrender the town after four years of grueling bombardment and a crippling siege that left the sprawling area in ruins. The surrender of Daraya, which became an early symbol of the nascent uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, marks a success for his government, removing a persistent threat only a few miles from his seat of power. Lavrov said the Daraya surrender is "an example I think will get some following." He said the Russian military's reconciliation center in Syria has received a request from another area to organize a similar operation -- with Russian mediation. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, TASS, and dpa 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." A man who took four people hostage inside a Citibank branch in downtown Moscow on August 24 has been sent to pretrial detention. A court in Moscow on August 26 put Aram Petrosyan under arrest until October 24. Petrosyan announced that he started a hunger strike to protest his incarceration. Earlier on August 26, Petrosyan was officially charged with hostage taking. If found guilty he may face up to 15 years in jail. Petrosyan, 55, entered the Citibank branch claiming that he had a bomb. The hostages, who included three bank employees and one customer, were freed unharmed several hours later. The supposed explosive device Petrosyan had around his neck turned out to be fake. Petrosyan insists that his intention was to attract top officials attention to problems faced by bankrupted businessmen in Russia. Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS Russia's emergency services said a fire broke out at a warehouse in Moscow, killing 17 migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan. The blaze at a printing warehouse occurred early August 27 in the Russian capitals northeast. "While extinguishing the fire, it was established that the source of fire is on the fourth floor," Dmitry Shirlin, head of the Office for Fire and Rescue Forces of the Moscow Directorate of the Emergency Situations Ministry, told reporters. "The rescuers found the room with no access from outside," Shirlin said. "The wall was broken through and inside the rescuers found 16 dead bodies." Russia's Investigative Committee, which reports directly to President Vladimir Putin, said a criminal inquiry had been launched into the deaths of the victims of the fire. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Twitter that "those guilty will be found and punished." Abdygany Shakirov, a representative of the Kyrgyz diaspora in Russia, vowed help to families of the victims. "We will provide all possible moral and material assistance. We will never leave our citizens in this difficult time," Shakirov said. Ilya Denisov, who heads the Moscow branch of the emergency services, said the fire was caused by a faulty lamp on the first floor of warehouse, where many flammable liquids and paper products were stored. He said the fire rapidly spread through an elevator shaft to the room where those who died were working. Denisov said firefighters found the charred bodies of 16 workers and sent four injured workers to hospital, where one later died. "There is a woman crying, her daughter died, she was only 18," an unidentified witness told Rossia 24. "[They did not escape] because there was no emergency exit." The Kyrgyz nationals who lost their lives in the fire were in Moscow legally, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said. Many colleagues of the victims gathered at the site of the fire. Lax fire-safety standards have often been blamed for such incidents in Russia. In January, 12 people died in a fire in a Moscow clothing factory. Some 500,000 citizens from Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished, former Soviet republic, are working in Russia. Based on reporting by TASS, AFP, 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. Over the past two years, the Caucasus Emirate (IK) proclaimed in late 2007 by then Chechen insurgency commander Doku Umarov has lost much of its manpower. In addition to the 410 militants reported killed in 2014-15, many sector commanders and rank-and-file fighters alike are said to have pledged loyalty to the rival extremist group Islamic State (IS), and hundreds of them have left Russia for Syria. A video clip uploaded in June 2015 claimed that all IK fighters in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Daghestan, and Kabardino-Balkaria had pledged allegiance to IS commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But at least in the case of Kabardino-Balkaria, that proved not to be the case. In that republic, Zalim Shebzukhov, who had apparently succeeded Astemir Berkhamov as commander of the Kabardino-Balkar-Karachai IK wing in 2014 and was formally identified as such in a video clip early in 2015, remained loyal to the IK cause, while Robert Zankishiyev, the leader of a rival group of fighters, formally pledged allegiance to IS in a video clip uploaded in August 2015. Zankishiyev was killed in a shoot-out in Nalchik in November. In a video clip uploaded in late December, Shebzukhov deplored the split in the insurgency ranks and appealed to those fighters who had aligned with IS to rejoin IK. Kabardino-Balkaria Republic head Yury Kokov, himself a former head of the federal Interior Ministrys Main Administration for Countering Extremism, said last month that 125-150 militants from Kabardino-Balkaria are currently fighting in Syria. (The republics total population is approximately 857,000.) Shebzukhov, 30, was one of four fighters from Kabardino-Balkaria killed last week when security personnel stormed an apartment in a high-rise block in St. Petersburg. Several analysts raised the question whether his presence so far from the North Caucasus indicated plans for a new series of terrorist attacks. Under Umarovs leadership, the IK perpetrated suicide attacks in the Moscow subway in March 2010 and Domodedovo airport in January 2011, and also claimed responsibility for a blast that inflicted serious damage on the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station in Siberia seven years ago. Republic head Kokov said on August 24 that an entire arsenal was found at the St. Petersburg apartment where the four men were killed. He said they had planned to stage terrorist attacks in Russia and then flee the country. It is not clear who is best placed to succeed Shebzukhov as leader of the IKs Kabardino-Balkar-Karachai wing. As of August 2015, there were still three fighters on the federal wanted list whose military careers date back as far as the October 2005 multiple attacks on police and security facilities in Nalchik, in which 140 people died, including 35 security officers and more than 90 mostly inexperienced militants. A handful of other veteran fighters in their late 30s were reportedly in Syria. The insurgency in Kabardino-Balkaria lost 45 men in 2015, of whom eight were identified as sector commanders. How many were loyal to the IK and IS respectively is difficult to say: An IK website rejected as untrue the National Antiterrorism Committees assertion that 11 men killed in counterterror operations in Nalchik in late November were adherents of IS. Similarly unclear is whether there was any direct connection between Shebzukhov and other fighters still loyal to the IK, and a group of nine men about to go on trial at the North Caucasus Military District Court in Rostov-on-Don on charges of planning to attack and seize a government building and then proclaim an Islamic caliphate. That case dates back to 2013, before the exodus of North Caucasus fighters to Syria got under way. Ruslan Miskhozhev is said to have recruited eight other men, all residents of Nalchik identified only by their surnames and all allegedly IK adherents, at the behest of a 10th man, Zalimkhan Tkhamokov, who died during the pretrial investigation. All nine reportedly pled not guilty at a preliminary hearing to the charges against them of plotting to seize power, membership of an illegal armed group, and illegal possession of arms. They have also reportedly retracted their initial testimony. DES MOINES When Donald Trump steps to the microphone Saturday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, his host, hopes the Republican presidential candidate focuses his comments on the issues that impact Iowans, and that his criticism of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton also remains issue-based, not personal. Ernsts second annual summer fundraiser, the Roast and Ride, will be held Saturday in Des Moines. The event begins with a 42-mile motorcycle ride that benefits a veterans charity, then moves to the fairgrounds where Republican leaders, including Trump, will speak. Last years inaugural event, held at the Farm Expo grounds in Boone, was held during the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses and featured seven Republican candidates. This years big ticket is Trump, who did not appear at last years event. Trumps brash style of public speaking enamored him to millions of primary voters, even as it has drawn harsh criticism from many, including Republicans. Trumps bombast has continued into the general election campaign; this week he called Clinton a bigot. Ernst said Friday she hopes Trump focuses on issues that can inspire Iowa voters to support him. The freshman senator also said she wants both Trump and Clinton to tone down what she called personal attacks during the campaign. I would say with both of them, because there have been a lot of barbs thrown at each other, is that they need to take this into a civil discourse. And were not seeing that right now, Ernst told reporters Friday at the fairgrounds as organizers prepared for the event. I dont like it when candidates go in that direction. And I would say of both of them, back down and lets really talk about policies and the issues. Thats my advice to them. Ernst said she thinks if Trump focuses on Clinton on issues like the economy and national security instead of personal attacks, that will make a bigger impact with Iowa voters. He needs to say a lot of things, but I think focusing on Iowa right now is going to be very, very important, Ernst said. He needs to talk about what we can do in the state, jobs and the economy. If he really focuses on those things, hes going to catch a lot of attention. Most polls in Iowa have showed a close race here between Trump and Clinton, making it one of the few true swing states thus far in the election. I think (Trump) is doing quite well in Iowa. I am hopeful that Iowa goes his direction, Ernst said. He speaks in a way that resonates with millions of Americans, and Iowans arent immune to that. Its exciting to see that, shaking things up a little bit. Organizers said they do not have an anticipated crowd figure, but the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion in which the event will be held can hold a little more than 2,000 people. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Gov. Terry Branstad, and all of Iowas Congressional members and candidates also will speak at the event, as will U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska. Moldovan police have fired tear gas to disperse antigovernment protesters during a parade to mark the former Soviet republic's independence day. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on August 27 near the main square of Chisinau, Moldova's capital. Many shouted "Thieves!" and "Shame on you!" as President Nicolae Timofti and other officials laid floral wreaths at a monument honoring Stephen the Great, a 15th century Moldovan hero. Few citizens were permitted to enter the square amid heavy police security. No injuries from the clashes were reported. Underlining tensions, Timofti said in a speech earlier on August 27 that Moldova's independence and security were undermined by the presence of "foreign military forces that are on the country's territory against the wishes of the population." He was referring to the presence of 1,000 Russian peacekeepers in the pro-Russian separatist enclave of Transdniester in eastern Moldova. Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, declared independence on August 27, 1991, as the Soviet Union collapsed. Based on reporting by Interfax and AP Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico renewed his call for the European Union to end sanctions against Russia after a meeting this week with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Slovakia holds the rotating EU presidency and will host a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers next week. He is one of several central European leaders opposed to continuing sanctions on Russia. The EU imposed energy, financial, and defense sanctions on Moscow after it annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014. The sanctions have been extended repeatedly and are due to expire at the end of January. "Personally, I think it is time to view the sanctions rationally and to say that they harm both the EU and Russia," Fico said on Facebook on August 26. "We agreed with Vladimir Putin that our common pursuit is to revive our mutual trade again." Slovakia imports almost all its gas and oil from Russia, as well as nuclear fuel to generate two power plants. It exports cars to Russia. Hungary has taken a similar line as Fico, who was re-elected for a third time in March. Czech President Milos Zeman also has also repeatedly called for ending sanctions. Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa The Taliban has captured a district in southeastern Afghanistan, along the porous border with Pakistan. The militants captured the Jani Khel district of Paktia Province after heavy clashes with Afghan security forces late August 26. The provincial governors spokesman, Naqibullah Atal, confirmed the fall of the district and said at least five policemen were killed and five others wounded in the clashes. Abdul Rahman Solamal, the district governor, said Jani Khel fell to the Taliban because the central government and provincial leadership did not send in adequate reinforcements. Solamal said after seizing the district the militants burned down his office and the houses of government employees and local policemen. The fall of Jani Khel came as the Taliban escalates nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by U.S. troops have engaged in heavy fighting in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand Province, seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover. The Taliban have also seized large areas of the northern province of Kunduz -- where militants briefly seized the provincial capital Kunduz city last year in their biggest military victory in the past 15 years -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts. Based on reporting by Tolo News and Khaama 22 A man walks among the ruins of Grozny in 1997. Part of the peace agreement held that the status of Chechnya would be determined in 2001. But as Chechnya entered a lawless and violent period following the cessation of the war, it would turn out that peace with Russia was only temporary. Two years after this picture was taken, a second brutal war was launched that would ultimately bring Chechnya back under Russian control. The man who drove the second Chechen war would become Russia's new president, Vladimir Putin. More Iowa women are on the ballot for federal and state legislative seats this year than ever before, according to a group thats trying to convince more women to run. The group, 50-50 in 2020, says that 65 women are on the ballot. Twenty-seven of the candidates are incumbents, and 38 are not, the group said. Jean Lloyd-Jones, a former state senator from Iowa City and a co-founder of the group, called it another step on the path to equity for women in Iowa government. The last election cycle marked a milestone in Iowa politics, with Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican, elected to the U.S. Senate, the first time Iowa has sent a woman to Congress. This year, with Hillary Clinton running for president, the group also is heralding the idea that women are running at every level of the state ballot. Officials with the organization think Clinton may be inspiring other women to run this year. But this years record-breaking turnout for women also is partly being driven by a handful of central Iowa women who are on the ballot challenging incumbents, said Mary Ellen Miller, the executive director for 50-50 in 2020. The previous high for women being on the Iowa ballot was in 2012, Miller said. Even with the higher numbers statewide, Scott County is experiencing a dip in women on the ballot for federal and state legislative seats this election cycle. In 2014, there were eight women on the ballot in Scott County seeking legislative seats. In 2016, that number has dropped to three. Part of the reason for the decline is that state Rep. Linda Miller, R-Bettendorf, is retiring, to be replaced by Gary Mohr, a Bettendorf alderman. In addition, state Sen. Rita Hart, D-Camanche, is not on the ballot this year because she does not face re-election until 2018. In 2014, the women on the ballot included Ernst and Ruth Hill, an independent running for U.S. Senate. Also, Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat and five of the nine local Statehouse seats featured women on the ballot. This year, U.S. Senate hopeful Patty Judge, a Democrat, and state Reps. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, and Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, are the only women in the county running for state or federal legislative seats. The 50-50 in 2020 group, whose goal is to have as many Iowa women as men holding state and federal legislative seats in four years, noted it was making the announcement of a new state record in time for the federally designated Womens Equality Day, which was observed on Friday. Still, the group says more progress is needed. Fewer than a quarter of the states legislative seats are held by women, Miller says. And, until 2014, Iowa was notable for being one of only a small number of states never to have sent a woman to Congress. Maggie Tinsman, a former state senator from Bettendorf and a founder of the group, said she thinks their efforts are helping, as is the sight of other women running, including for president. Im very excited to see more and more women running, she said. The 50-50 in 2020 group, which was founded in 2010, has a number of programs to further its goal, such as holding training academies for women running for office. It says its the only bipartisan, issue-neutral group in the country working to elect women. An off-campus sexual assault was reported Friday to Virginia Commonwealth University police, according to the schools alert system. The assault reportedly occurred Thursday night at a residence in the 800 block of Bowe Street, VCU police said. This was the third sexual assault reported near the campus in a week. Classes began Thursday. The first incident was reported last Sunday as happening in a residence in the 900 block of West Grace Street; on Wednesday, another assault reportedly occurred at a home in the first block of South Morris Street. All three occurred off campus and, in all three cases, the victim had recently met the perpetrator, police said. According to VCUs alert to its students, about 75 percent of rapes are committed by acquaintances. Campus police encourage students to call VCU Police at (804) 828-1234 immediately if they feel unsafe and to download and use the free LiveSafe app. If you witness a situation that appears unsafe or makes you uncomfortable, intervene if its safe to do so or go to a safe area and call for help, the alert said. Bystander intervention is a known tool to help to prevent campus sexual assault. For more information about sexual assaults and safety tips, visit https://alert.vcu.edu. One person in a neighborhood can make a big difference. Gloria June Krauss, who died Aug. 23 in a Hopewell convalescent center, was such a person in the Westover Hills neighborhoods of Richmond. She had been a resident of North Riverside Drive for about 25 years when she and her neighbors received a surprise in the mail. Included in a packet of coupons was a flier that made what to them was a startling suggestion: the building and rental of carriage houses near their homes. The neighbors werent sure what a carriage house was and worried that having rental homes in the vicinity would drive down property values. In April 1983, Mrs. Krauss was among 200 neighbors who met with developer Gus L. Collier, who described his plan to purchase and clear a 32-acre area bounded by New Kent Road and North Riverside Drive near Forest Hill Avenue and build more than 100 small homes. He planned to sell the homes to investors, who would rent them for about $400 a month. When Collier stated how many homes he wanted to build on such a small amount of land, the neighbors went crazy, recalled Leonard Shields, former owner of Shields Shoes, who lived around the corner from Mrs. Krauss and attended the meeting. One woman said, You realize these houses are so small smaller than my garage! Mrs. Krauss told a Richmond News Leader reporter in November 1986, We were in shock. ... Most of us would have sold because we would have been right next to rental property. This is a settled community, and we felt wed get a lot of transients. Neighbors banded together to write letters, lobby city officials and attend meetings. They applied enough pressure to make Collier drop the plan. What they did next was unlike anything city officials and local developers had seen before. To protect their own interests, they formed a committee to buy the land themselves. However, after many meetings, they could not agree on a plan. After Colliers option on the property expired in August 1983, Mrs. Krauss struck out on her own one day to raise the money. I started with my next-door neighbor, across the fence, and he said he was interested. Then I went to my neighbor next to him. It became a chain reaction. Everybody was worried and scared of what we were faced with, Mrs. Krauss recalled in the interview. During the next year, going door-to-door, she contacted about 450 individuals to invest in River Hills Corp., which the neighbors eventually formed. Stockholders invested from $5,000 to $17,000. One year after Mrs. Krauss contacted the first neighbor, River Hills Corp. bought the 32-acre tract for $277,000 in cash. Of its 34 stockholders, 18 could see the land from their own homes. The remaining investors either lived nearby or were local businessmen who like siding with the underdog, said Mrs. Krauss, who served as River Hills president. She told them that investing was better than putting their money in the bank and she was right, Shields said. Everyone got his money back and everyone made about a five percent profit. The neighbors found a new contractor, who bought several tracts at a time to complete the Westover Hills West subdivision, where homes sold for about $160,000 to stockbrokers, police officers and executives a far cry from the $55,000 rental homes originally planned. People kept telling her, June, you could sell these properties and make some money, said her son, Jeffrey K. Krauss of Bozeman, Mont. Shed say, Im doing it for the neighborhood. Shields recalled, Everybody was shocked that she did it and was glad she did it. There was great jubilation all over the neighborhood. As a result of the venture, Mrs. Krauss found that she liked putting people into houses, her son said. She thought it was a way to make a difference in peoples lives. She became a Realtor with Pinchbeck Inc. In 1996, the Richmond Chapter of the Womens Council of the National Association of Realtors cited her for outstanding and dedicated service. Born in Madisonville, Ky., she grew up in the coal-town of Earlington, Ky. She loved her childhood and the family brick house at Bells (railroad) Crossing. An only child, she had a couple of paternal uncles Harold and Herman who spoiled her rotten, her son said, and also was reared among loving grandmothers and great-grandmothers. She married medical student Paul M. Taylor during high school and graduated at 16. She attended Murray State College for a year before giving birth to her son. The family lived in Louisville, Ky., where she worked for Reynolds Metals Co. After the Taylors parted ways, she married Richard Louis Krauss Jr., who also worked for Reynolds, which moved him to Richmond corporate headquarters in 1958. She earned a bachelors degree with honors in elementary education from Richmond Professional Institute and worked for a time as a librarian at Southampton Elementary School. In 1971, she earned a masters degree in elementary education from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was an adjunct instructor in childrens literature and other classes for four years. She took charge of her own stage. Back then, going to RPI when she had two young children was almost risque, her son said. I think of her as a modern woman. Mrs. Krauss was preceded in death by her husband by 17 days. Besides her son, survivors include a daughter, Martha Smith of Disputanta; and four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Saturday morning Mike Pence, the GOP vice presidential nominee, visited the Editorial offices of The Times-Dispatch. An encounter of this nature would not have occurred for several decades. Virginia ranked among the first states to break from the Solid (Democratic) South. The commonwealth liked Ike in 1952 and, with the exception of 1964, did not vote for the Democratic presidential ticket from then until 2008. Barack Obama broke the trend and carried Virginia twice. Virginia became known as a purple state, a battleground. All of its elected statewide office-holders are Democrats. In previous years, national candidates campaigned elsewhere. Virginians were spared the commercials and mass mailings that bombarded voters in Ohio and other competitive states. Although Hillary Clinton leads in the polls, Republicans have not written off Virginia, as the Pence visit suggests. Indeed, they cant. For the GOP, the road to national victory runs through the Old Dominion. They probably cannot win the White House without it. As the song sang, Blue, blue, Virginias love is blue. We asked Pence about Virginias centrality and what he and Donald Trump need to do to attract Virginia voters. His answer stressed national themes. He cited the Virginia implications of national policies. A weak recovery does the state no good. Pence also proclaimed an end to the war on coal and embraced a do-everything energy policy. He paid special attention to Virginias military traditions and called for action on issues confronting veterans. During his years in the House of Representatives, he and his family lived in Northern Virginia. His children went to school there. He appeared familiar with the nuances of Virginia politics. Prior to arriving at the RTDs building he encountered an Indianapolis Colts fan at Millies Diner. We cracked that we might not have been available for a board meeting if U.Va. and Tech were playing football. We pointed out that immigration played a significant role in Dave Brats upset of Eric Cantor in the 2014 Republican primary and asked about Trump and the issue that propelled him to national prominence. Pence answered that immigration comes up everywhere; he recalled Ronald Reagans statement that countries must have enforceable borders. He said that Trump remains committed to a wall along a Mexican border and claimed, despite recent evidence, that Trump has been very consistent on the overall topic. His articulate response did not make Trumps approach more palatable. Pence consistently praised Trumps business acumen; he projected a conciliatory manner that played in welcome contrast to Trumps divisive nature. When the conversation turned to national economic questions, Pence lamented the Obama administrations regulatory impositions. He provided examples from his tenure as Indiana governor of Hoosier companies damaged by federal policies. The Wall Street bailout came under his fire, as did the tax burden. He made a strong case. Pence is campaigning in the home state of his Democratic rival. He complimented Tim Kaine but mentioned their differences. As governor, Kaine called for tax increases. Pence has cut taxes in Indiana. A Kaine-Pence match-up would prove more elevated to the electorate, nevertheless. We asked about presidential temperament and he in turn referred to Trumps habit of asking questions, not only of experts but of regular people. And he pointed out that as vice president his duties will be defined by the president. He and Trump speak daily, sometimes more than once. He added that the election will not be decided by a contest between himself and Kaine. His weakest moment came during a discussion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We observed that while governors of both parties seem to support trade deals and embrace globalism, Trump and Hillary Clinton have come our against the TPP and have expressed skepticism of globalism. Pence relied on cliches about fair trade and good deals and said he preferred trade pacts between the U.S. and individual countries to regional or global schemes. He noted that the effects of NAFTA, which he supported, have not been thoroughly studied. OSAGE Moments after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, Ronald Rand turned around and looked at the couples friends and family seated in the gallery. Im so sorry, he mouthed. His daughter, seated directly behind him, began crying softly. Jurors took three hours to find Rand, 61, of Hampton, guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Michelle Key on Dec. 13, 2016. Key, 51, died on the couch in Rands living room from a sawed-off shotgun blast to the neck. The question put before the jury was not whether Rand shot Key he and his attorneys admitted that he did but if shooting her was murder or manslaughter. Prosecutors argued that Rand, angry at Keys infidelity, was guilty of first-degree murder because the crime was intentional and premeditated. Rands attorney, Susan Flander, maintained the crime was an accident. She said Rand never meant to hurt his girlfriend and that the fatal shot was the result of recklessness, not hatred or anger. He was intoxicated and got a shotgun. Stupid he was stupid, said Flander, urging the jury to find Rand guilty of involuntary manslaughter, not murder. And, he ended up ending the life of his beloved. His baby. Closing arguments held Friday morning took an emotional toll on Rand and Keys friends and family members. Rand clasped his hand tightly over his mouth, shaking slightly, and looked down as Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAlister showed an autopsy photo of Keys gaping neck wound. One of Keys supporters left the courtroom when the photo was shown, crying softly while walking to the door. Across the aisle, one of Rands friends leaned forward in his seat and looked down. The woman beside him rubbed his back. Rands family and attorneys declined to speak after the verdict. A victim advocate told the media Keys family also did not want to comment. Franklin County Attorney Brent Symens said he was thankful to the jury members for their time in considering the case. We were pretty confident that was where it was going to end up at, he said of the first-degree murder verdict. Theres always a possibility of lesser verdicts, everybodys aware of that. Theres no such thing as a slam-dunk case. First-degree murder in Iowa is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole. Official sentencing will be held at a later date. As Rand prepared to leave the courtroom after the verdict, his daughter continued to cry with her hands on her temples. Rand looked at her as he was being led away, saying, I love you too, baby. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Deschutes Brewerys Gina Schauland may not have a job in Roanoke for awhile, but that didnt stop the companys social media manager from buying a home in the shadow of Mill Mountain. The lifelong West Coast resident says she fell in love with the local vibe when she was part of the entourage that rolled into town in March to announce Deschutes plans for Roanoke. She said she returned with her husband in May, rode mountain bikes around Carvins Cove, stopped for a drink at Parkway Brewing Co. and ended the trip with a two-day whirlwind tour through the Roanoke real estate market. She said they came to the region to check out the area and vacation, not to buy a home. But she got excited about the prospect of the move, the market was right, and it just made sense. Schauland, 38, doesnt expect to move until she can find a Roanoke-based job with Deschutes, and its unclear when that will happen. The company plans to break ground on its new facility in 2019, but its hiring for sales and marketing positions before then. For now, Schaulands Roanoke home is a side project she gets to work on whenever she can squeeze in a company trip. Shes one of about 45 Deschutes employees in Roanoke to organize the companys Street Pub event on Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Elmwood Park. She said shell be sneaking away during her downtime this weekend to clean, paint and get the house ready in case shes able to find a renter while she waits to move in. Deschutes recruiting manager Kelly Martin said most of the companys roughly 500 employees have never been to Roanoke. Some are doing their own research excursions; others are getting their first taste through work events. In September the company plans to bring its 60-person sales and marketing team to town for its annual weeklong getaway. Martin said relocating will be voluntary, and the companys Bend, Oregon, employees will need to apply for the East Coast positions just like anyone else. Shes already sent out a survey to workers so they have a chance to raise their hands if theyre interested. Martin said its too early to talk about the survey results, but she said the reaction to has been very positive. Schauland said she believes shes the only one whos already purchased a home here, but shes talked to co-workers who are considering similar moves. She said shes ready for something new, but has also found something comfortably familiar in Southwest Virginia. It all comes back to the people here and the passion she finds so contagious. Schauland has already made friends in Roanoke, including one local who cuts her grass in exchange for beer while shes away. Thats how I feel about people in Roanoke, just so friendly, Schauland said, asking if its a Southern thing. She talked about the areas struggle to attract trendy retailers, and how Bend felt similarly left out just a few years ago. We didnt have a lot of things when I moved [to Bend], she said. It was just a super quaint town, slow moving, friendly people. Ten years isnt even that long, but Ive seen it grow. Now things are open seven days a week, downtown is always crowded. I see that with Roanoke, as people are trying to get a Trader Joes to come. Schauland has a hard time describing exactly why shes so committed to the move. Its some combination of the people, passion, restaurants and recreation, she says, struggling to find words for that undeniable feeling of a community thats just right. But City Manager Chris Morrill knows exactly where that elusive sense of community attachment comes from because hes spent much of his career fostering it. He said Deschutes is validation of a six-year strategy by city officials to market the outdoors, invest in amenities such as Elmwood Park and turn Roanoke into the kind of place locals are proud of and to which outsiders like Schauland are drawn. After going to Roanoke, there is a passion behind the people in the city, Schauland said. Theres just this feeling that people there want to make the city great, bring in businesses and fun and outdoor culture. It kind of reminded me of how Bend was when I moved there 10 years ago. Schauland, a Southern California native, wasnt involved with Deschutes decision to pick Roanoke for its first East Coast facility. But she said the company was careful to find a community where employees would feel at home. She said thats why the culture committee spent an unusual amount of time touring local schools and taking bike rides on the greenway. Morrill said Roanoke needed all the essentials to get a first look from Deschutes, such as utility hookups and a suitable plot of land. But after that, the companys visits were all about answering one overarching question: Whats it like to live in Roanoke? Roanoke Economic Development Director Wayne Bowers said thats part of a paradigm shift in the way cities everywhere attract employers. Gone are the days of finding a factory so people come to work. Now, he said the factories go wherever the human capital wants to be. The Deschutes folks, they were always interested in the local food scene, Bowers said. Well, that never was a factor years ago. When a company as culture-focused as Deschutes chose Roanoke, he said it was a sign that the city is finally lining up those much-needed quality of life elements. I think its more important as a symbolic win, as opposed to the number of jobs, Bowers said. That we would be selected and sort of validated as one of these cool places. That was just as important. Schauland said shell be patient while she waits for Roanoke opportunities to open up with Deschutes. In the meantime, shes watching things from afar through social media and keeping her fingers crossed that shell be able to make the move sometime soon. I actually get jealous, Schauland said, referencing Facebook photos she stumbled across while she was in Bend from a recent Roanoke pub run. Im super excited to be out there. On the agenda for this weekends meeting of state Republican activists is a discussion about the method for nominating statewide GOP candidates in 2017. The basic alternatives for the process are selecting the partys designees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general by convention or by primary. In 2015, Virginia Republican Partys State Central Committee voted to use an open primary in allocating delegates for electing a presidential nominee. That was the method used earlier this year, which resulted in a victory for Donald Trump. However, in supporting a primary, convention supporters on the central committee say they understood their preferred method would be used to select statewide candidates in 2017. Since 2015, there has been substantial turnover among central committee members. And the convention vs. primary compromise approved then was designated as a nonbinding agreement. Increasingly, it appears that there is going to be a serious push to change that and nominate by primary instead, said Nate Boyer, Bedford County Republican chairman and a state central representative. Many Republicans, Boyer among them, think party members should exclusively determine who the GOP puts up against Democrats and potential third-party candidates. Boyer generally prefers the convention method because the process gives us more security against Democrats and others who dont have our best interests in mind. The two processes require varying strategies and resources. A convention emphasizes building grass-roots relationships and motivation, a key in any election. But an open primary brings in the need for broadcast advertising, adding another layer to the fundraising component. A convention tends to emphasize the impact of grass-roots activists in the party and de-emphasizes, at least to a certain extent, the impact of the professional consultant class and the mega-donors to the party, Boyer said. Most of the Republican candidates for the 5th Congressional District, said ahead of the spring convention that nominated state Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, they preferred that method because they could conserve money for the general election Nov. 8. With a convention, the party foots its own bill, Boyer emphasized. The strategy appears prudent thus far with Garrett trailing former Albemarle County Supervisor Jane Dittmar in campaign fundriaising as of the most recent reports. But the intraparty momentum is shifting toward a primary, said Lynn Tucker, chairwoman of the 5th Congressional District Republicans. She said she wont decide for sure ahead of time, but generally leans toward a primary. Then her son, a Marine stationed in Okinawa, could vote, as could her elderly parents. There may be enough momentum among new members to convince the committee that a primary would be preferable, she said. Im thinking it possibly is going to be a primary if they take a vote, Tucker said. I know there are a few people who feel they dont have to abide by what they agreed to last year, but I think poorly on that kind of attitude, Steve Troxel of Lynchburg said. Im hoping that there will be enough people of integrity that it becomes a moot point. Troxel said he plans to vote for a convention, his publicly stated preference when he ran to represent 6th Congressional District Republicans. In 2013, a GOP convention fielded a particularly conservative slate of candidates in then-attorney general Ken Cuccinelli for governor, E.W. Jackson for lieutenant governor and state Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, for attorney general. The GOPs statewide opponents, a slate of Democrats headed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe subsequently swept the fall general election. The Republican Party of Virginia Convention that elected delegates for this years national convention drew a strong conservative crowd supporting Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, although the states popular vote went to Trump, now the nominee. On the other hand, in Virginia, where people do not register by party, anyone may vote in a the states so-called open primary system. Primary supporters believe that process opens the door for wider and more inclusive voter participation and serves as a barometer for future success in statewide contests. On Saturday, the state GOP central committee has several options to address the issue of primary or convention in 2017. It could also decide to put the decision off, or to split the difference and hold a firehouse primary, a one-day process run and paid for by the party but with multiple polling locations. CHARLES CITY | Police arrested a Mason City man late Thursday after allegedly leading law enforcement on a chase through two counties. Kyle Fitzpatrick, 26, was arrested around 8:30 p.m. Charles City police attempted to pull him over near the intersection of South Main Street and Fifth Street when he took off on his motorcycle. According to the Charles City police log, Fitzpatrick led officers on a high speed chase, then south toward Nashua on the Avenue of the Saints. A Floyd County Sheriff's deputy stopped him in Chickasaw County on County Road B-60. Fitzpatrick was arrested and charged with eluding, driving with a suspended license, speeding, improper use of registration, no proof of insurance, operating without registration and an outstanding warrant from a prior drug conviction. The Floyd County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol, Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office and Nashua Police Department assisted with the arrest. OSAGE For more than 150 years, the Cedar Valley Seminary majestically crowned the center of what was once the home of higher education for the children of Osage as well as all of Mitchell County. Just a little over a year ago, the building appeared to be headed for demolition. However, a group of individuals rallied the troops to not only save the structure, but find it a new home. Today, it is perched in a new location, with a new view but not with a completely new purpose. Approximately two months ago, the mammoth structure, now deemed one of the largest artifacts in the county, was moved to the corner of Seventh and Chase Streets in Osage. Its new neighbor is the First Baptist Church of Osage, whose members built the school out of a love for education, said Gladys Diana Chatman, in her Drake University thesis titled, An Historical Study of Cedar Valley Seminary. It is dated August 1941. In 1862, Osage was made up of enterprising citizens who felt that intelligent, educated people was the need of the land, Chatman said. The Osage citizens were prosperous and believed that higher education was a necessity for full development of a communitys resources. They were willing to give liberally toward a school that would educate their children and promote a vital interest in the arts. Plans for the restored structure include new spaces on all three floors to include storage, a recording studio, meeting rooms, common work area, main hall for functions and a small dining room. The creation of an exhibit hall and venue is to provide forums which will focus on rural issues, youth programs to encourage life-long learning and cooking classes for youth and the adult audience, who may want to learn how to cook creative meals for two and everything in between. An addition will be built to house an elevator and restrooms, with access by all three floors. This will allow the building to retain the spacious feel of the original design and provide access for everyone. With the first phase of the project complete, the Cedar Valley Seminary Foundation has started phase two the fundraising portion, which includes the cost of restoration and operation. According to foundation President Joyce Ruehlow, the foundation needs to raise approximately $2 million. We have naming opportunities for at least 13 areas within the building, Ruehlow said. We are looking for people who are interested in the restoration project or even have a family history or connection to the seminary step forward to provide funds for those naming opportunities. Ruehlow said the foundation had been working very closely with the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding the designs and plans for the restoration project. The foundation will have the opportunity to apply for SHPO tax credits totaling $750,000, said Ruehlow. We find it interesting that education is as important today as it was in the late 1800s, Ruehlow said. Through our research we have discovered similarities between the role the seminary played in the 19th century and what our school district officials are proposing today to take the citizens and students in the 21st century. Future uses of the seminary are to serve as a site that will enhance the history of individuals from the heartland who have become leaders, and to engage the current population, so future leaders can be encouraged by the examples displayed throughout the restored building, Ruehlow said. The little city of Osage has played its part in the development of the middle west, Chatman said, but nothing has been more worthy than this early seminary which made Osage, for many years, the educational center of northern Iowa. Mustangs hold off Andover in 5A playoff opener Salina Central made all the right plays at the right time Friday night to edge Andover, 21-15, in its Class 5A playoff opener. The body of a young girl found last week Wednesday by fishermen at sea has been identified by her family. This was confirmed by Police Media Officer Sua Lemamea Tiumalu during their weekly press conference yesterday. He said the deceased has been identified as a 14-year-old girl. Sua did not mention her village however he said the deceased is from a village in Vaimauga East and she also attends a college close to town. Police are still investigation the incident, said Sua. We have also requested a Post Mortem report but we are still waiting for the coroners order. Sua confirmed that the young girl who was found at sea is being identified as the young girl who took off in a boat anchored at the Apia Marina. He said according their investigation there were no injuries found on the deceased when her body was discovered floating in the open sea. The young girls body was found on the same day when Police discovered the stolen boat somewhere in Savaii. The boat was reported to the Ministry of Police the same evening the girls body was discovered. The boat owner Daniel Mendola was contacted for a comment however he said the matter is been investigated by Police. According to reports, a 24ft white Fiberglass boat was taken by a young Samoan girl from Apia Harbor this morning (Tuesday, 16 August 2016) around 10am. According to Mr. Mendolas post on social media he said, the girl was last seen leaving the Harbor and going out into the open waters. Something which may have started as some fun could turn into a very dangerous situation as there is limited fuel in the boat, Mr. Mendola last wrote. According to one of the fishermen Sam Taulafo who discovered the body of the young girl he said the girl was found fully clothed. She was still wearing her blue shorts and a white T-shirt and had a very long black hair, said Sam Taulafo. Yesterday on the front page of the Samoa Observer, the story titled P.M. silent on Sogi plan, was published. Sogi, that seaside spot on the Mulinuu Peninsula where the struggle for peace was fought and won once upon a time, is today the center of a nasty, on-going standoff between some of its families, and our government. Whereas the government has indicated that those families were to be evicted and relocated to an inland place called Falelauniu, the signs are that this is not going to happen at any time soon. Indeed, it is understood that those families have made up their minds that they would not be forced out of Sogi, where theyve lived all their lives. Now the problem is that no one knows for sure what the government is planning to do at Sogi, and when those families would be forcibly relocated. Asked last week what his plans for Sogi were, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, replied the Samoa Observer already knew. He did not explain what he meant, except to add: The plan was announced before, so I will not respond to any more questions on the topic. Told that he did not say anything about what the government was planning to use the Sogi land for, he disagreed. Go back and dig up the previous release from the government, he said. The Minister at the time has already explained it. Asked which Minister he was referring to, Tuilaepa declined to give any details, saying: That is my answer. Go back to the release by the government in the past. It should be in your previous publications. So we looked in our records and found no release from the government pertaining to the Sogi fracas anywhere, none. In the end, all we found that might have something to do with Sogi, was the editorial titled, You rub my back, and Ill rub your back. Published in the Samoa Observer on 7 February 2016, it talked about the general elections up ahead, as well as what government leaders were promising to do if their party won. As it turned out, it was there that the plan to build an International Wharf at Vaiusu Bay was a revealed; by the way, the Sogi Community were talking about here, is adjacent to that bay. And then on 4 March 2016, when the general elections were held, the government, in an unprecedented landslide victory won 47 of the 49 seats in Parliament, and the rest is now history. In any case, for those of you who were not in this country at the time but are keen to know, perhaps you should read the editorial, You rub my back, and Ill rub your back, and be informed. It says: Earlier this week, the caretaker Minister of Works, Manualesagalala Enokati Posala, told Parliament his government had a lot of dreams lined up to be pursued over the next five years. All they were waiting for, he said, was for his government to be returned to office when the general elections up ahead were done, and they would then get cracking on transferring all those dreams into blissful reality. Those dreams, by the way, included two international wharves, one to be built at Matautu, and the other to be built at Vaiusu. Now for those of you who dont know where Matautu and Vaiusu are, let me tell you. Matautu is in the middle of Apia; it is where the countrys main wharf is located, and Vaiusu is just down the road on the other side of town, past Mulinuu where Parliament is located. So whats the dream behind having two international wharves almost just next door to each other, Minister Manualesagalalas explanation is exemplary. This is one of the (governments) dreams to develop the country, he said. It will also provide employment. This is one of the main sources of income for Singapore. It is transshipment, which is something we should follow. Fine. So what are the goods that are likely to be transshipped through the Vaiusu Wharf? Or is the government now looking at the business of transshipping since Russia has started shipping guns, arms and helicopter gunships, to the Fijian government just down the road? Are we now looking at building a wharf so that we can use it to transship illegal firearms and drugs? Indeed, isnt money laundering despicably evil enough? Incidentally, since Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has made it his sacred rule to ask God to show him if a decision he is about to make or has already made - is right or wrong, did he ask God what He thought of this one? Anyway, now that were talking about wharves, what is the governments next dream about the Satitoa Wharf out there at Aleipata? Inspired by the promise it would fetch untold windfalls in tourism revenue from American Samoa, the ugly truth is that not a penny has been made from that wharf since it was built around four years ago. Instead, some $100 million had already been sunk into that dream and yet it is still an unfinished picture of pathetic shame toddling haphazardly on the Aleipata lagoon there. It is, to put it bluntly, a symbol of negligence as its standing there gaping fretfully up at the heavens, and as its doing so, it looks as if its yearning to be plucked off the face of planet Earth. And then there was the dream to build an airport there. So what has happened to that one by the way? At the time, according to Manualesagalala, it would be located about 500 meters from the Satitoa main road, next to the Satitoa wharf. He explained: It will be just like Asau where there is an airport and a wharf, but Satitoa will be more suitable because it targets the route to Pago Pago. Now that was the plan. The dream though was for Satitoa Airport to have a sister named Satitoa Wharf, and they were going to have great fun playing hosts to their brothers, nephews and cousins from American Samoa. Said Manualesagalala then: The committee has selected a location suitable for landing planes with fewer mountains in its surroundings. He did not reveal how much the airport would cost though, except to say that Cabinet had appointed a task force to get the project moving so that it would be completed in five years. At the moment they are consulting some families about their lands and how much to give them in terms of compensation. He also revealed: The families are willing to support the development and for the government to compensate them for the use of their lands. Now obviously that would sound sweet music to the ear then! What family would not support the idea that they would be paid compensation for the use of their lands? The Minister would know that well enough. And so would those villagers. Naturally they would be looking forward to it, especially since that was what the Human Rights Protection Party meant to them. It meant sincerity, trust, and above all, honesty. Satitoa Airport. Good name. Today, five years are behind us, and yet Satitoa Airport is still nothing or nada - as the Spanish would say. And since then not a word has been heard from the government about Satitoa Airport. None. Instead, now that were on the eve of the general elections, the minister has revealed that besides the two wharves to be built at Matautu and Vaiusu, the government actually has a host of dreams on the pipeline. They include new water projects for Magiagi and Moataa, solar power for Tuanaimato, Faleolo and Savaii, an electricity generation system aimed at taking advantage of solar energy, water and wind, repair works at the Lotosamasoni and Alaoa reservoirs damaged by Cyclone Evan years ago, and so forth. Well, like it or not, theyre wonderful dreams? Now the questions are: What stopped the minister from turning those dreams into reality over the last five years? Indeed, did he really have to wait all that time, so that he can reveal them now? And finally, was there method in thy madness then, and if so, is it still there today?* Naturally, the late MP and lawyer, Dr Asiata A.V. Saleimoa Vaai, and what he wrote about the government, comes to mind. What he said then was virtually ignored, and yet today it is hauntingly surreal. Referring to the two laws that had just been passed, the Parliamentary Undersecretaries Act 1988, and the Public Service (Special Posts) Act 1989, Dr Vaai wrote: These two laws will largely be responsible for the establishment of HRPPs dictatorship over Samoa. Ultimately, this situation of unaccountability of Cabinet and the Public Servants, does not only affect the quality of service provided but create a culture of collusion and corruption in government involving the employer (Cabinet) and employees (public servants), whereby politicians and public servants look after each other in government; you rub my back, and Ill rub your back. With the public service firmly head-locked by the HRPP government, the recent massive increases in public service salaries and the party control over other institutions of government arms, the HRPP is bound to remain in power for many more years unless its systemic corruption of government is widely recognized and then rectified. Opposition voiced in newspapers such as the Samoa Observer focuses on social and political issues, that have proved over the years to have had very little impact on a population that vote largely on considerations of families, customs, traditions, bribery and treating. It however, leaves relatively untouched the root of the dictatorship problem and stranglehold on power the one party H.R.P.P. government has, that cannot be effectively addressed other than through the Courts, and an educated voting population that understands the undemocratic and dangerous political situation Samoa is in. Tell us what you think. Have a peaceful Sunday Samoa, God bless. * Polonius: Though this be madness, yet there is method int. Hamlet Act 2, scene 2, 193206. Shakespeare As the world around us faces unprecedented global challenges from resource constraints, climate change, urbanization and population growth; an organization called Engineers Without Borders feel that engineering is the solution. The group uses engineering as a catalyst to transform the world by being an inspiration, enabling communities to develop their engineering and being an influence. A group of eight engineers from New Zealand were sent to Samoa to see how well development and engineering could go hand in hand. Were from an organization thats called Engineers without Borders, they said. The purpose of our trip is to really understand how development and engineering really interact with one another and to really learn about both of them here in Samoa. The group are only in the country for a week, but have made the most of the limited time they have had. We have been here for about five days so far, they said. We have learnt quite a bit during our stay. Weve visited a few organizations such as the U.N.D.P., New Zealand High Commission and the Samoa Water Authority. Our main learnings have really been about how engineering and development can go hand in hand. U.N.D.P. has really shown us that there is some really good work going on in Samoa that supports the community. Weve also visited an organization called A.D.R.A. and we were told that they are running a financial literacy programme. I know thats not engineering but it really brings locals up to speed with financial literacy in terms of using their money wisely. The other one is Women in Business which has to do with their work with the local farmers where they see how they can find economical benefits from the local crops. At the end of day, we go around and share about our findings and we also host workshops. So we get our findings together and we find out how we can be more effective with what we do as an organization. But all the organizations that were visited had one shared lesson for the visiting group. One of the main things that came through for us was that if any organization wanted to implement a project then it would have to be implemented with the people who were going to use it, they said. So we focus on getting the villages involved, consulting with the Matai and then going through the correct Samoan hierarchal sort of procedures to get anything done and respecting the Samoan culture. If we were to build a bridge then we cant just come and build it. With a consultation project we need to know that the community wants that bridge, needs the bridge, will be happy to help you construct that bridge and how they would like it done. The visitors also found it interesting that Samoa has a certain level of protection. One of the things that I was happy to hear about was that foreigners cant buy land here in Samoa, they said. Its good to see that Samoa has that level of protection on your legislation that prevents too many overseas people just coming in and building things that they think is good but that dont fit into your perception of Samoa. Your culture and Samoan pride is really high and thats good because it helps protect the way you guys do things rather than trying to take on board everything that western organizations are trying to give you. It maintains Samoas identity. The visit will also helped the engineers get a feel for the Samoan culture so that when an engineer from the organization is requested, then they will be ready. Engineers without Borders can loan an engineer to an organization for up to a year if they would like so all the organizations that weve visited here are aware of us, they said. So after meeting with us and building a relationship, if they want an engineer then we can go back to our database in NZ and find one suitable. Aside from learning a lot from their trip, the group also found their stay to be quite accommodating. It has been quite a comfortable stay for us here, they said. I wouldnt say that weve run into any challenges here but we do have a different perception of development engineering in Samoa. Overall everyone has been extremely welcoming - the NZ High Commission, U.N.D.P, A.D.R.A, Red Cross, Samoa Water Authority, YWAM Samoa, S.R.O.S, S.P.R.E.P, W.I.B.D.I have been very accommodating. Thank for being so welcoming and we will see again next year. An essay written on what sacrifices by Samoans and Allied servicemen and women during the First World War mean to you, has won a Samoa College student a trip of a lifetime. Like other countries, New Zealand is commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the First World War (WWI) of 2014-18, and because Samoa fought in both World Wars in New Zealand units, local students were invited to take part in a competition which was organised by Samoas New Zealand High Commission. As the winner from Samoa, 16 year old Aunoa Uele will travel to New Zealand and then on to France with other students from the Pacific to be part of the Somme commemorations from the 11th to the 18th of September. While she is in France, she will take part in a week-long programme which also includes other cultural activities. We are thrilled that Aunoa has this opportunity to represent the youth of Samoa at the Somme commemorations in France, said New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E. Jackie Frizelle. While this war in the Northern Hemisphere may seem long ago and far away, there are important connections to Samoan families and the impact of World War One was felt throughout the Pacific. Remembering the dreadful loss of life at Somme is a sobering reminder of why we seek to prevent conflict and to look for peaceful resolutions. Aunoas essay, which earned her this trip, showed great insight in understanding this. As well as the chance to participate in this meaningful event, I hope the journey and exploring will be fun. She will be travelling with other youth from the Pacific and I am sure it will be an unforgettable experience. Aunoa said her inspiration was her mother. It was my mom and also the study centre which was established at Malua with the aim of encouraging kids to practice writing, she said. I also want to thank all my teachers in Samoa College who pushed us to do more writing so that we would improve academically. At the time, winning the competition came as a shock to the young writer. I am overwhelmed, I didnt expect to win anything and when I joined this competition I was just doing it for the love of writing, she said. A message for young writers out there is when it comes to writing theres no secret, practice makes perfect." "Just keep going and you will gradually improve. ABOUT AUNOA Talofa lava! My name is Aunoa Uele and I am 16 years old. I am a full Samoan. I am second child of five I was born and raised in Samoa till I was five then my family and I had the opportunity to move to Auckland New Zealand in search of a better future. We moved back to Samoa in 2014 so my parents could attend the Malua Theological College because my family and I are very strong Christians. I attend the Congregational Christian Church in Vaiala where my Grandpa is currently serving as its Church Minister. I am in Year 13 at Samoa College. I very much enjoy reading, writing and being involved in religious activities. I take four subjects at school: Geography, History, Economics, and English. I am afraid of heights and am not a risk-taker. I am very independent but I can be quite sociable and I am excited to explore and be exposed to new people and new ideas. I am over whelmed and honoured to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. I was thrilled and when I found that I am travelling to France. I am very grateful and truly blessed. A new policy that will downgrade Chief Executive Officers entitled vehicles from double cabs to smaller SUVs will save close to $2million of public funds. The policy change applies to about 20 C.E.Os in Ministries and an additional 28 C.E.O.s in State Owned Enterprises. Finance Minister, Sili Epa Tuioti told the Sunday Samoan the change is currently operating and was put in place in July this year. What they need is transport from family homes to the office, says Sili. And when they do office work and need to go out on the field, they can use vehicles (such as double cabs) that are available to the officeotherwise that is the decision that has been made. The Minister says the change was necessary for government to reduce expenditure on vehicles. He explained the cost difference between standard double cabs and SUVs is about $40,000 tala. When that number ($40,000) is multiplied by 48 C.E.O.s it gives a substantial savings of $1, 920, 000 is made. Its really saving costs and trying to cut down expenditure on vehicles, said Sili. It is also to monitor the use of government vehicles not only by C.E.O.s but by public servants to make sure they do not abuse them. Only C.E.O.s are entitled to use vehicles for official work, reasonable hours and reasonable personal use, but other than C.E.O.s, no one else can use vehicles. As for Assistant C.E.O.s they can only use government vehicles after hours if they are acting on behalf of the C.E.O. when they are overseas for work. The switch from double cabs to SUVs will not be to the luxury model but the standard one, says Sili. He recalls there have been a lot of complaints in the past from members of the public about C.E.O.s who buy double cabs that are fully loaded but the regulation is clear they shouldnt do that. The recommendation for the switch was made by the Minister of Finance and from the Ministry of Finance to Cabinet. Sili was also asked about a recommendation for Ministers to switch from Toyota Prados to double cabs. In response, he said the current regulation stipulates that Ministers are entitled to Prados. He pointed out that it was also considered that vehicles for Ministers should be bought in bulk to allow for discounts. There was a question for Ministers allowing them to opt for double cabs, says Sili. I think its the issue of position and not the person. To me, when I saw that during Independence, other Ministers coming in double cabs while others came in Prados, it didnt look good for our guests. Because (Ministers) cant be driving double cabs and public servants also drive them and we felt it was best to stay with the Prado as required under current regulation. Under the Public Finance Management (Government Vehicles) Regulations 2015, Provision 4, Use of vehicle by Chief Executive Officers and employees- (1) A Chief Executive Officer must use the allocated vehicle for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the office. (2) However, a Chief Executive Officer is entitled to use the allocated vehicle for personal matters after hours or while on leave. (3) If a Chief Executive Officer is on overseas travel or taking local leave, the Acting Chief Executive Officer is entitled to 24 hours access to a vehicle, during that time. (4) A Chief Executive Officer who cannot or is unable to drive the allocated vehicle: (a) must, during normal working hours, designate driver of the Ministry to drive the vehicle for Chief Executive Officer; and (b) after hours, may authorise the designated driver or a relative (assigned driver) to drive the vehicle for the Chief Executive Officer, and the assigned driver and the Chief Executive Officer are jointly and severally liable for any matter or act arising out of the designation or authorisation to drive the vehicle. (5) An employee (other than a Chief Executive Officer or Acting Chief Executive Officer or a designated driver authorised to drive) must not use a vehicle at any time: (a) except for official matters or for the purpose of carrying out an exempted service during - (i) normal working hours; or (ii) after hours, with prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer or Acting Chief Executive Officer; and (b) unless the designated driver is unavailable or absent from duty. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Orbital ATK, Inc. (Orbital or the Company) (NYSE:OA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, and docketed under 16-cv-01031, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Orbital securities between June 1, 2015 and August 9, 2016 inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If you are a shareholder who purchased Orbital securities during the Class Period, you have until October 11, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Orbital develops and produces aerospace, defense, and aviation-related products for the U.S. Government, allied nations, prime contractors, and other customers in the United States and internationally. The Company was formed through a February 2015 merger between Orbital Sciences Corporation and Alliant Techsystems Inc. In September 2012, Orbital entered into a $2.3 billion long-term contract (the Contract) with the U.S. Army to manufacture and supply small caliber ammunition at the U.S. Armys Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Orbital lacked effective control over financial reporting; (ii) as a result, the Company failed to record an anticipated loss on the Contract after the loss became evident in 2015, as required by generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Orbitals public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On August 10, 2016, pre-market, Orbital announced that the Company would miss its Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q filing deadline for its most recent quarter and that the Companys previously issued financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (fiscal 2015), the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2015 (2015 transition period), the quarters in fiscal 2015 and the 2015 transition period, and the quarter ended April 3, 2016 . . . should no longer be relied upon as a results of misstatements relating primarily to the Contract. The Company advised investors that [a]fter considering the misstatements . . . the Company believes that the Contract will result in a net loss over its 10-year term. The Company further stated these issues indicate the existence of one or more material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. On this news, Orbitals share price fell $17.98, or 20.25%, to close at $70.79 on August 10, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Embraer S.A. (Embraer or the Company) (NYSE:ERJ) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-06277, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Embraer securities between April 16, 2012 and July 28, 2016 inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If you are a shareholder who purchased Embraer securities during the Class Period, you have until October 7, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Embraer designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in Brazil, North America, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and internationally. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company had paid bribes to officials in the Dominican Republic to secure contracts for the sale of aircraft; (ii) Embraers President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Defendant Frederico Pinheiro Fleury Curado (Curado) was aware of the bribery scheme; (iii) the foreseeable consequences of the foregoing conduct would cost Embraer hundreds of millions of dollars; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants statements about Embraers business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 1, 2013, after the market closed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Embraer was under investigation by the U.S. and Brazilian governments concerning bribery of Dominican Republic officials to secure a contract for the sale of military aircraft. On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $0.17, or 0.57%, to close at $29.55 on November 4, 2013, the next trading day. On September 23, 2014, shortly before the market closed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Brazilian authorities had filed bribery charges against eight Embraer employees, claiming that they had bribed officials in the Dominican Republic to secure a $92 million contract. On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $0.26, or 0.68%, to close at $38.25 on September 24, 2014. On March 16, 2016, after the market closed, various media outlets reported that Elio Moti Sonnenfeld (Sonnenfeld), a sales consultant who purportedly paid bribes on behalf of Embraer, had told Brazilian prosecutors that he believed the Companys top managers, including Defendant Curado, then CEO of Embraer, knew of the illicit payments made in connection with the Dominican Republic sales. On June 9, 2016, after the market closed, Embraer announced that Defendant Curado was stepping down from his position as CEO after 32 years with the Company, and that Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva would replace Curado as of July 2016. On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $1.18, or 5.44%, to close at $20.51 on June 10, 2016. On July 29, 2016, Embraer filed a Form 6-K with the SEC, stating, in relevant part, that: [N]egotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the settlement of the allegations of non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) have significantly progressed, to the point that Embraer is recognizing a US$ 200 million loss contingency in the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Embraer also announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Embraer reported, inter alia, the $200 million loss contingency and a net loss for the quarter totaling $99.4 million, or $0.55 per share. On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $2.93, or 13.82%, to close at $18.27 on July 29, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com There has been 28 non-fatal suspected heroin overdoses in two days this week in Camden. Authorities have issued a warning that Camden appears to be ground zero for the significant rise in recent heroin overdoses. According to Washington Times, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said that the last two people who overdosed on August 24 were allegedly caused by free samples of heroin with a stamp of the word "Batman" on them. The New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center has already issued an alert on Thursday and according to the alert, none of the reported overdoses were fatal. Authorities are allegedly suspecting that this "Batman" product is involved in the spike in overdoses is related to a past overdose event. The previous event also involved free heroin samples bearing a stamp with the words "Don't Panic." The Narcotic Analysis Unit said the brand "Don't Panic" heroin brand was seen in Camden had powerful painkiller fentanyl. In a report by patch.com, it said that fentanyl is the most prescribed drug to cancer patients to relieve pain. CNN previously reported that the painkiller is 50 to 100 times more effective than morphine and 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin. Authorities have also said that they believe the Batman-stamped heroin may have been sold in Camden over the last two weeks. They said that Cooper University Health Care responded to 23 heroin overdoses between Tuesday and Thursday, and the Camden County Police Department responded to six others on Tuesday and Wednesday. The alert also said that the Batman heroin is potentially dangerous. Medical services personnel have also advised that extra Narcan may be needed to reverse the conditions, courierpostonline.com reported. However, the alert issued said that they fear that the problem may spread to other parts of New Jersey, since most heroin users have commonly traveled to Camden from other parts of the state just to buy drugs. Over the past two months, authorities have managed to confiscate Batman-stamped heroin in Camden, Runnemede, Mount Ephraim, Gloucester City, Williamstown, Voorhees and Galloway. Juno Spacecraft is finally getting a close-up look at the biggest planet in the Solar system, Jupiter this coming Saturday (August 27, 2016). NASA's Juno probe will be exactly 2,600 miles (4,000 kilometers) away from the gas giant Jupiter at 8:51 a.m. EDT on August 27 (Saturday). This is the closest that the probe will be positioned in its entire mission making it capable of zooming the planet's clouds. The spacecraft is ready along with its instruments to capture and entire all important details on Saturday's flyby, which is unlike its previous encounter last July 4 when it entered the orbit of the giant planet. In NASA's official statement, Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton recalled what happened then, "we turned all our instruments off to focus on the rocket burn to get Juno into orbit around Jupiter." "Since then, we have checked Juno from stem to stern and back again," Bolton further stated. "We still have more testing to do, but we are confident that everything is working great. So for this upcoming flyby Juno's eyes and ears, our science instruments, will all be open. This is our first opportunity to really take a close-up look at the king of our solar system and begin to figure out how he works." The Juno mission was launched in August 2011 and received $1.1 billion worth of funds from NASA. Its primary mission is to map out the magnetic and gravitational fields of Jupiter in order to determine its composition and interior make up. Other goals involve identification of significant elements or chemicals present on the planet. Nearly five years of the mission on July 4, the spacecraft entered Jupiter's orbit on a highly elliptical path reaching from pole to pole of Jupiter. The team estimates that Juno will complete 36 flybys before it finally ends mission on February 2018. According to NASA as reported in Space, they will activate all eight of the spacecraft's instruments to collect data and capture clear images using the JunoCam. In addition, NASA clarified in a statement that it may take some time for the images to be available. "A handful of JunoCam images, including the highest-resolution imagery of the Jovian atmosphere and the first glimpse of Jupiter's north and south poles, are expected to be released during the later part of next week." FLORENCE, S.C. Eddie Green arrived at the Florence Civic Center at 3:45 a.m. Friday to ensure his spot in line for Dental Access Days, a two-day clinic providing free adult dental care. Although the clinic began at 6 a.m., patients were warned to expect long wait times. And Green, the 95th patient to be seen on Friday morning, was thankful for his early arrival. The Olanta resident said this was his first time at Dental Access Days, which have not been held in Florence since 2011. He had three teeth extracted but said he experienced no pain. Dental Access Days is a great resource, particularly for people like Green who are without dental insurance. Its good cause a lot of people cant afford dental, he said. They dont have the insurance and I dont have it. The clinic, hosted by the South Carolina Dental Association and presenting sponsor Delta Dental, has provided more than 10,000 adults with $6 million in free dental care since its inception in 2009. Approximately 200 dental professionals from across the state, including hygienists and dental students from the Medical University of South Carolina, provided their services at Fridays event and will be back today for the second round of the clinic. For the MUSC students, Dental Access Days provides a chance to learn more about the heart side of the business, which is vital for their professional growth, said Patricia Blanton, the interim dean of MUSCs College of Dental Medicine. The students love the opportunity. Its a learning experience for them, but its also a giving experience. Its an opportunity for them to really see the need of the community and it really elevates their education in terms of developing the heart side, she said. State Rep. Jay Jordan of Florence dropped by the event on Friday and said he was impressed with the amount of people receiving care. I drove up this morning and (there were) lines out the door. Then you get in the doors and you see the coordination in takes to run an event like this. You see the hundreds of folks that are professionals willing to give up their time to try and help people that are truly in need, he said. By the events conclusion, Chris Griffin, president of the South Carolina Dental Association, estimated that the dental professionals and volunteers would help approximately 1,600 people and provide anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million of free dental care. Though there were plenty of patients from the Pee Dee region, Jordan said, he was particularly impressed to meet a patient who had riddent a bus from North Augusta, S.C., to attend the clinic. This spoke to the magnitude of need in South Carolina, as well as the rarity of an event like Dental Access Days, he said. Dental Access Days continues today from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Florence Civic Center. Care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to those 18 years or older. Patients should expect long lines and wait times as there are just 90 available chairs. A tent will be set up outside the Florence Civic Center to serve as a waiting area. Water will be provided, but patients should bring snacks, portable chairs and sun protection. For more information, visit the South Carolina Dental Association website at www.scda.org. maaadhu wrote: Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, communicated their interpretive understanding of the texts they illustrated. A)Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy B)Through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks C)Through their manuscript illuminations, with which they meticulously embellished elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks D) Meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations E)Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellished them and If OA is C, then as per my understanding OA is incorrect because of placement of comma. There is a comma after "elaborate calligraphy" and that comma is missing in all of the answer choices. This means comma is not part of "Sentence Correction" and the sentence reads as -------------------------------------------------- , communicated their interpretive understanding of the texts they illustrated. Now lets fit in choice C in the blank. Through their manuscript illuminations, with which they meticulously embellished elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks , communicated their interpretive understanding of the texts they illustrated. In choice C, the main subject "medieval monks" becomes non essential. On this basis I rejected C. Experts can weigh in here. Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, communicated their interpretive understanding of the texts they illustrated. The core of the sentence here is "monks communicated." The other pieces are modifying: "through their manuscript illuminations" tells us how they communicated, as does "meticulously embellishing." Because they're telling us how, these are both adverbial modifiers. The problem, though, is that we can't stack two modifiers in a row if they're modifying the same thing. Effectively, what we have is: Subject, adverbial modifier, adverbial modifier, verb... We need to conjoin these modifiers (if they're modifying the same thing), or change one of them to modify something else. A) Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, communicated Two adverbial modifiers modifying the same thing. B) Through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks communicated Same issue here - the modifiers were simply moved to the beginning of the sentence, but it's still two adverbial modifiers modifying the same thing. C) Through their manuscript illuminations, with which they meticulously embellished elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks communicated Here, the idea of "embellishing" has been changed. The "with which" tells us that this is now modifying the word that came before it: "illuminations." It's a modifier nested within another modifier - in other words, they're modifying two different things. CORRECT D) Meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations communicated Here, the modifiers aren't directly in a row, but they're still both adverbial modifiers trying to modify the same thing. E) Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellished them and communicated This sentence now makes "embellished" a verb rather than a modifier. This fixes the modifier issue, but it changes the meaning. "Embellished" and "communicated" are not parallel ideas. Furthermore, the use of "them" is incorrect. We can't use "their" to refer to monks and "them" to refer to the manuscripts in the same sentence. hi,correct question is as follows:A) Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, communicatedB) Through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks communicatedC) Through their manuscript illuminations, with which they meticulously embellished elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks communicatedD) Meticulously embellishing the elaborate calligraphy, medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations communicatedE) Medieval monks, through their manuscript illuminations, meticulously embellished them and communicatedhope it helps A Crusades-era hand grenade that was retrieved from the sea off the Israeli coast several years ago has been handed over to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) by a family that inherited it. Made from heavy clay and gorgeously embossed, the incendiary weapon would have been used like some sort of a molotov cocktail. It was filled with naphtha -- a flammable sticky liquid known as Greek fire -- then sealed and hurled onto enemies. The deadly device was rather popular in naval battles as the fire could easily destroy ships. RELATED: Rare Crusade-Era Seal Discovered in Jerusalem According to the IAA, the grenade was common in Israel during the Crusades between the 11th to 13th century and until the Mamluk era, which ran from the 13th to the 16th century. The weapon was recovered by the late Marcel Mazliah, a worker at the Hadera power plant in northern Israel. It wasn't however the only item that belonged to Mazliah's varied collection. The archaeologists were surprised to find a treasure trove of metal artifacts, the earliest of which are 3,500 years old. Mazliah's family explained the man retrieved such items from the sea over a period of years while working at the power plant. RELATED: Crusader Hospital Unveiled in Jerusalem His other finds include a toggle pin and the head of a knife from the Middle Bronze Age, which date back more than 3,500 years. He also recovered candlestick fragments, two mortars and two pestles dating to the 11th century. "The items were apparently manufactured in Syria and were brought to Israel," Ayala Lester, a curator with the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement. The archaeologists believe the metal objects, most of which are decorated, fell overboard from a metal merchant's ship in the Early Islamic period (638- 1099) "The finds are evidence of the metal trade that was conducted during this period," Lester said. WATCH: Cat Bombs and Other Terrible Weapon Ideas goodyear2013 wrote: Some public health advocates have become concerned that directly advertising prescription drugs to consumers is likely to cause some patients to pursue certain medications that may be inappropriate for their individual health situation. However, marketing to consumers should not be limited as long as physicians also continue to be educated about such medications, because a physician's prescription is still required in order for patients to obtain these drugs. Which of the following facts would most directly address the concern articulated by the public health advocates? A) After a certain number of years, prescription drugs lose patent protection and other companies can then manufacture and market generic forms of the drugs. B) Consumers can now find technical drug information on the Internet, information that previously would have been available only to physicians. C) Physicians are also exposed to prescription drug advertisements that are directed toward consumers. D) Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate courses of treatment. E) Fewer than 15% of patients are likely to remember and ask by name for specific drugs that they see advertised in magazines or on television. Structure of Argument: Conclusion Type of Question: address the concern articulated by the public health advocates Solution: Out of Scope. Does not really allays the concerns of public health advocates (PHA) . It would actually prompt them to start protesting against the availability of information online as well. We are now questioning the professional competencies of Physicians here not to mention that this is a reverse answer. Says that Physicians won't be pressurized even if patients know certain things about their own ailment. - Correct Does not allay the concern of PHA. Even if 1% patients remember and ask for a specific drug, main conclusion of argument fails. 7 dings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBfjn_KHWG8 Signature Read More I want to add a few things about this Question.This is one of the typical ways in which GMAT provides the stimulus of CR. They start with One point of view, view of public health advocates in this question, and then go on to refute that view as the final conclusion of the argument. Therefore, theof the argument is - marketing to consumers should not be limited as long as physicians also continue to be educated about such medications.Yes, it is difficult to categorize this question. Is it a Strengthen question or is it a Weaken question?Looking closely, the question asks for both. They want us to, which means we have to allay their concerns thereby, strengthen the argument's main conclusion. Hence in the traditional sense, this is a Strengthen Question.A) After a certain number of years, prescription drugs lose patent protection and other companies can then manufacture and market generic forms of the drugs.B) Consumers can now find technical drug information on the Internet, information that previously would have been available only to physicians.C) Physicians are also exposed to prescription drug advertisements that are directed toward consumers.D) Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate courses of treatment.E) Fewer than 15% of patients are likely to remember and ask by name for specific drugs that they see advertised in magazines or on television._________________ Over the past 40 years, populations of adult Antarctic krill have declined by 70 to 80 percent in those areas, though researchers debate whether that drop is due to the effects of climate change, a rebound in whale populations after the end of commercial whaling or some combination of those pressures. Most Antarctic krill are found in an area from the Weddell Sea to the waters around the Antarctic Peninsula, the finger of land that juts up toward South America. They serve as an important source of food for various species of whales, seals and penguins. While those animals find other food sources during lean years, it is unclear if those alternate sources are sustainable long-term. They may be small, but krill -- tiny, shrimp-like creatures -- play a big role in the Antarctic food chain. As climate change warms the Southern Ocean and alters sea ice patterns, though, the area of Antarctic water suitable for krill to hatch and grow could drop precipitously, a new study finds. Because of its key role in the regional food chain, scientists are concerned about the impacts that future climate change may have on the krill population and the larger Antarctic ecosystem. In the new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, Andrea Pinones and Alexey Fedorov examined how expected changes in ocean temperatures and sea ice coverage might affect krill during their earliest life stages when they are most vulnerable to environmental conditions. Krill has a complex, regimented life cycle that requires a delicate balance of conditions. Female krill lay their eggs in the upper ocean during summer; those eggs then sink to where the water is in the right temperature range for them to hatch. Once they hatch, the krill larvae swim back to the surface waters where they must find food, in the form of phytoplankton, within 10 days or they will die. The larvae must then eat enough food during the late summer and fall to fatten up before winter. To survive that winter, they also need sea ice to form by a certain time, as they use it for shelter, as well as feeding on the algae that dwells in the nooks and crannies of the ice. RELATED: China's Krill Push Threatens Penguins and Whales "Even if there is a lot of a sea ice, if the sea ice is not there at the time that they need, they don't survive," said Pinones, who has dual appointments at the Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones and the High Latitude Marine Ecosystem Dynamic Center in Chile. Pinones and Fedorov, who works at Yale University, took a krill growth model and plugged in expected ocean temperature rise from climate models, projections of how sea ice area and the timing of its growth and melt might change, and possible changes in phytoplankton to see how those changes impacted the krill during its early life stages. "We see a scenario that is not very favorable for krill," Pinones said. While warmer ocean temperatures help the krill hatch faster, declines in sea ice area, delayed sea ice formation, and a drop in phytoplankton populations meant that overall, the habitat suitable for young krill could decline by up to 80 percent, they found. "This paper is a significant step forward to predict the consequences of climate change (temperature and sea ice dynamics) on circumpolar krill population," So Kawaguchi, a krill biologist with the Australian Antarctic Division, said in an email. He was not involved in the new study. RELATED: Sea Lion Die-Off Tied to 'Junk Food' Fish There are significant uncertainties, though. For one, the changes in sea ice projected by models vary widely. While sea ice increased in some areas and decreased in others, in general the biggest declines were in the area where most krill today are found. Whether phytoplankton populations will increase or decrease with warming is another unknown. If they do decline, the bigger that decline is, the more it will curtail krill habitat, the study showed. The only scenario from the model that showed an increase in krill was one in which phytoplankton increased and climate models also showed an increase in sea ice. The study also left out the effects of ocean acidification, which are expected to be particularly pronounced in polar regions as cold water absorbs carbon dioxide more readily. A 2013 Nature Climate Change paper by Kawaguchi looked at the potential effects of acidification on hatching rates and found declines in much of the same krill habitat as the new study. The combination of acidification with the factors examined in the new study "could be catastrophic" for krill, Pinones said. RELATED: When Ships Pass, Whales Eat Less Both Pinones and Kawaguchi say that a lot more research needs to be done to better understand the future of Antarctic krill. In particular, more observations of krill during the winter when they are sheltering under sea ice are needed. "We still don't have a full grasp of how krill interact with ice and how this changes as krill grow, and this interaction could further change as the environment changes," Kawaguchi said. "There is enormous uncertainty in our knowledge regarding the ecosystem interaction and how it responds to changing climate," he said. "The important message here is that we need to get a better handle on the ecosystem processes through well designed observation and experimentation to improve and better tune the ecosystem model to reduce the uncertainties in our prediction." More From Climate Central: This article originally appeared on Climate Central, all rights reserved. A "gate to hell" has emerged from ruins in southwestern Turkey, Italian archaeologists have announced. Known as Pluto's Gate -- Ploutonion in Greek, Plutonium in Latin -- the cave was celebrated as the portal to the underworld in Greco-Roman mythology and tradition. Historic sources located the site in the ancient Phrygian city of Hierapolis, now called Pamukkale, and described the opening as filled with lethal mephitic vapors. "This space is full of a vapor so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground. Any animal that passes inside meets instant death," the Greek geographer Strabo (64/63 BC -- about 24 AD) wrote. "I threw in sparrows and they immediately breathed their last and fell," he added. Announced this month at a conference on Italian archaeology in Istanbul, Turkey, the finding was made by a team led by Francesco D'Andria, professor of classic archaeology at the University of Salento. D'Andria has conducted extensive archaeological research at the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis. Two years ago he claimed to discover there the tomb of Saint Philip, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Founded around 190 B.C. by Eumenes II, King of Pergamum (197 B.C.-159 B.C.), Hierapolis was given over to Rome in 133 B.C. The Hellenistic city grew into a flourishing Roman city, with temples, a theater and popular sacred hot springs, believed to have healing properties. "We found the Plutonium by reconstructing the route of a thermal spring. Indeed, Pamukkale' springs, which produce the famous white travertine terraces originate from this cave," D'Andria told Discovery News. Featuring a vast array of abandoned broken ruins, possibly the result of earthquakes, the site revealed more ruins once it was excavated. The archaeologists found Ionic semi columns and, on top of them, an inscription with a dedication to the deities of the underworld -- Pluto and Kore. D'Andria also found the remains of a temple, a pool and a series of steps placed above the cave -- all matching the descriptions of the site in ancient sources. "People could watch the sacred rites from these steps, but they could not get to the area near the opening. Only the priests could stand in front of the portal," D'Andria said. According to the archaeologist, there was a sort of touristic organization at the site. Small birds were given to pilgrims to test the deadly effects of the cave, while hallucinated priests sacrificed bulls to Pluto. The ceremony included leading the animals into the cave, and dragging them out dead. "We could see the cave's lethal properties during the excavation. Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening, instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes," D'Andria said. Only the eunuchs of Cybele, an ancient fertility goddess, were able to enter the hell gate without any apparent damage. "They hold their breath as much as they can," Strabo wrote, adding that their immunity could have been due to their "menomation," "divine providence" or "certain physical powers that are antidotes against the vapor." According to D'Andria, the site was a famous destination for rites of incubation. Pilgrims took the waters in the pool near the temple, slept not too far from the cave and received visions and prophecies, in a sort of oracle of Delphi effect. Indeed, the fumes coming from the depths of Hierapoli's phreatic groundwater produced hallucinations. "This is an exceptional discovery as it confirms and clarifies the information we have from the ancient literary and historic sources," Alister Filippini, a researcher in Roman history at the Universities of Palermo, Italy, and Cologne, Germany, told Discovery News. "This is an exceptional discovery as it confirms and clarifies the information we have from the ancient literary and historic sources," Alister Filippini, a researcher in Roman history at the Universities of Palermo, Italy, and Cologne, Germany, told Discovery News. Fully functional until the 4th century AD, and occasionally visited during the following two centuries, the site represented "an important pilgrimage destination for the last pagan intellectuals of the Late Antiquity," Filippini said. During the 6th century AD, the Plutonium was obliterated by the Christians. Earthquakes may have then completed the destruction. D'Andria and his team are now working on the digital reconstruction of the site. VIEW PHOTOS: Pluto's Gate Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state of New York would stop doing business with anyone who supports the anti-Israeli BDS movement. In effect, Cuomo pledged to boycott anyone who boycotts Israel. In today's Seeker Daily report, Jules Suzdaltsev looks into the history and purpose of the growing BDS movement. First off, that acronym: BDS stands for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions" and it's a global campaign to increase economic and political pressure on the nation of Israel to change certain policies. The goal of the movement is to hold Israel accountable for alleged human rights and international law violations in regard to the Palestinian conflict. The campaign is similar to the 20th-century divestment movement to end apartheid in South Africa. The BDS movement has three stated goals: It wants Israeli to end its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights; to grant full equality to Arabic and Palestinian nationals; and to acknowledge the Palestinian right of return cause. RELATED: What Are Israel's Violations of International Law? Primarily, the BDS movement pursues these goals by organizing demonstrations and boycotts against companies that do business with the Israeli government or military. Movement leaders also target any companies that have a direct interest or presence in the controversial Israeli settlements. The BDS movement also pressures other world governments to levy sanctions on Israel, focusing on military partnerships, economic trade agreements and diplomatic relations. Today the BDS movement is endorsed by more than 170 international pro-Palestinian organizations. While the BDS campaign has had increasing success in the private sector, no country has yet to implement official sanctions against Israel. Still, the BDS movement is definitely gaining momentum in recent years. In 2014, the influential publication The Economist acknowledged that the movement had earned significant mainstream support. Several major banks have begun to liquidate their holdings in Israel and some larger corporations have canceled contracts with Israel -- all in direct reaction to pressure from the BDS campaign. -- Glenn McDonald Learn More: BDS: Palestinian BDS National Committee Newsweek: Boycott Movement Claims Victory as Veolia Ends All Investment in Israel Economist: A campaign that is gathering weight Economist: New pariah on the block Tue, 10/26 (11:30am ET): MBA Essays - Talking About Your Past and Making Your Reader Excited About Your Future Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Nine years ago, San Francisco banned plastic shopping bags and set off a movement thats led nearly half the state and its biggest cities to do the same. Skipping the bags at checkout was a hassle at first, but now folks dont seem to miss the throwaway sacks on a grocery trip. With so many shoppers adapting to the change, Sacramento passed a statewide ban roping in the rest of California two years ago. But that move is on hold due to the well-funded interest of a handful of bag makers. A developers plan to ship coal from Oaklands docks took a huge blow Friday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to block state funds for any coal-shipping terminals in California and vowed to keep up a fight against the fossil fuel. The news came weeks after the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to bar shipping and handling of coal throughout the city, sending the proposed terminal by developer Phil Tagami into an uncertain future. Tagami is a friend and longtime political supporter of Browns. I think its a real win for the people of California, said state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, who sponsored the legislation, which was the only one of four coal-curbing bills she pushed this year that won the Legislatures approval. It passed the Senate on Thursday and Brown signed it into law less than 24 hours later, with a message that underscored his role as a leader in the battle against climate change and broke his long silence on the coal controversy that rattled his former hometown. I believe action on multiple fronts will be necessary to transition away from coal, Brown said in the message. In California, were divesting from thermal coal in our state pensions, shifting to renewable energy, and, last year, coal exports from California ports declined by more than one-third, from 4.65 million to 2.96 million tons. Thats a positive trend we need to build on. Brown went on to praise Oakland for taking steps to bar coal from a bulk commodities terminal that Tagami is building near the east end of the Bay Bridge. On June 27, the Oakland City Council voted to disallow the plan, days after the citys hired environmental consultant, ESA, released a report saying that coal dust can damage organs, stunt childrens growth and cause cancer. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, a former aide to Brown, called the governors statement a humbling surprise, particularly because the governor called on other cities to follow Oaklands lead. For him to recognize the contribution that we made through this process, and encourage others including the state to follow suit, is incredibly validating, Schaaf said. Tagami declined to comment Friday. His lawyer, David Smith, had hinted at possible legal action against the city in a letter to the City Council shortly before the June 27 vote. He warned that a coal ban would breach the citys 2013 development deal for the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal and that any councilmember who supported such a ban would violate his or her oath of office. A spokesman for Tagamis company, California Capital & Investment Group, said Friday that the developer and his shipping operator, Terminal Logistics Solutions, are still evaluating their options. But with the legislation signed and a vow from the governor to fight coal, Oaklands ban is not the only problem developers face if they decide to move ahead with the coal terminal. Brown, who served as mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and appointed Tagami to serve as a port commissioner in 2000, had for months kept mum on the Oakland coal shipping plan even as it drew stern denunciations from Hancock, Schaaf, Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond, and 11 East Bay mayors in cities surrounding Oakland. Tagami and his allies have argued that a prohibition on coal could hinder the larger 130-acre development that California Capital & Investment Group is building at the long-defunct Army base in West Oakland, which requires millions of dollars in state funding and will add rail lines, warehouses and maritime support services to what has long been a vast industrial hinterland. Tagami says the project will generate thousands of jobs, some of which could be at risk if the city bars a legal commodity, he says. Schaaf takes exception to those claims, saying it was the coal proposal itself not the City Councils ban that slowed the Army base project down. Including coal jeopardized funding sources, and certainly for this project it required so many entities to spend time, money and energy on protecting the community from this dangerous commodity, when we could have been moving toward something that everyone would welcome, Schaaf said. Hancock argued, further, that if the Army base project can succeed only by putting the largest coal export depot on the Pacific Coast right near the Bay Bridge, then it was a flawed business proposition from the get-go. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle A nearly 4,000-acre Lake County wildfire that blackened much of the town of Lower Lake was 100 percent contained as of Friday evening, fire officials said. The Clayton Fire destroyed at least 300 homes and businesses since it started August 13 and quickly burned through the community, forcing thousands to evacuate. Police have released a sketch of a man who they say attacked a woman in Pacific Heights last weekend in hope of tracking down the assailant. The man, described as being in his 40s or 50s, apparently came up from behind the victim about 7:45 p.m. on Aug. 20 near Lafayette Park and began punching her in the face until she was rendered motionless, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The shoo-in for No. 1 on Billboards next album chart is Frank Oceans Blonde, which has charmed critics and enthralled fans who had waited four years since his last record. But the release of the album this month, through an exclusive deal with Apple, has also roiled the industry, bringing to the surface long-simmering tensions that record companies have with streaming music services, and sometimes even with their own artists. Within days of the albums release, a series of revelations about Ocean and Blonde emerged that portray a business deeply in flux. Ocean, it seemed, was no longer signed to Def Jam, his record company, when Blonde was released. He had apparently fulfilled his contractual agreement with the label with the release of a separate visual album the day before Blonde came out a move that cut Def Jam and its corporate parent, Universal Music Group, out of the profits for one of the years most-anticipated albums. At the same time, Universals management decided to clamp down on the growing practice of releasing new music through exclusive deals with digital outlets like Apple Music and Tidal, a move that reasserted the labels control over the music its artists produce but also risked alienating top performers who benefit from such promotions. As the industry has struggled to interpret the fallout from Blonde, one thing is clear: In the streaming age, the complex series of relationships that the music business relies on to function have become anything but harmonious. The unprecedented run of exclusives by digital music services has put a tremendous strain on the relationship between artists and their record companies, said Larry Miller, an associate professor of music business at New York Universitys Steinhardt School. We are seeing that play out in public now. The details of Oceans exit from Def Jam are unclear. But the story began to take shape when fans noticed that the labels name was nowhere to be found in the credits for Blonde. That album had come out just a day after the release of Oceans Endless, a 46-minute visual album, also an Apple Music exclusive. Despite its idiosyncratic format, Endless one long streaming film, whose songs (different from those on Blonde) were not available separately fulfilled Oceans contractual obligations to Def Jam, enabling him to release Blonde through Apple without any involvement from the label, according to three people with knowledge of Oceans deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The financial arrangement between Ocean and Apple is not known. Apple, Def Jam and a representative for Oceans managers all declined to comment. It was still not known whether a CD version of Blonde would be made widely available, and if so, what company would handle its distribution now that Ocean is no longer on the Def Jam roster. (In another twist to the unusual release of Blonde whose cover art spells it Blond a relatively small number of CDs were included with copies of a printed publication called Boys Dont Cry that were given away for a limited time in pop-up stores in New York and three other cities.) Independence may be particularly attractive to an artist like Ocean, who is revered as an innovator but has been a reclusive and enigmatic figure; he has also complained in the past about Def Jam. But the way Blonde was released is viewed as representative of a wider shift in the power dynamics between artists, record labels and technology companies. It follows a year of deals by streaming music companies like Apple and Tidal focused on exclusive album releases. Used by the streaming outlets to attract attention and subscribers, these arrangements in which an album is available on only one service for a limited period, usually a week or two have also been viewed by artists as ways to finance new projects, since they often involve a significant financial commitment from the streaming service to pay for videos or other forms of promotion, according to music and talent executives who have negotiated the deals. Over the last year, major albums by Beyonce, Drake, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Rihanna, Future and DJ Khaled were released first through exclusive streaming deals of various kinds. Apple has carved out a particular role in paying for videos by stars like Drake, the Weeknd and Taylor Swift. But deals like these have also often irritated fans, since they sequester music on a particular subscription service even if only for a limited time. Record labels also often dislike them because they limit sales and frequently lead to piracy. They are also seen as examples of digital services interfering in the labels relationships with artists, a connection that in decades past was absolute but has already been chipped away by declining record sales and the rise of the concert business as a major source of revenue for artists. The tide may be turning against exclusives, at least from the perspective of the labels. After the release of Oceans album, Lucian Grainge, the chairman of Universal Music Group, sent a private memo to top executives at the companys labels calling for an end to long-term exclusive deals with a single service, according to a person who has seen the memo but spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was an internal document. Yet that edict may still leave the company plenty of room to negotiate more limited deals with digital services. A spokesman for Universal declined to comment. Executives at two major record labels said that Spotify, which has resisted exclusives, had recently told them that it had instituted a policy that music that had benefited from such deals on other services would not receive the same level of promotion once it arrived on Spotify; such music may not be as prominently featured or included in as many playlists, said these executives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss private negotiations. Spotify declined to comment. Others in the music world have called for a truce between labels and digital services when it comes to online distribution, particularly when it concerns young artists like Ocean, who at 28 has no experience with the record industry before its digital disruption. Artists want to be fully empowered to control their careers, and they dont want the old school to tell them what to do, said Doug Davis, a music industry lawyer. Ultimately there has to be a resolution between the major labels and the artists that allows them to control their destinies and cash in on the financial opportunities that are out there. A 23-year-old man accused of shooting a man to death on an East Palo Alto street in June was arrested Friday morning, police said. Lionel Jericho McCoy, of East Palo Alto, was booked into San Mateo County jail on a no-bail homicide warrant. He was suspected of shooting and killing 30-year-old Christopher Puckett on June 10, police said. Officers with East Palo Alto and San Jose police departments served search and arrest warrants at a building at 477 N. Second St. in San Jose at 5 a.m. Friday. McCoy and two other people were taken into custody. Neither person was identified. One was interviewed and released, and the other was arrested on a parole violation. McCoy was also on parole for robbery, police said. This arrest will provide closure for the family of the victim and the community at large, East Palo Alto Police Chief Albert Pardini said in a statement. Thanks to a coordinated effort, a very dangerous individual is off the streets of our community. Police said the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Puckett and McCoy. On June 10, officers responded to a gun shot locator report about 10 p.m. at Illinois Street and Bay Road, where Puckett was found suffering from multiple gun shot wounds. He died before reaching the hospital, authorities said. Police would not release a photo of McCoy. Officials said they believe witnesses will come forward now that he is in custody and did not want to compromise future identification from witnesses. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno Estimados amigos, Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia. Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro. Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras. There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen. You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out. No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca. Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt. Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos. Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. A federal judge refused Friday to block Californias new vaccination law, which requires children in public and private schools to be inoculated against 10 contagious illnesses and eliminates an exemption based on their parents personal beliefs. Society has a compelling interest in fighting the spread of contagious diseases through mandatory vaccination of school-age children, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of San Diego said in denying an injunction against enforcement of the law, sought by 17 parents and four antivaccine organizations. The right to freely practice ones religion, one of the rights invoked by opponents of the new law, does not outweigh the states interest in public health and safety, Sabraw said. The law was prompted by a measles outbreak in 2014 that was traced to youngsters at Disneyland who hadnt been vaccinated. Implemented last month, the new measure makes California one of three states, along with West Virginia and Mississippi, to require all schoolchildren to be vaccinated against illnesses such as measles, mumps, tetanus and rubella, regardless of their parents religious or personal opposition. The only exceptions are for students with doctor-certified medical exemptions and for disabled students in individual education programs. While the law says that all children must be vaccinated, it requires parents to provide immunization records only when a student is entering kindergarten or the seventh grade. That means an elementary-school student with a previous parental exemption does not need to be vaccinated until the seventh grade, and students in the eighth grade or higher with a past exemption wont require any vaccinations. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say 33,000 students in California whose parents oppose vaccinations are enrolling in either kindergarten or the seventh grade and will be denied enrollment unless they agree to be vaccinated. The law has made second-class citizens out of children who for very compelling reasons are not vaccinated, plaintiffs attorney Robert Moxley said in announcing the suit July 1. Opponents went to court after failing to qualify a state ballot referendum to undo the law. Sabraw, in his ruling, said the California Supreme Court had upheld mandatory vaccination for schoolchildren as long ago as 1890. He also cited a 1944 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibited a young girl from distributing religious literature on the streets in violation of a Massachusetts child-labor law. The familys claim of religious freedom in that case does not include liberty to expose the community or the child to communicable disease, the high court said. The right to an education, strongly protected by California law, must give way to the public interest in protecting childrens health, he said. State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, sponsor of the vaccine law, praised the ruling and said that our schools are already becoming safer because of the strengthened vaccination requirement. Attorney Kim Mack Rosenberg said the plaintiffs would appeal. All children in California deserve to receive the education that is their guaranteed right, a right they will lose if the vaccination law is enforced, she said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko San Francisco nudists gathered today at Jane Warner Plaza in celebration of Valentine's Day and to also seek naked justice. The parade took place at noon Saturday and followed a route from the Castro District to City Hall. According to KPIX, the parade was created by Gypsy Taube, a local nude activist who has been fighting against the S.F. nudity ban that was enacted in 2013. By finding a loophole, Taube, along with the Body Freedom Network, was able to get a permit for the parade. John Ellenby, a British-born computer engineer who played a critical role in paving the way for the laptop computer, died Aug. 17 in San Francisco. He was 75. His son Thomas confirmed the death but said the cause had not been determined. Mr. Ellenbys pioneering work came to fruition in the early 1980s, after he founded Grid Systems in Mountain View. As chief executive, he assembled an engineering and design team that included the noted British-born industrial designer William Moggridge. The team produced a clamshell computer with an orange electroluminescent flat-panel display that was introduced as the Compass. It went to market in 1982. The Compass is now widely acknowledged to have been way ahead of its time. The Grid Compass was the first successful clamshell laptop computer, said Marc Weber, a historian at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. It went on to become a valuable tool for big corporations, government spies, White House and Pentagon officials, and even astronauts, surviving the midair explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in which seven people died. The Compass came with advanced, and expensive, data storage capacity called bubble memory and was accordingly pricey, originally selling for $8,150 ($20,325 today). As a result, it found an enthusiastic market not with consumers but rather in Washington. One version, intended for U.S. special-operations forces, was said to have come with a red dot on its black magnesium case, placed there as an aiming guide for any commando who might have to shoot the device to destroy its data quickly. Intelligence agencies were also eager buyers; the Compass was marketed as a kind of sexy, high-tech device that might appeal to James Bond. NASA also used one as a backup navigational device in its space shuttle program. One was aboard the Challenger on the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, when a rocket-booster failure destroyed the craft shortly after liftoff from Cape Canaveral. The Compass, which had been attached to a dashboard with Velcro, was recovered from the debris and found to be still working. Mr. Ellenby was born in Corbridge, in northern England, on Jan. 9, 1941, to Conrad Ellenby, a zoologist, and the former Mary McCarraher, a biologist. He studied economics and geography at University College London and spent a year in the early 1960s studying at the London School of Economics, where he encountered mainframe computers. He later worked for the British computer maker Ferranti and lectured on computing at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He moved to Northern California in the early 1970s to work for the Xerox Corp. at its Palo Alto Research Center. At the time, Xerox was designing a desktop computer, known as the Alto, which would become an inspiration for the Apple Lisa and Macintosh, and for Microsoft Windows. Inside Xerox, the Alto was known as an interim Dynabook, a reference to the prototype for a portable machine envisioned by the Xerox computer scientist Alan Kay. Mr. Ellenby was instrumental in managing the development of the Alto II, a version of the prototype that could be manufactured more easily. He had earned a reputation as a technologist who was adept at turning technologies into products. He was good and aggressive and even daring, you might say, said David Liddle, a Xerox executive at the time. Mr. Ellenby left Xerox to found Grid in 1979. The move paid off. In addition to his government customers, corporations like Bank of America, Chevron and McKinsey & Co. were early buyers. Weber, the computer historian, said that the name Grid was derived from Mr. Ellenbys vision of a gridlike network a precursor to the Internet that would connect various computers with one another, allowing them to share files. The idea was to sell the system through a business services company. The company called the system Grid Central. Initially, the Compass was so energy-hungry it required a plug. And the machine took competitors by surprise. One was Adam Osborne, the developer of the Osborne 1, an early portable computer a luggable, in industry parlance about the size of a sewing machine. Appearing with Mr. Ellenby on an industry panel, Osborne was startled to realize that the device sitting flat on a table nearby was, when it was opened, a portable computer. Mr. Ellenby sold Grid to the Tandy Corp. in March 1988. He went on to start Agilis, a maker of handheld tablet computers, and, with his son Thomas, GeoVector, which pioneered navigation and augmented-reality applications. In addition to his son Thomas, Mr. Ellenby is survived by another son, Peter, and a granddaughter. 1 Officer killed: A police officer responding to a dispute between a father and son in Maryville, Tenn., was shot to death after helping get the elder man to safety, authorities said Friday. Officer Kenny Moats, 32, and a colleague came under fire as they were waiting for backup after responding to a call to intervene in a domestic dispute. The officers were about 70 yards from the home when the son fired from the garage, fatally striking Moats in the neck above his bullet-proof vest. Brian Keith Stalans, 44, was arrested. It was the days second domestic disturbance call at the home. Sheriff James Berrong said officers lacked probable cause to make an arrest during the first call Thursday. 2 Space mission: A SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth on Friday with scientific gifts from the International Space Station. The Dragon parachuted into the Pacific, just off Mexicos Baja California coast, loaded with 3,000 pounds of research and equipment, including 12 mice that flew up as part of a genetic study. SpaceX, based in Hawthorne (Los Angeles County), is the only space station shipper capable of returning items for analysis back to Earth. Other cargo ships are filled with trash at missions end and burn up on re-entry. Queens residents protesting the city's plan to convert a Maspeth hotel into a homeless shelter say they have nothing against homeless peoplethey just don't want any in their neighborhood. For more than two weeks, a group of locals residents has gathered to protest outside a Holiday Inn Express at 59-40 55th Road, which the Department of Homeless Services plans to convert into an adult homeless shelter by October 1. Eleni Kesanidis, who has lived in Maspeth for 30 years, was one of approximately 50 people out protesting Thursday night. She claimed Maspeth is already overwhelmed by homelessness. "We have enough already! And now we're going to have more," she said. Deputy HRA Commissioner David Neustadt explained in an email that DHS did not seek out the 55th Road site. "We have an open request for shelters, and nonprofit providers find locations and bring them to us," he said. Neustadt did not identify which nonprofit providers suggested the Holiday Inn location. The protesters, who on Thursday chanted "No homeless shelter" and "Boycott the Holiday Inn," have said they are fearful that the proposed shelter, which is located near a park and will house up to 220 people, will endanger their children and bringing unwanted outsiders to the neighborhood. (DHS officials have pointed out that there are homeless individuals who hail from neighborhoods across New York, including an estimated 250 New Yorkers whose last permanent address on file was in Maspeth.) Bob Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, a local community group, is convinced the presence of a new shelter will lead to a spike in crime in Maspeth. "Where are they going to go during the day? What are they going to do?" he said of future residents of the shelter. "No neighborhood that's worth anything would support this kind of facility in their neighborhood. Nobody can say they want to live next to one of these things, because it brings crime, drugs, you name it." Jose Rodriguez, a member of the homeless advocacy group Picture the Homeless, questioned the premise of the protestors' complaints. "People in Maspeth are concerned about their quality of life, crime, and things of that nature. But have they ever thought about people who are ripped from their communities and their homes, who dont know what tomorrows going to bring? he said. "Instead of kicking them while theyre down, have they ever asked what its like to be in that situation? I dont think anybody in their right mind wants to live in a shelter." Several protesters claimed they're not opposed to placing any kind of homeless shelter in Maspeth, but rather specifically opposed to a shelter that is open to men. "We don't know their backgroundwe don't know if they're stable," resident Meri Wittman said. "I would feel more comfortable if it were a women or children's shelter." But Tony Nunziato, a neighborhood florist who served as a Queens election leader for the Trump campaign during the Republican primary, said he would not tolerate a shelter of any sort. "Unless it was 200 nuns, you don't put nobody together that has a problem in society, in a concentrated area, and label them and say 'fend for yourself.'" Nunziato is one of two anti-shelter activists raising money for an impending suit against the city. A current fundraiser on GoFundMe has already raised more than $12,000 of a $100,000 goal. On Thursday, several protesters handed Nunziato checks. A number of protesters expressed the belief that Mayor Bill de Blasio is opening the shelter to punish the neighborhood, which voted heavily for Republican Joe Lhota in the 2013 mayoral election. "Why is everything getting dumped in Queens? It's not just Maspeth, it's all of Queens," said Maspeth resident Linda Daquano. "Why isn't it in Park Slope, where he owns two properties? What's his agenda with Queens?" The anti-shelter group has planned another march for 1:30 pm today. SACRAMENTO California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday banning state transportation funding for new coal export terminals. The bill represents a victory for environmentalists as they campaign aggressively to block shipments of coal from the West Coast to energy-hungry markets in Asia. The legislation was introduced in response to a developers failed proposal to build a coal terminal in Oakland. The project would have involved funding from the state of Utah, which hoped to create jobs in an economically depressed area of the state. Environmentalists say exporting coal from the U.S. would discourage China and other Asian countries from investing in cleaner technology, exacerbating global warming. Coal is an antiquated industry and we need to accept that as a reality and not think otherwise, said Dan Kalb, an Oakland City Council member who opposed the coal terminal. Brown has been vocal in calling for aggressive action to combat climate change, but had avoided weighing in on the proposed Oakland coal facility. Brown, a Democrat and a former mayor of Oakland, is friends with the developer, Phil Tagami. But in a letter to lawmakers, Brown said the state and local governments should seek to reduce and ultimately eliminate coal shipments through all California ports. I believe action on multiple fronts will be necessary to transition away from coal, he wrote. In California, were divesting from thermal coal in our state pensions, shifting to renewable energy, and, last year, coal exports from California ports declined by more than one third, from 4.65 million to 2.96 million tons. Thats a positive trend we need to build on. Larry Kamer, a spokesman for Tagami, declined to comment on the governors action. Coal from Utah is currently shipped through ports in Richmond, Stockton and Long Beach. SB1279, which applies to projects proposed after Jan. 1, 2017, will prohibit state transportation funds a key source of money for port construction from being used to expand those facilities or build new ones involving coal shipments. Critics of the legislation say it may violate federal law and treaties, and they object to coal being treated differently from other commodities. The debate over coal has grown increasingly contentious across the West Coast, setting up tense battles between environmentalists and communities seeking jobs in coal-producing Western states. With declining demand for coal in the United States, mining companies in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and elsewhere want to ship instead to Asia. Today, people can breathe easier knowing that beginning in January no coal-related projects will receive state funding, said state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland, who introduced the anticoal legislation. A three-year-old Pennsylvania girl whose disappearance sparked an Amber Alert was found safe in Manhattan yesterday afternoon, thanks to an eagle-eyed motorist who recognized the car described in the alert. Now her father is in custody. Robert Byrne, 24, apparently abducted his daughter Ava during a fight with the girl's mother, Morgan Barela, early Friday in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania. She told the Citizens Voice that they were arguing about whether he had cheated on her. Barela, who is eight months pregnant, recounted, "He slapped me across the face, into the closet and tried to grab my phone. He squished my belly, and the last thing he said was he's going to shoot me, my kids and himself. Then he took off with our daughter." Ava was only wearing a diaper at the time. Right before 2 p.m., a driver in Manhattan noticed the car, a 2004 Hyundai Elantra, and, the Post reports, "flagged down traffic agent Md G. Ali at the intersection of 34th St and 10th Avenue." Ali asked the Hyundai driverByrneto pull over, which he did. Ali said, "I looked into the car and the girl wasnt crying, but she looked scared." While Ali waited for police backup, Byrne suddenly got out of the car with the girl and started to walk away. Arriving cops stopped him; police officer Sean Mooney said, "We were able to remove the child very willingly." Byrne was then taken into police custody. The Citizens Voice reports, "According to an application for a protection-from-abuse order Barela filed in court Friday, Byrne came inside around midnight claiming voices in his head were telling him Barela and the kids were in danger. She asked who was after them, and Byrne replied that he didnt know the voices just said they would be safer at Barelas mothers house." Her application read, "I am in fear for her life. He is capable of anything because he hears voices all the time and they tell him to do bad things." Ava was released to her mother and grandmother. Barela told reporters, "I am feeling happy and I just want to go home and spend time with my daughter." Charges are pending against Byrne. America has a new pharmaceutical villain. Her name is Heather Bresch. As the CEO of Mylan, the owner of severe allergy treatment EpiPen, Bresch is at the center of the latest public outrage over high drug prices, excoriated for overseeing a fourfold price increase on EpiPen while taking a huge pay raise. From talk shows to Twitter, her name is being mentioned alongside Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli, who ignited anger last fall over raising the price of Daraprim, and J. Michael Pearson, the onetime McKinsey consultant who took over Valeant Pharmaceuticals and sharply raised prices on lifesaving drugs. But Shkreli and Pearson were outliers trying to upend the business. But Bresch, in many ways, is an ultimate insider. Her father is a U.S. senator. She runs one of the largest generic drug companies in the world and oversees the generic industrys lobbying group. Now the question is whether that will give her a different result both Shkreli and Pearson were forced out of their companies. Bresch, 47, has moved to quell the furor. Last week, she announced that the company is increasing financial assistance to patients, but did not say it would lower the list price which has risen to about $600 for a pack of two EpiPens, from about $100 when Mylan acquired the product in 2007. In an interview, Bresch said the price increases on EpiPen werent even in the same hemisphere as what Shkreli did when he raised the price of Daraprim by 50 times overnight. I think we mean what we say: You can do good and do well, and I think we strike that balance around the globe, Bresch said. She is unapologetic that Mylans actions are driven by profit. I am running a business. I am a for-profit business. I am not hiding from that. Generic drug companies once dealt almost exclusively in making cheap copies of pills and railed passionately against the anticompetitive tactics of brand-name competitors. Now, through a series of acquisitions and mergers, the handful of large generic companies that are left are investing in expensive brand-name drugs and in doing so, are embracing many of the tactics they once scorned. Bresch said the companys latest actions would do the most to help patients, by reducing their out-of-pocket costs. And she said that the $600 list price is necessary for the company to recoup its investment in EpiPen, which includes raising awareness of severe allergic reactions and improving the way the product works. But she also sought to shift blame away from Mylan, saying that patients are feeling the pain in part because insurers have increased the amount that customers must pay. What else do you shop for that when you walk up to the counter, you have no idea what its going to cost you? she said. Tell me where that happens anywhere else in the system. Its unconscionable. To some, the companys response seemed to ring hollow. Its a real challenge to understand how a management team sits around a board table and makes a decision to raise the price of a lifesaving medication over and over and over, and when the PR storm hits, decides to blame someone else for that price increase, said David Maris, an analyst for Wells Fargo. Bresch has weathered her share of controversy, like when it was discovered that West Virginia University awarded her a business degree 10 years after she had attended the school, even though she had completed only about half of the coursework. The university concluded she got the degree because she was the daughter of the then-governor, Joe Manchin, now a Democratic senator. The company also angered shareholders when it switched its headquarters to the Netherlands, reducing its tax rate. Breschs rising salary has also fueled anger. In 2007, when she was the companys chief operating officer, she earned about $2.5 million. In 2015, her compensation was nearly $19 million. Mylans board has said her pay is justified because she has contributed significantly to the companys growth. Some of the chafing at her style, she said, is because people are resistant to change. Even as they have ruffled feathers within the industry, Bresch and Mylan have earned measured praise from consumer advocates, who said she wielded her influence in ways that helped consumers. James Love, director of the consumers group Knowledge Ecology International, said Bresch opened doors at the Office of the United States Trade Representative when his group and others were working to change provisions in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership that they said would have limited access to drugs by people overseas. Still, he said, his group is composing a letter of complaint to the Federal Trade Commission about the EpiPen price. Im appalled at the price increase, he said. I dont want to sugarcoat that. One of the stranger subplots of the Trump campaign is that of the batshit December 2015 letter from Dr. Harold Bornstein detailing Trump's allegedly tremendous health. Everyone from the lowliest pundit to actual certified doctors were baffled by the letter, which used such hyperbolic language to describe Trump's health that it seemed plausible Trump just wrote it himself. Now, Bornstein has finally broken his legendary silence, and his explanation is amazing: he typed the letter in "just five minutes while a limo sent by the candidate waited outside his Manhattan office," according to an interview he gave to NBC. The typo-ridden letter made a number of odd statements about Trump's health, with gems like a reference to tests showing "only positive results''; a line about how Trump's lab results were "astonishingly excellent;" and an impossible-to-prove claim that Trump would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." Bornstein told NBC that he typed up the letter in 5 minutes and didn't bother to proofread it because hey, he'd already thought long and hard throughout they day about what he was going to write. Well, alright then. Bornstein also pulled back his over-the-top language in the NBC interview, telling the site that Trump was merely as healthy as any 70-year-old who doesn't smoke or drink. As for why he originally used phrases like "[Trump's] physical strength and stamina are extraordinary," Bornstein said that he must have just "picked up" Trump's language through exposure to it, before fusing it with his own medical language to create an amalgam so ridiculous it made Dr. Nick Riviera appear Harvard-educated. Bornstein also added, in a sad (not even Sad!) note, "I like Donald Trump because I think he likes me." 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. 1. Fill in your name or an alias. Do not leave blank or use the name 'guest' or 'anonymous'. 2. No Nivul Peh. Profanity will be deleted. OHA applauds PMNM expansion News Release from OHA HONOLULU (Aug. 25, 2016) In response to the release made by the White House Press Office to elevate the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to a monument Co-Trustee and expand the boundaries of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument , the OHA Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer Kamanaopono Crabbe issued the following statement: OHA applauds President Obamas decision to elevate the voice of Native Hawaiians in the management of the lands and waters in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Papahanaumokuakea is critical to Native Hawaiian spiritual wellbeing, and this action by the President helps revive our connection to our kupuna islands and reinforce our understanding of Hawaii as a contiguous spiritual and cultural seascape. (Translation: There is money in this.) Thanks to the Presidents decision, these resources will be better protected for generations to come. The elevation of OHA to a Co-Trustee position rightfully places the Native Hawaiian voice at all levels of decision making in the governance of Papahanaumokuakea. (Translation: There are contracts in this.) This has been a ten year effort to achieve this position and this success marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration for the co-managers of the area to fulfill the tremendous responsibility of protecting and caring for this sacred place. * * * * * National Monuments for Fun and ProfitPlease Spill some Oil on Me! Papahanaumokuakea Trustees Before Obama Announcement: The Monument is administered jointly by three co-trustees (NOAA, USFWS, and the State of Hawaii); the day-to-day management of the Monument is overseen by a 7-member management board comprised of two sub-agencies of each Co-Trustee, plus the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Indian Country Today: Report: Obamas national monument designations bring in $156 million USCG: Only Natural Resource Trustees designated by the President, a State or Territorial Governor, or a Tribal governing authority may submit natural resource damage (NRD) claims to the National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC). US Army: Natural Resource Trustee and Natural Resource Injury issues The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Oil Pollution Act, and the Clean Water Act (CWA) all contain provisions on natural resource injuries and damages (NRI/NRD). These laws allow natural resource trustees to assess damages to natural resources resulting from a discharge of oil or a release of a hazardous substance covered under CERCLA or the CWA. EPA: The Role Of Natural Resource Trustees In The Superfund Process The word fund or funds occurs 20 times in this document. EPA: Natural Resource Damages: Trustees Williamson Chang: Akaka Bill--Proposal for Native Hawaiian Trusteeship over NW Hawaiian Islands Kelii Akina: OHA Violates Trust Responsibility to Native Hawaiians * * * * * Fact Sheet: President Obama to Create the Worlds Largest Marine Protected Area From The White House, August 26, 2016 Secretary of the Interior Jewell and Secretary of Commerce Pritzker also announced that the Departments will soon sign an agreement with Hawaiis Department of Natural Resources and Office of Hawaiian Affairs providing for a greater management role as a trustee in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. This arrangement has been previously requested by Senator Brian Schatz and Governor Ige. Full Text: Presidential Proclamation -- Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Expansion read Fact Sheet * * * * * Ige Letter to Obama August 24, 2016 Based on public input, I appreciate that Senator Schatzs proposal limits the expansion in the current monument southern boundary, to preserve popular fishing grounds for recreational, subsistence and commercial fishers from the main Hawaiian Islands. I understand the proposed boundary eliminates an area representing about 6.5% of the Hawaii commercial longline fleets current catch in pounds; fishing effort can be moved to other locations with some impact in travel time and fuel costs, but no material decrease in annual catch is expected. A related issue that has emerged from my review is the inter-relationship between the much larger purse-seine fishing industry in the Pacific and the smaller longline fishing industry, and the relative impact on the health of the tuna fisheries and on the Hawaii-based fishing industry. I strongly urge you to direct federal agencies to investigate the equitable balance of the fisheries in international treaty negotiations with regard to economics and fishery sustainability. As stated in my December 2015 letter to Secretaries Jewell and Pritzker, I request that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs be added as a fourth co-trustee of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. I request as well that the federal-state monument collaborative co-management structure extend to the expansion area. read Ige Letter * * * * * Obama Coming to Waikiki Eco Confab to Announce Papahanaumokuakea Expansion KHON: He is scheduled to arrive here ahead of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, which starts next week Thursday at the Hawaii Convention Center and Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The White House announced that he will address leaders from the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders and the IUCN World Conservation Congress Wednesday evening. Then on Thursday, hell fly to Midway Atoll to mark the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Many other dignitaries will also be flying in. The conference is known to have a lot of protesters, meaning theres a heightened need for security. The Secret Service will also shut down roads, meaning drivers can expect more traffic delays. View a full breakdown of closures and traffic modifications during the event here. read Papahanaumokuakea * * * * * Secretaries Pritzker, Jewell Applaud Presidents Expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Secretaries Intend to Recognize Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs as Additional Co-Trustee in Management of Worlds Largest Marine Protected Area News Release from US Department of the Interior, August 26, 2016 WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today applauded President Obamas action to use his executive authority under the Antiquities Act and expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument making it the largest marine protected area on Earth. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands were originally protected by President Teddy Roosevelt who established the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation in 1909. President Franklin D. Roosevelt broadened the protections to all wildlife and formed the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 1940. And in 2006 President George W. Bush created Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to protect and preserve the marine waters and their wildlife and historic, cultural and scientific riches. Todays designation will expand the existing Marine National Monument by 442,781 square miles, bringing the total protected area to 582,578 square miles. The monument expansion comes after significant engagement with the Native Hawaiian community, the fishing industry, and residents of the islands. Todays historic action ensures the ongoing conservation of this iconic landmark. Throughout this process, weve collaborated with a number of stakeholders, including Native Hawaiians, state and local officials, community leaders, and fishermen, said Secretary Pritzker. The Department is committed to protecting ecosystems like the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument for future generations, and we are working with commercial fishermen to safeguard the continued economic vibrancy of this industry. We are truly indebted to the leadership of Senator Schatz and other local officials in advancing this proposal. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to one of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet and a sacred place for the Native Hawaiian community, said Secretary Jewell. President Obamas expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument will permanently protect pristine coral reefs, deep sea marine habitats and important cultural and historic resources for the benefit of current and future generations. Additionally today, Secretaries Pritzker and Jewell also announced their intent to draft a new agreement making the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) a co-trustee in managing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. In the past 10 years, the Departments have forged a strong partnership with the State of Hawaii in managing the monument, including benefiting greatly from the cultural perspective that OHA has provided. U.S. Senator Schatz, Governor Ige, and others have been vocal in their support for making OHA a co-trustee. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which is part of the most remote island archipelago on Earth, supports a dynamic reef ecosystem with more than 7,000 marine species, of which approximately one quarter is unique to the Hawaiian Islands. This diverse ecosystem is home to many species of coral, fish, birds, and marine mammals and other flora and fauna, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, three endangered whale species, and the endangered leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles. Its biological and geographic isolation, coupled with singular oceanographic and geological conditions, have produced some of the most unique and diverse ecological communities on the planet. Important geological features of the expansion include more than 75 seamounts, as well as a non-volcanic ridge that extends southwest towards the Johnston Atoll. Together, these features form biodiverse hotspots in the open ocean that provide habitat for deep-sea species, including sponges, other invertebrates, fish and colonies of corals many thousands of years old. In addition, this area has great cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian community, including creation and settlement stories, and a connection to early Polynesian culture and is used to practice important activities like traditional long-distance voyaging and wayfinding. In recent years, technological advances have spurred new scientific findings, greatly increasing our understanding of the areas adjacent to the original monument. New satellite technology allows scientists and researchers to see the topography of the seafloor and can track individual animals, such as whales and seals, providing a better understanding of foraging and migration patterns. Ship-based sonar can show not only the relief of the ocean bottom, but also what types of habitat exist in these extremely deep locations. Undersea vehicles venture to the ocean depths and send back video of never-before-seen species. This increased understanding and appreciation of deep sea habitats and their role in the larger ocean ecosystem, is the fundamental reason for expanding the boundaries of the original monument. Additionally, the monument area contains several shipwrecks including the USS Yorktown and several Japanese vessels and downed aircraft from the Battle of Midway in World War II, marking a final resting place for the more than 3,000 individuals. This announcement comes in advance of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway next year. Commercial fishing and other resource extraction activities, which are currently prohibited in the boundaries of the existing monument, are also prohibited within the expanded monument boundaries. Noncommercial fishing, such as recreational fishing and the removal of fish and other resources for Native Hawaiian cultural practices, is allowed in the expansion area by permit, as is scientific research. Todays announcement is made by the President under the authority of the Antiquities Act, an authority exercised by 16 presidents starting with President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and used to protect treasures such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Colorados Canyons of the Ancients. Altogether, President Obama has protected hundreds of millions of acres of public lands and waters more than any other President and has preserved sites that help tell the story of significant people and extraordinary events in American history. * * * * * Pew Applauds Expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument U.S. expands Northwestern Hawaiian Islands reserve, creating world's largest protected area News Release from Pew Charitable Trusts HONOLULU, Aug. 26, 2016 -- The Pew Charitable Trusts joins partners in Hawaii and the scientific community in praising today's announcement by President Barack Obama that the United States has expanded the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, also known as Papahanaumokuakea, to 582,578 square miles (1.5 million square kilometers). The action creates the largest protected area in the world and expands the original monument by more than 442,760 square miles (1.15 million square kilometers). The area now covered is almost four times as large as California. Continue Reading Today's announcement builds on steps taken by six presidentsstarting with Theodore Roosevelt and including three Republicans and three Democratsto conserve the ecosystems and wildlife of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2006, President George W. Bush designated the islands and the surrounding waters a national marine monument, marking the first time a large area of ocean had been set aside for protection in the United States, which has a long history of establishing national parks on land. At the time, Papahanaumokuakea was the largest marine reserve in the world. Subsequently, more than a dozen large-scale highly protected marine reserves have been created around the globe, including nine larger than the original Hawaiian monument. "Papahanaumokuakea inspired an international movement to safeguard large areas of ocean and create the world's first generation of great parks in the sea," said Joshua S. Reichert, an executive vice president at Pew who oversees strategy for its Global Ocean Legacy project. "By expanding the monument, President Obama has increased protections for one of the most biologically and culturally significant places on the planet." U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) agreed. "Expanding Papahanaumokuakea makes a definitive statement about Hawaii's and the United States' commitment to ocean conservation. By adopting my proposal to expand the monument, President Obama has created a safe zone that will replenish stocks of tuna, promote biodiversity, and fight climate change, and he has given Native Hawaiians a greater voice in managing this precious resource," Schatz said. "President Obama's declaration is only the beginning. To create continuing success, we will need to work together to maintain and grow the partnerships that made the expansion possible in the first place," the senator added. Through petitions, public meetings, and other events, Hawaiians expressed strong support for the expansion, particularly the Native community, which proposed the idea to the White House in January. To Native Hawaiians, Papahanaumokuakea is a place of honor, believed to be the root of ancestral connections to the gods and the site to which spirits return after death. "Papahanaumokuakea is critically important to Native Hawaiian cultureit is our ancestral place, the birthplace of all life," said Sol Kahoohalahala, a seventh-generation Hawaiian from the island of Lanai and a member of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group. "The expanded monument will serve as a conservation, climate, and cultural refuge for my granddaughter and future generations." Pew's Global Ocean Legacy campaign worked with Native Hawaiians, scientists, elected officials, community leaders, businesses, and the larger environmental community to build support for expansion. The efforts included an in-depth study of the biological and cultural significance of the area, town hall meetings, educational sessions, news conferences, and media interviews. More than 1 million people from Hawaii and beyond signed petitions or wrote letters to the White House and lawmakers. In June, some 1,500 scientists signed a letter to President Obama backing the expansion. Although much of the region remains to be fully explored, Papahanaumokuakea is home to more than 7,000 species, a quarter of which are endemic, or found nowhere else on Earth; some have only recently been discovered. The area provides habitat for rare species such as threatened green turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, and false killer whales, as well as 14 million seabirds representing 22 species. This year, scientists exploring these waters discovered a new type of ghostlike octopus they nicknamed Casper, as well as three new species of fish. Some places within the expanded monument show 100 percent endemism at depths of 100 meters. Scientists also have found the world's oldest known living organisma deep-water black coral estimated to be 4,265 years oldwithin the new boundaries. Shipwrecks from the World War II Battle of Midway, including wreckage from the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, also are located in the newly protected area. More ocean has been set aside for protection in the past 18 months than during any other period in history, with announcements of new marine reserves by the governments of the U.S., the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Chile, and Palau. The Global Ocean Legacy campaign has helped safeguard 2.4 million square miles (6.3 million square kilometers) of ocean by working with local communities, governments, scientists, and other stakeholders around the world. Even with these successes, only about 3 percent of the world's ocean has been set aside with strong protections. Recent science supports conserving at least 30 percent to maintain biodiversity, support fisheries productivity, and safeguard the myriad economic, cultural, and life-supporting benefits of the seas. ---30--- The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Learn more at pewtrusts.org. Global Ocean Legacy is a partnership established in 2006 to promote the creation of marine reserves in the world's oceans. Current partners include The Pew Charitable Trusts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Lyda Hill, Oak Foundation, The Robertson Foundation, and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. Learn more at globaloceanlegacy.org. Summer dance activities concluded on a thoughtful, occasionally jubilant note over the weekend at Oaklands Odell Johnson Theater at Laney College, where the Black Choreographers Festival ended its annual celebration, begun in February in San Francisco. Six companies performed Friday, Aug. 26, and the variety of movement approaches, more than I can recall at previous festivals, testifies to the intelligent curatorship of co-director Kendra Kimbrough Barnes. To find a ballet-based piece at a BCF concert is unusual. To come across a good ballet-based piece like Gregory P. Dawsons new Altered Larynx, performed soundly by four members of Dawsondancesf, is amazing. The choreographer sets four baroque arias for countertenor in solos and small ensembles that seem models of fluency and musicality; Dawson can invest his movement with the structure of the baroque aria, and, as he proves in the opening section danced by Ilaria Guerra, make it all look natural. Dawson confesses that the social implications of the castrato voice and how it got that way intrigue him, but hes smart enough to know that dance is capable of only so much. He does let his concerns show through in a tortured solo for Eric Debono, arching his back in agony and ecstasy. Jordan Drew and Alexander Vargas completed the cast, all in the simplest of bathing suits and all responsive to Dawsons unisons. The other memorable entry on Fridays program was a late substitution, Erik Lees performance of his own Precious Lord, made for Dimensions Dance Theater in 2015. As souls-in-torment solos go, this is a spectacular specimen of the genre. Lees muscular attack, his vulnerability and sheer expressiveness get to you, even before the electronic score yields to Ledisis unaccompanied recording of Precious Lord, Take My Hand, a haunting moment during which Lee appears to levitate in a state of grace. Hes a dancer to watch for. The first half of the evening summoned fewer compliments. Works in progress do not belong in first-rate festivals; if artists cannot offer a complete dance, they should not be engaged. Works in progress insult an audience (this one diminished as the evening wore on) and render critical evaluation genuinely impossible. Yet, here were three in a row. It was a huge error to open the program with Reconstruction Study #1A, choreographed and performed by Chris Evans and Byb Chanel Bibene, accompanied by keyboard, cello and David Boyces wailing saxophone. The movement style favors weighty encounters, but these 30 minutes failed to yield any secrets (and that title is a pretentious turn-off). It is always a pleasure to watch Antoine Hunter in motion, but the excerpt we were shown from Body of a Black Man did not whet the appetite for the rest of it. Hunter walks toward the audience and rolls on the floor, repeats the process and engages the audience in a group hand ballet. Barnes own Angst will be performed complete in the fall. The portion given here involved an earnest narration, and an exploration of the quandaries faced by African American boys, but the stop-and-start choreography has promise. The program closed with a guest appearance by Los Angeles group JazzAntiqua Dance & Music Ensemble. Pat Taylors jazzy choreography is workmanlike rather than brilliant, but the eight dancers brought spirit to their assignments. Allan Ulrich is The San Francisco Chronicles dance correspondent. Black Choreographers Festival. 7:30 pm Saturday, Aug. 27; 4 pm, Sunday, Aug, 28; Odell Johnson Theater, Laney College, 900 Fallon, Oakland. $30-$50. (888) 819-9106, www.bcfhereandnow.org Preview the Urban Jazz Dance Company https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzCYfFIk0_Y QARQASHAH, Iraq In the buildup to a long-awaited offensive on the city of Mosul, Kurdish forces are seizing new territory in northern Iraq that they say will become part of their autonomous region. The moves are further straining relations between the Kurds and the Baghdad government and Shiite militias, all ostensibly allies in the fight against the Islamic State group. Just east of Mosul, Kurdish engineering teams on a recent day were laying down a 3-yard wide, 12-mile long trench, marking the new front line after recapturing the village of Qarqashah and neighboring hamlets from the Islamic State earlier this month. The new de facto borders established by the Kurdish fighters, known as peshmerga, raise the potential for conflict between Iraqs Kurds and Arabs after any eventual defeat of the militants just as in neighboring Syria, where Kurds have also dramatically expanded their zone of control. All the areas that have been liberated by the peshmerga forces, our (Kurdish) forces will stay there, said Falah Mustafa, the head of the Iraqi Kurdish regions foreign relations department, echoing statements by numerous officials. Largely with the help of U.S.-led coalition air strikes, Kurdish forces have taken territory equivalent to around 50 percent of the size of their recognized autonomous zone. Their first gain came just days after Islamic State militants took Mosul in the summer of 2014 and stormed down into central Iraq as the military collapsed. Kurdish forces seized the city of Kirkuk, which they have long claimed as their own. The move was designed to protect the city from the Islamic State, but Kurdish President Massoud Barzani quickly said the Kurds would keep it. From there, they continued pushing militants out, capturing much of the surrounding province. Since then, they have taken further territory in the nearby Ninevah province, where Mosul is located, ahead of an expected assault on the city. Much of it is territory with a large Kurdish community that the regional government has claimed for years but not all, meaning the grabs are bringing in populations where some are wary of Kurdish domination. After the capture of the Qarqashah area, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pointedly demanded a halt to the peshmerga advances. But the Kurds refused. The Kurdish regional government's spokesman, Safeen Dizayee, said the peshmerga will not stop their advances until all Kurdistans territories in the Ninevah region are liberated. He added that they will not withdraw from areas they are going to liberate in the future. 1 Kashmir protests: A young man was killed and dozens of other civilians were wounded Friday when Indian government forces fired bullets and shotguns to quell new protests against Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Clashes erupted in over a dozen places, including in the main city of Srinagar, between rock-throwing protesters and troops, who fired live ammunition, shotguns and tear gas. A strict curfew, a series of communication blackouts and a tightening crackdown have failed to stop some of Kashmirs largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8. 2 Brazil political crisis: A trial against Brazils President Dilma Rousseff turned into a yelling match and was temporarily suspended Friday after the head of the Senate declared stupidity is endless and sharply criticized a colleague who had questioned the bodys moral authority. Rousseff is accused of breaking fiscal rules in her management of the federal budget. She denies wrongdoing and argues that her enemies are carrying out a coup detat. At the same time, federal investigators said they would seek corruption charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, accusing him of illegally benefiting from about $750,000 in improvements paid for by a construction company at a beachfront apartment. Da Silva, 70, and his lawyers have argued that he did not acquire the apartment. SRINAGAR, India Police in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir said Saturday that they have arrested one of the key separatist leaders spearheading protests against Indian rule in the disputed region. Police arrested Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was already under house arrest, late Friday and locked him up in a government site in Srinagar, the regions main city, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. BEIRUT Backed by Turkish tanks and reports of air strikes, Turkey-allied Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria in a new escalation that further complicates the already protracted Syrian conflict. Turkeys military didnt specify what the air strikes hit, saying only that terror groups were targeted south of the village of Jarablus, where the clashes later ensued. A Kurdish-affiliated group said their forces were the target and called the attack an unprecedented and dangerous escalation. If confirmed, it would be the first Turkish air strikes against Kurdish allied forces on Syrian soil. Late Saturday, Turkeys official news agency reported that one Turkish soldier had been killed and three wounded by what it said was a Kurdish rocket attack in Jarablus. It is the first reported Turkish fatality in Syria. The new escalation highlights concerns that Turkeys incursion into Syria this week could lead to an all-out confrontation between Ankara and Syrian Kurds, both American allies, and hinder the war against the Islamic State group by diverting resources. It also underscores Ankaras determination to push back Kurdish forces from along its borders, and curb their ambitions to form a contiguous entity in northern Syria. Kurdish groups have already declared a semi-autonomous administration in Syria and control most of the border area. Jarablus and Manjib to the south were liberated from Islamic State fighters by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month. Turkish officials said they will continue their offensive in Syria until there is no longer any terror threat to Turkey from its war-torn neighbor. Ankara backed Syrian rebels to gain control of Jarablus last week. They are now pushing their way south. On Saturday, the Syrian rebels said they have seized a number of villages south of Jarablus from Islamic State militants and Kurdish forces. Clashes were fiercest with the Kurdish-allied forces over the village of Amarneh, five miles south of Jarablus. Turkey has long suspected the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, of being linked to Kurdish insurgents in its own southeast, which it labels as a terror group. It has demanded the YPG, which has been one of the most effective U.S. allies in the fight against the Islamic State, withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates River. The Supreme Court has dismissed the latest appeal in the long-running Trinity tax case after architect Garry Muir gave up his argument during the hearing. Chief Justice Sian Elias and Justices William Young, Terrence Arnold, Mark O'Regan and Ellen France today dismissed Muir's application to amend the grounds of appeal and revoked his leave. Muir's arguments were tossed out in the Court of Appeal in a December ruling, which said his attempts to re-litigate findings on the 1997 and 1998 tax years were "no more than another collateral attack" on the original Ben Nevis court judgment, "continuing what has become an extended pattern or course of conduct" while the claim for the 1999 and subsequent tax years were also an abuse of process and "would commit judicial resources for no purpose and bring the administration of justice into disrepute". The Supreme Court upheld the decision on the 1997 and 1998 tax years, but did grant him leave to question whether the Court of Appeal was right in saying he couldn't pursue an argument that earlier rulings didn't block him from claiming deductions under accrual rules in financial arrangements provisions. Today's judgment said Muir no longer wanted to pursue his argument, and wanted to raise another one that hadn't been raised earlier at any stage of the proceedings. "In oral argument, the appellant accepted that, given the nature of the new argument foreshadowed by his amendment application, the leave to appeal granted by this court should be revoked, a concession which was correctly made," the judgment said. "The consequence is that the decision of the Court of Appeal will stand, and the appellants proceedings will remain struck out in their entirety." The judges said they granted leave to appeal "because the issue raised by the appeal is an important one, namely the operation of the doctrines of issue estoppel and abuse of process in the context of tax proceedings", and didn't consider the Inland Revenue Department's application for costs on an indemnity basis was appropriate. The bench ordered Muir to pay costs of $6,000 plus reasonable disbursements. In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered companies associated with the Trinity scheme to pay $2.43 million in 15-year-old back-taxes and penalties . The debts arose from tax deductions claimed by the companies in the 1997 and 1998 tax years, which were then attributed to their shareholders. The Inland Revenue Department reassessed the shareholders and imposed tax and penalties on them in relation to the 1998 tax year, leading to a series of landmark decisions that have gone on to see tax avoidance redefined by the New Zealand courts over the last decade. In 2012, the Supreme Court turned down a claim the tax department fraudulently won its tax case in the Trinity scheme in a last-ditch bid to set aside the landmark 2004 ruling, which has been the benchmark for IRDs successful run of tax avoidance cases. The tax department claimed the Trinity scheme would have cost taxpayers up to $3.7 billion over the 50-year lifespan of the investment. 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 This journal serves a community of small businesses worldwide. Here John Wiley Spiers addresses topics on business start-up and expansion and reports relevant daily headlines.John Wiley Spiers is a small business international trader, author of HOW SMALL BUSINESS TRADES WORLDWIDE , and lecturer at various colleges. For those interested in becoming members of this community, contact John at john@johnspiers.com. Montana Catholic Bishops to host speakers The Catholic bishops of Montana announce their fourth Affirming the Culture of Life Conference, to be held at the Helena Civic Center on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. Four nationally acclaimed speakers headline the conference, including Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Camille Pauley, Sen. Colby Coash and Melissa Ohden. Six years ago, the bishops initiated this series of conferences with the expectation that they would serve as fora to raise awareness and educate on issues that pose a threat to human life and dignity. This years speakers will address the issues of abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia, as well as the death penalty. Both of Montanas Catholic bishops -- The Most Rev. George Leo Thomas (Diocese of Helena) and The Most Rev. Michael W. Warfel (Diocese of Great Falls-Billings) -- will also address conference participants. Keynote speaker Cardinal DiNardo is the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, home to 1.3 million Catholics. Pauley is the president of Healing the Culture, an internationally renowned nonprofit organization that she co-founded with Fr. Robert Spitzer in 2003. Coash is a Republican member of the Nebraska state Senate. During Nebraskas 2015 legislative session, Sen. Coash garnered national attention for leading the effort to repeal the states death penalty. Ohden is the founder of The Abortion Survivors Network. More information about the speakers and the event is available at www.montanalife.org. June 22, 1940, France acquiesced -- capitulating to Germany in an armistice. Overwhelmed, France had attempted to resist the Nazi onslaught that, in less than two months, conquered much of Western Europe. Years ago, a friend told me his mother survived those dark days in France by scavenging snails. With France removed, Nazis military might focused on Britain. Newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchills doggedly determined response began: We shall defend our island -- whatever the cost may be Thus, he rallied the Brits and reminded everyone that the Nazis must depend upon their Luftwaffes air power to conquer this island nation. Luftwaffe air strikes began Aug. 13-15 -- attacking radar and military bases. The Blitz -- German for "lightning" -- continued for 267 days. More than 100 tons of bombs were dropped on 16 British cities. Pictures of this wicked destruction sear our souls. For those who appreciate the need for authorized physical resistance when peacemaking alternatives fail, the Brits and their Royal Air Force show us how to wrestle physical evil. Another kind of 'aerial' warfare But, another kind of aerial warfare began Sunday, Nov. 10, 1940. At 9 p.m., BBC broadcast the chiming of Big Ben -- the Silent Minute. British Maj. Wellesley Tudor Pole suggested devoting one minute each evening at 9 to praying for peace. King George and Churchill supported the idea -- as did President Roosevelt. The Silent Minute quickly spread across land and sea. After the war, a British intelligence officer was interrogating a high Nazi official. He asked him why he thought Germany had been defeated. The official replied: During the war, you had a secret weapon for which we could find no counter measure. I believe you called it the 'Silent Minute'" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Minute). Considering prayer What shall we say? Is this account of the efficacy of prayer an urban legend? Hopefully, no. But, if it is not true, in the spiritual realm how do we understand the impact of wistful longings for a lost dominion -- a lost community? Are they insubstantial or weighty? Hear the profound necessity of spiritual resistance to evil in Pauls words: We wrestle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6;12). Command Central in this conflict is the church. Jesus tells us: My house will be called a house of prayer (Mk11:17). What shall we say? In the mid-1600s church leaders stoutly defined prayer: We pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, and deep sense of our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins; with penitent, thankful, and enlarged hearts; with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, and perseverance, waiting upon him, with humble submission to his will (Larger Catechism, Q 185). The Shorter Catechism (Q 98) was more succinct: Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies. And, how does such prayer compare with the Silent Minute? Raised in England, Wellesley Tudor Pole (1884 1968) most likely was conversant with the kind of prayer the authors of Westminster advanced. But, at 26, Tudor adopted the Bhai faith. Still active in that faith 30years later, 1940, his rationale for the Silent Minute shows he neglected God altogether. There is no power on earth that can withstand the united cooperation on spiritual levels of men and women of goodwill everywhere. It is for this reason that the continued and widespread observance of the Silent Minute is of such vital importance in the interest of human welfare. What shall we say to such a Godless sentiment? Is it even prayer? Gods mercy and prayer Come back to Jesus phrase: My house will be called a house of prayer (proseuche) for all nations (ethnesin). First, proseuche. The pros portion indicates movement -- Gods movement toward us. When he moves, we get unstuck -- we draw near to God -- in weakness, desperation, repentance, trust, gratitude, adoration or sorrow. If I never move toward God, I do not know who God is -- nor do I know who I am myself. Aha. The euche portion of this word has a range of meaning -- from a wistful thought to a solemn vow. Wow. Secondly, from ethnesin we get ethnicity. In the temple God reserved the Court of the Gentiles for any ethnicity to worship him. Trespassing efficient business had taken over that under-utilized high rent district. Jesus pugnaciously purged that court so seekers from any people would have a sanctuary to draw near to God -- in robust prayer or, more likely, with the wistful thoughts of tentative foreigners in a new home. Connect the dots. As a father welcomes mature conversation with an adult child, so God values articulate prayers. Still, God has such mercy he can hear and act upon our wishes -- even, as with the Silent Minute, when we dont include him in our thoughts. I have a grandson who was born two months ago. He has not spoken a word to me yet. Still, I love him. God has love for many who do not yet love him. Remarkably, even a movement like the Silent Minute may eventually prompt us to draw near to God in Christ -- who not only physically crushed Satan on the cross but also spent whole nights wrestling in prayer (Lk 6:12; 22:45). David, who battled Goliath and many others, wrote: Trust in God at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge (Ps 62:8). Lets pray Christians and those who will come to Christ, lets pray. Satan doesnt mind us reading or thinking about prayer. He dreads us praying. Set your alarm for 4:06 (our area code) -- pray for Montana. At 7 p.m. (MST) join more than 124 million worldwide still using the Silent Minute. Pray with others. Take prayer walks. Find a church that is a house of prayer with a prayer meeting. Text Pastor to 74574 to receive a daily prompt to pray for your pastor. Go to www.pray1tim2.org to get a reminder every day to pray for six Montana legislators. Pray at and for our Capitol. When we pray to the God of the universe, we truly are. Lets call upon God. For Christs sake, be a combatant in spiritual warfare - pray. Steve Bostrom, a descendant of Swedish homesteaders, husband of Via, father of eight, and grandfather of nine, loves Helena and serves here as a pastor at large. The Presbyterian Church in America oversees his work. To contact him, email: stevebostrom@gmail.com. See www.LivelyLexicon.com for more essays. BENGALURU: Introduced in the kitchens of Mughal, biryani is one dish that is common to all states of the country. For a food lover, it is important to know these seven types of biryani which are famous in diferent parts of the country. Ambur Biryani: If one plans a trip to Tamil Nadu, then visiting Ambur should definitely be part of the bucket list. Located on the Bengaluru-Chennai highway, this bustling town is famous all over the south for its biryani. The specialty of the biryani is that the meat is soaked in curd before it is added with the rice and cooked. This gives the biriyani a distinct and mouth watering taste. One can order anything between chicken, mutton, beef or prawns. The taste of mint especially stands out. The makers sign off the dish with a boiled egg stuffed in the center. READ ALSO: Five Mesmerizing Waterfalls One Must Visit Deepika On Forbes' List Of World's Highest Paid Actresses STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two Brooklyn men are accused of mugging a Chinese-food deliveryman Thursday night in Great Kills. Giovanni DeStefano, 24, of West 23rd Street, and Elvis Tahirovic, 19, of 74th Street, accosted the victim on Katan Avenue near Greaves Avenue at about 9:20 p.m., said police. Tahirovic demanded the victim's wallet and money and punched him in the face, a criminal complaint said. Tahirovic snatched $130 from the man, while DeStefano grabbed a bag of Chinese food from the victim's car, said the complaint. The defendants were each charged with two felony counts of second-degree robbery and a misdemeanor count of stolen-property possession, prosecutors said. They were scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Criminal Court. Earlier Thursday at 3:30 p.m., three men allegedly attacked a Chinese-food deliveryman on St. Marks Place, New Brighton. Police said the victim was delivering food for an order called in to a false address. DeStefano and Tahirovic have not been charged in connection with that incident. It was a morning of laughter, a few fun trivia contests and also heartfelt talks about the pivotal role teachers play in students lives. Friday morning nearly 1,000 Helena Public Schools employees gathered in the Helena Middle School auditorium for a Back to School Opening Day welcome. This is my 52nd year in the business, superintendent Jack Copps told the crowd, joking that someone had asked him that morning if hed bused over from an assisted living facility. But his half-century in the teaching profession has provided him some unique insights into just how important public education and the teaching profession is. If you mess around with public education, you also mess around with democracy, he told the crowd. When a country loses public education and only educates its economic elite, democracy will not survive. There is no other system in this country that provides opportunity for every child, he said, regardless of their background. He then shared a few of his guiding philosophical principles on education and his Big Fat But book. He absolutely believes in a common set of standards for students across the state and for this district, he said. Its important there is accountability, but we must not be consumed ... that every moment we need to talk about and satisfy those standards. We need a lot of flexibility in the classroom, he said. We need to protect our individuality. We must not become mirror images of each other, adding that individuals have their own unique strengths. Schools do need to prove they are doing what they say they are doing, he said, but that doesnt mean measuring the quality of a school by one set of test scores. Each school is different, with different students who come from every imaginable condition possible. If that isnt considered, certain schools from lower socioeconomic areas of the community wind up being penalized. What matters is how a school is making progress, not how it compares with another school. At their very best, teachers are the heart and soul of this school district -- period, he said. At their best, they are passionate about what they do and that passion shows. When they are at their best, they inspire confidence and self-esteem. They are role models and sometimes they even change lives, he said. Great teachers realize that students have needs beyond food, shelter and clothing, they also need a sense of self-worth or importance. Every student in this school district wants to feel important, he said. If they feel disconnected, if they feel disenfranchised, if they feel invisible, there are consequences, Copps said. He shared the story of how his own grandson was killed during a school shooting in Butte years ago. When Copps met the fourth-grader who did the shooting, he asked him why he did it. The boy, Jamie, replied, Why not. Nobody loves me. Copps urged the staff to make sure, We dont have more Jamies. Teachers are not simply conveyors of cognitive information, he said. They recognize the other side of children and that those needs are just as or even more important than just the academics. He also told the staff that the community is in a perfect place to begin working on upgrading its school facilities. Its been 39 years since a new school or major building project has taken place in the district. There is a very simple message the district needs to communicate, he said: It is time to fix our schools. Billings had some similar problems with its schools, he said. The best way... to approach the matter is to make sure the school district is not the only one making its case. Make sure the district is well connected to the community. I am confident that we can move forward in the coming year. He concluded that its going to be a busy year for both him and the teachers. I just hope you bring your A game, he told faculty. 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 ACT government will watch the nation-leading NSW rollout of tracking of domestic violence offenders via GPS, but has made no commitment to the technology nearly a year since federal funding was flagged. The Baird government announced in June it would allow magistrates and the state parole authority to order a person be fitted with a tamper-proof GPS device on their ankle to stop them coming within designated exclusion zones or face arrest. GPS tracking systems can now be ordered for those charged for domestic violence in NSW. The pictured system, from 2005, was used for sexual offenders. Credit:Peter Rae It extended beyond those who have been sentenced or paroled to apply, also to those who are on bail where a victim is protected by an apprehended domestic violence order. A spokesman for Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the interim Coordinator-General for Family Safety David Matthews, appointed in late June, had been "actively assessing" technology options to increase the safety of victims of family violence. The first party ad of the ACT election has been released by the Canberra Liberals, and there's no surprise on the focus. The 30-second ad attacks the Labor government's light rail policy, with a glum young woman apparently walking home with multiple bags and her high heels in hand. A screen grab from the Canberra Liberals first political ad for the 2016 ACT election campaign. It focuses on light rail and the cost of the tram. "What will the tram really mean?" the ad says. "It means only 3 per cent of Canberrans will live within walking distance. University open days are designed to show prospective undergraduates what faculties have to offer, but the activities aren't limited to year 12 students. Curious onlookers of all ages travelled to open days at the Australian National University, University of Canberra, Australian Catholic University and the Australian Defence Force Academy on Saturday. Suli Stewart, 9, with PhD student Joe Kaczmarski making a blueprint in the chemistry lab. Credit:Rohan Thomson Each institution provided a range of fun activities and drawcards for young and old, showing off the best of each faculty and discipline. ANU's science units showed examples of their work in various disciplines, allowing visitors to get hands-on with a range of different displays. An increase in the insurance policy for Helena Regional Airport is prompting Airport Authority commissioners to consider options and re-evaluate coverage for earthquake-related damage. Members of the Airport Authority authorized the airports director, Jeff Wadekamper, to further investigate alternatives to the higher rate proposed in the airports current property and liability policy with the Montana Association of Counties. It was just a good time to review our coverage, Wadekamper said. The Airport Authority was put on notice recently that the airport property and liability policy was going to increase by about $22,000 and go from the current roughly $52,000 per year to about $74,000 annually, Wadekamper said. The increase, he said he was told, was due to claims in the pool of those who are insured through the Montana Association of Counties. Two companies evaluated insuring the airport for property and liability coverage and one of them, Cincinnati Insurance Cos., said it would provide coverage for $67,000, Wadekamper said. While the premium offers the Airport Authority an immediate savings compared to what it faces with its current property and liability policy, commissioners were advised that if the airport leaves the Montana Association of Counties, it wont be eligible for three years to return for coverage. And this prompted the Airport Authoritys members to have Wadekamper inquire if the Cincinnati Insurance Cos. would be willing to offer a multi-year rate to offset the risk of a higher premium in the next two or three years. If our terminal burned down, wed get it replaced, Wadekamper said of the airports current property and liability coverage. But thats not the case given the current coverage that it carries for earthquake protection. Wadekamper saw two issues at play for the airport with its current earthquake policy. The Montana Association of Counties has a limit to its pooled coverage for earthquake damage that could limit how much the airport is able to receive on a claim, Wadekamper said. According to the Montana Association of Counties, the earthquake policy it offers has $50 million of coverage, which a spokesperson termed standard, and 49counties were insured through it. Airport runways and taxiways, as well as buildings and other airport infrastructure, are all covered and could sustain damage in an earthquake, Wadekamper said. A conservative estimate for the value of airport property, excluding the land, would be in the range of $40 million, he noted. The second issue facing the airport is the level of coverage it has and the cost for additional coverage. Currently, the airport has $3 million of earthquake damage coverage, although its terminal building is valued at about $17 million, Wadekamper said. The current building that is the airports terminal was built 11 years ago, in 2005, he noted. When we built this facility, it was built for the highest standards for this area, Wadekamper said after the meeting of the seismic considerations that were incorporated into the buildings construction. Airport Authority commissioners favored Wadekamper inquiring about coverage for 80 percent of the value of assets. Seeking a policy to provide 80 percent coverage would represent a good balance between the cost for earthquake insurance and what the policy would fund in the event of an earthquake, Wadekamper said. According to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services website, the states largest earthquake was the Aug. 18, 1959, magnitude 7.5 earthquake at Hebgen Lake. Starting with a small tremor on Oct. 3, 1935, Helena was hit with a devastating series of several hundred earthquakes during that month, including three with magnitudes of 5.8, 6.3 and 6.0 on Oct. 12, 18 and 21, the website noted. More than half of the buildings in Helena were damaged as result of the earthquakes. The risk of earthquake in Montana is focused on the western portion of the state thats part of the Intermountain Seismic Belt, according to the website. While bunking down at Glen Helen Homestead Lodge to the west of Alice Springs, Norman noticed a bush piano on the veranda half-buried under "pairs of battered boots, no doubt casualties of the nearby 223km-long Larapinta walking trail." Well-worn walking boots at Glen Helen Homestead Lodge, west of Alice Springs. Credit:Janis Norman Thankfully the unusually-placed shoe stack wasn't the only highlight from Norman's outback odyssey. She was also "privileged to witness the flowing of the Todd River in Alice Springs, including blocks of ice surging down the river following an intense hail storm." Now that would be a spectacle worth seeing. 2. Call the Cops! Jim Smith's striking photograph of a sole sheep seemingly stranded on the conspicuous art work beside the Monaro Highway near Cooma ("Winter Wonders" August 6) prompted a number of other readers, including Marlene Reid, of The Angle via Williamsdale, to email images of sheep perched in similarly precarious positions on the same sculpture. Daring: another sheep ''walks the plank'' near Cooma. Credit:Marlene Reid "We always speculated that the lower [about 3 metre high] steel beam of the sculpture was a contraption to lift sheep from one side of the hill to the other," laughs Reid, who "after travelling along the Monaro Highway many times over 40 years was so excited to finally witness a sheep perched on the beam" that she stopped captured the surreal scene on camera. However, when Cliff Peady, of Bywong, and his son encountered a similar scene on a drive past the sculpture last summer, their response was somewhat different. "Being concerned citizens, we called into the Cooma Police Station to alert the constabulary to the plight of the unfortunate sheep," recalls Peady, who noticed "at least half a dozen sheep trapped on the sculpture". So did the courageous Cooma cops spring into action with sirens sounding and lights flashing? Not quite. According to Peady, "the officer on duty reported that over the years many other motorists had also reported the 'trapped' sheep," adding, "previous investigations uncovered that the beam was sufficiently wide enough for the sheep to turn around and walk off." Phew! This revelation will ease the minds of several readers including Teresa Smith, of Kambah, who, following publication of Smith's photo had visions of the poor bleater "freezing to death or toppling off in the middle of the night." As to why the sheep walk the beam in the first place, "well that's anyone's guess," says Peady, who speculates "it may be to either to enjoy the lofty view, or to cool off in the breeze." 3. Capital Crab Colony It seems that Virginia Taylor of Acton ("Winter Wonders", August 6) isn't the only reader to eyeball a live crab in suburban Canberra. Michael Calkovics, of Lyons reports, "back in the 1970's there was a crab colony living in wetlands directly across the road from Canberra Grammar School on Monaro Crescent in Red Hill." "They lived in small holes in the shape of mini aircraft hangers," recalls Calkovics, adding "the adults only grew to about 5 cm in size." A young lad at the time, my Lyons' correspondent was so taken by the out-of- place crustaceans that he even "caught a few and put into terrarium", adding, "sadly they didn't survive for long." Calkovics who "also made pocket money from the wetlands by cutting bulrushes and selling them to a Manuka florist" reveals he was "very sad when swamp got filled in and planted out with willows". While Calkovics recollections indicates that crabs in Canberra might be more widespread than first though, the mystery does remain as to their species. MAILBAG Hanging Rock Jo McAulay and her children at Hanging Rock, Batemans Bay in 1989. Credit:Jo McAulay McAulay reports "my grandparents took this photo in 1989, when I walked my kids to the bus stop en route to Batemans Bay Primary School." Joining McAulay in the photo are her children (from l to r) Robert, Nathan and Rebecca, and, of course, Hanging Rock in all its glory. SIMULACRA CORNER A shark out of water Cartoon-style shark near Tidbinbilla. Credit:Ron Jacobs While most rock simulacra to have featured on these pages have been much more 3-dimensional, this cartoon-style 2-dimensional shark is the result of natural weathering at a rocky outcrop known as 'The Fortress', near Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. WHERE IN CANBERRA? Clue: One of suburban Canberra's oldest dunnies? Degree of difficulty: Hard. Where in Canberra LAST week. Credit:Margaret Kalms Last week: Congratulations to Gary Chipperfield, of Yass, who was first to correctly identify last week's photo as part of Canberra's main sewerage treatment plant, the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre. The victorious Chipperfield beat a number of other readers including Dave Hobson, of Spence, and Peter Harris, of Latham, who reckons the dam wall "resembles a modern-day Mayan Temple facade," to the prize. I wanted to change the photo accompanying this column to a "sexy selfie" today. I'd like to fill my word length requirements with some rather explicit descriptions of various things I'd rather be doing this lazy Sunday morning. But no, if I did that I would just be asking for it. It would be whorish of me, not ladylike at all. How dare I even contemplate being a sexual being. For I am a woman. I thought I was just about over the fallout from the story about the pornographic website that pretty much hunted down women and young girls. Don't get me wrong, by over I mean still outraged, but so many people had said all the things I wanted to say, that I thought I wouldn't have to write another word. Doing It: Women tell the truth about great sex. Edited by Karen Pickering. University of Queensland Press. $29.95. And then I saw Catherine Manning's post on Facebook. Ms Manning has a daughter at Kambrya College in Berwick, Victoria, one of the 71 schools, along with five here in Canberra, targetted by the pornography ring. Ms Manning wrote about her outrage, and that of her daughter's, when the girls in years 7 to 10 were hauled into a meeting at the school and apparently told they needed to check the length of their skirts, for boys are distracted by their legs, to "protect their integrity". Student bodies at Canberra universities are arguing not enough is being done to prevent incidents of sexual assault and harassment on campus. The calls come as the first nationwide survey of students on sexual-assault levels at universities was launched this week by Universities Australia and the Human Rights Commission. ANU student association members: deputy women's officer Tess Masters, ANUSA student executive Sam Duncan, ANUSA vice president Clodagh O'Doherty, Women's Officer Linnea Burdon-Smith and student executive Sean Macdonald are calling for more action to prevent sexual assaults on campus. Credit:Elesa Kurtz The anonymous survey, which starts in September, aims to provide data on the level of sexual assaults at 39 universities across the country. While the survey will also provide information to universities on how to offer support to victims, student organisations say current systems in place are inadequate. Elisabeth Dykstra and Ella Kruger go to school across the road from the Australian War Memorial's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After winning this year's Chief Minister's Anzac Spirit Prize, the Campbell High School students travelled to the place where the soldier's remains were first exhumed. Chief Minister's Anzac Spirit Prize winners Elisabeth Dykstra and Ella Kruger. Credit:Stephen Jeffery The pair won the study tour to the Western Front after demonstrating a deep understanding of the First World War, but they found a greater appreciation for the reality of the horrors a century ago on the former battlefields. "I was touched by how many small cemeteries there were all across rural France," Ella said. One of the greatest thrills for the driver of a former prime minister was speeding at a "relatively high speed" down the highway towards the Snowy Mountains, as their dedicated police detail tried to keep up. This was just one of the stories told by former prime minister Paul Keating, who delivered the eulogy for his Commonwealth car driver and beloved Queanbeyan resident James Frederick Warner on a sunny Friday afternoon. Commonwealth car driver James Frederick Warner was farewelled at St Raphael's Church in Queanbeyan. Mr Keating was among hundreds of mourners in a sea of black who gathered at St Raphael's Church in Queanbeyan on August 26 to farewell Mr Warner, better known as Jimmy or Chook. Jimmy had told his family he wanted the day to be a celebration of his life. The extended failures of the NDIS' online system have hit more than 1000 Canberrans, adding stress, confusion and financial uncertainty to those with a disability. Parents have seen their children's names mysteriously drop off the disability scheme's MyPlace web portal and lost records of previous claims as the Coalition government says the system's key problems have been fixed, two months after the debacle began. Some participants in the billion-dollar scheme have even been left out of pocket since the troubled national re-launch on July 1, with the hamstrung National Disability Insurance Agency indicating some refunds could not be given for months due to a new inflexibility of amending individuals' plans. The ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service chief executive Fiona May said a particular concern was the "enormous stress" participants were under, claiming the insurance agency had under-acknowledged the human impacts of the failures. Rachel Blackburn says her experience with Youi "was probably one of the worst I've ever had in my life". Credit:Tony McDonough These tactics have helped make Youi one of Australia's fastest-growing insurers. The company's total revenue has grown from $71 million in 2011 to $654 million in 2015, IBISWorld reports show A six-month Fairfax investigation has prompted ASIC launching an investigation into the company, which has been forced to apologise to New Zealand customers for the same behaviour there. In fact, the staff defrauding customers across the Tasman were trained in the tactics by Youi's staff in Australia. The whistleblowers also claim Australia's call centre actually made many of the illegal phone sales made in NZ. Youi's NZ arm announced this month it would plead guilty to misconduct charges filed by the New Zealand Commerce Commission. The charges are linked to behaviour identical to that alleged by the whistleblowers including selling policies when only quotes were asked for. "Youi acknowledges the validity of customer complaints relating to instances where policies were sold, when only quotes were requested and the failure to cancel insurance policies after being notified," the NZ branch of the company said in a statement. Youi's senior management issued an unreserved public apology after the charges were laid. NZ journalist Diana Clement, who broke the story, said the Australian situation was "a ticking time bomb". "There are all these people out there who have policies that don't cover what they expect," Clement said. Since the NZ revelations, the atmosphere inside the company is highly paranoid, with staff regularly receiving notes from management warning them about the penalties of speaking to the media. Despite that, the five whistleblowers want to talk. "It is the most diseased company I have ever worked for," said one. "It's all fabrication. It's illegal to do. They don't want the sales staff to do it, but they do want you to do it, if you know what I mean." The criminal charges in New Zealand appear to have had little impact inside the company, a whistleblower said. "It's only 15 instances, that's nothing [they say]. They are expecting to just pay it off and it'll go away as they have done in the past." A Youi spokesman called the allegations "vexatious, lacking substantiation and without foundation", and said the company was committed to "conducting business with the highest standards of personal and corporate integrity". The spokesman pointed to feedback on Youi's website which he said indicated a 92 per cent satisfaction rate. HOW THE SCAM WORKS Youi's sales staff are pushed to get credit card details in every phone call, the whistleblowers say. Unlike other insurers you cannot get an insurance quote from Youi online it must be through a phone interview. This is a deliberate tactic to allow Youi's calls centre to pressure customers, whistleblowers say. On the phone, customers are often told they can't be provided with a quote until credit card numbers are handed over. Once the credit card details are secured, some of Youi's sales representatives put them through as a sale, no matter what the customer asked for. "They would say they needed to get credit card details to [email] a quote. Then they would activate the policy without telling the client." Even if a customer tells the sales representative they don't want the policy, their credit card details will often be billed. "If I wanted a sale, what I would say is OK, that's your quote, just to hold the price, if you give me your credit card details we can put it in the system," says another whistleblower. Says a third: "Quite often a client would ring within a cooling off period and want to cancel that policy and it would not be done." Do you know more? Have you had problems with Youi? Email the journalist: liam.mannix@fairfaxmedia.com.au THE VICTIMS Fairfax has spoken to several customers who say Youi took money from them without authorisation. But hundreds more outraged customers have taken to the insurer's social media page. You Their claims are all different, but the allegation is the same: Youi stole my money. Rachel Blackburn says her experience with Youi "was probably one of the worst I've ever had in my life". Ms Blackburn had home and contents insurance with the Commonwealth Bank. She called Youi for a quote to check if her current policy was excessive. "The process took about an hour. At the end of it she said it's our policy to take down bank details, we won't use it if you don't sign up. I said to her 'let's be clear about this, I'm not going ahead with anything, all I want is a quote'." A little while after hanging up the phone, Ms Blackburn received an email. It welcomed her to Youi and included details about the policy she'd just been signed up for. She replied to the email saying she just wanted a quote, not a policy. Youi never responded. Like many people spoken to for this story, Ms Blackburn had to go public, posting a complaint on Youi's Facebook page before the company cancelled her policy. Youi's Australian and New Zealand arms are owned by South African insurer OUTsurance. OUTsurance's 2015 annual report said Youi had written almost 1 million policies in Australia and has 1750 employees. Falsifying the policy Getting a car insurance quote from Youi can take more than an hour on the phone. Customers' answers are fed into software that generates a quote based on the assessed risk level. But that quote is often more expensive than a competitors. So sales staff, the whistleblowers say, use every tactic they can to lower the premium and get the sale including falsifying the policy. . The most common trick is car colour. Youi charges more to insure red or black cars, because they are statistically more likely to be in an accident. To lower the premium, sales staff just put the colour in incorrectly "There were people constantly putting in the colour white when they are clearly being told their car is black," says one former staff member who worked in sales for two years. Youi was able to hide these fabrications by issuing vague policy statements with only limited detail to new customers, whistleblowers say. This policy has since changed. Sometimes, says a whistleblower, a claim is rejected because of errors in the policy because the sales representative put in the wrong details, either accidentally or deliberately. "How many claims have there been where we have rejected a claim because they've got no cover and we haven't looked into it any further? How many claims are there where if we looked into it we'd find a staff error? "I think we're doing it at least once or twice a week. It's all a big cover-up." Youi's management has instructed staff not to look too deeply at policies, or check for what are known as "data entry errors", because they know there are so many, the whistleblower says. "If the client has no cover, we are not investigating the sales call. Deliver the news they don't have the cover." "How many people say 'I really thought I took that cover, oh well'?" Vildon Foo discovered his insurance policy had been rewritten when he called to renew it. He was told his investment property in Wyndham Vale, Victoria, sits in a "inundated risk of flood" zone, meaning Youi would not cover him. Why then, he asked, had he been paying his premiums for the last year? After checking his policy Mr Foo discovered Youi had entered the wrong address, meaning they were able to offer him insurance, but if he made a claim they could have cause to dispute it. Mr Foo later discovered the address Youi had been insuring did not exist. "How is it the company was able to give me cover in the first place?" Mr Foo said. The cult of Youi Why are Youi's sales staff engaged in such unethical behaviour? Every whistleblower pointed to the same culprit: the sales team's commission system. Youi tells its sales staff they can earn huge commissions. But commissions are not reliant on the number of sales; rather, staff get bonuses based on how many more sales they make than their workmates. A computer determines how many inbound customers are routed to each sales team member. The computer ensures people who sell more policies get more calls, and thus commissions. Youi Sales representatives are literally competing against each other for commissions from a central pool. One person's success is another person's failure. This breeds both a toxic, high-stress environment and encourages unethical sales tactics. Not all sales staff are doing the wrong thing, but a large proportion are. The problem for staff who want to do the right thing, whistleblowers say, is they lose commissions to those prepared to do the wrong thing. That puts pressure on everyone to act unethically. "They want you to get the sale no matter what. They want you to brush past questions," says one whistleblower. One whistleblower worked with a staff member who complained to senior management about her manager rewriting insurance policies. "She was offered to move teams and the manager was left there." "[A manager] asked me if I'd got a formal warning yet. He said if I had not, I should keep doing it," one whistleblower says. What do eight packets of Smith's salted potato crisps and two Big Macs have in common? Both have less salt than an average packet of instant noodles sold in Australia. It was a finding that stunned researchers at The George Institute for Global Health, when they surveyed 765 noodle products collected from 10 countries between 2012 and 2016; including Australia, China, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Britain. Among the sample set, salt levels in Australian instant noodles were the second highest, with an average packet containing more than 80 per cent of the daily recommended maximum salt intake of five grams a day. Aldi's Simplee 2 Minute Noodles (chicken flavour) was declared Australia's "worst offender" because, based on the serving size provided on the pack, it contained 2.67 grams of salt per serving, more than half a day's worth of salt. "We didn't do this for the Aboriginal people when we moved to give equality in law to them, we didn't do it when we dismantled the White Australia policy ... we didn't do it in advances on women's equality, we didn't do it most recently on disability equality. Why are we now picking out the LGBT, the gay, community?" What a lot of nonsense this is about holding a non-binding plebiscite making it no more than a glorified opinion poll on same-sex marriage. Why go through the whole draining nonsense, all the scaremongering, all the vilification of one section of the community, all the expense, when the whole thing can be accomplished by the Parliament itself? Would this be circumventing democracy, thwarting the will of the people? No. Every poll for last two yonks clearly shows the will of the people is behind having same-sex marriage. But, more pertinently, this would simply be our Parliament acting to remove clear discrimination, just as it has covered itself with glory when doing so on other occasions. Typically, no one put it better than one time High Court justice Michael Kirby this week: Meantime, what's going on with you, Alan Jones? You invented the "Pick and Stick Club", remember, which briefly morphed into the "Captain's Pick and Stick Club" during the prime ministership of Tony Abbott. The idea was: you pick your allies, and you back them to the end, right or wrong. You certainly did it with Abbott, but we could also add murderer Andrew Kalajzich for whose retrial you successfully campaigned only for him to be found more guilty than the last time and a whole slew of of others. You stuck with them to the bitter end none more than Kalajzich and they no doubt with you. So why not Roger Rogerson this week? There he was in court, appearing for his sentencing hearing for the murder of Jamie Gao. While his fellow murderer Glen McNamara had 11 references as to his character, Rogerson had none! None, Alan. Where were you? Is there a cut-off point for how many murders before you're kicked out of the club? You've given Rogerson soft interviews over the years, you've launched his book, you've lauded him to your listeners, telling them, before throwing him soft-ball questions: "I'm not one of those politically correct people, and it mightn't be politically correct to say it, but if we had you talk to people at the grassroots if we had a few more of the man I'm about to speak [to] then we'd have few, fewer problems in society confronting society at the moment. A bit of old-style policing wouldn't do any harm." You're not going to let this latest murder conviction for your old-style policeman trouble you, surely, Alan? Where were you? Pick and stick! Must be easier, I guess just to revert to brain dead denial of climate change by pointing out Tuesday was an unseasonably cold day, before calling Kitty Chiller, "Kitty Litter" geddit, geddit? in typical misogynistic malice. It is glaringly obvious that not only have the Olympic Games failed in their mission ("Games must chart a fresh path", August 21) but the obsession of elevating sporting individuals to hero status is clearly counter-productive and dishonest. Can we now change our focus and give some attention to Australians' achievements in areas other than sports, for example the arts, science and charity. James Prior Sylvania Waters Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates during the Rio Olympics opening ceremony. Credit:Getty Images Not good enough Rio Tinto The picture of the rusty rucks in Rio Tinto's abandoned Panguna mine in PNG resembles the set of a Mad Max movie ("Billion-dollar mine mess: 'A major disaster the people do not deserve' ", August 21). However, unlike the movies, this tragedy is real and the detrimental environmental effects have been long-lasting. Instead of leaving it to others, the mining giant should be held accountable for its actions and be forced to clean up the mess it has left behind. Parliament is back on Tuesday. Huzzah! The people have spoken! Having listened intently to their Prime Minister's exhortations over the course of the winter campaign to get rid of the freaks in the Senate and put the grown-ups back in charge, the Australian people have responded in their own special and idiosyncratic way. Which is to say, they will the day after tomorrow officially install in the lower house two delegations of major party MPs so finely balanced that no member of either can afford even the most mildly elevated temperature lest their absence activate Plan B, otherwise known as: Bob Katter Getting The Deciding Vote. While upstairs in the Senate, the people have answered their Prime Minister's call for commonsense with a plague of Xenophons, a reinvigorated Pauline Hanson, her friend who got arrested for nicking a key off a guy who was trying to repossess his car, former jailbird Derryn Hinch, who once held his own diseased liver in his hand after exchanging it for that of a donor 40 years his junior, and now occupies a ground-floor suite owing to knee injuries he incurred in really what must qualify as an exceptionally optimistic post-transplant attempt to helicopter up a mountain and bicycle down it, plus the returned senator, David Leyonhjelm, who, ironically, has lodged a complaint against this news organisation for calling him an angry white man. Things are, as the vintage Facebook status dictates, complicated. Wilsons Promontory has been suggested as a good site to introduce the species to the mainland. But that 5 per cent the proportion of Tasmania's pre-DFTD devil population that survives is everything when it comes to the survival of a species. "Even in those parts of Tasmania that have had the disease there for the past 20 years, the devils are still there, albeit with low abundance," Dr Johnson said. "They are managing to persist in the face of the disease. That certainly doesn't mean there's nothing to worry about. The devil is now an endangered species, and endangered species are vulnerable in the long term for all sorts of reasons, including the potential for the emergence of another disease." A Tasmanian devil called Big John growls from the confines of his new tree house as he makes his first appearance at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo. Credit:AP And so it has come to pass. Late last year, a second transmissible cancer was discovered, one that could easily finish off devil populations just as they begin to show the early signs of developing a resistance to the facial cancer. Which is, of course, why the clamour for reintroducing devils to the mainland is growing louder a healthy devil population on the mainland could be one of many strategies for saving the devil, adding to the insurance policy that already exists in the form of more than 700, apparently healthy, devils held in captive breeding programs in places such as Healesville Sanctuary and Devil's Ark at Barrington Tops in northern NSW. But there is more to this whole idea than saving the devil. Reintroducing Tasmanian devils to mainland Australia, so the argument goes, would have a radical impact upon mainland Australia itself. For a start, it would, most scientists believe, help to drive down or control populations of foxes and feral cats. According to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, feral cats alone kill an estimated 75 million native animals every night. It would also put a brake on those populations of native animals among them swamp wallabies and common wombats whose populations down at the Prom and elsewhere are growing unchecked and wreaking havoc on native vegetation that provides cover and habitat for a host of smaller native mammal species. "In principle, the idea has value," says Atticus Fleming, the AWC's chief executive. "But it is very important to be clear about the objectives and we think it works on two levels. First, as an insurance policy for the devil itself. Perhaps even more importantly, it would help answer the question whether a relatively large native predator, in this case the Tasmanian devil, can help to curb populations of feral cats and foxes that are killing so many native animals," Fleming said. "That said, it is premature to talk of devils becoming established right across Australia. We don't yet know whether that is viable or even a good thing, whether for the environment or for the Tasmanian devil itself." There is little argument, however, that Wilsons Promontory is a good place to begin. "Wilsons Prom is an excellent opportunity because it was connected to Tasmania not long ago at all," says Euan Ritchie, senior lecturer at Deakin University's Centre for Integrative Ecology and a supporter of the plan to bring devils back to mainland Australia. "Environmentally speaking the Prom is very similar to areas in Tasmania that the devil currently occupies. The Prom has big problems with herbivores too many swamp wallabies, too many wombats and introduced predators such as cats and foxes. It has threatened mammals bandicoots, potoroos and so forth that are eaten by cats and foxes. It's also ideal because it has an isthmus, roughly five kilometres wide, so if you really wanted to, you could just fence off the isthmus that goes to the Prom and keep devils on the inside." By restoring native predators to an ecosystem, Dr Ritchie argues, "you're letting nature take care of itself rather than having to constantly intervene". And the result may well be a more stable, more resilient ecosystem, "one where you don't have to constantly try and poison foxes or shoot rabbits or control this or control that, which is what we do so much of". And you don't have to go far to see what he's talking about: "The Mallee is a perfect example. We go to the Mallee and we shoot dingoes because they occasionally eat some sheep. Then we find that we have a fox problem, so we shoot the foxes, because they cause the same problems. "And then we wonder why we have a kangaroo problem or a feral cat problem. You think, hang on, what actually controls a lot of that? Dingos. We're like the little boy with his finger in the dyke, rather than thinking about the whole picture." There is, of course, one problem that could derail the whole idea: Tasmania's government, whose approval would be required for any such proposal to proceed, remains resolutely opposed to the idea. According to one expert with experience of dealing with governments on the issue but who refused to be named, for any plan to proceed at Wilsons Prom "it would probably have to come from the Victorian government and the Tasmanian government would have to support it, or at least be willing to relinquish control of some of the devils in the captive breeding program to allow it to happen". When approached for comment for this article, a Parks Victoria spokesperson played a straight bat: "A decision to establish a mainland population would need to be made collectively by the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments." But the same unnamed expert suggested that it is the Tasmanian government that is dragging its feet: "There are quite a few people within the Victorian government who would quite like to develop this as a formal proposal, but when that's happened before the Tasmanians have just said 'no, we're not going to talk about this. Don't even bring it up'." The terse response by a Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokesperson to an inquiry by Fairfax Media appears to confirm this view: "The release of devils onto the mainland is not part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program recovery program. The focus is securing the future of the devil where it belongs in the wild in Tasmania. The Tasmanian government does not support any proposal for an introduction of devils to the mainland. Such an introduction is not required to secure the future of the Tasmanian devil." This unwillingness to even consider plans to reintroduce devils to the mainland is, of course, precisely why there are no formal proposals on the table, even as such a plan remains firmly on the agenda of everyone except the Tasmanian government. Some supporters of the reintroduction plan, like Dr Austin from the University of Adelaide, defend the position of the Tasmanian government by pointing to the plan's potential pitfalls. "One of the risks is that you put them onto the mainland and something just comes along and eats them all. We're trying to save Tasmanian devils and we've actually killed healthy animals in the process. Or they go and eat something that is itself threatened, and in the process of trying to save Tasmanian devils you've driven something else to extinction. Those of us working in universities are able to argue the theoretical case for and against reintroduction to the mainland, but ultimately it's people in government who will take the blame if things go wrong in practice." Johnson, another advocate of reintroducing devils to the mainland, puts it another way: "The Tasmanian government is doing a good job in many respects in saving the Tasmanian devil. But surely we should be able to do two things at once?" Others are less charitable. "There's definitely some politics being played," says Ritchie. "What upsets me about that attitude is that this should be a national issue. This is not a state-based issue. We're talking about an Australian species." There is, however, a precedent that suggests the Tasmanian government's refusal to even entertain the idea may have more to do with parochialism than smart science. In 2012, the Tasmanian government oversaw the release of around 30 healthy Tasmanian devils onto Maria Island, off Tasmania's east coast. Around 100 devils now inhabit the island and the Tasmanian government frequently touts the success of the program as integral to its bid to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction. According to Chris Johnson, the lessons from Maria Island are simple: "We learned that it's reasonably straightforward to do. The mortality of devils was quite low. And they started to breed quite soon." In any event, any reintroduction would, says Johnson, be "a controlled experiment, and not just something we do because a few people think it's a good idea". Ritchie agrees: "You do it in a controlled way, in a small area, you monitor what happens. If it goes pear-shaped, of course, you pull them out. With the devils, of course, you could easily put collars on them and track them. You're not just going to let them out and hope for the best." Ritchie goes further. "There is a general risk aversion in this country to doing these things, because something could go wrong. But one of the greatest risks facing conservation in Australia is doing nothing. It's the old saying the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. That's what we still do a lot of in conservation management. Here is a different approach." And if it works, Ritchie highlights the plan's potential to inspire in Australians a whole new way of looking at their own backyard. "So much of what you read about in the news, especially when it comes to Australia's mammals is extinct, extinct, extinct, getting worse, becoming extinct," he said. The US-based Bookshare website offers almost half a million braille, large print and audio titles on line, but Australia's restrictive copyright rules mean only 193,000 are available here. Former disability commissioner Graeme Innes says he and other vision-impaired Australians can't import legally-produced audio and braille books without the specific permission of the publishers. He says when he asks, he often doesn't get a response. The Turnbull government has been accused of extending Australia's "book famine" by sitting on draft legislation designed to give blind, partially sighted and dyslexic Australians the sort of access to books available overseas. Draft legislation released in December would have opened up BookShare to Australians in one of the biggest ever shakeups of Australian copyright law. It would also have protected local organisations and carers who wanted to make their own accessible copies of copyrighted books. Advocates say a shake-up of copyright law in Australia is long overdue. Credit:iStock It was designed to come into force with the introduction of the Marrakesh treaty on international access to published works on September 30, but it hasn't yet been introduced into parliament and isn't on the program for next week. On Friday shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus wrote to communications minister Mitch Fifield offering his support for an urgent passage through parliament. A spokeswoman for Senator Fifield told Fairfax Media that the bill wasn't essential in order to comply with the Marrakesh treaty, but said it would be introduced "at the earliest opportunity". "It's pretty mean to suggest that it's not essential," Mr Innes respondent. "It's easy to say if you are able to read books. I don't understand why it's not high up on the program." Michael Gunner, the Alice Springs boy who grew up in public housing, says his rise to become the Northern Territory's chief minister is proof that it's the land of opportunity. Mr Gunner led Labor to a resounding victory on Saturday night, ending four years of chaotic and tumultuous Country Liberals rule and promising a new era of stability and trust. With just over half the votes counted, Labor had achieved an 18 per cent swing against the one-term government with Mr Gunner claiming 15 seats and hopeful of another three. The CLP only had one declared win, with another two seats possible. Three went to independents and a fourth was expected. Christian Dior is under fire in Australia for an advertising campaign fronted by Johnny Depp. Billboards, store fronts and bus stops around Sydney and Melbourne are covered in images of Depp emblazoned with the word "Sauvage", a French term meaning "wild". Commuters walk past the Dior Sauvage advertisement featuring Johnny Depp outside David Jones' Sydney CBD store. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The Pirates of the Caribbean star was announced as the face of Sauvage last year, Dior's first fragrance for men in 10 years. The renewed push of the Sauvage campaign comes just days after Depp and Amber Heard settled their contentious divorce amid allegations of domestic violence. Heard claimed Depp repeatedly abused her during their 18-month marriage, before withdrawing the claims. Ashley Madison revelled in its own notoriety with a slogan which read: "Life is short. Have an affair." Credit:AP The site was reported to have 37 million members in 40 countries, including 1.2 million Britons at the time of the hack. It's now emerged that many using the site were single, and wanting a non-committal fling. Christopher Russell was separated from his wife when he signed up. "I was working a lot. It was hard to meet people," he says. "Plus, these were hook-ups, not dates - so there wasn't any risk of getting hurt. Everybody knew where they stood." Ashley Madison is still going, with the new tagline Find Your Moment, claiming more than 48 million members worldwide. However, not everyone could stomach the sight of Biderman making a reported $US 55 million a year from the site. A group called the Impact Team posted a 30-day warning to Biderman and Ashley Madison's parent company Avid Life Media to close the site down in July 2015. The hackers have never been identified but many experts believe it bore the signs of an insider job. When that was ignored, a few client names began to appear online, and then on August 18, the hackers dumped a 9.7 gigabyte file called "Time's Up!" on the dark web that held names and emails of bankers, civil servants, UN peacekeepers and Vatican employees. Two days later, a huge tranche of internal emails was placed online. This revealed the identity of many users who had had to pay a $US 19 fee to have their personal information permanently deleted from the site, even those who were joined up as a joke or as a form of revenge. The following months saw a wave of blackmail attempts, divorces, a public outing on Australian radio, and the suicide of a Louisiana pastor. The law firms Charney Lawyers and Sutts, Strosberg LLP filed a $US 576 million national class proceeding on behalf of all Canadians who subscribed to Ashley Madison and whose personal information was disclosed to the public. The named plaintiff was Eliot Shore, a disabled widower from Ottawa whose wife had died of breast cancer. He never met anybody in person from the site. Meanwhile, Noel Biderman, who had told an Australian chat show his wife Amanda would be "devastated" if he had an affair, was revealed to have had multiple illicit engagements. (The couple are understood to still be together.) He stood down as chief executive and the company vowed to install the best security. Tamsin, who had had several relationships through the site, was contacted by friends and former lovers. Wives, too, wanted to talk to her. "They were devastated," she says. Not everyone who used Ashley Madison was genuine like Tamsin. The hackers suggested up to 95 per cent of users were male. An investigation by the tech site Gizmodo found that the site was populated with more than 70,000 bots pretending to be female users and contacting hopeful men. The ratio of men checking messages to women checking messages was 13,585:1. Christopher Russell says that he contacted 200 profiles and spoke to only one actual person. The Channel 4 documentary suggests it may also have been a cheesy front for more dubious dating sites including Arrangement Finders, a site for young women to find older men where the relationship would involve a financial reward - its tagline is "Intimacy with a twi$t". Gina Smith, editor-in-chief of the independent media site ANewDomain.com, who covered the story, says: "It appears to be a sprawling collection of websites, which appear to be designed to get people to come in to do other stuff. And that stuff doesn't seem to have a lot to do with dating." Could Ashley then have been described as a gateway drug, where men might drift from speculating about an affair, or feeling frustrated when they couldn't contact a real woman, to accessing other services such as escort sites? It was "a good site for people to get their feet wet," says Tamsin. Ashley Madison is still going, with the new tagline Find Your Moment, claiming more than 48 million members worldwide. The company has beefed up its security - but the hack left many asking questions about online safety. Will the leak make people think twice about seeking casual, even extra-marital relationships online? Harley Street psychotherapist and relationships expert Christine Webber says some men and women believe by using these sites they are saving their marriages, by not having a conventional affair, or finding relief from a dire relationship which they may feel they are tied to. "I also know of situations where people want special sexual services that they can't get at home, which might be as basic as oral sex." Certainly, it has not put Tamsin Smythe off websites like Ashley. "I feel the lifestyle is incredibly empowering for women, and it Newly declassified United States foreign intelligence documents from the late 1960s and 1970s have stopped short of issuing fully uncensored briefings about the Whitlam dismissal and Indonesian invasion of East Timor. The daily briefings from the Central Intelligence Agency to presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford provide a summary of national security threats and opportunities from 1969 through to early 1977. The CIA briefing describes the Whitlam dismissal as a "surprise move". Credit:Peter Wells Conspiracy theorists have long held that the CIA was involved in ousting the Whitlam government, but the November 11, 1975 briefing to the president describes the dismissal as a "surprise move". However, the final line-and-a-half briefing to President Ford about the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government remains censored. A series of scandalous hospital errors has severely damaged the public's perception of the state's health system and significantly eroded the popularity of the Baird government. An exclusive Fairfax/Reachtel poll has revealed four in five people harbour lingering fears over the state of the sector as a result of the systemic stuff ups, putting pressure on the future of Health Minister Jillian Skinner. The poll reveals a four percentage point swing against the NSW government and a majority of respondents said they preferred Opposition Leader Luke Foley as premier to Mike Baird. The fallout of the nitrous oxide mix up at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital that led to the death of a newborn baby, and chemotherapy underdosing controversies at two other state hospitals have left a sour taste in voters' mouths, the survey of more than 1600 residents found. Slain teenager Louise O'Brien was subjected to physical abuse at the hands of her alleged murderer who shaved the girl's head, shoved food in her mouth and even forced her to eat her own scabs, a witness has claimed. The witness, who cannot be named, told police that Patricia Goddard made Louise eat her own scabs off the floor, tied her hands to a chair and force-fed the girl salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Louise O'Brien ... her remains were found in a wheelie bin. Goddard was charged with Louise's murder last year after the teen's remains were discovered inside a wheelie bin buried in the 73-year-old's Bellambi backyard, the Illawarra Mercury reports. Goddard's daughter Tracey Taylor, 46, was charged with being an accessory to Louise's murder. Two men, who have been missing since Thursday, have been located in bushland south of Sydney. The men from Wollongong, aged in their 40s, were driving through the South East Forests National Park on Thursday at Bemboka when their 4WD stalled as they attempted to drive across a creek. Two men have been rescued after being lost in bushland for two days. Credit:File CEO of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service Steven Leahy said both men were found about 10.30am on Saturday and were "quite okay". "They have run out of food, there are cold, but they are okay." Queensland Police have charged two New South Wales men with murder over the alleged stabbing of a 43-year-old man in Mundubbera on August 23. A 35-year-old Orange man was arrested in his home town on Thursday and appeared in the Orange Magistrates Court on Friday. He will be extradited to Queensland to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. Queensland Police have arrested and charged two New South Wales men over the murder of a man at Mundubbera on August 23. Credit:Susie Ross - 7 News Wide Bay Overnight, detectives arrested a 70-year-old Dubbo man, who is due to appear in the Dubbo Magistrates Court on Monday, when police will try to also extradite him to Queensland. Police said the victim was found with multiple stab wounds about 11.30am on August 23 at a workshop on Bunce Street in Mundubbera, about 140 kilometres west of Maryborough. Police are searching for a driver who may be trapped in a car east of Melbourne after ar truck driver received a distress call on their CV radio on Friday morning. A truck driver in the Yarragon area, in West Gippsland, received the call about 10am from someone who reported a tree had fallen on a car, however the caller did not provide a phone number or more specific location. Police Victoria police spokesman Thomas O'Byrne said the truck driver contacted police and emergency services, sparking a search of the Yarragon area, between Warragul and Moe, in an effort to find the trapped car. Police would like to hear from anyone who may have run into car problems in the area or may have helped someone out of trouble. Multiple shots were fired into a suburban home in Melbourne's north on Sunday. Police spokeswoman Kendra Jackson said a number of shots were fired into a Lalor house about 4.20am. Police are investigating the circumstances behind a shooting in Lalor on Sunday. "There were occupants inside at the time but no one was injured," she said. WA enjoyed "a good soaking" overnight and there are more showers on the way, set to dampen another weekend. Gianni Colangelo from the Perth Bureau of Meteorology said a cold front passing over much of the south west of the state brought heavy rains from Geraldton to the Capes. There was heavy rain across much of the south west of WA on Friday night and Saturday morning. Credit:Nick Moir "Much of the area recorded rainfall of between 25 to 50 millilitres. Jarrahdale recorded 73 millilitres and nearby Gleneagle had 76 millilitres," he said. In the metropolitan area Karnet was hit by 53 millilitres of rain and Bickley with 51 millilitres, while the Perth average was around 30 millilitres. In 1908, archaeologist Luigi Pernier was poking around the ruins of an ancient palace in Crete when he unearthed a smallish clay disc that featured a series of mysterious symbols set in a spiral on both sides. Neither its layout, nor the symbols themselves, had been seen before and neither have they been seen again since. The artifact is known as the Phaistos Disc. To this day, and despite many attempts, no one has a clue what the symbols mean, or what language they record. The Voynich manuscript, a never-deciphered illustrated codex from the 1400s. Credit:New York Times The best guess among scholars has the Disc being inscribed about 3800 years ago. Perhaps whoever did it was intent on recording some grand creation myth, or the lineage of a king now lost to history. Then again, perhaps it notes the dry accounting of a wheat harvest, or a fish haul. Or maybe it's just a doodle: the meaningless scrawl of a bloke bored out of his wits with only a stick and a bit of clay to amuse himself. Passengers on a United States flight had a terrifying emergency landing after part of an engine was ripped apart in mid-air. Southwest Airlines confirmed a flight from New Orleans to Orlando, Florida, was diverted on Saturday morning after a problem with an engine. A Southwest Airlines plane was involved in a mid-air engine accident. Credit:AP Spokesman Chris Mainz said the flight landed in Pensacola, Florida - some 720 kilometres from its destination - about 9.40am local time (10.40pm AEST). Passengers posted photos online, showing the metal around front of the plane's left engine had been torn off. Accused of overstepping their authorities and leaking information. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten requested the members of the Corporate Governance Council (CGC) to make their positions available after they sent a letter to the Prime Minister informing him that both candidates that were nominated for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position of TELEM are qualified for the position, but also insinuated in their letter to the Prime Minister whom they believe is more qualified for the position. Besides overstepping their authority as an advisory body, the members of the council allegedly leaked information to one of the two candidates who then went on a radio program boasting to be the most qualified candidate based on the advice/letter sent to the Prime Minister. SMN News learned that the members of the CGC allegedly also leaked information to the unions who also made statements relating to the advice. SMN News further understands that the Prime Minister William Marlin sent the letter to the CGC on Friday when he realized that the members of CGC were influential and had preference as to whom he should appoint to the position even though he selected the candidate and then they asked for the information on the second candidate, something that is not normal. Besides the abnormality, the CGC allegedly leaked information to the candidates and unions whom it is understood already made statements about the letter sent to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten. Efforts made to reach Prime Minister William Marlin for a comment proved futile as he is currently in the Dominican Republic where he has to sign an MOU with the Dominican Republic on behalf of the Kingdom on more working cooperation between the Kingdom and the Dominican Republic. 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 Nominee Praises the Kansas Governor's Disastrous Economic Policies Donald Trump has named Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as one of four politicians selected to serve as his Agricultural Advisory Committee, and in speeches across the country he is lauding Brownback's "Kansas solution" as a model for America. Whoa. THAT is scary. Delusionally, fantastically, scary. Of all of the many scary things that Trump has said at his campaign rallies, this unabashed praise of Sam Brownback may truly be the scariest of all. For those who don't follow Kansas news, my home state has spent the last six years reeling with an unbridled economic recession. Under Brownback's misguided and shortsighted stewardship, Kansas has suffered from credit downgrades, underfunded schools, healthcare cuts, increasing debt, revenue shortfalls, and massive job losses in all areas. As other states, and the nation as a whole, have recovered from the woes wrought by the 2008-2009 global recession, Kansas has continued to see losses across the board. Hospitals have shut down, school years have been cut short, roads have not been repaired, and there has been a $150M budget shortfall, already, in 2016 alone. The cornerstone of Brownback's policy is tax cuts. Big, big tax cuts for everyone, and especially for businesses. He believed that corporations would flock to Kansas, providing jobs and bolstering the economy. That hasn't happened, and with little tax revenue, the state is not able to adequately provide even the barest of essentials for its citizens. Actually, some business has even left, due to the bleak state of the state: "It's not so much that I'm moving the company to Missouri as I'm moving it away from Kansas," Pathfinder Health Innovations chief executive Jeff Blackwood wrote in June. "It is far past the time that Sam Brownback and his cronies admit the damage they've caused to the people of Kansas and resign in the shame they deserve." The governor has proven himself to be a very, very, poor leader, and now it seems that Donald Trump wants to see the whole country suffer the same miserable, disastrous, fate that Kansas has endured. "The members of my Agricultural Advisory Committee represent the best that America can offer to help serve agricultural communities," Trump said in a news release. Nowhere to go but down. If that's the best America can offer, Mr. Trump, then we are in a very sorry state, indeed. Even the conservative bastion that was my prairie home has finally come to realize that Brownback's draconian trickle down economics is a big fail: they voted in a slate of moderates this year to replace and control Crazy Sam's extremists. So why would anyone promote the program of someone who has been such a failure? It's looking more and more like the Donald really doesn't want to win this election. If he really wanted to win, he wouldn't even remotely consider the possibility of praising the visible and undeniable insanity that is Sam Brownback. Uncle Sam becomes Chuckie cheese as FDA attempts to cure surplus It's wrapped in wax, and as orange as Donald Trump's hair. If you don't specify what cheese you want to, it's going to end up on your sandwich at Subway. And there is so much of it that the government may have to buy the excess. Yes, it's cheddar cheese folks, and due to an oversupply of milk and less buying from China than expected, there is an over supply of cheddar cheese in the United States, reports the US Department of Agriculture. The Feds bailed out the auto manufacturers and major banks, so why not the cheese mongers? Department of Agriculture said today that the feds will purchase about 11 million pounds of cheese for "private inventories." Before you get in line, you should probably be aware that this means the cheese will be given to food banks and charity groups. Cheddar cheese hit a 21 month high today in agricultural markets in the Midwest, the highest price since November 2014. Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard, off-white or orange, sharp"-tasting, natural cheese. Originating in the British village of Cheddar in Somerset, cheeses of this style are produced beyond this region and in several countries around the world, says Wikipedia. Pizza, anyone? Cheese is valued for its portability, long life, and high content of fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus. Cheese is more compact and has a longer shelf life than milk, although how long a cheese will keep depends on the type of cheese; labels on packets of cheese often claim that a cheese should be consumed within three to five days of opening. Generally speaking, hard cheeses, such as parmesan last longer than soft cheeses, such as Brie or goat's milk cheese. The long storage life of some cheeses, especially when encased in a protective rind, allows selling when markets are favorable. There is some debate as to the best way to store cheese, but some experts[who?] say that wrapping it in cheese paper provides optimal results. Cheese paper is coated in a porous plastic on the inside, and the outside has a layer of wax. This specific combination of plastic on the inside and wax on the outside protects the cheese by allowing condensation on the cheese to be wicked away while preventing moisture from within the cheese escaping. A specialist seller of cheese is sometimes known as a cheesemonger. Becoming an expert in this field requires some formal education and years of tasting and hands-on experience, much like becoming an expert in wine or cuisine. The cheesemonger is responsible for all aspects of the cheese inventory: selecting the cheese menu, purchasing, receiving, storage, and ripening. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese 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. Julian Assange Investigates the Mysterious Murder of DNC DC Staffer Seth C. Rich Seth C. Rich was fatally shot on July 10, 2016. He was a 27-year-old employee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). His mysterious murder followed the DNC Email hack. The timing is frankly suspicious. Or just coincidental. Tonight on FoxNews, Megan Kelly talked about the mysterious murder of Seth Rich, 27, a DC Democratic Party Staffer with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. At the time of his death, Rich was Deputy Director of "Data-for-Voter Protection/Expansion" at the DNC, where he had been employed for two years. He developed a computer application to assist voters in locating polling stations. Assange has mention Rich's name before, in reference to the dangers of working for Wikileaks. Rich was gunned down in an intersection in Georgetown, DC at 4 am. He had been seen drinking just hours before. 19 minutes before he was shot, Rich spoke to his girlfriend. Police say they have no motive, but are looking at attempted robbery. Rich's watch and wallet however were not taken. Sources involved with the Newsweek investigation, say Rich had been ruled out of responsibility for the DNC email leak and hack. Kelly asked Assange, "Was your source Seth Rich who was shot in a robbery last month?" he said: "The police in DC offered $25,000, and Wikileaks offered $20k for information leading to the arrest of his killer. We're not saying his death necessarily is related to our publications, but if there's any question about a source of Wikileaks being threatened, this organization will go after whoever may have killed our source." "We've received some information, but we don't think it's enough for an indictment. That type of allegation is very serious, and is taken seriously by us." Kelly: Are you in favor of Trump in this election? Assange: No. We would publish information about Trump or Clinton. I like to think that any good organization would've published Hillary's e mails. I don't think MSNBC or the NYTimes would have. The allegation by Clinton, who has positioned herself as the security candidate, has accused everyone of being a Russian agent. The Turmp campaign are not Russian agents. It's really hard for us to release anything worse than anything that comes out of DT's mouth every second day. " Wikileaks released footage of an apache helicopter of the military killing journalists and children in Baghdad. "The US Government had to release that not a single person was hurt by our disclosure. In court in 2013," Assange proudly added. Rich left the Lou's City Bar in Columbia Heights at 1:45 am and told the bar manager he would go to a nearby bar.[6] The bar manager stated that Rich was not drunk or even tipsy. An intersection in Columbia Heights. At the time of his death, Rich was Deputy Director of "Data-for-Voter Protection/Expansion" at the DNC, where he had been employed for two years. He developed a computer application to assist voters in locating polling stations. Police were alerted to gunfire at 4:20 am by an automated gunfire locator called ShotSpotter.[8][9] Rich was shot[7][10] about a block from his home[11] in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, D.C. in the vicinity of Howard University.[12][8] His father believes that his son engaged his assailants before he was killed. He was found conscious but later died in the hospital. Although his belongings were not taken, DC police stated that Rich may have been killed in an attempted robbery.[5] According to police, the neighborhood had been 'plagued' by such robberies. The Metropolitan Police Department posted a customary reward of $25,000 for information about the death. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement mourning the loss and praising Rich's work "to protect the most sacred right we share as Americans - the right to vote." Hillary Clinton spoke of this fatality during a speech advocating limiting the availability of guns. Calif. Cop saved last night; Nevada Highway Patrol Officer Saved Early Sunday Morning About once every five years, a policeman in the US is saved by his badge, when the badge deflects a bullet. The last time was in New York City in 2010, reporte the New York Times. Last night, however, it happened to two different policemen in two states. In Huntington Beach, California, officers were involved in a high-speed pursuit when gunfire broke out. A 10-year veteran of the Huntington Beach Police Department had bullets shoot through his windshield and strike him. But his badge stopped the bullets. The suspect veered off the road, crashed his vehicle and died of his injuries. In Las Vegas, a Nevada State Trooper was conducting a traffic stop when the suspect began to flee the vehicle. During a foot pursuit, gunfire broke out and the trooper was struck in the chest. His badge saved him. The suspect died in the gunfire exchange. Nevada Highway Patrol has released a photo of the badge that stopped a bullet from hitting one of its patrol officers on Friday morning. This Trooper was struck in the badge by gunfire last night. We are grateful the Trooper went home safe to his family pic.twitter.com/q3PfF5j4P4 - NHP Southern Command (@NHPSouthernComm) August 26, 2016 A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper has been shot near U.S. 95 and Boulder Highway, reported KTNV Friday night. The incident began as a traffic stop near Boulder Station. Police say that they stopped a car containing 3 people, two men and a woman. One of the men jumped out of the car and began running. The NHP officer began chasing him. A gunfight broke out and the officer was hit in the chest. The man who ran was also hit. He did not survive. Boulder Highway is currently closed in the area of the shooting. Motorists should take alternate routes. Las Vegas police are assisting NHP with their investigation. It started as a traffic stop. Three people were in the car. Two are now detained. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/ZSHnZUyHdp - Parker Collins (@parkercollinstv) August 26, 2016 Intersection Boulder Hwy/Lamb. @LVMPD blocking off Boulder to @boulderstation. Lamb is open. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/931aGQKYrE - Megan Telles (@mtelles) August 26, 2016 Parents and anti-vaccine groups sought an injunction A federal judge has refused to block a new California vaccination law, which eliminates an exemption based on the parents' personal beliefs. The law requires children in both public and private schools to be inoculated against 10 contagious illnesses. "Society has a compelling interest in fighting the spread of contagious diseases through mandatory vaccination of school-age children," said U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of San Diego. He noted in Friday's ruling that the California Supreme Court had upheld mandatory vaccination for schoolchildren as long ago as 1890. Seventeen parents and four anti-vaccine organizations sought an injunction against enforcement of the law. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say 33,000 students in California whose parents oppose vaccinations will be denied enrollment unless they agree to be vaccinated, and argued that they were being denied the right to freely practice their religion. Sabraw countered that their religious right "does not outweigh the state's interest in public health and safety." He cited a 1944 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibited a young girl from distributing religious literature on the streets in violation of a Massachusetts child-labor law. The family's claim of religious freedom in that case "does not include liberty to expose the community or the child to communicable disease," the high court said. Although the right to an education is strongly protected by California law, Sabraw said that right must give way to the public interest in protecting children's health. The new, stricter, law was prompted by a measles outbreak in 2014 that was traced to Disneyland visitors who hadn't been vaccinated. Implemented just last month, the measure makes California one of only three states, along with West Virginia and Mississippi, to require all students to be vaccinated against illnesses such as measles, mumps, tetanus, and rubella, regardless of their parents' religious or personal opposition. The only exceptions are for children with doctor-certified medical exemptions and for disabled students in individualized education programs. Parents must provide a shot record for children entering either kindergarten of seventh grade. California parents are now required to provide immunization records when their child is entering kindergarten or the seventh grade. That means an elementary-school student who already has a parental exemption will not need to be vaccinated until the seventh grade, and students in the eighth grade or higher won't require any vaccinations. In announcing the suit on July 1, plaintiff's attorney Robert Moxley said the law "has made second-class citizens out of children who for very compelling reasons are not vaccinated." Opponents went to court after they failed to qualify a state ballot referendum to undo the law. State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, one of the sponsors of the vaccine law, praised the ruling for helping to make schools safer. The law was also sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica. Plaintiff's attorney Kim Mack Rosenberg said they are planning an appeal. 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. 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." Quote: Windancer Originally Posted by I had noticed the "we" as opposed to "I" but I didn't catch that it is indeed past tense. just remember that its because we found that HP. another thing that shows it is past tense is in "working with others"Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to their houses; we mustn't think or be reminded about alcohol at all. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so.We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status. His only chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a bottle of scotch and ruin everything! Ask any woman who has sent her husband to distant places on the theory he would escape the alcohol problem.In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties. To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic, this may seem like tempting Providence, but it isn't.You will note that we made an important qualification. Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, "Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places?" If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. Go or stay away, whichever seems best. But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it.iwhen I got into AA I was powerless at first. but then I found that HP working the steps.left to my own devises,tho, I drink, so I go me an HP!!and if it wasn't past tense I wouldn't be able to do ANY of them things It will provide energy to the regulated customers of the Chilean electrical market by constructing a 120 MWp solar park, which will begin supplying energy in the year 2021. Solarpack, has been awarded in the Supply Tender 2015/01 to supply 280 GWh yearly, beginning in 2021, to the regulated costumers of Chile. This Supply Tender has been promoted by the CNE and by the group of electrical distributors of Chile. To reach this production, Solarpack, through its subsidiary Maria Elena Solar S.A, will construct the photovoltaic solar park Granja Solar of 120 MWp that is expected to enter commercial operation in 2019. The company has been awarded 28 sub-blocks type 2b to sell 280 GWh annually between the hours of 8:00 to 17:59. This schedule permits the best daily correlation between its production curve and the demand that must be supplied, being the only sub-block with a diurnal schedule awarded in the tender. The future solar park Granja Solar will supply clean energy to the regulated customers of Chile, that will benefit from the best price offered between the bidders, of 29.1 US$/MWh. The awarded price of 29.1 US$/MWh represents a new record, as being the lowest price awarded to a solar park in history, at a global level. The previous record was established at 29.9 US$/MWh, awarded to a solar park in Dubai. The park Granja Solar, of 120 MWp, will be located in the region of Tarapaca and will be connected to the electrical system to supply energy to all the regulated customers of Chile. Pablo Burgos, CEO of Solarpack, indicated that this tender, in addition to reaffirming the commitment of Solarpack with Chile, also demonstrates the competitiveness of Solarpack and solar energy at offering the best price among the bidding companies. Mr. Burgos also thanked the confidence demonstrated by the Chilean authorities in the company. Solarpack already counts with four photovoltaic solar parks in operation in Chile: Calama Solar, the first solar industrial park in South America and the first in the world without subsidy, with a total installed power of 1,1 MWp; Pozo Almonte Solar 2 & 3, that with a joint power of 25 MW produces 13% of the energy consumption of the Mining Companying Dona Ines de Collahuasi; and Pozo Almonte Solar 1 that counts with 10,5 MWp and is connected to the Sistema Interconectado del Norte Grande (SING). Furthermore, Solarpack is currently building two solar parks in Chile, Calama Solar 1 and Puerto Seco Solar, both located in Calama. In addition to Chile, Solarpack manages a portfolio of projects in Spain, Peru, India, Malaysia, and South Africa. The company has also commissioned projects of 62 MWp in Peru, 26 MWp in Uruguay and 34,6 MWp in Spain. Everything you need to know about Notre Dame vs. the Orange Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y. 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 A Yellowstone National Park employee has died after falling from a view point above the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Estefania Liset Mosquera Alcivar, 21, died Friday morning after falling from the Grandview Point above the Yellowstone River, according to a news release from Yellowstone National Park. Alcivar was a concession stand worker and was standing with co-workers when she fell over the edge of the rim trail at about 3 a.m. Park rangers and paramedics responded and had to wait to locate Alcivar's body until daylight. They determined the fall was not survivable and recovered Alcivar's body just after 10 a.m. Alcivar was born in Quito, Ecuador, and was in the U.S. on a work visa. The incident is under investigation by the National Park Service, and visitors are urged to use caution when walking on rim trails. The dispute with Seehofer has not yet been adequately resolved and the Bavarian party is considering the possibility of nominating its own candidate for the Chancellery. The renewed delay, however, is much more problematic for Merkel than the initial deferral in the spring. In December, the CDU convention is to take place and Merkel intends to run for a further two years as CDU party head. Doing so, however, only makes sense if she plans to run for a further term as chancellor. Election year conventions are vital for demonstrating CDU party solidarity with its chancellor candidate. Should it not yet be clear if Merkel will be that candidate, such a message of solidarity becomes impossible to send. BILLINGS -- A Yellowstone National Park employee died Friday morning after falling from a view point above the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Estefania Liset Mosquera Alcivar, 21, fell from Grandview Point, according to a news release from Yellowstone National Park. Alcivar was a concession stand worker and was standing with co-workers when she fell over the edge of the rim trail at about 3 a.m. Park rangers and paramedics responded and had to wait to locate Alcivar's body until daylight. They determined the fall was not survivable and recovered Alcivar's body just after 10 a.m. Alcivar was born in Quito, Ecuador, and was in the U.S. on a work visa. The incident is under investigation by the National Park Service, and visitors are urged to use caution when walking on rim trails. The woman's death is part of a summer of unfortunate incidents at Yellowstone. An Oregon man died at the park in June when he walked off the boardwalk at Norris Geyser Basin, slipped and fell into a hot spring. Earlier that month a 13-year-old boy was burned when his father, who had been carrying him, slipped into a different spring. In May, a Canadian film crew was accused of leaving an established boardwalk and stepping into a fragile geothermal area where they snapped photos and took video of themselves. Also that month, another Canadian man loaded a bison calf into his SUV because he thought it was cold. The calf later had to be euthanized because it could not be reunited with its herd. Marrakech (Morocco), August 27, 2016 (SPS) Saharawi political prisoner and activist of human rights, Abdelmula Al Hafed, on Friday began a 48-hour hunger strike to protest against inhuman treatment at Moroccan prison of Oudaya, Marrakech. The Moroccan prison authorities had denied repeatedly the Saharawi activist of human rights medical treatment and basic necessities, which worsened his condition. The Sahrawi political prisoner and human rights activist was transferred to the prison of Oudaya in Marrakech last April 17, with seventeen other Saharawi university students because of their political activities in support of the Saharawi peoples right to self-determination and independence. (SPS) 062/090/TRA DECATUR A 23-year-old Decatur woman with a troubled past, including a conviction on child abduction charges, was arrested Thursday on a charge of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, for allegedly sending nude images of a male to another woman. The victim told police that his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, told him she received a text message from a specific phone number, which featured a slide show of naked pictures of him. He said he recognized the number as belonging to Nyway Abbaa, a woman with whom he had recently been involved in a relationship. The victim, a 28-year-old Decatur resident, said he knew Abbaa had taken photographs of him nude with her phone while he slept during a recent encounter at her residence, said a probable cause affidavit by Decatur patrol officer Eric Waggoner. During the police interview, the victim received a call from Abbaa. He punched in the speaker feature, to allow an officer to hear the conversation. How did you get into my phone? the woman asked him. Nyway, I didn't get into your phone and why are you sending nude pictures of me to people? the victim responded. I'm mad, you got into my phone, she said. Officers met with the victim's former girlfriend, who showed them four photographs. In two photos that showed his face, his eyes were shut, indicating he was asleep. She said she had not met Abbaa and did not know how she obtained her phone number. Abbaa was convicted in October 2012 of abducting her two young children in Peoria and driving them to Minneapolis, in a case that prompted an Amber Alert. She was the non-custodial parent of the children, who were 1 year and 2 months old. She was sentenced to 148 days in jail and probation, but broke probation and was sent to the Illinois Department of Corrections for 18 months. On June 18, 2014, Abbaa attacked a woman with a scissors on a near northside street, sending her to the hospital with a life-threatening laceration to her wrist and forearm. Medical personnel said she would have died from loss of blood if she had not received immediate medical attention. Abbaa pleaded guilty to aggravated battery/great battery harm in exchange for a 90-day jail sentence and 18 months probation. In a pending case, Abbaa is charged with battery, damage to property and resisting a peace officer, for allegedly punching a 26-year-old former boyfriend on March 26, 2015, after trying to hit him with a pipe, chasing him in a vehicle and breaking his cellphone. Abbaa is being held in jail on $7,000 bond, pending her arraignment by Friday in her most recent case. T he Notting Hill Carnival returns this weekend for its 53rd time, and over the course of two days, more than a million people are expected to work their way through 25,000 litres of rum and five tonnes of jerk chicken. The jewel of the Carnival, the world-famous parade, will see hundreds of dancers shimmy and shake in a spectacle to rival Rio. It perhaps seems curious that a little corner of west London should come to hold such an event, and should for a weekend at least be the epicentre for a celebration of Caribbean culture. Its origins are, in a number of ways, remarkable. It starts with the impact of the Second World War, which had devastated Britains working population. In 1948, the country reached out around the world to what were then its colonies, encouraging immigration to sure-up the workforce. Around half a million of those who came over were from the Caribbean, some on HMT Empire Windrush for which their generation were then named. By the 1950s, both Notting Hill and Brixton had substantial West Indian populations. In fact, both areas became overcrowded, and conditions were poor: poverty riddled every run-down tenement building. There was no hot water, no electricity, and London was fraught with social unease and racial tension. Working-class whites clashed fiercely with their new neighbours, and in 1958, the Race Riots cracked the area further: from August 30 until September 5, mobs of white Teddy Boys vandalised houses and fought with residents. At the time, both Oswald Mosley's far-right Union Movement, and the White Defence League were both dispiritingly popular. Later, in 1959, Antiguan carpenter Kelso Cochrane was murdered in a racially motivated attack, which remains unsolved. But the mood began to clear as these provocations proved a catalyst for change, with human rights activist Claudia Jones hosting the first Caribbean Carnival in St Pancras Town Hall. Similar events followed, as Jones, who'd also founded the the West Indian Gazette, worked with husband and wife Edric and Pearl Connor to promote their movement, a celebration of their culture. Later, in 1966, two years after Jones had passed, community activist Rhaune Laslett took the idea outdoors and the first Notting Hill Carnival was born. True to Jones' ideas, its aim was to unwind the unease and promote integration. Notting Hill became, quite literally, a place for Londoners to find common ground. Notting Hill Carnival 2018 - In pictures 1 /13 Notting Hill Carnival 2018 - In pictures Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Niall Green Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Niall Green Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Notting Hill Carnival 2018 Kelly Lawlor Since then, the Carnival has grown and grown to become what it is today, proudly boasting more than 30 sound systems, countless food stalls, steel and Brazilian bands alike. It is famously Europes biggest street party, and, true to its roots, has long had a diverse crowd dancing together. Old photos show punks with policeman, dub DJs with dancehall stars flick through the gallery above to see a half century of history. Happily, it shows no sign of slowing down. The weekend is as colourful and fun as fireworks, loud with the rumble of hundreds of drummers and reggae beats. It smells of barbecues kept hot and smoking all day, and of rum cocktails left out in the sun. Its still built for everybody for the first-timers who plan to dance all three and a half miles behind the parade floats, for the old hands wholl be down on Colville Terrace to claim their favourite spot, and for everyone else in between. Its said fewer than a fifth of the crowd are tourists; carnival really is real London. Grab your glitter and go. DECATUR When a westside resident found an intruder inside his home, he punched him in the head, tackled him and bit him on the arm. Robert T. Brownlee Jr., 45, who recently served prison terms for three unrelated felony cases, was subsequently arrested after police found him with a bruised bicep. The intended victim was inside his house in the 1100 block of West Leafland Avenue when he heard a loud banging on his front door about 4:30 p.m. Aug. 5, said a probable cause affidavit by Decatur patrol officer Scott Hastings. When the resident was about 10 feet away, he spotted the intruder, who uttered an expletive, apparently surprised anyone was at home. The resident closed the distance and punched the white male suspect in the head. When the suspect tried to flee from the scene, he jumped on the suspect's back, causing them both to tumble down the concrete steps. When the suspect tried to break free, the resident bit him on his bicep. The suspect jumped into a pickup truck and drove away, but not before the intended victim took down his license plate registration. Brownlee was located Thursday and interviewed at the Macon County Jail. He admitted that he went to the residence to obtain a dog that he believed was inside. He admitted that he fought with the resident and fled the scene in his pickup truck. Brownlee had a discolored mark on his right bicep, which he indicated was a result of being bitten by (the intended victim) during their struggle, Hastings wrote in his statement. During the past 25 years, Brownlee has eight criminal convictions and has served four terms in the Illinois Department of Corrections. In July 2011, he was convicted of arson, burglary and theft in Macon County Circuit Court, for which he served three concurrent five-year sentences. In the arson case, he set fire to his father's business, Brownlee Auto Body in Blue Mound, while Brownlee Jr. and his wife lived in an upstairs apartment. He is being held in jail on $36,000 bond, pending his arraignment in his most recent case by Friday. P olice are appealing for help to catch a robber who allegedly held up a teenage boy at knifepoint. The incident happened at Oxford Circus Underground station just before 2.30pm on Monday, August 8. The 13-year-old victim was making his way back home when he stopped a man to ask for directions. Police said the man then led the boy to the wrong platform and pulled a knife on the victim, before searching through his pockets and bag. The man is alleged to have taken several items including cash, a mobile phone, and a travel card, before fleeing the scene on a southbound Victoria line train. Appeal: police want to trace a man after the teenager was held up at knifepoint at Oxford Circus Tube station / British Transport Police PC Eric Anang, from British Transport Police, said: I am keen to speak to anyone who many have witnessed the incident or to anyone in the area at the time. "I am also keen to speak to the man in the CCTV image as I believe he may hold information that could help us in the investigation. "The victim was left shaken and traumatised, but is being fully supported by officers. Thankfully this is a rare and isolated incident. Anyone with any information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting reference 193 of 26/08/2016. A two-year-old boy is fighting for life today after he was hit by a car alongside his grandfather in a horrific crash in north London. Bystanders looked on in horror as the child and his 59-year-old were struck by the vehicle in Harrow on Friday evening. Police and paramedics raced to the scene in Kenton Road at about 7.40pm. The child, who is in a life-threatening condition, and his grandfather were rushed to an east London hospital. London's Air Ambulance was also scrambled to the scene at the junction of Claremont Avenue. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, police said. Witness Shivani Trivedi, a 17-year-old A Level student, told the Standard: "There was a car accident on Kenton Road at around 7pm last night, all of the area was shut down to land the air ambulance, a boy was critically injured and airlifted whilst his grandfather was taken to hospital by ambulance. "I was just shocked because we're used to accidents in that specific area - there have been many - but never anything this serious. "I was worried about the child when I saw him being transferred to the helicopter." The grandfathers condition is described as non-life threatening. Police said next of kin have been made aware of the incident. The arrested man was taken to a north London police station where he was bailed to a date in October. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Alperton on 0208 991 9555 or the police non-emergency line on 101. T wo men are seriously injured in hospital today after they were stabbed in a central London street. Police and paramedics raced to the scene after the men were knifed near to Holborn Tube station shortly after midnight. A man, aged in his 50s, and another, aged in his 30s, were rushed to hospital following the attack. Emergency services were called to the scene in Parker Street at about 12.05am. Police said the men are in a stable condition in hospital today. The London Ambulance Service Joint Response unit posted a picture from the scene on Twitter and said: Working on the same radio channel as @MPSIslington meant a quick response to a person stabbed. A&E as a priority. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said no arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing. Anyone who witnessed the stabbing, which is being treated as a suspected GBH incident, is asked to call police on 101. K ent police are hunting for a man after two pensioners were tortured with boiling water during a horrific two-hour burglary. In the shocking raid the couple were allegedly tied up in their own home in London Road, Halstead, beaten and scalded with hot water, leaving them hospitalised. Investigating officers have now released a picture of Drew Harris, 26, who they would like to speak to in connection with the incident on April 26. Officers have advised members of the public to not approach Mr Morris who is believed to have links with Kent, Essex, London and Surrey. Police appeal: Officers have advised members of the public to not approach Drew Morris / Kent Police Kacey Adams, 33, of Covert Road, Hainault, Ilford and Daniel Wallace, 32 and of no fixed address have both been charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm, two counts of false imprisonment and aggravated burglary in connection with the incident. Both men are currently remanded into custody, pending future court dates. Anyone with any information about Mr Morris whereabouts is asked to contact Kent Police by calling 999 or101. A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was attacked in a minicab as he made his way home from a night out. Detectives from the City of London Police are appealing for witnesses and information following the incident, which happened at about 11.20pm last night. The 23-year-old man got into the car near Farringdon station with four other passengers following a night out, and the car took them through the City of London. As the cab drove along Farringdon Street it is believed the victim was assaulted while inside the vehicle, police said. The driver stopped the cab near to the bus stop close to the junction with Old Seacol Lane, just north of Ludgate Circus, and emergency services were called. Police and paramedics raced to the scene, and the victim was taken to hospital, where he currently remains in a critical condition. The man's next of kin have been informed. Officers arrested one of the other passengers at the scene on suspicion of GBH. The 32-year-old man currently remains in police custody, and no other arrests have been made at this time. It is believed the victim and the other passengers inside the cab were all known to each other. Detectives are urging any witnesses or anyone with information who may have been in Farringdon Street at the time the cab stopped to get in touch with them. Detective Inspector Kazim Toprak, from the City of London Police said: We want to hear from anybody who might have been in Farringdon Street and who may have seen what happened as the cab pulled up and stopped. "There may have been people waiting at the bus stops nearby to Old Seacol Lane, which is not far from Ludgate Circus. "Were keen to establish the full circumstances which have led to a young man being critically ill in hospital, so please get in touch with any information you may have. Anyone with information should contact the City of London Police on 0207 601 2222 or call Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous, on 0800 555 111. M urder detectives today launched an investigation into the death of a man who was found unconscious in a busy street after being involved in a brawl. Reginald Ofei-Berko, 25, was found lying on the ground outside a block of flats in Walworth on Thursday after a fight with a group of men, Scotland Yard said. He was rushed to hospital after being discovered just after 3pm but died a short time later. His death is being treated as unexplained pending a post-mortem examination but it is being investigated by murder squad detectives. Officers released CCTV images of Mr Ofei-Berko in a pawnbroker in Walworth Road 80 minutes before he was found in nearby Penrose Street. A CCTV still of 25-year-old Reginald Ofei-Berko who was found lying in the street in Walworth / Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones, from the Metropolitan Police's homicide and major crime command, said: "He was found lying in the street, close to Walworth Road, in the middle of the afternoon. "This is a busy road, and with the hot weather, there would have been a lot of people out and about. "We believe there was an altercation of some sort involving a group of men and Reginald in the Penrose Street area in the time leading up to 3pm. "We are extremely keen to talk to anyone who either took part in this altercation or who witnessed such an incident. "I would also like to speak with anyone who saw Reginald after he left the shop. Where did he go? What was he doing before 3pm? "Any piece of information, however small, might be vital to us so we would urge any members of the public who can help to please come forward and contact us." Anyone with information should call the incident room number on 020 83453734 or via 101. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 500 111. P olice are hunting a man who allegedly carried out sex attacks on two women in front of young children at a London bus stop. The man sexually harassed and assaulted his victims as they waited at a bus stop in Bow in the afternoon, police said. He is alleged to have approached his first victim, a 24-year-old woman, who was with her two young children and started making sexual remarks towards her. The suspect then sexually assaulted another woman at the bus stop in Bow Church before grabbing his first victims hand and forcing it towards his groin area. She quickly got onto the next bus and tried to escape but he followed her, police said. Police have released CCTV of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident / Metropolitan Police He is alleged to have once again started to make inappropriate comments towards her, telling her that he was going to follow her home. The mother and her two children only managed to escape when she called her ex-partner to come and meet her from the bus near Green Street. Police have released CCTV of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident on June 15. The attacks happened at a bus stop in Bow / Metropolitan Police He is described as black, about 45-50 years-old, 6ft tall with dreadlocks. He wore a Rastafarian hat and a black jacket. Detective Constable Alastair Middleton from the Mets Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: This incident left the woman including her two young children feeling very distressed and we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry to trace the man responsible. We are also aware that the man made inappropriate comments as well as sexually assaulting another member of the public during this time and we urge them to contact the police. Anyone with information is asked to contact police via on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous. A woman has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving after she killed a two-year-old girl in a supermarket car park. Hoden Aden, 44, told police she thought she had struck a shopping trolley after she hit Fahima Hassan, who was in the car park at Asda in Forty Lane, Wembley with her mother . Aden, of Macarthur Close, Wembley, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving yesterday after a four-day trial at Harrow Crown Court. She was bailed to appear at the same court for sentencing on Monday, September 12. The court heard how Fahima, of Kingsbury, and her mother had just left the store at about 8.20pm on September 11, 2014. Aden, who was driving a Volkswagen Tiguan, hit Fahima as she and her mother were in the road near a zebra style crossing point. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, who rushed to the scene, Fahima died in hospital later the same day. Aden was interviewed twice under caution in September and December 2014, before she was summonsed to appear at Hendon Magistrates' Court on December 23, 2015. Detective Sergeant Stephen Pidgeon of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit in Alperton, said: "Hoden Aden has had to face up to the fact that her careless driving resulted in the avoidable death of a two-year-old child. "She will be sentenced in due course but of course nothing she faces can be comparable to the unimaginable loss suffered by Fahima's family and especially her mother who had to relive the collision by giving evidence in court." A man has been rushed to hospital after he was injured on a south London industrial estate. The incident happened just after 1.30pm yesterday, on Laker Industrial Estate in Sydenham. The air ambulance was scrambled to the scene and landed nearby. Details of the incident and of the man's condition were not immediately available. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called to Laker Industrial Estate in Sydenham by London Ambulance Service at approximately 1.38pm on August 26, to reports of man injured. "The man was taken to hospital." The incident has been passed to the Health and Safety Executive, which has been approached for comment. U berEATS delivery drivers are planning protests outside popular London restaurants as the row over pay escalates. The drivers took to London streets on Friday to campaign for higher pay after receiving what they describe as poverty wages. UberEATS has now been accused not caring about workers rights following the 'sacking' of one of the key campaigners. UberEATS says the deactivation of the drivers' account with it was not related to the ongoing dispute. Now drivers are planning to take the picket lines to the citys eateries to bring home their message. The strike, organised by union United Voices of the World, saw moped drivers and cyclists congregate outside Ubers London HQ. Picket lines: The drivers are planning to protest outside popular restaurants / REUTERS Protesters chanted Uber, shame on you and held placards reading Uber cheats as they called on the company to pay the London living wage. Further protests are planned. UberEATS has refused to meet workers as a group and will only talk on a one-on-one basis. An UberEATS spokesman said: The reason we did not want to speak with them as a group is because everyone tells us they want different things He added: Our office is open and our team is always available to chat to couriers. We held a breakfast for the drivers on Friday to give them a chance to discuss anything. Our doors were open to them all day. UberEATS protest: Delivery workers for UberEATS protest over pay and conditions, outside the company's offices in London / REUTERS But the unions general secretary Petros Elia claimed the breakfast meeting was a ploy to deter workers from the strike and has criticised the company over the account deactivation of one of the campaigners. Mr Elia told the Standard: UberEATS deactivated his account on Friday the same day of the strike. He has been quite vocal about the drivers demands and now he has been blocked from logging in so he cant work. This is his only job at the moment. But the UberEATS spokesman denied this had anything to do with the strike and said it deactivated his account on Friday before the picket for an unrelated matter. He added that at the time of the deactivation, UberEATS had not known the driver was part of the protest. The union, however, claims the company believes it can break the protests by the sacking. Drivers are arguing that current working conditions means some are logged-in all day and make themselves available for work but get no shifts. Basic pay: The company is proposing a new pay raate of 6.60 to 7.70 per delivery / UberEATS They are calling for a basic hourly rate regardless of the number of deliveries they do that would match the London Living Wage of 9.40 per hour and expenses for the running of their vehicles. UberEATS is proposing a base rate of 6.60 to 7.60 per delivery rather than an hourly wage. UberEATS London general manager Alex Czarnecki said: Were committed to being the best option for couriers in London. Unlike other companies we dont set shifts, minimum hours or delivery zones - couriers can simply log in or out when and where they choose. So far this week couriers delivering lunch and dinner have made over 10% more an hour than they did in the same period last week, which is on average more than the London living wage. 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 M Ps could be denied a vote over Brexit after Theresa May was reportedly advised she does not need Parliaments approval to leave the European Union. The Prime Minister is facing legal challenges over whether she has the right to begin the Brexit process without the approval of Parliament. But the Daily Telegraph reported she had been told by government lawyers that she did not need parliamentary approval to begin the Article 50 procedure, which starts the process of cutting ties with Brussels. A Downing Street source said the report was speculation but added that Mrs May was "committed to delivering on the verdict the public gave". Block negotiations: Labour hopeful Owen Smith has pledged to block formal Brexit negotiations until the Government offers a second referendum / REUTERS Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith has promised to attempt to block the triggering of formal negotiations to leave the EU until the Government offers a second referendum or calls a general election to approve its final Brexit deal. He said that under his leadership the Labour Party would opposed triggering Article 50 until the Conservatives commited to a second public vote. A legal challenge bid to prevent the Government from triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without the prior authorisation of Parliament is due to be heard in the High Court in October. Government lawyers are expected to assert that the Prime Minister can use the royal prerogative to start the process of withdrawing from the EU. Those mounting the challenge say the course proposed by the Government is unlawful because only Parliament is empowered to authorise service of the Article 50 notice and consequent withdrawal from the EU. T ributes have poured in for the three Londoners killed in an earthquake that devastated central Italy and left 281 dead. Schoolboy Marcos Burnett, 14, and married couple Maria and Will Henniker-Gotley died following the 6.2 magnitude quake that struck on Wednesday morning. Marcos headteacher at Wetherby School in Marylebone told The Times he would be missed described the boy as "utterly charming, personable and engaging". The neighbours of Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley, from Stockwell, said they could not take in the terrible news and described the couple as really lovely, warm and friendly people. Lovely family: Neighbours of Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley paid tribute to the couple One neighbour said: "It's 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." Mrs Henniker-Gotley, 51, was a finance manager at The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts in Bethnal Green while her husband, 55, is thought to have worked as an IT consultant. Jeremy Newton, the charity's chief executive, described her as "totally dedicated, meticulous and professional". Funeral service: A woman caresses a flower upon the coffin of her relative before the mass funeral in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. / EPA He said: "The whole 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." The three victims' devastated families have paid tribute to "the tireless work of the Italian rescue workers and hospital staff". A joint statement from their families issued by the Foreign Office said: "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 August 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. Totally flattened: Much of historic Amatrice has been reduced to dust / AP "Their thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the earthquake." It is believed Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley owned a property in Sommati, a village about 1.3 miles (2km) from Amatrice and their two children, believed to be aged 12 and 14, survived. Marcos and his family were staying with the Henniker-Gotleys. His parents, Anne-Louise and Simon Burnett, were both taken to hospital and their daughter also survived. Loading.... A neighbour told The Daily Telegraph how he rushed out in the middle of the night to try to rescue those trapped under the rubble with the light of his mobile phone. Bruno Formicola, 50, said that having "heard cries for help in English from underneath," he managed to rescue two teenagers. Death toll: 281 people have been killed / EPA "Then there was a big aftershock and we had to wait. We started again, even though it was very dangerous as we were afraid the wall would collapse," he said. A state of emergency has been declared in the areas affected and aftershocks have continued to strike, including one of a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 on Friday morning. Charities and celebrtities have offered their support to Italian authorities and The Queen made a donation to the British Red Cross to support the Italian Red Cross. Cornwall-based charity Shelterbox sent a team over to Italy to assist with setting up accommodation for those displaced by the earthquake. Search: Rescuers worked tirelessley to pull people trapped in the rubble. / AP Jamie Oliver also announced that for a month 2 from each Pasta Amatriciana dish sold at his restaurant will be sent to help relief efforts. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Thursday that a number of Britons had been "affected" by the earthquake. He said extra staff had been sent to the region to help provide support to Britons, while the Government has offered "any assistance that we can" to the Italian authorities. DECATUR -- Jeff Tish walked through what looked like endless prairie grass and cat tails, then stopped at a small opening that revealed a pond. Ive fished a little out here, said Tish, trying to keep his feet in an area made muddy by the pond. But I needed a 15-foot fishing pole. The prairie and pond are part of a 35-acre patch owned by the Macon County Conservation District called the Leiby S. Hall Conservation Area, located at the curve where Hartung Road turns into Crossroads Road, south of Rock Springs Conservation Area. Tish, the district's program services manager, and volunteer coordinator Jenny Garver gave a tour of the site to volunteers on Wednesday. Executive Director Paul Marien said the district has twice applied for a grant to develop the site for public use, but both requests were denied. Without funding, its hard to do much, Marien said. We wanted to have a parking lot, an ADA-approved walkway and a small boat dock, but at this point, weve kind of given up on that. Marien said the district, at some point, could open it as a more rudimentary site, and he does have hope the state will be more forthcoming with grants in the future. Im a naturally optimistic person, he said, laughing. But for now, the area is mowed for hay and provides habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The site, which would need about $250,000 to prepare for public use, can be used with permission from the district, Tish said. As he showed the site to volunteers, Tish joked, Were going to pass around the hat. If you all kick in $20,000 or $30,000 apiece, you get a ride back in the van. After visiting Leiby Hall, the tour went to another area not open to public use -- Willow Branch II Conservation Area. But unlike Leiby Hall, Willow Branch II is closed by design. In Macon along Riley Road between Walker and Ridlin roads, Willow Branch II is 145 acres. Seventy acres have been restored to prairie and 65 are being rented out as farmland but will also eventually be converted to prairie according to Conservation District Natural Resources Specialist Ethan Snively. Like Leiby Hall, Willow Branch II can be viewed with permission, but good luck getting to it. Tish drove a van along a cornfield and through some tall prairie to reach the site. The land for Willow Branch II was donated by Verna King (80 acres) and Jeannie Van Leeuwen Maxwell (65 acres). Last fall, a large portion of the land -- partly filled with corn and soybeans and partly with a pasture area for cattle -- was burned. In December, staff hand broadcasted prairie and savanna seed, then waited until spring to see the results, which were a few flowers -- mostly black-eyed Susans -- and a lot of weeds. When you first plant a prairie, the first few years are going to be weedy, Snively said. Eventually, though, the field will become a savanna with many species of wildflowers. When done and combined with Willow Branch I, just west of Willow Branch II on the west side of U.S. 51, Snively said it will be one of the biggest prairies in Illinois. We dont have this anywhere else -- this is going to be special, Snively said. Long-term plans for the site include eventually placing hiking trails within it and someday adding a wetland. CLARKSBURG Tucker M. Schwengel, a 21-year-old Shelbyville man, was killed in a one-vehicle accident that occurred on a rural Shelby County road early Saturday. Schwengel was the driver and sole occupant of a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta at about 1:10 a.m., when it left the roadway to the right on Shelby County Road 1950 East, just north of Road 900 North, said a news release from the Illinois State Police. The vehicle, traveling southbound just before a curve, entered a ditch, traveled 170 feet, then struck a ditch embankment and concrete culvert. It went airborne and traveled an additional 40 feet over Road 900North before coming to rest in the tree line, the release said. He was wearing his seat belt. The accident occurred about two miles northwest of Clarksburg. Schwengel was pronounced dead by the Shelby County Coroner. Western Nebraska Community College announced Friday that it has received a total of $145,000 in grants and gifts from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation and several family funds held through the Foundation, including the Travis Hiner Family Fund. As part of the WNCC Works: Expanding the Possibilities campaign, the gifts will support the upcoming renovation of the WNCC Scottsbluff Campus Performing Arts facility, to be named the Platte Valley Companies Performing Arts Center. The effort is also focused on promoting workforce development in the panhandle, and helping additional students succeed through scholarships and updated facilities. OTCF for many years has supported the mission of the college, and we know that community colleges fulfill an essential need in education, and are the key foundation in offsetting the costs of education, said Travis Hiner, president of the OTCF Board. WNCC provides the very best in preparing students for an advanced degree. WNCC also is key in helping young people prepare for entry into the workforce, by matching skills with needs of local businesses. By far, our college is an economic engine in itself by generating skilled labor for our communities; we are proud to provide a significant amount to the college, through grants and our family funds, and look forward to the continued success and community enrichment of WNCC and its programs. The donation came in the midst of the fundraising campaign for the college, which will extend through the fall of 2016. This year also marks the landmark 90th anniversary of Western Nebraska Community College. The campaign has raised $7.9 million so far, about 90 percent of its goal. WNCC joins many community colleges that have launched campaigns to raise private donations and individual giving. Todd Holcomb, WNCC president, said the generous donation will be directly invested in several areas, all targeting improved facilities and enhanced student success. The generous support of the Oregon Trail Community Foundation Board and staff will allow us to create a welcoming and updated entrance and plaza to the proposed renovation and expansion of the Performing Arts Center, which will be renamed the Oregon Trail Community Foundation Theater Entrance Pavilion and Sunken Garden, said Holcomb. My wife and I had visited Estes Park, Colorado, a couple of times without ever driving past the place. This time, we decided to go up the hill into Rocky Mountain National Park. We went in search of high-altitude vistas of the countrys highest mountains. I returned with some cool photos and something else that Ill treasure. We had approached the gateway expecting to pay a $20 entrance fee. But because Im older than 62, I paid $10 and got a lifetime pass to our national parks and federal recreational lands. This year is special for the National Park Service; 2016 marks the centennial of Americas system of national parks, which includes national monuments. The National Park Service was created to preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service as we know it came into existence a century ago. Even before then, Americans embraced the idea of preserving special places in their natural state for everyone to enjoy. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln protected the federally owned Yosemite Valley to for public use. Yellowstone was protected in 1871 and became a park in 1890. President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916. Thanks to the vision of forward-thinking leaders, the waterfalls of Yosemite, the alpine wildflowers of Glacier National Park, the wildlife of Yellowstone, the exotic swamps of the Everglades, the beaches of Cape Cod, the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, the cliffs of the Grand Canyon, the majesty of the Grand Tetons and the view from Scotts Bluff, as well as historically significant buildings and places, including countless wilderness acres where few of us will ever set foot, are preserved for future generations. A few deluded loons believe nobody owns public lands that its OK to graze cattle. poach game, set fires, point guns and take over federal buildings in the name of their distorted political views. A few of them who vandalized a refuge in Oregon might think differently after theyve had some sober, quiet time to reconsider, especially if they get even more. While some believe public lands should be stripped of their forests and mineral wealth, countless Americans disagree, including the hundreds we encountered along Trail Ridge Road, enjoying Colorados view from the top of the world. Americans love public lands. Whatever temporary benefit might be gained from grinding down mountains or desperately drilling for their finite reserves of fossil fuels will be more than offset by economic activity and jobs generated through unlimited future tourism and recreation. This week, President Obama turned a vast stretch of Maine woods, donated by a private company that wanted the land preserved, into the nations newest federal parkland. More than 87,500 acres of rugged terrain, home to moose, bobcats, bald eagles, salmon, Canada lynx and other wildlife, became the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Congress passed the Antiquities Act of 1906 in order to give presidents the ability to quickly protect historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest on federally owned land. Every president since Teddy Roosevelt has used the authority, to protect 145 sites ranging from the Statue of Liberty to hundreds of thousands of acres of Alaska wilderness. Some of Americas best-known and most iconic national parks including Grand Canyon, Grand Teton and Zion all started as national monuments. In a state where only about 2.5 percent of the land is accessible to the public, we know a national monument is a big deal. Western Nebraskans are especially lucky: weve also got Agate Fossil Beds, Chimney Rock and many acres of national forests and grasslands, including the Soldier Creek Wilderness. During the past year, Ive made a point of visiting all of them, as well as the Crescent Lake national wildlife refuge. For the past few months Ive been working on a guide to some of our local public lands the 33,000 acres managed or acquired for Nebraska Game and Parks by Platte River Basin Environments. Itll come out next month, providing readers with information about how and where to enjoy protected but accessible properties in the Wildcat Hills and along the North Platte River. Theyre a regional treasure. When I first arrived in Nebraska more than a quarter-century ago, youd be trespassing if you tried to visit such areas. Now, thanks to forward-thinking Nebraskans, we have state parks, recreation areas, wildlife management areas, historical parks, trails and private lands leased for hunting and fishing that make our area more attractive to visitors, young workers and retirees. I dont hunt much these days, but within a short drive I can photograph antelope, deer, raptors, songbirds and other wildlife and share them with friends and family from around the world. I swiped the idea for this column from one of my favorite photographers, Justin Hagg of Nebraskaland magazine. A big fan of the Pine Ridge forests, he points out that those of us who cant afford big tracts of land out in the country are all a little richer by being able to access and enjoy our public lands. As Justin urges, Get out and enjoy those lands. After all, you own them. 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To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. If you travel Highway 70 east of Statesville just across the Rowan County line, you may have noticed four shiny new silver silos and a red metal building just off the main road. Turns out, theres a strategic purpose for the location. Those silos, used to store barley, sit in the middle of the North Carolina grain belt, according to Carolina Malt House co-owner Aaron Goss, 33. The facility sits on 19 acres just west of Cleveland. Piggy-backing on the craft brewing explosion, Goss said the aim is to be the link between brewers and locally produced barley, an essential ingredient in the brewing process. Construction began last October and when the facility is finished later this year, it will be able to produce about 1,200 tons of malt each year, Goss said. FROM HOBBY TO PROFESSION Goss, who lives in Rowan County, is a former class action civil attorney. His love for brewing started while he earned his law degree and masters of business administration from Wake Forest University, he said. The idea for the malting facility came after co-owner Steve Bauks mother tried Goss homemade beer at a wedding, and suggested he start a brewing business. Bauk and Goss then got together and tried to figure out a way to help breweries instead of competing against them, Goss said. Bauk, 28, of Rowan County, brought marketing, sales and distribution experience from his previous job with his familys business, Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Co. The two have prior experience with a collaborative venture. In 2013, they worked together on a mobile application called Picture This, which allows users to draw with their fingers on photos or blank canvases. THE MALTING PROCESS Carolina Malt House is currently contracted with 12 area barley farmers, Goss said. Two types of barley are used to create malt: Two-row is the most popular for malting, but in North Carolina, six-row barley is the most commonly grown. In North Carolina, barley is planted in October and harvested in May and June, Bauk said. After the harvest, the Carolina Malt House gets deliveries totaling about 2,000 tons during a roughly three-week period, Goss said. And thats what they work from throughout the year. Malting affects the flavor, aroma, color, and texture of beer. It also enables the yeast to produce alcohol during fermentation. While on-site at the Carolina Malt House, the barley will go through three steps: steeping, germination and kilning, Goss said. First, the grains moisture is raised by submerging it into water. Next, the grain is removed and spends several days germinating, also called sprouting. Finally warm, dry air is added causing the enzymes to break starches down into fermentable sugars, which is consumed by the yeast to produce alcohol. At full operation, the Carolina Malt House will be able to create up to 60 different varieties of malt, including custom types for breweries. Theyll also sell their malt to home brewers. -- Barley in North Carolina In 2015, 19,000 acres of barley was planted in North Carolina, and 14,000 acres were harvested. Farmers harvested 72 bushels per acre, which resulted in $3.4 million in sales. 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 ... 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Gilbert lives in Wildwood, a west St. Louis County suburb known for tony houses near hills and forests. People move to Wildwood to be away from the urban hubbub but not too far away. In the western reaches of Wildwood, new residents discover that theyve also moved away from broadband internet service. Lots of them have as much chance of watching a streaming movie over broadband as do Africans in Timbuktu. Thus her complaint about Third World conditions in a neighborhood where houses on big wooded lots sell for $300,000 to more than $600,000. The Federal Communications Commission says that 13 percent of Americans dont have access to broadband internet service as the commission defines it a speed of at least 25 megabits per second. They live in places too sparsely populated to interest the big phone and cable companies. They wouldnt have enough customers to justify laying fiber cable into the hinterland. Lots of rural areas are in that fix, but so are some fringe suburban spots in St. Louis County, with its 1 million residents, and other parts of the metro area. For instance, 5,000 homes in St. Clair County cant get broadband, according to Whisper, a wireless internet company. Telephone customers pay a universal service fee to extend telephone service to rural areas. The FCC has been using part of that money to subsidize companies pushing broadband services into the countryside, spending $6.4 million in Illinois and $9.5 million in Missouri so far. But it hasnt done anything for Gilbert. Her internet service, through AT&T, runs at less than 1 megabit, she says. Netflix, the streaming movie service, says it takes 3 megabits to watch a video on standard definition television, and 5 megabits for high-definition. Streaming video just hasnt arrived at Gilberts part of Wildwood. I tried to download my Windows update and it timed out, she said. The amount of time you waste waiting for things to open up or download! In Wildwood, this is causing problems beyond a yearning for old Seinfeld episodes. The comment we hear constantly is that kids need high-speed (internet) in order to access their school work, said Wildwood Councilman Larry McGowen. These days, internet is just like another utility. It has become every bit as important in peoples lives as electricity. It was part of the reason that David Norvell left town. Norvell is a consultant in intellectual property and licensing. The job involves web conferences and lots of work on the internet. The Norvells bought a home in Wildwood to be near his family. He figured he could get by with a satellite internet service for $80 a month. It didnt work very well. It becomes spotty if a cloud comes over. It hinders it, he said. His service had a limit on data usage. You cant use Netflix with that or youll eat it up. That frustration, combined with his wifes desire for a shorter commute, led them to move to Kirkwood. Stories like that have neighbors worried that their property values will suffer as the world depends more on the internet. Some try workarounds, such as connecting smartphones to TVs and computers, although that takes a very generous data plan that doesnt slow connections to punish heavy use. Residents have spent years begging for help. Weve implored the city of Wildwood, Charter, AT&T, our state reps, Gilbert said. Theyre getting help, finally, but its coming very, very slowly, McGowen said. Weve been working on it for six years. The part of Wildwood east of Highway 109 is well-connected. But the western half suffers. City government tried to entice Charter Communications to extend its cable to the area, but the company wanted $3 million from the city. Wildwood said no. A Charter spokesman said the company has extended our network to parts of Wildwood, and are currently evaluating future opportunities in that community. Plan B involves helping two wireless internet providers, Whisper and Bays-ET. The city is putting up about a dozen 88-foot poles at a cost of about $15,000 each. On the poles, the two companies place wireless transmitters. Customers have receivers on their houses. The service works best for those within sight of the poles, up to 6 miles away. But Wildwood is hilly, and hills block the signal. Wet leaves blur it too. So, the companies have to post repeaters within sight of the poles to ricochet the signal to nearby houses. The system works quite well for people in the right places, McGowen said. We still have many, many pockets that are unserved or underserved, he said. Gilbert lives in one of them. Whisper sells service tiers from 5 to 20 megabits. That doesnt meet the FCCs definition of broadband, and its still well below the up to service promised from cable and big phone companies. Charters lowest-tier service starts at 60 megabits, although network congestion, old routers and other problems can slow speeds below those promised. But 10 megabits will stream a movie, or perhaps two at once, and handle most household use today. Whisper sells that for $50 a month. Will wireless internet service rescue country-dwellers from digital Siberia? Nathan Stooke, CEO of Whisper, thinks it might. His Belleville-based company beams internet service to 12,500 homes in Southern Illinois and the Joplin area in Missouri. Our bread and butter is the rural market. They have no other options, he said. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Attorney Generals Office is appealing a federal court order that David Gill be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District, even though he didnt collect the required number of petition signatures. The attorney generals office, representing the Illinois State Board of Elections, filed its notice of appeal Friday afternoon in federal court in Springfield. The action came a day after U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough ordered that Gill appear on the ballot and the same day the elections board certified the ballot with his name on it. Assistant Attorney General Sarah Newman also filed a motion asking Myerscough to put her order on hold pending the appeal, but the judge denied that request. Gill, a Bloomington physician whos run for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, gathered only 8,593 of the 10,754 valid petition signatures he needed to earn a ballot spot as an independent, but he sued in federal court to challenge the requirement. Gill said the law is unconstitutional because its so far out of line with whats required of major party candidates. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund each had to gather fewer than 740 signatures to get on the ballot in the 13th District. Myerscough didnt rule on the merits of that argument, but she issued her order because Gill was able to show that he and his supporters would suffer irreparable harm if he was left off the ballot. She said the state failed to show a compelling reason for excluding him. Newman has argued that the state has an interest in preventing ballot overcrowding and potential voter confusion and that similar signature requirements have been upheld in previous cases. If signature requirements are no longer certain, it becomes impossible for election authorities to rule on objections and impossible for candidates (and political opponents) to know exactly what the requirements will be for every race, she wrote in her motion Friday. Gill filed his lawsuit after Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks filed objections to his nominating petitions with the elections board. Sam Cahnman, Gills attorney, said he doesnt understand why the board is so anxious to prohibit this man from getting on the ballot. With another fall comes a fresh slate of dance and jazz performances, showcasing some of the top talent on todays scene. Some highlights: Dance Choreographer and MacArthur Genius Award winner Bill T. Jones has been at the forefront of dance since the 1980s, which qualifies the Dance St. Louis presentation of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company as a major event. When 8 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 Where Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Boulevard How much $28-$50, on sale Thursday More info 314-516-4949, touhill.org; 314-534-6622, dancestlouis.org St. Louis Ballet will bring together two top choreographers and a couple of hot fashion designers for Vision: Where Ballet + Fashion Meet, an evening of contemporary dance. When 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Where Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center How much $24-$59 More info 314-516-4949; touhill.org MADCO will open its 40th anniversary season performing in a ballroom setting to live accompaniment by the Arianna String Quartet for Invitation to Dance. When 8 p.m. Oct. 14-15 Where Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center How much $30 More info 314-516-4949; touhill.org Who hasnt heard of Romeo & Juliet? Grand Rapids Ballet will bring choreographer Mario Radacovskys interpretation of the Shakespeare tale to the Dance St. Louis series. When 8 p.m. Nov. 4, 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Where Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center How much $28-$50 More info 314-516-4949, touhill.org; 314-534-6622, dancestlouis.org The Big Muddy Dance Company will start its sixth season with the appropriately titled Season Kickoff, featuring a program of world premieres. When 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Where Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6465 Forsyth Boulevard How much $25 More info 314-338-4058; thebigmuddydanceco.org More than two dozen dance ensembles, including the Big Muddy Dance Company, Karlovsky & Company Dance and Leverage Dance Theater, are scheduled to take the stage for Grand DanceFest in Grand Center. When Noon-4 p.m. Sept. 17 Where Grand and Washington boulevards How much Free More info grandcenter.org Jazz Adventurous jazz fans wont want to miss Koplant No, a Midwestern ensemble whose influences include electronica, hip-hop and progressive rock. When 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sept. 17 Where Ferring Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington Boulevard How much $20 More info 314-571-6000; jazzstl.org One of the most successful crossover artists in jazz, guitarist Pat Metheny will front his new acoustic quartet. When 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 Where Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard How much $55-$100 More info 314-534-1111; metrotix.com Pianist Bill Charlap is a swinging traditionalist whose trio has earned praise in no less a publication than New Yorker magazine. When 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 Where Ferring Jazz Bistro How much $35 More info 314-571-6000; jazzstl.org Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his group backed David Bowie on his final album, Blackstar, and are known for music that transcends genre boundaries. When 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 19-22 Where Ferring Jazz Bistro How much $30-$35 More info 314-571-6000; jazzstl.org Its hard to imagine a more promising jazz alliance than pianist Chucho Valdes and saxophonist Joe Lovano, who should be terrific in a quintet setting. ST. PETERS Itd be one thing to be confused with their beloved prophet Elijah, announcing the Messiahs return, but people here often mistook Mendel Cohen and Yossi Sirota for devout street missionaries of some kind. The determined young men, both 21, sported beards, white dress shirts and black pants with tassels dangling from the hips. One carried literature and the other tools of their faith in a small bag with ancient writing on the side. No, no, they politely explained from under their skull caps, they didnt want to convert anybody. They werent Jehovahs Witnesses nor Jews for Jesus. They were roving rabbis on the hunt for mitzvahs, or good deeds, which they believe are incalculable in value. Nobody knows which one will tip the global scales. Drawn by robust population growth, their canvas for three weeks this month was St. Charles County. Others in the same rabbinic internship visitation program, which dates to the 1940s, were looking for Jewish people in more exotic locales in the world. But these two, and their mentor, believed there was important ground to cover here because they said there isnt a synagogue or rabbi in the immediate area. We are foot soldiers, Sirota said, making the rounds on a recent day. Its where we can go and bring light. Cohen and Sirota are Hasidic Jews, among the most religiously conservative Jewish sects. While in St. Charles, they wanted Jews to celebrate their heritage with Sabbath candles on Friday evenings, a mezuzah on the door frame or wrapping a pair of Tefillin straps around an arm and forehead while reciting a Hebrew prayer. Cohen, of Charlotte, N.C., just finished rabbinical school. Sirota, of Denver, is almost there. Sons of rabbis, they went away to school when they were 12 and 13 to pursue religious studies in an Orthodox movement called Chabad thats big on Jewish outreach. Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, invited the men, as hes done for others over the past decade or so for the program. This time he dispatched them to St. Charles County after reading a 2014 study sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis that estimated about 5,800 of the regions 61,000 Jews lived there. Nearly half of the regions Jewish population identifies themselves as Reform Jews, which is a more progressive or liberal denomination of Judaism, according to the study. Conservative Jews represented 20 percent and Orthodox 5 percent. About 21 percent identified themselves as just Jewish without a specific denomination and 7 percent as secular or other. We were taken by surprise by the numbers, said Landa, of the St. Charles figures. Institutionally, there isnt much going on so we are reaching out to individuals. Making inroads Cohen and Sirota often went to Mid Rivers Mall and visited Jews who work at kiosks in the hallways. By the end of their program, theyd made inroads there. A man, 22, who said he was taking a break after serving in the Israeli Army was happy to say a prayer with them on a recent day. Knocking on doors in residential neighborhoods, they targeted homes with common Jewish names listed in directories. Perhaps the toughest terrain was canvassing strip malls for the first time. Theyd walk into each store and ask if any of the employees were Jewish. In the event there were, theyd want to do a mitzvah with them right there. The odds were slim but the benefits were potentially endless. So into auto parts stores, hair salons and head shops they went. Managers, such as one at Hobby Lobby, were often caught off-guard but polite. They said they didnt ask employees about their faith. Cohen and Sirota took rejection in stride, always pressing onward with a good attitude and their religious kit of supplies at the ready, until, even to their amazement, they hit pay dirt at a cellphone store. A salesman named Brett Siwak kept smiling, listening to more and more of their pitch. Indeed, he was Jewish and said he had only about 30 seconds to spare. What he really needed was his work computer fixed. I can bless it, Sirota said, keeping the conversation going. Siwak was up for the Tefillin straps, which include two leather boxes with verses from the Torah, the Jewish holy book, inside. Clock ticking, there was no time to go to the back of the store. In haste, Cohen dropped part of the kit preparing for the ritual but pulled it all together as Sirota led Siwak through an abridged version of the Hebrew prayer: Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. Blessed be the name of the glory of his kingdom forever and ever. Drawing a few onlookers from the sales room floor, Sirota announced that it was a mitzvah. Soon they strutted out of the front door with smiles on their faces and didnt miss a beat as a FedEx delivery man immediately approached. No, the man said, he was not Jewish. No matter. Theyd just connected a man with God who hadnt been to synagogue since the high holiday of Yom Kippur. Cohen explained that idealistic view of every mitvah. It could be the one that will tip the world into the favor of good, he said. We dont know what we are accomplishing, even if we dont see it our self. Points of contact In a final report submitted at the end of their program, Cohen and Sirota mentioned they found several Jewish employees. A few of them were happy to put on Tefillin in their workplace, they wrote. Some of the Jewish employees live in more established Jewish communities, such as Chesterfield and Creve Coeur, but nonetheless it was exciting for them to experience Judaism somewhere else other than their synagogue or Kosher deli. At one point, we even did a lively Chassidic dance with one of our new friends! Still, they concluded that the recent assessment of the Jewish population in St. Charles County perhaps is not as big as perceived to be. That being said, by providing the opportunity or continuing similar work as we did in the area is destined to bring more success, their report states. They can be connected to the community or perhaps even with time to have something of their own. They hit only St. Peters and OFallon, Mo. Landa, their host, said there are more stones to turn over in Wentzville, St. Charles and other communities. There is a lot more to be done in terms of continuing this type of work to identify more and more people who would be eager to find points of contact, points of connection with Jewish life, he said. When that happens, good things will happen. ST. LOUIS On Aug. 22, 1876, voters in St. Louis and St. Louis County went to the polls to decide the region's most fateful ballot question - the "Great Divorce," or whether to split the city away from the county. The idea narrowly carried the city but lost badly in the county. That should have been the end of it. But the tale is a complicated affair, as it has been ever since with any serious public issue straddling the city-county line. In the years after the Civil War, business leaders of the fast-growing city became aggravated by what they considered meddling by the Missouri Legislature, made possible largely through statutes empowering St. Louis County government. As always, a big issue was taxation. Pro-separation leaders considered county government redundant and burdensome. In 1875, the city was St. Louis County's largest municipality, and its boundary reached just past Grand Boulevard. But the 1870 population of 310,864 represented a 30 percent increase in the five years since war's end. The unincorporated county, meanwhile, was home to barely 31,000 souls. Kirkwood was a whistle-stop 12 blocks square, Ferguson a lonely station platform, Creve Coeur a post office. The future site of the courthouse in the future Clayton was a farm. A special Board of Freeholders proposed to expand the city limit, separate it entirely from the county and create a city home-rule charter. The new boundary would more than triple the city's area, to 61.37 square miles, and take in Forest, Carondelet and O'Fallon parks. With so much land west of Grand undeveloped, boosters thought there was plenty of room. Opposition came from rural interests and ward politicians such as Edward Butler, the city's closest example of a Tammany-style boss. When the votes were counted, city residents approved the split 11,878 to 11,525, but countians trounced it 2,617 to 848, for an overall "no" margin of 1,416 votes. Prominent promoters cried foul and rushed to court. Hearings found such likely fraud as a rural precinct that recorded 132 votes against and two in favor, with 128 ballots showing eraser marks. A Butler minion, pressed in court about irregularities, blurted: "I deny the facts." The Missouri Court of Appeals, including the vigorously pro-city Judge Thomas Gantt, eventually affirmed the tossing of 5,068 ballots, most of them "no" votes, for an overall victory margin of 1,253. The city declared itself independent in March 1877, and the courthouse crowd conceded. Ever since, efforts to repair the divorce have taken upon a Humpty Dumpty difficulty. In 1926, a reconciliation carried in the city and failed in the county. In 1962, both sides of Skinker Boulevard rejected a New York-style borough plan. Pro-merger forces have had to content themselves with such steps as the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, the Zoo-Museum District and the regional sales tax for trails. And finally, in May of 2019, after months of widespread and unflagging criticism, organizers of the city-county merger initiative called Better Together, pulled their beleaguered consolidation proposal from ballot consideration. From Auguste Chouteau to Jon Hamm: A whirlwind tour of St. Louis history in photos On Feb. 15, 1764, Auguste Chouteau began construction of what would become St. Louis. The 15-year-old, led a group of men to the spot picked BALLWIN A Ballwin man was charged with felony assault Friday after he allegedly threw a Missouri Children's Division worker into a window and stomped on her head while on a supervised visit to McDonald's with his children. Thomas M. Dixon, 50, and his children visited the restaurant with the Children's Division employee on Aug. 15, according to charging documents. Dixon allegedly threw the woman into a glass window and then threw her on the floor before he began stomping and kicking her. She was taken to a hospital for her injuries. Dixon left the scene with his children but later turned himself in to police and confessed to the attack. He is being held with bail set at $100,000. CLAYTON A Chesterfield man has been charged with felony theft for allegedly transferred more than $30,000 out of his employer's account to his bank account. James Vincent Guccione, 49, allegedly stole the money from his employer, Kataman Metals in Clayton, through several unauthorized transfers between March 23 and June 10. He covered up the transfers by logging them as company purchases of different products and services. Transferring money out of the company's account was not a part of Guccione's job duties, according to charging documents. Only two employees had access to the security token that protected the account. One of the employees told Clayton police she often left the token on her desk and that she was out office when the transactions took place, according to the documents. She also told police Guccione sent her a text message to ask for the password to her work computer while she was out of the office and she gave it to him. The other employee told police that at one point she tried to access the account but was unable to do so, according to the documents. The company's bank told her the token had been disabled and that Guccione had set up a new temporary password under her account. Guccione was charged on Monday in St. Louis County Circuit Court. He is being held with bail set at $25,000. This weekend the International Institute is hosting the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park. The goal is to celebrate the relationships between new immigrants and longtime Americans through an annual coming together of food and culture. Its a goal shared by area schools. For large districts such as Parkway School District, bringing together students from across the globe can be challenging. More than 17,000 students attend Parkway schools and collectively they speak at least 79 languages at home. The International Institute provides interpreters to the district. In addition, the district plans events for immigrant families to help them learn the culture of the region and feel more comfortable in their new communities. Sometimes the global connections to St. Louis can best be seen in the friendships among children. At Ross and Green Trails elementary schools, some friendships span the world. Post-Dispatch photographers J.B. Forbes and Shelby Kardell talked to a few best friends at those schools about their view of what makes a friend. Everybody has a (special) quality, said Gunveer Bhatia, 11, a fifth-grade student at Green Trails Elementary, whose best friends are from Texas and Iran. Gunveers parents are from India. We have some common things, so thats how you make friends. Athena DeKinder, 9, a fourth-grade student at Ross Elementary School, said: Its so good to have different friends. Two of her best friends are Ana Struckhoff, 9, and Symone Boyd, 9. Anas mother is from the Philippines and her father is from Germany. ST. LOUIS U.S. District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel said Friday he would like to resolve the dispute about how people in the Ferguson-Florissant school district vote by mid-November in time for candidate filing in December. Sippel met with lawyers representing the school district and the NAACP and ACLU on Friday to hear their thoughts on solutions that would allow for greater equity among voters. He ruled Monday the Ferguson-Florissant district was in violation of the Voting Rights Act, saying African-Americans are precluded from fully participating in elections. The ruling cited at-large school board elections for diluting the ability of black voters to elect their preferred candidate. In the past, ACLU lawyers have suggested creating seven geographic districts within the school system, each with one school board member. Another option is a combination of single-member and at-large districts, which they said could give black voters more of a voice in selecting a candidate. But Cindy Ormsby, the lawyer for the school district, and Sippel both said Friday that dividing the district may not be the best remedy. Drawing districts is fraught with mischief. There will be incumbents pitted against incumbents, potentially, Sippel said, adding he wanted solutions that were the least intrusive and most effective. Ormsby reminded the court that three of the black members on the board live within a few blocks of one another, thereby defeating the purpose of creating a system that would give black voters greater representation on the board. She said the school district could file an appeal of the courts decision as soon as Wednesday. An option that Sippel, Ormsby and ACLU lawyers discussed at length with some semblance of agreement was cumulative voting, which would allow voters to cast as many votes as there are candidates. A person could choose to use all of their votes for one person or divide their votes among different candidates. St. Louis County Democratic Elections Director Eric Fey said cumulative voting would pose a practical burden on the countys current voting software and could confuse voters. Single-member and limited voting would be more manageable administratively and technologically, Fey said. The most pressing issue is time, he said. The judge said he would typically ask the defendant in the suit in this case the school district to first offer remedies. But Ormsby deferred to the ACLU and NAACP, who in turn said they would first like to see more voter information before moving forward. Candidate filing starts in December, 16 Tuesdays before the April election. ACLU lawyers said they would file proposals with the court by Sept. 28. Lawyers representing the district said they would submit a response by Oct. 14. Wildwood officials are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to put their contamination worries about its Superfund site to rest with a cure-all test: a geophysical survey, which is like an MRI of the earth. Thats what more than a dozen city officials, an environmental consulting firm, and state representatives urgently proposed to a team of top EPA officials who work in Missouri at a closed meeting Friday in Wildwood, Mayor Jim Bowlin said. The safety of a couple of patches of land called the Ellisville Superfund site that are next to Wildwood homes on Strecker Road has been in question for years. Infamous waste hauler Russell Bliss dumped toxic waste there more than four decades ago. The EPA cleaned the site, but it had to come back to certain parts of it more than once after discovering it had missed some dioxin contamination. Earlier this year, the agency announced plans to de-list a part of the Ellisville site called the Callahan subsite. The de-listing would mean the EPA is no longer responsible for it, and it could open the doors for development of that site. The EPA insists that there is no safety risk to residents, but Wildwood officials and residents are skeptical. The EPAs data are too convoluted and too patchwork to provide convincing and comprehensive proof that the site is, without a doubt, clean and safe for building new homes, they argue. Curtis Carey, regional public affairs director of the EPA, said in an emailed statement Friday night that all the data the agency has collected and analyzed to date shows the Callahan site is suitable for deletion from the Superfund listing, which is what the agency proposed in March of this year. He said state officials concurred with that plan. We do not have any specific time frame in mind for making a final decision and look forward to working with the city to address their questions, Carey said. Bowlin said the data on the site just ultimately ends up being all over the place. We need to get the facts, Bowlin said. We still dont know enough to say with certainty, or as close to certainty as we can get, that this site is OK. So the citys leaders the mayor, city administrator, city attorney, their environmental consultant, and council members from affected wards collaborated on a brief report that summarizes what they know up to this point, both from the EPAs reports and the independent environmental consulting Wildwood paid thousands of dollars for. The report, finalized late Thursday, called the EPAs testing of the Callahan subsite incomplete and inadequate, buttressing the doubts and distrust that several residents have of the EPAs assurances. The report claims the EPA failed to perform reliable groundwater sampling and did not do a comprehensive survey to confirm that its cleanup actually removed all contamination from the site. The Wildwood team also did a report on Strecker Forest, a site across the road from Callahan that had been slated for home development until its environmental safety was thrown into question. That report argued that the EPAs standard for testing for dioxin was too low. Wildwood officially requested the EPA to do geophysical surveys of Callahan, Bowlin said. A geophysical survey can use electromagnetic and other technology to give a comprehensive scan of the earth more than a hundred feet underground, whereas the EPAs testing didnt go deeper than a few feet. It can detect contaminants and also show whats going on in the groundwater, where surface water flows, and where porous and penetrable karst rock is located. If there are any toxic waste drum fragments or other debris left over from the EPAs cleanups, a geophysical survey would find those too. Such a survey would cost the EPA $35,000 to $40,000, as estimated by Wildwoods environmental consultant, Mundell and Associates. NASHVILLE, Tenn. 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. Industry opposition 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 do 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. Federal duty? 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 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 hospital reports. Better data 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 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 the industry. 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 high standards: State inspectors look at rides routinely. But there is an exemption for parks with more than 1,000 employees that have their own full-time inspectors such as Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. The public tends to howl for regulation after major accidents. In 2004, June Alexander, 51, took her son to an unregulated, roadside amusement park in the Great Smoky Mountains to celebrate his 15th birthday. She plummeted more than 60 feet to her death from a swinging gondola ride in front of her family. 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 earlier this month. 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. 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? Father Armen Melkonian, an Armenian Apostolic clergyman dismissed as an Etchmiadzin parish priest in the Dutch city of Maastricht for calling the members of the armed Sasna Dzrer group heroes, has told Hetq that he will be offering Divine Liturgy at the St. Garabed church on September 4. The clergyman ruffled feathers in the church hierarchy when, during opening remarks at a demonstration outside the Armenian Embassy in Amsterdam in solidarity with the Sasna Dzrer armed group that seized a Yerevan police building in July, described its members as heroes, who have fought in defense of Artsakh in the past and are now struggling for justice in Armenia, and are now being persecuted by the authorities in Armenia. While Melkonian was dismissed as a visiting parish priest for the small but growing Armenian community in Maastricht, he hasnt been defrocked because he is a member of the Cilician See brotherhood. The church belongs to the community and the community regards the decision as unjust, Father Armen told Hetq. Levon Rafifi Sarkis, secretary of the Ani Armenian community organization in Maastricht, said that community representatives are planning to protest the dismissal decision on September 4. On August 4, Sarkis received a letter from Bishop Vahan Hovhannessian, Etchmiadzins Pontifical Legate of Western Europe, saying that Father Melkonian no longer could serve in any parish in Holland but would remain on the sidelines. Tomorrow, at the invitation of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese in Germany, Father Armen will offer the Divine Liturgy at the diocesan St. Sahag Mesrob Church. On August 26, in Antwerp, Belgium, Armenian community representatives discussed the issue of Father Armens dismissal and the silence of the church regarding developments in Armenia. Yes, it is true that today we have a homeland and a state, but as Catholicos Aram has said we cannot be just spectators. We have obligations and a righto speak out. We send money [to Armenia]. Where does it go? We must send money. But when we learn that it fills the pockets of government officials, we will not send anymore. How should we punish those murderers who, instead of using that money to purchase weapons to defend the borders, use it against us, Father Armen told the community representatives in Antwerp. Regarding members of the Sasna Dzrer group, the clergyman noted, If they call them terrorists, then I say we are all terrorists. Father Armen Melkonian and Deacon Kristapor Deacon Kristapor Froundjian, who also spoke at the meeting, believes that Father Armen had the courage to speak up and is being punished for it today. Talking about the role of the church, Deacon Kristapor said that the church could also use a bit of struggle. We want that our nation and the church be in good conditions. We are called to serve the people, to be on their side. Catholicos Aram showed us that the church isnt dead, the deacon said. At the end of the meeting a prayer was said for the speedy recovery of the injured Sasna Dzrer members now awaiting trial in Armenia. Top photo: Father Armen Melkonian, Deacon Kristapor Froundjian (photos taken from their Facebook pages) CARROLLTON, Texas, Aug. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the leader in signs, graphics and visual communications, was honored with the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at a ceremony at the Pentagon on August 26th. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Business Consultant and Air Force Reservist Stephen MacKenzie and his family were in attendance with CEO Catherine Monson, who accepted the award on behalf of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. MacKenzie nominated his employer for the award because of the personal and financial support provided during his most recent deployment overseas. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition presented by the Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was one of fifteen employers from across the nation receiving the prestigious award. "We were honored to be in Washington, D.C. with the other award winners and their guests," said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "There were very moving stories of the sacrifice of the citizen soldiers and their families, as well as of the great support and caring by their employers and coworkers. My hope is that more companies will be motivated to do the same thing for the veterans, service men and women, reservists and National Guard members they employ." The fourteen other recipients include: Alaska Airlines, Albuquerque Police Department, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Burford Corporation, Carolinas Healthcare System, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Delmarva Veteran Builders, Hope Valley Industries, Idaho State Police, Lowe's, Maryland State Police, Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46, Seattle Fire Department and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Over 10 percent of FASTSIGNS franchisees are military veterans. Veterans possess a number of valued skills and a wealth of experience essential to corporate positions and successful franchise business ownership. As part of the commitment to veterans and to the military, FASTSIGNS International offers incentives to military veterans, including a reduced franchisee fee and a savings on royalties and advertising fees for the first year. FASTSIGNS International has also been recognized as a top franchise for military veterans by leading publications including USA Today, G.I. Jobs magazine and Military Times magazine, due to the recognition for the company's financial discounts for military veterans, corporate support and outstanding growth. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity and specific veterans incentives for veterans, contact Mark Jameson at [email protected] or 214-346-5679, or download an eBook that explores the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity at http://amzn.to/1FrnDJu. About FASTSIGNSFASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 615 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the US, Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns. CONTACT: Vanessa DavidsonCorporate Communications FASTSIGNS 214-346-5744 or [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401868Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160216/333668LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fastsigns-international-inc-receives-2016-secretary-of-defense-employer-support-freedom-award-300319004.html SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. AMSTERDAM and ROME, Aug. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) today announced the launch of IntelliSpace Cardiovascular 2.1, the latest version of its next-generation Cardiovascular Image and Information Management System. Showcased at the Philips Booth (#E4-N100) during the ESC Congress 2016, IntelliSpace Cardiovascular provides clinicians with a single point of access anytime and virtually anywhere and allows for web-based echo reporting, delivering diagnostic quality viewing of echo images. The World Health Organization states that in 2015 cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.5 million deaths annually. Philips is committed to providing the latest advanced technology and integrated cardiology solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. IntelliSpace Cardiovascular provides cardiologists with an interoperable, patient-centric repository of comprehensive cardiovascular information to help support clinical decision-making, streamline workflows and reduce costs. "Now, the cardiologist doesn't have to search for images and reports from earlier tests or open multiple screens. Everything is presented in a unified view, on a chronologically ordered timeline," said Wally Wonnink, Supervising Physician on Echocardiography at the Elisabeth - Tweesteden Hospital Tilburg, the Netherlands. "This will give caregivers access to the patient's history of diagnosis and treatment and can help prevent unnecessary examinations." According to the Future Health Index, a recent study commissioned by Philips, 81% of cardiology patients surveyed feel it is important that the healthcare system in their country is integrated so that they do not have to have the same test or screening run multiple times due to visiting different facilities, further demonstrating the need for a fully integrated cardiology solution like IntelliSpace Cardiovascular. IntelliSpace Cardiovascular also features expanded vendor agnostic web application programming interfaces (WebAPI) to provide customers with easier access to third-party applications. The latest iteration of IntelliSpace Cardiovascular delivers seamless access to EMR data, scheduling systems and any web-based application supporting the clinician. The increased interoperability further centralizes patient data from multiple sources to streamline workflows, provide a more comprehensive patient view, and foster collaboration by adding clinical depth instead of information overload. Having a holistic view into the patient's history spanning diagnosis, treatment and therapy can improve patient care. "Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death, and account for more cost than any other chronic illness across the globe. Finding ways to speed the path to treatment for patients, while improving workflow productivity and enhancing patient outcomes, are critical to transforming cardiology care," said Yair Briman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Healthcare IT for Philips. "IntelliSpace Cardiovascular expands the ability for cardiologists to deliver care from virtually anywhere by giving them power to access diagnostic quality echo images remotely." For more information on Philips presence at ESC Congress 2016, please visit http://www.philips.com/esc and follow the #ESCcongress conversation @PhilipsLiveFrom to continue the conversation. For further information, please contact: Kathy O'ReillyPhilips Group CommunicationsTel.: +1 978-659-2638E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @kathyoreilly Joost Maltha Philips Communications Healthcare Informatics, Solutions and ServicesTel.: +31 610-55-8116E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @JoostMaltha About Royal PhilipsRoyal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. The company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philips-introduces-diagnostic-quality-web-based-echo-reporting-in-intellispace-cardiovascular-300318828.html SOURCE Royal Philips Syrian migrants cross under a fence as they enter Hungary at the border with Serbia, near Roszke, August 27, 2015. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo To match story By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary plans to build a second fence on its southern border with Serbia that would enable it to keep out any major new wave of migrants, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. Orban said the new barrier, to be built alongside the existing one, would strengthen defenses to respond if Turkey's policy on migration changed. If that happened, hundreds of thousands could appear at Hungary's border, he told public radio. "Technical planning is under way to erect a more massive defense system next to the existing line of defense which was built quickly (last year)," Orban said. Orban said Hungary had to prepare for the eventuality of a deal between Turkey and the European Union to clamp down on migration into Europe via the Balkans unraveling. "Then if it does not work with nice words, we will have to stop them with force, and we will do so," Orban said. A razor-wire fence built along Hungary's southern border with Serbia and Croatia has sharply reduced flows. Last year hundreds of thousands of migrants moved up from the Balkans towards northern Europe. That flow has since been reduced to no more than a steady trickle. Orban said Hungary would also boost its police presence to 47,000 from 44,000, of which 3,000 will be constantly deployed on the southern border. He also said it was Europe's interest to work with Turkey and to agree on the issues that serve Europe's security. Under the existing deal, Turkey has agreed to help stem the tide of illegal migrants into the bloc in exchange for aid and visa-free travel for Turks. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said that European leaders are not living up to their side of the pact. Later on Friday, Orban and other prime ministers of Central European EU member states -- the Visegrad countries -- will meet in Warsaw with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Orban said the task for politicians was to change a decision by the EU to let in migrants and distribute them based on quotas among member states. "The question is whether Angela Merkel will be willing to change this flawed Brussels decision together with us. Whether she is willing to fight with us for this, or not, Orban said." Hungary will hold a referendum on Oct. 2 on whether to accept any future EU quota system for resettling migrants. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; editing by John Stonestreet) The political party of Dutch far-right politician, Geert Wilders, has pledged to close mosques and ban Islams holy book of Qur'an amid growing Islamophobic sentiments in the European country. In a document outlining its electoral program ahead of March 2017 parliamentary elections, the Freedom Party, known by its Dutch acronym PVV, said all mosques and Islamic schools must be closed in the Netherlands. All mosques and Islamic schools closed, a ban on the Qur'an, said the document, which was posted on Wilders Twitter feed Thursday. He also vowed to close the borders, ban refugees from Islamic countries, shut asylum seeker centers and prevent Muslim women from wearing the headscarf in public. Wilders, who is scheduled to go on trial for inciting racial hatred, has said he will do all he can to hold a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the EU. Opinion polls have for months given Wilders party the edge over the current coalition parties of the Labour Party and the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Late last year polls predicted soaring support for the PVV saying it could gain as many as 38 seats in the 150-seat parliament. In August, a poll from Ipsos gave it 28 seats -- still way up on the 12 it currently has. The developments come as the refugee crisis has polarized the country, leading to a heated debate over the issue as well as attacks on refugee centers. Anti-refugee sentiments have also swayed regional and national elections across Europe in recent years. International organizations and rights groups have expressed concern over an increase in the number of arson attacks on refugee shelters. Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria. Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war in the violence-hit regions, forcing more people out of their homes. CodeGen International introduces Cloud Smart School at EDEX Expo 2016 View(s): An innovative school management software solution developed by Ombo Technologies, a fully owned subsidiary of CodeGen International (Pvt) Ltd, enters the educational landscape at the EDEX Expo 2016. The exhibition will run for two consecutive days next month at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC). It is opened to the public The Cloud Smart School software is geared towards shifting learning into Cloud-based hosting for schools and educational institutes. This initiative focuses on merging the key disruptive forces of IT; mobile, cloud, social and data to connect all stakeholders through one single interactive platform which allows students, teachers and administrators to connect to the cloud system and access information via multiple devices. This cloud based management system, aims at automating the manual processes of schools and institutes with an objective to shift paradigms of established traditional operational protocols for a fully automated, end to end workflow management system, CodeGen said in a media release. EDEX Expo sees the gathering of many local and international educational institutions as well as a large number of graduate and undergraduate students. Thus, it is a colossal opportunity for CodeGen International to showcase a feature-rich product and its capabilities to industry experts. The emergence of new technology changes the way we live, communicate and do business. Thus, it is vital that we, as technology solution providers, adjust our sails to find simple solutions in an increasingly demanding era, said Roshantha Adhihetty, Head of Marketing for CodeGen International (Pvt) Ltd. The all-in-one product is now used by a few leading educational establishments in Sri Lanka like Bishops College Colombo and Vision International Kandy. The second phase will focus on educational institutions in Sri Lanka and around the globe. The partnership with American College of Higher Education in Sri Lanka is yet another promising venture which is currently ongoing. Hip, hip, hooray View(s): At a recent discussion this week involving a multinational organisation, issues were raised as to why media often highlights negative stories and not positive ones. While we beg to disagree, todays column if one is to respond to critics (including the Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs the Prime Minister himself which has taken umbrage over three stories published in the Business Times last week) discusses a great and welcome development. In the midst of cross-talk and accusations in parliament on Wednesday over leaking information to the media on the proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), it was agreed by all concerned and endorsed by the Speaker that henceforth (from next week September) all proceedings of parliamentary committees will be opened to the media. It not only provides the country a bigger-than-a birds eye view of what is happening but also puts a lot of pressure on MPs who are members of these committees to do what they have been assigned attend meetings regularly and most importantly make a positive and objective contribution. In many ways it puts the more lethargic and incompetent MPs in the spot and strengthens the data base of a private think-tank that recently announced a scientific assessment of the performance of MPs. For many years Sri Lankan media has had to use devious and unconventional ways of reporting on the proceedings and reports of these committees if not released legitimately to the public. One of the most robust committees is COPE which has raised many issues over the past few years on mismanagement and corruption of state agencies but with little action or follow-up by the governing party. The chair of this committee (and other committees which comes under the ambit of special committees) goes to the ruling party by practice but in a gesture of pragmatism and accommodation, the governing party last year agreed to the nomination of an opposition member, in this case, JVPs Sunil Handunnetti. The onus of ensuring fair discussion, compromise and accommodation of all views (not very easy for the JVP) has seen Handunetti treading a thin line of not too much reflecting a JVP viewpoint when speaking to the media. Furthermore his objection to Minister Lakshman Kiriella comments on what transpired in COPE that these should be confidential was what sparked Wednesdays cross-talk which for once ended in a positive conclusion. Though the Speakers assurance to allow the proceedings of parliamentary committees to be covered by the media was relegated to the inside pages of most newspapers, it is a very important development in the public demand for accountability, transparency and good governance from the so-called peoples representatives. It has strong but positive implications to society since access to all (or more) parliament proceedings will be open and transparent. Often MPs when in opposition happily forget what they once said after transitioning (or transformation) to government ranks. Transformation is the word, since what is not good when in opposition like helicopter rides to visit constituencies, wasteful expenditure on tamashas, costly rental for ministries, costly refurbishments of ministers bungalows or office space, disappears when one adorns public office. Amnesia takes over when there are perks. The Speaker is reportedly drafting a set of amendments which would provide guidelines on media access to these committees. Often in parliament, when slang and uncouth language is used, it is ordered to be stricken off the proceedings. Similarly accusations are often levelled against named public officials and individuals under the cover of parliamentary privilege to which the affected parties have no chance of responding, if they are innocent. Thus while it casts a huge responsibility on MPs to behave during committee sessions with the media in attendance, it also places responsibility on the media to report facts and not simply publish and be dammed. There are many other committees of parliament with the most important being those dealing with High Posts and Public Accounts There are also several, what are called, Sectoral Oversight Committees on Economic Development International Relations, National Security, Women and Gender, Legal Affairs (anti-corruption) and Media among others. The Committee on Public Finance established in December 2015 and headed by an opposition member is one of the most important in recent times after COPE. It has a wide mandate to study and review revenue collection, payments from the Consolidated fund, utilisation of public funds for specific purposes by law; implementation of the Appropriation Act among other matters. Headed by TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, the committee which has had several meetings is also obligated to submit a report to parliament within six weeks of the presentation of the budget on the fiscal, financial and economic assumptions used as bases in arriving at total estimated expenditure and receipts. It has the power to summon any person to appear before the committee which would include ministers or top public officials and corporate leaders. Its first report after the presentation of the budget in November should be very interesting. For the first time access to the most important discussions in the country, aside of the proceedings of parliament, is being provided. Such a situation would have never happened in the past whichever government in power and shows that the Maithripala-Ranil administration barring other issues is living up to its motto of being transparent in the affairs of government. The regime seems to have learnt some bitter lessons in recent times over the Central Bank bond issue and other problems. While the media has fought relentlessly for over the past few decades for access to information, such freedom should also not be abused and used for an ulterior motive. For the first time, perhaps, the searchlight is turning inwards and how the media acts with such information at its fingertips will shape in future the peoples perceptions of the Fourth Estate as a responsible citizen. Japfa opts to sell off more Grain stock By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): Singapore-based Japfa Ltd, a pan-Asian, industrial agri-food company is likely to sell more shares in Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC, analysts say. The fourth largest shareholder in the poultry firm, Japfa Ltd held about 6.48 per cent in the company by June this year. But they sold some 1.27 per cent during March this year, an analyst said. He said around 1.5 million shares may be on offer in the coming months. Analysts say that growing purchasing power stemming from revised public sector salaries and reduced prices of essentials from the last budget, to drive the top line from increasing demand conditions will augur well for Grain elevators. They expect that reduced cost of production and improved margins on the back of importing and stocking of cheaper maize from new found low cost destinations would increase demand. According to the Department of Animal Production, the current per capita consumption for chicken meat and eggs stands at 7.2kg and 97 eggs, respectively which are seen increasing. Ceylon Grain Elevators deals in feed milling, commercial broiler farming, poultry processing and distribution, breeder farming operations, manufacture and sale of aquatic feed, buying and selling of Poultry equipment and vaccines provision of silo and warehouse facilities. The company has five subsidiaries and an associate stake in one company. The poultry sector comprises two key areas Chicken (Broiler and Layer variants) and egg production. 33 broiler and 13 layer breeding farms (in operation as of 2014) served as the main sources for breeding chicken, with purchase of these strains collectively from local Grand Parent (GP) farms and imports from international markets (UK, France and Germany). This is supported by the feed industry to provide animal feed, produced by both commercial feed producers and direct farmers themselves, a SC Securities report said. An estimated 847,572 metric tonnes of total animal feed was produced as of 2014. Netherlands, Chinese for BIA runway overlay By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): The Government would be soon signing an agreement with consultants hired to carry out repairs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) during the January 6 April 6 (8.30 am to 4.30 pm) closure next year. Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL) Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne told the Business Times on Friday that they would be signing a consultative award with Netherlands Airport Consultant (NACO). The consultants for the project had been selected through a competitive bidding process based on price, experience and competency, it was noted. The local partner would be Engineering Consultants Ltd. The total cost of the project is approximately US$524,000 plus taxes, funded jointly by AASL and SriLankan Airlines. In addition the overlay cost of US$48,600 plus taxes is also self-funded by AASL, Mr. Jayaratne said. The contractors for the project are China National Aero Technology International Group (CATIC) the contract for which would be signed next week, it was noted. Civil Aviation Authority Director General (DGCA) H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times that they would be having a coordination meeting with all stakeholders to discuss how to minimize the disturbance during the period of the closure. Further, he said that no airline has shown any interest in going to Mattala due to its isolation and issues in connectivity. However, the Sri Lanka Air Force following discussions with the DGCA has agreed to shift its fighter planes to Mattala depending on the operational plan to take care of the national defense requirement. Authorities are also looking at increasing the number of self-checking kiosks to ease the congestion at the counters. The number of x-ray equipment will also increase to handle increased (mostly-night) traffic during the operational hours of the BIA. Mr. Nimalasiri explained that in case of an emergency Mattala would be available for flying over Sri Lanka and all foreign airlines have been informed of the airports closure during this period. In the meantime, the authorities are still working with the airlines on the slots to be allocated for the respective carriers operating to the BIA though some have already mentioned their schedules identifying the flights cancelled and those scheduled. The national carrier on Friday said it was cancelling a few day flights to Singapore, Chennai, Trichy, Male, Cochin and Bangalore and back. Ten other flights that are being rescheduled involve flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Trivandrum, New Delhi, Karachi, London and Jeddah. The travel and leisure industry has expressed concern over the closure but acknowledge that maintenance work is also essential for passenger safety. Toast of the Town Lakmini ready for a new challenge View(s): SPEECHLESS IN COLOMBO: Perhaps Lakmini Wijesundera should have paraphrased the memorable opening line from Marc Antony in his eulogy to Caesar and begun her address to the audience gathered earlier this month to honour her by saying: Friends, Sri Lankans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Her biggest fear and no-no is public speaking. So she was nervous tightly gripping her spectacles in one hand and the sheets of paper on which she had written her speech in the other as she faced the podium ready to conquer her personal Everest and engage the audience at the annual Women Entrepreneur Awards presented by the Womens Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Shakespeares Marcus Antonius came to bury Caesar and not to praise him. But he then used rhetoric to portray Caesar in a good light thus rousing the rabble against Brutus and his fellow-conspirators. I discover that Lakminis Bucket List includes how to move the crowd in a similar fashion. That night was her first public speech and she was all nerves. Yet asking the audience to lend their ears might have been superfluous for everyone, including President Maithripala Sirisena, was already rapt with attention as they waited to find out what makes the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year tick. Freezes when speaking to an audience I had typed my speech in big letters so that I could read it easily. Half-way through my address I suddenly found out that I had my reading glasses in my hand and thought oh my God, should I put them on. But I didnt want to lose my place in the script, and as such I also didnt span the crowd and make eye contact as much as I wanted to, recounted Lakmini. At the end, it wasnt as daunting as I thought it would be. But Im still learning. A friend suggested I try a few toastmasters but it is a skill you acquire, says Lakmini, who having survived her first public speech is confident she is up to the challenge in the future. Having a one-on-one or conducting a board meeting, Lakmini is the picture of poise and confidence. But when it comes to standing in front of a sea of faces she freezes. When you are asked to give a speech to inspire people, whoa!. When the Womens Chamber asked me to give a speech, I pleaded and said can we do without one but they insisted. I forced myself to write a speech a few days before the awards gala and practised it in front of one of my people in the office who is a good public speaker. He listened to my speech and said I was like a robot and went on monotonously for five minutes. So I asked him to show me how it was done and he read it out to me. I tried it again and it was a little better but I was still nervous. At the function when it came to our tagline Think. Innovate. Lead I paused dramatically between each word for maximum effect. I could see my friend in the audience with a big smile on his face, relates Lakmini. Shy schoolgirl Lakmini has just one word to describe the driving force which has turned her from shy schoolgirl into chief executive of mobile IT solutions company IronOne Technologies which has a presence in more than 15 countries Curiosity. An inherent inquisitiveness has made her excel in the corporate world and turn IronOre Technologies into a company that provides products and IT solutions for local blue-chip and Fortune 500 companies in the United States as well being a powerhouse in Singapore, Malaysia and across Asia. If something is no more curious, I quickly lose interest. Some people have causes or deep reasons which drive them, I feel a little bit shallow for it is nothing but a sense of curiosity which makes me tick. Even in childhood, I would lose interest if something no longer made me want to know more about it. As a schoolgirl at Ladies College, Lakmini was the quiet one in the group. She had a clique of boisterous friends and although she was game for anything and as bad as the rest when it came to doing a prank of getting up to mischief, she always stayed in the shadows. At school I was extremely shy and didnt speak for a long time until I made some good friends. But I was with the naughtiest bunch and did all the naughty things. Many of my friends are more equipped than I am to run a company but Im the only one from that group who does so, she reveals. The shy girl has blossomed into a corporate leader and Lakmini says it is all due to her having more time and few distractions. Divorced, and with no children, she spends most of her time thinking of ways to make her software company, a leader in Sri Lanka, more competitive on the global stage. It is also probably in her genes. Coming from an influential family which has a long and illustrious line of matriarchal figures, Lakmini feels she still has a long way to go before making a permanent mark on the local landscape. Powerful family She points proudly to her great-grandmother Helena Wijewardana who was responsible for the refurbishment of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara in the early half of the 20th Century. Helena was the wife of Don Philip Wijewardana. They had nine children and my mother was the child of one of those nine siblings. Our family story really begins from the time of Don Philip. His father sent him to St. Thomas so that he could study English. It was during the British Colonial era. Don Philip put the Queens English to good use and won contracts to supply building material including wood, sand and bricks to build the Colombo Museum, the Supreme Courts Complex in Hulftsdorp and the Eye Hospital among other major landmarks. There was two significant points in the history of our family, the first moving from their ancestral home in Tudugala, Kalutara to Colombo and for my great-grandfather to go to St. Thomas to learn English. He died fairly early and it was Helena who was the matriarch of the family who carried on bringing up her nine children including my grandfather. Helena was a role model for me. There have been a lot of influential women in my family, my mother being another, says Lakmini who feels she has a long way to go yet before she can walk in their shoes. The nine children of Don Philip and Helena have resulted in more than 300 cousins and assorted relatives for Lakmini today. It is a Whos Who of Sri Lankan society. Among her relatives are such illustrious names and political heavyweights like JR Jayewardene and Ranil Wickremesinghe. Her mothers brother was Upali Wijewardene, the business magnate who went missing with his airplane in 1983. Six years after that tragedy, Lakminis mother faced another heartbreak when her husband Prof. Stanley Wijesundera was assassinated by members of the JVP in the library of the Colombo University. Awful day That left a huge mark on Lakmini who still remembers that awful day. I was 19 just a year after finishing school. My father had retired as vice-chancellor of Colombo University but that day he had gone back and when Amma asked why he said he had some filing to do. I remember clearly Amma and a family friend coming to pick me up (I was at an IT College in Narahenpita) and she was crying. I thought something had happened to my two brothers (they had been involved in a car accident a year before). But on the way they told me that Dad was critically ill. I wondered why we were going to College House (in the University) and not to hospital. Soon after that calamity, Lakmini was packed off to London where she did her degree in electronic engineering and computer science as well as a Masters in Communications and Signal Processing both at the University of London. Amma was very strong and she didnt make us feel that there was a difference in our lives after my fathers death. She played a big role in my life. Not only did she get the finishing touches in her education thanks to her mother, but Lakmini also got the flair for entrepreneurship which still holds her good these days. When we were small we used to sell small handloom items at a shop which we had in Liberty Plaza. The money we made was our pocket money and I remember going and eating plenty at Sponge. Amma gave us that gift for entrepreneurship. I owe her a lot. Her mother died two years ago at the age of 81. She had lived to see her daughter create a software company whose products business leaders in Sri Lanka as well as abroad cannot do without. Having climbed the corporate peak, she is now looking at other challenges. She has set a target of three years to complete her current quest of being number one in the world IronOne is already a leading player in Asia and wants to move on to do something crazy. Already involved in a charity (Give 2 Lanka) which helps the underprivileged by raising awareness among corporates, she is also keen to empower women. I dont want to be seen as driving an issue. But I want to use myself as an example. I just evolved, it just happened. Women are 50 per cent of the population and traditionally they are happy to be just housewives. While this is an important role, if half your population is not productive you cant achieve growth. Ever curious, Lakmini is now impatient to take on a different role. Like she says, she is evolving. Already she is able to confront her demons and face a crowded room with confidence. Cheers in Colombo, apathy in Jaffna View(s): The contradiction was clear if not absurd. Even at the very moment in time that I was being sent unsolicited messages by Colombos non-governmental twitterati delighting in self-congratulatory chest-thumping over the turbulent passing of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Bill, that euphoria was distinctly missing in the Northern peninsula, among the very people for whom this piece of legislation was (primarily) intended. Failure to draw in core constituencies of victims Let us be clear about this. The fate of the Souths disappeared during the state brutalities of the eighties had not been the motivating factor for this Governments headlong rush into solutions despite the colorful intertwining of state excesses against the Sinhalese during the eighties to justify the effort. Rather, it was the plight of the disappeared in the North and the East which was the central international pressure point necessitating this mad scramble by the coalition Government and its allies, including the Norths Tamil National Alliance (TNA). Logically therefore, the constituencies left to struggle in the face of continuing state surveillance and apathy in the former war theatre should have been directly drawn into Sri Lankas much trumpeted exercise of transitional justice. But that is not the case, if we leave aside the familiar spectacle of the Norths political representatives claiming to speak for the people. And the anger thereof is searing. So as the cheers resounded in Colombos glitzy lounges, it was a different story in Jaffna with fury counter balanced by disinterest if not apathy. What will this body give us? questioned two agitated mothers whose struggle for their disappeared children involved traipsing despairingly from one governmental agency to another. One mother brandished a newspaper article with a photograph of a line of hopeless faces along the security perimeter of an army camp post 2009 and wailed that is my child but when I go to that camp and ask where she is, they only tell me that she was never there. Will this Office give me answers for what happened to my child and will it give me justice when I am asked to go before it and cry all over again? she persisted. Truth vis a vis Justice There is a vexed interplay between finding the truth and securing justice. This is what the convenient pigeon-holing of separate solutions (without the affected communities being informed of the connections between each element) into inter alia, an OMP, another of Sri Lankas interminable Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and a Special Court ignores. And the refusal to address the issue of flawed justice institutions and pervasive systemic impunity further bedevils the legitimacy of Sri Lankas transitional justice package. Adding to the confusion is the sudden springing up of transitional justice experts, (more or less like instant noodles), half of whose experience in academia or the solid practice of the law in the national courts can be summed up on the back of the proverbial envelope while the other half is conspicuously distinguished by their lack of a popular support base either in the North or the South. Thus, a distastefully elitist mentality predominates which treats the very idea of peoples participation with disdain preferring instead to maintain a facade of handpicked and targeted consultations with carefully packed questions that have the suggested correct answers on what the victims want. This Colombo bubble as it were is also characterized by a disturbingly fluid ability of many to be part of numerous government committees and task forces while professing to be non-governmental at the same time. Hence we have anti-corruption activists defending the slow pace of corruption cases and human rights activists seeking to justify the failure to engage in substantive security sector reform. Truly this grotesque paradox can only be possible in Sri Lanka. The law being lost in translation To be brutally frank, despite the sentimental reminders that I find myself awash in with regard to South Africas transitional justice experience, I would be hard put to find a more obvious contrast. The South African process was led by towering personalities in law, in civil rights, in religion and in social justice who hailed not from the secluded corners of white privilege but were instead firmly situated among the South African dispossessed and who counted as honourable, the time spent in prison as punishment for that commitment. Their knowledge of constitutional law was profound. This was in fact, a major reason why their efforts stood up to rigorous scrutiny by the courts and formed a formidable body of jurisprudence which civil rights activists used extensively. In Sri Lanka however, the law appears to have been lost in translation. Indeed, this is evidenced beyond the transitional justice sphere where legal challenges come from multiple fronts ranging from the procedural (VAT Bill) to confusion in regard to constitutional concepts (proposal that the 2006 contested Singarasa judgment of the Supreme Court may be over-ruled by the Speaker). Reportedly there has also been a simply bizarre proposal that amendments may be entered into the OMP law after the Bill has passed the seal of Parliament and the certification of the Speaker. Meanwhile the much touted asset recovery of criminals of the former regime splutter in legal confusion, only partly owing to loyalists of the former regime. The whole is characterized by what can only be referred to as the phenomenon of great incoherence in government. Acknowledging the irony So those of us who throw up our hands in mortified dismay certainly have some justification. What if time was reversed and the Rajapaksa regime was in place? Would there not have been severe remonstrations in regard to the abuse of due process? The singular hypocrisy thereof is stark. And the unnerving consequences of such disarray need no elucidation. Already, the judiciary is being reminded by the Parliament of its place in the constitutional scheme of things. But for now, it is ironic that those throwing themselves into Colombos (well funded) transitional justice fray look down their noses when called to account if a greater participatory model should not have been used when addressing the grief of Sri Lankas disappeared. The sight of a consultation task force issuing an interim report on suggestions made by affected communities in regard to the OMP Bill even as the Bill was passed during those very same days is just one of the many perplexingly obvious examples of that irony. Certainly there are many more. Envoy offers spending money to two VIP politicians View(s): One would have thought it was only the rich Arab sheikhs who distributed hundred dollar bills to the needy when in Sri Lanka. Much the same way political campaigners handed down handbills. These scenes play out now and then when tourists from West Asia visit resorts in the south. Some visit mosques in the vicinity for prayers and are generous with what they have. Now comes the news that the envoy of a Far East Asian nation, very much in the business scene here, is doing the same thing. Of course, the money he is offering is not from his wallet but comes from his masters in the fast developing capital. He offered a US $ 100,000 to a leading politician in the country. To make it appear it was not a bribe, the man said it was for his Foundation so he may do what he wished with it. The politico snubbed the envoy. He said he was born to a reasonably comfortable family and did not have any Foundation. Then he went on to give him a lesson on Lord Buddhas teachings about thanha or greed and that the purpose of life is to do good things and acquire merit for the after-life. Not to be deterred, the same offer was made to a key minister. He also replied that he did not have a Foundation and thanked the envoy for the offer though he made clear he would not take it. One wonders why the two senior ruling party politicians did not report the envoy to the Bribery Commission. Maybe he has diplomatic immunity. On the other hand, maybe the anti-corruption czar of his own country is having a good laugh at whats happening in Sri Lanka, what with the many projects that the country is undertaking. Did the two who refused know another side of the story? It is not immediately clear. Whether it is altogether true or not is unclear. The same envoy told a Sri Lankan confidante that when a project is discussed with a Sri Lankan politician, the first question was how much he or she would get. The next was how much the party would receive. The country came only a poor third, he lamented. Remote-controlled diplomatic relations The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to appoint non-resident envoys to represent Sri Lanka in countries where there is no representation. These envoys will have a desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will work from there to the country assigned to them. They will make a minimum of three flights a year to the country concerned. The new arrangement is modelled on the lines of the practice in Singapore. President, PM politely rap Navin President Maithripala Sirisena gave some polite advice to the Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake at last Tuesdays ministerial meeting. He said if Mr Dissanayake had issues with his ministerial colleagues, he should raise them at the meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers. He said it was inappropriate to go public with threats of resignations. Mr Dissanayake had threatened to resign if US$ 60 million from the Tea Shakti Fund was to be taken over by the Treasury. The Finance Ministers position is that the Tea Shakti Fund was money collected from tea exporters, but should be in the countrys Consolidated Fund handled by the Treasury. Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe followed Presidents remarks. He appeared angry and declared Ministers should not resort to such behaviour. President Sirisena has asked that the dispute over the US$ 60 million Tea Shakthi Fund be discussed by Minister Dissanayake with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. Book allowance for judges The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to pay a book allowance to Judges. Initially it will be for Judges of the High Court for a limited period and will be later extended to others. Website sued for Rs. 100 million A VVIP politicians sibling has sued a website for Rs 100 million on the grounds that he was falsely accused of corrupt activity. Crackdown on spirit fuelled behaviour of SriLankan crews SriLankan Airlines flight crews have been warned that random testing for alcohol and drugs will be carried out on them at base and overseas stations with immediate effect. This is the direct outcome of the August 19 incident in Frankfurt. Flight UL 544 took off 15 hours late after it was disclosed that the pilot, Captain Upendra Ranaweera failed a breathalyser test. A total of 259 passengers were booked to fly to Colombo. They will each be now entitled to 200 Euros in terms of European Union regulations where flights are delayed beyond seven hours. The captains state of intoxication was first detected by two senior First Officers Nuwan Gunaratne and Shane Livera who were assigned to the flight under the command of Captain Ranaweera. They had reported the matter to Airbus 330 Chief Pilot Captain Pravin Wettimuny. He had advised that Captain Ranaweera be subjected to a check at the Health Centre at Frankfurt International Airport. There, a breathalyser test showed that he was far in excess of the permitted alcohol level. One source said the breathalyser test showed a 1.7 % alcohol level. The source said if the detection was made after he entered the cockpit of the aircraft he was to fly, he would have been liable for arrest and would have faced criminal charges. European Union laws in respect of passenger safety are said to be among the strictest. In Flying Staff Instructions sent out on Thursday, August 25 Captain Wettimuny has said that the SriLankan Airlines alcohol limit, authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) through a breathalyser test is 0.02 percent. Through a blood test, he has pointed out the approved limit was two milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Refusal by an employee to undergo the testing process, Captain Wettimuny has said, would be considered a breach of the Alcohol and Psychoactive substance testing policy and will be considered a positive test result. Eco-tourism zone at Rumassala Sri Lanka Ports Authority lands at the well-known hilly forest area Rumassala, west of the natural harbour in Galle, are to be converted into an eco-tourism zone, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided. The Ministers have decided to direct the Ports and Shipping Ministry Secretary to carry out a feasibility study with special reference to environmental aspects. For this purpose a committee comprising representatives of the Central Environmental Authority, Department of Wild Life Conservation, Department of Forest Conservation, Coast Conservation Department, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Urban Development Authority and the Galle Heritage Foundation is to be appointed. House unites on Missing Persons Bill facilitating Certificates of Absence View(s): By Chandani Kirinde- Lobby Correspondent The Government this week moved a step further in its efforts to provide relief to loved ones of thousands of persons reported missing in the country, as a result of the conflict which took place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, or its aftermath as well, due to subversive activities, political unrest, civil disturbances and enforced disappearances. This relief will come in the way of Certificates of Absence issued in lieu of a death certificate, until the circumstances of the disappearances of the persons are investigated and concluded. The Bill that provides for the issue of the certificates titled Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill was approved by Parliament on Thursday. The certificate to be issued to the next-of-kin of those reported missing for over a year, will go a long way to enable them to apply for benefits under any social welfare scheme such as samurdhi, temporarily manage property and assets of the missing person, as well as act as a provisional guardian for dependent children of the missing person. The Bill received unanimous approval from the House, unlike the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) legislation which Parliament approved earlier this month, amidst strong protests from MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO) group. But the usual misgivings harboured by JO members, that such laws are aimed at appeasing the international community and betraying the armed forces, were once more echoed in the House, as its members have chosen to view all activities of the Government with suspicion, some with good reason, others completely unfounded. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera who participated in the debate on the Bill, said the question of missing persons must be eradicated forever and confined to the pages of history. Such legislation would help bring closure to thousands of people who live in the hope of seeing their loved ones someday. There are mothers in my electorate (Matara), whose children disappeared 30 years ago, but they still believe their loved ones are alive somewhere, and will comeback. Giving them closure is important, and this will go some way to help them, he said. The Minister said the countrys future generations should never have to face such a tragedies which the country experienced from time to time since independence, resulting in thousands of disappearances, he said. Tamil National List (TNA) MP M.A.Sumanthiran said that it is necessary to enable the surviving members of the families of those reported missing, to get on with their lives and move forward. Thousands of complaints had been made to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) by the next-of-kin of those reported missing during the conflict. More than 90% of complaints received by the LLRC related to persons who had gone missing over a period of time, most notably during the last stages of the war, he said. UPFA Colombo District MP Udaya Gammanpila said that, among those reported missing are a large number of persons who were abducted by the LTTE and eliminated, as well as those who fled the country as refugees due to the war and are now living abroad. However, all the laws are intended to trap the members of the armed forces who fought against terrorism. The LTTEs Deputy Leader, Mahattaya was murdered by the Groups leader, and he too is a missing person. Who is going to find out what happened to him and punish those who were involved in his disappearance? Mr. Gammanpila questioned. The JVP gave its nod of approval to the Bill, citing the need to bring closure to the families of thousands who went missing during the two JVP-led insurrections. Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardane who introduced the Bill to the House said that, irrespective of the race, religion or creed one belongs to, this Bill will protect the fundamental rights of all Sri Lankans. JO rebels impaled upon the Swords of Secrets View(s): Maithripala unsheathes his Excalibur to counter Mahindas Damocles NOVEMBER 2014. In that winter of his reign as Lankas self-acclaimed king, Mahinda Rajapaksa felt the first harsh gust of cold wind threaten the family tree: and saw, in that season of his decline, the first ominous signs of the birds that had swarmed round the fruitful abode of plenty now deserting in flocks, flying pell-mell in droves from the boughs upon which they had once perched and feathered their nests, to that evergreen meadow of the still unborn spring, to make their early call on that verdant pasture under the canopy of a familiar blue. He realised that naught but his expressed willingness to blow the whistle on what they would leave behind, damning evidence of the shells of eggs from which they had sucked the golden yoke dry, would halt the exodus of the black ravens flight. And on 23rd November 2014, three days after Maithripala Sirisena had announced his candidacy, he threatened to unsheathe his Excalibur, his faithful sword of secrets, if they didnt cut their flight in midair and return forthwith to the Rajapaksa fold to make the Rajapaksa tree bloom again with fruit for yet another record breaking season. But dew rusts unsheathed swords and blunts its cutting edge. And Rajapaksa artfully declined to draw it. Its time and place would be elsewhere. He knew its terrible power emanated not from use but from being kept sheathed. To merely state he possessed it, sufficed to make the sweat pour down the brows of the guilty and provoke goose bumps to rise on their flesh. At the opening ceremony of the new highway connecting Anuradhapura with Tincomalee President Rajapaksa issued his warning: I will tell one thing to those who left. About their backgrounds I have all the files. But I will not use it. I am not the sort of man who will make use of it. We are people who did everything we said we would do. At the same time remember that I am a man who will tell what I do. That is the power of secrets. A mans dark secrets could be used to hold him to ransom, his soul made slave to the knower of his indiscretions, who had the lowdown on his unsavoury past. But the potency of secrets, alas, only lasts till they are kept secret for if divulged it would cease to remain a secret; and though its revelation may cause the desired conflagration, the secret itself would self destruct and be useless thereafter to its possessor. Thus it has to be used with care, for it can be used only once. And Mahinda Rajapaksa knew on that November afternoon, the secret of power of secrets and how best to use it. But at whom was the warning aimed? For whom, did the bell toll? Was it just to show off his magnanimity, that even though he had the dirt on them, he would not soil his hands by using it? Or was it a coded message, only those who had the encryption key could decipher; and know full well to whom the arrow was meant to be? His implied threat, gloved in velvet, appeared at that hour to be addressed directly to the SLFP MPs and senior ministers who had braved the expected wrath and the exposure of any wrong done to decamp with Sirisena and many were of the opinion that it did so too. But was it? What did the first crossovers have to lose? The original betrayers had razed their homes and burnt their boats and set the bridges afire when they plunged into the raging waters of the river of no return, the Rubicon. There was no going back. They would have known of the consequences, the fallout of their bold actions. For, in their heart would remain etched, the litany of their corruptions, if any. More than any file could reveal, their conscience would contain the secrets of the dossier to help them determine the odds on the gamble they were to make and whether they could afford to take the risk of crossing over to the other side of the highway. If there was anything in the files, Rajapaksa professed to have in his custody, would it have held anything that would have incriminated them alone? Perhaps it was this knowledge that emboldened others to follow in the steps of the Pilgrim Fathers in their perilous journey to find Avalon and establish just governance or perish in the noble quest. They could well afford to call the Rajapaksa bluff. And treat it as a desperate attempt to blacken their good names with corruption with the uncivil sport of mudslinging. Irrespective of Rajapaksas assurance that he will not make use of the files in his possession, secrets are known to have an ingenious way of their own to emerge from their sepulchres and see the gaudy light of day. But that didnt stop the Maithri clique from hitching their fates to the Sirisena star. But what of the others who remained in the fold? Did any skeletons in their closets make them rattle and bade them stay? Instead of drawing out his Excalibur of Secrets and unleashing its wrath on those who had crossed over with Maithripala and following a let bygones be bygones policy, did Mahinda Rajapaksa, standing on a crumbling podium of defeat, with foresight turn his focus on those remaining disciples and adroitly transform his sword to that of Damocles and placed the sharpened sword over their heads hanging there by the thinnest simple threads to command their future allegiance, to rally round him even in defeat and do his bidding to make him return in triumph? And as things would have it, the Maithripala government has provided all the mechanisms needed to let the sword fall with cutting effect. But the Bribery Commission and the FCID appear to be running round in circles trying to gather the necessary evidence to warrant conviction in court. A complete dossier containing names, dates and amounts, signed and sealed secret documents that would prove the guilt of an elusive Rajapaksa rebel member not only beyond a mere 200 per cent of doubt as the prime minister wants it to be but beyond 1000 percent doubt would indeed come in handy to the investigators should it fall like manna from the heavens or emerge mysteriously like a toadstool from the Rajapaksa secret vault of secrets. President or no, Mahinda Rajapaksa still retains the power, albeit courtesy of Sirisena s government agencies, to make use of his secret files and, should he ever choose to do so in the event any of the pack strays beyond the parameters and fails to hark the summoning whistle, to implode any member of his own regime with corrupt hands and smudged record, with the dynamite contained in the files locked in his safe, to damning and devastating effect. Is that the secret of his success that makes the hungry ravens still caw round the old barren tree? For though there may be no sweet fruit in season now, the alternative facing them is to eat of the bitter gourd of sin to atone for their transgressions; and to dwell not in cosily feathered nests they once knew but in vermin infested dinghy cells as government guests. If thats the awful plight of several Rajapaksa rebels, phew! What a boiling cauldron of soup they must find themselves in today. As the Roman orator Cicero once said there can be nothing happy for persons over whom some fear always looms? The bad news is the cauldron heat is set to rise. To a new high that President Maithripala will determine at his pleasure, though, this time, it will not be in his own cool time. For events have come to a pretty pass that would tax the earned patience of a sage. And the President has come to the end of his tether. Impudent threats made by Rajapaksa rebels to break away from the SLFP and form a new political party to challenge the old, have snapped the last sinews of Sirisenas tolerance. He had borne every provocation with resolute calm, weathered every resistance with plucky resilience and swallowed the insolence, chewed the calumnies hurled at him by the defeated and had spat them all out without malice, in the magnanimous noble spirit of the supremely triumphant. But, alas, it had been to no avail. The rebels were beyond the pale, too fixated with their own survival to heed any call to heel. Last Friday eve at Matara, addressing a joint SLFP-UNP rally in the southern stronghold of the Rajapaksa kinfolk, held to mark the first anniversary of the joint government, a visibly exasperated President Sirisena gave unbridled vent to his pent up rage over the joint opposition rebels attempts to sabotage the nations agenda at every turn; and to frustrate and make a mockery of his efforts to make Lanka meet and rise above the crisis the Rajapaksa regime bequeathed him as their legacy after ten years of misruling the roost. Then throwing down the gauntlet, President Sirisena drew his Sword of Secrets and raised the battle cry that should the joint opposition sever the umbilical cord and decide to go it alone and form a new party, the secrets that slept coiled in his Sword of Excalibur, so far sheathed and so far left undisturbed would be kindled to awaken to life to strangulate with a serpent noose of secrets, the life and breath of the new born upstart. President Sirisena said: We shall never allow those who destroyed this country, those who destroyed democracy in this country, those who engulfed the whole country in a fear psychosis with their white van culture, those who, in the midst of the countrys 9000 billion rupee debt crisis, they themselves created, robbed millions, billions from the country, those who practiced fraud and corruption on an unprecedented scale as never had been done in this country and crowned fraud, corruption and waste, we shall never allow them ever to form a government in this country again and I say this very clearly, say it very clearly. It is said, the President declared, they are trying to form a new party to topple us. To overthrow us. Let them try and see. Let them try. I tell them that that even as we revealed last year in January during the presidential election, the fraud and corruption they did, the undemocratic things they did and the uncilivilized manner in which they ruled; I clearly wish to state that we shall if they form a new party, then on that day- reveal even more things that have hitherto remained untold, reveal even more secrets that have hitherto remained concealed, we shall expose all and thus create in the country the necessary environment in which rather than be governing they would be permanently condemned to walking the streets. No doubt the Presidents outburst is understandable and one can easily sympathize with his pain of mind. Unlike the other presidents, he had enjoyed no honeymoon, no interlude to toast his victory. Only the vitriol brimming chalice had been proffered to him to sip. From day one of his tenure it had seemed almost as if he had been involved in acrimonious divorce proceedings; with the wifes former husband, though booted, still trying to usurp the marital bed and claim conjugal rights. The first four months of his presidency had been gobbled up by the diabolical campaign to Bring back Mahinda. It had nearly buckled his efforts to keep the pledge he had made to the nation to abolish the draconian 18th amendment to the constitution; and it had been with the greatest difficulty he had secured the vital two third majority to approve the 19th amendment bill. The next three months had been dedicated to the task of denying Mahinda the PM post he sought as the basis for his comeback. But even after the Lankan public had prevented the former president from realizing his ambitious goal, the manic antics had not stopped. One year has passed since a new parliament was elected. It seems all that has occupied the president, the government and the people throughout these last twelve months has been the actions of the joint opposition and the reactions of the government to it. The last few months saw mayhem in the House, stage-managed to disrupt the proceedings when government bills were being debated; witnessed coconut dashing rituals attended with curses to damn the government out of existence; noted the rebels unilateral declaration of independence from the ruling twin SLFP and the formation of the so called joint opposition; sat through the five day downhill crawl, or the Pada Yatra, from Peradeniya to Colombo, enlivened only by some bouts of baila dancing on the streets: with the entire drama staged for the sole declared purpose of bringing down the duly elected one year old government upon reaching the capital. And all this done on the pretext of promoting the public weal and safeguarding the peoples rights when it is abundantly clear that their real and main purpose is to plunge the nation into chaos and ward off the day of judgment: when the wages of corruption fall due for payment before the stern bar of court. Weerawansas threat in his hysterical speech at the Lipton Circus on August 1st, that the Government must stop the political witch-hunt of the Rajapaksa rebels or else they would lay siege on Colombo and bring the nation to a halt, reveal the true motive beneath the sham protests. Now their latest stratagem to split the SLFP by the formation of a new party has provoked the presidents ire for it threatens to weaken his own power base and possibly to cook his goose come the next election. But it may possibly backfire and cook the gander for the rebels too. For uneasy must lie the heads that wear the thorns of corruption. And today the rebels must find themselves in the excruciating position of being impaled upon two swords. The Excalibur of Maithripala ready to strike if the rebels follow the latest craze and, abandoning the mother ship, jump aboard the still submerged Rajapaksa catamaran. Mahindas Damocles ready to drop if they dont. Maithripala Sirisenas sacking of 40 members of the rebel group last week as SLFPs main electoral and district organizers may well make many in the joint opposition group to walk the plank. Two or three senior members, possibly embarrassed to remain on the deck . while others were castaway as jetsam, have voluntarily jumped overboard whilst others may soon follow suit. The presidents threat to expose anyone who mutinies has also led to calls demanding he reveals the secrets to the public. But what real purpose, other than sating the peoples thirst for the lowdown on the infamous damned, will that achieve? Except, perhaps, to cast him in the role of a gossip monger making wild scurrilous accusations whilst protected from defamation suits by the shield of presidential immunity. What is more important is to convey the dossiers to the investigating agencies and thus ensure that the promised crackdown on corruption is made, is pursed to the end without any let up with the guilty subjected to the due process. What is vital for President Sirisena to do, as leader of one of Lankas two main parties, is to ensure corrupt members are not granted a safe haven in the SLFP harbour, even for the sake of party unity. Or else the people will only be witnessing to their horror and deep dismay, the recent sordid history of the SLFP repeating itself unabashedly under a regime that professes to hold the Yahapalana doctrine as the bedrock of its actions. Theres nothing more dangerous than when the corrupt unite to gain and retain the purple seat of power. Aussies go a Waltzing Eelam by the billabong As an example of just how crass a nation can be when it comes to respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity of another nation and the sensitivities of its citizens, look no further but down under at Australia, the antipode of all thats civilized and refined.Last week the Australian High Commissioner replied to the Sunday Times report published a week earlier of how the Australian Government has listed Tamil Eelam in their census. He says: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides internal guidance- instructions given on how to sort responses by members of the public to the question on country of birth- and, in this specific instance, staff were instructed that any respondents who choose to write Tamil Eelam as their country of birth, must be recorded as having been born in Sri Lanka. We regret this internal guidance was placed on the ABS website Regrets that internal guidelines were placed in the website apart, the Australian High Commissioners position is that Australias national census did not recognize Tamil Eelam as a separate country. Of course. How can any government or even an ocker in a blue singlet and rubber thongs with a tinnie in his hand propping up a bar from the outback recognize a country called Tamil Eelam which does not exist? What is distressing is to find that Australian government staff at the national census as the Australian High Commissioner admits in his statement were instructed that any respondents, who choose to write Tamil Eelam as their country of birth, must be recorded as having been born in Sri Lanka. What on earth gave them larrikins that preposterous idea? Why not connect Tamil Eelam to Canada, to France, to Germany, to Tamil Nadu in India or even to Australia itself where a large number of Tamils dwell, when anyone lists country of birth as Tamil Eelam? Why Lanka? Is this not a tacit recognition that a de facto state of Tamil Eelam exists in Sri Lanka? Today all the democratically elected representatives of the Tamils of Lanka have forsaken the pursuit of this utopian dream for which a terrible terrorist war was fought for over thirty years and cost thousands of lives. An extremists fantasy that had to be paid in blood. Today only extremist racist groups and the terrorist residue still harbor the hope of resurrecting the spectre of Eelam on Lankan soil. They yearn for recognition for their infernal goal and every crumb of acceptance, every bestowal of seeming legitimacy they can get to foster their diabolical mission is manna from heaven or hell; and is welcome, even if its from down under. Thus havent Australias covert instructions to its census staff to connect Tamil Eelam exclusively with Sri Lanka and, by so doing, indirectly legitimize its conceptual existence served to contribute to the terrorists till of forlorn hopes, the propaganda bonanza to make the guns boom and the blood flow in Lanka again in the name of an internationally denounced Eelam. The Australian High Commissioner Mr. Bruce Hutchesson has only said a cursory sorry for the secret internal guidelines getting out? Not for the instructions which take cognizance of a Tamil Eelam originating from Sri Lanka. Was that politically correct of him? Perhaps he would better understand the grievous hurt caused to Sri Lankan sensitivities should the Sri Lankan Government officially instruct its immigration officials to record that it is Australia and not some British penal colony that is being referred to, if some Crocodile Dundee comes to the immigration counter at the airport and tipsily declares himself to be from the aboriginal land of Oz. Especially, if he confirms his origins by singing its national anthem, Waltzing Matilda. SLFP split at hand;Sirisena holds urgent talks with CBK and party seniors View(s): Former President Rajapaksa says his loyalists unhappy to attend next Sundays party convention in Kurunegala, but large crowds to be transported SLFP ministers insist on major changes to VAT, more consultations before finality is reached Cabinet approves Rs 166 million for Secretariat Co-ordinating the Reconciliation Mechanism (SCRM); Tittawella, Dayananda to head it. By Our Political Editor Economic and political issues continue to predominate the Government agenda. Uppermost among them is legislation to give legal effect to the Value Added Tax (VAT) which was raised from 11 to 15 % in March this year. Consultations are under way with the Attorney Generals Department to re-introduce the Bill in Parliament. It was on hold after two Supreme Court rulings one saying that the way VAT was introduced was illegal. The other declared that the procedure adopted in introducing the Bill to Parliament without the declaration that it was approved by Cabinet was not proper. The issue figured brieflyat Tuesdays weekly ministerial meeting. A Ministerial source said the presentation of a fresh Bill in Parliament still depended on the key partners in the Government the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) reaching finality on the contents. They argue it imposed severe hardships on the people. The SLFP segment is strongly opposed to the VAT being enforced in its present format and insists it should be changed. The ministers also had a lengthy discussion on the controversial coal tender. It came after Minister Tilak Siyambalapitiya presented a Cabinet Memorandum. It was agreed that the contents of the memo should be examined in close detail at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Matters (CCEM) before finality is reached. At a recent meeting ministers examined the performance for the first half of 2016. They noted that the percentage of utilization of capital allocations during the first half of 2016 by most of the Ministers and other Spending Agencies was low. Since the Government has decided to fully implement the zero based budgeting methodology from next year, Ministers and Spending Agencies have been required to complete the projects implemented through capital allocations provided in the Budget 2016, this year itself. Ministers have now been advised to take note of this position and to have progress review meetings regularly. This is with the participation of Secretaries to Ministries, other relevant officials and stakeholders to ensure maximum utilisation of funds allocated this year for Capital Projects. The Government is also mindful of the on-going projects. This month it granted approval to Chinese companies for the Overlay to Runway and Associated Works of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The cost will be US $ 48,600,406.52 plus taxes. The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., in terms of a decision by the Cabinet of Ministers, will award a contract and enter into a Commercial Contract Agreement for a joint venture with the China National Aero Technology International Engineering Group (CATIC) and Shanghai New Era Design and Reach Institute Company Ltd of the Civil Aviation Authority of China. Ministers have decided that Transport and Civil Aviation, Ministry Secretary should initiate action to include appropriate provisions in the Contract Agreement to reimburse the relevant taxes and levies to the said company for the services to be provided. The BIA will remain shut down during the day from January 5 next year for three months for work connected with the overlay. Hence, almost all flights will land or take off at night hours. Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella also sought ministerial approval to obtain a supplementary loan of US $ 14 million from the China Development Bank (CDB) or any other funding agency. He has said this is for variations in depth of roads now under construction and recommendations made by a Special Procurements Committee that contractors were entitled for payments due to variation orders. The China Development Bank (CDB) provided credit facilities amounting to US $ 500 million for the Priority Roads Project 2 (PRP 2) for the rehabilitation of sections of roads selected on a priority basis. Twenty two contracts were awarded with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to Mr Kiriella, the loan was to finance 90 % of the civil works contract and a remaining 10% was to be financed by Government funds. He has told his ministerial colleagues that due to variation orders issued and additional work added to settle all the bills, the loan amount is not sufficient. The original scope of work consisted of rehabilitation of 601.34 kilometres of road and the reconstruction of 44 bridges, whereas at the completion of the project 626.68 kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated and 73 bridges reconstructed. Kiriella said that roads had been widened to two lane width in some areas, and the additional facilities like foot-walks and drainage systems were provided in town areas outside the original plan. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe won ministerial approval last Tuesday for a vote of aboutRs 166 million for the Secretariat Co-ordinating the Reconciliation Mechanism (SCRM), a body function under his purview. The Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday gave approval for this secretariat to function for two years. Mano Tittawella is the Secretary General. The primary objective of the SCRM, he told his ministerial colleagues, is to serve as the co-ordinating body of all reconciliation mechanisms. It will facilitate the exchange of information among various policy makers and implementers. Explaining the rationale behind the move, Wickremesinghe added that Sri Lanka re-embarked on its reconciliation agenda with renewed enthusiasm following the change of Government on January 8,last year. The new Government he noted, in both its electoral and international pledges promised to uphold the right of people via revisiting the post conflict agenda as well as promoting reconciliation. A, A, Dayananda has been named the head of the Secretariat and has been selected on a two year contract for an all-inclusive monthly allowance of Rs 175,000. Other State officials are to be seconded for service from other Ministries and departments. On the political front, the Joint Opposition is now mulling over a number of measures after some of the MahindaRajapaksa loyalists were removed from their posts as organisers both at district and electoral levels. Former President Rajapaksa reacted to the sacking. He told the Sunday Times many of our organisers asked me what to do about the upcoming annual convention of the SLFP on September 4. I asked them to go back and meet their balamandalasand consult them. He said they had reported back to him that they did not want to attend the event. They are unhappy the way the party is disintegrating with the leadership surrendering everything to the UNP. Asked for his response on the sacking of party organisers and President Sirisenas threat that he would expose their secrets if they formed a new party, Rajapaksa declared everyone has secrets, What is this secret they are talking of, he asked. Commenting on media reports in Australia linking President Sirisena, when he was Minister of Agriculture under his Presidency, to a purported scam, he said that is dittadammavedaneeyakamma. Sirisena has denied any involvement in the alleged scam and an announcement from the Presidential Secretariat said he had asked the Attorney General to take action. Rajapaksa said he would give a studied response to the prevailing situation in the party (SLFP) once he returned from a visit to Malaysia. He leaves on Wednesday. Rajapaksa added that everyone was now talking about the absence of SLFP ministers in the Cabinet except for one. It has never happened to the SLFP at anytime before, he said. Rajapaksas remarks came as a Committee named by him to examine matters after the SLFP leadership suspended his loyalists who were both district and electoral level organizers met again last Thursday at the Nelumpokuna Road in Battaramulla. They decided to form a political party under Mahinda Rajapaksas leadership. It is not immediately clear whether they would use the SLFP name with an additional title. The Committee is headed by Basil Rajapaksa and compries Dullas Allahapperuma, Pavithra Wanniaratchchi, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, G.L.Peiris and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The decision came after a lengthy discussion of the situation within the party and Balamandalayas loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa deciding to boycott the annual sessions of the party on September 4. The Committee has decided that they will have consultations with other opposition political parties to from a Common Front. It will function whilst the Joint Opposition continues to play its own role in Parliament. A formidable section is in favour of making a formal announcement on the formation of the party on September 4. There are also moves to demand that their group be treated as a separate entity in Parliament. Being the largest group, they contend, they should be recognized as the main opposition. Another matter under discussion is the recent passage of the Office for the Missing Persons Act. The Government has declared that it would now entertain amendments from the JanathaVimukthiPeramuna (JVP). These amendments were not moved ahead of the Bill being passed into law due to commotion in the House. When amendments are moved, one suggestion has been for them to go to the Supreme Court using that as a platform to challenge the new law. Small group meetings are being planned in different areas to brief the people on what the Joint Opposition calls the dangers from the Office for the Missing Persons Act. President Sirisena who heads the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has been alive to the developments in the pro Rajapaksa faction, particularly the different measures being adopted. One such instance, reported in these columns last week, is the resignation of organisers, both district and electoral, after some were suspended. He has taken a break from his regular chores to conduct meetings with his partys high command fuelling speculation there may be surprises at the partys annual sessions. Among those who have been involved in a string of discussions at his Paget Road residence were one time President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, SLFP General Secretary DumindaDissanayake, and UPFA General Secretary MahindaAmaraweera. There is little doubt that rivalry between the two factions within the SLFP would exacerbate, particularly with Rajapaksa loyalists deciding to boycott their annual sessions. Crowds will not be an issue at the SLFP convention in Kurunegala. Arrangements are under way by organisers to have crowds transported in buses from different parts of the country. The issue, however, is clearly the parting of the ways. If rival faction members choose to say they are going it alone in Parliament, further separation of the party will become inevitable. Even sacking those dissidents would entail a legal process, enough time for them to consolidate. Just a week away from their annual convention, there is little doubt that the SLFP is in deep crisis. PM to introduce new Law to regulate foreign exchange Last Tuesday, the Cabinet of Ministers gave approval for a new Bill for the promotion of and regulation of Foreign Exchange: To vest the responsibility for promoting and regulating foreign exchange in the Ministry of Finance; to designate the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as the agent of the Ministry; to provide for the repeal of the Exchange Control Act (Chapter 423); and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Approval for this was sought by Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs. The Central Bank now comes under this Ministry. Here are some highlights of the Bill which is to be gazetted shortly: The Minister assigned the subject of Central Bank shall be responsible for implementation of the provisions of this Act, to ensure proper promotion and regulation of foreign exchange in Sri Lanka. The Secretary to the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Central Bank, may from time to time with the concurrence of the Minister, issue such directions as may be necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The Central Bank shall act as agent on behalf of the Minister assigned the subject of Central Bank and be responsible for implementing the provisions of this Act, in accordance with such directions as may from time to time to be issued in that behalf in terms of this section. NOTE: The existing Exchange Control Act (Chapter 423) states that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka shall, as agent of the Government, . Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall deal in foreign exchange within or outside Sri Lanka by any act which involves the conversion of Sri Lanka rupees or assets within Sri Lanka to foreign exchange or the conversion of assets outside Sri Lanka, otherwise than through an authorised dealer, or to the extent specified in the permit, through a restricted dealer. Any person in or resident in, Sri Lanka, who (a) holds foreign exchange in a bank account in Sri Lanka or outside Sri Lanka; or (b) owns any foreign assets (other than foreign exchange) not being foreign exchange or a foreign asset (i) derived from the conversion of Sri Lanka currency or the disposal or conversion of an asset within Sri Lanka or provision of any service within Sri Lanka (other than a service referred to in terms 2A (c) of the Schedule); or (ii) derived by an authorised dealer or restricted dealer from the business of dealing in foreign exchange may utilise such foreign exchange or foreign assets for making of any payment for or in respect of, any current or capital transaction of such person, within our outside Sri Lanka. The Central Bank may permit, (subject to section 11 and 12), any person, class or classes of persons (hereinafter in this Act referred to as a restricted dealer) not being an authorised dealer, to deal in foreign exchange within Sri Lanka for the purpose specified in the permit, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Central Bank in that behalf. Prior to dealing in foreign currency for a current transaction (under subsection 1), an authorised dealer or restricted dealer may request the person requiring foreign exchange for such transaction to provide such information or produce such documents or make such declaration as reasonably necessary, in order to satisfy himself that the requirement is in relation to a current transaction and is in conformity with any other laws regulating such transaction. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall deal in foreign exchange within or outside Sri Lanka, by any act which involves the conversion of Sri Lanka rupees or assets within Sri Lanka to foreign exchange or the conversion of assets outside Sri Lanka, otherwise than through an authorised dealer, or to the extent specified in the permit, through a restricted dealer. A person in, or resident in, Sri Lanka may (a) Export from Sri Lanka or import into Sri Lanka, any foreign exchange of Sri Lanka currency; (b) Hold foreign exchange in or outside Sri Lanka; (c) Acquire a foreign asset from foreign exchange obtained by the conversion of Sri Lanka currency or assets held in Sri Lanka; (d) For such purposes, up to such limits and subject to such terms and conditions, as are specified in the Schedule to this Act. The Central Bank may, at any time, cause an investigation to be made, of foreign exchange transactions or foreign assets of any authorised dealer, or restricted dealer or any other person as the case may be, by a person authorised in writing by the Central Bank (hereinafter referred in this Act as authorized persons) in that behalf. The Board of Inquiry (appointed under sub section 1) shall) consist of the following persons appointed by the Minister. (a) A retired Judge of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal; who shall be the Chairman of the Board; and (b) Two persons who are conversant in matters relating to international finance or exchange transactions and have had experience at a senior managerial level in the public or private sector and are of good standing and repute. Where the report of the Board is not a unanimous report, any dissenting member may submit a separate report to the Minister. The Minister shall, after considering the report of or reports submitted by the Board and any member thereof, affirm, revoke or vary the determination of the Central Bank against which the appeal was preferred. The Minister shall in writing communicate his decision to the Central Bank and the party preferring within fourteen days of the receipt of the report or reports. The decision to the Minister under this subsection shall be binding on the Central Bank and the party preferring the appeal. Where the person who is required to pay the amount or value of foreign asset and expenses incurred under section 12 (dealing in relation to foreign assets contrary to this Act or any guideline) is a body corporate or unincorporated, every director, member or partner of such body shall also be personally liable jointly and severally to pay such amount or value and expenses; Provided that such director, member or partner shall not be liable to pay such amount or value if such person proves that the act or omission incurring such liability was done or omitted to be done without the knowledge of such person or that such person exercised due diligence to prevent such act or omission. Where the Monetary Board advises the Minister that in the opinion of the Board, remittances of foreign exchange into or but of Sri Lanka constitute a potential threat to the financial stability of Sri Lanka, the Minister may, with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers and notwithstanding (the provisions of sections 5,6 and 7) of this Act , by Order published in the Gazette, take such steps as may be necessary to restrict or regulate remittances of foreign exchange into or out of Sri Lanka, for such period not exceeding six months from the date of such Order. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Monetary Board or any of its members or the Central Bank or any of its employees or the Minister or the Secretary or any officials of the Ministry or any other person exercising any power or performing any duty or omission done or omitted to be done, in good faith done under this Act. Where the provisions of any other written law imposes an obligation in respect of doing of any act and the permission or consent of the bank is, by virtue of this Act required for the discharge of the obligation, it shall be an implied condition of the obligation that it shall not be discharged except in so far as the permission or consent is given or is not required. The Minister may make regulation in respect of all matters which are required by this Act to be prescribed or in respect of which regulations are requiredor authorized to be made under this Act. Hail and farewell with UNanswered questions View(s): The United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon visits Sri Lanka on Wednesday for what is a virtual farewell call as he completes his term of office at the helm of the 193- nation world body. According to unconfirmed reports he is now a possible contender for the Presidency of his native land, South Korea. His last visit to Sri Lanka was under different circumstances. Sri Lanka had just ended a military campaign for a separate state; bloody and bruising, it also hurt the pride of Western powers that had wanted the fighting to stop, a call the then Government had refused to heed. The UNSGs visit came in the backdrop of those harrowing days of 2009 and to say the least, due to pressure from those Western countries. Today, those very countries are grappling with home-grown terrorism, and Sri Lanka seems one of the few safe havens in the world. The UNSGs visit in 2009 was to have after-shocks for Sri Lanka in the form of a joint communique issued at the time. The then Government of Sri Lanka agreed to set in motion an accountability process for the way its Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist organisation. This was to set the stage later for a Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva formalizing a virtual war crimes tribunal by whatever name one calls it. The then President was ill-advised that the Western powers would not pursue such a Resolution against Sri Lanka. The setting up of a Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as an alternative to a war crimes tribunal fell short of expectations in Geneva because the then Government did not follow the Commissions recommendations. It was also too little too late to pacify the West. In-between, Ban-Ki moon muddied the waters further by appointing a committee, later to be dubbed the Darusman Committee after its chairman, to do its own investigation into what happened during the last stages of the armed insurgency against the state of Sri Lanka. He was up for re-election as UNSG and needed the backing of the Western powers. A UNSG has to play ball with the Western powers if he wants to sit on that seat; ask one of his predecessors Boutros BoutrosGhali, the Egyptian UNSG who did not get a second term. Not to be seen as entirely dancing to the tune of the Western powers, Ban-Ki moon said that the Darusman Committees findings were merely for his own enlightenment. It was not a formal UN committee. But, he went back on his word and the substantively unsubstantiated findings of the committee were leaked to the UNHRC that was by then prosecuting the state of Sri Lanka in Geneva. He ignored the legitimate protest of the Government of Sri Lanka and took no action against his Assistant SG, an appointee of his, who did the leaking. Compounding matters was the basis on which the committee members were chosen and the obvious bias they showed in accepting ex-parte evidence not subjected to the test of proof. The credibility of the Darusman Committee members was later exposed. One of them, in particular, Yasmin Sooka of South Africa was seen on pro-LTTE platforms later. The Darusman Committee report became a handy whip against the state of Sri Lanka and Ban-Ki moon has to take the personal rap for this. This was a time when Sri Lankas foreign policy was in a shambles; antagonising India and the West, losing votes at the UNHRC; fast becoming a fiefdom of China, nepotism reigning supreme in appointments domestically, and High Commissioners getting slapped by Monitoring MPs at restaurant bars in New York. It was a time the Governments left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Having derided the Darusman Report home as illegitimate, a secret delegation was sent to meet the committee at the UN headquarters in New York to argue Sri Lankas case, thereby legitimizing it. What bungling! The United Nations political standing has been severely eroded in recent years. Its apex Security Council is seen by many around the world as a mere rubber-stamp endorsing the Wests global agenda; it is a testament to the UNs failures in maintaining world peace. Selectively pursuing human rights abuses and grave violations, and the killing of non-combatants, including children and the destruction of property in war theatres but exempting the Wests NATO or NATO allied forces committing the same crimes as reported daily from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya and other countries, the UN is under scrutiny. There are no Darusman Committees sent by the UNSG to these bleeding hot-spots. What has the UNSG to say about the R2P (Right to Protect) concept mooted during the period of his predecessor, by Western powers to get a foothold in sovereign nations not tocing their line? Did the UN factor in the culpability of bigger countries destabilising smaller states in the first place? Take the case of Indias intervention in Sri Lanka.This triggered the military campaign for a separate state on this island-nation for three decades. The UN maintained a deafening silence all along. Is not the Palestinian problem, the tragic sore festering in the world for the past seven decades with injustice, poverty, bondage and human rights violations rampant. Why has the UN outsourced the solving of this problem to the US, which given the influential Jewish lobby in America, can hardly be an honest broker? While the UN has displayed its partisanship on the political front the UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka being a textbook case, the organization nor Ban-Ki moon has been entirely a disaster to the world. One has only to imagine a world without the UN to comprehend what it would otherwise be. This is an imperfect world and there are no level playing-fields. That is in Utopia, not on planet Earth. It is somewhat like religion. Despite wars fought in the name of religion, imagine a world without religion, whatever the Rationalists may say. And with issues like climate change creeping up on humanity, who would coordinate the fight against it. The good side of the UN gets little kudos the several agencies of the UN that do immense work outside the political arena. Sri Lanka has played its part in the organisation over the years. Our UN Ambassador ShirleyAmerasinghe was a shining example having chaired the Law of the Sea Conference and GamaniCorea heading UNCTAD was no second. A host of other Sri Lankans have served in these specialized agencies providing their expertise to the world community. Sri Lanka has punched above its weight by way of human resources and expertise to the UN and right now, the irony is that its Army plays a significant role in the UN Peace Keeping Forces in the worlds troubled areas even as the conduct of this same Army is being questioned by another UN agency. President MaithripalaSirisena leaves for the UN General Assembly sessions in New York next month after the UNSGs visit. Last year, he was feted as a conquering hero by Western leaders who had assembled in that city for defeating an anti-West Government in Sri Lanka, but the UNHRCs Geneva Resolution sponsored by those very countries continues to hang like the Sword of Damocles over this country. Prince Vijayapala embraces Christianity View(s): This article is part of a continuing series on Sri Lankan history King Rajasinghe went to Uva, with the idea of capturing his brother, Prince Vijayapala who was also known as the Prince of Matale. The prince had fled before that. He had gone to Batticaloa and met the Dutch. He tried his best to antagonize the Dutch against King Rajasinghe, by making various complaints. The Portuguese thought of helping Prince Vijayapala to fight against King Rajasinghe. They later gave up that idea and sent Prince Vijayapala to Goa. There he was placed in the status of a Portuguese prince and was given a considerable allowance for his maintenance. King Rajasinghe sought the help of the Dutch to capture his brother Prince Vijayapala. The prince got to know this and escaped from the Durch as well. He went to the Portuguese, who warmly welcomed him. While he was in Goa, Prince Vijayapala embraced Christianity. During this time, the Dutch who were in the Fort of Galle had to face a food shortage. They had to go out of the fort, in search of food. The Portuguese made use of this opportunity. They lay in hiding. At Wakwella, they met a crowd of Dutch soldiers. Everyone in the crowd was put to death by the Portuguese. This happened in the month of August in 1642 A.D. As a result the Dutch soldiers who were in the fort of Galle were frightened and discouraged. By Halaliye Karunathilake Edited and translated by Kamala Silva Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila Head to Negombo beach to fly high View(s): Its back. This windy August the kite season is in full flight and the much- awaited National Kite Festival 2016 titled Nil Ahase Wasanthaya with X2 will return to its birthplace Negombo today, August 28. So if you have a lazy Sunday ahead head down to the Negombo Beach Park the festival is on the whole day from 8.30 a.m. 7.30p.m. Its back. This windy August the kite season is in full flight and the much- awaited National Kite Festival 2016 titled Nil Ahase Wasanthaya with X2 will return to its birthplace Negombo today, August 28. So if you have a lazy Sunday ahead head down to the Negombo Beach Park the festival is on the whole day from 8.30 a.m. 7.30p.m. Organised by Kite Sri Lanka, this years competition ( the festival is incidentally in its ninth year) will feature a number of kite enthusiasts from around Sri Lanka. The event creates a platform for thousands of local and foreign kite lovers to enjoy kite flying by participating in a number of kite related events and competitions. The kite competition will be open for both children and open groups. Children under 14 years can participate in two events namely The Most Creative Kite and The Nature Kite (kites made under the theme of nature) while the open category consists of three events including TheMost Creative Kite, TheNature Kite (kites made under the theme nature) and The Best Fighting Kite. Fighting kites should be made into Combuwa or Waula style and their size should not exceed 1 1/2 feet. As this years event is being held on the beach, the much-awaited sand castle competition will also return to the festival. The theme for this competition will be World Peace. Kite flying apart, there are lots of fun events such as magic displays, face painting, fun games, DJ music and Papare bands and more. You may also have the chance to see your favourite celebrity from the world of sports, music and film down at the beach. Registration for the competitions will take place from 8:30 11:30 a.m. at the venue today. Certificates, trophies, gifts and gift vouchers are in store for the winners. This year as well, the organisers have joined hands with the Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention and a special one km walk will be held from the Negambo town to the Beach Park where the festival is being held. Co-hosted by Rotary International and Interact Clubs, the Kite Walk will focus on educating the general public specifically youth on the harm caused by drug use and spreading a positive message. This years event is sponsored by X2 Ginseng drink, Trisoy soya milk drink and Power of the Sea beverages. It is also co-sponsored by Lacto Sun Lotion, Health Tips, Kalabara News, JobSpot.lk, Music TV, Music.lk, Casterly Crown, ShoppingWasi.lk, Sakwa Creations, Neth Creations, Negombo News and Nehemiah Consultants. Army willing to adjust camp boundaries to expedite closure of IDP camps View(s): By Chris Kamalendran The Government is expediting a programme to close down all camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the north, by offering constructed houses, land to build own houses and providing financial assistance to build houses. The moves come as UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon visits Sri Lanka next week. Resettlement and Rehabilitation Ministry Secretary, V. Sivagnanasothy said to facilitate the closure of the camps, the military is building houses or, IDP families are being offered land or, encouraged to build their own houses with State assistance. The Government maintains 31 camps for IDPs in Jaffna for 971 families. To facilitate the resettlement, some 600 families have been identified to be provided with land, while 100 houses under construction by the military in the Kankesanthurai area, is nearing completion. More than 300 families were given letters assigning them with lands in the north. Mr Sivagnanasothy said, the Government, from its last Budget, has allocated Rs 8,000 million for resettlement programmes which includes persons living in camps, as well as some 10,000 more families living with friends and relatives. Jaffna Additional District Secretary (Lands) N. Muralitharan told the Sunday Times, the military, at a meeting held in Jaffna this week, disclosed that the boundaries will be adjusted, enabling the return of lands to its original owners. As the military will have to retain a certain amount of land for national security, we are looking to purchase private lands from persons willing to sell their lands, if they are living overseas or from those who do not require the lands any longer, he said. Meanwhile, the UNSG will meet President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and will participate in an event involving youth under the theme, Reconciliation and Coexistence: Role of Youth. In Jaffna he will meet the Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, Leader of the Opposition, R. Sampanthan, members of the TNA, and visit a resettlement site. Hackers attack Presidents website, warning of cyber war View(s): The tampering of President Maithripala Sirisenas official website with hackers breaching the sites defences on two consecutive days, is being probed by detectives, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said yesterday. The website, www.president.gov.lk, continued to be offline yesterday after the second attack. The Presidents Media Director, Dharmasiri Bandara Ekanayake said a decision was made to temporarily take down the website after it was hacked a second time on Friday evening. Presidential Secretariat Officials said they expected to have the site back online by yesterday evening after further measures were taken to enhance its security. CID detectives specializing in cybercrime began an investigation into the hacking after an official complaint was lodged. Initial inquiries by the CID appear to suggest that the cyber attack had originated from within the country, Mr. Ekananayke said. The first attack occurred on Thursday evening, when hackers hijacked the site and posted a message in Sinhala. The message, which was posted under the name The Sri Lankan Youth, made several demands to the Government. The message called on the Government to reconsider the decision to hold the GCE A/Level examination in April instead of August. It also called on the Government to be more mindful about the security of Sri Lankan websites. Failure to do so could result in the country having to face a cyber war, the message further warned. In the event the President is unable to control the situation, the hackers advised him to hold a Presidential Election. The other demands were to stop the irresponsible conduct of the Prime Minister and to be more attentive to the problems faced by university students. While the website came back online a few hours later, the subsequent attack on Friday resulted in officials having to take down the site for a much longer period. Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), the countrys state machinery that deals with cybercrims is also looking into the hacking and said it is collecting relevant information that would determine how vulnerable the site was to cyber attacks. It was brought to our attention by Presidential Secretariat staff, when the site was attacked initially they put up an image. We are also investigating how internally safe the site is or whether it happened using any loopholes, CERT Senior Security Engineer Roshan Chandragupta told the Sunday Times. Hambantota bunkering: Two big loss- making ventures also in the running View(s): By Namini Wijedasa Two loss-making Government ventures are among those which have submitted bids to carry out bunkering operations at the Hambantota oil tank farm. Bids were submitted for bunkering by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) as well as Adani Bunkering and the John Keells Holdings-World Fuel Services joint venture. Based on what is in the public domain, the CPC and CPSTL do not meet the minimum qualification criteria on their own, despite bidding as such, an industry source said. It also defies logic that Government corporations, particularly those running at a loss, would bid to take over other Government assets, he said. Meanwhile, six bids were also submitted for other business ventures at the Port of Hambantota. It is now six years since Phase I of the Hambantota Port was opened. April 2016 marked the third occasion on which the Government called for proposals for business ventures in Hambantota. To date, however, not a single initiative has been set up. Consequently, the only revenue that the Port derives is from vehicle carriers that have been moved there from Colombo. Proposals had been requested for other businesses by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. Accordingly, Ace Distriparks-Aitken Spence of Sri Lanka has bid to set up a warehousing facility; Pyramid Wilmar of Sri Lanka has bid for sugar refining and Gunvor Group of Singapore has bid for liquefied natural gas (LNG) transshipment and distribution. Also, JKH and Fortrec, a Sri Lankan and Singapore joint venture, have bid for a petrochemical tank terminal; Lucky Cement of Pakistan has bid for cement manufacturing and Hayleys Advantis and NYK of Sri Lanka have bid for a roll on-roll off terminal. The Government should kick-start some activity there which, in turn, will help stimulate further interest in Hambantota and create momentum which is woefully lacking at present, the source said. The bunkering terminal at Hambantota was built at an exorbitant cost, well over industry norms. However, it appears to be a well-constructed, world class terminal, the industry source said. Leaving it idle is a criminal waste, he added. The previous Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama lost more than US$16 million in an ambition to turn SLPA into a bunker supplier and trader. The Unity Government, within a month of coming into power, shut down the bunkering operation in February 2015. The new Government has had 18 months to do something with an asset that is sitting idling, and probably perishing in the process, while incurring massive debt repayments on it with zero income,a private sector source said. The Government should evaluate the conforming bids received to establish whether there is an option that will, at least partially, address the debt repayment problem. Reviewing the proposals received, including for bunkering, will give the Government some leverage with whomever the Chinese parties are reportedly negotiating the handover of the entirety of the Hambantota Port and Free Trade Zone, he pointed said. No legal bar to proceed in case against Tiran Alles allegedly misappropriating State funds: ASG View(s): Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda, P.C., this week told court that that there was no legal impediment to continuing with the case against former MP Tiran Alles over an allegation of misappropriating State funds amounting to Rs. 167 million meant for the construction of houses for displaced persons in the North and East. Mr. Kodagoda made the submission when Mr Alles and three others were to be indicted in the Colombo High Court last Monday on the charges. The other suspects are Emil Kanthan, Rohan Saliya Abeysinghe and Jayantha Dias. Defense counsel raised preliminary objections about the indictment on the grounds that the Supreme Court in a Fundamental Rights application filed by Mr. Alles had directed that the status quo should remain. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena. Mr. Kodagoda argued that going by the argument of the defence counsel objections could have been raised when the statements of Mr. Alles were being recorded regarding the investigations, but no such action was taken. Mr. Kodagoda said that the indictments should be served on the suspects as the case had already commenced. Nalin Ladduwahetti, defence counsel for Mr. Alles, said that serving indictments on his client would be a violation of the Supreme Court directive and therefore a decision should be taken after informing the Supreme Court. He said that if an interpretation of the Supreme Court directive was necessary, it should be obtained from the same court. Attorney-at-law Shanka Ranasinghe appearing on behalf of Emil Kanthan said that his client was overseas and in view of a travel ban imposed by the Colombo Fort Magistrates court a request has been made to lift the ban, but no permission has been given so far. High Court Judge Ms. Weerawardena said since the FR case will be taken up again in courts on September 28 an interpretation could be sought regarding its previous directive and theafter indictments can be handed over. Accordingly the judge fixed the case for October 6. SLFP takes soft line on dissidents View(s): By Damith Wickramasekara Disciplinary action will not be taken against Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members who choose not to attend the partys 65th Convention in Kurunegala next Sunday, SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said yesterday. He said attendance at the convention was purely voluntary. However, he emphasized that all those involved in the party would be invited to attend. Accordingly, all party organizers, Pradeshiya Sabha members, Provincial Councillors, current and former Ministers and MPs have all been officially invited to attend and had also been asked to bring crowds with them to the convention. Mr. Dissanayake expressed optimism that President Maithripala Sirisena, along with former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who are patrons of the SLFP, would all attend the convention and be seated on the same stage. Last year also people were saying Mr. Rajapaksa would not attend the party convention. But, Lohan Ratwatte called us to confirm Mr. Rajapaksa was coming. We hope this will be the case next Sunday also. We have reserved a seat for him, Mr. Dissanayake said. He said no one should fear any mistreatment at the Convention. Chairs with name tags had already been set aside for dignitaries irrespective of who they were or whom they supported. SriLankan Chairman says pilots issues are internal problems View(s): In an interview after repeated requests, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias said the issues highlighted by the Pilots Guild were internal matters. Nowhere in the world are the internal problems of a company reflected in the newspapers, he lamented. This seems to happen only here and, that too, only in respect of SriLankan Airlines. He insisted that as a rule, the management did not respond to personally-motivated allegations. He answered general questions about recent developments. The Chairman said every decision the management made was carefully considered, studied and taken in consultation with experts. Frankfurt and Paris had bled money for years. Roughly, we lose about 150 Euros per passenger, he said. The Middle East airlines operate at a cost that nobody, certainly not us, can compete with. We have to run this company till such time somebody takes it over, he explained. It is better to cut our losses now. He said the European slots would not be sold. The company that enters into partnership with the Government will have to decide whether or not to use them. Suspending flights to loss-making destination was a common industry move. Inbound passenger availability to Colombo wont change as SriLankan had sufficient partnerships with other airlines. Transit passengers to Colombo were not our natural traffic and yields on transit were low, said Capt Suren Ratwatte, Chief Executive Officer. Points-of-sale data and commercial information were sensitive and could not be released. We have a commercial department to look into that, he insisted. For pilots to ask for such information is akin to the commercial department wanting the pilots training reports to check if they were capable of flying planes. Mr Dias said the airline had a marketing and business plan tiding over till March 31 next year. The Annual Report will be launched after the Annual General Meeting scheduled for the last week of September. The incoming A350 aircraft will absolutely not be flown, he clarified. It would be unprofitable to do so. There are ongoing confidential and deep discussions with the lessor in this regard. As for the A330s, one has been leased to Pakistan and discussions with regards to two more will be finalised next week. The company has identified areas that were overstaffed and was awaiting Government approval for the rightsizing of the company. This means to have the right number of people for the jobs needed to run an airline, Capt Ratwatte said. The moment the Government gives the go-ahead, we will do it. Rightsizing could involve voluntary retirement schemes and various other things. The CEO described the opposition to the cutting of European destinations as emotional. Our relationship with the pilots is not bad but the relationship with a minority of them represented in the Pilots Guild could be improved, he admitted. There is considerable resistance to change. They do not wish to accept that the European routes are loss-making and they seem to enjoy their European layovers. But we have been losing money on them for years. We have some of the best pilots in the world working for us, said Mr Dias. Their job is to fly planes and that is what they should be doing. SriLankan pilots, management run into turbulence View(s): Guild says decision to suspend flights to Frankfurt and Paris will reduce value of national carrier By Namini Wijedasa SriLankan Airlines pilots and management are on a collision course over the decision to suspend flights to European destinations from October. The Airline Pilots Guild is speaking out openly against the move, saying it will reduce the value of the national carrier and give competitors an edge. The pilots also speculate whether there is a deliberate attempt to cheapen the brand just months away from a proposed public-private-partnership. The management counters by saying commercial decisions are not the prerogative of pilots and that it will do whatever is necessary to cut losses. SriLankan will stop flying to Frankfurt and Paris in two months. It suspended Rome in May. London will soon be the only European destination on the route map. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Pilots Guilds executive committee members made scathing criticisms of recent management choices. They also admitted that relations with the SriLankan Airlines board were not good. The nine committee members did not wish to be individually identified. The Guild recently wrote to the management questioning, among other things, the rationale for pulling out of Frankfurt and Paris. The pilots requested route performance figures to verify unprofitability claims, but were told this was sensitive information. They claimed such data had previously been available to staff. The pilots insisted that they gained no personal benefit from continuing to fly to Europe. Rather, closing those routes would mean they get their allotted leave and not run short of flight deck crew. We are often ten percent short of pilots, a committee member said. But when the airline is about to be sold, it adds value to the company when we have European destinations, he explained. The committee members said they feared that the airline would sell SriLankans lucrative European slots to other carriers for a high price. When SriLankan suspends flights, the three Middle East carriers Qatar, Emirates and Etihad- benefit a senior pilot warned. Meanwhile, Jet Airways, Indias second largest airline, has announced it hopes to fill the vacuum created by SriLankan suspending flights to Frankfurt and Paris. The Guild was critical of the airlines commercial operations chief, who had once worked for Jet Airways, saying he was only interested in closing stations. All of us can do that, scoffed a pilot. The easiest way to run this airline is to park the aircraft, get the Government dole and pay the salaries! Other routes are also losing money. Do we, then, close those? There were concerns about transit trafficpassengers from other destinations going through Colombo to Europe, including Chinese and Indian travellers. It affects our entire route network, a senior pilot warned. Where do we fly? What happens to our frequent flyer programme when European destinations are cut? When the buyer comes in, we have nothing to sell! The managements strategy has not been explained to any sections of staff, the Guild also said. They advised the board to brainstorm with employees as they had countless years of experience. The pilots questioned whether the company had a business model that did not involve closing stations. They asked whether the management had studied why there was no yield or profit. The Guild claimed the company had no scheme to defeat price-undercutting by Middle East carriers. They said the management had not tried reducing costs at overseas stations. They observed that qualified, experienced employees in the commercial division were not allowed a voice. The pilots said the new board members were not knowledgeable in the running of an airline. Despite saying the company was overstaffed, nobody has been retrenched. The problem right now is that theyre making decisions based on who-knows-what analysis, a Guild member said. That is putting our lives and our jobs at stake. This is why we are speaking out. Earlier, SriLankan had a politically-oriented policy. Now its meant to be commercially-oriented, but now its neither of the two. The Guild also encouraged the management to consider flying the new A350s which are being leased at tremendous cost -above market value. They said with more passengers, more cargo capacity and less fuel utilisation, the aircraft would generate more revenue that could go towards the rental. Cheers: SriLankan raises its glass to junior pilots SriLankan Airlines has praised two junior pilots for preventing their captain from flying an aircraft while in an intoxicated state. But the company refused to say how long it had known that the senior crew member, Capt. Upendra Ranaweera, had issues related to alcohol consumption. The Frankfurt-Colombo bound flight was delayed by 15 hours on August 19 after Capt. Ranaweera failed a breathalyzer test. Although a replacement pilot was available, restrictions on night-flying had prevented the aircraft from taking off earlier. The passengers were compensated. We are proud of the way we handled the incident, SriLankans General Manager Marketing, Saminda Perera told a media conference. We did what is right by sharing the correct information. Safety was never a compromise or in question. SriLankan has an impeccable safety record. The companys safety management system (SMS) and corporate resource management (CRM) system worked. We were the whistleblower and we prevented that gentleman from flying, Mr Perera said. Pilots face more checks and filters than anyone else. These include simulator tests and exams every six months, and an annual medical checkup. SMS was an additional layer to prevent anyone flying a plane when not fit to do so, said Management Pilot, Capt. Ranga Amadoru. It was a tool for any crew member to raise concerns about a workmate. CRM is a system that facilitates smooth communication among flight deck crew and a more open corporate environment. It allows even junior officers to point out errors committed by senior crew. Both worked perfectly here, Capt Amadoru said. The two first officers not only spoke up and advised their captain not to proceed while intoxicated (and to report sick), when he resisted they notified their management in Colombo. The crew member was prevented from reporting for duty. Significantly, the breathalyzer test was conducted before check-in. SriLankan has always been a safe operator, Capt Amadoru stressed. We may not always have been on time. There may have been all sorts of other issues. But one thing we will not let you down on is safety. Even foreign pilots contracted to SriLankan Airlines say the company had the best training and safety culture. At the media briefing a panelwhich included Line Pilot, Capt Bandu Kumbalatara and Media Development, Manager, Deepal V Perera, refused to answer why the airlines management had not taken action on earlier complaints related to Capt Ranaweera. Capt Amadoru said he would not discuss medical matters of a colleague with anyone. The others maintained as there was an investigation on, they could not comment. There were now two inquiries into the incident, one by the company and another by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Meanwhile, H M C Nimalsiri, the DGCA, confirmed that there had been prior concerns about Capt Ranaweera. A complaint was first lodged with his office on January 9, 2015, by SriLankans former Manager (Flight Operations) Druvi Perera. He said Capt Ranaweera spoke to him on the phone in filthy language before cutting the line, Mr Nimalsiri recounted. Druvi was of the opinion that he showed erratic behaviour and was not fit to fly. With the DGCAs approval, the airline conducted an internal inquiry. Seven members were appointed with our consent, he said. It was recommended that assistance also be obtained from a psychiatrist. Capt Ranaweera protested that he would not present himself for examination if only one psychiatrist was engaged. Therefore, five were enlisted, of whom three turned up. All three interviewed him and wrote afterwards that things were in order, Mr Nimalsiri said. Other parameters, such as age, knowledge, experience, skill and proficiency, were also in order. We went on the advice of doctors who said nothing was wrong and we let him fly, the DGCA said. He did confirm, however, that, Here and there, pilots called and told me that they had observed unusual behaviour in Capt Ranaweera. I told them to send it to me in writing as I could not act on such complaints. But nobody complained to me in writing. Capt Ranaweera said he was not permitted to speak to media. UN Chief non-committal on international judges for war crimes probe here In an exclusive interview, UN Chief Ban Ki Moon talks to Thalif Deen at the United Nations, ahead of his visit to Sri Lanka on Wednesday View(s): View(s): NEW YORKUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will be on an official three-day visit beginning Wednesday, singled out the tremendous progress made by Sri Lanka in overcoming development challenges, including in the health and development sectors. Successive Governments have promoted strong growth policies that have reduced poverty and increased living standards throughout the country, he noted. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Ban spoke of the peaks and valleys in the UNs politically-fluctuating relationship with Sri Lanka, while at the same time, lamenting the slow movement towards implementing transitional justice and reconciliation. Speaking on the eve of his departure to Colombo, the Secretary-General said it is important for Sri Lankan society and the countrys future to finally undertake a credible and impartial investigation into past human rights abuses, uncover the truth and hold perpetrators of the vicious crimes accountable.Asked if the UN would go along with President Sirisenas insistence that investigations into charges against the countrys armed forces will not involve the participation of foreign judges or jurists, he was diplomatically non-committal. Sri Lankans are currently engaged in an important debate on the design of the transitional justice mechanisms, including the judicial components, and I do not want to pre-judge those outcomes, he declared. Still, victims and affected communities believe that international participation can ensure a credible process that will finally deliver justice, said Ban who will step down as Secretary-General when his two-term, 10-year tenure ends December 31. There is widespread rumour which he has neither confirmed nor denied that he plans to run for the presidency of South Korea, a country with whom Sri Lanka bartered its Asian Group endorsement for a rotating non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council back in 1995, in return for increased aid, investments and jobs. As a result, South Korea was elected unopposed for a Security Council seat for 1996-1997 facilitated by Sri Lankas voluntary withdrawal. Excerpts from the interview: Since your days as Foreign Minister of South Korea, you always claimed to be a friend of Sri Lanka. Still, Sri Lankans complain that you uniquely appointed a panel to advise you on the applicable law on human rights violations in the last stages of Sri Lankas conflict while you did not appoint any such a panel with regard to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or Yemen despite well documented cases of human rights abuses and civilian killings. Is the UN using different yardsticks to measure human rights violations by big powers and smaller nations? UNSG: The UNs call for accountability in Sri Lanka is not unique. In fact, accountability for international crimes and gross human rights violations constitutes a central plank of the UNs human rights agenda. It is a call that we make in all countries in all regions of the world where violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have occurred Accountability in the cases that you mention has been dealt with by the Security Council and, in some cases, through human rights investigations conducted pursuant to a Human Rights Council mandate. I created the Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka in 2010 on the basis of commitments made in my joint statement with former President Rajapaksa in 2009, which underlined the importance of an accountability process. As for myself, I have always been a friend of Sri Lanka and its people, and I will remain so. I am very much looking forward to this visit. President Sirisena has repeatedly said that any investigations into war crimes charges against the countrys armed forces will not involve the participation of foreign judges and jurists and will essentially be conducted by national independent judicial mechanisms.? Is this acceptable to the UN? UNSG: Sri Lankans are currently engaged in an important debate on the design of the transitional justice mechanisms, including the judicial components, and I do not want to pre-judge those outcomes. Due to the delays in the pursuit of an effective accountability process, ongoing concerns over the independence of judicial and law enforcement institutions in Sri Lanka, and due to the magnitude and complexity of the alleged crimes, victims and affected communities believe that international participation can ensure a credible process that will finally deliver justice. This is why the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council, as well as the Councils resolution 30/1, affirmed the importance of international participation, precisely because it would enhance the credibility, independence and impartiality of the process in the eyes of the victims. I, therefore, hope that the Sri Lankan Government will remain committed to the Human Rights Council resolution and fully implements it. The Human Rights Council resolution presents a comprehensive transitional justice agenda, which, aside from a judicial mechanism, also includes truth-seeking, reparations, and non-recurrence dimensions. It is important to recognise the broad-based nature of the Councils resolution, and I hope that the discussion regarding international participation will not overshadow a larger debate that must include the other critical elements The UN remains ready to support the Governments efforts in establishing an accountability mechanism that suits the needs of Sri Lankan society at large and meets international standards. Has there been any significant or dramatic changes in your relationship with Sri Lanka after President Sirisena took office in January 2015 compared to your on-again, off-again rocky relationship with the previous government of President Rajapaksa? UNSG: During my last visit to Sri Lanka in 2009 in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and I met to discuss the post-conflict challenges, such as the tragic humanitarian situation, resettlement needs and the recovery of the conflict affected areas. In our Joint Statement at the time, we also agreed to work towards a lasting political solution to achieve a durable peace, including through socio-economic development, the implementation of the 13th Amendment and dialogue with all the parties. The Joint Statement also underlined the importance of an accountability process to address the violations of international humanitarian and human rights law with a view of achieving reconciliation. Sri Lanka has made significant progress with regard to restoring and redeveloping war torn areas, and the Northern and Eastern Provinces have witnessed rapid economic development. What has been the ongoing relationship between the UN and Sri Lanka? UNSG: Over the years, the Government and the UN have worked in close partnership to resettle hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons, and we continue to do so. In this regard, the recent adoption of a national policy on durable solutions for conflict-affected displacement demonstrates the current Governments continued commitment to further support and reduce the remaining IDPs. Despite this, efforts to address ongoing grievances, including the continued militarisation of civilian life, the replacement of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the implementation of a comprehensive transitional justice agenda that encompasses truth-seeking, reparations, accountability and institutional reforms, as well as a political settlement, have yet to fully materialise. I am, therefore, encouraged to see that the current Government led by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has taken tentative steps to resolve many of these outstanding issues. I am hopeful that the Government will continue on this path and accelerate the implementation of proposed reforms. As part of a policy of long-term stability following its 26-year long civil war with Tamil separatists, Sri Lanka has announced four reconciliation mechanisms, including an Office of Missing Persons (OMP), a Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Non-Recurrence Commission, a Judicial Mechanism and an Office of Reparations. Is post-war Sri Lanka moving in the right direction? What can the UN offer to strengthen the new governments moves towards reconciliation, accountability and economic recovery? UNSG: The current Government has set Sri Lanka on a very positive trajectory, as evidenced by its commitments to implement a comprehensive and broad-based transitional justice agenda and dedicated efforts to promote harmonious relations among the communities. Aside from the national consultations and the establishment of the OMP, the Government has worked to develop an institutional framework to implement this complex agenda through the establishment of the Office on National Unity and Reconciliation and the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, both of which receive support from the UN. This institutional framework should contribute to a smooth, efficient and coordinated approach to transitional justice and reconciliation initiatives. It will be important for the Government to further develop and adopt an overarching strategy to roll out the transitional justice mechanisms and undertake a concerted information campaign to inform the Sri Lankan public and garner broad-based support. I have made available financial resources under the Peacebuilding Fund and committed technical expertise to support these processes. I am hopeful that the UNs support, combined with bilateral assistance from the international community, will enable the Government to implement transitional justice and reconciliation. I would like to underline that these processes are fully owned and led by the unity Government. The UNs support is catalytic in nature, serves to complement the Governments own efforts and provides assistance where the Government senses it could benefit from our expertise. I am hopeful that the UNs support will galvanize the international community to make additional financial commitments in support of the Government. It is important to emphasize the Governments broader reform agenda, which aims to promote good governance, strengthen democratic values, restore the rule of law, and combat corruption and abuse of power. The adoption of the 19th Amendment, the restoration of the Constitutional Council, the strengthening of the independence of the Human Rights Commission and the passage of a Right to Information Act will improve transparency and provide the people of Sri Lanka with important avenues to hold their Government institutions to account. Constitutional reform will hopefully address many of the existing grievances among all Sri Lankans, including minority communities, and help deliver a long overdue political settlement. The Governments embrace of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will further mobilise efforts to promote an inclusive, peaceful and just society, and the UN remains ready to support. Whenever you make an official visit to a member state, you single out some of its major successes and key contributions the country has made to the United Nations. How would you characterize some of Sri Lankas achievements over its 60 years existence at the UN? UNSG: Over the last 60 years, Sri Lanka has made tremendous contributions to the UN system. Many Sri Lankans have worked with great dedication and passion for the Organisation and we have had numerous high level Sri Lankan officials, including Under Secretaries-General. Most recently, Sri Lanka has supported landmark agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Sri Lankan soldiers, police officers and civilians have furthermore served with distinction in hazardous peacekeeping operations and contributed to peace and security across the globe. Sri Lanka has made tremendous progress in overcoming development challenges, including in the health and education sectors. Successive Governments have promoted strong growth policies that have reduced poverty and increased living standards throughout the country. We cannot ignore, however, the decades-long conflict and instability that caused so much pain, grief and tragedy among the many communities in Sri Lanka, and was a period marked by gross violations of human rights perpetrated by all sides. And, on the flip side, what are its shortcomings? UNSG: Although the conflict ended in 2009, Sri Lanka has yet to come to terms with its past: as the many victims families remain uncertain about the fate of their loves ones. They seek the truth, they seek support and they seek justice. And there are many other victims. Those that were forcibly conscripted, including children who were deprived of a carefree youth, a quality education and dreams to aspire to; men and women who were sexually abused and raped; families whose sons and daughters were sent to die in combat or returned with permanent injuries and disabilities. It is important for Sri Lankan society and the countrys future to finally undertake a credible and impartial investigation into past human rights abuses, uncover the truth and hold perpetrators of the vicious crimes accountable. This is not only an obligation to the victims and their families, but it would also signal that the country is ready to overcome past grievances and move towards greater harmony between the communities so that it will never happen again. The unity Government took an important step when it presented its plans to establish a range of transitional justice mechanisms, including on truth-seeking, accountability, reparations, and non-recurrence and decided to co-sponsor the Human Rights Council resolution in October 2015. The Government has since proceeded by facilitating national consultations on the design of such mechanisms, as well as by establishing the Office of Missing Persons. I am hopeful that the Government will continue to make progress and take concrete steps to establish the full range of transitional justice mechanisms. I would like to reiterate the UNs commitment and unwavering support to these processes. Do you plan to visit the war-affected Northern Province to see the extent of progress made in post-conflict rebuilding and rehabilitation. And do you plan to meet with representatives of Tamils and Muslims, the latter coming under attacks by right wing religious groups under the former administration? UNSG: Yes, I plan to travel to the South and the North of the Island and to meet with civil society representatives of both communities, including youth. I look forward to discussing with them how the United Nations can best support Sri Lanka on the path to sustainable development and lasting peace. Baton in hand, Louis will take you on an European tour View(s): By Joshua Surendraraj Conducting music is an art, whether orchestral or choral. Thus with the task of setting the tempo and ensuring the correct entries by the ensemble, the conductor has a huge responsibility in his hands and the ability to shape the entire performance. Talented young pianist Louis Perera will take up the orchestral baton when he conducts Musical Excursions, a programme of ecletic music selections from the Renaissance to the early Twentieth Century at the Lionel Wendt theatre, on Sunday, September 4 at 7 p.m. The programme will feature the works of great composers that are not the standard choices. We really go around Europe in this programme; its a mix of composers that are familiar like Mozart and Beethoven and composers that are familiar all around the world except for here, Louis told the Sunday Times earlier this week. The orchestra of 34 talented musicians will be led by Ananda Dabare. It was a busy Tuesday evening, as the strings section of the ensemble practised at the Goethe Institut, Colombo. Watching the musicians rehearse was a treat and the energy Louis gave out was definitely interpreted by tthem. When you feel that it is right to play play, he told them. The first piece on the programme is French composer Ravels Pavane for a dead princess, written in 1899, followed by Prokofievs Overture on Hebrew Themes, and Mozarts piano concerto 24 in C minor and then Bela Bartok whose Romanian dances fascinate Louis. He was Hungarian and went around Europe with these huge sorts of machines, recording folk tunes across the villages, their melodies and rhythms, Louis says, adding that here was a Hungarian composer, writing Romanian folk dances. This is fascinating it gives me a lot of research to do. How the dances were probably danced and things like that, so we could get a feel of how to perform them, he says. Finally, the concert will showcase Beethovens First Symphony, which Louis explains was composed between the Classical and Romantic period and has elements of composers like Haydn and Mozart, but is so typically Beethoven. This was because the audiences those days expected a piece to start at home. But Beethoven starts the piece far away from home, in a different key. There is a lot of searching going on, until Beethoven says this is where Im taking you, Louis says. The piece is a real adventure and its very exciting and extremely fun to play. Orchestral musicians love playing that symphony. Its really jolly, exuberant and exciting, he adds. Louis was 15 when he decided to pursue music. I originally wanted to be a doctor because I enjoy my science, he tells us, adding however, that its music that really motivates him. It is something I know I can do every single day of my life, he says. Although he is not new to the music scene in Sri Lanka, having had several piano recitals, this will be the first time that Louis will also be conducting. Having completed two years of study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, he is currently preparing his application to commence training as a conductor. Tickets and the Box Plan are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, and also on www.lionelwendt.org, (reserved seating Rs.3,000, Rs. 2,500, Rs.2,000, Rs.1,500; balcony, unreserved seating Rs.750). Letters to the Editor View(s): Lost In translation Railway Avenue has an entrance from High Level Road (adjoining the NSBM building and Water Tech) and from Stanley Thilakaratne Mawatha, Nugegoda (adjoining Arpico Showroom). The entrance from the High Level Road belongs to the Colombo Municipal Council. The entrance from Stanley Thilakaratne Mawatha belongs to the Kotte Municipality. The Sinhala translation of the two sign boards at the two entrances differ from each other though they are of the same road. It used to be known as Dumriyapola Mawatha. Neither sign board has this so we are unaware, if the name had been changed. Kindly rectify this as soon as possible as we are required to give the correct address on official documents. Eg: The National Identity Card. Address ne Nugegoda Dishonesty lurking around even inside a Church I read with interest A. Pauls letter, Thank goodness for honest people! He and his wife are lucky to have found honest people. I have had nothing but bad experiences in the past two weeks. My wallet was stolen in a Wellawatte Church, last week, at 11 a m. We moved house two weeks ago, so many expensive things went missing, stolen. A friend who moved three months ago also had so many things stolen. So, Mr. Paul, I daresay, there are many, many dishonest people lurking around, waiting for a chance to prey on peoples belongings. Even a place of worship is not safe. When people experience this sort of thing, they must always make it known so that others are warned. Mrs. R. Goonewardene Dehiwela It will take donkeys years to drill ethics into our parliamentarians It has been normal or a standard practice among politicians, to fight among themselves in the Parliamentary lobby, but these crude tactics are nothing but to fatten their egos and definitely not for the betterment of the country. These politicians who are elected by the people, and some of them not so elected to represent them, are just engaged in a show of thuggery and not serving the aspirations of the masses who elected them with much expectations. Most of us dont know that these time servers who are elected just for five years, are taking us for a ride. None of them, denounces the perks and privileges offered to them and enjoyed with much abundance except for a few gentlemanly parliamentarians. Hordes of parliamentarians we see in the print and electronic media, invading the well of the House just to express their displeasure over trifling issues which we did not see in the good old daysexcept on a few occasions. An all-night session was performed by these parliamentarians several months ago in the well of the assembly, just to show disapproval over a certain issue. There should be a stop to all these disgraceful acts. Corrective measures should be taken by the Speaker to curb this trend of unruly behaviour irrespective of party affiliations, to maintain the sanctity of this August assembly, the Parliament. Our politicians could take a lesson from the forthright decision taken by the former British premier David Cameron to step down after losing the EU referndum. 52% of the voters at the referendum rejected David Camerons call to remain in the EU and opted to severe all connections with the EU. Mr. Cameron respected their view and decided to step down from the premiership and the leadership of the Conservative Party, in a gentlemanly manner. Would any of our own politicians resort to such action of stepping down from their high pedestals of power, if they faced such a situation? Instead we see our politicians vying with each other to buy millions worth of vehicles for their purported duties towards their constituents. One high profile politician is yet fighting tooth and nail to grab power despite being discarded by the people after his two legitimate terms. It might take donkeys years to inculcate dignified Parliamentary ethics to these present day politicians of Sri Lanka. The old adage comes to mind, when I analyse the behaviour of some of our politicians, It is folly to be wise, where ignorance is Bliss. Lionel Caldera Battaramulla The soft-spoken, impeccably attired surgeon with great skill The recent article on Dr. Noel Bartholomeusz by Kumudini Hettiarachchi in the Sunday Times (Plus) of August 21 prompted me to write this piece. Dr. Bartholomeusz (Batho to his friends and colleagues) was among the first batch of doctors to be sent to the UK for post graduate training, which at that time meant obtaining the FRCS (London) in the immediate post-war period. This practice had come to a standstill during the war years 1939- 1945. During this period Dr. Bartholomeusz honed his skills working as a surgeon in provincial hospitals. The other surgeons who accompanied him on the sea voyage to London were Dr. P.R. Anthonis, Dr. L.D.C. Austin and Dr. D. de S. Gunewardene.On his return Dr. Bartholomeusz was appointed Consultant surgeon to the General Hospital Colombo, along with the other three surgeons. I had the good fortune to clerk under him as a medical student in the mid-fifties and got the opportunity to assist him in a couple of operations.He was a maestro with amazing technical skills. I vividly remember a hemimandibulectomy (removal of half the jaw due to an invasive oral cancer) with block dissection of lymph nodes he performed. His long slender fingers effortlessly performed some of the most complicated manoeuvres meticulously and methodically, the field was always bloodless. He was always the perfect gentleman soft-spoken and polite, incapable of losing his temper. He would enter the ward in his trademark white satin twill suit with a purple orchid in the buttonhole. Cultivating orchids was his hobby and passion. Along with all his other colleagues he indulged in private practice. This was not the time and soul consuming activity it is today. Around a dozen patients would be comfortably seated on verandah chairs waiting to be examined in an old fashioned consulting room. The most patronised and imposing Nursing homes (as they were called then) were the Durdans and Central, both old residences converted to hospitals but Im digressing. Rumours of Dr. Bartholomeuszs kidney disease (polycystic kidneys) were in circulation for some time. He would have been aware of the subsequent life-threatening situation which would arise, but he never let this dark shadow looming over him affect his lifestyle and continued with his normal activities and private practice even in the last few years when he was undergoing dialysis at home. It is fitting that the memory of this great couple is preserved in the beautiful home they lived in and cherished, by the College of Surgeons he nurtured. Premini Amerasinghe Kandy The individual matters in a macro canvas View(s): Take a literary stroll with Adilah Ismail as she talks to two Lankan writers whose books will be released next month; the 2015 Gratiaen winner Thiagaraja Arasanayagam and young Anuk Arudpragasam whose debut novel, "The Story of a Brief Marriage", is published by Macmillan New York When we met with Anuk Arudpragasam in Colombo two weeks ago to discuss his literary debut, theres a childrens party going on at the Dutch Burgher Union. From the cafe where we were seated, the party itself wasnt visible. But every now and then, snatches of cheerful nursery rhymes buoy the pauses in our conversation an incongruous soundtrack for a conversation on post-war Sri Lanka, linguistic identity and writing. The 27-year-old writers debut novel is the literary equivalent of an artist who sits in front of a sprawling tree and then chooses to sketch a leaf in minute detail labouring over the veins, petiole, margin and blade. The novel is set in the last stages of Sri Lankas civil war but its fictional ambit is focused on the individual and the body, and is a philosophical plunge into a mans existence in the backdrop of conflict. Theres care to sketch out micro-stories and the violence which frames the backdrop of the story;the book calmly opens with an amputation done with a kitchen knife and no anaesthesia on a boy who has already lost a limb. A few pages later theres a description of a man with an amputated arm resolutely searching for his misplaced body part in a sea of severed limbs, as though he was shopping for clothes. But the lens is firmly on a character named Dinesh and the outcome of an unexpected proposal he receives. Born in Colombo, Anuk lived in Pondicherry, India for a year soon after he finished his undergraduate degree in the U.S., and spent most of the year writing. A self-confessed slow reader, the writers he turns towards (Andrei Platonov, Beckett, Proust, Robert Musil) have influenced his own writing and share stylistic similarities an avoidance of plot, psychological writing, less attention to characterization and more attention to the inner life. Although he had dabbled with a few satirical stories when he was younger, Anuk began writing seriously at 21 soon after university, testing the waters for a novel by experimenting with short stories. The Story of a Brief Marriage began taking shape in 2011 in the aftermath of the uncertainty which shrouded the last phase of the Sri Lankan war in 2009. It was only when swatches of media started surfacing on the internet after the war that people began piecing together fragments of what took place. The novel, Anuk explains, was a spontaneous response after coming into contact with these images and footage. During the three years of writing the book, he submerged himself in reading material and online footage on the final stages of the war and also spent time in Wanni, coming into contact with people who had been displaced and affected. (A 2014 essay by Anuk in the Indian magazine Caravan, provides an elegant dispatch on a difficult subject, detailing vignettes of grief and trauma which lingers in the aftermath of a war). Having engaged with this material for three years and returned to it daily for long periods of time, the mood with which he wrote the novel soon became indistinguishable from the rest of his life. After spending two years forming the initial chapters, a deadline was firmly self-imposed and the final four chapters were written in six months. Working towards a doctorate in philosophy at Columbia University and now in his sixth year, Anuks study of philosophy occasionally informs his fiction (although not overtly), giving him a scaffolding when writing about the inner life. When Sri Lankan writer, Shyam Selvadurai, heard that the novel was set during the last days of the war, he was hesitant wondering if it would descend into sensationalism. But The Story of a Brief Marriage came as a surprise. It really is high literature in the European style. He manages to infuse the scenes with such power and poignancy without ever veering towards being sentimental, noted Shyam via email. I think people should read it because it is an excellent novel. Its interiority is its power. It forces us to be present in those last days, to be more than a witness to be really there. And we need to be really there, because we are all guilty of what happened there it is part of our national wound, explains Shyam, elaborating on the implications of the novel on Sri Lankas literary landscape. Anuk highlights that theres a deliberate extraction of political context and information in the novel for a specific reason. When physically removed from its presence and witnessing pain and suffering from a distance, the impulse to act is often manifested though political enquiry and the process of trying to reach a solution. While this political post-mortem is crucial, it sometimes sanitizes the unavoidable discomfort of being in the presence of pain which cant be acted upon. Instead, the book nudges the reader towards an exercise in comprehension, empathy and understanding. The novel itself is not an attempt to say what its like to be in such situations. It is the attempt of somebody in my situation who has lived in insulated, privileged circumstances to understand the situation of somebody in very different conditions, he explains. A part of the novel is this idea that the war had the effect of cutting people off from their language, from their history, from their relationship to the land or from their relationship to objects. They are completely alienated individuals. In my thinking, the only thing I had in common was a body, which is why the novel is so focused on the body and intimate organic processes, notes Anuk. Caroline Bleeke, Anuks editor at Macmillans Flatiron Books, New York, first read the initial manuscript over the course of one long night. As a reader, the proses immersive features drew her in. One of the qualities I find most compelling about it is the way in which it slows down time, she wrote via email to the Sunday Times (the events in the novel take place within a brief window of time). As an editor, the cadences of language and the intricately formed sentences marked the book (even the most philosophically weighty paragraphs are finely and tenderly wrought) often resulting in back and forth exchanges between author and editor about a single word, in order to maintain an equilibrium between a lines music and meaning. For now, Anuk divides his time between Sri Lanka and U.S. Once back in New York, in addition to more writing, teaching and dissertation work beckon (his dissertation focuses on late 19th century and early 20th century American ethics and about habit and its relationship to the individual.) While the changes in location dont factor into his writing, his linguistic identity does:When it comes to the texture and the oral quality of the language I feel that English might not come as naturally to me as it does to other writers. He admits that while his English is better than his Tamil, theres a niggling feeling that it is still his puram (external ) language. Although still a little insecure about his Tamil writing to write in public fora just yet, he hopes to publish in Tamil in a few years, and has also begun work on a second book. Anuk Arudpragasams novel The Story of a Brief Marriage will be released on September 6 in the U.S. and will be published in UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and India. Motor trimming and inventing a device to lift and support an unwell cow would seem to have little in common, but Ted Handley of Matamata is skilled at both. In 1982 Ted won an innovations award at the Mystery Creek Fieldays for the Anlift Cattle Lifter he invented after a farmer friend asked for his help in finding a better way to care for downer cows. New Zealand will host the first drone delivery service trial in the world. From left: Flirtey chief executive Matt Sweeny, Dominos Group chief executive and managing director Don Meij and Transport Minister Simon Bridges. Photos: Dominos NZ It follows in the wake of new aviation rules which came into force in August 2015 to regulate and enable the use of UAVs more commonly known as drones for recreational and commercial purposes in New Zealand. During the initial phase of the trial, drones will operate at a speed of 30km/h and at a radius of 1.5 kilometres from select stores. Over time, the aim is to increase the radius incrementally up to 10km from stores. Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed this weeks announcement, saying New Zealand is the perfect country to host the trial because of its forward-thinking aviation regulations which encourages innovation, while protecting safety. As Transport Minister I have been actively promoting New Zealand as a test bed for new transport technology trials. Our enabling laws and regulation means we have the ideal environment to trial all forms of technology, he says. The announcement of this trial confirms that New Zealands framework for UAVs is world-class. In addition, the Government has reviewed the laws for driverless vehicles and small passenger service operators, to ensure New Zealand stays at the forefront of transport innovation. Simon also believes the trial is a valuable opportunity for the Civil Aviation Authority, which is making sure appropriate safety precautions are taken. The Government is also continuing to work with Dominos on the possibility of testing a driverless pizza delivery unit on land, adds Simon. Dominos Group chief executive and managing director Don Meij says the trial flights are set to commence later this year following the beginning of daylight savings in New Zealand. What drones allow us to do is to extend that delivery area by removing barriers such as traffic and access, as well as offering a much faster, safer delivery option, says Don. This means we can deliver further afield than we currently do to our rural customers while reaching our urban customers in a much more efficient time. While Flirtey chief executive Matt Sweeny says launching the first commercial drone delivery service in the world is a landmark achievement and heralds a new frontier of on-demand delivery for customers across New Zealand and around the globe. We are getting closer to the time where you can push a button on your smartphone and have Dominos delivered by drone to your home. Todd A. Berry: Ask candidates: How will you shore up state's finances? SYRACUSE, NY -- Clark's Ale House, one of Central New York's pioneering craft beer bars, will close at the end of business today. The closing comes almost two months ahead of the bar's previously announced timetable. In July, founder Ray Clark announced the business was for sale and said the ale house would close Nov. 1 if no buyer was found before then. Clark's, at the corner of Salina and Washington streets, has 32 beer taps, but on Friday the number being used had started to dwindle. Food supplies also started running low. A manager confirmed the closing. Clark's opened at the Salina Street location in November 2014, four years after it had shut down its original location at 122 W. Jefferson St in the Landmark Theatre building. During its 18-year run on Jefferson Street, beginning in 1992, it was frequently listed in travel guides and beer publications among the best beer bars in America. The reopening was eagerly awaited by long-time ale house fans. Since the reopening, however, it's been plagued by slow sales, in part due to a surge in the number of competing craft beer-centric bars downtown and a lack of nearby parking, Ray Clark said in July. Don Cazentre writes about food, beverages, restaurants and bars for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact him by email, on Twitter, at Google+ or via Facebook. CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- A man was fatally injured Friday when a motorcycle he was riding went across the highway and crashed into an embankment. Camillus police, WAVES ambulance and the Fairmount Fire Department responded at 4:28 p.m. when Onondaga County 911 received multiple calls saying there was an accident on state Route 695 south at Gerelock Road in the town of Camillus. Police said an 18-year-old man was riding a north on Route 695 when his motorcycle entered the center grass median and crossed three southbound lanes of traffic. The motorcycle then hit an embankment on the west side of the highway, police said. The man was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse where he died. Police said they were not identifying the man until family had been informed. Route 695 was closed for several hours while officers investigated. Police said they are still looking for witnesses and asked anyone who saw the crash to contact 315-487-0102. CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- Police have released the name of the teenager who was killed Friday afternoon after his motorcycle hit an embankment in Camillus. Jared J. Rogers, of 2229 Connell Terrace, Baldwinsville, was fatally injured while riding his motorcycle on Route 695, said the Camillus Police Department. He was 18 years old. Rogers was driving his motorcycle north on Route 695 near Gerelock Road just before 4:30 p.m. when he drove onto the grass median and crossed three lanes of southbound traffic, police said. After crossing traffic, Rogers' motorcycle collided with an embankment on the west side of the highway, police said. Rogers was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he died. The accident remains under investigation. Police asked anyone who witnessed the accident to call (315) 487-0102. A young company working to help provide more effective treatment for blood cancers will have some extra money to move things along. Lynx was one of five women-led businesses chosen to make five-minute pitches to win the $5,000, thus the name 5X5X5. And there will be more opportunities for women and minorities to turn their ideas into businesses, and perhaps make their way to the 5X5X5 pitch contest, thanks to a new fund the Doyenne Group is debuting. Two years in the works, the Doyenne Evergreen Fund far surpassed its fundraising goal and will start at a much higher level than its originators anticipated. As part of the deal, it will serve a broader audience, as well. Doyenne co-founders Heather Wentler and Amy Gannon had hoped to build a $400,000 fund. Instead, they have put together a pot totaling $1.2 million for use over the next two years. Now, were able to offer grants, loans and equity investments, Wentler said. The big break came when Doyenne was awarded $600,000 from the City of Madison Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Fund, to be split evenly over two years, and to be matched with other funds. The nonprofit Wisconsin Womens Business Initiative Corp. and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., a public-private partnership, each put in $200,000 and the Doyenne Group raised its own $200,000 to match the citys contribution. The local philanthropic group, A Fund for Women, also provided a $20,000 grant. The Doyenne Group, founded in 2012, has worked to support women entrepreneurs of all types, with networking and mentoring. Now it will expand its mission to help entrepreneurs of color as well, as a requirement of obtaining the city money, Wentler said. It will be doled out in the form of 40 grants at $5,000 apiece; $360,000 for loans; and about $300,000 for equity investments, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 per company. The rest of the money will go toward programming and support, largely for the entrepreneurs in the program, Wentler said. With the grants, were looking for pre-seed level companies that are in very, very early stages, she said. The grant funds are expected to be used to move a company forward, such as creating a prototype or testing the business model. It cant go toward operations like paying your salaries, Wentler said. Doyenne hopes to start accepting applications this fall. And there may be quite a few, if attendance at Forward Fest is any indication. When Doyenne started helping with the eight-day entrepreneurial conference, about 10 percent of the audience was women. This year, it was around 40 percent, Wentler said. So were seeing a huge growth. Theres started to be equality of the sexes, she said. Wentler said a study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation placed Wisconsin at No. 50 for women entrepreneurs last year, but the state jumped to No. 38 this year, she said. Among those attending Forward Fest, including the 5X5X5 competition, was Jill Van Beke, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at Launch Tennessee, in Nashville Tennessees public-private effort to build high-growth companies. Van Beke said she was impressed by the diversity of presenters at Forward Fests several pitch contests and by the role of private businesses in local entrepreneurship. Also of note was the sense of camaraderie among entrepreneurs here, even those competing with each other. That sort of recognition that it takes a village and that they have a village is incredibly valuable, she said. Van Beke, a native of Columbus, Ohio, said Madison does not appear headed on a quick path to riches, but thats OK. Whats happening here is being done by people who are here and have been here, she said. So it feels very real and very sustainable. Van Beke and Lisa Calhoun, a founding partner of Valor Ventures, Atlanta, were brought in by StartingBlock, a planned entrepreneurial hub in the works in Central Madison. Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH. Watchlist and resume progress features have been disabled. ACCEPT SHARE SATURDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS Kindred at Home 12th Annual Food Drive: In partnership with Treasure Coast Food Bank. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 1-31. Kindred at Home, 525 N.W. Lake Whitney Place, #106, Port St. Lucie. 772-223-2116; kindredhealthcare.com. St. Lucie County Aquarium: Free admission day. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 27. St. Lucie County Aquarium, 420 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce. 772-465-3271; SMSEducation@si.edu. Puppet Theater: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-2812; library.stlucieco.gov. Movie Matinee: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015) PG-13. 2 p.m. Aug. 27. Port St. Lucie Library, 180 Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-871-5450; library.stlucieco.gov. Critter Crunch and Munch: Visit and feed the Oxbow animals. 3 p.m. Aug. 27. Oxbow Eco-Center, 5400 N.E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie. 772-785-5833; www.oxboweco.com. SATURDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS CLUBS Gay Men's Book Club of Southeastern Florida: Gay men discussing books by or about gay men. 2 p.m. Private home, Port St. Lucie. Ages: 18+. 772-224-0224; gaymensbookgroup.weebly.com/. Treasure Coast Model Railroad Club: Visit A Large Ho Scale Model Train Layout. 10 a.m.-noon. 273 S.W. Becker Road, Port St. Lucie. 772-621-9636; www.tcmrr.org. EXERCISE/HEALTH Zumba with Karla: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd., Port St. Lucie. $7 drop in. $20 monthly. Register: 772-240-9909; zumbawithkarla@gmail.com. NATURE Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-noon. Round Island Park South Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $25-$50. Reservation: 772-567-0522: paddleflorida.com. Indian River Lagoon Boat Tours: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Fort Pierce City Marina, 1 Ave. A, Fort Pierce. $15-$23. Reservations; 772-464-4445; indianriverlagoonboattours.com. OTHER Book Buzz Family Book Club: 10:30 a.m. Morningside Branch Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-337-5632; library.stlucieco.gov. S.T.E.M. Storytime: Storytime focused on science, technology, engineering and math. 10:30 a.m. Lakewood Park Library, 7605 Santa Barbara Drive, Fort Pierce. Ages: 18 months-5 years old. 772-462-6870; library.stlucieco.gov. SUNDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS Steve Cary: 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Unity of Fort Pierce, 3414 Sunrise Blvd., Fort Pierce. Offering. 772-461-2272; www.unityoffortpierce.com. Family Friendly Movie & Pizza: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Lakewood Park United Methodist, 5405 Turnpike Feeder Road, Fort Pierce. 772-465-1187; www.lakewoodparkumc.org. SUNDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS DANCE Commodore Singles Club: Singles Dance, live music from the 60s to present. 7:30-10 p.m. American Legion Hall, 3195 Savannah Road (off Jensen Beach Blvd.), Jensen Beach. Ages: 50+. $8 nonmember/$6 members. johnstonb2222@yahoo.com. NATURE Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-noon. Round Island Park South Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $25-$50. Reservation: 772-567-0522: paddleflorida.com. Indian River Lagoon Boat Tours: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Fort Pierce City Marina, 1 Ave. A, Fort Pierce. $15-$23. Reservations; 772-464-4445; indianriverlagoonboattours.com. LOOKING AHEAD Technology Training Classes: Google. 10 a.m. Aug. 30. Port St. Lucie Library, 180 Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-871-5450; library.stlucieco.gov. Baby Wearing Fashion Show: Noon-1 p.m. Aug. 31. St. Lucie Medical Center Cafe, 1800 S.E. Tiffany Ave., Port St. Lucie. Register: 800-382-3522; stluciemed.com. SEPTEMBER Professional Registered Nurses: Business meeting, guest speaker, lunch. 11 a.m. Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Nov. 1, Dec. 1. The Brennity at Tradition, 10685 S.W. Stony Creek Way, Port St. Lucie. $15. 772-219-3255; gladsusie3@gmail.com. Thursday Evening Book Club: "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren. 6 p.m. Sept. 1. Fort Pierce Branch Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-2199; library.stlucieco.gov. Technology Training Classes: Intro to Email. 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 16. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Reservation: 772-337-5332; library.stlucieco.gov. Technology Training Classes: Basic Microsoft Word. 10 a.m. Sept. 7, 21. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Reservation: 772-337-5332; library.stlucieco.gov. Lakewood Park Branch Library Book Discussion Group: "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger. 3 p.m. Sept. 7. Lakewood Park Library, 7605 Santa Barbara Drive, Fort Pierce. 772-462-6870; shroyerc@stlucieco.org. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation: Nominating Committee. 2 p.m. Sept. 8. Link Engineering Building, Room LE240, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce. Register: 772-466-9876; ddutton@hboifoundation.org Teen Driver Challenge: to improve skills. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 8. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, 4700 West Midway Road, Fort Pierce; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10 Indian River State College Public Safety Training Complex on Kirby Loop Road, Fort Pierce. www.stluciesheriff.com. World Suicide Prevention Day Symposium: Expert speakers. 8:45 a.m.-Noon Sept. 9. Tradition Town Hall, 10799 Civic Lane, Port St. Lucie. Ages: 12+. RSVP: 772-291-3210; dpizzimenti@smhcinc.org. Crary Buchanan Sept. 11 memorial Blood Drive: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 10. Crary Buchanan Law, 759 S. U.S. 1, Stuart and Jetson Appliance and Electronics, 4145 S. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce. 9/11 Blue Mass: Noon Sept. 11. Holy Family Catholic Church, 2330 Mariposa Ave., Port St. Lucie. 772-812-7230. STEM Storytime: 11 a.m. Sept. 14- Dec. 9. Port St. Lucie Branch Library, 180 Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Ages: 2-4. 772-871-5450; library.stlucieco.gov. Motorized Kayak Adventures Full Moon Tours: Watch the sunset and full moon rise from motorized kayaks. 6:15 p.m. Sept. 15, 16. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Beach Causeway, Fort Pierce. $48 adults/$35 children under 12. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com. Healing from Life's Traumatic Events: Presented by New Horizons of the Treasure Coast. 10 a.m. Sept. 16. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-1615; library.stlucieco.gov. Movie Matinee: "Angry Birds". 2 p.m. Sept. 17. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-2812; library.stlucieco.gov. 1/2 Way To St. Patrick's Day Party: With The Kindred Kilts. 3-7 p.m. Sept. 17. Shindig's Irish Pub, 464 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-785-6262; www.shindigpub.com. Bluejeans, Boots & Bar-B-Que: A night of dinner, dancing & down-home fun. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Sept. 17. River Walk Center, 600 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. Ages: 18+. $40 donation. Ticket: 772-464-2747; learntoreadslc@aol.com. A Night of Dinner, Dancing & Bar-B-Que: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Riverwalk Center, 600 N. Indian River Drive. 772-464-2747. $40. Sponsored by Learn to Read of SLC. Puppet Theater: youth program. 10:30 a.m. Sept. 24. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-2812; library.stlucieco.gov. One Stop Shop Sale: Opportunity to sell crafts/wares/food. 9:30 a.m. Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 27, Dec. 31. Port St. Lucie Civic Center, 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place, Port St. Lucie. 772-807-4493; www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/popup.php?op=view&id=95461645&crd=pslcalendar. Unveiling Gold Star Families Memorial: Gold Star families, state and local dignitaries, and H. "Woody" Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima during World War II. 3 p.m. Sept. 25. Veteran's Memorial Park, 2100 S.E. Veteran's Memorial Parkway, Port St. Lucie. eBay Workshop: Led by power-seller, David Larson. 9 a.m. Sept. 30. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-337-5632; library.stlucieco.gov. Technology Training Classes: Overdrive. 10 a.m. Sept. 27. Port St. Lucie Library, 180 Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-871-5450; library.stlucieco.gov. Mary Jackie Sexton Daley, far right, stands at her wedding day ceremony at the Sexton estate in Vero Beach in 1941. Also pictured, from left, Waldo Sexton, Elsebeth Sexton, Barbara (Sexton) Tripson, Eddie Bechton and Jack Daley. SHARE Mary Jackie Sexton Daley (Photo provided by the Sexton family Mary Jackie Sexton Daley (Photos provided by Sexton family) Mary Jackie Sexton Daley (Photo provided by the Sexton family) By Lamaur Stancil of TCPalm VERO BEACH The last surviving child of a Vero Beach citrus legend made her name in suburban San Francisco, but maintained her connection with Indian River County, family members said. Mary Jacqueline "Jackie" Sexton Daley died Aug. 15 in Belmont, California, just weeks after celebrating her 97th birthday. She'll be buried in Belmont on Saturday. Sexton Daley was born in Franklin Park, Illinois, in 1919, but her parents, Waldo and Elsebeth Sexton, relocated the family to Vero Beach to establish the Sextons' first citrus grove and became a pioneer family in the area. She was the oldest of four, including Ralph Sexton, who made his name in the cattle industry in Indian River County, and Randy Sexton and Barbara Sexton. Sexton Daley attended college in Virginia, got married in 1941 and moved to Belmont in 1948, family members said. She never lived full time in Vero Beach again, but remained a board member, with her three siblings, for the family businesses. Those businesses included the Patio Restaurant, Sexton Properties and Oslo Packing. "She traveled to Vero Beach annually for the board meetings," said her nephew, Sean Sexton, of Vero Beach. "She would stay for a few weeks at a time to visit her childhood friends." Her returns to Vero Beach also allowed her to connect with fellow graduates from her alma mater, Sweet Briar College, a women's school near Lynchburg, Virginia. Sexton Daley was just one of many women from the area to attend college there. That connection led to professors from the school holding lectures at the Vero Beach Museum Of Art. In California, Sexton Daley spent her days bouncing from one volunteer activity to another while also supporting her husband, the Rev. Jack Daley, who served as rector at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church for four decades. Her volunteering included teaching adult literacy at a library, working at a blood bank and a hospital. "She would tell me she regretted that she never had a paying job," said her daughter, Barbara Daley. "I told her she was working all the time." Sexton Daley had four children of her own, but also took in a series of foreign exchange students from Kenya who would attend college in the San Francisco area, Barbara Daley said. "They would call her 'Mom' as well," Daley said. "We were introduced to a whole new culture from Africa that was fascinating and wonderful." A church parishioner approached Sexton Daley several years ago because there was a Kenyan student who needed somewhere to stay. She would host students at her home for 40 years, including the children of those who previously stayed with her, family members said. Kenya also became one of many places across the globe she would visit, family members said. Those include parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. "She wished she could have traveled more, but her health in recent years prevented that," Daley said. "She regretted she didn't make it to South America. She became interested in Argentine cuisine." Jack Daley died in 1989, but the church allowed Sexton Daley to stay at a rectory until her death, family members said. MARY JACQUELINE JACKIE SEXTON DALEY, 1919 2016 Jackie was Vero Beach citrus pioneer Waldo Sextons oldest of four children. She lived most of her adult life in Belmont, California, serving many volunteer causes and as the wife of an Episcopal rector. Her memorial service is being held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Belmont. Family members have encouraged donations to the church in lieu of flowers. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton (AP FILE PHOTOS) SHARE By Ledyard King, USA TODAY WASHINGTON Floridians have given three times as much to Democrat Hillary Clinton as they have to Republican Donald Trump, the latest campaign finance figures show. Of the $40.5 million Sunshine State donors have shelled out to all presidential campaigns so far, Clinton has gotten one-third: $13.3 million. Trump has received about $4 million, less than the amount raised in-state by either of Trump's two former GOP rivals former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ($6.6 million) and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ($5.5 million), according to Federal Election Commission records. It's not a great surprise. Clinton is a prolific fundraiser with deep-pocketed support in Florida. Trump made little effort during the primary to solicit contributions, touting his independence from special interests he said couldn't buy him. More than half of Clinton's haul $7.2 million came from South Florida: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Other places who gave to her include the Orlando area ($1.2 million), the Tampa-St. Pete metro area ($1.05 million), Sarasota/Bradenton ($773,000), southwest Florida ($630,000), greater Jacksonville ($434,000), the Space and Treasure coasts ($375,000), and the Big Bend region ($337,000). Trump, on the other hand, has drawn fairly evenly throughout the state. Palm Beach County donors gave him the most ($581,000), but there were no standouts among the other areas southwest Florida ($466,000), Miami-Dade ($432,000), Orlando area ($392,000), the Space and Treasure coasts ($300,000), Tampa-St. Pete ($244,000), the Panhandle ($185,000), and greater Jacksonville ($157,000). The number and size of campaign contributions isn't necessarily a sign of voter support, though most recent polls have Clinton leading Trump by several percentage points in Florida. BREAKING PLEDGE NOT HURTING RUBIO MUCH It looks like Florida voters have largely gotten over Marco Rubio's decision to break his pledge not to run for re-election. Most voters (53 percent) responding to a Monmouth University poll said Rubio decided to run for a second term after losing his bid for the White House more to improve his chances for a future presidential run than to serve the public (25 percent). Despite that, more Florida voters approve (47 percent) than disapprove (39 percent) of the job Rubio has done as a senator, and a plurality (40 percent) hold a favorable opinion of Rubio compared to 33 percent who don't. The poll, issued last week, also showed Rubio with a 5 percentage point lead over Rep. Patrick Murphy, the Jupiter congressman expected to win the Democratic Senate nomination in Tuesday's primary. The telephone poll of likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. Carlos Beruff, the Republican businessman running against Rubio for the GOP nomination, has hammered the incumbent for breaking his promise. But Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said Rubio's large lead over Beruff suggests the argument isn't sticking. "People just personally like Rubio in Florida enough that it's overcoming those negatives," Murray said. FLORIDA IS GROUND ZERO FOR TV ADS Here's a shocker to any Floridian with a television: The Sunshine State boasts three of the nation's top five media markets when it comes to the number of presidential campaign ads on TV. Tampa has seen 6,553 ads aired from June 8 through Aug. 18, the single most saturated media market in the nation, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, a nonpartisan center that tracks political advertising. The Orlando media market followed with 5,723 ad airings. West Palm Beach, with 4,623, was fifth. Those are among the more than 2 million TV spots for all political races that have aired so far nationwide during the current election cycle, according to the center. The cycle officially began Jan. 1, 2015, but most of the ads have been running in recent weeks. At this point during the previous presidential cycle in 2012, there had been about 1.87 million total airings. An estimated $1.56 billion has been spent to date, according to Wesleyan. About one-third of that total ($517 million) was spent on nearly 610,000 ad airings in the presidential race, while spending on campaigns for U.S. Senate came to $247 million for more than 280,000 airings. Spending on races for governor and U.S. House lag behind, clocking in at a little over $80 million apiece. Just over $34 million has been spent on ballot measures so far. "Judging by where advertisers are putting their money, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are the biggest presidential battlegrounds in 2016," said Michael Franz, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project. "These swing states have not changed much, if any, from four years ago." OBAMA HEAPS PRAISE ON FUGATE President Obama thinks a Floridian was one of his best hires. That's how he described Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate during a trip to flood-ravaged Louisiana on Tuesday. Obama said Fugate "has done such an outstanding job not just in dealing with this particular incident, but has really rebuilt FEMA so that there's a change of culture. And everybody knows that when a disaster happens, FEMA is going to be there on the ground, cooperating with state and local officials rapidly and with attention to detail, and keeping the families who've been affected uppermost in their minds. So we very much appreciate everything Craig has done." Not everyone is that impressed with the agency, tarnished by its sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina more than decade ago. It's accused of responding too slowly or too ham-handedly at times. But Fugate has won praise from both sides of the aisle for being a straight shooter no easy task in Washington. Obama hired the former Alachua County paramedic in 2009, after Fugate had spent eight years running Florida's Department of Emergency Management. Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com; Twitter: @ledgeking Port St. Lucie City Manager Jeff Bremer has announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31. (FILE PHOTO) SHARE By Nicole Rodriguez of TCPalm PORT ST. LUCIE The city has at least 35 applicants to replace City Manager Jeff Bremer, who will retire at the end of the year. That number likely will increase dramatically by the Monday application deadline, according to Colin Baenziger, of the search firm Colin Baenziger & Associates. "Roughly 40 percent of applicants wait until the final four days before deadline to apply," Baenziger told Bremer and the City Council in an email Thursday. "I think it reflects human nature as well as a hope of minimizing the likelihood that word of their application will slip out." Baenziger estimates the city will receive 55-60 applications by the deadline. Among the first 35, Baenziger identified six strong candidates, he wrote. Baenziger, who also conducted the city's recent search for a city attorney, is being paid $22,000 for the city-manager search. The new city attorney begins Thursday. Bremer announced his resignation in mid-June, effective Dec. 31, to spend more time with family. Bremer who has 30 years of experience as a city manager and previously worked in Michigan was hired in November 2012 as an assistant to then-city manager, and current mayor, Greg Oravec, who parted ways with the city as its manager in February 2013. Oravec's departure came after he released 85 pages of notes and emails suggesting a tumultuous relationship with some City Council members and insider conversations about his employment. Bremer was promoted to the top spot by the City Council in December 2013. He earned more than $174,000 last year. SHARE By Staff Report The tropical wave we have been watching for days is entering the Florida Straits. An area of low pressure centered near the north coast of Central Cuba is a little better defined this afternoon, and is producing a large but disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms. Any development of this system is expected to be slow to occur while it interacts with the terrain of Cuba through Sunday. Environmental conditions are forecast to become a little more conducive when the low moves into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday. Reports from the Cuban Meteorological Service indicate 3 to 5 inches of rain have fallen in portions of the island this afternoon. These rains are likely to continue primarily over portions of eastern and central Cuba tonight and Sunday. Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are probably occurring over portions of the Bahamas, and this activity will spread into parts of southern Florida and the Florida Keys by Sunday. Interests elsewhere in Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico should continue to monitor the progress of this disturbance. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this system on Sunday. Formation chance through 48 hours: 40 percent Formation chance through 5 days: 50 percent The tropical wave is a little farther south today allowing some dry air to mix into the forecast, according to WPTV NewsChannel 5 meteorologist Steve Weagle. Some isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible overnight, and scattered storms are possible Sunday, Weagle said. There are hints the wave could strengthen in the Gulf next week, setting up for high rain chances starting Monday. As the wave curves up into the central and northern Gulf of Mexico, if it stays close to Florida, our area will see ample tropical moisture pouring in with stormy weather for the start of next week. SHARE Beach forecast for Saturday. (WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5) Boating forecast for Saturday. (WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5) The locations of four systems being monitored in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and tropics at 8 a.m. Saturday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER) The locations of three systems being monitored in the eastern Pacific Ocean at 8 a.m. Saturday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER) By Staff Report The tropical wave we have been watching for days is entering the Florida Straits and will have an impact on the weather this weekend. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy today, and scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible. Winds will increase late in the day as the wave passes to the south. Expect a high near 89 and an east wind of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Sufficient moisture and steady onshore winds will create a chance for thunderstorms along the coast. Late afternoon heating will support scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms inland. Tonight, the scattered showers and thunderstorms continue. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 79 and an east wind around 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent. On Sunday, the tropical wave will cause our chances for rain to increase even more. Keep an eye on conditions with our live weather radar. Sunrise today was at 6:58 a.m. Sunset is at 7:47 p.m. ADVISORIES The greatest threat from storms will be occasional cloud-to-ground lightning, wind gusts near 35 mph, and brief heavy downpours. For boaters, a few gusts approaching 35 knots will be possible in and near any storm that develops over area waters. The rip current risk today is moderate. The surf will be choppy. EXTENDED FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. East-southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 86. East-southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. South-southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. TROPICAL UPDATE Source: National Hurricane Center Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico 1. At 11 p.m., Hurricane Gaston is about 655 miles east-southeast of Bermuda with top sustained winds of 85 mph as it moves northwest at 8 mph. Gaston should slow down during the next day or so, with a turn toward the north forecast on Monday. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. . 2. At 8 p.m., the weak area of low pressure we've been monitoring all week is between the northern coast of Cuba and Andros Island in the Bahamas and moving west-northwestward through the Straits of Florida at about 10 mph. Formation chance through 48 hours: 40 percent Formation chance through 5 days: 50 percent Go here for a full update on this system. 3. At 2 p.m., a weak trough of low pressure is south of Louisiana in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Conditions are not expected to be conducive for development before this system reaches the coast of Texas on Sunday. However, heavy rainfall is possible along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to southeastern Texas during the next few days. Formation chance through 48 hours: near 0 percent Formation chance through 5 days: near 0 percent 4. At 2 p.m., an area of low pressure centered about 140 miles southwest of Bermuda is producing winds of 30 to 35 mph. Any significant development of this system is likely to be slow to occur. This low is expected to move westward and then west-northwestward at about 10 mph toward North Carolina during the next few days. After that time, increasing vertical wind shear is expected to make development unlikely. Formation chance through 48 hours: 30 percent Formation chance through 5 days: 30 percent Eastern Pacific Ocean 1. At 8 p.m., Hurricane Lester is about 780 miles west-southwest of Baja, California with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph as it moves west at 13 mph. Some strengthening is possible during the next24 hours followed by slow weakening. 2. At 8 p.m., Tropical Storm Madeline is about 1,025 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with top sustained winds of 60 mph as it moves west northwest at 8 mph. Continued strengthening is forecast, and Madeline is expected to become a hurricane Sunday. 3. At 2 p.m., a broad area of cloudiness and scattered shower activity is several hundred miles south-southwest of the southwestern coast of Mexico. Development of this system, if any, is expected to be slow to occur during the next several days as it moves westward or west-northwestward. Formation chance through 48 hours: near 0 percent Formation chance through 5 days: 20 percent TODAY'S TIDE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service Sebastian Inlet Bridge High tides: 4:03 a.m. and 4:52 p.m. Low tides: 10:28 a.m. and 11:02 p.m. Fort Pierce Inlet, South Jetty High tides: 4:20 a.m. and 5:09 p.m. Low tides: 10:34 a.m. and 11:08 p.m. MARINE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service A high pressure ridge will extend along the eastern seaboard through the weekend and into early next week as a tropical wave moves through the Florida Straits and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This will maintain a moderate easterly breeze with a long fetch, which will produce poor conditions for small craft operation. Today: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet with a dominant period 6 seconds. A moderate chop on the intracoastal waters. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Tonight: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet with a dominant period 5 seconds. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Sunday: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 4 feet with a dominant period 5 seconds. A moderate chop on the intracoastal waters. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms. Sunday Night: East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet. A light chop on the intracoastal waters. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. WPTV NewsChannel 5 meteorologists contributed to this report. The day after a massive explosion leveled a Fitchburg house, critically injuring the owner and scattering debris and rubble for half a mile, some nearby residents began returning to their homes Friday, while other dwellings remained uninhabitable. Representatives from local, state and federal agencies were continuing to investigate the cause of Thursdays explosion. Fitchburg police Lt. Todd Stetzer said the cause would not be known until at least Monday because investigators need to get more information from the owner of the home destroyed in the blast. Brian Grittner, 57, remained in critical condition Friday at UW Hospital, his mother, Neldine Nichols, said. The retired state IT employee suffered cuts, burns and broken bones, Nichols said. Grittners house, at 5573 Cheryl Drive near South Fish Hatchery Road, was the center of the explosion but it had not been determined if the blast occurred inside or outside, Fitchburg Fire Chief Joe Pulvermacher said. At the very least, that house and an adjacent house and duplex would likely have to be bulldozed, he said. Families from eight residences, not including Grittners, were not allowed to spend Friday night in their homes because of safety concerns, Fitchburg Fire Department spokeswoman Meredith Shelton said. Six buildings remain uninhabitable, including two duplexes, Shelton said, though residents of one of the duplexes and one of the homes were allowed access to retrieve belongings. Pulvermacher told reporters Friday afternoon that nothing had been ruled out as the cause of the blast. He said investigators were following up on reports of work being done in the vicinity of the explosion. Fitchburg house explosion: Neighbor found victim in house debris Mike St. John found his neighbor, Brian Grittner, seated in a pond of pink insulation in what remained of his Fitchburg home. Two explosions had just leveled the building, leaving Grittner, prone and incoherent, but alive. Were trying to determine what caused this and how we can prevent this from happening in the future, Pulvermacher said. The investigation had found no evidence of a leak or explosion in the underground gas distribution system, said Steve Schultz, a spokesman for Madison Gas & Electric. That would rule out an underground gas main rupture, but not necessarily a gas leak inside the destroyed house. MGE did not receive calls for a gas leak prior to the explosion, and the companys first responders were on the scene within 10 minutes to shut off gas to the residence, Schultz said. We completed a thorough survey of the area to ensure the safety of the surrounding neighborhood, he said. We are actively participating with the ongoing investigation. Grittner told his mother the last thing he remembered before waking up in an ambulance was opening up the refrigerator. Its astonishing that he looks as good as he does, Nichols said. Nichols said her son loves video games and computers and had been saving up to buy a Tesla electric car. He also had been thinking of moving into a smaller house, she said. Grittner is married with a step-daughter, though his wife wasnt living in the house at the time of the explosion, Nichols said. The ranch-style house was built in 1969 and assessed at $236,800, according to Dane County property records. It was purchased in 2011. The American Red Cross assisted four families Thursday night who stayed with friends and relatives because their homes were close to the site of the explosion, spokeswoman Barbara Behling said. Emergency workers helped rescue two cats and a dog from neighboring homes, which brought some relief to their owners, Behling said. Debris was scattered for more than half a mile around the house. A box spring mattress was seen in the middle of Fish Hatchery Road, the busy arterial which was closed from McKee to Lacy roads overnight Thursday, opened to one lane of traffic in both directions Friday morning and fully reopened around 5 p.m. Its truly remarkable that others werent hurt, Behling said. As we looked at the faces of the people who were getting past the initial police barricades there. They had a look of shock on their faces and some relief if it wasnt their home. The Salvation Army of Dane County also provided assistance Thursday night to affected residents and emergency responders, handing out snacks and cups of water, Gatorade and coffee. Ted Bendler, a relief worker for the agency, described pieces of wood, drywall, insulation and the remnants of a garage door littered across several yards. Bendler said one neighbor living across the street from the destroyed home had a plate-glass window blown in by the blast. On a typical evening the neighbor would be sitting in a recliner looking out the window. It was literally a miracle he wasnt home at that moment, Bendler said. The Fitchburg police and fire departments are being assisted in the investigation by the State Fire Marshal, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dane County Sheriffs Office. Investigators ask that anyone who would like to report damage from the explosion, including debris, or has information concerning the incident, to contact the Fitchburg police at 270-4300. Anyone who would like to request access to a nearby property or to request shelter assistance can also contact police. State Journal reporter Shelley K. Mesch contributed to this report. Apple on Thursday issued a patch that addresses three recently discovered critical iOS zero-day vulnerabilities, and advised users to update their systems immediately. State-sponsored actors exploited the flaws to target United Arab Emirates human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor, and a Mexican journalist who reported on government corruption. Researchers at the University of Torontos Citizen Lab and security firmLookout discovered the vulnerabilities, which they dubbed Trident, after investigating suspicious text messages sent to Mansoor. The messages included links to an exploit infrastructure connected with NSO Group, an Israel-based cyberwar company that sells the spyware product Pegasus exclusively to governments, according to Citizen Lab. The NSO Group, which developed Pegasus, is owned by private investment firm Francisco Partners, Citizen Lab said. It reportedly has offered to sell the NSO Group, which it has valued at US$1 billion. The firm previously invested in Blue Coat Systems, which sold products to repressive regimes to aid their mass surveillance and Internet censorship efforts. Apples response cements in my mind that it takes security seriously, said Bobby Kuzma, systems engineer at Core Security. These are very complex exploits and Apple has a patch out fixing them 10 days after it was notified, he told TechNewsWorld. Thats nothing short of miraculous. Grade A Scary The Trident vulnerabilities consist of the following: CVE-2016-4657 an exploit targeting a previously undocumented corruption vulnerability in WebKit that allows execution of the initial shellcode; CVE-2016-4655 a Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization bypass exploit to find the kernels base address; and CVE-2016-4656 32- and 64-bit iOS kernel exploits targeting a memory corruption vulnerability that allows execution of code in the kernel. They are used to jailbreak an iPhone and allow software installation. The jailbreak is the key here, Core Securitys Kuzma noted. Once youve broken out of the tightly compartmented application space in iOS, you can effectively and easily bypass all the security controls built into the device and the operating system. This is grade A scary stuff. Pegasus on the Loose The spyware Trident implanted appears to be NSOs Pegasus product, a highly advanced tool that makes use of zero-day flaws, obfuscation, encryption and kernel-level exploitation, Lookout noted. Pegasus can use an iPhones camera and microphone to eavesdrop on activity. It can record the users calls over WhatsApp and Viber, logging messages sent in mobile chat apps, and track the users movements. It includes a renamed copy of Cydia Substrate, a third-party app developer framework that facilitates recording of messages and phone calls from targeted apps, Citizen Lab said. Pegasus clearly shows the dangers of mobile devices [that] can be transformed into ideal tracking devices, said Yair Amit, CTO of Skycure. While Pegasus is a sophisticated tool thats likely to be used against specific victims, there are tools that allow attackers with minimal technical background to easily penetrate iOS and Android, he told TechNewsWorld. News of the zero-day exploits led Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., who has a degree in computer science, to call for a congressional hearing on the issue of mobile security. Just recently, Microsoft shared some information regarding the Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) found in the HoloLens. This is the section of the device that serves as the brain that allows it to do all the cool holographic tricks. The HPU is quite powerful for a tiny chip, and surprisingly, it's a custom design from Microsoft. The company usually doesn't design its own chips, so this could be a sign of things to come in the future. Outside of the information provided for the HPU, Microsoft decided to also talk about the optics, according to Tom's Hardware. The HoloLens optics is what users will view holograms from and is one of the main aspects of the device. It's based on military-grade waveguide technology, and is designed to beam images to the eyes of users. Whether or not this is dangerous is still left to be seen. Beaming images to the eyes of users is made possible by a special coating on the glass, and not necessarily the glass itself. This coating is known as diffractive grating, and the HoloLens uses three layers of it to get the job done. The HoloLens is also capable of eye tracking to allow users to select items by just looking at them. The technology used here is an infrared light and sensor, so nothing out of the ordinary. It would seem the HoloLens is more impressive on the software front rather than the hardware. The company noted that everything needed to work just right or else the holograms would "swim" and be unstable, something that could cause users to be nauseous. We've seen this happen with VR headsets, especially the PlayStation VR. We're sure Microsoft doesn't want to fall in the same boat. Interestingly enough, Microsoft stated that the HoloLens could adjust its interpupillary distance vertically and horizontally. This should give it the biggest eyebox in the holographic industry. The HoloLens is being sold to developers and enthusiasts for the cool price of $3,000. With all the hardware and software technology inside the device, one can see why it is so expensive. It will take time for Microsoft to bring the price down to a point where consumers can pick it up without hurting their pockets. It's the perfect consumer and enterprise tool. Microsoft cannot allow for it to fail because it could also be the future of computing, and Windows needs to be a part of that one way or the other. Overall, we expect it to be less expensive than virtual reality headsets. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbera | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google has always had a special place in its heart for Nexus devices, as observed during new Android version releases. The Mountain View company once again manifested its special affection for the Nexus line earlier this week. In a Google+ post, Nexus has announced that Google's prized Wi-Fi assistant, which was originally an exclusive feature for Project Fi, will be extended to Nexus device users within Canada, Mexico, Nordic countries, the UK and the United States. A subscription to Project Fi is not needed for Nexus device users who want to take advantage of the Wi-Fi assistant. "Keep your connection speed high and your data bill low with Wi-Fi Assistant," says Nexus. "[Wi-Fi Assistant] allows you to automatically and securely connect to [free open Wi-Fi hotspots]." Note that users are not charged for data usage when connected to Wi-Fi hotspots. Google claims that it has verified more than a million fast and reliable public wireless hotspots, which were first leveraged for Project Fi. The Wi-Fi assistant automatically searches for these hotspots, such as those in coffee shops. It then seamlessly switches the phone connection away from cellular networks to a Wi-Fi hotspot that Google verified. The Wi-Fi assistant saves users from manually searching, connecting to the better hotspots. As an icing on the cake, Google also provides data security through encryption when the user is connected to an open hotspot. "We built Project Fi as a testbed for innovative ideas," says Project Fi project manager Simon Arscott. "And we saw this as an opportunity through our Nexus product line to bring it to even more users." The Nexus product line lists the Nexus 4, 5, 6, 5x and 6P, as well as the Nexus 7, 9 and 10 tablets. While the Wi-Fi Assistant covers all of the listed devices as long they are running on Android 5.1 or newer Android versions, Project Fi is limited to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Nexus 6. The Wi-Fi Assistant's on/off switch can be found by accessing the device's "Settings" app, which will bring up a list of tabs. Tapping the "Google" tab will reveal the "Networking" panel in which the switch is located. When successfully connected, the device's notification bar will show a VPN (virtual private network) key icon. The Wi-Fi connection will also display the phrase "Connected via Wi-Fi Assistant." Wonderful as it may be, the Wi-Fi assistant still has its limitations. An obvious one is that it won't connect to networks that Google hasn't certified as fast and reliable. Another is its inability to connect to networks that require additional steps such as logging in. In both instances, Google recommends for the user to connect manually. The Wi-Fi assistant also refuses to automatically connect to networks that users have connected to manually. The device first needs to "Forget" the network before the Wi-Fi assistant can proceed. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook has axed the editorial team responsible for writing the story descriptions that show up in the Trending Topics section, according to sources who spoke with Quartz. The team of 15 to 18 contractors, hired via a third party, were notified of the termination at 4 p.m. then asked to leave the premises by 5 p.m. on the same day. Some members of the editorial team were said to have been working on Trending Topics for a year and a half now. Trending Topics: Human vs Machine Intelligence With the editorial team fired, Facebook will now rely primarily on computer algorithms to vet the topics that are generating a buzz on the social network. This is only one of the many ways Facebook is deploying machine intelligence to understand how netizens are using the platform. In place of the team of writers, engineers will oversee the results that the algorithm yields and determine whether these are newsworthy. Facebook has long insisted its Trending Topics section is automated. "Topics that are eligible to appear in the product are surfaced by our algorithms, not people," Justin Osofsky, Facebook's VP for Global Operations, explained in May, while recognizing that a team of human editors "play an important role" in ensuring the results are relevant and of high quality. Former Trending Topics staff, however, alleged at the time that human editors and news curators were asked to select the topics manually, discarding stories that were deemed conservative or against their personal beliefs. 'Facebook Is A Platform For All Ideas' In response to the allegations of political bias that erupted in May, Facebook vowed to limit its algorithm's dependence on some 1,000 news outlets to vet stories for the Trending Topics section. Now, as the social media company continues to update the service, the site will remove the snippet that gives a preview to the topic and will only show the number of people talking about it, as seen in the picture below. Like before, Trending Topics will determine which stories to feature based on the number of mentions and the sharp increase in the number of mentions over a short period. By terminating the full team of human editors and news curators and introducing these changes, Facebook believes it will only need to make "fewer individual decisions about topics." "Facebook is a platform for all ideas," the company claims, "and we're committed to maintaining Trending as a way for people to access a breadth of ideas and commentary about a variety of topics." Can Facebook Really Rid Its System Of Human Bias? The question is: how effectively can Facebook strip its system of human bias? From the News Feed to targeted ads to Trending Topics, Facebook is increasingly developing its machine intelligence systems to gain better insights into its user base and audience, without relying too much on human intervention. Often, however, machine learning also depends on cues, much like social signals, from human partners. These cues can be gleaned from patterns of human behavior. The former editorial team in examining the stories using their own judgment may have been crucial in Facebook's development of a unique algorithm with a nose for news. One study [pdf] shows how bias, evident in human language, can be imprinted on machine intelligence. "Human-like semantic biases result from the application of standard machine learning to ordinary language the same sort of language humans are exposed to every day," researchers from Princeton University and the University of Bath report. Given these biases, even smart technologies can be used to "perpetuate" prejudice in much the same way traditional news organizations carry their own biases too. With more people turning to social media as a source of news, it's important now more than ever for Facebook to get its formula right. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A federal judge has denied an injunction against a new California vaccination law requiring children in public and private schools to undergo inoculation against contagious diseases. When San Diego District Judge Dana Sabraw denied the injunction that four anti-vaccine organizations and 17 parents sought, he also took out a condition that exempted parents from vaccinating their children based on personal beliefs. Some 33,000 students in California may be denied enrollment in kindergarten or the seventh grade if they don't get the vaccinations required for admission, said the plaintiffs. Sabraw, however, countered that the right to education strongly protected by law in the state must give way to public interest in protecting the health of the children. He also added that the California Supreme Court has been upholding mandatory vaccination for school kids as far back as 1890. California's new vaccination ruling was signed into law after a massive measles outbreak in 2014 was traced to unvaccinated children visiting Disneyland. It went into effect in July and joins others in Mississippi and West Virginia mandating vaccination against illnesses like measles, tetanus, rubella and mumps. But while the law states all children require vaccination, it only calls on parents to show immunization records when a child is enrolling in kindergarten or the seventh grade. If an elementary student has a previous parental exemption then, they won't need to be vaccinated until they reach the seventh grade. The same goes for children in the eighth grade or higher. The plaintiffs took to taking their opposition to court after they were unable to acquire the state ballot referendum needed to stop the law from being implemented. Kim Mack Rosenberg, the plaintiffs' attorney, said they will appeal Sabraw's decision. Sen. Richard Pan (D-California), on the other hand, lauded the judge's ruling, saying that schools are already starting to become safer because of the support for the vaccination requirement. Not all children can be vaccinated for health reasons, but those who can are strongly recommended to receive the necessary shots to keep contagious diseases at bay. Under California's new vaccination law, those entering kindergarten or the seventh grade who can't receive vaccines because of medical reasons will be allowed to enroll after providing proof from their doctors. There are different reasons why parents choose not to vaccinate their children and one of them is the belief that inoculation can cause autism. There are also those who have bought into the idea of natural immunity and that vaccines can overwhelm a child's immune system. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Much like every week, even this week, we saw a number of launches, such as LG X Cam, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Karbonn K9 Viraat, Sony Playstation Now, Intex Cloud Tread, and a few power banks by PTron, along many others. We also saw a number of smartphone manufacturers in India announced their partnership with Reliance Jio wherein they would allows users to avail the much awaited Jio Preview Offer. Along with this, Vodafone and Airtel announced Aadhar e-KYC based connections, HealthifyMe announced a couple of new features, and Apple dropped 'Store' in the past week, thus taking an interesting step towards rebranding itself. This week, we also witnessed rumours regarding the popular game Mortal Kombat heading towards PC, while Samsung dropped INR 5,000 on its S7 and S7 Edge's price tags. We even reviewed Evidson X88 and Brainwavz M1 earphones this week. Rumours, exclusive stories, reviews, and a number of launches; a lot happened this week. However, if you had missed out any of our stories, do not worry. Here's a chance, as usual, to go back and review some of the exciting stuff: Top Mobile Design Trends In 2016 The world of mobile designing has undergone a sea change. And ten years from now, it will again be completely different. Today, more than just looks and outward representation, there are features and other aspects that are determining the success of the physical product, and also applications in the phones. Read The Full Story Here Tech Giants Strike Against Robocall Major technology giants like Alphabet, AT&T, Apple, and Verizon have joined hands to fight against 'robocalls', automated, pre-recorded phone calls. It seems like these companies have also met the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to discuss their issues. Calling themselves as 'Robocall Strike Force', the group is working hard to bring in and adopt new tools and solutions. Read The Full Story Here Evidson X88 Review And Comparison [Video] Priced at INR 549, once again the company is targeting the budget friendly category while also bringing in classy and retro design for audiophiles. Evidson X88 is engineered to produce high definition sound across all genres of music with great detail and accuracy. It is also capable of producing powerful bass. Read The Full Story Here Samsung Galaxy S7 And S7 Edge Prices Drop By INR 5,000 In what might be a surprise move, Samsung has given two of its flagship handsets, a INR 5,000 price cut, namely the S7 and S7 edge. As reported by Gadgets NDTV, the news of the price drop was reported by a Mumbai based retailer, but later confirmed independently. The Samsung Galaxy S7 will now have a dealer price tag of INR 43,400 in India, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will be available at dealers for INR 50,900. The prices quoted here, are those of the 32GB variants of the phone, which were launched at INR 48,900 for the S7 and INR 56,900 for the S7 edge, respectively. Read The Full Story Here Here's How You Can Get Your Hands On Android 7.0 Nougat Now Google recently announced that the latest and final edition of Android 7.0 Nougat is being rolled out for Nexus devices, starting today, Aug 23. If you are a Nexus user, you can soon get it via an OTA update. You can go to 'Settings' menu and tap on 'About', and then select 'System Updates'. You will have to, then, click on 'Check for Updates' and wait if the update actually pops up on your device. This is the simplest way. However, if the update doesn't show up, and you are a type of person who cannot wait until the roll out pops up, you can opt in for a manual update. Read The Full Story Here Mortal Kombat XL Heading To Your PC Soon Mortal Kombat XL fans have one more reason to rejoice, especially if the hints from founder Ed Boone is to be considered anything material; he recently tweeted about possibilities that the Mortal Kombat XL game could well be headed to the desktop computers. According to NDTV, there have been mentions on SteamDB, a third party site that tracks Steam listings, where they mentioned an app named MKXL Enhanced Online Beta, but the official announcements are yet to arrive from Warner Bros. Read The Full Story Here Android Nougat 7.0 To Soon Get Navigation Bar Customizer Google is now looking at creating a navbar customizer (navigation bar customizer), for the latest Android OS, the 7.0 Nougat. This will allow users to add, move icons, or simply remove icons from the navigation bar of their devices, or in other words, allow tweaking the 'home', 'back', and 'recent' options. As per NDTV quotes, this new feature is supposed to be hidden inside the code for Android Nougat 7.0, but a final revelation of the additional feature is yet to come. Most of the information currently available to the media has been through a network of resources who have leaked details about the new feature. Read The Full Story Here Brainwavz M1: Review And First Impression Brainwavz recently launched its new in-ear headphones called, the M1 in India, and here is a review and its first impressions. While the box certainly looks more like the Brainwavz M5 that we had unboxed and reviewed a couple of weeks ago, features make them apart. Speaking about the specifications of the M1, it comes with a 10.7 mm dynamic driver, with a rated impedance of 32 Ohms and frequency range between 20 Hz and 20 Khz. The earphone comes with a unique silver, oxygen free cable of around a meter length, probably. Read The Full Story Here 5 Challenges Faced In Android Ecosystem 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. Read The Full Story Here Select Lenovo Handsets To Have Office, Skype, And OneDrive Preloaded Due to the Microsoft licensing programme expansion, now Lenovo has announced to include 3 of it's productivity apps, in some select handsets including those under the brand name of Motorola, which it currently owns. With regards to this development, Nick Parker, the Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft's OEM division said, The marriage of Microsofts apps and Lenovos Android-based devices will enable customers around the world to be more productive, more connected and achieve more. Read The Full Story Here Top 10 Stories 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 PRAIRIE DU CHIEN My 1-year-old granddaughter has a look that needs no words for amplification. She does not say much, content to trade long-winded glances with a knowing smile on her face. With one look, she can melt your ice cream. I find wisdom in that look, a love of life and absence of cynicism that radiates from her eyes. When she looks at me, I have little choice but to return that look. I learned this point of view from my seven grandchildren on our recent annual trip up north, to the tranquil lakes of northern Wisconsin. The fishing was bad. The time spent fishing with family was irreplaceable. We also found time to tie-dye shirts. My compatriots of the 1960s would be disappointed with my effort, producing a shirt more reminiscent of a paint factory accident than the artistry and idealism of the love generation. Between casting my line and dyeing shirts, I found time to read a book over vacation, Miracle in the Andes, about the 1972 Uruguayan Rugby team whose plane went down in the Andes Mountains. The author, who scaled a 17,000 foot peak without mountaineering experience or equipment to seek help, never thought of himself as a hero; simply a survivor. The captivating drama was well documented in the book Alive and the subsequent movie of the same name, so he never felt compelled to tell his story. Until he realized, while giving a speech that left the audience spellbound, that it was not his story. It was our story. A story of the humanity in all of us. When Nando Parrado climbed that peak to find a route to Chile and rescue, he stood there on the summit and saw only more mountains. Confronted with what he perceived as certain death, he made a remarkable discovery. The opposite of death is not mere living. The opposite of death is love. The love for his family gave him a reason to live. My family is my miracle. Everyone has that miracle. Its a reason to quiet our doubts about what lies beyond the mountains in front of us. Its a reason to set aside our cynicism. Its a reason to live. Love does not remain the sole province of institutional religions, romantic artists, songwriters, romance novelists or naive sentimentalists. It endures as one of the strongest forces of humanity. Parrado, no starry-eyed sentimentalist, used the sentiment to survive. Breathe. Breathe again. With every breath you are alive. For the cynics among us, including myself, we might choose another word for this sentiment. We might call it compassion a collegiate, thought-filled word we can say in mixed company without biting our lip. Confronted with racial hatred, political anger and mounting natural disasters, we can turn away from cynicism to the power of compassion to survive. Compassion for our family and friends, yes, but also for our adversaries. Compassion does not compel us to agree with them, vote for them, or buy into their particular flavor of cynicism. It only allows space in the rhetoric to take a breath. And in that breath, we find a common story without regard to race, politics or religion. Its a story just beginning in the eyes of my grandchildren. Vietnam plans to use tax measures to restrict the number of large and luxury cars. Photo: Phong Tran Only one month after the Ministry of Finance proposed increasing luxury taxes on cars with large engines to up to 75 percent, trade officials now say the maximum tax rate should be raised to 150 percent to restrict the use of expensive, fuel-hungry vehicles. Under its new proposal, the Ministry of Industry and Trade agrees that the tax on small cars should be cut from the current 45 percent to 25-40 percent. But for cars with engines lager than three liters, it said taxes should be between 90 and 150 percent, depending on the size of the engine. The highest luxury tax Vietnam ever imposed on cars was 100 percent, between 1999 and 2003. The current maximum rate is 60 percent. This is not the first time the trade ministry has tried to bring back higher taxes. Earlier this year it received strong opposition from consumers and importers after proposing a tax rate of 195 percent on cars with engines larger than six liters. Tax proposals are coming from different agencies, following an order by the prime minister to encourage the use of small cars and restrict big and luxury cars. Luxury cars with engines of more than three liters now account for less than 3 percent of all personal cars in Vietnam and they are mostly imports from the US, Japan and Europe, news website Saigon Times Online reported, citing official figures. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a quasi equity investment in Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) which aims to expand its loan services to Vietnamese businesses. This quasi equity investment of up to VND403.1 billion (about US$18.35 million) in dividend preference shares once converted, would allow IFC to become a shareholder in TPBank, owning at that time 4.999 percent of the bank's equity capital, the institution said in a release on Friday. According to IFC, through this investment TPBank has the ability to offer loans to more than 40,000 small and medium enterprises in Vietnam representing a loan portfolio growth of more than $2 billion equivalent over the next five years. IFC is also providing advisory services to further improve the lenders risk management, digital and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) banking products, and corporate governance standards. IFCs abundant financing and extensive relationship network will enhance our capital resources and governance capacity as well as uncovering opportunities of cooperation with local and international financial institutions, said TPBanks chairman Do Minh Phu. IFCs investment supports TPBanks long-range plan of becoming the countrys leading digital bank, expanding its retail and SME reach, which comprise about 85 percent of TPBanks portfolio. Founded in 2008, TPBank has grown into a medium-sized bank with total assets of $3.7 billion as of mid 2016. TPBank joined IFCs Global Trade Finance Program in December 2015 with an initial trade line of $10 million. IFC has recently increased its trade exposure to $30 million, based on active utilization of the lender. To date, IFC has supported $40 million worth of trade transactions processed by TPBank for Vietnamese importers and exporters. Many Vietnamese factories are expected to operate with better energy and water efficiency under a program announced Tuesday by International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. The program was launched by IFC, in partnership with global apparel and footwear company VF Corporation and consumer products retailer Target Corporation, aiming to improve resource efficiency at their supplier factories in Vietnam. Under the first phase of this program, energy and water efficiency assessments will be conducted at about 30 factories over the next 12 months. Assessments will be carried out across the textile value chain, including cut-and-sew, dyeing-and-printing and garment-washing operations. The program will provide advice for technical solutions to improve energy and water efficiency while helping suppliers increase productivity and competitiveness. In addition, IFC will help facilitate financing through its partner banks in Vietnam. With Vietnams increasing participation in trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU Free Trade Agreement, the local textile sector is poised for faster growth, creating increased demand for sustainable energy and water use practices, said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Vietnams textile enterprises stand to benefit from this IFC program by further access to global markets while implementing resource efficiency best practices. Last year, exports of Vietnams apparel and footwear sector reached US$39.2 billion and generated approximately three million jobs, most of which are for women. While this sector is energy and water intensive, there are opportunities for reducing resource consumption by 20 percent or higher by using latest technology and good operating practices, according to IFC. The congenigal growth on the back of the 10-year-old girl. Photo: Nguyen Mi Doctors at Ho Chi Minh City Childrens Hospital 1 have decided to perform a surgery to remove a turtle-shell-like mole on the back of a 10-year-old girl as the result of a rare condition. Dao Trung Hieu, the hospitals deputy director, said the surgery for Tran Thi Ngoc Tham of Soc Trang Province, who suffers from congenital melanocytic nevus, is scheduled for August 29. We cant wait until it grows larger, he told the media Friday, adding that the mole is now around 22 cm across. Her case is similar to the famous Columbian turtle boy Didier Montalvo who was operated on in the UK in 2014. Didiers was considered to be among worlds rarest birthmarks. Tham is probably the worlds second case of this rare condition. Thams mother, Thach Thi Da Ni, 34, said she was born with the birthmark measuring the size of a mandarin orange, and it has been growing over the years. Tham quit school after being repeatedly teased by others as the turtle-shell girl. She also suffers from sleeping difficulties because the mole is itchy. When she brought her daughter to the hospital Ni had only VND600,000 (US$27). The poor woman, who also has a 12-year-old son who is being treated in Soc Trang for appendicitis, is seeking donations to fund the surgery, whose cost is not known. A little girl with black hairy back at her home in Gia Lai Province. Photo credit: Tuoi Tre A four-year-old girl from an ethnic tribe in the Central Highlands has thick black skin and hair covering almost her entire back, but her parents are too poor to have her condition diagnosed or treated. Many children her age in the Ja Rai village in Gia Lai Province go to kindergarten, but Ro Mah Suih stays at home because people are uncomfortable near her. The black hair in her back seems to be spreading to her buttocks and belly and there are new black dots on her neck and chin. Her neighbors call her birdgirl. We are too poor to know what to do, her mother Ro Mah Suyn told Tuoi Tre newspaper. The only thing they can do is to scratch her back, which she needs all the time. Whenever were at home, she would roll up her shirt and have us scratch her back, her mother said, scratching her daughters back as the little girl drank rice water as a cheap alternative to milk. Hot days are the worst. We have to stay up to scratch her back and keep her cool. Her father said she looked like a wart hog when she was born with also a cleft palate, which was fixed thanks to free surgery in Ho Chi Minh City. Doctors there suggested that experts at special hospitals can look at her back too. But the farmer couple in their late 20s, who also have to take care of the husbands old parents and an older child, could not afford further treatment. None of their family members have a similar condition. Ro Mah Quik, the father, said an old tribal law requires children born with abnormalities to be buried alive. But other tribe members allowed them to keep her. People were very scared. The children who come to play with her also used to be scared. But they have started to get used to her. Doctors guess Nguyen Trong Hao, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh Dermatology Hospital, who has seen the girls photos, said she might have benign pigmented lesion due to genetic mutation. The condition is commonly known as birthmark, and Hao said only around one out of 20,000 children has birthmark covers a large part of the body like Suih. He said skin transplant or laser treatment could help her, but that would require multiple hospital visits given the large area of affected skin. But the symptoms also suggest melanoma, or malignant skin tumor, which needs close medical observation, he said. The four shoe-shiners at the police station. Photo: Viet Duc/Zing The Hanoi police Thursday fined four shoeshiners VND2 million (US$90) each for forcing foreign tourists to use their services and extorting high prices. A day earlier news website Zing carried a video about a shoeshine and repair scam targeting foreign tourists in the popular old quarter. In the video, the shoeshiners suddenly yank off the shoes of three South Korean tourists who are walking on Cau Go Street, polish them and demand money. As the tourists disagree with the prices, a shoeshiner grabs one of them by the shirt. The tourists then decide to pay and leave. Also in the video, an American named Chris says he was charged VND850,000 ($38) after his sandals were forcefully taken off and given running repairs. The four shoeshiners in the video are Pham Van Chung, 32, Pham Van Quynh, 28, Vien Dinh Nam, 32, and Tran Van Chien, 22 from the northern provinces of Thanh Hoa and Hung Yen. Chung and Quynh had been summoned by the police in September and again fined VND2 million for the same offense. Major Tong Dang Cong, the crime police chief of Hanois Hoan Kiem District, told Zing that VND2 million is the maximum for harassing and overcharging tourists. But since it does not deter shoeshiners like Chung and Quynh, the police have urged relevant authorities to increase the fine, he said. The police have not investigated the shoeshine scam much because foreign tourists typically do not report cases, he said. Even in this case, when the police did step in following the video, the foreign victims had left the city, he added. Nguyen Giang Lam (L), 40, and Nguyen Quang Vinh, 33, at a Ho Chi Minh City court on December 31. They and another two were convicted of smuggling $5.3 million worth of luxury cars in 2011-12. Photo: Phan Thuong A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced an immigration officer and three people to 9-16 years in prison Thursday for smuggling in luxury cars worth over US$5.3 million with the help of dozens of overseas Vietnamese. At the trial, the city People's Court also ordered prosecutors to investigate the role played by other customs officers and overseas Vietnamese who allegedly abetted Nguyen Quang Vinh, 33, and his accomplices in illegally importing 54 cars between January 2011 and December 2012. The cars were declared as belonging to 54 overseas Vietnamese who were returning to Vietnam for permanent residency, thus getting exemption from import and valued-added taxes. However, their supposed owners had never sought permanent residency in the country, but allowed Vinh and his accomplices to use their names for a fee of $1,000-10,000 each. Prosecutors said 36 of the overseas Vietnamese involved were introduced to Vinh by Nguyen Giang Lam, 40, then an officer in the city's immigration department. Lam also approved their residency paperwork and was paid $10,000 each time for his services, they said. The rest were found by Vinh himself and Tran Phuoc Thanh, 48, and Tran Thai Nguyen, 33, providers of import and export services. The cars were all luxury brands like Audi, BMW and Rolls Royce, and the unpaid taxes are estimated at VND218 billion ($10 million), according to prosecutors. Vinh and Lam got 16 years each while Thanh and Nguyen got nine. Prosecutors said the 22 of the overseas Vietnamese have turned in to authorities a total of $44,500 they got from Vinh, and 38 of the illegal vehicles have been confiscated. I am Kerry Burgess. This is what I think. A 15-strong gang has been scamming tourists in downtown Ho Chi Minh City by shining their shoes without being asked before demanding an extortionate amount of money, threatening those who do not pay, a Thanh Nien investigation has found. On August 11 for instance, two foreign men were sitting on a bench in September 23rd Park when two men suddenly approached them and polished their shoes without saying a word. The tourists did not turn them away but were shocked to be asked VND1 million (US$45). The two men threatened the tourists until they paid them the money. Thanh Nien found similar incidents occurring elsewhere in the citys downtown. On August 11 a foreign man was about to cross Le Lai Street when a man insisted on polishing his shoes though the former said no. A Thanh Nien reporter managed to join the shoeshine group and found there were 15 men who had moved to the city from Thanh Hoa Province. They rent rooms on Hoang Sa Street, District 3, and usually take buses to the downtown area. A member, who claimed he could earn VND2 million in a morning, said they often go in pairs so that they could threaten the victims easier. One would polish shoes and demand money while the other would keep an eye out for police and voluntary youths, he said. Dinh To Hoa, deputy chief inspector of the city Department of Tourism, admitted that her agency is aware of the scam. Authorities have recorded more than 2,500 cases of hawkers and shoeshine boys hassling tourists, she said. [My] department has coordinated with relevant agencies to step up patrolling. They will also be punished if caught on street cameras. Facebook Inc changed its popular "Trending" feature, which shows users the most-talked about topics of the day, to make it more automated and further eliminate the potential for human bias, the company wrote in a blog post on Friday. The update is Facebook's latest attempt in recent months to stress its neutrality as its influence grows. The feature came under scrutiny in May after a news report alleged it suppressed conservative news, which prompted a demand from Republican members of the U.S. Congress for more transparency. Facebook said an internal probe found no evidence of bias. The Trending feature shows users the most-talked about stories and topics on the top right-hand corner of Facebook's home page with one-sentence descriptions. To eliminate the potential for bias, Facebook said it would no longer rely on editors to write descriptions for the topics and would instead show users the topic and how many people are discussing it. Facebook said in an e-mailed statement that the composition of its Trending team would focus more on technical expertise since it no longer needed editors to write descriptions. The company did not say whether it was laying off employees. Facebook maintains it is a neutral platform, but its political influence has come under scrutiny, especially as its user base swells. It has 1.7 billion people on its social network, and studies have shown it has the power to influence people's behavior, ranging from registering as organ donors to registering to vote. After the May news report first surfaced, Facebook penned a lengthy blog post explaining how the Trending feature works, the first time it had done so. Less than two weeks later, the company said it changed some procedures and outlined those changes in an effort to be more transparent. Twenty-one hotspots are being installed around Hoan Kiem Lake as Hanoi prepares to launch its free public Wi-Fi service in the area on Sep. 1, an official has said. Visitors to the lake, a well known tourist destination, will be able to roam using the free Wi-Fi hotspots as of Sep. 1, Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted the official from the Hanoi Information and Communication Department as saying. Users, however, will need to log in again after every 30 minutes to continue using the service, he said. The free Wi-Fi hotspots will debut at the same time as Hanoi starts to turn streets around Hoan Kiem Lake into walking-only streets every evening from Friday to Sunday to make the area more tourist-friendly. The capital government also plans to expand free Wi-Fi service to more tourist destinations and public areas, according to Tuoi Tre. An Australian tourist in Hanoi sits and waits after a man approached her on the street, took her sandals and attempted to repair them. Photo credit: Zing A young Australian was walking on Hang Dao Street in Hanoi downtown when a local man suddenly appeared and pointed at her sandals. Before she could tell what was happening, he had already reached down and forcefully yanked the sandals off of her feet. He spent a few minutes giving the pair some stitches while she waited helplessly. Then he asked her to pay VND900,000 (US$40), which she said was even more than what she had paid for the pair. I was shocked, the woman who was only identified as Avy said in a video released this week by Zing News. A foreigner questions a man who took his footwear without his approval. the popular Old Quarter and the Sword Lake, preying on foreign tourists. The news website suggested she was not the only victims of the new shoe shine and repair scam, in which a team of eight men waited around They approached foreigners, confused them and then took off their shoes. The men would then do some minor fixes and polishing before demanding very high service prices. Some were asked to pay VND1 million ($44) and they did, just to avoid trouble. A woman from Norway described the experience as not happy after having to spend VND500,000 on a shoe shine she did not want at all. Nguyen Thi Thuy, who is in charge of cultural and social affairs at the citys legislative office, said it will work with the tourism department to stop the scam. Nguyen Thi An, a member of the office, said the city should track down those shoe shine men and publish their photos. An said the shoe men should be charged criminally for fraud, adding that a cash fine will not be deterrent enough. Locals in Hoan Kiem District, where the scam was reported, said they are all familiar with the shoe men. They said the problem has been going on for a long time, with some men even stealing expensive shoes from foreign tourists. But Nguyen Ngoc Linh, chief police officer of Hang Buom Ward in the district, told Zing News that his unit has never encountered the men. Linh also said that he has not received any reports from foreign tourists about the scam over the past two years. "Without a victim, it's hard to deal with these men." A activist holds a banner in front of Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters during a protest condemning extra-judicial killings related to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against drugs, in Manila on August 24, 2016 The Philippines' police chief has called on drug users to kill traffickers and burn their homes, escalating President Rodrigo Duterte's deeply controversial crime war that has claimed 2,000 lives. "Why don't you give them a visit, pour gasoline on their homes and set these on fire to register your anger," Ronald dela Rosa said in a speech aired on television Friday. "They're all enjoying your money, money that destroyed your brain. You know who the drug lords are. Would you like to kill them? Go ahead. Killing them is allowed because you are the victim." Dela Rosa was speaking Thursday to several hundred drug users who had surrendered in the central Philippines. Dela Rosa's comments followed Duterte's own controversial directives that have sparked criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups. Duterte, 71, won May elections in a landslide on a vow to kill tens of thousands of suspected criminals in an unprecedented blitz that would eliminate illegal drugs in six months. He promised on the campaign trial that 100,000 people would be killed and so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them. Days after his election win, Duterte also offered security officials bounties for the bodies of drug dealers. And when he took office on June 30, Duterte told a crowd in Manila: "If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful." The UN special rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, said such directives "amount to incitement to violence and killing, a crime under international law". However Dela Rosa and Duterte have insisted they are working within the law and their aides have dismissed some of their comments as merely "hyperbole" meant to scare drug traffickers. 'Sad, mad and sorry' After a barrage of bad headlines, Dela Rosa on Friday apologised for his remarks the previous day and described them as due to an "emotional outburst". "Yesterday, I said that because I felt so bad. I was in front of those poor people, pushers and users, they looked like zombies. I was so mad, that's why I said that," he told reporters. Philippine national police director, General Ronald Dela Rosa, speaks during a senate hearing in Manila, on august 23, 2016, on the spate of extra judicial killings. "I'm sorry if I said something unpleasant. Many people are reacting. I am very sorry. I am just a human being who gets mad." When asked earlier Friday if Duterte supported Dela Rosa's call to murder and commit arson, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella denied that was the police chief's intent. "There is no such call. It's a passionate statement," Abella said, without elaborating. Dela Rosa told a Senate inquiry this week that the confirmed number of people to have died in the drug war was 1,946. He said police had shot dead 756 suspects in self-defence. He said there were another 1,190 killings under investigation, but they were likely due to drug gangs murdering people who could implicate each other. He also emphasised the crime war had so far been a success. "I admit many are dying but our campaign, now, we have the momentum," he told the Senate. Many Filipinos continue to support Duterte, accepting his argument that drastic measures are needed to stop the Philippines becoming a "narco state". Child deaths But criticism has continued to mount, with fears that security forces and hired assassins are roaming out-of-control and killing anyone suspected of being involved in drugs or for other reasons. The US government on Monday expressed its concern about "reports of extrajudicial killings". Local media have also reported a growing number of children who have been killed in the crossfire. Human Rights Watch released a statement condemning the death of a five-year-old girl who was shot this week when unknown gunmen reportedly entered her home and tried to kill her grandfather, an alleged drug user, who was wounded. "Duterte's aggressive rhetoric advocating violent, extrajudicial solutions to crime in the Philippines has found willing takers," the US-based group's Asia deputy director, Phelim Kine, said in a statement. Two years after the Metro Council fired her, a state appellate court is set to hear former East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney Mary Roper's appeal of the dismissal of her defamation lawsuit against Mayor Pro Tem Chandler Loupe and the city-parish. Roper accused Loupe of damaging her reputation by, among other ways, publicly linking her to alleged criminal activity that was cited as a reason for her September 2014 termination. +3 Former Parish Attorney Mary Roper files defamation suit against Loupe, city-parish Former East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney Mary Roper filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayor Loupe contends he was entitled to free speech and protected by legislative privilege that allows public officials not to be legally punished for statements made in a legislative forum. State District Judge Tim Kelley threw out Roper's April 2015 suit in July of that year, siding with Loupe's arguments. Former Parish Attorney Mary Ropers lawsuit against Chandler Loupe dismissed A state judge on Monday tossed former East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney Mary Ropers defamati A three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge will hear oral arguments from both sides in the case Sept. 19. Roper's attorney, Dale Baringer, declined comment Friday on the ongoing litigation. Roper is now with the Baton Rouge law firm of Shows, Cali & Walsh. "The district court correctly dismissed her lawsuit," Loupe's attorney, Murphy Foster III, said in a written statement. "We respectfully suggest and believe that the First Circuit Court of Appeal will affirm that dismissal." In a motion for a new trial, which Kelley denied last year, Baringer said the judge determined the statements Loupe made at Metro Council meetings were entitled to absolute immunity. But Roper, according to Baringer in the motion, believes the proceedings regarding her firing were merely administrative proceedings outside the legislative sphere and are not protected by legislative immunity. Baringer alleged in the motion that Loupe engaged in "willful and malicious character assassination" by accusing Roper of criminal conduct, questioning her work ethic and claiming she was unwilling to work with him. The Metro Council voted 8-3 to fire Roper, with some members accusing her of mismanaging her office and inappropriately sharing proprietary information related to city-parish software -- accusations she denied. +13 EBR council votes 8-3 to dismiss Parish Attorney Mary Roper Parish Attorney Mary Roper was fired by the Metro Council on Wednesday, bringing to an end a Roper's suit accused Loupe of linking her to a former city-parish worker who was trying to sell a city-parish computer program as his own. Before she was terminated, Roper covertly recorded a conversation between her and Loupe where he apologized for the way he had treated her in the past, her lawsuit stated. Loupe said he was not investigating Roper but later told the Metro Council he did investigate her, the suit alleged. Roper received a misdemeanor summons in September 2015. Investigators said they found that parish attorney email accounts were being illegally accessed, and traced the access to Roper's home IP address. If it feels like south Louisiana has been in a battle with Mother Nature this year, theres good reason. The year started with major flooding on the Mississippi River and the hits kept coming up until the latest spell of powerful storms that dropped more than 20 inches of rain and caused widespread flooding in the Baton Rouge area and along the Amite River. This has been a very busy year, said Ken Graham, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service Baton Rouge/New Orleans office. I remember very busy years before with multiple events. I dont remember this many record-breaking events. Starting in January, flooding on the Mississippi River reached such high levels that the Bonnet Carre spillway had to be opened to move river water into Lake Pontchartrain to relieve pressure on the levee system. The spillway was opened on Jan. 10 and wasnt closed for about three weeks. Corps continues to open Bonnet Carre bays to control the swollen Mississippi River Ten more bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway will be opened on Thursday as the Mississippi Riv Just a month later, on Feb. 23, a dozen tornadoes touched down in south Louisiana, killing two people and injuring more than 40 others. One of the tornadoes tore through the Sugar Hill travel trailer park in Convent and another one tore apart a hardware store, homes and other businesses in the vicinity of the La. 70 and La. 1 intersection at Bayou Lafourche. Tornadoes do happen that time of year, Graham said, but to get that many strong tornados was rare. A few weeks later, heavy rains hit the greater Baton Rouge area between March 7 and March 12 leading to flash floods and some broken flood records. Water rose in Central and in parts of Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes. The flooding included Tiger Bend Road, Antioch Road and along Old Jefferson, the same areas that would experience even greater flooding just a few months later. The large amount of rain in northern Louisiana contributed to the closing of Interstate 10 near the state's border with Texas. The closure lasted for days. Weve had a lot of unusual weather events in the last year, said Barry Keim, Louisiana state climatologist. And we havent even had a hurricane yet. On May 19, a severe storm powered through Baton Rouge, taking down trees and power lines across the parish. In some cases, winds of up to 70 mph caused 22,000 homes around Baton Rouge to lose power. Several uprooted trees ended up on nearby homes. Starting on Aug. 12, the most recent disaster started to unfold when rain began falling across south Louisiana. Strong bands of rains followed and by Friday, rivers started to rise. By the end of the weekend, widespread flooding started in northern East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston parishes. Throughout the week the floodwaters traveled south and were still impacting some areas in Ascension and Iberville parishes by Friday, more than two weeks the heavy rains began to fall. Thats the most water weve routed down the Amite River basin weve recorded, Graham said. Part of the problems was that such a large area of the state got hit by large amounts of rain, he said. To have several parishes covered with 20 inches of rain is staggering, Graham said. This rain event was so big, it raised Lake Pontchartrain by a foot. Graham said the amount of flooding seen in this latest flooding was a game changer. He's asked for help in rewriting some flooding impacts in the National Weather Service guidelines and even write from scratch impacts seen from this unprecedented flooding. We rewrote the book, Graham said. As a tropical wave moves westward toward the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters on Friday were predicting that Louisiana isn't likely to be in the path should the system develop into a storm in the coming days. Right now, its still a very, very disorganized system, said Phil Grigsby, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Slidell. The National Hurricane Center is giving the system about a 20 percent chance to develop into a tropical depression in the next two days and a 60 percent chance over the next five days. Thats much lower than the 80 percent chance given the system a few days ago. Wave weakens but conditions for development likely to improve The latest report from the National Weather Service says there's a 70 percent chance Invest 99 will develop into a tropical system in the next few days... Computer models used to forecast where a storm may go are having a hard time deciding what to do with this system because so far there is no center of circulation. However, some of the more reliable models are showing the system entering the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a weak system and going into the Florida panhandle by mid-week, Grigsby said. Some of the less reliable models do show the system traveling farther west which could potential have an impact on Louisiana, but those tend to be disregarded. Right now, the thinking is it will be in the eastern Gulf and Florida, he said. The bigger concern is that there will be a high pressure system settling over the state next week and temperatures will begin to very hot as people continue to work on cleaning out and rebuilding their flooded homes. Although the forecasts Friday are a relief, Grigsby said Louisiana residents need to keep the system in mind throughout the weekend and watch for updates. Were not free and clear until its over land and dissipated, Grigsby said. I was at the foot of my driveway talking to an electrician on Wednesday evening about an idea I had about adding a couple electrical outlets t As thoughts turn from mucking out flooded structures to rebuilding following the recent floods, an obscure East Baton Rouge building code is throwing a wrench in the plans. The letter of the law states that buildings everywhere in the city and unincorporated areas of the parish must be built "one foot above the record inundation." However, despite record-smashing floods the past month, authorities say it's too early to panic or begin entertaining thoughts of houses on stilts throughout the parish. The city has other strict building codes, though. No one is sure how any new elevation standards will compare to those currently in place. It is also unclear what local ordinances may be changed or struck, and what effect that could have on insurance rates. The federal government requires homes in high-risk flood zones be built to certain specifications. Local governments may enforce stricter standards in return for savings on residents' flood insurance. Several communities in the region participate in this optional program, including Central and Baker, but the city-parish has enacted the strictest regulations to manage a discount that's landed between 15 and 20 percent. "Doesn't that sound like a good idea, giving people a little bit of a break on their insurance?" asked Carol Smith, president of the Capital Region Builders Association. "I know it was a good idea, but who expected this? No one did," she added. City-parish floodplain administrator Shannon Dupont said the city-parish's building rules differ to some extent from Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations. First, the city-parish requires residents to build a foot above whichever is highest between their street's center line, sewer manholes, record inundation and the base flood elevation, which is a scientific calculation performed by FEMA. The federal government's minimal requirements under the National Flood Insurance Program is less restrictive, requiring only that houses be at least as high as the base flood elevation. Second, existing houses' elevations under federal minimum regulations must always be re-evaluated when they are damaged enough that repairs or reconstruction would cost half the building's value. In East Baton Rouge, the re-evaluation is triggered when the damage level reaches 40 percent. Finally, East Baton Rouge enforces the same standards parish-wide, not just in high-risk zones. Those standards only apply to high-risk zones under federal regulations. It is unclear exactly how the extra restrictions will affect Baton Rouge moving forward, but one city official offered a quick clarification. "We're not saying that if you got six feet of flood you have to raise your home six feet," said interim assistant chief administrator Carey Chauvin. For one thing, data is still being collected to come up with the inundation figures for neighborhoods across the parish. The city ordinance would only affect future building projects, not the ongoing reconstruction, he explained. Engineers and architects are already saying they want to build beyond what even the city-parish currently requires, but by their own choice, Chauvin said. "That's on you. ... We're not there yet," he said. Ordinances are enforced through the city-parish permits office. It's possible that someone may try to skirt the regulations, but that happens all the time, even when there hasn't been a natural disaster. If someone builds a house that's not up to the flood code the city-parish won't evict them or tear the building down, but it may be impossible for the owner to get flood insurance or rates that aren't "astronomical," Chauvin said. Smith, of the Builders Association, said it will be impossible to skirt the inspectors on big projects like raising a house, though. Right now, FEMA assessors are on the ground, and they will share their data on the destruction with the city-parish. One major question remains to be answered is whose houses sustained enough damage to meet the city-parish's 40 percent threshold that triggers a re-evaluation for existing structures. Smith said she and other contractors can't just look at a house and guess whether it's 20 percent damaged or 50. The damage cost depends more on the value of the house than the extent of the flooding, she said. A smaller, less valuable home will sustain a higher percentage of damage before a larger more expensive one. Unlike communities that adhere to the minimum federal requirements, homes in Baton Rouge will have to be reevaluated once they hit 40 percent damage, not 50 percent. Chauvin said the city does not yet have an estimate of the number of houses that fell in the 40 to 49 percent damage range, which the government agreed to include for the insurance discount. No damage percentage numbers have been determined for the city-parish so far. Though FEMA offers some money to help people raise their houses, if a home is found to be too dangerously low, it's often cheaper to just knock it down and start over. "We demolish and build before we ever raise," Smith said of her own company. The Metro Council could conceivably strike the inundation requirement or other provisions from the building ordinance, but councilman Ryan Heck said it would be premature to speculate on what may happen. FEMA bases its own flood maps on 100- and 500-year floods, while the recent storms have been described as a once-a-millennium event. If regulators peg the new housing regulations to the August crest, they're going to have to start raising homes on Mount Everest, Heck remarked. He said that he wants to give the federal government a chance to analyze the recent floods before trying to guess how the requirements might change. Councilman Joel Boe said that he too is not sure what will happen, but that flood restrictions will certainly affect where people are willing to build in the parish. "It's going to be a big deal," he said. If the city-parish changes its additional flood requirements, its insurance rating could worsen and flood rates could go up as they did in the past few years when the city-parish dropped from Class 6 to Class 7 amidst changing federal standards. However, Chauvin said he has not gotten word from FEMA on the issue, and the agency did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Many factors go into determining flood class. Inspector Jonathan Smith said his manual is 700 pages thick. It takes into account not only building codes, but aspects like record-keeping and whether the locality has computer mapping software, as well as programs like ones which educate people in flood zones of the danger and their options. "Most communities who get flooded are usually on board for higher standards," because they prevent more destruction down the road, Smith said. Over jambalaya and catfish strips, Dr. Franklin Johnson told the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration that he has seen a 60 percent The devastating floods that hit south Louisiana earlier this month may have damaged tens of thousands of homes, but local construction officials said there will be enough skilled workers to do the years of rebuilding work even though many of their workers were hit hard too. We heard the same thing after Katrina, that we would be short of workers, said Ken Naquin, chief executive officer of Louisiana Associated General Contractors, which represents nearly 800 contractors, subcontractors, service firms and suppliers. We were never short of workers. Rebuilding after the flood will be a long-term process, Naquin said. After all, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans 11 years ago and there are still parts of the city that havent been rebuilt. It will be a long-term recovery here, he said. Theres been an influx of interest from out-of-state contractors who want to help with the rebuilding. Since Aug. 12, 43 out-of-state contractors have filed paperwork and paid hundreds of dollars in fees to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Judy Dupuy, board administrator for the board, said another 200 or so people have called or inquired about getting licensed. Of the out-of-state applicants, nearly half came from neighboring Texas and Mississippi. Fifteen Texas-based contractors and six from Mississippi applied for licensing, Dupuy said. Michael McDuff, executive director of the licensing board, said a number of states have reciprocal agreements with Louisiana, including Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas, which speeds up the process of getting a local license. This has allowed the board to certify out-of-state contractors in a week, provided the applicants paperwork is in order. We do need help, because there are not enough of us, said Carol Smith, president of the Capitol Region Builders Association. Our contractors are doing everything they can. Smith and Jason Spencer, who heads up the association's remodelers council, said many local construction workers were affected by the flooding. We lost a quarter of our team, said Spencer, who heads Spencers Contracting, which has about 10 employees. Some of his workers are spending half the day working on their own homes and the other half at job sites. It takes some time to get your house in order and balance the work life and the personal things that are going on, he said. At the same time, Spencer said his phone is ringing off the hook from people who need repairs done to their homes. Everybody is trying to evaluate where they stand, he said. Contractors are trying to determine how many employees and vehicles are available, where things stand with all construction and remodeling work that was underway before the flooding happened. Spencer said hes talking to other skilled workers and subcontractors to figure out how to fulfill all current work obligations and any more that will come up in the next few weeks. Right now, Naquin said the issue is that theres a shortage of construction work to be done. Wet carpets, flooring, insulation, drywall, appliances and furniture have to be ripped out of a house first. Thats a process that doesnt require a contractor. Then, the house has to be disinfected, thoroughly dried and checked for mold before any new building can begin. You have to wait so many days, he said. Larry Bankston, director of the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and an attorney who has represented the licensing board, said much of the construction will begin in about two weeks. Were not there yet, he said. Bankston said he expects contractors from other parts of the state will help with the recovery process. While there are enough construction workers in Baton Rouge available to do the work, Bankston said there may be issues because so many builders sustained home damage and lost vehicles in the flooding. There will be issues with transportation, he said. Before the flooding, the Baton Rouge construction market was robust. In June, there were 53,600 construction workers in the area, 4,000 more than the year before. That 8 percent gain put Baton Rouge 47th out of 358 U.S. metro areas for construction jobs added in the past year. The south Louisiana construction industry has been able to tap into all of the oil and gas workers who have lost jobs because of low oil prices, Naquin said. Workers from sectors that have seen downturns, like civil engineering, have shifted into multi-family, office, commercial and industrial construction. If one end falls off, they grab those workers, Naquin said. If someone is a crane operator for a bridge contractor, they can operate the crane on a commercial building. A similar thing will happen with all of the flood repairs that need to happen. While there are concerns about increased competition for skilled construction workers to handle all the flood rebuilding, Naquin said thats always an issue in the industry. A skilled worker can go down the street to work for someone else for 10 cents more an hour, he said. But if you look at the industry around town, the industrial sector and commercial building are doing quite well and theyre all maintaining people. Cassandra Sibenaller, director of business development for United Fire & Water, a damage remediation company, said her business has been pretty lucky in holding onto workers. Its based on relationships we established beforehand, she said. We also own a maintenance company. Down the road, Sibenaller said her business may have to depend more on subcontractors or offer higher wages to keep workers. But weve been pretty lucky, she said. Municipal Auditorium in Armstrong Park will remain in limbo at least a while longer, as New Orleans officials wait for a letter from FEMA that Peta Credlin has accepted a position reporting directly to James Packer, as head of policy and business development at his private company Consolidated Press Holdings. Earlier this year, Tony Abbott's former chief of staff joined Sky News as a paid political commentator, she will reportedly continue to work for the network and contribute weekly columns for News Corp's Sunday papers. Peta Credlin on the Bolt Report during the 2016 election. Credit:Sky News Ms Credlin told News Corp that in her new position she would use her policy skills in the development of new business opportunities for CPH. "There's a lot of growth potential out of Australia's recent free-trade agreements with Japan, China and South Korea and work is well under way on agreements with the EU, India and others," she said. The very first words you'll see should you visit the website of the Business Council of Australia, which comprises the chief executives of more than 100 of the nation's biggest companies, present the organisation as an enlightened and altruistic public policy crucible, rather than a lobby group. "The Business Council of Australia is a forum for the chief executives of Australia's largest companies to promote economic growth and social progress in the national interest." The BCA should indeed be a credible and crucial participant in Australia's policy debate. After all, one of the greatest forms of social justice is a job, and the greatest generator of employment is private enterprise, big and small. The majority of the wealth required to provide opportunity and security for our growing and ageing population is created by businesses competing in justly regulated but generally unfettered markets. The taxes paid by big businesses are fundamentally important in funding the nation's public services, infrastructure and social safety net, as are the income and consumption taxes paid by the millions employed by those firms. Illustration: Matt Davidson And yet the BCA is widely perceived as a self-interested lobby group for huge enterprises primarily focused on maximising profits and minimising tax. Big business is seen with such suspicion that some of the very largest, the banks, are pretty likely to face a royal commission. There is an increasingly compelling argument there should be such a judicial inquiry, given the importance of the banks to households and businesses, given the taxpayer-funded protection they receive and given the plethora of evidence that has emerged showing fraud, dishonesty, price-rigging, conflicts of interest and more. Not only is the BCA seen in the general community as a lobby group, it's seen as an ineffectual one. Victorian Liberal Party president and high-profile businessman Michael Kroger, a fella you'd reckon would be a natural ally of the BCA, recently lambasted the organisation after its outgoing president, Catherine Livingston, told the Australian Financial Review, of which I am a former Melbourne chief, that the BCA should not have to champion change. She said: "The BCA doesn't want to campaign; it should not have to campaign because the integrity of its policy decisions should speak for themselves." Rooting around in the storeroom of the Fairfax Canberra bureau recently, a young colleague unearthed a relic from past journalistic whimsy: the (not so) legendary Golden Whisk. This mock trophy consists of the standard wire kitchen utensil, sprayed gold and artfully mounted on a wooden plinth, replete with title plate. The ground is fertile in Australia for Donald Trump's beat-up politics. Credit:Gerald Herbert Presumably, it would have been bestowed at the bureau Christmas party to the scribe responsible for the year's most egregious tabloid-style beat-up. Such "in" jokes were common in the writing caper before the electric blender of 24-7 digital news turned the meat and two veg of print plus TV and radio into the "nutritious" puree we consume today. Millions of Australians would like to mount a principled boycott of any number of laws, starting with tax laws. Which laws should the courts enforce, Nick? Which offenders should the police bother arresting? If we take Xenophon's approach seriously, we wouldn't bother convening the new Parliament at all. What's the point of a legislature if we are free to ignore legislation? Save us millions, including the salaries of the NXT politicians. In truth, Xenophon is mounting a stunt, but a badly misjudged one. Just as stupid are the other senators who leapt onto his stuntwagon. From the Greens, Sarah Hanson-Young, Larissa Waters, Scott Ludlam, Lee Rhiannon and Janet Rice. And from her eponymous party, Jacqui Lambie. Unfortunately, that makes a total of seven senators out of a total crossbench of 20. In the event that Labor and the Coalition disagree on any legislation, the crossbench holds the balance of power. If they can't tell the law from a stunt, it's a very poor omen for the new Parliament. All these politicians are in Parliament already. They no doubt consider themselves more savvy and more serious than the absurd newcomer Derryn Hinch. In a wonderful illustration of monumental narcissism, Hinch said he'd never voted until this last election because no candidate was worthy "but I think this time I have found someone to vote for". He had nothing but disdain for Parliament until he wanted to enter it. Famously, the broadcaster has been twice jailed for contempt of court and three times for breaking a court suppression order. In sum, he had no respect for the Parliament, the courts or the law. The census law-breakers, Xenophon and friends, are no better than Hinch. Their stunt-running suggests that they may even be a touch envious of his attention-getting ability, a skill that won him the nickname The Human Headline. The truly principled position on the census matter was demonstrated by Senator David Leyonhjelm. He is a libertarian, and as a libertarian he is opposed to empowering the state and, therefore, opposed to supplying his details for the census. Yet he said that, duty bound by the law, he would do so anyway. When it comes to stupid, it'd be remiss to overlook Pauline Hanson and her One Nation colleague, Malcolm Roberts. Not because they're bigots that's a matter of their opinions but because of their approach to facts. Even Hanson's recent thought on squat toilets "It starts with toilets and ends up costing us our Australian way of life" is entertaining yet still in the realm of opinion. But on points of fact such as the constitution Hanson and her party are spouting stupid. One Nation's policy platform calls for a ban on Muslim immigrants, a ban on the building of new mosques, the installation of surveillance cameras in mosques and Islamic schools. Section 116 of the constitution provides that "the Commonwealth shall not make any law prohibiting the free exercise of any religion". Hateful policy is bad. Unconstitutional policy is no policy at all. Again, it's a disdain or a denial of the fundamental legal facts on which the entire system stands. Her neophyte colleague, Roberts, has won attention for saying that climate change is not real. He's not alone; some members of the Coalition share this view, though their ranks thinned when Dennis Jensen lost his seat. The Coalition flat-earthers have learned to go quiet on their conspiracy voodoo. Roberts is wearing his around his neck like a proud talisman of stupidity. The two main parties have been better at keeping to the fundamentals of the law and the constitution. They've veered not so much into stupidity as vandalism. Labor's leader, Bill Shorten, for instance, has set himself up since the election in the mould of Tony Abbott, the hyper-oppositionist opposition leader. When the government called on Labor to honour its own election promises to cut federal spending by $6.5 billion over four years, Shorten reacted as if it were a fiendish trick. The Turnbull government is proposing to put all of these spending cuts into a single "omnibus" bill ask ask Labor to help pass it. Labor factored these savings into the budget numbers that it took to the election. Yet now Shorten disavows them like a gambler disowning his own debts. He demands that Turnbull negotiate on the spending cuts that Shorten himself had proposed. Says Shorten: "It is not a matter of he gets everything he wants and Labor and the people get none of what we think is important. Mr Turnbull has got to come to the party and give up some of the things he thinks are important." He's asserting equivalence. It seems to have escaped Shorten that the Coalition won the election. He acknowledges no voter imprimatur for the newly re-elected government. Denying his own promises, demanding negotiations on equal terms, Shorten is playing a brand of hard, oppositionist politics to the breaking point. And he's hoping that it will be the Turnbull government that breaks. And many of the members of the Turnbull government are so absorbed in their own little games that they seem oblivious to the deadly intent of Shorten Labor. The conservative faction of the Liberal Party is indulging in ideological fetishism, for instance, over the law on racial hate speech, shorthanded as 18C. This is, at best, a distraction for the government. At worst, it's an active undermining of their own prime minister. More damaging to the government is the Liberal clique that is forcing Treasurer Scott Morrison to amend the superannuation plan that the government took to the election. Turnbull seems unable to manage these outbreaks in his own ranks. His backbench, and especially on his conservative wing, doesn't seem to care that they're vandalising their own prospects in power. Remember the argument that, once elected by the people as prime minister, Turnbull could govern in his own right? It was always a chimera. The Prime Minister has shown that he is captive to the need to appease the cliques and agitators in his own party. One of his big points of differentiation with the vanquished Abbott was that he would not run a government of "captain's picks" but of proper consultation. Yet under pressure to appease the West Australian Liberals, and with a speech to give to the party faithful in Perth two weeks ago, Turnbull panicked. The West Australians are angry that, during the mining boom, their share of the GST raised in WA fell to an historic low, exactly as the formula for revenue-sharing provided. They have been demanding change. Turnbull cracked and promised to revise the revenue-sharing formula, setting a new minimum share. But in appeasing WA he infuriated the other States, who were not consulted. In all, whether it's the crossbenchers or the big benches, old hands or new arrivals, government or opposition, there's a troubling lack of seriousness, an absence of national responsibility, right across this 45th Parliament. It's all parlour games, all the time. The Sunday Age is to be lauded for keeping up the pressure on the government to close its offshore detention centres. But as the group No Business in Abuse has shown in its past two reports (November 2015 and July 2016) Australian registered companies that run the centres are openly complicit in maintaining this horror, as are their suppliers of equity (shareholders) and loans (banks). For starters, our big four banks should be asked to confirm or deny that they provide banking services to the operator of the centres, Broadspectrum, its parent or subsidiaries. Michael Feeney, Malvern THE FORUM Dutton's doublethink In the prophetic world of George Orwell's 1984, the ability to hold two contradictory views at the same time is called "doublethink", according to the Newspeak dictionary of the time. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has perfected the art of doublethink by convincing himself that the imprisonment ("detention") of asylum seekers ("illegal boat people") on Manus Island and Nauru, who have committed no crime and broken no law, is the right thing to do by the Australian people. How can something that is so palpably wrong, evil and bad ever be considered "good", except by someone with a deliberately deceptive and delusional mind? Orwell himself would turn in his grave. Nick Toovey, Beaumaris Coalition claim a joke Not only is the international community aghast at our reprehensible treatment of defenceless asylum seekers, it must now be doubting the truth of the Coalition's boast of having a strong track record on economic management. Some $2 billion of taxpayers' hard-earned money has been tossed into the bottomless pit of funds needed to maintain Manus (News, 21/8). Imagine the derision that would greet a chief executive at an annual general meeting claiming good financial management but announcing he'd wasted $2 billion on some hare-brained scheme. Phyllis Vespucci, Reservoir Humane approach If the Coalition is so determined to provide offshore processing of asylum applications, they should pour the money currently spent on Nauru and Manus Island, and the money spent on the navy's Border Patrol operation, into creating a highly efficient service at the point of departure. In Indonesia, for example. If people knew their applications would be handled swiftly and competently, they would not be driven, in desperation, to deal with people smugglers. Extra funding could also be given to refugee camps to make the waiting period more tolerable. The current system is too damaging. Beatrice Naylor, Ocean Grove Introduce monitors A friend has just completed six years as an official monitor inside Dartmoor prison. Every UK prison and detention centre has an Independent Monitoring Board. Once approved as independent monitors, these volunteers can go anywhere, any time within their designated facility. When incidents happen, the duty monitor can observe the way staff respond. They can seek explanations from the prison governor and their annual reports are publicly available. Human Rights Commissioner Professor Gillian Triggs has called for a national monitoring system for all forms of detention. If such a system of accountability applied in NT juvenile prisons or immigration detention facilities, how different might have been the treatment meted out to the six youths in Don Dale, to the Manus Island riot victim Reza Barati, or the children abused on Nauru? I note from Australia's 2016 report on civil and political rights that Tasmania has introduced something similar to the IMB system with unrestricted rights of access for monitors. We need such a system in all prisons and centres funded by taxpayers. Jean Ker Walsh, Richmond The butt of jokes I wonder if people are beginning to fret too much about Senator Malcolm Roberts diverting attention from the issue of climate science (Letters, 21/8). Already his constant chant about "empirical evidence" has become the butt of jokes, and I suspect it won't be long before his reputation will be on a par with that of Lord Monckton. Problem solved, and all by his own doing. Trevor Moorfield, Donvale Hear from the people It was heartening to read the probing analysis of recent events in Bougainville ("Rio Tinto's billion-dollar mess: 'unprincipled, shameful and evil"', 21/8). Our organisation, Jubilee Australia, which was quoted in the article, has been engaging with this issue since 2013. In 2014, we published a report, Voices from Bougainville, that presented the collective results of interviews we conducted in communities that live near the troubled Panguna mine. One of the questions we asked was whether the people thought future economic development of the island should be based on mining. Overwhelmingly, their response was that they wanted to see Bougainville follow other development paths with many suggesting agriculture. Further study is needed of all the economic options available, so the Bougainvillean people might then be in a better position to choose their own future. Luke Fletcher, director, Jubilee Australia Good news all round Forget all the entertainers and sportspeople; my nomination for Australian of the Year is Lesley Porter of the Good Life Farm (News, 21/8). What a wonderful woman! Maureen Kutner, Glen Waverley Welfare an investment Why does the Coalition want to keep cutting financial support for the most vulnerable? The evidence is clear that people who live below the poverty line have worse health outcomes, both physical and mental. This can lead to chronic illness, which can be very costly for governments and the community. Sadly, the crime rate also increases when people have to constantly struggle to pay for the essentials such as shelter, energy, transport, phone and internet. Without such essentials, finding a job to get out of the poverty cycle is impossible. Why do some economists and politicians still believe investment in welfare is a waste while tax cuts for business is good for the economy? Reading the business section of any newspaper, it is evident that business outsources labour to the cheapest countries; they invest in automation to cut staff, and profits go to shareholders, many of whom live outside Australia. We have to start challenging this flawed policymaking. Rosemarie Speidel, Clifton Hill Domino effect on jobs I was intrigued to read that Domino's Pizza is considering using robots to deliver pizzas. If the rate of job loss continues through such measures, who will be able to afford to buy a pizza? Ro Bailey, Hawthorn Let's live within means We live in an era where we have to justify every cent of money handed out by government, and budgets and jobs are cut because we have "to live within our means". The CSIRO is just one essential service whose funding has been cut, resulting in a loss of a large number of research scientists. These are the people who make a difference to our lives by studying such areas as climate change, disease-resistant crops, vaccines and so on. Yet living within their means doesn't seem to apply to elite sports. We just continue to increase their budgets and send off more athletes (and support staff) in the search for medals. Other countries don't have this bottomless-pit attitude. As stated in The Sunday Age we send 17 athletes for one medal. Much larger countries such as the US send six, Great Britain (7), China (7.5), and Germany (14). It is time we lived with our means and spend money on areas that benefit us all, not just a few. Raelee Hunter, Keilor Downs Adopt mix of policies It is neither democratic nor mature for the Coalition to behave as if its two-party preferred majority of less than 1percent is a mandate for 100per cent of its policies and a rejection of all ALP policies. Meanwhile, Labor is determined to continue a childish tit-for-tat game as payback for Tony Abbott's behaviour. An adult democracy would see discussion on the best policies of both sides with agreement to repair the budget. Why is there not room for changes to superannuation and negative gearing and even the Greens' inheritance tax proposal? The most democratic outcome would be 49 per cent of ALP-Greens policy and 51per cent of Coalition policy, rather than the triumphalism we see from both sides when they happen to get across the line first. Michael Langford, Ivanhoe Just a coincidence Sure, I believe in coincidences. Julie Bishop hobnobs with generous Chinese businesspeople, and the very same people donate to the WA branch of her party. Single people, for instance, can only adopt children with special needs or in exceptional circumstances. Step-parents and relatives can rarely adopt a child in their care. Concerns remain over the way a person's identity is reflected in birth certificates. And even some of the language used is embarrassingly outdated, with references such as "full blood" or "half blood" peppered throughout the pages of the state's legislation. But while adoption equality is enshrined in law for same sex-couples, the fact is the rest of the Adoption Act largely remains in the dark ages, failing to reflect contemporary attitudes and values, let alone the notion of a "modern family". Think of it, too, as a policy no-brainer. Until now, gay couples could become foster carers but weren't allowed to jointly adopt the children in their care, nor could they adopt their partner's child from a previous relationship. This week, years of discrimination is at last consigned to history's dustbin which is exactly where it belongs. Think of it as history made. From Thursday, same-sex couples will officially have adoption rights in Victoria, when new laws that passed state parliament last December finally come into effect. Fortunately, the Andrews government has decided it's time to drag Victoria's adoption laws into the 21st century. In a move that will inevitably polarise opinion, the government has initiated a sweeping review by the Law Reform Commission, paving the way for the biggest shake-up of the Act in three decades. With consultation beginning this week, the inquiry will examine a central theme: whether the legislation works in the best interest of the child, and how exactly is "best interest" defined. Inter-country adoptions and commercial surrogacy are not part of the commission's reference, but in relation to local adoptions, there are a multitude of other vexed questions: Who should be eligible to adopt and what sort of processes should be in place? Should any changes be made to current consent provisions? How should a person's identity be reflected on their birth certificate? And what sort of information should be accessible as part of the adoption process? Commission chair Philip Cummins says the review could lead to a rise in adoption rates, which are currently at record lows. Indeed, figures show that in 1971-72, almost 10,000 children were adopted in Australia, including 1768 in Victoria and 4539 in NSW. But in subsequent decades, a number of social changes put an end to the boom, including the availability of contraceptives or the growing acceptance of children born out of marriage; to safe access to abortion or the introduction of single parent benefits. Indeed, by 2014-15, the number of local adoptions had fallen to 56, of which 24 were in Victoria. "There could certainly be an increase, because if you extend the inclusive criteria, you will presumably get a greater number of adoptions," the former Supreme Court Judge told Fairfax Media. "Some people in the community are very strongly in favour of that, and some are very strongly against." Recriminations over a Greens re-shuffle that stripped Sarah Hanson-Young of the immigration portfolio continue to flare in public after the South Australian Senator declared she did not accept Richard Di Natale's explanation of why she was moved. In an interview that Greens' insiders described as "messy" for the party, Senator Hanson-Young told the ABC's AM that she had to respect the leader's decision, but did not understand it or agree with it. Asked if she thought it was a sign Senator Di Natale would soften the party's vocal opposition to the government's asylum seeker policy, she said "I hope that is not what we're doing" and that she was taking him at his word there would be no change. "The reality is we can't afford to see a weakening of the position. There are men, women and children who are still left on Nauru and on Manus Island and they're suffering, and we can't give up on them now," she said. One day in early June 2014, the heart from a brain-dead 27-year-old man, a victim of a car crash, was sped from one hospital to another in Chennai, India. It was 6.30pm, right in the middle of rush hour, and 26 police officers worked hard to keep the 13-kilometre route free of traffic. The trip, normally a two-hour journey at that time of day, took 13 minutes. After the organ was transplanted into the body of a 21-year-old woman with chronic heart problems, the Indian news media celebrated the "green corridor", a roadway cleared for organ transport, as a heroic feat. Meanwhile, four researchers in Spain were thinking there had to be a better way. Surely organs could be moved without disrupting traffic, incurring exorbitant fees and requiring police attention. Their solution a drone designed for moving organs called Dronlife was originally created as a contest entry in a Drones for Good competition. It was the peak-hour traffic chaos of Indian cities that first prompted the use of drones in organ transplants. Credit:Mail Today Realising that organ transplantation is a race, David Carro Meana, president of IFFE, a business school in north-western Spain, launched a for-profit company to market Dronlife, and Ricardo Blanco, a project director with IFFE, set about perfecting the technology. As Blanco explains, the drone needed to satisfy a few basic requirements to be fit for organ transportation. The total weight must not exceed 20 kilograms, and the drone must achieve an average flight speed of 90km/h. So they built a drone body out of a carbon-fibre composite, which is both lightweight and strong. The single-use container that carries the organ, which can weigh no more than 2 kilos, is made of inexpensive thermo-plastic (think Lego blocks), so it doesn't cost too much to throw it out after one use. It's not that childcare isn't on policymakers' radar it is. Illustration: Matt Golding. The government sees it as an economic issue, because better childcare would boost women's workforce participation and therefore national productivity. But it's also an issue about access to early childhood education. This is hugely beneficial, with a long-running study commissioned by the British government finding two years of quality education from age three dramatically improved academic performance in Year 10 the difference between five Cs or five Bs. But not everyone believes the government's proposed $3 billion-plus childcare package will make it more affordable or accessible. A Senate stalemate in the last parliament where the Coalition made childcare changes contingent upon cuts to family tax benefits means the changes are now delayed until July 2018. While Education Minister Simon Birmingham would not pre-empt the outcome of parliamentary negotiations, he said in a statement to told Fairfax Media: "If Labor passes the family tax benefit changes needed to fund our childcare package, we will bring implementation forward as soon as possible." Central to the reforms, if they are passed, is collapsing the means-tested childcare benefit and the un-means-tested 50 per cent childcare rebate into one means-tested subsidy. That subsidy would be 85 per cent for families that earn $65,710 or below, up from about 72 per cent from the benefit and rebate today. It then phases down to a low of 20 per cent by the time a household earns $340,000, a reduction from the 50 per cent rebate . Parents will pay fees net of the subsidy. The Coalition says families earning between $65,000 and $170,000 annually would be $30 a week better off than under the current system. So the delay is costing them that much each week. Crucially, the $7500 cap is to be abolished for some (on earnings up to $185,710) and expanded for others (beyond $185,711) to a yearly $10,000. What it means for affordability The recent Productivity Commission report into childcare found that the 2008 increase in the rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, under the Labor government, "accelerated" the rise of childcare fees. The Coalition maintains its move to cap the hourly cost of care to which the new subsidy would apply, at $11.55 for long day care, would prevent this occurring again. But the more immediate issue is that, while the national average cost is $8.35 an hour, the proposed cap is far below what many families are forced to pay. And it is only between 20 and 85 per cent of this maximum amount that will be subsidised. For example, if a centre is open for 12 hours a day, the government's proposed $11.55 hourly cap would mean no subsidies beyond a day rate of $138.60. If a centre opens 10 hours, the cap would mean nothing above $115.50. The most recent NATSEM report into childcare says the day rate in cities can be higher than $170. The minister's office declined to say how many suburbs had a higher average cost than its cap, but the NATSEM report says: "The vast majority of Sydney has middle or high [childcare] price to income ratios. Only the outer west provides relatively more affordable childcare." You can simply multiply $11.55 by the number of hours your centre is open each day to see if you will lose out. Above this amount, you are on your own. In terms of the families likely to be affected, it would be those on middle incomes that didn't previously hit the $7500 annual cap, perhaps because they used care for three days or less even if their "rebate" technically remains at 50 per cent. For example, a family on $175,000 that accesses two days of care at $144 a day for one child would see their annual government assistance drop from $7488 to $6006, or $14.25 a day (assuming the centre is open 10 hours a day). The hourly cap does reveal a true intent of the childcare package: to force centres to offer part days rather than full days. Higher-priced centres might ultimately reduce prices either on a daily or hourly basis if and when demand evaporates as parents realise they will be footing more of the bill. In the meantime, as identified in the new HILDA survey, the average amount households spend on childcare per week could continue to grow much faster than incomes. However, John Cherry, the advocacy manager at Australia's largest and not-for-profit childcare provider Goodstart Early Learning, argues this is a "fiercely competitive" market and likely to get more so. "Statistics show childcare centres are opening faster than children are being born so parents should have increasing options," he says. He adds that price rises, the pace of which slowed to 3.6 per cent overall last year, are not so much to do with ratios as the "cost of getting decent-quality staff and decent facilities". What it means for access The government believes a tighter activity test both parents might need to do a minimum of four hours a week of work, study or volunteering would see places go to families that really need them. At the moment there is no specific work/training/study hourly requirement (the hours of "activity" might change the hours of subsidy you could claim; at four hours it is planned to be 18 a week). But Goodstart's Mr Cherry has concerns the tighter activity test could see children from 100,000 lower-income families, where one or both parents don't work, miss out on early education. "Research shows the benefit to children from these backgrounds is the greatest," he says. The government disputes this, maintaining the test would prompt many parents to change their behaviour specifically to qualify, perhaps by volunteering. It's worth noting that childcare centres are already obliged to give wait list priority to working families. Nationally, there are also many childcare vacancies but you won't find a lot in high-demand, inner-city centres as parents increasingly choose to place their kids near work, not home, probably to minimise the time in care. It's in one of the suburban centres that Betina and Clarence Naiman eventually found a vacancy. The not-for-profit service is comparatively cheap at "only $140 a day". However, the trade-off is shorter, non-work-friendly hours of 8am to 5.30pm, which require significant teamwork. "Clarence, because he's more flexible working for himself, does drop-offs and pick-ups. But my parents end up stepping in two to three days a week. It really takes a whole village for me to work," Naiman says. What's more, with the government's proposed $11.55-an-hour cap, the centre's 9.5 available care hours mean the Naimans might soon receive their new subsidy not on the $140 daily cost but on just $109.73. To many metropolitan families, this could become all too familiar. How to work today's system so you can work Go to www.mychild.gov.au to find out more about your childcare options and vacancies near you. If you work in the city, consider placing your children close to home instead of the office. In high-demand, metropolitan areas, list your child at facilities as early as possible, even in pregnancy. Register for childcare benefit (even if you know you will return a 0 per cent eligibility) as early as possible. This is how you qualify for the rebate. Also, you now have only one year to claim any payments you miss. Get your childcare rebate paid in the frequency that suits your family fortnightly, quarterly and annually. But budget carefully if those rebates will stop because you'll hit the $7500 cap during the financial year. Consider if today's registered carers payment would help grandparents help you! Your basic childcare options and assistance There are a few broad categories of care and different government help applies to each. Long day care This is provided in childcare centres by professional carers and available to children from six weeks of age to five years. Centres may operate hours as long as 6.30am to 6.30pm. Most have an early learning component to their program and some offer kindergarten or preschool programs in the two years before school. Centres typically charge by the day and attract government assistance. Preschool / kindergarten An alternative for older children (usually aged three and four) is the state-based early childhood education system, called preschool in NSW. These can be run by community providers such as KU or ECMS, local councils, or public primary schools and the funding is from the states rather than the federal government. While it's cheaper for parents, it does not attract the childcare rebate and the hours are less work-friendly because they usually mirror school hours and term times. Family day care This is home-based care and can be more flexible than long day care, offering hourly rates and potentially ad hoc days. It might be cheaper but you will only receive the full available childcare payments if the service is designated as 'approved'. Nannies A woman allegedly on the run from police has caused a social media storm after she asked a TV station to use a 'better photo' of her when reporting her escape. Teenager Amy Sharp is alleged to have broken out of a police station in Sydney on Friday, August 19, before running away. The images of Amy Sharp released by NSW police last week. And as is fairly standard practice, police issued a statement accompanied by two photographs they had taken of the 18-year-old in a bid to find the youngster. But the search took an unexpected turn when the pictures and police statement were uploaded onto Sydney's 7 News Facebook page. If it was an attempt to distance an embattled minister from a crisis, it backfired. Health Minister Jillian Skinner's absence on Saturday as the report was released into how two babies were poisoned by gas one fatally at Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital, when they should have received life-saving oxygen, only highlighted that the Liberal Party veteran is hanging onto her political career by a thread. The Westminster tradition of ministerial responsibility demands that a minister takes ultimate responsibility for what her department does. It is a minister's job to take the public heat, not a bureaucrat's. Yet Mrs Skinner made the decision that the NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant, was to front the cameras alone on Saturday because it was "her report". It was a rare toehold for first home owners in an unaffordable city market an Art Deco apartment just metres from Martin Place. When Andre Pang, 30, and his fiancee bought their studio last September, walking distance from work, they were delighted to have found their "matrimonial home". Instead, the heritage-listed building at 7 Elizabeth Street will be blown up by the Baird government to make way for the Sydney Metro. Accepting an offer from Transport for NSW this week to avoid going to court under the compulsorily acquisition process, Mr Pang is facing the reality that a month after his October wedding, he will have to move out. The aftermath of the shocking north Queensland backpacker hostel attack that left one Brit dead and another fighting for life in hospital continues, with professional cleaners called in to deal with the bloody crime scene. One cleaner needed a gas mask to clean the bloody bathroom, where Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, reportedly fled after 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad allegedly stabbed her repeatedly on Tuesday night. Grant Scholz at the Home Hill Backpackers, south of Townsville, where Smail Ayad allegedly killed British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung and tried to kill Thomas Jackson (AKA Tom Jackson) and Grant Scholz. Credit:Jorge Branco Police described the results as a "horrible scene". Bloody handprints still dotted the walls of her room just down the verandah, where it's believed the attack began, but the worst of it was confined to the bathroom. Single people could soon find it easier to adopt children as part of the biggest shake-up to Victoria's adoption laws in decades. More than 30 years after the Adoption Act was introduced, the Andrews government has embarked on a broad-ranging review amid concerns that the legislation does not reflect contemporary values and the notion of a "modern family". Changes to the adoption laws were tabled today. The review conducted by the Victorian Law Reform Commission is expected to lead to an overhaul of eligibility requirements, which currently limit adoption to four groups: married couples; couples in traditional Aboriginal marriages; registered domestic relationships; and couples who are living together in domestic relationships. Single people, however, are only allowed to adopt in "special circumstances" which, in practice, has meant they are only able to adopt children with special needs (such as children who come from difficult backgrounds or have a disability). They are also unable to adopt infants under the age of 12 months. It wasn't that nagging voice in the back of her mind speaking this time. It was a doctor. He was saying that if she wanted any hope of having a baby, she had better get on with it. And soon. Then he told her how much it would cost. Lisa Mahar and her husband had already depleted their savings on less invasive fertility interventions. Now, at 36, she was faced with a choice. Come up with $11,000 for an initial cycle of IVF or risk staying childless. The Perth couple could never save that sort of money in time. So they did what a growing number of Australians are doing and cashed in some of Ms Mahar's superannuation. Lisa Mahar has dipped into her superannuation to pay for IVF treatments. Credit:Tony McDonough They did it through a company called SuperCare. Respected fertility clinics are now promoting the service, which charges about $900 on a "no win no fee" basis to lobby the Department of Human Services on behalf of clients for early access to their retirement savings. SuperCare started focusing on the IVF market about 18 months ago and also advertises to help people get into their super for plastic and cosmetic surgery, obesity, orthopaedic, dental and funeral expenses. With more than $100,000 sitting in her super account, it made sense to Ms Mahar. She picked up the phone. Dr Kathleen McNamee has thought a lot about what it means to be an "abortion doctor". While the women's health specialist has been referring patients for surgical terminations for many years without actually performing the procedure herself, last November she started prescribing abortion drugs to women so they could manage the process in a different way. Dr McNamee is one of about 1200 doctors trained to prescribe medical abortion drugs. Credit:Eddie Jim Before she started, the medical director at Family Planning Victoria had to organise hospital backup for women who experience complications, think about how the service would be advertised or not, and consider the risk of protesters because exclusion laws were not yet in place. "I've been a little wary of telling people about it," she said. "I feel perfectly comfortable with it, but I do worry if other people are going to feel comfortable with it." Five people, including three motorcyclists, have been killed in separate crashes in a horror 12-hour stretch on Victoria's roads. In the first incident, a male motorcyclist was killed in Melbourne's north when when he collided with a car at the intersection of Dallas Drive and Barry Road in Coolaroo just before midday on Friday. In the second crash a woman died in a head-on collision in Narre Warren North at Heatherton Road and Fairmont Court about 2.30pm. A 43-year-old Narre Warren man was arrested and is assisting police with their enquiries. In the third incident, a 22-year-old Swan Hill woman was killed after she lost control of her car as she travelled around a bend in the state's north-east just after 4pm on Friday. Police have warned they will conduct weapon searches and won't tolerate illegal hate speech at a rally by anti-Islamic protesters in Melbourne's west on Sunday. Groups such as United Patriots Front will protest in Hannah Watts Park against a development reportedly known as Iqra Village being built over 75 lots off Coburns Road in Melton South. Melton was the scene of fiery clashes last November over a proposed mosque for the area. Credit:Chris Hopkins Protesters claim it is a Muslim housing estate, although Melton council has denied any such a faith-based development. Kim Vuga, who appeared on SBS's Go Back to Where You Came From and founded the Love Australia or Leave political party, will be a guest speaker. Dhaka: Bangladesh security forces killed three Islamist militants on Saturday, including a Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen accused of masterminding an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, police said. The militants were cornered in a hideout on the outskirts of the capital and, having refused to surrender, were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, Monirul Islam, the head of the Dhaka police counterterrorism unit, told Reuters. Bangladesh policemen cordon off the area near a two-story house, behind in blue, that they raided in Narayanganj district near Dhaka, Bangladesh. Credit:AP He initially said four militants had been killed but later revised the number to three. US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit on Monday to discuss security after a series of killings targeting liberals and religious minorities in the mostly Muslim country. Paris: A controversial ban on the burkini was overturned by France's highest administrative court on Friday, prompting a Right-wing backlash as mayors vowed to defy the ruling. The State Council's judgment suspended a ban in the Riviera resort of Villeneuve-Loubet and set a legal precedent for about 30 other towns that have also prohibited the full-body swimsuit worn by a minority of Muslim women. The council ruled that mayors overstepped their powers by introducing the bans this month amid growing anxiety over security after a series of terrorist attacks including the Bastille Day massacre of 86 people in Nice. "The emotion and the anxieties resulting from the terrorist attacks and especially the one committed in Nice on July 14, are not sufficient to justify legally the prohibition," the judgment said. Singapore: Singapore has confirmed its first case of a locally-transmitted Zika virus, which has been linked to microcephaly, a rare birth defect, the health ministry said. A 47-year-old Malaysian woman working in the city-state was confirmed with the virus, but was "well and recovering." A 47-year-old Malaysian woman is Singapore's first reported case of locally-transmitted Zika virus. Credit:AP As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore, the ministry said in a statement. Three other cases have tested positive in preliminary tests on their urine samples and are due further checks. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... Mexican Federal Police arbitrarily executed dozens of suspected cartel members on a ranch last year, according to a human rights monitor, firing thousands of rounds from a helicopter gunship. Many of the men were unarmed or fleeing, so federales spent four hours staging the scene to falsely incriminate many of the deceased, the Mexican National Human Rights Commission found. Known by its Spanish acronym, CNDH, the commission published its report on the massacre last week. Forty-three people were killed in the raid on Rancho del Sol, a private farm and winery a quarter-mile in size in the Pacific coast state of Michoacan on May 22, 2015. All but one of the deceased, a law enforcement officer, were supposed cartel members, although this is refuted by relatives of the deceased. Whoever they were, they never stood a chance. Many of the dead were shot from above by a helicopter gunship, which the chief of Policia Federal, the Mexican Federal Police known colloquially as federales, claimed was decisive in supposed confrontation. Police say they were headed to Rancho del Sol in response to a complaint from the owner, who said a cartel had forcibly occupied her property on the southern edge of the town of Tanhuato. En route they encountered suspicious men who fired upon them then fled, they said. Federales pursued the gunmen to ranch, they say, where other cartel members joined the fight. Jose Ignacio Cuevas Perez, mayor of the nearby town of Tanhuato, says the ranch had long been dormant, up until about a year and a half ago, when he noticed renewed activity and the beginning of an alfalfa crop. He confirmed that the owner, who lives out of town, filed a complaint, according to Radio Formula. Residents of Tanhauto and the adjacent village of Ecuandureo, the village immediately adjacent, said some of them had been hired to work on the property, and that a few days prior, on May 18, armed men had appeared at the ranch. They instructed ranch employees to continue their work as usual. A resident of Ecuandureo who spoke to The Daily Beast via Skype, and who wishes to remain anonymous, was one of dozens who witnessed the assault from afar or heard the roar of gunfire. He told The Daily Beast, with the help of a translator, that it made little sense to him that Federal authorities responded in such forcehe described a shitload of policeor at all in fact, to a complaint of intimidation by a cartel. We make these complaints all the time here and almost always there is nothing done, he said. The recent successful attacks by the Jalisco cartel on government forces have embarrassed police, the man said. This was a message, a warning to the gang for trying to be the governments rival. This is like leaving a severed head on the doorstep. Violence has spilled into Michoacan state from neighboring Jalisco, which has been gripped in an intensifying turf war between the insurgent New Generation cartel (Cartel de Jalisco Nuevo Generacion, CJNG) and Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans Sinaloa cartel from which CJNG splintered about three years ago. The CJNG is suspected in the 2014 murder of Tanhuato mayor Gustavo Garibay Garcia, who had survived a 2012 attempt on his life. The assassination of Garcia was the tenth murder of a mayor in the state since 2009. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Treasury Department have been working with Mexican counterparts in Jalisco to target CJNGs supply and laundering operations. Many outside of Mexico had their first introduction to the upstart cartel after CJNG gunmen abducted Guzmans son Alfredo in Puerto Vallarta on Aug. 15. The brothers are now free, the Guzman family confirmed last Sunday. Their release was negotiated by Ismael El Mayo Garcia, who acts as a kind of consigliere for the Sinaloa, reported the editor of the Mexican weekly Riodoce, a tabloid that focuses on crimen organizado and the lifestyles of the outlaw class. The raid on Rancho del Sol may well have been an act of retribution. The CJNG have been in a tit-for-tat war with Mexican counter-narcotics forces like the federales. The cartel downed a Cougar helicopter on May 1, 2015 , and 11 days later the gang ambushed a police convoy and killed 14 officers. Mexican Marines killed six cartel members who fired a rocket at their Black Hawk helicopter in July 2015. The Mexican government has deployed extra command resources to the state including at least two more Black Hawks, according to the Interior Ministry. Jalisco was the first Mexican state to acquire its own Black Hawk assault chopper in 2011. The Sikorsky gunships flown by Mexican police are all equipped with 7.62mm rotary cannons that fire 3,000 rounds per minute. (The choppers can optionally be outfitted with dual .50 caliber machine guns and two rocket launchers.) Mexico obtains the assault choppers through the Pentagon. The U.S. Department of Defense has given away and sold at a discount dozens of Black Hawks to Mexico through its Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Federales recovered 42 guns from the ranch which they sent to the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for tracing. The ATF determined that some of the guns are linked to the controversial Fast and Furious operation. Fast and Furious was a gun-tracing operation started in 2009 at the ATFs Phoenix office under Project Gunrunner, which allowed suspected gunrunners to walk with marked firearms on the theory that this would lead investigators to higher-ranking gunrunners. The bureau came under harsh criticism when the program came to light and it was learned that weapons had been trafficked to some of Mexicos most violent criminal organizations, such as the Los Zetas cartel. The authorities claimed the Black Hawk at Rancho del Sol had been used to contain combatants only, and had not directly fired upon them, AFP reported in July 2015. They denied reports that characterized the operation as a massacre. There was not one single execution, I can say that categorically, Enrique Galindo, head of Mexicos federal police, told local media in May 2015. Authorities had waited 10 hours after the carnage ended to make any statement at all. Locals and relatives of many of the deceased questioned the Policias Federal version of events from the outset; some say their loved ones were killed performing part-time labor at the ranch. The AP sought access to the autopsy reports, but were denied on the grounds that the records would remain state secrets for five years. Cell phone footage shot in the immediate aftermath shows a thick pillar of black smoke rising above the ranch. Authorities claimed the smoke was produced by their clean up efforts, burning rubbish. But the scene within the ranch betrayed that claim as obviously false to almost any observer. After the thunder of lead was over, Rancho del Sol looked like the scene of a military airstrike, not a police raid. The corpses that littered the grounds, ranch house and outbuildings told independent investigators a much different story than Federales provided, a wholesale slaughter in which two detained men were tortured. CNDHs investigation was exhaustive and far-reaching. The organization worked with more than one hundred experts in criminology, forensics, and other fields to collect and review a huge body of written, photographic, and physical evidence, and interviews were conducted with many government officials, relatives of victims, detainees, and other witnesses. A federales force of 41 men, first asking locals for a back way into compound, quietly entered the ranch between 6:20 and 7:30 on the morning of May 22. They requested and received an additional 54 officers as well as the Black Hawk helicopter sometime later. Their assault on the ranch lasted for three hours and obliterated most of the property. Fires were seen burning several hours after the gunfire stopped. CNDH investigators divided the carnage into three zones in order to keep track of the corpses. Zone A was the smaller of two fields on the 170-acre ranch. Two bodies were found herethe men were shot from behind while fleeing, CNDH found. Zone B was the larger field, parallel to Zone A and as long but twice as wide, and contained 16 corpses. There were 24 dead in Zone C, the ranch house, pool, and outbuildings. The residence was large, filled with pastel porticos. Blood had pooled (warning: graphic) in the grout and over the tile on a columned-lined, cadaver-strewn patio, where every piece of furniture was overturned or destroyed. CNDH determined that police had staged the scene to make it appear that more than a dozen persons, who had in fact been unarmed, were carrying machine guns, and in one case a rocket launcher. The detailed inventory of deaths begins by noting that a half-dozen men were found barefoot and half-naked, others partially disrobed, and one man was discovered face-down in only a pair of briefs. A man who died inside the ranch house, which was set ablaze by a helicopter barrage, had succumbed to blood loss from gunshot wounds, but soot in his trachea indicated hed been alive to burn. The helicopter also fired 4,000 rounds into the wine cellar, igniting a fire that killed a male occupant. At least five men were killed by direct fire from above, most likely with the 7.62mm cannon. Thirteen victims were shot from behind, 13 were unarmed. Several had bruises and other impact injuries, at least one man was contused consistent with having been struck by a moving vehicle. CNDH determined that the bodies of seven people were moved from the locations they were killed, and a total of 16 bodies were deliberately positioned beside firearms. In some cases corpses were stripped of firearms they had been carrying and replaced with others of a different caliber. It took months to identify 41 of the victims, and the commission reported that it had been unable to determine the manner or cause of death for 15 bodies. One body was burned too severely for any identification. One man, whose body was identified by his pregnant widow, was found with his toes cut off and his testicles burned. Three men somehow survived to be detained by police, only to be subjected to torture and forced to help taint evidence, they told CNDH. One detainee said he had been made to fire a gun into the air, and another said he had been forced to sign a document which he had not been allowed to read. All three said they were made to watch the executions of other men on the ranch. One officer ordered [the police] not to kill any more detainees, because he had already reported there were survivors, one of the men recalled. The commission has also investigated an incident that occurred one month later in Tlatlaya in the state of Mexico in which 22 were killed, half of them execution-style, and police had altered the scene to stage it as a two-way fight. Records obtained by the press indicate commanders gave orders to the police to shoot-to-kill (officers were told to take down cartel cells in the dark of night, using a slang form usually meant as kill). Since Tlatlaya, we believe our government is capable of anything, said the man from Ecuandureo. Senator Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez of the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution said during a Senate session that whether or not the dead were cartel members was irrelevant, because if you begin with them, because they may be criminals, then tomorrow what? Maybe its criminals today but tomorrow it could be anyone. National Security Commissioner Renato Sales maintains that police responded to an attack by members of the [CJNG], using proportionate and reasonable force against a hostile enemy. There were no arbitrary executions, as CNDH has claimed. Sales also stressed that officers involved are entitled to the presumption of innocence. They also have rights; they are people too, said Sales. More than 10,000 people have been murdered in Mexico in the first six months of 2016, according to statistics recently reported by the National Public Security System, and 1,229 of those were in Michoacan. It was summer of 1994, smack in the heart of the Cape Cods white-trash-meets-the-Hamptons busy season. Ace of Bass dominated the radio airwaves with their smarmy melodic Swedish pop, just eclectic enough to bridge the gap to the coming alt rock takeover. Green Day was blowing up on MTV, meaning attendance at local hardcore shows like the one that had just ended was growing, not that there was much else to do for those of us under the get-wasted-and-barf-on-the-beach age. It was hot and humid so everyone and everything was simply damp all the time. Oh yeah, and I was tripping my face off. My most vivid memory from that night is a guy with antlersthey may actually have been rams hornsstrapped to his helmet riding a mountain bike full speed into a concrete wall. He was the lead screamer of an artsy local hardcore band, and the wall was part of the warehouse that made up their practice space, live music venue, living quarters, and club house tucked back in an industrial park on the outskirts of Hyannis, Massachusetts. His name was Chris, and he was making a howling sound while popping a wheelie every time he got close to the vertical plane, pedaling furiously to gain speed and traction for his gravitationally contradictory route. Outside, a contingent of Irish college studentshundreds of them used to be imported every summer on work visasmilled about, hitting on local girls or clambering aboard an abandoned school bus and passing out. Their voices, loud with a night of heavy drinking, were making me uncomfortable with their lilting accents and strange slang. Reality was becoming hard enough to hold on to without the added atmosphere of a tripped out version ofwhat was in my minda Lucky Charms commercial. One of them grabbed me by the shoulders as I tried to slip through a knot of them, peering sagely into my eyes and muttering incoherently, his words sing song, until his nose flattened into his cheeks and, giving up, I fled. This wasnt how my night was supposed to go. I was freshly freed from high school and loving the first tastes of freedom. I thought, at the time, that I was very adult to be living on my own for the first time, although on my own meant paying some small amount to camp on a friends screened in porch with two other dudes. I had recently broken my collarbone skateboarding, and the summer was rapidly turning into a haze of painkillers, crappy weed, and purloined booze. At some point I had decided that I was just going to wear a bathrobe for a week, and, thus attired, faded, and in a sling must have really radiated responsible adult. Such was my state when I casually ate a Sweet Tart handed to me by a friend at that show, only to discover, 20 or so minutes later, that I was getting a lot more than corn syrup and citric acid with my candy. It first became clear that something out of the ordinary was happening when I felt all of the hair growing on my body. Not growing longer, nothing extreme like that, just an awareness of the sensation of cells building on each other and slowly, inexorably pushing outward from my skin. I was about to become alarmed by thiswho wouldnt?when I was suddenly distracted by the ripples that pulsed wildly from the drummers kit, undulating through the room, a gentle swell in the space time continuums ocean. Faster and faster they came, pushing, hitting me softly at first but then escalating in physical force, stretching me backwards with them like a swirl of heavy cream poured into a clear glass of black coffee. I felt myself expanding into the room, at once growing larger and more aware and losing myself completely. It was in the midst of this that the dry voice in my head pointed out that shit was getting super weird and I snapped out of the groove I was in, my consciousness pulling back even as, visually, everything continued to gel into a giant fractal energy smoothie. A little panicked, I plugged my gaping mouth with a cigarette from the box in my bathrobe pocket, dug around for my Zippo lighter, flicked it open, and pushed the ribbed wheel down to call forth the flame. My head exploded. Actually, I think everything exploded in the sudden purity of the flickering fires light. I must gave stared at it for a solid minute before remembering to touch it to the tip of my cigarette, which flared and then settled into a ruddy slow burn that pulsed and lived with its own breath. I have no idea how long I stood there staring deep into that little burning world, but it must have been long enough for Katie, the friend whod given me the Sweet Tart, to notice me and recognize that perhaps I required some rescuing. She led me by the elbow outside into the swamp-like air and sat me down on an old tractor tire, listening patiently while I unloaded the copious revelations I was receiving. Katie was short, with bead-infused brown dreadlocks that chunked past her shoulders, and standing in front of me, bent slightly and peering with a noted concern into my blown open pupils, she looked more like an Ewok than any character that ever graced a Star Wars movie. She was asking me questions that I didnt have answers to, her words registering as English but not fitting into boxes of understanding. It was so hard to focus on them, all I could think about was whether or not she had a tree house we could go hang in, and why didnt everyone live in tree houses? She was annoyed, and the discordance of that vibe shook me a little back to some clarity. Dude, chill, youre on acid, her lips were saying while her tongue swallowed her teeth like a starving moray eel. The meaning of that settled in, and I suddenly recognized my symptoms, at least somewhat. Youve never done this before, have you? Sympathy was evident, but I didnt need, or want, sympathy. I was too busy making major life decisions while the knotted hairs in her dreads seethed and flexed, like there was something inside trying hard to be born. A couple now-blurry-but-colorful hours later and the concert was over, Chris had failed at anti-gravitational mountain biking, and I was fleeing the Irishmens spell casting brogue. I wound up inside the porch I inhabited, watching a patient girl with green hair paint the sunrise while I babbled incessantly and the intensity of the visuals slowly wound down to a general sparkliness. Eventually, I passed out. The next day my collarbone was killing me, my cigarettes and lighter were gone, and Id lost my mud-caked bathrobe. My head, however, was surprisingly intact, considering the expanding it had done the night before. Over the coming days it became clear something else was different, too. My brain, in reassembling itself, had managed to retain some space between its neurons and synapses, a previously unfelt openness to the world around me and an ability to more easily access, or at least be open to, some creative notions. This wasnt the last time I consumed hallucinogens, far from it as my twenties came into play, but with the exception of a peyote jag in the Texas desert it was the only one that had real and lasting influence on my life. There are studies galore that extol the potential value of psychedelics to treat PTSD or manage mental illness or depression, and shamans for centuries have used them to bring people closer to what they perceive as a spiritual plane. Im no scientist and Im certainly not a medicine man, though I did act like one for a couple years in the 90s. While Im always skeptical of people espousing revelations discovered under the influence of anythingdrugs, religion, or otherwisethis is an experience that fundamentally shifted the navigation of my psyche in a way that Id only describe as good. Would I have pursued a life in the creative space were it not for that summer evening? I dont know. Probably. But the expansion, the ability to open up a little further mentally that I came away with absolutely aid me in what I do every day. Thats not to say I wouldnt have gotten here on my own, and Im not advocating anyone else jump down a psychedelic rabbit hole seeking to emerge a better personIve definitely seen the opposite happen as much as anything. But for a kid in a bathrobe on a man-made island in 1994, it made a difference. I still get a little nervous around large groups of Irishmen, though. As Paul Simons acoustic guitar fades out, the screen fades in on a close-up of Laurie Metcalfs face. She looks distraught, fidgeting uncomfortably as she begins to speak. So, when Glenn and I first got married his parents gave us as a wedding gift, a little house that they had in Pennsylvania, she tells us. This is how the third episode of Louis C.K.s surprise web series Horace and Pete begins. We dont know who Metcalfs character is. Weve never seen or even heard of her before this. But as she continues to tell an increasingly disturbing story about her father-in-law, we are transfixed. The camera stays locked on her face for more than nine minutes until it finally cuts to Louis C.K.s Horace, seated across the table from her. Why are you telling me this? he asks. Metcalfs riveting monologue, widely hailed as the television performance of the year, earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, an award that it would be criminal for her to lose. But the big surprise, to Metcalf and to those who follow these types of things closely, was that she also received two additional nominations for Lead Actress on HBOs Getting On and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for playing the mother of Jim Parsons character on The Big Bang Theory. Thats right. Laurie Metcalf appeared in three separate television shows last year and all three performances earned her Emmy nominations. Metcalf, who began her career at the famed Steppenwolf theater in Chicago, is no stranger to the Emmy stage. In the early 90s, she won three consecutive Emmys for playing Jackie on Roseanne. Ironically, each of those three years she beat Seinfelds Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is now favored to top her in the Lead Actress category this year, which would give her a whopping five consecutive wins for Veep. After a busy and creatively satisfying year on television, Metcalf is now about to start work on Lady Bird, a new film written and directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan. She recently wrapped up a Broadway run of Stephen Kings Misery, opposite Bruce Willis, for which she received a Tony nomination, and is always looking for her next stage gig. Ive been doing it nonstop for about the past five years and I dont know whats going to be my next theater project, Metcalf tells The Daily Beast. But I cant wait to find out. Below is an edited and condensed version of our conversation, which includes spoilers for episode three of Horace and Pete. But if you havent seen that yet, stop what youre doing and watch it immediately. How did you find out you had received three Emmy nominations for three separate performances? I wasnt aware of when the announcements were happening, because I didnt expect to be in the mix. And a friend texted me to say congrats on your Emmy nomination. And I thought, what would it be for? I had assumed that Getting On wasnt still eligible, but I guess it must have just squeaked in, timewise, at the last moment. So I thought, oh, maybe its Horace and Pete, although I didnt know if that was going to be eligible either. My friend said it was for Getting On, and I was really surprised and happy because Ive always been so invested in that show. Even though its off the air, I was so brokenhearted to see it go. We all were. Were still have withdrawal symptoms, the cast is, from that show. And then the friend called me back and said theres two more. Pretty amazing. It was amazing. I had a year in which every single project I worked on was so well-written. All three of them are unique in that way, the writing is outstanding. Lets start with Getting On. Dr. Jenna James was an incredibly specific character. Was she drawn from anyone you have encountered in your real life? No, I just sort of took my clues from the script itself and from the showrunners, Mark Olsen and Will Scheffer. They were the ones who sort of coaxed me into how they saw the character. Obviously shes anal and driven, with a horrible bedside manner. And misunderstood, or at least thats the way I like to look at it. I dont really find fault with her, except for the fact that she is just so driven, it creates a harsh way of dealing with people who just arent operating at her level. And she has very little tolerance for people who arent as 100 percent invested in their work as she is. She just doesnt understand people who arent like that. A lot of people have told me shes so mean, shes funny because shes mean. I just never saw it way. She would say that shes the most caring person in the world. She has a blindside about the way she deals with people, which is so fun to play. I didnt worry about it coming off too harsh because Mark and Will would always throw in one little moment of poor Jenna, I kind of get her now. They would throw in one little drop of humanity every once and awhile and I think that that would make her more tolerable in the long run. You won three consecutive Emmys for supporting actress on Roseanne but this is your first nomination for a lead performance. Did it feel different to carry a show like Getting On in a bigger way? Well, to tell you the truth, it was the show itself that put me into the lead category. Honestly, we were all co-leads on it. There was no lead actor on it really. So that was just sort of imposed onto me by someone who was making those decisions. I think of it as a supporting character. But it is always flattering to be thought of as any part of the show thats helping to run the thing, whether its lead or supporting or guest appearance. Because my other two are in guest. And they mean just as much to me as the lead does. Yeah, those two shows, The Big Bang Theory and Horace and Pete could not be more different in a lot of ways. One is a big network comedy and the other was an unpublicized web drama. Do those factors change the way you approach the characters in each? I did do a lot of years of multi-camera sitcoms, so I guess Im trying to compare them in that sense. Like if I took my character from Big Bang and had her do just a monologue across the table from Sheldon, it would be a comedy but the size of it wouldnt be much different. The fact that you know youve got four cameras aimed your way versus one camera locked down just on your face, it kind of dictates the size that its going to be. But its a very minimal change in the acting. The groundedness of the characters is the same. The amount of work you put in is the same. Playing off your partner is the same. All of that is the same. As someone whos done so much great theater, Big Bang Theory is shot in front of an audience, while Horace and Pete was essentially a filmed play without an audience. Did that change things for you? Yeah, when I first saw the episodes of Horace and Pete that Louis C.K. was putting out, I thought oh my God, this is a play. And I was amazed at how the ensemble was clicking. It looked like they were halfway through a run, that they were in week six of a two-hour play, because people knew where their overlaps would be. The rhythm and timing of it was just like a play. Mine was different, because it was just the two of us. And I had the luxury of not having to project it out to a five hundred seat house. And then its weird in Big Bang, because you do have an audience there but you go back and repeat and they give you lines to throw out and youve got the warm-up guy. And you take your curtain call at the top of the show. Its way different from theater. Your monologue in Horace and Pete was rightly hailed as one of the best television performances of the year and is so unlike anything thats ever been on TV. How did Louis C.K. approach you to play this part? What was his pitch? It was sent to me through my agent. And it said Horace and Pete on it. And I knew that Louis C.K. was connected with it somehow. But no one knew of the project yet, so I didnt know if he was directing it, I didnt know if he was acting it. I knew it was two people in the scene after I read it and I thought, who would be the guy? Is it him? I dont know. But I was so intrigued by the writing. Then I found out that not only was he going to act in it, he was going to direct it and produce it. And he wrote me an email saying, if you would like to do this, I just ask that you not say anything about it until I start releasing them. I was doing a play at the time, so my only day off was going to be on a Monday. He said we could shoot it on a Monday and well shoot it in about a month. And I said good, because its going to take me about a month to learn it, which it did. I worked on that thing so hard, oh God, because I knew hed probably want to do it in one shot. And so I knew that I had to know it backwards and forwards. And thats what we did. We shot it on a Monday for no more than three hours, I think. He gave excellent notes and was an excellent scene partner. And the writing was just obviously, amazing. So I was just in the right place at the right time for that one. After you had read the script, what was your first reaction in terms of who this person was and how you wanted to approach the material? The material itself was really daunting, because I thought, OK, as the storys unfolding, first of all youre not sure why shes telling this story. And so I knew that it would be intriguing to watch for a while. And then what really got to me was the second half of the scene where its more of a dialogue, where you find the places where this couple are still united over their children, whether its in a good way or a bad way, its in a strong way. And they always will be. I loved how he wrote their relationship. I loved how there wasnt judging of each time the other one had cheated. It was just, help me through this. You did this and Ive forgotten about it, now please help me through this because Im in the middle of it now. It was such an interesting way to show who was the mother of his children. So creative. But I knew it would be a hell of a challenge, because it was very complex. And he helped me find a lot of levels to it. You mentioned Louis C.K. gave you some really good notes. What was some of that feedback? When I first came in, I thought its got a giant mislead going on at the front end of it, because she seems like shes just chattering about her father-in-law. He does this and he does that and hes really sweet. So I thought that the way into it was to lean into that mislead and then have it take a turn down the road. And he said no, I think it would be better if right from the top, its more of a confession. You dont need to mislead anybody. Youre just right in the thick of it from the top. And so with that adjustment, that was really helpful. He asked you and the rest of the actors to keep the project secret. Once your episode came out, did you start hearing from people about it? Yeah, I did. I gradually started hearing from people as word of mouth kept going and going. It was only word of mouth. I would start hearing from people who were friends of friends. Its exactly the way he wanted to have the word about it spread. And at first, I didnt know what to expect. I didnt know how it had turned out. I didnt know anything. I had a great, really intense, challenging, fun day doing it. And then I just went back to my play and I didnt hear anything until I started to hear from people I knew, saying, oh my God, when did you do this and how did you do this? This is unique and fascinating and bizarre and sad. Did you watch it? I have watched it. I usually dont watch myself but I have seen it. Was that a bizarre experience since it is just you in close-up for so long? Yeah, definitely. I mean, its never pleasurable. But I wanted to see it because I had no idea, truly, how it had turned out. I loved the way he shot it. I loved that he doesnt do the reveal of himself until his first line. And I loved that because it was so small and just the two us and we only had to focus on each other. We were really connecting. Irish Red Head adds to Writers Tears Walsh Whiskey Distillery has introduced Writers Tears Red Head single malt. This new expression is triple-distilled in oloroso sherry butts, which gives it a ruby hue, hence the moniker - Red Head. The expression is distilled without chill filtering and bottled at 46% ABV. Writers Tears Red Head is a limited edition expression with the full complement of 12,000 bottles being released mainly to select markets from early September. Writers Tears Red Head is the latest expression in the Writers Tears portfolio and will now compliment the successful and Writers Tears Copper Pot and the Writers Tears cask strength vintages. Walsh Whiskey Distillery co-founder and CEO Bernard Walsh says: We are thrilled with the result of the marriage between our first ever single malt expression of Writers Tears and these precious oloroso sherry butts. The natural interaction and careful aging between the pot-still spirit, styled in Writers Tears signature fashion in copper pots, as all Irish whiskey was in the golden era of the 1800s, and the Spanish wood contributes to the outstanding quality and distinctive flavours of this sublime single malt. About Walsh Whiskey Distillery: Established in 1999 by husband and wife, Bernard and Rosemary Walsh, Walsh Whiskey Distillery Company is a leading independent producer of super-premium and ultra-premium, triple-distilled, craft, Irish whiskeys The Irishman and Writers Tears. The distillery at Royal Oak is unique among independent distilleries in its capability to produce all three forms of Irish whiskey pot still, malt and grain from its two production lines featuring pot stills and column stills. It has the capacity to produce 650,000 cases (two and a half million litres of pure alcohol (LPAs) or 8 million bottles) of whiskey annually. Led by founder Bernard Walsh, and with a strong board of industry veterans, the company has built a portfolio of international award winning drinks brands. These include a range of seven Irish whiskeys under The Irishman and Writers Tears brands, the Hot Irishman Irish coffee and The Irishman - Irish Cream liqueur. Demand for the critically acclaimed The Irishman and Writers Tears brands currently exceeds available supply in the 40 countries they are distributed to worldwide. 27 August 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor What we know so far about alleged Iowa serial killer Donald Studey This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK The Imax Theater at the Maritime Aquarium is in the cross hairs of the states upcoming replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River. A source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Hearst Connecticut Media the Connecticut Department of Transportation is interested in taking the Imax Theater to facilitate the bridge replacement and is in negotiations to that end. Of all the properties being eyed for staging areas for the estimated $1 billion project, none stands closer to the bridge than the aquarium and adjacent Imax Theater. The 120-year-old railroad bridge bisects the aquarium at 10 N. Water St., separating the animal exhibits on the north side from the theater on the south side. Last September, the state Department of Transportation released a list of 17 properties being considered for temporary easements or permanent takings to facilitate the bridge replacement. While neither the aquarium nor Imax Theater are on that list, DOT project manager John D. Hanifin said earlier this month that the department was eyeing the theater. The IMAX piece of property is being evaluated from construction impacts and no decisions have been made on anything regarding that, Hanifin told The Hour during a public open house on the Walk Bridge program inside the lobby of the Imax Theater on Aug. 16. DOT spokesman Judd Everhart said Friday there is no definitive plan regarding the Imax Theater property, which he reminded belongs to the city. The Imax and the aquarium are on property owned by the city and the Department is in discussions about impacts to both of these properties during construction, Everhart said. I cannot say today when a decision will be made. David Sigworth, Aquarium spokesman, would not speculate on the impact the bridge replacement will have on the aquarium or theater. We cant speculate on what is going to happen, but we know the area around the aquarium is going to be affected, and so we are making a selection of responses to what the final project plan will be, Sigworth said. We definitely know that theres going to be impacts and we have to be ready for it once they start working. The Maritime Center, as it was originally known, opened in 1988 and now draws up to 500,000 visitors annually to views its 34 exhibits featuring more than 1,200 marine animals of 259 species, according to the Aquariums website. The six-story Imax features movies such as National Parks Adventure and Born to Be Wild. Asked if the state intends to take the theater to rebuild the Walk Bridge, Hanifin answered, I would highly doubt it, but like I said, the property is being evaluated just like all the other properties are being evaluated around the project. Mayor Harry W. Rilling said he has been meeting regularly with DOT officials regarding possible staging areas for the bridge replacement. I think theres still a lot of unanswered questions regarding which properties may be under consideration, which properties are no longer under consideration, said Rilling, before turning to possible staging areas. Theyve talked about Manresa (Island), theyve talked about Select Plastics, where Tony DAndrea is, theyve talked about different parking lots that are available. DAndrea, co-owner of Select Plastics at 219 Liberty Square in East Norwalk, learned recently that the DOT no longer plans to take his property and use it for a staging area for the Walk Bridge replacement. Rilling reminded that negotiations are continuing between the DOT and other Norwalk property owners whose properties remain on the acquisition list. Obviously, those are confidential negotiations, Rilling said. But right now, theres been no firm decision on some of the properties. Hanifin urged those interested in the Walk Bridge replacement to stay up to date on the project by visiting www.walkbridgect.com. Its a good place to get the correct information about a project and stay away from the rumor mill, Hanifin said. The city floated a $30 million bond to build the aquarium and remains the landlord. Critics of the arrangement noted that the aquarium never repaid the borrowed money. Aquarium officials and supporters note that the facility is Norwalks biggest tourist draw. Last year, the Norwalk Common Council approved a lease extension between the city and Aquarium. Under the lease, the aquarium will pay the city an annual rent of $1 but also pick up all maintenance costs expenses that had been paid by the city. WILTON In less than two years, the Connecticut State Police managed to save 100 lives through the use of Narcan, a prescribed medication that reverses overdoses from heroin and other opioids. While the Norwalk Hospital and Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps have the opiate antidote on hand, the Wilton Police Department is in the process of starting a Narcan training program in September, said John Lynch, Wilton Police Captain and Executive Officer. It is rare that we would use such a drug since we are close to Norwalk Hospital and have paramedics available to us. However, with the increase in drug overdoses we feel it would benefit the community to carry it, Lynch said. The program will train officers on how and when to administer Narcan in the event of an overdose and will run under the auspice of Norwalk Hospital Medical Control. Once training is completed, officers will carry at least two doses of the Narcan nasal spray, which typically has a shelf life of 12 months. Although Lynch said he hasnt come across many overdoses during his 31 years with the Wilton Police, he noted that heroin has become more prevalent in the last 10 years. You can use heroin and strong narcotics more easily, Lynch said. Theyre being mixed with fentanly and other drugs, so were more likely to see overdoses. From 2015 to date, there have been seven overdoses and 71 narcotic arrests in Wilton, according to police records. Three of the overdoses involved heroin and most of the narcotic arrests involved marijuana. No apparent deaths resulted from these incidents; however, one overdose death did occur in Wilton in 2013, according to records from the state Department of Chief Medical Examiner. In recent years, greater accessibility and cheaper prices of heroin have increased the likelihood of opioid use and drug overdose in suburban areas like Wilton, said Jim Siemianowski, director of the evaluation quality management and improvement division of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. While the places were seeing the highest amount of use still remains in our largest inner cities, increasingly you are seeing people from what we might consider suburban areas who are using opioids as well, he said. So, this is not just confined to the larger cities within the state. With more suburbs affected and problems persisting in large cities, the number of state accidental intoxication deaths has more than doubled from 2012 to 2015 increasing from 357 deaths to 729, according to records from the state Department of Chief Medical Examiner. The count is projected to reach 832 deaths by the end of 2016, with already 208 deaths from January to March. Even though the solution to the opioid crisis is multipronged, Siemianowski said one way of combatting the issue is making Narcan more accessible to the public whether someone is a first responder, police officer, pharmacist or family member of an individual battling heroin addiction. The more we can get this into the hands of people that are going to be responding, the better, he said. We support this and believe that its another tool in fighting what is a public health crisis at this point. As of 2012, prescribers can prescribe, dispense or administer Narcan to anyone who requests the medication and are also protected from civil or criminal liability; legislation passed in 2014 extended that protection to anyone administering Narcan in response to an overdose. By October, every municipality must ensure that their first responders are equipped with Narcan and are trained to administer it in emergency situations, as mandated by An Act Concerning Opioids and Access to Overdose Reversal Drugs passed earlier this year which prompted the Wilton Police Department to start the Narcan training program, Lynch said. We had considered this for several years, Lynch said. If it can save somebodys life, then its worth carrying. SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203 354-1044; @stephaniehnkim The Five Points Bank Arena was packed Friday night as the Nebraska State Fair Draft Horse Show got underway. The event, sponsored by the Grand Island Independent, will continue this weekend with two shows today at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. and another Sunday at 4 p.m., all at the Five Points Bank Arena at Fonner Park. The 2016 Nebraska State Fair Draft Horse Show superintendents this year are Terry and Deb Pierce of Oakland, Iowa. Deb Pierce said this is the seventh year the draft horse show has been held at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. It has been growing every year, she said. It will be a great show this year. There are 30 exhibitors at the draft horse show, coming from 11 states showing more than 200 draft horses, including Belgians, Percherons, Clydesdales and Shires. Spectators were greeted Friday with a number of different shows including the draft horse cart competition for mares and the draft horse team on a hitch wagon for geldings. Pierce said the show is representative of what draft horses were used for prior to the age at mechanization. For example, the farm team events were representative of what draft horses did on the farm, such as plowing, hauling hay and the manure spreader. Before cars and trucks, draft horses could be seen on the streets of every town, pulling wagons full of freight or hitching to a carriage for transportation. Pierce said draft horses are making a comeback. People are finding more and more applications and can be the preferred method of power, such as in the logging industry because they are more environmentally friendly alternative, she said. Also, a lot of back-to-the-land organic farmers are using horses nowadays because they not only provide muscle power but natural fertilizer for their fields. Pierce said the teams are judged by their driving skills and appearance of the wagon, along with the horses conformation and performance. Its the total package, she said. One of the reasons the draft horse show continues to grow is the Nebraska State Fair facilities, which has gained a national reputation for quality and excellence. You would be hard-pressed to find a facility like this, Pierce said. The exhibitors love it. Also, the fans are very supportive of the exhibitors and their draft horse teams, she added. Last year, two of the three performances were sold out and Friday nights crowd nearly packed the arena. Every year we seem to get a bigger crowd, she said. Nebraska have been very supportive of the draft horse show. They are very knowledgeable about draft horses too. Pierce and her husband have draft horses on their Iowa farm for seeding oats, hauling hay and other chores around the farm. While some use the horses are used for chores, it is a hobby, she said. Some people have lake houses, others have motorcycles, and some people have horses, Pierce said. One of the exhibitors at the show is Cody Wolf of Cozad. He is also president of the Nebraska Draft Horse and Mule Association. The association has about 50 members across the state. Wolf said his family has been coming to the draft horse show in Grand Island since the fair moved from Lincoln in 2010. He raises Belgian horses. His farm, Rangley Farms, is a cattle operation that uses horses. Wolf said people are amazed at the horses beauty and how huge they are some stand as high as 18 hands (about 4 inches per hand) or more. Its the size of the horses that fascinate a lot of people, he said. They are really a gentle horse. People seeing something that big would never think that would be as gentle as they are. They just love the attention. And the horses and their drivers were getting a lot of positive attention during the show from the crowd. But, Wolf said, many of the spectators have no idea the role these horses played prior to the age of mechanization. Back in the day, these horses did a lot of work around the farm, he said. This competition shows what these horses were used for. The late Bill Marshall III was honored during Friday mornings opening ceremonies at the Nebraska State Fair. Marshall was recognized for promoting the idea of the fair hosting both high school and college volleyball games, as well as for his leadership in bringing the event to Grand Island. The opening ceremonies also recognized Central Community College and Lincoln Electric System as Milestone Partners. Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Joseph McDermott praised Marshall, who served on the State Fair board prior to his death this past January, for his part in fundraising and building world-class facilities to host livestock shows and other events. He was very community-minded, said McDermott. Marshall thought the Nebraska State Fair could be very successful with a Central Nebraska location, McDermott added. McDermott praised Marshalls work on the State Fair board. He kept everyone grounded, he said. He is missed for the steady hand that he provided to the board and I, and the entire organization. He is missed for the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff, and to hone in on an issue and lead the discussion on how to overcome any issue that we ran into. McDermott said the inaugural Bill Marshall Volleyball Classic is featuring 24 high school teams and four NAIA teams, including some of the top collegiate teams at that level. To Bills family, please know that we were on the receiving end of Bills community spirit, his generosity and his kindness, he said. Chris Kircher, chairman of the State Fair board, said Marshall has a legacy that extends far beyond his work on the fair board. His legacy that extends throughout the community of Grand Island and throughout the state of Nebraska. He invested his time, his resources and perhaps most importantly, he invested of himself when those around him needed it most, Kircher said. He was a remarkable man. He always spoke of his father, who would say, You have to pay for the space you take. This became Bills mantra as well. Despite Marshalls great business acumen in leading Five Points Bank, I think Bills best trait was that of a husband, father and grandfather, Kircher said. Marshalls family was at the opening ceremonies and Kircher noted, You can see, as I do, that their love and devotion to Bill will live on. His family including his wife, Sharon; his two daughters, Kara and Kristen; and his six grandchildren took the stage to accept a plaque recognizing the inaugural Bill Marshall Volleyball Classic of the Nebraska State Fair. Daughter Kristen Maser spoke on behalf of the family, saying, We are tremendously humbled and touched by the State Fairs creation of the Bill Marshall Volleyball Classic. While their father was on the board, she said, its members were always seeking to boost attendance. Because her father realized the popularity of volleyball in Nebraska, he suggested bringing volleyball to the fair as a way to increase attendance. His vision comes to fruition this morning, Maser said. When Nebraska State Fair officials talked about creating the Bill Marshall Volleyball Classic, she said, I thought to myself, I really couldnt imagine a more appropriate way to honor our dads memory. It perfectly aligns with everything he was passionate about: his value of education, his love of Grand Island, his love of sports, his love of the Nebraska State Fair, and the love that he had for his family. Central Community College, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, was also recognized for partnering with the Nebraska State Fair for the past several years in putting on Veterans Day activities. Lincoln Electric System was recognized for its crucial work in helping the cair put on the Nebraska Lineworker Rodeo. Opening ceremonies also included remarks from Lt. Gov. Mike Foley; Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension dean and director; Greg Ibach, Nebraska secretary of agriculture; Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen; and Mary Calico, president and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. Several speakers emphasized that FFA and 4-H make the State Fair a premier event for Nebraskas young people. Calico noting that she represents nearly 1,200 members for county fairs, state fairs and agriculture expositions around the world said both the Nebraska State Fair and its staff are recognized internationally. Theyre one of the top 50 fairs in our membership. It is your fair that were talking about. It is a fantastic fair, she said. Today we salute History Flight and the Stone Foundation, which located lost graves of U.S. servicemen on the island of Betio last year, and the U.S. government, which ultimately confirmed on Aug. 2 that the remains of Marine Pvt. Dale Robert Geddes of Grand Island had been located. Geddes died on Nov. 20, 1943, on the first day of a World War II battle in which about 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed. He was buried there in what became known as the Lost Cemetery, which is why it took so long for his remains to be located and returned to Grand Island. At one time, the U.S. government informed his family that recovery of his remains was considered improbable, if not impossible. Geddes surviving family members were notified last year that his remains might finally be identified. And this past Monday, a service was held to remember Geddes 72 years after his death, and his remains were laid to rest in Grand Island City Cemetery next to his parents, William G. and Minnie (Kent) Geddes. Along with his surviving family members, many Grand Island residents attended the ceremony. Geddes was buried with full military honors by Detachment 1, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 451, U.S. Marine Corps. Geddes closest relatives on his fathers side who still live in Hall County are the granddaughters of William G. Geddes siblings. They are John Robert Geddes granddaughters, Judy (Geddes) Arends of Grand Island, Jane (Geddes) Allan of Wood River and Glenn H. Geddes granddaughter, Carol Bryant of Grand Island. Surviving nieces and nephews live in Toronto, Canada, as well as Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Texas and Nevada. This was a rare gift to the family, truly providing closure to a tragic story with which many families throughout Hall County can identify. Patriot Tour an annual reminder We also have a hearty salute for the Nation of Patriots Patriot Tour, which has been transporting an American flag through all of the lower 48 states as a symbol of patriotism and made a stop in Grand Island on Tuesday. The flag was transferred from a group of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders from North Platte to the St. Paul American Legion Riders of Post 119 during a ceremony on the grounds of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Once they took possession of the flag, the St. Paul riders took it to St. Paul Public Schools for a presentation to the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders. This is the seventh year that the Patriot Tour has taken place. It takes 100 days for the flag to complete its journey, with the tour beginning on Memorial Day weekend and ending on Sept. 3 at Madison, Wis., where it all began. Nebraska was the 44th state on the tour, with the flag also scheduled to travel through South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota before returning to Wisconsin. Some of the words recited during the transfer ceremony noted that riders will represent the many who have stood to the call of duty, the many that serve today, and finally and above all, rider, you will bear the memory of those who have fallen defending what is represented in these colors. We salute all those involved in this annual reminder of the sacrifices made by our military forces throughout the history of our country. A man whose crimes were described by prosecutors as monstrous has been sentenced to 85 years behind bars. Jerry Sutt had been convicted last month of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated unlawful restraint, following a two-day trial. The 53-year-old Madison man had represented himself at that trial and he did the same at his sentencing Wednesday at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center in Edwardsville. Prosecutors alleged that Sutt entered his former girlfriends house in Collinsville, tied up a teenage boy and sexually assaulted his teenage sister at gunpoint. At the trial, Sutt did not deny threatening to kill the family and those connected with the case but said he did so in order to get their attention. It took jurors less than an hour to find him guilty on two counts of each of the charges. Sexual assault cases are difficult for everyone involved, but the actions that these young victims were forced to suffer at the hands of Mr. Sutt are simply incomprehensible, said Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons in a press release issued after the hearing. Both victims displayed admirable amounts of strength and bravery throughout the course of this case; assisting the Madison County Sheriffs Department with their initial investigation, while Mr. Sutt was still at large, and maintaining strength to share their horrific experience in front of the jurors. Assistant States Attorney Kathleen Nolan argued Wednesday in support of a lengthy sentence. Judge Kyle Napp sentenced Sutt to a total of 75 years for the two charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault and a total of 10 years for the two counts of aggravated unlawful restraint. He will be required to serve 85 percent of the former and 50 percent of the latter. The childrens mother, one of the central figures in the case, testified at the trial that before the attacks on the night of Sept. 18, 2013, she had been in a relationship with Sutt and that she had had a child with him. But she and Sutt frequently argued, she said, and the two had been in a custody battle. She had also received threatening phone calls from him, she said. On Wednesday, Gibbons praised the sentence. I cannot describe the defendant any better than Judge Napp did herself: Mr. Sutt is a monstrous man. These horrific crimes will not be tolerated in Madison County, but these victories in the courtroom are the result of a coordinated, team effort. Working together, the States Attorneys Offices Childrens Justice Division, the Madison County Sheriffs Department, the Illinois State Police, and the various medical personnel who assisted with this investigation were able to ensure that this dangerous individual will spend the rest of his life in prison. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Sat, August 27 2016 Amandari Gallery owner Uti Rahardjo pulled no punches during her recent soft launch at the Gran Mahakam hotel in Bulungan, South Jakarta. Batik has always been a source of income for many women in Java, most of whom have husbands who are idle and enjoy playing with their pet birds instead of working, Uti said. 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) Turkey Sat, August 27 2016 Turkish authorities have released late on Thursday two Indonesian students who were arrested during a crackdown against affiliates of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric accused of masterminding a failed coup in the Turkish capital Ankara last month. They were both released after proven not to be linked with the Hizmet group, [who are] accused of orchestrating the failed coup, the Foreign Ministrys director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, said in a statement on Friday. The two students, Dwi Puspita Ari Wijayanti and Yumelda Ulan Afrilian, had been handed over earlier this month by prosecutors to Indonesian Embassy officials who had traveled to Bursa, some 325 kilometers west of Ankara, to meet them. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sagara Kusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27 2016 Belarus and Indonesia may be strange bedfellows, but the envoy from the eastern European country is determined that both countries build even closer relations in the future. We can enrich each other. There are many things that we can learn from Indonesia. Hopefully, there are certain things that we can share with Indonesia as well, the Belarussian mbassador to Jakarta, Vladimir Lopato-Zagorsky, told The Jakarta Post during a reception to commemorate Belarussian National Day on Wednesday evening. 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) Sat, August 27 2016 Someone showed me a somewhat random video in which people put cucumbers near cats, and the horrified cats leapt away in sheer terror, sometimes leaping out of windows. Watching it, I relived my teenage attempts at dating. Cucumbers: I feel your pain. Your columnist was further thrown back to his childhood days by an Indian newspaper report that police officers are using catapults to fire balls of chili powder as a crowd control technique. Well I did the exact same thing as a kid and my teacher denounced me as a troublesome brat who would achieve nothing in life. OK, so her prediction was accurate, but I should still get royalties, right? I was feeling stung about that when a reader sent in a news item about a guy in France who is suing his boss for boring him. He claims that the four years he spent at one company were so stupefyingly dull that they caused him physical harm, damaging his joints and brain. My high school history teacher Mr. Mohan was so boring that you could actually feel your brain fossilizing during the class. Once he scheduled a history double-period and not even the brainy kids turned up, knowing he would induce comas and then brain-death. 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) Sat, August 27 2016 As I was flying from Beijing to Bali on July 3, it dawned on me that it had been one year, nearly to the day, since I had last set foot in Indonesia. In some ways I couldnt believe it had been so long. But in other ways it felt like I had never left. Even though I hail from the US, it felt like I was coming home. There is something about Indonesia that keeps drawing me back, both as an expat and as a traveler. I first came here on a two-month backpacking journey in 2013. I moved here as an expat in 2014. And at the end of June 2016 I made the snap decision to take a break from my new life in China to spend the summer in Indonesia. It wasnt until I spotted some of the archipelagos turquoise-ringed islets from the plane that I realized how vividly I could picture my long-awaited reunion with Indonesia. I could feel the muggy heat cling to my body as I walked off the plane. I could see the shimmering blue of the Indian Ocean on which Denpasars airport sits. I knew which streets I would take to get into town. I knew too that I would undoubtedly get caught in macet (traffic jams). 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 Nooman Merchant (Associated Press) Beijing Sat, August 27, 2016 A Canadian patient's receipt of a kidney transplant after waiting just three days during a recent visit to China raised an immediate red flag among surgeons at the Montreal-based Transplantation Society: A turnaround that quick indicates the organ likely came from the body of an executed prisoner. The case adds to doubts among many doctors internationally about whether China has met its pledge to stop harvesting the organs of executed inmates. The practice is widely condemned by the World Health Organization and others because of concerns over coercive practices and fears it could encourage executions. China officially claims it ended the harvesting of executed inmates' organs in January 2015. Some foreign doctors who have worked in China say authorities are behaving more responsibly, but other observers say China hasn't done enough to prove that it's fulfilled that pledge. China sought to use the Transplantation Society's decision to hold its annual meeting in Hong Kong this month as validation of its transplant program. But Dr. Philip O'Connell, the society's president, rejected that interpretation, even if it appeared some reforms had been successful. "We realize that this isn't going to change in a day," O'Connell said. "It's not going to go from a system that was using organs from executed prisoners, that was driven by corruption and where organs were being paid for ... to a system that's completely open, transparent and ethical." In a country that routinely suppresses discussions of human-rights issues and cracks down on lawyers and independent groups, government officials and state media have been relatively open about China's problems with organ donation. Dr. Huang Jiefu, head of the system that supervises transplants in Chinese hospitals, has been the public face of the country's attempts to change its transplant practices. Huang publicly admitted in 2005 that doctors used executed prisoners' organs. In 2011, Huang and other officials estimated that 65 percent of transplanted organs from the deceased came from executed prisoners. In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Huang said he was confident hospitals under his purview were moving to donated organs, but that black-market surgeries still persist. "We still have a long way to go," Huang said. A former deputy health minister, Huang said he speaks to top government officials about reforms they need to make to win the world's confidence. Among the needed reforms, Huang said, is a crackdown on organ trafficking and more regulations on how organs are procured. China also needs to train far more doctors and hospitals to perform surgeries, he said. "Our organ transplantation must be 100 percent reliant on civilian, voluntary organ donation," Huang said. "Otherwise, we cannot stand on the world stage." China is believed to execute more people than any other country in the world, though the total number is kept secret. Amnesty International estimates the annual number is in thousands. A donor registry was piloted in 2010 and has been expanded into a national system. Newspapers in China often publish positive stories of families that have given the organs of a loved one, an apparent attempt to shift longstanding cultural attitudes about donation. One such story published by the Shanghai Daily newspaper earlier this month detailed the "selfless" donation of a 34-year-old doctor's organs to help six people. In what appeared to be a reference to traditional beliefs about keeping a body whole, the article quoted the doctor's wife as warning their daughter against "tying her hopes to an uncertain heavenly place." According to the government, Chinese doctors performed 10,057 organ transplants in 2015. Health officials have also said they expect to increase the number of hospitals that can perform transplants. By its own estimates, China has about 300,000 patients a year in need of organs, a challenge that will only get bigger as the world's largest population ages. Its national rate of donors leads Japan and most other Asian countries, but is far behind the United States and most nations in Western Europe. Chinese government statistics often engender deep skepticism, and critics of China's organ donation practices say they're not convinced. Some critics, citing China's history and the prevalence of black-market surgeries, contend the true number of transplants is much higher than the official numbers, and that executed prisoners remain the source for many of those organs. Dr. Torsten Trey, executive director of the advocacy group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, said international visitors were not seeing enough of the system to truly judge the accuracy of China's statistics or claims of progress. "The change was not successful, because there is no change," Trey said in an email. For more than a decade, doctors from outside China have worked with Huang and other officials. Huang said he has invited transplant surgeons to tour hospitals and meet doctors. Dr. Michael Millis, a transplant surgeon at the University of Chicago, said he's visited "several dozen" transplant centers in China as part of his volunteer work in the country. One sign of a shift, Millis said, was that doctors at those centers used to have routinely scheduled surgeries. Now, they talk of having multiple surgeries in one day or days without any surgeries at all. That indicates they are operating on the up-and-down schedule of a system fueled by voluntary donations rather than executions, Millis said. "These are the stories that I can say that my personal experience is changing and it's changing to the system that the rest of the world sees," Millis said. Millis says reports like the recent case in Canada suggest black-market surgeries still occur in China, though not at the scale alleged by others. "There is no evidence it is an extensive black-market parallel system that would generate a large number of organs from executed prisoners," Millis said, adding that unsanctioned transplants occur in other parts of the world as well. Millis and other doctors hope to improve China's system by engaging with health officials they see as receptive and willing to consider reforms. In the Canadian case, the Transplantation Society was alerted soon after the patient returned to Canada and told his doctors he had purchased a kidney and required follow-up care. The society sent a letter to Huang calling for an investigation just ahead of its annual global meeting in Hong Kong. What happened next could be considered a positive sign by those working with China. Huang said Chinese officials revoked the licenses of the surgeon and the hospital, and a criminal investigation was launched into the surgery. O'Connell said the group told Chinese officials, "This is a detriment to what you're trying to achieve, and you need to act." "The only people who can make change or reform in China are the Chinese themselves," O'Connell said. "What we're trying to do is identify people who we believe are for reform in China and trying to encourage them." Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27 2016 When she wants to eat in a restaurant, 24-year-old Annisa Filania has an affinity for places that do not list dishes made from tuna or shark on their menu. If a restaurant does not sell tuna or shark, it means that the place supports sustainability in running its business, given that the population of tuna is shrinking, while sharks have protected status in this country, Annisa, who is also a scuba diver, told The Jakarta Post on Friday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 The Directorate General of Immigration at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry is planning to review the free-visa policy given to citizens from 169 countries following violations by a number of foreigners since the implementation. The directorate general recorded more than 100 misuses of visas so far this year, spokesman Heru Santoso said on Friday. "It is hoped that these violations by foreign citizens of the free-visa policy can be used as material for evaluation and studies by the government on evaluating the visa-free policy," Heru told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Chinese, Bangladeshi and Thai citizens top the list of visa violators in Indonesia with 57 cases, 24 and 12 respectively. Moreover, Nigeria and South Korea round up the top five with 10 and nine cases respectively, he added. For example, Bali Immigration Office arrested 41 foreigners in a crackdown in July when officials netted Chinese nationals posing as Buddhist monks begging at Bali's tourism sites. Foreigners were also netted in crackdowns on people working or operating businesses while here on tourist visas. First introduced in June last year, the government added more countries to the policy in March in a bid to boost foreign visitors to the country. The policy is part of the government's efforts to attract 20 million tourists by 2019. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Kupang Sat, August 27, 2016 The Indonesian haj committee will tell all haj pilgrims to follow the regulations and schedules for the jumrah throwing ritual, which symbolizes the act of stoning the devil, in Mina to prevent more fatal incidents like the stampede that occurred last year. The Indonesian Haj Management Committee (PPIH) has received the schedules from the Muassasah Foundation, a body set up by the Saudi Arabian government to handle haj pilgrims from all Southeast Asian countries. The committee will soon distribute the schedules to all groups of Indonesian haj pilgrims. We are strict on this matter to discipline the pilgrims. We have asked for a commitment from every group to not go outside of the schedule. We want to prevent the stampede that took place in Mina last year from happening again, PPIH spokesperson Arsyad Hidayat said. According to data, more than 59,000 of the Indonesians who received one of the countrys 155,200 quota places had arrived in Mecca as of Thursday. As of Thursday afternoon Indonesian time, 145 groups had touched down in Mecca, the city where the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was born, Religious Affairs Ministry official Eko Dwi Irianto said as quoted by Antara news agency. The first group of the executive-class pilgrims, known as ONH plus, from Asia was welcomed by Muassasah Asia and members of the Association of Indonesia Haj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri). Amphuri chairman Joko Asmoro said the welcoming ceremony was conducted with typical traditions of the Middle East, including Arabian meals. Meanwhile, Indonesian haj pilgrims who wish to pay dam a fine for performing umrah first rather than the haj were urged to pay through the Saudi Arabian Al Rajhi Bank, Aswadi, an official tasked to guide Indonesian pilgrims in Mecca, said on Friday. Its in order to make it more organized and to ensure the funds will be channeled to needy people, he said. Aswadi acknowledged that not all Indonesian pilgrims were aware of the transaction mechanism using the Saudi Arabian bank. A citizen of Medan, North Sumatra, Jusmiarti said she instead bought a goat in a nearby market with the help of a local driver. Meanwhile, haj pilgrims from Surabaya in East Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi, have allegedly pretended to be residents of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, to avoid the lengthy waiting times in their hometowns. We need to investigate how they managed to get Kupang ID cards, the mayor of Kupang, Jonas Saelan, told reporters on Friday. Jonas said that the unlawful act from people allegedly coming from Surabaya and Makassar had hurt the residents of Kupang, where 2,500 citizens are on the haj waiting list. Only if the quota is not fully filled, then people outside of the city may use it, he said. Jonas added that the 48 people who used Kupang ID cards were identified after they gave their health cards to the regencys religious affairs office for medical check-ups. (fac) Djemi Amnifu contributed to this article Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru, Riau Sat, August 27, 2016 Haze covered several areas of Riau province on Saturday morning and reduced visibility following the detection of dozens of hot spots in the province, an official has said. The worst drop in visibility took place in Dumai, said Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) chief Sugarin citing data from the agency's four observation posts. "The visibility in Dumai at 7 a.m. local time was only 1,500 meters, in contrast to 9-kilometer visibility yesterday afternoon," he said on Saturday. Riau's capital city Pekanbaru was also covered in thick haze on Saturday with visibility down to 2.5 kilometers from the forest and land fires in Tapung subdistrict of Kampar regency. The smog is a result of the forest and land fires currently taking place in five regencies and municipalities in the province. There are 61 hot spots detected in Riau spread in several areas such as Rokan Hilir with 36 hot spots, Siak with 13 hot spots, Bengkalis with nine hot spots and Kampar with one hot spot, Sugarin said. BMKG personnel and local officials coordinated with Riau Forest and Land Fires Emergency task force to put out the fires in order to prevent the haze getting worse. Indonesia's annual occurrence of land and forest fires has also caused its northern neighbor Singapore to be blanketed in smoke, triggering yet more complaints from the city-state's residents. Singaporeans lambasted Indonesia for its deteriorating air quality on Friday as winds blew smoke from fires in Riau across the city-state. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, August 27 2016 Words & Photos Seto Wardhana Waging war against poverty is not easy; make the wrong move and you will find yourself fighting the poor. As the nations capital, Jakarta beckons as a city of dreams. People come from their hometowns in search of a better life, better income, better education a better everything. But not every dream becomes a reality. While the city itself is a home to 10 million people, 3.75 percent of its citizens, or about 375,000 people, live below the poverty line. Living as one of the poor is hard. High living expenses, meager income, or no income at all, low education and poor access to many government facilities push some into a downward spiral. One bad decision can change their lives significantly. Research from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) shows there were 113 evictions in the city, affecting 8,145 families and 6,283 businesses, in 2015. This year, 325 neighborhoods are at risk of forced evictions. It happened on March 1 to residents living under the Tomang-Pluit section of the inner ring road in Pejagalan. The eviction went almost unnoticed because public attention was focused on the most celebrated forced eviction of the year that occurred the previous day a short distance away. On Feb. 29, the administration demolished the Kalijodo neighborhood, home to the notorious, historical red-light district as well as 1,340 families. Kalijodo lies across the river from the community living under the toll road. Only 202 Kalijodo families with Jakarta identity cards were entitled to rusunawa (low-cost rental apartments) in Pulo Gebang, Marunda and Rawa Bebek. Unable to find new jobs while having to pay more expenses transportation costs, apartment rents some of the tenants returned to the illegal settlements. They join about 150 other families who built shacks under the toll road, atop the debris of their own houses, after the March eviction. They have lived there for years; some were born there. After the March and February evictions, the toll road community and Kalijodo evictees live in deteriorating conditions. Like the people photographed here in August in Pejagalan, they do odd jobs, such as occasional parking attendants or scavenging for recyclable garbage. The Jakarta administration is trying to catch up with the rusunawa backlog but finding land in the middle of the city is not easy. In most cases, the evictees are thrown into the apartments, designed without any participation from them, more than 10 kilometers from their jobs, businesses and schools. Some even get apartments 25 kilometers from home, making it difficult for them to get back on their feet from the evictions, let alone lift them sleves out of poverty. Forced evictions have impoverished the most vulnerable community in the city, a forgotten population that must get by however it can. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 An Indonesian migrant worker is set to deliver a speech at the United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants next month to push governments to better protect migrant workers. Eni Lestari, a migrant worker who has worked in Hong Kong for 16 years as a domestic helper, was selected after a thorough selection process by the UN to represent millions of migrant workers around the globe. "This is a challenge for me as I will speak for migrants out there who are struggling for justice and better protection, Eni said on Saturday at the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) office in Central Jakarta. The UN General Assembly will host the high-level meeting on Sept. 19 at the UN headquarters in New York with around 1,900 attendees, including presidents and prime ministers of UN member countries, academics and religious leaders. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is also scheduled to attend the summit, Eni said. The event is aimed at addressing the massive movement of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach, according to a statement on the UN website. In front of the world leaders, Eni wants to point out that the countries with migrant workers should stop thinking of workers merely as sources of money. "Workers deserve to be treated properly," she said. According to Manpower Ministry data, 6.1 million Indonesians work abroad. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has issued a presidential decree that is expected to boost the fisheries industry, a minister said on Friday. The decree, signed by the President on Aug. 22, instructs 25 ministries and government agencies to speed up the development of the fisheries industry. The ministries must make integrated efforts to boost the industry and help local fisherfolk, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Friday. Jokowi also instructed the ministry to evaluate regulations that hampered the development of fishery and local salt producing companies, the domestic market and the exportation of maritime products. Susi said her ministry would make a fisheries development road map and a master plan on commercial fishery zones. Separately, Indonesian Traditional Fishermens Association (KNTI) legal division head, Martin Hadiwinata, welcomed the decree, saying it would help improve fisherfolks welfare. It could also help with the development of downstream businesses, such as fish processing plants, as the ministry tended to focus on upstream management by tackling illegal fishing, he said. (rez/rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 Former Supreme Court chief justice Bagir Manan has said defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso should be acquitted on all counts if there is no evidence corroborating her role in the murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin. The Criminal Law Procedures Code [KUHAP] stipulates that if judges are hesitant about the case, the defendant should be acquitted, Bagir said as quoted by tempo.co on Friday. Bagir asserted that judges should follow the principle that it is better to release a guilty person than to punish the innocent. Bagir added that the judges should not bow to public pressure amid intensive exposure in the media and the public regarding the case. The judges must only make their decision based on the law, not public pressure, he said. Previously on Thursday, a criminal law expert from Gadjah Mada University, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, said circumstantial evidence or indirect evidence would be sufficient for the court to sentence Jessica for premeditated murder. He added that according to the KUHAP, to prove premeditated murder, the court did not need to find a motive in the case. The court doesnt need to work hard on it, because the law doesnt require it, Edward told the judges during a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court. (cal/dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong & Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 A group of LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning) advocates was bestowed with the Suardi Tasrif Award, given to those fighting for freedom of expression, during a ceremony in Jakarta on Friday. The group, Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia, is an alliance of more than 20 LGBTIQ NGOs throughout Indonesia. The award was ceremonially accepted by two representatives from the alliance, Abhipraya Ardiansyah Muchtar, who is a transman, and Kanza Vina, a transwoman. The ceremony was also attended by Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who delivered a keynote speech. This award is good news during times when the LGBTIQ community is bombarded with information, propaganda and suspicion in social media and mainstream media, which is filled with ignorance about the sexuality of individuals like me, Abhipraya, who realized that he was born in the wrong body when he was still little. The award, organized by the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI), came as several Islamist professors are petitioning the Constitutional Court to criminalize consensual sex among unmarried heterosexual and homosexual people, something which could severely limit peoples privacy and further fuel discrimination against LGBTIQ people. During the 71 years of Indonesian independence, LGBTIQ people have never been protected nor helped in Indonesia. But we were not criminalized either, said Abhipraya. He then pleaded with the government to help the LGBTIQ community through this hard time. Now there is an attempt to criminalize LGBTIQ people through the Constitutional Court. I hope the government, including Pak Minister, will see our difficult situation and support public education so that the public can understand and want to stop discrimination against us, Abhipraya said. Sexuality is something deep. It requires more than a binary approach: man and woman. It also requires more than a disorder label. We ourselves do not want to be in the position where we have to ask a lot of questions, he said in his speech. Abhipraya also conveyed his thanks to the AJI, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary on Aug. 19. We are happy to receive this award, from this organization of journalists. It gives up hopeand at the same time is a challenge for journalistsof an improvement in the quality of journalism and news on sexual minorities in Indonesia, he said in his speech. This Suardi Tasrif Award is not simply an appreciation of our work in Forum LGBTIQ, but also of our goals, the future of Indonesia, which will be better, in which we all work together to nurture freedom and diversity, Abhipraya said. Kanza Vina, a representative of Forum LGBTIQ, poses for a picture after delivering a speech during the Suardi Tasrif Award, for freedom of expression, ceremony on Friday evening. Forum LGBTIQ won the award, organized by the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI). (JP/Liza Yosephine) Kanza opened her speech with a story about her hardship growing up as a feminine boy in Bengkulu. She said her seniors in junior high school forced her to give her oral sex and later she became a sex worker when she moved out from home at 15 years old. The LGBTIQ movement is the youngest democracy movement in Indonesia. We learn a lot from other movements, from religious freedom to womens rights, Kanza said. Our road is long and bumpy but we believe we shall overcome some day, she said. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 The Religious Affairs Ministry, which is responsible for organizing the haj pilgrimage and umroh (minor haj) for Muslims in the country, has begun investigating the possible involvement of a rogue ministry official in a scam case related to the 177 Indonesian pilgrims detained by immigration officials in the Philippines. "We have dispatched teams to the regions, as well as to the Philippines, to seek more and accurate information," Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told reporters on Friday, adding that investigations into the allegations had begun as soon as the ministry became aware from reports by the media this week of an official who is suspected to be affiliated to an illegal travel operator. The process of verification and identification is still ongoing with results expected over the next few days, he said, declining to give further details on the internal investigation. He reiterated that none of the eight companies suspected in the case were listed as official travel operators by the government. The companies did not have permits to conduct umroh or haj pilgrimages, he continued, adding that the ministry was cooperating with the National Police to pursue legal action. Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population, with some would-be pilgrims experiencing long waiting lists spanning up to a decade due to the limited haj quota to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, each year. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27, 2016 Starting Tuesday, the Jakarta administration will start imposing Rp 500,000 (US$37.76) fines on those violating the newly introduced odd-even license plate traffic policy following what is claimed to be a successful month-long trial run. Commuters have told The Jakarta Post that they have adjusted themselves to the new traffic rule, and will find various ways to reach their workplaces. Jevelyn Arnanta, 22, a resident of Sunter in North Jakarta, said she was ready for the policy. She drives an even plate number car to her office on Jl Jend Sudirman in Central Jakarta, which is among the areas under the policy coverage. Jevelyn said the policy had benefited her during the trial run. For me the policy was quite helpful rather than the previous three-in-one policy, which was so annoying with the jokis, she said, referring to the previous practice where some people offered a service of posing as passengers. On days for the odd plate number, I can come earlier to the office, Jevelyn said. In her office, some friends also arranged a carpool to travel to and from the office during the trial run of the policy, Jevelyn added. The Jakarta authorities have claimed that during the trial run, the policy successfully eased traffic congestion by 20 percent. However, Febriandri Sinaga, 26, a resident of Pisangan in East Jakarta, doubts the claim. Febriandi said the trial failed to ease traffic congestion, adding that he needed to find longer alternative routes to meet his clients to avoid the odd-even traffic policy around the Sudirman and Senayan areas. He plans to use transportation services provided by ride-hailing applications rather than drive his own car. Meanwhile, Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) chairman Danang Parikesit suggested that motorists manage their time better during the policy implementation because there will be an increase in traffic congestion on the alternative routes. He predicted that the traffic congestion on alternative routes would rise by 30 to 50 percent because of the policy. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Pyongyang, North Korea Sat, August 27, 2016 North Korea on Saturday expressed anger at United Nations Security Council discussions over a statement denouncing the country's latest submarine-launched missile test. North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the US-led discussions at the UN were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States. Jon spoke just before the Security Council concluded the discussions with a statement strongly condemning all four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. The statement came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast on Wednesday. South Korean defense officials said the missile was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. Jon said that the latest submarine-launched missile didn't cause any harm to the security of neighboring countries. He said it showed North Korea's "great power and inexhaustible strength in the face of the trials of history and the challenges of our enemies." "The best way for the US to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control," Jon said. North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including US military bases in those countries. Its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch. Wednesday's launch was the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests this year by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a wider range of nuclear weapons, including those capable of striking targets as far away as mainland United States. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Sat, August 27, 2016 Journalist DE now spends most of her time quietly sitting at her home in Medan. She cried every time she watched television reports about the recent Sari Rejo clash, the 25-year-old said, adding that she was suffering from severe depression after being sexually assaulted by Air Force personnel. Accompanied by lawyers from the Medan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Medan), she reported an attack by Air Force Military Police on Wednesday. The Air Force denies that any such incident took place. DE reportedly fainted when investigators asked her about the sexual abuse she had experienced. She said her soul felt like it was shattered when she was questioned by the military officers. Im still traumatized by the ordeal and cannot forget the immoral act committed by the soldiers, who mistreated and sexually assaulted me, DE told The Jakarta Post on Friday. DE claimed that three soldiers had sexually attacked her as she was covering a clash between Air Force personnel and Sari Rejo residents in Medan. One of the three soldiers had sexually harassed her while the two others had physically abused her, she added. She insisted that she remembered the faces of all the soldiers who attacked her. She added a tall soldier had groped her breasts. I elbowed him twice when he squeezed my breasts, said DE, adding that the same soldier had said indecent words to her. He also demonstrated how he would insert a stick into her vagina. She added that the sexual harassment took place before the second soldier hit her stomach with a stick and the third one hit her on her back. DE alleged that after the abuse and sexual harassment, the soldiers had seized her camera, cell phone and purse. They then reportedly destroyed her belongings. Lawyer Armada Sihite said the acts of physical and sexual assault allegedly committed by the the soldiers against his client had been reported to Soewondo Airbase Military Police on Wednesday. Armada claimed the officers had made efforts to eliminate the charges of physical abuse and sexual harassment filed against them by the victim. Armada said they had tried to change both charges into ones of light assault. A total of three journalists who said they were victims of abuse in the Sari Rejo clash have lodged cases with the Air Force: Andri Syafrin of MNC TV, Array Agus from Tribun Medan and DE from an online media. They all claim to have been assaulted while covering the clash between Air Force personnel and Sari Rejo residents. Hundreds of airmen and officers from the Soewondo Airbase in Medan clashed with residents during a protest against the construction of flats for military personnel on a disputed 260-hectare plot of land on Aug. 15. Dozens of residents were reportedly abused and injured by the military. Their brutal acts were captured on CCTV in two mosques, where two airmen in uniform were seen damaging an alms box, while more appeared to be picking up objects from around the damaged box. Others apparently entered the mosque with their boots on. The Air Force commander for Western Indonesia, Vice Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, expressed deep regret and apologized over the clash that caused injuries to residents and journalists. He promised to punish all personnel who committed violence. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27 2016 Singapore Airlines (SIA) plans to bring tourists to Indonesias new tourist destinations as it seeks to partner with domestic travel agencies. The airline, which by next year will have flown aircraft into Indonesia for 70 years, acknowledged that the government has been trying to promote the 10 emerging destinations to attract visitors, destinations like scenic Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Mandalika, near Lombok, in West Nusa Tenggara. 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 Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Sat, August 27, 2016 It is happening again: Indonesias inability to control forest fires has left the residents of its northern neighbor covered in smoke, an annual occurrence that has often tested relations between the two nations. Haze from forest and land fires from Riau province blew into Singapore on Friday, triggering a wave of complaints on social media from the city-states residents. Singapores National Environment Agency (NEA) recorded that at 6 p.m. local time the pollutant standards index (PSI) had reached 127, down from 215 at 2 p.m. local time. A PSI above 100 is considered unhealthy while anything above 200 is categorized as very unhealthy, especially for young children, the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases. On Friday, the NEA registered its concerns with its Indonesian counterpart over additional episodes of deterioration in air quality in Singapore should the fires continue. The NEA urged Indonesia to continue taking the necessary actions to prevent and mitigate the fires during this dry season and asked for an update on the situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan, the agency said in a statement on Friday. The air pollution comes from rampant illegal land clearing using fire, which ravages thousands of hectares of forest and quickly spreads a thick smoky haze over the region. Indonesias Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement that forest and land fires had worsened in Riau and that smoke from 67 hot spots in the province had reached Singapore. In response to this, the government said it had declared states of emergency in six provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. The emergency status was needed to allow easier access for the BNPB and to allow each regional disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) to mobilize resources. The BNPB said it had deployed 7,200 air and ground task force personnel to tackle forest fires and land burning. It is also using three water bombing helicopters, two fixed-wing water bombers and one CASA aircraft to induce artificial rain. The CASA aircraft, loaded with 40 tons of salt, has been used to intensify cloud-seeding in a bid to help stimulate rainfall in Riau. Thousands of canals, water reserves and reservoirs have also been prepared. About 21.7 million liters of water has been poured from the sky to extinguish the fires, BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 67 hot spots in the form of forest and land fires were detected in Riau on Friday morning. Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edward Sanger said the number of hot spots had reduced to 47 by Friday evening. Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis are the two regencies with the thickest haze. The land there is dominated by peat, which burns easily, especially during the dry season, Edward said. The forest fires in Riau come and go. It happened recently because rain has not poured down on the city for 15 days, said Raffles Panjaitan, the Environment and Forestry Ministrys fire mitigation director. On Thursday, the National Police announced they had arrested more than 450 suspects in connection with land and forest fires to discourage recalcitrant companies and farmers from clearing land illegally. National Police chief Tito Karnavian said Indonesia had deployed a very effective strategy to reduce the number of hot spots this year. On Aug. 16 the number of hot spots nationwide was 482, which was down from 14,451 last year. In 2013, smoky haze from forest fires in Indonesia spread to Singapore, causing Singaporeans to suffer from their worst pollution in 16 years. The three-hour PSI in the country reached a record high of 401 in June that year, surpassing the countrys previously highest level of 226 recorded in 1997. In 2014, Indonesia agreed to ratify the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in order to expedite the process of preventing and monitoring cross-border smoke pollution. The agreement was also meant to facilitate cooperation with other ASEAN members, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam. In 2015, Vice President Jusuf Kalla criticized Singapore for complaining about haze and asked the city-states citizens to instead be grateful for the clean air they enjoyed during the rest of the year. He argued that Indonesia had repeatedly apologized for the forest fires that lead to haze problems in Singapore and Malaysia. (win). ___________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Sat, August 27 2016 It is happening again: Indonesias inability to control forest fires has left the residents of its northern neighbor covered in smoke, an annual occurrence that has often tested relations between the two nations. Haze from forest and land fires from Riau province blew into Singapore on Friday, triggering a wave of complaints on social media from the city-states residents. Singapores National Environment Agency (NEA) recorded that at 6 p.m. local time the pollutant standards index (PSI) had reached 127, down from 215 at 2 p.m. local time. A PSI above 100 is considered unhealthy while anything above 200 is categorized as very unhealthy, especially for young children, the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases. On Friday, the NEA registered its concerns with its Indonesian counterpart over additional episodes of deterioration in air quality in Singapore should the fires continue. The NEA urged Indonesia to continue taking the necessary actions to prevent and mitigate the fires during this dry season and asked for an update on the situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan, the agency said in a statement on Friday. The air pollution comes from rampant illegal land clearing using fire, which ravages thousands of hectares of forest and quickly spreads a thick smoky haze over the region. Indonesias Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement that forest and land fires had worsened in Riau and that smoke from 67 hot spots in the province had reached Singapore. In response to this, the government said it had declared states of emergency in six provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. The emergency status was needed to allow easier access for the BNPB and to allow each regional disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) to mobilize resources. The BNPB said it had deployed 7,200 air and ground task force personnel to tackle forest fires and land burning. It is also using three water bombing helicopters, two fixed-wing water bombers and one CASA aircraft to induce artificial rain. The CASA aircraft, loaded with 40 tons of salt, has been used to intensify cloud-seeding in a bid to help stimulate rainfall in Riau. Thousands of canals, water reserves and reservoirs have also been prepared. About 21.7 million liters of water has been poured from the sky to extinguish the fires, BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 67 hot spots in the form of forest and land fires were detected in Riau on Friday morning. Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edward Sanger said the number of hot spots had reduced to 47 by Friday evening. Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis are the two regencies with the thickest haze. The land there is dominated by peat, which burns easily, especially during the dry season, Edward said. The forest fires in Riau come and go. It happened recently because rain has not poured down on the city for 15 days, said Raffles Panjaitan, the Environment and Forestry Ministrys fire mitigation director. On Thursday, the National Police announced they had arrested more than 450 suspects in connection with land and forest fires to discourage recalcitrant companies and farmers from clearing land illegally. National Police chief Tito Karnavian said Indonesia had deployed a very effective strategy to reduce the number of hot spots this year. On Aug. 16 the number of hot spots nationwide was 482, which was down from 14,451 last year. In 2013, smoky haze from forest fires in Indonesia spread to Singapore, causing Singaporeans to suffer from their worst pollution in 16 years. The three-hour PSI in the country reached a record high of 401 in June that year, surpassing the countrys previously highest level of 226 recorded in 1997. In 2014, Indonesia agreed to ratify the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in order to expedite the process of preventing and monitoring cross-border smoke pollution. The agreement was also meant to facilitate cooperation with other ASEAN members, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam. In 2015, Vice President Jusuf Kalla criticized Singapore for complaining about haze and asked the city-states citizens to instead be grateful for the clean air they enjoyed during the rest of the year. He argued that Indonesia had repeatedly apologized for the forest fires that lead to haze problems in Singapore and Malaysia. (win) _____________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sat, August 27, 2016 Taiwan's transportation ministry will move to amend the Highway Act to strengthen fines on illegal ride-hailing service Uber Taiwan and will continue to levy fines until the company legalises its operations, the Central News Agency reported on Friday. This is part of the conclusions reached at an inter-ministerial meeting convened by the Cabinet on Friday afternoon to seek measures to curb Ubers illegal ride-hailing service and minimise its adverse impact on local taxi drivers. At the meeting, the Transportation Ministrys Department of Railways and Highways said fines on operators of illegal transportation services currently ranged from NT$50,000 (US$1,576) to NT$150,000 (US$4,729). How fines are to be increased is subject to the further discussion, according to the department. Statistics released by the Transportation Ministrys Directorate General of Highways showed that fines imposed on Uber Taiwan and individual private drivers contracted by Uber to provide riding services have amounted to over NT$68 million (US$2 million app) over the past two years. Uber was registered in Taiwan as an information service company four years ago, but local taxi drivers have accused the company of illegally operated car-riding services. The transportation ministry said it would help taxi drivers apply digital technologies to their own services to counter competition from the online ride-hailing services offered by Uber. The transportation ministry will also assist remote rural townships in setting up taxi-hailing platforms. One more conclusion of the inter-ministerial meeting is that the Ministry of Finance will investigate whether Uber Taiwan has evaded taxes and then take actions to retrieve any missing tax payments. The Taiwanese finance ministry will also revise taxation laws to legalise collection of taxes from cross-border e-commerce business operations. At the meeting, the government decided to revise related rules and regulations to attract foreign funds and technologies to Taiwan to facilitate the development of innovative industries and new types of economic activities on the island. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suh Jeong-in (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 27 2016 In early August, I took a trip from Khon Kaen in Thailand to the border of Laos. It took four hours to drive across this East-West Economic Corridor. Driving eastward, I arrived at the Special Economic Zone in Savannakhet, where I saw a Nikon factory. Thailand used to be the single largest producer for Nikon cameras in ASEAN. Since 2014, however, Nikon has diversified its operations by expanding its manufacturing line to Savannakhet. 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 (front page) Socialist Workers Party says, Fight to defend right to vote Struggle over right to vote in US continues today NAACP The attack on the right to vote, which hits workers and farmers the hardest and falls disproportionately on those who are African-American, is a central question in U.S. politics. Growing protests across the South and in other parts of the country are putting a spotlight on the centuries-long struggle. Recent court rulings register progress, but the fight is far from over. In June 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, won in blood in the mass Black rights struggle that overthrew Jim Crow segregation. The justices ruled that forcing states and regions with a history of voter suppression to obtain federal preclearance before changing voting laws is unnecessary. The conditions that originally justified these measures no longer characterize voting in the covered jurisdictions, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. It is true that deep changes have been wrought in the social outlook of working people in the South, reflected in the widespread support for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the Capitol in South Carolina last year. But the ruling families and racist officials in many places previously covered by the Voting Rights Act immediately took advantage of the court ruling to ram through new restrictions in the name of preventing much trumpeted but rarely existing cases of voter fraud. Within hours of the decision, Texas officials said they would enforce a voter ID law previously blocked for disenfranchising Blacks and Latinos. In Mississippi and Alabama state officials moved to enforce ID laws that were awaiting preclearance. The North Carolina legislature passed a sweeping law restricting access to voting, ending voter registration on the day of the election, limiting early voting and imposing a strict photo ID requirement. Similar laws were passed in Tennessee and elsewhere in the South, as well as in Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas and North Dakota, many in states where the Republican Party controlled the government. Workers who are convicted on felony charges permanently lose their right to vote in 10 states. They must wait until they serve out all probation or parole to apply to vote in 24 additional states and often face arbitrary restrictions. In Tennessee, one of the most restrictive states, persons convicted of a felony since 1981 may apply for restoration of suffrage after completing their sentence, if they have paid all outstanding court-ordered restitution or child support. These attacks have met with resistance. Voting rights was a key demand in the march of 80,000 in March 2015 commemorating the hard fought 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights protests. The North Carolina NAACP has organized dozens of voting rights protests across the state in recent years. Thousands marched July 13, 2015, in Winston-Salem at the start of a federal trial challenging new state restrictions. Voting rights was the theme of the NAACPs Aug. 1-Sept. 16, 2015, 1,000-mile Journey for Justice march from Selma, Alabama, to Washington, D.C. The protests have had an impact. The 5th District Court of Appeals ruled July 20 that the Texas voter ID law has a discriminatory effect on minorities voting rights. The North Carolina law was declared unconstitutional July 29 by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Its provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, wrote Judge Diana Gribbon Motz. The same day voting restrictions in Wisconsin were voided by a federal district court. But many obstacles remain, especially at local levels. In March, the City Council in Daphne, Alabama, reduced the number of polling places from five in neighborhoods where Caucasians and African-Americans live to just two in majority-Caucasian areas. In January, after the St. Louis County government placed 18 polling places inside police stations, the NAACP demanded they be moved. Voting in a cop station is far too similar to an unofficial Jim Crow law in a county whose population is 24 percent African-American, Esther Haywood, St. Louis County NAACP president, told the St. Louis American. And in Sparta, Georgia, residents protested and filed a lawsuit after the Hancock County Board of Elections and Registration sent sheriffs deputies to the homes of more than 180 Black citizens ordering them to appear in person with proof of residence or lose their right to vote. Related articles: SWP campaign confronts Tenn. curbs on voting rights Working-class fight for right to vote marks US history Our priority is one-on-one discussions with workers Join the Socialist Workers Party campaign! Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) SWP campaign confronts Tenn. curbs on voting rights NASHVILLE, Tenn. In Tennessee, throughout the South and nationally, the capitalist rulers are attacking working-class voting rights, especially those of workers who are African-American, Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Alyson Kennedy told the press here Aug. 18. Their photo-ID requirements to vote, aggressive purges of voter rolls and other restrictions are aimed at disenfranchising workers and working farmers. This assault also hits our party, Kennedy said as she filed an additional 491 signatures for ballot status, because it deprives workers here of being counted when they sign to put the SWP on the November ballot. Party supporters filed 569 signatures Aug. 8 but Tennessees secretary of states office said only 30 percent were valid. We answered by more campaigning, gathering 1,060 signatures overall, Kennedy said. The Division of Elections office verified Aug. 24 that Kennedy will be on the states ballot. The SWP campaigned in 38 cities and rural towns across the state. One reflection of the support won by the SWP here is that when the party began campaigning there was only one Militant subscriber in the state, today there are 78. On the heels of the 2013 Supreme Court decision gutting the 1965 Voting Rights Act a conquest of the Black rights movement that overturned Jim Crow segregation Tennessee officials passed a law restricting the right to vote. The new rules disenfranchised people who had been voting for years. In one notorious case, Dorothy Cooper, a 96-year-old Black woman who had managed to vote all her life, even under Jim Crow, lost that right because her ID was in her married name and she didnt have a marriage license. Her plight attracted a lot of media attention, and the state commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security had to make election officials give her the ID she needed. SWP campaigners got a good response when they encouraged workers to attend the United Mine Workers Sept. 8 rally in Washington to defend miners pensions and health care. They explained that the Socialist Workers Party was the working-class party in the race, against the Democrats, Republicans and all the other bourgeois-minded campaigns. The socialists find the Mideast wars are on workers minds. It tears me up to see what is happening in Syria today, Michael Harden, 56, a custodian at the Musicians Hall of Fame, told Arlene Rubinstein when she knocked on his door in Nashville Aug. 17. I feel like weve been at war all my life. Politicians from both parties tell us how they are going to end war, only to explain that for one reason or another, now is not the time. This system needs wars to survive. Workers need to end wars so we can survive. Harden got a copy of the Militant to learn about the party and gave his phone number for future discussion. In Columbia, SWP campaigner Lea Sherman met Leigh, a young mother who used to work in a center for so-called juvenile delinquents, but quit because it didnt do anything for them. Columbia is a town of 35,000 an hour south of Nashville. I mentioned the news reports that an average of 20 military veterans are committing suicide every day, Sherman told the Militant. My neighbor committed suicide this year, the young woman said. He would get deployed abroad for long stretches. Its terrible. Leigh said she liked what the SWP had to say and asked the campaigners to come back to talk some more. Workers are sent abroad to fight and die for capitalist exploitation from Iraq to Afghanistan, Kennedy told the press Aug. 18. They come home, injured and exhausted, from unpopular wars that drag on and on, to find depression conditions, few jobs and bureaucratic disregard and contempt from the Veterans Administration. The Socialist Workers Party says bring all the troops home now! As todays crisis drives capitalist regimes to deepening conflicts, many, led by Washington, are armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. The SWP demands unilateral U.S. nuclear disarmament and fights to take political power out of the hands of the imperialist war-makers. Our party is your party, Kennedy told workers. Vote for what you WANT, even if you dont get it today, NOT for what you dont want, guaranteeing that youll keep on getting it. Struggle over right to vote in US continues today (front page) Milwaukee: Indict cops for killing of Sylville Smith MILWAUKEE More than a week after Sylville Smith, a 23-year-old African-American youth, was shot to death here Aug. 13, the Milwaukee Police Department still refuses to release video footage from the body-cam of the cop who shot him. Police claim that Smith ran from a car following a traffic stop, and that he had a gun in his hand. Twenty seconds later he was shot dead. The cop who killed Smith has been identified as Dominique Heaggan, who is also Black. Angry protests broke out after the killing and the following night in the Sherman Park neighborhood on Milwaukees North Side. As demonstrators clashed with police in riot gear, six businesses and a few cars were set on fire. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker deployed the National Guard, and a 10 p.m. curfew was imposed to drive teenagers off the streets. While what actually happened remains unclear, many Blacks here, who face regular cop harassment and abuse, said they understood why people exploded. Smiths death is just the latest such incident of police killings and brutality leading to protests here. James Perry died while in police custody in 2010, as did Derek Williams the following year. Williams death by suffocation was recorded on video while he was restrained in the back of a police car. Perry, who was epileptic, died in the booking area of Milwaukees County Jail after cops had placed a mask over his head. In 2011, Jeanine Tracy was punched and dragged out of her car by her hair during a traffic stop. And in 2014, Dontre Hamilton was shot 14 times and killed by Milwaukee cop Christopher Manney. Hamilton, who suffered from schizophrenia, had been sleeping on a downtown park bench. His death sparked months of protests and a campaign led by his mother, Maria Hamilton, who formed Mothers for Justice United. The group helped organize demonstrations and built the national Million Moms March in Washington in 2015 against police killings. No charges have been brought against any of the cops in these killings. Mothers for Justice United has joined Kimberly Neal, Smiths sister, calling for the cop who killed Sylville Smith to be charged. Black community organizations and groups from the American Civil Liberties Union to Wisconsin Jobs Now have joined in demanding officials release the video footage from Heaggans body camera. Until these police are held accountable charged, convicted, and put in jail for their actions they will keep on doing this, Maria Hamilton told the Militant. We are going to keep on fighting. The politicians wont do it for us. One of the burned businesses, a BP gas station, was the site of protests a month earlier after a clerk, the owners son, threatened a group of children outside the store by firing a gun into the air. They were just kids being rowdy, Mario Ford, a factory worker who lives in the neighborhood, told the Militant. There was no justification to fire a weapon. After neighbors organized a boycott of the station, the clerk was charged with disorderly conduct and fired. While Police Chief Edward Flynn blamed the unrest on outside agitators from the Revolutionary Communist Party who came from Chicago, Mayor Tom Barrett and media accounts said it was young people from Sherman Park who were intent on causing trouble. But many who live in Sherman Park tell a different story. This is a close-knit, welcoming neighborhood, Vicky Pearson told the Militant, describing a block party she helped organize just a week earlier. We had a DJ and a bouncy house for the kids, serving brats and corn on the cob, and nearly 300 snow cones. Just as the death of that young man is devastating, so is the vandalism, Pearson said. We need to continue to protest in a positive way or nothings going to change. Related articles: Socialist Workers Party: Cop brutality part of capitalist rule Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) Buses ready to roll for miners Sept. 8 rally to defend pensions, health care UMWA ATLANTA We have eight buses going from Alabama, said Mike Foster, 66, who worked at Walter Energys No. 4 Mine in Brookwood, Alabama, for 36 years before retiring in 2013, in an Aug. 20 phone interview. Union miners from the coalfields of Alabama, along with family members and supporters, will be joining others from West Virginia, Kentucky, southern Illinois, western Pennsylvania and elsewhere for a Sept. 8 national protest in Washington organized by the United Mine Workers of America. The rally demands Congress pass the Miners Protection Act, which would continue funding health care and pensions for retired coal miners, their spouses and dependents. It is scheduled to be voted on in September. We have 100 buses coming, Phil Smith, UMWA spokesperson in Washington, told the Militant by phone Aug. 22. Were looking to have as big an action as we can. From Alabama, buses will go from Bessemer, Tuscaloosa and Jasper, said Foster. The union is asking everyone to come and support the miners. The rally is very important, Foster said. We won guaranteed health care and pensions in 1946 and this bill is needed to keep funding those programs. Miners and their families depend on them. After a national strike by 400,000 union miners that year, the UMWA won lifetime health care guaranteed by the federal government. But coal bosses are increasingly using a loophole to drop their obligations to pay into the fund declaring bankruptcy. Five of the largest coal employers Peabody Energy, Water Energy Inc., Alpha Natural Resources Inc., Patriot Coal and Arch Coal have declared bankruptcy in the last year, raising the total to over 50. The coal bosses use government bankruptcy courts to try to tear up union contracts, putting hard-fought gains in wages, work rules and safety won over decades of struggle on the chopping block. Today the overwhelming majority of a shrinking number of working coal miners are in nonunion mines. Deaths and injuries are increasing. The Miners Protection Act would fund the union pension and health care plans, even if the bosses enter bankruptcy proceedings. In recent years there has been a resurgence of black lung disease to levels not seen since the 1970s. Some 2,000 miners die from black lung each year, more than 70,000 since 1970. As in other mining areas around the country, coal miners in Alabama have been hard hit by the grinding capitalist depression and collapse of energy prices, which since September 2014 have cost more than 170,000 workers in mining and coal-related industries their jobs. The layoffs in coal and steel have hit our whole community hard, not just the workers whove lost their jobs, UMWA member Wilson Maxwell told the Militant by phone Aug. 21. Maxwell, 59, works at Seneca Coal Resources preparation plant in Concord and lives in nearby Fairfield, like many other miners and steelworkers. Seneca bought the Oak Grove coal mine and Concord prep plant earlier this year, demanding immediate changes in the union contract. When union members in April voted down the concessions demanded by the new bosses, Seneca laid off 49 miners. Miners had few alternatives in the area. US Steel Corp. announced last August that it was closing the blast furnace and hot rolling mill at Fairfield Works, resulting in the lay-off of some 1,100 United Steelworkers members. Under the gun, Mine Workers approved a contract in July that included a $5 an hour pay cut, an end to overtime pay after eight hours, loss of some personal days and other concessions. Everybody who can possibly go to Washington on Sept. 8 needs to go, Maxwell said. Related articles: On the Picket Line Coal Miners on Strike shows how miners fought and won Chilean workers demand gov't-guaranteed pensions Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (editorial) US, Turkish, Syrian hands off Kurds! Its in the interests of working people around the world to support the Kurdish peoples struggle for self-determination. We urge our readers to join or initiate meetings and protests to speak out against the U.S.-Turkish offensive in northern Syria, Ankaras war against the Kurds in Turkey and the Syrian governments attacks on Kurdish forces in Hasakah. The Kurds have a long history of struggle against discrimination and national oppression in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. When French and British rulers divided the Middle East after the first imperialist world slaughter, setting new national borders in the process, one of their goals was to divide and weaken the Kurdish people. Kurds remain the largest nationality on earth without their own homeland. An independent Kurdish republic came into existence in northern Iran after a revolutionary uprising established a workers and peasants government in neighboring Azerbaijan in December 1945. Both were crushed a year later by the Iranian monarchy, with the complicity of the Stalinist regime in Moscow, dealing a heavy blow to the Kurdish people and working class throughout the region. A new rise in the Kurdish national struggle has been one of the unintended consequences of Washingtons endless wars in the Mideast since the first U.S. war in Iraq in 1991. In the aftermath of that slaughter, the Kurdish people have come to the center stage in world politics as never before, said Socialist Workers Party National Secretary Jack Barnes at the time, not primarily as victims, but as courageous and determined fighters for national rights. (See the article Opening Guns of World War III: Washingtons Assault on Iraq, published in issue no. 7 of the magazine New International.) Today there are some 5 million Kurds in the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, and another 2 million in areas under Kurdish control in Syria. These conquests give impetus to their aspirations for national independence, especially in Turkey, home to 15 million Kurds. Despite all their conflicting interests and alliances, the capitalist rulers of the United States, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq all oppose an independent Kurdistan. Washington has alternately posed as a defender of the Kurds doling out aid with an eyedropper and blocked moves toward Kurdish sovereignty, depending on its shifting relations and alliances with the different capitalist rulers in the region. Just look at Vice President Joe Bidens arrogant demand Aug. 24 and Ankaras delight with it that Kurdish militia fighters in Syria, Washingtons supposed allies, must go back across the river period, and give up territory liberated from Islamic State west of the Euphrates. Get all U.S. troops, warplanes and drones out of the Middle East now! Related articles: US-Turkish war moves in Syria seek to block Kurds Endless Mideast wars: catastrophe for working people Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (feature article) Working-class fight for right to vote marks US history The fight to win and extend the right to vote has marked the class struggle in the U.S. from the first American Revolution and the Civil War to overthrow slavery through the fight for womens suffrage and voting rights for 18-year-olds. This key battle for the working class continues today against new restrictions and aggressive efforts to purge workers from the voting rolls. Male residents of the 13 original American colonies of the British monarchy were required to own a certain amount of land or personal property or pay a tax to vote. Catholics were barred from voting in five colonies and Jews in four. When the American Revolution triumphed, the new rulers drew up a constitution that lacked clear political protections against state attacks on basic rights. Rural farmers launched Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786, arms in hand, protesting high taxes and mounting debts, helping to force the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution in 1791. The Constitution gave states the right to regulate who may vote, guaranteeing the southern slave owners grip on power. Most states limited the franchise to Caucasian men of property. When George Washington was elected president in 1789, only 6 percent of the population could vote. Property restrictions remained on the books for decades. Every new state that joined the Union after 1819 denied Blacks the right to vote. In the 1850s the first literacy tests were adopted in Connecticut and Massachusetts, aimed at denying Irish-Catholic immigrants the vote. In the face of moves by the slavocracy to expand its territory in the first half of the 19th century, opposition to slavery grew among Northern industrialists, the growing working class, Midwestern farmers and others. The abolitionist movement also gave impetus to the fight to extend the vote to women. In 1848, delegates at the first womens rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, called for womens suffrage. The victory of the second American Revolution the Union triumph over the slaveholders, followed by more than a decade of Radical Reconstruction governments backed by northern troops across the South opened opportunities for Blacks to vote, hold office and advance political and social fights. The Radical Reconstruction regimes passed laws advancing rights that benefited all toilers Caucasian workers and farmers as well as freed slaves. This included establishing the first free public schools in the South, public hospitals and medical care for the poor. However, the right of African-Americans to vote was not formalized in the Constitution for almost five years after the Confederate surrender in 1865. The 15th Amendment, adopted in February 1870, stated, The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, had guaranteed U.S. citizenship to freed slaves. A year earlier, the Reconstruction Act adopted by Congress made suffrage for Black males a precondition for readmission to the Union of former Confederate states. But between 1863 and 1870 proposals to enfranchise Blacks were defeated in more than 15 northern states and territories. Outside the South only Iowa and Minnesota adopted universal male suffrage. When the 15th Amendment was submitted to states for ratification in early 1869, it was initially rejected by legislatures in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, California, Delaware and others. The rise of racist resistance to the gains of Blacks and the spread of reactionary thug outfits like the Ku Klux Klan dealt blows to efforts to forge common struggles of Black and Caucasian working people in the South. The Radical Reconstruction governments were overthrown when northern capitalists, fearing deepening workers struggles, pulled out federal troops in 1877. This was the worst setback for the U.S. working class in its history. The victorious rulers in the South, utilizing the Klan and other racist outfits, imposed Jim Crow segregation and crushed the voting rights of African-Americans. Resistance by Blacks, often backed by Caucasian farmers, was drowned in blood. Lengthy residence requirements, poll taxes, literacy tests and property requirements were implemented in 1890 in Mississippi, and spread across the South. In Louisiana, the number of Black registered voters fell from 130,000 to 1,342. By 1940, only 3 percent of eligible African-Americans in the South were registered. Jim Crow ruled for over 70 years. But with the rise of mass battles to throw off colonial rule after the second imperialist world war, struggles for Black rights, including the right to vote, gained ground in the South. In the 1950s and 60s a massive proletarian Black-led civil rights movement destroyed Jim Crow segregation, leading to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These revolutionary developments, which had wide sympathy among workers across the country, had a profound effect on social relations and politics. Fight for womens suffrage In the early 1900s, growing numbers of working-class women, unionists and socialists threw their weight into the fight for womens suffrage. With passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women won the right to vote. In 1971, as hundreds of thousands of youth were drafted into the U.S. army to fight and die in Vietnam to defend Washingtons imperialist interests, and mass protests grew in the streets at home and on military bases worldwide, the rulers felt the pressure to extend voting rights to 18-year-olds. Endless Mideast wars: catastrophe for working people As the wars in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East continue with no end in sight, the catastrophe visited on working people across the region continues to worsen. Last year alone, millions more were forced to leave their homes, with many also driven from their countries. The refugee crisis in turn has caused political turmoil in Europe, furthering the unraveling of the European Union. The vast majority of refugees end up in neighboring countries. Out of the close to 5 million people who have fled Syria, 86 percent are in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Every fifth person in Lebanon is a Syrian refugee. Were stuck here. We cant go on and we cant go back, Hikmat, a farmer, told the United Nations Refugee Agency in June. He lives in a tent near a shopping center in Lebanon with his wife and children. My children need to go to school, they need a future, he said. Half of the refugees are children. Of the million refugees in Lebanon, 250,000 of those aged 3-18 are out of school. With adults risking arrest if they work, many families rely on child labor to survive. With rising costs for rent, food, health care and heat, Syrian refugees face disastrous living conditions. More than half of those in Lebanon cant afford enough food and some 70 percent live on $3.84 or less a day. The majority lack residency status and cannot legally work. The number of people displaced within their own countries in the Middle East increased by nearly 5 million in 2015. Yemen accounted for half those people a result of the Saudi Arabian monarchys airstrikes and military intervention to prop up the tottering regime of Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi against the Tehran-backed Zaidi Shia rebels known as Houthis, who seized the countrys capital in February. Workers and peasants also fall prey to the forces of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State. The total number of internally displaced in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan stands at 15 million. With no prospects of going home, months become years in the lives of impoverished refugees living in makeshift camps with inadequate health care and education, which led more than a million to make their way to Europe last year, or die in the attempt. Led by the richer capitalist states in the north, governments within the European Union responded with temporary border controls, essentially scuttling their agreement for EU-wide visa-free travel. As a result, close to 200,000 people are stuck in camps in Greece and Italy, often in squalid conditions. No one tells us anything we have no idea what our future is going to be, Shiraz Madran, 28, trapped with her four children in a Greek town near Macedonia, told the New York Times Aug. 13. If we knew it would be like this, we would never have left Syria. In March German Chancellor Angela Merkel cut a deal with the Turkish government to try to stem the tide. In return for the promise to consider visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens and to restart talks about Turkish EU membership, Ankara agreed to take back refugees who reached Greece. But after the failed coup in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ensuing assault on political rights and mass arrests, and his charges of EU and U.S. complicity in the coup, the agreement is in limbo. The Turkish government says if visa-free travel is not in place by October, the deal is null and void. Refugee crisis roils EU Nevertheless, the number of people reaching the continent has fallen by three-quarters, with barbed wire blocking borders along routes tens of thousands of refugees had previously used. The refugee crisis is at the top of the political agenda in virtually all European countries, and anti-immigrant, anti-EU political formations have seized on it to push their line and foster violence against Muslims and Arabs. At the same time, Islamic State terror assaults have spread across the continent. These developments have driven another nail in the coffin of any dreams of a united capitalist Europe. The international attention the refugee streams to Europe brought last year is largely gone, but there is no end in sight to the wars, the social dislocation and the worldwide capitalist economic crisis they stem from. A Europol/Interpol report in May said there were 800,000 refugees in Libya hoping for an opening to attempt the journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Related articles: US-Turkish war moves in Syria seek to block Kurds US, Turkish, Syrian hands off Kurds! Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. 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Namun jangan khawatir, disini sebagai situs slot gacor MGS88 kami akan memberikan penjelasan lengkap mengenai tentang istilah yang ada di RTP SLOT dibawah ini. Bull elephant kills mahout at camp north of Phuket PHUKET: A mahout has been attacked and killed by a male elephant at an elephant camp in Kapong district of Phang Nga, north of Phuket. accidentsanimalsdeathtourismpolice By Bangkok Post Saturday 27 August 2016, 09:01AM A tourist gets friendly with an elephant at Win Elephant Camp in Phang Nga. Photo: Vladimir Bezrukov Facebook The attack occurred at Win Elephant Camp in tambon Rommanee, said Col Wasant Banluephuet, a deputy investigation chief at Kapong police station. The incident was reported at around 5:30pm on Thursday (Aug 25). The elephant, Plai Seedor Mongkhol, flew into a rage and attacked mahout Sornchai Kerdsommart, 38, when he went to unchain him from a wooden post he was tethered to at the camp. The animal then fled into the nearby jungle, camp staff told police. Sornchai received major injuries to his right arm and face and his skull was fractured. He died on the spot, Thai media reported. Livestock officials joined other mahouts in the jungle hunt for the escaped elephant, which was tracked down by Thursday night, tranquilised and recaptured. Read original story here. Malaysias diminishing kite-makers MALAYSIA: Shafie Jusoh loves traditional Malaysian kites so much that he cant get a good nights rest unless hes been working on them daily. culture By AFP Saturday 27 August 2016, 02:57PM Kitemaker Shafie Jusoh launches a traditional wau bulan kite at Pantai Geting Beach, on the outskirts of Tumpat, peninsular Malaysias north-eastern Kelantan state. Photo: Mohd Rasfan/AFP I need to make kites every day, if not I cant sleep, the 69-year-old said. He began making them when he was a young boy, skipping classes to entertain his flights of fancy. If you dont do it every day, you will lose the technique, he added. Shafie is among a diminishing group of Malaysian master kite-makers who have dedicated their lives to breathing life into the ancient craft. A colourful giant two-metre kite with extended wings greets visitors at the entrance of Shafies dark and dusty studio in a sleepy village in Kelantan state. I made this kite 30 years ago. You need 25 men to fly it, the self-taught kite-maker quipped proudly as he showed a faded photo of it soaring in the air. A wooden table at his studio is lined with several awards from government agencies for his efforts promoting Malaysias kites, a national symbol, worldwide. He recalled one particular visit to Paris many years ago, where he had brought over 30 Malaysian kites to an exhibition and all were sold quickly. To the foreigners, the kites are just so unique and they love it. he said. The early morning rays stream through a rickety green window, dancing on the thick veins on his arm as he flips and turns his knife, cutting a spiny bamboo stick to perfection. After thinning out several bamboo sticks, he bends and ties them with strings to form the main kite frame. Separately, using a small knife, he cuts out intricate floral designs on an assortment of coloured paper. These are painstakingly pasted onto tracing paper which is then glued to the main bamboo frame. The kite is then left indoors for a day to let the glue dry. A ribbon is attached tightly to two ends of the kites and this produces a loud swoosh sound when the kite makes sharp turns in the sky. The entire process can take between two weeks to three months depending on the size and the intricate nature of the kite. You need both the passion and the patience to make kites, Shafie explained. There are several kinds of Malaysian kites, with various shapes based on stingrays, cats and peacocks. There is also a kite called wau jala budi where its curvy shape, some believe, is inspired by the outline of a womans body. But the wau bulan or moon kite with its lower tip resembling a crescent, an Islamic symbol, is the most popular in Kelantan. It takes around a week or two to produce a small moon kite and it is sold for around 400 to 500 ringgit (B3,466 to B4,333), said Shafie. Some moon kites though can be as high as three metres. The bigger models can cost as much as 9,000 ringgit (B77,992). The wau bulan is also the inspiration behind the Malaysia Airlines logo. Many of Shafies customers are keen kite flyers but some also purchase his designs as decorative pieces for their homes. As he has built up such a reputation for his artistic pieces, his studio is also a popular pit-stop for international tour groups from Europe and North America visiting Kelantan. He enlists his wife Wan Enbong Wan Deraman to help when there are large orders. The states annual kite festival causes a surge in demand, with many local students buying his pieces. My students like these traditional kites because of the historical knowledge and art involved, one teacher said. While the people of Kelantan, known for its crafts, still love such Malaysian kites, interest is waning. There are fears the ancient skills, passed from one generation to the next, will die out. It takes many, many years to master the craft and the situation in Kelantan and elsewhere in Malaysia is that there are very few craftsmen who still have the traditional knowledge, said Pauline Fan, creative director of Pusaka, an organisation that works to document and protect traditional Malay arts. She warned: Its intricate and hard and most young people dont have the patience to do it...once the masters and the knowledge are gone, it will be difficult to get it back. As for Shafie, he has no plans to retire any time soon and hopes there is still time for him to pass on his knowledge and skills to others. He said, Some students, even a few outside of Kelantan, have come to ask me to teach them. Myanmar national arrested selling stolen phones at Central Festival Phuket PHUKET: A Myanmar national was arrested at Central Festival Phuket yesterday (Aug 26) while trying to sell six stolen mobile phones. crimeMyanmarpolicetechnology By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 27 August 2016, 12:25PM Moe Win Ko, 21 (centre in white shirt), is interrogated by police. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Provincial Police led by Col Akanit Danpitaksarn arrested 21-year-old Moe Win Ko at 1:30pm yesterday when he was found trying to sell six mobile phones to a mobile phone counter on the second floor of Central Festival Phuket in Wichit. Police said the arrest of Moe came after the owner of the Olayphone mobile phone shop on Patak Rd in Karon filed a complaint at Karon Police Station where he said that a thief had broken in to his shop at 3am yesterday and stolen 13 mobile phones worth B200,000 and B8,000 from the till. Karon Police alerted police in other areas to be on the lookout Moe after he was seen on CCTV footage. Police also contacted mobile phones shops and counters in their areas and asked them to let them know if they saw the suspect. At 1:20pm, police were alerted by a mobile phone counter at Central Festival Phuket that a Myanmar man had attempted to sell new mobile phones at the counter. Police arrived at Central and managed to track down Moe while he was still trying to sell the phones. After being arrested, Moe told police that he had gone to the Olayphone store the previous day and pretended to be a customer, he then returned in the early hours of the morning to carry out the theft. He also said that he had already sold a number of the stolen phones to migrant workers. Moe was taken to Karon Police Station to face theft charges. Phuket officials ordered to strictly enforce labour laws PHUKET: Relevant officials on the island have been ordered to strictly enforce laws relating to foreign workers and rid Phuket of any illegal labourers. economics By Suthicha Sirirat Saturday 27 August 2016, 02:42PM Gen Sirichai Ditsakul of the Ministry of Labour (centre) and Ministry of Labour spokesman, Mr Theerapol Khunmuang (right). Photo: Suthicha Sirirat The order was made by Gen Sirichai Ditsakul of the Ministry of Labour during a visit to Phuket yesterday (Aug 26), where he also discussed with employers about minimum wages for skilled workers. Yesterdays meeting was held at Provincial Hall and attended by local businessmen and investors including the Federation Phuket Industry, Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Council of Phuket, Tourism Association, Tour Guide Association and more. Gen Sirichai said that the reason for his visit was to follow up on the governments policy regarding Thailands labour issues. We want everyone to understand the current labour laws and policies and to use the guidelines which have been set out for the next 20 years and are aimed at stabilising the countys labour force and developing a better economy and society for our future generations, Gen Sirichai said. Ministry of Labour spokesman, Mr Theerapol Khunmuang, added Today we have come to Phuket to visit local labour office officials to thank them for their work and also to make them understand the governments current policies. The registration process for migrant workers is not longer extendable, so local officials must strictly enforce the law and welcome the process of using the MOU so all migrants worker information can by in the system in the country from where they came. Foreigners working in Thailand must have employees and work according to their work permit, migrants cannot work as a street vendor, and if officials find any they will be arrested, he said. Local businessmen attending todays meeting also gained some valuable advice from the Minister especially regarding setting wages according to an employees skill level, which is one of the Ministrys policies. Today the minimum wage for employees is B300, however, the Ministry will require employers to pay higher wages for skilled workers. So far we have increased wages for skilled workers in 55 job roles, 12 more roles will be added this year which will mostly be within the industrial industry. By next year we will add another 16 roles, four being in the industrial industry. Our aim is to cover all the workforce. The minimum wage for skilled workers is B360 per day and the maximum B880 per day, he added. Phuket is a tourism landmark, so the island must be ready to provide manpower and skilled workers for the labour industry so it can compete with the rest of the world. This will attract more jobs and create skilled /competitive employees. In turn, we can generate more income for Phuket and for the country. We also want Phuket to be the super centre of digital hubs, he concluded. Region pairings set for South Dakota's Class A, B volleyball teams A look at the region volleyball pairings for Aberdeen and Watertown Class A and B teams A Utah witness at West Jordan reported watching a cylinder-shaped UFO hovering while it changed colors before slowly moving away, according to testimony in Case 78051 from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database. The witness was a passenger in a vehicle at 7000 South and Redwood when the driver first noticed two lights hovering under 500 feet. By Roger Marsh OpenMinds.tv 8-22-16 By Roger MarshOpenMinds.tv8-22-16 At first I thought it was a plane, the witness stated.But the lights werent moving, just standing very still.The witness was able to describe the object better once they approached it.As we got closer, between the two bright, white lights was a cylinder-shaped figure. It turned into a glowing purple, and then slowly turned red, and then blue. As we passed I looked behind me to watch. Then it slowly started moving towards the northern side of Utah while changing into the three colors. Then I looked away. I felt very excited and shocked. I couldnt believe my own eyes. Organization: IMK Business Consultants (IMK) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Branch Manager About US: IMK Business Consultants (IMK) is a Business management consulting firm offering practical and feasible business solutions. IMK operates regionally in four East African countries namely; Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda; with other occasional consultancies made world over to our clients in Europe and other parts of the world. Our mission is to be a world leader in matching demand for and supply of Talent, HR and Business development services by ensuring quality work to our clients and having experienced competent professionals with the best practical tailor made solutions/training skills to our important asset-THE CLIENT. Job Summary: The Coffee Factory Manager / Coffee Machine Engineer will oversee the day-to-day coffee dry mill operation including production, manpower planning, plant maintenance, health and safety, and stock management. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Plan and coordinate production outputs, production efficiencies and processing cost controls in line with quality measures and set targets. Carry out preventive plant/factory maintenances, fix electrical and machines break downs, installations, spares and its inventory management. Plan, supervise and manage shift operation, managing shift works to consistently deliver the highest standards of quality, and production efficiency to ensure full capacity utilization of the plant for maximum output. Ensuring health, hygiene and safety aspects at work place are maintained at all times. Organize and manage storage in warehouses, monitor inventory levels to ensure quality and stock management to maximize space efficiency and stock rotation. Plan and coordinate effective utilization of resources such as manpower, machine and material. Compile, analyze and submit periodic production, warehousing, manpower, etc. reports to management Manage the performance, development and motivation of staff under supervision in line with their performance needs, the operations work plan and the HR Policies. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The applicant should preferably hold a Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Food process Engineering. Management degree or Diploma would be advantageous. At least ten years experience in plant operation & shop floor work concept. Previous experience in Agri-business industry and coffee dry mill would be of added advantage. Should have worked in multi-cultural work environment. Ability to lead technical, Quality and Warehouse teams Computer literacy i.e. proficiency in Microsoft Office packages. How to Apply: their personal suitability statement, copies of academic transcripts/certificates and a detailed CV to: The Recruitment Manager, IMK Business Consultants, P.O. Box 35090 Kampala, Uganda or via email to info@imkconsultants.com and copy: Please specify the position title as subject of the E-mail. All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to sendtheir personal suitability statement, copies of academictranscripts/certificates and a detailed CV to: The Recruitment Manager, IMKBusiness Consultants, P.O. Box 35090 Kampala, Uganda or via email toinfo@imkconsultants.com and copy: nabagerekamatilda@hygieneconsultants.net Please specify the position title as subject of the E-mail. th November, 2016 Deadline: 6November, 2016 NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Applications received after the closing date will only be considered for future related jobs openings. find us on our facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Jammu and Kahsmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and discussed security situation in the state as the valley remained on the boil with one more civilian killed in firing by security forces. The meeting took place at the prime minister's official 7 Race Course residence. The sources said the chief minister was summoned to Delhi after Home Minister Rajnath Singh's two-day visit to the valley. They said the home minister had asked Mufti to act tough against and round up those perpetrating a deadly civilian unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. "Rajnath Singh carried the same message and that was what Modi was expected to tell Mehbooba," one of the sources said. As Mehbooba jetted off to Delhi on Friday, one more civilian died after security forces opened fire in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. This took the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 70. Over 7,000 civilians and more than 4,000 security personnel have been injured during the unrest - the deadliest the valley has suffered in six years. Police said Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, 22, was killed after he sustained bullet injuries in a clash with the security forces in Haal village. A doctor at the sub-district hospital at Pulwama said Ganai had been hit by a bullet that pierced through his heart. Some three dozen people were injured in other clashes across the valley after the Friday prayers. The security restrictions were tightened on Friday amid apprehensions that separatist leaders may stoke further trouble. They had asked people to gather in Eidgah prayer grounds for a pro-freedom protest rally in the heart of the volatile old Srinagar city. But the government thwarted the protest march to the sprawling prayer ground. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads the hardline Hurriyat Conference, was held outside his upscale Hyderpora residence as he defied restrictions and attempted to march to Eidgah. The moderate Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also arrested near his Nigeen house. Both the separatist leaders were briefly detained at police stations near their houses. The proposed visit of an all-party delegation to Kashmir early next month is expected to set the tone for the way the Central government proceeds in its approach towards handling of the Kashmir unrest that has spilled over to rural areas and affected children and youth. The delegation will have representatives of all major political parties and would draw a roadmap with its suggestions on quelling the existing unrest and suggest the road ahead. Sources in the government said that unlike 2010, when the previous UPA government was unable to implement the suggestions of a three-member interlocutor panel which was formed on the basis of the suggestions of an all party delegation that had visited the valley, the incumbent government was confident that it would be able to fulfil its promise. "The fact that the suggestions were not implemented in the past does not mean that we also will not be able to do it. We will assess the situation and whatever suggestions are made will be taken seriously and worked upon," said an official. What is expected to come as a challenge to the Union Home Ministry, which handles the Kashmir desk in the Central government, is the fact that almost all the issues it is expected to confront are not new and that it can only go by past precedents on certain issues and not jump forward. Among the basic suggestions given earlier were revocation of the AFSPA, reviewing cases of Public Safety Act detainees and withdrawing the cases, granting relief money to victims of the violence, re-opening schools and colleges and building infrastructure and empowering the Panchayati Raj institutions. The proposed visit of the all party delegation to the Valley already has certain pointers to begin with. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has shown the way forward by suggesting a five pointer roadmap. These include asking the Centre to initiate the political process of dialogue with all sections of Kashmir society to bolster confidence among the people, passing orders to stop forthwith the use of pellet guns, ordering the removal of AFSPA from civilian areas and starting talks with Pakistan to see if India's concerns are addressed through this. For the NDA government, the first suggestion is already taken into account by proposing the visit of the all party delegation. Now it remains to be seen whether the critical suggestions of a review of AFSPA , withdrawing PSA cases against protesters and talks with Pakistan are able to draw the Centre's willpower given the hard stance it has already taken on these issues. The ministries of home and defence had already made it clear that AFSPA could not be diluted and said that the protesters participating in the ongoing clashes with security forces were acting as stooges of Pakistan. It remains to be seen if the charges being slapped under the PSA against some of the youth will be reviewed. Moreover, while the Centre decides to open the dialogue for long term solutions, any suggestion to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan will be a tough call. The Modi government cannot afford to dilute its existing tough stand where New Delhi has already made it clear that Islamabad has no stake in Kashmir and that Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir(PoK) is legally a part of India and Islamabad must vacate this area. Tamim Chowdhury, the Bangladesh-born Canadian and the ISIS chief in Bangladesh, was killed along with three other militants on the outskirts of Dhaka in the wee hours of Saturday. Dhaka police sources said, Chowdhury was hiding in a house in Naryangunj, around 100 km away from Dhaka. Acting on a tip off, a joint force consisting of Rapid Action Battalion and the Dhaka police raided the hideout, where Chowdhury was in a meeting with his associates. Our intelligence department informed us that he (Chowdhury) was in Bangladesh, said an officer of Dhaka police. Chowdhury had been operating out of Bangladesh for the last five years and he had been instrumental in the expansion of ISIS in the country. In its 13th issue, Dabiq, the mouthpiece of ISIS, had said Chowdhury was sent to Bangladesh from Syria to run the terror operations in Bangladesh and India. A Jewish woman in suburban Philadelphia woke up last week to a spray-painted swastika on her trash bin and now her neighbors and hundreds of strangers from across the world are rallying to support her by painting their garbage cans with flowers, hearts, birds and butterflies. The woman, artist Esther Cohen-Eskin, painted over the swastika with flowers. She then put letters in mailboxes asking her neighbors to paint their trash bins as well, turning symbols of hate into symbols of love. People across Havertown responded, decorating their bins with foxes, flowers, and words like love and unity. And after word spread online, strangers from as far away as Canada, Ireland and Germany sent Cohen-Eskin messages of support and pictures of bins they painted thousands of miles away. (AP) Bunhill Row in the City is the place to be next week to see British corporate history being made. At Slaughter and Mays City offices, a foreign predator will make legally-binding pledges to protect the company it is bidding for as part of the condition for being given the go-ahead. The test case is the controversial 24billion takeover of ARM Holdings by Japans SoftBank, one of the biggest corporate takeovers ever of a British company, one which has been criticised as yet another case of Britain selling its finest assets. But the sale of the microchip designer should be rather different, or at least thats what the lawyers and bankers stitching together the complex legal deal hope. When ARMs shareholders meet on Tuesday for an extraordinary general meeting to approve the takeover, they will also be voting for a package of legally backed pledges voluntarily given by SoftBank with regard to the location of ARMs HQ in Cambridge, as well as promises about creating and protecting jobs. Open for business: SoftBank chief execuitve Masayoshi Son with Stuart Chambers, Chairman of chip designer company ARM Holdings This is the first time rule 19.7 under the Takeover Code rules is being used in a live bid. The rule was added to the Code after the furore created by Pfizers failed bid for AstraZeneca. Pfizer attempt triggered fears that the US giant was yet another foreign company looking to asset-strip a UK drugs giant. But at least it forced regulators to look again at new ways of enforcing foreign buyers to stick to promises made during a bid and this is the result. As the bitter Kraft bid for Cadbury showed, pledges made to sweeten shareholders are not worth the paper written on. Not long after the Kraft bid, it closed a Cadbury factory, moving production to Poland. The rule gives the Takeover Panel the teeth to prevent a predator from breaking its promises. Bidders are required to make an intention statement to the panel when making their offers. They can also volunteer Post-Offer Undertakings (POUs) which are legally binding, and this is what SoftBanks Masayoshi Son, has done. SoftBanks POUs promise that over the next five years the number of UK employees (1,600) will double in order to develop leading edge technology, that there will be no reduction in employees outside the UK and that the HQ will stay in Cambridge. This is serious stuff. You could argue that Sons pledges were easy to make. After all, he has bought ARM to build on its fantastic technology not destroy it. Nor is there overlap between the two businesses so there are no issues about closing factories. Indeed, when Son and ARMs Simon Segars hammered out their deal, growing the UK business was integral so making the promise was a given. Yet it was smart diplomacy on Sons part to tell Prime Minister Theresa May that he would go further than necessary and make those promises binding. Not every bidder foreign or British will need to make the same promises, so the SoftBank case should not be seen as a precedent. Each takeover will be different which means different concerns will need to be addressed. Take the London Stock Exchanges merger with Deutsche Boerse, or Shells takeover of BG Group. In both cases, much of the merger logic is about stripping out costs so making such promises would be irrelevant. Its only when there is a bid for, say BP or AstraZeneca, where keeping jobs and R&D will be essential, that we will discover whether bidders are prepared to make similar promises and whether the new takeover codes teeth are false or have real bite. Scandi beauty So who is telling a porkie? Estate agents and economists who claim an acute 1.4billion brick shortage is causing house prices to rise and fewer to be built. Or the Brick Development Association which denies the shortage. Perhaps the BDA can make the denial because it knows the 264,000 homes needed are not going to be built any time yet. But bricks are a red herring. There is a far bigger issue at stake. The planning application system is in crisis, and unresolvable without a housing revolution. Councils are stuffed full of stuffy third-rate planners who hate contemporary houses, always harking back to pastiche Victorian copies. Housebuilding: 'Britain needs the sort of designs you see in Norway and Denmark' So housebuilders build cheap pastiche Victorian semis, and are incapable of kitting them out even with the latest energy self-sufficiency as they have been doing in Scandinavia for at least 50 years. There, all houses are obliged to build with heat pumps, triple glazing and every other possible energy saving device. Its an indictment on our housebuilders and planners that we are so behind the curve. They even have the cheek to pretend their homes are luxury executive ones. Then you have the Nimbies who object to anything new. You can see why: the level of most residential housing is beyond ugly. What we need being built are superb-quality, timber-framed homes which are fitted out with cutting-edge technologies from hermetically sealed windows to energy systems; the sort of designs you see in Norway and Denmark, as well as Canada and the US. Its time for Scandi beauty as well as Scandi Noir. The decent thing Advisers will land a massive fee bonanza from the 79billion mega merger of two of the worlds biggest brewers but the tie-up will also lead to around 5,500 job losses. Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev has agreed to buy London-listed SAB Miller in one of the biggest takeover deals of all time. The merger will bring together brands including Fosters, Stella Artois and Corona in a brewing giant that will make 30 per cent of the worlds beer enough to fill 31,320 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Deal: Budweiser brewer AB InBev has agreed to buy London-listed SAB Miller As part of the deal nearly 1.5billion will be paid to advisers, according to documents released yesterday. AB InBev will pay the lions share about 1.3billion with 650million going to financiers including Lazard, Barclays and BNP Paribas. A further 140million will be paid to lawyers including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chance while accountants Deloitte will receive 11million and City PR firm Brunswick will get 15million. AB InBev will also pay 359million in taxes and other expenses, which include stamp duty to HM Revenue and Customs. SAB Miller will pay 152million, which includes 86million for financial and broking advice to JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Mayfair-based Robey Warshaw. Some 58million will be paid in legal advice to lawyers including Linklaters and PR firm Finsbury will take home 6.8million. The deal is great news for the advisers many based in London but the documents also reveal AB InBev plans to cut 3 per cent of its workforce following the merger. The job cuts will form part of 1billion of annual savings that AB InBev said it is seeking from the takeover and will be implemented gradually, in phases, over a three-year period following completion, a spokesman said. It said the combined groups headquarters will be in Belgium, and the management office would remain in New York, meaning the SAB Miller UK offices would close. This integration is subject to consultation with the potentially affected SAB Miller employees but is likely to involve the loss of roles at SAB Millers headquarters in Woking, the spokesman added. The brewing giants were accused of a disgusting U-turn earlier this month after a pledge to protect British jobs was abandoned. The merger will bring together brands including Fosters, Stella Artois and Corona Workers had been told SAB Miller roles in the UK would be protected, including 523 back office staff in Woking and 51 in London. But AB InBev later revealed the new headquarters would be abroad, and that Woking jobs would be moved to Belgium in about six months. AB InBev insisted it did not commit to not make any redundancies. At the end of 2015, AB InBev employed more than 150,000 worldwide, while SAB Miller employed another 70,000. While the firm did not specify the total number of the job cuts yesterday, it has agreed to sell a number of assets from the combined company to win regulatory approval. In March it announced it would sell SAB Millers 49 per cent stake in CR Snow to China Resources Beer. And in April it accepted a 2.1billion offer to buy the beer brands Grolsch and Peroni to Japan-based Asahi Group Holdings. However, the transfer of jobs overseas is another blow to British business, with yet more brands falling into foreign hands. Consumers are still smarting after the loss of chocolate brand Cadbury to US giant Kraft in 2010, when Cadburys UK factory in Keynsham near Bristol was shut despite previous assurances it would remain open. The latest deal will see shareholders in SAB Miller vote on the deal next month. Investors pulled 1billion out of funds in July. It follows an exodus in June as nervous savers took 3.5billion out of investment funds. Some 2.2billion was taken out of equity funds, 1.1billion from fixed income funds and 792million from property funds, according to latest figures from trade body The Investment Association. The figures offer the first insight into how investors reacted to the EU referendum. In stark contrast, savers piled 3.7billion into funds in the same month a year ago. Nervous: Investors pulled 1billion out of funds in July, down from 3.5billion in June But the organisation said the overall amount invested in funds rose to a record high of 989billion in the month, as professionals took the opportunity to invest as uncertainty sent stock markets spiralling in the short-term. Jason Hollands, managing director at Tilney Bestinvest, said: Despite this wave of selling, markets have proven remarkably resilient and are recovering rapidly from the initial knee jerk reaction to the vote. An Avon lady going from door to door with her bag of products is one of the 20th century's most enduring business images. But that business model is being turned on its head as the iconic beauty company innovates to keep up with its online rivals. Earlier this year the company launched MyAvonStore, an online platform for its representatives to sell through. Then and now: Avon is moving in to the 21st century by getting its sellers to move online In an age of online product reviews, beauty bloggers and makeup boxes delivered directly to your door, there was a risk Avon - which has six million reps worldwide -could be left behind. When the door-to-door sales company was started by David H McConnell in the US in the late 19th century, few women worked, meaning that they were likely to be in the house when an Avon representative called by. Now of course that's simply not the case and people have less time than ever, meaning having a chat and testing out products in your living room is much less common. Avon's general manager for Western Europe Andrea Slater says the beauty store's move online is a response to customers becoming increasingly savvy about the products they buy. 'Shoppers are becoming more and more sophisticated and selective, often opting for the most hassle-free option, so any retailer has to be light on their feet and able to adapt to give the customer what they want. 'Through talking to our reps, we knew that they were already selling products online and using social media as a tool to promote their businesses and products. Providing them with an online platform was the natural next step.' Andrea Slater: 'Shoppers are becoming more sophisticated and selective' However, not all Avon sellers are keen to go online - and neither are their customers. Andrea says research done by Avon shows that some customers and sellers will always prefer to traditional door-to-door method of selling. 'We want to ensure our Representatives are given the tools, support and advice to run their businesses in exactly the way they want to. 'We know that face-to-face selling and recommendation is and will always be the most powerful tool for selling and so its important that this is at the heart of every Representatives business.' Avon reps don't have to pay an upfront fee to build an online store - all they need is a computer and an internet connection. They can personalise their section of the website with photos, make up demonstrations and videos. Salespeople do not have to pay to join Avon, but do have 16 taken out of the first two orders they receive. Commission is roughly 1 of every 4 of products they sell, although it depends on volume. The company says the move online makes it even easier for their representatives to be their own boss, because they can update their online 'shopfront' at a time that suits them rather than having to trudge from house to house looking for sales. Even if the customer doesn't know their local representative and just wants to order a specific product online, commission will automatically go to the seller in their local area. Customers get the choice of free delivery delivered to their door by their Representative or via direct delivery or Parcel Shop pick up from Avon. Digital revolution: Avon reps can customise their online beauty store While the drive to move online wasn't compulsory, when the platform was created in February, 10,000 UK reps signed up. Chloe Bullen,18, was one of them. As well as setting up a MyAvon page, she also set up a designated Facebook account so customers could reach her via social media. Chloe is a big fan of the move to digital. 'It also allows me to sell products to more customers, family and friends outside of my area meaning my customer base has now expanded. Chloe: 'Going online helped me to sell to students' 'I'm able to work from home, university or wherever I am as long as I have an internet connection. I can even earn in my sleep!' Avon customers are all ages and Chloe's main concern was whether her customer base were prepared to make the move online with her. 'The most challenging thing about moving online would be trying to make sure that all my customers knew about it and how to use it. I wanted to make sure they understood the benefits and were able to use it easily. It took me a few uses to get used to the new platform but now I find it really easy.' It has also helped her - and thus Avon - find a new, younger audience. 'I'm currently studying at University and so the online platform has enabled me to target my fellow students easily, providing them with a way to browse the products Avon has to offer. 'I know that students are mostly online and so this was a perfect time for me to start my online store.' By Bob Harris It has fallen on the shoulders of eight lawmakers to fight the airplane noise and pollution caused by jet airplanes in Queens. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Grace Meng; state Sens. Toby Stavisky, Tony Avella and Joe Addabbo Jr.,; state Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz; and City Councilman Peter Koo make up the eight. While other legislators may be involved in the battle, I have not seen their names in the papers recently, so pardon any omissions. The struggle is supposed to be led by roundtables associated with our local airports consisting of representatives from the FAA, Port Authority of NY and NJ, community leaders, local legislators, and aviation industry members, but the roundtables are not functioning in New York City, so our legislators have taken up the fight. For years roundtables have been operating at airports around the United States and this is what is supposed to be happening here in the New York Metropolitan Area. Regretfully, some borough leaders either want one roundtable for the whole New York area or one roundtable for each of the three airports and are preventing the formation of any roundtables as well as anything from happening. There are enough Queens civic leaders who can provide solutions if they can only cooperate. About 50 sound monitors provide what the noise levels are like in each community in our metropolitan area. A new one in Fresh Meadows, in my own backyard, monitors the noise level of the Whitestone Climb when planes taking off from La Guardia Airport every minute or so belly up and soar into the sky. With all this information, the FAA in conjunction with lawmakers and Queens civic leaders should be able to work out a noise abatement program. The issue of pollutants from aviation fuel is now being discussed with the plan of having the Environmental Protection Agency regulate the problem of noise and pollutants, too.. Do you know that airplanes coming in for a landing release excess fuel to eliminate a fire danger as they land yet the fuel floats down on our houses and lawns and into our lungs continuously? The FAA permits the day-night sound average to be 65 decibels. Our legislators want it lowered to 55 decibels. There have been studies of the effect of airplane noise on our ability to exercise and maintain our health. It is time the government actually did things to maintain our health. Oh, helicopter noise is a noise which is under consideration as a problem to our health. There are lots of statistics and several community activists on community boards and in groups such as Quiet Skies, which have been fighting for years to solve the problems. This is a nationwide issue so members of Congress from all over the country should be able to cooperate to limit the noise. GOOD AND BAD NEWS OF THE WEEK: While charities and political parties are worthy of a contribution, the requests have gotten out of hand. We give to what we consider to be a few worthy charities. We do this in January or February so we know that during the rest of the year any further request for money is redundant. It is August and yet groups are still asking for money for different reasons. New groups make you feel that you gave in the past. Old groups have a different angle. After the four or fifth request it gets a little annoying. Regretfully, our federal government gives subsidies of about $4 billion to the oil and gas companies so they can drill for polluting fossil fuels. These companies make billions of dollars in profit so they dont need our subsidies. I have the nagging feeling that we are still giving subsidies to the tobacco industry. Could we be so stupid to do such a thing? A Wichita Falls man will not serve jail time after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Nicholas Allen Vogel, 37, entered the plea Friday morning in the 30th District Court and was sentenced to 10 years in prison suspended for five years community supervision by Judge Robert Brotherton. According to court documents: On Nov. 25, officers were sent to the 5300 block of Dewey Street on a check welfare call. They learned his estranged wife had gone to the house to deliver a dog, but Vogel grabbed her arm and pulled her in, pulling her shirt off in the process. She claimed he also choked her to unconsciousness and threatened to kill her with a gun. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the shooting of a man fleeing from authorities near Quanah on Wednesday appears to be an accident. The DPS said in a news release Friday that as Childress County Chief Deputy Danny Gillem was trying to arrest the driver of the fleeing vehicle, his gun accidentally discharged. Jonathan Sergio Bryant, was struck in the shoulder. He was airlifted to United Regional Health Care in Wichita Falls with wounds the DPS release described as non-life-threatening. The incident began about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when deputies tried to stop an SUV on the east side of Childress. The vehicle sped away, according to the DPS, and Childress County authorities pursued. The chase ended a couple of miles west of Quanah on U.S. 287 when a Childress County District Attorney's officer opened fire on the SUV and it stopped, leading to the shooting during the arrest attempt. A passenger in the SUV, Justin James Bryant, 28, was not injured. The DPS release says officers found about seven pounds of marijuana in the vehicle. Jonathan Bryant and Justin Bryant, both from Oviedo, Florida, are charged with third degree drug possession. Gillem has been placed on administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate the shooting. Critics say Donald Trump's campaign is too cozy with Russia, but Hillary Clinton may have problems of her own. Critics charge that foreign governments gained access to Clinton when she served as secretary of state by making donations to a charity, the Clinton Foundation, overseen by her family. Clinton says the foundation will stop taking foreign donations if she's president, but Republican critics have called for the organization to be shut down entirely. Is the Clinton Foundation a problem for Clinton? JOEL MATHIS With Bill and Hillary Clinton, as always, there's a thin line between 'kind of gross' and 'clearly wrong.' And so it is with Clinton Foundation. Hillary Clinton's defenders say the Clinton Foundation does tremendous, lifesaving work and they're right. But that doesn't mean the charity isn't a problem for her. Why? It's pretty well accepted that appearances of a conflict of interest can be just as bad in public life as actual conflicts. So if you're secretary of state and foreign countries standing to benefit in a variety of ways, financial and otherwise, from U.S. policy are pumping millions of dollars into your husband's charitable foundation, well of course it looks like a potential problem. And if you're running for president and all these foreign countries, as well as big corporations, keep being eager to donate, well of course that looks like a potential problem as well. Here's the thing: The Clintons, fair or not, have to walk a much, much tighter ethical line than everybody else. Because the public is primed to see them as acting unethically. And while they're not as bad as Republicans make them out to be, it's also the case that they legitimately screw up now and again, giving new life to all the rest of it. Bill really did lie to a grand jury about his sex life; Hillary really did handle her emails poorly and then really did exaggerate in suggesting the FBI had exonerated her. Now: Damon Linker, a writer at The Week, points out that Hillary Clinton's critics haven't actually found a smoking gun in all of this, no evidence of a quid pro quo in which money was exchanged for services. But Americans have the right not to have to guess whether or not that's the case, and have the right to expect a potential president to go far above and beyond the minimum necessary to keep his or her house in order. The funny thing is: She's still the better presidential candidate this fall. Donald Trump is just that dangerous. The temptation is to give her a free pass as a result but that wouldn't be right. We need accountability from all our candidates. BEN BOYCHUK She's crooked, you know. Donald Trump, for all his terrible bluster and braggadocio, is surely right about that. Hillary Clinton was reckless with national security secrets when she was secretary of State and has been utterly shameless when it comes to telling the truth. And little by little, voters are learning that she likely used her family's foundation to trade access to the State Department for hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars in donations. Trump is a bit more cavalier than responsible journalists would be in describing what Clinton allegedly did as secretary of State. Then again, supposedly responsible mainstream journalists have been far behind the curve when it comes to investigating the Clinton Foundation. Well, they're catching up now. The Associated Press recently 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.' 'Combined, the 85 donors contributed as much as $156 million,' the AP story continued. 'At least 40 donated more than $100,000 each, and 20 gave more than $1 million.' Did those donors get anything for their gifts other than access? We don't know yet. But access to the secretary of State isn't trivial. By the way, it's unclear just how much 'lifesaving work' the Clinton Foundation does. Charity Navigator doesn't offer a rating, positive or negative, citing the foundation's 'atypical business model.' According to the group's IRS disclosures, however, nearly 60 percent of the foundation's expenditures in 2014 went toward salaries, benefits, travel and conferences. 'It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins,' Trump said in Austin, Texas, this week. Let's hope voters have a better idea before Election Day. Joel Mathis an award-winning writer in Kansas. Ben Boychuk is managing editor of American Greatness. Reach them at joelmmathis@gmail.com, bboychuk3@att.net. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Gloversville Nathan Littauer Hospital will again lock out registered nurses for five days, if the New York State Nurses Association holds a planned two-day strike beginning Sept. 1, hospital officials announced Friday. In response, NYSNA filed an unfair labor practices charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Friday, asking that the hospital be prevented from locking its members out. A contract impasse between the hospital and more than 100 NYSNA nurses has lasted more than two years. If both parties follow through with their threats, this will be the second time this year that nurses will be locked out following a strike action at the 74-bed hospital. Nurses held a one-day strike in January, and the hospital barred their return then for four days. In January, however, the hospital locked out striking nurses only. This time all RNs will be barred from re-entry, whether they participate in the strike or not, the hospital said in a newsletter circulated by email Friday. NYSNA filed an unfair labor practices charge with the labor board after the last lockout, and the board found the union's grievance worthy of a hearing. No hearing was necessary because the parties settled, according to Barney Horowitz, the NLRB's resident officer in Albany. According to the hospital's newsletter, the NLRB's decision was based on the fact that the lockout was partial, a retaliation against only the striking nurses. Non-striking RNs were allowed to work their scheduled shifts during the partial lockout. "We thought it was necessary to do this to push the union to finally be reasonable and accept our proposal," the hospital's newsletter, titled "Facts of the Matter" stated. An RN referred to the hospital's statement as "deja vu all over again." "(T)he registered nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital continue to fight for proper staffing so that the patients get the care they deserve, and Nathan continues to ignore the nurses and ignore the facts by threatening another lockout," nurse Marion Enright said in an emailed statement. The nurses claim inadequate staffing is at the heart of their contract concerns. Hospital officials have previously said the nurses have refused proposals for increased staff and are pushing for better compensation than afforded to other non-union staff. The labor board is currently reviewing four recent unfair labor practice charges by NYSNA against the hospital, according to Horowitz. The board on Thursday determined that a NYSNA charge claiming the hospital threatened to retroactively increase nurses' health insurance co-pays can move toward a hearing. At the end of last month, the hospital filed its own unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB, claiming the nurses have refused to bargain in good faith since January. A union spokesman called the claim "frivolous," saying NYSNA has always bargained in good faith. chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire [August 26, 2016] Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin Opens for Inaugural School Year Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin, a career and technical education-focused online high school, welcomes students for the new school year, which begins September 1, 2016. Destinations Career Academy uses a curriculum that offers a comprehensive end-to-end approach designed to prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue other post-secondary options. The tuition-free online public charter school is open to students statewide in grades 9-12 and serves full-time students in addition to offering a part-time option through the Department of Public Instruction's Course Options, which allows students to remain enrolled in their current school district while taking 1-2 online courses with Destinations Career Academy. "Destinations Career Academy prepares students to graduate and obtain a living wage job with opportunity for career advancement," said Nicholas Sutherland, Head of School at Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin. "Our students work toward their high school diploma while benefitting from access to internship experience and preparation for industry certification tests. The skills they learn will give them a step up as they enter the workforce or post-secondary training programs after high school." Students can choose from multiple versions of core online high school courses and take CTE courses in one of four fields: Architecture and Construction; Business Management and Administration; Health Science; or Information Technology. These career pathways are designed to give students a head start on their career goals by earning industry certifications, college cedits, and workplace experiences. Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin is the first career readiness online high school to offer a construction pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with industry leaders. What sets the school apart is a unique Construction Pathway developed in conjunction with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 (Operating Engineers) and Fox Valley Technical College. This unique "pre-apprenticeship" program directed by the Operating Engineers will give students experience that can be counted towards apprenticeship hours and prepare them to enter apprenticeship training to become successful operating engineers - heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors - in the construction industry. Obtaining industry certifications opens the door to increased job opportunities in high-demand and high-paying jobs. State-licensed teachers provide Destinations Career Academy students with instruction and support. Graduates receive a McFarland School District diploma. Students receive preparation for the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate(TM) (NCRC) and the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) exams, as well as a membership in a SkillsUSA Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) chapter for networking purposes. Families who meet one of the exceptions outlined by the Department of Public Instruction policy can apply through the Open Enrollment Alternative Process for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year. For more information visit: http://widca.k12.com/how-enroll.html and follow on Facebook. About Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin is a career and technical education-focused online high school authorized by McFarland School District. The tuition-free online public charter school is open to students statewide in grades 9-12 and serves full-time students in addition to offering a part-time option through the Department of Public Instruction's Course Options. Students receive access to state-of-the-art digital learning platforms and technology provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin, visit http://widca.k12.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160826005430/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 26, 2016] What Better Way to Celebrate City Life Than With a K2 Smartphone TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - K-Mobile will be celebrating city life this weekend with visitors who stop by the K-Mobile booth at CityFest at Canoe Landing Park one of Toronto's largest free festivals. Visitors will be eligible for free giveaways while learning about the new K2 Smartphone, plus the booth is a great destination to catch Pokemon and to learn why the K2 is a great smartphone to play this game. "This is just one of the events in Toronto that K-Mobile is pleased to be sponsoring, and we will have our enthusiastic employees on hand to showcase our new K2 mobile phone," said Shami Munir, K-Mobile CEO and Founder. "K-Mobile has much to celebrate, including the launch of this new Smartphone as well as the opening of our flagship K-Mobile store." "Working in K-Mobile is an exciting experience and has taught me to align with people and learn the value ofleadership in the mobile industry. Come by tomorrow and see what we've accomplished," said Daniel Akhtar, K-Mobile's Director of Marketing Operations. "We have the first Android phone to be designed in Canada, and it's a premium smartphone that combines performance, a beautiful design and innovation." The K2, which launched July 1, 2016, is now available in store or online at www.k-mobile.ca. K-Mobile has signed up with Koodo Mobile as a multi-carrier. The K2 features a 2-sim card capability, exclusive apps, is unlocked and is fully customizable for all the customers' needs. Key features include: Slick Build. The K2 is built to fit in your hands, with a slick curvature and a 5" HD Display, and every element has been carefully designed from the matte finish on the back to the tough display The K2 is built to fit in your hands, with a slick curvature and a 5" HD Display, and every element has been carefully designed from the matte finish on the back to the tough display Apps and Gaming. MediaTek an Octa-core processor is designed to deliver high performance, and the CPU and GPU are engineered to increase performance for all your intensive applications and games MediaTek an Octa-core processor is designed to deliver high performance, and the CPU and GPU are engineered to increase performance for all your intensive applications and games Camera. The K2's 13-Megapixel camera captures detailed, sharp and beautiful images regardless of lighting, and the 1080P HD recording allows you to relive your day The K2's 13-Megapixel camera captures detailed, sharp and beautiful images regardless of lighting, and the 1080P HD recording allows you to relive your day Gesture sensing. With gesture sensing, you can access your favorite applications by just swiping a letter of your choice, which gets you there more simply and quickly K-Mobile also launched its first store in the East York Town Centre this month with 249 more locations set to open in the Greater Toronto Area by 2018, starting with more this year including a new Mississauga store at 5602 Tenth Line West. SOURCE K-Mobile [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 26, 2016] CAPE Audio Attains Flawless 3D Spatial Sound With the Release of Rebellion Headphones FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ITIWANT LLC has launched a new line of premium personal headphones under the CAPE Audio brand, headlined by its flagship product, Rebellion Headphones, the world's first wireless, active noise-canceling spatial 3D headphones. Designed and created with technology support from Coolhear Ltd., a global leader in spatial 3D sound technology, Rebellion Headphones boast cutting-edge spatial 3D audio capabilities, outstanding Active Noise Control and state-of-the-art design for incredible ergonomics and all-day comfort. Rebellion Headphones are targeted to music aficionados, movie lovers and gamers. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401778 It wouldn't be a revolution without a major change in the way we hear audio. With Rebellion, CAPE pushes the envelope of existing headphone technology to create an exceptional 3D auditory experience. At the core of Rebellion's spatial sound processing is Coolhear's proprietary 3D sound chip that performs complex algorithms and mathematical manipulations. With this powerful spatial 3D audio chip, music and sound come from behind, from the front, and from side to side so the audio experience is completely immersive and realistic. CAPE Audio engineers have utilized head-related transfer function (HRTF) algorithms to elevate 2D audio into 360, top-down and spherical 3D sound. Rebellion's speaker drivers incorporate a proprietary honeycomb design, where they are angled to be lightly parallel to the listener's auricular surface. This design works in conjunction with the Voice Coil Stabilization System (VCSS) to reduce incidental vibrations. The result is crystal clear sound with diminished distortion in the high and mid frequency range, and an even broader horizontal sound stage. But Rebellion Headphones don't stop there. To attain the best spatial 3D audio experience, CAPE Audio designers knew they had to create a near perfect sound stage free from outside noise. Thanks to the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) in each pair of headphones, the active noise cancellation (ANC) found in Rebellion Headphones meets or beats noise reduction systems found in premium, high-end headphones. And rather than simply broadcasting the "white noise" mask typical to most noise-canceling headphones, Rebellion Headphones use two integrated microphones in harmony with the DSP to modulate music's existing frequencies whenever possible to attenuate noise without compromising on clarity. The DSP also enriches audio to a 3D sound stage worthy of your music, so rather than sounding tinny and flat as conventional headphones do Rebellion Headphones reproduce rich, vibrant music that sounds like it's being performed in a concert hall. A downloadable companion app (for iOS and Android) will also be available that allows users to experience their existing music libraries in glorious spatial 3D sound. Rebellion Headphones will be followed by several other high-end personal 3D audio devices developed by CAPE Audio. An Indiegogo campaign for Rebellion Headphones began on August 23, 2016 at http://bit.ly/2bLhifB. To find out more about Rebellion Headphones, visit www.cape3D.us. Get ready for the start of an audio revolution Rebellion is here. Related Images image1.png image2.jpg image3.png 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/cape-audio-attains-flawless-3d-spatial-sound-with-the-release-of-rebellion-headphones-300318888.html SOURCE CAPE Audio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 26, 2016] Adore Me Celebrates Women's Equality Day NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Adore Me, a disruptive e-commerce lingerie company and the #2 fastest growing retail company in the U.S. on the Inc. 500 list, celebrated Women's Equality Day today. Using the excuse of a planned photoshoot, all Adore Me women were encouraged to get their picture taken by the professional photographer on site. In the meantime, the male employees of Adore Me were setting one bouquet of yellow roses on each woman's desk in the office, with a note wishing them a happy day, to surprise them when they'd come back. Morgan Hermand-Waiche, Adore Me founder & CEO: "Today at Adore Me, we offered flowers to every woman in th office and organized a special photoshoot session for all of them. But we don't wait for Women Equality Day to ensure that women members of the Adore Me team are treated equally to men: we have different initiatives around the office to make sure that all employees grow and bloom in their work environment. And as a company, we proudly promote inclusivity and every form of beauty. We believe in lingerie that empowers women to be confident." ABOUT ADORE ME Adore Me is a disruptive e commerce lingerie company that is revolutionizing the lingerie industry by designing affordable, fast fashion, inclusive intimates. Within less than five years, Adore Me grew from a founder with a dream to a company of 100 employees across the US and Europe. With over 7M urban millennial women in its network and a massive online footprint of over 1M Facebook followers, Adore Me is disrupting the lingerie industry to the core. MEDIA CONTACT Camille Kress Business & Brand Development [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401895 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160805/396002LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adore-me-celebrates-womens-equality-day-300319016.html SOURCE Adore Me [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Secret services across EU countries are on high alert after statements by Europol Director Rob Wainwright that ISIS is planning to send jihadists to European countries in response to its defeats on the ground in Syria Secret services across EU countries are on high alert after statements by Europol Director Rob Wainwright that ISIS is planning to send jihadists to European countries in response to its defeats on the ground in Syria. According to Wainwright, a large number of hardcore jihadists are already in possession of fake EU passports to travel from Syria to Europe. In an interview to newspaper Standard, the head of the European police force said Europol is preparing to dispatch 200 officers to Greece over the next period to detect possible extreme islamist jihadists operating in refugee hotspots to recruit new members. The Turkish secret services (MIT) have also been asked to contribute with intelligence in detecting possible islamic extremists. Wainwright warned that these islamist extremists are trying to radicalise refugees and migrants in the reception centres in Greece and in the Balkans. The officers will be deployed to the Greek islands, maybe in Italy. There will be a second line of defence. We hope to assign some officers in the refugee and migrant reception centres as we are concerned about reports that these hotspots are targets for efforts to radicalise migrants, Wainwright said. He predicted that the jihadists will have more impressive attacks in Europe in the future, adding there are currently 50 anti-terrorist operations being conducted throughout Europe. 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 Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who is visiting the Lake in Evia, that has suffered severe damages from a recent fire, sent a strong message of unity Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who is visiting the Lake in Evia, that has suffered severe damages from a recent fire, sent a strong message of unity on Friday. "This place teaches us a lot. The people here express optimism and determination," he underlined and added: "You are teaching us how to deal with a deep crisis, which is likely to cause a rupture in the social fabric." "And we can deal with it provided that we are united," Pavlopoulos said. "We should not however underestimate the individual differences of the democratic forces. We need to recognize and respect them. But there is no excuse before important issues; we should all be united," he stressed. 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 Three major fires broke out in pine forests on Thursday evening in Menidi, Aspropyrgos and Chios in Greece. In Menidi the fire was fueled by the strong winds and has reached the local cemetery. The Fire Brigade has deployed 70 firefighters and is supported by local government. In the other fire that broke out in Attica, in Aspropyrgos, the Fire Brigade has committed about 100 firefighters, along with the two helicopters and four waterbombers to tackle the fire, which threatened isolated houses in the area. The new fire on the island of Chios has broken out in a forested area between the villages of Sidirousa, Katavasi and Managros. No residential areas are currently at risk, however the Fire Brigade decided to evacuate a scout camp in Managros. About 40 firefighters, local government and volunteers are trying to extinguish the fire. 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 Ukraines Embassy to Cyprus celebrated the 25th anniversary of the countrys independence on Wednesday. Ukrainians in Cyprus, who are the real patriots of their motherland, greeted each other with the biggest national holiday of Ukraine - Independence Day, wishing peace, prosperity and unity of all the people of Ukraine and expressed their respect to the Ukrainian State by performing the national anthem, said an announcement from the Embassy. Hieromonch Vasyliy Zakharus from the Lviv St. Michael Monastery and brother Arseniy served holy liturgy "In prayer for Ukraine", added the announcement. Father Vasyliy blessed the icon of the Holy Mother of God and presented it to the Embassy with the purpose of the Mother of God to protect all Ukrainians on Cyprus. On the eve of the celebration at the Maronite church in Nicosia a memorial service for those who gave their lives for the independence of Ukraine was also held. During the celebration held at the Embassy, those in attendance took part in a competition testing their knowledge of the history and traditions of Ukraine and performed Ukrainian songs, with the help of talented Ukrainians Bogdan Koval and Mykyta Zozovskyi. 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 Turkey opens one of the world's biggest suspension bridges on Friday, creating a new link between two continents with the latest megaproject in a $200 billion building spree that President Tayyip Erdogan hopes will secure his place in history. The bridge across the Bosphorus Strait, which divides Asia and Europe, is built in the style of New York's Brooklyn Bridge and boasts pylons higher than the Eiffel Tower. It is 1.4 km (0.9 mile) long and 59 metres wide, with eight vehicle lanes and two high-speed rail lines. Erdogan is seeking to use such projects to drive economic growth and secure a place as Turkey's most significant leader since the modern republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. "Be proud of your power, Turkey," said a TV advert before the opening of the $3 billion Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge on the edge of Istanbul. It is named after a 16th-century Ottoman ruler. Erdogan's infrastructure drive is transforming Europe's biggest city, which straddles the Bosphorus Strait. In a little more than a decade, Istanbul's skyline has soared, new highways have been built, and the length of the metro tripled. But Turkey's stellar economic growth has slowed since 2011 and it could face difficulties attracting investment following an attempted coup last month, which led to a purge by the government that has seen tens of thousands of people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education being detained, suspended or placed under investigation. The country has also been hit by attacks this summer by Islamic State on a wedding party and Istanbul airport, while the Turkish army's incursion this week in Syria to curb jihadist and Kurdish forces has unsettled nerves. But Erdogan - whose government announced a $200 billion, decade-long infrastructure investment plan three years ago - has vowed the months of turmoil will not hold back planned megaprojects. He is due to attend Friday's bridge opening. The Yavuz Sultan Selim, which runs from the Garipce area on Istanbul's European side to the region of Poyrazkoy on the Asian side, is the third bridge to span the Bosphorus Strait and can withstand winds of 300 km an hour. It ranks among the world's biggest suspension bridges, in terms of width of deck, height of pylons as well as length of span. It has been built by Italy's Astaldi and Istanbul-based IC Ictas which will jointly operate it for about a decade. Officials say the bridge will ease congestion in a city of 14 million people, reduce fuel costs and save workers time. Environmentalists say the project threatens Istanbul's last forestland and will contaminate water supplies. Some economists warn the costs of such large-scale building is unsustainable. BRIDGE 'IS SYMBOL' Turkey closed deals to secure $45 billion in private infrastructure investment last year, absorbing 40 percent of the global total, according to the World Bank. Other planned megaprojects include the world's biggest airport in Istanbul and a huge canal that would render a large chunk of the city an island. Such undertakings trumpet Turkey's regional clout and drive the economy, Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan told Reuters near the bridge site at Garipce. Construction accounts for 6 percent of output and employs 2 million people. "Turkey, by virtue of its geography, bridges Asia and Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus, but to benefit from this position, we need arteries and corridors," he told Reuters. "There is money to be made by easing transportation between Europe and Asia, and this is why we are doing these projects." As Arslan spoke, workers scaled the bridge's gleaming white steel cables. Some 300 metres below, crude tankers rumbled north through the Bosphorus, one of the world's busiest oil transit points, connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Each day, 650 new cars hit Istanbul's roads, Arslan said, making it the word's third-most congested city and increasing travel times by 50 percent, according to TomTom Traffic Index. The bridge "is a symbol and much like Turkey a gateway", said Paolo Astaldi, chairman of Astaldi which owns a third of the joint venture. "It not only alleviates traffic in Istanbul, it speeds movement of goods across Turkey and, as Syria stabilises, the importance of the link will increase." Under a build-operate-transfer model, the consortium receives the toll crossing fees for vehicles using the hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge - $3 for cars and $15 for trucks. The government guarantees the firms will receive, as a minimum, the toll income from 135,000 cars a day, though the actual number expected to use the bridge is expected to be higher. Planned Turkish megaprojects, if realised, may add 10 to 15 percentage points in the next five years to the debt-to-GDP ratio, now 33 percent due to a wide current-account deficit, said Atilla Yesilada, an analyst at Global Source Partners. "You're trying to stimulate sagging growth with a surge in infrastructure, but you have a savings problem. There comes a point when the international community won't lend to you." ISTANBUL'S 'LUNGS' The bridge is part of a network of 215 km of transit roads for freight to bypass Istanbul, Arslan said, reiterating a government pledge to protect the area from housing development. Yet realtors in nearby fishing and farming villages report a fourfold rise in land prices, and activists in the Northern Forests Defence campaign group believe the real aim is to erect new suburbs. "Transit makes up 3 percent of total traffic, so it won't mitigate traffic jams," said Cihan Baysal of the Northern Forests Defence. "This opens up hitherto pristine lands to more construction projects, because Turkey's economy depends on construction ... which paradoxically exacerbates traffic jams." The new roads seared gashes through forestland. Arslan said that while 380,000 trees were felled, 2.5 million were planted. "These forests are Istanbul's lungs," said Baysal, pointing to a court ruling the bridge lacked an environmental report. Among other concerns are the fate of what media reports said were a trove of unexcavated antiquities in the construction area, including Paleolithic remains and a Byzantine jail. The two older Bosphorus Strait bridges, crossed by 150 million vehicles a year, sparked protests in 1973 and 1988; now their silhouettes define the skyline. Even the third bridge's name stirred controversy when it was announced at a 2013 ground-breaking ceremony. Selim I, known as Selim the Grim, expanded the Ottoman Empire to dominate the Middle East. Many members of Turkey's Alevi community, whose faith draws from Shi'ite, Sufi and Anatolian traditions, say Selim slaughtered tens of thousands of their forebears. They unsuccessfully lobbied to change the bridge's name. Reuters Ducab, the UAE-based leading manufacturer of high-quality cables and cabling products, recently hosted its second annual professional training programme where Emirati university students received on-the-job training at the companys facilities. The summer training initiative is the outcome of the companys commitment to Emiratisation and local talent development in the country, Ducab said. Ducab hosted over 40 male and female students from different UAE universities whose eligibility was determined by excellent academic records. The students then gained valuable hands-on experience by rotating through the companys various departments. With the aim of talent and skill development, the students worked across the fields of human resources, sales, accounting and finance, cables testing and manufacturing, to gain skills which can be applied in their studies and their future careers. During the programme, the students enjoyed the benefits that a Ducab employee is entitled to including a salary and health insurance. The programme also included the additional opportunity of joining the Ducab team after they graduate. Mona Mohamed Fekri, general manager human resources at Ducab, said: We believe that the young generation of Emiratis play a crucial role in the growth and prosperity of UAEs national economy and in building a sustainable future. Keeping this in mind, we are committed to support and empower students with a unique training programme which blends personal development, academic and vocational education and work-related skills training. The four-week long programme commenced in the beginning of July where students were given practical training and a full picture of Ducabs departments and activities. - TradeArabia News Service Iraq is willing to play an active role within Opec to support oil prices, its Oil Minister Jabar Ali Al-Luaibi said on Saturday, without clarifying whether it was prepared to back a possible agreement to freeze output. "Iraq is seeking to play an active role in order to support oil prices while preserving a share that is proportionate to its reserves," the minister said during a visit to the southern oil city of Basra, according to oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad. Iraq wants to "strengthen Opec's role in achieving a balance in the oil market," Luaibi added, according to the spokesman, without making it clear whether Iraq would take part in a possible agreement to freeze output to lift prices. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) are due to meet informally in Algeria next month on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF). Russia is also expected to attend the IEF. Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Tuesday said the country has not yet reached its full oil market share, suggesting his government is not willing to restrain crude output. Iraq, which is Opec's second-largest producer, trailing Saudi Arabia, depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public spending and appears set to continue boosting production, which currently stands at around 4.6 million barrels per day. Sources in Opec and the oil industry this week told Reuters that Iran, Opec's third-largest producer, was sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market. Tehran refused to join an attempt in April to freeze output at January levels, scuppering those talks because Saudi Arabia said it wanted all producers to join the initiative. - Reuters Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Rohtak, August 27 Hot and humid weather notwithstanding, a massive turnout was witnessed at a bhaichara rally organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS) here today. The speakers castigated the BJP government in Haryana for creating a divisive atmosphere in the state and not fulfilling the promises made to Jats. They reiterated the demand for reservation to the community and urged the government to support their case in court. They also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against youths in connection with violence during the Jat agitation in February. The Jat leaders urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and grant reservation to the community. Yashpal Malik, ABJASS president, threatened to launch an agitation in Delhi if the demands were not met. In Uttar Pradesh and Punjab elections, Jats will support the party that favours reservation to the community. In a veiled attack on Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, he said an MP had been trying to divide society on caste lines, and it would not be tolerated. Malik also targeted Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu and Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar. The other speakers accused Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of not fulfilling promises made to them and lambasted Capt Abhimanyu for being insensitive to the concerns of the community. Leaders, speakers and participants from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh attended the rally. A condolence meeting in Hisars Mayyar village on September 13 was announced, following which an executive meeting will be called to discuss the future course of action. Another rally will be organised at Ferozepur in Punjab on September 28. Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini has said the decision to postpone his Rohtak rally by a day was taken, not out of fear, but to ensure peace in the state. The rally will now be held on Sunday at the new grain market in Rohtak. Had Saini went ahead with his rally, Rohtak would have witnessed two rallies on Saturday the other one was by the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Samiti. Intelligence reports suggested law and order problem in case of two rallies on the same day. The threat of disturbance by outsiders still looms on the Sundays rally, intelligence inputs say. We have made all arrangements to deal with anyone trying to create problem during the rally, Saini told The Tribune today. All we want is peace in the state. We have never taken a step that creates problems. That was the reason behind postponing Saturdays rally. During todays rally by Jats, our supporters did not create any problem. We expect the same from organisers, the BJP MP said. On the rallys agenda, the MP said reservation to several communities would be discussed, but it was not the main issue, as was being projected by his opponents. We want equal rights for all communities. Our fight is not against any community, but for economically weaker sections of society, Saini added. Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, August 27 Seeking enhanced land compensation for farmers affected by the Bilaspur-Manali four-laning project, infuriated BJP legislators today walked out of the session as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stuck to his stand that the government with its limited financial resources was not in a position to bear the extra burden and adopt different yardsticks for national and state highways. It was while replying to a query by Satpal Singh Satti during Question Hour that the atmosphere got charged up and the entire Opposition was on its feet raising slogans against the government. Satti demanded that since the expenditure of national highways was being borne by the Centre, the state government should adopt factor two formula for working out land compensation so that the affected farmers got a decent amount. Replying to the query, Virbhadra said if the Centre wrote to the state to grant enhanced compensation, his government had no objection. As far as the issue of state highways is concerned, our pocket does not allow granting compensation on the basis of factor two and it will be inappropriate for the government to adopt different rates for working out land compensation for national and state highways, he stated. However, BJP legislators led by PK Dhumal were adamant that the state should write to the Centre to allow it to adopt factor two while working out the compensation. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur stood up and said though it was the prerogative of the state government under the Land Acquisition Bill to apply factor one or two, Himachal was not in a position to bear the heavy expenditure. This gave reason for the BJP to hit out at the government and it resorted to sloganeering and finally walked out. Dhumal said the internal contradictions in the government had been exposed as Virbhadra and Kaul Singh had taken diametrically opposing positions. Virbhadra said the BJP legislators should indulge in sloganeering in Delhi and not disturb the peace of the Assembly here. The Revenue Minister accused the BJP of trying to gain political mileage from the issue even though they were well aware of the fact that all other BJP-ruled states, including Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab, were giving compensation on the basis of factor one. Earlier, Virbhadra said there were 18 national highways with a length of 2017.19 km and during the last three years another seven had been approved. The Centre has agreed in principle for 56 new highways for which we are giving compensation as per factor one, he said. In reply to another query by Inder Singh, Virbhadra said a sum of Rs 2.05 crore had been spent on purchasing new vehicles for 15 chairmen and Rs 1.23 crore for eight vice-chairmen of various boards and corporations. The vehicles were bought as the old ones had outlived their lives. Most of the vehicles had covered 2 lakh km or were more than eight-year-old. These were bought from the resources of the boards and corporations, he said. Tribune News Service Shimla, August 27 Despite serious reservations by BJP members on the Chief Justice of the High Court being the Chancellor of the proposed law university rather than the Governor and no legislator being on the university court, the Assembly today passed the Himachal Pradesh National Law University Bill 2016. Echoing the reservations of the Opposition, Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj questioned the deviation in the normal practice of the Governor being the Chancellor of any university. We welcome the national university but at the same time why should the Governor not be the Chancellor, he said. He also termed the absence of a provision in the Bill to have MLAs on the university court as insult of the legislature. Bhardwaj said when the role of the executive, judiciary and the legislature was defined then why was the role of the legislature being undermined. Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal said he too fully supported the contentions raised by his colleague as there was also the question of protocol where the Governor was higher than the Chief Justice. Dhumal and other BJP legislators insisted that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee. There is no urgency in the matter as an Ordinance has already been promulgated and after addressing these issues, the Bill can be tabled in the House at a later stage, said Dhumal. However, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh insisted that no deviation had been made in the Bill as this was the pattern followed by all other states where similar universities had come up. Moreover, the Governor and the Chief Justice of the High Court have already discussed the matter so it would be appropriate to pass the Bill, the Chief Minister said. The Assembly also passed the Himachal Pradesh Prohibition of Sale of Loose Cigarettes and Beedies and Regulation of Retail Business of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2016. The Drugs and Cosmetics (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Act 2016 was also passed. The Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Himachal Pradesh Municipal (Amendment) Bill 2016 were also passed by on the last day of the session. Angry, MLA Kalia leaves House A piquant situation arose in the House today as Congress legislator Rakesh Kalia left it after heated exchanges with Speaker BBL Butail as he was denied an opportunity to speak during Question Hour. Kalia who had been persistently seeking the attention of the Speaker to give him time to speak lost his cool when Butail ignored his request and kept giving chance to Opposition members. I am also a member of this house and have the right to speak, he said as he left the House. Seizing the opportunity to put the ruling party on the backfoot, Suresh Bhardwaj immediately demanded action against Kalia for insulting the Speaker. Sensing trouble, the Chief Minister immediately came to the rescue of Kalia and said members of the ruling party too have a right to speak. Butail justified his decision by stating that preference would be given to those who had raised the question and later to others. Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Tral, August 26 Many years ago, a resident here recalls, militant commander Shabir Ahmad of Hayina village of Tral sub-district had a conversation with his father. There should be some solution now, the father had told his militant son. What do you think will happen then? the son had replied. Do you think I will return home? I will move on to fight in Afghanistan or in Palestine, the militant had said. This conversation and many others, spread through the word of mouth, laid the building blocks of myths and legends of Kashmirs new generation of militants, as young men took to a fight where death was the imminent end. Even after facing violent deaths in gunfights, the militants like the Hayina village boy who left home at the age of 16 and was killed seven years later in 2013 live on in legends and folklore, in videos circulated through social media sites, in their voices immortalised in last calls made home from midst of ferocious gun-battles, and in pictures that made their faces familiar to everyone. In Tral sub-district of south Kashmir, home to dozens of villages separated by orchards, lush-green rice fields, streams, and ringed by mountainous jungles where young men escaped to become militants, the seeds of ongoing pro-militants unrest were sown many years ago. It was here that groups of young men some of them with flowing beards and long hair led the beacon of revolt when militants in other parts of the region were struggling with shortages of manpower and arms, and most separatists were reduced in stature by a growing distrust. At the entrance to Tral, near the highway town of Awantipora, graffiti scratched on walls welcome visitors to Burhan Chowk. These pro-militant and anti-India graffiti are a new reality here and sign of a deep anger that has taken over this vast cluster of villages. The widespread wave of sympathy for militants, renewed in Tral in recent years that moved to distant parts of Kashmir in the recent weeks, is now symbolised by Burhans name and pictures. Burhan would always say that he should be the last martyr, Muzafar Wani, the militant commanders father, said. He always wanted that he should first become a martyr and then there should be azadi, he said. The scale and magnitude of the protests sparked by the Burhans killing in a gunfight on July 8 surprised everyone, including his father. I had anticipated there would be a reaction in south Kashmir, but I had never thought this would happen like this, Wani told The Tribune at his home in quiet and shuttered Tral town. Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, August 27 Anger is brewing among a section of Congress leaders against the idea of allowing former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to hijack the all-party delegation which visited New Delhi recently. Congress leaders said there was a perception that by allowing Omar to lead the delegation, the party had missed the opportunity to emerge as a strong political force in the state. Sources said during a meeting convened today by state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir to inform party leaders about the visit, some leaders questioned the decision to allow the National Conference leader to hijack the entire exercise. It appears that the Congress played second fiddle in the exercise and the former CM was given a free hand to take all decisions on behalf of all parties which were part of the delegation, said a source quoting a former minister. The former minister argued that being the principal opposition party in the country, the Congress leadership should play a dominate role in take up the Kashmir unrest at the national level, the source said. Sources said another leader pointed to some statements given by Omar after the meetings, which according to him were not suitable for the Congress line on Kashmir. He said Omars statement from Srinagar on Pakistan had not gone well with Congress workers. The sources said Mir, while defending the decision to let Omar head the delegation, said being a former CM, Omar was the senior most according to protocol and deserved to head the delegation. Among all of us, Omar was the senior most as per protocol so it was a unanimous decision to allow him to head the delegation, said a source quoting Mir. Mir made it clear that the only aim of the all-party delegation was to impress upon the Centre to take some concrete steps to restore sustainable peace in Kashmir. He said becoming a part of the delegation led by Omar did not mean that the Congress would subscribe to the NC stand on Kashmir. Seema Kaul Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 27 Calling for initiation of a dialogue through those whom the Kashmiri people trust, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said the message would be received well only if dialogue initiators had the trust of the Kashmiri people. Addressing the media after meeting the PM here, Mehbooba said, I have hope that when the PM says there will be dialogue, and dialogue with everyone, then it would happen. The Kashmiri people should trust those who begin the dialogue, its only then that whatever they say, the message will be received well. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Those who are provoking the Kashmiri youth to attack army camps, they have no interest in the dialogue; no point talking to them. But there are others who genuinely want peace and are of a different ideology; there should certainly be dialogue with them. It is the 95 per cent people who want a peaceful resolution, the CM said, adding that it is only Indian democracy which had space and freedom to allow the Kashmiri people to dream of living with peace and dignity. I appeal to Pakistan that if it has any sympathy for the Kashmiri youth, then those who provoke the Kashmiri youth to attack army camps and tell them that it is the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue should stop it, she said. Also read: Kashmir is where it was on July 8 Seeds of unrest were sown in Tral Edit: Peace at stake The Prime Minister took a positive step and invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony; and he himself went there too. But, unfortunately, the Pathankot attack happened after that. And now when the situation is bad in Kashmir, instead of trying to improve it, Pakistan is provoking the youth, she said. In such a situation, Home Minister Rajnathji went there for the SAARC ministerial meeting; Pakistan had the golden opportunity, but it did not accord respect to him, she said. Saying that the Prime Minister is pained by the situation in Kashmir, she said he had assured her that the agenda of the alliancewhich included the political process--would be taken forward. So far, the agenda of the alliance has not been taken forward, but the PM has promised me that it will be. We will come out of the circle of bloodshed through the agenda of the alliance that Mufti sahib had hoped for, she added. Tribune News Service Srinagar/jammu, August 26 A day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his two-day Kashmir visit to find ways for an end to the unrest, which enters its 50th day tomorrow, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti flew to New Delhi today where she is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting with the PM, sources said, may take place on Saturday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Centre has also asked Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh to reach Delhi to seek the state BJP units opinion on the prevailing situation in the state before initiating some confidence-building measures. Although the local BJP unit has not been taken on board by the high command on important policy matters on Kashmir, the Deputy CM has reportedly been called to brief him about steps to be initiated at the state governments end to restore normalcy in the Valley. Curfew was extended in towns of South Kashmir today with yet another protester killed in Pulwama during clashes after Friday prayers. A senior government functionary said Mehbooba Mufti would hold discussions in the national capital about the proposed visit of an all-party delegation to Kashmir. Rajnath Singh, while concluding his two-day visit to Kashmir on Thursday, had said that he had conveyed to the Chief Minister that preparations should be made for the visit of an all-party delegation to address the present crisis. The all-party parliamentary delegation is likely to visit the state in the first week of September and meet a cross section of people. Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 27 A policeman was shot dead by suspected militants on Saturday morning, while the body of a youth was fished out of the Jhelum near Sangam in Pulwama district, as the current unrest entered day 50. The police said suspected militants shot at senior-grade constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai from close range at Quil in Pulwama around 6 when he was on his way to work. The injured policeman was shifted to a hospital in Pulwama, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said. J&K Police personnel have become the target of protesters and militants since the eruption of present situation since early July. J&K Police and CRPF personnel have been handling the law-and-order situation in the valley, where normal life has been paralysed with continued curfew and restrictions coupled with separatists-sponsored shutdowns. The body of youth Shahnawaz Ahmad Khan was fished out of the Jhelum on Saturday after he jumped into the river while a group of protesters was being chased by the police at Marhama village at Sangam in Pulwama district on Friday. Two others who had also jumped into the river to escape the chase managed to swim out soon after, while the youth could not be traced on Friday evening. Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in the entire Srinagar district for the second consecutive day on Saturday while restrictions are imposed elsewhere and around security forces installations in view of the separatists protest programme on Saturday. Srinagar remained under curfew to prevent the Eidgah Chalo call by separatists on Friday. Curfew has also been imposed in Anantnag, Pulwama and Pampore towns. Ahead of Saturdays protest programme by the separatists to march towards Armys 15 Corps at Badami Bagh and hand over letters asking them to vacate Jammu and Kashmir, moderate APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained and kept under preventive custody at Chashme Shahi since Friday. SD Sharma According to John Gassner, celebrated authority on aesthetic and professional theatre, The drama is one of the greatest mediums of expression a comprehensive art that is inalienable from civilization. The drama also represents humanity in moments of maximum tension, conflict and crisis to resolve them in broadly human terms. Inspired by the audience response, the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak akademi (CSNA) will hold a four-day National Theatre Festival-2016, from August 29 to September 1, at the Tagore Theatre, Sector 18 Chandigarh from 6: 30 pm onwards. Here is the itinerary. August 29: Urdu play Badnam Manto by Rangkarmee Kolkatta. Director: Usha Ganguli The play chronicles episodes from the life of Sadat Hasan Manto, the writer of merit. Rangkarmee Kolkatta has taken theatre to the US, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well. August 30: Hindi play Please Mat Jao by Third Bell Cultural Society Bhopal. Director: Anoop Joshi The play explores the psyche of a modern lover in search of a rich life partner, who cheats on a sincere, devout but poor girl and later gets deceived by a prostitute. August 31: Hindi play Honeymoon by Manchkriti Lucknow Director: Sangam Bahuguna The play Honeymoon is a hilarious situational comedy arising out of a lies told by a young office assistant about going on a belated honeymoon. September 1: Urdu play Iffaqat by Rang Vishard Natya Sangh, New Delhi. Director: Veena Sharma The historical play recounts the heinous mass killings and looting by invader Nadir Shah in 1739. It draws a comparison with todays scene, which is dominated by terrorism, corruption, social and religious bigotry. Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 26 Decks have been cleared for Rs 1,100-crore elevated road project that will originate from Ferozepur road and lead to the Chandigarh road. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said commuters from other towns and those heading to Chandigarh would not have to enter the city once the project was completed. The Deputy CM said this while addressing traders during a meeting at Nirvana Club on Hambra Road. He claimed that the elevated road would soon become a reality and it would ease traffic to a considerable extent. The elevated road will start from Ferozepur road near the PAU and lead up to the Chandigarh road. Traffic on the Ferozepur road can take the elevated road to reach the Chandigarh road. This will considerably ease traffic chaos in Ludhiana, said Sukhbir Badal. He said the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, would be visiting the city next month to launch work for six-laning of Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway. The widening of the highway will be completed in nearly one and a half years. It will be a pleasure travelling on the stretch, said Badal. He said Rs 500 crore would be spent on building a four-lane expressway which would connect Southern Bypass with National Highway-I. Meanwhile, experts feel the elevated road project appeared to be highly unlikely. The locations from where the elevated road will cross had not been explained, they said. A civic body official said Rs 1,100-crore elevated road project might be a propaganda stunt before the Vidhan Sabha elections scheduled for next year. He said the elevated road proposed to be starting from Ferozepur road may land near Vishwakarma Chowk. He said it was highly unlikely that the elevated road would cross Dhollewal Chowk, Cheema Chowk, Samrala Chowk to touch the Chandigarh road. Power Point presentation The Deputy CM gave a Power Point presentation to apprise traders of the benefit of various tax reforms offered by the government. Besides claiming that Punjab had become a power surplus state, he congratulated Punjab State Power Corporation Limited for standing first in the country and winning the award for effective functioning. He said VAT collection had risen from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore. He also said strict action would be taken against persons indulging in bogus billing. New Delhi, August 26 The whistleblower behind the Scorpene document leak will hand over the disk containing thousands of pages of data detailing the Indian submarines stealth and warfare capabilities to the Australian government on Monday, The Australian newspaper on Saturday said. It said that the identity of the unnamed whistleblower is already known to the Australian authorities. The weekend edition of the newspaper said that neither France nor India knew about the leak till Monday afternoon when it sought a comment from French firm DCNS. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The paper said whistleblower wants Australia to know that its future submarine partner, France, has already lost control over secret data on Indias new submarines. His hope is that this will spur the Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australias 50 billion dollar submarine project does not suffer the same fate, it said. He has not broken any law and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday, the newspaper said. The newspaper said the story behind this leak may be more of incompetence than espionage, more Austin Powers than James Bond. The Weekend Australian has been told by sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS. Sources say they believe this subcontractor somehow copied the sensitive data from DCNS in France and, along with a French colleague, took it to a Southeast Asian country. If so, he broke the law and may face prosecution, the paper said. The two men worked in that Southeast Asian country carrying out unclassified naval defence work. The speculation is that the data on Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officers new job, but it is unclear why anyone would risk breaking the law by taking classified data for such a purpose. The two men are then said to have the fallen out with their employer, a private company run by a Western businessman. They were sacked and refused re-entry to their building. At least one of the men asked to retrieve the data on Scorpene but they were refused and the company possibly not knowing the significance of the data held on to it, the newspaper said. The secret data was then sent to the companys head office in Singapore, where the companys IT chief again probably not knowing its significance tried to load it on an Internet server for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers. The data was placed on a server on April 18, 2013, and it was then that it was dangerously vulnerable to hacking or interception by a foreign intelligence service. It is not known whether the data stayed on this server for a few days or for a year. It is not known if any foreign intelligence service obtained it during this time, the paper said. Unable to send such a large file over the net and not knowing the significance of the data, the Singapore company sent it on a data disk by regular post to Sydney. When the recipient, who was experienced in defence issues, opened the file on his home computer he was stunned. He was expecting to read notes on a low-level naval programme, but before him lay the secret capabilities of the new Indian submarine fleet, the report said. The data was not encrypted so he transferred it to an encrypted disk. That evening the man wiped the old disk with special software, grabbed a hammer and smashed it to pieces in his backyard. He placed the new encrypted disk in a locked filing cabinet in his office and there it remained for more than two years, before he decided to show it to the The Australian, the report said. PTI Hyderabad, August 27 The competitive hero-worship of Telugu film stars has taken a tragic turn in Karnataka as a fan of actor Pawan Kalyan was stabbed to death by a follower of another film star Junior NTR. The incident occurred in Kolar, a small town bordering Andhra Pradesh with significant chunk of Telugu-speaking population, two days ago when a wordy duel between the followers of the two leading stars took an ugly turn. The victim was identified as Vinod Kumar (24), a die-hard fan of Kalyan. He was also a member of Jana Sena, a political outfit floated by the film star. Following widespread outrage, the actor has travelled to Tirupati to meet Kumars family members. This is an unfortunate incident. We, the actors, are like one big family. We dont have any issues among ourselves. Nobody should fight invoking our names. This kind of violence should end, Kalyan said after consoling the family. TNS Seema Kaul Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 27 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today told Prime Minister Narendra Modi it was imperative that the Kashmiris trusted those initiating the peace dialogue. A press statement by the J&K Government later in the day said the CM suggested the involvement of separatists and Pakistan in a substantive dialogue to resolve the Kashmir tangle. During the hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out in the Valley on July 8, Mehbooba laid out a three-pronged action plan for resolving the Kashmir issue, said official sources, without giving any details. A PTI report said the plan included facilitating the visit of an all-party delegation to the Valley next week, a possible change of Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all stakeholders. Mehbooba said, all parties, including Hurriyat leaders, should come forward for parleys. Pointing out that she had been in power for barely two months, the 57-year-old CM appealed to those protesting on the streets to give her a chance to address their concerns. Addressing the media later, Mehbooba said: I have hope that when the PM says there will be dialogue, it will involve everyone. The people of Kashmir should trust those who begin the dialogue. Only then their message will be received well. Seeking that the political process initiated by the then Vajpayee-NDA government be revived, she said: We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left (in 2005). Reiterating that 95% people in Kashmir wanted lasting peace, Mehbooba said Indian democracy allowed space and freedom to the Kashmiri people to live in peace and with dignity. Appealing to Pakistan, she said if it had any sympathy for the Kashmiri youths, it should stop those provoking them to attack Army camps. The Prime Minister took a positive step in inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony and he himself paid him a visit. But all this changed after the Pathankot attacks and now when the situation in Kashmir is bad, Pakistan is provoking the youths, she said, adding peace and stability in the region was in Pakistan's interest too. Mehbooba said the Prime Minister had assured her that the agenda of the PDP-BJP alliance, which comprised political, economic and development initiatives, would be executed in letter and spirit. With the PM promising to take the agenda forward, we will be able to come out of the cycle of bloodshed, just as Mufti Sahib had hoped for, she said. On the all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir, the J&K Chief Minister was hopeful it would lend its ear to different shades of opinion and elicit the views of all stake-holders to find a way forward. Ahmedabad, August 27 Patidar leader Hardik Patel has demanded release of Patidar youngsters convicted in various cases related to the Gujarat riots of 2002. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patel has listed 102 people who were given life terms in the riots in which hundreds of people were killed in 2002. "Everybody knows that Narendra Modi first became chief minister of Gujarat taking the benefit of 2002 riots and then become Prime Minister of the country," Hardik Patel said in the letter on Saturday as he accused Modi of being responsible for the carnage. "Many Patidar youths have been sentenced (by courts) in riots cases. I have given a list below," he said in the letter. "All these Patel youths are rotting in jails of Gujarat. Modiji is now Prime Minister. He can recommend to the President for release of Patel youths involved in riots and get them released." "But, I know Modiji will not do that as he wants to show the country and the world that he is a secular person. Modiji has misused Gujaratis, particularly Patidars." Patel was told not to remain in Gujarat for six months a condition for his bail and is currently in Udaipur. The Patidar leader has been at the helm of the Patel campaign for reservations. After the reservation became violent in August last year some 11 people, a policeman among them, were killed in the violence that followed a huge rally on August 25 Patel and some of his companions were charged with sedition. Some of his old associates, such as Ketan Patel and Chirag Patel who also faced sedition charges with Hardik Patel had accused him of amassing wealth under pretext of the agitation. Hundreds of people mostly Muslims were killed in carnage in 2002, while Modi was chief minister of Gujarat. Supreme Courts Special Investigative Team cleared Modi of complicity in 2012. Agencies New Delhi, August 27 A Delhi court has asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi to respond to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy application seeking some documents from the party and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) in the National Herald case. Besides the Gandhis, the others who received the notice were Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, veteran journalist Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda. The respondents all of them accused of financial misdealings have been given two weeks time to reply. The court will now hear the case on October 4. In his application, Swamy said he wanted documents relating to a loan extended by the Congress to AJL the holding firm of former Congress mouthpiece the National Herald he claimed were pertinent to the case. He also wanted some documents that AJL filed in the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and some papers from the Department of Income Tax (DoT) in relation to income tax returns filed by the firm. The documents sought from AJL included "authorisation by the members of the AJL to borrow monies in excess of its paid- up capital and free reserve of AJL, relevant extracts from the books of accounts of AJL during the period of loan and documents by which the loan was converted into shares in the books of AJL". Swamy also wanted documents of the Congress from the year in which it wrote off the loan to the firm. The new application comes more than a month after the Delhi High Court set aside a lower courts order in which it asked the party and AJL to provide Swamy balance sheets for financial year 2010-11 and also asked the Finance Ministry and other government departments to provide the documents Swamy wanted. Swamy accused the suspects, among them Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) a non-profit organisation of having embezzled funds. The paper a Congress mouthpiece launched by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1930s stopped publishing in 2008. Agencies Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 27 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has shot off a stern letter to France seeking immediate details of the data-leak case pertaining to the six Scorpene-class submarines being built in India. Terming the availability of data in open domain as alarming, Parrikar has asked for each detail, including facets of a secret probe launched in Paris. The Australian, a Sydney-based newspaper reported on Wednesday how 22,400 pages detailing the combat and performance capabilities of six Scorpene-class submarines produced by India in partnership with French company DCNS have been leaked. The French government holds some 62% stake in DCNS. Publically, Parrikar, while talking to the media in India, has assuaged the fears that the data-leak is not a big worry. His letter to France seeks greater details and has the blessing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was briefed on the subject in detail and how in the worst case scenario meaning some of the 22,400 pages contain data that is actually the same as India-specific scorpene there are issues of concern. Senior government officials have been told hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The best-case scenario is the leaked documents are irrelevant to the India-specific Scorpene submarines. The worst-case scenario is that the data on the signatures, acoustics and weapons systems land in the hands of potential adversaries. There are some areas of concern assuming the worst-case scenario, Parrikar had said yesterday. The Good and the bad for India In India, the sea trials of the submarines are still on, hence its noise emission levels, distinct signature that help enemy submarine hunters, do not form a part of the data. Weapons data is with us, Parrikar had assured yesterday. The nature of weapons, its firing abilities, and underwater noise following the release of the weapons do not form part of the data leak. Minutes after Parrikar said this in New Delhi the reporter for the newspaper, Cameron Stewart, tweeted this evening: Indias Defence Minister says leaked data on Scorpene submarines does not include weapons systems. Wrong. We will release weapons docs (documents) on Monday. The Australian does not have an edition on Sunday morning; hence, the next tranche is expected on Monday. The newspaper has clarified that portions of the documents have been redacted/blackened out to protect Indian security interests. The original documents do not have any such mask. Ahmedabad, August 27 An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 on the Richter scale on Saturday shook parts of Saurashtra region in Gujarat, causing brief panic among residents but there was no report of any casualty or damage to property. The quakes epicentre was located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mangrol in Junagadh district, around 300 km from here, an official of the Institute of Seismological Research (IRS) at Gandhingar said. The 3.8-magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre located 47 km west-southwest of Mangrol, hit Saurashtra at 12:23 pm, the official said, adding an aftershock was also recorded seven minutes later. An aftershock of 2.5 magnitude was also felt with its epicentre 54 km west-southwest of Mangrol, he said, adding the impact on land was not much as the epicentre of the quake was located in the Arabian Sea. The tremor caused brief panic among residents of Mangrol, Junagadh city and adjoining areas in the district, but no casualty or damage to property was reported, Junagadh Collector Rahul Gupta said. It was a mild tremor. We have not received any report of damage or casualty, Gupta said. PTI Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 27 New Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw today arrived in India on his first overseas visit since assuming leadership of his country this March. Interestingly, Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi travelled to Beijing last week where she was accorded a red carpet welcome. A balancing act has been done by Myanmar as it forges ahead in its foreign policy. For Myanmar, both India and China are strategically important and these visits testify to the fact that India will have to compete with China in its neighbourhood again. Suu Kyi is expected to travel to India later this year to attend BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). China rewarded Suu Kyi on choosing it over India. The reward was a letter by three ethnic rebel groups, with close ties to China, which declared their intention to give up violence and to join the peace conference that Suu Kyi is expected to convene later this month. This also puts pressure on India to quickly pick the pace of its relations with Myanmar. But, China is not the only country eyeing Myanmar, which is finally opening up to the world. The United States also wants to be player in this region and Suu Kyi would be travelling to the White House soon to seal that bond. Htin Kyaw will spend the weekend visiting Gaya and Agra and would arrive in the capital Monday when he would start his official engagements. Kyaw would hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the two leaders are expected to discuss the situation along the India-Myanmar border. Both countries share a 1,640-km-long border and one of Indias concerns has been the presence of insurgent groups along the border. Ahead of Kyaws visit, India categorically denied reports that its Army had crossed over into Myanmar. India maintained that both India and Myanmar operate on respective side of our border. During her recent visit to Myanmar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was given an assurance by the Myanmar leadership that they would not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. Rajgir (Bihar), August 27 President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday attended the maiden convocation ceremony of Nalanda University and launched the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the sprawling university campus here, an official said. President Mukherjee awarded degrees to 12 students of the first batch of the university. President awarded gold medals to two students and degrees to 10 students at the first convocation ceremony of Nalanda University, an official said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Chancellor of the university George Yeo and former Chancellor Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen were also present at the ceremony. Besides, representatives of eight countries participated in the ceremony. The university is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda University stood till the 12th century, when it was razed by an invading Turkish army. According to officials, the students awarded degrees by the President had joined the two inaugural schoolsThe School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies - in the two-year Masters Programme. The university will be admitting a new batch of students in August and will also start the new schoolthe School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university currently has two functional divisions: the School of Historical Studies and the School of Environment and Ecological Studies. It started its first academic session in September 2014 in a makeshift campus. The fully-residential university is set to be completed by 2020. It will eventually have seven schools for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality and social sciences. Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. It is the second most visited tourist place in the Buddhist circuit in Bihar after Bodh Gaya, considered as the birthplace of Buddhism. Rajgir (then Rajagriha) was the first capital of the Magadha kingdom and one of the favourite places of the Buddha. The university is an initiative of the Indian government and 18 East Asian countries. IANS Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 Lt Gen Surinder Singh, tipped to take over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Chandimandir-based Western Command, has been attached to the Deputy Chief of Army Staffs branch at Army Headquarters on a supernumerary post till the time he takes over as the Western Army Commander. Lt Gen Surinder Singh, an officer from the Brigade of The Guards, was the GOC, 33 Corps, at Sukna near Siliguri. Lt Gen SK Jha is taking over from him. Another officer, Lt Gen DR Soni, is tipped to be elevated as Army Commander, and is expected to move to Shimla to head the Army Training Command, whose present chief, Lt Gen PM Hariz is said to move as the Southern Army Commander. Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, present Southern Army Commander, will move as Vice Chief of Army Staff when the incumbent retires at the end of this month. Lt Gen JS Cheema, GOC, 11 Corps, at Jalandhar has been officiating as the Western Army Commander since August 1, when Lt Gen KJ Singh retired. Lt Gen Cheema would be moving to Army Headquarters as Director General Infantry after handing over charge to Lt Gen BS Sehrawat. Both Lt Gen Cheema and Lt Gen Surinder Singh are of 1979 seniority and became corps commanders at roughly the same time about a year ago. These movements are part of a series of postings of lieutenant generals in command as well as staff appointments, many of which had been pending for some time. A delay of about a month in issuing posting orders of several top rung officers, including army commanders and corps commanders, is highly unusual on the part of the Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters. Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 27 Ahead of Assembly elections in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab, the BJP is going all out to establish and emphasise its pro-poor credentials. The party today decided to constitute a high-level committee comprising three Chief Ministers to formulate its garib kalyan agenda. Revising the roti, kapda aur makan slogan with literacy, employment and health, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, Roti, kapda makaan; padhai, kamai aur dawai ka intezaam formed the crux of the day-long meeting of BJP Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and the state presidents. The meeting was addressed by the party top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief Amit Shah and senior leaders. This is the first such meeting since the party came to power in the Centre in May 2014. It is part of the series that Shah and the PM are holding to improve coordination between the Centre and the states on various schemes run for poor people, farmers, women, youth, health and employment. Briefing mediapersons about the proposed garib kalyan agenda, Chouhan, who is part of the committee designated with the job, said the aim is to construct a common roadmap with a common lakshaya(goal) that all states could follow. Elections or politics were not a reason behind the endeavour, he insisted. Concluding the session, the PM also urged the states to implement the Centres pro-poor schemes in a proper and effective manner. He appreciated the efforts made by the states and asked them to ensure 100 per cent implementation of the schemes. States gave presentations on individual schemes being run by them which the others could adopt and emulate. In his opening remarks earlier in the day, Shah, while asserting that his party had ushered in an era of politics of performance, asked the CMs to make their states an effective instrument for execution of the Modi governments pro-poor and good governance agenda. He said the BJP ruled over 51 per cent of the countrys land mass. Hence, party-ruled states could play a key role in implementing the Centres welfare policies the 80 schemes launched by it. New Delhi, August 27 Asserting that the BJP has ushered in an era of "politics of performance", its president Amit Shah on Saturday asked the party's chief ministers to make their states an effective instrument for execution of the Centre's "pro-poor" and "good governance" agenda. Noting that the party rules over 51 per cent of the country's landmass and 37 per cent population, he said states would play a key role in the success of the Modi government's welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it. Shah made these remarks in his inaugural address of the one-day meeting of the party's chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and its president in these states. This is first such meeting since it came to power in the Centre in May 2014 and comes days after Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out the party's "pro-poor and good governance" agenda at a meeting of core committees of state units. With the party and its governments facing attack from the opposition over issues concerning Dalits and minorities, it believes that a stronger emphasis on welfare schemes, especially targeting the poor, can firewall it against adverse political outcome and instead help it reach out to the weaker sections. "BJP has started in the country an era of politics of performance. The state governments of the BJP have been re-elected time and again on the basis of perfomance... It is the joint responsibility of the central and state governments that we together build a pro-poor welfare state and change the life of the common man," he said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told a press conference later that Shah sought effective execution of central policies. All the states also made a presentation of their work and what they plan to do, especially in the field of agriculture, woman empowerment and employment, he said. All chief ministers except Vasundhara Raje of Rajasthan attended the exercise. She was represented by a senior minister, Fadnavis said. He added that governance and not politics was the agenda of the meeting, when he was asked if recent controversies or UP elections also figured in the deliberations. The chief ministers' meet has been divided into six segments, including inaugural session, the agenda of welfare of poor, presentation by CMs of successful schemes that can be replicated in other states, presence of BJP governments on social media, challenges and efforts to take them on and concluding ceremony. Shah said the Modi government has started a new era whether in terms of the country's defence or people's welfare or enhancing the nation's prestige. "The country and the world can feel a new India," he said while adding that states will have to play an important role in transforming the country. "If we can bring out a change in states ruled by us, then a big part of the country can experience good governance," he said. States are the "vehicle" successfully implementing flagship central schemes, Jan Dhan, urban and rural housing, Mudra and health and life insurance programmes. Fadnavis said chief ministers also deliberated over whether they can arrive at a common threshold, which he defined as a set of schemes which all the party-rules states can roll out fully. A decision is likely to be taken by the end of the meeting. How the poor like scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the OBCs can get jobs, education, medicine and employment was also deliberated, he said. The use of Information-Technology to simplify the government's work was also discussed. He said a review of the party-run state governments was done and they were all doing "very well". Shah said the Modi government had ended the confusion that plagued the earlier governments on whether to give priority to rural or urban India, reforms or welfare, small scale industry or big industries. It struck a balance and gave priority to all these fields. "Without paying attention to vote bank concerns we have implemented the reform agenda with firmness and also laid foundation for many welfare schemes to build a welfare state," he said. The meeting comes in the wake of a day-long workshop of the party's core committee leaders of states on Tuesday in which Modi pitched for reaching out to all sections of society, especially the poor, while Shah underlined the need for expanding the organisation and greater coordination. PTI Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, August 27 Incessant rainfall in the Malwa belt of Punjab for the past 24 hours has raised the eyebrows of the farming community. They fear that the rainfall may hit the early sown varieties of both paddy and cotton, the main crops of the region. Besides, it can also increase the threat of pest attack due to hot and humid weather conditions. However, senior authorities of the state Agriculture Department and the state agriculture university claimed that there was no threat to the crops, except for a small pocket of few villages in the Mansa district where white fly has been spotted on the cotton plants. However, the rain was likely to wash away white fly in a natural way, they said. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University, and Dr Jasbir Singh Bains, Director of the state Agriculture Department, along with the agriculture scientists of the Malwa belt and the adjoining belts of Haryana and Rajasthan, held a review meeting at Abohar today. They also visited the fields in the nearby areas. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Bains said farmers needed to be careful if rain continued for another couple of days. They should drain out extra water from the inundated fields. The farmers had been advised to spray potassium nitrate and magnesium sulphate on the early sown varieties of paddy, he added. In parts of the Mansa belt, where white fly has been spotted, the farmers have been asked to spray oberon pesticide, said Dr Sukhdev Singh Sidhu, deputy director of the Agriculture Department. On the other hand, normal life was disrupted in Moga, Kotkapura, Ferozepur, Abohar, Baghapurana, Nihalsinghwala, Fazilka, Bathinda, Muktsar and many other cities and towns of the state. Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput have been blessed with a baby girl. Mira was rushed to Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital, Mumbai on Thursday. The good news came after 24 hours of waiting. She gave birth to the baby doll on Friday evening at 7:56 pm. It was a normal delivery. The new-born weighs 2.8 kg, and was delivered under the medical expertise of Dr Kiran Coelho. Shahid shared the news and announced the arrival on Twitter. He wrote, She has arrived and words fall short to express our happiness. Thank you for all your wishes. This is definitely a big news and everyone around and in the industry has been congratulating the couple and showering their love and blessings on the little girl. Anushka Sharma Congratulations to both of you & lots of love & good health for the baby girl !!! Alia Bhatt Congratulationssssssss to the most amazing couple @shahidkapoor @MiraRajput !!!!! Cant wait to see this beautiful baby girl!!!! Karan Johar Huge congratulations to @shahidkapoor and Mira....nothing more precious than a baby girl....lots of love.... Riteish Deshmukh Congratulations @shahidkapoor & Mira on birth of an angel. Welcome to the club my friend. Love & blessings to the little one. Farah Khan Heartfelt Congratulations 2 Mira n @shahidkapoor. God bless ur lil Angel.. N any advice u need Im thrice qualified Preity Zinta Congrats my dear @shahidkapoor & the beautiful Mira on the arrival of their little Princess.. Loads of love, happiness & more love always Suniel Shetty @shahidkapoor Congratulations Shahid & Mira. Life is going to be beautiful like never before! Harish Khare AS Punjab inches towards an Assembly election early next year, political leaders, parties and groups are entering into a new relationship with the media. They are rightly anxious to have their message sent across to the voters. And, it is only natural that they should be getting itchy, being uptight, making all sorts of demands some reasonable, but mostly unreasonable on the reporters and newspapers. We at The Tribune find ourselves in a rather happy situation. Almost all seem to be equally unhappy with us. The Akali Dal bosses are very annoyed with us because of our critical comments and reportage of their party and the government. So much so, these bosses, who think that the Government of Punjab is a private estate, have exercised the only power they have a firman has been issued to discontinue advertisements for The Tribune. The Badals, to be fair to them, are not the first to think they can browbeat The Tribune. Many other powerful chief ministers have tried this trick and lived long thereafter to regret it. Then we have the Congress party bosses who are inclined to blame the media for their electoral campaign not taking off. They are not happy that internal bickering in the party gets reported. Some of them are annoyed because of what we say about the Aam Adami Party. This seems to me a bit unfair. This is, as they say in Hindi, a zabardasti ka saauda. Even before they have been voted to power, they feel they are entitled to feel irked at what we say and report about others. And then, there is the AAP crowd and its numerous power centres. The thekedars get annoyed because each and every word they utter does not get reported. Happily, the BJP has outsourced its fortunes and reputation to its coalition partners. We rarely hear from them. The Tribune coverage and comments are invariably driven by professional journalistic considerations. It is just as good a time as any to reassure our readers that our reportage of the forthcoming elections would continue to be critical, competent, comprehensive, fair, balanced irrespective of the advertisements and in spite of the expressions of annoyance. That is our self-defined karma. After all, the new and old political bosses may not be aware that The Tribunes greatest strength is its readers and their respect and confidence. A politicians approval or disapproval has no relevance. ON Friday, the Haryana Assembly witnessed an extraordinary departure from the secular norms of our constitutional arrangement. A religious guru a Jain monk who has some sort of television show of his own was invited to address the Assembly. The monk sat on a platform higher than that of the Governor (who chose to put in an appearance), the Chief Minister and the Speaker. He was stark naked, as one agitated bureaucrat reported to me. According to newspaper reports, the Jain monk was in a mood to berate the parliamentarians, shouting political formulations, making unseemly sociological observations, chastising one and all. It is difficult to understand how anyone would be feeling wiser or spiritually nobler after this harangue. More importantly, one of the most cherished principles of our constitutional order is deemed to be the internal autonomy of the legislature. No one not even the judiciary is allowed to interfere ordinarily in the working of a legislature. The favourite phrase used is sadan ki garima (dignity, aura of the legislature). There was nothing spiritual or uplifting about the Friday experiment. It was blatant use of religiosity for political purposes. And, it now transpires that the pravachan would not even be part of the Haryana Assembly proceedings. Is there no one in the whole of Haryana or beyond to tell the Chief Minister that this guru business was not the healthiest of his initiatives? A rather unhappy precedent has been set. The door has been opened for the others. And, where will it stop? Next, there will be pressure on the Chief Minister to invite this guru or that baba for a sermon. And, we do know how many of these very gurus are using the faith and respect of their followers in their spiritual prowess to make a fast buck. That same evening, television anchors were berating the Muslim clergy for dissenting from the Bombay High Court ruling that has allowed women to enter the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali shrine. These angry anchors demanded to know whether India was a land to be governed by the Constitution of India or by the shariat. The same question can be asked of the powers-that-be in Haryana. AND suddenly there is all this excitement about Balochistan. Balochistan? I am not sure very many people can name one or two big towns in Balochistan. In our popular discourse about Pakistan, we are somewhat familiar with names like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. And, of course, Peshawar. Often, on the menus of eating joints we find a Peshawari naan. Once in a while, in our five-star hotels, we come across a restaurant named Baloch. That is about all. No one talks of Quetta. Not even in Bollywood films. Our desi James Bonds are never sent to perform their magical tricks in Quetta. My own childhood recollection is of the talk of the Quetta earthquake. I had this uncle who used to spin this yarn about his experience of the Quetta earthquake (of 1935). Apparently, he had gone from Delhi to Quetta to appear in some kind of civil service examination. Of course, he did not make it because of the earthquake, he would recall. A day before the test, there was a massive quake in Quetta. On my nine-year-old impressionable mind is imprinted this nugget of his tall tale: how he had witnessed a massive bull getting flipped over many times as the tremors were felt. Many, many years later, I was to discover that this was all a cock-and-bull story my uncle had been telling all those years. A few years ago, I came across a book, Viceroys Agent by Charles Chenevix Trench, a gripping account of the Indian Political Service, one of the major instruments of control and administration in the British Raj in the princely India. In the chapter on Baluchistan, I was to learn that the earthquake had in fact taken place on the night of May 31, 1935. But there was no way my uncle could have been out in the market, watching the bull flip over many a time. Are we getting sucked into another cock-and-bull kind of a Balochistan fantasy? I am tempted to cite a recent book on the American foreign policy: Alter Egos by Mark Landler. It is a very competent and racy narrative about President Obama, and his partnership with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as they reworked the American foreign and strategic policies. Mark Landler describes a scene. President Obama ambles down to the press section of the Air Force One and engages the reporters in a tense conversation over their failure to appreciate his foreign policy, and, then, tersely, sums up his working philosophy: Do not do stupid shit. There is a view of history. According to it, statesmen are ordinary political leaders who avoid making silly and stupid mistakes. This is very much relevant in the sudden change in our stance on Balochistan. It is the most opaque and most mysterious shift. No discussion, no debate. Instead, the professional foreign policy experts are busy competing with one another to suggest what a bold and adventurous move we have made. I am sure there are people in the South Block who have read Alter Egos. I am not sure if someone has invoked the do not do stupid shit. But someone should tell the Prime Minister of President Obamas epigram. After all Barack is his best friend. After these rather serious-sounding thoughts, it is time for a hot cup of coffee. Do join me. kaffeeklatsch@tribuneindia.com Saba Naqvi We have to start talking of the growing acceptance and adherence within India to a puritanical and intolerant form of Islam that is devoid of colour, music or poetry. Its happening in our country partly as part of a global trend, but also because insecure people alienated from larger society are barricading themselves behind the veil of a much more self conscious Islamic identity. This is also part of the unfolding processes in Kashmir, where new identities are being forged and loyalties tested. But its been happening across India. This is not something that can be linked solely to political changes in the country, as the Congress has also played its part in patronizing a particular clerical class that has promoted an exclusivist Islam. Last week I went to the Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi with four class 12 students including my daughter. The CBSE history syllabus has a chapter on Bhakti-Sufi traditions so I had fixed up some interviews for the kids including one with a young man who proudly carries the name Nizami (they are descendents of families that were companions to the Sufi). He spoke from the heart about the inclusive nature of his version of Islam: this is a place for everyone to worship, he told the students, not just Muslims. But later in a private chat with me over the backdrop of qawwalis, he said that sadly the Sufi way was being lost, the Wahabi interpretation is gaining ground because of the money and influence they have. Part of the problem I believe is in the condition of the popular Sufi shrines themselves. For instance Hazrat Nizamuddin himself espoused expansive humanist ideas that can be described as genuinely secular. But what a casual visitor would see today at the dargah is people asking for money at every stage of the worship. People asking for and being given alms is part of the tradition; it is the multitude of rapacious intermediaries to the divine at Nizamuddin and the Dargah at Ajmer, housing the tomb of the founder of the Chisti order, that interrupt any possible contemplation of a higher philosophical tradition. To an extent it is a reflection of the ghettos in which Muslims increasingly live. Compare this with the cleanliness and order at gurdwaras where the philosophical aspect of the faith is still transmitted. I make this point as Sikhism is often seen as deeply influenced by the Bhakti movement and Sufi-Bhakti impacted each other. Indeed one of the significant saints of the Chisti order is Baba Farid, many of whose verses are included in the Guru Granth Saheb. But I digress, as my visit to the dargah reminded me of what I learnt earlier this month in Pune, Maharashtra where I had gone for a book release. I was told local residents wanted to have an interaction with me. Around 30 people had gathered, a mix of rationalists linked to the movement of the slain activist Narendra Dabholkar, people who worked with the great trade unionist and social activist Baba Adhav, journalists and writers who were attempting to bring out an independent publication, grassroots workers and just concerned citizens, five of whom happened to be Muslims. This was a private meeting and concerns were expressed about how low density violence by resurgent Hindu groups, their motivations, political backing, economic underpinnings to the project et all. But a senior Muslim resident of Pune had another concern: the change in his community. There were 200 Muslim families in his village and none of the women were in purdah; now 199 (that only excluded his family) have adopted the veil and have become followers of the Tablighi Jamaat version of Islam that advocates a rigid code for dress, behavior and personal conduct. Earlier, Muslim villagers would participate in Hindu festivals; now they think that would be haraam so stay away. Visiting dargahs is also haraam as are qawwalis, hence an entire way of worship is being slowly abandoned. A small dargah in his village is now the centre of a property dispute, but many Muslims do not seem to care. There were three Muslim student activists too born and raised in the small towns and villages of Maharashtra, who spoke of the strain of being trapped between communalism on one side and increasing isolation and puritanism on the other. These were all depressing stories of a changing world. At the same time one of them said that just when so many bad things happen there are so many good people who fight against it. That he said gives him hope that all is not lost. Vandana Shukla in Chandigarh It is not exactly a story about a convicted storyteller, but a story nonetheless, of how raconteurs like him told their tales, sometimes into the night, and how they gave birth to an art known as dastangoi. First, the dastan of a protagonist: Mahmood Farooqui, a Rhodes Scholar, who studied history at Oxford University, is credited with reviving the lost art in India. Farooqui was accused of raping a research scholar from Columbia University on April 18. On August 5, he became the first in the country to get a sentence of seven-year rigorous imprisonment for forcing oral sex on a victim by a fast-track court which held him guilty of rape. Before films and television, datangos or kissagos, were the verbal entertainers, spread across Asia and Middle East, around 16th century. Their audiences would sit through the night enraptured; entangled into the tales of aiyyari and tilism (trickery and suspense), narrated with an overflow of lyrical Urdu vocabulary. Emperor Akbar is said to be an accomplished dastango himself, who had commissioned an illustrated version of the Hamzanama, which consisted of 1,200 folios, with text inscribed at the back, a kind of proto-television used for audio-visual narration. The art proliferated in Lucknow post 1857 epic battle against the British, and vanished gradually. The last well-known Indian dastango, Mir Baqar Ali, died in 1918. For reviving the Indo-Islamic extemporaneous storytelling art, Farooqui enjoyed popularity since 2005, when he first staged dastangoi shows. He was also the co-director of Peepli Live, a much acclaimed film. The more important issue is: would dastangoi survive after the fall of its hero? Among those who dared to leave was Fauzia, the first woman dastango in India, who walked out for lack of ethics and professionalism. The risk of leaving a well-established dastango, whose name was enough to bag the prime culture shows, didnt deter her. Daughter of a scooter mechanic, Fauzia comes from the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi, who received all her education in Urdu medium. I never got due recognition because I was a stickler to ethics, she says without regret. Work and support, both came from friends and well wishers like Sadia Dehlvi, Suhail Hashmi and Rakhshanda Jalil, who suggested she pick the themes of dastan which carry the flavour of the struggles of her life. Dastangoi is an excellent medium to sensitize people about feminist issues without offending or hurting. I have adapted Ghummi Kababi by Ashraf Subuhi Dehlvi, Nanhi Ki Naani by Ismat Chughtai and Akeela Khala by Intizar Hussain. The tales reflect my personality. Fauzia has made a name for herself as a dastango, by performing at places like Bhopal and Lucknow. She has trained Fazal Rashid, to be her partner dasnango. Nadeem Shah, assistant professor of medieval history, Delhi University, and Shankar Hussain, an educationist, working for Unesco, left Farooqui, because they felt they didnt have either creative freedom to grow or recognition to earn. An art form is bigger than even its best proponents, says Danish Hussain, Farooquis partner in dastangoi shows since 2005, and also a witness in the infamous rape case. Harvinder Khetal To wear it or not to wear it. That is the question. We women are always at a loss when it comes to deciding the dress for an event. Our wardrobes maybe overflowing, but we feel we have "nothing appropriate" when the occasion arises. We fret and fume while picking on pret wear (casual ready-to-wear clothing) or haute couture (French phrase meaning high fashion). That's a normal, universal feeling and the most common topic talked about in our circles. It is equally commonplace that ultimately what we choose to wear becomes grist for bitchy gossip behind our backs, of course. Men making jokes out of the situation say: "My wife has two complaints: nothing to wear and not enough closet space." But, that's okay. But, what's not okay is people telling us whether to wear it or not to wear it. Freedom to choose holds good both ways: I must be free to pick or discard an item of clothing. If I pick a garment due to my religious belief or my sense of modesty, so be it. At the same time, if I find the imposition of a certain piece of clothing appalling, so be it. I remember when I was studying in Panjab University in the early nineties the days of terrorism in Punjab a dress code was sought to be dictated to us students. No jeans and skirts for girls, was the diktat of some self-styled defenders of I-don't-know-what. Incidentally, nobody banned the boys from being clad in jeans! To be told to not wear western wear was reprehensible as it did not respect my rightful right. Of course, I exercised my will to choose my clothes. Bans generally don't work. As this widespread anger over the latest ban on wearing of the burkini in the beach by the French and some other Europeans shows. A burkini is a combination of the words burqa and bikini. It's a hooded swimsuit for women that covers the body, leaving only the face, hands and feet exposed. While seeking to liberate women (mostly Muslims) from perceived oppression and patriarchy, the prohibition of the burkini, ironically, infringes on their freedom to select their apparel. This fight featuring the fusion of faith, fun and fashion is furiously figuring in feminist and freedom fora, ruffling many a feather, forging foes and friendsand forcing the Frenchmen to revisit their facts. As I saw pictures of the French policemen asking that lady on the beach to remove her burkini in view of the ban and don a bikini, I was struck by the contrast of the situation of a few decades ago when the Europeans were banning the itsy bitsy bikini! In fact, earlier men even wanted the women to cover their ankles, lest a lusty lecher get excited! It's also a case of the clash and the contrast in the cultures. While one school of thought gives credence to covering up as a sign of civilisation, the other considers casting away clothing to be chic. A spate of terror attacks in Belgium, France and Germany has sharpened the debate, with a large influx of mainly Muslim migrants to the continent also giving rise to resentment among some Europeans. Perhaps, they could learn a thing or two from the women's beach volleyball game of the recent Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The picture of an Egyptian athlete in a burkini and a German player in a bikini mirroring each other while jumping high after the ball is a perfect visual that portrays the Olympic spirit of "blending sport with culture and education." It reminds me of a conversation I had with my Spanish teacher in Delhi around five years ago. I asked her what she missed about Spain in India. She said: "I miss the freedom to wear revealing clothes here." With the 2010 ban on the burqa and niqab and now the burkini, France is charged with being anti-Muslim. However, even Sikhs in France are fighting that their children be allowed to attend public schools wearing a turban. They hope to get an exemption to the ban on religious symbols in French state schools. By the way do you know the difference between a burqa, niqab, hijab and burkini? A hijab is a headscarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear; the niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf. The burqa is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body,. And, of course, now you know the burkini, right? hkhetal@gmail.com Kuldeep Chauhan in Kotgarh & Prashant Saxena in Chandigarh Markets test the best, and no matter what, it's the profit that counts. Munch it on this apple season: the Kinnauri variety stacked up neatly in a fruit shop near your home stands face-to-face with its American counterpart, both claiming to be scrumptious, juicy and delicious to the last piece. Your split-second verdict is: let's try the costlier, exotic American one, its colour outshining its competitor, its heavier look outweighing your price options. Something of the sort happened in Europe a few years ago, until the European Food Safety Authority decided to ban the import of American apple after tests confirmed that chemical diphenylamine, or DPA, was used in excess of the prescribed rules. The chemical is used to prevent 'storage scalding' (the brown spots that apples develop). On its own, the chemical was found harmless, but lab testing result was scary: DPA has the potential to break down into family of carcinogens (cancer causing substances). The EFSA banned DPA's use on apples in 2012. Then the agency cut down the tolerable level of DPA on imported apples. In 2014, the US Department of Agriculture reportedly found DPA residues on 80% of US-grown apples. The average reading of DPA was reportedly found to be about four times the new European limit. The first thing is: we look safer; DPA is banned in India if the stockists are to be believed. And most apple growers struggling with hit-and-trial methods to raise the production and quality of the fruit in Himachal say scientists should check the DPA use by private players in their stores. Dr Kamal Thakur, professor of food science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, says no study has so far been done on the chemical substance. The lack of awareness and any workable research is shocking for a state that boasts of Rs 3,500-crore apple trade. The haphazard way the apple is grown in the state has forced the government to come out with a Rs 1,160 crore horticulture modernization project this year. It aims at setting up "virtual fruit factories" (where a farmer can produce good sized, colour & shape varieties as per consumer demands) to rejuvenate the sick industry. Struggling farmers Sample this: In the apple belt of the state, from Kotgarh to Maroag in Chopal, traditional orchardists end up producing 5-7 tons per hectare compared with 50 tons per hectare in the US, world's second largest apple producer. Horticulturists in Himachal attribute US's high productivity to mechanized virtual "fruit factories" and also to cultivation in flat lands, whereas Himachal has high slopes that make cultivation a tough task. Most farmers say they still remain "shoot growers rather than fruit growers" as they lack proper support from the government-run research and development and extension service establishment. The growers, some of them convent-educated, are bitterly complaining that they are losing out to China and the highly developed global markets dominated by root-stock apple varieties. Government failure The farmers blame low productivity on failure of government to promote low gestation fruit varieties (root stock) that yield 40-50 tons per hectare besides lack of irrigation facilities and crop failures attributed to bad weather which damages roughly 40% crop each year. Hari Roach, a pioneer in root stock apple plants, arranged imported plant material from abroad. "It cost me Rs 410 per plant, but the plant material was not virus free. But who will tell farmers at what elevation, which soil is best suited for which root stocks?" he asked. The wide gaps in cultivation has resulted in most Himachal farmers continuing with the traditional royal, red and golden delicious that Satyanand Stokes had introduced when he arrived back in Kotgarh from US in 1916. A few bolder among them are planting new high-density root-stock apple varieties that yield fruit in two to three years. They are replacing the traditional seedling apple cultivars which give them fruit after 10 years. To meet water demands, they block drains in winter that enables soil to absorb water. "The new root-stock plant is the answer as it needs less labour and management. We need a support system to save the plant from wind and snow storms," says Lakshman Thakur, a farmer. "We gain about Rs 10 per kg for new apple varieties. We use a combination of manure, cow urine and lassi as bio-fertiliser and bio-pesticides and balance these with chemicals to check bacterial and while flies attacks," he said. Haphazard growth Dr Vjyay Kumar Stokes, 77, an IIT-retired professor returned to Kotgarh in 2004 in his bid to rejuvenate the old and diseased apple orchard of his grandfather, Satyanand Stokes "We have set up a world-class apple orchard of 9,000 plants of various varieties imported from the US. They fetch a better price." He has sold two truckloads of fresh apple to Mumbai, Chennai and other markets this year. "But, this is an experiment. Each season there are several innovations in the apple industry and our research and development needs to pull up its socks," he says. "Plant nutrition is the issue now." Prem Chauhan (Jhaltar village in Kotkhai) says he has developed his own brand of root-stock. "I uprooted the clone of seedling from the plant, raised a nursery and went for inter-stocking and planted trees in place of old trees by multiple grafting. The imported root stocks have not yielded good results. I produced 2,000 cartons (each containing about 22.5 kg apples) this year and my target is 5,000-7,000 cartons on one hectare, which is as good as in the US," he says, adding his plant material is yet to be authenticated, but he has developed a concept that he shares with others. It's here a warning comes in. Vijay Thakur, director, research and the former vice-chancellor at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, says: "The farmers' claims have to clear scientific scrutiny. The university has introduced new apple strains over the years that have become popular." The fact is horticulture department is not consulting progressive farmers, says Rakesh Singha, a Kotgarh farmer who has planted new root stock varieties in the rocky belt using manure that he gets from his cows. "We must be sure about imported varieties," says Singha. Principal secretary (Horticulture) Jagdish Sharma, who is instrumental in the Rs 1,160 crore horticulture modernization project, says: "We will consult farmers. In the meantime, we are thinking of hiring consultants from New Zealand or Holland to guide farmers as to which root stocks suit which altitude." Former horticulture minister Narender Bragta, who himself is an apple farmer from Kotkhai, says there is no coordination between the university and the horticulture department. "Perhaps we should integrate HPMC, horticultural department and Dr YS Parmar University to make the government-sponsored project successful," says vice chairman, HPMC, and orchardist from Thanedhar, Prakash Thakur. BD Kasniyal Pithoragarh, August 27 A two-member medical team, including a doctor, today returned from Ralam village (3,460 metre) in the high Johar valley after treating over 64 villagers suffering from a viral fever for the past one week. The village having a population of 350 is situated 51 km from Munsiyari town. We reached Ralam village after trudging tough terrain for three days from Munsiyari town and treated 64 patients of viral fever and gave medicines to 84 villagers found vulnerable to fever, said Dr S. Sayana, medical officer who led the team. Dr Sayana said in the absence of a helicopter service, the team took three days to reach Ralam village and treated patients after they were informed about the viral fever outbreak. Had the helicopter service been made available, the medical team would have reached patients in half an hour and returned the same day, said Manohar Singh Dariyal, former gram pradhan of Ralam village. Meanwhile, villagers have demanded a helicopter service to transport patients to Munsiyari and other medical centres. The need of a helicopter service is urgently felt. We are finding it difficult to travel to high altitude villages as wooden bridges constructed on the trek route to Milam have washed away due to heavy rains, said Dariyal. Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 27 Members of the Raipur Pradhans Sangathan met Mayor Vinod Chamoli here yesterday and demanded shifting of the proposed trenching ground project at Sheeshambara in the Shashpur development block. They requested the Mayor to look for another suitable place to shift the trenching ground project from the Shashtardhara road. They said they had given several memorandums to Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) and state government officials, but to no avail. The delegates said the DMC should draft a blueprint for ensuring cleanliness in Shashpur and other areas of the city. The trenching ground if built at Sheeshambara would prove to be hazardous to the health of residents. Ghyamshyam Pal, Abhishek Pant and Shilpi were part of the delegation. Meanwhile, activists of the Pachwadoon Bachao Sangharsh Samiti continued with their fast at the proposed trenching ground site at Sheeshambara today. The condition of one of the protesters Adhlakha is said to be deteriorating. The activists said they would not allow the government to shift the trenching ground from the Shashtardhara road to Sheeshambara. They added the police had forcefully admitted Rajesh Sharma to the Doon Hospital. They asked the state government to quash the proposal. Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 27 The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) has resented conversion of the Doon Hospital into a medical college. The party activists staged a demonstration at the Dehradun District Magistrates office today to register their resentment. They said the location of the Doon Hospital was already congested and now converting it into a medical college would worsen the traffic scenario. They said the roads alongside the Doon Hospital face continuous traffic jams and no efforts had been taken to decongest traffic. Latafat Hussain, Deepak Kaushik, BS Sajwan and Vasudev Sati took part in the protest. Moscow, August 27 A fire swept through a Moscow printing plant warehouse today, killing 17 migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan. A representative of the Kyrgyz community said the victims were all young women trapped in a dressing room while changing into their work clothes. The fire was caused by a faulty lamp on the first floor of the warehouse where many flammable liquids and paper products were stored, said Ilya Denisov, who heads the Moscow branch of the emergency services. Denisov, whose statements were carried by Russian news agencies, said the dead were all from Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, and were believed to be working legally in Russia. Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that 14 of the dead were Kyrgyz citizens. AP Dhaka, August 27 Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of a cafe attack in Bangladesh that killed 22 persons, including an Indian girl, last month, was today killed along with his two aides during a police raid on their hideout near the capital. The gunfight erupted after police started raiding a building at Naraynganjs Pikeparha on the outskirts of Dhaka, Counter-terrorism Units Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com. The units chief Monirul Islam earlier said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Police spokesman Jalaluddin confirmed to PTI that Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury was among those killed during the raid, the second major clampdown after the nine suspected Islamist terrorists were killed last month. A joint team from Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, police headquarters and district police cordoned off the house since the morning on information that a group of militants were staying there, superintendent of Narayanganj police Mainul Haq was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. As the security forces tried to enter the house, the criminals opened fire from inside, he said. Talking to reporters at the scene, the Inspector General of Police said the operation was carried out under codename Operation Hit-strong 27 in which polices elite SWAT conducted the main part. The duration of the operation was one hour. When we entered into the house we saw three bodies lying on the floor, he said. The face of one of them completely matched with the photograph of Chowdhury, which made us sanguine that he is the man, he said. He said the landlord extended cooperation in carrying out the raid. Few grenades and a pistol were found from the scene. Chowdhury, 30, was identified by police as the mastermind of the countrys worst terror attack on July 1 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka that killed 22 people. An Indian girl was among 17 foreigners killed in the attack. Chowdhury was also the mentor of the nine militants who were killed in a police operation at Kalyanpur on July 26. PTI Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury: Face of terror Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the 'mastermind', used to stay in Canada and might have developed a network of financiers abroad before coming to Bangladesh in 2013, according to the police Chowdhury has led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims since returning from Canada. Police had announced Tk 2 million reward earlier this month for information leading to Chowdhury's arrest. Investigators earlier identified Chowdhury as the leader of Neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh Islamic State had claimed responsibility London, August 27 A British Army bomb disposal team was called in to a site in Birmingham where five men were arrested on terror charges. The five men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, West Midlands Police said. The arrests were intelligence-led and part of an ongoing investigation, a spolice spokesperson said. Police are searching a number of properties in the Stoke and Birmingham areas as part of the investigation; these searches are on-going, he added. Police say that, as a result of one of the arrests, an Army bomb disposal team has been called in as a precautionary measure. West Midlands fire service tweeted: Fire crews have been supporting police colleagues with an ongoing operation in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham. Police raided three homes in Birmingham and made two linked arrests in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested at their homes in Birmingham and a 28-year-old man was detained in a different area of the city. Another two men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested in Stoke. PTI Washington, August 27 Donald Trumps personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News on Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trumps car waited. I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy, physician Harold Bornstein of New Yorks Lenox Hill Hospital said. In the rush I think some of those words didnt come out exactly the way they were meant. Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 16 months older than Clinton would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. His health is excellent, especially his mental health, the doctor said with a laugh. He thinks hes the best, which works out just fine. In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trumps 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called astonishingly excellent. If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency, Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own. The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. #WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!! Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was not strong enough to be president. Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an excellent bill of health. AFP Seoul, August 27 North Korea is making progress on a submarine-launched ballistic missile system but any deployment of the technology is years away, a US think tank said, as the UN Security Council promised action over Pyongyangs latest test. The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said yesterday on its closely-watched website, 38 North, that the success of North Koreas SLBM test this week suggests the programme may be progressing faster than originally expected. However, this does not mean it will be ready next week, next month, or even next year, it said. Rather, the pace and method of the Norths SLBM testing would suggest possible deployment in an initial operational capability by the second half of 2018 at the earliest. The missile, launched from a submerged prototype Gorae-class submarine near the northeastern port of Sinpo, flew 500 kilometres towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions. The flight distance, which was tracked by South Koreas military Joint Chiefs of Staff, far exceeded any previous SLBM tests, suggesting significant progress in technical prowess. A proven SLBM system would take North Koreas 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. Following the test, the UN Security Council agreed on Friday to take further significant measures against North Korea, without elaborating. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Despite the Norths successful test this week, the country faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile. Last month, 38 North reported the North was building up infrastructure to construct new submarines at the Sinpo South Shipyard. A new submarine could probably be built within a two to three year time frame, but the likelihood of building new models without further testing and refinement of the experimental Gorae-class seems low, it said. But this is no information about whether actual submarine construction has begun, it added. AFP New Delhi/Islamabad, August 27 Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decision to nominate 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to rake up the Kashmir issue at the global level came under criticism from India on Saturday with MoS for External Affairs MJ Akbar asking Pakistan not to internationalise the issue. Akbar said Pakistan should not internationalise the Kashmir issue, adding that it is a bilateral issue. Taking a dig at Pakistan, Akbar told ANI, If a false statement is being repeated 22 times or 22,000 times by 22 people (special envoys), it doesn't becomes true. If Pakistan wants to give free tourism to some MPs, then it is its independent right. Pakistan shouldn't internationalise the Kashmir issue. It is a bilateral issue and it would remain the same. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Akbar said Pakistan does not want to talk on the Kashmir issue because it knows that its stand is wrong. The day it will talk on Kashmir, it will be caught. They have commitments on Kashmir in Tashkhent and Shimla. That's why Pakistan always hesitates from the truth, he added. Earlier, Pak media quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying he has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys who will be highlighting the unrest in Kashmir globally. We will remind the United Nations its long-held promise of self-determination to the Kashmiri people, Sharif said. The move by Sharif came against the backdrop of escalating war of words between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. "The Prime Minister urged the special envoys to ensure their efforts for highlighting the Kashmir cause across the world so that he can shake the collective conscience of the international community during his address at the UN this September," Radio Pakistan reported. We will also make it clear to India that it was India that approached the UN several decades back on Kashmir dispute but now it is not fulfilling its promise," he added. Sharif said the Kashmir problem is the most persistent failure of the UN and that the world body must establish its relevance. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. These special envoys have the strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, the mandate of the parliament and support from the government," Sharif said in a statement. He emphasised that this anniversary of the UN ought to be a catalyst, spurring the world body into action. "We cannot relent from the Kashmir cause by any stretch of the imagination," Sharif said. Agencies United Nations, August 27 Top UN peacekeeping official and senior Indian diplomat Atul Khare will travel to Nepal and Pakistan to discuss their continuous engagement in peacekeeping. Khare, the Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, will travel to Nepal today and then to Pakistan, significant troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations. In both countries he is expected to meet with senior Government, military and police officials to welcome and discuss their continuous engagement in peacekeeping, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here on Friday. Khare was appointed last year by Ban as Under- Secretary-General for Field Support. PTI (By Tsem Rinpoche) Dear friends around the world, I came across this interesting article on my Facebook news feed. I read it and realised that it is something I should share with others. What caught me is the authors realisation: My self-deception was exposed for the sham that it was, and what was revealed was what had always been there at the bottom of it all. My total insecurity. Like many of us, the author identified and put value in something that had no inherent or permanent value to who he really is or should be within himself. Without knowing who he is and where his real value came from, his ego attached itself to something external and even superficial. He realised this. This realisation came from his teacher. This is a must-read story. Not too long yet if contemplated is very beneficial to see how the mind works within our own samsara. We want name, title, labels, careers, brands to identify our self worth when we they are empty of any worth and we even hide behind them at times not facing ourselves. We are actually above that and beyond the material. We have to realise this. Through the powerful teachings of his monk teacher, he came to realise this. We all need to realise this. When we have spiritual protection, all other forms of protection is irrelevant already. Whatever we work at, or try to achieve and whatever goals we have become not important anymore. With spiritual protection, we are safe. Safe from the world, safe from our ego and safe from our pain. I recommend everyone to read this story at least two times and contemplate. It is penetrating, deep and we need to apply it in our own lives. I am reproducing here strictly to benefit others on the path of self-realisation and happiness. Good luck. Thank you Mr Miles Kessler for sharing this and my humblest obeisance to Sayadaw U Pandita who passed away this year 2016 at the age of 94. He is and was a great monk master of the highest calibre. May we be blessed by him and pure sangha always. Sincerely, Tsem Rinpoche When You Have Spiritual Protection, You Dont Need Martial Protection August 25, 2016 | Miles Kessler It was early 1998 and I had just finished an eight year phase of life, living in Japan. I had been studying Aikido full time with my teacher Morihiro Saito Sensei, at the famous Iwama dojo. Even though I had achieved a sense satisfaction in what I had accomplished during this time, there was also a subtle itch of wanting something more, something I wasnt finding in my Aikido life in Japan. When I left Japan at the end of 1997 I was told by Saito Sensei to return to the U.S., open a dojo and start teaching Aikido. In many ways I was ready for this commitment. I had been training intensively in Iwama for eight years, was in my mid-thirties, had gotten my 4th dan, had become fluent in Japanese, and I was even translating for Sensei. I had learned much about Japanese culture from the inside, and I had been teaching Aikido two times a week in Japan for three years. I felt confidence in who I had become and this confidence served as a solid foundation upon which I had built my identify. However, beneath all my confidence I could not deny that there was something missing. I had a spiritual calling that could no longer ignore and it was this calling that became the guide for my next move in life. I had a spiritual calling that could no longer be ignored and it was this calling that became the guide for my next move in life. It seemed that all of my growth and development, as valuable and beautiful as it was, was only touching one dimension of my existence, spreading out nicely on the surface, but not penetrating to the core of my being. So I decided to travel for a year to seek out spiritual teachers and undertake formal spiritual practices. During the last three years in Japan I had taken on regular practices which included A Course in Miracles, and daily 30 min. meditations. These were all informal self practices done without a teacher, or guide. I was largely inspired by the many spiritual books that I was reading at the time. Two of the books that had a particular impact on me, were by American Vipassana teachers; Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfeld. Both of them had practiced in Burma and from all the teachers they spoke about in their books, one name kept catching my attention. He was the Burmese meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita. In fact, when I first read his name, U Pandita, it had the karmic effect of working its way deep into my consciousness. I really connected with the method of practice that they taught and with that inspiration I decided to make my way to Burma, to find U Pandita and to practice Vipassana meditation. Even though I was quite sure I wanted to commit to a formal spiritual practice I was still quite attached to my own ideas (and baggage) about Aikido being a spiritual path. After all, O Senseis life was a testament to the classic spiritual journey. So when I began my own spiritual journey I managed to pack the Spiritual Aikido ideal tightly into my travelers backpack. I did this by conveniently planning that my visit to Burma would coincide with an Aikido seminar that a Japanese teacher friend of mine would be leading. My plan was to do a 10 day retreat, then the one-week Aikido seminar, followed by another 10 day retreat. Spiritual practice and Aikido practice. I had arranged things nicely so I could have my cake and eat it too. Perfect! Or so I thought After a two month teaching stint in New Zealand, and some rest and relaxation in Thailand, I decided it was time to get on track with the main purpose of my trip, meditation in Burma. I caught a plane to Rangoon and made a bee-line to the Panditarama Meditation Center, and to U Pandita himself. I was sure U Pandita would be impressed. After all, who wouldnt be. Upon arriving at the center I was told that Sayadaw U Pandita was away for the day and wouldnt get back until the evening and that I should check into a hotel and come back the next day. I explained that I had come a long way, and that I was there to meditate, so they allowed me to sit and wait in the office until U Pandita got back. He eventually did return after seven hours, and when he was told I had been waiting to see him he glanced over his shoulder at me (I had a sense that he was sizing me up), and he agreed, with a slight sense of irritation, to interview me. I was quite confident I could overcome what seemed to be U Panditas first impression of me. Having learned much about discipline and proper etiquette while living in Japan I did my best to showcase these qualities to him. In fact, I was sure U Pandita would be impressed. After all, who wouldnt be. When I entered U Panditas quarters I was immediately struck by his strong presence. It completely dominated the room, indeed the whole meditation center. I also had an uneasy sense that he saw a part of me that I wasnt seeing. So whilst there was an immediate feeling of trust, I also felt exposed and unsettled in a very subtle way. Nonetheless, I did my best to make a favorable impression while answering through the translator several questions from U Pandita. He asked about my background in meditation (self practice for the past two years), my purpose for coming to meditation (spiritual liberation), and why Panditarama (I wanted to train in the Mahasi tradition). U Pandita also asked me about my plans in Burma and I made a feeble attempt to explain that I planned to do a 10 day retreat, then leave to attend the Aikido seminar for a week, after which Id come back for another ten days of meditation practice. He briefly asked what Aikido was, but it seemed that this got lost in translation and I didnt think he got it. Nonetheless, it didnt feel like the right time for further explanation, but I was sure that if the opportunity ever arose again to have a conversation about Aikido and spirituality, then all would be well. For now all that mattered was that U Pandita agreed to allow me to stay and practice on probation. I was in! I knew that here, in this teacher, I could place my absolute trust. During the next ten days of practice, I received daily interviews and Dharma talks with U Pandita and I soon understood why he had such a renowned reputation. Here was the master I had been seeking my whole life. Having been a monk for over 70 years and a meditation teacher for 50, his wisdom and skillful guidance was like nothing I had ever encountered before. But even more impressive was his presence as a spiritual warrior. I had never experienced in another person, such complete fearlessness, confidence, uncompromising determination and skill in teaching. I didnt really have the capacity to understand it fully, but U Pandita had a strength that was unshakable. It would take me many, many months of practicing on retreat, indeed a few years, before I began to understand the source of that unshakable strength. Here was a man deeply grounded in the absolute truth, the Dhamma of ultimate reality, and it literally made everything in me that was relative, feel extremely limited. I knew that here, in this teacher, I could place my absolute trust. The irony did not escape me. I had spent much of my life in the martial arts seeking for the warrior ideal. Now here I was meeting that ideal in the form of a simple monk. A man who was deftly wielding the sword of truth and the shield of concentration together with a heart of loving kindness and compassion. U Pandita taught that 100% of all the suffering in the world had its source in the mind. The world, he said, is full of external enemies, but it is the internal enemies that are far more dangerous. These enemies come in the form of mental impurities and the purification of the mind is where all true battles must be fought. In this he was uncompromising and relentless. He would be brutally direct when necessary. The Buddha, he taught, was like a doctor, who knew exactly which medicine was needed to cure, or awaken the patient. All the medicines he gave fell into two types; sweet medicine (loving kindness, compassion and support), and bitter medicine (truth, discipline and challenge). U Pandita unapologetically proclaimed that he gave the bitter medicine. Sooner or later all yogis got to experience a full dose of his tough love, and if that didnt scare them off then they also had the experience of its cure. I had finally found the teacher I wanted to be practicing with, the practice I wanted to be doing, and the place I wanted to be practicing. This was it! I just had to go and attend an Aikido seminar and then Id be right back. So when the first ten days were finished, I packed my backpack and headed off the seminar. On my way out I stopped in the centers office to let them know that I would be back in one week. The office staff member stepped out to pass on my news and upon returning I was told, much to my surprise, that in fact, I could not come back. Of course there must have been some misunderstanding. With full confidence that I could clear this up I insisted on meeting with U Pandita to explain my situation and get permission to return. So there we all were, on some sort of cosmic-karmic threshold. The incoming Buddha, the ever present U Pandita, and the outgoing me. I was asked once again to wait, and sat in U Panditas interview room meditating, and in my mind working out the story I would tell him, so that I could come back. After about three hours I was finally taken to see U Pandita, as he was overseeing the unloading of a new Buddha statue to the monastery. In another moment of irony, I thought to myself the Buddha has just arrived, and I am leaving. So there we all were, on some sort of cosmic-karmic threshold. The incoming Buddha, the ever present U Pandita, and the outgoing me. U Pandita gave me half of his attention and asked what I wanted. I explained my situation with the Aikido seminar and that I would be back in a week for more practice. He told me that I had done well but I couldnt come back until the next time I was in Burma. I agreed that I hadnt planned things well and apologized for this, but explained that I had to go to the Aikido event. I apologized for this and said I was sorry that I was leaving in the middle of my stay, and told him that I really wanted to come back and continue the practice in a week. Yet, somehow, U Pandita didnt seem moved by my display of sincerity. I was beginning to feel that my reasons for leaving were perhaps a little weak, but I was convinced that this was a legitimate excuse. If I could just convey that to U Pandita surely he would understand. After all, we were talking about Aikido, a spiritual martial art, and it was just a matter of convincing him. So I told him I wasnt planning another trip to Burma and I wanted to meditate more on this trip. He responded with a glance and deafening silence. My steadfast confidence began to waiver and I suddenly had a sense that I was standing on thin ice. I further explained that I was going to be the translator for the whole event and that I was a key person for the seminar. More silence silence from U Pandita and an uncomfortable feeling that I was sliding further out onto the thin ice. I continued in a somewhat desperate manner to explain that the Aikido seminar was planned months ago and that I had already committed to going. Then U Pandita asked me again What is Aikido? (This wasnt the Aikido conversation I had envisioned). Somehow it was translated as a martial art. As I stood there hat in hand, there was something profoundly unsettling about the way U Pandita was looking at me. He was quite generously giving me all the rope I wanted. I was methodically wrapping it around my neck. The intensity of U Panditas silence was like a mirror and the reflection was undeniable and unsettling. I was slowly beginning to understand that I was choosing to leave a 2,500 year-old practice of spiritual liberation to go practice a martial artfor my ego. The ice began to crack. When you have spiritual protection, you dont need martial protection. Then, turning on me with full presence, U Pandita looked me in the eye and in English said, When you have spiritual protection, you dont need martial protection. It is hard to describe the effect these words had on me in that moment. Up until then I had invested many years in the belief that Aikido was a spiritual martial art. O Sensei was proof of this. I loved the martial training and had dedicated my life to its perfection. I assumed that it would naturally lead me to the spiritual if I just kept training. An unquestioned promise of a future enlightenment if I just kept doing my technical Aikido training. But I was attached to the martial and I wasnt willing to let it go to move into the spiritual aspect that was in fact, my hearts deepest desire. Indeed, this was the very reason why I had come to Burma. But in this unbareable moment of truth, the uncomfortable fact was that I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I was clinging to years of investment in Aikido as I understood it at that time, and it was the very thing that was holding me back. My self-deception was exposed for the sham that it was, and what was revealed was what had always been there at the bottom of it all. My total insecurity. My future and past were all hanging in the balance in that very moment with an unbearable intensity. Then with U Panditas words, When you have spiritual protection, you dont need martial protection, the ice suddenly gave way and I fell into the abyss. My knees buckled and the ground seemed to become unstable. In a moment, with one perfectly placed zen whack, I was stripped of my identity. I was totally disoriented and was left with nothing to hold on to. My self-deception was exposed for the sham that it was, and what was revealed was what had always been there at the bottom of it all. My total insecurity. I was at a complete loss as to what to do, so I grasped for the only thing that was left. I gave in and surrendered. In that moment I told U Pandita I wouldnt go to the seminar. With tears in my eyes I begged him to let me stay and practice. He then did something I never even conceived as being possible. He unceremoniously told me No and sent me away like a schoolboy. I couldnt believe this was happening. I had been dismissed. I was thrown out. Completely disoriented I hefted my backpack, (which was suddenly very heavy) and stumbled out of the monastery in a daze. I found my way to a taxi and about half an hour later I was sitting in a Japanese restaurant in downtown Rangoon drinking a beer with my Japanese friend. It was totally surreal, and utterly meaningless. Still in a daze from this ego destroying encounter with U Pandita, I did my best to put on a good front and engage my Japanese friend in Aikido talk. He on and on about how great the coming seven-day Aikido seminar was going to be. Of course it wasnt. When the time came to leave Burma I stopped by the monastery on the way to the airport to ask U Pandita if I could return to practice on my next visit to Burma. U Pandita gave his permission and six months later I was sitting my first three month intensive Vipassana retreat with him. My year of travel turned into eight, and I spent each winter returning to Burma for meditation retreats. You may be wondering why I am sharing this story as one of my significant, if not my most significant Aikido experience. This was the point that all of the false ideas that I had built about Aikido were unpleasantly exposed. I was sure of Aikidos spiritual depth but I was looking for it in the wrong place. The spiritual is not to be found in the physical, nor does it exist in the martial. It can be expressed in these realms but its source is beyond. My attachment to Aikido was the very thing that prevented me from realizing this. And this encounter with U Pandita was the beginning of correcting that mistaken view. It was a hard lesson, but it changed my path in Aikido. Indeed it changed the direction of my whole life. Because it was only after I managed to let go of what I had made important in Aikido, that Aikidos deeper value began to emerge. And it happened with the words of a simple monk: When you have spiritual protection, you dont need martial protection. Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 13 of the Malaysian Copyright Act 1987, allowance is made for fair dealing for purposes such as non-profit research, private study, criticism, review or the reporting of current events. The Operator and author(s) of TsemRinpoche.com, a not-for-profit blog, do not claim ownership on the intellectual property rights of the contents, images and/or videos reproduced in this article. Any subsisting intellectual property rights shall belong to the legal owner of the contents, images and/or videos. OKLAHOMA CITY Controversy continued to swirl Friday over a ballot title rewrite for a state question aimed at legalizing medical marijuana. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Thursday released his rewritten version of the ballot title for State Question 788. On Friday, the Attorney Generals Office received several calls thanking the office for the quick turnaround time on the revision and questioning our rewrite, said Lincoln Ferguson, a Pruitt spokesman. The ballot title summarizes a state question for voters. The revision includes: This measure legalizes the licensed use, sale, and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma. There are no qualifying medical conditions identified. Pruitt stands by the revision, Ferguson said. Unfortunately, the attorney general couldnt help himself and injected his own political views, said Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma executive director. The end result is a confusing ballot title that makes it appear like approving the question would be a vote for outright legalization of marijuana, Kiesel said. Pruitts ballot title ends with This measure does not change federal law, which makes use, sale, and growth of marijuana illegal. The U.S. Department of Justice in 2013 issued a memorandum on enforcement in response to states that were moving to make some form of marijuana legal. The memorandum provides guidance to United States Attorneys on the proper prioritization of marijuana enforcement in their districts given the number of states that have moved to legalize marijuana for medicinal, agricultural, or recreational use, said Peter Carr, a U.S. Department of Justice spokesman. Specifically, the memorandum lists eight federal law enforcement priorities where the department will focus its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources in all states. Those priorities are distribution of marijuana to minors; revenue from marijuana sales from going to criminal enterprises; the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law to other states; state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as cover for illegal activity; violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana; drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use; the growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands; and marijuana possession or use on federal property. As chief law enforcement officer for the state, the attorney general has a duty to uphold federal and state law and an obligation to inform the citizens of Oklahoma if they will be voting on a measure to become law that does in fact contradict federal law, Ferguson said. Supporters of the effort to legalize medical marijuana, a group called Oklahomans for Health, say they plan to file a challenge to the rewrite before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which could return it to the original language, rule for Pruitt or undertake its own revision. Supporters gathered 67,761 signatures to get the measure on the ballot, although only 65,987 were required. It was the first successful effort among three attempts to get the issue before voters. A series of deadlines and a potential protest mean the measure will not be on the Nov. 8 ballot, but could be on a special election ballot or a 2018 primary or general election ballot. It is not the first time Pruitt has been criticized over a ballot title revision. Earlier this month, the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that Pruitts ballot titles for two criminal justice reform measures were misleading and partial. The court rewrote the ballot titles after supporters of the measures lodged a challenge against the Pruitt versions. Claudia Karvan will play suburban solicitor Josephine Newton in ABCs new legal drama, Newtons Law. The 8 part series by Every Cloud Productions (Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries) also features Brett Tucker, Miranda Tapsell, Toby Schmitz, Andrew McFarlane and Georgina Naidu. Described as the Upstairs, Downstairs of legal dramas, it centres around Newtons return to barristers robes after her solicitors practice is incinerated by a client, her marriage collapses and motherhood loses its charm. But leaving her old life behind will not be easy. Co-creator Deb Cox told TV Tonight, For me, Newtons Law is about a woman attempting to fashion the world in a way that better accommodates the competing demands made on her. Its crazy and bound to work imperfectly, but why not give it a go!? Co-creator Fiona Eagger added, Josephine is unapologetic about bringing more heart into a job thats been driven too much by mens heads! But her relationship with Lewis dances around the two extremes in a way thats never didactic or divisive. Filming is due to begin in Melbourne tomorrow and the series is due on ABC in 2017. Production Credits: An Every Cloud Production. Created by Deb Cox & Fiona Eagger. Produced by Fiona Eagger , Deb Cox & Anna Molyneaux. Executive Producers Fiona Eagger & Deb Cox. ABC Executive Producers Brett Sleigh & Alastair McKinnon. In association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Source: Sunday Telegraph Today on Small Business Secrets, hosted by Ricardo Goncalves, the show focuses on the challenges women face starting small businesses in male-dominated fields. Guests include: Mia Freedman Co-Founder, Mamamias Womens Network Roula Angelopoulos Taxi Fleet Ally Watson Co-Founder, Code Like a Girl Marcellina Mardian Co-Founder, Code Like a Girl Kym Clark Shes Empowered Penny Petridis Founder, Female Tradie Mia Freedman founded the Mamamias Womens Network from her living room. It now has an online audience of more than 800,000. From a forum for mothers to share their experiences, to a company with over 100 employees and 1000 contributors, Mia has shaken up the traditional 9-5 work day. Mia said: Women will accept lower pay for greater flexibility, so when you work for yourself, you dont have to ask permission Its no secret that women earn less than men. On average, female tradies earn $200 less a week than their male counterparts. When she first started in the industry 20 years ago Penny Petridis, founder of Female Tradies, was an oddity, working in the male-dominated construction industry. Now, 17% of all commencing traineeships and apprenticeships are women. With aspirations of growing her team of five to a troop big enough to build an entire house, her goal is to create an environment where women are willing to have a go and travel off the beaten track. Kim Clark, owner of Shes Empowered, saw a gap in the market for HiViz (high visibility) maternity wear. Shes now created a line of female HiViz and work wear named after female game changers. Using her business as a platform to empower women, Kim is working towards creating an inclusive culture and making women feel like they belong in that industry where they havent always been in big numbers. Female small business owners have grown by 4.7% in the last year. They account for 60% of all part time businesses and almost half of all home based businesses. This episode shows how everyday women are making waves in a changing world. Sundays at 5.00pm on SBS. OSCE Special Representative in the Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of situation in Donbas Martin Sajdik has stated that the next meeting of the Group is scheduled for September 7. He said this after the next Groups meeting in Minsk, Radio Liberty reports. According Sajdik, at the meeting the parties expressed the need for permanent ceasefire from midnight on August 31 due to the start of a new school year. He noted that it was a common initiative of all the parties in the talks. As a reminder, the fighting in eastern Ukraine has been lasting since 2014. Since that time, numerous meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group has been held and agreements on ceasefire have been reached several times. These agreements have been systematically violated by Russian-backed militants. ol No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but four soldiers were wounded in ATO area in eastern Ukraine over the past day. Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but four soldiers were wounded as a result of military operations over the past day, Lysenko said. He added that one Ukrainian volunteer had been killed by sniper and one civilian had been wounded at the entry-exit checkpoint in Mariupol area. ol Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will call on partner countries to step up pressure on Russia to release political prisoners next week, at the meeting of foreign ministers within the OSCE activities. Spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Mariana Betsa said this during the action in support of Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov, who has been put to compulsory inpatient forensic psychiatric examination in Russia, Crimea.Realities portal reports. "An informal event of fifty-seven OSCE participating states will be held within the framework of the OSCE activities, and the name of Ilmi Umerov will be voiced. We will continue to speak about all the political prisoners held in Russia and occupied Crimea, who are suffering from the Russias reprisals. We demand to stop immediately any repressions against the Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in the occupied Crimea. We call on Russia to stop killing Ilmi Umerov. We call on Russia to provide adequate medical care to Ilmi Umerov. We call on Russia to leave Ukraine, to leave Crimea," Betsa said. ol When we think ancient, the first thought that comes to our head is unsophisticated or backward. But, what history has to say is completely opposite. Sure, the ancient people, at times, had strange traditions and rituals with strange laws and rules, but there was also advanced innovation and technological intelligence that never ceases to astonish us. So here are a few facts about ancient civilizations, some of which are just plain weird while the others are utterly sophisticated and cultured. 1 The Aztecs made swords embedded with prismatic obsidian blades that are far sharper than even high quality present day steel razor blades. The sword known as macuahuitl was a wooden sword with obsidian blades and used as the standard close combat weapon. Obsidian is a hard glass-like rock formed when the lava from a volcano solidifies rapidly before it could crystallize. The swords were made for either one-handed or two-handed grip, with the two-handed one being as tall as a man. The obsidian blades were discontinuously arranged with gaps along the side or sometimes they were set close together forming a single edge. According to the Spanish conquistadors, the weapon was so cleverly built that the blades could neither be pulled out nor could they be broken.(source) Advertisements 2 In ancient Egypt, men could take time off from work to care for menstruating wives and daughters. The workers and craftsmen who were hired to build the tombs and pyramids of pharaohs in ancient Egypt had access to many health-care benefits and there are many parallels to the health care system of ancient Egypt and the modern world. According to archaeologist Anne Austin who was exploring the remains of an ancient Egyptian village, there was evidence of the residents being the beneficiaries of what she calls the worlds first documented health-care plan. The worksmen were well-provided for and there is evidence to suggest that they would take time off to care for their wives and daughters when they were menstruating.(source) 3 In Ancient Egypt, dwarfs were seen as people who had celestial gifts, were treated with the greatest respect and enjoyed the highest social positions. Dwarves enjoyed a significantly elevated social standing in Egypt and were treated with immense respect. They werent shunned because of their short stature and were welcomed as a proper member into the family. They were thought to possess divine gifts and were employed as jewelers, cup-bearers for the nobility, tailors and entertainers, and even held official positions. The Egyptians had several dwarf gods such as Bes, the god of dreams, luck and dancing, and Ptah, the god of arts, crafts and creativity. The dwarves were never depicted in a comic way and received lavish funerals.(source) 4 Ancient Egypt had many medical specialists, including proctologists who were called shepherds of the anus. There were many ranks and specializations in the field of medicine in ancient Egypt. Dating as far back as 27th century BC, there are records of a physician named Hesy-Ra who was the Chief of Dentists and Physicians to King Djoser and lady Peseshet, who was called the Lady Overseer of the Lady Physicians. There were also ophthalmologists, gastroenterologists, proctologists, dentists, doctor who supervises butchers and an unspecified inspector of liquids. The ancient Egyptian term for a proctologist was neru phuyt which literally meant shepherd of the anus. During the 1st Dynasty, the Egyptians also established institutions called Houses of Life, which might have served medical purposes like hospitals.(source) Advertisements 5 Spiked dog collars were invented in ancient Greece and were originally designed to protect the dogs throat from wolf attacks. Farmers kept both sheepdogs and farm dogs as guards for their assets. The dogs were given leather collar called melium, which was studded with nails. This is so that in the event of a wolf attack their necks would be protected while they defended the sheep. The Greeks preferred to have their farm dogs dark so that they would be difficult to spot in the dark, where as the sheepdogs had to be white.(source) 6 Ancient Persians would drink to excess after making an important decision to know that the decision was sound if they still felt the same way about it when intoxicated. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the ancient Persians had a ritual of intoxication that requires one to get drunk on wine after making a decision. The purpose of this ritual was to ascertain the usefulness of a decision. Since they believed that you could only tell the truth when you are drunk, they would drink quite a lot of wine after deciding and if their minds still felt the decision was right then it is considered the right decision.(source) "India has the biggest gap, I know and I have spent many years in education.Talent at the top and the unfulfilled potential of those in the rest of the society. And these things can be fixed. And it is not by way of ever-increasing budgets,"said Deputy PM of Singapore In picture, Deputy PM of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam By India Today Web Desk, Press Trust of India: Bringing to light the high dropout rate in upper primary schools, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, on Friday said that schools in India are facing the "biggest crisis". Condition of Indian education through the eyes of Deputy PM of Singapore What is the "biggest gap" in Indian education? "The world's second-most populous country also has the "biggest gap" between talent at the top and unfulfilled potential at bottom," said Deputy PM on his first lecture of government think-tank Niti Aayog's 'Transforming India' initiative "India has the biggest gap, I know and I have spent many years in education.Talent at the top and the unfulfilled potential of those in the rest of the society. And these things can be fixed. And it is not by way of ever-increasing budgets," he said Highlighting the example of his own country, the Deputy Prime Minister said it is not about spending more, but is about organisation and culture "How do we recruit our teachers, how do we train them, how do we hold the teachers accountable, how do we provide for quality across the system and not just at its most exclusive end? How do we ensure that every school is a good school?" he explained. advertisement About child's education Emphasising the need for social mobility, Shanmugaratnam said that experiments have shown that starting as early as possible in a child's life cycle helps "Intervention at pre-natal stage are critical, followed up with pre-school opportunities," he said, adding that India has some notable schemes in this regard citing the results of the Integrated Child Development Services and Anganwadis Rural-level intervention from reaching out to the mother and the child as early as possible and then schools can help to achieve the things, he added. 43 per cent students drop out before finishing upper primary school "Schools are the biggest crisis in India today and have been for a long time. Schools are the biggest gap between India and East Asia. And it is a crisis that cannot be justified," the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore said As per data, the deputy PM said 43 per cent students drop out before finishing upper primary school. There is a dearth of 7,00,000 primary school teachers, 74 per cent schools have access to daily drinking water and only 53 per cent schools have girl's toilets He said this explains that when India took part in OECD PISA study in 2009, it was ranked 73rd out of 74 countries. "And this is in a country which has exceptional talent with people who go to IITs and IIMs and lead companies all over the world and are first-rated," he added. Higher education system- a big challenge "Higher education system is a big challenge not only in India but all over the world US, UK, China, Europe and Korea," he said "We are over-producing graduates who go through a general academic education. We have over-academised learning. We are producing students who do not have the skills required in the real world. We have to re-orient our system to focus on the skills required in the real world," he stressed. His view on the socio- economic condition of India Human Resource Development On human resource development, Shanmugaratnam said, "Human capital development is not just what happens in first 12 years or 18 years of our life, it is about what happens through (rpt) through the life. It is about life-long learning. We need to refresh ourselves." "It means developing potential throughout life, having an infrastructure that encourages people to learn," he noted. Role of cities Shanmugaratnam also underscored "a very special role" cities play in Reform, Perform and Transform, particularly in a large continental-scale society like India. "Because it is cities which are crucibles of both innovation and inclusivity," he reasoned "It is in cities where you get a working relationship between government, business, ITIs and schools. We have to empower them. Hold them accountable, give them some financial autonomy and hold competition among them. Cities will play a special role in future," he predicted. advertisement A strong nation is impossible without a strong society Endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy, Shanmugaratnam said that he had rightly emphasised that without a strong society, there is no strong economy and no strong nation "And the social policies and the interaction between the social and economic policies have to be the primary arena for the government's ambition. Social policy at the end of the day is economic policy," he added He concluded saying the need of the hour is "what the Prime Minister emphasised in his speech" "It's not just about budgets, it's not just about programmes, it is at the end of the day about a social and political culture," he added He also stressed on the need for enhancing social cohesion and the need to bring various sections of society together Drawing attention on developing culture, he said: "A culture that focuses on the long term is essential for all that we want to achieve in an inclusive society. Short-termism is an enemy of social mobility." Read: IDP Education Australian Education Fair 2016: Starts with Kolkata, details Read: Indian- American contesting for significant educational post in US Click here for more education related news. advertisement For more details, follow India Today Education or you can write to us at education.intoday@gmail.com. --- ENDS --- By PTI: hospital Berhampore (WB), Aug 27 (PTI) Two persons died and seven others were injured in a stampede after a fire broke out in Murshidabad Medical College Hospital today triggering panic among patients and their relatives. "Two women - a nursing aide and a relative of a patient died in the stampede following the incident of fire which broke out at 11.50 AM at the hospital. Seven others are injured," Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy told PTI in Kolkata. advertisement Giving details, he said the fire broke out in the AC machine of a vacant VIP cabin at the main medical ward of the hospital. "Everybody tried to run to escape from the fire which resulted in a stampede in which two persons died. "Patients in the adjacent wards were immediately taken out, including those from the pediatric ward and all of them were relocated to the newly built Mother Child Hub," he said. "There is no panic right now and the situation is under control," he said. State Fire Minister Sovan Chatterjee said the blaze was now "well under control". The firemen suspected that a short circuit in the AC machine of the VIP cabin triggered the fire, he said. The state government declared compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of both the victims and free treatment for the seven injured. Those who received minor injuries were released immediately after preliminary treatment, Satpathy said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring the situation from Kolkata, while a four-member high power team from Kolkata led by chairman of Multi-Disciplinary Expert Group, Chandrima Bhattacharya has been asked to rush to the spot to assess the situation. Bhattacharya, who is also managing director of West Bengal Medical Services Corporation, told PTI that she would submit a report to the chief minister after reviewing the situation and making a detailed assessment. A departmental inquiry has already been ordered into the incident, Satpathy said, adding the hospitals chief medical officer of health Subhasis Saha was monitoring the situation. (MORE) PTI AKB SUN KK IKA --- ENDS --- Harvard Business School's HBX executive director Patrick Mullane has shared tips for career transitions. HBX is the institution's online education program. The school, which has more than a hundred years' worth of experience in business education, created the program to integrate technology with their faculty to share their passion to a wider range of students. "The real focus has been on creating a learning experience that brings business education to life," the program's official website read. "At HBX, we believe that education should be cerebral, yes, but it should also be riveting, kinetic, social, and mind-bending. It should be a series of unanticipated discoveries that change your capacity to navigate the world." In a blog post, Mullane talked about his time in the military and how, when the time came to explore the world beyond it, he found that he was well-prepared in some areas but under-prepared in others. He shared tips on what he learned as he transition from military service to the private sector. Re-acquaint yourself with business fundamentals. Before Mullane started his MBA program at the Harvard Business School, he prepared himself by taking up an accounting course at the University of Nebraska. There are MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) such as EdEx and Coursera that can help aspiring MBA students brush up on business fundamentals. HBX also offers an integrated program that covers three disciplines: Econimics for Managers, Business Analytics and Financial Accounting. Review and rewrite your resume. Mullane offered three guidelines on how to write a resume. First, a personal statement or "objective" should bring the focus to the employer. Instead of just writing down what you want for yourself, include what you can contribute to your future employer as well. Second, keep it short. For fresh graduates, a one-page resume will do while two pages is the ideal maximum for more experienced workers. Third, take the jargon out of your resume especially if the industry you're trying to break in to is vastly different from your previous work. By PTI: Gurgaon, Aug 27 (PTI) To ensure womens safety in Gurgaon, Haryana Police arrested 46 people during a drive, police said today. "Romeo-free" campaign was last night carried out at Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) road in Gurgaon, where thousands of people throng specially on weekends, a police spokesperson said. "Mostly the miscreants were found stalking, passing lewd comments and teasing women visitors, after the pubs closed at 1 am, and were detained by the police teams," said ACP Dharna Yadav. advertisement "The accused were booked under sections 107 and 151 of CrPC Act and arrested in sector 29 and DLF phase -II. They were later given bail at police station level after a warning," he added. If they indulge in such cases again in next six months, they would be booked under cognisable offence of IPC, he said. PTI SUN/CORR FAR ZMN CHT --- ENDS --- According to local officials, the suspected target was Danica May Garcia's grandfather. By Indo-Asian News Service: A five-year-old girl has become the youngest reported victim of the war on drugs in the Philippines, a media report said on Saturday. Danica May Garcia was shot to death in her family's store by two men on motorcycles, CNN quoted the police as saying in Dagupan in Pangasinan province. WAR ON DRUGS According to local officials, the suspected target was Danica's grandfather. advertisement A community leader said that days before the shooting, the grandfather, Maximo Garcia, had turned himself in to police in an effort to clear his name, along with about a dozen accused drug users. "We have a witness who came forward to identify the gunman," Dagupan police Chief Neil Miro told CNN. "I will withhold the name of the suspect, but it seems it may have something to do with illegal drugs, too," the police chief said, adding "We are still investigating the real motive." According to Human Rights Watch, since President Rodrigo Duterte launched the national war on drugs after assuming office on June 30, over 1,000 Filipinos have been killed by unidentified gunmen between July 1 and August 19. More than 700 drug users and "pushers" have been killed in police operations, CNN added. ALSO READ: Over 1,900 killed in just 7 weeks in Philippines' violent war on drugs Hot blooded --- ENDS --- Eric Bischoff is still frequently talked about in high regard in the wrestling world and thanks to his controversial decisions during the Monday Night Wars - he likely will remain a strong talking point. The former WCW General Manager is now however a much more toned-down figure as he enters his sixties but one man that is more notorious than ever for his strong comments has caught his attention. Conor McGregor, in the build up to his UFC 202 rematch against Nate Diaz, had a lot to say towards a number of WWE performers and Bischoff has a front-seat for all of the backstage action. McGregor doing what a fighter should do Bichoff said Flair and McGregor texted a week before his negative comments (image: tmz.com) While the UFC man may have won his highly anticipated fight last week his comments still seem to be circulating around social media and are likely to follow him for the near future at least. Bischoff while doing a question and answer session revealed something very telling that happened just a week before his hate filled comments and may be able to shed-light on the entire situation. He said "I was sitting at a restaurant with Ric Flair and his wife and suddenly he got a text from McGregor." The 61-year-old never disclosed what the message said but said that his dinner partner Flair said it was a "positive" one as he was actually deciding whether or not to go to the fight at this point. On the character of the fighter himself, Bischoff said that McGregor was "creating a character to get people talking, which is something that fighters should do." Next week after hearing the comments from the Irishman become headline news the former RAW GM said he knew "something" was up and after putting on his "wrestling glasses" he could smell "bull-s**t." On The Final Deletion Bischoff said he had not seen The Final Deletion but thought it must have been good (image: youtube.com) While the controversy of Bischoff may be winding down to a minimal, wrestling and the rest of the world has filled his footsteps very well. In today's product, one narrative seems to be head and shoulders above the rest as it has completely taken on a life of its own. The Final Deletion earned some horrific reviews but was genuinely well received by the wrestling community and Bischoff gave his piece on the battle between Brother Nero (Jeff Hardy) and Broken Matt Hardy. He said "I have not seen it, I do not watch it (TNA) so for me to comment would be stupid." While the veteran had not actually viewed the video he was still impressed by how well it has done as he said "It has been pretty successful considered people continue to ask about it." He continued "It resonated with the audience and got people talking so it must have been good." After Mercedes topped FP1, Red Bull FP2, it was Ferraris turn to top a Belgian GP practice session, with Kimi Raikkonen doing the honours for the Scuderia. As ever, the fastest laps came at the end of final practice, when cars are on low-fuel, high revs and the drivers can really push for the first time in the weekend. Raikkonen, who has won at Spa four times lapped the 4.352 miles in 1:47.974. Behind him, Daniel Ricciardo was just 0.215 down, ahead of Sebastian Vettel making it two Ferraris in the top three. Valtteri Bottas was fourth, more representative of the Wiliams pace after a troubled Friday. Lewis Hamilton was fifth, but hit with another 20 grid place penalties, taking his total to 55. After a strong Friday, Force India slipped back, in terms of single-lap pace, with Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez split by Nico Rosbergs Mercedes and Felipe Massa in the other Williams. Romain Grosjean rounded out the top 10, by slotting his Haas into 10th. Verstappen hits trouble The impact 18 year-old Max Verstappen has had on Formula One already has been incredible. The fans love him and it was reported that almost 5,000 extra fans had brought tickets to see him in action on Saturday morning, after he topped FP2 yesterday. See him they did, albeit briefly. The Dutchman, born in Belgium, just 50km away from Spa, emerged from his garage and as he was starting a stint, suffered an apparent gearbox failure, just as he passed the pits. If Red Bull are forced to change it, he will receive a five-place grid penalty. There was also some fruity language used over team radio, with Pascal Wehrlein exclaiming that Esteban Gutierrez was a f*****g idiot, as the Haas ran him out of road at the start of the Kemmel straight. Toward the end of the session, at Blanchimont, Kevin Magnussen was preparing for a fast lap, and blocked a fast-approaching Vettel. The angry German, not entirely amused called Magnussen an idiot, before adding its free practice, who gives a s**t? Sebastian Vettel was unhappy with Kevin Magnussen's block, but still finished FP3 in third position (Image Credit: @F1 Twitter) Below par Rosberg It was Rosberg who topped the early running, with his benchmark being a 1:48.880, before Raikkonen bettered that with a 1:48.406. Vettel joined him at the top of the timing screens, before Daniel Ricciardo showed that Red Bulls perceived power deficit wasnt as strong as epected, by lapping 0.217 than Rosbergs best time, albeit the Aussie was on SuperSofts. Hamilton, focusing on long-runs, spent most of his session on the Soft tyre, before a final lap on the SuperSofts, to show what ultimate pace he wouldve been able to show in Qualifying. He is expected to take part in Qualfying, but consigned to a P22 and last start, that is more out of respect for the fans and the need to calibrate the car. As the Mercedes, surprisingly lost time in the third sector, essentially a curved straight and chicane, it was Raikkonen who became the first man to break the 1:47 barrier, en-route to posting the fastest time, in the closing minutes. Belgian Grand Prix - Third Practice times 1. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:47.974 2. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull +0.215 3. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari +0.323 4. Valtteri Bottas Williams +0.530 5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.661 6. Nico Hulkenberg Force India +0.765 7. Nico Rosberg Mercedes +0.768 8. Felipe Massa Williams +0.809 9. Sergio Perez Force India +0.941 10. Romain Grosjean Haas +1.298 11. Fernando Alonso McLaren +1.479 12. Esteban Gutierrez Haas +1.657 13. Jenson Button McLaren +1.691 14. Kevin Magnussen Renault +1.742 15. Pascal Wehrlein Manor +1.787 16. Danill Kvyat Toro Rosso +2.049 17. Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso +2.104 18. Jolyon Palmer Renault +2.267 19. Felipe Nasr Sauber +2.446 20. Esteban Ocon Manor +2.719 21. Marcus Ericsson Sauber +3.345 22. Max Verstappen Red Bull No time RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Jon (left) and Linda Lambert stand in front of their home on Taormina Lane in Ojai. The Lamberts and other residents of the Taormina neighborhood are trying to have it declared a historic district. SHARE RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Jon Lambert (left) and his wife Linda (left) speak with their neighbor, Anne Shrage, in the intersection in front of their home in the Taormina neighborhood in Ojai. RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR The Taormina neighborhood in Ojai is knows for its cypress trees and gas lamps that line the street. RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Jon Lambert (from left), and his wife Linda stop in front of their home on Taormina Lane in Ojai to visit with their neighbor, Marion Leeman, and her dog, Pace. RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR One of the design features of homes in the Taormina neighborhood in Ojai is the gabled roof. By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Special to The Star The Ojai City Council will hold a hearing Tuesday to consider whether a neighborhood with ties to an esoteric movement popular in the 1920s should become the city's first historic district. The meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ojai City Hall, is a chance for residents to express their views on whether Ojai's Taormina community on the city's southwest side merits historic designation. The 71-home neighborhood built between 1968 and 1977 has ties to the Theosophy movement, a spiritual endeavor with significant historic influence in the Ojai Valley. Ojai's Historic Preservation Commission recommended the council move forward with the historic designation of Taormina in a 4-1 vote in July. If approved by the council, the designation would place design restrictions on future home construction in that neighborhood and on modifications to existing homes. A majority of Taormina community members have petitioned the city in favor of creating the district. However, the Taormina Theosophical Community, a nonprofit organization behind the community's original creation, is opposed to the idea. "This community is a very unique place," said Jon Lambert, a Taormina resident who is leading the effort to make the neighborhood a historic district. "The historic preservation movement got started because we recognized the history of this place in terms of Ojai and because it does have a kind of unique look to it and people from all over Ojai come up here to walk." The Taormina community runs mostly along an oval-shaped street called Taormina Lane and sits adjacent to the Krotona Institute of Theosophy, a spiritual center for the Theosophy movement established in 1924. According to city documents, a theosophist named Ruth Wilson envisioned the Taormina Community as a retirement area for other Theosophical Society members. However, because of a lawsuit in the early 1980s, the community is now open to residents of all backgrounds. Taormina homes were constructed to look like a French Normandy village, Lambert said. Architectural elements include curved roof lines with gable vents, earthy exterior colors and street lamps reminiscent of old-style gas lamps. Future construction or modifications will have to incorporate those design elements if the district is designated historic. But Susan Williamson, a board member with the Taormina Theosophical Community, scoffed at assertions that the homes have historical significance. She called the homes "cheap little watered-down versions" of French Norman style, and argued that they can't be considered historic if they're less than 50 years old. She said many of the homes have already been modified. Williamson also disputed the neighborhood's relevance to the Theosophical movement in Ojai, whose influence declined long before the community was built, she said. "Basically this is an effort on the part of some of our neighbors to increase their property values by making what we believe by all basic historic standards across the state to be a completely false representation of the architectural, historic value of these homes," she said. The Taormina Theosophical Community owns about 15 rental properties in the neighborhood and a 2.5-acre vacant plot on which they have plans to build affordable housing, Williamson said. A historic designation would make that difficult to do, she continued. She said the proposed representation for the district is also unfair because the Taormina Theosophical Community would get only two votes even though they represent multiple homes and tenants. "What's behind this is a big effort to stop us from building on our property," she said. Lambert agreed that those in favor of creating a historic district want to have control over future development. "We want the development to be regulated so that the houses that are put in look like the other houses," he said. Star file photo Oil wells tower above the Santa Paula Canyon trailhead near Thomas Aquinas College. SHARE By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com An oil company is requesting permission to make up to 20 truck trips per day through parts of Ventura County to transport oil while pipelines normally used to move it remain inoperable. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District will consider the request, made by the California Resources Production Corp., at a public hearing Monday night. CRPD wants to install temporary leading equipment at 12 leases in and around South Mountain, according to its petition. The trucks would move no more than 2,000 barrels 84,000 gallons per day from locations south of Santa Paula and Highway 126. The request came after Crimson Pipeline shut down pipelines servicing "not only all of South Mountain, but also a majority of Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru oil production," the petition states. Crimson first shut down a shipping line on July 19 that affected parts of CRPD's South Mountain leases for preventive maintenance. Following that, the district gave CRPD an emergency permit to transport oil on nine leases within the county. Now the company is seeking an expanded permit because Crimson on Aug. 5 shut down more of its pipeline. These trucks will travel to a refinery or storage facility outside the county. Crimson said it is doing routine work. " All of Crimson's facilities engage in ongoing systemic maintenance testing to ensure the integrity of the assets, a self-initiated step taken as part of the company's commitment to safety," Matthew Simmons, a Crimson spokesperson, wrote by email. "In some cases, this has affected producers requesting to transport oil via truck at their own discretion to meet their contractual obligations." CRPD has been stockpiling oil in production tanks but several are now at capacity. The company is losing 1,000 barrels per day, and if the shutdown continues, that could grow to 2,000 barrels per day. Should that happen, the company would lose $90,000 per day. The company has no other option to transport, the petition states. With controls the company puts into place, it's estimating it will be able to control 90 percent of related emissions, it said. California Resources Corporation, which operates in four basins in the state including Ventura, is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company, according to its website. The permit specifies normal transport via pipeline will resume Nov. 27 or CRPD will need to submit another request. Crimson has no expected reopening date, Simmons said. To see the application and related documents, go to http://bit.ly/2bVq3F7. The hearing starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, in the Lower Plaza Assembly Room. STAR FILE PHOTO Ruben Aviles sends a light panel down a garbage chute as he and others remodel the fifth floor of Ventura City Hall North in June. SHARE By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com To meet the stringent timelines that go with moving an entire school to a new campus in a few short months, Brooks Institute officials embarked on an aggressive construction schedule. By June, the top two floors of Ventura City Hall North were largely gutted, as crews feverishly worked to remove partitions, rip up floors and otherwise get 17,000 square feet in shape for classrooms and administrative offices. When Brooks officials ordered work to stop in late July, the city hoped as did businesses, students and private property owners it was but a glitch. Brooks instead announced on Aug. 12 the film and photography school would close at the end of October. The city hasn't heard from Brooks in weeks. Officials have no idea if they will be paid the $70,000 the city is owed for security and back rent, or if they will get anything toward the cost of returning the top two floors to rentable space. City officials say the lease mandates that Brooks fix the building, but construction and legal experts say the city could have done more to protect its property and taxpayers. The lease states Brooks "shall restore the leased premises to the same condition as before the alterations, entirely at tenant's cost and expense." The city is exploring its legal options as it considers what to do if Brooks defaults, City Manager Mark Watkins said. The problem is, even the best-written leases don't offer any guarantee if the lessee can't pay, said Garret Murai, a construction attorney in Oakland and editor of the California Construction Law Blog. "The city would have a breach of contract claim, but the issue there becomes what if anything can they get from a tenant who's broke," he said. "If the tenant is insolvent that's not much of a remedy at all." He said there were three ways the city could have better protected itself: by getting a lease guarantee, a letter of credit or through a performance bond. Though the three utilize different mechanisms, the end result is that all have a third party that pays in case of default. For public works projects over $25,000, a government agency in California is required to get a bond. That didn't apply here, even though it was city property, since Brooks was the one hiring the contractors and doing the work. And while bonds when not required are not common, they offer protection. "The surety would come in and pay for everything," said Mike Melshenker, a surety account executive with Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services, which has an office in downtown Ventura. A solid lease is important, he said. But, "in this situation it shows how impractical this is as your first and last line of defense." Even if the city didn't feel the need to require a full bond, it at least could have had Brooks go through the screening process to see if it qualified for one. Had it failed the screening, an often free process, that would have raised red flags, Melshenker said. Failing to get the deposit and initial rent was an "internal mistake" and the city was reviewing its practices to see it doesn't happen again, said Watkins, who accepted blame for what happened. The situation with Brooks was unprecedented, he said. "You can't just make promises and then walk away. That's why we're all looking at our various legal options," he said. The city studied Brooks' finances and believed the school had a solid business plan. The school had brought in a new investor and the job market appeared ripe for graduates with skills students learn at Brooks, Watkins said. In announcing the closure, Brooks officials said declining enrollment and significant changes in the regulatory environment made it unlikely the school could be successful going forward. Taking out an insurance policy wouldn't have taken much time and wouldn't have cost the city anything, since it's the tenant or contractor who pays for the bond, Melshenker said. Consider it was taxpayers at risk if something went wrong, he added, it would have made sense for the city to do more to protect itself. SHARE Donald Trump's supporters can pretend otherwise, but deep down they must know the truth: Trump has been playing them for fools all along. All that bluster about creating a "deportation force" to round up 11 million undocumented immigrants and kick them out of the country? Forget about it. Trump is now "softening" that ridiculous pledge, which he could never have carried out, into a new policy in which "we work with them." Hmmm. Work with them how? All we know of the details, so far, is what Trump said Wednesday at a town hall hosted by Sean Hannity of Fox News: "Now, everybody agrees we get the bad ones out. 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 mean, I have it all the time. It's a very, very hard thing." Trump talked about how such families will "pay back-taxes, they have to pay taxes," and claimed that "there's no amnesty, as such." If this is indeed Trump's revised policy, he now advocates the same basic approach as the one laid out in the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" reform bill passed three years ago by the Senate which immigration hard-liners derided as amnesty. Attempts by allies to explain the complete reversal have been comic. My favorite came from Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson, who said this on CNN: "He hasn't changed his position on immigration, he's changed the words that he is saying." That absurdist formulation sounds like something from the experimental writings of author Gertrude Stein who, come to think of it, gave us the perfect blanket description of the entire Trump campaign: "There is no there there." There never was any "there" in Trump's wild promises, many of which were not just impractical but impossible. No, he was never going to be able to roust millions of people from their homes. No, he was never going to be able to ban all foreign Muslims from entering the country. Trump continues to claim that, if elected president, he will build a wall along the entire southern border and get Mexico to pay for it. This, too, would be logistically and politically impossible, but I believe he'll keep saying it until the bitter end. He seems to think he can get away with betraying supporters on the deportation issue by hiding behind his "artistically beautiful" imaginary wall. I realize that most of Trump's ardent fans do not take kindly to being lectured by the likes of me. But it is with a certain degree of genuine sympathy that I say what has to be said: Your candidate is a flake. A fraud. A bag of air. A con man. A joke. I understand the frustration that made the Republican base such fertile ground for the Trump phenomenon to flourish. The GOP leadership spent the entire Obama administration making promises it knew it could not keep on immigration, the economy, fighting terrorism, repealing Obamacare and so on. This was good short-term politics, especially in the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections, but many voters became disillusioned with politics and politicians. Enter Trump, a non-politician with zero scruples, who quickly identified which buttons to push and pushed them like crazy. I also understand that for some voters, Hillary Clinton is basically, as Trump called her, "the devil." There are those who will vote for Trump just to keep his opponent from becoming president. But no one, at this point, should cling to the illusion that a vote for Trump is a vote for any specific policy on any given issue. Having said all kinds of outrageous things to win the nomination, he is now trying clumsily to say more moderate things in an attempt not to get crushed in November. I wouldn't take his new, "humane" immigration stance any more seriously than his earlier draconian pronouncements. In a sense, spokeswoman Pierson was right: Trump doesn't actually have positions. He only has words. There is anger, bigotry and ignorance behind many of those words. But mostly, where substance ought to be found, there is just arrogance and ego. Trump thinks his supporters are suckers who will line up to buy deportation one day and amnesty the next. Some champion. Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com. He writes for The Washington Post Writers Group. SHARE A recent opinion column by Joe Mathews asserts that residents in Ventura County have walled themselves off from high-density affordable housing because we protect farmland and open space. He lays much of the blame on Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources, SOAR, which gives residents the right to vote on urban sprawl projects. However, here are 10 facts that Mr. Mathews doesn't mention: 1) Coastal California is desirable, particularly Southern California, and this increases the demand for housing. Ventura County's moderate temperatures, coupled with our beautiful topography and natural open spaces, were why we were recently awarded the title of "most desirable place to live in the nation" by the Wall Street Journal. We could urbanize the open space and farmland, but do we want more traffic, congestion, air pollution, overcrowding and the associated health impacts? 2) Paving over farmland and open space doesn't make houses more affordable. Orange County is a prime example. The median housing price in Orange County, where nearly all of their farmland has been lost, is $100,000 more than in Ventura County. In fact, some of the densest cities in the nation (San Francisco, New York) have the highest housing costs. Density does not necessarily equate to affordable housing. 3) Low-income kids do better in Ventura County. A study of counties across the nation found low-income children raised in Ventura County achieve higher upward mobility, including higher mobility than in Mr. Mathews' Los Angeles County. 4) Downtowns are invested in and reinvigorated because of SOAR. There are 1,200 units of housing approved in the city of Ventura alone, although their construction was stalled by the recession. Some of those projects are now starting to get built. They are all infill projects brought about by the fact that SOAR is in place. 5) SOAR encourages cost-efficient land use patterns by limiting sprawl development. It is more costly for municipalities to deliver urban services to distant sprawl developments. Extending services into farmland and open space drains tax dollars, is inefficient, and unsustainable. It is also no coincidence that the counties in Southern California that fared most poorly during the recession were the ones that overdeveloped, building thousands of houses that remain unsold. 6) SOAR protects some of the best farming topsoil in the nation and supports one of the largest job markets and industries in Ventura County, and is good for the economy. Since SOAR started in 1998 the value of farming gross income in Ventura County has more than doubled and the rate of growth of agricultural gross income has far exceeded that of the U.S. economy. 7) SOAR keeps growth manageable and is a major reason why Ventura County is one of the safest counties, with two of the safest cities in the nation. Smaller communities where people know each other, faster emergency response times because there is less traffic, and government agencies that aren't overwhelmed with big city crime are some of the benefits of not growing beyond our means. 8) SOAR isn't no-growth. Since 1998, there have been 11 development proposals that required a SOAR vote of the people and voters approved six of them. 9) SOAR exempts affordable housing projects from a vote of the people if it can be shown there is no other place to accommodate affordable housing within city urban boundaries. It makes sense to have affordable housing where residents can access urban services such as schools, buses, stores and jobs. 10) SOAR compels our elected leaders to discuss and address the issue of affordable housing. In fact, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors recently put aside one million dollars as matching funds for affordable housing projects countywide. Mr. Mathews is right that we do stand out from other counties, but in a good way. We are doing something right in Ventura County and SOAR has played a fundamental role in how we got here, and how we will continue to benefit in the future if SOAR is renewed. Linda Parks is a Ventura County supervisor. SHARE Coming in at just under 20 inches and six pounds, California's Channel Island foxes are smaller than many house cats. With big pointy ears and oversized tails, these diminutive foxes recently made a giant leap into the pages of conservation history. In August, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz foxes each a subspecies named for the island it inhabits from the federal list of threatened and endangered species due to recovery. While delisting the foxes is a victory in its own right, it is even more noteworthy when taken in context. The foxes join an ever-growing list of species rescued from the brink of extinction thanks to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since 1973, 37 different plants and animals, both terrestrial and aquatic, have been delisted due to recovery. Of these, 19 have been during the Obama administration, meaning it has brought to completion the recovery of more at-risk species than all other prior administrations combined. The three species of Channel Island foxes are endemic to their respective islands, which means they are found nowhere else in the world. This makes these small populations more prone to severe bottlenecks when some aspect of the natural ecosystem shifts out of balance. Interestingly, the fate of the Channel Island foxes was closely intertwined with another species that was once highly imperiled: the bald eagle. Decades ago, bald eagle populations plummeted due to the use of DDT, leaving a vacancy in the top predator position of the island food web. Golden eagles subsequently colonized the Channel Islands in their place but differed from bald eagles in a very important respect: they eat foxes. The introduction of a new, nonnative predator, combined with other stressors like disease, caused fox populations to decline dramatically. Recovery efforts only came to fruition after bald eagles made a comeback and largely displaced golden eagles. A portion of this endeavor was focused on restoring the habitat to its most pristine form including the eradication of invasive species like feral pigs so that the golden eagles were not tempted to return looking for prey. These foxes represent the fastest recovery of any mammal species in history, largely due to the amazing partnerships between the National Park Service who manage the islands, and the local organizations dedicated to their restoration. Today, both the bald eagle and the Channel Island foxes are restored to their rightful place in the ecosystem. Their story highlights the interconnectedness between species, and demonstrates how saving one can protect another. This fundamental truth is borne out every time conservation actions are implemented under the ESA. Because the act addresses not just the species but also its habitat, many other animals and plants share the same ecological benefit. While we celebrate the successes of the past eight years, we acknowledge that they are but the final chapter of decades of intentional resource management, advocacy and shared conservation effort. Among the lessons learned over those decades are the importance of cooperative partnerships that support declining species before they require federal protection, as with the greater sage-grouse and the New England cottontail. The ESA has been a vital law that will only become more important as species face growing threats such as climate change and habitat loss. In eight years' time, we hope to be celebrating an even longer list of recovered species as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as the Channel Island foxes. Michael Bean is the principal deputy assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. SHARE Watch out, warned three of California's most powerful and most ethically shaky state agencies in late April and again in August. If the notoriously leaky Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field in northern Los Angeles County was not reopened quickly, California would face the strong possibility of blackouts during the summer, they warned. The reasoning of the state reports went this way: When electricity use peaks during the heat waves of summer and early autumn, power plants fueled by natural gas might not be able to operate without fuel from Aliso Canyon. Not coincidentally, that report was co-authored by the Southern California Gas Co., which has the most to gain from reopening its flawed natural gas field above the Porter Ranch area of the San Fernando Valley. Every major public official went for this threat. That included Gov. Jerry Brown's administration, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and many others. But power plants never shut down this summer, and there's virtually no chance they will this fall, either. It should have been obvious immediately to all that the threat was a bunch of hooey. Because the highest gas use of the last 10 years in the region served by Aliso Canyon came not in any summer, but in the winter of 2008, when demand in Southern California reached 4.9 billion cubic feet per day. Even that quantity was well below the 5.7 billion cubic feet available at all times from incoming pipelines and other storage fields in the region. Aliso Canyon, then, is not really needed in summer or fall for anything but feeding the bottom line of Southern California Gas and its parent company, Sempra Energy. Meanwhile, the frequent questionable actions of the April state report's other authors the Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources have been thoroughly documented here and elsewhere. The first acid test for their threat came during an unusually warm June in Southern California. On June 20, the temperature in the Los Angeles Basin hit 101 degrees, 22 degrees above normal for the date, reports the AccuWeather service. Aliso Canyon was not in operation, but there were nevertheless no gas service curtailments. No backup fuel was used by either Southern California Edison Co. or the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, despite record-level electricity demand. The same goes for the heat wave of late July and early August, when deliveries by Southern California Gas, reported on its website, never reached even 4 billion cubic feet, far below the company's capacity without Aliso. Edison had its second-highest one-hour peak load ever between 3 and 4 p.m. June 20, at 23,564 megawatts, while DWP hit 6,080 megawatts, the highest DWP demand ever in June, and just under its all-time record. But there were no blackouts, and no media even bothered to report on the ultrahigh electricity use, which itself was no oddity on a hot day. "I do not expect we will see higher demand anytime this fall than what was registered on June 20, and there were no problems then," said William Powers, whose Powers Engineering firm has been instrumental in defending consumer interests, including offering testimony that was a key factor in preventing California from becoming dependent on hyper-expensive imports of liquefied natural gas. There was, then, never a real possibility of a blackout. This makes the threatening state reports little more than bald blackmail, designed to panic consumers so they would acquiesce in reopening Aliso Canyon. Only after it is reopened can Southern California Gas begin to dun its customers for an expansion of that field that was routinely approved by the PUC before Aliso's monthslong leak began last fall. The sad part of all this is not merely that the Brown Administration has been caught in a lie and a new instance of favoring large utility companies over their customers. What's truly unfortunate is the loss of public trust in both state government and those large, vitally needed and important investor-owned utilities that comes when a threat like this turns out to be bogus. Now that it's clear this warning was worth less than the paper it was printed on, who would believe any other threat issued by the same agencies, even if the next one should be genuine? Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. Executive Producers Jason Egan and Tony Sgro welcomed cast, crew and other celebrity friends to the premiere of The Neighbor on Thursday night at Palms Casino Resort (Pictured: Counting Cars cast Ryan Evans, Horny Mike and Kevin Mack). Egan joined by girlfriend Cheyenne Ruether and Sgro joined by his wife Ivette Sgro kicked off the premiere with a red carpet featuring stars of the film Bill Engvall; Alex Essoe; Melissa Bolona; and Director Marcus Dunstan. Joining the stars of the film was famed horror actress and scream queen Danielle Harris; GRAMMY award-winning rapper Coolio; HISTORYS hit TV series Counting Cars cast members Kevin Mack, Horny Mike and Ryan Evans; Discoverys Vegas Rat Rods cast members Steve Darnell and Travis Deeter; local headliners and many, many more! Bill Engvall on The Neighbor Red Carpet httpvh://youtu.be/HIyIPnG2QCA Video Courtesy: Derek Sante In the small town of Cutter, Mississippi, most people keep to themselves. But when John (Josh Stewart) comes home to find his girlfriend Rosie (Alex Essoe) missing, he suspects his mysterious and off-putting neighbor (Engvall in a shocking performance) is somehow involved. John learns that Rosies life is not all that is at stake after a visit to his neighbors cellar. It becomes clear that the seemingly quiet town is more dangerous than it looks, and John and Rosie must do more than just run away if they want to survive the night. By PTI: Washington, Aug 27 (PTI) In a first, scientists have found that acute Zika virus infection can cause sensory polyneuropathy - degeneration of peripheral nerves that are associated with feeling. Concerned about the increasing number of neurological complications related to the Zika virus, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has recently established a forum to contribute expertise to the coordinated global response to the Zika crisis. advertisement A team of researchers, who were a part of the WFN Work Group, described the first case of sensory polyneuropathy associated with acute Zika virus infection. A large percentage of people suffering from Zika virus infections are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms. However, potential neurological complications can be dramatic, researchers said. "Zika virus infection has become a new emergent neuropathological agent with several neurological complications," said John England, Chair of the WFN Work Group. "Outbreaks of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) associated with Zika virus infections have been reported as well as a high occurrence of a syndrome associated with congenital Zika virus infection, mainly microcephaly with brain malformations," said England, from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre (LSUHSC) in the US. "Other neurological complications associated with Zika virus infections have also been reported such as meningoencephalitis, or acute myelitis," he said. "Clinicians should be aware that Zika virus infection can also cause an acute infectious sensory polyneuropathy," said Marco T Medina, from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. "Our patient is the first confirmed Zika infection case report associated with an acute sensory polyneuropathy which began during the acute infectious phase," said Medina, also a member of the WFN Zika Work Group. "This suggests a probable direct viral inflammatory process affecting sensory nerves, but an autoimmune etiology cannot be definitely excluded," he said. Current WHO statistics reported an ongoing transmission of infections by mosquitoes in 70 countries and territories by the reference date of August 25, 2016, researchers said. Since February 2016, eleven countries have reported human-to-human transmissions with a high probability that these transmissions were sexual. Microcephaly and other malformations of foetuses that can be connected to a Zika infection have been recorded already in 20 countries. In 18 countries, there has been a striking increase in the number of cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) or confirmed infections among GBS sufferers. The research was published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences. PTI MHN MHN --- ENDS --- The much anticipated debut of Chef Shawn McClains Libertine Social kicked off with a eclectic blow-out party at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino that saw a dress made out of champagne glasses, live ice carvings and Swizzle stations (Pictured: Champagne model welcomes guests Photo credit: MGM Resorts International). Last night, Thursday, August 25, guests indulged in the opportunity to taste Libertine Socials inventive new-age American bar food and artistic cocktails. Chef Shawn McClain and Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim welcomed Las Vegas VIPs and culinary influencers with Libertine Socials upbeat and adventurous energy. Guests were treated to an array of Libertine Socials small plates, including Parmesan Churros, chilled king crab, flame-grilled sausages and Ahi Tuna Cones. Abou-Ganims reinvented classic cocktails also were served, including the Sunsplash, Aperol Spritz and Hemmingway Daiquiri. Abou-Ganim showcased the diversity of his multi-faceted cocktail program with different stations throughout the space. Libertine Socials outdoor patio offered a variety of Swizzles, the legendary Caribbean libations; and the Main Bar served an assortment of innovative draft and bottled cocktails. The Arcade Bar Abou-Ganims bar-within-a-bar space celebrating forgotten classics saw Abou-Ganim shaking a number of his favorites, such as the barrel-aged Boulevardier. For Libertine Social, Principle Interior Designer Alessandro Munge created a space that celebrates the daring spirit of Americans with a story to tell whether the night-before was spent at a formal cocktail party, sneaking onto a rooftop terrace, or just hanging out at the go-to neighborhood bar. The Voyeur Lounge greets guests with eclectic furniture and a retro jukebox, while the social dining room is filled with a collection of personal photos to inspire guests of past journeys and those yet to come. During the party, the main dining room transformed into a dance floor led by energetic DJ Sarah Landau pairing beats with a live drummer. McClains belief that lifes greatest moments are those shared with friends resonated with the party guests who played Dare From the Hare, Libertine Socials own bold card game encouraging guests to complete interactive dares. In front of Libertine Social, guests snapped pictures from vintage Polaroid cameras with the backdrop of Alexis Diaz spectacular mural on Mandalay Bays iconic body wall. On their way out of the party, guests were treated to McClains signature Margarita Donut dessert from Libertine To-Go. Saturday night Mekhi Phifer (above) was spotted at TAO Las Vegas after playing in a celebrity poker tournament at The Venetian earlier in the day (Photo courtesy of TAO Las Vegas). The actor dined on signature dishes at the Asian Bistro before heading up to a VIP sky box in the nightclub with friends. Photo credit: Al Powers. Over at LAVO Aziz Ansari was spotted celebrating after his show. Ansari was joined by Dan Levy, who opened for him earlier in the night and Alan Yang, a writer on Ansaris show Parks and Recreation. The actor drank Jack Daniels and took pictures with the girls at a nearby table. Also seen at LAVO on Saturday was British boxer Audley Harrison, who enjoyed the nightclub with friends. Photo credit: Al Powers. Donald Trump at the age of 70 would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected AFP/Jonathan Bachman "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant." Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 16 months older than Clinton would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an "excellent" bill of health. The industry and trade ministry is drafting an action plan for lowering logistics costs to touch 18 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. - Photo nhipcaudautu.vn The costs for logistics currently are about 20 to 25 per cent of the GDP, compared with the average rates of seven to 10 per cent in developed countries. Reducing logistics costs would help prevent wastage of resources and enhance the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy amid the rapid international integration, the ministry said. Under the prime ministers draft action plan for enhancing competitiveness and developing logistics services, which was being discussed for more ideas, the ministry said logistics would be developed as a key service industry of Viet Nam that could meet domestic demand and extend its reach to the regional and global markets. The logistics services industry will contribute five per cent of the GDP and have a growth rate of 15 to 20 per cent per year by 2020, according to the draft. Improving logistics infrastructure and the capacity of logistics firms was essential, the ministry said. The action plan has been developed even as local logistics firms are struggling to compete with foreign rivals. Multinational logistics firms hold a significant market share in providing logistics services in Viet Nam. o Xuan Quang, president of the Viet Nam Logistics Association, said at a recent conference that foreign marine transport firms accounted for just three to four per cent of the logistics firms operating in Viet Nam, but handled more than 80 per cent of the countrys import and export volumes. Foreign firms are dominant in routes leading to the American and European markets. Meanwhile, more than 70 per cent of the existing 1,300 domestic firms are of small and medium size, with average capital of about VN7 billion (US$320,000), making it hard for them to compete with multinational companies. They mainly provide services in the local or nearby markets. However, Quang said the logistics services industry of Viet Nam had significant room for growth, especially with the formation of the Asean Economic Community as well as participation in free trade agreements, which would promote trade and boost demand for logistics services. In order to promote the development of the logistics industry, the ministry proposed in the draft that the legal framework should be improved, coupled with enhanced infrastructure connectivity to transform Viet Nam into a logistics hub of the region. In addition, firms must improve their capacity and competitiveness, while paying attention to developing human resources for the logistics sector and applying technologies in operation. An oil drilling platform. (Photo: AFP/Andy Buchanan) Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh on Friday said his country wanted its pre-sanctions share of the crude market, in comments that suggested Tehran might not be on board with efforts in the OPEC cartel to agree on an output cap together with Russia. "Iran will cooperate with OPEC on improving prices and the state of the crude market, but we expect our right to restore our lost market share in the market to be considered," he said, the ministry's SHANA news service reported. Earlier, Saudi Arabia's energy minister Khalid Al-Falih also downplayed hopes for a reduction in production at the group's meeting next month in Algeria next month. "I don't believe that an intervention of significance is required. I certainly don't advocate a cut," he told Bloomberg News. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in October added 31 cents to reach US$47.64 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for October delivery rose 25 cents to US$49.92 a barrel. "Comments from the Saudi energy minister quelled expectations of a production freeze, which rekindled concerns over the ongoing oversupply," said Lukman Otunuga, research analyst at trading group FXTM. Oil prices had rallied last week and entered a bull market - a 20 per cent rise from recent lows - after OPEC and Russia announced plans to discuss the supply crisis, which has hammered the crude market for more than two years. But prices have taken a beating this week on concerns about prospects for success at the September meeting in Algiers. Khalid left the door open for a freeze in output, saying it "signifies that everybody is content with where the market is today and they want it to be trending in that direction." But a previous OPEC attempt in April to steady output collapsed largely because of Iran's refusal to join talks, keen to maximise its oil revenues after having just emerged from international sanctions. Even if a deal is reached next month on the sidelines of an energy conference, there are doubts about the impact on an already oversupplied market. "Most of the OPEC countries are sending a signal that they're open to freezing production, but you have to remember that most of them are producing at peak levels," BMI Research oil and gas analyst Peter Lee told AFP. "Even if producers come to an agreement, the freeze is at a very high level." Initially, Vinamilk purchased a 70% interest in Driftwood Dairy in December 2014 with options for the remaining 30% in a deal originally reported to be worth more than US$70 million. However, sources have since revealed the actual price was more likely closer to US$30 million, though specific details of these types of private equity transactions are rarely if ever fully disclosed. Driftwood Dairy was previously owned by a Newport Beach private equity firm by the name of Marwit Capital, which procured its 100% stake in the company in 2006. Vinamilk, whose legal name is Vietnam Dairy Products Corp. has its home office located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Driftwood Dairy has a solid reputation as being an established dairy company and the largest supplier of milk and juice to grades kindergarten through the 12th in school districts throughout southern California. Chris Britt, Marwits managing partner, said it could not have found a better partner in Vinamilk. This was truly one of the most intriguing transactions that I have had the pleasure of being involved with in more than 20 years in private equity, Britt said, in a statement released to the press. And I believe one of the most significant transactions to date involving the acquisition of a US business by a leading company based in Vietnam. The tipping point purportedly came for Vinamilk most recently after its introduced two of its dairy products condensed milk and creamer products at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, in the US this past June. Based substantively on the positive feedback received at that event and successful test-marketing of the products, a subsequent decision was made by Vinamilk management to take the plunge into the dairy market in the states of Arizona and California. This expansion marks a significant step forward for Vinamilk in its quest to gain a toehold in global markets such as the US and lights up the pathway for future Vietnamese companies. One of the basic tenets of going global is that if a company, such as a Vietnamese company, desires to successfully sell their product in a foreign market, they first need to invest in and have a base presence in that foreign market from which to develop. For Vinamilk, they have unequivocally now established their base in the US market with the acquisition of Driftwood Dairy. Meanwhile, Mai Kieu Lien, CEO of Vinamilk, has announced the company will focus on additional overseas investment in the coming time in the US as well as other markets in its quest to build global market share. Quality of products, fair prices and good service are core values that has enabled Vinamilk to successfully compete with its high quality foreign competitors, Ms Lien proudly has stated. Top prize winner: Violinist Bui Cong Duy will perform at the Viet NamUS Friendship Concert at the HCM City Opera House on Monday.- File Photo courtesy of HBSO They will collaborate with the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Operas orchestra to present works by Pachelbel, Bach and Beethoven. The concert will open with the orchestra performing Pachelbels Canon in D Major under the baton of Tran Vuong Thach, director of the HBSO. The show will be followed by Bachs Concerto for oboe and violin (or two violins) in C Minor by Duy and violinist Lorenz Gamma of FUGU. Duy, 35, who began playing the violin at the age of four under the instruction of his father and violinist Prof Bui Cong Thanh, is a graduate of the Tchaikovsky National Music College in Moscow. He has won top prizes at international competitions, including the first prize and golden medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1997. He has performed in many countries like Germany, Italy, and Norway. He now teaches at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music. The evening will end with Beethovens Triple Concert in C Major played by FUGU, consisting of Gamma, pianist Ming Tsu and cellist Joon Sung Jun. The bands members teach at the California Institute of Arts, Pomona College, and the California State University in Northridge and in Long Beach, the US. They have performed at prestigious venues across Asia, Europe and the US, and recorded for labels like Cambria Records, Centaur Records, and Cuneiform Records. The band recently recorded its first trio project with works by British composer Rebecca Clarke, Los Angeles-born Maria Newman and Uruguayan-American Miguel del Aguila. This recording is due to be released this year. The concert will begin at 8pm at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1. VNS It was found that there were discrepancies and that the letters with the recruits and that with the artillery office did not match. It was then that the matter was reported to higher authorities in the army who, in turn, informed the police. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Nasik Crime Branch have arrested 4 people who tried to join the Artillery Center of the Indian Army with fake documents. An Army official who was scrutinizing the documents of candidates noticed that few submitted documents didn't match the information of candidates. The officer immediately informed the police about it. The four have been identified as Balbir Gurjar, Tejpal Gopiram, Sureshkumar Shivcharan and Sachinkumar Kishankumar. All hail from Rajasthan. advertisement FAKE RECRUITMENT DRIVE According to sources in Nasik Crime Branch, a recruitment drive in the army was held at Delhi where the 4 accused met an agent. After paying the agent Rs 25,000 each, they asked him to forge their letters of appointment with signatures and the army stamp. The four then arrived at Nashik Road as recruits. ARMY RECRUITMENT PROCEDURE "There is a procedure in the army in matters of recruitment. A sealed copy of the appointment letter of the recruit is sent to the army unit or station concerned, intimating the officer in charge of the recruitment process in advance. The letter sent by the higher authorities is then matched and checked with the appointment letter of the recruit reporting to join. In this case, it was found that there were discrepancies and that the letters with the recruits and that with the artillery office did not match. It was then that the matter was reported to higher authorities in the army who, in turn, informed the police," said Shrikant Dhivare, DCP, Zone II. POSSIBLE FORGERY RACKET After confronting the accused, police found that they were fully aware that the documents were forged and fake. The police are further interrogating the suspects as they suspect a racket where fake documents are being produced for recruitment drives. "These four persons were helped by an army jawan in Delhi for making fake documents, have arrested him as well" said ACP Sachin Gore,Crime Branch Also Read: Army chief Dalbir Singh visits Kashmir, reviews security situation --- ENDS --- Photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS Laurie Holt holds a photograph of her son Josh Holt at her home in Riverton, Utah. Josh Holt, a 24-year-old American man jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges, described being harassed by police and forced to sleep in a hot cell barely big enough for a small bed in his first communication from jail. Photo by CHICAGO TRIBUNE Chicago police Sgt. Ernest Spradley said he was pulled over by a white officer who cussed at him before knowing he was a police officer. The incident reminds him that officers need to work at respecting the people they serve, he said. Violent crime has become a national topic in Chicago. Photo by JOINT TASK FORCE GUANTANAMO Soldiers train outside Guantanamo prisons empty Camp Delta cellblocks. The military has declined to downsize the staff that surged past 2,000 in 2013 when more than 100 captives waged a mass hunger strike. Its time for a change: Cara Castronuova on Her Race for District 22 in the NYS Assembly On Oct. 25, Cara Castronuova, who is vying to unseat longtime Democrat incumbent Michaelle Solages as representative for District 22 in the New York State Assembly, sat down with Vision Times to discuss why voters should vote for her, and not her opponent, in the upcoming election on Nov. 8. The Aam Aadmi National convenor alleged that the prime minister and LG were hell bent on getting Maliwal arrested and could also soon remove her from the DCW chief post. By India Today Web Desk: In yet another scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal could soon be removed by the Centre. The Aam Aadmi National convenor alleged that the prime minister and LG were hell bent on getting Maliwal arrested and could also soon remove her from the DCW chief post. advertisement Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kejriwal said, "Sources-LG n PMO hell bent on removing Swati Maliwal 4 doing gud job. She'll be arrested coming week n then removed (sic)." Sources-LG n PMO hell bent on removing Swati Maliwal 4 doing gud job. She'll be arrested coming week n then removed https://t.co/OnN0z808Op; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 27, 2016 The remarks came days after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted a raid at the Delhi Commission for Women's (DCW) office. Delhi's ACB carried searches at DCW office on August 18, following complaints by a former Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Sehgal and an ex-chief of the panel Barkha Shukla Singh. The ACB officials claimed that they had intimated the DCW about their visit to collect certain documents regarding the complaints. Barkha Singh, a former Congress MLA who headed the panel for nine years till last year, had filed a complaint with ACB recently alleging "nepotism and favouritism" by Maliwal in appointing employees to DCW. Reacting to the incident, Kejriwal had earlier said, "Modiji did not spare even the DCW which is doing such commendable work. Modiji has done a very bad thing." Also read: Kejriwal attacks PM Modi for ACB raid at DCW office, says it's ba Kejriwal: Congress was in Ambani's pockets, Modi government in Adani's --- ENDS --- The war in Afghanistan has long been a dangerous assignment for journalists, but groups say the country's deteriorating security situation is making things more dire, especially in areas held by the Taliban and Islamic State fighters where the government is struggling to regain control. The overall situation in the country is dire for everybody, but journalists are particularly affected, Zia Bumia, president of the South Asian Free Media Association for Afghanistan and a leading member of the Afghan Journalists Federation, told VOA in a telephone interview. The press rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Afghan authorities this week to protect journalists in war zones. The group said the Taliban and Islamic State militants have increased threats against journalists. Reporters Without Borders is extremely concerned about the safety of hundreds of journalists and media outlets in a number of Afghan provinces as a result of an increase in attacks by the Taliban and Islamic State, said RSF. According to RSF, journalists working in the war zones are under pressure from both militants and local officials. The Taliban accuse them of not being neutral," while local officials are wary of exaggerating and portraying the situation in overly negative terms. Black holes Despite courageous efforts by journalists to do their duty to provide news coverage, Afghanistans war zones the provinces of Helmand, Kunduz, Baghlan, Nangarhar, Takhar, Ghazni and Farah are in the process of becoming news and information black holes in which media freedom is disappearing, the RSF statement said. Afghan journalist organizations have also voiced concerns that the increase in militants attacks, including the ongoing battles in southern Helmand province, is posing a serious threat to the safety of reporters. All of the journalists I have seen are worried, Rahimullah Samander, head of the Afghan Independent Journalists Association told RSF. There is intense fighting in the three strategic provinces of Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar. There are at least 50 local journalists and around 10 reporters working for national or foreign media in these provinces. The local journalists do not enjoy the support of national or foreign media and are less well regarded by military and political officials, who also accuse them of putting out alarmist reports. Spreading fear Afghan security forces have been engaged in fierce battles against Taliban militants in southern Helmand province where the militants have captured several districts. The battles prompted the U.S. military to deploy around 100 troops to the provincial capital Lashkar Gah to assist Afghan forces in their bid to defend the increasingly besieged city. Security authorities just yesterday discovered and diffused a bomb planted outside the office of the Helmand Journalists Association, a local journalist in southern Afghanistan told VOA in a phone interview on Thursday. The associations office was the target to spread fear among journalists. The journalist spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. He said the Taliban militants have been dismayed with recent investigative media reports that exposed the presence of foreign fighters in Taliban ranks in Helmand. According to the journalist, some government officials in southern provinces also create hurdles for reporters. When the issue of ghost soldiers in Helmand was reported by the media, the officials involved werent happy, for instance, he said. The situation in eastern parts of the country does not seem to be any different. IS militants have threatened many reporters in Nangarhar where the group has established a presence in several of its districts. We fear IS. Many of us have been threatened by the group. They accuse us of not being neutral, a local journalist in eastern Nangarhars capital Jalalabad told VOA. Assurances of protection The Afghan government has said it would take specific actions for the safety and protection of journalists in the country. The Afghan Journalists Federation has reached an agreement with the National Security Council called 'Procedure for the Safety and Protection of Journalists,' said Bumia. The second vice president will chair a coordination committee to help implement the Procedure for the Safety and Protection of Journalists, Bumia told VOA, adding that the committee would consist of high level Afghan security and judicial authorities and representatives from the Afghan Journalists Federation. According to Bumia, the procedure includes the creation of a support fund to assist affected journalists and their families. Afghanistan is ranked 120th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2016 World Freedom Index. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 27 journalists or media workers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. Abdul Samad Rohani, a BBC reporter was abducted and murdered in Lashkar Gah in 2008. NPR photojournalist David Gilkey and Afghan journalist Zabihullah Tamanna were killed in Helmand in June. Afghan officials say Taliban insurgents overran and captured a district in the country's east following heavy fighting with Afghan security forces that left several police and militants dead and many more wounded. Officials told reporters Saturday that the militants captured Jani Khel district in eastern Paktia province. Authorities say security forces have since withdrawn from the area, which is a key transit route that includes links to neighboring Khost province and Pakistan. Jani Khel district governor Abdul Rahman Solamal told Reuters, "Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days. Hundreds of them attack[ed] our check post overnight." He said if the district is not recaptured, the militants will have improved mobility, helping them undermine security in neighboring areas. Intense fighting has also been taking place in northern and northeastern Afghan provinces of Baghlan, Takhar and Kunduz, where residents have lately faced critical shortages of power, water and essential commodities. According to the United Nations, the Afghan war has already caused more civilian casualties in the first half of this year compared to the record numbers in 2015. African heads of state and VIPs from around the world have converged in this Kenyan capital for the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, expected to foster a host of new trade and investment deals. For the first time since its 1993 inception, the summit now held every three years is being held in Africa. Its an historic occasion, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters here Friday. He said Japan would work hand in hand with Africa to realize the goals set out by the continents people, whom he said were strongly promoting themselves. Japans government, along with the World Bank, the United Nations and the African Union, host the TICAD summit. Its billed as a platform for high-level dialogue on policy. The list of attendees is full of VIPs, including 37 African heads of state and the leaders of the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to name a few. The two-day conference, which concludes Saturday, has drawn approximately 10,000 delegates. Focus on industrialization Lagging industrialization in Africa is on the agenda. "We know that most nations which escape the grip of poverty do so by industrializing," Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta said Friday. "Africa has not still lived up to its potential. We need to put our heads together to see how we can hasten the industrialization of the continent and how we can avoid the missteps of those who have previously walked this path." The Japanese prime minister said his country would unveil new technology and training opportunities at the conference to encourage growth. At the last TICAD in 2013, Japan pledged $32 billion in development aid to Africa. Some of it was earmarked for infrastructure development to encourage foreign investment. Japan is currently undertaking an expansion of the Kenyan port of Mombasa, to the tune of $250 million. "The Japanese have been heavily involved here in our ports in Mombasa, in Mozambique," Kenyan economic analyst Aly Khan Satchu told VOA. "They are doing a lot of the roads. They seem to meet a strategy basically around logistics and opening up the continent, and I think thats going to work well for them." Satchu, who works for Rich Managent, continued: "What we have is a situation where the Indian Ocean is very much an appendage to the South China Sea. And I think Japan is looking to counter Chinas influence not only in the South China Sea but also in the Indian Ocean." Duncan Onduu, a Nairobi-based sustainable development analyst, said he expected hot topics to include climate change and agriculture investment. He anticipates "greater commitment on issues of climate change, issues of food security" and helping Africans become more self-reliant "so that we dont have instances where there are pockets of hunger." With less than 75 days left before the U.S. presidential election, it is time for Americans living, working or traveling abroad to take steps to vote. The extra time is needed because U.S. elections are managed individually by the 50 states, U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. This means there are 55 different sets of rules for absentee voting. But the basic steps are simple: Step 1. Register to vote. If you have yet to register but are overseas, print out the forms listed on your states election website and mail them to the state's election office. Step 2. The easiest way to cast a ballot while overseas is to go to the Federal Voter Assistance Program website at FVAP.gov and click on the state youre registered to vote in to get state-specific information. Step 3. Download, print and fill out the PDF forms. Step 4. Put your ballot in an envelope, put the required postage on it and mail it in. FVAP also recommends that if you're an absentee voter, you should: Allow plenty of time to request, receive and return a ballot. Notify your election office each time your mailing address changes. Become familiar with your state's absentee-voting deadlines and procedures to make sure your ballot is properly executed and will be counted. Complete a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) early if you are unsure of the time required to return the ballot to meet the state's deadline. A series of recent bombings in Thailand, including one this week, remain unexplained. But analysts say they cast a shadow over peace talks scheduled to begin next Friday between the Thai government and southern insurgents. On Tuesday, a stolen ambulance truck packed with 80 kilograms of explosives detonated outside the Southern View Hotel in the seaside town of Pattani, wounding at least 30 people and killing a 35-year-old woman. A second victim died Friday from injuries suffered in the blast. The attack came less than two weeks after a series of bombings and arsons at several south-central Thai beach resorts, including in the town of Hua Hin, just 200 kilometers south of Bangkok. Four people died and more than 30 were injured in the August 12 attacks. No one has claimed responsibility for either the most recent or earlier attacks. But the spread of violence beyond the southern border provinces raised concerns of a tactical shift by the insurgents, primarily Muslim separatists seeking regional autonomy from the Buddhist majority state. The Thai government has been claiming some success in reducing insurgent violence in the southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla. Peace talks are scheduled for September 2 between officials and representatives of a southern separatist umbrella group, MARA Patani. Possible impediment The recent violence has created new uncertainties about whether the peace talks will lead to progress, said Pakorn Preeyakorn, an executive member of the Islamic Center of Thailand. Pakorn said that, until the August 12 bombings, it appeared most insurgent groups wanted to negotiate. "I dont understand the movement of this violence," he said. As the government says, this is a new situation not like before." Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told local media the government would not make any peace deals as long as violence persisted. Prawit also recommended establishing a special front-line cabinet to deal with the renewed violence. Human rights lawyer Somchai Homlaor said the return to talks, suspended roughly two years ago, reverses government policy regarding the southern border insurgency. Somchai said that until this month, the military was confident its tough security measures over the past two years had been successful. "So they even stopped the peace process. And because of this top-down policy, they stop to engage or involve different sectors in the south to participate in the peace process, to participate in monitoring or implementing the security policy," he said. Violence linked to insurgency Thailands southern border provinces have been beset by a Muslim separatist insurgency since January 2004. The resulting violence has claimed more than 6,500 lives and injured thousands. The insurgency seeks greater regional autonomy from the Thai state, which the central government has consistently rejected. The Islamic Centers Pakorn said the government must press ahead with the peace talks. Its "the best thing the government should do," he said. "But ... I dont know exactly who should play a significant role in the negotiation process because we dont really know who is [behind] the sort of violence at the moment," Pakorn said. Brad Adams, Asia director for the New York-based Human Rights Watch, condemned the renewed violence, saying the insurgents showed "incredible depravity towards civilians," amounting to crimes against humanity. But some rights activists say progress toward peace also has been undermined by the militarys harder-line policy in dealing with the southern insurgency. More than 50 people in Thai military detention have been tortured, a report released earlier this year alleged. The report was co-authored by Somchai Homlaor; Pornpen Khongkachoniet, who directs the rights group Cross Cultural Foundation; and Anchana Heemmina, who leads the Duay Jai group. The military is suing all three for defamation. But Somchai said that, to reduce violence in the southern provinces, the military must give human rights a greater priority. We believe that the conflict in the south cannot be solved or the peace in the south cannot be rebuilt without respect of the human rights. This is a must, he said. He said by addressing the charges of rights abuses, the government would be better placed to win the hearts of the people in the south. Police in Bangladesh say they killed three Islamist extremists Saturday after raiding a militant hideout just outside the countrys capital, Dhaka. The suspected mastermind of last month's deadly attack on a cafe filled with foreigners is reported to be among those killed. Senior police officer Sanwar Hossain confirmed the deaths of the militants. Officials said police exchanged fire during an hour-long gun battle with the extremists in Narayanganj, 25 kilometers south of Dhaka. "They did not surrender. They threw four-five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told AFP. Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was among those killed, according to officials. He is believed to be the mastermind of the countrys worst terror attack that killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreign nationals, along with two policemen. According to reports, police and security forces have carried out a series of raids on allegedly militant hideouts. On Aug. 2, authorities offered $25,000 as a reward to anyone who gave information that would lead officials to Chowdhury. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the cafe attack on July 1 when gunmen entered the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka and killed the hostages and police officers. Protesting Bolivian miners on Friday abandoned a roadblock where a day earlier they kidnapped a government deputy minister, who was later found beaten to death. President Evo Morales called for three days of national mourning and declared Friday a day of "deep pain" for the country. Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes, 56, was beaten to death on Thursday after being taken hostage by miners who had blocked a major highway near Panduro, around 160 km (100 miles) from capital city La Paz. Officials said he died of blows to the head. The brutal killing of a senior minister has shocked the country and the violent protests highlight the conundrum Morales has of keeping his increasingly divergent core support happy at a time when income is tight. The deputy minister had traveled to Panduro to negotiate with the miners on Thursday. His body was found early on Friday morning by the side of the highway that connects La Paz with the city of Oruro, wrapped in a blanket, said Edwin Blanco, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation. "The cause of death was basically bleeding in the brain. Ribs were also broken," Blanco told reporters. Illanes' assistant was also badly beaten and is in intensive care in a hospital in La Paz. At least two miners were killed and 17 police injured earlier this week, authorities said, after they clashed when the protesters blocked the highway. On Friday the road was clear as they abandoned the blockade. The miners - who belong to co-operatives digging for tin, zinc, silver and other metals rather than working for private employers - have been affected by the global fall in commodity prices. They say they want the government to loosen rules intended to protect the environment so they can increase output. Their list of demands also includes being allowed to sign contracts with private companies, the reduction of tariffs on imported machinery, and government subsidies to help defray energy costs. They also do not want their subcontracted workers to be allowed to form unions. Leaders and spokespersons from the National Federation of Mining Cooperatives of Bolivia, who had organized the week's protests, did not answer phone calls on Friday and did not comment in the media. Police said they had rounded up dozens for questioning in Oruro and La Paz. No-one has yet been charged for the killing. Morales, an ex-coca grower, nationalized Bolivia's resources sector after taking power in 2006, initially winning plaudits for plowing the profits into welfare programs. But his government has been dogged by accusations of cronyism and authoritarianism in recent years. Some workers have soured on him as falling commodity prices have crimped spending. Most of the country's miners, including those involved in the protests, work in cooperatives. Unlike neighboring Peru and Chile, there are few foreign-owned mining companies. Political violence is not unknown in Bolivia, one of South America's poorest countries. Six people died in an arson attack at a protest ahead of a referendum earlier this year, when Bolivians split over leftist Morales' plans to change the constitution to allow him to run for office again. A trial against Brazil's president turned into a yelling match and was temporarily suspended on Friday after the head of Senate declared "stupidity is endless'' and sharply criticized a colleague who had questioned the body's moral authority. The second day of the trial against President Dilma Rousseff got off to an edgy start when Senate President Renan Calheiros decided to bring up a comment made on Thursday by Sen. Gleisi Hoffmann, a member of Rousseff's Workers' Party. Hoffmann, who like many in the Senate and lower Chamber of Deputies is being investigated for corruption, had declared that "no one here'' had the moral standing to judge Rousseff. "It can't be that a senator is saying things like this,'' said Calheiros, who later added: "I am very sad because this session is, above all, a statement that stupidity is endless.'' In a bizarre and heated exchange with Hoffmann and other senators, Calheiros said he had asked the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the country's highest court, not to raid Hoffmann's home, apparently trying to make the point that federal lawmakers should not be persecuted arbitrarily. Only the high court can decide to investigate, arrest or prosecute federal lawmakers. Police are investigating whether Hoffmann and her husband received kickbacks from state oil company Petrobras in the form of campaign contributions. They deny wrongdoing. Calheiro's comments provoked gasps of surprise in the Senate, and are likely to raise questions about his relationship with justices on the high court, who are supposed to be independent. Soon after the exchange, Calheiros' office released a statement saying that the petitions to the court were routine in nature and reiterated the immunity of senators. With several senators shouting at once, Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski called for a five-minute recess, then changed his mind and said the body would instead return after lunch. A few hours later, senators returned to the chamber and continued with the proceedings in their usual subdued manner. Rousseff, in the middle of her second term, is accused of breaking fiscal rules in her management of the federal budget. She denies wrongdoing and argues that her enemies are carrying out a "coup d'etat.'' Opponents claim that her maneuvers were an attempt to continue high spending and mask deficits, which ultimately exacerbated a severe recession in Latin America's largest economy. Rousseff and her supporters, however, argue something more nefarious is at play: corrupt lawmakers who want to oust her so they can then water down an investigation into billions of dollars in kickbacks at state oil company Petrobras. The two-year investigation has led to the jailing of dozens of businessmen and politicians, and threatens to bring down many more. Indeed, both Hoffmann and Calheiros, the senators who argued, are being investigated in probes related to Petrobras. And while senators debated on Friday, federal police announced they were recommending charges against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rousseff's predecessor and mentor. Federal police accuse Silva of having an apartment built for him by a constructor connected to Petrobras. Silva denies the accusations. On Friday, Rousseff's defense called experts to testify and answer questions, a day after the prosecution dominated Thursday's session. Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo, an economist, argued that Rousseff had not broken so-called fiscal responsibility laws. He said that instead of hiding government spending, as critics argue, in early 2015 she was coming up with contingency plans to maintain spending in the face of declining revenues. "Removing President Dilma on these allegations is an attack on democracy,'' he said. Several days of debate, including an address by Rousseff on Monday, will culminate in a vote on whether to permanently remove her from office. The Senate voted in May to impeach and suspend her for up to 180 days while the trial could be prepared. The chilling image of five children staring into the camera with guns in their upraised arms as five grown men dressed in orange jumpsuits kneel in front of them, about to be executed, was posted by Islamic State extremists almost as a badge of honor. According to the SITE counterterrorism website where the image was released Friday, the young boys were British, Egyptian, Kurdish, Tunisian and Uzbek and featured in an IS video from Raqqa, Syria. IS has increasingly featured children in its constant barrage of propaganda, a deeply disturbing sign of the extremist groups profound level of psychological warfare. The exact number of children who have been put through the Islamic States child soldier boot camp is unknown. The German magazine Der Spiegel quoted experts as saying about 1,500 boys were serving the militant group in Iraq and Syria. One of the experts VOA talked with suspects there are that many in Iraq alone. As the Iraqi Security Forces, with Kurdish troops and U.S.-led coalition support, converge on the IS stronghold of Mosul, there are growing concerns about what will happen to the children who have been forced to live under IS. There is no way we are prepared to manage the scale of what we see in front of us, John Horgan, a professor at Georgia State University and an expert on terrorism and political violence, told VOA. "We are looking at a level of [child] mobilization that is unprecedented and increasing. Snipers and suicide bombers According to Farah Dakhlallah, UNICEFs Middle East and North Africa spokeswoman, child recruitment has increased across the Middle East, and the roles that children are recruited into are changing. In previous years, children were in support roles, Dakhlallah told VOA by phone from Jordan. But in the past two years, they are taking on much more active roles, carrying weapons, manning checkpoints, being used as snipers and as suicide bombers. In Syria, children are increasingly being used in armed and combat roles by different parties to the conflict, at times recruited as young as seven years old, Dakhlallah said. Often we think this is happening without parental consent, she said. But there may be instances where the parents have been complicit, further complicating the psychological picture. "I've been studying terrorism for 20 years; I have seen nothing like this," Horgan said. "This is altogether different." Unprepared While organizations like UNICEF provide a level of psychosocial services to children who have escaped the conflict, experts warn that some children may have been severely brutalized. I dont think we have a real understanding of what these kids have been through, Horgan told VOA. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. IS has been grooming, training and indoctrinating children for several years and has also widened its recruitment approach to include children, encouraging entire families to join IS. Children who have escaped have described the horror they have been through. Some children were sexually assaulted as part of their training. Some were beaten by sticks. They slept on flea-ridden mattresses and were beaten and bullied if they faltered even for a second, Horgan said. IS executed children who showed signs of disillusionment or of missing their parent, he added. These children did not emerge out of the ether in the last couple of months, Horgan said. [IS militants] have been grooming and indoctrinating kids for a few years now. I think its an investment in their future. UNICEF efforts In Iraq, UNICEF says it is working with the Iraqi government to improve juvenile detention centers and programs for children in detention, including those on security-related charges. The U.N. agency is also advocating for training front-line security forces on child rights. But Amnesty International has criticized Iraqs judiciary structure as weak and opaque, and security officials as barely coping with the flood of people fleeing IS control. Hundreds of males have already disappeared from unofficial security screening points. Asked whether the humanitarian agencies were prepared for the wave of children who will be emerging from Mosul as security operations ramp up to retake the IS stronghold, Horgan had only one word to say: No. Democratic Republic of Congo will free five pro-democracy activists in the next few days, the justice minister said on Friday, to try to appease the opposition and ease negotiations over an election timetable after a delayed presidential vote. Opponents accuse President Joseph Kabila of deliberately delaying the vote in order to cling to power beyond the end of his mandate in December, a charge his supporters deny. Opposition leaders could not be reached for comment but Friday's news looked unlikely to appease the main opposition alliance, which dismissed a similar promise to release prisoners last week as insufficient and boycotted the talks. Only four of the 24 prisoners named last week turned out to still be in jail, and several prominent political figures were not on the list of names. Thambwe said on Friday that he expected those four to be released at the weekend. Talks between the government, its political opponents and civil society representatives started this week after authorities said last weekend that a vote set for November could not be held before July as they enroll millions of new voters. Authorities have arrested dozens of people in the last year, who the opposition deem political prisoners, and about 40 people were killed in January 2015 in protests over a possible election delay, drawing criticism from the United Nations. Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told reporters in the capital Kinshasa that five activists - four from the youth group Lucha based in the eastern city of Goma and one from Kinshasa-based pro-democracy group Filimbi - would soon be released. "The formalities will be taken care of starting today, and they should be able to leave Makala prison in the next two or three days," he said. Kabila took power when his father was assassinated in 2001, then won disputed elections in 2006 and 2011. Congo has not experienced a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. Captain Amarinder Singh alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's NGO was funded by the Ford Foundation, which is supported by the CIA. He said that the way Kejriwal functioned while he was the Chief Minister shows that he had taken money from CIA. By Manjeet Sehgal: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh today asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to come clean on the serious allegations leveled against him by the party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur. Chhotepur alleged that Kejriwal scornfully denigrated Sikh religion and even asked him (Chhotepur) as how did it matter if he was excommunicated by the Akal Takhat. advertisement Also Read: AAP's Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chotepur facing party action for accepting 'cash for tickets' Captain Amarinder also sought a probe by the government of India into the alleged CIA funding of the NGO Parivartan that Kejriwal ran, while in service, along with Manish Sisodia, who is now his Deputy Chief Minister in Delhi. KEJRIWAL CHEATED THE IT DEPARTMENT? The PCC president reminded Kejriwal that quite contrary to the high moral ground he was taking today, he was forced to repay Rs 9.2 lakhs by income tax department, which he had cheated off. "Didn't you repay this money under pressure after eight years, during the peak of the Anna movement just to show yourself to be clean as you claimed to be leading an anti-corruption movement while you had cheated your department of Rs 9.2 lakhs?" he asked Kejriwal. He questioned Kejriwal's double standards by saying that while he did not even react to the revelations made by the AAP National Council member Pavitar Singh that Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak demanded Rs 50 lakhs from him to allot Phillaur assembly ticket to his wife, he took no time to malign Chhotepur just because he had accepted donation from a party volunteer. "Why not apply same yardstick on Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak who have been accused on record by one of your own founding members of seeking bribe?" he asked Kejriwal, while adding, "or is it simply because you apply one set of rules on the Punjabi leaders and another on non-Punjabis like Singh and Pathak as they are earning money for you". 'AAP MEMBERS INSULT SIKH LEADERS, MAKE FUN OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS' The former Chief Minister said, he had conclusive evidence that the non-Punjabi leaders like Singh and Pathak were using scornful and derogatory language against the Sikh leaders and even making fun of their religious symbols, like saying that the Sikhs have their brains in their beards. Besides, he added, Kejriwal has also been heard poking fun at the Punjabi and Sikh leaders and there was grave resentment among the local cadres. advertisement He said, he will release the evidence in due course of time. KEJRIWAL'S NGO FUNDED BY CIA? Captain Amarinder alleged that Parivartan, the NGO Kejriwal ran while being a member of the Indian Revenue Services, along with Sisodia, was funded by the Ford Foundation, which in turn was supported by the CIA. He said a probe must establish as how he could run an NGO while in government service and that too, whose funding was very suspicious as CIA is not known to do any charity. "Besides, the way you tried to destablise the governments by resorting to unwarranted protests and dharnas, even while being the Chief Minister yourself, only vindicate and validate the widespread perception and the purpose for which you took money from the Ford Foundation", he told the AAP convener. He asked Kejriwal to explain how he managed to serve and spend his entire career of over two decades in Income Tax department in Delhi only as normally income tax officials are transferred all across the country. Also Read: Coffee with Captain: Congress pitches Amarinder Singh as youth leader I will avenge each and every Congress worker's persecution: Captain Amarinder Singh advertisement Badal responsible for sacrilege incidents: Captain Amarinder --- ENDS --- Cuba said on Friday it was ready to receive U.S. commercial flights beginning next week and that it viewed their renewal after being suspended in 1961 as another positive step in a growing detente. JetBlue is scheduled to inaugurate direct flights between the long-time nemeses on Aug. 31, when it flies from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Villa Clara in central Cuba. American Airlines in September will start flying from Miami to the provinces, followed by other airlines. There will be 20 daily flights to Havana by the end of the year. "It is a positive step and contribution to the improving relations between Cuba and the United States," Deputy Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodriguez told local media. Josefina Vidal, who heads Cuba's U.S. diplomacy department, said Cuba had confirmed the JetBlue flight, removing the last technical hurdle of official approval. Rodriguez said U.S. airlines would be handled in a similar fashion as the 110 airlines currently flying to Cuba and with equal attention to security issues that were already a normal part of the country's system. "Cuba is strong in matters of operational and aviation security, which are recognized internationally," the Communist Party daily, Granma, quoted him as stating. Seventeen U.S. charter flights land every day in Cuba, but they are expected to gradually succumb to competition from the airlines. Cuba has been experiencing a tourism boom since the announcement in December 2014 that the United States would normalize diplomatic ties and work to solve various outstanding issues. Last year a record 3.5 million tourists visited, straining dilapidated infrastructure and pushing up prices, especially in the capital. Thousands of homes now rent out rooms, helping to ease the strain, and some 2,000 private restaurants have opened. The Obama administration has focused on allowing normal travel, loosening restrictions despite a ban on tourism that only Congress can lift, and authorizing travel related businesses to set up shop in Cuba and communications companies and banks to provide support such as roaming and credit cards. The direct flights follow the opening of the first U.S. administered hotel and arrival of the first U.S. cruise ship earlier this year. Some 300,000 Cubans living in the United States now travel home annually. In 2015 the Cuban government reported 161,233 Americans visited, compared to 91,254 in 2014, and arrivals through June nearly doubled compared with the same period last year. Two women traveling in a minibus were dragged out and burned by a mob this week in the town of Butembo in eastern Congo where other travelers have narrowly escaped lynching in the past week. Some observers say politicians are partly to blame for heightened community tensions in the DRC's North Kivu province. The two women, both aged over 50, were the latest victims of a cycle of violence between the Nande and Hutu ethnic communities in North Kivu. Butembo is an overwhelmingly Nande town, and recently the North Kivu parliament, dominated by Nande, passed an edict restricting travelers from the south, who are mainly Hutu, from entering the town. Vigilantes set up road blocks to intercept travelers they claim are suspect. Kayindo Esperance, a student, was a passengers on the bus on Wednesday and saw what happened to the two women. She said the men at the roadblock checked what the two women were carrying in their bundles and found machetes, then they told them to speak Kinande (the local language in Butembo) and they could not, so they decided they were Hutu. She confirmed the two women were then burned to death. The police tried to intervene, she says, but the population refused to listen to them. The young vigilantes claimed they were trying to intercept terrorists of the ADF rebel group, who are blamed for massacring hundreds of people in Beni north of Butembo since 2014. False information The vice governor of North Kivu province Feller Lutahichirwa has spent the past few days in Butembo and told local radio this ethnic violence has claimed six lives in the city in the past week and several other people have been injured. He said the crimes committed by these young people were the result of false information confusing the ADF terrorists with people migrating from the south of the province towards Ituri in the north. Fifty-seven people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Butembo. Strict justice will be meted out, he said, and meanwhile the governor's order restricting movement from the south will remain in force until the situation has calmed down. Fazil Mugabo, a Hutu and activist with the UDC political party, told VOA this restriction on free movement is unconstitutional and is mainly targeting Kinyarwanda speakers. People travelling from the south can't be at the root of these troubles, he said, they are just travelling on business. What's causing it is political manipulation, which has got to stop, he added. The vigilantes in Butembo were out in force since last Sunday, in defiance of a curfew ordered by the governor. Charlene Soki, a young Nande, told VOA she saw them being 'mobilized' by a politician. She said she saw a deputy, a member of the local parliament, telling young men to go into the streets at night. She doesn't know his name, she said, but she heard he was not from the ruling coalition, he was from the opposition. Fazil Mugabo commented that as the time for elections draws near, certain politicians are playing the ethnic card to mobilize support. A group of Mauritanian anti-slavery activists who were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison are appealing, but fear a system they believe is rigged against them. On August 19, a tribunal in the capital city of Nouakchott found 13 members of the group Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) guilty of charges including being part of an unauthorized organization and inciting attacks against authority. The charges stem from riots near the capital where police tried to evict unauthorized residents living in a shantytown. The evictions turned violent, and authorities blamed activists for the Haratin ethnic group which was being evicted. The Haratin, a darker-skinned ethnic group, has been historically discriminated against in Mauritania. The convicted activists want to take their case to a higher court, but are concerned about fairness. Amnesty International representative Kine Fatim Diop said the government plans to transfer the case to a court in Nouadhibou, about 500 kilometers from Nouakchott. "They will be far from their families, far from their lawyers. They will be at risk of mistreatment, and it will be something very difficult for the detainees," Diop said. "It's something that shows that this trial is politically motivated." The anti-slavery activists were not taken from the site where the riots took place on June 29 during the arrests but were rounded up from their homes and work. "It's a new attempt to intimidate and silence human rights defenders. The authorities in Mauritania usually arrest human rights defenders but especially those working on slavery in Mauritania," Diop said. Tortured? The IRA alleges its members in detention have been victims of torture, including having their hands and feet bound, being hung upside down for hours and being beaten on the bottom of their feet. This was done in order to extract confessions, said Siikam Sy a member of the board of directors of IRA-USA. "They have a prefabricated statement that they wanted them to sign, and those individuals refused to sign because they were not true," said Sy. IRA-USA is the U.S. chapter of the anti-slavery organization. The events have attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of State, which said it was dismayed by accusations of torture. "The United States strongly encourages Mauritania to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association, for all Mauritanians," the department said in a statement. "We support fair trial guarantees, transparent and credible judicial processes, and respect for the human rights of all individuals. We will carefully follow an anticipated appeal process." In a coincidence of timing, the arrests occurred while the group's president and vice-president were in Washington D.C. being presented with the Trafficking in Persons Heroes Award by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Ahmed Ely, a lawyer representing the imprisoned IRA members in Mauritania, said they will appeal, but he does not hold out hope for a fair trial. "The Mauritanian justice system is not independent at all. The justice does what the political authority tells them to do," he said. "That's what happened in the trial that was just completed." The Mauritanian government established the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in April. This investigative body was set up to examine places where there is lack of freedom, but its committee members were denied access from visiting the anti-slavery prisoners. Sy said it was during the 11 days after the activists were arrested and held incommunicado that they were tortured. VOA made several attempts to reach the embassy of Mauritania in Washington D.C. for comments but didn't get a response. Slavery is against the law in Mauritania, but the practice persists with families forced into servitude for generations. Arzouma Kompaore contributed to the report. Rakhine nationalists in Myanmar have rejected the news that former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will head a commission to discuss ethnic conflict and clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The creation of a commission led by foreigners with no background knowledge or capacity to understand the circumstances in Rakhine state would undermine the rights of all of Burma's ethnic groups, as well as Myanmar's sovereignty, said Arakan National Party vice chairperson Aye Nu Sein. She said it was not necessary to form another commission, since the administration of former President Thein Sein had created a Rakhine affairs investigating commission. "I object because this makes the issue an international affair rather than domestic, she told VOA's Burmese service. In fact, we've already had inquiry commissions on this domestic issue that have already produced reports. So, what we want is just to follow through on the previous reports by the inquiry commission, rather than adding foreign advisers, who actually intervene and infringe upon our citizens' rights and domestic rights. It would also infringe upon our sovereignty." Members of the former ruling party and a splinter group from democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party also released a statement rejecting the Annan commission. Khin Maung Swe, head of the splinter party known as the National Democratic Front, told VOA it is not appropriate to let foreigners lead such a commission because the Rakhine problem is an internal affair. Prominent Muslim and Rakhine leaders from Burma should handle the matter, he said. "I don't mind if people from Burma do go out and observe how international organizations or the United Nations handle this kind of issue [in] other places, he said. But in this case, when our government requests an international adviser to become involved in a domestic affair, we need to rethink whether it should happen or not." The announcement about Annan's commission was made Wednesday by the Kofi Annan Foundation. A statement said the commission "will initiate a dialogue with political and community leaders in Rakhine with the aim of proposing measures to improve the well-being of all the people of the state." More than 100 people were killed in Rakhine in 2012 and 100,000 remain in camps following clashes between the Rohingya Muslim minority and the Buddhist majority. 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 panel of nine made up of six Myanmar citizens and three foreigners is expected to publish a report within a year of its formation. It does not include a Muslim minority representative. Turkish-backed fighters skirmished Saturday with Kurdish forces in northern Syria, pushing the two U.S. allies in the war against Islamic State extremists closer to an all-out confrontation. Turkey's Anadolu news agency said one Turkish soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a rocket attack by a Kurdish militia that the Ankara government has identified as terrorists. For its part, the Kurd-dominated U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said its fighters were hit by Turkish jets south of the border town of Jarablus, which was stormed by Turkish forces Wednesday but was reported Saturday to be in the control of the SDF. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The clashes heightened Western concerns that Turkey's military incursion into Syrian territory aims to target both IS jihadists and the Kurdish military grouping known as the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or the YPG militia. The United States has described the YPG as one of its most effective allies in the fight against IS, while Turkey is demanding a YPG retreat from all border territory seized from IS jihadists. Aid for Aleppo In other developments, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria said the world body had in place an emergency response plan to provide humanitarian relief to the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, once a temporary cease-fire was in place. In a statement, Staffan de Mistura said Russia had confirmed that it would honor the proposed U.N. emergency response plan and was seeking the cooperation of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, Moscow's long-standing ally, for a plan put forward last week. The U.N. plan is aimed at providing emergency aid to tens of thousands of people trapped in Aleppo, and to restore electricity to the city that was once home to 2.3 million residents. Separately, monitors from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government helicopters had dropped two explosive-packed barrel bombs minutes apart in the Maadi district of eastern Aleppo. The strikes were said to have hit near a tent where people were mourning those killed in a barrel bomb attack Thursday in a neighboring district of the once-vibrant city. Fifteen people, including 11 children, were killed in that attack. The Syrian government has routinely denied using barrel bombs. But analysts point out that Damascus and Moscow command the only forces operating helicopters over Aleppo. Evacuation of Daraya Also Saturday, Syrian rebels and their families continued evacuating the long-besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya, as part of an agreement reached late Thursday with the government, after four years of airstrikes and siege left the suburb in ruins. And in Turkey, suspected Kurdish militants fired rockets at the airport in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir, sending passengers and staff scrambling for shelter, the Dogan news agency said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Four rockets were fired at a police checkpoint outside the VIP lounge not long before midnight local time, and passengers and staff were taken inside the terminal building for safety, the private news agency said. Broadcaster NTV said the rockets landed on wasteland nearby. There were no casualties and no disruption to flights, Diyarbakir Governor Huseyin Aksoy told the news channel. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Kurdish militants have waged a three-decade insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is urging Central Americans to not make the dangerous trip to the United States to try to enter the country illegally. During a trip to Honduras, Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said he discussed the issue of migrants with a delegation of Honduran officials, including first lady Ana Garcia. "We're very much in agreement with the government of Honduras to help their people stay in their country and not make the dangerous journey to America," Kerlikowske said. The migratory flow is mostly from the Central American nations of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, three countries with some of the world's highest murder and poverty rates. Kerlikowske, who visited a police station on Thursday to see the process of migrant detention, said the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama wants the migrants to be safe. "From whatever Central American country, we would like them to remain in their country where they can be safe and where they can prosper and where they can get a good education. That is the goal of President Obama," he said. Refugee status The Obama administration announced in July an expansion of a program to let people fleeing violence in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador enter the United States as refugees. It said Costa Rica agreed to temporarily shelter some of the migrants so they would not try to make the dangerous trek to the United States. Many of the migrants making the journey are children, some of whom are not accompanied by an adult. The U.N. Children Fund said in the first six months of 2016, almost 26,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the U.S. border. It said another nearly 30,000 people traveling as families, mostly mothers and young children, were apprehended during that same period. Earlier this month, the U.S. Border Patrol released for the first time a public service announcement video in Central America, cautioning immigrants against entering the United States illegally. The video features testimonials from migrants who attempted to make the journey to the United States, including a 19-year-old boy from Honduras who told the story of how his father died in his arms from dehydration. The grievances of the opposition protesters who marched in Zimbabwes capital Friday can be summed up in one word: In the Shona language, zvakwana, in Ndebele, sokwanele, and in English, enough. The peoples desperation is very deep, said former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, once considered the nations strongest opposition figure. It must not relent," he added. "It must continue to express itself, the level of desperation Zimbabweans are facing so that we are able to solve this problem ...But I am very glad that Zimbabweans are beginning to say: enough is enough. On Friday, that word drove hundreds of people to converge on the wide avenues of central Harare, where some stopped to tear down a street sign bearing the name of the man who is the target of their ire: President Robert Mugabe. Reporters from VOAs Zimbabwe service were on the scene and reported that protesters blocked roads, burned tires and hurled stones at police, ruling party supporters and buildings in central Harare. The chaos led vendors in the commercial district to shutter their shops. Despite a court order allowing Fridays opposition-led protest to proceed, police fired water cannon and tear gas in an attempt to stop it. Reporters also saw police fire weapons into the air and beat protesters. A lawyer representing the Zimbabwe People First party, led by former Vice President Joyce Mujuru, Gift Nyandoro, said the police ignored a court order. "Police are refusing to recognize it," said Gift Nyandoro. "We inquired them about whos in charge, they are refusing their name, neither their identity. Its a bad day for Zimbabwe." It was not immediately clear how many people were wounded in the protest. Police did not answer VOAs requests for comment Friday, but Zimbabwes home affairs minister, Ignatius Chombo, said the night before that police would not watch foreign-funded protesters destroy Zimbabwe. The government has long accused Western nations of backing an anti-government plot. The opposition has called on Southern African leaders meeting in Swaziland to look at the situation in Zimbabwe. Protesters in this march and in previous ones say theyre tired of poverty, tired of repression and crackdowns on dissent, and tired of corruption. Most of all, more and more Zimbabweans are saying theyre tired of the man who got them to this place, the man who has ruled the country for more than 35 years: President Mugabe. For months now, Zimbabwe has experienced a growing wave of protests. In April, some 3,000 opposition supporters marched in the capital over the failing economy. Other protests sprang up in other locations - including the virtual universe of social media - and around other topical issues. So far, the demonstrations have been in urban areas. It remains to be seen whether the dissatisfaction has spread to the countryside which has traditionally been a stronghold of the government. But Ciara Aucoin, a researcher for the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, says although Fridays demonstration was unusual for its high degree of opposition collaboration, it may not be enough to change anything. It isnt necessarily a tipping point, because it remains to be seen how the pushback from the government is going to affect the protest movement, she said. In one way, if it deters protesters, that could be a possible outcome. The other is that if it causes further mobilization - that remains to be seen. Instead of looking for the last straw, she said, protesters should be looking for the governments last penny. Because of the budget deficits at the national level, there [are] questions around the ability of the state to maintain the payments to police and to ensure a kind of steady public order maintenance, she said. And so, if the protests were to grow, there are questions around the capacity of the state response to pay police who protect public order. Human rights groups have long denounced Zimbabwes pattern of repression. Dewa Mavhinga of Human Rights Watch says this years protests may have started over basic human and civil rights and the economy, but have escalated because the governments reaction was to further impede on their basic rights. Really this is because of bad governance, poor management by the state and also rampant corruption, he said. So this is what has driven people on to the streets. Unfortunately, the government has not reacted by dealing with the root causes of these protests, but it has chosen to violently crush these demonstrations, further violating peoples rights. But protesters say confrontation doesnt scare them. On Friday, the opposition group behind the latest protest swore: beat us all you want, but we shall not yield. They plan to hold another protest next Friday. Reporters with VOAs Zimbabwe Service contributed to this report from Harare. Tajamuka Sesijikile leader Promise Mkwananzi, freelance journalist James Jemwa and 68 other activists were arraigned before a Harare magistrate on Saturday on charges of public violence. Mkwananzi and Bruce Usvisvo were charged in connection with the torching of a police vehicle and another one belonging to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation during protests held last Thursday that were organised by the youth wing of the MDC led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Harare magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe dismissed their application for refusal of remand saying there was enough evidence linking them to the offence. This followed an application filed by their lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara who submitted that there was no reasonable suspicion that the two activists committed the offence. Bhatasara argued that being alleged members of Tajamuka Sesijikile Campaign alone was not enough to warrant their placement on remand. But state prosecutor, Michael Reza, argued that those were matters that should be raised at the trial stage. They were remanded in custody to Monday for bail consideration. At the same time, Jemwa and others were also remanded to the same date on allegations of public violence stemming from protests held in Harare on Friday staged by opposition parties that were demanding key electoral reforms. In both cases, the defense teams complained that their clients were not treated properly by the police. Bhatasara claimed that Mkwananzi's mobile phone was perused without his consent in violation of the constitution. Jeremiah Bhamu, who represented Jemwa and others, complained that the journalist's phone, press card and video camera were confiscated from him by suspected Zanu PF activists who seized him during the protests while he was on duty, forcibly took him to the ruling party's headquarters where they allegedly severely assaulted him before handing him over to the police. Jemwa's face was swollen and his hand was completely dysfunctional, Bhamu told the magistrate. Bhamu said most of the arrests were tantamount to kidnapping. Other activists were allegedly arrested in the same way while some were picked up from their various work stations in what the defense team described as dragnet arrests. The court also heard that some elderly suspects were ordered by the police to have sex in the full glare of other accused and were severely assaulted when they refused. Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe ordered the police to investigate the complaints raised and present a report at the next remand date. The magistrate also ordered the prisons depart to ensure that those injured had access to medical facilities of the suspects' choice. According to police, the kid's mother claimed she was in hospital and had given her kid to another woman. By Tanseem Haider: A six-month-old infant was allegedly abducted from Bara Hindu Rao Hospital. According to police, the child's mother claimed she was in hospital and had given her infant to another woman. The woman claimed she had to stand in a queue to get a patient slip, and had given her kid to the woman. When she came back, the woman had gone missing. Police is going through CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of woman who had allegedly abducted the child. advertisement ALSO READ: Trupti Desai exposes expired saline packets at Pune's Army hospital Girl dies waiting in queue at Gurgaon hospital, doctor shunted --- ENDS --- Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Harry Connick, Jr. and Randy Jackson will be teaming up to help their home state of Louisiana, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The former American Idol judges are set to co-host Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Relief on Labor Day, and the live broadcast will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the River Center Theater. Proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Crosss Louisiana Flood Relief Center, according to The Advocate. Saddened by the devastating tragedies that keep affecting my Louisiana, Jackson said, I want to help restore hope to people that are hurting in a place that I will always call home. Connick wants to bring much needed attention to the good people of Louisiana. He added, So sorry that my home state is undergoing such hardship once again. Seems like just yesterday that Katrina left a path of destruction. MacKenzie Bourg, an American Idol season 15 alum who was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, will also perform. Currently, the lineup includes Better Than Ezra, Sonny Landreth, Chris Thomas King, and Luther Kent, but a full lineup should be announced next week. Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Tom Ford Elizabeth Olsen will join Jason Sudeikis and Ed Harris in the road-trip drama Kodachrome, reports Variety. The actress was linked to the film before the Cannes Film Festival, but on Friday, producers confirmed her involvement with the project. Directed by Mark Raso (Copenhagen) from a script by Jonathan Tropper, the film is based on A.G. Sulzbergers 2010 New York Times article, For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas. It follows a record-label boss who goes on a road trip across the U.S. to fulfill his fathers dying wish and have a roll of Kodachrome film developed, only to find theres just one remaining shop that accepts them. Shooting begins this week in Toronto. Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images The national nightmare that was the Hough Drought on ABCs Dancing With the Stars has, at long last, come to a merciful close, as the most agile dancing Mormon siblings ever to grace prime-time television (its no contest, Osmonds) will return to the stage they helped build for the shows upcoming 23rd season. Derek will be back on the floor as a pro dancer and Julianne will return to the judges table after both took a year off to dazzle America with their show Move Live on Tour. Julianne took her first spin on DWTS during its fourth season when, at 18, she became the shows youngest winner. Older brother Derek joined her in season five, and has only missed two seasons since that time. Surely when they started out, neither could have imagined becoming more relevantly famous than many of the contestants that would come and go on DWTS over the years. Nor could they have imagined building a dance empire that would be able to sell out concert venues and produce one of the most awkward Lip Sync Battle showdowns in the competitions brief history. And if the rumors are true, we could soon see Julianne Hough judging Ryan Lochtes dancing prowess while her brother tries to play the role of Michael Phelps and spoil the swimmers chance at another gold medal (in the form of a mirror-ball trophy). Derek does, after all, have the same number of DWTS titles as Lochte does Olympic gold medals (six), and the aqua-man will be squarely on that hardwood Hough home turf. This could get messy. The people of Balochistan living in exile in Germany came together on Saturday with their flag and sought international intervention. Some of the protesters carried Indian Tricolour. By Mayank Pratap Singh: On a day when Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed 22 parliamentarians to lead propaganda on Kashmir, Islamabad had to face major embarrassment in Germany. Baloch people living in Germany staged a protest in Leipzig city accusing Pakistan Army and the Sharif government of committing atrocities on the people of Balochistan. The overseas Baloch protesters raised slogans against the Pakistani establishment. Shouts of "Tum kitne (Akbar) Bugti maaroge, har ghar se Bugti nikalega," (How many (Akbar) Bugti would you kill, every household will produce a Bugti) ranted the air in Leipzig. advertisement READ: Pakistan army committing 'tsunami of rights violations': Top Baloch leader BALOCH RAISED INDIAN FLAG The people of Balochistan living in exile in Germany came together on Saturday with their flag and sought international intervention. Some of the protesters carried Indian Tricolour as could be seen in pictures. One big thing was observed that they were also accompanied by Indians living in Germany. This is the second time that the Baloch people have raised the Tricolour in their protests against Pakistan. Earlier this week, protesters led a march in Balochistan holding Indian flag along with photographs of PM Modi and Baloch freedom fighter, Akbar Bugti. READ: Modi stumps Pakistan, refers to Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK from Red Fort MODI BROUGHT BALOCHISTAN IN SPOTLIGHT Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of human rights violations in Pakistan's Balochistan province, several local leaders have voiced their anguish against the Pakistani establishment. The people of Balochistan are looking forward for more international support on their freedom movement. While Pakistan continues with its Kashmir agenda, PM Modi has brought the spotlight on Balochistan once again. On August 26 Baloch people across the globe commemorated the death anniversary of Akbar Bugti as 10th martyrdom day. READ: Balochis celebrate 10th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Nawab Akbar Bugti WHAT HAD MODI SAID? In his Independence speech, PM Modi had said, "The people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have thanked me in such a manner, from places that I have never been and never had a chance to meet, they have sent wishes to the people of India and thanked us. I am grateful to them." Responding to Modi's speech, Baloch leader, Brahumdagh Bugti thanked him and sought India's support in raising the issue of Balochistan at an international fora. Also read: Balochistan: How PM Modi tore into Pakistan in a deliberate yet risky move Human rights violated, natural resources exploited: All you need to know about the Balochistan issue Baloch activist makes Rakhi appeal, asks PM Modi to be voice of their struggle Nawaz Sharif appoints 22 MPs as special envoys to raise Kashmir at world stage --- ENDS --- advertisement The annual Margarita and Salsa Festival featuring performances by the Turnpike Troubadour, the Eli Young Band and Zane Williams from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd. The bands will begin playing at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $36 at the door. For more information, visit www.extraco eventscenter.com/p/events/240. Acapella Fest New Road Church of Christ, 3200 S. New Road, will host Acapella Fest 2016 from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature performances by Sweet Expressions from Austin and His Harmony from Dallas, plus congregational singing. For more information, call 715-6536. Beatlemania64 Beatlemania64, a Beatles tribute band, will perform for the Concert in the Park series at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Creekside Amphitheater in Warren Park, 450 S. Old Temple Road in Hewitt. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets for ages 17 and younger cost $10. VIP Experience tickets cost $75 and include priority seating, a meal, a meet-and-greet with the band and photos before the concert. For more information, call 666-2442 or visit www.cityofhewitt.com. Picnic in the Park Keep Waco Beautiful is having a Picnic in the Park fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Cameron Park Clubhouse, 2601 Sturgis Road. The event will feature live classic rock performed by After Midnight, food trucks, beer and wine. Attendees can bring their own food and a blanket. Tickets cost $20. Proceeds will be used to renovate Miss Nellies Pretty Place in Cameron Park. For tickets, call 750-5728 or email kwacob@gmail.com. Little Dribblers The Fairfield Girls Little Dribblers program will have its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Mary Moody Northern Library, 350 W. Main St. in Fairfield. The meeting will include a review of bylaw changes. For more information, call 903-389-2569. Temple Art Fair The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum will have its inaugural Temple Transcontinental Art Fair from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Santa Fe Depot, 315 W. Avenue B in Temple. The event will feature a mix of original oil and acrylic paintings, prints, photography, mixed media, woodcrafts, jewelry and leather goods, including works by nationally-recognized artists from Texas. Food trucks will be on site each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event also will include numerous childrens activities, including a mechanical bull, inflatables, a three-story-tall Raging Rapids water slide, the Amazon Zip Line, face painting and airbrushed tattoos. For more information, call 298-5172 or visit http://bit.ly/2c2fKRA. Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event. Less than a decade ago, giant power companies and small, struggling rural communities east of Waco saw coal as their future. Now that future isnt what it used to be. In McLennan, Freestone and Robertson counties, power companies that have been the largest county taxpayers are now fighting for deep cuts to their taxable values. The companies argue that plants can no longer compete in market flooded with cheap natural gas, a point on which industry analysts agree. In a McLennan County district courtroom this month, an attorney for the Sandy Creek Energy Associates depicted the plant as an instant dinosaur while giving a eulogy for the entire Texas coal power industry. Attorney Bill Sullivan told the jury that the state-of-the-art Sandy Creek plant in Riesel, which opened just three years ago, would be the last coal plant in Texas and was worth less than a third of the $1.7 billion McLennan County Appraisal District valuation. Youve heard a lot about this coal plant being new, with a lot of pollution control equipment, but its still going to be a coal plant. Its never going to be a gas plant, a wind turbine or a solar plant, Sullivan said in closing arguments. Clean energy and natural gas are the future. This is never going to be. He claimed it costs $60 for the plant to generate a megawatt hour of energy, which as of Jan. 1, 2015, was worth only about $30 on the open market. A couple of hours later, the jury sided with Sandy Creek, landing on a 2015 value of $431 million and even less for 2014. This Thursday, Sandy Creek filed another lawsuit against MCAD for 2016 values, this time listing the undisputed value of the plant as a mere $250 million. The jurys verdict has reverberated through other counties with coal-fired power plants, many of them significantly older and less efficient that Sandy Creek. Litigating values Luminant, the power giant, is litigating values of all its coal-fired power plants, including Big Brown in Freestone County, Oak Grove in Robertson County, Monticello in Titus County, Martin Lake in Rusk County and Sandow in Milam County as well as the Comanche Peak nuclear plant in Somervell County. While the lawsuits go on, Luminant pays its taxes only on the undisputed portion of its appraised value, leaving local taxing entities to make up the lost tax revenue in the meantime. Robertson County Judge Charles Ellison said his county has had to get rid of four positions and cut millions of dollars in road projects as Luminants lawsuits from 2014 and 2015 move forward. He said the tax impact for those two years is about $5 million. Luminant is challenging the $1.4 billion valuation the countys appraisal review board gave for the Oak Grove coal-fired power plant, which was completed in 2010. Luminant has claimed the plant is now worth about $535 million because of the statewide energy glut. Meanwhile, the owners of an older coal-fired power plant, Major Oak, are suing the Robertson County Appraisal District to lower its 2015 value from $118.5 million to $60.3 million. It puts us in a bind, Ellison said of the lawsuits. While we like having them here, its hard to take that kind of hit. Ellison was among the cheerleaders for the Oak Grove plant when Luminant fought for its permit in 2007. At the time, he was mayor of Franklin, the county seat and largest town in this county of 16,486 people. He and other Robertson County residents traveled to Austin to speak at a permit hearing in favor of the 1,600-megawatt plant that burns lignite coal. The three-member Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved the permit over the objections of environmental groups and one TCEQ board member. We were arguing not only for the production of what was hopefully clean, safe, cheap energy so all of Texas would benefit, but also, we knew it would bring ad valorem revenue into Robertson County, Ellison said. Robertson County, which has little other tax base besides power plants, mining and natural gas production, would feel the cuts more deeply than McLennan County, where the economy is diversified and the county had already given Sandy Creek a tax abatement. The burden for paying for all the public services will shift to other property owners in the jurisdictions, said G. Todd Stewart, an attorney with Houston-based Olson & Olson who is defending the Robertson County and Titus County appraisal districts against Luminant. If power plants get their value reduced below where they really ought to be, everyone else would be picking up part of the cost of operating government that Luminant ought to be paying. And Stewart said Luminant is overstating the impact of the current economic climate. Obviously, all the companies still tell shareholders that their assets still have value, that they ought not to sell their stock, he said. But Luminant spokesman Brad Watson said the company only wants the tax appraisal to reflect the diminished fortunes of coal-fired power plants. Luminant and other generators are reacting to market forces, Watson said. Its not like were arbitrarily trying to lower property taxes at power plants. We want to pay our fair share. When power prices were higher, property values were a lot higher. . . . When we realized this two or three years ago, we started letting appraisal districts know that lower prices were coming because of an ocean of natural gas being tapped into. He was referring to the natural gas boom that resulted from the development of fracking technology, which extracts previously inaccessible gas locked up in shale. Plummeting prices Natural gas prices have fallen by two-thirds since hitting a peak in 2008. Texas wholesale electricity prices tracked that decline, falling from $63 per megawatt hour in 2008 to $37 in 2014 and to less than $20 so far this year. Wind power is also playing an unpredictable role in depressing power prices, Watson said. With more than 8 gigawatts of generation capacity installed in the past eight years, wind power last year provided 10 percent of Texas needs. It has become so plentiful at certain times, mostly at night, that companies are sometimes effectively paying customers to take it so they can reap federal subsidies from generation. Watson said coal-fired power plants cant operate without losing money in the current market, so Luminant temporarily shut off some of its coal plants last winter. Luminant has also said in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings that low prices may require it to mothball or retire some coal plants, which would continue a national trend. Meanwhile, Sandy Creek was offline from November to May, mostly for economic reasons, according to Moodys Investors Service. The Energy Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the electric grid that serves most of Texas, has reported that coal units were likely not profitable in 2015. Spokeswoman Robbie Searcy said an estimated 6,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation capacity could be retired in the next 10 years 31 percent of the coal capacity ERCOT oversees. Power prices are so low, it will be challenging to get investors to build new plants to replace that lost capacity, she said. Moodys reported in March that 17 Texas coal-fired power plants were on the fence to come offline because of their weak or negative cash flow. The list included NRGs Limestone County plant, Sandy Creek, Big Brown and Oak Grove. Long-term contracts Moodys cautioned the list is based on merchant prices, and some of those plants, such as Sandy Creek, are somewhat insulated from those prices by long-term contracts. Sandy Creek has contracts with Brazos Electrical Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority, meaning much of the plants power sells for more than it would on the open market. An attorney for Sandy Creek said those contracts were not part of the calculation presented in court that suggested the company was losing $30 on every megawatt it produced. Even taking those contracts into account, Moodys downgraded Sandy Creeks credit rating this spring to B2, judging it as speculative and high risk, and gave it a negative outlook. Rick Donner, Moodys lead analyst for Sandy Creek, said persistently low natural gas prices and increasing prevalence of renewable power in the grid are bad news for the plant. Over the long run, Sandy Creek is going to struggle to make money and cover its costs, Donner said. This tax appraisal is probably a positive for them because it means lower property tax going forward, but it also suggests the company itself now believes it has a lower longer-term value. Theyre never going to make anything like what they expected when they planned it, he said. The fundamental problem with all these power plants is that it takes years of planning and permit and years to build one. In that time frame, the market can change. Charles Berckmann, a Moodys analyst who studies the ERCOT grid, said he sees a continuing struggle for coal plants, and while the efficient ones may survive, no new ones will be built. Even if natural gas prices eventually recover, coal plants take enormous investments, and federal environmental regulations now being contested in court create another layer of uncertainty for investors. The coal industry has taken a hit from the rise of cheap natural gas and renewable energy, along with federal regulation, said Bob Burnham, a Colorado-based coal industry analyst who focuses on the Power River Basin coal region of Wyoming. But that hit doesnt spell the end of coals use, Burnham said. Coal has lost a generation of new power plants, because people have decided its not worth the hassle and lawsuits to put in a coal plant, he said. Burnham said coal will continue to decline, but it wont go away. Coal has been around an awful long time, and it has adapted well over the centuries, he said. The industry will adjust, though it will come out looking a little different in five years. A Parker County man with a previous conviction for sexually abusing his girlfriends young daughter was sentenced to life in prison Friday for sexually assaulting a young family member in 2001. A 19th State District Court jury determined that Erlis Joseph Chaisson was convicted in 1993 for molesting a young girl, which, coupled with his conviction Thursday, led to an automatic life prison term for the 47-year-old home framer. Jurors convicted Chaisson of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child by contact. Besides the life sentence, the jury recommended that Judge Ralph Strother sentence Chaisson to seven-year terms on both of the indecency counts. The judge also ordered that the seven-year terms be served consecutively with the life sentence, meaning Chaisson will have to serve at least 42 years in prison before he can seek parole. Chaisson, who did not testify during the five-day trial, also has convictions for burglary and drunken driving. The victim in this case, now a 27-year-old state law enforcement officer in north central Texas, testified that Chaisson sexually abused her for four years beginning when she was 8 years old while her family lived in Louisiana. She said he also abused her after her family moved to a home near China Spring in 2001. In Louisiana, they may give you a slap on the wrist for child abuse, but the defendant made a mistake when he moved to McLennan County, Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Massey told jurors in closing statements. He made a big mistake when he abused another child in this county. Prosecutor Andrew Erwin told the jury people like Chaisson are the reason the Legislature passed the two strikes and youre out statute that provides for an automatic life prison term the second time someone is convicted of abusing a young child. A life prison term is the only just punishment, Erwin said. Stephen Gordon, who represents Chaisson with Christy Jack, told the jury Chaisson is a hard-working man who did his best to provide for his family. Can you consider mercy? Can you consider grace? He is going to prison no matter what you do, Gordon said. Hes going to be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life. Chaisson challenged the authenticity of his Louisiana conviction, pleading not true to the enhancement because of the two-strike rule. Prosecutors submitted the 1993 judgment from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and called a Parker County deputy to testify that Chaisson has been registering as a convicted sex offender in Weatherford since moving there. Jurors heard a two-hour recording of a 2014 meeting between Chaisson and his victim. She testified that she told no one of the abuse until years later after she sought counseling for relationship difficulties and a questionnaire from the counselors office asked if she had ever been sexually abused. Chaisson agreed to meet her in a park in Granbury, knowing that she was seeing a counselor and wanting to talk about the sexual abuse. Chaisson was heard on the tape acknowledging the abuse, but he tried to mitigate it by blaming her for craving so much attention and saying that he stopped himself before he did something really stupid. Bellmead police had checked on a man and his wife at the request of a family member hours before officials think he decapitated her in their home Thursday morning, Sgt. Kory Martin said. Natasha Tagliarino Dauzat, 21, was found dead inside her mobile home in the 4300 block of Concord Road on Thursday morning. Her husband, Davie Dauzat, 23, was arrested on a murder charge. Police and regional authorities were called to a Bellmead mobile home park after 11 a.m., Martin said. Davie Dauzat was reportedly inside the home with blood on him but would not immediately come out after officers arrived. Martin said authorities were able to talk Davie Dauzat out of the home peacefully. The couples children, a 3-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy, were inside the home at the time of the incident but were not injured, Martin said. Initial reports stated that the older child was 2. Martin said the womans head and body were found in separate places in the home but would not elaborate on specific locations. Bellmead police had been at the couples home shortly after 8:20 a.m. Thursday, just a few hours before they were called back with a report Natasha Tagliarino Dauzat was dead. Davie Dauzats brother requested police do a welfare check on the couple, saying he had not spoken with his brother in months, then got a strange phone call earlier in the morning, Martin said. The brother told police that Davie Dauzat made weird statements and asked funny questions. He said he was unsure whether they were drug related. Officers spoke with both Natasha and Davie Dauzat and found no indication from the couple that anyone was in distress in the home, Martin said. They both appeared calm and expressed their curiosity as to why the police were there. Officers left the home thinking that no emergency response was needed, Martin said. Davie Dauzats brother called police a second time at about 11 a.m., when he reported Davie Dauzat had called him again and stated that he had killed Natasha Dauzat. After officers returned to the home, they were able to talk Davie Dauzat, who appeared to have blood on him and his clothing, out of the home, Martin said. Davie Dauzat reportedly told police that he had killed his wife, then was arrested on the murder charge and booked into McLennan County Jail with a $500,000 surety bond listed. Officers secured the area and contacted the Texas Rangers for help in processing the scene. Martin declined to state whether a murder weapon was recovered or what was used in the crime. A search warrant for the home was obtained, and the Texas Rangers with continue to work with Bellmead police and the local Violence Against Women Act detective in processing of the crime scene investigation. The Texas Rangers have so much more expertise and equipment than we do as a department, so they will be working with us throughout this case, Martin said. Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently raising concern over the situation in Balochistan. By Press Trust of India: Pakistani forces are engaged in a "tsunami of human rights violations" in Balochistan, a top Baloch leader alleged today as he sought the help of the international community including India in the Baloch nationalist movement. Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party and the grandson of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed in an encounter with the Pakistani army 10 years ago, also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently raising concern over the situation in Balochistan. advertisement "Pak forces are engaged in tsunami of human rights violations. We do not want to live with Pakistan anymore," said Switzerland-based Bugti as he demanded a referendum of Baloch people under the supervision of the United Nations. Speaking over phone from Switzerland where he had gone for a commemorative event to pay homage to his grandfather, Bugti urged the international community, including the US, NATO countries, Israel and India, to help them fight their cause including political and military. He said he is ready for a dialogue with the Pakistani government but insisted that there is no going back on freedom movement. Balochistan, of the size of France, is Pakistan's largest province which has been under 'illegal Pakistani occupation for the last seven decades', he said. Bugti said Modi's recent remarks during his Independence Day is the "most powerful statement" in the last seven decades. "It is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has spoken. We believe that India should have taken this step a long time ago," he said, adding that he is convinced about Balochistan freedom. "I am thoroughly indebted to Prime Minister Modi. I thank Prime Minister Modi for speaking raising the voice of Baloch people in his Independence Day address," he said and alleged that Pakistani crime against people are a shocker to the global community. Use of aerial bombardment, use of gases have become routine, he claimed and added that Balochistan is the world capital of missing people. "We are political people. We want to solve this with peaceful means. But there is no way we are going to be part of the Pakistan any more. We want freedom of Pakistan. We are not fools to try our luck again and again with Pakistan. We are ready to negotiate through peaceful means," Bugti said. Stating that his immediate course of action would be to create awareness in the international community, Bugti, at the same time, also called for military assistance to the Baloch freedom struggle. "So far we have never received any support from any international countries including India. We want to request India and other countries to help Balochistan. It is genocide of (the) Baloch (people) in Pakistan going on," he said. --- ENDS --- advertisement Briana, an 11-year-old at South Waco Elementary School, walked into her classroom with more frustration than her mentor, 89-year-old Mary Ila Colvin, had ever seen before. The pair has met each week for an hour, going into their fifth school year now, just so Colvin can check in and see how Briana is doing. But this meeting was different. Colvin asked Briana whether she wanted to use colored pencils to express herself, as she had seen Briana do in the past to help her open up. I said, Why dont you draw a picture and show me how mad you are? She took the red pencil and beared down so hard she went through several pages in the notebook and drew a very angry Briana, said Colvin, who didnt mention Brianas last name because shes a minor. It turned out somebody had told her shes always going to remain in poverty. I said, Oh my, you are angry. Can you draw me a picture of the normal Briana I like to see? She took the blue pencil and drew a picture of the smiling Briana. Interestingly enough, shes got these beautiful, long eyelashes and she put eyelashes on her drawing. I said, Briana, whether or not you get out of poverty is entirely up to you. Youve got the smarts. You can do it if you will stay in school and do your work. And if you graduate high school, and make good enough grades, they have scholarships for you. Thats what Im trying to pound through her head to keep working. Though the act of allowing Briana to express herself was simple and small, its an example of community support that has played an integral part in creating a culture of change at South Waco Elementary in the past four years, South Waco Principal Twana Lee said. The school, once at risk of being closed by the state, met state academic accountability standards for the first time in three years, Lee said, heading into her fourth year as principal. The school serves 400 students, and more than 90 percent are economically disadvantaged. The schools turnaround didnt happen overnight, and the elements that have worked so far cant be bottled up and distributed to other schools, Lee said. But, other struggling schools can take some of the lessons they have learned. Waco ISD has seven campuses on the Texas Education Agencys improvement required list for academic accountability. Strong support system The South Waco campus has always had strong partnerships with its community members, Lee said. But once teachers, neighbors, parents and friends began taking part in transformation committees, which helped with the schools state-initiated turnaround plan, Lee began to see a change of minds and attitudes at the school, she said. Each committee worked with two of the districts struggling campuses, starting at the beginning of 2016. Thats when we kind of started seeing people, not just people who were connected to South Waco Elementary but connected to the community, who cared what was going on in South Waco, Lee said. After a first general meeting to discuss the overall goal, the South Waco committee dug deep into what Lee called critical success factors to help the campus function well and have high student achievement. A teacher-based transformation committee then broke the factors down by grade level, giving input on what needed to change with parents, with students and with themselves. The committee then presented its assessment to community members who were able to add an outsider perspective, she said. One of the things was parent communication because we send things home with kids, but they dont always make it pieces of paper that get left at school, thrown away or in a backpack that a parent never goes through, Lee said, adding teachers had training during the summer on how to make the schools website more active and informative, and are implementing other changes. The year before last, the campus was just a few scores short of meeting the academic standard, she said, and that was hard to face. But continued support pushed the school to its goal last year. You have to be able to talk to the kids, and relay, Youre almost right there, Lee said, wiping tears away with a tissue. Even as a teacher, you have to be like, OK, catch a breath and keep on working hard. To really see that hard work pay off, thats really something to bask in. It tells you that no matter what, theres hope. You just have to work hard, push people a little bit and get a lot of people involved, and it can happen. Local groups have been instrumental in getting people involved and helping the school implement the communitys suggestions and work back into compliance with state standards, Lee said. Colvin is part of the Kids Hope International program, organized by Julie Carter, a Seventh and James Baptist Church member who said she understands teachers cant do it all. About 15 people in the program each take an hour a week to sit down with one at-risk student the same student every week for an entire school year to work on academics, do activities or even just be a listening ear, Carter said. This will be the fifth year for the program to be in South Waco, and all the mentors are screened, trained and matched with specific students, she said. The longer you stay in a mentoring relationship with a child, the higher rate of success for that child, Carter, a retired teacher, said. Our main goal is to just provide a loving and caring relationship with a child who needs that, who needs a friend for whatever reason. Inevitably, that includes academic help. Colvin, who raised three daughters and taught at Baylor University, joined the program not long after her husband died. She knew this was something she just had to do after she heard Carter present the program at church, she said. Briana met Colvin shortly after Brianas grandmother died. That was in first grade. She was living with her grandmother at the time, and soon her uncle took over guardianship, Colvin said. Love at first sight We seemed to make friends right at first. Shes a very bright young girl and in the Gifted and Talented program. So, I had a challenge because she is so smart and she is streetwise, too, Colvin said, showing off a selfie taken with Briana. She was very good at manipulating at first, which I caught onto right away, and we worked through that. For my part, it was love at first sight, and shes a precious little girl. Colvin became one of Brianas few constant role models in third grade, when her uncle fell ill and passed away, she said. She knows I love her, and you cant come on too strong. But it wasnt long until she was letting me hug her and tell her I loved her, Colvin said, holding a handwritten card made by Briana that simply read, Miss Mary, Thank you for loving me. Carters program isnt the only community effort showing up in schools, and not every child at South Waco is facing circumstances similar to Briana, said Lee and Carter. Some of South Wacos recent success has been credited to a simple effort made by Bryan Dalco, pastor of One Fellowship United Methodist Church, to rally support and get anyone interested involved. Dalcos focus is just getting students to learn they dont have to let socioeconomic statuses define them in any part of their lives, he said. He knows all they need sometimes is a little nudge in the right direction, Dalco said. He spends time every Wednesday mentoring South Waco Elementary boys, along with other church members, by teaching them life lessons and exposing them to different career possibilities. He has spoken publicly about the role of a community in watching out for the lives that will drive the future, but the biggest thing he contributes to South Wacos success is the community effort simply to show up and become involved in everyday events, Dalco said. Its important we start there. We cant wait until theyre teenagers, Dalco said. Its easy to point the finger, and I see that. So many people point the finger at the education system, but I think we have to do more than that. We have to get involved. If we want to see that change, we all have to bring about that change. Dalco is quick to say his efforts arent tied directly to his ministry. He says hes motivated by that old proverb It takes a village and how proud he is of the teachers who serve the students every day. Dalco didnt have a father in the house, and his hard-working mother couldnt make it to everything. But he had positive role models throughout his life, he said. He wouldnt be the pastor he is today without the help he received in school from someone who cared. He wouldnt have even gone to college, he said. Having a mentor His high schools director of student activities took Dalco under his wing, and the two met almost every day in his office to talk about his life. I didnt really make up my mind to go to college until the end of my junior year. I was taking welding, and my plan was to be a welder, Dalco said. But for four years of high school, I would always go to his office and I would always eye his college ring. Id look at that ring and I thought the ring was this awesome ring. We would talk and talk and talk, and he was guiding me and shaping me. Finally, I decided to go to college and ended up going to his college. When I graduated, he passed that ring down to me. I always had people help, tremendously, and it changed my entire world. As Lee thinks about Colvins and Dalcos stories, and the dozens of others out there that prove change is possible, she said her staff and teachers will keep those possibilities in focus as the school year continues. The more our kids see people who have been in situations like themselves, who make themselves prominent in the school buildings and show up, communicate with them and show them some love its all about a listening ear, Lee said, adding holding a child accountable to their goals is equally important. How many kids, no matter where youre from, would love to have someone who listens to you. Someone you can have that private conversation with and who will build you up in the process. There are a lot of kids who need that second ear. Its not that our parents dont provide that for them. There are just some things we dont want our parents or our teachers to know. Start with the student. Have them set goals and really believe in themselves. If a child doesnt believe in themselves, they wont reach their full potential. Another year, another looming government shutdown fight. Thats the predicament Texas 38-member congressional delegation has put us in. Theyre now enjoying a month-long vacation after leaving D.C. without fulfilling their basic constitutional duty: funding the government for 2017. When they return after Labor Day, theyll have to scramble to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. This government-by-crisis is now a tradition. In fact, its been over 20 years since Congress passed a budget on time. The result is almost always the same and it doesnt benefit Texans. With only days, or maybe just hours, before a shutdown, some lawmakers will advocate for a short-term funding bill that lasts through December. This will kick the debate over next years budget into a lame-duck session the two-month period between the election and the next administration, when neither Congress nor President Obama are accountable to voters. Worse yet, theyll use this opportunity to enact a massive omnibus bill thats crafted behind closed doors and filled with handouts to special interests and higher spending. Then lame-duck lawmakers will pass it without even reading it, abandoning their duty to protect their constituents you. Texans to say nothing of everyone else are understandably sick of this charade. Lawmakers say they are, too. Both Republicans and Democrats say they want budget certainty and fiscal responsibility. If they mean it, theyll stop a lame-duck spending bill at any cost. But theyll need to think outside the box. Thats why they should pass a long-term funding bill. Were calling this plan Stop, Cut & Fix. Heres why its the best path forward for Texas lawmakers in D.C. Start with Stop. A long-term funding bill say, two years would end the cycle of manufactured crises. For the first time in years, there would be no last-minute scramble to avoid a shutdown. Nor would a lame-duck Congress and President Obama be able to craft a deal in secret. Next up is Cut. The biggest problem with the current system is that some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle leverage the threat of a shutdown to hike government spending in a lame-duck session. Its little different than a hostage situation, and its happened three times in the past four years. But a two-year funding bill would protect the bipartisan spending cuts that were established in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Then, Republicans and Democrats in Congress joined with President Obama to establish modest annual spending caps on the one-quarter of the budget that isnt entitlements and interest payments. These caps are still on the books. A two-year bill would lock them in through 2018, saving taxpayers some $150 billion. Finally, theres Fix. Its obvious that the budgeting process is broken. A two-year funding bill would give Congress time to fix it. Lawmakers could go through a normal appropriations process, publicly debating spending priorities for each part of the federal government. They would even have time to discuss reforms to entitlements the main drivers of Americas $19.4 trillion-and-growing national debt. Crucially, theres nothing in this plan preventing lawmakers from adjusting spending within the caps. They would simply have to weigh each proposals pros and cons and make tradeoffs what theyre supposed to be doing right now. Now its up to Congress to act. When Texas lawmakers head back to D.C. next month, they have two choices. They can either stick with the failed status quo broken promises, higher spending and shutdown threats or they can get behind a plan that prevents a shutdown fight, restores the normal budgeting process and puts Texas taxpayers first. It shouldnt be a hard decision. Andy Koenig is a senior policy advisor at Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce. In 1965, I worked on the construction of Interstate 635 in Dallas as a flagman one summer out of high school. My job was to stop traffic so the huge Caterpillar dirt haulers could safely cross Marsh Lane with their loads. Once a station wagon full of passengers ran through my flag and was nearly hit by a huge Caterpillar tractor. I saw the driver a man probably in his mid 30s, looking back at me in his rear view mirror. So I gave him the finger. He pulled over to the side of the road and ran back to challenge me to fight. In those days I was nearly a juvenile delinquent, enjoyed a reputation at school for being tough for my size and too often exercised poor judgment. I was ready so we squared off. But we were interrupted by the big burly Cat driver who had stopped his tractor, jumped from his cockpit and came running over to yell at the guy: You almost got your family killed! Dont ever run through our flags again! This kid is trying to keep you safe! Or something like that. The reckless driver wasnt about to tangle with the big Cat driver. So he cursed me but then retreated to his parked car and drove away. Today, while following behind a school bus, I noticed that when the bus driver dropped off a little boy, the kid assuming that traffic would stop for the bus blinking red lights ran across the street without looking both ways. I drove school buses in the 1970s and 80s when teachers could transport students before and after school to supplement their salaries. I always lectured my student passengers about safety on the first day of school before our afternoon bus run. If kids ran across the road without first looking both ways, I honked my horn at them, called them over to my driver window if it was safe for them to approach, and bawled them out. Drivers sometimes ran through my blinking red lights. When it occurred, I would lay on my horn and say something like, Hey kids, did you see that? That driver ran through our blinking red lights! Thats why I want you to look before you walk! Lessons learned: A school bus driver should wait to ensure nearby traffic has stopped before he or she opens the bus exit door to let students out. Teach kids how to safely enter and exit a school bus and cross the roadway. A few years ago my wife and I used to escort our daughter to and from elementary school on our bicycles. If our daughter violated a traffic law, we scolded her until over time she became a cautious rider. One afternoon while escorting my daughter home from school, I noticed some fourth-grade boys riding their bikes home in an unsafe manner. I reported it to a teacher the next morning. That afternoon I noticed the same boys taking more risks in traffic. I reported the incident again to school office personnel. But that same afternoon I again noticed the same boys riding home. They ran a stop sign and were almost hit by an SUV. This time I reported it to the assistant principal (now an intermediate school principal) who notified the boys parents. After I made a phone call to the Hewitt Police Department and spoke to a female community communications officer, the HPD presented a bicycle safety course at the school. I never observed the boys riding bikes in an unsafe manner again. Lesson learned: Notify the school administrator in charge of student safety when students are at risk and involve your police department if appropriate. One morning my wife was doing some volunteer work at our school before classes started. After classes began the schools entrances were locked so teachers and kids could begin instruction in a secure building. As my wife exited the rear of the school, she confronted a little girl all alone outside. Apparently her aunt had dropped her off and drove away without checking to see if the girl had entered the building. My wife escorted the girl to the front entrance so she could begin her school day safely. When my rotation for school WatchDOG came around, the principal allowed me to check outside the building on the school grounds for any child who might have been locked out before I reported to the office for morning announcements. Lesson learned: Assign school personnel to walk around the school building mornings to ensure no stragglers are locked out after appropriate entrances are locked. It is my familys hope that perhaps our expressed experiences and concerns will prevent at least one student from being harmed this and subsequent school years. Not all lessons in the academic realm involve math and grammar. Some involve simple common sense and the basic idea of looking out for one another. With any luck, theyre lessons learned. Mike Miller lives in Hewitt. By PTI: Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27 (PTI) CPI-M veteran V S Achutanandan today demanded a comprehensive probe into the alleged attempt to "sabotage" the bar bribery case during the previous Congress-led UDF rule. His reaction came against the backdrop of a Vigilance court ordering further probe into the case in which Kerala Congress(M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani is an accused advertisement The CPIM leader wanted the probe to look into role of then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in "crippling" the case against Mani. In a statement issued here said Achuthanandan also demanded a criminal case be registered against IPS officer Sankar Reddy, who was the Vigilance Director when a second closure report in the case was filed. Reddy is at present Director of State Crime Records Bureau. "This perhaps would be the first instance of its kind that a Vigilance Director himself had tried to weaken the case and this cannot be encouraged," he said, adding the officer should be arrested and questioned. "...only then truth about the bar bribery case will come out. In the previous Congress led UDF government, which was steeped in corruption, Mani was a king without the crown. The bar case cannot be sabotaged only with the intervention of vigilance director. "It is very clear that there had been government intervention to change the course of investigation in the case," he alleged. Mani, who was part of UDF, has come out of the Front recently following differences with Congress over the bar scam issue. Apparently referring to reports that Mani was warming up to BJP and also to CPI-M led LDF, Achutanandan said the ruling front would not go along with anyone who "is tainted" with corruption. Mani and his party would soon be wiped out from Kerala politics, the veteran leader claimed. Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Kannam Rajendran said Vigilance Director was not alone behind the conspiracy to weaken the case. Chandy also needed to be investigated, he said adding an independent and just probe was necessary to bring out the truth. PTI UD JRK VS RCJ KK --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Anisur Rahman Dhaka, Aug 27 (PTI) Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of a cafe attack in Bangladesh that killed 22 people including an Indian girl last month, was today killed along with his two aides during a police raid on their hideout near the capital. "The gunfight erupted after police started raiding a building at Naraynganjs Pikeparha on the outskirts of Dhaka," Counter-terrorism Units Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com. advertisement The units chief Monirul Islam earlier said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Police spokesman Jalaluddin confirmed to PTI that Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury was among those killed during the raid, the second major clampdown after the nine suspected Islamist terrorists were killed last month. A joint team from Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, police headquarters and district police cordoned off the house since the morning on information that a group of militants were staying there, superintendent of Narayanganj police Mainul Haq was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. As the security forces tried to enter the house, the criminals opened fire from inside, he said. Talking to reporters at the scene, the Inspector General of Police said the operation was carried out under codename Operation Hit-strong 27 in which polices elite SWAT conducted the main part. "The duration of the operation was one hour. When we entered into the house we saw three bodies lying on the floor," he said. "The face of one of them completely matched with the photograph of Chowdhury, which made us sanguine that he is the man," he said. Another police officer at the scene said the slain militants used to live in the house as tenants identifying themselves as "medicine businessmen". He said the landlord extended cooperation in carrying out the raid. Few grenades and a pistol were found from the scene. Chowdhury, 30, was identified by police as the mastermind of the countrys worst terror attack on July 1 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka that killed 22 people. An Indian girl was among 17 foreigners killed in the attack. According to the investigators, Chowdhury had accompanied the five attackers from their Bashundhara flat to Gulshan, Dhaka and left the area after bidding them farewell just before the cafe siege began on July 1. The investigators also found his involvement in the Sholakia attack on the July 7 Eid day that killed four people, including two constables, an attacker, and a local woman. MORE PTI AR/ZH ZH --- ENDS --- advertisement S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Is it a Skyrocket? (Ad) Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? Market Wizard Reveals: The One Ticker Retirement Plan (Ad) Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Is it a Skyrocket? (Ad) Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? Market Wizard Reveals: The One Ticker Retirement Plan (Ad) Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises Is it a Skyrocket? (Ad) Will Ryanair Stock Gains, Strong Estimates Help it Fly? Why is Amazon Stock Falling? Is the Sell-Off Overdone? Market Wizard Reveals: The One Ticker Retirement Plan (Ad) Chevron Gushes More Profits; Is it Time for Investors to Buy? When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? Bihar Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav, who faced public anger when he visited his constituency Raghopur in Vaishali district, directed the officials to remain in touch with the flood victims and solve their problems. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav after visiting flood-ravaged areas in Raghopur, the assembly constituency he represents, urged the opposition not to indulge in politics over the natural disaster. "I dont think the opposition should do politics over floods and instead come together to help the flood affected people", said Tejaswi Yadav. Yadav, who faced public anger when he visited his constituency Raghopur in Vaishali district, directed the officials to remain in touch with the flood victims and solve their problems. advertisement Tejaswi asserted that the government, CM Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav are very concerned about the flood affected people and monitoring the flood relief with sincerity. He also assured the flood affected farmers that after assessing the damage caused to their crop, the government would deposit compensation amount in their bank accounts. "I will with all honesty work for the flood affected people. My responsibility has increased. I have to take care of entire state now," he said. LALU & SONS Tejaswi who was on Europe tour for last three weeks faced flaks from the opposition leaders in the state for his absence when Bihar was reeling under one of the worst floods since 2008. However, after returning from foreign tour and reaching flood affected areas in Raghopur, the deputy CM said that he cut short his foreign trip to reach the flood victims. "I was keeping a tab on flood relief in Raghopur from abroad. Any official not doing his duty in this hour of crisis will be dealt with strictly", he said. RJD president Lalu Prasad and his two sons Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav are being slammed by the opposition leaders for being insensitive towards the plight of the flood victim. Three days ago Lalu made a rather inappropriate comment stating that residents should be happy that holy Ganga has reached their doorsteps. "You are fortunate that the Ganga has reached your homes. It does not always happen. In most cases you go to it," Lalu said. ALSO READ: Bihar: Tejaswi Yadav meets flood victims in his constituency, faces public anger --- ENDS --- "Liam has it sitting in his man-cave in Los Angeles, which in itself is a sight to behold," Cox explained. And yes, the boards are all built to surf, though the wax tends to dull the chrome finish somewhat. Richard Roxburgh and Simon Baker enjoying drinks on Hamilton Island. Credit:Ken Butti Other recognisable faces popping up on the island this week included Simon Baker, Richard Roxburgh, Asher Keddie, Sarah Snook, Melissa Doyle, Sandra Sully and Terry Biviano. Heiress Francesca Packer Barham brought along her globetrotting travel buddy Ian "Stewbergs" Stewart, laughing off reports the pair were dating. Indeed Stewbergs explained his role was to haul Francesca's designer-stuffed luggage across the globe, provide witty dinner banter and monitor Francesca's constantly bleeping and flashing iPhone. The eldest grandchild of the late Kerry Packer told PS she was busy settling into her new $2 million Elizabeth Bay apartment, is happily single, taking a break from her psychology studies, enjoying life and contemplating where her future lies. Ian Stewart and Francesca Packer Barham at Hamilton Island. Credit:Ken Butti Out on the water an equally intriguing collection of yachts and their owners were carving up the Coral Sea, including Phillip Turner, a professional gambler from Sandy Bay, Tasmania. Turner is one of the "mathematical geniuses" who make up a gambling syndicate turning over billions of dollars a year, which has reportedly beaten the odds at the world's racetracks and poker tables, accumulating tens of millions of dollars in profits along the way. Clearly some of that dough has been poured into Turner's boat, Alive. Ervin Vidor's boat, Charlotte, named after his wife, has also been sailing. The Vidors founded the Toga Group, one of Australia's largest privately owned corporate groups which run the Adina, Medina, Vibe, Travelodge and Rendezvous brands. BRW estimated their fortune at a not too shabby $784 million earlier this year. Hong Kong department store baron Karl Kwok returned with his crew aboard Beau Geste, as did fellow billionaire Robert Salteri and his boat, One O Nine. Meanwhile, back on dry land, a hectic schedule of cocktail parties, champagne soirees, gourmet dinners and parties kept the land lubbers busy, with the Paspaley pearling family hosting a spectacular lunch on Friday showcasing exquisite pearl and diamond jewels to keep the wives of those billionaire yachties entertained. Indeed, just as PS has often missed seeing a horse amid the social madness of the Melbourne Cup marquees, on Hamilton Island it is often a challenge to keep track of the yachts. Andrew Hornery travelled to Hamilton Island as a guest of the Oatley family. Stenmark twins' whiff of Armani success Zac and Jordan Stenmark in new perfume commercial they created for Giorgio Armani. They've spent the past 24 years together and built a career around each other's good looks, so it would make sense that Sydney's modelling twins the Stenmark brothers look set to continue down the same career path. But they are diversifying albeit in the same direction. The debonair duo have been discovered by one of the most stylish men on the planet: Giorgio Armani. Brothers, business partners and best mates, Zac and Jordan won the imprimatur of "Mr Armani", who gave them complete creative control to create and produce a new short film-cum-commercial for his new men's fragrance, Armani Code PROFUMO. The brothers launched the 60-second promo on their website Stenmark.life. The commercial shows the brothers arriving at Sydney's Park Hyatt Hotel and getting ready for a big black tie function, complete with moody shots capturing the boys spritzing themselves in Armani's new fragrance. It's all very James Bond, but better with two hunks for the price of one. "We are looking at different directions to go in but obviously we will keep on modelling because that's where it all began ... this is just about exploring new ways to see what other creative paths we can go on," Zac told PS. Brother Jordan added: "And we tend to agree on most things ... we share common ideas on how something should be done, so our work relationship is like everything else ... it just flows." Brynne Gordon liquidates dresses bought by 'obsessive' Geoffrey Edelsten Brynne Gordon, in the Brownlow get-up. Credit:Paul Rovere Declared bankrupt with debts of $70,000 in June, Brynne Gordon, the ex-wife of Geoffrey Edelsten, has been rummaging through her closet to pay back her creditors. A collection of dresses once owned by Gordon found their way onto the GraysOnline website this week, with racy frocks and sequinned g-strings which once sold for thousands of dollars attracting bids as low as $9. "To be honest I'm glad to be rid of them," Gordon told PS this week. "They are reminders of a bad period in my life ... Geoffrey was so obsessive, he was the one who wanted to buy the dresses for me ... I would get one in every colour just to keep him happy." Not among the dresses was the now infamous Brownlow get-up, which Gordon said was now living in her mother's closet in America. Liza Minnelli should have been Grizabella, insists Trevor Ashley Trevor Ashley will return to the Sydney stage in September. Credit:Helen Nezdropa Entertainer extraordinaire Trevor Ashley has exhumed his alter ego, Liza Minnelli, and is set to return to the Sydney stage with a new show, Liza's Back! (is broken), which explores the parts Minnelli should have done over the last 40 years from Mame to Grizabella to Norma Desmond. The show hits the stage at Hayes Theatre in Potts Point from September 8 to 18. Brown has far more than common touch Laura Brown with Karl Largerfeld. Credit:Daniel Adams She is being billed as New York's "next Anna Wintour", but Sydney born and raised Laura Brown declares she is "far too common" to live up to such a title. Nor does she sport the regimental helmet bob. But there is no denying Brown has certainly scaled the dizzying heights of the global fashion business, having just been named the new editor-in-chief of the American edition of InStyle magazine. In the world of fashion magazines, it doesn't get any bigger. Having started her fashion magazine career at the now defunct Mode magazine when it was owned by the late Kerry Packer and produced out of his Park Street offices, Brown has cemented herself among the elite of the cut-throat world of international fashion magazines, having worked her way up to executive editor of Harper's Bazaar America. "I've always had delusions of grandeur, as I'm fond of joking. Always loved fashion, film, art, all of it. Over the years, I have built a career mixing them all together," she told PS from New York this week. "I think there are few greater attributes professionally than enthusiasm and ability. I do think Australians are just happy to be in New York, and people respond to that 'energy'. I try to keep myself away from DWP (Devil Wears Prada) people but honestly, I think a lot of that has been replaced by social media posing. The rest of us have a job to do." Though Brown has managed to build an enviable social media presence, with the likes of no less than Princess Eugenie, Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Brooke Shields, Kim Kardashian and Karl Lagerfeld, among others, all posing with her in cosy Instagram posts. And while it has been a long road for Brown, she says the same opportunities existed for anyone back in Sydney hungry for a similar career. Indeed, her advice was simple: "Save your money. Get on a plane. Work hard. Make friends. Go where your passion is and make yourself useful. If you have this business in your DNA, you will get there. Underthink it!" The bank made good on the fraud. Their replacement cards were waiting for them when they returned home to Sydney. The latest report on payment card fraud from the Australian Payments Clearing Association shows fraud against Australians using credit cards overseas, particularly in the United States, has risen dramatically. Between 2014 and 2015, the amount skimmed from cards used overseas increased 77 per cent. Because Australia now uses chip technology, domestic skimming fraud decreased by 10 per cent over the same period. Fraudsters target US Chip-enabled cards and payments terminals, where PINs are required, are much more easily traceable than cards with the fraud-prone magnetic strips where signatures are required. The use of chip-enabled cards and PINs is standard in much of the developed world. In Australia, merchants were given a deadline to change over. In the US, merchants have an incentive to change because they are liable for the fraud if they don't. However, while the large retail chains and hotel groups have changed, many "mom and pop" stores still require cards to be swiped and signed as they do not want to pay for the new point-of-sale card processing terminals. That is creating a rush among fraudsters to present fake cards at US merchants where the magnetic strip is still used. The report also shows fraud in Australia is increasingly migrating online. "Card-not-present" fraud in Australia grew by 38 per cent over the two years. This is fraud where valid card details are stolen and then used to make purchases or other payments with the card, mainly online and sometimes by phone. Consumers are protected from personal loss caused by fraud and will be refunded as long as they have taken due care with their confidential data, says Andy White, the acting chief executive of the Australian Payments Clearing Association. But there is the form that has to be filled out for the bank and the delay, usually of several weeks, before the new cards arrive. There are a couple of things that card holders can do to reduce internet banking fraud and to reduce the risk of skimming when travelling overseas. No one should transact online with retailers that do not have secure payment as shown by a "padlock" icon, says Angus Kidman, the tech expert and editor-in-chief at comparison site finder.com.au. The padlock symbol means any information you are sending to the site, such as your name, address and credit-card details, has been encrypted so that even if someone gets the data they cannot read it, he says. "If you're making a purchase online, see if the website has https:// at the start of the website URL address as the 's' means the website is secure," Kidman says. Payment by smartphone Phone-based payment platforms such as Apple Pay and Android Pay potentially offer an additional level of security, provided your device is protected with fingerprint scanning, Kidman says. Smartphone payment systems work like PayPal in that the details of your card do not go to the retailer. "Remember though that these won't be as widely accepted overseas, and that you may well end up needing a physical card as a back-up payment option," he says. Protecting against skimming fraud while overseas, in countries that are converting to chip and PIN technology such as in the US, is much more difficult. "Don't let the waiter take your card away," he says. "If they can't bring the reader to your table, pay by cash, otherwise it is just asking for trouble," Kidman says. "To further minimise risk, use a prepaid travel credit card rather than your regular card. "That way you won't risk more money than is on the card and if there are issues, you can cancel it without having to change all your other automatic payments and stored credit-card details." Gearing up for the high stake battle in UP, Narendra Modi has planned to organize as many as ten rallies in the state. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart Bharatiya Janta Party's Uttar Pradesh election campaign next month. Gearing up for the high stake battle in UP, Modi has planned to organize as many as ten rallies in the state. According to the BJP's UP game plan accessed by India Today, party will be carrying out 'Maha-Sammelan' across the state. First Brahmin Sammelan will be held on the September 18, 2016 in Balia district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. BJP's UP game plan in pointers: Modi to kickstart the campaign next month. Party will conduct a meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on August 29. During the meeting, specific roles for the different affiliations of BJP will be decided. While all outlets will be assigned special role, VHP is expected to play major role. Taking a leaf out of learnings from Bihar Assembly election debacle, Party will put major emphasis on local leadership to conquer UP. Organization like Sanskar Bharti, Hindu Jagran Manch and Rastriya Muslim Munch will also play their role. Mohan Bhagwat, who is already campaigning in Lucknow will stay there for next five day. advertisement --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Aditi Khanna London, Aug 27 (PTI) A British Army bomb disposal team was called in to a site in Birmingham where five men were arrested on terror charges. The five men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, West Midlands Police said. "The arrests were intelligence-led and part of an ongoing investigation," a spolice spokesperson said. advertisement "Police are searching a number of properties in the Stoke and Birmingham areas as part of the investigation; these searches are on-going,? he added. Police say that, as a result of one of the arrests, an Army bomb disposal team has been called in as "a precautionary measure". West Midlands fire service tweeted: "Fire crews have been supporting police colleagues with an ongoing operation in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham." Police raided three homes in Birmingham and made two linked arrests in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested at their homes in Birmingham and a 28-year-old man was detained in a different area of the city. Another two men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested in Stoke. PTI AK NSA --- ENDS --- Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By India Today Web Desk: Going to work post the birth of your child is a daunting task for any mother, more so if you happen to be a supermodel, whose body is under constant scrutiny. Also read: Shveta Salve and Carol Gracias may be pregnant but they still walk the runway better than you ever will Making her return on the runway during Gaurang Shah's presentation at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016, in a conversation with IANS, the model said the following about her comeback. "It's exciting to come back. This is my walk post baby birth and it's just been a month and a week (since the delivery)." Carol Gracias on the Gaurang Shah runway. Photo: Yogen Shah advertisement Glowing in a handloom sari draped beautifully with a bindi shining on her forehead, Carol talked about being amazed with the women who work while leaving their child behind. "I don't know how people do a 9 to 5 job leaving the kid behind. I really don't understand... Just coming here for a day or two, I want to run back (to my son) right now... So I think Indian women work really hard. They do an amazing job of running their families, having their career and doing all of it at the same time," she added. Also read: Busting stereotypes: Carol Gracias shows off baby bump on the runway Her return was made special by the fact, that the model was last seen on the same designer's runway flaunting her baby bump--a move that had generated conversation a lot of conversation around women's bodies. Carol Gracias flaunted her baby bump #likeaboss, the last time she had stepped on the ramp. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@shahgaurang Carol Gracias flaunted her baby bump #likeaboss, the last time she had stepped on the ramp. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@shahgaurang Talking about whether that would set a new precedent, she added, "I hope it does, because there are many set rules in the modelling industry." Whatever the future holds, it can't be denied while Carol's walk was a small step, it hopefully will lead to some giant leaps in the fashion industry, especially as far as the harsh expectations concerning the female body. (With IANS inputs) --- ENDS --- By WestKyStar and LBL Staff Aug. 26, 2016 | 09:31 PM | FOX HOLLOW, KY Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area requests comments from members of the public regarding their Fox Hollow Project proposal.Comments are due on or before September 21 to Land Between the Lakes.For the past year we worked with members of the public, our partners and natural resource scientists to identify needs in the Fox Hollow area, said John Westbrook, Environmental Stewardship Manager. According to Westbrook, multiple site tours found stream beds, old wildlife trails, heritage sites, and recreation use along the shoreline. He explained they found where old farm fields once existed by comparing the current vegetation coverage with old aerial photographs taken through the decades.The complete scoping letter can be found at:https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FoxHollowScopingLtr_Signed_8_22_16.pdf.Some of the proposed activities that people can comment on include: Enhancing existing recreation opportunities that could include fortifying some user-made campsites. Providing for wildlife by creating a buffer zone around the known eagles nest and building wood duck boxes along the shore line. Maintaining existing roads and improving parking areas to better accommodate usage and help control erosion. Inventorying for historical sites and maintaining access to Nolan Cemetery. Reclaiming old fields and replacing with vegetation like native grasses to provide food and shelter for wildlife including pollinating bees and butterflies.Comments can be sent to:Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Areac/o Fox Hollow Project, 100 Van Morgan DriveGolden Pond, Kentucky 42211 or via email to comments-southern-land-between-lakes@fs.fed.us.A citizen science opportunity also came out of the discovery phase. Members of the public can take part inventorying tree stands at Fox Hollow. More information can be found at https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/3-reasons-join-us-in-field/.The Fox Hollow area sits between Forest Service Roads 219 and 220 just north of Brandon Spring Group Center in the Tennessee portion of the national recreation area. Maps, photos and additional information can be found at https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/fox-hollow-collaborative-effort/.For more information on the Fox Hollow Project proposal, please contact John Westbrook, Environmental Stewardship Manager, at 270-924-2204 or email jdwestbrook@fs.fed.us. By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 20, 2016 | 03:17 PM | MARTIN, TN The Tennessee Soybean Festival returns to Martin, September 2-11. Dozens of events, contests and exhibitions will take place across the city, at the UT-M campus, and predominantly at Virginia Weldon Park.Highlights include concerts by Vince Gill, the Brothers Osborne, Hunter Hayes, Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, Morris Day and the Time, The Plain White T's and more. (Tickets are being sold to these shows for the area adjacent to the stage, tickets available at the link below.) There will also be many other musical events featuring local talent.Perhaps the most unique soybean-related event is the biodiesel truck and tractor pull on Saturday Sept. 3.Fireworks will be on display Sunday night Sept. 4 at the recreational complex.The Soybean Festival parade will take place Tuesday Sept. 6 at 6:30 pm.There'll be a barbecue cookoff Friday, Sept. 9 at Weldon Park, including a bacon eating contest.For the complete schedule of events, click on the link below. On the Net: By Akshaya Nath: Even after continuous outcry from Tamil Nadu farmers and Tamil Nadu government the Karnataka government has maintained its stand that it is not possible to share the Cauvery water. After the all party meeting in Karnataka a decision that the water will not be shared has been sent out and they have also said that they will urge the Supreme Court and make the apex court realize the ground reality. advertisement In a meeting in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said, "Tamil Nadu has sought release of 50 TMC ft of water. Can it be given? No. From where can we give it." TN GOVT APPROACHED APEX COURT The Tamil Nadu government had approached the Supreme court regarding this issue and the apex court headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur is to hear the case on September 2. While Karnataka maintains that there is drought like situation in the state, similar is the situation of the farmers in Tamil Nadu. Famers owning over nine lakh acres of samba crop are heavily dependent on the water from Cauvery and with Karnataka government declining to provide water the samba crop will face huge damage due to lack of water. CENTER MUST MONITOR, APPOINT COMMITTEE The state president of water interlinking association, Aiyakanna, demanded, "As per the instruction of the Supreme Court the Kaveri tribunal's observation was published in the gazette and it is the responsibility of the state to provide water to Tamil Nadu. The central government must monitor it and appoint a committee to monitor this." Meanwhile, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswati accused the Karnataka government of doing this year after year and depriving people of Tamil Nadu the water of Cauvery. "Central government should come in it and do the needful only then will our farmers be benefitted," she said. At least 40 TMC ft of water is required in the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin - Kabini, Hemavathy, Harangi and KRS - to meet the drinking needs of Karnataka, but the government has said that this time due to lack of rainfall the reservoirs have very little water. Also read: Cauvery dispute: Karnataka denies water share to Tamil Nadu, farmers blame Centre --- ENDS --- The Political circus of the twin Telugu states are abuzz with speculation that Andhra Pradesh is set to see it's first major Cabinet reshuffle and sources confirmed that the TDP president is all set to include his son and the national general secretary, Nara Lokesh into the Cabinet. By Ashish Pandey: There's another "Son Rising" in Telugu Politics. Telangana Chief Minister and Rastr Samiti founder, K. Chandrashekhar Rao's Son K. Tarak Ramarao and his daughter K. Kavita are already playing an active role in the politics of the state. Preparation is now on to induct Telugu Desham Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu's son, N. Lokesh into full time politics by bestowing him with "official" responsibilities. advertisement LOKESH'S INDUCTION The Political circles of the twin Telugu states are abuzz with speculation that Andhra Pradesh is set to see it's first major Cabinet reshuffle and sources confirm that the TDP president is all set to include his son and the national general secretary, Nara Lokesh into the Cabinet. The Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu too has hinted at the possibility of cabinet expansion and Lokesh's induction into the cabinet. Speaking to media persons in Vijayawada smiling Chandrababu Naidu said, "Let's see. It will happen when it should happen" when asked about his son Lokesh. When asked if the cabinet expansion will happen after Dussehra and if Lokesh will figure in the newly formed team, the Yellow party president hinted at an affirmative answer. CM HINTS AT RESHUFFLE "There are need not be much speculation on this. Naturally, he is working hard for the party and will emerge more if given enough chance. Thinking positively," Chandrababu Naidu said. After his induction into the AP Cabinet, Lokesh is likely to be given key portfolios like Information Technology (IT) and Industrial Promotion, the sources confirmed to India Today. LOKESH'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS 33 year old Nara Lokesh, is the only son of Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP President Chandrababu Naidu. He was appointed Telugu Desam Party's national general secretary in October 2015. Since then, Lokesh has been looking after key organisational affairs in the party which include running a Rs 60 crore party workers' welfare trust, membership drive and affiliated wings of youth, students and women. Lokesh is also actively involved in the affairs related to Telangana where party had decimated and trying hard to regain its lost ground. After becoming the party general secretary, Lokesh also played a crucial role in countering the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress by successfully inducting almost a dozen senior YSR Congress MLAs into the TDP. Lokesh is currently not a member of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly or the state legislative Council. ALSO READ: Andhra Pradesh special status: Will TDP break alliance with BJP? Andhra Special Status: YSR Congress calls for bandh today, ruling TDP continues protest --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In 2002, Ben Affleck made headlines when he gave Jennifer Lopez a 6.1-carat pink diamond engagement ring worth a reported US$1.2 million. Now, US$1.2 million isnt a small amount of money, but it practically sounds like Monopoly money when you hear what some coloured diamonds are fetching at auction these days. Like the Oppenheimer Blue, a 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue diamond that sold for US$57.5 million at Christies Magnificent Jewels auction in May. Or the Orange, a 14.82-carat fancy vivid orange diamond that sold for US$35.5 million in 2013, also at a Christies auction. During the past few years, there have been many trend reports about coloured diamonds as investment opportunities if you can afford them. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Coloured diamonds are attractive investments for a few reasons: they havent decreased in wholesale price since 1959, and they can increase in value 10 to 15 per cent each year. They are also incredibly rare: only 0.001 per cent of diamonds mined each year qualify as fancy, and fewer still earn the distinction of vivid, which is a highly saturated colour. (Fancy Vivid diamonds, such as the two that went for fortunes at Christies, are the rarest and most prized.) Few mines on Earth produce coloured diamonds. Only one fancy blue diamond is mined per year; only 20 to 30 fancy reds are known to exist. So, in other words, in order for diamonds to be investment pieces, they have to be, by definition, exceptional. Unless they are flawless, white diamonds are not usually exceptional. Grandmothers heirloom white diamond wedding ring, while priceless in sentimental value, is not an investment. These are all facts I learned Thursday night at the Art of Buying Coloured Diamonds, a seminar and auction presented by Ritchies auctioneers, a Toronto-based house, and Gurevich Fine Art. It was the first event of its kind in Winnipeg, designed to be a small sample auction Ritchies auctions can have 200 to 300 people in attendance, as well as many telephone and absentee bidders and informational evening. We wanted to try something new, says Howard Gurevich, owner of the Exchange District gallery. I was curious about what kind of fancy people would attend a wine-and-chocolate fancy diamond auction in Winnipeg. Only 10 people or so were in attendance, not including the two police officers there to protect the jewel cases glittering with about $5 million worth of diamonds. Jonty Friedman is a fine jewelry specialist at Ritchies. Coloured diamonds are something of a sub-specialty for him. He says although coloured diamonds are having a moment fashion-wise especially in Asia people are not buying these diamonds to be worn. A lot of these buyers are foreign buyers, investors. A coloured diamond buyer is more of an investor than a jewelry buyer. Its funny, youll see these pieces go into rings, but thats just a way of more or less storing it, rather than keeping a loose stone in a parcel or something. Part of whats driving demand for fancy coloured diamonds is scarcity. The Argyle diamond mine, which is located in Australia and owned by Rio Tinto, produces 90 to 95 per cent of the worlds fancy pink diamonds. The mine is set to close in 2020, and Friedman says the value of certified Argyle fancy pinks is expected to soar after it closes. A fancy vivid pink, for example, could be worth US$3 million per carat by 2020. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Red diamonds are the rarest while yellow is the most common, making it attractive to entry-level investors who dont have $50 million sitting around. Friedman displays a seven-carat pale yellow diamond that would trade for US$10,000. The more intense the colour, the more money the diamond could fetch. He has another yellow diamond that is more saturated, but less sparkly (yes, these are technical terms). You can see the inclusions, but itll still command stupid money. People are buying for the colour. Diamonds, whether they are coloured or white, leave a lot of room for subjectivity in general, which is why appraisal is often described as an art, not strictly a science. Diamonds are evaluated by the four Cs carat, clarity, colour and cut. With coloured diamonds, there are other variables, such as the rarity of the colour and the saturation of the hue. Determining market value is also a challenge. After all, with coloured diamonds, it is possible to get a one-of-a-kind stone. You dont need to be a billionaire to invest in coloured diamonds, but you do need to know what youre doing and it probably helps if youre at least a millionaire. The value of a coloured diamond bought for a few thousand dollars, such as the ones on display Thursday night, will rise at the same rate, says Kashif Khan, the director of Ritchies. The big diamonds are usually sold via auction, so, unlike other kinds of investments, there are taxes and commission fees to consider. Investment-grade diamonds must be certified by the Gemological Institute of America, which will encrypt a stone with a microscopic report number. Because there were so few attendees Thursday, the seminar and auction didnt happen as planned. A few serious buyers spoke to Khan, including a man with a rare jade ring that Khan estimates is worth $250,000. Apparently, this man is interested in going to the Ritchies office in Toronto to look at a red diamond. Investing in coloured diamonds is not a practical alternative to, say, an RRSP for most people. So Thursday night was mostly about looking at spectacular jewels and hearing the stories: such as a client of Khans who bought a red diamond in the 1970s for $50,000 and later sold it for $1.5 million. Or the Toronto businessman who bought a 10-carat fancy intense orange-pink diamond for $2.3 million. When Khan went to deliver his purchase among the biggest in Canada the businessman discovered he had a seven-carat blue diamond in his safe. Khan says the blue diamond was worth $28 million. (Imagine being that rich: Oh, this old thing? Its just a rare blue diamond I forgot I had!) One of my biggest mistakes actually got solved in Winnipeg, Khan says. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ritchies Auctioneers manager of estate contents Cameron Thomas, left, and Gurevich Fine Art owner Howard Gurevich. About six years ago, a man in Brazil contacted Khan and said he had a bunch of green diamonds. There is no official coloured diamond mine in Brazil, but Khan went to check it out. We were literally in the jungle, he says. Khan was presented with three or four intensely coloured green diamonds. Thats rare; green diamonds occur because of radiation, which doesnt penetrate the carbon the same way as nitrogen, which results in yellow diamonds, or boron, which results in blue diamonds. Khan bought them on the spot. When he came back to Canada, he sent them to be cut and found out they were white inside. Once cut, their value plummeted. It was a $100,000 deal and they were maybe worth $10,000. Khans story got out among industry insiders, and he received a call from a geologist in Winnipeg. The geologist didnt care; he loved the idea of having an irradiated diamond that size. Khan ended up making money. Sometimes, value is in the eye of the beholder. There isnt another one, Khan says. If you say, I want a rough green diamond of this size, there isnt another one. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @JenZoratti Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When she was in high school, Meg Crane didnt spend a lot of time at home. Instead, she could be found at the park, hunkered down with a bundle of pencil crayons and printer paper, diligently folding pages, sketching images, composing prose, creating issue after issue of her personal periodical. As she completed them, she would photocopy each issue and distribute copies to her friends. I think as a teenager you feel really powerless in a lot of ways, and this is a way to make you feel like you can make a difference in the world, Crane said a decade later, sipping coffee at Stellas on Grant Avenue. Unlike the glossy pages of Elle or Vogue, Cranes magazines never saw an editor and they werent typed on a computer. Instead, Crane functioned as her own editor-writer-publisher taking the process of content creation and distribution out of the hands of media companies and into her own. She was making zines: self-published magazines named by shortening the word, a fitting simplification reflecting the pared-back, personal style zines often embody. Now 26, Crane is still zining (yes, its a verb, too) as the editor and publisher of Cockroach For eco-feminists who give a damn and wanna have fun! Its more professional than her teenaged creations (typed on a computer and following a two-month publication schedule) and more collaborative, its pages filled by a network of contributors. But Crane still folds the pages herself, still staples each issue with coloured staples. At a moment when its easier than ever to publish content through the Internet, shes part of a small but growing group of Winnipeggers who are keeping the medium alive. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS (From left) Natasha Havrilenko, Meganelizabeth Diamond, Gillian Toothill, and Gabrielle Funk work on their zine Rip/Torn in their studio. Defining zines in the most general sense is easy. Theyre self-published. Theyre usually limited-run, typically ranging from 50 to 200 copies per issue. Theyre magazines, essentially, but cheaper to make. Once the ground rules are set, pinpointing what is and what is not a zine gets trickier. Winnipeg publications have ranged from how-to guides for fermentation (if youre interested, check out the publications from Edible Alchemy) to photography (Cam Nikkels Pancakes and Skateboards is a beautiful example) to one zine that reviewed Winnipeg churches through the eyes of a deeply skeptical observer (Wholly Shit, now defunct but still legendary among local zinesters, by Stephane Doucet). There are also those that more closely resemble traditional magazines, such as Cranes Cockroach, or Unity Zine. Both are collaborative, multimedia publications produced on regular schedules and feature everything from proper articles to recipes to playlists, art and more. I think people are very confused about what zining means, said Natasha Havrilenko, one of the women behind Winnipeg zine rip/torn. Like Cockroach and Unity, rip/torn is collaborative and frequently veers into the confessional. Zines can be anything. Certain zines are very niche, and theyre kind of more hard to explain. And therere certain zines that are just about society, social commentary, aging she said. The limit is really you and your imagination. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 'I think people are very confused about what zining means': Natasha Havrilenko Zines and zine-like publications have been around in one form or another for decades even centuries, depending on how broadly or narrowly you define the medium, after all, people have been writing things down and spreading it around for a long time. Theyre often connected with counter-culture communities or radical political groups, but theyve just as frequently spilled out of those boundaries. As a result, the history is hard to pin down and different zinesters, as theyre called, will tell different stories of how they found them depending on where they looked. By the 1980s, in North American literary communities, you could find chapbooks, small publications usually containing poetry or creative writing, that are a close cousin to contemporary zines. Tim Brandt, the custodian of a Winnipeg zine library belonging to anarchist group the Junto collective, remembers selling them at bookstores where he worked and making them himself. Some people say (the name) comes from chapter, just like a chapter of a book, rather than the whole book, he said, sitting in his book-filled living room in the Earl Grey neighbourhood. And some people say it came from an old British tradition of chaps selling their books on the streets. Whatever, he concluded with a laugh. He recalled hunching over a typewriter in the 1960s, writing little journals and stuff with his brother. In the 80s, it was chapbooks. Gradually, it became zines. By the 1990s, true zines were being embraced in the queer and punk worlds, notably by the Riot Grrrl movement in the Pacific Northwest in which the two collided. Underground feminism, driven by powerful, pissed-off women such as Kathleen Hanna and Tobi Vail, found physical form in zines such as Girl Germs, Bikini Kill, Jigsaw and Riot Grrrl. Winnipegs own underground punk movement was what introduced Dany Reede to zining, in small, crowded venues as promoters and fans handed out handmade publications detailing the latest and greatest in punk rock. Now, Reede and his wife are the creative force behind Sad Haus Press, the name under which they release a variety of zines full of Reedes art. I probably made my first zine when I was 16, 17, Reede said over coffee at a long table in an Exchange District cafe. I was going to a lot of punk shows and stuff, basement shows, community centre shows. Zines are a big part of that kind of culture: fan zines. People were doing zines about the local scene to trade with people in other cities and stuff. Around that time, people were using zines to connect with people, kind of like social media these days, he said. It was a way to send your zines to different people in different cities and make connections, stuff like that. The whole history of zines is pretty badass, said Sarah Carr, editor of Unity Zine in Winnipeg. Carrs first real experience with zines was through the queer community, at a zine-making workshop offered by one of the people behind trans.zine, a support publication for transgender people in Manitoba operated out of Brandon. Thats when I was like Whoa, I could actually do this, Carr said. That was really interesting, especially just (learning) that it doesnt have to be perfected pieces of work. It can just be expressing what you have to say or what you feel. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS For many Winnipeg zinesters, a big part of the mediums allure is its accessibility. It allows anybody who wants to put their work, or their opinion, or their art or whatever, out there the opportunity to do so, said Crane. Not everybody has access to the Internet and a computer, but pretty much anybody can get their hands on a pencil and paper. The concept of a low-barrier artform was part of the appeal for Carr, too. It just seemed the most accessible, I guess, Carr said. I could really incorporate so many different types of art forms that way. Not as much as like a website or something But I personally just really like physical things, and also you can just give it to someone. Things get lost in the web so easily, and youre constantly having to promote (your work), Carr said. But if you just have a little table, you can have your zines and people can look through it, see if they like it, and its a lot easier to get out there if you have a physical copy of something. Carr said the goal with Unity was to tap into that idea and create an accessible platform for people to express themselves. I notice a lot of artists, especially young people, are really insecure about sharing their art. They feel like theyre never good enough, Carr said. Submitting it to an art show or something like that, thats really intimidating. But having a small place where you can submit your stuff and feel like youre getting out there, getting practice having projects, that was the point. I felt like a lot of people could use that. I wanted to make people value the work they were making, and show them that by sharing what theyre doing, it can inspire others, Carr said. That was more the purpose, to help people who feel isolated in their situations by talking about different issues and having a wide, diverse spectrum of experiences that people are sharing. The concept of sharing is an essential piece of the zine ethos, Havrilenko said, down to the distribution of the zines themselves. When she and friends began rip/torn, it was the first time shed written anything for public consumption. Its one thing to write it down for yourself, to have that output, and its another thing to share it with other people, she said. Its almost like its twofold, in terms of getting something off your chest and getting your voice heard. Rip/torn and Unity both offer contributors the option to make submissions anonymous, and Carr said protection might help foster the confessional tone in many zines. Maybe theres like this whole thing about wanting to thinking about yourself and thinking about what you could have used to see, and thinking about the authentic truth of something and wanting to provide that to someone else when its not provided a lot elsewhere, I guess, Carr said. Maybe. Im not sure. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Meg Crane is the creator of a local zine called Cockroach, and likes to make her zines/envelopes in Vimy Ridge Park. Opinions differ on how much zines are really on the rise in Winnipeg. Stephane Doucet, the mastermind behind Wholly Shit and a handful of other similarly irreverent zines, said he doesnt think zining is gaining momentum. Others disagree. Crane, an organizer of the Winnipeg edition of a national zine fair called CanZine, said she sees zines gaining momentum across Canada, and first noticed more zines popping up locally around the time she started her own in 2014. It seems to be a bit of a movement, right now, Crane said. People sort of moved to digital, and it seems that people are going back to having physical copies of things, especially younger people. Maybe people are just more interested in knowing what theyre buying and buying directly from artists, and supporting local artists at that kind of level, Reede said. I know, in Winnipeg, thats a trend thats been happening, people wanting to know where their stuff comes from and supporting locally made things. Like Crane and Reede, Carr perceived some buzz around zining. Zining workshops in the city are easy to find (offered, for instance, at Martha Street Studio) and new names continue to pop up, although fans are also mourning the death of Sappho, a feminist collective zine that closed its doors last year, although it donated some of its last money to Unity to help it get started. Were used to the technology, were used to the blogs, and the web-series, and stuff like that. But making something physical I dont know, Carr said. I think its really easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the different possibilities. Its like, Oh, I can do this, I could start a GoFundMe or a crowd whatever it is, I can help these people, I can create these different things. Everybodys doing so many different things now, and its just a lot of work. But zines are just theyre small, and they can bring whatever you want to put out there, I guess. The idea of creating the content you want to consume, filling the gaps in a culture where you see them, could be part of the allure, Carr said and also part of the elusive definition. Its making it your own, I guess, Carr said. Maybe thats part of it. This years CanZine Central is scheduled for the Millennium Public Library, Oct. 22, from noon to 6 p.m. aidan.geary@freepress.mb.ca By PTI: Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27 (PTI) In fresh trouble for Kerala Congress (M) supremo K M Mani, a vigilance court today ordered further probe against him in the sensational bar bribery scam but the former finance minister put up a brave front saying he would face it courageously. Special Vigilance Judge here A Badaruddin issued the direction for further investigation in the case, which had rocked the previous Oommen Chandy regime with Mani forced to quit as Finance Minister last year. advertisement The order was issued on a petition by Vigilance Superintendent of Police S P Sukeshan under CrPC section 173 seeking further probe against Mani. The fresh development comes days after Mani severed his three-decade old ties with the Congress-led UDF unhappy over being denied justice by previous Oommen Chandy government. Mani, against whom an FIR has been registered on the allegation that he was paid Rs one crore bribe for reopening closed bars, had to resign unceremoniously after an adverse remark by the Kerala high court in November last. Reacting to the court order, 82-year old Mani said it was an attempt to destroy his party, but asserted he would face the probe courageously and his party would come out stronger. The case itself was a conspiracy by bar owners, he said, adding, audio tapes revealing the conspiracy had come out. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said LDF even before coming to power had pointed out about "the shortcomings" in the investigation,while CPI-M veteran Achutanandan wanted a comprehensive probe to be ordered on the attempt to sabotage the case during the UDF rule. Describing the development as strange and questioning the SPs credentials, Mani alleged "Sukeshan was an officer who frequently contradicted his own reports...He is an officer without conscience." He also wondered whether the present development was a sequel to his political decision to come out of the UDF. KC-M has made it clear that it would keep equi-distance from LDF, UDF and BJP. However, there were media reports that KC-M was warming up to NDA and LDF camps. In his petition, Sukeshan, the official who had investigated the case earlier and filed two closure reports giving a clean chit to Mani, also stated that a former Vigilance Director had allegedly tried to sabotage the case by tampering with the case diary. The case related to the allegation by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners Association Working President Biju Ramesh that the association had paid Rs one crore bribe to Mani for getting favourable decision for reopening closed bars in 2013-14. advertisement The previous closure report filed by Sukeshan has been challenged by then opposition leader Achuthanandan and is pending in court. (MORE) PTI LGK UD JRK VS SMJ --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/08/2016 (2254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SIRTE, Libya When the Islamic States religious police arrived at his door, Ahmood Abu Amood feared he would never see his family again. The two militants drove up in a beige sport-utility vehicle, Amood said, the kind used to transport anyone who broke the rules to an office to pay a fine, to get a whipping or to go to jail. But the men didnt come to arrest him that cool February evening. They offered him a job. They told Amood, who had been a traffic police officer in the city before the group seized it last year, they were launching a new traffic police department, and they wanted him to be its head. It would evolve, they said, into a department of motor vehicles. They wanted to eventually issue drivers licenses to all the people who live inside the Islamic State, Amood said. Even as they ruled through fear and brutality, as their counterparts have in Syria and Iraq, Islamic State officials in Libya aspired to create a government with a functioning bureaucracy, public services and a credible judicial system. Residents in the fractured coastal city of Sirte described the militants ambitions in interviews last week, offering a portrait of the groups efforts to extend its self-proclaimed caliphate into Libya. With its defences crumbling in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State increasingly saw Sirte as a possible substitute capital, especially if its Syrian haven of Raqqa fell. That goal now appears distant as pro-government militias, backed by the United States and other allies, have captured key positions that were held by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and are pursuing hundreds of militants remaining in Sirte. But what unfolded in Sirte opens a window into the groups still-bubbling aspirations in North Africa. It also illuminates its vision of a nation run by a harsh interpretation of ancient Islamic codes and a carrot-and-stick approach to ruling the populations under its control. If you accepted living under their way of life, you were not touched, said Mohamed Ziyani, 27, who runs his familys furniture shop. They were definitely trying to create a state. Lorenzo Tugnoli / The Washington Post Shopkeeper Mohamed Ziyani: They were definitely trying to create a state. Sirte held symbolic and strategic value for the Islamic State. It is Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafis birthplace. It was where he was killed during the revolutions that swept through Libya and the Arab world five years ago. The city is in the nations lucrative petroleum crescent, the centre of much of Libyas oil and gas reserves. The Islamic State affiliate emerged after the uprising, exploiting Libyas instability and tribal rivalries to become the groups strongest branch outside the Middle East. In early 2015, Islamic State fighters entered Sirte, gaining support from jihadist networks and tribal leaders who had been loyal to Gadhafi but felt disenfranchised after his death. By the summer, the Islamic State was in control of the city. Men were forced to grow beards. They had to roll up their pants legs a few inches above the ankles, especially when praying, in accordance with sayings of the prophet Muhammad. Women were told to wear black niqabs or veils that covered their faces and eyes, forcing them to see through a filmy gauze. And their abayas, the head-to-toe garments worn by conservative Muslim women, had to be made from non-transparent material. Religious police, prevalent in every neighbourhood of the city, enforced the new rules. Residents were ordered to attend mosques five times a day, and stores and businesses were required to close during prayers. Satellite TV dishes were taken down to prevent residents from watching western and other immoral programming. Cigarettes and alcohol were confiscated and destroyed. At first, the militants made examples out of people who violated the decrees. They killed anyone caught drinking or taking drugs right away, said Rawad bin Sawood, 27, a tire shop owner. They stopped terrorizing people only after they set up the court system and judges. Proper procedures were then established. The limbs of thieves were amputated, and adulterers were stoned to death in the main square. Fortune tellers and sellers of charms to ward off evil spirits were branded sorcerers and beheaded publicly. So were Sufi Muslims, considered heretics by the Islamic State. Many of the executions took place at a roundabout in the Zafran enclave. Pedestrians were stopped and drivers ordered to pull over to witness the brutality. The first person executed there was a man named Ahmed Abu Zumita, who was accused of spying on the Islamic State. His arms and legs were strapped to a black metal frame about 20 feet tall. His executioner placed a cardboard tag around his neck with the phrase Fajr 166 on it, a reference to a Misuratan militia that tried and failed to retake the city last year. Then, they shot bullets into his head, recalled Amood, who said he witnessed the killing with 200 others. Zumitas body was displayed for the next three days as a warning to residents. Others were killed silently. The militants carefully picked whom they would target. They sensed they needed experienced local help to create a state. Rather than executing local officials, bureaucrats and police officers, as they publicly have in Syria and Iraq, commanders demanded they repent in the main mosque for working for the government and embrace the Islamic States teachings. LORENZO TUGNOLI FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Mohamed Ziyani and his father owned a furniture shop in Sirte during the time the Islamic State controlled the city. They fled to Misurata because of the fighting. The militants made it clear they ran the city. Their trademark black flags flew over government buildings, hospitals and schools. Billboards proselytized their brand of Islam. They operated a radio station that played Koranic verses and broadcast news about the organizations attacks around the world. They employed workers to clean the streets, and assisted the poor and orphaned children, especially at the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, residents said. People were allowed to travel out of the city, to Misurata, Tripoli and other areas. And the militants treated shopkeepers with respect. One day, an Islamic State fighter and his wife entered Ziyanis furniture shop and bought about US$400 worth of goods. They always pay, Ziyani said. They have a lot of money. By the end of the summer of 2015, the state-building had grown more sophisticated. The Islamic State started referring to its self-declared territory in northwestern Libya, which includes the capital, Tripoli, as Wilayat Tarabulus. In propaganda and social-media forums, the group began portraying Libya as its next frontier as hundreds of foreign fighters arrived to support the cause. Female militants from other countries were encouraged to join them, and doctors, engineers and lawyers who practised sharia law were recruited to help run the state. Most of the foreigners came from North Africa, Syria, Saudi Arabia and sub-Saharan Africa. In Sirte, black stamps with the words Office of General Services in English and Arabic were on the walls of every shop and business. They meant the owner was registered with the Islamic States revenue-collection department and was paying taxes. While there were some foreign doctors working in the hospitals, there werent enough. So the militants tried to recruit from the local population. They told me to join the hospital or else my head would roll, recalled Salim Shafglouf, 23, a nurse and pharmacist. The next day, he fled to Misurata. In a neighbourhood near the prison, the militants set up a department that oversaw punishments for anything they deemed un-Islamic, including smoking or dressing inappropriately. It was called Al Hisba, which in Arabic means accountability. Each transgression came with a specific fine, flogging or jail time. The system was 100 per cent organized, said Amood, the traffic police officer. The Washington Post After more than a decade of repairs and restoration, the historic interstate bridge will reopen to traffic Monday on time and ahead of schedule. CALEDONIA, Minn. More than 50 children got to see feathers, scales and fur up close and personal on Friday. Stephanie Arne, Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom wild guide, shared a dictator scorpion, an African tortoise, a barred owl and other animals with the assembled daycare kids and clients of Able Inc., which provides residential care to those with developmental disabilities. As the wild guide, Arne hosts Wild Kingdoms online content, a continuation of the work of the original 1963 television show, as well as touring with animal across the United States. Arne said the goal of Wild Kingdom is to help increase awareness of the wildlife all around us. Humans share the planet with an incredible assortment of animals, she said, and programs like this one help kids appreciate the natural world. The big thing is that connection to animals, Arne said, that every animal has a purpose and we share the planet with them, too. Along with stops in Caledonia, the Wild Kingdom crew also visited Spring Grove, La Crescent and Galesville Thursday and Friday. During the presentations, Arne shared interesting facts about each animal while the kids got an up-close look. They learned that the dictator scorpion, a close relative to emperor scorpions, uses its claws and stinger to catch food and deter predators. She also spoke about the defense mechanisms of the next animal she brought out, a South American toad, which include puffing itself up with air and secreting toxins to deter predators from chowing down on it. A legless lizard and an albino boa constrictor named Lady also made appearances as Arne discussed the animals unique features, such as the lizards ability to drop its tail when attacked and how the boa constrictor eats its food, such as mice, whole. The lizard was also cool, Arne told the kids, because it moved by spinning and burrowing underground, which was why it lacked legs and other external features such ears. Gilligan the barred owl entranced the children: They tried to get him to hoot, but to no avail. A baby baboon and a young red fox named Ratatouille rounded out Arnes menagerie. At the end, she asked all in attendance to promise to be more mindful of the animals in the wild and their needs. Addie Schroeder, 6 and her brother Levi, 5, both said they really enjoyed getting to see and learn about the animals. Addie thought the scorpion was the coolest, while her brother thought the snake, so white and long, was better. Levi said it was neat to learn that snakes arent slimy and mean. It was interesting to learn about how well foxes can hear and how shy they are around people. I liked learning about the monkey, Addie said, because it was such a cute baby. The big thing is that connection to animals. That every animal has a purpose and we share the planet with them, too. Stephanie Arne, Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom wild guide A Baraboo therapist accused of sexually exploiting a patient will serve 30 days in jail and two years on probation as part of a plea deal he reached Friday with prosecutors. What you did was a grave offense to society, Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Michael Screnock said in court Friday. As part of the agreement, 39-year-old Brett D. Klawitter of North Freedom, who previously worked as a clinical substance abuse counselor for St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, pleaded no contest to an amended charge of misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault. Screnock found him guilty, but withheld sentencing and instead adopted the joint recommendation of the defense and prosecuting attorneys. If Klawitter does not complete terms of the deal, he may be sentenced on the misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 9 months in prison and $10,000 in fines. Klawitter initially was charged with sexual exploitation by a therapist, a felony charge that carries a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Prosecutors said a patient at St. Clare Center in Baraboo told police that Klawitter called her into his office after a group counseling session on March 22. He touched the woman sexually, according to the criminal complaint, and the victim left his office after she told the therapist that what he was doing wasnt right. In an interview with investigators, Klawitter allegedly admitted to the incident. His state license as a clinical substance abuse counselor has been suspended, according to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services online database. In addition to his 30-day jail stay and two-year probation term, Klawitter must continue treatment with a marriage and family therapist at The Psychology Clinic in Prairie du Sac. He also was ordered to submit a DNA sample and have no contact with the victim. Although attorneys said Friday that Klawitters victim had not requested any restitution in the criminal case, it is possible that she may seek damages by other means. The victim had her bills covered by BadgerCare, Sauk County Assistant District Attorney Sue Mueller said. And there is some conversation that there could be a civil case. She said Klawitter has apologized to the victim, who seems to be satisfied with how the case was resolved. Defense attorney John Newton of Adams said his client has taken responsibility for what he described as a serious lapse in judgment. He is active in church and charities, and has sought treatment for the character issue that landed him in trouble with the law. Klawitter will have until Oct. 25 to begin his 30-day jail stay, and will have an uphill battle in renewing his state counselors license, Newton said. As per police reports, Deepak died after falling from a considerable height while playing Dahi Handi as a part of the Janmashtami celebrations. By Ashish Pandey: The Dahi Handi event turned tragic in Adilbad district of Telangana where a 27-year-old man died after falling from the top of a human pyramid formation . The youth was identified as Kable Deepak, a resident of the Pittalwada locality in Adilabad district. Kable was participating in the Dahi Handi celebration along with his group of friends on Thursday night. advertisement FALL WHILE PLAYING DAHI HANDI As per police reports, Deepak died after falling from a considerable height while playing Dahi Handi as a part of the Janmashtami celebrations. A local inspector said, the youth had reached the top tier but lost balance and fell after suffering epileptic seizures due to the spraying of water on the contestants. He was declared brought dead at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hospital. A case had been registered and an investigation is on-going. Adilbad is a district sharing its border with Maharashtra where the Dahi Handi is a popular celebration too. ALSO READ: Don't interfere in Hindu festivals, Shiv Sena attacks SC on Dahi Handi restrictions Dahi Handi: MNS workers defy Supreme Court, string up matki over 40 feet in Thane --- ENDS --- The accused were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell with the weapon of offence along with the motorcycle used in the crime. By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police Special Cell cracked the murder case of constable Anand Singh who lost his life while attempting to apprehend three robbers on August 19 in Bawana, Delhi. All the three accused have been arrested with the weapon of offence along with the motorcycle used in the crime. The police also recovered the cell phone of the complainant. The three arrested people include Sumit Thakran, Rahul Panda and Sunil Churi Sehrawat. advertisement On August 19, at about 9 pm while constable Singh was passing by the Samosa Chowk in Bawani, he heard the commotion when three criminals were trying to flee after robbing a woman, Meena, the complainant of the FIR. Singh while attempting to apprehend the criminals was shot in the chest. Around 80 dossiers of active criminals and 150 recent jail released criminals were studied in order to gather tangible clues about the perpetrators of the crime. The relevant footage of nearly 100 CCTV cameras found functioning in the wider area covering the spot of the incident were also analyzed. On August 26, while the police team was in the area of Bawana, it received information that Sumit, who was reportedly involved in the crime, was expected to arrive there in a couple of hours. The team immediately called for backup support and started scouting the area for strategic deployment. The accused Sumit was apprehended. Upon search, a pistol was recovered from him. After interrogation, he also gave the details of his other two accomplices. The special cell team in an overnight operation arrested another accused Rahul and recovered the motorcycle used in the crime from him. The motorcycle was robbed a couple of days prior to the murder by these accused. Following up on more investigation, a raid was conducted at the residence of another accused Sunil. He was apprehended and the robbed cell phone belonging to the complainant was also recovered from him. --- ENDS --- 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 Police recovered 52 SIM cards, two Data Cards, three Laptops and five mobile phones from their possession. The recovery includes the mobile phone used in the case of cheating. By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested two foreign nationals, identified as Michael James and Umeadi Valentine Chigozie from Mandawali area of Delhi. They were arrested on a complaint received by the cyber cell for a case of cheating in Cyberabad, Telangana. Police recovered 52 SIM cards, two Data Cards, three Laptops and five mobile phones from their possession. The recovery includes the mobile phone used in the case of cheating. advertisement READ: 4 men held for using fake documents to join Army's Nashik Artillery Centre THE CASE The cyber cell of the Delhi Police received a complaint from M Ganagalakshami. She alleged that "Some unknown frauds cheated her with the amount of Rs 2,25,600/- on the pretext of providing her job opportunity in Qatar Airways Co. The frauds took this amount from time to time as Visa charges, Processing fee, Medical fee and to transfer Access Code etc." The complainant also provided alleged email IDs and mobile phone numbers used by the accused persons to dupe her. A resident of Telangana, Gangalakshami had also registered a complained under the IT Act at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Cyberabad. POLICE INVESTIGATION Delhi Police began their investigation on the basis of the information provided by the complainants and tracked down the fraudsters to Mandawali area of Delhi. They conducted a raid on August 24 and arrested Michael James and Umeadi Valentine Chigozie. READ: Noida-based fake BPO rakes in Rs 5 crore from customers, sends employees to Goa, all held During questioning James, according to police, confessed to the crime. James told police that along with Chigozie, he duped Gangalakshami of Rs 2,25,600. The two accused failed to produce passports, saying they had lost the documents. The two accused were produced in the Karkardooma court, where Telangana Police have taken transit remand of four days. They would be tried in Telangana. ONE TO BE DEPORTED During the course of investigation, the Delhi Police found another Nigerian national roaming around in Mandawali area. He was found to be illegally staying in India even after his passport and visa expired. He has been identified as Kennedy Chikwado from the Ikeja town of Nigeria. Police contacted the authorities and deportation process was initiated on 24th August. Also Read: (Un)friendly Facebook: Man befriended girls using fake FB ids, harassed, blackmailed them Delhi honey trap: Gang extorted money after luring men to dating sitesKarnataka: Girl accuses Facebook friend of raping on pretext of marriage --- ENDS --- By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Prime accused Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and three other terrorists involved in the Dhaka attack were killed in an encounter with security forces today, Bangladesh Police said. Based on inputs from an arrested operative of banned terror group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), police conducted a raid in Pikeparha in Narayanganj district early morning today. Sanowar Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner of counter terrorism unit, said that a gunfight erupted between the two groups and the militants were killed. Officials say that Tamim was a JMB leader. advertisement Earlier, Bangladesh Police had announced a reward of over USD 25,000 for clues leading to the arrest of the accused. Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was identified as the mastermind of the July 1 attack on an upscale Dhaka cafe, in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two police offers were killed. Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack and, while the government has dismissed the claim, security experts say the scale and sophistication of the assault suggested links to trans-national networks. ALSO READ: Armed ISIS gunmen attack restaurant in Dhaka, 5 including 3 cops killed in gunbattle Indian girl among 20 killed in Dhaka attack, ISIS terrorists identified: Latest updates --- ENDS --- The Labour Partys right wing escalated its purge of the party Thursday with the announcement that Ronnie Draper, the general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), had been suspended from membership. Draper, a party member for 40 years, was suspended by Labours National Executive Committee (NEC). In a statement Friday, Draper said he had not been informed of the basis for his suspension. All he had been told is that this is something to do with an unidentified tweet I have posted. I have not been given the opportunity to refute any allegations, or a date for any hearing. He is now blocked from attending Labour party meetings, annual conference and, above all, voting in the leadership election. While it is not yet established why Draperthe leader of the 20,000 strong unionwas suspended, he is a prominent supporter of the pseudo-left Socialist Party-led National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN). Drapers suspension proves that the right-wing opponents of Jeremy Corbyn will stop at nothing to try and prevent his re-election as Labour leader on September 24. The NEC has already won legal backing for its decision to bar 130,000 membersmany thought to be Corbyn supportersfrom taking part in the election. Overseeing the witch-hunt is the partys Compliance Unit, which is working through applications to check whether 180,000 new registered supporters who signed up to take part in the vote are eligible, or include members of, or public advocates for, other groups. It was reported earlier this month that some 40,000 of the 180,000 applicants who joined in a two-day window in July, after being forced to pay 25 to do so, have already been barred from voting. They are accused of committing crimesdefined as previous support for a rival political party candidate, publicly advocating support for other political parties and groups, absence from the electoral register or because their payments supposedly bounced. Another 10,000 cases are currently before the NECs Oversights Panel, where they are being assessed as to whether they are in compliance with the partys aims and values. In order to enforce this, a massive trawl of Labour members social media accounts is on-going, as revealed in the case of Draper. The Compliance Unit is Labours version of Orwells Thought Police. It originated in earlier purges of the party, carried out by Neil Kinnock in the 1980s. So extensive, however, is the current purge that Saving Labour, a network formed by the Blairites as part of the coup, issued projections this week that leadership challenger Owen Smith could narrowly defeat Corbyn. Saving Labour compiled the study among the 647,000 members who are eligible to vote, including those who joined before and after the 2015 general election, new registered supporters, and trade union and other affiliates. Commenting on Drapers suspension, John McDonnell, Corbyns shadow chancellor and closest ally, noted that Labour peer Lord Sainsbury, who has given more than 2 million to support the Liberal Democrats, has not been suspended. Nor has any action been taken against Michael Foster, the Labour Party donor who called Corbyn and his staff Nazi storm troopers. Labour party members will not accept what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters, McDonnell said. But neither McDonnell nor Corbyn has presented any means by which the tens of thousands of party members who are being disenfranchised can oppose this blatant ballot rigging. McDonnell proposed only writing to party general secretary and arch-coup plotter, Iain McNicol, to demand members are informed of the reasons for their suspension and be given time to challenge the decision. Corbyn appeared for the fifth hustings between himself and Smith in Glasgow just hours after Drapers suspension had been announced. But he made no mention of it during the debate, nor commented at all on the putsch. Again, he made a number of retreats on his stated left-wing objectives. Asked whether the UK should remain a member of NATO, Corbyn said he supported the Western imperialist alliance as far as it can be a force for peace and good in the world. Without mentioning the massive build-up of NATO military forces along Russias western border, he called only for a de-escalation of tensions between NATO and Russia and said he was opposed to human rights abuses in NATO supporting countries or in Russia itself. In response to a question as to whether he was in favour of a referendum on ending the monarchy, he replied, I wouldnt make it a priority in an election campaign, adding vaguely that he supported much greater democracy in Britain and replacing the House of Lords with an elected upper chamber. Corbyn repeated his opposition to a split in the Labour Party stating, After this election, the Parliamentary Labour Party I hope will recognise the result of this election, and recognise that when we come together as a movement, as members, MPs, we can take on and defeat the Tories. His efforts to placate the right were to no avail. Smith made clear in his own remarks that the key element in the timing of the right-wing putsch is the shock Leave vote in Junes referendum on UK membership of the European Union (EU). In alliance with the highest echelons of the state and military-intelligence apparatus in the UK and the US, sections of the ruling elite are seeking to refashion Labour as a political vehicle for overturning the result of the referendum. With parliament resuming shortly, new Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May is facing increasing pressure from the anti-EU wing of her party to enact Article 50, the clause that officially begins the process of a UK withdrawal from the EU. Smith has made the issue of Brexit, and his preparedness to do everything he can to prevent it, the central dividing line in the leadership contest. Asked how he would call on Labour MPs to vote if triggering Article 50 was put to a vote in parliamentas some are demanding as a means of preventing itCorbyn said, We have to recognise there has been a referendum that didnt give us the result that we wanted. But he refused to state explicitly whether he would oppose Article 50 being triggered, instead answering that lines should be set down in negotiations over Britains withdrawalsuch as ensuring the protection of workers rights and that Britains industries and financial services had continued access to European markets. Smith responded that this was not good enough and it is wrong for Britain to be outside the European Union. We should be in it. Repeating the charge of the coup plotters that Corbyn had sabotaged the pro-EU campaign, Smith seemed to read from a series of prompt notes attacking Corbyn as a long-time opponent of the EU, who had only recently made a pretence Damascene conversion to supporting the Remain campaign. He baited Corbyn repeatedly, accusing the Labour leader of lying as to whether he had even voted personally for Remain. Im not even sure that Jeremy did vote in in the EU referendum, Smith said. If he became leader, Smith said, Labours next general election manifesto would include a pledge to stay in the EU and he attacked Corbyn for not committing to the same. 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, Smith asserted. Under my leadership we would be strong and we would be staying in the European Union. Over the past fortnight an estimated 4,500 people in Havelock North have become sick with a gastrointestinal infection linked to campylobacter bacteria in the towns water supply. As of August 21, 10 people remained in hospital, down from 22 a few days earlier. At least one person, 89-year-old Jean Sparksman, died after contracting the disease, which is fatal in rare cases. Havelock North has 13,000 residents and is located in the Hawkes Bay region, just outside the city of Hastings on the North Island. Hawkes Bay District Health Board (DHB) chief executive Kevin Snee told TV3 on August 23 there was a risk cryptosporidium and giardia were also in the water. Cryptosporidium takes up to 20 days to affect people, meaning there could be another wave of sickness. On August 12, the Hastings District Council received test results showing the presence of E. coli bacteria, an indicator for faecal contamination, in one of the bores that feeds Havelock Norths water supply. The council was also informed by the DHB of numerous recent cases of vomiting and diarrhoea. A warning was issued to Havelock North residents to boil drinking water while the council began to chlorinate the water. Not all communities in New Zealand have chlorinated water. This is the worst waterborne disease outbreak in the countrys history. With about a third of residents having fallen sick, schools in Havelock North were closed for much of last week and so were many local businesses. A council spokesperson told Radio NZ the highest percent of sick people were the children. Local reporter Marty Sharpe, who was sick for three and a half days, wrote in Fairfax Media that many residents are angry that such a thing could happen in a first-world nation... There is also plenty of anger at the perceived delay between when Hastings District Council and the [DHB] believed there was a problem, and when they informed the public. The DHB said the bacteria probably entered the water supply between August 5 and 8, when clusters of people began to report being sick. Mayor Lawrence Yule told TV3s The Nation on Saturday that the water supply tested negative for contamination on August 9. A positive indicator for E. coli was discovered in a test on the morning of August 12, but the council only issued a public warning at 6:40 p.m. Last weekend, National Party MP Craig Foss and the DHB declared that the situation was under control. However, on August 23 a unit of the Mary Doyle Lifecare retirement village, where Jean Sparksman was a resident, was placed in lockdown after a second outbreak of campylobacter illness. Politicians have scrambled to contain the damage. Prime Minister John Key announced on August 15 that the government and the council would hold inquiries into how the contamination occurred. Yule and council chief executive Ross McLeod issued a public apology, stating: The council is charged with supplying you safe, reliable water. The council has failed to do this on this occasion. Tests carried out last week found that two water bores supplying the town had most likely been contaminated with faecal matter from livestock, such as cattle, sheep or deer. The outbreak followed a period of heavy rain, which may have caused runoff into the water supply. What exactly happened has not been confirmed. On August 15, Yule told TVNZ: Weve never had this happen before, we have some of the most pristine water in the world in our aquifer. However, a third water bore supplying Havelock North was closed last October after E. coli was found. The source of that contamination was never confirmed, although a nearby mushroom farm was fined for illegal earthworks. The farm uses manure made from chicken faeces. The opposition Labour Party criticised the National Party government for not declaring a drinking water emergency and providing more support for local agencies in response to the crisis. On August 16, Labour MP Stuart Nash told parliament that people should not go to hospital from drinking water out of our taps... This is a wake-up call that we need to now take the issue of water quality and water security very, very seriously. In fact, according to Massey University ecologist Mike Joys recently published book, Polluted Inheritance: New Zealand s Freshwater Crisis, New Zealand has the highest per capita frequency of [waterborne diseases] coliform enteritis, campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and salmonellosis in the developed world. There are between 18,000 and 34,000 cases per year. Joy noted that 62 percent of the length of all waterways at some time fail to meet the contact recreation standard for E. coli levels, and the worst areas for faecal contamination are in intensively farmed and lowland urban areas. One indicator of increased pollution was that the number of freshwater fish species threatened with extinction skyrocketed in the past twenty years from about 20 percent in the early 1990s to a shocking 74 percent now. Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei criticised the government for not specifically including land use in the terms of reference for its Havelock North inquiry, when it is well known that intensive agriculture is linked to declining water quality. Notwithstanding the oppositions criticisms, the unregulated intensification of agriculture took place under both National Party governments and the 19992008 Labour government, which was backed by the Greens. Joy wrote: There has been a four-fold increase in dairy production since 1992, from nearly twice as many cows. This has mostly happened in the absence of regulation or enforcement aimed at containing nutrient losses, so farmers have, in effect, been incentivised to pollute. The South Island dairy farming region of Canterbury is particularly prone to outbreaks of waterborne disease. On March 23, ecologist Alison Dewes told Fairfax Media economics and dairy intensification are trumping public health and welfare in the region. Canterbury District Health Board medical officer Alastair Humphreys said bluntly: We are polluting our water and it will get worse. On August 23, ecologist Russell Death told Radio NZ that major rivers in Hawkes Bay were the most polluted he had seen in the country and another outbreak like the one in Havelock North was highly likely. Dairy products are New Zealands main export and the conglomerate Fonterra is one of the worlds largest dairy companies. Whether the industry had any involvement in the Havelock North crisis is not known. What is clear is that in order to maximise profits, successive governments have placed New Zealands water supply in peril. The number of unemployed young people worldwide between the ages of 15 and 24 will rise to 71 million this year, increasing for the first time since 2013. This is the news from the annual World Employment and Social Outlook report released this week by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The United Nations labor agency estimates that the global youth unemployment rate will reach 13.1 percent this year and hold steady through 2017, increasing from 12.9 percent last year. Broken down by region, the unemployment rate was worst for young people living in the Arab states and Northern Africa, where 30.6 percent and 29.3 percent respectively live in poverty. The greatest numbers of unemployed young people are found in Asia, where nearly 33 million are looking but unable to find work. Eight years after the outbreak of the world financial crisis and following years of tepid economic growth, an increasing number of young people across the globe are being condemned to a life of unemployment and poverty. Governments around the world have implemented harsh austerity policies over the last decade, attempting to resolve the economic crisis on the backs of the working class and the poor. The increase in youth unemployment is being driven by a slowing and outright reversal of economic growth globally, especially in emerging and developing economies. Global economic growth for 2016 is currently expected to be 3.2 percent, nearly half a percentage point below what was predicted by economists at the end of last year. Economic growth in developing countries was just 4.2 percent, the lowest rate of growth since 2003. In the depths of the Great Recession, leading economists had predicted that developing economies, in particular Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, would serve as the economic engines to revive the global capitalist system. The report, however, points to the continual slowdown in the Chinese economy and deeper than expected recessions in Russia and Brazil as the culprits for rising global youth unemployment Russias economy is expected to contract by 1.2 percent this year following a contraction of 3.7 percent in 2015, after it was hit by the collapse in oil prices and economic sanctions implemented by the United States and the European Union. Russias youth unemployment rate has risen noticeably, from 13.9 percent in 2013 to 15.5 percent this year. Brazil, currently in the midst of its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, has seen its youth unemployment rate rise to nearly 18 percent, up from 15.1 percent three years ago. While Chinas economy is still officially growing, growth in the worlds second largest economy has slowed significantly. The share of young people in China looking for but unable to find a job has risen from 11.8 percent to 12.3 percent in the last three years. On top of the 71 million unemployed youth, the ILO reports that there are another 156 million young people who are employed but still live in moderate to extreme poverty. This means that approximately 38 percent of the worlds young people, despite working, still struggle to subsist in the direst circumstances. The working poverty rate is the worst in sub-Saharan Africa, where 70 percent of young people who work live in poverty. Young people in these countries are forced to work just to meet the basic necessities of life. Often their wages do not even cover these expenses. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have replaced the elderly as the group most at risk of poverty in those countries the UN defines as developed, including in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. According to the ILO report, 12.9 percent of young workers in the European Union are at high risk of poverty, meaning they earn less than 60 percent of median income. The poverty rate for young workers varies significantly from country to country within the EU, from less than 5 percent in the Czech Republic to 35 percent in Romania. Young people in EU countries have been increasingly forced to take on part-time jobs, which pay lower wages and do not include the benefits of traditional full-time work, leading to higher rates of poverty. Employment is particularly tenuous for young people living in countries that have been subjected to brutal anti-working class austerity regimes by the EU and IMF since 2008, including Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. The share of youth forced to take on temporary employment because they could not find a full time job was greater than 50 percent in Portugal, Greece, Poland and Italy. Involuntary part-time jobs accounted for 70 percent of all part-time employment in Italy and around 60 percent in Greece and Spain. The ILO estimates the youth unemployment rate in the US at 12 percent, an increase from last year. The report also found that a significant number of young Americans are neither in education nor in job training, with nearly 20 percent between the ages of 25 and 29 falling into this category. The difficulties confronted by young workers in the US are further reflected in the increasing share of young people who are living with their parents. A Pew Report released earlier this year found that for the first time in modern US history, those between the ages of 18 and 34 were more likely to be living with their parents than with a partner or spouse. While the ILO report shows that living conditions vary for young workers from country to country, whether they live and work in sub-Saharan Africa, Russia or the United States they confront a common enemy in the capitalist system. There will be no end to the misery of poverty and tenuous employment forced on young people across the globe without a united struggle by the working class, across divisions of age and international boundaries, to overthrow capitalism and reorganize society to meet human need rather than the interests of private profit. Israels military prosecutor has exonerated the countrys military forces of any wrongdoing in seven horrific incidents that took place during the 2014 war on Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, including an airstrike that killed 15 members of a single family. No criminal charges will be laid against those who carried out airstrikes targeting civilians and United Nations buildings that attracted world-wide condemnation, not least from human rights organisations within Israel itself. The military advocate general closed 13 criminal investigations and rejected criminal probes of a further 80 incidents. Criminal investigations were ordered into just two cases, one involving abuse of a Palestinian and the looting of his property and the other concerning the intentional discharge of a weapon and damage to property. According to the advocate generals report, the army has received 500 complaints regarding 360 violations committed by Israeli forces during the war. The Israeli military has opened an investigation into just 24 cases and thus far has indicted three soldiers for looting. None of the numerous cases involving the deaths of more than 1,000 civilians have been submitted for criminal investigation. This is because Israel routinely labels all civilians in Gaza as potential militants and terrorists during its military offensives so as to categorize Palestinian homes as Hamas command centres and thereby provide a pseudo-legal pretext for targeting them. The decision highlights once again Israels refusal to hold its top military brass and politicians responsible for their criminal actions, in flagrant disregard of evidence and facts. It underscores the Zionist states policy of blaming its victims for the crimes it commits, and its contempt for international law. It presages even more deadly wars in the future. The deadliest incident under review was an August 1, 2014 airstrike on the Gaza town of Rafah that killed 15 members of the Zoroub family. The military prosecutor said that although the civilian casualties were higher than expected, the airstrike complied with international law, which allows attacks on homes used for military purposes. The statement claimed that among the dead was senior Hamas commander Nazmi Zoroub, but Zoroubs brother-in-law contradicted this, saying Zoroub was wounded in a different attack and was not in the building at the time of the bombing. Another deadly incident was a July 21, 2014 strike that killed 12 members of the Siyam family in Rafah. The military prosecutor said he could not find evidence that the victims were killed by an Israeli airstrike, concluding that their deaths were the result of mortar shells misfired by Palestinian militants. A third incident related to an airstrike on July 20, 2014 killed seven members of the Ziyadeh family in the Bureij refugee camp. The Israelis claimed Hamas was using the camp as a command and control centre. Several militants, including three members of the Ziyadeh family and a senior Hamas leader, were among the dead. The military advocate general even deemed entirely lawful the shelling of a United Nations school in Rafah in which 10 people died, since proper procedures had been followed. He preposterously claimed that the military had authorised the strike with a low-explosive missile to minimise damage to the surroundings after a sweep of the area showed no civilians in harms way. The Israeli army claimed it launched the attack after it sighted three Palestinian fighters on a motorcycle heading towards the school gate. The attack was strongly condemned at the time by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Even Washington called it disgraceful. Last year, a UN investigation held Israel responsible for the bombing of seven UN sites, including five schools, used as civilian shelters during the war. Those attacks killed 44 Palestinians and wounded 227 others. Ban condemned the attacks as a matter of the utmost gravity and insisted that UN locations were inviolable. Acceding to heavy pressure from Tel Aviv and Washington, however, the UN agreed to delay publication of its review until after Israel had completed its own inquiries. In June 2015, a report by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR), with which Israel refused to cooperate, concluded that Israel committed war crimes during the 51-day offensive dubbed Operation Protective Edge. UNCHR highlighted the disproportionate casualty toll between the two sides. Among Palestinians, 2,251 were killed, of whom 1,462 were civilians, a third of these being children. A total of 11,231 were injured. On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers and six civilians were killed and 1,600 people were injured. The evidence compiled by UNCHR showed that the quasi-genocidal character of the Israeli offensive was deliberate, not accidental, and was planned at the highest levels of the Israeli government. It concluded that Israels response to rocket fire from Gaza, the ostensible cause of the war, was disproportionate and could amount to a war crime, warranting a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It called on Israel to break with its recent lamentable track record in holding wrongdoers responsible. The UNHCR review was only one of a number of reports, including by Amnesty International, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Associated Press, and the Israeli NGOs BTselem and Breaking the Silence, which documented the criminality of Israels assault on Gaza. Last year, ICC prosecutors, responding to a request from the Palestinian Authority (PA), which joined 22 UN conventions and institutions, including the ICC, at the end of 2014, said it would launch a preliminary examination to scrutinize in full independence and impartiality whether crimes might have been committed during the 2014 war. The ICC has the power to intervene in cases where a country is deemed incapable of conducting a proper investigation. Neither Israel nor the US, prime candidates for prosecution, has signed up to the ICC. Israel has threatened to retaliate against the PA if it pursues Israelis in the court, while the US Congress has adopted a law blocking US aid to Palestine in the event of ICC proceedings. This latest report by Israels military prosecutor is one of several such investigations carried out by Israel in order to exonerate itself and preempt inquiries by the ICC into possible war crimes. These whitewashes are being conducted because the ICC will not investigate if Israel carries out its own investigations. The publication of the military advocate generals report coincides with Israels launching of air and tank strikes on 50 sites in northern Gaza, injuring four Palestinians. The entirely disproportionate assault was in response to a single rocket fired from Gaza at the Israeli city of Sderot by an Islamist group opposed to Hamas. That incident caused no casualties or damage. Israels Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon strongly rebuffed criticism from Turkey, which has just ratified the normalisation of its ties with Israel after a six-year break following Israels killing of ten Turkish activists aboard the 2010 Mavi Marmara aid flotilla to Gaza. Nahshon said, The normalisation of our relations with Turkey does not mean that we will remain silent in the face of its baseless condemnations. He added, Israel will continue to defend its civilians from all rocket fire on our territory, in accordance with international law and our conscience. The UN has warned that Gaza, subject to an Israeli blockade, supported by Egypt, since 2007, could become uninhabitable by 2020. Its 1.8 million citizens live in dire poverty due to the siege that has crippled the economy. There has been little rebuilding since the war due to the blockade, leaving 75,000 Palestinians in makeshift accommodation. Click here to join the IYSSE! Classes are resuming at schools, colleges and universities throughout the United States in the midst of an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis. The 2016 election campaign has sharpened the disaffection of masses of young people from the political establishment. In the face of growing opposition to war and social inequality, the ruling elite is presenting two right-wing multi-millionaire presidential candidates, both of whom are despised by the broad majority of the population. The growing opposition to the capitalist system and the political establishment, which found a distorted expression in the mass support for the campaign of Bernie Sanders, particularly among young people, is the outcome of far-reaching social and economic processes. While trillions have been made available to the banks since the 2008 financial crisis, workers are told there is no money to pay for basic social programs. During the Obama presidency, the top 0.1 percent has more than doubled its wealth, while the income of a typical household has fallen by more than 10 percent. The capitalist system denies millions of young people the right to a job and a livable income. According to figures from the United Nations, youth unemployment is expected to hit 13.1 percent this year, with some 71 million young people unemployed throughout the world, an increase of half a million. In the face of a growing shift to the left by broad sections of young people, the Clinton campaign, representing the dominant sections of the ruling elite, has sought to change the narrative from opposition to social inequality to racial and gender identity politics. The politics of race and gender obscure the more basic class divisions in society. They serve to divide workers and youth along racial, national and gender lines, furthering the selfish efforts of more privileged layers to carve out for themselves a bigger share of the wealth of the top 10 percent. The various pseudo-left organizations aggressively promote racial and gender politics as part of their efforts to prevent the development of an independent and united movement of the working class and keep workers and young people trapped within the dead end of the Democratic Party and capitalist politics. War, poverty and attacks on democratic rights are the inevitable outcome of the capitalist system, which subordinates all questions to the expansion of corporate profit and the wealth of the financial elite. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) is an organization of students and youth around the world that insists chronic social problems, including the danger of war, can be solved only through an end to this system and a total reorganization of society on the basis of social needs, not private profit. For this reason, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality calls on all workers and young people to support the campaign of Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Jerry White and vice presidential candidate Niles Niemuth. OPPOSE IMPERIALIST WAR! Seeking to offset its economic decline through the use of its military power, the United States has been involved in an endless series of wars for a quarter of a century. No one under the age of 30 can remember a time when the US was not at war in some corner of the globe. The Obama administration, elected on a wave of anti-war sentiment, has continued the war in Iraq, expanded the war in Afghanistan into Pakistan, supported the Saudi-led war in Yemen, and launched new wars in Libya and Syria, while driving the United States to the brink of war with Russia and China. The drive to war enjoys the unanimous support of the entire political establishment, both Democratic and Republican. Regardless of whether Trump or Clinton is elected, the incoming administration will confront the worlds population with the very real threat of a new world war. The IYSSE places the fight against war at the center of its political work. We insist that this is not separate from, but integral to, the fight for socialism. We warn youth and students that a new world war is not only possible, it is inevitable without the emergence of a mass revolutionary movement based on the working class and dedicated to putting an end to capitalism. A new anti-war movement, which is now a burning necessity, must be based on the working class and guided by a socialist program. A SOCIALIST PROGRAM The crisis that began in 2008 has revealed itself as far more than an economic downturn; it is the failure of an entire social systemcapitalism. The IYSSE insists that chronic social problems can be solved only through a total reorganization of society. Human progress is blocked by the capitalist system, which subordinates all considerations to the drive for corporate profit and the accumulation of wealth for a narrow elite. THE IYSSE DEMANDS: - End the wars! US imperialism is seeking to conquer the globe and put the worlds colonial people back in chains. The American war machine must be dismantled and the vast sums expended on it used to meet pressing social needs. - Jobs for everyone! Billions for education and social programs! We demand a reallocation of resources worldwide to provide employment for all those who need it. There is plenty of work to be done, including meeting the basic needs of the population for food and shelter, rebuilding schools, guaranteeing free, high quality healthcare for all, and providing cultural institutions accessible to workers and young people. - Defend democratic rights! The US governments domestic spying programs must be ended immediately and the spy agencies dismantled. All political prisoners, including Chelsea Manning, must be freed, and the witch-hunts against Edward Snowden and Julian Assange must end. The militarization of US police forces and police brutality and killings must be ended. - For social equality! Nationalize the banks and major corporations! Democracy is incompatible with the immense levels of social inequality that prevail in the US and throughout the world. To break the financial oligarchys stranglehold over the economy, the IYSSE calls for the expropriation of the banks and placing of all large corporations under the democratic control of the population. FOR THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE WORKING CLASS The issues students faceincluding high tuition, joblessness, debts, and an education system starved of resources are inseparable from the broader questions confronting the working class. None of these problems can be solved in schools and on campuses alone. Students seeking to oppose social inequality, unemployment and war must reach out to workers throughout the country and internationally. The fight against war is impossible without the fight for socialism within the working class. The fact that mass latent opposition to war has not yet found organized political expression is due to the transformation of the former leadership of the anti-war movement into supporters of imperialism and imperialist war. The old anti-war movements were dominated by middle class pseudo-left tendencies that base themselves on nationalism and oppose the political independence of the working class. Above all, the working class needs its own political party, in opposition to the Democrats and Republicans, the parties of the ruling class. The IYSSE rejects the position that these parties can be reformed or pressured, whether through the mechanism of a left campaign within the two-party system, such as the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders, or through a formally separate organization such as the Green Party. A turn to the working class does not mean support for the trade unions, which are dominated by well-heeled bureaucrats and tied politically to the Democratic Party. Against the existing trade unions, the IYSSE calls for the building of independent rank-and-file workplace, school, and neighborhood committees to unify different sections of workers and youth in a common struggle. The IYSSE seeks to build a mass political movement of the working class that will fight for power, establish a workers government and reorganize society on a democratic, egalitarian and rationalthat is, a socialistbasis. FOR SOCIALISM AND INTERNATIONALISM The two basic features of capitalismprivate ownership of the means of production and the division of the world economy into competing nation statesblock the rational use and development of mankinds productive forces , leading instead to the pollution of the environment and the squandering of vast resources on war. None of the problems humanity confronts can be dealt with on a national level. The problems faced by working people and youth of every country are fundamentally the same. In all countries, the IYSSE opposes nationalism, chauvinism, attacks on immigrants, and racism, all of which are means to divide and weaken the working class. Class, not race, gender or other issues of personal identity, is the fundamental dividing line in modern society. Working people of all countries must join together in a common struggle. Socialismthe rational and democratic control of the economy to meet social need, not private profitarises as a historical necessity from the breakdown of capitalism. The IYSSE has unshakable confidence in the development of an international socialist movement because socialism corresponds to the objective interests of the working class, the vast majority of humanity. FOR THE REBIRTH OF THE SOCIALIST MOVEMENT The International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the student movement of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), fights for the revival of a socialist movement among young people throughout the country, as part of an international socialist movement of the entire working class. The IYSSE stands in the tradition of revolutionary socialism, from the origins of Marxism in the 1840s, through the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the implacable struggle led by Leon Trotsky against the bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet Union under Stalin. As the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution approaches, students and young people must assimilate the whole of this history in order to prepare themselves for the coming social struggles. The IYSSE, SEP and ICFI are fighting to unify and mobilize the working class and youth internationally, to prepare the working class for the conquest of political power and the establishment of a genuinely democratic, egalitarian and socialist society. JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM! JOIN THE IYSSE! We urge all students to study the program of the SEP, the history of the Fourth International, and analysis presented every day on the World Socialist Web Site. Make the decision to join the IYSSE, and help build a chapter of the IYSSE at your school or university. Click here to join the IYSSE! At the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2016 this month, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake indicated his partys backing for the sale of loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as long as the government was not compelled to take over their debts. Dissanayakes remarks, delivered to a big business gathering organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and addressed by top government leaders, have a definite significance. The JVP, which in the 1960s and 1970s was an ardent proponent of the Maoist and Castroite armed struggle, is now fully integrated into the Colombo political establishment. The JVP leader told the corporate audience that a villager would not care if SriLankan Airlines were privatised, adding only that he objected to the current model. If the people are going to take over the debt, then what is the point of privatising it? he asked. These comments are in line with the International Monetary Funds (IMF) demand for the privatisation of SOEs as a condition for granting a bailout loan last April. These sales are a major component of the measures prescribed by the IMF to slash the budget deficit from 7.5 percent of gross domestic product last year to 3.5 percent by 2020. The government has already lined up several enterprises for sale. It advertised the sale of SriLankan Airlines and is downsizing the carrier to make it attractive to a potential buyer. Other SOEs slated for privatisation include the Hilton Hotel, the Grand Hyatt and Lanka Hospitals. Dissanayakes comments were clearly aimed at assuring the audience that the JVP was a business-friendly party. We want the private sector to engage with us directly, he said. Setting aside its populist posturing, the JVP manifesto for last years parliamentary election was pitched to big business, with promises of five-year tax holidays and public-private partnership arrangements. At a special meeting during the campaign, the JVP pledged it was ready to join hands with the business community. The JVP was already part of the National Executive Council (NEC) set up by President Maithripala Sirisena following his victory over Mahinda Rajapakse in the countrys presidential election in January last year. The NEC was the top advisory body to the government and thus responsible for its pro-business policies. The JVP backed the US-backed regime-change operation to oust Rajapakse and install Sirisena in the presidential election. Washington pushed for Rajapakses removal, not out of concern for his anti-democratic methods, but because he developed close ties with China. Dissanayakes speech was devoted mainly to advising how best to sell off SOEs. He emphasised that the telecom department had effectively been privatised, whereas all other privatisation programs, in the past, have failed, arousing justifiable fear among the people about privatisation as they have not delivered the desired results. The JVP leader did not elaborate on what he meant by desired results. In reality, private investors will only buy SOEs if they can be guaranteed profits, which means job losses, cuts to pay and conditions for the workforce, and higher prices for consumers. While the JVP has given its tacit support for the sale of SriLanka Airlines, its employees are protesting against the privatisation. The SOEs have largely ended their role as providers of subsidised services due to a lack of government funding and top-level corruption. The IMF is demanding further increases to electricity, water and fuel charges to overcome the losses incurred by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Dissanayake declared that the government should stick to its share in SOEs that cater mainly to the public needs. But maintaining a share will not stop the government from hiking up prices or cutting costs at the expense of workers. On broader economic issues, the JVP leader espoused pro-business policies, while warning of dangers posed by growing social inequality and poverty. The government should immediately tackle the massive debt burden, reduction of exports, income inequalities, trade deficit, lack of production and politicisation (of the economy), he declared. Dissanayake proposed a mini-budget to deal with the problems facing the country. The government should present soon a mini-budget in parliament to tackle the situation and make the people aware of the current fiscal situation, he said. The JVP leaders call for emergency measures to tackle the economic crisis exposed the fraud of his expressions of concern about poverty. The prime minister has said in parliament that 43 percent of Sri Lankas population lives on less than 200 rupees ($US1.50) a day. What a terrible indictment against the so-called development of this country, he said. Government austerity measures to slash the budget deficit, boost trade and cut government spending will only impose new burdens on workers and the rural poor and lead to widening social inequalities. Dissanayakes speech underscores the transformation of the JVP into a fully-fledged capitalist party ready to carry out the dictates of the Sri Lankan ruling elites and international finance capital. 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. This Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls upon the working class of the United States to unite with the workers of Central and South America in struggle to defeat their common enemy, US imperialism. 2. The exploitative operations of transnational banks and corporations objectively bind workers in a common process of production across the hemisphere. Moreover, the US itself has a population of over 55 million drawn from Latin America, with nearly 20 million of them immigrants. These powerful foundations for the unification of the US and Latin American working class must find conscious expression in the struggle to build the Trotskyist movement throughout Latin America, and to win the advanced layers of Latin American immigrant workers and youth in the US to the SEP. 3. Over the past year, the world capitalist crisis has shaken the economies of Latin America with increasing force, as both the commodities and emerging market booms have evaporated under the impact of economic deceleration, above all in China. After a nearly 30 percent fall in 2015 in the prices of commodities (which make up more than 50 percent of Latin Americas exports), the regions per capita GDP is projected to fall by 2 percent this year. Unemployment and poverty are, for the first time in over a decade, again on the rise. 4. Latin America remains the worlds most socially polarized region, with an immense gap between a wealthy financial oligarchy and masses of impoverished workers. Within just six years, the regions top 1 percent will have amassed more wealth than the remaining 99 percent. Latin Americas billionaires have seen their fortunes rise by, on average, 21 percent a year between 2002 and 2015six times faster than the regions GDP. On the other hand, the majority of the population lives either in poverty or on the brink of poverty. Working class incomes are stagnant throughout the region, and in Brazil, the regions largest economy, wages are falling. 5. This economic crisis has produced a series of political convulsions, along with a sharpening of the class struggle in one Latin American country after another. The first victims of this deepening crisis have been those bourgeois governments identified with the so-called turn to the left, which began at the beginning of the 21st century with the coming to power of Chavismo in Venezuela, the Workers Party (PT) in Brazil, Evo Morales and the MAS (Movement toward Socialism) in Bolivia and the Kirchnerista wing of Peronism in Argentina. 6. Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela has lost control of the countrys legislature and is facing a recall referendum; PT President Dilma Rousseff has been ousted through an impeachment process launched by her former right-wing political allies; Bolivias Evo Morales has been denied another term, amid rising working class struggles; and 12 years of Kirchnerismo came to an end with the coming to power of Maurico Macri and the Argentine right. 7. In tandem with this reversal for the so-called left bourgeois regimes has come the Castro regimes rapprochement with US imperialism, as the ruling strata seek to preserve their power and privileges by facilitating the reentry of US capitalism into what had previously been its Caribbean semi-colony. 8. These developments present new dangers to the working class. In Argentina and Brazil, the most right-wing governments since the fall of the old US-backed military dictatorships have assumed power, and are embarking on sweeping attacks on living standards and basic social rights. In Venezuela, the right wing, backed by Washington in previous coup attempts and political provocations, is poised to assume power, unless the Venezuelan military, with its grip on key levers of power, does so first. 9. The evolution of these bourgeois movements and governments is also a devastating exposure of the various pseudo-left forces, which have promoted them as viable means of resisting imperialism, and even political instruments for the realization of 21st century socialism. 10. By fostering illusions in these left governments, the pseudo-left were echoing their previous attempts, in the 1960s and 1970s, to cast the Cuban Revolution, Castroism and petty-bourgeois guerrillaism as a new road to socialism: one that no longer required either the building of revolutionary Marxist parties or the conscious and independent revolutionary intervention of the working class. The Latin American working class has paid a terrible price for the influence of such theories, promoted, first and foremost, by the Pabloite revisionist tendency that broke with Trotskyism and the Fourth International in 1953. A whole layer of radicalized students and younger workers was diverted into suicidal armed struggles that claimed thousands of lives, served to politically disorient the workers movement and helped pave the way for fascist-military dictatorships. 11. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) waged an implacable struggle against this revisionist outlook, insisting that Castroism was not some new road to socialism, but only one of the most radical variants of the bourgeois nationalist movements that came to power in many of the former colonial countries during the post-war period. Basing itself upon Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution, the ICFI insisted that the task of liberating the colonial and semi-colonial countries from imperialist oppression could not be achieved under the leadership of any section of the bourgeoisie, no matter how radical, but only by the working class, mobilizing behind it the masses of peasants and poor, while fighting to take state power into its own hands and to extend the revolution internationally. 12. The same Pabloite forces that promoted illusions in Castroism half a century ago played a key role in the creation of the Workers Party in Brazil. They also fostered political illusions in Chavismo and similar left bourgeois movements, which served as instruments of bourgeois rule and defenders of both foreign and domestic capital. The minimal social assistance programs initiated by these movements in order to dampen the class struggle have given way to austerity measures and attacks on the working class, which have paved the way for governments of the right. 13. A particularly destructive role has been played in Latin America by the tendency historically associated with the late Argentine revisionist Nahuel Moreno, who split with the International Committee in 1963 and joined the Pabloite United Secretariat, based on the common assessment that Castros revolution had established a workers state in Cuba. Adapting itself to Peronism in Argentina and the PT in Brazil, the hallmark of the various strands of Morenoism--from the Argentine PTS to the Brazilian PSTU--remains a rejection of the struggle for the development of revolutionary socialist consciousness in the working class and the subordination of workers struggles to the politics of bourgeois nationalism and the petty-bourgeois pseudo-left. 14. Objective developments have once again thoroughly vindicated the struggle undertaken by the ICFI against revisionism. What is now emerging in Latin America and internationally is an explosive growth of class struggle that poses, with immense urgency, the building of new revolutionary parties of the working class. 15. At the same time, US imperialism is increasingly returning its attention to Latin America. The Pentagon has made clear that the Obama administrations pivot toward Asia, with its rising military encirclement of and direct provocations against China, must be pursued globally, with particular attention to Latin America. This takes place under conditions where China has supplanted the US as the regions top creditor and become its second-largest export market. Chinese-Latin American trade has increased 20-fold since 2000, with China already the top trading partner of Brazil, Chile and Peru. 16. In his July 13, 2016 address to the Atlantic Council, the chief of the US Southern Command, Adm. Kurt Tidd, stressed that the Pentagon saw its mission in the region from the standpoint of a strategic transition that touches every corner of the globe. He emphasized that the foremost challenge facing the US military revolved around the activities of China, Russia, Iran in the Western hemisphere, while accusing these countries of failing to respect the inter-American principles of peace. 17. These and other statements from military figures have made clear that Washington is retooling the Monroe Doctrine, the 200-year-old canon of US foreign policy, which was invoked throughout the 20th century to justify dozens of direct US military interventions, along with the imposition of fascist military dictatorships. These were all aimed at maintaining Latin America as a US sphere of influence. American imperialism has no intention of peacefully ceding what it has long regarded contemptuously as its own backyard. There is every indication that, unlike during the First and Second World Wars, Latin America will not be spared, as the insoluble and deepening crisis of US and global capitalism drags mankind toward a new global conflagration. 18. The SEP must turn, with particular urgency, toward developments across the border in Mexico. The workers of the US and Mexico are the most closely joined in a common process of production across the militarized US-Mexican border. Since 2008, for example, the number of Mexican autoworkers has grown from 490,000 to 675,000, and Mexico has become the seventh largest auto producer in the world, as part of interlinked operations across the US, Mexico and Canada. 19. In opposition to the anti-Mexican agitation of the US trade unions and the ranting against unfair trade deals by Trump and Sanders, the SEP fights for the unity of US, Mexican and Canadian workers. This requires a political struggle against the pseudo-left organizations that subordinate Mexican workers to the CTM and the so-called reform unions, backed by the US State Department, the AFL-CIO, IG Metall and others. 20. At the same time, millions of Mexican workers toil in the fields, packing houses and low-paid jobs of every description in the US itself, providing a powerful objective foundation for the unification of workers on both sides of the border in a common struggle against capitalism. 21. The intensity of the class struggle in Mexico has repeatedly found bloody expression, from the massacre in Iguala and the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa teaching students in 2014, to the massacre of the striking teachers in Nocixtlan, Oaxaca in June of this year. Both of these mass killings were bound up with the Pact for Mexico, imposed by the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto, with the backing of US imperialism. The Pact, which is directed at achieving a vast transfer of wealth from Mexican workers to the banks and corporations, furthers the privatization of the Mexican oil industry, as well as the profit-driven education reform, which has thrust teachers into struggle in the US, Brazil and elsewhere in the hemisphere. 22. On the one hand, the Mexican ruling class has responded to working class resistance with naked violence. This has been backed by Washington, which has spent billions of dollars to arm and train the countrys repressive forces through the Merida Initiative, and on the pretext of waging a war on drugs. 23. On the other hand, with the aid of various pseudo-left groups, the Mexican elites are seeking to create another left bourgeois political trap for the working class, in the form of the MORENA (National Regeneration Movement) of former Mexico City mayor and ex-Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. This new political movement became necessary after a collapse in support for the PRD, which has been exposed as a corrupt, right-wing bourgeois party. It voted for the Pact for Mexico and was directly implicated in the Iguala massacre. Should MORENA succeed politically, it will inevitably play a similar role, seeking to divert and suppress the class struggle in order to better serve the interests of Mexican and US capitalism. 24. The struggle to unite the workers of the US with those of Mexico and the entire hemisphere is inseparably bound up with the irreconcilable defense of the rights of immigrant workers. Both major US capitalist parties are engaged in a relentless attack on these workers. The Obama administration has deported nearly 3 million immigrants since it came to office, more than all previous US governments combined. Women and children fleeing Central America because of grinding poverty and murderous violencethe legacy of a century of US imperialist oppression, along with near-genocidal Washington-imposed military dictatorshipshave been treated as criminals, locked in detention camps to await deportation in violation of international law. 25.This policy will only intensify with the election of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who, as secretary of state, supported the 2009 coup in Honduras and then backed the summary deportation of child refugees fleeing the coup regimes death squads. The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for the mass roundup and deportation of millions of undocumented workers, while promising to build the wall on the Mexican border, which is already among the most militarized frontiers in the world. 26. The SEP must campaign relentlessly against attempts by the capitalist parties and corporate media to whip up anti-immigrant chauvinism and scapegoat this oppressed section of the working class for the unemployment, attacks on living standards and destruction of social rights produced by the capitalist crisis. The SEP stands for the right of workers from every part of the world to live and work in the country they choose, with full citizenship rights, including the right to live, work and travel without fear of deportation and repression. 27. To advance the struggle for the unity of workers in the US with workers throughout the hemisphere, the World Socialist Web Site must pay the closest attention to the conditions and struggles of immigrant workers within the US, as well as to the class struggle and political crisis throughout Latin America. The WSWS must also seek to make its analysis known to the widest possible audience in the region, through the expansion and development of its Spanish and Portuguese language sections. 28. Above all, the SEP of the United States will provide the fullest collaboration and assistance to all those prepared to come forward and join the fight for the building of new sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Mexico and in every country of Central and South America. In a blow to the Pena Nieto administration, Mexicos National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) released a report last week accusing the countrys federal police of summarily executing 22 of 42 people killed after a raid on a suspected drug cartel last year. The killings were one of the worst instances of state violence in the decade since the Mexican government declared a war on drugs in 2006. During that period of time over 120,000 people have been murdered. At least one police officer was killed during the May 2015 raid on a ranch where federal police ambushed suspected members of the Jalisco New Generation (JNG) cartel near the town of Tanhuato, in the state of Michoacan. CNDH President Luis Raul Gonzalez Perez said, The investigation confirmed facts that show grave human rights violations attributable to public servants of the federal police. A senior Mexican police official, who declined to be named, told Reuters, This is very serious, and a massive blow to the government. Mexicos national security commissioner, Renato Sales, denied that police acted improperly and instead held his own press conference in which he said police responded legitimately to being fired upon. Sales said, The use of weapons was necessary and proportional against the real and imminent and unlawful aggression. That is to say, in our minds they acted in legitimate defense. The CNDH found that police lied about the incident, moved at least seven bodies and placed weapons on them to corroborate their story. The police also tortured two of the survivors and burned two bodies. The commission was unable to determine with certainty how another 15 victims died. Margarito Romero, the father of one of the victims, said, They should have been arrested, not murdered even if some of them were members of the cartel, that is no excuse. The one-sided death toll led to suspicions that the government was lying about its role in the shootings. The CNDH questioned why the government carried out a raid on the ranch to begin with. In the official version of events, police said they were responding to a truck, which fired upon them before going to the ranch. The government provided no evidence to support this story, but according to witness statements, 41 police officers did sneak onto the ranch as early as 6 am, an hour earlier than police reported. The CNDH reported that after a federal police officer was shot, 54 more officers arrived with a Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter fired some 4,000 rounds at the ranch, setting a nearby warehouse on fire and killing at least five people, according to the report. Of the 42 people killed that day, thirteen were shot in the back, according to the CNDH. The report also stated that, the federal police had approximately four hours to manipulate the scene before investigators from the state attorney generals office arrived. The CNDH concluded that most of the victims were asleep, since eighteen bodies were found barefoot and one just had on underwear. The government initially refused to hand over autopsy reports to the CNDH and when they did the attorney generals office described the reports as sloppy and incomplete. At one point the morgue turned over the wrong body to a family. In three separate incidents, state prosecutors wrote up two different autopsies for the same person. Pictures of the scene showed bodies covered in blood and mud, with clean rifles laid suspiciously beside them. According to a study by Mexicos National Autonomous University, police killed 17 people for every officer killed in gunfights in 2014. In shootouts involving the Mexican police between 2007 and 2013, the number of people killed for each person injured grew from 1.6 to more than 20. The May 2015 raid in Tanhuato was eerily similar to an incident in 2014 in which one officer was wounded and 22 suspects were killed after they surrendered in a warehouse in Tlatlaya, west of Mexico City. In the armys official story, the 22 suspects were killed after a firefight, but investigators from the Associated Press found evidence that suspects were lined up against the wall and shot. Here too, the army argued self-defense and three soldiers were acquitted of murder charges. Three women who survived were tortured by state agents to force them to corroborate the armys version of events. The CNDH also alleged that two survivors of the massacre in Tanhuato were forced to watch three executions and were also tortured. The police also made death threats against the survivors families. Investigators from Reuters news agency described the tin roof of a large barn where many men died as riddled with hundreds of bullet holes, probably fired from a helicopter. The ranch itself was damaged by high-caliber ammunition that broke through thick walls and shattered glass. Families of the dead as well as forensic experts believe many were killed as they tried to escape. The raid may have been payback for the cartel shooting down an army helicopter in the preceding weeks, killing six soldiers. One of the wives of the victims told the CNDH that she heard police bragging about how they caught the men by surprise. One police officer was believed to have said, It was the easiest job weve ever done. We hit them like little birds, asleep in their nests. Another wife of one of the victims told investigators that when she went to identify her husband, his toes had been cut off and his testicles burned. The police made fun of her and pointed to her pregnant belly saying, That is the product of a delinquent. Three men who were arrested told the CNDH that police officers beat them and threatened to kill them. A detainee told investigators, One officer ordered (the police) not to kill any more detainees, because he had already reported there were survivors. The CNDHs findings could not come at a more inopportune time for the Pena Nieto administration, whose poll numbers are at an all-time low. One survey this month registered a disapproval rating of 74 percent. Pena Nieto came into office in 2012 on a mandate to curb the drug violence and police corruption that has been endemic to Mexico for the last decade. The Obama administration has provided the Mexican government with billions in military hardware and training to prosecute its phony war on drugs. The Merida Initiative saw the US give Mexico $2.5 billion to expand the war. Meanwhile, the ability of the worlds largest banks, such as HSBC, to profit from laundering drug money remains unhindered. The unwillingness of the US Department of Justice to prosecute HSBC underscores the criminality and fraudulent character of the war on drugs. Not unlike its counterpart in the United States, the Mexican governments so-called war on drugs reveals itself as a war on the working class. While the Institutional Revolutionary Party government seeks on the one hand to act as the principal mediator of organized crime within its national boundariesoften brutally, as Tanhuato demonstrateson the other it wields the police and military as a bludgeon against any expression of social anger by the working class. In June, at least eight people were shot dead by police after teachers demonstrated against education reforms in Oaxaca. The latest atrocity follows the mass abduction and murder of 43 students from Ayotzinapa by the police, the worst massacre of students in the country since the 1968 bloodbath during the Olympics in Mexico City. The investigation of the killings of the students revealed a high level of collusion between the cartels, the political establishment and the military apparatus. The escalation of police violence takes place against the backdrop of economic and social crisis. The Mexican economy shrank in the last quarter, with GDP falling by 0.3 percent from the first quarter, according to the National Statistics Institute. In this same period, industrial and agricultural output slipped 1.7 percent and 0.1 percent respectively. Michoacan, the state where the massacre occurred and one of the current hot spots of cartel violence, is the fifth poorest in the country, with a poverty rate of 59.2 percent. It is also has the fifth highest proportion of workers occupied in the informal sector, accounting for 7 out of 10 workers in the state. On Wednesday, US Vice President Joseph Biden arrived in Turkey to announce, at a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that the United States military would directly support Turkey in its incursion into northern Syria. We strongly support what the Turkish military has done, we have been flying air cover for them, Biden said, adding, We believe very strongly that the Turkish border should be controlled by Turkey. The announcement represented an about-face for Washington. In July, Erdogan survived a military coup, which is widely believed to have enjoyed US support. For the past six weeks, the US government, along with its media mouthpieces, has been denouncing Erdogan for using the coup to launch a crackdown against dissident factions within the Turkish state seen to be closely linked to Washington. Bidens reversal was at the same time a double-cross of the Kurdish forces which the US had promoted as its proxies in the Syria conflict. During the press conference, Biden apologized for the White House not having announced its support for Erdogan at the beginning of the coup attempt. He declared, somewhat incoherently, Let me say it for one last time: The American people stand with you. We (inaudible). Barack Obama was one of the first people you called. But I do apologize. I wish I could have been here earlier. Bidens performance recalls a well-known scene in Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather, where a Mafia assassin sympathetically reassures his victim, This is business, not personal. The Godfather is, indeed, an appropriate reference point for a discussion of the planning and execution of US foreign policy. Its global operations are directed by a cabal of intelligence agents, acting in the interests of the financial and corporate elite, whose operations have an essentially conspiratorial and criminal character. Outside of and beyond any democratically controlled decision-making, these forces overturn governments and start wars to further the sordid commercial and geo-political aims of American imperialism. The foreign policy of the American ruling class, in addition to the impoverishment of American society to fund the vast military apparatus, has had the most horrifying consequences for the peoples of the countries targeted. The war fomented by the United States in Syria has reduced the population of that country from 23 million to about 17 million, killed up to half a million people, and displaced over 13 million. Thirteen years after the invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of at least a million people, some 4.4 million Iraqis are internally displaced, with over a quarter million forced to flee the country. Questions of foreign policy are not decided, much less deliberated, within the framework of elections. Nowhere in the 2016 presidential race is there a serious debate, for instance, on the character of the US alliance with Turkey or the consequences of launching a de facto NATO invasion of Syria. Congress holds no hearings or votes. It neither seeks nor desires to play a serious role. As for the people, they simply have no say. The press plays a key role in the deception and disenfranchisement of the population. One tactic employed by the corporate-controlled media is simply to exclude minor developments such as a US-backed invasion of Syria from the so-called news. The most remarkable feature of the media coverage to date of the Turkish incursion is its virtual non-existence. It is a good bet, due to the medias corrupt silence, that the percentage of the US population that is even aware of the invasion is in the single digits. The blackout of actual reporting is accompanied by cynical human rights propaganda on TV about the suffering of Syrian children in Aleppo, which just happens to coincide with setbacks for the US-backed, Al Qaeda-linked rebels at the hands of Russian-backed Syrian government forces seeking to dislodge the Islamist militias and take full control of the strategic city. There are dishonest columns in leading newspapers, particularly the New York Times, agitating in the name of human rights for a more aggressive intervention by the US. Without mentioning Bidens trip to Turkey or the incursion into Syria, Times columnist Nicholas Kristof penned an op-ed Thursday entitled Anne Frank Today Is a Syrian Girl, in which he sought to pull at the heartstrings of his readers in an effort to convince them that the bloodbath in Syria is not the result of the US-backed proxy war, but rather the outcome of Americas failure to pursue a more violent military intervention. On the same day, another Times columnist, Roger Cohen, bemoaned Americas Retreat and the Agony of Aleppo, and complained that Obamas decision not to launch a full-scale war in 2013 to destroy the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was Obamas worst mistake. For a quarter-century, during which US governments, Democratic and Republican, have waged virtually non-stop war, such threadbare humanitarian pleas have been trotted out every time the ruling elite wanted to engage in a new bloody adventure. These 25 years are only a foretaste of what is to come if Washington is allowed to continue on its present course. The launching of a NATO invasion of the Syrian war zone brings ever closer a direct clash with nuclear-armed Russia, which is militarily supporting the Damascus regime. Nobody should believe that the criminal cabal that runs US foreign policy will proceed with any more deliberation or caution in launching a war whose body count will be in the hundreds of millions, if not billions, than it does in plotting wars in which mere millions of lives are squandered. The wars must be stopped. A central aim of the presidential campaign of the Socialist Equality Party is to mobilize opposition among working people and youth to the criminal and reckless war policies of American imperialism. Dmitrij Panov, a psychology student, has been blogging about his day-to-day experiences of living knowing the fact that he is going to die of a brain tumour. He titled his blog dying with swag. Dmitrij Panov has been blogging about living knowing that he is going to die of a brain tumour. Photo courtesy: Facebook\Dmitrij Panov By India Today Web Desk: "Hello, my name is Dmitrij Panov and I'm going to die soon. It may sound strange, but that's how it is." That's how this young German man began his first blog post on February 1, 2016, at 2 AM, in a blog titled 'dying with swag', after he decided to share his day-to-day experiences about living fully aware of the fact that he doesn't have much time left. Photo courtesy: Facebook (Dmitrij Panov) advertisement Panov was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2011. After undergoing years of painful chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he defeated cancer. He lived cancer-free for two years doing things he loved to do the most -- watching movies with friends, playing video games -- but he knew he's fully out of risk only if the disease doesn't recur in five years. In April 2015, a year before he would have been officially considered cancer-free, it relapsed. Same kind of tumour, same place, says a story on Vice. Photo courtesy: Facebook (Dmitrij Panov) He underwent a surgery, more radiation treatments and chemotherapy sessions, but was diagnosed with brain metastases, a condition that doctors did not assure a complete recovery. It was then that Panov decided to blog about his own death. Photo courtesy: Facebook (Dmitrij Panov) Photo courtesy: Facebook (Dmitrij Panov) With his blog, he wanted to 'leave something behind', wanted to show that 'the incurable and inescapable isn't all that bad,' reports Vice. He never held back anything about the struggle, reports Independent. On August 23, he wrote, "Yesterday probably the most brutal, senseless, most painful, most tired day since the start of treatment... really, purest fatigue." Talking about death, Panov wrote, "last time, I wrote that I'm not really afraid of dying. Maybe I should have said that I'm not really afraid of being dead." "When you're dying, there's still some life in you and sometimes I think that I'm afraid of life." You can check out Panov's blog here. --- ENDS --- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was accorded a heros welcome Wednesday when he addressed the national convention of Unifor, the countrys largest private sector union. The well-heeled Unifor bureaucrats repeatedly rose to their feet, greeting Trudeaus hollow progressive rhetoric with rapturous applause. Trudeau was introduced by Unifor President Gerry Dias, who is currently overseeing contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers in which the union is once again offering up cuts and concessions in exchange for worthless job guarantees. Dias denounced the previous Conservative government of Stephen Harper, before heaping praise on Trudeau, including declaring that the Liberal leaders election last October had made him proud to be a Canadian again. When I first met with Justin Trudeau, said Dias, he talked about the importance of working class peoplehe talked about the importance of the labour movementa strong labour movement playing an incredible role if we wanted a strong economy. Dias promotion of Trudeau as committed to working people is a shameless fraud. The Liberals were long the Canadian big business preferred party of national government. When last in power, they implemented the largest social spending cuts in the countrys history and deployed the Canadian Armed Forces in US-led wars in Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. In last falls election, the ruling elite again turned to the Liberals, calculating that they would be better able to implement austerity at home and aggression and war abroad than the discredited, decade-old Harper government. Under the new government there has been a shift in rhetoric, with Trudeau feigning concern for the middle class and those struggling to join it and casting Canada as a peacekeeping country, rather than a la Harper a nation of warriors. But the Liberals have also worked systematically to cultivate the trade union bureaucracy and, particularly through identity politics, other privileged upper middle-class layers, so as to provide a broader social base for the assault on the working class. Whereas Harper baited the union bosses, Trudeau solicits their collaboration in boosting the competitiveness, that is the profitability, of Canadian big business, and in suppressing any and all working class opposition. Not surprisingly, the Unifor delegates biggest cheer for Trudeau was when he promised to repeal the Harper governments Bill C-377 and Bill C-525, anti-democratic laws that negatively impact on the interests of the union officialdom by imposing onerous reporting requirements on union expenses and activities and making it more difficult to win union certification. The Liberals have already moved to restore the special tax concessions for union-controlled investment funds that the Harper government was to entirely phase out by next year. In his speech Wednesday, Trudeau once again emphasized that he values the unions as partners and will be looking to them to stifle opposition when his government is forced to take unpopular decisions. We might not always agree on everything, said the prime minister. In fact, we wont always agree on everything. But our larger relationship is built on a bedrock of common goalsthat is ensuring the profitability and global position of Canadian capitalism. Trudeau also had warm praise for Albertas New Democratic Party (NDP) Premier, Rachel Notley, who addressed the Unifor convention later Wednesday. The unionsparticularly the Unifors forerunner, the Canadian Auto Workerswere traditionally identified with the social-democratic NDP. But over the past two decades, the unions have increasingly openly allied with the Liberals. The NDP, for its part, has similarly swung ever further to the right. In the last federal election campaign ran, it on a Harper lite platform of balanced budgets and increased military spending. The embrace by Unifor and the entire trade union bureaucracy of Trudeaus big business, pro-war government makes clear the anti-working class character of these organizations. The trade unions have developed over the past three decades into arms of corporate management and the state, enforcing the dictates of the corporate and financial elite against their own members and enriching themselves in the process. In introducing Trudeau, Dias lauded the actions of his government, calling them a pinnacle start for working people. In fact, the new government has retained intact the reactionary fiscal framework created by the decades of cuts to social spending and tax cuts for big business and the rich implemented by successive Liberal and Conservative governments. Trudeaus first budget in March contained a plan to direct billions in public funds into investment in infrastructure projects with the aims of boosting corporate profits and growing the economy. But the Liberals are presiding over an economy that is in deep crisis as the result of the collapse in oil and other commodity prices and the global capitalist downturn. The Liberals have pledged to impose at least $6 billion in austerity measures per annum before the next election, and this figure will undoubtedly increase as the economy continues to underperform and the deficit grows. In foreign policy, the Liberals have vastly expanded the militarist and war-mongering policies of Harper. They have increased Canadian deployments in the Mideast war, sent troops to Eastern Europe to confront Russia and prepare for war, and, under the guise of peacekeeping are proposing to send up to 1,000 troops and warplanes to Africa to uphold Canadian imperialist interests there. Moreover, the government is using a Defence Policy Review, the first in more than two decades, to lay the political groundwork for major hikes in military spendinghikes that will have to be clawed back from the working class through further social spending cuts. The unions were central to bringing this right-wing government to power. After the Liberals fell from power in 2006, they systematically worked for their rehabilitation, promoting them as a progressive alternative to the Conservatives. From September 2014, with Unifor very much in the lead, the unions spearheaded a pro-Liberal Anybody but Harper campaign, spending millions on promoting strategic voting. Meanwhile the NDP, with the unions encouragement, proclaimed its readiness either to form a coalition government with the Liberals or prop up a Liberal minority government. Barely a week after Trudeau took office, over 100 top union bureaucrats gathered behind closed doors with the Prime Minister to confirm their readiness to cooperate with the government. At the time, Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), enthused over Trudeaus visit, Everybody who left the room was delighted that he came, and there was a strong sense that he was sincere in the things that he was talking about. The unions relied on the complicity of their pseudo-left apologists, which, whether they openly backed Anybody but Harper or kept their distance for tactical reasons, maintained a studious silence on the unions support for the Liberals and the NDPs plans to join or prop up a Liberal government. Among the most prominent promoters of strategic voting, was Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) President Mike Palecek, a former leader of Fightback, the Canadian section of the misnamed International Marxist Tendency. In recent weeks, Palecek has been arguing that postal workers should not strike against Canada Posts sweeping concession demands so as not to disrupt the Liberal governments review of the government-owned post officea review predicated on it functioning as a profit-making business. The Anybody but Harper campaign was the outcome of over a decade of collaboration between the unions and the Liberals in Ontario, Canadas most populace province. Terrified by a popular upsurge against the Progressive Conservatives Commonsense Revolution in the late 1990s, which saw mass protests and strikes against Premier Mike Harriss right-wing agenda, the unions turned to the Liberals and helped elect a government led by Dalton McGuinty in 2003. Over the past thirteen years, the Liberals, with the unions complicity and support, have implemented a wide-ranging assault on the jobs and living standards of the working class. Among the most devastating measures were the imposition of a $20 per hour wage and benefit cuts at the Detroit Three in conjunction with the Harper government in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the privatization of public services such as Hydro One, and sweeping cuts to social spending. A number of Trudeaus key staffers built their political careers in the Ontario Liberal government and are determined to make use of the unions services to wage similarly destructive attacks on workers across Canada. West Virginia independent candidates who petitioned to appear on the November 8 ballot are currently waiting to be notified of their eligibility due to a pending appeal in the state Supreme Court of Appeals in Charleston. The appeal comes from former state Senator Erik Wells, who petitioned to run for Kanawha County Clerk, but was denied by the countys circuit court. The case is a microcosm of the undemocratic maneuvering that goes on in American politics, largely out of sight of the public. Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King ruled last week that Wells could not appear on the ballot as an independent or non-party affiliated candidate because he is registered as a Democrat. The ruling came in response to a complaint filed by county prosecutor Chuck Miller on behalf of Wells would-be opponent in the county clerk election, Republican incumbent Vera McCormick. McCormick is currently running unopposed. Wells is a well-known politician and former television news anchor, who is married to state Secretary of State Natalie Tennant. He served as Senator for District 8 from 2006 to 2014. On July 18, Wells submitted nominating petitions containing 1,019 signatures from Kanawha County voters400 more than the legally required 1 percent of votes cast in the previous election for county clerk. In testimony August 12, Wells said he did not decide to run for the county clerks office until late June, well after the May primary elections. He stated that he petitioned in order to appear on the general election ballot as an independent, to run against McCormick after learning that hundreds of people in the county had been voting in the wrong district for the past four years and that their votes had been thrown out. In addition to being county clerk, McCormick is chair of the Kanawha County Ballot Commission, which certifies who is to appear on the countys ballot. In his ruling August 18, Judge King declared that the petitioning process was not an option for people registered as Democrats or Republicans, because they could achieve ballot status through their parties primary elections. Whatever Wells motivations for seeking office through the petitioning process, the lower court ruling is anti-democratic on its face. There is no law in West Virginia stipulating that only people registered as independent may run as independent candidates. Opponents of Wells have also further insisted that only independent voters may sign petitions of an independent candidatea demand that has no basis in law and would likewise have the impact of drastically curtailing the democratic rights of both candidates and voters. On August 19, Wells attorney Pat Maroney filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court. Maroney argues that Wells has a constitutional right to be on the ballot, and that the lower court ruling violated his First and 14th Amendment rights, as well as those of voters in the county and those who signed the candidates petitions. The case is very similar to one the state Supreme Court declined to hear in 2012, when a Republican politician in Pocahontas County petitioned the court to overturn the election of a registered Democrat who successfully mounted an independent run for county prosecuting attorney, defeating the unopposed Democrat incumbent in the general election. The case has put a hold on the announcement of candidates who are not in the recognized parties, or those who attempted to gain ballot status through petitioning rather than through the primary election process of the Democratic and Republican parties. According to Wells legal team, as many as 10 other candidates are registered with a recognized party but petitioned independently. As a registered independent who is seeking to run for House of Delegates in District 16 for the Socialist Equality Party, my own candidacy is among those yet to be announced by the Secretary of States office during the appeals process. Speaking to me by phone August 25, an elections clerk explained that the SOS is waiting for the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal to announce full candidates lists, or begin preparing ballots and voting machines. The process of ballot access in the United States expresses the structurally anti-democratic character of American politics. It is deliberately byzantine and difficult for candidates that have the least amount of financial or political power. Ballot laws are primarily aimed at keeping choice limited to the candidates favored by big business and the military in the Democratic and Republican parties. It takes formidable effort, attention to detail and organization to gain the necessary signatures, meet deadlines and paperwork requirements. Candidates who are running on a shoestring budget as independents or in minor parties face a steep uphill battle for recognition. The Socialist Equality Party has a long history of defending against petition challenges, bringing the principles of the socialist movement and the interests of the working class head-to-head with the corrupt and corporate nature of the ruling establishment. In Illinois, Oregon, Ohio and elsewhere, the SEP has gathered thousands of signatures for its candidates only to be challenged by the Democratic Party in the courts. While the Democrats and Republicans wield monstrous financial and political power, they rest on an ever-narrowing social base. We have consistently based ourselves on the interests of the vast majority of the population, not only in the US but internationally, who are politically disenfranchised by the big business parties. In every case, the SEPs campaigns revealed the anti-democratic essence of electoral politics; the criminality of the Democrats, the Republicans, the media and the courts; and, fundamentally, the incompatibility of the capitalist system with genuine democracy. In the minds of many voters, including in West Virginia, the outcome of the campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders was seen as a manipulation of the election by powerful interests in the Democratic Party. It was one more demonstration that popular opposition to austerity, inequality, and war cannot make itself heard through official channels. As the SEP has explained, Sanders never intended to give voice to the aspirations of the millions of voters who supported him. Rather, he acted to channel these healthy sentiments into the Democratic Party and the campaign of Hillary Clinton. During our petitioning efforts in West Virginias House District 16, SEP campaigners found a vast desire for a political alternative to the parties of big business. The overwhelming sentiment was disgust at both the Democratic nominee Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Even among registered Republicans and Democrats who said they did not agree with socialism, we found many willing to sign our petitions out of a respect for democratic rights. This photo of an elderly couple, who lived together for 62 years, saying goodbye to each other is breaking a million hearts across the world. Here's their story. By India Today Web Desk: Falling in love is one of the best things that can happen in anyone's life and getting to spend a lifetime with the one you fell in love with is another. Wolf Gottschalk (now 83) met his wife Anita (81) in 1954 in Germany, fell in love and got married four months after they met. advertisement This Canadian couple spent 62 years of their lives with each other, but now, when they should have been able to spend more time together, they are being forced to live apart from each other. Ashley Kaila, their granddaughter, shared this heartbreaking photo from her Facebook profile, along with a detailed post narrating their story. The couple are forced to stay apart due to lack of beds at the care home -- The Residence at Morgan Heights in Canada -- they are at but their family is trying their best to let them spend as much time as they can in the past eight months. What is more tragic about the separation is that Gottschalk suffers from dementia, and there are chances that he might forget his wife, who he has spent what is a lifetime to many, if they stay away from each other for long. He was also diagnosed with cancer, lymphoma and congestive heart failure. Like a part from a classic love ballad, Gottschalk waits by the window of the home care for his wife. Photo courtes: Facebook (Ashley Bartyik) Photo courtes: Facebook (Ashley Bartyik) Ashely writes in her post,"Financially, physically and emotionally exhausted, me and my family are begging for your help my friends. We have contacted our local MLA, called Fraser Health and done in person inquiries, but none of our questions and concerns have been answered," and ends her post with an appeal, "We want justice for my grandparents who after 62 years together deserve to spend their last moments in the same building. Please share this and tag anyone that needs to see this post to get the help we need!" Here's the full Facebook post: The post has been shared over 8,700 times and people have been trying to help the couple and the family as much as they can. Fraser Health authority responded to Ashlet's post saying they're trying their best to get the couple back together. Yesterday, Ashley made a new Facebook post thanking everyone for the help and support but politely declining all the offers to start a fundraiser to help fix the situation. She writes, "we want to use this situation to bring to light the lack of government subsidized beds in our province. By taking funds from people we would be getting a privatized bed which would end up defeating the purpose of us wanting to be a voice for the families waiting for the government beds," and says, "we want to keep this less about money and more about reuniting families through the proper channels and getting those channels funded and fixed as soon as possible." advertisement Here's the post: We hope Wolf and Anita will be able to spend the rest of their lives together, just as happily as they did during the last 62 years. --- ENDS --- BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia pastor has been charged with molesting a child at his church in the port city of Brunswick. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says pastor Kenneth Adkins turned himself in Friday morning at the Glynn County jail. Adkins is charged with one count of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation. Stacy Carson, the GBI agent in charge of the investigation, says Adkins is accused of molesting a single victim under the age of 16 at his church, in a vehicle and at the victim's home. She would not give the child's age or gender and declined to give further details about the case. Adkins' defense attorney, Kevin Gough (GOFF), says the pastor "maintains that he is innocent and looks forward to his day in court." (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) MADISON COUNTY, FL (WTXL) -- The Madison County Sheriff's Office has asked residents to be on the lookout for a mail thief. Sheriff Ben Stewart said the department is looking into several incidents in the Cherry Lake and Pinetta areas. Investigators said the thief is targeting boxes that have their flags up and are looking for checks and payments to forge. The suspects then take the information on the checks to create more checks under the victim's identity. The sheriff has cautioned citizens about having checks mailed to their roadside mailbox and suggested that residents use the post office when possible. If you know anything about these incidents, call the Madison County Sheriff's Office at (850) 973-4001. PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - The University of West Florida is reporting record student enrollment this year as the search continues for a new school president. The Pensacola News Journal (http://on.pnj.com/2bWuLky ) reports that more than 13,000 students are attending classes this fall. That's an increase of 3,000 since outgoing school President Judy Bense took office in 2008. Bense has said she will retire at the end of the 2016 calendar year. The school is interviewing 16 potential replacements next week, including Republican state Sen. Don Gaetz. A minimum of three candidates will be invited by the search committee to return to campus Sept. 12-14. The selection committee will then formally recommend a minimum of three candidates to the board of trustees, which will select the next president Sept. 15. (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 8/27/2016 5:31:12 AM (GMT -4:00) TALLAHASSEE (WTXL) -- Invest 99L is currently near the Bahamas and continues to remain disorganized. Upper level winds are expected to hinder development over the next 2-3 days however once this system pushes into the Gulf of Mexico within the next 5 days, it could become more organized. The tropical low will continue to move towards west-northwest. Tropical storm Gaston will remain a 'fish-storm' and not make any land impacts. It is forecast to intensify to a category 2 hurricane over the next few days before it turns towards the east and pushes further into the Atlantic Basin. As floods have caused a havoc in several states, a total of 75 teams of NDRF are operational in various parts of the country . They are relentlessly engaged in rescue and relief work. By Manjeet Negi: Due to the ongoing flood situation in several districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the NDRF has deployed 21 flood rescue teams in Bihar and 19 in UP. A total of 75 teams of NDRF are operational in various parts of the country. They are relentlessly engaged in rescue and relief work. On Friday, NDRF flood rescue teams deployed in Bihar at Munger, Samastipur, Begusarai, Fathuha, Patna, Bhagalpur, Didarganj, Danapur, Bakhtiyarpur, Buxer, Vaishali and Chapra conducted rescue and relief operations and evacuated over 1,748 marooned people to safer places. advertisement NDRF teams also distributed relief materials and provided medical care to 130 stranded people in Bihar. Also Read: More than 33 lakh people affected in Bihar floods, toll reaches 95 Bihar floods: Situation worsens, Lalu Prasad seeks Modi's attention after Nitish Kumar meets PM NDRF RELENTLESSLY WORKING IN UP, SIKKIM TOO Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, NDRF teams conducted rescue and relief operations at Allahabad, Banda, Gazipur, Varanasi and Ballia districts, evacuating 2,163 people, who were stranded in low lying areas. The teams also distributed relief materials in flood prone areas and provided medical care to 601 persons in UP. In addition, one team of NDRF, prepositioned at Mangan, North Sikkim resumed rescue and relief operation on Friday at Tingbungand village, evacuating more than 280 persons to safer places and also distributed relief materials. NDRF teams rescue people stranded in flood in Sikkim. Photo: NDRF twitter handle The teams are not only evacuating the flood victims but also providing medical care and distributing relief materials to the marooned villagers. So far, NDRF teams have evacuated/rescued more than 53,000 persons and provided medical assistance to 12,200 needy persons. Operations are still continuing. O.P. Singh, Director General, NDRF is personally monitoring the situation and providing all directions to the senior officials who are leading the operations in the flood affected areas. Also Read: Over 300 dead, 6 million hit as floods submerge villages, destroy roads in 5 states Bihar grapples with flooded Ganga, Lalu says victims lucky to get Gangajal at home Rescue operations underway in Bihar, MP, UP, Rajasthan after rain spell halts --- ENDS --- According to National Centre of Seismology, three earthquakes measuring 4.6, 4.3 and 4.2 on Richter Scake struck Himachal Pradesh between 7.30 am and 9.30 am. By Manjeet Sehgal: Three medium intensity earthquakes epicentered in Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday morning jolted the hill state in span of two hours. First tremors were felt at 6.44 am in and around Kullu .The intensity was measured at 4.6 at richter scale. The residents of Rampur area bordering Kullu district heard a big blast underground and came out of their homes . No immediate loss of human life was reported but the dozens of structures in Bro, Jagatkhana and Dakolad areas have developed cracks . advertisement The worst hit was central primary school which is on the verge of collapse. The three tremors which were felt one after the other panicked the locals who left their homes after the first tremors were felt. "The tremors were felt three times i.e. at 6.44 AM, 7.05 AM and 9 .08 AM.the intensity was lower during the second and third tremors which was measured at 4.3 and 4.2 at richter scales respectively. As the depth of the quake was 10 kilometres,tremors were also felt in other areas. There were no immediate reports of human life so far ,"Director, MET , Dr Manmohan Singh said. Tremors were also felt in lower areas of the state including Shimla and Solan. The intensity of tremors felt in Solan was measured at 3.00 at richter scale. As much as 75 earthquakes rattled Himachal Pradesh during the past decade, seven had their epicentre in Himachal Pradesh. --- ENDS --- Democrat Hillary Clinton called on Friday for voters to reject the "bigotry" of Donald Trump's White House campaign, releasing a television ad criticizing his efforts to appeal to black voters and saying she was reaching out to people from all parties who are troubled by his candidacy. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The ad shows video of Trump's controversial pitch to black voters, in which the Republican candidate urges them to support him by asking, "What do you have to lose?" It also shows headlines about a racial discrimination lawsuit the New York real estate mogul faced in the 1970s. Clinton's presidential campaign said the ad, released a day after she gave a speech accusing Trump of fueling America's "radical fringe," would air in the hotly contested states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Clinton anti-Trump ad. X Polls give Clinton a wide margin over Trump among Hispanic voters, but he is on a pitch to reduce her advantage by stressing he would create jobs for all. Trump pressed on with trying to broaden his appeal to minority voters on Friday, as he met with Hispanic business leaders at his signature hotel in Las Vegas. "We've been doing very, very well with the Latinos. Weve been doing amazing, far, far greater ... than anyone understands. They want to see jobs come in, were going to bring jobs. They want to see things happen," Trump said. He said the country's GDP growth rate of 1.1 percent in the second quarter was not a good sign for the US economy. "The country has some very, very serious problems," he said. Clinton, meanwhile, followed up on Thursday's tough speech by saying that Trump's temperament and divisiveness made him unfit for the White House. "I am reaching out to everyone, Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone who is as troubled as I am by the bigotry and divisiveness of Donald Trump's campaign," she told MSNBC, adding she was asking "fair-minded Americans to repudiate this kind of divisive demagoguery" at the Nov. 8 election. Clinton attacks came during a difficult week for her campaign, as the release of new emails from her time as secretary of state revived criticism of her decision to use a private address and server rather than a government one. The emails also stoked scrutiny of her family's charitable foundation, including accusations that major corporate and foreign donors gave money in hopes of securing more access to then-Secretary Clinton. Her campaign says no donors received any special favors. Clinton. Emphasizing Trump's controversial statements on race. (Photo: Reuters) Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told MSNBC Clinton was only talking about Trump and race this week to deflect attention from that controversy. Trump countered her rhetoric on Friday by releasing a video showing Clinton in the 1990s discussing a crime bill and referring to "super-predators," or at-risk youth she said needed to be brought under control. The video also shows US Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's main opponent in the Democratic primary this year, calling that phrase a "racist term." In targeting what she terms Trump's bigotry, Clinton hopes to remind voters of controversial statements he has made over the course of the campaign. Those include describing some Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, suggesting a judge could not be fair because of his Mexican-American heritage, and proposing a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to combat terrorism. Trump has tried to sidestep these dust-ups by saying Democrats have failed minorities with their economic policies, leaving them living in poverty and attending failing schools. Jennifer Hochschild, a professor at Harvard University who focuses on race and immigration, said she did not think Trump could fix his relationship with black and Hispanic voters. "General cluelessness about racial dynamics will diminish any possible black support that comes from Trump's emphasis on job creation," Hochschild said in an email. "And Clinton has a lot of deep roots among black politicians." Trump also has been criticized for vowing to deport millions of people living in the United States illegally. In recent days, he had appeared to hold out the possibility of toning down his hardline stance, although his precise plans on immigration have been harder to pin down. On Thursday, he denied he would loosen his proposed immigration restrictions. Border Police soldiers arrested an 18-year-old Palestinian man from Hebron Saturday, for allegedly planning to perpetrate a terrorist stabbing in the area of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebrons old city. The suspect is the cousin of a terrorist who was shot and killed while perpetrating a stabbing attack about six months ago. Border Police soldiers arrested an 18-year-old Palestinian man from Hebron Saturday, for allegedly planning to perpetrate a terrorist stabbing in the area of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebrons old city. The suspect is the cousin of a terrorist who was shot and killed while perpetrating a stabbing attack about six months ago. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Border Police officials stated, A suspect arrived to a checkpoint near the Cave of the Patriarchs (gate 6), (and) raised the suspicions of (Border Police soldiers) who regularly operate in the area. The (soldiers) called for him to stop and began carefully examining his belongings and person. (During this search) a knife was discovered on his person. The alleged would-be terrorist. (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson) The knife found in the suspect's possession. (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson) An initial investigation indicates that the suspect came to the (checkpoint) in order to perpetrate a stabbing terror attack as vengeance for the death of his cousin, who was himself shot during a terrorist attack he perpetrated about six months ago. The suspect was arrested and is being taken for further questioning by security forces. Earlier on Saturday, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman was arrested at the Qalandiya ckeckpoint near Ramallah with a knife in her bag. The two incidents do not appear to be connected at this time. Space Communications (Spacecom) was acquired by Big Bird Ltd., a Chinese-owned and Israel-operated group which is headed by retired Maj. Gen. Ami Shafran. With the completion of the merger, Spacecom will become a private company even though company-issued bonds to the public will continue to be traded on the Tel Aviv stock exchange. Follow Ynetnews on and Twitter Spacecom operates the Amos-2, Amos-3 and Amos-4 satellites, and will launch the Amos-6 satellite in September. All of the satellites were built by Israel Aerospace Industries. Spacecom provides satellite services to television companies, Internet providers, telecommunication companies and infrastructure providers. Spacecom satellite Clients of Spacecom in Israel include the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Channel 2, Channel 10, Yes and the Israeli Government. Spacecom announced a five-year contract with the government, with an extension option for eight years, worth $64 to $164 million dollars just last month. The largest government consumers of satellite communications is the Ministry of Defense, for IDF use. Currently, emphasis is on the construction of the Amos-6, as the shift in company control may reduce the likelihood that the satellites are constructed in Israel. David Pollack, CEO of Spacecom, said "since the operation of the satellites is controlled from Israel, there is no reason to worry about availability. Spacecom will continue to function from Israel and will also continue to operate satellites in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries. As long as IAI remains competitive, Spacecom will be happy to acquire satellites from them." The Ministry of Agriculture announced that Israel will be importing tomatoes without tariffs to mitigate the chances of a tomato shortage during the high holidays as a result of poor harvests. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Supersal supermarket chain has already begun importing 250 tons of tomatoes a week from Turkey, while the Rami Levy chain is importing 160 tons of tomatoes a week. The Victory supermarket chain said that they do not expect to receive a steady supply from the growers from whom they receive produce from directly. It should be noted that tomatoes from Turkey aren't cheap between five to seven shekels a kilo. The price at the Israeli wholesale market for tomatoes is between five and a half to six shekels a kilo. Tomatoes at a supermarket Israeli producers blame the outbreak of the virus on cheaper tomatoes imported from Jordan. The government created an initiative to import produce from Jordan, the West Bank, and Gaza as produce from these places are cheaper, thus lowering the overall cost of living. However, this policy has both literally and figuratively left Israeli farmers in the dust. The hot weather is also considered to be a contributing factor in the poor tomato harvest. Secretary General of the Vegetable Growers' Association Meir Yifrah has criticized the Ministry of Agriculture's decision. "Instead of fixing Israeli farmers' problems, and instead of addressing the fact that there are fewer farmers in Israel today than ever before, the ministry decided to incentivize Turkish farmers," he said. Tomatoes at a supermarket Yifrah points to a significant decrease in tomato crops this year, and says that relying on domestic inventory isn't enough. The Ministry of Agriculture responded by saying "the ministry has alerted importers on the easing of quotas on foreign tomato imports (something which is done for any vegetable with which there is expected to be a shortage). Additionally, the ministry has issued a request to ease quotas on honey tomatoes and to exempt them from quotas following worry of a shortage after the holidays." The ministry also spoke about a possibility of there being a cottage cheese shortage, saying "there is a possibility that there will be a 15% cottage cheese shortfall between the holidays of Yom Kippur and Simchat Torah since the holiday period typically sees workers shortages." SKOPJE- Macedonian police say Turkey has extradited five Macedonians arrested in Istanbul in an operation to crack down on recruitment for the Islamic State group. Police said Saturday that the Macedonians, aged 18 to 24, were arrested two weeks ago in Istanbul's Aksaray district along with four other foreigners aiming to fight for IS in Syria. Two of the arrested Macedonians were seriously injured when they tried to escape during the operation. A total of 11 people have been sentenced in Macedonia this year for joining IS and recruiting for it. KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Rebels supported by Turkey fought Kurdish-backed forces in north Syria on Saturday, as Ankara ratcheted up its cross-border offensive by saying it had launched air strikes against both Kurdish forces and ISIS. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Turkey's government, which is fighting a Kurdish insurgency at home, has said the Syrian campaign it opened this week is as much about targeting ISIS as it is about preventing Kurdish forces filling the vacuum left when Islamists withdraw. Turkey wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of a continuous stretch of Syrian territory on its frontier, which Ankara fears could be used to support the Kurdish militant group PKK as it wages its three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Turkish APC in Syria (Photo: EPA) Turkish security sources said two F-16 jets bombed a site controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia, which is part of the broader US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition. The sources also said the jets hit six ISIS targets. Turkish military sources said one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded when a tank was hit by a rocket that they said was fired from territory held by the Kurdish YPG. The sources said the army shelled the area in response. Syrian rebels opposed to Ankara's incursion said Turkish forces had targeted forces allied to the YPG and no Kurdish forces were in the area. On the ground, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels fought forces aligned with the SDF near the frontier town of Jarablus. Forces opposed to Ankara said Turkish tanks were deployed, a charge denied by Turkey's rebel allies. Turkey's offensive into Syria began on Wednesday, supporting its rebel allies with Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes. It seized control of Jarablus from ISIS seeking to stop any Kurdish forces moving in first. Turkish Tank entering Syria (Photo: AP) Saturday's use of warplanes against what Turkey said was a Kurdish YPG militia target highlights its determination to prevent any Kurdish territorial expansion in north Syria. Any action against Kurdish forces in Syria puts Turkey at odds with its NATO ally the United States, which backs the SDF and YPG, seeing them as the most reliable and effective ally in the fight against ISIS in Syria. It adds complexity to the Syrian conflict that erupted five years ago with an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has since drawn in regional states and world powers. "DANGEROUS ESCALATION" The Jarablus Military Council, part of the SDF, had said earlier on Saturday that Turkish planes hit the village of al-Amarna south of Jarablus, causing civilian casualties. It called the action "a dangerous escalation". The Kurdish-led administration that controls parts of northern Syria said Turkish tanks advanced on al-Amarna and clashed with forces of the Jarablus Military Council. But the Kurdish administration said no Kurdish forces were involved. However, the leader of one Turkey-backed rebel group gave a rival account. He told Reuters the rebels battled the Kurdish YPG around al- Amarna and denied any Turkish tanks took part. Turkish security forces simply said Turkish-backed forces had extended their control to five villages beyond Jarablus. A video released by Turkey's military showed the Turkish Red Crescent distributing food and aid to people in Jarablus, with the help of Turkish troops. It also showed what appeared to be Turkish-backed rebels flicking v-for-victory signs in the town. Turkish tanks attacking in the vicinity of Jarablus, Syria (Photo: AFP) The newly formed Jarablus Military Council has said it was made up of people from the area with the aim of capturing the town and the surrounding region from ISIS militants. However, the Turkish-backed rebels seized Jarablus first. Several militias under the SDF banner pledged support to Jarablus Military Council after it reported the Turkish bombing. The Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, said in a statement it was heading to "Jarablus fronts" to help the council against "threats made by factions belonging to Turkey". Tension has mounted in Syria's Aleppo region in the past year between the US-backed Kurdish YPG force and its allies on one hand and Turkish-backed rebel groups on the other. The two sides have clashed on several occasions. Ahmed Dawabsheh, the six-year-old sole survivor of an arson attack on his family in the village of Duma last summer, was taken for a solidarity visit by his grandfather Hussein to the demolished home of Hamas terrorist Abed al-Basset al-Haroub. Al-Basset carried out a shooting attack last November at the Alon Shvut intersection and murdered Ezra Schwartz, Yaakov Don, and Shadi Arafa. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Al-Haroub was shot and killed at the scene of the attack. His home in Dir Samet, south of Hebron, was demolished by IDF forces last February. Ahmed Dawabsheh and his grandfather visiting Hebron terrorist's home Ahmed Dawabsheh and his grandfather Ezra Schwartz and Yaakov Don Ahmed was accompanied on his visit by Mohammad al-Qiq, a Hamas activist who conducted a three-month long hunger strikeand was later releasedin protest of his administrative detention. The arson attack was carried out in late July last year by three masked men who threw Molotov cocktails at two homes which were situated at the edge of Duma. One home was empty at the time of the attack, while the Dawabsheh family was asleep in the second home. The parents Reham and Saad woke up to the fire and attempted to get their children18 month-old Ali and 5 year-old Ahmedout of the house. Photo: Muhammad Shinawi Ali and both of his parents perished in the fire, leaving Ahmed, aged 6, the sole survivor of the attack. Ahmed was released from Tel Hashomer hospital only last month. Six months after the attack, Amiram Ben-Uliel was charged with murder and a hate crime. The indictment revealed that the attack was planned in retaliation for the murder of Malachi Rosenfeld. Ben-Uliel, the 21 year-old Jerusalem resident and father, is a known acquaintance of Meir Ettinger. Ettinger is the grandson of Rabbi Meir Kahane and is described by the Shin Bet as the leader of the organization the "Revolt," which has been behind a string of Jewish terror attacks. "The S&CD presents an opportunity to really reflect upon where we have come and also chart a path forward on where we want to go and how we want to use this relationship," a senior State Department official told a group of journalists. By Press Trust of India: Ahead of the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) next week in New Delhi, a senior American official said this would be an opportunity for the two countries to reflect upon the progress made under the outgoing Obama administration and chart the path forward. OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT "The S&CD presents an opportunity to really reflect upon where we have come and also chart a path forward on where we want to go and how we want to use this relationship," a senior State Department official told a group of journalists. advertisement US Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will be in New Delhi for the dialogue. Leading a team of top officials from 12 different government agencies, Kerry and Pritzker would co-chair the last Strategic and Commercial Dialogue under the Obama Administration along with their Indian counterparts the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Kerry would arrive in New Delhi on August 29 from Dhaka. The Strategic and Commercial Dialogue is scheduled to take place on August 30. SEVENTH INDIA-US STRATEGIC DIALOGUE This would be the seventh India US Strategic Dialogue which was announced in 2009 by the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is now the Democratic presidential nominee. In 2015, the US and India added the commercial track and as such this would be the second strategic and commercial dialogue. On his fourth visit to India as Secretary of State, Kerry is also scheduled to have bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He would meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31, the official said. TRAJECTORY OF INDIA-US TIES The Secretary would also be addressing an audience of students, academics, business leaders and journalists at the Indian Institute of Technology where he will talk about "the broad arch and trajectory" of the US-India ties and the importance of that relationship in both addressing the challenges and opportunities of the not only bilaterally, but also regionally and globally. "A joint vision statement on the Asia Pacific that was launched during President Obama's historic Republic Day visit that the S&CD presents an opportunity to really reflect upon where we have come and also chart a path forward on where we want to go and how we want to use this relationship to as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has said to not only advance the interest of the American people and the Indian people but really to advance and benefit global issues," the official said. "That is how the Secretary is really looking at those opportunities to have those kind of conversations in his dialogues and bilateral meetings,"the senior State Department official said. ALSO READ: advertisement "US is ensuring India is Asia's net security provider" Beef row: US asks India to check rising intolerance, communal violence --- ENDS --- She will be one of four House of Delegates (HOD) Representatives who will be speaking on behalf of the state at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The AAPA is the national professional society for Physician Assistants, serving as a resource to PAs, providing continuing medical education, strengthening public relations to the profession, advocating for quality patient care, and monitoring legislation. Bauer was a student representative at AAPA while she attended school and is looking forward to getting involved again. Her current term will be one year. This year is going to be very exciting as AAPA has made a motion to form a new certifying body for PAs. It can spell some changes to the PA profession if the proper certifying body is unavailable. The generalist and broad beginnings of PA education makes us viable to fit into broad situations that if we are required to declare a specialty may affect many professionals and their patients, Bauer said. This Account has been suspended. By PTI: Muscat, Aug 27 (PTI) An Indian cargo ship carrying vehicles and foodstuff among other things reportedly sank today off the coast of Oman due to overloading but all the 11 crew members were rescued. The ship, heading to Yemens Al Mukalla port after it was loaded in Sharjah in the UAE, sunk off the coast of Jalan Bani Bu Ali province, according to Oman News Agency. advertisement All 11 crew members were rescued by Omani fishermen and Royal Oman Police. The vessel was carrying 69 vehicles, foodstuff, tyres and engine oils. The vessel sank due to damages caused by overloading, Gulf News reported. PTI ASK GSN ASK --- ENDS --- Islamabad: Playing down India`s move to isolate Pakistan in the region amidst escalating tensions between the two over the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley, Islamabad said New Delhi's decision not to send its finance minister, Arun Jaitley, for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) finance ministers` conference hardly matters. "India's (finance minister`s) absence hardly matters," said Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after the conclusion of eighth SAARC finance ministers` conference. However, Dar hastily added that the individuals do not matter, but countries do, reports the Express Tribune. Out of the eight-member countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, four did not send their finance ministers. Either their deputy ministers or bureaucrats represented India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives.India`s Finance Secretary Shashikant Das attended the moot. Dar said Afghanistan`s finance minister was due to arrive, but an attack on an American University in Kabul led to the cancellation of his visit. Kabul`s ambassador in Islamabad, Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal represented his country at the conference. While emphasising that regional economic cooperation can weigh out conflicts, Dar said sending finance ministers to attend the moot was an internal decision of every country. Earlier this month, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh traveled to Islamabad to attend the SAARC interior ministers meeting. However, his visit saw the two neighbours using the SAARC platform to accuse each other of the ongoing violence in Kashmir. Dhaka: Bangladesh Police on Saturday stormed a militant hideout and killed Dhaka cafe attack mastermind Canadian-Bangladeshi Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and his two associates during an encounter at the militants' hideout near the national capital. "We can see three dead bodies here," senior police officer Sanwar Hossain told media, adding that the dead most probably included Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmeda Chowdhury, the mastermind behind Gulshan cafe attack. "The gunfight erupted this morning after police started raiding a building at Naraynganj's Pikeparha," Counter-terrorism Unit's Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.Com. The unit's chief Monirul Islam earlier said the raid was conducted upon information gleaned from an arrested operative of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Chowdhury was identified by police as the mastermind of the July 1 cafe attack in Dhaka that killed 22 people, including an Indian girl, and two police officers, and the subsequent assault on the Eid congregation at Sholakia. According to police, Chowdhury used to stay in Canada and might have developed a network of financiers abroad before coming to Bangladesh in 2013. Police had announced Tk 2 million reward earlier this month for information leading to Chowdhury's arrest. ISIS had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. The boys are seen shooting dead five men identified as captured Kurdish fighters who are kneeling By Press Trust of India: ISIS terrorists have released a horrific new video that shows five boys, including one said to be from the UK, aged between 10 to 13 years shooting prisoners in Syria. BRITISH BOY AMONG THE FIVE The boys are seen shooting dead five men identified as captured Kurdish fighters who are kneeling. A caption claims the white boy in the video is Abu Abdullah al-Britani, who is allegedly British. advertisement All the boys are pictured in full military fatigues and a black hat alongside the four other boys. Five hostages are shown dressed in familiar orange jumpsuits seen in previous ISIS propaganda videos, 'The Times' reports. PROPAGANDA "No one can save the Kurds even with the support of America, France, Britain, Germany, the devils in hell," the British boy is heard to say in Arabic. He then calls for the 'takbir' the term referring to the phrase 'Allahu akbar' which the other boys shout in unison, raising their pistols to the sky before shooting the hostages dead. The video then pans to gunshot wounds to the men's heads as they lie dead in the sand. The four other boys in the footage are captioned as being Tunisian, Kurdish, Egyptian and Uzbekistani in origin. There is no confirmation of the identity of the British boy from the UK Foreign Office but it is believed he could be the son of a white-British woman convert and was taken to join ISIS at the age of 10. The name Abu Abdullah al-Britani may refer to his adopted father a young British terrorist who married in Syria and was killed in a drone strike. Children have featured prominently in ISIS propaganda in which the militant group boasts about preparing the next generation of fighters. ALSO READ: How revelation by ISIS suspect's friend foiled terror attack in Maharashtra Mumbai business family distraught over kin joining ISIS, files FIR against preacher --- ENDS --- New Delhi: Re-iterating his stand that Islamabad only wants peace to prevail in Kashmir which has been hit by violence for more than two months, Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Saturday said that even though Indian had rejected their offer for talks on the matter, he hoped that a dialogue between the two nations was slated soon. "We hope that peace comes soon in Kashmir. We had sent a request for talks but as you know that had been rejected, but we wil continue to hope that talks are held in Kashmir," Basit told the media here. Asked to react on Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's statement directly implementing Pakistan and accusing them of instigating youths in Kashmir, Basit said that he had nothing to comment on the subject as the statement was her opinion. You all know that we took a step towards having dialogue but that didnt work out: Pak High Cmsnr Abdul Basit pic.twitter.com/lYJfCafZhS ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Abdul Basit, Pak HC in India: We did send invite to India, did not move forward. We do feel talks on Kashmir needed pic.twitter.com/cnKTaDqIRU ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 When said that United Nations had virtually confirmed six addresses of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan, the diplomat swatted away the development saying that the entire matter had become stale now. "Ye baat purani ho gayee hai" Abdul Basit, Pak HC to India when asked about Dawood's homes in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/1QSlj6J8C4 ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Earlier today, Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at Pakistan and accused it of provoking tensions and fuelling unrest in the Valley. The People's Democratic Party chief also asserted that if Islamabad was really concerned about the situationin the Valley, then it would have helped the state government in fixing the problem rather than fanning the flames. Mehbooba, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, also added that Pakistan should stop provoking the youth into attacking security forces. Basit had earlier courted controversy by saying that Pakistan will always help the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their 'freedom struggle'. "Pakistan will always help and take the side of the Kashmiris till they get their right. This kind of freedom struggle sometimes takes several years or even ages to be completed... Pakistan will always help the Kashmir people, who are fighting for their freedom," he had said on the occassion of Pakistan's Independence Day at the High Commission here. Meanwhile, the situation in the Valley continued to grim as a police constable was shot dead by terrorisrs in Pulwama District today. New Delhi: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's JNU unit vice-president Jatin Goraya has resigned from the post, saying he was "tired" of ABVP's stand on the attacks against Dalits. Goraya is the fourth such member of the BJP's student wing, who has resigned from the party this year over certain differences. In February, the then ABVP JNU unit joint secretary Pradeep Narwal and two others had resigned from their posts, following clashes in the university campus over the February 9 incident in which "anti-national slogans" were allegedly raised. He was also one of the students who had burnt pages from the 'Manusmriti' on the university campus, during a protest against "anti-Dalit and anti-women" tenets of the ancient text, months ago. "I resign from the post of vice-president of ABVP, and disassociate myself from the casteist, farcical and patriarchal organisation. The conduct of ABVP has explicitly revealed their manipulative fascist and conservative face. "They have taken regressive stands on the issues ranging from Rohit Vemula's institutional murder, 9th February JNU incident to Dalits upsurge for dignity and social justice in Una. It was not astonishing to see that the ABVP was stigmatising our very own institution by making fake binaries of nationalism, anti-nationalism and imposing their ruptured, obnoxious ideology of nationalism on us," he claimed in his resignation letter. Goraya resigned yesterday and when contacted, said he had no plans of joining any other political outfit. In his letter he further says, "The way they were trying to portray the institutional murder of Rohit Vemula as suicide and safeguard the people involved in it, shows they have never been committed to the principles of social justice. "Dalits and Muslims are being killed all over the country in the name of cow protection, these gaurakhskas have been given a free hand by the fascist forces to suppress, humiliate, beat and kill Dalits," he alleged. "An organisation which is built on the principles of inequality, discrimination, opportunism and domination shouldn't even claim to be nationalist in any possible sense," he said. New Delhi: A meeting of BJP chief ministers and deputy chief ministers in which the party top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will address them on the agenda of good governance and pro-poor measures got underway here today. BJP chief Amit Shah inaugurated the meeting, which will be addressed by Modi later in the evening. Party sources have said better coordination between the organisation and government, besides a stronger emphasis on "pro-poor" and developmental works is at the centre of the exercise. The chief ministers are expected to speak about their government's programmes aimed at executing the agenda. The meeting comes in the wake of a day-long workshop of the party's core committee leaders of states on Tuesday in which Modi pitched for reaching out to all sections of society, especially the poor, while Shah underlined the need for expanding the organisation and greater coordination. Modi had said that when the party is in power, then the aim should be to win over the masses with the government's work. The PM had also cautioned party leaders against some elements trying to divert their attention from the developmental agenda, in an apparent reference to several controversies stalking the party. Shimla: Three low-intensity earthquake quakes hit Himachal Pradesh on Saturday but there were no reports of damage to life or property, an official told IANS. In Rampur subdivision, all educational institutes were closed as a precaution since the area recorded around 15 small tremors, subdivisional magistrate Nishant Thakur told IANS over the phone. Official sources said the maximum impact of the quake was seen in Ani and Nirmand areas of Kullu district, besides Rampur in Shimla district. The first quake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit the state at 6.44 a.m. and the second and the third of 4.3 and 4.2 magnitude temblor struck at 7.05 a.m. and 9.08 a.m, local meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS. The epicentre of all the three quakes was recorded in the Kullu region. Bengaluru: The father of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani whose death on July 8 sparked off the current violent unrest in Kashmir Valley has met spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at his ashram in Bengaluru. A spokesman said that they discussed several issues. "Certainly, Ravi Shankar and Wani discussed several issues, including the current situation, about the suffering and how peace and normalcy can be restored in the (Kashmir) Valley during his stay in the ashram over the last two days," the spokesman said in a statement here. "It (discussion) was purely on a personal and humanitarian angle," the statement added. Earlier in the evening, Ravi Shankar tweeted that Wani stayed in his ashram on the city`s southern outskirts for the last two days and discussed several issues. The spiritual guru, the founder of the Art of Living, also tweeted a photo of himself with Muzaffar Wani. "Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues," Ravi Shankar tweeted. The news of the meeting was also retweeted by the Art of Living foundation. Burhan Wani, 22, educated and media savvy, had emerged as the poster boy of terrorism. He was killed in a gunfight with security forces on July 8 in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir. News of his death sparked massive protests across Kashmir, with thousands coming to attend his funeral. Over 70 people have died in clashes with security forces in Kashmir Valley since Wani`s death. Muscat: An Indian cargo ship loaded with vehicles and food supplies destined for Yemen sank on Saturday off the coast of Oman but without loss of life, media reports said. Omani fishermen and police rescued all 11 crew on board, Oman`s ONA state news agency reported. The vessel`s cargo was loaded in the UAE emirate of Sharjah, but the ship sank in the Arabian Sea 15 nautical miles off AS-Suwayh because of a "technical fault", it said. The Times of Oman said the ship was carrying 69 vehicles, food, tyres and engine oils and had been bound for the port of Mukalla in southeast Yemen. UAE daily Gulf News said the ship sank because of overloading. Srinagar: Separatists guerillas on Saturday killed a local policeman in Pulwama district in South Kashmir. A senior police officer told IANS in summer capital Srinagar, "Selection grade constable Irshad Ahmad Ganai was leaving his home in Koil village for duties when a militant appeared and shot him from a close range. The constable died on the spot." Two days back, militant hiding in a mob had launched two grenades at the mob controlling security forces injuring 15 security men, including three officers in the same district. Ghaziabad: Around 34,606 criminals have been sentenced in last one year in Uttar Pradesh, DGP (Prosecution) Surya Pratap Singh said here on Saturday. "The number of people who have been sentenced in last one year is more than one lakh. Leaving out the shorter sentences, this number stands at 34,606," he said. 6,244 people have been sentenced for more than 10 years in jail of which 33 for committing serious crimes, he added. In Ghaziabad during this period, he said, 736 criminals were sentenced for less than 10 years and 162 for over 10 years. Singh also hailed the role of witnesses in expediting the trial process. "The witnesses also play an important role in expediting the trial process. In a case in Hapur, the trial process took mere 13 days, which is exemplary," said Singh. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked all the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to finalise the agenda for welfare of the poor. He also asked the CMs to make their states a model for execution of central schemes, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. He also said that his party has formed a committee to finalised the pro-poor agenda for adoption by the party-ruled states. PM Modi has stressed on the need to optimise centre's schemes in BJP ruled states, PTI quoted Chouhan as saying. The meeting discussed about how we can implement the centre's policies in the states in a better way, he told reporters. The committee was also formed, under Chouhan's chairmanship, to prepare a uniform road map for the welfare of poor. His Maharashtra and Jharkhand counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Raghubar Das and party national vice-president Vinay Sahastrabuddhe are the members of the "Garib Kalyan Agenda Committee, which could focus on basic necessities of common man like 'Roti, Kapada aur Makaan, Padhai, Dawai aur Rozgar ke Intezam' (food, clothing, housing, education, medicine and employment opportunities). "A common agenda will be formulated and a road map will be prepaered by the committee in coming weeks so that basic necessities of poor would be fulfilled. This agenda will be implemented by all the BJP-ruled states," Chouhan said. The meeting was attended among others by nine Chief Ministers and three Deputy Chief Ministers, except Rajashthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who was pre-occupied. Earlier, BJP President Amit Shah said that his party has ushered in an era of "politics of performance" in the country and asked the states to play a big role in the implementation of schemes and to bring in good governance. He also urged BJP Chief Ministers to replicate schemes which are running successfully in other BJP-ruled states. "The BJP has started an era of politics of performance in the country and our target is to give a decisive, transparent and corruption free government, besides providing welfare schemes to the downtrodden," Shah said in his inaugural address. Shah said it is the joint responsibility of the central and state governments to build a pro-poor welfare state and change the life of the common man, adding that states play an important role in the development of the country. Noting the BJP-ruled state governments are those which got re-elected time and again on the basis of performance, he also hailed the party-led NDA government saying it "has brought greater esteem to Indian culture and taken it to new heights. The way the world looks at India has changed". Later talking to reporters, Fadnavis said the meet was focused on the welfare of the poor, middle class, marginalised sections, farmers and labourers. "States play an important role in the development of the country. There are more than a thousand BJP MLAs all over the country, (and) more than 300 MPs," Fadnavis said at a press conference quoting Amit Shah. He said 37 per cent of India's population resides in BJP-ruled states, which also account for about 52 per cent of the country's geographical area and 41 per cent of its GDP. "If BJP ruled states can succeed in bringing change, a big part of the country will be developed. The states would play a key role in the success of the Modi government's welfare policies as they are responsible for executing 65 of the 80 such schemes launched by it," he said. Fadnavis said having rapid development and change in BJP-ruled states would contribute to good governance of the country. In the first session of the meet, the Chief Ministers gave presentations on the prominent schemes they are running in their respective states with regard to the party's vision of "Antyodaya". Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said, Sharing schemes of one state for the betterment of others was also discussed among other things. How some schemes implemented in Chhattisgarh can also be implemented in other BJP-ruled states were also discussed, he added. The day-long meeting deliberated on the issues of good governance, welfare of the poor, upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab, among others. The chief ministers have also made presentations on various welfare schemes being implemented in their states. New Delhi: The leaked data on Indian Scorpene submarines was given by a "whistleblower" to The Australian, the newspaper said in a report, adding that the "whistleblower" would hand over the disk to the "government" on Monday. The article does not clarify if the reference is to the Australian government. A report by Cameron Stewart, who broke the report on the leak, told the story of how the 22,400 documents from French DCNS reached the newspaper continents away. It also said that the "whistleblower`s" hope is that this would "spur the Turnbull government and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia`s $50 billion submarine project does not suffer the same fate." "He says he is a whistleblower and maintains that revealing to the world, via The Australian, that this classified data exists in a dangerously uncontrolled form is worthwhile because it will serve Australia`s interests even if it causes an international furore," said the report. According to the report, the CD with the documents has been in Australia for more than two years. The report ruled out the "corporate war angle" that was given by DCNS and said for competitors to strike, Norway would have been a better place than Australia as DCNS is pitching its submarine for their Navy. Stewart wrote in the report: "But it seems that the story behind this leak may be more incompetence than espionage -- more Austin Powers than James Bond." He wrote quoting sources that the data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS. Stewart wrote that the subcontractor had copied some "sensitive data" from DCNS in France, and took it to "a Southeast Asian country". The two men worked there, "carrying out unclassified naval defence work". According to the report, the "speculation" is that the data on the Scorpene was removed to serve as a reference guide for the former naval officer`s new job. However, the two men are said to have "fallen out with their employer", a private company run by a Western businessman, following which they were sacked and not allowed inside the building. The company refused to give them the data, and sent the data later to its head office in Singapore where it was uploaded on an internet server. However, while the article in its opening lines implies the CD with the data was delivered to the "whistleblower" some time in April 2013, giving the timeline from Singapore it says the data was uploaded on an internet server on April 18, 2013, where it could have stayed for a few days or a year. It highlights here the information was vulnerable to hacking and it is now known if any adversaries chanced upon the information at that time. It was uploaded for "for the person in Sydney who was slated to replace the two sacked French workers." Later the data was sent in a CD to the person in Sydney through post, who realised it contained sensitive information about India`s submarine programme. As per the report, the receiver transferred the data to an encrypted disk and erased and destroyed the original CD. The information was lying with the person for almost two years since then. It was given to The Australian by the person, who says "he is a whistleblower". "He has not broken any laws and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday," the article says in its last line. By Ashish Pandey: The "power star" of Telugu film industry and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan finally joined the fight demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a massive rally in Tirupati the popularly star declared 'Hum Ladenge, Hum Jeetne Tak Ladengee' (We will fight, we will fight till we win). Pawan Kalyan was addressing a public meeting in Tirupati after a gap of two years. advertisement Andhra Pradesh's political circle was surprised with the impromptu political rally of Pawan Kalyan who owns a huge fan following particularly among youths. "I'm here to speak about Jana Sena party, performance of TDP government and delay in according special status and fulfilling other promises," Pawan Kalyan said while addressing the gathering at Indira Stadium in Tirupati. Kalyan reminded the crowd that during 2014 general election he had shared dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had made promise of providing special category status to Andhra Pradesh in the very city of Tirupati. "When I campaigned for TDP-BJP Combine, few leaders criticized me for being a sidekick of Modi and Chandrababu. I'm here for People not for pampering either Narendra Modi or Chandrababu Naidu" said Kalyan. SEEMANDHRA PEOPLE'S REVOLUTION Further questioning the Modi-led central government Pawan Kalyan said ,"Why Centre is playing with the lives of Seemandhrites? Congress and BJP have seen the love and patience. If they back track on the promises, they will get to know the revolution of Seemandhra People." The power star also questioned the ruling Telugu Desham Party and said that its Member of Parliament failed to mount pressure on Centre. "TDP MPs have been doing the same mistake committed by Congress MPs. Congress MPs, 'Madam, Please'. Now, TDP MPs plead, 'Sir, Please for Special Status," said Pawan Kalyan "Why TDP Government isn't reacting strongly? I ask CM Chandrababu Naidu to think, 'How fare is to hurt the self respect of Telugus?" he asked. Criticising the central minister Venkaiah Naidu who comes from Andhra Pradesh Kalyan said "You demanded 15 years special status for Andhra Pradesh during the debate on bifurcation in Rajya Sabha. Today, you are saying special status is not Sanjeevani." SLAMS UNION FINANCE MINISTER Kalyan also lashed out at Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who in Rajyasabha denied special category status to Andhra Pradesh. "We aren't beggars and special status is our right. We are vexed to hear that Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore, Rs3,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore. Focus on serious issues like special status not Gau Rakshaks," he said. "Chandrababu Naidu keeps saying 'We should be careful while dealing with Centre'. If you don't have anything to hide, what is the need to fear Centre? Why are you so scared ?" asked Pawan Kalyan. advertisement The Jana Sena chief appealed TDP and YSR Congress to come under the same platform and fight for people instead of fighting with each other. TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO SEVERAL DISTRICTS Kalyan announced that he will take the fight for special status to the villages. He will tour all the district head quarters to question the leaders who cheated people. He also announced his next meeting in Kakinada. Warning the government Pawan Kalyan said that If Centre does not accord Special Status even after then, they will intensify the movement. Expressing grief over the death of one of his fans in a clash with other star follower he said, "I wish to appeal all my fans not to clash with anyone. Do not spoil your future just by indulging in such unnecessary issues. The murder of Vinod Royal is painful and I bow down to his mother who donated his son's eyes." Also read: Pawan Kalyan readies to hold public meet tomorrow --- ENDS --- Srinagar: At least 25 people were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Kashmir on Saturday even as the death toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley reached 68 amid curfew in many parts of the region. Police recovered the body of a youth from River Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag district this morning, a police official said. He said locals alleged that Shahnawaz Khatana had drowned in the river yesterday when security forces chased a group of stone-pelters in the area. With this death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir has gone up to 68. A police spokesman said barring five incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Shopian and Bandipora districts, the overall situation in the Valley remained peaceful and under control. "The stone pelting incidents were reported from Barbugh, Hillow, Kadgam in Shopian, Sangam in Anantnag and Watpora-Potshah in Bandipora," the spokesman said. He said some miscreants in order to disturb the situation assembled on roads and allegedly pelted stones on police and security force deployments. While the spokesman did not mention the number of those injured in the clashes, police sources said at least 25 people sustained injuries during incidents at these places. Authorities had to reimpose curfew in Anantnag town and adjoining areas in view of violent protests in Sangam area, the official said. Curfew from the south Kashmir town was briefly lifted this morning after remaining in force for 49 days. Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and two south Kashmir towns of Pulwama and Pampore to maintain law and order in view of the separatist plans to march towards the headquarters of Army at Badamibagh here. He also said restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was taken into preventive custody as he tried to defy house arrest in order to march to the Army headquarters for handing a letter to the General Officer Commanding asking the forces to "vacate Jammu and Kashmir". Violent protests have been going on for the past 50 days in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Normal life remained paralysed for the 50th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday slammed Pakistan for opening provoking tension and fuelling protests in the Kashmir valley. "Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in Kashmir valley," Mehbooba Mufti told reporters after her meeting with PM Narendra Modi. "PM Modi, like all of us, is very concerned with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir", Mehbooba said. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that the situation in Kashmir has been bad since 2008. "The UPA government had ignored the situation after the 2008 unrest. But PM Modi is trying to resolve the situation," she said. Mehbooba praised PM Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh for taking initiatives to start a dialouge with Pakistan. "PM Modi reached out to Pakistan, went to Lahore, but then Pathankot happened. Home minister Rajnath Singh also went to Islambad. Unfortunately, Pakistan has repeatedly given up chances to talk and resolve the issue of violence in Kashmir," the J&K CM said. "Now, it is time for Pakistan to respond if it wants peace in Kashmir," she added. Meantime, Mehbooba also urged Separatists to come forward and help the state government in saving lives of innocent youth in the state. "As a mother, I am pained to see that kids are being told to go out and stone police stations. Will stone-pelting solve the issue," she asked. This is the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the protests erupted in the valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter with the security forces on July 8. Srinagar: Curfew was on Saturday lifted from south Kashmir's Anantnag town after 49 days, even as it remained in force in some other parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, to maintain law and order in view of the separatist plans to march towards the headquarters of Army at Badamibagh here. Curfew was lifted from Anantnag town this morning but restrictions on the assembly of people remain in force, a police official said. He said it was for the first time that the curfew was lifted in the south Kashmir town ever since it was clamped on July 9 following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces a day earlier. The official, however, said curfew continued in entire Srinagar and two south Kashmir towns of Pulwama and Pampore. He also said restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. The separatists have called for a march towards Chinar Corps army's headquarter in Kashmir at Badamibagh cantonment here. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 50th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1. As many as 68 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9. Jammu: Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police and defence expert M.M. Khajuria on Saturday said the expected meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has to be seen as critical since there is an impression that the Centre and the state government are not on the same page. Khajuria told ANI that Mehbooba Mufti appeared combative, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was conciliatory during their recent joint press conference held in Srinagar. "Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was very categorical and combative about the role of anti-national forces in the current terrorist situation in Kashmir, the Home Minister was conciliatory, and the manner in which the press conference ended, the Home Minister was suggesting restraint on the part of the chief minister. It gave the impression that they are not on the same page," he said. He further added that Mehbooba Mufti had two options -- either to seek a clear cut policy directive from the Prime Mistier or invoke measures to ease the situation in the Kashmir valley. "I believe the chief minister will be putting her point of view before the Prime Minister and seek a clear-cut policy direction. She can insist on introduction of calling confidence building measures to ease the situation in Kashmir based on the agenda of the alliance. We will have to wait and see where it will go from here," he said. Mehbooba Mufti will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and is expected to discuss the current state of unrest in the valley. This is the first meeting between the two after the unrest broke out in the valley on July 8, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in Anantnag by security forces. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi met a delegation of opposition parties from the state led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah. The Prime Minister had expressed his deep concern and pain over the situation in the valley and asked all political parties to work together to find a permanent and lasting solution to problems in the state. Srinagar: Separatists guerillas on Saturday killed a local policeman in Pulwama district in South Kashmir. A senior police officer told IANS in summer capital Srinagar, "Selection grade constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai was leaving his home in Koil village for duties when a militant appeared and shot him from a close range. The constable died on the spot." Two days back, militant hiding in a mob had launched two grenades at the mob controlling security forces injuring 15 security men, including three officers in the same district. Jammu: A 54-year-old Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrim died apparently after suffering a heart attack in Katra town of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district today. Koushal Chand, a resident of Delhi, fell unconscious while taking a bath at Bhawan and was taken to the nearby dispensary by his relatives, a police officer said. The doctors examining him declared him brought dead and said that the apparent cause of the death seems to be heart attack, the officer said. The body of the deceased has been shifted to the community health centre in Katra for legal and medical formalities after which it would be handed over to the relatives, he said, adding that a case has been registered. Lucknow: Almost 27 years after he ordered firing on 'Kar Sevaks' in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday once again expressed his regret over the incident and said 'the decision to order fire on them was a mistake'. Mulayam was referring to the firing at Babri Masjid in 1990 when he was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. "I regret giving orders to shoot Kar Sevaks at Ayodhya in 1991. My decision to order for firing at Kar Ssevaks was to save Muslim minorities. This decision was needed to keep intact the faith of Muslims, the minorities in this country. However, it is also true that Samajwadi Party base had expanded after that incident," Mulayam Singh Yadav said. The Samajwadi Party supremo was addressing party workers to commemorate the death anniversary of Janeshwar Mishra at Janeshwar Mishra in Lucknow. "I regret even now that sixteen people had died in the firing incident in Ayodhya," Mulayam said. He added further that 'had even 30 killed in the firing incident in 1990, he would have stayed intact as there was no other option available then. Country's unity is paramount'. At least sixteen people were killed in the firing incident and several others were left wounded after Mulayam's firing order on Kar Sevaks in 1990. The BJP-backed VHP Ram temple movement was at the peak at that time. Mulayam, who was then the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, had to resign from his post following severe criticism from across the nation. Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) on Saturday cautioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to become roadblock to progressive democracy, and instead, come up with solutions to resolve existing problems. BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI, "Earlier it used to be the AAP party, now Mamata Banerjee seems to have joined the bandwagon. I would only like to say that you should outline your concretes suggestions and concrete solutions, rather than being a roadblock to progressive democracy." The BJP has called on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo to uphold the dignity of her post and not stoop down low for political gain. "No chief minister can make such petty statements about the Prime Minister. With regard to providing financial assistance, the West Bengal Government has received a majority of the Centre's attention. She should uphold the dignity of her post," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI. Kolkata: At least three people were charred to death and over fifty others were left injured after a massive fire broke out at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in the state of West Bengal on Saturday, a report said. As per the report, two female staff were killed in the tragic incident whereas fifty children were left with burn children after the fire broke out in the hospital early today. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the formation of a committee to probe the fire tragedy at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. CM Mamata, who will be personally monitoring the situation, has asked the state police, fire department, and health department to submit detailed reports on the incident. The fire broke at the male surgical ward on the first floor of the hospital, a source told media, adding that short circuit is believed to be the reason behind the incident. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the incident. In a footage shared online, rescuers and civilians are seen rushing into the building to assist the people engulfed in smoke. There is no information about how bedridden patients in the hospital can be rescued. Some infants inside the hospital are reportedly said to have gone missing after the fire broke out. According to another visual shared, hospital patients were seen breaking windows to escape the fire and the billowing smoke. Meanwhile, fire tenders have reached the hospital and are trying to douse the fire. More details awaited. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) The Centre today sought a detailed report into the incident in which three elephants were run over by a train in South-Eastern Railways Bankura-Howrah section of West Bengal. Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave has asked authorities to ascertain the exact reasons behind the accident and also directed state forest department to put in place appropriate measures for the conservation of elephants after discussing the issue with railways. advertisement "The Minister has sought a detailed report on the train accident in Bishnupur area of West Bengal yesterday, in which three elephants were killed. Dave has asked all local authorities concerned to ascertain the exact reasons behind the train accident. "The Environment Minister has also directed State Forest Department officials to discuss the issue with Railway authorities and put in place appropriate measures for the conservation of elephants," an official statement said. Two elephant calves and their mother were knocked down by the Kharagpur-Adra Passenger at around 7:30 PM yesterday. The train moved on but the jumbos mutilated carcasses spread across the tracks between Bisnupur in Bankura and Piyardoba in West Midnapore for over two hours disrupted train movement in the section. The Ministry said that it has initiated steps to prepare a Regional Landscape Plan for conservation of elephants in the East Central Elephant Landscape, comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and other elephant areas. The West Bengal forest department has also prepared a three-year action plan for controlling human-elephant conflict in South Bengal. The state forest department will send SMS alerts to railway authorities on movement of elephants near railway tracks to prevent accidents, the statement said. State forest department officials are scheduled to hold a a meeting with railway authorities today, following yesterdays train accident in Bishnpur area of West Bengal. According to reports, the pachyderm family was crossing the track, skirted by dense forest on both sides, when the mishap occurred yesterday. PTI TDS DV --- ENDS --- Washington: Democrat Hillary Clinton called on Friday for voters to reject the "bigotry" of Donald Trump`s White House campaign, releasing a television ad criticizing his efforts to appeal to black voters and saying she was reaching out to people from all parties who are troubled by his candidacy. The ad shows video of Trump`s controversial pitch to black voters, in which the Republican candidate urges them to support him by asking, "What do you have to lose?" It also shows headlines about a racial discrimination lawsuit the New York real estate mogul faced in the 1970s. Clinton`s presidential campaign said the ad, released a day after she gave a speech accusing Trump of fueling America`s "radical fringe," would air in the hotly contested states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Polls give Clinton a wide margin over Trump among Hispanic voters, but he is on a pitch to reduce her advantage by stressing he would create jobs for all. Trump pressed on with trying to broaden his appeal to minority voters on Friday, as he met with Hispanic business leaders at his signature hotel in Las Vegas. "We`ve been doing very, very well with the Latinos. Weve been doing amazing, far, far greater ... than anyone understands. They want to see jobs come in, were going to bring jobs. They want to see things happen," Trump said. He said the country`s GDP growth rate of 1.1 percent in the second quarter was not a good sign for the U.S. economy. "The country has some very, very serious problems," he said. Clinton, meanwhile, followed up on Thursday`s tough speech by saying that Trump`s temperament and divisiveness made him unfit for the White House. "I am reaching out to everyone, Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone who is as troubled as I am by the bigotry and divisiveness of Donald Trump`s campaign," she told MSNBC, adding she was asking "fair-minded Americans to repudiate this kind of divisive demagoguery" at the Nov. 8 election. Clinton attacks came during a difficult week for her campaign, as the release of new emails from her time as secretary of state revived criticism of her decision to use a private address and server rather than a government one. The emails also stoked scrutiny of her family`s charitable foundation, including accusations that major corporate and foreign donors gave money in hopes of securing more access to then-Secretary Clinton. Her campaign says no donors received any special favors. Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told MSNBC Clinton was only talking about Trump and race this week to deflect attention from that controversy. Trump countered her rhetoric on Friday by releasing a video showing Clinton in the 1990s discussing a crime bill and referring to "super-predators," or at-risk youth she said needed to be brought under control. The video also shows U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton`s main opponent in the Democratic primary this year, calling that phrase a "racist term." CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS In targeting what she terms Trump`s bigotry, Clinton hopes to remind voters of controversial statements he has made over the course of the campaign. Those include describing some Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, suggesting a judge could not be fair because of his Mexican-American heritage, and proposing a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to combat terrorism. Trump has tried to sidestep these dust-ups by saying Democrats have failed minorities with their economic policies, leaving them living in poverty and attending failing schools. Jennifer Hochschild, a professor at Harvard University who focuses on race and immigration, said she did not think Trump could fix his relationship with black and Hispanic voters. "General cluelessness about racial dynamics will diminish any possible black support that comes from Trump`s emphasis on job creation," Hochschild said in an email. "And Clinton has a lot of deep roots among black politicians." Trump also has been criticized for vowing to deport millions of people living in the United States illegally. In recent days, he had appeared to hold out the possibility of toning down his hardline stance, although his precise plans on immigration have been harder to pin down. On Thursday, he denied he would loosen his proposed immigration restrictions. District of Columbia: This was supposed to be the new -- new! -- Donald Trump, the more temperate Republican candidate who had emerged in the past two weeks seeking to broaden his appeal to a more diverse electorate. But with the presidential election just two-and-a-half months away, Americans seem decidedly unimpressed by this latest in a long series of tweaks, turns and transformations. The White House hopeful has been more disciplined in form, reading from prepared speeches and focusing his fire on his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, pounding away at the theme that donors to the Clinton Foundation charity were given special access to the then-secretary of state and her aides. And in terms of substance, he has polished his message, spending more time on the economy and reaching out to minority voters, particularly blacks and Hispanics. By presenting that seemingly less abrasive and more tolerant image, Trump hopes to accomplish two objectives: to gain support in minority communities where Clinton holds an overwhelming advantage, and to persuade middle-class whites offended by his more contentious rhetoric that they can safely return to the Republican fold. "He`s trying to do both; he will probably succeed at neither," said Larry Sabato, a veteran political scientist with the University of Virginia. The wealthy New York populist has chosen a risky line of attack against Clinton, accusing her of being not just corrupt but a cynical and uncaring racist. "Democratic politicians have run nearly every inner-city in America for 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 years. Their policies have produced only more poverty, total joblessness, and failing schools," Trump said Thursday in New Hampshire. "She doesn`t care. She`s too busy raking in cash from people and rigging the system and taking the African American vote and the Hispanic vote and saying, `We`re going to do a great job.` And right after the election, it`s `bye-bye, I`ll see you in four years.`" Whether this offensive bears fruit may not become clear for a few weeks. Polls so far show Clinton doing a bit better among minorities even than Barack Obama did in 2012, with support from more than three in four voters, according to a new Quinnipiac Poll. But it seems unlikely that minority voters will forget the xenophobic vitriol of the past year in just a few weeks. "I have not encountered a presidential candidate since George Wallace whose very name causes minorities to cringe as much," Sabato said, referring to the late Alabama governor who once said he stood for racial segregation "forever." "It`s just widespread -- African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Muslim Americans -- and that`s 30 percent of the electorate in November. He will be lucky -- and I mean lucky -- to get 15 percent" of the minority vote.As for white voters, Donald Trump is doing less well than his Republican predecessor of 2012, the patrician (and far more conventional) Mitt Romney. To be sure, 58 percent of whites without a college degree support Trump, won over by his brash, populist message. That voter bloc, disillusioned, marginalized by globalization and contemptuous of the nation`s elites, represented about 45 percent of the overall electorate in 2012, according to The New York Times. But this advantage among "blue collar" whites is not enough to make up for Trump`s popularity deficit among better-educated whites. Clinton`s star has risen spectacularly this summer among whites with college degrees. According to the latest ABC/Washington Post poll, 50 percent of them now support the Democratic candidate, up from 42 percent in early July. In short, support from the less-educated whites of the "Rust Belt" states hit so hard by factory closings and job outsourcing will not be enough to help Trump overcome Clinton`s big edge among minorities and educated whites. "This whole week has been about trying to pick up a few additional minority supporters," Sabato said. "I believe he will fail. And it`s been about trying to reassure more moderate white Republicans that he is not a racist." But while "many of these same moderate white Republicans believe in civility, he`s the least civil candidate in modern times." Clinton meantime has done her utmost to remove any doubts about who she says the "real" Donald Trump is: a populist who has awakened America`s far right and aroused the worst nationalist elements of the conservative movement.Thus the Republican candidate finds himself torn between being the old thundering Trump who managed to galvanize large numbers of conservatives, and the "new" Trump, whose sincerity seems suspect to moderate Americans. The events of the past week illustrate his strategic dilemma. In the space of 48 hours, Trump promised a "softening" of his plan to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants, and then, faced by the angry outcry his attempt at moderation had unleashed on the right, said what he meant was a "hardening." "How can you call a campaign coherent that can`t even explain what its central issue is?" Sabato said. "He can`t even describe what his position is on immigration." Trump will probably have to clarify exactly where he stands on immigration in coming days -- just the latest course correction from a candidate who sometimes seems to have no clear course. Bogota: The historic ceasefire between Colombia`s government and the FARC rebel group will not end the government`s commitment to fighting crime, the country`s defense minister said Friday. "We are in a ceasefire (with the FARC), but will not cease persecuting crime," Luis Carlos Villegas said. Soldiers and police would continue to combat kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal mining and human trafficking even after the ceasefire officially begins Monday, he added. "We hope that this component of the ceasefire with the FARC, concerning criminal activity, will be fully implemented," he said. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered a definitive ceasefire with the Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Thursday after the two sides reached a landmark deal to end their half-century conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes. That announcement came after negotiators from the government and the FARC presented the 297-page peace accord Wednesday, after nearly four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba. The fate of the accord now comes down to a decisive yes-or-no vote on October 2. Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, faces a tough political battle to win the referendum. The president`s top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, who is leading the "No" campaign, argues his successor has given away too much to the FARC. Uribe said on Friday that the peace accord will "make the FARC a paramilitary group, a partner of the state to fight other criminals." Crime groups emerged from right-wing paramilitary death squads disbanded during the 2002-2010 Uribe presidency. The defense minister also indicated Friday that 16,500 soldiers and police would be available to help carry out the peace agreement. The forces will support security efforts as FARC rebels move 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, and special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict. Moscow: A fire in a warehouse at a Moscow printing works killed at least 16 people on Saturday morning, an Emergencies Ministry official told Rossiya-24 TV station. "Sixteen bodies were found in a room, four injured were brought to hospitals in Moscow. The fire was completely put out by 0953 (0653 GMT)," he said. The ministry said on its website that 12 people were rescued. The TV station said the people, who lived and worked at the depot, were mostly from former Soviet Union countries. The reason for the fire has not immediately been disclosed. Lax fire safety standards have often been blamed for such incidents in Russia. Ascoli Piceno: Flags flew at half mast across Italy today as the country observed a day of mourning for the victims of an earthquake that killed nearly 300 people. President Sergio Mattarella paid tribute to the "extraordinary effort" of more than 4,000 rescue experts and volunteers as he began what was set to be an emotionally charged day with a brief visit to Amatrice, around 100 kilometres northeast of Rome. The small mountain town suffered the heaviest losses in the disaster with around two thirds of the quake's 284 confirmed victims buried under tonnes of collapsed masonry in its devastated centre. The elderly head of state looked visibly moved as he contemplated the site of a razed house on the edge of a zone that has been sealed off by rescue workers for fear of further collapses. There are fears more bodies will be recovered in Amatrice, a holiday spot that was packed with visitors when the powerful quake struck in the early hours of Wednesday. And of the nearly 400 people hospitalised, several are reportedly in a critical state. Emergency services are more confident that they have accounted for everyone in the smaller outlying hamlets to the north of Amatrice -- some of which have been so badly damaged there are doubts as to whether they will ever be inhabited again. The one-street village of Saletta had less than 20 permanent residents but with its population swollen by summer visitors 22 people died there. "Saletta will disappear like so many tiny places," predicted Marco Beltrame. The 28-year-old lost his aunt and uncle in the quake. Mattarella was also due to visit the village of Accumoli before joining Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at a funeral for some of the victims in Ascoli Piceno, capital of Marche, one of three regions affected by the quake. The first grieving families to bury their dead did so yesterday evening in Pomezia. There were tear-drenched scenes as hundreds of residents of the small town south of Rome turned out to pay their respects to lost relatives, friends and neighbours who included an eight-year-old boy. A large number of the victims were from the Rome area, where many former inhabitants of the mountains have moved for work, returning to family homes only at the height of summer. At least eight foreigners died, including three Britons, two Romanians and nationals of Canada, El Salvador and Spain. Today's funeral was for some of the 46 people who died in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto, located in the mountains where Marche meets neighbouring Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo. A local gymnasium has been transformed into a chapel, where bereaved relatives came to pray in front of 30 coffins. Harare Province: Zimbabwe`s President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned that the Arab Spring style of protests would fall flat in Zimbabwe after police fired teargas and beat up protesters staging the latest of a string of highly charged demonstrations. Dozens of police blocked off the site of the opposition rally for electoral reforms by 2018, when 92-year-old Mugabe who has ruled the southern African country for decades will seek re-election. The protesters responded to the clampdown by throwing stones at the police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe. "They are burning types in the streets in order to get into power. They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that is not going to happen here," said Mugabe in remarks broadcast by state television. "What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country," said Mugabe accusing foreign powers of having a hand in the unrest. AFP correspondents saw armed police firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters gathered on the fringes of the central business district who were waiting for the march to start. Some people caught up in the melee, including children going to a nearby agricultural show, ran for shelter in the magistrate`s court while riot police pursued the protesters and threatened journalists covering the rally. The usually-bustling pavements were clear of street hawkers and some shops were shut, as rocks, sticks and burning tyres were strewn across the streets. Opposition protesters also clashed with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had refused to clear their street stalls. ZANU-PF youths hurled stones at the opposition activists but were overpowered and their stalls set on fire. The march was organised by 18 opposition parties including the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe People First formed this year by former vice president Joice Mujuru. Opposition leaders condemned the brutal repression of the protest and vowed to increase pressure on Mugabe`s regime. "If that was meant to cow us from demonstrating, I want to say we are going to do the same next week Friday," former Mugabe ally and ex-cabinet minister Didymus Mutasa told reporters. Protests "will continue until the day we vote", said Mutasa, a former top member of ZANU-PF who is now a senior member of Mujuru`s party. "We have had enough of ZANU-PF misrule." Tsvangirai said the public would not be easily calmed. "The people`s anger is very deep. The people`s desperation is very deep," he said. "Today`s brutal suppression of the people will not stop them from exercising their rights."Tsvangirai said the regime was in its "sunset hour", warning that efforts to suppress the protests would backfire. "Citizens are like a spring: the more they are suppressed, the greater the rebound," he said. Charles Laurie, an analyst with Verisk Maplecroft in London, agreed that the government was on the verge of losing control. "The government is nearing a tipping point in its ability to control a population long used to violence and hardship, and who now have little to lose in putting themselves at risk in forcing political concessions," he told AFP. Police broke up the protest despite a court ordering them not to interfere or disrupt the march. Authorities said the had arrested 67 people, and lawyers said one of them was a journalist. Several foreign diplomatic missions based in Harare called on the authorities to ensure that basic human rights and freedoms are respected during policing.The US embassy expressed "deep concern over reports of violence during some of the protests" and called on government to "exhibit restraint" and respect human rights. And the Canadian embassy also said it was "increasingly concerned with reports of violence and human rights violations in response to public protest" while the Australian mission said the use of violence was "not acceptable under any circumstance". Friday`s march was to demand free and fair elections. The last elections in 2013 were won by Mugabe in a vote the opposition said was rigged. Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980. Under his rule, there has been an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. Seoul: North Korea is making progress on a submarine-launched ballistic missile system but any deployment of the technology is years away, a US think tank said, as the UN Security Council promised action over Pyongyang's latest test. The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said late Friday on its closely-watched website, 38 North, that the success of North Korea`s SLBM test this week suggests the program may be progressing faster than originally expected. "However, this does not mean it will be ready next week, next month, or even next year", it said. "Rather, the pace and method of the North`s SLBM testing would suggest possible deployment in an initial operational capability by the second half of 2018 at the earliest." The missile, launched from a submerged prototype "Gorae-class" submarine near the northeastern port of Sinpo, flew 500 kilometres (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. Following the test, the UN Security Council agreed on Friday to "take further significant measures" against North Korea, without elaborating. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Despite the North`s successful test this week, the country faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile. Last month, 38 North reported the North was building up infrastructure to construct new submarines at the Sinpo South Shipyard. "A new submarine could probably be built within a two to three year time frame, but the likelihood of building new models without further testing and refinement of the experimental Gorae-class seems low", it said. But this is no information about whether actual submarine construction has begun, it added. Seoul: North Korea on Saturday threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by "provocative" American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army accused US and South Korean soldiers of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since yesterday evening. The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the "brink of war" due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the US and South Korea that Pyongyang says are an invasion rehearsal. "Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots," the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. "The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation," it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. On Tuesday, the American-led UN Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the UN Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile-wide DMZ. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the DMZ. In August 2015, land mine blasts that Seoul blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused tensions between the two Koreas to flare. New Delhi: In a move which would further escalate tension between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is reportedly planning to send a group of emissaries to different parts of the world to raise the Kashmir issue. PM Sharif has reportedly selected 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has upped the ante against India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issues of people living in Balochistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He accused the Pakistani government of blatant human rights violations against the Baloch and Kashmiri people. Islamabad had also recently announced to take up the Kashmir issue at different international forums, including the United Nations. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the World. These special envoys have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government", Sharif said in a statement. "I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir Cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September", he added. Sharif said that Pakistan will remind the United Nations of its long-held promise of self determination to the Kashmiri people and make it clear to India that it was India that approached the bloc several decades back on the issue but not fulfilling its promise. Jammu and Kashmir has been under curfew since protests broke out over the killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. At least 70 civilians have died in clashes between protesters and security forces and thousands injured in the worst violence to hit the Valley in many years. Various Baloch rights leaders have praised PM Modi for his comments, prompting Pakistan to lodge FIRs against them for their open support to India. On Saturday, the overseas Baloch have the Indian flag in Leipzig, Germany while protesting against Pakistan. Upping the ante, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday, Our responsibility (is) that we free PoK and Gilgit Baltistan from the illegal occupation of Pakistan. Gardez: 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. Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighbouring Khost province and Pakistan. "Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight. "If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said. The attack comes amid heavy fighting in other parts of Afghanistan, notably in the southern province of Helmand, where U.S. military advisers have been deployed to bolster the defences, and around the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly to the insurgents last year. More than 20 soldiers and police were killed and another 20 wounded in the fighting overnight, while some 200 Taliban insurgents were killed, Solamal said. There was no immediate means of verifying the claims of Taliban casualties. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement dozens of Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in Jani Khel and large amounts of equipment had been captured, including armoured vehicles, light and heavy weapons and ammunition. According to U.S. estimates reported in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a Congressional oversight body, Afghan forces control or influence just under 66 percent of the national territory, down from just over 70 percent at the start of the year. The reduction was partly due to security forces pulling back from exposed areas and concentrating their strength, but after a lull following the death of former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in May the Taliban have stepped up their summer offensive. Some 36 of the 407 districts in the country were under insurgent control or influence, while another 104 were deemed "at risk", SIGAR said. In an apparent reference to the war of words between the two countries, US cautioned against indulging in rhetoric. By Press Trust of India: India and Pakistan should continue a dialogue process to address their differences and issues, including Kashmir, the US has said as it asked the two nations to refrain from indulging in rhetoric. "What I would say that the extent to which both countries are seeking to continue a dialogue process that will do more to address concerns and tensions than perhaps other approaches. So I would just say that it is our hope and our counsel to (the two) continue to push forward on a process of talks between the two governments to try to address concerns," a senior State Department official said. advertisement The United States, the official noted, has also said that with respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that it believes that this is something that the two countries need to determine through the dialogue. "Nothing has changed in terms of the US position and perspective on that and we do encourage the two countries to continue the dialogue process that allows them to process areas of concerns in both countries," the official said in response to a question. In an apparent reference to the war of words between the two countries, the official cautioned against indulging in rhetoric. "I think, when you start going into a situation where there is rhetoric that flies that is rarely going to be conducive to push forward a dialogue process," the official said. "At the same time, we have understood and the concerns and frustrations that has been expressed with respect to terrorism. "We have been very firm in our statements, public and private that there has to be actions against terrorist groups wherever they may operate there cannot be a safe haven for terrorist groups and that there cannot be any distinction made. We have urged for robust cooperation to try to address those concerns," said the senior State Department official. On issue of Balochistan, the US said that it "strongly supports" the territorial integrity of Pakistan. The remarks came after Baloch leaders in exile demanded freedom from Pakistan, called for an independent referendum under UN supervision and criticised US President Barack Obama for not taking up the issue of gross human rights violations in this restive Pakistan province. "The United States has strongly supported the territorial integrity of Pakistan," the official said. "We certainly have expressed concerns as they have come up human rights concerns with respect to various countries and relationships. I am not going to comment on the Prime Ministers' remarks. I think that is for the Indian government to characterise," the State Department official said. --- ENDS --- Tunis: Tunisia`s parliament on Friday resoundingly approved the unity government of Youssef Chahed, backing a new cabinet line-up which will have to tackle the country`s pressing socio-economic and security challenges. There were 167 votes in favour, 22 against and five abstentions. The cabinet, headed by Chahed -- who at 40 will become the country`s youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956 -- is set to take office in the coming days. The parliamentary vote of confidence for the unity government brings to an end some three months of intense negotiations. President Beji Caid Essebsi said in June that he would support a government of national unity, faced with rising criticism of the government of Habib Essid. Chahed was appointed prime minister-designate by Essebsi early this month after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in then-premier Habib Essid`s government following just 18 months in office. Chahed, a member of Essebsi`s Nidaa Tounes party, will become the North African nation`s seventh head of government in less than six years. His 27-strong cabinet draws its members from all parties, including the Islamist Ennahda party, and includes eight women "in important" positions and "14 young" ministers. While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring, the authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty, unemployment, regional disparities and corruption that preceded the 2011 fall of then-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Chahed`s new government will also have to address security after a wave of jihadist attacks, including two that killed dozens of foreign tourists last year. The vote on the new cabinet comes after Tunisia in January witnessed its worst social unrest since the 2011 uprising. Tunis: The Tunisian Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) approved on Friday night the line-up of new national united government headed by Youssef Chahed, with 167 pros, 22 cons and five abstentions. The government of 40-year-old Chahed, is composed of 26 ministers and 14 secretaries of state, including eight female members and 14 young members, Xinhua news agency reported. Five members are less than 35 years old. Chahed will be the youngest Prime Minister since the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956. Questioned by the deputies, Chahed acknowledged some faults during the past five years and six governments since the revolution in 2011. "We have failed in the past five years... to accomplish our principal objectives," said Chahed, warning this year will be quite difficult and 2017 might be even tougher. "Our country has now 650,000 unemployed population... We predicted the growth could reach 2.5 per cent in 2016 but in fact we might not exceed 1.5 per cent." According to the new prime minister, his cabinet will have to deal with the deficit, the payment balance and the debt. "The next stage will be more serious," said Chahed who will probably take tight fiscal policy and austere measures. "In order to face our problems, we should transfer the national united government from a simple concept into an executable practice, and then into an attitude," Chahed added. The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned North Korea for test-firing ballistic missiles and agreed to take "significant measures" in response the latest series of launches. The 15-member council issued the toughly-worded condemnation in a unanimous statement drafted by the United States and backed by China, Pyongyang`s main ally. Council members agreed to "continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures," said the statement, without elaborating. North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006. In March, the council adopted the toughest sanctions resolution to date, targeting North Korea`s trade in minerals and tightening banking restrictions. The council met behind closed doors on Wednesday after North Korea launched a missile from a submarine towards Japan, the latest provocation from Pyongyang. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the missile breached his country`s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an "unforgivable, reckless act" and a grave threat to Japan`s security. The council condemned that launch as well as another on August 2 that for the first time fell in Japanese controlled-waters and two other missile tests on July 9 and 18, saying these were all "in grave violation" of UN resolutions. North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. The council statement was adopted after several rounds of negotiations with China, which has insisted over recent weeks on the need to avoid an escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula. A previous bid by the council to condemn North Korea for firing a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters on August 2 ran aground after China sought changes to the text. The council was unable to agree after Beijing pressed for language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defense system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea. In Friday`s statement, the council expressed serious concern that North Korea carried out the latest series of missile launches despite repeated appeals to Pyongyang to reverse course. North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday boasted that the latest submarine-launched missile test was the "greatest success", putting the US mainland and the Pacific "within the striking range." Council members again demanded that North Korea "refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions". Geneva: The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they still have issues to resolve before an agreement could be announced. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, addressing a joint news conference after more than nine hours of off-and-on talks in Geneva, said teams from both sides would try to finalize details in coming days in the Swiss city. Kerry said the talks with Lavrov had "achieved clarity on the path forward" but together they offered few details on how they planned to renew a February cessation of hostilities and improve humanitarian assistance. "We don`t want to have a deal for the sake of the deal," Kerry said. "We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution." The talks have been complicated since initial meetings in July by new government attacks on opposition groups, and a significant offensive in the southern part of the divided city of Aleppo led by opposition fighters intermingled with the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate also seeking to topple Russian-backed President Bashar al-Assad. In the days ahead the technical teams, which include U.S. and Russian military and intelligence experts, will try to figure out ways to separate the opposition groups, backed by the United States and Gulf Arab countries, from the jihadis. It was unclear after Friday`s meetings whether outstanding issues could all be resolved between Moscow and Washington, which back opposing parties in the Syrian conflict. The United States has insisted that the Syrian air force, which has dropped barrel bombs and chlorine on residential areas, be grounded but Lavrov said on Friday that was not the goal. Assad`s future is not part of the current talks. Instead, discussions are focused on finding an effective and lasting solution to end the violence, which would open negotiations on a political transition in Syria. "If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities - the regime violations and the increasing influence of the al-Nusra Front," Kerry said. Kerry believes the plan is the best chance to limit fighting that is driving thousands of Syrians into exile in Europe and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching tens of thousands more. The talks came as opposition groups effectively surrendered the Damascus suburb of Daraya to the government after a grueling four-year siege. Kerry said the Syrian regime had "forced the surrender" of Daraya in contravention of the February cessation of hostilities agreement, but Lavrov said the local accord was an "example" that should be "replicated". The Russian foreign minister said another besieged area was "interested in such an operation with mediation of the Russian Federation." He did not name the area. Residents and insurgents in Daraya began to leave the besieged area where civilians have been trapped since 2012 and the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern for their safety. The Pakistani official also hit back at India, over its claims that Pakistan must extradite fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan. By India Today Web Desk: Amid ongoing war of words between India and Pakistan, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, today said that Pakistan is ready to discuss the Kashmir dispute with its Indian counterpart. Addressing the media, Abdul Basit said, "You all know that we took a step towards having dialogue but that didn't work out. We did send invite to India but that did not move forward. We do feel talks on Kashmir is needed." advertisement The Pakistani official also hit back at India over its claims that Pakistan must extradite fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Reacting to Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup's statements, Basit said, "Ye baat purani ho gayee hai (This is an old issue)". "Ye baat purani ho gayee hai" Abdul Basit, Pak HC to India when asked about Dawood's homes in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/1QSlj6J8C4; ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 On Friday, Vikas Swarup said that Pakistan must extradite fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim whom they have provided sanctuary for long. "We hope that Pakistan will heed international opinion on this issue," Vikas Swarup said. Swarup's remarks came after the designated global terrorist's presence in Pakistan was confirmed by United Nations. Six of nine addresses provided by India were found to be correct by a UN committee. Also read: Pakistan must extradite Dawood Ibrahim: Vikas Swarup --- ENDS --- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne, pictured on May 5, 2016, said the company is cooperating with authorities from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department probing the company's reporting Allegations that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles falsified US sales data are meritless and the company's financial reports are "totally accurate," chief executive Sergio Marchionne told reporters Friday. Marchionne said the FCA is cooperating with authorities from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department probing the company's reporting after it was forced to restate unit sales for the past five years last month, revising the way it counted vehicle turnover. The move came after a Fiat Chrysler dealer group sued the company over its sales reporting practices, which one said amounted to fraud. The SEC is investigating whether FCA deliberately misstated the sales numbers, but Marchionne insisted there was no intent to deceive. "The (sales reporting) system goes back to the 1980s. We inherited it" when Fiat took over Chrysler, Marchionne told reporters during a visit to an FCA stamping plant in the Detroit suburbs. "We kept on applying the system that has been applied for nearly 40 years," he said. "I make no bones about it. We picked it up in 2009." He rejected the suggestions in some media reports that there was anything more serious. "The allegations are ultimately trivial," Marchionne said. "The press started to read into the allegations all kinds of things and one has to be careful in accepting them at face value." "The important thing to remember is that our financial numbers are totally accurate," he said. "We look forward to having that conversation with the SEC and we'll take it from there." Marchionne also said FCA has not yet found a partner to build small and mid-sized passenger cars. He announced back in January that FCA planned to shift more of its production capacity to building trucks and sport utility vehicles, which are more popular with American consumers than passenger cars. Marchionne also declined to comment on reports that FCA's component unit Magneti Marelli will be sold to South Korea's Samsung. "I don't want to comment on Magneti Marelli," he said. "I have said long term Magneti Marelli would benefit from being outside Fiat." Paul LePage, the Republican governor of Maine, told reporters that people of color are the enemy in his state. "When you go to war, if you know the enemy, the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, you shoot at red, don't you? You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy. And the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority right now coming in are people of color or people of Hispanic origin. I can't help that. I just can't help it. Those are the facts." The remarks came after he left a voicemail on a state lawmaker's phone after the Democrat, Drew Gattine, allegedly called him a racist. He also threatened to shoot Gattine. "I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you cocksucker. I want to talk to you. You want, I want you to prove that i'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little son of a bitch socialist cocksucker. I need you to just friggin'. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you" Gattine didn't even call him a racist in the first place, reports Fox News; funny how people get angry at the suggestion, then say things that suggest they might be! Threats are nothing new from LePage. Here he is in 2015 saying he wants to shoot a Bangor Daily News cartoonist. https://twitter.com/MaineDems/status/769254775863074816/video/1 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 While the curfew was lifted from Anantnag town this morning, restrictions on the assembly of people remain in force, a police official said. By Press Trust of India: Curfew was lifted today from south Kashmir's Anantnag town after 49 days, even as it remained in force in some other parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, in order to maintain law and order in view of the separatist plans to march towards the headquarters of Army at Badamibagh here. CURFEW LIFTED BUT RESTRICTIONS REMAIN While the curfew was lifted from Anantnag town this morning, restrictions on the assembly of people remain in force, a police official said. advertisement He said it was for the first time that the curfew was lifted in the south Kashmir town ever since it was clamped on July 9 following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces a day earlier. The official, however, said curfew continued in entire Srinagar and two south Kashmir towns of Pulwama and Pampore. He also said restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. The separatists have called for a march towards Chinar Corps army's headquarter in Kashmir at Badamibagh cantonment here. NORMAL LIFE STILL PARALYSED Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 50th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1. As many as 68 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others have suffered injuries in the clashes that began on July 9. ALSO READ: Kashmir unrest: CM Mehbooba meets PM Modi as curfew enters 50th day in the Valley Kashmir unrest: Curfew continues for 49th day, death toll rises to 69 --- ENDS --- CM Mehbooba said that the Modi government has taken initiative to bring normalcy in the Kashmir Valley. By India Today Web Desk: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the protests erupted in the Valley. After meeting the PM, Mehbooba appealed to the youngsters in the Valley not to pay heed to those who want to vitiate atmosphere in Kashmir. Mehbooba said that the Modi government has taken initiative to bring normalcy in the Kashmir Valley. She blamed Pakistan for the turmoil in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July. Here are the highlights of what she said while addressing the press: Prime Minister Narendra Modi like all of us is concerned about the situation in Kashmir. He wants the bloodshed to stop, wants state to come out of the turmoil. I am happy that PM Modi not just took intiative and invited Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his oath ceremony, but he went to Lahore himself. PM Modi took an initiative, our HM took an initiative. They went to Pakistan, but now it's upto Pakistan to respond. Amidst efforts from the Modi government, Pathankot happened. Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the Valley. When our HM Rajnath Singh went to Pakistan for SAARC meeting, Pakistan could have utilized the opportunity but it lost a golden chance in peace process. What happened with Rajnath Singh in Pakistan was unfortunate. Unfortunately, Pakistan has repeatedly given up chances to talk and resolve the issue of violence in Kashmir. Like Mufti Saheb used to say that Modiji has 2/3rd majority and if the situation doesn't change during his time, it will never change. I appeal to the youngsters, who thronged to rallies, meetings not to pay heed to propaganda of those who want to deteriorate situation in Kashmir. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took an initiative of resolving Kashmir issue with human touch. I believe that the democracy of India gives us the maximum opportunity to live with peace and this is exactly what the people of Kashmir want. advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi has support of all the parties including Congress and other opposition parties on the issue of Kashmir. I appeal to all to help bringing situation under control in Kashmir. Give me time to work for people. I have been CM for just two months. Also read: Kashmir unrest: CM Mehbooba meets PM Modi as curfew enters 50th day in the Valley Syria on Kashmir issue: India has the right to solve it in any manner Kashmir unrest: Respect jawans, we are deliberating use of pellet guns, Rajnath tells Kashmiri youths --- ENDS --- The Jammu and Kashmir CM's meeting with the Prime Minister came close on the heels of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Srinagar for wider political consultations. By India Today Web Desk: With curfew in the Valley entering 50th day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the situation there. Various parts of Kashmir Valley have been under curfew following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The Jammu and Kashmir CM's meeting with the Prime Minister came close on the heels of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Srinagar for wider political consultations. The Valley has seen protests after the killing of Burhan Wani by the security forces on July 8th. advertisement Mehbooba Mufti's meeting with the PM is being seen as the Centre's attempt to bring normalcy in the Valley and de-escalate the tension prevailing in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir. This was the first meeting between Mehbooba and Modi since protests erupted in the Valley last month. TENSION IN VALLEY The Kashmir Valley has seen several waves of protests as separatists and militants took advantage of the situation following killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter with the security forces. About 70 people have died in the clashes between the protesters and the security forces in the Valley. More than 11,000 people including security forces have been injured. Use of pellet guns by the security forces has been questioned by many as several protesters have reported loss of vision, in some cases permanent. During his visit to Srinagar the Union Home Minister said that the Centre was deliberating to introduce an alternative to pellet guns. With Singh on her side, Mehbooba had said in Srinagar that 95% of people in the valley were in favour of bringing peace and development and that only five percent were causing the disturbance. --- ENDS --- By Naseer Ganai: Contrary to the hard talk of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in New Delhi against separatists and Pakistan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) here appealed to senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani asking him to give Mehbooba Mufti a chance. "Geelani sahab must think of Mehbooba Mufti as his daughter, who also happens to be the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to lead our state. She is not the conventional politician that we deal with most of the times, in case she does not bring about a change, she will be the first to own up and make way," PDP chief spokesman, Mehboob Beg, said in a statement after Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. advertisement "I appeal to Geelani sahab to give her a chance, she understands the pain and pulse of the people as she has risen from grass roots", he said. Also Read: Kashmir unrest: CM Mehbooba meets PM Modi as curfew enters 50th day in the Valley PDP GOING SOFT ON SEPARATISTS? Beg hailed Mehbooba Mufti's media briefing after her meeting with Modi and said she has appealed to the protestors to give her a chance. "It is only fair that she is given a chance, it is not that she is asking for the moon. We must give her a chance to address our grievances as we have done with the leaders in the past", Beg said. Incidentally, a statement issued by the government spokesman about Mehbooba Mufti's press briefing after her meeting with the Prime Minister was also soft and called for a dialogue with separatists and Pakistan. The government spokesman said, "The Chief Minister called for putting in place an institutionalized mechanism to address the Kashmir issue. She emphasised on the need to initiate a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state." Also Read: Pakistan has no right over Kashmir: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti SHOULD PICK UP FROM WHERE VAJPAYEE LEFT "The Chief Minister called for reviving reconciliation and resolution process, which was initiated by the then NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005," the spokesperson said. He said that the intra and inter-state CBMs initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state. "We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve," he added. He said Mehbooba outlined a three-pronged action plan before the Prime Minister for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, including involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue, to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities. NEED TO REACH OUT TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS "The Chief Minister sought involvement of all the stakeholders for improving the situation in Kashmir. The focus of the state government, Centre and all other parties in the country is to reach out to the majority of the peace-loving stakeholders in Kashmir, who want peaceful solution of the problem," the spokesperson said. advertisement "Every political party wants the bloodshed in Kashmir to end and a political process to begin- the sooner, the better," he quoted the Chief Minister. "All the parties, cutting across the divide, including the Hurriyat leaders, shall have to come forward and help in saving innocent lives and engage in a meaningful dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the issue," the spokesperson said quoting Mehbooba. An 'all party delegation' will be visiting the state soon to reach out to the people "and I hope they will meet different shades of political opinion and find a way out of the present imbroglio," he said. Also Read: Nawaz Sharif appoints 22 MPs as special envoys to raise Kashmir at world stage Owaisi slams Mehbooba, demands talks with separatists in Kashmir Kashmir unrest: Respect jawans, we are deliberating use of pellet guns, Rajnath tells Kashmiri youths --- ENDS --- MK Ganapathy who was serving as deputy superintendent of police committed suicide in July but had recorded his statement before the suicide. By Rohini Swamy: Former Bengaluru Development and Town Planning minister KJ George was called by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday to record his statement over the MK Ganapathy suicide case. MK Ganapathy, who was serving as deputy superintendent of police, committed suicide in July but had recorded his statement before the suicide. He accused the minister and two other senior officers of mental harassment in a video. Here is what KJ George said during the questioning: The allegations made by Ganapathy in his video before committing suicide were false. Ganapathy was posted at a police station in Rajagopalnagar in Bengaluru as he had sought that posting and he was allegedly involved in a money misappropriation also. An inquiry was also initiated against him by the then Bangalore police commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar. Ganapathy did come to the minister to seek reprieve from the investigation against him, but George told him that since it was a departmental inquiry, he would not interfere in it. The minister also said that Ganapathy was given his promotions on time. George also informed the CID that during the Mangalore church attack case, he was informed that Ganapathy was intimidating people. He also said that he has never harassed anybody during his political career. advertisement The questioning that began at 4 pm lasted for almost three hours at the CID headquarters. Sources in the police said the questioning was part of the routine investigation. The team was headed by ADGP Pratap Reddy who recorded George's statement. The CID, has been entrusted with the investigation of the suicide case after Ganapathy was found dead on July 7. The CID has to file a consolidated report to the government. ALSO READ HERE: Karnataka: Legislators spend night in Assembly hall, seek KJ George's resignation --- ENDS --- By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) Engineering major Larsen & Toubro has set a target of almost doubling its sales to Rs 2 lakh crore by 2020-21, its Chairman A M Naik, who will be retiring next year, has said. Addressing the shareholders at the companys 71st annual general meeting here, he said: "I would like to take this opportunity to share my vision of the L&T of tomorrow...Our goal is to achieve a revenue of Rs 2 trillion by 2020/21 without compromising on our margins and achieving an order inflow in excess of Rs 2.5 trillion per annum." advertisement Naik, who has been associated with company for over 4 decades, exuded confidence that with the economy starting to turn around this target is achievable, provided the right strategy and on-ground execution. He also drew his optimism from the strategic advice the company has received from two international consultants to reach these targets. As part of sharpening the business focus, Naik said the company has "identified select growth businesses in L&Ts broad portfolio. These include IT, technology services, defence, smart world and water management. "Our strategic plan involves re-allocation of resources - both talent and capital - to businesses with visible value creation potential. As most of these are also asset-light businesses, the initiative will be in line with our larger objective of building an asset-light organisation," the Chairman said. The countrys largest engineering and construction behemoth had reported consolidated revenue of Rs 1,03,522 crore for the year ended March 31, 2016, a 12 per cent over the previous year, and its consolidated net income for the year rose just 7 per cent to Rs 5,091 crore. (MORE) PTI PSK BEN NAM ABI RDS --- ENDS --- Judging by the traffic on my way in today, I am the only person in the greater Washington area who decided to work today. So, since you have so much leisure time on your hands, these questions better be very, very good. And, if you haven't read this piece about the economics of a taco truck on every corner, you need to. Immediately. Let's do this! Software Helps Retailers Tap Internet of Things to Serve Up Personalized Content NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Tata Consultancy Services (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, today announced new software that enables retailers to leverage insightful data either from in-store sensors or other Internet of Things (IoT) devices to deepen relationships with customers through more personalized customer engagement strategies. Available from TCS Digital Software & Solutions Group, TCS Customer Intelligence & Insights for Retail helps established retailers compete more effectively for the loyalty of todays connected and increasingly empowered and demanding consumers. It is designed to counter the bombardment of todays consumers with random, irrelevant and untimely offers, which occur when retailers lack granular insights about individual customer preferences or cant capitalize on real life situations, such as in-store shopping. The Internet of Things is further blurring the line between traditional and online retailing, forcing marketers to reconstruct the customers journey with their brands across both physical and virtual worlds, said Seeta Hariharan, General Manager and Group Head, TCS Digital Software & Solutions. Retailers are moving from hit-or-miss marketing to highly relevant, timely interactions delivered in the right context that add real value to their customers. Their goal is creating binding emotional connections at every touch point with consumers to withstand the lure of discounting. By Indrajit Kundu: A life size statue of Mother Teresa was unveiled in Kolkata by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday in the run up to her canonisation on September 4. The event marks the beginning of a slew of programmes lined up in Kolkata over the next one week for the occasion. The bronze statue has been installed at the Kolkata Archbishop's house to commemorate Mother Teresa's 106th birth anniversary on Friday. "It was at this house that Mother Teresa came as a sister of the Loreto Convent in 1946," Kolkata Archbishop Thomas D'Souza said, reminding the audience of the historical significance of the venue. Photo: Facebook / Mamata official advertisement "Mother had met Archbishop Ferdinand Prier who was then the head of Calcutta Archdiocese and sought his blessing to set up the Missionaries of Charity here. Even Pope John Paul has stayed at this historic house during his visit to Kolkata in February 1986," he added. Describing Mother Teresa as the 'Pride of Kolkata', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she will be travelling to the Vatican to witness the historic event. "I am not going with the official Government of India delegation but as a guest of the Missionaries of Charity. I don't need a first row seat. I will sit with the sisters and witness the historic moment," she said. Photo: Facebook / Mamata official However, the talking point of the event was Mamata's attire for the evening. Dressed in a white sari with dark blue borders like the sisters of Missionaries of Charity, the symbolism was not lost on anyone attending the function. "Didi if you go to Rome wearing this sari, they will think you are from the Missionaries of Charity and you will surely get a front seat," quipped Father Rodney Borneo of the Archdiocese of Calcutta. Recounting her meetings with the Mother, Mamata said, "I feel fortunate to have met Mother on several occasions. I remember so many incidents that touched my heart and made me a better human being. I am ready to sacrifice my life but I cannot forget the downtrodden." --- ENDS --- Gabon's main opposition candidate Jean Ping has claimed victory in weekend presidential polls, but incumbent Ali Bongo's camp said the call was "dangerous and illegal" before official results. The official tally of votes will not be published until Tuesday and some voters voiced fears of a repeat of the violence seen after a disputed 2009 election. "I have been elected. I am waiting for the outgoing president to call to congratulate me," Ping, 73, said on Sunday in the capital Libreville, prompting jubilation from hundreds of his supporters. Bongo's spokesman however said the announcement was "dangerous", while his Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet Boubeya warned it was "illegal to declare results before the relevant authorities". "We respect the law... so we are waiting calmly for Cenap (the national election commission) to announce the results of the election," Bongo told supporters in his first public remarks since Saturday's poll. Bongo, 57, has been in power since the 2009 election held after the death of his father, Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years. A career diplomat, Ping, like the current president, worked for many years in Omar Bongo's administration. He has also served as head of the African Union and president of the UN General Assembly. "You have foiled the congenital fraud of this regime, which we are finally going to see off," Ping told his supporters on Sunday. Ping met France's ambassador shortly afterwards, his team said. They also said that he had beaten Bongo 60-to-40 in the 60 percent of ballots that had been counted. It was impossible to immediately verify the claim. Both frontrunners had already predicted victory and accused the other of cheating. Shortly after polling ended on Saturday, the president's spokesman said: "Bongo will win... we are already on our way to a second mandate." The head of the Pan-African Democracy Observatory, an NGO based in Togo, played down the significance of Ping's declaration. "We should not be surprised if one or the other declares victory. It's all part of the game," Djovi Gally told reporters. - Coup d'etat? - Fearing a repeat of the violence that followed Bongo's victory in 2009, many residents stocked up on food and stayed indoors. The streets of Libreville were deserted with shops and stalls that are usually open on Sundays shuttered. The embassy of former colonial power France warned its citizens not to travel within the country unless absolutely necessary and to keep themselves informed. France's ruling Socialist Party meanwhile issued a statement saying a change of government after decades of Bongo rule "would be a sign of good democratic health". In Libreville, a man who gave his name as Honore said: "We want to get the results soon. "We'll see how the candidates react. I hope it won't be like last time." Back then, several people were killed in the clashes, buildings were looted and the French consulate in Port Gentil, which saw the worst of the violence, was torched. Ping's campaign coordinator, Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, claimed that Bongo would attempt to retain power by force. "Ali Bongo has decided to ignore the election and to stay in power," said Ayi. "This is the situation which we are entering: the election is over, the coup d'etat has started." Bongo's camp has dismissed such claims as "totally crazy". - Powder keg - Emmanuel Edzang, a voter in Libreville, said the capital had the feeling of a "powder keg". Until shortly before polling day, Bongo was the clear favourite, with the opposition split by several prominent politicians vying for the top job. But earlier this month, the main challengers pulled out and said they would all back Ping. Both candidates have promised to break with the past. Faced with repeated charges of nepotism, Bongo has long insisted he owes his presidency to merit and years of government service. His extravagant campaign made much of the slogan "Let's change together", and of roads and hospitals built during his first term. One third of Gabon's population lives in poverty, despite the country boasting one of Africa's highest per capita incomes at $8,300 (7,400 euros) thanks to pumping 200,000 barrels of oil a day. System outline and performance. (A) Basic system outline: signals recorded by the EEG headset on the subject were monitored by the SLACC algorithm, which controls the state of an RFMF generator connected to an induction coil. The test animal is placed inside the coil after being injected with DNA robots. (B) Experimental protocol structure. 0 and 1 on the Y-axis denote states of cognitive rest and load, respectively, which are induced by displaying alternating screens showing either nothing or a list of arithmetic problems, respectively. (C) Classification of cognitive rest vs. cognitive load signals by SLACC. Credit: i>PLOS ONE (2016). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161227 (Tech Xplore)A study shows that that nanobots can release drugs inside your brain. The nanorobots, reported New Scientist on Thursday, are built out of DNA. Drugs can be tethered to their shell-like shapes. Helen Thomson had details on how this all works: "The bots also have a gate, which has a lock made from iron oxide nanoparticles. The lock opens when heated using electromagnetic energy, exposing the drug to the environment. Because the drug remains tethered to the DNA parcel, a body's exposure to the drug can be controlled by closing and opening the gate." Their study has been published in PLOS ONE, as "Thought-Controlled Nanoscale Robots in a Living Host." New Scientist talked about the value of their work, as showing the ability to exercise more precise control over when a drug is active in the body. "Because the bots can open and close when required, the technology should minimize unwanted side effects." Therein has been the challenge, getting drugs to where they need to be exactly when they are wanted. "Most drugs diffuse through the blood stream over time and you're stuck with the side effects until the drug wears off," wrote Thomson. Kate Baggaley in Popular Science said, "This technology could eventually give people more control over when and where a medication is active in their body." Thomson said the technique may be useful for treating brain disorders such as schizophrenia and ADHD. "The technology released a drug inside cockroaches in response to the man's brain activity. As described in Popular Science: "A man's brain activity prompted nanobots made out of DNA to release drugs inside a cockroach." The system is from a team at the Interdisciplinary Center, in Herzliya, and Bar Ilan University, in Ramat Gan, Israel. Following their research effort, the question becomes if and when we will see this applied to humans. According to the New Scientist report, the technology is not ready for use in humans. They still have to work on the basic setup, including a smaller, more portable way to measure brain activity. New Scientist said they also envision the person wearing an EEG device similar to a small heating aid to monitor brain activity. What's next? Thomson said that "the technology isn't ready to be used in humans yet. To work, the setup needs a smaller, more portable method of measuring brain activity. The team also envisions a person wearing a small, hearing aid-like EEG device to monitor brain activity and detect when drugs are needed "for example, when a person with ADHD's concentration begins to lapse. A smart watch would then create the electromagnetic field required to release a dose of Ritalin." The authors wrote that "so far no interface has been established between a human mind and a therapeutic molecule, which are 10 orders of magnitude apart. The purpose of this study was to show that DNA robots can bridge this gap." They said the robots which they designed can be electronically remote-controlled. "This was done by adding metal nanoparticles to the robotic gates, which could heat in response to an electromagnetic field." Explore further Nanobowls offer a way to magnetically deliver drugs in the body More information: Shachar Arnon et al. Thought-Controlled Nanoscale Robots in a Living Host, PLOS ONE (2016). Shachar Arnon et al. Thought-Controlled Nanoscale Robots in a Living Host,(2016). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161227 Abstract We report a new type of brain-machine interface enabling a human operator to control nanometer-size robots inside a living animal by brain activity. Recorded EEG patterns are recognized online by an algorithm, which in turn controls the state of an electromagnetic field. The field induces the local heating of billions of mechanically-actuating DNA origami robots tethered to metal nanoparticles, leading to their reversible activation and subsequent exposure of a bioactive payload. As a proof of principle we demonstrate activation of DNA robots to cause a cellular effect inside the insect Blaberus discoidalis, by a cognitively straining task. This technology enables the online switching of a bioactive molecule on and off in response to a subject's cognitive state, with potential implications to therapeutic control in disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficits, which are among the most challenging conditions to diagnose and treat. Journal information: PLoS ONE 2016 Tech Xplore Virtual Schools Online Public School Founder Admits $8 Million in Tax Fraud The founder and former CEO of an online public school that educates thousands of Pennsylvania students pleaded guilty this week to federal tax fraud, recognizing that he siphoned more than $8 million from the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School through for-profit and nonprofit companies he controlled. In entering his plea, Nicholas Trombetta, 61, who headed the school, acknowledged using the money to purchase, among other things, a Bonita Springs, FL condominium for $933,000, pay $180,000 for houses for his mother and girlfriend in Ohio, and spend $990,00 more on groceries and other items. The story was initially reported by the Associated Press and published in dozens of news outlets, including Education Week. Trombetta manipulated companies he created and controlled to draw the money from the school, also spending it on a $300,000 plane, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman said. Trombetta was making $127,000 to $144,000 annually at PA Cyber when he ran the illegal tax evasion scheme from 2006 to 2012. He faces up to five years in prison when hes sentenced Dec. 20. By running the money through the companies or their straw owners, Trombetta avoided income taxes, though prosecutors havent said how much. Most of the siphoned money was squirreled away in Avanti Management Group, which functioned as Trombettas retirement savings account, Kaufman said. This case reflects the priority weve placed on protecting against fraud in education, U.S. Attorney David Hickton said. The school, founded in Midland in 2000, had more than 11,000 students across the state when Trombetta was charged three years ago and still has more than 9,000. As a public institution, its funded by federal, state and local taxes. Districts across the state pay the school to educate any students who opt to enroll in PA Cyber instead of a physical, bricks-and-mortar school. - CORD rebels from the coastal region are set to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta next week in Mombasa county - They will be discussing their progress in wooing voters to Jubilee from the CORD strongholds as well as winning formulas in dealing with the coastal counties - They will also be talking about the positions they will serve in the Jubilee Party set to be launched in September 2016 CORD rebel Members of Parliament are set to take their rightful places in the Jubilee Party next week when President Uhuru Kenyatta will tour the region to open the Agricultural Society of Kenya show at Mkomani, Mombasa. READ ALSO: Details of the launch of Uhuru's party The opening will be on Thursday, September 1, and a host of ODM politicians will be at hand to receive him. According to the Star, Likoni MP Masoud Mwahima intimated that a section of them would be meeting with the President to give him a report on their efforts to win over supporters to Uhurus camp as well as recommend winning formulae, Taveta MP Naomi Shaban was quoted as saying that a section of ODM legislators from the region are proud of Uhurus work and they were ready to meet him to continue discussing development. READ ALSO: Here is Raila's biggest enemy, and he is a friend Their spokesman, Kilifi North MP Gideon Mungaro, told the newspaper that they had already spoken with the President about the roles they will play in the new Jubilee Party. The report Uhuru will be receiving will concern the rebels progress in making the ruling party popular in the six coastal region counties. The Jubilee Paty is also set to be officially launched on Saturday, September 10, at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi and will be launched over three days to include a National Delegates conference and Jubilee Party convention. Image: PSCU Source: TUKO.co.ke Nick Petrangelo Wins EPT Barcelona 10,300 Single Reentry, 413K August 20 2016 Martin Harris The European Poker Tour Barcelona festival is well underway to kick off the EPT's 13th season, and the first of several marquee events is in the books with Nick Petrangelo topping a tough 240-entry field to win the 10,300 Single Reentry event and a 413,000 first prize. Petrangelo outlasted a talented final table and a lengthy three-way contest with eventual runner-up finisher Marcin Chmielewski and Markku Koplimaa who took third. The trio battled for four hours, then came another half-hour of heads-up before Petrangelo finally prevailed. With 195 uniques and 45 reentries, the total prize pool added up to 2,328,000. Here's how the final table payouts looked: Place Winner Country Prize 1 Nick Petrangelo United States 413,000 2 Marcin Chmielewski Poland 285,410 3 Markku Koplimaa Estonia 220,230 4 Roman Korenev Russia 173,670 5 Pavel Plesuv Moldova 134,100 6 Kitty Kuo Taiwan 101,500 7 Enzo Del Piero United Kingdom 75,900 8 Yang Zheng China 57,270 Two long days of play produced just 14 survivors from the starting field, with Alexandru Papazian carrying the chip lead to Friday's final day of play. Alas for Papazian, he'd fall shy of the final table to bust in 10th (38,640) after some early struggles punctuated by his pocket kings being unable to hold against the of Pavel Plesuv. Papazian followed Byron Kaverman (14th - 30,260), Dario Sammartino (13th - 33,750), Patrick Leonard (12th - 33,750), and Sergey Lebedev (11th - 38,640) to the rail, and when Igor Yaroshevskyy was knocked out in ninth for 45,630 the official final table was set with Plesuv the chip leader, Koplimaa in second position, and Petrangelo third. Yang Zhang next busted in eighth after calling off his stack on fifth street with second pair only to see Petrangelo had rivered a wheel. Then following a dinner break Enzo Del Piero lost his short stack to finish seventh after running pocket nines into the pocket aces of Kitty Kuo. Kuo was celebrating a birthday on Friday, and would ultimately add sixth-place prize money as a birthday gift. She was eliminated by Roman Korenev after being on the wrong side of a queens-versus-kings preflop all-in. At five-handed Plesuv became the short stack, and when his couldn't catch up to Korenev's Plesuv fell in fifth. Just a few minutes after that Marcin Chmielewski wiped out Korenev in fourth when the latter's pocket sevens couldn't hold up against Chmielewski's after the board brought a ten. The epic three-handed battle then commenced with Petrangelo leading Chmielewski to start and Koplimaa the short stack. All three would take turns leading and trailing as their chips rose and fell repeatedly. Finally Koplimaa went out in third after his was bested by Chmielewski's , and he enjoyed a big lead versus Petrangelo to begin heads-up play. But Petrangelo doubled up no less than four times once with jacks against ace-king, then with king-ten versus pocket sixes, again with ace-five against queen-five, and one more time with ten-nine versus king-eight. A fifth double-up then followed when Petrangelo's pocket eights held against Chmielewski's nine-six, giving Petrangelo the advantage. Then on the final hand Chmielewski was all in with against Petrangelo's , and a runout gave Petrangelo the better two pair and the win. Just a few days separated from a fourth-place finish in the $25,500 High Roller Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open where he won $190,313, Petrangelo adds yet another big score to bring his career tournament earnings close to the $5.9 million mark. As noted, the EPT13 Barcelona festival is just getting started, with several more big events to come including the 50,000 Super High Roller that begins today. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team also begins its coverage today with live updates, chip counts, videos, and more from that event, the first of four the team will be covering: 50,000 Super High Roller (Aug. 20-22) 25,500 Single-Day High Roller (Aug. 23-24) 5,300 Main Event (Aug. 22-28) 10,300 High Roller (Aug. 26-28) Photo courtesy PokerStars Blog/Carlos Monti. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! Sharelines Nick Petrangelo tops a 240-entry field to win the EPT Barcelona 10,300 Single Reentry. The first major tournament title of EPT Barcelona is claimed by Nick Petrangelo who earns 413K. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Defense attorneys who represent inmates at a privately run federal prison in Kansas were livid after learning that their meetings with clients had been recorded on video, despite repeated assurances from the penitentiary that the conversations were private. The recordings that came to light this month had no audio, but the complaints raise the question of whether nonverbal interactions such as body language or the exchange of legal documents are protected under attorney-client privilege. We never had any idea we were being recorded, said Laine Cardarella, a federal public defender in Missouri whose clients include detainees at the Leavenworth prison. This has had a chilling effect. A federal judge said the recordings might have violated the Sixth Amendment rights of hundreds of inmates and ordered them stopped. The company that runs the prison, Corrections Corporation of America, insists that silent video recordings of inmate-attorney meetings are a standard practice throughout the country and are used solely to enhance the prisons safety and security. Unlike prisons controlled by the federal Bureau of Prisons, which generally forbids any recording in attorney-client meeting rooms, private facilities set their own standards. Concerns about prison recordings of attorney-client conversations are not necessarily new, but nobody has a real grasp of the extent of the problem, said Barry Pollack, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I certainly hope that this sheds light on a situation that has not gotten sufficient attention and is an impetus for change, Pollack said. Criminal defense attorneys have been aware of this problem for years, but its a difficult one to address. City and county jails are not governed by Bureau of Prisons policies either, he said. Several Kansas and Missouri jails that house federal prisoners have acknowledged recording attorney-inmate meetings before the judge told them to stop. Without uniform standards in place, inmates and attorneys are subject to a patchwork of policies that sometimes threaten their privacy, Pollack said. The recordings came to light when federal prosecutors tried to force a defense attorney off two cases using footage subpoenaed by a grand jury in a contraband probe. The subpoena sought all surveillance footage at the prison as part of an investigation into a conspiracy involving as many as 95 inmates and 60 people outside the facility. Of the thousands of hours of video turned over to investigators, some included footage of attorneys meeting with clients. Defense attorney Jackie Rokusek said two prosecutors told her they had video of her meeting with a client in another case, and that they intended to review it. She asked to see the video and observed not only her meeting with a client, but also footage of other attorney-client visitation going on at the time. In court documents filed Tuesday, prosecutors said the only people who have seen that video were the defense attorney, her investigator and possibly another attorney assigned to the case. Because the recordings have no sound, they said, its unclear whether the videos include privileged communication. There is very little case law on the issue of whether nonverbal interaction can be protected by the attorney-client privilege, prosecutors wrote. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ordered the company and any jails holding federal detainees in Kansas and western Missouri to cease recording attorney-client conversations and to turn over any footage. The judge said she hoped to appoint a so-called special master by mid-September who would oversee the investigation, which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to reviewing the videos, investigators will look into why dozens of recorded phone calls between attorneys and their clients were provided to other lawyers representing inmates in the contraband case. In Tuesdays filing, prosecutors said unless an inmate provides an attorneys phone number in advance or tells prison staff that a call is being placed to an attorney, theres a good chance the conversation is being recorded. Lawyers should realize their call is being monitored if they hear a recording telling them it is, prosecutors said. Kansas Federal Public Defender Melody Brannon called the intrusion into attorney-client privilege unprecedented. We couldnt find anything even comparable to the degree of invasion and misconduct by the government that is before the court, she said. AURORA, Colo. An airman at Buckley Air Force Base was arrested after he told police he accidentally shot his wife to death while the couple were playing with a handgun. The Aurora Sentinel reports (http://goo.gl/aP4GC1 ) 21-year-old Brian Lebron-Rivera was arrested for felony manslaughter after the shooting at the couples apartment Thursday night. Investigators say he told them he was showing 20-year-old Genesis Rodriguez how to take a gun from someone when he accidentally shot her. Lebron-Rivera says his wife had his gun when he got out of the shower, and he did not recall inserting a magazine before they started playing with it. Officers found Rodriguez dead at the scene. Lebron-Rivera is an Airman First Class in the 460th Security Forces Squadron. Booking documents dont indicate if he has hired an attorney. ___ Information from: The Aurora Sentinel, http://www.aurorasentinel.com/ Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal A University of New Mexico professor found to have violated school policies regarding sexual misconduct is now facing termination. That follows an earlier decision that anthropology professor Cristobal Valencia only be censured, which would have allowed him back into the classroom. Mark Peceny, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, recommended this week that Valenicas contract be terminated. The anthropology department falls under arts and sciences. The recommendation comes after some faculty and students criticized the universitys initial decision to only censure Valencia in connection with an investigation that found that he violated school policies. The Anthropology chair, (Les Field) along with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will continue to work with faculty and students in the department as part of their ongoing efforts to provide academic support and counseling to students requesting it, and to increase education and prevention efforts in future, said spokeswoman Dianne Anderson in a statement Friday. Valencia has not returned calls from the Journal and his attorney, Michael Mozes, has declined Journal requests for comment. An attempt to reach Mozes on Friday afternoon was unsuccessful. Provost Chauki Abdallah will review Pecenys most recent recommendation within the next few weeks. If he agrees with it, Valencia will be terminated, though Valencia has opportunities to appeal that decision. Valencia is a tenure-track assistant professor with an annual salary of $71,000. His contract can be terminated before its conclusion if theres a serious violation of University policy or other serious professional or ethical deficiencies, according to the faculty handbook. An Office of Equal Opportunity investigation earlier this year found probable cause that Valencia directed sexual comments toward students, inappropriately touched students and cultivated relationships with female students that could lead to sex. He was suspended in March while the university decided what action to take. He received the censure notice in late June and has said he would appeal. But he was again suspended when new complaints surfaced earlier this month. The recommendation to terminate was issued following the Deans review of the Department chairs earlier recommendation that Professor Valencia be censured a serious form of discipline short of termination in response to findings by the UNM Office of Equal Opportunity that Professor Valencia engaged in discrimination and sexual harassment, Andersons statement said. Anthropology chair Les Field recommended censure, which allowed Valencia back into the classroom with close monitoring by fellow faculty. In the June letter, Peceny approved the censure. Three professors with the anthropology department wont be teaching classes in that department in connection with the university investigation of Valencia. Meanwhile, emails obtained by the Journal through a public records request show that Valencia clashed with at least one of his colleagues, criticizing her in an email. Immediately stop telling potential graduate student applicants and other faculty that I am under investigation for sexual predation, he wrote in a Dec. 8 email. This is false and a violation of University discrimination policy. I have provided full information regarding this behavior to the appropriate investigators and university administrators. The email was sent after the universitys investigation of Valencia began. The federal Transportation Security Administration wants to double the number of highly visible teams of police officers patrolling airports, with a focus on areas prior to the standard screening area. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., visited the Albuquerque International Sunport on Friday to laud the doubling, which was approved in April, but has yet to receive its necessary funding. Its not an expansion, its responsiveness. This is a change in response to a change in the strategy of terrorists, Heinrich said, noting recent bombings at European airports near check-in and baggage claim areas. The teams are called Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response, or VIPR, teams. They comprise about nine federal officers called out to certain transportation hubs to assist local law enforcement or run their own anti-terrorism operations, according to TSA officials. They have access to millions of dollars worth of radioactive detection equipment, specially trained officers observing behavior in travelers, canine units, inspectors, and the legal authority to enforce the law and fight terrorism in all modes of transportation, anywhere in the country, the VIPR explanation pamphlet from TSA reads. Roderick Allison, assistant administrator for the Office of Law Enforcement and director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, said on Friday with Heinrich that, while the VIPR teams have jurisdiction in all transportation areas, their confines are hubs, like an airport. Aviation is an area of interest for our adversaries, Allison said. And thats clear from recent attacks in Europe, specifically Istanbuls airport, where bombs were set off in areas filled with people who had not been through security screenings, or in the soft spots, Heinrich said. Allison said transportation police have always helped patrol areas outside of the main security checkpoints, but we need to focus on all areas. There are now 31 VIPR teams operating across the country, down from 33, according to Homeland Security Departments FY16 budget. Those teams enacted 6,849 operations, 52 percent in the aviation and 48 percent in the surface environments to detect and deter terrorist activities. But HSD requested a reduction in the VIPR budget of $3.1 million to about $109 million. The entire TSA budget stands at $7.3 billion. The decision taken by the management said that girls will not be allowed to attend classes in burqas. By Rohini Swamy: Srinivas group of colleges in Mangalore have sent a circular to the students stating that they cannot attend classes in burqas. The decision taken by the management said that girls will not be allowed to attend classes in burqas. Protests broke out in the college where Muslim students say that the college is denying them the right to practice their religion which is a basic fundamental right of Constitution . We are yet to get the management on record for the reason behind their decision. advertisement Also Read: What made French police order a Muslim woman to take off her burkini in public? --- ENDS --- Heavy rain is likely and flash flooding possible for much of New Mexico Sunday through Wednesday, according to the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service. The central and southern parts of the state are expected to be especially hard hit, the Weather Service reported in a statement issued Friday afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding, especially over steep terrain, recent burn scars, urban drainages and flood-prone areas, Brian Guyer, meteorologist with the Albuquerque office, said in the statement. Large areas of standing water in low lying locations is possible with consecutive days of heavy rainfall. An upper level low pressure system is expected to hover over Arizona this weekend and push a rich moisture plume into New Mexico. The forecast for Albuquerque calls for a 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms tonight, increasing to a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday. Soil moisture values have increased enough by late summer to enhance runoff across the state, Guyer said. Although it is uncertain just where and when the heaviest rainfall will occur, Guyer said it is likely to be along and south of the Interstate 40 corridor between Monday and Tuesday night. Heavy rains rolled through New Mexico this past Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, more than 4 inches of rain fell near Leasburg in Dona Ana County and almost that much drenched Las Cruces. On Monday, rain roughed up Rio Arriba, Sierra, Dona Ana and Eddy counties. There was widespread flash flooding in Rio Arriba County Monday. Roads were submerged, families displaced and several water rescues made. On Tuesday, Gov. Susana Martinez activated the New Mexico Emergency Operations system to coordinate response to flooding across the state. A judge has rejected the defense suggestion that Albuquerque Police Department detectives questioned mobbing murder suspect Jeremiah King so relentlessly that his will was overborne, in the language of a seminal case from 1860, and King changed his story as a result. That means his statement, in which he eventually says he fired three times, can be used at his trial, currently set to take place in October. King was one of six youths charged in the June 2015 murder. Ryan Archibeque entered a June plea to four felonies that expose him to a potential 15-year sentence. Co-defendants Andrew Hubler and Christopher Rodriguez are set for district court trials in December and January. Charges against two other defendants are being handled in juvenile court. King was a 16-year-old homeless dropout at the time he was questioned by APD Detectives Leah Acata and Joshua Brown about the series of mobbing incidents by youths breaking into cars and homes, culminating in the fatal shooting of bartender Steve Gerecke in the driveway of his home. Kings attorney, Tom Clark, seeking to exclude the statements, argued that his young client told detectives four times that they were confusing him, that he had no family or attorney present, and that King denied the shooting 24 times before finally admitting he was the gunman. Clark also contended that King was misled by having police falsely tell him the prosecution and judge would go easier on him if he told the truth. Assistant District Attorney Larissa Callaway said in a responsive filing that King was interrogated for less than an hour after being advised of his rights and saying he understood them. She said detectives did not exploit a perceived racial bias, and they did not try to come off as Kings best friend, either. By the time he was interviewed, investigators had amassed significant physical evidence against Jeremiah King, not least of which was the statements from the other boys, she said in the document. The fact that they mentioned such evidence to counter Kings misrepresentations doesnt mean they were hostile or too aggressive, Callaway countered. Second Judicial District Judge Brett Loveless wrote in a Thursday order that he rejected any suggestion that the detectives badgered (King) into confessing, noting that he carefully changed his story as the detectives presented additional information about their investigation. The record, according to Loveless, demonstrates that King tried to gauge what detectives knew, weighed his options and answered questions based on a balance of competing considerations. There were no threats the detectives, in fact, were cordial throughout the interview and the defendant appeared to be very mature, Loveless said in the opinion. Some of Kings responses to questions, such as his statements that there shouldnt have been any fingerprints on the gun and that he knew he was going to jail, show that he had a relatively sophisticated understanding of criminal proceedings, the court said. LAS CRUCES About a year from now, dedication of a monument honoring women military veterans will take place at Veterans Memorial Park on Roadrunner Parkway. Thats how long it is anticipated to take to create six life-size bronze statues representing women veterans who have served since World War I. The statues will be a major focal point of The Women Veterans Monument at Veterans Memorial Park. The monument will be built just south of the garrison flagpole at the park. They probably wont start construction until September, but the ground (where the monument will be) has been cleared as of this week, said Cathy Mathews, landscape architect for the city of Las Cruces. We anticipate completion of the monument in May 2017. Karen Woods, president of the United Military Women of the South West, said a public groundbreaking ceremony for the monument will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at Veterans Park. Its been a long time coming, but its well deserved, Woods said. The $406,500 cost to build the monument will be paid through capital appropriation funding from the New Mexico Legislature. The monument will include the sculptures of servicewomen representing all military branches and eras during which they served in the military. Two prefabricated shade structures will frame the monument and cultured stone will clad the walls. Signs announcing the new monument have been displayed at Veterans Park for about 10 months. We have worked on this for years, Woods said. There have been some changes to the conceptual design of the monument. Initially, we were going to have iron railing around the statues. Thats gone, and the base they will be placed on will now be gradually tapered so it will be flush with the path behind the monument. The statues will be illuminated, but it will be a very subtle illumination. People will still be able to see the monument at night. Even with the changes, Mayor Pro Tem Greg Smith said he is anxious to see the finished product. This is long overdue, and Im certainly looking forward to this, Smith said. So are women veterans in Las Cruces. This is going to be absolutely beautiful, said Carol Gaines, a Marine Corps veteran. While construction of the monument is anticipated to take about 10 months, Woods said casting the one-of-a-kind statues could take about a year to complete. Gaines said the six statues will represent: the Army, and World War I; the Marines, and World War II; the Navy, and the Korean War; the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Cold War period; and the National Guard, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Mayor Ken Miyagishima was impressed. You belong to the greatest sorority in the U.S., and thats women veterans, Miyagishima said. We probably all need to be reminded that our vote is needed on Tuesday. Thats the day when the voters are being asked to approve $60 million for capital projects for Rio Rancho Public Schools. Voting yes will not increase taxes, and the money will be spent for technology equipment and infrastructure, security upgrades and improvements, building upgrades and improvements, a new building for Shining Stars Preschool, Joe Harris Elementary School and real estate. Because of New Mexicos funding mechanisms, local communities do not decide directly on spending for classroom and instruction; that money is funneled through the state. Personally, we believe Rio Rancho Public Schools is doing a great job and deserves our support with approval of this money for them. Our students are doing well, our buildings are looking good, and we must keep on top of our schools physical needs so we dont get behind again. Our kids and teachers deserve the best. So often, we approve money for schools because its for the kids; in reality it is so much more than just that. Its for our state, our country, the world. Good education is the key to solving so many of the problems facing us today. Its the key to our future. This money will assist with bricks and mortar and things, things that are a necessary backdrop for the important education to take place. Without them, education could not take place, and it is essential we give our children a good education. This community has always shown its commitment to education, and we must continue. Local support of education is essential. If each school district could be successful, then the overall effects in our communities and world would be amazing. So we support our local teachers, parents and students in their pursuit of excellence. It takes teachers and parents working together, pushing, prodding and motivating the students, for it to work. Its also essential for other successes that can come if our education systems are excellent. Companies that decide to locate in our community look for an educated workforce as well as good schools for their children. Then, good jobs become available for many, and our tax base grows, in turn creating funding for better community services. Everyone looking for a job stands a better chance of getting one if they are educated. Opportunities and promotions follow for those who work hard and have the necessary skills to advance. Therefore, poverty lessens and probably crime is reduced due to a decrease in poverty. Families do better with working parents who have more money, energy and self-respect, making it more likely they will provide good homes for their children. Educated citizens become educated voters who are desperately needed in this country. As much as we wish everyone would vote, we also sincerely hope all voters are educated and understand the issues. Thats a simplistic explanation seen through rose-colored glasses of the importance of education and the good that can come from providing all children with the education they deserve. Its more complex, obviously, but we believe a good education can cause dramatic changes in our world. Lets do what we can to help our one small corner of the world and support Rio Rancho Public Schools request for more money. Vote yes on Tuesday. Contact the Ryans at ryan@abqjournal.com. Rio Rancho Public Schools will ask voters to approve a $60 million bond sale on Tuesday money slated for security upgrades, technology, real estate purchases and two major building projects. Earlier this month, Gary Tripp, district strategic planning and engagement officer, explained that the goal is to keep up rather than catch up. We need a strong educational base, he told attendees at a public forum on Aug. 1. The single largest bond project is the new Joe Harris Elementary School, which is designed to alleviate overcrowded classrooms, particularly at Maggie Cordova, Ernest Stapleton and Martin Luther King Jr. It will likely be constructed west of Unser Boulevard and south of Northern Boulevard. Joe Harris Elementary received $10 million from the 2012 bond, but was shelved in January and the money reallocated to other uses because expected state matching funds did not come through. The new bond would provide the full $24.5 million for construction over four years. A second new building, the $15.5 million Shining Stars Preschool, upgrades an aging facility made up of portables that were never intended for long-term use. The preschools current space at 4477 9th Ave NE is nearly 30 years old and was never well configured for young children, according to Tripp. He stressed that Shining Stars provides valuable early education to 600 students, making the upgrade a good investment in the future. District materials call Shining Stars one of the most successful early childhood schools in the state and cite research showing that pre-K learning sets kids up for school success in later years. Carl Leppelman, RRPS associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, also noted the importance of the $7 million in planned technology upgrades, including phone systems, servers and wireless Internet access. With much of the states mandatory testing now computerized, kids need the opportunity to become comfortable with keyboarding and other computer skills, Leppelman said. This year, third- and fourth-graders performed poorly on the English portion of the PARCC, New Mexicos major assessment, and Leppelman believes they were uncomfortable with the computer format. That shift from paper and pencil to the technology, that did cause a significant drop, he said. The rest of the bond money will be distributed across three areas: $9 million: General building upgrades and renovation. Projects include playground improvements, gym floor upgrades, parking lot expansions and landscaping. $3 million: Real estate purchases. The district is considering land at the end of Unser Boulevard to plan for future schools. Administrators said prices are relatively low right now, so it is a good time to buy. $1 million: Security upgrades and improvements. Across the district, all schools will receive video surveillance, better doors, radio communications equipment, and other safety enhancements. RRPS typically holds bond elections every few years to fund capital projects and has never lost one. A yes vote will not raise property tax rates, though they would decline if the bond proposal fails. Neighboring Albuquerque Public Schools won a $575 million bond and mill levy election in February despite controversy over early voting locations and a planned employee health clinic. In an uncharacteristically bad showing, nine Rio Rancho schools slipped in the latest round of grades, with two earning Ds, according to data the New Mexico Public Education Department released Wednesday. But district administrators stress that the lowest performers, Sandia Vista Elementary and Colinas Del Norte Elementary, might actually deserve better rankings. Happy Miller, district accountability chief, plans to appeal the Ds because she believes the grades were calculated with incomplete data. PED will look at it and it is very possible that they will have more points, which would push at least one of them up into a higher grade bracket, Miller said. Overall, RRPS earned five As, five Bs, six Cs and two Ds, a marked decline. In 2015, the district had nine As, six Bs and three Cs. Rio Rancho generally outperforms the state on educational measures but, this year, many districts improved their grades. Across New Mexico, 38 percent of schools, a total of 325, reached the top two grade levels compared with 37 percent, or 315, at the bottom. Only 35 percent of the states schools earned As or Bs a year ago, and 39.8 percent had Ds or Fs. RRPS spokeswoman Beth Pendergrass said the district will do a deep analysis of the numbers to find areas for improvement. We want to look at anything we can to ensure we are doing all we can to meet our students needs, she said. In Rio Rancho, the drop was particularly dramatic for Sandia Vista, which fell from a B to a D. Two other schools fell two grade levels. Cielo Azul Elementary and Rio Rancho Elementary both went from As to Cs. Colinas Del Norte, a D school this year, earned a C in 2015. A major factor in the mix is the state standardized test, PARCC, which has been administered for two years. PED calculates school grades annually based on a variety of growth and proficiency measures, including assessments like PARCC. In the last round, Rio Rancho didnt fare well on third- and fourth-grade English. Carl Leppelman, RRPS associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, attributed the decline to the test delivery method students at those levels had to switch from paper-and-pencil tests to computer format. This really accentuates the importance of us getting technology in the hands of teachers and students in our district, Leppelman said. On the bright side, Rio Rancho Middle School improved from a B to an A and four schools maintained A grades V. Sue Cleveland High, Rio Rancho High, Rio Rancho Cyber Academy and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary. Roughly 28 percent of the districts schools got As and none failed a better showing than the statewide average, where only 14 percent had As and 13 percent Fs. Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera said she feels New Mexicos progress has been good overall. Im very encouraged, she said. On all measures, we are seeing the improvements. Since 2012, when the state began releasing school grades, the number of As and Bs has gone up by a third, impacting roughly 30,000 students. The latest results show variable results across districts: Albuquerque fared poorly 89 schools had Ds and Fs this year, up from 65 in 2015. At the same time, the number of A and B schools fell from 55 to 37. Seventeen APS schools lost a grade because they didnt meet the mandatory 95 percent PARCC participation rate. Superintendent Raquel Reedy said APS is taking a hard look at what went wrong, seeking extra help, making changes. 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. A few outliers posted tremendous gains Desert View Elementary, on the border just outside El Paso, rose from an F in 2015 to an A in 2016, and three Hobbs schools went from Fs to Bs. Overall, 18 schools improved by three or more letter grades, nearly all in rural areas with high percentages of English-language learners, and Native American and low-income students. Skandera noted that these turnaround districts are using state programs like principal and teacher mentoring. We are not cherry-picking kids, she said. These are the kids some have said cant learn. I fundamentally disagree. These principals are proving that. On the other end of the spectrum, over 100 New Mexico schools have earned Fs at least twice, with a few failing for four straight years, including Hawthorne Elementary, Los Padillas Elementary and Whittier Elementary in Albuquerque. Legally, families are allowed to transfer children out of schools that have received an F at least two of the past four years. PED is highlighting the rule for the first time on each school report card. The bottom line is that we need to provide our kids with choices when they are stuck at chronically failing schools, Skandera said. I fundamentally believe the more choices we can provide, the better, and that we should have a bar. If you are not meeting an expectation, we should absolutely provide an alternative. New Mexicos education chief cant shut down low-performing schools, unlike her counterparts in some states, though Skandera would support new policies giving the secretary that power. But American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly disputed the notion that an arbitrary letter grade is a valid measure of success. We question the need to continue labeling our public schools as failing and urge the discontinuation of this practice of so-called accountability, she said in an emailed statement. Secretary Skanderas school grades willfully ignores important factors such as child poverty, over-testing, and limited access to early education opportunities. Rio Rancho Public Schools Grade Breakdown Elementary 2015 2016 Cielo Azul A C Colinas Del Norte C D Enchanted Hills A B Ernest Stapleton A B Maggie Cordova B C MLK Jr. A A Puesta Del Sol B B Rio Rancho A C Sandia Vista B D Vista Grande B B Middle School 2015 2016 Eagle Ridge C C Lincoln B C Mountain View A B Rio Rancho B A High School and Other 2015 2016 Cleveland High A A Rio Rancho High A A Independence C C Cyber Academy A A ABQ Ride will be offering a special shuttle service to and from Victoria Martens birthday celebration at Mariposa Basin Park on Sunday Aug. 28, according to a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Transit Department. The shuttles will be available from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from St. Pius High School to Mariposa Basin Park, Rick De Reyes said. This tragic event has brought our whole community together, expressing our love and support for young Victoria and everyone suffering, said Mayor Richard J. Berry. The city, along with the Parks and Recreation Department, ABQ RIDE and Albuquerque Police are proud to do their part to help people honor Victoria and her life. The event is to celebrate the life of Victoria Martens, De Reyes said. Martens was found dead on Aug. 24, one day after her 10th birthday. Real Estate News Whats it like to live in Woburn? Dorothy Capone and her husband raised three daughters in Woburn, and they graduated from the citys public schools and got a good education there. The Count Rumford Museum. joanne Rathe/Globe Staff When Dorothy Capone moved from Medford to Woburn as a newlywed in 1953, she knew the contractor after whose daughter her street, Maura Drive, was named. At the time, a lot of houses were being built, and our street was one of the first on the west side being built up very quickly, Capone said. But construction on the west side wasnt always copacetic. At some point, Capone recalled, the relationship between her contractor and his business partner dissolved, so each built half the street. She can laugh about it now, she said, but it wasnt funny at the time. Advertisement: Dorothy and William Capone were married for 57 years. They raised three daughters, who got a good education in the citys public schools, Capone said. The couple selected Woburn because of its low taxes, making it the sensible choice. She believes a reasonable tax rate continues to attract young families. She is also grateful for Woburns leaders and their dedication to the city. All of the mayors we have had were very attentive to what Woburn needed, Capone said. The citys responsive police and fire departments deserve praise, Capone added. Once, when she accidentally dropped her portable medical alert system on the garage floor, they were here in three minutes, she said. Capone, who has been on the board of directors for the Woburns Council on Aging for about 15 years, volunteers wherever shes needed and is proud of the $2 breakfasts served Wednesdays at the senior center, both for the affordable price and the way they foster a sense of community among the citys elderly. Locationwise, Woburn is convenient, Capone added, with Interstates 93 and 95 bisecting just northeast of the city. Advertisement: Its a nice place to live, she said. People keep their homes very nice, so you wouldnt mind moving into any neighborhood. BY THE NUMBERS 1839 The year Charles Goodyear pioneered the discovery of the vulcanization process in East Woburn, where the nations early rubber industry had been established a few years prior. Additionally, the Civil War boosted the citys leather production; by 1865, there were 21 tanning and curryingestablishments. Well into the 20th century, Woburn was considered the areas leading leather producer, according to the citys website. 1,300+ The number of historical objects in the Woburn Public Library. They shed light on the citys early industry, Civil War involvement, and well-known citizens. The library itself is a source of local pride: A national historic landmark, it was designed by famed architect H.H. Richardson and opened in 1879. 102 The acreage of Horn Pond. Swimming is discouraged because there are no lifeguards, but watercraft without motors are allowed. Stocked with trout, its open to fishing, and hiking and biking trails abound. 1998 The year the film A Civil Action was released. The book and movie illuminate the struggles of a Boston lawyer who spent years trying to link child leukemia diagnoses in Woburn with water pollution in the 1970s. Those municipal groundwater wells were closed in 1979, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and the cleanup targeted five properties. Advertisement: PROS & CONS Pro Historic, affordable housing stock The Woburn Historical Society is inventorying the citys homes, and any house more than 75 years old will be reviewed for possible historical value. Living in this community can be economical: According to Zillow, the median home value in Woburn is $410,200. Con Downtown As part of a master plan update, residents at public forums pointed to a desire to revitalize the citys downtown, mitigate commercial traffic, improve parking, and offer better shuttle, bus, bike, and pedestrian options. Stones from original Woburn High School lay as a sculpture in front of the recently built high school. photos by joanne rathe/ globe staff Walkers take to the Horn Pond Trail. Lisa Grande of Medford takes a break with dog Ava at Horn Pond. Woburn Public Library Bridget Finn,7, of Billerica climbs at Boston Rock Gym. Rachel Lebeaux can be reached at [email protected] AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi slammed J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and demanded that talks should be held with separatists in Kashmir. By Ashish Pandey: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday demanded immediate talks with the separatists to resolve Kashmir issue. His demand for talks with the separatists came soon after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Prime Minister held talks in New Delhi to find out ways to bring situation under control in the Valley. Speaking to India Today, AIIMIM chief and Hyderbad MP said, "This is what they had said in their alliance agenda. They had promised to hold talks with the separatists. The situation in the Valley has to be brought back to normalcy. Use of pellet gun should be stopped." advertisement Interestingly, after her meeting with the PM, Mehbooba blamed Pakistan for creating troubles in the state while hinting that the government would not hold formal talks with the separatists. OWAISI INVOKES VAJPAYEE Owaisi held both the Centre and the state government responsible for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. He said that the BJP kept harping on the Vajpayee formula for resolving Kashmir issue but the Modi government did not implement those policies. "It is an unprecedented situation in Kashmir. It has been 50 days and curfew is still on. Killing of brave security forces are still on. During the all-party meet on Jammu and Kashmir, all the political parties stood by the government, but now it is for the government to take initiative and bring back normalcy. The government talks about Vajpayee but doesn't implement his policies," Owaisi said. 'MEHBOOBA IS FINISHED' Blaming the Centre and the PDP-BJP government of the state, Owaisi said that they were not proactive in handling the situation in Kashmir. Owaisi quoted ex RAW chief AS Dulat, saying that South Kashmir was a liberated zone, which was a once bastion of PDP. "What are the state and central governments doing," asked the Hyderabad MP. "When the experts are saying that Mehbooba Mufti is completely finished and that alliance with the BJP is factor for this situation. It is for the government to look into this," added Owaisi. ALSO READ HERE: Pakistan has no right over Kashmir: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti --- ENDS --- Modified On Mar 22, 2017 02:10 PM By Raunak A lot of manufacturers are facing a hard time in India because of several issues the sudden shift in buyer demand from diesel to petrol variants and others. Undoubtedly India is one of the fastest-growing automobile markets in the world and manufactures in the country are trying hard to stay afloat in this highly competitive and price sensitive market. Almost every manufacturer operating in India is offering their global products and even new vehicles are being designed keeping leading markets such as India and China in mind. Of late, Indian automobile industry has seen a lot of roadblocks the diesel ban issue in the capital which now has been lifted, being one of the biggest among others. A lot of mass market cars from India were crash tested by the non-profit organization Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) and since India has no mandatory safety norms, the vehicles performed poorly in the tests. However, this has generated awareness among the buyers, forcing the manufacturers to offers safety features either as standard or as optional. And then there were various global issues as well that happened recently such as emission scandals and Takata airbag crisis, which have also affected the Indian auto industry. Additionally, a few of the global manufacturers have pulled the plug on fresh investments in the country and also have changed their strategies due to all of these uncertainties. All these issues, more or less, have affected the buyers in India, their needs and requirements. Here are five mass-market manufacturers in India, looking for a turnaround of their businesses in the country. Tata The homegrown manufacturers renaissance started in the year 2014 with the introduction of the Bolt and the Zest. Though, both the cars have had a rough journey till now, especially after the Bolt review, they were just stepping stones for Tata onto its road for resurrection. The manufacturer's third brand new product the Tiago got off to a flying start. The Tiago will soon be joined by its twin compact sedan codenamed the Kite 5 along with the companys first sub-4m SUV the Nexon and soon to be Tatas flagship offering the Hexa, which will come in the Toyota Innova Crystas price range. Besides new vehicles, the company also came up with a brand new family of petrol engines Revotron and has also launched a new engine in the existing Revotorq diesel engine clan. The future looks promising for Tata Motors since now it has its own design language, powertrains, and competent products. Chevrolet Chevrolet is in a dire need of revival. This American automaker presently has no new or popular product in the market. However, it has already announced and showcased its upcoming mass-market vehicles at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo the new-gen Beat and compact sedan based on it. Apart from these, the automaker has been testing the extensively updated Trailblazer facelift in the country, which is likely to launch soon. While the global next-generation Cruze is also expected to hit the Indian market next year. Additionally, Chevrolet, like rest of the automakers, also wants India to become one of its major export hubs, which will also largely help in making its Indian operation profitable. Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is on a slightly different approach to revival. The Italian-American conglomerate has brought its premium and performance oriented brands Jeep and Abarth in India for its resurrection. FCA didnt stop at just bringing the brands, the automaker also wants to launch an all-new Made-in-India Jeep SUV in the country and will export the SUV as well from its Ranjangaon plant. This plant, which is currently under an extension process, will be the fourth facility outside the US for volume production of Jeep vehicles. Additionally, the company is also manufacturing two of its Abarth vehicles locally the Abarth Punto and the Fiat Avventura (Abarth). Besides all this, FCA is also the leading diesel engine provider in India to several automakers. In fact, the 1.3-litre MulitJet diesel engine of Fiat is often touted as the national diesel engine. Honda The Brio-based products that the Japanese automaker Honda has developed for the Asian market didnt perform up to expectation, especially the Mobilio MPV. The latest vehicle based on the Brios platform is the BR-V and only time will tell as to how the market will accept this seven-seater crossover. Now, if reports are to be believed, the automaker is looking for an image makeover by introducing its global models here in India. Honda had re-introduced the ninth-generation Accord in the country at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo and it is expected to launch soon. While all eyes on the new tenth-generation Civic, which is reportedly coming next year. The HR-V is also said to be on cards along with the Jazz based sub-4m SUV the WR-V. Recommended Read: India Bound Honda Civic: What To Expect Renault-Nissan Renault is giving sleepless nights to its rivals with the Kwid. The French automaker recently introduced a bigger 1.0-litre engine in the Kwid and will soon add automatic (AMT) versions as well. Its Japanese strategic partner Nissan has also introduced the redi-Go Datsuns version of the Kwid and it is doing fairly well. Beside these two and the facelifted Duster, none of the vehicles from the Renault-Nissan alliance are performing up to the mark. Nissan is busy exporting cars from India, mainly, the Micra and the Sunny. Having said this, the joint venture is expected to bring several new cars to India in the near future to turnaround its Indian operations, vehicles such as the second-generation Renault Koleos, the next-gen Renault Fluence (now known as Megane Grand Coupe), the Nissan X-Trail petrol-hybrid and the Nissan Kicks compact SUV along with others. Recommended Read: These 5 Brands From Pre-Independence Era Should Re-enter India MNS corporator who was denied a flat for being non-vegetarian, has filed a complaint against the builder at the Goregaon police station. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: MNS corporator Santosh Dhuri has written a letter to Dadar police station and have asked them to file complaint against a private builder for hurting his religious sentiments. Dhuri who is looking to buy two-bhk flat in Goregaon area had called the builder's office. However, to his shock a woman customer care representative told him that they only sold flats to vegetarian people as the complex they were building was to accommodate Jain temple and that most of its residents were vegetarians and Gujarati. advertisement Dhuri had recorded the telephonic conversation and had later submitted it to the police to take further action against builder. SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE PAST "I was not surprised to hear this. As in past many similar cases have taken place. Is it a crime to eat non-vegetarian food? How can anyone not sell flat just because an customer is non-vegetarian. I have written about this to Dadar police," said MNS corporator Santosh Dhuri. In past also many such cases were registered in city. Many societies in Mumbai ensure that only vegetarians are allowed to move in. This seems to be a silent movement and there are no written rules prohibiting non-vegetarians from buying homes there. This incident has again raked up the issue of vegetarianism Vs non-vegetarianism in housing societies. MNS will be capitalising for upcoming civic poll on this issue. Also read: No more non-vegetarian meals on Air India's domestic flights --- ENDS --- Dhaka : Suspected Islamic miscreants stabbed Chittaranjan Addya, caretaker of a Devi Maa Kali Temple of Narsingdi district, with a machete. Wounded Chittaranjan was sent to Dhaka Medical Hospital for treatment in critical condition. The incident is occurred at his grocery shop inside the Ragunathpur Shri Shri Kali Temple of Ahmadia union on Tuesday night. Shri Chitta Ranjan Addaya (57) Care-taker of Raghunathpur Kali Mandir, located at Madhabdi police station of Narsingdi District, was murderously attacked by the assailants for killing him on 23.08.2016 at about 08.00 p.m in a very fashion of Islamic State and other Islamist rule book of Kaffir killing, popular to the Bangladeshi Jihadis. Police detained one Mohammad Feroz (45) son of late Taher Ali in connection with the attack. The victim Chittaranjan Addaya said, while I was within my stationery shop adjacent to Raghunathpur Kali Temple for selling goods, all on a sudden two masked persons covering their faces unlawfully intruded into my shop area with a Motor bike and started to chop me indiscriminately by a sharp weapon (chapati-machete) causing multiple injuries on my head and chest. Hearing the hue and cry, my wife Ms.Chanchala Rani tried to save me from their indiscriminate attack. But the assailants left me abandoned in a pool of blood. The assailants left behind the machete. I was immediately taken to local Mozammel Hospital at Narsingdi for my treatment, later I lost my senses and thereafter I was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better where I got senses and thereafter I lodged first information report through messenger before Madhabdi police station being P.S. case No.28 dated 24.08.2016 under section 448/326/307/34 of BD penal code. But, the local and police sources mentioned three young boys who came Raghunathpur by motor-bike on the way of Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Among them two boys went to Chittaranjan shop wearing mask in their face and suddenly they started chopping him randomly with machete before understanding anything. At that time locals also reached there hearing shout and the miscreants fled from there ultimately. The attacker on Chittaranjan are still at large. The police however assured to take strong step through strict investigations. Hindu priest threatened to be killed, over cell phone in Patuakhali Suspected Islamic miscreants have given death threat to a priest named Shuvo Chakrabarti of Shri Shri Radha Gobinda Temple at Dumki of Patuakhali district. Directing to abandon the sporting of Tilak on the forehead, the miscreants cautioned the Hindu priest by saying this, if he doesnt obey their order in words by words, they will kill him. A frightened Shuvo Chakrabarti filed a case in Dumki police station with a prayer to protect his life. In the written complaint, it is mentioned that the threat came from a phone number 01776034528 on Monday night. But, now nobody is receiving any call after dialing that number again and again after the news came to light. The miscreants categorically mentioned that any Hindu rituals and festivals in Islamic Bangladesh would be dangerous for the minority Hindus in Bangladesh. Source : Hindu Existence Recently CurrenTrigger, an international new-views portal, published an interview of Mr. Sukriti Mondal, the Editor of Eibela.com, an online daily of Bangladesh which is published in two languages, Bangla and English. The website, one of the best in Asia, has brought to light many problems which the minority communities face in the neighboring South Asian nation Bangladesh politically and religiously. Here is the in-depth interview with the Editor of Eibela.com published in CurreTrigger on issue dated Aug 24th that have been troubling a large section of the Hindu society. Sri Mondal claimed, 3 million people sacrificed their lives for the liberation of East Pakistan, presently as Bangladesh, out of which the 2.3 million Hindus had to sacrifice in 1971 war. But, presently minority Bangladeshi Hindus are treated as Kaffir and 2nd class like citizens there. Here is Mondals interview in details: As a journalist, what are the challenges that you face in Bangladesh ? Actually, I do not feel any challenges coming my way from the current government but threats exist from Islamist groups. But those are not direct, they come via telephone or Facebook, etc. I am also not only a journalist but also part of a socio-political organization named Bangladesh Jatio Hindu Mohajote. I am an Executive President in central committee of this organization. I enjoy grassroots level connection with the people right from the capital city to the villages. The Bangladesh government knows this very well, and above all, the Islamist groups too know it very well. Do you believe that Bangladeshs media does a good job when reporting for minority issues and problems ? There is no single media in Bangladesh owned by minority Hindu community! But 2 to 2.5 Crores Hindu lives here. I am the sole person in the Bangladesh Hindu community who started this work through our website www.eibela.com, and every day we are publishing all news about the Hindu community from village level to the capital city. We have some FB groups also and whenever any minority issue or problem occurs, then we try to circulate it in different ways. Yes, some media houses do try to say something (about the Hindu community issues) but it is not enough. The Hindu community needs powerful media print, online, electronics for its survival in Bangladesh. A Bangladesh journalist Mr. Prodip Mohanta of Daily AmaderShomoy filed a complaint after getting death threats. How do you see this ? You know there are 64 districts in Bangladesh. Mr. Prodip Mohanta lives in Bogra district and is a local representative of a daily. As far as I know, its a local issue and such threats come from local people. It is very easy to catch the culprit by the police if it really wants to! I will say here, Bangladesh is not the same as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq. Everything depends on the Indian policy now. Do you believe that secular bloggers can survive in the country after series of attacks and threats ? Who is secular ? All bloggers are not secular! Some bloggers try to say against religion (Hinduism or Islam). They are not secular, they are atheist. You know Sanatan religion can tolerate, you can say anything to its God and Goddess, but it is impossible to say anything against the Muslim religion or its icons, etc. When some bloggers were killed here, then our PM Sheikh Hasina spoke out against the bloggers and ordered law enforcement agencies to find out their previous history and record of writings. And, what do you mean by secular? They are Muslims at every cost, but it is we who are not Hindus many times, we become secular. To be seen as secular, we, the Hindus, eat beef on roads in huge gatherings but have you seen any Muslim who also claims to be secular and eats pork publicly? Atheists will not survive in Bangladesh at any cost. We Bangladeshi people believe in religion and are religion-friendly. But, I do say that some political policy has also helped in the growth of extremism. I believe it is possible to become liberal if India will help! Because I think Bangladesh is different from any other country of the world. So how do you see the current governments handling of the threats to the secular and independent bloggers and writers ? I think I already gave your answer in your previous question. Again, I am saying if you say the atheist bloggers then you will not get any help from the Bangladesh governments side. What you will see after every blogger murdered is the usual procedures to maintain rules and regulations and nothing more. As I believe the Bangladesh governments indirect policy is that these bloggers are atheists, so no regular type of help can be given to them. You may not believe it but it is true. A while back Taslima Nasreen said that the extremists want the Hindu community to leave Bangladesh. Do you also agree with the statement ? Has there been any improvement in the situation of Bangladesh minorities ? Yes, extremists want that. But what is happening now against the Hindu community in Bangladesh is all very political. If the government takes proper action, then nothing will happen. This is true. But you know Hindu community people flee to India when in danger because India is very close to Bangladesh and very easy to go. Hindu communitys participation is very low in our politics. But again I am saying that everything is possible if India wants to do something for the Hindu community in Bangladesh. What do you want India to do ? First thing, India needs to change Indian foreign policy regarding Bangladesh. Until now, India has worked on the principle that Bangladesh is a Muslim country because once it was a part of Pakistan. Indian foreign policy made in 1948 has not changed. Bangladesh is now an independent country and the country got its independence with the sacrifice of 3 million people out of which the 2.3 million were Hindus. In 1971 war, the fight was not for a Muslim country, it was for a secular country where all religious people will get equal rights, India knows it all very well. I believe that Indian politics, especially with the Congress in power for a long time, turned the situation for Hindus in Bangladesh for the worst. India-Bangladesh are going to jointly make a movie on the 1971 war, do you think it is a good move ? Its a good move. Every Bangladeshi knows that in 1971 war India helped us and we got Independence. But you believe it or not, most of the Bangladeshs Muslim have become anti-India! You can see someone saying something in favor of India but that person must be getting some benefits from India or now is in a trap, such as Taslima Nasreen. There is no option now for Taslima Nasreen to go against India because in Bangladesh, the Muslim community is against her. She is not allowed to come here and even if she dies in Bangladesh or comes here, our PM will not help her. Very few people from the Bangladesh Muslim community are in favor of India. It is hard to find a Muslim from Bangladesh who can love India without any self-interest because they believe India is a Hindu country! Of course, India is a secular country but not in their eyes! This is 100% true. May be you as an Indian will not believe it! Jointly making of the movie is a political initiative because Awami League (AL) under PM Hasina is in power. In Bangladesh politics, AL is a pro-India party. There are also lots of mistakes made by the Indian politicians regarding Bangladesh after the 1971 war of independent, jointly making a movie cannot fill up that. But I say that what has happened in the past, ok, leave itnow we are 2 to 2.5 crore Hindus living here and that is 10% of the total population. But, in land and property we have 30% ownership, this is our strength. So the current Bangladesh population does not recognize Indias role in the liberation war? It does not appreciate it ? There is mixed perception amongst our people especially in the Muslim community now because you know it happened 44 years ago, and most of the time anti-India people were in power in Bangladesh. Within this time the national government shaped it as a Muslim state. Most of the Muslims now think that India helped us in 1971 because it was in her own interest! And after the completion of the war, many say, that the Indian Army robbed lots of assets from Bangladesh, etc. It was the fault of Indian politicians to completely withdraw the Indian Army within 3-month time after Bangladesh got independence. From that time onwards, the importance of India has been decreasing day by day. Present Indian politicians should realise that the situation may become threatening for the Indias Seven Sisters (North-East) in future. Mind it here that geo-politically Bangladesh is in a good position between India and China. At any moment, Bangladesh politics can go to Chinas side if India does not play its cards properly and intelligently. Source : Hindu Existence By PTI: Gaya (Bihar), Aug 27 (PTI) Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw today arrived at Bodh Gaya in Bihar and offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi temple here. Kyaw, who is here on a two-day visit, offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi temple, Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee member Arvind Kumar Singh said. advertisement He also visited a Burmese monastery besides visiting a 80-feet tall Lord Buddhas statue and offered prayer there. Earlier, Kyaw along with his wife and a 31-member Myanmarese delegation landed at Gaya International airport in the afternoon in a special aircraft. Gaya District Magistrate Kumar Ravi and other senior district officials welcomed him at the airport. PTI CORR AR NN SMJ --- ENDS --- President Mukherjee awarded degrees to 12 students of the first batch of the university. "President awarded gold medals to two students and degrees to 10 students at the first convocation ceremony of Nalanda University," an official said. By Indo-Asian News Service: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday attended the maiden convocation ceremony of Nalanda University and launched the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the sprawling university campus here, an official said. "President awarded gold medals to two students and degrees to 10 students at the first convocation ceremony of Nalanda University," an official said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Chancellor of the university George Yeo and former Chancellor Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen were also present at the ceremony. advertisement Besides, representatives of eight countries participated in the ceremony. NALANDA UNIVERSITY The university is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda University stood till the 12th century, when it was wiped out by an invading Turkish army. According to officials, the students awarded degrees by the President had joined the two inaugural schools -- The School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Historical Studies - in the two-year Masters Programme. The university will be admitting a new batch of students in August and will also start the new school -- the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university currently has two functional divisions: the School of Historical Studies and the School of Environment and Ecological Studies. STAYING TRUE TO ITS ROOTS It started its first academic session in September 2014 in a makeshift campus. The fully-residential university is set to be completed by 2020. It will eventually have seven schools for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality and social sciences. Rajgir attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. It is the second most visited tourist place in the Buddhist circuit in Bihar after Bodh Gaya, considered as the birthplace of Buddhism. Rajgir (then Rajagriha) was the first capital of the Magadha kingdom and one of the favourite places of the Buddha. The university is an initiative of the Indian government and 18 East Asian countries. ALSO READ: OP Jindal Global University graduates get degrees UP CM inaugurates Bennett University --- ENDS --- From the Telegraph, a report on a new study that finds Biofuels are worse than petrol for the environment. Green biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are in fact worse for the environment than petrol, a landmark new study has found. This, of course, assumes that emitting CO2 is bad. The alternative energy source has long been praised for being carbon-neutral because the plants it is made from absorb carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, from the atmosphere while they are growing. But new research in the US has found that the crops used for biofuel absorb only 37 per cent of the C02 that is later released into the atmosphere when the plants are burnt, meaning the process actually increases the amount of greenhouse gas in the air. The details: Professor John DeCicco, from the University of Michigan, said his research was the first to carefully examine the carbon on farmland where biofuels are grown. When you look at whats actually happening on the land, you find that not enough carbon is being removed from the atmosphere to balance whats coming out of the tailpipe, he said. When it comes to the emissions that cause global warming, it turns out that biofuels are worse than gasoline. Professor DeCicco said the study, which is published in the journal Climatic Change, reset the assumptions, that biofuels, as renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, are inherently carbon neutral simply because the C02 released when burned was originally absorbed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, the scientists from Michigan ignored the prevailing models and analysed real data on crop production, biofuel production, fossil fuel production and vehicle emissions. A radical approach, apparently. The scientists are asking governments to rethink their policies (e.g., ethanol mandates) as a result of their findings: The scientists behind the study have called on governments to rethink their carbon policies in light of the findings. Did anyone ever actually believe it was a good idea to burn 40% of Americas principal food crop? I doubt it. Dont expect anything to be rethought, because ethanol has never been anything but a means of raising the price of corn. His Excellency Ambassador Jean Francis Zinsou, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations was honored at the 4th Annual G.O.D. Awards at the UN. Media Contact WCH Secretariat admin@wecareforhumanity.org 818-514-5756 WCH Secretariat818-514-5756 End --an international non-profit organization recently held its flagship event- the 4th Global Officials of Dignity Awards last August 19, 2016 at the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations, where world leaders, royals and global humanitarians were honored and recognized for their unequivocal contribution to humanity and have made significant impact on Human Rights, Global Peace, Green Environment, Education, Health and Wellness, Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment.Among these greatest humanitarians of the world was, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations asproudly said byfounder and president of WCH and chairman of the G.O.D. Awards.Ambassador Zinsou was honored alongside His Excellency Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka immediate former Vice President of Kenya; Her Excellency Rosalia Arteaga Serrano Former President and Vice President of Ecuador; His Excellency Khil Raj Regmi, Former Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Nepal; Binod Chaudhary the first and only Billionaire of Nepal; and his two other important countrymen: His Highness Prince Dah Djissa Houetchenou, Prime Minister of the Highest King of Benin and Her Highness Princess Pulcherie Simpson the Amazon Princess of Abomey.About His Excellency Ambassador Jean Francis Zinsou:Ambassador Jean-Francis R. ZINSOU was born in Benin, in 1955. He is a career Diplomat. He occupied many official positions in his home country and abroad. Before his accreditation to the United Nations in New York, in May 2003, as Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Benin to the UN, he held the position of Assistant to four Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Benin, ,was posted in the Embassy of Benin in Germany as First Counselor, and served later as Deputy Director for Europe Department of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs also in charge of Francophonie. He was the Coordinator of the participation of his Country in the Expo 2000 Hannover, and Rapporteur of the Summit of the Francophone Countries in Moncton (September 1999).In 2002, he was coopted member of the Geo-strategic Forum of Benin hosted by the Ministry of National Defense. He served as Recensor of Diploma theses at the National Institute of Administration (Diplomacy) from 1997 to 2002. He presented his credentials as Ambassador Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations, in January 2010.At the UN, Ambassador ZINSOU served in various leadership positions. He was Political Coordinator of the UN Security Council(2004-2005) and led many UN subsidiary bodies in the field of Peace and Security, Non Proliferation and Disarmament, including the Disarmament Commission of which he was Vice -Chair from 2006 to 2009 and Chair for 2010, and the Peacebuilding Commission as Vice-Chair in 2010.2006 and 2007, he served as Member of the first Advisory Board of the United Nations Democracy Fund.From 2006 through 2012, Ambassador ZINSOU served Member of bureau of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries and was elected Rapporteur of the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, in May 2011.Ambassador ZINSOU was appointed as Facilitator of the consultations of the General Assembly on the modalities of an International Conference on Youth and co-chaired the preparatory process of the United Nations High Level Meeting on Youth which took place in New York, 25-26 July 2011.In 2012, Ambassador was elected Vice-President of the 66th Session of the General Assembly, and served during the same year as theRepresentative in New York, of the President of the African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Government. He chaired the 2013 Session of the Special Committee of the Charter of the United Nations and on the strengthening of the Role of the Organization.FromSeptember 2012 to October 2015, Ambassador ZINSOU was Chair of the Global Bureau of Least Developed Countries. He coordinated the Gulf of Guinea Countries' efforts against Piracy (2011-2014) and counts as founding member of the Informal Group of Friends of the Future of the UnitedNations composed of 25 to 30 co-opted Ambassadors supporting the UN Secretary General in shaping the reforms of the Organization.As Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries he was the spokesman of the voiceless during the whole process of the negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Abeba Action Agenda on Financing for Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He attended the CoP 21 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris and played in the backyard ground a critical role in facilitating the agreement reached on the Paris Accord.Ambassador ZINSOU was awarded in 2005, the rank of Knight of the National Order of Benin and is listed in the Hall of Fame of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, where he was inducted in 2012. He also received in the same year the Medal of Honor of the Institute of International Relations of the State University of Kiev.Ambassador ZINSOU is married and father of four children. He speaks French, English, German, Russian and Spanish.For more information go to: http://www.godawards.com/ news/we-care- for-humanitys- 4th-god-awards- and-3rd-wch- humanitarian- summit-at-the- un-a-huge-success The leading health and beauty company aims to avail this product to its customers by selling it online. By: Naturz Contact Naturz ***@naturz.co.uk Naturz End -- The most searched for information about where to get the Online Green Tea Bags has been finally released. Customers can now know about the health benefits, cost as well as the site where they can get the natural green tea bags. They can now be able to purchase the most enjoyable green tea bags available in the market online courtesy of NaturZ.They will enjoy vast health benefits associated with the use of green tea that is unmatched in the green tea market. Green tea bags help in detoxification of the body by removing impurities in the bloodstream. Doctors recommend customers take around three cups daily of green tea to help them live healthy. The natural green tea bags, green tea, Naturz is the best companion in achieving your health needs.Naturz green tea bags have helped thousands of customers increase their physical performance due to its stimulant properties. 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They can also be able to see the sample picture from the website.Naturz is a leading health and beauty company that is based in the United Kingdom.The company is committed to offering high quality products to satisfy their customers at pocket friendly prices. The company focuses on helping people achieve healthy nutrition practices that are essential to their health. Healthy people are always productive, and this helps in achieving both individual and national goals. Menard Polska and Soletanche Polska operating in the construction industry and both part of the Vinci Group have leased a total of approx. 1,380 sq m of space in the Irydion office building in Warsaw. Experts from JLL advised Menard and Soletanche on the process of selecting new [] It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search 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. 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. 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." A teenage pregnancy prevention program 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. 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 programs 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) program is an Australian adaptation of the US program RealityWorks (often referred to as "Baby Think It Over"). Intended as a pregnancy prevention program, the VIP program 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 programs 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 program (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 program 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. "Our study shows that the pregnancy prevention program 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 programs 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." 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. programs 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." The court asked all the accused to file response on within 2 weeks. By India Today Web Desk: Patiala House Court issued notice to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and five other accused in National Herald case. Hearing BJP parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking documents in the National Herald case, the court asked all the accused to file response on within 2 weeks. Earlier, Swamy had filed a complaint in the court where he sought summoning of documents from Associated Journal ltd and Congress. advertisement THE CASE In 2012, Swamy has accused the Gandhis and five others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh by which Young Indian Private Ltd. obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which the AJL had owed to the Congress. Besides the Congress president and her son, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda are the other accused in this case. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, who had appeared before a trial court, in the case were granted unconditional bail in December last year. The Gandhis were, however, asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of same amount respectively. ALSO READ: National Herald case: Relief for Sonia, Rahul as HC denies documents to Subramanian Swamy What is the National Herald case all about? --- ENDS --- I am 7 years old, strapped into a kiddie roller-coaster, alone. I dont want to do this, but its too late. The ride lurches forward and jerks downward, flipping my stomach and sending me into hysterics. The ride ends but my crippling fear of roller-coasters is just beginning. Next, I am 11 years old on a family trip to Walt Disney World. Riding the first roller-coaster of the day brings back a rush of bad memories and uncomfortable sensations. It is my last. Then, I am 13 years old at Canadas Wonderland. My friends ride roller-coasters. I watch them enviously, but my knees still shake. I hold their bags. Now, I am 28 years old. The thought of riding a roller-coaster gives me heart palpitations and sweaty palms. Roller-coasters terrify me. Something about the height, the loss of control, the floating feeling in my stomach and the possibility of injury makes me want to throw up or run away. Psychologists say this fear can be traced back to childhood trauma, fear of heights or parental fears that rubbed off on me as a kid. I check all three boxes. But my editors asked me to face a fear, so off I go to Canadas Wonderland. I arrive on a Tuesday morning with colleague Jonathan Forani a roller-coaster enthusiast by my side. My plan is to ride the small ones until I can face my real terrors, but when I pull in, photographer Randy Risling tells me hes setting up at the green one Leviathan, Canadas tallest and fastest roller-coaster. My gut churns. In advance of this assignment, I interviewed a physicist, psychologists and even a retired astronaut, in hopes of mitigating my fears. Chris Hadfield helped calm me the most. I think you should be naturally afraid of a roller-coaster thats part of the point. Roller-coasters put forces and visual stimuli in front of your body that you are not normally used to dealing with, he said during an interview on an unrelated topic. But the roller-coaster is not going to kill you and its not even going to hurt you. But your fundamental reaction is Well yeah, it might. Might is where you really need to dig into it. So how many accidents have they had at Canadas Wonderland? Answer: Well, its never had an accident-related death in its 35 years of operation. Hadfield also told me the drive is statistically the most dangerous part of visiting Canadas Wonderland. I thought about this while weaving between tractor-trailers on Highway 400. Allison Ouimet, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the school of psychology at the University of Ottawa, suggested I try exposure therapy: giving myself small doses of exposure to roller-coasters before trying the real thing. We think of these as little experiments, she said. Can we test out if youll actually explode from anxiety? So I watch YouTube videos. The first features actor Kevin Hart, who shares my fear of roller-coasters, and Jimmy Fallon, who dragged him on the ride. Im freaking out man. Wait, wait, wait! Hart screams as the ride takes off. For the duration of the clip, his face is twisted with fear. Stop! he screams. This was a bad first exposure. The rest of the videos I watch are from the riders point of view and filmed at Wonderland. I imagine myself on the rides, feeling calm and ready. Ouimet gave me more tips: try breathing exercises, recite a mantra, go with a friend, she said. Hanna McCabe-Bennett, a PhD candidate in Ryersons clinical psychology program, suggests I start small and build up to the scary rides. Go at your own pace, she said. If someone is forcing you to do something, its going to backfire, she said. The worst thing you could do is throw them on Behemoth (at Wonderland). I think back on McCabe-Bennetts words as I walk toward Leviathan. At 93 metres high, its visible from the highway. Gulp. When we meet Randy, hes setting up a 360 degree GoPro at the front of the roller-coaster. I feel sick. A ride operator asks if Im going to cry. Another staffer tells me the lineup for this ride gets crazy and were lucky to ride it before the park opens. As if on cue, hundreds of children start running toward the ride. Who are these mini-masochists? I wonder, as they arrive, breathless and glaring at me and Jonathan as we buckle in for our solo experience. The ride clicks forward. I feel a primal urge to escape. Jonathan looks cheery. Im going to be OK, Im going to be OK, Im going to be OK, I repeat over and over as the coaster climbs. Someone told me closing your eyes makes it scarier, but mine are involuntarily glued shut. At the peak, I squint at what appears to be the entire GTA. And then, whoosh, I explode. Or at least I feel like I do. My entire body goes rigid as the G-forces take hold of me and lift my body against the safety bar. I cant form words. I think I left my brain and body at the top of the ride. For far too long but actually just two minutes I endure this roller-coaster. It gets better as it goes on, but I still cant loosen my death grip on the safety bar or relax my face. And then its done. I did not die. I did not explode. In fact, I rode two smaller rides after Leviathan but I turned down Jonathans offer to join him on Drop Tower. Its reassuring to know that in the future, I could conceal my fears and avoid projecting them onto any hypothetical mini-me, but, as my anti-roller-coaster colleague suggested upon my return to the office, the world is just divided into two groups of people: those who like roller-coasters and those who dont. I faced my fear. Im glad I did. That doesnt mean I liked it. Next up: Reporter Sunny Freeman learns to let go and embrace dance, no matter how awkward she feels. SHARE: MONTREALWhile scores of Canadians were spending the summer smugly lamenting the ugly tone of the American presidential campaign, Canadas Conservative party was allowing calls for the assassination of Justin Trudeau to be posted on its Facebook page. Dont abandon this column to see for yourself. After The Walrus documented the posts, the party cleaned up its page. In a tweet, Conservative communications director Cory Hann described the comments as totally unacceptable. He promised they would be removed quickly in the future. Trudeau is hardly the first prime minister to be vilified by bottom-of-the-barrel opposition supporters. Nor is the practice the exclusive purview of Conservative partisans. One could fill a library shelf with a collection of the derogatory comments Stephen Harper inspired over his decade in power. But to openly call for the death of a prime minister goes way beyond venting. And for the Conservative party an organization that as recently as a year ago was running the federal government to play host on its Facebook page to an accumulation of such comments is astounding. This is a party whose former leader, Stephen Harper, has just been awarded Ukraines highest honour for his role in the defence of that countrys independence. He acquired over his time as prime minister an international stature that he is about to put to use as a global consultant. (As an aside, is anyone surprised that post-politics Harper has ensured he will continue to be his own boss?) There are those who argue the posts are not that big a deal because most people who make death threats do not really mean them. Maybe so, but that does not make a call for the assassination of a public figure a banal gesture. It does not always take a lot of validation for a deranged mind to leap from intention to action. Just this week a Quebec jury found Richard Henry Bain guilty of second-degree murder for his shooting rampage at the 2012 election night rally of the Parti Quebecois. A stagehand was killed and another wounded but Bains actual target was premier-elect Pauline Marois. Mind you, anyone managing the Conservative page could probably be forgiven for having become desensitized to over-the-top comments. The party pays a lot of attention to its Facebook venue. It is often updated many times over the course of a single day. Perhaps because so much of the material the party puts out is devoted to attacking the Liberals, its comments section oozes anger. What would pass for a public-service announcement elsewhere becomes fodder for passive-aggressive rants. In this fashion, a link posted last week by interim leader Rona Ambrose to the broadcast of the Tragically Hip finale in Kingston attracted a steady flow of negative comments about the CBC, Trudeaus attendance at the concert, and the band itself. Social media has become central to the branding of political organizations. The face a party wants to show the world is on exhibit on venues such as its Facebook page. But the Conservative approach may be turning off more of the partys own supporters than attracting converts. In response to an August post listing Trudeau as missing on a milk carton, Paul Allen Keenleyside wrote: . . . Get with it. Attacking Boy Trudeau is first year political science. Using Facebook in new creative ways to engage members and new potential members is being a leader. Who wants to be part of a party that complains all the time? In the same vein, on Aug. 15 Nichola Christi commented: I am conservative yet I really think you guys need to rethink your campaigning strategy. Im more concerned with all the spending and how this massive debt will affect the next three generations, not where he is and whether hes wearing a shirt or not. Maybe its time for a new campaign company to help the conservatives revamp everything? I deeply respect and appreciate Harper. This high school bickering strategy has got to go. Over the course of a Washington seminar for visiting journalists from Germany earlier this summer, Canadas remarkably upbeat mood at least on the scale of its G7 partners came up for discussion. One participant noted that every country had its share of haters and she wondered where ours were. As it ponders its post-Harper future, the Conservative party should worry that it is attracting more than its share of haters. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: SAINT JOHN, N.B.New Brunswickers gathered in a church in Saint John to celebrate the life of Elsie Wayne, who championed the community she dubbed the greatest little city in the east as its former mayor and a force to be reckoned with in Ottawa. Waynes family says the former New Brunswick member of Parliament died Tuesday in her home at the age of 84. The right-wing firecracker was remembered at Saturdays service by Jean Charest, her lone Progressive Conservative companion in the House of Commons after the party lost all but two of their 156 seats in the 1993 federal election. Charest compared the duos task of rebuilding the countrys Conservative movement as like being in charge of a trainwreck. I would learn, as her people in Saint John knew so well, that the heavens had sent me as a partner and as a companion, the all-time Canadian champion of lost causes, Charest told the crowd. The former Quebec premier said there was nothing ordinary about Elsie, citing her reputation as a flamboyant political personality and relentless advocate of causes she cared about like funding for the Canadian Forces and benefits for merchant mariners. In one episode of Waynes battle to increase compensation for the group of Second World War navy veterans, Charest recalled her bolting from her seat in the House of Commons and making a beeline for Jean Chretien, poking the then-prime minister in the shoulder and demanding he help the boys. She was an Opposition member all her life, Charest said. She had a tireless work ethic, and her intensity and tenacity were such that she never gave up a fight until the answer was yes. Wayne achieved the sort of one-of-a-kind-status held by few Canadian politicians, said Charest, so iconic she was known simply by her first name. I think its safe to say there will never, ever be another person like Elsie Wayne, he said. The service at RiverCross Church was streamed online and mourners were invited to share their sympathies on the Brenans Funeral Home website. Elsie was wonderful and one of the strongest ladies I ever met, Heather Peterson wrote on the condolences page. Always so helpful and would stop and listen, she put the greatest little city in the east on the map. Born in Shediac, N.B., Elsie (Fairweather) Wayne became the first female mayor of Saint John in 1983 and represented the citys riding in Parliament for more than a decade before announcing her retirement in 2004. Wayne was married to Richard Wayne and they had two sons, Daniel and Stephen. Read more about: SHARE: Rachel Curran, a former director of policy in Stephen Harpers Prime Ministers Office, will be one of the principals at Harper and Associates, the new international consulting firm Harper will lead. Here are excerpts from an email exchange with the Stars Paul Wells on Friday: Q: Whos going to work at Harper and Associates? A: A network of policy, communications and business experts with experience in international affairs is in place. Others will be engaged on a project basis or more formally as required. The core group consists of the former PM, (former chief of staff) Ray Novak, (former executive assistant) Jeremy Hunt and myself. Q: Whats the business model? Who are the potential clients both the type of client in general, and any specific clients if there are any yet? A: A few clients have been signed, but I cannot discuss their details. Information on some may become publicly available in future. More generally, the focus will be on assisting corporate clients with managing political/geopolitical risk, securing market access, and conducting government relations. The firm will identify and assess political, economic and security risks in situations of market entry, joint venture and foreign investment opportunities, among others, which should allow clients to better frame business decisions and maximize value. Q: Does the former PM have any other projects, or will this firm be his full-time occupation? A: This will take the majority of his time. He will also be doing speaking engagements, through a speakers bureau, and will accept some board directorships. Harper and Associates will affiliate with a law firm, with details to be announced shortly. Q: Tony Blair Associates (the most prominent predecessor to Harpers firm) has several clients Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia that are both shaky on governance and competitive with Alberta in the oil export market. Would Harper and Associates have trouble taking on such clients for either reason? A: Good question. The answer is yes. The former PM intends to maintain and promote the same principles he did in government, which means it will not be possible to work for certain clients or on certain projects. He will align his work in the private sector with the stances he took as PM. Q: It occurs to me that Mr. Harpers appeal may be specifically to conservative parties competing in multi-party democracies. He was a formidable election winner. Will such clients be part of the firms case load? A: I cant rule it out, but the initial focus is not on political consulting. That said, hes received some inquiries from political parties looking for his assistance down the road. Read more about: SHARE: Crossbow murders are rare. A triple homicide with a crossbow is practically unheard of. But the rare nature of these attacks makes them high-profile incidents, and the Scarborough triple homicide where a crossbow was located on the scene is once again pushing forward conversations on regulating the weapons. Though police didnt confirm whether a crossbow was used in Thursdays attack, which left three people dead, a crossbow was found nearby, and all three victims were struck by crossbow bolts. Brett Ryan, 35, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. His next court appearance is Sept. 2. The event is one of only a handful in Canada in recent history, and though crossbow-involved attacks seldom occur, their unusual nature makes them high-profile cases. One notable previous case was the fatal crossbow shooting of an abusive father by his son in 2010 inside a Toronto Public Library. Zhou Fang was found guilty of second-degree murder and received a mandatory life sentence. In 2007, a 26-year-old man was charged with murder and attempted murder after his mother was killed and father injured in a crossbow attack in St-Cesaire, Que. In 1998, a man was shot in the head with a crossbow in his Hamilton home, but survived. In 1991, Ottawa lawyer Patricia Allen was killed with a crossbow by her estranged husband. Internationally, crossbow deaths have also made headlines, including a suicide in 2015 in England, and the case of Stephen Griffiths, a Briton who lured, murdered and ate the flesh of several women in 2009 and 2010, later referring to himself as the crossbow cannibal. In the wake of Thursdays attack, local crossbow hunters and enthusiasts say theyre not happy the conversation is once again focused on the weapon. Michael Martin, communications and marketing coordinator for Shooters Choice, a Waterloo-based sporting goods store, said hes upset that most people assume a crossbow was used in Thursdays attack. The bolts could have been used on their own, as those used for hunting purposes have blades on them that effectively turn them into knives, he said. The police actually very clearly said that it was found and they werent sure if it was used, Martin said. Unfortunately, everyone takes that as, it was used. He does understand why crossbows ignite imaginations, though. A bow is such an unusual thing to hear about. As soon as that item is mentioned along with it people will grab on to, Oh, thats different, Martin said. Many crossbow owners are hunters, and like the challenge of learning how to aim it accurately. The level of knowledge and the level skill to proficiently shoot and shoot well with it takes more work, he said. Though attacks on people with crossbows are rare, they cause enough public discourse that owners will stay quiet about their crossbow ownership. Buying a typical crossbow doesnt require a licence, and Martin said he wants it to stay that way. He said the Scarborough attack is tragic, whether it involved a crossbow or not. Its horrible that it happened. No one will deny that. But just because this thing is used for hunting doesnt mean its different from any other item, he said. With files from the Canadian Press SHARE: Its 1:58 a.m. on a summer Saturday night. At the end of an alleyway near Ossington Ave. and Queen St. W., theres a green-lit stairwell leading to a basement. Two bouncers bar the way, surrounded by a dozen or so people mostly in their 20s smoking cigarettes and trading contact info. Some of them have been inside already, stamps on hand. Others are waiting, somewhat impatiently, for the capacity to go down so they can slip inside. It probably wont. Get inside and the setup is basic but dripping in indie character. A few red stage lights give life to the concrete-walled basement where around 200 people sip from red plastic cups. Some stand or lean against a wall, others sit on vintage couches or IKEA tables meant to have drinks spilled on them. In the far back corner, past the makeshift bar, theres a line forming from the bathroom genderless, like most parties thrown at private homes or studios. An impromptu performance being put on by Johnny Darko, a local rapper, and CRSB, the DJ for the night, has another portion of the crowd moshing to a mid-tempo trap beat. For many of the self-identified artists, photographers and musicians here, the night has just begun. Tonights event happens to coincide with Chieff Bosompras birthday. The 25-year-old has been throwing these Undisposable parties for almost two years now, the name a riff on the events conceit, to hand out disposable cameras to guests and post the developed photos online. It doubles as a branding technique that differentiates his events from the citys other DIY hip-hop parties, a scene Bosompra would like to see expand. I feel like, at least to myself, theres a lot of different artistic crowds downtown, all in small microcosms, Bosompra says, stirring his iced coffee at a cafe the day before the event. To me, DIY spaces in Toronto bring a pretty diverse crowd. Theyre all different cultures, music tastes, styles. Its not homogenous. I dont think anyone wants it to be. Underground events like Undisposable have typically been stereotyped as grungy hip-hop turn-ups; the after-parties for people who get a VIP invite or know someone who did. But Bosompras parties are open to anyone who learns about them through word-of-mouth or can decipher his cryptic social media posts. That means its not at all uncommon to see a guy in a Calgary Flames hat and cargo shorts mingling with one of the scenes hottest up-and-comers: everybody from Torontos Jazz Cartier to Kanye Wests designer Virgil Abloh have showed up to Bosompras events, usually with shades on in the hopes of staying incognito and having a drink or two. The idea for Undisposable came to Bosompra, a communications graduate from Carleton University, after spending his early 20s in Quebec and New York among friends working as creatives or artists. Parties, Bosompra says, were both a ritual to relax and a networking tool. But unlike in Toronto, they were often held in lofts or warehouses that had been converted for one night into spaces customized to fit a specific vibe. The events are distinguished by a low-rent yet poetic esthetic: unique neon signs by local glassmakers providing minimal but moody lighting; visuals from contemporary artists and tastemakers that adorn unfinished walls; an inconspicuous bar, lacking a menu, that takes only cash and serves drinks in plastic cups. It smells homegrown because it is, but can leave a more lasting impression than commercialized spaces with velvet ropes and bottle service. Undisposable events arent just a show-up, buy-drinks, go-home sort of night. Theyre supposed to be an experience, Bosompra said, taking a jab at the citys mainstream clubs for not pushing the envelope far enough. Bambii, a Toronto DJ who recently put on the third-year anniversary of her own JERK event series, praises DIY party culture for giving emerging artists the chance to shine. Today, many of the same acts that youd see tucked underground are headlining major festivals. Bambii herself, once confined to the local scene, performed at both the WayHome and Osheaga festivals this summer. When I first started DJing, I had to book myself, she said, noting the tough time she had finding paid gigs as a black female DJ in Toronto. If you only stay underground, theres an issue with visibility. You can get known for only being in that scene . . . But even now when I play (mainstream) events, if theres an issue or somethings going on that I dont agree with, its not worth the cheque. Ill pass. Dudebox a series of house parties-turned-mega-gatherings originally started by a group of seven Toronto roommates is designed to fill the gap left by the mainstream scene with its promise of parties in weird places. Since 2007, Dudebox has been hosting events featuring local artists and musicians a few times a year, with almost all the proceeds going to charity. So far, theyve raised almost $160,000 for a variety of initiatives, both local and foreign, from The 519 on Church St. to the KANPE Foundation, an organization that sponsors struggling communities abroad. Co-founder Said Yassin, 31, describes the challenge of finding a place for DIY events a space thats safe, legal and adventurous like working at a call centre 24/7. Just to put on one of these events takes a lot of legwork and the perseverance to keep going after dozens of rejections. Obstacles include capacity issues, liquor licenses, and a general distaste that some venue owners might have for a wild group of young people throwing art parties. People will reject you, reject you and reject you again, Yassin says, trailing off. I do think it has a lot to do with the fact that, you know, these parties are nuts. Its not clean and clinical. Things are going to get wrecked, but that doesnt mean were not there cleaning up and making it look perfect afterward. In 2013, Dudebox secured space at the now-defunct Planet Carwash at King St. W and Bathurst St., for what Yassin says turned out to be one of the best parties since the project started. It had water hoses that still functioned, a large parking lot for smokers and others to spill into, and an industrial space customized with art and lighting, creating an event both epic and ephemeral for a crowd of 20- to 30-somethings partying the life out of a place on its way to demolition. But to both Bosompra and the Dudebox crew, things are getting better. Just last month, Yassin and company were able to throw a massive party at the decommissioned Hearn Generating Station, in partnership with local queer party collective Yes Yes Yall, at the Luminato Festival. The event raised $8,000 for the Regent Park School of Music and $4,000 for families of the Orlando shooting victims. Bosompra has long pegged Undisposable parties as intimate. There are probably, like, 600 people who are in this scene that you will see regularly, he says, making note of Torontos still-blooming talent base of rappers and visual artists, a group that pales in size and scope compared to places like New York City. Ask anybody who goes to events like these and theyll probably tell you its the community vibe of knowing everybody, but not really that makes underground events so special. Theyre built by the scene, for the scene, but that can come at the cost of not always having the place to set up, or being limited to run-down venues that cant accommodate bigger exhibits. To Bosompra, its a careful balance of charm and finesse. I dont want to lose how tight it is, he said. Thats the most important thing. SHARE: The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is denying it pressured a physician to deliver medical opinions that would allow the agency to refuse benefits to injured workers, or that it had any part to play in her termination. In a statement of defence filed in the ongoing $3.2-million lawsuit brought by Hamilton-area physician Dr. Brenda Steinnagel, the WSIB says no one at the agency directed, counseled or otherwise indicated to Steinnagels former employer, Vaughan-based Workplace Health and Cost Solutions, that Steinnagel should be fired. WHCS was one of several companies contracted by the WSIB to provide external medical opinions on injured workers at the request of WSIB case managers. WSIB denies the allegation that WHCS and WSIB conspired to terminate Steinnagel as a reprisal for her refusal to participate in a scheme to falsify medical reports, says the statement, filed in Superior Court in Toronto. The suggestion that WSIB is engaged in a widespread conspiracy involving multiple third-party service providers to deny valid claims by procuring false medical opinions is a fiction spun out of whole cloth. Steinnagels former job at WHCS is known among workers rights groups as a paper doctor consultants who review medical files of claimants without ever actually meeting them. The WSIB recently defended the controversial practice following an internal review, saying the doctors are being used appropriately. A group of injured workers, labour groups and health professionals have formally requested that Ontarios ombudsman investigate the WSIB for the use of external consultants and other practices. The Star has previously reported on allegations that the WSIB has sought to unfairly cut benefit payments to injured workers as it seeks to reduce its unfunded liability, which sat at $12 billion in 2010. That figure now sits at $6.42 billion. Steinnagel alleged in a statement of claim filed last year that she was terminated in April 2015 after the WSIB repeatedly demanded that her employer change the medical opinion she authored on a hospital worker who was claiming benefits after suffering head injuries while trying to restrain a patient. She concluded in late 2014 that the workers emotional issues could be related to his workplace accident, according to the statement of claim. Within two weeks of delivering her opinion, she alleges, the WSIB requested clarification. After further review, which included speaking with the workers family doctor, Steinnagel says she reached the same result in her medical opinion, but alleges the WSIB continued to resist her conclusion. In a desperate effort to reduce claims paid out, WSIB and WHCS have been conspiring to deny legitimate claims in a shocking display of arrogance and corruption, alleges the statement of claim. They pressured Dr. Steinnagel over a period of months to reverse her medical opinion on a high-cost case. When she refused, she was fired. None of the allegations has been proven in court. A Superior Court judge dismissed in April the WSIBs attempt to have the lawsuit thrown out. Along with its statement of defence, the WSIB filed a cross-claim against WHCS, alleging that WHCS negligently blamed the WSIB for the decision to fire Steinnagel. We maintain that there is no truth to Dr. Steinnagels allegations, and we deny acting wrongfully in any way, said a WSIB spokeswoman. A lawyer for WHCS declined to comment other than to repeat previous statements that Steinnagels claim has no merit. The WSIB alleges in its statement of defence that throughout 2014, it was apparent that many of Steinnagels medical reviews were deficient and that the WSIB had to request a significant number of addenda to her reports. The agency claims Steinnagels medical opinions lacked clarity, misapprehended questions put forward by the WSIB case manager and arrived at conclusions that were contradictory or did not make sense. Senior directors at the WSIB expressed concern to WHCS over Steinnagels work and an overall lack of proper quality control of medical opinions at the company, according to the statement of defence. In a reply to the statements of defence filed in court, Steinnagel denies that concerns about her work were ever brought to her attention prior to the hospital worker case in 2014. To the contrary, Dr. Steinnagel consistently received positive feedback about her performance, says the reply. The WSIB alleges that WHCS president Yvonne Chan wrote to Steinnagel on April 2, 2015, stating that she had no choice but to abide by WSIBs request and terminate Steinnagels employment with WHCS something WSIB denies. WSIB never requested nor suggested that WHCS terminate Steinnagels employment, says the statement of defence. At all times, WSIBs concern was only to ensure that quality control over its reviews was maintained by WHCS. In its own statement of defence, WHCS said no one tried to force or coerce Steinnagel into signing a medical opinion with which she disagreed. (She disputes this in her reply filed in court.) After receiving what it says was yet another call from the WSIB about dissatisfaction with one of Steinnagels medical reviews in March 2015, WHCS was asked by the WSIB to disclose how many case files Steinnagel was currently reviewing, and advised that until the issue had been resolved, the WSIB may have to stop allowing WHCS to take on more files, according to WHCSs statement of defence. Several days later, the WSIB clarified the situation, according to WHCSs statement of defence, telling WHCSs medical director that it did not explicitly require that WHCS stop assigning Dr. Steinnagel to WSIB case file reviews and that it did not require the company to fire her. WHCS alleges that following that clarification, it believed it had no practical choice other than to remove Dr. Steinnagel from the WSIB roster. Because case file reviews then represented almost all of her duties, this meant that her employment would terminate unless WHCS could find her another assignment. The company alleges it tried to find other positions for Steinnagel at WHCS, but that she did not follow up, and instead launched her lawsuit. Dr. Steinnagel never refused to pursue any reasonable, equivalent employment opportunities, says Steinnagels reply to the statements of defence. Dr. Steinnagel has made extensive efforts to find employment, and has been unable to acquire work in the occupational health field. With files from Sara Mojtehedzadeh SHARE: JIQIE NO. 2 VILLAGE, CHINA She was 27, a kind, hard-working woman who supported her family by herding yaks and harvesting caterpillar fungus, a prized health cure, on the high grasslands of Tibet. Last October, Tsering Tso was found hanged from a bridge in a small town near her home. Her family and local villagers gathered outside the police station in Chalong township to demand answers: She had last been seen in the company of a local Buddhist priest and two policemen. The authorities insisted it was suicide. Family and friends suspected foul play and demanded an investigation. That night and the following morning, an angry crowd stormed the gates of the police station, smashing windows, according to local police. The authorities response was brutal, revealing much about the crackdown taking place in Tibetan parts of China and showing how unrest and unhappiness is increasingly viewed as dangerously subversive. On Oct. 10, five days after Tsering Tsos body was found, hundreds of armed soldiers arrived in the town and descended on her funeral ceremony in the remote hamlet known as Jiqie No. 2 Village in Chinese and Raghya in Tibetan, in Chinas western Sichuan province. Witnesses said more than 40 people were tied up, beaten with metal clubs, piled into a truck like corpses and placed in detention. So much blood was shed, stray dogs could not finish lapping it up, according to a remarkable and rare open letter sent by the community to President Xi Jinping asking for justice. Most of those detained were gradually released in the weeks and months that followed, although many went straight to the hospital. But on May 20, five relatives and family friends were sentenced to 2 years in prison. Acquaintances say they were jailed for refusing to sign a statement absolving the police of blame for Tsering Tsos death. In a statement issued on its social-media account, the Ganzi county Public Security Bureau contested that version of events. It said some of the protesters had carried knives, iron pipes or stones and had caused nearly $10,000 worth of damage. The bureau ran photographs of several men climbing over a gate, but only two broken windows were shown. The jailed men, the statement said, had either carried weapons or organized the protest and had been found guilty of assembling a crowd to attack state organs. But relatives who spoke outside the familys tent on the remote grasslands said they were not convinced that any investigation had been carried out. No one denied that a few stones had been thrown during the protest, hitting a police car and office building, but they said that as a result, their entire community had been accused of splittism. That is a serious crime implying support for the Dalai Lama, the exiled religious leader, or for Tibets independence from China. Internet connections have been cut off in Chalong township since the incident, and relatives have been threatened with further punishment if they talk to outsiders. The village a scattering of tents and yaks in a scenic, sweeping grasslands valley has been told it will not get government subsidies for roads or houses for three years because of its bad character. The family insisted that its demands were not political or ethnic in nature: The priest and policemen last seen with Tsering Tso were local Tibetans, and the family said it had no beef with the central government. All the family wants, it said, is a proper investigation, justice for Tsering Tso and freedom for the five men in jail. My daughter was healthy and happy. She wouldnt commit suicide, her 49-year-old mother Adhey said, fighting back tears as she sat on the grass with her 83-year-old mother and two young sons. My beloved daughter was murdered without any justice being given by the government. Instead, they simply arrested more innocent people and sent them to jail. What happened on the grasslands near Chalong in Garze prefecture fits a disturbing pattern. More than six decades after Chinese troops first moved into Tibet, dissent continues to roil the plateau and, if anything, is being suppressed ever more savagely. Control and surveillance have been dramatically tightened since riots and demonstrations broke out in Tibet in 2008, and then expanded further under Xi, with tens of thousands of party cadres sent to monitor villages and monasteries, according to a January report by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT). In a May report, Human Rights Watch catalogued nearly 500 arrests across Tibetan parts of China between 2013 and 2015. It concluded that dissent had spread from urban to rural areas. Whereas the vast majority of arrests in the 1980s and 1990s had been of monks and nuns, most of those detained more recently were ordinary people. Many had merely exercised their rights to expression and assembly without advocating separatism criticizing local officials, for example, or opposing a mining development, the report said. Yet even relatively mild protests about poor governance are increasingly seen through a political lens and labelled as criminal acts, rights groups say. Punishment can be severe. The incident in Chalong reflects the unrest and instability in Tibetan society, said Golog Jigme, a filmmaker and former political prisoner who now lives in exile in Switzerland. Its not outsiders or the Dalai Lama stirring things up, its social issues. On the evening of Oct. 4, 2015, Tsering Tso had received a phone call from her boyfriend, a lama at the Gertse Dralak monastery in Chalong. He insisted that he was ill and wanted to see her. Her father gave her a lift, only to find the lama drinking with two policemen. He left her there. The following morning, Tsering Tsos body was found hanging from a small bridge in the town. Although police say an autopsy gave the cause of death as suicide, residents are deeply skeptical. Some reported seeing bruises on her body and said that a doctors report had noted a wound on her head as well as a broken neck. They also said her clothes looked as though they had been put on after her death. The lama, who had a reputation as a womanizer, has since disappeared. In its statement, the Public Security Bureau said the two policemen were on duty at the time of her death and could not have been involved. But villagers insist that the two men were seen drinking with the lama that night and suspect a coverup. Instead of investigating, they say, the police just called in the army. As they rounded up suspects, security forces raided and ransacked relatives homes, smashing everything and stabbing knives into sacks of rice and butter, one relative said. Weve only seen that kind of brutality before in TV dramas about Japanese invaders. The raiders confiscated photos of Tsering Tso even checking mobile phones. A family member showed scars on his head from a beating that he said left his body drenched in blood. Released weeks later, he was warned by officials not to talk to anyone, but he refuses to be silenced. He said another relative walks with a limp after being beaten on his legs; a third, a Buddhist monk, was beaten so badly on the head that he bled from one ear and today cannot walk at all. Family members who work for the government lost their jobs. The police statement merely said that 44 people had been subpoenaed. Many Tibetans are too scared to speak out publicly against injustice, but the communities around Chalong appear to have gathered to write a remarkable open letter about the incident. The letter, first obtained by Golog Jigme, claims to have been written in the name of 700 residents across 13 communities in the area. These days the Chinese Communists are claiming and announcing how they are building a perfect Tibet and how free and happy Tibetans are in China, but now we have no option but to show the world an actual example of the real suffering endured by the people of the three regions of Tibet under Chinese oppression, the letter begins. Local officials, the letter continued, had conspired to use force to bully the common people, ending with an appeal to President Xi to investigate and rectify. ICT said the incident reveals the extent of the impunity of officials and police in Tibet, and the fact that it took so long to reach the outside world shows how tightly information flows are restricted. Free Tibet said it clearly exemplifies not just the brutality of life under the Chinese occupation but also how arbitrary and illogical it can be. Read more about: SHARE: By PTI: Boston, Aug 27 (PTI) Scientists have 3D printed structures that "remember" their original shapes - even after being stretched, twisted, and bent at extreme angles - an advance that may lead to shape-changing solar cells and drug capsules that only release medicine when they detect fever. The researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) were able to print micron-scale features as small as the diameter of a human hair. advertisement The structures - from small coils and multimaterial flowers, to an inch-tall replica of the Eiffel tower - sprang back to their original forms within seconds of being heated to a certain temperature "sweet spot." Nicholas X Fang, associate professor at MIT, said shape-memory polymers that can predictably morph in response to temperature can be useful for a number of applications, from soft actuators that turn solar panels toward the Sun, to tiny drug capsules that open upon early signs of infection. "If we can design these polymers properly, we may be able to form a drug delivery device that will only release medicine at the sign of a fever," said Fang. The process of 3D printing shape-memory materials can also be thought of as 4D printing, as the structures are designed to change over the fourth dimension - time, said Qi Ge, now an assistant professor at SUTD. "Our method not only enables 4D printing at the micron-scale, but also suggests recipes to print shape-memory polymers that can be stretched 10 times larger than those printed by commercial 3D printers," Ge said. "This will advance 4D printing into a wide variety of practical applications, including biomedical devices, deployable aerospace structures, and shape-changing photovoltaic solar cells," he said. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. PTI MHN MHN --- ENDS --- FAIRBANKS, ALASKAAuthorities in Alaska say a Canadian man is the latest person to be rescued near an abandoned bus made famous by the book and film Into the Wild. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports 22-year-old Matthew Sharp of Manitoba was rescued after he was unable to hike back because of minor injuries and high river levels. Alaska State Troopers say a personal locator beacon registered to Sharp was activated early Thursday morning. Troopers responded by helicopter and found Sharp, who was flown to Fairbanks. Into the Wild chronicled the life and death of 24-year-old Chris McCandless, who hiked into the Alaska wilderness in April 1992 with little food and equipment. He was found starved to death in the bus almost four months later. The bus has long been a destination for those seeking to retrace his steps. SHARE: WASHINGTONThe new face of white supremacism is a green cartoon frog. His fans call him Pepe. On Twitter, you can find him dressed in a Nazi uniform, denying the Holocaust, disparaging Mexicans and Muslims and blacks, mocking feminists, and wearing a Donald Trump campaign hat. The memes are made by supporters of the alt-right, a web-savvy racist movement with a fondness for bigoted harassment. Its having the best month of its young existence. Last week, Trump handed the leadership of his campaign to Stephen Bannon, head of Breitbart News, a website Bannon has described as the platform for the alt-right. On Thursday, Hillary Clinton claimed in a major speech that the alt-right had effectively taken over the Republican Party, which sent Google searches for the term skyrocketing. Millions of people are Googling #AltRight and thinking through our ideas for the first time, Richard Spencer, the white nationalist credited with popularizing the term, wrote on Twitter. If thats losing, Ill take it! They have a whole hodgepodge of ideas. Some of them immigration should be halted or sharply curtailed; political correctness has run amok; feminism, multiculturalism and globalism are destructive are within the bounds of mainstream conversation. At its core, though, the alt-right movement is about this: a belief that white identity and white culture are under threat and need to be aggressively defended. What the #AltRight means is that whites no longer are going to cower and will defend our own race, wrote one supporter, who tweets under the handle Identitarian. The #AltRights message isnt one of hate, but one of love: Whites learning to love and support our own race. That means different things to different people. The umbrella movement encompasses everyone from veteran neo-Nazis to mens rights activists to intellectuals who want to create a white ethno-state to a troll army of anonymous students who claim they are puncturing political correctness by heaping racist abuse upon black Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones or anti-Semitic abuse upon Jews. Jones felt compelled to briefly quit Twitter after she was subjected to a vicious online mob incited by Milo Yiannopoulos, a Breitbart editor sympathetic to the alt-right. Jewish journalists Julia Ioffe, Ben Shapiro, and Jonathan Weisman have been deluged with Holocaust memes and threats of violence. They think its all in good fun, too. They are anti-Semitic, they know what theyre doing is anti-Semitic, but they think its funny, said Marilyn Mayo, a research fellow at the Center on Extremism of the Anti-Defamation League. Mayo described the alt-right, whose size is unknown, as a subgrouping under the white supremacist movement. But she said it is different from previous groups in its youthfulness, its social media fluency and how it is trying to influence conservative discourse rather than withdrawing from conventional politics. Even though the alt-right rejects mainstream conservatism, they still want to be a part of the conversation. Thats why theyre calling themselves the alternative-right, Mayo said. The movement is also different, extremism expert Brian Levin said, in its embrace of people of diverse political views. Anxieties about globalization and the changing complexion of America are spread across a far broader swath of the population than a mere Hitlerian group could ever hope to reach, he said. Its almost a siren call: give me your libertarians, your hardened bigots, your ultraconservative disenfranchised, and we will embrace you, said Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. Some prominent figures on the mainstream right have angrily attempted an expulsion. Conservative pundit Erick Erickson has called the alt-right the Alt-Reich, likening it to Nazism. Stuart Stevens, chief strategist to Mitt Romneys 2012 campaign, says the movement is nothing more than old-fashioned hate. There is no alt-right. Its just rebranded racism. Its like calling slaves agrarian interns. No, Stevens wrote on Twitter. Much of the alt-right rejects the suggestion that it is racist. But its own definitions meet the criteria. In a Thursday statement, American Renaissance, a publication founded by alt-right white nationalist Jared Taylor, said, There is very broad overlap between the races, but they differ in average levels of intelligence and in other traits. Such people now have a toehold in public life. Though Clinton may have been exaggerating when she claimed the alt-right now runs Trumps party, he has given white racists a legitimacy they have not enjoyed in decades. The bottom line is: this movement, which has hardened bigots within it, has now become part of the mainstream political process, Levin said. The Klan, or even people who wore swastikas, just couldnt get through the door. These guys have their foot in the door. SHARE: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGOHere in Kinshasa theyre using bug spray to repel a pandemic. At first glance, it looks like a bloody ambush on civilians: dozens in uniform are storming into a bustling marketplace bearing on their shoulders what look like bazookas. People are screaming, scrambling in every direction, their noses and mouths covered as they drag their children by their hands. Those in uniform chuckle, shaking their heads, smirking; they hiss into megaphones: We told you we were coming! This is vector control in Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo. The procedure daubs communities in insecticide to fumigate homes and public spaces that breed Aedes aegypti, the mosquito carrying yellow fever. In high quantities, the insecticide is a neurotoxin, and the health workers lament that marketplace invasions seem most petrifying for locals because theres nowhere for people to hide. The method, a poor alternative to vaccination, is being implemented in the fight against central Africas yellow fever outbreak, which has surpassed 6,100 suspected cases in Angola and the Congo killing at least 400 without slowing. After a sluggish and disorderly outbreak response (vanishing vaccines, unrefrigerated vaccines, and ultimately, a global depletion of vaccines), authorities seem to leisurely await the viruss explosion into Asia and beyond. For months, this bug-spraying protocol has been the only thing keeping aid workers occupied as they wait for 15.5 million more vaccines from higher-ups vaccines that never seem to come. Yellow fever is a preventable killer without a cure. The infection shows itself with flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. Most immune systems can fight off the infection over time, but around 15 per cent of cases develop jaundice, bleeding from the mouth and nose, and/or eventual organ failure. Aside from support measures like fluid and oxygen, there is no treatment for yellow fever. Up to half of severe cases die. Unlike Zika (or Ebola, and other re-emerging threats), there already exists a yellow fever vaccine one thats cheap, lifelong, and highly efficacious. But advancements in the yellow fever approach plateaued almost seven decades ago, when success against the infection suppressed transmission and concern. In December 2015, only four factories were producing the yellow fever vaccine globally, each employing an 80-year-old manual production process requiring 18 months from seed virus to agency approval. The entire global stockpile contained just six million vaccines. The December 2015 yellow fever outbreak arose in the midst of the perfect storm. In the months prior, dropping oil prices for Africas second largest crude exporter, Angola, ushered in cuts in public sanitation services; in turn, urban trash buildup created an optimal breeding ground for the mosquitoes. It arose at the onset of the rainy season, which meant more stagnant water in old tires and stray bottle caps, where mosquitoes breed. And most of all, it arose while the world was turned the other way, frenzied by the new epidemic, Zika. When the outbreak sprang up in Angola, response Plan A, well call it, was to use the global vaccine stockpile. According to the WHO, the stockpile is intended to rapidly vaccinate each close contact surrounding a confirmed yellow fever case, thus creating a wall of immunity to smother transmission. If used correctly, six million doses are plenty. But in this outbreak, the first cases were mistaken for food poisoning from an ethnic restaurant, and by the time Angola alerted international authorities, transmission was out of control. Plan B, then, was the countrys suggested approach: to blanket-vaccinate. In the early months of 2016, 20 million doses from around the world poured into Angola, then drained in a haphazard mass vaccination campaign. During distribution, at least a million vaccines went missing, and of those accounted for, many were inadequately refrigerated or arrived without proper syringes. So, when folks say there are not enough vaccines, the question is, not enough for what? asks Bruce Aylward, ad interim executive director of WHOs Outbreaks and Health Emergencies Cluster. Yes, there was enough to identify every transmission chain (early on) and vaccinate around it. But, when countries decide that, rather than do that, lets just vaccinate this many million ... then, well, no, there isnt enough. And because there wasnt enough, the virus began skulking over the border into Congo. It was clear what would happen if the outbreak reached their unvaccinated capital. Kinshasa, with 11.5 million people, is twice as big as Luanda, and is particularly globally connected. An outbreak on the outskirts of the urban area would be sad, but one in the midst of Kinshasas bustle would be catastrophic. And it was. So now, its on to Plan C: Bug spray. On the ground, bug spray is keeping teams busy. In addition to marketplace fumigation raids, aid workers are following orders to carry out three other types of vector control: the first is residual spraying, the application of similar insecticide against the interior walls of homes, hospitals, and schools where confirmed cases have travelled while sick. The rationale is that the Aedes aegypti mosquito doesnt fly further than a 100 meter radius from its birthplace, so it often hides in the structure or compound in which it was born and the one in which it will bite one active case and in turn transmit to a new host. Secondly, for water reservoirs that cannot be destroyed or covered, vector control workers apply a biological agent called VectoBac. Mosquito larvae in the reservoir eat the bacteria, which then crystallizes inside of them virtually causing the larvae to explode from the inside out. And lastly, the teams spend enormous amounts of time doing what experts call mechanical destruction a fancy term for knocking over buckets, iron cans, even littered bottle caps anything that could serve as potential mosquito breeding grounds. The task is particularly futile in a developing metropolis like Kinshasa, where roads are spattered with garbage and every structure is crowned with hundreds of cratered concrete blocks that pool rainwater. And at this point in an outbreak, many argue the technique is more of a handy distraction, a way to seem busy in the eyes of the desperate Congolese. Vector control is an important public health development, but all experts concur that when it comes to halting a major outbreaks transmission, the method is nowhere near as effective as vaccination. Even Nick Duinslaeger, the director of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) water and sanitation program for Kinshasa, has doubts about the operation he is overseeing. I would like to see some numbers. The (vector control) activities take a lot of effort, a lot of time, a lot of human resources and I dont know if it balances out with the impact it has, Duinslaeger says, noting his views arent necessarily those of MSF. For me personally, the big question remains: what parts of the activity are efficient? And is all of this really helping? Complacency is of particular concern when an epidemiological clock is ticking. Thanks to population density, yellow fever outbreaks tend to explode when they reach urban areas. The regions last major yellow fever outbreak, which began in Nigeria in 1986, infected 116,000 people and killed 24,000 of them more than twice the number killed in the West African Ebola epidemic. Africas urban populations have grown tremendously since the 80s, and thus, so has the viruss playground. In this outbreak, soon after yellow fever began spreading through the provinces of Angola, several cases were exported to Kenya and China. The latter is of utmost concern ripe with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, host monkeys, and a perfect climate, Southeast Asias lack of yellow fever thus far is enigmatic. When that changes, the disease will be nearly impossible to eradicate. Theres no evidence of a (biologically) changing virus, but theres certainly evidence of a changing world, says Aylward, referring to the risks that come with increased globalization and particularly international travel. Many people believe that yellow fever in Asia is really just a matter of time. In fact, a yellow fever spark in any of the 100 countries with endemic dengue also carried by the Aedes aegypti could quickly explode. Few of these areas are well vaccinated, including much of central Africa, Southeast Asia, and even the eastern seaboard of Brazil. If you wrapped a thick piece of yellow caution tape around the equator of a standard-sized classroom globe, youd have a good sense of the major world regions at risk in this outbreak. Critics of the WHO are crying deja vu; they claim the current yellow fever response, though less visible, has been botched to the degree of the response to the West African Ebola epidemic which killed over 11,000 and took two years to contain. When a WHO emergency committee on yellow fever convened in May, the group declined to deem this yellow fever outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC. Earlier this month, the WHO announced it would meet again in late August or early September to revisit their initial verdict. In some ways, the Congolese households seem more in tune with the threats magnitude than the international authorities. Since the infection lingered on the border, theyve been aware that vaccination is the foolproof prevention method and theyve been begging for vaccines. When vector control teams move down each road, parcel-by-parcel, perforating water containers, residents ask: if you could make the journey here, why couldnt the vaccines make it with you? The main concern is vaccination, now more than ever. Everywhere we go, they are always asking, where is the vaccine? Where is the vaccine? says Ir Nobikana Nganabo Esperance, a health promoter employed by the Congo Ministry of Environment. She travels with a vector control team to sensitize locals. Were trying to explain to them that it will come eventually. We tell them that this step comes first, I guess, and afterward, maybe the government will think about vaccination. And yes, theyre thinking about it. Last week, eight months after the start of the outbreak, a $44 million vaccination effort just began to roll out. The campaign will vaccinate another 15.5 million people totalling close to 30 million many of whom will receive only one-fifth of a dose to stretch the limited supply. Fractional doses will require a particularly small syringe, of which there is also a shortage. The massive campaign needs to be completed in less than three weeks to make sure recipients develop immunity by the end of September, when the rainy season will cause mosquito breeding to soar. Complacency sets in super fast, Aylward of WHO admits. So were trying to use this August, this small window, to belt this thing incredibly hard, raise awareness, and manage what could be a substantive international health risk. To most, the scope, timing, and manpower required of the undertaking seem unrealistic. In most communities, it remains an ominous waiting game: the Congolese are told to hang tight, to literally kick the bucket and to dodge response teams with their bazookas full of insecticide. SHARE: BOGOTA Colombias 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 ceasefire 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. The FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire 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 gruelling negotiations in Cuba. The ceasefire will take effect at midnight Monday, Santos said. Colombians celebrated the historic agreement even while expressing doubts about whether the guerrillas theyve grown to loathe will honour their commitments to lay down their weapons, confess human rights abuses and help eradicate illegal coca crops that helped fuel Colombias 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 FARCs 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. Weve 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 UN Security Council scheduled a meeting Friday morning to discuss the bodys role in helping Colombian implement the deal. There is an important task ahead for the UN to assist the government of Colombia in implementing the peace agreement, which is a historic occasion, Britains deputy UN ambassador Peter Wilson told reporters Thursday. The accord commits Colombias government to carrying out aggressive land reform, overhauling its anti-narcotics strategy and greatly expanding the states 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. Colombias opposition is likely to try to convert the vote into a referendum on Santos, whose approval rating plummeted to 21 per cent 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 per cent of the registered voters, or about 4.4 million voters, must vote in favour for the accord to be ratified. We think weve done the best possible job, but its 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 UN-sponsored monitors. Over the 13 months since the FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire 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 countrys 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 its pursuing its own peace deal. SHARE: PORTLAND, MAINEA New England seafood company has pleaded guilty to illegally importing sea urchins from Canada in violation of federal wildlife trading laws. ISF Trading Company specializes in buying, processing and selling sea urchins from Maine and Canada. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Maine says the Portland-based ISF falsely labelled sea urchins it was purchasing from a Canadian company that was not authorized to export goods to the U.S. The company imported roughly 48,000 pounds (21,600 kilograms) of sea urchins under the scheme between 2010 and 2011. The U.S. Attorneys Office announced the guilty plea Friday. ISF faces up to five years of probation and $1.25 million (1.6 million Cdn.) in fines and forfeitures. ISF calls itself the pioneer of the East Coast sea urchin industry on its website and lists annual sales of $2 million. SHARE: CHICAGONBA star Dwyane Wades cousin was an innocent bystander, police said, pushing her baby in a stroller near a Chicago school where she intended to register her children when she was fatally shot Friday. Nykea Aldridges famous relative, who grew up in Chicagos south suburbs, tweeted to his nearly 6 million followers about her death, saying Friday it was an act of senseless gun violence and posting Saturday morning that Chicago needs more help& more hands on deck. Wade ended both days of tweets with the hashtag EnoughIsEnough. The 32-year-old mother of four recently relocated to an area on the citys South Side, her family said. She was near the school, which is about a mile and a half southwest of the University of Chicago, when two males walked up and fired shots at a third man but hit Aldridge in the head and arm. She wasnt the intended target, police said. Police said Saturday they were questioning three people of interest in the shooting but had no suspects in custody. Chicago has been plagued by gun violence for years, especially in a few South and West Side neighbourhoods. This July alone, there were 65 homicides the most that month since 2006. Wade, whose charitable organization, Wades World Foundation, does community outreach in the Chicago area, signed with the Chicago Bulls in July after 13 years with the Miami Heat. He and his mother, pastor Jolinda Wade, participated Thursday via satellite in a town hall meeting in Chicago on gun violence hosted by ESPN. My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough, he tweeted Friday. Wade also tweeted Saturday morning: The city of Chicago is hurting. We need more help& more hands on deck. Not for me and my family but for the future of our world. The YOUTH! adding in a following tweet, These young kids are screaming for help!!! #EnoughIsEnough. Outside the emergency room where Aldridge was pronounced dead, Jolinda Wade clutched her sister and spoke for the family as mourners stood in a circle holding hands and praying. She said shed participated in the town hall meeting never knowing that the next day we would be the ones that would actually be living and experiencing it. Were still going to try to help and empower people like the one who senselessly shot my niece in the head, Jolinda Wade said. Were going to try to help these people to transform their minds and give them a different direction. It is not the first time Dwyane Wades family in Chicago has been affected by gun violence. His nephew, Darin Johnson, was shot twice in the leg in 2012 but recovered. Chicago had recorded 381 homicides by the end of July, up 30 per cent from the same period of 2015. Its murder rate is higher than the more populous cities of New York and Los Angeles. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has spoken about the citys violence , and used Aldridges death as a chance to tweet about it Saturday morning. Family members are caring for Aldridges baby, who wasnt hurt. SHARE: ANKARA, TURKEYTurkeys state news agency says three former top Turkish diplomats have been jailed for their alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Anadolu Agency said Saturday that Ali Findik and Tuncay Babali, former ambassadors to Costa Rica and Canada, and former envoy Gurcan Balik have been removed from their posts due to their alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric who Turkey blames for the July 15 coup attempt. Gulen denies the claims. Balik is a former senior aide to ex-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as well as a foreign policy adviser to the countrys former president. Turkey has detained more than 40,000 people and dismissed or suspended nearly 85,000 from their jobs since the failed coup that left 270 people dead. SHARE: Re: May shouldnt run away from boycott, Opinion Aug. 22 May shouldnt run away from boycott, Opinion Aug. 22 Thank you very much for your publishing Linda McQuaigs powerful piece. As a Jewish-Canadian, I am deeply concerned about our collective failure to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes, human rights violations and ongoing military occupation of Palestine. Support for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) is not only growing among campuses, church and union groups, it is also increasing in our Jewish communities. Why have we been silent? Why have we not understood that it is not anti-Semitic to criticize Israel. It is, in fact, pro-human rights and taking the collective wisdom of our peoples histories of being persecuted. Tragically, we know the impact of global silence in the face of state terror. Those of use who care deeply about Palestinian human rights were thrilled to see the Green Party take a courageous stand in support of BDS. I am very hopeful that Elizabeth May will support this position. This is not a radical position. It is simply taking a very obvious, peaceful stance against violence. Unfortunately, people who publicly criticize Israel (including journalists and Jewish people) are subject to violent threats and accusations of anti-Semitism. Much gratitude to Linda McQuaig for her excellent commentary and her courage to speak out about such an important issue. And thanks to the Star for printing this. Although you will likely receive pushback from pro-Israel folks, please know you that you are giving voice to a position supported by many of us. Alisa Gayle, Toronto The problem with Ms McQuaig and her fellow travelers support of BDS is that it singles out Israel, not just in the region but amongst the nations of the world, and does nothing to move along the peace process. To say that the solution to the 100-year conflict lies solely on one side can only be rationalized by someone wearing blinders. Ms Mays thoughtful rejection of supporting this movement should be praised. Ms McQuaig is the one to be admonished for her stance. Morris Sosnovitch, Toronto I agree with writer Linda McQuaig. The leader of the Green Party should not only stay but work as hard as ever that her party does not become the hijacked home base of the anti-Israel bashing club that singularly focuses on Israel and excludes all others. The solidarity with Palestine is all well and fine except that there is only silence for the people of Sudan and Syria who we see slaughtered daily on a scale that is horrific and cruel. The military occupation over Palestinian lands will end when there is trust and a true commitment in place to build peace based on a two-state solution by both sides. Peace will never flow by punishing and demonizing one side in a complicated two-sided conflict. Elizabeth May needs to stay to fight for the soul of her party. She needs to ensure that the Green Party remains committed to real principles and not false narratives. Martin Gladstone, Toronto Linda McQuaigs article presents several incorrect statements and a false narrative. BDS is not a peaceful way to protest Israels perceived misteps it is an odious attempt to delegitimize the State of Israel. Palestinians live under Israeli occupation because Jordan refused to stay out of the Six Day War, forcing Israels hand to take the West Bank from Jordanian occupation. And the author fails to state that West Bank Palestinian Arabs enjoy far more rights than anywhere else in the Middle East. David E. Bronfman, Toronto The suggestion that the BDS movement is anti-Semitic is rooted in a narrative created by those who support the 49-year-long illegal occupation of Palestine. The ongoing violations by Israel of international human rights and humanitarian laws, the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions are why the majority of Green Party members and others support BDS. The desperate situation in Palestine has been thoroughly documented by reputable human rights agencies such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Defence for Children International. This year the Israeli government has significantly reduced the water supply to Palestinians. In addition, in comparison to 2015, the Israelis have increased the rates of arrests of Palestinian children and youth and increased their destruction of Palestinian homes leaving Palestinian children homeless. Those in the media have the responsibility to read the evidence regarding the situation in Palestine compiled by internationally credible non-governmental agencies before they accuse the BDS movement of anti-Semitism. Rev. Steve Berube, co-chair, United Network for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel As with South Africa in the 1980s, BDS is one non-violent strategy that can work together with other strategies (withdrawal of military and political support by the U.S., mainly) to bring Israel to the negotiating table with Palestinians, in earnest, to work toward a just settlement for all Israelis and Palestinians. Calling BDS anti-Semitic is a smokescreen to hide the truth about the oppression of Palestinians inside and outside Israel by the Israeli state. It is time to call the bluff on this strategy. I urge Elizabeth May to stand boldly on this issue as well, as she has on many other matters. Juergen Rose, Langley, B.C. It is reprehensible for Linda McQuaig to call for a boycott of Israel. There is an organized alliance of nations and groups that have never and will never accept the right of Israel to exist. Anti-Semitism exists in this world and this movement provides cover for those who hold this opinion. Jay Kowal, Toronto Linda McQuaig is the first journalist to explain exactly what BDS means and why it is important to use it as a tool to stop the Israeli state from stealing more land from the Palestinians. Ms May should not step down as leader of her party and instead should take a leadership role in pressuring the Canadian government to not penalize companies that are in favour of BDS. And furthermore, as she points out, it is time for someone to stand up in Parliament and urge our government to take a moral stand and support BDS and in fact pressure Israel to stop its colonizing of what little is left of a future Palestinian state. Thanks for the honesty and courage. We hope that truth will prevail. And it is journalists like her who can turn the tide of public opinion in Canada. Sandra Shatilla, Montreal Thank you for the excellent article about Green Party leader Elizabeth May and the BDS movement. The article by Linda McQuaig was balanced, very well-informed and thought provoking. As a supporter of BDS, I look forward to seeing more excellent articles such as this one in the Star. Martin Goldstein, Ottawa I see the Star has stooped to a new low. This article exposes your proclivity to show your anti-Israel bias. To defend the BDS movement is exactly the same as calling for the destruction of the State of Israel, the only country of almost 200 in the world that is censured for destruction. Marek Machtinger, Thornhill Canada needs a principled position that respects Canadian values of human rights and the rule of international law. If BDS is one efficient way to lead to that end, then there is a well-justified reason to support this movement. Dr. Nabil Tabbara, professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario Elizabeth May is the Green Party, and the issue is a grave one: no leader should back down when such issues as apartheid and other ongoing breaches of international law, the law of war and human rights laws are discussed. Canada as a whole should take a strong position in defense of the Palestinian people, to end Israels occupation/colonization that has lasted far too long despite the many UN resolutions against it. I admired and supported my students at the University of Windsor when they stood for BDS despite the strong objections of the president of that university and others. Laura Westra, professor emerita (Philosophy), University of Windsor Why is the Green Party wading into world politics in the first place? I thought their focus was the environment. Nor is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict necessarily the greatest moral morass of our world, which is why Jews cannot help but suspect anti-Semitism when Israel is singled out. The biggest problem of the many I have with BDS (and McQuaigs article) is the blinkered approach to an incredibly complex situation. I support Elizabeth Mays outrage at her partys decision and hope she can turn the ship from its disingenuous and divisive course. Dena Bain Taylor, associate professor, University of Toronto Linda McQuaig is absolutely correct in advising Ms May to stay and to accept the Green Partys caucus decision regarding BDS. As party leader, she has to accept caucus decisions and support them without exposing her party to fragmentation and giving other parties cause to bash the Greens because of it. BDS is not a terrorist group. They are fighting to expose Israel for what it is an occupier. The potential loss of votes that comes from supporting BDS pales in comparison to the loss of her values. I congratulate Ms McQuaig for her courage and honesty. Frann Naser, Thornhill Linda McQuiags comparison of Isreal to apartheid South Africa is odious and typical of the justification used to support the BDS movement. Quoting Bishop Tutu that Israel practices racial segregation hardly makes it true. It is time to end the malicious lies about Israel and for Elizabeth May and the Green Party to reverse its support of BDS. Greg Tugg, Toronto Great opinion piece by Linda McQuaig. I too am very glad that Elizabeth May has decided not to step down, despite her misgivings regarding BDS. BDS is an important and non-violent way to protest the Israeli occupation of Palestine. I hope that Elizabeth May can find a way to emphasize the desire of the Green party to end the occupation. Richard Strachan, Gabriola Island, B.C. The problem with both Ms McQuaigs column and the rest of the BDS acolytes agenda is they wrongly assume that if only pressure was brought to bear on Israel we would see peace in our time. Where is the commentary demanding peaceful coexistence from Israels neighbours and jihadi sympathizers? Nada. Instead it all depends on Israel turning the other cheek. What hypocrisy! Sheldon Cooper, Toronto I write to thank you for running this article because it explained that BDS is commensurate with Canadian foreign policy and is a progressive stand that should not deter May from continuing on as Green Party leader despite her opposition to it. McQuaigs piece points out that in the absence of offering other non-violent solutions (which May has not), BDS for Israel may prove as effective as boycotts of South Africa were. Nyla Matuk, Toronto We should all be behind BDS, not just the Greens. Sally Campbell, Hornby Island, B.C. It is entirely useless to pressure Israel to make peace since Israel already wants peace. It is also dishonest. The BDS movement will never produce peace. There will only be peace (or the possibility of peace) when a global BDS movement forces the Palestinians to accept Israel and make peace. Joel Shapiro, Calgary Ms McQuaig should be commended for having the courage to condemn human rights violations wherever they occur and to take appropriate actions. BDS is an non-violent action that worked in South Africa. To end the BDS, all Israel has to do is end the brutal occupation of Palestinian land and abide by international law. Daniel Lavigne, Toronto . BDS is not controversial because of its principles all founded in international law. It is controversial because some people dont like it. But, as Ms McQuaig points out, such is the nature of all social justice movements. Thanks for a great piece that clarifies and illuminates. Thomas Woodley, Montreal Elizabeth May has a good heart and is quite concerned about the BDS movement in her party while Linda McQuaig appears to promote discrimination against Israel for daring to protect itself from aggression. Norman Gardner, Toronto It is the injustice of Israeli occupation that is the mainspring of Palestinian terrorism (which is a strategy doomed to failure). Remove it and I daresay terrorism will be significantly reduced. Michael Holme, Newmarket I am glad to hear that Elizabeth May has decided to remain as leader of the Green Party. The best approach for her and the Green Party on BDS would be to discourage private citizens and corporations from purchasing products from the occupied territories but not from Israel proper. At the government level, the best approach might be to implement a labeling law for goods produced in the occupied territories similar to that in the EU. Bruce Couchman. Ottawa I thank Star columnist Linda McQuaig and the Green Party for their defense of the reasonableness of the BDS campaign and their guts in standing up against the Jewish lobby. Hugh Jones, Toronto I wish to support the Star on its courage in regard to the Israel situation. According to Martin Buber, the late Israeli sage, only honesty and justice towards the Palestinians will bring any real peace to the region. So a firm attitude toward the Israeli right-wing, and bringing pressure to bear on Israel regarding the implementation of international law, is a step in the right direction. In fact such moves, which favour a two-state solution and a possible real peace, are at least in the long run very pro-Israel. Gregory Phillips, Toronto SHARE: NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Petrobras (PBR) were gaining in late-morning trading on Friday as Credit Suisse raised its rating on the stock to "neutral" from "outperform." The firm also upped its price target to $8.60 from $2 on shares of the Brazilian oil company. "Management can add considerable value through cost and capex efficiency, divestments, fuel pricing, and strategic changes. Our target price assumes all these measures succeed but they're not enough to make value converge to prices," the firm wrote in a note. While "excitement" may continue on the back of positive news flow, Credit Suisse does not see a compelling risk and return ratio that could offer a considerable margin of safety. "Conditions have clearly improved in recent months, especially for liquidity, but it doesn't justify whatever price. We believe it still depends on oil prices rebounding to above $80 for upsides to be material," the firm added. Additionally, oil prices are higher today. Crude oil (WTI) was up 1.1% to $47.85 per barrel and Brent crude was increasing 0.79% to $50.06 per barrel this morning. Separately, TheStreet Ratings Team has a "Sell" rating with a score of D+ on the stock. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and feeble growth in its earnings per share. Recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. You can view the full analysis from the report here: PBR Background: Colima volcano is one of the most active in North America and one of the potentially most dangerous ones. It has had more than 30 periods of eruptions since 1585, including several significant eruptions in the late 1990s. Scientific monitoring of the volcano began 20 years ago.The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic center of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcan de Colima at the south.A group of cinder cones of probable late-Pleistocene age is located on the floor of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima complex. Volcan de Colima (also known as Volcan Fuego) is a youthful stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the south, that has been the source of large debris avalanches. Major slope failures have occurred repeatedly from both the Nevado and Colima cones, and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the 16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in 1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth.--- By PTI: bodies Bhubaneswar, Aug 26 (PTI) Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports about alleged undignified treatment of bodies of two women, the NHRC today issued a notice to the Odisha government and asked it to submit a report within a month. The notice has been sent through the state chief secretary who has been given four weeks time to submit a report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a press release. advertisement The first incident pertains to a man carrying his wifes body for 10 km as the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi allegedly did not provide him ambulance services. The second incident is also about the non-availability of ambulance services due to which an old woman?s body was slung on a bamboo pole to carry it in Balasore after she was crushed by a goods train near Soro Railway Station. The Commission has observed that if found true, both these incidents, raise serious questions about violation of rights of the two deceased persons, the release said. Stating that Right to Life of a person under Article 21 of the Constitution would also mean that a body is treated with respect, it also referred to reports about "Mahaprayana" scheme for free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. It said according to the media reports, Dana Majhis wife died of tuberculosis at district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna and the hospital authorities did not offer any help for transporting the body despite Majhis requests. He was forced to wrap the body in a cloth and carry it on his shoulder to his home at Melaghara village, 60 km away from the hospital. After the matter came to light, he was provided with a vehicle to complete the remaining 50-km stretch. In the second incident, media reports said 80-year-old widow, Salamani Behera was run over by a goods train near Soro Railway Station in Balasore district. Her body was taken to the Community Health Centre. The Government Railway Police reached the Centre after 12 hours and they could not arrange an ambulance to take the body to Balasore hospital for post-mortem. Since rigor mortis had developed, the police personnel in order to put the body inside a sack allegedly broke its limbs by climbing over the body and finally carried it all the way from to the CHC to Soro railway station on their shoulders by tying it to a bamboo pole in the full view of the public. PTI SKN MM TIR --- ENDS --- advertisement Maria Elena Santa Coloma, right, an advisor with UniVista Insurance company, helps Shessy Gonzalez sign up for a health plan under the Affordable Care Act last year in Miami. Obamacare enrollment is at less than half the initial forecast. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Enrollment in the insurance exchanges for President Obamas signature health-care law is at less than half the initial forecast, pushing several major insurance companies to stop offering health plans in certain markets because of significant financial losses. As a result, the administrations promise of a menu of health-plan choices has been replaced by a grim, though preliminary, forecast: Next year, more than 1 in 4 counties are at risk of having a single insurer on its exchange, said Cynthia Cox, who studies health reform for the Kaiser Family Foundation. Debate over how perilous the predicament is for the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, is nearly as partisan as the divide over the law itself. But at the root of the problem is this: The success of the law depends fundamentally on the exchanges being profitable for insurers and that requires more people to sign up. In February 2013, the Congressional Budget Office predicted that 24 million people would buy health coverage through the federally and state-operated online exchanges by this year. Just 11.1 million people were signed up as of late March. Exchanges are marketplaces where people who do not receive health benefits through a job can buy private insurance, often with government subsidies. Aetna, the nation's third largest health insurer, announced that it will pull back from Obamacare exchanges citing losses of more than $430 million since January 2014. (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post) Enrollment is key, first and foremost, said Sara R. Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan foundation that funds health-care research. They have to have this critical mass of people so that, by the law of averages, youre going to get a mix of healthy and less healthy people. A big reason the CBO projections were so far off is that the agency overestimated how many people would lose insurance through their employers, which would force them into the exchanges. But there have been challenges getting the uninsured to sign up, too. The law requires every American to get health coverage or pay a penalty, but the penalty hasnt been high enough to persuade many Americans to buy into the health plans. Even those who qualify for subsidized premiums sometimes balk at the high deductibles on some plans. And people who do outreach to the uninsured say the enrollment process itself has been more complex and confusing than Obamas initial comparison to buying a plane ticket. This exchange will allow you to one-stop shop for a health-care plan, compare benefits and prices, and choose a plan thats best for you and your family, Obama said in a speech in 2009. You will have your choice of a number of plans that offer a few different packages, but every plan would offer an affordable, basic package. In some markets, a shortfall in enrollment is testing insurers ability to balance the medical claims they pay out with income from premiums. In an announcement curtailing its involvement in the exchanges this month, Aetna cited financial losses traced to too many sick people signing up for care and not enough healthy ones. The health-care law has been a political lightning rod from the beginning, and Republican legislators have used insurance companies withdrawals from the exchanges to reignite calls for the laws repeal. Kaiser tracks public data on insurer participation in the exchanges to project how many options counties will have, but the numbers are not final. This year, exchanges in about 7 percent of counties had just one insurer. Earlier this month, Aetna announced that it will pull out of 11 of the 15 states where it offers coverage on the health-care exchanges. Humana made a similar decision weeks earlier, planning to exit several states. And last spring, UnitedHealth Group said it would remain in three or fewer exchanges next year. Obama has used the health-care laws challenges to issue a new call for a public insurance option. Congress should revisit a public plan to compete alongside private insurers in areas of the country where competition is limited, he wrote in an essay published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Adding a public plan in such areas would strengthen the Marketplace approach, giving consumers more affordable options while also creating savings for the federal government. Chicago resident Eva Saur, 32, is exactly the kind of healthy person insurers would like to have on their rolls. Saur hasnt had coverage in nearly a decade, but she takes good care of her health. For the handful of times shes been sick, a walk-in clinic at a pharmacy has been sufficient. I was raised not against the system but we had a doctor who would prescribe us herbs before a prescription medication, Saur said. For me, monetarily, it makes way more sense to do this. Saurs tax penalty for being uninsured was a bit more than $600 last year, while the cheapest health plan she examined cost about as much for three months in premiums and came with a $7,000 deductible. The penalty for not signing up is increasing. Still, some policy experts insist it is not enough motivation to buy insurance. It was basically no stick at all. This is the classic case of where Johnny marked crayon on the wall, his mother said, Dont do that, and then slapped his hand a day later, said Joseph Antos, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The connection between the offense and the penalty is a little remote. The health-care law has had unequivocal successes. In some areas, lots of insurers compete on the exchanges, which helps keep premiums low. In Cleveland and Los Angeles, the average premium for a benchmark health plan actually declined in 2016. The number of uninsured Americans continues to shrink, hitting 9.1 percent last year the lowest level ever. The average premium for the people who receive tax credits 85 percent of the people signed up through the exchanges is just $106 per month. People who qualify for the income-based tax credits are largely sheltered from premium increases. The first people to sign up for insurance through the exchanges were expected to be those with chronic diseases and high medical costs. Because insurers could no longer discriminate against those people, the law built in three mechanisms for the government to redistribute money from plans with healthier patients to those with sicker ones. Two of those programs expire at the end of the year. The third, called the risk adjustment program, transferred $4.6 billion between insurers in 2014. Critics say theres a fundamental problem with the system, and the risk-adjustment program needs to be fixed. But supporters of the law argue that the problem is temporary, the natural evolution of a nascent free-market system. Some of the first companies to enter the market made bad bets on how healthy customers would be, resulting in unprofitable health plans. Proponents say its natural for new entrants to replace them, with better information and more competitive plans. Cigna, for example, has said it has filed to enter exchanges in three new states next year. Theres no bottleneck, this is just the natural growth pains of a new market, said Jonathan Gruber, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. What happened is they set up this new market where insurers didnt have experience; insurers made an estimate as to what people would cost and their estimate turned out to be too low. Supporters point to a recent government analysis that suggests the risk pool the number of high-cost sick customers relative to healthy ones is not worsening and could even be improving. Medical costs per enrollee in the marketplaces fell by 0.1 percent in 2015, while medical costs for people in the broader health-insurance market grew by at least 3 percent. In states with strong enrollment growth, there were greater reductions in members costs. Everyone agrees that more healthy people need to sign up. In June, the Obama administration unveiled its plan to target younger and healthier adults, including direct outreach to individuals and families who paid the penalty. It also released new guidance, encouraging insurance companies to communicate more with young adults being kicked off their familys plan when they turn 26 years old. Even older adults are taking their chances without health-care coverage. Donte Fitzhugh, 55, of Charlotte was laid off last year from a job as a call-center operations manager. COBRA, which allows former workers to extend their employer-provided health insurance if they pay the full premium, was expensive, and Fitzhugh didnt sign up for the exchanges for very human reasons: He figured hed find a job faster than he did. He thought every penny counted when he was unemployed. He didnt have major health problems, and he got a coupon to help cover the costs of his hypertension medicine. As the window to sign up for health insurance passed without a new job, he kept procrastinating. Although health insurance from a new job will begin in October, he faces a penalty that will cost him hundreds of dollars. I believe in Obamacare. As an American, its my responsibility to have health insurance, Fitzhugh said. Since I didnt have it, its going to impact me financially. Such are the barriers to insurance: Remaining uninsured can be more attractive or just easier than signing up to pay hundreds of dollars a month for something that many people dont think they need. Judy Robinson, a health insurance support specialist at the Charlottesville Free Clinic, has counseled hundreds of patients who are eligible for subsidized insurance on the exchanges but ultimately decide not to sign up. She said the subsidized insurance on the marketplace tends to be a good deal for those who make between 100 and 150 percent of the poverty level. But those who make more often are faced with large deductibles that dont seem like a good deal to many people. Beyond the sticker price, she said it can require a lot of paperwork to demonstrate the annual income required to qualify for tax credits if people are juggling multiple part-time jobs. And sometimes, people are simply mistrustful. Theres a lot of people that live sort of off the grid, sort of semi-off the grid and they just dont go to the doctor, Robinson said. The hospital is the place where you go to die, and doctors are just going to try and make you do procedures and get money out of you. Thats how they think. There are also those who want insurance but are struggling and find themselves trapped by the high cost of health care. Donna Privigyi, 49, of Charlottesville has looked into insurance through the exchanges a few times. But over the past few years, much of her modest child-care salary and effort went toward trying to help support her adult son, Mark, who hadnt been the same since the death of his younger brother. Donna was focused on trying to support her son. Health insurance even rent was an afterthought. With supporting my son, it didnt matter, Privigyi said. I was just like, I can barely get by, just juggling the bills and taking care of him. Late last year, Mark died of a drug overdose, and Privigyi consumed by grief wasnt thinking about insurance when the window to sign up opened and closed. Then, in June, she got appendicitis. Her bills from two hospitals were $33,000. The argument for having health insurance is the pile of bills she has been collecting now with late fees added. The obstacle to getting health insurance is that same stack of bills. Its such a gamble, you know, until I figure out what to do with these medical bills, Privigyi said. Theyre just adding on late fees. How can I even afford to sign up? Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report. These Idaho men and women are preparing for the collapse of the American economy. (Matt McClain,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Don and Jonna Bradway recently cashed out of the stock market and invested in gold and silver. They have stockpiled food and ammunition in the event of a total economic collapse or some other calamity commonly known around here as The End of the World As We Know It or SHTF the day something hits the fan. The Bradways fled California, a state they said is run by leftists and non-Constitutionalists and anti-freedom people, and settled on several wooded acres of north Idaho five years ago. They live among like-minded conservative neighbors, host Monday night Bible study around their fire pit, hike in the mountains and fish from their boat. They melt lead to make their own bullets for sport shooting and hunting or to defend themselves against marauders in a world-ending cataclysm. Im not paranoid, Im really not, said Bradway, 68, a cheerful Army veteran with a bushy handlebar mustache who favors Hawaiian shirts. But were prepared. Anybody who knows us knows that Don and Jonna are prepared if and when it hits the fan. The Bradways are among the vanguard moving to an area of the Pacific Northwest known as the American Redoubt, a term coined in 2011 by survivalist author and blogger James Wesley, Rawles (the comma is deliberate) to describe a settlement of the God-fearing in a lightly populated territory that includes Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the eastern parts of Washington and Oregon. Those migrating to the Redoubt are some of the most motivated members of what is known as the prepper movement, which advocates readiness and self- reliance in man-made or natural disasters that could create instability for years. Its scenario- planning that is gaining adherents and becoming mainstream in what Redoubt preppers described as an era of fear and uncertainty. They are anxious about recent terrorist attacks from Paris to San Bernardino, Calif., to Orlando; pandemics such as Ebola in West Africa; potential nuclear attacks from increasingly provocative countries such as North Korea or Iran; and the growing political, economic and racial polarization in the United States that has deepened during the 2016 presidential election. Nationally, dozens of online prepper suppliers report an increase in sales of items from water purifiers to hand-cranked radios to solar-powered washing machines. Harvest Right, a Utah company that invented a $3,000 portable freeze dryer to preserve food, has seen sales grow from about 80 a month two years ago to more than 900 a month now, said spokesman Stephanie Barlow. Clyde Scott, owner of Rising S Bunkers, said pre-made, blast-proof underground steel bunkers are in big demand, including his most popular model, which sleeps six to eight people and sells for up to $150,000. Anybody with a peanut-sized brain, he said, can see that the U.S. economy is in perilous shape because of the national debt, the decline of American manufacturing and the size of the welfare rolls. Some people worry about hurricanes, earthquakes or forest fires. Others fear a nuclear attack or solar flare that creates an electromagnetic pulse that knocks out the nations electric grid and all computers, sending the country into darkness and chaos perhaps forever. The list is long; the concerns are many, said Glenn Martin, who lives in north Idaho and runs Prepper Broadcasting Network, an online radio station. Imagine a societal collapse and trying to buy a loaf of bread in Los Angeles or New York and stores are closed down. Martins programming emphasizes gardening, farming and how-to shows about sustainable living more than doom and gloom, he said, and his audience has grown from 50,000 listeners a month two years ago to about 250,000 a month now. Online interest in prepper and American Redoubt websites is increasing. Tools that measure online readership show that monthly search traffic to Rawless survivalblog.com has doubled since 2011; an estimate from SimilarWeb, a Web analytics firm, shows that the site had about 862,000 total visits last month. Rawless guidebook, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It, and his post- apocalyptic survival novel, Patriots, have sold about 350,000 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan. They are among hundreds of available survivalist books. Chris Walsh of Revolutionary Realty stands in the cellar of an unfinished home for sale in Spirit Lake, Idaho. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) In response to all the uncertainty, more and more preppers are not simply stocking up at home. They are moving their homes to the Redoubt, a seldom-used term for stronghold or fortress. It is impossible to know exactly how many people have come over the past few years, but newcomers, real estate agents, local officials and others said it was in the hundreds, or perhaps even a few thousand, across all five states. Here, they live in a pristine place of abundant water and fertile soil, far from urban crime, free from most natural disasters and populated predominantly by conservative, mostly Christian people with a live-and-let-live ethos and local governments with a light regulatory touch and friendly gun laws. The hearty and adventurous, or those seeking an escape from modernitys leading edge, have long made a new life for themselves in Idaho; Ernest Hemingway came here to live and to die. The locals regard the newest transplants as benign if odd, several said in interviews. The mainstream folks kind of roll their eyes, said state Sen. Shawn Keough, a 20-year veteran Republican legislator who represents north Idaho. Many drawn to the Redoubt are former police, firefighters and military. Most said they would vote for Donald Trump as the lesser of two evils, and they said Hillary Clinton would make an already bloated and ineffective government even bigger. I dont want to be one of the guys waiting for help, said Patrick Devine, 54, a former paramedic in Los Angeles who moved two years ago at a friends urging. Devine said he had firsthand knowledge of chaos and government failure, earned from working numerous shootings and earthquakes, particularly in Haiti in 2010. I cant stop it. But I can prepare myself to the best of my ability for anything that does come and be helpful to other people, said Devine, who works at a local gun range and wears a 9mm pistol on his hip. I love this place, said Chris Walsh, as he buzzed low over sparkling Lake Coeur dAlene in his mustard-colored Beechcraft Bonanza airplane. A Detroit native, Walsh, 53, runs Revolutionary Realty, which specializes in selling real estate to those moving to the American Redoubt. He said he has sold hundreds of properties in the last five years. He lives off the grid in a house high on a hill overlooking a lake, producing his own electricity from 100 solar panels. But he is also a few miles from restaurants and shopping in Coeur dAlene, a popular tourist destination. Walsh said most of the prepper properties he sells generally have key features: at least two sources of water, solar panels or another alternative energy source, ample secure storage space for a few years worth of supplies, and a defensible location away from main roads and city centers. Such amenities dont come cheap; the average property sells for between $250,000 and $550,000, he said, but some go for more than $2 million. Walsh said a basic solar array can cost around $15,000, while more elaborate systems can cost 10 times that. Walsh said most of his clients regard moving to safer territory as a prudent step against a reasonable fear. But just as important, he said, they get to live a simpler life in a safe, beautiful place. What they are doing when they come here is relearning things that their great-great-great-grandfathers and mothers already knew, Walsh said. Whats going on here is a pioneering spirit. Todd Savage, a retired Marine who moved to north Idaho from San Francisco and opened American Redoubt Realty, displays a firearm that he routinely carries with him in Sandpoint, Idaho. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Much of the Redoubt migration is motivated by fears that President Obama and his potential successor, Hillary Clinton want to scrap the Second Amendment, as part of what transplants see as a dangerous and anti-constitutionalist movement toward government that is too intrusive and hostile to personal liberties. This is a bastion of freedom, said Todd Savage, 45, a retired Marine who moved to north Idaho from the urban crime-scape of San Francisco and opened American Redoubt Realty after meeting Rawles a few years ago. The bottom line is that our clients are tired of living around folks that have no moral values, Savage said. They choose to flee tyranny and leave behind all the attributes of the big city that have turned them away. Savage spoke as he drove his Chevrolet Suburban with an AR-15 rifle tucked next to the drivers seat, a handgun between the front seats, and body armor and more than 200 rounds of extra ammunition in the back along with a chain saw to move fallen trees and two medical kits, just in case. You have GEICO; I have an AR-15, Savage said. Trevor Treller, 44, who carries a small Smith & Wesson pistol on his hip, moved to north Idaho last year from Long Beach, Calif., and recently paid a little less than $400,000 for a defensible three-bedroom house on five wooded acres. Treller, a sommelier at a local resort, said Obama was a key factor in his decision. He said the president has inflamed racial tensions in America, presided over a dangerous expansion of the national debt, been hostile to Second Amendment rights and failed to curtail the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran. Treller said any one of those factors could lead to crippling chaos, so he and his wife have laid in food, weapons and ammunition and are installing an iron gate across their long gravel driveway. I think theres a very good chance that these things wont happen in my lifetime, but I also think theres a chance that they will, Treller said. Its extreme collective hubris to think that were exempt from everything that happened to every single society before us throughout history. Treller said he settled on Coeur dAlene after scouring city- data.com, a website where he looked for his ideal mix: conservative election results, low crime rates, solid incomes, low population density, affordable house prices and few illegal immigrants, because he said they erode American culture. Idaho is about 83 percent white, and its three northernmost counties are more than 90 percent white, according to Census Bureau data. Those interviewed in the American Redoubt insisted they are not trying to segregate themselves by race. And while the Aryan Nations white supremacist group was headquartered near Hayden Lake in the 1980s and 1990s, Rawles has described the Redoubt movement as anti- racist and said like-minded folks of all races are welcome. Walsh, the real estate agent, said he saw far more racism in Detroit, where he was raised, than in north Idaho. Here, a black person, theyre a novelty, Walsh said. Youll see people walk up to black people here sometimes and just talk to them because theyve never spoken to a black person before. In terms of them walking around [saying racist things], you never see it. Trellers wife, Christina Treller, 38, a critical care nurse at a local hospital, said she initially resisted her husbands proposal to move to Idaho. Now she loves their new Victorian-style house in the woods, with its fresh well water and clean air, and fruit and nut trees that they recently planted. Having lived through the 1992 riots after Los Angeles police were acquitted in the videotaped beating of Rodney King, she said she views society as more fragile than most people realize. Im being wise, she said. Jacob Clad, 22, performs a flip into Lake Pend Oreille near a replica of the Statue of Liberty in Sandpoint, Idaho. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) In north Idaho, the narrow panhandle that stretches to the Canadian border, many people on the streets of pretty towns such as Coeur dAlene, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry have never heard of the American Redoubt. Thats mainly because of the prepper ethos of privacy most dont even tell their neighbors they have years worth of food in a safe room. Several locals did express unease about their new ammo-stockpiling neighbors. I dont have a problem with preppers, but its the extremists people dont want around the fringe, the radicals. Thats the concern I hear from people, said Mike Peterson, a real estate agent in Bonners Ferry and retired Los Angeles firefighter and EMT. Keough, the state senator, recently fought off a tough GOP primary challenge in which she was labeled a progressive traitor by Alex Barron, a blogger who calls himself the Bard of the American Redoubt. Were certainly not oblivious to the turmoil in the world and not oblivious to the huge challenges we have at the national level, Keough said. But those who subscribe to the world is coming to an end theory, people tend to shake their heads at those folks. They come across as paranoid. State Rep. Heather Scott, a Republican who represents north Idaho, said the newcomers have adapted smoothly. I have met many people, especially recently, who have moved here after being inspired by the idea of the American Redoubt, she said. I havent heard any of them speak about the end of the world but rather the appreciation for a simpler and safer life. Scott said preparing for a natural or man-made disaster was simply prudent, because, Economic experts are consistently saying that global markets are at risk, and they are telling people to take precautions to weather through an economic crisis. Don and Jonna Bradway go for a walk with their dog, Moose, near their home in Hayden, Idaho. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Don Bradway dug into a plate of homemade enchiladas in the kitchen of the cozy house he and Jonna bought for $259,000in 2010. What they have looks like an idyllic retirement experience: his and hers recliners in front of a big-screen TV, a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle in the barn, an art studio for retired nurse Jonna, a carpentry and machine shop for retired firefighter and EMT Don, and a sweet-natured dog named Moose. Their 30-year-old son, who moved to Idaho with them, lives nearby. Don, whos a member of the GOP Central Committee of Kootenai County, wont say exactly how much food and supplies they have on hand. There are some things you dont talk about, he said. But the Bradway motto is that its better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. As Don sees it, you need look no further than the economic chaos in Venezuela, with its hungry people storming grocery stores, to see that a society- ending economic collapse could easily happen anywhere. We pray to God that it never happens, he said, finishing his refried beans. But if it does, he said his fellow thinkers in the American Redoubt are prepared. They know they can depend on the Bradways to help them, he said. Max Ritvo, a poet who chronicled his long battle with cancer in works that were both humorous and searing, died Aug. 23 at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. He was 25. His mother, Ariella Ritvo-Slifka, confirmed his death. Mr. Ritvo was diagnosed at 16 with Ewings sarcoma, a rare cancer that affects bones and soft tissue in children and young adults. Treatment brought about a remission that permitted Mr. Ritvo to finish high school and attend Yale University, where he performed in an improv comedy group. His teachers included the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louise Gluck. Mr. Ritvos cancer returned when he was a senior, but he completed his studies at Yale and this year earned a masters degree from Columbia University. Mr. Ritvo, who chronicled his long battle with cancer in his poetry, said he rejected any idea that he was a victim of the disease especially a heroic one. (Courtesy of Judith Eigen Sarna) His battle with the disease informed his works. A June poem in the New Yorker magazine discussed an experiment in which cells from his tumors were used in cancer drug treatment experiments with mice. I want my mice to be just like me, Mr. Ritvo wrote. I dont have any children. / I named them all Max. First they were Max 1, Max 2, / but now theyre all just Max. No playing favorites. Mr. Ritvos first book of poetry, Four Reincarnations, is scheduled to be published this fall. In radio and podcast interviews, Mr. Ritvo spoke about his suffering. But he rejected any idea that he was a victim of the disease especially a heroic one. At their wedding last summer, Mr. Ritvo and his wife, Victoria, banned words such as inspirational from the speeches, his mother said. He was about love and compassion, human and animal rights and about writing and sharing himself with the world, she said. He didnt want people to see him as an invalid. Mr. Ritvo saw humor not as a coping mechanism but as an intrinsic part of dealing with his illness. You know, we imagine in our hysteria that its disrespectful for the sadness. But when you laugh at something horrible, youre just illuminating a different side of it that was already there, and its not a deflection, it makes it deeper and makes it realer, he said last month in the WNYC Studios podcast Only Human. Mr. Ritvo also inspired people with his attitude, his wife said. Max said I love you to everyone. He hugged everyone. He just wanted there to be more love and laughter, she said. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available. Mr. Ritvo was writing until several days before his death and had told his family that the end would be near when he was no longer able to write. The day before his death, he told his mother and wife: I cant write anymore, I cant speak, I cant breathe . . . Im not me . . . You guys have to be okay with me going, his mother said. Associated Press Ruth Bassin in 2003 at Heart's Delight, an annual wine tasting and auction she helped found to benefit the American Heart Association. (Rebecca D'Angelo/For The Washington Post) The Washington region lost a wine luminary last weekend with the passing of Ruth Bassin at age 89. She was the owner of Addy Bassins MacArthur Beverages, a premium wine store she and her husband, Addy, founded in 1957 on MacArthur Boulevard in the Districts Palisades neighborhood and known to wine lovers simply as MacArthur, or Bassins. MacArthur Beverages is the archetype of a family-owned independent wine store, the type that used to thrive in the District. (Calvert Woodley and Schneiders of Capitol Hill are other old-guard stores with longtime family ownership.) Customers shop an extensive selection of wines from around the world, especially from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy and California. But they would also come to see Ruth, who visited the store every day and often stayed near the cash registers so she could say hello to her regulars. Her last day in the store was just two weeks before she died. She had Alzheimers disease, a diagnosis the extremely modest woman kept even from some of her closest associates. She liked to work the register and answer the phones, said Mark Wessels, the stores managing director, who shared a sandwich with Mrs. B every day for about 20 years. She treated the staff like extended family. And she wanted to make sure we were working, not taking long lunches and goofing off. MacArthur may be the most influential wine store in America. It was there that Robert Parker, a Maryland attorney and wine buff, bought and studied wine and peddled early copies of his newsletter, the Wine Advocate, in the late 1970s. Parker is frequently described as the worlds most powerful critic, and his ratings can still make or break a winerys reputation. The Bassin family, especially the late Addy Bassin, but also Ruth, were very significant in my wine education and in my early formation as a wine enthusiast, Parker told me in an email from Napa. The wine community can never replace the contributions of Ruth and Addy Bassin. Addy Bassin was as flamboyant as his wife was modest. In 1977, he made headlines by paying $14,450 at auction for a single bottle of wine, an 1806 Chateau Lafite. It was a world record at the time and helped build the stores reputation for having the finest wines. He was also one of the first retailers on the East Coast to take an avid interest in the new wines coming out of California in the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1985, MacArthur became the first store in the nation to offer futures of California wines. When Addy died of cancer in 1986, Ruth turned her grief toward charity. She created the Addy Bassin Cancer Foundation and started an annual California Barrel Tasting, inviting top wineries to Washington to pour samples of their most recent, still-unfinished vintages. Ruth Bassin loved to greet regulars at her wine store. (MacArthur Beverages) It was about that time that a young California winemaker named Joel Peterson visited MacArthur hoping to find East Coast representation for his Ravenswood zinfandels. Peterson is now a vice president of Constellation Brands, which acquired Ravenswood in 2001. He credits the Bassins with legitimizing California wines in the East Coasts Francophilic wine markets. Mrs. B was always at the California Barrel Tasting, greeting and talking to and interacting with the California participants, Peterson said in an email. She was clearly very supportive of the California portfolio. It was a smart business move and gave MacArthur a niche in the market that expanded as the market for Californias better wines grew. When her son, Bruce Bassin, died of a heart attack in 1998 at Dulles International Airport while waiting for a flight to France, Ruth became an advocate for placing automated external defibrillators in public places such as airports. She also helped found Hearts Delight, an annual three-day wine auction that has raised more than $15 million for the American Heart Association. Hearts Delight is a Bordeaux-centric event that in recent years has expanded to include wineries from around the United States. She was all about family, said Heidi Arnold, who has directed Hearts Delight since its inception. When Addy died and then Bruce died, she wanted to be sure their memory lived on. She was the heart and soul of Hearts Delight. What the barrel tasting did for California was amazing, and Robert Parker and the Bordeaux producers thought so much of her that they supported Hearts Delight over the years. Ruth Bassin was honored by Wine Spectator magazine as Retailer of the Year and by Market Watch magazine with its philanthropic award for community service. The store remains in the Bassin family, under the ownership of Ruth and Addys daughters, Gail and Barbara. Although Ruth Bassin was a savvy businesswoman, she never became a wine fiend, recalled Wessels. She really wasnt much of a wine drinker, he said of his boss, mentor and friend. But her favorite was Bordeaux. A previous version of this story identified Addy Bassins $14,450 bottle as an 1806 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. It was an 1806 Chateau Lafite; Baron James Mayer Rothschild bought the estate and added his name in 1868. THE DISTRICT Two men killed in Northeast shooting Two men were killed in a shooting incident Friday night in the 300 block of 34th Street NE, in Washingtons River Terrace neighborhood, D.C. police said Saturday. At 11:33 p.m., police responded to reports of a shooting. On arrival, they found Raeshard Blue, 40, and Treyvon Johnson, 27, both of Northeast Washington, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both were treated at the scene, and Johnson was pronounced dead there. Blue was taken to a local hospital where he died, police said. Anyone with information about this case can call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information can be submitted via the departments Text Tip Line by text messaging 50411. Michael E. Ruane MARYLAND In Pr. Georges, 2 die in crashes on Beltway Two people were killed early Saturday in separate crashes on the Capital Beltway in Prince Georges County. Maryland State Police are still trying to determine the cause of both crashes. In the first, at 3:07 a.m., a 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, headed south near Exit 4, crashed into the back of a 2001 Nissan Sentra. The impact sent the motorcycle and car off the road. The man riding the motorcycle was killed. The car flipped, but the driver was unhurt and refused medical treatment, police said. Eight minutes later and several miles away, a man driving a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV south near Exit 13 hit a 2007 Toyota Camry, police said. The collision propelled the SUV into a guardrail, causing it to flip. The driver, the only person in the SUV, was killed. A state police officer said Saturday that he could not provide information on whether anyone in the other car was injured. Both crashes caused portions of the Beltway to be closed for several hours overnight, state police said. Police ask that witnesses to either crash call 301-568-8101. Officers are trying to identify the cause of the crashes and have not disclosed the victims names. Julie Zauzmer Car hits police cruiser on shoulder of I-270 A driver crashed into a Maryland State Police cruiser on the side of Interstate 270 in Montgomery County on Saturday at about 6:45 a.m. The state trooper was outside of his car conducting a traffic stop, so he was not in the vehicle when it was hit, Montgomery County fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said. State police said that Stephen Michael Shannon, 29, hit the police car and the back of the car that the trooper had stopped, which were both on a wide shoulder near Montrose Road. Shannons car flipped, and the state trooper and the person the trooper had pulled over ran to help, Piringer said. The trooper had to break the window of Shannons car to pull him out, state police said. Shannon was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Neither the trooper nor the driver who had been pulled over suffered any injury. State police said Saturday that charges are pending against Shannon, who had a Virginia drivers license, according to police who were not more specific about his place of residence. Drivers are supposed to move to the left, to give police officers a wide berth to do their jobs, when they spot emergency vehicles on the side of the road, Piringer said as a safety reminder. Julie Zauzmer Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Stanley O. Mayer, dentist Stanley O. Mayer, 69, a dentist who had a private practice in Bethesda, Md., from 1980 until his retirement in 2015, died Aug. 3 at his home in Chevy Chase, Md. The cause was acute myeloid leukemia, said a son, Jonathan Mayer. Dr. Mayer was born in Seattle. From 1974 to 1980, he was a clinical assistant professor of periodontics and endodontics at the Georgetown University dental school. He was a volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Marlies Backhaus Murphy, USAID official Marlies Backhaus Murphy, 71, a project evaluator with the U.S. Agency for International Development from 1979 to 1993 who later founded an adoption service assisting Americans adopting children from Ukraine, died Aug. 16 at a hospital in Frederick, Md. The cause was pancreatic cancer, said her husband, Patrick Murphy. Mrs. Murphy was born Marlies Backhaus in Uder, Germany, which became part of East Germany. She crossed the countrys border into West Berlin before the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, her husband said. She later lived in France and England before coming to the United States. She worked at what was then the Washington Hospital Center and at the French Embassy before joining USAID. After adopting two children from Ukraine, she and her husband operated Adoption Consultants International from 1998 to 2008. She lived in Bethesda, Md., before moving to Frederick three years ago. William K. Condrell, lawyer, educator William K. Condrell, 89, a partner and tax specialist with the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson in Washington who late in his career became a teacher of learning disabled children in the D.C. public schools, died Aug. 15 at his home in Washington. The cause was complications after brain surgery, said a nephew, David W. Ogden. Mr. Condrell, the son of Greek immigrants, was born in Buffalo. He was an economic adviser at the White House during the Truman Administration and became a permanent resident of the Washington area in 1960. He was a partner at Steptoe & Johnson from 1968 to 1990. In 1996, he received a masters degree in education at Johns Hopkins University, then taught in special education programs in several D.C. public schools. The D.C. Superior Court appointed him a special adviser for abused and neglected children in 2007. He was a founder in 1965 of St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda and was its first board chairman. Richard F. Gillespie Sr., printing worker Richard Gillespie, 76, an editor, proofreader, press operator and page designer in printing businesses, died Aug. 4 at a hospital in Greensboro, N.C. The cause was lung cancer, said a son, Richard F. Gillespie Jr. Mr. Gillespie, a native of Reidsville, N.C., settled in the Washington area in 1960 and worked 20 years for the Wall Street Journal. For the next 20 years, he worked for several printing shops on various print publications. In 2000, he moved to Reidsville from Laurel, Md. Wallace Moore Jr., auto parts executive Wallace Moore Jr., 87, who retired in 2008 as president and chief executive of Southern Distributors and Southern Auto Parts Inc. in Washington after 54 years with the organization, died Aug. 16 at a hospital in the District. The cause was cancer, said a family friend, Robert Sloan. Mr. Moore, a resident of Bethesda, Md., was born in Southport, N.C. In addition to his job, as an auto parts executive, he managed and worked weekends at a family farm in Darnestown, Md. He was a trustee of Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington and the Methodist Home and Wesley Theological Seminary, and a member of Masonic organizations and Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in Washington. From staff reports Joseph Miller (left) and Andrew Martin are accused of running a large marijuana operation in Maryland. (Montgomery County police) A 22-year-old Maryland man was indicted on drug kingpin charges Thursday amid accusations he supervised the import of more than 85 pounds of marijuana into Maryland over a three-month period late last year, according to court records. Joseph Miller of Hagerstown referred to himself as a businessman, went by Pablo and managed seven people, according to a statement of charges filed against him in Montgomery County District Court. According to authorities, he arranged to have marijuana sourced from California and Oregon mailed to residences in the region and tried to stay away from touching the drugs himself. A man identified by police as Andrew Martin, 21, of Germantown is alleged to have been Millers No. 2. Martin was booked into the Montgomery jail on Friday, court records show. Joseph Miller directed individuals to collect parcels from shipping locations, managed the laundering of U.S. currency through business fronts in banking institutions, detective Chad Bleggi wrote in a statement of probable cause to support the charges against Miller. The suspect conspired with Andrew Martin to operate this importation as a business, Bleggi wrote. An attorney for Miller noted that the case is in its early phases. Were in the initial stages of these charges, said the attorney, Robinson Rowe. My client is innocent until proven guilty. We will be reviewing the evidence very carefully. William Mitchell, an attorney listed in court records for Martin, could not be reached for comment Friday night. News of the arrests was reported earlier by WJLA-7. According to the charging documents filed against Miller, Montgomery investigators were joined by agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in the case. The Silver Line rail project will extend Metro service to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is managing its construction. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) Board members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, a group once known for first-class travel, junkets to exotic locations and expensive dining, have embraced frugality. A review of expense reports from 2015 found that the 17-member panel spent just over $32,000 on board-related travel and business less than half of its $80,000 budget last year. The documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, show the bulk of the money was spent by two board members who live in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and must travel to the District to attend the monthly board meetings. Richard Kennedy and William Shaw McDermott billed the authority just over $16,500 in 2015. A third board member, Nina Wells, who lives in New Jersey, did not seek reimbursement for her expenses. I try to be as conservative as I can, said McDermott, who became chairman of the board in January. I book all travel through the authority and where I can avoid hotel expenses by staying with family or friends. McDermott, who lives in Boston, spent just over $7,100 on travel last year. The shift in spending for travel is a change from previous years, probably a reflection of both public scrutiny and reforms put in place after a 2012 inspector generals report questioned some of the trips and expenses board members charged to the authority. Those expenses included a $9,000 ticket to an airport conference in Prague booked at the last minute and $4,800 in meal expenses, including lobster dinners, at another conference attended by board members in Hawaii. The inspector generals report found that although MWAA limited what its staff could spend when traveling, there were no such limits or guidelines in place for board members. Changes to those rules, however, mean that board members must follow the federal per diem of $71-a-day for meals. They also must pay for their own alcohol, and all travel must be approved by the boards chairman. [DOTs inspector general now has the authority to audit and investigate MWAA] A review of the 2015 reports found that board members complied with the new rules, submitting documents that estimated the cost of trips and booking them through the authoritys travel agents. Members who consumed alcohol while on authority business paid for it out of their own pockets. MWAAs board of directors oversees a quasi-public agency that is responsible for managing Reagan National and Dulles International airports and an annual budget of $2 billion. MWAA also manages construction of the $5.8 billion Silver Line rail project that will extend Metro service to Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County. The authoritys revenue comes from airport concessions and passenger fees, not tax dollars. Its members serve six-year terms and are appointed by the governors of Virginia and Maryland, the D.C. mayor and the federal government. Board members do not receive compensation for their service. [Inspector general report details hiring, ethics abuses at MWAA ] In all, eight of the 17 board members sought reimbursement for board-related business or travel expenses. Kennedy, who lives in Pennsylvania, billed more than $9,400 in travel expenses, including hotel stays and meals. In an email, he noted that it is not surprising that his costs would be the highest because he was required to attend additional meetings tied to his work on various board committees. There were a few times this past year where extra trips were required to handle various committee issues, he wrote. The other [federal appointees] were not involved in those meetings, so it is no surprise that my expenses may be higher. Kennedy also noted that MWAA staff members are responsible for making all travel arrangements, adding that discretionary spending for meals and other incidentals is also subject to review by staff. Three board members Earl Adams Jr., A. Bradley Mims and Warner Session traveled to aviation-related conferences in cities including Boston; New Orleans; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Newport Beach, Calif. Mims, a former official with the Federal Aviation Administration who represents Maryland on the MWAA board, attended three conferences in 2015 in Boston, New Orleans and Newport Beach, where he served as a moderator on a panel. In all, he billed just over $4,600 in travel expenses. Mims said conferences are valuable because they enable him to network and learn more about changes and best practices in aviation and airport management. When we go to these conferences, we get refreshed on whats transpired in the industry, he said. We need to know whats going on. Mims said past board conduct probably has had a chilling effect that has made current board members reluctant to travel. As a result, they may be missing the opportunity to learn about changes and best practices. Session, who had the third-highest total in 2015 at just over $5,600, attended two aviation-related conferences in New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale and took two trips to New York related to meetings tied to the authoritys finances. I strongly believe that conferences have huge value regardless of whatever industry youre in, Session said. You get value out of continued education. Michael Curto, who also attended the meetings in New York, submitted nearly $3,000 in travel expenses tied to those events. He did not respond to requests for comment. Adams, who attended the Airport Minority Advisory Councils Business Diversity Conference in Fort Lauderdale, said the trip offered him an opportunity to network with other airport professionals. He said that although the authority was smart to establish guidelines for board members travel, he, like Mims, is concerned the controls have prevented board members from connecting with other industry professionals. [Board members] have really held back on travel unless its truly necessary, he said. Its important that we attend [conferences] because if we dont attend, we dont know. McDermott said it may be time to rethink whether board members should attend more conferences. Attendance at some of these conferences can be beneficial, he said. Id like to see where the perfect sweet spot is. We want to have an abiding feeling about frugality when we can people being modest about what they do and charge to the authority but we also want to be smart about what is the equivalent of professional development. Former Virginia attorney general Jerry Kilgore was among those who favored picking 2017 nominees via primary. (Bob Brown/AP) Virginia Republicans will pick their 2017 nominees for governor and other statewide offices in a primary instead of a convention, the party decided Saturday in an about-face that infuriated some grass-roots activists and could have an impact on the presidential election. The decision was made in a 41-to-40 vote after a passionate, hour-long debate and a surprise appearance by vice-presidential contender Mike Pence, who stressed the critical role Virginia will play in Novembers election but did not weigh in on the convention-vs.-primary question. The switch to the primary embittered some grass-roots activists because the party had recommended making its 2017 picks by convention a format that tends to favor conservative candidates just over a year ago. Some warned the reversal would demoralize activists ahead of the presidential contest. But others said the move would prompt them to seek revenge on the establishment wing by turning out in droves for Donald Trump. This is a complete betrayal of the grass roots, Waverly Woods, a GOP activist from Virginia Beach, fumed after the vote. This party now its imploding on itself because these Republicans cant keep their word. . . . I hope everybody now jumps on the Trump train. State-run primaries are held in polling places across the commonwealth and are open to all voters because there is no party registration in Virginia. Conventions are day-long events that tend to attract only the most committed and conservative activists. In a compromise in June 2015, the party agreed to choose its 2016 presidential nominee in a primary and made a recommendation for a convention in 2017, when the party will pick its nominee for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and possibly U.S. Senate, if Democrat Hillary Clinton wins the presidency and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) becomes vice president. [Va. GOP will choose presidential nominee by primary] But by the narrowest of margins Saturday, members of the State Central Committee gathering in Richmond voted to change course. The party has changed its mind on the nomination method before, including in 2012, when forces loyal to gubernatorial contender Ken Cuccinelli II scuttled a planned 2013 gubernatorial primary for a convention. Many in the establishment wing of the party blamed that process for nominating candidates Democrats successfully painted as too conservative for Virginias changing electorate. Saturdays change to the nomination plan came as the party is trying to rebound from a string of losses and as Virginia is poised to play a key role in choosing the next president. That message was reinforced by Pences appearance, which was sandwiched between a meeting with the Richmond Times-Dispatchs editorial board and a rally in Northern Virginia. The road to the White House runs straight through Virginia, Pence said. Republicans at the Richmond Convention Center seemed genuinely excited to see Pence notable because the states delegation to the Republican National Convention had supported one of Trumps rivals, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, by a wide margin. But the partys divisions were soon on display, with advocates for conventions and primaries squaring off over which method could best reverse the fortunes of a party that has not won a statewide election since 2009. Activists took turns making their pitches, often with passion but usually with decorum. Shouting broke out only once, as the sides disagreed over whether military personnel deployed overseas are able to participate in conventions. Those who favor primaries said it would help the party reach more voters, including students, single parents, small-business owners and others who find it hard to travel across the state to a convention. We are not less Republican because were choosing to study, said Ben Dessart, 25, a University of Richmond law student who warned that with conventions, the party would be silencing the next generation of Republicans. Those who favor conventions said they forced candidates to engage in retail politics around the state, instead of running via TV ads and sound bites. They also said the event serves as an important fundraiser for the party. Dan Webb, who proposed the compromise plan last year, said the party will be bitterly divided if it is seen as reneging on what he called a gentlemens agreement. We have been internally wracked with divisions, he said. We have an opportunity to show goodwill. . . . Im really tired of losing. National Committeman Morton Blackwell also warned that Democrats eager to meddle would vote in the primary particularly in a year when Democrats have already lined up behind their nominees for two offices: Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam for governor, and the incumbent attorney general, Mark R. Herring. We will have large numbers of hostile Democrats participating, he said. We shouldnt let it happen. But former attorney general Jerry Kilgore, who backed Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida for the presidential nomination, said Republicans will pull together to support Trump and the partys 2017 nominees. Were not going to be divided, he said. My nominee didnt win the presidential nomination this year, but Im here, and Im supporting our nominee. Jon spoke just before the Security Council concluded the discussions with a statement strongly condemning all four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. The statement came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast on Wednesday. South Korean defense officials said the missile was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. Jon said that the latest submarine-launched missile didn't cause any harm to the security of neighbouring countries. He said it showed North Korea's "great power and inexhaustible strength in the face of the trials of history and the challenges of our enemies." "The best way for the US to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control," Jon said. North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including US military bases in those countries. Its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch. Prominent planets frolic in the playground of Septembers evening sky, while Mercury dashes through the morning later in the month, all while other parts of the world get to enjoy two eclipses. On the waning days of August and as the new month starts, Jupiter and Venus are low on the horizon in the western sky at dusk. On Sept. 2, the brand-new moon and Jupiter snuggle both edging the horizon. The bright Venus is to the left of Jupiter and on Sept. 3, the new moons sliver loiters to the left of Venus. Saturn, Mars and the star Antares form a noteworthy triangle in the evenings southwestern sky. A month ago, the reddish Mars (zero magnitude) hung out on the triangles western flank. Now, our neighboring Mars is the triangles eastern point, on the left. Bright Saturn, at zero magnitude, forms the top of the triangle and the scarlet star Antares maintains the bottom. The waxing, young moon approaches the Saturn-Mars-Antares cosmic clique on Sept. 7, and you can catch the first-quarter moon literally on top of Saturn the next evening, Sept. 8. Our lunar companion moves past Mars on the following night. If youre walking the dog or jogging before sunrise in the last week of September, the morning sky features a visual treat: the bright, fleet Mercury in the east. The crescent, elderly moon lollygags under the nimble Mercury on Sept. 29. Thursday features an annular eclipse when observers on the centerline in Africa can enjoy a ring of fire surrounding the moon, according to Fred Espenak, noted eclipse expert at EclipseWise.com. The greatest part of this fiery phenomena happens just after 5 a.m. Eastern time, and its not visible in North America, but you can catch the entire event on Slooh.com starting at 2:30 a.m. Eastern time. Much like a total eclipse, the moon slides between the Earth and the sun, but for an annular eclipse, the moon is slightly farther out in its orbit so it does not fully block the sun. Two weeks later, the moon moves through Earths penumbral shadow, entertaining Earths sky gazers with a harvest moon penumbral lunar eclipse on Sept. 16. Sadly, it wont be visible in North America either, but Europe, Africa and Asia should see it. Go online to Slooh.com, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time. In this type of eclipse, the full moon appears with an slightly darker shadow. Bid adieu to summer, as the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 officially starts fall at 10:21 a.m., according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. Thats when the sun appears to tiptoe across Earths equator toward the Southern Hemisphere. Providing equal time, more or less: For Washington on Sept. 25, the official duration of daylight is 12 hours, one minute and on the next day, Sept. 26, its a mere 11 hours, 58 minutes, says the observatory. Down-to-Earth Events: Sept. 3: Exploring the Sky hosted by the National Park Service and the National Capital Astronomers. At Rock Creek Park, near the Nature Center in the field south of Military and Glover roads NW. 8 p.m. capitalastronomers.org. Sept. 5: A talk on exoplanets by graduate student Mahmuda Afrin Badhan at the University of Marylands Observatory, College Park. 9 p.m. See the night sky through telescopes afterward, weather permitting. astro.umd.edu/openhouse. Sept. 10: Comets Observed By SOHO, a talk by astronomer Matthew Knight of the University of Maryland, at the regular meeting of the National Capital Astronomers. University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. 7:30 p.m. capitalastronomers.org. Sept. 11: The Upcoming Exploration of Europa, a talk by Marshall Eubanks of Asteroid Initiatives at the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club meeting, 163 Research Hall, George Mason University. 7 p.m. novac.com. Sept. 17: Find out how the Mayans tracked days with amazing mathematical precision, at the Montgomery College planetarium, Takoma Park, 7 p.m. montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/planet. Sept. 20: The Era of Gravitational Waves, a talk by astronomer Cole Miller, at the University of Marylands Observatory, College Park. 9 p.m. Heavenly views of the night sky afterward, weather permitting. astro.umd.edu/openhouse. Sept. 23: NASAs Kelly Twins Study: How Space Affects Human Physiology, a lecture by NASAs Craig Kundrot, the lead scientist for the study, hosted by the Philosophical Society of Washington, at the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Avenue NW. 8 p.m. www.philsoc.org. Blaine Friedlander can be reached at PostSkyWatch@yahoo.com Twitter: @BPFriedlander The just-completed Deepwater Wind project, which sits off the coast of Rhode Islands Block Island, is set to begin generating power this fall. (Courtesy of Deepwater Wind) The turbines stand like sentinels off the coast of this tiny island, each rising twice as high as the Statue of Liberty. Workers attached the final 240-foot-long blades just days ago, turning the nations first offshore wind farm into a reality. When residents look out at the altered horizon from their gray-shingled houses, some see progress, the birth of a promising industry, a way to ditch the 1 million gallons of diesel fuel that Block Island burns each year for power. Others see an expensive eyesore, a boondoggle that they contend will enrich private investors while burdening the states ratepayers and doing little to improve daily life here. One group went to federal court in an unsuccessful effort to stall the project. The countrys inaugural foray into offshore wind power is modest compared with the sprawling developments that have existed in Europe for decades. The five-turbine, 30-megawatt project, which is set to start operating this fall, will feed into New Englands electrical grid via underwater cables and provide enough energy to power about 17,000 homes. But heres what makes it momentous: It exists. From her familys cottage on Block Island, Rosemarie Ives has a clear view of Deepwater Winds five turbines a project she and her husband have long opposed. (Brady Dennis/The Washington Post) [U.S., Canada and Mexico vow to get half their electricity from clean power by 2025] Building offshore turbines to capture ocean winds has long appealed to U.S. proponents who see them as an untapped source of renewable energy. Yet efforts to jump-start the industry have faltered, none more publicly than the Cape Wind project off Marthas Vineyard, which has been beset by permitting struggles, legal challenges and opponents with last names such as Koch and Kennedy. In part because of its deliberately small size, only the Block Island wind farm has successfully navigated the legal, regulatory and political hurdles that have tripped up others. Deepwater Wind, the Providence-based company behind the facility, views it as a steppingstone to much bigger endeavors. Something had to be first, said the companys chief executive, Jeff Grybowski. Some project had to be successful in order for the U.S. to be able to begin taking advantage of this huge resource. Theres reason to believe offshore wind farms could soon see a U.S. boom. The federal government has awarded nearly a dozen commercial offshore wind leases, including locations off the coasts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. This month, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed a law requiring utilities to buy a combined 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power in coming years. In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) wants half the states power to come from renewable energy sources by 2030, a plan backed by the states Public Service Commission. Deepwater Wind already is angling to build a proposed 15-turbine wind farm off the eastern coast of Long Island, the first phase of what it hopes will be more than 200 turbines to help supply parts of New York and Massachusetts. Other companies have a growing list of offshore projects in various stages of development. ( The Washington Post) Tens of thousands of wind turbines already dot Texas, Iowa and other states, accounting for about 5 percent of the nations energy generation. Building these structures on land is cheaper and simpler, but the ocean provides stronger and more reliable winds, and the larger turbines there can, in theory, harness vast amounts of energy. [Why companies like Google and Walmart are buying so much wind power] The wind farm three miles southeast of Block Island has not been universally embraced by the islands roughly 1,000 year-round residents a population that swells to 20,000 during the summer, when tourists pour off ferries and fill quaint saltwater-sprayed inns and bars. We certainly dont appreciate the turbines ruining the view our family has had for nearly 100 years, said Rosemarie Ives, whose husband has been coming to a cottage atop Mohegan Bluffs since he was a baby in the 1940s. But Ives, the former mayor of Redmond, Wash., said the couples opposition goes beyond aesthetics. They and other detractors say they think officials approved the roughly $300 million project without adequately considering the long-term costs and other effects. They argue that it will do little to lower electricity bills on Block Island, where residents pay among the highest rates in the country. It was a charade of public process, Ives said. Mary Jane Balser, who owns Block Island Grocery, typically the islands biggest electricity consumer, is even more blunt. For years she tried to win grants to connect the island to the mainland electricity grid in an effort to escape the unreliability of diesel generators. Financially, she said this month, the wind farm just makes no sense. Under a 20-year agreement with regional utility National Grid, Deepwater Wind will receive about 24 cents per kilowatt hour for the power generated by the turbines, with guaranteed increases over time. The average American pays about 12.3 cents. That means Rhode Islanders will pay more for power to subsidize a project benefiting Deepwaters private investors, Balser said. Its not benefiting Block Island. Its not benefiting Rhode Island, she said. The notoriety of being the first in the nation? Can I take that home and eat it? Grybowski, the Deepwater Wind CEO, is familiar with the criticisms but insists that the wind farm has broad support. Block Islands town council and residents association backed it, he said, as did environmental groups, three Rhode Island governors, the states congressional delegation and the Obama administration. Its not unanimous, but I dont know that theres an energy project anywhere in the world that is unanimously praised, he said. I think the folks who think the process was insufficient are really upset that they didnt win. Cristina Archer, a professor in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment at the University of Delaware, likens offshore wind farms in the United States to personal computers and other technologies that are expensive in the beginning but grow cheaper and more accepted over time. She suspects that the same will happen as the industry grows domestically. It paves the way, Archer said of Block Island. Yet she acknowledged that islanders themselves might not see many direct benefits from the project. The benefit is long term for society in general, not necessarily for the place where the turbines are, she said. For Norris Pike, a home builder and the islands second warden, his vote in favor of the project came down in part to a commitment to combat climate change. Its the right thing to do. Everybody has to do their part. I believe this is our part, said Pike, whose family settled here in the 17th century. He estimates that about 70 percent of residents support the project and that the 30 percent who were against it just tended to be pretty vocal. He expects to see community gains, such as ecotourism and the mainland power connection, that will include fiber-optic cable that eventually might help improve the islands notoriously sluggish Internet speeds. Weve been running on diesel generators for 80 years, Pike said. Its time to turn them off. Clifford McGinnes, the octogenarian co-owner of Block Island Power, agrees. We wont have these ups and downs that weve had with the [diesel] engines, he said, noting that a recent fire disabled several engines and led to rolling blackouts. I cant wait to shut them down. Theres always a problem. Some Block Islanders are delighted that the smallest town in the smallest state is ground zero for a new renewable energy industry. Isnt it awesome? asked Judy Gray, a retired meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as she stood on her deck overlooking the wind farm. Im what they call a YIMBY Yes in my back yard. Grays family began coming to the island in the 1930s, and she and her husband settled here full-time when she retired. People are afraid of what they dont know, she said. I think people will eventually get used to it. I think its going to make us a model. In recent days, Gray has spent hours on her deck with her camera, giddily documenting how the turbines were taking shape. This fall, when their blades at last begin generating electricity, she plans to throw a wind farm party to celebrate with friends and neighbors. The North's Korean People's Army accused US and South Korea of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at their guard posts and threatened to fire at those equipment. By AP: North Korea today threatened to aim fire at the lighting equipment used by "provocative" American and South Korean troops at a truce village inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. The North's Korean People's Army accused US and South Korean soldiers of "deliberate provocations" by aiming their lights at North Korean guard posts at Panmunjom since Friday evening. advertisement The KPA said in a statement that the soldiers' actions have seriously threatened the safety of North Korean troops and disrupted their normal monitoring activities. INTOLERABLE MEANS OF PROVOCATION? It said the activities have further raised the anger of North Korean soldiers at a time when the Korean Peninsula has reached the "brink of war" due to last Monday's start of annual joint military drills between the US and South Korea that, Pyongyang says, are an invasion rehearsal. "Floodlight directed at the KPA side at random is taken as an intolerable means of provocation and it will be the target of merciless pinpoint shots," the KPA's chief security officers at Panmunjom said in the statement, carried by the North's state media. "The true aim sought by the provocateurs through their recent act is to seriously get on the nerves of the KPA soldiers, lead them to take due countermeasures and label them as provocation," it said. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. THREATS RESULT OF UN'S STATEMENT? The statement by North Korea's military came hours after the United Nations Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. Also read: North Korea does it again! Fires three ballistic missiles, flew 600 km, says South Korea On Tuesday, the American-led UN Command in South Korea accused North Korea of planting land mines near the truce village. Panmunjom, jointly overseen by North Korea and the UN Command, is where an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed and is now a popular tourist spot for visitors from both sides. Under the Korean War armistice, the two sides are barred from carrying out any hostile acts within or across the 2.5-mile-wide DMZ. Still, they have accused each other of deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons and combat troops inside the zone. More than a million mines are also believed to be buried inside the DMZ. In August 2015, land mine blasts that Seoul blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused tensions between the two Koreas to flare. Also Read: North Korea says UN condemnation of missile tests 'provocation' advertisement North Korea says US declared war, Twiteratti go nuts North Korea fires missile from submarine but it appears to have failed: South Korea --- ENDS --- I found George F. Wills Aug. 14 op-ed, All eyes on the Silver State, interesting and informative. And, indeed, as he wrote, Union Gen. William T. Shermans capture of Atlanta on Sept. 2, 1864, did boost Abraham Lincolns chances for reelection that November. But even after the fall of Atlanta, Lincoln was worried that he wouldnt be reelected. What really helped seal the deal was Union Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridans successful Shenandoah Valley campaign that fall, and especially Sheridans great victory at Cedar Creek on Oct. 19 of that year. Coupled with Sheridans dramatic reappearance on the field of battle that morning he had been attending a strategy conference in Washington he turned what in the early-morning hours had been a spectacular Confederate victory into a glorious win for the Union. No doubt, Lincoln sighed with great relief when, three days after the battle, he sent a congratulatory telegram to Sheridan and Sheridans army. Unfortunately, for Lincoln and the country, his second term would last a mere six weeks after his inauguration in early March of 1865. T. Jeff. Driscoll, Middletown, Va. The writer is a park ranger at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Donald Trump. Would that it were unnecessary to mention his name except, say, as a Viagra pitchman. Despite such casting perfection, this isnt intended as a metaphor for the man, though it is for the GOP. Cue sound of balloon losing vigor. The erstwhile party of Lincoln has rendered itself impotent by its clammy-handed embrace of the sad clown who made everybody laugh for a while. But the enchanted evening Republicans fantasized when they nominated the biggest goofball ever to enter the Oval Office sweepstakes is over. The clock has struck midnight, the carriage is ablaze; the golden-haired prince is a bloated chimney sweep ranting at rooftops. The partys footmen, blind mice begging for scraps of mercy, scatter in search of cover. Even Rep. Mark Sanford, the disgraced former governor of South Carolina, took to the quill, writing in a New York Times op-ed that he might no longer support Trump if he doesnt produce his tax returns. Knowing with 99 percent certainty that this wont happen, Sanford has carved a tiny escape hole in the baseboard for himself. At the same time, talk radio hustlers whove more or less directed the GOP platform the past two decades or so, beginning with the Clinton administration, seem to be coming undone, floundering in the full-circleness of their anti-Clinton credo. Rush Limbaugh recently dissolved into a fit of giggles as he tried to pronounce the stupidity of Trumps softening on immigration. Poor Ann, he rasped, referring to Ann Coulters new book, In Trump We Trust. Anti-amnesty Ann, now on what she says may be the shortest book tour ever, has had to dial back her support for the GOP nominee if he doesnt return to his hard-line deportation promise. Quelle situation! The very policy undergirding Trumps campaign suddenly became a negotiable talking point. Draconian Trump suddenly became Care Bear Trump: We need to be fair and maybe some should stay, he said. Then, just as suddenly feeling the heat from his courtiers he was back to dear old Draco. But of course hes going to send them all back. Then, when they come back legally, if they do, theyll have to pay taxes. Because every ordinary billionaire does? Trump was never going to build a wall, this columnist wrote. He was never going to deport 11 million people, she said. How exactly does one do this without sending armed forces to arrest Madre in the kitchen and Padre on the phone while their citizen-children watch in horror? Think back to the 2000 image of Elian Gonzalezs rescue by masked, armed men, brought to you by the Clinton administration, let the record show. For many of us scribes, Trumps true nature and character were obvious from the start, not to mention 20 years before that. No degree of fleeting niceness (which, ahem, I gamely recognized in a recent column written for sport in response to a challenge) was going to make Trump less repugnant or more appealing for long. Predictably, he couldnt sustain it. A person can only fake who he is for so long before the interior self emerges. Trumps nice side, you can be certain, isnt what appeals to members of the Ku Klux Klan or other white nationalist groups who find his ideas in sync with their own. Trumps calling Hillary Clinton a bigot when he is the bigots candidate should be viewed as the last gasp of a desperate nominee with no one left to insult. African Americans, previously ignored, are now in the sights of the flaming eye of Sauron. This dark fairy tale was bound to end, if later than many expected. Sure, droves will vote for Trump no matter what and weve learned that no-matter-what has elastic boundaries. His fans arent crazy or stupid, one is bound to say, and may justify their votes with concern for the future composition of the Supreme Court or for some variation of Trumps shifting immigration policy. But the truth is, most will be voting against Clinton, whom they dislike with such ferocity that theyd rather vote for Mickey Mouse or even Donald Trump, master puppeteer and ringmaster of the Freakiest Show on Earth. Read more from Kathleen Parkers archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook. Jeffrey D. Stein is a public defender in the District. This month, the Justice Department released a report confirming what Baltimore residents have long known: The citys police department suffers from rampant racial bias. But the problem of police misconduct is not limited to Baltimore or the nearly two dozen other cities under investigation by the Justice Department. The nationwide epidemic persists, in large part, because of laws and policies that screen police misconduct from public view. For an example of how jurisdictions across the country obstruct public access to misconduct information, the Justice Department need look no further than the District, where I work as a public defender. In Washington, police misconduct files are kept secret by the D.C. police department and the Office of Police Complaints (OPC), an entity charged with investigating certain types of misconduct. The OPC is required by statute to be independent of the police department, yet like many police oversight bodies, its objectivity is questionable at best; of the 526 complaints closed in fiscal 2015, only eight resulted in sustained findings of misconduct. Although the OPC publishes its final decisions online, it redacts officers names so there is no meaningful way to monitor individual officers. The OPC also will not disclose officer misconduct information in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, citing officers privacy interests. Likewise, the Metropolitan Police Department does not disclose information related to misconduct whether investigated internally or by the OPC to the public at all. While officers are certainly entitled to privacy in their personal lives, their uniquely powerful and public professional role means that community members have a special interest in knowing when they break the rules. Keeping misconduct secret shields officers misbehavior from public scrutiny and enables unscrupulous officers to continue operating without accountability to the communities they serve. The nations capital is not alone. According to a review by the New York public radio station WNYC, in 23 states, police-misconduct information is effectively confidential. In 15 states, misconduct information is mostly kept from the public except under certain circumstances for instance, in cases involving particularly severe disciplinary actions such as suspension or termination. That leaves just 12 states in which police disciplinary information is generally available to the public. When legislators in restrictive states try to implement more common-sense disclosure policies, they face fierce opposition from the law-enforcement lobby. Just last May in California, police unions joined forces with prosecutors to defeat a bill that would have made those records public. In criminal cases, access to misconduct information is critical and constitutionally mandated so that jurors can make informed decisions about the credibility of testifying officers and their investigations. These materials are all the more essential in the countless gun, drug and assault-on-police-officer cases in which officers are the only witnesses. In those cases, the phenomenon of testilying lawyer speak for police perjury on topics such as whether a defendant resisted arrest, tossed a gun or bag of drugs before officers found one on the ground, or made an unrecorded confession is not uncommon. Unfortunately, even well-meaning prosecutors often fail to make accurate disclosures about officer witnesses because of reliance on error-ridden internal databases. I have seen complaints mistakenly labeled as not sustained (and therefore not disclosed to the defense) that defense investigation later revealed had been sustained, and egregious conduct miscategorized as minor. In one case, I did not learn until months after a trial that the lead detective in the case had been previously found by a judge to have lied under oath. Even then, my discovery was accidental in an unrelated case not through any disclosure by the prosecutor. If documentation of the officers lying under oath had been public, I could have found and examined it myself prior to trial instead of relying blindly on a prosecutors search of an unverifiable and faulty internal database. When it comes to police misconduct, transparency serves the interest of everyone not just wrongfully accused defendants who could use the information to rebut the testimony of untruthful officers. It benefits the many officers who do their jobs correctly, as they gain community members trust and cooperation without having their reputation spoiled by the bad apples. It benefits police departments that can more easily spot officers with troubled track records such as the Chicago police officer who killed Laquan McDonald and remove them before they make unerasable mistakes. It benefits prosecutors whose duty, as the American Bar Association Model Code of Professional Responsibility states, is to seek justice, not merely to convict. Most important, it benefits communities by empowering them to police their police. The problems documented by the Justice Department in Baltimore are extreme but not isolated. When police misconduct is properly monitored and made public, rather than guarded by opaque administrative bodies and broken internal tracking systems, policing practices change for the better. Communities become safer. Prosecutions become more honest. And, as civilians, we become able to trust those enforcing the laws to protect us, rather than worrying about whether we need to be protected from them. Libertarian candidate for president Gary Johnson speaks at a rally outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord, N.H., this week. (Libby March/For The Washington Post) On Friday morning, the third day in his four-day New England campaign swing, Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson told a joke. He was the punch line. This is a crazy election, Johnson said, looking out at dozens of Mainers who had come out for a breakfast meet-and-greet. You know how crazy this election is? Im going to be the next president of the United States. Thats how crazy! Johnson, a two-term governor of New Mexico, has avoided the fringe label that often sticks to third-party candidates. Since announcing former Massachusetts governor William Weld as his running mate, Johnson has risen in the polls to the high single digits and to the mid-teens in some swing states. His rallies draw hundreds of voters, bigger than anything he saw during his 2012 bid. He talks about spoiling the party, and voters cheer. Despite that, Johnson is struggling to grab the prize he has eyed all year: to be invited to the televised presidential debates. He needs to close in on 15 percent in an average of polls, and he is doing what he can. Two super PACs are trying to boost him in. Its not clear that they can pull it off. [Trump and advisers remain split on how far to move toward the middle] Recent U.S. politics has favored candidates from the Democrat and Republican parties, but here are seven examples of candidates who ran under a different mantle. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) The support Johnson has so far is easily explained; in a year of not one, but two historically unpopular major-party candidates, voters are looking for an alternative to Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Johnson may hold particular appeal for Republicans trying to protect their majorities in Congress; he gives voters an alternative to Trump at the top of the ticket yet allows them to return to the GOP lineup down the ballot. Relentlessly positive, bounding from event to event in black Nikes and Carhartt jeans, Johnson approaches the debate problem by talking like he has solved it. In 2012, he briefly ran as a Republican the party he was part of in Santa Fe and was yanked offstage after a first, flailing debate performance. I had 60 seconds to make my pitch, and in the 60 seconds, I was being interrupted, Johnson said in an interview here. Now, I can say the same thing and Ive got three minutes. Uninterrupted! Three people onstage, audience bigger than the Super Bowl. I dont think theyd get away with cutting me. They might. The Commission on Presidential Debates, which has controlled the process since 1988, has held fast to its 15 percent threshold. A Johnson-backed lawsuit against that threshold was thrown out this month, however, and the voters filing into Johnson-Weld rallies last week were acutely aware that their man might be kept offstage. [Inside debate prep: Clintons careful case vs. Trumps WrestleMania] Im not for either of the choices we have right now, said Roy Hermann, 65, who caucused for Bernie Sanders but showed up in Portland to hear Johnson. Im not even sure if Ill vote for this guy, but I have a great deal of respect for him. The day before, at a Johnson-Weld rally in Concord, N.H., 14-year-old Aubrey Pelletier hoisted a sign that read 15%! Her father, Brad, 39, worried that too many voters limit the news they read and couldnt see the point of choosing Johnson. Alexis and Eli Luicha stand close shelter under an umbrella during Johnsons rally in Concord. The Luichas are independent voters from nearby Andover, N.H. (Libby March/For The Washington Post) People are afraid of wasting their votes, he surmised. On Facebook, I see Gary Johnson stuff all the time. When I talk to people, they know who he is now. As Johnson and Weld stumped across New England, they were recognized by voters something new in the past three weeks, they said. Fundraising, according to the campaign, has surged in the same period. Neither Republicans nor Democrats know which nominee that helps. The polls that show Johnson at or above 10 percent have Clintons lead growing if he is removed as a choice but she has got a lead either way. At rallies in New Hampshire and Maine, voters with Bernie Sanders T-shirts stood near people wearing the Hillary for Prison shirts sold by far-right radio host Alex Jones. Some cheer when Johnson calls for ending corporate taxes; some cheer when he insists that black lives matter. All cheer when he endorses ballot measures to legalize marijuana. Asked whether he would encourage his voters to pick Republicans or Democrats when they went down their ballot, Johnson demurred. The wonderful thing about being a Libertarian is that you dont have to tell anybody to do anything, he said. [New Trump campaign chief faces scrutiny over voter registration, anti-Semitism] Two libertarian efforts are underway to boost Johnson past the debate commissions 15-percent hurdle. Purple PAC, steered by former Cato Institute president Ed Crane, began a $1 million ad buy last week, with cable spots casting Johnson as an honorable choice who favors tolerance and free markets. Theyre not as ideological as I would probably prefer, Crane said of Johnson and Weld. But on the broad issues of social tolerance, restraint in foreign policy, markets over crony capitalism, theyre very good. Alternative PAC, launched by former FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe, is spending $50,000 to kick-start a Web campaign aimed at millennials. One ad, Balanced Rebellion, stars an Abraham Lincoln impersonator who promises that Johnson wont send you to fight wars overseas or tell you who to marry. Its like a two-horse race where one horse cheats and the other one eats Muslims, the Lincoln actor says of the Clinton-Trump race. The spot was designed by Harmon Brothers, the firm behind a viral ad in which unicorns defecate rainbow ice cream to promote a toilet aid. Johnson is more tactful. In his campaign speech, an optimistic spiel on how free markets (Uber everything) and active citizens can fix the country, he tells one joke about Trump. The Republican nominee, he said, watched the Olympics to see how high those Mexican pole vaulters could go. Neither Johnson nor Weld is inclined to attack Clinton, something they have been trying to correct. You make mistakes along the trail, Johnson said in Concord, referring to a CNN town hall one of his highest-profile events where he declined to criticize Clinton. If I had to do that over again, Id have said: Shes beholden. Ive made a mini-career of defending Mrs. Clinton on the use of the private server, said Weld, who added that newer revelations about her email gave him pause. That light tone has become central to the Johnson-Weld campaign. The two standard-bearers for libertarianism have become some of the least ideological candidates in America. On the stump, Weld describes the Libertarian Party as a six-lane highway going right up the middle between the two parties, and Johnson talks about what can be achieved when partisans cross the aisle. That has led to steady criticism from more traditional libertarians, who pounce on every Johnson or Weld sop to the center as a gaffe. Weld, who signed a gun-control bill as governor, struggled to win the Libertarian vice-presidential nomination. Jason Sorens, the founder of the Free State Project that encourages libertarians to move to New Hampshire, said he had seen some demobilization of the LP tickets natural base over guns. After Johnson refused to rule out a tax on carbon only if it were revenue-neutral and it replaced income taxes he was criticized by libertarians on social media. Crane, Kibbe and other libertarians knew some of this was coming. The Republican primary campaign of Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), designed to build on the support of father Ron Pauls three libertarian-flavored presidential bids, made a bid for conservative voters that put the base to sleep. Im still on the fence about whether Im going to cast a write-in vote for none of the above or myself, said Darryl Perry, a New Hampshire voter who ran against Johnson for the Libertarian presidential nomination. I know a few [people] who have said, Well, hes the lesser of the evils. The lesser evil is still evil in my eyes. But the dazzling possibility of the debate invite something no Libertarian candidate has ever achieved has kept most fellow travelers on board. Dan Fishman, the campaigns 48-year-old New England director, has walked away from each rally with pages of new sign-ups. Its getting easier and easier to train people, he said, crediting the NationBuilder software that had helped the Trump campaign convert its giant crowds into volunteers. At one rally, in Concord, close to 300 people stood in a steady and meteorology-defying rain to hear Weld and Johnson speak about the six-lane highway between the parties. Standing in the rain, Johnson said with disbelief. You honor us. You really do. Stephen Bannon, left, chief executive of Republican Donald Trump's campaign, is pictured during a roundtable with Trump, right, and the members of the Republican Leadership Initiative in New York on Aug. 25. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Allegations of domestic violence and anti-Semitism from a former wife of Donald Trumps new campaign chief executive brought fresh scrutiny on Friday to how well Trump vets his most senior employees and advisers another distraction from the themes the GOP nominee wants to emphasize less than 11 weeks from the election. Records show that Stephen K. Bannon changed his voter registration address in Florida this week as reporters were preparing a story about how he was registered at an address where he did not live. A spokeswoman provided a statement from someone who said Bannon had lived there but did not respond to a question about why he changed his registration to the new address. She also denied Bannon made any anti-Semitic remarks. Bannon also is under a spotlight after revelations that he was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence 20 years ago against his then-wife. The case was dismissed. The new details about Bannons personal life could complicate Trumps recent attempts to improve his standing among moderate voters, minorities and women. Here's what you need to know about the Breitbart News chairman who just became Donald Trump's new campaign CEO. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) It just undermines any effort they are pursuing to try and soften him up when he surrounds himself with people like that, said Katie Packer, a Republican strategist who vigorously opposes Trump. Packer, who served as deputy campaign manager to Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, said Bannon would have never passed the vetting process Romneys team used when they made hiring decisions. On Thursday, Bannons registration information was changed from an address in Miami-Dade County to Sarasota County, according to Carolina Lopez, the deputy supervisor of elections in Miami-Dade. On Friday morning, the Guardian newspaper reported that Bannon had been registered to vote at an address in Miami-Dade where he did not reside, putting him at odds with state election laws. The address where Bannon is now registered in Sarasota County is also associated with venture capitalist Andrew Badolato, who, according to his website, has worked as an associate producer on films produced and directed by Bannon. Badolato also has written for Breitbart News, the right-leaning website Bannon heads. Bannon is on leave from Breitbart as he works for Trump. Badolato gave Trump a $142 donation in April, campaign finance records show. Badolato did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Bannon spokeswoman Alexandra Preate referred to a statement issued by A.J. Delgado, a conservative commentator supporting Trump. 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. I have known Steve for several years and he was most definitely, without a doubt, living in the house in question, Delgado said. I personally visited Steve there on various occasions throughout a long period of time starting in 2013. All his belongings, including boxes of documents even, were there and his vehicles. But the Miami-Dade property owner, Luis Guevara, told the Guardian that nobody lives there. The report said Bannon formerly rented the house for use by Diane Clohesy, one of his ex-wives. Clohesy could not be reached for comment Friday. Trump has been an outspoken critic of voter fraud, which studies have shown is very rare. He recently encouraged supporters in Pennsylvania to watch for signs of irregularities on Election Day. Bannon, who recently joined Trumps team in a leadership shake-up, was charged in 1996 with three counts stemming from a dispute with his then-wife, Mary Louise Piccard. The case, first reported by the New York Post, was dismissed in court, records show. The disclosures come as Trump has fallen well behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in polls. He is trying to make up ground among women and minorities, who strongly favor Clinton. In the domestic violence case, Bannon was charged with trying to prevent or dissuade the victim or a witness of a crime from reporting it; inflicting injury on a cohabitant or other closely associated person; and battery, according to court records in Southern California, where Bannon lived at the time. Bannon was never convicted. The case was dismissed that August, the records show. According to a police report that was posted online by Politico, Bannons then-wife said an argument escalated into a physical confrontation in which Bannon grabbed her wrist and at her neck. As she tried to call 911, he grabbed the telephone and threw it, she alleged. She also said there were past instances of disputes that became physical. Piccard, who had twins with Bannon, filed for divorce in January 1997, court records show. Piccard could not be reached for comment Friday. The New York Daily News reported Friday that Piccard said in a 2007 court statement that Bannon didnt want their twin daughters attending a school because too many Jews attended. The biggest problem he had with Archer [School for Girls in Los Angeles] is the number of Jews that attend, Piccard said in her statement, the newspaper reported. Preate, however, said Bannon has denied saying that and proudly sent the girls to Archer school. He said that he doesnt like the way they raise their kids to be whiny brats and that he didnt want the girls going to school with Jews, Piccard wrote, according to the Daily News. Preate said of the 1996 incident and subsequent case: Mr. Bannon found out via U.S. mail. The attorney handled it. He was never involved and it was dropped. He has a great relationship with his ex-wife and his twins. Kellyanne Conway, Trumps campaign manager, said in an interview with ABC News on Friday that she did not know whether Trump was aware of the case. I dont know what he was aware of with respect to a 20-year-old claim where the charges were dropped, Conway said. So thats all I know about is what I read. 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. Ten days after he appointed new campaign leadership, Donald Trump and many of his closest aides and allies remain divided on whether to adopt more mainstream stances or stick with the hard-line conservative positions at the core of his candidacy, according to people involved in the discussions. Trump has been flooded with conflicting advice about where to land, with the tensions vividly illustrated this week as the GOP nominee publicly wrestled with himself on the details of his signature issue: immigration. A particular flash point has been whether to forcibly deport an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants from the country, a move Trump long advocated but is now reconsidering. He has been listening to a wide range of opinions on that, said former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has been at Trumps side nearly constantly over the past week. As you might imagine, there are different opinions on this, even in his campaign. In a very thoughtful way, hes trying to figure what the right position is. By the way, Giuliani added, thats what everybody criticized him for in the past: that hes not able to do that. He actually is able to do that. At a rally in Jackson, Miss., Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump called Democratic foe Hillary Clinton a bigot and said that she would do nothing for African Americans and Hispanics. (The Washington Post) The conversations in recent days have featured voices from a range of Republican views, all jockeying to tilt the businessmans politics in their direction, according to those involved. Trump tends to echo the words of the last person with whom he spoke, making direct access to him even more valuable, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk about internal campaign discussions. Those pushing Trump to soften his stances and tone and who have gained immense influence in recent days include Giuliani, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, a longtime ally who has no formal role with the campaign but talks to the candidate frequently and attended a strategy session last weekend. At recent private fundraisers, many Republican donors have also urged Trump to adopt a different pitch and rethink his priorities. [Trump softening on immigration? Many supporters dont seem to mind] Meanwhile, Trump continues to discuss immigration policy with Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), who is seen as the populist force behind much of his candidacy. While he has defended and encouraged Trumps deliberations, Sessions is considered a balancing force against more centrist appeals. So is new campaign chief executive Stephen Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, the hard-charging conservative website. Trump was joined on the trail this week by Giuliani and Sessions, along with Stephen Miller, a former aide to Sessions who has become a well-trusted confidant. His New York-based children continue to play an outsize role. But any suggestion of change has alarmed some conservatives and ardent backers. Firebrand commentator Ann Coulter declared this week that it was a mistake for Trump to consider abandoning his support for mass deportations and said his tone sounds very consultant to me. The back-and-forth over immigration comes amid broader efforts by Trump to reach out to voters beyond the disaffected whites who compose his base, including events such as a roundtable Friday with Hispanic business leaders in Las Vegas. Trump also lashed out this week at his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for accusing him of appealing to racist elements, repeatedly labeling her a bigot because he says her policies dont help minorities. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said over and over that as president, he would force undocumented immigrants to leave the country. Now a meeting with a Hispanic advisory panel and statements from his surrogates are casting doubt on whether thats still the plan. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Last year, Trump cast illegal immigrants as being mostly violent criminals, and he rolled out an immigration plan that embraced ideas that had long dwelled at the fringes of the GOP: no longer granting citizenship to children born in the United States to illegal immigrants, constructing a massive wall along the border with Mexico and perhaps restricting some legal forms of immigration. In interviews, Trump added that he would form a deportation force to remove the millions of immigrants living in the country illegally. But Saturday, Trump asked a panel of Hispanic advisers for alternate ideas and made clear that he was willing to change on the issue. The next day, newly installed campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who has advised GOP candidates for years on how to win over swing voters, said in a CNN interview that Trumps position on creating a deportation force was to be determined. Over the next few days, Trump took a variety of positions that created a frenzy of confusion over where exactly he stands. On Tuesday, Trump said he was open to softening the rules for the millions of immigrants who came to the country illegally but are living peaceful and prosperous lives, only to say Thursday that his position is hardening. [Clinton, Trump exchange racially charged accusations] At an immigration-focused town hall in Texas on Tuesday, which was later broadcast on Fox News, Trump repeatedly polled his audience on what he should do, allowing his internal conflicts to play out publicly. Can we go through a process? Or do you think they have to get out? he asked the audience. Tell me. I mean, I dont know, you tell me. Trump provided the crowd a sympathetic portrait of a theoretical illegal immigrant who has been in the country more than a decade, building a life with children and a stable job. He repeatedly asked if that sort of person should be allowed to stay or be kicked out of the country, getting results that were often difficult to measure. At one point, Trump asked who in the crowd wanted all illegal immigrants thrown out, even the law-abiding ones, and a man stood up and bellowed: I do! Fox Newss Sean Hannity then asked Trump: You heard from the audience. What does your gut tell you you want to do? Well, look, this is like a poll, this is like a poll, Trump said. And I love the guy that stood up and said where is that guy? I love this guy. Thats my guy. I mean, I get it. I get it. And I understand what youre saying. But this is sort of like a poll. And this is what Im getting all over the country. Trumps often contradictory comments on deportations came during interviews with Fox News or CNN, not during his campaign rallies. For two weeks, Trump has been reading prepared remarks from a teleprompter, a machine he had long cursed. As the week progressed, his control slipped and he went off-script more often saying at a rally in Ohio on Monday that some urban areas are more dangerous than war zones and making a joke in Tampa on Wednesday about Clinton being medicated. This week the campaign twice started to plan an event where Trump could give an immigration speech an opportunity for him to settle on a position and document it only to cancel without a clear explanation. [Inside Donald Trumps new strategy to counter the view of many that he is racist] Trumps comment about being open to softening laws to help illegal immigrants came Tuesday, the same day Coulter released her new book, In Trump We Trust, in which she writes that anything Trump does could be forgiven, except change his immigration policies. During an MSNBC interview that night, Coulter was obviously frustrated and threatened to cancel her book tour if the candidate clearly changed his position. I think this is a mistake. Ive thought hes made other mistakes, and Ive given him constructive criticism when I think he makes a mistake, she said. I think this is a mistake. MSNBCs Chris Matthews asked: Does he take your criticism? Um, Coulter responded. I havent had a lot, but yeah. No, he does listen to people. And Im not advising him or anything, but I did write this magnificent book. By Wednesday, Coulter seemed confident again in Trumps candidacy as she attended a book party in Washington and told Bloomberg Newss Joshua Green: My worship for him is like the people of North Korea worship their Dear Leader blind loyalty. Once he gave that Mexican rapist speech, Ill walk across glass for him. Thats basically it. . . . Ill criticize him, and I have, but its all minor stylistic stuff. We all want to shoot him at various times. Thursday, Trump took a different tone in an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper and said that he foresees a lot of people being deported, although he admitted such deportations could not all happen at once. Trump also doubled down on the notion that a majority of illegal immigrants are violent criminals who will be the first to go. And there are probably millions of them, but certainly hundreds of thousands, he said. Big numbers. Theyre out. Theyre out. At one point, Cooper asked Trump, So if you havent committed a crime and youve been here for 15 years, and you have a family here, you have a job here, will you be deported? Were going to see what happens once we strengthen up our border, Trump replied, describing that strength in detail. And then were going to see what happens. But there is a very good chance the answer could be yes. Were going to see what happens. The fate of the two boys seen weeping and embracing over the loss of their brother in an Aug. 25 bombing attack in Aleppo is unknown. An airstrike hit the funeral of the boys brother on Aug. 27, and the pair were thought to be present. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) The fate of the two boys seen weeping and embracing over the loss of their brother in an Aug. 25 bombing attack in Aleppo is unknown. An airstrike hit the funeral of the boys brother on Aug. 27, and the pair were thought to be present. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Syrian warplanes appeared to target a funeral Saturday morning in east Aleppo, killing dozens of civilians who had come to mourn the deaths of at least 13 people days earlier. The attack on Bab al-Nairab, a Syrian suburb named after one of the citys ancient gates, took place in waves, activists said. The first barrel bomb hit a funeral procession, the second landed as rescue workers arrived. Doctors said the preliminary death count was 25. Aleppo is one of the Syrian wars most important battlegrounds, divided by government forces in the west and armed opposition groups in the east. According to monitoring groups, more than 300 civilians have been killed in fighting there this month. The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has urged warring parties to state by Sunday whether they will commit to a 48-hour humanitarian cease-fire across the city. On Friday, a video of two young boys, inconsolable as they mourned the death of family members in a Thursday airstrike on Bab al-Nairab, went viral. The footage captured a private moment of painful grief: Sobbing, the boys clutch each other tightly, surrounded by the hubbub of a hospital ward. Syrian civilians and a rescue worker evacuate children in eastern Aleppo after regime aircrafts reportedly dropped barrel bombs on Aug. 27. (Ameer Alhalbi/AFP/Getty Images) Underscoring the tragedy that has befallen so many families left in Aleppo, it appeared that the boys came from the same families that took to the streets Saturday to mourn their dead, only to be hit by airstrikes. The fate of the children remains unknown. The flood of photographs from the aftermath of the attack were too graphic to publish. They showed the bodies of men, women and children, some of them blasted in half. The regime is telling us that we cant be sad, we cant cry for our children who die. They want us to think that if we hold funerals for them, we will risk death, too, said Abdulkafi al-Hamdo, an English teacher from Aleppo who shared images of the dead with reporters. The video came a week after footage of another child, 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, was viewed millions of times around the world, transforming his dusty image into a symbol of Aleppos suffering. When the childs brother died days later, the news received little attention. Several Aleppo residents said Saturday that they were frustrated at the ways the viral nature of such images removes them from their tragic context. Its not enough to see the child, to share it and move on, said one man, who gave his name as Wael. No one thinks about the fact that they have to keep surviving in this war zone after the cameras move away. Their story doesnt end with a Facebook share. De Mistura, the envoy, has led global calls for the pause that the United Nations and aid groups such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, say is desperately needed by civilians trapped in the midst of brutal fighting between the regime and opposition forces. Read more: Battle for Aleppo may be the most crucial of the Syrian war Under siege in eastern Aleppo, any kind of day-to-day life is impossible Aleppos last doctors sent a letter to Obama pleading for help Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Yan Jinjin, sister of victim Li Hongxia, cries in March near her sisters home in the Zhang village of Chinas Henan province while Duan Sumei, her aunt, supports her. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) In a courtroom in the Chinese heartland, a defense attorney made his final pitch. That his client, Zhang Yazhou, killed his wife was not in question. At 5:25 in the evening on Feb. 21, Zhang walked into his wifes hospital room. They argued. He strangled her, digging his fingers deep into the flesh of her neck. By the time nurses entered the room, Zhang was gone and Li Hongxia, just 24, was dead. Since Zhang confessed on television and in court, the issue at hand was the sentence. Lis family and their lawyer asked for the death penalty, which is common in China, describing a year of escalating abuse that culminated in a brutal murder. The defense asked for leniency on the grounds that Zhang had admitted his guilt and that Lis death was different than regular acts of violence because she was Zhangs wife. In the end, the court in Henan province took a relatively tough line, sentencing Zhang to death with a two-year reprieve meaning he could get life, or a shorter, fixed-term sentence if he behaves in jail consistent with Chinese law, lawyers said. Yet the courts written judgement, provided to Lis family this week and reviewed by The Washington Post, which has previously reported on the case, says plainly that Zhangs penalty was indeed reduced because it was a domestic case. Zhang got a reprieve, not immediate execution, because the case was caused by family conflict and the defendant Zhang Yazhou turned himself in, the judges wrote. The ruling illustrates how the Chinese state is struggling to handle a public health crisis often dismissed as private, personal scandal. The government estimates that 1 in 4 Chinese women are beaten, a figure experts consider low because many never report it and it excludes sexual, psychological and emotional abuse. In China, domestic violence has long been ignored by the legal system. In fact, Lis family was so certain her death would be brushed aside that, after her murder, they refused to bury her body, keeping her corpse aboveground in a desperate bid to shame the state to act. The government of President Xi Jinping has promised to address the problem, last year passing a first-of-its-kind anti-domestic-violence bill. The law was hailed by advocates as a step in the right direction. It includes provisions such as restraining orders that, if implemented, could have offered Li some help. But a Post investigation into Lis killing showed the limits of using the law alone to keep women alive. In the last year of her life, Li knew she needed to leave her husband but was told by those around her family and friends, neighbors and nurses to go quietly back to Zhang. Now, the handling of her murder reveals how the states effort to stop domestic violence is undermined by the persistent belief that domestic abuse is somehow a lesser form of violence, that it is not as serious as regular crimes. Until that sentiment changes, tens of millions of people are at risk. Li Hongxia, with her husband, Zhang Yazhou, in a 2014 picture shot with a traditional red background for their marriage documents. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) In the months since Lis murder, local officials have repeatedly shirked responsibility for her death, dodging questions, blaming Li and playing down her husbands culpability. The head of Lis village, an official named Li Jie, called the dead woman cowardly for failing to report previous beatings. She could and should have saved herself by saying no to domestic violence, he said after her death. She should have reported abuse to the village council or the All-China Womens Federation, a Communist Party-backed body, he added. Both could have helped her protect her rights and interests. Yet there is little evidence that the council, the Federation, or other state-linked bodies would have helped her leave safely. Chinese law enforcement has taken a cavalier approach to investigating violence against women. In 2011, an American woman named Kim Lee went public with an account of beatings by her Chinese husband and the indifference of local police. In a 2014 essay, Kim recalled going to the police station after an attack, only to be told to go home and sort it out. As far as the police were concerned, she wrote, no crime had occurred. The Federation campaigned hard for the anti-domestic-violence bill, but also encourages women to get and stay married even, in some cases, when there is evidence of abuse. Asked about Lis death, the head of the Federations Luyi County office, Guo Yanfang, blamed Li for not reporting her husband, but also said she advises abused women to work things out with their spouses. If a man is not going to kill you or harm you, if he is good in nature but just being young and impulsive, a woman should try to win him back to save the family, she said. Isnt every family like this? she said. There is always smoke coming from the kitchen stove. Yan Zhihua, father of Li Hongxia, stands near the refrigerated coffin where the body of his daughter has lain since her death. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) In Luyi County, the legal system as a whole seemed to see domestic violence as both normal and inevitable. In statements to the court, the defendant, Zhang, and lawyer Cui Xiaolin played up the fact that the couple fought before the murder, presenting Lis death by strangulation as distinct from other more cold-blooded crimes. It was a crime of passion; the two had a dispute and then this thing happened, Cui said after the trial. Zhang, the confessed wife-beater and murderer, was not a particularly malicious man, he added. Cui argued that Zhang should be spared the harshest sentence because the couple had a 2-year-old daughter who needed him. She already lost her mom, she cant lose her dad, he told the court. Chinese lawyers who work closely with survivors of domestic violence said the case sent a mixed message. On one hand, the punishment was not light a sign, they hoped, that judges will take violence seriously, even violence against a wife. On the other, many involved showed a limited understanding of the ideas outlined in the anti-domestic-violence law. Lu Xiaoquan, a Beijing-based lawyer who specializes in domestic violence but was not involved in Lis case, said the level of knowledge about intimate-partner violence in China remains pathetic. A law, no matter how good it is, is only a piece of blank paper without implementation, he said. If the law cannot be effectively implemented, similar cases will appear. Thats exactly what Lis family feared. They worried that the murder of a poor woman in rural China would be swept away like dust, making it easy for the next abuser to strike. They wanted her death to change that she deserved as much. Although the family is glad Zhang will do time, they are outraged and demoralized by the legal process as a whole, said Lis older sister, Yan Jinjin, after they received a copy of the judgment. We dont think my sister got the justice she deserved, she said. Gu Jinglu in Luyi County and Jin Xin in Beijing contributed to this report. Read more: A womans gruesome hanging shocked Tibet but police have silenced all questions She was raped at 13. Her case has been in Indias courts for 11 years and counting. A girl accused her dad of rape. Then, his attorney noticed echoes of Fifty Shades of Grey. Womens underwear strewn on beach in Rio to protest Brazils rape culture Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world 18-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai and several others were injured in action by security forces against protesters at Nikas Arbal in Rajpora area of Pulwama district this afternoon, a police official said. By PTI: Kashmir continued to witness casualties with one more youth getting killed and several others getting injured in a clash between protesters and security forces even as curfew was in force in many parts of the valley to thwart a planned march by separatists. 18-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai and several others were injured in action by security forces against protesters at Nikas Arbal in Rajpora area of Pulwama district this afternoon, a police official said. advertisement WHAT HAD HAPPENED Ganai, with pellet injuries in his chest, was rushed to district hospital Pulwama where he was declared brought dead by the doctors, the official said. With this death, the toll in the ongoing 49-day unrest has reached 67. UNREST CONTINUES Meanwhile, curfew was today extended to several areas of Kashmir to foil a planned march by separatists to Eidgah in old city area. Curfew was extended to entire Srinagar district, Pulwama district and south Kashmir towns of Shopian and Anantnag. North Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Pattan and Handwara were also placed under curfew while restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley, police said. PARALYSED STATE Normal life remained paralysed for the 49th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq attempted to take out processions to Eidgah but both were detained just when they left their residences where they are under house arrest. Mirwaiz, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, tried to take out the march along with his supporters from his Nigeen residence but was taken into custody. He was later shifted to Chashma Shahi Guest House. Geelani, chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, was also taken into custody as he tried to defy the house arrest orders, a police official said. ALSO READ: Syria on Kashmir issue: India has the right to solve it in any manner Mehboobas makeover: From promoting soft separatism to becoming a pro-Kashmir leader Kashmir unrest: Respect jawans, we are deliberating use of pellet guns, Rajnath tells Kashmiri youths --- ENDS --- advertisement Turkeys incursion into Syria is deepening tensions between two major U.S.-backed groups, potentially setting up a conflict that could undermine Washingtons efforts to eradicate the Islamic States presence in Syria. A focal point of those animosities is the strategic Syrian town of Manbij, nestled on the western side of the Euphrates River. The Kurds wrested it from the Islamic State this month. Turkey and the Syrian rebels it supports fear that the takeover is a prelude to the Kurds expanding their reach further in Syria. On Thursday, under U.S. pressure, the Kurdish forces, known by the acronym YPG, declared that they had pulled out of the predominantly Arab town. The announcement came hours after Turkish tanks and special forces units, backed by U.S. and Turkish fighter jets, crossed the border and helped Syrian rebels to seize the city of Jarabulus from the Islamic State. But in interviews Friday, Syrian Arab and ethnic Turkmen rebels backed by the United States and Turkey said the Kurds were still in control of Manbij, and they vowed to liberate it. The Turkish military has bombed targets around the town, 25 miles south of Jarabulus, apparently convinced that the Kurds have not followed through on their promise to leave or that they seek to return. "Our concern has been the fact that the YPG has a proven track record of forcibly displacing non-Kurds," a senior Turkish official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as per protocol. 1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See a Syrian towns celebration after its liberation from ISIS View Photos After the Islamic State is pushed out of the northern Syrian town of Manbij, its residents celebrate by cutting off their beards and lifting their veils. Caption After the Islamic State is pushed out of the northern Syrian town of Manbij, its residents celebrate by cutting off their beards and lifting their veils. Aug. 12, 2016 Women react after being evacuated by Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters from the Islamic State-controlled neighborhood of Manbij, in Syrias Aleppo Governorate. The SDF has said the Islamic State was using civilians as human shields. Rodi Said/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue. On Saturday, Turkey said it launched more airstrikes against Kurdish forces north of Manbij, while U.S. and Turkey-backed Syrian rebels battled fighters aligned with the Kurds near Jarabulus. By nightfall, tensions had ratcheted up. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that a Kurdish rocket struck two Turkish tanks, killing a soldier and injuring three others south of Jarabulus, marking Turkeys first casualties in the offensive and, potentially, a widening of the war. Tenuous coalition The animosities threaten to pit two groups of U.S.-aided forces the CIA- and Pentagon-backed Syrian Arab and Turkmen rebels and the Pentagon-backed Kurdish forces against one another, potentially taking their attention away from fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. It also illustrates the challenges the United States faces in coordinating this array of armed groups, beset by ethnic and territorial rivalries as well as different agendas, on an increasingly complex, multisided battlefield. To be sure, Syrian rebels and Kurdish forces have regularly fought one another elsewhere in Syria. But they have both been battling the Islamic State, albeit on separate fronts. Now their conflict could expand into new areas, as Turkeys incursion transforms Syrias military landscape. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a well-known Britain-based activist group, said that Kurdish forces and Syrian rebels engaged in skirmishes Wednesday night around several villages between Jarabulus and Manbij. On Saturday, Turkish warplanes struck the Kurdish targets near the village of Al-Amarna, five miles south of Jarabulus, as Syrian rebels clashed with fighters of the Jarabulus Military Council, which was recently set up by the Kurdish forces. Many observers say Manbij could once again become a front line. We are still waiting to see if they are going to retreat back to east of the Euphrates, said Ahmed Othman, the commander of an ethnic Turkmen force within the U.S.-supported Free Syrian Army, referring to the Kurds. If not, we will have to push them back by force. The Kurds say they handed over their positions to a local military council in Manbij made up largely of Arabs. But the body is perceived by the Syrian rebels to be controlled by the Kurdish forces. On Friday, the Kurdish spokesman for the council said it would confront any Turkish-backed rebels entering their town. We will defend ourselves, said Shervan Derwish, who has also served as the spokesman for Kurdish forces who fought off Islamic State combatants in a famous battle in the Syrian town of Kobane last year. Those guys are here to serve Turkeys agenda, not the Syrian revolutions goals. Nizar Mehdi, a journalist and activist from Manbij, said relatives and friends in the town told him that Kurdish forces were still in the area and operating from bases. A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the record, said that while Kurdish commanders and most of their fighters had withdrawn to the east of the Euphrates, a smaller number of Kurdish forces remain within Manbij. They are combing the city, he said, for explosives left by the Islamic State and seeking to ensure that militants do not return. They fought very long and hard to take the city, and we want to make sure theres a hold force in place to make sure that ISIL doesnt reinfiltrate, the official said. The official acknowledged that there had been tension between Kurdish and Arab fighters in the area but played down its significance. This is a pretty standard feature of coalition warfare, he said. He said the United States was working to defuse friction in part by reminding everyone of who the real problem is here, which is ISIL. U.S. involvement This year the Pentagon added about 250 Special Operations forces to bolster a smaller force already in northeastern Syria. U.S. officials said their principal mission was to oversee the recruitment and training of more Arabs for the fight against the Islamic State, apparently to help make the Kurds not appear as an invading force. But U.S. Special Forces have also been accompanying Kurdish fighters on some of the front lines, including during the battle for Manbij. The Pentagons backing of these forces collectively called the Syrian Democratic Forces and dominated by the YPG, which in Kurdish stands for Peoples Protection Units has irritated Turkey. Tensions have increased as Kurdish forces expanded their areas of control in Syria in recent months, moving closer to zones controlled by rebels backed by the United States and Ankara, Turkeys capital. Many observers say one of Turkeys main objectives in the offensive, code-named Euphrates Shield, is to stop the Kurds from gaining territory in Syria. The Turkish government has long confronted a restive Kurdish minority within its borders, and it sees efforts by Kurds in nearby countries to increase their reach as a security threat. The Syrian Kurdish rebels have ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which fought a bloody war against the Turkish military for decades. In the past, Turkey has considered creating a buffer zone that would allow the Syrian opposition to better fight Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime as well as the Islamic State. Such a zone would also lead to the creation of a safe area that could allow more than 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to return home. Whether this is a goal of the current offensive remains unknown. What is clear, though, is that Ankara seeks to block Kurdish aspirations to unify two Kurdish-controlled enclaves along Turkeys border in northern Syria, which Turkey fears could also embolden the PKK inside its soil. Other terrorist elements On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Istanbul that Turkey will continue operations [in Syria] until we fully guarantee security of life and property of our citizens and the security of our border. We will continue until the Islamic State and other terrorist elements are taken out, he said. Other top officials have openly noted that Turkeys objectives include curbing Kurdish territorial expansion in Syria. Turkeys defense minister, Fikri Isik, said the operation has two main goals, including securing the border and preventing Kurdish forces from reaching the area west of the Euphrates. Our strategic priority is preventing [the Kurds] from joining their east and west cantons in Syria, Isik said in an interview Thursday with Turkeys NTV network. Syrian rebels are continuing to secure Jarabulus as more Turkish tanks have rumbled over the border to assist them. Teams have been scouring neighborhoods for land mines and improvised explosive devices left behind by the Islamic State. Others have been digging trenches, fortifying the city for any future attacks. We want to prevent any enemy advances, and by enemies we mean ISIS and the YPG, said Abu Ibrahim, another Free Syrian Army commander, referring to the Kurds. Everyone knows what ISIS is, but the YPG is trying to divide Syria, and that is also not acceptable. Missy Ryan in Washington, Zakaria Zakaria in Gaziantep, Turkey, and Liz Sly in Beirut contributed to this report. Read more: Ignoring Turkey, U.S. backs Kurds in drive against ISIS in Syria Turkeys Syria offensive is as much about the Kurds as ISIS The Middle Easts alphabet soup of Kurds, explained Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Police in Bangladesh killed three suspected militants in a shootout Saturday morning, including the Canadian citizen considered to have been a key organizer of the deadly terrorist attack on a cafe last month. Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, 30, was among those killed during an exchange of gunfire in the Narayanganj neighborhood near the capital of Dhaka, according to Monirul Islam, chief of the counterterrorism unit. Islam said police received a tip that a small group of militants had been sheltered in a residential building in the neighborhood and that they cordoned off the area just after midnight, with the two sides exchanging gunfire. The suspects were killed by a special operations team at about 10 a.m., he said, and police found grenades, pistols and AK-22 assault rifles at the apartment. Chowdhury, 30, was a naturalized Canadian citizen who graduated from the University of Windsor in 2011, officials said. He returned to Bangladesh in late 2013 from the United Arab Emirates. Officials have said that Chowdhury helped the attackers with safe houses and weaponry, and accompanied them as they made their way to the upscale Dhaka cafe-bakery on the evening of July 1. Ultimately, militants killed at least 22 people, including several foreigners and two police officers, in the overnight siege. Islam said Chowdhurys slaying was a major milestone because he was responsible for radicalizing the youths involved in the cafe attack as well as others who attacked worshipers July 7 at an Eid celebration. This is a significant progress for our counterterrorism drive because Tamim was responsible for collecting finances and later distributing them, recruiting and radicalizing members of elite families, Islam said. Authorities said Chowdhury is a leader of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, a new branch of the domestic terrorism outfit that produced the cafe attackers and is affiliated with the Islamic State. Since 2013, authorities say, more than 50 terrorist attacks have been carried out by extremists in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people. Those include killings of secular bloggers and publishers by machete-wielding assailants as well as the slayings of several foreigners, gay rights activists and members of minority religious groups. Although the Islamic State and al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for many of those attacks, officials in the country had long denied that global terrorist networks had carried out the carnage, blaming local militants. After the sophisticated operation at the Holey Artisan Bakery, however, they have cast a wide net to search for dozens of missing Bangladeshi men who may have been radicalized overseas. Secretary of State John F. Kerry is set to travel to the country Monday to discuss cooperation on a variety of issues, including security. Earlier this month, authorities in Dhaka had announced a $25,000 reward for Chowdhury as well as another man, Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque, the leader of the local militant group that carried out machete-hacking deaths of bloggers and other intellectuals. The safe house where Chowdhury was killed Saturday could potentially provide a treasure trove of information for investigators about his activities and plans, according to terrorism analyst Animesh Roul, executive director of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict in New Delhi. More important, Chowdhurys death provides a key window in a growing threat for Bangladesh: affluent members of the diaspora who were radicalized overseas returning home to Bangladesh to wage jihad in their home country. Roul said that Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable because of its large diaspora in such places as Britain and Canada. Chowdhury was radicalized among other young men in Calgary and Ontario, Roul said. Nibras Islam, a student at a Malaysian university, was one of the Dhaka cafe attackers. Authorities in 2014 arrested a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin in Dhaka suspected of recruiting for the Islamic State. This should be a major concern for Bangladesh but has been unfortunately ignored by authorities for a long time, Roul said. Gowen reported from New Delhi. Read more: In wake of cafe attack, Bangladesh fears its missing sons are being radicalized overseas They took this beautiful soul: Friends remember victim of terror attack in Bangladesh Three students of U.S. colleges among the deaf in Bangladesh attack Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (center) holds a copy of the final text of the peace agreement with the FARC guerrillas as he goes to the national congress in Bogota on August 25. (Ivan Valencia/AFP/Getty Images) In an era of frustrating, if not failed, U.S. policy interventions abroad, the Colombian peace deal announced last week offers the possibility of a rare victory for American diplomacy. It would be a validation of Plan Colombia, the U.S. counternarcotics and security-aid package that has sent roughly $10 billion to Bogota since 2000, tipping the governments fight against the Marxist FARC insurgents. The accord finalized Wednesday would convert the rebels from one of the worlds most powerful drug- trafficking groups to a legal political party with a sworn commitment to ending both the 52-year war and its narcotics trade. More broadly, the deal would be a bookend to the long, bloody history of armed insurgency in Latin America, affirming democracy as the only viable political system in the region. The agreement was forged in Cuba, of all places, the site of Fidel Castros leftist revolution, which was imitated by so many others. This is a transformational moment for our hemisphere, Bernard Aronson, the U.S. envoy to the peace talks, said in an interview. It is a final repudiation of political violence as a means of changing governments. Or at least that is the way its supposed to go. The fate of the deal rests with Colombian voters, who will go to the polls Oct. 2 to approve or reject it. The accords are unquestionably more popular abroad backed by Pope Francis, President Obama and seemingly every leader in Latin America than they are in Colombia, where opinion surveys are mixed. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santoss single-minded, six-year pursuit of a deal with the FARC or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has left him politically exhausted and weak in the polls. His archrival, popular former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a no campaign under the banner Paz si, pero no asi, (Peace yes, but not like this). [The paradox of Colombias peace deal for the FARC] Santos has told Colombians that the deal is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Its failure would be such a thorough repudiation of Santos that few can imagine how he might recover before his term expires in 2018. His final push will be big, and his peace deal seems to have the weight of history behind it, coming in the afterglow of Obamas historic Cuba trip in March to bury the Cold War once and for all in the hemisphere. On Wednesday, a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is scheduled to land in Santa Clara, the Cuban city where the remains of revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara rest in a mausoleum. It will be the first commercial route between the United States and the communist island in more than 50 years. Radical leftism is fading across Latin America. In Colombias neighbor Venezuela, the petroleum-backed Bolivarian revolution led by late president Hugo Chavez has broken down since his 2013 death and the crash of global oil prices. Today, U.S. diplomats worry more about Venezuelas descent into chaos than the regional spread of its socialist, anti- imperialist message. A pro-American technocrat, Mauricio Macri, recently won the presidency in Argentina, replacing a leftist leader. Perus presidential election in June was won by a former World Bank economist. Now comes the test of whether Colombians are ready to accept former guerrilla terrorists as a political movement with representatives in Congress. Plan Colombia A rejection of the peace accord by voters also would be a failure for the Obama administration, which has given Santos vociferous support and ample aid. The cornerstone of the relationship, Plan Colombia, is widely credited with helping the government turn the tide against the FARC. When Plan Colombia was launched in the late 1990s, the country had one of the worlds highest homicide rates and the FARCs guerrilla armies had grown to nearly 20,000 troops, controlling as much as a third of Colombian territory. With U.S. military hardware, training and other assistance, the Colombian government reduced the rebels ranks by more than half, driving them into the countrys most remote corners, particularly during Uribes 2002-2010 presidency. The U.S. government has encouraged the peace negotiations, and Washington backed off efforts to extradite FARC commanders facing criminal charges in the United States in the interest of helping the talks succeed. Under the terms of the accords, FARC commanders whose long rap sheets include murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and other charges can avoid prison if they confess to their crimes through a truth-and-reconciliation process and make amends to victims. The Colombian government has agreed not to extradite them. But that would not absolve them of pending indictments in U.S. federal courts for drug trafficking, kidnapping and other crimes. In effect, this means that FARC commanders with Interpol warrants may not be able to leave Colombia without fear of arrest, even after fulfilling the terms of the peace accords, said a senior U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the issue remains sensitive. The official also categorically ruled out the possibility of a pardon for high-ranking FARC leader Ricardo Palmera, known as Simon Trinidad, who is serving a 60-year term at a maximum-security federal prison in Colorado for his role in the kidnapping of three U.S. government contractors in 2003. Its not going to happen, the official said, while conceding that Palmera could be eligible for improved conditions as a result of his model behavior as a prisoner. Coca production boom [Whats in Colombias peace deal with the FARC?] The Obama administration also has muted its concern about booming coca production in areas under rebel control. Colombias coca crop has doubled in size over the past two years, and the country now harvests more than Peru and Bolivia the second- and third-largest producers combined. The surge amounts to a major setback to U.S. counternarcotics policy, but American diplomats insist it is a blip. Colombias illegal coca crop will shrink again if the peace deal sticks, they say. The U.S. ambassador to Colombia, Kevin Whitaker, said there are multiple complex reasons narcotics production has gone up, but the FARC remains the biggest factor. The FARC says theyre going to fix this and theyre going to get out of the business. Even if that happens as some percentage of the whole, there is going to be a better situation with respect to narcotics trafficking, Whitaker said. The history of peace-deal promises in Latin America is a muddy one. El Salvador is the cautionary tale. A generation after its leftist guerrillas agreed to a peace agreement, the battle-scarred Central American nation is one of the worlds most violent, with turf battles raging between gangs. Colombia, a resource-rich country of 50 million that is a major U.S. trade partner, is different. It has one of Latin Americas most productive economies, despite its internal strife. Perhaps the peace deals biggest selling point to ordinary Colombians is the possibility that it will kick the economy into overdrive, by opening conflict zones to new investment and infrastructure projects. But whether that will occur is uncertain. Huge parts of Colombia are effectively cut off from the country and the world, said Shannon K. ONeil, a trade analyst and Latin America expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. Part of the reason the FARC and other groups have been able to hang on for so long in these areas is they are impenetrable. If companies cant get their products to market, they wont invest, even if places are now safer, she said. Until these parts of Colombia become better connected to the rest of the nation and the world, the only profitable businesses may continue to be illegal ones. Obama is seeking to boost aid to Colombia for next year from $300 million to nearly $500 million, with funds for removing land mines, replacing illegal crops and other rural development projects. Read more Peace with FARC may be coming, so Colombias farmers are on a cocaine binge The staggering toll of Colombias war with FARC rebels, in numbers An end to Colombias war seems close except in rebel territory Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Planned Parenthood has announced it will close its clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin, the only center providing abortion services for the central and northern part of the state, due to security concerns. This leaves only the clinics in Milwaukee and Madison to provide pregnancy terminations for the 1.3 million women of childbearing age in Wisconsin. Each center is over 100 miles (161 kilometers) from the city of Appleton. Wisconsins state health care program does not fund abortions, per federal law. The state does offer a family planning waiver, which is available to all low-income women. This waiver is commonly used at clinics like Planned Parenthood to ensure contraception and womens health needs are met for free. Planned Parenthood offers all of their services on a sliding-scale fee basis. Planned Parenthood has been a target of right-wing attacks by the media, politicians and through individual violent attacks. Murders of abortion doctors and intimidation tactics have been carried out by vigilantes nationwide, most recently in November last year when a gunman opened fire in a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing three people. Legislatures in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona and Wisconsin have attempted to defund Planned Parenthood in an effort to block the abortion services being provided. The majority of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are for womens health, including breast and cervical cancer screening. The importance of free and low-cost reproductive health services to poor and working class women cannot be understated. Moreover, the right to an abortion is constitutionally protected under the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision of the US Supreme Court. Official poverty rates in the northern counties of Wisconsin range from 9 to 15 percent, with child poverty over 20 percent. The share of children in the state receiving free or reduced cost school lunches is over 40 percent. Food insecurity is high, with about 20 percent of households needing Foodshare (food stamps) and 16 percent needing to visit food pantries, according to the 2013 WestCAP Community Needs report, a survey of social conditions in several northern Wisconsin counties. The economy in northern Wisconsin has historically been more depressed than the rest of the state. While agriculture enriched the southern part of Wisconsin, forestry and mining have been the dominant industries of the north. In recent years the forestry and paper industry as well as mining have seen significant job losses and negative growth. The most recent economic boost to Northern Wisconsin has been the rightly maligned frac sand mining industry. But with the decline in global oil prices, sand mining companies have laid off over 500 workers in northern Wisconsin since 2015. Decades of take-backs have gutted the social gains of the 20th century in Wisconsin and across the US. Foodshare (food stamps), Medicaid, welfare, unemployment benefits and other government programs providing support for the poor have been purposefully rendered impotent. The Democrats and Republicans have been united in clawing back social gains, including abortion rights, which were enshrined the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. In that same year, the Hyde Amendment banned federal Medicaid funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or where the mothers life is in danger. The reactionary measure has been renewed in subsequent years, including in the Affordable Care Act. Democratic President Bill Clintons infamous welfare reform of 1996 cut off large numbers of single mothers from welfare cash assistance and forced them into the workforce. Welfare reform also introduced substantial funding for abstinence only education in public schools, leaving many young people clueless about contraception and unprepared for social reality. Even more restrictive conditions have been applied to abortion rights at the state level, including mandatory waiting periods for pregnancy termination, counseling sessions to pressure and manipulate women into not having an abortion, and requirements for clinics to have physicians with hospital admitting privileges. These tactics have not reduced the national abortion rate, nor have they increased patient safety for outpatient procedures widely regarded as safe. Despite their complicity in rolling back abortion rights, the Democratic Party has proclaimed itself the only means for defending womens rights. The Democrats peddle the lie that as the first woman president, Hillary Clinton, a candidate overwhelmingly supported by Wall Street and increasingly by so-called mainstream Republicans, would advance the social and economic position of all women. The hypocrisy has only intensified since Clinton picked as her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, a conservative Democrat who has declared himself personally anti-abortion. The right to abortion and reproductive health care is not fundamentally a gender but a class issue. The policies of the Obama administration, foremost Obamacare, have not secured the reproductive rights of poor and working class women but have only put them further out of reach. The return of Germany to an aggressive foreign policy is being accompanied by the racist stigmatising of entire sections of the population. Islamophobic campaigns against the burka and other religious symbols are combined with attacks on Turkish citizens in Germany who allegedly fail to recognise German values. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) intensified the agitation on Tuesday. She told the Ruhr Nachrichten, We expect those of Turkish origin who have been living in Germany for a long time develop a high degree of loyalty to our country. She thus made into government policy the deeply antidemocratic demand for loyalty towards the state raised by numerous politicians for weeks. Volker Kauder, CDU/CSU (Christian Social Union) parliamentary group leader, declared at the beginning of August that citizens of Turkish origin had to adapt to our customs. The trigger was a demonstration of tens of thousands of people in late July against the attempted coup in Turkey on July 15. The German government sees its interests in the Middle East threatened by a consolidation of the authoritarian regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and responded with bans and a hysterical campaign against Turkish Germans. The campaign recalls the darkest chapters of German history. An aggressive German foreign policy has always been accompanied by the stigmatising of entire ethnic or cultural groups suspected of making a pact with the enemy. The industrial annihilation of European Jewry was in part justified by the Nazis on the basis of their alleged support for the Soviet Union. Under conditions where the political coordinates in the Middle East are shifting rapidly and German imperialism is re-emerging on the world stage, Turkish and Arab minorities are in its sights. Militarism abroad finds its corollary in racism domestically. The editor of the right-wing Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Berthold Kohler, directly took up racist conceptions from the past in a comment on Merkels remarks on loyalty, stating that Germany had nothing to offer disloyal immigrants in Germany. Kohler enthused over how loyalty is being promoting in Germany and that foreigners are the target of agitation. In the past, one would unfortunately have been accused of a crypto-fascist violation of human rights. Since at that time, social engineers were supposed to heal the all-too German essence with multiculturalism, he wrote. This is a revealing choice of words. Apparently the FAZ editor is appealing for the degree of openness and integration of other cultures in Germany which has taken place under the conception of multiculturalism, to be replaced by the slogan Germanys essence shall heal the world, the slogan which previously served as propaganda for German imperialism in preparing the First World War. Kohler leaves no doubt about this interpretation. According to him, indigenous Germans should not adapt to the laws and customs of other cultures. Indigenous essentially means born into and is most frequently used in reference to the oppressed peoples of the Americas. That Kohler employs this concept has a clear biological connotation. His definition of an allegedly homogeneous German group, which he counterpoises to immigrants, is explicit racism unseen with such clarity in modern mainstream German media. On the basis of this racist concept, he demands that all those not of German origin accept the basic values and basic laws of the German community. Germany has nothing to offer those who do not want to do so, especially when behind this refusal [stands] contempt for Western values. The question inevitably arises: what basic German does Kohler mean? Is it the racist nostrums of the Nazis? Is it the historic crimes of German imperialism in the First and above all Second World War? Or the bombardment of Yugoslavia, the massacre of civilians, including women and children, in Kunduz, or the backing of a fascist coup in Ukraine that cost the lives of thousands of people? The values to which Kohler and Merkel are referring become clear when one examines the governments strategy papers, or several articles authored by the FAZ editor. In February last year, Kohler demanded a nuclear deterrent in order to prevent Russia from taking over Kiev. He baldly called for the west to be ready to escalate, and in the worst case faster than the Russians. In the new White Paper on defence policy, the German government confirmed it will strengthen its armed forces and intervene to secure the land, air and sea crossings, as well as cyber-, information- and outer-space. In addition, it seeks to facilitate the domestic deployment of the Bundeswehr. This imperialist policy confronts broad opposition from the majority of the population. This is why the campaign for loyalty towards the state is now being waged. It is aimed not only at stoking racism and playing off groups against each other, but also to establish authoritarian forms of rule. Militarism and democracy are incompatible. This was summed up in another comment published by the FAZ on Thursday. In it, Jasper von Altenbockum, the papers domestic affairs editor, argued that citizenship existed because the state has to know who supports it and, in extreme cases, on whom it can rely. If this is irrelevant to many citizens or if they even oppose it in the name of freedom, culture or religion, a creeping anarchy threatens. Altenbockum therefore recommends closing Germanys borders, reintroducing compulsory military service and sacrificing freedoms for security. Along with German militarism, the traditions of the authoritarian state and chauvinism are re-emerging. The Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (Socialist Equality Party, PSG) firmly rejects such authoritarian and militarist policies. The loyalty of class-conscious workers does not belong to the state, but to their brothers and sisters in Germany and all over the world. It is expressed in a joint struggle against the ruling elites preparations for war. Actress Lupita Nyong'o attends the 70th Annual Tony Awards at Beacon Theatre on June 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage) Call it a match made in sartorial heaven. Oscar winner Lupita Nyongo has been dating GQ Style fashion editor Mobolaji Dawodu for six months, a Dawodu pal reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. The Kenyan-raised actress, 33, and the tastemaker his website says hes informed the visual language of cosmopolitan life and style for more than a decade were introduced through mutual friends in the fashion world, adds the friend. Sunday A photo posted by mobolajidawodu (@mobolajidawodu) on Jun 12, 2016 at 9:48am PDT About Last Night A photo posted by mobolajidawodu (@mobolajidawodu) on May 3, 2016 at 7:37am PDT PHOTOS: Lupita Nyong'os Best Red Carpet Looks And they share a passion for clothing. Nyongo has posed for Miu Miu and Tiffany & Co. and favors pieces from Dior, Givenchy and Gucci. In 2015, she told Vogue her first fashion memory was wearing a very 80s red cord miniskirt with suspender straps when she was 5. From then on, she put a lot of thought into her outfits. Fairytale Princess! Lupita Nyong'os Oscar Night in Pictures Presentation is extremely important in Kenya, she told the mag. You dress formally. You cant just wear flip-flops. During twice-monthly visits to the salon in Nairobi, she continued, I read American, British, and a few African magazines. Then I would design my own clothes. She and Dawodu, who has a young daughter, are clearly on the same fashion page. In a June 12 Instagram he shared with his nearly 6,000 Instagram followers, they posed in coordinated denim and orange-hued outfits. PHOTOS: Cutest Couples at the Met Gala 2016 Since becoming Instagram official, Dawodu, formerly an editor at Fader magazine, Detailsand Style.com, has let pals in on his relationship. Says the friend, Hes discreetly told people they are dating. For more on their budding romance, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now! Cant get enough of Us? Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter packed with the latest celeb news, hot pics and more! A fan of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan from Pakistan was arrested after he made deer skin sandals for the actor. By India Today Web Desk: Admiration for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has landed a Pakistani shoemaker in jail. Jehangir Khan invited trouble after he boasted to the media that he was planning to send Peshawari sandals made of deer skin to Shah Rukh Khan. According to sources, a cousin of Shah Rukh who lives in Peshawar reportedly asked the shoemaker to make two pairs of Peshawari sandals for the actor. advertisement "Apparently Jahangir Khan is a big fan of Shah Rukh and decided to send the Bollywood star a special gift, Peshawari sandals made out of deer skin, from his side," a local police official said. ARRESTED AFTER WILDLIFE DEPT FILED A COMPLAINT According to the police, soon after the news spread, the wildlife department officials contacted them and filed a complaint. Jahangir Khan was arrested following the complaint. A wildlife official in Peshawar said that the probe is on to confirm whether deer skin was used by Jahangir in making sandals. According to the officials, if found guilty Jehangir will be penalised and face prosecution under the wildlife laws. With inputs from PTI --- ENDS --- ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady reportedly has gotten an ultimatum. According to US Weekly, Bradys wife, Gisele Bundchen, has informed him that either he leaves football to spend time with the family or she is gone for good. Its not specified whether he must leave now or next month or after the current year ends. Brady [more] BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) told a German newspaper that he expected a maximum of 300,000 refugees to arrive in Germany this year. "We're preparing for 250,000 to 300,000 refugees this year," BAMF head Frank-Juergen Weise told Bild am Sonntag newspaper in comments due to be published on Sunday. Germans tend to use the word "refugee" to refer to both refugees and migrants who are seeking protection but do not have refugee status. Weise added that if more people were to come than estimated, his office would come under pressure but suggested he was not worried about such a scenario, saying it was instead likely that fewer than 300,000 would come this year. Weise said Germany took in fewer migrants in 2015 than previously thought because some were registered twice and others had moved on to other destinations. "We'll present the exact number soon but it's certain that less than one million people came to Germany last year," he said. It had widely been believed that 1.1 million migrants entered Europe's biggest economy in 2015 after fleeing war and poverty in their home countries. Weise said it would take a long time and a lot of money to integrate the newcomers into the labor market. He said 70 percent of the migrants who had already arrived were fit for employment but added that the majority of them would be dependent on basic social security provision before they manage to get jobs. He estimated that around 10 percent of the new arrivals had university degrees while around 40 percent do not have formal vocational training but do have practical work experience, he said. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Bernard Orr) Up-And-Coming Designers Up-And-Coming Designers Courtesy of Ganni With the new season fast approaching, were champing at the bit to get our closets stocked with fall trends and It items. At the same time, were always on the lookout for under-the-radar finds that bring touches of individuality to the mix. Here, an inspiring crop of up-and-coming designers were totally into. From a Copenhagen-based contemporary brand on the rise to a New York fashion darling, six rising stars to know now. By Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's main opposition the Democratic Alliance (DA) called on Friday for an urgent parliamentary meeting to work out how to prevent the state airline from missing payments to its creditors and being grounded by international partners. Hong Kong's tax authorities this week threatened to ground South African Airlines if the struggling airliner did not provide financial statements by Sept. 6. SAA has failed to submit financial statements for the past two years, with results for 2015/16 held back by Treasury's refusal to grant the loss-making carrier 5 billion rand ($356 million) in additional guarantees. If SAA does not file an earnings report it cannot get government guarantees and ensure payment for services in airports, including Hong Kong. In a statement late on Friday, the airline said it was able to and continued to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is leading a turnaround strategy that includes a new board, asked parliament last month to push back the release of SAA's 2015 earnings report to September as his department considers whether to grant the company the money it needs to stay afloat. Marred by controversy and financial mismanagement, the airline has been surviving on state guarantees of around 14.4 billion rand and has been singled out amongst other state companies by ratings agencies as a major risk to the country's investment grade status. The DA said this week's abrupt resignation of the carrier's audit head Yakhe Kwinana, a pending 250 million rand loan repayment, and an impasse between SAA Chairwoman Dudu Myeni and the finance minister were pushing the state firm to an almost certain collapse. "Even worse is that SAA's 14.4 billion rand in government guarantees has been completely depleted, leaving it without any options," DA Member of Parliament Alf Lees said in a statement. "If a further bailout from government is to be avoided SAA must immediately be placed under business rescue," Lees, the deputy shadow finance minister, said, referring to a process to grant temporary protection from creditors. SAA said it was in talks with authorities to ensure it complies with regulations. "It is highly unlikely that there will be service interruptions in September and/or October anywhere on our route network, including Hong Kong, due to the grounding of our aircraft," the airline said. The Treasury under Gordhan and President Jacob Zuma have disagreed about government spending, including at loss-making state companies like SAA, analysts say. Widely respected Nhlanhla Nene was axed as finance minister in December just weeks after he vetoed a plan by Myeni to amend a cost-saving deal with the French manufacturer Airbus. 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. Gordhan's plan to save money at the carrier also includes cancelling unprofitable routes, but Zuma told a cheering and clapping SAA staff in May that the airline's board should be thinking about adding routes rather cancelling them. ($1 = 14.0555 rand) (Additional reporting by TJ Strydom; Editing by Susan Thomas) San Francisco (AFP) - US online retail titan Amazon, which has been accused of fostering a cutthroat workplace atmosphere, will try out teams that log 30-hour work weeks, the Washington Post reported on Friday. The employees will receive the same benefits as those putting in 40-hour weeks, but get three-quarters of the pay, according to the Post, which is owned by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos. Many people at Amazon already work part-time, but the program would be novel in that entire teams including managers would be scheduled for 30 hours weekly on the job, the Seattle-based company said in an informational session invitation posted online at eventbrite.com. "This initiative was created with Amazon's diverse workforce in mind and the realization that the traditional full-time schedule may not be a one-size-fits-all model," Amazon said in the post. "We want to create a work environment that is tailored to a reduced schedule and still fosters success and career growth." The Eventbrite post, first spotted by the Washington Post, was available online Friday. It was titled "Reinventing the Work-Life Ratio for Tech Talent." Amazon declined an AFP request for comment. A source with knowledge of the matter told AFP that the program was not intended for the entire company, but would involve just a handful of very small teams involved with designing some technical systems. Amazon has been criticized for its working conditions, especially at fulfillment centers where pressure is high to ship purchases to customers quickly and efficiently. The New York Times caused controversy last year with a story depicting almost Darwinian conditions at Amazon, with white collar workers competing to survive and sometimes weeping at their desks or going without sleep for days. Amazon rejected the portrayal, accusing the newspaper of having ignored or omitted key elements in its investigation. Anna Chlumsky and her husband, Shaun So, welcomed their second child, Clara Elizabeth, on Thursday, July 28, ET can confirm. The happy couple, who wed in 2008, are already parents to 3-year-old daughter Penelope Joan. WATCH: 'Veep' Star Anna Chlumsky Pregnant With Second Child Prior to giving birth, Chlumsky revealed one of her biggest pregnancy cravings. "With this pregnancy, I want Japanese food all the time," she told Carson Daly in May, "I want sushi!" Last year, the 35-year-old Veep star opened up to ET about motherhood and whether her daughter, Penelope, has changed her outlook on her breakout film, My Girl. "Not so much," she said. "It was three months of my life when I was 10. I think I have perspective on everything that has happened since that movie -- on childhood and being a kid. I think I'm applying my perspective to raising her. I don't necessarily think kids need to be professionals. And I felt that way before her and it'll just apply, I think." RELATED: 'Veep' Star Anna Chlumsky Still Practices Exercises Learned on 'My Girl' Chlumsky admitted she hasn't thought about whether she will watch her 1991 film with her daughter when she's old enough. "Possibly. I just so haven't even crossed that bridge yet," she said. "I'm just trying to figure out how much we're supposed to let her use the iPad." Related Articles Argh, sitting all day at the office is affecting your butt and not in a good way Argh, sitting all day at the office is affecting your butt and not in a good way Whether its for an office job, a home job, or studying, if you find yourself sitting for hours at a time, there is a chance you may be counteracting some of the hard work you put into your workout routines. Thats right: There is such a thing as office ass and it basically means that if youre spending a lot of time sitting on your bottom, it could lose some of its perk and you wont see all the glory of the hard work and exercise you put into toning your behind. giphy (46) What can you do to prevent this? As Abby Bales explains to the New York Post, the solution is pretty simple. The more you sit, the more you have the chance of developing a flatter booty, says Bales. So the first line of defense is to stand up more. Thats right: Literally getting up more can help. Bales suggests taking regular breaks and walking around your office for about five minutes every hour youre awake. In terms of more specific exercises, Bales suggests everyones favorite butt workout: squats. Mind you, office ass refers to basically the appearance of your butt. You, of course, still have the overall health benefits of your work outs and long walks, even if your office job is basically flattening your butt into a pancake. But hey, nothing is more important than embracing and loving your body, no matter what your behind looks like. The post Argh, sitting all day at the office is affecting your butt and not in a good way appeared first on HelloGiggles. By Revathi Rajeevan: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today responded to allegations that his government was killing stray dogs to end the dog menace in the state. He wrote a letter to advocate Prashant Bhushan who is all set to approach the Supreme Court against Kerala government. On Friday, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had criticized Kerala government saying that killing dogs is not the right solution to tackle the existing issue. The chief minister posted his response on his official Facebook page today. advertisement Here is the full text of the letter: Dear Shri. Prashant Bhushan, I am really surprised on seeing your remarks about the action being taken by the Government of Kerala to curb the ever increasing dog menace, which poses a grave threat to the public. It is rather unfortunate that even a person of your stature has been carried away by the misleading reports which seek to create the impression that the Govt, of Kerala is on a spree of culling and killing dogs as a whole, I would like to inform you that the truth stands far away from it. It is true that the government had convened a meeting of the officials of the concerned departments to discuss the ways in which the menace of stray dogs can be dealt with. The indiscriminate killing of dogs did not even figure in the discussions if the meeting. The meeting held following the death of an elderly woman due to dog bites decided to set up sterilizations camps for the ferocious dogs from 1st September onwards. It was specifically decided that the sterilization should be conducted only by qualified veterinarians, and that all the specifications such as separate shelter for each dog that undergoes surgery, follow up care and medication etc. should be complied with. It was also specified that the District Collectors should co-ordinate and supervise the comprehensive plan, strictly adhering to the spirit of the 1960 Act of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was also decided that the required number of veterinary doctors may be deployed for the project on contract basis in addition to the doctors attached to the Government Department of Animal Husbandry. A scheme was chalked out for the effective disposal of solid waste to curb the menace of stray dogs as well. It is unfair to conclude that the reports relating to the menace form part of 'paid news'. Reports are neither inflated nor planted. I am sure you will realize the fact if you find time to go through the newspaper reports from Kerala in the last one of two months. Rabid dogs are rattling people across the state and not a single day passes by without the unfortunate event of dog bites. A hapless woman of Neyyattinkara was bitten brutally and she succumbed to her injuries. Stray dogs breed fast and their numbers increase rapidly. They are aggressive and ferocious in packs and people cannot move out even at nights due to this menace. Consultations are also being planned to enact a policy in the state to effectively deal with this concern, in accordance with the rules and guidelines as laid forth by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the decrees issued by the Supreme Court in November 2015 and March 2016; bearing in mind the well being of animals as well as human beings. advertisement I am writing to you to put the record straight and to inform you that nothing undesirable is happening in the state, with regard to this issue. With regards, Pinarayi Vijayan --- ENDS --- Dhaka (AFP) - Bangladesh's prime minister said the nation was "free of another curse" Saturday after police stormed a militant hideout, shooting dead the suspected mastermind of an horrific attack on a cafe that killed 22 hostages. The bodies of three Islamist extremists were retrieved after police staged an hour-long gun battle with militants in Narayanganj, a city 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Dhaka, officers said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised police and intelligence agencies for the operation which killed Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian believed to have planned the attack. "The main mastermind of the Holey Artisan (attack) has been eliminated," Hasina told reporters at her office, referring to the Gulshan cafe incident. "The nation has become free of another curse," Hasina said, adding that the "elimination of the extremists" would bolster "people's confidence". The police raid came two days before US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in Bangladesh, the highest-ranked Western official to visit the South Asian nation since the attack. Officials said security issues, including Dhaka-Washington DC anti-terror cooperation, will feature during Kerry's talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart on Monday. Thirty-year-old Chowdhury, who returned from Canada in 2013, had earlier been named by police as the suspected mastermind of the attack on the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood. "The operation went on for an hour. We can see three dead bodies. They did not surrender. They threw four to five grenades at police and fired from AK 22 rifles," Bangladesh national police chief A.K.M Shahidul Hoque told reporters Saturday. "Three extremists were killed. Among them, one of the dead persons looked exactly like the photo of Tamim Chowdhury that we have," he said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege and of the five men who carried out the deadly assault and were shot dead at its finale. Story continues But police and the Bangladesh government rejected the IS claim, saying a new faction of homegrown militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) led by Chowdhury was behind the attack in which 20 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed along with two policemen. Police blame the JMB for the deaths of more than 80 foreigners and members of religious minorities over the last three years. "Tamim Chowdhury's chapter is closed here," Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters after visiting the site of the raid Saturday. He said other extremists were "very few" in number and face imminent arrest. A series of raids on suspected militant hideouts carried out with the Rapid Action Battalion elite security force have killed at least 24 extremists since the cafe attack. - Radicalisation efforts - Police on August 2 announced a two million taka ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of Chowdhury, who disappeared after the attack. Police say Chowdhury has led and financed efforts to radicalise young Muslims since returning from Canada three years ago. His role in fostering extremism was revealed during the interrogation of Rakibul Hasan, 25, who was arrested in a raid on a militant hideout in July in which nine extremists were killed in Dhaka. A police report into that raid said Chowdhury and others gave Hasan and other militants "money, explosives and weapons" and "trained and advised" them. Bangladesh has been reeling from a deadly wave of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of the country's religious minorities. In June more than 11,000 people were arrested in a bid to quash a spate of brutal murders of secular writers, gay rights activists and religious minorities. Both IS and a branch of Al-Qaeda have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Bangladeshi authorities have rejected the claim, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third-largest Muslim-majority nation. Critics say Prime Minister Hasina's administration is in denial about the nature of the threat posed by Islamist extremists and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. By Serajul Quadir DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh security forces killed three Islamist militants on Saturday, including a Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen accused of masterminding an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, police said. The militants were cornered in a hideout on the outskirts of the capital and, having refused to surrender, were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, Monirul Islam, the head of the Dhaka police counterterrorism unit, told Reuters. He initially said four militants had been killed but later revised the number to three. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit on Monday to discuss security after a series of killings targeting liberals and religious minorities in the mostly Muslim country. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault on the cafe in a posh neighborhood where militants singled out non-Muslims and foreigners, killing Italians, Japanese, an American and an Indian. The government has consistently denied the presence in the country of any transnational militant organization such as al Qaeda or Islamic State. But police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, was involved in organizing the cafe attack. The scale of that attack and the targeting of foreigners has cast a shadow over foreign investment in the poor South Asian economy, whose $28 billion garments export industry is the worlds second largest. This operation definitely will uphold confidence and the image of Bangladesh, said Bangladeshs prime minister Sheikh Hasina. She told a news conference: With this killing (Tamim) one curse has been removed from our shoulders." MASTERMINDS DEATH The suspected mastermind killed in Saturdays raid was identified as Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a 30-year-old Canadian citizen born in Bangladesh. Analysts say Islamic State in April identified Chowdhury as its national commander. "According to our evidence we are now sure that Tamim was among the three killed, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters. So the chapter of Tamim has ended here." Story continues Khan said Chowdhury was one of the main suppliers of funds and arms for several recent attacks. He had returned to Bangladesh in October 2013 via Abu Dhabi, A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, the inspector general of police, said. The raid followed a tip off from the landlord of the house where the militants were staying, Hoque told reporters. The landlord said the militants had described themselves as businessmen in the medical trade. Police spokesman Masudur Rahman said the fingerprints of two associates of Tamim who were also killed on Saturday have been sent to the election commission to confirm their identity. "Police collected evidence from the house though they (the associates) destroyed a laptop and some other documents, he told Reuters. They rented the house earlier this month and police recovered several grenades, arms and bullets. Last month police offered a 2 million taka ($26,000) reward for information enabling them to detain Tamim. Police have also detained two men who had been among the survivors of the restaurant attack. Hasnat Karim, who holds dual British and Bangladeshi citizenship, and Tahmid Hasib Khan, a student of Toronto University, had been dining separately in the restaurant. A lawyer for Karim, a 47-year-old engineer, has said his client is innocent. Relatives of Khan, 22, say he is innocent too. Earlier this month, security forces arrested four women suspected of being members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh. (Reporting by Serajul Quadir; writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore/Ruth Pitchford) Beirut (AFP) - At least 15 civilians were killed in a barrel bomb attack on a rebel-held district of Syria's Aleppo city on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. The Britain-based group said regime aircraft had dropped two explosive-packed barrel bombs several minutes apart on the Maadi district of eastern Aleppo. The strikes hit "near a tent where people were receiving condolences for those killed this week in the neighbouring district of Bab al-Nayrab," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. "There was a first barrel bomb and when people gathered and the ambulances arrived, a second barrel struck and there were more deaths," an AFP reporter in the rebel-held part of the city said. "One ambulance was completely destroyed," he added, citing the local civil defence unit. The Observatory said dozens more were injured in the two strikes and the death toll was expected to rise. Saturday's deadly strikes come after 15 people, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on Bab al-Nayrab on Thursday. The local Shabha Press news agency said 23 people were killed in Saturday's attack, and published photos showing several of the dead, including a man who appeared to have been riding a motorbike at the time of the strike. Most of his bloodsoaked body lay on one side of the overturned bike, but his severed leg lay on the other side. 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. Syria's regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs -- crude, explosive devices -- on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians. Other parties to the conflict are not known to have used the weapons. (Reuters) - Roberto Bautista Agut will meet fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in Winston-Salem Open final after he outplayed Serbian Viktor Troicki 7-5 6-7(2) 6-2 in a dramatic semi-final that lasted more than two hours in steamy afternoon heat. Bautista Agut appeared to be cruising after taking the first set and racing to 5-0 in the second. In a sudden transformation, Troicki started going for his shots, hitting winner after winner as he reeled off five straight games and dominated the tiebreak to even the match at a set apiece. A short break between sets seemed to help Bautista Agut, who steadied the ship and served strongly in the final set to move within sight of his fourth title of the year. "I was a bit tight when trying to close out the match," Bautista Agut told reporters. "It's a normal thing, though. Everyone is a bit nervous when trying to win the match. "I was very disappointed to lose the second set after leading 5-0. But the good thing is that I was able to recover and set aside the bad feelings in the third set. I work hard on the mental side of my game and I think it is one of my strengths." Troicki, though disappointed to lose, took heart from his comeback. "I'm disappointed in the loss but still proud of how I fought," he said. In the evening semi-final, Carreno Busta took down John Millman 6-4 7-6 (5). The 49th ranked player in the world, Carreno Busta has yet to lose a set in this tournament. (Writing by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina and Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan Chakraborty) By Marcelo Teixeira SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Biofuel and climate experts have questioned Brazil's commitment to a plan to cut carbon emissions by raising ethanol use after the country's government this week said it planned to scrap a tax break on the biofuel. Brazil pledged under the 2015 Paris Climate Accord to increase cane-based ethanol and biodiesel in its energy mix to nearly 18 percent by 2030. That would require an increase in annual production to 50 billion liters of ethanol by 2030 from around 30 billion in 2015/16, experts said. It was one of the marquee components of Brazil's proposed contributions to the agreement to wean the global economy off fossil fuels and arrest global warming. But the government on Wednesday said it had no plans to extend a tax break on ethanol sales that expires in December, underscoring its desperation to boost revenues as Brazil suffers its worst recession since the 1930s. The loss of the tax break would make the biofuel less competitive against gasoline at the pump, prompt drivers to flock back to the petroleum-based fuel, and jeopardize Brazil's flagship Paris proposal, experts said. "Brazil's intended contributions are very pretty on paper, but so far it's just that: a declaration," said Andre Luis Ferreira, a director at the Institute of Energy and Environment, in Sao Paulo. The Brazilian ethanol industry has long asked for preferential tax treatment on environmental grounds compared with carbon-rich gasoline. Elizabeth Farina, head of cane industry association Unica, said the return of the ethanol tax would likely push cane mills to further switch from the biofuel to sugar production next year, as the sweetener already offers far better margins. "The state doesn't have to spend a cent on us, it only needs to show it wants more biofuels and ... adopt policy recognizing all costs are not reflected in the pump price," Farina told Reuters, referring to the fact ethanol is considered carbon neutral due to the sequester of carbon dioxide by cane plants. Brokers INTL FCStone on Friday projected Brazil's center-south, the top cane growing region, will produce 26.8 billion liters of ethanol in the 2016/17 crop, 4.7 percent less than in the previous one. On Wednesday, in an apparent defense of the government's decision, Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi suggested sugar mills reliant on government handouts were inefficient and should stop asking for subsidies. "He (Maggi) showed that he does not understand the sector or the mechanisms behind fuel pricing," said Tarcilo Rodrigues, head of sugar and ethanol brokerage Bioagencia. Brazil's environment ministry declined to comment. If the government does not recognize the environmental and economic benefits of a strong biofuels industry, the alternative is to import gasoline, given the country's lack of refining capacity, Rodrigues said. (Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Andrew Hay) EDINBURGH (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May will not hold a parliamentary vote on Brexit before formally triggering Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday, without specifying sources. May will not offer opponents the chance to stall the withdrawal and has consulted lawyers who say she has the power to invoke the exit without a parliamentary vote, the conservative newspaper said. A majority of the 650 lawmakers had declared themselves "Remainers". Opponents maintain that since the EU referendum result is not legally binding, elected lawmakers should review the vote before the process is started. The UK voted to leave the EU on June 23, but May has said she will not invoke Article 50, the formal two-year process for divorce from the bloc, before the end of the year to allow time to prepare the exit strategy. No one at the prime minister's office was available to comment. Senior members of the opposition Labour party have suggested that the issue could be subject to a vote by lawmakers or even a second public vote, and a law firm has initiated a legal challenge. Two months ago 52 percent of Britons opted to leave the EU, but since then the process and what it could mean has been shrouded in uncertainty because the exit is unprecedented. Gus O'Donnell, a former head of the civil service - the UK's professional administrative departments - said he hoped that by the time Britain leaves the EU it could be part of a "more loosely aligned" EU bloc because the process will take "years and years and years." "While we can leave relatively quickly, what leaving means is a huge administrative and legislative change because of all of (the) rules and laws and directives that have been implemented over this last 40 years. My instinct is we will almost certainly stick with them and say, 'OK we'll keep them for now, so you can leave with everything in place,'" he told The Times newspaper. The economic impact of Brexit is also unclear because, beyond a more than 10 percent fall in the value of sterling against other currencies, the signals are so far mixed. (Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary and Shalini Nagarajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Speaking on the occasion of first convocation ceremony of the Nalanda University in Rajgi, President Mukherjee said that the ancient Nalanda University was known for encouraging high level of debate and discussion. Pranab Mukherjee presenting the degree to a student at the First Convocation of the Nalanda University, at Rajgir, in Bihar. By Rohit Kumar Singh: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the Universities in the country must be the bastion of free speech and expression. Mukherjee made these comments at the first convocation ceremony of the Nalanda University in Rajgir. Speaking on the occasion, President Mukherjee said that the ancient Nalanda University was known for encouraging high level of debate and discussion. He said ancient Nalanda University always provided a platform for debate, discussion and argument. President's comments are being viewed as a veiled attack on the Narendra Modi government in whose two years of tenure there have been various controversies relating to free speech with sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University students or suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad University. advertisement "Ancient Nalanda was known for the high level of debate and discussion it nurtured. It was not a mere geographical expression but it reflected an idea and a culture. Nalanda conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate, discussion and argument," said the President. 'DEBATES, DISCUSSIONS PART OF LIFE ' Calling discussions and debates as part of life and ethos, Mukherjee said that discussion and debates must take place and they cannot be done away with. He said Universities and higher education institutions provided the best platform for debate, discussions and free exchange of views. President asserted though at the ancient Nalanda University, the main subjects of study was Buddhist texts, importance was also given to critiques of Buddhism by various schools. "Discussion and debate are part of our ethos and life. They cannot be done away with. Universities and higher education institutions are the best forums for debate, discussion and free exchange of views," said President Mukherjee. 'WE SHOULD NOT CLOSE OUR WINDOWS' Pranab Mukherjee said Nalanda University was the melting pot of various civilisations and modern India should also remain the same. He said windows for debate and discussions should not be closed. He maintained there should be free speech in the country and one should get enriched by it. Mukherjee advocated shunning narrow mindsets and taking part in free discussion and debates. "We should not close our windows and yet we should not be blown off by winds from outside. We should let the winds flow freely from all over the world and get enriched by them. We should have free discussion and debate", said the President. Citing example of Prof. Amartya Sen's book, "Argumentative Indian", Pranab Mukherjee said that the lesson for modern day Nalanda University is to ensure that the tradition of argument, debate and discussion finds new life and vigor. Mukherjee said Universities must be the bastions of free speech and expression. "Universities must be the bastions of free speech and expression. It must be the arena where diverse and conflicting schools of thought contend," advocated Mukherjee. The President further added there should not be room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred in Universities and institutions of higher education. He was of the view that Universities and higher education institutions should act as a flag bearer for the co-existence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies. --- ENDS --- advertisement OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - The government of Burkina Faso has banned an annual beauty contest for women with the biggest buttocks, saying such events are sexist. Adverts for this weekend's third edition of 'Miss Bim-Bim', carrying an image of two fully clothed women with exaggeratedly large behinds, provoked an outcry on social media. "Our role is to do everything to avoid damaging the image of women," said Minister Laure Zongo in a statement, adding that social media criticism had persuaded her to act. The male organizer of the event, Hamado Doambahe, said it aimed to promote a more positive body image for African women and encourage fashion designers to use African costumes. Contests like Miss Bim-Bim have been held in other West African countries. Women's rights groups have mixed views about the tendency in many African cultures to celebrate women with larger bodies than are typically admired elsewhere. While they welcome the shift away from the unnaturally thin female shapes promoted by the global fashion industry, they deplore the emphasis on men judging women's body shapes. The head of Burkina Faso's High Council for Communications, Nathalie Some, called in a statement for people in advertising, the media and the arts to protect the rights of women and girls. (Reporting by Mathieu Bonkoungou; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Tim Cocks/Ruth Pitchford) You can spot all sorts of things in a shopping centre car park, but a bear cub isnt usually one of them. Staff and diners at a fast food restaurant at a shopping centre in Charleston, West Virginia, were given a shock when they saw a bear cub running across the car park. Caught on camera - the cub was filmed running across a car park (Pictures: Facebook/Sheila Jett) Its thought the energetic cub was hungry and on the lookout for any leftovers from the nearby eateries. Sheila Jett caught the cub on camera as she spotted it outside the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Thursday morning. MORE: Zac Efron Shares His Heartache Following The Death Of His Dog MORE: Free At Last: Stricken Animals Finally Rescued From Worlds Worst Zoo In Gaza She posted it on Facebook with the caption: Can anyone guess the animal in this video? Its a wild world out there! I kind of blinked my eyes a few times because I couldnt believe I was actually seeing a bear, she added. Andrew Turley, night shift director at the Chick-fil-A restaurant, told local paper the Charleston Gazette-Mail that his staff had spotted the bear too. Our employees just happened to look over out the window and the bear was just chilling in the parking lot, he said. The bear appeared young and may have been separated from its mother, he said. Its thought that a family of bears are living near the restaurant, but Mr Turley said it was the first time one had come close to the restaurant. He said the cub had probably hung around because it was fairly quiet on Thursday morning, but had fled once people started approaching it. (Top picture: PA) With China plowing money into its military machine and making aggressive claims to disputed island chains, Beijings regional rivals are investing in the one weapon that can undercut the increasingly potent Peoples Liberation Army. Across South and East Asia, Chinas neighbors are spending heavily on submarines, purchasing silent diesel-electric machines capable of slipping past Chinese defenses. So when the Australian reported this week that detailed technical plans totaling some 20,000 pages for a French-made submarine had leaked from the manufacturer, the reaction was one of widespread panic. The leaked plans outlined in minute detail the capabilities of a Scorpene-class vessel purchased by India, and New Delhi immediately demanded that French authorities investigate how the respected DCNS shipbuilder had lost control of the plans. In Australia, where DCNS has been tapped to build the countrys next-generation submarine, officials warned the contractor needed to step up security. The sharp reaction reveals the central place of submarines in Asias accelerating arms race. Submarines are one of the few weapons with which countries warily eyeing Beijings military buildup can send a signal that they do not plan to stand idly by as China asserts its interests through coercion and unilateral moves, particularly in the South China Sea. Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and India can do little about the formidable radar installations and missile batteries dotting Chinas coastline, as well as its expanding fleet of naval ships and warplanes, but they can build vessels capable of slipping underneath Beijings naval cordon. Thats because while China has spent billions of dollars upgrading many aspects of its armed forces, from fighter jets to naval destroyers, its ability to carry out anti-submarine warfare still lags behind, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. And that has left a tactical opening for Chinas rivals. These countries are really seeing these submarines as the capital ships of their navies, said Clark, a former U.S. Navy submariner and advisor to the services top brass. What was for much of the 20th century a mere commerce raider, in other words, is now becoming a way to project power. Jonathan Greenert, the former chief of naval operations the top job in the U.S. Navy said submarines are an attractive weapon for countries in the Asia-Pacific, and governments in the region will likely ratchet up their spending on the vessels amid growing concern over Chinas missile arsenal. You can deliver destructive power in a stealthy manner, and thats a deterrent. We see more of that taking place, Greenert said. Thats why this weeks news of an apparent leak of classified operating data of advanced submarines is so worrisome to countries like India and Australia, both of which have committed to buy advanced submarines from DCNS, the French shipbuilder. The leak revealed crucial information, such as diving times, torpedo ranges, and above all noise profiles while operating underwater. Emmanuel Gaudez, a spokesman for DCNS, said the leaks are a serious matter that are being investigated by the proper French national authorities for defense security, who will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers, as well as the responsibilities for this leakage. The submarine race comes as China is denying adversaries access to its coastal waters through an expanding array of missiles and naval bases. Powerful radars light up American, Japanese, and other ships that patrol the Western Pacific. Cutting-edge satellites peer down from space to mark them for potential targeting. And Beijing has deployed scores of missile batteries capable of hitting targets hundreds of miles away all along the coast. In response, Vietnam, which has repeatedly clashed with China over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea, has bought six Russian-made Kilo-class submarines worth $2.6 billion since 2009 for deployment at Cam Ranh Bay. The Kilo-class diesel-electric subs able to operate nearly silently and armed with shorter-range torpedoes and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles with a range of 188 miles would force China to think twice before entering into a confrontation with Vietnam. Hanoi also is looking at acquiring U.S.-made P-3 Orion anti-submarine patrol aircraft to track Chinas subs. Although China has a vast naval fleet including 70 submarines that far outnumbers Vietnams navy, Beijing might be hard-pressed to track Hanois newly acquired subs, which can move with stealth and strike like an undersea guerrilla force. Hanois submarine fleet offers a form of asymmetric warfare against a much stronger opponent, in keeping with Vietnams strategic tradition honed on land during its successful wars against the United States and France. Vietnams sub purchase is part of a steady rise in military spending across Asia. Over the past decade, countries across the region have built up advanced militaries, led by Chinas huge jump in arms spending. Asian arms spending rose 5.4 percent from 2014 to 2015 compared with 1 percent worldwide, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Indonesia is also in the market for stealthy diesel subs and is anxious to expand its small fleet from two vessels to seven. It announced plans last year to purchase two Russian-made Kilo-class submarines and is awaiting the delivery of three South Korean-built subs ordered in 2012. Jakarta reportedly plans to deploy some of the vessels along with fighter jets to a base in the Natuna Islands, an area that overlaps with Chinas expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea. India has looked on with alarm as China has begun to operate submarines in the Indian Ocean in recent years, and the government has committed to an ambitious plan to build 24 submarines over the next 30 years in a bid to keep up with Beijings undersea prowess. But the Scorpene submarine project has been plagued by delays and is already several years behind schedule. The first submarine in the class was supposed to be delivered in 2012, but the INS Kalvari, the first of six planned Scorpene vessels, only entered sea trials this year. With the Scorpene project already lagging behind, the leak of thousands of pages of sensitive data about the submarine dismayed Indian officials. And the secret spilling also shook Australia, where the government has awarded a controversial $38 billion contract to DCNS to build a cutting-edge submarine. Based on a design for Frances own new nuclear submarine, the so-called Shortfin Barracuda would provide Canberra with the ability to project power across the vast swaths of ocean to Australias north. The Shortfin Barracuda is a scaled-down version of Frances flagship submarine that has swapped nuclear propulsion for diesel-electric. It is a highly capable submarine that can carry out long missions at sea and is equipped with an American combat control system. Itll be the best diesel submarine in the world if they achieve it, Clark said. Paris lobbied hard to win the lucrative contract for DCNS over Washingtons objections. The White House pushed Australia to award the contract to Tokyo in a bid to strengthen Japans defense industrial base at a time when the United States is seeking to have its key East Asian ally shoulder greater responsibility for countering Chinese military moves in the region. The breach at DCNS of highly sensitive information about the Scorpene sub has raised questions about the companys information security and whether it can keep the technical specifications of the vessel secret in the face of intense interest in Beijing about its capabilities. The data breach will be at the top of the agenda when Indias defense minister, Manohar Parrikar, holds talks on Monday at the Pentagon with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. The potential fallout from the leak could extend to other countries that have also ordered versions of the Scorpene vessel, including Chile, Malaysia, and Brazil. But it remains unclear how much of the Scorpene leak is actually available in the public domain. Cameron Stewart, the associate editor for the Australian who broke the news of the leak from DCNS, reported that the information may have been taken from the shipbuilder by a former French Navy officer working as a subcontractor. I dont believe that the information was stolen for the purposes of espionage but rather for the purpose of assisting as reference material for a military course with a navy in Southeast Asia, Stewart told Foreign Policy. But then the original holder of the data lost control of it to another company, and that company then held the data. What they did with it, or if they knew it was valuable, is unclear. It had spent at least several years in Southeast Asia by that stage after being removed from France in 2011, Stewart said. I am confident that the data was not leaked beyond its recipient in Australia, but it remains unknown if the data was copied, intercepted, or otherwise compromised while it was in Southeast Asia. But with a long list of countries looking to make submarine purchases, officials at DCNS are also examining whether or not the leaks could have been an act of corporate espionage. We dont know if economic warfare is the point of the start of the leaks against the company, Gaudez, the spokesman, said. DCNS is currently competing for submarine contracts from Norway and Poland, and the company will surely face questions following the leak of information about whether it can keep sensitive technical information secret. Competition is getting tougher and tougher, and it might be a tool which might be used, Gaudez said. Photo credit: MYCHELE DANIAU/AFP/Getty Images By Chris Kahn NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton leads her Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points among likely voters, down from a peak this month of 12 points, according to the Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Friday. The Aug. 22-25 opinion poll found that 41 percent of likely voters supported Clinton ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election, while 36 percent supported Trump. Some 23 percent would not pick either candidate and answered refused, other or wouldnt vote. Clinton, a former secretary of state, has led real estate developer Trump in the poll since Democrats and Republicans ended their national conventions and formally nominated their presidential candidates in July. Her level of support has varied between 41 and 45 percent during that period, and her lead over Trump in the tracking poll peaked this month at 12 percentage points on Tuesday. During the past week, Clinton has been dogged by accusations by Trump, which she has denied, that donations to her familys charitable foundation influenced her actions while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Questions have also surfaced again about her use of a private email server and address rather than a government one during her period at the State Department. Meanwhile, Trump and Clinton also sparred over who would be a better advocate for African Americans and other minorities, and Trump hinted he could soften his hard-line stance on immigration. [nL1N1B714Z] In a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll that includes candidates from small, alternative parties, Clinton leads the field by a smaller margin. Some 39 percent of likely voters supported Clinton in the four-way poll, compared with 36 percent for Trump, 7 percent for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party nominee Jill Stein. Both polls were conducted online in English in all 50 states. They included 1,154 likely voters and have a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. Story continues The results may differ from the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project, which includes a separate weekly tracking poll that measures support for the major party candidates in every state and Washington D.C. The States of the Nation, released on Wednesday, estimated that if the election were held now Clinton would have a 95 percent chance of winning by a margin of about 108 votes in the Electoral College, the body that decides the election through a count of the candidates wins in each state. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Frances Kerry) For more news videos visit Yahoo View. Washington (AFP) - Hillary Clinton received her first intelligence briefing as the Democratic presidential candidate Saturday, attending the 90-minute meeting without aides. Traditionally, the top two contenders for the White House are given the briefings to prepare them for the responsibilities that await the next occupant of the Oval Office. Republican candidate Donald Trump attended a similar briefing August 17 in New York, accompanied by two key advisers, retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Clinton was alone for her briefing, which took place at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's White Plains, New York office, near her home in Chappaqua, an aide told reporters. The aide said she met with a handful of officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for about an hour and a half. The FBI's office was used because it has secure rooms in which classified information can be discussed. The tradition of intelligence briefings for presidential candidates began in 1952 under president Harry Truman. The briefings lay out the US intelligence community's view of the threats facing the United States, without divulging secrets about operations or sources. Democrats have expressed unease about Trump's access to such sensitive information, with President Barack Obama himself issuing a thinly veiled warning earlier this month. "If they want to be president, they have got to start acting like (a) president," he said in a clear reference to the unpredictable New York billionaire. "That means being able to receive these briefings and not spreading them around." Bogota (AFP) - Colombia's defense minister has insisted the historic ceasefire with FARC rebels will not end the country's commitment to fight crime, as a judge on Friday issued arrest warrants for leaders of another group also pushing for a peace deal. President Juan Manuel Santos ordered a definitive ceasefire with the Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), due to start on Monday, after the two sides reached a deal to end their half-century conflict that has left hundreds of thousands dead and forced millions to flee their homes. That announcement came after Colombian and FARC negotiators presented a 297-page peace accord Wednesday following nearly four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba. A smaller Colombian leftist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), is hoping to reach a similar peace deal -- but on Friday a judge ordered the arrest of the its top leaders for crimes that include their role in the destruction of oil pipelines. The charges against members of the ELN's Central Command include "the use of methods of illicit warfare, destruction of the environment and homicide," a Bogota judge said in a statement. The attorney general's office has accused the rebel group of being behind attacks on Colombia's oil infrastructure between 2011 and 2016, especially targeting the 780-kilometer Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline. The pipeline attacks resulted in the loss of at least 3.5 billion barrels of crude worth $1.7 billion, as well as cleanup and environmental damage of some $25 billion, according to prosecutors. In March Colombia and the ELN announced moves to begin formal peace, but the rebels have yet to meet the government's precondition of releasing all of their hostages and stop all kidnapping. - No letup on crime - Soldiers and police will continue to combat kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal mining and human trafficking even after the ceasefire officially begins with the FARC Monday, Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said Friday. Story continues "We are in a ceasefire (with the FARC), but will not cease persecuting crime," he said. "We hope that this component of the ceasefire with the FARC, concerning criminal activity, will be fully implemented," he said. Groups of FARC rebels have been involved in all of those crimes in the past, and with peace some former guerrillas could become full-time criminals. There is a precedent: criminal groups emerged when right-wing paramilitary death squads disbanded during the 2002-2010 presidency of Santos's predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. The fate of the FARC-government peace accord now comes down to a decisive yes-or-no vote on October 2. Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, faces a tough political battle to win the referendum. The president's top rival, the popular Uribe, is leading the "No" campaign and arguing that Santos has given away too much to the FARC. Uribe said on Friday that the peace accord will "make the FARC a paramilitary group, a partner of the state to fight other criminals." Villegas indicated that 16,500 soldiers and police would be available to help carry out the peace agreement terms. The police and soldiers forces will support security efforts as FARC rebels move 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, and special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, said in a statement on Saturday they will hold their final conference on Sept. 13-19 to ratify a peace accord with the government. The deal between the leaders of the leftist guerilla group, referred to as FARC, and the government was announced Wednesday in Havana, after almost four years of talks. The rebels have agreed to lay down arms after half a century of war. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has sent the text of the accord to Congress, where legislators have 30 days to go over it before a national referendum on Oct. 2. (Reporting by Helen Murphy; Writing by Alden Bentley; Editing by Bernard Orr) Colonel Sanderss secret recipe has been leaked and we can now have KFC chicken ALL THE TIME Colonel Sanderss secret recipe has been leaked and we can now have KFC chicken ALL THE TIME NEWS ALERT: KFCs secret blend of 11 herbs and spices is no longer a secret. Quick, get thee to a deep frier! A Chicago Tribune reporter named Jay Jones got the chance to sit down with Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanderss nephew, in order to write about the restored restaurant at the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, Kentucky. Little did he know that he would soon be shaking up the fast food industry FOREVER. kfc again Ledington brought along a family scrapbook and was flipping through it, telling the journalist stories about the legendary chicken purveyor, when he landed on the last will and testament of his aunt, Claudia Ledington-Price (aka Colonel Sanders second wife). Low and behold, on the back was a handwritten recipe ofyou guessed it11 herbs and spices. Of course, reporter Jones pressed, and Ledington said, That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive. KFC's secret recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices https://t.co/k0ieLSbcPI pic.twitter.com/gg3NygwFqN Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 19, 2016 Yum Brands, KFCs parent company, has denied the truth of this recipe. Many people have made these claims over the years, and no one has been accuratethis one isnt either, a Yum spokesperson told The New York Times. Regardless, the recipe is a ridiculously good one. The Chicago Tribune taste-tested the recipe (and added some necessary ingredients, of course), and claim the results are comparable (and, thanks to a few love-filled touches, like a buttermilk egg bath, their chicken is potentially even more delicious). chicken Whether or not its ~the~ secret recipe, the discovery still creates some finger-licking-good chicken that you can now make from the comfort of your own home. The post Colonel Sanderss secret recipe has been leaked and we can now have KFC chicken ALL THE TIME appeared first on HelloGiggles. A Colorado mother of two died on Tuesday after jumping into a lake to save her 2-year-old son from drowning. Chelsey Russell, 35, kept her son above water for at least five minutes in Utahs Lake Powell, but she was unconscious when a relative pulled them both out of the water, CBS News reported. Back on shore, she was unable to be revived with CPR. The toddler, who fell off the houseboat while playing with another child, was taken to the hospital in stable condition as a precaution, CBS News reported. Russells brother and mother were also on the boat at the time. Her brother initially jumped in after them but turned around to get a motorboat attached to the houseboat when he realized Russell and her son, neither of whom had been wearing life jackets, were too far away. Russell, who also has a 5-year-old daughter, kept the 2-year-old above water until her brother reached them, according to CBS News. [CBS] On 25 August, television host Pravesh Rana tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend Scarlett Wilson, in London. By India Today Web Desk: Television host Pravesh Rana, popularly known for anchoring Emotional Atyachar, has tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend Scarlett Wilson in London. The church wedding took place on August 25. The church wedding took place on August 25. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@LaurenGottlieb The intimate ceremony was only attended by near and dear ones and as far as guests from showbiz are concerned, actor-dancer Lauren Gottlieb, who happens to be Scarlett's close friend, was seen at the wedding. She even shared pictures from the ceremony on her Instagram. With the most stunning bride yesterday in London! @iamscarlettw ur wedding was a dream ?? #summerlovin ?? #ranawedding pic.twitter.com/BxH0eDowVE Lauren Gottlieb (@LaurenGottlieb) August 26, 2016 advertisement Pravesh looked dapper in black tuxedo, while the British model-cum-actress looked drop-dead gorgeous in a white gown. Pravesh looked dapper in a black tuxedo. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@LaurenGottlieb Also read: Emotional Atyachaar host Pravesh Rana is all set to tie the knot next month According to a report, soon after the wedding, Pravesh will move to London with Scarlett for a year, and later decide to settle in either Mumbai or Delhi. Pravesh shot to fame after he won the title of Mr India in 2008. He made his debut in the Hindi film industry with the movie, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns and was also part of reality TV show Bigg Boss 3. The ceremony was only attended by near and dear ones. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@LaurenGottlieb The ceremony was only attended by near and dear ones. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@LaurenGottlieb --- ENDS --- Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f19013%2fjennaleepictures-laurenalexlavapixieset_15of72_ Step up your game, couples: you'll have a hard time pulling off a wedding shoot hotter than this one. Photographer Jenna Lee enlisted newlyweds Lauren and Alex earlier this month to pull off one of her wildest goals: a wedding shoot on Kilauea, one of Hawaii's active volcanoes. SEE ALSO: 100 years of wedding cakes will make you want to get married Lee was first inspired to do the shoot after lava from Kilauea started flowing into the ocean, a phenomenon that hasn't occurred in years. "When I heard the lava was flowing again... I knew I wanted to create something special," Lee told Mashable. Image: jenna lee photography For the shoot, the three adventurers stayed at a campsite near the lava, then hiked to the volcano at sunrise. "We had to pack in food, head lamps, all of our gear, ponchos we were ready for anything," Lee said. From there, they determined which parts of the rock were safe for Lauren and Alex to stand on and surprisingly, the two were able to stay barefoot for most of the shoot. "We found that them being barefoot actually helped us to gauge the safest places to stand!" Lee said. "If it felt too hot, we didnt stay in that area." Image: jenna lee photography The images are so unbelievably beautiful that haters have said they're Photoshopped, Lee said. But the haters don't matter: Alex and Lauren loved the final result. "They seem to be in awe of the whole thing," Lee said. So are we. Also, does anyone else feel a little warm? Check out more fiery photos from the shoot below. Image: jenna lee photography Image: jenna lee photography Image: jenna lee photography [H/T: The Huffington Post] Ascoli Piceno (Italy) (AFP) - Italy on Saturday bid a tearful farewell to dozens of those who died in the earthquake as the nation mourned the victims of a disaster that claimed nearly 300 lives. President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and other leaders were among hundreds of mourners at a sports hall in Ascoli Piceno, capital of the central Marche region. The hall had been temporarily converted into a place of worship for the funeral of most of the people who perished in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in the region's mountainous interior. Hundreds more stood silently outside, the sombre proceedings of the mass relayed to them by loudspeaker, three days after the deadly pre-dawn quake which killed 291 people according to the latest count. Relatives of the dead sat alongside flower-covered coffins, some draping themselves across them and sobbing inconsolably. Others hugged each other as Giovanni D'Ercole, the bishop of Ascoli, implored them not to lose faith. "Don't be afraid to scream your suffering, but do not lose courage," he said. "Together we will rebuild our houses and churches, together, above all, we will give life back to our communities... the village bells will ring once more." - 'Goodbye little one' - Among the coffins was a small, white casket for nine-year-old Giulia, whose body protected her younger sister, Giorgia, 5, long enough for her to be pulled from the rubble virtually unscathed. Giorgia was one of the last survivors to be rescued and there have been no reports of anyone else being found alive since late Wednesday. On Giulia's coffin a little note had been left: "Ciao little one. Sorry that we arrived too late." It had apparently been written by one of the firemen who rescued Giorgia. Away from the TV cameras, the tiny hamlet of San Benedetto, near Amatrice, buried one of its sons, 13-year-old Sergio Giustiniani. Story continues The strains of three exhausting days were apparent as a woman screamed at a man who had been stopped by police, presuming he was a thief. "I have lost everything and they come to rob us," she cried as a hearse pulled up behind her to collect a corpse from a neighbouring house. - More bodies found - "We will not abandon you," Italy's president told the mourners after earlier paying tributed to the "extraordinary effort" of more than 4,000 rescuers and volunteers during a brief visit to Amatrice, the small mountain town hit hardest by the quake. And former premier Silvio Berlusconi also sent his condolences. "There are no words, only grief, solidarity, prayer," he said in a statement. Some 230 of the quake's 291 confirmed victims were buried under tonnes of collapsed masonry in Amatrice's devastated centre. Three more bodies were plucked from the town's Hotel Roma overnight and there are fears yet more bodies will be recovered. An elderly man from Arquata died in hospital, taking the toll in that area to 50. Emergency services are confident they have accounted for everyone in the smaller outlying hamlets to the north of Amatrice -- some of which have been so badly damaged there are doubts as to whether they will ever be inhabited again. - 1,300 aftershocks - Many victims were from the Rome area, where former inhabitants of the mountains have moved for work, returning to family homes only at the height of summer. At least 16 foreigners died: 10 Romanians, three Britons and one each from Canada, El Salvador and Spain. Sixteen Romanians are unaccounted for, the foreign ministry in Bucharest said Saturday. The bells of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, which was destroyed in a double earthquake in September 1997 and reopened two years later, rang out in memory of the victims. The government has pledged to support immediate reconstruction. But the clear-up operation has been hampered by powerful aftershocks -- more than 1,300 since Wednesday -- which have closed winding mountain roads, damaged key bridges and made life dangerous for exhausted emergency services. Renzi has declared a state of emergency for the regions affected, releasing an initial tranche of 50 million euros ($56 million) in emergency aid. The total rebuilding operation is forecast to cost over a billion euros. Another major commemoration service has been scheduled for Wednesday in Amatrice. Once that is over, the government and local authorities will face intense scrutiny over why so many people died, just seven years after an earthquake in the nearby city of L'Aquila left more than 300 people dead. That disaster, just 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the south, underscored the region's vulnerability to seismic events -- but preparations for a fresh quake have been partial at best. Demi Lovato said that her 2010 rehab stint helped break her clean Disney image. In a joint Q&A with tourmate Nick Jonas in the Calgary Herald, Lovato said, For me, the transition was a little bit easier because I didnt have to do anything to break out of the Disney mould [sic]. Its a lot easier when you just go to rehab. The former Disney star was treated for physical and emotional issues in 2010 when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Jonas, who, like Lovato, began his career when he was just seven years old, told the paper that it was challenging to transition from a child star to an adult entertainer. As female, Lovatos journey was a little different. Also Read: Demi Lovato Sued for Alleged Song Theft I kind of grew up really fast in the public eye in that way and so when it was time to release my music, I think people looked at me differently, she said. I wanted to prove to people that I wasnt just a stereotypical Hollywood starlet that goes to rehab and falls back into the trap of the things that got her there. Lovato opened up about her emotional struggles at the Democratic Convention in July. Like millions of Americans, I am living with mental illness, the 23-year-old pop star said. But I am lucky. I had the resources and support to get treatment at a top facility. While currently touring with Jonas, Lovato told the Calgary Herald that her music is more important to her than ever, and she hopes it motivates others. Also Read: Nick Jonas Circling 'Jumanji' Remake With Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart I wanted to make sure that the music that I made was great and that I was passionate about the music that I put out and I sang my heart out and I also, like we said, I wanted to continue the message of using my platform for more things than just singing about heartbreak. Thats what music is for, is getting you through times, but also using it to inspire people, she said. Earlier this week, indie group Sleigh Bells accused Lovato of lifting from their 2010 song Infinity Guitars for Stars and filed a copyright lawsuit filed against the former Disney star. The suit cites a combination of the hand claps and bass drum, structured as three quarter beats and a rest, with the bass drum providing a counter-rhythm to the hand claps, along with other alleged similarities. Story continues Related stories from TheWrap: Demi Lovato Sued for Alleged Song Theft Demi Lovato Opens Up About Mental Illness at Democratic Convention (Video) James Corden, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas Become LA Street Performers in New Carpool Karaoke (Video) Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump's personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trump's car waited. "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant." Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 -- 16 months older than Clinton -- would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an "excellent" bill of health. While Hillary Clinton spent the day dealing with Pickle Jar-gate, Donald Trump will contend with an interview his personal doctor gave to NBC News saying that document proclaiming the GOP nominee to be in astonishingly excellent health was dashed off in five minutes. NBC Nightly News tonight aired its interview with Dr. Harold Bornstein, in which he said he had just minutes to compose the document, while a black car from Team Trump waited outside his Park Avenue office. Nightly News anchor Lester Holt noted the document fell short of the full medical history Trump promised. Bornstein, who has been the candidates doctor for decades, told NBC News he gets anxious when he gets rushed, which accounts for some of the language in the document. In its four paragraphs, he proclaimed Trump would be the healthiest person ever elected POTUS. In a rush I think some of those words didnt come out exactly the way they were meant, the doctor told NBC News, which noted Trump would become the oldest person ever elected to a first term. His health is excellent, particularly his mental health, Bornstein said in the interview. He thinks hes the best, which works out just fine. Bornstein insisted Trump would be a fit president, because I think his brain is turned on 24 hours a day. Related stories Don Cheadle To Trump After Dwyane Wade Comment: "You Truly Are A POS" Barbra Streisand Duets With Donald Trump On 'Tonight Show' Veep Candidate Tim Kaine Dispatches Donald Trump Over Hillary 'Bigot' Remarks On Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' - Update Donald Trumps tweet about Dwyane Wades cousin. (Screenshot: @RealDonaldTrump/Twitter) Instead of initially offering condolences, Donald Trump looked ahead to Election Day when reacting to news that Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wades cousin had been killed. Nykea Aldridge, a mother of four, was reportedly caught in the crossfire while pushing a baby stroller in Chicagos South Side on Friday. Dwayne [sic] Wades cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP! the GOP nominee tweeted Saturday morning. The tweet stunned many on Twitter. It was somewhat similar to the appreciate the congrats message Trump had posted in June in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Orlandos Pulse nightclub. Theres nothing more horrifying than a presidential candidate patting himself on the back after someone is killed. https://t.co/TrrmEl0zpw Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) August 27, 2016 this is literally the worst tweet ever https://t.co/MZjSFomv6r Adam H. Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) August 27, 2016 This is not human.https://t.co/gF8GS8i37u Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) August 27, 2016 This is the digital equivalent of passing out yard signs at a funeral. Emotional intelligence here is less than 0 https://t.co/llFI8kDOcX Tim Miller (@Timodc) August 27, 2016 .@realDonaldTrump Im sure you are all Dwayne Wades family can even think about right now!! Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) August 27, 2016 Youre a national disgrace. My god, man. https://t.co/cDaoSle5Vi Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) August 27, 2016 Trump later updated his tweet with the correct spelling of Wades name but left the rest of the message intact. Then, four hours after sparking the initial firestorm, he posted another tweet offering his sympathies to the basketball players family. Story continues My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016 Trump has been making direct appeals to black voters in recent weeks. Last week, he held a rally in the predominantly white suburb of Dimondale, Mich., and asked the African-American community what they had to lose by supporting him. Youre living in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed, Trump said. His stereotype of African-American neighborhoods was widely criticized as offensive. Bollywood diva Katrina Kaif opened up on her breakup with Ranbir Kapoor and said that being an actor helped her to bounce back. By India Today Web Desk: Actor Katrina Kaif has finally opened up and expressed her feelings about the split with Ranbir Kapoor. This comes after Ranbir Kapoor went public about his breakup with his Jagga Jasoos co-star. In an interview given to CNN-News 18's Rajeev Masand, Katrina was transparent about the way she dealt with it. ALSO READ: Is Ranbir Kapoor showing Katrina Kaif's text messages to his friends to make fun of her? advertisement ALSO READ: Is Katrina Kaif angry with Ranbir Kapoor for calling her an 'influential entity'? When asked about the emotional distress, the Baar Baar Dekho actor said that it was hard but her work helped her to bounce back sooner. "Having eyes upon you forces you to not step up and bring your best face to the world," said Katrina. Speaking about how she handled it, Katrina added, "Even if I had a regular job, I would've had to go to work with those feelings in my heart. All humans feel the same emotions and I did too." "As a human you will have your moments where things couldn't be anymore tougher for you, but I take moments as a challenge or force myself to face them," she said. Katrina, who is busy promoting her upcoming film Baar Baar Dekho along with Sidharth Malhotra, at the moment, has worked with Ranbir Kapoor in Jagga Jasoos. Baar Baar Dekho is scheduled to release on September 2. --- ENDS --- Cairo (AFP) - Pilgrims have been saying their farewells at Cairo airport before leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj in the tradition, they believe, of the Prophet Mohammed and Abraham before him. Every year tens of thousands of Egyptians apply for visas to travel to Mecca to join more than a million Muslims from across the world at the pilgrimage. "When I was chosen, I couldn't believe it," says Afaf Hasan Rifai, who was selected by Egypt's authorities to perform the hajj to start early next month. "I started crying and I prostrated to God," she says, her beaming husband standing next to her outside the terminal late on Thursday. Nearby a policeman pushes a wheelchair carrying an elderly women with a cane into the terminal. Every Muslim who can undertake the journey is expected to perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, but it can also be performed on behalf of another follower of the faith who is unable to do so. Muslims have travelled to Mecca for the hajj since the 7th Century, when God is believed to have ordained it in the Koran. Last year an estimated 2,300 pilgrims -- among them 464 Iranians and 182 Egyptians -- died in a stampede at the hajj, according to tallies from foreign officials. It was the deadliest stampede in hajj history, and fuelled historic tensions between conservative Sunni Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Shiite Iran. Saudi authorities have announced new security measures for the hajj this year, including electronic bracelets and a reduced period for the stoning ritual during which the deaths took place. Over the centuries, the ritual -- seen as an elusive moment of Muslim unity gathering all nationalities and classes -- has not been spared the vicissitudes of the region. - 'Nothing better than this' - There was the time when the Qaramatians, a sanguinary sect which controlled present-day Bahrain in the 10th century, descended on Mecca to put an end to what they viewed as superstition. Story continues They slaughtered thousands of pilgrims and made off with the sacred Black Stone of the Kaaba, ransoming it to the Abbasid Caliphate after having broken it in several pieces. In 1979, apocalyptic jihadists took over the Grand Mosque in Mecca and held pilgrims hostage, before special forces eventually flushed them out. Many pilgrims, especially the elderly, have died amid the massive crowds while performing the rites. But many Muslims still dream of going -- even those who have already made repeated pilgrimages, such as 93-year-old Salem Ibrahim Rahmo. "I'm happy as can be," said the white-turbaned Rahmo as he waits outside Cairo airport terminal. "To visit the Prophet (tomb and mosque in Medina), this is the greatest happiness. And to visit the Kaaba. This is my third time," he says. His son, Rahmo Mohamed Ibrahim, believes "everyone" would seize the chance to perform the hajj if allowed. "Every person wishes to visit the houses of God and to perform the pilgrimage and fulfil his obligation," says Ibrahim, 53. The rituals, believed to date to the time of Abraham -- who Muslims believe built the original Kaaba as the first house of worship -- will begin on September 9 and last for six days. Men will wear seamless white clothes, and women modest Islamic garb, and circumambulate the Kaaba seven times. They will walk between two neighbouring hills seven times, emulating, they believe, Abraham's wife Hajar as she searched for water, then symbolically cast stones at the devil. The cathartic ritual, which pilgrims believe cleanses them of sin, is "spiritual bliss", says Ibrahim. "There is nothing better than this." Will a Soviet KGB officer or a vigilante computer hacker walk away with Emmy gold? One things for sure: A win in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category for either The Americans Matthew Rhys or Mr. Robots Rami Malek both first-time nominees would not be considered an upset. In fact, with Mad Mens Jon Hamm and The Newsrooms Jeff Daniels out of the running, this particular Emmy race is wide open. RELATEDEmmys 2016: What Should Win Best Drama Series? Take Our Poll! Of the other four nominees, only Kyle Chandler of Bloodline (with his second consecutive nomination) has won this category before, having been honored in 2011 for Friday Night Lights. And while Kevin Spacey is arguably the bigger name, that hasnt helped him secure a win for any of the previous three years hes been nominated for House of Cards. That of course leaves second time hopefuls Liev Schreiber of Ray Donovan and Bob Odenkirk of Better Call Saul. Should the (Con)-Artist Formerly Known as Saul Goodman walk away with a statue, it would serve as the Breaking Bad prequels first Emmy win. RELATEDRay Donovan Renewed for Season 5 What would you do if you had the opportunity to recognize one of these esteemed actors when the Emmys are handed out on Sept. 18? Take our poll below to vote for your favorite, then hit the comments to defend your pick. Every day for the next couple of weeks, well launch another Who Should Win? Emmy poll, so visit TVLine.com daily to weigh in on whos most worthy of TVs most distinguished honor. Launch Gallery: Emmy Nominations 2016: The Biggest Snubs Related stories Emmys Poll 2016: Who Should Win Supporting Actress in a Drama? Emmys Poll 2016: Who Should Win Supporting Actor in a Drama? Emmys 2016: Who Should Win Best Lead Actress in a Drama? Take Our Poll! Terry Root often goes to sleep at night wondering how shell be able to get up the next morning and do it all over again. Then the sun comes up and she forces herself out of bed. She might go for a run to release the pent-up anxiety. Sometimes she cries. Or shell commiserate with colleagues, sharing in and validating each others angst. What keeps Terry up at night arent the usual ailments; its not a tyrant boss or broken heart. The diagnosis: global warming. A senior fellow at Stanfords Woods Institute for the Environment, Root has spent the past two decades unraveling the thread between climate change and the eventual mass extinctions of countless species of plants, animals and, yes, humans. Thats a tough, tough thing to cope with, Root says in a weary, jagged voice. Theres more. When the gray-haired bird watcher shares her End of Days findings, shes often met with personal attacks; naysayers hurl their disagreement and disdain, complete with name-calling and threats from politicians. But the absolute worst part of her job? Were not listening. Its harder than hell to carry that, says Root. Windhover 129 Stanford University built a non-secular spiritual center on campus called Windhover, where students and faculty can go to meditate and reflect. It opened last year. Source Matthew Millman Armageddon aside for a moment, that an acclaimed scientist will say h-e-l-l to a reporter and use words like cope is a sign of changing times. Not only are we living on a warming planet but a progressively emotive one. It started with parents coddling their kids (no more advice to just suck it up), then it was emojis (punctuation isnt enough) and now its climatologists tweeting were fd and field researchers speaking up about climate depression or even pretraumatic stress disorder. There is a paradigm shift taking place in the field of science with the recognition that even the most stoic minds of the world need a way to process their doomsday findings. All of this is fueling a debate thats raged since before Galileo and until recently landed on one central question: What place does human emotion have in scientific reasoning? But in 2015, theres another layer thats been schlepped into the controversial heap: What do you do when your job is to document the end of the world? Story continues *** For centuries, professors say, the scientific fraternity has adhered to a hidden curriculum right there, in invisible block letters, beneath the sign saying Goggles must be worn at all times. No. Crying. In. Science. And for good reason, many argue. In this world of double-blind trials and peer-reviewed articles, objectivity rules all. Otherwise cracks open up and doubt seeps in, rotting the very foundation science is built upon. But what if the entire goddamned profession gets wiped out in a hurricane? Then what? Theres a growing sense of urgency as worsening environmental catastrophes play out before us. In the midst of what many in the science community by many, we mean upward of 95 percent are calling a planetary crisis, more researchers are finding that they cant simply present their data in a vacuum, then go home at the end of the day and crack open a beer. Scientists are going from these totally objective outsiders into being much more subjective and a part of the community, says Faith Kearns, an outreach coordinator for the California Institute for Water Resources, which tries to solve drought-related challenges. Indeed, the facade of total objectivity has deteriorated in recent years alongside intensifying environmental cataclysms. In 2012, Camille Parmesan, who shared a Nobel Prize with Al Gore in 2007 for her climate work, publicly announced her professional depression and frustration with the current political stalemate. Shortly after The Atlantic named Parmesan one of its 27 Brave Thinkers, alongside Steve Jobs and Barack Obama, for her efforts to save species, she temporarily left her university job in Texas for a reprieve across the pond. Then last summer, climatologist Jason Boxs tweet If even a small fraction of Arctic sea floor carbon is released to the atmosphere, were fd went viral, provoking a media frenzy. The public relentlessly chastised him for a) making a definitive statement instead of dealing in the usual probabilities and b) expressing emotion. And now theres the website Is This How You Feel?, which publishes handwritten letters from climate scientists expressing their frustrations, fears and hopes. One professor writes, Its probably the first time I have ever been asked to say what I feel rather than what I think. Another scrawls, I feel exasperation and despair. I feel vulnerable that by writing this letter I will expose myself to trolling and vitriol. Joe Duggan, the mohawked Aussie with a nose ring and masters degree in the growing field of science communications who manages the site, says hes been shocked at how many responses hes gotten in the mail: There is a movement of scientists looking for new ways to connect; theyre emoting in ways they never have before, he says. *** Windhover 130 Stanfords Windhover integrates nature throughout the center to help visitors re-connect with and replenish their spirits. Source Matthew Millman Elizabeth Allison turns off the lights. She instructs her students to stack one vertebra on top of the next until their spines are straight and long. Then to focus on the rhythm of their breath. In. And out. In. And out. Acknowledge any feelings or sensations that arise, then let them go. After 15 minutes she slowly guides them back into the present. Feet and hands begin to stir. Eyelids slowly make their way to full attention. OK, thats it. See you all next week and dont forget your homework assignment is due. After all, this is graduate-level course PAR 6079. So much for that centuries-old hidden curriculum. From professors like Allison taking students through a guided meditation after a discussion on retreating rainforests to scientists signing up for workshops on compassion and communication to support groups for climatologists, human emotion has wedged itself into every step of the scientific method. Marilyn Cornelius, a Stanford-trained researcher, has found the best way to explore creative solutions for the planets woes is to meld behavioral science, biomimicry, meditation and design thinking. Now she works as a consultant, taking energy experts on wilderness retreats and teaching lab coats to connect with themselves and nature. I made a decision to work on behavior change, Cornelius says, because its a positive way to work on the climate problem. This isnt just about managing the feelings of scientists, though. Kearns, from the California Institute for Water Resources, acknowledges how painful it can be to watch academics try to relate to everyday folks and has made it her mission to make these interactions less cringe-inducing. The soft-spoken brunette first began thinking about this impasse after some years back she hosted a community workshop on emerging stay or go science that weighs whether home owners can and should protect their property from increasingly frequent and ferocious wildfires. Her audience was a small northern California community that had recently faced that very dilemma. Fear, anger and helplessness pulsed through the room. I started to feel their anxiety, Kearns says. Our research has an effect on peoples lives. My scientific training hadnt prepared me to cope with the emotions that come with that. But there is still the camp that believes feelings erode credibility and breed bias. Its the naturalistic fallacy, and its the difference between the is and the ought. The philosophy is that facts cant substantiate value judgments. Science is perhaps the last frontier of neutrality, especially in todays polarized society. As Philip Handler, former president of the National Academy of Sciences, once said, scientists best serve public policy by living within the ethics of science, not those of politics. *** Windhover 128 Windhover is named after Nathan Oliveiras renowned series of paintings that were inspired by kestrels swooping above the Stanford foothills, according to the website. Source Matthew Millman The seismic sentimental shift among scientists parallels an outpouring of feeling and narcissism across American society. Once-detached psychotherapists are hugging their clients, journalists have come to love the personal essay (in fact, it seems like everyone has a story to tell these days), even man-eating corporations are experimenting with emotional leadership. Or think of the impassioned protests around Black Lives Matter, the outrage at sexual abuse and the pleas against social inequality. Theres been more space in the public realm for bringing up and dealing with emotional stuff, and that has cracked the shell of otherwise very removed scientists, says Allison, a professor at the California Institute for Integral Studies. Then again, maybe climatologists are more cunning than we give them credit for, and theyre simply taking a page out of their opponents playbook. Indeed, emotions are a powerful tool for those who know how to use them. Which is why those leading the climate-change charge arent looking to labs anymore. Instead, eager students are following Corneliuss path, pursuing studies in contemplative environmentalism or transformational ecology, which looks to shrinks, money and Facebook to protect the planet. With the future of everything at stake, what has traditionally separated science from sentiment is a lot less defined and perhaps even irrelevant. But emotions are less predictable than facts and figures. Root remembers giving a talk once at the University of Utah. Afterward a few students came up to ask questions; one young man had tears in his eyes. Is it really this bad? he pleaded. Root told him its worse. He went on to become an activist and was sent to prison for one of his illegal protests. Root has always felt responsible. Id always thought that facts and the truth would win out; then I realized that wasnt the case, Root says. Related Articles epipen Noah, a 2-year-old from Middlefield, Connecticut, is starting daycare next month. His mother, Carolyn Janis, is anxious. Noah is allergic to eggs, peanuts, and other nuts. It's compounded by severe asthma. Janis has four EpiPens for her son that are past their expiration date, and one with its expiration coming up soon. He needs a new one for daycare, but she's not sure if she can afford it. Janis's health insurance changed recently. She and her family are on a high-deductible healthcare plan. She's already exhausted her health savings account this year, and she's still paying off emergency-room visits from a year and a half ago. Add to that the fact that the list price of the EpiPen has exploded to more than $600 over the past decade. Janis is one of thousands of people who are unsure about whether they'll be able to have on hand the life-saving medication they need for themselves or their loved ones. It's a result of some of the worst parts of the government and the US healthcare system coming together over the past decade. "I'm a nervous wreck," Janis said. "I know that this is all part of society. But so much of me wants to just hold him back." Let's start off with a disclosure: Like it is for Noah, an EpiPen is one of the most important features of my life. I'm allergic to peanuts. If I happened to eat something that contained a peanut, peanut butter, or peanut oil, I would go into what's known as anaphylactic shock. Basically, my airways would start to close. And the first line of defense would be an EpiPen. The EpiPen is a pen-shaped device that delivers epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline. In a proper dosage, epinephrine makes your heart pump faster and, most importantly, opens up your airways. For that reason, a two-pack of EpiPens comes with me everywhere I go. I have a routine: I check for my phone, my keys, my wallet, and EpiPens before I leave my home or work. Having both is potentially a matter of life or death. Story continues That's why it's distressing to see the egregious price-gouging effort that has surrounded the product over the past few years. It has drawn the attention of presidential candidates, with Hillary Clinton calling the price explosion "outrageous." Epinephrine, the actual medicine in EpiPens, is cheap. According to public-health nonprofit Management Sciences for Health, epinephrine's 2014 price in some parts of the developing world was less than $1 a milliliter. One EpiPen auto-injector from Mylan contains about one-third of a milliliter. When Mylan acquired the auto injectors as part of a 2007 deal, they were priced at about $57, according to Truven Health Analytics. Today, the list price for a two-pack is $608. What happened? *** Mylan CEO Heather Bresch In the years after Mylan purchased the Epi-Pen, the company did a lot of good. As CEO Heather Bresch attempted to explain on CNBC Thursday, Mylan enhanced the product. It raised awareness. It put more life-saving devices in places like schools, where children had died in tragic events because of an incomprehensible lack of coordination. But Mylan also exploited the political process for big profits. The EpiPen is nothing new it is a decades-old device. But when Mylan acquired the product, it saw an opportunity. It began marketing to concerned parents of children with allergies my mother, a rightful worrier, among them and turned less than $1 worth of medicine into a billion-dollar business. In 2010, a change in federal guidelines made it possible for Mylan to sell twice as many EpiPens with each device. That change recommended that two EpiPens be included in each package hence, the familiar two pack. Doctors have never made me question the better-safe-than-sorry nature of the new guidelines. They say if you can't get to a hospital within 30 minutes of your first injection, you should probably inject the other one. That, and other changes provided a significant financial benefit to Mylan. At the time, about 35% of prescriptions were for a single injector, but Mylan scrapped that packaging in favor of the dual injectors. The US Food and Drug Administration also altered label guidelines to allow the product to be marketed to anyone at risk of anaphylactic shock, rather than those who had already experienced it. "Those were both big events that weve started to capitalize on," Bresch said in 2011. *** epipen price under mylan Two years later, there was another seismic event President Barack Obama signed a law that aimed to increase the availability of epinephrine in schools. I wrote about, and cheered, the passage of that law, which encourages schools to stock emergency epinephrine in order to receive certain grants. The development of that bill was a bit more complicated than meets the eye. Bresch is the daughter of US Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia. Mylan, along with patient groups, pushed Congress to pass the legislation which, along with pushing schools to stock up on life-saving devices, provided the company latitude to again raise the price of the EpiPen by increasing demand for its product. For various reasons, Mylan has had virtually no competition in the arena. One competing product was recalled last fall, and another, Adrenaclick, is cheaper but uses a more difficult injection system and is not a favorite of doctors. (Mine included.) White House press secretary Josh Earnest was asked Wednesday whether Obama had any "regret" over signing the bill. And while he dismissed any notion of remorse, as well as the suggestion of a correlation between the Manchin family and the bill's passage, Earnest acknowledged concern over the EpiPen's price explosion. "I'm not going to second-guess the specific pricing decisions of companies. They'll obviously have to make those kinds of decisions on their own," he said. "But there have been other pharmaceutical companies that have gotten a lot of unwanted attention for their pricing practices, and it certainly degrades their efforts to build a reputation for themselves as an organization that's committed to developing and providing lifesaving medicine." Manchin's office declined to make the senator available for an interview. But it provided a statement in which the senator expressed shared concern over the company's price increases without mentioning its CEO. "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," he said in the statement. "Today I heard Mylan's initial response, and I am sure Mylan will have a more comprehensive and formal response to those questions." *** U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) (R) talks to reporters outside of a closed-door Senate Armed Services Committee briefing on the Bergdahl prisoner swap at the U.S. Capitolin Washington June 10, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Mylan's initial response left much to be desired. In essence, it provided a discount for patients with commercial insurance. The savings card that carries the increased discount, however, won't apply for people on government insurance programs or those without insurance, leaving some of the most poor and vulnerable potentially at risk. "It is certainly more a PR fix than a real remedy. It provides no price reduction for everyone who needs it. And it's a response to the mounting outcry and outrage, but it's a very small step," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, who sits on a committee that has investigated drug price increases, told Business Insider. What we have now is a perfect storm. Epinephrine is a must-have, life-saving medication for thousands of people. Because it is quick to expire, those people need to purchase it every year, no matter the price, or risk their lives. Options for bringing down the price are limited. Mylan has a stranglehold on the EpiPen market that isn't going anywhere the barriers to enter the market are enormous. Further, the company can raise the price of the life-saving medication again and again without any rejection, because it's allowed to. The government has set up incentives for the life-saving medication to be everywhere, yet has made no effort to control its cost. Insurance protects patients from some of the cost, yet the current system has left the most at-risk the most prone to gigantic out-of-pocket costs. "It shows the failings of government," Janis, the mother of Noah, said. "At some point, it becomes a crusher of the American dream." The EpiPen is just the latest nightmare in the long history of the still-impaired US healthcare system. And people like Carolyn Janis are going to remain anxious until it's fixed. NOW WATCH: An unprecedented map of the human brain could revolutionize medical practice More From Business Insider Plans for user-generated platforms like YouTube and DailyMotion to require licenses or sign-up to revenue sharing deals with rights holders are reportedly being considered by the European Commission (EC). European Regulators Greenlight Sony/ATV Deal Reuters says it's seen a draft paper by the EC that proposes the idea of forcing platforms hosting user-generated content to sign agreements with rights holders "reflecting the economic value of the use made of the protected content." The agreements could take the form of a copyright license or a monetization agreement such as sharing of revenue, the news agency reports. The proposed draft reforms are part of the EC's ongoing Digital Single Market strategy, which is expected to include regulatory reform to copyright legislation in the EU. In March the European body launched an open consultation on a mooted extension to publishers of the neighbouring rights currently granted to broadcasters or producers of copyrighted material. 1,000 Artists Including Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran Write Letter to European Leaders Over YouTube It is, however, the issue of safe harbour exceptions and the so-called "value gap" between music consumption on platforms such as YouTube and the relatively low revenues received by rights holders that has received the most publicity ahead of the EC unveiling its revised EU framework. In June, more than 1,000 artists -- including Coldplay, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran -- signed a letter calling for Europe's leaders to address what they view as disproportionate returns for the commercial exploitation of music. This year has also seen 58 members of the European Parliament petition the EC over safe harbor provisions, while Paris-based International Artist Organisation (IAO) called for legislative action to address the "value gap." When contacted by Billboard, the European Commission declined to speak directly about proposals for platforms to sign revenue sharing deals, but in a statement spokesperson Christian Wigand did reaffirm the EC's previously held position that it is "considering whether to grant a so-called neighbouring right to news publishers" that "would recognise their role as investors in content and give them a stronger position when negotiating with other market players." Story continues 'Contractual Gymnastics' and the Value Gap: International Artist Organization Asks European Government to Intervene Its plans to modernize EU copyright rules are "absolutely not about an EU levy on search engines," added Wigand. "Overall our objective is to make sure that Europeans can access a wide and diverse legal offer of content, and therefore strengthen cultural diversity, while ensuring that authors and other rights holders are better and more fairly protected," he went on to say. The EC is due to present its proposals to revise the EU copyright framework in the second half of next month. The Congress has asserted that the RSS opposed Mahatma Gandhi's ideology and also distributed sweets the day he was assassinated. By India Today Web Desk: While the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are engaged in a court battle over assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress and the BJP continue to mount attack on each other. The Congress has asserted that the RSS opposed Mahatma Gandhi's ideology and also distributed sweets the day he was assassinated. "It is a known fact that the RSS distributed sweets the day Mahatma Gandhiji died. It is a known fact that Nathuram Godse was a member of the RSS and it is a known fact that they were upset with Gandhiji because he wanted to keep this country united and that he wanted all religions to live in harmony," Congress leader Rizwan Arshad said. advertisement "The RSS wanted bloodshed and it is their ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi," Arshad added. The Congress leader further said that his party would continue to fight the RSS and its ideologies tooth and nail. BJP SLAMS RAHUL GANDHI While the Congress renewed attack on the RSS, the BJP launched a counter-attack on Rahul Gandhi saying that the Congress vice president compromised his own credibility with his factually incorrect remarks against the RSS. "If Rahul Gandhi's logic is taken to a logical conclusion, then can we say that the Congress is responsible for the massacre of Sikhs in this country? In 1984, we are aware that Congress leaders were involved in massacre of Sikhs. But, if we say that the Congress was responsible and it was a part of the Congress' conspiracy, will Rahul Gandhi accept this," asked BJP leader Sudesh Verma. WHAT HAD RAHUL SAID? After doing a kind U-turn in the Supreme Court earlier this week, Rahul Gandhi's counsel Kapil Sibal said that the Congress leader did not blame the RSS as an institution for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Sabal added that Rahul Gandhi held some people associated with the RSS responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. But, on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said." 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 --- ENDS --- Caracas (AFP) - A former Guantanamo prisoner now held by Venezuela's intelligence agency has gone on hunger strike, his lawyer said Saturday. Jihad Diyab, who was relocated from Guantanamo to Uruguay nearly two years ago, was detained after traveling to Caracas in July in an apparent attempt to see family, his California-based lawyer Jon Eisenberg told AFP. In an email, Eisenberg said he was concerned about Diyab, a 45-year-old Syrian national, after failing to establish contact with him. "We still have not had any communication with the Venezuelan authorities," Eisenberg said. "I feared from the beginning that (the hunger strike) could take place, so I'm not surprised." Held in Guantanamo for 12 years without charge, Diyab was released from the US military prison in southern Cuba to Uruguay in 2014 along with five fellow former detainees. On August 6, Diyab's lawyer had asked the Venezuelan government for permission to speak with his client by telephone to organize his defense. A US-based human rights activist confirmed Diyab's hunger strike. Three independent sources, who asked to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the case, said the Syrian man began his protest after "learning that the foreign ministries of Venezuela and Uruguay negotiated his deportation to Uruguay," Andres Conteris said by telephone. Diyab is also refusing to take liquids, according to Conteris, of the group Witness Against Torture. He hopes to be sent to Turkey or another third country to reunite with his family. The Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the case. Conteris traveled to Venezuela earlier this month to set up a meeting, but returned to the United States without success. Eisenberg represents Diyab in a lawsuit filed against the US authorities for force-feeding prisoners on hunger strike in Guantanamo. Diyab was captured in 2002 near the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. By Renee Dudley and John Shiffman WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal agents searched the home of a former employee-turned-outspoken critic of the College Board, the standardized testing giant, as part of an investigation into the breach of hundreds of questions from the SAT college entrance exam. The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized computers and other material on Friday from Manuel Alfaro, who left his job as executive director of assessment design and development at the College Board in February 2015. The FBI is investigating alleged computer intrusion and theft against an unidentified victim corporation involving confidential or proprietary information, including tests, test forms and internal emails, according to a search warrant issued in the case. Alfaro had contacted officials of seven state governments in recent months, accusing the College Board of making false claims about its tests when bidding for public contracts with the states. The College Board, he alleged, misled the states about the process it used to create questions for the new version of the SAT, resulting in an inferior exam. He also aired those allegations publicly, largely through postings on his LinkedIn account. Lawyers for Alfaro could not be reached for comment. An FBI official confirmed that agents were present at Alfaros home in Maryland but declined to elaborate. College Board spokesman Zach Goldberg said the leak of test questions constituted a crime. We are pleased that this crime is being pursued aggressively, he said. He dismissed Alfaros criticisms of the SAT test-making process as patently false. The FBI raid comes after Reuters reported earlier this month (http://reut.rs/2b3gtyE) that the news agency had obtained about 400 unpublished questions from the newly redesigned SAT exam, which debuted in March. Some experts said the leak constituted one of the most serious breaches of security ever to come to light in the standardized testing industry. Reuters reported previously that the SAT (http://reut.rs/1RL4ZSI) and its rival, the ACT, (http://reut.rs/2akY3uf) are being systematically gamed by test-prep operators in Asia. The SAT has proved particularly vulnerable to cheating because of its practice of reusing test questions. Test-preparation companies obtain previously administered questions that are scheduled for reuse and feed those questions to students, who can score higher by practicing on the exam items before the test. BROADSIDES ON LINKEDIN The SAT and ACT are taken by millions of students a year and are major criteria used by U.S. colleges in selecting applicants. The cheating rings and leaks, testing experts say, call into question the fairness and validity of the standardized exams. Alfaro, who oversaw the development of parts of the new SAT, jolted the staid world of standardized testing in May with a barrage of criticism of the College Board. In a series of posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, he charged the New York-based not-for-profit with skipping a crucial step in the test development process, which he says resulted in a lower-quality exam. He also alleged in a June 1 post that the shortcut may fail to comply with federal guidance on peer review for state testing programs. Alfaro wrote to seven states that have granted public contracts to the College Board to use the SAT as an official tool for assessing high school students. In a May 7 email to the education chiefs for those states, Alfaro said that while he was a College Board employee, he "became aware of patterns of concealment, fabrication, and deception used by the College Board to misrepresent the SAT and PSAT. He alleged that the College Board didnt follow the process to develop the SAT and PSAT that it publicly says it uses. The PSAT is a test primarily aimed at high school sophomores and juniors used as practice for the SAT and to screen applicants for tens of millions of dollars awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Alfaro emailed his complaints to the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and New Hampshire. A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education, Bill DiSessa, said the state checked with the College Board and decided not to look into Alfaros claims. Jeremy Meyer of the Colorado Department of Education said the state discussed Alfaros email with the College Board and was satisfied with the response we received. Kelly Donnelly, spokesperson for the Connecticut State Department of Education, said the state considered Alfaros email to be replete with hyperbole, but scant on actual facts. We did not take further action. Donnelly said the state hadnt reviewed Alfaros detailed posts on LinkedIn. A New Hampshire official said the state had no immediate comment. Officials in Delaware, Illinois and Maine didnt respond to requests for comment. ALLEGATIONS OF SHORTCUTS A member of Congress, meanwhile, has asked federal regulators to look into Alfaro's allegations. U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland, has "been in touch with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau," according to a July 28 letter she wrote to Alfaro. Asked Friday about Alfaros criticisms of the new exam, College Board spokesman Goldberg said: Mr. Alfaro does not speak with any authority about our tests. With the new SAT, we have made an unprecedented commitment to transparency and have published our test specifications, which include the test development process. Any claims that counter the published information are patently false. The document cited by Goldberg contains a nine-step process for developing the new SAT and ensuring that exams contain fair and valid questions. Its the fourth of those steps that Alfaro says the College Board routinely skipped, according to his posts on LinkedIn. That step, known as external content & fairness reviews prior to pretesting, relates to the checks that new questions are supposed to undergo before they are included on an actual test. According to the College Board document, newly written SAT questions are scrutinized by external, independent reviewers, who look for mistakes and potential bias. After that initial review, the questions are field tested on actual test-takers in an unscored section of a regular SAT exam. The field testing helps determine whether questions are statistically valid and whether they should be included on a future, scored portion of the exam. After the field test, questions once again go through external reviews before theyre put on a live, scored section of the test. The external reviews before field testing didnt always happen, Alfaro alleged. The Content Advisory Committee reviewed the items for the first time, not before they were pretested, but after the items were assembled into operational SAT forms, he wrote in a May 27 post on LinkedIn. In a June 9 post, he added: "We first implemented Step 4 in August of 2014, after thousands of items had already been developed and pretested without this crucial step." An internal document from 2014 describes what the College Board called the rigorous process of vetting new test items that could potentially become part of the Math Test in the redesigned SAT. The document says changing items after pretesting was rare. Alfaro said such changes were actually common. Im not talking about adding a missing comma here, fixing a typo there, he wrote in a May 20 post. Sometimes the revised items, or questions, are completely different than the version that was pretested. An outside attorney for the College Board wrote to Alfaro on May 10, three days after Alfaro contacted the states with his allegations, and requested a meeting. Alfaro declined to see the attorney. But he said he would be open to explaining his concerns to the organizations Board of Trustees and to lawyers for the seven states, according to an email he sent the states. No such sessions took place. Inside the organization, the College Boards top attorney has called Alfaro a disgruntled former employee and told staff to avoid him. I am writing to alert you that the College Board is dealing with a disgruntled former employee who has expressed anger at the College Board in a very public way, College Board general counsel Peter Schwartz wrote in an email to staff. Please be aware that he has no reason to visit our offices, and in the event that he does, he should not be allowed in. Reached by phone on Friday, Schwartz declined to comment. (Edited by Michael Williams) By Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government would consider selling crude through Iran should talks with the autonomous Kurdish region on an oil revenue-sharing agreement fail, a senior oil ministry official in Baghdad told Reuters. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) plans to hold talks with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), possibly next week, about Iraqi oil exported through Turkey, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said in an interview on Friday evening. "If the negotiations come to a close" without an agreement "we will start to find a way in order to sell our oil because we need money, either to Iran or other countries", he said by telephone. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public income. Its economy is reeling under the double impact of low oil prices and the war against Islamic State militants. The Kurdistan region produces around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) on its territory and exports those volumes via Turkey. Baghdad would not be able to reroute those volumes to Iran but could order shipments of some 150,000 bpd via Iran that are being produced in the nearby province of Kirkuk. An agreement between Iran and Iraq could function in a similar fashion as oil-swap deals Tehran has had with Caspian Sea nations, according to an oil official who asked not to be identified. Iran would import Iraqi oil to its refineries and export an equivalent amount of its own crude on behalf of Baghdad from Iranian ports on the Gulf. Iraq has ports on the Gulf but they are not linked to the northern Kirkuk fields by pipeline. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company resumed pumping crude through the Kurdish-controlled pipeline to Turkey last week as "a sign of goodwill to invite them (the Kurds) to start negotiations," Nema said. He said pumping had resumed on the instruction of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi following "some understanding" between Baghdad and Erbil. Abadi said on Tuesday the decision had been made to avoid damage to reservoirs. The flow of crude extracted from Kirkuk by North Oil and pumped in the pipeline has been running at about 75,000 bpd since last week, or half the rate before it was halted in March, Nema said. Should there be an agreement with the Kurds, flow through the pipeline would be increased to more than 100,000 bpd, not to the previous level of 150,000 bpd, he added. Nema said about 20,000 bpd would be supplied to the refinery of Suleimaniya, in the Kurdish region, and 30,000 bpd would be refined locally in Kirkuk. The pipeline carries crude to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, where the Kurds have been selling it independently on the international market, along with oil produced in their northern region. The Kurdish government has been calling on Baghdad since March to resume the pumping of Kirkuk crude in full to help Erbil fund its war against Islamic State. Sources in Erbil have said splitting the Kirkuk flows would divide the Kurds and complicate the task of fighting the ultra-hardline militants. A KRG spokesman in June told Reuters the Kurds are ready to strike an agreement with Baghdad if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling their own oil. The dispute revolves around Kurdish oil exports that Baghdad wants to bring under its control. "If Baghdad comes and says 'OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget', which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in June. "Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he added. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad." The Kurdish government stopped delivering crude oil to the central government about a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said. It is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where North Oil produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory. The Kurds took control of the region two years ago, after the Iraqi army disintegrated when Islamic State overran a third of the country. (Additional reporting by Aref Mohammed in Basra; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Dale Hudson) By Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government would consider selling crude through Iran should talks with the autonomous Kurdish region on an oil revenue-sharing agreement fail, a senior oil ministry official in Baghdad told Reuters. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) plans to hold talks with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), possibly next week, about Iraqi oil exported through Turkey, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said in an interview on Friday evening. "If the negotiations come to a close" without an agreement "we will start to find a way in order to sell our oil because we need money, either to Iran or other countries", he said by telephone. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, depends on oil sales for 95 percent of its public income. Its economy is reeling under the double impact of low oil prices and the war against Islamic State militants. The Kurdistan region produces around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) on its territory and exports those volumes via Turkey. Baghdad would not be able to reroute those volumes to Iran but could order shipments of some 150,000 bpd via Iran that are being produced in the nearby province of Kirkuk. An agreement between Iran and Iraq could function in a similar fashion as oil-swap deals Tehran has had with Caspian Sea nations, according to an oil official who asked not to be identified. Iran would import Iraqi oil to its refineries and export an equivalent amount of its own crude on behalf of Baghdad from Iranian ports on the Gulf. Iraq has ports on the Gulf but they are not linked to the northern Kirkuk fields by pipeline. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company resumed pumping crude through the Kurdish-controlled pipeline to Turkey last week as "a sign of goodwill to invite them (the Kurds) to start negotiations," Nema said. He said pumping had resumed on the instruction of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi following "some understanding" between Baghdad and Erbil. Abadi said on Tuesday the decision had been made to avoid damage to reservoirs. Story continues The flow of crude extracted from Kirkuk by North Oil and pumped in the pipeline has been running at about 75,000 bpd since last week, or half the rate before it was halted in March, Nema said. Should there be an agreement with the Kurds, flow through the pipeline would be increased to more than 100,000 bpd, not to the previous level of 150,000 bpd, he added. Nema said about 20,000 bpd would be supplied to the refinery of Suleimaniya, in the Kurdish region, and 30,000 bpd would be refined locally in Kirkuk. The pipeline carries crude to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, where the Kurds have been selling it independently on the international market, along with oil produced in their northern region. The Kurdish government has been calling on Baghdad since March to resume the pumping of Kirkuk crude in full to help Erbil fund its war against Islamic State. Sources in Erbil have said splitting the Kirkuk flows would divide the Kurds and complicate the task of fighting the ultra-hardline militants. A KRG spokesman in June told Reuters the Kurds are ready to strike an agreement with Baghdad if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling their own oil. The dispute revolves around Kurdish oil exports that Baghdad wants to bring under its control. "If Baghdad comes and says 'OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget', which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in June. "Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he added. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad." The Kurdish government stopped delivering crude oil to the central government about a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said. It is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where North Oil produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory. The Kurds took control of the region two years ago, after the Iraqi army disintegrated when Islamic State overran a third of the country. (Additional reporting by Aref Mohammed in Basra; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Dale Hudson) San Francisco (AFP) - Facebook said it is further automating its "trending" stories feature, a move that will scale back human input to prevent personal bias from influencing which stories get highlighted. The social media giant will rely more heavily on an algorithm to operate the feature -- which lists what news or events are hot topics -- no longer requiring people to write descriptions, according to a Facebook blog post. The feature prompted controversy earlier this year, with critics alleging that Facebook's news curators were deliberately omitting stories from politically conservative outlets, allegations the company denied. Facebook said relying more heavily on software will allow the feature to cover a wider scale, while lessening the risk that personal bias could manipulate the list of trending topics. "We looked into these claims and found no evidence of systematic bias," Facebook reiterated in its blog post Friday, but added that "making these changes to the product allows our team to make fewer individual decisions about topics." With the change, instead of seeing story summaries in the trending list, users will simply see topics and the number of people talking about them. Letting a cursor hover over a topic will show "an automatically selected original news story with an excerpt pulled directly from the top article itself." Humans will still be involved in the process to ensure that topics are real-world news and not based on an internet trend like #lunch. Facebook in May made changes aimed at keeping political bias out of its "trending" stories list even though an internal investigation revealed no evidence that it was an issue. "Our investigation has revealed no evidence of systematic political bias in the selection or prominence of stories included in the Trending Topics feature," Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch said in a letter responding to a query from Republican US Senator John Thune, who chairs the commerce committee. Story continues "In fact, our analysis indicated that the rates of approval of conservative and liberal topics are virtually identical in Trending Topics." Facebook updated terminology in its guidelines to be clearer and gave reviewers refresher training that emphasized content decisions may not be based on politics or ideology, the letter said. The review team became subject to more oversight and controls, and Facebook stop relying on lists of external websites and news outlets to assess the importance of topics in stories. "We've built Facebook to be a platform for all ideas," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said on his social network page after a meeting at the company's California headquarters to discuss the allegations about anti-conservative bias. Zuckerberg called the meeting after technology news outlet Gizmodo reported anonymous allegations that Facebook was deliberately omitting articles with conservative viewpoints from the sidebar that lists popular stories. By Anindya Banerjee: The national carrier Air India seem to be in the news for all the wrong reasons. This time a technical glitch has grounded it's international flight in Kochi which makes it a second instance of such operational failures in the last 48 hours. Air India flight AI 963 was scheduled to fly from Kochi to Jeddah this evening at 8 pm Indian time. But a glitch that Air India termed as 'Operational Reason' grounded it. Sources say senior members of the engineering team were called in but the problem could not be solved. advertisement Air India in a statement said, "(The) flight (was) grounded due to operational reasons. Passengers are being transferred to hotel. Alternative arrangements are being made." Which makes it amply clear that the problem is major in nature and needs time for rectification. SECOND GLITCH IN 48 HOURS What's worrying is this is the second such instance of a technical glitch grounding Air India aircraft in last 48 hours. A day before a Newark bound flight was diverted to Kazakhstan and made a precautionary landing after the pilot detected a problem. That time too the problem could not be immediately solved forcing Air India to send a second aircraft to Kazakhstan to take the passengers to the destination. Also read: Newark-bound Air India flight makes emergency landing in Kazakhstan --- ENDS --- Havana (AFP) - FARC rebel leaders will convene in mid-September to ratify the historic peace agreement signed with the Colombian government this week, the guerrilla group announced Saturday. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said its leaders would convene for "the last conference of our organization while it still has its arms, endorse the peace accords and make way for the transformation of the FARC into a legal political movement." The September 13-19 conference of 200 FARC delegates -- including 29 members of its central committee -- will be open to 50 international guests as well as the press, an unusual move for the guerrillas. "Given the historical significance of this event, the people of Colombia and the world must learn first-hand about the conference's developments and decisions," the FARC said. The Marxist guerrillas will hold the conference in San Vicente del Caguan in southern Colombia, once a FARC stronghold. The announcement comes three days after Colombian and FARC negotiators presented a final peace accord following nearly four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba, putting an end to their half-century civil war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered a definitive ceasefire from Monday with the FARC rebels, and the guerrillas are expected to make a similar announcement shortly. The conflict began with the founding of the 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. Or so can say future owners of the 58 luxury, designer residences being developed in Miami. Italian design house Fendi announced that it will open a luxury development, called the Fendi Chteau, in Surfside, Florida at the end of September. The Fendi Chteau is a real estate project for people who want to live in floor-to-ceiling Fendi. Fendi made a chateau. The 3- to 5-bedroom residences range from 3,000 to 7,000 square feet, each with their own private foyer and bay-view terrace. And each residence is decked out to the nines. The interiors are curated by Fendi Casa, with most of the interior designing already done. The bathrooms are things of beauty, with marble floors, walls and vanity tops. There are, naturally, whirlpool tubs and porcelain and wood glass-encased, frameless showers. And then theres the kitchen: The professional chefs space comes complete with Fendi cabinets, which are finished with mother of pearl. The interior at Fendi Chateau. The 12-story building comes with 300 lineal feet of sandy ocean beach and plenty of perks. The building not only has a fitness center and thermal pool spa, but a private movie theatre. Outside, there are two swimming pools, a jacuzzi, cabanas with service and a gazebo with outdoor kitchen service. The Fendi Chateau will have a multilingual concierge, white glove service and concierge. A rendering of the Fendi Chateau. It looks like there are still four residences available, with a move-in date of September 30. Prices for the available units range from $6.3 million to $25 million. Its the ultimate move for brand loyalists. Cailey Rizzo writes about travel, art and culture and is the founding editor of The Local Dive. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @misscaileyanne. Related Articles Beirut (AFP) - Government forces moved into the town of Daraya near the Syrian capital on Saturday after rebels and civilians were evacuated following a four-year siege by regime forces, a military source said. "The Syrian army completely controls Daraya and has entered all of the town. There isn't a single armed man there," the source told AFP of the insurgents, speaking on condition of anonymity. Earlier, a first group of hundreds of rebels and their families evacuated from the town reached opposition-held territory further north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The Daraya file is now closed after the evacuation of all the civilians, armed men and their families under the agreement" reached on Thursday between the regime and rebels, Syrian state television said. It broadcast footage of army vehicles combing the streets of the town, one of the first to rise up against the regime in Syria's five-year-old revolt. "The second and final convoy of rebels and civilians came out of Daraya today," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory monitoring group. The total number of evacuees was not immediately clear. The official SANA news agency reported that 4,000 civilians were to be directed to reception centres and at least 700 rebels escorted to the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syrian. At least five buses carrying fighters and their families arrived in Idlib, the Observatory said. The arrivals were the first since the evacuation of the town just outside Damascus began on Friday under the withdrawal agreement. Daraya had been ravaged by constant army bombardment, and only a single aid convoy, last June, reached the town since it came under siege in late 2012. Civilian residents of the town, believed to number around 8,000, have been taken to government-run reception centres pending resettlement. - 'Survived on grass' - A Beirut-based television, Al-Mayadeen, aired footage of soldiers taking pictures with their mobiles of buses loaded with rebels, who were allowed to keep their personal weapons under the deal. Story continues "With our blood and our souls, we sacrifice ourselves for you, O Bashar!" soldiers chanted of President Bashar al-Assad as the buses drove by. Inside the vehicles the rebels remained mostly impassive, although some responded by making the victory sign behind the windows. Some 300 fighters and their families were evacuated during the first part of the operation on Friday, according to a military source. While they were taken to Idlib, many of the evacuated civilians were transferred to Hrajela, 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Daraya. On Saturday, the evacuees spoke of years under siege in Daraya as children had their first taste of treats such as ice cream -- and tomatoes. "My children, who are three and five, were very surprised to see tomatoes. It was the first time for them," said 30-year-old Houda. "All we had to survive on was grass." At the entrance to the reception centre in Hrajela, children played under a blazing sun as Red Crescent volunteers distributed mattresses, blankets and food. Daraya, a drive of just 15 minutes from Damascus, became a symbol of the uprising which started with mass protests. The rebels said they were forced to agree to evacuate the town because of deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Anti-regime activists have condemned what they called the forced displacement of Daraya's inhabitants. Long sieges have prompted rebels in several locations to agree evacuation deals with the regime, prompting activists to accuse Damascus of using "starve or surrender" tactics. Rebel fighters pulled out of Syria's third city Homs last year under a similar evacuation deal to the Daraya agreement. More than 290,000 people have been killed and over half the population displaced since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011. *NSYNC fans may be excited to visit Joey Fatone's new eatery, Fat One's, coming to the Florida Mall in Orlando, but an industry-standard test performed in preparation for its upcoming opening sent mall patrons into a panic on Thursday (Aug. 25). A fire suppression system test at Fatone's hot dogs and Italian ice kiosk broadcast balloon popping noises over the mall's PA system, and shoppers fled from the mall in fear that there was a shooting, according to a reports from Orlando's WFTV and the Orlando Sentinel. Watch *NSYNC's Joey Fatone Join 98 Degrees to Perform 'Bye Bye Bye' "People were bumping into things, getting stepped on, falling, children getting dragged by their arms," witness Mark Comer, who was at the mall at the time, told the news station. At least 10 people sustained minor injuries - "mostly falls, scrapes and twisted knees," says the Orlando Sentinel -- and four were transported to local hospitals. Many left personal belongings like shoes, phones, purses and strollers behind and were separated from friends and loved ones in the rush to exit the mall. "The Orange County Fire Inspector was there as a witness to the test, but did not conduct the test. An announcement was made on the PA system informing shoppers and employees the test would be conducted. The test consisted of six large balloons popping consecutively, followed by a fire alarm. This caused people to go into panic mode and run," deputies said in a statement, according to WFTV. Mall spokesperson Les Morris said: "This afternoon at one of the food kiosks in the Dining Pavilion at Florida Mall, the Orange County Fire Marshall's office was performing a fire suppression test. As part of this test, a bladder system within the device unexpectedly popped several times, startling some customers. The test has been concluded. Florida Mall remained open and is operating as usual." Billboard has reached out to Fatone's rep for comment. The menu at Fat One's will consist of various styles of hot dogs, including the Boybander, which includes five mini hot dogs. Photo of an Aedes aegypti mosquito/Reuters UPDATED 5:40PM 28 August 2016: More cases of Zika confirmed. There have been 41 confirmed cases of locally-transmitted Zika among residents or workers in the Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive area. Among this number are 36 foreign construction workers, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) at a joint press conference with the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Sunday (28 August), according to media reports. More details here: Health Ministry confirms 41 locally transmitted Zika cases A 47-year-old woman is likely to have been infected in Singapore with the Zika virus the first such case here. A statement issued jointly by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) on Saturday (27 August) said the Malaysian woman resides at Block 102 Aljunied Crescent and works in Singapore. As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore, the statement said. At this point, three other suspect cases two in a family who live in the area and an individual who works in the area had preliminarily tested positive for Zika virus infection based on their urine samples. They are pending further confirmation tests. While MOH and NEA have stepped up precautionary measures, they expect that there may be further cases, as most infected persons display mild or no symptoms. All suspect cases of Zika virus infection will be isolated while awaiting confirmation of their blood test results. The woman had developed fever, rash and conjunctivitis from 25 August. After visiting a general practitioner on 26 August, she was referred to the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where she was tested positive for Zika on 27 August. She has since been hospitalised for observation at the CDC and is currently recovering. MOH has alerted all GPs around the womans home and workplace to be extra vigilant and to immediately report patients with symptoms associated with Zika virus infection to MOH. Story continues Zika is generally a mild disease. It may cause a viral fever similar to dengue or chikungunya, with symptoms including fever, skin rashes, body aches, and headache. But there are cases of Zika virus infection who do not develop symptoms. Zika infection can, however, cause microcephaly in the unborn foetuses of pregnant women. MOH and NEA advise residents, especially pregnant women, in the Aljunied Crescent area to monitor their health. Meanwhile, NEA has stepped up its efforts to control the Aedes mosquito population in the vicinity of Aljunied Crescent by deploying about 100 officers to inspect the area. To minimise the risk of any spread of Zika in Singapore, MOH and NEA are urging the community to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding in their homes by doing the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout every other day, and protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying insect repellent regularly. London (AFP) - A footbridge collapsed Saturday onto the motorway linking London and Britain's closest ports to continental Europe on one of the busiest days of the year, though remarkably only one person was injured. The bridge over the M20 in Kent, southeast England, came down after seemingly being hit by a truck, Kent police said. The South East Coast Ambulance Service said a motorcyclist aged in the 50s had been taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs. Pictures from the scene on social media showed half the bridge still hanging over the coast-bound side of the road. Meanwhile on the London-bound side of the road, there was a truck carrying bulldozers on the hard shoulder, and the other half of the bridge came down on another truck that was overtaking it. Eyewitness Sonny Gladdish told the BBC that the truck with the bulldozers had hit one leg of the bridge, causing it to collapse, while the motorcyclist saw the bridge coming down and threw themself off the bike. It appears that the motorcyclist slid through a very narrow gap underneath the collapsed bridge. Some motorists in the coast-bound direction took their chances and drove underneath the remaining half of the bridge, eyewitnesses told the BBC. The motorway has been closed in both directions between the two nearest junctions. Kent police had warned motorists Friday to expect a busy weekend as people return to Britain from holidays on continental Europe. "The last weekend of August is traditionally busy for the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel as people return to the UK after spending the summer on the continent," it said. - Kimi Raikkonen topped the times for Ferrari ahead of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in an intriguing final free practice for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. The newly-married 36-year-old Finn clocked a best lap in one minute and 47.974 seconds to finish two-tenths clear of Australian Ricciardo, whose Red Bull team-mate and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen missed the session due to mechanical problems. Verstappen, who topped the times in Friday's practice, had to sit and watch the action in frustration, as did thousands of his fans whose presence increased attendance by around 25 per cent, according to organisers. "It's the Max-factor," they were quoted saying after another 5,000 tickets were sold overnight following Verstappen's success. AFP Two Canadian men just discovered that they were switched at birth. Leon Swanson and David Tait Jr., both 41, wept at a press conference on Friday after it was announced that they were raised by different biological mothers, according to CBC News. "What happened here is lives were stolen," Eric Robinson, a former New Democratic Party member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for Keewatinook told the media. "You can't describe it as anything less than that." Swanson and Tait were born three days apart at Norway House Indian Hospital in 1975. At the time, the hospital was run by the federal government. This marks the second case of infants at the hospital being switched at birth in 1975, according to the report. 'Forty Years Gone': Two Canadian Men Break Down in Tears After Discovering They Were Switched at Birth| Real People Stories Swanson and Tait knew each other and were raised and currently live in the remote community north of Winnipeg. Tait told reporters they are still looking for answers to the fateful switch. "We don't have words," Tait said. "Forty years gone ... just distraught, confused, angry." Fox News host Greta Van Susteren has fired back at people who criticize her for defending former boss Roger Ailes when Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. Lets first get something straight: I did not sexually harass anyone (of course.). And second, I did not know about any sexual harassment and keep it secret, Van Susteren wrote on her GretaWire blog. She also said she still does not know what really happened, but applauded Carlson for speaking out. PS Gretchen, you go girl. She KNEW about it and SPOKE up. She had the courage. She did not sit silent. I have no idea what did or did not happen. I have no idea what will happen or not happen with her lawsuit, Van Susteren said. Also Read: Greta Van Susteren Defends Roger Ailes Against Sex Harassment Claim (Exclusive) The On the Record host was a staunch supporter of Ailes, who stepped down in disgrace as CEO and chairman of Fox News after Carlsons sexual harassment lawsuit resulted in several women coming forward with similar claims. Back on July 8, before Ailes stepped down, Van Susteren told TheWrap: If there were something weird going on I would have heard it. Van Susteren said that once she went for a drink with Carlson, who expressed that she was unhappy at Fox News. She was unhappy that she was not getting air time not sexual harassment and because she bent my ear about it for such a long time is the only reason I now remember it. She was very angry whether justified or not. But for her upset about it, and the length of the conversation, I would not have remembered the conversation. That is really all I ever knew about Gretchen, Van Susteren wrote. She continued: Her sexual allegations, as best I can now figure out, occurred after that date of that drink, but I am not sure. If it had occurred before, I wish she had said something to me about sexual harassment because I certainly would have given her guidance. Also Read: Roger Ailes Investigated Journalist Who Wrote Ailes Biography (Report) Story continues Van Susteren explained in the blog post that since she worked in Washington while Carlson worked in New York, they rarely spoke. But when she spoke to TheWrap last month, Van Susteren said, There is a big difference between allegations and facts Ive spent 15 years as an employee of Roger Ailes and Ive never even seen it or heard it. She explained the situation in the blog post. It doesnt mean it didnt happen to her, it only meant when asked in early July I was telling what I knew. Period. I was surprised by it all as I am sure others were too, she wrote. I was not someone who knew about any sexual harassment and didnt speak up. Period. Also Read: Roger Ailes Hid Handguns Inside Door of His Fox News Office She says Erik Wemple of the Washington Post has specifically criticized her for defending Ailes. She calls Wemples charges absurd. Some reporters, with their own personal agendas, write what they want to believe.and even try to smear. It is a disgraceful means to try to advance ones career, she wrote. Van Susteren continued: Wimple [sic] says I should apologize. I would like an apology from some women who knew about sexual harassment in the workplace years ago but did not slip an anonymous source note under the door of HR (yes anonymous without sufficient data to identify themselves.) That anonymous note might have prevented this from happening to other women, including Gretchen. And I would like an apology from Wimple [sic] who is a smear merchant. He doesnt have a clue he is just tying to jump into a hot media topic with a me, too.' Related stories from TheWrap: Roger Ailes Investigated Journalist Who Wrote Ailes Biography (Report) Roger Ailes Hid Handguns Inside Door of His Fox News Office Inside Fox News After Roger Ailes: Rupert Murdoch Is Surprisingly Hands-On Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput became parents to a baby girl on Friday (August 26) evening. The who's who of Bollywood took to Twitter to congratulate the couple. By India Today Web Desk: Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira Rajput became parents to a healthy baby girl on Friday (August 26) evening. Mira delivered the baby at Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital in Khar, Mumbai. According to a report in DNA, the baby girl was born at 7.56pm and weighs 2.8kg. The Haider actor voiced his happiness on Twitter. She has arrived and words fall short to express our happiness. Thank you for all your wishes. Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) August 26, 2016 advertisement ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput are parents to a baby girl! Mira was due in mid-September. However, she was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday (August 24) evening, after Shahid's parents Pankaj Kapur and Supriya Pathak visited the couple at their Juhu residence. From Riteish Deshmukh and his wife Genelia to Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma, Bollywood congratulated the happy parents on Twitter. Here are some of their tweets Congratulations @shahidkapoor & Mira on birth of an angel . Welcome to the club my friend. Love & blessings to the little one. Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) August 26, 2016 Congratulations @shahidkapoor and Mira ... It's d world's best feeling and I'm sure u already know how it is.. Lotsa love to the little one Genelia Deshmukh (@geneliad) August 26, 2016 Huge congratulations to @shahidkapoor and Mira....nothing more precious than a baby girl....lots of love.... Karan Johar (@karanjohar) August 26, 2016 Congratulationssssssss to the most amazing couple @shahidkapoor @MiraRajput !!!!! Can't wait to see this beautiful baby girl!!!!???????????? Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) August 26, 2016 Congratulations to both of you & lots of love & good health for the baby girl !!! @shahidkapoor ???????????? Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) August 26, 2016 Heartfelt Congratulations 2 Mira n @shahidkapoor .. God bless ur lil Angel.. N any advice u need I'm thrice qualified????????? Farah Khan (@TheFarahKhan) August 27, 2016 Over the last couple of months, ever since news of Mira's pregnancy broke, Shahid's Instagram account has been flooded with super-adorable photos of the couple. From a babymoon to glimpses of their moments together, Shahid has been giving his followers on social media a peek into his and Mira's pre-parenthood lives. Shahid has been by his wife's side all through, putting everything else on the back burner. On the work front, the just-turned-father will soon be seen on the big screen in Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming film Rangoon, alongside Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut. --- ENDS --- Human rights activists in Europe rejoiced Friday after Frances highest court suspended the so-called burkini ban. While the ruling applies only to the town of Villeneuve-Loubet, the decision is expected to set a precedent throughout the country. The ban on certain kinds of modest swimwear worn by some Muslim women "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms to come and go, freedom of beliefs and individual freedom," part of the ruling read. The seaside getaway was one of 30 cities and towns across France, including Cannes and Nice, which had instituted similar restrictions barring what their mayors deemed symbols of Islamic extremism. #BREAKING French court suspends burkini ban after challenge AFP news agency (@AFP) August 26, 2016 The restriction on swimwear came in the wake of a series of Islamic extremist attacks that terrorized the country in the past two years. Between a massacre at the offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, a coordinated assault on Parisian nightlife in November 2015 and a lorry attack in Nice in July, more than 200 French people have lost their lives to terrorism in the past 20 months. French mayors had banned the swimwear in the name of laicit, a dogmatic form of secularism that has long been a tenet of the French political way of life. In 2011 France became the first European country to ban the burka, the niqab and other full face and body coverings worn by some Muslim women. Im relieved with the decision of the highest court, Samia Hathroubi, a French-Tunisian activist from the Foundation of Ethnic Understanding, told Travel + Leisure. Its good to feel that we live in a country of rights and not in a kind of ayatollah, laicit dictatorship, she said. Jess McHugh is a digital reporter for Travel + Leisure. You can find her on Twitter at @MchughJess. Related Articles PARIS (Reuters) - A U.N. report on the use of chemical weapons in Syria is a chance to push Russia to accept a resolution condemning the Syrian regime and resume political negotiations, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. A joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW found that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas. "We are working with our partners in the U.N. Security Council, notably the United States and Britain, on a resolution condemning the attacks under Chapter 7," Ayrault told France's Le Monde newspaper in a interview published on Saturday. "This means sanctions against the perpetrators of these crimes and those responsible for these abominations," he said. The Security Council is due to discuss the report next week. The inquiry found there was sufficient information to conclude that Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped devices that then released toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015, both in Idlib province. Both cases involved the use of chlorine. It has 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. Ayrault said France's goal was to obtain a condemnation by the Security Council and create the conditions for resuming political dialogue. "We must use this opportunity to tell Russia: You now have a opportunity to head back to the political track and get out of the military quagmire you walked into," Ayrault said. Russia said on Thursday it was prepared to work with the United States on a response to the U.N. report. Le Monde quoted Ayrault as saying: "Russia says it wants a political solution and resuming talks in Geneva? I tell them then: condemn the Syrian regime and stop the bombings." (Reporting by Bate Felix and John Irish; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Harry Connick, Jr. and Randy Jackson are teaming up to bring aid to their home state of Louisiana. The former American Idol judges are set to co-host Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Relief on Labor Day (Sept. 5). The live broadcast will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the River Center Theater. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Red Cross's Louisiana Flood Relief Center, according to The Advocate. Britney Spears Raising Money for Louisiana Flood Victims "Saddened by the devastating tragedies that keep affecting my Louisiana," Jackson said. "I want to help restore hope to people that are hurting in a place that I will always call home." Connick added that he wanted to bring "much needed attention to the good people of Louisiana." "So sorry that my home state is undergoing such hardship once again," he said. "Seems like just yesterday that Katrina left a path of destruction," American Idol season 15 alum Mackenzie Bourg, who was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, will perform. The cause is close to Bourg's heart, as family members were affected by the floods. wanted to ask for ur thoughts & prayers for my family in Louisiana who had their house flooded bc i have a heavy heart right now, much love - MacKenzie Bourg (@mackenziebourg) August 13, 2016 The lineup also includes Better Than Ezra, Sonny Landreth, Chris Thomas King, and Luther Kent. Johnny Palazzotto of Baton Rouge will serve as the musical director. A full lineup is expected to be announced next week. Hazy conditions seen outside the Parliament House on Friday (26 August). (Photo: Yahoo Newsroom) As of 9am on Saturday (27 August), Singapores 24-hour Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) reading stood at 88-141 while the PM2.5 pollution index was 16-59. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) website, from which the data was obtained, the PSI measurement was within the moderate-unhealthy range while the PM2.5 figures reflected normal to elevated pollution levels. The three-hour PSI reading stood at 74, within the moderate range. The haze, which made its return on Friday (26 August), were the result of haze from central Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing westerly winds, said the NEA in an update. In a media release, also on Friday, the NEA said that 11 hotspots had been detected in Sumatra and that hazy conditions were expected to persist through Saturday. The haze experienced in Singapore is due to regional forest fires caused by the practice of open burning to clear land for agricultural uses. The agencys chief executive officer has also written to his Indonesian counterpart to register Singapores concerns over additional episodes of deterioration in air quality in Singapore should the fires continue, the release said. Director Harald Zwart, who last made a feature in the country eight years ago, has returned to Norway with The 12th Man,which has begun its local shoot for producer Aage Aaberge and Nordisk Film Production. Co-produced by Norways Motion Blur (co-owned by Zwart), the $6.8 million tells the story of Norwegian war hero Jan Baalsrud, who was one of 12 Norwegian resistance fighters crossing the North Sea on a fishing boat, to blow up the Bardufoss Airport in March 1943, during the Nazi occupation. Their boat is discovered, and the saboteurs blow it up, trying to escape in a smaller boat. But 11 of them are captured, and killed by the enemy; only 25-year-old Baalsrud manages to escape, and after hiding in a snow cave on the fjell for two months, he is able to cross the border to neutral Sweden. Zwart started shooting north of the Arctic Circle in April, starting with the ending. The lead character had to lose weight at some point Baalsrud was down to 35 kilos (77 pounds); the producers needed presentation material for the final financing; and filming a scene with 1,000 reindeer extras could not be postponed, because they were about to leave for their summer residence. At the Nowegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund, executive producer Espen Horn, of Motion Blur, talked about The 12th Man, which he insisted will not become a traditional war epic, but a thriller about the adventurous deed by this freedom fighter, who by his friends was described as a warm person with a good smile. Baalsrud managed to get away from the first German attack by swimming 100 metres through cold water to a small island, where waited until the Germans had left the area. He would not change his wet soldiers clothes, because he would be mistaken as a civilian, who would have shot on first sight, Horn said. Hunted by the Gestapo, his journey was certainly not easy as all Norwegian school kids have learned, he became so frozen, that he could hardly walk, and when both his feet became gangrenous, he drank a bottle of whisky and himself cut off seven of his toes with a little knife. Having arrived at Sweden, he spent seven months in hospital, Horn added. Story continues Starring Thomas Gullestad as Baalsrud and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, most of the film will be shot in the Troms region in collaboration with Norwegian regional film center FilmCamp. It will be released in the Scandinavian countries on Nov. 10, 2017, by Nordisk Film Distribution. Denmarks TrustNordisk handles international sales. Based on Tore Haug and Astrid Karlsen Scotts 2001 book, The 12th Man is scripted by Petter Skavlan, who also wrote the Oscar-nominated Kon-Tiki (2012), which Aaberge produced. Kon-Tiki took 900,000 admissions in Norway and was sold to more than 120 countries. Dutch-born Zwart made has made several films in the US, including such movies as Karate Kid (2010), which grossed more than $350 million worldwide. Most recently he signed The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013), and besides his Norwegian feature, he is in pre-production with the Keanu Reeves starrer Rally Car. Pictured above: Director Harald Zwart during the first stages of The 12th Man Norwegian shoot in April in Troms, north of the Arctic Circle Related stories Pernilla August Explores Forbidden Love in Drama 'Serious Game' 'Karate Kid' Director Harald Zwart Boards Keanu Reeves Action Movie 'Rally Car' France's SND Acquires Jose Skaf's Sci-fi Thriller- Drama 'Vulcania' The power of social media! A hungover customer in Alberta, Canada, posted a kind review of a struggling fish and chips shop, Whitbies Fish & Chips, on Sunday, August 21, that has since gone viral. In it, Colin Ross, 31, explained that he had stumbled upon the deserted spot in Lethbridge, Canada, when he was looking for some fried food to remedy his headache, and he felt compelled to help out a fellow Canadian in need. PHOTOS: Viral Stars: 2016's Biggest Internet Celebrities So I lived on the west side for few years now coming up the hill from the driving range I see fish in chips on the wall and said I never been there so I am a little hung over thinking fish and chips will fix me up I open the door and there is a 70 year old man all by himself in this nice clean establishment so I ask him hows business and he said he cant even pay himself at the end of the day so that really bothered me, Ross wrote, alongside a photo of the establishment in question. Anyone who know me I have a big heart and want people to do well especially a 70 year old man who has put in his time, Ross continued. So I ordered the halibut special for 23$ absolutely amazing that traditional British fish and chips just what I needed. PHOTOS: Celebrity Charity The satisfied customer then went on to encourage his Facebook friends to come out in support of 69-year-old John McMillan. His post has been liked more than 260 times and shared nearly 8,400 times since it was first posted. Ross later commented on his original post, thanking everyone for their generosity and noting that the tiny win for McMillan made him cry with happiness. PHOTOS: Viral Stars: 2015's Biggest Internet Celebrities McMillan told the CBC that he, too, couldnt be happier with the surprise turn of events. Our business has gone right through the roof to the point of where, you know, weve got people waiting an hour and a half to an hour and three-quarters for their dinner. Story continues Related Content: Ahamad Iqbal, a Sri Lankan citizen, had come to Tamil Nadu for treatment as he is mentally unstable. He misplaced his documents and was arrested in April. His family appealed to the Madras High Court and the court ordered his release. By Akshaya Nath: It is a moment of relief for the family of Ahamed Iqbal, a Sri Lankan citizen, who has been serving sentence at the Puzhal prison in Tamil Nadu. The Danushkodi police in Rameshwaram arrested Ahamed on April 2 this year because he lacked proper documentations. Ever since his arrest, the family has been running pillar to post to prove his innocence and take him back home. advertisement WHAT HAPPENED Ahamed, while being arrested at Danushkodi, did not have his passport or visa, which he said has been misplaced. After serving jail sentence and paying the fine of Rs 50 for illegal entry without proper documentations, he was sent to the refugee camp in Rameshwaram. Ahamed's family has now come forward with documents to prove that Ahamed had been mentally unstable and was in Tamil Nadu for treatment where he misplaced his documents. WAS MENTALLY UNSTABLE, CAME FOR TREATMENT AND MISPLACED DOCUMENTS The Madras High Court, based on a plea under humanitarian grounds, has ordered Ahamed's release. While addressing the media along with Ahamed's father, his lawyer Murugan said, "The family is grateful for the release of Ahamed and we thank the Madras High Court judge for releasing him. He will be getting his renewed passport by Monday or Tuesday and soon after they will return to Sri Lanka." There are more than 1,02,055 Sri Lankan refugees residing in Tamil Nadu, who moved to the state during the Sri Lankan civil war. The state of unrest in Sri Lanka forced Sri Lankan Tamils to move out of their country in four phases. Even now, though the war situation has come to rest and the government has also changed, tensions between Tamils and Sinhalese remain. Also Read: Brain dead Sri Lankan refugee gives new lease of life to four HC orders release of SL refugee, allows him to return home --- ENDS --- By Dave McKinney CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner urged lawmakers on Friday to allow voters in 2018 to decide whether to change how political boundaries are drawn after the state's Supreme Court a day earlier declared a petition-driven redistricting initiative for this fall's statewide ballot unconstitutional. Rauner called Illinois' existing political maps, which are drawn by Democrats who control the General Assembly, "rigged and gerrymandered" because they have left a majority of legislative races this fall without challengers to incumbent legislators. "Our system of government is broken," Rauner told reporters during a stop in Marion, in far southern Illinois. "Two-thirds of our general elections don't have opponents, and we've got to change the system." The next opportunity for state legislators to put a constitutional amendment before voters comes in two years, when the first-term governor is expected to be in the midst of a re-election campaign. "Our system has been run by a broken, powerful political machine in Chicago that looks out for itself, not for the people of Illinois, and certainly not for the people of southern Illinois," Rauner said. "We've got to get the power away from that machine, and we can do it with political reform." Rauner's comments came less than 24 hours after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to uphold a lower court ruling that would keep in place the once-a-decade, partisan-controlled political mapmaking process that has allowed for Democratic majorities in the state legislature and on the elected Supreme Court. The amendment, if it was placed on November's ballot and passed by a majority of Illinois voters, would have transferred the power of re-drawing legislative districts to a bipartisan commission. More than 563,000 Illinois voters signed petitions backing the amendment. There were 12 redistricting amendments filed in both chambers during the current legislative session though none won approval in both chambers. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled the ballot initiative fell outside the scope of permissible ballot initiatives, which may only be used for amendments directed at "structural and procedural subjects" in the constitution pertaining to Illinois's legislative branch. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Robert Thomas wrote: "Today a muzzle has been placed on the people of this State, and their voices supplanted by judicial fiat." (Reporting by Dave McKinney in Chicago; Additional reporting by Kim Palmer in Cleveland, Ohio, and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Eric M. Johnson, Bernard Orr) Peshmerganor He simply goes by Mike. As a Kurdish refugee from Iraq in the 1980s, his family luckily made their way into Norway to escape the horrors inflicted by Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime. After growing up and joining the Norwegian Armed Forces, the soldier, now in his early 30s, served in an elite mechanized-infantry unit and eventually completed a tour in Afghanistan. However, it wasn't until August 2014, when ISIS took control of Sinjar, Iraq, that Mike decided to join the Peshmerga Iraqi-Kurdistan's independent military force. It was at Sinjar that stories of ISIS atrocities from the execution of 5,000 Yazidi men, to the systematic raping and selling of women and children first broke out in major news headlines. It did an impression on me, Mike told Business Insider. What was worse, though, was the lack of action from the world community, including my own government. I decided that I couldnt sit idly by and watch these horrors unfold. Now, returning to the same country his parents escaped from decades ago, he fights the ISIS militia under the Peshmerga flag and motto: "Those who face death." But getting started wasnt as easy as picking up a rifle and starting to shoot. Many of the Peshmerga fighters werent properly trained for combat after coming straight from civilian life, the locals are typically issued a set of uniforms and a rifle before being told to man the front. Teaching these fighters basic infantry skills, Mike and several other volunteers from Canada, the UK, Norway, and Australia have tried to instill whatever talents theyve learned in their respective fields, such as medical training. Sinjar children flee isis However, its not merely enough to believe in the Kurdish cause, or to have a particular set of skills, to join the Peshmerga. Due to several reasons, including pressure from several countries, Mike has been unwilling to assist those who want to join his cause. Story continues It would look bad if Americas veterans are the ones doing all the fighting on the ground, while US forces themselves are reluctant to send their own troops, he stated. Those who do successfully end up in Iraq are typically placed in inactive fronts, out of harms way, until theyre bored out of their minds and leave the country broke and disappointed. In the rare case that a soldier exhibits exceptional knowledge or skill, he offered an exception. There are some good volunteers down here that are allowed to stay at active fronts, and in some rare cases, allowed to take part in offensive operations as well. The challenges dont end there. As a volunteer in an all-volunteer unit, he receives no salary from the Kurdish or Iraqi government instead, he relies solely on the donations from his followers on social media to finance his weapons and ammunition. I have great supporters and Im able to buy gear, food, and fuel to my unit in addition to financing my stay here, he described. We have little support from the government and barely and logistics, but [we somehow make it through]. peshmerganor His favorite weapon happens to be an old MG-42 machine gun that dates back to World War II; however, when it breaks down, which happens often, he resorts to his tried-and-true M-16. Interestingly, his first Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (ACOG) scope on his rifle turned out of be a useless fake with the help of his supporters, he has since replaced it with a functioning unit. Considering the cost of his fight $100 buys him 120 rounds for his rifle, while $65 buys him 50 bullets for his pistol when his financial situation becomes dire, he relies on ammunition and heavy weapons taken from dead ISIS fighters. Unbeknownst to many outside of Iraq, his supporter-financed work seems to be making a direct difference on the front lines. One example of this included successfully driving back a major ISIS offensive near a dam in Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city. After receiving intelligence that the jihadists were launching an attack at a friendly units location, Mike and his unit decided to make the drive during the night to reinforce the local Peshmerga forces. Sure enough, in the early hours of the morning, ISIS militants came storming in at a full force. We fought for 8 hours straight and lost one man but we fought them off and killed dozens or so, explained Mike. We were later told that ISIS would have probably broken through the lines if [we hadnt been there]. peshmerganor Like many wars, Mike has had his share of harrowing moments as well. Mike described the terrifying battle he experienced when ISIS launched one of their deadliest offensives in a year the same battle that took the life of US Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV. The fight was later described by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) as "a big fight, one of the largest we've seen recently." [ISIS was] able to break through the lines and seize a nearby town when panic broke out amongst some of the local forces. The units guarding our right flank abandoned their posts and tried to [convince] my unit into fleeing [with them] " "In a desperate [move] to make them return to their posts, I decided to run over to man one of their fortified positions by myself. To my disappointment, I ended up running several hundred meters to the position all alone I stayed at that position for nearly 20 minutes and watched ISIS breaking through the lines with 50 vehicles and several hundred men." "I was expecting them to work their way down the line toward me and that I would have to face them alone that was definitely not a good feeling. Luckily, reinforcements arrived [shortly afterward] and we were able to stop their advance at that fortified position. Peshmerganor Other than the sporadic mortar fire and ISIS skirmishes, the biggest challenge for Mike and his unit seems to stem not from his units equipment deficiencies or ISIS fighting capabilities, but from the bureaucratic red tape that surrounds his area of operations. He explained to Business Insider that there existed a stalemate at the front, as his unit could only advance through a few villages and towns at a time before having to wait for the Iraqi Army to reinforce his position. During such down times, he says he resorts to killing time on his phone. Mike's deployments are typically three months long, down from his first six-month deployment. [That first deployment] took a toll on me, both mentally and physically. I learned my lesson after that. After a rotation, he spends about a month of time back in Europe, primarily with his girlfriend, who is also frequently mentioned on his Instagram account. I can deal with the poor living condition, the lack of food and sleep, the constant threat from the enemy, but being away from my girlfriend for months at a time is definitely the biggest challenge, Mike said. peshmerganor But its not only his girlfriend that shares his concern. My whole family [is] aware that I'm volunteering ... they're not too fond of it. They've tried to talk me out of it several times, but my mind is set I'm not coming home until Mosul is liberated. As far as goals go, the city of Mosul is where Mike and CJTF have their sights set. As one of the few ISIS strongholds that remain in Iraq, many months have been spent on formulating a plan to not only liberate the city from ISIS hands, but to prevent the jihadists from returning again. Taking part in the Mosul operation [has] been my goal since 2014 but to be honest, I thought we would have taken it back by the end of last year, he explained. The fall of Ramadi postponed the operation, but I havent lost sight of my goal. Mosul has turned out to be my white whale. Although military officials have estimated that Mosul will be liberated by the end of the year, the future of the city remains uncertain. Sleeper cells in previously liberated cities still exist as a confirmed threat, and the likelihood of continuing sectarianism in Iraq poses a risk of alienating one of many groups in the region. Whats also uncertain is Mikes future once ISIS is ousted from the city. I would ideally [like to go] back to my old Army unit, but Ive lost my security clearance due to my service with the Peshmerga, he explained. Ill never be allowed to join the Norwegian Armed Forces again, but Im sure Ill do alright somehow. Peshmerganor Until then, Mike continues to remain with his Peshmerga unit on the front lines, committed to ISIS ouster. He concluded the interview by offering a strong message against ISIS forces: Your mortar and rocket [attacks arent] impressing anyone, Mike made clear. Step up your game and come attack us head-on you know where to find us. You can keep up with Mikes travels on his Instagram account. NOW WATCH: The US Army is sending Apache attack helicopters to fight ISIS in Iraq More From Business Insider By Harry Pearl SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Iranian refugee held at an Australian-funded detention center in Papua New Guinea has won a political cartooning award for his work depicting life inside the camp. Ali, a 25-year-old whose pen name is Eaten Fish, has chronicled his three-year detention on Manus Island as he struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and debilitating panic attacks. Under Australia's hardline immigration policy, anyone intercepted trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to camps on Manus or Nauru in the South Pacific. They are not eligible to be resettled in Australia. Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) said Ali was recognized for his courage in documenting life under Australia's offshore detention program - which drew thousands of protesters onto streets across the country on Saturday calling for its closure. "Eaten Fish has been able to keep up a stream of cartoons documenting the unspeakable abuses and excesses of the guards and administrators of the camp," Joel Pett, president of CRNI's board of directors, said in a statement on Friday. "For this he has been the subject of beatings, deprivation of food, and even worse degrading treatment by the guards." Alis Australian-based advocate, Janet Galbraith, said the award meant a lot to the young cartoonist - whose work has been published in The Guardian newspaper - but it was also an indictment of Australias detention program. Previous winners have included cartoonists jailed or disappeared for their work. Galbraith said Ali, who fled Iran due to fears of government persecution, was sick and needed specialist medical assistance. Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection denied the claims made by CRNI and defended the care provided at the facility. "The department currently has no evidence that any of these allegations are true," a spokesman said in an email to Reuters. Australia and Papua New Guinea said earlier this month the Manus center would be shut but they gave no date for the closure, leaving the fate of about 800 refugees unclear. (Reporting by Harry Pearl; Editing by Stephen Coates) (ASCOLI PICENO, Italy) A young man wept over a little girls white coffin, while a woman nearby gently stroked another small casket, as Italians bid farewell Saturday to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck a mountainous region of central Italy this week. As Italians observed a day of national mourning, President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members for a state funeral for 35 of the 290 people killed in Wednesdays quake. Mourners, among them many injured, wept and held each other in a sweltering community gym in the town of Ascoli Piceno as the local bishop, Giovanni DErcole, urged them to rebuild their communities. Dont be afraid to cry out your suffering I have seen a lot of this but please do not lose courage, DErcole told them. Only together can we rebuild our houses and our churches. Together, above all, we will be able to restore life to our communities. Before the mass funeral, people hugged and cried as they bid their final farewells to loved ones in the gym, which was transformed into a makeshift chapel for the ceremony. Among the victims were two girls, 18-month-old Marisol Piermarini and 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, whose younger sister survived against the odds beneath the rubble, still holding her dead sibling. Hundreds of locals gathered outside to mourn and show support. It is a great tragedy. There are no words to describe it, said town resident Gina Razzetti. Each one of us has our pain inside. We are thinking about the families who lost relatives, who lost their homes, who lost everything. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, killing at least 290 people and injuring nearly 400. The death toll has steadily risen as rescue workers continue to find bodies buried in rubble. Nobody has been found alive in the ruins since Wednesday, and hopes have faded of finding any more survivors. Story continues Before Saturdays mass funeral, the president visited Amatrice, the town that bore the brunt of destruction with 230 fatalities. Eleven others died in nearby Accumoli and 49 more in Arquata del Tronto, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Amatrice. Mattarella arrived by helicopter at the edge of Amatrice, a once-picturesque stone town. He was shown the extent of the damage by the mayor, Sergio Pirozzi. The president met and thanked rescue workers who have been working since early Wednesday. Saturdays mass funeral involved most of the dead from Arquata del Tronto, 25 kilometers (16 miles) to the southwest of Ascoli Piceno. Other funerals took place Friday, with the majority still to come. Giulias sister, Giorgia, was pulled alive from the rubble Wednesday after being buried for many hours. She turned 4 on Saturday and was recovering in a hospital next door to the site of the funeral. The bishop told mourners that, when the firefighters recovered the two sisters, they were holding each other. The older one, Giulia, was spread out on the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace, DErcole said. Many children and elderly people were killed. Some of the older residents had grandchildren visiting in the last days of summer. The melancholy grabs on to your heart. You feel a sense of weakness, of depression, said Fiore Ciotto, a resident of Ascoli Piceno who attended the funeral. An event like this weakens you physically and mentally. Overnight, residents of the area were rattled yet again by a series of aftershocks. The strongest, at 4:50 a.m., had a magnitude of 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4. The Italian institute and other authorities say the earthquake caused the ground below Accumoli to sink 20 centimeters (8 inches), according to satellite images. Many people left homeless have been spending their nights in tent cities where volunteers have been working to provide basic amenities. * Abe says it is investment that has faith in Africa's future * African leaders also ask for help tackling lack of security (Adds details of where the money will go) By George Obulutsa NAIROBI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told African leaders on Saturday that his country will commit $30 billion in public and private support for infrastructure development, education and healthcare expansion in the continent. Resource-poor Japan has long been interested in tapping Africa's vast natural resources, even more so since dependence on oil and natural gas imports jumped after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster shut almost all of Japan's nuclear reactors. Abe, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), said the package would be spread over three years from this year and include $10 billion for infrastructure projects, to be executed through cooperation with the African Development Bank. "When combined with investment from the private sector, I expect that the total will amount to $30 billion. This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future, an investment for Japan and Africa to grow together," he told a gathering of more than 30 heads of state and government from across Africa. The $30 billion announced on Saturday is in addition to $32 billion that Japan pledged to Africa over a five-year period at the last TICAD meeting in 2013. Abe said 67 percent of that had already been put to use in various projects. "Today's new pledges will enhance and further expand upon those launched three years ago. The motive is quality and enhancement," he said. Japan's overall direct investment in Africa totalled $1.24 billion in 2015, down from about $1.5 billion a year earlier, according to the Japan External Trade Organization, which does not provide a breakdown of sectors. Its presence in infrastructure projects ranges from roads, ports and airports to power plants. Story continues In comparison, rival China made a single investment of $2 billion in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea in the month of April 2015 alone. A tranche of Japan's new package will go towards various power projects to increase production capacity by 2,200 megawatts across the continent, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Money will also be spent on training 20,000 mathematics and science teachers throughout Africa, as well as 20,000 experts on how to handle infectious diseases. Chadian President and current African Union Chairman Idriss Deby, attending the summit, urged Tokyo also to support efforts to tackle a lack of security, including that arising from terrorism. "At the recent African Union Summit, we did say how it was important to mobilise the international community to counter all these scourges," he said. "I urge all our partners, and in particular Japan, to contribute to the African Fund Against Terrorism that was set up and established by the Kigali summit," Deby said, in reference to an AU meeting held in Rwanda in July. (Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Editing by Aaron Maasho and Dale Hudson) Nairobi (AFP) - Japan will pour $30 billion (27 billion euros) in investment into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. "When combined with the investment from the private sector I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion," Abe said at the opening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). "This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future," he said. Abe will use the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the TICAD conference is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. The goal of the conference is to boost trade and aid to Africa, as Japan hopes that quality will trump quantity in the battle for influence against cash-rich China. While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long since been eclipsed by regional rival China. The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. Nairobi (AFP) - Japan will pour $30 billion of investments into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. Abe is using the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. "When combined with the investment from the private sector I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion (26.8 billion euros)," Abe said as the TICAD summit got underway. That figure includes $9 billion yet to be spent from pledges made at the previous TICAD conference in 2013. "This is an investment that has faith in Africa's future," he said. The goal of the conference, organised jointly by the UN, the African Union, the World Bank and Japan, is to boost trade and aid to Africa, as Japan hopes that quality will trump quantity in the battle against cash-rich China for influence on the continent. While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long been eclipsed by regional archrival China. - 'Japan can grow vigorously' - The world's second-largest economy -- a resource-hungry giant -- recorded total trade with Africa of about $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan's approximately $24 billion. Some 30 African heads of state are taking part in the conference, which runs until Sunday. Around 70 agreements are expected to be signed. "We have a feeling in our gut that in Africa, where possibilities abound, Japan can grow vigorously," said Abe. "The wealthiest countries today, with very few exceptions, got rich by trading with others," President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the conference. Chad's Idriss Deby, who currently chairs the African Union, noted that Africa's economy had been badly affected by falling commodity prices, several conflicts and climate change. Story continues "Our struggle for development cannot succeed without peace, stability and above all security," he said. Deby called on Africa's partners to contribute to a counter-terrorism fund recently set up by the African Union and to help speed up economic growth, poverty reduction and promote better health care. The World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria meanwhile pledged $24 billion over the next three to five years towards Africa's efforts to achieve universal health coverage. 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 has 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. - '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." Story continues "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 was married to 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). The great scholar, traveller and explorer, Ibn Battuta once wrote-"travelling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." Battuta's words couldn't have resonated with us more. For, the two of us got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Indo-Italian trade meet in Italy organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce in association with the Embassy of India, Rome. We were truly speechless with the enchanting country, and despite spending days of planning, reading up and doing research on the country, we found ourselves not sticking to the plan at all. advertisement Instead, we celebrated every bit of the Italian sojourn by taking things slow. We stuck to walking, finding our way through the labyrinth of each city, exploring it in the best way one can do-on foot. Aware that this was a work trip, we were quite determined to balance the hours we gave to the trade meets and the time we spent touristing. There had to be some distinction between business and pleasure, after all. But the reception to our work was so heartwarming that it felt as if we were chatting with old pals instead of clients. A legal consultant from Milan was stunned by our exquisite handloom jamdani pieces. Even more so when he learned that the fabric was woven by hand. "How much would it cost? 200 or 300 euros?" he guessed and was shocked to know that in India we would price it at a mere fraction of what he had quoted. They had such immense respect for handicrafts and their artistic heritage. It made us realise that we take our cheap but skilled labour back home, so lightly. Milan: Our first stop was Milan, the Mecca of fashion. As fashion designers, this was our pilgrimage. After we wound up our meetings, we started our journey on foot and it was as if we were children in Disneyland, fascinated by nearly every monument and every piece of architecture that came on our way. But what stole our heart was the grandeur of the Doumo cathedral. We reached there on a rainy, damp and rather depressing evening but its magnificent architecture truly mesmerized us. When we came out of the cathedral, we were welcomed by a clear sky and beautiful sunlight. It was like everything was washed anew. Venice: After Milan, we headed to Venice by train which was just three hours away. We were both awed by the sartorial elegance of Italian men- they all looked like they had come out of the pages of GQ. A Bollywood movie buff will remember Zeenat Aman and Amitabh Bachchan's romantic rendezvous in Venice, cruising down the canals in a gondola, singing Do lafzon ki hai dil ki kahani. As charming as the idea sounds, water buses are a faster and much more practical way to see the city than the gondolas. In fact when an American couple overheard how many places we had covered in such few days, they exclaimed, "oh you should plan our trip!" The Grand St Mark's Basilica, the Bell Tower and the Doge's Palace, all of which are masterpieces, caught our fancy, and we found ourselves spending hours exploring each facet of these architectural marvels. The city turned out to be quite different from the Venice we imagined. Our last destination for the day was the tiny island of Burano. advertisement Burano: Burano is well-known for its brightly painted houses and exquisite lace embroidery. The vibrant homes are the first thing that will catch your eye. According to history, families used to paint their homes in bright colours to designate where their family's quarters ended and a neighbour's began, as well as to make their homes more visible from the sea. The tradition has stuck ever since. Today, Burano is a rainbow of fun colours and a photographer's paradise. Rimini: The next day saw us visiting the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world, the Republic of San Marino. We drove from Milan for around five hours looking at the beautiful country side making our journey towards the tranquil hill station. advertisement The beach town of Rimini in Italy. Picture courtesy: Simply Kolkata Our hotel was in Rimini, which was further an hour away. Rimini turned out to be a lovely little beach town with colourful umbrellas on the beach and cafes and shops on the waterfront. It was a sunbather's heaven. Thankfully, we were able to hit the beach by sunset. Italian food accompanied by Peroni beer and red wine had us chatting and talking to our group till the wee hours. Vatican City: The next morning, we headed out for Rome, getting a glimpse of the picturesque country side of Italy. Coming from the serene beauty of nature to a busy city was a sudden shift for us, but we had no time to waste as we headed to witness one of the greatest wonders of the world, The Colosseum. This amphitheatre is the biggest and most significant in the Roman world. Although today it is partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, it still remains an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. As the trip came to its conclusion, we realised that our wanderlust resulted in our feet being bruised and stomachs tired of being fed pizzas. advertisement A Bangladeshi businessman who we befriended, gave us his lunch-rice and curry. After an eight day and seven city journey, it was brilliant to get a taste of home. That is when we realised--when in Rome, you needn't always do what the Romans do. Rimi Nayak and Sayantan Sarkar are fashion designers and friends. --- ENDS --- Happy National Dog Day! There's few things a Hollywood star can count on more than their furry friends. Dogs have been there for our favorite celebs through thick and thin, great for Instagram likes, workout buddies, and always there to keep a good secret. WATCH: George Clooney on Adopting a Dog for His Parents: 'He's the Love of Their Lives' It's no wonder the stars came out on Friday to pay tribute to their four-legged companions. Check out a few of our favorite National Dog Day pics below. John Stamos took to Instagram on Friday to share an adorable photo of himself swimming with his dog, Frieda, though pics like these aren't uncommon on the 53-year-old actor's page. Stamos' Instagram is full of cute puppy pics of Frieda and his other dog, Linka, who died last week. RELATED: This Dog Met Ryan Gosling and Had the Exact Same Reaction You Would Have Kate Upton has somehow passed down her photogenic genes to her dog, Harley! The model and her pooch shared a cute smooch in celebration of the holiday on Friday, and couldn't look better while doing it. Gina Rodriguez and her pup Casper have grown so close, they're starting to look alike! The Jane the Virgin star and her furry friend showed off their Snapchat filter mastery on Instagram. RELATED: Channing Tatum's Lovefest With His Dog Is All You Need to Get Through the Day Russell Wilson took a break from newlywed life to gush about his dogs, Prince and Naomi. "Best Dogs Ever!" Wilson wrote on Instagram, along with a snap of his two great danes looking out at a lake. "Early Mornings Sitting on the porch!" Check out more sweet shots below. WATCH: Britney Spears Weeping Over Her Dog Eating Her Cheese Is Everything WATCH: Serena Williams Ate Her Dog's Gourmet Food Because It 'Looked Good,' Ran to the Toilet Two Hours Later WATCH: Shannen Doherty Says Her Dog Was First to Detect Her Breast Cancer While many celebs paid tribute to their dogs, Zac Efron was remembering his dog, Puppy, in a different way. The 28-year-old actor announced that Puppy had died with a touching post on Instagram on Thursday night. Story continues "Through thick and think you've always been my best friend. I'll see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron," he wrote. See more in the video below. Related Articles By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will decide whether criminal contempt charges will be brought against Arizona lawman Joe Arpaio for violating court orders in a racial profiling case, court documents released late on Friday showed. The department's criminal division has been assigned the case against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and three others after the U.S. Attorney's Office for Arizona asked to be recused, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. The criminal referral centers on U.S. District Judge Murray Snow's ruling that Arpaio intentionally violated a 2011 court order barring the sheriff's office from stopping and detaining drivers solely based on the suspicion that they were in the country illegally. The stops continued for another 18 months. Snow also cited Arpaio and his office for failing to disclose documents and preserve records in the case, as ordered. The referral came 11 days before the 84-year-old Arpaio, who has proclaimed himself as Americas toughest sheriff, is slated to face-off against three others in a Republican primary on Aug. 30 in a bid for his seventh term as sheriff. Political observers say he should win the primary, but is expected to be in a fight in the November general election. The court filing stated that the recusal of the U.S. Attorney's Office was "based upon existing conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest," without elaboration. A spokesman declined comment on Friday. Last Friday, Snow recommended Arpaio face criminal charges for ignoring court orders arising out of the judge's ruling that Arpaio and his deputies were guilty of racial profiling of Latino motorists. Snow also sought criminal charges against Arpaio's second-in-command, Gerard Sheridan, along with Maricopa County Sheriff's Captain Steve Bailey and an Arpaio attorney, Michele Iafrate. Arpaio's criminal defense attorney, Mel McDonald, said on Friday he was not surprised about the transfer to the justice department, adding that it was immediately unclear what effect that will have in the case. McDonald has said the sheriff disputes Snow's determination. Story continues It will be up to justice department officials whether to pursue any charges after an investigation. If not, another judge assigned to the case could appoint a special prosecutor to take up the matter. Criminal contempt charges carry penalties of incarceration and fines. Arpaio and Sheridan already have admitted to civil contempt for violating court orders. But said their conduct was not willful or intentional key standards for a criminal prosecution. (Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix; Editing by Curtis Skinner and Simon Cameron-Moore) (Reuters) - The Kansas City area was flooded late Friday after a three-day downpour, forcing emergency services to conduct about 10 water rescues in Missouri's largest city, officials said. News photos showed vehicles stopped or abandoned as flood waters swelled across streets. No injuries nor fatalities were reported. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency notice to the Kansas City area for the first time ever on Friday night that went into Saturday morning. The flooding had receded within the urban center later on Saturday, but rivers in more rural regions north of the city were still overflowing, said Dan Hawblitzel, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Kansas City. Rains and some thunderstorms were forecast in parts of the region on Saturday, but were not expected to cause further flooding, Hawblitzel said. Widespread precipitation in the region had brought anywhere from 3 to 8 inches of rainfall to the city since Wednesday, causing waterways in the region including the Missouri River to overflow, Hawblitzel said. "Some parts of the city received more rain last night than they had seen all summer long," he said in a phone interview, noting it was the first time the weather service had issued a flash flood emergency for the region since it began such notices in the past decade. Kansas City's Fire Chief Paul Berardi posted the emergency warning on Twitter late Friday, adding the department was conducting water rescues in three parts of the city. A spokeswoman for the Johnson County Emergency Management office on Saturday said they had received reports of approximately 10 water rescues and had no reports of injuries or fatalities. (Reporting by Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Bernard Orr) After Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor broke up in January this year, the actress has been on a hunt for a new house in Mumbai. Few months back, the paparazzi had spotted Katrina with her manager while they were on a hunt for a bungalow in burbs of Mumbai. However, Ms. Kaif seems to have had a change of mind. According to a popular daily, Katrina has shelved the plans of buying a bungalow and instead plans to shift to her old house in Bandra itself. A bungalow or a fancy home in Mumbai is no longer something the London born actress desires, revealed an insider to the daily. Recommended Read: This is what Kareena had to say about bro Ranbirs split with Katrina! Katrina will move out of her love nest where she lived with her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, and go back to her previous apartment Guldev Sagar, in October. The reasons cited for this change of mind reported by the daily, are - firstly, Katrina is heartbroken after she separated from her boyfriend and doesnt want to make Mumbai her permanent home. Secondly, buying a bungalow in Mumbai doesnt make sense to her now and instead she plans to invest that money in some other World capital. Well, we wonder what triggered Katrina to take this decision! Any guesses? * Turkey yet to comment on report by Jarablus Military Council * Ankara wants to stop Kurdish forces extending control * Turkish strikes on Kurdish force set it at odds with U.S. (Add Turkish military sources saying plane hit ammunition store) By Umit Bektas KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 27 (Reuters) - A group allied to Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said it was bombarded by Turkish warplanes on Saturday, after Turkey's military launched an incursion this week into northern Syria against both Islamic State and Kurdish forces. Turkish military sources said planes had hit an ammunition store south of Jarablus, but they did not give details. If the jets struck targets linked to the Kurdish-aligned group, it would signal Turkey's action against Kurdish-backed forces in Syria was being ratcheted up a notch. The Jarablus Military Council, a group that is part of the Kurdish-backed SDF, said the jets hit a village south of the strategic town of Jarablus, causing civilian casualties. It called the action "a dangerous escalation". A Reuters witness in Karkamis, a Turkish town on the other side of the border from Syria's Jarablus, saw warplanes flying from Turkish air space early on Saturday into Syria and then heard several blasts. The identity of the planes was not clear. Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered Jarablus this week, seizing the frontier town that had been an Islamic State stronghold. The rebel force backed by Turkey were largely Arab and Turkmen. The Turkish campaign pre-empted action by Kurdish-backed forces which had sought to get to Jarablus first. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and other senior officials have made clear that the incursion is as much about pushing away Islamic State as it is about preventing Kurdish forces filling the void left as the Islamists withdraw. Turkey wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of a continuous stretch of territory along its southern border, which Ankara fears could be used to support the Kurdish militant group PKK that is fighting an insurgency on Turkish soil. Story continues Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have extended their control beyond Jarablus, seizing five nearby villages from Islamic State, Turkish security sources said. The Turkish Red Crescent has distributed food in Jarablus since Friday, the sources said. RIVALRIES AND ALLIANCES The Jarablus Military Council said the village of al-Amarna, which lies a few km south of Jarablus, was hit by the warplanes. In response to the Turkish strike, it said: "If they do not attack our forces, then we will keep the border strip secure." The newly formed Jarablus Military Council has said it was made up of people from the area with the aim of capturing the town and the surrounding region from Islamic State militants. However, the Turkish-backed rebels seized Jarablus first. The Jarablus Military Council has aligned itself with the SDF, which encompasses several militias including Arabs and the Kurdish YPG group. The SDF alliance is backed by the United States, putting Ankara at odds with NATO ally Washington in the engagement in Syria, where a multi-faceted conflict has raged for five years. A complex web of rivalries and alliances has emerged from what began with an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al Assad, drawing in world powers and regional states. On Thursday, a day after Turkey began its cross-border offensive, Turkish troops fired on U.S.-backed YPG forces, which is part of the SDF. Turkey's state news agency described that salvo as warning shots. The use of Turkish warplanes against an SDF-aligned group would point to tougher action. A Reuters witness in Karkamis heard blasts and smoke rising from the nearby Syrian village of Kivircik. Several militias under the SDF banner pledged support to Jarablus Military Council after it reported the Turkish bombing. The Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, said in a statement it was heading to "Jarablus fronts" to help the council against "threats made by factions belonging to Turkey". Tension has mounted in Syria's Aleppo region in the past year between the U.S-backed Kurdish YPG force and its allies on one hand and Turkish-backed rebel groups on the other. The two sides have clashed on several occasions. (Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay and Orhan Coskun in Ankara and Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Ros Russell) Kylie Jenner and Tyga have taken their love to Las Vegas! The couple headed to Sin City on Friday, documenting highlights from their trip via social media. But the two weren't alone -- the "Rack City" rapper's 3-year-old son, King Cairo, was also on board! WATCH: Kylie Jenner Posts 'Mr & Mrs' Photo With Tyga Kylie took to Instagram to share a photo of her and Tyga cuddled up next to each other and mid-kiss on their private jet. Apparently, it was a "last minute" adventure for the 19-year-old reality star and her beau, who later performed at Drai's Nightclub at The Cromwell. PHOTOS: Kylie Jenner and Tyga Sport Matching Outfits for Romantic Date Night King, clad in a red-and-white combo with matching kicks, looked as relaxed as ever during the flight. "Flyer than ur kid," Tyga wrote over the Snapchat pic of his stylish son, whom he shares with Rob Kardashian's fiance, Blac Chyna. Snapchat Too cute! NEWS: Tyga Surprises Kylie Jenner With a $200,000 Black Maybach for Her Birthday Meanwhile in Los Angeles, Kylie's sisters, Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian West, were having a little trouble with their transportation while heading to Kanye West's "Famous" exhibition. Kim claimed that Uber, a popular car service app, had banned Kendall. "Ugh I have to drive @KendallJenner around tonight bc she's banned from Uber!" the Selfish author tweeted. "Why @Uber?!?! She's a "model" passenger!!!!!" On Saturday, however, an Uber source confirmed to ET that Kendall "has not been banned." WATCH: Kendall Jenner Is Not Banned From Uber, Can Continue Being a 'Model Passenger' "It was a minor account issue that is being resolved," the source added. "While it is being resolved her account was put on hold. Uber support has reached out." Hear more in the video below. Related Articles The last days of FARC A member of the 51st Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) walks at a camp in Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, August 16, 2016. (John Vizcaino/Reuters) Photography by John Vizcaino/Reuters, Story by Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta/Reuters After three decades fighting in the remote mountains of Colombia for a Marxist revolution, 60-year-old FARC rebel Cesar Gonzalez must now return to a society he barely recognizes. A peace deal unveiled on Wednesday between Colombias government and guerrilla leaders will end half a century of war and allow the rebels to set up a political party and seek power peacefully, at the ballot box. But reintegrating 7,000 fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) many of whom have spent at least half their lives at war - will be a crucial part of making the peace deal work, and it is no easy task. The world has changed so much technology we are out of date, but we must get up to speed, said Gonzalez, who says he left his wife and their four children and took up arms to prevent being killed for his Communist beliefs in the 1980s and hasnt seen them since. He knows little of iPhones, the Internet or even washing machines. In those days telephones had dials, he said, laughing at how out of touch he is with modern Colombia. Returning guerrilla groups to society at the end of civil wars is always difficult and the challenges are even bigger in Colombia because the conflict has gone on for so long. Gonzalez, who teaches Marxism at a FARC camp high in Colombias Cordillera Oriental, or Eastern Mountain Range, says he has no regrets about his guerrilla life and is preparing for a new life in community politics. Even for some younger rebels, like 33-year-old Gissella Mendoza, civilian life may be tough. Trained as a medic during her 20 years in the FARCs ranks, she has saved lives, amputating limbs and stemming bleeding from major wounds. But it is unlikely she will be able to practice her field when she demobilizes. With only a fifth grade education, little money and most of her life hidden from society, she would need to start from scratch and learn alongside much more privileged students. Story continues God willing, Ill be able to continue, what else can I do? she says, a 9 mm pistol strapped to her waist. It would be so hard. The rebels base is extremely remote, accessible only with a three-day journey by mule fording furious rivers and climbing rock faces. The camp itself is a hodge podge of wooden structures that run along planks stretched across the mud. Fattened pigs loll at the entrance and blustering wind competes with the constant whir of a generator. FARC fighters here say they are optimistic a binding end to the war is possible but would not flinch at returning to armed struggle if the government shirks on its commitments to protect demobilizing rebels, allow the rebel group to enter politics and invest in rural areas. If the government fails to meet its obligations, we will take up arms again, said Gabriel Mendez, 32, an 18-year veteran who teaches peace accords to the rebels and worries they may be targeted by death squads. Fear of being killed is real. During a previous peace process in 1985 thousands of former FARC rebels and supporters were assassinated by paramilitary groups. A repeat of that violence seems unlikely now, but some guerrillas are wary. They know how to obtain weapons, and disarming as part of the accord would be easily reversible, said one rebel who asked that his name not be connected to such comments. Under the peace deal, the FARC committed to disarm, end its involvement in the illegal drugs trade and provide reparations to its victims. DIABOLICAL For now, the rebels believe peace will hold and they will be able to compete for power at the ballot box. Peace will allow us to talk; we want to talk, said Leiber Ramires, 38, a soft-spoken rebel commander dressed in olive green fatigues and rubber boots. Colombians have been sold a story that were diabolical we arent and we want to form a political party that will allow us to fight alongside society. The fighters listen in silence except for the constant coughing to Leibers lecture before standing in line for breakfast, then another class. The teachings seem archaic for a post-conflict Colombia and Latin Americas fourth-biggest economy. We are revolutionaries, said Ramires. When asked about their future, the rebels say they want to be involved in a political solution. They expect to live off funds from international aid. Few talk about government programs for reintegration or see any problem entering the work place after decades at arms. We will await orders from our leaders, see what they tell us to do, said 28-year-old female fighter Amalfi, her nom de guerre, who has been in the ranks since she was 17. The rebels patrol the valleys beyond the camp and cook rice, beans and pork in the kitchens clay oven. They bathe in ice-cold mountain water and sleep on frames of tree trunks filled with leaves. The forest provides privacy for their toilet needs. Food arrives at the camp by pack mules. Every month, sacks of potatoes, toiletries and other staples are strapped to the beasts which totter along slippery mountain paths. The FARC has for decades used proceeds from extortion and the illegal drugs trade to fund its war. We have more than most Colombians, we have food, said Amalfi, who wants to seek out her family as soon as possible. Women make up about 30 percent of the camp and while they carry the same weapons and wear the same uniforms as men, they also use colorful hair accessories and makeup. Permission is required from the camps commander for sex between fighters. The 51st front and the nearby 53rd, a two-hour hike on foot, form part of the FARCs feared Eastern Bloc. Both have seen their fair share of war. When the FARC tried to seize the capital Bogota in 2001, rebels from here were stationed in surrounding towns until a hardline offensive spearheaded by then-President Alvaro Uribe pushed them back into the inhospitable mountains. They suffered nightly bombing raids that they remember as the worst time of the war. A bilateral ceasefire agreed in June means camp life is easier now. Smoking is permitted past 6 p.m. and torches guide the way along slippery walkways. The final accord, which still needs to be signed and put to voters in a referendum, will test the countrys tolerance. Both sides are suspicious of each other and many Colombians despise the FARC because of its involvement in drug trafficking and kidnappings. Without forgiveness, peace could fail and the nation return to war, says 29-year old Katerine Mendoza, who wears a necklace depicting the FARCs late founder, Manuel Marulanda. We were born civilians. We took up arms out of necessity and if the state isnt careful we will return with pain in our souls, she said. See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr By PTI: canonisation New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead a 12-member delegation to represent India at canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa in Vatican on September 4. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said two delegations led by chief ministers had sought political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs to attend the event and it has been granted. advertisement Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be travelling to Rome to attend the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa where she will be declared a saint. In March, Pope Francis had announced that Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognised two miracles attributed to her after her death in 1997. Mother Teresa, who will now be declared a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was beatified by then Pope John Paul II in a fast-tracked process in 2003. The Nobel Laureate had spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the streets of Kolkata. Swarajs delegation will comprise Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha MPs Prof K V Thomas, Jose K Mani, Anto Anthony, Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis DSouza. Judge of Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, eminent lawyer Harish Salve, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India Theodore Mascarenhas, K J Alphons, who was tipped to be appointed the administrator of Chandigarh. His appointment could not materialise. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sujata Mehta will also be part of the delegation. Swarup did not rule out a bilateral meeting between Swaraj and her Italian counterpart during her visit. PTI PYK MPB SC --- ENDS --- A look at what's happening all around the majors Saturday: --- CHECK HIM The Orioles will see how All-Star center fielder Adam Jones is feeling, a day after he left a game at Yankee Stadium because of a strained left hamstring. Jones had exited Thursday night in the ninth inning at Washington because of hamstring cramps. He is batting .275 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs. MOTOWN ON THE MOVE The Tigers try for their sixth straight game when rookie Michael Fulmer (10-4, 2.58 ERA) takes on the Angels at Comerica Park. Detroit's surge into the AL wild-card race has been powered by Justin Upton, who has homered four times during this five-game winning streak. ALMOST READY Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu could return to the lineup after missing three straight games because of a wrist injury. He worked out before Friday night's game in Washington and manager Walt Weiss said he anticipated LeMahieu was ready to return. LeMahieu is second in the NL batting race at .344 - Daniel Murphy of the Nationals leads at .346. OK TO GO? The Mets might know more about lefty Steven Matz, who's been sidelined by tightness in his pitching shoulder. He was scheduled to toss on the side this weekend. Matz is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but it's not certain if he'll be able to start vs. Miami in a matchup of NL wild-card contenders. WELCOME BACK Catcher Dioner Navarro could rejoin the Blue Jays after they got him from the White Sox in a trade for minor league lefty Colton Turner. The switch-hitting Navarro spent two seasons with Toronto before signing with Chicago last December. He was hitting just .210 with six homers and 32 RBIs in 85 games. The Blue Jays are hosting Minnesota this weekend. Some dogs appreciate the finer things in life. Unfortunately, due to silly things like museum policy or health codes, cultured canines have been barred from experiencing the art world. Until now. The worlds first contemporary art show curated specifically for dogs opened in South London last week. The show was both interactive and immersive, allowing dogs to experience the works on a visceral level. Four of the stand-out works were created by Dominic Wilcox, a British designer, artist and inventor, who often makes interactive installations with a commercial bend. Contemporary art has long been an important source of inspiration and fascination for humans, but never before has it been created with a view to drawing the same kind of emotions out of animals instead, Wilcox said in a statement. While its certainly one of the more interesting challenges Ive faced in my career, it feels great to have created such a truly unique collection of interactive artworks for a completely new audience. Im looking forward to seeing how many tail wags I get in approval! One piece, entitled Cruising Canines mimics the sensory nirvana of riding in a car, head lolling out the window. Another brings dogs deepest fantasies to gargantuan reality with an oversized dog food bowl, filled to the brim with toys. The exhibitions six paintings and drawings act as an existential musing on the canine experience, exploring the unknown of a deep forest, the longing of a chicken drumstick and the unbridled joy of a walk in the park. Pay attention to the colors (mostly grays, blues and yellows); they are specifically tailored to a dogs range of vision. This museum is for the dogs. The museum features dog-friendly art exhibits. The shows curatorial staff consulted vet Robert White-Adams to make sure that the show would provide beneficial mental and physical stimuli for dog visitors. Sadly, the show was only a two-day pop-up in South London, sponsored by insurance company MORE TH>N. The exhibition was meant to encourage owners to spend more quality time interacting with their pet, especially doing creative and unique activities. Were wondering just how many owners stopped in front of a painting with their dog to discuss the fine brushstrokes or the composition reminiscent of Cassius Marcellus Coolidges Poker Game. Story continues For every person that pledged to hang out more with their dog during the exhibition, the organization donated 1 to the RSPCA. Cailey Rizzo writes about travel, art and culture and is the founding editor of The Local Dive. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @misscaileyanne. Related Articles Religious leader and Jain monk Tarun Sagar was invited to address the Haryana Assembly. In his speech, he used a husband-wife analogy to explain how dharma and politics are related. Twitterati, furious over the analogy, slammed him tagging him a misogynist. By India Today Web Desk: Jain monk and religious leader Tarun Sagar was invited to address the Haryana Assembly, in a first, where he delivered a 40-minute speech. Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma invited the monk to the assembly. He was seated on a dais, higher than the seats of the Governor, the Chief Minister of Haryana and MLAs. advertisement Tarun Sagar, in nude, spoke about various topics like female foeticide, politicians who have criminal cases filed against them, terrorism and Pakistan among others. Monk said that female foeticide it is a 'big problem that disturbs the balance of the society, leading to more crimes and rapes'. He also offered a multi-level solution to the issue. The Indian Express quoted him as saying, "At the political level, the government should decide that those who do not have daughters should not have the right to contest Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. At the level of society, people should not marry their daughters into families that do not have daughters. At the religious level, saints should decide that they will not accept alms from houses where there are no daughters. The result will exceed expectations if this formula is followed. We are living in the 21st century. Even today, when boys and girls are differentiated, I feel we are living in the 14th century." Photo: Twitterprofkaptansingh Stating that a survey claimed 160 MPs have criminal cases registered against them, Sagar said 'criminal elements should not not able to climb the stairs of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha'. When he spoke about Pakistan, he said everyone knows Pakistan nurtures terrorism and despite making mistakes multiple times, India has been forgiving. He said Pakistan is creating Bhasmasurs to trouble India. But what irked many social media users is a husband-wife analogy Sagar used to explain how politics and dharma are related. Many people also of the opinion that an adult, nude in public by stating religious reasons, should be booked. He said, "control of dharma over politics is essential. Dharma is the husband and politics is the wife. It is the duty of every husband to protect his wife and it is the duty of every wife to accept the orders (discipline) of her husband," and went on to say, "if there is no control of dharma over politics, it will be like an elephant out of control," as reported by Indian Express. Here are some of the reactions from Twitter: Naked man parading about in echelons of power = sanskari Women at worship in temple/dargah = besharam #HajiAli #TarunSagar Disgruntled Feminist (@AWearyFeminist) August 27, 2016 The fact that #TarunSagar gets invited to speak at the #Haryana Assembly should not come as a surprise. This is why. pic.twitter.com/PnLORJ5EoA Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) August 27, 2016 So tarun sagar can roam around naked without being charged for obscenity or indecent exposure? OK. #NotAboutReligion SkepticSomebody (@OnWingsOfPigs) August 27, 2016 What's the different between him & Zakir Naik likes, it's shameful that govt calls these people in assembly. https://t.co/n1K28KYxRR Feline (@SlinkyFeline_) August 27, 2016 A nude monk lectures Haryana Assembly on how to run the country and control women! We are reduced to this? Shameful!https://t.co/sdlgNYfgRC Satvinder (@sdsanddunes) August 27, 2016 --- ENDS --- advertisement A new analysis of police tracking data revealed that about four of every five people shot by police officers in Chicago in the past six years were African-American males. The data obtained by the Chicago Tribune accounts for every time an officer opened fire in the city from 2010 to 2015. In all, police officers killed 92 people and wounded 170 others in 435 shootings during that period of time, the Chicago Tribune reported on Friday. Officers fired at least 2,623 bullets in total. Instances of police violence against minorities have sparked calls for increased transparency and police reform in Chicago and around the country in recent years. The Tribune analysis found that the number of shootings by police officers declined during the six-year period, falling from more than 100 in 2011 to 44 in 2015. About half of the officers involved in the shootings were African-American or Hispanic, the Tribune reported, and the officers who fired had, on average, a decade of experience. [Chicago Tribune] The lawyer for Steven Avery whose murder trial was the focus of Netflix's hit docu-series Making a Murderer has filed a motion seeking more forensic testing of the evidence used to convict him and which he has long claimed was planted, PEOPLE confirms. Defense attorney Kathleen Zellner's Friday filing, requesting the testing, echoed Avery's charge that he was framed. The filing was made in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and obtained by PEOPLE. It calls for Avery's appeal to be stayed until a ruling is made about the requested testing. In 2007, Avery was sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility for parole for the murder of 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. But Avery, 54, has always maintained his innocence and claimed that law enforcement officials planted samples of his blood, collected from him during a previous criminal case, in Halbach's car before it was found five days after her 2005 murder. Zellner's filing links Andrew Colborn and James Lenk, of the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office, to the discovery of every piece of evidence that Avery has suggested was planted. Zellner asks in the filing that more forensic analysis be done on that evidence, saying that Avery will cover the costs of the additional testing. The filing calls for "the most comprehensive, thorough, and advanced forensic testing ever requested by a criminal defendant in the State of Wisconsin." During the 2007 trial, both Lenk and Colborn denied accusations they planted evidence. 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. Making a Murderer's Steven Avery Asks for Testing on Evidence to See If It Was Planted| Crime & Courts, True Crime, Making a Murderer The filing argues that, since Avery's 2007 conviction, "considerable progress has been made in forensic DNA methods, procedures and tests, including the development of tests for the specific detection of blood, saliva, semen and urine." Zellner also wants "body fluid source testing" done on all of the evidence recovered from Halbach's vehicle and car keys, to distinguish whether the DNA came from blood, saliva, semen or urine. At trial, prosecutors said that DNA collected from Halbach's car had originated from a cut to Avery's finger. If the source testing ends up revealing that DNA came from another bodily fluid instead, it could undercut the case for Avery's guilt. The filing also seeks radiocarbon testing, "which could definitively establish the age of Mr. Avery's blood found in the victim's vehicle and determine, based on the age, if the blood was planted." Zellner also wants trace testing to be done on the car, to determine if chemical solvents were used to remove any DNA. Interest in Avery's case skyrocketed following the premiere of the hit Netflix series, which heavily scrutinized the case. (Halbach's family has slammed the series as "one-sided," telling PEOPLE they believe Avery is guilty.) Filming for Making a Murderer's second season, following the post-conviction process, began two weeks ago in Manitowoc. It has not been announced when it will air. Friday's filing comes two weeks after a federal judge overturned the murder conviction of Avery's nephew, Brendan Dassey, in Halbach's death. Neither a Wisconsin Department of Justice spokesperson nor Zellner immediately returned calls Friday seeking comment. As summer crowds continue to dominate beaches, lakes and pools throughout the world, beachgoers might daydream of a private island where they can enjoy the August sun without the oppressive crowds. For those who have $5.6 million to spare, that dream could be a reality. The family that has owned L'illa d'en Colom, a tiny island off the coast of Minorca in Spain, for the past century is putting their property up for sale, Spanish news outlets reported. While the 143-acre paradise was purchased for approximately 47or about $53back in 1904, it is listed for 5 millionor approximately $5.6 millionaccording to a report in Ara Balears. L'illa d'en Colom, a Menorca, a la venda per cinc milions d'euros https://t.co/M2eoiinXFM pic.twitter.com/j2qClawEiH ARA Balears (@ARAbalears) August 26, 2016 The island was once used to quarantine soldiers returning from Algeria in the 1700s, and it still bears a memorial to those who died of the plague. Lilla den Colom boasts an 18th century home, a cabin in the woods, as well as a boathouse, jetty, and a mine. Jess McHugh is a digital reporter for Travel + Leisure. You can find her on Twitter at @MchughJess. Related Articles By Tom Polansek Aug 26 (Reuters) - Minnesota's governor on Friday ordered the broadest restrictions yet in a U.S. state on the use of agricultural pesticides that have been blamed for hurting bees, fueling concerns that farmers there will not be able to protect crops from insects. Gov. Mark Dayton issued an executive order that requires farmers to verify that they face "an imminent threat of significant crop loss" before using the chemicals, called neonicotinoids. Details of how farmers would prove their need have not yet been determined. Minnesota, the country's third-largest soybean producer, carried out a special review of neonicotinoids that prompted the new limits, the first U.S. state to do so. Honey bees have been in serious decline in the United States for three decades, threatening billions of dollars in crops. In recent years, their death rate has become economically unsustainable, according to the U.S. government. A survey of more than 20,000 honey beekeepers conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and released in May showed there were 2.59 million or 8 percent fewer honey bee colonies on January 1, 2016 than the 2.82 million a year earlier for beekeeper operations with five or more colonies. Honey bees pollinate plants that produce about a quarter of the food consumed by Americans. "Minnesota just became the national leader in protecting pollinators," said Lex Horan, an organizer for Pesticide Action Network, a U.S. activist group. EU LED THE WAY Restrictions on neonicotinoids come two years after the European Union limited use of the chemicals, made and sold by companies including Bayer CropScience and Syngenta , after research pointed to the risks for bees. Neonicotinoids are used worldwide in a range of crops and have been shown in lab-based studies to be harmful to certain species of bee, notably commercial honeybees and bumblebees. The chemicals can be sprayed on crops to fight insects, but it is more common for U.S. farmers to plant seeds treated with neonicotinoids to keep pests, such as aphids, off crops. Story continues State officials said they want Minnesota lawmakers to grant them the authority to regulate the sale and use of such seeds, a power that now lies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Removing the pesticides would leave farmers more dependent on a smaller number of chemicals to control bugs, said Seth Naeve, an extension soybean agronomist for the University of Minnesota, thereby making it more likely that pests would develop resistance to those chemicals. "We're concerned about losing tools and a lack of flexibility to address issues," said David Kee, director of research for Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Farmers said they hoped other U.S. states would not follow Minnesota's lead. Paul Schlegel, director of environment and energy policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the governor was "restricting the ability of farmers to use all the tools the EPA has said they can use." "I don't think that we're aware of any other state that's going to start taking away tools from farmers," Schlegel said. (Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Toni Reinhold) (Reuters) - A Mississippi man has been arrested in the stabbing death of two Catholic nuns at their home earlier this week, police said on Friday. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, faces two counts of capital murder in the death of two nuns in Durant, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said in a statement. Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Director Jimmy Jordan said. Sister Paula Merrill and Sister Margaret Held were found stabbed to death by a co-worker on Thursday when they did not come into the clinic where they worked, police told local media. Sanders was in custody, awaiting his initial court appearance, the safety department said. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Stephen Coates) Credit: Courtesy of The Kitchy Kitchen Sometimes, when the temps are high and the days are seemingly never-ending, nothing hits the spot quite like a mojito. And the traditional Cuban drink, which typically consists of rum, sugar, lime juice, soda, and mint, tastes even more refreshing in popsicle form. We asked Claire Thomas of The Kitchy Kitchen for her easy recipe, which will help you relish every last bit of summer while it's still upon us. "Serving frozen desserts at an outdoor gathering is a great way to refresh your guests," she says. "Whip up a batch and watch their eyes light up when you tell them these aren't your average popsicles. The citrusy-sweet treat is sure to put a smile on everyone's face." Read on for the full breakdown. Cheers! Mojito Pops Ingredients 3/4 cup white sugar 2 1/2 cups water 5 sprigs of mint 1/2 cup freshly-squeezed lime juice 1/4 cup rum Zest of 2 limes RELATED: This Healthy Fudgesicle Will Be Your New Favorite Summer Dessert Directions 1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. 2. Add the mint sprigs; stir until mixture comes to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. 3. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand approximately 10 minutes. 4. Place a fine strainer over a large bowl and pour syrup mixture through (straining out the mint). 5. Add lime juice, rum, and lime zest to the strained syrup mixture and stir to combine. 6. Chill liquid completely, then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 4 hours. Enjoy! By PTI: United Nations, Aug 27 (PTI) Top UN peacekeeping official and senior Indian diplomat Atul Khare will travel to Nepal and Pakistan to discuss their "continuous engagement" in peacekeeping. Khare, the Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, will travel to Nepal today and then to Pakistan, significant troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations. "In both countries he is expected to meet with senior Government, military and police officials to welcome and discuss their continuous engagement in peacekeeping," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moons spokesman StAphane Dujarric told reporters here yesterday. advertisement Khare was appointed last year by Ban as Under- Secretary-General for Field Support. PTI YAS AMS --- ENDS --- (Adds details on Rubin, Valeant bet) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman said on Friday that Jordan Rubin, who had worked closely on Pershing Square Capital Management's controversial investment in battered drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals, is leaving the hedge fund. "Rubin, a member of the investment team, will be departing shortly to pursue a startup venture outside the investment mangement industry," Ackman wrote in a letter sent to investors. Rubin had been there for seven years. News of Rubin's departure comes roughly three months after William Doyle, another key figure in the bet, left Ackman's $12 billion Pershing Square. This means all primary players who were instrumental in advising Ackman on making his Valeant bet in 2015 and then working on it as the company's share price plunged amid questions about Valeant's business and accounting practices are now gone. Ackman said that Jenna Dabbs, a former federal prosecutor who first joined Pershing Square's legal team, is now a member of the investment team. At the same time, there has been a similarly significant change of personnel at Valeant after Ackman and his firm's vice chairman, Steve Fraidin, joined the board. Most recently, Valeant hired Paul Herendeen as chief financial officer from Zoetis, another company Ackman is invested in. Valeant also hired Christina Ackermann as its general counsel and Sam Eldessouky as its corporate controller. Earlier this year there was pressure from investors to add managers with expertise in accounting and financial controls to the CEO's inner circle. While Ackman is still considered to be one of the hedge fund world's best investors, he has had plenty of headaches in the last 12 months with his private fund down 14.5 percent through the middle of August. His average annual return over the last dozen years has been 12 percent. Ackman said Valeant's drop cost his Pershing Square Holdings Fund 17.8 percent in losses in the first half of the year. By comparison his bet against Herbalife cost the fund only 1.2 percent in losses. With new management which has said that it plans to cut leverage and reduce debt by $5 billion over the next 18 months, Ackman said he expects the share price to "increase substantially." It has climbed 34 percent in the last month. "There is a lot more work to do, but we are pleased with the company's progress over the last several months," he wrote. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Sandra Maler) Washington (AFP) - NASA's Juno space probe on Saturday was set to pass the closest it will get to the planet Jupiter during the main phase of its planned mission to the gas giant, the US space agency's officials said. Juno was to swing within some 2,600 miles (4,200 kilometers) of the solar system's largest planet, the closest any spacecraft has passed, traveling at 130,000 miles per hour (208,000 kilometers per hour) at around 5:51 am (12:51 GMT). It was the first time Junos eight scientific instruments and its camera were switched on, marking the science mission's start, officials said in a statement on NASA's website. "This is our first opportunity to really take a close-up look at the king of our solar system and begin to figure out how he works," said Scott Bolton, Juno's principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Juno first swept close to Jupiter when it entered orbit around the planet early last month after a nearly five-year voyage to help study the solar system's origins. However, all the probe's instruments were turned off not to interfere with its positioning as it entered the 53.5-day orbit. Juno will now be probing Jupiter's many layers to measure their composition, magnetic field and other properties. Scientists hope to learn the source of the planet's fierce winds and whether Jupiter is made entirely of gas or has a solid core. They also expect to learn more about the planet's great red spot, a huge storm that has raged for thousands of years. Saturday's flyby was Juno's first chance to take pictures of Jupiter's mysterious poles. "No other spacecraft has ever orbited Jupiter this closely, or over the poles in this fashion," said Steve Levin, Juno project scientist from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. NASA says it will release images from the flyby late next week. Although data from the probe is expected to reach Earth in several days, results from scientists' analysis will take longer. "This is our first opportunity and there are bound to be surprises," Levin said. "We need to take our time to make sure our conclusions are correct." Juno is set to make 35 more close passes by Jupiter during its main mission, scheduled to end in February 2018, when the probe will self-destruct by diving into the planet's atmosphere. Credit: Courtesy Natalie Portman recently made a big move and along with it came a minor jolt of culture shock. After living in Paris for two years, the Academy Award-winning actress and recently picked up and moved to the sunny city of Los Angeles with her husband, French choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied, and their 5-year-old son, Aleph. And during Portman's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday she explained that it took a little time to get used to the new atmosphere. "Everyone smiles a lot here!" she told host Jimmy Kimmel. "It's so nice. They're more cool in France." "I didn't realize I got used to until I got here and I was so surprised," said the Black Swan star, who wore a chic black minidress with a lace-embellished plunging neckline for her talk show interview. As for little Aleph, he may already have his sea legs when it comes to living Stateside. Kimmel asked if French is her son's primary language and as it turns out the young man is bilingual. Mom explained: "He speaks both--because I English" But one very American experience he has yet to have? Watching his mother in the Star Wars films. RELATED: Natalie Portman Wears Two Elegant Matching Sets During One Day in N.Y.C Watch Portman reveal the reason in the above clip and hear her discuss her family's move in the video at top. Nate Parker on Friday night opened up about the controversy surrounding the rape trial he faced in college during a panel in Los Angeles. Speaking for the first time about his 1999 rape allegation since it resurfaced - previously, he had only posted a statement on Facebook - the writer-director-star turned talk to his younger self and male culture during a screening for his film, The Birth of a Nation, at the Merge Summit. After the culmination of the historical biopic, which tells the story of Nat Turner's failed slave rebellion, Parker was asked why he chose to make "yet another slave film" and said it was "difficult to talk about injustice and not deal with what's happening right now," referencing the current firestorm around him. Read more: Nate Parker Backers Pen Letter of Support In 1999, the filmmaker, and Jean Celestin, who shares a story-by credit with Parker on Birth, were accused of raping a female student while at Penn State University. Parker was acquitted of the charges; Celestin was originally found guilty, but the conviction was later overturned. While promoting Birth, Parker addressed the allegations in interviews and it was subsequently revealed that the woman who accused the two men committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 30. "When I was first met with the news that this part of my past had come up, my knee-jerk reaction was selfish," said Parker during the Q&A, according to Ebony, who also spoke with the filmmaker after the panel. "I wasn't thinking about even the potential hurt of others; I was thinking about myself." Speaking about male privilege, Parker, now 36, admitted: "I never thought about it. I'm walking around daring someone to say something or do something that I define is racist or holding us back, but never really thinking about male culture and the destructive effect it's having on our community." This was the first Birth event that Parker has attended since the controversy began. While the American Film Institute's Conservatory on Tuesday called off a screening and Q&A with Parker, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs stood by the movie, encouraging people to see it and judge the film, not Parker. Story continues Birth, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival and was immediately picked up by Fox Searchlight, will play at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September before hitting theaters in October. According to a video posted on social media from Friday's event, Parker offered an apology to women over his past behaviors and called his younger self a "dog." "The way I treated women, objectified women," he said. "My manhood was defined by how many women I could be with. I was a dog. I was wrong. I hurt a lot of women. And that was normal for me, in respect to how I treated them emotionally. I was introduced to sex in a certain way." Parker continued about his adolescence: "That type of male culture, that type of hypermasculinity where your manhood is determined by how many women you get to say 'yes,' is destructive." Nate Parker apologies to women at The Merge Summit "Birth of a Nation" VIP Screening. A video posted by Herb "The Ent Specialist" (@herbtheentspec) on Aug 26, 2016 at 9:22pm PDT Speaking in a lengthy interview with Ebony afterwards, Parker admitted: "I never thought about consent as a definition, especially as I do now." "Put it this way: when you're 19, a threesome is normal. It's fun," he said. "When you're 19, getting a girl to say yes, or being a dog, or being a player, cheating. Consent is all about - for me, back then - if you can get a girl to say 'yes,' you win." He admitted that he couldn't remember ever having a conversation about consent when he was younger. "Back then, it felt like: at 19, if a woman said 'no,' no meant no," he said. "If she didn't say anything and she was open, and she was down, it was like how far can I go? ... It was simply if a woman said no or pushed you away that was non-consent." Read more: Oscar Voters Ponder Nate Parker and 'Birth of a Nation': "I Would Not Go to the Movie" He added that now, at age 36, "I'm learning about definitions that I should have known when I started having sex." Parker also admitted that he hadn't thought about the incident "at all," prompting the interviewer to add: "That's going to come off very privileged." And he agreed. "Listen to me when I say I'm understanding that I'm dealing with a problem, like an addiction," said Parker. "I'm a work in progress. I'm trying to be better. I feel remorse for all the women that are survivors that felt I was being insensitive because I was. And I want to have a better understanding of how I can be more of an ally, if they'll accept me. There will be people who won't accept me, and that's okay. All I can do is say that I stand for justice and really learn more about this issue so I can be a better ally of this issue." The entertainment industry began to weigh in on social media as the interview made the rounds on Saturday, promping reactions from Roxane Gay, who last week wrote an op-ed for The New York Times about how she won't see the film, MTV News correspondent Jamil Smith and others. See the reactions below and read Ebony's full interview with Parker here. Okay, @nateparker. I see you listening. And trying to grow. I don't know what to think but I see you. - roxane gay (@rgay) August 27, 2016 I'm glad @NateParker is showing signs of understanding consent and toxic masculinity. Much too late for him, but perhaps it'll help others. - Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 27, 2016 Good on Ebony for challenging Nate Parker. Smart of Parker for granting this interview. https://t.co/xQpOgTFwTN pic.twitter.com/y14RyYkhBo - jen yamato (@jenyamato) August 27, 2016 This Nate Parker interview with @Ebony on "consent" is absolutely what he should've led with: https://t.co/4hrPLdhqvj - Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) August 27, 2016 Read more: Academy President on 'Birth of a Nation' Backlash: "People Need to See the Movie" WASHINGTON -- The Nationals have dipped into their minor league system this year for starting pitchers when veteran hurlers have gone on the disabled list. Earlier this summer, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez -- a pair of promising right-handers -- made their major league debuts. But another young hurler who was lost in the shuffle is A.J. Cole, who makes his second start in a week on Saturday at home against the Colorado Rockies. "They can score in a hurry," Washington manager Dusty Baker said of the Rockies. "They can score a bunch in a hurry." Cole, a right-hander, pitched in three games last year for the Nationals and made his first big league start in April 2015 at Atlanta. It did not go well, and Cole did not get another shot at starting for Washington until Monday night in Baltimore. That is when he made the start after veteran right-hander Stephen Strasburg went on the disabled list. Cole responded with an admirable effort as he went seven innings against the power-hitting Orioles, while giving up four runs and two homers. That helped save the Nationals bullpen, which got another break Thursday when Max Scherzer went eight innings in a 4-0 victory over Baltimore. Cole, from Florida, was drafted by the Nationals in the fourth round out of high school in 2010 and turned down a scholarship to the University of Miami to play pro ball. He was 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA in three games last year with the Nationals, and one start. He was 5-6, 3.15 in 21 games (19 starts) last season for Triple-A Syracuse. Cole was with Syracuse this year before he was called up Monday to start for Washington. Cole was 8-8, 4.26 in 22 starts for the Chiefs this year. The Nationals began the series against the Rockies on Friday with a win and it began a stretch of a soft schedule down the stretch. Washington faces teams from the weak National League East, along with home series against the Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. Cole will be opposed Saturday afternoon by Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.07 ERA), who is 5-2 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts versus Washington. Story continues The Nationals continue to be energized by center fielder Trea Turner, who had two hits Friday and has 12 in the last four games. "The kid's really fast," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Guys like that they cause some problems when they get on base. Even on the contact play, the groundball to first. Most guys don't score on that." Baker agreed. "That's that old expression, speed kills," Baker said. "When you can run, you make people rush. And if people rush in this game most of the time they're not themselves and most of the time they're going to make mistakes. "And that's what Trea does, any ball that he hits, you got to field it cleanly and throw it correctly. So there's no substitute for speed, you know how I like speed. I like speed even when i was young and got a lot of tickets. I love speed." The voters as well as the political parties are gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections in UP. By Siraj Qureshi: Keeping in mind the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, members of all castes and communities are holding meetings in order to present a united front before all parties and demand an adequate compensation for their support. Similarly, the political parties too, are promising the world to these communities in order to convert them into guaranteed voters. The BJP is experimenting on bringing both the Brahmins and the Dalits into its camp, which was probably the reason why RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat chose to have lunch at the house of a Dalit while on a visit to Agra during the BSP chief Mayawati's rally. Also, with the convenor of Mayawati's Agra rally Brajesh Pathak joining the BJP, it has sent a loud signal that Mayawati is losing the Brahmin support crucial for her to win the elections. advertisement FOCUS ON DALIT AND MUSLIM VOTE However, both Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav seem to be not bothered by the loss of upper caste votes and are focusing to bring as many Dalit and Muslim votes into their camp as possible. The Samajwadi Party is desperate for Muslim votes as it was the Muslim voters who sent the Samajwadi Party to the top of the vote tally in the 2012 UP assembly elections. But the Muslims believe that they did not receive adequate compensation for their support of SP in the elections and are now bending towards the BSP, seeking solace. Mayawati too has chosen 130 Muslim candidates for the 2017 elections in UP, seeking the total annihilation of the Samajwadi party through a Dalit-Muslim unified front. Fully aware that she has lost the Brahmin support, Mayawati has halved the Brahmin quota of tickets this time. In 2007, this number of tickets was 80, while in 2012 it had come down to 74, but this time there are about 30 seats where Brahmins are likely to be the BSP candidates despite the fact that Brahmins form 14 per cent of the state's population. BSP zonal coordinator Sunil Kumar Chittod told India Today that its party believes in giving tickets on the basis of vote-gathering capacity of a candidate instead of the candidate's caste. Although Brajesh Pathak, who recently defected from the BSP said that Brahmins were being totally neglected in the party and they will show Mayawati their true strength in the elections. BSP's second-in-command Naseemuddin Siddiqui is also toiling day and night to canvas among the Muslims and make them support Mayawati instead of Samajwadi Party in an election which will decide the political futures of not just Mulayam Singh and Mayawati, but also Rahul Gandhi and PM Narendra Modi. --- ENDS --- The Night Of is about a lot of things. Its not, however, about whether or not Nasir Naz Khan murdered Andrea Cornish. Andreas mysterious death may be the catalyst for everything that happens on HBOs The Night Of, but this is a show that has its sights on far grander things. This story is being told as a statement. That murder case is just the hook. Here are some of the things The Night Of actually is about: Nazs (Riz Ahmed) complete transformation from shy college kid to hardened inmate; his fathers (Peyman Moaddi) taxi cab becoming the permanent property of the state; his mother (Poorna Jagannathan) being unable to get any job better than janitorial work simply because of their relationship. Also Read: 'The Night Of': Duane Reade Is a Big Tip-Off the Case Will Never Be Solved Like its HBO predecessor The Wire, The Night Of is a statement show. It has things to say about our criminal justice system, and how it can ruin somebodys life even without convicting that person of a crime, and about how impersonal and dehumanizing the system is for everyone involved. If you simply looked at the premise, you might easily think its a mystery show. Naz meets Andrea (Sofia Black-DElia) in a pretty random fashion. They hang out, drink, do drugs, have sex, pass out. When the man wakes up, he finds the woman has been stabbed to death. Thats a classic mystery hook right there, presented in the sort of way that, in a standard mystery story, would indicate the main character has been framed and the good guys have to figure out who did it before its too late too late normally meaning before hes convicted of the murder. Also Read: The Evolution of Riz Ahmed, From 'The Night Of' to 'Rogue One'(Photos) Were approaching the end of this story now, though, and Naz has not been convicted. But were already far beyond too late. Naz is ruined. His family is ruined and at this point believes he did it. The people of New York and the rest of the country already think of him as a murderer. Racism-fueled violence against Muslims and brown people is on the rise in NYC, specifically because of the murder charge that Naz faces. Story continues And in the system itself, nobody cares if he did it. His lawyer, Jack Stone (John Turturro), doesnt care because his possible innocence is immaterial to his defense. The cops and the prosecution team dont care because they know they have enough evidence to convict him regardless. People, including the presiding judge and the prosecutors, keep telling Stone how happy they are for him that he got a big case to the system, Naz barely even registers as a person. If he ends up being acquitted in Sunday nights finale, theres no chance his life will simply go back to how it was before. There can be no happy ending for him. The damage is done. Also Read: 'The Night Of': What the Big Yellow Taxi Means in an Age of Uber If Naz does get off, his life will be dictated by the debt he owes Freddy (Michael Kenneth Williams) for protecting him in Rikers. Even from a prison cell, this man rules Queens, where Naz is from Freddy owns him now. Naz wouldnt be able to go back to living with his family, either, after the extreme damage thats been done to their relationship. Hell probably turn to a life of crime, because most of the personal connections he has left are criminal ones. Nasir Khans life as he knew it is already over. All of these things are what The Night Of is actually about. The mystery itself matters little. Even Naz himself is secondary in the big picture he represents every real person whos been put through the system in this way, and there are a ton of them. Also Read: 'The Night Of' Review: HBO's Brilliant Drama Highlights Flawed Justice System The show recalls The Wire, which also went beyond solving crimes even though a lot of its main characters were, you know, cops who were attempting to solve crimes. Both The Night Of and The Wire (The Night Of co-creator Richard Price, by the way, also wrote several episodes of The Wire) are about broken systems and government institutions that perpetuate the kind of things theyre ostensibly trying to stop or prevent, and the people on all sides who are ground up and spit out by them. So whatever happens in the finale whether or not we find out for sure if Naz did it, and whether or not hes acquitted remember that. Related stories from TheWrap: 'The Night Of': 5 Signs Naz Didn't Do It (Update) 'The Night Of': Duane Reade Is a Big Tip-Off the Case Will Never Be Solved The Evolution of Riz Ahmed, From 'The Night Of' to 'Rogue One'(Photos) At the Cannes Film Festival in May, filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho and the cast and crew of his film Aquarius staged a protest against the suspension of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff. They held signs reading Brazil is experiencing a coup detat and 54,501,118 votes set on fire! Now, according to Filho and his supporters, the countrys interim government is making them pay for it. Join all the dots, Filho told Variety in an interview. Theres a lot of talk about the possibility of the film being sabotaged by the illegitimate government. Earlier this week, Aquarius set for release Sept. 1 in Brazil received an 18+ rating from the countrys Ministry of Justice for explicit sex and drugs. However, many believe its too harsh a classification and is merely an attempt to damage the films commercial prospects in retaliation for the protest. The 18+ rating is extremely rare in Brazil. Most films get a 16+ rating, which is what Aquarius should have received, Filho said. The movies distributor appealed the rating but was denied. Meanwhile, other filmmakers are crying foul over the appointment of critic Marcos Petrucelli to the special selection committee in charge of choosing the countrys submission for this years foreign-language Oscar race. Given remarks Petrucelli has made about Filhos politics, they view it as a conflict of interest and an attempt to keep Aquarius from potentially representing Brazil at the 89th annual Academy Awards in February. Petrucelli took to Facebook with his feelings of the Cannes protest on May 17: Shame is the least I can say about the team and the cast of Aquarius,' he wrote. Five days later he posted: So it was like this: A movie made with public money goes to Cannes to represent Brazil and does not win any awards. Therefore, the lie about the alleged coup detat in the country through sentences on pieces of paper on the red carpet did not do anything but ridicule Brazil. Story continues Filho felt those statements, as well as an insinuation that he and his team used public funds to take a vacation in the French Riviera, crossed the line. If he said, I disagree with the film, that would be perfectly fine, the director said. But he said we went to Cannes on holiday, got paid by the government. Its wild and crazy As far as I know, all the others [on the committee] are filmmakers and professionals. Petrucelli did not immediately respond to request for comment. On Wednesday, two Brazilian films withdrew from the Oscar submission process in protest to Petrucellis appointment: Gabriel Mascaros Neon Bull and Anna Muylaerts Dont Call Me Son. Muylaerts previous film, The Second Mother, was Brazils Oscar submission last year, and she was also invited to join the Academy this year as part of a vast new membership outreach that leaned heavily on international names. A third film, Aly Muritibas Para Minha Amada Morta, joined them in bowing out on Friday. We have nothing against [Petrucellis] political opinions, which he has every right to express freely, Neon Bull producer Rachel Ellis told Variety in an email. But given the inappropriate manner in which he expressed these opinions, we feel it was highly inappropriate for him to then be selected as a committee member. Despite protests over the last few weeks, the Ministry of Culture continues to defend his place on the committee. This made us feel incredibly uncomfortable about participating in the selection process, as it undermined the impartiality and legitimacy of the process at a very delicate time in Brazilian politics. In an email, Muylaert told Variety she thinks there is a subtle conspiracy against the film. As I believe Aquarius is the right entry for Brazil this year, I decided not to submit my film in order to make [Filhos] film even stronger, she said. Meanwhile, actress Ingra Liberato and director Guilherme Fiuza Zenha have resigned from the selection committee. Zenha merely cited personal issues and refused to comment on the matter with local media. Other filmmakers, such as Nise: The Heart of Madness director Roberto Berliner, have said its better to protest within the system. I am sympathetic to Kleber, Berliner told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo. We have the same political views. But I think we filmmakers should unite against the appointment [of Petrucelli], and not remove the films. If indeed Aquarius is blocked from being submitted for the foreign-language Oscar, Filho and company could have the last laugh elsewhere on the Academys ballot. Actress Sonia Bragas performance was raved in Cannes, leading many to count her as a strong leading actress possibility. Vitagraph Films will release Aquarius in the U.S. on Oct. 14, after it screens at the upcoming Toronto and New York film festivals. Netflix has the VOD rights. In the meantime, Filho is attempting to view the controversy in a positive light, as it can only raise awareness for the film and boost its profile. Nevertheless, he said hell be writing a very democratic letter to the Ministry of Justice demanding explanation for the 18+ rating. There was no such problem with his previous film, Neighboring Sounds. And Aquarius is not about politics, but rather, about a woman (Braga) who refuses to vacate her apartment as gentrifying developers gobble up all of the units surrounding her. She stands her ground and fights the system not unlike Filho. Related stories Oscars: Academy Announces 12 Areas for Scientific and Technical Awards 'The Birth of a Nation' May Be the Most Timely Film the Oscar Race Has Ever Seen Oscars Timeline Shift Helps Voters See More Movies Asuncion (AFP) - Eight Paraguayan soldiers died Saturday in a roadside explosion, the government said, blaming it on a leftist guerrilla group. 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. "They placed explosives in the road where a patrol routinely passes. Because of the manner in which it was done, we believe it was an attack by the known criminal group EPP," he said, using the Spanish acronym for the Paraguayan People's Army. De Vargas said eight soldiers died in the attack. Since the guerrilla group first appeared in 2008, it has killed some 50 people in attacks, the majority of them police, soldiers and cattle raisers, according to police. The group has been active in the cattle-raising region where Saturday's explosion occurred. Why film a love story from 1912? Thats one of the questions asked by Swedish actress-writer-director Pernilla August when talking about her latest feature, A Serious Game, adapted from Hjalmar Soderbergs novel. Film screened at the Norwegian Intl. Film Festival, which ran Aug. 20-26 in Haugesund, Norway. August has a good answer for that: Soderbergs novel is a real classic, and everybody who has been in love will emotionally recognize the characters. It is also existential, about how we make our choices in life; I have been around for a long time, so I can identify both with Lydia, Arvid and Dagmar, said August at the Norwegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund. Set in Stockholm at the beginning of the 20th century, the film follows the love-at-first sight love story of Lydia, the daughter of a landscape painter, and Arvid, a young journalist. But the time is wrong: Lydias father dies and leaves her without an inheritance, and Arvid, also penniless, shies away from the idea of marriage. They part, and when they meet again 10 years later, they are both married and have children. Still, they embark upon a passionate affair. Swedish producers Patrik Andersson, Fredrik Heinig and Danish writer-director Lone Scherfig (who wrote the script) asked me if I would make the film, and I accepted almost immediately; for some time I had really wanted to work with a love story, and I also liked the challenge of the [early] 20th century setting. To me the characters were most important, and Stockholm circa 1912 came in second, which was not difficult since we shot the whole film in Budapest, Hungary, she said. August likens making films as a search for the genuine in the human being, and I have especially been occupied by developing the women characters; Soderbergs Lydia is (sorry, Hjalmar) very much of a mythical fantasy to Arvid, a one-dimensional, beautiful woman on a pedestal, while Dagmar (Arvids wife) is described as a rather angular person I want to know where they come from, how they live, why they are doing what they are. Story continues August noted that her ambition to direct films has gotten stronger over the year. If I had been a man, I would have realized it a long time ago, but it is not so easy for a woman. I began by making a 22-minute film and thought it was exciting, I could easily go on with that, and the first feature was not that far away, August noted. She recalled sitting on a boat in the Swedish archipelago I have a house in one of the small islands I had read Finnish author Susanna Alikoskis new novel, when I saw in a newspaper that Drakfilm Productions had bought the rights. They had offered me a project before, so I sent them a text, If you need me for this, I am ready. And they did. Four years later, Beyond (2010) was released. After some acting assignments came The Legacy for Danish pubcaster DR; I was conceptual director and directed the first three episodes; I performed in the second season, and in the concluding third I play a small role an ecological crisis farmer and I will also helm the ninth and last part. She credits legendary Swedish director Ingmar Bergman as meaning a lot to her in her work. I was 21-years-old when he gave me the first film role, and 30 years later he directed me in his last production for the stage. When I started A Serious Game, I felt I had two small angels on my shoulders Bergman and [director] Bo Widerberg. But I have also realized that Norwegian actress-director Liv Ullmann has been very important to me. I learned a lot when she directed me in Best Intentions (1992, from Bergmans script); she created an inspiring, permissive environment for us actors, stimulated our fantasies and gave us trust in ourselves. So obviously I was happy this year to receive the festival and Ullmanns honorary prize in Haugesund, August said. Starring Karin Franz Korlof, Sverrir Gudnason, Liv Mjones, Michael Nyqvist, Mikkel Bo Flsgaard and Sven Nordin, A Serious Game was produced by Andesson, Heinig and Frida Bargo. It will be released in Sweden by Nordisk Film on Sept. 9. It is the third adaptation of Soderbergs novel, after Swedish director Rune Carlsten (1945) and Norwegian director Anja Breien (1977). Pictured above: Pernilla August Related stories 'Louder Than Bombs,' 'The Wave' Take Top Norwegian Film Prizes Helmer Zwart Treks to Norway's Arctic Circle for '12th Man' Shoot Animated 'Stork' Bows at New Nordic Film Market Officials say, fire could have been triggered by a short-circuit in the air-conditioning machine in the male ward. By Indrajit Kundu: Two persons were killed and several were injured after a fire broke out at the government medical college hospital in Murshidabad district of West Bengal today morning. The fire was first noticed at the male surgical ward on the second floor of the hospital. It soon spread to the pediatric ward on the floor above. Several persons were injured as panic stricken patients and family members began rushing out of the hospital in fear. advertisement According to the state government, one woman attendant and one family member of a patient had died. The two deceased have been identified as Mamoni Sarkar and Paromita Ghosh. Following the incident, two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Officials say, fire could have been triggered by a short-circuit in the air-conditioning machine in the male ward. However, West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services minister Sovan Chatterjee said the fire was under control. NEWBORN BABIES FALL SICK DUE TO SMOKE Several newborn babies fell sick due to the smoke. Hospital staff and family members brought all the newborns out into the hospital courtyard immediately after the fire broke out. Hospital authorities have began treatment of the newborn babies that fell sick due to the smoke. "Fire has been brought under control. There is no need to panic. We are closely monitoring the situation," informed state health secretary RS Shukla. WAS THE TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN? However, family members of patients have alleged that the hospital lacked basic fire fighting infrastructure and a tragedy was waiting just to happen. Most of the emergency exit doors on the floor where fire broke out had been locked leading to a rush at the staircase. Eye-witnesses allege there was no fire extinguishers inside the ward and a the lift too was not working. One of the locked emergency doors. West Bengal Chief Mminister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an enquiry by a high-level committee headed by the state health secretary. In an official statement, the government stated that the enquiry committee had been formed to "look into the causes of the accident, suggest remedial measures so that such incidents do not happen again and look into other incidental issues. CID has been asked to look into the possibility of sabotage related to the incident." The state government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lack for the family of those who died in the incident. --- ENDS --- Earlier this week, Donald Trump took a swipe at Hillary Clintons Hollywood supporters he said that in many cases they were personalities who arent very hot anymore. Politifact, the fact-checking website run by the Tampa Bay Times, actually looked in to Trumps claim, and their conclusion is that it is mostly false. Trump has a point that out of hundreds of celebrities endorsing Clinton, some have faded, Politifact says. But the data doesnt lie. Many prolific Clinton-backing stars remain popular according to several metrics: social media influence, earning potential, and popularity on celebrity news blogs and websites. Supporters like Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Meryl Streep and George Clooney are arguably the most visible and enthusiastic. The site consulted with E-Poll Market Research, which measures celebrity likability, and found that Clintons 200 most politically active Hollywood backers had an E-Score of 86 out of 100. Trumps backers fared worse, with a score of 64 out of 100. (Topping his list was Chuck Norris, whose score was 99 out of 100). Perhaps confusing to Trump is that 900 celebrities have endorsed Clinton, meaning that there are plenty of names on her list venturing into the Where Are They Now? territory. But judging by Trumps numbers, he has a number of names that are, as an E-Poll official told them, obscure. The irony of all of this is that there are plenty of celebrity figures who may very well boost their E-Score by speaking out on Clinton and Trump. Nothing like an election year to get you back in the public eye. Related stories Don Cheadle Slams 'POS' Donald Trump for Politicizing Shooting Death of Nykea Aldridge Barbra Streisand and 'Donald Trump' Perform Together on 'The Tonight Show' Donald Trump's Candidacy Is Taking a Toll on Political Ad Spending Prince Harry just helped save more than 200 elephants because hes our dream guy Prince Harry just helped save more than 200 elephants because hes our dream guy Our favorite royal conservationist Prince Harry is universally known to be a kind, thoughtful human being. So we shouldnt be surprised that hes gone and rescued over 200 elephants this past week. (After all, hes already rescued some rhinoceros and championed lions.) Prince Harry recently helped move 262 elephants to safety as he worked on a key mission to support populations in Africa! Thats right. Hes saving all sorts of endangered animals. Could he be more of a hero? Patricio Ndadzela, country director for the nonprofit conservation body African Parks in Malawi, told People: He is amazing and down to earth. He is very social but a respectable gentleman. We ate together at the camp and we camped in the same grounds this is unique for someone of his status. And hes not even afraid of the wild natural life that would scare the rest of us: He was very at home, nothing bothered him, Ndadzela bragged. We were close to a river and there were thousands of crocodiles and he was not scared! Story continues Prince William And Prince Harry Visit Africa - Day 2 Harry has spent time in the southern African country working with the 500 Elephants initiative, which aims to help reduce habitat pressures, ease human-wildlife conflict, and boost elephant populations in places where poaching is rampant. The post Prince Harry just helped save more than 200 elephants because hes our dream guy appeared first on HelloGiggles. RICHMOND, Va.Disruptive students are a headache for public schools. They distract from lessons, skip class, and often bring down the graduation rates. Thats why school districts across the country have resorted to opening alternative schools in recent decades, with hopes that smaller classes and individual attention might help these students get their diplomas. But even these alternative schools (which differ from charter schools in that they are still part of school districts and thus answer to superintendents) can be a burden: Theyre expensive to run, and their graduation rates are still pretty low. Desperate for help, many school districts are now hiring private companies to manage these alternative schools and educate their most troublesome students. Large, urban districts like Chicago and Philadelphia have been working with this emerging industry for several years now. Though research shows that problematic students in Philadelphia did better in alternative schools than traditional ones, there is a wide variance in school quality, and detailed information about their curricula is scarce. Recommended: How Trigger Warnings Are Hurting Mental Health on Campus The question on the table is whether a business whose job it is to make money can better educate vulnerable students than a public system with no profit motive. Its not too different from the dynamic between the federal government and the private companies running its prisons across the country. But the Justice Department announced last week that it would stop contracting with the private sector, in part because it doesnt seem to save that much money, and in part because the service didnt improve either. Richmond is one of the latest cities to experiment with outsourcing education. In July, the city hired a Texas-based company called Camelot Education to run the Richmond Alternative School, which last year served 223 students from across the city in grades 6 through 11. Nearly all of the students at Richmond Alternative are black (97 percent) and most are poor (87 percent qualify for free lunches). Some black parents once dubbed it the colored childrens prison and it has been criticized for contributing to whats called the school-to-prison pipelineVirginia is the state that refers the most students to law enforcement. Story continues Data provided by Richmonds school district shows that its alternative school has been floundering for years. When the school year ended three months ago, the numbers were alarming: The dropout rate had jumped to 38 percent, compared to 28 percent just two years earlier. And students scores in nearly every subject had fallen by 50 percent or more during that time. Its at a point where we know something has to change. Trying something new is better than doing the same old thing. This led the school board to enlist Camelot, which has run alternative schools in 12 districts across the country. It was a quick decision that may have been too hasty, says Jessee Perry, who is running for a position on the school board, and it concerns her that it happened right before the beginning of the school year. But its at a point where we know something has to change, she says. Trying something new is better than doing the same old thing. The turn to the private sector is not new for Richmond. In 2004, the city hired a private company to run a previous iteration of its alternative school, which was then called the Capital City Program. The $4.6 million agreement with a Tennessee-based company called Community Education Partners was the school districts most expensive contract that year. Back then, the school was located next to the Gilpin Court housing projects, in one of the citys most violent neighborhoods. The quality of the education provided by Community Education Partners turned out to be substandard, according to a Richmond Magazine investigation, which found that a third of the schools teachers were not credentialed. Recommended: Why One Neuroscientist Started Blasting His Core Elsewhere, schools run by Community Education Partners were not faring much better. The American Civil Liberties Union in Georgia sued the company in 2008 for allegedly providing fundamentally inferior education to students at an alternative school in Atlantaan environment so violent and intimidating that learning is all but impossible. Atlanta canceled its contract with the company, and a year later, so did the city of Philadelphia. When the firms contract with Richmond was up in 2013, the school board decided the district would take over the school again, saving it about $2 million a year. The school was moved away from Gilpin Court and into an old high-school building across the interstate. But student performance did not improve, as the districts data shows. So, as of July, it has a $1.8 million contract with Camelot, and has agreed to provide additional support staff at a cost of $800,000, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. During a recent visit to Richmond, I stopped by the school and it was buzzing with activity. Moving trucks were parked outside and crews were unloading teaching materials and what appeared to be furniture. School staff didnt want to talk about the changes, and instead referred me to the districts spokeswoman, who also declined to discuss them. The district did, however, provide this statement: Camelot will staff the school with educators who are licensed in specific content areas that are trained in behavior modification, de-escalation techniques, and who are experienced at working in nontraditional environments. The expectation is that this company will assist staff at the school in setting clear performance metrics such as enhancing the school climate, reducing absenteeism, and increasing the graduation rate. Recommended: Why It's Morally Complicated to Love Machine Guns The districts own teachers, who have been at Richmond Alternative for the past couple school years, were not trained to handle students who are prone to violence or who are dealing with trauma. This is something Camelots CEO, Todd Bock, says his staff is equipped to do. Thats because the company started out as a behavioral healthcare provider for teens before branching out into education in 2003. He says the companys expertise is working with vulnerable teens who are at risk of dropping out of school or ending up in jail. Bock says staff at Camelot schools know the parents and guardians of each student and are aware of challenges they face at home. So our approach really is to address the social-emotional and behavioral issues of our students first, because without that you can't access academics, he tells me. For example, every day at a Camelot school begins and ends with a town-hall meeting, Bock says, where teachers and staff are encouraged to talk to students on a personal level. If a student acts up in class, protocol is for the teacher to stop and address the students behavior, instead of automatically sending him or her to the principals office. The policy at Richmond Alternative will be to suspend kids only if they break the law or if there is a need to call the police. Frankly, suspending kids that have been suspended their whole life is a failure on our part, he says. We need to do everything we can to support kids and keep them where they need to be, which is in school. Companies such as Camelot can pay teachers less if they choose to, as they are not subject to collective bargaining agreements with the local teachers union. The teachers who have been working at Richmond Alternative the past few years will have an opportunity to interview for teaching positions with Camelot, Bock says, but, if hired, they will be required to undergo the companys de-escalation and behavior modification training. Companies such as Camelot can pay teachers less if they choose to, as they are not subject to collective bargaining agreements with the local teachers union. This may be the first time that Richmond will work with Camelot, but data on the companys presence in Philadelphia provides a fuller picture of its track record. Camelot was one of half a dozen companies running Philadelphias alternative schools in the past decade, the largest experiment in privatizing alternative education to date. The city first turned to the private sector in 2004, with mixed results. In 2010, researchers at Mathematica Policy Research studied the academic outcomes of students in Philadelphias 14 alternative schools, which were all privately run, and compared them to the outcomes of similar students who stayed in traditional schools. Their research showed that students at alternative schools were more likely to pass their classes and graduate than similarly at-risk peers at traditional public schools. But graduation rates at alternative schools were still abysmal, says Hanley Chiang, the reports main author. About 29 percent of students graduated from alternative schools, compared to about 22 percent of at-risk students who stayed at traditional high schools. There is still a lot of room for improvement in getting these graduation rates up, says Chiang. His research also showed that instructional quality varies greatly among providers, with Camelot performing the best among those working in Philadelphias schools at the time. Graduation rates at Camelot schools increased by 12 percentage points compared to similar students who stayed in their original schools, while one provider, YouFirst (run by Community Education Partners) actually had a negative impact on graduation rates, which were lower by 14 percentage points. Chiangs research didnt look at whether the school district could have done a better job educating these students compared to the private firms. The evidence is silent on that, he says. Despite its relative success in Philadelphia, Camelot has been criticized by the ACLU for a creating a highly restrictive and overtly confrontational environment at an alternative school it operates in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school, Phoenix Academy, was mentioned in a class-action lawsuit filed last month by the ACLU against the Lancaster School District, alleging that the district unfairly sends foreign-born students to the school just because they dont speak English well. Perry, the Richmond school-board candidate, says shes concerned about school districts relying on a for-profit model to educate their most vulnerable students. To keep making money, these companies benefit from maintaining a system where traditional schools cannot educate their own students. They might also be tempted to cut costs, which can definitely hurt the quality of the education, she says. For now, Richmond is counting on Camelot to do a better job than its school district has in getting high-school diplomas in the hands of their worst-performing students. As Camelots CEO says, the district can always fire the company if it doesnt deliver results. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. By Ross Kerber and Jessica Toonkel CANTON, Mass. (Reuters) - The granddaughter of Viacom Inc's (VIAB.O) controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone has agreed to let a Massachusetts court dismiss claims brought by former company leaders, a step that will help end a battle over the fate of the media empire. Lawyers for Keryn Redstone said at a Massachusetts court hearing on Friday they have also agreed to mediate remaining parts of her family dispute and that she will have an in-person meeting with her 93-year-old grandfather. "There will be peace in the Redstone valley" said Keryn Redstone's attorney Pierce O'Donnell, speaking to reporters after the hearing at Norfolk County Probate and Family Court in Canton, Massachusetts. Keryn Redstone's interest in a family trust is worth $1 billion, he said. While some terms must still be hammered out, Friday's agreements will help end an ongoing legal saga over whether Redstone was mentally competent when he removed former Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and board member George Abrams from a trust that will determine the fate of his media empire. On Saturday, Viacom announced that it had come to an agreement with Redstone, and his privately-held National Amusements Inc, which owns 80 percent of the voting shares of Viacom and CBS Corp (CBS.N). Dauman has stepped down as CEO and will receive as much as $90 million in cash and stock-based compensation, according to the agreement. But Keryn Redstone, who is Shari Redstone's niece and was replaced as a trustee in 2012, had challenged the validity of the settlement agreement because she believes her grandfather is being manipulated by his daughter Shari. Under the settlement, the board of Viacom added the five directors that National Amusements put forward in June, bringing the board to 15 directors after Dauman departs. Three of those directors are expected to step down after Viacom's annual meeting next year, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters last week. Story continues Despite that settlement, Keryn Redstone filed a cross-complaint in connection to Dauman's lawsuit. In a filing on Thursday she also questioned if Dauman's side did enough to assure themselves that Redstone had the mental capacity to understand the terms. Friday's court hearing drew about two dozen lawyers representing the various Redstone family members plus Dauman, Abrams and others. A morning session included heated moments as it became clear that most of the family was looking to end the litigation, while O'Donnell sought to raise questions about Redstone's mental capacity. Sumner Redstone has not spoken on an investor call since 2014 and has not spoken directly about the settlement since it was announced this month. Attorney Robert Klieger portrayed Sumner Redstone's health as stable, saying the aging media mogul has had "no recent hospitalizations." There is, Klieger said, "No reason to believe that Mr. Redstone will not still be here with us for the duration of this case on any reasonable schedule." (Reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Rhymefest is feeling more hurt than upset, after being robbed at gunpoint in Chicago Saturday (Aug. 27) morning. As a community activist, philanthropist, and resident of Chicagos South Side, the 39-year-old Grammy winner feels the incident reflects a larger issue. He aired out his frustrations in a series of tweets addressing the young man who put a gun to his head. To the young brother that put the gun to my head this morning & took my wallet, tweeted the Chicago native. You dont know how you just damaged your community. He pointed the out that the gunman was presumably willing to shoot him over a wallet that contained $3. Its 7:30 am, you just put a gun in my face for $3 in my wallet, continued Rhymefest. I defend you against police brutality, I work on your behalf and you robbed me. Despite his disappointment, he challenged the robber to reach out and apologize. When you look in my wallet & see the name Che Smith on ID DM me, yes contact me and apologize and talk to me like a brother. After the robbery, Rhymefest attempted to file a police report but was refused help because he brought a camera to the station. You wonder we dont report crimes? The police treated me disgustingly pic.twitter.com/fY9VQrqDpz Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Anthony Guglielmi, Communications Director for the Chicago Police Department, has promised to address the disappointing treatment that he received. Read Rhymefests tweets below. To the young brother that put the gun to my head this morning & took my wallet. You dont know how you just damaged your community. Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Its 730am. you just put a gun in my face for $3 in my wallet. I defend you against police brutality, I work on your behalf you robbed me Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Until our communities have restorative Justice set up, you better make friends with a police officer. Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 You dont know what you did! And who you did it to. I lived here on the southside because I thought it mattered. Im reconsidering Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 You were gonna shoot me in the face for a wallet, I had the power to give you a job! Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Im not even mad, Im fuckin hurt. Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Istanbul (AFP) - One Turkish soldier was killed and three more wounded on Saturday in a rocket attack by Kurdish militia on two tanks taking part in Turkey's military offensive in northern Syria, state media said. The dead soldier -- who has not been identified -- is the first confirmed Turkish fatality of Turkey's unprecedented operation in northern Syria which began on Wednesday and has so far proceeded with lightning pace. The rocket fire came from members of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Anadolu said. Turkey considers the PYD and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to be terror organisations, even though they are backed by Ankara's ally the United States as effective anti-jihadist fighting forces in Syria. Anadolu said that the Turkish army responded to the rocket attack by shelling PYD targets in Syria, without giving further details. The tanks were hit in the area of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which Turkish forces helped pro-Ankara rebels seize from jihadists on Wednesday, the Dogan news agency said. Turkey has warned that its offensive in Syria is targeted against the Kurdish militia as well as Islamic State (IS) jihadists, warning the YPG to retreat from its recent advances. Earlier, activists had reported the first fighting between the Kurdish forces and Turkish tanks inside Syria since Ankara began its offensive. Turkey now has dozens of tanks and hundreds of soldiers on the ground in Syria and is ready to send more, media reports have said. In 2012, two years before journalist Gabriel Sherman published his biography about Roger Ailes, the Fox News CEO sent out a detailed memo within the news network entitled "To: Interested Parties." "Re: Gabriel Sherman." The 400-page memo appeared to be "opposition research" about Sherman, who Ailes viewed as an enemy, according to CNNMoney. The memo, sent to CNN by two anonymous sources, included a section called the "Gabriel Sherman Hit List," a rundown of his reporting and comments on Republican leaders and Fox News personnel. It included Sherman's address, voter registration information, property records and a note from researchers that they looked but couldn't find any criminal record for the author. The memo even had more than 40 pages of tweets by Sherman and a writeup about his wedding from The New York Times. A former Fox News reporter told CNNMoney that Ailes seemed "obsessed and paranoid" about The Loudest Voice in the Room, the book Sherman was writing at the time, and the lengthy memo seems to show how far he would go to investigate the author. Sherman's book about Ailes included some of his early examples of alleged sexual harassment; for example, telling an employee, "If you agree to have sex with me whenever I want, I will add an extra hundred dollars a week." Ailes resigned in July after a number of women came forward and claimed they'd been sexually harassed by the veteran TV executive, including former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes that preceded the additional revelations. An internal investigation into the conduct of Ailes launched in the wake of the harassment lawsuit filed by Carlson continues at Fox News. Sherman has followed Ailes' story this summer as well, reporting on "black ops" consultants the exec used for private investigations and "campaigns against enemies." It is unclear if these "friends of Roger's" were the ones who performed the investigation against Sherman. Story continues In 2012, at the time of the memo, Fox News' PR department was led by Brian Lewis, who Ailes suspected of leaking information to the biographer. Lewis was out by 2013 and his second-in-command, Irena Briganti, became the head of PR just before the book was published. Briganti denied knowledge of the memo when asked by CNNMoney on Friday, and said in a statement: "The Fox News PR department was never involved in conducting or executing any opposition research against Gabe Sherman. It's been widely reported that there was a separate team not associated with PR which conducted extensive operations unbeknownst to anyone whose official job was to deal with the press." When CNN told him about the memo, Sherman responded, "I don't take it personally. As I report in my book, Ailes was determined to control his story. This appears to be more evidence of that." Read more: Anita Hill Calls on Fox News to "Take Back" Roger Ailes' $40M Severance Package Aug. 26, 6 p.m. PT: Updated to correct Briganti's role at Fox News. Rumors are flying about ~another~ Disney live-action film and we hope theyre true!!!! Rumors are flying about ~another~ Disney live-action film and we hope theyre true!!!! We love Roald Dahl. What little girl reader didnt dream of being Matilda? And The Witches? Come on: witches So when we heard the news that American Beauty director Sam Mendes and High Fidelity author Nick Hornby are in early talks with Disney about making another live-action film for James and the Giant Peach (the last film adaptation came out twenty years ago), we were pretty stoked, to say the least. Of course, Disney has been working magic recently when it comes to live-action remakes. Weve already had our minds blown by Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book, and there are several more live-action films in the works, including a Little Mermaid remake with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cruella starring Emma Stone, Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson, and Tim Burtons Dumbo. Maceagon Voyce writes in The Nerdist: Thats all to say that the time feels ripe for a good James and the Giant Peach reprisal. Purely from a narrative standpoint, Dahls story is gold, and with Mendes and Hornby at the helm, I feel safer than a destitute boy being flown over the arctic by seagulls in a giant peach filled with talking bug people. But, in all seriousness, Im feeling very good about this one. We are feeling pretty good about it, too! The post Rumors are flying about ~another~ Disney live-action film and we hope theyre true!!!! appeared first on HelloGiggles. UPDATED with Telemundo statement, 6:55 PM: A Telemundo spokesperson just issued a statement about why it rejected a SAG-AFTRA ad critical of its parent, NBCUniversal: After legal review, we have concluded the ad did not pass legal standards for issued based advertisement. We remain committed to making Telemundo a great place to work for our employees and will continue to invest in them to ensure their salaries and working conditions are competitive. At Telemundo we support our employees right to join and not to join a union. Our talent and employees are capable of deciding what is in their own best interest. For that reason we believe our talent should exercise their freedom of choice to join a union or not, in a secret ballot election, a democratic process established by the National Labor Relations Board. We are dedicated to Telemundos long term success, which has created hundreds of high-value jobs and provided a valuable service to the Hispanic community in the United States. RelatedSAG-AFTRA Blasts NBCUniversals Double Standard Treatment Of Talent At NBC & Telemundo PREVIOUSLY, 4:52 PM: SAG-AFTRA has accused Telemundo of censorship for refusing to air a 30-second ad that accuses its parent company, NBCUniversal, of a double standard when it comes to paying performers on its Spanish-language network. Hay algo que NBCUniversal no quiere que sepas sobre Telemundo, the union says. NBCUniversal doesnt want you to know something about Telemundo. Watch the ad above. Produced in-house, the ad is part of the unions ongoing campaign to shame NBCUniversal into signing a contract covering Telemundos on-air talent. The ad accuses NBCUniversal of paying its actors less than half of what their English-language counterparts are paid at NBC. Picture two employees at the same company doing the same job, the ad says. One speaks English and is paid fairly and receives health benefits. The other speaks Spanish, gets paid less than half and gets zero health benefits. Thats an injustice, no matter where you work, and thats exactly how Telemumdos performers are treated at NBCUniversal. Its time to end this double standard and demand fair treatment for all performers, not just those who speak English. Story continues Its probably not a fair comparison, however, since English-language performers who work on shows airing on NBCUniversals cable networks such as Bravo, Syfy, USA and Oxygen generally are paid considerably less than their counterparts at NBC. The union says that the ad aired on Mega TV and Estrella TV two Spanish-language TV stations that dont appear to be signed to the unions contract either. Earlier this month, the on-air talent at Mega voted overwhelmingly in favor of having SAG-AFTRA serve as their collective bargaining representative, but no deal has been reached yet. A search of the unions database could not turn up any Estralla shows signed to its contract. Telemundos decision to censor 30 seconds of truthful commentary about its working conditions shows just how averse it is to having a transparent discussion about its refusal to fairly compensate Spanish-speaking performers, the union said. SAG-AFTRAs goal is to ensure all talent, regardless of their race, ethnicity or language, have fair wages and certain protections. As a leading voice for the Hispanic American community, this should be Telemundos priority as well. Rather than hiding the truth from its growing audience, Telemundo should embrace an open dialogue and ensure its Spanish-speaking performers are treated equally especially as the network enjoys unprecedented growth. The union doesnt have a contract with Telemundo 52 in Los Angeles, but it represents performers at Telemundos KNJU-TV New York and WSNS Chicago. It also represents talent at Univision, Telemundos chief rival, at KMEX Los Angeles, WXTV New York and KDTV San Francisco. The Latin Grammys, which are broadcast on Univision, also are covered by SAG-AFTRA. SAG-AFTRA spokeswoman Pamela Greenwalt said the union has not done any information picketing of Telemundo so far nor filed any unfair labor practices charges against the network. She declined to say if the union has obtained any representational cards from performers there showing that a majority of them want to be represented by SAG-AFTRA. We do not comment on authorization cards during organizing campaigns, she said. The union also released part of an August 17 internal memo from Telemundo president Cesar Conde crediting the on-air talent with helping the network to claim, for the first time in its history, the top ratings spot over rival Univision for the last five weeks in a row. This is a historic achievement of which we are all very proud, Conde said in the memo. Clearly, Telemundo talent has played a very important role in this achievement. The union countered: But this record growth hasnt stopped NBCUniversal from allowing Telemundo to pay Spanish-speaking performers less than half of their English-speaking counterparts at NBC. Telemundo performers also dont receive health benefits or other basic protections routinely provided to English-speaking performers at NBC. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jE-coGG6Y&w=970&h=546] Related stories DWA Exec Structure Set: Bonnie Arnold & Mireille Soria To Co-Run; Ann Daly Out & No Mention Of Chris Meledandri Comcast Completes Its $3.8B DreamWorks Animation Purchase SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris On Ken Howard's Death, Healthcare, Diversity & Another Term SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Jeff Samardzija had a simple game plan against the Atlanta Braves that helped him earn a much-needed win and moved the slumping-but-still-surviving San Francisco Giants closer to first place in the NL West. "Just made them hit it to (shortstop Brandon) Crawford mostly," Samardzija said, referring to his Gold Glove teammate. The plan couldn't have worked out much better for Samardzija or the Giants. Sparked by a handful of defensive gems by Crawford, Samardzija and two relievers combined on a seven-hitter, and San Francisco beat Atlanta 7-0 on Friday night. Samardzija (11-9) had an uneven outing and had to pitch out of two early jams to win for only the fourth time since May 30. He got plenty of help from Crawford, who threw out a runner at third in the first inning, snared a liner to end the second with the bases loaded then made a nifty bare-handed grab to throw out Dansby Swanson to end the sixth. "I like getting groundballs so I'm glad that (Samardzija) feels confident in me to make those plays for him," Crawford said. Samardzija allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out six. He also doubled and scored in the fourth. Atlanta failed to score in the first after putting runners at second and third with one out. The Braves also came up empty after the first three batters reached base in the second, then ran themselves out of another opportunity in the fourth when Jace Peterson was called out after getting hit by the ball on pitcher Joel De La Cruz's single. "Rocky start but he did a great job of getting out of those jams," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Samardzija. "He just kept his concentration and his poise. Saved the game probably at that point for us." Angel Pagan homered while Brandon Belt, Denard Span and Buster Posey added two hits apiece for the Giants. San Francisco scored six runs on two-out hits and benefited from three Atlanta errors. Story continues Freddie Freeman had two hits for Atlanta, one day after taking a hard fall while flipping over a railing chasing a foul ball. Hunter Strickland and Cory Gearrin retired three batters apiece for San Francisco. The Giants benefited from the Braves' shaky defense to give Samardzija an early cushion. San Francisco had four consecutive two-out hits off De La Cruz (0-7) in the first inning following a throwing error by Atlanta shortstop Swanson. "We go up early and it's a whole different game, really," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. "We just couldn't score and it looked like (Samardzija) got locked in pretty good." San Francisco went up 5-0 in the second on Pagan's ninth home run, three batters after Gorkys Hernandez reached on second baseman Peterson's fielding error. Belt, who had an RBI single and scored in the first inning, doubled in Posey in the fifth. The Braves couldn't keep up. NO HELP FOR THE PITCHER De La Cruz remained winless after allowing seven runs in four innings but he can't shoulder all the blame for his record. The Braves have failed to score in five of the eight games started by the right-hander and he is receiving just 1.3 runs of support per start. "I thought he threw the ball OK but (your teammates) make some miscues and you need to get the next guy out and he wasn't able to do that," Snitker said. "It wasn't real good, really." TRAINER'S ROOM Braves: Freeman showed no lingering effects after hurting his back during Thursday's game in Arizona. Freeman doubled in the first inning and reached on an infield single in the fifth. Giants: Outfielder Hunter Pence was held out after straining his right hamstring a day earlier. Pence is hopeful of returning to the lineup Saturday. UP NEXT Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) faces the Giants for the second time this season Saturday night. Foltynewicz, who beat San Francisco on May 30, is winless in his last two starts overall. Giants: RHP Jake Peavy (5-9) returns to the rotation for the first time since being demoted to the bullpen following the trade for Matt Moore on Aug. 1. Peavy last started on May 30 against Washington. PARIS (Reuters) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is attempting a political comeback before next year's election, said on Saturday that Britain should open an asylum center on its territory to deal with asylum seekers now camped in Calais. Migrants aiming to reach Britain have over the years gathered in camps called the "jungle" in the French port of Calais. In the past two years, the population of the camps has swelled as warfare and economic upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East has driven thousands of migrants to try to reach Britain illegally through the Channel Tunnel. "I'm demanding the opening of a center in Britain to deal with asylum seekers in Britain so that Britain can do the work that concerns them," Nicolas Sarkozy told a political rally in Touquet in northern France. Sarkozy said Britain should manage the asylum process, accepting those it wants on British territory and organizing charters to remove those who are rejected. "The jungle should not be in Calais or anywhere else, because this is a republic and those with no rights to be here should return to their country," Sarkozy said. Sarkozy was speaking in Touquet, where in 2003, France signed a symbolic border treaty with Britain. Under Le Touquet accord, British officials can check passports in France and vice versa. However, that has led to the migrants trying to reach British shores congregating at Calais. Images of hundreds of people trying to leap onto trucks bound for Britain has roused anti-immigration worries on both sides of the English Channel. That was a key issue in Britain's vote to leave the European Union, and it has become a hot-button issue ahead of France's April 2017 election. Sarkozy's conservative rival Alain Juppe, who opened his presidential bid on Saturday and is considered the frontrunner in the party's presidential primaries, has called on the Touquet accord to be renegotiated. (Reporting by Bate Felix and Ingrid Melander, editing by Larry King) sears worker Sears is bleeding cash. The company's cash and equivalents have fallen to $276 million from $1.8 billion a year ago, Sears said Thursday. The company's sales have been falling for years and it has been shutting down stores, selling real estate, and spinning off brands to stem the bleeding. Since 2007, Sears has closed half of its locations which include Sears and Kmart stores and eliminated more than 137,000 jobs. Some employees have predicted that the rest of the company's physical stores will close within the next two years. The stores are severely understaffed, with some operating on less than half of the employees they need, according to workers who spoke to Business Insider. Not only are the stores firing people, but they are also cutting labor hours for the workers that remain, according to the employees. In some cases, stores are operating with just one or two cashiers and sometimes no cashiers at all, they said. That's making it increasingly difficult to hire and retain experienced workers, according to a former Kmart employee of 41 years, who said that she was laid off in February. She told Business Insider that her store's employees hadn't seen raises in eight years. She blames the company's CEO, Eddie Lampert, for the company's downfall. "Lampert has taken this company and, with pompous arrogance, has destroyed it," she said. "Customer care is vital to a retail business. Lampert just couldn't understand that." IMG_7095.JPG Workers also said that the stores are suffering structurally from a lack of investment. An employee who currently works for a Sears in Ohio said that his store is rife with issues, from broken walls and escalators to frequent roof leaks. He said that the merchandise on the floor is often torn open, and no one will buy those items. A former assistant manager of Kmart who left the company in 2012 after 12 years said that the company really started going downhill after the introduction of Shop Your Way, a loyalty program that Sears introduced in 2009. Story continues The program, which allows customers to earn points for purchases, was confusing and poorly executed, killed profits, slowed down customer service, and featured targeted advertising that was completely off base, the former manager said. He said: "Items scanned per minute decreased from 18 to five items per minute because the program was littered with exclusions and confusion. Several items didn't ring as advertised or generate the points as expected. This resulted in long lines and angry customers. Abandoned carts meant utilizing payroll to return those items back to stock." IMG_7079.JPG He said that he and his family shopped at Walmart instead of Sears or Kmart to avoid the confusion of Shop Your Way. "Imagine trying to keep an eye on two children and trying to understand a confusing SYWR [Shop Your Way] offer," he said. "We opted to avoid the confusion and shop Walmart where the tag or the sign told us what we would pay. No gimmicks." The 41-year employee of Kmart who spoke to Business Insider had similar complaints about Shop Your Way. She said: "[Eddie Lampert's] ideas of reward cards to transform the company were a waste of time and money. If they didn't have a card, you were supposed to enroll them while you have 10 waiting in that one line to check out. Most people were so disgusted when they finally got to pay, they didn't want to apply. They just wanted to pay and go." In response to the employee complaints, Sears spokesman Howard Riefs said that the company encourages workers to provide feedback. "One of our cultural beliefs as a company is to embrace feedback," Riefs said. "We have a variety of ways that associates can give authentic feedback even anonymously and would encourage them to do so." He also directed Business Insider to a Sears blog post published last year in which employees shared why they are proud to work for Sears and Kmart. "I am very proud to be part of SHC [Sears Holding Co.]," said Jen Chamberlain, a Sears sales associate in Victor, New York. "From online and in-store shopping to home and car repair services integrating with Shop Your Way, it is truly a high standard of operation for any company." Scott Ogden, an associate store manager in Miami, Florida, said, "I am proud to be part of the SHC team because we all work together on a daily basis to achieve the same common goals. SHC is comprised of great leaders and team members who strive every day to deliver their best results." In addition to speaking with employees, Business Insider also reviewed a message board that workers said they use to communicate with Sears and Kmart employees at other stores. In dozens of messages over the last several weeks, people claiming to work for Sears and Kmart complained about the stores' deterioration. Several people claimed that the quality of the products that Sears and Kmart sell has declined and that no one will buy clearance items regardless of how much they mark down the prices. IMG_7090.JPG "Clearance is the standard operating procedure at our store," one person wrote on the message board. "We have at least half of our store on clearance. Too much stuff people don't want ... and what they do buy they will usually return as defective. ... Not long until the end, it will come soon." Another person claiming to work in Sears' automotive section wrote: "Lately the majority of tire shipments consist of Patriot and Radar tires. These are simply cheap crappy tires. We have about 12 sets of Michelin tires left and a handful of Goodyear. Even shipments of their signature RoadHandler tires have slowed down. It's embarrassing when I have to face a customer and explain I just don't have much product to offer." One person said that the stores have deteriorated so much that it's like caring for a "dead body." "Our motto now is 'you can only do what you can do,'" the person wrote. "It's sad to watch what we worked for with pride for so many years to be slain in front of us and then we still have to care for the dead body." IMG_7103.JPG Some stores are being inundated by shipments of merchandise several times a week, and they don't have enough employees to move the products from the trucks to the stock rooms, and then to store shelves in a timely manner. "We have been getting shipments of things that we don't need it seems like they are just trying to empty out of the warehouses," one person wrote. The understaffing appears to be a major issue for many stores. "My store is down to a skeleton staff," one person wrote. Another said that they have a 17-year-old in a managerial position. They wrote: "With new hires only lasting less than a month, experienced employees quitting for better paying and better working conditions we have hardly anyone with any experience to run the store. The worst is that we have a 17-year-old running the office and cash office. He has no experience in either but he is a warm body to fill the job. The end is coming soon, get out while you can." If you work in retail and have a story to tell, then send an email to retail@businessinsider.com. NOW WATCH: Find out if you live near one of the Sears or Kmart stores closing this year More From Business Insider NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2016 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Tokai" or the "Company") (TKAI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-06106, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Tokai securities between June 24, 2015 and July 25, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased Tokai securities during the Class Period, you have until September 30, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Tokai is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for prostate cancer and other hormonally-driven diseases. The Company's lead drug candidate is galeterone, an oral small molecule that was, at all relevant times, in various clinical trials for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) there were significant structural problems with the trial design for Tokai's pivotal Phase 3 galeterone study, ARMOR3-SV; (ii) consequently, ARMOR3-SV was unlikely to succeed in meeting its primary endpoint; (iii) as a result, commercialization of galeterone was less likely and/or imminent than Tokai had led investors to believe; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's financial statements, as well as Defendants' statements about Tokai's business, operations, and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. Story continues On November 2, 2015, Richard Pearson published an article on the investment website Seeking Alpha, entitled "What's Wrong With Tokai Pharmaceuticals?" (the "Pearson Report"). The Pearson Report described structural problems with the design of the Company's ARMOR3-SV trial. On this news, Tokai's share price fell $0.07, or 0.63%, to close at $10.98 on November 2, 2015. On July 26, 2016, Tokai announced plans "to discontinue the ARMOR3-SV clinical trial, our pivotal Phase 3 study" of galeterone. On this news, Tokai's share price plummeted by $4.10, or nearly 79%, to close at $1.10 on July 26, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP Sweaty passengers crammed into battered buses and stuck in traffic jams look on enviously as Tanzania's shiny new commuter buses fly by on the pristine asphalt of dedicated highway lanes. In Dar es Salaam, the East African country's biggest city of five million people, rush hour has always meant chaos, until now. The first phase of a new bus rapid transit system opened earlier this year offering a swift, clean alternative to the traditional "dala dala" buses, a twist on the English word "dollar" coined in the 1970s when the system started as an answer to inadequate public transport. The new route cuts through 20 kilometres (12 miles) of the seaside city with two lanes of tarmac running down the middle of the existing highway. When completed the route will extend for 130 kilometres, separated from the traffic by a crash barrier that prevents motorists from taking advantage of its free-flowing smoothness. - 'Unique in East Africa' - "Every day, hundreds of thousands of people lose time, and therefore money, in traffic jams, which have become a very big problem in Dar es Salaam," says Robert Lwakatare, head of the government agency responsible for overseeing the Dar Rapid Transit (DART) project. A recent study estimated that traffic jams cost the Tanzanian economy $188 million (167 million euros) a year. "It's amazing," says one young passenger who gave just her first name Judy, as a Chinese-made bus with bright blue-tinted windows pulls up to the platform. There are 140 buses and 27 new stations in the transit system, enough to meet demand for the time being. "Before I took two to two and a half hours to go into the centre of Dar es Salaam, and now it takes me 30 minutes," Judy said after scanning her ticket at an automated gate. "This might seem normal in Europe, but it's not in our countries," says Lwakatare. "All this is unique in East Africa." Story continues The clean vehicles themselves are a far cry from the dilapidated dala dalas, of which there are 7,000 registered in Dar es Salaam today, according to African Development Bank figures. The drivers on the new buses wear short-sleeved shirts, ties and neatly pressed trousers and politely ask passengers to sit before starting off. Aboard the dala dalas, passengers find any space they can, while drivers shout and conductors hang precariously from open doors. - 'People still need us' - The first phase of construction cost $290 million (260 million euros), mostly funded by a World Bank loan, and Tanzania is relying on the African Development Bank to fund the remainder of the project. Lwakatare says that around 100,000 people already use the new buses every day, a figure predicted to rise to 300,000 in the months ahead. Costing 400-800 Tanzanian shillings ($0.18-0.37, 16-32 euro centimes ) the ticket price is a little more expensive than on the dala dalas, which are destined to be phased out as the new system comes online. Part of the budget is earmarked for compensating dala dala owners, who have also been included in a private sector consortium to operate the network in partnership with the government DART agency. A dala dala tout named Justin, in faded jeans and an old green and grey jumper, views the new buses and what they mean for his future with equanimity. "For the moment, people still need us because the blue bus does not go everywhere and are a bit more expensive." "Later, we'll see," he says with a shrug, "but I think there will always be a need for a cheaper service." Sam Altman Sam Altman, the Silicon Valley investor behind the venture-capital firm Y Combinator, has some thoughts about Donald Trump's tax returns. Tweeting from his personal account on Saturday, Altman said the IRS should drop its audit of the GOP presidential nominee's tax returns "in the interest of citizens being able to make a fully informed choice in this election." "Even though he can release his returns under audit, and there's precedent for this, it seems like he won't," Altman said. Trump has refused to release his tax returns, despite it being the customary move for modern-day US presidential candidates. The real-estate businessman and his legal advisers have asserted that because of an ongoing audit, he will not release them publicly until the audit is complete which is not expected to happen before the November election. High-profile figures in politics and in business have scoffed at the notion that Trump is unable to show the public his tax returns. The 2012 GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, called the move "disqualifying." Warren Buffett suggested that Trump is "afraid" to release his returns. Entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban implied that Trump isn't budging because the Clintons "made more" money than him. In his tweets, Altman argued that if the IRS drops its Trump audit, the New York businessman would be forced to make a move, "so if he doesn't," Altman said, "it'd be reasonable to assume he's hiding something." Hillary Clinton The venture capitalist then turned his attention to Hillary Clinton: "I also think Clinton should release transcripts from her speeches to financial institutions." Calls for Clinton to show those speech transcripts were ignited by her former Democratic primary rival, Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator routinely condemned the influence of big banks in politics and attempted to cite Clinton's closed-door speeches as evidence of that. Story continues For her part, Clinton has indicated that she's open to showing the public those transcripts "if everybody else agrees to do it." NOW WATCH: 'It's a tired disgusting argument': Trump responds to Clinton linking him to white supremacists More From Business Insider By Marius Zaharia SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore has confirmed its first case of a locally-transmitted Zika virus, which has been linked to microcephaly, a rare birth defect, in Brazil, the health ministry said. A 47-year-old Malaysian woman working in the city-state was confirmed with the virus, but was "well and recovering." As she had not traveled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore, the ministry said in a statement. Three other cases have tested positive in preliminary tests on their urine samples and are due further checks. Zika was 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 1,600 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. Singapore, one of the world's largest financial centers and busiest travel hubs, said it expected more cases of the mosquito-borne virus which has wreaked havoc in Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. "With the presence of Zika in our region and the volume of travel by Singaporeans as well as tourists, it is inevitable there will be imported cases of Zika into Singapore," the ministry said. "There is also risk of subsequent local transmission ... we expect there may be further cases, as most infected persons may display mild or no symptoms." The ministry said it was screening the patient's close contacts and carrying out tests on others living or working nearby. Clinics have been told to be on the lookout for more cases. MISTING, FOGGING The National Environment Agency (NEA) has carried out "vector control" operations to control the mosquito population and deployed 100 officers in the area, the statement said. Such operations include "ultra-low volume misting of premises and thermal fogging of outdoor areas to kill adult mosquitoes," increasing frequency of drain flushing and oiling to prevent breeding, and public education outreach and distribution of insect repellent. "NEA may need to gain entry into inaccessible premises by force after serving of requisite notices, to ensure any breeding habitats are destroyed quickly," the statement said. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans. A small number of cases of sexual transmission have been reported in the United States and elsewhere. A case of suspected transmission through a blood transfusion in Brazil has raised questions about other ways that Zika may spread. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, however. (Reporting by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) Singapore on Saturday reported the first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus, with three other suspect infections pending confirmation. Authorities identified the confirmed patient as a 47-year-old Malaysian woman residing in the city-state. "As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore," the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency said in a joint statement late Saturday. The woman developed fever, rash and conjunctivitis on Thursday and tested positive for the virus two days later at a local hospital, where she has since been under observation, the statement said. "The patient is currently well and recovering," it added. The health ministry is screening the woman's close contacts and is carrying out tests on other people living and working in the area exhibiting symptoms of fever and rash. The statement said three other suspect cases - two from a family who live in the area and another individual who works nearby - had preliminarily tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus based on their urine samples. The results, however, are being confirmed through further tests, the statement added. "I encourage those who are unwell and with these symptoms to visit their doctors for medical attention," said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. The Zika virus outbreak began in Brazil in early 2015 and has spread to neighbouring countries. Singapore in May reported the first imported case of Zika virus infection -- a 48-year-old male Singapore resident who had travelled to Sao Paulo in Brazil earlier in the year. In the United States more than 2,500 people have been diagnosed with Zika, most of them infected while travelling abroad. 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. Can't keep up with what's been going on in the social media world? Fret not. Here, a gathering of what the stars have been up to this week on social media. Charlize Theron's Son Sparks Social Media Debate Charlize Theron is catching flak for letting son Jackson, 5, express himself. The tot was spotted by a pap rocking a dress with a Frozen ball cap, fashioned with Elsa's signature long, blonde ponytail. Theron's been open about her son's princess obsession, revealing to ExtraTV that her son became infatuated with Emily Blunt while filming The Huntsman: Winter's War. "My son is in love with her. He thinks she's, like, the most beautiful princess ever. Yeah, it's crazy. I didn't even exist, he was just like, 'Ahh, she's a princess.' I'm like, 'I'm a queen.'" What's so wrong with a letting a child dress himself? In the words of President Obama: "You gotta let people express themselves." Parent shamers on Twitter, be gone. Shame on Charlize Theron for allowing her black adopted SON to dress up in a blonde wig & a dress. Very unacceptable pic.twitter.com/TTXctDo8jo - Marcellus X (@_Uncensorable) August 25, 2016 Sarah Jessica Parker is Over the EpiPen Mylan, the company behind EpiPen, has hiked up prices by almost 500 percent since 2007. An immediate social media onslaught occurred, and overnight Mylan CEO Heather Bresch became a household name. "I'm running a business. I am a for-profit business" Bresch told The New York Times in an attempt to do damage-control and defend her current $16 million salary. Celeb spokesperson Sarah Jessica Parker announced via Instagram the end of her involvement in "an initiative to raise awareness for anaphylaxis," a cause important to Parker as her son suffers from a "life-threatening peanut allergy." Text-based graphics used as an official response are quickly becoming the norm for celebrities: Parker's post, much like Taylor Swift's response to Kimye and Beyonce's response to #BlackLivesMatter, seem to get the most reach. Story continues A photo posted by SJP (@sarahjessicaparker) on Aug 25, 2016 at 4:02am PDT Hillary Clinton's Street Style Street style finally is fun again, thanks to @hillarystreetstyle. (No seriously, thank you.) An unknown Instagram curator with just under 10,000 followers came up with the idea of paring new and old photos of the presidential candidate with looks from Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid and Beyonce. #MustFollow A photo posted by What's ur Hillarystreetstyle? (@hillarystreetstyle) on Apr 1, 2016 at 2:15pm PDT Zac Efron's Dog Passes Away If you didn't want to cuddle Zac Efron before (what's wrong with you?), you're really going to want to now. Puppy Efron, the Australian sheep dog, recently passed away. "Through thick and thin you've always been my best friend. I'll see you at the finish line, RIP Puppy Efron," he wrote on Instagram. Pass the tissues, please. A photo posted by Zac Efron (@zacefron) on Aug 25, 2016 at 7:46pm PDT Taylor Swift's Birthday Instagram Account Taylor Swift has remained pretty quiet on social media these days. Ever since Kim Kardashian leaked a recorded phone call between Kanye West and Swift, the pop princess' Instagram has turned into a glorified celebrity birthday Instagram account, celebrating the birthdays of elite squad members Selena Gomez, Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne. Blake Lively celebrated her 29th birthday this week, and Swift posted a throwback of the two at a theme park in Australia. Lively in a Dolce & Gabanna short-sleeved soft pink sweater with a green sequined "Je T'aime Maman" (I love you mother) blazed across the front, could not be any cuter. Here's hoping Swift can find some real Insta inspo soon. A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Aug 25, 2016 at 2:04pm PDT Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth Melt Hearts Young patients at a children's hospital in Brisbane, Australia, got a big surprise when Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth showed up in character as Thor and Loki. Chris Hemsworth posted a cute snap of a Lady Cilento Children's Hospital patient taking Thor's hammer to Loki's face. Side note: Thor has great hair. A photo posted by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Aug 23, 2016 at 2:00pm PDT The Boxer Braid Everyone from Kim Kardashian to J.Lo has been known to rock the boxer braid look (a double inverted French braid), and now Margot Robbie is the latest celeb to join in the fun. Beach Waver inventor Sarah Potempa laced up Robbie's locks in perfectly precise braids for the Tokyo premiere of Suicide Squad. A photo posted by Sarah Potempa (@sarahpotempa) on Aug 25, 2016 at 7:24pm PDT The Stranger Things Selfie King Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo is the gift that keeps on giving. The loveable little guy announced he's "started a new thing" and is snapping his own selfies with fans that ask for a photo, because "they mean as much to me as I mean to them." Can he be any cuter? A photo posted by Gaten Matarazzo (@gatenm123) on Aug 22, 2016 at 4:18pm PDT '90s Milk Photos from the '90s get a lot of likes on Instagram, straight up. The millennials are in dire need of non-basic #inspo, and the rest just love to look back and laugh (or cry). @90smilk posts well-curated photos from magazines and films, with Wikipedia-like captions. Drew Barrymore smoking cigs, throwback Kate Moss for days and clips of Rachel from Friends are regular features. Not your thing? As they said in the '90s: "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face don't wanna hear it." A photo posted by Milk Me Kurt (@90smilk) on Aug 24, 2016 at 12:38pm PDT Now this is what we call relationship goals! Joe Manganiello, 39, and his beautiful wife Sofia Vergara, 44, looked happier than ever in some adorable pics posted on Friday, showing the couple enjoying each other's company during an afternoon out. Afternoon tea with my wife pic.twitter.com/43QYRVWki0 Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) August 27, 2016 "Afternoon tea with my wife," Manganiello tweeted. Earlier in the day, Vergara shared some Instagram shots of her food, along with some funny captions. "You are too small for me," Vergara wrote about one tiny dish. "I don't know what u are but I'm gonna have to eat u," she wrote about another. WATCH: Sofia Vergara Shares Second Anniversary Wishes to Joe Manganiello "Tea time" seems to be a regular occurrence for the celebrity power couple who often share their most lovey-dovey moments. June marked the second anniversary of when the pair started dating. Manganiello popped the question during the couple's Hawaiin vacation in December 2014 being together for six months. They tied the knot in November 2015 at The Breakers Palm Beach resort in Florida. Related Articles BERLIN (Reuters) - Sources in Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat (CDU) party on Saturday denied a magazine report that said the German leader was delaying an announcement until spring 2017 on whether she will run for a fourth term in next year's federal election. Der Spiegel reported that Merkel had originally planned to announce in spring 2016 whether she would stand for election but cited CDU sources as saying the delay to next spring was needed as Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) - the CDU's Bavarian sister party - did not want to decide until then whether his party will support Merkel again. Two CDU sources told Reuters it was not true Merkel had originally wanted to announce in spring 2016 that she would run once more for the post of chancellor. Armin Laschet, deputy chairman of the CDU, suggested the timing of any announcement had not been set, saying: "How can you delay a decision that is not due yet?" He suggested that he expected Merkel to run: "Many people around Germany hope that Angela Merkel will remain chancellor. It's up to her to decide when she'll comment on 2017." The CSU takes a tougher line on immigration than Merkel's CDU and the two parties have frequently clashed over how to deal with an influx of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. Merkel's popularity has taken a hit after two Islamist attacks in July, which put the spotlight on the liberal migrant policy she championed. More than 1 million people fleeing war and poverty arrived in Germany in 2015 and a recent poll showed 52 percent of Germans deem her migrant policy bad. The magazine said people close to Merkel feared that if she announced she would run for chancellor again without Seehofer's support, it would hurt her politically. In December the CDU holds its federal party convention, during which the CDU chairperson is due to be elected. CDU sources told Reuters nobody expected her to leave that position. Asked about her plans for the 2017 election in an interview with regional newspapers published on Tuesday, Merkel left it open whether she would run: "I will comment on that at the appropriate time. I'm sticking to that," she said. (Reporting by Michelle Martin and Andreas Rinke; Editing by Dale Hudson) He was faced with a terrible decision. He could remain silent, as mass executions were carried out, or he could listen to his conscience. He decided to speak out. It cost him dearly. Not only was Montazeri removed as the heir to Khomeini, he was declared an enemy of the state, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. An audio file recently surfaced. It was posted on a website maintained by Montazers son, and his supporters. It sheds new light onto his last, desperate efforts to limit the killings. It seems to prove that had Montazeri who died in 2009, succeeded Khomeini, a very different course would have followed for Iran, as he criticized the concept of a theocratic state. He believed that the clerics should be advisors only, while elected officials and hired-on-merit technocrats governed. In the last few months of the Irans 1980-1988 war with Iraq, the country was worn out and nearly bankrupt. In a fury of frustration, Iran went after those it deemed domestic enemies, including Western-leaning students, ethnic minorities, and opposition factions like the Mujahideen-e Khalq, or MEK. A full accounting of the death commission created by Khomeini has never been carried out. According to an Amnesty report in 1990, Thousands of people were executed between 1987 and 1990 including more than 2,000 political prisoners between July 1988 and January 1989. But the overall death toll has been estimated at much higher. In my opinion, the greatest crime committed during the Islamic Republic, for which history will condemn us, has been committed by you, Montazeri is recorded as saying on the July 1988 audio to a group of senior judicial and intelligence officials, including Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who now serves as justice minister under President Hassan Rouhani. Beware of 50 years from now, when people will pass judgment on the leader [Khomeini] and will say he was a bloodthirsty, brutal and murderous leader. I do not want history to remember him like that, added Montazeri, who was one of Khomeinis most trusted allies for decades before they parted ways. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has provided a translation of the 40-minute recording, and similar translations were made by several other outlets, including the BBCs Persian Service. The authenticity has not been verified. Iranian intelligence official ordered Montazeris son, Ahmad, a moderate cleric, to remove the audio from the website, news reports said. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran opposition group, urged international prosecutors to use the tape as further evidence that can be used to press charges for the political slayings of the late 1980s. Mrs. Rajavi pointed out that some of the officials who helped carry out the purges have, from the beginning of this regime to the present day, held posts at the highest levels of the judicial, political and intelligence apparatuses. After Khomeinis death in June 1989, he was succeeded by a lower-ranking cleric, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Murphy, Some detractors say Khamenei was selected as a low-risk leader who would not challenge the powers of the theocracy or its powerful backers such as the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Killing is the wrong way to resist against a thought, an idea, Montazeri can be heard saying on the audio. They have one thought, one idea. Responding to a process, a logic even a faulty logic with killing will solve nothing. It will make it worse. We will not be in power forever, he continued. In the future, history will judge us. Montazeris house arrest from 1997 until early 2003, left him silent during most of the term of President Mohammad Khatami. But, he lived long enough to witness the Green Movement protests and encourage them. Before his death, he also issued a public apology for his participation in the 444-day hostage standoff at the U.S. Embassy that ended in 1981. At his funeral in Qom, tens of thousands of mourners streamed through the streets, pumping their fists and chanting against Khamenei. The state-controlled media continued to minimize Montazeris effect on the people. They ignored his central role in the Islamic revolution, referring to him dismissively as the rioters cleric. Southside With You is just a romantic movie about a first date between two 20-somethings in Chicago, who happen to go on to become President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. But while writer-director Richard Tanne first had the idea for the film in 2007, he didn't start writing the script until 2013. Still he wasn't daunted by the prospect of making a movie about two of the most powerful people in the world. "They were sort of baked into the American narrative at that point and time," Tanne told The Hollywood Reporter at a Cinema Society screening of Southside in New York earlier this week. "I never really thought about the after; I only thought about the before. The characters that I was crafting for the script were always the same because they were the 1989 versions of them, so whatever was going on in public life was not affecting the screenplay." Actors Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter, who play Barack Obama and the-then-Michelle Robinson, also were able to dismiss the larger-than-life future profiles of their characters. "I just focused on the job as an actor, like learning the lines and making sure I could show up every day and got enough rest and so forth," Sawyers said. "There wasn't so much presidential pressure. It was more like, 'We're using natural light, so let's make sure I hit my marks and do my job and get everything we need.'" Read more: 'Southside With You's' Tika Sumpter on Portraying an "Embodiment Rather Than a Caricature" of Future First Lady Sumpter, who also served as a producer on the film, called the feeling of making a movie about the first couple "more exciting than anything," pointing out that her character wasn't the wife of the first black president in U.S. history when she went on that first date with her future husband. "When you strip down the Michelle Obama of it all, it's Michelle Robinson, who is a girl from the south side of Chicago who came from humble beginnings - and I think that's why [the Obamas are] very accessible to a lot of people now - who was inspirational," Sumpter said. "She climbed from humble beginnings, where she was to the presidency with her husband. The pressure wasn't that much because it was at a certain time in her life when she wasn't Michelle Obama." Story continues Still there was plenty about the smart, driven young woman to impress Sumpter. "I already knew she was smart, but she graduated Harvard Law pretty early, at 23, and she was a [lawyer] at one of the biggest firms in Chicago when she met Barack, and she was his advisor. I think that's a big deal. She was just so laser-focused about life. She never dimmed her light for anybody." Read more: 'Southside With You' Director on Where His Obama Date Movie Fits in the Current Presidential Race While much of Michelle and Barack Obama's biographies are well known and many of the details of this date, including where they went and what they did, are public record, smaller elements, like specific conversations the two had on their outing, aren't known. Sawyers, though, said that even those more creative parts "felt real." "Rich did such an amazing job writing it that it felt like very much what they would talk about. It felt real," he said. "Because I did my research, I knew the things [Obama] was saying were fine. And I didn't do any research on Michelle. That way I could listen to what she was saying in the movie and I'm learning along with the audience." So will the real Obamas check out the film? A copy has been sent to the White House and Tanne previously said they were "excited and a little baffled" about the film's existence. Read more: Dressing the Obamas on Film: How The 'Southside With You' Costume Designer Defined the Power Couple When asked - on Wednesday night, two days before Southside opened - if he'd heard anything further, Tanne simply reiterated that executive producer John Legend, who's a friend of the first couple, "had a conversation with the president about it and [Legend] told [Obama] it was a great movie and [Legend] thought they'd enjoy it." While Southside With You is in theaters now, it remains to be seen whether the president will listen to his friend John Legend and take a trip down memory lane. Sprint and T-Mobile both recently released unlimited data plans that aren't actually unlimited -- you can use a whole bunch of data, but you are limited to streaming SD-quality video and slow speeds for gaming. As part of a new plan that Sprint is offering you can now pay $20 a month more to stream video in full HD and game faster. This plan is called Unlimited Freedom Premium, which pretty much goes to show that Sprint didn't understand the meaning of the word "Unlimited" in the first place. DON'T MISS: Does it even matter that last years iPhone 6s is so much faster than the new Galaxy Note 7? On Sprint's regular "Unlimited" plan, you have unlimited data, but limits on what you can use it for. Video streaming is limited to 480p, and gaming is throttled to 2Mbps. The "Unlimited Freedom Premium" (gags) ups those limits to 1080p and 8Mbps respectively. If you want to stream 4K video, good luck. So, you pay $80 per month, $20 more than the regular plan, and it's still not actually unlimited. This isn't just Sprint's problem, in all fairness. T-Mobile has similar limitations on its "Unlimited" plans, and you can also remove those limitations for $15 per month. (Just to keep score here: T-Mobile invented the concept of an "unlimited plus" plan first, and Sprint is copying T-Mobile's badness.) https://twitter.com/marceloclaure/status/769172070110461952 Sprint has been confused over naming before. Marcelo Claure, Sprint's outspoken CEO who has proven in the past that he doesn't understand what unlimited means, keeps referring to Sprint's plan as #BestUnlimitedOnThePlanet. As well as being a hashtag that's way too long, it's also false. As previously pointed out, plenty of non-American carriers offering genuinely unlimited plans for less money, so unless you could 480p-throttled video as a good feature, Sprint is clearly worse. Terminology aside, I still think T-Mobile and Sprint's new data plans are great options for almost everyone. I don't personally care about watching HD video on my mobile device, so I think the plans are just fine. But the naming is a problem. We've fought long and hard to establish net neutrality for broadband providers exactly to stop this kind of preferential internet treatment. Story continues If the power company told you you were getting unlimited electricity for the month, you'd rightly assume you can keep the lights on all night and turn the heating up to 11. In T-Mobile and Sprint's version of the world, what you get to do is keep all the energy-saving lightbulbs turned on, and pay $20 a month if you want the AC on full blast. Sure, the new plans are good, but the naming is important. Unlimited should mean unlimited, and the entire concept of "Unlimited Freedom Premium" should have been DOA. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com A couple of mariners stranded on an uninhabited Micronesian island were saved when a U.S. Navy plane spotted their "SOS" message written in the sand. A Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew spotted the marooned duo Thursday while responding to a report from a British vessel of flashing lights on the island in Chuuk State when they spotted the sign. Read: Miracle Survivor! How This Man Lived 66 Days Clinging to Capsized Boat It was the culmination of a 7-day search for the man and woman. The search began when officials in Guam received notification Aug. 19 from Pan-Pacific Education and Communication Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) of an overdue 18 ft. vessel with two people aboard en route to Tamatam Island, Federated States of Micronesia. On Aug. 17, the couple departed Weno Island with limited supplies and no emergency equipment on board en route to Tamatam with an expected arrival of Aug. 18. Watch: Wife Defends $21 Million Payout for Cruise Ship Door Hitting Husband's Head This past spring, another group of castaways in Micronesia managed to get themselves rescued with a message on the beach. In April, the marooned men spelled out the word "Help" in palm fronds, eventually attracting the attention of a Navy search plane. Watch: Shaken Cruise Passengers Return to Land After Ship Was Battered By Storm: 'It Was Hell!' Related Articles: Donald Trump There's a strikingly similar way Donald Trump has reacted to recent tragedies. A review of the Republican presidential nominee's tweets found that in the aftermath of such events, Trump tends to reflect attention back on himself. Following reports of the shooting of Dwyane Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge, in Chicago on Friday, Donald Trump posted on Twitter Saturday morning citing the news as a reason that African-Americans will vote for him. Trump's tweet on Saturday recalled another Trump tweet posted following a shooting at the LGBT club Pulse in Orlando, Florida, in June. Following the attack, the New York businessman initially offered prayers for the victims and their families. Soon after, however, in keeping with a running trend, Trump praised himself for being "right" about terror threats. "Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism," he tweeted. "I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!" Here are some of Trump's tweets following recent tragedies in Paris, San Bernardino, Brussels, and Orlando: Paris: Thank you @JakeTapper for giving me credit for my vision on bombing the oil fields. Should have been done long ago. #Trump2016 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2015 They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said. #Trump2016 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2015 San Bernardino: Thank you CBS & Breitbart-total vindication! Will the mainstream media apologize? Many, many witnesses. #Trump2016 https://t.co/AsxnfFWipJ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015 Trump also retweeted a number of accounts that praised him for his statements that Muslim Americans cheered the September 11 attacks from New Jersey. Story continues Brussels: I have proven to be far more correct about terrorism than anybody- and its not even close. Hopefully AZ and UT will be voting for me today! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2016 Watch this clip from earlier this year. Time & time again I have been right about terrorism. Its time to get tough! https://t.co/8mnY3GFRzw Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2016 Orlando: Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016 Chicago: Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016 NOW WATCH: Watch Donald Trump attempt to explain why he thinks Hillary Clinton is a bigot More From Business Insider By Umit Bektas KARKAMIS, Turkey (Reuters) - Rebels supported by Turkey fought Kurdish-backed forces in northern Syria on Saturday, as Ankara ratcheted up its cross-border offensive by saying it had launched air strikes against both Kurdish forces and Islamic State. Turkey's government, which is fighting a Kurdish insurgency at home, has said the Syrian campaign it opened this week is as much about preventing Kurdish militia fighters from gaining territory in Syria as about pushing back Islamic State. Turkey wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of a continuous stretch of Syrian territory on its frontier, which it fears could embolden the Kurdish militant group PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Turkish security sources said two F-16 jets bombed a site controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia, which is part of the broader U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition. The sources also said the jets hit six Islamic State targets. Turkish military sources said one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded when a tank was hit by a rocket that they said was fired from territory held by the Kurdish YPG. The sources said the army shelled the area in response. Syrian rebels opposed to Ankara's incursion said Turkish forces had targeted forces allied to the YPG and no Kurdish forces were in the area. On the ground, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels fought forces aligned with the SDF near the frontier town of Jarablus. Forces opposed to Ankara said Turkish tanks were deployed, a charge denied by Turkey's rebel allies. In Turkey, suspected Kurdish militants fired rockets at the airport in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir, sending passengers and staff scrambling for shelter, Dogan news agency said. There were no reports of casualties. Turkey's offensive into Syria began on Wednesday, supporting its rebel allies with Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes. It seized control of Jarablus from Islamic State seeking to stop any Kurdish forces moving in first. Saturday's use of warplanes against what Turkey said was a Kurdish YPG militia target highlights its determination to prevent any Kurdish territorial expansion in north Syria. Any action against Kurdish forces in Syria puts Turkey at odds with its NATO ally the United States, which backs the SDF and YPG, seeing them as the most reliable and effective ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. It adds complexity to the Syrian conflict that erupted five years ago with an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has since drawn in regional states and world powers. "DANGEROUS ESCALATION" The Jarablus Military Council, part of the SDF, had said earlier on Saturday that Turkish planes hit the village of al-Amarna south of Jarablus, causing civilian casualties. It called the action "a dangerous escalation". The Kurdish-led administration that controls parts of northern Syria said Turkish tanks advanced on al-Amarna and clashed with forces of the Jarablus Military Council. But the Kurdish administration said no Kurdish forces were involved. However, the leader of one Turkey-backed rebel group gave a rival account. He told Reuters the rebels battled the Kurdish YPG around al-Amarna and denied any Turkish tanks took part. Turkish security forces simply said Turkish-backed forces had extended their control to five villages beyond Jarablus. A video released by Turkey's military showed the Turkish Red Crescent distributing food and aid to people in Jarablus, with the help of Turkish troops. It also showed what appeared to be Turkish-backed rebels flicking v-for-victory signs in the town. The newly formed Jarablus Military Council has said it was made up of people from the area with the aim of capturing the town and the surrounding region from Islamic State militants. However, the Turkish-backed rebels seized Jarablus first. Several militias under the SDF banner pledged support to Jarablus Military Council after it reported the Turkish bombing. The Northern Sun Battalion, an SDF faction, said in a statement it was heading to "Jarablus fronts" to help the council against "threats made by factions belonging to Turkey". Tension has mounted in Syria's Aleppo region in the past year between the U.S-backed Kurdish YPG force and its allies on one hand and Turkish-backed rebel groups on the other. The two sides have clashed on several occasions. (Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay and Orhan Coskun in Ankara and Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Ros Russell and Nick Tattersall) BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Saturday the Turkish military had escalated attacks on its territory in northern Syria, accusing Ankara of sending vehicles over the border in the Kobani area, but a Turkish official denied it. In a statement, the YPG said the Turkish military had fired artillery on Friday night at a village near Kobani, and had also used heavy weapons to fire on YPG positions in the northwestern province of Afrin. Turkey this week launched a major operation in northern Syria, supporting Syrian rebels who aim to capture territory from Islamic State and to stop further expansion by the YPG, which already controls wide areas of the north. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on the war, also said that Turkish military vehicles crossed the border into Syria near Kobani and dug earth barricades, triggering a protest. The Turkish official said construction vehicles, protected by military vehicles, had started digging holes to build a wall at the border in the Kobani area, but denied any had entered Kobani or crossed the frontier. The official said the project was announced a year ago. (Reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut and Orhan Coskun in Turkey, editing by Ros Russell) GARDEZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - 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. Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighboring Khost province and Pakistan. "Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight. "If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said. The attack comes amid heavy fighting in other parts of Afghanistan, notably in the southern province of Helmand, where U.S. military advisers have been deployed to bolster the defenses, and around the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly to the insurgents last year. More than 20 soldiers and police were killed and another 20 wounded in the fighting overnight, while some 200 Taliban insurgents were killed, Solamal said. There was no immediate means of verifying the claims of Taliban casualties. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement dozens of Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in Jani Khel and large amounts of equipment had been captured, including armored vehicles, light and heavy weapons and ammunition. According to U.S. estimates reported in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a Congressional oversight body, Afghan forces control or influence just under 66 percent of the national territory, down from just over 70 percent at the start of the year. The reduction was partly due to security forces pulling back from exposed areas and concentrating their strength, but after a lull following the death of former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in May the Taliban have stepped up their summer offensive. Some 36 of the 407 districts in the country were under insurgent control or influence, while another 104 were deemed "at risk", SIGAR said. (Reporting by Samihullah Paiwand, additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in Kabul; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Stephen Coates) Mrs. Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called for action, and for the evidential use of an audio recording of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, from a meeting in August 1988, weeks after Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa ordering the massacre of all political prisoners. As can be heard on the recording, Montazeri pleads with Khomeini, the leader of the revolution, and a number of judiciary officials to stop the killings. He criticises execution of teenagers, pregnant women and those whose only crime was to read the newspaper of the Peoples Mujahidin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK). He said, The greatest crime committed during the Islamic Republic, for which history will condemn us, has been committed by you. Your (names) will in the future be etched in the annals of history as criminals. Killing is the wrong way to resist against a thought, an idea. Responding to a process, a logic even a faulty logic with killing will solve nothing. It will make it worse, and continued, We will not be in power forever. In the future, history will judge us. Montazeri, who died in 2009, was to follow Khomeini as leader in Iran, but after his opposition to secret political trials, he was dumped, and placed under house arrest between 1997 and 2003. The recording was published on a website maintained by his son, Ahmed, a moderate cleric, and his supporters. The day after it came into the public domain, the Iranian ministry of intelligence ordered it removed. Ahmed was summoned to a special court of clergy, where he was interrogated for three hours. He says that he is also in possession of other documents which he may be revealed later. Several members of the death committee are still active in the regime of Hassan Rouhani. Mostafa Pourmohammadi is the justice minister, and Hossein-Ali Nayyeri is the head of the Supreme Disciplinary Court for Judges. Ebrahim Raeesi was recently appointed head of the Astan Qods-e Razavi foundation, a multi-billion dollar religious, political and economic body that uses public funds to support some of the regimes policies. Mrs. Rajavi said the recording was irrefutable evidence that leaders of the mullahs regime were responsible for the unprecedented genocide. She said Montazeris statements confirmed the illegitimacy of the ruling regime from the 1980s and the peoples abhorrence for the velayat-e-faqih (absolute rule of the clergy). She added, The international community, therefore, is obligated to bring them to justice. In particular, because these individuals and the others who carried out the massacre of political prisoners referred to in this meeting have, from the beginning of this regime to the present day, held posts at the highest levels of the judicial, political and intelligence apparatuses. Mullah Ali Razini, a judiciary official, said, The security that we have now in Iran is because Imam Khomeini did not neglect on carrying out the sentence. A grandson of Khomeini, Mullah Ali Khomeini, said, What was the regime supposed to do with these people? It had to fight, and had to fight hard. Praise be to Allah, it did happen and the country saw peace. I travelled around northern Cuba earlier this year and the first thing I noticed and loved, was just how friendly and welcoming all Cubans were. Everywhere I went, I was greeted by a cheery hola and a gorgeous smile. The architecture of the buildings was stunning. Each town and city showing off different eras of history, colour and design. The Cuban lifestyle is literally life - summed up as rum, cigars, salsa, classic cars and Cuban coffee - whats not to love?! Havana is probably one of my favourite cities in the world! In total, I spent around seven nights there and loved every single day. There are lots of different areas to Havana including Old Havana, Central Havana, Vedado and China Town (amongst many others). Havana can be described as the buzzing 'London of England - but 100x better with much more buzz about it! With classic cars zooming around, horse and carts and bicycle taxis, theres something for everyone in Havana. This guide highlights ten things to do in Havana. 1. Stay in a Casa Particular A Casa Particular is essentially a family home, in which one or two bedrooms are rented out to tourists for a very cheap rate, complete with much needed air con and your own bathroom (25-40 CUC per night, depending on the area you stay - although Old Havana is known to be a little pricier). Its a great way to experience real Cuban life as opposed to a commercial hotel, which are pretty overpriced for Cuban standards (think standard UK hotel price per night). I stayed in a casa in Old Havana. 2. Experience the Nightlife Although theres bars everywhere in Havana, the best nightlife is mainly in the Vedado area, which involves lots of Salsa dancing! Fabrica de Arte Cubano, located in the Vedado area, is a really cool place showcasing contemporary Cuban Art, along with bars, rooms showing subtitled movies and mini theatre performances, amongst many other cool things. Its definitely a place I would recommend! The atmosphere is great at night and its open to all ages. Story continues 3. Take a Rise in a Classic Car Haggle a good price with a local driver for a tour of the city, in a classic American car (if you share the taxi with others, the price works out cheaper). The tour is good fun, seeing Che Guevaras house, The Christ of Havana and seeing an amazing panoramic view of Havana city. The cars are parked up near Parque Central. 4. Experience Authentic Cuban Food There are lots of restaurants to choose from in Havana, the majority of which are government owned. The rest are privately owned, which to me, means the food is 100% authentic and cooked from the heart! My personal favourite spot in Havana was the restaurant, El Guiro. From the surrounding neighbourhood, it looks a little questionable, however the food cannot be faulted. All homemade and absolutely stunning! Generally speaking, I would say the food in Cuba is hit or miss. It can either be super bland or super tasty. Black Bean rice is a favourite, along with Cubas national Cola (their equivalent of Coca Cola). 5. Walk Around and Appreciate the Architecture From simply walking around the streets of Havana, there is so much to see, photograph and take in! Dogs wandering around, amazing architecture (El Capitolio, Gran Teatro de la Habana), locals selling food, bicycle taxis travelling from every angle - its a brilliant city. However, when you are walking around in the beaming sunshine in June - you can really feel the tropical humidity! The humidity is something else in Cuba, making you feel exhausted. Just a little something to bear in mind - with August being the hottest month of the year! 6. Visit Hotel Saratoga Whilst in Havana, visit Hotel Saratoga. The hotel where Jay Z & Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher and Mick Jagger (plus others) all stayed when they visited Havana. The rooftop pool offers an excellent view of the city. However, as nice as the hotel is, I felt I could have been anywhere in the world - purely because I was in a hotel with lots of other tourists. I would say the Casa Particulars are definitely the authentic way to go when staying in Cuba. 7. The Makecon The Malecon is another brilliant spot to see in Havana. It is essentially a pathway, which stretches for 8km along the Havana coast. Its where all the locals meet up with friends and family to eat, drink rum, Salsa and socialise. The atmosphere is buzzing, with the best time to go being sunset. From sunset onwards, the Malecon gets busier and busier, with a fantastic vibe. Like mentioned above, the Cuban people are so friendly and forward, so its easy to make friends and speak/salsa with the locals. 8. Visit Old Havana Old Havana is real authentic Havana. There is so much character to the streets, with the hustle and bustle of the locals. O'Reilly is a well known street in Old Havana. Its got lots of cool bars and restaurants, including Bar 304 which has excellent food and very strong cocktails! Although O'Reilly is a little on the touristy side, its one to visit - at least just to help you get your bearings, as each street is quite similar looking and set out in grids in Old Havana (a little like New York City). 9. Take a Trip to Santa Maria Beach Visit Santa Maria Beach which is around a 20-30 drive from Havana in a taxi or you can take the T3 bus from Parque Central. The beach itself is beautiful with clear, turquoise water and white sand. Although I visited Cuba during hurricane season (June), I was lucky I only experienced a rain storm maybe times. It literally rains for all of twenty minutes and the sun comes straight back out. 10. Take a City Tour I would also recommend taking the Havana open bus city tour (bus T1) which is around 1.5 hours long.The bus stop and final drop off point is Parque Central. It takes you around the main parts of the city, including along the Malecon, so you get to see beautiful Havana without walking in the unbearable heat! If the open bus tour isnt your cup of tea, a horse and cart tour is equally as great. Again, you can choose a horse and guide at Parque Central. Haggle a reasonable price and you get a lovely personal cowboy tour guide for around one hour. Overall, my stay in Cuba was amazing! The cost of living isnt major - its not super cheap like Asia, but not as pricey as the UK. I will definitely go back to travel the south of Cuba. Although it is a Caribbean island, it is quite big with lots to see. I feel I have learnt lots about the Cuban way of life which I absolutely love, including lots of Salsa! I love the Cuban people and their outlook on life - to be happy and optimistic regardless of their background/situation, without a phone/Internet. They are all so pleasant and friendly people, welcoming all tourists to their country with so much pride. Flights were booked through STA Travel flying with Air France, via Paris. The trip was spontaneously booked as I went along. Interested in blogging for us? Join our Yahoo Blogger Network! The following timeline charts the origin and spread of the Zika virus from its discovery nearly 70 years ago: 1947: Scientists researching yellow fever in Uganda's Zika Forest identify the virus in a rhesus monkey 1948: Virus recovered from Aedes africanus mosquito in Zika Forest 1952: First human cases detected in Uganda and Tanzania 1954: Virus found in Nigeria 1960s-80s: Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa 196983: Zika found in equatorial Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan 2007: Zika spreads from Africa and Asia, first large outbreak on Pacific island of Yap 2012: Researchers identify two distinct lineages of the virus, African and Asian 201314: Zika outbreaks in French Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. Retrospective analysis shows possible link to birth defects and severe neurological complications in babies in French Polynesia March 2, 2015: Brazil reports illness characterized by skin rash in northeastern states July 17: Brazil reports detection of neurological disorders in newborns associated with history of infection Oct. 5: Cape Verde has cases of illness with skin rash Oct. 22: Colombia confirms cases of Zika Oct. 30: Brazil reports increase in microcephaly, abnormally small heads, among newborns Nov. 11: Brazil declares public health emergency November 2015-January 2016: Cases reported in Suriname, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela, French Guiana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Ecuador, Barbados, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Curacao, Jamaica Feb. 1: World Health Organization (WHO) declares public health emergency of international concern Feb. 2: First case of Zika transmission in United States; local health officials say likely contracted through sex, not mosquito bite Feb. 5: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virus being actively transmitted in 30 countries, mostly in the Americas Feb. 8: U.S. President Barack Obama requests $1.8 billion to fight Zika Feb. 12: Brazil investigating potential link between Zika infections and 4,314 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 462 confirmed as microcephaly and 41 determined to be linked to virus Feb. 17: Brazil investigating potential link between Zika and 4,443 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 508 confirmed as microcephaly and most of those cases are linked to the virus. WHO seeks $56 million to fight Zika. Feb. 18: CDC adds Aruba and Bonaire to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 32. Feb. 23: CDC investigating 14 cases of possible sexual transmission of Zika. CDC also adds Trinidad and Tobago and Marshall Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 34. Feb. 25: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases number more than 580 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly. Feb. 27: France detects first sexually transmitted case of Zika. Feb. 29: CDC adds St. Maarten, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 36. March 1: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 641 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,222 suspected cases of microcephaly. March 8: WHO advises pregnant women to avoid areas with Zika outbreak and said sexual transmission of the virus is "relatively common." March 9: CDC adds New Caledonia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 37. March 15: Cuba reports first case of Zika contracted in the country. March 16: Cape Verde identifies first case of microcephaly. March 18: CDC says during Jan. 1, 2015 to Feb. 26, 2016, 116 residents of the United States had evidence of recent Zika virus infection based on laboratory testing. Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 863 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,268 suspected cases of microcephaly. March 19: CDC adds Cuba to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 38. March 21: South Korea confirms first case of Zika. March 22: CDC adds Dominica to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 39. Bangladesh confirms first case of Zika virus. Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 907 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,293 suspected cases of microcephaly. March 29: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 944 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil said the number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped slightly to 4,291. March 31: According to the World Health Organization, there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis, though conclusive proof may take months or years. April 1: CDC adds Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 40. April 4: CDC adds Fiji to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 41. April 5: Vietnam reports first Zika infections. April 6: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,046 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 4,046. April 7: St. Lucia confirms first two cases of Zika, contracted locally. April 12: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,113 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 3,836. It was the second week in a row that the overall total figure fell. April 13: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. The CDC said now that the causal relationship has been established, several important questions must still be answered with studies that could take years. CDC adds St. Lucia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 42. April 14: Colombia confirms two microcephaly cases linked to Zinka. April 18: Peru reports first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus. CDC adds Belize to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 43. April 19: Chilean authorities find Zika mosquito for first time in decades. April 25: Canada confirms first sexually transmitted Zika case. April 26: Brazil says the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly climbed to 1,198 from 1,168 in the week through April 23, but suspected ones under investigation continued to decline to 3,710 from 3,741 a week ago. Brazil registered 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus from February until April 2, the health ministry said, in its first national report on the epidemic. April 29: Puerto Rico reports first death related to Zika, according to the CDC. The country also confirmed 683 Zika cases, including 65 pregnant women, and five suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome from Zika, the CDC reported. May 4: Panama confirms four microcephaly cases tied to Zika. May 6: Spain gets first case of Zika-related brain defect in a fetus. May 9: CDC adds Papua New Guinea, Saint Barthelemy and Peru to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 46. Honduras suspects first case of microcephaly in Zika patient. May 11: Brazil says the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly dropped to 1,326 in the week through May 7 as doctors and Brazilian health officials find that some suspected cases of microcephaly are not the disorder. Suspected ones under investigation continued to decline to 3,433. May 12: CDC adds Grenada to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 47. May 13: Puerto Rico reports first case of Zika-related microcephaly. May 20: WHO says an outbreak of Zika virus on the African island chain of Cape Verde is of the same strain as the one blamed for birth abnormalities in Brazil. May 24: Brazil reports the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly at 1,434 for the latest week to May 21. Suspected ones under investigation declined to 3,257. May 26: CDC adds Argentina to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 48. June 9: WHO issues updated guidelines on prevention of sexual transmission of the Zika virus, including advising women living in areas where the virus is being transmitted to delay getting pregnant. June 14: El Salvador confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika. June 23: CDC reports seven babies in the United States with microcephaly or other Zika-related birth defects such as serious brain abnormalities, and five lost pregnancies from either miscarriage, stillbirth or termination. June 28: First baby with Zika-related birth defect microcephaly born in Florida. June 30: CDC adds Anguilla to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 49. Guinea-Bissau confirms three cases of Zika, government says. Spain records first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus, health authorities said. July 8: CDC confirmed that a Utah resident's death last month is the first Zika-related death in the continental United States. July 14: CDC adds Saint Eustatius to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 50. July 15: New York City's health department reports the first female-to-male transmission of the Zika virus. July 18: CDC reports that caregiver of Utah man who died of Zika tested positive for virus. July 19: Florida health officials are investigating a case of Zika virus infection that does not appear to have stemmed from travel to another region with an outbreak. July 21: CDC reports 400 pregnant women in U.S. with evidence of Zika infection, up from 346 a week ago. The health agency also reports three more babies born in U.S. with birth defects linked to the Zika virus, bringing total to 12. Florida Department of Health said it was investigating a non travel-related case of Zika in Broward County, marking the second such case in the U.S. July 22: New York City health officials reports first baby born with Zika-related birth defect. July 25: Spain reports first case in Europe of baby born with Zika-related defect. CDC issues updated recommendations for preventing and testing for Zika infection, warning that the virus can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected female partner. July 26: Honduras detects 8 cases of babies with Zika-related defect. CDC adds Saba to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 51. July 27: Paraguay reports first cases of microcephaly linked to Zika. July 29: Florida authorities report what is believed to be the first evidence of local Zika transmission in the continental United States. Aug. 1: Florida identifies 10 more cases of Zika virus caused by mosquitoes, bringing total to 14. CDC issues guidelines for pregnant women who live in and traveled to affected area in a Miami neighborhood. Aug. 2: Health authorities in Florida add one more case of locally transmitted Zika, bringing total to 15. CDC adds Antigua, Barbuda, and Turks and Cacos to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 54. Aug. 3: U.S. researchers said they launched Zika vaccine clinical trial. Aug. 4: Cuba reports two cases of locally transmitted Zika. Aug. 5: Florida health authorities report another locally transmitted case, bringing total to 16. Aug. 8: Florida said it was investigating new case of locally transmitted Zika in Palm Beach County. Aug. 9: Texas health officials said death of infant born with microcephaly is linked to Zika, the first casualty in the state associated with the virus. Cayman Islands reports two locally transmitted Zika cases. Florida announces four more cases of locally transmitted Zika, bringing total to 21. Aug. 11: Florida reports three additional cases of locally transmitted Zika, bringing total to 25. CDC adds Cayman Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 55. Aug. 12: Florida health officials said three more people test positive for locally-transmitted Zika, bringing total to 28. The department of Health and Human Services declares public health emergency in Puerto Rico over Zika with 10,690 laboratory-confirmed cases. Aug. 13: Brazil reports 1,835 confirmed cases of microcephaly. Aug. 15: Florida health officials said two more people test positive for locally-transmitted Zika, bringing total to 30. Aug. 16: Haiti reports first case of microcephaly linked to Zika. Aug. 17: Guatemala confirms first case of newborn with microcephaly linked to Zika. Aug. 18: Florida health officials find evidence of Zika transmissions in Miami Beach Aug. 19: Florida governor says five cases of Zika are believed to have been contracted in Miami Beach, the second area in Miami-Dade county where the virus is spreading. The Florida health department said there are 36 cases of likely local transmission in the state. Aug. 23: Florida reports five new non-travel cases, including one in Pinellas County. The total number of local transmissions in Florida is 42. Aug. 24: Florida reports non-travel related Zika case in Palm Beach County, bringing total of local transmissions to 43. Aug. 25: Hong Kong confirms its first case of Zika. CDC adds The Bahamas and the United States to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 57. Health officials in Puerto Rico report as many as 10 people developed Guillain-Barre syndrome as a result of Zika infections. Aug. 26: FDA recommended that all blood donated in the United States and its territories be tested for Zika virus, starting with 11 states in the first phase. Florda health officials lower total number of locally-transmitted Zika cases to 42. Nicaragua confirms first microcephaly birth linked to Zika. Aug. 27: Singapore confirms first case of locally transmitted Zika virus. SOURCES: World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reuters (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by the Americas Desk) Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested a top separatist leader, his aide said Saturday, as the region's chief minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defended a 50-day lockdown on the region. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief cleric and head of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, a political coalition opposed to the Indian rule of Kashmir, was arrested near Srinagar on Friday, his aide, Tariq Buch told AFP. "He was first detained by police while trying to leave home to lead a peaceful demonstration. We came to know later he was taken away to Cheshma Shahi (a high security zone in Srinagar)," Buch said. It came as the number of civilians killed since protests erupted in Kashmir last month after the shooting of a popular militant leader hit 68 Saturday, while a police constable was also shot dead. Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti justified the continuation of the sweeping curfew that has seen schools, shops and most banks shut, after meeting the prime minister in New Delhi on Saturday. "The basic purpose of the curfew was to save the lives of youngsters... If we don't impose a curfew what do we do?" Mufti told reporters. She also said the government was willing to hold talks with anyone who wanted a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir problem through dialogue, but pointed the finger at Pakistan. "I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn't provoke youngsters to attack police stations -- and save youths from being killed," Mufti said. Police shot one protester dead Friday, while the body of another was found in a river a day after he was chased by police during an anti-India demonstration. A police constable was shot dead by unknown gunmen as he stepped out of his home in the southern area of Pulwama on Saturday, Police Superintendent Rayees Mohammad Bhat said. "We have reports that there were militants in the area," Bhat said. Story continues The killing of young rebel leader Burhan Wani in a firefight with government forces on July 8 sparked wide-scale protests across large parts of the disputed territory. Thousands of angry demonstrators have defied a sweeping curfew to clash with government forces almost daily. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Wani's Hizbul Mujahideen and several other rebel groups have fought for decades some 500,000 Indian troops deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the region or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. Rights groups say 70,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting and thousands disappeared after they were taken away by security forces since 1989 when an armed rebellion against Indian rule began. By Steve Holland DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered fresh details of how he would tackle illegal immigration on Saturday, saying he would crack down on those who overstay their visas as he sought to quiet criticism from conservatives. In a campaign speech in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump also cited the shooting death of a cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade to urge African-American voters to rally behind him, calling it an example of violence that has to be addressed. Trump, speaking on the Iowa State Fairgrounds with hay bales stacked behind him, sought to clarify his views on how to overhaul the U.S. immigration system after saying earlier in the week that he was softening on his plan to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants. That stance drew fire from conservatives who wanted him to stand fast after he won the Republican presidential nomination in large part by a hardline stance that would include building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. In his speech, Trump said he would seek to institute a tracking system to ensure illegal immigrants who overstay their visas are quickly removed, and would propose an e-verify system to prevent the illegal community from gaining access to welfare and other benefits. "If we dont enforce visa expiration dates, then we have an open border its as simple as that," he said. In outlining his views, Trump said addressing illegal immigration is important to helping Americans find jobs. "Every time an African-American citizen, or any citizen, loses their job to an illegal immigrant, the rights of that American citizen have been violated," he said. "Equal protection under the law must include the consistent application of our immigration laws." Trump said his first priority upon taking office next January would be the immediate deportation of thousands of illegal immigrants who remain in the United States despite having committed crimes. "These international gangs and cartels will be a thing of the past. Their reign of terror will be over. In this task, we will always err on the side of protecting the American people we will use immigration law to prevent crimes, and will not wait until some innocent American has been harmed or killed before taking action," he said. He did not explain how his plan would affect many of the illegal community who have been in the United States for decades and obeyed U.S. laws. Trump said the death in Chicago of Wade cousin Nykea Aldridge, 32, a mother of four, was an example of turmoil in U.S. inner cities. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former chief of staff to Democratic President Barack Obama, has struggled in particular to contain violence in his city. The incident permitted Trump to bring up again his desire to be a "law and order" president and underscore his drive to appeal to African-American voters who traditionally vote Democratic and overwhelmingly support Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. "It breaks all of our hearts to see it, its horrible," Trump said. "And it's only getting worse. This shouldnt happen in our country. This shouldnt happen in America. We send our thoughts and our prayers to the family, and we also promise to fight for a much, much better tomorrow." Trump raised the subject after sending out tweets earlier in the day that prompted charges of insensitivity to the death and accusations he sought to exploit it for political purposes. The New York businessman was the headline speaker at "Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride," a charity event for military veterans run by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican. Ernst and most other speakers offered praise for Trump, a rarity at a time when many Republican political leaders have distanced themselves from his candidacy due to his incendiary rhetoric. Trump is running neck and neck with Clinton in polls in the state with 72 days until the Nov. 8 election. (Editing by Matthew Lewis) Karkamis (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkey said the military suffered its first fatality in an unprecedented four day campaign inside Syria, blaming Kurdish militia in an increasingly combustible contest for control in the border region. The Turkish army on Wednesday launched the two-pronged cross border offensive against Islamic State (IS) jihadists but also Syrian Kurdish militia detested by Ankara, sending in dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops. Tensions between Ankara and the Kurdish militia flared Saturday, with clashes taking place eight kilometres (five miles) south of the town of Jarabulus, the border town recaptured from IS this week by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, a monitoring group and Kurdish sources said. Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency later said one Turkish soldier was killed and three more wounded in a rocket attack by Kurdish militia on two tanks taking part in the offensive. The dead soldier -- who has not been identified -- was the first confirmed Turkish fatality of Turkey's unprecedented operation in northern Syria which has so far proceeded with lightning pace. The toll was confirmed by a Turkish official, without giving further details. The rocket fire came from members of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Anadolu said. Turkey considers the PYD and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to be terror organisations. Anadolu said that the Turkish army responded to the rocket attack by shelling PYD targets in Syria, without giving further details. The self-proclaimed Kurdish authorities in northern Syria said in a statement that the local fighters backed by Kurdish forces "destroyed two tanks and killed its crews" near the village of Al-Amarneh. In a separate incident Saturday, Kurdish militants fired four rockets at the airport in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, without causing casualties, the Dogan news agency said. - 'New regional conflict' - The pro-Kurdish fighters said earlier Turkey had for the first time carried out airstrikes on its positions. Story continues "With this aggression, a new conflict period will begin in the region," said the Jarabulus Military Council which is linked to the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Anadolu agency reported that the army had carried out strikes against a weapons arsenal and command post belonging to "terror groups". The fighting indicates Turkey is entering into a new and more dangerous phase in Syria four days into operation "Euphrates Shield". On Saturday, an AFP correspondent at the Turkish border village of Karkamis saw six more tanks crossing into Syria, adding to the dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops already in the country. Anadolu said pro-Ankara fighters -- backed by Turkish troops and firepower -- had now taken five more villages from IS after the capture of Jarabulus. Turkey fiercely opposes moves by the YPG -- which it regards as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) -- to expand into territory lost by IS. Ankara fears the emergence of a contiguous autonomous Kurdish region in Syria would bolster the PKK rebels across the border in southeast Turkey. Its campaign against the Kurdish fighters puts it at odds with NATO ally the US, which supports the YPG as an effective fighting force against IS. Ankara says that the YPG has failed to stick to a promise to return across the Euphrates river after advancing west this month despite guarantees given by US Vice President Joe Biden on a visit to Ankara on Wednesday. - 'Brink of starvation' - On Saturday, the last rebel fighters were evacuated from Daraya just outside the Syrian capital Damascus, under a plan to end a brutal four-year siege of the town that brought the population to the brink of starvation. Hundreds of fighters and their families were bused north into rebel-held territory in Idlib province. "The Syrian army completely controls Daraya and has entered all of the town. There isn't a single armed man there," a Syrian military source told AFP. The rebels said they were forced to give up the town, which was one of the first to rise up against the government, accusing Damascus of using "starve or surrender" tactics. The roughly 8,000 civilians left in the town are also to be evacuated. In Syria's northwest, fighting continued to rage between Syrian government forces and rebels in the battered city of Aleppo, in spite of tentative plans for a 48-hour ceasefire. At least 15 civilians were killed in barrel bomb attacks by regime aircraft on the rebel-held Maadi district in the city's east, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory said. They say, A Letter to President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of August 19, 2016 was signed by a bipartisan group of 36 former national security officials, e.g., Democratic Party luminaries like Ed Rendell, Gov. & DNC Chair, Howard Dean Gov. & DNC Chair; and prominent Republicans, e.g., Mayor Rudy Giuliani, DHS Secretary Tom Ridge, & UN AmbassadorJohn Bolton. The letter stated, We fear that Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), and its Quds Force will attack the remaining residents [of Camp Liberty Iraq]. According to Tanter and Martin, On Aug. 2, the MOIS website stated its opposition to the residents ever being allowed to leave; and Iraqi militias will prevent the ~830 remaining residents from leaving if Baghdad does not stop them. Given such warnings in advance of an attack, our authorities have an obligation to seek to thwart the assault. An assault occurred on the Fourth of July against these dissidents. When a government we placed in power and whose security services we armed allowed proxies of Tehran to attack Iranian dissidents, it is like biting the hand that feeds you. Militias of the Iranian regime launched over 50 missiles and rockets against Camp Liberty last July 4. Parts of the camp were completely destroyed. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) warned that Tehrans Supreme National Security Council ordered a siege on Camp Liberty on July 15. It was true following a July 9 gathering in Paris of supporters of the NCRI and its largest unit, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) or (Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK), the pressure intensified. Tehrans goal seems to be to punish the Iranian dissidents in Paris by intimidating Camp Liberty. Tanner and Martin continue, Tehran ordered its sycophants in the Iraqi government to increase the pressure, siege, and repressive measures against Liberty like preventing delivery of food, medicine, and fuel needed for the camps power generators. And further allege that, Tehran called on Baghdad to facilitate necessary measures for transferring intelligence agents to Camp Liberty; the rouse used was that they were family members of residents, which is false. A prior transfer occurred under this same pretext in late May: Various groups of Iranian regime operatives transferred to Camp Liberty and paved the way for the attack on the Fourth of July. Two days after the July 9 rally in Paris, NCRI/PMOI reported official government media in Iran as stating that, Camp Liberty must be targeted once again with a number of missilesand leave no trace of the [residents] there, according to Otagh-e Khabar, July 11, 2016, they said. They also cite other assaults on Liberty, showing Tehrans practice of sending alleged family members there. Such as, A year after moving to Camp Liberty, on Feb. 9, 2013, rocket and mortar shells fell on the dissidents, killing 9 and wounding over fifty. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called these attacks, a despicable act of violence, describing residents as asylum seekers entitled to international protection. And, on October 29, 2015, Camp Liberty was struck by a barrage of rockets, which killed at least 23 people, including one woman, and injured dozens. An Iraqi militia, al-Mukhtar Army, claimed responsibility for that attack and warned that it may be repeated. Tanter and Martin outline some thoughts on a way forward for Camp Liberty: First, follow-up bipartisan bills regarding Camp Liberty: On July 14, 2016 the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved a sense of Congress statement that the USG should: Work with Iraq and the UN to ensure all residents of Camp Liberty are safely and expeditiously resettled in Albania; Work with Iraq, Albania, and UN to prevent Iran from intervening in resettlement by abusing Interpol; Urge Iraq to take prompt steps in accord with agreements to promote physical security of residents of Liberty during resettlement, vetting to determine no one affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force is in the resettlement process. Second, encourage American Embassy Baghdad to send its diplomats to Liberty on the basis of warnings of assaults and immediately following attacks. Meeting of residents with U.S. Embassy personnel at the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Building about a kilometer away from Camp Liberty does not suffice. Third, take into account the news in the letter of Aug. 19, 2016 to the White House and UN warning of signs of imminent attack on Liberty. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes destroyed an ammunition store south of the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus on Saturday, military sources told Reuters after a group in the region allied to a Kurdish-backed force said its positions had been targeted. The sources did not give further details about the target. Turkey-based television channels carried the same report. Earlier on Saturday, a Reuters witness on the Turkish side of the border had seen warplanes cross from Turkey into Syrian airspace and heard several explosions near Jarablus shortly afterwards. The identity of the planes was not clear. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Dale Hudson) Looking for a flight schedule to Cuba? Weve got you covered. When JetBlues inaugural commercial flight to Santa Clara lands next week, it will become the first U.S. airline to begin regular commercial flights to Cuba in more than 50 years. The New York-based airline already has been running charter flights from New York to Havana since earlier this year when President Obama eased travel restrictions that had been in place since the Cold War era. And American Airlines began a charter flight from Los Angeles to Havana last December. But like other airlines, JetBlue is still awaiting government approval for regular commercial flights to the Cuban capital. While Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United have received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fly to Havana, their flight schedules have not yet been confirmed. As such, the airlines cannot begin selling airfare to Havana until government approval is finalized. Only 20 daily non-stop flights will be permitted from the U.S. to the Cuban capital and 14 will be from Florida, out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando. The remaining six flights will connect Havana with Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, and New York. Over the next few months, six airlines will begin regular weekly service to nine other Cuban cities. American, JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest, Sun Country, and Silver Airways will operate a combined 155 weekly flights, which will be rolled out between now and January. Their planned flight schedules are listed below. But dont start packing your bags just yet. There are still restrictions for Americans to travel to Cubayou must fulfill one of 12 entry requirements. For the latest news, check out the webpage of the U.S. embassy in Havana. The schedule below lists the date that each airline begins operating flights to nine cities in Cuba, other than Havana. Flights to Cuba from the U.S. JetBlue Story continues All flights originate in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Beginning Aug. 31: Three weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara Oct. 1: One daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara Nov. 3: One daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Camagey Nov. 10: One daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Holgun American Airlines All flights originate in Miami (MIA) Sept. 7: One daily flight to Holgun and Cienfuegos Sept. 9: One daily flight to Camaguey and Santa Clara Sept. 11: One daily flight to Varadero Frontier Airlines Oct. 27: Daily flights between Chicago OHare and Santiago de Cuba Dec. 15: Four weekly flights between Philadelphia and Camaguey Dec. 15: Three weekly flights between Philadelphia and Santa Clara Jan. 7: One weekly flight each from Chicago OHare and Philadelphia to Varadero. Silver Airways All flights originate in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Sept. 8: Daily flight to Santa Clara Sept. 22: Five weekly flights to Camagey Oct. 6: Two weekly flights to Cienfuegos Oct. 20: Daily flight to Holgun Nov. 3: Daily flight to Santiago de Cuba Nov. 17: Three weekly flights to Cayo Coco Dec. 1: Four weekly flights to Varadero Dec. 8: One weekly flight to Cayo Largo del Sur Dec. 15: Three weekly flights to Manzanillo Southwest Airlines All flights originate in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Tampa (TPA) TBD: Two daily flights to Varadero TBD: One daily flight to Santa Clara Sun Country Airlines All flights originate in Minneapolis (MSP) TBD: One weekly flight to Varadero TBD: One weekly flight to Santa Clara But thats not the only way to get to Cuba. You can also take HavanaAir, which flies out of Miami and Key West. In May, Carnival's newest brand Fathom began cultural cruises to Cuba out of Miami. Check out these 9 other ways to get to Cuba by boat or plane. Christopher Tkaczyk is the Senior News Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @ctkaczyk. Related Articles (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday refused to block a California law tightening vaccination requirements for schoolchildren in the state. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit by parents and health and education-related nonprofits, challenging the law at the beginning of the first school year in which it was to go into effect. The measure eliminated the so-called personal beliefs and religious exemptions from California's school vaccination law, meaning that only children with a valid medical excuse could forego vaccinations for such childhood diseases as measles and polio. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego last month, asked for an injunction to stop the requirements from going into effect, but Judge Dana Sabraw ruled that state legislatures have a "long history of requiring children to be vaccinated as a condition to school enrollment," and not allowing personal or religious exemptions. "In this case, plaintiffs have not made a showing that they are entitled to the extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction," Sabraw wrote in the 18-page ruling. Carl Lewis, a San Diego-based attorney for the plaintiffs, could not be immediately reached on Friday. The bill was signed into law in June 2015 by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown and requires pupils to be vaccinated against childhood diseases unless they have a medical reason to refuse. It was passed after a measles outbreak among unvaccinated people at Disneyland in 2014. The law, which went into effect this year, made California the third state to eliminate religious and other personal exemptions to vaccinations. It sparked determined protests by parents who believe that vaccinations can be harmful to children and religious groups that did not wish to see their exemption eliminated. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco, editing by G Crosse) GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called for all warring sides to agree by Sunday to allow the first safe delivery of relief supplies to the divided city of Aleppo. The U.N. is seeking a weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause to deliver food, medicines and other aid to people in rebel-held eastern Aleppo as well as those in the government-controlled western part of Syria's second city. It also wants to repair the electricity system to deliver power and clean water supplies to 1.8 million people, amid fears of disease outbreaks. Staffan de Mistura said in a statement on Saturday that for logistical and operational reasons convoys must go via the Castello Road during the first pause, although he was aware of rebel opposition to using that government-controlled route. "The Special Envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand," de Mistura said. There should be "no (military) escalation in areas adjacent or around the area of the pause". Russia, the main ally of the government of Bashar al-Assad, has already accepted the U.N. plan saying it is ready to ensure compliance, while the United States and other states are working to get other parties to commit, de Mistura said. U.N. agencies have said that supplies including surgical material for treating war wounds and even baby milk have been removed from U.N. convoys at government checkpoints throughout the five-year conflict. The main alliance of rebel groups in Aleppo, in a statement, gave conditional approval to use of Castello road but said the "shortest and fastest" Ramouseh road south of Aleppo should be used in parallel to deliver supplies to eastern Aleppo. The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they still have issues to resolve before an agreement could be announced. De Mistura took part in those Geneva talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; additional reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut; editing by David Clarke/Ruth Pitchford) By Lesley Wroughton and Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they still have issues to resolve before an agreement could be announced. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, addressing a joint news conference after more than nine hours of off-and-on talks in Geneva, said teams from both sides would try to finalize details in coming days in the Swiss city. Kerry said the talks with Lavrov had "achieved clarity on the path forward" but together they offered few details on how they planned to renew a February cessation of hostilities and improve humanitarian assistance. "We don't want to have a deal for the sake of the deal," Kerry said. "We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution." The talks have been complicated since initial meetings in July by new government attacks on opposition groups, and a significant offensive in the southern part of the divided city of Aleppo led by opposition fighters intermingled with the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate also seeking to topple Russian-backed President Bashar al-Assad. In the days ahead the technical teams, which include U.S. and Russian military and intelligence experts, will try to figure out ways to separate the opposition groups, backed by the United States and Gulf Arab countries, from the jihadis. It was unclear after Friday's meetings whether outstanding issues could all be resolved between Moscow and Washington, which back opposing parties in the Syrian conflict. The United States has insisted that the Syrian air force, which has dropped barrel bombs and chlorine on residential areas, be grounded but Lavrov said on Friday that was not the goal. Assad's future is not part of the current talks. Instead, discussions are focused on finding an effective and lasting solution to end the violence, which would open negotiations on a political transition in Syria. "If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities - the regime violations and the increasing influence of the al-Nusra Front," Kerry said. Kerry believes the plan is the best chance to limit fighting that is driving thousands of Syrians into exile in Europe and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching tens of thousands more. The talks came as opposition groups effectively surrendered the Damascus suburb of Daraya to the government after a grueling four-year siege. Kerry said the Syrian regime had "forced the surrender" of Daraya in contravention of the February cessation of hostilities agreement, but Lavrov said the local accord was an "example" that should be "replicated". The Russian foreign minister said another besieged area was "interested in such an operation with mediation of the Russian Federation." He did not name the area. Residents and insurgents in Daraya began to leave the besieged area where civilians have been trapped since 2012 and the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern for their safety. (Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut and Firas Makdesi and Kinda Makieh in Damascus; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Tom Brown) Geneva (AFP) - The United Nations Syria envoy urged warring parties to state by Sunday whether they will commit to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the embattled city of Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura has led global calls for the pause that the UN and aid groups like the Red Cross say is desperately needed by civilians trapped in the midst of brutal fighting between regime and opposition forces. Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, has endorsed the plan. De Mistura said in a statement Saturday that he "regrets" some opposition camps have expressed reluctance to agree to the plan, without detailing the nature of their concerns. "The special envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand," de Mistura's office said in a statement. He added that the initial delivery of life-saving aid must be carried out through the strategically crucial Castello Road, which the regime took control of in July, cutting off the last supply route to rebel-held Aleppo. The UN has "pre-positioned" aid that is ready to go to the city, it said. The first delivery would benefit 80,000 people in the rebel-held east as well as people in the government controlled west, the statement said. "The UN is ready to move," it added. "People are suffering and need assistance. Time is of the essence. All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now." According to de Mistura, Russia "has engaged" its ally Assad on the plan. The brutal fight for Aleppo, Syria's second city, intensified two months ago. After a nearly three-week siege by regime troops, rebels early this month linked up with opposition-held neighbourhoods via a new road from the city's south, in a major blow to forces loyal to Assad. But fighting has continued near the new supply line, which recently has been bombarded almost daily, affecting supplies coming into the city's opposition-controlled neighbourhoods. 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 more than five years ago. Washington (United States) (AFP) - US President Barack Obama called on Congress Saturday to step up funding to combat the Zika virus, warning that delay is putting more Americans at risk. Obama's latest appeal, in his weekly radio address, came the day after the US authorities expressed deepening worry about the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, urging that all donated blood be tested for Zika. The Congress has denied past administration requests for Zika funding, instead redirecting funds that had been earmarked to fight Ebola, cancer and other diseases. "That's not a sustainable solution," Obama said. The delay for more funds "puts more Americans at risk." Congress "should treat Zika like the threat that it is" and "fully fund our Zika response," he added. "A fraction of the funding won't get the job done. You can't solve a fraction of a disease." Zika infections in pregnant women can cause a severe birth defect known as microcephaly, in which babies develop abnormally small skulls and brains. More than 2,500 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Zika, along with more than 9,000 in Puerto Rico and other US territories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those cases were brought in by people infected while traveling abroad. There are 584 pregnant women on the US mainland with lab evidence of Zika infection, and 812 in the US territories. Florida in July announced its first cases of locally transmitted Zika, with 42 infections. - Revised guidelines - The Food and Drug Administration revised its guidelines for blood donations on Friday, recommending that all donated blood be tested for the Zika virus. Its previous guideline issued in February recommended active screening of donated blood only in "areas with active Zika virus transmission." Since there is "still much uncertainty regarding the nature and extent of Zika virus transmission," the recommendation for testing all donated blood "will help ensure that safe blood is available" for everyone, said Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Story continues Stricter national safeguards are needed as evidence has emerged that Zika can be transmitted sexually, and those infected often show no symptoms, the FDA said. Donated blood is already being tested in Puerto Rico and Florida, where at least one unit of blood was found to contain the Zika virus and was intercepted, Marks told reporters on a conference call. Expanded blood supply testing "will be in effect until the risk of transfusion transmission of Zika virus is reduced," the FDA said. Zika is primarily spread by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito, but it can also be transmitted sexually. The US authorities on Friday announced the first known case of a man who had Zika but did not know because he showed no symptoms -- and subsequently infected his female partner during unprotected sex. Four out of five people who get Zika do not show any of the common symptoms, which may include fever, rashes, joint pain and red eyes. "As new scientific and epidemiological information regarding Zika virus has become available, it's clear that additional precautionary measures are necessary," the FDA's acting chief scientist Luciana Borio said. The World Health Organization says 53 countries around the world have reported Zika outbreaks since 2015. CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan intelligence agents on Saturday took Daniel Ceballos, a former opposition mayor accused of fomenting opposition protests, to prison from house arrest in the capital of Caracas, according to his wife and the country's interior ministry. Ceballos was arrested in 2014 on accusations he helped lead violent unrest in the tumultuous western city of San Cristobal, where he was mayor. He denies the accusations. Opposition leaders called his arrest an effort to quash dissent and describe Ceballos as a political prisoner. President Nicolas Maduro calls him a criminal who sought to destabilize the country, and denies Venezuela holds political prisoners. Patricia de Ceballos said agents from the Sebin intelligence service arrived at their residence at around 3 a.m. saying they were going to conduct a medical exam for her husband, who was granted house arrest in 2015 for health reasons. "They put him in an ambulance, and in the ambulance they showed us a notice of transfer to prison," she said in a video posted on her Twitter feed. The interior ministry said in a statement that Ceballos' house arrest had been suspended because he had attempted to escape from his home and planned to stir up violence at an opposition demonstration planned for Sept. 1. Venezuela has faced intense international pressure to free jailed opposition leaders including Ceballos and Leopoldo Lopez, another former mayor who was also imprisoned in 2014 in connection with anti-government demonstrations. The issue complicated a rapprochement effort last year between Caracas and Washington, which have been at ideological loggerheads since the 14-year rule of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. Maduro says Lopez and Ceballos are dangerous coup plotters intent on toppling his government, and blames them for more than 40 deaths during the 2014 protests. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Matthew Lewis) I went to Brie Larsons all women-curated film festival, and it was amazing! I went to Brie Larsons all women-curated film festival, and it was amazing! I love living in Los Angeles, mostly because of the movie events. Since moving to Los Angeles four years ago, the Cinefamily Theatre has become a regular hot spot for me. Turns out Im not the only one! Brie Larson, aka last years Best Actress Oscar winner, has always been a fan of Cinefamily. Together, she and Alia Penner, who was already part of the theater, began a subgroup called Women of Cinefamily. Along with clothing brand, BB Dakota, they aimed to make a film festival curated by women. This last weekend, their dreams were brought to fruition. The squad reppin our limited edition bombers designed by @alia_pop & BBD for @womenofcinefamily! #WomenOfCinefamilyWeekend @cinefamily A photo posted by BB Dakota (@bbdakota) on Aug 19, 2016 at 4:17pm PDT The four day festival featured panels, concerts, classic movie screenings, and new indie film screenings. It was truly a magical experience, and the films were one-hundred percent curated by women. On Friday night, Brie Larson kicked off the weekend by introducing a documentary called The Hunting Ground. The film highlighted an issue Brie is passionate about: rape on college campuses. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Saturday night screenings included Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, an obscure 80s film starring a young Diane Lane, which was followed by a live Sky Ferreira concert. Last night with @skyferreira #WomenOfCinefamilyWeekend @cinefamily @womenofcinefamily A photo posted by BB Dakota (@bbdakota) on Aug 21, 2016 at 10:20am PDT I was lucky enough to attend Saturdays panel! It featured Rowan Blanchard (from Girl Meets World), Alexi Wasser, (a writer and podcaster), Caroline Goldfarb, (aka @officialseanpenn, an Instagram influencer and podcaster), and Lina Esco, (an actress, filmmaker, activist and founder of the Free the Nipple movement). Later, I personally spoke to Wasser and Parenthood star Sarah Ramos, whose short film was screened at the festival. Story continues Just hearing some cool women talk about important stuff. @rowanblanchard @alexiwasser @officialseanpenn #womeninfilm #womenofcinefamily #ifeelsosmart A photo posted by Lindsay Grossman (@evianisnaive) on Aug 20, 2016 at 4:23pm PDT The panel sought to determine social medias role in feminism and the film industry in general. All four women brought intelligence and levity to the discussion. They spoke a lot about being able to reveal themselves through social media. Alexi Wasser made a special point to say that she had really found herself through her blog and podcast allowing her to communicate with her audience so directly. I later spoke with Alexi about this online connection, and she told me, Youre speaking directly to your audience and you dont have someone telling you what to be or what to do. You present yourself the way you want to be presented. goodnight A photo posted by Alexi Wasser (@alexiwasser) on Jun 30, 2016 at 2:02am PDT The panel spent a lot of time discussing the evolution of the selfie. During the show and tell portion of the panel, Rowan Blanchard, who Ill remind you is only fourteen, highlighted late 19th and early 20th century art, illustrating that the selfie is not a new invention. Blanchard said selfies were not a cry for attention but that selfies allow young people to present themselves the way they want to be seen, creating a new form of self-expression. into the A photo posted by Rowan Blanchard (@rowanblanchard) on Aug 21, 2016 at 6:22pm PDT The panelists also touched on issues theyve faced as women working in film. In our interview, Alexi told me, Primarily, in rooms in Hollywood, youre mainly surrounded by men. They say they love you and your voice. And then the minute you say, Heres what Ive come up with, theres a lot of Calm down! and just general misogyny. During the panel, Lina Esco recalled being told by fellow industry artists that she was crazy for wanting to make her documentary about the Free the Nipple movement. In addition to the lovely panel, the audience was treated to two short films, one directed by Wasser, entitled Love, Alexi, and one directed by Parenthood star Sarah Ramos, entitled Fluffy. Wassers film was inspired by a recent breakup. She wanted the piece to express that sometimes, in that heightened emotional state, youre not really mourning the relationship with the other person youre using the pain of the breakup as a distraction from living your life and focusing on your desired accomplishments. Love, Alexi is moody, funny, and real. Its truly a feat when a director can make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. It was deeply personal, even featuring a real voice message she almost sent to her ex. Alexi told me, I wanted to make something vulnerable and raw, revealing private behavior, things people dont usually show; but it must be funny I like awkward moments and living in the silence. Thats what I hoped to accomplish tomorrow @ 12:30 short film i wrote/directed LOVE, ALEXI will screen @cinefamily as part of @womenofcinefamily festival presented by @bbdakota be there Cinefamily.org for tix/info A photo posted by Alexi Wasser (@alexiwasser) on Aug 19, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT Ramoss film tackled a similar theme about romantic obsession, but somewhat more humorously. Based on a short story by Ingrid Nelson, the film follows Ramos, a girl obsessed with a guy, to the point that shes ecstatic when shes asked to look after his cat for the weekend. I later spoke to Ramos, who told me, I hope it makes people laugh and also feel a little sad because they relate to these embarrassing feelings we usually keep hidden. Fluffy is funny and true, and proves great things about Ramos, who plans to direct a feature in the future! This was Wassers first time directing a film, and Ramos second (She co- wrote and co-directed a short film, The Arm, which won a jury prize at Sundance 2012.) Ramos told me, It felt too dangerous and like a hassle to give a script that Id worked so hard to make specific, to someone else who would change it and make it their own. What if they added jokes I didnt think were funny? Then it became an exciting challenge that made me want to say, I think can do this well, so why shouldnt I try? As an audience member at the festival, I really walked away understanding the importance of women supporting women, especially in the film industry. The weekend took on such an open, communal atmosphere, where anyones opinion was valid. It was inspiring to see so many talented and intelligent women gather together to share their love of film and celebrate their unique perspectives on the world. Contrary to popular belief, women were a big part of the early film industry. Filmmakers such as Lois Weber and Frances Marion were major figures in early Hollywood. Somewhere along the way, there was a shift and the men took over, telling the majority of the stories. This festival is a reminder that the female perspective is alive and well, always and forever! The post I went to Brie Larsons all women-curated film festival, and it was amazing! appeared first on HelloGiggles. ZIKA is here. Wed rather not say finally, since weve been warned about it so many times that it seemed like a bad mantra. That exotic word by the way, refers to a disease spread by that dratted Aedes mosquito, the type which also spreads dengue. Weve been warned that were vulnerable because we have so many people going through Singapore. In May, Singapore reported its first imported case, a 48-year-old who travelled to Sao Paulo. It had seemed like something so far away, in Brazil, where pregnant women could pass the infection to the foetus who would be born with birth defects. But Singapores latest Zika patient, a 47-year-old female Malaysian who resides at Block 102 Aljunied Crescent and works in Singapore, hasnt travelled to Zika-affected areas recently. This means she was probably infected in Singapore which makes her the first case of local transmission. MOH is also screening others living and working in the area who have symptoms of fever and rash. At this point, two members in a family who live in the Aljunied Crescent area and an individual who works there, had preliminarily tested positive based on their urine samples. Dont start panicking. According to MOH: Zika is generally a mild disease. It may cause a viral fever similar to dengue or chikungunya, with fever, skin rashes, body aches, and headache. But many people infected with the Zika virus infection do not even develop symptoms. But pregnant women who live or work in the vicinity and who have a fever or rash should see a doctor. The Malaysian, who developed fever, rash and conjunctivitis on August 25, is recovering well. As for precautions, we should just do what weve always known we should do wipe out the mosquito population. That might just rid us of the dengue fever scourge as well. Dengue has claimed seven lives so far. By the way, the Malaysian isnt living in an active dengue cluster but there are two other clusters nearby. Story continues Featured image from TMG file. If you like this article, Like the Middle Grounds Facebook Page as well! For breaking news, you can talk to us via email. The post And while were dealing with the haze, Zika is here appeared first on The Middle Ground. SINCE THE RAPTURE OCCURS BEFORE THE FUTURE 7 YR TREATY IS SIGNED, I WONT BE AROUND TO HAVE THE ACTUAL TREATY SIGNING. BUT UNTIL THEN THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE BEGININGS OF THE ISRAELI / ARAB PEACE PROCESS. AND AS CLOSE TO THE 7 YEAR SIGNING THAT WE GET BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAVED TO HEAVEN. UNTIL WE MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS BODILY, AND COME TO EARTH 7 YRS LATER. ET headed to the Big Easy, digging up some NCIS: New Orleans show secrets from star Scott Bakula. "New Orleans has got style," Bakula told ET's Kevin Frazier. "You're walking by and there's a guy riding in a carriage, and he's got a purple suit on from head to toe, and you're like, 'Yup!' He's working it too." WATCH: Scott Bakula Explains Why 'NCIS: New Orleans' Is Not Just Another Crime Drama The show captures that style by shooting on location, soaking up as much authenticity as it can. "It's fun," the Golden Globe winner said. "This exterior exists on a street in New Orleans, and we go and we shoot outside there." Still, the production team had to recreate some of the locations inside a soundstage in case of unfavorable weather. Frazier got a taste of a Louisiana storm when thunder struck during his set visit. "For people in L.A., [that sound] comes with rain," Bakula joked. "When there's rain, it comes from the sky." WATCH: How 'NCIS: New Orleans' Sets Itself Apart The 61-year-old Missouri native feels right at home, despite the storms. As a talented piano player and a restaurant connoisseur, Bakula's personality seems to be a perfect fit for the city. "I love it," Bakula said. "I love it!" The new season of NCIS: New Orleans premieres Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10/9c on CBS. Related Articles KINSHASA (Reuters) - A vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Congo's capital is almost complete, but the gains may be reversed by the looming rainy season and the spread of the disease to areas where people have not yet been vaccinated, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. Health officials began a campaign to vaccinate 7.5 million people in Kinshasa last week to combat the worst outbreak in decades of the hemorrhagic virus. More than 400 people have died in Congo and neighboring Angola since December. In all, health authorities aim to vaccinate 14 million people in the two countries by the end of August to halt the spread of the disease before the rainy season next month. As of Thursday, 6,925,276 people, or 91.3 percent of the target population, in Kinshasa were vaccinated in the latest campaign, WHO said in a weekly report. About 2 million people were vaccinated in Kinshasa during campaigns in May and July. The campaign wrapped up on Friday, but health workers will continue over the coming days to seek out individuals they missed, said WHO's Congo spokesman, Eugene Kabambi. "We had to resolve this before the rains ... It's a big success," Kabambi said, adding that additional preventive measures need to be taken to definitively stop transmission. WHO's report warned that the outbreak risks spreading to areas not previously touched by yellow fever. So far, eight of the country's 26 provinces have reported suspected cases. (Reporting By Aaron Ross, editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Larry King) Najran (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) - 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. Major Ali al-Shahrani, civil defence spokesman in southwest Saudi Arabia, told reporters a nine-year-old brother of the boy was also wounded when a Katyusha rocket hit their family's home. The attack came a day after rockets fired from Yemen struck a power station in Najran, marking a rare hit on Saudi Arabia's infrastructure after months of periodic bombardment of the area. Attacks have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks between the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies, and Yemen's internationally-recognised government which has the military support of a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Ten people have been killed in Najran since August 16, when a single strike claimed seven lives. The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since the peace talks collapsed. The coalition intervened in March last year to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis and their allies seized much of Yemen. ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Yemen's Saudi-backed exiled government said on Saturday it welcomed a plan agreed by the United States, Gulf Arab states and the United Nations to restart peace talks 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. In talks in Jeddah this week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the conflict in which Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes in favor of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end. On Saturday, a statement from the exiled government carried by the Saba news agency said: "The government is prepared to deal positively with any peaceful solutions...including an initial welcoming of the ideas resulting from the meeting in Jeddah that included the foreign secretaries of the U.S.,the United Kingdom and Gulf states." The Houthis are yet to respond to the proposal. Kerry said on Thursday the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, pull back from the capital Sanaa, 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. The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million. 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 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. (Reporting By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Ros Russell) Got an iPhone? Then you should update it to the latest version of iOS right away: iOS 9.3.5, which was released by Apple Thursday, closes three critical security vulnerabilities that were used by a foreign government in an attempt to spy on a dissident. Pro-democracy activist Ahmed Mansoor, who has in the past been targeted for his work against human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates, received two suspicious text messages this week. Instead of opening them, he got in contact with security researchers, who were able to confirm his suspicions. The text messages in question would have installed malware on his phone that would have made it possible for outsiders to monitor his communication, download data from his phone and remotely control the device. The malware, dubbed Pegasus, is being sold by a secretive Israeli surveillance technology company called NSO Group, which sells its software to foreign governments ostensibly to fight crimes, but Mansoors case shows that malware like Pegasus can quickly target the innocent as well. Thats why mobile security company Lookout has now added Pegasus to the known threats its iOS security software is scanning for. Individuals or companies can use Lookouts software to check their own devices for the presence of Pegasus, and the company has published detailed instructions on how to do so online. However, even users who had previously installed Lookout on their phone are advised to still update their iOS operating system. After all, others may have discovered the vulnerabilities exploited by Pegasus as well, and may be using them for their own exploits. That being said, Lookout does point out that it is unlikely for most people to have fallen victim to the malware. Lookout believes the vast majority of users will not be impacted by Pegasus given the sophisticated, targeted nature of the attack, the company wrote on its site. Related stories New iPhone to Ditch Headphone Jack, Come With Better Camera (Report) Story continues Apple Has Sold Over 1 Billion iPhones Apple Ordered to Stop Selling iPhones in China [August 26, 2016] Industrial Wireless Sensor Network Market to Grow at an Impressive CAGR of 15% until 2020, Declares Technavio Technavio analysts forecast the global industrial wireless sensor network (IWSN) market likely to reach USD 954.06 million by 2020, according to their latest report. The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global IWSN market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the implementation of wireless sensor networks in industrial facilities throughout industries and geographies. As of 2016, the Americas constitute a major share of 33.2% of the global IWSN market. APAC with 32.9% market share follows the Americas, whereas EMEA accounts for 29.4% of the global IWSN market. The rest of the world (ROW) comprising Russia and other countries account for a minimal 4.5% share of revenue in the global IWSN market. The IWSN market in the US is the largest in the world and is likely to retain its leading position during the forecast period. North America is home to major multinational companies (MNCs) that are making significant investments in IoT and industrial IoT (IIoT) in an effort to increase productivity, enable product tracking throughout their life cycle, and to deliver high quality products. Moreover, countries such as Brazil are one of the major growth economies in the world and are currently undergoing major technological advances and expansion in the industrial sector. With the expansion of industries, these countries will need efficient monitoring of their processes to stay in line with competitors worldwide. This will further drive the adoption of IWSNs in the region during the forecast period. Technavio hardware and semiconductor analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global IWSN market: Replacement of wired sensors Growth of industrial automation and robotics Increase in demand for wireless sensors in oil and gas industry Replacement of wired sensors As of 2016, achieving high standards of industrial safety and energy efficiency are two of the major focus areas for industries across the globe. A number of factors such as power efficiency and low costs of installation govern the efficiency of industrial facilities that are difficult for industries to achieve using wired sensors. Industries are now replacing wired sensors with their wireless alternatives, as it facilitates the industries in achieving both cost and energy efficiency. Sunil Kumar Singh, a lead research analyst at Technavio, specializing in sensors, says, "Industrial facilities and buildings require proactive expansion in order to sustain in the competitive environment. Consecutively, the ideal design for an industrial building involves scope for expansion so that the structure can accommodate any new machines and future building requirements. Wired sensors require conduit spaces within the building structure for effective installation. This incurs extra costs for industries during expansion, as there is an additional work of designing the conduits for wired sensors." As wireless sensors do not require any wirings and hence, no conduits for installation, they provide industries with better cost efficiency than wired sensors. Thus, industries prefer deployment of wireless sensors to wired sensors and consider replacement of already installed wired sensors with their wireless alternatives in an effort to increase their operational efficiency, thereby driving the global IWSN market. Growth of industrial automation and robotics Operational efficiency is the key to sustenance in the highly competitive industrial environment and to achieve that, industries across the globe are focusing on automation technologies. Automation facilitates industries to efficiently monitor, control, and manage the processes and work force associated with the optimum functioning of the industry, thereby achieving operational efficiency. Automation is achieved by industries by the efficient deployment of robotic technologies within the plant to maximize productivity and reduce the scope of error in manufacturing. "Industrial automation and robotics employ a variety of wireless sensors such as proximity sensors, range sensors, force sensors, and motion sensors. Wireless sensors also form indispensable components of industrial robotics to enable sensing, recognition, and interpretation. As wireless sensors play a significant role in automation, the growth of industrial automation and robotics is resulting in a rise in demand for wireless sensors worldwide, thereby contributing to the growth of the global IWSN market," asserts Sunil. Increase in demand for wireless sensors in oil and gas industry The widespread economic development has led to a significant growth in economies across the globe, especially in the developing countries. With the growth of the economy, demand for energy and power is constantly increasing, which has resulted in a rise in demand for oil and gas globally. In order to cater to the growing demand for oil and gas, companies need to expand their exploration opportunities and upgrade their existing processes. To increase their productivity and achieve energy efficiency, oil and gas companies are focusing on the effective deployment of wireless sensors in their plants and refineries. Effective deployment of wireless sensors facilitates efficient monitoring of equipment condition apart from monitoring industrial safety and efficiency for oil and gas companies. This helps the companies in satisfying the growing demand and also ensures achievement of energy and operational efficiency. Top vendors in the market are: ABB Honeywell Process Solutions Linear Technology NXP Semiconductors (News - Alert) Schneider Electric Siemens STMicroelectronics (News - Alert) Texas Instruments Yokogawa Electric Source (News - Alert): Technavio Browse Related Reports: Global Industrial Sensors Market 2016-2020 Global Industrial Ethernet Market 2016-2020 Global Wireless Sensors Market 2015-2019 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160826005019/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 26, 2016] Presence of Leading Semiconductor Foundries in APAC Driving the Global Probe Card Market Until 2020: Technavio The global probe card market is expected grow at a CAGR of 4.38% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest report. In this report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global probe card market for 2016-2020. The market is further categorized into two product segments, including advanced probe card and standard probe card, of which the advanced probe card segment dominated the market with more than 79% of the overall market share in 2015. "Automated test equipment such as probe cards are used in the manufacture of semiconductor ICs. Therefore, semiconductor device manufacturers such as foundries, outsourced assembly and test services and integrated device manufacturers are the principal customers of these probe card vendors," says Sunil Kumar Singh, a lead embedded systems research analyst from Technavio. In 2015, the system on a chip (SoC) segment was the largest revenue contributor to the global probe card market and accounted for a revenue share of 50.75%. The adoption of SoC has been on the rise due to the following reasons: Increasing investments in the telecom and enterprise network infrastructure sector Increasing sales of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and hotspot devices due to the mobility, multifunctionality advantages, and the latest LTE (News - Alert) rollout Increasing demand for consumer electronics such as set-top boxes, portable media players, smart TVs, blu-ray players, and success of ultramobiles in the market Increasing global car unit shipments and the higher rate of adoption of SoC devices in the automotive applications such as car access and immobilizers, vehicle networking, car entertainment, and telematics Technavio's hardware and semiconductor research study segments the global probe card market into the following regions: Americas APAC EMEA In 2015, with a market share of over 69%, APAC dominated the global probe card market, followed by the Americas with over 20% and EMEA with 10%. APAC: largest market for probe card The probe card market in APAC will reach a CAGR of above 5% during the forecast period. Taiwan, South Korea, Chia, and Japan are the major countries contributing to the growth of this region. The presence of a majority of leading semiconductor foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, United Microelectronics, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International is creating the demand for probe cards in APAC. The increase in consumer electronics and the rollout of LTE market in China for communication devices has led to the expansion of LTE base station infrastructure in China, which will give rise to an increased need for semiconductor ICs, which need to be tested, thereby fostering the growth of the market in this region. In 2015, the sale of probe cards for memory devices in South Korea was firm due to the presence of prominent mobile and consumer electronic device manufacturers such as Samsung and LG. Furthermore, the presence of other dominant consumer electronics and mobile devices manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo (News - Alert), Huawei, Fujitsu, and Panasonic in other APAC countries is supporting the demand for semiconductor devices. Ask sample report: http://goo.gl/wm7tsK Probe card market in the Americas The probe card market in the Americas will attain a CAGR of more than 3% during the forecast period. The increase in the communication devices, such as smartphones and phablets, and the automotive market of US have been driving the rise in production of semiconductor ICs in the region. The presence of few prominent semiconductor manufacturers such as GlobalFoundries and Intel (News - Alert) that fabricate wafers of sizes 200 nm and 300 nm will propel the demand for probe cards in the region. "Regulatory authorities such as Federal Communications Council in the US and Health Canada and Industry Canada in Canada have set guidelines for devices and networks emitting radio waves. Service providers and device manufacturers must comply with the regulatory guidelines for releasing their products in the market. This will increase the demand for RF test equipment, including probe cards, in the region," asserts Sunil. Probe card market in EMEA The probe card market in EMEA will attain a CAGR of over 1% during the forecast period. Some of the semiconductor manufacturing companies in this region are Infineon Technologies (News - Alert), NXP Semiconductors, and STMicroelectronics. However, EMEA will contribute low revenue compared to APAC and the US because of the small concentrations of semiconductor IC manufacturers in this region. Furthermore, due to the economic crisis in Eurozone, many manufacturers will shift their semiconductor manufacturing facilities to APAC. APAC also has availability of cheaper resources than EMEA, which can further reduce the demand for probe cards in EMEA. The top vendors in the global probe card market highlighted in the report are: FormFactor (News - Alert) Japan Electronic Materials (JEM) Micronics Japan (MJC) MPI Technoprobe Browse Related Reports: Semiconductor Packaging and Test Market in China 2015-2019 Global Semiconductor Foundry Market 2015-2019 Semiconductor Production Equipment Market in Taiwan 2015-2019 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160826005045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In an emergency meeting Thursday, faculty at Doane University voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution asking President Jacque Carter to walk back an organizational decision he made a few weeks before the start of the fall semester. On Aug. 5, Carter told Rev. Karla Cooper she would no longer serve as chaplain for the liberal arts college based in Crete. It was a shock, said Cooper, who serves as pastor of Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lincoln in addition to her part-time position as chaplain and adjunct faculty at Doane. (Carter) shared with me his new vision for Doane, which did not include the office of the chaplaincy, Cooper said. It was that Doane needed to have a more secular focus and in that secular focus, Doane needed to have a spiritual coordinator rather than a chaplain. Thats true, Carter said. As Doane continues to grow and attract more students from Nebraska as well as beyond its borders, Carter sees benefits to reconfiguring the office and creating a full-time position to help connect students to faith leaders in Crete, Lincoln and other places, rather than employing a part-time chaplain of a particular denomination. Last year, he moved the chaplain's office, which for years reported to the president, under the umbrella of the Office of Student Affairs. More thought and research into how other similar-sized institutions approached faith on campus led him to the conclusion that a multi-faith, non-denominational leader on campus would help better serve an increasingly diverse student body. Still, Cooper said the decision stung. For much of her decade serving as Doanes chaplain, she welcomed and worked with students, faculty and staff of all faiths -- even those without, she said, because she believes in Doanes mission to be inclusive. The universal term of chaplain is trying to be all things to various constituents, she said. We should offer religious pluralism opportunities because this is a place to wrestle with those questions. Doanes faculty tried to intervene, holding an informal vote earlier this week before issuing a formal resolution on Thursday. According to an email from a Doane faculty member, 64 professors voted in favor of the measure in a special meeting, with 1 opposed and 5 abstaining. Marilyn Johnson-Farr, a professor of education at Doane and lifelong member of Cooper's church, said she hopes the resolution illustrates a unified voice to both Carter and the Board of Trustees. I think the objection is rounded more in the process in how that eliminated the office of the chaplain, Johnson-Farr said. If you think about the role of a campus minister or chaplain, its a pivoting role where youre serving students, staff and faculty in several capacities. Youre on call 24 hours a day because you never know when a student might experience a critical issue. Cooper said she was grateful to receive the facultys backing. Thats the rainbow and the pot of gold at the end of this storm, Cooper said. The campus has unified around a particular issue and the faculty is modeling what it means to stand for something and not be a bystander. Carter said he appreciates the facultys opinion, noting that many of them have formed strong bonds with Cooper over the last decade and adding he has also asked for input from other groups on campus and beyond. Depending on how you feel about it, youre going to have different opinions and I respect that, he said. In the end, I cant make decisions based on how many people support something, but rather what appears to be the best model or structure in providing that particular service to our students. Thats how you make decisions in the line of work Im in, he said. A task force of Doane students, faculty, staff, community members and faith leaders will be convened to determine what the universitys Office of Spiritual Outreach and the coordinator position will look like. Although no timeline has been set, Carter said he expects the committees work to wrap up before the end of the calendar year. Once the position is clarified, Carter said he would invite Cooper to apply. Cooper will retain her adjunct teaching appointment at Doane. Doane and Quinn were parts of the service God called me into being, she said. Im still trying to navigate what it means, but I know I still have my calling to fulfill. College student Haifaa Al-Saadi shielded her eyes from the beaming August sun, staring up at a wall on which her own face -- but quite a bit larger -- stared back at her. Its huge, she said under her breath, beaming. Every curve of the hijab wrapped around her head, her soft eyes -- all of it sketched in charcoal on the south wall of the new Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska and Health 360 Integrated Care Clinic near 23rd and O streets. Next to her portrait on the wall was the face of another woman -- both refugees. The artist, Florida-based Lori Pratico, stood nearby wearing paint-coated jeans and with charcoal-stained fingernails. Nebraska is the eighth state Pratico has visited for Girl Noticed, her dream to create 50 murals -- each one representing the hidden strength and importance of women. This wall is amazing, Al-Saadi said. When I got here in the morning, it was mind-blowing. Its incredible. I love everything Lori is doing for this. So far, Nebraska had the most nominations for inspirational women -- 31. Pratico admired all the stories so she included every nominees name on the back of her white T-shirt with SHE IS ON THE MOVE at the top. But she limited herself to two women, both former refugees. Their ages vary and their stories are different, but their resilience is similar. Al-Saadi was born in a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia and came to the U.S. at 2 years old after her parents fled Iraq. She is working toward a bachelors degree in psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and wants to become an art therapist. Thuy Nguyen, a refugee from Vietnam, has been in the U.S. for 40 years building a life for herself and her family. She owns Little Saigon Plaza on North 27th Street. They all should be noticed, Pratico said. But these two women stood out to me. Theyve had to deal with hatred and prejudice and people not understanding where they came from. And thats something that really touches me -- not only someone who has overcome something, but now they wanna give back and do something to help others. Photographer Elizabeth Sanjuan has accompanied Pratico along the way and documents the murals for a book. Sanjuan found value in choosing women who not only represent the power of women, but the power of immigrants and refugees. Its so important nowadays that we focus and highlight and continue the conversation, especially with all of todays political aspects and daily dialogue of the hate thats going on, Sanjuan said. We really need to focus on the positive things immigrants are bringing to our communities. These two women certainly do that. The visit was sponsored by NeighborWorks Lincoln, Lutheran Family Services and the city with support from the Community Health Endowment. Watching Pratico work was free, but guests were asked to write something positive on a Post-it note and stick it near the mural. A section of the wall filled with neon pink, yellow and green notes with statements like I am authentic, and I am enough and I am strong. Visitors, both young and old, marveled at the mural and asked Pratico about her inspiration. Her reason -- knowing what it felt like to be unnoticed as a young girl -- resonated with those who came to watch. Another nominee, 7-year-old Aveya Segura, who was diagnosed at birth with sickle cell disease, ran around near the mural. When she stopped for a break, she announced, Im smart. Im strong. Im happy. Oh, and she really likes to dance. Maddie and Bella Johnson, ages 8 and 13, wrote on sticky notes about their positivity and creativity. Where do they get it? Another woman -- their mother Jennifer Roberts -- who "always takes cares of us and stays positive, even when its hard, Maddie said. Jennifer Roberts praised the Girl Noticed mural project for its simple reminder to women and all of society. Its important for people to understand that we dont all have the same struggles and the same influences on our lives, Roberts said. But regardless, the possibilities are endless. Al-Saadi said she hopes the mural can inspire people, namely younger girls who pass by. It doesnt matter where youre from, what youve been through, Al-Saadi said. It just matters where you plan on going in the future, what you want to do in the world. I hope it will get other people to try to push harder and move forward. A legislative bill passed last year aimed at reducing the number of inmates in the states crowded prisons may be causing crowding at the Lancaster County Jail. The county jail has seen a nearly 13 percent increase in its inmate population since July 2015. LB605 changed sentencing laws, turning some felonies into misdemeanors, in an attempt to reduce the number of inmates in state prisons. The bill also expanded the use of probation for people convicted of low-level offenses. Brad Johnson, interim Lancaster County corrections director, said hes struggled to find the bills direct effects on the jail. However, he said, hes also struggled to find anything else that might have caused a 13 percent increase in inmates in one year. We are not staffed for that at this point, he said. He said the jail typically has seen a 3 percent increase in its inmate population each year. The jail has 786 beds but only enough staff to handle 665 inmates. In a recent week, the jail saw a daily population around 670 each day. Since Jan. 1, the jail has housed nearly 80 inmates convicted of felonies. Those inmates have stayed an average of 218 days. He said the increasing number of inmates challenges his ability to properly staff the jail. A facility runs the safest and most efficient if I can put people in the appropriate spots, he said. The county opened the jail at Southwest 40th and O streets in September 2013 with enough staff to house between 550 and 600 inmates. Since then, the jail has continued to operate with nearly the same number of staff members despite the increasing number of inmates, Johnson said. Ive had to open extra housing areas and my staffing numbers havent increased to reflect that, he said. Joe Kelly, Lancaster County attorney, said state leaders promised LB605 would have little impact on county jails when they passed it, estimating an increase of just 50 inmates in county jails statewide. Larry Dix, director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said other counties are seeing increases in their jail populations since LB605s passage last year. All counties are seeing an uptick in their jail populations, he said. Joe Nigro, Lancaster County public defender, said county leaders need to focus on jail alternatives, such as home monitoring, in order to reduce their jail populations. He said counties also should consider mental health courts that would focus on providing jail alternatives for mentally ill offenders. Sheli Schindler, director of the Lancaster County Youth Services Center, said LB605 effectively shifted overcrowding from state prisons to county jails. Essentially, the cost of corrections has been shifted to the counties, she said. Johnson said Lancaster County recently turned down a request from Sarpy County leaders to house some of their inmates because they lack the space for them. And should the number of inmates housed at the Lancaster County Jail continue to increase at the same rate, Lancaster County may be looking to other counties to house its inmates as soon as next year, he said. Well be overcrowded again, he said. Were going to have some tough decisions to make. In our area, Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh is the only option for health care for 20 miles in all directions. Hospitals and health systems like ours that serve rural communities across America face unprecedented economic challenges. In the past six years, 76 have closed and many more are squeezed by reduced reimbursements and rising health care costs. We are often not afforded the luxuries of health care in more densely populated settings, and access to care is a critical issue that we have to address in our community. A little-known federal drug discount program called 340B, established in 1992, helps providers like us generate increased access to care and treat all of our patients, especially our communitys residents with the greatest needs. Unfortunately, special interests are working hard in Washington to undermine the program and limit hospital and patient eligibility. In 2010, Congress expanded the program to rural hospitals to help them in their efforts to treat uninsured, underinsured and other patients who have difficulty getting access to care. Under the program, eligible hospitals receive pharmaceuticals at discounted prices from drug companies. Approximately 60 percent of the patients we see at Johnson County Hospital are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or are uninsured. We use 340B savings to help offset the large amount of services we deliver to patients unable to pay for care. We see a many patients in our hospital and two clinics that desperately need these services, and we do not turn away these members of our community regardless of their financial status. 340B savings help cover the uncompensated care we provide which amounted to more than $240,000 in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Discounts from the program are also helpful in funding our physician recruitment program to encourage physicians to come work at Johnson County Hospital. A key to providing excellent care to our community is to have an appropriate number of doctors that can treat everyone who walks through our doors. Without 340B, our doctor recruitment would take a hit and we might face a dramatic shortage of physicians. We also embed ourselves in the community to ensure well-being and quality of life for our residents. Through 340B discounts, we fund various initiatives to reach community members outside of the hospital walls. We partner with local schools to offer ImPACT testing for our youth to check for concussion symptoms to confirm they are fit to participate in sports, keeping them active and promoting healthy brain development. We also go into the community to provide mobile health services including blood pressure and glucose testing to help residents that may not have a reason to come in to the hospital to become aware of their general health. 340B is more than just a federal drug program to us it is a community-strengthening program. Its important to understand that 340B is not taxpayer funded, but is paid for by drug companies. Eliminating it would result in accelerated closures of rural hospitals across the nation and reduced clinical services and medications for our community. Johnson County Hospital wants to keep serving the community with outstanding care. The 340B drug discount program is essential to helping us provide that care to all patients, including the underserved. At a time when Republicans and Democrats at City Hall are aligned in separate, unyielding voting blocs on the city budget, its a relief to note that occasionally they will still break ranks to work together. One worthwhile endeavor was launched this month with a resolution authored by Leirion Gaylor Baird, a Democrat, and Trent Fellers, a Republican. Their resolution, a seven-page melange of whereases and terms like raw datasets, commits City Hall to an Open Data Initiative. The goal is partly to increase civic engagement and partly to help spur economic development. I think this is the next generation of government transparency. It will make city data available so everyone can use it, Fellers said. The data will be available to entrepreneurs, and conceivably could trigger the imagination of someone in the Capital Citys expanding tech ecosystem. The Fellers-Gaylor Baird resolution notes that publishing structured, standardized data in machine-readable formats creates opportunities for information from different sources to be combined and visualized in new and unexpected ways, for niche markets to be identified and developed and for citizens to browse, interpret and draw attention to trends or issues with greater efficiency. The effort will be overseen by a committee that will issue an annual report, provide support and training and ensure that sensitive information is safeguarded. The goal is to do the work within the citys current budget. A report last year from the Pew Research Center said that such initiatives are appearing throughout the country. The publics use of the Internet to connect with government continues to rise, Pew reported. Sixty-five percent of Americans used the internet in the previous 12 months to find data or information pertaining to government. But as open data and open government initiatives get underway, most Americans are still largely engaged in e-Gov 1.0 online activities, with far fewer attuned to Data-Gov 2.0 initiatives that involve agencies sharing data online for public use, the report said. Adding impetus to the initiative in Lincoln is help expected from Bloomberg Philanthropies, according to Rick Hoppe, chief of staff for Mayor Chris Beutler. In a blog post, James Anderson, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Government Innovation Programs, said, The big truth is that using data and evidence in a powerful way has a lot more to do with culture and people than it does with technology and numbers. As Gaylor Baird said, the resolution and follow-through by the committee will help set an encouraging tone. We hope that it wont be long before the new central portal is brimming with valuable data. I read in the paper that, surprisingly, the proposal to allow casino gambling in Nebraska will not be on the ballot this November ("Gambling petitions fall short," Aug. 12). Despite spending $1.4 million dollars to try to get the issue up for a vote, the organizers fell well short of the number of signatures needed to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The amount of money spent was about half a million dollars more than the successful effort to get the death penalty up for a vote. I wonder why this happened. Nebraskans are pretty smart, and I doubt there was really a ground swell of support for putting the death penalty on the ballot. Except for Gov. Pete Ricketts, most Nebraskans realized the death penalty system is broken and the odds are great that the state will never again put a citizen to death. The desire of Nebraskans to have casino gambling in the state is at least as strong as the desire to give the state the ultimate power of taking a person's life. However, one issue got on the ballot and the other did not. It's probably because Gov. Ricketts influenced many on the right to follow his lead on the issue. I doubt Mr. Ricketts will be happy with the results of the November balloting on his pet project. Ricky Fulton, Omaha Two weeks after an audit thumped him for a litany of issues, including poor management practices and using his state-owned pickup for personal trips, the head of the Nebraska Brand Committee resigned his post only to be offered a new job at the agency, with the same pay and benefits. The decision left a "sour taste" in the mouths of many ranchers and taxpayers, says State Auditor Charlie Janssen. Janssen's team uncovered the Brand Committee's issues but has little to no power to ensure the problems are properly addressed. To make matters worse, Janssen says, many of this year's findings echoed those from a previous audit in 2013. Auditors often return to agencies they reviewed three or four years earlier, only to find the same set of problems, says Janssen, in his second year as Nebraska's auditor of public accounts. For example, his office's most recent annual statewide audit noted almost three-dozen findings that were raised by previous audits but were never addressed by the agencies involved. "It bothers us all because we feel that we provide a service to protect taxpayer dollars," said Mary Avery, special audits manager and a 38-year employee of the auditor's office. For that reason, Janssen is seeking help and ideas to bolster his team's efforts. "The auditor only has so much authority," he said during a recent interview in his Capitol office. "We don't really have any corrective action." Last year, lawmakers made it a misdemeanor to mislead an auditor or obstruct an investigation. And if auditors uncover criminal activity, they can ask the attorney general's office or a local prosecutor to file charges. Most audit findings don't rise to that level, however, leaving auditors reliant on agencies to fix problems themselves. Pressure from the media can help, but that spotlight usually fades as the public loses interest. Janssen jokes he's like a TV cop without a gun: All he can do is yell, "Stop, or else I'll yell stop again!" One possibility Janssen is considering is to require agencies to discuss audit results during their budget deliberations with the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, an idea recommended by outgoing Appropriations Chairman Heath Mello of Omaha. Mello, who is leaving the Legislature due to term limits, has shared the idea with Appropriations Committee members who will return next year. "There has to be a mechanism for the Legislature to be able to hold state agencies accountable in light of recommendations for how to manage and better track tax dollars," he said. Janssen said not all agencies respond poorly to audits. He complimented the Department of Economic Development on its aggressive approach to addressing a critical audit released this summer. "I was very happy the administration took that very seriously," Janssen said. Other agencies overseen by Gov. Pete Ricketts have been proactive as well, Janssen said, and repeat findings in many cases predate the current administration. "You have to work within the system, understand each other's roles," said David Ludwig, executive director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, an independent state agency which Janssen complimented for its cooperation following an audit last year. Ludwig said the auditor's office took a collaborative approach to the process, which he appreciated. Brand Committee members have defended their response to this year's audit. The committee is working with Nebraska Interactive, the state's computer application designer, to develop web-based bookkeeping software and has formed a work group to study needed policy and legislative updates. Jaclyn Wilson of Lakeside, who was appointed to the Brand Committee last year, has said many issues the audit uncovered pre-date current members. "It has been our responsibility to be cleaning up issues that should have been taken care of before," she said. Janssen said agencies will sometimes form committees and take other steps to show they are responding to audits, but "a lot of times there's no real action taken." He's open to other options for addressing the problem, he said, including granting his office limited enforcement power, as long as it doesn't conflict with the attorney general's authority. "I think it would be beneficial if it could be done in the right way," Janssen said. "Not saying I need to have a badge." GRAND ISLAND Attendance through the first four days of the Nebraska State Fair is up 7 percent over a year ago, when the event saw its biggest crowds since moving to Grand Island in 2010. State Fair officials said Tuesday morning that 129,174 people attended the fair over the first four days of its 11-day run. Most came Saturday, although the crowd of 51,878 trailed last year's opening Saturday crowd boosted by a Keith Urban concert. Crowds for this year's concerts were down, officials said, with Thomas Rhett drawing 9,876 on Friday, Lady Antebellum drawing 3,800 on Saturday and Train bringing in 2,131 on Sunday. The State Fair welcomed its 2 millionth visitor since moving from Lincoln to Grand Island on Friday night. Jeff and Amanda Thober of Ravenna and their four children were greeted by State Fair officials as they came through the main gate. The honor got them season passes to this year's fair, concert tickets and carnival passes, a gift certificate for the fair's gift shop and $100 in cash. This year's state fair runs through Sept. 5. RACINE Throughout the month of August, two local organizations have spearheaded a social media awareness campaign to promote the benefits of breast-feeding. The Racine Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Familes and Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. launched a social media campaign on Aug. 1 during World Breastfeeding Awareness Week. According to a news release from RKCAA, the campaign has featured the breast-feeding experience of black families. "The campaign is important because there is a disparity in breastfeeding rates in Racine," the release stated. "African American mothers are less likely to breast-feed than Latino and white mothers, locally and nationally." The release cites a statistic from the federal Centers for Disease Control, which claims that breast-feeding could decrease the infant mortality rate by up to 50 percent among black children. Breast-feeding can also help decrease the risk of common health conditions prevalent in black communities, according to the release. "It was important to speak directly with African American families to get their perspective and share them with the community," said Samantha J. Perry, the project manager at Racine LIHF. "It is important that individuals can see themselves in marketing and other areas to increase awareness." According to the release, the campaign will "improve community awareness" and enhance programming that already exists in the community. Organizations such as Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, The Birthing Project USA and Black Infant Health Program were mentioned as having "amplified efforts to increase awareness of the benefits of breast feeding." Because of its participation in the campaign, RKCAA received a donation of nursing bras from Loving Moments, an organization donating bras for those participating in Black Breastfeeding Week, which runs through Aug. 31. To stay up-to-date with the awareness campaign, follow Racine LIHF on Twitter and Instagram @RacineLIHF and like them on Facebook. RACINE A 35-year-old Racine man sentenced in 2014 to two life sentences, plus another 204 years behind bars, for his role in a bloody 2005 shooting, is asking a local court to overturn his four attempted-homicide convictions. Demetrus Ozier is arguing that the statute of limitations had expired before police charged him. Aaron Woods, Ryan Lockridge and Frank Mister, each 23, were fatally shot in a parking lot in the 1300 block of Washington Avenue in the early morning hours of July 17, 2005. The shootings allegedly were sparked by a dispute about an earlier, fixed dice game. Ozier was charged in May 2013 with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, as party to the crime, for the shooting deaths of Woods and Lockridge, and another four counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for wounding four others. In a motion filed last month in Racine County Circuit Court, an attorney for Ozier states that the convictions for the four attempted-homicide counts should be overturned because Ozier was not charged with the crimes until May 10, 2013 a year and nine months after the six-year statute of limitations in place at that time had expired. Oziers attorney is also asking for a new trial on the two first-degree intentional homicide charges, maintaining in a written motion that it was highly prejudicial for the defendant to have the jury consider multiple counts of attempted-homicide that should have been dismissed before trial. The state has argued that the six-year statute of limitations had not expired when the state officially charged Ozier, because the defendant had been residing outside of Wisconsin for a year and 11 months of the seven years and nine months that elapsed between the crime and issuance of the arrest warrant. In its brief, the state cites evidence, including fake Tennessee IDs for Ozier and one-time co-defendant Juwann Matthews. That, according to prosecutors, shows Ozier resided both in Chicago and Memphis in the two years following the shooting. During a hearing last week, Assistant Racine County District Attorney Mathew Hastings called two Racine Police detectives who worked on the case, who both said they went to Chicago in 2006 and 2007 to search for Ozier. Ozier was arrested on July 13, 2007, by Chicago police after one of the two officers spotted him walking into a building in that city, Racine Police Investigator David Rybarik testified. Other witnesses are slated to testify in the case at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. MOUNT PLEASANT A store clerk faces four counts of felony fraud for allegedly exchanging WIC benefits from customers for cash and unapproved items. Mount Pleasant Village Police Sgt. David Stroupe said Narinder Singh, a clerk at Bajas Supermarket, 2145 Mead St., was taken into custody Thursday in connection with a fraud investigation at the store by several state agencies. Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office and a WIC compliance inspector discovered that Singh reportedly defrauded the WIC program by exchanging money and other unapproved items for WIC benefits, Stroupe said. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue Office of Criminal Investigation Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement also assisted in the investigation, Stroupe said. WIC is a state-subsidized nutrition program for women,infants and children, that allows pregnant women and new mothers to buy healthy foods and formula for their children. Singh 29, of the 1200 block of Villa Street, Racine, was taken to the Racine County Jail, Stroupe said. Singh appeared in Racine County Circuit Court on Friday, court records showed. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9, court records showed. FITCHBURG Two days after a massive explosion leveled a Fitchburg house, critically injuring the owner and scattering debris and rubble for half a mile, some nearby residents had been able to returning to their homes, while other dwellings remained uninhabitable. Representatives from local, state and federal agencies were continuing to investigate the cause of Thursdays explosion. Fitchburg police Lt. Todd Stetzer said the cause would not be known until at least Monday because investigators need to get more information from the owner of the home destroyed in the blast. Brian Grittner, 57, remained in critical condition Friday at UW Hospital, his mother, Neldine Nichols, said. The retired state IT employee suffered cuts, burns and broken bones, Nichols said. Grittners house, at 5573 Cheryl Drive near South Fish Hatchery Road, was the center of the explosion but it had not been determined if the blast occurred inside or outside, Fitchburg Fire Chief Joe Pulvermacher said. At the very least, that house and an adjacent house and duplex would likely have to be bulldozed, he said. Families from eight residences, not including Grittners, were not allowed to spend Friday night in their homes because of safety concerns, Fitchburg Fire Department spokeswoman Meredith Shelton said. Six buildings remain uninhabitable, including two duplexes, Shelton said, though residents of one of the duplexes and one of the homes were allowed access to retrieve belongings. Pulvermacher told reporters Friday afternoon that nothing had been ruled out as the cause of the blast. He said investigators were following up on reports of work being done in the vicinity of the explosion. Were trying to determine what caused this and how we can prevent this from happening in the future, Pulvermacher said. The investigation had found no evidence of a leak or explosion in the underground gas distribution system, said Steve Schultz, a spokesman for Madison Gas & Electric. That would rule out an underground gas main rupture, but not necessarily a gas leak inside the destroyed house. MGE did not receive calls for a gas leak prior to the explosion, and the companys first responders were on the scene within 10 minutes to shut off gas to the residence, Schultz said. We completed a thorough survey of the area to ensure the safety of the surrounding neighborhood, he said. We are actively participating with the ongoing investigation. Grittner told his mother the last thing he remembered before waking up in an ambulance was opening up the refrigerator. Its astonishing that he looks as good as he does, Nichols said. Nichols said her son loves video games and computers and had been saving up to buy a Tesla electric car. He also had been thinking of moving into a smaller house, she said. Grittner is married with a step-daughter, though his wife wasnt living in the house at the time of the explosion, Nichols said. The ranch-style house was built in 1969 and assessed at $236,800, according to Dane County property records. It was purchased in 2011. The American Red Cross assisted four families Thursday night who stayed with friends and relatives because their homes were close to the site of the explosion, spokeswoman Barbara Behling said. Emergency workers helped rescue two cats and a dog from neighboring homes, which brought some relief to their owners, Behling said. Debris was scattered for more than half a mile around the house. A box spring mattress was seen in the middle of Fish Hatchery Road, the busy arterial which was closed from McKee to Lacy roads overnight Thursday, opened to one lane of traffic in both directions Friday morning and fully reopened around 5 p.m. Its truly remarkable that others werent hurt, Behling said. As we looked at the faces of the people who were getting past the initial police barricades there. They had a look of shock on their faces and some relief if it wasnt their home. The Salvation Army of Dane County also provided assistance Thursday night to affected residents and emergency responders, handing out snacks and cups of water, Gatorade and coffee. Ted Bendler, a relief worker for the agency, described pieces of wood, drywall, insulation and the remnants of a garage door littered across several yards. Bendler said one neighbor living across the street from the destroyed home had a plate-glass window blown in by the blast. On a typical evening the neighbor would be sitting in a recliner looking out the window. It was literally a miracle he wasnt home at that moment, Bendler said. The Fitchburg police and fire departments are being assisted in the investigation by the State Fire Marshal, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dane County Sheriffs Office. Investigators ask that anyone who would like to report damage from the explosion, including debris, or has information concerning the incident, to contact the Fitchburg police at 270-4300. Anyone who would like to request access to a nearby property or to request shelter assistance can also contact police. Aarughat locals appeal for post-quake reconstruction The residents of Aarughat today appealed for expediting the post-quake reconstruction by giving it top priority. Amber Heard and Johnny Depp row over divorce donations Amber Heard has demanded that Johnny Depp double the amount that is paid to charity following their divorce settlement. Bangladesh security forces kill 'mastermind' of Dhaka cafe attack Bangladesh security forces killed four militants on Saturday, including the alleged mastermind of an attack on a cafe in Dhaka last month in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed, the head of Dhaka's counter-terrorism police unit told Reuters. Canadian couple forced to live apart after 62 years An elderly Canadian couple who have been married for 62 years have been forced to live in separate care homes. Food for thought While ridiculous to the max and full of uber-crass humour and digs at racial and ethnic stereotypes on one hand, the new animated Sausage Party also happens to be unexpectedly thought-provoking France 'burkini': Mayors urged to heed court's ruling Mayors of French towns who banned the controversial "burkini" swimsuit have been warned they must heed a court ruling suspending the action. Heavy suits The successful conclusion of the NSU election was a litmus test for NCs commitment to holding local, provincial and state elections by 2017 Japan honours contribution of individuals, organisations The Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu has conferred Ambassadorial Certificates of Appreciation (ACA) on four Nepali individuals and as many organisations for their contribution in strengthening Nepal-Japan ties. Labour unrest ends after issues settled The Labour Office, Birgunj said that the demands of striking workers of 14 factories in the Parsa-Bara Industrial Estate had been addressed and that they had gone back to work. LLRC chair makes a bid to clear up parties confusion As the debate rages among major parties over the numbers of local units, the Local Level Restructuring Commission has said it is merely a reflection of parties ignorance in differentiating local bodies from local levels. Monitoring team seizes underweight gas cylinders A joint market-monitoring team of the government on Friday confiscated cooking gas cylinders of Koteshwor-based Metro Gas and Pepsicola-based Sagarmatha Gas after they failed to meet the standards. PM to take initiatives to address Dr KCs demands Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will take necessary initiatives to address the demands raised by Dr Govinda KC. Rebuilding works at Rani Pokhari put on hold The reconstruction works at Rani Pokhari, one of the archaeological sites destroyed by last years devastating earthquake, have been halted following public outrage over the use of concrete instead of traditional construction materials. Thapa vows to address Dr KCs demands Gagan Thapa, who has taken reins of the Health Ministry, faces a daunting task to fulfill his commitment to address the demands put forth by Dr Govinda KC. WB okays $55m loan for roads, bridges The World Bank on Friday approved credit worth $55 million (Rs5.91 billion) for Nepal to scale up its Road Sector Development Programme and address post-earthquake reconstruction needs, including the strengthening of the countrys strategic road and bridge network to withstand future seismic and climate vulnerabilities. Why Rani Pokhari matters Shyam Tandukar is standing on the foot bridge at Jamal, gazing at Rani Pokhari, his eyes brimming with nostalgia. Tandukar, who grew up a short walk south of the pond, is chancing the ominous clouds overhead to catch his breath and reminisce over younger, brighter days hed spent here. Work on pollution control strategy starts The Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE) is planning to come up with a long-term strategy to address the growing challenges of various kinds of pollution in the country. 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 African leaders meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have agreed to adopt President Yoweri Musevenis paper on bottlenecks facing Africas development as a blue print to guide the continent move forward economically. President Museveni presented numerous hindrances to development in Africa at the African Peer Review Mechanism meeting in Nairobi. He specifically pointed to ideological disorientation, which he says fuels vices like tribalism and sectarianism. President Museveni told the meeting that he had arrived at the 10 bottlenecks after watching the development scene in Africa for 50 years. I have picked some ideas which are responsible for our lagging behind. The problem seems not to be addressing all issues in a comprehensive way, he said. The motion to adopt the paper was moved by South African President Jacob Zuma and was unanimously supported. Earlier, Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia also supported of the presentation. The APRM was held ahead of the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. Story By Ivan Ssenabulya The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has underscored the need for parliaments intervention in coming up with forums uniquely designed to address contentious civil conflicts. Kadaga was seconding a Motion on the Role of Parliament in promoting peace, justice and strong socio-political institutions moved by Mauritius at the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CWP) Africa Region Conference. As Parliamentarians, we are a crucial cog in the peace building process. We must take a central role in ensuring lasting peace on the African continent. Africa has been plagued by so many conflicts which have retarded development. She says parliaments are crucial in peace building processes. By addressing issues of poverty, equitable distribution of resources and economic development, Parliamentarians can attempt to guard against the creation of an enabling environment that is prone to the escalation of conflict, she said. The Speaker raised concern girls and women in conflict areas of Africa citing Congo, Nigeria, and South Sudan. She said that women suffer double jeopardy since they are always raped and sexually enslaved. These women end up producing children with men the hate. Even when they are rescued, they suffer additional stigma, she added. Kadaga noted that the girls who were rescued from the Boko Haram in Nigeria are now being discriminated against by their own community. The Conference that closes today opened on August 22nd and has been running under the theme; Africa for Sustainable Goals: the Role of Parliaments. Story By Ivan Ssenabulya Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny this afternoon. High 63F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. KENDALLVILLE East Noble Middle School will host 30 students from China next week. The group from Qingchun Middle School in Hangzhou, China, is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday evening, with students and their adult chaperones staying with local host families. The students will attend classes at the middle school on Thursday and Friday morning before departing Friday afternoon. A group of students from the same school visited East Noble Middle School in August 2014, and groups of East Noble administrators and teachers traveled to China in 2010 and 2012 to visit Qingchun Middle School. A student delegation visited in 2013, and a group of East Noble Middle School staff and students also visited the Chinese school in 2015. During social studies classes, the visitors are expected to give a presentation on their home, school and culture. The visitors and their host families will join East Noble Middle School teachers and a group of students for a trip to Crazy Pinz in Fort Wayne. While in the United States, the Chinese group will visit other points of interest. Hangzhou, with a population of about 6.25 million, is on Chinas east coast on Hangzhou Bay, between Shanghai and Ningbo, and is considered one of Chinas most prosperous cities. Qingchun Middle School has about 1,500 students, about twice the size of East Noble Middle School. Olivet Lutheran Church will host three-part presentation about loss titled Moving On, led by Gerald Baldner. Baldner and his wife, Betty, lost their son in a boating accident six years ago and Gerald has since written this resource for hurting hearts. The first session is about grieving, the about healing and the third about moving on. The workbook will be available for a $10 contribution at the seminar. The Moving On series will be held at Olivet, 2100 Bainbridge St. on French Island, from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. on consecutive Thursdays Sept. 15, 22 and 29. Anyone interested in attending may contact the church office at 608-783-1484 or info@olivetlutheran.org . MADISON The attorney for a Wisconsin inmate featured in the hit Netflix series Making a Murderer filed a motion Friday seeking permission to perform extensive testing on evidence she believes will show hes innocent. Steven Avery was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison in the death of 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach, who disappeared after a visit to the Avery familys Manitowoc County salvage yard in 2005. Avery has argued he was framed. His attorney, Kathleen Zellner, told reporters awaiting her filing outside the Manitowoc County courthouse that she wants to date blood and DNA found at the scene to see if it was planted. She promised the results will show that Avery isnt guilty and that someone else killed Halbach. Her motion notes that forensic science has advanced dramatically since Avery was convicted. It asks for testing and re-testing on an extensive list of evidence, including Halbachs vehicle key, which was found in Averys room with his DNA on it; Averys blood found in the vehicle; and a pair of womens underwear found in the yard to see if they belonged to Halbach and contain male DNA. The most reassuring thing is that we are going to get to the bottom of who killed Teresa Halbach, Zellner said. And we firmly believe that we will establish it was not Steven Avery. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is handling post-conviction activity in Averys case on behalf of county prosecutors. A spokesman for the agency didnt immediately respond to an email Friday afternoon. Avery, now 54, was charged in November 2005 with sexually assaulting and killing Halbach, who disappeared that Halloween after traveling to the salvage yard to shoot photos for a car magazine. Investigators found her charred remains in a burn pit in the yard. Avery and his then 16-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey, lived on the property. A jury in 2007 convicted Avery of being a party to first-degree intentional homicide and a judge sentenced him to life in prison. Later that year, a separate jury convicted Dassey of being party to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and sexual assault. He, too, was sentenced to life. The case fascinated the public. Two years before Halbachs death, Avery had been released from prison after spending 18 years behind bars for rape that a DNA test later showed he didnt commit. Avery contended police framed him for Halbachs death because the rape exoneration embarrassed them and he had a $36 million wrongful conviction lawsuit pending against Manitowoc County. That lawsuit collapsed when he was arrested in Halbachs death. Avery has alleged that investigators planted blood taken from him during the rape case and planted Halbachs DNA at the scene. He argued in an appeal that he should have been allowed to blame others for Halbachs death, that police illegally searched his trailer and that a judge improperly replaced a juror during deliberations. A state appeals court rejected those arguments in 2011. Avery and Dassey burst back into the public consciousness late last year after Netflix aired Making a Murderer. The series raised questions about investigators integrity in the Halbach case. Prosecutors insisted the show was one-sided but it still created a national groundswell of support for Avery and Dassey. A federal magistrate judge overturned Dasseys conviction this month, ruling investigators coerced him into confessing. The state Justice Department has 90 days to appeal or decide whether to retry him. If the agency chooses to do nothing, he will go free. The most reassuring thing is that we are going to get to the bottom of who killed Teresa Halbach. And we firmly believe that we will establish it was not Steven Avery. Kathleen Zellner, attorney for Steven Avery In 1852, a young German woman left her birthplace of Wurttemberg to travel by ship to New York City. Johanna Catherine Bantle was 21 years old and unmarried. We dont know specifically why she chose to emigrate, but she may have been seeking economic opportunities not then available in Germany or escaping retribution for participating in one of the German revolutions of 1848 and 1849. We know that Johanna was accompanied by one brother and she met up with another in New York, so perhaps they were the politically active ones. After spending some time in New York, the Bantles moved to Milwaukee, where there was a growing German community. Johanna took a job as a house maid in the home of Capt. Frederick Pabst, a brewer with a large and successful business. It was while working there that she met and married Gottlieb Heileman in 1858. Gottlieb and Johanna moved farther west, and they started their own brewery in La Crosse. There was great potential for growth because the city was growing rapidly as a center for the booming lumber industry. Gottliebs first brewery in La Crosse, the City Brewery, was started as a partnership with another German immigrant, John Gund. It was not long before they ended the partnership and each formed their own business. As the Heileman brewery grew, so did their family. Johanna bore eight children, seven daughters and one son. They built the large brick house that still stands across the street from the brewery and serves today as its offices. Family lore says that Johanna and her daughters served midday dinner to those brewery workers who did not have wives at home to cook for them. Besides building company loyalty, it probably also served to help her find husbands for those daughters who would know the family business and be part of it. Gottlieb died in 1878, and Johanna was named president of the brewery. She remained the companys president until 1912, and she stayed active as a board member until her death in 1917, at the age of 85. She was one of the first female CEOs in Wisconsin history, and an upstanding figure in the La Crosse German community. Under the leadership of Johanna Heileman, the G. Heileman Brewing Co. continued to grow, more than tripling its production from the time of its opening up to 1912. The brewery became a leader in the industry, providing La Crosse with a successful business that brought recognition, jobs and revenue to the city. Johanna could count many successes in her long life in America, even though she had her share of grief. She lost her husband after only 20 years of marriage, and her 28-year-old son, Henry, to depression and suicide, in 1895. Portraits show a heavy-set, stern older woman, often surrounded by her large family. Her grandchildren remember Johanna as a little intimidating; she spoke only German and did not often smile. Family lore states that she wore this shawl on the journey by ship to New York. It is wool, done in a crochet stitch called Tunisian crochet that was popular at the time. That, along with its use of a feminine pink-lavender color, make it perfectly in keeping with what a young woman of that era would have worn. The 20-year-old Johannas shawl helps us remember her not as the serious matriarch that she would become, but as the young, adventurous person she must have been, brave enough to cross the ocean on a small ship and make a new life in a strange new place. Gov. Scott Walkers plan to provide new funding for the University of Wisconsin System based on its performance in measures such as graduation rate and job placement would subject the System to a budget model that critics say has failed to deliver on its promise to improve higher education. But proponents of the idea, known as performance-based funding, disagree. They say a well-designed plan to tie UWs dollars to student outcomes could lead to institutions serving those students, and the state, better. It could also improve the Systems relationships in the state Capitol something UWs leaders have sought to do in recent years by making clear to lawmakers and campus officials the expectations for colleges and universities, backers say. Since the 1990s, more than 30 states have started using some form of performance-based funding in their higher education systems. Wisconsin is one of them. The states technical college system began distributing money based on performance in certain measures during the 2013-14 school year, an arrangement officials and Walker say has been working well for those schools, although some of the colleges important functions arent measured by the criteria. Walker has said he plans to include new performance-based funding for the UW System in the 2017-19 state budget. He has not said how much new funding he will seek or exactly how the System would be measured. The new funding would reverse the trend in recent budgets of declining state support for UW the 2015-17 budget cut $250 million from the System. About $1 billion of UWs $6.2 billion annual budget comes from the state. Within higher education circles, though, the value of performance-based funding, or outcomes-based funding as some call it, is far from settled. The idea of linking funding to performance is very politically appealing, said Nicholas Hillman, a UW-Madison education professor whose research has questioned the models effectiveness. But when you start to scratch the surface we actually dont see as much activity. Hillman reviewed 12 studies comparing states that have instituted performance-based funding with those that use more conventional funding models. The studies showed little or no improvement in the graduation rates or number of degrees awarded in states with performance-based funding, Hillman said. His review also found that performance-based funding can lead to a range of unintended consequences. Colleges being judged on their graduation rates might become less likely to admit minorities or low-income students who officials think are less likely to graduate, which could make institutions less diverse, he said. The schools that benefit most under performance-based budget models also tend to be institutions that already have a lot of resources, while less well-off campuses that often serve low-income students and minorities dont measure up as well and miss out on funding, according to Hillman. There are real question marks about who gets those funds and whether it reproduces inequality, he said. Changes may take years Dennis Jones, president emeritus of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, countered that its too early to judge the effectiveness of many performance-based funding models. Only in the past several years have states embraced more comprehensive outcomes-based funding that ties a large proportion of their higher education systems budget to performance. I dont know how you draw conclusions on the basis of short history, Jones said. States have also implemented performance-based funding in a variety of ways, Jones noted, from the measures they use to evaluate schools to the amount of money they distribute based on outcomes. Nearly all of Tennessees higher education funding is performance-based, for instance, while less than 1 percent of Illinois is. Wisconsins technical colleges distribute 30 percent of their $88.5 million in annual funding based on performance. To create an effective performance-based funding system, Jones says lawmakers and universities must customize the criteria to their state and its colleges. UW officials say Walker has indicated he wants to collaborate with them to develop the performance categories, and note they already track much of the data the governor has said he wants to measure. Lawmakers should work with campus officials to first answer important questions about what they want out of their higher education system, Jones said, then find the performance criteria they can use to measure that and reward institutions for making progress toward the goal. Be clear up front about what it is that theyre creating incentives for, Jones said. What are the goals were trying to reach here? Tech colleges a state model Officials say that was one reason the Wisconsin Technical College System sought out performance-based funding. Colleges are measured by their performance in nine categories, which include the number of degrees awarded in high-demand fields and how many students find jobs in their field of study. Schools are also rewarded for how many students come from special populations, a group that includes minorities, veterans, the disabled and low-income students, among others the sort of measure Jones said helps address the equity concerns Hillman raised. Jim Zylstra, an executive vice president of the system who oversees outcomes-based funding, said its too early to fully analyze the effects of the funding model, which was put into place during the 2013-14 school year. But he said colleges have made changes in response, citing a growing number of programs that let high school students take courses for college credit. So-called dual enrollment programs are one of the measures technical colleges receive funding for, and the number of credits high school students have earned from WTCS institutions has grown from 92,613 in the 2012-13 school year to 117,203 in 2014-15. Zylstra, who helped oversee the creation of the performance categories, said connecting funding to outcomes has sharpened colleges focus on those areas, while also showing their return on investment to lawmakers and the state. The system received a $5 million annual increase in its state funding when it adopted the performance measures. Were pleased with how the formula has been working and how our colleges have responded, Zylstra said. He acknowledged not everything the colleges do is measured by the performance criteria. Technical colleges arent rewarded for how many of their students successfully transfer to four-year schools such as UW-Madison, for instance, or for their police and firefighter training programs two key roles of technical colleges. Zylstra said thats why its important to keep conventional funding for the technical colleges. The System is expected to ask lawmakers in the next state budget to limit performance-based dollars to 30 percent of its funding. Still, sitting down together and agreeing on concrete measures for institutions performance can address lawmakers concerns about making sure colleges and universities are held accountable for the money they spend, Jones said. Though he acknowledged he has not seen data to indicate performance-based funding improves outcomes, Jones said the process of creating those systems can reap benefits for universities. They serve to build a lot more trust between institutions and legislators, Jones said. That just improves the environment, if nothing else gets accomplished. Several months ago, Gov. Scott Walker announced a number of initiatives aimed at promoting open and transparent executive-branch government in Wisconsin. In addition to OpenBook Wisconsin, the administration has now created a website to share Agency Performance Dashboards. Both resources are free, online and open-to-the public. OpenBook Wisconsin, openbook.wi.gov, is a direct view into the checkbook of Wisconsin. It includes more than 25 million entries for payments made by state agencies, the legislature, the courts and the University of Wisconsin System for purchasing goods or services, travel and vendor payments. It also contains the salary information for all state government employees, links to state budget documents and data for economic development programs. Follow this direct link to the salary information for every state employee in 2014: openbook.wi.gov/Uploads/State_of_WI_2014_Payroll_Data.pdf. The data is sorted alphabetically by department and name. The data for 2015 is pending. Follow this direct link to the Vendor Contracts for all agencies: vendornet.state.wi.us/vendornet/procman/prob2b.asp. Follow this direct link to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/Divisions/Budget-and-Finance/Financial-Reporting/Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Reports. This report presents the states financial position in a business-like manner. The creation of OpenBook Wisconsin required state agencies and the legislature to roll-out new accounting, procurement and record-keeping software over the last several years to make the data easier to collect and share. This system, the State Transforming Agency Resources system known as STAR, is a huge asset to our state government in this effort. More recently, Gov. Walker issued Executive Order 189 which, in part, created Agency Performance Dashboards as a portal for all of us to track agency performance in key program areas. Review a snapshot of key metrics and access all of the dashboards at the following link: performance.wi.gov. Like most private businesses that measure performance, the Agency Performance Dashboards measure the agencies against specific metrics related to their purposes and goals. This is a great tool for citizens of Wisconsin to review how agencies are serving us, the taxpayers of Wisconsin. Each agency has a unique function within our state government structure. As such, each agency has different goals related to their purpose and mission. For example, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is measured on the following metrics: Increase/maintain number of targeted meetings with business and industry. Increase export sales as a result of the Wisconsin International Trade Team services. Increase percentage of food inspections performed on schedule. Maintain turnaround time on issuance of certificates required for export of plants and plant products. Increase percentage of animal health inspections performed on time. Increase percentage of feed quality surveillance samples that meet label guarantees. Improved response time to consumers. Decrease number of Consumer Protection hotline calls that go to voicemail. More efficient weights and measures/fuel quality inspections. Clean Sweep collections. For each goal, the department determines if the goal is met or unmet based on measureable data or hard numbers. This is an objective, clean way to measure performance. According to the most recent Performance Dashboard report for DATCP from the second quarter of 2016, the agency has met 50 percent of their goals. The 50 percent that are not met are trending toward meeting the goal; however, there is definitely more work to do. Opportunities for improvement show us where we should dedicate more time, talent and resources. They give us the opportunity to truly understand where we are successful and where we need to refocus our energies. Assessing performance in this way helps all of state government to operate in a more efficient, effective way. I encourage everyone who is interested in the function of our state government to review the OpenBook Wisconsin and Agency Performance Dashboard websites to learn more about the function of our state government. 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. Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all today during our fall fundraiser. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe Soon there'll be less squinting and staring down the street while you wonder where on earth your bus might be.On Thursday, Metro announced that 300 signs displaying real-time arrival information and alerts will be coming to the busiest bus shelters in the county. The new displays will feature audio for visually-impaired riders, and around a third of the signs will be solar-powered. "Not knowing if or when your bus is coming can be very stressful, so these electronic signs will remove a barrier for new riders and deliver peace of mind to the millions of our neighbors who rely on Metro buses," said Syncromatics CEO Ian Sephton in a release. The company was awarded a $4 million contract from Metro to install the signs. "Live bus arrival times and service alerts remain out of reach for the 62% of Metro [riders] who don't own smartphones," said Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who sits on Metro's board. For those that do have a smartphone, there are a variety of apps that provide real-time arrivals, such as the excellent Transit App. As anyone who has taken public transportation anywhere knows, it's standing and waiting at the stop that's more aggravating than the amount of time you spend on the bus. These signs should help riders feel better about the wait. "It makes a lot of sense to make the time they spend waiting as comfortable as safe and as certain as possible," UCLA urban planning professor Brian Taylor told KPCC. According to Metro, the rollout of these signs should be completed by 2018. In April, New York Citys city council approved a bill that allows tests required to get a taxi license to be given in foreign languages. The bill went into effect on August 26. New York City's taxi industry has been dominated by foreign-born drivers for decades. Only four percent of current New York cab drivers were born in the United States. That statistic comes from the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Sponsors of the bill in the city council argued that the law will allow more immigrants who need work to support themselves. Some New York City residents are concerned that the new law would make communication between the driver and the customer even more difficult. Residents are also unsure how they would instruct a driver which route to take or precisely where they are headed. Also, what if payment issues arise? How will the drivers communicate? Perhaps technology is the answer. Before advances in technology, the conversation between driver and customer might go something like this: Driver: Where are you heading? Customer: I need to go to West 79th Street and Broadway. But I saw there was construction on the West Side Highway, so can you go up 10th Avenue? Driver: The traffic there is terrible. How about 8th and cut across on Broadway? Customer: Sure, but Im really in a hurry. Can you step on it? Driver: Okay, here you are. West 79th and Broadway. Thatll be $22.50. Customer: Heres $30. Do you have a five? Driver: Let me look. Customer: Never mind! Just keep the change. But these days most taxi drivers use automated payment systems. People pay the fare with their credit or debit cards. They can also use the machines to add a tip. Also, with the increased use of GPS and navigation apps, communication between drivers and riders has decreased. They really dont need to talk to each other. Many New Yorkers feel that as long as their driver can get them to their destination safely, conversation is not needed. Generally speaking, New Yorkers are not known for chit-chatting. Even hailing or flagging a taxi does not require speaking. Simply raise your arm and a taxi you hope will come. Im Anna Matteo. Esha Sarai wrote this story for VOA News in New York City. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________ Words in This Story taxicab n. an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled : also called simply taxi or cab dominate v. to be predominant in statistic n. a number that represents a piece of information (such as information about how often something is done, how common something is, etc.) precisely adv. exactly to head v. to go in a specified direction or toward a specified place step on it informal phrase : go faster, typically in a motor vehicle fare n. the money a person pays to travel on a bus, train, boat, or airplane or in credit card n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things that you agree to pay for later debit card n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things by having the money to pay for them taken directly from your bank account tip n. a gift or a sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated GPS n. abbreviation for global positioning satellite a radio system that uses signals from satellites to tell you where you are and to give you directions to other places navigation n. the act, activity, or process of finding the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc. app n. computers : a computer program that performs a special function chitchat n. friendly conversation about things that are not very important : v. to talk about things that are not very important destination n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent hail v. to greet or summon by calling flag v. to signal to stop "They face the same challenges that any immigrants face: a different language, a different culture. They have left behind the whole world that they know: their neighbors, their parents, their kids, their friends, their whole identity. And they came looking for the American dream, to learn - and in the end they only need a chance." Chef Ben Velasquez is talking about the students at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. He says that local governments in the U.S. must teach students at least to a high school level. But immigrants may come as adults. They may come from a country where they did not receive the same educational opportunities. So when immigrants come to the U.S., they may have a hard time finding work. If they don't speak English well, or if they lack job-specific skills, then employers may not want to hire them. Immigrants often find work in service industries like hotels, restaurants, and personal care. These workers do not need college degrees, but they must have job-specific skills and English language skills. Some U.S. public schools provide English language instruction and job-specific training to adult immigrants in separate adult education programs. One such school is Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. In 1998, the school became the first adult public charter school in the United States. Preparing to be a chef The Culinary Arts program has progressed beyond its simple beginnings. The founder of the Culinary Arts program is Emilia Rivera. When she started the program, she brought pots and pans from her house to teach her students how to make soups and stews. The school now has state of the art kitchens. The culinary arts program has three classes: Culinary Arts Fundamentals, International Cuisine, and Baking and Pastries. In the Culinary Arts Program, students first take a course called "Culinary Arts Fundamentals." This course has theoretical and hands-on elements. In the first semester, students learn the basic, fundamental areas of culinary arts. Students learn about the history of food, the names of kitchen tools and equipment, and the names of spices. They also learn knife skills and how to balance a meal. Balancing a meal means choosing the correct kind of protein, starch and vegetables for a meal. Students learn how to measure. The United States uses a different system of measurement than most countries in the world. Students learn how many fluid ounces are in a cup, in a quart, or in a gallon, among other measurements. Then, in the next six months, students begin to apply what they have learned. They learn how to make stocks and sauces; they learn how to make protein such as chicken, fish and meat. Teachers instruct students in mise en place, a French expression, which means how to prepare food before it is cooked. "how to peel, how to have everything ready. Cooking is easy, but peeling onions, chopping onions, slicing onions, dicing onions; preparing tomatoes for the next preparation, that is whats really time consuming. And in French that is called mise en place. So students learn." By the end of the first year, Chef Velazquez says, students are prepared to take a job as an entry-level chef in a restaurant. The second course in the culinary arts program, "International Cuisine", lasts five months. It focuses on the cuisines of different cultures around the world European, South American, and Asian. Chef Velazquez says that his students often have a weakness when they start school: they are not familiar with technology. Velazquez says that technology is one of the biggest barriers to students trying to reach their full potential. " learning is a process that doesn't really stop. We all learn new things every single solitary day. But I find out that technology is one of the biggest setbacks for them to really reach all of their potential." Because of this, the culinary arts program teaches students basic technology skills. Students learn to use common office applications. Now, even cooks have to be familiar with technology. Chefs order from produce providers on the computer and customers make reservations online. Restaurants depend on customer reviews and social media to promote their business. Certifications and connecting skills to jobs The school prepares students to take a test leading to national certification in safe food handling. The National Restaurant Association sponsors the certification, called ServSafe. Many health departments require the ServSafe certificate. Students who pass the test can work in kitchens in Washington DC, or in different states around the U.S. Students at Carlos Rosario can work for other certifications that show the job skills they have learned. One graduate has earned the Certified Executive Chef certification, the same as a Bachelor's Degree in cooking. The importance of community The element of support is critical to the school's mission. Chef Velazquez told a story about how the school substitutes for the friends and family members the student left behind. One day, around 2 o'clock, a student came to see Chef Velazquez. She asked him if she could stay at the school that afternoon. The other employees left the room, says Velazquez, and he closed the door. "Listen, the employees went to the cafeteria, tell me what happened. And she started crying, but she was happy, it was not sad, she was happy. And she said "you know what I just came from Baltimore I became a United States Citizen today. And I don't have any other place to go and celebrate." She feels that the school is her home. So, we both cried, you know, because, it was a very emotional moment. That tells you how these students feel this school is their home. We are their family. And I said "thank you very much for coming and sharing that information with us. Now, you can vote." Citizenship is another goal that students can reach with the help of the school. Classes meet regularly at Carlos Rosario to prepare students to take the examination for becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S. An upcoming article will tell the story of two students in the Culinary Arts program at Carlos Rosario. I'm Jill Robbins. John Russell reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story culinary adj. related to cooking state of the art adj. using or having the most modern methods, knowledge, or technology fundamental - adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something potential adj. possible, able to become real application n. a computer program, such as a word processing program reservation n. an informal agreement to be at a place like a restaurant at a certain time certification n. to receive an official document stating you have a skill or can do some kind of job What special training do you have? What would you like to learn? Write to us in the Comments Section New research found the longest living animal on Earth with a backbone is a shark. The research, published in Science magazine, found the Greenland shark is the longest living vertebrate or animal with a backbone-- in the world. The gray-colored sharks live in the cold waters of the Arctic and are named after Greenland, the worlds largest island. After examining one of these sharks, scientists decided it was born in the icy waters about 400 years ago, and only died recently. An international team of biologists and physicists was able to estimate the ages of 28 dead female Greenland sharks by studying the lenses of their eyes. It is a new way to learn the age of an animal. Eight of the sharks were probably 200 years old or more, and could even have been 300 years old. That would make them older than the bowhead whale, which earlier was believed to have been the oldest vertebrate at about 211 years old, according to the Associated Press. This also means Greenland sharks can live more than three times longer than humans. Many people these days can expect to live into their eighties. African elephants average about 70 years. The oldest of the Greenland sharks the scientists studied was nearly 5 meters long. It was thought to have been 392 years old when it was caught four years ago. But because the testing method is so new, it is not exact. The studys lead author is Julius Nielsen, a marine biologist from Denmark. He says the 392 number could be off by as much as 120 years in either direction. That means the shark was probably born sometime between the years 1500 and 1740, with 1620 being the most likely. "It's an estimate. It's not a determination," Nielsen said. "It is the best we can do." Even at the lowest age, the shark would have been 272 years old when it died, and still would be the longest-living animal with a backbone, Nielsen said. "I don't know why they get as old, but I hope someone will find out," Nielsen said. Christopher Lowe is director of the shark lab at California State University in Long Beach. He was not part of the study, but praised it. In an email to AP, Lowe wrote that he is not surprised that Greenland sharks live a long time. But, he said, "I'm really shocked by the magnitude of that longevity." Lowe said that when the water is deep and cold, that usually means fish can live a long time. Why? It could be because the cold water slows down an animals metabolismor the way it processes food into energy. While Greenland sharks are among the largest fish in the world, they only grow about one centimeter a year. That fact caught Nielsons attention and he decided to find a way to determine their age. To get the age estimates, Nielsen and his team used a complex system that combines chemical tests, mathematical models and growth measurements. The research also suggested the female Greenland sharks do not mate and have babies until they are about 150 years old. That may not be good news, because the Greenland sharks may not have many young. If too many are caught, the species could die out. The scientists worry that the sharks are being caught up and killed with other species by commercial fisheries. Some animals without backbones can live even longer. A clam, found in waters off Iceland, lived to be 507 years old. And scientists say some sponges are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. Im Anne Ball, and I'm Bryan Lynn. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Pete Heinlein was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story vertebrate n. animal with a backbone lens n. the clear part of the eye that focuses light to see images determination n. finding out or calculating something magnitude n. the size or importance of something longevity n. the length of life metabolism n. the process that a living thing makes food and water into energy Graham Kinchen had an emergency when a sandbag wall near his home began to fall apart. The wall was protecting his house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from the recent flooding. He let people know about his problem on Facebook and by telephone. Within five minutes, friends gathered to help rebuild the wall. The incident shows how neighbors have helped each other in response to the recent flooding in Baton Rouge and nearby communities. Baton Rouge is the capital of the southern state of Louisiana. Storms and flooding hit the area from August 8th to 14th. Thirteen people were killed and about 100,000 homes were damaged. Thousands of people are homeless. Many are staying in shelters or the homes of friends or family. Spirit of Cooperation We have seen a great spirit of cooperation, with neighbors, churches and friends pitching in, said Peter Kovacs, editor of The Advocate, the daily newspaper in Baton Rouge. Many of us have unexpected houseguests, and were making a great adventure of it. Kinchen and his wife, Denise, use a boat to get from their front door to the road. Sandbags have been keeping most of the flood waters out of their house. Louisiana has suffered severe flooding before. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 killed 1,833 people and heavily damaged or destroyed 300,000 homes. Many residents of New Orleans left their flooded homes behind and moved to other cities, including Baton Rouge. Eleven years later, many former New Orleans residents remain in Baton Rouge. Obama: Confident Rebuilding Will Move Forward Sometimes when these kinds of things happen, it can seem a little bit too much to bear, said President Barack Obama. Obama was in Baton Rouge Tuesday, noting that he had visited New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina when he was a U.S. senator. Obama said he is confident flooded communities in Baton Rouge and nearby communities will recover, just as many neighborhoods in New Orleans did after Hurricane Katrina. And the reason I can say that with confidence is because that's what Americans do in times like this, Obama said. I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are, and I know that you will rebuild again. By resilient, Obama means having the ability to overcome problems, no matter how tough. Dustin Clouatre is a member of the self-named Cajun Navy. It is a group of residents who use Facebook to organize private boat owners to rescue people and move food and other aid where it is needed. 'Love Is All You Need' He soon became popular on social media. Me and my uncle had just gotten a family out of a house and something got caught in the motor, he said. It was a sign that said, Love is All You Need. The photo quickly spread on social media. David Vitter is a Republican senator from Louisiana. He visited flooded communities with the president on Tuesday. Theres a spirit of helping folks and it really was in full display when the president visited the neighborhood, Vitter said. Vitter calls the rain that brought the floods a 1000-year event, meaning it has a one-in-1,000 chance of happening in any year. The Red Cross said it is the biggest natural disaster in the United States since Super Storm Sandy in 2012. Despite this, Vitter and others said the Louisiana disaster has not received much news coverage outside the state. Competition for News Coverage I think people are a little disaster weary, plus there are other competing stories, Vitter said. Both Vitter and Obama praised the willingness of people to help each other. They spoke to a young African-American man, who was helping his father clean out his flooded home. The man was also helping his dads elderly white neighbor, who lives alone. The work of removing flooded walls, floors and furniture is not easy. Kevin White has been working on flood relief for the past week in Saint Amant, Louisiana. He said the smells at the water-damaged houses are terrible. White is housing a family of four who were flooded out of their own home. He and the family spent the past few days tearing out walls and throwing out everything else damaged in his guests flooded house. The damaged things represent almost everything the family owned, he said. Im Bruce Alpert. Marissa Melton reported this story for VOA. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in this Story sandbag -- n. bag filled with sand and used as a weight or to build temporary walls to protect homes and businesses pitching in -- v. offering help houseguests -- n. people who are invited to stay at a persons house confident -- n. having a feeling or belief that people can do something well or succeed at something resilient -- adj. having the ability to overcome problems display -- n. put out so people can see it weary -- adv. tired, lacking interest because you have seen it often before furniture -- n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., that are used to make a room ready for use LEXINGTON, Neb. - The Lexington City Council dealt with a range of projects Tuesday at their regular meeting, perhaps chief among them a partnership in what Mayor John Fagot called the biggest solar energy project in the state of Nebraska. The council voted unanimously to enter into a power purchase agreement with Sol Systems, a solar energy company. Sol will build a five-megawatt capacity solar panel array on city-owned land north of the Greater Lexington addition. Fagot noted that the city isnt purchasing and wont maintain any of the equipment, and will retain ownership of the land. The city agreed to purchase all the power the array will generate at the rate of $0.065 per kilowatt hour. City Manager Joe Pepplitsch said the rate is higher than what the city currently pays for power, but the price is locked in for 25 years. We know that energy prices will go up in the coming years from Nebraska Public Power District, he said. Once we get past year five, we will start to see some large benefits to the community. He noted however that even running at full capacity the solar array will only generate a small fraction of the energy the city uses. This starts to get us in the realm of renewable energy, he said. Pepplitsch said the project will be up and running by May 2017, though he said it could come together more quickly than that. In other business: The council held a public hearing on a proposed Viaero Wireless cell phone tower to the north and west of Sandoz Elementary. A representative from Viaero said the tower will be approximately 50 feet tall and its purpose is to fill in some gaps in service for Viaero customers in Lexington. It will have a small footprint but will provide a solution to get service in buildings, he said. The tower will have a six-foot fence around it. The council voted to authorize the creation of conditional use permits documents and will consider the matter again at their next meeting. The council voted to award a $460,000 contract to GEA Mechanical for a de-watering centrifuge at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Pepplitsch said GEA will now bring their technology in to see if can handle the sludge on-site within reasonable parameters. The best case scenario is, one year from now well be putting this to use. It is badly needed, Pepplitsch said. Handling sludge the way we are now is problematic over the long term. Fagot said the centrifuge removes the water from waste so it can be caked, and dealt with more easily. We cant handle it the way we are now and continue to grow, Fagot said. The council approved plans for incubator space at the Dawson County Opportunity Center, and authorized the solicitations of bids for the project. The renovation will convert 3,500 square feet of unused space at the center into office space for fledgling businesses. The project is expected to cost $200,000, with a USDA grant covering half the cost. Pepplitsch said the goal is to have the incubator space operational by spring 2017. Once this project is completed, there will be 8,000 square feet of unused space at the Opportunity Center. Pepplitsch said this is an important step toward utilizing the entire building. LEXINGTON,Neb. - Dreams of becoming a lawyer and judge while a student at Indiana University did not pan out for Polly Deppen-Williams It turns out God had other plans for Polly Deppen-Williams, a West Virginia native who graduated high school in Indiana and got her undergraduate degree in History from IU. Having grown up in the Presbyterian Church, once Polly became involved in college ministry in a leadership role with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, she felt God pulling her, she said. "I had a gradual realization that God was calling me into ministry. When I realized I didn't want to go to law school, a friend asked me if I ever though about going into ministry," she said. Deppen-Williams, who graduated with a master of divinity degree in 1992 from a Georgia seminary, has served in numerous churches across the country. After the departure of Pastor Caroline Vickery last year from First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, the Rev. Polly Deppen-Williams was appointed as the interim pastor for the church in December of 2015. Vickery served as pastor for about 12 years. After seminary, Deppen-Williams served as a hospital chaplain at a pediatric children's hospital in Birmingham,Ala. "I call it ministry in the trenches. I was on the pediatric intensive care unit. Children handle death with such grace, it was hard dealing with the parents. They go through every gambit of emotion," Deppen-Williams said. She served as an associate pastor for five-and-a-half years in a church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh,Pa. "It was a good experience, I was a generalist. I did everything from giving sermons, helping with youth group, to working with older adults," she said. In 1999, she moved to Overland Park,Kan., where she worked as an associate pastor in a 3,000 member church. Her duties there were to serve as the associate pastor for family ministry, Deppen-Williams said. She lived in and served in Kansas for eight years before moving to Ormond Beach,Fla., to serve at a smaller church as the associate pastor. Her duties in Florida were to oversee adult ministry, adult education and fellowship, she said. In 2011, she moved to North Platte, where she accepted her first position as a solo pastor at First Presbyterian Church in North Platte. Deppen-Williams said she was fortunate to have gotten a taste of being a solo pastor while in Florida, where she was the only pastor on staff during a six-month period. This allowed her to assume the duties of a solo pastor, where she gave all the sermons and was involved in all ministry and service aspects of a church, she said. In March of 2012, Deppen-Williams tried online dating. She said she was blessed to meet her future husband, Matt Williams, who lives in Kearney, with the help of online dating. The couple married in May of 2013. For the first two years of her tenure at North Platte, she commuted more than 100 miles every four days to see her husband in Kearney. Matt works as the director of the Kearney Public Library, Deppen-Williams said. The couple have two daughters, Elizabeth, a freshman at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Caitlyn, a college senior. "I was always looking for an opportunity to live in Kearney or closer to Kearney. When Caroline left, I knew this chance was open and I submitted my name to be considered as an interim pastor," she said. Deppen-Williams was hired in December of 2015 for a one-year contract that ends this December, although she said the contract will most likely be extended. "I see him (Matt, husband) every day now. It's all part of God's timing," she said. Deppen-Williams has served as the interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church for eight months now. She said her role as interim pastor involves lots of planning. "As the interim pastor, my goal is to help them (the church) look back to their past and think about the present and prepare for their future so they can call for a new pastor," she said. There is an extensive process required for First Presbyterian Church in Lexington to navigate through to call or select a new pastor, Deppen-Williams said. Deppen-Williams said the process goes as follows: First, a church-wide survey is mailed out to the congregation (it can be done online too), then a selection committee is elected. Next a ministry information form, (like a church's resume) is made and matched up with pastor candidates. The selection committee then selects candidates to interview, with each candidate required to give a sermon at a neutral pulpit, such as a church in Kearney. Finally, the hiring has to be approved by the pastor, the church congregation and the Central Nebraska Presbytery. "The process allows us to listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance. I'll be there to support the committee as they do their search," Deppen-Williams said. "I think Lexington is a very attractive community, it's a great place to raise kids. I think it will be easy to find a candidate," she said. Deppen-Williams said she feels First Presbyterian Church in Lexington has a bright future. "The church has a growing number of kids. I think this church understands that traditional worship can be vibrant, the pipe organ is important. This church has a heart for this community," Deppen-Williams said. The church's heart for the needy was demonstrated this summer, when a group of 40 students from Indiana had their bus break down going east from Colorado. Polly said the church did not hesitate and quickly agreed to open its doors to provide a place to sleep for the stranded travelers. "This church is very open to others, she said. She's witty and has an opinion on all things under the sun be it the Brexit, or homosexuality. Pammi Aunty is difficult to miss. Even Rishi Kapoor loves Pammi Aunty. The veteran actor tweeted his love for the new Punjabi sensation when he discovered her videos in July this year. This guy is amazing. He is Pammi Aunty! Anyone know about him or his whereabouts? Am told he is all over the net pic.twitter.com/q9i9MLl7PN Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) July 10, 2016 Ssumier Pasricha, the 36-year-old Shah Rukh Khan lookalike, actor and photographer is the face and brains behind Pammi Aunty. Just Fooling Around The actor told us how he came up with the idea of Pammi Aunty: Whilst exploring Snapchat with his nephew, he came across a filter that he really liked. The Snapchat filter, combined with his knowledge of growing up in a Punjabi household, gave him the idea of the know-it-all busybody. Ssumier's first video, that went up on 14 May 2016, went viral as soon as it was posted. Telling us about how he films the Pammi Aunty videos, Ssumier says, "I just put on the towel and the hair rollers and transform into Pammi Aunty. The format is of course, unscripted. As soon as we start writing scripts for Pammi Aunty's character, the charm will be lost." Heres the first video that Pammi Aunty posted: Since then, Pammi Aunty has talked about various issues. Teaming up with Agents of Ishq, Pammi Aunty has given her expert opinion on Tinder and homosexuality. Pasricha told us how this collaboration came about, "Paromita Vohra, who is behind Agents of Ishq, wanted me to address a few topics from Pammi Aunty's point of view. So we have Pammi Aunty talking about Tinder from a middle-aged lady's perspective. We always have men commenting on the women on Tinder, but this was different, Pammi Aunty was giving her opinion on which men are worth dating." The actor tells us the dialogues and ideas are instantaneous. "It's all impromptu," he says. Following your dreams Ssumier always wanted to be an actor. Even at the age of 10, he was sure about his ambitions and joined a local theater group to explore his talent. This fondness for acting grew with age. After studying in Australia and convincing his parents that he was really passionate about pursing acting and didnt want to run the family business, he moved to Mumbai to join the big bad world of acting. He tells us about his experience of doing 'musical theater', of working in Sherkhar Kapur's play Mahim Junction for which he toured the world for two years. "We used a lot of Bollywood songs from the 1960s, and the play was a mix of Hindi and English. I played the lead, an NRI Muslim who comes to a chawl in Mahim and falls in love with a Hindu girl. There were many dynamics at play here the Hindu-Muslim love story, the political equation of a Muslim NRI coming to a community dominated by Hindus and the language dynamic I was the English-speaking NRI who was thrown into situations with people from the Mahim Chawl who used to converse in Hindi." Pasricha has also been a part of theater musicals like Jesus Christ Super Star and Heart to Heart. Then there was a stint in the telly series Sasural Simar Ka where he essayed the role of Shailendra Bharadwaj for three years. He says, I had exhausted all creative resources in three years and decided to quit, to do something more creatively stimulating. The story behind the extra 'S' It was 2008, and Pasricha was just starting to dabble in professional theater along with handling his father's business enterprises. It was an encounter with a numerologist that changed his life. A numerologist, who knew nothing about Pasricha's love for acting asked him, Movie kab sign kar raha hai?. He was surprised when she told him that an extra S in his first name would launch his film career. And it did. He signed a film deal, which ended up as a flop, but still he got his start in Bollywood. Pasricha also told us that other than being passionate about theater and acting, he is also a photographer who contributes to magazines like National Geographic for fashion and travel shoots. What about Pammi Aunty though? Will we be listening in to more of Pammi Aunty's conversations with her best friend Sarla Behenji? What's on the horizon? Yes, you will see a lot more of Pammi Aunty. I cant tell (too much) you right now, but theres lot more of Pammi Aunty coming your way, with that, the actor signs off. Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck the right note when he asked his collegues to focus on the implementation of the already taken decisions by the government at a meeting with the council of ministers. Separately, speaking at the first Transforming India Lecture organised by the NITI Aayog, the PM outlined his vision for economic development through rapid transformation, not incremental progress. A metamorphosis is needed, the PM said. Ambitious, one must say, is Modi, who has a hard task mangers approach to the development agenda. After the meeting with ministers, he asked them to do follow-up meetings to ensure implementation of what has been discussed. In fact, this isnt the first time PM Modi shows his urgency on the implementation-front. Two months back, the PM had done a review meeting of his various ministries. The sense of urgency being shown on the implementation of decisions taken and schemes announced is very much warranted as his government enters the crucial third year of its term. Especially when it comes to repairing the sick economy, there isnt much time left since the last year of the government is typically busy in planning general elections. Even the next year is a busy year as crucial state polls are due. The passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a major step to make investment climate positive. But, as Firstpost highlighted earlier, two key areas land and labor reforms remain two major bottlenecks for the companies that wish to set up factories in India. This is something Singapore deputy PM, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, highlighted in the NITI Aayog lecture, who said key challenges for investments in India lies in hurdles in land and labour areas, especially in the context of Make in India. This is something experts too have argued in the past. After Modi let the land Bill lapse in August 2015 following protests from trade unions and farmer bodies, the Centre has largely let the issue of land acquisition to states. But, that isnt enough. The Centre has to make sure easier land acquisition happen by reintroducing the land Bill when numbers turn favourable in the Upper House or pushing states separately. Similarly, revamping archaic labor laws too is a big challenge, where the NDA government hasnt made much progress yet. Modi, who endorsed labour reforms in his earlier avatar as Gujarat chief minister, hasnt managed to overhaul the complex labor laws. Almost two-thirds of Indian workers arent protected by any laws and are outside the organised structure. The Modi government has to address the issue to deal with the emerging workforce and improve ease of doing business negotiating with the countrys powerful trade unions, including the right wing unions. Labour laws in India are mostly archaic, said Anshul Prakash, associate partner at Khaitan & Co. in August to Firstpost. In fact, there are some signs of early revival in the investment intentions of companies in the first half of this year. A report recently released by Care rating agency, which cited government data, suggested that investment intention has seen slight uptick during the first half of calendar 2016 with number of investment proposals increasing both in terms of value and number of proposals. But, it is too early to conclude that investment cycle has turned the corner, the agency noted. The report also noted that dropped projects in the January-June period in 2016 were lower at Rs 5.21 lakh crore as against Rs 7.05 lakh crore during the same period last calendar, citing data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). This is another encouraging sign. With GST happening and banking sector reforms too underway, a major push from the central government on the implementation part could help continue with the early momentum seen in investment revival, according to economists. In this context, PM Modis efforts to sensitize his ministers on the implementation part by following up on decisions taken already make immense sense. Lashkar against Jaish! Who would have thought of it. No, the two most radicalised Pakistan-based, anti-India Jihadi groups are not engaged in an open battle with each other. But so intense is the infiltration of militants from various groups into India, that the two terror-sponsoring organisations have, during the past few weeks, been trying to elbow each other out of certain infiltration tracks leading into Kashmir. The best reputed guides on these tracks are in high demand, on each side; their rates must surely have increased. The latest infiltration bid was reported on Thursday afternoon, but such attempts have been frequent. The Army has sometimes combated three or more attempts simultaneously, at different points of the Line of Control. But this is the first time in several years that they have faced this level of challenge or from such a variety of militant groups. The most notable of the groups that is back in action is Jaish-e-Mohammed. Its militants have not been seen for several years now. The group was very active around 2001, but has been largely under wraps since President Musharraf acted to suppress it in 2002, after India amassed troops on the border. The group is even more radicalised than Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is run by Hafiz Sayeed. Jaish-e-Mohammed was founded by the similarly high-profiled Masood Azhar, who was released to the Taliban on the last day of 1999, along with two other prisoners, in exchange for the passengers of IC814 the Indian Airlines aircraft that was hijacked to Kandahar, during a scheduled flight from Kathmandu. A ranking army officer confirms that both the terrorist groups have pushed in a large numbers of militants through established infiltration routes this summer. Not only that, the ingress continued through last winter. There was even a bid in December last, and more in February. The officer adds that Jaish has been trying to take control of some of the routes that Lashkar has used for the past few years. Thats not all. He says that other groups that have been inactive for several years now, have been sending in militants. Al Badr being one such group, for example. The Pakistan Army deployed along the Line of Control has given them cover fire. There was, for instance, an intense attack on the BSFs Roshni post, a few months ago. Demonstrations give a cover for infiltration A former chief commander of a militant group, based in a village not far from the Line of Control, highlights another dimension of this trend: an extraordinary number of militants have infiltrated under the cover of the upsurge of demonstrations, stone-pelting and barricades by youth, over the past couple of months. His assertions carry weight, for he once headed a group that became Kashmirs biggest for a while in the early 1990s. The upsurge of public anger in 2010, however, had not become a cover for infiltration. The Pakistan Army was preoccupied at the time with suppressing anti-Pakistan militancy on their north-western borders. However, there is a precedent for disturbed conditions elsewhere being used as a cover for large-scale infiltration. When army battalions posted across the Valley were hurriedly shifted to Kargil, to fight back the intruders there during the summer of 1999, security in the Valley had been left largely to the CRPF. Pakistan had used the opportunity to inject a large number of militants. That resulted in a couple of years of the most lethal proxy war waged in Kashmir since 1947-48. The phase began with a dramatic suicide attack at the main gate of Srinagars cantonment in December 1999. That was two months after General Musharraf usurped political power through a coup on 12 October, following a few months of friction between him and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after the Kargil war. That lethal period of proxy war, which included frequent suicide attacks, continued for a couple of years. It only ended after India massed troops on the border in late December 2001. Masood Azhar, a ferocious rhetorician, had undertaken a virulent anti-India campaign across Pakistan not very long after the Kandahar hijack drama, at the close of 1999. His public meetings drew vast, enthusiastic audiences, from which he recruited cadres for Jaish-e-Mohammed. The ISI later sidelined Jaish, promoting Lashkar as its chief militant protege. It seems ironic that another phase of major infiltration under cover of a diversion elsewhere in the state has brought Jaish and other long-dormant militant jihadist outfits to the fore again. Interesting times lie ahead. Srinagar: In an unusual move, ruling PDP on Saturday appealed to hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to give a chance to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to address the grievances of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In a passionate appeal, the PDP said the separatist leader "must think of Mehbooba as his daughter, who also happens to be the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to lead our state". "She is not the conventional politician that we deal with most of the times. In case, she does not bring about a change, she will be the first to own up and make way. "I appeal to Geelani Sahab to give her a chance, she understands the pain and pulse of the people as she has risen from the grass roots," PDP chief spokesman and former Lok Sabha member Mehboob Beg said in a statement. He appealed to Geelani, who heads the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, to cooperate in this regard and give Mehbooba the opportunity that "she deserves". Beg hailed Mehbooba's statement wherein she appealed to the protesters to give her a chance and said "it is only fair that she is given a chance, it is not that she is asking for the moon. "We must give her a chance to address our grievances as we have done with leaders in the past. She is merely seeking a chance and an opportunity to perform and address the problems faced by the people, we must give her that chance and then judge her," the statement said. Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Saturday detained as he tried to defy house arrest to march towards the headquarters of the Army at Badamibagh here as part of the proposed protest programme of the separatists. He was taken into preventive custody outside his Hyderpora residence this afternoon, a police official said. The Hurriyat hawk was taken to Humhama police station and lodged there, he said. Geelani was on his way towards Badamibagh for handing over a letter to General officer Commanding of the Army asking the forces to "vacate Jammu and Kashmir". On Friday, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who tried to take out a march along with his supporters from his Nigeen residence, was also taken into custody and later shifted to Chashma Shahi Guest House. The separatist camp, including both factions of the Hurriyat and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, has been issuing protest calenders after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani on July 8, and urging people to follow its proposed programme. So far 68 people have died in clashes between protestors and security forces as Kashmir Valley continues to remain in the grip of shutdowns and curfew for the 49th consecutive day. New Delhi: A meeting of BJP chief ministers and deputy chief ministers in which the party top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will address them on the agenda of good governance and pro-poor measures got underway in News Delhi on Saturday. BJP chief Amit Shah inaugurated the meeting, which will be addressed by Modi later in the evening. Party sources have said better coordination between the organisation and government, besides a stronger emphasis on "pro-poor" and developmental works is at the centre of the exercise. The chief ministers are expected to speak about their government's programmes aimed at executing the agenda. The meeting comes in the wake of a day-long workshop of the party's core committee leaders of states on Tuesday in which Modi pitched for reaching out to all sections of society, especially the poor, while Shah underlined the need for expanding the organisation and greater coordination. Modi had said that when the party is in power, then the aim should be to win over the masses with the government's work. The PM had also cautioned party leaders against some elements trying to divert their attention from the developmental agenda, in an apparent reference to several controversies stalking the party. Do you remember a regular day of your life when you were eight or nine years old? I dont remember a great deal, but I can tell you this it wasnt much to write home about. For most of us, a day started early in the morning, with us still trying to rub the sleep off our eyes while waiting for the school bus, followed by our teachers telling us about many wonderful things in the world in which we had no interest. After-school hours were largely made of stubborn refusal to take our afternoon nap, rush to the colony playground, then some more refusal to Do your homework, Finish your food and Go to bed. But a nine-year-old Babar Ali was something else. Babar would listen to his teachers with wondrous eyes grasping as much knowledge as he could, and rush back home to impart it to the other children in his village who didnt go to school. "I used to come back from school and see my siblings and other children of village playing around, doing nothing. I didn't like that. So I just made them sit around me and started telling them whatever I learned that day," Babar recalls, talking about how his school started in the backyard of his family hut. It was not as though Babar belonged to a well-to-do family. He comes from the same impoverished sections of the society where children cannot afford to go to school because their parents don't have the money to buy uniforms or books; or because they need to work as child labourers so their younger siblings can survive; girls don't go to school because it is too far from home and the roads are not safe and so on. Babar is the first person in his family to get a formal education. And the heart warming story is that it (the learning) didn't end with him, it was the beginning. At the tender age of nine, Babar Ali had the heart, the vision and the dedication to bring education to hundreds of children in his village. By the time he was 16, he was running a full school and was declared the Youngest Headmaster in The World by BBC and awarded a TED Fellowship. Today, the school provides education to around 300 students per day from Classes One to Eight. Babar has also roped in his whole family in the school's activities. His younger sister who was one of his first students (she didn't go to school because of the distance) is now studying for her Bachelors degree and teaches in the school. All the other teaching staff are also ex-students of Babar. Not only his family, Babar's contagious enthusiasm for knowledge has caught on with the whole community. Dulu mashi, the only non-teaching staff, is a fish seller. She would curiously visit Babar's school and inquire what's going on with all these children. Today she is the caretaker and time keeper of the school. In November 2009, I was attending the TED India conference as a TED Fellow. Within hours of the BBC article going live, which named Babar as the youngest headmaster in the world, the TED team had almost airlifted the introverted 16-year-old and dropped him at the conference. Tom Rielly, Fellows director, introduced me to Babar and assigned me the task of helping him figure out things. Inspired by his story, in 2013, I made a casual trip to his village Bhabta, on my way to Murshidabad for my SWBT trip. I received overwhelming hospitality from Babar's family and came back with a lifetime of experiences. Babar had by then been featured on Aamir Khan's TV series Satyamev Jayate. A photo of Babar with Aamir Khan was proudly displayed at the crumbling door to his tiny office. A volunteer teaching staff of the school made the children stand in queue for the morning prayer. Classes started soon after children enthusiastically studying under a tin roof with no electricity, even as it rained incessantly outside, girls outnumbering the boys. Dulu Mashi came and rang the bell. Babar started taking the classes along with 2-3 other volunteer teaching staff. He also requested me to conduct a few lessons. I remembered how excited the kids were to have a didimoni from the city. Attendance was a low because of the rains, but students kept tricking in slowly. Some of the girls carried their younger siblings in their lap. When their mothers are off to work as agricultural labourers, these girls stay home to take care of the younger ones. This explains why they do not go to a school which is far off. With Babar's efforts they now get education close to their home. Babar strongly feels for women's education, and is proud that there are more girls in his school than boys. "Today, girls are ready to outshine the boys in every field, and only by enabling them to excel will the nation develop," he said. As of the date of publishing this piece, Babar has received support from the government, the school has been recognised as an unaided school up to Class Eight, the makeshift tin roof has been replaced by a permanent building and some land has been granted for further construction. But a lot remains to be done. The school does not charge any tuition fees from the student and as such, is not able to pay any salary to its staff. One wonders then whether or not the efforts are sustainable. Apart from monetary support, in the remote area of Bhabta, Babar needs sound administrative support, documentation work, teaching staff, connectivity and much more. There are many models of success. A young student walked miles from his remote village to the nearest school and he kept walking, to high school in the city, to the state university in the capital, and finally to the elite universities in a first world country. This student walked the distance and then turned around, to go back where he came from, to share knowledge and opportunities with younger ones. If you wish to follow him, go ahead and spend a few days at Babar's and share your knowledge with the children. For more details, visit: Ananda Siksha Niketan Vill + P.O. Bhabata, P.S. Beldanga, Dist. Murshidabad, Pincode - 742134, West Bengal +91 9007100960 babaraliheadmaster.com All photos are sole property of Sanjukta Basu. More photos from the series are here. Some of these photographs are licensed to various national and international publishers namely, Annick Press Childrens Book Canada; Sanoma Utbildning Sweden; Terra Green Magazine, TERI Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to end the impasse in Kashmir. The situation in Kashmir has turned so grim that political parties such as the ruling PDP and Opposition National Conference as well as organisations such as Hurriyat have lost ground and eventually, the government will not be able to find anyone to talk to restore peace, Owaisi told reporters in Hyderabad. "There is curfew going on for the past 50 days. People are getting killed in Kashmir. Even security personnel died. I went through the interviews of some of the experts. PDP and NC have lost their political ground. RAW chief said South Kashmir has become a limited zone. This is a very serious situation. "Hurriyat has lost ground there. Then who should we initiate a dialogue with? We are entering the domain of uncertainty. So the government must initiate a dialogue," the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad said. Replying to query, he said though the separatists have been kept under house arrest, the government knows the ways and means to initiate a dialogue. He also warned that as political parties lose their space there, the separatists are also losing (himmat) courage and hence, the situation is becoming serious. To a question, he said the NDA government is facing many challenges including job creation and maintaining communal harmony in the country. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti too sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan. So far, 68 people have died in protests that started from July 8 after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on 8 July. Washington: Donald Trump's personal doctor, who gave the Republican presidential candidate a glowing health report, told NBC News Friday that he penned that note in five minutes as Trump's car waited. "I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy," physician Harold Bornstein of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital said. "In the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant." Bornstein did say he stands by the original bill of health he gave Trump, who at age 70 16 months older than Clinton would be the oldest person to assume the presidency if elected. "His health is excellent, especially his mental health," the doctor said with a laugh. "He thinks he's the best, which works out just fine." In the one-page statement, the doctor highlighted Trump's 15-pound weight loss last year and lab results Bornstein called "astonishingly excellent." "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Bornstein wrote in the original statement. The doctor said Friday he does not always write medical notes with such enthusiasm: "I think I picked up his kind of language and then I just interpreted it to my own." The medical statuses of both Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have gained increased attention recently, as the Trump campaign raises suspicions that Clinton is not physically or mentally fit enough to serve as president. "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Trump tweeted recently. On another occasion, the Republican candidate told voters in Iowa that Clinton was "not strong enough to be president." Team Clinton vehemently denies any health concerns, and released a letter from her doctor in July 2015 giving her an "excellent" bill of health. Amatrice: Hopes were fading on Saturday of finding more survivors under the rubble of the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which has already claimed at least 281 lives. The first funerals for victims of the devastating quake that hit the mountainous region this week were held on Friday as the country prepared for an emotionally charged day of mourning. Flags will fly at half-mast across the country on Saturday in respect for the victims of a disaster that killed at least 281 lives and left another 388 injured, according to an updated official toll. The Civil Protection agency's emergency unit said no new survivors were found on Friday in the remote mountain villages blitzed by Wednesday's powerful pre-dawn quake. At least 388 people have been hospitalised with injuries. No one has been pulled alive from the piles of collapsed masonry since Wednesday evening. "We will go on searching and digging until we are certain there is no one left," said Luigi D'Angelo, a Civil Protection officer working in the town of Amatrice, where the death toll stands at 221. Forestry police officer Valerio Checchi said he expected rescuers to shortly start using mechanical diggers to move debris in a sign virtually all hope of finding survivors has gone. "We will still use thermal devices that can detect the presence of human bodies." said Checchi. At least eight foreigners were among the dead, according to updates from foreign ministries. Britain's foreign office on Friday confirmed that a British couple in their 50s had been killed in the quake as well as a 14-year-old boy, and Romania said two of its nationals, who were living in Italy, had also died. Spain, Canada and El Salvador each said that one of their citizens had perished. As powerful aftershocks closed winding mountain roads and made life dangerous for more than 4,000 professionals and volunteers engaged in the rescue effort, survivors voiced dazed bewilderment over the scale of the disaster that struck their sleepy communities. "I have been through earthquakes before, but this was not a quake, it was an apocalypse," said Anacleto Perotti, 66. Washington: Pakistani forces are engaged in a "tsunami of human rights violations" in Balochistan, a top Baloch leader alleged today as he sought the help of the international community including India in the Baloch nationalist movement. Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party and the grandson of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed in an encounter with the Pakistani army 10 years ago, also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently raising concern over the situation in Balochistan. "Pak forces are engaged in tsunami of human rights violations. We do not want to live with Pakistan anymore," said Switzerland-based Bugti as he demanded a referendum of Baloch people under the supervision of the United Nations. Speaking over phone from Switzerland where he had gone for a commemorative event to pay homage to his grandfather, Bugti urged the international community, including the US, Nato countries, Israel and India, to help them fight their cause including political and military. He said he is ready for a dialogue with the Pakistani government but insisted that there is no going back on freedom movement. Balochistan, of the size of France, is Pakistan's largest province which has been under 'illegal Pakistani occupation for the last seven decades', he said. Bugti said Modi's recent remarks during his Independence Day is the "most powerful statement" in the last seven decades. "It is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has spoken. We believe that India should have taken this step a long time ago," he said, adding that he is convinced about Balochistan freedom. "I am thoroughly indebted to Prime Minister Modi. I thank Prime Minister Modi for speaking raising the voice of Baloch people in his Independence Day address," he said and alleged that Pakistani crime against people are a shocker to the global community. Use of aerial bombardment, use of gases have become routine, he claimed and added that Balochistan is the world capital of missing people. "We are political people. We want to solve this with peaceful means. But there is no way we are going to be part of the Pakistan any more. We want freedom of Pakistan. We are not fools to try our luck again and again with Pakistan. We are ready to negotiate through peaceful means," Bugti said. Stating that his immediate course of action would be to create awareness in the international community, Bugti, at the same time, also called for military assistance to the Baloch freedom struggle. "So far we have never received any support from any international countries including India. We want to request India and other countries to help Balochistan. It is genocide of (the) Baloch (people) in Pakistan going on," he said. London: A British Army bomb disposal team was called in to a site in Birmingham where five men were arrested on terror charges. The five men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, West Midlands Police said. "The arrests were intelligence-led and part of an ongoing investigation," a police spokesperson said. "Police are searching a number of properties in the Stoke and Birmingham areas as part of the investigation; these searches are on-going, he added. Police say that, as a result of one of the arrests, an army bomb disposal team has been called in as "a precautionary measure". West Midlands fire service tweeted: "Fire crews have been supporting police colleagues with an ongoing operation in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham." Police raided three homes in Birmingham and made two linked arrests in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested at their homes in Birmingham and a 28-year-old man was detained in a different area of the city. Another two men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested in Stoke. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Twin First United Methodist gathering school supplies TWIN FALLS First United Methodist Church is gathering school supplies for students at Harrison Elementary School, where a majority of students live below the poverty level and are unable to purchase the required supplies. Teachers also need boxes of tissues, bottles of hand sanitizers and containers of disinfectant wipes to clean desks. Donations are needed before Sept. 11. Movie time with the Rev. Mike Hollloman will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Church, 360 Shoshone St. E. The public is invited to watch The Martian, starring actor Matt Damon, an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars after his team assumes that he is dead. He must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to earth that he is alive. Pocatello pastor to visit Hollister church HOLLISTER The Hollister Community Presbyterian Church, 2461 Central Ave., will observe the Holy Sacrament of Communion at 11 a.m. Sunday during worship service. The Rev. Janne Goldbeck from Pocatello will be the special guest speaker. There will be a session meeting following the church service. Visitors are welcomed and invited to attend. There will be no church service Sept. 4. For more information, call Linda at 208-733-9183. Sunday marks final push for school supply donations TWIN FALLS Ascension Episcopal Church has been gathering donations of school supplies for all grades in the Twin Falls School District. Donated items will be blessed at worship services this Sunday and then provided to the school district office to distribute to students with the greatest need. Services of Holy Communion will be held at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday morning, with the Rev. Neal Collins celebrating. Nursery care is not available; children are welcome at worship services with their parents. A fellowship coffee hour will be held after the 10 a.m. worship service. Ascension Cafe, the adult discussion group, meets from 9:15 to 10 am, discussing the scriptural readings of the day. Youth Sunday school is on summer break. Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and at 371 Eastland Drive N. in Twin Falls. For more information, go to episcopaltwinfalls.org. Volunteers sought for soup kitchen JEROME The last day to register for the Jerome Presbyterian Churchs annual family camp is Aug. 28. The camp will take place Sept. 2, through Sept. 4, at Camp Sawtooth, located mile miles north of Ketchum. Guest speaker will be Pete Santucci of Bend, Ore. Santucci will address the camp theme, Bearing Together Carrying Each Others Burdens! The cost is $250 per family, $200 per couple, $150 per individual or $40 for day campers Saturday. For more information, call John at 208-539-0068 or Linda at 208-324-7162. Regular worship will be held at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 4 with the Rev. Dale Metzger. On Monday, members will assist with the Community Soup Kitchen held at the Catholic Church in Jerome. If you can help, please be there at 4 p.m. The meal is served at 5 p.m. For more information, call 208-324-3202. Filer Methodist Church to host conference FILER The Filer Methodist Church will host the Magic Valley Ministries Charge Conference at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6. It will be the first meeting the churches will have with the Rev. Gwen Drake, the new district superintendent. The regular quarterly MVM Leadership Meeting will follow the charge conference and all members are invited to attend both of these important events. The church is at 318 Union St. in Filer. Magic Valley Methodist churches will welcome new members and celebrate baptism at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11. For more information, call the Rev. Mike Holloman at 208-539-1515, the Rev. Elaine Steele at 541-217-0691, the Rev. Penny Hodges at 208-308-0609 or the church office at 208-733-5872. Jerome United Methodist Women to start new programs JEROME The United Methodist Women at Jerome will start a new year of programs Sept. 8, at 209 S. Buchanan. All ladies are welcome and do not have to be members of the church. Dessert will be served at 12:30 p.m. followed by fellowship time. For more information, call president Jane Nellis at 208-324-3202. Expresso Readers have new books and will meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 13 at 810 E. Ave. C in Jerome. For more information, call 208-324-4185. Sunday School starts at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 under the leadership of Bill Merritt. Coffee hour and fellowship starts at 11 a.m., followed by church service at 11:30 a.m. Unitarians to discuss the underlying nature of reality TWIN FALLS Metaphysics is a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality. While there are many opinions and scant consensus as to what is truth, the idea that a human being is an energy field, operating within a larger energy field is worthy of consideration. Does human consciousness affect the unfolding of reality and to what degree? Is there a creative force in this Universe of which we are a part? How might we experiment with these ideas and use what we discover to create a better life for ourselves and those around us? Unitarian Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. Unitarian Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another. Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building. Child care is available. The Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Vendor Blender and Event Center, 588 Addison Avenue West, in Twin Falls. Public invited to Roman Catholic faith classes RUPERT St. Nicholas Catholic Church will begin classes in September for those interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic faith. All adults are invited to the Thursday classes starting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the St. Nicholas Rectory, 802 F St., in Rupert. For more information, call Monica Jones at 208-436-3781 ext. 112. Southern gospel concert scheduled at Paul church PAUL The Craguns will perform a southern gospel concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Hope Community Church, 25 N. Fourth E., in Paul. There will be a freewill offering. Adams Road to visit Heyburn HEYBURN Adams Road will hold a presentation at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at New Life Assembly of God, 254 S. Highway 24, in Heyburn. This event is free and open to the public. Adams Road was formed in 2006 and has since ministered and performed music across the United States. Members of Adams Road are born-again Christians. They follow the Bible as their only source of Truth, and everything they teach and believe has to go through the prophetic process outlined in the Bible. They have come to understand that salvation comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by His Grace through faith, and not through any religion or organization. They give out free music CDs to all who attend. There will be an opportunity to visit with them after the concert. For more information, call New Life Assembly at 208-434-2004. To submit information about church events and news. Contact Matt Gooch at mgooch@magicvalley.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for publication on the Saturday religion page. Please insert Church News in the email subject line. TWIN FALLS The Rev. Michael Habib walked through the hallways of an empty building Monday. In one large room, tiles from the ceiling were missing and a cartoon giraffe was pasted on one of the walls. In another room, he was greeted by colorful blocks and circles decorating the walls. It didnt look like a place of worship now, but in a few months, this building would be the new home of St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church. Its the size we need, Habib said. It fits our needs for the future. The churchs plan has always been to build a new building on their old property at 1830 Addison Ave. E. in Twin Falls. In late May 2014, St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church bought a nearby half-acre that may become the site of its new building. The church tore down an old house and trees on the land. The idea was to use this land to expand. Then congregation member Pam Nelson happened upon a property in April at 181 Morrison St. that was for sale. A group of congregation members were sent to check out the property and reported back to Habib what they thought. All they reported back to me was how huge this building was, Habib said. We started doing research and it became really appealing. On Monday, crews were inside the 15,000-square-foot building working on its heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The building was vacant for two years and over the years was home to Agape Christian School and Childcare and New Hope Christian Fellowship. The words Welcome to New Hope Church were still on the wall next to the entrance. Antiochs former property on Addison is up for sale and the church plans to have their new worship hall finished in October. His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, is planning to visit Twin Falls in October to baptize Habibs second child that is due in October. Renovations are estimated to cost $300,000. The worship space is considered the first phase and the rest of the building is the second phase. The new property also features 4-acres of land that has some dead trees that need to be cut down. The rest of it is face lifts like new carpeting, flooring and painting, Habib said. Cosmetic stuff. Church member Kurt Hefner, who will be ordained a deacon in December, was one of the congregation members who first toured the building. He welcomes the move as an opportunity to reach potential church members. Sometimes Sunday services are so full there is no place to sit or stand. When a room is packed full of people, Hefner said, it can be a bit intimidating, especially if you are a new person. Ive seen that look on peoples faces, Kurt said. You feel out of place. It is time for us to grow, but I dont think well grow in this current facility. St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church was established in 1992. The building was converted from a real estate office into a church. Sunday services draw between 50 to 60 people and has experienced an increase in refugee church members. The Perrine Coulee flows through the churchs old property on Addison Avenue and with a 30-foot easement on their side of it, it didnt leave them with a whole lot of options for growth. It was an issue, Habib said. Now its not an issue. The new building will also feature a room that will double as a nursery room and bridal room. Habib will finally have his own office. The old office is both the pastor and church office. There will be more room for weddings and funerals. Some funerals have been so large that people had to stand outside. Theres potential for childrens classrooms and seminars. At one time, the church rented a room in the building they purchased to hold seminars because their space was too small. The new building offers more privacy the old church is close to Addison Avenue and parking space. People often parked on the dirt lot adjacent to the churchs property. Mary Lou Panatopoulos has been a member since the churchs inception in 1992. Panatopoulos was baptized in the church eight years ago. She reminisced with Hefner and Habib Wednesday at the property on Addison Avenue. We love this little church, its a beautiful place to worship, Panatopoulos said. Its a little wistful to leave this church. Its been our home so long. Weve definitely outgrown this place. HANSEN An Eden man charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence waived his preliminary hearing Friday and will be bound over to district court. Jody Dee Neaderhiser, 51, is accused of running a stop sign while driving drunk on Memorial Day, causing a crash that killed his passenger and longtime girlfriend, 51-year-old Evette Phillips. Prosecutors say Neaderhisers blood alcohol level was 0.259 more than three times the legal limit to drive in Idaho when he caused the crash about 10 p.m. May 30 south of the Hansen Bridge at Idaho Highway 50 and 3800 East. After an extensive investigation that included a crash reconstruction, investigators determined Neaderhiser, who was northbound on 3800 East in a Ford F150, ran the stop sign at Idaho 50 and was hit by a Dodge 2500 pickup driving west on the highway. Neaderhiser was originally charged only with vehicular manslaughter, but prosecutors filed an additional charge last week of aggravated driving under the influence. In the new count, hes accused of causing great bodily harm to the passenger in the other vehicle, 21-year-old Trell Dowd. Magistrate Judge Roger Harris accepted Neaderhisers waiver and bound him over to be arraigned in district court. An arraignment date has not been set for Neaderhiser, whos being held in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond. TWIN FALLS A Salt Lake City man in custody on $100 million bond will undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if hes able to assist his defense counsel and understand the proceedings against him. Mulugeta Zemu Mana, 32, is charged with a felony count of battery with intent to commit a serious felony. Hes accused of attempting to stab Samuel Gebreegziabher in an unprovoked attack last month outside a Twin Falls home. Gebreegziabhers hand was cut in the struggle. During a hostile initial appearance July 29, Mana declined the help of a public defender, and when prosecutors asked that he be held on $1 million bond, Mana said he didnt care and the judge can even make it $100 million. Judge Michael Redman quickly accommodated Mana, setting the sky-high bond at the defendants request. During a calmer second appearance, Mana accepted the help of a court-appointed public defender. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday, but instead, Chief Public Defender Ben Andersen informed the court he was seeking a mental-competency evaluation for his client. Youve met with Mr. Mana and you believe that he is in need of observation to determine whether hes fit to proceed? Magistrate Judge Roger Harris asked Andersen. The attorney answered affirmatively before Harris again questioned him. Is your representation, Mr. Andersen, that in your mind hes not fit to proceed here today? Harris asked. Thats correct, your honor, Andersen said. Satisfied with the responses, Harris ordered the evaluation. On the day of the alleged attack, Gebreegziabher said he knew Mana because the two came to the United States as refugees at the same time. But he said the alleged stabbing was unprovoked and he hadnt seen Mana in more than three years. Mana told police he came back to Twin Falls from Salt Lake City specifically to kill Gebreegziabher and two others, whom he accused of ruining his life. A status hearing to review the results of the mental-competency evaluation is set for Sep. 14. TWIN FALLS Whether theyre taking over the family business or preparing to start a family, College of Southern Idaho students in the ag diesel program expect to find long-term employment after graduating. I think its time for me to lay down some roots, said Joe Gardner, who will soon be a father. Thats why I wanted this program, honestly. Gardner has been moving around for the last several years after spending five years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now, hes planning on getting an associate degree through CSIs newest concentration in its diesel technology program. Its a certification that local businesses say will provide a much-needed skill set in south-central Idaho. The equipment is getting so technical it requires a lot of technical expertise and the ability to troubleshoot hydraulic and electrical systems, Twin Falls Tractor & Implement Co. Parts Manager Gary Brightwell said. Burks Tractor has hired several CSI graduates from the diesel technology program in the past five to 10 years, Service Manager Chris Brown said. But since the program has been mostly focused on trucks, the graduates had to learn about ag equipment almost from scratch. They didnt have a good base of hydraulics and electrics, Brown said. Years ago, CSIs diesel technology program was more centered on agriculture, Brightwell said, but it eventually gravitated toward over-the-road trucks. He believes the new program will bring an opportunity to train a local work force. We feel like its going to be very beneficial, said Tyson Wilkins, a technician at Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls. And it can be a lucrative career, Brown said. If theyre good at it and they stick with it, they can make a career out of it, he said. Burks Tractor pays $15 or more starting wage, Brown said, and within the first year or so that number may go up to $20 or more. John Deere pays between $18 and $25 an hour for certified technicians starting out, Wilkins said. Wilkins remembers that when he came into the job with a certification in diesel trucks only, not farm equipment, it was a hard adjustment because we learned only about semis. Brightwell, Wilkins and Brown are on the advisory committee that recommended bringing in the ag diesel concentration to CSIs diesel technology program. Increased cap size Over the last few years, CSI has needed to increase the cap size on its diesel program, at about 18, CSI Trade and Industry Department Chair David Wyatt said. We are expanding our current diesel technology program to create a separate pathway for ag concentration, he said. The new pathway increases the cap to about 35. Thanks to additional funding to address skills gaps through career and technical education, CSI put about $270,000 to work on bids for farm equipment it didnt already own, Wyatt said. The college also hired a full-time instructor and lab assistant. Ive been mechanic-ing for about 35 years now, said Rodney Higgins, diesel technology instructor with the ag concentration. Higgins is new to the teaching field, but has worked on trucks, mining and farm equipment in Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana and Oregon. This semester, hes seen 11 students in his afternoon class at CSI, many of whom will go into the ag concentration. This semester, most of the students coming in are pretty much beginners, Higgins said. The fall semester covers the basics, following the diesel truck curriculum, and spring semester will go into the specifics of agriculture equipment, he said. The program tuition is $130 per credit and will cost students an estimated $8,000 for two years, Wyatt said. Students can choose to attend one year for an intermediate certification, or two years for an Associate of Applied Science. CSI has set up a fund to track program expenses. Were hoping this is going to be a permanent addition to the college, Wyatt said. Career building On Thursday, students in Higgins class got an introduction to tools to be used in precise measuring. Mike Burnett, 23, said he works at Gooding Transport and wanted to get certification with an understanding of trucks and agriculture equipment. Its been a family business, Burnett said. Im hoping to take it over when I graduate. Jack Northrup, 19, also wants to share his skills with his family. The family farm he worked on in Arco used to use gas tractors. When we got a diesel, nobody knew what to do with it, Northrup said. Other students wanted to earn a certification to expand their career options. Micah Stockberger, 22, said hes been driving trucks for agriculture transportation for three years, but he wants a job where he can come home every night. Ive always had a passion for diesels, Stockberger said. Gardner, who works at Douglas Tires Pros in Jerome, is working full-time while attending school five-hours-a-day to get an associate degree. He believes that should he change jobs in the future, the agriculture industry is a viable option. I know a lot of farmers around, and theyre always looking for a good ag technician, he said. Welcome back, Mr. Summer. Heading into the weekend we are going to see temperatures warming into the 90s by Sunday. The weekend starts off nice but warmer as temperatures warm into the middle to upper 80s across southern Idaho. A few places such as Hagerman and Glenns Ferry could top out to near 90 while the mountains reach the lower 80s in some places. Lots of sunshine is expected for the whole region Saturday, Sunday and into next week. Cheer We all owe a salute to Eugene and Joan Pyles, an 84-year-old couple who met in junior high school and have been fostering bluebirds in southern Idaho for more than a decade. The couple has constructed dozens of birdhouses, driving thousands of hours over the years on dusty roads to maintain the box houses and care for the tiny blue birds. The birds rely on the Pyles boxes to nest, and this year the boxes were home to 95 baby bluebirds, born in April and gone by the summer to winter in the Southwest. But the Pyles trips to the middle of nowhere are getting increasingly dangerous for the older couple. Their children have urged them to find a new hobby, closer to town. They wrote a letter to the Times-News earlier this year asking if anyone would be interested in taking over their bluebird mission. They received 10 responses but picked Raymond Higgins, a cattleman who works in the South Hills. He and his wife, Wendy, live near Kimberly. We just recently became grandparents, and we see stuff disappearing all the time, he said. If we can help, maybe someday our grandkids can see this, too. Jeer Humans cause an average of 62,000 fires each year. Its likely at least two of the three wildfires in the Magic Valley-area crews battled Thursday were caused by people. All told, the three fires the Mile Marker 239 Fire near Idahome, the Vineyard Fire along Interstate 84 between Twin Falls and Kimberly, and the Holy Oak Fire near Kasota Road burned about 1,700 acres. Those arent huge numbers, and no buildings or people fell victim to the flames. But every mega-fire starts with a single spark. This is a good reminder to check your vehicles before you head out, especially if youre pulling a trailer. Its common for chains to clip the pavement and spark fires. Most of the Magic Valley hasnt had any significant rain in weeks, and temperatures are expected to rise again this weekend. Throw in a little wind, and theres an increased fire danger. Cheer If youve ever finished a cup of coffee just before heading through security at the Twin Falls Airport, do we have good news for you. Major terminal upgrades are on schedule and on budget, and they include installing bathrooms near the gates. Until now, you pretty much had to hold it once you got through security. Other upgrades are designed to meet Transportation Safety Administration guidelines that could allow the airport to handle an additional airline and more flights. The seating area at the gates will nearly double. The project is costing about $4.3 million dollars, and all but 4 percent is being paid by the Federal Aviation Administration. So far, its employed 26 subcontractors and about 100 workers, whove already put in more than 8,000 hours on the project. Its slated to be finished early next year. June 27, 1996August 21, 2016 TWIN FALLSOur darling girl, Anessia Shaye Winterholer, was stolen from us on August 21, 2016. She was born on June 27, 1996 in Black Foot Idaho to Angela Gordy and Jason Winterholer. She graduated high school in 2014 in Twin Falls. Our lives are left empty and full of unanswered questions as you read this. There is no way to fully describe the pain a family can feel when a loved one is taken at just 20 years old. Even more so when they are taken against their will. Its hard not to focus on so desperately needing the explanation and details of her death. We instead choose to focus on her life, because she was so full of spirit and light. Our Anessia was magnetic. She could talk you into anything, and she was aware of that talent. She was never afraid to go for exactly what she wanted, and she would never back down. If you needed anything, you could depend on her. If she needed anything, she could depend on us. Anessia was so funny, and she loved when someone tested her wit. One of her greatest, and sometimes most aggravating traits, was her honesty. If something came to her brain, she said it. If you needed to fall into line, she would tell you. She never sugar-coated anything or painted the picture dishonestly. You always knew exactly where you stood with her. Most of all, she was incredibly strong. Those that truly knew her might tell you that Anessia was easily the strongest young woman they had ever known. She loved living every day. Her very best friend was her mother, and her greatest guidance in this life was the rold her grandparents played in it. She loved her grandpa Jim to the moon and back and told him often. Her grandma Marian was her rock and voice of reason. We are all so close in this family, cousins are more than cousins... aunts are more than aunts. She perfectly fit into our imperfection like a glove. Anessia is survived by her mother and loving father, her grandparents Jim and Marian Winterholer, her brother Seth Horvath, her sister, Bryania Ellis, and many dear aunts and uncles, so many cousins, and countless close friends whom she considered family. None of us will ever be the same, and it feels as though our hearts have literally broken into a thousand pieces. Nessas absence in our lives will be felt for the rest of our time on this earth. Until we meet again, our darling sweet girl. We will mourn you forever. A memorial service will be held in Ogden, Utah, and another will be held on Sunday, August 28th at 10:30 a.m. in Centennial Park in Twin Falls. Say too much, show too much, love too much. Everything is temporary but love. Love will outlive us all. Unraveling the Secular Economic Stagnation Story Secular stagnation is said to be present when economic growth is negligible or nonexistent over a considerable span of time. Today, secular stagnation has become a popular mantra of the chattering classes, particularly in the United States. The idea is not new, however. Alvin Hansen, an early and prominent Keynesian economist at Harvard University, popularized the notion of secular stagnation in the 1930s. In his presidential address to the American Economic Association in 1938, he asserted that the U.S. was a mature economy that was stuck in a rut. Hansen reasoned that technological innovations had come to an end; that the great American frontier (read: natural resources) was closed; and that population growth was stagnating. So, according to Hansen, investment opportunities would be scarce, and there would be nothing ahead except secular economic stagnation. The only way out was more government spending. It would be used to boost investment via public works projects. For Hansen and the Keynesians of that era, stagnation was a symptom of market failure, and the antidote was government largesse. Hansens economics were taken apart and discredited by many non-Keynesian economists. But, the scholarly death blow was dealt by George Terborgh in his 1945 classic The Bogey of Economic Maturity. In the real world, talk of stagnation in the U.S. ended abruptly with the post-World War II boom.Today, another Harvard economist, Larry Summers, is leading what has become a secular stagnation bandwagon. And Summers isnt just any Harvard economist. He was formerly the president of Harvard and a U.S. Treasury Secretary. Summers, like Hansen before him, argues that the government must step up to the plate and invest in infrastructure to fill the gap left by deficiencies in private investment. This, he and his fellow travelers argue, will pull the economy out of its stagnation rut.The secular stagnation story has picked up a blue-ribbon array of establishment voices. They all preach the same gospel: the free-market system is failing (read: stagnating). Only government infrastructure investment can save the day. President Obamas Council of Economic Advisers devotes an entire chapter in its 2016 Annual Report to The Economic Benefits of Investing in U.S. Infrastructure. And the Presidents advisers have plenty of company at the Federal Reserve. Both the Feds Chairwoman Janet Yellen and Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer have recently called for more government investment in infrastructure as a way out of the U.S. stagnation rut. The list of notable adherents to the secular stagnation story seems to grow with each passing day.The adherents come from all sides of the political spectrum, including the two major candidates for the U.S. Presidency: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Clinton, for example, calls the need to upgrade the nations infrastructure a national emergencyone she proposes to solve with a mega-government infrastructure investment program. Indeed, Clintons plans would probably run up a bill that would exceed President Obamas proposed $478 billion infrastructure programa program that Congress repeatedly rejected.And then there is Donald Trump. While short on specifics, a principle Trump call to arms centers on the renewal of Americas aging infrastructure. So, when it comes to the issue of secular stagnation and its elixir, Clinton and Trump share common ground.Now, lets take a careful look at the story that has captured the imagination of so many influential members of the establishment. For evidence to support Summers secular stagnation argument and his calls for more government investment, he points to anemic private domestic capital expenditures in the U.S. As the accompanying chart shows, net private domestic business investment (gross investment capital consumption) is relatively weak and has been on a downward course since 2000. Investment is what fuels productivity. So, with little fuel, we should expect weak productivity numbers in the U.S. Sure enough, as shown in the accompanying chart, the rate of growth in productivity is weak and has been trending downward. Indeed, the U.S. is in the grips of the longest slide in productivity growth since the late 1970s. This is alarming because productivity is a key ingredient in determining wages, prices, and economic output. When we move to aggregate demand in the economy, which is measured by final sales to domestic purchasers, it is clear that the U.S. is in the midst of a growth recession. Aggregate demand, measured in nominal terms, is growing (2.93%), but it is growing at well below its trend rate of 4.75%. And that below-trend growth in nominal aggregate demand has characterized the U.S. economy for a decade. To put this weak growth into context, there has only been one other recovery from a recession since 1870 that has been as weak as the current one: the Great Depression. The three pillars of the secular stagnation storyweak private investment, productivity and aggregate demandappear to support it. But, under further scrutiny, does the secular stagnation story hold up? To answer that question requires us to take a careful look at private investment, the fuel for productivity. During the Great Depression, private investment collapsed, causing the depression to drag on and on. Robert Higgs, a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, in a series of careful studies, was able to identify why private investment was kept underwater during the Great Depression. The source of the problem, according to Higgs, was regime uncertainty. Higgs diagnosis is best summarized in his own words: Roosevelt and Congress, especially during the congressional sessions of 1933 and 1935, embraced interventionist policies on a wide front. With its bewildering, incoherent mass of new expenditures, taxes, subsidies, regulations, and direct government participation in productive activities, the New Deal created so much confusion, fear, uncertainty, and hostility among businessmen and investors that private investment and hence overall private economic activity never recovered enough to restore the high levels of production and employment enjoyed during the 1920s. In the face of the interventionist onslaught, the U.S. economy between 1930 and 1940 failed to add anything to its capital stock: net private investment for that eleven-year period totaled minus $3.1 billion. Without ongoing capital accumulation, no economy can grow . . . . The governments own greatly enlarged economic activity did not compensate for the private shortfall. Apart from the mere insufficiency of dollars spent, the governments spending tended, as contemporary critics aptly noted, to purchase a high proportion of sheer boondoggle. Higgs evidence demonstrates that investment was depressed by New Deal initiatives because of regime uncertainty. In short, investors were afraid to commit funds to new projects because they didnt know what President Roosevelt and the New Dealers would do next. Moving from the Great Depression to todays Great Recession, we find a mirror image. President Obama, like President Roosevelt, has created a great deal of regime uncertainty with his propensity to use the powers of the Presidency to generate a plethora of new regulations without congressional approval. In a long report, the New York Times of August 14th went so far as to hang the epithet of Regulator in Chief around Obamas neck. What a legacy. Once regime uncertainty enters the picture, the secular stagnation story unravels. Private investment, the cornerstone of the story, is weak not because of market failure, but because of regime uncertainty created by the government. The government is not the solution. It is the source of the problem. By Steve H. Hanke www.cato.org/people/hanke.html Twitter: @Steve_Hanke Steve H. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Prof. Hanke is also a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; a Distinguished Professor at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia; a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of Chinas International Monetary Research Institute in Beijing; a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability in New York; a member of the National Bank of Kuwaits International Advisory Board (chaired by Sir John Major); a member of the Financial Advisory Council of the United Arab Emirates; and a contributing editor at Globe Asia Magazine. Copyright 2016 Steve H. Hanke - 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. Steve H. Hanke Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. According to the latest estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.7 percent of U.S. adults regularly use e-cigarettes. The devices are often promoted as safer than combustible cigarettes, and are also suggested as a smoking cessation aid, yet theres little long-term evidence to support either assertion. Theres been rapid growth in the promotion and use of the products without an evidence base in terms of their safety and efficacy for tobacco cessation, Prochaska said. Because e-cigarettes are so new, and so few studies have been conducted on them, physicians have little to rely upon when patients ask about the devices. For this reason, Prochaska and her colleagues wondered what doctors typically said, and whether they conveyed that uncertainty. The big question for me, working in tobacco control, is whats the best way for physicians to counsel their patients about electronic cigarettes, said postdoctoral scholar Cati Brown-Johnson, PhD, a co-lead author of the new paper. A new source of data Prochaska and Brown-Johnson teamed up with researchers at HealthTap, an online health company that allows users to submit medical questions which are answered by any of the 72,000 licensed physicians that work with the site. Outside of sitting and watching years of live interactions between patients and providers, this was really the best way for us to get data, said Brown-Johnson. When the scientists searched through all the anonymous questions posted on the site from July 2011 through June 2015, they identified almost 10,000 that related to tobacco or smoking. Of those, about 500 mentioned e-cigarettes and the rate of e-cigarette-related questions increased over the four-year time period. The questions ranged from the straightforward, like Are e-cigs unsafe and can they become addictive? to more specific concerns, including Does nicotine/e-cigs cause hair loss? and Can vapor cigarettes affect asthma? Overall, about 34 percent of the questions related to specific side effects and harms of e-cigarettes, 27 percent to general safety and 19 percent to use of e-cigarettes as quitting aids. For each question and answer, the researchers analyzed what themes were mentioned by patients and physicians, whether the answers were negative or positive about e-cigarettes in tone and message, and whether patients clicked a button to thank the provider for their answer. Mixed messages The most frequent themes brought up by physicians matched the most frequent concerns of patients: specific side effects and general safety. But doctors also often brought up topics not mentioned by patients, including the need for more research on e-cigarettes and the relative safety of e-cigarettes compared with combusted tobacco. In addition, clinicians tended to mention nicotine more often than patients, with an expressed concern about addiction. Doctors might consider conveying their information about e-cigarettes in a non-judgmental way, even when conveying the risks. And when it came to the overall tone of the physicians answers, there was a range: 47 percent of answers were deemed by the researchers as being negative regarding e-cigarettes for example, focusing on risks of the devices and discouraging patients from using them. Another 20 percent were positive for example, encouraging the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids. When asked specifically about quitting smoking, 54 percent of doctors mentioned e-cigarettes as a potential tool. The existing research, however, does not indicate that e-cigarettes help people quit combustible cigarettes, Prochaska said. This is an area in need of greater study. Educating doctors When the researchers looked at how often patients thanked providers for their answers, they also spotted a trend: Most thanks were directed at doctors who had given a positive message about e-cigarettes. That finding is really interesting in thinking about how physicians might best connect with their patients, said Brown-Johnson. Doctors might consider conveying their information about e-cigarettes in a non-judgmental way, even when conveying the risks. The study also suggested other ways that scientists who research vaping and smoking might help doctors better communicate with their patients. It showed us the need for provider education on e-cigarettes so they are aware of the limitations of whats known, said Prochaska. Future studies, they said, could inform how doctors may tailor messages on e-cigarettes to different types of patients. Andrea Burbank, MD, the other co-lead author and a former Stanford Health4All fellow, said the research is an example of evidence-based medicine in the information age. With this data we were able to rapidly prioritize real-world concerns about e-cigarettes for policymakers and researchers. Other Stanford authors are former Stanford Health4All fellow Arianna Wassmann; postdoctoral scholar Eric Daza, DrPh; and research assistant Amy Chieng. Prochaska has provided expert witness testimony in litigation against tobacco companies and consults with Pfizer on smoking cessation medication. Wassmann was previously employed at HealthTap, which was founded by an alumnus of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and holds stock options in the company. The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (grants R01HL117736 and T32HL007034) and the State of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. The Stanford Department of Medicine also supported the work. For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page New associates Matthew Church is joining the faculty of the University of Montanas Flathead Lake Biological Station as a microbial ecologist. He will use his knowledge and experience studying microorganisms found in the ocean the tiny life forms upon which the entire ecosystem depends and apply that skillset to studying Flahead Lake. Church has conducted research in Antarctica and the subtropical North Pacific Ocean. In total, he has spent more than a year at sea working aboard research vessels in ocean ecosystems across the globe. In 2004, he joined the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii in large part to work with the scientists and staff of the Hawaii Ocean Time-series program. In recognition of Churchs research and education contributions, he was awarded the Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography in 2015. Church earned his bachelors degree from the Evergreen State College in 1994 and then worked for a few years at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research. He went on to earn masters and doctoral degrees in marine science from the College of William and Marys School of Marine Science. DALLAS Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell has been called by Pope Francis to oversee a new Vatican department focused on the lives of ordinary Catholics around the world. The appointment, effective Sept. 1, will make Farrell the highest-ranking American clergyman serving in the Vatican, the Diocese of Dallas said Wednesday. Farrell has been bishop of Dallas since 2007. His successor, to be chosen by the pontiff, will become the spiritual leader to more than 1 million Catholics in Dallas and the surrounding area. Francis chose Farrell to lead the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, a newly created office that combines the responsibilities of two existing pontifical councils. It will be part of the Roman Curia, an administrative body that advises and helps the pope carry out the churchs affairs worldwide. In his new role, Farrell, 68, will focus on the needs of laypeople, those everyday Catholics who are not part of the clergy. When the pope called in May to ask if he would accept the position, Farrell said, he was extremely humbled and grateful for the holy fathers confidence in me. But, he added, I meet this news with mixed emotions. Dallas has been my home for the past 10 years, and it will always be my home, the bishop said Wednesday morning from the diocesan offices on Oak Lawn Avenue. I guess I had psychologically decided this is where I was going to retire, so it quickly became home for me. Arriving after 24 years in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., he said, he found Dallas to be immediately welcoming. The people are so friendly in Dallas. Coming from D.C., I really noticed that, he said. And some of the most generous people I have met in the United States live in Dallas. Im going to miss that. While saying goodbye will be difficult, Farrell said, he looks forward to the challenges of his new assignment. He said hell spend the next few weeks wrapping up loose ends and making plans to ensure that various projects hes initiated here will carry on in his absence. A diocesan spokeswoman said a new bishop could be chosen as soon as October. Auxiliary Bishop Greg Kelly will lead the diocese in the interim. Farrells new job will reunite him with his brother Brian, who is also a bishop and the secretary of the Vaticans Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. *** Pope Francis reorganization of the Roman Curia stems from his expressed desire to make the Catholic Church more inclusive and its administrative framework more efficient. The pope wrote that he created the new department to help the Curia adapt to the needs of the universal Church. In Dallas, Farrell has sought to unite Anglo and Latino Catholics in faith and bridge cultural and economic differences between the two groups. He delivered his first homily as bishop partly in English, partly in Spanish. (He is also fluent in Italian.) Aside from good Mexican food, he said, one of the things hell miss most about Dallas will be his ministry to immigrants and other Latinos. I love dealing with the Mexican people and the immigrants, he said. I will truly miss that kind of contact. He said hes tried to strengthen bonds between Anglo and Latino Christians, and that he hopes such efforts continue once hes gone. We should not be building walls, we should be building bridges, Farrell said. And I think there should be more dialogue. We dont all have to agree with each other, but we have to talk to each other. The bishop hasnt been shy about taking a stand on societal issues. Hes condemned domestic violence and opposed the open carrying of firearms. He called on lawyers to help thousands of migrant children who entered the United States without authorization, fleeing political violence in Central America. And in 2014, he invited the family of a Dallas Ebola victim to stay at a church-owned cabin as they waited in quarantine to see if they had contracted the deadly disease. We help people because were Catholic, not because theyre Catholic, he said at the time. For a Catholic cleric of his generation, hes unusually comfortable with social media, maintaining his blog and a Twitter account with more than 10,000 followers. Under his leadership, the Diocese of Dallas saw an increase in vocations to the priesthood, and the successful completion of a landmark, $130 million fundraising campaign. Were exceptionally proud, but were also exceptionally sad to be losing him, said diocesan spokeswoman Annette Gonzales Taylor. Hes just be an outstanding leader and, from my point of view, a wonderful boss. Hes going to be sorely missed. Dave Woodyard, president of Catholic Charities of Dallas, called it a distinct honor to have worked with Farrell. He is a humble servant, Woodyard said, and a strong advocate for the thousands of people who need hope and help in life, from new immigrants to children in poverty. *** Born in Dublin he still speaks with a light brogue Farrell has a bachelors degree from the University of Salamanca in Spain and a masters degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He also holds a masters in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1978 and served as a chaplain to the University of Monterrey in Mexico. Five years after his ordination, he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where he served in a number of roles, including as an auxiliary bishop. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Washingtons archbishop, on Wednesday praised Farrell for his demonstrated pastoral skills and his recognized administrative abilities. With the heightened emphasis that Pope Francis has placed on the role of the laity in the Catholic Church, the leadership that Bishop Farrell brings will be a blessing for all of us, the cardinal said. Pope Benedict XVI chose Farrell as the seventh bishop of Dallas in 2007. He succeeded Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, who announced his retirement upon turning 75. The Diocese of Dallas encompasses nine counties, more than 80 parishes and chapels, 26 elementary schools, three diocesan high schools, six other private Catholic schools, two seminaries and a university the University of Dallas, where Farrell serves as chancellor. Thomas Keefe, UDs president, said the bishops reassignment to Rome is bittersweet news for me personally and for the university as a whole. We will miss his ardent dedication to our institution and our mission, Keefe said. Not only has Bishop Farrell provided me with invaluable counsel, loyalty and friendship, but his unwavering support has been an integral part of the universitys transformation into one of the countrys elite Catholic universities. For this, we are eternally grateful. Farrell asked for prayers as he begins this next unexpected chapter of my priesthood. May God continue to bless the Diocese of Dallas, he said. The Rev. Bob Hill, pastor emeritus, Community Christian Church All who ask this question and earnestly seek answers to it are already on the way to life-saving learning about forgiveness and wholeness. Becoming better acquainted with your faiths scriptures, prayers and rituals will result in exciting insights and a powerful impact on your life. Reading scripture can remind you of forbearers who have been where you are now. A regular disciplined recitation of prayers can provide peace and confidence to do the challenging work of forgiveness. Participating in forgiveness rituals (annually or weekly) can shape your life with hope and grace. Of course, faith is always lived out best in community. If you have a faith home, seek the guidance of your leaders. If you dont currently have a faith community, ask a friend who exemplifies a forgiving spirit about their place of worship and join them for a service or a study group. As we probe sacred texts, special prayers, cherished rituals and the life of a faith community, one thing becomes clear: We are best fulfilled as human beings when we learn how to give and receive forgiveness. Christianitys most famous prayer, the Lords Prayer, describes forgiveness as a two-way street: forgive us our trespasses (sins), as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. And always remember: Forgiveness is the supreme antidote to the harsh and destructive impossibility of perfectionism. At the root of all worthy religions is a precious proposition: There is always more merciful forgiveness in God than there are misdeeds in us. The Rev. Duke Tufty, senior pastor, Unity Temple on the Plaza My understanding of faith is having absolute conviction in and commitment to something that cannot be sensed or proven in any way. Hope is, I want this to happen. Faith is, I know this will happen. It is believing without reservation, hesitation or the slightest doubt that which hasnt happened and there is no evidence to indicate it ever will, most definitely will happen. You ask how do you use faith to forgive. Say you are walking down the path of life when you stumble over a big rock, fall down and get hurt. Forgiveness is taking a moment to center yourself, pick yourself up, tend to your hurts and continue on free of thought about the situation. Not forgiving is picking up the big rock and carrying it with you as a reminder of the hurt it caused. It has been said that, Not forgiving is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. It is important to keep in mind that thoughts of hatred and resentment are in you. They are like poison to the soul that you live with 24 hours a day, and they sicken you. Forgive literally means to give for. When we forgive somebody or something, we give up negative thoughts toward the situation that weaken and sicken us for positive thoughts that allow us peace of mind and a sense of well being. The act of forgiveness is for our individual benefit and has little to do with the other person. You can use faith in forgiveness by knowing, beyond the slightest doubt, that it is in your best interest, you will feel incredibly better and a sense of lightness will return to your life when you forgive. Penny is a 10-year-old walker/bluetick hound mix. Shes been at the Humane Society of Western Montana since April. While she cant be in a home with cats, Penny made quick friends with Snickers, a black Lab mix at the shelter, and would enjoy meeting some dog friends in her new neighborhood. She would love a family who can take her on daily hikes, and she also enjoys playing fetch. Visit Penny at the shelter, 5930 Highway 93 S. Hours are 1-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. You can also learn more about Penny and other adoptable pets at myhswm.org. A Missoula man faces a felony burglary charge after prosecutors say he confronted a former girlfriend and another man, then stole the womans phone and purse. Police responded to the 600 block of Phillips Street on Wednesday after receiving a report that 39-year-old Jeffrey Allen McClintick entered another mans home and started yelling at him and a woman, saying she was his girlfriend. The man who reported the incident said he grabbed McClintick and took him outside, telling him that This is Montana and he was lucky he didnt walk into the wrong house, according to a court affidavit. McClintick allegedly then broke a windowpane in the door and took a purse and phone belonging to the woman. While the officer was at the home, the mans phone began receiving messages from the womans missing phone, and the officer answered a call from McClintick. McClintick was arrested later the in the day at the Silver Dollar Bar following a report of a disturbance. He allegedly resisted being handcuffed and had to be taken to the ground and continued resisting and shouting profanities after being taken into custody. Officers found a marijuana pipe on McClintick during the arrest. He is charged with felony burglary as well as misdemeanors for criminal mischief, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. Chief deputy county attorney Jason Marks said McClintick has an "extensive misdemeanor history" which McClintick said in court consisted of previous altercations involving the woman from this case. On Friday, Justice of the Peace Marie Andersen set his bail at $5,000 and allowed him to be screened for pretrial supervision. If released, he was ordered not to have contact with the woman or man, and not to return to the Phillips Street address. Over summer break, My Student In Need nearly doubled in size. At the end of June, 70 schools statewide participated in the nonprofit. Two months later, there are 130 schools participating, and My Student In Need executive director Kim Wombolt is being called to speak on the national level. Since September 2013, My Student In Need has served as an intermediary between need requests and anonymous donors. It was born of My Neighbor In Need, founded in Great Falls by Dave Snuggs, a way for people to "ask for help with dignity," Wombolt said. "Nothing really seemed to be moving," Wombolt said of My Student's growth. Then Heather Denny, state homeless education coordinator, got wind of the effort in a meeting with school homeless liaisons from across Montana. "Before I left (the meeting), we went from a small 70 schools to we're doubling in size and speaking at national conventions," Wombolt said. Since June, they added schools in Helena, Kalispell, Butte and Billings. Wombolt and Denny will speak about My Student at the MEA-MFT conference in October, and the following week Wombolt and Trish Kirschten Missoula County Public Schools' Title I federal projects coordinator and Families in Transition liaison will present at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth conference in November in Orlando. Wombolt's goal is for My Student to grow to 200 schools by next summer, and to 300 by summer 2018. "It really has a life of its own and we're just on the train trying to keep it on the tracks," Wombolt said. "And that only addresses the state of Montana plan." *** In less than three years, My Student has fulfilled 1,500 need requests across the state. "Most of the needs come out of the bigger communities, especially the ones that have the homeless programs," Wombolt said. That's because smaller schools often have the ability to take care of these needs within their communities, she said. "It's when you get to the bigger communities, you don't necessarily know your neighbor, and it becomes a struggle," she said. MCPS quickly latched on, starting with My Student a few months after it began. "In a community like Missoula, there are houses going up left and right, there's a housing shortage, it's a huge seller's market people don't think about economic issues necessarily when they see a community thriving," Kirschten said. "And yet, we had 461 homeless students in MCPS last year." It's not obvious because most of these kids are not on the streets. "Homelessness for education is different from homelessness for HUD," she said. They have different definitions. Homeless students are "individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence," according to the McKinney-Vento Act. That can mean a kid sleeps in a car, spends a night in a motel, or is in an emergency shelter, among other possibilities. "I think in today's society we are so disjointed and we don't know our neighbors anymore," Kirschten said. "We don't know necessarily what's happening within our own community." *** Parents don't make requests. Everything must come from a school professional: a teacher, counselor, principal, etc. The teacher "who has direct hands-on knowledge of a child's need" will submit a request to My Student. It's vetted by staff and it goes online to mystudentinneed.org (Note: There are no current needs on the website because most schools have not started yet). Anyone in the world can then fulfill that need, most often through a monetary donation that My Student turns into a gift card. The school professional will take the student, if they're old enough, shopping for the need. Or if the student is too young, the school staff member will do the shopping on his or her own. Most requests are for clothes, shoes and coats though once in awhile, the request turns into its own story, such as when Grammy Award-winning trumpet player Arturo Sandoval donated a trumpet after spotting a My Student request. A donation "is never turned over to a parent," Wombolt said. "There are preventative measures to make sure it's not abused." There are some general categories of items that can be requested clothing, shoes, personal hygiene supplies, bedding, etc. but there are few set guidelines. A few things cannot be requested, however: vehicle expenses, gas, insurance, driver's license fees, vehicle repairs and telephone fees. "It's good for the community because they see change actually happening," Wombolt said. "It may not seem like much, but in a world where we don't ever seem to get to the end of something, knowing a kid got a pair of shoes that's a big deal. "I wish I could say someday we won't be in business, but I don't think that's the reality." BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. Thousands of people paid their respects to a Vermont firefighter Saturday who died earlier this month while battling a wildfire in Great Basin National Park in Nevada. The service for Justin Beebe, 26, was held at the Bellows Falls Union High School. Beebe's family and friends describe him as a young man who had a passion for people and the outdoors. Family friend David Clark said he knew Beebe from the time he was born, WCAX-TV reported. He called him a "tremendous athlete." "This was a kid who was really well-liked, and certainly deserved it," said Clark. Beebe was in his first year as a member of the Lolo Hotshots, elite U.S. Forest Service firefighters based in Missoula when he died Aug. 13. A tree fell on him as he battled a fire sparked by lightning, not far from the Nevada-Utah line, about 200 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The fire was a 7-square-mile blaze that had been raging for five days. It has since been extinguished. A memorial service was held Aug. 20 in Missoula. The Lolo Hotshots are called upon to fight the most dangerous wildfires in the West. Crews work to stop the fires by using chain saws and pickaxes to fell trees and clear fire lines to eliminate fuel for those fires. Hotshots from all the country attended Beebe's service. One Massachusetts mother, who lost her Hotshot son, said she didn't know Beebe, but wanted to be there for Beebe's family. "I feel like I kind of know what the family's going through," Dee Burke said. "Let them know that there's another hotshot family in New England." BILLINGS The parents of a man killed in Absarokee in 2013 have won a $4.6 million lawsuit against the bar that served the former suspect in the case. Gregory and Cynthia Dana won a civil lawsuit against Hanson's Five Spot Bar this month after it was determined the bar had served alcohol to a minor who was later charged with their son's homicide. Stillwater County District Court Judge Blair Jones said the Five Spot Bar was negligent. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the death of Forest Dana, who was killed during Absarokee's annual summer festival. Dana, 27, was found dead in the alley behind his parents' house the morning after police believe he was hit by a car while walking through the alley. Michael Thomas Holtz, 23, was charged with Forest Dana's homicide, but the charges were later dropped without prejudice after no witnesses came forward to place Holtz in the alley at the time of the death. According to investigators, Holtz had been drinking the night of the death, and witnesses saw him speed down the alley where Danas body was found. Investigators later found DNA on Holtz car that matched Danas DNA. Holtz pleaded not guilty to felony negligent homicide in July 2014. He was allowed to remain free on $250,000 bond with numerous conditions, including that he not drink and that he comply with sobriety monitoring. "To this day law enforcement continues to build its case against Mr. Holtz, cognizant of the fact it only gets one chance to prove his guilt," court documents state. The Lake County Sheriff's Office announced Friday it is removing around 130 dogs from a Charlo breeder after prosecutors reached an agreement regarding the charges filed against the owners. The Lake County Attorneys Office's deal with Nadine and Larry Latzke will defer prosecution against them for a decade. The Latzkes faced felony aggravated cruelty to animals charges after dogs were seized from their property in late July. Under the agreement, the Latzkes relinquished custody of the around 130 dogs they own to Lifesavers Animal Rescue or the Lake County Sheriffs Office. They will be allowed to keep six dogs that were living at their house, but must spay or neuter each of those animals within the next two months. They are prohibited from owning any other dogs during the 10-year deferral period. They cannot replace any dog that dies during that time. The agreement will dismiss the felony charges, but prosecutors will be able to refile the case if the terms are violated. The Lake County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Friday that they are in the process of taking the rest of the dogs from the Latzkes LDR Kennels. On July 26, law enforcement seized 11 of the dogs that were at the kennel, located between Charlo and St. Ignatius on Dublin Gulch Road, after receiving a complaint about their treatment. The person who filed the complaint reported a terrible smell coming from the kennel and that they had seen one dog with its hair matted and smelled like urine, and the dog did not look in good health, according to Sheriff Don Bell. HAMILTON The Hamilton National Guard Armory has officially closed it doors for the last time. The decision to close the facility and move the Detachment 2, 230th Engineer Company to Anaconda was made in April, said Montana National Guard spokesman Ryan Finnegan. Last week, Guard members completed the final walk-through confirming all the equipment was removed. It is one step closer to being sold or put up for auction, Finnegan said. It has to get appraised and there are a couple more steps to go but that was the next step to be sure we have ended our operation there. Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn, the adjutant general for Montana, said the change re-balances National Guard forces in Montana. The end goal is to gain efficiency by simplifying chain of command, increase combined unit training opportunities, and ultimately use taxpayer dollars more effectively, Quinn said. Hamilton Mayor Jerry Steele said the City Council is investigating options to purchase the six acres including the armory building and Claudia Driscoll Park, with its developed childrens play area, lawn, trees, sidewalks and underground sprinkler system. The band shell is on property already owned by the city. Its a nice park and we want to keep it that way, Steele said. We decided to look at the financing options and are definitely interested in the purchase. We had a lease on the park with the understanding that if the National Guard needed it they could use it. If the purchase goes through, Hamilton would own the park and use the armory as a justice center to house police, courts and city attorney. It may not happen for quite awhile. It depends on what pricing and financing we can get, Steele said. We are in the early study stages to figure out how to pay for it. It is pretty big amount of money and we are looking at our options to see what we can do. The asking price is $1.2 million. Retired Sgt. Major Greg Marose was in charge of the Hamilton Armory for nine years, 1984 to 1993. Im sad that it is leaving, Marose said. It brings income to the city when it is a drill weekend. It has a great history and those who served here have many fond memories. Marose said the Hamilton National Guard was established April 19, 1954 with 27 guardsmen. The 443rd division raised $3,500 in a single day toward the purchase the land for the armory and the park behind it, he said. Marose said the vehicle in front of the armory is a self-propelled howitzer similar to the vehicle an earlier unit used for training. It will be removed. On Thursday, the Butte Country Club hosted Backflips and Beatdowns, a motocross and mixed martial arts show spearheaded by Keith Sayers. The show featured prominent riders such as hometown star Sayers and superstar Jeremy Twitch Stenberg among other talent. The attraction brought in over 1,000 people from across the state and raised over $10,000 for the Peck children, whose parents died recently, according to Sayers. This was the first time Sayers hosted an event of this proportion in Butte and said he was extremely happy with the turnout. The event sold over 850 general and premium admission tickets and provided free entry for kids. Most attendees came as a family to enjoy a night out at the end of summer. The event featured freestyle motocross riders that performed spectacular stunts over the MMA ring on the Country Club grounds. Fighters came from across the state and even as far as Casper, Wyoming, to participate in the brawl. During a break in the action, Backflips and Beatdowns held a charity auction for the Peck children that included riding memorabilia and framed photography. Among other items, Sayers jersey raised $2,800, and Stenberg, matching the bid price for his jersey, brought in $4,400. The turnout was astonishing, said Sayers, and he gave a lot of credit to his wife, Danielle Sayers, for making the event happen. When asked why he decided to host the event in Butte instead of some larger locale, Sayers replied: This is my hometown, and Im born and raised here. I want to bring something different to the community. The Muscatine County Board of Adjustment will conduct a public hearing on Friday, September 2, 2016, starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Office, Muscatine County Administration Building, 414 E. 3rd St., Muscatine, Iowa, to discuss the following: Case #16-09-01. An application has been filed by Kenneth J. or Providence Shoultz, Record Owners and David Roy Rickey Jr., Proposed Buyer. This property is located in Fruitland Township, 2620 Stewart Road, West of Stewart Road in Sec. 28-T76N-R2W NW, containing approximately 10.14 acres and is zoned R-1 Residential District. This request, if approved, would allow the Zoning Administrator to issue a Variance in order to allow the existing detached structure to remain in the front yard after a one family dwelling will be built behind it. Case #16-09-02. An application has been filed by Dennis P. or Susan K. Boorn, Record Owners. This property is located in Moscow Township, in the NE of Sec. 9-T78N-R2W at the end of E. Hinkeyville Drive, zoned A-1 Agricultural District, containing approximately 45 acres. This request, if approved, would allow the Zoning Administrator to issue a Special Use Permit in order to build a Seasonal Recreational Cottage on this property. Any interested party may correspond with us in time for the hearing, request additional information, or attend said hearing to express their views. MUSCATINE COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Eric S. Furnas, Planning & Zoning Administrator Muscatine County Building ~ Zoning ~ Environmental Office 3610 Park Avenue West Muscatine IA 52761 Telephone 5632630482 FAX 5632884338 You are notified that there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of Court for Muscatine County, a petition to terminate parental rights in case number JVJV006076 which asks that your parental rights be terminated as it relates to your child born on the 19th day of April, 2014, in the State of Iowa. For further details contact the clerk's office. The petitioner's attorney is Joan M. Black, Assistant Muscatine County Attorney, Muscatine County Attorney's Office, 420 East Third Street, Muscatine, IA 52761, 563-263-0382. You are notified that there will be a hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights before the Iowa Juvenile Court for Muscatine County, at the Courthouse in Muscatine, IA on the 22nd day of September, 2016, at 9:30 o'clock a.m. You are further notified that unless on or before this time and date of hearing, you appear, or, you serve, and within a reasonable time thereafter file, a written special appearance, motion or answer, in the above-named Court at the Courthouse in Muscatine, IA, judgment by default will be rendered finding your parental rights to be terminated as demanded in the Petition. You are further notified that you are entitled to be represented by an attorney. If you are unable to employ counsel, you may apply to have counsel appointed by filling out an affidavit of your financial situation. You should do this immediately. Jeff Tollenaer Clerk of the Juvenile Court Muscatine County Courthouse Muscatine, Iowa 52761 Dates of Publication: August 20, 2016 August 27, 2016 September 3, 2016 MUSCATINE, Iowa The First Christian Church will host a Pickers for CROP (Christian Rural Overseas Program) garage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 at 700 Kindler Ave., Muscatine, which is across the street from McKinley School between Fulliam and Lucas Streets. The sale will have small furniture, tools, toys, puzzles, small appliances, bedding, books, home decor, and other household items. All proceeds and donations will go to CROP. For more information call 563-263-9250. MUSCATINE, Iowa The first week of school has been different for East Campus students and staff, as they have recently moved to the Muscatine Community College (MCC) campus but all say they are excited to be there. The move was necessary because the building which housed the program, the former Garfield School, had been sold. The opportunities provided by having the more than 50 students at East Campus at Muscatine Community College (MCC) are paving the way for many of the students to continue their education after high school. Joshua Hanna, lead teacher at East Campus, said after leaving Garfield School, MCC was the perfect location for his high school students. "It just makes sense," he said. East Campus provides one-on-one learning space with smaller classes and hands-on projects to help students who were not fitting well at Muscatine High School. The program is in its fifth year, and, Hanna said, because a large part of East Campus is preparing students for life after high school, their presence at MCC is a benefit to both current and former students. "Over the years, if we could get our students in MCC classes we tried to do that, and the really cool thing now is for all the seniors who end up graduating and go on to MCC is that we're still here as a support for them," he said. Hanna also said the move will be especially helpful for students who may become the first in their families to continue their education after high school. "We get to kind of bridge that a little bit more and the students know better what they're walking into, and they are more familiar with the MCC faculty, and that's really exciting," he said. While most of the classes are in one building, Hanna said several are scattered around the campus, allowing students to move to different buildings and eat lunch surrounded by MCC students. The science teacher, Lee Falkena, also has access to the labs and the greenhouse on campus. Friday morning, he led one of his classes on a short walk from their classroom to the greenhouse, where students have been working to clean and prepare to grow different plants. Falkena said he is looking forward to exploring the opportunities the greenhouse could provide, even growing vegetables to sell at the farmers market. "There's lots of different things we can do with this once we get it going," he said. Zayla Jimenez, a student at East Campus, gathered dirt to plant seeds in the greenhouse. She was enrolled in the program last year and said she has been enjoying the MCC location. "I'm actually really excited about it," she said. Jimenez said she hopes the move will help MCC as well as other colleges look favorably upon the East Campus students, in addition to the project students have already been doing. "We do a lot, on Fridays we go out and we help the community, so we kind of get that reputation, we do the MPW and United Way commercial, it just gives us that rep," she said. Natalie Noll, an East Campus student, said she is excited to be at MCC, especially because it has allowed her to take a college class this semester, and hopefully several next semester. "And I don't have to transport from once place to another and worry about being late, which is really awesome," she said. Noll said East Campus has pushed her to continue her education after high school, something she may not have done if she remained at Muscatine High School. "East Campus has opened me up more as a person, like I can talk to people a lot more freely, it's just easier. And there are a lot more opportunities doing stuff, instead of just reading out of a textbook," she said. A new social studies and robotics teacher at East Campus, Aaron Smith, said he jumped on the chance to teach in the program. "I'm really excited to be out here because the way they approach education is just focusing on students exploring what they're passionate about, and one of the great things about being a teacher is seeing when kids really start to connect with something that they're interested in," he said. The robotics class is new to East Campus this year, and Hanna said it will be a welcome addition to the program. "We've always wanted to bring programing to our students, so this robotics class is going to be an exciting opportunity for some of them," he said. Having East Campus at MCC, Hanna said, will help prepare students to continue in college and provide support as they transition from high school to college. "Having that scaffold where we have our students graduate, and then we're still here for support, that's really cool," Hanna said. WAPELLO, Iowa - Local economies and quality of life issues are significantly affected by county conservation boards. That was one of the key points Tom Hazelton, CEO for the Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards (IACCB), made during a 45-minute presentation Thursday before a joint meeting of the Louisa County Conservation Board (LCCB) and the Louisa County Board of Supervisors. Hazelton, a former employee of the Linn County Conservation Board who assumed the IACCB position in 2011, said county conservation boards were an unintended well-kept secret that needed to become better known. Nobody knows who we are and its time to start bragging about ourselves, he said. He said an important place to start was with the history of conservation boards in Iowa, which began in 1896 with noted conservationist Thomas MacBride, who later became president of the University of Iowa. MacBride forcefully lobbied for county park areas, arguing they were necessary for proper education, public health and happiness and for natural preservation. Hazelton said MacBrides dream became a reality in 1955 when legislation enabling the establishment of county conservation boards through a vote by county residents was approved. In November 1966, the citizens of Louisa County voted to establish the Louisa County Conservation Board, Hazelton explained. He said that local control continues today through the appointments of local residents to a conservation board by that countys board of supervisors. Funding and ownership of activities, projects and areas follow the same local principle. When the state stumbles we dont follow that path because we have local control, Hazelton said, pointing out that along with that local control come the local benefits of conservation boards. Using figures provided through conservation board surveys and other sources, Hazelton said county conservation board areas annually draw around 24 million visitors. He said that included 661,194 campers who utilize the boards 10,507 campsites; 2,354,688 trail users on the 1,536 miles of county trails; 755,000 participants in the 26,000 public programs provided by conservation boards; and the hundreds of thousands of hunters who utilize the 146,500 acres of public hunting land available on county areas. When totaled together and using accepted formulas for calculating economic impact, Hazelton said county conservation board users generated over $851 million of economic impact to Iowas economy. Locally, Louisa County areas generated nearly $5 million, he said. According to a fact sheet he later distributed to the group, the spending helped support 5,800 jobs and generated over $167 million in personal income throughout the state. Hazelton said Louisa County was especially fortunate to have a strong natural resource base and said its conservation board provided a robust program of activities and areas for local residents and visitors to enjoy. The economic benefit from the local program was nearly $5 million, Hazelton reported. He also said the conservation board should be especially proud of its educational programming. He said the 492 programs and events identified in the last reporting cycle attracted 9,270 participants, only a few thousand short of the entire county population. That is a phenomenal outreach, he said. He urged the two boards to continue working together to maintain those efforts and closed his presentation by encouraging everyone to support the statewide effort to fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Voters approved using three-eighths of one cent of any future sales tax to finance the fund, which would raise around $180 million in revenue for a variety of programs. MUSCATINE, Iowa The Friends of Greenwood Cemetery are nearly their goal but will need some help in the coming week to achieve their goal of receiving a matching grant offered by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The group has sold 620 bricks and raised $3,297.00 which is 380 bricks and $703 short of an anonymous donors pledge of $4,000. To receive a matching grant of $19,000 from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust the group needs to raise $1,333.00 more leaving the organization $2,036 short. The group is accepting donations in addition to selling the bricks. The bricks can be engraved with up to three lines and will be placed on the walkway to the cemetery steps. The bricks cost $35 each. The cemetery steps were built in 1914 to serve the citizens living on West Hill that had to walk to work to the factories and mills in South End. The 208 steps saved those workers a 10 block walk each way every day. The restoration will consist of replacing all of the damaged steps, installation of a two-inch railing system, removal of all of the dead trees and debris near the steps, and the installation of a drainage system to remove the spring water from the hill. The first phase will involve putting in the sidewalk, fixing the steps, and installing new handrails. Greenwood Cemetery member Bob Bromwell said that he hopes phase one will be underway before winter. Forms for ordering bricks can be found on the group's Facebook page. Bromwell said individuals interested in purchasing bricks or wanting to donate can also call him at 563-299-0720. MUSCATINE, Iowa In an effort to promote education for health care professionals, Trinity Muscatine Friends is offering Health Education Fund interest-free loans for students pursing a degree in a health related field. Money is currently available for approved loans not to exceed $8,000. Applicants must be residents of Muscatine or the area which Trinity Muscatine serves for at least three years. MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine Community College (MCC) faculty and staff recently learned about HNIs furniture making process and business during a visit to the company. HNI Product Business Manager Blaine Booth began the visit with a discussion of the new furniture and technology HNI is developing specifically for classrooms. During a tour of the HNI Oak Laminate building, Rapid Continuous Improvement Engineer Jose Melendez talked about how the college is helping the company find better qualified students and demonstrated some of the tasks employees do on a daily basis. Its amazing how HNI treats their employees, said MCC Psychology Instructor Paula Finch. They encourage their members to grow in their jobs and even to move to other positions and other locations. It was incredible to see all the technology, especially the electronic boards communicating the up-to-date work in progress. The HNI visit was held during the colleges back to college activities held for faculty and staff just prior to the start of classes. Such visits provide college faculty and staff with the opportunity to maintain connections with employers and to learn more about the skills they are looking for in our graduates. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] Ordering pizza can be a painful process, especially when the landline or mobile connection to the pizza outlet of your choice leaves you spelling out your name at a shout. The problem is compounded when you get an employee who would be more suited to packing the pizza in a box instead of communicating with another human being. The option to order online takes this pain away if the system works and your favourite pizza joint supports the functionality. We took a look at the biggest pizza franchises in SA to see if we could order a meaty pizza online this is what happened. Debonairs Pizza First on the list was Debonairs Pizza. We visited its website and created an online profile. It was quick and easy, and required us to submit an email address and cellphone number. The cell number is used to send an OTP to register your account, and Debonairs provides an option to not receive email or SMS advertising. After placing our order, the system would not accept the street address for our office block it kept telling us we were in Randburg so we used a road near us to get a location as close as possible. The order was placed at 10:38 on a Thursday, we received email and SMS confirmation, and the pizza arrived at 11:14 warm and delicious. You can choose to pay cash on delivery or to pay online. We did the former. Dominos Pizza Next up we used Dominos online system, which was also quick and easy and it recognised our office address first time. Unfortunately, despite a Dominos store being 8km away from our office, the online order form said we were not eligible for a delivery. For comparison, the Debonairs store was also 8km from our office. Dominos was asked for comment on how it decides where it delivers to, but the company did not respond by the time of publication. Romans Pizza, Scooters Pizza, and Pizza Hut We checked Romans Pizza, Scooters Pizza, and Pizza Huts websites, and did not find any option to place an order online. Pizza Perfects website stated that only its Northlands Corner store offered online orders. More about shopping Crime in South Africa is messing up your shopping experience New South African shopping app launched